Volume 97, Issue 14

31 January 2013 Volume 97 Issue 14

0

6 7

6

2

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Emily Muthersbaugh HEAD LAYOUT EDITOR Ricky Barbosa

2

INTRODUCTION

HEAD COPY EDITOR Cedric Thiel HEAD PHOTO EDITOR Josh McKinney

Emily Muthersbaugh

CONTENT DIRECTOR Philip Duclos

NEWS EDITOR Jaclyn Archer

Editor-in-Chief

RELIGION EDITORS Rob Folkenberg Nick Ham COLUMNIST Rebecca Brothers CREATIVE WRITING EDITOR Kayla Albrecht OPINION EDITORS Elliott Berger Grant Gustavsen FEATURE EDITORS Braden Anderson Elizabeth Jones James Mayne Christian Robins CULTURE EDITOR Grant Perdew DIVERSIONS EDITOR Eric Weber TRAVEL EDITOR Megan Cleveland HEALTH & WELLNESS EDITOR Karl Wallenkampf SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR Spencer Cutting FOOD EDITOR Amy Alderman

Last week, The Collegian highlighted WWU’s student missions program. The university coordinates countless other opportunities for students to study and travel around the world. Through summer study tours to England, the Bible Lands Tour, short-term mission trips, and ACA, which offers language study in places like France, Argentina, and Lebanon, many WWU students have gained enriching experiences abroad. In these places, students make connections — they build relationships and create memories to cherish long after returning.

For my sophomore year of college, I decided to study in England. The school I attended had a very international student body that

was fairly small. I was able to build close relationships with a lot of different people from many countries (some of which I had never heard of before) and learn about numerous cultures. Additionally, I was exposed to new ideas and exciting experiences every day.

When I came back to America, while I was ecstatic to eat the burrito I had been craving since the first week gone, I found myself disappointed with the familiarity of life at home.

I knew what to expect from a trip to the grocery store or a hike through the woods or a conversation with a friend.

more mundane. Even for those that have not crossed borders, we all experience things that we want to revisit or memories that we want to replay. We idealize certain circumstances in the past and compare the present to these, and it is tempting to see our daily lives as lacking excitement. But the realization hit me: I don’t have to be in a foreign country to be inspired and feel alive. I can decide to have eyeopening experiences anywhere. I can invest Cu in the people around me to develop stronger Walla connections. on c This week in The Collegian, we have ex-Emp panded the pages of the Life section to featuresible diverse content from each of our Life editors.recyc Here, you will find tips on CouchSurfing, rec-aroun ipes from local restaurants, reviews of onlineplace cludi music streaming services, a guide to the Super tion Bowl, and more. This content is meant to be vario a resource to you as you pursue the fullness Pre of life here, in this community, with those around you.

Sometimes, with more miles traveled and more unique experiences had, the experiences that being home has to offer can become

SPORTS EDITORS Trevor Boyson Tye Forshee THE HEEL EDITOR Julian Weller STAFF WRITERS Amy Alderman Casey Bartlett Hilary Nieland Annie Palumbo Daniel Peverini LAYOUT DESIGNERS Allison Berger Alix Harris Greg Khng Cory Sutton COPY EDITORS Amy Alderman Rebecca Brothers Carly Leggitt Ryan Robinson DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Alex Wickward OFFICE MANAGER Heather Eva SPONSOR Don Hepker EDITORIAL BOARD Braden Anderson Jaclyn Archer Elliott Berger Philip Duclos Rob Folkenberg Grant Gustavsen Elizabeth Jones James Mayne Emily Muthersbaugh Christian Robins Julian Weller AD SALES MANAGER Brenda Negoescu aswwu.ads@wallawalla.edu

Photo by Arella Aung

Context

3–7

News ASWWU/Admin Week in Review Week in Forecast

Photo by Greg Khng

Perspective Religion Column Creative Writing Scholars Abroad Opinion Snapshots

8–13

Photo by Anthony White

Life 14–24 Service Foodie Science Health Culture Diversions Sports Travel

If you are interested in contributing to The Collegian, contact our page editors or the editor-in-chief at aswwu.collegian@wallawalla.edu. The Collegian is boosted by regularly incorporating a wide range of student perspectives.

Cover Photo Credit: Ivan Cruz, Flickr user Mike_fleming, Josh McKinney, nasa.gov, Nick Wass (Associated Press), Flickr user macroman The Collegian is the official publication of ASWWU. Its views and opinions are not necessarily the official stance of Walla Walla University or its administration, faculty, staff, or students. Questions, letters, and comments can be mailed to aswwu.collegian@wallawalla.edu or emily.muthersbaugh@wallawalla.edu. This issue was completed at 2:12 a.m. on 31 January 2013.

The Collegian | Volume 97, Issue 14 | 204 S. College Avenue | College Place, WA 99324 | collegian.wallawalla.edu

NEWS

Recycling at WWU Daniel Peverini Staff Writer

Currently, waste management at Walla Walla University, including all recycling on campus, is managed by plant services.

Employees from plant services are responsible for emptying dorm dumpsters, blue recycling bins, and other public trash cans around the university. The blue bins are placed around campus in common areas, including the back entrance of the Administration Building, the entrance to the SAC, and various departmental offices around campus.

Previously, the on-campus recycling pro-

gram was partially managed by a student appointed by ASWWU. This year, plant services employees coordinate most of the recycling, although plant services employs one student to spend several hours each week sorting through recyclables and separating them from non-recyclables.

Students can help recycle by separating their non-recyclables from their recyclables and by putting each type of recyclable into the appropriate bin.

“Recycling on our campus is really a team effort,” said Shawna Larsen, WWU plant services manager. The entire campus participates by putting recyclables in proper containers. Next, crews from campus custodial and campus grounds bag up the recyclables.

WWU Athletics Annie Palumbo Staff Writer

Walla Walla University athletics compete as part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, as well as the United States Collegiate Athletic Association. The university operates outside of a league as an independent conference, and thus athletics is responsible for creating game schedules for their teams.

Being independent of a league allows athletics to play schools also in independent leagues as well as highly ranked NAIA schools, such as Boise State. For each game won or lost, WWU earns a number of points. These points are important because they determine who makes it to conference tournaments; the top six schools are chosen to play. Making it to conference tournaments is not only about the win–loss record, but also about which school the team won or lost. Losing against a higher-ranking team can earn the basketball teams more points than winning against a lower ranking team. Playing teams that can be easily beaten is an option, but would not help WWU move toward a potential spot in the national tournament.

On Jan. 5, 2013, the WWU men’s basketball team played Boise State and was defeated, 106–39. According to Tim Windemuth, this loss was expected, but not unwelcome. The athletics budget does not cover all of their travel expenses, and bigger schools like Boise State will pay anywhere from $1,000 to $4,000 for WWU to travel to them. These games help pay for players’ meals on the road, new uniforms when needed, and help the gear the players receive. Without this funding, players would pay for the gear out of their own pockets, which makes recruiting more difficult.

More than a financial gain, the Boise State game gave WWU valuable experience.

According to men’s coach Jimmy Hill, “almost every basketball player that has ever played at the college level wants to play a NCAA Division I game at some point in [his] career. … Playing in front of 5,000plus fans is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Hill went on to say, “The Boise State game was well attended by WWU alumni; around 70 alums and 45 family members and friends were in the audience, compared to playing West Coast Baptist in Portland with maybe 25 people. It’s the atmosphere and excitement that people want to be a part of.” Games like this make the athletics program and university

CONTEXT

BY THE

Plant services employees then bring recyclables to be sorted by student employees.

Finally, plant services takes recyclables to a local processing plant.

“It would be good if students were educated about recycling,” says Larsen. “I am not sure how many of them know how to properly recycle on campus.” Students can help recycle by separating their non-recyclables from their recyclables and by putting each type of recyclable into the appropriate bin.

Plant services recycles between five and 10 tons of metal and about 10 tons of cardboard annually. Additionally, plant services recycles about 50 cubic yards of mixed recycling every year. For further information, readers can contact Plant Services Manager Shawna Larsen at shawna.larsen@wallawalla.edu or (509) 527-2869.

more visible, no matter the score. Playing these larger schools also provides the Wolves with experience, and the games make their playing schedule look attractive to prospective students who are considering being a part of the WWU athletics program.

Currently, the men’s basketball team is young, and with another year their point totals will be higher, making them eligible for conference tournaments. WWU does not give out large scholarships to students who play basketball. The men on the basketball team play because they enjoy it, not necessarily because they are planning on going on to play in the NBA. Windemuth would like to see WWU continue to build its teams so they can play competitively at large schools, but says that the men who play basketball at WWU have responsibilities that come before sports, including their spiritual lives and academics, and in the end, athletics is about more than wins and losses. Hill concluded, “As long as our guys are strong representatives of what WWU represents, playing games against high-level programs will be a tremendous tool to attract students to attend here and alumni to want to help support the place they love.”

3

NUMBERS

1.4 –3.7 BILLION Number of birds domestic cats kill each year.

23

Number of states without exoneree compensation.

1%

Amount of Sweden’s waste that ends up as trash.

$215,000 The declared wealth of José Mujica, the world’s poorest president.

4

CONTEXT

ADMIN

SENATE UPDATE

New Business F.L. 17 — ­ Photography Department Purchases F.L. 18 — ­ Circle Church Projector F.L. 19 — ­ Fitness Center Hours Expansion F.L. 20­— Marketing Budget Increase G.L. 20­— Alyssa Seibold for Elections Board G.L. 21­— Clarabeth Smith for Elections Board G.L. 22­— Zach Munroe for Elections Board

Leadership Awards: The New Pods Program

Leadership Awards are this year’s take on the pods program. Last year, ASWWU sponsored several pods where students could get together and share common interests. This year, ASWWU is continuing to promote student activities, but in a new form: Leadership Awards. In this program, ASWWU awards students who lead out and promote social activities on campus with a monetary gift. The student can then use that money for his/ her activity at his/her discretion. The new system is much more flexible than pods, and it is easier to get involved. Also, ASWWU is not attached to or responsible for the activities promoted by the awards, though they will help spread word and help get students involved if asked.

G.L. 23­— Trevor Boyson for Elections Board

How to Apply

G.L. 24 — Alec Thompson for Elections Board

Email schuler.luce@wallawalla.edu with the answers to these questions:

P.L. 81 — Daniel Peverini for Justice P.L. 82­— Concurrent Position—Daniel Peverini P.L. 83­— Nonee Ngazimbi for Portland Photographer S.R. 1­— Expand Hours for Fitness Center

Old Business G.L. 18 — ­ Kiana Myers for Campus Life Committee* G.L. 19­— Karly Joseph for Americans With Disabilities Act* *These students are being nominated for representative positions on these committees.

Key: F.L. | Financial Legislation G.L. | Governance Legislation P.L. | Personnel Legislation

Senate Seat Elected District 2: Sittner South — Tyler Sherwin

1

What is your name, major, and class standing?

2

What activities do you plan on leading or currently lead here on campus? How do these activities contribute to the campus life of Walla Walla University?

3

When, where, and how often do you plan on holding, or currently hold, these activities?

4

Leadership Award Recipients Matthew Freedman Major: Civil Engineering

matthew.freedman@wallawalla.edu

Event:

Waffle Wednesday, 5:30–7p.m.

Where:

Mountain View Apartments 215-103

What to Bring:

Toppings you want on your waffles and enough to share with others

James Mayne

Major: Elementary Education & History james.mayne@wallawalla.edu

Event:

Outdoor rock climbing/hiking adventure Time: TBA (based on free weekends)

Where:

What to Bring:

Hiking/climbing/ backpacking gear (gear not provided)

Meet on campus and drive out together

Aaron Boyd

Major: Mechanical Engineering aaron.boyd@wallawalla.edu

Event: Ultimate Frisbee

Where:

What is your vision for your activities? How do you plan to get people involved?

Sittner Field most Friday afternoons when there is good weather

What to Bring: Yourself, maybe some cleats, and lots of energy

an

NEWS

CONTEXT

5

An Interview With Jennifer Thompson and Ronald Cotton Casey Bartlett Staff Writer

On Tuesday, Jennifer Thompson and Ronald Cotton presented “Picking Cotton” for CommUnity. In 1984 Jennifer Thompson was sexually assaulted at knifepoint and identified Cotton as her rapist. Cotton, who was innocent, spent 11 years in prison before he was exonerated by DNA evidence. Thompson and Cotton have since forged a deep friendship, have coauthored a book called Picking Cotton, and now travel internationally, sharing their story.

Questions for Jennifer Thompson: The Collegian: You mentioned the goals you had for your life before the assault: How did those goals change?

Jennifer Thompson: Well, my goal was to be a physical therapist. Obviously, I didn’t get to do that, but on a different level, I feel like I do it. Part of what I wanted to do was mend people and help them come back to the way they were, so I think that what Ron and I do together has been able to put people’s lives back together in a certain way.

C: After learning that he had been found guilty Mr. Cotton sang a song about God’s love in the courtroom. Describe how you felt.

T: Abject disgust! I can remember having to try to hold the vomit in. I kept thinking, “Who are you to talk about God?” He does not love you because you are unloveable.

C: You talked about using drugs and alcohol to numb yourself to the world, then later realizing you needed to change because you couldn’t let him win. To what do you attribute that kind of motivation? Could you describe your recovery process?

T: I think anger can have a very positive

place in our lives if it moves us to be better.

I think what moved me out of the drugs and that dark, dark place was when I realized that he was going to win if I continued down the path I was on: anger. While I don’t advocate hate and anger, I think that to be outraged over something that is wrong can be a very powerful motivator.

C: Looking back on the five years you spent praying that Mr. Cotton would die, did that attitude and mentality affect your daily life and relationships?

T: Absolutely — when we live in a place of anger, bitterness, revenge, we see the world through a certain lens, and our decisions are [made in the context] of that lens.

When you pray for something so violent, you see the world through very violent eyes. I couldn’t be a gentle, calm, and passive person when I was under the influence of rage.

Questions for Ronald Cotton: C: You mentioned how the hurt you felt developed into anger — how did you deal with that anger?

Ronald Cotton: I learned to balance the scale and put my feet and my mind in the right place; then I was able to cope with it much better and think positively about my situation.

C: What helped you during that time?

C: Going to school, studying about my case, researching, and talking to people who had bigger problems than what I was in there for — at AA meetings and things like that. Having the opportunity to listen to the radio — you know, the R&B — the words will really touch you. When I was in prison, I mostly listened to Whitney Houston and things like that.

T: It was calm music.

C: What was it like when you actually forgave Ms. Thompson? Was it a process?

Was it a moment? How did it feel?

C: It happened all at once. It made my time much easier, having to serve time in prison. I just went about my way, trying to continue to do the right thing.

General questions for both: C: You both mentioned faith and prayer at CommUnity — can you share a little bit about your faith now?

T: I am much more of a faith person today than I was in those 13 years between the rape and the trial, but I am less religious. I say that because, throughout history, religion has allowed human beings to do really atrocious things to other human beings in the name of religion. That is how I was able to pray for Ron to die ... somehow, on this moral platitude, I was better than him. Therefore, God loved me and he didn’t love him. I’m much more faith based, more spiritual based, today, and that’s really because of him [pointing to Ron]. I can remember watching him forgive me and saying to myself, “I want to be like him.” I am faithful and spiritual, but I don’t like the moral superiority that sometimes comes from a religion.

C: My faith has grown many times.

I grew up with the Bible in the family. I knew it well, I prayed my prayers every day, sometimes seven times a day. But to continue to have that faith that I had before was a choice every day in my heart. I just try to continue the faith that I had; continue to believe in me, in others, until they show me different.

C: Many people have been through extremely difficult situations and have been hurt. What do you say to them?

T: A lot of times when I’m talking to young people, I ... tell them that none of us are going to get out of this life without being hurt, but the choice becomes yours as to what you are going to do. When it comes to [moving] past pain and trauma, you either move through it or you stay in it. I have a lot of kids say to me, “Well,

it’s just not that easy,” and I always tell them, “Yeah, it can’t be easy staying in it either.” So when you look at the choices and opportunities in your life, you have the [option] to say, “What adds value to my life?” We all come to life with a bag of rocks; we’re born with it. For me, it’s being short, and I’ll never be tall. And other rocks get added into our bag, through a parent’s divorce or someone who has hurt us. ... Sometimes we add our own rocks.

But at any time in our journey, you can open up the bag — and this is such a cool thing — you can open it up and you can say, “I don’t need to carry these; I can take them out of my bag.” That doesn’t mean the rocks don’t exist; they [do], but they’re not in my bag, and now I’m free. Take out the rocks, don’t drag ‘em.

C: That’s right!

T: [Laughs] That’s Ron’s answer too!

C: No, I would say you have the choice to be a better person. You’ve got to want to make that choice. Can’t nobody do it for you. It’s not gonna be easy — not gonna happen overnight. It takes time.

OPEN

ASWWU POSITIONS:

ASWWU TV Manager ASWWU Webmaster Collegian Opinion Editor

AN

6

CONTEXT

WEEK IN

REVIEW Photo by Tiffany Galaviz

Around the World 24 January

Students met in The Atlas to “visit� countries around the world. Student missionaries from six different continents were present to answer questions about their experiences.

Photo by

by Arella Kai Kopitzke Photo Aung

Photo by Kai Kopitzke

Honor Band Concert 26 January Under the direction of Brandon Beck, high school students from around the Northwest gathered on the WWU campus to practice and perform a concert together.

CommUnity: Jennifer Thompson and Ronald Cotton 29 January

Authors of the best-selling book Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption shared their story about finding a friend through very unlikely circumstances.

Photo by Arella Aung

Vespers: Student Missions 25 January

Ending missions week, students Logan Villarreal and Bethany Gerber both spoke about their time serving as student missionaries in Honduras and Tanzania, respectively.

Photo by Kate Gref

Rail Jam 26 January

Huge amounts of snow were hauled from Bluewood to the lawn in front of the SAC to create a ski ramp where students showed off their skills and won prizes.

om SAC owed

CONTEXT

7

WEEK IN

FORECAST Photo by Allison Berger

Photo by Arella Aung

Photo by Flickr user Ms Purrl

Thursday | 31 JAN

Friday |

National Popcorn Day

Vespers: Black History

Blanket Drive

BSCF Tournament Night

8 p.m.

University Church

2:30 p.m.

University Bookstore Parking Lot

7:30 p.m.

WEC

Total Praise: A Festival of Choirs

Groundhog Day

52° 32°

Saturday |

1 FEB 45° 32°

2 FEB 45° 32°

Saturday (cont.)

4 p.m.

University Church

Photo by Humanities Washington

Sunday |

3 FEB

Super Bowl XLVII 3:30 p.m.

CBS

48° 34°

Monday |

4 FEB 48° 34°

Rosa Parks Born in 1913

Tuesday |

5 FEB 45° 37°

CommUnity: Claudia Rowe 11 a.m.

University Church

by Greg Khng Photo by Flickr Photo user Mike_fleming

Wednesday |

6 FEB

Monopoly Board Game Introduced in 1935

46° 36°

8

PERSPECTIVE

Question Why do you work at Walla Walla University?

Response What I love most about working at Walla Walla University is interacting with students. Whether in classes, in conversations in my office, or in random chats on campus, I am continually intrigued by students’ thoughts, experiences, hopes, and dreams.

But it doesn’t end there. If it did, I could work anywhere. The reason I find particular joy in working at WWU is because I am giving back what I was given. When I was a student here, there was one professor who consistently listened and cared in a significant and deeply spiritual way about my well-being and my future. I graduated from WWU with a good Christian education and many positive experiences, but it was those personal exchanges that instilled in me a sense of meaning and hope. This teacher opened an office door and in doing so, opened possibilities in my life.

Since life is unpredictable, any or all of us may start out with Plan A and find ourselves eventually with a Plan G or Plan Y! Often those transitions are very challenging, but God is working and revealing His eternal plan for me, for us. (see Philippians 4:9) That sense of hope is what I learned from a caring, well-respected professor at WWU and that is what I try to convey in my work and interactions on this campus.

— Susan Bungard, Religion teacher & Accreditation writer

Have a good question? Email robert.folkenberg@wallawalla.edu.

REAL QUESTIONS

RELIGION

Glasses Nick Ham

Religion Editor

Some people see the glass as half empty. Others see it as half full.

Still others want to know how many milliliters of water are in the glass. And then there are more perspectives: What’s in the glass? Of what material is it made?

But for some reason, the half full–half empty illustration stands out and is repeated. Even though it limits people to either half empty or half full, we find some truth in the categories of pessimist and optimist. The illustration and labels become useful, and people apply it in real-life situations.

“Despite all the negativity and depression around us, people tend toward optimism.”

The root of this optimism has been linked to genetics, and it’s also been linked to how someone is raised and the habits and experiences surrounding their upbringing. There is evidence supporting each view’s impact. Tali Sharot gave a TED Talk with the overall point that our human brains are wired to look on the bright side of life, or at least about ourselves. When it comes to our neighbors and other countries, we tend to lower our expectations. Oddly, despite all the negativity and depression around us, people tend toward optimism when it comes to views on being successful, on love, on the chances of being sick, and on areas. Yet I still know unhappy people, or rather people who consistently see the world in a darker way.

Photo by Roger Ebert

I think joy is a way of seeing, a virtue.

Somewhat recently, Sam Leonor began a talk with stories of Black Friday shopping mishaps. People are driven to the most irrational stuff for a “great deal”: Clothes are destroyed, pepper spray is used, people get trampled, people punch police officers, gunshots are fired, and people from Orange County pay others to stand in line for them — all this for a pair of Air Jordans.

When Leonor showed a picture of the shoes and asked the audience if those shoes could bring happiness, there were a few scattered noes from the crowd.

He disagreed, after poking fun at their cookie-cutter answer; he explained that those shoes would bring happiness,

“Joy is a way of seeing, a virtue.” because happiness is temporary. What they couldn’t bring was joy. Joy is kind of a habit. Some people call joy a virtue.

Most of us know who Rusty is; Rusty is someone fortified with optimism. I feel like it’s not even a choice for him — it’s just the way it is. Rusty, believe it or not, has low moments — he has stayed over at our place, and I’ve seen him tired. But he is always content, and

he always has his joy. I don’t think there is any coincidence that one of the words I hear most frequently from Rusty is “Jesus.” The glass isn’t half full or half empty; Rusty is overwhelmed by the goodness in his world. Even when there are things he could be bummed about, they are nothing compared to the things that have him stoked.

Leonor also shared the idea that joy was a virtue of the faithful. Paul suffered tremendous injury because of his preaching. In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul explains that the Romans beat him with a rod three times — a punishment designed to break every bone in the body. The goal was to make the man on the receiving end think twice before saying Jesus was Lord and not Caesar.

Paul was maimed by lashings from the Jewish authorities as well. By the end of his life, he could hardly write with his own hand. Paul was physically broken and suffered hardships, from stoning to shipwreck, to spread the gospel. Paul was joyful in the end. In prison, physically broken, he knew joy, and nothing could take that from him. He professed Christ as the source of his joy. I think that in Christ, people find a new perspective — more than seeing a glass half empty or half full, but in seeing everything in a new way.

COLUMN & CREATIVE WRITING

Sweet Almost-Home Alabama Rebecca Brothers Columnist By the fourth week of the quarter, no doubt everyone else has shared their stories about what they did over Christmas break. Some people went to Mammoth or Banff or other places where people put themselves in lowfriction environments and inexplicably go home uninjured; some stayed here and worked; and at least 43 of you went to Hawaii. I spent a fair bit of time alone in airports, where I compared comfort levels of waiting-area seats, learned how to check bags at the gate, and resolved that the next vegetarian breakfast burrito I buy will not have black beans, as they do nothing to improve the appearance of scrambled eggs. One of my favorite things about air travel — and please, someone tell me I’m not the only one who does this — is window-

shopping for destinations, looking at departure boards and saying to myself, “Ooh, Seoul! Ooh, Berlin! Those lucky travelers!” The downside to this, of course, was that it was rather a letdown to stop at the correct gate and remember that I was going to Birmingham — at least until I looked over at the next gate, home to a dozen morose souls boarding for Fargo.

on; light switches in odd places; hair dryers with only two settings, “summer breeze” and “banshee.” To add to my consternation, the destination was not the first place I would have picked for a vacation, as my opinions of it were formed in fifth-grade history class after watching black-and-white films about the civil rights movement. An hour after

PERSPECTIVE

9

not go there if you value your life and/ or root for Auburn” compared favorably to parts of College Place, and an accidental bite of bacon turned out to be a pivotal moment in my life. I also spent a lot of time wandering the lovely University District, where thousands of medical, nursing, and dental students milled about looking harassed and exhausted, the future of health care weighing heavily on their shoulders. UAB, incidentally — if I may be permitted to advocate a medical school whose initials are not LLU — is one of the top medical schools in the country, which is especially unsurprising if you consider that the excellent Indian restaurant right across the street surely gave them an edge in the competition. I would highly recommend the location, especially if you know the proper response to “Roll Tide” and bring your own hair dryer.

“The parts of town labeled the ‘projects’ compared favorably to parts of College Place.”

Yes, for Christmas 2012, I went to Alabama. My sister, who is 2½ years older, five inches shorter, and 10 times more in shape, is a first-year Ph.D. student at the University of Alabama–Birmingham, and I agreed to visit her with a certain air of martyrdom. Travel always involves an unsettling level of uncertainty as you get used to strange appliances: faucets so heavy they turn themselves off; stoves so prescient they turn themselves

arriving, however, I began to warm to the city; 12 hours later, I rather liked it; and within 24 hours, I was hooked.

Birmingham was beautiful, it didn’t feel like a big city, the parts of town labeled “the ‘projects’ — very dangerous: Do

Cognizance Kayla Albrecht Creative Writing Editor

It was a moment, and like the best and worst of all moments, it was fleeting.

True to form, the moment became a memory, and that memory was then buried with few ways to resurrect it — a familiar smell, a forgotten laugh, someone’s recounting.

Fortunately, this memory was caught, captured, immortalized through the lens of a camera.

The grass was freshly cut. The grapes were so heavy and full that they were threatening to fall off of the vine. The sun had both darkened the spray of freckles on their cheeks and lightened the tops of their heads. The plastic bottles of Kool-Aid in their hands were responsible for the blue stain on their lips.

Alone, the day was captivating, full of life, beautiful. Still, it paled in comparison to the two girls in the middle of the frame. One, the mother, was looking at her daughter. Her eyes were squinting, either from laughter or the sun, and her mouth was open in a smile that involved her entire face. The cheeks pushed up, the nose crinkling in the corners, the chin facing the sky. The little girl,

not older than four, had one chubby hand pressed against her mother’s shoulder and the other clutching her juice. Her huge, brown eyes were caught open wide, and her smile mirrored the woman’s: baby cheeks high, a crinkled nose, mouth caught mid-laugh.

It wasn’t until I was much older that I realized I had stolen my mother’s smile — there was just something about seeing those radiant faces side by side. I like to think that I can remember that moment; I like to think that I can hear her tease me about my blue tongue, that I can feel her fingers on my stomach, that if I breathe deeply enough I can smell the fresh-cut grass mixed with her perfume.

Yet it was a moment, and the best and worst of all moments are fleeting. This moment was caught, captured, immortalized — and yet, I can never be sure that it’s a memory I’ve truly resurrected. That’s the problem with photographs.

It’s winter now.

She doesn’t smile very often any more.

10

PERSPECTIVE

SCHOLARS ABROAD

God’s Leading Hand Alex Drury Cambodia

I remember the day like it was yesterday.

It was Tuesday of student missions week, and I was in CommUnity. I was sitting on the front-left side of the University Church — an area where I rarely sat.

Amber was sitting next to me, and as the program began, I remember thinking about all my friends who were currently serving as SMs. Throughout the entire program, pictures flashed of current and past student missionaries, and I couldn’t help but wish I were the one with an enormous smile plastered on my face, surrounded by beautiful children.

At one point during CommUnity, I remember Amber asking me, or maybe it was me asking her, if either of us would ever want to go as a student missionary.

We talked about how fun it would be, the country where we would be, and the people we would serve. By the end of CommUnity that day, I remember making a serious commitment to myself.

I had thought about it many times before, but this time was different. At that moment I thought to myself, “I’m going to be a student missionary.”

I picked up paperwork from the Campus Ministries building later that week and started the long, painful process of filling out the seemingly endless stack of papers. I had heard about a call in Malawi, where my grandparents had worked and where my mother had been born, and I knew that’s where I wanted to go. Eventually I had my first meeting with Jeanne Vories, and the process to becoming an SM was really underway.

It didn’t take long before God started making Himself known. God began closing the doors to Malawi, and I was devastated. I felt like the call was made for me, and accepting that there were bigger things in store was extremely difficult. I no longer had a location or anyone with whom to go, but I still knew that I wanted to go somewhere.

In the weeks after that CommUnity, Amber and I talked a few times, but about nothing serious. One day, she called and told me that the location she had wanted to go to had also fallen through. We felt like God was leading us to go together, so we met at the DX to look at calls and locations. After going through pages of calls on He Said Go, we decided to go to Facebook to look at pictures of our friends who had been missionaries. We looked at pictures from India, the islands, Thailand, South America — all over the world. We couldn’t agree on anything.

I wanted a more remote location; she wanted a city; but we still felt like God was pushing us together. We eventually came upon one of my friend’s pages, who was at the time serving in this place I had never heard of: Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

After looking through all of her pictures, we realized that this was the first place we both had agreed looked like a good option. We immediately called Jeanne and emailed the SM coordinator here in Phnom Penh, and the rest is history.

When I first emailed Tim Scott, the SM coordinator here in Cambodia, I had no idea where Cambodia was located on a map. Google Maps quickly helped us out.

I never thought that I would end up in Southeast Asia, much less Phnom Penh.

God had a hand in picking my location from day one. I had to put all of my faith into His hands while I was still in the comfort of Walla Walla.

As SM week is now over, I know many of you are thinking of being a student missionary next year. Be open to let God lead you to where He wants you to go, which, as I found out, is not necessarily where you may want to go. Open your heart, open your mind, and let God do the rest. Never underestimate what He will do with your life in the months to come.

I’ll be praying for God’s leading as you decide if it is your time to serve. Love from Cambodia!

Photo by Alex Drury

Roger Blood L.M.P, NCTMB, R.T (R) and associates.

(over 30 years exp.)

Therapeutic Massage for Pain Management Olympic/Ironman Experienced Practitioners on Staff

WWU Adjunct Instructor – Basic Therapy (18 years) • • •

Headaches Neck Pain Back Pain • •

• • •

Sports Tune Up Tension Joint Pain

• • •

TMJ Pain Carpal Tunnel Relaxation Massage

Medical/Risk Mng. Insurance Auto Accident Insurance

Walla Walla Therapeutic Massage Center

828 S. 2nd | 522-5388 (leave message) | facebook.com/wallawallamassagecenter Lic #MA7010 / MA00024247

$10 OFF relaxation massage For appointment call Whitney Billingsley - LMP

w/ a WWU ID

Expires 2/28/13

OPINION

PERSPECTIVE

Sports Issues There has been a recent talk on sports injuries and increasing the safety rules behind organized sports. For me, the solution arguments are a point between changing some rules, in an attempt to increase player safety, or leaving sports the way they are, with player discretion.

Sports without potential for serious injury is, in my opinion, impossible.

Instead of trying to implement rules regulating injury, we should let the athletes themselves decide the methods of play.

The athlete should decide whether or not the sport is right for him or her; this is not a spectator decision. Regardless of

With the Super Bowl coming up, many choices will be made affecting health, but the final word should be left to the players. It’s all about the mindset that the actual person has, not about the opinion of sideline fans. Despite what the statistics are for injury, there are other ways to protect athletes’ health than to change the rules underlying the safety of the sports. It may look like an issue from the outside in, but we, the fans, may never fully know. I say we should leave sports to their own and let the athletes decide whether or not the rules are changed.

Grant Gustavsen

Opinion Editor

Have they seen Planet of the Apes?

Many states considering selling names of public facilities to corporations.

Virgin Central Park.

C

sporting event. Of course, many times, drunken and angry fans play a part, but they are just another factor on which these opportunistic criminals depend to carry out their deeds.

Pope is urging Catholics to use Facebook and Twitter.

Now, I know that WWU students are neither prone to violence nor likely to riot, or even fight, over any sort of sporting event. However, with the Super Bowl coming up this weekend, I would still like to remind my fellow students to spectate and celebrate responsibly.

Respect those who oppose you, and if your favorite team loses, please, don’t take to the streets, or even to the hallways of Sittner. To the rest of the world: I hope that someday sports fans all over the globe will be able to celebrate with dignity and class.

Jailbreaking smartphones is illegal.

So is jaywalking.

Study finds that 84 percent of American parents lie to their children regularly.

16 percent of parents believe in Santa.

=

For almost 1,500 years, humans have been overly involved sports fans. By overly involved, I am, of course, referring to violence. We often get our heads so wrapped up in an athletic spectacle that, even as early as A.D. 532, supporters of one chariot racing team, the Greens, rioted against the Byzantine Empire’s Blues team. More recently, last February, in Port Said, Egypt, soccer riots resulted in the deaths of 79 people. In 2011, riots broke out in Vancouver, British Columbia, after the Canucks lost in the Stanley Cup final. “Fans” of the Montreal Canadiens have been known to break

I put the word “fans” in quotation marks because most serious, mature supporters of any sports franchise know that a true fan is not one who causes violence and chaos in the wake of a major event. Rioters, more often than not, are opportunists. Sometimes criminals, these looters and marauders, are individuals who are not celebrating, but are taking advantage of the unique situation where an entire city, or even country, focuses on a single event. They often plan riots beforehand so that, win or loss, the streets break out in chaos. Their intention is to capitalize on violence and chaos, and they usually don’t even care about the actual

Iran sends a monkey into space.

Now following Jesus.

The Responsible Fan out in riots, win or loss, with five riots occurring since the Canadiens’ Stanley Cup victory in 1986.

C

=

Tossing the good old pigskin around may have wormed its way into your family’s holiday tradition list. If this is true, it’s conceivable there are few rules set up to dictate how hard everyone plays. It’s most likely something that becomes apparent as you begin playing.

In this same way, professional sports’ rules for contact should not have to be expounded. There are red flags, penalties,

“Regardless of how loud the cheers are, the crowd from the stands must keep a small voice in the discussions.”

C

Opinion Editor

how loud the cheers are, the crowd from the stands must keep a small voice in the discussions because they do not fall victim to the injury rate. Some athletes may slip into the mindset of, “If I get seriously injured doing this, at least it’s something worth doing.” In a way, it is almost satisfying — defying the potential for injury — and worth the risk if you do get hurt. It’s a mindset and a choice, not something decided for you.

COLLEGIAN WISDOM

C

Elliott Berger

and referees to mediate violence, now let the athletes play their game. If the athletes are not capable of playing at the highest level, with the risks that come with that, then they should never have gone professional.

11

Pope Benedict XVI released a dove from a window, only to see it attacked by a gull.

Go Glaucous or go home.

12

SNAPSHOTS

#thecollegian

@elzrice

@amanduhhh_pants

@lmostcool

Submit your pictures to us via Instagram by tagging #thecollegian.

Photos by Josh McKinney

SNAPSHOTS

13

#40dayswwu

Photo by Carlton Henkes

Photo by Carlton Henkes

@gregkhng

@karlynjoseph

Photo by Kai Kopitzke

Photo by Kate Gref

@rickyjaybee

Show us what Abiding Service means to you and see how others are interacting with our community.

Submit your pictures to us via Instagram by tagging #40dayswwu.

Photo by Carissa Clendenon

Photo by Kate Gref

14

40 DAYS OF SERVICE $60,000

Service Opportunity in Portland G Nick Ham

Religion Editor

If you’ve ever walked around Portland near Chinatown in the evening during the summer, you would find people sleeping in every sheltered entry and on half the corners. During the day you would find them relaxing in certain parks and posted up on sidewalks near the market. Some think most of these homeless people are middleaged men, that homeless people need to simply find a job, that they are lazy, that providing food and shelter just furthers the problem, and that homelessness can never end. The Portland Rescue Mission simply doesn’t buy into what they call myths about the homeless. Their concept is, “hope for men, women and children suffering from homelessness and addiction.” The Campus Ministries Portland mission trip works with Portland Rescue Mission to help the homeless of Portland for a short time.

I have the privilege of living with Mark

McMillan, and he went on this trip last year and shared some of his experiences with me. Mark explained, “The beginning of the trip was harder for me, because I felt like the painting project I worked on was less productive than I’d hoped. The evenings were wonderful; we stayed at the McCoy’s place, just an awesome house over looking the city. We spent the time playing games, enjoying company, and eating such good food.” He explained, “the day at the Portland Rescue Mission was the pinnacle. It’s what made it all worth it. If you’re open, you can have some amazing interactions.

Many of these guys have so many walls up — just gnarly dudes — but I was able to interact. In this room full of homeless people, I felt so much hate — it felt like there was no love, just emptiness. There was a woman I remember explaining her difficulties of being a woman on the streets talking about the fear and the men nearby disagreeing with her. Another man seemed so stoked, and I’m drawn to that completely, so I went over to him and started a conversation. He explained that he acted this way so he could sell drugs; that the others would see how he

Knitting Group

Knits and crochets blankets for the homeless and coordinates with the Portland Mission Trip Contact: Chaplain’s Office (509) 527-2010 qeriajkfasdkasfdkjl $16,000

aM

ission Mo ambique z Fundr aising Progress

was and want the drugs. It stinks. It’s just a different reality that they live in. You wonder what crimes they’ve committed, but you meet them and you realize how crazy their struggle really is. It impacted me; they all have such value as humans.” Mark had a It’s mixed experience, but he was impacted by you i it in a lasting way and we agreed it was a artisa valuable. Mark shared that these people live over in the city and feel entirely invisible the difference he was able to make in that regard Ow 2006 inspired me.

The question is: Are you needed? And the answer is yes. The trip is short. But students have a chance to give the homeless of Portland more than just food and care. There is a need for love and recognition; without those two things, acts of kindness are just pills curing symptoms but leaving the disease, the root of the problem, untouched.

It’s still possible to jump in on this year’s trip. It happens at the end of February over the long Snow Frolic weekend. If you’re interested in participating, stop by the Student Missions office to learn more.

Christian Aid Center Offers daily meals, emergency shelter services, and mentoring for the homeless Contact: Dianne Hufford (509) 525-7153 office@christianaidcenter.org

HelpLine

Provides emergency social services for the homeless and at-risk community members Contact: (509) 529-3377

Portland Mission Trip

Annual weekend mission trip to Portland to serve the city’s homeless community Contact: Paddy McCoy (509) 527-2010

Service Organizations Reaching

the Homeless

FOODIE

LIFE

15

Graze — A Place to Eat

ust a wonbut Amy Alderman crazy Food Editor they had a It’s lunchtime. You’re hungry. What are ed by you in the mood for? A fresh, handmade, was a artisan (yet affordable) sandwich? Head on e live over to Graze. e difegard Owner John Lastoskie started Graze in 2006 as a catering business, preparing food

for weddings, luncheons, appetizer events, large community events, and more. In November 2009, Lastoskie decided to expand the business and opened up a sandwich shop on Colville Street in Walla Walla called Graze — A Place to Eat. In March 2012, Lastoskie had the idea to open Graze — A Drive Thru on Ninth Avenue in Walla Walla, the building where they ran the catering part of their business.

Graze prides itself on making all its food

from scratch while continuing to serve customers affordable, fast meals. They have numerous vegetarian items on their menu, one of which is the Veggie Torta. Lastoskie explains the torta as being “a Mexican-inspired sandwich gone healthy and hearty.”

The secret to this great sandwich? Lastoskie says it’s in the black beans. Keep your eye out for their Spring Asparagus Panini within the next few months — it is by far one of the best sandwiches I have ever had.

Not only can you just stop in at their sandwich shop or the drive through, but you can also call or text your order in ahead of time so it’s ready when you get there.

Talk about ingenious. The phone number for Graze — A Place to Eat is (509) 5229991, and Graze — A Drive Thru is (509) 540-1261.

d the dents PortThere thout e just e disched. year’s over re inStu-

Photos by Anthony White

Graze’s Veggie Torta What you’ll need: knife, kettle, oven Graze’s Black Beans: 3 cups black beans 10 cups cold water ⅛ cup Morton’s kosher salt 2 dried japonés chile peppers 1 dried quajillo chile pepper (remove stem and seeds) 1 dried New Mexico chile pepper (remove stem and seeds) 1 whole clove garlic

Graze’s Veggie Torta: 1 piece torta bread 2 pieces Provolone cheese Chipotle mayo Avocado, mashed Pickled carrots, shredded Black beans Cilantro

Roasted red peppers Tomatoes Jalapeños, thinly sliced Cucumber, thinly sliced Clover sprouts Arugula

To make the black beans, combine all ingredients in a kettle. Bring to high heat and simmer. Reduce heat; keep at a simmer. Around an hour in, test beans; if they are soft but still intact, they are done. Cool in their liquid. To make sandwich, broil chipotle mayo and provolone cheese onto bread in the oven. Remove from oven and layer avocado, cucumbers, black beans, cilantro, pickled carrots, roasted red peppers, tomatoes jalapeños, clover spouts, and arugula onto sandwich.

Meet the Owner

John Lastoskie was a school teacher in Sacramento for eight years before he decided to pursue a fulltime career in catering, which is when Graze began. John’s wife, Becca, works at the Rob Paul Salon in Walla Walla. John and Becca have two children.

16

LIFE

SCIENCE & TECH

Curiosity Indulged Darryl Masson

Contributing Writer Darryl Masson is a senior physics major at Walla Walla University who aspires to a career in aerospace engineering.

After August’s successful landing of Curiosity, NASA’s latest Mars rover, many people wondered, “What exactly is Curiosity?” and, “Why should I care?” Curiosity, or the Mars Science Laboratory, packs 10 instruments and cameras1 (all with their own acronyms) and tops the scale at 900 kg (2,000 pounds here, or about 750 on Mars). The sensors are capable of testing Mars’ geology, atmospheric and environmental conditions, and of searching for signs of biological activity. Curiosity launched from Cape Canaveral on Nov. 26, 2011, and touched down on the Red Planet on Aug. 5, 2012.

Curiosity is unique among previous rovers in several regards. It is by far the largest, about the size of a small SUV. Previous rovers were powered by solar panels, which are only barely effective on Mars (being 50 percent further from the Sun, the light it receives is only about half as strong), and it also shortens the effective lifespan of the rover as dust gathers on the panels and reduces their effectiveness. Curiosity uses a radioisotope thermoelectric generator, which converts the heat resulting from the radioactive decay of a chunk of plutonium into electrical power for the on-board systems. As the generator doesn’t depend on sunlight, it operates at full capacity 24 hours and 40 minutes per day, 687 days per year.

Wikipedia lists no fewer than 47 total missions involving Mars, dating back to 1960. Of these, only 17 orbiters and landers were considered successful2 and five are still active — two on the surface and three in orbit.3 Clearly, getting something to another planet is not an easy operation.

Sojourner, the first rover sent to Mars, landed in 1997 using a combination of parachute and airbag, a system also used for Spirit and Opportunity in 2004. However, because Curiosity is twice as heavy as

all the other rovers combined, the airbag method used previously wasn’t feasible.

The new system JPL4 designed for Curiosity involved a complicated, multiple-stage mechanism.

Just before hitting the atmosphere at 12,000 mph, the cruise stage necessary for the journey through space was jettisoned.

A heat shield protected Curiosity while the thin Martian atmosphere slowed it down to around 1,000 mph. At about six miles off the surface, a large parachute was deployed and the heat shield was dropped to save weight. The parachute, over 50 feet in diameter, only slowed Curiosity down to about 200 mph. Parachutes aren’t as effective on Mars as they are here, so at one mile of altitude, the descent stage dropped out from under the parachute and fired up eight small engines to slow itself down.

After coming into a hover about 25 feet above the ground, Curiosity itself was lowered down via a maneuver called the sky crane. Once safely on the ground, the lines were cut and the descent stage flew about a half a mile away to crash.5 This very complicated operation was called the “seven minutes of terror” because it took seven minutes from start to finish; and because the signals took 14 minutes to reach Earth, there was nothing JPL’s scientists could do other than bite their nails. The show had already ended

C by the time we received word that it had started.

Now that Curiosity is on the surface, what can it do? It can drive at a top speed of an inch and a half per second, or one mile in 11 hours (it won’t be competing in NASCAR), and it can test things like the atmosphere, the dirt, and the incoming solar radiation.

Curiosity packs a whopping 16 cameras: eight mounted to the body for avoiding hazards, four navigation cameras, a high-definition 3-D camera, the ChemCam6 (a combination of a laser and a special camera that can analyze rocks from a distance) on the mast, and a fine-detail camera (MAHLI)7 on the arm. A 17th camera on the descent stage captured video8 as Curiosity plummeted to the surface.

There are sensors for measuring things like wind and weather (REMS).9 Most of Curiosity’s gadgets are involved with analyzing the chemical composition of the Martian rocks. Through this analysis, scientists will be able to determine if the region ever contained flowing water, and if microbial life

once lived in the dirt. To do this, Curiosity must reach a sedimentary kind of dirt found on the top of a nearby mountain.

At this point you may be asking yourself the second question with which I started Do this article: “Why should I care?” CuriosLyric ity is scratching one of humanity’s oldest itches: the desire to explore. People havewhen always wanted tofitnes know what else isdesk out there, be it theate,” other side of theaside Atlantic Ocean orfilmo the other side of thefectly universe. Curiositydiet a is simply the latest in a long line of Th missions to explorefor a the final frontier.ing t Exploration is inreme human nature. Weno-su explore science toanim find out how andNow Photo by nasa.gov why things work.has a We explore space because it’s there, and howe because we’ve largely finished exploring the Earth. Because we can’t personally visitNSA anything further away than the moon (notKarl yet, at least), we must build robots to dowhat it for us. Galileo made his first telescopechoco 400 years ago, but man has always gazedand up into the heavens and wondered whatese’s was out there. The late Carl Sagan oncehot f said, “Somewhere, something incredible isprem waiting to be known.” Some people simplytritio look for it in the stars. the m my d finish

1. Technical information from mars.jpl.nasa. gov/msl.

2. Two missions used Mars as a gravitational slingshot, and a few were fly-by missions.

3. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_missions_to_ Mars.

4. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

5. Technical information from mars.jpl.nasa. gov/msl.

6. Short for Chemistry Camera.

7. Martian Hand Lense Imager.

8. youtu.be/e1ebHThBdlY. 9. Rover Environment Monitoring Station.

Photo by nasa.gov

In quart that my to m is mu out a and n ing v that veget go to

HEALTH & WELLNESS

LIFE

17

Confessions, Part IV Karl Wallenkampf Health & Wellness Editor

Do you know that scene in Music and Lyrics (Hugh Grant, Drew Barrymore) when Grant walks into Barrymore’s family fitness club and asks the perky girl at the desk what her weight is? She says, “I fluctuate,” and continues her cheesy smile. Now, aside from evidencing my broad tastes in filmography,1 this reply, “I fluctuate,” perfectly describes where I am with both the diet and the workout I provided for you.

This last Thursday, I went to Blue Palm for a work meeting, and I realized I was going to have to make a decision. You might remember that I decided to continue my no-sugar-added kick, as well as eliminate animal and dairy products from my diet.

Now, I remembered that Blue Palm always has an NSA option and a sorbet option; however, the sorbet one has sugar, and the NSA one has dairy — tough. “What did Karl do?” you might wonder. Well, here’s what I did: I filled my bowl with white chocolate macadamia nut, French vanilla, and chocolate, then topped it with Reese’s crumble, Snickers crumble, mochi, hot fudge, and Reese’s peanut butter. Supremely satisfied with my rebellion and nutritional free fall, I sat down and downed the mound. I later went to the caf to eat my diet-recommended salad, but couldn’t finish it due to my previous “meal.”

In my most impressive nutri-sin of the quarter, I realized that the leap from my previous diet to my current one is much more drastic than merely cutting out added sugars. It’s a serious transition, and not just in terms of “going vegan.” Being vegan is relatively easy: Just buy things that are dairy free and eat salads, wraps, vegetables, and fruit in the caf. I can even go to Del Taco or Taco Bell and order all of

my food without cheese or sour cream. Yet this is not the point. Sure, reducing dairy and animal products is an important step.

After all, “there is a strong association between dairy lactose and ischemic heart disease … [and] the Physician’s Health Study reported that having 2.5 servings of dairy each day boosted prostate cancer risk by more than 30 percent.”2 If the sweeter onions remember that they do not have prostates, consider that “in the Nurses’ Health Study [of 80,326 women], Dr. Kathleen Fairfield and her associates reported that women who consumed the highest amount of lactose (one or more servings of dairy per day) had a 44 percent greater risk for all types of invasive ovarian cancer than those who ate the lowest amount (three or fewer servings monthly).”3 I’m completely sold on the avoidance of dairy. However, as I said, avoidance isn’t the essence of the plan.

The goal of consuming food is to provide our body with nutrients, and the best way to gauge the best foods is by their nutrientto-calorie ratio, though considering the calorie-to-volume ratio is important also.

Joel Fuhrman, M.D., compiled data on (known) phytochemicals, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, then turned them into a 1,100-point scale showing that “dark green leafy vegetables” such as “kale, mustard greens, collard greens, Swiss chard, watercress, spinach, and arugula” score a 100; “other green vegetables” score a 95; “non-green nutrient-rich vegetables” score a 50; “fresh fruits” score a 45; and “beans” score a 40.4 When comparing foods based on calories per liter (since your stomach holds about a liter of food), green vegetables, fruits, and beans are at 200, 300, and 500 calories per liter, respectively.

Hence the plan stresses the need to eat these main categories: leafy greens, cooked or raw vegetables, fruit, and beans (not refried — lentils, kidney, black, pinto, etc.).5 Why? Because, if you eat these foods, you can re-

“Being vegan is relatively easy.”

ceive amazing nutritive benefits, satisfying your hunger without adding the superfluous calories that result in “padding.”

This is difficult for me: I’ve been a bread lover for years, eating whole-wheat bread frequently and often relying on pasta, potatoes, or other starches for my fill. However, that is clearly a poor method in general: Compared to spinach, I will consume five times the number of calories if I rely on whole grains (at 1,000 calories per liter) to fill me up.6 I always ate vegetables and salad, yet they were never my main course. Changing my main course to be salad and vegetables is my major battle. Other battles? My workout regimen hasn’t gone so well either: I didn’t hit the gym once between the printing of the article containing the workout and my writing for this issue — fail.

searchers in the United Kingdom found that workers had an increase in productivity of 15 percent on days they worked out over the days they did not. I’ve confessed before that I often fail to exercise because it will kill good studying time. The reverse might be the case: Exercise will stimulate my studies.8 To conclude, I’m not going to write off failure as “being human” and go back to Sodexo’s formulated chocolate pudding. Both you and I can improve our health through simple (though difficult) measures. I look up to those of you who already eat well and exercise.

I know a number of you, and you inspire me. Remember, though, that there are always improvements that can be made. So eat some spinach and try the following: a time-based routine to improve the number of reps you can do on most exercises:

“If you eat these foods, you can receive amazing nutritive benefits.”

It might seem strange, then, to assign myself a workout regimen at the same time I try to take on a more nutritious diet. I have heard it posited that we have a set amount of willpower, and that if we use some on one thing — such as fighting the urge to eat pizza — then later we might fail at something else. While this theory has evidence, I recently read something that encourages me, and hopefully you, in the path for health.

After studying 169 overweight adults for two years, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh discovered that those who failed to follow a workout plan of three hours per week ate more than their diets allowed. Likewise, if they ate some foods between meals, their workouts suffered. The researchers concluded that dieting and working out are complementary, thus success and perseverance in one will help with the other.7 Furthermore, after reviewing worker productivity and exercise, re-

Time a set to your maximum — say, 20 pushups in 25 seconds. Then, rest for that amount of time (25 seconds). On your next set, for instance 15 pushups in 20 seconds, rest 20 seconds and go again. You’ll repeat this process for 2–4 sets, then repeat the whole routine twice a week.9 Using this, perhaps someday I’ll graduate from pushups to earthdowns.10 1. Music and Lyrics is a “romantic comedy.”

“Chick flick” is a term coined by men who are unconfident of their masculinity.

2. Joel Fuhrman, M.D., Eat to Live (New York: Little, Brown, and Company, 2012), 142–143.

3. Fuhrman, 144.

4. Fuhrman, 155–156.

5. Fuhrman, 154.

6. Fuhrman, 154.

7. Adam Campbell, The Men’s Health Big Book of Exercises (New York: Rodale, Inc., 2009), 7.

8. Campbell, 8.

9. Campbell, 41.

10. I heard that from a friend.

18

LIFE

CULTURE

Screaming for Streaming LOCAL FOCALYO Olive Marketplace & Cafe

Xbox Music

Grant Perdew

Specializing in fresh-prepared foods, fine cheeses, drinks, sandwichLaunched just last fall, this es, pizza, pastries, and the works, Olive is a fabulous place to have a Sony Culture Editor is Microsoft’s attempt to move classy, yet college-kid-affordable, date. A casual place to study and Music past their failed Zune and plunge to meet people, or a spot to enjoy a sit-down meal, this exceptional into the digital market. They defiThere is now a tumbling pile of digital mumarketplace and café will fulfill all your savory and sweet delights. nitely have a sexy, stylish layout, sic services for us to consider when we get our Open: Mon–Sun 8 a.m.–9 p.m. and at $10 a month, an MP3 groove on. According to a recent survey, twoPandora store and radio function thirds (64 percent) of the population listens 150 million users are registered Stereomood are included. to at least one streaming music service, and in Samsung Hub on the popular radio app, whose our college age group (18–29), three percent Though little known, it’s advantages include figuring out what don’t listen to any streaming services. Most advertised as “free emotional music you’ll like based on the music you music streamers don’t pay for it and prefer Grooveshark internet radio,” categorizing playalready like. They’re not competing with the ads over having to pay for a subscription. lists by moods or activities such as other streaming services, though: They’re Originally started by Florida This is a huge, growing movement that brings “melancholy,” “jogging,” and, fighting FM radio stations. The most used of University students, the jukebox new decisions for us to make. There’s nothing Rhapsody of course, “make love.” all streaming services, Pandora is already in site will let you upload your own wrong with being an iTunes purist, but these 65 new car models and is expanding. music to the library. It’s good for alternatives offer some glorious options. hosting a party without having to DJ; it’ll play all the hits every8tracks Spotify one wants to hear.

15 million have used this service worldwide since the Swedish YouTube Google company launched in the U.S. two Music Nobody seems to think of The Lonely Island Comedy years ago. It’s free, as long as you’re OK it as a music-streaming service, They’ve been a bit quiet, but “Yolo (feat. Adam Levine and with hearing an ad squished between but it’s clearly a place where 800 Kendrick Lamar)” Google offers the best audio every few songs, but you can eliminate million users go every month for A brand-new digital short surfaced quality for streaming music the commercials for $10 per month. free songs. It’ll always be around; on SNL last weekend, bringing joy (320 kbps) and allows you to Their interface and app is very back into our hearts as we have it’s very hard for any service to keep your library in cloud useful and has some incredbeen mourning Andy Samberg’s dedislodge something that storage so you can get ibly sleek features. parture last year. This single takes the idea of “you only powerful. it anywhere. live once” to its most extreme and paranoid place.

The Hype Machine

SPLENDID SERENADES

The Paper Kites

Folk

“Bloom”

Experimental

“Another Day”

A talented pack of Aussies have composed a beautiful EP, centered on a day in the life of characters that live in a forest. With a very earthy sound, these songs complement the mystic, whimsical nature that we all need and in which we should indulge ourselves.

Cazzette

The Album Leaf

Dance

“Beam Me Up” With the first album ever released exclusively via Spotify, the Swedish DJ duo has been charting and the cause of rhythmical gyrations across the globe. This anthem truly inspires us to boldly go where no one has gone before.

This emotional Sigur Rós–esque ambient project is a collection of wispy tunes peppered with sputtering beats, whining strings, and vocals. It’s the sound of slowing down, existing in moments where nothing feels quite real.

From Indian Lakes

Alternative

“I Don’t Know You” Comprised of five young men from the mountains, these Yosemite indie rockers are coming up fast and spreading throughout the community of tuneage seekers because of their unique, glorious sound that forces one to perk up and pay attention.

Allowing listeners to stream unknown tracks, pulled from underground indie music blogs, and not mainstream hits, this service is for the tech-savvy hipster who wants a head start.

AmazonMP3

Japandroids

Rock

“The House that Heaven Built” Their album title, Celebration Rock, describes them perfectly.

This loved-by-critics hit grows increasingly heavy without adding any superficial layers, but the militant drums, doubling guitar, and vocal delivery affirm and inspire the splendid merrymaking of life.

DIVERSIONS

LIFE

19

ASKED FOR IT Don’t Make Me Hate You LYOU The Advice You Need to Hear Eric, I am a very friendly guy who hangs out with a lot people — an extrovert at heart. Some of these friends are girls, and for the most part I would believe that I am friend zoned with most, if not all, of them.

How does someone like me know if a girl wants to take him out of the friend zone and potentially want to date him? Are there certain signs that she will give?

Any help is appreciated.

— Platonically Placed I hate the friend zone, but not because of this zone’s ability to stifle a relationship.

When you are in the friend zone, you are making that person believe you want to be friends with them. You don’t! You want to be a couple, i.e., more than friends. You’re lying to them. There are some small things that you can do to let her know that you are interested. Make lots of eye contact, and be genuinely interested in what they’re saying. Also, you can flirt a little — compliment her.

Try this for a couple of weeks and see what happens. As a last resort, if you feel really strongly about this person, tell her. If your relationship hasn’t changed, you’re in the friend zone for good, and you need to move on.

Need advice? Send me an email at eric.weber@wallawalla.edu and we can anonymously work this out together.

In case you didn’t know, it’s cold outside. Now, Diversions Editor it would be logical to think that because it’s cold outside, I would be angrier. False — I’m always a 10 on the angry scale. Sometimes I dip down to an eight, but that’s only if I’m watching blooper reels or Kim Kardashian cry. In fact, the cool weather cools me down because now my soul’s inner temperature matches the surrounding area. But some people think they’re impervious to the cold. Well, they may be impervious to the cold, but they’re not impervious to my hatred. If you fall into any of the following categories, you are an idiot: Wearing shorts in winter — you don’t look cool, you look pathetic. Wearing flip-flops in winter — you’re in Walla Walla, not Hawaii, and you’re not going to Hawaii any time soon, so wear some real shoes.

Not wearing a coat in winter: Do you live on the Jersey Shore? No? Put on a coat. If for some reason your moral depravity allows you to violate these human standards of decency, you are a disgrace to the human race and fashion. You should be shipped off to Southern for punishment.

Eric Weber

Start

h Finis

20

LIFE

SPORTS

SPORTS

SUPER BOWL X More Than a Game Trevor Boyson

News Alex Smith will reportedly ask to be released from the 49ers at the end of the season.

The Blazers and Mavericks combined for 11 points in the last 30 seconds of their game. Portland won on Aldrige’s buzzer beater.

The first game of the Copa Del Rey match between Real Madrid and F.C. Barcelona ended on a tie thanks to Verane’s late goal to equalize for Madrid.

Sports Editor

Super Bowl Sunday is a great day for America. It’s more than just finding out which team is better — it’s a time where family and friends come together to take a few hours away from all the stresses of life.

Don’t get me wrong — the game is extremely important. This year was one of the more exciting seasons in the NFL,

and the Super Bowl is shaping up to be just as good. But you know there’s something special when even those who aren’t sports fans join in the festivities.

Everything is big about Super Bowl Sunday. Commercials, something we normally skip if possible, will be intently watched. Their advertising slots will have cost millions for just 30 seconds of the nation’s attention. Billions of dollars worldwide will be gambled. Everything, from which team will win all the way to how long Alicia Keys will take to sing the national anthem, will be reason enough

for some to put their money on the line.

No matter why we watch, even if we come only for the food, the Super Bowl has come to represent more than just a game. It’s a rare opportunity for our nation to collectively turn its attention to one thing at the same time. So, whether your team wins or loses, or even if your team isn’t in the game at all, take a moment to look around. You’ll see people coming together to share good food, good times, and good people. Enjoy it.

The Girlfriend’s Guide to the Super Bowl The Super Bowl can be a tough thing if you don’t know what’s going on. Football itself is highly complex. The big game can be challenging, and if you don’t know what’s going on, it’s hardly more than a social engagement centered around watching commercials, eating junk food, and hearing Beyoncé (probably) lip-sync the concert at halftime. Never fear, ladies: Here’s a brief guide to get you through the Super Bowl.

The Baltimore Ravens had a really good season, but it pales in comparison to their Herculean playoff run. They played on the road and unexpectedly beat both the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots against all odds. They have been playing as underdogs, and will be again for the Super Bowl. Their will to win probably stems from veteran leader Ray Lewis’ declaration that he will retire at the end of the year, and his emotional call upon teammates to step up for him. He’s the guy who looks like a Transformer because of his arm brace, black visor, python-sized arms, and screaming (sometimes dancing) intensity.

More on Lewis later.

• The announcers and fans will keep debating whether this game proves or disproves that Ravens Quarterback Joe Flacco is “elite.” Basically, they’re questioning whether a win in this game places Flacco among the all-time greats.

HOW WE GOT HERE

FACTS

• The strange style of offense that Kaepernick and the 49ers run is actually called the “pistol offense.”

Trevor Boyson

Sports Editor

The San Francisco 49ers have played well throughout the year. The odd thing is, they’ve done it with two quarterbacks, which is nearly unheard of. Alex Smith was finally proving to be a leader when he went out with a concussion. Colin Kaepernick was chosen to replace him, and then remained the 49ers’ quarterback even after Smith recovered. Kaepernick is unconventional because his speed allows him to run far more than a traditional quarterback.

He’s also the guy covered in tattoos.

• If you think this game is not girly enough for you, I retort with the fact that the two of the team colors are purple and gold.

• The coaches of the two teams are the Harbaugh brothers. Some guy watching the game will undoubtedly think he’s being witty by calling this Super Bowl the “Harbowl,” so don’t be confused when you hear this, and please don’t ever say it if you want to impress anybody.

• Many people forget that Lewis was indicted, and then acquitted, for murder charges back in the day. No one really knows what happened. …

Feel totally at sea while others comment on the game? Here are some interesting facts you should bring out to impress even the most stalwart of fans:

• Everyone will focus on Lewis’ last chance for a Super Bowl, but this is probably Randy Moss’ last chance too.

• Flacco already has more road-playoff wins in his career than legendary quarterbacks Montana, Young, Aikman, Favre, Brady, and Manning.

L XLVII Super Bowl Preview

ment eresto imns:

Kaeually

last his is ance

LIFE

21

The more I look at Super Bowl XLVII and the matchups that go along with it, the more excited I get. The San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens have both endured epic campaigns just to reach the gridiron where they will square off in New Orleans. Looking back on where they’ve been, and looking forward to what kind of game is ahead of us, we have some amazing matchups — from coaching brothers to position players. Here are some of the key matchups that could influence the game:

DAVID AKERS vs. JUSTIN TUCKER I know, I know — two kickers are a key matchup? David Akers has been shaky and has only hit three of his last six field goals. Justin Tucker is a rookie who is 30 for 33 and seems like a sure thing. Deciding to kick or not to kick field goals may significantly change the dimensions of the game.

COLIN KAEPERNICK Colin Kaepernick is at the forefront of the mobile quarterback revolution, and it seems that no one has managed to stop the 49er pistol offense. Kaepernick’s ability to pass and run is deadly, but this unique offense lets him read the defense and decide whether or not to hand off to the very capable running back Frank Gore. This “option” has defenses all turned around, and no one has figured out how to stop it.

eep ves erlly, win g the

as inmurone

SPORTS

RAY LEWIS

VS

Ray Lewis is probably the best middle linebacker of all time. His 17-year career in the NFL has been legendary. His drive, work ethic, and even his theatrics have always been over the top. The brick wall has a fought hard to get to this game, but he faces his biggest challenge yet: stopping a Kaepernick from running all over the Ravens.

We’ll see if the passion that has spurred his team to overcome seemingly insurmountable adversity will carry the Ravens to greatness.

Photo by Nick Wass (Associated Press)

Photo by Tony Avelar (Associated Press)

CARLOS ROGERS vs. TORREY SMITH Torrey Smith has shown his ability to influence games with his speed and explosive play at the wide receiver position. If he’s threatening defenses, that leaves slot receiver Anquan Boldin more room to do his own damage. Carlos Rogers is a more than capable cornerback who will be looking to keep Torrey Smith in front of him at all times. Just one mistake could cost the 49ers a deep pass from Flacco to Smith. If he shows the ability to go one-onone against Smith, it could open the 49ers up to more aggressive blitz packages.

KEYS TO THE GAME

Both teams have talented defenses, and both teams know how to score, if in different ways. What this comes down to is a quarterback duel. The Ravens must prevent Kaepernick and Gore from running all over them. If they can keep it close, I believe their intensity gives them the advantage. On the other side of the ball, the 49ers are going to be working to ayoff find a way to make Flacco make mistakes. He’s been interception prone before. If Aldon Smith and company can pressure Flacco, he may be in trouble against the 49er Pro Bowl ndary safety duo Donte Whitner and Dashon Goldson.

AikHonestly, I believe the crazy offensive capabilities of San Fransisco give them the edge, but let’s not forget that Baltimore went into both Denver and New England, places they g. were supposed to lose big time, and they pulled off upsets both times. Their passion has carried them this far; could it be enough to tilt the game their way?

22

LIFE

TRAVEL

Couch Culture: The Sedentary Side of Travel Megan Cleveland Travel Editor

Couches — they come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and patterns: from red leather loveseats and purple corduroy futons to spacious black sectionals and pullouts disguised in suede slipcovers. These common pieces of living room furniture have become the stars of a new travel trend called CouchSurfing.

CouchSurfing is a cheap alternative form of lodging where you stay on the couch (or sometimes a bed) of a host in the CouchSurfer community. Daniel Hoffer and Casey Larkin Fenton created the concept in 2003 as a new way to travel and meet other people

Surfing Tips • Have a backup plan, just in case your host has a change of plans.

• Learn your host’s house rules; when in doubt, ask!

• Limit your stay to only one or two nights.

• Be a courteous guest: Help with dishes or chores when you can; be tidy, leave things looking better than when you arrived.

• Be flexible with your schedule and make it work with your host(s).

• Although your stay is free of charge, bring a small gift for your host(s).

• If you had a good experience, vouch for your hosts and give them positive feedback.

For more information visit couchsurfing.org/tips

like themselves. They launched a website, couchsurfing.org, to provide members an opportunity to meet new people and to gain an intercultural understanding.

host and communicate via email to make sure the arrangement will work for both parties. Typically, your host will agree to meet you at a public place and then guide you back to their residence. After plans are

First off, the official CouchSurfing site has an optional verification tool through which CouchSurfing employees confirm who you are and what your home address is for a small fee. This verification confirms that you are who you say you are and that “I went CouchSurfing in Australia. It was my you live at the address listed on your first time CouchSurfing, and I wasn’t sure profile. A “vouching” system is also in place so that CouchSurfers who what to expect. However, when I arrived and stayed with that host can rate the met my hosts, I knew everything was going host and write a summary of their to be just fine. My host cooked me local stay. Also, hosts can rate Couchcuisine; some dishes were very tasty, others Surfers based on their stay and how they conducted themselves as guests. not so much. But the taste wasn’t important; When searching for a host, potential it’s the experience of eating new foods and CouchSurfers can search specifically getting immersed in a new culture that is for hosts who have been verified and important. I encourage everyone to get out can read through the ratings and comments left by CouchSurfers they there and try CouchSurfing; experience a hosted in the past.

Although this practice goes against all “stranger danger” warnings you’ve heard for the majority of your life, CouchSurfing is a safe, unique, and enjoyable experience. People in over 97,000 cities around the world agree to host travelers free of charge, and to give them a one-of-a-kind travel experience. When you CouchSurf, you are not only provided with a place to sleep, but you are also introduced to your host, who will give you an insider’s view of the city. Additionally, you are presented with an unaltered, realistic look into how people from other cities, countries, and cultures new culture, meet new people, and get out actually live and go about their daily A careful selection process is imof your comfort zone.” lives. These people, just like you or portant to assure a safe and happy — Rory Ross, junior business major me, open up their lives to guests stay. Make sure the host has a picture and, when not busy with their own on their profile, look closely at the affairs, will show visitors around the information on their profile, be sure confirmed, you are ready to depart on your city, will take their houseguests out to dine they have been verified, and browse through adventure. with their local friends, and will introduce comments left by previous CouchSurfers them to all the experiences the city offers.

Some of you are probably thinking, they hosted to be sure you are selecting the “Sounds great, but is it safe?” This is certainright host. Also, when contacting a potential How does CouchSurfing work? To start ly an understandable concern to have. Yes, host, remember not to include more personCouchSurfing, you must become a member CouchSurfing is safe, as long as you are careal details than necessary until you are confi(registration is free of charge) and create a ful with your selection process and follow a dent they are trustworthy. Most importantly, profile on the website, couchsurfing.org. On few simple guidelines. make sure (ladies especially!) that you do not your profile, you enter information about travel alone. yourself to help hosts determine if you are The CouchSurfing website has several a guest they would like to invite into their features in place to ensure its users’ safety. home and also helps other users decide if they would like to request to stay at your place. This information includes a personal description, interests, your personal philosophy, types of people you enjoy, your favorite movies, and much more. Additionally, if you are willing to host other CouchSurfers, you are asked to fill out general information about your “couch,” including couch availability, if you have pets or children, and which gender you prefer to host.

Next, you select the city you want to visit and browse through the profiles of hosts who have couches available for guests. Once you have chosen several good candidates through a careful selection process, you contact the

Photo by Flickr user macroman

LIFE 23

EWB Update It is almost time for EWB’s annual fundraising gala, Hope for the Globe. The event will be held on March 9 at 7 p.m. at the Walla Walla Country Club. In the past, not many students have attended; this is the year that trend changes. We would like to offer you a free ticket if you can raise $250 to spend at the gala. If you raise $400 or more to spend at the gala, we will give you two free tickets.

For more information, email EWB@wallawalla.edu. Along with a response, you will receive a donor letter template to make the task of raising money even easier.

Last year, Walla Walla alumni, students, and community members competed and dashed for desserts, bid on silent auction items from Honduras and the local valley, and participated in a live auction.

Items included weekend vacation packages, artwork, international artifacts, golf outings, and much more. We were able to raise over $10,000!

The Hope for the Globe gala is a marvelous event to support the future endeavors and projects to help people in need. This is a perfect opportunity for you to donate your resources to help serve others and to create Hope for the Globe.

To register, just head on over to EWB gala page at ewb-wwu.org.

FREE Chocolate Chip Cookie when you show this coupon.

Limit one per person. Expires February 7, 2013.

No purchase necessary.

Breakfast and Lunch on weekdays, and Spaghetti Night on Wednesday!

Hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs.

Wednesday Friday

6 a.m. to 4 p.m.

6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

116 N. College Avenue | (509) 522-2738

“The best thing since sliced bread.”

Verbatim SUPER JEWEL QUEST “Hallelujah! I finally achieved puberty!”

— Terry Gottschall, on his voice cracking in class

“A good thing to do is to go on the Internet and look at provocative pictures.”

— Dale Johnson, on iconic photos

“Was there a question? I hear voices and they’re not in my head.”

— Tim Tiffin

“Bacteria are very promiscuous.”

— David Lindsey, while talking about reproduction

“Even tough John Wayne wouldn’t pull it out.”

— Curtis Kuhlman, on arrow wounds.

Questers, there’s a Tumblr now. Why not? Shout out to Ricky Barbosa for venturing downtown and back for the most adventuresome clue two weeks back. Email me to redeem your prizes!

The first jewel I’ve hidden ‘neath a constellation whose seven red arms will all wave on occasion.

The second’s perplexin’ so check the behinds, in the ASWWU offices, of green things in the sky.

The third, like the others, is un-cupped by a hand. Know that if you need more clues you should look down below: sjq w w.tumblr.com.

What inanimate object would you be?

“I would be a painting; it’s the closest thing you can be to an emotion.”

Rachel Scribner

“Probably a park bench, ‘cause so many secrets are told on park benches by people sitting close to each other.”

Zach Parks

“A mountain — isn’t it obvious?”

James Fesler

“A flagpole, because I want to be able to hold the American flag … on top of me.”

Kevin Nateras

“Chalk, eraser, and board.”

Joe Hughes, Calvin Howard, and Darryl Masson

Hear something funny? Report it! julian.weller@wallawalla.edu

Julian Weller The Heel Editor

Multimedia designer Tyler Finck writes on his website, “I loathe the terms ‘renaissance man’ or ‘jack of all trades’ because …[r]ather than focus my efforts to become incredible in one field, I’ve ultimately become mediocre at many.” I remembered those words recently, not least because I’m spread out by two and a half jobs and a newly acquired radio show.1 My grandma, a retired schoolteacher who taught a few Walla Walla professors, shocked me a few years ago when she mentioned learning to pick her classroom battles. After a point, she couldn’t spend more time on one kid or subject. If a kid wasn’t getting math af-

ter a while, he might just not get math. Forcing him to succeed in all areas wasn’t viable.

There was a lot to cover. Grandma wasn’t advocating looser standards, just better use of class time.

Obviously, it’s a good idea to be wellrounded. A basic education in many areas is the whole point of the liberal arts experience.

I’m a humanities major precisely because I think separate disciplines can unlock new areas in each other. The more we know, the better we can be. But a good sculptor emphasizes the grain of his wood and the veins in his stone. As Michelangelo wrote of one of his sculptures, “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” To what extent do we work with our materials, and to what extent should we prioritize rounding?

Some of our hang-ups with making students achieve equally across the board stem

from the idea of self-reliance, presented by Ralph Waldo Emerson in 1838. Emerson basically advocated individuality, and in his essay Self-Reliance he tells readers to abandon anything that might limit them. He blows his idea to astronomical proportions when quoting another work: “Man is his own star.”

For that to work, you’ve got to be capable in many areas. Otherwise you can’t fend for yourself. But how well does that work?

Henry David Thoreau is famous for following Emerson’s ideas away from society to live “alone, in the woods … by the labor of my hands only.” He wrote Walden about his experiment. Most people don’t know that Thoreau frequently had Emerson himself over for dinner, as well as weekly baskets of cookies and pies from his own mother and sisters. In reality, Thoreau lived two miles from where he was raised, and Mama Tho-

reau still did his laundry — yowch. Maybe “Man is his own gold star,” or “Man is his mother’s macaroni necklace,” would have been more accurate.

Let’s update Emerson: Think of all the stars you know about. Do you picture a single light or a constellation? Do you picture something independent, or something held by the gravity of other bodies giving each other meaning? Only animals are self reliant. Needing other individuals’ specialties makes our bonds stronger. Specialty requires community. Freedom, detachment, is a lot lonelier. If we’re stars, then we belong to each other, and our gravities, our specialties, our differences strengthen us.

1. Tune in to 90.5 FM on Fridays at 7 p.m. for Reading Radio with Grant Perdew and me.