well-being of worcester • art in the park • gravity review • and more inside
volume xciii, no. 5 • october 10, 2013 | clarkscarlet.tumblr.com |
Jason Zelesky resigns Clark’s third senior administrator in four weeks to depart By Jenna Lewis scarlet staff
Last Thursday, Jason Zelesky announced publicly that he would be resigning from his position as Associate Dean of Students and Wellness Outreach Coordinator, effective October 18. He will be assuming the position of Dean of Students at Mount Wachusett Community College, located in his hometown of Gardner, Massachusetts. Zelesky has been a staple of the Clark community for 13 years. He began working at Clark in 2001, serving as the Associate Dean of Students since 2007. As part of his position, Zelesky oversees Residential Life and Housing, the Judicial Affairs process, Student Leadership and Programming, serves on the Athletic Board, is a Title IX Coordinator, and operates the Wellness Outreach Center. Zelesky hears the universities sexual assault cases, and has been granted the “Great Guy” Award by the YWCA of Cen-
the.clark.scarlet
Sonic Explorations in a Funky House The Sonic Explorers and John Funkhouser Quartet provide an evening of improvisational bliss By Matt Emmer living arts editor
courtesy of farm5.staticflickr.com
tral Massachusetts, which recognizes men who combat violence among women and children. Zelesky also teaches the Community Leadership FYI and facilitates the Difficult Dialogue Seminars. Zelesky said that the thought of leaving the students was by far the hardest part of choosing to leave Clark. “We have dynamic
conversations and interactions. Students like the ones at Clark are the reason I’m in student affairs. They’re bright, challenging, passionate, engaged students,” he said. For Zelesky, making the decision to leave the Clark community continued on page 3
The John Funkhouser Quartet visited Clark University’s Razzo Hall this past Saturday night, bringing with them an adventurous spirit embodied in their newly released album, “Still”. No, this is not the same Funkhouser who often engages in Larry David’s social faux pas in Curb Your Enthusiasm, John Funkhouser is a jazz pianist, composer, and educator at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Opening as a trio consisting of Funkhouser on piano and synthesizer, Greg Loughman on bass, and Mike Connors on drums, the band performed an incendiary version of the traditional “House of the Rising Sun” and Funkhouser original
“Leda.” The latter introduced Funkhouser’s virtuosity as both composer and bandleader. For the rest of the concert they were joined by Phil Sargent on electric guitar. This added element was introduced in a big way with the album’s first track, “Indigo Montoya’s Great Escape”, named humorously for Funkhouser’s adventurous cat. Sargent rode the song through several changes in key, time signature, and tempo, engaging in a blistering exploratory jam. The next song, “Deep”, was the possibly the most reflective tune of the evening. Beginning with a deceptively simple bass theme, the song truly illustrates the beauty of a band in which each instrument excontinued on page 11
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The Scarlet
The Scarlet
october 10, 2013
UPCOMING EVENTS
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF CLARK UNIVERSITY CONTACT scarlet@clarku.edu | clarkscarlet.tumblr.com
EDITORS Editor-In-Chief: Jeremy Levine Layout Editor: Rose Gallogly Web Editor: Pooja Patel News Editor: Sarah Cramer Opinions Editor: Keitaro Okura Living Arts Editor: Matt Emmer Sports Editor: Brian Kane Community Correspondent: Claire Tierney Photo Editor: Anna Spack
SCARLET STAFF Ethan Giles Hannah Rosenblum Jenna Lewis Jonah Naghi Maria Rotelli Ronald Gerber Scott Levine Senegal Carty Tyler Terriault Will Heikes Alicja Ganacarz Fileona Dkhar
CCN CORRESPONDENT Ethan Goldstein
LAYOUT STAFF Cami Ferreol Hannah Jaffe
PHOTO STAFF Cora Torton Jonathan Edelman Nainika Grover
[ CLARK ] Clark Bazaar at Red Square 10/11/13, 1:00 p.m., Red Square Coming Out Stories 10/11/13, 7:00 p.m., The Grind Beginner Ballroom Classes 10/13/13, 4:00 p.m., Bickman Multi-Purpose Room
[ WORCESTER ] Art In The Park 10/13/13, Elm Park Tea Party 10/12/13, 1-3 p.m., Museum of Russian Icons 2nd Annual Civil War Experience & Living History Weekend 11/10/13- 13/10/13, Green Hill Park
The Scarlet
october 10, 2013
news | 3
The Scarlet/News Well-being of Worcester How representatives intend to make Worcester a better city By Maria Rotelli scarlet staff
Last Thursday, the Democrats of Clark University held a panel with guest speakers Timothy McGourthy, Worcester’s Chief Department Officer, and Massachusetts State Representative Dan Donohue. The two spoke about the different projects and initiatives going on in Worcester, in particular certain areas downtown that are experiencing
Zelesky cont. continued from page 1
was not easy. “Sometimes you only get one opportunity in life, and if I didn’t take it, I always would’ve wondered ‘what if’. When it came down to the reality of being offered the position, I knew that it was the right professional move for me. It’s an advancement in my career.” Although leaving is a bittersweet experience, Zelesky is eager to begin his new position. “It’s a whole new challenge. It’s a new position at the school, so I have the opportunity to come in and make an impact.”
growth. Over 700,000 people come to the Hanover Theater each year, but there aren’t any good restaurants in the area. The DCU center and the Palladium face the same problems. What they are going to attempt to do is connect these downtown areas by adding sidewalks and better connect the roads to make a more cohesive theater district. The same thing happened many years ago with the Worcester courthouse. Many people worked there, but there was no parking or restau-
rants. Then four restaurants opened in the courthouse area, catering specifically to the employees and thus creating revenue. The representatives want to do something similar with the downtown theater district. McGourthy especially emphasized commercial growth. He wants to open up more lofts in older buildings, like the old factories or those on the canals. He also talked about more
But Zelesky isn’t the only one in transition. He is the fourth administrator to leave the University since the beginning of the semester, following Mike McKenna, Sean Sullivan, and Jarrad Nunes. These unusual circumstances have naturally raised red flags among the student body. It’s no secret that Clark has been undergoing major transitions in the last several years. After all, it’s a part of Clark’s mission statement: “Challenge convention. Change our world”—or in this case, “change our school.” In recent years Clark has made controversial changes, spanning from the expansion of the LEEP Program to the changes in student housing laws this past spring. “It’s obviously unusual to have this number of departures occur-
ring within a relatively short space of time,” acknowledged President David Angel. “There’s nothing else going on here,” he said. He attributed the change to the loosening of the job market. “For a long time in universities, it was hard to move around. Two or three years ago, we wouldn’t have been making these hires.” Although Clark’s size is one of the biggest drawing factors for the student body, the small size of the administration offers limited opportunity for upward mobility. “There is no fundamental driving force behind it,” says Rian Watt, Student Council President, of the departure of these members of the administration. “There are personal reasons behind both [McKenna and] Zelesky leaving, and I think a lot of
continued on page 6 photo by maria rotelli
students don’t realize that. You can’t keep talented people in one place for that long.” In terms of finding a replacement for Zelesky, the administration is currently examining all options, both inside and outside of the administration. “Clark does well when we can retain talented people,” said Angel. “It’s an important value for us to make sure that people who are really talented have the opportunity to move forward. But at the same time we’re looking to recruit talented, interesting people.” “It’s an opportunity for the University to institute change,” says Zelesky of the departures. Although the sudden departure of staff is definitely alarming, the opportunity to institute changes at Clark could be beneficial
in making the school more influential in years to come. The university may be changing, but Zelesky wants to remind students that he will always keep in contact. “I won’t be a stranger. There’s a whole cohort of students here that mean a lot to me. The loyalty isn’t about the college sweatshirt you’re wearing. I want to see the students here succeed. Whenever you do anything for thirteen years, it’s a part of who you are. Clark will always be a huge part of who I am.” We wish Jason Zelesky all the best in his new position at Mount Wachusett Community College. Jeremy Levine contributed reporting.
The Scarlet
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october 10, 2013
CLARKIE of the WEEK from other sustainability clubs come to the meetings, find out about what everybody else is doing, and apply to co-sponsor a program or an event. We do some events [of our own]; for example, we sponsored the Beehive Collective to come to campus. They’re a group that promotes sustainability and environmental awareness through graphic media. Scarlet: How did you get involved in salsa? Xavier: I did ballroom for a while before I came to Clark. When I got to Clark, I didn’t want to compete as much, but I wanted to do something that was more social and fun, so I joined Salsa Encendida.
ing picture books that feature people of color to students in local schools, read by people of color, so that they can see positive role models. Scarlet: Can you talk more about Unified Sports? Xavier: Unified Sports is a group that focuses on team building and social comprehension for kids with physical and mental disabilities. It’s an offshoot of the Special Olympics. [We play] team sports and work on skills, coordination, and socialization. Scarlet: What sports? Xavier: We focus primarily on soccer and basketball.
courtesy of xavier pierre-jerome
Xavier Pierre-Jerome Xavier Pierre-Jerome is a junior from Seattle with a double major in English and Psychology. He is involved in a number of clubs on campus and is an RA in Dana. This week I asked Xavier about his involvement in the Clark community.
Scarlet: What activities are you involved in on campus? Xavier: I’m in Salsa Encendida, I’m the Treasurer of the Clark Sustainability Collaborative (CSC), I’m the Educational Chair of the Caribbean African Student Association (CASA), and I’m involved in Focus, which is a support group for men of color. I’m also in Unified Sports, and I’m an RA. Scarlet: What does the Clark Sustainability Collaborative do? Xavier: It’s an umbrella group for a lot of other sustainability groups on campus. I help groups who are looking for money. [We] help fund them, organize them, and get them [going] in a positive direction. Representatives
Scarlet: Were you in Gala? Xavier: Yes. Not last year, but the two years before that. Scarlet: What countries did you represent? Xavier: The first year I did Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and the USA. Scarlet: What do you do as the Educational Chair of CASA? Xavier: I focus on global awareness and local awareness. For example, we had a meeting where we talked about the shootings in Kenya because a lot of people didn’t know about that. We also have discussions about Caribbean identity and [about] things going on in the community. Right now we are focusing on volunteering in the community through a couple of different means. One [involves] read-
Scarlet: Can you explain what Focus does? Xavier: Focus used to be a support group for Black and Latino males, but it has since expanded to include all men of color. It’s a way to support men of color academically and socially so that they feel connected to their school and see other people like them, because we go to a predominantly white institution and it’s not an uncommon experience to be the only person of color, especially male of color, in your class. In addition, [we] attend conferences as a group. We’re hoping to start some sort of dialogue on campus. We have also volunteered in the community, again providing role models for kids. Scarlet: Do you have any other hobbies or interests?
by Anna Spack
Xavier: I’m really interested in education; I want to be a high school English teacher. I’m also on one of the intramural soccer teams. I like reading. I like getting informed about a lot of different things and having challenging arguments. Even though I think I tend to challenge other people too much, I like when people stand up and we’re both being very critical and analytical of not only what the other person is saying but also of what we’re saying. [I like] finding different ways to develop perspectives and challenge beliefs or biases that you might not even know you have. Scarlet: Any fun facts about yourself? Xavier: I’m very mixed – I’m Haitian, Japanese, German and Welsh. I danced ballroom competitively for eight years. I also [helped build] the playground on Downing Street, which was a LEEP Project (there was a jackhammer involved at one point, which was awesome). Scarlet: What is your favorite spot on campus? Xavier: The library. Scarlet: Any particular part of it? Xavier: When I first got here it was the fifth floor. It helped [me] focus on [my work]. The library has so many different levels and so many different rooms that it really helps you do work. Thanks for the interview, Xavier!
The Scarlet
october 10, 2013
Angler rescues 300-lb bull shark Florida fisherman rushes to help fearsome predator during a catch-andrelease fishing trip
By Sénégal N. Carty
(NBC) - At his own peril, Orion Wholean of Placidia, Florida recently rescued a shark he had previously caught and released back into the water. When the shark did not swim away upon release, Wholean dove into the water, got onto the shark’s back and revived it by moving it to force water into its gills.
news | 5
Mysterious masked parachuters land near World Trade Center Police attempt to identify two people who recently landed in Lower Manhattan (NBC) - Concerns have been aroused by the sighting of two parachuters wearing helmets and dressed entirely in black, coming to rest near the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan at about 3 a.m. on September 30. Police are currently investigating the matter.
scarlet staff
Man learns to live on nothing but raw meat
Nigerian highschoolers use urine as a power source
Canadian Man Filmed Kayaking Down Drainage Ditch
Became a carnivore for the sake of his health
Girls displayed their invention at Maker Faire Africa
Reached speeds of up to 35 mph
(VICE) - Derek Nance of Lexington Kentucky put himself on a ‘carnivorous version of a Paleolithic diet’ about five years ago in an effort to remedy severe digestive problems. Nance now eats only raw meat, brushes his teeth with animal fat, and consumes rotten meat as a ‘probiotic’.
(FORBES) - Three fourteen-year-olds and one fifteen-year old from Lagos, Nigeria recently came out with an invention that removes hydrogen from urine, purifies it, and then uses it to run a generator. The invention was featured in Maker Faire Africa, an annual event where African ingenuity and innovation is celebrated and encouraged.
(METRO) - 27-year-old Ben Marr recently filmed himself racing down a concrete drainage ditch in British Columbia in a kayak. The daredevil used a camera strapped to his head to record the breathtaking ride.
The Scarlet
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CUSC in brief By Hannah Rosenblum scarlet staff
This week, the Clark Undergraduate Student Council meeting opened with new members of the council being sworn in and assigned to their committees. $160 was allocated to Maya Baum to go to the Limud Conference in the United Kingdom. $50 was allocated to the ACM for a JavaScript workshop that they will be hosting. The charter of the Clark Investment and Trading Society was approved. $280 was allocated to the Clark Investments and Trading Society. $330 was allocated to Food Truth to attend the Real Food Challenge conference in Minneapolis. Four members of the council went to the most recent meeting of the Worcester Student Government Association, and were met by Ex-Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray. The next meeting is November 3rd; all students are welcome. Though club sports’ support has historically been split between SLP, Athletics, and CUSC, these three groups will now be working together to transition club sports to being managed solely by Athletics. The meeting ended with Joanne Darrigo quoting Spiderman, reminding members of the council that “with great power comes great responsibility.”
Well-being of Worcester cont. continued from page 3
community activities on the commons, such as the highly successful stART on the Street. The last thing McGourthy wanted to share was the plans to open up a new hotel and parking garage in the main city square. A nice, big hotel in the center of town would be a great place for people to stay, and would hopefully become connected to the new, more organized downtown that they are working on. Dan Donohue is currently the
youngest politician in Massachusetts at 26 years old. He grew up in Worcester, went to school at Holy Cross, and states that he is “really excited about this city!” Because of his “Woostah” pride, Donohue really wants to get these projects up and running. One of the questions asked by a Clark student was “what about Main South?” The two representatives talked about the current initiatives to work on the Boys & Girls Club athletic buildings, which are set to be realized within the next couple of years. They also want to build new housing in the Main South area, cre-
ating a healthier and happier community full of diversity. Creating new local businesses and cleaning up the ones already in the area to increase revenue is also something of interest. Worcester is the second biggest city in Massachusetts, but it has a lot of flaws. This panel, however, gave students a sense of hope for the city’s future. If you want to keep up with some of the city’s initiatives, take a look at www.worcestermass.com.
october 10, 2013
The Scarlet
october 10, 2013
opinions | 7
The Scarlet/Opinions The opinions enumerated in this section represent those of the author and the author alone. They do not reflect the opinions of the editorial board, The Scarlet, or Clark University.
Cookies have gotten racist Syria, shutdown, and accepting the unacceptable By Jeremy Levine editor-in-chief
By Jeremy Levine The University of Texas chapter of Young Conservatives of Texas put on a bake sale last week at which the prices that students paid were dependent on their race. White males paid two dollars per item, Asian women paid 75 cents, and Native American women paid nothing at all. The Huffington Post is reporting that the objective of the bake sale, according to the group’s president, Lorenzo Garcia, was to demonstrate how affirmative action is “demeaning to minorities” and encourages “reverse discrimination.” Needless to say, this has caused something of a hubbub on UT’s campus and the country as a whole. The point of this article isn’t to talk about whether or not affirmative action is okay, or whether or not the club’s actions were okay. Rather, it’s to ask whether or not it’s okay that their actions weren’t okay. Most people I’ve told about this bake sale have responded with disgust. One pretended to vomit. People are clearly uncomfortable with the whole stunt, and their reasoning is completely logical: the bake sale is racist. But then we have something of a thorny political question. How unacceptable does something have to be to be unacceptable? It seems that there is some sort of middle ground where doing unacceptable things
editor-in-chief
courtesy of burntorangereport.com
is sort of allowed if you’re making a point. Take the guy who yelled “you’re worthless” while a congressman was giving a speech earlier last week, or participants in Occupy Wall Street using restrooms in local businesses. We expect protests like Occupy and the March on Washington. These protests block traffic and are really noisy, which is annoying, but we have laws in place protecting the right to be annoying. But not much has been said about racist bake sales.
What I’m getting at is a sort of grey area in which we’re willing to put up with things we don’t agree with. We expect dictators to abuse their citizen, but then we get bent out of shape when chemical weapons are brought into play. This is the “red line” that President Obama referred to last year in reference to Syria. We expect Congress to be gridlocked. Their approval rating has continued on page 8
English majors call them “canonized texts.” Booksellers call them “classics.” Most everyone else calls them “those books they make you read in high school but you’d much rather not read them so you read the beginning and end and look up the middle parts on Wikipedia.” But whatever you call them, they’re really just Big Important Books That Certain People Want You To Read. And who are the “certain people”? What makes a book a BIBTCPWYTR? In most cases, it’s a book that’s just really good. Something like The Great Gatsby or Crime And Punishment is labelled a “Classic” because it’s a crackin’ read. Or at least some people think so. These are people that are respected, smart, book-type people, and somewhere along the line, it was decided that these people are the ones who will decide which books are really good and deserve to be BIBTCPWYTRs. But I don’t know any of these people. I’ve never met them. There hasn’t been a formal introduction. I haven’t gotten coffee with them in the AC, or ran into them at a party. I haven’t worked alongside them in an office or a classroom, and I haven’t watched movies with them late into the night. They’re strangers. It doesn’t (or at least, shouldn’t), matter to me what they like. It matters way more what my friends like. Often, when I read a BIBTCPWYTR, I say “Yeah, that was good, sure.” I notice its value and appreciate it. But when I read a book that’s been recommended to me by a friend, it’s a completely different experience. Because to read a book recommended to you by your friend is to understand what your friend thinks is beautiful. It’s a way of getting to know someone that goes way beyond most conversations that you have during your day. If literature is supposed to make you a better person by helping you understand the world and the people in it, I see no reason not to start with the people that I care the most about.
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october 10, 2013
Cookies cont. Dear Sigmund, I’ve noticed that lately I’m having a hard time getting my work done. I try to get it done early, but sometimes end up having to pull all-nighters before an assignment is due. I know my grades would be better if I spent more time on homework, but I just can’t seem to do it. My parents say that I’m having too much fun, but really I just can’t sit down and get it done. What should I do? Thanks, A Procrastinator
Dear Procrastinator, I think every student in college at some point in time has found themselves procrastinating with schoolwork for a variety of reasons. It can be because there are so many distractions, so many other things that are more fun than homework and papers. But sometimes it’s just hard to sit down and find the motivation to do work. Like you, most who procrastinate realize that it’s hurting their grades and feel bad about this. Procrastination not only can take up a lot of time, but it can then undermine your ability to feel confident about being able to do the work. The desire to socialize with your friends can be a major source of procrastination, but sometimes feeling worried, anxious, or unhappy with your coursework also makes it hard to get things done. For example, you may have extremely high expectations to do your work perfectly, or on the flip side, not believe you can do your work well. It takes intentional action to avoid procrastination, and here are some tips for fighting it: • Make a plan. Schedule a specific time and place to work, get organized, and then follow through. It may seem obvious, but when you’re organized you are better able to get the work done. Also, being organized allows you give homework the time it needs. • Coach yourself when you get distracted. For example, your roommate asks if you want to hang out in the common room. Of course you want to, but maybe it’s not the best time to socialize. Try coaching yourself by thinking, “This is the time I committed for my paper. I can hang out with my friends at a time that doesn’t conflict with my work.” • Coaching is also useful when you have negative beliefs and emotions about your ability to work. Telling yourself that you are capable of completing the task can help you redirect your focus
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onto what you can accomplish and allow you to do your work. • If you don’t like a class, connecting with others in that class could help to make the course more interesting. Working and studying in a group rather than alone can be very helpful for making the work more fun and increasing the motivation to do it. • A belief in your own ability is one of the best ways to fight procrastination. If you believe you can do it, you are more likely to actually then do it. • Try to connect the information in classes to your every day life. Your life is an abundant resource for understanding what you’re learning in the classroom. If you can form personal connections to what you’re learning, the material becomes more meaningful. • Find your personal hook – anything about the subject that’s interesting - and make the subject your own. • Recognize that your classes will help you to meet your long-term goals, like graduating. This will help you to value the course and its homework, a feeling which will be useful when you’re trying to avoid fun temptations during your scheduled work time. One final suggestion is to make sure to schedule fun into your daily life. Yes, college is about classes and doing well academically, but it’s also about creating and fostering bonds with friends. Learning how to balance work and pleasure will come in handy even after you graduate, so take the time to understand how to do it now.
If you have a question for Sigmund, email SigmundSays@clarku.edu, and keep checking to see if your question appears in a future column. Please remember that the advice given here is not meant to act as, or replace, therapy or emergency care.
Sigmund
been hovering around 10% for the past couple of years. But then, all of a sudden, the government shuts down and we’re up in arms, expressing our disgust far more actively than we normally do. The question now is what category the racist bake sale falls into. Is it yelling at a Congressman, which is definitely impolite but probably called for, or is it a government shutdown? The answer in this situation, or any similar situation, is that each of these “red lines” is an exacerbation of an already frustrating situation. It’s the last straw. Bringing chemical weapons into the mix took the Syrian conflict to a new level. The government shutdown might be the worst thing Congress has done (with the possible exception of Iraq in 2003) in a long time. Affirmative action protests can range in sensitivity levels, but this one was apparently too heinous to stay off of the Huffington Post’s radar. The trouble is that these lines are not only arbitrary, but too lenient. We shouldn’t draw the line at chemical weapons. We shouldn’t draw the line at shutdown. We shouldn’t draw the line at racist cookies. All of these questions are complicated in terms of all of the nuanced ramifications that each issue carries (especially Syria), but one thing is clear: We need to stop waiting for things to become intolerable. We can’t sit by and just wait for awful things to happen and say “Nope, now you’ve gone too far.” We’re a reactive culture; we’re afraid to deal with problems before they happen. This, of course, causes large numbers of people to get screwed. We need to shift our perspective to live in a proactive culture, one that isn’t afraid to step in and put an end to things before they get absurd. And so where does the red line fall? The place where we kick ourselves, wishing we had done something earlier.
The Scarlet
october 10, 2013
Google wiretap controversy Civil liberties in the digital age
opinions | 9
Is it going to happen? Dispute over Iran’s Nuclear Program to finally be Resolved? By Jonah Naghi scarlet staff
courtesy of rt.com
By Patrick Fox contributing writer
There has been recent case in a California federal court regarding the actions of the internet juggernaut Google. The Judge, Lucy Koh, has declared that the company has committed “wiretapping” by harvesting personal information from customers. The information comes from wiretapped e-mails obtained through the popular Gmail app. These revelations have caused considerable uproar in the media and the general public. An article in the NEW YORK TIMES can be quoted as saying, “Wiretapping is typically the stuff of spy dramas and shady criminal escapades.” This case of supposedly illegal surveillance has flabbergasted both journalists and laypersons alike. But was this incident really that much of a surprise? Or does it say more about an extremely ill-informed public? Probably the latter, because in the years since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States government - yes, our government - has been committing extensive electronic surveillance on most American citizens because of post- 9/11 legislation
known as the USA Patriot Act. The act stipulates that the government is allowed to intercept electronic communications (governmental, professional, or civilian) if “terrorism” is suspect. This includes internet history, online person-to-person interactions, and yes, e-mails. Many Americans are not aware of this legislation, a law that is potentially affecting us all. There is a certain taboo that comes with criticizing our government in its attempts to “protect us” from terrorist attacks. But how many civil and personal liberties are American citizens willing to sacrifice before enough is enough? What makes it outrageous for a private company to peek in on our digital lives, but completely alright for our government to do it, simply because that all-important buzzword, “terrorism,” is thrown into the mix? We as citizens need to wake up and smell the bitter coffee. We must ask ourselves the question: “just how private can I be in the digital age?” In a time of Facebook profiles that refuse to delete themselves, Google reading our emails, and the NSA monitoring our every electronic move, this is an evocative question indeed.
Over the past several years, tensions have risen over Iran’s nuclear program. The United States, Israel, and certain Sunni Muslim states are concerned that Iran may be seeking nuclear weapons. However, Iran has insisted that its nuclear program has only been for the purposes of technology and medicine. This distrust has led to U.S. sanctions on Iran and rising tensions over a possible American military strike. However, ever since Iran’s election of “moderate” Hassan Rouhani in June, there has been more optimism on resolving the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program diplomatically. Iranian Foreign Minister, Javad Zarif, and U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, had a one-on-one meeting at the UN to discuss a possible solution; this was the highest diplomatic meeting between Iran and the U.S. in seven years. Additionally, Presidents Obama and Rouhani had a fifteen minute phone conversation on solving this conflict, the first time the presidents of both nations have spoken over the phone in over thirty years. However, it is important to note that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has the final say on Iran’s action. I believe that, though all options should remain on the table, we should seek a diplomatic solution to avoid war. But first, how did we get here? In 1951, Iran democratically elected Mohammad Mossadegh as its Prime Minister. He sought to reduce Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi’s absolute power and turn Iran into a democracy. However, his policies were ultimately unfriendly toward America and Britain. Mossadegh nationalized the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, which was critical to the success of Britain’s economy. Once the Eisenhower Administration came into office, Britain was able to convince America to work with them
courtesy of telegraph.co.uk
to force Mossadegh out of office. The CIA intervened and ousted Mossadegh, and then put the Shah back in power. Under Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi’s rule, there was a lack of freedom of speech and democracy, and there was also the institution of the notorious SAVAK, Iran’s secret police and intelligence service. The Shah also adopted Western cultures that are taboo in Islam. For instance, there were occasional television broadcasts of him and his family having dinner, at which they were drinking alcohol, which enraged thousands of Muslims. Iranian hatred of the “West’s puppet” eventually led to the Islamic Revolution of 1979, led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, which established the current regime in Iran, the Islamic Republic. Though the United States and Iran have never directly taken part in war against one another, there have been bitter tensions and proxy wars between them since the establishment of the Islamic Republic. Nevertheless, there seems to have been a diplomatic breakthrough in the past few weeks. Iran must ensure that they are not developing weapons of mass destruction and that their nuclear program is solely for technology and medication. This means signing the international community’s inspection protocols, which would allow full inspection of
their facilities by the International Atomic Energy Agency, including “surprise inspections,” and would mean not enriching uranium beyond 20%, which is close to warhead grade. Iran must also make official apologies for harmful things they have said or done, including President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s Holocaust denial and the 1979 Iranian Hostage Crisis. Once everyone is sure that Iran is not seeking WMDs, America must agree to lift most, if not all, of their sanctions on Iran and allow Iran to continue their nuclear program for developments in technology and medicine, as nuclear power is Iran’s national right. America should also establish official diplomatic relations. This means establishing an American embassy in Iran, accepting an Iranian embassy in America, and providing foreign aid for Iran just as America does for many other Muslim countries. Last, and certainly not least, America and Britain most give an official apology for their roles in how this all started. America must apologize to Iran, and to all Iranians throughout the world, for ousting Iran’s democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh back in 1953. America must treat Iran with respect. This the only chance it has to improve this bitter relationship.
10 | living arts
The Scarlet
october 10, 2013
The Scarlet/Living Arts Gravity Review Venture in the slipstream Got a news tip, or opinion you want heard? Send an email to scarlet@clarku.edu
rating:
courtesy of cdn.swide.com
By Ronald Gerber scarlet staff
Most people agree that overexposure to something will dull its effect, especially in entertainment. People who play violent video games tend to have less of an extreme reaction to blood and guts than people who don’t play those games. The same is true of a film student; I can say from experience that seeing a movie every single day and thinking about each one critically will se-
verely limit one’s ability to become fully absorbed in the world of a film. That’s why, upon leaving the theatre after seeing Alfonso Cuaròn’s Gravity this weekend, I was amazed to realize that it had never once crossed my mind to move my eyes away from the screen. I had forgotten that I was in a theatre, forgotten where I went to school, and forgotten who I was. For an hour and a half, I was 372 miles above Earth. It is at that altitude that the Hubble Telescope is worked on by
Lieutenant Matt Kowalski (George Clooney), a weathered astronaut, and Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock), who is on her first mission in space after only six months of training. They receive news too late that a Russian satellite has exploded and is causing a chain reaction of debris that is orbiting Earth at great speeds, heading straight for the Explorer. Soon enough, Stone and Kowalski are the sole survivors of their mission, and only have an hour and a half to get to safety before the
debris orbits the earth again and returns for more destruction. Gravity is not driven by narrative. In fact, the above summary is easily the shortest I have ever had to write for a review. Very little “happens” in the traditional sense, and the few major plot points end up not having much of an effect on us. Instead, what grips us is the teardrop that Dr. Stone sheds in zero gravity that floats out before our eyes in the most wonderful 3D imaginable. What grips us is Lieutenant Kowalski’s voice slowly increasing in volume as the camera swoops in from afar to reveal his face through his helmet. What grips us is the debris from the satellite fly-
ing past us, surrounding us, making us feel as helpless as our protagonists and making us flinch and grimace each time the telescope or Space Station is hit. From the moment we see the breathtaking panoramic opening shot, the world inside the screen instantly becomes our world, to the point that the true feeling of watching is practically inexplicable. It simply must be experienced. Now some of you may be saying to yourselves, “I remember the last time I went to see a movie this over-hyped... I ended up having to continued on page 11
The Scarlet
october 10, 2013
John Funkhouser Quartet cont.
living arts | 11
Gravity cont. continued from page 10
courtesy of clarku.collegiatelink.net
continued from page 1
ists within its own logic, interlocking with the others while maintaining a distinctive exploratory voice. Themes emerged and retreated with a mysterious grace, followed by tacets of guitar feedback or plinko keyboard playing. The set concluded with two more tracks from the new record, Thelonious Monk’s “Little Rootie Tootie” and the title track, “Still”. The former was characterized by numerous starts and stops, culminating in a hectic jam segment. The latter, influenced by Indian classical music, implemented spacy guitar effects, droning bass, and even segments of prepared piano (the unconventional use of the piano’s strings for sonic exploration). After a short break, the band returned as the Sonic Explorers
with four additions: Jerry Sabatini on trumpet, Todd Brunell on bass clarinet and clarinet, Chris Veilleux on alto and soprano saxophones, and Jon Lorenz on tenor saxophone. Much like a good Phish or Grateful Dead show, the second set was where things got weird. The addition of horns added an element of humanity to the performance, allowing the room to inhale and exhale through music played like a mind game, capturing the listener in sonic webs and clouds of tension and release. Harmonies and dissonances enraptured the audience in a series of challenging and complex sonic explorations. Citing influences as diverse as Gypsy brass band music, psychedelic ambience, and Greek folk music, the octet delved into deep and sometimes frightening levels of improvisation. “American Gypsy” and “A Boot” started the set with
more conventional jazz fusion, implementing elements of funk and latin grooves, including cacophonous crescendos that filled the hall. Songs like “The Recurrence of Hot Pursuit” and “Ch-ch-ch-chatter” explored the human psyche with startling melodic mazes and dead ends. Band leader Sabatini led the band through dynamically complex jamming, instituting multiple key changes that trod the line between composition and improvisation, creating a refreshing and unique hybrid sound. While the musicians joked between songs about the loaded label of “jazz-fusion,” the unexpected combination of styles and influences clearly on display at the evening’s performance created something undeniably compelling to the listener.
sit through three hours of James Cameron writing that was so bad that no astounding visuals could possibly make up for it.” Rest assured, all ye cynics who doubt everything popular: Gravity does not insist upon itself in the way that Cameron’s films do. Cuaròn has no agenda. This is simply a human story of survival. There is no overt class commentary, no environmental awareness problem, and no nationalistic buffoonery. There are just two people whose survival depends on a combination of iron will and luck, and there ends up being no reason to over complicate things; Cuaròn succeeds in making the sheer loneliness and peril of the characters’ situation so palpable that to turn your eyes away even for a second would be a crime. Take note, all you makers of present and future blockbusters: this is how you get an audience in the palm of your hand. I can not imagine having been an actor in Gravity. From what I have read about the production process, Bullock and Clooney were suspended in boxes for several hours at a time, unable to hear or see almost anything. These characters may not have been scripted with intricate backstories, but the sense of isolation in the characters’ reactions to their environment provides even greater challenges. A lot of the dialogue is internal, especially when Dr. Stone finds herself alone in the latter parts of the film and tries to keep calm and think clearly despite the hell in which she finds herself. The fact that these fears show so clearly and effectively across the faces of actors is a testament to
their sheer skill and patience, and to Cuaròn’s commitment to his vision. So, to conclude, I don’t care what you may be planning on doing this weekend. It could be a family barbecue, a silent auction, a trip to Venice, or a wedding- if it’s not seeing Gravity, then do yourself a favor. Drop your plans and go see Gravity. Bring your family from the barbecue, bring the silent people from the auction, bring some tourists from Venice, bring the bridge and groom, bring anybody. I guarantee you every single one of them will never have seen anything like this before, and it will amaze them- and youbeyond your wildest dreams. Go. See. It. Now. Post-script: I also wanted to take a moment to address the science of space. I am no expert on the topic, but luckily for me, the science does not much matter here, which is something many journalists seem to have misunderstood in their awareness to point out errors. There is a danger in presenting inaccurate information about, say, cultural traditions; planting misconceptions about other races in viewers’ minds can potentially lead to prejudice, or even simple misunderstandings. But what practical risk is there in taking a few creative liberties in a film that portrays a situation in which one out of every billion or so people may find himself? I say that there is none. Gravity feels real and engages us as if it were reality, and that is the point. Let’s leave the physics to the good people whose jobs are to prevent any disasters portrayed in this film from happening. Thanks.
12 | living arts
The Scarlet
october 10, 2013
Art in the Park: A silent celebration of stirring artistic talent Elm Park’s eclectic collection of sculptures inspires much appreciation and a faint sense of hope
David Boyajian’s ‘Dancing Milkweed IV’
Anne Kamilla Alexander’s ‘Acorn Grande’
By Sénégal N. Carty scarlet staff
At the moment, ‘pretty’ isn’t precisely the right word to define Elm Park. Heavy machinery trundles along the park’s perimeter, spewing noise, kicking up dust. Orange-and-white cones clash with the sweeter hues of leaves preparing to float to earth. But scattered inconspicuously throughout the temporarily disturbed natural beauty is both a question; ‘Could we learn to work with nature, instead of enslaving it?’ - and the answer: ‘Probably.’ The subject of that vague, slightly sappy little depiction is the ‘Art in the Park’ exhibit currently on display in Elm Park (which happens to be one of the oldest parks in the U.S.). The collection of carefully
placed, long-pause-inducing largescale sculptures firmly held my attention for hours during my visit. It’s not possible to describe them without a generous dose of sentimentality. Art in the Park, which opened with great fanfare on the 27th of July and will be on display until the 13th of October, features the creations of 18 artists. This is the exhibition’s fifth year. Formerly an annual celebration, Art in the Park will be a bi-annual display from this year onward due to obvious popularity. The exhibition has received the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s Gold Star Award, which ‘recognizes exemplary cultural programs founded by local cultural councils.” Most of the featured artists hail from Massachusetts, but there are also contributors from Colorado, Maine, Connecticut – even Peru. In
an effort to beautify the park and fuel positive conversation, they have worked together to fill the space with over twenty pieces, making a walk through Elm Park a sort of artlover’s Easter Egg hunt. Coming across a gigantic acorn (Anne Kamilla Alexander’s “Acorn Grande”) and a child sitting inside a chest-high gray mug are two of the treats you can experience on a walk in the park. Other surprises abound, such as Philip Marshall’s “Fruits of Fancy”, a collection of bright pink rubber balls that seem to be springing out of a green net suspended within the branches of a tree. Other sculptures demand several minutes of silence. “One Disassembled Tree”, a seemingly precarious structure made mainly of moss and wood from a fallen tree, projects a curious strength once you look closely. James Kitchen’s
photos by sénégal n. carty
James Kitchen’s ‘Day’s End’
“Day’s End”, described by the artist himself as ‘[capturing] the human condition for many of us,” is a huge but approachable figure, stooped and weary, yet clearly indomitable. My personal favourite was “Dancing Milkweed IV”, a towering steel conglomeration of lively, carefree curves, rusted to the colour of autumn leaves. These are a few of the works
that stood out to me, but the variety of sculptures that will stand quietly in Elm Park for only a few more days doubtless holds something for every viewer to identify with. Having the sculptures in the park alongside noise and mess is a reminder that people do have good intentions in their interactions with nature. We can and do make beauty.
The Scarlet
october 10, 2013
sports | 13
The Scarlet/Sports Revamped men’s basketball team looks to start new era for the Cougars Coach Paul Phillips admits team is rebuilding, but hopes to have a strong year.
Fantasy Football Add/ Drop for Week 6 By Ethan Giles scarlet staff
By Ethan Giles scarlet staff
The Clark men’s basketball team will have a very different look this year as the team welcomes nine new players (eight freshmen and one transfer). All five starters from last year have left, so the team appears to be starting anew. The nine players are not the only new faces on the team, as four year Associate Head Coach Peter Mugar left to fill the same position at another Division III School. To replace Mugar, Phillips hired long time friend Steve Mancuso, who had been coaching high school basketball in the Worcester area for 15 years. Coach Paul Phillips said the team is in a “rebuilding year” and that the team could expect to “take some losses.” Phillips went on to say that team has to “earn [its] stripes” on the court, because young teams have to “pay their dues” as they transition from high school to college basketball. Coach Phillips said his goal during the games for the season is, “No matter what the score, [the team is] never out of [the game].” Phillips said he has “high expectations for three or four” of the freshmen, but wouldn’t name names. He went on to say that they “recruited half of the freshmen harder than the others; my expectations are that they are going to be able to play and
ADD
courtesy of clarkathletics.com
help us right away” rather than going through the “easing in” a freshman normally receives. While rebuilding could be challenging, Coach Phillips is looking forward to the new style the Cougars plan to employ this year. “Last year we would try to push it but we had a lot of big, slow bodies,” he said, “this year we are going to not run, [but] sprint.” Phillips admitted, “the last three to four years was boring basketball” but feels that it was “the right thing to do with that team and we had a lot of success doing it.” Phillips is excited about the new pace of the team, saying that “organized chaos” is his favorite style to both coach and play. He plans to have the team go “up and down” the court and make good, quick shots. He also wants to have more threes, saying, “we probably averaged 15 three point attempts last year, we are going to try to average 25 [three point attempts]
this year,” and hopes to “shoot anywhere from 33% to 38%.” Phillips always planned to use a high tempo offense. As he said, he recruited “tough, hard-nosed kids who can really run up and down the court.” He said he really looked for tough recruits, or as he says “a kid that is relentless on the court, and has no fear in his eyes…I don’t care who they play against, they don’t back down.” While Phillips is looking forward to this year, he does admit it is hard being in a rebuilding year for some of the veterans on the team. “It is very discouraging as an upperclassmen to hear that [the team is rebuilding],” he acknowledged, but he does think “these seniors will feel really good at the end of the year to know that they’ve got the ball going in the right direction. I’m hoping for them that we pull off a few upsets.”
• Garret Graham, TE, Texans: When Matt Schaub isn’t throwing to the other team or Andre Johnson, he is usually hitting his tight end. Owen Daniels had 12 receptions over the past 2 weeks and led the team in receiving touchdowns, but he is now out with a fibula injury for 4-6 weeks. Pick up Graham if you need a tight end. He is owned in only 3.4% of espn.com leagues, 3.2% of nfl.com leagues, and 18% of yahoo.com leagues. • Terrence Williams, WR, Cowboys: With Miles Austin out with yet another hamstring injury, Williams dominated Denver. He hauled in four catches for 151 yards and a touchdown. The Cowboys play the abominable secondaries of both the Redskins and Eagles in the upcoming weeks, meaning that Williams should continue his impressive performance. He is owned in only 1.3% of espn.com leagues, 0.9% of nfl.com leagues, and 19% of yahoo.com leagues. DROP • Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars: The former fantasy star has drifted into irrelevancy. MoJo looks done. His quarterback is terrible, and his two offensive tackles going into the season are both gone (Eugene Monroe was traded to Baltimore and first round pick Luke Joeckel fractured his ankle against the Rams). It is time to cut your losses and let MJD go. • Jason Snelling, RB, Falcons: He’s concussed, his offensive line is terrible, and Steven Jackson is probably going to come back after the bye week. There’s no point in keeping him around anymore. B UY L O W • Matt Schaub, QB, Texans: Let me emphasize this one: buy VERY low. While he looks terrible right now, remember that he just played the best two defenses in the NFL over the past two weeks in the Seahawks and 49ers. Use this as your opportunity to acquire him for a bottom of the roster player or maybe even pick him up if another owner drops him. Just be careful; if he continues his horrendous play there is a chance the Texans bench him. S E L L HI G H • Josh Gordon, WR, Browns: While his numbers look very good right now, QB Brian Hoyer’s injury hurts his value for the future. Mix that in with the trade rumors swirling around his name, and it’s a safe bet that Gordon is not going to produce like he going forward.
The Scarlet
14 | sports
october 10, 2013
COUGAR of the WEEK
by Scott Levine
When senior field hockey captain Tali Fish’s father was a student at Clark, he decided to start a weekly feature in the sports section of The Scarlet called Cougar of the Week. Several years later, it is only fitting that his daughter receives this honor for her recent flurry of goals. In the past five games, Tali has scored eight goals and contributed three assists to the team.
Scarlet: Saturday’s game against Mt. Holyoke notwithstanding, the team is on quite a roll as of late. Your record is 7-5, which is on par with your usual successful seasons. What would you attribute to the overall success you’ve had so far? Tali: I think this year is a lot different than other years. We have a huge freshman class and there’s also just a really good attitude on the team. Everyone gets along really well and we’re playing more as a team than ever. So I think that’s the main thing. courtesy of clarkathletics.com
Talia Fish field hockey
Scarlet: What do you think your role as a captain is in determining that team chemistry? Tali: Really just making sure that everyone’s getting along, that everyone’s comfortable, especially in practice. And also that no one’s scared to try new things on the field and everyone is supportive of each other, which I think is proving to be true so far. Scarlet: I noticed that you play forward as well as midfielder. Therefore, you need to attack at times but also be able to get other people involved. How do you find that balance between being a forward and a midfielder? Tali: This year, I’m mainly the forward so it’s more offensive, but because of my speed, my coach likes me to go back and forth between forward and midfielder and help out where I can. Scarlet: I noticed that when the team was desperate for a goal against Mt. Holyoke, you kind of just charged up the field and scored. I suppose that’s a situation where you knew you had to be aggressive and take control. What was going through your mind when you took off on that play? Tali: Um, I can’t really say (laughs). It’s kind of just, doing my best to get the ball in the circle. Scarlet: So it’s more instinctual. Tali: Yeah, I think it is. Scarlet: Did you play both positions before you came to Clark? Tali: I never played midfield before I came here. Scarlet: So they moved you to midfielder out of necessity? Tali: Yeah, I thought I wouldn’t like it because it’s more running, but in the end I did like it because one of the things I’m good at
is taking it down the field. As a midfielder, I can start from the defensive circle and take it all the way down to the offensive circle because that’s my job. So yeah, it’s fun. Scarlet: Do you think about being able to set up people more now that you’re a captain? I know you try to be a midfield and set other people up, do you try to put more emphasis on that and make sure everyone’s involved? Tali: Yeah, definitely. I want to create situations where everyone anticipates the ball coming to them. I’ve also grown as a person and a player, and I realize that no one’s going to get it done by themselves, so you have to be a team player. Against Mt. Holyoke, I feel like a lot of people tried to do things themselves instead of passing and playing as a team like we usually do. I think that was one of our downfalls. Scarlet: I noticed, while looking through the box scores, that almost all the goals are assisted, It’s clear that you can create openings with your speed and then find open teammates or shoot on goal. Tali: Yeah, that’s what I’ll try to do. Scarlet: I’m guessing it helps your ability to set people up as a midfielder because so many people have emerged and started scoring
goals. How do they make your job easier as a midfielder? Tali: You just have to trust everyone. I think everyone on the team trusts each other and trust that if they set the ball up, then somebody else will capitalize, and that’s been happening. Like I said, scoring isn’t placed on the shoulders of one person. Scarlet: Do you feel yourself giving more trust to teammates this year than in previous years? Tali: I think that this year, I’m in more of a position to set people up than before. And everyone is stepping up, so it’s made it a lot easier. Scarlet: I’ve noticed that while the team has had much success overall, it has struggled in the NEWMAC conference. I know that you have a lot of inner conference games coming up. What are you focusing on doing for these upcoming games? Tali: The rest of our games except for one are conference games, so the past three that we had weren’t games that we necessarily had to win, but it’s crucial that we win some of the upcoming innerconference games. Every game is competitive in the NEWMAC, but I think as long as we continue to play as a team and pass as a team, we’ll do fine.
The Scarlet
october 10, 2013
The Scarlet/Puzzles CROSSWORD
SUDOKU
copyright © 2013 crosswordsite.com ltd.
ACROSS
DOWN
1. Singer of folk music (4,6) 6. Burrowing rodent (6) 7. Group of three persons (4) 10. Secret agents (5) 11. Short literary composition (5) 12. Sailor (3) 13. Freedom from war (5) 14. Poles (5) 16. Western pact (4) 18. Packet (6) 19. Hostile (10)
1. Armed strongholds (5) 2. Grease (9) 3. Unmarried woman (8) 4. Acquire (3) 5. Consecrated (4) 8. Started again (9) 9. Convince (8) 13. Football kick (4) 15. Resembling the sun (5) 17. Not on (3)
THIS WEEK’S SOLUTIONS IN NEXT ISSUE
puzzles | 15
The Scarlet
16 | puzzles
october 10, 2013
SOLUTIONS TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLES
Police Logs
October 3rd 18:29 - Ash trays must be moved. 18:33 - Ash trays still must be moved. October 5th 15:36 - Card access problem in Bullock Hall. 17:34 - Assault with intent to rape. 23:09 - Student forgot charger in computer room in Carlson Hall. October 7th 09:41 - Lost dog 16:22 - Reporting person states that someone is calling them from off campus sending harassing phone calls threatening to come and kill her. 19:14 - Escort van in an accident. 23:31 - First time there was a game going on in the Dolan Field House [sic]. October 8th 21:40 - In the geography building there is an odor of something there is a fire near there...boiler room thinks that is what it is [sic]. This week, there was one check of welfare, one marijuanarelated incident, four motor vehicle related incidents, two loud parties, four reports of suspicious persons, one complaint, eight fire alarms, thirteen calls to EMS, and fifteen calls to police escort services.
SUDOKU SOLUTION
October 2nd 14:04 - People possibly stealing furniture. 20:27 - Umbrella left at Dana Commons. 22:30 - Couch in front of house on Florence Street.
CROSSWORD SOLUTION
compiled by Maria Rotelli
what happens in The Scarlet office at 11:12 p.m. stays in the The Scarlet office... sort of “Why did I think they published once a month?” - Pooja “Because you were wrong.” - Anna [About to start editing] “Wait, Ronald, did you write the Gravity review?” - Gordon “Yeah, why?” - Ronald “Well, are there spoilers?” - Gordon “Dude, those are awesome! It’s a boat… and it’s a car!” - Jeremy “Are you talking about those stupid Duck Tours?” - Claire “I believe you’re confusing the words “stupid” and ‘great.”’ - Jeremy “I think I had diarrhea on one, and that kind of ruined the experience.” - Claire “Thank you! You’re wonderful.” - Jeremy “My name is Matt!” - Matt “Tennessee is a big college town.” - Claire