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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 6, 1995)
‘ April Thursday • April 6, 1995 J\ggielife The Battalion • Page 3 Rossot 1 wasi slature iren ences ft m h e elenas death echoes throughout B-CS community Michael Landauer The Battalion he was compared to Madonna, but to local fans the murder of Selena Quintanilla- Perez meant the loss of more than just a J strort pop star. They’ve lost a role model and Texas has su PP("f) lost a woman who was dedicated to helping her inted: j community. irter ,1 D.J. Flores, a freshman accounting major, grew 1 set pi: |lp in South Texas and is a big fan of Selena’s music, 'f any; |« “I was shocked,” he said. “I was devastated — why would anyone want to kill her?” Patrick Conway, a junior genetics major and ISC Town Hall Chairman, said his organization was working with the MSC Committee for the Awareness of Mexican American Culture to bring Selena to A&M for a concert that was planned for March 31, the day before she was murdered. I The show fell through, but because of her fan support, the groups were planning on bringing her here in the future. I Conway said the loss reaches beyond the His panic community. f “It’s a tremendous loss, not just for the Tejano music industry,” he said. “She did a lot of charity, ^.community service and benefit concerts that real- lea ^Wy helped society.” ? ua P'-»; Fans in Bryan-College Station got to see one se a ^||f Selena’s last performances when she played at ac k nCT wDenim and Diamonds the day before school re- iatE2»jj ume d after spring break. Patsy Espinoza, owner linstyplf Los Nortenos Cafe in Bryan, said the crowd 3rty ‘W regui® been Jp il train® is at m- lilitaiy® s.” llyAirl in Sac* id Fona haves:.' Endasi ies beef' andi#2l ipectiv; e Sens'*" 'ought L'-’ riura.4; out of; that s ' - negate mces.’ ise-p: sure. was mesmerized by Selena and her voice. “She played so everybody could dance but all the people stood around and listened to her sing,” she said. “Nobody danced.” Selena was planning on doing an album en tirely in English. Flores said non-Hispanics could enjoy her music and that her community service made her popular with people of all races. “I think she was about to break through that barrier of bringing non-Hispanics to listening to Spanish music,” Flores said. Selena’s music crossed ethnic lines and ap pealed to people from different countries, Flores said. Her style of Tejano music is a blend of Spanish music, old Mexican polkas and country- western music. Flores said more people will probably want to buy her albums now and the attention to Sele na’s death may introduce people to Tejano music. Todd Traylor, owner of Marooned Records, said sales of Selena’s records have increased since her death, and that many of her fans are extremely upset. “People are devastated in this town,” he said. Espinoza said she and her family will miss Se lena and her music and that her 10-year-old granddaughter cried all day when she heard the news. “We have never felt a loss like we felt when this happened to Selena,” she said. “Every time I hear her music I can’t believe she’s gone.” Selena will be missed for more than just her music. Hershal Whiteman, a senior computer science major from Corpus Christi, said Selena touched the lives of many people in his hometown. “She appealed to the young kids because she herself wasn’t that old,” he said. “She had an al lure about her. She was really charismatic.” He said it may be hard for non-Hispanics to understand the impact Selena’s death has had on her fans or the legacy she will leave behind. “In that town this is comparable to someone like (John) Lennon getting shot and it deserves the same respect,” he said. “Some people may not understand it, but anyway you look at it, it’s a tragedy.” Stacey Fehlis, a senior journalism major, met Selena six years ago. She said Selena did not have the typical huge ego of many singers. “She was a really sweet girl and she was real ly down to earth,” she said. Espinoza said it helps to know that they will always have Selena’s music. “We love her and we will miss her very much,” she said. “But her music will live on. She will be a legend.” It is unclear what will happen to Selena’s band, which included her husband, Chris Perez. “I think Tejano music has lost someone very special,” Espinoza said. “I hope Los Dinos will keep it up in her memory.” Flores said other Tejano singers will still look to Selena as an influence and for inspiration. “There might be some young female singers who will try to continue her style of music,” he said. “But there will never be another Selena.” Selena Bands battle tonight at Stafford rve) 3ES NDAi® s. By Keryl Cryer The Battalion P sychosis is a term that Freud used for mental ill ness. Water Drop is what your faucet does to keep you up all night. Acid Bath is what you’d probably like to give old furniture. However, these terms are also the names of several bands that will be playing when Stafford Opera House hosts the “Battle of the Bands” Thursday and Friday night. The event will feature perfor mances by nine local bands as well as any other bands that de cide to enter the contest. Thursday’s lineup includes Meecho’s Mission, The Kenny Rodgers, Boxcar Poets, Veil of Veronica and Soma. Friday’s line up will feature Psychosis, Mud- show, Water Drop and Acid Bath. Blake Brownlee, who will be performing with his band Soma, said the event will be a great op portunity for many local bands. “It’s like a showcase of the original bands,” Brownlee said. “There are a lot of local cover bands, but there are a lot of good (original) bands in town. We want some of the people in Col lege Station to get out and see them a little more often. Maybe this will be a good thing to get people out." Todd Traylor, from Marooned Records, thinks the Battle of the Bands will also give many of the area’s local bands who normally play at area clubs a chance to take center stage. “It gives the bands a chance since a lot of times the bands lo cally only get opening slots,” Traylor said. “They get to open up for out of town acts. They nev er really get to play late at night or be the main attraction and this a chance for the local bands to be the main attraction.” In addition to gaining expo sure to new audiences, the bands will have the opportunity to win several prizes donated by sup porters of the local music scene. First prize will be 10 hours of recording time at Airplay Stu dios, which would normally cost about $400. Lippman music also donated gift certificates for gui tar strings, drum sticks and oth er supplies. The audience will judge the bands on originality, stage pres ence, ability and appeal but Traylor said these are not always the most important factors. “A lot of times it does tend to be whoever has the most friends show up wins because they can stuff the ballot box,” he said. “So, there’s an incentive for the bands to get their friends to show up be cause your friends are there to support you.” Traylor said the $5 ticket price is well worth the music lineup. “You get to see like five or six bands, which is a pretty good deal,” Traylor said. “It’s going to be all kinds of music. You’re go ing to have metal, alternative, rock. You will have a wide vari ety of music.” Um ... no ‘90210’- the zip code of cheese brings cheesy music By Amber Clark The Battalion Jamie Walters Jamie Walters Atlantic Records (out of five) In 1992, he had half the nation and countless Fox television viewers wonder ing how to talk to an angel. Now Jamie Walters has everyone else wondering when he’s going to give up on his so- called music career. As if he hasn’t already gotten enough publicity as the newest good boy gone- bad on “Beverly Hills, 90210,” Walters has now released his self-titled debut al bum. And if the sweet serenades on the show haven’t yet struck the viewer as mediocre, the drippy love songs on the al bum will. Walters’ material clings desperately to an overused lost love motif. Of the 10 songs on the album, six ask virtually the same question found in “The Distance.” Walters sings, “Oh the distance between us / How did we ever get this way / Oh baby don’t slip away.” Walters attempts to share his views in a musical protest to street and gang vio lence in “Neutral Ground.” “Somebody’s waitin’ for my brother / To them he’s just another number / To me he never did no wrong,” he sings. It’s hard to believe a NYU Film School graduate would have much personal ex perience with street violence. But Walters’ lyrics aren’t the only thing lacking. The actual music doesn’t give much support to the weak material. Every song, including the more campy, upbeat songs, sounds almost exactly like the next. Apparently Wal ters wasn’t concerned about the drab studio production sound and the redundance of keyboard sound. The slow tempos almost never change, varying only slightly between the saddest songs to “Drive Me,” Wal ters’ plea for a high-speed escape from life’s boredom. No matter how hard he tries, Walters can’t quite make his voice reach that mysterious, sexy level he so desperately wants to achieve. Rather, he sounds like he’s recently recovered from a bad bout with bronchitis. In each song Walters seems hoarse and scratchy. Al though his voice barely rises above a whisper, there are a few rare instances where he the music and voice together hint at artistic fluidity. Perhaps the only saving grace on the album is “I Know the Game,” in which Walters states a phrase to which almost everyone can relate. “I’ve got the bill/ But I don’t want to pay it.” If this album doesn’t start selling as fast as his hit single “How Do You Talk to an Angel,?” Walters may have some bills he can’t pay. Jamie Walters For now, Walters best bet is probably to stick with his cameo appearances on “90210.” There he can sing to Donna with out tying up perfectly good radio air waves. Class gives unique view of homosexuality m edi® 1 1 edito' or a Mess*' i eC^' ! lie, id W guez | laylof ndsp^i ,olidar <7 « ■xasA* nth*, I aer'S 84 ' ; , Bat® 1 ' 1 '’ i 5 p- 111 ' ! up^'f ,50 P*^ T here are quite a few relieved Aggies float ing around campus lately. The reason for their glee? A highly publicized march on Sunday after noon. Excited — because it was not held at A&M. But in Austin, the sight of women kissing women and men holding hands could be viewed on the front lawn of the capitol building. Only a “liberal” city like Austin would permit such a flagrant display of homo sexuals marching to protest hate crimes in Texas. But those few need to contain their ex citement, because the fever has spread. This week is Gay Awareness Week at A&M. The school has “gone to hell in a hand basket.” Don’t feign surprise. Virtually everyone here knows that homosexual activity is not accepted by the vast majority of A&M students. But let’s face it, homosexuality is a commonplace that must be dealt with. I do not condemn homosexuality. It is just not my cup of tea. As a matter of fact, I was at that march on the capitol with my boyfriend, and we were two of the few straight people there. We wanted to show our support for a culture that constantly faces senseless brutality from “gay bash ers.” Four months ago I might have had sec ond thoughts about showing my face at such a controversial event, but thanks to a class offered at A&M, I’ve gained a new perspective. Ready for this? Yes, this semester there is actually a class called Gay and Lesbian Literature, a class which is soon to gain permanence among the ranks of classes at this fine institution.The class has changed my life, as well as my view of the student body. Last fall, I was trying to find an interesting class to take with a friend. We came across this special topic class in the English department and decided it would probably be a blast. Not knowing what to expect, we jumped in feet-first, ready to submerge ourselves in a culture about which we knew relatively little. For the first few weeks, we were busy trying to determine which members of the class were gay and which ones were straight. Then we had a sudden revelation. While we were so busy filling in stereo types, we realized that other people were probably doing the same thing to us. We always dressed in jeans and flannels. We wore little or no makeup, and we were al ways together. Stereotype No. 1: lesbians avoid femi nine attire and qualities. We weren’t les bians, but we sure fit the superficial stereotype. We quickly learned not to judge on appearances. I was taught my second lesson on as sumptions when I mentioned to a col league that I really enjoyed my lit class. “Which one?” she asked. “It’s Gay and Lesbian Lit,” I said. Slight, uncomfortable pause. “Are you gay?” she asked. Where did that come from? I told her I was simply interested in the literature and that I found it amazing that a signifi cant number of popular authors were ho mosexual. Besides, what difference did my sexual orientation make? In my mind, that was equivalent to asking me if I’m Iraqi because I’m taking a class on Middle Eastern geography. But this wasn’t the last time I faced the same question, and frankly it was begin ning to annoy me. Lesson No. 3 came soon after. In simi lar discussions, students have told me that they simply cannot believe that an institution of higher learning would offer a course containing such atrocious materi al. Atrocious is a relative term — what is appalling to some may be interesting to others. As far as I’m concerned, an insti tution that prides itself on being world- class should at least offer a class on one of the many subcultures that constitute American society. I’ve reaped an immense amount of in formation from my experiences in this class. The professor has done a fantastic job of presenting both straight and gay views of homosexuality. The literature has awakened my not-so-open mind to the idea that there are people in the world who can have a totally different lifestyle from my own and still produce the high- est-quality literary material. Unfortunately, I’ve also realized that not everyone is willing to accept and learn the way I have. I think it is sad that peo ple continue to adhere to stereotypes and false information. Naturally, I accept some of the blame. But at least now I can try to make a dif ference, and I’ll start with the next con versation about the class or the next protest against hate crimes, whichever comes first. Amber Clark is a junior geography major Environmental Fact of the Week The annual 19.2 million tons of Texas municipal solid waste would fill two lanes of 1-10 from Beaumont to El Paso up to 10 feet high. — Recycling Coalition of Texas Fact courtesy of Joe Sanchez, Recycling Coordinator for Texas AdrM’s Physical Plant