Longhorn Life holiday editions

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NOVEMBER 28, 2012 an advertising special edition of The Daily Texan

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The holiday edition of Longhorn Life! Happy Christmahanukwanzakah!

Transcript of Longhorn Life holiday editions

Page 1: Longhorn Life holiday editions

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NOVEMBER 28, 2012

an advertising special edition of The Daily Texan

Page 2: Longhorn Life holiday editions

Wednesday, November 28, 2012Page 2 LONGHORN LIFE

LONGHORN

STUDENT STAFF

Special Editions Editor Emily Morgan

Assistant Special Editions EditorGreer GaddieCopy Editor Alison Killian

DesignersFelimon Hernandez, Bailey Sullivan,

& Daniel HubleinWriters

Shantanu Banerjee, Jeana Bertoldi, Channing Holman, Ali Killian, Paloma

Lenz, Nathalie Lumang, Mira Milla, Katie Noriega, Megan Smith, Sara Tapfer,

Alex VickeryPhotographers

Katrina Funtanilla, Courtney James, Chelsea Jackson, Joyce Isleta,

Alejandro Silveyra, Trisha Seelig, Monica ZhangCover Design Daniel Hublein

TSM ADVERTISING & CREATIVE SERVICES

DirectorJalah Goette

Advertising Adviser CJ Salgado

Campus & National Sales Rep Joan Bowerman

Broadcast & Events Manager Carter Goss

Student Manager Morgan Haenchen

Student Assistant Manager Ted Moreland

Student Account ExecutivesHunter Chitwood, Zach Congdon, Jake

Dworkis, Ivan Meza, Rohan Needel, Trevor Nelson, Diego Palmas, Paola

Reyes, Ted Sniderman, Stephanie VajdaStudent Lead Generators

Gabby Garza, Jennifer HowtonStudent Classifi eds Clerk

Nick CremonaEvent Coordinator

Lindsey Hollingsworth

Special Editions & Production Coordinator

Abby JohnstonSenior Graphic Designer

Felimon HernandezStudent Graphic Designers

Jacqui Bontke, Sara Gonzalez, Daniel Hublein, Bailey Sullivan

Longhorn Life is an advertising special edition of The Daily Texan produced by students in Texas Student Media’s special editions offi ce. Reach us at

[email protected] 2011 Texas Student Media. All articles, photographs and graphics are the property of Texas Student Media and may not be reproduced or repub-lished in part or in whole without written permission.CONTACT TSM: We are located in the Hearst Student Media building (HSM).

For advertising, call 512-471-1865.

� e weather may not feel like winter yet — but let’s be honest, when does it ever? Re-gardless, the holidays are here! And with only eight days left of school and 28 days un-til Christmas, there’s not a lot of time to get the necessary plan-ning done. Luckily we’ve made an issue that will remedy your biggest holiday woes.

Now you may still be full from � anks-giving, but trust me,

that was just a prac-tice round! We have included great recipes for a fall-tastic turkey burger and pump-kin brownie on page 10. On a diet? Check out an interview with professor Lydia Steinman on page 11 for a breakdown of what holiday dishes should be avoided.

And with � nals looming overhead, perhaps � nding the perfect (and inex-pensive) gifts for your

friends and family will help lift your spirits (page 8). One shopping trip never hurt, right?

In addition to giv-ing presents, the holi-days are also a great time to give back to the community. Sev-eral campus groups have begun organiz-ing toy, clothes and food drives for local families in need (page 16). If you plan on go-ing home for the holi-day, you might want to consider looking

for volunteer oppor-tunities at a local soup kitchen or with a car-oling group. As Buddy the Elf says, “the best way to spread Christ-mas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”

However, if you can’t make it home for the holidays, don’t worry. � ere’s plenty to keep you busy. In addition to the return of Austin’s popular Trail of Lights (page 13), we’ve compiled a list of events, from

a New Year’s 5K to neighborhood light shows on page 14.

Happy holidays!

Emily MorganSpecial editions editor

facebook.com/txlonghornlifelonghornlifeonline.com twitter.com/txlonghornlifeFIND US ONLINE!

contentspg 05

Feature Hark! Where are the bells?

pg 07

Style Notes‘tis the season to be tacky

pg 08

Making cents Holiday gift giving guide

pg 09

FeatureCultural holiday traditions

pg10

Good eats ‘tis the season for feasting

Fall treats

pg13

ExploreIlluminating Austin: Trail of

Lights returns

pg16

ImpactLonghorns give back

Editor’s Note

These are the moments you’ll want to remember.Let us help.

order your Cactus yearbook today atwww.CactusYearbook.com

and hook ‘em Horns!

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Showcasing students around campus

LOVE THAT STYLE! CHATTERLeanna ChiaEnglish and history sophomore

With fashion inspiration from the Sartorialist blog and her unending aversion to the cold, Chia’s bright out� t is perfect for the on-again-o� -again fall Texas weather.

Style pet peeve: Crocs and mouth grills

Wearing: Anthropologie skirt, Madewell cardigan, shirt from Bu� alo Exchange, boots by Je� rey Campbell and a hand knitted in� nity scarf.

Zavier Winghamintenational relations and global studies junior

From his printed sweater to his combat boots, Wingham makes sure his looks reveal his inner vogue. “Fashion comes from the idea you get when you see a certain fabric, not the label.”

Style pet peeve: Ugg boots with Nike shorts

Wearing: Forever 21 sweater, studded shirt, skinny jeans and necklace; thrift boots.

Eric Dawsonbiology sophomore

“ Catching up with all the friends and family you lose track of while you’re busy with school. � e food is al-ways spectacular, the stories are usually amusing and the sweaters get uglier every year.”

advertising senior

“ � e Trail of Lights. � e trail is a great place to go with friends and enjoy the beauti-ful lights along with some delicious snacks such as fried snickers, freshly made kettle corn and hot chocolate.”

Emily Snydergeography freshman

“ I love the change in the weather - � nally. Also getting together with friends and family on New Year’s Eve, my favorite holiday.”WHAT’S IN YOUR BAG?

Preparedness is never an issue for Garza; her “Mary Poppins” bag has everything a busy pre-vet student might need, from Ibuprofen to a calculator. In addition to schoolwork, Garza has essentials for a busy holiday social season. With party invitations, a mirror and some lip gloss, she won’t have any problems getting ready at a minute’s notice.

Amber Garzabiology sophomore

by Shantanu Banerjeephotos by Trisha Seelig

SpotlightWhat’s your favorite thing about the holidays?

DiptoroopMukherjee

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012Page 4 LONGHORN LIFE

Sun. Mon. Tue. Wed. Thur. Fri. Sat.

12/1

David Bazan10 p.m. @ Parish

12/2 12/3 12/4 12/5 12/6 12/7 12/8

Joe Buck9 p.m. @ Beerland

Christy Hays and Her Sunday Best8 p.m. @ Hole in the Wall

Of Montreal6:30 p.m. @ Mohawk

The Mountain Goats10 p.m. @Emo’s East

Other Lovers9 p.m. @ Mohawk (inside)

Little Lo9:30 p.m. @ Lamberts

Oh No Oh MyTBA @ Swan Dive

12/9 12/10 12/11 12/12 12/13 12/14 12/15

Charlie Brown Christmas3 p.m. & 5:30 p.m. @ Parish

Janis Ian7 p.m. @ One World Theater

Bomb the Music Industry!9 p.m. @ Mohawk (inside)

Bloc Party10 p.m. @ Emo’s East

Eli Young Band8:30 p.m. @ Emo’s East

Foxy Dangerous9 p.m. @ Frank

Bryan Adams8 p.m. @ Moody Theater

12/16 12/17 12/18 12/19 12/20 12/21 12/22

Silversun Pickups10 p.m. @ Emo’s East

Kinky8 p.m. @ Stubb’s (inside)

Marina and the Diamonds10 p.m. @ Emo’s East

The Story so FarTBA @ Red 7

These Mad Dogs of Glory8:30 p.m. @ Lamberts

Cederic Burnside Project8 p.m. @ Antone’s

The Golden BoysTBA @ Beerland

12/23 12/24 12/25

Moneywell SpuntTBA@ Hole in the Wall

Heybale!10 p.m. @ Continental Club

Christmas Day

DECEMBER

CAMPUS EVENTSEV

ENT

CALE

ND

AR

11/28 Bevonomics 103 on managing student loans, 4 to 5 p.m., BUR 220

11/29 The Bourne Legacy (Blockbuster Film Series), 6 and 9 p.m., UNB 2.228

11/29-12/1

The Texas Union’s 32nd Annual Madrigal Dinner, a Renais-sance- style dinner comedy, 6:30 p.m., UNB 3.202

12/04 UT Orchestra performs with cellist Jun Seo, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., MRH Bates Recital Hall 3.838

11/29 Texas Beer 5K Run, includes free beer tasting, 7:30 p.m., Texas Running Company

11/30 Laugh, Dammit!, a live comedy game show, 10 p.m. to mid-night, New Movement Theater

12/03 Blue Genie Art Bazaar, handmade artwork and jewelry from local artists, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Marchesa Hall & Theater

12/04 Austin Watch Party: Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, 7 p.m., Abel’s on the Lake

11/28 Student Events Center Music and Entertainment Committee presents Jazz on the Patio, 7:30 p.m., Texas Union East patio

OFF-CAMPUS EVENTS

STUDENT ORG EVENTS

SHOP SMARTEST FIND • COMPARE • SHOP • SAVE

Find what you like on sale while you compare, locate nearby stores or shop online. Then, scan barcodes and tags for information about things you're interested in. Add these to your shopping list or wish list. Find coupons and rebates and share with your friends! It’s a shopping tool that connects you with your favorite products and services, as it learns and evolves with you.

LEARN MORE ATSCANSEE.COM

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Construction will leave the iconic Kniker Carillon in the Tower silent this holiday season, a bittersweet experience for members of the Guild of Student Carillonneurs. Formed in April 2010, the group currently consists of nine UT students who aim to keep the art of the carillon alive, according to the guild’s s t u d e n t a d v i s o r , A u s t i n Ferguson. The guild typically performs as a group every T h u r s d a y from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Tower while Ferguson, a sophomore music theory major, reserves Tuesdays from 1 to 2 p.m. for his own performances. Each semester they perform at least one big concert, holiday songs in the fall and a pre-finals concert in the spring, but Ferguson hopes to increase the frequency of these performances to two or three each semester. Sadly, UT students will have to wait until spring to enjoy the Tower’s chimes again. According to Ferguson, the university is financing a project to update the aging carillon. The first of the 56 bells were installed in 1936. Ferguson has a hopeful outlook for the construction. “I’m really excited. Once the rebuild on [the carillon] is done and we’ve got everything re-situated, it’s going to play like an entirely new

instrument,” he said. Although holiday music is among Ferguson’s favorite to play, the construction halts the guild’s performances until the projected construction completion date, Jan. 31 of next year. To make up for lost time, Ferguson hopes to play a “Christmas in March”

concert; the only difficulty is how long the guild will have to prepare. “It’s not too long after Christmas, but I want us to be able to practice before we go up and play,” Ferguson said. Because almost none of the members have played a carillon prior to joining the organization, the guild uses a teacher-student model to learn songs. Veteran members give lessons once a week to the new carillonneurs and assist in song selection and arrangement. Each person has a different process for arranging songs for the carillon, whether it’s finding the music on the Internet or simply playing by ear. The guild is able to play almost any song on the bells that does not rely primarily on lyrics, which unfortunately means we won’t get to hop across campus while “Gangnam Style” chimes from the

Tower. If you have a specific song you’d like to hear, you can email requests to the guild or take the plunge and learn to play yourself. To join, you must be able to read music and have at least two years left at the university. Students who are interested in joining can email the guild to

set up an audition for the spring semester. “When I saw the flyer for the student guild here, I was like

‘I’ve got to go out!” said senior oboe studies and voice major Matt Przekota. “You get to say that you play a building. It’s like, ‘What’s the carillon?’ ‘Oh, you know the Tower? I play that.’” Owing to the construction — and the subsequent absence of the bell chimes this winter — the carillon will come back in the spring sounding brand new, and the Guild of Student Carillonneurs will be ready to get back in action.

For more information visit the Guild of Student Carillonneurs’ website at www.texascarillon.com or email them at [email protected]

Hark! Where are the bells?The Tower’s carillon falls silent this holiday season

by Ali Killian

“You get to say you play a building. It’s like, ‘What’s the carillon?’ ‘Oh, you know the Tower? I play that.’”

- Matt Przekota carillonneur

Guild of Student Carillonneurs members Austin Ferguson and Matt Przekota chat between practicing songs. Although the bells will be silent this winter, the guild looks forward to next spring.

Austin Ferguson translates sheet music into the bell tolls that students hear between classes. Each of the carillonneurs has an assigned time they perform each week.

photos by Monica Zhang

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HOLIDAY � e holidays are a time for celebration — bringing together friends and family to share gifts and laughs. However, with celebration comes a busy schedule, and deciding what to wear to all the festivities can be a hassle. Not only that, but it can also be challenging to put together ensembles that look seasonal but not tacky. Check out this style guide to help make dressing for the holiday season a little less stressful and a lot more fun.

GLITTERING IN GOLD: A SEMI-FORMAL PARTY

For a semi-formal holiday party, go for one or two fun, festive pieces, and keep the rest of your accessories simple. Begin with a classy

but cute centerpiece, like a sparkly gold dress. Instead of going with basic black heels, try some bold red peep-toe pumps, which will

make the outfi t both more stylish and more festive. Because these elements already call

for attention, keep your accessories relatively basic. Echo the sparkle of the dress with small earrings, slide on a few gold rings and carry a classic black clutch. You’ll be ready to walk

into the party with confi dence and style.

CLASSY COMFORT: A FAMILY EVENT

For a celebration with relatives, comfort and class are key; the last things you want to be doing while chatting with Aunt Mildred are adjusting your top and trying to ignore

your aching feet. Throw on some dark trouser jeans — they’ll be comfortable but still look nice — and a jewel-toned blouse. Add some festive sparkle with earrings and a small diamond or cubic zirconia necklace and metallic fl ats to fi nish off the look for a

pleasant night with relatives.

CHRISTMAS CASUALIt can be a little tricky to dress low-key but still look festive. If you’re attending a casual get-together with friends, try utilizing some

fun accessories. After putting on simple skinny jeans and a loose-fi tting top in a

holiday-appropriate color, add star-shaped stud earrings, sparkly fl ats and a bright

cocktail ring. This is the perfect opportunity to play with color: a red ring with a green top

suggests holiday spirit without looking too obvious. A neutral-colored bag with a slight

metallic sheen will pull together the look without making it over-the-top. Small touches will make this casual look both holiday- and

event-appropriate.

NEW YEAR SPARKLESAny New Year’s celebration is a good excuse for sparkle. A silver, glittery skirt pairs well with a fashion-forward black embellished

top. Up the festive factor even more with an eye-catching clutch in a complementary color — normally a sparkly skirt and a sparkly bag might be too much, but New Year’s is a good opportunity to take risks. Polish off the outfi t

with a stack of silver bracelets and dangly earrings. This look would pair with pumps

easily, but why not go for some less-expected ankle boots instead? Adding stylish and

fashionable elements will prevent the sparkle from appearing tacky.

Sequin mesh dress, $60, delias.com; rsvp Cailyn pumps, $99, zappos.com; black baroque print clutch, $24, newlook.com; pearl stackable gold rings, $24,

eternalsparkles.com; sparkling bead earrings, $3.80, forever21.com

American Vintage top, $57, welikefashion.com; H&M skinny low jeans, $16, hm.com; Miss Kg luxe ballet

fl ats, $79, republic.co.uk; bone zip crossbody purse, $12, dorothyperkins.com; Shanna’s large red oval natural

stone fashion ring, $28, fantasyjewelrybox.com; Pilgrim women’s gold star stud earrings, $7.13, psyche.co.uk

Top Shop gem collar peplum top, $60, us.topshop.com; rsvp Vallerie skirt, $53, zappos.com; Manhattan romance heels, $58, modcloth.com; Lorraine envelope clutch in fuchsia, $34.90, shopakira.com; John Lewis

multilayer Diamanté sparkle bracelet, $29, johnlewis.com; Cath Kidston antique silver crystal sparkle drop

earrings, $32, asos.com

Rose split-sleeve peplum blouse, $98, whitehouseblackmarket.com; Raven Denim Mackenzie trouser bootcut jeans, $39, tobi.com; Boutique 9 ‘Anahi’ fl at shoes, $64, barefoottess.com; Nordstrom pendant necklace, $27, nordstrom.com; MANGO wings crystals

earrings, $20, mango.com

STYLE

Keeping the 40 Acres trendyStyle Notes

Wednesday, November 28, 2012Page 6 LONGHORN LIFE

by Jeana Bertoldi

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7Page 7Wednesday, November 28, 2012 LONGHORN LIFE

TACKY‘tis the season to be

With the holidays right around the corner, it’s o� cially time to break out the tacky Christmas gear. Tacky sweater parties are plentiful the days leading up to winter break, and now is the time to start the search for the perfect sweater. And the tackier the better! � roughout the year Urban Out� tters has a section called Urban Renewal, which features vintage and refurbished fashion. While the clothes are typically overpriced, their holiday sweater collection is eclectic and reasonably priced. Most of them cost around $25 and are guaranteed to stand out among a sea of tacky sweaters.

Other stores with great selections are Goodwill, Cream Vintage and Bu� alo Exchange. � ese stores are cheap and have genuinely tacky sweaters. Straight from the 80s and 90s, these sweaters are complete with iron-on patches, bears in Santa hats carrying presents, sequins and much more. If these aren’t tacky enough for your taste, try talking to older relatives to see if they have any, or look at your local � ea market. It is even acceptable to buy sweaters and then add personal touches such as bows, tinsel, pipe cleaners and bells. Any local craft store will have the supplies you need. Although rare, there have also been a few sightings of tacky Hanukkah sweaters at Goodwill. Complete with menorahs, dreidels and Stars of David, these sweaters ensure no one will feel left out around the holidays. Most importantly don’t forget to memorialize your holiday spirit by having an awkward family photo shoot. Get all of your friends together — in your tacky garb, of course — and take pictures by the tree, with your stockings or lined up on the stairs. Be creative with the pictures you take. Find random locations, be cheesy and most of all have fun — this is the season to be jolly!

by Sara Tapferphotos by Monica Zhang

Writer Sara Tapfer models some tacky (but adorable!) sweaters from the Urban Renewal line at Urban Out� tters. If $25 seems like too much to spend on tacky fare, head to a craft store to imitate these sweaters.

Hillary ClintonWonder if Hill and Bill

had matching tacky duds.

Snoop LionFrosty ain’t the only one

smoking a pipe this season.

Matt Damon� umbs up if you’re tacky

and proud of it!

• Individual leases • 6 locations 2-4 blocks from campus• Cable and internet included • 24 hour fitness facility

Download our Free iPhone App

www.quartersoncampus.com512-531-0123

Celebs do it too!

Page 8: Longhorn Life holiday editions

Trying to � gure out what to buy friends and family for the holidays is hard enough, but after factoring in the typical college student’s budget it becomes much more di� cult. Fortunately, with a little time spent sorting through merchandise at local thrift stores or even in the sale section of popular stores

the perfect — and a� ordable — gifts are within reach. Longhorn Life has compiled a list of great gifts, for everyone on your list, to help alleviate this year’s holiday shopping stress.

A GUIDE

Wednesday, November 28, 2012 Page 8 LONGHORN LIFE

by Sara Tapfer

When searching for gifts for these ever-trendy ladies, stores like Urban Out� tters are great options. Everything at Urban is modeled after current trends, making it a great (sometimes) inexpensive yet fashion forward resource. Instead of paying $327 for a Kate Spade bag, you can buy a similar bag from Urban Out� tters for $49, sunglasses for $10 and a necklace for $29. Wrapping paper does not have to be expensive either. Simply buying a fashion magazine such as Vogue or Marie Claire and cutting out the pages to use as wrapping paper is a cheap way to personalize the gift.

Everyone has an obsession with food around the holidays, so what better way to their heart than with some delectable seasonal treats? � e only issue: gift cards can seem impersonal and can get expensive depending on the restaurant. A great wallet-friendly alternative is to � nd a recipe on Pinterest and wrap the goodies in colorful cellophane. Pair these with a cute utensil from Target like the Nordic Ware Dinosaur Mu� n Plaque for $28.09. Anyone on your list is sure to enjoy this thoughtful gift.

Considering how in� uential music is to the city of Austin, there is a good chance you have a music fanatic friend in need of a great gift this holiday season. � rift stores are an excellent option. Cream Vintage o� the Drag has a plethora of old records for sale from $2 to $10. � ese are great for decorating bare walls or playing on a turntable. If you’re looking to purchase a record player, keep in mind that vintage ones can cost upward of $250. Best Buy o� ers newer versions for just over $79.

With the slogan “Keep Austin Weird,” there is no denying the city is full of hipsters. One of the biggest aspects of this culture is photography. Unfortunately a professional-grade Canon can cost over $700. For the recently-proclaimed hipster, Pottery Barn Teen sells an electric blue Lomography brand � sheye camera for only $55. Wide-angle, circular shots are one of the many de� ning characteristics of true hipsterdom, this gift is hit.

SHOPAHOLICS

FOODIES

MUSIC AFICIONADOS

HIPSTERS

Holiday gift giving guideDoing more for less

Making cents

Page 9: Longhorn Life holiday editions

9Page 9Wednesday, November 28, 2012 Longhorn Life

| by Emily Morgan and Channing Holman |

Diwali | November 13, 2012Christmas | December 25, 2012

Eid ul-Adha | October 26, 2012 Hanukkah | December 8 to 16, 2012

Jasymne AlexanderEnglish and African diaspora studies senior

Age: 22

Religious background: nondenominational Christian

“ We go to church where there is usually some type of special program and then have dinner afterward. It gives me a chance to enjoy and appreciate the sacrifices God has made for his children

and allows me to spend time with extended family.”

Brandon Majorsocial work senior

Age: 23

Religious background: Agnosticism

Swati Vermaplan II biology senior

Age: 21

Religious background: Hinduism

“ My family and I have the same Christmas traditions as ev-eryone else, just minus the celebration of Jesus’ birth and go-ing to church. My favorite part is waking up early to look at the Christmas tree and waiting for everyone else to get up. It’s really

the only time of year when I’m eager to wake up early.”

“ The day usually starts with a morning prayer. Then, through-out the day families eat, go from house to house and then eat some more. Traditionally, elder family members and friends give younger members money, termed Eidi, in honor of the

celebration.”

“ Traditionally, most families make latkes [fried potato pan-cakes]. Some also play a game called dreidel, where you spin a dreidel and receive prizes based on the side it lands on. Gifts are

also given each night as a new candle on the menorah is lit.”“ To share our joy, each night we light our menorah and place it in our windowsill. As they are lit, special holiday songs are recited to commemorate this victory. Special holiday treats are also enjoyed, including latkes, sufganiyot [jelly donuts] and gelt

[chocolate coins].”

Midhat Patelbiology honors senior

Age: 20

Religious background: Islam

Jennifer Tribblechemistry and microbiology senior

Age: 20

Religious background: reform Judaism

Aaron LienerHebrew language and litera-ture junior

Age: 22

Religious background: modern orthodox Judaism

Diwali is one of the most important holidays for practic-ing Hindus. This five-day festival is the celebration many events, including of the return of Rama, a deity of their God Vishnu, after being exiled to the jungle for 14 years.

Christmas is one of the largest celebrated holidays in the nation. This Christian holiday commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ to the Virgin Mary. According to the Old Testament, Jesus was born in a stable in the town of Beth-lehem and received gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh from “three kings” coming to welcome the new king of the Jews. It has also become a widely celebrated cultural holiday for many, including individuals of other religions.

Eid-ul-Adha is known as the day of sacrifice, in which Muslims sacrifice animals to God out of gratitude. This offering is meant to symbolize Islamic prophet Abra-ham’s willingness to sacrifice his first-born son Ishmael.

Hanukkah celebrates the Jewish defeat of the invading Greek army in second century B.C., which sought to destroy the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. According to popular belief, after the battle there was only enough oil for the meno-rah to burn for one day. Miraculously it lasted for eight days, further signifying this modern-day commemoration.

“ Diwali is like the equivalent to the Western New Year’s. Families get together to celebrate and further strengthen their ties to each other and God. Typically candles are lit and all of the lights are left on to make the home more inviting for Lord Rama. Many sweets are eaten and gifts are exchanged during a fireworks

show.”

This time of year brings various cultural celebrations filled with food, family and faith. Discover how fellow Longhorns celebrate during the holiday season.

Page 10: Longhorn Life holiday editions

Good EatsPage 10 Wednesday, November 28, 2012LONGHORN LIFE

Embrace your inner foodie

With fall upon us, cravings for baked apples, roasted turkey and pumpkin pies are bound to take over. While some are dreaming of sugar plums, at Longhorn Life we’re dreaming of turkey and brownies. A popular recipe shared at my home during the holidays is for my mother’s classic turkey burger. Not only will it warm your taste buds, but it’s an easy, quick and relatively cheap meal to make – perfect for any student.

MOM’S CLASSIC TURKEY BURGERMakes six patties

Ingredients:— 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil— 1 small onion, � nely chopped— 1 celery stalk, minced— 1 tbsp. fresh thyme, chopped— 1 1/2 tsp. fresh sage, chopped— 1/2 tsp. salt—1/2 tsp. freshly ground pepper— 1/4 cup dried cranberries, � nely chopped—1 pound 93 percent lean ground turkey

Directions:1. Pat the ground turkey into six patties. Add salt and pepper for � avor.2. Heat oil in pan and sauté the onions, thyme, sage, cranberries and celery until browned.3. Add the turkey patties into the same pan and sauté until they have a brown to dark brown color, approximately 30 minutes.4. Serve in a bun.

PUMPKIN BROWNIESource: PinterestMakes 1 pan of brownies

Ingredients:— 1 box of brownie mix— 2 eggs— 3 red apples, sliced— 1/3 cup of oil— 1 can pumpkin puree

Directions:1. Heat the oven to 350° F.2. Mix together brownie mix, eggs, oil and pumpkin puree until smooth.3. Transfer the mixture to a greased pan and bake in the oven for approximately 30 minutes.

Taste of fall

For more holiday recipes check out our

Holiday Gobbles Pinterest board!pinterest.com/txlonghornlife

by Katie NoriegaPhoto by Trisha Seelig

� e air is � lled with joy and the holiday spirit, but any food-ie knows the best part of the season is the tantalizing aromas of seasonal comfort foods. Whether you’re trying to bring in a little slice of home or you just can’t wait for December 25, On-ion Creek Grille has you covered. Its yummy bu� et, designed with the holidays in mind, will expand your waistline but not your wallet. � is Omni Hotel restaurant o� ers home-cooked specialties all year long, but for chef Stephen Stilfka this time of year is particularly exciting. “I love being around my family for the holidays, but the sat-isfaction I get from cooking for other families is fun for me,” Stilfka said. Onion Creek Grille is typically favored for its extensive pasta bar; however Stilfka and his team try to add a festive twist in the winter months, evolving the menu each year based on crowd favorites. Because of their ongoing dedication to cus-tomer satisfaction, the holiday bu� et has become increas-ingly popular, with holiday reservations sometimes � lling up a year in advance. “We get great reactions via social media, and we’re highly rated on Trip Advisor. It’s things like that we look for to be-come better,” said director of sales and marketing Tim Che-gin. “A lot of local businesses take vacations for the holidays, but we o� er in-home, traditional foods.”

‘tis the season for feasting Keeping the costs low has also helped encourage a strong customer base. At just $24 per adult and $12 for kids ages 5 to 13, this all-you-can-eat feast is still perfect for a tight budget. A few of the restaurant’s holiday items include a black pepper crusted bone-in rib-eye, dried-fruit stu� ed airline chicken breast and a fall mixed green salad.

One of Onion Creek Grille’s holiday o� erings - a 16-ounce Angus beef rib-eye, boursin mashed Yukon gold potatoes and asparagus.

Trudy’s might be closed, but there are still plenty of restaurants open Christmas eve and day for students staying in Austin.

If your parents came to town:TRIO Christmas day bu� et• Menu highlights: Gulf ceviche, made-to-

order omlettes, Southern squash and kaleDriskill Hotel Christmas brunch• Menu highlights: Eggs benedict, lobster

bisque, pumpkin pie risotto

A� ordable splurges:Fogo de Chao• Menu highlights: Salad and side bar, 15

di� erent cuts of meatCentral Market take-home menu• Menu highlights: Tamales, homestyle

macaroni and cheese, cauli� ower gratin• *Last day to order is Dec. 22

photo and story by Channing Holman

11

Page 11: Longhorn Life holiday editions

Wednesday, November 28, 2012 Page 11Longhorn Life

PUMPKIN BROWNIESource: PinterestMakes 1 pan of brownies

Ingredients:— 1 box of brownie mix— 2 eggs— 3 red apples, sliced— 1/3 cup of oil— 1 can pumpkin puree

Directions:1. Heat the oven to 350° F.2. Mix together brownie mix, eggs, oil and pumpkin puree until smooth.3. Transfer the mixture to a greased pan and bake in the oven for approximately 30 minutes.

The secret to holiday eatingSenior lecturer Lydia Steinman gives us the skinny

by Paloma Lenz

photo by Courtney James

We’ve crossed the threshold to the sea-son of gluttony — a time of year when overindulgence runs amok. As far as dieting is concerned, holiday eating can prove di-sastrous. Upon win-ter’s arrival, usually you’ve either made a promise to watch w h a t you eat to avoid wa st i ng a n o t h -er New Y e a r ’ s r e s o l u -tion or y o u ’ v e accepted the fact that your New Year’s Eve outfit might need an elastic waistband. Whatever the case, Lydia C. Steinman, distinguished senior lecturer and under-graduate instructional administrator for the Department of Nutri-tional Sciences, ad-vises students and fac-ulty alike not to worry about overeating dur-ing the holidays. “It’s not a horrible thing to overeat. It’s really common,” Steinman explained. “It’s all a matter of bal-ance.” Steinman stresses portion size as the

key to control. Be-ing aware of what you eat will help you stop yourself from over indulging. In other words, if you’re hop-ing to have your fill of every dish during holiday dinners, do so responsibly. “Portion sizes are re-

ally, really important. You can take half of what you normally would and then have the same food for din-ner,” she said. If portion control sounds unreasonable, don’t fret; Steinman offers another tip for maintaining that tiny shred of dignity as far as food is concerned: try eating slowly. “Our brains tell us when we’re full, and a lot of the time we don’t pay attention to them. But, if you do pay attention, it takes about 20 minutes af-ter you start eating [to get full]. The slow-er you eat, the more

“We’re really influenced by our senses and, even though physiologically we’re not hungry, [when] we see and smell that piece of pie, we can anticipate what it’s going to taste like, so we take it.”

- Lydia Steinmannutritional science senior lecturer

aware you become of how full you are or when you’re satisfied,” Steinman said. If you’re looking for a scientific explanation for why you feel the urge to fill your stom-ach to the brim with traditional holiday dishes, there isn’t one.

T h e c o m -b i n a -tion of b e i n g s u r -round-ed by l o v e d o n e s a n d s e n -

sory overload from all the food makes eating between conversa-tions and during foot-ball games a no-brain-er. “Hunger is a physi-ological need to eat, and appetite is a psy-chological desire to eat,” Steinman said. “Holidays like Thanks-giving have these wonderful meals with all these things you normally don’t eat. You come together with your family, and the whole purpose is to eat. We’re really in-fluenced by our sens-es and, even though physiologically we’re not hungry, [when]

we see and smell that piece of pie, we can anticipate what it’s go-ing to taste like, so we take it.” So if you thought you did pretty well surviv-ing the Thanksgiving dinner of champi-ons, keep up the good work. If you’re not so sure you can handle Grandma stuffing you with, well, more stuff-ing when you return for winter break, then consider some of the

alternatives Stein-man offers. Otherwise, don’t feel the need to deprive yourself.

Check out what comes to Steinman’s mind when she hears the names of traditional holiday dishes and what diet-friendly al-ternatives she suggests:

Gravy: “Gravy is very caloric because it’s made with fat drip-pings from the turkey and milk,” Steinman said.

Mashed potatoes: Though fluffy mashed potatoes are her fa-vorite, Steinman sug-gests cutting down the amount of butter and switching to low-fat milk to save yourself some guilt.

Turkey: To avoid the sugary sauces and fat-tening gravies needed to offset a dry turkey, Steinman suggests a salt brine. “It really takes in the moisture, and it won’t dry out as much when baked.”

Pecan or apple pie: Nuts are a known source of healthy fats and proteins, but too many in one serving can result in a very caloric dessert. Stein-man suggests apple.

Eat this, not that!

10

Page 12: Longhorn Life holiday editions

Texas football took on a whole new meaning this Thanksgiving as UT geared up to play TCU instead of the Aggies. After Longhorns said a victorious goodbye to a 117-year rivalry with A&M last fall, many wondered what would become of our Thanksgiving tradition. The Hex Rally began in 1941 as a way to ensure a Longhorn win by putting a hex on our College Station rivals, and has become an annual campus tradition before the big Thanksgiving showdown. This year, the University was determined to keep the tradi-tion alive even with a new opponent on the roster. “We’re really trying to stray away from it being just [about] A&M; it’s a UT tradition at the end of the day, and we want students to remember it’s our tradition to own and not something we give to another team,” said Texas Exes spirits and traditions council chair Erica Flores. This year’s rally preserved the name Hex Rally, and Texas Exes organizers adopted the slogan “Same hex, same spirit, new game.” Ultimately it’s not about what team we face, but it’s about fostering school spirit and supporting our team.

“I hope that everyone will rally behind the idea of con-tinuing the tradition and embracing and keeping it alive, even if it’s for a new team,” said Texas Exes student rela-tions coordinator Kelsey Roberts. Still, some are skeptical about this new direction. Christian Corona, sports editor for The Daily Texan and journalism senior, is concerned about what a new oppo-nent means for traditional Texas rivalries. “You kind of di-lute the meaning of a rivalry when you call games between Texas and TCU a rivalry,” said Corona. While Texas has a history of “hexing” schools other than A&M in the past, in-cluding TCU, facing the Aggies became an eagerly awaited part of the year for many seniors, including Corona. “The Hex Rally is something special to the rivalry that Texas and Texas A&M had, and to have a rally before a TCU game just doesn’t feel right,” he said. The experience will be much different for incoming freshmen; many have heard about the rivalry but won’t have the chance to witness it. Yet many students are

optimistic and willing to embrace the change. Freshman biology major Jenna Pecot grew up listening to her fellow Longhorn and sister’s accounts of the rivalry. “It’s kind of disappointing that we’re not playing A&M anymore, but I’m really excited to be the first class that gets to play TCU,” she said. Sophomore finance major Audrey George has similar sentiments. “I think it’s really cool that I’m able to experience the last A&M Hex Rally and also the first TCU Hex Rally. I think we’ll miss the tradition with A&M but starting a new one with TCU is going to be so much fun.” As students, athletes, faculty and staff united to light the red candles and put a hex on TCU before the big game, some students felt a different vibe at this year’s rally. Sophomore journalism major Rebecca Salazar said, “It was a little less intense because it’s not the same rivalry. But in the end it’s important to continue traditions. I think the spirit is there, so it doesn’t matter who we play.”

Same hex, same spirit, new game

by Alex Vickeryphotos by Katrina Funtanilla

Page 12 Wednesday, November 28, 2012LONGHORN LIFE

Page 13: Longhorn Life holiday editions

13

Lights of every shape and color will illuminate Zilker Park this winter with the triumphant return of the Trail of Lights, one of Austin’s most beloved holiday traditions. From Dec. 16 to 23 the trail returns bigger and better after a two-year hiatus. Originally named “Yulefest,” the trail has served as a yearly custom since its start in 1965. However, in 2009 the city fell on hard economic times and the trail was signifi-cantly reduced and ultimately eliminated in 2010. “The Aus-tin Trail of Lights is a celebration rich in tradition, shared stories and community,” said Courtney Campbell, social media manager at Forefront Austin, a digital media and marketing company helping organize this year’s event. “It connects us to all that is great about our community, no matter how much we grow and change. Austinites have missed this opportunity [since its elimination] to connect with each other and celebrate our community advance-ments,” she said. Luckily local businesses and nonprofit organizations

recognized the importance of the event and jumped in to bring the trail back to the city. The RunTex Carrozza Foun-dation and Forefront Austin are producing the event and “are raising more than $1 million to re-illuminate the trail, keep it a free event and provide economic sustainability for future years,” Campbell said. Powered by H-E-B, the event found corporate backing by businesses such as Dell, Sam-sung, Seton Healthcare Family and Vista Equity. Thanks to their support, no city funds will have to be used for this year’s event. “Cross-community support from businesses, foundations and individuals make this an event truly for, by and of Austin,” Campbell said. In the past as many as 250,000 people traveled to see this sea of spectacular holiday lights. This year could bring even more visitors, with the trail promising to be bigger than ever. Guests can expect 1.25 miles of every-color lights, Santa’s house and a nonprofit village featuring 23 local area organizations, musicians, carolers and dancers, Campbell said. The event also includes theme nights ranging from

School Spirit Night to Military Appreciation Night. Each young attendee will receive a free book as a part of H-E-B’s Read 3 children’s literacy program, which encour-ages guardians to read to children three times a week. The program strives to help children develop the skills neces-sary to succeed in school by providing them with books, ac-cording to the its website. The Trail of Lights runs nightly from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Ad-mission is free and open to the public. Hot chocolate, apple cider and great eats from local food trailers will be available for purchase. “Austin is known for throwing parties for the rest of the world,” Campbell said. “This is a party we throw for our-selves. Everyone needs a chance to join in, celebrate the past year and connect for a positive new year.”

Illuminating Austin: Trail of Lights Returns

by Megan Smithphotos submitted by Trail of Lights

Wednesday, November 28, 2012 Page 13LONGHORN LIFE

Page 14: Longhorn Life holiday editions

14

Calling Austin home for the holidaysby Ali Killian

Holiday Sing-Along and Downtown Stroll FreeDec. 1, 6 to 10 p.m.Austin Capitol Building

During the � rst weekend in December, bring your shower singing voice to the Austin Capitol Building, where you can belt holiday classics at the Downtown Austin Alliance and KUT’s annual Holiday Sing-Along and Downtown Stroll. Starting at 6 p.m. Austinites will gather at the Capitol for old-fashioned caroling followed by the lighting of the Capitol’s tree. � en head down Congress for festive activities hosted by restaurants, shops and museums. Col-lege students are always strapped for cash – especially during the holidays – which makes the free Holiday Sing-Along and Downtown Stroll a cost-e� ective alternative to more ex-pensive winter activities.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012Page 14 LONGHORN LIFE

� e holiday season is here, and although most don’t want to spend it alone, there’s plenty to do in Austin if you’re not heading home to see family for winter break. � e time between semesters gives Longhorns a chance to unleash their holiday spirits and enjoy festivities like these, which are sure to cheer up even the grumpiest of Scrooges.

Ballet Austin’s The Nutcracker$12 to $72Dec. 8 to 23, 2 and 7:30 p.m.� e Long Center

� e Nutcracker ballet is an ultimate holiday classic, and Ballet Austin’s rendition is the longest running production of the show in Texas. � e Nutcracker tells the story of a girl named Ciara, whose toy nutcracker comes to life to help her � ght the Mouse King and con-sequently leads her on adventures in the Land of Sweets. Although ballets can be pricey, buying the cheaper seats won’t break your bank, and you’ll be able to take in the dancing snow� akes and other winter imagery in this Christmas Eve tale from the balcony.

Neighborhood Christmas Lights Anytime, all around Austin

Looking for a low-key way to indulge in the holiday cheer? Keep it simple by cranking up the holiday tunes and driving around Austin’s neighborhoods to check out the residents’ holiday displays; 37th Street and Project XMas at 1912 Chrystal Shore are both known for their extravagant displays. Alternatively, you can show o� your creative side by decorating your own place. Just be careful if you plan to live in the dorms over winter break: the uni-versity implements speci� c and stringent rules regarding the types of decorations residents are allowed to use.

Commitment Day 5K$39, free for those 18 and under with a paid adultJan. 1, 10 a.m.Butler Park

At the start of each new year, many try to live up to their healthy lifestyle resolutions, which is what the Commitment Day 5K aims to help with. Commitment Day is a movement that encourages runners to embrace a healthy lifestyle, and it will happen in more than 30 cities on New Year’s Day. Whether you want to run, walk, jog or crawl, the 5K is about the mean-ing behind the race, not who � nishes � rst. When choosing your resolutions, you can use the Commitment Day 5K as a starting point for a healthy lifestyle change.

Winter break marks the busiest retail period of the year, so for department stores and corporate chains seasonal positions are in high demand. With increas-ing retail and service oppor-tunities, Austin is the perfect place to pick up extra holiday cash. On-campus services are an easy way to start the search. UT’s o� ce of � nan-cial services maintains a seasonal job bank online through the Hire a Longhorn network. Prospective appli-cants can create an account and upload a resume for ac-cess to a full list of available positions. Hire a Longhorn o� ers part- and full-time po-sitions throughout Austin, and the database speci� es jobs’ responsibilities, start-

ing wages and employee re-quirements. Although career service centers don’t handle season-al employment, they o� er valuable assistance in creat-ing resumes and cover let-ters. Students can visit their colleges’ career services center to learn how to make themselves more attractive to potential employers for both holiday work and long-term employment or intern-ships. “I’d been hunting for an over-the-holidays job for weeks and couldn’t � nd anything. I � gured I needed to revamp my resume and rethink how I approach em-ployers, so I went to career services. Go � gure — Christ-mas tree farms didn’t care about my research experi-ence,” said biomedical engi-

neering sophomore Steven LaBelle. When applying to larger chains, using online applica-tions makes the process eas-ier and more convenient. H-E-B, Macy’s, Target, Walmart and Costco all o� er applica-tions on their websites. On some you can specify that you’re seeking seasonal em-ployment. � e result is that once employed, you can be retained for future seasons. Applications that do not re-sult in employment are kept on � le for up to six months. “I have a seasonal job with Costco. I love it because it keeps me from getting bored over break, and by the end of the semester I can al-ways use the extra money,” said business sophomore David Yu. “I started working there during the summer,

and I go back during long breaks like this one. Summer is probably the best time to guarantee yourself a season-al winter job with big retail-ers.” Submitting your appli-cation in-person can also be a viable strategy because it allows for face-to-face inter-action. It also shows a degree of motivation; you’re taking the initiative to meet the em-ployer and pursue the job, which contrasts with simply � lling out an online applica-tion form. “I got hired at a Christ-mas tree farm. I went to the site and approached the manager to see if they had any openings, and I had the job. But I do think being will-ing and able to undertake manual labor also had a lot to do with it,” said biology

freshman Saheer Patel. Whether you’re staying in Austin or going home for the holidays, there’s bound to be a business looking for extra help. � e important thing to remember is that these spots are limited, so pursue every avenue pos-sible. After submitting an ap-plication, don’t be afraid to follow up with a phone call or a visit to the store; it shows how much you want the job and that you’re dedicated. � ese steps may seem insigni� cant, but they could be the di� erence between making good money or sit-ting on your couch watching “A Christmas Story” on re-peat.

Free time is moneyby Shantanu Banerjee

No matter where you’re from, taking part in the city’s many festivities will make Austin feel like home this holiday season.

Page 15: Longhorn Life holiday editions

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Some of us count down the days until it’s socially acceptable to start blasting Christmas music from our car windows. Even if you’re a fan of the latest Michael Bublé or Justin Bieber holi-day albums, you’re most likely listening to versions of traditional Christmastime classics. Many of the songs that pop stars cover today date back to the “good ole’ days,” as Grandpa would say. But upon closer inspec-tion, some of the lines from these songs are cheesy, sex-ist or downright weird (wait — that song I’ve been sing-ing since I was eight actually says what!). Unfortunately not all oldies are goodies.

“I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”Music & lyrics by Tommie Connor

“Oh, what a laugh it would have been, / If Daddy had only seen / Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night!”

As if the thought of seeing your mom kissing anyone wouldn’t already give you nightmares, imagine seeing her kiss the jolly, bearded man that leaves presents under your tree. Well appar-ently the child that tells the tale in “I Saw Mommy Kiss-ing Santa Claus” is not the slightest bit fazed. He sneaks out of bed and watches the scene unfold from the stair-case where he sees “mommy tickle Santa Claus/under-neath his beard so snowy white.” Infidelity must be pretty comical in this house-hold: the lyrics state it would have been a funny sight for the child’s dad to see his wife kissing Santa Claus. Even a kid that thinks Santa would make a cool dad should know this situation is not something to make light of. The original recording by 13-year-old Jimmy Boyd reached #1 on the Billboard charts when it was released in 1952.

“Baby, It’s Cold Outside”Music & Lyrics by Frank Loesser

“Put on some records while I pour / The neighbors might think / Baby it’s bad out there / Say, what’s in this drink”

Written in 1944, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” has been recorded by too many art-ists to count, becoming a quintessential song for when temperatures drop and snow starts to fall. The duet is a playful tune with a male and female going back and forth, him trying to con-vince her to stay at his place rather than venture out into the snow, even worrying she may, “[catch] pneumonia and die.” However the man’s intentions are questionable. It’s also debatable whether the woman is reluctant to stay because of what she fears it will do to her repu-tation or whether alcohol is hindering her ability to sim-ply leave. When she asks, “Say, what’s in this drink?” he avoids the question by as-suring her there are no cabs outside, resorting to compli-menting her eyes, which are “like starlight now.” He goes on to ask if he can move a little bit closer and tells her, “Baby, don’t hold out.” As the song ends she insists once again that she can’t stay, but the audience is only left wondering whose desires tri-umphed.

“Santa Baby”Written by Joan Javits & Philip Springer

“Santa baby, slip a sable un-der the tree for me / I’ve been an awful good girl”

“Santa Baby,” recorded by Eartha Kitt in 1953 and cov-ered by pop superstars like Madonna and Taylor Swift, is a tune that portrays a gold-digging woman who teases Santa Claus while asking for expensive gifts. Calling him “cutie” and “honey,” she mischievously asks him to bring her a convertible, a yacht, fancy jewelry and a duplex. This scenario por-trays women in a negative light, not only suggesting females use their sex appeal for materialistic gain but also that they are dependent on monetary assistance from men. However what often goes unnoticed is that in the first line, prior to asking for all of these lavish gifts, she asks for a sable. No, a sable is not the name for a tablet or smart phone of the 50s; it’s an animal often found in

Russia harvested for its valu-able fur, which is considered to be a luxury item. This woman is begging Santa “baby” to leave a live animal under her tree so she can skin it for money? Someone alert PETA!

“Do They Know It’s Christ-mas?”Written by Bob Geldof & Midge Ure

“And the Christmas bells that ring there / Are the clanging chimes of doom / Well, to-night, thank God, it’s them instead of you”

It’s 1984 — any song featur-ing the likes of superstars like Sting, Bono and Duran Duran is sure to get people’s attention, especially those in the first-world who appre-ciate the all-star ensemble Band Aid serenading them into helping those affected by the Ethiopian famine. Ef-fective as it may be, don’t you think a song with this grave of a message should sound a little bit more like tearjerk-ers “My Grown Up Christ-mas List” or “The Christmas Shoes” and not a sing-along pop song? Good intentions, perhaps, but when you’re singing along with Phil Col-lins it’s easy to overlook the snobby nature of the song, which tells you to thank God that others are suffering in-stead of you. It may have successfully raised millions for charity in the UK, but co-writer Bob Geldof has ad-mitted the song is dreadful. “I am responsible for two of the worst songs in history. One is ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ and the other ‘We Are The World,’” he re-marked. When the song asks you to pray for “the others” and “raise your glass for ev-eryone,” are we being told to sympathetically donate our money or just drink our eggnog and think about how good we have it?

Page 15Wednesday, November 28, 2012 Longhorn Life

by Alex Vickery

Oldies, not goodies Do you want to talk

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we’re here.Walk in and schedule an appointment: Monday-Friday 8am-5pm

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Page 16: Longhorn Life holiday editions

16

Getting involved on campusImpact UT

Wednesday, November 28, 2012Page 16 LONGHORN LIFE

While every student’s upcoming schedule may be crammed with frequent visits to the library and all-nighters, some Longhorns are still � nding time to donate to local charities. Christian organization Latino Fellowship is hosting a canned food drive throughout November for families in East Austin. Accounting and bi-lingual education senior Crystal Sepulveda said the cans will be distributed in baskets during the upcoming holiday season. While this is the � rst time the organiza-tion has held a canned food drive, they plan to host another in De-cember. “Growing up my family received food donations, and we went to pantries to get food. � is is just a way for me to give back the same way I was once helped,” Sepulveda said. She encouraged all students to consider donating time or supplies. “I think we make up excuses that we don’t have time, but there are people out there who really don’t have money to provide for their families, and people who need our help.” Sepulveda said if any surplus cans are collected, they will be donated to local food banks. � e Capital Area Food Bank serves approximately 48,000 people every week. Approximately 20,000 of them are chil-dren, according to John Turner, senior director of marketing and branding. � e foodbank has served about 2 million pounds of food

every month — the entire stock — for the past three years. “While we need volunteers during the holidays, we also need volunteers after they are over. People are just as hun-gry on November 14 as they are on January 14,” he said. Hoping to warm the chilly weeks ahead for low-income families, three organizations have joined for the Share the Warmth Clothing Drive and Fundraiser. � e event, which is hosted by fraternity Sigma Lamda Beta, sorority Sigma Delta Lamda and Umoja — a women’s empowerment or-ganization — aims to collect 400 articles of gently-used clothing. All materials collected will

be donated to local nonpro� t Manos de Cristo (Hands of

Christ), which provides a� ordable oral health care and edu-cational development, and hopes to meet basic food and clothing needs for low-income families. Currently men’s pants and children’s clothing are in high demand. However winter clothing, shoes, and belts of all sizes will be readily

accepted. Inmer Cardona, a youth and communities stud-ies junior and one of the event’s organizers, said that student organiza-tions are able to provide a more sustainable and multifaceted impact when they combine ef-forts.

“Being at [UT], we are surrounded by people from di� er-ent backgrounds with diverse experiences on a daily basis,” Cardona said. “� is provides us with resourceful and well-connected student leaders. � e collective bene� t can be uti-lized to help our community meet the basic needs they so desperately deserve.” Focusing on children, the Texas Zephyrs hosted its fourth annual teddy bear drive bene� tting My Healing Place, a nonpro� t that provides grief counseling for those who’ve experience the death of a loved one or su� ered a trauma. � e service sorority also collected art supplies and mon-etary donations. “We work to give the children teddy bears so they can have a nice little companion over the holidays,” said human biol-

ogy junior Brittany Golden. “� ese bears are there to help them through the grieving process.” Students for Equity and Diversity are also hosting a Coats of Love drive bene� tting the Multicultural Refugee Coalition until Dec. 14. � e Coalition is dedicated to helping support Austin-area refugees by providing long-term educational and community support networks. SED aims to collect coats and other winter clothing for 100 families. Joshua Tang, a history senior and co-director of opera-tions for SED, said some of his motivation to donate stems from personal experience. “It’s hard to focus on what you’re supposed to be learning that day without basic things like gloves to keep your hands warm while you wait on the school bus,” he said. While student groups are contributing to nonpro� ts with diverse agendas that bene� t the many communities across the city, there is still time for all Longhorns to get involved because, as Sepulveda said, “If what starts here really does change the world, then why not be a community that helps those in need? Imagine what the world would look like if we did our part.”

“� e collective bene� t [of UT] can be utilized to help our community and the basic needs they so desper-ately deserve.”

- Inmer Cardona youth and communities studies junior

UT’s Latino fellowship collects canned food for East Austin families in need this holiday season.

� e Texas Zephyrs host their fourth annual teddy bear drive, which bene� ts My Healing Race.

Longhorns give backStudent groups organize to spread holiday cheer

by Maria Riveraphotos by Joyce Isleta

Page 17: Longhorn Life holiday editions

17Page 17Wednesday, November 28, 2012 LONGHORN LIFE

Letters to Santa

Page 18: Longhorn Life holiday editions

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OURCampus Celebrating the faculty and staff at the University of Texas at Austin

Page 19: Longhorn Life holiday editions

19

AUSTIN, Texas - Following her exemplary leadership as interim-director, Jalah Goette has been selected as the new director of Texas Student Media (TSM), overseeing the daily operations of The Daily Texan, Texas Student Television (TSTV), KVRX 91.7 FM, Texas Travesty and the Cactus Yearbook.

“Jalah has been an incredible member of the Texas Student Media team and is now the right person to

lead the organization into the future,” said Dr. Gage E. Paine, vice president for Student Affairs, which oversees TSM.

The appointment concluded a nine-month vacancy in which

Goette served as interim-director in addition to her other role as assistant director of TSM business and advertising.

“By focusing on the educational experience and incorporating new ideas from students, we have a unique opportunity at Texas Student Media to help shape how college media will look in the very near future,” said Goette. “This is an exciting time and I look forward to my new role in supporting these leaders of tomorrow.”

Goette earned her bachelor’s degree in Sociology from The University of Texas at Austin, during which time she participated in TSM

as a student. She joined the team as a staff member in 2008.

Last spring, Goette was recognized with an Outstanding Staff Award at University President William Power’s Staff Award Ceremony. In 2010, she was honored with the M. Dolores Ebert Employee Excellence Award for exceptional contributions to student media at the university.

Goette’s new role as the permanent director of Texas Student Media begins Nov. 12, 2012.

For more information, contact: Joshua Cook, Office of the Vice-President for Student Affairs, 512-232-5849.

NEW DIRECTOR OF TEXAS STUDENT MEDIA APPOINTED

TEXASSTUDENT

MEDIA

Wednesday, November 28, 2012Page 19 OUR CAMPUS

Page 20: Longhorn Life holiday editions

Page 20 Wednesday, November 28, 2012Our campus

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Now that the 2012 elections are over, there’s a new political hot topic: avoiding the fiscal cliff, a term coined by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. Headlines tell us to be worried: “The fiscal cliff is loom-ing,” “Grueling fiscal cliff negotiations” and “Investors nervous about fiscal cliff.” But what exactly is it, and what are its implications for the country? In late February of this year, Bernanke used the phrase to refer to the challenges facing the US and global econ-omies. He warned the House Financial Committee of a “massive fiscal cliff” in our future, referring to large spending cuts and tax increases scheduled for January 1, 2013 in accordance with last year’s debt ceiling deal, the Budget Control Act. First, a bit of history. In 2001, Bush signed into law a series of tax cuts set to expire under the next president. Obama then extended those cuts and added his own, and in 2011 he and Congress agreed something needed to be done to resolve the debt ceiling crisis; hence the Budget Control Act, a bipartisan agreement that imple-ments trillions in spending cuts and tax increases over a nine year period beginning in 2013 to reduce the now trillion dollar deficit. At the beginning of next year, if nothing’s done, the Bush-era tax cuts will expire — re-sulting in more than $500 billion in tax increases — and the act’s spending cuts will take effect. Many econo-mists say that while our deficit is too high, the taxes and spending cuts would be too drastic and sudden for a slow recovering economy. What does the fiscal cliff look like in terms of taxes? For fiscal year 2012-2013, there would be a projected 19.63 percent increase in taxes, most of this attributable to the expiration of the Bush- and Obama-era tax cuts.

This increase amounts to almost half of the act’s ex-pected savings. Average households would pay roughly $2,000 more in taxes next year, and those in the upper brackets would take a larger hit; put simply, the more you make, the more you’ll pay. Although programs like Social Security and Medic-aid are exempt, spending for various federal agencies and cabinet departments would also be reduced. This package of automatic spending cuts is referred to as the budget sequester (another term you’ve probably heard thrown around lately). A White House report es-timates that cuts for 2013 will amount to $109 billion. Some people are concerned because lawmakers have little discretion over where and how greatly the spend-ing is reduced — the across-the-board cuts will hit all affected programs equally. While the economy has been steadily improving (un-employment is below eight percent, home prices are rising and consumer spending is up), some experts are saying the country could slip back into a recession if the spending cuts and tax increases are allowed to go into effect. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Of-fice predicts the gross domestic product — the output of goods and services produced in the US — would de-crease by four percent in 2013, and the unemployment rate would increase by almost a full percentage point, which equates to a loss of almost two million jobs. In the long run, the Budget Control Act is essentially an austerity measure meant to reduce our country’s mas-sive deficit, which most economists say is a good thing. The problem is that it does so too quickly. Lawmakers decided years ago they wanted the act —and what is now the fiscal cliff — to force conversa-

tion about more sensible, long term deficit reduction measures. And now the Congressional Budget Office has projected that making a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff would improve GDP growth by an astonishing 2.9 per-cent by the fourth quarter of next year. However, while Republicans and Democrats agree that something needs to be done to avoid potential repercussions, they can’t agree on what that something is. Most of the debate centers on the Bush-era tax cuts that apply to household incomes of over $200,000; if they expire, the top two income tax rates would increase. Not sur-prisingly, Republicans want to extend these cuts, and Democrats want to let them expire. There have been calls across party lines for a “grand bargain,” which would most likely include an exten-sion of many of the tax cuts and a repeal of the auto-matic spending cuts. However a deal matters little if a timeline and framework for long term deficit reduction aren’t also agreed upon. Without an agreement, the fis-cal cliff still looms.

Understanding the fiscal cliffby Greer Gaddie

fiscalcliffcountdown.com

Page 21: Longhorn Life holiday editions

compiled by Nathalie Lumangphotos by Chelsea Jackson

Dr. Lee Ann KahlorPublic relationsAt UT [8 years]

1. When you lecture to a large audience from a stage or raised area, you should wear decent shoes. This oc-curred to me when I started teaching large lectures and noted an increase in comments about my shoes that same semester. The fact that I own many Dans-kos in a variety of colors is notable, it seems.

2. When you get to class early, put on the wireless mic and then decide you have time to use the restroom, you should turn off the mic.

3. Texas students are really, really good at memorizing stuff. It must be something in the water, or maybe the standardized testing that begins in utero.

4. I just learned this semester that some students tweet about your lecture during lecture. Talk about pres-sure.

5. I think, under certain circumstances, I like beef more than pork ribs.

Dr. Betsy BerryEnglishAt UT [21 years]

1. Finding a place to park is the key to survival.2. Students can learn to love to read — and do.3. Cat students are more forgiving than dog students.4. Facebook has its pleasures and perils.5. I get to spend quality time with young people who

have much to teach me in return.

Dr. John A. DalyCommunication studiesAt UT [34 years]

1. UT’s an amazingly small place for its large size — you really aren’t a number unless you want to be.

2. Teaching at UT matters.3. Traditions are fun, and they count.4. Students and student life don’t change that much.

People still party, they fall in love and break up — and they always have excuses for why papers are late.

5. UT is always building new buildings.

5things I’ve learned…

Wednesday, November 28, 2012 Page 21Our campus

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Page 22: Longhorn Life holiday editions

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University supports work-life balance through benefi ts

With over 21,000 employees, � e University of Texas is one of Austin’s largest employers. Part of what makes UT a great place to work is its commitment to helping employees “attain work-life balance while ad-vancing excellence in teaching, research and service.” � e holiday season is an important time to spend with family, and the university o� ers faculty members unique services to help them do just that. New hires often bring their spouses with them to Austin, and the university hires dual career couples. Regardless of whether or not your partner is in aca-demia, UT will help him or her � nd on-campus or local employment. UT also understands that personal circumstances often make working di� cult. Faculty members with a tenure-track probationary period can apply for leave extensions, which are granted automatically for child-

birth and adoption. Bene� ts-eligible faculty members receive eight hours of sick leave each month, and un-used hours carry over. UT also provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid family and medical leave in accordance with the Family Medical Leave Act. � e act protects members of the military and individuals dealing with serious illnesses, childbirth, adoption or foster care placement or a sick child, spouse or parent. For those with children, UT extends child care services, including two daycare centers on campus that serve children between the ages of six weeks and � ve years. However the o� ce of the executive vice provost and provost warns that there are a limited number of spaces available and that these spaces � ll up fast. � ere is often a waiting list, so apply as early as possible. For pregnant employees, this can be as early as a due date is determined. If you’re unable to get on the list, UT’s child development center can help you

explore alternative arrangements. Other child care services include the School of Human Ecology’s child and family lab, family life resources and foster parent and parental leave. In a letter to faculty members, President Powers and Provost Leslie emphasized the importance of family, reiterating that UT “believes an environment of excel-lence is synonymous with an environment of wellness, and that wellness starts with balance. We are deeply committed to creating a supportive and productive environment that allows our faculty opportunities to maintain a healthy balance between their professional and personal lives.”

by Greer Gaddie

Faculty & Staff Events

Free Retirement Guide Series: “Realize Your Retirement Dreams in Four Simple Steps”NOA 4.106A

Nov. 27noon to 1 p.m.

Nov. 303 to 4 p.m.

Creating oral presentations with � airFreeFAC 211

Faculty UpdatePage 22 Wednesday, November 28, 2012OUR CAMPUS

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23Wednesday, November 28, 2012 Page 23OUR CAMPUS

Meet the...

Vice president of student affairs

Dr. Gage E. PaineB.A. at the University of Oklahoma; Ph.D.

in educational administration at the University of Texas; J.D. at Texas Tech

University

� is year UT hired Dr. Gage Paine to overlook 14 of the university’s non-academic units. Not only is Paine coming back to the school

where she used to study, she is coming back as the � rst woman vice president of student a� airs. See what Paine has to say about

adjusting to UT, her new position and what she likes to do in her

spare time.

by Mira Milla | photo by Courtney James

Longhorn Life: Why did you choose this career?

Gage Paine: I really like college campuses and students. I wasn’t in student a� airs at � rst, but I realized students were more fun. I’ve worked directly with college students for 29 out of the 30 years I’ve been working. It’s fun, challenging and something worth doing. You can make a di� erence in some-body’s life, and that’s even better.

LL: What is your professional background?

GP: I worked for 30 years as a full-time professional. I was at McMurry University in Abilene for my very � rst job for 11 years. After that I was at Southern Methodist University as the dean of students, then Trinity University as the vice president of student a� airs, UT San Antonio as student a� airs vice presi-dent and now here. I also worked as an undergraduate resi-dent assistant at the University of Oklahoma and a residence hall director at Texas Tech.

GP: I’m brand new here, so I spend a lot of time meeting as many people as possible, like student government leaders and the president of assembly. � ere’s always some sort of student component, but my typical workday also has me walking around campus and meeting people at student a� airs. Right now a typical day is also part of my learning process. I try to � gure out what’s important at UT; I � gure out what the student issues and concerns are, and whom I need to know to make this university work well for students. � ere’s also a fair amount of email too.

GP: I’m brand new here, so I spend a lot of time meeting as

LL: What is a typical work day for you?

LL: What is your favorite part of the job?

GP: It’s hard to name one thing, but meeting with students – absolutely. Recently I’ve worked with students and faculty on Hook the Vote. I also enjoy sitting down with the student af-fairs sta� to � gure out what will make things work better here. It’s all so important, fun and interesting. Everyone is trying to make the university better; sometimes it’s really challenging, but that’s part of what makes it interesting. Everything I do aims to make the university work better for all of us, particu-larly for students.

LL: What do you do in your spare time?

GP: I have four dogs, so I like to hang out with them. Now it’s hard because I don’t get home before dark. But when I have time, I play with them and walk them around the neighbor-hood. I also like to read and knit. Recently I started learning how to draw, so I like to do some creative things and things that are di� erent from the tasks I do here. Top of the list is reading, though. Reading is my constant pleasure.

LL: What’s a movie you could watch over and over?

GP: Love Actually.

LL: Twitter or Facebook?

GP: Both. Follow me on Twitter @GagePaine.

Page 24: Longhorn Life holiday editions

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