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March 31, 2006

Laugh Those Tickets Away

A student and his friend aim to entertain, teach defensive driving

Story by: Paige Lambdin

Contributor to The Shorthorn

The Shorthorn: Rebekah Workman

Business senior Anthony Lightner II, right, and Bobby Smith IV are co-owners of the Nu School of Defensive Driving. The school’s grand opening is Saturday.

To business senior Anthony Lightner II, defensive driving will no longer be boring.

Lightner, with friend and comedian Bobby Smith IV, has created Nu School: a comedy defensive driving class, which he said is the best of both worlds — informational and fun.

He said that in August, they decided to combine Lightner’s wish to own a business and Smith’s comedian skills.

After filing with the Texas Education Agency in Austin, Nu School is now state-approved for all Texas courts.

“We directly cater to college students because we are college students,” Lightner said. “We can relate and still teach our customers ways to drive safer.”

He said that anyone who is issued a ticket in Texas can take the class to have the ticket dismissed or to lower insurance costs.

Smith will be the comedian instructor, receiving his motivation from comics like Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock.

He has performed at Hyenas Comedy Club in Fort Worth, The Chinaman in Arlington and The Looney Bin in Houston. In February 2004, Smith opened for Sinbad at the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio for the Black History Month show.

Business junior Gabe Ellis will attend the class Monday.

Ellis, a friend of Lightner and Smith, was issued a ticket in Pantego, Texas. Ellis said that he is going through the deferred adjudication process and that the defensive driving class will keep the ticket off his record.

“I know this class will be well worth the money,” he said. “It has a free buffet, and I get to hang out with these guys.”

The grand opening of Nu School will be Saturday at Golden Corral at 3512 S. Cooper St. The class begins at 11 a.m. and lasts six hours. A free buffet is included with the $30 course. Classes are also offered on Tuesdays, and completion certificates are available overnight.

CORRECTION

The article should have stated that the Grand Opening of Nu School will be Monday April 3 and that classes are offered at 11 a.m. Mondays and Tuesdays.