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1A1 LIFE&ARTS PAGE 12 DTWEEKEND Unique sport attracts thrill-seekers Pop bottles in +21 style SPORTS PAGE 7 Men’s basketball barrels over OSU TOMORROW’S WEATHER High Low THE DAILY TEXAN 60 38 Thursday, February 25, 2010 Serving the University of Texas at Austin community since 1900 www.dailytexanonline.com Travesty, TSTV host offbeat SG debate By Gerald Rich natural personalities. Kinnaird ran ty editor Matt Ingebreteson and from a popularity contest, even if Daily Texan Staff in last year’s SG election as the local Austin comedians Ramin you have to do it through a butt- Sexy nurses, The Ransom Notes Travesty candidate, placing third Nazer and Chris Trew judged the cam debate, then that could hap- and sparkling grape juice helped with 8 percent of the vote. event and docked points for idio- pen I guess.” kick off the first-ever Texas Traves- “SG traditionally has had a bad syncrasies, like presidential candi- The debate also included several ty and TSTV-hosted Student Gov- rap on campus, and them asso- date Scott Parks’ “hat hair.” TSTV interruptions by an image of Pres- ernment Presidential Master De- ciating themselves with humor cameras also continuously filmed ident William Powers Jr., whose bate on Wednesday night in San Ja- or anything that gets them out the candidates rear-ends. Kinnaird mouth had been replaced by an- cinto’s multipurpose room. of their shell is good,” Kinnaird said videographers would “cut to other person’s speaking. Student- The Texas Travesty is a satirical said. “As a student [representa- the butt cam” whenever the candi- posed questions such as “How campus publication and TSTV is tive] they try to be important and dates speeches got too dry. much do 10 chicken nuggets cost the student-operated television sta- official and make important de- “I’m all about not having jour- at Wendy’s?” and a “trayless” race tion. cisions, but they don’t have that nalistic integrity at this debate,” where vice presidential candidates Pre-law and chemistry senior much power. It’s a paradox of Kinnaird said. “I just want it to be a had to run while carrying two Mary Kang | Daily Texan Staff Zak Kinnaird said he hoped the having very little and also much good time. Honestly, I really don’t plates, a drink and some form of Debate judges Matt Ingebretson, Christ Trew and Ramin Nazer discuss candidates relax with the humor- more than the average student.” care if it influences any of the vot- which of the candidates should win the debate. The event was held at ous tone and show more of their Throughout the night, Traves- ers. But if you want to get away DEBATE continues on page 2 the San Jacinto multipurpose room Wednesday evening. SG hopefuls Cab offers one-of-a-kind ride bring levity to elections Texas Travesty sponsors student leader.” This is the second year in a candidates who emulate row that the Texas Travesty, a former Soviet leaders satirical campus publication, has sponsored candidates for of- By Audrey White fice. In 2009, chemistry senior Daily Texan Staff Zak Kinnaird and biology se- Inspired by the tactical swift- nior Abbie Cheney ran a cam- ness and heavy-handed ruling paign with the self-stated goal style of Soviet leaders, philoso- of building their resumes. The phy senior Aaron Walther and alliance earned 8 percent of the rhetoric junior Lara Grant said vote, nearly causing a run-off they are certain their plan of be- between the winning alliance, coming “supreme student lead- Liam O’Rourke and Shara Ma, er” and “vice leader” so they and runners-up Philip Tau and can “grease the machine” will Sarah Stearns. be fulfilled in the upcoming Stu- Liberal arts Rep. John Lawler dent Government elections. said that whether Walther, who “It really matters not why you is using a wheelchair during vote; your vote will not count,” the campaign, is actually a para- Bobby Longoria | Daily Texan Staff Walther said, his fake Russian plegic Russian is not the point. Bailee E. Beilman, Christopher J. Stevens and Ernest G. Hotze III search through songs in The Land Yacht, Austin’s karaoke cab. The accent even thicker than his The campaign keeps SG elec- cab, driven by Scott Powell, provides riders with a black-lit mobile karaoke lounge as they venture to downtown and other parts mustache. “But the masses like tions from becoming overly se- of Austin. to feel like they have power, so rious while drawing attention vote for me to feel like you were demonstrating influence on next CAMPAIGN continues on page 2 ‘Land Yacht’ makes sound waves as driver shares his love for music By Andrew Kreighbaum into Powell’s cab, which is and a sound system and He’s watched riders’ taste Daily Texan Staff outfitted with black lights, then manually adding lyrics in music change through his Austin cab driver Scott neon colors and a sound to thousands of songs. years of cab-driving. Sorori- Powell says surprised riders system with multiple tele- “Before people started ty girls seem to pick a lot of ask him three or four times visions that provide stream- asking me that, it was like, Journey songs, he said. The a night whether they’ve just ing music videos through- it’s a case of ‘You know this most popular genres in the hopped into the Cash Cab. out the ride. guy is a wannabe,’” he said. cab are rap, R&B and hip- “That guy’s a poseur,” “Driving a cab is who I “At this point, you know it’s hop. Although he names Powell said, referring to Ben am,” he said. “But music is getting so old that I’m begin- James Taylor as his favorite Bailey, the Discovery Chan- what I live my life for.” ning to truly hate the guy.” artist, Powell said he enjoys nel show’s host. Riders call it the karaoke His playlist has expand- all of those genres, as well. Powell has been driving a cab, but Powell refers to his ed to include more than “Whatever the kids are lis- cab in Austin for almost 17 vehicle as The Land Yacht, 30,000 songs that span just tening to, it actually tends years, so pardon him if he a name he inherited from a about every genre, he said. to energize me,” he said. “It doesn’t think Bailey, whose taxi-driver friend. He drives mostly in Central makes me feel like I’m part show hasn’t been on the air There are no cameras in Austin, where UT students of the party, you know?” nearly as long, is very legit- Powell’s Yellow Cab van frequently use cabs to get If customers don’t pick a Bobby Longoria | Daily Texan Staff imate. But riders find them- and no cash to be won, but from West Campus or simi- song for themselves, Powell Aaron Walther and Lara Grant are running for Student Government selves reaching for a com- countless hours have gone lar neighborhoods to down- president and vice president under the banner, “Vote for Premiere parison when they jump into outfitting it with screens town for a late night. KARAOKE continues on page 2 Success.” UT budget takes hit in performing arts partnership Three polls show that By Shamoyita DasGupta in town at the 40 Acres, have a Daily Texan Staff moral responsibility to be a lead- Despite standing to lose up to er in this area of strategic allianc- primary runoff likely $100,000, the University’s Texas es with other arts organizations,” By Alex Geiser survey of 500 likely Republican pri- Performing Arts will showcase Panoff said. Daily Texan Staff mary voters on Tuesday. one of its Broadway productions About 60 percent of Texas Per- Though multiple polls show Austin news station KXAN re- at the Long Center for Perform- forming Arts’ budget comes from Gov. Rick Perry leading in the Re- leased a poll Tuesday that also ing Arts. ticket sales and state funding, and publican primary, there is still some shows Perry with a substantial lead The University is working with the rest is from donations. disparity about whether he will be on Hutchison — 44 percent to 30 Broadway Across America to Though the Long Center has able to avoid a runoff election with percent. Medina trailed at 14 per- bring a five-show season to the been a significant venue for the Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. cent, and 12 percent of respondents Bass Concert Hall. This partner- fine arts in the Austin area for If neither candidate receives 50 were undecided. Seven hundred ship will allow the University to many years, it often caters to percent of the vote on March 2, and twenty registered voters who share one of its subscription titles more local fine arts performers, they will be pushed into a runoff intend to vote in the Republican with the Long Center, said Kathy such as Austin Symphony Or- election, which would extend the primary were interviewed from Panoff, director and associate chestra, Austin Lyric Opera and race another five weeks. Feb. 19-21 in the poll conducted by dean of Texas Performing Arts. Ballet Austin. The center only of- Three polls released this week Constituent Dynamics, a Seattle- “There will still be a five-show fered two Broadway shows this Chris Kosho | Daily Texan Staff show Perry leading, followed by based independent polling firm. subscription season,” Panoff said. season, one in October and one The Long Center, located just south of Lady Bird Lake, is part of Hutchison, with Tea Party activist Another poll from Public Policy “Four of the titles will be at Bass in November.