Professor writes about myths of ‘Locavores’

By: Rachel Nelson
www.universitystar.com

James McWilliams, associate history professor, wanted to get to the root of the locally grown food craze.
His findings led to the authorship of his book Just Food: Where Locavores Get It Wrong and How We Can Truly Eat Responsibly.

McWilliams said he was inspired to research this topic when he observed a growing trend of people consuming food from local sources.

“I’m a historian, but one of the things historians are quite skeptical of is when everyone believes an idea without questioning it. It raises red flags,” McWilliams said.

Weighing on McWilliams’ mind was his observation advocates for small-scale agriculture promote going back to pre-industrial methods of farming.

“That is actually very bad for the environment,” McWilliams said. “Pre-industrial farming led to the Dust Bowl. It’s clear to me the sustainable food movement today has little knowledge of agricultural history.”

McWilliams wrote an article for The New York Times in the summer of 2007 presenting his view that food miles are not the best gauge of environmental efficiency.

“It got tons and tons of responses, pro and con,” McWilliams said. “I thought, ‘Wow, I really touched a nerve here.’ I thought maybe I should research it a little more.”

Eating local is an informal movement that has gained popularity during the past five years, according to information posted at Localvore.net.

“A localvore is a person who eats only locally-grown and produced food,” the Web site states.
McWilliams refutes the idea eating locally is the best option for environmentally cautious consumers in his book.

“We need to worry less about where our food comes from and more about what we’re eating,” McWilliams said. “We need to eat less meat and a wider range of fruits and vegetables. That is not only a healthier diet, but healthier for the environment.”

McWilliams, who is critical of the Localvore Movement, understands why people are enchanted with the idea of eating foods grown close to home.

“We all want to know where our food comes from, and if it’s coming from a local source then we feel more comfortable,” McWilliams said. “There is something very satisfying on shrinking the supply chain. We should do it, but we shouldn’t dilute ourselves into thinking we can do that everywhere. Local environments normally can’t support a broad range of food.”

Pamela Ronald, professor of plant pathology at the University of California, Davis, and co-author of Tomorrow’s Table: Organic Farming, Genetics and the Future of Food said she read McWilliams’ book thoroughly.

“I think that the local movement is interesting and nice, but it’s really a drop in the bucket of our huge agricultural problems,” Ronald said. “I really appreciate his book and putting that into perspective.
Ronald said consumers who focus on environmental friendliness should consider the big picture before vowing to eat locally.

“I think most people really do want to help the agricultural issues that we have so they eat locally, but sometimes they don’t think further than that,” Ronald said.

McWilliams said he believes many environmentalists desire to live ethically, but do not want to make sacrifices in order to achieve that.

“Buying and eating locally is not much of a sacrifice,” McWilliams said. “Reducing meat is a sacrifice.”
For McWilliams, the locally grown food trend boils down to one fact.

“If I want to be an ethical consumer and make sure that all my food comes locally because it’s local doesn’t mean it’s necessarily more efficient or that it was grown in a more responsible matter,” McWilliams said.

Local metal band Klause offers more than a novelty act

By: Rachel Nelson
www.amarilloscene.com

During the week they clean their rooms, take out the garbage and complete homework assignments. On the weekends, however, they rock stages from Amarillo to Dallas.

"I couldn't imagine what we'd be doing if we were not in a band," said bassist Jon Klause of Klause, an Amarillo heavy metal band.

The Klause brothers--Stevie, 13, Josh, 14, and Jon, 15--had been playing together for a while when their dad opted to join in.

"He's pretty much the new guy," Jon Klause said.

Steve Klause came home from work about two years ago and discovered his boys playing an old Pantera song he hadn't heard in years.

"It was my favorite band," he said. "When I was about 18, me and my buddies just wore that cassette out. There were cassettes back then."

At that point, Steve Klause wanted to throw his vocals in the mix.

"I decided I was going to try and sing for them, and I bought a PA and we decided we were going to do our first song together as a band," he said.

That song was Pantera's "Cowboys From Hell."

"It was awful," Steve Klause said with all three of his sons in agreement.

But the group did not give up. After kicking around a few band names, the four-piece decided to stick with Klause.

In July 2008, a friend invited the group to play at a Wal-Mart employee party. More than 50 shows later, they have performed at local bars and venues and branched out to other cities such as Lubbock, Pampa and Dallas.

"My favorite memory was going to Pampa because it was huge," said guitarist Stevie Klause. "I love to see people mosh. It gives me a really warm heart."

Klause performs most often at the War Legion Underground in Amarillo, located at 519 S.E. 10th Ave. The band calls the venue their second home.

Eric Turley, War Legion owner, refers to Klause as "the biggest little band in Amarillo."
Turley said he did not know what to think of the band until the first time he heard them play.

"They're the real deal," Turley said. "I got to host one of their first club shows in Amarillo, so that kind of always meant something to me. And I see them as a serious talent other than just a couple of kids with a gimmick. They are truly talented, and they're my little guys, man. I think they could do something with the whole thing."

Since their formation, Steve Klause said the band set their focus on playing in Dallas because one of their favorite metal magazines, Harder Beat, was based out of the city.

"We'd been reading that for years, so when we started the band we put a target on Dallas," Steve Klause said. "Their last issue was like the next month."

Still, Klause persevered and their dream came true in August when they were invited to play at one of the pre-parties for the fifth annual Ride For Dime event. Ride For Dime is a charitable organization that memorializes "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, the former guitarist for heavy metal bands Pantera and Damage Plan. Klause helped raise $3,500, which was donated to a few of Abbott's favorite charities.

"It was the craziest party you could ever imagine," Steve Klause said. "We were right up front. Dimebag's wife gave my kids a hug, and she offered us the main stage next year."

Klause thinks of Abbott as a heavy metal hero and ends every show with a 15-minute-long Pantera medley.

"That's my favorite part of the night, every night," said drummer Josh Klause, who banged on a trash can in his back yard for more than a year before his dad bought him a drum set.

Jon Klause said he vividly remembers the moment he found out Abbott had been shot in 2004 at an Ohio nightclub during a performance.

"It was the 9-11 of heavy metal, easily," Jon Klause said. "We finish every show with Pantera, and I hope we always will."

Steve Klause said he and his sons relate to Abbott because he was a down-to-earth person.

"When he met somebody back stage, he made them feel like they were his best friend," Steve Klause said. "We definitely don't take ourselves seriously. It's kind of hard to be first class when you're white trash, and that's another thing we take from him."

Klause also recycles the phrase "Getcha' Pull," a famous Abbott slogan. To them, the words can mean "anything and everything," from advancing musically to letting it all hang out.

Klause is "getting their pull" by playing all the shows they can.

"We turn hand shakes into relationships, and that's how you get gigs," Steve Klause said. "Now we get to go to Dallas and hang out with (Abbott's) friends and buddies."
Turley said he has watched Klause's audience grow since they started doing shows last year.

"Every body's immediately taken by them," Turley said. "They definitely have a fan base. A lot of people like them. I appreciate the talent they have."

Along with praise, however, the group's success has generated criticism.

"Every once in a while we'll get the random nimrod on the Web site who tells us I shouldn't be exposing our kids to this," Steve Klause said. "What can you do? These are my kids. A lot of parents would cringe about taking their kids to a bar, but the way I see it I guess the juice is worth the squeeze."

Steve Klause said his sons take on bar environments with maturity.

"I've been real proud about how they've handled it," he said. "They've never tried to sneak a drink, and they're teenagers."

Steve Klause said he and his wife make parenting their top priority.

"I'm a parent first and singer second," Steve Klause said. "We tell them that if you want to do this, it's not a given. It's a privilege to be up here doing this. All we ask for is good grades and decent behavior."

Steve Klause describes his wife as the "grounding rod" to the band.

"She's our biggest fan," he said.

"She's supportive, but at the same time if we mess up she will put wrath on our world," Jon Klause said.

Another criticism the band faces is being labeled a "novelty act" by some spectators.
"They say once we grow up we're nothing," Stevie Klause said.

"Novelty act bothers me more than them criticizing my parenting because they don't know me," Steve Klause said. "They're criticizing not only our music but how serious we are about it, because we take it very serious and this isn't going to stop when they're grown up."

The Klause brothers have a natural connection when they play together, Steve Klause said.

"It's a trip because all three of them just look at each other," he said. "Even a look ... Josh is a little slow on the tempo and Jon will give him a look. It's that brother thing. It's cool."

Steve Klause enjoys the musical journey he shares with his sons.

"Pride's not a big enough word," he said. "I'm up there living my dream with them, so it's like a dream within a dream. So I'm not only having my cake but eating it, too."
Stevie, Jon and Josh said they are proud of their dad as well.

"He's probably the best singer for us," Josh Klause said. "Without him we wouldn't be going to Dallas. Even if he ends up not being the singer, he'll be involved. I can't see him not being in the band."

Klause's current focus is adding more songs to their 7 original compositions. They also hope to record a demo or self-produced CD in the near future. Another goal is taking their act on the road.

"We want to tour, man, we want to tour," Steve Klause said. "We want the same thing that any band wants. We're no different. We want it, too."

Other musical influences of Klause are Slipknot, Stone Sour and Damage Plan. Stay up to date with show dates and the group's blog by visiting MySpace.com/klauseband72.

Steve Klause said he and and his sons hope to work their way to the top.

"We're going to keep kicking around town doing what we're doing because we have fun and that's the bottom line," he said. "The worst case scenario is that we have fun, and that's pretty good."

Wonder World expansion is environmentally friendly

By: Rachel Nelson
www.universitystar.com

The Wonder World Drive expansion project to alleviate heavy traffic areas in San Marcos may be completed sooner than expected, according to city officials.

The four-lane, 3.2-mile divided parkway will connect Interstate-35 to Ranch Road 12.
Construction began on the project in December.

Melissa Millecam, communications director for the city, said it has been on the drawing board for years.

“The parkway will take heavy truck traffic out of neighborhoods and let them go directly to the interstate,” Millecam said. “It will create greater ease of access of the growing population that’s going to western Hays County and relieve congestion in neighborhoods.”

Mayor Susan Narvaiz described the road as “our first premiere gateway into the community.” She said the roadway will decrease emissions, and help the city meets its clean air goals. It will help with the noise and safety concerns associated with heavy traffic.

“We can’t wait to get the traffic out of downtown and onto the roadway,” Narvaiz said.

The project is slated for completion by October, but Millecam said it is running ahead of schedule and could open as early as August.

“The drought was bad for a lot of reasons, but it was good for road construction. We were able to get ahead,” Millecam said.

Mike Sexton, engineer for Kellogg Brown & Root, said bicyclists will benefit from the new road because it includes 10-foot wide shoulders. A mile-long hike and bike trail is also incorporated, he said.

Millecam said the Wonder World expansion costs $26.38 million and is the largest transportation project in San Marcos history in terms of funding. She said voters approved the project in a 1998 bond election.

The Texas Department of Transportation agreed to reimburse the city during the next 10 to 20 years based on the parkway traffic volume.

“The state will pay us back $3 to $6 million per year,” Millecam said.

Narvaiz said the city did not ask the county for a contribution.

Millecam said the parkway will provide visual beauty and convenience to motorists.

“The road is surrounded by park land, it’s a beautiful view, especially when you’re coming from Ranch Road 12,” Millecam said. “It’s really much higher than the Hunter Road area. It’ll be a beautiful drive.”

Sexton said wildflowers will be planted to beautify the project.

“The city has gone the extra mile to make this more than another piece of asphalt on the road,” Sexton said. “It’s not just a new road. It’s a showcase for the community.”

Millecam said because the parkway runs through an environmentally sensitive area that is mostly designated park land, development will be limited along the road. Preliminary steps were taken because of the nature of the land.

“It goes through the hill country and a recharge zone into the Edwards Aquifer,” Millecam said. “We took precautions and spent a good deal of money on environmental work, archaeological studies and litigations.”

Sexton said he created accommodating designs to prevent pollution from spilling into the Edwards Aquifer, and ditches were re-aligned to avoid cutting down trees.

The city is also rebuilding the intersection at Wonder World Drive and Hunter Road in association with the expansion project.

“It’ll certainly be done in the near future,” Millecam said. “We expect to have the intersection done by the first of the year, weather permitting, and that can be a big caveat.”

Narvaiz said she eagerly awaits the completion of the new parkway.

“We look forward to opening this project and getting it in the hands of residents who have envisioned it and paid for it,” Narvaiz said.

Security cameras considered for future construction projects

By: Rachel Nelson
www.universitystar.com

An alleged sexual assault Oct.12 in the Pleasant Street parking garage has sparked security concerns on campus.

“Just some areas and buildings,” ASG President Chris Covo said in a tweet two days after the alleged assault.
Covo said the incident did not initiate the camera increase. Plans to implement more security cameras have been in the works for a couple of years, he said.

Jeb Thomas, supervisor of Access Services at the University Police Department, said security cameras are not required in the Master Plan, but are included in the construction standards for all projects.

“These are the standards we send to builders and contractors,” Thomas said. “They come up with a customized plan for what video surveillance installations are needed.”

Thomas said the construction standards were updated last year to include cameras.

“With any building, a lot of that is determined by funding,” Thomas said.

Thomas said a building’s use and security concerns factor into the need for cameras.

Thomas said camera installation costs range depending on the type of camera, mounting options and power needed.

“We don’t have network connections in parking lots or (the) power,” Thomas said. “It’s not just the cost of the camera, it’s the cost of the infrastructure to be able to see the video and record it.”

A project is underway to put cameras in entrances to existing buildings and is being completed by Network Installations, Thomas said.

Thomas would not disclose how many cameras exist on campus or where they are located. He stressed video cameras are not monitored by the dispatch office at all times because “there’s just too many of them.” However, the office does watch the monitors in response to reported problems and can review documented footage.

“Just because there’s a camera doesn’t mean there’s an actual human watching it at that time,” Thomas said. “I want people to have the appropriate expectation of why the cameras are there. They need to have the appropriate understanding of what a camera does for them security wise.”

Charlene Berger, exercise and sports science senior, said she feels safe on campus because her dad equipped her with pepper spray. She said she was not completely surprised to learn there are no cameras in the Pleasant Street garage.

“It is a parking garage and cameras may help with theft prevention as well as safety, but it is costly to place that technology everywhere,” Berger said.

Thomas said construction on the new Matthews Street parking garage will include camera installation.

“The older garages are going to be more difficult to install cameras because they were built when you didn’t have a lot of network infrastructure in garages,” Thomas said.

Covo said he feels additional security cameras will benefit campus theft and robbery cases while also providing peace of mind.

“I think it will be better for the university, especially help parents feel at ease and students who may feel like they can’t protect themselves,” Covo said.

Thomas said the university continues to consider camera usage in the future.

“It’s definitely going to be an ongoing project over years as money is available,” Thomas said.