crystal pond • david angel interview • bickman fitness center • and more inside
volume xciii, no. 1 • september 12, 2013 | clarkscarlet.tumblr.com |
Aaron Carter comes to Worcester A night of nostalgia, child stars, and dreams
courtesy of eli goldman
By Eli Goldman contributing writer
In case you happened to miss it, Aaron Carter played at Tammany Hall this past Friday. On February 22, the once famous child star embarked on a comeback tour. Over the course of The After Party Tour, Carter will grace over 150 cities in a 10-month span.
Carter opened his set with an enthusiastic performance of his 2000 hit I Want Candy, which he ended emphatically with a cartwheel. Over the course of the night he continued to play songs he recorded as long as 15 years ago. Given the name of his tour, Carter seems resigned to the fact the first stage of his career has come and gone. Yet, that will not stop him from performing. Carter interrupted his set to announce he “just started touring for the first time in eight years.” Because it has been 11 years since he released his last studio album, Another Earthquake!, in 2002 he has had no reason to go on tour. Although time has passed, Carter’s musical style seems to remain unchanged. He began his performance career by opening for his brother’s band, The Backstreet Boys, for a crowd of 50,000 people when he was just seven years old. Now, at 25, Carter has been in and out of rehab for abusing the prescription drug Xanax, the same drug that killed his sister Leslie just last year. Aaron cites hitting “rock bottom” as giving him true appreciation for what he once had continued on page 12
the.clark.scarlet
courtesy of facebook.com
Clark upgrades cable Clark Cable News suffers By Claire Tierney community correspondent
This past summer, Clark’s cable service underwent changes that led some students to the University Center, petition in hand, to protest. Officials from the Worcester Consortium met this summer to discuss their contracts with Charter Communications and work out a digital delivery option that would replace
analog cable. The new plan allows students living on-campus at Clark to view about 95 percent of their TV channels in high-definition, but this change comes with a few drawbacks. Because the channels are broadcast digitally, students living on-campus who have analog televisions will be unable to watch television. According to Kevin Forti, Director of Residential Life and Housing, few students have been put out due
to the ownership of an analog television. Forti says he has only received one email in which the student was totally unable to receive channels. “The biggest issue,” he says, “has been with students not running the channel scan, which is as simple as going to the menu on their TV and searching for channels.” The new upgrade also makes it impossible for students receiving campus cable to purchase any package upgrades such as HBO, an HD box, or DVR. While only one to two percent of students have made the choice to upgrade their cable in continued on page 7
2 | news
The Scarlet
The Scarlet
september 12, 2013
UPCOMING EVENTS
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF CLARK UNIVERSITY CONTACT scarlet@clarku.edu | theclarkscarlet.tumblr.com
EDITORS Jeremy Levine, Editor-in-Chief Pooja Patel, Web Editor Rose Gallogly, Layout Editor Sarah Cramer, News Editor Keitaro Okura, Opinions Editor Matt Emmer, Living Arts Editor Brain Kane, Sports Editor Anna Spack, Photo Editor Claire Tierney, Community Correspondent
SCARLET STAFF Jonah Naghi Maria Rotelli
CCN CORRESPONDENT Ethan Goldstein
[ CLARK ] Mike McKenna Farewell Party - 9/17, 3:30, Tilton Hall [ ARTS ] BSU’s attenDANCE - 9/14 10:30 p.m., The Grind stART on the Street - 9/15, 11:15, Park Avenue [ WORCESTER ] Shrewsbury Street’s College Shuffle - 9/14, 12:00 p.m., Shrewsbury Street
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Alexis Church Alicja Gancarz Eli Goldman Ethan Giles Gordon Crean Jenna Lewis Maria Zander Ronald Gerber Scott Levine Senegal Carty Tyler Terriault
LAYOUT STAFF Cami Ferreol Hannah Jaffe
PHOTO STAFF Cora Torton Jonathan Edelman Nainika Grover Will Heikes
[ SPORTS ] Men’s Soccer v. Brandeis University- 9/14, 1:00 Women’s Tennis v. Babson College - 9/14, 1:00 Women’s Tennis v. Gordon College - 9/16, 4:00 Women’s Tennis v. Anna Maria - 9/17, 4:00 Men’s Soccer v. Gordon College - 9/17, 6:00 Women’s Soccer v. Keene State - 9/18, 6:00
The Scarlet
september 12, 2013
news | 3
The Scarlet/News Clark changes acceptance guidelines Heightened requirements for non-fluent English speakers
CUSC in brief By Hannah Rosenblum contributing writer
By Ethan Giles contributing writer
Clark has raised the acceptance qualifications for students who are not fluent in English. In the past, Clark has accepted such students under provisional admission. Kristina Mukda, Coordinator of International Recruitment, explains that provisional admission is a program for students whose “English might limit their ability to succeed [at Clark].” According to Mukda, “We used to have two levels of provisional admission, one was called ‘conditional’ while the other one was called ‘provisional.’” Mukda describes the conditional program as being for students “with the most limited English abilities (lowest test scores).” These students were “strictly ALC (American Language and Culture Institute) students taking no university classes.” They would stay conditional stu-
dents until “they proved by showing an improvement in their test scores and good work at ALC that they were ready to start some level of university class work as a provisional student.” A provisional student takes “two university classes and two ESL classes to work on their English skills.” So what has changed? There used to be a progression from conditional to provisional to full-time student. Now, Clark has “done away with conditional, so it is just provisional now where students will come in as part-time students.” Why were these changes made? Mukda explains, “Research found that conditional students, because they weren’t really university students, didn’t integrate very well and their [dropout rate] was a lot higher than normal…They were starting off at a big disadvantage.” On the other hand, provisional students “are almost there but need a little bit of a boost.”
Clark hopes that the changes will bring positive reform to the school’s future graduating classes. As Mukda put it, “We are hoping that [these changes] are going to help, instead of having students leave because they have not had a successful experience and haven’t been able to integrate fully into Clark.” She went on to say that “the [provisional] students who are coming here now integrate into the University because they are taking university classes, they’re in the residence halls, meeting new people and doing all the same things a regular college student would.” While Mukda highlighted all the positive aspects of the reforms, when asked if she was personally in favor of the changes she responded, “It remains to be seen. I think it’s probably good though, because…the [conditional] students were really struggling. Unlike the provisional students, the conditionals didn’t seem to find their place here as easily.”
CUSC is back in action for the 2013-2014 year, working hard to serve Clark students’ needs. This week’s meeting involved multiple personnel changes. Nick Gerber was appointed to the Judiciary Committee. Crystal Carpenter was appointed to the Affirmative Action and Sexual Respect Committee. Valerie Johnson was appointed to the Development and Alumni Affairs Committee, while Dylan Sansone was appointed to the Social Responsibility Committee. Two Grant Committee allocations were made this week. Salsa Encendida asked for $2100 and was granted $1500 instead. Club Tennis was allocated $2500 for a coach. Mike McKenna has strongly encouraged each club sport to have a coach and suggested that amount. The club charters for both the Global Health Club and the Pre-Med Society were approved. Student Council members Rian Watt and Sami Noor attended the Worcester Student Government Association meeting at College of the Holy Cross. The ssociation seeks to advocate collectively for students in the Worcester area, work together on community engagement and community development projects, and serve as a liaison between the member schools and Worcester businesses. The Association has monthly meetings, which all students are invited to observe. Clark elections are coming up! Wright Hall, Maywood Hall, and the senior class have no candidates. The debate will be held online on September 15 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Questions can be submitted to cuscdebate@gmail.com or texted to 847-687-3099. The debate will be moderated by Jeremy Levine ‘15, of The Scarlet, Curran O’Donoghue ‘14, of CCN, and Alex Hoyt ‘14, of ROCU. CUSC’s updated website now includes a feedback section. This page can be found at http://web.clarku.edu/students/cusc/ feedback
The Scarlet
4 | news
september 12, 2013
Bickman Fitness Center reopens Clarkies relieved to work out
By Jeremy Levine editor-in-chief
President Angel quieted many grumblings last Thursday when he announced via email that the Bickman Fitness Center would reopen. On Tuesday, September 10, the multi-million dollar renovated space threw open its doors to the Clark community. The expansion, which finished ten days later than anticipated, was the culmination of a lengthy design and construction process. As is typical, rumors ran rampage across campus, reporting that the center was hundreds of thousands of dollars over budget and that it would not open until mid-October. Michael Dawley, Director of Physical Plant, reported that “a bunch of little [things] that added up and put us over budget,” and that
it was “no major, single incident or item” that caused any problems. The project’s intensity and design timeline make the delay more understandable. Although Clarkies saw physical construction starting the day after commencement, the decision to renovate the space was made years earlier. Student surveys indicated that many Clarkies were dissatisfied with the state of the fitness center. Sean Sullivan, Director of Athletics, said that Clarkies aired some “legitimate and serious concerns about the inadequacy of the Bickman Fitness Center.” From there, the University began to work with the architectural firm Perkins+Will and Cutler Associates, a Worcester-based contractor to re-imagine the way Clarkies exercise. The fitness center’s most obvious new feature is its size. It is nearly
twice the size of the original facility, including more space for cardio equipment, free weights, and universal weight machines. There is also a new multi-purpose room for student groups to meet for dance, aerobics, yoga, and any other physical activity. Apart from making the center larger, the Athletics Department also turned over a majority of the equipment. Mr. Sullivan estimates that 85 percent of the equipment in the new center is brand new. This turnover was the result of most of the old machines being too dated to be restored in the new center and the Athletics Department having the available capital. In keeping with Clark’s sustainable mentality, concentrated efforts were made during the design process to make the new fitness center as environmentally-friendly as possible.
courtesy of nainikia grover
The new space is built up to LEED Silver standards, and many of the refurbishments involved recycling and cleaning up old materials. For example, all of the soft flooring in the rowing room is a reincarnation of the old floor, and all of the old mirrors made it back into the new space. In terms of clean-up, Clark will still look like something of a work-inprogress for a few weeks after the last free weights are installed in the renovated Center. Mr. Dawley estimates that the fencing “should be up until late September, or early October, depending on weather.” New walkways need to be installed and the landscape needs to be cleaned up. And so the culmination of years
of planning, millions of dollars, and thousands of work hours came to an end this week when the renovated Bickman Fitness Center opened to the Clark community. Mr. Sullivan stated that this renovation turned “something of a negative for any prospective students… into a positive.” While the increase in the space’s utility is not yet known, the impression it makes at a glance is dramatically different. You can check these changes out for yourself, if you haven’t already, at our gallery at www.clarkscarlet.tumblr.com.
The Scarlet
september 12, 2013
news | 5
Budget cuts at Clark? The dish on the University’s finances By Sarah Cramer news editor
Budgets cuts. Two words that instinctually inspire fear in the public. These same two words were scattered amongst student discussions about this year’s Week One, which stood out from past orientation programs because it spanned four, rather than five, days. With the economic turmoil of the past several years, it is only natural to speculate about the financial position of the University. The Scarlet, nevertheless, is happy to report that Clarkies need not fear; according to Julie Dolan, Executive Vice President and Treasurer of the University, and Andrea Michaels, Vice President for Budgets and Planning, “The University’s financial condition is solid, has been historically, and [is ex-
pected] to remain so going forward.” While the shortened Week One program did reduce costs, the administration mainly believed that the essential elements of Week One could be better presented in a shorter amount of time. First-years across the globe breathed a sigh of relief at one less day of icebreakers. Where, then, IS the University spending its funds? Fortunately, Clark’s website includes a nifty page titled University Revenue And Expenditures that features two nifty pie charts detailing the total revenue and expenditures of the University (see accompanying charts). Though the pie charts represent data from the 201112 school year, Dolan and Michaels confirm that the “almost finalized audited financial data for 2012-13 show an identical distribution.” Accordingly, the current school year’s financial distribution will follow the same pat-
courtesy of clarku.edu
tern as that of the past two years. Looking at the expenditures pie chart, it is evident that the University is first and foremost financially committed to providing its students with a quality education. The largest percent of the University’s money (39 percent) goes towards instruction, which includes all academic departments, as well as the faculty and program support associated with the departments. Academic support, mainly comprised of library services and information technology, receives the second most funding, while housing and dining services trail just behind in third place. Despite the economic climate
and changes at the University, Dolan and Michaels note that “these percentage allocations have remained relatively stable over the last decade.” However, over the past two years incremental investments have been pulled from instruction, academic support, and student services expenditures in order to fund the new LEEP Program. With regard to the University’s revenue, the vast majority (72 percent) comes from a combination of tuition, room, and board fees. This year’s tuition rate of $39,200 indicates a 2.9 percent increase from last year’s tuition rate of $38,100. Last year’s rate put the University at #142,
or within the top eighth percentile, on College Prowler’s annual ranking of 1,846 traditional colleges and universities by highest tuition. Though increasing tuition doesn’t exactly please students, Dolan and Michaels assure that above all, the main financial objective of the University is to “maintain a strong financial base from which we can offer high quality academic and co-curricular programs at a reasonable cost to our students and their families.” While what is “a reasonable cost” remains debatable, at least the University’s allocation of expenditures reflects its pledge.
The OneCard now comes at a price Clark changes OneCard replacement policy By Claire Tierney community correspondent
Clark University’s OneCard office is increasing the cost to replace both damaged and lost identification cards, beginning October 1. In previous years, the cost to replace a missing card was $15, and there was no charge to replace a broken or damaged card. The new policy dictates a $20 charge for a missing card and a $10 charge for a broken or damaged card. The OneCard office recently performed a cross-section of other col-
leges and universities in Massachusetts to compare their lost/damaged replacement fees for ID cards with those of other schools. The results revealed that Clark’s fees were skewed lower than average. “The fees haven’t changed in quite a while,” says Paul Wykes, Business Manager of Clark University. “It wasn’t necessarily that we were looking to increase our rates, it’s just something we do from time to time to see how we compare [to other schools].” Wykes continues, “A lot of colleges charge the same for broken and lost cards. We don’t do that. And if
the magnetic stripe wears out, we will replace that for free.” The issue lies less with cards that are damaged to to ‘wear and tear’, and more with cards that are damaged due to neglect or misuse. In previous years, the Onecard office experienced a large number of cards that seemed to be snapped and broken not from ill-treatment, but simply from overuse. Consequently, last spring the Onecard Office began to issue a different kind of ID card. Wykes says, “We were seeing a fair number of damaged cards, so as a result of that we changed the quality of the card. It is a composite card in-
stead of a plastic card, so its harder to break.” He continues, “It costs more, but we are seeing a lot less broken cards as a result.” If students break or damage one of the older, plastic cards, they won’t be charged for replacement. The combination of the stronger, composite cards, and the fact that many other colleges in the area charge students to replace damaged cards, led the administration to implement the new policy. While every school in Clark’s cross-section charges for a missing card, seven schools in the area do not charge anything to replace a
damaged card. Babson College and Bentley University double the cost of replacement every time a student loses their ID card, whereas Boston University charges a flat rate of $40 to replace either damaged or missing ID cards. If you’re one of the six hundred Clark students who loses their ID every year, know that every school on Clark’s cross-section of nearby schools charges for a missing card. But if Clark’s most recent OneCard policy shift has you so riled up you are considering transferring, try Brandeis University - they only charge $10 for a missing ID, and a broken ID replacement is free.
The Scarlet
6 | news
Clark aquires church
september 12, 2013
What’s happening with the park across the street!? Clark University and the City of Worcester redevelop University Park
Only God knows what’s next for the building By Alexis Church contributing writer
Last summer, Clark University acquired the Spanish Church of God located next to the Thrift Store. The Church is marked only by a sign that stands outside the over-a-century-old building. The structure has an eroding exterior that, while beautiful, clearly needs attention. Often times the only sign of life in the church is the small stream of worshipers who arrive for Mass dressed in formal attire. These gregarious people and the melodious sounds of their hymns, sung in Spanish, are what have kept the church feeling alive. Long overwhelmed by the large space and the dwindling membership, the congregation was pleased to sell the space to Clark University. According to the Worcester Telegram and Gazette, the church was purchased in July for $750,000 by the University. Clark is in the process of conducting a series of structural assessments to see if the structure is sound. Dean Darrigrand says that once these assessments are complete, the school will either move forward with renovations or make the decision to rebuild on the land. No decision has been announced yet about what Clark is planning to do with the space. As for the Spanish Church of God, the future means relocation to the newly-renovated former Perlman Funeral Home to better fit their congregation’s needs.
courtesy of gordon crean
By Gordon Crean contributing writer
Formally known as University Park (informally as Crystal Park), the 120-year-old public green conveniently resides just across Main Street from the Higgins University Center. This much-overlooked sanctuary is undergoing a much-needed upgrade that is now nearing completion. The park has seen an impressive list of improvements that are already complete. Among them are various upgraded walkways and stone walls, additional benches and lighting, and an expanded playground. Soon to be finished are two new full-size basketball courts with bleachers, a new and relocated volleyball/tennis court, surveillance cameras, and more. Everything is expected to be complete by this December. The planning process was a collaboration between Beals and Thomas, Inc., the Parks Department, Clark, and the community. Five public meetings of dialogue between the
community and the project planners were conducted over the course of six months in Clark’s Lurie Conference Room. Casey Starr, Clark alumna and Community Organizer and Assistant to the Executive Director of the Main South Community Development Corporation, was highly involved in the planning process. She feels that “the phase one improvements that resulted from this [process] absolutely reflected the conversations in the meetings.” The money for this plan came from a 20-year Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement Clark made with the city that began in 2010. Over the 20-year period of the agreement, this money will total over $6.7 million and will be directed towards various public safety and development projects. Clark contributed $1 million of this money towards the University Park spruce-up, all of which was used for the phase one improvements. The remaining $0.5 million of the $1.5 million budget for phase one was supplied by the city. University Park will see further renovations once more
money is provided. “This is not happening in a vacuum,” Starr explained. “This is happening very strategically in conjunction with the other revitalization efforts happening in the neighborhood.” One such effort is The Kilby-Gardner-Hammond Neighborhood Revitalization Project, which is a collaboration between Clark University, the Main South CDC, the Worcester Boys & Girls Club, and the City of Worcester that has been ongoing since 1996. This project includes the redevelopment of old brownfield sites as well as a new Clark athletic field that will be located next to the new Boys & Girls Clubhouse. It is expected to be completed during 2014. According to Starr, future developments in the area like this were heavily considered while planning the redevelopment of University Park, and she hopes to see increased traffic through the park from Clark students on their way to the new athletic field. Jack Foley, Vice President for Government and Community Af-
fairs at Clark, played a huge and invaluable part in the improvements at University Park. He is excited about the addition of electrical service near Main Street because of the added potential for public events it brings. He remarked that the park is a “natural amphitheater,” and that it is his dream to have Clark students put on public concerts there. Pastor Lucas Glenn of The Woo church believes that though University Park’s past association with gang activity and poor maintenance may have given it a negative overall influence on the neighborhood, with proper facilitation, the park can definitely make the neighborhood appear more welcoming. Clark sophomore Sarah Cramer agrees: “The Green is only so big; now with the redevelopment, there’s no reason why we can’t integrate with the neighborhood at a beautiful park on a sunny day.” The complete university park master plan that came out of the planning process is available on the city’s website: www. worcesterma.gov/dpw/parks-rec/ city-parks/university-park
The Scarlet
september 12, 2013
news | 7
eReaders in Woodland Elementary A second successful summer of reading By Alicja Gancarz contributing writer
Summer reading at Woodland Academy is no longer a burden to students. Instead, students take pleasure in finishing their reading requirements with the use of eReaders (Kindles or Nooks) that the Main South Community Development Corporation (CDC) helped initiate. Two summers ago, the CDC received a grant of ten thousand dollars to support literacy at Woodland Academy. Staff from Woodland and the CDC considered many different possibilities for the fate of the grant
CCN cont. continued from page 1
previous years, Forti believes this issue is an important one. For this reason, Clark is in the process of re-negotiating their contract with Charter Communications to see if the issue of upgrades can be fixed, but according to Forti, “they have told us that technically it can’t be done in the [digital] system that has been put in place.” For those desperate for their HBO or DVR, Forti says “there are some inexpensive options for digital tuners for students who want an upgraded service that one can purchase online for around $100.” Clark Cable Network (CCN) received the short end of the stick, however, as they transmit with analog modulators, and have therefore been unable to broadcast on the new digital system at all. According to Ethan Goldstein, Production Head of CCN, “While CCN frequently does appear (though at the wrong numbers, on channels 2 and 4), it looks awful and is often hidden behind the other digital channels on 2 and 4. Furthermore, on some TVs it is outright inaccessi-
money. One possibility the staff discussed was a construction of a new library, but due to limitations of space, that idea was dismissed. The staff finally decided to spend the grant money on eReaders, which they thought would be put to good use by the students at Woodland. An important advantage of eReaders is that they do not take up massive amounts of space like a library does, and books can be easily accessed and downloaded. The issue of the “summer slide” was also addressed when making the decision to buy eReaders. “Summer slide” refers to the reading re-
gression that students experience during summer vacation. After the first summer of eReader usage, however, teachers found that students who used eReaders did not undergo the dreaded “slide.” Instead, they maintained their reading levels and, in some cases, even improved. The students, themselves, thoroughly enjoyed using eReaders. There were, of course, concerns that came with issuing eReaders. Woodland Academy and the CDC assumed that there would be at least a 10 percent loss of eReaders caused by broken or lost machines. Thankfully, such a loss never happened. “Our
students really appreciated what was given to them; they respected the opportunity,” said Ricardo Dobles, the Wraparound Outreach Coordinator at Woodland. After the success of the first summer, thirty more eReaders were purchased this past summer, mak-
ing a grand total of one hundred machines that have encouraged students to read. Woodland plans to take this program even further: Principal Patricia Padilla hopes to eventually provide all 545 students with eReaders.
ble unless one sets their TV to analog, which prevents them from seeing the new cable channels.” For CCN to make the switch to digital broadcasting would have initially required the purchase of $17,000 QAM Modulators, which CCN asked to be allocated to their club from the Clark University Student Council (CUSC) cumulative budget surplus of $104,111.35. This past Wednesday, September 11, CCN petitioned in front of the CUSC Executive Board, which included Alex Marshall (16’), Rebecca Sonafist (15’) and Will Cretinon (14’), and changed the request to ask for $12,000 instead, to be approved at CUSC’s September 18 meeting. Goldstein explains they will buy less expensive modulators than originally planned, “adds $2,000 for a computer server and $2,000 for a storage system for our videos, so that we can start developing an online streaming service.” The cheaper modulators will only broadcast two channels, as opposed to the three channels CCN broadcast in previous years. On Sunday, September 8, CUSC President Rian Watt said he “isn’t sure digital cable is the place to spend a lot of money.” Watt claims that CUSC is “willing” and “happy” to financially support CCN should they decide to
allocate their funding to strengthen their presence online. CCN’s change in proposal gave the club a much stronger chance of being accepted. While CCN’s future of technological feasibility is in question, the other issue for surplus allocation is their lack of reach via cable. Approximately 1,700 students live on campus, which means about 25 percent of students live off-campus, and would be completely unaffected by CCN receiving a digital upgrade. Watt says, “We don’t want to spend one-fifth of the surplus on something that doesn’t affect everyone.” Additionally, CCN and CUSC do not have any data on viewing statistics for CCN before or after the cable upgrade, which would provide a better idea of who is directly affected by the loss of CCN’s cable presence. However, this past week CCN has been circulating a petition asking students to pledge their name stating that they would like to see CCN stay on available via television, collecting 666 signatures before Wednesday’s meeting. Additionally, Clark is involved in a contract with SWANK Motion Pictures, Inc., who currently provides students living on-campus with feature films that were available on CCN channel 12. The current contract with
SWANK costs $11,568 per year, and the CUSC budget allocates $13,606 per year for CCN’s contract. If CCN’s latest proposal is accepted, CCN will be allocated $12,000 for their new modulators and computer equipment, out of which they will pay a $1,000 cancellation fee for the SWANK contract. If their proposal is denied at next week’s meeting and CCN remains unable to broadcast digitally, Clark will still be forced to allocate the $13,000 per year towards feature films for students, but they will be virtually unviewable, as they broadcast only on the analog stations. This seems unlikely, however, because the cancellation of the $13,000 SWANK contract will free up the funds for the $12,000 new modulators, actually saving CUSC money in the long run. However, since this year’s payment has been made to SWANK already, these changes won’t take effect until next year. According to Goldstein, “In the meantime, we’re merging channels 11 (original programming) and 13 (filmed events) to allow us to maintain channel 12 (SWANK) for the rest of the year, while at the same time beginning to air Clark produced short films on 12 alongside the licensed content. Once we get the modulators, our channels will be 11 and 12.
The cumulative surplus is historically used to fund a project that positively impacts the entire Clark or Main South community, such as 2012’s Project Playground, which oversaw the total renovation of the playground on the corner of Florence Street and Downing Street. Watt says, “I would like to find something great to do with that money.” According to Watt, options discussed have included renovating The Grind into a place that would be useable by many different groups, as well as improving campus safety by adding more lighting and other security measures. Hope still exists outside of CUSC’s surplus allocation for the cable life of CCN. Forti noted that “Clark is in the process of re-negotiating [their] contract with Charter because the terms of [the] contract aren’t being met. As part of those terms we are asking Charter to provide high-def modulators for the three CCN channels, along with other features for the future.” Clark Cable Network is at a crossroads. While it remains to be seen whether they will maintain a traditional cable presence, it seems certain that if they want to remain relevant, they must continue to grow online.
courtesy of anna spack
The Scarlet
8 | news
september 12, 2013
CLARKIE of the WEEK
courtesy of clarku.edu
We all know David Angel as the president with the cool name and even cooler accent, but there’s a lot we don’t know about this man from London who runs our school. I sat down with President Angel to talk about his time as president and to get some more information about him as a person. Scarlet: How did you become president? David Angel: I’ve been at Clark since 1987. I came here as kind-of a “baby” professor in the Geography department, and stayed. Before I became president [in 2010] I was the provost for several years, [which is] the chief academic officer. One of the reasons I became president here was because there is a very strong sense of identity at Clark, and what the University stands for is very important to everyone associated with Clark. So Clark was looking for a president that would maintain that commitment to [its] values and identity and do things to strengthen the University. If you want to create change but retain a commitment to an identity that we all highly value, the way to do that is to have a president who knows the place well. I taught here, I’ve run departments, I’ve been an administrator… I probably know more about Clark than pretty much anybody else right now, and that’s an advantage. Scarlet: I know that you are co-teaching a class this semester. Can you talk about that? David Angel: I’m teaching an FYI [called] “Challenge Convention,
Change our World.” I haven’t taught at Clark in 10 years, so this is a big deal for me. I decided to teach a course this year largely because this is the first undergraduate class that’s come in fully under our new Liberal Education and Effective Practice [LEEP] curriculum. So I wanted to be a part of that in a very granular way; actually being on the ground both so that I get a sense of how it’s experienced by students and also to add my commitment to that. What we’re studying in the class is the question “How does change happen?” We’re interested in a set of problems that seem like they [have] been stuck in the mud for a long time. For example, one of the cases we studied was smoking among young adults. It seems like we’ve crossed a threshold where smoking has gone from something that is cool to something that is very not cool. [In the class] we’re interested in how that happened. In addition, we’re also interested in understanding how you can put your knowledge to work in the world and how you can be agents of change. We’re doing a lot of work in the class also around capacity building, around some of the LEEP skills problem-solving, creativity, those kinds of things. Scarlet: What is your favorite part of your job? David Angel: The piece that really matters to me is creating programs that create opportunities for students and faculty. When I see something that is
by Anna Spack
really taking off and working, that’s incredibly rewarding. [For] example, as part of our LEEP initiative, we place students in different [internship] opportunities off-campus. Last spring we had some of the students who had done these placements come back and give mini “TED Talks” before the board on what they had done. These were amazing presentations, both in terms of what the students were doing but also [in terms of] their passion, commitment, and engagement. When you see the work you’ve done come together in terms of individuals’ experiences, that’s very cool.
can be introduced into the FifthYear program [as well]. I am also very interested in making sure that the campus and the community really works well for students. The reason we did the fitness center is because we asked students what would make a difference, and they wrote back and said, “we need a bigger fitness center.”
Scarlet: What are your priorities for the school’s future?
Scarlet: What are some things you like to do in your free time?
David Angel: To make Clark better known and more impactful around the world, and strengthen its resource base. When I travel around the country I talk to a lot of alums who are incredibly proud of being Clark graduates but [who] say that Clark isn’t well-known enough. Part of what I’m trying to do is to make us a really interesting, successful, lively place, and in doing so, build our visibility.
David Angel: I’m a big soccer fan.
Scarlet: Aside from the newly-renovated fitness center, are there any other specific projects you have in mind to improve the University? David Angel: We are interested in growing our graduate profile. Perhaps adding some more graduate programs; maybe those
Scarlet: Where did you go to college and what did you major in? David Angel: I did my undergraduate at Cambridge in the UK. I was a Geography major there.
Scarlet: Did you ever play? David Angel: I used to. I even thought about joining one of the intramural teams this year…but I can’t afford to get injured. Scarlet: Anything else you like to do? David Angel: I read a lot. I read trashy mystery stories, the kind of thing where you don’t want people to see the cover of the book. Thank you to President Angel for taking the time for an interview.
september 12, 2013
By Senegal Carty
The Scarlet
news | 9
Testicle-eating cousin of piranha shows up in the Seine
London building’s reflection hot enough to melt cars
A fisher reels in a South American Pacu
Sunlight reflected off a skyscraper seriously damages a Jaguar parked nearby
(TF1) - Parisian authorities were called by a fisherman who had just caught a Pacu, a species known for having teeth that resemble those of a human, and supposedly, a taste for male genitalia. The Pacu, despite being a relative of the piranha, is not actually a danger to humans. In fact, the fish is considered a tasty dish in many countries. As for how this South American fish ended up in Western Europe, authorities say that it was probably being kept as a pet before its owner realized that the fish, which can grow to up to 55 pounds, would be impossible to keep and released it into the Seine.
(TF1) - On August 29, a businessman who had parked near the 525-foot Talkie-Walkie in London returned to his Jaguar to find that its rearview mirror and part of the body had melted. For about two hours each day, the massive building reflects sun rays that are hot enough to cook eggs. Several parking lots in the vicinity have been closed as a precaution, and the building’s promoters have promised to “take the reflection [problem] seriously.”
contributing writer
Kuwaiti man lures stray lion into his car
Legally blind to receive gun permits in Iowa
Man in Singapore has huge doll collection
A lion roaming the streets of a suburb is captured by a passerby
People with seriously impaired vision now allowed to own and carry firearms
Recently acquired six thousand Barbies
(TodayOnline) - In a country where large and dangerous animals are often kept as pets by the wealthy, a runaway lion was found wandering a suburban area of Kuwait on Sunday. Fortunately, the animal was shepherded into a car by a passerby, who immediately alerted the authorities. The lion was taken away and police are currently conducting a search for its owner. Although no one was hurt, the incident has raised some concern about the risks of attempting to domesticate powerful creatures.
(Huffington Post) - In Iowa, it recently became legal for the legally blind to purchase guns and carry them in public. The term ‘legally blind’ is used to describe those whose best vision, even with corrective lenses, is 20/200 or less. For a person with 20/200 vision, the smallest letter that they can see at 20 feet can be seen by a person with normal vision at 200 feet. In other words, many of the legally blind can technically see, but their sight is poor enough to be considered a disability. The decision of Iowan officials to make such citizens eligible to receive gun permits has been met with considerable protest and criticism.
(Global Post) - Jian Yang, the successful thirty-five year old Director of Strategy of Omnicom Media Group, has a collection of about nine thousand dolls - enough to line three walls of his living room, fill nine cabinets, and take up shelves in his study as well. He has been collecting for twenty years now and, according to his estimate, has spent at least $392,000 dollars on his dolls. Far from focusing exclusively on Barbies, Jian Yang has bought thousands of dolls from lines such as the Bratz Girls, Jem and Monster High, and likenesses of famous figures such as Osama Bin Laden and President Obama.
10 | opinions
The Scarlet
september 12, 2013
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.
Tips on power skimming
How Miley Cyrus is breaking barriers for our generation
By Keitaro Okura opinions editor
What is power skimming? Power skimming can be paraphrased as strategic reading. It requires more concentration and focus than ‘normal’ reading, but dramatically cuts back on the total amount of time spent reading. So if you’re one of those people who take hours on end to finish your weekly reading assignments, power skimming can be incredibly useful. Please note that power skimming should not be used as an excuse to avoid or skip large chunks of readings. In addition, power skimming is primarily useful for non-textbook readings in the humanities and social sciences where you are reading to understand the author’s argument and main points. It is not an appropriate technique when, for example, reading a novel. How does it work? For those of you who missed Professor Kushner’s workshop on power skimming, here’s an abridged, step-by-step summary of everything you need to know:
4. Now turn to the body paragraphs. Don’t read every word and line. Read the first and last sentence of each paragraph and decide, with your own judgment, if you need to read the paragraph. If you aren’t sure, keep going.
1. First and foremost, examine the titles and subtitles. If you’re reading a book, study the entire table of contents. Titles typically boil down crucial concepts and give important clues about the author’s argument. Keep an eye out for key words. Try to anticipate what the author’s main question and argument might be.
A few other tips: Don’t get distracted by difficult words or confusing sentences until you can determine if understanding them is critical to your overall comprehension. If you think they’re important, go back. If not, keep reading. Take brief notes in the margins if necessary. Overall, power skimming will allow you to read less while comprehending more. Don’t get discouraged if your first attempt at the technique does not go as planned; you will likely need a few practices before you start to get the hang of it. Good luck!
2. Read the introduction. Then read the conclusion. If you’re reading an article or a chapter of a book, the first and last few paragraphs typically function as the introduction and conclusion, respectively. If you’re reading an entire book, the first and last chapters are typically the places you want to look at. 3. Actively ask yourself what you learned from the introduction and conclusion. What is the author’s question? What are the main themes and arguments? What sources is the author using? How does the author plan to develop his or her argument?
Twerking for The Man
5. As you go through the body paragraphs, think about what the author’s main points are. Also, pay attention to how the author’s argument is being developed. By the time you finish your reading, you should be able to write down the major points without referring back. Try to write down 1-3 major points.
courtesy of spin.com
By Jenna Lewis contributing writer
In 1895, Oscar Wilde was arrested for “indecency” because Victorian England couldn’t handle Wilde’s “antics” (or, as I like to call it, “fabulousness”). His displays generated outrage and hatred because the public wasn’t ready for his flamboyant and creative work. A hundred years later, however, no AP English class is complete without a reading of The Importance Of Being Earnest. Wilde’s influence in aestheticism is now also studied at length. Criticism is something that celebrities have long been exposed to. Miley Cyrus is no exception. The 20-year-old has been heavily criti-
cized over the last few weeks. Parents are outraged over the fact that the hyper-sexualized performance came from a former Disney star that still has many young fans. Feminists have criticized her for her collaboration with Robin Thicke on a song that advocates rape culture. Conservative groups, such as Fox News, have written extensively about Cyrus’ “immodest” appearance, from her nude-colored underwear to her gyrating foam finger. As far as I’m concerned, though, all of these criticisms are entirely missing the point of Cyrus’ performance. The MTV Video Music Awards have always been an instrument for continued on page 11
The Scarlet
september 12, 2013
opinions | 11
Miley Cyrus twerking cont. continued from page 10
spectacle. In 1984, Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” shocked audiences with her suggestive choreography, which, by today’s standards, would be considered tame. In 2003, the legendary Britney-Madonna-Christina Aguilera kiss sparked international controversy. In 2009, Lady Gaga’s performance of “Paparazzi” raised red flags about the glamorization of suicide in the media. According to Twitter, Miley Cyrus’ performance generated 306,100 tweets per minute during this year’s VMA. In comparison, the Super Bowl blackout generated 231,000
while the presidential election of 2012 generated 327,452. Google has reported over ten million searches for “Miley Cyrus” on the day of her performance, compared to the hundred thousand searches for “Syria.” This, ladies and gentleman, was Cyrus’ exact intention. According to an MTV interview conducted several days after her performance, Cyrus stated that she twerked hard in order to make history. “What’s amazing is I think now, we’re three days later and people are still talking about it,” Miley said. “Me and Robin [Thicke] the whole time said, ‘You know we’re about to make history right now.’” [sic] Miley Cyrus’ VMA performance
can therefore be understood as a means to cement herself in the canon of controversial but popular performers, along with Madonna and Britney Spears. Miley Cyrus’ twerking and outrageous performance is simply another example of a stunt that will become less extreme in retrospect. In time we will view Cyrus as another Oscar Wilde, another Madonna, another Britney. Miley Cyrus has solidified her standing as a revolutionary performer for her provocative and scandalous performance. Whether you believe that her performance is despicable or you applaud Cyrus’ assertion of sexuality, Miley Cyrus’ spectacle is one for the books.
My Week One experience By Maria Zander contributing writer
When you ask first-year students about their Week One experience, you are probably more likely to get a neutral comment than an enthusiastic response. Week One is the scariest thing you go through once you come to college. You are completely new, don’t know anybody, and could even literally be from the other side of the world. Besides dealing with the culture shock, you find yourself amidst six hundred people, some of whom will become your friends. In order to meet new people and make friends, the entire week was dedicated to ice breakers, lectures, and fast food. Before the ‘real’ Week One started, there was a mini version of Week One dedicated to international students. It focused on cultural adjustments and life as a student in the USA. Being an international student, I was taught about many American slang and phrases. We also talked about the drinking age, drug use, and just about everything else
an international student needs to know. Besides that we played a lot of games. We played clapping games, a creative catching game called “ninja,” and much more. During the International Student Orientation (ISO) many of us established our friend groups, but we all still could to relate to each other because we were all new to American culture. Needless to say, we were somewhat anxious about the fact that, by the end of the week, five hundred freshmen, all Americans, would storm into Clark. For me, the scariest thought was to be surrounded by people who were from an unfamiliar culture. The first day of Week One was, in a sense, a “clash of groups.” The ISO students met the American students. Looking around campus you could see confused people everywhere; some were trying to find their dorms, others their peer advisors, and yet others their parents. It was madness. Surprisingly, most people seemed very outgoing and willing to meet as many people as possible. When you met someone new you would automatically ask the
courtesy of anna spack
same three questions: “What’s your name?”, “Where are you from?”, and “Do you like it here?” By the end of the day I had remembered maybe five out of a hundred names. The entire group dynamic had changed: we were no longer a small group of one hundred but an entire class of six hundred. Once we were reassigned to our peer advisor (PA) groups, the ice breaker games continued. After a week of playing the same games in ISO, few international students were enthusiastic about the prospect. For the sake of the American students, however, we continued to play more clapping and human pretzel games.
By Jeremy Levine editor-in-chief
This article was probably edited by someone that I don’t know. That idea is both terrifying and thrilling. It’s terrifying because, well, what if this stranger just doesn’t know what a comma is, and takes all of those funny-looking marks out? That would certainly be a thorny situation. There’s no guarantee that our new batch of Scarlet staff knows anything about journalism or editing or, like, the world. But that’s okay, because once upon a time, I didn’t either. Apart from what I learned at The Hawkeye (the esteemed newsletter that Plainview Old-Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School published thrice annually), I had profoundly limited knowledge the first time I showed up to The Scarlet’s former headquarters at 138 Woodland Street. And so I learned on the job. I found myself in a community of supportive and bright people. Even though I routinely asked questions that are frankly embarrassing in retrospect, the rest of the staff knew that, in good time, I’d get it together. And that’s why I’m okay with this whole alarming notion of the stranger editing my article. This person is going to learn a lot over the course of this year, because they’re new. And since I was new once, I know that it can be frightening and confusing, but also strangely exciting. So I’m thrilled for them, for the zany things that happen, for the great stories they find, and for the silly questions they ask. Because every time I hear one, I’ll think back to the time that I had to ask what “CUSC” stood for, even though I had been writing articles about it for two straight weeks. Welcome to you all. Let’s do the news.
The American students soon started sharing our opinion regarding the activities. Overall, Week One seemed like a repeated version of the International Student Orientation. All of us had little time to really get to know each other through a good old normal conversation where our hands were not intertwined in a human pretzel. If we weren’t playing games we were sitting in lectures or having dinner in our PA groups. The two weeks were made much
more enjoyable because of our PAs. Never have I encountered such a big group of students willing to help out and make sure we made a smooth, comfortable transition. Our peer advisors were always helpful and outgoing. We could always direct our concerns, questions, and comments to them and for that I’m sure all of us were very grateful. So all in all, Week One wasn’t very exciting, but at least we all made friends.
12 | living arts
The Scarlet
september 12, 2013
The Scarlet/Living Arts by tyler terriault
Joyce Van Dyke’s “Deported/a dream play”
Here on campus now Nervous, Excited, Won’dring… What time does class start?
Lacing through a jagged past
Lay down on the green Take in all the atmosphere Shoot. I have class soon. Elephant Thursday Today’s the day, gonna wearWHO TOOK MY GRAY SHIRT?! The bathroom is great for meeting some new people; just don’t shake their hand
By Fileona Dkhar contributing writer
Whilst recognizing its non-linear narrative, Judy Braha, direction of Joyce Van Dyke’s “Deported/a dream play”, presents the story of an Armenian Genocide survivor as a representation of an experience beyond “linear time and space.” A staged reading of this “dream play” was presented at the Little Center on September 10th. The play consists
of 3 Acts, with 7 actors performing as a cast of 21 characters in this non-linear narrative of the Armenian genocide. The play was first produced in 2012 by Boston Playwrights’ Theatre in association with Suffolk University at the Modern Theatre in Boston. September 10th’s performance was sponsored by the Clark University Theatre Arts Program, Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Higgins School of Humanities, and the Department of History
and Sociology. Additionally, the Little Center Lobby mounted an exhibit of pictures from the Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives, Inc. Merging shards of memories and experiences from a jagged past, the play draws its narrative from the friendship between Van Dyke’s Armenian grandmother and the mother of Clark alumnus Dr. H. Martin Deranian ’47. Despite initial hesitation, Van Dyke acknowledg-
star in a game of basketball. The night was full of bits of humor like this. But the question remains whether Carter finds it humorous that he is playing songs he recorded over 10 years ago. It will be hard for him to not be perceived as a burned out child star as he mounts a comeback. The young people who used to listen to Aaron Carter have grown up alongside him. Whether they choose to listen to him ironically or legitimately could be hard to determine at first, but will become clear as time
goes on. If he gains enough legitimate listeners he may be able to sustain a career. Regardless, an audience is an audience and those who showed up on Friday night seemed to love every moment of his performance. However his new album is perceived will likely define the rest of his career as an artist. Until then, we will have to wait and see how Aaron deals with his dream of entering the music spotlight for the second time.
continued on page 13
Aaron Carter: the party continues continued from page 1
and what he is working towards. When he turned 18 he received the money he made over his career from his trust fund. He moved to Los Angeles, bought a house, and began to try and reinvent himself. Without the aid of a record label or insiders in the music industry, Carter sought to teach himself the basics of music production. He invested “500,000 of [his] own money into studio gear and pianos” in
attempt to do so. When he turned 19 he appeared on ABC’s Dancing With The Stars in hopes of gaining positive exposure. A year later, he began performing in the Broadway musical The Fantasticks. This would serve as his formal reintroduction to singing in front of an audience. Carter has a long way to go if he ever wants to play for 50,000 people like he did 18 years ago. He will certainly have to release new material if he ever wants to play for a larger crowd than he did at Tammany Hall.
He hinted at an upcoming album by ending his set on Friday with a new song. Over the course of the night Carter peppered the audience with covers of current radio hits like Daft Punk’s Get Lucky and Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines. Halfway through to the show Carter vanished from the stage. He returned seconds later sporting a Shaquille O’Neal Lakers jersey and jumped into a stirring rendition of That’s How I Beat Shaq; a musical testament to the time Aaron Carter beat the seven foot one inch, 324 pound all
The Scarlet
september 12, 2013
living arts | 13
Blue Jasmine review
A dream play cont.
Does that make her crazy? Probably By Ronald Gerber contributing writer
In many of Woody Allen’s films, there is a protagonist or minor male character, often played by Allen himself, who has the potential to simultaneously exasperate and charm the audience due to his overwhelming neuroticism, hypochondria, or feelings of being out of place. The most instantly noticeable thing about Allen’s homage to A Streetcar Named Desire and the city of San Francisco, Blue Jasmine, is the nonexistence of that inadequate male character type, and indeed many of Allen’s usual tricks and patterns. Also absent are the director’s typical faux-casual tone, tired tropes, and characteristic insistence on comic pessimism. Blue Jasmine’s script alone may well make it his best film in recent years. In the film, Jasmine (Cate Blanchett) picked her own name because the “Jeannette” her parents bestowed upon her was too low-class for her liking. Her marriage to business magnate Hal Francis (Alec Baldwin), has recently ended due to his liking for other women and the tendency towards illegal dealings, which landed him in prison and led to Jasmine’s nervous breakdown. Used to a lavish Hamptons lifestyle, she feels shocked and overwhelmed upon entering the modest world of her very different sister, Ginger (Sally Hawkins), with whom she must stay until she can be independent again. Ginger is divorced from Augie (Andrew Dice Clay). Neither he nor Ginger’s new fiancée Chili (Bobby Cannavale) are terribly fond of Jasmine, nor does she seem to care much for them. She attempts to get back on her feet by taking computer classes and working at a dentist’s (Michael Stuhlbarg) office. Meanwhile, Ginger has an exciting affair with a sweet DJ named Al (Louis CK), and Jasmine
finds herself swept away by Dwight Westlake (Peter Sarsgaard), a rich aspiring politician with refined taste. However, it soon all proves to be too good to be true as Jasmine continues to suffer from mental illness. While the main character in a Woody Allen film is most often out of place in a high-class world (Gil Pender in Midnight In Paris being a prime recent example), Jasmine revels through memories of the days when she was able to maintain her ignorance, which makes her decidedly less likeable than most Allen protagonists. This is where the overly facile declaration that Blue Jasmine is simply a remake of A Streetcar Named Desire falls apart. Whereas Blanche Dubois has been humiliated by things beyond her control, we see that Jasmine was perfectly content to simply ignore all the events that ended up destroying her life, and her melodramatic behavior is never justified apart from the fact that she suffers from mental illness. And yet, the point does not seem to be to completely turn the audience against Jasmine, or indeed any character. Her faults are not contrasted against saint-like family members and friends; Augie and Ginger have constantly put their faith in the wrong places, Al and Hal both have tendencies toward cheating, Chili gets easily angered, and Dwight is overly sensitive and pretentious. Put simply, they are all humans, and the audience’s decision about where to place sympathies is not an easy one. Luckily, every single member of the cast keeps us thoroughly engaged until we’ve made that decision, and afterwards. The big surprises are Andrew Dice Clay and Louis CK, two stand-up comedians with very specific and strong stage personalities, who manage to exceed expectations and put some nuance into their small
continued from page 12
courtesy of tumblr.com
rating: parts. Peter Sarsgaard adds an effective touch of feminine, metrosexual charm to his snaky Westlake. Bobby Cannavale is sufficiently brutish, but still appeals to us with Chili’s sense of humor and ultimately grand capacity for understanding. And then, of course, there’s Cate Blanchett. If ever the word “Oscar-worthy” was applicable, it would be this performance. Blanchett plays Jasmine as despicable, low, and often utterly annoying due to her pride and capricious behavior, and yet she’s irresistible to watch. She makes the loss of Jasmine’s livelihood palpable, her episodes haunting, and her inability to regain a place in the world genuinely tragic. Lets not forget that these phenomenal performances were not aided by the director. Allen has never made a more focused film, nor one that flows so well. Jasmine constant-
ly jumps back in her memory to the time before her husband went to jail, creating a past-tense narrative that runs parallel to the main one. Allen makes no song and dance about these transitions; there is a word or phrase spoken that trips Jasmine’s memory, and off we go with no more than a simple cut, which proves to be all we need. Allen also peppers the film with neat motifs, such as the floral one referenced in the title, that are noticeable to the average viewer but subtle enough to not come off as self-indulgent. All in all, Blue Jasmine is simply a delight to watch. Thought-provoking and featuring powerhouse performances all around, the film provides us with evidence that a truly great director can improve and put out careful work at any age.
es Deranian’s insistence as the “main reason” for having chosen such a personal narrative. Flashbacks added historical elements to the central narrative— the friendship between the playwright’s grandmother, Elmas Sarajian Boyajian, who is called “Victoria” in the play, and her best friend, Varter Nazarian Deranian, the mother of Dr. H. Martin Deranian ‘47. The play centers around Victoria (Bobbie Steinbach) as she struggles with difficult memories, in particular her inability to confront what she has intentionally forgotten. It follows Victoria’s character through flashbacks over the time span of a century and projects into the future via a dream sequence in the final Act. In spite of the “dream play” characteristic, each act punctuates the three settings: 1937 Providence, 1978 California and a dream set in 2015 (the hundredth year after the Armenian Genocide). The initial setting centers around Victoria’s memories as she remembers her dearest friend Varter (Jeanine Kane) before the deportation (Act 1). It continues along this line of memory when Varter’s struggles during the deportation period are told to Shoshana, (Liz Hayes) a student compiling an archive of the genocide. As she recounts memories of Varter, Victoria faces her own past and reality. In unraveling Varter’s past, she too confronts the past she had so willingly hidden and as the haunting resurfaces, the final dream deals with the nightmare that comes with confronting forgiveness.
14 | sports
The Scarlet
september 12, 2013
The Scarlet/Sports COUGAR of the WEEK
by Scott Levine
The women’s volleyball team is off to a great start this year, thanks in large part to sophomore Shannon Glass-Smythe. Glass-Smythe hails from Albuquerque, New Mexico, plays outside hitter, and currently leads the team in kills. She had 12 of them in a close game against Eastern Connecticut State, a game that she remembers clearly: Scarlet: Okay so it’s 1-1 going into the third set. You guys get on a roll partially due to your five kills in the third set yet Eastern Connecticut manages to take the set. What was your mentality going into the fourth set? Shannon: Volleyball is a game of mistakes and coming back need to keep positive attitude and we talk about that it practice so we just stuck with it. courtesy of scott levine
Shannon Glass-Smythe volleyball
Scarlet: This was the team’s first situation in which you all had to stick with it and grind out a victory. There are six freshmen on the roster this year and team chemistry often takes a while to develop with so many new players. How did that win help chemistry going forward? Shannon: It really established the tone of how we’re expected to play and it brings us together. We’re starting the season off strong and the new players played an important part. And wins always bring teams together. Scarlet: Beyond being an outside hitter, what do you feel is your role on the court? Especially compared to last year? Shannon: I have to talk a lot more and be more positive. As a sophomore, you’re no longer looking around to get a message. You have to take control of what’s happening and be more confident and consistent. Scarlet: Have you gained confidence since last year? Shannon: I think so because I’ve established my place and I know what I can do and what the team can do so that helps confidence as well.
Scarlet: It must also help your confidence to have such a poised leader in senior Rachel Spera assisting a majority of your kills. What is her impact out there on the court? Shannon: Having her as a senior captain is very good. She is good at asking what we need out of her. We also have very good passing in general. Scarlet: That always makes it easier to rack up kills for you. Have you always played outside hitter? Shannon: I’ve played outside hitter since I started playing in sixth grade.
Scarlet: What encouraged you to play? Shannon: I had played soccer up until then. I kind of got tired of that so I tried out volleyball and it worked. Scarlet: I’m not sure of the popularity levels of certain sports in New Mexico. How popular is volleyball? Shannon: I’d say it’s pretty prevalent there.
Scarlet: Especially being two states over from California which is a hub of sorts for beach volleyball. Shannon: Yeah, except we don’t have any beaches. Scarlet: Desert Volleyball? Shannon: (Laughs) Yeah, exactly. No, we mostly play indoors. Scarlet: Okay, back to the East Coast. What are some key games that the team is circling on the calendar? Shannon: We have two home games coming up against Springfield College and Coast Guard Academy. We’d really like to win those two because both of those teams are in our division. Scarlet: Give Scarlet readers an amazing reason to show up to both of these games. Shannon: Because the games are really fun, we have a lot of energy, and there will be good competition… and we’re going to be awesome.
The Scarlet
september 12, 2013
puzzles | 15
The Scarlet/Puzzles CROSSWORD
SUDOKU
Sudoku Puzzle - Medium
www.sudoku-puzzles.net
SOLUTIONS ON NEXT PAGE copyright Š 2013 crosswordsite.com ltd.
More Puzzles:
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ACROSS 1. Wanderer 4. Iced drink 7. I have 8. Exclamation of disgust 10. Indoor game 12. Radio location 14. Otherwise 16. Sever with the teeth 17. Tired 19. Organizations
DOWN 23. Spoken 24. Free from doubt 26. Made a hole 27. Pertaining to Asia 28. Conclusion 29. Small insectivorous bird 30. Total 31. Numbers 13 through 19
1. Person who rides 2. Egg-shaped 3. A piece of poetry 5. Examine account books 6. Cut into small pieces 9. Entrances 11. Cloth 13. Gathering of pus in body tissue 15. Spiteful
18. Stupid person 19. Not drunk 20. Parlor game 21. Connected series of rooms 22. Leases 25. Shower
The Scarlet
Police Logs September 1st 14:15 - Roof leaking in Kneller. 14:19 - WTD states all boxes are ringing in. Joe Moroski called in. 14:44 - Let someone know in ITS about the lightning strike to see if they want to log in remotely to check. 21:11 - Complaint of it being “very hot” inside Bullock Hall. September 2nd
September 3rd 14:57 - Possible fight in St. Peter’s parking lot. 19:25 - Two small children probably h/m’s playing soccer way too close to the cars in the admissions lot. 19:29 - Small leak in Jefferson Academic Center. 20:13 - 2 lights in the rear of the Lasry house.
Sudoku Solution - Medium
SUDOKU SOLUTION
17:34 - Pedestrian accident in front of family dollar 21:35 - Assisted with a fight off campus, no weapons involved. 22:06 - 3rd floor laundry room on Beaver Street has water on the floor. 23:10 - Stopped driver because she was circling around the block. 23:49 - There is a leak in the ceiling in a Hughes hallway.
september 12, 2013
CROSSWORD SOLUTION
16 | puzzles
www.sudoku-puzzles.net
September 4th 14:31 - Removed skateboarders. 16:46 - ITS damaged a PP golf cart. September 7th 15:11 - 2 males filling out voluntaries. 17:42 - Skateboarders removed. September 9th 00:04 - Suspicious person looking through window of Hughes Hall. 03:57 - Woman sleeping on couch in Goddard Library.
More Puzzles:
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what happens in The Scarlet office at 12:03 a.m. stays in the The Scarlet office... sort of “Is there a problem with twerking?” - Jeremy “That sounds like an old-timey British way for referring to gonads... Nooks and Kindles.” - Matt “I’m actually The Devil.” - Ethan
In the past ten days, University Police had two investigations, four vehicle stops, four complaints of disorderly persons, one count of vandalism, six counts of suspicious persons, three counts of larceny, seven calls to escort, two welfare checks, one incident of open containers, ten calls to EMS, twelve fire alarms, and eleven various complaints were submitted.
“So wait, what do you capitalize in a headline?” - Sarah “The first word and proper nouns.” - Jeremy “That’s it?” Sarah “Yeah, it’s like a sentence.” - Jeremy “But what if it’s important?” - Sarah “Just pretend it’s like a sentence.” - Jeremy “What about the last word?” - Sarah “Do you know what a sentence is?” - Jeremy