Thecauldron_issue 1_draft

Cleveland State Finds Itself Among Top Colleges

Red Faction: Guerrilla Because Lego: Guerrilla Had Copyright Issues

By Alexes Spencer

By Justin Brenis

Many Question Remain In Basketball Season

The Cauldron

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

The Melting Pot

IllumiNation:

Estate Tax Vacation

By Reid May

News

Weapon Found in Viking Hall

By Samanthe Shunk

Arts & Entertainment

Now Hear This!

Music You May Have Missed

By Jonathan “Killstring” Herzberger

SPORTS Browns’ Pro Bowler Visits Cleveland State

Catching Up With Joe Thomas

By Robert Ivory

*** ESTABLISHED 1929 ***

New Year’s Resolutions:

Jumpstart Your Year or Waste Your Time?

By Samantha Shunk

Issue 1 | FREE

CONTENTS |

Volume 110 • Issue 1 Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Follow Us on twitter @ twitter.com/thecauldron

feature

The Cauldron

New Year’s Resolutions: Jumpstart Your Year or Waste Your Time?

breaking news | csucauld ron.com

by Samantha Shunk…………………………page 8

As the New Year begins, many feel the need to change more than just the year they write at the end of every date. This feeling of starting over with a New Year can be inspiring to change all the things that went wrong the previous year.

the melting pot

news

arts & entertainment

Opening Statements —New Leadership……Page 3

IllumiNation:

The Beat Goes On:

<< Just another Debacle at NBC

……Page 3

Is the Mass Media making our generation depressed? ……Page 4

<< Cleveland State Finds Itself Among Top Colleges……Page 5

at Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs……Page 17

Weapon Found in Viking Hall……Page 5

Weekly Events Calendar……Page 6

‘Portraits of the Homelessness’ Gallery opens

Get Kicked Into Shape with Boot Camp……Page 6

<< Now Hear This!

Concert Picks of the Week……Page 12

Music You May Have Missed

……Page 10 Now!

Music you didn’t know you didn’t know……Page 11

It Pays To Be a Fan of Cash Cash……Page 14 sports

Estate Tax Vacation……Page 4

Red Faction: Guerrilla

Because Lego: Guerrilla Had Copyright Issues……Page 13

Another Take……Page 13

The Staff Editor-In-Chief Samantha Shunk Managing Editor Reid May Advertising Manager Jayson Gerbec News Editor Alexes Spencer Arts & Entertainment Editor Jonathan D. Herzberger Sports Editor Rob Ivory Layout Editor Steve Thomas Business Manager Anne Werner Student Media & Web Specialist Daniel Lenhart Faculty Advisor Dr. Rodger Govea

Mission Statement As Cleveland State University’s student run, managed, and operated alternative weekly paper, The Cauldron is dedicated to delivering information to the student and professional body of CSU; doing so without bias, without constraints, and without fear.

Presenting news, entertainment, opinion and other media that originates organically from within the student body, our distinctive media will organically flow and adapt to suit that body’s needs.

The Cauldron prints according to sound journalistic principles of accuracy, accountability, integrity, transparency and with a recognition of press freedom and student expression.

The Cauldron shall remain a forum; maintaining a strong connection to the diverse campus community, regarding but not limited to Cleveland State University, the city of Cleveland, the United States, and the Global Community.

Advertising Policy: What The Hell Happened During Winter Break?

Editor Ponders the Extreme Oddities…Page 14

Men’s & Women’s Squads Have Much to Prove……Page 15 Browns’ Pro Bowler Visits Cleveland State Catching Up With Joe << Many Question Remain Thomas…Page 15 In Basketball Season

For advertising inquiries e-mail us at cauldronadvertisements@ hotmail.com or contact Jayson Gerbec at (216) 687-2270

Contact Us

Cleveland State University 4th Floor Cole Center Cleveland, Ohio 44115 phone (216) 687-2270 fax (216) 687-5155 www.csucauldron.com

csucauldron.com

The Melting Pot

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

3

<< IllumiNation: Estate Tax Vacation | Page 4 For the first time in 95 years, the United States will face an entire calendar year with no estate tax, unless the Senate is willing to reconsider recent debate over new legislation to void the 3 one-year repeal established in 2001 under President George W. Bush.

Is the Mass Media making our generation depressed?| It would seem with the freedoms and wide variety of leisure activities we are treated to, we should be far happier. | Page 4

Opening Statements - New Leadership

By Reid May, The Cauldron Managing Editor

It seems that almost every semester, The Cauldron comes to you with a new leadership story—a tough reality at a collegiate newspaper, where the leaders tend to be those who have the tenure and, therefore, those who stand to graduate.

That situation has already occurred for us this year, and now, as the year starts over, so does The Cauldron.

We are again, under new guidance, new leadership. I am a part of that leadership—and as we begin the semester together, I want to take a moment to brief you on what we plan to do—and how you can help.

The Cauldron has long stood as the premier publication on Cleveland State University’s campus. We are a real collegiate newspaper, with frequent publication dates and a wide array of coverage. Our mission leads us to strive

for ultimate coverage, incorporating multiple communities into our plan. This is, at times, an arduous task.

Our editorial staff is prepared to take on that challenge. Most of us have been with The Cauldron for at least two years, many others more than that. Our experience and our knowledge will now benefit you, our readers.

That is my point. This newspaper is not about the editors, writers, advertisers or layout coordinator. It is certainly not about competition, ego or glory. Sure, we want to be the best newspaper we can be, but not for us—for you.

You see, that is what this newspaper—what all collegiate newspapers—are about…students.

We want to act as a news source, opinion center, concert review and political informant for you.

Sometimes, in the day-to-day grind that occurs

at a University, you need a beacon of light. That is what The Cauldron aims to be—a beacon that is built on the idea that watching over an institution such as ours is crucial. That is where you come in.

As we go along this semester, progressing through sixteen weeks of joyous academics, keep us on our toes. If you see a story going uncovered, let us know. If there is a problem that needs attention, let us know. If you believe our coverage is biased, lazy or missing something—let us know.

We will not always agree with you, but we would sure appreciate the help.

See, newspapers cannot—will not—succeed without the influence and the desire of the readers.

Remember, ultimately this is your newspaper—we are just the stewards charged with its care. Please take some time to tell us where to go—we would appreciate your thoughts.

The Best Goes On: Just Another debacle at NBC

By Andrew Scheid, The Cauldron Contributing Writer

It’s time to put another feather of incompetence into television’s most tarnished peacock, as NBC President and CEO Jeff Zucker has proven once again that there is no media institution that he can’t denigrate. The executive, who brought the world The Joey Show and Fear Factor, has made The Tonight Show franchise a late night punch line.

Just in case you haven’t been tuning into the ongoing late night soap opera, NBC has decided to pull the plug on the failed experiment known as the The Jay Leno Show (10 p.m. weeknights), and relocate Jay Leno to eleven thirty, where he will once again resume his role as the host of The Tonight Show. The adjustment in scheduling was mandated

by NBC affiliates, who were furious with the lack of a “lead in” that the Leno show was offering ratings wise, and the cascading effect that it had on their local news broadcasts.

For the current host of NBC’s Tonight Show,

Conan O’ Brien, it means that his seven month venture will abruptly end, and he is forced to search for green pastures in the television industry, perhaps at the FOX network.

For many observant followers of broadcast television, this current quagmire was practically set-up back in 2004, when O’Brien signed a new contract with NBC that guaranteed him The Tonight Show in 2009. There was a litany of problems with this move, starting with the fact that Conan doesn’t have the broad appeal to attract ample ratings at the 11:30 p.m. timeslot. The brilliant and vigorous former president of the Harvard Lampoon is known for a comedic style, which is abstract and surreal.

These comic traits were prominently used to great success on his old show, Late Night with Conan O’ Brien, and sketches on that show such as “If They Mated,” “The Walker Texas Ranger Clip Lever,” and a certain creature of the forest with a

proclivity for excessive pleasure, gave Conan a hip and edgy appeal to his mostly younger audience, and fit perfectly into the hazy twilight of its 12:30 a.m. broadcast time.

Jay Leno’s comedic personality can be seen through the traditionalist prism. Leno’s Tonight Show was famous for its extended monologues, and for the not-so groundbreaking sketches such as “Jaywalking” and “Headlines.” Although to a younger audience this material may seem safe and dull, for Leno’s mostly middle-aged and older demographic, it heavily appealed to their comic sensibilities, and established a nice report with the audience and timeslot.

So instead of negotiating a contract with Conan that would have kept him and Leno in their respected timeslots, Jeff Zucker has added another mistake on his resume, and a once proud network is left licking its wounds.

4

The Cauldron • January 19, 2010

IllumiNation: Estate Tax Vacation

By Reid May, The Cauldron Managing Editor

For the first time in 95 years, the United States will face an entire calendar year with no estate tax, unless the Senate is willing to reconsider recent debate over new legislation to void the one-year repeal established in 2001 under President George W. Bush. The estate tax, for those unaware, is a tax that affects the estates of deceased Americans when the overall value is $3.5 million dollars (according to 2009 standards) or above at the time of their death.

Those estates are then taxed at a rate around (45 in 2009) 45-55 percent, depending on the year. This tax, which ends up affecting around one percent of Americans (the wealthiest of the wealthy) accounted for approximately $14 billion dollars in tax revenue in 2009. Because of the tax law passed in 2001, next year will feature no tax, before it returns in 2011, with a lower exclusion rate of $1 million and a higher tax rate of 55 percent.

In the meantime, that previously mentioned $14 billion dollars will go uncollected, and, in all likelihood, charitable donations from wealthy Americans will drop considerably. The reason for the drop in donations is that in previous years, when the estate tax was active, many wealthy persons made significant charitable donations in order to fall under the exclusion rate, whatever that rate was at the time.

This action ensured that all remaining funds went to the desired heirs, charities, non-profits and the like, instead of the IRS. The use of charitable donations, along with trust funds, gifts and tuition

payments for grandchildren (a strategy employed by many wealthy grandparents) helped most all but the ultra-wealthy avoid the tax.

Now, due to the blatant favoritism shown by an ultra-wealthy President to others in the top part of the spectrum and the current stalemate in the Senate (Democrats want to pass the House version of the new bill, which permanently extends the 2009 rates for 2010, while Republicans desire a lower rate of 35 percent and a higher threshold of $5 million dollars.) the United States stands to experience an untaxed year.

The loss of $14 billion dollars is of no small consequence to a government that already operates at a significant loss every fiscal year. As such, the Senate is expected to take action at some point later this month, but will have to include a special provision making the legislation retroactive to January 1, 2010 in order to keep 2010 from being an untaxed year.

This type of clause will likely lead to litigation and could ultimately leave the decision up to the Supreme Court. Many government familiars are blaming the lackadaisical response on the healthcare debate, which has consumed Capitol Hill.

I will not skirt the issue here—I am strongly in favor of the estate tax. I believe that recouping finances from the wealthiest of Americans is just and of major importance, particularly when the government’s annual spending obligations are considered. You will always have your opponents—but most of them come from the wealthiest group and are simply out to greedily

defend their treasure chests.

Opponents of the tax will argue that it hurts small businesses, family heirs and kills the American dream. My father owns a small business; it is not worth close to $3.5 million dollars—that makes you wonder what the GOP’s definition of “small business” really is. Most heirs benefit through trusts and family gifts (as mentioned above) anyways, and the American dream—which has apparently become the “get rich or die trying” dream—was realized by most wealthy members of society because of their hard work and ingenuity.

The American dream is about working to gain everything from nothing. It is about opportunity for success and happiness. That ancient credo says nothing of a fat inheritance for a young person with no life experience.

I believe the estate tax contributes to the American dream—because it further stimulates the motivation and desire of young people to succeed like those who have come before them.

Through those desires, we will continue to see new generations of wealthy Americans who eventually put back into the general coffers. You will probably call this socialism: I call it right.

What gives one percent of the families in this country the right to dominate the resources? Was the original reason for coming to the United States the elimination of tyranny, divine right and rule of many by few? This debate is not so different.

The Senate needs to push healthcare aside for a moment and ensure the estate tax sticks around this year.

Is the Mass Media making our generation depressed?

By Paul Kahan, The Cauldron Staff Writer By the year 2020, depression will be the second most common health problem in the world. Repeat this to yourself over and over. To a darker mind, this is just a funny joke, but to the rest of the planet, it becomes evident that something is very wrong. Such an extreme growth in depression begs the question, what is wrong with us? If we were to seclude this problem to just our country, it would seem with the freedoms and wide variety of leisure activities we are treated to, we should be far happier. Though jobs are scarce, we are still in the middle of a war and the economy does continue to drop, are these really the major afflictions of one in thirty three people?

Kids are growing up quicker, TV is becoming trashier, and Music is becoming far more vulgar— all three are beginning to become dumber.

Stricken with reality TV, wimpy mop headed emo

bands, and with materialism at an all time high, despite economic problems, we find ourselves stuck in the "NOW" generation. I'm not here to talk about the extreme influence we take from mass media, because by now it’s obvious it plays a very large role in the way we act as a society.

A darker image is not only becoming more acceptable, it’s become downright mainstream.

Look at hugely popular boneheaded movies like Twilight, which feature darker protagonists, but find themselves with theaters filled to the brim with pre-teens, and teenagers. Bands like My Chemical Romance and Linkin Park that focus primarily on teenage angst are insanely popular, and you can find them on not only Rock, but plenty of Mainstream channels.

We are more self-absorbed with ourselves than ever. And, it doesn't help that we as a people, have become far more sensitive. By

being surrounded with the "dark" image, it’s not unfathomable that a lot of the depression we have seen the last few years, has been out of imitation. With several theory's that depression is contagious, is it a ludicrous thought that perhaps we are so easily upset because it’s become part of a social norm? I myself have witnessed people almost boasting about the myriad of antidepressants they rely on. Scars are cool, right?

Before fingers begin the pointing, I am not saying that all depression is rooted in this synthetic overly sensitive world I have described.

But being aware of our own generation is quite important, and I feel this needed to be said.

Depression for some is an extremely arduous mental illness to deal with, make no mistake about it. For others, it is an overly sensitive reaction to life, and perhaps its time to stop and ask ourselves if we really have it all that bad.

csucauldron.com

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

News

55

Weekly Event Calendar | On Page 6

>>> Get Kicked Into Shape with Boot Camp | If you feel like you have what it takes and want to get your body back in shape, then sign up for Boot Camp at the Rec today.| Page 6

Cleveland State Finds Itself Among Top Colleges

By Alexes Spencer, The Cauldron News Editor This announcement comes at a time when CSU has been making efforts to make itself a university more relevant on the national scale. These efforts include new buildings, new dorm rooms, research projects, and the new Engaged Learning campaign.

According to a news release, CSU believes that the inclusion of the university in the list is a sign that these attempts to improve CSU are paying off in a positive way.

"Cleveland State University’s efforts to attract top students, recruit and retain renowned faculty, and offer a diverse selection of academic degree programs are attracting attention around the country," the release says.

According to the news release, the list and rankings are determined by surveys of administrators at peer institutions. Other criterion including graduation rates, retention rates, and the abilities of students and faculty are included in the rankings.

"CSU is recognized by U.S. News in the national university category, which includes universities that offer a full range of undergraduate majors, master's and Ph.D. programs, and place an emphasis on faculty research," the release says.

Cleveland State also made various other lists in the "National Universities" category of the Best College 2010

rankings, including economic diversity, ethnic diversity, freshman retention, and it's number of international students.

"It makes sense, since for the past several years the dean has been working on ways to make the college have a better overall public image," junior and computer and information systems major Ravin Vyas said. "From what I gather, the electrical engineering department here is one of the better ones in the area as well."

Making the list is only one indicator of CSU's success in becoming a nationally recognized university. CSU has been recognized numerous times for "green" research projects on campus, and CSU's teaching program was recently recognized by UTeach.

"CSU is too often underestimated due to its city nature, but it is not something to be taken lightly," sophomore and mechanical engineering major Rich Barker said. "It has strong world backgrounds in a lot of different fields which is something you won't get a lot of other universities."

For more information on the U.S. News and World Report rankings including a more in-depth description of the methodology used to select institutions for the various lists, visit colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com.

Weapon Found in Viking Hall

By Alexes Spencer, The Cauldron News Editor The following is a copy of the "Important Announcement from President Berkman" that was sent to all students, faculty, and staff on Thursday, January 14, 2010, “I am writing to update you on yesterday’s announcement regarding the student suspended from Viking Hall and share the steps the University is taking to insure your ongoing safety on campus. A search of a student’s room, based on information communicated to CSU Police, resulted in the discovery of a 9mm handgun with ammunition. The student has been suspended and barred from campus.

The good news is that nothing happened, and thanks to the efforts of a couple of heroic students, our safety motto “See Something, Say Something” was realized. Because the safety of our students, faculty and staff remain our

first priority, I have stepped-up our security efforts by deploying additional police protection at each of our residence halls on a 24-hour basis.

As there are further developments, we will keep you informed. I remain confident that the campus is safe and secure and our professional staff is prepared for all contingencies.

Ronald M. Berkman President” I am sure most of you received this email gladly as it quenched the thirst for more information after the first email that had none of the most important details. But many may be wondering what could have happened if the students did not report the suspicion to the police.

Here at The Cauldron, we want to know what you, the students, think about this whole incident, so we have posted a forum on our web page www.csucauldron.com for you to share your opinions on the matter.

‘Portraits of the Homelessness’ Gallery opens at Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs

By Nikki Kochman The Cauldron Contributing Writer The men at 2100 Lakeside Avenue all have a story to tell, and recently they were given a chance to do so.

You see, 2100 Lakeside Ave. is home to the Men’s Emergency Homeless Shelter, the largest homeless shelter in Ohio. It is part of program done by the Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry which serves over 3,000 men annually and has over 2,000 volunteers. They have also provided work experience to 175 men and helped 850 men move into their own homes just last year.

Of the 2,000 volunteers comes Lydia Bailey, the volunteer coordinator, who was touched by these men's stories and wanted the world to see them not as just the homeless, but as people.

Also among them is Michael Sering the director at the Men’s Emergency Homeless Shelter. He has worked at the Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry for 13 years but his father, Richard Sering, founded it in 1969.

“It may be helpful to analyze homelessness through statistics, trends, economics, yet at the heart of any solution will be compassion, justice, and right relationships,” Michael Sering, director at the Men’s Emergency Homeless Shelter said.

On Friday, January 8th, Bailey and Sering held a lecture and opening reception at the Thomas F. Campbell, Ph.D. exhibition gallery at the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs atrium. The gallery is called Portraits of the Homelessness, which is a collaboration of photos and stories of the men at 2100.

“My purpose, through these photographs and brief stories, is to convey something of the presence of the men at 2100,” Bailey said.

Among them, is 19-year-old, Jeremy Moses, who is one of the youngest residents at 2100. His parents were divorced when he was four, and he was bounced between them for many years. He says he doesn't do drugs or drink alcohol and now works for MX Energy. He hopes to get out on his own with the youth assistance program.

A 73-year-old shelter resident named Steve Golak played professional baseball for the Pirates when he was younger. When the drinking started, he lost everything, including his home and job and became “worse than a bum,” he said. His daughter died while serving in the Army and his two sons work in Alaska. He says that he can’t wait for them to come home.

The exhibit will run until March 31st in the Campbell Gallery from 9 am to 9 pm Monday through Friday and 9 am to 5 pm on Saturdays.

For more information you can call 216-523-7330 or visit http://urban.csuohio.edu/forum.

6

Weekly Event Calendar

The Cauldron • January 19, 2010

By Alexes Spencer, The Cauldron News Editor

Tuesday 01/19

Good Morning Commuters Get free coffee or hot cocoa in the MC North Lobby from 7-9 a.m. Four students will win a $15 Starbucks card.

Wednesday 01/20

Bingo for Books Show up in the MC Auditorium from 1-3 p.m., and try your luck at free books. Hosted by Student Life.

Thursday 01/21

Winter Wonderland Join Student Life from 3-6 p.m. in MC 101/102 for an afternoon of Wintery fun. Free activities include glitter tattoos, a photo booth, and a chance to make your own lip balm.

New Student Convocation Join President Berkman at noon in

the Waetjen Auditorium to welcome new students to CSU. A tribute to MLK will follow.

Memorial for Markov Abranovich Friends and family of Markov Abranovich are welcome in the MC Auditorium from 2-4 p.m. The event will include dancing and reminiscing.

Food will be provided by SGA. Students and faculty are invited to bring pictures and other mementos to be included in a memory book for his family.

The Effects of Media on Race Join Cleveland-Marshall’s Black Law Students at 6 p.m. for a panel discussion on the effects of media on race. The event will be held in the Law Building’s moot courtroom and features Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Avery Friedman, and Professor Lolita Inniss.

Meet the Cauldron Come by our table in the MC from 12-2 p.m. to meet members of The Cauldron staff. Info on becoming a writer will also be available.

Hypnotist: Rick Raptor Swing by the MC Auditorium from 12-1:30 p.m. to watch hypnotist and magician Rick Raptor in action. You may even get the chance to become a part of the show and join Rick on stage. Hosted by C.A.B.

Friday 01/22 Week long events

Comedy Show: Howard Moore Students are invited to attend at comedy show hosted by Student Life.

The show starts at 6 p.m. in the MC Auditorium.

Haiti Fundraiser Students are invited to donate at one of four tables on campus to help the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Tables are available in the MC, Rhodes Tower, The Law Building, and the Business Building from 9-5 daily. Donations will go to United Nations World Food Program, Yele, Direct Relief International, Doctors Without Borders, and Action Against Hunger.

Hey! Don’t see your event here? Make sure your next event makes it into The Cauldron by e-mailing cauldroneditors@gmail.com with event information.

Get Kicked Into Shape with Boot Camp

By Kristen Mott, The Cauldron Contributing Writer With a new year comes new resolutions. Some people vow off sweets while others swear to break bad habits. It seems the most popular resolution, by far, is to lose weight and get in shape. With the new Boot Camp program at the Rec, that resolution will be easier than ever to keep.

This is the first time the CSU Rec Center has hosted a Boot Camp program. “We want to see if it works, and if it’s successful then we’ll add similar programs,” explained Caroline Cox, the Fitness and Wellness Coordinator at the Rec. The program will meet Mondays, Wednesdays, and Friday from 6:30 – 7:30 a.m. beginning January 25th, and will last for six straight weeks. Each workout will be led by Sgt. Jason Kennedy, who is on current active duty in the army.

The program is filled with a multitude of added

bonuses, each tailored to meet members’ personal needs. Pre- and post- fitness assessments will be given to document every individual’s progress. An online support group will be available for members to receive motivation and encouragement. Food logs and meal plans will be provided, and in customary CSU fashion, free t-shirts will be given out at the completion of the program with an ‘I Survived Boot Camp’ slogan.

In addition, two nutrition sessions will be included as part of the program. “We’re fortunate enough to have a registered nutrition specialist work with us,” added Cox. At the sessions, nutrition counseling will be offered and tips on counting calories and which types of healthy food to eat will be given. The nutrition sessions will be held on Thursdays in February.

The Boot Camp program offers an alternative to normal exercise at the Rec. The instructor will

demonstrate different types of workouts and show how to exercise effectively. Cox stated that “people can expect to do cardio drills, creative workouts, and fun exercises.” The group setting provides a support system for the members and encourages them to push themselves at each session.

The Rec Center is very excited and optimistic about the success of this program. “Boot camp is popular right now,” comments Cox. “It allows people to do customizable exercise in a group setting.” The program is open to everyone and costs $240 for members and $290 for non-members. The Rec is currently running a promotion for students that sign up before January 20th. They will receive $40 off the fee.

If you feel like you have what it takes and want to get your body back in shape, then sign up for Boot Camp at the Rec today.

Debt Relief . . . Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s All We Do. Call today. We can help.

(216) 421-0578

8

New Year’s Resolutions: Jumpstart Your Year or Waste Your Time?

By Samantha Shunk, The Cauldron Editor-In-Chief

As the New Year begins, many feel the need to change more than just the year they write at the end of every date. This feeling of starting over with a New Year can be inspiring to change all the things that went wrong the previous year. However, it is common to set unrealistic goals for oneself and soon find a depression setting in as a result of not following through with those goals, as early as mid-January, just in time to let the dreary weather add to the depression, as it often does during the long, Cleveland winters.

As quoted in the article by Charles Q. Choi in the December 2007 issue of the Scientific American Special Edition, "New Year's resolutions are notoriously unsuccessful because people have a superficial commitment to them," notes health psychologist Frederick Gibbons of Iowa State University. "Whatever behavior you want to change requires a specific plan for going about it." Mr. Gibbons is entirely right, not only because he is an expert, but also because changes take a lot of work and dedication. Changing one’s life takes the wisdom to make a realistic plan and the willpower to stick to it.

Samuel, a Junior majoring in mechanical engineering, thinks that New Year’s Resolutions are

“BS.” Ben, Junior, agrees with Samuel, saying that “New Year's Resolutions are not important and usually do not last.” Samuel and Ben are correct in thinking that most New Year’s Resolutions often are not followed through with. For example, in the group of people interviewed for this article, only four out of thirteen students claim to have followed through with their past resolutions. But most of them admitted to not following through every year in the past.

When asked about the idea of New Year’s Resolutions, Caroline, Senior, exclaims, “I love the idea! You start fresh every year with something new in your life.” Like Caroline, Imani, Senior, sees the positive aspects of resolutions, and she says, “I think they’re great if you can keep them.” Now that is the trick, keeping those resolutions. Maybe the resolutions need to be more achievable so that no one is left in a depressed stupor. Or for the people who resolved to lose weight or eat healthy, they would find themselves in a daze with a whole container of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream in their stomach.

Kirsten, Junior, says, “I think that New Year's Resolutions are somewhat cliché, it is a nice time to re-evaluate where you are in goals, but I have never

successfully fulfilled them.” Michael, Sophomore, seems to think that he could never fulfill a New Year’s Resolution and claims that he has no opinion on the concept of New Year’s Resolutions. He also reveals, “I don't think I have ever made a New Year's Resolution.

I don't want the commitment. With obligation comes the burden of responsibility, blah...” Now the defeatist attitude is not going to help anyone trying to make a change in their life, but it is not really necessary to make the change at the New Year; resolving to change one’s life for the better can and should occur at any time.

Richard, Junior, says, “Personally, I am not a fan of New Year's Resolutions. People shouldn't need a special occasion to motivate them to change their life for the better.” He reveals, “In the past I found that I never kept my New Year’s Resolution, as it was just a poor attempt to psyche myself into doing something. The only way to follow through on your resolution is to truly want something and work hard to get it. Don't kid yourself by saying a New Year will magically mean a new you. Any lasting resolution made on New Year’s should be able to be made any other time of the year if you honestly want your goals to come to fruition.” Take Richard’s advice, and make that resolution tomorrow.

Ginny, Junior, states, “I think New Year’s Resolutions are great just as long as the person has the discipline to keep it. It is a person’s way of starting the year fresh.” Ceren, a graduate student, is on the same wavelength as Ginny, and she says that the “New Year is motivation for all people to change something about their life.” The idea of starting the year without any of the past year to hold one back is great, but it is not as easy as the year changing to cut ties with the life had the previous year. It is a part of each person that cannot be just discarded and replaced with new, wonderful habits like snacking on carrots instead of smoking cigarettes.

Dan, Junior, says that “if someone makes a resolution without the personal strength and willpower to do it, then they are just wasting their own time and energy, and essentially lying to themselves.” He did not make a resolution this year “because I'm a person who tries really hard day in and day out to do right by myself and by others. I don't need a resolution to make myself be a better person.” Just because the New Year has rolled around does not make it easier to eradicate bad habits or implement new, good ones. It is a challenge no matter what time of the year, but hopefully the general population is working on improving themselves all the time.

Renée, a graduate student, says that when it comes to New Year’s Resolutions, “I always forget to do them, and then a week later I try to think what I can give up that I haven’t already done in the first week of the New Year.” Unlike Renée, Danny, Junior, shares, “My New Year’s Resolution is to keep my stress level down, because it took a toll on me in ’09.” Like Renée, some forget to think about making resolutions for the New Year, but just because the year has started, does not mean that it is too late. It is never too late to make a change for the better.

Kate, Senior, reveals, “I try to think of New Year’s Resolutions as fun things rather than overwhelming things. I want to look forward to the New Year and the new things it holds for me.” Kate continues to explain her plans for this year that are not listed on any list of popular resolutions, “My resolutions this year are to learn to knit great hats, to become really good at making vegetarian soups, and to read one book per month that is purely for pleasure.” Although Kate has resolutions this year that seem quite fun, she admits, “In the past, I have made some more practical resolutions, such as floss daily and work on being less sarcastic. I know that while I may not have completely succeeded in changing throughout the year, I now floss much more frequently than I ever did before, and I am generally less sarcastic. The resolutions helped me become more aware of the problems and helped me to make long term changes.”

If used in the way Kate explains, New Year’s Resolutions can be positive building blocks to improving one’s life one step at a time. Although in our society everyone is so used to getting everything done quickly with all the technology available, making personal life improvements takes time and effort. There is no fast lane to improve oneself.

Popular New Year’s Resolutions according to USA.gov: · Drink Less Alcohol · Get a Better Education · Get a Better Job · Get Fit · Health-e-Cards for Holidays · Lose Weight · Manage Debt · Quit Smoking Now · Reduce Stress at Work · Reduce Stress Overall · Save Money · Take a Trip · Volunteer to Help Others

9

csucauldron.com

Arts & Entertainment

Tuesday, January 19, 2010 Free Movie Passes | Page 7

10

Concert Picks of the Week | The Cleveland music scene still seems a little hungover from new year’s – pickings are relatively slim, but there’s something for everybody | Page 12

Now Hear This!

Music You May Have Missed

By Jonathan “Killstring” Herzberger The Cauldron Arts & Entertainment Editor

Owl City

Cleveland winter.

Okay, now that I have everybody depressed, let's talk music. Different seasons and climates can often produce different tastes in both the creation and consumption of music. This year started off with an intense little blizzard, and a week of heavy snowfall has diluted into a big, dirty, 7-11 slushie of a city.

Lord only knows what it'll look like by the time this goes to press.

So yes, Cleveland is one of those cities where music of a more pessimistic bent seems to thrive; the bipolar, angsty weather facilitating not only the tastes of your average listener, but your average musician as well. Ringworm, Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails, Filter, Forever In Terror – and of course, Chimaria – all successful bands from the Cleveland/Akron area.

None of which are renowned for their particularly sunny dispositions.

Another city that has been inexorably shaped by its capriciously tumultuous forecast, and unrelenting cloud cover – which, by the way, is an awful lot of syllables to say “bad weather” - is Seattle, Washington. There were some bands that came out of there in the early 90's – you may have heard of them. Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Nirvana – they had a little scene, I guess you could call it.

This is only partially sarcasm on the part of your faithful author – the stark realization that our beloved freshman class (Hi freshman!) wasn't even born when Nirvana's Bleach hit stores, well, it means some educating might be necessary.

Also, it means the captain of the Now Hear This Mothership is a cranky old bastard, and you can take your shenanigans and horseplay off of his lawn, thank you kindly.

Geriatric nostalgia for Temple Of The Dog notwithstanding, Seattle has had some pretty interesting acts since the halcyon days of flannel and poor hygiene.

Ben Gibbard has expressed a uniquely identifiable brand of cautious romanticized cynicism with Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service, Pedro The Lion made some delightfully introspective music, and the transplanted Say Hi has tinkered with the most lovable,

danceably mopey sound this side of The Cure.

Newly minted pop darling Owl City seems pretty chipper, but every rule needs an exception to prove it.

Some bands however, it's hard to place just how they came together. Take the dour, gloomy outlook of your standard Seattleite, mix in a liberal dosage of folk trappings, add a fondness for Neil Young... okay, this sounds like the sort of band one might come to expect from the dourest city in the Pacific Northwest, one we've heard a thousand times before.

Now add three-part harmonies, and a gentle musical touch that evokes golden meadows in the UK, rather than muddy rain puddles in Bremerton, and things start to get interesting.

Ladies and Gentlemen, meet Fleet Foxes.

Robin Pecknold and Skyler Skjelset – which are excellent rock star names if ever I have heard them – started out as a group called Pineapple – and following in the footsteps of grunge luminaries Nirvana, wound up shuffling through a few names before settling on Fleet Foxes – which apparently sounded esoterically British enough to appeal to the duo.

Eh, whatever works.

What unquestionably worked, however, was the sound. Equal parts Brian Wilson, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and the sort of organically ethereal music one would assume woodland creatures might make in an enchanted forest (what, you don't assume things like that? Well you should: life's more fun that way) Foxes had a distinct sonic cocktail unlike anyone around them; actually, make that unlike anyone around, period.

In 2006, the band self-released an EP, cleverly titled Fleet Foxes. The disc, primarily recorded in band members' apartments, parent's basements, and any other space that could be pressed into service, held an undeniably organic feel, reminiscent of the late 60's summer of love music that had been such a strong influence on its members. The shoestring budget, and DIY mentality played nicely into the band's folkish style; the album just plain worked. Seattle took notice.

The internet took notice.

And in 2007, Sub Pop records took notice.

Without any sort of representational team in place –

Pecknold's sister Aja was pressed (if not press-ganged) into service as the band's manager, and they hurried into an honest-to-god studio to record a gem of an EP called Sun Giant.

Now, with a five-member band, where each member was contributing vocals, the harmonies that would become the band's signature element were out in full force. Lusciously textured record that it was, the Foxes insisted that Giant was just something they slapped together on the fly to have ready for touring – that their real album would be much better, they promised.

Critics were just beside themselves in anticipation.

And for once, we weren't disappointed. The creatively-titled Fleet Foxes – yes, they used the name again – was met with rave reviews at home and abroad, and was actually pretty deserving of them. While the album sold respectably, its britpop-tinged sound went over like a lead zeppelin – that is to say, spectacularly – in Europe, selling 200,000 copies in its first five months available abroad.

One listen and the band is instantly recognizable.

Perhaps no song sums this up better than “White Winter Hymnal,” the second track on Foxes. A simple repeating refrain, the song is predominantly carried by vocals harmonizing in the round. Instruments come in eventually, as the lyrics repeat themselves, and the listener is drawn in by the folktale-style imagery.

A tale of foxes? Wolves? Hard to say. But after about the third pass, it begins to dawn on the listener just what precisely is being talked about: “And Michael you will fall, and turn the white snow red as strawberries in summertime...”

And suddenly, you realize that this happy, hippie/ fable tune is about violent, bloody death, and like all classic fairy tales, is a lot more intense than perhaps you'd given credit.

Murder Ballads with a Brydsian jangle? As I trudge through the knee-deep slush, trying to make my way to the first week of classes, under a relentlessly cheerful barrage of sunshine, that doesn't seem like such a great contradiction.

Seattle's only a tiny bit more overcast than Cleveland, after all.

Now! Music You Didn’t Know You Didn’t Know

January 19, 2010 • The Cauldron

11

By Paul Kahan, The Cauldron Contributing Writer

It Pays To Be a Fan of Cash Cash

By Alexes Spencer, The Cauldron News Editor

The Summer Set Hometown: Scottsdale, Arizona Recent Release: Love Like This (October 13th 2009)

Septicflesh Hometown: Athens, Greece Recent Release: Communion (March 17th 2008)

"Ultimately, we just want to write pop songs," singer Brian Dales defiantly declares. In the world of rock, some would find the statement blasphemous, but during our phone interview, it became apparent that the real spirit behind The Summer Set, is having good, clean fun.

The current band really began in 2007. In the wake of guitarist Kennedy Brock leaving for The Maine, and brothers Stephen and John Gomez, as well as drummer Jess Bowen, all departing for different reasons, the remains of The Summer Set was faced with a choice.

Call it quits, or reform, and look for new members, as well as the need for a star studded singer. Dales would be the answer to their prayers. They would sign a record deal with The Militia Group later that year, and success would follow shortly thereafter.

3 EP's, a full length, Love Like This, tours with prominent bands such as Cartel, The Cab, and A Rocket To The Moon would send them in to pop rock heaven.

Last year the band released a pop cover of Usher's "Love in This Club," which would be one of the bands breakout releases. "We'd definitely like to find ourselves opening for more straightforward pop acts like Katy Perry."

If you're looking for a band with a Disney channelfriendly pop rock sound, with slightly racier lyrics (PG rather than G), you'll be in heaven with The Summer Set. Currently the band is set to appear on the AP Tour with nevershoutnever!, Every Avenue, Hey Monday, and The Cab, as well as being announced to play the entire Warped Tour this summer!

When a band takes a hiatus for five years it's to be expected they might have a bit of rust in a comeback effort. But Septicflesh would not only show zero signs of rust, they would go on to take the metal community by storm with their career defining album, Communion.

The band started in 1991 and would exist as a well received symphonic death metal band in the community.

They would release 6 albums along with a handful of EP's and compilations by the time the band decided to call it quits and pursue other projects. But after a reunion show in 2007, a new fire would spark within the bellies of returning members, Sotiris Vayenas, Spiros Antoniou, and Christos Antoniou, and Fotis Benardo. Septicflesh has been known for its beautiful symphonies behind hellacious, and often beautiful, blends of death metal and gothic music.

The band would recruit The Philharmonic Orchestra of Prague to record on Communion, with 80 instrumentalists, and a choir of 32. The album deals with mostly ancient mythology of the Egyptian, Hellenic, and Sumerian variety. Communion was received so well, the band would find themselves in North America months later, touring with Cradle of Filth. The profile of the band has risen largely in the metal community, and will only grow larger. Look out for Septicflesh's appearance at Peabody's Downunder on January 27th, on tour supporting the mighty Behemoth.

As the house lights fall on the crowd at Peabody’s Concert Club, the members of Cash Cash make their way onto the stage amidst claps and cheers.

I know these types of bands. Their performances can be classified in one of two ways--mediocre or incredible. I anxiously await the start of their set to see just what kind of stuff these Jersey boys are capable of, and what category they fit into.

My anticipation is met with a hurricane of energy.

People can say what they want about the music that bassist and backup vocalist Sam Frisch calls “dancy powerpop,” but there is no way that anyone could argue with the fact that these guys put on one hell of a show.

This comes as no surprise considering the band’s extensive touring experience. In addition to the tours they’re doing this fall/winter, the band also played on Warped Tour 2009.

“Since the release [of our debut album], we’ve just been non-stop touring. Warped Tour was absolutely crazy,” Frisch said. “I’ve been going to Warped Tour since I was little…It was like a dream come true.”

All this “non-stop” touring appears to have really paid off for Cash Cash. With what appears to be every ounce of vigor they can summon, the band members perform their hit song, “Party In Your Bedroom.”

Vocalist Jean Paul Makhlouf holds his microphone over the sea of motion that is the crowd. He is met with fans yelling and screaming the lyrics loud enough for all to hear.

According to Frisch, it's moments like these, coupled with tours that he describes as getting better and better recently, that have really struck a chord with him.

“This last year has made the United States, all of it, feel like my home,” Frisch said.

Of course, the band can’t tour all the time.

According to Frisch, new music is on the way.

“We’ve got a few ideas going. After [the EZ Bronze Tour], we’re going to take a month, month and a half off to record. We have a couple of covers we’re going to be recording, one of them we play live all the time, and one of them we’ve never played before,” Frisch said.

Cash Cash’s debut album, “Take It To The Floor,” is available online and in stores now. For more information on Cash Cash, including what towns this “hurricane of energy” is blowing through, visit www. myspace.com/cashcash.

12

The Cauldron • January 19, 2010

concert picks of the week

By Jonathan ‘Killstring’ Herzberger, The Cauldron Arts & Entertainment Editor & Alexes Spencer, The Cauldron News Editor

Jonathan’s Pick

01/23

Monster Truck Nationals @ the Wolstein Center

Alexes’s Pick

Okay, so this isn't a concert. Not even by some stretch or technicality can one actually call this a concert. Let's be realistic here: this is an event with really big automobiles indoors. Big Dumb Fun. Stuff will probably be destroyed, crushed, spindled, and set on fire. Safe decibel limits will be callously disregarded. Someone will utterly embarrass themselves, and some dude you've never met with a mustache and a trucker hat will hug you after his tenth Budwiser.

Having said that, I fail to see the difference between this, and seeing Metallica or whoever live. C'mon, it's a new year, new semester – try something different. Students can get advance tickets for $22. Take your little brother, or cousin, or whatever, and become an INSTANT LEGEND. That's important enough for capital letters, people.

01/21

Smile Empty Soul

@ Peabody’s It's the beginning of the semester, and you're probably in the type of mood to go to a middle of the road show, one that will get you pumped for the rest of the semester without being too heavy or too light.

Or, at least, that's the kind of mood I'm in, so I'm going to pretend you all are too. Fortunately, Smile Empty Soul is making the rounds, and will be stopping off at Peabody's. No one under the age of 50 would accuse them of being too heavy, and they're definitely not Death Cab For Cutie. Not only that, but I'm sure hearing a little "Bottom of the Bottle" will take you right back to the popular rock days of yore for a measly sum of 12 buckaroos.

Good morning class.

A-hem. We said good morning, class.

That's better. Welcome back, concerteers – welcome to the inaugural two-thousandand-ten edition of Concert Picks. It's cold outside, and Alexes got a promotion, but other than that, it's more of the absurdly well-traveled musical advice you know and love! Okay, like. Okay, tolerate.

Anyway, the Cleveland music scene still seems a little hungover from new year's – pickings are relatively slim, but there's something for everybody. King and Hot Cha Cha provide very different sides of the Cleveland Rock spectrum on the cheap, and CSU darlings The Promise Hero are happy to kick your year off right – but the Concert Trust has decided to step out on a limb this edition, and expand our horizons this time out. Here's to 100% fewer concussions, but an otherwise rocking year.

In case big trucks or one-hit-

wonders aren't tickling your

specific fancy, well, take a gander

(or a goose) at these fine shows!

1/20 Khan & Yang w/Belmex, Jesea Lee @ the Grog Shop: 7:00, $7 1/22 King w/At No End, Crossface @ Peabody's: 7:00, $6 1/22 Retribution Gospel Choir w/ Teenage Grandpa, Marathon @ the Grog Shop: 9:00, $8 1/22 Ronnie Spector w/The Afternoon Naps @ the Beachland Ballroom: 7:00, $33 1/23 Hot Cha Cha w/Silverghost, The Cloud Nothings, The Sugarcoats @ the Beachland Tavern: 8:30, $6 1/25 Between The Buried and Me w/Cynic, Devin Townshead @ Peabody's: 6:30, $16

01/21

01/20

Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers w/ Chief Bromide, The Formula @ the Beachland Tavern: 8:30, $7

Punchline w/The Promise Hero, City Lights, Everything Zen

@ the Grog Shop: 5:00, $10

Red Faction: Guerrilla

January 19, 2010 • The Cauldron

13

Because Lego: Guerrilla Had Copyright Issues

By Justin Brenis, The Cauldron Contributing Writer

Think back to when you were 5 years old...what was one of the coolest things in the world? Building obscurely shaped objects out of Lego blocks, of course, and the only thing more fun than that was creatively knocking them down afterwards, right? (My method of choice was Godzilla-style, but I digress.) Well, Volition, the company that created the Red Faction Trilogy has decided to rekindle the 5-year-old demolitions expert in all of us, and then up the ante. Because the only thing more fun than destroying things on Earth, is destroying them...on Mars.

Red Faction: Guerrilla (RF:G) is the third Red Faction installment and returns us back to where the story began, the mining colonies of Mars. A lot has happened there since Parker, Hendrix, and Eos decided they had enough and began to dismantle the evil Ultor Corporation. Years have passed, and the Earth Defense Force (EDF), who had originally come to oust Ultor and free the miners, has assumed the role of policing and governing the people. While it was peaceful at first, (but then again, isn't it always?), very soon power began to corrupt, and the EDF began to resemble the fascists they had originally overthrown.

Introduce Alec Mason, our A-typical protagonist who has come to Mars to work in the mines per his brother’s request. We soon discover that Mason's brother is one of the leading brass in the newly re-instituted Red Faction, and equally as soon watch him get gunned down, providing the initial motivation for Alec to join up and win this war.

Now, having played the first two Red Faction games in their entirety, I couldn't possibly pass up a chance to review this game, especially since Volition kept touting all the changes that had been made. The first two games were your typical first-person shooters (FPS) and followed the formula to a T. In fact, I would say the first Red Faction was possibly the last great FPS of its generation. RF:G strays from that formula (if it ain't broke, right?) and goes with everyone's new favorite formula (read: sarcasm) third-person, plot-based "open world" sandboxing. I put open world in quotes, because this is a formula yet to be perfected, and using it runs the risk of coming off as just another Grand Theft Auto clone; RF:G unfortunately falls into this trap very quickly. The player spends a majority of the 15-25 hours of campaign time driving from objective to objective, and that does not a good game make. They also try to introduce a sense of stealth (you know, the whole Guerrilla thing?) but again fail to deliver as I spent most of the game face to face with some heavily armed EDF forces and managed to mow them all down...with a sledgehammer.

The other thing that has always made the Red Faction series notably different from other games is Volition's trademark Geo-Mod graphics engine. Introduced in the first Red Faction title, with severe limitations mind you, Geo-Mod allowed you to use the world around you to change the game play when needed. If you were approaching a room with 20 enemies and had

low health, you could blast a hole in a nearby wall or floor and then head through it, making your trip a bit easier. This technology saw minor improvements in Red Faction 2, and ultimately, while cool, was always lacking because while some things were destructible, plenty weren't, and with no real logic behind the distinctions, it could be maddeningly inconsistent. RF:G throws those inconsistencies out the window and introduces a world where everything short of the planet itself is your destroyable playground and then, like a kid at a candy store, hands you a plethora of tools to run rampant with.

Now while that does seem cool, and allows for an insane amount of replay value, to me it just isn't enough to be the major selling point of an already established franchise. Yes, it has been updated to allow you to destroy more stuff, and bringing down a 20-story building with bombs that create miniature black holes is incredible fun, but in the long run, it’s nothing new. It is still the same destruction engine as before, with a longer list of destroyable objects. Don't get me wrong, like I said the game does also have your typical framework: a “vs. multiplayer experience” with the added Geo-Mod bonus, a Wrecking Crew mode which is just pure head-to-head destruction adrenaline, but strangely is not XBOX-Live compatible, and a campaign that (depending on how you sandbox) lasts anywhere from 15-25 hours, but it just feels like an incredible step backwards for the series.

Other than changing the perspective and giving you the choice to stray slightly from the storyline, the only thing that really saw any advancement and improvement was the Geo-Mod, and even then while improved it didn’t blow me away. So that is why I have a hard time swallowing a $59.99 price tag for a game that honestly isn't so far a step above its predecessors that it shouldn't have cost $34.99. But I suppose a lot of games today aren't worth their price tag.

On the plus side however, despite my technical complaints, the game is ridiculously fun and addicting.

The controls are intuitive and once you unlock the ability to warp from base to base getting across Mars doesn’t seem to take half as long. The cutscenes/graphics are very pretty and the physics of the Geo-Mod are rather realistic. Depending on how you choose to bring down a building will greatly affect how it falls and what collateral damage will ensue. The plot is engaging and doesn't stray too far from its predecessors, but is a bit morally ambiguous on the “righteous savior or rampaging terrorist” decision, and is just vague enough on Mason's background that you can almost create your own backstory in the process. The online multiplayer is streamlined without any serious setbacks, and finally, above all else, getting a group of friends together and over-looking the lack of XBOX-Live support, Wrecking Crew is quite possible one of the best ways to kill hours on end. It is the closest you will get to that Lego-breaking euphoria without lying to the cashier at Toys-R-Us about just who that deluxe 500-piece Erector Set is really for.

Fans of the Faction, I’d say despite the price tag you’ll want to Buy It. Everyone else, Try It.

Another Take

By Jonathan “Killstring” Herzberger The Cauldron Arts & Entertainment Editor Some games are clearly meant as art. Others, narrative, cinematic experiences. Some games just kind of want to be toys, and that's where RF:G really excels.

Rather than ask the player to consider the morality of actions like blowing up apartment buildings, and collapsing a roof on top of visiting CEOs – which in fairness, the story seems set up to do – Volition seems quite content to say that X is bad, go blow it up.

It really is a throwback to 8-year old Lego justice; the why isn't meant to be important. RF:G isn't really a story. It isn't even a conventional game, really. It's a physics engine for you to play with.

The shoestring narrative and paper-thin characters are really just an excuse to bring down a skyscraper with the push of a detonator. So, if knocking out support beams with a sledgehammer sounds fun, if you ever wanted a big explosion to walk away from (admittedly not in slow-motion), there's a simple, honest kind of joy to be found here. It seems like a conscious design choice to keep the Demolition mode offline, forcing players to pass the controller between themselves. This is a toy, and it becomes more fun when shared with friends.

That, and the game is more than six months old at this point. Find it cheap, and Buy it.

csucauldron.com

Sports

Tuesday, January 19, 2010 Many Question Remain In Basketball Season Men’s & Women’s Squads Have Much to Prove Check online for upcoming podcasts and exclusive sports content!

What The Hell Happened During Winter Break?

Editor Ponders the Extreme Oddities

By Robert Ivory, The Cauldron Sports Editor It is a custom at The Cauldron that we welcome you back to a ‘Top Ten’ or so list in our first issue back.

There has been a fantastic amount of stories that would cause any Viking sports fan to go crazy. HOWEVER, there have been some crazy stories since December 12, 2009 (the last day of finals) that we would like the relish in 2010.

Tiger Woods drama intensifies- After Thanksgiving, we all learned that Tiger had a completely new life after golf. But during the break, the other shoe really fell on the world’s number one golfer as Tiger lost many more endorsers and has fallen off of the face of the earth (except for a interesting magazine cover).

The New York Post said that Woods earns about $110 million dollars a year in endorsements with the most significant ($30 million from Nike), but over the break he lost a multitude of those deals. Included is his loss of endorsements was General Motors, which ironically set the table for the past two months, as it was his free Escalade, from GM, that sparked the entire drama surrounding Woods and his family.

The Browns get…good? - A four game winning streak, Mike Holmgren enters town, Joe Thomas is the first Browns’ lineman to go to the Pro-Bowl three years in a row since Gene Hickerson (1966-1971). What else could the Browns ask for? First, Eric Mangini saved his neck and helped the Browns to four straight wins (which started with the Steelers) and improved on last year’s win total. A press conference in January gives hopes to 2010.

There is something seriously wrong on the lakefront.

With Tom Heckert the new General Manager and Holmgren promising fans to “expect changes,” there is a lot to hope for in 2010.

Get back in the shed!!- Now former Texas Tech football head coach Mike Leach was first suspended then fired from the Raiders for how he had treated an athlete with a concussion. He is accused of putting his player in a small, dark space while the rest of the team practiced.

Leach will take the school to court for wrongful termination.

Chris Henry dies- From one tragic car incident to a more serious one, Cincinnati Bengals’ wide out Chris

Henry died from wounds of falling off his fiancée’s pickup truck after a domestic dispute. In the middle of December the NFL community was shocked that Henry, who had a troubled past with narcotics but was said to be turning his life around, had died from the result of the fall.

The Bengals, who were pushing to an AFC North title, had to prepare for the playoffs with even heavier hearts. Even though the Bengals were thrashed by the New York Jets twice in two weeks (once in the playoffs), the sight of Chad (Johnson) Ochocinco crying for his fallen teammate was moving, given Chad’s personality.

Braylon still cannot catch- Maybe everything is not better in the Big Apple. How do you know when you need to step your game up? When your father tells you!

Apparently, Braylon’s father, Stan Edwards, is concerned that his son is getting a bad reputation of being a receiver that cannot catch. Braylon did make a stop in Cleveland over the break, but it was to go to court for the fight with LeBron James’ buddy in a Cleveland nightclub. He was put on probation for 180 days and a $1,000 fine.

Turns out, Gilbert Arenas is a shooting guard- If you understand the joke, you know how stupid athletes are these days. There are two rules when you go to work; do not bring drugs and do not bring firearms. Washington Wizards’ guard Arenas apparently could not wait until April Fool’s Day to play a prank on his teammate by putting a firearm into his locker on December 21. This week, Arenas pled guilty to the city’s strict gun laws as part of a plea bargain deal in the nation’s capital.

Arenas has been plagued by injuries and has not been the star he had been half a decade ago, making this a gift to the Wizards, as they will probably get Arenas’ contract voided and save millions of dollars for a struggling franchise (13-26 record). In his plea deal, Gilbert has publicly employed a so called, ‘goofball defense,’ much like Johnnie Cochran’s ‘Chewbacca defense’ from the animated TV series South Park.

The fight of the century is off-There were first rumors that this bout would be held at the new Yankee Stadium. Then it was confirmed that it would go on at the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium. Then it was confirmed

that the Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao would not go on. In what would have been boxing’s best matchup in many years, the fighters could not come together on drug testing and now Pacquiao has already found another opponent for the March 13 fight night. Oh, what could have been.

McGwire finally comes clean- If former St. Louis Cardinal slugger had any hope of making it to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, he has squished that last hope. Last week, McGwire finally told the world the dirty little secret that everybody knew about. McGwire admitted to using Performing Enhancers during his career, but he says that they were not used to hit home runs (that’s just a small side effect). What can MLB commissioner Bud Selig do? After all, McGwire and other alleged steroid user Sammy Sosa brought fans back to baseball with their homerun chase of Roger Maris in 1998. Bud and MLB made their millions, as did Sosa and McGwire, as baseball was looked at as an impure time, but fans could not get enough of it (just look at the attendance since 1995).

USA beats Canada in hockey, in Canada- The Canadians were shooting for six straight IIHF World U20s Championship in a row in early January and were looking to do it on their own home ice. The Americans had a two goal lead halfway into the third period of the Gold Medal game, but knew the Canadians would press until they could tie or take the lead. And they did. With less than two minutes to go in regulation, the Canadians scored twice to put the thrilling period into overtime.

You had to believe that the Canadians were going to win in it in their building and the Americans would come so close, but so far. However, that was not the case as Assistant Captain John Carlson netted his second goal on the night and the Massachusetts native won the gold in overtime.

Well, that was an intriguing march back into the sports world over the past month. Welcome back to your home for all Cleveland State sports, both weird and wonderful!

What’s your best blunder of the winter break? Share your comments at csucauldron.com

January 19, 2010 • The Cauldron

Many Question Remain In Basketball Season

15

Men’s & Women’s Squads Have Much to Prove

By Robert Ivory, The Cauldron Sports Editor

The men were so close.

Close to repeating the drama of last March when they upset the top-ranked Butler Bulldogs in the Horizon League Championship game. Last week, the Vikings had a nine-point lead with three minutes in the first half. That was dwindled down to only a point lead at the half and the Bulldogs would tie the game up at 15:04 in the game, and after a Matt Howard layup, the Bulldogs were up for good. Despite a 64-55 loss to the 22nd ranked Bulldogs in the ESPN/USA Today Poll, the Vikings have learned that the dawgs are not that unbeatable.

Cleveland State put their best game of the year on the court, but could not bottle up a top team in the league. They did keep junior forward Matt Howard to only a basket (six points in total), frustrated Butler, and their home crowd in the first half. On the other side of the ball, the Vikings were able to find their groove and knocked down 52.2% in the first half (but dipped to under 35% in the second) as Jeremy Montgomery looked liked a seasoned veteran as he had 22 points and

6 of 9 from the point arch. Everybody has grown to love the outside shooting from Trevon Harmon, and he only had two three pointers, but those two baskets would have been good from the NBA 3 point line.

When we left the Vikings, they were down from a two game road-losing streak from Horizon League opponents Wright State and Detroit. Only a 113-61 win over Wilberforce saved them from an even longer losing streak as they dropped another four starting against Robert Morris, then a heartbreaker to the Mountaineers of West Virginia in Cleveland, then losses to Ohio State and Kansas State.

Three wins straight against HL opponents (and that unfortunate loss to Butler) have the Vikings at .500 in the league with just a month and a half left until the playoffs. In that time, they still have the Bulldogs at home on February 12, but line up for three straight at home until the end of the month.

The best part of the season is that we still have not seen what head coach Gary Waters is looking for.

Searching for that winning combination of a great full

court press and a four-guard set up that is capable of making the much needed shots. Yes, Norris Cole is the leader of this squad, and has been since day one, but the growth and development of Montgomery has been the sweet smell of success that Waters knows so well.

The Wolstein Center is not anticipating just one contender, but again both the men and the women’s clubs are looking to get deep into the playoffs. The women’s squad has been ready to put their machine into the next gear, but the team has missed the clutch once in awhile. Their last game at home saw the foot on the accelerator as they blew past middle of the pack Butler Bulldogs 81-68 last week. Kailey Klein put down 19 and had 12 rebounds as Shawnita Garland added 17 as she turned 21.

Their biggest challenge will be the Wisconsin trip at the end of the year, but they will have to get in top shape since it seems that they have many more games in hand then the men’s team. The women’s squad has the engines hitting on all the right cylinders, but as we all know, anything can happen in the Horizon League.

Browns’ Pro Bowler Visits Cleveland State

Catching Up With Joe Thomas

By Robert Ivory, The Cauldron Sports Editor Let me welcome you to the new biweekly edition to the sports section of The Cauldron. Here at the paper we want you to get the most up-to-date news on all things Cleveland State. But, this semester we are going to take a look back into the pages of our paper.

In honor of Cleveland Browns’ lineman Joe Thomas making it to another NFL Pro-Bowl, here is our interview with the star from February of 2008 when he visited the Wolstein Center.

Last Saturday the Cleveland State women's basketball team beat Youngstown State 77-64 at the Wolstein Center. Even though it was the "Kailey Klein Show" during the game, there was a giant superstar in the stands. Cleveland Browns' rookie offensive lineman and Pro Bowl Selection Joe Thomas was in attendance for the game. Joe took pictures and signed them for his adoring fans that came to the game.

Thomas, the Browns' first overall draft pick in the 2007 NFL Draft is no stranger to Cleveland. His wife Annie began her first year with the women's team as an assistant to Head Coach Kate Peterson Abiad.

Before Joe began to take pictures, The Cauldron was able to sit with the Browns' star: Robert Ivory, The Cauldron (TC): Of course you were a great football and track and field athlete in college, but were you a big basketball fan?

Joe Thomas (JT): I was a big follower of the Badgers.

I did play four years of varsity basketball in high school. I originally thought I was going to play basketball in college early on, until I put on some weight and got attention from football teams.

TC: I can imagine coaches would have loved your 6-8 300-pound frame in the paint.

TC: When did you know you were going to play on Sundays in the NFL? JT: It really wasn't until my junior year that people started asking me if I was going to leave school early to go into the NFL Draft. That was really the first time I thought of playing in the NFL. TC: What does making the Pro Bowl mean to you in your rookie season?

JT: Being able to play in Hawaii is going to be an awesome experience. It has been one of the things that I always dreamed of. It was also one of my goals coming into the NFL, and to do it in the first year is really cool, and I am really excited.

TC: How much did you know about coach Romeo Crennel and the Browns before being drafted?

JT: Growing up in Wisconsin, I was always a Packers fan, and we didn't know much about the AFC. I have been really happy with the team and the city since I

have been drafted. It has been a great experience.

TC: Speaking of the city, how have the fans treated you?

JT: Great! The fans have been awesome, they have welcomed me with open arms from the moment I was drafted. It has been awesome, I feel like this is home already.

TC: How has staring all 16 games helped you get ahead?

JT: If you look at all the great lines, they are all a group of guys that have played for years in the same position, and when you are able to play together that long, it is a tremendous advantage. You get to the point where you can read your teammate's mind.

TC: Can you talk about playing against the AFC Champion New England Patriots in Foxboro?

JT: It was really neat. We played them really well, with a few mistakes. I think we gave them their best challenge up to that point. It was really cool playing in Boston, they have a great stadium, great fans, and we saw an awesome team. It's been fun watching them play in the playoffs, and now watching them in the Super Bowl, knowing that we played them tough is awesome.

The Cauldron

Sports

If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else.

-Yogi Berra