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volume xciii, no. 13 • february 6, 2014 | clarkscarlet.tumblr.com |
the.clark.scarlet
Changes in Communications program More emphasis on cultural studies By Sarah Cramer editor-in-chief
photo by jonathan edelman
Worcester Winter Wonderland: Clarkies get a snow day.
photos by jonathan edelman
With its new name and structure, Clark’s Cultural Studies and Communications (CSAC) Program has shifted its emphasis to exploring the link between theory and practice in communications, thus embodying the LEEP model. Somewhere in the geography building, President David Angel is smiling. When the program still bore the name “Communications and Culture,” there were three different tracks, or “paths of emphasis” that students could choose to study: global, discourse, or media. In their senior year, students took a capstone designed for their path of emphasis. According to Program Director and Professor of Education Sarah Michaels, almost 85 percent of students enrolled in the old program
were on the media path. While they were mostly taking screen classes, they were not screen majors and were therefore often unprepared for the screen capstone. Not only did this put media path students at a disadvantage, but also it detracted from the actual screen program. In addition, professors found that students in the Communications and Culture Program were not learning to read and write well enough. Michaels revealed that the program “wasn’t working perfectly for us and we were all aware of that.” In conjunction with all of these issues, the introduction of the new LEEP model spurred the program faculty to seriously discuss making major changes to the program beginning in the 2012-13 academic year. continued on page 4
2 | news
The Scarlet
The Scarlet
february 6, 2014
UPCOMING EVENTS
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF CLARK UNIVERSITY CONTACT
[Thursday, February 6]
scarlet@clarku.edu | clarkscarlet.tumblr.com
CUPS Presents “The Shape of Things” Little Center at 7:30 p.m.
twitter: clark_scarlet | facebook.com/the.clark.scarlet
[Friday, February 7]
EDITORS
CUPS Presents “The Shape of Things” Little Center at 7:30 p.m.
Editor-in-Chief: Sarah Cramer News Editor: Claire Tierney Layout Editor: Rose Gallogly Web Editor: Pooja Patel Opinions Editor: Keitaro Okura Living Arts Editor: Matt Emmer Sports Editor: Brian Kane Photo Editor & Social Media Manager: Anna Spack Managing Editor: Jenna Lewis
[Saturday, February 8]
SCARLET STAFF Ethan Giles Hannah Rosenblum Jonah Naghi Maria Rotelli Ronald Gerber Scott Levine Senegal Carty Tyler Terriault Patrick Fox Alicja Ganacarz Savannah Cohen
LAYOUT STAFF Cami Ferreol Hannah Jaffe
PHOTO STAFF Jonathan Edelman Nainika Grover
CUPS Presents “The Shape of Things” Little Center at 7:30 p.m. Lunar New Year Celebration Tilton at 7 p.m. [Sunday, February 9] Dodgeball Tournament Kneller at 1 p.m. [Monday, February 10] Clark Sustainability Collaborative & Eco Reps Spring Kick Off / Collab Lab Earth Week Event Planning Dana Commons at 7 p.m.
TCK/Global Nomads Conference Registration Deadline on Friday, February 7th! Are you a Third Culture Kid? Are you curious to find out what it is like to grow up outside of one’s parents’ culture? Clark University is hosting our second annual Third Culture Kids/Global Nomad Conference on Saturday, February 22, 2014. The aim of this conference is to gather a diverse group of participants for a day of exciting conversations, especially to further our understanding of college-aged TCKs: how we relate to others, how we relate to different cultures, and how we fit in or find a “home” on a college campus and beyond. Anyone is welcome to attend including students, faculty and administrators. It will be an all-day conference starting with check in at 10:00am, with a series of sessions as well as plenty of time for conference participants to interact and share ideas. We would love to see you there! Registration deadline for this conference is February 7, 2014. Please visit the conference website for additional information and registration details. http:// www.clarku.edu/offices/oia/tck/conference.cfm Too busy to print out and go to the Office of Intercultural Affairs to submit your registration form? The co-student organizers, Farah Weannara and Michino Hisabayashi will be in the Academic Commons on Wednesday, February 5th from 8:30-10:30pm with printed copies of the registration form. You can fill out the form there and also leave your registration fee with us. We will then take everything to OIA the next morning.
The Scarlet
february 6, 2014
news | 3
The Scarlet/News A fearful or hopeful future? Lecture on climate change presents challenges and opportunities By Hannah Silverfine contributing writer
“Decisions we make today have a residual trail…for tens of thousands of years,” remarked Daniel Schrag, the featured speaker of Tuesday evening’s lecture, “The Anthropocene and its Discontents: Climate Change and the Future of the Earth System.” This haunting realization of the true impact of our generation was a recurring theme throughout the night. As part of both the President’s Lecture Series and the Difficult Dialogues Series, the lecture on climate change emphasized the topic’s importance for the University, as well as its importance on a global scale. Extra chairs had to be brought to Tilton Hall to fit all the students, professors, and members of the community that gathered there to hear Schrag, a professor at Harvard University and a member of President Obama’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, speak. President Angel began by introducing the event with his belief that it is essential that we engage with the subject of climate change. He described that it is as though we are “running out of gas,” literally and figuratively, in our capacity to focus on the issue. For
further introduction, a member of the Council on the Uncertain Future, part of the Consortium Humanities Institute, spoke of the necessity of individuals working together honestly, utilizing our variety of skills to address this “global emergency.” Schrag himself used a PowerPoint with facts, figures and quotations to highlight his presentation. He started by referencing a historical figure near and dear to the hearts of most Clarkies: Sigmund Freud. Freud’s publication of Civilizations And Its Discontents was part of the inspiration for the title of this event, as the topic of climate change, like his work, is a critique of civilization and the collective action of individuals. Throughout the lecture, Schrag examined climate change through the significance of time scale. He acknowledged that in the past, there have also existed elevated levels of carbon dioxide or overall temperature. Therefore, he concluded, climate change in itself is not an inherently negative shift in the world, rather it is the rate of change that is ultimately so perilous to human and environmental existence. Specifically, Shrag examined the rapid increase of carbon dioxide as a result of innovation during the Industrial Revolution. After this era,
the world’s primary energy supply began increasing at an unprecedented rate. Although humans could potentially adapt to the increased temperatures that have slowly emerged, not enough information currently exists to understand the full extent of climate change’s impact on the earth. Schrag proclaimed, “We are performing an experiment at a planetary scale that hasn’t been done for millions of years. No one knows exactly what is going to happen.” Innovation in the agricultural sector has also proven a great challenge as the population grows. As of late, agribusiness increasingly involves racing to reengineer crops to try to adapt to changing weather patterns and overall climate, in order to maintain maximum production. To conclude his lecture, Schrag discussed potential areas of change for the future. He presented the idea that, with regard to climate change, humans will have to “mitigate, adapt, or suffer.” In essence, Schrag suggested that we have reached a time when humans must choose to make changes that will benefit future generations, even though they will not experience such benefits in their own lifetime. Through changing technology and behavior, and/or a redistribution of money and power, the actions
courtesy of environment.harvard.edu
of individuals today can help reduce and manage the future repercussions of climate change. He further emphasized the importance of vocabulary in the topic of climate change, such as “resilience” versus “robustness,” and “adaptation” versus “preparedness.” These words are essential in shaping the mindset of the public in order to take effective action. Schrag drew to a close with the idea that the moral framing of climate change is an essential part of the solution. Climate change is a collective problem, he said, and how we view the environment as its own identity in relation to ourselves will be highly significant as we attempt to address this challenge together. Many audience members quietly filed out at this point, as the lecture
then became a question and answer session. A board of panelists made up of Schrag, writers, and professors sitting beneath a quote from Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring responded to both prearranged and spontaneous questions from the audience. This section of the event was much more intimate, as the questions revolved around personal experiences. Some students expressed that they felt hopeless when truly immersed in the issue. Yet amidst the daunting task of reversing the current trend of extreme climate change, the tone of the conversation turned to hope each time as the speakers expressed their faith in communities, and their faith in the passion and creative ability that they have encountered in so many individuals.
4 | news
The Scarlet
february 6, 2014
Cultural Studies and Communications cont. continued from page 1
Launch your international career through Peace Corps service. PEACE CORPS AT CLARK UNIVERSITY Wednesday, Februar y 12 OFFICE HOURS
3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Library, Lower Level Cafe
SERVICE PANEL DISCUSSION
5:00 p.m. Higgins Campus Center
Visit our table at the Spring Job and Internship Fair! Learn more from Clark University Peace Corps recruiter Kathryn Fidler kfidler@peacecorps.gov
Peace Corps
peacecorps.gov - 855.855.1961
Under the new CSAC Program, there are no more paths of emphasis. Instead, all students in the program take classes that provide them with a strong foundation in media and new media studies. There is still room for specialization in a field other than media, but regardless of their specialization, all students will be exposed to critical media studies. Taking the place of the paths of emphasis are three categories that fall under the heading of “lenses and tools”: “Chronologies,” “Theories of Culture,” and “Methodologies.” Chronologies highlight media through history; theories of culture focus on analytic and critical reading and writing; and methodologies work with different tools for analysis. More advanced courses in the CSAC Program are called “engaging in practice” and “problems of practice”; this is where LEEP enters more directly into the program. The goal of these interdisciplinary courses is to integrate both in and out of class experiences to “make linkages between theory and real, messy problems of the world,” explained Michaels. With “Cultural Studies” coming before “Communications” in the new name, the CSAC Program is oriented more towards ideological critique and the idea of using cultural tools to bring about change. While the program has always focused on this to some extent, the change in name reflects the new push for a greater focus on the role of communications in our culture, as well as the role of culture in our modes of communication. A unique feature of the CSAC Program is the requirement of two induction essays upon entering the program. One essay is a retrospective essay in which students
explain how they came to choose this program, while the other essay is a prospective essay in which students contemplate their future. The CSAC Program is also part of a “digital portfolio” pilot program happening at Clark. A digital portfolio is basically what it sounds like: an online portfolio of a student’s work that can be shared with others through digital means. The two induction essays for the CSAC Program will be the first elements of students’ digital portfolios, and as their academic career continues, their portfolios will continue to grow. According to Michaels, the number of CSAC majors is up dramatically since the implementation of the new program. One year ago in the fall, there were roughly forty majors; now there are close to seventy. There are mixed feelings amongst CSAC majors about the changes to the program. Students who declared their major before these changes have been grandfathered into the program, but there are complaints that courses previously taken for their path of emphasis no longer count towards their major. Sophomore and CASC major Hallie St. Germain experienced this, and lamented that in the old program “you were able to choose a specific path within a broad major...that is a focus that this new program lacks.” Another sophomore and CASC major Pinar Barlas sees the new major as “much more structured in terms of what skills we gain and what information we get.” Both St. Germain and Barlas expressed that they are not thrilled that the program now emphasizes cultural studies more than communications. According to Michaels, however, there has been, in general, a very positive student response to the new program.
The Scarlet
february 6, 2014
news | 5
CLARKIE of the WEEK Student Council’s Grants Committee and I [work for] Scarlet Key.
photo by jonathan edelman
Aaron Segura Aaron Segura is a senior from Wooster, Ohio majoring in Political Science. Aside from having lived in both Wooster and Worcester, Aaron is on the men’s soccer team, Student Council, and enjoys playing guitar and singing in his free time.
Scarlet: So you’re from a different “Worcester”? Aaron: Yup. Different spelling. Scarlet:People must comment on that all the time. Aaron: Yeah. People are like, “Oh my god dude, you moved from Wooster to Worcester?!” (laughs) Scarlet: What activities are you involved in on campus? Aaron: I was on the men’s soccer team, but [the season] is now over. I’m on
Scarlet: Club soccer or varsity? Aaron: Varsity.
Scarlet: What do you do for Scarlet Key? Aaron: I give tours [among other things].
Scarlet: You must be really good at soccer then. Aaron: I’m mediocre, to be honest.
Scarlet: Do you like being a tour guide? Aaron: Yeah, it’s so much fun.
Scarlet: How did you first get into soccer? How long have you been playing? Aaron: I’ve been playing for 16 or 17 years, maybe. My mom and my dad were super big into soccer, more so my dad. And then my sister and brother were big into soccer…. And then I was. So it all worked out.
Scarlet: Do you have any special facts you say on tours? Aaron: I was reading an article about the AC, which was built in 2009. [The article] was talking about the architect who [designed] the AC and the architect who [designed] the entire library. The guy who built the library was trying to do something super artsy and abstract, because everything in Worcester looked cookie-cutter, apparently. The architects who built the AC talked to the guy who built the library. They [said that] libraries are where knowledge is shared instead of where knowledge is stored, so [they wanted to] make a space that embodies that. I guess that was the inspiration behind the AC.
Scarlet: Did you go on the athletes’ service trip to Guatemala over the winter break? Aaron: Yeah. It was out of this world. I’ve traveled quite a bit – my dad is Costa Rican, so I’ve been around Central America and I’ve done service trips to Nicaragua – but this was a very, very different type of [experience]. The village [we traveled to] was situated in the middle of nowhere on the side of a mountain in the rainforest. It was the most unlikely place for people to live. The community was really small, but everyone was just extremely giving and incredibly nice and insightful. Scarlet: What does the Student Council Grants Committee do? Aaron: We divide up the surplus student money on a need-be basis. Scarlet: How many people are on the committee? Aaron: It’s four people including myself. It’s super small; we have fun.
Scarlet: Do you have any other hobbies or interests? Aaron: Yeah. Music is a big one, and outdoors/hiking. I play a lot of basketball, which sounds strange because I’m just a little guy. And then I’m doing an internship for a nonprofit, which I’m pretty pumped about. Scarlet: What nonprofit? Aaron: It’s called nKoso. It helps fund education for students in Ghana. It’s based in New York City, so I do stuff from home.
by Anna Spack
Scarlet: What kind of music do you like? Aaron: It depends on the mood. I like folksy stuff, and I’m also big into throwback 2000s/90s hip hop. And every now and then a little R&B is good. So a good eclectic mix of stuff. Scarlet: Do you play any instruments? Aaron: Yeah, I play guitar. I just started playing with Spencer Brightman. Scarlet: Do you have any specific spots in Worcester you like to go hiking? Aaron: I actually haven’t hiked that much in Worcester. I’m a big fan of the White Mountains, because I lived in New Hampshire and Vermont for two years. Scarlet:Do you have any fun facts about yourself? Aaron: I was a super fat younger kid. When I was like nine I was quite fat. And I like to sing a lot. Scarlet: What is your favorite spot on campus? Aaron: There’s a little [outdoor] lookout tower between the geography section of Jefferson and the Political Science Department. Scarlet: Is there anything else you would like to add? Aaron: There’s a Pictorial Journey [about the Guatemala trip] on February 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the Admissions Center. Thanks for the interview, Aaron!
The Scarlet
6 | news
february 6, 2014
Paraplegic car thief arrested in Florida
Female stall-less toilets spotted in Sotchi
Stole car using only a cane
Forced to pee without privacy
(LaPresse) Despite his inability to use his lower body, twenty-eight year old Shamal Battice stole a car from a Florida Ford dealer last Wednesday. After being helped into the car, Battice quickly locked the door and started the car using his cane, leaving behind an agent who reportedly said the experience was “like a scene in a movie.” He was arrested soon after at a service station where he was begging for gas.
(LaPresse), (The Guardian) The soon-to-be venue of the 2014 Winter Olympics biathlon reportedly features bathrooms where the toilets aren’t separated by stalls. These ‘twin toilets’ began attracting attention after being spotted in men’s bathrooms in Russia late last month. Now female bathrooms that feature them are being noticed as well.
By Sénégal N. Carty scarlet staff
Japanese bra “responds to true love”
Italian man cooks and eats adopted cats
Turkish ferry runs aground at port – on purpose
Only opens when a woman finds “the one”
Roasted about fifteen before being caught
Regular occurrence on the island of Aliaga
(Guardian) The Japanese lingerie company Ravijour has come out with a new bra which can only be unhooked when a woman’s heart rate is high enough to indicate that she has truly fallen in love. When this heart rate is detected by the bra, it immediately springs open.
(LePoint) A man who had been systematically adopting cats from several animal shelters in northern Italy was recently caught putting one of them in his oven. Aidaa, an animal protection association, decided to investigate the man after he had adopted so many cats that it seemed unlikely he wanted to keep them as pets. The Italian police state that he has roasted 15 adopted cats.
(LaPresse) The Ostend Spirit, a ferry that used to travel between the Belgian town of Ostend and the English town of Ramsgate, was purposely run aground last week at a port on the Turkish island of Aliaga after the company that owns it went bankrupt. Grounding actually happens on a regular basis on the island, where boats are run aground before being dismantled.
The Scarlet
february 6, 2014
opinions | 7
The Scarlet/Opinions The opinions enumerated in this section represent those of the author and the author alone. They do not reflect the opinions of the editorial board, The Scarlet, or Clark University.
A chilling notion Hospital refuses to pull the plug on woman in coma
photo courtesy of shine.yahoo.com
Marlise and Eric Munoz with their first child.
By Savannah Cohen scarlet staff
The Munoz family finally got to grieve Marlise last week, after the 33 year old was taken off the respirator. Late last November, Marlise Munoz was discovered collapsed in her home. She was rushed to the hos-
pital but was pronounced brain dead. Marlise and her husband, Eric, were both paramedics and had discussed what they’d wanted should such an accident occur: they did not want to be kept alive in a vegetative or coma state. However, the hospital refused to pull the plug when the request was made. Marlise was 14 weeks preg-
nant, and the hospital claimed that by Texas state law they could not disconnect the machinery of a pregnant patient. This is horrifying. Basically, that means the hospital intended to keep this body alive long enough to deliver a child, and only then would the family be allowed to turn off the machine and properly grieve and bury this woman. Turns out once you become pregnant, you lose control over what happens to your own body. Who knew? Oh wait, everyone did, because pregnancy issues have become a giant political platform. These people want to argue the ethics of killing the fetus, but they’re missing the entire point. How about the ethics of taking free will away from a person and making their family watch as they waste away? What about what’s right for Marlise’s husband, who has to fight in court for the opportunity to bury his wife? What about the fetus, who suffered oxygen deprivation and was being cultivated in a corpse? Frankly, being pregnant isn’t an excuse to keep someone chained to life support. When the person in question is a minor, it is up to the continued on page 8
By Matt Emmer living arts editor
I’m going to be honest about something. I really like the Food Network. It’s my go-to channel in almost any situation. Back from a party but don’t want to go to sleep yet? Back from your last class of the day and need a break before you start working? Having friends over? The Food Network is the best choice for all three. While I will tolerate almost any show they air, I prefer the fastpaced thrills of their competitive programming. My favorite is definitely Cutthroat Kitchen. It is dependably on at any given moment, and Alton Brown’s ironic glare always brings a smile to my face. If you’re not familiar with it, Cutthroat Kitchen combines the highstakes atmosphere of tentpole shows like Iron Chef and Chopped, but eschews the last remnants of cordiality between contestants. Chefs can bid on sabotages to deter their fellow competitors, such as forcing someone to use an easy-bake oven, or denying the use of salt. The trained chefs are debased and humiliated as they are forced to present their intercepted abominations to a respected judge, usually a more established Food Network personality. The look in someone’s face when they are torn apart by someone they admire is strangely satisfying. I find the heightened sense of cartoonish competition between seemingly full-grown adults to be uniquely interesting. What would drive clearly talented and seemingly refined professionals to engage in the most banal trash talking you have ever heard? Why would someone so brutally bash a competitors pastry? I finally understand why people watch those Real Housewives shows. There is something painfully entertaining about adults behaving like children. One would think that in an overtly politically-correct environment like Clark, this kind of programming would be looked down upon. However, it remains a popular source of enjoyment for students of all stripes. I know a suite that prides itself on its outspoken feminism that also gathers around the television every week to watch Keeping Up With The Kardashians. I know people who are active in sexual health advocacy that are obsessed with Teen Mom. What do our television habits say about our character? Maybe they don’t say anything at all.
8 | opinions
The Scarlet
february 6, 2014
Coma debate cont. continued from page 7
Dear Sigmund, I have a friend who has been getting really, really drunk on the weekends. Every time she drinks she blacks out and gets sick, and I have to take care of her. I’m starting to get really worried - I think she might have a problem. I’m also starting to get annoyed that my nights end up revolving around taking care of her. I want to be a good friend and help her, but I’m getting tired of having to put my social life on hold to make sure she’s okay. Is there anything I can do to help my friend, and also get my weekends back? Thanks, Not a Babysitter
Dear Not a Babysitter, I can respect the fact that you want to help your friend, but I agree that you are not her babysitter. She is an adult and she should be responsible for her own behaviors, not make you be responsible instead. However, your actions show what kind of a nice friend and person you are, and those are great qualities to have. But I feel as though you need to start focusing on yourself and what you need. It sounds like you need some time to enjoy yourself on the weekends and not have to worry the whole time. The first step to getting your weekends back is talking to your friend. It sounds to me as though she is “enjoying” her weekends too much and is perhaps not realizing what her behaviors are doing to you and others around her. When you talk to your friend, you need to tread lightly but
still be direct. Sometimes individuals become defensive if they feel attacked, so you need to be careful not to accuse her of ruining your weekends. Tell her that you would like to hang out with other friends on some weekends. Since it sounds as though you are concerned about her drinking levels (as you should be), bring this up to her if you feel comfortable doing so. If you frame this discussion as you being concerned about her health and safety, it may be easier for her to hear. If your friend is blacking out every time she drinks, then she is clearly not remembering what she did or didn’t do. Share your concerns with her and share what you see her doing, and what you are doing for her. When an individual is drinking to the level that your friend is, often times help from a professional is needed. Sharing your concerns could be the first step to having your friend seriously start thinking about how much alcohol she is drinking. Encourage her to contact Counseling Services on campus if she needs or wants someone to talk to; but remember that you can’t force her to do this. She has to want to do it. I know it may seem as though you are not caring about your friend if you take a step back and focus on yourself for a little. However, if you continue taking care of her as you have been doing, you may begin resenting your friend and pulling away from the friendship. Take the steps now to talk to your friend, not only to preserve the friendship but to take care of yourself too. 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.
family to determine whether or not they are resuscitated. Marlise Munoz did not want to be kept on life support. The fetus would not survive that early outside the womb. Therefore, the decision regarding the life support for both patients had already been decided. By ignoring the deceased’s request, the hospital caused uproar where one wasn’t necessary. Texas law may demand treatment for pregnant patients, but only in cases of coma or sustained severe injury. Treatment that was definitely not possible for Marlise; it was far too late to do anything else for her besides fulfill her wishes. Marlise was finally taken off life support last week after her family was put through months of fighting in court, but is there really justice here? The hospital personnel caused this family to watch a dearly departed family member decay in a bed, knowing there was no hope for her or her baby. Upon investigation of the fetus, it was found to be deformed to the point that a gender could not be identified. They also identified a possible heart defect and hydrocephalus, a condition where excess fluid is in the brain. It’s infuriating to know that the hospital was allowed to go months completely disregarding a patient’s request to not resuscitate, but to do so for a child that was already doomed. And the fact that this was allowed because of faulty lawmaking is ridiculous. The laws are in place to help people, to allow for protection and to keep society from descending into chaos. This fiasco was anything but just; this was inhumane and appalling. People have a right to self-autonomy, to make decisions about themselves, about what they want to do to their own body. We can’t play the role of God and start making decisions for people based on our own beliefs and whims. It is chilling to see autonomy taken away from someone on the notion that a law can tell us when its ready for us to die.
The Scarlet
february 6, 2014
One more lonely child star Justin Bieber’s recent arrest is part of a disturbing trend
opinions | 9
Obama proposes NSA reforms Toeing the line between transparency and security By Patrick Fox scarlet staff
courtesy of images.huffingtonpost.com
By Ethan Giles scarlet staff
Imagine the following scenario: at age thirteen a talent agent comes and finds you, takes you to Atlanta, where your music career takes off. Within a few months, you have thousands of fans screaming your name. Teen girls love you. You can do nothing wrong in their eyes, you are perfect. You perform in front of newly elected President Barack Obama at the White House. You start a relationship with a famous actress, and the paparazzi are risking their lives just to get a picture of you. You shoot a music video with Ludacris and that is still the second most watched video on YouTube. Before every show you put on, local TV news crews get shots of hundreds of shrieking fans. Think about how all of this would affect you. At the very least, you’d develop a massive ego. It wouldn’t come as a surprise if you could no longer
abide by the rules of a functioning society. That’s what happened to Justin Bieber. It is the same thing that happened to Amanda Bynes, Lindsay Lohan, and hundreds of other child stars. When people treat you as infallible at a young age, you will naturally start to believe it. People treated Bieber as a god, so he thought he was a god. There were no consequences for any of his actions, and it is evident in the way Beiber have acted over the past year. He showed up to concerts two hours late, urinating into a mop bucket while yelling “F*** Bill Clinton,” spitting at a DJ, saying Anne Frank “would have been a belieber,” egging his neighbor’s house, and now this most recent arrest. All of these actions show a complete lack of selfawareness and self-control. Unless being in prison teaches him anything, this trend is not going continued on page 10
On January 17, before an audience of press and elected officials at Washington D.C.’s Justice Department, President Obama presented his ideas for reforms to the now-infamous National Security Agency, or NSA. The promises to reform the bloated intelligence agency arrive after nearly a year of attempted cover ups, in the wake of the scandalous revelation that the NSA had been electronically spying on hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, of Americans, as well as foreign heads of state. In his address, President Obama recalled America’s long history of domestic and international spying from the Revolutionary War to the Reagan era, in the process revealing the government’s sizeable intelligence gathering history. Mr. Obama was quoted as saying, “Throughout American history, intelligence has helped secure our country and our freedoms.” While the President’s assurances are certainly charming, the fact that he has even had to defend the NSA brings to the forefront just how much public opposition exists. The president’s remarks also raise a number of provocative questions. Should Americans, as well as citizens of other nations, be alarmed about the NSA surveillance if, as the classic argument goes, “they have nothing to hide?” Does Obama’s mention of America’s long intelligence gathering history have any relevance in today’s globalized and often unstable world? Is the agency’s use of controversial collection techniques stepping on Americans’
courtesy of thenation.com
inalienable rights? On basic human rights? In the muddy grey area of post-September 11th international relations, who can be trusted? It is unclear as to whether the intelligence reforms issued by the President can be trusted as truth. The American intelligence community, as a rule of thumb, works in the shadows. However, those who entrust their security to the government deserve at least some transparency. A happy medium must be reached between a society in which citizens are spied on without their consent, and one in which people are unprotected. One thing is for certain. As America and the world moves into an uncertain future, one in which the safety of the many is supposedly guaranteed by the persecution of the guilty few,
ethical conduct of elected officials often plays second fiddle to Americans’ desire to protect themselves and their country. What more can the average person do than attempt to live their lives and use the democratic system to their advantage, to vote in the changes needed? The intelligence community does its best and sometimes the best is a difficult idea to swallow. In the words of former NSA special agent Patrick Mead: “I believe despite what has been portrayed in the media, agencies do it as well as they can. It is impossible, 100%, to intercept and destroy all threats. Sometimes the agencies get a bad rap for their conduct in certain areas, but the bottom line is, all the agencies are doing their very best, 100% of the time, to keep Americans safe.”
The Scarlet
10 | opinions
Justin Bieber cont.
february 6, 2014
State of the Union Address 2014 Good improvement, but still a ways to go in 2014
continued from page 9
to stop. There still are no financial consequences for his actions, as his fans still adore him. #WeWillAlwaysSupportYouJustin was trending on twitter for a full day after his arrest. He drag raced an expensive car while drunk and on various drugs. Why would anyone support him for this? For this trend to end, we have to stop idolizing these celebrities. Bieber was not the first celebrity to go off the deep end, nor will he be the last. They are people, just like you, David Angel, Tyler Whitesell, and Elephant Man. When you treat someone as infallible they will act infallible. It is also disturbing that some people expressed joy when Bieber got arrested. The kid is a dolt; there is no denying that. But why are people happy that a 19-year-old got a DUI? He clearly got what he deserved, but is it really something to celebrate? The media bent over backwards to cover the Bieber DUI story. MSNBC cut away from a segment interviewing a congresswoman to show Bieber in court. A congresswoman! This is unbelievable. This is another example of the celebrity idolatry our country exhibits on a daily basis. We do not seem to care when a political or authority figure actually does something for the country, but if Justin Bieber stands there in an orange jumpsuit everyone jumps to see. Until we stop obsessing over celebrities, our society is doomed to create more child-star-turnedduds like Bieber. Until we stop treating our celebrities like divine figures with no accountability, they will continue to act like them.
By Jonah Naghi scarlet staff
President Barack Obama delivered his State of Union address last week. In his speech, he discussed the achievements and struggles of the United States in the previous year, and what to look forward to in 2014. Reflecting on the speech, I felt very proud of my American identity, agreeing with most of what our President advised and how impressed I was with our past achievements. He started his speech by saying how 2013 marked the highest graduation rate in over thirty years and how America has added over eight million jobs over the previous four years. What I really liked about Obama’s speech, and what I like about him generally, is how he very thoroughly pointed out the achievements while still emphasizing what we need to work on. America has reached its lowest unemployment rate in over five years, standing at 7.3 percent, though this may have been simply because more people stopped searching for jobs. Nevertheless, Obama feels the economy has gradually improved; he suggested making tax reforms that will cut taxes for businesses providing jobs here in America instead of rewarding companies we are investing abroad. One thing that often came up in his speech was his critique of congress and how he will try, whenever possible, to bypass congress and give executive orders true to his policy preferences. President Obama also noted the need to address financial equality for women, combatting climate change, and raising the minimum wage. Though women make up half
courtesy of upi.com
of America’s employees, they only make 77 cents for every dollars a man makes. I feel this is an embarrassment considering that we are now in 2014. As for the climate change, though every four minutes an American home or business goes solar, we must continue this progress. As Obama says, we should have a better tax policy that doesn’t give four billion dollars a year to fossil fuel industries and invest them to future industries that will help keep our climate clean. We also must do what we can to increase our employees’ wages. Obama said he will increase the minimum wage to ten dollars and ten cents an hour for federal employees. An increase in wages will help improve the economy because it is growing larger and will boost employees’ moral and productivity. Perhaps the most important topic President Obama addressed was the negotiations with Iran.
Something he noted that I felt was important was the difference between “trust” and “verification.” Many people are skeptical the negotiations with Iran will succeed on agreeing to a comprehensive deal on their nuclear program because there is a lack of trust between the nations. While it is true there is no trust between the United States and Iran, what is really important in these negotiations isn’t trust but verification. The IAEA has now been granted access for the first time in years to inspect Iran’s nuclear facility to “verify” that Iran is keeping their end of the bargain. Though these negotiations could fail, we should still pursue them and there is a better chance for them to succeed than some think. However, what I may have enjoyed most of all during Obama’s State of Union Address was the way he spoke. President Obama spoke charismatically, enthusiastically, and inspirationally. There
were smiles and laughs throughout the whole speech. Obama made many references to members in the crowd, including his wife Michelle Obama and her role in reducing child obesity to its lowest rate in over three decades. Obama also spoke very inspirationally. He wisely said how “nothing in life worth anything is easy.” In order to get something meaningful, we must work hard to get it and the opportunity is here in America. As President Obama says, “opportunity is who we are.” But perhaps the most inspiring thing of all was when our President talked about how “The world will see...team USA [march] the red, white, and blue into the Olympic stadium and [bring] home the gold.” Members of the crowd then started chanting “USA, USA, USA.” I found myself laughing and thinking to myself, “Wow, what a country?”
The Scarlet
february 6, 2014
living arts | 11
The Scarlet/Living Arts A time you may embrace A tribute to Pete Seeger by Tyler Terriault By Matt Emmer
I wrote about the day school got cancelled in both of my diaries
living arts editor
The last time I saw Pete Seeger was at the Beacon Strawberry Festival. We were sharing a microphone on a makeshift stage on a hill, our banjos facing each other and the Hudson River in the distance. That’s how I’ll remember him. 94 years old and playing a note-perfect solo so high on the neck of that banjo. My life was changed in the auditorium of Beacon High School. My parents took me, then a classic rockobsessed seventh grader, to see the incredible double bill of Richie Havens and Pete Seeger. Pete strolled onstage, a mere 88 at the time, picked up his knotty old banjo and stepped up to the microphone. The soft melody of “Where Have all the Flowers Gone” wafted over the auditorium. Yet, seemingly magically, the sound wasn’t coming from the speakers. One by one, voices from across the room joined in. I was surrounded by sound. Each voice offered its own perspective, exploding the song out of its plaintive acoustic arrangement. It was now telling the stories of everyone in that crowded hall. That’s what Pete did. He gave us permission to express ourselves, and, in doing so, created a spontaneous community with every note.
Three tubs of peanut butter are sitting on my desk. Life is good now. Changing the past is like putting toothpaste back in the tube… Go for it (Credit: Eddie McCluskey)
courtesy of yael farber Author Matt Emmer performing with Seeger at the Clearwater Fevistal in 2010.
The true gift of “If I Had a Hammer” was its message that we could, in fact, sing our song all over this land. When he led “Amazing Grace” in his distinctive long-meter style with each syllable lasting an eternity, he truly created that grace. People who “couldn’t sing,” an oxymoron in Pete’s eyes, were suddenly adding complex harmonies and rich counterpoint. Through this approach, Pete created an American epic with every concert, using music from every corner of the country to shape a unique narrative
that seemed to reflect the poetry and problems of a nation. Needless to say, I left that first concert determined to learn the ridiculous-looking instrument he so deftly played. At a library book fair I picked up a well-loved edition of his immortal banjo treatise and got to work. The banjo and book became my guided tour through a secret American history, one filled with the hopeful laments of the downtrodden and forgotten. During high school I became a member of Pete’s “Power of
Two Hundred Level Psych class is proving to be fun… what? What is this?
Song” band, allowing me access to the man I idolized. I was able to play with Pete in tiny rooms, concert halls, and festivals. I stood next to him in the middle of the night as a group of folk royalty that performed for a few hundred protesters in Columbus Circle. We tuned our banjos to each other backstage at the Hudson River Revival as he tried to remember the third verse of an Arabic peace song he wanted
to teach the crowd. He borrowed my 12-string to play “Turn Turn Turn” for the alumni of the University Settlement Camp, the current home of the Clearwater organization. Other musicians have “causes” -- Pete organized. Now that he’s gone, it’s time for the real hard work to begin. Pete inspired action in everycontinued on page 12
12 | living arts
The Scarlet
Myths with
february 6, 2014
New but not improved New Mezcal location is a disappointment
Manneville By Celine Manneville scarlet staff
Have you ever heard something about Clark that you weren’t sure was true? Have you simply just accepted it because you weren’t sure how to prove its authenticity? Well worry no more! I’m here to get to the bottom of those Clark legends. Think of me as Clark’s very own Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage minus the beards and beret. This is the Clark edition of Mythbusters! The Claim: Clark football— undefeated since 1887! What’s our secret? Well, it might help that we don’t have a football team. Why don’t we have a football team? Some say that it is because Jonas Clark’s son died playing football. But what’s the truth behind this claim? The Reality: Jonas Clark’s son could not have died playing football, because Jonas Clark did not have any children. According to Mott Linn, head of Collections Management in the Goddard Library, Clark’s lack of
any offspring may be part of the reason Clark was founded; because Jonas Clark had no successors to claim his inheritance. Also, when the undergraduate portion of Clark was founded 1902, there was a complete ban on intercollegiate sports. The ban was lifted in 1919, but because football is such an expensive sport, establishing a team was probably not seen as necessary. According to usatoday.com and boston.com, just outfitting a team can cost $200,000 to $400,000, which does not include the cost to build facilities James Elliott, Professor and Chair of the English Department at Clark, theorizes another possible reason. He suggested that space is a big issue. He poses the question “where in Main South could you put a stadium?” Clark does have the Dolan Field House and the fields, but that “was not Clark’s property until 1960.” While there’s no definitive answer, the lack of space, coupled with the expense of starting a football team, are both very probable reasons.
Pete Seeger cont. continued from page 11
one he encountered, whether it was action with him or foolishly against him (though he definitely outlasted the doubters). But, until his final moments, he was the reluctant center of the many activist communities he supported. Now is our chance to prove ourselves, to answer the call of “Well May the World Go” and “Quite Early Morning.” It is time to show the
world that we, who learned so diligently at the feet of a giant, can go out into the world and live those values. To prove that cleaning up the Hudson River wasn’t “Pete’s project,” or that preserving a generational tradition of folk music wasn’t “Pete’s music,” or that standing up to the injustices of the world wasn’t “Pete’s fight.” These are our projects, this is our music, and this is our fight. And today, in Pete’s honor and in his blessed memory, we claim them defiantly as our own.
courtesy of tasteworcester.com
By Helen Holway contributing writer
I absolutely adore Mexican food, which is why I jumped at the chance to review Mezcal. What could be better than reviewing Mexican food and then getting to tell everyone about it? Mezcal Tequila Cantina opened on Shrewsbury Street in 2007 as an authentic Mexican restaurant and became very popular in the area. So popular, in fact, that they recently moved to a bigger location in downtown Worcester near the DCU Center that opened on January 27 of this year. When we pulled up to the restaurant, the first thing I noticed was its great location. The surrounding area is safe, and the building itself is both massive and unique in design. Having gone to the Shrewsbury Street location about a year ago, I assumed that my experience at Mezcal this time around would be just as enjoyable. But perhaps I assumed too soon. As we walked up to the counter to ask for a table for two, we were told that
we would have to wait between an hour and an hour and a half. Not having much of a choice, we took a seat in the waiting area with those who also had not thought to make a reservation. But as time wore on, it seemed that even those who had made a reservation were waiting as long as fifteen minutes for their table to be ready. The restaurant’s press release had promised free guacamole to anyone who had to wait longer than fifteen minutes for a table, but it never came. We were seated nearly an hour later and placed our order almost immediately. At this point we were both starving, but we knew we could hold ourselves over with the complimentary chips and salsa served at virtually every Mexican restaurant. Those chips and salsa never came, however, so we decided to order our own chips and guacamole. But when we saw that guacamole and chips cost an absurd $12, we thought we’d just hold off until our meals came. And the meals did come…45 minutes after we had been seated.
Now, I will say this: the meals were good. Both of our burritos tasted great and the high quality of the rice, beans, vegetables, and chicken was apparent. But the portions? Well, we were both still hungry after we had cleaned our plates. Another plus was that our waitress was lovely. She was upbeat, funny, and was one of the best parts of our Mezcal experience. But in the midst of an extremely busy and loud restaurant, she seemed stressed and pushed for time. At the end of the night, the bill wasn’t outrageous, but I don’t know if we got our money’s worth out of the meal or the experience. Now, should you go to Mezcal Tequila Cantina? If your parents are visiting and you need to bring them to a decent restaurant, or if you’re in the area and really want a Mexican meal, go for it. However, if you’re looking for authentic and inexpensive Mexican food (as well as faster service), I’d forget Mezcal and stick with Hacienda Don Juan on Main Street.
The Scarlet
february 6, 2014
sports | 13
The Scarlet/Sports Super bleh
CLARK SPORTS UPDATES
Seahawks steamroll Broncos 43-8 By Ethan Giles
By Ethan Giles
scarlet staff
scarlet staff
Following two weeks of great anticipation, Super Bowl XLVIII wound up being a total dud, as the Seattle Seahawks dominated the Denver Broncos 43-8. Seattle took a 2-0 lead with a safety on a bad Broncos snap 12 seconds into the game and never looked back. They held the lead for the remaining 59 minutes and 48 seconds of game time, a Super Bowl record. After the safety, Seattle added a few field goals, a rushing touchdown by Marshawn Lynch, and then Malcolm Smith returned an errant Peyton Manning pass for a 69-yard touchdown to give them a 22-0 lead at halftime. Any hope the Broncos had left was vanquished after Percy Harvin returned the opening kickoff of the second half for an 87-yard touchdown. After the game, Malcolm Smith was named Super Bowl MVP for his stellar performance, in which he recorded ten tackles, as well as an interception, a fumble recovery, and a touchdown. Perhaps the most entertaining part of the entire night came after the game, when independent journalist Mathew Mills managed to interrupt Smith’s press conference and say into the microphone “Investigate 9/11. 9/11 was perpetrated by people within our own government.” Super Bowl XLVIII was a mediocre year for commercials. Highlights include: Arnold Schwarzenegger as
women’s swimming & diving The women have had a week of ups and downs, as they lost to WPI 130-89 last Wednesday, but beat Brandeis 170-107 on Saturday. Their next meet is Friday at Wheaton College.
courtesy of abcnews.go.com
a ping-pong player for Bud Light, a dog-horse friendship for Budweiser, a “if you’re happy and you know it clap your hands” hum along for Heinz, and James Franco driving with a tiger for Ford. The only ad to cause a controversy was one for Coca-Cola, which featured a diverse group of people singing “America the Beautiful” with bottles of Coke. Bruno Mars performed at halftime and did an admirable job. The pop singer started with “Billionaire”, then played “Locked Out of Heaven” and “Treasure”. The Red Hot Chili Peppers came on shirtless to play Give it Away, and then Bruno finished the set with “Just the Way You Are”. During the halftime show there was also a touching tribute for our soldiers deployed at war. Unfortunately, the Super Bowl did not live up to the hype. Not only was the game itself boring, but the commercials were mediocre and the halftime show was nothing spectacular.
women’s basketball The ladies have had a rough week, losing to Coast Guard 58-39 last Wednesday and then falling again to Wheaton College 76-56. Their next game is Wednesday, February 12 at Wellesley. courtesy of clarkathletics.com
By Scott Levine scarlet staff
men’s basketball The men’s basketball team continued their newfound NEWMAC success with a victory against MIT, a formidable opponent. The Cougars were physically overmatched by MIT’s imposing front line, but found ways to score against the Engineers. MIT’s bigger players had trouble chasing senior Andrew Musler out to the three point line. Musler connected on three of his seven attempts from long range and played an instrumental role in leading the Cougars to victory. Senior Jake Gubitose came through again in the clutch with a crafty step-back jumper with less than two seconds to go, giving Clark the lead. Clark will play Coast Guard Academy Thursday, February 6, at 5 p.m. in what should be another explosive inner-conference matchup.
The Scarlet
14 | sports
february 6, 2014
COUGAR of the WEEK
by Scott Levine
Senior Josh Kent managed to win in the 100 meter breaststroke against WPI in his last home meet. While the team failed to take down the Engineers that day, Kent sees a bright future for Clark men’s swimming and diving.
Scarlet: What was going through your head as you finished the 100 meter breaststroke? Josh: For most of the race, I thought I was pretty far ahead. I turned off that last wall, and I saw the WPI swimmer in lane two. He was right on me on the pull out, so I kind of had to get my arms moving faster and get to the wall first. Luckily, I pushed through and got it.
photo by jonathan edelman
Josh Kent swimming & diving
Scarlet: Do you think you had the competitive advantage, thinking, “All right, this is my last race in the Kneller?” Josh: No, I wasn’t thinking about that. I was just thinking about my race at that point. WPI’s a really competitive team, so I think I was hoping just to keep up. Pulling out the win was a bonus. Scarlet: How has the season been going so far? Josh: The season has been going well. We have a young team this year, so it’s a lot of rebuilding and reworking. But it’s definitely going well and we have lots of promise going forward. Scarlet: What have been your favorite aspects of being on the swim team? Josh: My favorite aspects have sort of probably been the forced time management. You are forced to budget your time appropriately so you can get everything done. Scarlet: You have a lot of intense competition coming up. What are the goals for this team this year?
Josh: The goals for the team are definitely to just get faster, and for people to swim their lifetime bests with championships coming up. Scarlet: What do you think your role is in helping the team accomplish these goals? Josh: My role is definitely just to go out there and swim my fastest, both for myself and also just to inspire others. Because that’s what this year has been about, just doing stuff that will inspire someone else to do something better. Scarlet: Does it feel like the team is improving? Josh: Yeah, definitely. People are swimming faster each meet. People are definitely working harder and challenging themselves a lot more. So there’s no doubt this team is improving and on the upswing. Scarlet: The team had a close loss to Brandeis. It was so close, that the score on the website included decimals to distinguish who won. Did it feel like a loss? Josh: No, it didn’t feel like a loss. Everyone was really pushing it, and nobody really knew what [events] they were swimming until the event came up. So people reacted really well and swam their fastest. It didn’t feel like a loss in the sense that we swam slow. We tried to win, and we definitely had a shot, so it didn’t feel like a loss. The team will look to continue to improve their times leading into the NEWMAC Championships which will be held down the street at WPI from February 20 to February 24.
The Scarlet
february 6, 2014
The Scarlet/Puzzles CROSSWORD
SUDOKU
copyright © 2013 crosswordsite.com ltd.
ACROSS
DOWN
1. Discontinue (5) 3. Chairs (5) 6. Glass ornament (4) 7. Harsh (6) 9. Run away with a lover (5) 10. Luxurious (4) 11. Cereal grass (3) 13. Sacks (4) 15. One-edged sword (5) 18. Excite (6) 19. Truth (4) 20. Thick slices (5) 21. Walk (5)
1. Spider web (6) 2. Mission in Texas (5) 3. Most precipitous (8) 4. Regions (5) 5. Propagative part of a plant (4) 8. Continues obstinately (8) 12. Leased (6) 14. Fragrance (5) 16. Hold responsible (5) 17. Torn clothing (4)
THIS WEEK’S SOLUTIONS IN NEXT ISSUE
puzzles | 15
The Scarlet
16 | puzzles
Police Logs compiled by Maria Rotelli
february 6, 2014
SOLUTIONS TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLES CROSSWORD SOLUTION
Monday, January 20th 12:25 - BB gun punctured window on Woodland Street. 17:30 - Student stranded at Union Station. 20:07 - Dave called and reported that the keys have been found. Tuesday, January 21st 9:10 - Conference room in RLH locked. Physical Plant notified and will handle same. 12:53 - Suspicious person at the typewriter store. 20:54 - There is a light in the ceiling of Atwood Hall that broke and smoked. Thursday, January 23rd 5:48 - Goddard Library, no one in building. Friday, January 24th 21:47 - Beaver St. lot, person states mass electric fixed high intensity lights at field that were reported out.
SUDOKU SOLUTION
Saturday, January 25th 20:41 - Armed robbery search assist on Park Ave. Sunday, January 26th 22:10 - Assult on Florence Street. Monday, January 27th 21:09 - There is a disorderly student refusing to leave the Kneller Athletic Center Tuesday, January 28th 10:03 - Sprinklers are broken and are not working at all. 14:14 - Person with gun on main campus. 20:18 - Car is on fire on Florence Street. Thursday, January 30th 14:27 - Car tires were slashed off campus. 17:28 - Hit and run off campus. 23:26 - Person in Maywood Hall states that kitchen light cover fell and smashed. She picked up the pieces but needs Physical Plant. They have been notified. Friday, January 31st 15:45 - Small fire has been put out in Sackler Science Center. 21:46 - Student in Dodd states that there was a small stove fire and that there was no alarm that went off. Saturday, February 1st 17:18 - Students in Johnson Hall that do not belong. This week there were eight complaints, five checks of student welfare, four investigations, one count of vandalism, one marijuana-related incident, four reports of suspicious persons, six fire alarms went off, there were eleven calls to EMS, thirtyone calls to police escort, and University Police assisted the WPD twice.
what happens in The Scarlet office at 2:24 a.m. stays in the The Scarlet office... sort of
“I’m not leaving. I like America.” -Matt “It’s not even like a guy making out with a guy. It’s a guy ice skating.” -Jenna “What are myths?” -Jenna “Female lice, I think.” -Matt “MIT and WPI are the Engineers? That’s like Clark being the Liberal Arts Pansies.” - Claire “Wait, where are you going?” -Sarah “I’m going to leave.” -Keitaro “He’s Dumbledore after two Melatonins.” -Scott