While G.I. Joe’s biceps have grown over the decades, so too have discussions regarding gender violence.

Anti-sexism activist Jackson Katz discussed several cultural factors that may help shape the definition of masculinity Wednesday during his “Bad Boys and Bystanders” presentation in the LBJ Student Center Ballroom.

A native of Boston, Katz has a varied history as a social theorist, having been a former all-star high school football player. He was the first man to minor in women’s studies at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. He went on to receive a master’s degree in education from Harvard University and a doctorate in cultural studies and education from UCLA.

In the late 1980s, Katz worked for Real Men, a Boston-based grassroots organization that helped educate people on sexism.

Ciara Blossom’s hula hoop and ribbon gymnastics performances yesterday at the Student Association for Campus Activities’ first Mall-a-Palooza event outside the LBJ Student Center concluded with a buzz—and a bee in her coconut water.

Blossom discussed her experiences as a former raw food chef, clothing designer, make-up artist, hula hoop creator and Austin-based circus performer after almost swallowing the bee and spitting it on the floor.

The redhead, with rhinestones in the shape of flowers stuck on her cheeks, began hula hooping in July 2009 through a friend who conducted workshops at Austin’s first living foods café, which she
helped to start.

Blossom began to attend “circus jams” at Barton Springs. It was here she acquired the tricks that evolved into a new profession.

Sarah Warren, elementary education junior, and Julianah Iwelu, economics freshman, celebrate the One Billion Rising national movement Feb. 14 at Lantana Hall.

In an effort to end sexual violence and harassment, Caitlin Miller, biology freshman, took a stand through her Valentine’s Day awareness event under the slogan, “One Billion Rising.”

Established as a worldwide movement against rape, molestation and silence through the art of dance, “One Billion Rising,” made its way to Lantana Hall at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday.

Near the end of 2006’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” the Kraken, about to eat Jack Sparrow, is completely wet and slimy in one scene and dry in the next. The fictional sea monster’s showdown with Sparrow is one of hundreds of continuity mistakes that can occur in movies.

Don’t blame Sharron Reynolds-Enriquez. The Texas State theatre alumna worked as a script supervisor on the Disney sequel, a job that required her to observe every shot of the film closely and take detailed notes to provide the director and editor with a reference to prevent flubs from happening. She said mistakes can occur during post-production of a film and aren’t always the result of the script supervisor.

Cameron Felgate, public relations junior, balances on a slack line Jan. 20 at Sewell park.

Clad in rolled-up blue jeans, a tank top and FiveFingers shoes, San Marcos resident Nicholas Gordon tested his balance on a two-inch Gibbon Jibline, characterized by the company as a slackline for the more adventurous type, on a sunny day in Sewell Park. 

Left foot.

Right foot. 

Feet off the ground. 

Gordon, hands loosely raised beside his head, swayed to the Reggae music that played softly from his speakers as he walked on the nylon webbing that was tied between two trees. 

Slacklining has become a relaxing weekly workout for him since, about three months ago, a friend invited him to participate in the sport. 

Long lines and the perpetual smell of marijuana rounded the corners of East San Antonio Street in anticipation of “An Acoustic Evening with Matisyahu” Tuesday night at Texas Music Theater. 

Despite the wait and 45-minute drive, San Antonio resident Sara Pardo was excited to get inside the venue to see what critics have called the world’s first Hasidic reggae star. 

Pardo, in anticipation of her first acoustic Matisyahu show, viewed the photo she took with him at a meet-and-greet in San Antonio. The photo showed a beaming Pardo with a recently clean-shaven Matisyahu, who has been known in the past for his beard.

“I was so nervous,” she said. “I didn’t know what to say. I had never met anyone famous like that before.”

After a long wait in line, Pardo made it to the ground floor of the venue. She knew what to expect from Matisyahu’s change of appearance in person, but for other fans, it may have come as a surprise. 

After battling Texas State student lunch line-jumpers and rescuing those without swipes from hunger, Susie Mullen, known by some as the Viking Goddess of Jones Dining Hall, has now found her own heroes in the 139 people who have contributed funds toward her cataract surgery.

Cataracts have affected Mullen’s right eye for years, but for the last few months, the vision in her left eye has waned significantly. It has become more difficult for her to walk to work and operate the cash register at Jones Dining Hall where she has worked for eight years.

“For the last few months, I kind of worried that I’d wake up one morning and not be able to see at all,” said Mullen, Texas State alumna.

For San Marcos resident Joel Ruiz, the 894-mile journey from Mexico to the U.S. was about finding a better life and pursuing a dream based on the stories of those who had left before.

“The reason we moved (to the U.S.) was just like any normal illegal family, just trying to find a better way—the whole American Dream thing—but so far, it’s been hard ...,” Ruiz said.

Ruiz’s life changed through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy, which grants a two-year reprieve for certain undocumented immigrants. Ruiz recently applied and was granted the reprieve, but his journey to obtaining it has not been easy.  

Ruiz was born in the major port city of Veracruz, Mexico and was raised in San Luis Potosí, located halfway between Mexico City and the U.S. border. At 7 years old, Ruiz and his immediate family left the sounds of swallows and the taste of enchiladas potosinas for Lockhart, later moving to the small town of East Bernard.

The letter arrived in the mail from a U.S. Army colonel. It was a response to the letter Terry McDowell, Military Veteran Peer Network coordinator, had written when he was 5 years old.

This was just the beginning of McDowell’s cross-over experience with writing and the military. He later enlisted in the U.S. Marines and Army Reserve.

“It wasn’t a matter of, ‘Should I go?’” said McDowell, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. “It was a matter of, ‘I have to go.’”

McDowell’s self-described journey of healing led him to work on a movie set advising about military protocol and teaching yoga to veterans. Additionally, he began helping people transition to life after service through the Military Veteran Peer Network.

His work includes participation in the Texas State Veterans Creative Writing Group. The community-based writing project meets at 5 p.m. Wednesdays until Dec. 12 in the Hays County Veteran Services Office.

The Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center is helping to empower local families who have experienced abuse this holiday season with its annual Adopt-A-Family Program.

The Adopt-A-Family Program, organized by the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center, works to provide gifts for families affected by abuse.

Beginning in early December, the staff will nominate eligible women in Hays and Caldwell counties to receive donations to buy presents at H-E-B, Target or Wal-Mart for their children and family members.