Andy Coolquitt’s exhibition launched Friday evening at Blaffer Art Museum | Thuy Nguyen

The opening of Andy Coolquitt’s exhibition, “Attainable Excellence,” is a collection of 60 discrete sculptures and tableaux made between 2006 and 2011. Coolquitt uses non-traditional materials, and he creates ready-mades and assemblages from a potpourri of trash and other found objects.

Coolquitt has garnered attention only in recent years that put himself into national and international art awareness.

“I’m more interested in, basically, creating a place, and all these objects are just things I can use to that end,” said Coolquitt. “I’m not interested in imparting my meaning on the viewer.”

He is known as a “master bricoleur,” curating human activity through his collection of the remnants of a wasteful society and transforming them into bright, visual displays.

A freelance designer and photographer Nadia Pacheco appreciated Coolquitt’s work.

“I find them very playful, cutting meaning away and putting them,” Pacheco said. “It’s a very interesting approach; he brought his studio with him.”

Several people were surprised by Coolquitt’s work, and some of his most iconic works were on display. His condensed wall of spindly “stick-pole” light sculptures feels off-putting at first glance, but upon further inspection, they become mesmerizing.

A local sculptor Daniel Esquivel Brandt valued the exhibition’s unique qualities.

“I feel very good to see the different forms and colors. It expresses happiness,” Brandt said. “They’re different but have harmony.”

Coolquitt’s crude work includes a display of hands flipping the bird, collections of lighters used by crack-addicts, “stick-poles” that resemble lamps, trails of dirt and a dirty, knit Pacman monster.

His materials are mundane and familiar, but his obsession with spatial language and social encounters lend these assemblages a sense of warmth, comfort and connection.

The ongoing exhibition at Blaffer will continue through Aug. 17.

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The ensemble has received recognition locally and internationally including standing ovations at state and national conventions. The choir also won first prize for the performance of a world premiere at the Florilège Vocal du Tours in France.

Music professor and conductor Betsy Cook Weber has overseen the ensemble since 2002.

“Our invitation to this competition is a true indicator that the choral program sings at an international level,” Weber said. Of the 10 competitors originating from eight different countries, our chorale is one of only two ensembles from the United States.

Weber included that the chorale will also be performing for two local churches in neighboring villages and towns in collaboration with Serbian, Swiss and Swedish choirs.

Vocal music education senior Jordan Koenig described his excitement in entering the competition.

“Our favorite after-concert piece is ‘If You’re Gonna Play in Texas,’” Koenig said. “We love it because it’s fun, and we’re bringing Texas to Germany.”

Piano performance senior Josh Tan also shared his anticipation for the week-long competition.

“I’m really excited to see the culture and hear the other choirs sing,” said Tan.

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Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino hoped to reach out and educate the community about the need for a Latino museum housed in D.C. The Smithsonian Latino Center shares the mission of telling a more complete story of the role of Latinos in American history.

UH World Cultures and Literature professor Marie-Theresa Hernandez has devoted her professional career to the study and documentation of untold and almost forgotten American Latino history.

“The more presence we have and the more political presence we have, in which the museum would help, some things would be more believable about the mainstream perception of American Latino history,” said Hernandez.

She has been named as one of the few American Latino ethnographers that has dedicated herself to the preservation of Crypto-Jewish history and the immense amount of American Latino history in the creation of the Republic of Texas, or “buried treasures.”

FRIENDS Director Estuardo Rodriguez introduced the group’s mission.

“I can host this in Miami. I can host this in New York City,” Rodriguez said. “And I can promise you our conversation about the vastly diverse Latin culture would be different.”

With a few colleagues from the public policy advocacy group, the Raben Group, Rodriguez has relied on supporters through social media and community outreach to develop this concept and to pass it through Congress since 2004.

Associate professor of Hispanic studies at Rice University José Aranda Jr., is a founding member of Chicano Leadership Rice that focuses on the development of Latino issues on campus and throughout the city.

“A lot of our history is gone. If it’s not told again, it will be forgotten,” Aranda said. “We are Americans too.”

FRIENDS estimated the cost for the museum to be $650 million and is pushing the Smithsonian American Latino Museum Act through Congress that will designate the space for the prospective museum.

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Filipino L.A. native Mark Redito, who took on various monikers before sticking with Spazzkid,
had released a few underground projects before this new album on his bandcamp page. All three of his albums were practically the same in terms of style. “Blank Stares,” “Fake Accents,” “Right Now” and some remix compilations had been constructed with a beginner’s tools and mindset, and such attributes were evident in the final project. Some songs flowed with vivid, chimeric-sounding atmosphere while others were bland.

What separates “Desire” from any of Spazzkid’s past works is the heightened sense of
awareness, production quality and overall aesthetic makeup. Listeners will immediately notice a striking Japanese influence in some of the track’s samples and will also take note of the abundant down-tempo  hip-hop drums that carry throughout the 8-track instrumental album.

There are plenty of xylophone and piano instruments laced within tracks like “Getting to Know
You” and “40 Winks.” Both of these intimate tracks harbor some sporadic yet seamlessly executed transitions with drum changes and mesmerizing samples. Through these beats, Spazzkid showcases his ability by switching between a mellow pace to a double-time breakdown.

Along with this track, “40 Winks” and “Forgiveness,” which are arguably the best tracks on the
project, hold interesting build-ups from the start of the song and comes swinging with a resounding
finish in the end. Both tracks are very light-hearted in the samples and synths used in background. For
the latter track, the loud, hard and authoritative kick drum that is present throughout is beyond
satisfying. These opposite elements work well with the gentle tone conveyed.

“Loving Free” is a pool that a lot of fans will want to dive into upon first listen. The track is a
high-octane and club worthy dance track. Spazzkid’s vocal accompaniment, complete with its spacey and trance-influenced structure, makes this song the most energetic of the batch.

“Candy Flavored Lips,” featuring Skymarines, is an easily skippable track. It’s obvious that Spazzkid had put a lot of work into this album in terms of working with unique elements that give each song a certain characteristic. These elements, however, didn’t flow through with this particular track. The drums are dull, and it seems like Spazzkid didn’t play around with the hazy loop in the background. To make matters worse, Skymarine’s vocals takes an already damaged ship and pulls it further down under the sea. Lyrics in the song are hard to make out and the singing sounds unmotivated.

Although Spazzkid didn’t have a concrete theme in “Desire,” the idea of timelessness fits
perfectly. Each track sounds a lot longer than it should and that could partially be due to a lot of moving
around within every second of the production. Fans of Toro Y Moi and How to Dress Well may find that Spazzkid borrowed a few of their features, but Spazzkid’s level of production exceeds beyond many artists within this small yet gradually popular genre.

Summer is here, and the soothing sounds of “Desire” are perfect for the season. Spazzkid has put out a beautifully crafted project for those looking for light-hearted, sample-based experimental beats.

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With a handful of key ingredients, you can create a nutritious banana split yogurt sandwich and a strawberry banana smoothie, each having less than 100 calories, as a tasteful summer delight.

Business management freshman Lexi Edwards described one of her delectable desserts.

“One of my favorite treats to enjoy during the summer is the brownie blizzard from Dairy Queen because I love chocolate,” Edwards said.

Edwards said that the banana split yogurt sandwiches are a healthful option.

“These sandwiches are a great alternative to fast food desserts,” she said. “They’re really creamy and delicious. I don’t even feel like I’m having a low calorie treat.”

Human resources and development junior Hilary Daniels considered the strawberry banana smoothie as a reasonable alternative to her preferred summer treat.

“The peach milkshake from Chick-fil-A is amazing, but it’s only available for a short period of time,” Daniels said. “This smoothie is really delicious and works as an awesome substitute when my milkshake goes out of season.”

Banana split yogurt sandwiches

Makes 9 servings
Serving size: 1 square
Calories per serving: about 55 calories

Ingredients:

• 9 whole graham crackers
• ½ cup fresh or frozen strawberries (thawed)
• ½ banana
• 1 cup vanilla non-fat greek yogurt
• 1 cup thawed fat-free whipped topping
• ½ regular-sized milk chocolate bar (1.55 ounce)
• Splash of milk (about 2 tablespoons)

Instructions:

Begin by lining a 21 x 21 centimeter square pan with foil.

Break graham crackers into halves, or 18 squares, and arrange a single layer of graham cracker squares on the bottom of the pan.

Place the fruit in blender and pulse for 2-3 seconds. Chunkiness in the fruit is desired.

Combine the yogurt, whipped topping and fruit into a bowl, and stir until the distribution is even.

Scoop the mixture onto the graham crackers in the pan.

Microwave the milk chocolate and splash of milk in a microwave-safe cup or bowl. Stir well.

Drip the melted chocolate over the yogurt mixture.

Place remaining graham crackers onto the yogurt blend and chocolate drizzle in the same direction as the bottom layer.

Place the uncovered pan into the freezer for approximately 4-5 hours.

Remove pan from the freezer and cut in-between graham crackers to create sandwich-like squares, and enjoy.

Strawberry banana smoothie

Makes 3 servings
Serving size: 1 cup
Calories per serving: about 76 calories

Ingredients:

• 1 cup nonfat milk
• ½ fresh banana
• ½ cup fresh/frozen strawberries
• ½ cup non-fat Greek yogurt
• Ice
• 1 scoop Whey protein (optional)

Instructions:

Combine the nonfat milk, banana, nonfat Greek yogurt and strawberries into the blender. Blend until smooth.

Add the ice into the mixture and pulse until desired consistency is achieved.

Pour and enjoy.

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Vinita Chen (right) relaxed with board games and crafts at the study break event on Tuesday presented by the UH Library. | Monica Tso/The Daily Cougar

Although finals week is ending, students continue to see the sunrise after long hours of cramming for their remaining exams, but studies show that students should be taking suitable breaks.

Award-winning psychology professor at the University of Nevada, Wayne Weiten, said students must be realistic when deciding how long they should study at one time before feeling worn from fatigue. His research also highlights the significance of allowing time for study breaks to revive sagging concentration.

The library instruction fellow Kirsten Feist collaborated with Anita Dryden, the digital and web projects fellow, and hosted a study break event Tuesday at the M.D. Anderson Memorial Library for students to relax after spending hours studying for their final exams.

“We like to ensure that when a break is needed, the students have a fun outlet to de-stress without having to leave the building,” Feist said. “For this particular event, we felt a great way to help them was to give them a chance to be a kid again.”

The staff provided childhood staples including coloring books, crafts, games, piñatas and Play-Doh as students unwound listening to Disney music.

“Study breaks are incredibly important because they help refresh the mind and stave off burnout,” she said.

A kinesiology sophomore Vinita Chen attended the event as an intermission from her strenuous studies.

“The break let me relax for a little and catch up with some friends,” Chen said. “We also got to listen to some awesome Disney music and had some fun.”

Chen said she prepared for three finals and studied on average three to six hours for each.

“My hardest final was chemistry,” Chen said. “I spent six hours going over notes and lecture slides for that test, and it was very tiring.”

She said she tries to take timely breaks while studying.

“Breaks help you relax for a little, and most importantly, they give our brains a break,” Chen said. “I think no matter what we’re studying, we need to let our brains rest every so often, so we don’t overload too much info into them.”

Students anticipate going to the beach, relaxing, traveling or tackling a job or internship. Others have absolutely no idea what to do with their time.

One summertime boredom remedy is to give back to the community by volunteering. Not only does volunteering give the chance to help others, but it can also be a great addition to any résumé.
Houston is home to an abundance of programs and projects that can use volunteers.

There is something out there for everyone, from an animal lover to a student who knows a foreign language.
Meals on Wheels for Greater Houston helps thousands of the city’s low-income seniors who cannot leave their homes become more independent. The program takes volunteers at any time of the year who can deliver food to each home. The service delivers to homes on the fourth Saturday of every month. Volunteers can sign up for a regular monthly route or serve as a back-up driver to fit a changing schedule.

Houston Parks and Recreation Department depends on hundreds of volunteers to assist in a variety of programs and activities from coaching youth sports teams to cleanup projects in parks.

Volunteers can participate in Green Team, a project that provides maintenance, tree planting and de-littering or be an athletic volunteer by coaching and coordinating youth sports. Any students majoring in recreation, parks management or other related professions are encouraged to apply for the internship with HPPD.

YMCA of Greater Houston provides endless opportunities to college students during the summer. Coaching sports, fundraising and raising health awareness to youth and adults are just a few things people can do to help.

Anyone interested in the medical field or helping children who are sick can find what they are looking for at Texas Children’s Hospital. Each year the hospital employs volunteers to perform jobs like greet guests at the information desk, deliver toys to children and play games with patients.

Texas Children’s volunteers can help kids with homework, lead an art project, host a puppet show, open a playroom, deliver crafts or go on air with Radio Lollipop. On-site volunteers must go through a training process before beginning weekly two- to three-hour shifts.

A unique program in Houston also accepts help year around. Partnership for the Advancement and Immersion of Refugees offers a chance for volunteers to get exposure to different cultures and social issues that impact our community by helping refugees who come to our city.

PAIR has a need for volunteers who can teach English but also those who can speak foreign languages such as Nepalo, Arabic, French, Swahili, Tigrinya, Burmese, Karenni, Kirundi and Somali.

Students should look for a program that is right for them ahead of time, as some programs have deadlines for applications and may require training before beginning work.

Illustration by Alex Tomic

Yet another school year has ended, and summer is within your grasp. You can imagine spending your days with sunburns forming on your back as you day dream about Ryan Gosling, shirtless of course, and think about nothing else while you lie on a towel next to the water.

But before you stroll on into your summer paradise, you need to, first of all, buy some aloe vera cause those sunburns are going to hurt and peel. Then, after your quick trip to Walgreens, you need to slip on back into reality and face the facts that along with the summer sun comes skin cancer. Just kidding, it’s finals. But, on a side note, you should definitely be SPFing it up.

So in order to get you through these next couple weeks, I have complied a list of some non-traditional study tips. Because, let’s be honest here, staring at the pages of your book for hours and realizing that you know nothing about that subject is getting kind of boring. And although that flower or random animal you have drawn in the margin of your notes as a result of your boredom is super cute, you need my help.

Tip 1: Get jiggy with it

Will Smith in all his infinite wisdom left you a study tip gem on his second album, Big Willy Style — turn whatever you need to memorize into a song. You know how songs will get stuck in your head, especially the ones you love to hate or swear you never listen to but in reality know every word? Well, the same will work with your study material. Just rhyme a few words, put it to some catchy beat and then your notes will be stuck in your head like every Britney Spears song ever.

Tip 2: Namaste those finals

Instead of trying to cram in more information or, you know, crying before your exam, take some deep breaths at a yoga class. It will relax your body, mind and spirit. You don’t have to be flexible, wear Lululemon or even be a vegetarian to enjoy the class. While in downward dog, all that blood flow to your brain may just help you do better on your test, or it will at the very least give you a slight head rush.

Tip 3: Become Amish

Now, this tip is not for the faint of heart, but hear me out. Until your finals are done, I suggest you deactivate your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube accounts and maybe even shut off your phone and then live in a complete Amish-like state. I know it’s pretty drastic. The Amish clothing part is optional though cause not everyone can pull off a straw hat or a bonnet. But for however long your finals last, you remain Amish and study your little heart out. Then, once all those finals are over, it’s Rumspringa!

Tip 4: Be a Gamer

Don’t go firing up that Xbox just yet. I am talking about making games out of your test material. Now, drop that controller and go grab a sheet of paper, some sticky notes, a pen and then find a wall. On the sheet of paper, scribble out some questions from your review and then use the sticky notes to create a jeopardy board on that blank wall of yours. After that, you can go all Alex Trebek on that final. Invite some classmates over or go at solo. The choice is yours. Other study games include Who Wants to be a Graduate, Whose Final Is It Anyway and Degree or No Degree.

Tip 5: Get Tested

After you’ve studied for a couple hours, played a round of Final Feud, pulled a hammy dancing to your own study song and lived like your parents once had to, it is time to test yourself. Go through your notes and book and create a final for yourself. Even better, do it with a classmate with each of you making up the other’s test. This is great way to make sure these wonderful tips are actually effective for you. If they aren’t, you should probably blame yourself because you are obviously doing something wrong. Testing yourself is the best way to know where you stand with the material, find out what you need to go back and study and see if you are smarter than your classmate. Plus, no awkward trip to the health center is needed.

Proper planning can provide a vacation at a locale slightly more exotic than the fountains near the Ezekiel Cullen building. | Bethel Glumac

One of the best aspects of summer time is the freedom to travel. With a minimized commitment to school, many students take advantage of summer to go out and see something new. Because of finances, many students that can’t afford extravagant trips and are finding creative ways to still enjoy traveling. One of the most common ways to travel in an economically friendly way is to visit a family member or friend.

“I’m looking forward to spending a week in New York City with my boyfriend,” said finance junior Diane Roark.

Many students also look into doing road trips with a group of friends to save money. Expenses such as gas, food and lodging can be cut dramatically when split between four of more people. One of America’s most popular highways, Route 66, is a road many students embark on to enjoy food, fun and sightseeing of some of America’s most beautiful big cities and small towns. The Grand Canyon, Navajo Indian Reservation and the Twin Arrows are just a few places to see in this historic highway. With a group of friends and a great set of CDs, students are able to enjoy a memorable road trip this summer and have some money left over when you return home.

Some students save money enjoying the treasures of the south.

“I’m going to New Orleans for my birthday,” said liberal studies junior Taylor Brooks. “There are eight of us going. We saved about $900 by booking a mystery hotel, you don’t know what hotel you get until you pay. We ended up getting a 4-star hotel right on Bourbon Street.”

Other students are looking to keep things local.

Biology junior Jorge Galicia is one also one of the students hoping to do the same.

“This summer I will probably be going to Austin using the $8 Megabus,” Galicia said. I save a lot on gas and have more money to spend on partying or getting to know Austin.”

The San Antonio River Walk, the Reunion Tower in Dallas and Six Flags in Arlington are just some of the numerous historical sites, restaurants and amusement parks that students can visit in Texas without breaking the bank.

Of course, you don’t have to go far to find new places to visit and things to do to take a break. Houston is a city full of attractions that never get old.

“I like going to Hermann Park where they have the water fountains, plus being surrounded by trees makes it more enjoyable and less hot,” Galicia said.

For any student that is given the opportunity to have a break, a vacation is great no matter what city it takes place in. Be sure to use all of your resources, get creative, and most importantly, have fun this summer.

Surveys show social media sites have a growing role in college students’ studying habits. | Joshua Mann

With finals looming overhead, some sometimes find it necessary to close themselves off from the Internet in order to get any real studying done.

Some students announce to their 300-plus friends that they’re leaving Facebook for a week, and others have close friends change their passwords so that they’re not tempted to give in to the social media seduction.

“I find that social media normally impedes me from being able to prepare for finals. Normally, the only thing productive I ever get out of it is getting hold of people for due dates or when finals are. Otherwise, I find it to be distracting,” said creative writing senior Douglas Knudsen. “I’m old school, though.”

Knudsen isn’t exactly old school, but in a few years, his way of thinking may become obsolete.

A survey released in February 2012 and conducted by Western Oregon University’s dean of Library and Media Services, Allen W. McKiel, Ph.D., suggests that four in 10 students use social media for study purposes. Seven in 10 students are either very likely (22 percent) or somewhat likely (47.2 percent) to use social networking sites as a medium to connect with other students and classmates about academic interest.

“Social media helps me stay in contact with people who are in my classes, and I can utilize it to organize study groups. I can also use the chat systems to discuss problems,” said biochemistry junior Nina Lopez.

In this survey, slightly less than 60 percent of students share research information with their peers through social media sites.

Among that 60 percent is Ryan Foley, hotel and restaurant management freshman, who said, “(Social media is) also convenient for students to be able to post class relevant material for others to take notes on or have class-relevant discussions via private messages or discussion threads.”

Students who use social media as a tool for organizing study groups and online study sessions are on the rise; but they are 54.7 percent less likely to contact people of authority, such as professors or teaching assistants through these social networks.

“Email totally works better and is more professional,” Knudsen said.

Despite students utilizing social media as a form of studying, others use it to help them cope with finals in other ways as well.

“Social media is able to keep me from stressing out too much by providing an outlet for entertainment,” Foley said.

Students like chemical engineering junior Ramon Marquez feel like this is the main way social media sites help with the stress that finals week provides.

“I use social media as a way to help me relax if I start succumbing to the stresses that come along with finals,” Marquez said.

The Daily Cougar: I see that you guys are from Australia. How are you guys enjoying the U.S. so far?

Keith Jeffrey: It’s not that different, there’s a bit more people out here. Australia isn’t that much different culturally, but I always feel like there’s a huge difference when arriving here. I feel like I’m home now since we spend so much time here than we did last year. It’s really comfortable.

TDC: How is the music scene here different from Australia?

KJ: Australia’s scene is way different from the U.S. I think it’s the crowd since they are really into it. You got that certain reaction with different crowds when we play over here.

TDC: You are playing a show Friday at Fitzgerald’s. How excited are you?

KJ: Oh yes, we played a couple of times in Texas. It’s always warm, and I like that. I’m very excited to go over there again; it’s always great crowd and vibe.

TDC: Where did you come up with the name Atlas Genius?

KJ: That was the name I had floating around my head for a couple of years. The band and I were thinking of a name, and that was the name I like the most. What I like about it is that is has openness to it, and it stood out from the others.

TDC: Any new albums coming up?

KJ: We actually just released one album. We probably aren’t recording one until a year or so.

TDC: I also read that you will be touring the UK next month. Is this your first time going there?

KJ: This will be our first tour with the band. It will be a short tour, but the culture is great over there, and I believe our band will do great.

TDC: What kind of style would you say your music is?

KJ: Depending on the music labels there are and the reviews critics put us under, people would most likely say its a bit more Indie, dance-pop. Usually, it’s just the style that I like.

TDC: How long has the band been together and what did you do before Atlas Genius?

KJ: We’ve been together for over three years. We’re just barely coming out in the music scene. We actually had a band before, and we’d play once or twice a week with cover songs from The Beatles or The Police, but we also tried to get our own songs out there. That phase went really well, and it helped us pay our bills. We got to experience the live shows that The Beatles experienced.

TDC: Your hit song, “Trojans,” has been playing on a lot of radio stations. What is the story behind it, and how do you want it to impact your audience?

KJ: That song is about a personal experience I was going through when I was a writer, and I wrote about the scenario of that experience. It was a personal expression of where I was at in life. I want this song to help anyone who listens to it and let them use it as there own personal expression.

Sullivan, a writer and essayist for publications such as The Paris Review, Harper’s Magazine and GQ, read a passage from his 2011 collection of nonfiction essays titled “Pulphead.”

The essays in “Pulphead” have a strong base in human emotion and delve into the mechanics of pop culture and the vulnerability of the figures within it.

Sullivan writes about attending a Christian rock festival and his experience with those attending, The Real World and the aged rock singer Axl Rose.

In the passage Sullivan chose to read to the audience at the Alley Theatre, he muses about the life and music of Michael Jackson, reflecting on the changes in the artist’s career from being a child star to becoming an outsider.

In an interview after his reading, Sullivan noted his disregard for the distinction between high and low culture in his writing, noting that taking a stance with regard to one culture being above another undermines people and whatever kind of culture they are a part of.

“I think it’s kind of a crypto-Philistine position, and a big part of my journey as a writer has been trying to extricate myself from that,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan delivers essays on life experiences as well, such as when he worked at 20 years old in a cabin as a caretaker for Andrew Lytle, a member of the Southern Agrarian literary movement. Sullivan found a comparison between journalism and fiction.

Facts, Sullivan finds, usually lend enough leeway to compose scenes that resemble qualities of fiction.

“I never remember feeling as a writer like there was really the possibility of a distinction between something that was non-imaginative and imaginative when it came to nonfiction,” Sullivan said.

“You have this body of things that are true — that you can verify — and you get to have as much fun with them as you can,” he said.

Following Sullivan, Jonathan Lethem read from his latest career-spanning collection of memoirs, essays, fiction and criticism, “The Ecstasy of Influence.”

Reading a passage about his boyhood experience with sexual fantasy, Lethem wooed the crowd with humor by wittily calling to mind his crude fascination with which he as a child peeked into his father’s studio while a model posed nude.

In an interview following the reading, Lethem explicated the flexibility of narrative in writing nonfiction.

“What you’re applying to it is a language — not just the language of individual sentences, but the language of narrative, which itself has another form of figuration in it,” he said.

Like Sullivan, when writing nonfiction, Lethem takes advantage of raw facts and uses narrative to build interest in content.

“You’re living in a goldmine,” Lethem said. “To reach for the fool’s gold by faking it is crazy.”

The next Inprint reading event will be May 6 at The Menil Collection featuring author James Salter.

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The UH concert chorale hosted groups from San Jacinto College and Colorado State University on Saturday. | Courtesy of Moores School of Music

The sounds of perfectly blended voices singing in unison swelled and reverberated in the recital hall as choirs quickly warmed up and practiced the evening’s repertory.

As the clock ticked closer to 7:30 p.m., a blur of black swarmed into the Moores Opera House. Bright, young faces formally dressed in black dresses, suits and bow ties sat near the stage in anticipation of the performances they were going to give.

Moores School of Music hosted Colorado State University’s Chamber Choir for the first time. UH also collaborated and organized the event in concert with local San Jacinto College-Central for a night of choral music bliss Saturday. Each of the three choral directors had the opportunity to flex their musical and artistic muscles while representing their college and providing their students a great opportunity to broaden their horizons.

The collaborative effort was especially important for UH’s Concert Chorale. Saturday night marked the “unofficial” premiere of a top secret choral composition that will be premiered in Germany at the International Chamber Choir Competition in May. The name of the piece is being kept a secret until after its premiere.

Betsy Cook Weber, director of choral studies and conductor of the Concert Chorale at UH, seemed enthusiastic about the collaborative. By accepting the invitation from Paul Busselberg, SJC-Central’s director of choral activities, for a three-way collaborative performance with CSU’s Chamber Choir, she nurtured community outreach and collaboration.

“(CSU) will bring sounds that are new to our ears, and we will learn from hearing them,” Weber said. “I think the special nature of this particular collaboration is giving the Houston area the opportunity to hear a choir with which we are unfamiliar.”

James Kim, CSU’s director of choral activities who is with the Chamber Choir across Texas, mirrored Weber’s enthusiasm.

“We are very excited, and it’s been awhile since we have been on tour outside of Colorado,” Kim said. “The students are really excited.”

In the collegiate choral world, Kim and Weber have each gained a reputation for themselves and their choirs.

For Busselberg, it was instinctive to bring these choirs and directors together. Using his close ties with both institutions, he instigated the plan for a mammoth collaborative effort. Busselberg was especially excited about the opportunity as an “underdog” to work with larger, more advanced choral programs.

“I have learned to really value collaboration, and that collaboration is where it’s at,” Busselberg said. “Whatever we can do together makes us stronger.”

The evening’s program was filled with a wide variety of music from 20th century to baroque and Jewish polyphony to Christian spirituals.

Each group performed a separate repertory, but the evening ended with the three choirs combining to form an 82-piece choir under the direction of Busselberg. They collaboratively performed an arrangement of “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel?” by Moses Hogan in a performance that made one’s hair stand on end.

The “top secret” choral piece was at the center of UH’s choral performance. The composer, David Ashley White, was in attendance. After hearing his piece performed for the first time, his eyes watered and turned a slight hue of red, glistening even in the dimly lit opera house.

After the concert, choir members gathered in the foyer of the opera house and mingled. Michelle Girardot, a UH vocal performance freshman and member of the Concert Chorale, enjoyed working with the other choirs.

“We’ve worked on our own different stylistic things with (“Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel”), and they had completely different takes,” Girardot said. “It was interesting to see their ideas and hear them.”

For Alan Austin, the general and artistic director of the Texas Music Festival, the night’s performances were impressive and promising, and UH’s Concert Chorale was “so solid.”

Community outreach and artistry seem to work hand in hand.

It’s events like this that open up perception and experiences, Busselberg said.

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According to research from the Journal of Family Psychology, families that engage in shared activities together were less likely to experience conflicts in five years, and traditions highly impacted the children’s development and well-being.Roberta Nutt, interim chair of the UH Department of Educational Psychology, defined family traditions as structured behaviors that organize families and become part of the family system.

“Family traditions teach us how to cope and how to find comfort during emotional events like weddings or funerals,” Nutt said.

Having come from a Russian and British background, Nutt understood the mesh of diverse ethnics as a way to preserve legacies and to create new rituals.

“Every couple will bring different traditions together to create something new, and their circumstances will change,” she said. “They choose to change for the better, and that’s healthy. You need a strong cycle to keep the traditions alive.”

Nutt also stressed the importance of family traditions.

“Traditions aren’t always obvious, but people begin to notice them when they think ‘routine’ or ‘repetition,’” Nutt said. “Whether big or small, traditions allow you to make life fun. Starting your own personal tradition to get over anything is great as well.”

Nutrition sophomore Justine James explored several traditions, which include Guyanese, Indian and British cultures.

“Even though my parents migrated to America over 30 years ago, they kept the food traditions alive,” James said. “Every Christmas morning, we wake up to the aroma of fresh bread and a slow-cooked, sweet stew called pepper pot. We also place a Christmas sock filled with fruits and sweets on doorknobs of our loved ones on Christmas Eve.”

Beyond her cultural background and religious ties to Christian holidays, James’ family and she created a few traditions that celebrate Spanish, Chinese and Hindu cultures.

“Some of our new traditions include Chinese food, and we celebrate Chinese New Year,” she said. “We established that each child in our family must be fluent in Spanish, which began when my mother became a Spanish teacher. My family and I also began celebrating Hindu festivals like Holi, the festival of colors.”

Having integrated an extensive variety of cultural customs, James explained the importance of preserving her family traditions.

“What makes these traditions important is how they’re a reminder of the fusion of my newly-created culture,” James said. “My family was able to craft a unique identity that makes us stand out from other Guyanese-American families. Our traditions give me a sense of identity and values to pass on to the next generation.”

Accounting sophomore Aimee Muniz discussed her family’s love for spending quality time watching movies, discovering events and listening to music.

“Every Sunday, we watch action-packed movies and dine at a nice restaurant to celebrate an achievement or an awesome week,” Muniz said. “We continued this tradition even when I lived on campus because it was something we all enjoyed. We also visit the Renaissance festival yearly to enjoy the cold weather and awesome food, to take memorable pictures and to enjoy the sights.”

Muniz described her family’s union through the exploration of music.

“We listen to old songs and discover new music together every night, and sometimes we sing along,” she said. “This tradition is really important because it instills a type of confidence and happiness when we sing that’s harmonious.”

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Perhaps the most wonderful part of the show involved more than just the color red, but an entire Rainbow Connection. The Men of Moores was the highlight of the night with their wonderfully moving rendition of a song originally performed by a Muppet, yet brought to life by an incredible harmony spearheaded by a moving solo.

A massive concert featuring nine different groups, singing double the arrangement at a brisk pace, the show opened with the University Women’s Chorus performing an Estonian folk song, “Lauliku Lapsepõli.” It was a bit of an odd choice to open the show. Between the dreary, almost mysterious tune, to groups of performers entering the stage and encircling a smaller group at center stage, it created a creepy but intriguing opening that left me curious for what else the night had in store. The chorus finished up with a good one-two Latin punch of “Ave Maria” and “Et Resurrexit,” which was followed by the weak card of the evening.

The men’s a cappella group, Bob’s Your Uncle, followed with an arrangement of the classic “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” tune, “Pure Imagination,” and it was doomed from the start. Setting aside the off-key false start of the soloist, this particular arrangement, sung by Gene Wilder, is just not my preference — the entire piece is slow and smooth, to the point where the song loses its original ebb and flow, and in essence, its energy. If there was a bright spot, the group performed beautifully after the false start, though the arrangement was still a turn-off.

Also a turn-off was The Moores School Concert Chorale’s opening number, the Beatles’ “Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da,” though that is more of preference for the original over the arrangement, rather than the performance. The performance itself was energetic, and the bit with the clothesbaskets was clever. On the other hand, the women’s a cappella group, the Acabellas, surprised me by making me enjoy a Britney Spears song, “Crazy.” With some fun and some energy, the group turned a song that drives me crazy into one that left me wanting more.

The ManChoir also left everyone wanting more with their entire set, from the manly and powerful “Do You Fear the Wind?” to an excellent rendition with Timothy Jones providing a wonderful, entertaining baritone solo. Their last number, the Appalachian folk song, “Cripple Creek,” was a bit disappointing, as the men were a bit sluggish and seemed to be losing steam. They finished the song on a stronger note than when they started.

Rounding out the night, the a cappella groups Floreat and Ardore — the former with a great, energetic rendition of “O, Mistress Mine!” and the latter with a moving rendition of “Misericórdias Dómini.” The Concert Women’s Chorus brought down the house with a trio of “Songs of the African American Tradition,” first, with a great set of “Freedom is Coming,” a South African tune arranged by Henry Leck, to a fun and sassy rendition of Gwyneth Walker’s “Sisters.”

The night ended with The Moores School Concert Chorale performing a pair of Scottish folk songs and a moving rendition of “Amazing Grace,” with a great solo performance by tenor Ryan Frenk, bringing a great finish to an otherwise amazing night by the choruses of the Moores School of Music.

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Political science senior Sarah Wood (center) performed “the woman who loved to make vaginas happy.” | Aisha Bouderbaden/The Daily Cougar

Let’s talk about pain and pleasure, affection and violence, fear and courage. Let’s talk about our mothers, sisters, friends and classmates. Let’s talk about vaginas.

The UH Women’s Resource Center in partnership with the Gamma Rho Lambda sorority and the UH Student Feminist Organization hosted a stirring performance of Eve Ensler’s “Vagina Monologues” this past weekend. The proceeds will be donated to the Women’s Home in Houston.

The monologues were inspired by a series of interviews Ensler conducted with hundreds of women concerning female sexuality, gender-based violence and body image. Audiences chuckled, cried and sympathized as the all-female cast gave voice to millions of women across the world who have had life altering experiences.

“It was my first time seeing the Vagina Monologues,” said psychology junior Krystal Debose. “It was interesting seeing them going over different types of stories. And seeing how for some women their experience was empowering and for others it wasn’t what they thought it would be.”

Although the monologues were fused with quirky comments and jokes, there was a sense of genuine frustration and intrigue throughout. The cast members were dedicated to their roles and each woman contributed their particular style and personalities to the characters.

Creative writing senior Joy Lester met the challenge of playing a significantly older woman with a charming impersonation that was influenced by her late grandmother and an elder family friend.

In the monologue, a woman in her seventies shares an embarrassing nightmare that stemmed from a fear of ejaculating. She experienced the nightmares since her first time ejaculating as a young woman until cancer forced her to get a hysterectomy later in life.

“When I first read this monologue,’ Lester said, “I thought to myself, I wouldn’t want to be that kind of woman who grows up and doesn’t have any knowledge of her body or anything. But it is something that a lot of women go though. They’re afraid to look at and experiment with their own bodies.”

Ensler began her mission to uncover the unspoken truth about vaginas because she was displeased with the taboos surrounding them, and more afraid of the consequences of women not talking about them.

Sarah Wood, political science senior and the Student Feminist Organization president believes that the monologues go beyond appreciating the vagina on an anatomical level, but encourages self-discovery and a universal understanding of womanhood.

“It’s not just about knowing your vagina, but it’s getting to know you and knowing everything about you that makes you who you are,” Wood said. “And also the idea of having to take control and power over your own life. I’m still growing and learning the importance of that.”

In the play Wood performs two monologues, the first about a businesswoman taking the time to discover her clitoris and the other about sex worker in the business of pleasure. Wood is also a leader for the Voices of Planned Parenthood organization on campus.

While the monologues touched on common subjects like pubic hair, feminine hygiene and orgasms, there were portions that covered complex issues like rape and genital mutilation.

Communication junior Tina Loraine performed a monologue Ensler wrote reflecting the pain women in Bosnia and Kosovo experienced during years of mass rape that went unprosecuted.

“It’s a hard piece to do because it is very, very emotional and the imagery is vivid and impactful,” Lorraine said.

Lorraine said she enjoyed listening to “My Vagina is Angry” because it created various shades of emotion with in the piece and gives the audience a chance to breathe before diving into the more graphic material.

The performance ended with a stunning video presentation that raised awareness of the Vagina Day, otherwise known as the V-day movement. V-day is centered around a free, world-wide event celebrated on February 14.

Daniel Bernard Roumain is the artist in residence at the Mitchell Center for the Arts | Courtesy of the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts

The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts presents marching bands like you’ve never seen them before with “En Masse Studies and Etudes.”

The UH Cougar Marching Band presented “En Masse,” a large-scale participatory outdoor performance, on Saturday at Discovery Green.

Unlike traditional marching band concerts, “En Masse” invites audiences to follow the band on its path and experience what it’s like to be inside a “deconstructed parade” as band members disperse into different formations around the park.

In collaboration with band director Troy Bennefield, “En Masse” is the commissioned piece by Mitchell Center artist in residence Daniel Bernard Roumain, with direction by the previous artist in residence Marc Bamuthi Joseph.

Organized into 12 different works running 20 minutes each, the marching band performed a variety of musical arrangements, including the Cougar Fight Song, powerful collaborations with Roumain on the violin and spoken word poetry by Joseph.

Throughout the four-hour performance, the marching band demonstrated consistent enthusiasm with every change of song and formation, bringing life and intrigue to the park and the community.

Just as intended, people embraced the innovative concept of “En Masse,” sharing a rare and pleasant moment with the marching band.

Lianna Esquivel, a saxophone player in the marching band and an education sophomore, said she was happy to see so many people come out for the performance.

“A lot more people are here than I expected,” Esquivel said.

Performing in close proximity to the audience, the band also encouraged children to play with their instruments.

A new and unusual experience for the marching band and audience alike, Esquivel found it brought her closer to the audience.

“It’s amazing, I feel more connected to the audience — especially if they’re right there interacting.”

“We’re making music, having fun, being ourselves and Cougars — it feels really good,” Esquivel said.

Describing “En Masse” as a “meditation through music,” choreographer Joseph was pleased that the piece turned out just as he envisioned it.

“It’s happening exactly how we wanted — a little bit of improvisation, people milling around — really using the park like a museum or a gallery; letting people wander, stare, stay, connect, depart as much as they want to and really using music as the guide to move people through,” Joseph said.

As the band changed locations around the park, performing artist Joseph recited spoken word poetry expressing sentiments of hope and American ideals.

“It’s been a tremendous week in our country’s history, from events on Capitol Hill to the obvious tragedy in Boston and to what’s happening right now in West Texas.”

“It’s a uniquely American moment and a unique moment to gather together, ‘En Masse,’ in America, and the spoken word echoes those ideas of hooding together under liberties, tresses, shelter and hope,” Joseph said.

A modern piece organized and performed with spirit, vision and a sense of togetherness, “En Masse” not only brings life to music, but music to life.

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Electronic-experimental band Crystal Castles headlined Saturday night at the House of Blues. The crowd patiently stood in the sold-out venue, waiting for the artists to perform. The only light visible to them was from the stage, and the album cover for “(III),” its third release, was hanging on the curtains.

As the show began, fans were dancing to the rhythm of the music and sang to the catchy songs. The band performed music from all three albums — “Crystal Castles,” “(II)” and “(III)” — which helped the crowd know the music by heart. Songs such as “Crimewave” and “Not in Love” made the crowd dance its feet off, and the show became a party instead.

As singer Alice Glass sang, she had the microphone in one hand and a cigarette in the other. She danced freely and jumped on the amplifiers and tables as she got into the music. Producer Ethan Kath stood in the center of the stage with his instruments and pumped up the crowd by raising his hands. As the crowd became rowdy, Glass jumped off the stage and sang while the audience held her in the air.

Crystal Castles is known for their Gameboy-glitch noise and heavy drum beats that will leave your head pounding. Glass uses bit-pop beats from her synthesizer to change the tune of her voice, creating a robotic, futuristic sound. Kath used a variety of instruments, such as old-school keyboards and synthesizers, to create the lo-fi, gloomy, homemade style.

The band also invited musician Doldrums to tour and perform his own music before its setlist. Having a similar style to Crystal Castles, the 23-year-old musician creates drum beats and echoes to create a soothing, electric sound.

From Toronto, Glass and Kath formed the band in 2004 but only released limited copies of their first single “Alice Practice” as a vinyl. The band released their debut album, “Crystal Castles,” four years later and became a great hit. As the band grew, so did the next couple of albums by changing the sound and style to give them their own experience.

The band has toured all over the country and has performed in festivals such as Counterpoint and Coachella. They have also toured in Europe, Japan and Australia and have made the top charts in those countries.

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Hijabs are the headscarves commonly worn by Muslim women.

“And tell the believing women that they should lower their eyes, guard their private parts and not display their charms beyond what (it is acceptable) to reveal. They should draw their coverings over their necklines and not reveal their charms except to their husbands, fathers, their sons, their husband’s sons, their brothers, their brother’s sons, their womenfolk,” according to the Quran, Islam’s holy book.

With this, the Hijab has become a symbol of modesty for many centuries in the Muslim community.

Muslims have many reasons for wearing the hijab and as the world moves into a more global society, non-Muslims are becoming more tolerant to it.

“It’s my identity. It’s who I am. Hijab, for me, is not just what I wear, it’s how I interact with people. It’s my character. It’s what I limit myself to, what I don’t limit myself to,” said business freshman Sarah Radwan.

Many non-Muslim students admire those that wear hijabs because they see it as a commitment to their roots, religion and heritage.

“I think that the Hijab or headscarf is a very personal commitment that is made between that said person and God. I think it shows courage and dedication,” said biology junior Clint Gunn.

UH has a diverse student body and this includes a large Muslim community and a Muslim Student Association that puts on events to increase awareness. Students are grateful for this.

“It’s something that’s important to them, and everyone should just let them do their thing because we are an accepting and diverse University,” said biology junior Allyson Gulihur.

For others, wearing the hijab is less about traditions and religion and more about having self-respect and knowing one’s boundaries.

“It was my choice to put on a hijab. I wear it to express my beliefs in the form of modesty without having to verbally explain myself. I usually get more respect by others when they see my scarf and tend to respect my boundaries,” said biochemistry junior Dema Shobaki.

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