leep oratorical contest • middle earth day • worcester library bus • and more inside
volume xciii, no. 4 • october 3, 2013 | clarkscarlet.tumblr.com |
Spree Day Task Force report released Report suggests a Spree Day revamp with no outside performers By Claire Tierney community correspondent
The Spree Day Task Force released their report, on Monday, which detailed their recommendations for Clark’s hotly debated holiday. The Task Force was comprised of CUSC President, Rian Watt, and six other undergraduate students selected by Watt. The Task Force also included eight members of Clark administration, from Associate Dean of Students, Jason Zelesky, to former Athletic Director, Sean Sullivan, and Director of Residential Life and Housing, Kevin Forti. The report, which will be reviewed by President Angel, says that, “Spree Day is in trouble,” and suggests a two-tiered approach at a reformation of the most beloved Clark holiday. The first step
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Check out clarkscarlet. tumblr.com for an infographic about the Spree Day report!
the committee suggests is to educate the Clark community about the financial costs of Spree Day, as well as its effects on the Worcester community. The second step is to change the way Spree Day is planned and executed. Before creating the report, the Task Force conducted a survey about Spree Day via email, to which about 120 students responded, roughly 5% of Clark’s undergraduate students. The report asks that information about the “number of incident reports, number of sexual assaults, incidents of physical and/or sexual violence, incidents of bias and hate, and transfers and withdrawals that occur as consequence of Spree Day” be reported each year. Additionally, students are to be informed about the financial burden that Clark takes on by continuing the Spree tradition. This includes insurance
costs, as well as the cost of running the events. The committee also believes students should be educated about Clark’s liability issues that result from Spree Day, as well as the views of those planning the event, and the history of the event itself. Perhaps the biggest change for students will be the lack of any outside performer, like last year’s Chiddy Bang. Rather, entertainment is to be provided by the students themselves. This will free up funding for other activities, as the report suggests heavily scheduled programming throughout the day. The task force believes that encouraging participation in this waay will make Spree Day more communityoriented. The reworking of Spree Day also involves planning concerns as continued on page 8
the.clark.scarlet
Clark hosts South African students Leadership for Change Programme emphasizes exposure to diversity
photo by anna spack
By Anna Spack photo editor
For the past week and a half, eight students from the University of the Free State (UFS) in South Africa have been staying at Clark, living with Clark students and experiencing life in the U.S. for the first time.
The students are here as part of the Leadership for Change Programme, which sends 80 students from UFS to various universities around the world. According to its website, the Leadership for Change Programme believes that “Exposing continued on page 8
2 | news
The Scarlet THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF CLARK UNIVERSITY
The Scarlet
october 3, 2013
Police Logs compiled by Maria Rotelli
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
September 25th 18:18 - Cat found on Woodland Street September 26th 22:08 - Reporting person states that the group on the Dolan field needs to stop playing. September 27th 21:49 - Someone threw eggs at WPD cruiser on Beaver Street. 22:16 - Suspicous group around a vehicle. 22:51 - Male laid out in Crystal Park. 23:05 - Individuals smoking marijuana outside on patio outside of Dana Hall. September 28th 12:35 - Cooking mishap on Downing Street. 13:41 - Dish machine acting up in the UC. 20:57 - Reports of person being harassed on the main campus. September 29th 19:42 - Need help unlocking bike at athletic center. October 1st 15:04 - Parked car hit 15:23 - Woman on bike struck by car. 18:20 - Male called on emergency call box because a male with a mask followed them on Downing Street.
PHOTO STAFF Cora Torton Jonathan Edelman Nainika Grover
This week, University Police secured 16 buildings, performed 13 escorts, responded to 9 fire alarms, issue one parking citation, dealt with two disturbances, investigated one incident and three incidents of larceny. There were two motor vehicle accidents and one motor vehicle stop, and EMS was called eleven times.
The Scarlet
october 3, 2013
news | 3
The Scarlet/News Government shutdown
LEEP Oratorical Contest
What will this mean for Clarkies?
Students present summer projects
By Keitaro Okura opinions editor
The federal government came to a halt on Tuesday as Congress was unable to pass a spending bill to keep the government running. The last government shutdown occurred in 1995 and 1996, when Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Democratic President Bill Clinton could not come to an agreement over federal spending in the 1996 budget. Many federal agencies will be affected as a consequence, with over 800,000 federal workers across the country furloughed. National offices, parks, zoos, and museums will all remain closed until further notice. A KKK rally at Gettysburg was cancelled after officials at the Gettysburg National Military Park withdrew all permits for events to be hosted at the park. Certain government functions will carry on despite the shutdown. The U.S. Postal Service will continue operating during the shutdown. Social Security checks should not be impacted. And those considered “essential” personnel – such as air traffic controllers, food inspectors, Border Patrol agents, and federal law enforcement – will still be required to show up for work. But what does the government shutdown mean for Clarkies? According to Mary Ellen Severance, the Director of Financial Assistance at Clark, a short-term government
shutdown should have a “limited impact” on Clark’s federal financial aid programs. Federal grants and loan programs are “forward funded” programs in which the budget is funded a year before the money is actually expended. Clark’s financial aid budget for the 2013-14 school year will therefore be unaffected by the government shutdown. However, in a highly unpredictable political environment like the current government shutdown, “nothing is ever completely certain,” warned Mary Ellen Severance. There may be short-term impacts concerning financial aid due to staffing issues. Because most government employees are out on furlough, FAFSA applications, for example, could experience delays in processing. An extended government shutdown may have some other unforeseen impacts. Any important updates will be posted on Clark’s Financial Assistance Facebook page. The government shutdown may also affect Clark researchers, students and faculty alike. In particular, those that are dependent on government-run archives, libraries, and museums for research will likely face disruptions in their work. Many federal databases have taken an immediate toll, among them the websites for the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the National Archives and Records Administra-
tion, and the Federal Election Commission. The U.S. Census Bureau website has been entirely shut down with a statement that it is “unavailable until further notice.” Clark’s research programs may also take a hit. According to Susan Puryear, Director of Clark’s Sponsored Programs and Research, and Nancy Budwig, Clark’s Dean of Research, some of the potential short and long-term impacts include “issues related to the inability to communicate with agency officers and staff, the shutdown of some key government online resources, and delays in projects.” In addition, agencies cannot issue new requests for research proposals, accept or review new proposals, or issue new awards on proposals that have yet to be processed. The good news is that the shortterm impact of the government shutdown should be minimal for Clarkies. If, however, the impasse in Congress continues for an extended period of time, Clarkies may start to acutely experience the impact of the shutdown. Gwen Arthur, Clark University librarian, expressed similar concerns when she said, “I hope that the politicians resolve their differences, so this shutdown is a brief one.”
photo by will heikes
By Jenna Lewis scarlet staff
“I learned resilience. I learned to exude confidence in everything I do,” senior Bee Bernstein said of her LEEP experience at the Hervey Ross Oratorical Contest this past Wednesday. The contest, conducted in the style of TED Talks, was an opportunity to discuss challenges, accomplishments, and benefits of the initiative for students who participated in a LEEP Project during the summer. LEEP has had considerable difficulty gaining popularity among students. Feedback from those who participated in summer projects, however, is essential to future development of the program. The grand prize of $500 was awarded to Clark Jackson, a senior
who gave an engaging presentation on her project, entitled “STI Information and Resources.” She worked on developing a program called “Good Ed” to help universities with their sexual health education campaigns. The program aims to change how students handle personal sexual health and STIs. “The speech contest seemed like a really good way to gain even more skills from my LEEP Project,” said Jackson. “I underestimate myself a lot, but this proves that I can do a lot more than I think I’m capable of.” The $300 second prize was awarded to junior Neil Orzechowski, who compared his internship as a web developer in New York to his part-time job selling cookies at continued on page 5
The Scarlet
4 | news
A Day in the Shire Higgins Armory puts on its final Middle Earth Day
october 3, 2013
Worcester to see more mobile libraries Bringing the library to the people
By Maria Rotelli scarlet staff
Far over the Misty Mountains cold, there is a day that Lord of the Rings fans all across the area look forward to right here in our little shire of Worcester. This past Saturday, the Higgins Armory Museum was host to hundreds of visitors participating in their annual Middle Earth Day. The Higgins Armory has been in Worcester for 81 years, founded by industrialist John Goodman Higgins in 1931. Within the last few years, the staff has put on many fun and interesting events to bring history to life through pop culture. “We used to have pirate days every now and again, but they weren’t popular,” explained Neal Bourbeau, a weapons expert and one of the staff members at the museum. “Last year we tried out Middle Earth Day and it was a huge success. We did it again this year and by 11 a.m. we had over 300 people admitted.” Bourbeau was not exaggerating; the museum was crowded with fans of all ages, from toddlers to seniors dressed in their finest hobbit attire. The staff was also dressed up, some highlights including Gandalf protecting some small elven children from the nasty orcs and Nazgûls. Middle Earth Day had a variety of activities, such as creating your own shield or pendant, a hobbit singa-long which included songs from the books and films, and a prosthetics demonstration that displayed how to make a realistic-looking orc mask of your very own. One of the main reasons that the armory does events like these is not just to have fun and geek out, but to provide an educational experience. What they are trying to show is that popular literature and history go hand in hand. The weapons demonstration was led by Bourbeau, who brought
courtesy of news.holycross.edu
By Sarah Cramer news editor
photo by maria rotelli
in a replica of Bilbo (later Frodo’s) sword, Sting. He showed numerous different weapons, emphasizing what J.R.R Tolkien was imagining as he wrote the novels, and how Peter Jackson interpreted Tolkien’s vision and put it on screen. The demonstration tied the books, films, and history together. Professor Corey Olsen, who specializes in Tolkien and wrote a book called Exploring J.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, made an appearance at the event. Guests were invited to sit at a round table and discuss all things Tolkien, including etymology of character names, themes from the books and how they transferred into the film, and a decently long discussion of who Tom Bombadil really is. When asked when he began studying Tolkien, Olsen immediately
replied, “When I was eight.” He loved the books and just kept re-reading and analyzing them, learning new things with every read. He grew up in southern New Hampshire and visited the Higgins Armory quite often in his youth, which inspired him to pursue a degree in medieval literature. Unfortunately, the museum that Olsen visited so often in his youth is closing this December, so this Middle Earth Day was their last. The incredible suits of armor and weapons are all moving to a new home, the Worcester Art Museum. If you missed this magical event, be sure to visit other upcoming events at the Armory such as “Haunted Higgins” or “A Knight to Remember,” or just take a day to check out the museum on its own. It isn’t like Mordor – you can simply walk right in!
The Worcester Public Library continues its “One City, One Library” initiative with the creation of Little Libby, a second mobile library. Worcester’s mobile libraries resemble charter buses from the outside, but on the inside house an extensive collection of books and cutting-edge technology, including tablets and touchscreen computers that provide access to all library resources. The tradition of mobile libraries in Worcester dates back to 1940 when the first bookmobile made its rounds through the city. 21 years after its discontinuation in 1991, the bookmobile rose from the ashes on May 1, 2012 as a revamped modern mobile library named the Library Express (Libby, for short). This reconstruction was made possible by a partnership between the College of Holy Cross and the Worcester Public Library, through which Holy Cross will contribute $80,000 annually to the Worcester Public Library for the next five years.
As part of the “One City, One Library” initiative, Worcester Public Library plans to expand its library services in four elementary schools this fall. With the creation of Little Libby, library services can be provided to the elementary schools that will see no such expansion. The reach of the mobile libraries, however, extends further than just elementary schools. Providing service from MondayFriday, Libby and Little Libby also make stops at Worcester senior centers, apartment complexes, community centers, and the Boys & Girls Club. Three stops are made each day. The mobile libraries are wheelchair accessible, and even have benches and awnings to transform them into spaces for community gatherings. With the new addition of Little Libby to the mobile library fleet, the Worcester Public Library hopes to continue “connecting new users and raising awareness of library services throughout the city.”
The Scarlet
october 3, 2013
Worcester museums unite for lower admission prices Local museums offer reduced admission prices for EBT beneficiaries By Jenna Lewis scarlet staff
Five Worcester museums announced last week that they will offer $2 admission to those holding Electronics Benefit Transfer (EBT, or “food stamp”) cards. The initiative, which will run from October 1 through December 31, aims to reach out to a new demographic in the area. The institutions participating in the initiative are the Worcester Art Museum, the EcoTarium, the Museum of Russian Icons, Tower Hill Botanical Garden, and the Worcester Historical Museum. The normal admission rate for these museums ranges from $5-$14 per person, which could quickly add up to over $50 for a family of four. According to the most recent United States Census, approximately 19 percent of Worcester city residents were living below the poverty line as of 2010. Although the number is not staggering overall, certain neighborhoods (especially those in Main South) have poverty rates of 80 percent or higher. For a family of four, the poverty line constitutes an income of about $1,960 per month, or $23,550 annually. This leaves little money available for activities such as museum visits. “Each of our five institutions is deeply rooted in and committed to this community. Being accessible to all Massachusetts residents - so that everyone can enjoy and benefit from the abundant and transformative cultural resources within our doors - is a fundamental part of our respective missions,” said EcoTarium President Joe Cox in an interview last week. The museums have a tendency to appeal primarily to the upper-
courtesy of ecotarium.org
middle class of Worcester. While this is due in part to the stigma of art as an upper-class interest, it’s also due in part to the fact that museum visits are a luxury many people simply can’t afford. While the museums have brought a great deal of economic growth to the community in the form of grants and publicity, it’s undeniable the same demographic generates the majority of the revenue: Worcester’s upper-middle class. The problem is one that Worcester has noticed over the last several years. The organizations involved in the new EBT initiative have offered consistent outreach programs to the community. The Worcester Art Museum continually offers classes for children, teens, and adults, and provides free classes for public school teachers through the Professional Development Partnership Program. The EcoTarium offers free events several times a year, and also provides visits to local schools. However, the primary problem is that the majority of these outreach programs cost a great deal to fund, and therefore cannot always be offered for free to visitors. This is
understandable, as the institutions must rely on funding in order to operate. While admission under the new EBT initiative will not be completely free, it will significantly lower the cost of admission. The initiative is aimed largely at allowing educational advancement for low-income children, in an effort to “help more children experience that ‘wow’ moment that comes from visiting a museum for the first time,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services John Polanowicz in a press release from the EcoTarium. Statistically, children from low-income families such as these are less likely to graduate from a higher education institute, with only 10% of these children doing so. The initiative hopes to spark in these children a desire to learn, which will hopefully have a lasting impact on their future growth. The initiative is a step towards greater educational equality, as well as increased accessibility, in Worcester, and will ideally help bridge the gap that exists between upper and lower income families throughout the city.
news | 5
LEEP cont. continued from page 3
an Upper West Side bakery (both rely on the composition of layers within the job). Seniors Lyor Dotan and Yohan Senarath tied for third place. Dotan was granted $200 for her touching visual ethnography of Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The project was driven in part by her grandmother’s stories and the constant compassion she had for those around her in spite of the poverty and hardships she battled daily. “The minute all hope is lost, we know there is not a future. I know there is still hope. Sometimes, all that we need is someone to remind us of our own capabilities,” remarked Dotan. Senarath was also awarded $200 for his project on United Nations diplomacy, through which he learned the importance of “self introspection, and self reflection; most importantly, being conscious of the implication your actions have on other individuals.” Hervey Ross, a 1946 graduate of Worcester Academy, sponsored the contest. Ross enrolled at Clark University after his high school graduation, but was drafted for military service in 1950, before he could complete his degree. Ross, a charismatic and enthusiastic man, participated in many speech contests throughout high school but never won any until his senior year of high school. This helped him build confidence, and through sponsorship of the LEEP Oratorical Contest, he hopes to inspire similar confidence in graduates. “Seven years of speeches have made such a difference in graduates,” he said of his impact. Public speaking is often cited as an essential skill in the post-graduate world, and the contest aims to teach effective presentation skills. In addition to the valuable
assets that they learned over the summer, participants such as Aaron Segura also learned the importance of failure. “If you don’t fail, you don’t move forward,” said Segura. He, like nearly every other college student, had issues with confidence and strategic prioritization in his LEEP Project. Participants faced challenges such as inattentive bosses, difficulties transitioning into real jobs, and translating a liberal arts education into an effective mode for business and entrepreneurship. The LEEP Project has had a controversial history at Clark. Many Clarkies are confused by the project’s goals and orchestration. Part of this is the fault of the LEEP Center, who haven’t, despite their best efforts, made the purpose of LEEP entirely clear to students. LEEP stands for “Liberal Education and Effective Practices”. Essentially, its goal is to translate a liberal arts education into effective business skills that are marketable to employers after graduation. LEEP has five main goals, according to it’s website: knowledge of the natural world and human cultures and societies, intellectual and practical skills, personal and social responsibility, the ability to integrate knowledge and skills, and capacities of effective practice. The LEEP Program has aimed to take down the major critique of a liberal arts education: that it fails to prepare students for the “real world.” While a lot of Clarkies are very critical of the program, it’s essential to remember that the project is still in its formative stages. The LEEP talks demonstrated a commitment to entrepreneurship that is rarely seen among college students, and provided a promising glimpse into the future development of the LEEP Program.
The Scarlet
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october 3, 2013
CLARKIE of the WEEK to represent them and give them a voice in Council and with the administration. Scarlet: What does the Communications Committee do? Brittany: We’re all about feedback from the community. We find out what students want and how to really deliver on that – what’s lacking, what’s missing. We also publicize events.
courtesy of facebook.com
Brittany Klug To say that Brittany Klug is involved on campus is an understatement. A sophomore from Bridgewater, New Jersey, Brittany is a Women’s and Gender Studies major with a Political Science minor. Scarlet: What activities are you involved in on campus? Brittany: I’m the Executive Secretary for Hillel and the Sophomore Class Representative for Student Council, as well as the chair of the [Student Council] Communications Committee. Those are two main [activities], but I’m also a lunch team member for the Scarlet Key and a Big Sister in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Scarlet: What is your role as Sophomore Class Rep? Brittany: I serve as a facilitator for my constituents. It’s [a way] for the sophomore class to deal with the administration and with any issues that they have. I’m the in-between person who gets
Scarlet: What do you do as the Secretary of Hillel? Brittany: Our Executive Board [has] five positions and we all work very cohesively. The only real difference between what I do and what [the rest of the Board] does is that I take the notes at our meetings. But really it’s an equal partnership in that we all get to contribute and share ideas. Scarlet: What do you do as a “Big Sister”? Brittany: Last year I met my Little; she’s in fifth grade. She actually moved to Connecticut this year, so our relationship is solely over Instagram, Facebook, FaceTime, and text messages. But she’s still my Little. [Last year] we typically met once a week, depending on the week. We spent a few hours of one-on-one time together. Usually we did homework at the beginning and at the end we played a lot of soccer because she loves soccer. It’s [for] bonding and
by Anna Spack
giving her an outlet to talk to someone. It’s really cool because I get to learn about her life, her family, and her siblings, and she gets to learn about mine. I have sisters and she doesn’t have any, so I tell her about what my sisters are like and stuff like that. Scarlet: Do you have any other interests or hobbies? Brittany: I really like school. It’s what I want to do forever. I want to get my PhD and be a professor and researcher at a university, specifically focusing on gender in American politics. I also like organization….I’m extremely organized. I’m really into flossing, and I also own a label maker…. Those two things accurately describe my personality. Scarlet: What is your favorite spot on campus? Brittany: I really like going to the Caf at 7:30 before my classes and reading the New York Times before anyone gets there. It’s really nice to have [time] where people don’t come up to you, to have some anonymity. It’s a very calming way to start my morning. Scarlet: Is there anything else you would like to add? Brittany: I enjoy the crosswords in The Scarlet. Thanks, Brittany!
The Scarlet
october 3, 2013
Visitors of British zoo banned from wearing animal prints Zoo claims they confuse the animals
By Senegal Carty scarlet staff
Famous blue man passes away Paul Karason, AKA ‘Papa Smurf’, dies of a heart attack (UPI) - The 62-year-old man who famously turned blue as a result of silver poisoning died last Monday after suffering from pneumonia, a heart attack, and a severe stroke. His unusual skin condition is called argyria, and was caused by the use of dietary supplements and a dermatitis treatment containing silver. Karason’s death was not related to his skin condition.
(Agence France-Presse) - Soon after opening their new attraction, ‘Zufari, Ride into Africa’, administrators at the Chessington World of Adventures announced that visitors were no longer allowed to wear leopard or zebra print. Zufari is a ride in a safari vehicle, and there have been reports of animals getting too close to visitors wearing clothes that resembled their own fur. On the other hand, park animals seemed to be frightened off by animal prints that resembled the pelts of predators.
NYC party now holds Guinness World Record for most people twerking simultaneously Hundreds of twerkers gather for event (NBC) - Over 250 people twerked for two full minutes in New York City’s Herald Square last Wednesday. Guinness World Record officials were there to check the form of each dancer and deemed the huge party worthy of a place in the renowned record books.
news | 7
Italian athlete uses a fake penis during dope testing Long-distance runner gets creative to try to get away with doping (Agence France-Presse) - During a urine test after Italy’s 10k race in the city of Molfetta, Devis Licciardi tried to get the examiner to leave him alone while he gave a urine sample for a doping test. The suspicious inspector subsequently realized that Licciardi was using a fake penis. The 27-year old athlete now risks two years of suspension by the local Olympic committee.
Man shoots neighbor for telepathically assaulting wife Neighbor shot twice while doing yard work (Dayton Daily News) - A Utah couple recently attempted to kill their neighbor in retaliation for the wife’s ‘telepathic’ rape. Meloney and Michael Selleneit had reportedly been harassing their neighbor for years with accusations of telepathic threats and assault. Meloney Selleneit pleaded guilty to encouraging her husband to fire. Her husband Michael pleaded guilty to attempted murder and is now serving a 30-year prison sentence, during which he will receive treatment for mental illness.
The Scarlet
8 | news
october 3, 2013
South African students cont.
CUSC in brief continued from page 1
students to positive models of racial integration will go a long way towards changing and enriching the minds of young leaders, who have committed to building a truly non-racial community during and beyond their university years.” All the students are firstyears and second-years, and come from all different parts of South Africa. They have been placed in different universities throughout the country based on their results from the Myers Briggs personality test to ensure that there is a diversity of personalities in each of the groups. This is the first time that Clark is a host university. The students have been here since September 22 and will leave on October 3. Professor David Bell of Clark’s International Development and Social Change department is the coordinator of the program. The students have been traveling with Martie Miranda, a faculty member at UFS who also serves as the group’s mentor. Throughout the course of their stay, the students attend classes, club meetings, Difficult Dialogues Seminars, and other events, all of which focus on diversity in some way. “The idea is to come to America and see how you guys handle issues such as diversity, social justice, gender, and sexual orientation,” says Louzanne Coetzee, one of the eight students. “Then we’ll take that back to South Africa and implement it on our campus as much as we can.” Will they actually implement what they learn? Esteon Steyn says he will.
“America has taught me not to judge a book by its cover,” he remarks. “When we grow up, we get certain stereotypes about certain people and I think America broke that down for me a bit. So I’m going back questioning my culture.” Steyn hopes to start a discussion group at UFS on diversity when he gets back to South Africa. “I think a lot of [people] have internal feelings about their race,” he says. “It would be cool to let them have a safe space to speak without feeling that they’re judged or that they’ll get in trouble.” For Nhlanhla Mgobhozi, interacting with Clark students and professors has been the most valuable aspect of the trip. “I think we’ve learned a lot and are taking a lot [back] from [this experience],” he says. Aside from attending events at Clark, the group has been exploring Worcester and the surrounding area. They took a trip to Boston with two other UFS groups from UMass Amherst and Mount Holyoke College, and had dinner with Professor Bell and other experts on South Africa and diversity. They have also been spending a lot of time at Annie’s, which they love. The students say that spending time in the U.S. has debunked a lot of stereotypes they had about the country. “You find [here] the same issues that you face back home, just [in] a different context,” says Nhlanhla. Zibuyile Majola agrees, saying that America is different than how she saw it portrayed on TV. “America is seen as a super powerhouse, but when you get here you find that it’s not so different from where [we’re] coming from,” she says. “It also has its issues.”
The students have also been able to experience Clark life and note its differences from UFS. UFS has about 33,000 students, so Clark’s small classes are much more intimate in comparison. Edward Nkadimeng says his smallest class at UFS is 274 students. At UFS, “you don’t really have a personal relationship with your professor,” says Zanri Kotze. Zanri also admires Clark’s attitude towards diversity. “You are accepted for who you are [here], which is really cool,” she says. Overall the trip has been very rewarding for the students. “It’s been an enriching, enlightening, and liberating experience,” says Esteon. “We feel like we are more open. We’ve seen that it’s not wrong to discuss things, that there’s not one right or wrong answer – everyone has different opinions and that’s okay.” The group says that although they didn’t know each other before the trip, they have bonded a great deal and have become very close. They are deeply thankful to Clark for hosting them and for “making them feel at home.”
By Hannah Rosenblum scarlet staff
This CUSC meeting was an exciting one, as many newly elected representatives came to witness how the council is run. $300 was allocated to ISA for International Journey. $151 was allocated to student Ivy Mbayah to go to the 2013 Youth Summit sponsored by The World Bank Group. $100 was allocated to Clark University Dance Society for a speaker to be shared with other groups for use in the Atwood Blue Room. $700 was allocated to a software engineering group that seeks to make an educational game for freshmen that depicts student life. The group hopes it will eventually be available for free on Androids and that it will be used by Clark and even other universities. For fall break, there will be free buses to Boston on October 11 at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., and October 12 at 12 p.m. On October 13, there will be a shuttle every half hour to Shrewsbury from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. On October 14, there will be a bus to the Natick Mall leaving at 2 p.m. and returning at 7 p.m. The results of the election were certified, but the council is looking for someone to fill the second off-campus representative position. The council will be reconciling all club allocations by taking funds from the cumulative surplus. This cost almost $24,000. The newly elected representatives will be officially sworn in at the beginning of next week’s meeting and then will be accountable to answering constituents’ queries within 48 hours.
Spree Day cont. continued from page 1
well as the schedule itself. The Task Force calls for the creation of an “Advisory Committee/Co-Chair model.” One co-chair will be a member of Clark’s administration, and the other will be an undergraduate student. The report states that Spree Day should be moved “later in the year,” to the “second or third week of April, midweek.” However, Spree Day is traditionally held on the second Tuesday of April, so if the report’s suggestions are put into effect Spree Day would not really be later in the year than students are accustomed to.
Lastly, the report suggests that the week of Spree Day should be determined in advance but that the day itself should remain flexible throughout the week, so as to allow for the best weather possible. President Angel has the ultimate say, as he may accept or reject the report. While the future of Spree Day remains uncertain, at this point it seems likely the sacred Clark tradition will continue for at least another year.
The Scarlet
october 3, 2013
opinions | 9
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.
Catholics, Gays and Abortion The Pope’s shifting focus By Jeremy Levine editor-in-chief
courtesy of salon.com
By Will Heikes scarlet staff
Catholics. We’ve always been known for our strict policies on gays and abortion. However, in the summer of 2013, Pope Francis, the leader of the Church, made waves among his followers when he urged the Church to stop dwelling on such con-
troversial issues. “If someone is gay, who searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” he said. Although the pope did not alter the Church’s official policy concerning gays and abortion, he did cause quite a stir, particularly among his followers. As a Catholic, one thing that I find troubling about this so-called “progressivism” is that when Pope
Francis was chosen as the leader of the church, he was vehemently against gays and abortion. When his home country of Argentina was on the verge of legalizing gay marriage, the Pope, then known as Cardinal Jose Bergoglio, was quoted as saying, “A Senate vote continued on page 11
Once the email presenting the President’s Spree Day Task Force arrived in my inbox, I opened up Facebook and my email and got ready. I didn’t know what exactly I was ready for, but I was certain that, as a member of that task force, I was about to receive a lot of messages and I was going to be sending a lot of replies. And I got nothing. No email, no message, no letter, no Facebook post, no passiveaggressive AIM away-message. Nothing at all. I tried to make sense of this. Spree Day is a huge thing. We all saw what happened the last time it was the subject of campus-wide discussion. Chaos, mostly. A five hundred person Facebook group. Now, nothing. I talked to some people, both on and off the task force, about this lack of response, and they all told me something along the lines of, “Well, it all sort of made sense, so there isn’t really anything to talk about, I guess.” I got a cookie at Jazzman’s yesterday. (I swear to you, this is relevant.) I asked for chocolate chip. I retrieved my cookie and walked away from the register. On my way through the AC, I took a bite, and experienced horror like... like... a victim in a horror movie. The cookie was not chocolate chip. It was oatmeal raisin. I KNOW. I was appalled. I searched the AC and approached every single person that I knew there and started to tell them about the tragedy. Most were appalled. Many were sympathetic. Some even suggested that I write my “Scarlet Letter” about it. Shalom. The thing is, though, I’ve never once gone around the AC to tell everyone how fantastic the chocolate chip cookies, or the hot continued on page 11
10 | opinions
Dear Sigmund, My eating is totally out of whack. I’m either eating perfectly, making sure not to eat anything unhealthy, or I go in the other direction and I’m eating way too many sweets. If I’m in the healthy mode then I feel deprived, and if I’m eating too many sweets then I feel guilty. Is there anything I can do to make this easier? A Hungry Student Dear Hungry Student, There is this idea called “90-10 eating.” The main premise is that you aim to eat healthy and balanced meals 90% of the time, and then save the other 10% for cravings and/or food that is not ideal to eat in large quantities. With this idea, you can make a commitment to eating in a healthier, more balanced way, but know that you are still able to have a treat once in a while. If you don’t know how to structure that healthy 90%, try this: aim to eat produce (e.g. fruits and vegetables) at every meal, skip sodas, and skip the fried foods. That’s a great place to start. The 90-10 eating plan works out to maybe one “treat” a day, which could be something like a cookie, a piece of cake, or a serving of ice cream. You could also have one “treat meal” a week such as ordering pizza, or trying a new restaurant. Try to stick to a moderate portion of any treat you choose. In other words, an entire pint of ice cream or half a large pizza works out to a lot more than the 10% you’re aiming for. A great example of how to do this within the college life is using that willpower to put only one dessert on your plate. Many college students have trouble with eating too many sweets; after all, those cookies and desserts are available in the cafeteria every meal…and they certainly do look good most of the time. But if you can restrain yourself from piling on the dessert at lunch and dinner, and instead only have one dessert each meal, often times just this one “treat” is enough to satisfy that sweet tooth and take the craving away. An important thing to keep in mind is that the goal is not perfection - it’s balance. If you have trouble finding the balance that feels good to you right away, don’t be discouraged. It can take some time
The Scarlet
to learn this new way of relating to food. Just keep trying and you will get to that spot that works for you. When you’re ready to try to create that balance in your eating, here are some tips for making it a bit easier. Some people find it helpful to work on cultivating mindfulness around their eating and relationship with food. Slow down and ask yourself questions like: Am I really hungry? What am I hungry for? Where in my body do I feel hungry? You can even try rating you hunger on a scale of 1-10. If 1 is not hungry at all, and 10 is starving, ask yourself, “How would I rate my hunger right now?” When you do eat, really focus on the experience. Shut off the computer or TV, and relax. Make an effort to slow down and notice the smells, tastes, colors, and textures of the food. Take deep breaths between bites. Often we can overeat because we miss the experience of eating. We forget to enjoy food and the experience, and therefore feel compelled to go back for more. Taking some time to be in the moment can break this cycle. Remember, the goal is to aim for a balanced relationship with food that honors what your body wants, allows you to truly enjoy your food, and comes from a place of self-care. Sigmund
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.
october 3, 2013
The Scarlet
october 3, 2013
opinions | 11
Veronica finds her place Adoptive parents win American born cross-cultural custody battle By Jonah Naghi scarlet staff
Adoptive parents win American born cross-cultural custody battle A custody battle between biological parents and adoptive parents always seems difficult. When we hear stories of biological parents losing their child to adoptive parents, we tend to feel bad for the parents because all they want is their beloved son or daughter back. However, the cross-cultural custody battle over the four-year old Native American girl, Veronica, is different. I couldn’t say I felt much sympathy for the biological parents. The adoptive parents, Matt and Melanie Capobianco, took care of Veronica for the first two years of her life before a court granted custody to the biological father. After having spent the past month in Oklahoma trying to win back Veronica, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled
in the adoptive parents’ favor as Veronica was finally returned to them by her biological father. I know it may sound sad for the biological father to give up his daughter to another, but if you hear the whole story you may not feel the same way. The biological father, Dusten Brown, never married Veronica’s biological mother and signed away his parental rights, but later opposed the adoption because he said he had no knowledge about Veronica’s adoption by the Capobiancos. Brown appealed under the Indian Child Welfare Act, which is an act that tries to prevent the separation of Indian families, and was granted custody of Veronica by a South Carolina court in 2011. However, the U.S. Supreme Court in June revoked the decision arguing that the Act did not apply in this case because Brown had not provided support for the birth mother or the child. And just last week, the South Carolina courts finalized the adoption in July and the
courtesy of kissrichmond.com
Oklahoma courts ordered Veronica to be transferred back to her adoptive parents. This case is interesting because it is often assumed that the biological parents, in such a conflict, would ultimately be granted custody because the child is their flesh and blood. However, this case is an exception. The reason why I support the adoptive parents is because the biological father chose not to marry the biological mother and knowingly signed away his parental rights. How could he even think about trying to
get her back? It is true that the mother set up the adoption with the Capobiancos in secrecy, but what was Mr. Brown expecting when he provided no support for the child? The reason why the Supreme Court overruled the Indian Child Welfare Act was because Brown provided nothing for the mother and child, so what gives him the right to just jump right back into the situa-
tion and say no this child is mine? I must say it’s depressing enough for me to read about a case where the father abandons the mother and child and then steps in to try and take back the child back once she’s given to a family. The Capobiancos are a couple who can work together to provide for Veronica. It is with the adoptive parents that I believe Veronica will be best taken care of.
continued from page 9
Pope cont. continued from page 9
on gay marriage is a destructive pretension against the plan of God.” He also claimed that “Gay marriage will destroy the family.” So when I recently read his new point of view, I was, to say the least, surprised. It was like Obama “evolving” on the issue of gay marriage all over again. Don’t get me wrong; I love the Pope. I like the fact that he is modest, that he chose to live in small
apartment as opposed to the opulent palace of the Vatican, and that he is known as the “People’s Pope” because he likes to get to know the people of his Church. What Catholics perceive as troubling is that the Pope’s viewpoint is so different from anything that they have known (or what he himself professed) before he became the Pope. Quite frankly, many Catholics don’t want abortion to be allowed or gays to be able to marry. So there is a perception that the pope - especially one that has been the head of the papacy for a mere seven months - should not have made such remarks. But the Pope simply wants the
Church to stop getting distracted on these controversial policies. I think that every Catholic can agree that the point of our Church is not to alienate certain groups of people, but to love and respect everyone. That’s what the Bible tells us to do. And that is what Pope Francis is trying to do. He realizes that the condemnation of gays and abortions only works to alienate more people from the Church. He’s trying to make the Church a place where everyone can feel safe and at home. That’s why we call God “our Father.” And I don’t think anyone, Catholic or not, can disagree with him there.
chocolate, or the Santa Fe Turkey Sandwiches are at Jazzman’s. The only time I’ve really talked about them is either to condemn their absurdly loud blender or talk about this cookie. Nearly one hundred percent of my Jazzman’s-related discourse is negative. This is the case with a lot of stuff nowadays. People complain on a frighteningly regular basis, and we very rarely talk about what’s great. There’s always something wrong. And sometimes, yeah, there’s a lot of stuff wrong, but we can all take the time to talk about the awesome cookie we just ate, or the beautiful book we just finished. Or the task force report that we just read. Now, this article is not a dig for praise about the Spree Day thing. It’s more so a way of talking about and questioning why it is that we choose to focus on the rough stuff, or why it is that we often think in a culture and a discourse of negativity. I don’t really have an answer to it, but I do think we’ll benefit from knowing that we can choose what to focus on and care about.
12 | living arts
The Scarlet
october 3, 2013
The Scarlet/Living Arts Heavy on Sugar, Low on Substance Ode to Sodexo Food of Clark, so complex-o Want some? Oh-hecks-no!
The destructive superficiality of The Cupcake Theory
And the fire burned Inside my stomach when I Heard “Kosher Counter” Black bird singin’ in The dead of night – get those damn Things off this campus I’d rather take an Orgo test than Alcohol E-D-U again
By Matt Emmer living arts editor
Many people view the genre of picture books as relegated to the field of children’s literature. Not Clara Lee. With her debut book, The Cupcake Theory: The Secret Ingredient to Being Happy in Your Relationships, it seems as if Lee is trying to adapt the concept to an adult audience, but eschewing the traditional life lessons or content within. The book is broken into nine chapters, including a foreword by Harvard Business School Review contributing writer Robert J. Thomas Ph. D, an expert at neither relationships nor cupcakes, and two different chapters entitled “Theory of Cupcakes” and “The Cupcake Theory” respectively. In her introduction, Lee implores the reader to “consider this cupcake”, presented with a half-page illustration of a naked cupcake, complete with cute eyes, smile, and arms, emphasizing the cake itself, rather than the frosting. The reason why will soon be revealed.
by Tyler Terriault
Don Jon Review The cartoon reel, if the cartoon reel was about porn By Ronald Gerber scarlet staff
courtesy of indiegogo.com
You see, Lee suggests that, as a reader, you are the cupcake. Like cupcakes, all are unique and “an individual who values independance, love, happiness, and beauty!” If you are questioning why you are being compared to food, don’t worry, Lee
handily covers this too. She writes, “The best cupcakes and the best people have Real Substance.” Unfortunately, this book does not. continued on page 13
In Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s directorial debut, Don Jon, we inhabit a cartoonish world acted out by real people. Most of the characters are caricatures and the dialogue abides by overtly male-dominant standards. Until the end, the film itself takes no issue with any of this; most of the time we might as well be in a pornographic movie,
which is evidently what Levitt is intending. He wants us to develop sympathies in an extreme world, in order to impress upon us the importance of reality. Levitt’s tale of overcoming sex addiction is a lot more playful and ultimately hopeful than previous attempts at the subject, but sophistication aside, he gets his message across. Levitt stars as Jon Martello, continued on page 13
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october 3, 2013
Don Jon cont.
living arts | 13
Cupcake cont. continued from page 12
courtesy of moviemelt.com
continued from page 12
Jr., a stereotypical young Italian guy in Jersey; he works out a lot, sleeps with a lot of women, goes to church constantly for some reason, watches sports with loud and obnoxious parents (Tony Danza and Glenne Headly), has little direction in life, and hangs out with friends who are not all that different from him. His one dirty secret is that he constantly watches online porn and finds it more appealing than actual sex. When he meets who he thinks is the girl of his dreams, Barbara Sugarman (Scarlett Johansson), an equally shallow but slightly more organized person, whose physical appearance is all Jon needs to know he’s in love, Jon thinks things are going to change. However, they don’t, and he soon finds out through a budding friendship with his classmate, Esther (Julianne Moore), that his love life needs a change in direction.
rating: The most interesting and ultimately dysfunctional thing about Jon is that he finds solace in repetition. Levitt provides us with simple but effective visual cues that clue us in to Jon’s obsessive schedule; the shots are angled the same way every time he walks through the gym, every time he opens his computer to view porn, every time he goes to church. The latter is the most intriguing of Jon’s habits; he goes to church weekly and confesses regularly. However, it seems that he goes solely because, with a few simple Hail Mary’s, he can feel exonerated from his questionable actions. It is a weekly fix, and it runs the same way; the same montage of religious images repeats every time he confesses, and both he and the priest sound as though they are reading
from an old and oft-repeated script. Jon mentions the word “sins” every time, not realizing that his only true sin is the completely lack of selfawareness he brings on himself as he continues to go through the motions. We are inevitably forced to contemplate the irony of Jon’s confessions actually being part of his true sins. I read another review complain that Levitt could not sufficiently juggle his directing and acting roles. On the contrary, I think this was probably one of the few projects in which a director could take a lead role without going insane. Jon is a larger-than-life character, and can therefore be played with broad strokes. The effectiveness of his realizations and personal changes in the third act are brought out more by a standout performance in the
The following pages are predicated of the analogy that you, the reader, are the cake, while your partner is the frosting. While the frosting is flashy and sweet, the cake is the most important element. Lee provides ten illustrations depicting controlling, fun, attractive, discouraging, romantic, needy, vain, jealous, caring, and loving partners as cute little cupcake characters. It remains problematic that partners are categorized by singular characteristics and flaws, while the cake remains neutral and helplessly supportive of the different frostings. Furthermore, the analogy is never brought to fruition, as the the cupcake seems more of a shallow visual symbol than an actual substantive metaphor for various relationships. With its decidedly cute visual aesthetic and reliance on catchy sayings and quotes,
supporting cast than anyone else. No, I don’t mean Scarlett Johansson; clearly the only thing the filmmakers want to stand out about her is her chest. I mean Julianne Moore, to whom I give at least half the credit for the success of the film. Moore is saddled with the only truly, consistently human character in the film. The tragedy of Esther’s life, as well as her patient and kind nature, are what put Jon’s foolishness and self-entitlement into perspective. But of course, it is no surprise that Moore can handle the unusual emotional depth in an otherwise onedimensional world with finesse; she is easily the best supporting actress
rather than actual advice or research, The Cupcake Theory seems more like an extended greeting card than an actual book. While only Lee’s name is listed on the cover, the illustrations which occupy much of the book’s content are by Yasmeen El Dahan, who is only listed in the last paragraph of the acknowledgements. Furthermore, Lee lacks any real qualification for her claims. She professes to be a self-taught life, business, and relationship coach. In her acknowledgements, she thanks social networks, friends, and bakeries. The only professional listed is the author of the aforementioned foreword. It is dangerous for the young women of the book’s clear target demographic to put their trust into the advice of people, like Lee, with no real expertise or experience. The fact that this slim volume, mostly comprised of illustrations, will most likely end up on the self-help shelves of bookstores around the country should be alarming.
of her generation. Ultimately, Don Jon is a film about shallow people. Just think about where it gets its name. However, do not let that fool you into thinking that it is a shallow movie. Yes, its ending is sugary, and Levitt does not let us delve into the psyche of the sex addict in the same way Steve McQueen did in the superb Shame, but the film does manage to impress upon us the importance of healthy relationships in a unique and wholly enjoyable way. Just be prepared to hear a lot about masturbation.
The Scarlet
14 | sports
october 3, 2013
The Scarlet/Sports Trish Conin becomes new Interim Athletic Director Will fill in for Sean Sullivan until the end of the year By Ethan Giles scarlet staff
After Sean Sullivan’s surprising decision to leave for Catholic University last week, Assistant Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator Trish Conin was named interim Athletic Director by David Angel. As an Athletic Director, Conin plans “not to rock the boat and make sure the applecart doesn’t fall over.” She said her number one goal is “to make sure the staff here in the athletic department feels confident and at ease to continue to do what they are doing.” She also wants to, “continue any outreach projects Mr. Sullivan was doing and maybe find some other things the Athletic Department can dabble into to create more relationships on campus.” She also talked about the mixing of academics and athletics saying, “I know it was one of Sean, the department, and the athlete’s goals to try and bring the campus together, athletics and academics, and that’s certainly something I’m invested in.” Conin says she learned of Sullivan’s departure “a week before… he talked to me about a friend of his contacting him about the possibilities of the position.” She says her initial reaction was, “Oh my gosh” but went on to say that “it sounded liked a fabulous professional advancement
for him…it made me [realize] that this will be something that is going to impact me as an administrator… I knew it was going to change [my responsibilities.]” She went on to say that she thought her values and administrative style “are very much in line with Mr. Sullivan’s…I found that many of my policies and thought processes are very much aligned with his.” Although currently she is only the interim Athletic Director, Conin says she would “absolutely” like to take over the job full time. She said that she has, “been in athletics for 23 years. It has always been a goal to be an administrator…It’s exciting, it’s new, and would certainly be something that I would look forward to doing.” When asked if she is ready for the job, Conin seemed to think so. “I have been preparing for this position for the last seven years. I have always been at the administration table developing policies and coordinating with other departments on campus and I just see this as another step into making sure that Clark is growing together as a campus.” She went onto say that when she was first promoted to Senior Woman Administrator her role was “to work with intramurals and recreation… to create a program that would be more inviting to the entire campus.” Before coming to Clark, Conin was the Assistant Athletic Director
Fantasy Football Add/Drop for Week 5 By Ethan Giles scarlet staff
ADD • Rashad Jennings, RB, Raiders: With Darren McFadden suffering his annual injury and Marcel Reece hurt as well, look for Jennings to get most of the touches out of the Raider backfield. Jennings is owned in just 6.5% of espn. com leagues, 0.3% of nfl.com leagues, and 9% of yahoo.com leagues. • St. Louis Rams D/ST: For the second straight week, pick up the defense that is playing the Jaguars. It is not complicated. The Rams’ D is owned in 82% of espn.com leagues, 29% of nfl.com leagues, and 53% of yahoo.com leagues.
D R OP courtesy of clarkathletics.com
for Sports Medicine for Dowling College. She describes her position there as, “more administrative [responsibilities]. I had a staff of athletic trainers and the associate athletic director there was challenging me to network with other departments and life skills programming and welfare and things like that.” Conin went onto say that while she liked being on the field it became “ a challenge to be out at 10 o clock at night carrying a lacrosse player off the field and whatnot.” Conin came to the Clark athletic staff in August of 2010. She was hired as the assistant athletic trainer, and was also named the Senior Woman’s Administrator in spring of 2010. Last year she also became Assistant Athletic Director.
• Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Cardinals: The former Steeler just looks done. Mendenhall was only able to collect 21 yards on 12 carries last Sunday against the Buccaneers. Expect him to be benched for Andre Ellington in the next few weeks. • Brandon Myers, TE, NYG: The Giants are a mess this year, and it all starts with their horrid offensive line. As a result, Myers has been asked to stay and block, and has posted only 33 yards over the past two weeks. At this point, you may as well let him go.
BU Y L OW • Stevan Ridley, RB, Patriots: While his numbers have been underwhelming so far, the Patriots’ offense has been depleted by injuries. Running lanes should open up for Ridley once Rob Gronkowski and Danny Amendola get back into the lineup.
S E L L HIG H • Julian Edelman, WR, Patriots: Basically the opposite the Ridley rationale. while Edelman has produced over the past few weeks, Gronkowski and Amendola will return to the field soon and take away his targets. Get what you can for Edelman now.
october 3, 2013
The Scarlet
sports | 15
COUGAR of the WEEK Nobody goes harder than senior Nate Buck on the cross country trails. And nobody in the Worcester Consortium runs a faster five mile race than him. Buck is coming off of a first place finish at the Worcester City Invitational with a time of 27:06 that helped lead the cross country team to a second place finish. Scarlet: What did it mean to you, after coming in second last year, to win the Worcester City Invitational? Nate: It was sort of a surprise because I went in not even considering it as an option. I was just trying to run with a couple WPI guys that I knew would be out near the front. Scarlet: Looking at the standings, it looked like they had a lot of good times. Nate: I think they had second, fourth and fifth, but my whole race plan was to keep up with them and then I decided to go for it. Scarlet: So was that your mentality before the race, not even worrying about where you were going to place, just running? Nate: Yeah, just to run with the pack and, if I felt good that day, then try to separate. courtesy of clarkathletics.com
Nate Buck cross country
Scarlet: What was going through your mind during that race? Nate: I do something a lot of people on the team do, something our coach talks about. We split the race into three part. For the first couple miles, I’m just thinking about keeping as comfortable and relaxed as possible, and just saying “easy” over and over in my head, just trying to stay relaxed. And then, the second part of the race, that’s when you really want to settle into your pack, and you want to be aggressive and put yourself in the place that you need to be. And then the last part of the race is all about doing whatever you have to do. You’re not even really thinking at that point; it’s just about dealing with the pain. Scarlet: It’s all in at that point. Nate: Yeah, but for the last part of this race, I was sort of by myself, so it was a weird finish. Scarlet: Does it add extra motivation when you’re up ahead? Does it makes you think, “I really want to keep this up”? Nate: Yeah, I took the lead around a mile and a half to go, and then the rest of the race, I was just paranoid that they were going to catch up to me. I knew there were two people that were behind me. Scarlet: I saw that you won by about ten seconds, which is a pretty comfortable lead, but isn’t it still a little precarious. Nate: It was comfortable in the sense that I didn’t have to kick, but if I cramped or if I had fallen off the pace, they would have caught me pretty easily. Scarlet: I know that in cross country, you’re competing with yourself more than anything. You’re focused on how you’re team does, but also how you’re doing and what you can do better. What are your goals going forward? Nate: I have four goals for the rest of the season. My goal time-wise is that I want to break 26 minutes.
by Scott Levine
Nate: I want to be NEWMAC All-Conference. Clark has never had an all-conference runner in the program’s history, so I would like to be all-conference. And, also, we have a goal of finishing fifth as a team in the NEWMAC. We’ve always been in sixth or seventh, and I think this year we can actually beat a couple more teams and come in fifth. And then for regionals, this is where we can measure our improvement the best. There are 50 teams, and every time you get a little bit better, you can see it. My first year running here was my sophomore year and we were 36th. Last year, we moved up to 25th, so we were right in the middle at 25th out of 50. This year, the goal is to take another step up and be in the top 20. Scarlet: I know it’s hard to compete with some of the NESCAAC schools in regionals. Nate: They have amazing runners who are getting, like 25 minute 8k times. But you’d be up there if you’re able to break 26 on that course. Yeah, if I was able to break 26 on that course, I’d be in the pack with a lot of NESCAAC people. The other thing is that it’s really impressive that we’re able to do this without a track program. Last year, we were the second best team at regionals that didn’t have a track program. Other schools are running year round and we just run in the fall. Scarlet: How much of what you’re doing right now is preparation of the NEWMAC? Really everything we do now is in preparation for NEWMAC and regionals. Is that what you’re thinking about when you’re going through these races? Yeah, because it’s cross country, the regular season doesn’t matter at all. I mean, it matters just because you’re trying to tune up. So the races do matter, but really what it comes down to is your finish at conference and your finish at regionals.
Scarlet: I noticed you got around 26:30 at last year’s Western New England Golden Bears invitational. Nate: Yeah, the [Worcester City Invitational] course is a really slow course, I got like 27:30 on it last year, so I’m hoping that I can be sub-26 on the [Golden Bears] course. It has a very packed and flat surface.
Scarlet: So the races are kind of like benchmarks leading up to the main races, and that inspires you to take them seriously. Yeah, it’s really about seeing where we’re at as a team in relation to other schools, and trying to move up.
Scarlet: So if you shaved 30 seconds off the Worcester City Invitational time, then it’s possible to shave it off that one too. What are your other goals?
Scarlet: How would you assess where you
guys are at right now? I think we’re running really well. We have a lot of freshmen and returning sophomores who are running very fast. The problem with last year was that we weren’t very deep and that we had a couple of guys at the top, but we couldn’t maintain that through our top seven. This year, it looks like we’re going to have a really good top seven. Scarlet: It’s really hard have a top seven that finishes near the top because if you scroll far down the standings, you’re still at 30 minutes and that’s still really good, that’s 6 minute splits. Nate: I think our #7 was 30:53 at this course, and on a flat course, that’s probably sub-30 so that’s huge for us because last year, we had 5 runners at sub-30 and to have seven will be helpful. Scarlet: Walk me through a day of exercise in the fall. How much do you run? Nate: I run 70 miles every week, so I average 10 miles a day. It really depends on the day. Tuesday and Thursday are workouts and Saturdays are races, those are the days where it’s the hardest. Scarlet: What are some of the best routes in Worcester? Nate: We go to Cascades Park a lot, that’s my favorite run. Scarlet: When did you start running cross country? Nate: I had always played soccer, so my junior year of high school, they had a really strong cross country team that year in terms of the top three guys. They had three of the best guys in the state, and they were trying to find a four and a five to help them win states. So they came to the soccer coach and I was on JV soccer, and I was the best at running on the soccer team. The coach asked me if I wanted to run cross country and I was like, yeah that sounds like fun. Scarlet: I was on JV soccer as a junior as well. Nate: I was pretty disappointed that I didn’t make varsity. Scarlet: What if you made varsity? Maybe you wouldn’t be running cross country. Nate: I guess it was a blessing in disguise.
The Scarlet
16 | puzzles
october 3, 2013
The Scarlet/Puzzles CROSSWORD
SUDOKU
SOLUTIONS IN NEXT ISSUE
copyright © 2013 crosswordsite.com ltd.
ACROSS
DOWN
1. Rope-like hairstyle (10) 8. Tiny particles (5) 9. Person used as one’s excuse (5) 10. Oceans (4) 12. Self-defence (6) 14. Female sibling (6) 17. Hearing organs (4) 21. Harvests (5) 22. Will (5) 23. Eyeglasses with tinted lenses (10)
2. Dry red Spanish wine (5) 3. Too (4) 4. Capital of Tibet (5) 5. Porcelain tableware (5) 6. Nail-like fastener (5) 7. Droops (4) 11. Be seated (3) 13. Fish eggs (3) 14. Arranges in groups (5) 15. Kingdom in SW Europe (5) 16. Artist’s support (5) 18. Diminish (5) 19. An auction (4) 20. Inquires (4)
what happens in The Scarlet office at 1:08 a.m. stays in the The Scarlet office... sort of Matt: So this Green2Go thing is kind of annoying… I mean, the tag is huge. Anna: You know what else is annoying? Global Warming Matt: So that would be like, as Orwell was writing ANIMAL FARM, he consulted a lot of– Pooja: –Animals. Matt: Farmers. Claire: I’m not a chili connisseeeuuu Ronald: Nor a French, one apparently. Keitaro: He didn’t change his position by like an inch, it was more like a foot. Jeremy: You can’t really measure these things in distance.
Keitaro: Ok so he did it like twenty degrees. Jeremy: In what way is that better? Sarah: I have a friend whose initials are J.Z. And it’s not Jason Zelesky. Clarie: Is it Sean Carter? Sarah: Like what do you like to do? Claire: Do you like to go outside? Sarah: Do you like to watch movies? Anna: Did you say “touch booties”?