February 28, 2013

Volume 123 No. 80 Distribution 10,000

Serving the University of Virginia community since 1890

The WEEKEND Cavalier Daily Dai EDITION Thursday, February 28, 2013

Graduate costs to rise FOIA request targets Honor

Board set to approve tuition increases next spring under new financial plan

University law student seeks comprehensive list of Restore the Ideal Act campaign funding sources

By Kaelyn Quinn

Cavalier Daily Senior Writer Second-year Law student Ronald Fisher submitted a Virginia Freedom of Information Act request Feb. 25 for Honor Committee records concerning private funding for the Committee’s Restore the Ideal Act campaign.

The FOIA request asks for email correspondences between Honor Committee members and private individuals who have funded the campaign. Also requested are an itemized list of funds the Committee has used and the amount of funds still remaining . The request comes after Honor Chair Stephen Nash, a fourth-year College student, stated publicly that the Committee is using private

funds to support its campaign.

“The purpose [of the request] is to answer a very simple question,” Fisher said, “Honor has stated [the reforms] are being funded ... we absolutely should know where these funds are coming from.”

Fisher said he would pursue the request regardless of the outcome of the reform vote, in part as a reminder to future Committees to be more transparent.

“It is unfortunate these actions needed to be taken,” Fisher said.

“The Committee should be open and public.”

Fisher received a reply Feb. 27 from the University’s FOIA office Please see FOIA, Page A3

Dillon Harding | Cavalier Daily

Graduate programs may see a restructuring in tuition rates next fall which could rise costs for some students.

The proposal still awaits approval from the University Board of Visitors, who will meet in April to vote.

By Alia Sharif

Cavalier Daily Associate Editor Provost John Simon approved proposed tuition increases for doctoral candidates in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences . The new rates will go into effect in the fall semester, pending approval by the Board of Visitors during their meeting in April.

C u r r e n t l y, s t u d e n t s a r e charged one rate for graded courses and a different rate for non-graded research courses.

“The system seemed to penalize departments that had a lot of coursework for their doctorate,” said Philip Zelikow, Associate Dean of Graduate Academic Programs.

If the changes are approved, d o c t o ra l s t u d e n t s w i l l b e charged a flat rate based on their year of study, rather than type of coursework.

This change will make the

tuition process similar to the way undergraduate tuition is structured — around annual fees rather than by number of credit hours.

The modifications will, however, result in a tuition increase for some students in doctoral programs.

“The tuition reform is going to effect some students negatively,” Edelson said. “[But] overall it is going to help the graduate program.”

These changes are part of the University’s new internal financial model , which was developed by University President Teresa Sullivan’s office. In May 2011, Sullivan launched the new financial model to increase the University’s efficiency through decentralizing authority, resource planning and increasing the self-reliance of University schools. The goal of this model is to create incentives for individual schools

to control costs, improve productivity and enable entrepreneurial activity. The initiative is co-chaired by Provost John Simon and Pat Hogan, the executive vice president and chief operating officer.

These benefits should outweigh the potential for negatively impacting students, especially since many graduate students do not pay the entirety of their tuition, Zelikow said. If a graduate student works as a teaching assistant, the University will pay their tuition, said Assoc.

History Prof. Max Edelson , director of graduate studies. But the Dean’s Office has allotted funds to support students who are negatively impacted by the change, Edelson added.

The proposed tuition changes will not affect students in master’s programs because Please see Tuition, Page A3

Dillon Harding | Cavalier Daily

The proposed Honor reforms are being put forth to the student body this week for a University-wide vote that will decide the fate of the controversial plans.

NEWS

IN BRIEF

College Board announces SAT redesign David Coleman, College Board president, announced plans Tuesday to radically redesign the SAT. While specific details of the redesign have not yet been specified, a speech Coleman delivered upon taking office in October highlighted several problems with the current structure of the test which he said he hoped to correct. The writing section prioritizes accuracy of

examples above writing ability, Coleman said, and the test often employs vocabulary rarely seen or used by students. “[The new format will] align the SAT with the work that matters most for college and career readiness,” Coleman said.

Individuals applying for

admission to the University are required to submit either the SAT or the ACT with writing.

Dean of Admissions Greg Roberts said he does not necessarily see the proposed test redesign as a bad thing.

“We like the SAT the way it is right now, but if they find

NEWS

IN BRIEF

measures to improve the SAT, that’s certainly something to be excited about,” he said.

In the months ahead, the College Board said it will work closely with its membership and partners at Educational Testing Serivce, the world’s largest nonprofit educational research and assessment organization, to better meet the needs of students and colleges.

Roberts said it’s still too early

to predict the possible impact of the redesign.

“We will continue to pursue a holistic admission policy,” he said. “I don’t expect the test to become more important.”

The SAT was last altered in 2005, when an essay portion and additional testing time were added and the total possible score was increased from 1600 to 2400.

—compiled by Jiaer Zhuang

NEWS

IN BRIEF

LeFevre resident reports possible hazmat scare LeFevre dormitory was evacuated Wednesday morning after a suspicious white powder was found in a microwave in the student lounge. A sign on the microwave read, “Use at your own risk,” which prompted a student to contact authorities.

“That sort of thing generates a response from the hazmat team,” said Deputy Fire Chief

Please recycle this newspaper

Britt Grimm.

The Charlottesville Fire Department was dispatched to the McCormick Road residence hall at 10 a.m., and students were evacuated from the residence shortly after. Responders established a clear perimeter around the building, blocking anyone from entry.

Fortunately, Grimm said, a

student claimed the microwave and the material was deemed safe by the hazardous materials team.

“We had a student come up to us and say the microwave belonged to him, and he had burned some food and put baking soda in it and moved it into the lounge,” Grimm said.

“He had put a sign on it in case

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anyone tried to microwave something.”

Incidents like this are rare, making it all the more important to follow protocol when one arises, Grimm said.

“All [indicators] were giving our guys the impression that maybe there’s a little bit more to this than just powder in a microwave,” Grimm said. “We

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go into this assuming that it’s a hazardous material ... [These cases] aren’t really common, but they’re not necessarily unheard of.”

Students were allowed to return to the dorm around 11 a.m., Grimm said.

University housing officials were unavailable for comment.

—compiled by Emily Hutt

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Comics Opinion Life Sports Arts & Entertainment

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Comics Thursday, February 28, 2013

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DJANGEO BY STEPHEN ROWE

OROSCOPES

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Some of your psychic wounds, though they may not go deep, are still fresh enough to be tender to the touch. The one who is compelled to “touch” will help you discover this.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Often, people want to change another person instead of improving their own scene. You know better.

Your efforts are best invested in selfdevelopment, and you’ll take great joy in the process now.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). The best dancers don’t look at their feet to make sure they are doing it right. They just dance. Someone is likely to be capturing your performance on video or in memory, and you can always analyze later.

THE ADVENTURES OF THE AMAZING <THE> A-MAN BY EMILIO ESTEBAN

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Share your talent. Because you have a wonderful eye and a gift for creative interpretation, you make people pay attention to the glorious details all around us.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You respect the privacy of others, but you’re still very curious about what goes on when you’re not there.

Intimacy is created in a delicate balance between respect and curiosity.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). If you finish one short assignment today, it may be enough to make your whole weekend feel productive -- provided the assignment is something you really wanted to do.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You have the kind of friend who shows you what community and friendship really mean. That’s a person to celebrate and cherish when you get the chance this weekend.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You’ll have fun and let your social guard down, too, but don’t let it fall too far. Open books look like a mess, and they don’t fit neatly anywhere, either. Stay a little mysterious.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You want “next level” access in this video game of life, but like any game, you won’t get there until you’ve taken the steps to gain the key. Even the cheats can only help you if you’re in the game.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You have a healthy respect for yourself, but you don’t often preen for hours in the mirror like a model getting ready for a magazine shoot. Today may be the exception, as you’ll be in just the mood to get playful with your image.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You approach many aspects of life as an art, including love. Selfdoubt is a normal part of artistic development that you may be experiencing, but keep going, and you’ll regain your confidence.

SOLE SURVIVOR BY MICHEAL GILBERTSON

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (March 16). The next six weeks bring new partnerships, alliances and joint ventures. April is a pleasurable break from routine. May increases your determination. The progress of a project may be delayed in June, and this works in your favor. Lucrative bonuses come in April and July. A new relationship bond is formed in August. Taurus and Libra people adore you.

Your lucky numbers are: 39, 14, 32, 14 and 2.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Certain loved ones have earned your trust and plenty of freedom, which you gladly give. Be sure to stay involved, though. Your care and support are still needed.

(NO SUBJECT) BY JANE MATTIMOE

GREEK LIFE BY TOO FRAT FOR HENSEL

A BUNCH OF BANANAS BY GARRETT MAJDIC & JACK WINTHROP

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Chiquita import Sailor’s heavy jacket 1968 to the present, in tennis Gathers on the surface, as a layer of molecules Small image displayed in a browser’s address bar Quick break Subject of a 2010 biography subtitled “The Voice” Marie Antoinette’s loss Title boy in a Humperdinck opera Forearm bones Word before and after “yeah” “Whoa, baby!”

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Sockeroo On ___ with Gulf of Finland feeder Have ___ with Unimaginative gift, maybe Sprang

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“Madness put to good uses,” per George Santayana

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She was on the cover of back-to-back issues of Time in September 1997 Metalworker’s tool Sweater material It stops at Manhattan’s Washington Square and Rockefeller Center Affair of the 1980s Bygone political inits.

Sushi fish Part of the Iams logo

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Fraternity letters Side by side See 67-Across “You’re welcome, amigo” Line that ended in 1917 Consistent with Leave rolling in the aisles “Good job!”

Ride in London Rice-A-___ Talk show times: Abbr.

Pal “Kapow!”

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NEWS

Thursday, February 28, 2013 | The Cavalier Daily

Three-Day Weather Forecast TODAY High of 51˚

TONIGHT Low of 31˚

Provided by the Cavalier Weather Service

TOMORROW High of 49˚

Cloudy skies clearing to Partly cloudy skies becoming Mostly sunny skies, with become partly sunny, with mostly clear, with westerly southwesterly winds shifting to winds turning to the northwest northwesterly winds at 7 to 11 mph the west at 9 to15 mph at 5 to 9 mph

TOMORROW NIGHT Low of 29˚ Mostly overcast, with temperatures sinking into the upper 20s

SATURDAY High of 46˚ Partly cloudy skies, with temperatures increasing to the mid 40s

A trough of low pressure will drift from the Ohio Valley to the Northeast, passing to our north in the next few days. This will bring cool and breezy conditions for the next several days here in C’ville. Then high pressure will move in for the beginning of next week, keeping below average temperatures throughout the region.

To receive Cavalier Weather Service forecasts via email, contact weather@virginia.edu

Tuition | Master’s programs retain tuition structure Continued from page A1 of the limited number of MA programs and the fact that it

operates under different rules, Zelikow said. “Students in a professional master’s program are in a different situation

than students here to pursue a doctoral degree,” he said.

In the long run, the financial restructuring change should

make the graduate school more self-supportive and help to manage the costs the University takes on by paying tuition

of students . As a result, the University can become more competitive with peer institutions, Edelson said.

FOIA | Private funding suggests vote-buying, Fisher says Continued from page A1 saying his request was being processed. Fisher has not heard directly from any Committee members.

He expressed two main concerns with private funding of the campaign.

“Money being pumped in [suggested the Honor Committee

was] trying to buy votes, and thus cheapen the process when the focus should really be on the merits of this issue,” Fisher said.

Private funding could also be mistakenly perceived as University funding, and therefore University endorsement, he said.

According to his FOIA request, “distributing free food and promotional materials (such as bev-

erage koozies) to first-year students in their dormitory halls,” gives the incorrect impression the University administration supports the reforms.

Nash said opponents of the reforms, like Fisher, mistake the Honor system for a criminal justice system. “[Fisher’s arguments are based on] the misconception that our

system is a criminal justice system,” Nash said. “That is not the case, and there are key differences.”

The Law School has little experience with the honor system, Nash added.

“The Law School faculty haven’t reported an honor offense in over a decade,” he said. “[It’s] hard to criticize the problems,

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if people haven’t actually been through the system.”

Nash declined to comment on the source of private funds, saying the information would be released through Fisher’s FOIA request.

The Cavalier Daily also submitted a FOIA request earlier this week regarding funding of the reforms.

A4

Opinion Thursday, February 28, 2013

The Cavalier Daily “For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it.”

—Thomas Jefferson

Kaz Komolafe Editor-in-Chief Charlie Tyson Caroline Houck Executive Editor Managing Editor Kiki Bandlow Meghan Luff Operations Manager Chief Financial Officer

Rate my MOOC

MOOC review sites yield little useful data Anonymous forums are among the Internet’s grimmest landscapes. Academically oriented websites like ratemyprofessors.com are pitched at a more sophisticated level than their non-academic counterparts — such as gossip forum Collegiate ACB, a dark younger cousin of Rate My Professors — but students still post with venom, often to the exasperation of professors who dare to give grades below a B-minus.

Students publishing on Rate My Professors evaluate their instructors based on defective criteria, as if easiness and hotness had anything to do with a professor’s quality. Though Rate My Professors is founded on a questionable ethic, and yields results of questionable accuracy, the existence of such sites is understandable. Given college’s skyrocketing costs and the inconvenience dropping a course can entail, consumers want confirmation their professors will deliver the goods, and the grades, they need.

Rate My Professors is nothing new, but coursetalk.org is. A student review site of massive open online courses, Course Talk has in recent months emerged alongside other MOOC review forums such as grademycourse.com and topfreeclasses.com. It’s no surprise that MOOCs, which arose from the same Silicon Valley sensibility behind crowdsourcing, would generate online spaces for students to flip out about their flipped classrooms.

The MOOC review sites have

been drawing a disproportionate share of positive comments compared to sites like Rate My Professors. It’s not hard to see why: MOOCs are free, and if you don’t like a class you can drop it with impunity.

The MOOC review sites offer a fascinating glimpse into the population of nontraditional learners enrolled in online courses. Students from Stockholm to Macedonia, posting on Course Talk about a University of Pennsylvania MOOC on modern American poetry, say the class has allowed them to “dwell in possibility.”

But websites like Course Talk tell us little about the quality of various MOOCs. Such forums sketch an incomplete picture. Rate My Professors does too, but to a lesser extent.

The real indicators of whether a MOOC is good or not lie in the big data: how many of the thousands who initially sign up for a course end up dropping it, how many complete the assignments and how many fail. Student feedback is useful, but a better measure of course quality is student engagement.

Course Talk also attracts a biased sample pool. Students who submit negative reviews on Rate My Professors might be motivated by altruism or spite. They might wish to shield fellow students at their school from a poor class, or they might hope to wreak revenge, however trivial, on a despised faculty member by encouraging others to boycott the course. Neither incentive

applies to MOOC-takers. Students in MOOCs are not members of the same tribe the way students at the same school are. And fewer than 10 percent of MOOC users finish courses they begin. Dropping out online is easier, and cheaper, than dropping out in person.

Students who lose interest in a MOOC and drop out are unlikely to take the trouble to post a negative review. The students posting are more likely to be the ones who stick with a course and enjoy it.

The sample pool for MOOC reviews is also proportionally much smaller. If three students out of a 30-person University class post on Rate My Professors, that data, while incomplete, might tell you something useful about the class. If 30 students out of a 30,000-person Coursera class submit online reviews, that data is diluted to the point of insignificance.

MOOC review sites also have the potential to amplify the problems of sites such as Rate My Professors. Some academic topics do not lend themselves to the flash and flair that drive enthusiastic Internet traffic. A chemistry explosion is more interesting to watch than a philosophy lecture. And the power dynamic of such sites — thousands of people shouting down a lecturer — makes professors beholden to the sometimes not-so-intellectually pure interests of their students: which they already are, of course; but the online world was a chance to do things differently.

Editorial Cartoon by Peter Simonson

Featured online reader comment “This author does miss one important point. After hearing the facts about act and intent, a key function of Honor juries is to decide the question of triviality, what is or is not openly tolerable within the UVA community of trust. While the committee might lament jury nullification, unless it occurs during the act/intent phase of deliberations, aren’t they just exercising the judgment afforded them on the triviality question about tolerability? That is the key piece of the puzzle where consolidating power does not make sense and randomly selected students offer a perspective that could be very different from that of a member of the committee.”

“Publius,” responding to Nick Hine’s Feb. 25 article, “Reforming a perspective.”

Letters to the editor I was shocked and horrified when I read of the indignities heaped upon Julia Horowitz by the thoughtless souls at UTS (“A busload of problems,” Feb. 25).

That UTS might expect Ms. Horowitz to familiarize herself with the bus system’s routes (described in depth on their website) strikes me as purely unreasonable. Shouldn’t the service offer Horowitz a personal guide through the ins and outs of UTS? She has, after all, deigned to ride along with the peasants.

And not just any peasants — but peasants who speak Chinese!

Can’t the drivers enforce a Suburban-English-only policy?

I can only begin to imagine the terror Ms. Horowitz felt as the bus lingered near a “dilapidated apartment complex” for an arduous 13 minutes. The unsavory undergraduate and graduate students who reside at

what can only have been University Heights might have spotted her and confused her for one of their own! She might have been subjected to the spectacle of a “peasant” eating a chili dog from the 7-Eleven next door!

Most shocking was Ms. Horowitz’s report that the bus driver refused to promptly return Ms. Horowitz to her home. Doesn’t she know her place? How could she let the bus schedule get in the way of catering to Ms. Horowitz’s every demand?

I don’t know what our University — nay, our society! — has come to when a student such as Ms. Horowitz must suffer so.

These are totally reasonable grievances from an abundantly thoughtful columnist, and they should be taken VERY seriously.

THE CD

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OPINION

Thursday, February 28, 2013 | The Cavalier Daily

Print culture

A

The romance of print lingers, even for today’s digital-frenzied students

recent article in USA Today newspaper at the University of discusses the propensity Tampa, said this nostalgia for for college newspapers to the traditional medium is “a switch to a predominantly digi- little deeper than everyone’s tal medium of pubfirst impression, lication. Our own which is that stuKATHERINE RIPLEY editor-in-chief dents are ignorant OPINION EDITOR Kaz Komolafe was or are buying into quoted as saying the romance of print.” that college readers are “seeing “The romance of print” — is their news online through Twit- that the charge of the critics? It ter and Facebook so what we seems as though our generation wanted to do was give them has found itself in a catch-22. the news where they wanted to We are criticized for being stuck read it.” in our smartphones, addicted I admit that much of my inspi- to technology, forgetting how ration for my writing now to communicate. But when it comes from Twitter. In fact, comes to student journalism, the aforementioned USA Today we are pressured to “keep up article came to my attention with the times,” to leave behind through Twitter. But I feel there anachronisms like print papers is something disconcerting that are no longer practical — about the way this, and other that is, no longer profitable. news analysis, portrays our As much as I took issue with generation — that we are tech- The Cavalier Daily’s semiweekly happy, losing the sentimentality publication redesign, I now of print and demanding that realize the change may have the medium of news change to been necessary to contend with meet our demands of rapidity the decline in the revenue from and convenience. print advertising. But I still take The end of the USA Today arti- issue with the stereotypes — the cle qualifies that though college stratification of generations, newspapers have been shifting and the conflicts that make us toward digital media, they are feel guilty about loving print in also the publications most likely a time that it is dying, for fear to remain attached to print that we may be set apart from culture. Dan Reimold, advisor our peers, for fear that we may to The Minaret, the student be branded “romantics.”

Well I, for one, have no shame academic to gain insight from novels, poetry and plays. We in being a romantic.

Let’s start breaking down readers remember the ways these stereotypes. To the people in which the print medium who believe my generation can enhances our greatest works of only read in digital form, talk to literature, their plots and their the students in my English class: characters. We remember the the girl who said that she reads climax of a Jane Austen novel, in which the nothing — protagonot even “We empathize with the feelings nist finds n e w s articles of the young heroine, share her a n o t e from a or Collab suspense as we read the words former assignshe reads — “you pierce my soul f i a n c é m e n t s surrepti— off a ... I have loved none but you.” computer Imagine receiving that message in t i o u s l y left on screen, a text or an email.” the desk; and the we empagroup that thize with reached a consensus that Kindles are ter- the feelings of the young herorible, that they cannot compare ine, share her suspense as we to the satisfaction of turning the read the words she reads — “you pierce my soul ... I have pages of a book.

And to those people who might loved none but you.” Imagine think that we are merely igno- receiving that message in a text rant romantics: think about or an email. It doesn’t measure the true value of print, how it up.

We readers remember the enhances the way we feel, the way we remember, the way emotions evoked from the words we come closer together. As an created on the page, and the English major, I may be biased words destroyed on the page. in saying that we lovers of lit- In Emily Brontë’s “Wuthering erature can sympathize most Heights,” we grieve as Catherine with the relationship between and Linton’s love letters burn in the heart and the page, but the fireplace. Had Nelly Dean you don’t have to be a literary taken young Cathy’s iPhone and

deleted her text messages, the sentiment would not have been as powerful — nay, it would not have been there at all. There is no emotion in looking at a screen and hearing that mechanical raindrop sound, as you watch the disappearance of something which you could never feel in the first place, could never touch, could never imagine your lover touching.

Yes, these novels have romantic qualities, but we love them because they reflect real emotions, real grievances, real resolutions of life. We love our print newspapers because they conjure real emotions within us, as we turn the pages to reveal a story, an op-ed — arranged in columns like the pillars of a coliseum, the text standing powerfully, saying, “Here I am.”

Print as a medium may be dying, but as a principle, it will always be preserved in our literature, and in our memories.

My generation is not afraid or ashamed to defend print as an integral part of human culture, as it will remain for the rest of our lives.

Katherine Ripley is an Opinion editor. She can be reached at k.ripley@cavalierdaily.com.

A House divided

W

Congress’ polarity helps constituents better voice their concerns, but compromise is still necessary

ith the budget seques- of the situation. On many of the tration looming Friday, issues facing our divided House, threatening the nation “We the people” are also unwillwith across-the-board spending ing to compromise. Texans, for cuts that would fail instance, facing to address the longthe issues of illegal RUSSELL BOGUE term debt problem, immigration firstOPINION COLUMNIST political pundits hand, are unwilling abound who are to support a bill that is too lenient castigating Congress for its inabil- on those who enter our country ity to compromise. And indeed, and take advantage of our serour lawmakers’ negligence on this vices without paying taxes. Libfront is disheartening. It sends eral Massachusetts is ready and a message to both the American willing to back national health people and foreign governments care, having experienced the that our magnificent experiment success of “Romneycare,” while in representative democracy may voters in Alabama passed an not work so well after all, espe- amendment to their state’s consticially when it comes to reachtution in November of 2012 that ing a resolution on tough issues. bans mandating anyone to particSending such a message when ipate in any health-care plan (an nations like China are seeking amendment the Supreme Court international validation for nondemocratic regimes damages the subsequently nullified). Voters case the Western world has been in red states balk at higher taxes making for our system of govern- to balance the budget, while blue ment. But while we should place states generally expect a marsome blame on our representa- ginal tax increase on the upper tives, we must temper our finger- bracket before they will allow pointing with a healthy dose of their representatives to negotiate reality: a polarized Congress is a on entitlement reform.

Or consider more divisive product of a polarized populace. issues.

When it comes to quesIn many respects, our legislative branch is working exactly as it tions like a woman’s right to an should. We may have only our- abortion, the division in Congress is no product of lawmaker stubselves to blame.

It is easy to blame the federal bornness; the pro-life and progovernment for our problems. choice camps differ too greatly Part of the job description of in their views for there to be any congressman or congress- any compromise. In all these woman is being a scapegoat for instances, the partisan divide the American people. But the in Congress is merely evidence easy path obscures the reality that our system of government

is working: the people’s voice is being heard. The only problem is that the voice of the people is highly discordant.

Our founders constructed a system of government that substituted an efficient, majoritydominated legislature (like the British parliament) with a more complex system with built-in checks and balances that ensured that the voice of the minority could be heard. Naturally, when the minority is sizable and vocal, our government will grind to a halt — and the founders wanted this. They wanted contentious issues to gum up the system, slowing down the gears of legislation so that all facets of the proposals could be hotly debated. They substituted efficient policy-making — the likes of which can be found in countries like China — for a slower, more thorough approach.

What we are witnessing now is the fruit of their efforts: the American populace cannot itself reach a consensus on many of the most pressing issues of our day, and so our Congress has dutifully stumbled from political impasse to political impasse.

What can be done? In part, nothing. We live in a tough era of policy making. We have to make difficult decisions; our politics will necessarily be messy. As a people, we can work toward consensus ourselves by engaging with our neighbors through that long-forgotten duty of civic

engagement: going to town-hall meetings, having difficult conversations, listening to opposing points of view. Nothing can possibly be more contentious than the issues that our founders faced during the framing of our government — a time that led some of our foremost politicians to face off in deadly duels. Perhaps we need more of that in our modern-

of Hamilton’s devising must reemerge in the 21st century. The American people may be divided, and consequently we may elect polarized candidates; but the men and women who represent us in office should also be clear-headed negotiators, able to balance the needs and desires of their constituents with the necessity of compromise. Representatives should always have an “Nothing can possibly be more eye for advanccontentious than the issues that ing the national interest, which our founders faced during the requires giveframing of our government — a and-take and protime that led some of our foremost hibits ideological entrenchment. politicians to face off in deadly If you take nothduels. Perhaps we need more of ing else away that in our modern-day Congress? from this article, take this: when you elect your day Congress? next representative to Congress But another solution lies with — or any other legislative body the very body of people I’m — make sure the individual you absolving of blame. We may have elect doesn’t sacrifice the ability a system of government that to compromise in order to faiththrives on minority rights, but fully represent your interests. we were also supposed to have Electing highly partisan politirepresentatives that rose above cians will only deepen the Conpartisan clamor to find solu- gressional divide, and we’ll have tions amenable to both camps. no one but ourselves to blame.

Some may disagree with me — especially here at Mr. Jefferson’s University — but I believe Russell Bogue’s column our representatives ought to in appears Thursdays in The some respect dilute our passions Cavalier Daily. He can through calm and logical reasonbe reached at r.bogue@ ing: the “enlightened statesmen” cavalierdaily.com.

Blown out of proportion

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Grade inflation at universities hinders students’ academic gain

fter receiving a graded test administrations at Princeton, back in class last week, I Harvard and even the Univerwondered how many of the sity. In 2004, Princeton took a students swarming the professor stand against grade inflation by at the end of class to discuss their instituting grading guidelines grades would complain about to unify grading standards for being marked too each academic ANDREW KOURI high. I assumed department. none, but I thought OPINION COLUMNIST Such a policy about the nature might help of grading errors on tests: cer- lower grades in humanities tainly not every grading error courses — which typically dish was detrimental to the students. out more A’s than the natural In fact, it was probable that many sciences and engineering. students received grades that But Princeton students may were too high because of mis- be at a disadvantage, especially takes in grading. Since none were because other schools have yet to complaining about it, however, I follow suit. Studies show that in cunningly deduced that students general college students’ grades prefer receiving higher marks. have been going up. American This makes sense because, after colleges and universities have all, our grades are commonly seen average GPAs rise from used as a metric for academic 2.93 in 1991 to 3.11 in 2007. performance. High academic Barring the possibility that performance leads to opportunistudents have somehow become ties both at the University and smarter over the past 25 years, beyond.

I offer that grade inflation And yet, I am confident that explains the improvement and GPA, an ancient metric, is losing results in a decrease of the qualany meaning it still holds as ity of education at a university. universities around the country All else equal, grade inflation succumb to “grade inflation.” suggests that students are able Grade inflation is defined as “the to achieve the maximum grade tendency of academic grades with a lower amount of effort, for work of comparable qualmeaning that students are not ity to increase over time,” and learning as much as they could has been debated in the past by

our education, why have univerbe.

For example, assume that you sities nationwide not set safeknow you must take three equal guards in place to combat grade weight tests in a class. Further inflation? First, I would blame suppose that, thanks to grade faculty — giving A’s is easier than inflation, you received a 95 per- giving F’s. Having to deal with cent on two of the tests, whereas students who complain about 25 years ago you would have grades can be time-consuming, only received an 87 percent. In but giving people the grades order to get an A in the class, they want can help overworked you might calculate that you professors avoid the hassle. Furmust study only enough to get an ther, some departments require a report 80.2 percent on the “And yet, I am constating why final exam, whereas a student 25 years ago you fident that GPA, an may have would have needed ancient metric, is performed to study more in order to achieve a losing any meaning it poorly in a 96 percent. I believe still holds as universi- class. Thus, following the decreased exposure to the mate- ties around the coun- the path of rial corresponds to a try succumb to “grade least resistance, facweaker education. inflation.” ulty may G ra d e i n f l a t i o n have conalso shifts the traditional bell-curve model to the tributed to grade inflation by right, bunching grades in the doling out higher grades.

Second, I assert that the U.S. higher quartile. This skewing gives truly stellar students less higher-education regulatory distinction from their peers. At boards are also to blame. All uniPrinceton, policies have made versities should, each year, be earning A’s more challenging, required to publish to a national which in my view makes excel- database the average grades lence that much more reward- given across all disciplines. Currently, employers need to make ing.

So if grade inflation weakens assumptions about the varying

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degrees of grade inflation at various schools, but an officially published database would allow employers and graduate schools to more fairly compare Wahoos and Tarheels.

Another solution would be to report grades as a number rather than a letter. It seems inefficient to me that exams are scored on a quantitative basis, yet final grades are converted to a letter, which is then converted back into a number in the form of GPA. In a digital world, it is no longer infeasible to report grades on a percentage-based scale out of 100. Compared to letter grades, exact numbers would help distinguish stellar students from students scraping by at the margins.

I have written before about overemphasis on GPA in students’ education, but I do wonder — if we are going to have such a quantitative measure of academic performance, why not at least make it accurate?

Andrew Kouri’s column appears biweekly Thursdays in The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at a.kouri@cavalierdaily.com.

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Life

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Top 10 Things You See at the AFC

1

The texter: I don’t know what it is, but during my semiannual, once-every-never workouts I always come across this guy. He sits on one of the bench press machines and whips out his phone.

Five very strenuous minutes of heavy texting ensue — yet there is not a single movement made involving weights.

Don’t get me wrong, he does a great job looking the part with his masterfully-cut sleeveless T-shirt. Still, I’m guessing he could just as productively continue his thumb workouts in Club Clem.

2

The girl trying to do yoga: As if I wasn’t breathless enough from trying not to fall off the elliptical, yoga girl only adds to my discomfort. Seriously, few things make me more uneasy than watching someone try to contort their body in ways that are not physically possible. The downward dog reverse headstand-tree pose is not a thing, and thus impossible to make happen. I understand regular yoga, but apparently there’s something about the AFC that induces yoga in the extreme. Don’t your legs hurt?

The throwback outfit: There are very few criteria to fulfill when putting together a workout outfit. It must be easy to move in and preferably doesn’t show sweat — bonus points if there’s a touch of frattiness thrown in.

What consistently amazes me is the one person who shows up in full ‘80s workout gear.

For whatever reason, this is usually an older man. I am all about the “you do you” mentality, but I’m also a little confused. Reliving your glory days could be so much more fun in somewhere that is not a college gym.

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5

The attempted run/flirt: Romantic comedies make it look so easy.

Run up next to someone, smile and casually challenge him or her to a race.

Thirty minutes later, you’re practically married. The real-life application is not quite as easy. I have witnessed, much to my secondhand embarrassment, someone actually fall on his face while trying to talk to a girl. As much as I wish I were kidding, this happened. I sincerely hope the two are at least Facebook friends at this point.

6

The overachiever: The pace of my workout is usually determined by the beat of whatever song I’m listening too.

Call it OCD, but I like to match up the movement of my feet to a song’s bass.

The biggest thing workouts have taught me, along this vein, is running to dubstep inevitably leads to said runner looking like a spastic squirrel. I’m sorry treadmill neighbor, but 140 bpm is not a good look. How do your legs move that fast without falling off?

4

The music that’s too loud: As I’ve said b e f o r e, i t ’s impossible for me to run without music, and for most people, I know this is the case. Now, I know that I am in no place to judge what type of music gets you going — I alternate between a country playlist and ‘90s hip hop — but when your music is so loud that everyone around you can hear it through their own headphones, you may need to reconsider what you’re blasting. Is Lil’ Mama’s remix to Avril Lavigne’s “Girlfriend” a timeless hit? Yes. Are you a third-year male grad student? Yes. For the sake of your eardrums and your dignity, please turn the music down.

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7

From failed pickup attempts to elliptical man watching Bravo, the AFC is not a walk in the park

By ANNIE MESTER | Cavalier Daily LIFE COLUMNIST

The never-ending conversation: It’s exciting to see people you know at the gym. First off, friends are generally a good thing. Second, having someone see you at the gym can be used to convince your parents you did actually go. But, when you’re three-quarters of the way through your workout and the breathing isn’t coming naturally anymore, it becomes difficult to maintain a normal conversation. Word of advice from a professional elliptical-texter: it is easier and more coherent to reach me this way. I will even laugh a little to myself when I type out “lol,” just so you know it’s real.

8

The guy on the elliptical: I don’t know why, but recently my Twitter feed has been filled with angry tweets about men using the elliptical.

Once at a gym, it becomes pretty clear the typical elliptical user is a female. Still, there are no rules saying a guy can’t use one, per se. It provides a legitimate form of cardiovascular activity. The judging begins solely when the man can’t take his eyes off the Kardashian family. All he needs is to say he’s “totally down for margs later” and girl world is his.

Someone trying to do homework: I will always marvel at the person who brings reading with them while they work out. I can barely read in the car; the motion makes me extremely nauseous. Trying to read while my limbs are actually physically in motion will thus never make sense to me. Nonetheless, being able to leave the gym having been productive on both the academic and physical front must be the greatest feeling in the entire world. As one who comes to the gym mostly to procrastinate, I seriously applaud that type of strength and character.

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10. The intramural champion: There is always some sort of bask e t b a l l action happening on the AFC courts.

Be it grad students trying to relive their first-year glory days or a tryout-only team whose members didn’t make club, there will inevitably be someone who takes the game too seriously. Being an intramural champion is nothing to take lightly — you get a shirt and everything. Competition is healthy and makes everything more fun, but too much can be alarming.

Really — no one is prepared for a Reggie Miller situation to occur. I know the AFC can get real, but let’s tone it back to Kardashian-level real.

Elliptical guy will appreciate that anyway.

Photos courtesy (in order): Dillon Harding | The Cavalier Daily; pinterest.com; technobuffalo.com; healthyliving.azcentral.com; healthstylesexercise.com; nypost.com

Name: John Year: Second School: College Major: Economics and Mathematics Sexual orientation: Straight U.Va. involvement: 7 Society, Z Society, IMP Society, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta, Delta Delta Delta (President) Hometown: Lynchburg, Va. Ideal date (person): An attractive girl Ideal date (activity): Doing something with an attractive girl If you could date any celebrity, who would it be? Betty White. Or Olivia Wilde. Either one.

Deal breakers: She needs to speak English.

Describe a typical weekend: Usually spend a night or two going out — but not drinking; I’m not 21 — and spend the rest of the time complaining about people from New Jersey, and watching/re-watching Flavor of Love season two.

Have you ever streaked the Lawn? Twice. And if things go well on this date, it may be three times.

It’s okay to brag — what makes you a good catch? I know people who are campus cuties, so if things don’t work out with me I’ve got cooler friends you could meet.

Describe yourself in one sentence: I used to be fat.

Name: Catherine Year: Second School: Engineering Major: Civil Engineering Sexual orientation: Straight U.Va. involvement: Very involved Hometown: Fairfax, Va. Ideal date (person): Outgoing, confident, tall, muscular/athletic, slightly nerdy, experienced Ideal date (activity): Ice skating If you could date any celebrity, who would it be? Justin Timberlake Deal breakers: Overweigwht, carries a messenger bag, short, bad acne, boring, smelly Describe a typical weekend: I usually go out one to two nights, and then spend the rest [of the weekend] doing homework or exploring Charlottesville with my roommates.

Hobbies: Running, going to the gym, volunteering, cooking, knitting and meeting new people If your dating life were a primetime or reality show, what would it be? Flavor of Love Have you ever streaked the Lawn? Yes! It’s okay to brag — what makes you a good catch? I’m a lot of fun, down for almost anything, an excellent hugger and can give a mean handshake.

Describe yourself in one sentence: I’m a small ball of continuous energy and an interesting — if sometimes awkward — conversationalist.

A

Tall

By Alexander Stock Cavalier Daily Senior Writer

Catherine

Tale of Boy Meets Girl

John and Catherine exchange pleasantries despite an overwhelming difference in height

John and Catherine met at the Rotunda on Monday at 7:30 p.m. and went to Basil.

Catherine: My roommate and I were feeling ridiculous. I never really thought I would submit the survey, [but] I did.

John: I didn’t fill out the survey.

I would love to find out who did. I would assume it’s someone in my fraternity.

Catherine: I had no expectations other than to go somewhere new on the Corner.

John: I was completely unaware I had even applied, but I figured what the heck.

Catherine: I got to the Rotunda first.

I was the only person there. He was really tall.

John: She was the only person standing there, so I figured that was probably her. I walked up to her and asked her if she was Catherine. She told me I was tall, and I said, “Yup,” so things were off to a pretty great start.

My first impression was that she was short.

Catherine: I’d say he was my type.

John: The approximate foot-anda-half height difference probably

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John

wouldn’t lend itself well to [her] being my type.

Catherine: He’d been to every restaurant [past] the Rotunda [on the Corner], and I hadn’t been to that many, so he picked [Basil]. It was a good choice.

John: We talked a lot about travelling to various places after all the standard introductions, like hometown and major — the typical stuff. We didn’t recast “Star Wars” using the U.S. Presidents.

Catherine: We talked about how he doesn’t like New Jersey — I love New Jersey — how we’re going to get our friends back for making us go on this.

Just the standard stuff. And that his elementary school girlfriend carried the torch in the Olympics.

John: [In terms of what we had in common], we both had smaller families. We’re both from Virginia. We both [go] to U.Va. Catherine: Well, we both are kind of party people. We talked about beach week. We both knew people in the restaurant — just our friends. He was super interesting. We had enough in common to keep the conversation going.

John: I did not think there was any flirting going on. There was a friend vibe. [A friend vibe] definitely more so than a romantic vibe. We talked about what we were going to say during this interview, too.

Catherine: He told me funny stories about his redneck family. He had lots of funny jokes. Lots of joking about what we were going to say in the interview. The only girl he knew with my name was his ex-girlfriend’s mortal enemy so he was scared I would be her. I wasn’t.

John: I had a lot of work to do that night, so I had to go to the library immediately following dinner, but I walked her most of the way home. I paid — my mother taught me manners.

Catherine: Neither of us expected anything from it. It was just meeting someone new, getting a good meal.

He paid; he’s a southern gentleman.

John: As a date, it probably wasn’t too great — maybe a 7. But it was a good dinner.

Catherine: I doubt we’ll go out again, but we’ll definitely wave if we see each other! For what it was, I’d probably rate it an 8. It was a good night.

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Sports

SECTION

B

Thursday, February 28, 2012

The Cavalier Daily

www.cavalierdaily.com

INSIDE: Arts and Entertainment B3

Check out the Football Blanding Brief on page B2 MENS BASKETBALL

Junior forward Akil Mitchell has performed admirably while being forced to play heavy minutes as the team’s lone big man due to injuries to forwards freshman Mike Tobey and sophomore Darion Atkins.

Mitchell has averaged 12.6 points and a team-high 8.7 rebounds while starting all 27 games.

Virginia hosts Coach K’s Duke

Blue Devils visit Charlottesville Thursday, hope to halt home team’s JPJ winning streak at 15 games

By Daniel Weltz

Cavalier Daily Sports Editor When a weary Akil Mitchell saw freshman forward Mike Tobey putting on his practice uniform to take the court for the first time in weeks, the junior forward could not contain his elation. He realized immediately that Tobey’s return meant that he would get a break every now and then.

“I got so excited I jumped all over him,” Mitchell said. “I was just jumping all around.”

Mitchell, who came to the University as an undersized power

Dillon Harding Cavalier Daily

U.Va. blanks GW, 11-0

forward, has been thrust into heavy action at center for the undermanned Cavaliers. He is one of many players for Virginia that has thrived in an unfamiliar role, being forced out of necessity to figure things out quickly. Whether it be Mitchell’s fierce post play, junior guard Joe Harris’ lights out shooting or a deep and talented freshmen class providing coach Tony Bennett with effective minutes, players have exceeded expectations across the board.

Few would be surprised to Please see M Basketball, Page B2

BASEBALL

No. 19 team wins eighth straight, remains unbeaten with dominant midweek win

By Michael Eilbacher Cavalier Daily Associate Editor

Seeing the George Washington baseball team in Charlottesville will always bring back memories of one of Virginia baseball’s finest moments: Will Roberts’ perfect game March 23, 2011.

Wednesday, there was no perfection at Davenport Field, but four Cavalier pitchers combined for a dominating shutout performance in No. 19 Virginia’s 11-0 win against the Colonials to keep the team perfect on the season.

Freshman Trey Oest took the mound for Virginia (8-0) a little more than a week after throwing six shutout innings in his collegiate debut, throwing another five scoreless innings against

the Colonials (0-6). The righty was sharp early, retiring the first three batters he faced in order. He faced some jams in the second and fourth innings, but he escaped both of them to keep the game scoreless.

“From the get-go, I had the first quick inning, then in the second inning, it was a little bit longer, and I knew that I didn’t have my best stuff exactly today,” Oest said. “My goal was to get the batters out early, and try to make them go early in the count, not to try to go into deep counts.”

Oest was economical in his pitching, needing just 61 pitches to get through five full innings, and he filled up the strike zone all day, allowing just two hits while striking out two.

“Trey’s throwing strikes and that’s the number-one most important thing we preach to our pitchers — challenging contact, getting contact early in the count and throwing strikes — and he’s doing that,” coach Brian O’Connor said. “He’s not perfect, and nobody is. Hopefully every time that he gets out there, it’s a learning experience for him.”

Against Colonial freshman starter Max Kaplow, the Virginia offense struggled to gain much traction in the early innings, and they did not pick up a hit until the third frame. Kaplow’s pitches traveled in the low 80s, and Virginia was forced to sit back and try to find a pitch to Please see Baseball, Page B2

Marshall Bronfin | Cavalier Daily

Sophomore outfielder Brandon Downes finished 3-for-5 with three runs and two RBIs including his third home run in eight games this season.

MEN’S LACROSSE

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

No. 18 Syracuse host Cavaliers as historic programs battle for 29th time

conclude season

No. 6 team faces Orange Struggling Cavs Freshman goaltender Dan Marino will be tested in the hostile Carrier Dome Friday.

The Garden City, N.Y. native has started all four games for Virginia this season, allowing 8.72 goals per game.

Squad braces for Thursday matchup at NC State, regular season finale Sunday versus Florida State

By Michael Eilbacher Cavalier Daily Associate Editor

A late season slide has left the Virginia women’s basketball team with only a slim chance of making an NCAA tournament appearance, but going into their final weekend of the regular season, the Cavaliers are still determined to finish strong.

“I think all of the pressure is off now,” coach Joanne Boyle said.

“We can recover, we can have a great last two games and we can have a great showing in the ACC tournament if we want. As long as there’s games out there to be played then you have something to play for.”

Please see W Basketball, Page B6

Marshall Bronfin Cavalier Daily

By Zack Bartee

Cavalier Daily Senior Associate Editor The No. 6 Virginia men’s lacrosse team will head to Syracuse, N.Y. to take on the No. 18 Orange in the Carrier Dome Friday evening in the team’s first true road test and first matchup against a ranked opponent this season.

The annual regular-season series between the two storied programs began in 1995, and in the 25 meetings since coach Dom Starsia took the helm at Virginia in 1993, the Cavaliers (4-0) hold a slim 15-13 series

lead, 17 games of which were decided by one or two goals.

The two teams have combined for nine of the last 14 NCAA Championships, and the success of both programs adds even more intensity to the rivalry.

Virginia has won seven of the last eight regular season matchups between the teams, falling 12-10 to the Orange (1-1) in 2011 in its last trip to the Carrier Dome before triumphing last year at Klöckner Stadium 14-10.

“I think you have two programs that respect each other

a great deal and have typically played the game at a fast pace,” Starsia said. “The way Virginia and Syracuse play, they go up and down the field, they play fearlessly. It’s a great game to watch and it’s a great game to be involved in, and it just seems like it brings out the best in both teams.”

In the Cavaliers’ last game before hitting the road for New York , the team pulled away from Mount St. Mary’s in the fourth quarter for an 18-11 victory. Junior attackman Mark Please see M Lacrosse, Page B2

Marshall Bronfin | Cavalier Daily

Senior guard China Crosby is the only Cavalier to start all 27 games this season after returning from a second ACL injury to her left knee.

Student athletes should not be paid Johnny “Football” Manziel and Jadaveon Clowney. Two household names that any sports fan knows, and two guys that don’t get paid despite headlining SportsCenter just as much as professional athletes. Along with many other college superstars, these guys bring in millions for their universities each year via ticket and jersey

sales, along with national televi- student-athletes $2,000 a semester. sion exposure. For all the revenue Since then, some have called for these college athletes bring in, even higher salaries for college athletes. The proshouldn’t they start posal has even garbeing paid?

CODY SNYDER nered the support That’s what NCAA of some big names, president Mark Emmert had in mind back in 2011 including ESPN’s Mike Wilbon. when he supported a proposal Sorry Mike, but you are mistaken.

Even as a track athlete here at to allow conferences to pay their

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the University, I completely reject the idea. Sure, I would love to get two grand a semester, but I don’t see how I am deserving of it. I like to think that I already receive a lot of benefits as a scholarship athlete.

The number one thing: a free education. Many athletes don’t even have to live up to the aca-

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demic standards of their classmates in gaining admission to schools across the country. The University is a great example of this — an accomplished high school prospect can attend the top public school in the country for free without actually having the Please see Snyder, Page B6

B2

SPORTS

Thursday, February 28, 2013 | The Cavalier Daily

Five-star safety Blanding picks Virginia The Virginia football team l e a r n e d We d n e s d a y t h a t safety Quin Blanding would become the second Bayside High School standout and five-star prospect to commit to the University this month.

Blanding, the top-rated safety in the 2014 recruiting class and the number four prospect overall according to Rivals. com, announced his decision in a press conference at the

Virginia Beach high school.

The 6-foot-2 Blanding becomes the highest rated recruit to commit to the University under coach Mike London’s tenure, and he will join fellow Bayside High School product running back Taquan Mizzell, who officially joined

the 2013 recruiting class on National Signing Day Feb. 6. London has had success attracting talent from the Tidewater area, and the duo will join fellow Bayside graduates sophomore cornerback Demetrious Nicholson, sophomore linebacker Henry Coley and freshman safety Anthony

Sports

IN BRIEF

Cooper.

Blanding’s announcement represents a boon for Virginia after a tumultuous offseason that included the departure of five coaches from London’s staff. Blanding became the third straight top-rated Hampton Roads prospect to commit to the University, joining Mizzell and freshman defensive end Eli Harold, who quickly carved out a niche for the Cav-

aliers’ defense this season.

Blanding finished his junior season of high school with five interceptions and 111 tackles to earn Beach District defensive Player of the Year honors. He also had success as a receiver, notching 55 receptions for 1,035 yards and six touchdowns and was named a first-team All-Beach District wide receiver.

—compiled by Daniel Weltz

M Basketball | Tobey’s return adds much-needed depth Continued from page B1 learn that the Cavaliers’ (19-8, 9-5 ACC) opponent Thursday, Duke (24-3, 11-3), leads the ACC in point differential this season.

But far fewer would have predicted that the second best point differential would belong to a Virginia squad that graduated three starters last season and used a school-record three freshmen in the starting five of their season-opening loss against George Mason — one of three losses on the year against Colonial Athletic Association opponents.

This latest challenge — ailments to big men Tobey and sophomore forward Darion Atkins — appears to be winding down at the most crucial time imaginable. Although Atkins did not play in the team’s win against Georgia Tech and has registered just 28 minutes in the past five games, his teammate appears ready to give the Cavaliers some much-needed front court depth. The 6-foot-11 Tobey returned from mononucleosis in the team’s 82-54 win against the Yellow Jackets Sunday, just

in time to face national powerhouse and third-ranked Duke.

The Cavaliers will relish Tobey’s presence as they look to extend their John Paul Jonesrecord setting winning streak to 16 games, score their first win against a top-3 opponent in more than a decade and all but assure an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. To earn the upset, they will need improved post defense to help slow the ACC’s top-scoring offense and reverse some ugly history against the Blue Devils, and Tobey’s return is a step in the right direction.

“In our system, I have to be able to fly around, I have to be able to do things, and when I can’t foul I get a little tentative defensively,” Mitchell said of needing to avoid foul trouble. “I feel like it’s hurt us a little bit in the last two games.”

Virginia has not beaten Duke since a 68-66 overtime victory Feb. 1, 2007 at John Paul Jones in the arena’s inaugural season. In the past 10 years, the Cavaliers have lost 17-of-18 matchups, including 15 by double-digits, and the Blue Devils remain the only ACC team that Bennett has

not beaten as head coach at the University.

“There’s a lot of things that Duke tests you on,” Bennett said.

The Blue Devils are led by legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski, whose 951 career wins are the fourth-most in men’s Division I history. They boast veteran talent in seniors forward Mason Plumlee and guard Seth Curry, who rank second and third in the ACC in scoring at 17.5 and 16.8 points per game, respectively. They are also closing in on their 11th number one seed in the NCAA Tournament in the past 16 seasons. Despite Duke’s long list of accolades, senior point guard Jontel Evans, who is still searching for win number one against the Blue Devils, remains unfazed.

“We have to negate all that, ‘they’re ranked, this and that,’” Evans said. “We just have to come in and play our game.

They put their shorts on just like we do. If we come in here with the mindset that we can play with these guys and we’re connecting on all cylinders and doing the things we’re capable

of doing, then we should come out with the win.”

V i r g i n i a l o s t l a s t y e a r ’s matchup in Durham in heartbreaking fashion as then-senior forward Mike Scott and Evans each missed potential game-tying 3-pointers on the team’s final possession and the Blue Devils hung on for a 61-58 win to snap the Cavaliers’ 12-game winning streak and beat Virginia for the eighth straight time.

“We’ve come so close to beating those guys,” Evans said. “I just know it’s going to be a war zone. Guys are gonna battle and give everything they got, we just have to pay attention to detail and just finish strong.”

During last year’s loss at Cameron Indoor, Scott scored a game-high 23 points as part of a senior season that saw the 6-foot-8 inch forward earn First Team All-ACC honors. This year’s team has replaced Scott’s 18.0 points per game by committee, relying on Mitchell, Evans and Harris to provide the scoring punch.

After ranking at the bottom of the ACC in points per game for much of the season, Virginia

has begun to climb out of the conference cellar. The Cavaliers have scored 73 or more points in five of their past six games after reaching that total just five times in their first 21 games. They have been spurred by unselfishness and chemistry between the team’s top three players and, in particular, by the dazzling play of Evans, who has appeared fully recovered from a right foot injury that slowed him earlier this season.

The senior guard has registered 15 assists and just one turnover in the team’s last two games, and his playmaking has catalyzed an improved halfcourt offense. His strong play has prevented teams from keying in on Harris and Mitchell, who rank fourth and 19th in the ACC in scoring, respectively.

“Different guys step up every week,” Mitchell said. “When Joe has a mismatch we get it to him, when I have a mismatch they get the ball to me, so it’s a threeheaded monster. When Jontel’s playing great it just helps that.”

Virginia is 48-115 against Duke all-time. The 9 p.m. game will be televised by ESPN.

Baseball | Unbeaten Cavs carry momentum into weekend set Continued from page B1 drive.

“Those guys are always difficult,” O’Connor said. “He’s a soft-tossing lefty that can throw a change-up at any time, and sometimes it can get you off balance. In the first three innings, we hit a lot of fly balls. Our hitting coach talked to our position players about what our approach needed to be going into the game, because we knew what we were facing, but unfortunately we didn’t make that adjustment until the fourth inning.”

In that fourth inning, the Cavaliers broke through in their second time around against

Kaplow. Sophomore outfielder Brandon Downes led off the inning with a solo home run to left center field and the team scored three more runs in the inning on mostly singles, relying on aggressive baserunning to challenge the Colonial arms in the outfield.

The outburst gave the pitching staff room to breathe, and the Cavalier arms performed well for the rest of the game. Freshman Josh Sborz relieved Oest in the sixth and went 1.1 innings in scoreless relief. Junior lefty Kyle Crockett made his first appearance of the year in the seventh and eighth innings, giving up two hits. Crockett, who is one of the older members of the Vir-

ginia staff, missed the first two weeks of the season with a back injury.

“Kyle obviously has the most experience out of anybody on our pitching staff,” O’Connor said. “It’s great to have him back in the mix for us.”

Virginia picked up insurance runs in the sixth and seventh, and then exploded for a monster inning in the eighth, scoring five runs. After sophomores shortstop Branden Cogswell and outfielder Mike Papi singled, sophomore outfielder Derek Fisher drove them home with a triple down the right field line.

Downes added another RBI on a single, and was driven home himself on a two-run double

from sophomore third baseman Nick Howard to give the Cavaliers the 11-0 advantage.

Virginia now prepares for a round-robin weekend series in Charlottesville, with two games each against Harvard and Bucknell. The four-game schedule will give O’Connor a chance to mix up his lineup, creating opportunities for new faces on the field.

The Cavaliers will continue their weekend rotation of freshman Brandon Waddell Friday, senior Scott Silverstein Saturday and Howard Sunday, but O’Connor has not yet decided who will start in the other game of Saturday’s double-header.

“You play four games in three days, and you’re going to get a

look at a lot of different position players, give some guys opportunities to play, and you’re going to see some pitchers extended more than they have been previously,” O’Connor said. “I think it’s good to do that before we start conference play, to really get a true understanding of what we have.”

Both Bucknell and Harvard enter Charlottesville looking for their first win. The Bison have started the season 0-6, most recently dropping a three-game series at Duke this past the weekend. The Crimson, along with the rest of the Ivy League, have yet to play a game this season, and will open their 2013 campaign against Bucknell Friday.

M Lacrosse | Team looks to improve shot choices, Starsia says Continued from page B1 Cockerton and junior midfielder Rob Emery each recorded a career high in points with seven and five, respectively, while redshirt junior attackman Nick O’Reilly also tallied four assists and a goal during the downpour on the University Hall Turf Field.

“This year we don’t have that superstar guy, so we’re all working together as a team,” Cockerton said.

Virginia was able to dominate the Mount by peppering the goal with shots, outshooting the Mountaineers 51-34, as well as clearing the ball a perfect 18-of-18, compared to the Mount’s 11-of-20 success rate.

The Cavaliers have increased their shots per game from last season from 36.5 to 55.5 during the first four games against the same four opponents.

“We talked to the kids in December about increasing our

shots per game,” Starsia said.

“So we’re doing what we talked about trying to do. Now the shot selection, the quality of the shots we’re getting in every instance is not perfect, we need to continue to improve there, but I think we’re headed in a good direction that suits this team with the rules that are in play.”

Despite the early season success, Virginia’s offense may run into trouble against a staunch Syracuse defense that has allowed only nine goals and 35 shots per game and features first-team All-American and reigning Big East Defensive Player of the Week senior Brian Megill.

“Syracuse is very good defensively,” Starsia said. “They’re a little bit of a work in progress offensively — they’re a little bit like us I’d say. So this could be a little bit more of a low-scoring game than you’d see ordinarily because you have two teams that are still trying to figure

it out on offense and have a little bit more experience at the defensive end of the field.”

Syracuse does boast noteworthy talents on the offensive side as well, however, as senior midfielder JoJo Marasco and junior attackman Derek Maltz — who were both named preseason honorable mention All-Americans and to the Tewaaraton Award watch list along with Megill — have combined for 11 of the Orange’s 34 points through two games.

Though Virginia’s offense has scored an average of 15.5 goals per game this season, Starsia is still concerned about the early identity of the unit that graduated major contributors in All-American attackmen Steele Stanwick and Chris Bocklet and midfielder Colin Briggs with last year’s squad.

“We’re not going to be the team we want to be unless our attack continues to develop,” Starsia said. “We started the season and

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we knew that we were going to be able to generate opportunities from the midfield, but ... our attack has to continue to improve so we can depend on them, because we just have to have that as the season goes on.”

A more pressing concern for Virginia is that senior All-American and captain Chris LaPierre may be forced to miss his fourth straight game with a sprained knee. Starsia said Tuesday evening he hopes to see LaPierre return within the next week or two, and described his status for Friday as a possible. A dominating two-way midfielder, LaPierre’s presence will certainly be missed if he is unable to take the field against the Orange.

“The leadership is still there ... he’s very engaged in what we’re doing, so that piece is still in place,” Starsia said. “I think essentially we don’t have our best player yet.”

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how freshman goaltender Dan Marino will handle the bright lights in his first start in the historic rivalry, especially in hostile territory. But Starsia does not believe the noise will shake his goalie’s composure.

“He’s a pretty cool cat, I don’t know that he’ll get ruffled by the whole thing,” Starsia said. “For a kid going into the Dome, especially a freshman who’s never been in there, never seen that background and all, it’s going to be different. And he’s somebody that we’ll keep an eye on as the game goes on certainly, but I think Dan will be alright.”

After a succession of chilly games in Charlottesville and Stony Brook to open the season, the Cavaliers are looking forward to playing indoors this weekend.

“Seventy and overcast in the Dome on Friday sounds pretty good,” Starsia said. “I think we should head toward Syracuse.”

Faceoff is slated for 6 p.m.

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arts & entertainment

Extreme makeover: Clemons edition Permanent art exhibit enlivens library’s drab atmosphere by ty vanover If you’ve ever stowed yourself away in Clemons Library during the wee hours of the morning, writing papers or studying for finals, you know what I mean when I say that Clemons can start to look and feel a little like a tomb around 3 a.m. If you’ve been in the library lately, however, you may have noticed a bit of a change to this crypt. “Identity,” a newly installed collection of student artwork displayed throughout Clemons, is the Student Arts Committee’s answer to the library’s drab aesthetics.

“Clemons is ugly — there’s no other way to look at it,” said third-year College student Kelsey Petrie , co-chair of the Student Arts Committee. “Even the administration knows it. They eagerly took on our project and are as excited about it as we are.

Anything we could do to spruce it up would be an improvement, and we gladly took on that challenge.”

The 34 works of art currently on display in Clemons were chosen from 75 student entries.

One of these students who has a

piece on display, first-year Lindsay Ardiff, is both excited about the opportunity to show her art and surprised at the attention her work is getting. Her piece, entitled “Never Forgotten,” is featured prominently at the stairway landing between fourth and third floors.

“When I submitted it, I didn’t expect that my drawing would be hung in such a high-traffic location,” Ardiff said. “I was thinking more like a dark corner of the Clemons basement. On top of that, I didn’t expect so many people to stop and read the little ID tag next to it. I am happy that my art finally has an audience.

It will just take a little getting used to.”

Ardiff ’s story highlights the project’s second purpose: making student art visible. Many of the pieces, including Ardiff ’s work, are products of the art classes taught here at the University.

“The piece was my final project for Drawing I last semester, and my professor had encouraged me to submit to a show,” Ardiff noted. “I figured it wasn’t fair to

keep the drawing rolled up in my room at home.”

The exhibition provides arts students an opportunity to take their hard work and display it where many others will have access to it. “It gives their work a chance to be seen by a new and different crowd, one that may not stray over to Arts Grounds or Ruffin Hall quite as often,” Petrie said.

The title of this semester’s display, “Identity,” perfectly matches the idea behind the exhibition.

The wide variety of works is a testament to the culturally and artistically diverse individuals in the University community.

Although the gallery will be a permanent fixture in Clemons , the content will be regularly updated. Student Arts Committee will be accepting submissions next semester for an entirely new and different show.

“It is our main goal to liberate students from their bittersweet relationship with the library and turn Clemons from dreary to lovable through artistic experience,” Petrie says.

INSIDE

Courtesy Marshall Bronfin

Courtesy Sundance

From hepcats to hipsters

“The Harlem Shake” PAGE B4

Misunderstood subculture’s favorite artists gain popularity to fans’ dismay by james cassar We’ve all heard of them. Several shops in Downtown Charlottesville cater to their every sepia-toned whim. Even I, the shameless writer, have been deemed one since early on in high school — it’s probably my gargantuan Buddy Holly glasses or my aversion to cultural trends. But I digress.

The hipster actually first pounced on the pulse of underground culture in the 1940s when jazz aficionados and the rise of offkilter beat poetry were all the rage in certain social circles.

These “hepcats” were also known to experiment with cannabis, which influenced their psychedelic progeny two decades later.

Bing Crosby, who started to enjoy success in the early ‘40s, was referred to as being “the first hip white person born in the United States.” Ah, those were the days.

Fast forward nearly 75 years and the definition of hipsters has been reinvented in favor of a Starbucks-toting, MacBookflaunting aspiring blogger with a penchant for obscure tunes and the quizzical wardrobe choices of a conflicted lumberjack.

It’s a bitter caricature that’s been lampooned ad infinitum, but Urban Outfitters’ design philosophy and sizable catalog attests to its staying power.

This subculture also fumbles with a serious disconnect in the space-time continuum. Despite their affinity for Apple products, most toy with boxy Polaroids and typewriters, as well as the delicious sounds of vinyl records. It’s almost like hipsters are longing for the defining characteristics of wartime America. These trends have bled over into films like the coming-of-age smash hit The Perks of Being a Wallflower, the beloved anti-rom-com

romantic comedy(500) Days of Summer and the subtly named I Am Not A Hipster, which played to a small crowd during the Virginia Film Festival this past October.

This isn’t a bad thing by any means. All of the movies I’ve listed are excellent in their own right and their portrayals of this new batch of hepcats are earnest and enjoyable. But their success demonstrates a perverse trend: being a hipster isn’t just for the hipsters anymore.

Theatric pop-rock act fun. was named Best New Artist at this year’s Grammy Awards, and the neofolksy Bon Iver earned the same honor during the previous year’s ceremony. In both of these cases, the award is a misnomer, as both bands were formed years before their recognition and had previously gained critical traction in their respective circles before being recognized by mainstream music lovers. All it takes is one song, a persistent trigger finger on a radio turntable and a million record sales to turn that relative obscurity around.

Ask a hipster about this, and they’re more pissed than proud.

For a subculture that prides itself on staying chronologically backwards, the future fame and mainstream status of their private joys find them hopping on to some band further buried in audience darkness.

But with Bon Iver being featured on Kanye West’s last album and shows like IFC’s Portlandia gaining steam, I don’t see a sign of hipster culture slowing down. Let’s just hope I can avoid buying new glasses just because everyone else is wearing the same kind.

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Thursday, February 28, 2013 | The Cavalier Daily

‘harlem shake’ rattles nerves Latest unfunny YouTube phenomenon lacks entertainment value, transforms otherwise sensible folks into fools by will mullany The word “meme” is tossed around quite a bit these days, but most people are unaware that the term, meaning an idea that spreads from individual to individual, was originally coined as an analogy to biological units like genes that selfreplicate, mutate and spread. Although many innocent memes have become part of our everyday lives, including catchy goat remixes and “lolcats,” one sinister virus of a meme has recently infected the brains and dignity of millions — the “Harlem Shake.”

If you are mercifully unfamiliar with the Harlem Shake, let me briefly outline the formula that started this epidemic. First, an individual dances alone for 15 seconds to American DJ Baauer’s song “Harlem Shake.” Then, when the beat drops, the video cuts to a large, strangely-clothed group of people dancing convulsively. Finally, as a growling sound plays, the video slows for two seconds and comes to an end. Simple as that.

We can blame vlogger Filthy Frank for the initial idea. His video featured several men in full body suits pelvic thrusting to the song, pushing their chests out and wiggling their shoulders from side to side. Then, a group of teenagers from Queensland, Australia borrowed Frank’s concept for their own video, added the jump-cut and slow-motion, and subsequently triggered worldwide chaos.

Since then, the number of Harlem Shake videos has increased exponentially. According to YouTube Trends, more than 40,000 of these videos had hit the web before Valentine’s Day and we can only imagine the amount that have been uploaded since. The ubiquity of this meme makes

everyone think they can add something unique to the conversation, but unfortunately every attempt ends with people looking like fools.

Not that everyone making these videos is an idiot — even the best can fall victim to this sort of plague. Just last week, hundreds of the University’s finest gathered on the Rotunda steps to film their version of the meme, many wearing masks and costumes to prevent themselves from being identified by saner viewers. One participant in a robot costume claimed that the Shake was “a great way to express yourself.” Later, however, she realized that it might have been “slightly silly.”

The fact that several sources refer to the Harlem Shake as an art form highlights the problem that underlies many pop culture phenomena of this sort. While the lack of effort needed to make a “good” Harlem Shake video makes it seem like an easy creative outlet, there is nothing creative about a rabble of hooligans making fools of themselves, then giggling like schoolgirls as they wait for their YouTube views. There have been a few legitimately funny videos, but the overall movement is a glorified game of Mad Libs, and each new video is merely one arbitrary variation on someone else’s set formula.

Even before the recent accusations that the Harlem Shake meme represents an appropriation and mockery of African-American culture, common sense should have told us from the beginning that this whole thing is detrimental to human society. Imagine what we could accomplish if every moment spent creating those 28 days worth of footage was put toward something worthwhile. Imagine what use we could make of the thousands of days the world has collectively spent watching the footage.

I’m not trying to rain on anyone’s parade. Just don’t “do the Harlem Shake.”

Courtesy Andrew Noh, Andrew Andreae

The 85th Annual Academy Awards: A Night to Remember?

Bigger’s not always better: Regrettable red carpet choices make for worst Oscars’ fashion of recent years — it washed Of all the Oscar cerby sofia economopoulos gown out her pale comemonies I’ve seen in plexion and strawmy days, this year’s turned out to be the greatest fashion berry blonde hair. The ladies contindisappointment yet. Bigger was appar- ued to disappoint in Armani — Naomi ently better at the 85th annual Acad- Watts’ silver, sparkly dress would have emy Awards — a maxim which applied been better suited for a New Year’s Eve as equally to the fashion choices as it fete than the classy Oscars.

The same can be said of Nicole Kiddid to host Seth McFarlane’s inapproman’s L’Wren Scott sparkly dress priate humour.

Best Actress Winner Jennifer Law- and Jennifer Hudson’s blue sequined rence in Dior, presenter Jennifer Anis- Roberto Cavalli gown with an awkton in Valentino and nominee Amy ward slit up the front. The cut and the Adams in Oscar de la Renta all favored color of Hudson’s dress could not have big, ballgown-style dresses with long been more wrong for the time and trains. Of the three, I was most taken place.

The final dress I had a major issue away by Adam’s and Lawrence’s attire.

Lawrence looked her age, yet classy, in with was Halle Berry’s. Though her her pale pink fairy-tale gown. Aniston’s Atelier Versace structured dress flatgown, on the other hand, was only eye- tered her figure, I was distracted by the catching due to its vibrant red color awkward stripes that made her look — other than that, it left much to be like an early 20th century prisoner.

Of all the dresses on the red carpet desired. It did not flatter her shape at all and was a classically boring choice, though, I was most drawn to Jennifer which has become Aniston’s signature Garner’s — a deep plum/magenta by Gucci — which she paired beautifully for red carpet events.

Moving on to more dresses I hated, with a Neil Lane diamond necklace Anne Hathaway’s was probably the that looked fit for Hollywood — or worst. Her pink Prada dress looked actual— royalty. Had Salma Hayek horrible all over — “business in the been as astute in her jewelry selection, front and party in the back” was how her high necked Alexander McQueen she described it, but I didn’t see any would have looked more regal and party anywhere. The front gave the sophisticated. Amanda Seyfried’s impression that she wasn’t wearing a silver dress by that same designer was bra and the statement the open back another of my favorites. The choker should have given was lost on her ala- neckline and intricate detail on her baster skin. Her dress was closing in on dress made it a unique red carpet being more annoying than her person- treat.

Save for these few highlights, howality, which is saying something.

Jessica Chastain had a similar color- ever, the rest of the dresses boring and ing problem with her beige Armani repetitive.

And the Oscars go to...

What’s funny about by jame a grown man playing with sock puppets, singing about female nudity in movies and joking about abusive relationships?

Not much. Oscar host Seth MacFarlane did just that and much more during the 2013 Academy Awards. Although there were some humorous moments during the show, MacFarlane crossed the line too many times to allow the broadcast to be family-friendly. While I wouldn’t have expected anything less from the creator of the similarly crude Family Guy, the Oscars generally have a certain prestige and level of classiness that was shattered by the unnecessary “humor” of the sub-par host.

MacFarlane aside, the Oscars were fairly lively and especially musical this year. Several nice surprises in the beginning included an elegant waltz by Channing Tatum and Charlize Theron to the classic “The Way You Look Tonight” and a musical number by Joseph GordonLevitt and now-Broadway star Daniel Radcliffe. Tributes to modern musicals featured Catherine Zeta-Jones singing “All That Jazz” from Chicago, a stunning rendition of “And I Am Telling You” from Dreamgirls by Jennifer Hudson and the well-anticipated performance by the cast of Les Misérables. I was worried that this particular performance would be awkward, but stars Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman pulled the mostly talented cast together to come out with a pleasing, slightly altered version of “One Day More.”

As far as the broadcast went as a whole, it could have been a lot worse.

Acceptance speeches were fairly con-

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cise and interesting to watch, with only a few winners forced off by the menacing Jaws music. Stand-outs included Daniel Day-Lewis accepting his very well-deserved Best Actor award with the right balance of humor and graciousness that many can’t seem to master and Jennifer Lawrence, who tripped on her way up to accept her award for Best Actress but managed to recover and make a breathless, charming speech. The presenters were generally entertaining as well and most had funny jokes, but I expected more from Paul Rudd and Melissa McCarthy, whose dry bit about voice-overs was less than humorous.

The winners this year were not entirely surprising. Life of Pie and Argo snagged the most wins, but not in acting categories. Day-Lewis and Lawrence were shoe-ins for Best Actor and Actress for their roles in Lincoln and Silver Linings Playbook, as was Hathaway for Best Supporting Actress. The very competitive Best Supporting Actor award went surprisingly, but justly, to Christoph Waltz for his role in Django Unchained — his second award in that category in just three years. Argo’s Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture wins were fair, but very typical of the Academy. I would have liked to see Django Unchained or Silver Linings Playbook win Best Picture, just to shake things up, but the Academy thrives on predictability. The past 12 months were an exceptional year for movies, but a host that was trying too hard to be controversial and predictable winners made the biggest night for movies somewhat drab.

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February 201330, | The Cavalier Daily Daily Thursday,28, August 2012 | The Cavalier

music

Courtesy Sugar Hill

the punch brothers’ raw talent blasts through boring normalcy by catherine jessee There are few things more entertaining than a prodigious mandolin player. Chris Thile, mover and shaker of the Punch Brothers, is one such musician. For playing such a small instrument his movements are exaggerated and almost frenzied. One of the great joys of the band’s show at the Jefferson Theater was watching him leap across the stage only to glance at his fingers and realize that they are moving so fast they blur.

Thile is not the only Punch “brother” with musical skill. Each member of the band is a classical master of his instrument, and is often recognized as one of, if not the best, in his field. Gabe Witcher (fiddle) has contributed to various film music scores as a violinist, Chris Eldridge (guitar) founded the critically acclaimed bluegrass band the Infamous Stringdusters and Paul Kowert studied under Edgar Meyer, a bluegrass musician and composer

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known for arranging pieces ranging from jazz to classical. Thile himself, who mastered had the mandolin by age 14, was the driving force of Nickel Creek, bluegrass’s sweethearts of the 1990s. Such success at a young age naturally prompts fears of peaking too soon, but Thile has continued to grow as a musician and challenge himself.

The Punch Brothers, who formed in 2006 , are young and growing still, but with their instruments they are old, perhaps even wise.

In their freshman album as the Punch Brothers, Punch (2008), Thile composed a fourmovement, 40-minute string suite. Though there hasn’t been a composition of that capacity since, the band hasn’t lost any sense of ambition. In the documentary How to Grow A Band , which details the formation of the band, its talent and its subsequent success, Thile consistently refers to a concern about stretching

himself musically but his fears subside when he plays for his fans who enthusiastically applaud after every song.

The band is certainly prolific, having released three albums since 2008 and multiple singles along the way. The Punch Brothers, both as individuals and as a group, have earned the enthusiastic praise of virtuosos like Bela Fleck and Yo-Yo Ma. But this nominal acclaim is hardly what makes the Punch Brothers so compelling. The records themselves are unfailingly good and the composition is meticulous.

Their live show hypnotized the Jefferson Theater audience with their music but also with their general quirkiness. The Punch Brothers are all passion and no condescension. Composed or improvised, planned or spontaneous, the live sound that comes from a Punch Brothers concert is like nothing you will hear again.

music

Courtesy Universal Pictures

‘thao nguyen with the get down stay down’ is on its way up

by zafar shaw

Courtesy Ribbon Music

identity thief’s lack-luster plotline leaves few laughing In my book, Melissa McCarthy can do no wrong. From her breakout gig in Bridesmaids to her most recent role as a big-haired Florida swindler in Identity Thief, McCarthy has proven that brazen bodily humor can actually work. Co-starring with the always-gloomy Jason Bateman — who plays a mild-mannered businessman named “Sandy Bigelow Patterson” – McCarthy is left carrying Identity Thief solo through much of its nearly two-hour runtime.

Initially, Diana (McCarthy) — whose name is later discovered to be Dawn — steals Sandy’s identity and ends up stripping him of all his finances.

Upon realizing he has been utterly scammed, Sandy embarks on a hectic journey to confront the scheming Floridian. Due to a series of unfortunate and rather unrealistic events, Sandy is forced to journey cross-country with the seemingly psychotic Diana in an attempt to regain his identity. While on the road, the chemistry between McCarthy and Bateman is largely nonexistent, oscillating between hostile interaction and uncomfortable sexual tension.

Thankfully, McCarthy’s abrupt yet undeniably humorous outbursts keep the audience on their toes. At one point, McCarthy’s character intermittently bursts into a fit throat-punching and apparent ninja-like reflexes that are not only surprising but exceedingly hilarious. If you didn’t laugh, you were doing theatre-going wrong. But even McCarthy’s antics can’t save the second half of the movie, which is mediocre at best.

A ludicrous side-plot involving a ruthless bounty hunter and a band of arrogant drug dealers, one of which is played by rapper T.I., is neither rational nor even mildly funny. More of a filler than anything else, the side-plot adds absolutely no comedic value or overall sentimental takeaway. In fact, I believe it’s chiefly responsible for the film’s poor reception by critics.

Aside from McCarthy’s laudable performance, Bateman offers nothing refreshing to the plot. Mirroring his previous box-office roles (The Switch and Horrible Bosses), he seems to find himself in an inescapable abyss of bad luck. His character, Sandy, who initially comes across as the film’s helpless protagonist, is later completely overshadowed by Diana, who ultimately emerges as the movie’s true heroine.

Throughout their unconventional road trip, a few predictable yet emotional scenes grace the screen with mixed results. One sequence showcases Diana breaking down and admitting she was abandoned as a child and subsequently raised in numerous foster homes — she isn’t even aware of her real name. It is a bit unclear, however, what the true motivation behind such sentimental stabs is. Perhaps it’s a failed attempt at the cliché: never judge a book by its cover.

In the end, the true culprit behind the film’s mediocrity is its uninspiring script. Neither Bateman’s nor McCarthy’s lines are able to give them the flexibility needed to form a relationship that leaves viewers satisfied. Lackluster plot interludes coupled with tasteless action scenes ultimately leave audience members needing more.

poor

average

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good

by emily benedict The folk rock band Thao & The Get Down Stay Down originated in a town familiar to most University students — Falls Church, Va., or in other words “NOVA.” The group has since moved past its Commonwealth roots and is now based in San Francisco , but still remains relatively unknown after the release of their full length album We the Common.

If the album’s playful melodies don’t increase their popularity, their celebrity fans’ efforts to catapult the group to fame should do the trick. Glee actress and personal friend of Thao, Dianna Agron, was the director of the group’s music video for the song “Body,” from their previous album. And indie folk star Joanna Newsom, who is celebrating a recent engagement to the Lonely Island’s Andy Samberg, is featured in one of the tracks on the new album. But talent alone should be enough to warrant attention for this band.

Lead singer Thao Nguyen, a William & Mary graduate, founded the band in 2003 after meeting Willis Thompson in Williamsburg. Although Thompson and other original member Frank Stewart have since left the band, the quirky group has not lost its

excellent

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charm, largely remaining true to its original simplistic and melodic appeal on its most recent album.

Listeners will be getting down and staying down with the album’s first released single, “Holy Roller.” The melody will “roll over” you as Thao’s sweet voice serenades you and the simple strumming of the guitar and steady percussion beats resonate. Most of the other tracks build off this same theme, but a few songs like “City” experiment with more edge and a little more hard rock vibe. Even though the group is down a few members, the band has started to work more with harmonies — and successfully so — into tunes like “We the Common.”

But be careful: the catchy melodies and edgy harmonies have great potential to get stuck in your head. Only time — and a lot of time at that — can get them out.

Thao and her cronies just kicked of a national tour where they’ll be hitting up venues up and down the East Coast, including stops in Ashville, N.C. and Washington, D.C..

Hopefully this album is finally the one that brings the band the attention it’s deserved for years.

classic

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SPORTS

Thursday, February 28, 2013 | The Cavalier Daily

WHAT TO WATCH FOR THIS WEEKEND HOME Friday, 12 p.m., Baseball, Harvard vs. Bucknell Friday 4 p.m., Baseball vs. Harvard Friday, 7 p.m., Womenʼs Lacrosse vs. Maryland Saturday, 3 p.m., Baseball vs. Harvard Sunday, 12 p.m., Menʼs Tennis vs. Oklahoma Sunday, 11 a.m., Baseball, Bucknell vs. Harvard Sunday, 1 p.m., Womenʼs Basketball vs. Florida State Sunday, 1 p.m., Womenʼs Lacrosse vs. Penn State

AWAY Friday, all day, Swimming & Diving @ Menʼs ACC Championship in Greensboro N.C. Friday, time TBA, Track & Field @ Alex Wilson Invitational in Notre Dame, IN Friday, 1 p.m., Softball vs. Rhode Island in Rock Hill, S.C. Friday. 3 p.m., Softball @ Winthrop in Rock Hill, S.C. Friday, 6 p.m., Menʼs Lacrosse @ Syracuse in Syracuse, N.Y. Saturday, all day, Swimming & Diving @ Menʼs ACC Championship in Greensboro, N.C.

Saturday, time TBA, Track & Field @ Columbia Last Chance in New York Saturday, time TBA, Track & Field @ Alex Wilson Invitational in Notre Dame, IN Saturday, time TBA, Track & Field @ VT Final Qualifier in Blacksburg, VA Saturday, 3 p.m., Softball v. Hartford in Rock Hill, S.C. Saturday, 5 p.m., Softball vs UNC Greensboro in Rock Hill, S.C. Sunday, all day, Menʼs Golf @ USF Invitational in Dade city, FL Sunday, 12 p.m., Softball v. Furman in Rock Hill, S.C. Sunday, 4 p.m., Menʼs Basketball @ Boston Colloge in Chestnut Hill, MA

W Basketball | Senior Crosby prepares for final home game Continued from page B1 The Cavaliers (15-12, 7-9 ACC) suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Wake Forest Monday evening, falling 73-68 in overtime. It was Virginia’s fourth straight loss and sixth in seven games, but the team does not have time to dwell on yet another defeat as they make a quick turnaround for a Thursday evening game against NC State in Raleigh. The Wolfpack (13-15, 5-11 ACC) enter the game on a three-game losing streak themselves, most recently falling at rival North Carolina Sunday.

“It’s hard in terms of prep because we play three games in six days, so today we kind of had to move on,” Boyle said. “We’ve been living in this element of finishing games and all of that, and we’ve got to figure out a way to do

that, but at the same time, we’ve got a game in 48 hours, and we’ve just got to move on and do that.”

Virginia showed flashes of strong play against Wake Forest, including an impressive performance from sophomore Sarah Imovbioh. The forward has had an up-and-down season for the Cavaliers, dominating early in the season but struggling as the ACC schedule picked up. Against the Demon Deacons, she showed her immense talent by scoring 18 points and grabbing 18 rebounds.

Boyle is hoping that Monday’s performance is another step forward in Imovbioh’s first season on the court for Virginia. “[Monday] was one of the hardest games I’ve seen her play in a long time,” Boyle said. “She’s a [first year player], and she’s got to learn to finish better for us. Her

Achilles’ heel has been learning plays, and we’ll just progress and get better with that.”

Virginia will look to continue to develop its young talent Thursday as a largely disappointing season nears its conclusion. Sunday’s game against Florida State marks the final regular season contest for three Virginia seniors: guard China Crosby, center Simone Egwu and forward Telia McCall. The trio has started the vast majority of games for the Cavaliers this season, and their experience has helped the team remain competitive despite injuries to guards junior Kelsey Wolfe and senior Lexie Gerson.

Crosby is the only player to start all 27 games for Virginia, a remarkable feat given her injury history. The former McDonald’s All-American has undergone two

ACL surgeries on her left knee during her career at Virginia that have restricted her time on the court.

“One of my main goals was to play a full season, and I played a full season,” Crosby said. “I’m happy with the fact that I stayed on the court. I told myself I wasn’t going to be sitting out for nothing, and I made it all the way to the last two games of the season.”

In what could be her last game at John Paul Jones Arena Sunday against Florida State, the guard is hoping to continue to show the home crowd the spark that she has provided for Virginia in her limited career here in Charlottesville.

“I’m trying to go hard, trying to do what I can do, trying to show the fans what I was capable of doing these last four years,”

Crosby said. “It’s going to be a good game. Some of my family members are coming, and it’s the first time they’re going to ever see me play, so I’m just going to try to have some fun.”

Florida State (20-7, 10-6 ACC) comes into Charlottesville after an uncharacteristically weak stretch. The No. 24 Seminoles have dropped three of their last four games, including a shocking blowout loss to ACC lightweight Virginia Tech in Blacksburg Sunday. The Seminoles remain the highest-scoring team in the ACC with 77.6 points per game and they will present a strong challenge for the Cavaliers in the regular season finale.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Thursday against the Wolfpack and 1 p.m. Sunday against the Seminoles.

Snyder | Scholarship stars receive clothes, textbook, medical stipends Continued from page B1 grades to get in. Isn’t that enough of a blessing?

No? Well, the benefits don’t stop there for University athletes. We have this magical thing called the “Opportunity Fund.” Each year, we are allowed to spend $500 on clothes, $300 on school supplies and $300 on medical items — and

so long as we turn in the receipts, we get that money back. And schools supplies doesn’t even count textbooks — which some of us get free of charge as well. So when we ask ourselves if college athletes should be paid, it is important to remember they already receive benefits far and above what their non-athlete classmates typically receive.

As far as the original proposal goes, it would have all scholarship athletes receive the same amount.

This is a huge problem. With this system, I would potentially receive just as much money as Johnny Football. I don’t bring in anything close to the amount of earnings he does. No athlete from any sport other than football or basketball does.

Wilbon’s solution is to base the payment on performance or revenue generated. But who would judge our performance, and what arbitrary lines would be drawn to divvy up earnings?

The whole idea just screams trouble. Not getting paid is what keeps us athletes somewhat level-headed — walking around Grounds in all my team-issued gear already

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instills a sense of confidence.

If you start paying a superstar student-athlete too much, then the big man on campus will become even more headstrong — he becomes a walking celebrity, more so than he already is.

And can we really trust college athletes to spend a salary responsibly? I think some can, but certainly not all of us. At the University, what would we even spend it on?

We have the free education, free meal plans, money to spend on clothes and school supplies, free gear, free tutors and no co-pay when we go into the doctor’s office. We have everything we need and then some. Planting all this extra money into a studentathlete’s pocket would not end up well.

In a college environment riddled with alcohol, drugs and frat parties, giving student-athletes with few traditional expenses a huge salary will inevitably lead to poor decisions. Even professional athletes sometimes can’t handle themselves properly. We see their scandals and controversies on ESPN all the time. What leads us to believe that college athletes won’t abuse this money as well? Nothing, nothing at all.

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To add to the mess, it is not even possible to tie salaries directly to revenue brought to the university.

Title IX requires equal benefits for men’s and women’s sports teams in the NCAA. If you want to pay men’s college basketball athletes because they generate $11 billion during March Madness, you’d better start distributing that across the women’s sports before you commit an NCAA violation.

And on a principled level, paying female athletes less and marginalizing athletes in less popular sports just doesn’t seem to live up to our American ideals of equality and fairness. There is no good solution.

If you still feel bad for the superstar athletes out there that get no money in return, look at it this way.

Kobe Bryant now makes $281,000 a game. There are 82 games in a season which puts him at roughly $23 million a year — in addition to bonuses or endorsements. Had he opted to go college, you really think he needed that extra $2,000 a year? The superstar athletes will eventually get their money, and they will get a lot of it.

Second-year College student Cody Snyder is a varsity athlete on the men’s track and field team.