website at opas,t« r
Page 5 • Tuesday, January 26, 1999
The Battalion
A
GGIELIFE
^Broadening horizons
W^mJniversity Plus offers classes beyond average curriculum
Volume
Continued from Page 4
sound of their performance- an ac
complishment worthy of tenure.
(Grade: A)
—Michelle McNeely
Eric Newnam/Thk Battalion
Virginia Smith, a junior biology major, works a potter’s wheel while Jay
vlatthew$a r :p r(; S ke T a sophomore engineering major looks on.
Reynolds
romLutheii by susan overcash
The Battalion
RCA Record'.
latthews and:
n Reynolds de
nation on the
ices on Liivc
bum is anaco
itthews’ song:
the twangs’sc
nild You Say"
of"Minarets,
>lds perform a
angementsan
ons.
ds’ smooth do
ind Matthews
bine for a me-
Stream.”
ppy accents o:
’ are still prev,
;#r 'r 'T'ould not it be great to impress the big date with Travolta-es-
H A / que moves on the dance floor? Or, better yet, not only being
V able to pronounce the wine you order at dinner, but actually
klowing that it tastes good before it reaches the table? How about
spending an evening showing off artwork or pottery instead of looking
at others?
■ Unfortunately, Texas A&M does not offer any wine-tasting classes,
aid how many can fit art classes into an engineering majors?
HEven if A&M did offer an extensive art and crafts curriculum, most
students would not have the time or money to participate. Students reg-
uh rly miss out on developing facets of their personality that would tru
ly make them well-rounded individuals.
■ Enter University Plus. Tucked away in the basement of the MSC, Uni-
versity Plus is a little known MSC program that offers a variety of in
expensive arts and crafts classes.
■ Cher McHan, University Plus manager, said the program is a perfect
way for students to explore their creative sides.
“University Plus encourages students to balance their academic lives
by building strengths through imagination and creativity,” McHan said.
Traditional classes offered include swing, ballroom, Latin and belly
simplicity of dancing, language instruction, woodworking, painting and photogra-
ply. Most classes are offered at the beginner and intermediate levels,
er, the livealbiiiBN ew classes, offered this semester, include wine-tasting class, mas-
ty of “Hallowedsage for partners, therapeutic breathing, CPR and support for pregnan-
nent of “Tripi cy and childbirth.
Stic climate. ■ Laura Ramis, a pottery student and a senior speech communications
tthews make m, jor, said she became aware of University Plus because of the distinc-
the album lack tile class offerings.
, fetishes and it« “1 really like University Plus because they offer interesting, artsy class-
■ not offered in school or classes that I’m interested in but don’t have
ws and Reynolffi 1 ' 016 t0 ta R e as a credit hour,” she said.
ic cioht hntuiiB All classes are inexpensive, between 15 and 50 dollars an hour, and
0 Sl % m ’ Dut ale designed for A&M students.
■ McHan said University Plus is a student driven, self-directed program
SEE Volumeovwhere students are encouraged to bring in ideas and information for new
classes.
111 i J Student workers with special interest or talent in a specific area teach
■■any classes. Specific departments are also run by student workers.
■ Students are encouraged to visit the University Plus facilities.
11 Kim Callier, a pottery instructor and a sophomore chemical engi-
.nlering major, said University Plus is a good place to hang out and have
I while learning a skill or craft.
* ■ ■Gw “Nol a\\ \eammg\s books,” CaWver said. “Here, you can expand your
mind — do something different.”
I University Plus also offers a place for students to relax and release frus
tration.
I “We’re open until 10 p.m. at night so you can relax after class or
Italian ope ri ® 0r k’” ^ cHan sa ^- s non-alcoholic stress relief.”
New YorkC
combined
ved and da3
lutterfly.
11 Comps
Jtterf
& 27 at Jf
iuditorii
For tick*'
I 845-125
Idillio Dol [
hing Romaft |
ia IrresisP
esistible Sto|
QoCden National Honor Society
General Meeting
Tuesday, January 26th
8:30 p.m. MSC 292A
Part-Time Inventory/Warehouse
Universal Computer Systems is the industry leader in auto dealership business sys
tems. Continued growth leads us to seek trainees who will learn our computerized
inventory system, interact with our employees and distribute and monitor computer
jarts and equipment. Hours are flexible, Monday through Friday, 7am-10pm.
These positions offer real world work experience and long term opportunity. UCS
n'res non-smokers only. EOE. To apply, please call our personnel department or
/isit our website.
UCS, Inc.
1-800-883-3031
www.universalcomputersys.com
1998-99
All -T TniArp'fQitrr
xlll Uliivci oily
Calendar
Jason McGarvie, a woodworking instructor and a junior construc
tion science major, said he agrees that University Plus offers a stress re
lief.
“University Plus gives me somewhere to vent my frustration and
stress from school,” McGarvie said.
University Plus’ extensive facilities are also available for students
who want to pursue a hobby or craft, but don’t have the necessary
equipment and don’t need to take a class. A semester shop card is avail
able at a reasonable rate, and allows access for a full semester. Day pass
es are also available.
The University Plus facilities are currently in a remodeling stage to
ensure space for as many students as possible. The facilities include a
woodworking area equipped with tools and resources, a pottery room
with two kilns, an area designed for stained glass construction, a hall
way full of personal darkrooms with chemicals provided and a full pho
tography studio. However, most students do not know these extensive
facilities exist.
“It’s a big area full of tools and resources and information,” McHan
says, “And its available to every student on campus.”
Although University Plus is funded by MSC Student Programs, much
funding is self-generated through their custom frame shop and class
costs.
University Plus also offers a variety of custom woodworking services
and products. “Pretty much anything you can imagine,” Callier
said.“We can do.”
To register for a class, simply visit University Plus in the MSC or call
at 845-1631.
The remodeling of University Plus is not the only piece of the pro
gram under change.
“University Plus is evolving,” McHan said. “People should keep an
eye on us.”
around and always will be around
has the ability to reach a wide au
dience with dark, deep baritone
sounds.
Showcasing 17 hit songs from
1981-1985, 81 >85 revisits what set
the band on the track to the hall of
fame.
The album is a must in a fan’s
collection, and a must if Depeche
Mode music has always been a
passion but the thought of buying
five CDs is not appealing.
“People are People,” “Blasphe
mous Rumors” and “Somebody,”
are among the highlights of the
CD, but are not the only great
songs collected together on this al
bum. (Grade: A)
—Marinm Mohiuddin.
Sugar Ray
14:59
Atlantic Records
For those who think Sugar
Ray’s 15 minutes of fame are up,
think again. On the verge of be
coming a one hit wonder, the band
has baked up a solid batch of
songs to satisfy the cravings of
their sweet-tooth fans. “Every
Morning” is saturated with sum
mertime blues as fly guy Mark Mc
Grath croons his way into the
hearts of suburban America. The
pop-rock candy of “Personal Space
Invader” is filled with artificial fla
vors from the 80’s, and KRS-One
adds his rub-a-dub style to the
recipe on “Live & Direct.” Still un
able to commit to a single music
genre. Sugar Ray suffers from a
lack of consistency in parts of the
album. 14:59 does not contain all
of the ingredients recommended
for a great album, but is certainly
enough to appease the appetite.
(Grade: B +)
— Michelle McNeely
Ani Difranco
Up Up Up Up Up Up
CD Courtesy of r‘ ’
Babe M
Righteous
usic
Eric Newnam/The Battalion
(Clockwise from left): Leah Cordoncillo, a junior international business
major, Chris McRae, a junior bioenvironmental science major and Vir
ginia Smith, a junior biology major, display stained-glass works.
Depeche Mode
The Singles 81 >85
CD courtesy of Reprise
Records
Following the success of U2,
many bands from the eighties have
been trying to make a comeback in
the nineties. However, other bands
are missing the one secret ingredi
ent that ties success and the eight
ies together — talent.
There is an exception, Depeche
Mode, a band among the handful
of bands that have always been
TAMU Career Center Workshop
tfntetevlew Savvy
m ** m
During tfiis seminar ; you will have an * *
opportunity to interact witft a panel of \ m m
corporate recruiters. • . . . •
Ovet 700 empPoyets wiCC be tectuiting on
campus beginning eatCy Jebkuaty. Get the
tacts about "how to interview" from these
expert panelists!
^huts,
Jan 28
206 MSC
5 p.m.
Panelists:
Arm Gibson ; YMCA of Greater Houston
Stephen Austin, Ultramar Diamond Shamrock
Ron Novak, Tfte Shawm Williams Company
Cakeet Centet
209 K,oCdus SutSding 845 - 5139
aggienet.tamu.edu/cctt
A little over a year ago. Difran
co released Little Plastic Castles,
her most radio-friendly album to
date. The album kept the same vi
brantly personal lyrics but made
the music more accessible to fans
not acquainted with Difranco.
With her recent release Up Up
Up Up Up Up the queen of mod
ern independent music keeps her
powerful lyrics and explores a mel
low funk groove previous albums
such as Puddle Dive have flirted
with.
While her percussive use of gui
tars still peppers Up, Ani has
moved on to other styles.
The influence of blues pulsates
through the album making it a
much darker album for Difranco.
The album’s strongest track is
“Everest” where Difranco once
again examines society’s percep
tion of her as the quintessential
“freaky chick.”
The album’s weakest aspect is
its monotonous tone, and the
funk, while initially an interesting
venture artistically, just turns
funky.
Past Difranco albums have ben
efited from her eclectic style and
ability to take listeners on a vocal
roller coaster.
While Up may not be Difranco’s
best work, the album’s stylings is a
forgetable addition for true Ani
buffs, but novices may find the al
bum off-putting and feel like her
head is stuck up in the clouds.
(Grade: C +)
— Aaron Meier