Every performance at Common Grounds is exciting as inspiring musicians around Baylor performs for the crowd of students that sit in the audience to hear Baylor’s finest. This week will have an even more exciting performance.

Friday, Abilene sophomore Luke Gibson will be performing as well as releasing his first EP titled “Taking Sides”. The EP will have three songs “Let It Be”, “Losing Sight” and “Lights”. It will be available on iTunes shortly after the concert.

Doors open at 8 p.m. and the show will begin at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 and a valid ID and a printed ticket are required to get in. Gibson said he is ready to take the stage and show everyone how hard he has worked.

“I really can’t compare my excitement to much of anything,” he said. “It’s like getting my first guitar all over again.”

Gibson has performed at Common Grounds a number of times and has already released a single, “Lights”.

Lake Jackson junior Ivana Martinez, Gibson’s manager said she expects the show to be a highly entertaining one.

“I think that Luke’s show will be killer,” she said. “The audience will definitely be pleasantly surprised. I think that he will make a connection with the crowd from the get-go and in turn, it will make the experience more enjoyable.”

Gibson will be preluded by three other musicians: Flower Mound freshman Christopher Wells, Denton freshman Lindsey Grigg and Waco sophomore Art Wellborn, who is in the Baylor A Capella Choir with Gibson.

Wellborn, who will perform right before Luke hits the stage, performed at Common Grounds when he was in high school and said he has performed there once a semester since then. He said he is a worship leader and that his musical style is that of gospel.

“First and foremost, I am a worship leader and I mostly write songs geared more for corporate worship in the church,” he said. “I kind of do a little of everything. I can’t deny that God gave me a little soul, so a lot of my music has a gospel/rock feel to it.”

Wellborn said that he prefers to not perform by himself, but with others that share the same or greater talent as he does.

“The secret is to surround yourself with people more talented than yourself,” he said.

Martinez said she put in a whole lot of effort into the business side of Gibson’s EP. She has worked on getting the art and the playing time set up for Gibson.

“I just wanted Luke to know that if he took care of the talent portion, I would take care of the rest,” she said. “That includes finding a graphic designer for the cover art, making sure all the information is correct on the jacket, booking the venue and working with Wes Butler of Common Grounds to get the details lined up for the event.”

Wells is one of Gibson’s close friends and he will be taking the stage along with his girlfriend, Grigg, who attends Dallas Baptist University. Wells said they have performed together for three years since the end of their sophomore year in high school.

“We do perform together as much as we can, but I have performed some alone,” he said. “I sound so much better with her.”

Both Wells and Grigg have recorded songs, which can be found on soundcloud.com. Wells said he enjoys Gibson’s music and is ready for the show to begin.

“We are really excited for Luke,” he said. “I’ve been good friends with him since the beginning of the year and I’ve loved to listen to all his music. I am excited to hear his EP.”

Wells and Grigg will be opening Friday night and Wells said both he and his girlfriend are excited to do so.

“I feel pretty good about opening for the concert,” he said. “Lindsey and I are excited to play some music and have fun and entertain whoever comes out.”

As for Gibson and his EP, people should expect a ton of emotion throughout his songs. Martinez said that people will be able to hear Luke express his feelings through many different vibes.

“It’s all very personal,” she said. “All of the lyrics are laid out in front of the audience and they spell out his emotions, his feelings. All the songs have different vibes to them in terms of being upbeat or more mellow but they all link together through the message he’s trying to convey.”

Gibson said that he didn’t just write his songs to express his thoughts and feelings, but to connect with others who will listen to them as well.

“Nothing I write is just for me, and if it were I would keep it to myself,” he said. “My hope for this EP is that these tunes might correlate with what somebody else is going through. That’s where the real joy is.”

Dia Del Oso ’11
Matt Hellman | Lariat Photographer

Former Uproar artist David Dulcie headed to Nashville, Tenn., in July with hopes of making it big in the music industry. During Dulcie’s time at Uproar, he was the lead singer in David Dulcie & The Rag Tag Army. Dulcie graduated from Baylor in May 2012.

How has life as a musician been since graduation?
Well I knew it was going to be different going to Nashville as opposed to Texas. In Texas you can be somewhat successful just by having a band and then having some songs to play. In Nashville, it’s a very saturated market. It’s kind of like being an actor in L.A.

So I didn’t expect any success quickly.

I’ve got two part time jobs to pay the bills, and then I write songs for different people about six days a week. So life as a musician is busy, in a single word.

What are your two part time jobs?
I valet cars and walk dogs. Not quite a strenuous use of my college degree, but I’m able to work around my schedule really well that way.

What was it like the day you packed everything up and moved to Nashville?
I mean I had just spent five years in college because I wanted to stick around for an extra one, and preparing for a career, and then I packed everything up in my little car and
went off to a land with no guarantees and no real need for a college education, but I was really happy that I had it. I was really laying everything on the line. Yeah, it was frightening. I was scared out of mind. Doing something so contrary to what …I don’t know…what we’re told: that we get to grow up, and then we go to college and then we get a job. It’s just how we’re supposed to live. And I packed everything up in order to go pursue a dream with no guarantees and no leads. Just going. Yeah scared out of my mind—that pretty much sums that up.

Has living and playing music in Nashville always been a dream?
That developed in college. I came here thinking I’d study psychology and be a counselor of some sort. Then I heard about Uproar. I’d always loved music, and I though I’d give it a shot. Then, during the three years I was with Uproar, I discovered I really had a passion for music and being in a band and writing music and affecting people, hopefully in a positive way with music. And I found out that was a whole lot more fulfilling than any amount of learning I could have done.

Can you tell me what a typical day looks like?
A typical day is kind of long. I wake up early and usually write a song with somebody, usually as a co-write about 9:30 or 10:00 every day, and then do that until about 1:00. This is Monday through Friday.

And then about 1:00, I go walk dogs a couple of hours, eat lunch, try to write a song by myself or work on the one we wrote that morning. Then I’ll, dependent on the day, go work as a valet or I’ll go play a show. So Sunday through Thursday I’m usually playing shows, and Friday and Saturday I’ll do my valet job.

How many hours a week would you say you spend performing?
I perform maybe six or seven hours a week. That’s just an average week. Sometimes it’ll be upwards of, depending on what kind of shows I’m playing, 12 or 13 hours. It’s a long time singing.

What do you do with your time when you’re not playing music?
There’s not a whole lot of time when I’m not playing music. Something I started doing was going back and reading books that I was supposed to in college and try to absorb some of that knowledge I never really had a chance to while I was in college. So reading and then staying in shape, but that’s just another part of the music thing or an expectation more or less.

When and where was your last gig?
Let’s see, the last time I played was right before I came here. I left on Tuesday. I played Sunday. Yeah, I played Sunday at a place called Belcourt Taps and Tapas in a writer’s round.

How many of your gigs are paid?
Maybe one out of five. Usually it is the writer’s round type thing, where you sit on a stage with three other writers and play tunes. It really is what you get out of it that you put it in, same as any other job. Most of the time you’re just trying to make connections, and every now and then, you get to play for somebody that is somebody already, which is kind of nice. But you work for tips every gig. I make about $10-15 bucks.

Have you got to play in front of anyone big?
Nashville is really known for publishing. It’s more about you write a song, and hopefully a country artist picks it up and plays it. I’ve played in front of a few publishing companies. Didn’t know it at the time. Turns out they were in the crowd, and they approached me about maybe becoming a staff writer for them. Maybe not famous people the way we picture famous people in Nashville, like Garth Brooks walking around, but it’s people that have the power to give someone like that song, and they can sing it. It’s kind of nice to be recognized for being able to do what you think you can do.

Are you touring?
I am not. I’ve gotten offered to be an opening act on a couple of tours, but it wasn’t really anybody with a kind of following that I’d be looking for to uproot and go on the road.

When you do travel, what do you do when you arrive at a city?
Honestly, the first thing for me is just getting together with the band and making sure all of the bases are covered. If I’m traveling with a band, we can skip that part and go to the pub and have a beer. Usually, I’ll be finding a band in the city that I’m going to and get to practicing as soon as possible. See, if I can find some local food that’s interesting.

Have you been to Waco since you’ve been gone?
I opened for The Rocket Summer in November at Waco hall. Uproar Records hired The Rocket Summer to come play a show, and they were looking for people to open for them, so they had me and Layne Lynch play.

Any spots that you like to come to when you come to Waco and Baylor?
Campus is always really nice. This place meant a lot to me, when I was here. First place I ever played a full band gig was Common Grounds. Went there last night. I’m going to hit Vitek’s before I leave and just put myself in a food coma. Where else have I gone? Oh Whataburger three times so far because we don’t have it in Nashville, and I’ve had a huge craving for the past three or four months. So it was time. I’ve been to Whataburger more times than my heart really wants me to go.

Do you ever miss home?
All the time. I love Texas. Love being home. You know I’m from Glen Rose, Texas, which is just a little over an hour from here. So just being back and forth between Baylor and Glen Rose and being with family. I mean it’s a 12-hour drive to where I live now, and I was always super close to my family. And it’s very strange not being able to see them, so yeah, every day I miss home.

When’s the last time you were home?
I was home for Christmas and New Year’s, and not since then. I’ll get to spend a few days at home after I play a show today.

Do you still perform with a band? Is it the same band you had in college?
When I come to Texas, I perform with a band, and yes it’s the same band. We’ve had to switch out a couple of people because people graduate and move on, so I’m playing a show today, and we had to find a guitar player. But yeah, when I usually come back it’s usually the same band.

And then when I’m in Nashville, it’s usually solo. But I do have access to a band up there. Actually, my roommates I live with are a bunch of musicians. We have a bass player, a drummer and a guitar player, so it makes finding a band pretty easy when you wake up a room away from them.

How has your experience with Uproar Records affected your pursuit in the music industry?
That’s actually something that labels have liked about me. Even publishing companies like that. It’s a different thing to just be an artist, but to be an artist and to have been managed before is almost a skill because you know what to expect and what not to expect.

Who gives you inspiration?
Musically, it would be like James Taylor, Zac Brown, let’s see there’s a lot of them…Ben Harper is great, John Mayer. Those are the ones that lyrically I tend to connect with. That’s a short list. And then there’s other types of bands that you listen to for different feelings. Yeah, sometimes if you want to write like an almost surreal song, you listen to Death Cab for Cutie for a couple of days, and that will kind of sink in.
For the most part, the ones I named earlier. If I just want to listen to good solid lyrics and music that kind of say something as opposed to a sell–out song about trucks and tractors, I listen to those.

What’s your relationship with your music? Is it work or play, or both?
I’m not good at working. So I guess it’s passion and play mixed together. I can’t not wake up and write music. I’ve been like that for a while, so I mean if it turns into work, I’ll have to quit. And I hope I get rewarded for playing and being passionate about music. If I ever feel like music turns into work, that’ll be the last time I play it.

When’s the last time you played music just by yourself for fun?
I try to do it every day. When you get stuck writing a song, and ideas just aren’t flowing, especially when you’re alone, it’s nice to just go back and play a song that you’ve written or somebody else has written that kind of inspired you.

Can you describe in detail how you write a song?
It’s different. It’s constantly changing. I’m not one of those guys that sits down and writes out the music completely and then puts words to it, but I’m not the guy who writes a poem and then tries to put music to it. It usually starts with an idea, maybe a line or a story that’s either happened to me or somebody else, and I try to figure out the best way to say that and make it mean something to somebody else. Sometimes it starts out with a guitar part, and it feels right, and then sometimes you do just start writing the words down and really making sure that you’re telling the right story. But there’s not exactly a process, especially when you’re writing with a different person every day. Hopefully you find something organic and comfortable to go off of, otherwise you’re going to force a song. But there’s no exact science to it.

How much of your song changes once you play it for the first time with a band?
A lot of it. I mean I think most songwriters would agree that we write music for ourselves because it’s an outlet that we can’t stop. I know I’m that way. I have ideas, and I just have to put them in a song. But then bringing a band in is like the most exciting thing in the world. Because you have this idea of a song that’s very simple, then you add drums, and electric guitar, and if you’re lucky you can add brass to it or some cool effects. It brings life to it. A world without bands and only songwriters would be a very boring world indeed.

What current music projects do you have going on?
On my own stuff, mostly I’ve been working on kind of a duo with a friend of mine. He and I are very different. He’s more of a pop singing guy, and I’m definitely more on the Texas country side of it, but something about us blends pretty well, so we’ve written some songs just to see if it goes anywhere.

And I might be starting a projet, kind of a long distance just experimental thing, with a guy I’ve mentioned before, named Max Helmrich. Just write some songs and see how it feels and if it’s something we might like to pursue further. We’re both busy, but you know, you have to keep your eye open and ear open to something inspiring coming up. So I’d figure we’d put in some time and write some tunes down.

So would you say trying to make a living as a musician is worth it?
I mean you have to believe it’s worth it. I love playing music, and I love writing music. You just have to believe that if you keep doing it for long enough, and you keep doing it well, that something’s going to come and make it all worth it monetarily. And if it doesn’t, you didn’t waste your time doing something you love.

Do you worry about your financial security?
It’s hard not to. I mean, I was raised in a middle class home in Texas, where money was an issue. And then being flat broke and with just enough money to pay the bills is concerning, especially as somebody that went to a school like this. We expect to get out and be secure, and yeah it is scary not having that. It’s scary that if I break my leg and both of my jobs go out the door, that I mean, I’ll have to go back to school or something. So yeah, financial security is something that’s always in the background, saying you gotta hurry up and do something with your life.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
I don’t want to be a super star. I don’t want to be John Mayer. I don’t envy his life and his people following him around. I don’t know if I would handle that very well. But I would like to have a loyal following that I could tour and play my songs and just really mean a lot to enough people to where I could make a living with music and not have to work any part time jobs. If that means writing somebody else’s song, and them picking it up to get my name out there or maybe the right label wants to pick me up, and we see eye to eye on things, then great. But yeah, I’d like a loyal following and the ability to just make a living and play music and not have to worry about my financial security all of the time.

Project Greenway is a mesmerizing collaboration of music and “green” design. Design teams of one to four members compete with garments they created using completely recycled materials during the spring semester. At the event, a model from each team walked the runway wearing the team’s outfit while Uproar artists played live music on Thursday, March 21.
Monica Lake | Lariat Photographer

By Kate McGuire
Staff Writer

Green wasn’t just a color Thursday at Common Grounds.

Houston junior Eliza Coleman and Plano junior Ryan Schaap designed two “green” outfits for the Project Greenway fashion show at 7 p.m. Thursday. The pair won the competition and received a $500 prize.

Project Greenway is a fashion show and concert sponsored by Uproar Records, Baylor’s student-run record label.

It consists of fashion designer teams that work over the course of four months to design and create recyclable outfits that depict “green” materials. All outfits consisted of recyclable materials such as newspaper, cardboard, plastic bottles and more.

Crandall junior Jodi Orr, director of Project Greenway said, all materials have to be recyclable and Baylor appropriate.

Coleman and Schaap said they were excited about the night but didn’t know what to expect.

“We didn’t have any expectations going in but we were confident,” Schaap said. “We were definitely nervous and the other teams did a really good job.”

The dresses were judged by a panel of judges representing Baylor Sustainability, Common Grounds, Uproar Records and Baylor family and consumer science department. Criteria for judges included amount of recyclable material, creativity, and appeal of the design and wearabilty of the outfit.

Altogether there were three teams that created four dresses total. The winning team consisted of two friends, Coleman and Schaap, who designed and created two dresses. The first dress was black with an umbrella for the bosom, broken records on the hips, an intertube for the waist and plastic sheeting and lining for the flowy skirt. Their second dress was made of blue camping tarp, and broken CDs around the waist, up the bosom and around the neck.

Inspiration for the different outfits came from Pinterest, fashion magazines and personal items around rooms and apartments.

Schaap said he got his inspiration for the designs from big-name designers in his magazines.

“I am a magazine hoarder, so we went through all the magazines, and we saw Dior and Alexander McQueen,” Schaap said. “Sitting down and doing research was really fun.”

One of the teams included three designers who were paired up by Project Greenway.

Spring freshman Jasmine Miller, Chino Hills, Calif., graduate student Holly Smith, and Norcross, Ga., sophomore Laura Beth Hooper created a dress made mostly of newspaper but the trio didn’t stop at a dress. Their sandals were made out of cardboard and paper mache newspaper. Miller said accessories consisted of melted plastic bottles for earrings and a belt made out of shopping bags.

Kingwood senior Krista Stephens worked alone. She designed, created and modeled a dress made of packing paper, burlap, medical tape, coffee filters and peacock feathers.

Stephens said she wanted an outfit that is functional as well as environmentally friendly.

“I wanted to create a dress people would look at and say, ‘I want that,’” Stephens said.

Sponsors of Project Greenway included Baylor Sustainability, student government, the Baylor Lariat, Uproar Records and Common Grounds.

Uproar artists also performed at the event. Dreamboat performed at the beginning of the night before the fashion show and then Lane Lynch ended the show.

The “going-green attitude” was furthered when Common Grounds announced its transition from using Styrofoam cups to compostable cups, as well as adding three recycling bins, Orr said.

Common Grounds also began offering a new drink, the Treehugger. A dollar from every purchase of the drink will go to Keep Waco Beautiful, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to keep Waco clean, healthy, and safe through green programs said Sherri Street, executive director of Keep Waco Beautiful.

Musicians perform at Project Greenway March 29, 2012. Project Greenway is a competitive fashion show where designers create outfits using recyclable or reusable materials. This year’s Project Greenway will take place Thursday at Common Grounds. (Lariat File Photo)

By Kara Blomquist
Reporter

Green is the new black — at least at the third annual Project Greenway.

Project Greenway is a competitive fashion show and concert hosted by Uproar Records, Baylor’s student-run record label. The event begins at 7 p.m. Thursday at Common Grounds. Admission is free and open to the public.

Students, individually or in a group, design and create outfits using recyclable or reusable materials. Student models will wear these outfits in a runway show at the event. Before and during the runway competition, Uproar artists Dreamboat and Layne Lynch will perform.

This year, the event will benefit Keep Waco Beautiful, a nonprofit organization aimed at making Waco a clean and safe place to live, according to the organization’s website.

Common Grounds is creating a new drink for Project Greenway, that it will begin selling Thursday for a limited time. One dollar from each sale of the drink will go to Keep Waco Beautiful.

Uproar Records will also accept donations for the nonprofit at the event.

The coffee shop will use the event as the kickoff party for their green initiative, said Crandall junior Jodie Orr, director of Project Greenway.

“The goal for the event as a whole is to motivate and inspire students, or whoever comes to the event, to live a more sustainable lifestyle,” she said. “We just thought that a fashion show and a concert is a unique way to convey that message.”

The designer of the winning garment, either a team or an individual, will receive a $500 cash prize. A panel of judges determines the winner. The judges include representatives from Uproar Records, Baylor’s Office of Sustainability, Common Grounds and the Baylor fashion department. There will also be a fan-favorite award that the audience can vote for by using a hashtag on Twitter.

Garments will be judged on their creativity, the amount of recyclable material versus new material, the appeal and quality of the design and the wearability of the outfit, according to Project Greenway’s 2013 Official Criteria.

The teams have the option of using a fashion mentor to help them design and create the outfits. These mentors are Baylor fashion students.

Event sponsors include the Office of Sustainability, student government and Uproar Records. Common Grounds is partnering with Uproar Records to host the event.

Designers are also not allowed to use any kind of toxic materials, such as Styrofoam, certain paints and plastics that aren’t recyclable.

The Office of Sustainability played a large role in determining what materials were available to the design teams.

Smith Getterman, sustainability coordinator, said the competition allows designers to use reusable materials in addition to recyclable items.

Orr said she wants the focus of the event to be recycling.

“I think that’s the easiest way to take the first step in living a more sustainable lifestyle, and so that’s the main form of eco-friendliness that we’re focusing on,” she said.

Aberdeen, Scotland, senior Katherine Davis, vice president of marketing for Uproar Records, said the event has grown each year. Last year was the first time Project Greenway was held at Common Grounds.

“We had people on the roof, like climbed up onto the roof to see the event,” she said. “We’re hosting it at Common Grounds again, and I honestly think we’re going to fill it up. Maybe next we’ll have to host it somewhere else that’s bigger.”

Getterman said he thinks growth of the event means more students are hearing the message of sustainability.

“It’s a great, kind of unobtrusive, almost subtle way of really getting some people who maybe normally aren’t thinking about being good stewards of God’s creation into that mindset,” he said.

Orr said Project Greenway has inspired her to live more sustainably.

“If these people can make clothing out of trash, how hard can it be to take those little steps to live more sustainably and more eco-friendly?” she said.

Beyond sustainability, Getterman said students should come to the event to see the designers’ outfits.

“It’s such a neat thing to see students really put a lot of effort and creativity into reusing materials that you typically wouldn’t see,” he said. “The designs that they come up with are just unbelievable.”

Getterman said he wants more students to attend and experience the event.

“It’s kind of a hidden gem on campus that I hope more and more students discover, just because it’s a cool thing,” he said. “It’s so unique.”

Tessa Gaston and Castle Kirk make up “Dreamboat.” The duo is one of Baylor’s Uproar Records artists for the 2012-2013 year.
Courtesy Photo

Reporter

When you mix an atmospheric sound, origami and a dynamic duo, you get Dreamboat.

Composed of Boerne junior Tessa Gaston and Castle Kirk, also of Boerne, Dreamboat is one of the musical acts chosen by Uproar Records for representation in the 2012-2013 year. However, they are determined to make sure that they stand out among the crowd.

“They said indie-jazz is not a real thing…but it’s going to be a real thing,” Gaston said in regards to their chosen genre. The band members don’t like comparing themselves to any existing artists, but it do not deny that they have many inspirations.

The duo seeks to turn their art into something more than just music.

“Dreamboat aims to put our roots in Waco as members of this community,” said Gaston about a new idea that they will be incorporating in the future. “By doing so, we’re creating music for the people around us, as well as helping them.”

Their idea will help keep Waco clean.

“What we plan to do is — once a month, if not more — as a band and the people who listen to us, we’re going to go out as friends and pick up trash in different parts of Waco,” Gaston said. “Then we started making these origami boats and started stringing them with fish line in our attic. What we will do is…collect those and make art from this trash that we’ve picked up. It’s all paper litter.”

Gaston went on to say that they plan to give away these origami “dreamboats” at their live shows coming up.

“We want to find our sound more because we are kind of all over the place right now, and to get an E.P. out by spring,” Gaston said about Dreamboat’s goals for this year.

“[We want to] get it to where it’s not effortless, where you can just do the gigs, write stuff, record it… just get into those habits,” said Kirk, lead instrumentalist for Dreamboat.

More information about Dreamboat can be found on the Uproar Records website, www.uproarrecords.com, this week, including a specialized promotional video featuring the duo making the origami dreamboats.

The band performs at Legacy Café and Gallery in downtown Waco “almost every weekend,” Gaston said, and will be performing at 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Common Grounds as the Artist of the Week.

Students are making an uproar at Baylor through Uproar Records, the student-run record label that holds auditions once a year.

Started by a group of music and entertainment marketing students, Uproar devotes itself to showcasing the best of the best in student musicianship.

Each year, Uproar releases a compilation album that showcases the talent of that particular year and gives musicians the opportunity to play at locations on and off campus, as well as build upon their knowledge of social media to help make them a success in today’s evolved music field.

“I think they do allow other majors and other people that are just passionate enough to follow what they really enjoy,” said Colleyville senior in Management Information Systems major Henry Jordan, “I think that’s great because, you know, not every great band or great musician makes it big. So people have many passions, many skills, but if they have that music passion and they want to pursue that, they also maybe want to have a plan B or want to have something to fall back on if it doesn’t work out. I think it gives them a great opportunity to do something they love while also having the security of something in the background.”

Competition is tough, as the organization accepts only a small number of acts every year.

Some artists, who were featured on last years roster include O, Loveland, Fifth and Fite, Holly Tucker, Layne Lynch and Trannie Stevens. Despite the difficult competition, some are thankful for the organization’s presence in their lives.

“It has changed my life dramatically because I now know so much more than when I went in it in the first place,” said Lorena sophomore Holly Tucker, who also was a member of the Uproar roster in the 2011-2012 school year. “They taught me so many different things about how to prepare for a gig that you have to do, or how to write songs.”

Tucker said being with Uproar helped her become a better musician.

“Be prepared for anything and everything, because sometimes you could show up to a gig and it might not be what you expect, and you just kind of have to roll with the punches,” she said.

Auditions will be held this Saturday and Sunday in the Bill Daniel Student Center Den.

Signups for auditions are available at www.UproarRecords.com. If you are a music marketing major interested in management, more information can be found by visiting the Baylor Business website.

The members of the Kamikaze Fireflies juggle flaming torches while standing on stilts and a student at Diadeloso on Thursday at Fountain Mall.
Meagan Downing | Lariat Photographer

By Jaime Lim
Reporter

Thursday was Diadeloso, the one day of the year every student looks forward to. Filled with warm Texas weather, relaxation and entertainment, Dia provides students with a time to celebrate being a Baylor Bear.

On this day of celebration, students are free from the worries of class and instead get to participate in athletic competitions and dog shows, see the Dia Queen crowned, visit organizations’ booths, ride camels, watch a lineup of talented musical artists, and stay generally entertained.

This year’s Dia theme was “A Reason to Celebrate.” The day, which is organized by Baylor Chamber of Commerce, embraced the legacy of the well-known Baylor tradition, which began in 1934.

“I think everything is turning out really well,” said Pauline Minnaar, Chester, N.J. sophomore and Chamber Diadeloso Assistant. “The campus looks great with everyone out here and everyone is having a wonderful time.”

While students favor this tradition, the celebration wasn’t just for them. Faculty and the Waco community joined in on the festivities, and there was a kid’s zone next to the Carroll Science Building.

The day’s festivities started with a Zumba fitness party and performances by the Baylor Swing Dance Society and the Baylor Dance Company, including a fast-paced kick routine to “Cell Block Tango” from the famous Broadway show “Chicago.”

“It was [my] first time to do Zumba and the instructor was really good. Everyone seemed like they were having fun,” Austin junior Lexi Yurkobich said.

Although Dia is a day of camaraderie, competition ensues and winners must be named. Army ROTC took the Diadeloso 2012 Champion title in athletic events, participating in activities such as basketball, dodgeball and tug-of-war. McGregor junior Carrie Cooper was named Dia Queen, and owners eagerly participated in the Dia Dog Show.

Camel rides, a comedy hypnosis show and new artists like KamiKaze Fireflies – whose performance was a trick of all trades, including giant metal clubs, stilts and fire – kept Dia-goers entertained throughout the day and excited for the tradition.

“I’m excited and I like [Diadeloso] because there are so many people here, and I’ve been looking forward to the camel rides for a while,” Houston graduate student Heather Mooney said.

Booths from student organizations, like Baylor’s Army ROTC, allowed groups to get their names out on campus.

San Antonio sophomore Matt Pederson said, “We have a push-up and sit-up station, and depending on how many you do, you can win prizes. We have football and basketball tosses, which you can also win prizes from.”

Musical acts included Uproar artists O, Loveland, and Fifth and Fite, opening artist Ty Mayfield and headliner Parachute.

“I really like Fifth and Fite. They’re original and different,” Waco freshman Annie Carr said.

Mayfield is an artist from Oklahoma and was a fan favorite at last year’s Dia, while Parachute is an up-and-coming rock band from Virginia. Despite long wait times – Parachute took the stage an hour later than scheduled – students enjoyed the performance.

Seventy-eight years later, Dia is still one of Baylor’s most loved traditions, providing students with a well-deserved break, and Thursday was no exception. Diadeloso Chairman Bo Rose said the event was a great success. When compared to previous celebrations of Dia, he said he considered this one to be one of the best.

Fans cheer on as Omari Williams and Victoria Felton, the two models from the winning team, meet with fans from the audience at Project Greenway.
David Li | Lariat Photographer

Brothers Jacob and Michael Agnew perform with their band Fifth & Fite. The band, along with Trannie Stevens, played a cover of the popular hit song by Fun., “We Are Young.”
David Li | Lariat Photographer

By Candy Rendon
Reporter

Fifth and Fite, along with fellow Uproar Records artists O, Loveland and Trannie Stevens, performed Thursday for Baylor’s second annual Project Greenway fashion show.

Back for its second year, the event encourages students to reuse trash instead of throwing it away.

Four teams competed for a $500 cash prize.

The teams varied in fashion influences, and the runway pieces showcased each group’s unique qualities.

Team “Greensleeves” participants were Henderson, Nev. junior Hannah Prochaska, Bay City junior Victoria Felton, Cypress sophomore Alexis German, Lebanon, Ore. junior Sydney Noh and League City sophomore Omari Williams.

Highlights from the live blog These are posts taken from the Lariat live blog. They were selected from numerous updates posted by Adenola Adepetun at the event. They were selected by someone who was not at the event, based on how descriptive or funny they were. If there was something in the live blog that you feel should have made the list, or something from the show that you think should have made the live blog, email us at lariat@baylor.edu. By Adenola Adepetun, Rob Bradfield and Jamie Lim Contributor, Staff Writer and Reporter 1. Clark and Amy ( O Loveland) amazing vocals.. they are in sync 2. Aaaaaand Now The Banjo’s Come OUT 3. There is a girl on the roof… cool? 4. its like, Spoken Word, meets semi har metal, meets Folk 5. her favorite thing she used in her design is the sleeves from Starbucks cups. she worked there for a while, and she also used book pages in tribute to her being a history major 6. i like this song… low-key expecting eminem to burst out of nowhere though 7. The rapper is wearing cut off teal blue jeans, which are in this season! I just wasn’t aware that guys were wearing them -work it! 8. wow the models are all kinds of fierce, working the runway 9. the dragon was made of gum wrappers and coke tabs Click here for the full live blog.

Prochaska said her team’s two pieces were inspired by vintage styles that she feels are making a comeback.

“The woman’s piece reflects 19th century corset designs,” Prochska said.

The skirt was made of coffee stained newspapers and plastic wrap and two shaped ornaments adorn the dress piece with melted plastic spoons.

Team “Greensleeves” said the men’s piece closely resembled a space jump suit made of plastic sheets and red repurposed T-shirt overalls. Beneath the suit, an underlining sheet of fabric made of newspapers had been sewn together with recycled red thread. The lapels were made of fine plastic wrap, and the boutonniere was made of plastic spoons.

Team “Krista Stephens” consisted of Rockdale senior Krista Stephens.

They all worked on a dress made of coffee cup ingredients and novel pages.

“I worked at Starbucks for three years, and so I really wanted to show how that influenced me,” Stephens said.

She said she wanted to make her interests apparent to viewers and that her incorporating personal things with the design was important.

“I love Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol,’ and I used ripped out pages of a used copy to add some flair to the skirt,” Stephens said.

Keller senior Logan Scandling and Scandia, Kan. sophomore Ashley Gross, an apparel student, designers from “Green with Envy,” found inspiration in a Lewis Carroll novel.

Scanling said the piece can be traced back to “Alice in Wonderland” details.

“The Queen of Hearts is obvious with all the playing cards and colors,” Scandling said.

The dress has a sharp hourglass shape. The skirt is shaped like an umbrella with its and the top is crafted from black plastic binder with a binder ring necklace.

“I really think our most unique aspect design was the pattern created with the playing cards,” Gross said.

Lastly, team “Eco Oso” consisted of Sugar Land senior Caleb Thompson, junior Dannie Dinh and Leander graduate student Michael Hannon.

Thompson said the inspiration for one male design was the body and image of an Asian dragon.

“We used really bizarre material to make our design,” Thompson said. “Gum wrappers and Coke tabs were adorned to the back of the jacket to make the shape of a dragon.”

“It definitely has a grunge-edge to it,” Dinh said.

Team “Green with Envy” won in third place, Team “Krista Stephens” won in second place, and Team “Greensleeves” won first place for Uproar Record’s second annual Project Greenway.

When the results came in, the winning team expressed their joy.

“We had won the first place prize last year, and our expectations were low. It was definitely a lot of fun,” Team “Greensleeves” lead designer Prochaska said.

The sororities Pi Beta Phi and Kappa Kappa Gamma are teaming up to create an all-university event featuring a pancake dinner and an Uproar Records concert to support charity: water. The event will take place from 8 to 10 p.m. today.

The group charity: water is a non-profit organization seeking to increase the access to clean, safe drinking water for citizens of developing countries.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the charity. The sororities hope to raise $5,000 through the event to cover the cost of building one well.

“Diseases from unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war,” according to the charity: water official website.

Dallas junior Kaylaynn McAdams, president of Pi Beta Phi and co-leader of the event, said the idea to create a fundraiser for the organization came up last year when the previous presidents of the two sororities heard about charity: water and were inspired to get involved.

“Since the plans fell through for the event last year, we decided to go forward with it this semester,” McAdams said.

Houston junior Ali Tucker, president of Kappa Kappa Gamma and co-leader of the event, said the sororities have been fundraising throughout the year in order to reach their goal.

“If we raise $5,000, we can fund a water project in a village that would serve on average 250 people,” Tucker said.

McAdams said she believes the fundraiser will lead the sororities closer to their goal while also bringing the campus together to support the organization.

“We want everyone to come out and have a good time, eat pancakes and relax while listening to Uproar artists, and also supporting a new cause,” McAdams said.

Tickets will be sold at the door for $8. With a ticket, each person will receive all-you-can-eat pancakes as well as a chance to enter their name into a raffle twice.

Prizes for the raffle include services provided by the sorority members, like tutoring, yoga classes and even motorcycle lessons from one member whose dad owns a motorcycle shop.

In effort to raise as much money as possible, the sororities are also holding a contest for Baylor fraternities, McAdams said. They have asked each fraternity to collect money, and the one that raises the most by Monday night’s event will win a pizza party mixer with Pi Beta Phi and Kappa Kappa Gamma.

For more information on the event, contact Kaylaynn_McAdams@baylor.edu or Ali_Tucker@baylor.edu.

In this photo, participants from last year’s Project Greenway pose in original outfits designed for the event. Project Greenway, which was first started last year by Uproar Records, the student-run record label at Baylor, is an annual fashion show designed to encourage sustainability on campus. Sugar Land senior Caleb Thompson leads one team of designers as they work towards success in the competition.
Matt Hellman | Lariat Photographer

By Candy Rendon
Reporter

Hosted by Baylor’s own Uproar Records, Project Greenway is a one-night event where students design pieces of apparel created and inspired by recyclable goods and showcase the garments to a panel of judges while Baylor musicians perform.

With Project Greenway just around the corner next Thursday, Sugar Land senior Caleb Thompson has been working hard to get prepare for the event.

“Project Greenway is great for me as a design student,” Thompson said. “It allows me to stretch my creative legs and try different directions.”

As Uproar Records website states, the night is a “mesmerizing collaboration of music and ‘green’ design.” The mission is to spread the word about communal conservation and environmental awareness.

The participating students are organized into teams of four, with a head design student leading the team. The teams will brainstorm, sketch, gather and complete uniquely attractive clothing for the evening. On the night of the event, a member will then model the garments across over the runway, displaying his or her team’s designs to the audience and judges.

Thompson says he becomes so involved with the project that he is constantly thinking about new and exciting ways to change up his designs. He says he enjoys the event’s “crazy fun” vibe, as it allows him to cut loose a bit and forget about fashion marketing and other apparel business guidelines. But the project is not easy with all that creative freedom.

“I am designing with a team,” Thompson said. “I can’t just do things my way.”

Thompson said the group must focus on the designs at hand and avoid the temptation of drastically altering the designs. Thompson said he must contemplate the end result and integrate his team’s ideas in a way that satisfies the needs of all. Although it may sometimes provide some challenges, he said that this method of incorporating any and all team member suggestions has worked for the group’s favor.

“Our final design is definitely stronger than it would have been if I was by myself,” Thompson said.

Thompson says that their unity first came in the form of subtle changes, such as their decision on designing men’s wear instead of their work on last year’s Project Greenway, which consisted solely of women’s wear.

Teammate and fellow collaborator Dannie Dinh said that her experience with Project Greenway has been wonderful thanks to Thompson’s charismatic nature. She said the experience was exciting and that the sketches and designs look excellent. She also said that the both of them along with other designer Michael Hannon meshed together perfectly.

“Caleb and I have been great friends for over two years now,” Dinh said.

“We bonded over many common interests, among which are fashion, art and sustainability. We all make a good team, mostly due to Caleb’s leadership and realistic approach to turning our wild and scattered ideas and inputs into something executable and holistic.”

Thompson has also made an impression on some of the faculty and staff. Dr. Lorynn Divita, associate professor of family and consumer sciences, said Thompson is a creative student and she could tell that he was a gifted designer from the beginning.

“Caleb stood out right away at his first day to my class,” Divita said. “He was the most engaged student in the class.”

Divita said that Thompson’s aesthetic is influenced by his apparent love for knowledge and attempt to understand the world.

Divita also said that Thompson is ahead of the design game in his ability to effectively cooperate with his peers and competitors. She said that his ability to calmly accept criticism is something rare to find in artists, and Thompson will prosper for it.

“Many designers let their ego get in the way and don’t accept judgement well,” Divita said. “But Caleb knows how to move forward with an optimistic attitude to the fashion field. It is obvious that Project Greenway is helping him in his pursuits.”

“I am excited to see Caleb’s strong leadership, marketable work, thoughtful wearer-based designs, and sense of style,” Dinh said. “[It will] take him far in his profession.”

Thompson says he is appreciative of all his friends and fans. He believes the event will be a lot of fun, and he explains his excitement with possibly winning.

“Of course we’d love to win,” Thompson said. “But I have no problem losing to someone that deserves first place. Knowing that there is worthy competition is what really makes Project Greenway fun for me.”

For more information about Uproar Music’s Project Greeway visit uproarrecords.com/projectgreenway.