Dichotomy Coffee baristas try to include variety in their coffee through different roasters so Wacoans can experience different types. (Matt Hellman | Lariat Photo Editor)

Many people will pull up to a drive-through window at McDonald’s and order a McCafe Frappe Mocha in order to treat themselves or a get a caffeine boost. Coffee shops in Waco, however, believe that they’re offering something more than a quick fix –they say that with their coffee and service they’re offering an experience.

Jessie Harris, store manager of Trailhead Coffee Shop on the corner of University Parks Drive and Franklin Avenue, said there is a difference between the “coffee culture” and the coffee industry. Coffee culture, he said, is more about the attitude behind making coffee, whereas the industry of coffee is more about making profits.

“I think of enjoying relationships over coffee and enjoying the uniqueness that every cup of coffee can bring,” Harris said.

Harris said preparing a good cup of coffee is an art form. There are even barista world championships, he said.

“I think that what is great about coffee is that it is what it is — it is what you make of it,” Harris said. “It’s like any fine drink. You can have people that are addicted and then you can have those who enjoy the social aspect of it, and that can bring all sorts of varieties of people, and then you’ve got those who appreciate the art of it — and I think that alone draws in many different realms of people.”

Cody Fergusson, barista at Dichotomy Coffee at 712 Austin Ave., described brewing coffee as a kind of theater, since baristas can put on a show for their customers and experiment in a form of artwork called “latte art,” where images are created on the surface of coffee with steamed milk.

“Coffee is something you can be extremely passionate about, and that goes to the growers, to the science that goes into roasting and to extraction and brewing,” Fergusson said. “I mean, we have this fancy gadget over there that tells us the total dissolved solids in the coffee, so that we can possibly recreate the same perfect cup time and time again based on dissolved molecules.”

Rob McNeil, a barista at Common Grounds, said he finds coffee fascinating, as there are many ways to affect the dynamic of a cup of coffee, from the growing of the plant, to the washing and drying of the product, to the grinding of the bean, to the measuring of the water. He said as a barista prepares coffee, they can explain what they’re doing to the customer and how that makes a difference in the drink.

“Here we want to teach the customer about what they’re getting, and it’s not just a cup of coffee, like a crappy cup of coffee,” he said. “It’s a good quality product.”

Fergusson said Dichotomy chooses to use multiple different roasters to supply its coffee so Wacoans can gain a new and different kind of coffee experience.

“All specialty coffee is mostly what you call selectively picked, so you have the ripe cherries that are picked, and then that is hand-sorted, so it goes through a rigorous sorting process to make sure each bean is of the same quality and high quality,” Fergusson said. “And then with specialty roasters, that’s roasted to a profile that brings out the natural flavors, so you get a lot more quality coffee that has natural flavors. And then it comes to my hands, which, I put in hours of training to make sure I can prepare it in a way that is delicious.”

Harris said that the coffee culture has a cultish following, elaborating that each customer in the culture will know what kind of coffee they prefer. Waco doesn’t have a lot of that culture yet, Harris said, but Waco’s coffee scene is growing.

“Most people still desire the sweet, flavored drinks,” Harris said. “If you were to go to Morocco, which is a nation centered around coffee and tea, you would find at 5 p.m., literally, hundreds of men at cafes just enjoying the flavor and the richness of a coffee and enjoying the camaraderie that came with it. And we’re not there yet.”

Harris doesn’t consider himself a coffee ‘purist.’ He doesn’t want to look down on customers just wanting a caffeine buzz as they study for final exams, he said. He does want to raise the awareness, however, of slowing down and enjoying life and a cup of coffee.

“I think there’s a need for both,” Harri said. “If you become an extremist, then you lose one side of the coin.”

What a customer can expect from Trailhead Coffee, Harris said, is if that customer visits the shop more than three times, baristas should know that customer’s name. They aim to value people foremost, Harris said.

McNeil spoke of how he valued the interaction he has with customers as a barista.

“I know that my personal goal is just to make someone’s day just a little bit better by smiling at them and being friendly and taking their order, and doing anything I can to make someone else feel better,” McNeil said.

Customer service was a common theme in coffee culture that Harris, Fergusson and McNeil all expressed as being important.

“People need someone to talk to,” McNeil said. “Why can’t it be a barista?”

San Antonio senior film and digital media student Breanna Villani practices her steadicam operation on Henderson sophomore Teila Washington. (Jackie Fernandez | Contributor)

Every story has a beginning, and for many aspiring students of film and digital media, the journey starts when they enter the classrooms of the Castellaw Communications Center.

Each professor has his specialty; for senior lecturer Brian Elliott, it is television and screenwriting. Elliott said his desire is to guide those who are trying to achieve their dreams of making it in the entertainment industry.

“My greatest joy is to sit down with people who kind of go, ‘I think I want to do this but that seems kind of crazy. Who does this?’ and I go, ‘There is sort of a path. It’s not necessarily an easy path, but there’s a path and I can help you think it through,’” Elliott said.

Elliott, who has been teaching at Baylor for 22 years, said he loves to watch students thrive in the classroom through collaborative work and projects.

“I enjoy being in creative environments with students who have some creative ideas and trying to help them figure out how to shape those ideas into something that actually tells a story,” Elliott said.

One way some of the professors in the film and digital media department relate to students is that their own journeys also began at Baylor. Dr. Jim Kendrick, associate professor, started off his freshman year at Baylor as an English major but soon realized he had a passion for something more.

“I started doing film criticism for The Lariat when I was an undergrad, and I really enjoyed doing it,” Kendrick said. “I did a master’s degree here in journalism, but literally every paper that I wrote, I wrote about film somehow or another.”

As a film critic, Kendrick appreciates the intimate settings of his classes because not only do the students get to learn from him, but he also gets to have different outlooks on films he may have seen multiple times before.

“The classes I enjoy teaching the most are my smaller, seminar-style classes where there is a lot of back and forth between me and the students, where it’s not so much as me lecturing but us discussing the films,” Kendrick said. “I learn amazing things from them because they always come at it with a different perspective than I do.”

The experiences of the professors go beyond teaching within the classroom. Chris Hansen, associate professor and director of film and digital media, is not only a professor but also a filmmaker.

“I love the fact that I get to do what I am passionate about and that is make films and write films, while also working with students to improve their ability to do what they want to do,” Hansen said.

Hansen began his journey at Baylor after receiving his Masters of Fine Arts in Script and Screenwriting at Regent University. With three independent feature films to his credit as writer and as producer, Hansen can relate to student experiences in the process of making films.

“I have the same successes and failures that our students have creatively as I’m trying to get my work out there,” Hansen said. “I know they appreciated knowing that I have those moments, too, where it is just so hard and you want to give up.”

It is these experiences that professors have gone through that help encourage students in knowing they are not alone. Although they are still learning, students may find assurance in knowing they do not have to know everything because they are still honing their skills.

“I have so much respect for my professors because they didn’t just read a book and then come and teach it. They went out in the real world and did it,” Farmers Branch junior Brittney DeVine said. “They know what they are talking about and they know how to get you ready to go out into the real world.”

The film and digital media program offers a variety of classes such as television writing, HD studio, field production and media and society. By having a variety of choices, students can choose which classes best suit their interest in the field of television or film.

“Whatever you want to do in the film world, Baylor gives you the options to get there,” St. Louis, Mo., senior Jake Brown said. “They cover everything you need to know, at least the basics.”

The film and digital media department has produced well-known alumni such as John Lee Hancock, director of “The Blind Side”, and Derek Haas and Michael Brandt, creators of NBC’s hit show “Chicago Fire.” Haas and Brandt have also written screenplays for several hit movies, including “Wanted” and “3:10 to Yuma.” Although some names are not as recognizable as others, it does not mean their work goes unnoticed. Success is defined by hard work.

“Being a working filmmaker who is certainly not a Steven Spielberg or not somebody who is a household name makes me connected to the students and connected to the industry,” Hansen said. “I’m doing this work that I want to do, but it also helps me to better understand and relate to the students who are having the same challenges and frustrations.”

In order to train students to achieve their end goal of creating what they love, they need some support along the way. Elliott relates being a professor to being a hitting coach of a baseball team as an encourager — and to leading the students on the course to where they desire to go.

“I know one of my strengths is being the hitting coach, knowing that I can hopefully hear what you want to do, listen to your questions, listen to your fears, listen to your concerns and try to help you see a little farther down the road,” Elliott said. “I get equal pleasure out of doing that as I do finishing a project because that investment is going to have a life after me sitting in a room with that person.”

One piece of advice Kendrick said he feels is most important for students is that they should be passionate about what they are doing and going into.

“They have to be willing to dive in completely and swim against the tide,” Kendrick said. “Do what you love. It’s much better to get a small paycheck and doing what you love than to make bank but hate going to work every day.”

Through the courses students are taking and the guidance of their professors, students feel prepared for any adventure or opportunity that may come their way, including the connections they make at Baylor.

“The most exciting opportunity is the Baylor in New York program, which I will be participating in this fall,” Seattle junior Nina Cates said. “I will be living in New York from August to December, working at an internship and being a full time student. It is going to be the experience of a lifetime and it would not be possible if I wasn’t at Baylor.”

Students say they understand that their journey is only beginning once they graduate from Baylor. None of what they have done means anything unless they are willing to take what they learn from class and take that beyond the Baylor community.

“Nobody wants a 22-year-old to come on set and think that they know everything.” DeVine said. “They want somebody that is eager to learn, wants to learn and is ready to learn. Baylor teaches the film students to just thrive and be ready to take opportunities as they come and always be purposeful with what you do.”

Cupps drive in
Travis Taylor | Lariat Photographer

“When I first came here, hamburgers were 25 cents, and for a nickel extra you could get an order of fries in a basket, and 15 cents extra was a Coke.”

Longtime Cupp’s Drive Inn customer Fred Winslow, who has been a regular since the 1960s, said he remembers a simpler time at this locally owned diner.

With its old-fashioned barstools and its counter in front of the flat grill, Cupp’s Drive Inn provides locals with a dining experience they will find nowhere but this small family-owned restaurant. Tucked behind a fast food chain at 15th Street and Speight Avenue, just off Interstate 35, this small all-American diner proves it has stood the test of time as generations of families continue to visit Cupp’s.

“Not many people know about it,” Dallas senior Christopher Hillman said, “which might be one of the reasons we like it so much.”

Juicy hamburgers, fresh French fries, hand-filled onion rings, even classic breakfast foods such as eggs, bacon and omelets. These are just a few of the items that Cupp’s has served its customers for more than 50 years.

Founded in 1929 as Heating’s Eatings, Cupp’s adopted its current name in 1947. The building itself has remained in the same location through the years, making some small renovations along the way.

“The windows are all the same, the ductwork is all the same,” Winslow said.

In 1947, Charlie Cupp and his wife bought the restaurant and transformed it into the classic diner it is known as today. As its name suggests, Cupp’s Drive Inn offered a drive-in option for customers until around 15 years ago, but now it offers only the vintage barstools and cozy booths inside the restaurant, as well as a picnic area outside. Winslow said he remembers sitting at the same counter ordering a burger while on a lunch break from working at a coin laundry with his father 50 years ago.

Winslow, a burger enthusiast and a regular at the restaurant, said he believes Cupp’s is “the best burger place in all of Texas and all of the United States.”

Even through the changes in the world and the community surrounding the restaurant, Cupp’s Drive Inn has remained largely the same. The same food, the same service and the same building continue to welcome customers year after year, decade after decade.

Cupp’s has been operated by siblings Freddie Johnson Jr. and Sherry Caughenbaugh since 1988 when their mother Betty bought the diner. It is run full time by the brother and sister duo, and a few other employees.

As Hillman sat in a booth with classmate Brian Kelly eating his greasy, old-fashioned burger and fries, he recalled his freshman year, when he first discovered the burger joint. Through the years, Cupp’s has remained a staple for Hillman because it is a “fun place, good food, close, simple and often overlooked,” he said.

“Our hamburgers are what we’re known for,” Cupp’s co-operator Johnson said. The restaurant is famous for its classic, fresh-made American fare. The recently introduced breakfast specials, including bacon, omelets, pancakes, eggs, hash browns and more, have also been a hit with customers, Johnson said.

Recently, Cupp’s has also had customers requesting less common things with their food, such as eggs or ham on their hamburger, or ordering a chili cheeseburger. The diner staff accommodates even the strangest requests, Johnson said, in order to keep customers happy and returning.

Hamburgers and buns are grilled and toasted atop the flat grill before they are served to customers. Hillman said he prefers Cupp’s hamburger buns over other burger joints’ because “they’re the right amount of crispy and the right amount of soft.” He said he also likes the thin patties in Cupps’ hamburgers. The French fries and onion rings are all hand cut and fried next to the counter as well.

For generations, customers have enjoyed the hand-cooked, made-to-order food at Cupp’s.

“We do our own fresh meat, we peel potatoes every day, and the onion rings, we hand cook and fill them,” co-operator Sherry Caughenbaugh said.

Customers have the option of sitting at one of the eight barstools at the counter in front of the flat grill to watch their order being made. While they watch their burgers simmer on the grill, it is not uncommon to find the staff engaging in friendly conversation with them. Even as the newest employee of Cupp’s, Julia Gomez said she has already begun recognizing the regular customers. “You learn their names fast,” Gomez said.

Regular customers have the opportunity to see the same four friendly faces each time they visit the diner, and the staff is able to get to know the longtime customers.

“It’s like the customers are your family,” Caughenbaugh said. “You just kind of watch everybody grow up.”

Customers develop relationships and get to know the staff at Cupp’s, as well. “You know who it’s going to be when you get here,” Hillman said. “Even if they don’t know you, they treat you like they do.”

In many customers’ cases, their family has been visiting Cupp’s for generations. It is a tradition for these people and these families to continue dining here. “We have so many customers, a lot of families, like I said— generations, where your parents or your grandparents came here,” Caughenbaugh said. Part of the excitement of working at a restaurant like Cupp’s is the opportunity to get to know all the customers, hear their stories, and keep up with them, she said.

Though many of Cupp’s customers are regulars or have been visiting the restaurant for years, it still receives first-time customers like friends of the family. Columbia, Mo., senior Brian Kelly, who said he first came to Cupp’s his sophomore year, said he often chooses Cupp’s for his lunch break not only for the tasty burgers and fries, but also because it is “somewhere we don’t normally think about for the normal lunch places,” he said.

A first-time customer of Cupp’s, Sugar Land freshman Alicia Boczar, said she experienced a similar situation with the friendly, chatty staff and enjoyable service. After ordering a cheeseburger with fries and a Dr Pepper from her barstool at the counter, she said she could already tell she had discovered one of Waco’s best hidden treasures. “I just want to keep going back there,” Boczar said.

Since it is only open for business during breakfast and lunchtime, customers of Cupp’s fill the restaurant during these hours.

“We get filled up real quick, since it’s such a small restaurant, but the tables move real fast, people are real courteous, and everybody knows each other,” Johnson said. “If you don’t know each other, you’ll know each other by the time you leave.”

In its early days, Cupp’s accepted only cash as payment from customers. But soon, with advances in technology, Cupp’s was able to begin accepting credit and debit cards in order to provide more options for payment for all customers.

Cupp’s Drive Inn, located at 1424 Speight Avenue in Waco., is open for business 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with breakfast served from 8:30 to 11 a.m.

Diadeloso Thursday April 14, 2011, at Fountain Mall.
Makenzie Mason | Lariat Photographer

In contrast, country music powerhouse Lady Antebellum performed at Texas Christian University in October of 2010. This performance was also at an extremely successful point in their career. They won a Grammy, as well as a Country Music Award for Vocal Group of the Year and Single of the Year. The Fray performed on campus the next year, just prior to the release of their third studio album.

In May of 2012, Blake Shelton visited Texas Christian University. This was fresh off of his Country Music Awards success, including Entertainer of the Year, Best Male Vocalist and Best Song.

University of West Virginia, another recent Big 12 addition, has seen an even more varied group of musicians. Within the past year, rappers Kendrick Lamar and Wiz Khalifa have performed on campus, as well as country star Luke Bryan.

Other artists who have performed there include Ludacris, Maroon 5, Miranda Lambert, Snoop Dogg, 30 Seconds to Mars and Cee Lo Green. In 2007, Maroon 5 peaked at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, and every album since included #1 hit singles. Ludacris also topped the charts in 2010.

University of Oklahoma has hosted a more alternative-based genre of artists, such as Matt and Kim, Ben Kweller and Iron and Wine. Ben Rector has also performed there, but he has visited Waco’s own Common Grounds in recent years.

In a sense of currently popular musicians, Baylor’s biggest performing artist at the time she performed was Colbie Caillat at Diadeloso in 2010. That year she was awarded a Grammy for Album of the Year.

“We had Colbie Caillat the year before my freshman year,” said Round Rock sophomore Elizabeth Meszaros. “That would have been more interesting to me. I mean, I had heard of Parachute, but we do seem to have less popular bands.”

The following year, Chamber invited Jack Ingram to perform. He had a history of chart-topping singles and albums, but, after 2010 he quit producing new hits.

Similarly, in 2012, Parachute came to Baylor. Their highest -ranked album came out the year before, but failed to make it beyond number 19.

Most recently, this Dia featured the band Five for Fighting. In 2006, the album “Two Lights” reached number eight. Aside from a “best of” album released in 2011, the artist had not produced anything in the last three years.

“I’m not really a fan of any of the bands they’ve had for Dia in the four years I’ve been here,” said Sunnydale senior Garrett Smith. “I would never pay money to go see any of them.”

The director of Student Activities, Matt Burchett, is on the forefront of booking bands. He said the selection of performing artists for a Baylor event is a partnership between the student organization that sponsors the event and Baylor. The process includes a review with the university in order to guarantee that the organization’s event will be successful.

The first step is reliant upon the organization that wishes to invite an artist. This step is simply selecting whom they want to perform at the event.

The genre of music is determinate upon where the event is and what it is. After choosing the artist that Chamber wants, the organization submits a request online to the desired artist.

“The organizations sponsoring concerts on campus work diligently to book artists that their peers will enjoy and are consistent with the values of the university,” Burchett said. “This is a delicate balance but organizations do an exceptional job.”

Other organizations that bring live music artists to their events include Kappa Omega Tau, who partners with the Baylor Activities Council for the Christmas tree lighting concert, Baylor Activities Council for Traditions Rally, Uproar Concert Promotions, and Pi Beta Phi for Howdy.

It becomes apparent that according to the awards and rankings on music charts, Baylor has booked significantly less popular bands than other schools within the Big 12. Wakefield said location is primarily to blame. He said bigger name bands may feel less inclined to come based on the smaller audience present.

Although TCU is a smaller campus than Baylor, it has booked more prominent bands.

Baylor is required to guarantee a certain number of tickets will be sold, or in the case of free concerts, which are the majority of concerts at Baylor, the band has to receive as much money as if individual tickets were being paid for. Organizations that invite performing artists budget for this.

“Price is certainly a consideration when planning any program on campus,” Burchett said. “We work to be judicious stewards of our resources while striving to make our campus programs exciting and relevant for Baylor students.”

Another possible reason that Baylor hasn’t booked artists such as Snoop Dogg or Cee Lo Green references Burchett’s statement above. The university’s values cannot be compromised in this entertainment process. As a Baptist university, it would not be appropriate for Baylor to book artists that use profanity or other risque innuendos.

Wakefield mentioned that notable “less popular” bands frequent Common Grounds. These include Mutemath, Quiet Company and the Civil Wars. He said the reason bands like these are not booked regularly at Baylor is due to venue size.

According to both venues’ official websites, Common Grounds can fit 600 people whereas Waco Hall can fit 2,200. Wakefield said that were Baylor to have a more mid-sized venue, bands like those that play at Common Grounds would be more likely to be booked.

When it comes to big venues, Wakefield compared the Ferrell Center to the Frank Erwin Center in Austin.

Once again, due to location, it is not likely that a big performing artist would feel obligated to book a show at the Ferrell Center. However, big shows take place regularly at the Erwin Center.

“When we get our new stadium, there is a possibility that we might book bigger bands,” Wakefield said. “It will be a larger venue.”

Oversized T-shirt?

Check.

Nike shorts?

Check.

High socks?

Check.

The Baylor girls I’m thinking of may not participate in any sports, but they sure pull off the “slaving in the gym look” like a champ, even in full make-up.

Baylor fashion stereotypes exist as an irrefutable campus characteristic, prominent to anyone walking around campus for the day. Not all students fall into the Nike short trap, though.

“I think the Nike shorts and XXL t-shirt trend is for girls seeking an easy comfortable look for the day-to-day grind,” said Fort Worth senior Julie Rowlands. “I personally don’t deviate to that look because I enjoy expressing myself through the clothes I wear. Also, it just doesn’t really match my personality or lifestyle.”

Here’s the thing about Baylor trends, though: they’re not for everyone. Pearl earrings may look good on any girl, but we all know the same cannot be said about LuLulemon yoga pants.

Whether you are dressing for comfort or to express individuality; every girl loves a compliment and that will never go out of style.

However, be careful what fashion advice you give your friends.

“I think it is pathetic. It is funny that look has become so popular when that is not classified as attractive anywhere else except the Baylor campus,” said Palestine junior Rachel Dean.

Appearance is a communication tool, revealing one’s personality through style.

Light travels faster than sound, so you see sooner than you hear. The same can be said for first impressions.

Often, you see someone before you talk to them. The first impression you make is likely to be visual, and one would be a fool to think appearance does not matter, especially in the transition from college to the business world.

It makes you wonder where college trends come from.

One Baylor apparel professor explained that students’ fashion choices may be based on more than just a desire to impress.

“As your life stage changes, your priorities change,” said associate apparel merchandising professor Dr. Lorynn Divita. “As of right now, it is more important to feel good in your 9 a.m. class than it is to look good.”

Well, I say thank goodness for spring-cleaning, because it gives you an excuse to throw away last year’s trends.

I am sorry to say printed pants and boyfriend blazers have to go.

Instead, for this season, ‘80s fashion has come back in full force with crop tops and high-waisted shorts. The exposed midriff is big for spring, as proved by a bevy of designers in their spring collections. Peplum tops have also been making an appearance for those hoping to achieve the hourglass silhouette.

As an added bonus, it looks like the leather-pant-or-skirt trend from the fall has made its way to spring with some ultra-sexy new twists: pairing leather with a lightweight material is all the rage, like a cute sheer top and a bandeau.

Cutouts are also in vogue for this upcoming summer.

The pantone color of the year is emerald green, and you can see it everywhere from nail polish to handbags and shoes.

It is very timely because it makes us think of the environment. It is a relaxing color and it looks good on a lot of people, said Divita.

A bold few that dare to be individuals in what seems like a very conformist student population have expressed their excitement for this year’s spring trends.

“This year I have really enjoyed the colored jean spree, colored high-waisted shorts with types of button-up shirts tucked in, the return of chunky jewelry and high -low skirts,” Rowlands said.

Spring trends have hit. Some will enjoy wearing them, others watching. But some looks, are, unfortunately, eternal. Baylor’s Nike-short and t-shirt obsession seems to be one of those.

Why do the good trends die young?

The family and consumer sciences senior fashion show will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday on the fifth floor of the Cashion Academic Center. It will feature 16 female models wearing a total of 87 garments. (Ashley Pereryra | Lariat Reporter)

With fewer than three days until the family and consumer sciences fashion show, McKinney junior Taylor Allen, a volunteer, along with a team of students is working on the final details. The race to the end is here.

This year’s show is at 3 p.m. Sunday on the fifth floor of Cashion Academic Center.

Thursday was a final garment fitting for the show’s 16 female models. The show is to feature a total of 87 garments.

“We have all the preparations for the entertainment, runway, seating, tickets,” Allen said. “Right now it’s just crunch time on the designers—the senior designers and finishing up their collections.”

Longview senior Lauren Dulweber is one of those nine senior designers to showcase their final collections at the fashion show.

“All of us are spending time doing corrections on our garments, making everything look its best for the show and just finishing up last minute projects,” Dulweber said.
Dr. Lorynn Divita, associate professor of family consumer sciences, is one of three professors in charge of the event.

According to Divita, the show will include Baylor students, faculty and staff volunteers across many different departments. Some of them include: Jonatan Lenells, assistant professor in the mathematics department, as a juggler; Lewisville senior Richard Ross as ring master; Lori Fogleman, the director of media relations at Baylor, as announcer and commentator; Saint Louis, Mo., senior Jake Brown as the disc jockey; and Sandy, Utah, junior Christine Strangl as a tight rope walker. There will also be a musical performance by Uproar artist Layne Lynch.

Outside businesses have also joined to put on the event. After the show, fashion show-goers can attend a dessert reception that will be catered by Waco’s Best Yet catering and sponsored by Cotton Incorporated.

Divita said that she feels confident about where the show is at currently.

“It’s a good feeling to know that even if I couldn’t send one more email, the fashion show could go on at this point,” Divita said. “We’ve got it all under control. Little crises may pop up but by and large we’ve got it together.”

While most of the final preparations for the show are set, the show has not been without its crises. As of one week ago, the department didn’t have a runway because of their new location in Cashion, Divita said. The runway in their old location, Barfield Drawing Room in the Bill Daniel Student Center, could not be moved. They had to look for a new runway, but even that had its difficulties.

“Because of our new location, the standard runways, 8 feet by 4 feet, don’t fit into the elevators of Cashion,” Divita said. “So that was a problem and we had to scramble to find a vendor that had four foot by four foot staging for the runway.”

A runway was found for the show. Divita said that the floor could have been used if they had been unable to find a vendor but that wouldn’t have been preferable.

Tickets to the fashion show are still on sale. They can be bought at the ticket office in the Student Union Building from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Friday.

Next year’s fashion show date has already been set for May 4, 2014.

THE VOICE — “Battle Rounds” Episode 407 — Pictured: Holly Tucker — (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC)

After Tuesday night’s knockout round on NBC’s “The Voice,” Lorena sophomore Holly Tucker will advance to the next round of competition.

Tucker, a member of Blake Shelton’s team, won in a face-off with Los Angeles native Luke Edgemon during the knockout round.

“The Voice” splits its competitors, who are selected by blind audition, into teams headed by the four judges—Shelton, Shakira, Usher and Adam Levine. With her country music style, Tucker was selected for Shelton’s team.

Tucker made it through the battle rounds, and Tuesday night she sang “Live Like You Were Dying” by Tim McGraw for her knockout round song. Edgemon sang “Teenage Dream” by Katy Perry, which gained mixed reviews from the judges for its rhythm and blues take on the pop song.

Back in Waco at the Applebee’s at 614 North Valley Mills Drive, Tucker’s family and friends watched together as she sang for the judges and viewers across the country.

Johnny Tucker, Holly’s father, said some family friends drove hours to attend the watch party.

“These people represent people we have known for years in this community,” Johnny said. “It’s a really huge blessing.”

When the results were announced in Holly Tucker’s favor, the team fans cheered. Johnny said no matter what happens in the weeks to come, her family and friends would support her.

“She has felt a peace inside all the time she has been there because she knows there are people back here supporting her and praying for her,” Johnny said. “I want her to remember that.”

Cheryl Tucker, Holly’s mother, said how proud she is of her daughter and her determination.

“She is representing the state of Texas and Baylor, and I’m just proud of the way she is conducting herself and all she is accomplishing,” Cheryl said.

Of those back home supporting her, her roommate Logan Scandling, a sophomore from Keller, said watching Holly on television is “surreal.”

“The first time they showed her blind audition, I was crying my eyes out,” Scandling said. “I was so proud of her. I hope that as Baylor students we would help her out through voting for her.”

Now that Holly is through to the live performances, it is up to viewers to decide who stays in the competition and who goes home.

Viewers who wish to vote for their favorite contestant on the show may call a toll-free number specific to each contestant, text a vote from a Sprint phone or they can vote online at NBC.com or through the NBC app or Facebook page. Each viewer may vote up to 10 times.

Fans may also purchase their favorite artist’s song on iTunes, giving each contestant one vote per purchase. A contestant’s songs may only count for voting purposes if they are bought during the week in which they were performed.

Voting will be open from 8:55 p.m. Monday through 9 a.m. Tuesday central time after each live show airing.

“The Voice” airs on NBC at 7 p.m. central time Mondays and Tuesdays. The show’s finale is June 18.

DJ Dainjazone said he uses many styles to maintain creativity and express himself to his audience. He found his love of DJ-ing through his love for baseball and he hopes to continue DJ-ing and branching out. (Courtesy Photo | Anderson group public relations)

Grammy nominated LMFAO’s Joseph Hampel, more commonly known as DJ Dainjazone, has impacted music across the globe, spanning over 6 continents with performances. He has been featured on “Good Morning America” and “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.” Shortly after returning from Australia yesterday, Hampel took time out of his day to talk with the Lariat about his music, fashion and touring experiences.

Q: I’ve read that you have a background in baseball. How did you go from baseball player to DJ?
A: The baseball team was about to throw a big Halloween party and we all like this specific kind of music which was like underground hip hop and old school hip hop. So that’s what we wanted to hear at the party, so we decided to buy a CD mixer for the party and I DJed the party and it started out as a hobby. I started taking it more seriously when I realized I could get good with it. I was trying to either go on with the route of DJ-ing or baseball once I graduated and I stuck with DJ-ing.

Q: Out of curiosity, what kind of music did you listen to as a kid?
A: I listened to everything because I have three older brothers who all listen to different genres. One listens to rock and heavy metal, one listens to alternative and the other one listens to hip hop. My parents listen to oldies when we would get in the car, so I was schooled by a number of musical background and genres so I got to take in a lot.

Q: How did you get connected with LMFAO?
A: I was introduced to the manager through some mutual friends and we hit it off right after we met in Miami and he put me in the crew and I slowly built myself with the crew. LMFAO took a liking to me, so I started once the opportunity came up to DJ on the tours.

Q: So far, what has been your favorite venue?
A: I think our homecoming at the Staple Center in Los Angeles was by far the coolest because we’re all from L.A. and there were so many friends and family in the crowd that I didn’t even know were there. It was just so cool with all the hard work that the guys have put in to do what they love really came into fruition that evening. The place was packed. That has probably been the highlight so far. We did play in the arena the day after Miami Heat won last year. We played in their arena and that crowd was electrified for obvious reasons.

Q: Who has been your favorite artist to perform with?
A: I really enjoyed the energy of Busta Rhymes. We did a show with him and he just has a powerful voice. It’s captivating and it literally just grabs your attention. Even when he is just talking normal he grabs your attention. It sounds like he is kicking a rhyme but it’s just him talking normal.

Q: Describe your style as a DJ. Are you more traditional or would you consider yourself a forerunner in the music industry?
A: I try and use multiple styles. I don’t like to stick to just one style. When you stick to one style you become predictable and not as creative, so I try and tie in multiple styles from what DJ’s have done in the past and what I think is going to be the next thing. I love being creative. I love art. Anytime you get a chance to express yourself in a creative fashion, it’s art. I try and be unique with whatever I do.

Q: Is DJ-ing the career you plan to have for the rest of your life?
A: I love it so much that I could see myself doing it for another 15 years, but there will be bigger things in my life. I don’t know what yet, but usually when you start out in music you start out doing one thing and it always leads to something bigger. I could see myself doing commercials or modeling.

Q: If someone were to go through your closet, what would they find?
A: All kinds of weird stuff. They probably wouldn’t know what to do with it. You can figure out what to do with a button-down shirt, but if they were pull out like a ninja top or something that has a zipper not going up the middle but up the side, people probably wouldn’t know what to do or how to put it all together. People might be confused because it’s not just your typical shirt and pants.

Q: As far as touring goes, do you have any fun stories?
A: You know this is such a random group that there is never a dull moment. If I were to take you on the road with me for one show, you would be amazed and have so much fun with what we do before after and during. Especially after when we let loose, you will have so much fun and I would say, ‘This is what we do everyday,’ and you wouldn’t believe me and be like, “No you don’t. You’re just in the moment.” But no, this is what we do every night, show or no show.

Q: Has gaining recognition as a DJ changed your lifestyle?
A: It’s changed my life in a way that I might see things differently, but I’m more responsible because of all the success that has happened in the last year. It’s definitely changed me for the good. I’ve learned more about myself because of the challenges that I’ve faced. You know, I’m not an irresponsible person. I don’t drink or smoke or do any drugs. I’m not the guy to take a girl back to my room in every city we go to. I might not hook up with a girl during a whole tour. That’s just not my thing. I’ve definitely learned more about myself and what I want.