smart grid • higgins armory closing • yoni ki baat • and more inside
volume xciii, no. 11 • december 5, 2013 | clarkscarlet.tumblr.com |
Alumni and Student Engagement Center in development Julie Dolan discusses plans for new building By Jeremy Levine editor-in-chief
Clark University is reaching across Main Street. Earlier this year, Clark acquired the Spanish Church of God, which subsequently moved to 1048 Main Street. This October, initial plans for the Alumni and Student Engagement Center were discussed with the University’s trustees. Although many of the building’s plans are tentative and the design phase is far from complete, Julie Dolan, Executive Vice President and Treasurer of the University, agreed to discuss some of the ideas being discussed. The concept for the building, according to Dolan, began when the school started to explore the ideas
behind LEEP, specifically ways of steering the University toward that initiative. The building is supposed to serve as “some kind of unified space for LEEP activities.” This means that the current LEEP Center, the building formerly, although still pretty often referred to as Dana Commons, will cease to be the LEEP center, as the offices in that space will likely relocate to the new building. Many (although not all) of the offices currently housed at the Woodland (formerly Downing) Street offices will move to either the new building or Dana Commons, depending on what space permits. This is in preparation to demolish the current administrative buildings, which continued on page 5
the.clark.scarlet
Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd Clark Musical Theatre’s fall production shines in its gothic moodiness By Matt Emmer living arts editor
This weekend, Clark Musical Theater is presenting their fall production of Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street at Atwood Hall. On the Tuesday night following break, I caught a full run through of the gothic musical. As the house lights were dimmed for the beginning of the performance, a bombastic organ prelude filled the hall. At the side of the still-dark stage, pianist Carly Anthony played the increasingly ominous chords, making the pre-show warning of “mature content” and “loud sudden noises” seem irrelevant. One by one, the ensemble filled the bi-level set, impressively constructed by Clark students for the opening number. Within the first song, the company and
photo by matt emmer
orchestra demonstrated that they could deftly execute the complex harmonies required by both the vocal and instrumental score. High voices rang out like sirens in Atwood,
with low bass notes shaking the core of the hall. The angular harmonies of continued on page 17
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The Scarlet
The Scarlet
december 5, 2013
UPCOMING EVENTS
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF CLARK UNIVERSITY CONTACT
[ Friday, December 6]
scarlet@clarku.edu | clarkscarlet.tumblr.com
Clark Bazaar in at The Grind at 12:00 p.m.
EDITORS
Sweeney Todd in Atwood Hall at 7:00 p.m.
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 Business Manager: Jenna Lewis
SCARLET STAFF Ethan Giles Hannah Rosenblum Jonah Naghi Maria Rotelli Ronald Gerber Scott Levine Senegal Carty Tyler Terriault Will Heikes Alicja Ganacarz Fileona Dkhar Savannah Cohen
Peapod Squad Presents: My Super Sweet Sixteen! in The Little Center at 10:00 PM
[ Saturday, December 7 ] Sweeney Todd in Atwood Hall at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. FACE AIDS presents Movements for a Movement in Tilton Hall at 7:00 p.m. Shenanigans!: TINSEL F**K! in The Little Center at 9:00 p.m.
[ Sunday, December 8 ] BSU Kwanzaa Dinner in Tilton Hall at 5:00 p.m.
[ Monday, December 9 ]
CCN CORRESPONDENT
STIR Magazine Release Party in The Grind at 8:00 p.m.
LAYOUT STAFF
Peapod Squad Presents: #NOFINALS2013 in The Little Center at 9:00 p.m.
Ethan Goldstein
Cami Ferreol Hannah Jaffe Rachel Orlomoski
PHOTO STAFF Cora Torton Jonathan Edelman Nainika Grover
The Scarlet
december 5, 2013
news | 3
The Scarlet/News Michael V. O’Brien resigns Worcester’s City Manager steps down from office By Jonah Naghi
People go green over Smart Grid Smart Grid has unexpected consequences
scarlet staff
On November 20, Michael V. O’Brien announced his resignation as Worcester’s City Manager. O’Brien is resigning in order to accept a position as Executive Vice President of Winn Development, a real estate company. As of Wednesday, December 4, Edward Augustus was chosen to be the interim City Manager of Worcester for up to twelve months, starting on January 9, 2014. O’Brien was appointed Worcester’s City Manager in 2004 and helped improve Worcester in a variety of ways during his time in office. The City Manager is essentially the city’s CEO, meaning he has the responsibility of hiring and firing all department heads, proposing a city budget, and negotiating contracts with unions. O’Brien is known especially for improving public safety and bringing in public services to help stabilize the local economy of Worcester. O’Brien is also known for going out of his way for the better good of his residents. For example, he worked very hard to reduce the high costs of employee health care, which resulted in saving city taxpayers millions of dollars. He also started “Buy Worcester Now,” which helped to create a new market demand for houses. Augustus, O’Brien’s successor,
courtesy of telegram.com
was born, raised, and educated in Worcester. He has worked for the city’s School Committee, the Department of Education during the Clinton Administration, and was Executive Director of the Children’s Defense Fund of California. He also served two terms in the Massachusetts State Senate and served as Chief of Staff for US Representative James P. McGovern. Since 2011, Augustus has led the Office of Government and Community Relations at Holy Cross College. He has helped improve collaboration
between the college and the city and beyond with his connections to state and federal government agencies. Many were surprised by Mayor Joseph M. Petty’s recommendation that Augustus be the successor of O’Brien, as Augustus is not part of the City Council. Petty emphasized that his suggestion was in no way a reflection of those working in City Hall. continued on page 6
courtesy of worcsushub.com
By Jenna Lewis business manager
On November 25, Clark University hosted a symposium discussing the impacts of National Grid’s new “Smart Grid” program. National Grid announced its plans to pilot a Smart Grid program in 2009, focusing specifically on Worcester and the Main South neighborhood. This technology had previously been used in places such as Sweden and California, but
its implementation in Worcester was new territory. Stepping into the National Grid Sustainability Hub feels like stepping into the future. The ultramodern building, complete with interactive displays and a glasswalled entry, doesn’t quite fit in with the gritty landscape of Main South. The Sustainability Hub is meant to serve as an educational center about the new Smart Grid continued on page 4
The Scarlet
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Raising the drawbridge one more time
Smart Grid cont.
Higgins Armory to close later this month
continued from page 3
By Maria Rotelli scarlet staff
From the outside, the Higgins Armory looks like just an ordinary square building, with the exception of some colorful flags and a knight stationed out front. Once you enter, however, you are transported to medieval times, with each floor housing different antique articles from ancient times. This spectacular museum will be raising its drawbridge for the last time on December 31. A few months ago, The Scarlet did an article about the armory’s Middle Earth Day event, which brought in over 200 visitors. Other events that it’s hosted in the past include Star Wars Day (which was in May), a Veteran’s Day celebration, and a women of history event in March where they discussed important women who at one point wore armor. When asked about his experience working for the museum, Director of Education Devon Kurtz (who also played JRR Tolkien at Middle Earth Day) said it has been very good and its closing is “bittersweet.” Kurtz explained that the founder of the armory, John Whitman Higgins, was also the owner of Worcester Steel Press, and at one point, the current armory building was his factory. He eventually re-opened the building as a museum so he could tell stories of arms and armor along with steel. Higgins believed that all industries should create museums to build knowledge about the trade that they are in; for Higgins it was steel. The museum is not having any large formal closing ceremony, but is instead just pushing through with “heads held high, doing what we do best,” as Kurtz explained. They are still going to host their regular events
photo by maria rotelli
as planned, such as their Saturday Arms and Armor shows. Next weekend, on December 14, there will be a gingerbread castle competition, which has the potential to be an exciting and delicious event. The armory will also be having what they call “Vacation Week Fun,” which begins December 26 and ends on the closing date of the museum. They will be days jam-packed with events such as making your own shield, and numerous different armor shows. The armor collection will soon be
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moved to the Worcester Museum of Art and will be on display there in late March or early April, 2014. The plans for what will happen to the building itself are still up in the air, as they are still looking for a buyer that will appreciate and respect the history of the building. If you’ve never been to the Higgins Armory, this is your last chance to get in on the fun and the history. For a full schedule of events, visit www.higgins.org.
program, allowing Worcester residents to come by and learn more about the program. The program began in Worcester as part of the Green Communities Act, initiated by the Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. As part of the Smart Grid program, all participants receive a special “smart meter”. This meter monitors the energy processes that the home undergoes throughout the day, and sends the data back to National Grid. According to their initial press release, National Grid hopes that appliances will one day contain the necessary technology to sync with the smart meter, allowing the entire home to be on one central system. The Smart Grid system has several obvious benefits. It’s a fairly inexpensive and simple way to monitor energy usage, allowing both customers and corporations to cut the cost of energy maintenance. Smart Grid is also designed to give consumers more knowledge about how to efficiently manage their electricity usage, further cutting the monthly cost of electricity. In the future, according to a press release, the system will be hooked up to smartphones and laptops to allow consumers to remotely monitor and control their appliances. This would allow, for instance, a user to ensure that the stove is turned off when they’ve left on a business trip, or allow them to regulate the household’s temperature from anywhere with a WiFi connection. “One of the biggest benefits is enabling the shift to more renewable resources,” said Clark professor Jennie Stephens. “If we had a more effi-
cient system, costs would noticeably go down.” However, the implementation of the Smart Grid system across Worcester has also come under fire. One major reason for dissatisfaction is the health risks that accompany the technology. “The frequencies the Smart Meters use leads to something called ‘electromagnetic hypersensitivity’”, says Clark professor Robert Pontius. This results in interrupted sleeping patterns, nausea, vomiting, and headaches, among other difficulties. There have already been cases of this occurring in Worcester among several participants. “It begs the question, are we just manufacturing a health crisis?” asks Pontius. “It’s ridiculous to say [smart meters] are safe when you only test it in a lab setting.” Although National Grid has repeatedly declined to comment on the health difficulties, they affirm that they’ve done several lab tests to ensure the safety of their product. Critics are also wary of the potential privacy violations that come along with the Smart Grid program. The current pilot program operates on an opt-out rather than opt-in basis, which has led several people to call Smart Grid an invasion of privacy. There’s also fear amongst citizens that groups other than National Grid could seize the data collected by household appliances, and used to perpetrate criminal activity. Smart Grid, like nearly all new technology, has been met with a great deal of criticism. Despite this, the system doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. The future of Smart Grid in Worcester will depend entirely on how well National Grid deals with the issues that it’s currently facing.
The Scarlet
december 5, 2013
news | 5
Alumni and Student Engagement Center cont. continued from page 1
Dolan called “an [inaccessible] old apartment building that has been [retrofitted] into office space.” The new building would be completely handicap accessible. Apart from offices, it’s too early to say what will be found in this new building. There are rough plans to “serve some sort of hot caffeinated beverages,” although no discussions have been made as to who would supply said beverages or anything of the sort. There are also discussions about moving the Clark University Bookstore into the new building, and possibly combining it with the Clark Community Thrift Store. Although the bookstore is tentative, the thrift store will have to relocate no matter what, as it sits on the very ground where the new building is slated to be built. Razing the thrift store is part of a second goal in designing the building, which in Dolan’s words is to “help the neighborhood in terms of appearance and cleaning up, [since the Thrift Store is] not exactly beautiful architecture that doesn’t really add anything to the neighborhood look.” Apart from considering the impact on the neighborhood, the administration is also keeping the environment in mind. Dolan said that the building is going to be built to rather high energy efficiency standards. She also mentioned tentative plans to put solar panels on the roof, which could provide fifty percent of the building’s electricity, as well as including panels in the parking lot, which could bring in the remaining fifty percent. Much of what has so far been labeled as tentative (like solar panels and space allocation) will fluctuate based on cost. Dolan estimates that the building will cost around $21 million. However, if contractors and construction companies come back with
quotes that far exceed this budget, the building may have to be scaled back in terms of size and features, which could result in a reduction of both office space and solar panels. This tentative part of the project’s nature, by the way, is why The Scarlet is
unable to print any images or plans for the building; Dolan called them too preliminary to be printed here. It is also unclear how long the project will take. Dolan predicts that construction will be around 12 to 15 months, but we are a long way off
from that. She said that “[administration is] working on [creating] a programming planning committee” that she assumes “is going to include faculty... and some students.” Although it is hard to tell exactly what is going to happen in the Alumni and Student
Engagement Center and when it is going to become part of Clark University, Dolan stated that current first years should see the building completed during their time at Clark.
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CUSC in brief By Hannah Rosenblum scarlet staff
Funds for Filipinos Seven-club coalition raises over $1,200 By Pooja Patel web editor
The Council’s attempts to bring in members of the Clark community to their weekly meeting garnered approximately 15 visitors. One visiting student asked questions throughout the meeting and was each time cut off by various members of the Council. The student asked if Clark Escort’s radius could be expanded. The Council said that while they have considered this, Escort is already very costly, so expansion is not currently feasible. $500 was allocated to Ishan Chatterjee for an EMT course. $60 was allocated to Club Basketball for travel expenses. Club sports will be managed by the Athletics Department starting in spring 2014. On January 17, the Council is hosting a variety show in Tilton featuring performances by a wide assortment of clubs. There will be a special election on February 4 and 5 for Dodd Hall Representative (one seat), Off-campus Representative (two seats), and International Representative (one seat). Council decided to hold off on decisions regarding the minority representative and a Wi-Fi resolution.
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Seven Clark clubs collaborated for a worthy cause on the evening of Saturday, November 23, raising over $1,200 for the Filipino victims of Typhoon Haiyan. They accomplished such a feat by selling t-shirts, stickers, and various baked treats. The clubs – Asian Culture Society, International Students Association, Latin American Student Organization, Student Activities Board, ONE Campus Challenge, UNICEF, Clark’s Entrepreneurship Club, and Initial Advantage – hosted their fundraiser at the Bassett Admissions Center. Various performances by
Clark students and organizations warmed the crowd’s hearts as they supported a great cause. Each individual performer brought their own style to the event, giving it a cozier experience. Aksheya Sridhar, ISA President, grew up in the Philippines and therefore was passionately motivated to host the event. Sridhar said, “When this one hit and I realized the intensity of it, I wanted to be able to do something. Filipinos are so resilient and have such a strong spirit that it was shocking seeing such devastation.” All proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross, who will distribute the funds to people on the ground. In-kind donations
are being discouraged, as shipping would take much too long due to the large-scale damages. “It felt good to be doing something. It just felt right. It was really nice to see that people were getting involved with the effort,” said Kimberley Villamor, a Filipino student at Clark. “It’s something that I feel really calmed me down. It felt right and I felt relief from helping in the relief.” Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most dangerous storms to hit land, tore through the Philippines between November 2 and 11, resulting in over 5,000 deaths. It has affected over twelve million people and displaced close to one million people. The Super Typhoon, as it has been referred to, has also caused damages worth roughly $2.38 billion.
City Manager cont. continued from page 3
In addition, Petty expressed his concern that many people in City Hall are leaving due to either retirement or for jobs elsewhere, and therefore appointing another person within the administration to City Manager might only add to that problem.
One reason Petty feels Augustus is the best person to replace O’Brien as City Manager is because “He works well with every part of the community,” he said, “including the nonprofits and private sector.” An election to authorize City Council’s Municipal Operations Committee’s negotiation of Augustus’ contract on Tuesday, December 3 ended in a nearly unanimous vote. photo by jonathan edelman
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The Scarlet
news | 7
photos by jonathan edelman
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The Scarlet
december 5, 2013
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december 5, 2013
The Scarlet
news | 9
CLARKIE of the WEEK availability. It’s really low-key. Scarlet: Have you been on the team since freshman year? Bridgette: No. I joined sophomore year, so I’ve only been doing it for two years. But I did do intramurals and pick-up soccer freshman year. I tried to do Frisbee freshman year too but my love for soccer is just so deep down.
photo by elaine rodriguez
Bridgette Millette Bridgette Millette is a junior from Portland, Maine. She is a Spanish major and a Sociology minor with a passion for soccer, reading, and painting. Scarlet: What activities are you involved in on campus? Bridgette: I’m involved in club soccer and Book Club. I think that’s it in terms of conventional things. Scarlet: What unconventional things do you do? Bridgette: My life consists of that, school, and going to the gym almost every day. And then [hanging out with] friends all weekend, typically. Scarlet: Have you been playing soccer for a long time? Bridgette: Yeah, I’ve been playing since I was a little kid. I really enjoy it. I don’t have time here to do varsity, but everyone on the club [team] is really fun and I get to meet a lot of international kids which is cool too. We have fun. Scarlet: Do you compete with other schools? Bridgette: Yeah. Last year we had quite a few games against different schools, both indoor and outdoor. But it really depends on other schools’
Scarlet: Why did you initially start playing soccer when you were little? Bridgette: My dad initiated it. He coached our team because he wanted me to play, and it just went off from there. Then it was a nobrainer once I got to middle school and high school. Scarlet: Do you like watching professional soccer? Bridgette: Yeah, I really like watching it. A lot of my friends freshman year got me into watching professional soccer, which I hadn’t done before. It’s not as big [in the U.S.] which is upsetting, but everywhere else it’s like the number one sport. Scarlet: Why did you decide to join Book Club? Bridgette: Actually, that’s connected to Frisbee. Casey Epstein [the Ultimate Frisbee captain] started Book Club my freshman year and [told me] to come to it. I went, it stuck, and I wanted to help. We were such a small club, but over the past two years it’s grown so much. It’s really nice to watch a club that
you joined grow when you know where it started. Scarlet: How do you have time to read for fun along with schoolwork? Bridgette: We just make time. The group is really great and our discussions go in so many different [directions]. It’s really good for practicing discussion skills [without realizing] you’re doing it because the texts are interesting and easy and they cover all kinds of topics. We can talk about anything. It’s very low-key and it’s so chill. Scarlet: Do you have any other hobbies or interests? Bridgette: Something I don’t have time for that I really wish I did is art and painting. That’s really where my heart lies, but I couldn’t major in art because I don’t want to make it my job. Scarlet: Do you do art for fun? Bridgette: Sometimes I go down to the Craft Studio. I have a friend who’s a proctor, so I’ll and sit with her and use the cheap paints and just mess around on scrap paper. Scarlet: How did you first get into painting? Bridgette: One of my aunts is really into art; she paints murals. On holidays and birthdays I get a lot of random art [from her], so it just took off from there. Scarlet: What kinds of things do you paint?
by Anna Spack
Bridgette: I really like using acrylic or tempera paints on paper and canvas. Mostly I make things for friends. It sucks because in college I don’t feel like I have time to even think, so painting isn’t a priority. And when I sit down to paint it’s not like I [give myself a time limit]. Once I sit down I have no sense of time at all, so it could just go on forever. It’s definitely therapeutic; it really helps me expel any stress or anxiety that I may be harboring. Scarlet: Do you have any fun facts about yourself? Bridgette: I like to “drink the KoolAid.” Which essentially means I go nuts and am really hyper sometimes. Sometimes I feel like I come off to people as someone who’s pretty mature and responsible because I have a set schedule all the time and have everything really planned out. But in my heart I’m just crazy. Scarlet: What is your favorite spot on campus? Bridgette: The fourth floor of the library with the long tables. On weekend mornings nobody’s up there; it’s nice and quiet. Or late at night when people are getting ready to go out and I’m like, I’m going to do a little bit more work before I do anything else. It’s so quiet up there, it’s awesome. I also really want to play hide-and-seek in the stacks. Thanks for the interview, Bridgette!
The Scarlet
10 | news
By Sénégal N. Carty
december 5, 2013
Thousands of dead mice dropped over Guam
Man stabs brother during argument over silverware
Mice were equipped with parachutes and filled with poison
Inflicted multiple wounds to the torso
(Yahoo!) - The U.S. Interior and Defense departments are currently airdropping dead mice filled with acetaminophen over a U.S. Air Force base in Guam. The poisoned mice are being used as bait for brown tree snakes, which are an invasive species in the area that threaten other wildlife and damage the island’s power grid. Two thousand mice have been dropped so far.
(Huffington Post) - A 47-year-old man from South Carolina allegedly stabbed his brother with a steak knife on Sunday during a disagreement over which silverware they would use at dinner. The brother suffered multiple wounds to the torso, but is expected to recover.
scarlet staff
New York lawsuit aims to make chimpanzees equal to people
Room full of coins on sale in Switzerland
Says that chimps’ freedom should be better protected
Was collected as part of push for a minimum wage
(NBC) - The nonprofit group Nonhuman Rights Project filed a lawsuit on Monday seeking to have chimps recognized as people “with the fundamental legal right not to be imprisoned.” The idea for the suit was sparked by the situation of a captive chimpanzee named Tommy, whom the group feels is mistreated and wants to have released into a primate sanctuary.
(TF1) - A transportable safe room containing eight million coins worth 400 thousand Swiss Francs (about 450 thousand U.S. dollars) in total is on sale in Switzerland. Each coin represents a Swiss person, and the entire collection was initially deposited in front of the Swiss Parliament building as an expression of the demand for a minimum wage in Switzerland.
German policeman allegedly murders man to satisfy cannibalism fetish Allegedly chopped up body and buried it (Reuters) - A 55-year-old German policeman is suspected of murder after the chopped-up body of a man he met on a cannibalism fetishist website was discovered buried in his garden on Friday. According to Dresden police chief Dieter Kroll, “the victim had been fantasizing about being killed and eaten by someone else since his youth.”
The Scarlet
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opinions | 11
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.
Not quite the end A reaction to Oprah’s remarks on racism By Jeremy Levine editor-in-chief
By Savannah Cohen scarlet staff
Recently, there has been a lot of controversy surrounding Oprah Winfrey in the news. During a recent interview with the BBC, Oprah claimed, while discussing her role in the film 12 Years a Slave, that “older people who were born and bred and marinated in it [racism] have to die” in order to end racism. Since this occurred, she’s been receiving criticism. Many claim that she was playing the race card in order to gain attention, while others say that she is delusional to believe that racism will end so soon. And if we are to believe whoever runs the GOP’s Twitter page (though since redacted), racism has already ended. So who is correct? I don’t particularly agree that she was playing the race card, but her words are definitely bold, and maybe even optimistic. In comparison to several decades ago, yes, racism has declined. However, racism is nowhere near the point, in which a single generation needs to be extinguished, in order to wipe it off the planet. What will happen after these older generations are gone is rather obvious; their kids will take over for them. They were born and bred into
courtesy of atlantablackstar.com
the same racist family their parents were in, and they’ll cause just as many problems. One month ago, the Black Girls Rock! Foundation experienced this firsthand. The foundation, which is dedicated toward empowering women of color, came under attack during their Black Girls Rock! Awards. #BlackGirlsRock came under attack via #WhiteGirlsRock, with people using the hashtag to complain about how racist the term would be if it
were the latter. So, yeah, we’ve come far, but really not that much at all, because it’s still about white people, even when it’s not. And when there are legitimate issues about race that come up, it’s brushed away as “insert name here is using the race card”. That’s another phrase that’s really irritating me as well. The ‘race card’ seems to be one of those phrascontinued on page 12
So things have changed a bit. A year and a half ago, our newspaper staff consisted of two people who didn’t really know what they were doing. From there, we grew this great group of dedicated writers and editors. We (by “we” I mean the Clark community) are seriously in debt to these people, who have helped raised The Scarlet’s standards and quality exponentially over this period of time. I’m going abroad next semester, so I won’t be here to see The Scarlet continue to grow, at least for a little while. That’s okay, though, because I have full faith in these people. I’d be remiss if I didn’t take this opportunity to thank a couple of people. I apologize that this column is a little atypical, but this is important stuff. This is the last issue that I’m going to work on with Claire Tierney, our Community Correspondent, with whom I’ve been newspapering since my first days here at Clark. She’s added so much to our work and to my experience here, and I can’t thank her enough. I’m also excited to announce that Sarah Cramer, our News Editor, will take over as Editor-in-Chief for next semester. I have total confidence in her ability to run this thing. So now, instead of stopping me on campus and yelling at me, forward your yelling to her, at least for the next couple of months. I also have to thank our whole Editorial Board, whose names can be found on our masthead. They’ve brought order and reason to what had once been a completely harried and haphazard affair. Their input in the paper’s general direction and purpose has been invaluable. We’re looking to keep improving over the months and years to come. I can’t wait to come back and see what they’ve done. Thank you for reading.
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december 5, 2013
Oprah cont. continued from page 11
Dear Sigmund, I have no idea what to buy my girlfriend for Christmas. I want it to be special but I can’t think of anything. Suggestions please!! Dear Student, This is the classic questions of the holiday season…what to buy your significant other. There are so many ways to answer this, so I’m going to break it down into the different aspects you could consider. By thinking about all the aspects, you can cover your bases. First, how long have you been together? This is often a good starting point to work off of because it indicates how big or elaborate a gift could potentially be. For instance, if you have only been with your girlfriend for a few months, chances are the holiday gift is going to be quite different than if you have been dating for a few years. A good frame of reference is: • Dating for less than 6 months, go cute and quirky. • Dating between 6 months to 1 year, shoot for sentimental and sweet. • Dating for more than 1 year, think about a more elaborate gift. Something fun for the dorm or apartment could be a cute and quirky present. A sentimental gift could be a really sweet card with a picture of the two of you framed, or a home-made coupon book with special events planned (such as cooking dinner for her). A more elaborate gift could of course be jewelry, but also could be something she wants but won’t buy herself. The second aspect to think about is whether or not your significant other has been dropping hints. Now if these hints are direct, like folding over a page in a catalogue or printing out a picture from the internet, you’re lucky. However, if her hints are like most they are often incredibly subtle and it takes some paying attention to figure
them out. Once you have these hints in hand they can be a great directional for where to go. If what your girlfriend wants is out of your price range, don’t be worried! Look for great alternatives online that look similar but are much cheaper. There are so many deals out there around the holidays that sometimes it just takes some digging to find them. Next, take into consideration whether the two of you plan on exchanging gifts. Sometimes when couples have been together for a short amount of time, gifts are not exchanged. This is fine, but you want to be sure what her plans are. If gift were never discussed and you don’t think she plans on getting you anything, then you absolutely should not go for an extravagant and expensive gift. If you do this, you could cause your girlfriend to feel embarrassed and bad for not getting you anything. Lastly, think about having a conversation with one another about setting a price limit for presents. This is always helpful because then you know that one person is not going to be spending more than the other; it helps to keep the gift giving on an even playing field. Having a spending limit helps to take the stress off, especially if finances are limited. Just keep in mind that no matter what you buy your girlfriend, as long as you put thought and effort into the gift it will be meaningful. And that’s the important part of the holiday season. It’s not about how much money you spend or how big the box is, but about how much you show your appreciation and love to those important people in your life. Happy Holidays! 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.
es that pop up pretty frequently now. It just seems to be an excuse to turn someone’s comment into something far less important. Something similar actually happened when cars started turning up on the roads. Back in the beginning, people used to get run over quite a lot; after all, before cars, the only things on the roads were more people. All the vehicular injuries got people pretty angry, and they began petitioning for harsh speed regulations to be put into effect. Auto clubs quickly started a shame campaign against this, and one of the terms that came from it was jaywalking. Back then, jaywalking referred to stupid people who ran into the street. Suddenly, a person being run down in the street was far less tragic, because they were being stupid, and that was their consequence. The race card is the new jaywalking. The quickest way to bring attention away from a point is to come up with a generalized catch phrase, and that’s what has happened. Winfrey, though rather curt, was correct. In regards to some of the older generations, I do think that a large number of accounts of racism will go down with time. Logically, all racists don’t have kids, or through some miracle, their kids aren’t as intolerant as them. And, if we base how thoughtlessly some of these people use social media, most of their children aren’t very intelligent. Therefore, we can indeed expect a lower amount of racists in higher offices, and hopefully also create a more ethnically diverse and accepting society as a majority. While this certainly isn’t the obliteration of racism, it does seem that a better moral standing is on the horizon.
The Scarlet
december 5, 2013
Racist Redskins Team refuses to change its name
courtesy of images.huffingtonpost.com
By Ethan Giles scarlet staff
I hate political correctness. I really do. Most “offensive” comments that generate public outrage are either said in jest or taken out of context. I think that people need to stop caring so much about what other people say. That being said, the Redskins needs to change its name. To many in the Native American community, “Redskin” means the same thing that the N word does to the black community. If they were named the “Washington N*****s” the name would have been changed decades ago, so why does the Redskin name stay? It’s because Native Americans have been marginalized in this country. Ever since European settlers arrived as pilgrims, Native Americans have been treated as second-class
citizens. This is not to say that we need to abandon society as we know it and give America back to the Native Americans, but we do need to start treating them as equals. Why else would one racial slur cause national outrage, yet another is an acceptable name for a football team? I am not saying that people should start using the N word; I am saying that the term “Redskin” should be treated with similar outrage. From a financial perspective, it makes no sense why the Redskins would not want to change its name. A name change would also mean a change in all team apparel. Lots of NFL fans are insane, and would happily buy a new jersey, license plate, phone case, car flag, and all other merchandise just to make sure it is up-to-date. The Redskins would make even more money than they already do from the revenue that would come from a name change, so why
not change it? While Redskins owner Daniel Snyder has cited tradition as a reason for the team’s refusal to change its name, this is a completely flawed way to make this decision. Tradition is a terrible reason to continue to do anything. Just look at the NFL itself. It was “tradition” to allow players to suffer concussions without knowing the future repercussions. It was “tradition” for the league to use leather helmets rather than the plastic ones we use today. Should the league just play the way it did in the 1940s and 50s just because it is “tradition”? The Redskins’ refusal to accept reality is baffling. They have decided to keep offending a large segment of the United States’ population for “tradition.” They are losing an opportunity for more money for “tradition.” Apparently stupidity is a tradition for the Redskins as well.
opinions | 13
14 | living arts
The Scarlet
december 5, 2013
The Scarlet/Living Arts Shorty drops beats at Clark
Yoni Ki Baat: the South Asian Vagina Monologues
Israeli rapper discusses LGBTQ+ issues By Claire Tierney community correspondent
SASA shines light on women’s sexuality
A small but impassioned group of Clarkies congregated in the UC last Thursday night to listen to Israeli rapper Shorty speak, and then rap, about being a lesbian in her home nation. Shorty confidently came out to her family at the age of 16, but her mother wasn’t approving, so she turned to her sister, Clark University Professor Talia Mugg, for acceptance. Mugg’s sister turned to rap music to express herself after her sister moved to The United States. Shorty was exposed to Western rap music during a year long stay in The United States during high school, where she became inspired by artists like Notorious BIG, Jay-Z, and Kanye West. She said Tel Aviv is more accepting of the LGBT community than the United States, but the other parts of Israel have some catching up to do. After a stimulating discussion in Winton Dining Hall in which she talked about being “out” in Israel and being true to herself in her music, everyone moved down-
photo by fileona dkhar
By Fileona Dkhar scarlet staff
photo by anna spack
continued on page 15
The South Asian Students Association (SASA) brought Yoni Ki Baat, a South Asian take on Eve Ensler’s Vagina Monologues, to a packed audience in The Grind. Held on November 24, the event presented monologues written by Clark stu-
dents as well as pieces taken and edited from previous productions. The production consisted of 16 performances, beginning with “Nirbhaya”(Brave) by Radhika Mitter. From Silence in the Word to Savage, each monologue presented continued on page 17
december 5, 2013
The Scarlet
living arts | 15
Shorty cont. continued from page 14
CREATIVE ACTOR : E C N A M R O F R E P L FINA
“
e r ’ e w , h g u a l e s Plea being graded!!
”
Tuesday, December 10th 8pm - 9:30pm The Little Center
stairs to The Grind for Shorty to perform. The talk struck home for Clarkies, who are always “challenging convention” in the name of staying true to themselves. As part of her young defiance, Shorty also did not join the Israeli army, generally mandatory for all 18-year-olds in Israel. Shorty said she didn’t get into the rap scene for fame or money; she is only interested in expressing herself and providing a voice for which to be heard. And boy has she been heard, many listeners were singing along and rapping with her, particularly when she sang her #1 hit, “Pinocchio,” which debuted in Israel a decade earlier. While Clark gave Shorty a warm reception, she did have what one audience member called “an adversarial relationship with her audience,” illustrated by her sarcastic threat to walk off the stage if she did not receive undivided attention from spectators. This occurred three songs into her set. This was not so much due to a lack of participation or interest on the part of the listeners, as much as the rampant socializing at the event. Nonetheless, all participants seemed to be smiling and enjoying themselves. The informal nature of the event allowed Shorty to be open and frank. Her performance featured a number of monologues and interludes in which she reiterated the themes that she had shared in Winton, and offered some fresh ideas as well. Among other things, Shorty said she did not need anyone telling her who she was and what she felt-- as she denounced therapy as being unhelpful and unnecessary. Shorty ended her concert by reiterating her primary motivation to rap-- the desire to be heard. She even encouraged people to download her music for free online, and she encouraged the audience to look up the English translations of the lyrics to her last song, “Taming the Shrew.” Shortly believes in utilizing art to bring attention to LGBTQ+ issues. Her number one hit, “Pinocchio,” and her second album, “Taming the Shrew” (which went platinum) reflect the power of voice. Through her music, Shorty expresses her true self. She is confident and proud of her sexuality and her success as an artist and above all wants the messages in her music to be heard.
16 | living arts
The Scarlet
december 5, 2013
Hip Hop Collabo for the win Two nights of star performances Co-Written by Sarah Cramer & Anna Spack With this year’s theme of music awards, Hip Hop Collabo’s annual winter show truly felt like a vibrant night among celebrities. Clark’s student-run dance group, which draws inspiration from Hip Hop, R&B, and House music, among other related genres, performed 16 different dances and almost entirely filled Atwood Hall for two performances on November 22 and 23. The dances included tributes to specific songs and artists such as Britney Spears, Ciara, Moulin Rouge, and The Illuminati. Having so many dance numbers and different choreographers in the Hip Hop Collabo (HHC) show allowed for a great deal of variation in the dances, from costumes to music to dance styles. All 29 members of HHC performed together in the Intro and Outro dances that began and ended the show respectively, while all other dances were performed in smaller groups. In “Paint a Picture so Vivid,” choreographed by Heather Parlee, the dancers were covered in blue paint, while “Life is a Cabaret,” choreographed by Zelda Madeline, started with dancers playing poker and went on to tell a story throughout the rest of the performance. “Paint a Picture so Vivid,” one of the last dances of the show, was also a notably unique way to end the show. The dance focused much more on the actual dance moves and the dancers’ bodies than on a specific artist or song. The music awards theme was
cleverly woven into the show, with most dances corresponding to “awards” that emcees Bil Carter and Miguel Lara presented. One dance that was particularly memorable included the song “Who Let the Dogs Out,” and was performed after Carter and Lara presented the Best One Hit Wonder Award to the “Baha Men” (a.k.a. six HHC dancers passing around an imaginary joint). The large amount of dance numbers, however, meant a particularly intense Hell Week leading up to the performances, with rehearsals for six or more hours each night. Clark sophomore and first-year HHC member George Lavin said, “One night we didn’t leave Atwood until 4 a.m. But we were able to get a giant pizza and have a relaxing dance party to ease the mid-practice stress.” Lavin is one of the six male dancers in HHC, which represents a significant change from last year when current senior Chris Natz was the only male dancer. Lavin said that “having more guys lets us try different dances,” which was definitely evident to anyone at this performance who had also attended a past HHC show. Though the show would have been better if Carter and Lara had talked less, sophomore Christie Joyce felt that the music awards theme allowed the show to “flow really well.” HHC members seemed pleased with their performance as well. Sophomore Monica Coll said she loved the energy from the audience. “We were told that it was the best HHC show so far,” said Lavin. photos by anna spack
The Scarlet
december 5, 2013
Sweeney Todd cont. continued from page 1
the entire show masterfully create cycles of tension and release, mirroring the content of the plot. Composer Stephen Sondheim is known for his complicated arrangements and chord inversions. This work is often performed by opera companies with symphony orchestras. Thus, it cannot be overstated how difficult this musical is to perform, especially by student actors and musicians. The show is mostly sung-through, giving the cast ample opportunity to show off their mastery of the score. However, the actors never lost sight of their character motivations in pursuit of displaying their vocal prowess. While they soared musically, much of the dialogue felt rushed and somewhat out of place. The musical focuses on one man’s desire for revenge and retribution in the gritty underbelly of Victorian London. Between last spring’s production of Urinetown and this musical, it seems like Clark Musical Theater has a passion for peasantry. The barebones nature of the material is aided by a stark set, featuring a giant gear hanging in the center of the stage. Interestingly, the back wall of the theater was left bare and visible to the audience. Dressed like a steampunk version of Heath Ledger’s Joker, Sweeney Todd, as portrayed by Alexander McCoy, was played with no shortage of disturbed rage. McCoy managed to capture Todd’s journey from desperate castaway to murderous
barber with class and subtlety. His chemistry with Ali Russo’s Mrs. Lovett was both tender and terrifying. Lovett was played with maternal grace and nervous tension. Their uneasy relationship serves as the thematic core of the show, and the actors’ portrayal did not disappoint. Supporting characters also shone in the complicated musical. David Bertoldi’s portrayal of bumbling barbering competitor Adolfo Pirelli was an all-toobrief comic relief in the melodrama. Fortunately, he provided impeccable falsetto and tenor vocals from the company during the rest of the show. Dave Carter’s Beadle Bamford proved a worthy henchman to the dastardly Judge Turpin, played with expert sinisterness by Wyndham Maxwell. Maya Singh plays a sexually promiscuous beggar woman, who proves more than she seems, in both character and performance. The gothic mood was aided by moody lighting, crafted with clever cues and steady spotlights. The set, featuring a full barber parlour with sanguine chair and trap door, was a macabre playground for the stealthy crew and skilled team of designers. This production of Sondheim’s gothic masterpiece proved a huge success for Clark Musical Theater. The show offered a great opportunity for Clarkies to come together to create something special for the community. Let’s see what next semester’s staging of Legally Blonde has in store.
living arts | 17
Yoni Ki Baat cont.
photo by anna spack
continued from page 14
a series of personal stories about menstruation, masturbation, castigation, stimulation, and fornication that engaged the imagination and included tales of troubled femininity. Indian deep-fried snacks called Samosas were served during the intermission, enhancing the
cultural experience. The final piece, a monologue by SASA president Parth Patel, alludes to the recent rape cases in his home country of India. “Savages don’t deserve to be tied to beautiful cultures and tradition. In fact, they don’t deserve any pleasure at all,” he said, referring to the rapists. Translated from Hindi as “Talks of the Vagina,” Yoni ki Baat
was conceived in 2003 by South Asian Sisters, a diverse group of South Asian women that focuses on the removal of oppression in all areas. Through a series of cultural reimaginings that addressed South Asian archetypes and taboos, this Yoni Ki Baat paid critical attention to the voice of the South Asian woman.
by Tyler Terriault I write and I write All Day and Night and- class starts soon! Must write faster!
Three weeks went by and they each felt like the last three seasons in order
‘Clark Confessions’ is the funniest and most weird stuff I’ve ever read
Never realized Clark had a slam poetry club- is haiku “slam”...?
Sometimes, late at night, I watch my neighbors playing Grand Theft Auto 5
Life is too short to be miserable- might as well be happy, huh?
The Scarlet
18 | sports
december 5, 2013
The Scarlet/Sports COUGAR of the WEEK Sami Brooks
by Scott Levine
hockey
Clark does not have a varsity hockey team, but that does not stop students such as junior Sami Brooks from hitting the ice whenever they can. Brooks is the Vice President of Clark Club Hockey, and hockey has been a big part of his life for as long as he can remember.
Fantasy Football Add/Drop For Week 14 By Ethan Giles scarlet staff
courtesy of scott levine
Scarlet: Club hockey seems like a really intense and legit club sport. Sami: The year before I got here, our budget was over $10,000, and we had a 16 game season. You should see our old uniforms, they’re so nice. The last two years, the guy who ran it didn’t really run it like that. But this year, Ben Mintz and I are running it a lot more like an actual team. We still wear practice jerseys for games, but that’s all we have money for. But yeah, we’re getting there. Scarlet: How many games are you playing this season? Sami: I think between intercollegiate games and scrimmages, we’re playing close to 10, which isn’t a lot but it’s better than what we had the past two years. Scarlet: What’s the overall skill level of the team? Sami: We have some guys who are pretty good who played varsity in high school. I played varsity, but not on a good team. There are some guys who are really good, some guys who are pretty good, and there are some guys who have never played ice hockey before college and we just taught them to play. Being a club is more about having fun than winning, like if it was all about winning,
we’d be in a lot of trouble [laughs]. We haven’t won any games. Scarlet: So the team is more of a club atmosphere than a varsity atmosphere? Sami: I’d say it’s more of a club. It’s more about having fun, but we still try to win. Scarlet: How long have you been playing hockey? Sami: I’ve been playing hockey since I was four. I’m about to turn 21 now, so it’s been a while. Scarlet: What position do you play? Sami: I’m a defenseman. Scarlet: Are you a bruising defenseman, or are you more of a quick and crafty defenseman? Sami: Well, I’d like to say I’m quick and crafty, but that wouldn’t be entirely accurate [laughs]. I’m not much of a huge hitter, although I will hit people. Scarlet: What appeals to you about being a defenseman? Sami: I can’t shoot. I just simply can’t play offense so they put me at defense and I’m pretty okay at it. Scarlet: Are you glad that Clark doesn’t have a varsity team? Sami: In certain ways, it would be
nice to have varsity status. When I was a little kid, I always wanted to play big time Division I and go to the NHL, [but] I realized pretty quickly that that wasn’t going to happen [laughs]. Scarlet: Yeah, and when you’re a little kid, you don’t realize how much work it takes to play at the collegiate and professional level. It seems like club teams restore the fun of sports from when were kids. Sami: That’s part of it. It goes back to when I was learning to play and when it was, like, fun. I remember the first year I played hockey, it was an hour away from my house. I had to get up at five on a Saturday morning to go, but it was just pure fun. There was no pressure to win. That was fun. I don’t mind the competitive side of [club hockey]. I feel like when we’re playing games, in the moment it’s more competitive and more of a varsity atmosphere. But the minute the game ends, we go into the locker room and we’re all like, “All right, well that was fun, and now we all have to get up and go to class tomorrow morning.” Scarlet: It definitely seems like winning is secondary. Sami: Winning is important. We’d love to win a lot. But it’s also important that we have a lot of fun.
ADD • Zach Ertz, TE, Eagles: The rookie out of Stanford finally came alive Sunday as he caught five passes for 68 yards and two touchdowns. Now that he has proven his ability to perform, look for his production to increase. Ertz is owned in only 1 percent of espn.com leagues and 1.5 percent of nfl.com leagues. • Raiders Defense: While they are not the best defense in the league, Oakland plays the Jets this week, whose offense is abysmal. Geno Smith has one touchdown pass since week 5, and the team failed to score a touchdown last week against Miami. Oakland’s Defense is owned in percent of espn.com leagues and 2 percent of nfl.com leagues. DROP • Santonio Holmes, WR, Jets: He has no good option at Quaterback and the Jets are starting to play younger guys over him. No point in having him on your team anymore. • Terrance Williams, WR, Cowboys: Miles Austin is back for the time being and Tony Romo is entering the month of December, where traditionally his numbers start to slide. Cut Williams now, who has only been targeted a total of seven times over the past two games.
The Scarlet
december 5, 2013
The Scarlet/Puzzles CROSSWORD
SUDOKU
copyright © 2013 crosswordsite.com ltd.
ACROSS
DOWN
1. Official in charge of a post office (10) 6. Something rare (6) 7. Game played on horseback (4) 10. Weapon (5) 11. Passageway (5) 12. Unwell (3) 13. Small nails (5) 14. Person who skis (5) 16. Slender missile (4) 18. Takes by theft (6) 19. Writing materials (10)
1. Skin openings (5) 2. Tram (9) 3. Driver (8) 4. Apex (3) 5. Long, cylindrical piece of wood (4) 8. Firmly adhering to a purpose (9) 9. Forced high notes (8) 13. Periodic movement of the sea (4) 15. Hazardous (5) 17. Light meal (3)
THIS WEEK’S SOLUTIONS IN NEXT ISSUE
puzzles | 19
The Scarlet
20 | puzzles
december 5, 2013
SOLUTIONS TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLES
Police Logs compiled by Maria Rotelli
CROSSWORD SOLUTION Tuesday, December 3rd
Wednesday, November 20th 16:40 - Looking for video evidence to help with an investigation on Florence Street. 18:02 - Student involved in a fight off campus. 18:06 - Student locked keys in car. 19:49 - Doors to the University Center found wide open. Thursday, November 21st 14:14 - Using prop gun outside Hughes Hall for film shoot. 17:21 - Conveyor belt in University Center broken. 18:15 - Large group snuck into the Dolan Field House. 21:10 - Glass on staircase outside of Hughes Hall. Friday, November 22nd 00:57 - Assisted Clark student with jump starting car. 23:37 - Males with open containers of alcohol on Beaver Street. Saturday, November 23rd 21:56 - Students called in asking about Blackstone Valley Transport. 23:00 - Suspicious person in car. Sunday, November 24th
11:39 - Kids sitting on wall at Goddard Library, not sure what they are up to. 13:53 - Man that stole from Bookstore last week is back 17:16 - Bookstore shoplifter was back but he left. 18:50 - 4-5 males, one with an orange backpack, slashing tires on Florence Street. This week there was one motor vehicle accident, seven vehicle stops, four investigations, one parking violation, one psy-
SUDOKU SOLUTION
chological emergency, one marijuanarelated incident, two checks of welfare, two emergency box calls, five reports of larceny, six reports of suspicious persons, five calls to EMS, four noise complaints, ten fire alarms, sixteen calls for police escort, four various complaints, and University Police assisted Worcester Police Department once this week.
22:41 - Check of welfare of male on bench on Hawthorne Street. Monday, November 25th 11:19 - Over the weekend, several cars were broken into in the Saint Peter’s parking lot. 13:31 - Possible larceny committed by an older suspicious male in glasses who was walking around in Jonas Clark.
what happens in The Scarlet office at 2:24 a.m. stays in the The Scarlet office... sort of
18:20 - Soda machine well in the UC keeps spilling over. Tuesday, November 26th 21:19 - Person in Dodd Hall so disorderly that the RA is asking for assistance. Thursday, November 28th 21:39 - Two disorderly females arguing on Main Street. Saturday, November 30th 20:58 - Off-campus fires. Monday, December 2nd 1:20 - Report of stalking in JSC.
“I want to write a manologue...about my vagina.” - Memmer “How do you feel about vaginas?” - Claire “It’s all about context. An out of context vagina can be very off-putting.” - Memmer “Well it’s good to know I come before masturbating for you.” -Claire, on the phone “Is Oprah married?” -Anna “Noprah.” -Maria “I get the nervous toots” - Claire