2 |News
January 20, 2014
12 Year old gunman opens fire on classmates daWn anderSon anChor Contributor
Courtesy of capetowndailphoto.com
The future of parking
New study examines possibility of garages at RIC eliSha Kay aldriCh aSSiStant editor
Now that school is back in session, not only do Rhode Island College students have to worry about getting to class, but many commuters must take RIC’s ever present parking issues into consideration. While most probably did not dwell on whether or not they would be able to get a spot in the Student Union loop their first day back, Student Community Government President Hillary Costa still used part of her winter break to find a potential solution for the problem. President Costa met with Kevin Fitta, director of capital projects, about a study conducted concerning possible parking garages here at RIC. This was not a meeting about building a parking garage, but rather, what might occur if a garage was built in certain spots on campus. The measurements were taken by VHB Incorporated, a company that RIC has worked with several times in the past. The first section measured for a garage was parking lot E6. While it would create roughly 300 parking spaces, building this garage would be costly, and it would be located in a remote area of campus. A garage built in lot A would also be built over an existing lot, and potentially level off with lot B so traffic could flow in from there as well. However, it would be impossible to build into the woods because there are too many wetlands, so another option in that part of campus was between Coal Road and lot A. Lot C was considered as well, but would be much smaller with 74 spots on the ground floor and 84 on any addition level. “The smaller you go with garages, the more expensive it is,” said Costa. “The balance they are trying to achieve with these ga-
rages, if they put them in, is aesthetics, cost, convenience factor and traffic.” There were more spots considered for a garage, such as the hammer throwing field, the land behind the residence halls, and behind physical plant. All of these would either be too expensive, or have traffic flow problems. Parking lot J was another option, especially because it would give students the most spaces to park with 208 spots on the ground level and 220 on any additional levels. But traffic flow would also be an issue with this lot because of how many students park in lot J. While this is only a study and nothing definite, Costa was able to find, in her opinion, a sensible option for a parking garage: between the track and Fogarty Life Sciences. Although construction would have to wait until after the FLS annex is completed, there would be 102 spots on the ground and 109 on additional floors. Costa believes that this is the most sensible option because RIC’s nursing program is growing, and it would not be overbearing in terms of cost. Costa said that it is roughly $25,000 to $35,000 per parking space if a garage is built, and if it is built on top of current spaces, those still need to be paid for. If a garage is built between the track and FLS, it would be built upon a grassy hill. “It’s something to think about because you’re going to pay for something you already have,” said Costa. “You get more for your money.” It is still unclear as to whether a parking garage will be built on campus. RIC President Nancy Carriuolo does not wish to charge students a parking fee, which would be the case if a garage was built on campus. This summer there will be construction on lot B to alleviate some parking issues.
A 12-year old boy opened fire in a crowded middle school gymnasium, as horrified onlookers watched in fear. Students at Berrendo Middle School in Roswell, New Mexico were stunned last Tuesday, as a shotgunwielding classmate fired rounds into an unsuspecting crowd. Two students were injured before Social Studies teacher John Masterson defused the situation by approaching the young shooter and convincing him to put his weapon down. Among the injured were a 13-year old girl who remains in satisfactory condition after being shot in the shoulder and an 11year old boy, who remains in critical condition after sustaining injuries to his face and neck. The shooter, who borrowed his parents’ gun, was immediately taken into custody by police and will be
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charged as a juvenile. While searching for a motive, authorities are also investigating reports that the gunman may have warned certain individuals of the upcoming incident. He is currently being held at a facility in Albuquerque. Some students have expressed concern over their wellbeing at school since witnessing this act of violence. While gun safety debates linger from political arenas to social media sites, they may be taking attention away from some of the school violence that is still occurring. According to Brandy Zadrozny of TheDailyBeast.com, there have been at least 25 school shootings since Adam Lanza walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT and massacred 20 people, many of them children. In a study conducted by staff at TheDailyBeast.com, “two thirds of these shootings took place on high school or college campuses. The remainder took place in middle schools or elementary schools.”
News| 3
January 20, 2014
“I am not a bully”
New Jersey Gov. Christie faces Watergate-like bridge scandal
Stephanie Faria Anchor Contributor Getting to Rt. 10/95 South via Pleasant Valley Parkway at 4:30 p.m. on a weekday is stressful enough, but it’s nothing compared to holdups caused by lane closures on the George Washington Bridge in New Jersey this past September. Two access lanes from Fort Lee, NJ to New York were shut down just as school was about to resume. Traffic backed up into local streets, slowing down everyday commuters and emergency personnel. Port Authority of New York and New Jersey officials repeatedly claimed the closures were part of a traffic safety study, according to the Huffington Post. The Wall St. Journal claims the NYPD was not notified. It turned into a political scandal when suspicious emails surfaced from Republican Governor Chris Christie’s top appointed staff. Allegedly, Deputy Chief of Staff Bridget Ann Kelly was at the head of this scandal. Kelly sent an email from a personal account to Director of Interstate Capital Projects David Wildstein. According to Eyewitness
News WPRI 12 Providence, it read, “Time to cause some traffic problems in Fort Lee,” to which Wildstein replied, “Got it.” Apparently, this was orchestrated as political retribution against Democrat Mayor Mark Sokolich of Fort Lee, who just weeks before announced that he would not re-endorse Christie’s campaign. Christie has since fired Kelly. The Jersey Journal reports that Port Authority Executive Director Patrick Foye claimed to have no knowledge of the traffic study and ordered the lanes reopened, saying it violated company policy. Wildstein and Deputy Executive Director Bill Baroni, who approves traffic studies, continually insisted it was the reason for the lane shutdowns. Wildstein resigned at the beginning of the month without comment; Baroni resigned in December, accepting responsibility for not following the correct protocols in approving traffic studies. The lack of response from the PA reinforced the notion that this was political retribution against Sokolich. Former campaign opponent, Democrat Barbara Buono, used the GW Bridge fiasco as further proof that
Courtesy of media.nbcnewyork.com
Republican Governor Chris Christie. Governor Christie is “the worst combination of bully and bossism,” as quoted in CNN contributor David Frum’s article in regards to Christie’s no nonsense politics. There is no proof that Christie was involved; he made a public apology nonetheless. In an article by ABC News, he is quoted saying, “I am responsible for what happened. I had no knowledge or involvement in this issue, in its planning or its execution, and I am stunned by the abject stupidity that was shown here, regardless of what the facts ultimately uncover.”
He also declares, “I am what I am. I am not a bully,” echoing Richard Nixon and Watergate. Coincidentally, articles concerning the scandal were published on and around Jan. 9, the late president’s birthday. Frum quotes Nixon, urging Christie to heed the late president’s advice before it’s too late. Huffington Post reports almost no change in Christie’s approval ratings despite the scandal. Is there hope for a presidential campaign in 2016?
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January 20, 2014
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6 |RIC Life
January 20, 2014
Travel the world with RIC Student Activities taylor lundy anChor StaFF
Campus Calendar I bet you all are wondering, “What’s going on around campus next week?” Look, we all want to know, so this time, instead of lazing around in boxers, the answer is in these briefs.
All Around the World with RIC
I don’t know about you, but I for one love to travel, especially abroad. New people, novel experiences, and of course, the food. What’s not to love? Traveling is a marvelous experience and, as Mark Twain once said, “travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” Everyone should be forced out of their home country at least once so they can experience another culture, because I believe, as does Twain, that witnessing the various cultures and ways of life present around our planet helps make you an overall better human being. However, to my and other avid explorers’ perils, traveling is becoming more and more difficult, with prices and red tape rising faster than anyone would like. Lucky for you though, Student Activities has come up with an awesome event for all the people too busy or ridden with expenses, like myself, to actually travel abroad. This Friday, Student Activities is hosting
Courtesy of uscis.gov
“All Around the World at RIC.” From 8 p.m. to 11p.m., in the far away land known to us as the Student Union Ballroom, students will inhabit booths, each representing various countries
from around the globe. Some of the countries being represented are Oman, Italy, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Vietnam, Gambia, Greece and Ghana. Each booth will feature numerous snacks, crafts, and games from that culture. People who attend will be issued “passports,” which they can have stamped at each table. When you get a stamp from every booth, you can enter to win a prize–either a free ticket to the upcoming overnight trip to Niagara Falls or a set of luggage. If that’s not enough, participants can play Bingo for a chance at prizes, enjoy free food, listen to music provided by WXIN and partake in a series of other performances, including a professional belly dancer. All RIC students, as well as anyone else they would like to invite, are urged to attend this awesome event. Anyway, it isn’t very often you can “travel” to a plethora of countries on a Friday night and still be back in time for Monday classes. If you have any questions regarding the event, you can email activities@ric.edu for further information.
Jan 24 8 p.m. – 11 p.m. Student Union Stop by to learn about new cultures, try food and enjoy the performances.
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Highlight on the Collegiate Fellows Program ZaChary Mellin anChor Contributor As anyone who has entered Rhode Island College in the last two years can tell you, the college has recently begun a new General Education program for its students. The merits and flaws of this program can and have been discussed repeatedly, but that’s not what we’re here for. Among the classes introduced in this new program was the First Year Seminar, a class taught by a wide variety of professors on any topic they want–ranging from the development of the Native American education system to the influence of politics on reality television. The point of these classes is to introduce new students to college learning strategies, to better convey what a college course is like, and to get freshmen started on right foot. It was in this spirit that Assistant Director of Student Activities Marissa Weiss started the Collegiate Fellows
Program last semester. While the FYS program introduced new students to the academic parts of college, the Collegiate Fellows Program was founded with the goal of introducing students to the community and lifestyle of a college student. I think any student can look back at their freshman year and remember the confusion, the unanswered questions, and even the occasional feeling of helplessness in the face of so many new experiences. “How do I make my new schedule, or find out who my advisor is?” “How do I change my major?” “Where can I print things?” “How do I get involved with clubs?” “I’m not doing very well in a class, what do I do?” These are the kinds of questions most freshmen will face at one point, and for most of us, there was no easy source of answers. The Fellows program seeks to change that by assigning upperclassmen and high standing students to first year seminars to act as mentors. Mentors will help the students become active parts of RIC’s community, to help students learn to utilize community resources and
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even to help them through the emotional difficulties that may come with the beginning of college. After a successful first semester of the program, new students have been chosen by both Marissa Weiss and the program’s professors to continue a second semester. Currently, only seven classes have the benefit of a fellow, but the program aims to expand, with the goal of being able to welcome every student to the RIC community equally, and to foster new relations and activity throughout campus. The program is still heavily under development, but with the help of people like Fellows Director Weiss, FYS Director Quenby Hughes and Senior Fellow Michael Campbell, it is starting to reach more students, more effectively. Interested in becoming a fellow? Talk to your professors. New fellows are chosen every semester by the professors of the FYS, and the program is always looking for new people to bring new ideas to the table.
RIC Life| 7
January 20, 2014
la trel s E sh By Jo
What did you watch or read over winter break? Would you recommend it?
Franklin Patton Sophomore, Business I watched “American Hustle,” excellent movie, and “Insidious chapter 2,” also a great movie. I’m in the middle of reading Stephen King’s “It.” Quite the awesome book.
Zachary McMahon Sophomore, Music I watched “Desolation of Smaug” and read “Game of Thrones,” I highly recommend both of them.
Ken Salhany Junior, Biology I read a book by Brent weeks called “The Night Angel” trilogy. It was the best thing I ever read.
Dayle Decker Sophomore, Film I saw “47 Ronin,” “Anchorman 2,” “Delivery Man,” “Grudge Match,” “Last Vegas,” “Saving Mr. Banks” and “Her,” I would recommend every single one except for “Her.”
Jose Hurtado Junior, Biology I read the bible, and I watched “Jack Reacher.” I recommend it, it was a good movie.
Andy Espinal Junior, Psychology Hands down, I recommend the “Mistborn” trilogy.
Justin Hopkins Sophomore, Education “Desolation of Smaug,” hell yes recommend it.
Zach Mellin Sophomore, History “Anchorman 2,” both absurd and funny, and a minor but insightful view of the modern media.
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8 |RIC Life
January 20, 2014
A new place for creative minds
“Anchorman 2” just as funny as predecessor
Fernanda beZiaCo anChor StaFF
JaCob bedard anChor Contributor
Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt invites everyone to join his project, hitRECord.org, an open collaborative production website for people who have a passion for writing, illustration, videos, music and more. The project was created by Gordon-Levitt and his brother Daniel Gordon-Levitt in 2005, and has been on the air since 2010. The project has captured more attention lately with the new television show, “HitRECord,” which starts Jan. 18 on Pivot. The idea is pretty neat, bringing together talents from around the world, and from different fields, to create art. The methodology at hitRECord.org allows artists from everywhere to contribute with their original materials, and they can eventually be paid for it. The project has over 100,000 members, with more than 2,500 artistic contributions daily.
The first episode of HitRECord on TV made a good impression with its purpose, using social media, electronic devices, and the talent of mostly unknown artists, to give life to ideas and projects, putting them out there for everyone to see, and to possibly turn a profit. “We publish books, we put out records, we go on tours, but it’s all leading to this, now we get to hitRECord on TV, and everything you are going to see on this show is made collaboratively, by the community of hundreds of thousands of artists from all over the world,” said Joseph Gordon-Levitt during the first episode of HitRECord on TV. With short films, music, and poetry, art is everywhere with this project, and it put us in a spot of rethinking about the type of art we have been consuming these days. We can find a great value on hitRECord.org, an opportunity for anyone, with any artistic talent to try, to put their original ideas out there, a big incentive to keep the motors of art production running.
As a longtime fan of “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy,” one can only imagine my excitement when I first saw the ads for its sequel, “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.” However, alongside my excitement grew a feeling of concern that “Anchorman 2” would turn out like many sequels of the past: terrible, or even worse, like “Hangover 2.” Yes, “Hangover 2” may have been a funny movie for those who enjoyed its predecessor, but its plot is almost identical, and nearly all of its humor is derived from the jokes, gags, and/or quotes of its hugely successful and critically acclaimed predecessor What I saw from advertisements, “Anchorman 2” seemed really funny, and so, full of anticipation and excitement, I went to see it. “Anchorman 2” takes place a few years after the first movie leaves off. It opens with Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) and his wife Veronica (Christina Applegate), reading the news for a large news network
based in New York City. There are rumors circulating that Mack Tannen (Harrison Ford), the head anchor for the news network, will be retiring soon, and when he calls Ron and Veronica up to his office one night after a broadcast, Ron is convinced that he and his wife will be Tannen’s replacements. Overall, the movie is well-written and brimming with the same brand of comedy that earned “Anchorman” the cult following it has. Although longer and more plot-heavy than its predecessor, “Anchorman 2” does a decent job of keeping things moving along and full of laughs along the way. It does have its fair share of references to the first movie’s gags, but it doesn’t get carried away and remains its own film for the most part. Film rating website RottenTomatoes.com gives “Anchorman 2” a score of 75 percent, a higher score than the 66 percent given to “Anchorman.” While I don’t necessarily agree that “Anchorman 2” is a better movie than its predecessor, I believe that it was a well-done, funny film, and I personally give it four stars out of five.
Not your average fight for the throne
“Prince of Thorns” keeps you on your toes
JoSh eStrella riC liFe editor “Prince of Thorns” throws the reader into a chaotic world of vengeance, war and survival. The tale is told in the perspective of Prince Jorg, a cunning and ruthless boy who is more of a villain than a hero. The compelling plotline pulls you in from page one and keeps you on your toes each time you turn a page. Author Mark Lawrence has brought a brilliant, dark, and gripping original story to the fantasy genre with his debut novel that is the first of the Broken Empire trilogy. The violent storyline follows the adventure of protagonist Prince Jorg and shows his struggle to gain power in a world torn apart by war. With a quick pace, witty writing, and vivid imagery, “Prince of Thorns” breaks the mold of classic fantasy stories and is the best book I’ve read this year. If you are like me and love the fantasy genre, medieval worlds, and kings fighting for power, but are sick of the cliché good guy hero, this book is for you. “Prince Jorg” is far from the typical knight in shining armor. After watching his family killed in front of him, Jorg eventually escapes his kingdom
and becomes the leader of a group of thugs on the road. At age nine, he leads ruthless men, pillages villages for loot, and seeks vengeance on those that wronged him. By age 13, he wants to steal the king’s throne. With nothing to lose and everything to gain, Jorg seeks revenge and power, and he is willing to kill all who stand in his way. After all, life is just a game to him. Jorg travels around the map, wherever he pleases, from kingdom to kingdom, leaving hell to whoever tries to stop him. He learns to lock his moral compass away in order to complete his goals. One hundred kings and warlords are at war to claim the throne as emperor, and Jorg is determined to claw his way through the ranks and best them all. At any point in the story, no character is safe. In a style similar to George R.R. Martin’s “Game of Thrones,” main characters die often, and many times at the hands of Jorg. In the first person perspective, readers get to delve inside the mind of this ruthless young prince, learn how he was betrayed, how he sees life, and what he truly wants. Along the way, Lawrence creates the perfect anti hero, leaving readers to question whether they should love or hate him.
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“Prince of Thorns” was dark, fast paced, and the most realistic fight for a throne I have seen in literature in a long time. Lawrence tells the story how it is, there is no sugar coating the murders, betrayals or criminal acts that were committed in those times. Fans of Martin and J.R.R. Tolkien be sure to check out this new trilogy, it is a fantasy at the same level as all of the greats, but with a character that would not normally be cast as the protagonist. In short, it was brilliant, new, complex and filled with surprises. I am excited to continue the trilogy and see what else Mark Lawrence puts out.
RIC Life| 9
January 20, 2014
“Desolation of Smaug” does not disappoint Josh Estrella RIC Life Editor A few years back, when director Peter Jackson first announced he was bringing “The Hobbit” to life on the big screen, it was announced that Smaug would be the greatest looking dragon to ever hit the movies. Jackson did not disappoint. “Desolation of Smaug” premiered in theatres last December and brought the audience on an action packed, three-hour journey through Middle Earth that Tolkien fans have been waiting for. I had many doubts about this book being created into a movie; “The Hobbit” is one of the most classic fantasy books and the inspiration to a lot of literature today, and I did not think the movie would live up to the high pedestal many fans hold the book upon. However, for the most part, Jackson stayed true to the key points in the book, and his interpretation of the book kept the same theme that “The Hobbit” is known for. “The Desolation of Smaug” delivers exactly what it needed: intense action, an epic view of the world, diverse characters, extraordinary creatures and a glimpse into the lore and magic of the Tolkien universe. Jackson also touched upon some of the history of Middle Earth in this second movie, pulling from lore in other Tolkien books. There were many scenes that did not actually take place in “The Hobbit,” but did take place during the time frame of the book that Jackson decided to add in there. An example is the Legolas scene. Doing so, Jackson brought to life small plotlines that even some avid Tolkien fans might not have known about. “The Hobbit” was originally written as a
The glory behind “Dysphoria”
children’s book, but when Jackson decided to add history and an insight on the beginning of Sauron, it served to tie these prequels perfectly with the “Lord of the Rings” movies. The look into the Tolkien lore was exciting for huge fans of the novels like myself, but where the movie really excelled was in the characters. Martin Freeman once again proved he was right for the spot as the lead character Bilbo Baggins. He is a quirky, comical and an easy to love hero. His acting brought me back to my childhood when I first read the book. In the first installment, Bilbo left the comfort of his home and began the adventure. In this second installment, the audience got to experience his witty personality as he traversed Middle Earth as the most unlikely tiny hero. From ravenous orcs to cunning elves and arrogant humans, the party of thirteen dwarves and Bilbo Baggins experience it all, and the combination of CGI and make up make it all feel real. When the party eventually reaches the domain of the infamous dragon Smaug to claim back what is theirs, anticipation is at an all-time high. This iconic scene in the book proves to be one of the greatest scenes in all of the Tolkien movies as well. When Bilbo finds his way into the mountain, the magnificence of Smaug is at last revealed. Smaug, voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch, booms onto the scene as the most realistic and terrifying dragon ever displayed, with no comparison. The film is by far an improvement in every way over the first installment in this trilogy, visually and plot wise. Jackson has created a movie that displays the lighthearted feeling of “The Hobbit” and combines it with lore unknown to many to create a fantasy movie of epic proportion.
Courtesy of cdn.funcheap.com
Against Me! reminds us that ignorance is not always bliss
Courtesy of people.com
Laura Jane grace, formerly Tom Gabel of Against Me!
Greg Maynard Anchor Contributor “You want them to notice the ragged ends of your summer dress. You want them to see you like they see any other girl. They just see a faggot. They hold their breath not to catch the sick.” These are the words that Laura Jane Grace, frontwoman of punk renegades Against Me!, grinds from her throat in “Transgender Dysphoria Blues”–the title track of their new record. This is the ringing of the rebellious chimes of freedom. After years of concealing her identity as a transgender woman, Grace screams these words as they are a bloody dagger of angst towards her ignored years of hidden pain. She is one step closer to her salvation. Having been struck by inspiration and courage from the tale of a transgender Against Me! fan, Tom Gabel revealed himself as a transgender woman in May 2012. About seven months later, the band wrapped up the recording on their sixth studio album, and Grace is still with her beautifully accepting wife, and all seems to be going well. There is a bigger picture to be considered here, though. On the acoustic change-up, “Two Coffins,” Laura Jane Grace lyricizes her take on the unfortunate mantra that nothing gold can stay, so you had best be appreciative for those things you have and will come to love in a lifetime. We are privileged and we are alive. Do not waste this opportunity by curtaining something so pure and so sweet as your own identity. There’s a theme floating about the record that
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we as humans are merely skeletal vessels. It is with the heart pumping blood to our vitals and with the machining mind with the capabilities of producing our innermost desires and realizations that we channel change. On the anthemic punk foot-stomper, “FUCKMYLIFE666,” Laura Jane sings with the maddening grace of an epiphany: “No more troubled sleep. There’s a brave new world that’s raging inside of me.” “Transgender Dysphoria Blues” is a lesson plan, and we are the eager students. While it is worthy to commend Grace on her coming out with a detonation of flaring pride, it also remains of a greater importance to commend those around us who have already swallowed the poison apple of fear and embraced the differences that have planted rocketing ivy of self-conscious weariness upon their souls. Be who you are wired to be. No one asked to be born in the first place, and we are merely products of a biological miracle. You, reader, are truly one in a million. Set imaginary death to the the judgemental devils with nothing to prove and know in your heroic heart that greatness has no physical requisites. Remove your training wheels. Douse your fears in gasoline and light a match. Grind up all the humans in the world and filter them into a mason jar. What do you get? A smelly container full of atoms and molecules with no opinions or emotion. Embrace your differences while you can. Expiration happens to the best and the worst. Craft your legacy before you become cosmic dust or a rotting cadaver in an overpriced box. Fear not, fear not. We are here for you.
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January 20, 2014
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The Anchor| 11
January 20, 2014
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January 20, 2014
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RIC Life| 13
January 20, 2014
“Frozen” is warm and full of mystery Ty Dugan Managing Editor Walt Disney Animation Studio’s 53rd animated film, “Frozen,” begins with a haunting melody titled “Vuelie” by the Sapmi-region vocal group Frode Fjellheim. It is a moving piece that freezes you in your seat, immediately catching the attention of your ears and heart. The Norwegian elements of this film, from the elaborate clothing designed by the digital animators to a score that sounds like it could be re-positioned for “Thor 2: The Dark World,” give this animated film a unique place in the tradition of Disney. The attempt to make a film that breaks the standard does not fail, but they do get caught up in some of the old Disney tropes. A lot of stride is made by directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee to diverge from tradition for tradition’s sake, but in the end the film is a product of Disney Animation Studios. Sure, it stands out in a few places. The story is a nice change for Disney, a story that is not about the male lead seeking social status or a female lead seeking love. Musically, the film dominates. And in terms of animation, the glacial backgrounds, the icy back-
drops, and the fantastically long dresses are all wonderfully designed. Disney once again refuses to break their trend of character design, however, which is not really a make-or-break point, but in a quickly adapting society of Tumblr posters and Reddit readers seeking body-image rallying points, it might be in Disney’s best interest to build a character who might isolate some young boys and girls. The unnecessary use of sidekick, anthropomorphic characters is revisited and, admittedly (and I am almost ashamed to say this), Josh Gad steals almost every scene as Olaf the magical snowman who loves summer, despite having never experienced it. Certainly Disney has learned from their favorite neighbors, Pixar. “Story is king” is the motto of Pixar Animation Studios, and these days Disney is making a reach to really push story and character development, rather than magically animated sequences filled with frolicking musical numbers. The incredibly talented Kristen Bell takes charge as the lead character Anna, Princess of the fjord and younger sister to Elsa (Idina Menzel of “RENT” fame)–who just happens to have magical ice powers. No, they don’t really delve into how this happened. Bell’ s
Anna is captivatingly relatable. Her quirky, klutzy, and fun-loving attitude is the key element to the story as the dichotomy between her and her shut-in sister turns into an all out violent misunderstanding after she throws her heart away to love at first sight. Elsa, furious her sister is putting such pressure on her in a very difficult scenario, bursts with magic and, under the pressure of being caught for the first time with her powers, crumbles from the anxiety and flees, leaving the kingdom in a permanent freeze in the middle of summer. Much of the film from there on is Anna trying to get her sister to finally open up to her and try to fix it, though I promise there is much more to it than that. I can say that the beginning of the film seems fun and cute, but overall it was mainly “been there, done that.” Thankfully the end of the film has all the payoff that you could hope for. Jonathan Groff comes from “GLEE” and fits snugly into the cast as Kristoff, the grudgingly helpful mountain man. The other secondary male lead, Santino Fontana, who essentially came out of nowhere, blows all male singing roles in previous Disney films out of the water in his only song, the duet “Love is an Open Door.”
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Honestly, if you see this film for anything, see it for the music. Idina Menzel’s Oscar nominated performance of “Let It Go” is one of the most character-defining songs ever performed in an animated flick. So many people of all ages can probably listen to the lyrics and catch no less than a flicker of joy from the song. But music alone is not enough to really build a film worthy of your precious $10. To be frank, the unnecessary presence of stonetrolls, the random ice powers that are given no origin, and the one-day travel by the cast through feet of snow back and forth a mountain, multiple times, creates some major plot holes that will probably pick at older viewers’ brains, but the kids certainly won’t care. The characters are fun, the music is topnotch, and the theme of social anxiety, meeting parental expectations, and making friends–not falling in love–are all great reasons to see this movie. But in the end, it doesn’t quite have that snappy and chic pacing that Pixar and sometimes even Dreamworks demonstrate in their movies. Many new ideas are explored, but overall it was not enough to really break the mold and make this reviewer change the way he views Disney animated movies. But it did come close.
14 |Time Wasters
January 20, 2014
Anchor Maze By Kelly Beshara-Flynn
Help Santa reach the unlit fireplace.
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Opinions| 15
January 20, 2014
disclosure: The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Anchor.
Disney: A step forward, but not there yet JeSS bourGet aSSiStant editor Seeing as though we all just returned from winter break, I figured it would be fitting to write on something important that happened while we weren’t in school. This was all over my Facebook news feed and I couldn’t escape the reality of it happening: Disney’s new movie “Frozen” came out. By the time I finally saw it,
people around me were singing songs from the movie and going to the theater to rewatch it for the third time, but better late than never right? Now, this isn’t going to be a movie review because I’m sure all of you have either gone to see “Frozen” or have put together the entire plot via Facebook or Twitter. No, I want to talk about some ways that “Frozen” broke out of typical movie plot lines and how Disney failed in some ways with this movie, too.
First of all, the movie didn’t focus on a guy and a girl falling in love. Sure, characters fall in love and realize what “true love” really means–trying not to give anything away here, folks–but in the end, it’s really about sacrificing for the people who matter most to you. I had to commend Disney for striking a balance with this instead of either making it just an adventure or just a love story. The issue I took with Disney, though, is something that has been going on for ages with their princesses: their body proportions are kind of off. When I first saw the main characters Anna and Elsa, I was a bit distracted by their boobs. They weren’t huge, but I felt as though they were kind of, well, noticeable. Now, this could be a great thing and could show some different types of bodies, except the fact that the girls’ waists are almost nonexistent. This wasn’t Disney’s attempt at making characters more realistic and giving girls a better example of body positivity; it was Disney trying to be a little different, while still staying right on track with what society labels “beautiful.” I’m not picking on “Frozen,” I’m just using it as an example of how movies in general portray women. The Disney princesses–not considering their character traits–are not realistic representations of healthy bodies.
Door-sliders
eSohe irabor anChor StaFF Have you ever been polite enough to hold the door for someone who is essentially nonessential to your life and they didn’t even acknowledge your incredible feat? And no, the words “incredible feat” to describe the action of holding a door is not an overstatement. A “door-slider” is someone who walks through doors with-
out acknowledging people who hold them. At least, that is what I will call them. Some of you rather clueless people, including the door-sliders, are reading this article twisting your faces in annoyance, saying, “Incredible feat? It’s just holding a freaking door.” Wrong. It’s not just holding a door, grasshopper. Holding a door requires a plethora of inconveniencing behaviors and actions, which I will spell out to all you door-sliders and clueless people now. Holding a door requires sacrifice. It is a sacrifice of a person’s time, and above all a delay of that door-holder’s gratifications, goals, aspirations and intentions. Holding a door requires patience to make sure that someone else has got the door securely so he or she will not get hurt fumbling with it. In some cases, the patience required to hold a door is by all means a little excessive, because some saints hold doors for people who are
nowhere near the door–as for me, I’d let the door close in that situation. Holding a door requires a sense of humbleness. Door-holders do not consider themselves too great to be concerned with whether or not you make it to where you’re going smoothly. Holding a door requires accommodation; it requires that someone notices that you are there, and that someone makes time and space for you to be present around them. This accommodation includes wanting to help make your journey easier. Holding a door requires manners, which people often take for granted. Manners are not mandatory–as you door-sliders know. When I first came to Providence for school-
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Sure, some girls are thin, but the strange proportions that they give the women in these movies–with large breasts and incredibly small waists–will make any girl unhappy with at least some part of her body. There really are no inbetween body types in Disney movies when you really think about it. There are either super thin girls or short pudgy women who are usually evil or magical caretakers: Ursula in “The Little Mermaid,” Mama Odie in “Princess and the Frog,” and the Fairy Godmother in “Cinderella.” I remember once seeing my younger cousin’s backpack when she was around six years old. It had some princesses on it, including Cinderella. When I looked closely at it, I was actually creeped out by how weird they made Cinderella looked. She had a massive chest structure and a waist that made her torso look like a triangle. And these are the images we are encouraging little girls to be like! Some Disney princesses have great character traits, and I’m finding that as the years go by, each movie teaches a deeper and more valuable lesson–just like in “Frozen.” However, I think it’s time to finally teach children a lesson that hasn’t been taught in all of the years that Disney has been making movies: there are many different types of bodies and there are different ways to be beautiful.
ing, I was amazed at how frequently people would hold the door for me, because in my hometown of Washington, DC, it’s not as common as it should be outside the corporate sphere. If a door slams in your face as you’re trying to enter, oh well. So you can assume that I, being a native Washingtonian, had not really cultivated any consistent habit of holding the door before I got here. But I got here and I liked having the door held for me. So I cultivated the habit of holding the door. And now I have to deal with bloody door-sliders that are taking my hard work for granted. Honestly! How can you realize all this–overtly or covertly–and not be appreciative enough to say one or two words of thanks? Although some of you people might think that I look like it, I am not the help. Neither is anybody else who holds the door for you. I demand– yes, I said it–that you door-sliders find some portion of yourself that will remind you to say “thanks” when someone holds a door open that you walk through. The point here, people, is that this nonsense needs to be locked away for good–it’d be a better world that way.
16 |Opinions
January 20, 2014 disclosure: The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Anchor.
aShley araby anChor StaFF In high school, a teacher once said, “Christmas is every day.” It coincided with a conversation, probably about having a positive outlook or appreciating the things we have. Anyway, what he meant by this statement is that people can bring the joy of Christmas into their daily lives by their positive approaches to things. The common question is: What is the meaning of Christmas? Well, it is the birth of Christ, the Incarnation. Christmas all boils down to love and joy. Ever hear of this meaning of joy: Jesus. Others. Yourself? You probably only heard it in church– if at all–but this idea shouldn’t just be there, it should be practiced in the world. This meaning of joy means first doing to things for God, then others, and then yourself. To have Christmas joy all year, not just in December and the beginning of January, try to identify how we can bring the meaning of joy into our lives. It can be done right in a regular day.
Some examples are doing an extra task you see needs to be done at work to save someone else the job; going to a daily mass; visiting a relative you haven’t seen in a while; using that rosary hanging in your car window and understanding its actual meaning. That would cover the J and O part of joy. As for the Y, think of something you would like to do out of the daily schedule of things, besides going to school, work, and parties or whatever. Think about something you enjoy doing. Going jogging down a bike path is an example. Life won’t be so predictable if you try to identify little things that may bring about joy, especially for someone else. Let’s think back to our New Year’s resolutions. Typically they revolve around ourselves and benefit us only. The typical “lose weight” motivation, the “I’m going to get up early” idea, all sorts of things. These may improve our own lifestyles, but they only complete a tiny circle around the individual person. Christmas joy is a universal and widespread idea. If we truly enjoy the Christmas season and its meaning, we should practice it throughout the year and share it with others.
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January 20, 2014
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18 |Sports
January 20, 2014 men’s basketball
gymnastics
Freshmen help lead Anchormen Second place all to fourth straight victory around not enough SaM allen SportS editor The Rhode Island College men’s basketball team still has only one loss in Little East Conference action this season, as they picked up their fourth conference victory Saturday at Plymouth State University. The Anchormen took down PSU 58-41 with the help of freshmen guards Austin Cilley and Terrance Tribble. RIC lead 24-20 after the first half, shooting 44 percent from the field and 46 percent
from the three-point area. In the final 20 minutes of play, the Anchormen outscored PSU 34-21 to seal up their fourth win in a row. RIC held the hosts to just 27 percent from the field, going 13-49 and only had the chance for nine three-point shots, making three of them. The Anchormen also had the advantage in rebounding, 42-31. Cilley registered 11 points on the game, while classmate Tribble had 10 points. Also helping out the Anchormen was junior Victor Smith, contributing nine points overall and five rebounds on the day. PSU senior Petey Skevas had a game-high 12 points. The Anchormen travel to Western Connecticut State Tuesday with the hope up upping their win streak to five. West Conn. is 3-2 in the LEC.
for Anchorwomen SaM allen SportS editor Braving the Saturday snow, the Rhode Island College gymnastics team traveled to West Chester, Pa. to compete in a trimatch against the host school and one of their ECAC Div. III opponents, Cortland State. The Anchorwomen fell to both opponents, despite a strong effort from senior Cory Bridges. Bridges placed second in the all-around division. On vault, she posted a score of 8.775, her highest score of the day. She also posted scores on bars, beam, and floor, scoring 8.750, 8.375, and 8.125, respectively. Her 8.750 score on bars earned her 10th overall in the category. The team was led on vault by freshman Emily Murphy, who scored an 8.875, placing her 13th overall. She also received the second highest scores on bars and beam for the Anchorwomen. On beam, senior Courtney Saucier lead her team with a score of 8.750, landing her in 11th. Finally, the only Anchorwoman to break the 9.000 mark was freshman Megan
McNeil, who received a 9.200 on the floor, giving her a ninth place finish and RIC’s highest score of the day. The Anchorwomen will be back in action on this Sunday when they travel across town to Brown University.
Courtesy of Goanchormen
Senior Cory Bridges .
track and field
Keeping track at the Coast Guard Invitational SaM allen SportS editor Courtesy of Goanchormen
Freshman guards Terrance Tribble, left, and Austin Cilley, above, helped secure an LEC game win.
Athletes of the Week Jonathan Murray Silas Murray Wrestling One’s a junior and one’s a senior. One is ranked No. 1 overall in New England, the other is ranked No. 2. Both took home first place finishes this weekend at the Dolphin Invitational. Jonathan Murray, the No. 2 wrestler behind his older brother, went 4-0 on Saturday in the 125 lb weight class. Silas Murray, also went 4-0 on the day in the 133 lb weight class.
Both the Rhode Island College men’s and women’s indoor track teams competed in the Coast Guard Invitational on Saturday. The women’s team posted a score of 74.0 for the day, finishing fourth, while the men finished with a score of 73.0 and also placed fourth. Daria Braboy lead RIC on the women’s side of the action, placing first in the 200m with a time of 27.42. She also finished second in the triple jump and fourth in the 55m. Also helping lead her team was senior Natasha Miller, who finished first in the long jump, leaping 4.79m. She also finished fourth in the 200m and seventh in the 55m. Also competing in track events was freshman Allison Lumas, who received third place victories in both the mile run and 1,000m. Destinee Barrette took home a second place finish in the weight throw with a distance of 14.24m and seventh in the
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shot. Finally, rounding out the scoring for the Anchorwomen is Sierra Smith, who placed second in the high jump, leaping 1.57m, fifth in the triple jump and seventh in the 400m. On the men’s side of the track, sophomore Edward Cummins helped lead his team to a fourth place finish. Cummins placed first in the weight throw, tossing it 17.81m, and fourth in the shot. Competing in six events for the day was junior Jarell Forbes, as he picked up a third place finish in the 55m hurdles, fifth in the 200m, seventh in the high jump, ninth in the long jump, 13th in the 55m preliminaries and 14th in the shot. For the jumpers of the Anchormen, Craig Amado took home second place victories in both the long jump and triple jump, while Steven Vazquez won the high jump. Finally, Isaiah Wooden finished third in the triple jump. Both teams will travel north of the state line to compete in the Boston University Invitational this Saturday.
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January 20, 2014
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20 |Sports
December 9, 2013 wrestling
Anchormen run away with Dolphin Invitational title SaM allen SportS editor This past Saturday, the Rhode Island College men’s wrestling team took the competition by storm when they entered the 2014 Mt. St. Vincent Dolphin Invitational. The team won by leaps and bounds, posting a team score of 128 to seal their victory, while the second place team, New York University, finished 18 points behind them. Bridgewater State, who finished third, had a score of 84.5, and King’s College had a 77.5 in the fourth place spot. The No. 2 ranked wrestler in New England, junior Jonathan Murray, took home a first place victory in his 125 lbs weight class, and finished 4-0 on the day. His older brother, senior Silas Murray, who holds the No. 1 rank in New England, defeated his opponent and came out on top in the 133 lbs weight class, also finishing the event 4-0. The 174 lbs weight class was lead by RIC fresh-
man Justin Caparco, who faced and defeated fellow Anchorman Joseph Mahoney in the finals. Caparco went 4-0 on the day, while Mahoney finished 3-1. RIC is also home to New England’s No. 5 wrestler, Joseph Slane, who finished third in his 149 lb sweight class, posting a 3-1 finish. John Georges, a freshman, came in fourth place at 197 lbs after going 2-0 on the day. There were five Anchormen who took home fifth place in each of their respective weight classes: Chris Pecora, Thomas Whitaker, Kyle Lake, Brandon Conrad and Brohen Krsulic. Rounding out the scoring for RIC were three more wrestlers who finished in 6th place in their classes: Damen Patisaul, Ricondo Cole, and Kyle Humphries. Although the team was struck with victory, they were also struck with illness, as a number of wrestlers were forced to take a medical forfeit. This Sunday, RIC will compete in the 2014 New England Wrestling Association Dual Championship at Bridgewater State.
Courtesy of Goanchormen
(Left to right) Freshman Justin Caparco, junior Jonathan Murray and senior Silas Murray helped bring the Anchormen to victory, the team finishing with an overall score of 128 points at the Mt. St. Vincent Dolphin Invitational on Saturday.
Anchorwomen continue to win SCott CanCelliri anChor intern
Courtesy of Goanchormen
Sophomore forward Vandell Andrade lead the Anchorwomen to victory against Plymouth State, scoring 16 points, 10 rebounds and four steals during Saturday’s game.
The Rhode Island College women’s basketball team kept their winning streak alive, blasting Plymouth State 71-41. Vandell Andrade was a major key in keeping this winning streak alive, scoring 16 points, 10 rebounds and four steals. The Panthers had a strong start early in the game, leading 9-4 in the opening minutes of the game. They then held on to an 11-10 lead towards the end of the first half. In the final minutes, the Anchorwomen came back, outscoring the Panthers 18-6, taking a 28-17 lead into the second half.
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women’s basketball
The Anchorwomen started the second half hot, outscoring the Panthers 12-4. The rest of the game was a scoring fest for RIC, letting PSU not come within 16 points of the lead. For RIC, Cara Paladino finished the game with 14 points and eight rebounds. Danielle LeBlanc scored 14 points in the game. PSU got 10 points out of both Krystin Corliss and DeAsia Lawrence. Bry Bennett also had an eight point game. The Anchorwomen, now 10-5 and 4-1 in Little East play, will try to keep their winning streak alive in their next game at Western Connecticut State University on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.