Vol. 82, Issue #21
The Anchor Rhode Island College
March 9, 2010
Anchor Photo/Bethany L’Etoile
Parliament prepares
to debate a vote of no confidence against
Parliament votes no confidence in SCG treasurer SCG Treasurer Christopher Kelly removed from office as a result of vote following lengthy debate. By Katherine Gaul Managing Editor
At last Wednesday’s Parliament meeting, Student Community Government, Inc. Treasurer Christopher Kelly was removed from office following a 14-10 vote of no confidence. Kelly chose to not be present or address the body during discussion on the motion and the vote was taken
after over an hour and a half of debate. Once roll was called and amendments were made to the agenda, the Open Forum portion of the meeting began. Finance Commission Non-Parliament Member Matthew BoydenWilson appeared to speak against Kelly, and expressed his lack of confidence in the two-term treasurer’s ability to properly and effectively execute his duties. While occasionally pointing directly at Kelly, BoydenWilson said, “…what I have seen as a student is an officer who picks and chooses policy
as it suits his purpose. What I have seen is an officer who abuses his authority. What I have seen is an officer more concerned with profits and his resume than serving the student interest. “…I could talk about his lack of transparency or his negligence as a treasurer… Does this man really have your confidence? He does not have mine,” he said. The meeting continued with SCG President Joshua Laguerre’s announcements, which included that he will be See CONFIDENCE Page 5
SCG Treasurer Christopher Kelly last Wednesday.
College Capital Planning Team says STEM to enter Phase II By Rita Nerney Anchor Staff Writer
Last Friday, the Capital Planning Team spent four hours discussing Phase II of the STEM Project. The project, which plans to put updated technology into 10 classrooms throughout the campus, was originally scheduled to be completed by the fall of 2009. “During our marathon meeting Friday, we proposed a budget for Phase II that will be sent to President Nancy
www.AnchorWeb.org
Carriuolo for approval,” said Ivy Locke, vice president for administration and finance. “Now, the new projected date for the completion of the project is fall 2010.” The contractor cannot begin working on the classrooms until the purchase order is processed by State Purchasing at the R.I. Department of Administration. “Because the department supports all state agencies, See STEM Page 4
March 9, 2010
Page 2
Contact Editor-in-Chief Kameron Spaulding editorinchief@anchorweb.org
Managing Editors Katie Carroll Katherine Gaul managing@anchorweb.org
Business Manager Matthew Boyden-Wilson business@anchorweb.org
News Editor Hayden James news@anchorweb.org
Opinions Editor Andrew Massey opinions@anchorweb.org
A&E Editor Justin Wilder arts@anchorweb.org
Sports Editor Andrew Augustus sports@anchorweb.org
Layout Editors Sam Mandeville Daniel Jordan layout@anchorweb.org
Photography Editor Mandy Wray Dion photography@anchorweb.org
Graphics Editor Zach Serowik graphics@anchorweb.org
Copy Editor Nicholas J. Lima copy@anchorweb.org
Technology Director Alex Tirrell technology@anchorweb.org
Advertising Manager Nicholas Bernardo
What’s Inside RIC F alendar
Be Our Guest...Please! Managing an Entertainment Business in Challenging Times Tues., March 9 4 – 5 p.m. Alger 110 Open to: Public Sponsored by RIC School of Management & Fidelity Investments SCG Finance Commission Meeting Wed., March 10 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. Parliament Chambers, Student Union 307 Open to: Public Sponsored by Student Community Government, Inc. Biology Seminar Series: “Signal Transduction: from Phosphorylation to Acetylation” Wed., March 10 12:45 – 2 p.m. Fogarty 050 Open to: Public Sponsored by the Committee on College Lectures Student Parliament Regular Meeting Wed., March 10 7 p.m. Parliament Chambers, Student Union 307 Open to: Public Sponsored by Student Community Government, Inc. O Novo Acordo Ortográfico Sat., March 13 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Alger 110 Open to: Public Sponsored by the Institute for Portuguese and Lusophone World Studies and the Dept. of Modern Languages
eatured
Feature:
No confidence By
a vote of
14-10, SCG
declares no confidence in
SCG treasurer. Extended Coverage
Pages 1, 3, 5-7
Lifestyles: Travel Tips The Anchor
takes a look
at some alternative Spring
Break options.
Page 18
A&E:
Rob’s Game Shelf
Why you should play HalfLife 2 in the opinion of a video game master. Page 25
Sports:
How Sweet 16 it is The RIC
men’s basketball
team keeps it rolling into the
Sweet 16 next weekend. Page 32
ads@anchorweb.org
Campus Climate
Circulation Manager Adam Chapasko distribution@anchorweb.org
Faculty Advisor Lloyd Matsumoto lmatsumoto@ric.edu Professional Advisors Doug Hadden Rudy Cheeks
Tuesday Sunny High 50 Low 34
Wednesday Mostly Sunny High 51 Low 33
Thursday Partly Cloudy High 49 Low 31
Friday Sunny High 51 Low 33
National News Obama announces clean energy agenda President Obama has announced that his administration promotes clean energy and an agenda that would implement green jobs to aid economic recovery. “The jobs of tomorrow will be jobs in the clean energy sector,” Obama said. “That’s why my administration’s taking steps to support a thriving clean energy industry across this country.” A proposition called Home Star program, which Obama first proposed during his State of the Union, would provide homeowners with rebates up to $3,000. Homeowners who make energy efficient upgrades to their properties would be eligible to the rebate. – Anchor Wire Report
Fine Print Numbers
General 401.456.8280 Advertising 401.456.8544 Editor-in-Chief 401.456.8790 Fax 401.456.8792 Web www.anchorweb.org General Information info@anchorweb.org The Anchor is student-run and published weekly during the academic year. Editorial decisions for The Anchor are made by a majority vote of its student editorial board. No form of censorship will be imposed by the college. Any material found to be unsuitable or unacceptable in the board’s opinion will not be published. The views expressed in The Anchor, unless otherwise noted, are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent those of The Anchor or of Rhode Island College’s faculty, administration or Student body. The first copy is free. Each additional copy is $2.25. Copyright © 2010 The Anchor. All rights reserved.
If you are a student organization and would like to have an event covered, please contact managing@anchorweb.org.
Page 3 News Finance allocates over $30,000 for WXIN concert
March 9, 2010
news@anchorweb.org
By Frank Wellington Anchor SCG Bureau
Despite approving the largest-single allocation of this academic year, former SCG Treasurer Christopher Kelly’s last Finance Commission meeting was relatively short and uncontroversial. The only two clubs on the agenda, Harambee and WXIN, left the meeting with multiple thousand-dollar allocations to fund spring semester events. The commission met last Wednesday afternoon, before Kelly was removed from office due to a vote of no confidence during that evening’s Student Parliament meeting. The Finance meeting was one of the shortest this year to date, lasting only 30 minutes. RIC Radio WXIN saw a $30,000 allocation for a hip-hop concert scheduled for the end of April. The concert is tentatively scheduled to be held at Lupo’s in Providence, the WXIN representatives said. WXIN Business Director Jason Russell said during the presentation to the commission that they
could sell out the venue, which, according to the organization’s quote, is 2,000 seats. WXIN Production Director Ryan Bailey, who presented the request with Russell, said two of the artists booked for the concert regularly fill venues of a larger size, and predicted the concert would “definitely be a sellout.” The radio station has negotiated fees with six performers – Mike Poshner, KIDH, Wiz Khalifa, Young Scholla, Pill and Big Sean. The club assured Finance that preferential ticket pricing will be given to RIC students, though WXIN maintained the event would be open to nonstudents, as well, in order to break even. The single largest allocation of the year passed unanimously on the stipulation that all ticket sales will go towards paying back the initial allocation before contributing to the radio station’s revenue. However, if WXIN sells out at the $20 student ticket price, the organization stands to make a profit of $10,000. That figure
doesn’t include the extra revenues made from tickets sold to non-RIC students. WXIN also received a $2,600 allocation for promotional T-shirts and a $1,000 allocation for advertising. Harambee left the meeting with a $2,300 allocation for a speaker at this year’s Women’s Dinner. The speaker is slated to be Aminata Njeri, a “leadershipologist.” The Women’s Dinner is an annual event that acts as a forum for opinions and discussion about the advent of women in the 21st century, according to the Unity Center’s Web site. The event will be held in the Faculty Center on March 19 at 6:30 p.m. Harambee also reallocated $400 from their operating budget to contribute towards the event. Last Wednesday would mark the final meeting for Kelly, who as SCG treasurer was the chairperson since fall 2008, and prior to that was a non-Parliament member for two years.
Anchor Photo/David Okon
SCG Treasurer Christopher Kelly presides over his final meeting as FInance Commission chair.
News
March 9, 2010
Page 4
Gradfest 2010 By Matthew Boyden-Wilson Anchor Editor
Gradfest 2010 is a one-stop shop to get students geared up for graduation, and will be held this year in the Student Union in early April. The event is not so much a festival as much as it is a long queue of seniors waiting to buy caps and gowns so they can promptly leave. The event brings together many services so that undergraduate or advanceddegree candidates can prepare for graduation, or at least help students figure out if they will be a super-senior or not. Representatives will be on hand to help students verify diploma information, apply for graduation if they haven’t already done so and check on any outstanding issues that may prohibit them from graduating, such as forgetting to take Writing 100. Students may also purchase caps,
gowns, hoods and tassels and order personalized graduation announcements, class rings and diploma frames. Complimentary photos are being offered courtesy of Grad Images/GradTrak. Students are under no obligation to purchase a photography package, and may have a photo taken in regalia or just for their professional portfolio. Career Services, the Alumni Association and Senior Class of 2010 officers will provide information about their services and upcoming events. Students can also learn about Adams Library’s extended privileges for alumni. The Commencement Office will also provide information about Cap and Gown Day and the exercises scheduled in May. Gradfest 2010 is scheduled for Wed., April 7 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Student Union Ballrooom.
STEM from page
news@anchorweb.org
1
they have a very high volume of requests, and ours has not been reviewed yet,” Locke explained. “That’s the only reason the project has been dragged out this long.” The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) initiative was organized by Governor Donald Carcieri, and Rhode Island College began implementing grant money by renovating some electronic classrooms. Rooms were chosen based on the subjects taught in them and the greatest need for improved technology according to professors’ wishes. Currently, there are three levels of electronic classrooms at RIC. Basic e-classrooms are equipped with a projector, a computer and a DVD player. Alger classrooms are more advanced, boasting touchscreen projectors that were installed in 2005. The new STEM classrooms will include video capture and video conferencing, as well. “When we began the STEM initiative, professors who worked with us during the Alger classroom renovations gave us tips on how to make the Alger technology even better,” Locke said. “The money for this technology has been granted to improve our students in these four content areas – to make us more competitive in these areas
Anchor Photo/Bethany L’etoile
Henery Barnard saw upgrades as part of STEM Phase I. in a global market.” The classrooms that will be affected by Phase II next semester are Fogarty Life Science Rooms 108 and 209, Gaige Rooms 253 and 257, Horace Mann Rooms 185, 186, 189 and 190, and Clarke Science Lecture Hall 128 and Fogarty Life Science 050. The Capital Planning Team consists of Locke, Director of Facilities, Operations and Capital Projects Edward Brady, Assistant Vice President for Information Services Richard Prull, Assistant Vice President for Finance and Controller Paul Forte and College Engineer Kevin Fitta. The committee was formed in 2008 by Locke because of the college’s master planning process. The longterm plan for campus facilities is much of what the planning
team oversees. “This committee is one of my proudest accomplishments so far,” Locke said. “We’ve already got plans for our economic stimulus dollars, although we’re still waiting for the funds.” The team’s ideas include installing fire detectors and sprinklers in every room on campus, since the state designated the economic stimulus money for fire safety. When it comes to the STEM project, “we’d love to do more classrooms,” Locke admitted, “but we had to narrow it down to only 10 rooms based on funding. In our budget we just created, we noted that we want to update some more classrooms. We’re always trying to find ways to do more.”
bWV ^c[dgbVi^dc hZhh^dc 4UESDAY -ARCH n 0- s (ARKINS (ALL 2OOM ,, Application fee will be waived if you apply that evening. Anchor File Photo/Samantha Mandeville
to learn more please visit www.providence.edu/mba or call 401.865.2333.
News
news@anchorweb.org
March 9, 2010
Page 5
CONFIDENCE from page
1
attending a student government presidents’ conference in Washington, D.C. this year. Afterwards, he introduced alumni speaker Chris Farell, who spoke about how he got involved in campaigns and how members of Parliament could join him in participating in elections. Next to make his announcements was SCG Vice President Travis Escobar. He announced that May 5 will be the elections for next year’s SCG executive and Parliament officers, and that students who wish to run must have their petition certified by noon on May 4. SCG Secretary Shawn Andrews was next. He focused on the upcoming STORGY Awards, which are tentatively set to be held at the Weston the first weekend in May. Student organizations will begin the award nomination and voting process after Spring Break. Kelly then took the floor for what would become his final announcements, and said that he would not address the comments made by BoydenWilson. Instead, he spoke to the numerous members of the Resident Student Association that came to the meeting after
Anchor Photo/Bethany L’etoile
Parliament members listen intently to the debate. FROM LEFT: Reps. Andrew Augustus, Aaron Buckley, Nigel Evangelista, Kameron Spaulding, Mark Paolucci, Jeremy Ogunba and Frances Diaz. Visible in foreground are Dean Scott Kane and Rep Michael Hartley. being dissatisfied with their projected budget for next year. “They’re [RSA] mad about something that the Finance Commission really did,” Kelly said, after explaining that their budget would be released the following day. Representative Kameron Spaulding, who is also editorin-chief of The Anchor, next took the floor, and said that he did want to discuss what Mr. Boyden-Wilson came to speak
Anchor Photo/Alex Hoffman
SCG Administrative Assistant Sally Hindson and ousted Treasurer Christopher Kelly before the start of Wednesday’s meeting.
about. “I am upset by a constant lack to follow policy, rules, be open and [not being] honest with people, which I think is the highest reason we’re here,” Spaulding said. “If we lose the faith of these people, we lose what we’re here for.” After his brief comments, Spaulding said his confidence in the treasurer had been shaken, and motioned for a vote of no confidence in Kelly. The motion was quickly seconded by Rep. Andrew Augustus. After this motion was made, Treasurer Kelly left the room, saying that he’d be outside and to send someone for him when Parliament was done deliberating. “Personally and professionally, I don’t believe that voting Chris out will solve anything,” Laguerre said as he attained the floor to make a case against the motion. Rep. Amanda Berno, who is also president of RSA, said, “Our advisor spoke with Chris Kelly and he told her some things that may or may not have been true…I found out that some of the things he did say to her were lies and thinking that an officer on Parliament is lying not only to organizations but also to a professional
staff member, that inspires no confidence in me and also in the students I represent.” Berno was referring to a lengthy conversation that Kelly was seen having with RSA Advisor Joie Steele at the Student Organization Showcase
“Personally and pro-
fessionally, I don’t believe that voting Chris out will solve anything” – SCG President Joshua Laguerre
after the conclusion of Wednesday afternoon’s Finance meeting in the Student Union. RSA, along with numerous other organizations on campus, have expressed their dissatisfaction with the $140,000 in cuts made to student club budgets for next year, printed by The Anchor after being leaked two weeks ago. Concern was raised by some members over the possibility of SCG’s financial business grinding to a halt if the treasurer were removed, at which point Spaulding reassured Parliament that in the absence of a
Treasurer, President Laguerre could still sign any financial documents just as any president of an organization can sign their own club’s withdrawal slips. On the subject of the Finance Commission, Spaulding countered with, “An ex-officio member may sit over Finance next Wednesday so Finance can still meet…” After several rounds of comments by other Parliament members, Alumni Rep. Nigel Evangelista passed the floor to former SCG President Chris Buonanno, who was among the many students present in the gallery at the meeting. “When I was the secretary and president-elect, the Student Activity Fee was $45. Now it’s $60 thanks to myself and Mr. Lima working together with then-President Nazarian.” He continued, “The reason we did that is so we’d have enough money to give to the clubs to suffice their needs, to make sure that we have a sufficient amount of money to come and ask and get what they needed. To cut below where we were at $45… to me goes against what student government should be trying to do.” He ended with, “Vote wisely.” See SCG, CONT. Page 6
News
March 9, 2010
Page 6
Anchor Photo/David Okon
FROM LEFT: Deputy Speaker Christopher Volcy, President Joshua Laguerre and Secretary Shawn Andrews
SCG, cont. from page
5
Buonanno, in an interview after the meeting, said, “If SCG does have the resources to give to organizations and does not do that then they’re not doing their job.” He also expressed concern that not using the money for what it’s meant to be used for could result in the Student Activity Fee actually being decreased by the Board of Governors for Higher Education. “[Kelly] isn’t perfect, he is human,” said Rep. Nikhol Bentley, who sat on Finance with Kelly. “If he says the wrong policy, if he says the wrong thing, he always comes back in and says stuff like, ‘I’m sorry, that’s my mistake.’” Rep. Frances Diaz took the floor some time later, holding a DVD copy of the Jan. 27 Parliament meeting. That meeting was adjourned early using what some have called “creative means” by several Parliament members. Diaz said that in the video, Kelly can be seen saying that he will “handle it,” then he refused to let members into the room. A debate ensued over whether
the video should be played. Speaker Nicholas Lima was asked to make a ruling, but Rep. Diaz and Rep. Nicholas Bernardo withdrew their request for it to be played after Diaz summarized what was on the DVD. Shortly afterward, a motion was made by Secretary Shawn Andrews to call the question, which would have forced an immediate vote. The motion was ultimately voted down in favor of further discussion. Dean of Students Scott Kane, who serves on Parliament as SCG’s advisor, stated his opposition to the vote during the meeting. He recalled the aftermath of the impeachment trial of Ericka Atwell two years ago where, after the guilty verdicts, several Parliament members tried to capitalize on the political fallout by attacking other officers, grinding SCG business to a halt for weeks and creating unproductive infighting in the body. Kane also said that he believed the timing of the no confidence vote was poor, noting that it was late into Kelly’s second term and that the year is nearly over. After further discussion, Rep. Kervin Leonidas, who is also president of the Senior Class, expressed a wish to
hear a list of Treasurer Kelly’s transgressions. As Spaulding had previously stated that he had such examples, but due to a time limit rule on debate his allotted time had expired, Leonidas passed the floor to him. Spaulding, given only a minute and 45 seconds to pass on what he could, began with examples from the emergency Finance Commission meeting held the previous Wednesday. “One, he tried to start a
news@anchorweb.org
meeting in executive session,” which goes against rules pertaining to public body meetings, Spaulding said. “Then, after he could not do that, he finally started the meeting. The reason that he said they needed to go into executive session was discipline…was the reason he gave on the record. Discipline is not an action that can be taken by Finance,” Spaulding said. Spaulding was referring to the emergency meeting of Feb. 24, where Kelly attempted to have Spaulding and Anchor TV Treasurer Thomas Lima (who was filming the meeting) escorted out by two Campus Police officers. Kelly had earlier ordered Augustus, who is also WXIN news director, out of the meeting, all before it officially began. Spaulding continued, “I have with me here cases from the attorney general that state that we are subject to open meetings laws which means in the State of Rhode Island that you must start your meetings in an open way. You can then motion by majority vote to go into executive session.” He continued, “The number of times that he [Kelly] has misused executive session both in the time that I was on Finance and this year as someone that has sat in on the meetings is astounding…
you just don’t use executive session, it is a privileged thing in our government that he has abused.” Rep. Aaron Buckley also yielded two minutes of his time to Spaulding so that he could continue presenting his case for Kelly’s removal. Staff Rep. Mark Paolucci yielded the floor to members of the student community who
“I
found out that some of the things [Kelly] did say to her were lies.” – Rep. Amanda Berno
had come to watch the meeting. One student who spoke was Rainbow Alliance Treasurer Krystal Dos Santos, who said, “We have asked Chris Kelly for our budget a couple of times and have been denied access to see our budgets to compare what we have in comparison to what Student Community Government has.” Another student speaker, Rebecca Laroche, who identified herself as a former executive officer of RSA, spoke against Kelly, but was interrupted by Kane when she attempted to reveal an issue she had with Kelly last spring
Anchor Photo/Alex Hoffman
Rep. Amanda Berno, center, was among those to speak out against Treasurer Christopher Kelly. Seated behind Berno (from left) is RSA Advisor Joie Steele and an unidentified RSA member. At right is Rep. Christopher Breene.
News
news@anchorweb.org
where he allegedly lost their conference paperwork. Kane argued that it was from Kelly’s previous term as treasurer, and therefore not relevant to the discussion. Speaker Lima ruled that the information was relevant. While Laroche resumed speaking, Kane again interrupted in order to challenge Lima’s ruling. It was the first time a ruling by Lima has been challenged since he was elected speaker in 2008. After some debate, Dean Kane’s attempt to overrule Speaker Lima failed, 3-20, in a hand vote. Lima told Parliament that since a vote of no confidence is a purely political action and can be done for any reason, anything about Kelly would be in play. When asked to explain his ruling in an interview after the
meeting, Lima said, “The point of a vote of no confidence is to simply remove an officer that the majority of the body doesn’t want in the position any more. Like the decisionmaking process that goes into a voter’s mind during an election, everything about the person, be it their actions, history, personality or even a single disagreeable decision they made can be a valid reason, and therefore valid in the discussion thereof. Even if an officer is doing a good job, if a majority of members don’t agree with the officer, the provision was put there by the founders of our parliamentary system in order for Parliament to remain effective and work towards commonality.” Rep. Buckley made a second motion to call the
Anchor Photo/David Okon
Dean of Students and SCG Advisor Scott Kane.
question, which passed by an overwhelming voice vote. Rep. Jeremy Ogunba, who is also president of Harambee, was among a select few members to vote no on the motion to end debate, emphatically pounding his fist and shouting “No!” from the far corner of the room. An earlier motion had been passed for the vote to be taken by secret ballot, as is customarily done in electoral matters. Lima asked Elections Commission members Rep. Brandi Jackson and Bernardo, along with Vice President Escobar and President Laguerre, to oversee the balloting. Once members voted (being an electoral issue, only the student members could vote), the group left the room to count the ballots. They were joined by Spaulding and Bentley, who Lima appointed to observe the process as representatives from each side of the issue. After nearly 10 minutes, they returned to Parliament Chambers, and the room fell silent. Lima announced the result of the vote, 14-10 in favor of removal from office by no confidence, and declared the Office of the Treasurer of SCG vacant and Christopher Kelly removed. Kelly was not present in the room for the announcement of Parliament’s vote, and was not available to reporters after the meeting. Reportedly, he monitored the meeting upstairs in the SCG office, and afterwards promptly cleaned out his desk. The affirmative no confidence vote was the first in recent memory in student government at RIC; it is unknown when the last occurred, if ever. However, the action taken by Parliament was purely political, and will not have repercussions for Kelly beyond his removal. Kelly retains the right to participate fully, and in fact does not lose his membership on Parliament as a result of the vote. Whether or not the former treasurer will option to remain on the body has not been announced publicly. According to the SCG ByLaws, an election to replace Kelly is supposed to be held
March 9, 2010
Page 7 this Wednesday, however, due to reasons that have not been announced publicly, the election will not take place until after Spring Break, leaving the office vacant for as many as three weeks. “I want all Parliament members to be aware that there will NOT be an election to fill the Treasurer’s position at the meeting on 03/10/10,” Laguerre said in an e-mail to Parliament on Thursday. Kelly, who succeeded twoterm Treasurer Andrew Jarbeau, served with Jarbeau as a nonParliament Finance member for two years before being elected to his first full term as treasurer for 2008-2009, defeating Rep. Shawn Andrews, who became secretary of SCG in the following election. Kelly ran unopposed for his second term in that election. Though his tenure was marked by several unpopular and controversial rulings, his accomplishments included integrating technology into student government’s operation and two years of fiscal stability and projected record surpluses. Next Wednesday’s Finance Commission meeting will likely be the first without Kelly as a member since the spring of 2006. Since the vote took place, reaction from Parliament members has been wideranging. Rep. Evangelista, who as an alumni member could not vote in the matter, said, “I’m not surprised by what happened, seeing all of the students that showed up to protest Mr. Kelly. It was clear that the student body wanted him out. This should send a message to everybody that if you don’t do your job properly, you can be replaced by someone who will.” Evangelista also said that the amount of people watching the meeting on Anchor TV around campus was a signal that the general student population had gained a real interest in the matter, and were concerned. Hundreds watched on Anchor TV Channel 3 and anchortv.org, including some on television screens placed outside of Student Union 307 to alleviate
the standing-room only Parliament Chambers; WXIN, in an unprecedented move, suspended programming in order to broadcast the meeting live over the air. Rep. Buckley said, “I feel bad that this had to happen, but the number of students who showed up to Parliament Wednesday night displayed the desire of the student body and not just members of Parliament to perform this vote of no confidence.” Rep. Christopher Breene said he felt “horrible, it was one of the worst things I’ve had to do as a Parliament member. This could have been avoided if he apologized for his mistakes. He abused his power as a committee chairman. He changed.” When called Monday seeking comment about his removal from office, Kelly replied that he did not wish to make a statement. -With reports by David Okon, Frank Wellington, Hayden James and Mandy Wray Dion.
Just the facts: Treasurer Kelly Elected: April 2008 Re-elected: April 2009 Years on Finance: 4 Key actions: eliminated funding for
Exodus
Yearbook, opposed RIC Fest, proposed fiveyear media organization stipend cap, shut down
RIC TV, created
Revenue Carry-over Policy, revised SCG Funding Policies and was first
SCG trea-
surer to work with
$60
Student Activity Fee.
Comics
March 9, 2010
Page 10
graphics@anchorweb.org
Zachary Serowik
Big Ideas presents: The problem with people today - They have no sense of Whimsy :-( Timmy, I’m a mysterious old wizard, let me show you a world of wonder, mystery and magic!
I’m in, crazy, homeless magic man!
Timmy, i’m a mysterious old wizard -
Stranger Danger! Call the cops!
Zachary Serowik Zachary Serowik Big Ideas presents: The problem with people today - They have no sense of Whimsy :-( Big Ideas presents: The problem with people today - They have no sense of Whimsy :-( Now “The Good Ol’ Days” Timmy, i’m a mysterious Timmy, I’m a mysterious old Stranger Danger!
wizard,I’mlet me show youold a Timmy, a mysterious world wonder, mystery wizard,oflet me show you a magic! mystery world ofand wonder, and magic!
I’m in, crazy,I’m homeless in, magic man! crazy, homeless magic man!
“The Good Ol’ Days” “The Good Ol’ Days”
Timmy,old i’m wizard a mysterious old wizard -
Now Now
Call theDanger! cops! Stranger Call the cops!
graphics@anchorweb.org
Comics
March 9, 2010
Page 11
Have your cartoon featured in The Anchor!
DRAW COMICS To make a submission, send your work to graphics@anchorweb.org
Editorial A commendation to Iraqi voters who defied terrorist attacks
March 9, 2010
Page 12
The Anchor would like to commend the Iraqi people on a large election turnout despite dozens of small terrorist attacks killing 31 early last Sunday morning. Local election officials estimated that turnout was close to 70 percent despite the attacks. By comparison, the 2008 U.S. presidential race had a 62 percent turnout, which was the highest since the 1968 election won by Republican nominee Richard Nixon. Iraqi political commentators are calling the election race between Prime Minister Maliki and former Interim Prime Minister Allawi too close to call. Independent election monitors, such as the United Nation’s envoy to Baghdad, were reportedly pleased initially with the observed elections procedures. It’s sad to say that the violence that left 31 dead last weekend were less brutal than the high-profile attacks that have shaken the capital in recent months, some days killing more than 100 people. Hopefully, this high turnout is an indicator democracy is taking root in Iraq and that terrorism isn’t working as well as the insurgents hoped.
“A few bombs won’t keep them away from the polls,” said one voter in Bagdad, according to the Wall Street Journal. A successful democratic election is not only a key turning point in the war on terror but also on the U.S. military’s involvement in Iraq. The outcome of the election will determine the speed at which troops withdraw from the country, though the Obama administration has promised a rapid departure of troops later this year. The elections ended early Monday morning and each of the 10,000 polling stations are required to post official tabulations within 24 hours after the close of voting. Official tallies will be released a few days after those figures have been published. The election will determine the makeup of Iraq’s 325-member Parliament and offer an indication of Iraq’s future. The close political race leaves The Anchor with a feeling of optimism for the country’s future, a belief that democracy can come from the ashes of tyranny, and pride for the enduring spirit of the Iraqi people.
– The Anchor Editorial Board
The Anchor Kameron Spaulding Editor-in-Chief
Katie Carroll Katherine Gaul Managing Editors
Hayden James Andrew Augustus Andrew Massey Justin Wilder Mandy Wray Dion Samantha Mandeville Daniel Jordan Copy Editor Nicholas J. Lima Graphics Editor Zach Serowik Business Manager Matt Boyden-Wilson Advertising Manager Nicholas Bernardo Technology Director Alex Tirrell Circulation Manager Adam Chapasko Faculty Advisor Lloyd Matsmumoto Professional Advisor Doug Hadden News Editor Sports Editor Opinions Editor A&E Editor Photography Editor Layout Editors
Staff Sera Alexia, Kerrin Arzoomanian, Kelly BesharaFlynn, Brandee Bilotto, Georgie Bissell, Adam Bram, Aaron Buckley, Rob Duguay, Laura Horton, Zach Hynes, Julie Kessler, Jonathan Kmieciak, Bethany L’Etoile, Rob Lefebvre, Samy Masadi, Brian McKenna, Jesus Mendoza, Rita Nerney, David Okon, Mohsin Siddiqui, Edward Taylor, Alexandra Weston, Alicia White
opinions@anchorweb.org
Letters to the Editor
March 9, 2010
Page 13
Beware of the unknown laws Laws. As a civilized society we have laws which we are required to abide; most of them make sense, and are necessary for the well being of the society and the survival of our civilization. Things like no killing, no stealing, or no texting while driving will make sense to most rational people. However, when you have a law that prohibits any establishment in Iowa from charging admission to see a one-armed piano player, you just have to wonder why. Why indeed? I don’t know, but what I do know is that the United States is full of those useless, dumb laws that no one knows about, and which are completely useless. Nevertheless, they are laws, and it is illegal to break them,
and because Spring Break is approaching I wanted to warn anyone who planned to leave the state to be careful with what they do because you can never know if you are breaking one of those laws. For example, if you happen to be a man, visiting Portland, Maine, and for an inexplicable reason you decide to tickle a woman under the chin with a feather duster, please know that you are breaking the law. As irrational as that sound, for all we know they had a valid reason for creating that law; maybe once upon a time, a woman, after being tickled under the chin with a feather duster, went psycho and decide to take vengeance and committed murder. In that case,
it makes complete sense to have that law because it would be a prevention of something bigger. On the other hand, I can’t conceive why is there a law in Pacific Grove, Calif. that states that “molesting” a butterfly can result in a $500 fine. Or why in Blyth a person must own at least two cows before he/she is permitted to wear cowboy boots in public. I cannot even speculate about these two laws, nothing I’ve ever seen or experienced allows me to imagine a scenario where one of this would necessary. Nevertheless, if you decide to visit Blyth and want to wear boots, be sure to opt for UGGs, or be prepared to buy two cows. Not only are some of this
laws irrational, but some of them are also deeply sexist. For example, in Missouri, it is illegal for four women to rent an apartment together. In Dyersburg, Tennessee, it is illegal for a woman to call a man on a date. In Oxford, Ohio a woman is forbidden from taking her clothes off while standing in front of a man’s picture. These laws sound archaic and medieval to me, and I profoundly hope that they are not active anymore, and if they are active, I can only wonder why a feminist group hasn’t tackled them yet. The laws I mentioned before prove that unless you have read the lists of laws of all the states, you can never be sure what’s legal and what’s not. Therefore
be watchful, when you get out of Rhode Island, don’t go fishing with your bare hands, educating dogs, or tying a giraffe to a telephone pole because you can never be too sure if you are breaking the law. You should also know that you are not safe from breaking unpredictable laws in Rhode Island; know that you cannot throw pickle juice on a trolley, smoke a pipe after sunset in Newport, or jump out of bridge in Providence without breaking the law. So, be careful and be safe, and hopefully have a legal Spring Break.
Marcia Diaz
The Anchor is hiring!
LIFESTYLES EDITOR Take control of the section that helps you find the best:
CLUB ACTIVITIES
TECHNOLOGY
TRAVEL ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADVICE SEX
HEALTH
FOOD
For more information contact Anchor Editor-in-Chief Kameron Spaulding: editorinchief@anchorweb.org Sign-up outside The Anchor Office in the Ducey Media Center
Opinions
March 9, 2010
Page 14
A lack of common sense and decency on Facebook
opinions@anchorweb.org
Animal abusers beware By Andrew Massey
By Zachary Serowik Anchor Editor
Opinions Editor
Last week, the Israeli Army scheduled a raid on the West Bank in Palestine in an attempt to arrest enemy militants in the area. However, they were forced to call off the operation when one soldier decided to post the time, date and location of the raid on his Facebook status. I’ll give you a moment to really let this settle in. A soldier, trained in combat and entrusted with the duty of protecting his fellow citizens, thought it would be a perfectly logical act to post the details of his operations on a Web site visited by millions – if not billions – of people a day. Now, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. Only people on his friends list could technically read the message. And hey, he wouldn’t allow anyone on his friends list that he didn’t speak to regularly and fully trust with his personal secrets, right? OK, now that I’ve let out my little spurt of sarcasm, I can continue with my point. People do really stupid things on the Internet. I know I’m beating a dead horse for some of you that have been saying the same thing for years, but, unfortunately, just because you complain about it doesn’t mean you aren’t guilty yourselves. How many of you have been dumb enough to add a family member to your friends list and then post a picture of yourselves getting drunk at a party? Further proof of this hypothesis has already been offered. Last year, two Australian girls who got lost in a storm drain and searched over a dozen hours for a signal. When that signal was eventually found they updated their status on Facebook, causing them to
In California there is talk of enacting an animal-abuser registry, marking anyone who abused, neglected or hoarded animals, whether they be domestic or farm animals. This would obviously include those who ran illegal dog fighting and cock fighting rings. Having grown up with animals, and seeing that I currently live with my parents who own three cats, two dogs, two tanks of fish and a rabbit, I’m definitely in support of this bill. The bill is not just being considered to comfort animal lovers like me. Not only would said registry have obvious benefits, such as keeping animals away from abusers, but animal abusers usually escalate to abusing people. Knowing who is and who is not an animal abuser can help point out who might be a potential child abuser or wife beater, or even a serial killer. Obviously, a registered animal abuser isn’t going to receive the same stigma of a sex offender, nor will they always be the first person the police go to in an abuse case, but it will raise awareness of these individuals. The biggest problem is funding. According to Time, to start up the program anywhere from $500,000 to $1 million would be needed. This would
wait even longer until someone actually read it. This should not be too surprising, as the brains that told them to update their status instead of call are the same brains that told them to go exploring in a storm drain. I do not bring you these stories to denounce the Web site itself. For one thing, I may as well be complaining about the Internet itself. The outcome will be the same: billions of people will still rely on it and log in every second. Secondly, with the simple facts that the site has helped family members and friends reconnect and a number of charities are generating revenue from ads and donations, Facebook does just as much (if not more) good as its users do bad. Very few people realize today that the Internet is no longer full of “anonymous” forums. Heck, Facebook puts your real name right on your status. Yet people still feel the need to act like immature idiots. In February, two memorial sites
were posted on Facebook for a couple of children who had been murdered at their schools in Australia. While the vast majority of the wall comments and messages sent to the sites were well-meaning, some horrifically terrible people felt the need to post pornographic images and messages referring to bestiality. I am certain these monsters will get what’s coming to them. At the very least, their accounts have been permanently deleted from Facebook’s server. Meanwhile, the Israeli soldier mentioned at the beginning of this article has been suspended from active duty. It’s important to remember that Facebook is not anonymous, nor is a status update private. When posting something that an average of over 100 people have the ability to read, it’s best to think about what you’re going to type at least five seconds longer than you think is necessary.
be subsidized by a 2-3 percent tax on pet food, and from there it would cost $300,000400,000 a year. The concern here is that such a tax on pet food would make it harder for certain people to care for their pets, leading to shelters becoming even fuller. An interesting argument brought up by Ed Rod, vice president of government affairs for the American Pet Products Association, says that the animal abuser registry would benefit everyone but only pet owners are paying for it. I honestly agree. I think everyone should be taxed to help pay for it, since it can help solve abuse cases whether the victim is animal or human. In Tennessee, a bill was proposed where convicted felon animal abusers had to pay $50 towards an animal abuser registry. However, considering most animal abuse cases are misdemeanors, this was ineffective and shot down. If all people in animal abuse cases had to pay such a fee, then we could be in business. I think Rhode Island should propose such a registry at some point, for both the humanitarian benefits and the benefits to law enforcement. I would like to know if there are any animal abusers in my neighborhood. I love my puppies and I wouldn’t want anything to happen to them, and I’m sure most other animal lovers would feel the same.
Opinions
opinions@anchorweb.org
March 9, 2010
Page 15
The irony kills me
By Andrew Massey War on Ignorance
This week has been a great week for those who support same-sex marriage and appreciate irony. It all started for me when I read the story that an anti-gay state lawmaker was pulled over for a DUI. There is nothing too out of the ordinary there with a drunken politician. In fact, this is the exact kind of story I’d tell people to ignore, since they’re as likely to get drunk and drive as any one of us. Hell, I’ll go as far to say being a senator is a stressful job and he probably needs to relax somehow, but that doesn’t excuse his actions. Well, apparently, California
State Senator Roy Ashburn (R–District 18) needs a little bit more than a few drinks and a long drive to relax. The anti-gay senator was pulled over leaving a gay bar with an unidentified male passenger in the car with him. I’ll give you a moment to let that soak that in. Sen. Ashburn has obviously released the SPAS (or Standard Politician Apology Speech), saying, “I am deeply sorry for my actions and offer no excuse for my poor judgment. I accept complete responsibility for my conduct and am prepared to accept the consequences for what I did. I am also truly sorry for the impact this incident will have on those who support and trust me – my family, my constituents, my friends and my colleagues in the Senate.” Someone needs to make a drinking game for these apology speeches. How does half a shot for every time the words “sorry” and “apologize” are mentioned, one shot for every family or family values references is made and two shots every time the apologizer gets “emotional” (since we all
know politicians have their hearts and soul surgically removed upon election). I was willing to call it a good day there and enjoy the small little victory for samesex marriage, but then it got so much better in a way I could not imagine. Apparently, a Vatican chorister and a senior aide to the Pope himself were running a homosexual prostitution ring out of the Vatican. This was discovered via wiretap in connection to a corruption inquiry, according to BBC News. The way it worked was that the chorister, Ghinedu Thomas Ehiem, would get the prostitutes for the aide, Angelo Balducci. This happened at least 10 times that were recorded. According to a Vatican spokesperson, the Pope was aware of the issue, which makes me wonder what else he is aware of in the Vatican. Now it should be noted that as far as I know homosexuality in the Vatican is not outright banned so much as it is heavily frowned upon, but still, the irony is too good for me. Maybe
California State Sen. Roy Ashburn. now Catholicism will look inwardly at what they are doing and decide that suppressing their priest’s sexual desires is not the best idea. Then maybe Democrats will realize that they are wimps and the Republicans will realize that they are bastards and they will reconcile their differences and bring forth a new Golden Era in this country. Soon after the world will follow
suit and we will all focus on the truly important issue in the world: the world itself. We will all clean up the Earth and the air and water quality will be like they were before humans were a threat to the Earth… Or maybe they will isolate that person as a lone incident and go on into denial about it all. That fixes everything! Doesn’t it?
How many lumps do you want?
By Adam D. Bram Stark Raving Mad
Better give me a lot of lumps. A whole lot of lumps. At least, that’s what I’ve been dying to give to these misguided ignoramuses calling themselves the Tea Party. They’ve been a thorn in the side of every human being with a working brain for the past year
or so, saying that they hate the government for giving them an extreme political system that the government has no intention of giving them, and claiming they are fighting for what it already is giving them. Recently, it seems, a small group of liberal-leaning people took a page out of minor Looney Tunes villain Pete Puma’s book. When tea gives you a headache, have coffee instead. Documentary filmmaker Annabel Park made a comment on her Facebook page to the idea of starting a Coffee Party where everyone sits down and discusses politics civilly and based on facts like reasonable, sane adults. Soon, it grew into a movement. But really, why do we even need a movement? Why can’t discussing things
civilly and intelligently be the standard in this country? Even in our own Congress? Why can’t we discuss issues of state and country on the merits of truth and actual outcomes, rather than fear-mongering and misinformation? Why are the people of this country such sauropods (a family of herbivorous dinosaurs featuring long necks and tails, whose brains were mostly so small compared to their body size that they needed a huge nerve network in their backsides just to keep their legs moving correctly, hence making them a far better analogy than sheep any day)? It always strikes me how absolutely stupid we are for a world power. And we are stupid. I’m stupid, you’re
stupid. It’s only by chance or careful planning if you’re not. Why else do we keep getting that triple Whopper when our hearts and pants are about to explode? Because it’s scrumdiddly-umptious, that’s why. And we’re dense as stumps. Maybe if good schools didn’t cost so much, more people would learn a thing or two about how to form logical thoughts. But this brings us to another reason why we keep getting that triple Whopper. We’re greedy. We want it all, and we want it now. Who cares how we get it or how many people get stepped on? Such is human nature everywhere, but most successful countries have laws in place to curb such tendencies. Not in the good-old USA, at least not
anymore. And if you try to get some of that back, you’re called a socialist neo-Nazi psychokiller weenie who put on his grandmother’s makeup wrong. We need to stop being ignorant, every one of us: Republican and Democrat, conservative and liberal, East Coast and West Coast, man and woman, heterosexual and homosexual, old and young, wizard and muggle, Alliance and Horde, black and white and plaid, Jew-Christian-MuslimBuddhist-Toist-Hindi-JediScientologist-whatever. Read a book, learn your facts, and stop fighting. As for the coffee and tea, in the meantime, no thanks. I’ll help myself.
March 9, 2010
Page 16
photography@anchorweb.org
This week’s winner:
Photo of the Week
March 9, 2010
Page 17
Andrew Augustus
I took this picture using a Samsung SL620. This is a scene from Middlebury, Vermont taken last weekend. It is a view in the middle of the town. The picture was inspired when a friend said he could kayak over the falls. This picture shows the natural power nature can produce that leaves man to challenge his limits. Also, it shows the beauty of the changing of the seasons. - Andrew Augustus Submit your photos to
photography@anchorweb.org
Lifestyles
March 9, 2010
Page 18
Alternative Spring Break
By Laura Horton Travel Tips
Another Spring Break article! Believe me, I’m kind of sick of them, too. This one, though, can be considered the most important. An alternative Spring Break can be the best way to spend your Spring Break. If you like to get involved in your community, country or even the world, try an alternative Spring Break on for size. With all the disasters happening over the years and recently, the need for help is outstanding. Take a look at New Orleans and other areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. It has been almost five years since this devastating hurricane, and parts of New Orleans still look like Katrina hit yesterday. The city still needs help to rebuild. Volunteers are needed to bring the city of New Orleans back. The hearts and souls of the residents touched by Katrina were damaged, but not all is lost, as with a little handy work these towns and cities can be brought back to life. Haiti, Chile and Taiwan all have been hit with earthquakes devastating buildings, homes, hospitals and families. If you
feel like donating food, money or supplies to these countries isn’t enough, spending a few days there may suit your want to help. During this upcoming Spring Break, a few RIC students are traveling to Haiti to help rebuild and help Haitians cope with this horrifying disaster. If you do not want to travel, there is plenty of volunteering needed to be done locally. You can spend time cleaning a park, painting over or removing graffiti off buildings that children are near or volunteering with less-privileged children. Even volunteering for one day can make your Spring Break worth it. If you are having trouble finding volunteer opportunities in your area, visit the Career Development Center in CraigLee and they will steer you in the right direction. Plan your alternative Spring Break ahead of time, especially if you plan on traveling. The United Way, Habitat for Humanity and Freedom Corps are three groups that offer alternative Spring Break opportunities. This is the place to start when looking into alternative spring breaks. If you are looking for advice, asking these organizations can help no matter if you are helping out locally or globally. Spring Break is seven days of no classes and endless possibilities. Pick up a hammer, crayons or trash. Volunteer for an hour or a whole day. Enjoy your Spring Break no matter what you are doing. Relax and let the books collect dust for a few days.
opinions@anchorweb.org
A&W’s 50th anniversary By Alexandra Weston Anchor Staff Writer
Fifty years ago, Joe Fanning, a mill worker living in Smithfield decided he wanted to open his own business. He hired a carpenter and together they began building an oldfashioned car-hop restaurant on Route 44 in Greenville. Joe was able to finish just in time for the summer season of 1960, and he hung out a sign that’s still there today: “A&W Root Beer.” Back then, the root beer cost a nickel, one employee would take care of up to seven carhops at a time and sometimes it was even necessary to employ a police officer to direct traffic in and out of the restaurant parking lot. In 1985, Fanning finally decided to retire and sold his small restaurant to Joel Feinberg. Feinberg ran the restaurant until 1993, when he also chose to retire and sold A&W to another set of owners. For a time, these owners operated their business under the name “Bill’s Old Time Root Beer.” Unfortunately, without the A&W brand behind them, their business didn’t even last an entire season and it went back into the hands of Feinberg. Feinberg put the business up for sale again, and even considered selling the land and starting a different business. Finally, he sold it to a Smithfield native and Johnson & Wales graduate, Stephanie Mosca. She resurrected the A&W name and, after opening it up for its first summer season in 1995 under new management, it was an immediate success. Almost all of Mosca’s sisters have worked in the restaurant at one time or another, and her younger sister, Pennie Nero, continues to work there today as the general manager. The A&W franchise has always stressed its deeply rooted, family-oriented traditions. The current owner, Mosca, said, “Many of our employees have come from family units, where we have employed several members of
the same family. Sisters ask us to hire their brothers and sisters and we find that we have reliable employees for many seasons. In fact, we have had parent-child employees who have worked for us in the same season.” Mosca has also reached out to the community in an attempt to raise funds for any community group or organization that might need help. As long as the group members dine at the A&W restaurant, a portion of the money spent will be donated to that group’s cause. A&W has daily specials starting on Monday with the 10-percent senior citizen discount, through to Friday when they offer clam cakes and chowder, and even into the weekend where you can buy three wieners for $3.50 with the purchase of a large root beer. In addition, every Tuesday is the “Tuesday Night Cruise” with Cruisin’ Bruce Palmer, where classic car aficionados display their vintage automobiles. At 15 years, and still going, this is the longest-running, single-site weekly cruise in Rhode Island. Since that first summer in
1995, A&W has opened on the second Saturday in March through rain or shine, served over 1 million hot wieners, more than 97,000 gallons of root beer poured in frosted mugs and over 40,000 gallons of root beer poured for root beer floats. NBC 10’s Frank Coletta has done a coffee cup salute to the business on the Sunrise program for the past five years. The establishment itself has been remodeled and, in addition to being brought up to the new fire codes, has upgraded the bathrooms, patio area and the roof was replaced, bringing this 50-year-old building into the 21st century. The continued success for A&W today is all attributed to the same traditions that Joe Fanning created when he first started the business in 1960. The root beer recipe is exactly the same as it was when Fanning made his first batch; the use of car-hops (“Turn Lights On for Service”) is still employed, which is the only one available in Rhode Island, and the tray on the window service of root beer in mugs is all part of the nostalgic charm that still continues today.
opinions@anchorweb.org
Lifestyles
March 9, 2010
Page 19
Taking them out the cheap way
By Andrew Massey Ballin’ on a Budget
Let’s face it: we all have someone we’d like to take out. Maybe it is the person who sits next to you in class, or someone you work with, but you want to take them out, and what better way to do it than on the cheap? After all, dates cost money. (What did you think I was talking about? Assassination? You sickos.) Well, I have some experience with cheap dates and I can give you some pointers. Cheap food – The best places to go for cheap food are mom-and-pop places. Find a locally owned place, or at the very least, a local chain like Uncle Tony’s. Since these places obviously cannot
compete with national chains with all of their advertisement money and larger staff, they focus on what counts: food and service. Very often these places will offer better food for cheaper or equivalent prices to the national chains. Better yet, the mom-and-pop places offer a cozier and quiet environment – perfect for a first date. Cheap movies – I know the dinner and movie date is very cliché, but that is because it works so well. Tuesday nights seem to be the slowest nights for movie theaters so they offer matinee prices at night to increase traffic. It is definitely a good time to take advantage and go on a date. Also, because of the reduced traffic on Tuesdays, you are less likely to be in a theater with a screaming baby, or noisy kids. Alternatively, check out discount theaters, like the Patriot Cinema in East Providence. They show movies that are about to go to DVD for the low price of $2, allowing you to see a movie you either really wanted to see and missed for cheap, or a movie you may never pay $10 to go see. The
theatre in the Lincoln Mall falls in between normal theaters and discount ones, since they have a regular movie schedule, but lower prices than Showcase. Dave & Buster’s – Now it may not seem like it, but Dave & Buster’s is actually a good place for a cheap date. Sunday through Thursdays and Friday before 5 p.m., you can get their Eat & Play Combo. For 16 bucks you can get one of eight or so combos and a $10 game
card, and for about $5 to $6 more you can upgrade to a $20 game card. So for about $30 to $40 you have an entire date. Not a bad deal if you ask me. Stay in – The cheapest of all dates is to stay in, maybe order some takeout (or even cook a meal for your significant other) and cuddle up to a movie. Sure, it may not be the best date, but unless you are with a very superficial girl (in which case, please take the advice
of brave Sir Robin and run away), staying in will be a very enjoyable date for them. No matter what you do, make sure you have fun doing it. Obviously, there are many other date options out there, but this should help you get a basic date going. If you want to do anything unique for your date, just remember the Golden Rule of Ballin’ on a Budget: keep your eyes peeled for good deals.
March 9, 2010
Page 20
Arts & Entertainment
arts@anchorweb.org
Spring broken? By Justin Wilder A&E Editor
It’s not every year you can go to smoking hot beaches or frosty diamond mountains for Spring Break. Sometimes it’s just free time to relax, pick up a few extra shifts, go out and have a little fun. Providence has you covered this break with multiple places boasting cheap events for those inclined for entertainment. AS220 – A slew of R.I.based rock shows, café pand dinner events, an artist talk with artist Joshua Enck, and a singer/ songwriter and poet open mic night. All shows throughout the week are either free or from $5 – $7. Check out www.as220. org for more details on specific events. RISD Museum – The RISD Museum always has a $3 College ID charge, but Thursday, March 18 is a free admission Gallery Night. Every
third Thursdaym RISD opens its doors for a special 5-9 p.m. time slot where anyone can enjoy the global collection of artwork and visual history. Log on to www. risdmuseum.org if you’d like to scope it out. RIC Bannister Gallery – A closer art experience running through the majority of break, Bannister Gallery presents the work of two Art Department faculty from their recent sabbatical leaves. Sculptor Doug Bosch and printmaker Stephen Fisher represent the Art Department’s commitment to supporting contemporary visions that speak to the current dialogue and provide students with a professional vision of the art-making process. At www. ric.edu/banister you’ll find all the other details necessary for this always free-for-students artistic experience. Foreign films – It’s not the name of a venue, but there’s quite a selection of different
films screening at Providence’s Cable Car Cinema and Avon Cinema all coming from a variety of cultures. If foreign cinema isn’t your thing, there’s always Patriot Cinema, because my America knows how to sell a $2 movie with sticky floors and gun shots. Go to www. cablecarcinema.com, www. avoncinema.com or www. patriotcinemas.com/eastprov for selections, show times and theater locations. Any place else? Trying to keep it cheap… Let’s say you go to one of these venues this break and have yourself a good time. You’re suddenly possessed by an opinion or two about said performance, an upcoming performance or even the venue itself. Send your story or story idea to arts@anchorweb.org and have your two cents in the paper.
June and the Ocean By Briana Butterworth Anchor Contributor
True Rhode Islanders know about the awesome music scene circulating through the major cities and finding its way into bars, clubs and halls near you. So, it should go without saying that true Rhode Islanders ought to know about June and the Ocean, a band with its roots at our very own Rhode Island College. A pop-rock band with the musicianship of alternative artists, they have more than perked up the eyes and ears of local listeners. Composed of five members, June and the Ocean isn’t just a group of your friends playing for fun. They are all serious musicians who approach their craft with dedication and focus. Paul, a student at RIC and a guitarist of June, has been playing his instrument for nine years. That kind of commitment
to one’s art seems to be what members expect from each other. Members were studying their music in bands such as the January Design, The Parting Gift, and You Breathe Like a Machine before coming together in June and the Ocean. The ardor oozes through not only the music itself, but also in the production value. Working out of a studio, the members of June and the Ocean have made sure that their audience is getting the best value of their music that they can provide. As a local band, it’s easy to cop out with cheap recordings and demos, but this band promises more. Make this band the soundtrack to your weekend. Seriously. It’s pretty refreshing to hear a band that’s fun, and one that you can dance to, but also loves what they do enough to make sure it’s great. That’s the key part – they love what they do, every one of them.
It’s pretty obvious if you listen to songs such as “Wait of the World” and “The First Step is Knowing,” which they say is their favorite to play live. Whether you know a lot about music, or are just looking for a great band to jam to, there is something to be found for everyone here. For those of you who are already fans, it may suit you to know that a recent change
has occurred in the lineup of June and the Ocean. Kyle, the former vocalist, is now the drummer. I have faith that this will be a positive adjustment for the band, and hope that they accomplish what they want musically from this change. As serious musicians, the members of June and the Ocean put forth a lot of effort to ensure that they support their fan base. High production
values, a dedication to their craft and rigorous touring come to be expected by their fans. In return, fans should go out and support June and the Ocean (who are currently playing a number of shows in-state as well as in Massachusetts, and New Jersey), not only because they deserve it musically, but also, do it for yourself. Their music is not something you’ll want to miss out on.
arts@anchorweb.org
Arts & Entertainment
A St. Patrick’s Day favorite By Edward Taylor Anchor Staff Writer
With St. Paddy’s Day right around the corner, what band could be better to review than the good-old Dropkick Murphys? The Dropkick Murphys are a hardcore Celtic punk band that got their start in Quincy, Mass. in 1996. The band became popular as a result of their nonstop touring and their St. Patrick’s Day shows. The band has blown up since their humble start back in the late ’90s. Starting off playing in the basement of a friend’s barbershop, the Dropkick Murphys have moved on to headlining major venues. Their St. Paddy’s Day weekend shows every year draw one hell of a crowd in Boston. The Dropkick Murphys have a hard edge sound in most of their music, but there are a few exceptions with some songs, such as “Fairmount Hill,” on their latest album. While the band doesn’t scream their music, it has a very highintensity sound. The Murphys are first and foremost an Irish-themed band. They use instruments that are used in traditional Irish music, such as the tin whistle and the bodhran. However, the band also uses other odd instruments such accordions, bagpipes and even mandolins. Of course, while I can’t say these guys have a fresh sound since there are other popular Celtic punk bands out there such as Flogging Molly, these guys stand out. They sing about the working class, their favorite sport teams and also cover classic Irish songs. The Dropkick Murphys are one of the best bands to see live. They have high energy on stage and their high-intensity sound loans itself to mischief by the crowd. I had the pleasure of seeing these guys over two
years ago when they played a show at Pawtucket’s McCoy Stadium; it was a concert I would not forget. Touring with the Mighty Mighty Boss tones, when they Murphys hit the stage the crowd was warmed up and ready to cause havoc. Mosh pits formed and flying plastic beer bottles filled the air. I stayed away from the chaos as people started to get dragged away in a bloody mess. With the Murphys being an Irish-themed band, there’s always plenty of drunken fools around at their concerts, which are almost as entertaining as watching the Murphys on stage. While the crowds that they draw are almost worth the price of admission, the band itself is more than entertaining to see. Despite being hardcore punk, the Dropkick Murphys sound better live than they do recorded. They embrace the stereotypes that are associated with them and just make the concert fun. When seeing them at McCoy, the band welcomed all the women they could fit on stage to join them as they ended the concert with my favorite song, “Kiss me I’m shitfaced.” This band is just worth checking out. If you’re a fan of Irish music you probably know about these guys already, but if not they are a must listen. These guys are just all-around talented, and while they may not be everyone’s cup of tea, I’ve met a lot of fans of this band. If you’re a fan, the Dropkick Murphys will be playing the Boston House of Blues March 12-17, and seeing these guys live would be the perfect way to celebrate the Irish holiday on your Spring Break. So this St. Patrick’s Day, raise a pint of stout with a few old pals and throw on some Dropkick Murphys. You won’t be disappointed.
March 9, 2010
Page 21
Broken Bells rocks
By Rob Duguay Rob’s Album of the Week
Back in 2004 at a music festival in Denmark, music producer, DJ and multiinstrumentalist Brian Burton (a.k.a. Danger Mouse) met James Mercer, the lead singer, songwriter and guitarist for Albuquerque, New Mexico indie rock band The Shins. They both discovered they were fans of each other’s musical work, and four years later, in 2008, Burton and Mercer began holding “secret” recording sessions at Burton’s studio in Los Angeles. Soon enough, the collaboration between the two musicians became Broken Bells, which released a selftitled debut album on March 9. The album is a perfect combination of Burton’s hiphop beats and psychedelic aura, and Mercer’s smooth singing and strumming on his acoustic guitar. Right when you blast this record from your speakers
you’ll feel a chill come up your spine that’ll make you sink into your chair and crack a smile. Other than Broken Bells, Burton is also a member of neosoul group Gnarls Barkley with dirty south soul brother Cee-Lo, who have put out two albums, “St. Elsewhere” in 2006 and “The Odd Couple” in 2008. The hit song “Crazy,” off of St. Elsewhere, was actually named song of the decade by Rolling Stone in 2009. Burton has also produced albums for The Black Keys, Gorillaz, The Rapture, Beck and Sparklehorse, along with putting out “The Grey Album” in 2004, which is a mix of Jay-Z’s “The Black Album” and “The White Album” by The Beatles. It’s one of the best mashup albums of all time, with the rhythms and beats being nothing short of perfection. James Mercer has worked with bands other than his own, including The Shins, which include one of Modest Mouse’s most recent studio albums, “We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank,” which came out in 2007. Mercer sang backup vocals on the tracks “Florida,” “Missed the Boat” and the hit single “We’ve Got Everything.” Some tracks off of Broken Bells that I highly recommend giving a listen to include: “The High Road,” which actually reached No. 36 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart when it
came out as a single EP in Dec. 2009, “Vaporize,” “The Ghost Inside” and “Citizen.” Broken Bells played their first-ever live show last month at the Fold in Bootleg Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 19. Soon afterwards, the duo played the Nouveau Casino in Paris on March 1 and the Insititute of Contemporary Arts in London on March 3, selling out both shows to jam-packed audiences. The next batch of shows Broken Bells will be playing are at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, N.Y. on March 10, the Troubadour in Los Angeles on March 14 and then at the South by Southwest Music & Film Festival in Austin, Texas on March 17. After that, who knows? Hopefully Broken Bells will grace the New England area with its presence sometime soon. If you are looking for a groovy, psychedelicized album that’s also easy to listen to when you’re just looking to sit back and chill out for about 35 minutes, go to your local record store or your friendly neighborhood Internet download site and pick up or download a copy of Broken Bells. It’ll make you feel like you’re being transported to another dimension. Trust me – I’m listening to it as I’m finishing this article.
Arts & Entertainment
March 9, 2010
Page 22
arts@anchorweb.org
Murder by Death
By Adam D. Bram Rental Raves
This week’s film is a murdermystery turned on its ear by celebrated writer Neil Simon
– 1976’s comedy “Murder by Death.” Eccentric aristocrat Lionel Twain (author Truman Capote) has invited the best detectives in the world to his mansion for the weekend: Belgian sleuth Milo Perrier (James Coco), hard-boiled American gumshoe Sam Diamond (Peter Falk), London’s Jessica Marbles (Elsa Lanchester), high-society couple Dick (David Niven) and Dora Charleston (Maggie Smith) and Asian investigator Sydney Wang (Peter Sellers). They have been gathered for one purpose: to save their
reputations. Twain states that one person at the dinner table will be murdered, and the first one to solve it gets a million dollars. They think it will be a piece of cake, but when the blind butler Bensonmum (Alec Guinness) winds up a decoy body, and the deaf/mute cook Yetta (Nancy Walker) disappears entirely, Twain’s house of mirrors begins to draw everyone blank. This film is utterly hilarious, especially for those who enjoy mysteries. A lot of people might have problems with Sellers as Wang, and he certainly runs
the ethnic stereotype into the ground on purpose despite being one of the good guys, though it does get easier to handle when the following is considered: all the characters are thinly veiled caricatures of famous literary and screen detectives. Perrier is Hercule Poirot, Sam Diamond equals Sam Spade, Jessica Marbles is an ersatz Miss Marple and Dick and Dora Charleston are letters away from Nick and Nora Charles. Wang’s inspiration, Charlie Chan, was never played by an actual Asian in his famous film
series, so Sellers’ performance can be seen as a “take that.” In fact, that’s what the whole film seems like. The performances are wonderful across the board, with special mention going to Guinness for just being a damn good sport if nothing else. If I had one complaint, it’s that this film seems far too short, and the mystery resolved too quickly, since most of the film is our introduction to the stellar cast. Also starring Eileen Brennen and the first film appearance of James Cromwell. PG. Rating: 4/5
Bookshelf
microwave floor lamp throw rug
desk lamp
TV
large couch
and stand
love seat
iron desk bike laptop package of hangers with ironing board
color monitor
Your semester is ending. Your stuff’s new life is just beginning. All that stuff you’re not taking with you can find a new home. Just list your clean, usable items, and see who’s interested in making them their own. Furniture, rugs, appliances, you name it. It’s all up for grabs at rirrc.org/free.
DVD player
moving boxes picture frame
free weights
RIRR-23028_BookshelfAd_ANCHOR.indd 1
exercise equipment
2/24/10 10:58 AM
arts@anchorweb.org
Arts & Entertainment
March 9, 2010
Page 23
Up-to-date: Naruto 484 By Julie Kessler Anchor Staff Writer
As a continuation of my previous articles, I would like to keep up-to-date reviews on the most current Japanese manga. Since I have already briefly described the plot for Kishimoto’s popular shonen series “Naruto” in a previous article, this week I will jump directly into the newest issues. Dedicated fans, be warned: this article will contain spoilers! In the last chapter of “Naruto,” we saw Sasuke plunging his sword into his teammate, Karin, as he attempted to murder an enemy, Danzo. In the subsequent aftermath, Danzo is killed, leaving Sasuke, Karin and Sasuke’s master, Madara, on the battlefield. Karin, still breathing, is seen lying on the ground, badly wounded. After subtle prompting from Madara, Sasuke intends to kill Karin, as he has no more use for her. However, just as he is about to
finish her off, Sakura, Sasuke’s former teammate, arrives claiming that she wants to join him. Her actual goal is to get close enough to kill Sasuke; but of course silly, uncreative Sakura is easily seen through and, like most women in the Naruto universe, she is not strong enough to carry out her mission. Instead, she is saved by Kakashi, her teacher, as Sasuke attempts to kill her. The final panel in the chapter shows Naruto on his way to the fight. In the most recent issue, Chapter 484, Sasuke and Kakashi begin their fight. Sasuke is immensely powerful, despite his being majorly weakened from his previous fight with Danzo, and still manages to use an attack that would weaken him further. Although Kakashi was just named Hokage, and is considered one of the strongest ninjas in the Leaf Village, he is still toe-to-toe with the weakened Sasuke. Finally, all of the fighting catches up with him and Sasuke is shown with blood dripping from his eye, staring confusedly with the thought bubble, “…My vision!” and shown to have blurred sight. Sakura takes advantage of his momentary weakness, but is still unable to land a killing blow (because this is “Naruto-Land,” and therefore female characters fail to accomplish
anything). Sasuke is about to kill her when Naruto finally arrives, saving her yet again. As is evident from the previous paragraph, “Naruto” has been bothering me lately. The author Kishimoto fails to deliver even moderately interesting female characters, always needing them to be saved by the far-superior males. The most recent chapters are perfect examples of what I mean, as it shows Sakura being saved twice in a short period of time. However, Kishimoto manages to balance out that batch of disappointment by finally reuniting the original members of Team Seven: Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura and Kakashi. With this chapter acting as a segue, the author sets a great precedent for, most likely, a six-month long battle between Naruto and Sasuke. Like many other shonen authors, Kishimoto often orchestrates prolonged battles that could easily be finished in a few issues, sometimes stretching them over many months. I, of course, hope this battle is short, as Sasuke is injured. Unfortunately, Sasuke fanboys will claim that Naruto only won because of that, so I plead for divine intervention to avoid that annoying argument.
March 9, 2010
Page 24
Arts & Entertainment
arts@anchorweb.org
The icons of gaming: a character study By Rob Lefebvre Anchor Staff Writer
Mario, Link and Sonic: The three biggest names in video games. Gamer or not, you have heard these names, as the media has been saturated with them. But, with good reason. They paved the way when it came to the gaming world. They made people want to take them home. Their games brought us a new wave of entertainment that lasts to this day. But why do we keep coming back to them? Sure, their gameplay may intrigue us, but still, what makes people want to take control of these characters again and again. And besides, are they even really that great to want to have them keep coming back? Well, let’s take a closer look at these characters and try to find out. Let’s start with Mario from “Super Mario Bros.” Created by Shigeru Miyamoto, he made his first appearance in the arcade game “Donkey Kong” as Jumpman. Eventually he was given the name Mario in the sequel, “Donkey Kong Jr.” Then he starred in the arcade game “Mario Bros.,” where he and his debuting brother Luigi are plumbers who must combat creatures coming from the sewers. But then he comes to the game series we all know about: “Super Mario Bros.” In this game, he embarks on a journey to rescue Princess Toadstool from the evil King Koopa. These names get changed to Peach and Bowser, respectively, in forthcoming games. But who is Mario? Do we get to know him as a character? He is supposed to be a plumber but he’s never fixed a toilet or replaced a pipe. He certainly is better suited for fighting for the kingdom as he learns quite the array of moves throughout his games. He’s evolved from jumping on heads. He also has great strength, considering he can knock out enemies 10 times his size with roundhouse kicks. As far as his personality
goes, he doesn’t seem to have much of one. He clearly doesn’t have time for a personal life, as he’s always rescuing Princess Peach. Sometimes he goes gokarting and takes part in bad party games. He did once go on vacation, but that went south in a hurry. But he’s mainly saving Princess Peach, who never gives him any lovin’ for his efforts. He’s constantly rescuing her sorry butt from Bowser, but she won’t reward him. The closest he’s ever been to being rewarded was in “Super Mario 64” when he got a kiss on the nose and had a cake baked for him.
character has any hope. Let’s try Link from “The Legend of Zelda,” another creation of Shigeru Miyamoto who made his debut in 1986. Now I know some of you weren’t so fond of my “Ocarina of Time” review and may be mad that I’m going to talk more about him. Well, get your laptops out and be at the ready because here I go. Link is really one of the more pathetic characters in the gaming world. But not of his own fault. He’s always a victim of circumstance. He’s always in the wrong place at the wrong time, he always ends up pitted against dangerous quests and
can depend, he’s the one named Sailor Moon. Yeah, I get it. The problem is that he’s too much of these things. So much so that he keeps falling into the same routine. When are we going to see a new dimension to Link? And to top it all off, he never gets any credit for his work. Think about it, the series is called “The Legend of Zelda” when Link does all the work. That’s just the ultimate kick in the balls, and he’s taking it. But there’s one more character to examine, and that is Sonic the Hedgehog. Making his debut in 1991 for the Sega Genesis and created by Naoto
Seriously, he just saved you and your entire castle from some dragon/turtle thing and all he gets is a cake? You don’t knight him or give him an award for bravery or put out? Nothing? Just a cake? OK… This is really an issue in “Super Mario Bros. 3,” when every castle you go to you’re told, “Thanks but the princess isn’t here.” You’d think he’d be fed up by the third or fourth time and go straight to Bowser’s castle that’s clearly exuding evil. But not Mario. He’s bound and determined to not get that reward he’s justly due. Personally, I don’t think it’s worth it to keep rescuing a princess who’s just going to get kidnapped again five minutes later. So let’s see if another
evil monsters and sorcerers, he always gets caught in time warps that force him back into childhood, and, let’s face it, he’s never, ever, going to bang Princess Zelda. For 14 games, it’s the same thing over and over again. Sure, there are some changes to the story here and there, but it’s the same quest. Ganondorf is evil – supposedly – he’s taking over Hyrule with the Triforce, Pincess Zelda is kidnapped, Link must stop him. Although, I will give them credit that they made a new storyline with new villains in “Spirit Tracks.” Granted, Link is a pretty good character. He has some personality. He’s brave, loyal, noble, he’d never turn his back on a friend, he’s always there to defend, he’s the one whom we
Oshima, Hirokazu Yasuhara and Yugi Naka, this blue critter quickly became Sega’s mascot. Sonic is always in a constant battle with Dr. Robotnik, who is trying to take over the world with the Chaos Emeralds. Again, not much time for a social life. Although he manages to gain some friends, like Tails, the double-tailed fox that follows him around, as well as the woodland creatures he keeps freeing. He even gets a girl at one point, Amy Rose, only he’s not very interested. As with Zelda and Peach, she’s been kidnapped, but Sonic doesn’t really care. He only rescues her because he has to, not because he wants to. Sonic manages to have more dimensions to his personality
than Link or Mario. He has thoughts and feelings that aren’t so heroic, and he’s not afraid to show it and rub it in his enemies’ faces. The only problem with Sonic is that he hasn’t had a decent game in over 10 years. After “Sonic Adventure” there hasn’t been a respectable mainstream Sonic game released since, save for the handheld games that follow the classic formula. But to give him credit, Sonic has tried a lot of different concepts. He’s been a knight, taken part in team games, and he’s been a were-hog. I’d like to believe that someday the Sonic Team will come up with a formula that will work. So to sum this up, who is the better character when it comes to character itself? Well, I guess I have to give it to Sonic, because his personality is more roundabout. Mario and Link get hopelessly locked in their struggle to save the princess, while Sonic does what he wants when he wants and doesn’t care what anyone thinks. Plus, of the three, Sonic is the only one who had a decent TV show. No, I don’t mean that zany “Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog” failure, rather the one simply titled “Sonic the Hedgehog” that actually had a plot and well-developed characters. And for those of you wondering why Pac-Man didn’t make the cut here, while PacMan can be considered the first video game character, he hasn’t contributed anything recently to the gaming world. While his legacy is strong, he hasn’t done anything for the longest time. Now of course, these characters were created when games were focused on actual gameplay and not so much on story and character. So, it’s not surprising our favorite characters don’t have much character. But still we love their games and hope that they will always challenge and entertain us, even if the characters are the most boring part.
arts@anchorweb.org
Arts & Entertainment
March 9, 2010
Page 25
Rob lives the Half-Life again
By Robert Lefebvre Rob’s Game Shelf
Ah, Valve Corporation. You never let us down. With games such as “Portal,” “Team Fortress 2,” “Left 4 Dead” and the game Jack Thompson called a terrorist training game, “Counter-Strike.” But what really made you famous was the “Half-Life” series. Last year, I reviewed “HalfLife” and mentioned how it took the gaming world by storm upon its release, and is one of the greatest games of all time. In 2004, the sequel came out and once again the gaming community became enthralled. “Half-Life 2” has become one of the most critically acclaimed games of all time for its great, simplistic gameplay and compelling narrative. It was released for the Xbox and Windows in 2004 and then rereleased in 2007 for the Xbox 360, Windows and PS3 as part of “The Orange Box.” The game tells the story of Gordon Freeman as he is awoken from some kind of stasis by the G-man, a mysterious being who has some kind of control over Gordon. He has put him on a train headed to City 17. It appears the events of the first game have triggered a world infestation of the aliens that have come from the portal ripped open back in the first game. A scientist named Dr. Breen has become the ruler of Earth in exchange for allowing humanity to be enslaved by the Combine, a multidimensional empire that took advantage of Earth’s crisis and took over. Gordon comes to City 17 and discovers the situation. He
comes across several characters from the previous games that have become key figures in the resistance against the Combine. After a botched teleportation to the resistance base, Gordon ends up being chased by the Combine across the country while trying to find a way stop them once and for all. “Half-Life 2” is a firstperson shooter. The entire game is told from Gordon’s pointof-view. There are no actual cutscenes, as the story unfolds while you still control Gordon. Not once do you lose control of him.
Unfortunately, none of the alien weapons that you got to use in the first game come back, but you still get an assortment of great weapons here. One new weapon you get to use is the gravity gun, which has to be one of the greatest weapons in gaming history. You can grab any object with it – and I mean any object that’s lying around – and hurl it at your enemies at such a velocity that it kills them when they’re hit. One new feature that comes into the game is vehicle sections. These end up becoming the worst part of the
vehicle will take it as a left turn and have you plunging off a cliff faster than you can say “Black Mesa.” Good luck if you’re in a crowded area with it, which you will be…a lot. The only functions that have separate buttons are turbo speed, the handbrake and the horn. Seriously, the horn, the most useless function a vehicle has in this game, has its own button. The acceleration and reverse aren’t important enough that they may need to be separate, but the horn is. It doesn’t even scare enemies away. If anything, it lets them
The gameplay is incredibly simple. Choosing and operating weapons are simple single controls. You also have other functions you can perform thanks to the Hazardous Environment Suit that Gordon wears. You have a small oxygen tank for going underwater, an attached flashlight for going into dark places and you can go into a power sprint for some time. There are also some new weapons you obtain.
game. Remember back in my “Halo 3” review when I said something along the lines of the vehicle controls being the worst I had ever played? I take it back. “Half-Life 2’s” vehicle controls are the worst I have ever played. All of the vehicle’s actions are limited to the right analog stick. Forward, reverse, steering, spinning out, brakes and parking are all left to the right analog stick. If you’re holding the stick forward and twitch it a little to the left, the
know you’re coming. All right, enough of that rant. One other aspect of the game that has received praise and criticism is the linear gameplay. This means that there are no diversions, side goals or alternative routes throughout the game. You are just supposed to plow on through. The problem is whenever the characters set a goal, something goes wrong and they have to figure out a way around it, like paths being blocked, important
devices being destroyed and so forth. This happens pretty much throughout the entire game and there is only one way to solve the problem. The thing is, it’s not always clear what that solution is. For example, there’s a scene when I’m in a Combine base and I have to escape through some sort of trash compactor. But I had trouble finding the way out, and I kept getting crushed as a result. It turns out there is a passage somewhat out of sight that I have to quickly build objects to climb up on to reach using the gravity gun. This actually leads me to another nitpick I had with this game. There are several occasions when you come across a see-saw puzzle where you must put objects on one side of a platform so it will lean and you can climb it to reach a higher area. Two or three times is all right, but there had to be at least six of these. Okay, we get it, Valve. You made a working physics engine. Stop showing off. But other than these, I highly enjoyed this game – especially the story. There were some scenes that I really enjoyed, like towards the end when the people finally have an uprising against the Combine. You run through the city taking on hordes of Combine soldiers while other people come along with you to help fight. I didn’t feel like I was playing the game; it felt more like I was a part of the game. I wouldn’t be surprised if it influenced the uprising scene in “Children of Men.” Awesome movie, by the way; if you haven’t seen it, see it. Bottom line, I think “HalfLife 2” is good. In fact, I think it’s top notch. A great story, simple-yet-effective gameplay (despite its downfall with vehicle controls) and an amazing and unique setting. If you have not played this game, put down “Aliens vs. Predator,” get your butt back to the game store and get it, because you’re long overdue.
E H T MEN R O H C AN
are going to the Sweet 16! RIC students and friends are invited to cheer on the Anchormen as they enter the next phase of the NCAA Tournament. Tickets will go on sale at The Murray Center Tuesday 12PM to Thursday 11AM.
$7.00 RIC Students $10.00 Non Students PRICES INCLUDE BUS TICKETS! Buses will be leaving The Murray Center @ 2:30PM
March 9, 2010
Page 27
Sports
March 9, 2010
Page 28
sports@anchorweb.org
Softball prepares to continue dynasty By Andrew Augustus Sports Editor
As men’s basketball continues their dynasty, another Rhode Island College athletic program looks to continue on one of their own. I am talking about the Rhode Island College softball team – the regular season champs for the last five seasons and LEC tournament champs the last four. The dominance over the past seasons has opened the eyes of the media, as they have Rhode Island College ranked as No. 17 in the country for Division III softball. Last year the team did not graduate a single player, but that doesn’t mean the team is the same. Four freshmen made it though tryouts and had the talent to get on to the team. When asked about making the team, freshman Outfielder Kristina Gingell said, “As a
freshman I’m really looking forward to the experience this year and hope to contribute anyway I can.” Freshman catcher Jamie Vesciglio added, “I’m excited to play for a team that’s so good and that has such a good record.” Last season, the team continued their dominance after they won their fourthstraight tournament title. A key part in that title was standout sophomore shortstop Donielle Mattoon. Mattoon returns this year as a junior and looks to repeat her season from last year, which earned her the honor of team MVP. “Well, I believe we learned a lot from last year’s turnout in regionals and we are prepared to do whatever it takes to get back to the nationals,” said Mattoon. Having returned most members of last year’s team,
the Anchorwomen will look to their seniors for guidance. Senior outfielder Jackie Dube said, “I’m excited to see what this season brings to the team. It’ll be challenging so we have to remain focused and work together. Going into the season ranked 17th is rewarding from our past years, but we have to work harder if we want to go further. Being our last year, us seniors want it all and we have the team to do it.” The team will start their campaign down in Florida at the 2010 NTC spring games. The first home game for the Anchorwoman will be on March 27at 1 p.m. in a double header against Bates College. Come out and watch history in the making as the Anchorwomen look to claim their sixth-straight regular season title and fifthstraight tournament title.
Anchor Photo/Alex Hoffman
RIC softball practices for Florida tournament.
Anchorwomen gymnastics places third By Mohsin Siddiqui Anchor Staff Writer
Anchor Photo/Jesus Mendoza
Kate Bachelder finishes a handstand on the beam.
After taking a week off, the Rhode Island College gymnastics team travelled to Springfield College to face off against Yale University and Springfield. In the end, the Anchorwomen finished in third place. Even though the team finished in last against Division I Yale and major ECAC contender Springfield, the team had many standouts in the meet. One would have to be Alana Henderson,who finished fourth in the all-around category with a total 34.6 points. The event
Henderson excelled at was the vault, where she received a score of 9.05. Sophomore Courtney Winsor received the highest for the vault with a score of 9.15. The next event the Anchorwomen took on was the bars. Leading the Anchorwomen charge was Henderson, who earned an 8.15 score after she completed her routine. Behind her was Senior Elizabeth Glaunt, who earned a score of 8.0. After the bars, RIC moved over to the beam. The beam has always been a strong point for the team, and that didn’t change at Springfield. Senior Kelly
Longo led the Anchorwomen charge by finishing eighth overall with a score of 8.85. Henderson continued her versatile charge by earning an 8.4 score. The final event for RIC was the floor. Glaunt recived the highest score for the Anchorwomen when she recived a 9.275 on the floor, putting her overall score at 34.275. For Henderson, she had a beautiful routine that received a score of 9.0 for her to attain her final score of 34.6. Up next for the gymnasts is the ECAC Championship in Brockport, N.Y. on March 13 at 1 p.m.
Sports
March 9, 2010
Page 30 Write for The Anchor
SPORTS
Follow the RIC Anchormen and Anchorwomen as they dominate the competition! Basketball Gymnastics Baseball Soccer Volleyball Wrestling
NCAA from page
32
throws. It would prove to be the first of four ties in the first half as the two squads went back and forth in the first stanza. RIC went up by four points, 14-10, to enjoy their largest advantage of the half on a Grimes layup. The Scarlet Raiders then went on a 5-1 run, paced by three free throws from Johnson and a Singleton layup to knot the contest at 1515 with 10:17 remaining in the first half. Rutgers-Newark caught fire offensively, going on a 13-3 run, building up a firsthalf high, 10-point lead, 2818, with 6:03 left. RIC battled right back to pull within two points, 28-26, with 4:24 left. A Gray 3-pointer, layup by Debnam, and a 3-point play the old-fashioned way by Grimes paced the Anchormen attack. Rutgers-Newark continued to hold off the Anchormen over the final minutes of the half, as RIC could never gain enough momentum to take the lead. RIC sophomore center Mike Akinrola banked in a layup with 40 seconds left to bring
sports@anchorweb.org
the Anchormen within a single point at the break, 37-36. The Scarlet Raiders continued to keep the Anchormen from overtaking their lead in the second half by playing solid defense. With RIC down by one, 48-47, Gray nailed a jumper to give the Anchormen their first lead since early in the first half. Grimes followed Gray’s lead with a jump shot of his own to make the score, 51-48, at the 10:16 mark. The Anchormen dominated the final 10 minutes of the game, pulled in front, and never looked back as a jumper by Gray sparked a 16-3 run for the Anchormen, who built a game-high 13-point, 67-54 lead with just 1:30 remaining in the contest. Gray and Choice keyed the outburst with six points apiece. Debnam and Grimes each sank a pair of free throws. Johnson attempted to rally the veteran Scarlett Raiders, scoring four points in the final minute, but Rutgers-Newark never got closer than seven points, as RIC pulled away for a 12-point, 72-60 victory. “We were down at halftime, but we went on a huge run, took the lead back in the
second half, and held on for the win. Jake Grimes and Antone Gray were huge for us today. They dominated this game,” Akinrola said. With the victory, the Anchormen advanced to the second round of the Division III National Championship Tournament. The Anchormen scored a major upset in the second round, defeating Middlebury College, the ninthranked squad in Division III basketball this season according to d3hoops.com, 7559. Anchormen Notes… RIC has won their first round game and advanced to the second round in three of the last four seasons under Head Coach Bob Walsh…It was the eighth-straight win for the Anchormen (21-7), who have not lost since Feb. 2…The Scarlet Raiders (20-8), who were making their program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, saw their season come to an end…Junior Carl Lee (7 points) and sophomore Mike Akinrola (4) also scored in the NCAA Division III firstround victory for RIC.
For more information, or to submit an article, contact Sports Editor Andrew Augustus sports@anchorweb.org
Anchor Photo/David Okon
Sophomore center Mike Akinrola scored four points off the bench against Rutgers-Newark and 11 points the next night against Middlebury.
sports@anchorweb.org
SWEET from page
32
Panthers was freshman guard Jake Wolfin, who scored 13. Junior All-American center Andrew Locke scored nine points for the Panthers, and continued to display his shotblocking prowess and dominant defense in the paint, recording a game-high four blocks. With Locke, the NCAA Division III leader in blocked shots during the regular season (110 blocks) stationed under the basket, the Anchormen relied on their superior outside shooting to jump out to the early lead. RIC opened the game with a flawless 11-1 run through the first 5:02 of the contest, stunning the Middlebury home crowd of over 1,100 raucous fans. The Anchormen kept Middlebury without a basket on defense, and drained three trifectas during the opening minutes as Choice, Manson and freshman guard William Williams each nailed a three. After a pair of free throws from Lee stretched the RIC lead to 13 points, 18-5, the shots finally began to fall for the Panthers on offense. Wolfin splashed back-to-back 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to cut the Anchormen’s lead down to 1811, with 9:11 remaining in the first half. Gray and Wolfin traded layups before Akinrola came off the bench and took it right at Locke and Sharry in the paint for a right-hand layup. On the next RIC possession, Akinrola was left unguarded at the top of the key, and buried his first 3-pointer of the season to give the Anchormen a double-digit lead, 25-14. Middlebury cut the lead to just under 10 points for the final time in the first half with two free throws from senior Captain Tim Edwards, but they could get no closer, as RIC closed out the final four minutes of the half on a 10-4 run, led by back-to-back 3-point baskets by Manson and junior Captain Darius Debnam on RIC’s final two possessions to take a 37-22
lead into halftime. “They were both huge 3-point shots Nick hit for us tonight in the first half. He’s a natural gun; everybody knows he walked onto our team last year. I didn’t play him at all, I never game him any time, and that was my mistake. He does everything right. He’s extremely tough, and he’s got that gun locked and loaded at all times. I thought tonight he had something special in him, and I knew if we got him open for some looks tonight he would bury them. He never hesitates, and I love that about him.” Walsh said in a postgame interview with WXIN. The Anchormen shot 44 percent (13-for-29) from the field, connected on 6 of 11 from downtown and 5 of 6 from the free throw line, while out-rebounding their hosts, 2219, over the first 20 minutes. Conversely, Middlebury struggled to get rolling offensively, shooting just 21 percent (8-for-30) from the field and 15 percent (2-for-15) from 3-point range. RIC came out of the locker room on fire, going on a 7-4 run to start the second half, taking their largest lead of the game, 18 points (44-26) with 18:34 remaining. The Panthers responded with an 8-0 run of their own started by a Locke dunk, capped off by a layup from Sharry in transition to cut the lead to just 10 points, 44-34. Walsh then called a timeout. With their home crowd re-energized, Middlebury battled back into the game, but the Anchormen displayed tremendous poise on the road, hitting a number of clutch shots to keep the Panthers from getting close enough to tie the game in the second half. RIC freshman forward Steve Roberts backed down Sharry in the paint forcing him to foul, and Roberts rattled home two free throws to push the lead up to 13 points, 54-42, with just over 11 minutes remaining in the contest. Five-straight points from a hard-working Sharry pulled the Panthers to within eight, 55-47, and a Wolfin layup made it a seven-point deficit, 56-49, with 8:54 left in the
Sports
March 9, 2010
Page 31
Anchor Photo/David Okon
RIC Head Coach Bob Walsh rallies his squad during a recent game at the Murray Center. game. Middlebury freshman guard Nolan Thompson cut the lead to six points with a layup, but Choice responded with a 3-pointer for RIC, to give the Anchormen a nine-point, 63-54 lead. In the final five minutes, the Anchormen turned to Gray once again to take over the game. Gray split two defenders, and shot past Locke to the basket for an uncontested layup to put the Anchormen back up by double digits, 69-58, with 4:36 remaining. Gray knocked down two clutch free throws on the next possession in front of a hostile Middlebury crowd that was doing all they could to distract him. Sharry netted a layup in transition after Gray’s free throws, but it would be the final meaningful basket of the game for the Panthers, as they missed five of their final six shots. Gray recorded a steal on the next possession and lobbed it ahead to Lee, who threw it down for an incredible right-hand slam-dunk. The Anchormen strangled the life out of Middlebury, and were able to kill any hopes of a Panther comeback by collecting three offensive rebounds on their next possession before Gray was fouled with just 1:32 remaining. Gray stroked two free throws, and senior guard Jake Grimes put the exclamation point on upset victory for the Anchormen
with a steal and breakaway twohand slam after another Panther missed 3-pointer. Wolfin closed the scoring with a jumper, and Gray dribbled out the final 33 seconds as RIC defeated Middlebury, 75-59. “I told our team that kid [Locke] is a big-time defender; it’s like having a goalie. He had 13 blocks in their first-round game the other night and I said, ‘Guys, if we are going win this game I want him to have 15. Go after him. If you get a chance cram it on him. If he blocks it, so what, try to crush it on him again, ’” Walsh said. “I told Carl Lee, I don’t know if you’ve listened to me all year, but you were listening to me there, and now you have a bloody nose to show for it,” the victorious RIC head coach added. “I wanted our guys to have that mentality that we weren’t going to back down, we weren’t going to be afraid. It was great to see Carl go up there and crush it on [Locke].” On to the next one RIC (22-7) will face Brandeis (21-6) with a chance to reach the Elite Eight for the second time in four years on Fri., Mar. 12 at sectional host Williams (27-1). Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. If RIC defeats Brandeis, they will face the winner of the SUNYIT versus Williams matchup on
Sat., Mar. 13 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the Brandeis game will go on sale on Tues., Mar. 9 at 10 a.m. in the Murray Center athletic office at RIC. RIC will be sending a fan bus to Friday’s game, which is expected to sell out. Ticket prices, which include a seat on the bus, are $10 for adults and $7 for students. Game ticket prices, not including bus transportation, are $7 for adults and $4 for students. Tune in to RIC Radio 90.7 WXIN and Anchor TV for live coverage of the RIC versus Brandeis matchup on Fri., Mar. 12. Anchormen Notes… RIC shot 48 percent (26 for 54) from the field, made 8 of 18 from three-point range and sank 15 of 19 from the free throw line…Through the first two rounds, RIC has made 35 of 43 from the charity stripe… Middlebury shot 40 percent (24 for 60) from the field, went stone cold from downtown hitting just 2 of 22, and made just 9 of 17 from the free throw line in the loss…Senior Jake Grimes (4 points), junior Darius Debnam (5), freshman Steve Roberts (4) and freshman William Williams (3) also scored for RIC in their second-round victory over Middlebury.
Sports
March 9, 2010
Page 32
sports@anchorweb.org
Anchor Photo/David Okon
Junior Forward Carl Lee, shown in this file photo, scored a team-high 15 points off the bench against Middlebury College.
RIC upsets Middlebury College to become a Cinderella in the making The Anchormen took down the Panthers 75-59 to earn a spot in the Sweet 16. By George Bissell Anchor Staff Writer
The Rhode Island College Anchormen basketball team began writing the script for the biggest Cinderella story in the tournament, upsetting the heavily favored Middlebury College Panthers 75-59 in the second round of the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament on Sat., Mar. 8. “It feels pretty good to be in the Sweet 16; this team has come such a long way since
December. We just have a bunch of really talented players, everybody knows that. We’ve just learned to trust each other, and believe in each other, and we played terrific tonight. We have had a lot of wins since I’ve been at Rhode Island College, and I don’t know if there’s been one better than this,” said RIC Head Coach Bob Walsh in a postgame interview with RIC Radio WXIN. RIC junior guard Antone Gray continued his stellar play in the NCAA tournament, finishing with 12 points, five rebounds and five assists, while fellow starters junior Nick Manson (11 points) and sophomore forward Mason Choice (10 points, five boards
and five assists) scored in double digits, as well. The decisive factor in the Anchormen’s victory was the scoring off the bench from junior forward Carl Lee and sophomore center Mike Akinrola. Lee finished with 15 points, six rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Lee knocked down 4 of 6 from the field and 7 of 10 from the free throw line. Akinrola scored 11 points on 5 of 8 shooting in just 15 minutes off the bench. Middlebury College was led by sophomore forward Ryan Sharry, who scored a gamehigh 25 points. The only other player in double figures for the See SWEET Page 31
Anchormen sink Rutgers-Newark in opening round By George Bissell Anchor Staff Writer
Junior guard Antone Gray and senior backcourt mate Jake Grimes scored 19 points each to lead the Rhode Island College Anchormen basketball team past the Rutgers-Newark Scarlett Raiders, 72-60, in first round action of the 2010 NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Tournament at Middlebury College in Vermont on Fri, Mar. 5. Sophomore forward Mason Choice and junior Captain Darius Debnam also scored in double figures for the Anchormen with 12 and 11 points, respectively. The Scarlett Raiders had only
two players with double-digit points in the loss, senior guard James Johnson (20 points) and senior forward Deshawn Singleton (16). “It was a really hardfought, tough win against a really good team,” RIC Head Coach Bob Walsh said afterwards. “We only gave up eight field goals in the second half. I’m really proud of how tough we played.” Rutgers-Newark opened the game with back-to-back buckets by Singleton to take a 4-0 lead. The Anchormen responded quickly, tying the game with a basket from Choice and two Grimes free See NCAA Page 30