The Scarlet
september 26, 2013
news | 1
clark’s got talent • green2go • clark cursive • and more inside
volume xciii, no. 3 • september 26, 2013 | clarkscarlet.tumblr.com |
the.clark.scarlet
Sean Sullivan Resigns
Humans of Clark Showcasing Clark personalities one photo at a time
Trish Cronin takes over in interim
courtesy of clarkalthletics.com
By Jeremy Levine editor-in-chief
courtesy of humans of clark
By Tessa Isis-Bahoosh contributing writer
It’s been less than a month since Nainika Grover and Jonathan Edelman posted the first portrait to the Humans of Clark Facebook page, and the page already has over 1,000 likes, has attracted viewers from all over the globe, and has been viewed by more than 45,000 people. “It was rapidfire,”
Nainika remarked. “We just posted a lot in the first few days, and things took off from there.” Inspired by Brandon Stanton’s wildly popular photography blog Humans of New York (HoNY), Humans of Clark is one of many initiatives to produce portraits in other cities or schools. After meeting in photography class (Nainika has enjoyed photography since she was about eight years old, taking classes in high school,
and Jonathan has been interested for the past seven or eight years), the two shared their enthusiasm for HoNY, and joked about bringing something similar to Clark. A friend of Nainika’s is currently working on developing Humans of Boston University, and Portraits of Boston is another initiative that has taken off. continued on page 6
Clark’s student body was somewhat surprised on Wednesday afternoon when it received an email from the President’s Office announcing that Sean Sullivan, Director of Athletics, would be leaving Clark the following day for a position at Catholic University in Washington, DC. He begins his new role as Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics on November 19, as he is staying on at Clark in an advisory role until November 1. Until a new director is found, Trish Cronin, Assistant Athletics Director and Senior Women’s Administrator, will fill in. When asked to comment on his departure, Mr. Sullivan said he is going
to miss Clarkies. He stated that Clarkies “are passionate and opinionated and willing to put themselves out there for whatever it is they care about - be it civic issues, global concerns, the state of higher education, or even competitive athletics.” He also remarked that Clarkies are not inclined to “[focus] solely on doing the bare minimum to make progress toward a degree or job.” Mr. Sullivan followed this mission himself, as he was instrumental in the renovations to the Bickman Fitness Center and expanding Clark Athletics into the mainstream of Clark’s culture. Mr. Sullivan’s impact on the Clark community will certainly be felt throughout the years to come, and hopefully he will be able to make a similar impact in Washington.
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The Scarlet
The Scarlet
september 26, 2013
UPCOMING EVENTS
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF CLARK UNIVERSITY CONTACT scarlet@clarku.edu | clarkscarlet.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
[ CLARK ] Autumn Moon Festival 9/28, 7:00 p.m., The Grind The Great Analog Tape Smashathon 9/29, 2:00 p.m., Red Square Falafel Frenzy 9/29, 10:00 p.m., Grace Conference Room Well-Being of Worcester Panel 10/03, 7:00 p.m., Grace Conference Room
Jonah Naghi Maria Rotelli
Goddard Library Book Sale 9/26 & 9/27, 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Academic Commons
CCN CORRESPONDENT
Majors Fair 10/02, 1:30 p.m., Tilton Hall
Ethan Goldstein
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Alexis Church Alicja Gancarz Eli Goldman Ethan Giles Gordon Crean Hannah Rosenblum Ishan Chatterjee Jenna Lewis Maria Zander Rachel Berger-Hart Ronald Gerber Scott Levine Senegal Carty Tessa Isis-Bahoosh Tyler Terriault
LAYOUT STAFF Cami Ferreol Hannah Jaffe
PHOTO STAFF Cora Torton Jonathan Edelman Nainika Grover Will Heikes
[ SPORTS ] Women’s Tennis vs. Emerson College - 1:00 p.m. Women’s Volleyball vs. MIT - 7:00 p.m. Field Hockey vs. Wheelock - 7:00 p.m.
The Scarlet
september 26, 2013
news | 3
The Scarlet/News Campus Cursive spreads the love New club leaves anonymous letters around campus By Anna Spack
Framing Freedom Together The first in a series of Difficult Dialogues
photo editor
Having a hard day? Need something to cheer you up? Clark University Campus Cursive is here to help. The club, started this year by senior Chloe Nordlander, is a branch of the international organization The World Needs More Love Letters (MLL), which leaves kind letters in inconspicuous places for strangers to find. If you find a letter, it’s yours. According to MLL’s website, its mission is “lifting, empowering, and mobilizing individuals through tangible acts of love.” Here at Clark, Chloe, along with Vice President Tina Meetran, Treasurer Zach Nussbaum, and Social Media Manager Margaret French, hopes to do just that. The club writes anonymous letters containing kind and inspiring messages, seals them in envelopes, and leaves them in random places for anyone to find. According to Chloe, the club will be leaving letters both on Clark’s campus and in the Worcester community. In addition, “members of the club are encouraged to leave letters wherever they go, [like] if they go home one weekend or go on a trip somewhere,” she says. At their general interest meeting on Thursday, September 19, the E-Board explained the overall idea of the club. Anything that will cheer up
By Gordon Crean contributing writer
photo by mararget french
the reader, such as poems, phrases, or quotes, can be included in the letters. The guidelines are to “pretend you’re having a bad day; what would you want to read if you found a letter?” They then had attendees practice by writing “love letters” to themselves, which will be returned to their mailboxes at the end of the semester. Although members can write
letters on their own with the help of the guidelines outlined on the club’s Facebook page, they are encouraged to attend the weekly meetings. These meetings will typically involve writing letters and planning fundraisers, as the club does not have a budget for this year. continued on page 5
Clark’s Difficult Dialogue Symposium brings people together to provoke careful and considerate thought within each other. Every semester since fall 2006 there has been a different central theme for the symposium to revolve around. Each symposium includes seminars, art exhibitions, film screenings, courses, and public conversations. All of these events are in the spirit of dialogue; they encourage attendees to interface with the subject matter by bringing their perspectives forward and considering those of others. Dialogue is a participatory way of learning that allows new ways of thinking to flow from the group. It requires each person involved to forget about trying to persuade or prove anything to others. Instead, it is an atmosphere of equality. In dialogue, the participants are willing to accept what others say with respect and without judgement. As a byproduct, dialogue leads participants to analyze the assumptions they bring when talking about a subject, and ultimately helps peo-
ple to understand why they think the way they do. This semester’s theme is freedom. The first event that explored this theme was a public dialogue called “Framing Freedom Together.” Organized by Amy Richter, director of the Higgins School of Humanities and Associate Professor of History at Clark, the event took place on Thursday, September 19 in the Higgins Lounge at Dana Commons. Philosophy Professor Walter Wright began the evening by posing a few questions about freedom to get the dialoguers thinking about what the word meant to them. Next, the main group was divided into seven smaller dialogue circles, each with a facilitator. A facilitator’s job is to pose questions to initiate conversation and to make sure the dialogue agreements are properly followed. These dialogue agreements are guidelines to keep the group as engaged in each other’s thoughts as possible. Some examples are, “I will listen to what others say rather than plan ahead to what I will say,” continued on page 6
The Scarlet
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september 26, 2013
Investigative Journalist David Rhode comes to speak at Clark Delivers lecture on human rights and democracy By Jonah Naghi scarlet staff
Clark University had the privilege of having author and investigative journalist David Rohde deliver his lecture, “The Problem with Democracy: The Quest for Individual Rights in the Middle East,” this past Tuesday night. Though Rohde lamented that few Americans seem to be interested in the Middle East, he admitted that he was “so impressed with the students and the faculty [at Clark] and the interest everyone showed,” as the Higgins Lounge at Dana Commons was packed with people. Rohde is famous for his involvement in Middle Eastern affairs and his criticisms of discrimination against Muslims. He has written about peacekeeping efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well the hardships of prisoners in notorious prisons such as Guantanamo Bay. In addition, while reporting in Afghanistan in 2008, Rohde was abducted by the Taliban and held captive in a Taliban base in the tribal areas of Pakistan for seven months. He remarked that the Taliban believed that America was coming into Afghanistan to convert Afghans to Christianity, and that their invasion was a conspiracy between Christians, Hindus, and Jews to eliminate all of Islam. However, Rohde argued that the problem in the Middle East is not Islam, but rather the existence of these Muslim radicals and extremists. He pointed out that some of the basic values of Islam directly oppose theft and acts of terrorism, and went on to remark that people with extreme political views live in America too. Focusing on the subject of the
courtesy of atwar.blogs.nytimes.com
lack of democracy and human rights in the Middle East, Rohde talked about how before the ousting of President Mohamed Morsi from Egypt, the majority party showed little concern for the rights of the minority parties, effectively bypassing one of the essential aspects of democracy. While “young people in the Middle East don’t want to be forced to have American style democracy,” he articulated, “they also don’t want to be ruled by violent jihadists. They want to be proud of their culture, but also modern and part of the world.”
Rohde’s suggestion for solving the problems in Egypt is to focus on improving the economy. He wants to see a peaceful and prosperous Middle East with stable democracies because, from his experiences there, he knows that there are people who can and want to become peaceful and successful. Not shy with his critique of America’s involvement with Afghanistan in the past few decades, Rohde said that one of our bigger mistakes was that we focused too little on the people who opposed the Taliban and
wanted to help rebuild Afghanistan; we essentially tried to do too much on our own. Rohde thinks it is concerning that we promote democracy yet continually support people who spread radical and extreme beliefs. In the 1980s we actually helped members of the Taliban and al-Qaeda establish schools that taught Wahhabism (defined by PBS as an “austere form of Islam that insists on a literal interpretation of the Koran”) in order to drive the Soviets out of Afghanistan. This backfired, however, as it led to the rise of radical Islam.
He concluded with a final message he wished to convey to Clark students, and really to all American college students: “I would...urge young people to not be afraid of the world as this terrible dangerous place, including the Middle East...there are parts of the Middle East that we can travel to safely...By going to safe places... you are setting a different example of what an American is...interact with these regions that you’re curious about and enjoy the fact that you are the most global generation this country has ever had.”
The Scarlet
september 26, 2013
Campus Cursive cont.
Clark SPLASH
CUSC Elections
Clark students teach classes to adolescents
continued from page 3
When people find a letter, they are encouraged to take a picture of it and send it to MaFrench@clarku.edu. If they want to, they can also include a story about how or where they found it. These pictures and stories will be posted on the club’s Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram. In addition, people can Tweet their pictures at @CUCampusCursive with the hashtag “#CUCC” and also use this hashtag on Instagram. Their pictures will get re-tweeted, re-Instagrammed, and possibly reposted on the Facebook page as well. Chloe decided to start a branch of MLL at Clark after meeting Hannah Brencher, the organization’s founder, this summer. After researching more about the organization, she decided she had to bring it to Clark. “It just seems like such a perfect thing for the type of community Clark is,” she says. In addition to writing generic letters to strangers, the club accepts anonymous “Love Letter Requests.” If you have a friend going through a difficult time, you can contact Margaret French at MaFrench@clarku. edu with a brief explanation of why your friend needs a letter. Club members will write a “letter bundle” for that person and deliver them. All identities will remain anonymous.
courtesy of clarku.edu
By Andrew Collins contributing writer
Do you have aspirations to be a teacher, or perhaps a passion that you wish to share with others? If so, consider teaching your very own class at Clark SPLASH! For three years now, SPLASH has brought middle and high school students to campus for a day of fun and interesting classes—taught by students just like you. This year, the program will be hosted on Saturday, November 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Classes will be hosted primarily in Sackler and Jonas Clark buildings, and The Grind will function as a cafeteria for students and teachers from 11-2. Clark SPLASH was inspired by an identical program at MIT, where students come from all over the country each year to take a plethora of courses offered by MIT students. SPLASH classes are typically very diverse, ranging from dance to science. Clark students choose what
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they wish to teach, whether it is academic, social, or just plain fun. If you would like to teach a class, you can register at clarkuesp.learningu. org, or consider attending the registration party on October 1 at 9 p.m. in Grace Conference Room—pizza and snacks will be provided. In addition to undergraduate and graduate students, Clark alumni and professors are encouraged to apply to teach at SPLASH. This year, Clark SPLASH is aiming to bring at least three hundred middle and high school students to campus, and hopes to offer at least seventy classes for them to choose from. Classes range from one to two hours, at the discretion of the instructor. If you would like to be involved in SPLASH but do not wish to teach, you can always assist as a volunteer. Clark SPLASH aims to get more departmental involvement this year than it has had in previous years. If you have questions about the program, contact Ethan Goldstein at Ethan@ionary.com
By Ishan Chatterjee contributing writer
Clark University has always maintained a firm belief in the ideals of a democracy. This belief manifested itself in the annual Student Council elections this past week. It started out with the Student Council Debate which was held at the University Center. President Rian Watt, left no stone unturned in making sure that the whole student body knew who they were voting for, and as a result, the entire debate was streamed online. Anyone who has walked around campus these last few days will have noticed that here at Clark, candidates have taken their campaigns rather seriously. Freud was clad in a multiplicity of t-shirts with varying slogans. There were posters on almost every notice board on campus. Facebook and Twitter went wild with new groups, status updates, event pages and millions of hashtags. Candidates sent out mass emails to explain their visions and promises (including the
installation of an ice cream machine in Johnson-Sanford Center.) Study rooms in the residential halls became campaign offices where one would notice long meetings, late night planning, and a lot caffeine. Most of the voting during the beginning of the week was supposed to be done using Clark’s online portal. However, a lot of students claimed to be facing road blocks. First-year, Lea Pertuy said that “No matter how much I try to log into L*IN*K, it says that I’m not eligible to vote”. FirstYear Representative candidate Deylem Onursal personally approached Student Council about the matter. After talks with President Rian Watt and the Judiciary Committee, arrangements were made for students to physically vote for their candidates of choice at the University Center. The deadline for the votes was subsequently postponed. It was a busy week with its fair share of ups and downs. However, by the end of it all, it really showed that we belong to a community where are voices are given due importance.
CUSC Unofficial Election Results Treasurer: Alex Marshall Senior Class Representative: Sharon Bort Junior Class Representative: Emma Binder Sophomore Class Representative: Brittany Klug First-Year Class Representative: McKenna Hunter Blackstone Hall Representative: Rebecca Liebman Bullock Hall Representative: Mimi Erlick Dana Hall Representative: Kaitlin McKenzie Dodd Hall Representative: Oyut Amarjargal Hughes Hall Representative: Zoha Naqvi Johnson-Sanford Center Representatives: Dale Watt & Lauren Meininger Wright Hall Representative: Anthony Senesi Maywood Hall Representative: Joanna Green Off-Campus Representatives: Aaron Segura & Hannah Snow Clark Houses Representative: TBD (five-way tie) Minority Representatives: Sami Noor & Crystal Haynes International Representative: Radhika Sharma
The Scarlet
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Humans of Clark cont.
september 26, 2013
Difficult Dialogues cont.
continued from page 1
Nainika and Jonathan talked about sharing the page with family and friends, giving others a taste of their college lives. Judging from the diversity of page views, it’s safe to assume other students have also been sending word of the project home. The page has also been shared with alumni. “The faces have changed, but the stories and backgrounds haven’t,” said Jonathan, describing reactions from former students who can still recognize campus buildings, or remember sharing stories with their college friends. “It’s an awesome connection with past Clarkies.” What’s making Humans of Clark such a success? It seems to be the willingness of the community, the nature of social media, and the genuine interest with which the photographers approach their potential subjects--interest immediately illustrated when they both arrived to our interview with cameras in hand. “I think a photograph is a very personal thing,” said Jonathan. “And then on top of that, to share a personal story, then let that story and photo be shared on Facebook...it says a lot about the people we photograph, that they’re that comfortable at their school.” Jonathan and Nainika don’t over-think who to include, but rather strike up a conversation with a compelling stranger and see how it evolves--they’re both resistant to posting photographs on demand. “The whole stranger interaction is more interesting to me,” said Jonathan. Nainika concurred: “It’s more like, ‘I want to get to know this person, I want to see them’...I’m very casual about it.” She added that the questions aren’t predetermined, but rather stem from a fluid conversation. “I think of them on the spot.” When asked what the process of talking to strangers was like, they agreed it could be nerve-wracking. Jonathan had previously been given a
photo of nainika grover
school assignment to go into Boston and photograph strangers, and had struggled to work up the nerve. “I always joke with people that I like photography because I can hide behind the camera,” he said, and both he and Nainika say that they’d rather be the ones taking photographs than the one being captured. “I used to worry,” said Nainika. “What if I can’t think of a question, what if I fumble...but now I feel more comfortable.” They don’t worry about running out of people to photograph, although they agree that skeptics love to bring up the possibility. “People only think of that in the context of their own friends,” Jonathan said. “I could sit in the library for a day and only get a fraction [of the Clark community].” Approaching the project as a team of two has also helped ensure its success. With two people involved, the group is small enough that they can easily share a vision, but also provides support when one of them is busy. “I’m really grateful that we have each other,” Nainika said. Jonathan confirmed, “We’ve got each other covered.”
As for fall break, we can all expect a short lapse in photographs, as both Jonathan and Nainika will be leaving campus. “It’s gonna be a break,” Jonathan said. “This isn’t mass production--it’s more about getting personal and intimate stories.” Looking to the future, Nainika and Jonathan are hoping to capture more portraits of professors and faculty, taking the opportunity to get to know members of the Clark community who they wouldn’t normally see around campus. Although neither of them expect to make a career out of photography, they both plan to continue it for their own enjoyment. “I’ll definitely keep it in my life,” Nainika said, “but I probably won’t make it a career.” Jonathan nodded. “I don’t want it to just end because I have to pick a major and start a career.” For now, they’re content to continue developing what Nainika describes as “a chronicle of Clark students,” creating fascinating portraits of individuals and slowly painting a picture of what it means to be a part of the Clark community.
courtesy of clarku.edu
continued from page 4
and “I will make sure that I don’t speak too much and allow others equal time to speak their minds.” After quick introductions, the circles began their respective collective journeys into ideas. The groups responded to questions like “when do we most feel free?”, and “in what sense are we free?”. They also posed their own questions as they arose organically, like “how do individual freedoms interact with global or national freedom?”, “don’t we need money and our basic needs met before we can be free?” and “is freedom just saying yes or no to the laws in place?”. In this way, the groups speculated on the topic of freedom together. One circle’s conversation had some extremely fascinating revelations, like the idea that mean-
ingful freedom isn’t just recognizing possibilities, but is connecting them to agency and acting to have them realized. Also discussed was the idea that a set of constraints must first in place before people can be free, as in the rules of a game or in the key of a song. To wrap up the event, one or two representatives from each group reported some of the topics that arose in their group’s dialogue. Each dialogue circle had a very constructive and meaningful discussion. Everyone who attended had a lot to take away from the event, including an invaluable connection with other members of the Clark community. To learn more about Clark’s Difficult Dialogue initiative, visit clarku.edu/difficultdialogues.
The Scarlet
september 26, 2013
news | 7
Sustainable successes Clark’s commitment to a sustainable campus continues with new initiatives
CUSC in brief By Hannah Rosenblum contributing writer
By Sarah Cramer news editor
When it comes to sustainability, one thing that separates Clark from other universities is that its Office of Sustainability is highly integrated into the University and the Clark community. Jenny Isler, Campus Sustainability Coordinator, remarks, “At Clark, it’s just who we are. [Sustainability] is part of our everyday… I call it the ‘green beating heart’ of Clark.” The recent creation of the Student Sustainability Fund (SSF) is the perfect example of how Clarkies and the administration work together to promote sustainability. According to the operational guidelines of SSF, the fund has “$20,000 per semester to allocate towards funding sustainability initiatives on Clark’s campus.” One such initiative funded by SSF is the new compost bins in all kitchens and hallways in JohnsonSanford, Dodd, and Wright Halls. The EcoReps, the self-described “environmental group aimed at fostering a culture of sustainability among Clark’s student body,” started a pilot composting program in Maywood one and a half years ago. These new compost bins are part of an effort to make the program “more permanent,” explains student EcoRep Kelly Burke. Burke, along with fellow EcoRep Jake Kailey, received SSF funding and as a result was able to work with Physical Plant, the Recycling Crew, and Residential Life and Housing to implement this phase of the program. “We already compost everything in the cafeteria, so why not look to the residence halls?” reasons Burke. Other examples of initiatives that received SSF funding last semester include the expansion of the
Almost 600 people voted in the undergraduate elections and preliminary results have been announced. The Winton Faculty Dining Hall is reserved during all meals for Higgins Cafeteria overflow, though the effects of this change remain to be seen as many students are unaware of its potential use or even of its existence. $410 from the Advocacy Fund was allocated to Sharon Bort to attend a conference. $1,480 from the Equipment fund was allocated to the Quidditch team and $1,380 was allocated to the club hockey team. Treasurer Alex Marshall is holding office hours, particularly for club treasurers, on Mondays from 1:15 to 2:45 and Wednesdays from 2 to 3:30. He is also looking for an assistant treasurer. CUSC feels that one of their treasurers from last year, who has since left Clark, made “egregious” errors, but does not want to penalize clubs because of this individual’s mistakes. The council wants to bring every club up to its allocated balance, which could cost as much as $26,000. Almost 600 people voted in the undergraduate elections and each council spot has been filled.
photo by anna spack
Thrift Store and the addition of ‘hydration stations’ (where reusable water bottles can be refilled with chilled, filtered water) in Goddard Library and select residence halls. In conjunction with these student sustainability initiatives, Dining Services now offers Green2Go containers in the Bistro. In exchange for five dollars, Clarkies receive a Green Tag (a keychain of sorts) that grants them access to a reusable plastic container. Any food ordered in the Bistro goes in that container instead of in the typical cardboard or corn-ware one. Dining Services will clean dirty
Green2Go containers, and they will even hold onto them for Green Tag holders if asked. That the Green Tag and container can be returned for a refund of the original five dollars is a testament to the University’s dedication to providing feasible sustainable options for Clarkies. In addition to Green2Go containers, Dining Services is furthering its sustainable-dining program through its commitment to fulfilling the Real Food Challenge. The Real Food Challenge is a national campaign that aims to increase the amount of real food - locally sourced,
ecologically sound, fair trade, and humanely raised food - in college and university dining services. On April 19, President David Angel and Clark Dining Services signed the Real Food Commitment of 20 percent real food on campus by 2020. Food Truth, Clark’s food-sustainability club, has worked with Dining Services since 2011 to figure out how Clark can take on the Real Food Challenge. One noticeable difference this school year that can be attributed to the Commitment is the local seasonal produce offered in the cafeteria. While sustainability initiatives continue to progress, the University works towards, among many other things, achieving the goals outlined in their Climate Action Plan. Put into effect by former Clark president John Basset in June 2007, the Climate Ac-
tion Plan sets the goal of achieving climate neutrality, meaning net zero greenhouse gas emissions, by 2030. An interim goal of the plan is that in 2015, greenhouse gas emissions will be 20 percent below what they were in 2005. Clark is ahead of schedule, having already reached the 2015 goal in 2010, and is on track to reach the ultimate goal by 2030, if not sooner. As Jenny Isler says, “Sustainability is never done.” With these new sustainability initiatives and the University’s commitment to promoting sustainability, Clark’s “green beating heart” will most certainly keep beating. Check out www.clarku.edu/offices/ campussustainability for more information on sustainability at Clark.
The Scarlet
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september 26, 2013
CLARKIE of the WEEK
COURTESY OF TAMMY SASSE
Tammy Sasse Many Clarkies would say that Tammy Sasse is a staple of the University. While working at the sandwich station in the cafeteria every weekday for the past eight years, Tammy, a resident of Worcester, has impacted many with her kind and outgoing nature – not to mention her delicious sandwiches. Scarlet: How long have you been working at Clark? Tammy: I just started my eleventh year. Scarlet: Have you always worked at the sandwich station? Tammy: No, I actually started out as a weekend prep person at the Bistro. Scarlet: Have you worked other jobs in your time at Clark? Tammy: Yes. The deli used to be way in the back where pizza is, so I used to [sometimes] fill in there. [One time] I filled in at the deli and all the kids liked me, so when we came back in August I got that position. I’ve been there for eight years.
by Anna Spack
Scarlet: Do you like making sandwiches? Tammy: Oh I do. I love that position.
Scarlet: What is your favorite part of your job? Tammy: Making the sandwiches and serving the kids.
Scarlet: Why? Tammy: I like making the sandwiches and I like the kids. It’s a combination [of the two]. I think the kids appreciate it and it makes them feel like they’re home sometimes. My sister always told me I was going to grow up to make sandwiches, and now I’m doing that.
Scarlet: What is your least favorite part? Tammy: I don’t really have one. I mean there are days that do get to you, if there’s a lot of extra prep or [something], but I can’t pinpoint one specific thing that I don’t like. I love the kids. I’ve met many kids and family members like aunts and uncles and grandmothers and brothers and sisters. It is hard to learn every single student’s name. I think that’s why I call you all “sweetie,” because it just makes it easier.
Scarlet: So you have been good at making sandwiches since you were younger? Tammy: Yeah. My sister used to tell me to make her sandwiches. I can always remember making sandwiches for myself [too]… I never thought I was going to grow up and do it for a living. Scarlet: How did you become so good at making sandwiches? Tammy: Just doing it. Working [at Clark], making sandwiches. You want to make them look appetizing; you don’t want to just throw them together. You want to put a little love in them. Scarlet: What is a typical day like for you? Tammy: I go in in the morning and start prepping. I back up the breakfast line while I’m making my specials and doing my prep. Then we do pre-meal and at 11. I start making sandwiches. I make sandwiches until I go home at 4.
Scarlet: What is your favorite sandwich to make? Tammy: The Italian Grinder. Scarlet: Why? Tammy: Because the kids seem to really enjoy that one. Scarlet: What is your favorite sandwich to eat? Tammy: Bologna and cucumber with mayonnaise. Scarlet: What do you like to do in your free time? Tammy: Pretty much just chill at home and watch TV. Nothing spectacular, just relaxing. Thanks for the interview, Tammy!
The Scarlet
september 26, 2013
opinions | 9
The Scarlet/Opinions The opinions enumerated in this section represent those of the author and the author alone. They do not reflect the opinions of the editorial board, The Scarlet, or Clark University.
Gun Control How many more mass shootings will it take? By Jeremy Levine editor-in-chief
courtesy of guardianlv.com (the guardian)
By Ethan Giles contributing writer
I could give you all the statistics you’ve already heard. I could write about how many people have been murdered, how many pointless injuries and deaths have occurred. I could write about the lack of regulation on a machine with the sole purpose of taking lives. I could depress you as I go on, yelling from my pedestal about the dangers of unregulated firearms. I could do all of that, but there are enough media outlets and other articles that it would be a waste of words.
What I am writing about is one question: how many more innocent lives do we need to see tragically perish? How many more mass shootings will it take until Washington does something? How much longer do we have to go on until we acknowledge the gun problem? Why are we in this never ending cycle of mass shootings? The worst part about all of this is how normal death has become. When I was in elementary school, I would always watch the beginning of the local 10 o’clock news with my mom before going to bed. Often, the news
started with reports of death, rape, and other crimes. I grew up thinking that a murder committed in the streets of Philadelphia was normal, that it was just how society worked. I see the country leaning in that direction now with these mass shootings. Just last December I remember looking at twitter tracking the awful events occurring at Sandy Hook Elementary. That day I was filled with sadness, anger, and most of all fear. I never thought this could happen. continued on page 10
Let’s talk about those flags for a quick sec. You know the flags I’m talking about. The ones that, for reasons unbeknownst to me, pop up in Red Square on every Family Weekend and Accepted Students Day. These flags, which represent a seemingly random smorgasbord of countries, are not permanent fixtures to campus, but are instead erected whenever we apparently have people to impress. I find this whole flag business kind of disturbing because I think that they (the flags) try to accomplish something along the lines of showing people how multicultural our campus is. The thing is, sticking some flags in front of Freud doesn’t mean anything. It doesn’t make us “culturally diverse.” We could have just gone to the flag store and bought some flags, a shopping venture that is entirely irrelevant to the number of international students that attend Clark or the impact that these students have on our community. I’m just sort of weirded out by the idea that we can say “LOOK! DIVERSITY!” and think that that’s okay. Because if we really want our campus to be enriched with various global perspectives, then that means engaging students from all over the world in our classes and in our clubs, and not treating them like token international perspectives, but as threads that are vital for Clark’s fabric to hold together. Reducing their impact to a single gesture (that gesture being representative clubs, some random flags, or even something massive like Gala) is belittling. (For the record, these clubs and events are important, but they are simply small parts of this whole big “diversity” thing.) Diversity isn’t about pointing to something and saying “yes, we have diversity.” It’s about living in a community where you don’t notice it because it’s so normal. And every time I see those flags (that aren’t normally there), I think about how silly it is that we think we have to try so hard.
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The Scarlet
september 26, 2013
Guns cont. continued from page 9
Dear Sigmund, I’m a first-year student and I’m having problems with my roommate. She’s really nice, but we are two totally different people. She likes to stay up late at night, and I like to go to sleep early. She leaves her stuff all around the room, and I keep my side clean. I feel like we’re total opposites. I don’t want to make her feel bad and cause any drama, but I don’t know what to do. All I know is that I want to start feeling more comfortable in my room. Can you help? Thanks, An Annoyed Student Dear Annoyed Student, The problem with your roommate sounds very familiar; most likely because this happens to so many college students who are living with someone they’ve never met for the very first time. It is often difficult learning how to manage living with this new person. While it sounds as though you are being considerate of your roommate, it seems the two of you may be having trouble sharing the living environment. This is not uncommon – picture a giraffe and a penguin trying to live together, pretty hard to imagine right? Sometimes it’s just like this when you put two different people into the same dorm room. It takes a lot of getting used to and a lot of compromise. Because I’m going to assume your roommate is a nice person and she is not doing these things to purposely bother and/or annoy you, it sounds like the two of you need to talk to one another and try to work this out. Since you are concerned about your roommate’s feelings (very nice of you), and you do not want to cause drama (wise choice) there are some basic things you can try in order to talk to your roommate about the differences that are causing you some discomfort. One thing to remember is that most roommate disagreements are the result of miscommunication or, in some cases, a total lack of communication. If you can talk to one another effectively, it will be much easier to develop a comfortable living environment for the both of you. Here are some tips you can try for talking to your roommate:
• Approach your roommate in private and confirm that it is a good time for both of you to talk. If one of you feels rushed or blindsided, it’s likely that communication will be less effective. • Be direct. Discuss the issue by focusing on behaviors rather than personality traits. This tactic is less likely to put your roommate on the defensive. • Be patient. Listen to your roommate and remember that there are two sides to every story. • Make sure you and your roommate both have a chance to present what you feel the problem really is. Remember that communication works two ways: talking and listening. Neither one is effective without the other. • If you create a win-win situation, then the disagreement is more likely to be resolved. Evaluate the needs of both sides before a solution is proposed, and make sure the solution is acceptable to both parties. This is how successful compromises are reached. • Remember that a solution will probably involve each person giving something and getting
something. The solution may not be your ideal scenario, but it should be an improvement on the current state of the living environment. If talking to your roommate the first time around does not produce a result, give it another shot. Approaching the topic a second time may prove to your roommate that this is something you are taking seriously. If you still are not seeing the situation improving and cannot find a compromise, always remember that you can revisit your Roommate Contracts with your RA. This will help remind you and your roommate of the ground rules you both agreed to when you moved in together. When living with people different from ourselves, we all have to learn how to respect each other’s differences. Everyone has different values, lifestyles, and expectations. If roommates get to know one another and establish a common ground, solving future problems may be easier since you would be considering each other as friends and not strangers. 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.
Never. I never imagined a man going into an elementary school and opening fire on children. If the events at the Navy Yard happened last December, I would have had the same shocked reaction. But on September 16 when I heard about the shootings, my first reaction wasn’t even shock or even horror. I was mostly just sad and angry that our country failed us yet again. How long can our politicians allow this to happen? How long will NRA money allow us to not function as a society? I understand that deaths occur everyday, but we should not tolerate these senseless killings. Why is it so hard to admit a problem when it is right in front of us? Freedom is important, don’t get me wrong, but what are we freeing? Guns are meant for one thing: death. Killing is all they do. There is no other function. The second amendment reads, “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” So now it makes sense: we give all the guns to whoever wants one, so when the British come back to take over, we can all round up and fight them head on. But wait. What if the British invasion has already has begun? Downton Abbey has won two Golden Globes, Kate Middleton’s wedding and birth got the attention of all the nation’s TV Networks, and One Direction;s movie was recently released. Where are the militias? Where are the guns now that we actually need them? In all seriousness, the easy accessibility to killing machines needs to be at least discussed. We cannot keep walking down this path of unabated gun violence. We have to admit there is a problem and do something about it because these mass shootings are not going to stop themselves.
The Scarlet
september 26, 2013
opinions | 11
No more toddlers in tiaras France’s measures to prevent the of girls under 16 may not be on target By Jenna Lewis contributing writer
The French Senate moved to outlaw beauty pageants for children under 16 in a 197-146 vote last week. The motion, an addendum to women’s rights legislation, specifically forbids the operation of beauty contests for minors under the age of 16. Failure to comply could result in two years of jail time and a €30,000 (approximately $40,500) fine. The measure has passed in the upper house, but is still awaiting approval in France’s National Assembly. Most people believe that the proposed law arose from a controversial photo spread that appeared in French Vogue in December 2010. The photograph portrayed 10-yearold Thylane Loubry Blondeau, along with two other young girls, in high heels, tight dresses, and excessive makeup. Although it initially did not spark controversy in France, international outrage sparked an internal investigation into similar issues in France. Senator Chantal Jouanno, a senator from a center-right French party, was commissioned to publish a report on the matter, which she entitled “Against Hyper-Sexualization: A New Fight For Equality.” In the report, Jouanno called for a ban on the sexualization of young girls, including the production of child-sized adult clothes (such as padded bras), and the cessation of beauty pageants for those under 16. In an interview with Le Figaro Newspaper, Jouanno argued that “children are building their identities amid a regression of
sexual equality and on the return of stereotypes contained in music clips, games, reality television programs.” She argued that this is a problem unique to women: there is no mention of boys’ beauty pageants simply because the market doesn’t exist. The argument is not a new one: women have been combating the sexualization of females for many years. But the recent rise in popularity of shows like Toddlers In Tiaras has brought the sexualization of young girls into the mix through beauty pageants. People such as Jouanno argue that the sexualization of young girls in this manner is responsible for the rise of selfhate among teenage girls, which can manifests itself in suicide, selfharm, or an eating disorder. And let’s be honest, it makes sense. Our sense of self-worth is all too often linked to the number of likes on our Instagram selfies, or the compliments we get on our clothes, or the amount of time we spend getting ready in the morning. Maybe it’s the millennial curse of narcissism, or maybe it really is the result of women consistently being told that their self-worth equals the number of compliments we receive about our shoes. Let’s take a look at one of America’s favorite rednecks: Alana Thompson, better known by her alias “Honey Boo Boo.” She skyrocketed to fame through Toddlers In Tiaras, eventually getting her own reality show after her “dolla make me holla” video went viral. Alana’s family has been consistently slammed for her participation in pageants, receiving criticism from her pageant makeup and clothes to
courtesy of associated press
the redneck lifestyle. But Alana isn’t the beautyobsessed, prim-and-proper diva people expect when they hear “pageant winner.” Instead, she’s a pretty normal seven-year-old: she likes dirt and junk food, and has a pet pig. Despite Alana’s involvement in beauty pageants, the show preaches equality and body acceptance. Clearly, her participation in beauty pageants hasn’t harmed her sense of self. This can be said of many beauty pageant participants. While beauty does weigh heavily in choosing the winner, it isn’t the only component. Pageants also can teach public speaking, business etiquette, and a greater awareness of the world around them. They encourage philanthropy and networking.
It seems like pageants are often characterized as an evil, destructive, hyper-sexualized contest when, in reality, the vast majority are not. Pageants based solely on looks, with no consideration of other factors, are few, if any. A pretty face will only get someone so far in an interview with judges. In order to win a pageant, a contestant must also demonstrate personality, talent, and oratory skills. Pageants are a competition, just as sports and the performing arts are. They teach healthy competition, which is vital in preparing kids for the competition they’ll continue to face for the rest of their lives. Because I can foresee an onslaught of hate comments, let me clarify: I am not condoning sexualization of young girls, nor am I
saying that participation is by-andlarge a positive thing. I think that there’s a definite problem here, and it needs to be fixed as soon as possible. But eliminating beauty pageants isn’t going to make a dent in the battle against the sexualization of young girls. Pageants don’t bear the sole responsibility by any means. If lawmakers want to see real change, they should address targeted advertisements of makeup and diet pills. They should address the persistent double standards between boys and girls. They should address gender norms in the media. Mass generalizations about pageantry and its impact aren’t going to stop the sexualization of young girls. This problem runs a lot deeper.
The Scarlet
12 | opinions
september 26, 2013
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The Miss America Syndrome Getting the United States up to speed By Ronald Gerber contributing writer
It seems that every time some of the less educated among us express undeniably dumb opinions online, we sane and smart Americans proceed to make an even bigger fuss than the idiots who were the cause of the controversy in the first place. Do those idiots represent a majority, or even a significant percentage of Americans? Absolutely not. Should the media and the rest of us concerned citizens be reacting as strongly as we did? Maybe not. Is it still a major problem, regardless? You betcha. The morons who decided to step onto Twitter and Facebook and exposed their ignorance last week happened to be directing their ignorant prejudice at someone who had just
achieved what one can only assume was her life’s ambition: winning the Miss America beauty pageant. Nina Davuluri, a 24-year-old of South Indian Telugu descent, became the first Indian-American woman to win the famously competitive contest. It was unfortunate that I didn’t hear about who won before I read the disgusting, racially charged Twitter reactions because if I had heard about it earlier, I may have had time to feel happier about Davuluri’s victory. Miss America is as quintessentially American as the Oscars: very shallow, a total popularity contest, and essentially useless, but somehow too much fun to resist watching for many, many people. When A Separation became the first Iranian film to win an Oscar, socially conscious journalists, bloggers, and film buffs everywhere rejoiced at how America managed to appreciate art
as art for once, and rise above the politics. The fact that almost no controversy was sparked over that milestone (while grossly discriminatory accusations like “terrorist” were directed at poor Nina Davuluri) is ironic and frankly laughable. This is not to say that the filmmakers of Iran should be punished for the faults of their government, but at least it is a recognizable thought process for a racist; blaming everybody from a country or even an entire race for the faults of a few people in that country or race is not exactly new. It’s certainly much easier to understand than the idea that an American woman of Indian descent having a milestone achievement is somehow insensitive to the anniversary of the attacks of September 11, which is what several people claimed on Twitter. It seems ridiculous to have
to spell it out, but apparently some people in this country are too dumb to understand that not all people with brown skin are of the same race. And to my knowledge, not even the most conservative media has claimed that Hindu people are remotely responsible for any act of terror against the U.S. in recent years. The ignorance expressed in these tweets and posts is not only bewildering, it is completely indefensible. However, as most people who can locate Iraq on a map will tell you, many people in America cannot even locate Iraq on a map. One can thus ask the question: should we come to expect this of a contest like Miss America, a majority of viewers are evidently of the non-Iraq-identifying variety, and which has come to represent a much slower acceptance of social change than most other organizations? Non-white women could
not even compete in the Miss America pageant for a long time. There were no African-American participants until 1970, and there wasn’t an African-American winner until 1983. That was a full 20 years after Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous March on Washington, for those keeping score at home. Perhaps the attitudes of the organizers of the Miss America contest and the people who had such “spirited” reactions to the results should be taken as representative of those who are slightly behind the curve. Maybe we’re overreacting, and people this dim-witted are simply not worth our time and effort. But if the goal is to eventually catch everyone up, an incident like this one makes painfully clear the unfortunate truth that we’ve still got a long way to go. Sometimes, talking about it is the best you can do.
The Scarlet
september 26, 2013
living arts | 13
The Scarlet/Living Arts Ball in the House performs for Family Weekend Five-Man a cappella brings Atwood to its feet
Worcester Art Museum introduces innovative exhibition Attempts to make Renaissance art more approachable By Claire Tierney community correspondent
photo by anna spack
By Jeremy Levine editor-in-chief
If you like happiness and you didn’t see Ball in the House on Friday night, you messed up. Student Leadership and Programming brought the small a cappella group as part of Family Weekend’s programming. It was certainly a good move, as the applause that came after the group’s last song was among the loudest that I have heard in Atwood Hall. Before Ball in the House took
the stage, two of Clark University’s a cappella groups, The Counterpoints and The Clark Bars, warmed up the crowd. The Counterpoints started the evening with four low-to-mid-tempo songs. They stuck to their strengths, filling their set with tight, mellow harmonies. Their strongest tune was “Give Me Love,” during which soloists Katherine Bogen and Emma Griffiths took the song to a new level with some intense harmonies on the lead part. I look forward to seeing how
they expand their set, maybe with some higher-tempo songs, later in the semester. The Clark Bars brought out a set of their favorites to follow up. Their mastery of dynamics came out during their whole set, which was marked by high energy and inspired solos. Their rendition of “If I Had A Boat” was a dark odyssey that required a muchappreciated finesse from every memcontinued on page 16
Last Friday the Worcester Art Museum debuted [remastered], a new exhibition aimed at changing the museum’s approachability. Museum Director Matthias Waschek says he plans to have 200,000 visitors in the museum by the year 2020. He says this is to be accomplished through three elements: reaching out to constituents, making the museum more relevant, and making the museum more accessible, both physically with better ramps and entrances, and intellectually, with new exhibitions and presentations that engage the viewer in an innovative way. [remastered] explores 16th18th century Spanish, Italian, Dutch, and Flemish paintings in an experimental style by adding comfortable that “encourages people to spend time with the art”. The exhibition also removed the identification cards that usually accompany art and provide the title, artist, and other relevant information. At the same time the
exhibit features brochures and IPads, which will provide “interpretive information (written by scholars and non-scholars alike), literature, and the ability to look at the works in close detail.” This new style allows the viewer to engage in “intellectual reflection” and contemplation, while also providing an interactive interface which allows the viewer to become more informed if they choose. This stylistic experiment makes large strides towards increasing accessibility, as the subject matter of the museum’s exhibition typically does not resonate with a wide audience. [remastered] reworks the notion of a traditional art museum exhibit, particularly pertaining to how the art is arranged on the walls. The salon style, which Waschek calls a “highway of art” across the wall, is abandoned in favor of a non-conventional arrangement in which the pieces compliment one another. One wall, for example, features several pieces close tocontinued on page 16
14 | living arts
The Scarlet
september 26, 2013
Clark’s Got Talent And, apparently, too much of it By Matt Emmer living arts editor
Saturday night saw the return of Clark’s annual showcase of student creativity and expression. Clark’s Got Talent is a staple of the Family Week experience and a staple of fall semester programing. This year, attendees were greeted with a program that included nearly thirty distinct acts, with talents ranging from guitar playing singer-songwriters to a straightjacket escape. Dean Jason Zelesky got things started with a farewell to longtime Director of Student Programs and Leadership Mike McKenna, who remained to run the soundboard for the event, apparently his last act at Clark. The judges included Zelesky, newly-instated Bullok Hall director DaVaughn Vincent-Bryan, and Jen-
nifer Parissi-Forti, who attended with her two young children and expressed her reluctance to judge. On the student side of things, Clark Musical Theatre veterans Edward “David” Bertoldi and Tyler Rosati, joined newcomer Leah McConnell. One by one, impressive performers graced the stage. Past winners Lulu Moyo and Alec Willis captivated the audience with their slam poetry and flamenco guitar, respectively. Another student flawlessly performed a Kanye West song to a prerecorded backing track, reminiscent of Kevin G. from the 2004 film “Mean Girls”. Later in the show, a pair of first year students played an impassioned cover of “Lies” by Glen Hansard. The evening was also a chance for student groups to display their work. The Counterpoints stunned with their arrangement of Coldplay’s 2011 hit “Paradise”, impressing the
photo by matt emmer
audience with their high harmonies and creative orchestration. A new ensemble featuring the vocal music of West Africa brought a global flare to things, reminding some attendees of both International Gala and Paul Si-
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mon’s Graceland album. The Hip Hop Collabo used the event to showcase new members and its always-innovative choreography. Ultimately, it was determined that songwriter Miranda Bethune will advance to Consortium’s
Got Talent this fall at the Hanover for the chance to win one-thousand dollars, with the West African choir
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The Scarlet
september 26, 2013
Clark’s Got Talent cont.
living arts | 15
Classics covered Classic Albums Live plays the Beatles’ Abbey Road
continued from page 14
By Matt Emmer living arts editor
coming in second. However, the evening was weighed down by its extreme length. The event, which started at approximately eight o’clock, didn’t let out until after eleven. Many attendees chose to depart early, leaving the once-full hall nearly empty by the middle of the second act. While the level of talent was more-or-less consistent throughout the evening, it was surprising that the organizers didn’t use any form of audition process to thin out the program. Even with a three-minute limit on performers, the show clearly dragged. While the sheer volume of performers was a clear factor in this length, the show often also felt encombered by the commentary of talkative judges. Though often insightful and even colorful, the comments of both student and staff judges dragged on, sometimes seemingly longer than the performances themselves. At one point, the hosts politely asked for only two judges to weigh in on each act. However, more judges often contributed their comments, solicited or not. Clark’s Got Talent is an important event for the community, displaying for all that we do, in fact, have talent. The problem is that we might have too much of it. Between the multitude of performers and overenthusiastic judges, this affair needs some calming down. Next year, hopefully student leaders will take charge in gently slimming the evening down.
Abbey Road by the Beatles was a landmark release. After the cataclysm of the failed Get Back sessions, later reworked as Let it Be, the band returned to the studio to make one more record, unspokenly known by most members of the organization to be their final collection. It represents a synthesis of sorts, combining the group’s previous fascinations with orchestral bombast, lyric tenderness, rhythm & blues soulfulness, gospel, and straight-ahead rock ‘n roll. It also represents Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison all arguably at the top of their individual songwriting talents. This is an album I grew up with. My dad played it incessantly around the house. Some of my first musical memories are listening to Abbey Road and Simon and Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water record in my parent’s car. It is with this deeply rooted adoration for the album that I entered the Hanover Theater last Friday night, to see the whole thing covered by Classic Albums Live, a group dedicated to the live performance of historical records, from Led Zepplin’s II to Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors. The Hanover Theater is truly a beautiful place to see a concert and a hidden gem in the Worcester community. My friend and I quickly found our seats in the mostly empty hall near the front of the balcony (the lack of attendance was later mentioned when the bass player awkwardly exclaimed, “You guys sound like an audience twice your size!” between songs). We could clearly see the cast of musicians and hear the somewhat muffled mix well. The theater does have pretty excellent acoustics though. The band, dressed in nondescript all black outfits in front of a blank black screen, quietly picked
photo by matt emmer
up their instruments and dutifully launched into the scathing “Come Together”, followed immediately by, one of my favorite Beatles songs, Harrison’s “Something”. With nine musicians on stage for most of the show, each member of the band represented less than half of a Beatle. The band was anchored by two guitar players, a bass player, and a drummer, who all sang both lead and harmony. Mostly, they stuck to their corresponding Beatle roles vocally, with a few notable exceptions, mainly from the powerhouse drummer. They were joined by a keyboard player, a violinist, two horn players, and a cellist that often doubled as backup singer. It was clear that, unlike many straight-ahead tribute bands, there was no interest in recreating a band’s aesthetic through costumes, role play, or scenery. The lack of ornamentation, likely meant to symbolize the importance of the music itself (a noble cause indeed), often left the per-
formance feeling more recital than concert, leaving the proceedings to feel more sterile and distant than the intended unicumcumbered mood. There are also practical issues with recreating any album live, especially the layered work of the Beatles. The core quartet often had to quickly shift between acoustic and electric instruments, creating noticeable gaps between songs, which are mostly accusable in a standard live setting. Most notably, extended pauses in Abbey Road’s famous second side medley sank deeper than the groove in a record. Still, there’s an argument to be made for the sheer power of four living, breathing human voices harmonizing on “Because” or the Brian Wilson-inspired “Sun King” mere feet in front of you. This concert experience represents my fascination with the concept of tribute bands. As a musician myself, I am somewhat repelled by the idea of committing my life to the
performance of someone else’s work. Bands like Beatlemania and Dark Star Orchestra consist of people who are passionately dedicated to recreating the live experience of the Beatles and the Grateful Dead, respectively, two bands that I have a fondness for, or, in the case of the latter, profound obsession with; two bands I will never get the chance to see live, at least in their original incarnations. As a fan, should I be grateful that I have the chance to see this dead music in a live setting at all? I attended this show, hoping that it would provide some clarity. However, it only deepened my conflicting views on the genre. Classic Albums Live’s performance, though, clearly brought joy to the slim crowd that assembled Friday evening, many probably enjoying a rare night off from their adult lives. It also showed a group of musicians, confined to the work and accomplishments of another band.
16 | living arts
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september 26, 2013
A capella cont.
WAM cont.
continued from page 13 continued from page 13
ber of the group, especially soloist Peter Herceg. Then Ball in the House arrived, and from the very first notes of “This Is How We Do It,” we were shown how they do it: high-energy, peppy songs with full background parts, some fun choreography, and a whole lot of volume. They earned their first bout of applause before the first song even ended, when one of the singers rapped a verse from the Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air theme song. Ball in the House’s third song, somewhat surprisingly, was an original composition, not a popular song arranged for a cappella. This song, “Set the Mood,” is a catchy tune with some groovy background parts and rich harmonizing with the lead part during the chorus. And then there was a beat box solo. And it was a blistering, mind-bogglingly high-octane performance that left the crowd stunned. What was perhaps most impressive about Jon Ryan’s performance was his endurance; he performed this impressive solo on top of an hour-long set, which is taxing on its own. Other highlights included a disco medley featuring “Stayin’ Alive,” “That’s the Way,” and “YMCA,” which featured some sing-a-long and choreography from the crowd. Ball in the House also invited the whole crowd to get up and dance to “The Cupid Shuffle.” It was obvious from the start that Ball in the House was here for fun and they kept the positive energy up through the entire set with playful banter between songs as well as a pause to take a picture of the whole crowd. Perhaps the two strongest parts of the set came at the very end. Ball in the House’s rendition
photos by claire tierney
of “Use Somebody” was just the right tempo and took advantage of their inventive moving lines and different ranges. The arrangement was a serious achievement in distributing lines between four singers. The next song, “Falling Slowly” by the Frames, was an unmiked ballad that had us all leaning in and
listening closely to their riveting consonance. I wished that they had performed a couple of other slow songs to break up their otherwise pizzazintensive set, but I couldn’t pick one for them to leave out. Ball in the House was the exact right choice for Family Weekend. They were delightfully funny, musi-
cally talented, and didn’t tire out at all. They were a party on stage, delivering a sound that seems too full to have only been created by five voices. I hope that they’ll be back at Clark in the future.
gether that all feature figures gazing; another wall features a painting and a bust in which a female figure is being fatally wounded. This complimentary placement gives the art context, which makes it more accessible and makes visitors “feel intelligent, not ignorant” about what they are looking at, according to Waschek. New lighting and a new color of paint on the walls engage the viewer and compliment the art, enhancing its “crispness” and removing the glare that paintings often reflect towards viewers. The glare is also removed by a forward tilt of the paintings on the wall, a tradition that reflects the manner in which the paintings would have customarily been displayed. According to Waschek, the tilt gives the paintings “a strong presence in the space.” The cornerstone of the gallery a Veronese painting entitled Venus Disarming Cupid, a gift from the mother of Beastie Boy Mike D. The exhibition contains 63 pieces, which is an increase from 45. The walls of the gallery are covered with paintings, which forces the viewer to view them in relation to one another, and therefore forces the viewer to engage all of the pieces in a way the “highway of art” does not. The exhibition will also offer nude drawing programs in the gallery as well as spiritual practices with interfaith clergy, all in an attempt to offer more accessibility to the community. This gallery is an experiment and a sort of template for the museum to work off of as it continues to make itself more open to the Worcester community as well as the art community.
september 26, 2013
The Scarlet
sports | 17
The Scarlet/Sports COUGAR of the WEEK The men’s tennis team may not play many matches in the fall, but senior captain Dan Stein is approaching each practice as though it’s the day before a crucial inner-conference match in mid-April. This mentality has spread throughout the team and helped them power past Endicott last week in a 7-2 victory. However, Stein is well aware that the team has a long road ahead of it. Scarlet: Obviously the matches in the fall are a little different than the matches in the spring. Dan: You’re not quite in the main part of the season, but the games still count towards your record. Scarlet: How do matches from the spring differ when it comes to the team’s goals? Dan: Well, we have a couple of new freshmen: Spencer Pinkney at [third singles], Jimmy [Keogh] and Jeremy [Albright]. We lost three captains and we lost two kids to study abroad, but we’re going to get one back in the spring. The fall is all about trying to find out what works and what doesn’t, and it’s about trying to get the pieces to fit. courtesy of scott levine
Dan Stein men’s tennis
Scarlet: What has worked so far? Dan: So far, we’ve done well with doubles. We’ve prepared very well with doubles I would say, putting Antoine [Martin] and Spencer at one. I’m playing second doubles now with Fernando [Pinoargote], but I played with Zack [Goodstein] during the Wheaton invitational which was different because of the format in which we could only play singles or doubles. That was good for me and Zack. We played together last year and we have some wins under our belt. We’re just trying to find out who gels with each other. Scarlet: What do you think the team needs to work on for the spring? Dan: Our main focus is to win the doubles matches for the spring, because we play those three matches first and it really sets a tone if you can go up 2-1 or 3-0. Then, you know you’re playing with the lead. Scarlet: And that takes pressure off the singles players. Dan: Exactly, and we’ve had some trouble in the past years when playing down 1-2 or even 0-3, then you have to win five of the six singles matches and it puts a lot of pressure on players. So doubles matches are definitely our number one priority. Scarlet: How has being the captain of the team differed from not being the captain last year? Dan: I’m putting the team first and really focusing on how the team performs. I’m not necessarily looking for the wins and losses, just making sure everyone that’s playing puts their best effort into it so that we can come off the court feeling good. We lost our number one last year who was a very intense player. I’m trying to follow in his footsteps and become that intense player, and trying to pick up the intensity during practice so that we can apply it to match days.
by Scott Levine
Scarlet: It’s good to have a guy like that to kind of set the tone. My high school basketball coach used to say that “culture never graduates”. Dan: That’s a very good quote. It’s something that we’ve been working on with our coach. He’s still fairly new, but all the guys have had him now their whole collegiate career. It’s nice that we’re starting to build an atmosphere and a culture down there at our tennis courts. Scarlet: And I feel like you’re much more in tune to that culture as a captain. Now, you’re kind of in charge of the culture as opposed to only being the beneficiary of it. Dan: Yeah. It’s kind of nice to be the high man on the totem pole and make sure that everyone’s bringing their best effort and really push kids in practice. So that’s something that I try and definitely focus on: getting the most out [of] players come practice so that we can definitely put that towards the match days. Scarlet: It seems like fall matches have a special level of importance for you now that you’re a captain, since you’re trying to just gauge where the team is and where it needs to be. How is playing in these fall matches different than before? Dan: You just mentioned it: gauging where we are, seeing what works and what doesn’t, but still making sure that this fall season sets the tone for the rest of the year. So if we can perform now and be competitive now, and bring that through the offseason and into the spring, that will be helpful for us. We have had some problems where we’re kind of going through the motions, but we want to treat the fall season individually and really put our best effort into it. And we’re still playing matches that count to our record.
Scarlet: Do you like or dislike that it counts to your record? Dan: I’m a fan of it. I like it. It’s still a match when you come down to it, we’re still playing other teams that have been practicing just as long as we have and not longer, and we’re doing the same thing on this side, so I’m all for it. Scarlet: It kind of forces you to take it seriously. Dan: Yeah. Even though it’s a shortened season, we’re still practicing, I’m still playing five or six days a week, and it’s still competitive. It’s just not as long as the spring season. Scarlet: How many more games do you have scheduled in the fall? Dan: As of now we have one more, and then we’re going to start playing matches in February. We have one at home on October 6, and that’s the last of them. Scarlet: What are you looking to get out of this last game? Dan: We’re playing Union. They’re definitely more competitive than Endicott and we’re going to have to prepare and train hard for the next couple weeks to hopefully get the W. I know our team is capable of doing it. Scarlet: Last but not least, give Scarlet readers an amazing reason to go to the game against Union and to watch tennis matches in the spring. Dan: You know what? Tennis is actually a really fun sport to watch. You can get super close to the courts, and it can be interactive with some of the players. I like playing for the fans, that’s for sure. It’s a good time down there. I know it’s far away, and not many people know where it is, but if you haven’t been down there, why not give it a shot? You don’t know what you’re missing.
18 | sports
The Scarlet
september 26, 2013
Fantasy Football Add/Drop for Week 4 By Ethan Giles contributing writer
ADD • Colts D/ST: If you are in need of a Defense, the Colts provide a safe bet this week. After shutting down Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers’ offense last week, Indianapolis travels to Jacksonville to face a Jaguars team that scored just 11 points on the season before the Seahawks stopped trying last week. The Colts D is owned in just 1.9% of espn.com leagues, 2.1% of nfl.com leagues, and 6% of yahoo.com leagues. • Ryan Broyles, WR, Lions: With Nate Burleson injured in a car accident, Broyles will now step into the second receiver role behind Calvin Johnson. If he can stay healthy, Broyles should be able to rack up receptions and yards. He is owned in 55% of espn.com leagues, 5% of nfl.com leagues, and 22% of yahoo.com leagues.
D R OP • Josh Freeman, QB, Buccaneers: If it was not enough that his completion percentage (45.7%) is tied for league worst among quarterbacks who have started at least one game, there are many reports that Freeman and Head Coach Greg Schiano practically hate each other and he may or may not be asking for a trade. Mix that in with his recent benching, and Tampa Bay’s two best receivers being injured, and it really does not seem likely that Freeman will turn this season around. • Chris Ivory, RB, Jets: Although he had high expectations coming into the season, Ivory has been replaced by Bilal Powell New York’s starter. Ivory also pulled a hamstring in Sunday’s game against the Bills, so it is time to let him go.
The Scarlet
september 26, 2013
puzzles | 19
The Scarlet/Puzzles CROSSWORD
SUDOKU
SOLUTIONS ON NEXT PAGE copyright Š 2013 crosswordsite.com ltd.
ACROSS
DOWN
6. Hue (6) 7. First man (4) 8. Story (4) 9. Kingdom in N Europe (6) 10. Farm bird (5) 12. Scapegoat (5) 15. Die from lack of food (6) 17. Swindle (4) 18. Small child (4) 19. Tank ship (6)
1. Edible tuber (6) 2. Acting part (4) 3. Rubbish (5) 4. Photographic device (6) 5. Ornamental fabric (4) 11. Fruit ice (6) 13. Posts (6) 14. End of life (5) 16. Tailless amphibian (4) 17. Vocalize melodically (4)
The Scarlet
complied by Maria Rotelli
September 19 11:03 - lots of smoke in area on Downing Street 19:32 - Locker jammed shut 23:08 - Claims of two suspicious males on the wall near the stairs in front of Dana saying hello. September 21 9:31 - Suspicious night walker 16:56 - Pest problem on Maywood Street September 23 20:15 - Theft of motor vehicle 22:46 - RA calling believes the fire alarm is going off.
CROSSWORD SOLUTION
Police Logs
september 26, 2013
SUDOKU SOLUTION
20 | puzzles
September 24 18:14 - Smell of smoke in the UC September 25 4:24 - Escort driver wants an escort home. This week, University Police assisted WPD twice, saw three counts of vandalism, one car accident, one car problem, two vehicle stops, two noise complaints, one count of breaking and entering, one psychological emergency, two suspicious persons, four marijuana-related incidents, one emergency call box went off, eight fire alarms went off, there were also eight calls to EMS, eight calls for a police escort.
what happens in The Scarlet office at 12:43 a.m. stays in the The Scarlet office... sort of “So the Jew Club was giving out ice cream–” - Ishan “Good old Jew Club!” - Giles “A shower is interesting and definitely worthy of consideration, but I think that this should be more toilet-focused.” - Claire “What’s EBT?” - Matt “It’s like food stamps.” - Claire “So it isn’t LEEP?” - Jeremy “What makes it warm during the day–” - Rose “Is the sun.” - Rose and Pooja, in unison