4.13.11

the butler

COLLEGIAN VOL. 125 ISSUE 23

ESTABLISHED 1886

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THE BUTLER UNIVERSITY STUDENT NEWSPAPER | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2011 | WWW.THEBUTLERCOLLEGIAN.COM Tomorrow ’s Weather

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Will Butler have a

Student life surveys cause concern

LACK OF MACK?

BY STEVEN PEEK

speek@butler.edu | sports editor

B

utler University junior guard Shelvin Mack has made himself eligible for the 2011 National Basketball Association Draft. He has not hired an agent and may therefore retain his eligibility if he withdraws before May 8.

“I ’m exploring my options and gathering information to see what opportunities might exist for me, ” Mack said. “I ’ve always had a dream to play in the NBA, and I want to make an informed decision on that possiblity. ” Mack, who started all but the “Senior Day ” game this past season, led the Bulldogs in assists (131), and was Butler ’s secondleading scorer in the 2010-11 season, with 16.0 points per game.

Mack overachieved in the

NCAA Division I Men ’s Basketball Championship, though, averaging 20.3 points in Butler ’s six NCAA tournament games. He scored 30 points in Butler ’s victory over No. 1 seed Pittsburgh and 27 in the Regional Final win against No. 2 seed Florida.

Mack was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Southeast Regional after the first four NCAA tournament games, and he was named to his second-consecutive All-Tournament Team at the Final Four.

“It ’s really exciting any time you have a player and person of Mack ’s caliber in a position where we can do the research on what his NBA opportunities might be, ” Butler head coach Brad Stevens said. “We look forward to helping him through every step of this process and

BY BROOKE DEADY bdeady@butler.edu | staff writer

UP IN THE AIR: After a successful season in the media spotlight, junior guard Shelvin Mack is now eligible to and may enter this year ’s NBA draft. (Photo by Maria Porter) gathering information to help him with his decision. ” Mack is currently 11th on Butler ’s all-time scoring list with 1,527 points, which is four points behind Wayne Burris (1973-77).

Mack is Butler ’s second-con-

secutive underclassman to declare for the NBA Draft and second in the school ’s history.

The first was Gordon Hayward, who was selected No. 9 overall by the Utah Jazz in last year ’s NBA Draft.

BY THE NUMBERS 2011 NCAA TOURNAMENT

57,395 25% 41% 10%

Butler Basketball Facebook friends

increase in 2010-11 basketball ticket sales increase in applications received for 2011-12

increase in donations from alumni this year

photo by Ryan Love

Butler benets from tournaments

BY KATE SIEGFRIED AND JILL MCCARTER collegian@butler.edu

Butler University is still reaping the benefits from last year ’s run in the NCAA Division I Men ’s Basketball Tournament and is looking forward to receiving the numbers for this year.

Results from a study completed by media firms Borshoff and Meltwater show that the university earned more than $639 million in publicity value during last year ’s tournament.

The numbers reflect publicity received through online, broadcast and print media.

About one-sixth of that value came from the National Championship game alone.

“This money is not just given to the university, ” Athletic Director Barry Collier said.

“The basketball team had to earn it for us. ” And while the value isn ’t tangible, Collier said there are many advantages to having that amount of exposure.

Increases in ticket sales, licensing fees, bookstore sales, donations and applications

SMARTPHONES PG. 10

can be, in part, attributed to the exposure received from last year ’s tournament.

Charitable giving and donations to the athletic department have reached an all-time high and continue to increase.

Vice President for University Advancement Mark Helmus has overseen successful athletic-themed fundraising campaigns in the past two years during and following the tournament. Last year ’s campaign set a record for alumni donations, raising more than $100,000.

Helmus is currently planning a similar campaign for this year, and said he expects similar results.

“You can ’t tie it all to the tournament, ” Helmus said. “But I do think this type of thing really increases the feel-good attitude of alumni and increases their pride in the university. ” The increases in donations were primarily from individuals, while corporate giving didn ’t necessarily reflect the increased exposure.

Current students are already seeing the ef-

fects from last year, Helmus said. Money has gone towards the university ’s general operating fund, which funds everything from student life activities, to classroom materials, to building and renovation costs.

“Very rarely in fundraising do you really see a home run, ” Helmus said. “Last year, we really raised the bar on our expectations, so we ’re hoping for two in a row. ” Butler isn ’t the only school feeling the effects of the tournament.

All Horizon League schools receive money from Butler ’s Final Four trip. Associate Athletic Director for Operations Tom Crowley said that the league splits the money received from the NCAA evenly among all 10 members.

Because last year ’s study was completed after the tournament, Collier said some things could have been missed in the numbers. To get a more accurate value, this year ’s study was conducted in real time.

Numbers should be released in the coming months.

SPORTS 5 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 8 | OPINION 10 | GNOME 12

Some Butler University students are angry about a Student Life survey sent out earlier this month to randomly selected students.

The surveys asked several personal questions, including some involving sexual orientation and biological gender.

The surveys were created by the National Association of Student AfIRENE STEVENS fairs and Administration and by Student Voice, an assessment company for student learning. Neither company is directly associated with Butler University or Student Life.

The surveys allow universities to receive the benchmark data they need in order to improve campuses, living situations, learning and other aspects of student life on campus.

Once the university receives the results, they are compared to the results of other universities similar in size and educational value.

“The surveys have been helpful to us, ” Dean of Student Life Irene Stevens said.

“We ’ve used some data in presentations to faculty. If students say that they feel uncomfortable in the classroom, we let the professors know. ” Surveys, distributed by Student Voice, are divvied out among three random student groups.

Three different survey types were sent out: residence life, Greek life and service learning.

Some of the questions in these surveys did not appeal to some students, but no complaints have been filed.

Kyle Graden, a freshman business major, was offended by the personal nature of the sexual orientation question.

“The answers it provided to choose from were shocking to me, ” Graden said. “One of [the choices] was ‘queer. ’ What does that even mean and how is it different from gay?

And why is this information important anyway? ” Erin Holm, a sophomore elementary education major, took the Greek Life survey.

She said she thinks it was a poor decision to ask the name of the organization and then later ask questions about hazing and alcohol.

“That doesn ’t seem anonymous at all, ” Holm said. “I wasn ’t offended, but I feel like some of the results could be falsely reported or made to look worse than they are, like the ethnicity of those who choose to go Greek. ” Students said they don ’t know what these surveys are used for exactly, so the random questions about sexual orientation and Greek life have thrown some of them off.

The surveys are quite useful for the university though.

“These surveys help us know what we ’re doing well, ” Stevens said. “We have learned that our students are much more involved campus activities than other students at other universities. I hope students fill the surveys out, because it gives us more information to work with. ”

STUDENT LIFE: Questions concerning sexual orientation offended some students that received the surveys.

PAGE 2 | THE BUTLER COLLEGIAN

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2011

Student, staff, faculty named Women of Distinction

BY ALLYSON DOBBERTEEN adobbert@butler.edu | staff writer

Each year, Butler University honors three women who have impacted the campus community as a strong female. One faculty member, one staff member and one student are chosen from anonymous nominations.

This year ’s winners are Jeanne VanTyle, Teri Amberger and Britlynn Hansen-Girod, respectively.

Jeanne VanTyle Professor of pharmacy Jeanne VanTyle also appreciated the recognition this award brings. VanTyle is the faculty member who was honored with the award.

“I have been at Butler a long time, and it just felt very humbling to be recognized for what I am doing, ” VanTyle said.

VanTyle is passionate about helping others. She works at a free clinic in the spare time she has away from teaching at Butler.

She said both the clinic and the Woman of Distinction award give her instant gratification.

JEANNE VANTYLE

TERI AMBERGER

BRITLYNN HANSEN-GIROD

“Teaching is great but how many times does a student say, ‘Wow, that lecture really helped me? ’ ” she said.

“And at the clinic, the patients always really appreciate you.

“With this award, Butler is saying thank you, and I really appreciate that and am honored by that. ” Teri Amberger Administrative Specialist Teri Amberger was shocked by the recognition. She was the staff member named as a Woman of Distinction.

Amberger is the first person you

meet when you walk into the Department of Math and Actuarial Sciences in Jordan Hall.

“It feels really nice to be recognized for what I do everyday, ” she said. “I just come in here and work and do my job in the best way I can.

“It ’s really easy to do that because I love it here so much. ” Amberger said she never imagined she would win the award.

“You know, I am just a Butler mom, ” she said. “I am a Butler mom to my kids who go here, but

I am also a mom to the kids in this department. ” She said she is honored to be recognized along with the other women.

“It is such a diverse group, ” she said. “I was standing by VanTyle and she does so much for others and then [Hansen-Girod], who is so active on campus and so passionate about what she does, and then there is me. “ Britlynn Hansen-Girod Senior Britlynn Hansen-Girod

was waiting in line to get lunch at Atherton Union when Dean of Student Life Irene Stevens walked up and put her arm around her.

“I ’m thinking, ‘Oh my god, what did I do? ’ ” Hansen-Girod said.

“And she ’s like, ‘I just want to let you know that you are Butler ’s Woman of Distinction. ’ ” Hansen-Girod, an English major, is active in promoting feminism and improving the campus environment through Demia and Alliance.

“Out of my four years at Butler, three of them I ’ve spent working tirelessly to keep making these organizations better and create safe spaces for like-minded people, ” she said.

Hansen-Girod said that the recognition was encouraging.

“I was putting so much work in and feeling like no one cares, ” Hansen-Girod said, “Winning this award and hearing what people have said about my work —I realized that the work I have done does matter. ”

Senior granted Fulbright Scholarship to study in Northern Ireland

BY GRACE WALLACE gwallace@butler.edu | asst. news editor

BRIGHT FUTURE: Senior Caleb Hamman was one of 1,500 nationwide who received the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship, which will fund a year of studying in Northern Ireland after graduation in May. (Photo by Erin Drennan)

A Chat with Caleb Hamman Collegian: What do you plan to do in future?

Caleb Hamman: I ’d like to be a university professor.

C: Who has helped you most in your education at Butler?

CH: I have to give enormous credit to the departments of political science and philosophy and especially to my advisers Terri Jett and Harry van derLinden and special thanks to the peace program, without whom I certainly would not have won this scholarship.

C: What ’s your favorite book?

CH: I like Harry Potter. I like Bircham Russell. I like a lot more than [these].

C: What is your favorite thing about Butler?

CH: I like the trees. We have great trees on campus.

C: What is your favorite pastime?

CH: I like to spend time with my family and my friends.

Butler University senior Caleb Hamman received a 2011-12 Fulbright Foundation Student Scholarship to the United Kingdom for one year of study and research in Northern Ireland.

The Fulbright Foundation, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, was established in 1946 in a congressional bill by Senator J. William Fulbright.

According the scholarship ’s website, the grant is given to fund “the promotion of international good will through the exchange of students in the fields of education, culture and science. ” The program is now the largest U.S. exchange program, awarding approximately 1,500 grants a year for students and young professionals undertaking international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching and teaching in elementary and secondary schools in more than 155 countries worldwide.

Hamman, a double major in political science and philosophy, will complete a one-year master ’s degree in Irish studies at the Queen ’s University Belfast starting

next fall. He said his goal is to study youth and peace building in Northern Ireland.

“I saw a poster for the Fulbright Scholarship in Jordan Hall and, in addition to applying for graduate schools, thought, ‘W hy not apply for scholarships too, ’ ” Hamman said.

Hamman said he became interested in peace studies after taking a course his sophomore year. He continued to take more classes in the field and eventually decided to write his senior honors thesis proposal on youth and peace studies. He traveled to Israel and the occupied Pakistan territories to do related field research last summer.

Hamman said the chance to do an extended field study in another place is an exciting and incredible opportunity for someone his age.

“A year of doing field work and research in a place I haven ’t been before, that ’s a great learning experience, ” he said. “I have a lot to learn about Northern Ireland. ” Hamman said the opportunity to study in Northern Ireland will be a great building block for his goal to one day become a university pro-

fessor.

“For me, the Fulbright program puts me on a trajectory for future study and research in political science and peace studies, ” he said.

Hamman has already been accepted into the joint political science and peace studies Ph.D. program at the Kroc Institute, located at the University of Notre Dame.

The program is a six-year research oriented program designed to raise “awareness of the need for more rigorous interdisciplinary study of peace and war and for deeper understanding of how peace building can address political, ethnic and religious violence, ” according to kroc.nd.edu.

Hamman said the institute is deferring his admittance for a year so that he is able to complete his Fulbright program.

Hamman credits professor Siobhan McEvoy-Levy and Associate Director of High Achieving Students Mariangela Maguire, without whom he said he would have never even applied or won this scholarship. He said he also credits the university for the opportunities and education he has been offered.

Petersen, Ring named top students

BY SARA PRUZIN spruzin@butler.edu | asst. news editor

Senior Claire Petersen and junior Chris Ring were named the top female and male student in front of families, friends and professors at the Outstanding Student Banquet April 1.

The awards, which are sponsored by the Office of Alumni and Parent Programs, honor service, scholarship and leadership.

Claire Petersen A communications and electronic journalism major, Petersen said she was very humbled by the award and is inspired by the accomplishments of those who have won in past years.

“I look up to the people who have won before and the impact they have made, ” she said.

Petersen is senior class president, has served as president of Phi Eta Sigma honor society and has been involved with Alternative Fall Break, Ambassadors of Change and various activities with her sorority, Alpha Phi. She said getting involved was her goal when she started at Butler.

“I came to Butler with the intent of being very intentional with my interactions with people and organizations, ” she said. “I tried to take every opportunity and try new things. ” Beth Fontanarosa, a communications coordinator in the Office of Admissions, met

TOP DAWGS: Junior Chris Ring and Senior Claire Petersen were named the top students of Butler University. The two were nominated by professors and advisers to earn the title. (Photo by Maria Porter) Petersen when they were both students and now serves as her supervisor. She said Petersen excels in her position as the communications intern for the admission department and acts as an example for others.

“Her leadership undoubtedly proves she ’s a top student, ” Fontanarosa said. “She just makes people ’s days better. ” Petersen said the award represents the community she will have with alumni and students at the university even after she graduates.

“It wraps up what Butler means to me and

embodies my connection to the university and getting plugged in to whatever I ’m a part of, ” she said.

Chris Ring A digital media production major and premed student, Ring said his GPA and position as Student Government Association president set him apart from the other contenders.

He is also involved in other campus organizations and with his fraternity, Sigma Nu. Ring said he was surprised to receive the award, since he assumed it would be going to a senior as in years past.

He decided to travel to the Final Four instead of going to the ceremony, but his parents accepted the award on his behalf.

“I wanted to react a bit bigger than I did, ” he said. “But I was on a bus to Houston and didn ’t want to be screaming. ” Had he been present to give an acceptance speech, Ring said he would have included thanking his advisers and professors, but most of all, his parents. He said their encouragement has made the greatest impact on his life.

“I would have thanked my parents for their support, ” he said. “There were a few nights where I was about ready to crack and there ’s the 3 a.m. phone call to mom. ” Caroline Huck-Watson, the director of programs for leadership and service education, acts as Ring ’s adviser for SGA and said he is an effective, empathetic leader.

“He works very hard to decide where needs are and meeting them, ” Huck-Watson said. “He listens to the people he should be listening to and takes ideas and needs and processes them well to find a result. ” Ring said being named top male student is both a reward and an opportunity to speak for the university in a role beyond being SGA president.

“It shows that the work that I put into Butler hasn ’t gone unnoticed, ” he said. “I love this campus, and I feel like it ’s an honor to be chosen as a representative in that regard. ”

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2011

PAGE 3 | THE BUTLER COLLEGIAN

Brimmer earns Apple award

BY ALLISON AMMERMULER aammermu@butler.edu | staff writer

Tim Brimmer, associate professor of music education and technology, received the Apple Distinguished Educator award for teachers that are pioneers in using a variety of Apple Inc. products to transform teaching and learning in their classrooms.

Brimmer was presented with this award for his innovative use of technology in the field of music. He is where the two worlds of technology and the arts meet.

Usually, the computer junkies and the musical artists stay separate, but not in Brimmer ’s class.

They meet here to learn how technology can make them better at their art and how important technology can be to their success.

He was hired to help with the neglected use of technology at Jordan College of Fine Art 17 years ago, and the first thing he did when he came here was set up a seminar so faculty could learn about the development of technology in the arts. For this, he brought in many experts and evaluated

the technological needs of JCFA. Brimmer did this and also raised the funds necessary to build the lab they now have at the college.

Many of his colleagues admired his progress and gave reasons for why he has been able to do so much.

“He doesn ’t sleep, ” Penny Dimmick, professor of music, said. “He functions very well on two hours of sleep at night, and the amount of energy and passion for helping students he brings to class is phenomenal. ” His course on technology in music, which he created, involves technology in every aspect of the class.

“He ’s one of these creative people who knows how to use technology to not only teach better, but to have fun, and when students have fun they are more likely to learn, ” Stephen Laurent-Faesi, professor of dance, said.

He shows students how to do everything from posting their résumé online to composing and choreographing on their computer.

Apple and its products have a special role in what makes Brimmer tick.

“Brimmer has always been a champ of Apple as it is the most creative manufacturer of software and hardware in the disciplines of the arts. That ’s Mac ’s strength, ” Laurent-Faesi said. “They make it fun and that is the key. It is an absolute logical fit. ” Brimmer uses Apple products to show students how useful technology can be in the arts and in education.

He is not only helpful to students but is also famous for setting up workshops for faculty members, to inspire them to use more technology in their classes.

There is a notable difference between how Brimmer and other professors use technology, Laurent-Faesi said.

“The greatest difference is his knowledge of technology and his instinct of combining technology in whatever he does, ” he said. “I now have a technology component in all my classes that I teach, and my students find it fun. ”

Popular culture interests Hoerl contributing writer

There can be good movies that stir people ’s emotions.

APRIL 6 TIME UNKNOWN Ross Hall: Burglary TIME UNKNOWN Outside of Robertson: Vandalism APRIL 7 TIME UNKNOWN Holcomb Gardens: Vandalism 2:13 a.m. - Hampton and Sunset: Trafc accident 2:13 a.m. - Hampton and Cornelius: Public intoxication

Professor seeks to lead students

BY JULIA LACZIN

ing how audiences relate to films and studying it from that perspective, ” she Communications and film have be- said. come a larger part of the picture for Leah Kroeger, a senior German and Butler University academics as one pro- political science major, is taking Hoerl ’s fessor broadens the perspectives of stu- film criticism course. dents.

Kroeger said she first heard of the Kristen Hoerl course when is an assistant proHoerl spoke to fessor of commuher politics of nication studies at protest class in Butler University. the fall.

Her film criticism “I feel like class is more than she really viewing films. knows what “I was always she ’s talking interested in popabout and I ular culture and feel like she rethinking about ally loves what the relationship she ’s talking between popular Trevor Roach about, ” Kroeger culture and social JUNIIOR MEDIA ARTS MAJOR said. change, ” Hoerl Students said. may think the course is going to be easy, She said that Civil Rights films in the Kroeger said, but it is actually “thought1980s and 1990s helped shape and in- provoking, ” which she really liked. terpret what the Civil Rights movement “I didn ’t think it was going to be was about. Films that created narratives as academically intensive as it is, but I that give us a snapshot of reality are like it, ” Kroeger said. “I ’ve learned a lot what interested her, Hoerl said. more than I thought I was going to in “I was interested in how films, televi- this course. ” sion and other forms of media depicted Trevor Roach, a junior Media Arts social problems, encouraged us to think major, is also in the film criticism course. about social problems or to distract “She really wants the class to be us from social problems, ” Hoerl said. bonding with each other in a weird way, “Then I started looking at how media in the sense of we all are comfortably depicted social movement. ” open about talking about our opinions In Hoerl ’s film criticism course, she of the movie, ” he said. said the first half of the semester is foRoach, like Kroeger, has also been cused on a formal analysis and the sec- able to incorporate what he learned in ond half is focused on a social criticism. the course with his other courses, such Hoerl said she wants her students to as directing the narrative, which gave first focus on the central theme or the him more confidence in his work. interpretive claims when critiquing and Roach and a team of other media arts viewing a film. majors are currently working on a short “When people go into film they tend film for their course project produced to go into the analysis of film, like the and created entirely on their own, called course I teach, which is all about learn- “The Transfers. ”

BUPDBEAT

BY TERESA BROOKS contributing writer

KRISTEN HOERL “It ’s really a better understanding of film that I can hopefully incorporate into my film knowledge for myself, so I can put it towards my later projects, ” Roach said.

Students who go into the class with a basic knowledge of the subject area broaden their sense and interest in film.

“I think it ’s a good way to have people branch out and realize that not all movies are chick flicks, ” Roach said.

“There can be good movies that stir people ’s emotions. ” Roach said his advice for future juniors and seniors interested in the course is to pay attention and really just try to respect filmmaking.

Hoerl is a person who is able to bring a critical lens to any form of communication or media, Kristin Swenson, an assisant professor of communications studies said, and that lens helps students see how “things are put together to be persuasive. ” Film criticism is more than rating a film on a scale of one to five, or basing a critique on actors and images, Hoerl said.

“The beauty of film criticism is that this is about the art of interpretation that is to look at different elements and see how they function together, ” she said.

College is the time in a person ’s life where he or she can begin to grow, not only as an academic, but as their own person. That ’s why college professors are so important to students —they help people find themselves.

Margaret Brabant, a political science professor and chair of the faculty senate, knows that. How she teaches and communicates with her students is the result of others making impacts on her life, she said.

“During my undergraduate work, a favorite teacher of mine one day stopped me on the quad and asked, ‘What are you going to do with your life? ’ And when I told him I didn ’t know. He said I should teach, he said I was ‘a natural, ’ ” Brabant said. “After his 40 years in the classroom he could pick out teachers. He was the one to push me to go on to graduate school and become a teacher. ” Senior pharmacy major Tori Brown is in one of Brabant ’s classes. She said she chose to delay another class to make sure she could take a class with Brabant.

Brown touched upon Brabant ’s connection with her students.

“It was remarkable that she was able to keep things so professional in the classroom but so quickly opened up when the course was over, ” Brown said.

Another one of Brabant ’s students, junior political science major Brian Bean, said he has recognized her ability to make connections with students within her classes.

“If she knows you, she will joke around with you, but it is always within the context of the class, ” Bean said. “It is never inappropriate.

“Her class is less like a lecture and more like a conversation with the students.

You don ’t have to sit there and think ‘What does she want me to grab from this? ’ because she cares about the students opinions and teaches from that. ” That is something that Brabant strives to achieve in the classroom.

She said she wants her students to know that the expression of their opinions and thoughts are what make learning possible.

“Classes work because students work, ” Brabant said. “It ’s mutual. I think students often underestimate their power to influence the way teachers teach.

MARGARET BRABANT If you give back to us, we feed on it because it ’s a calling. ” She shows her students what she expects from them simply by setting the example. She said right now the position she has taken in her teaching is knowing that making mistakes is okay as long as her students are learning, because that is what matters.

“It ’s okay to stumble, ” Brabant said. “God knows I do it all the time. It is part of the learning process. So I think that ’s where I am right now in my teaching. I ’m not so worried about looking a little foolish because I think it ’s worth the risk for what I see in my students ’ eyes and what they can produce on paper and what they say in class. It ’s worth it. ” Brabant said being a mother may have also made her teaching more multidimensional.

“Having my own kid gives me a different sense of what you might be experiencing and going through, ” she said. “I ’m not ever going to lower the bar, but I know that I want to have fun in the classroom as well as teach.

“Because I think that when we let down our guards a little bit, when we allow ourselves to be exposed and perhaps a bit vulnerable, that ’s where real learning can take place. ” In her 19 years of teaching, Brabant said she has also learned what her role should be as a professor.

“I ’m here as a guide, but I ’m standing on the side of the road and I ’ve got a lantern and that ’s about it, ” Brabant said. “And I can wave it, I can set it down, I can hold it over my head, but I can ’t lead you. I can ’t take you all the way down that road because I don ’t know where your road is going.

I ’m just on the side of your road in this particular moment in your time and that ’s it and if I shed some light that ’s marvelous and I ’m delighted. ”

PAGE 4 | THE BUTLER COLLEGIAN

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2011

Students take a break from technology Photo by Maria Porter

BY BROOKE DEADY bdeady@butler.edu | staff writer

About 20 students took part in a technology fast, starting last Thursday.

The 24-hour fast was an event created by the Butler Catholic Community as a way for students to reflect on how often technology is a part of their lives.

“We use technology all the time without thinking about it, ” Rev. Jeff Godecker said.

“We ’re not doing this to diss technology, we ’re just doing this to see what it ’s like to live without it. ” This is the first time anything like this has happened at Butler, and Godecker said he is glad it did.

“There are a lot of things we really think have to be done, ” Godecker said. “I have a lot of stuff to get done, but today has been more relaxed and slowed down.

“There ’s definitely a reward in dropping [technology] periodically. I ’m less distracted today. ” Students participating in this fast agreed that the day was filled with fewer distractions and more time to get things done.

“In order to keep my mind off of technology, I took a walk and read a book, ” said Katie Day, a junior journalism and political science major, said. “They ’re both things I enjoy doing but never ‘have time ’ to do. ” Olivia Yoch, a junior dance performance and English literature major, said she didn ’t have to carry as much around with her all

day.

“It was community-building, which is kind of ironic, ” she said.

Yoch said if she wanted to do anything with other people, she needed to make sure she planned certain times to meet them.

“I could imagine this being hard to do through a long period of time as a college student, but I think I could to it on and off, ” Yoch said. “I ’m glad it was Thursday through Friday. I think I had an advantage because I ’m in class all day, so I really didn ’t need to be on my phone all day. ” After the fast, Yoch didn ’t jump right back into the technology world.

“I actually didn ’t check my email until a few hours after the fast was over, and I didn ’t turn on my phone until later that night, ” she said. “And today [Saturday], I ’ve only really sent three or four text messages. ” There was one exception to the technology-free day —academics. Godecker said academics are always a number one priority, so students were allowed to use technology to complete assignments and any anything school-related.

Before the fast, Day told Godecker she thought it was going to be excruciating. Instead of excruciating, she said she found it rather freeing.

“The benefits ended up being a slower pace, less time wasted, and an overall increased satisfaction with productivity, ” she said.

Dictionary expands its vocab

BY AJA CACAN acacan@butler.edu | staff writer

Other than being used as online or text abbreviations, what do the “words ” LOL and OMG and the verb “to heart ” have in common?

They were all just recently added to the Oxford English Dictionary, and it has been causing quite a stir among some linguists.

Bill Walsh, a professor of English, says the controversy is often nonexistent.

He says the media often exaggerates the issue, when in reality, there isn ’t much of a resistance to the inclusion of modern terminology in the Oxford English Dictionary.

Walsh said it all has to do with how one treats the evolution of language.

“The language is what people speak and the dictionary has every right to present the language as it is used, ” Walsh said.

Sophomore English-writing major Eric Ellis agreed.

“I think the inclusion of new, increasingly popular phrases to the dictionary is a good thing, ” he said. “Humans are linguistic creatures and the way we study and observe language should be all-inclusive. ” Sophomore chemistry major Jordan Krieble said that the dictionary is more than a reference, and it should catalog the way our language has evolved. However, she is not sure LOL and its companions belong just yet.

“Although slang is a big part of our everyday speech, I ’m not sure the diction-

ary is the place for it until it becomes a little more constant, ” Krieble said. “Most slang and initialisms come and go, but the ones that stick are worth recording. ” Walsh said the Oxford English Dictionary makes decisions on what words to include based on submissions.

Along with definitions, the dictionary usually includes the first time the word appeared in print. For instance, the word OMG can be traced back to a 1917 letter written to Winston Churchill.

“Sometimes the meaning [of a word] evolves, ” Walsh said. “This happened with the word LOL, which in 1960 signified ‘little old ladies. ’ I think the dictionary attempts to describe the language as it ’s spoken.

“I don ’t go around saying LOL. In fact, I still haven ’t figured out if it ’s ‘laugh out loud ’ or ‘lots of love. ’ ” Citing a recent New York Times article by linguist Geoffrey Nunberg, Walsh said the dictionary can serve either a prescriptive or descriptive purpose. Rather than make strict rules about the proper use of language, the Oxford English Dictionary embodies the descriptive approach.

He said there is a big distinction between what dictionaries used to be in the past and what they have become in a modern sense.

“A dictionary has a task to perform but it doesn ’t supersede our independent use of

In case you didn ’t know LOL n. in the language of electronic communications: “ha ha! ” OMG int. Expressing astonishment, excitement, embarrassment, etc.: “oh my God! ” heart v. To love; to be fond of. the language, ” Walsh said.

He said in today ’s times, not only are internet and texting acronyms becoming more ubiquitous, but languages are coming into contact and exchanging terminology in this way as well.

Ellis said it was unfortunate that some words or phrases that help define generations, cultures and subcultures are often dismissed just for being considered slang.

“In our ever-expanding globalized world where ideas can be exchanged instantaneously, LOL has evolved to mean more than just [what] the acronym implies, ” Ellis said.

When it comes to the evolving standards of what is acceptable in language, the consensus seems to lean towards describing how the language is actually spoken.

“Language is constantly changing and developing, ” Krieble said. “I don ’t see why our references shouldn ’t keep up. ”

Attorney general explains duties

BY AJA CACAN acacan@butler.edu | staff writer

On April 6, Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller spoke to political science instructor Larry Williamson ’s state and local government class.

It ’s not every day that a high-ranking government official speaks to one of Butler ’s political science classes, so Williamson said the attorney general ’s visit was “a welcome, but complete surprise. ” He said he had been receiving correspondence from the attorney general ’s office, which had offered to be available to the class.

“I decided that would be good when we came to courts and the judicial system, ” Williamson said.

He said he never, anticipated that the attorney general himself would visit in person, though.

After introducing himself to the class, Zoeller launched into a description of what his office does.

“The role of the attorney general is essentially managing the state law firm, ” he said.

Zoeller has worked for former Sen. Dan Quayle, serving as assistant to Quayle during his vice presidency after the 1988 Bush-Quayle victory.

He has served as Indiana ’s elected attorney general since 2009, prior to which he worked in the office for eight years.

“The attorney general ’s office is this large law firm inside of state government, ” Zoeller said. “I have 148 attorneys, seven divisions, with a very diverse and complex system of cases. ” The attorney general ’s office doesn ’t just concern itself with consumer affairs,

GREG ZOELLER Zoeller said, but also represents state officials, agencies and bureaucracy.

“We serve as the attorney that takes cases to court on behalf of the agencies and defends when sued, ” he said.

Zoeller said one of the most interesting aspects of the job is its relationship to the judicial system: the office represents all prosecutors in appeals cases.

“It ’s the most fascinating role to defend an entire system of justice, and what it ’s made me recognize is that we too often take it for granted that justice just happens, ” Zoeller said.

Senior recording industry studies major Kyle Snyder said it was an honor to have a prominent member of the state government take time out of his busy day to spend with the class.

“In a time when nothing seems to come out of the government but bickering and partisanship, Zoeller made clear what mature representatives do on a day-today basis to make our state function, ” Snyder said.

When asked about par-

tisanship, Zoeller, a Republican, stressed that he has always placed a priority on building relationships with his clients, regardless of political persuasion.

“I ’m making sure my office is as apolitical as possible, ” Zoeller said. “You have to maintain the trust of your clients and try to develop some personal relationships. ” Being a part of the attorney general ’s office requires a high level of cooperation, which may even extend internationally. Zoeller is currently working with the attorney general of Mexico to reform the Mexican criminal justice system to help combat the problem of drug cartels.

“It makes me realize that we shouldn ’t take our criminal justice system for granted, ” Zoeller said.

After the Attorney General spoke, the students were able to ask questions on a range of topics relating to his office —from consumer affairs to specific laws to political or policy matters.

Williamson said Zoeller was very complimentary of the level of questions asked, comparing them to those he usually gets at law schools.

“I thought his impressions were good, ” Williamson said.

“I was very pleased with the response the students gave and the questions that were asked. ” Williamson said having a state or local government official visit the class helps add depth to the subject matter and makes the course seem less abstract to students.

“It puts a real-time, realworld, human face on the topic being discussed, ” Williamson said. “[It] helps students relate in a meaningful way and helps learning occur. ”

SPORTS THE BUTLER COLLEGIAN

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2011

PAGE 5

Making History

Softball victorious in 16-inning rubber match vs. Vikings

BY LANCE RINKER lrinker@butler.edu | asst. sports editor

The Bulldogs outlasted Cleveland State in 16 innings Sunday to win the longest game in Butler softball history.

The win marked Butler ’s second over the Vikings (19-14, 4-5 HL) in as many days. Prior to the weekend, Butler had beaten the Vikings only once in 13 tries since 2006.

The Bulldogs (21-15, 7-3 HL) and sophomore pitcher Jenny Esparza carried that momentum into yesterday ’s double-header versus Valparaiso.

“Valparaiso has beaten us before, so we have a chip on our shoulder, ” Esparza said prior to yesterday ’s games.

In the opening game, Esparza pitched a complete game shutout, striking out 12 batters en route to a 2-0 victory.

Esparza has hurled three straight complete games and has not allowed a run in 23 consecutive innings of work.

The contest was a scoreless deadlock until the fifth inning when senior center fielder Erin Jackson singled with two outs.

Jackson went on to steal second before eventually scoring the goahead run on a single by junior leftfielder Lauren McNulty.

Butler didn ’t have that same success in the second game of the doubleheader.

Junior Breanna Fisher allowed no earned runs in two and twothirds innings of work.

However, Fisher was credited with the loss after the Crusaders scored three unearned runs in

SWINGING TO VICTORY: Junior rst baseman Erin Falkenberry swings at a Cleveland State pitch Saturday at Butler Softball Field. Falkenberry went 7-for-16 in the last ve games and drove in the game-winning run in Sunday ’s record 16-inning game. (Photo by Ryan Love) the third inning following a Butler fielding error.

The Bulldogs entered the ninth inning trailing, 3-1, but another fielding error by the Bulldogs set up a big inning for Valparaiso.

A throwing error by sophomore second baseman Meaghan Sullivan resulted in four Crusader runs and sealed the Bulldogs ’ demise.

Butler was unable to rally in the bottom of the ninth and lost, 7-1.

Despite the road bump, Esparza still believes the Bulldogs can ride the momentum from winning the Cleveland State series throughout the remainder of conference play.

“It was a huge confidence booster for us, ” Esparza said.

Esparza picked up the win for Butler, pitching a complete game while allowing no earned runs.

“I didn ’t even feel tired until later that night, ” Esparza said. “I was

running on so much adrenaline. ” During the past week, Esparza picked up five wins in six outings.

The right-hander allowed only five runs in that stretch, while striking out 48 batters in 42 innings of wor.

Her efforts earned her Horizon League Softball Pitcher of the Week honors.

The Bulldogs jumped to an early lead when junior first baseman Erin Falkenberry drove in Sullivan with

a single in the third inning.

But Cleveland State sophomore Tess Sito would hold the Bulldogs scoreless for the next 12 innings.

Sito pitched the entirety of the game for the Vikings, striking out 10 and allowing two earned runs.

“We were able to stay tough, mentally and physically, through the entire game, ” Falkenberry said.

“The hard work that we put in during the offseason has really paid off. ” Falkenberry was too tough to strikeout and hit a walk-off single in the 16th inning to win the game and clinch the weekend series.

One day earlier, Butler split a doubleheader with the Vikings, winning the first game, 3-1, before falling, 6-0, in the second game.

Again, Esparza recorded the win for the Bulldogs, hurling another complete game and allowing just three hits.

McNulty belted a solo home run in the first inning, finishing 1-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. In his first season as head coach, Scott Hall has lead Butler to a 7-3 Horizon League record, currently good enough for second in the conference and a half game behind Wright State.

“We ’re still learning, ” Hall said.

“As long as we can make sure that we ’re not repeating mistakes, I think we ’re going to be there at the end and ready for a run in the conference tournament. ” Butler will finish its nine-game homestand this week —one game tomorrow against Valparaiso and three games against Green Bay beginning Saturday.

Downright Domination Men ’s, women ’s golf teams capture Big Four Classic titles

BY MATT RHINESMITH mrhinesma@butler.edu | sports staff writer

With two weeks until the Horizon League Championship, the Butler men ’s golf team is hitting its stride.

That became evident Thursday at the Big Four Classic at the Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Ind. The Bulldogs won the team title at the event by 25 strokes, finishing with a combined score of 303. Hanover finished second, followed by DePauw and Wabash.

Junior Alex Walker tied for the top individual spot in the tournament with DePauw senior Chase King. Both finished with a score of 74.

Butler sophomore Matt Vitale captured third place, finishing only one stroke behind Walker and King.

“It was a good event for us, ” Vitale said. “I thought we really built some good momentum for conference in two weeks. ” Sophomore Andrew Wegeng took fourth place with a score of 76.

“I was happy with the way they played, ” head coach Bill Mattingly said. “We ’ve had a little bit of a slow start to the spring, so it was good to see us get back on track. ” The Butler women ’s team experienced similar success at the Big Four Classic.

The Bulldogs also took home the team title, beating out second place DePauw by 14 strokes. Franklin edged out Hanover for third to round out the field.

Senior Molly Fields took home the individual title, winning by three strokes over junior teammate Michele Nash.

Nash shot a 78, while Fields finished with a 75.

Junior Clare Cornelius took fourth place with an 81.

“Our depth was really put on display at this event, ” Mattingly said. “This was the girls ’ last event before conference, so it was good to get a win. ”

on

deck

THURSDAY WOMEN ’S TENNIS vs. Wright State — 11 a.m.

SATURDAY

The men looked to carry momentum from the win into the Adidas Hoosier Invitational held at Bloomington, Ind., April 9 and 10.

Senior Ryan Wegeng was the highest finisher for Butler, shooting 213 over three rounds and tying for ninth.

Andrew Wegeng and Vitale finished in a tie for 37th place.

Both shot a 10-over-par 223. Walker shot 225 and finished in a tie for 43rd.

“Alex has been very consistent for us this spring, ” Mattingly said. “He ’s a guy that can shoot a low score for us at conference. ” After the first round, the Bulldogs found themselves in a tie for third out of 15 teams competing.

After a tough second round, they started the third round strong. Ultimately, the Bulldogs finished in 10th place, one stroke behind ninth-place George Washington.

“We played great in the first round, so that ’s promising, ” Mattingly said. “We just needed to finish over the second and third rounds. ” The next competition for the men will be April 16 and 17 at the Yestingsmeier Invitational in Muncie, Ind. Following the Big Four Classic, the women competed at the Brown Bear Invitational, hosted by Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, on April 10 and 11.

The Bulldogs took sixth place in the two-day tournament, shooting a combined score of 312. Princeton took home the team title.

Nash finished the first day tied for sixth place with a 74.

She ended the tournament with a score of 75 and tied for 10th.

Her two-day score was 149.

Cornelius and senior Marcella Moreman tied for 35th with a two day score of 159.

“Overall, it was a good tournament for us, ” Mattingly said.

“We don ’t play again until conference. I thought we played

WOMEN ’S TENNIS vs. Valparaiso — 2 p.m.

SOFTBALL vs. Green Bay — 1, 3 p.m.

Upcoming Bulldog Events

MEN ’S TENNIS vs. Valparaiso — 10 a.m.

BASEBALL vs. Lawrence — 1, 4 p.m.

FIELDS OF GREEN: Senior Molly Fields sinks a putt on her way to an individual title from the Big Four Classic late last week. (Photo by Colin Likas) well in preparation for it. ” The Horizon League Championship, held April 22 to 24, marks the end of the women ’s golf season.

“Both the men and the women are playing well, ” Mattingly said. “The men have one more competition before conference and the women are definitely moving in the right direction. ”

SUNDAY MEN ’S TENNIS vs. UIC — 10 a.m.

BASEBALL vs. Lawrence — 12 p.m.

WOMEN ’S TENNIS vs. UIC — 2 p.m.

SOFTBALL vs. Green Bay — 12 p.m.

TUESDAY MEN ’S TENNIS vs. IUPUI — 3 p.m.

PAGE 6 | THE BUTLER COLLEGIAN

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2011

Vikings conquer Bulldogs, ve-match win streak ends

BY MATT SCHUMACKER

mdschuma@butler.edu | sports staff writer

The Butler women ’s tennis team improved to 4-1 in conference play after splitting a pair of matches with Youngstown State and Cleveland State last weekend.

Riding a four-match win streak, Butler (9-7, 4-1 HL) continued its solid play Saturday against the Penguins (5-11, 2-4 HL), winning 5-2.

The day started with a team sweep in doubles play, highlighted by an 8-2 win by senior Gabriela Bobrowski and sophomore Brittany Farmer in the No. 2 spot.

“The key for us was getting off to a good start and being focused, ” Bobrowski said. “It was really important to get ahead in doubles play. It ’s what we ’ve been doing all year. ” Butler ’s success continued in the singles matches, where the Bulldogs won all four points.

Farmer cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Youngstown State sophomore Annie Jesko at the No. 6 spot.

“We have a very strong team from top to bottom, ” Bobrowski said.

Some younger Bulldogs put Butler ’s depth on display.

Freshman Caroline Hedrick picked up the win at No. 2 singles, 6-3, 6-2.

This was followed by victories from a pair of freshmen: Stephanie McLoughlin, 6-2, 6-1, and Gabrielle Rubenstein, 6-2, 7-5.

Cleveland State visited Butler Sunday and so did sunny weather, allowing the Bulldogs to play their first outdoor match of the season.

Bobrowski admitted that playing outdoors affected her play against the Vikings (8-11, 3-1 HL).

“The conditions are completely different outdoors, ” Bobrowski said. “You have to play with heat, wind, shadows. It is something we are not used to yet ” For the first time in five matches, the Bulldogs did not win the doubles competition, dropping two of the three doubles points.

Butler went on to lose the match, 6-1.

The lone singles victory for Butler came from Hedrick at the No. 2 spot.

Hedrick defeated Cleveland State freshman Alexandra Bush easily, 6-3, 6-1.

The Bulldogs loss snapped the team ’s longest winning streak of the season at five matches.

“The player who is most patient and lasts the longest usually wins, ” Bobrowski said. “We just need to work on being more consistent outdoors. ” Butler will close out the season with three conference matches, including a regular season finale against the leagueleading UIC Flames (14-3, 6-0 HL).

“UIC has been our biggest rival ever since I ’ve been here, ” Bobrowski said. “But right now, we are just focusing on one

SLICE IT UP: Senior and No. 1 singles player Natali Jaimes prepares to hit a backhand slice against Youngstown State. (Photo by Ryan Love) match at a time. ” Right now, we are only concerened with Wright State. ” Butler will host the Wright State Raiders (11-7, 4-1 HL) in a conference match tomorrow on the outdoor courts near the intramural fields.

The Bulldogs are currently tied with Wright State for second place in the Horizon League.

Baseball hits three-game skid after big win

BY COLIN LIKAS clikas@butler.edu | asst. sports editor

Following a 15-run showing against Youngstown State Friday, the Butler baseball team has struggled to score, resulting in a three-game losing streak.

The Bulldogs (12-16, 4-5 HL) will look to revive their offense against Lawrence on Friday after being shut out by Dayton yesterday.

The Flyers (17-16) scored three times in the third inning and got help from Butler ’s shaky defense to top the Bulldogs, 4-0.

Butler outhit Dayton, 7-4, but the Flyers took advantage of errors in the third and sixth innings to bring home two of their four runs.

That was all the run support Dayton pitchers would need. Junior Tim Bury pitched five and two-thirds innings out of the bullpen, giving up seven hits and striking out five.

The Flyers received RBIs from junior shortstop Brian Blasik and junior first baseman C.J. Gillman.

Freshman Marcos Calderon took the loss

for the Bulldogs, going four innings and allowing three runs on two hits.

On Friday, Butler ’s slate of games against the Penguins (8-21, 3-3 HL) started with a strong victory for the Bulldogs, as they defeated Youngstown State, 15-1. The 14-run win was Butler ’s largest of the season. “[The win] was really fun, ” head coach Steve Farley said. “We got great pitching and hitting, but I wish we wouldn ’t have won by so much. ” The Bulldogs piled up 18 hits in the game and received 11 RBIs from junior rightfielder Mike Hoscheit and senior third baseman Grant Fillipitch combined.

Hoscheit went 3-for-5 with 7 RBIs in the contest. It was a career day for Hoscheit, who drove home six of the seven runs on doubles in the fifth, seventh and ninth innings.

“The whole team was hitting, ” Hoscheit said. “It became contagious and it took the pressure off at the plate. ” Up 2-0 entering the fifth inning, the Bull-

dogs scored four times thanks to an RBI double by Hoscheit, a run-scoring single by Fillipitch and a two-run triple by freshman first baseman Zach Sizemore.

Butler kept pressure on the Penguins through the rest of the game, tallying nine runs on nine hits over the final four innings.

While Hoscheit ’s seven-RBI day topped the scoresheet for Butler, the Bulldogs also received strong hitting performances from Fillipitch, who went 3-for-5 with three runs and four RBIs, and senior second baseman Luke Duncan, who went 4-for-4 and scored four times.

Senior Dom Silvestri pitched eight innings, allowing only a ninth-inning run on seven hits while striking out three.

Butler was unable to carry over any momentum from its big win the previous day to Saturday ’s contest, however.

In the opener, Youngstown State got two runs in the opening frame courtesy of an error and an RBI single, giving the Penguins a

5-1 victory.

Butler was held to one run by senior Phil Kline, who went seven innings and gave up four hits while striking out 10 hitters.

The Bulldogs were in control of the second game until Youngstown State staged a late comeback and won in walk-off fashion, 4-3.

Butler scored all three of its runs in the fourth inning, led by an RBI double from sophomore first baseman Pat Gelwicks.

The Penguins scored a run in the eighth inning and two more runs in the ninth inning, winning the game on a single from freshman second baseman Phil Lipari.

“Youngstown State just kept coming back, ” Farley said. “We really didn ’t do anything bad so I don ’t expect us to be too down on ourselves. ” On April 6, the Bulldogs hosted Purdue and dropped a 10-8 decision.

Butler will welcome the Vikings (2-15) from Lawrence for a three-game series before heading to Ball State April 19.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2011

THE BUTLER COLLEGIAN | PAGE 7

OVERTIME: NFL greed could hurt Indy

BY EMILY NEWELL

enewell@butler.edu | print managing editor

$400 million in one weekend: that ’s what the city of Indianapolis will lose out on if the National Football League and the NFL Players ’ Association fail to renegotiate the collective bargaining agreement.

While the league ’s lockout “millionaire versus billionaire ” fight continues into its fifth week, the city of Indianapolis is paying the price.

Though tourism, hospitality and Super Bowl planning leaders say they ’re continuing to move forward with “business as usual, ” I cannot help but think how greed in sports could ruin this incredible opportunity for Indianapolis.

Beginning with the creation of the Capital Improvement Board in 1965, the city has built itself up as a sports city. Indianapolis leaders wanted their city to become the amateur sports capital of the world.

Today, Indianapolis is the home of the NCAA, the National Federation of State High School Associations, USA Synchronized Swimming, USA Diving, USA Football, USA Track and Field and USA Gymnastics.

The city has spent —and continues to spend —millions to build and maintain Conseco Fieldhouse for the Indi-

BETTER TIMES: Indianapolis Colts ’ owner Jim Irsay (center) may not have the chance to raise the Lombardi trophy this season. (Photo from MCT)

ana Pacers and Indiana Fever, along with the Indianapolis Colts ’ $720 million Lucas Oil Stadium.

The city has a deal with the NCAA to host the Men ’s Final Four once every five years, according to an Indianapolis Star article from 2004.

“The NCAA not only broke from its conventional bidding process, it also promised the Indiana Sports Corp., an additional event in each of the intervening years between men ’s Final Fours, ” the article said. “The women ’s Final Four, men ’s and women ’s early-round tournament games and the NCAA Convention will be included in each fiveyear cycle. ” It is only natural that, as Indy has grown into its role as a sports city, it hosts a Super Bowl.

But greed could stand in its way.

According to the collective bargaining agreement, a player ’s salary is defined as any “compensation in money, property, investments, loans or anything else of value to which an NFL player may be awarded. ” NFL franchise owners currently take $1 billion off the top of the approximately $9 billion total revenue brought in by the league. After that, a little less than 60 percent of the remaining money goes to the NFLPA —which includes player salaries and benefits —while the owners share the rest.

Sure, players are getting more than half of the revenue the NFL generates, but that ’s after the 32 owners take the first billion. Their demands for a new collective bargaining agreement include an additional billion off the top.

While the 32 owners share in about 40 percent of the income, the other 60 percent is being spread out among the league ’s 1,696 players.

I understand the owners are trying to run a successful business, but they have to make the players happy. With no players, they have no business. It is the players and their likeness that rake in the cash.

Many today argue that players are overpaid.

In reality, they are paid what we have deemed them to be worth.

We are the ones who watch the games, buy the jerseys, play the video games and idolize them. As a society, we look up to the players as though they are demigods If we expect for them to be paid less, we should not look up to them as superheroes.

In all this, I suppose I am just upset that a city like Indianapolis, which has more than 10,000 volunteers working tirelessly to make sure the city is pristine, could lose out on the Super Bowl because of a few selfish individuals.

They would take away the Super Bowl —though it has never happened before —for a billion more dollars. They

would take away that $400 million from Indianapolis so that the billionaires can accumulate another billion.

Indy deserves this Super Bowl. If greed takes it away, we should look to the NFL in shame, not adoration.

NOT COMFORTING: Carolina Panthers ’ owner Jerry Richardson (right) was abusive to players during lockout negotiations. (Photo from MCT)

Men ’s tennis splits conference matches

BY MATT SCHUMACKER mdschuma@butler.edu | sports staff writer

Still battling injuries and coming off a rough outing against conference opponent Green Bay, the Butler men ’s tennis team pulled out a win over Youngstown State on Saturday.

The Bulldogs (5-13, 2-3 HL), led by the singles play of seniors Brandon Bayliss and Chris Herron, came out on top, defeating the Penguins (5-12, 1-5 HL), 6-1.

Butler was dominant against Youngstown State, sweeping doubles play and winning all but one singles match “I had a lot of energy going into my singles match, ” Herron said.

“We got off to a great start in our doubles match and that momentum carried over. ” Herron won his match at No. 2 singles in two sets against sophomore Felipe Rosa, 7-5, 6-4. Bayliss also defeated his opponent, junior Tariq Ismail, winning 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 at No. 1 singles. With the win,

Bayliss remained unbeaten in Horizon League singles play.

Junior Zach Ervin picked up a victory at No. 3 singles, taking the tiebreaker against freshman Max Schmerin for the win, 7-6, 6-7, 10-7.

Senior Lenz Theodor was a winner at No. 4 singles for the Bulldogs (1-6, 6-1, 6-2) and senior David Dolins took the win at No. 6 singles via forfeit.

Butler swept doubles play as well, posting an 8-5 victory at No. 1 doubles and winning, 8-4, at No. 2 doubles. The No. 3 doubles match was forfeited by the Penguins, who competed with five athletes.

“It was a great turnaround from last weekend, ” freshman Brad DiCarlo said. “It was a great confidence booster heading into the final stretch of the regular season. ” Sunday ’s matchup against conference foe Cleveland State brought a different outcome, as the Bulldogs fell to the Vikings (12-7, 6-0 HL), 4-3.

Herron and Bayliss were both

victorious in singles play once again, beating their opponents 6-3, 7-6 and 6-3, 6-2, respectively. This time, however, the two were the only Butler players to pick up victories in singles play.

The team went two for three in doubles play to open the day. The team of Herron and senior Bryce Warren won, 8-6, at No. 1 doubles, while the duo of Ervin and senior Ben Shafer won, 8-6, at No. 3 doubles.

“Cleveland State is a tough team, ” Herron said. “Being that close with two guys down shows a lot. ” The team hopes to have injured junior Stephen McLoughlin back in the lineup by its April 16 matchup against Valparaiso.

DiCarlo said that the experience he and others have gained as a result of injuries has been important.

“We just have to keep working hard and grinding it out, ” DiCarlo said.

Yesterday, the Bulldogs lost an-

Track stumbles at Miami Ohio Invite

BY STEVEN PEEK speek@butler.edu | sports editor

The Butler men ’s and women ’s track teams had mediocre finishes at last weekend ’s 17-team Miami Ohio Invitational in Oxford, Ohio.

The men finished in the middle of the pack at eighth, while the women finished 10th.

Despite the team struggles, there were some strong individual performances, most notably from senior Kris Gauson and sophomore Kirsty Legg.

Gauson won the men ’s 1500-meter run in 3:46.41, and also finished fourth in the men ’s 800-meter run (1:53.46).

Two teammates of Gauson ’s —freshman Ross Clarke and sophomore Craig Jordan — supported Gauson ’s finishes with more points for the Bulldogs.

Clarke was the runner-up in the 1500-meter run (3:46.73), and Jordan made his way to a fifth-place finish in the same race, running a time of 3:49.45.

Freshman Thomas Brueggemann placed sixth in the men ’s 100-meter dash (11.14) and was also Butler ’s top runner in the 200-meter dash, finishing in 11th-place with a time of 21.90.

Freshman Alex Berry was the only other Bulldog to record a top ten finish in a sprinting event.

Berry placed ninth in the 400-meter dash, coming in at 49.14.

The Bulldogs were unable to amass any points in the field events.

Host Miami took home the team title, edging out Kent State by a single point.

Legg led Butler ’s women ’s team with a first-place finish in the women ’s 800-meter run, running it in 2:11.97.

She also placed 10th in the women ’s 1500-meter run (4:33.17).

Senior Rosie Edwards took a fourth-place finish in the women ’s 5000-meter at 17:40.27, and junior Becky Howarth came in seventh (18:05.72).

The women ’s squad struggled in the sprinting events, as no individuals cracked the top ten in the 100-, 200- or 400-meter dashes.

As on the men ’s side, Miami captured the team crown, defeating second-place Cincinnati by six points.

The Butler track team ’s next meet starts Friday in Walnut, Calif., at the Mount Sac Relays.

MAKING STRIDES: Senior Chris Herron won both of his singles and doubles matches over the weekend and has won his last six doubles matches overall. (Photo by Maria Porter) other close match, falling to the Raiders (12-9, 3-2 HL), 4-3.

Butler faces conference power

Wright State Wednesday at home before heading to Ball State Thursday.

A&E

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2011

THE BUTLER COLLEGIAN

PAGE 8

The soundtrack of your summer The Lawn at White River State Park announces best season yet

Arcade Fire

Alison Krauss

Ray LaMontagne

Florence + the Machine

Umphrey ’s McGee

The Avett Brothers Photos courtesy of Bohlsen PR

Get ready for an epic summer of concerts if you ’re staying in the Indy area. White River State Park has answered of our prayers and delivered a lawn season worthy of awards, trophies and thank you notes.

BY BRIAN WANBAUGH AND CAITLIN O ’ROURKE Arcade Fire April 27, 7 p.m.

Coming off of their shocking Grammy win for Album of the Year for “The Suburbs, ” Arcade Fire comes to White River State Park for what is sure to be a fantastic show. Listen for some of their new hits from “The Suburbs, ” along with old classics such as “Rebellion (Lies). ” Expect great energy and liveliness from lead singer Win Butler and company.

Alison Krauss & The Union Station June 9, 7:30 p.m.

Alison Krauss is more than the real deal. She has 26 Grammys to her name —more than any other female artist. Her angelic voice and bluegrass roots have widely appealed to audiences. Her summer tour will be be promoting her collaboration with The Union Station, “Paper Airplane, ” but we just can ’t wait until she pairs up with Robert Plant again.

The Black Keys June 10, 8 p.m.

Rock duo The Black Keys have moved from underground favorite to bonafide rock stars after climbing to No. 3 on the Billboard Albums chart and receiving five Grammy nominations this past year. Expect a rocking night of guitar-filled jamming to hit songs off their latest album, “Brothers, ” mixed with songs from the band ’s earlier but less successful releases.

Ray LaMontagne June 14, 7 p.m.

A modern day mountain man/folk/rock singer, Ray LaMontagne and his band, the Pariah Dogs, are set to bring its unique style of music to White River for a classic concert.

His latest album, “God Willin ’ and the Creek Don ’t Rise, ” was nominated for two Grammy awards, including Best Contemporary Folk Album and Song of the Year for “Beg Steal or Borrow. ” LaMontagne ’s soulful voice, unlike most artists, adds depth to his songs.

The Decemberists August 5, time TBA Although they won ’t be performing an epic rock opera like they did after the release of the ingenious “The Hazards of Love, ” their newest album, “The King is Dead, ” is pretty amazing itself. It ’s a continuation of the most literate indie music we ’ve heard. After all, it ’s a rare band that can make lines like “All dolled up in gabardine, the lash-flashing Leda of pier nineteen ” work in the most un-pretentious way possible.

Umphrey ’s McGee June 25, 7 p.m.

Its primary influences are jam bands such as Phish and the Grateful Dead, along with progressive rock bands such as King Crimson —so just a warning, this concert could be a long one. Having not released an album since 2009 ’s “Mantis, ” Umphrey ’s McGee still has a cult following which makes their shows quite the event for the band and audience alike. In summary: long, yes; boring, never.

Ke$ha August 23, time TBA Love her or hate her, you can ’t deny her music is catchy.

Whether she ’s singing about first kisses with 3OH!3 or her penchant for men who look like Mick Jagger —presumably when he was still in his 20s and 30s —Ke$ha has become a staple for clubs, dance parties and any other time you need a pick-me-up. Go ahead, splash some glitter on your face and “Blah Blah Blah ” your heart out. We won ’t tell.

Florence + the Machine July 4, 7 p.m.

It was a rare soul who didn ’t enjoy “Dog Days Are Over ” when it originally came out. Florence Welch has a voice that at times seems otherworldly and mystical, making her music unique in the parade of pop queens in mainstream music today. Her influence has been strong already, featured in movies like “Eat Pray Love ” and even gaining a “Glee ” cover earlier this year. Listen to the rest of her debut 2009 album “Lungs ” and just try to admit you wouldn ’t want to see her live.

The Avett Brothers October 1, time TBA You ’ve officially made it when you can say you ’ve performed “Maggie ’s Farm ” onstage with Bob Dylan. The Avett Brothers, comprised of actual brothers Scott and Seth, along with Bob Crawford and touring members Joe Kwon and Jacob Edwards, has been the folk scene ’s darling for quite some time now. Their newest album, “I and Love and You ” has been a huge hit, reaching No. 16 on the Billboard best selling 200. Expect a raw show that encompasses their folk, bluegrass and rock influences.

Demetri Martin ’s guide to comedy and touring

BY CAITLIN O ’ROURKE

ing more contact with the audience. It ’s more He ’s known for his stints on “The Daily of a conversation now. I think I ’ve evolved a Show, ” the lead role in Ang Lee ’s “Taking little bit.

Woodstock ” and his very particular brand of C: What ’s life like on tour? Any downfalls? stand-up —complete with guitar strumming DM: It ’s like being a traveling salesman and drawing on a large notepad. or drifter. It ’s also really hard to eat well, esNow, he ’s writing a book. There doesn ’t pecially at an airport. They try to sell these seem to be much that Demetri Martin can ’t muffins to appeal to you but a muffin is just do. That ’s why we can ’t wait until Martin a doughnut in different shape. I end up feelperforms next week at the Egyptian Room ing like shit, probably because I just ate ten at the Old National Centre. Martin was kind doughnuts this week. Maybe I ’m just getting enough to grant us a short —and very enter- old. taining —interview about what we can expect.

Collegian: You use a lot of different elements in your shows. How did these ideas come to you?

Demetri Martin: When I first started, I just did one-liners because that ’s what I felt comfortable with and that ’s as much time I had. Using a notepad came from the fact that I would draw my idea out most of the time and I wanted to see if I could do it onstage.

With the guitar, I just started trying stuff out and didn ’t really worry about how good I was.

C: What can we expect from the show?

DM: For the first five shows [which includes Indianapolis], there will be plenty of new material, guitar playing, my large pad — trying to work the crowd, you know.

C: So, this is your first novel. What were your expectations and how did it follow through?

DM: I ’m proud of it. I ’m really pleased that I got a chance to do it. I really want to write another, so I am. I got the deal a couple weeks back.

C: How have you evolved as a comedian?

TRENDSPOTTER: Demetri Martin brings his unique brand DM: I ’m getting more personal and havcorourke@butler.edu | a&e editor

Rollin ’ on

Photo courtesy ofAlex Reese

The members of Naptown Roller Girls are some of the most hardcore ladies in town, and their last bout is this Saturday. So what exactly is roller derby? Read on. BY CAITLIN O ’ROURKE It ’s ok —the members of Naptown Roller Girls understand that if you know anything about roller derby at all, it ’s probably from the female-enpowering “Whip It ” with Ellen Page and Drew Barrymore.

They just want you to know one thing.

“Our hair never looks that good when we take our helmets off, ” Amber “Strawberry Jam ” Jones, founder of NRG, said.

However, roller derby is fast becoming a popular and well-known sport and NRG regularly draws crowds of 5,000 to their “bouts ” —roller derby ’s term for games.

It ’s a tough, contact sport that draws in the toughest women in town. Freddie Cougar, a current roller girl and Butler grad, said no bout is ever typical, with the girls sometimes beating other teams by 200 or bouts coming down to the last point.

NRG was founded five years ago by Jones and some of her friends to very little notice in town. Now, they pack the Pepsi Coliseum where they play, and are ranked No. 23 in the country.

“What ’s most interesting to me is that we

play a sport that ’s as physically involved as rugby, lacrosse or soccer, ” Cougar said, “but we do it on roller skates. It ’s sort of nuts when you think about it.

“There also aren ’t a lot of sports where you might end up with one of the players in your lap. ” It ’s a significant time commitment, but the girls are more than willing to give it their all for practices, scrimmages, bouts and promotions for the team. Jones describes it simply as “intense. ” These girls can play just as rough as the boys can, and they prove it with every bout they play.

“It ’s a wild culture where women like to have a lot of fun, ” Cougar said.

The Naptown Roller Girls will be playing their last bout April 16 at the Pepsi Coliseum on the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Doors open at 5 p.m. and bouts are at 5:30 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance or $17 at the door. For more information, visit www.naptownrollergirls.com

of humor to Indy next week. (Photo courtesy of Robyn Lee)

The Butler Arts and Entertainment Calendar 13 Rock of Ages Clowes Memorial Hall 7:30 p.m.

14 The DNA Repair PB204 11 a.m.

Rock of Ages Clowes Memorial Hall 7:30 p.m.

15 Rock of Ages Clowes Memorial Hall 8 p.m.

16 Rock of Ages Clowes Memorial Hall 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.

17 Rock of Ages Clowes Memorial Hall 1 p.m.

18 No events scheduled

19 JCFA Faculty Artist Series Eidson-Duckwall Recital Hall 7:30 p.m.

Jazz Festival Clowes Memorial Hall 7:30 p.m.

PAGE 9 | THE BUTLER COLLEGIAN

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2011

Lyric Theater soars high with ‘Die Fledermaus ’

BY AJA CACAN acacan@butler.edu | staff writer

B

utler Lyric Theater ’s production of Johann Strauss ’ opera “Die Fledermaus ” —The Bat —promises to be a refreshing and modern take on the original.

Directing the show is John Schmid, adjunct instructor of lyric theater. Schmid is the Director of Music at nearby Fairview Presbyterian Church, and has been Course Master for the Indianapolis Opera for 27 seasons.

“We ’ve decided to do a full operetta with piano instead of orchestra, ” Schmid said.

There will be four performances because the show had to be double cast due to increased student enrollment and a high degree of student talent.

“The show is hilarious and the characters are outrageous, ” senior vocal performance major Jackie Gredell said. “All the characters are so vivid and fantastic and it should be fun to watch. ” She said it has been enjoyable working with the talented and high- caliber cast, which was se-

BATMEN AND WOMEN : “Die Fledermaus ” —The Bat — was written by Johann Strauss II in 1874 and is now being performed by the Butler Lyric Theater in 2011. A not-so typical opera, “Die Fledermaus ” promises to be a great night of entertainment. (Photo courtesy Ben Wright) lected through a highly competitive audition process.

According to Schmid, rehearsal has involved a lot of individual coaching for each student ’s role.

“We ’ve been given a lot of free rein to develop our characters, ” Gredell said.

“Die Fledermaus ” originally premiered April 5, 1874. It is a lively, witty three-act opera that follows the fortunes of Eisenstein, his wife Rosalind and their maid Adele.

These characters find themselves undergoing whimsical

twists of plot, until finally the confusion comes to a favorable resolution.

“Even though the production was originally set in the 1870s, I moved it to the flapper era of the 1920s to update it and give it more style, ” Schmid said.

Schmid said he treats his students as a mini opera company, employing several students in the production of the show. One of these students is junior music theory major Weston Bonczek, who is serving as stage manager. He said working with Schmid has been one

of the best parts of the job.

“He ’s a wonderful director and a great guy, ” Bonczek said. “I ’m really impressed with what Lyric Theater has been able to do this year. ” Senior vocal performance major Katy Merriman, who plays the part of Adele, agreed that the experience has been very positive so far.

“It ’s been great working with [Schmid]. I think it ’s great we ’re doing something with dialogue and also something that ’s a little lighter, ” she said.

Merriman also hopes guests will

enjoy the opera, not only because of its humor, but also because it ’s being performed in English rather than its original German.

“The fact that it ’s in English makes it accessible to many more people, ” Bonczek said.

Sophomore vocal performance major Myles Pinder said he thinks people should not be afraid of opera.

“I think some people are scared of the connotations of opera, but this is not a traditional opera, ” he said.

Much like the rest of the cast, he is enthusiastic about the upcoming performance and said he is honored to work with the musicians and singers.

Based on the recommendations of the cast and crew, “Die Fledermaus ” should be interesting, entertaining and well-worth seeing.

“All things considered, it ’s going to be a riot, ” Gredell said.

“Die Fledermaus ” will be performed at the Basile Opera Center at 4011 N. Pennsylvania St. April 14 and 15 at 7:30 p.m., and April 16 and 17 at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for students.

‘Your Highness ’ low quality filmmaking

BY BRIAN WANBAUGH bwanbaug@butler.edu | asst. a&e editor

T

KILLING ME SOFTLY: Jamie Hince (left) and Alison Mosshart, members of The Kills, released its most recent album , “Blood Pressure, ” last week. The album maintains pop beats but adds a soulful avor. (Photo by Gregory Perez)

‘Blood Pressures ’ keeps Kills pumping

BY SARA PRUZIN spruzin@butler.edu | asst. news editor

A

fter two albums with the band The Dead Weather, Alison Mosshart has rejoined Jamie Hince to release The Kills ’ fourth album, “Blood Pressures. ” Mosshart ’s swagger and distinctive snarl makes the album a mostly valiant return after the band ’s threeyear hiatus, but it struggles in a few places.

“Future Starts Slow ” kicks off the album with all the hallmarks of the band ’s most recent releases: a poppy, danceable beat under a darker melody and shared vocals between Hince and Mosshart. With a sing-along chorus, it sets a good pace for the album.

But the slow trail off of “Future ” makes the following “Satellite ” sound that much sharper. The first single off of the album, “Satellite ” employs a grinding beat and guitars. It also shows off Mosshart ’s innate ability to keep her voice between a growl and a moan, raspy and sultry.

“Heart is a Beating Drum, ” “Baby Says, ” “Damned if She Do ” and “You Don ’t Own the Road ” are the most reminiscent of 2008 ’s “Midnight Boom. ” Best described as “dark party music, ” these songs have the same infectious beat and simmer-

ing vocals that made “Sour Cherry ” and “U.R.A Fever ” hits on teen dramas like Gossip Girl.

“Wild Charms ” features ethereal vocals by a solo Hince to create a dreamy track that lulls along into the much heavier “DNA. ” One of the highlights of the album, the track finally showcases Mosshart ’s bravado and a bass line that transitions nicely from a deep throb to barely noticeable.

Mosshart harkens back to The Dead Weather ’s rougher sound throughout the album, but nowhere as much as on “Nail in My Coffin. ” It ’s a hell-bent, straight rock ‘n ’ roll song.

“The Last Goodbye ” is the closest the band gets to a ballad, and for good reason.

The mournful turn about a necessary, but painful, break up brings the album to a screeching halt with its plodding piano, rickety per-

cussion beat and strings. It is out of place when compared to the other songs and seems deserving of a smoky lounge instead of a crowded dance floor.

The closer, “Pots and Pans, ” is stripped down too, but succeeds where “The Last Goodbye ” fails. The acoustic guitar is mixed with just enough fuzz and distortion to keep it interesting and consistent with the rest of the album. It trails off well to a leave-behind mantra of “these are the days we ’ll never forget, when the dawn dawns on you. ” The tracks on “Blood Pressures ” aren ’t as easy to sing along to, the hooks are less pronounced, and the record as a whole has lost some of the energy and emotion of previous albums. But the record is satisfying in that it shows glimmers of other facets of The Kills ’ sound that they should explore more.

‘BLOOD PRESSURES ’ | ALBUM REVIEW After a three-year hiatus, The Kills are back and ready to keep you dancing, sort of. “Blood Pressure ” marks a new path for the band with slower ballads and songs that are not as impressive as previous dance hits. However, songs like “Future Starts Slow ” keep their familiar pop sound.

5 = perfect, 4 = outstanding, 3 = good, 2 = fair, 1 = poor

rying to compare “Your Highness ” to any other movie made in the past few years is nearly impossible. It is the first of its genre: a medieval stoner comedy, and a very odd one at that.

Starring James Franco, Danny McBride and Natalie Portman, this film is full of vulgar jokes, drug references and cringe-worthy scenes that are disgusting at times. In saying this, though, the movie is funny.

The film takes place in a fictional medieval kingdom in which Fabious (Franco) and Thaddeus (McBride) are the two princes who can ’t be any more different from each other.

Thaddeus is a marijuana-smoking, harddrink-loving hound dog who is seen as a buffoon to the other knights and royals.

On the other hand, Fabious is a strong, courageous knight who often goes on epic quests for the kingdom. On one of his quests he brings back his soon-to-be bride Belladonna (Zooey Deschanel), who was locked in the tower of the evil wizard Leezar (Justin Theroux). Leezar returns to interrupt the wedding of Fabious and Belladonna to steal her back in order to impregnate her with a dragon and fulfill an evil prophecy.

Fabious and Thaddeus end up going on a quest to save Belladonna with Thaddeus ’ servant Courtney (Rasmus Hardiker) as their help. From here they encounter a perverted old wizard, who looks like a jellyfish crossed with a muppet, a kingdom filled with women who wear nothing but skirts and a labyrinth complete with a horny minotaur and the Sword of Unicorn.

They meet Isabel (Portman) who is on the same quest as the prince —kill Leezar.

The plot was incredibly predictable. It

follows the mold of any other epic quest — save the girl, run into a bunch obstacles, come back heroes.

However, where this film differs from those is how it seemed to infuse modern day colloquialisms into a medieval setting that feels forced only a few times.

McBride as Thaddeus was easily the funniest character in the film, taking some of the mannerisms and humor from his character, Kenny Powers, on HBO ’s “Eastbound and Down. ” Franco looked like he was still hosting the Oscar ’s, with a glazed over look that makes him appear as if he had just come off of a 10-day drunk.

Portman gave the strongest acting performance of the film but might have taken the role a bit too seriously for a goofball comedy like this one.

Does this film compare to “Pineapple Express, ” the last film McBride and Franco both starred in and the last film of the director David Gordon Green? Definitely not.

Was it odd at times and hilarious at others?

Absolutely.

So if you are a fan of these actors and the director, go see this film —you will enjoy it. If you are not, avoid it like a medieval plague.

YOUR HIGHNESS | FILM REVIEW

Starring James Franco, Danny McBride and Natalie Portman, “Your Highness ” is in the similar vein of “Pineapple Express ” but not as funny and set in ctional medieval times.

5 = perfect, 4 = outstanding, 3 = good, 2 = fair, 1 = poor

A FOOL ’S QUEST : (from left) Natalie Portman, Danny McBride, James Franco and Zooey Deschanel star in “Your Highness, ” a stoner comedy/adventure lm set in a ctional medieval kingdom. (Photo courtesy MCT)

The Best Of

ndy These local spots in Indy have A&E ’s stamp of approval —a new place featured each week!

Details: Indy ’s Winter Farmers Market 530 East Ohio St. Distance from Butler: 15-minute drive Specials: Fresh produce, fruit, meat and cleaning supplies from regional farmers Why We Love This Place: Although it is spring, the Indy Winter Farmers Market still offers fresh vegetables, fruit, meat and baked goods from regional providers until April 30. So until then go purchase the freshest of the fresh produce with the satisfaction of knowing you are supporting your own community.

Want us to feature your favorite Indy spot? Send submissions to corourke@butler.edu.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2011

OPINION THE BUTLER COLLEGIAN

PAGE 10

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Spring 2011 Editorial Staff Arika Herron Editor in Chief Emily Newell Print Managing Editor Hayleigh Colombo Online Managing Editor Jill McCarter Co-News Editor Tara McElmurry Co-News Editor Sarah Pruzin Asst. News Editor Grace Wallace Asst. News Editor Lexie Smith Opinion Editor Sam Hyer Asst. Opinion Editor Caitlin O ’Rourke A&E Editor Brian Wanbaugh Asst. A&E Editor Steven Peek Sports Editor Colin Likas Asst. Sports Editor Lance Rinker Asst. Sports Editor Emelia Abbe Head Copy Editor Maria Porter Photography Editor Erin Drennan Asst. Photography Editor Ryan Love Asst. Photography Editor Kristen Perkins Graphics Editor Erin Hammeran Advertising Manager Spenser Isdahl Circulation Manager Olivia Ingle Multimedia Editor Loni McKown Adviser

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Graphic by Hayleigh Colombo

OUR POINT THIS WEEK: In an ever-advancing technological society, we need to be more conscious of where our products are coming from. | VOTE: 23-0

The human cost of technology We are all surrounded by electronics these days.

From iPhones to Macbooks, Blackberrys to Droids, it ’s virtually impossible to walk from one end of campus to another without seeing multiple people talking on, texting with or toting their cell phones and laptops.

Unfortunately, few people really think about where all of these hot new gadgets are coming from and at what expense they are being manufactured.

After reading an article in Wired Magazine, we at The Butler Collegian, were appalled to discover that 17 workers had committed suicide at the Foxconn manufacturing plant in Shenzhen, China.

We are saddened and startled by the suicides of these people after working feverishly to produce Apple products, including the iPad and iPhone.

While we found this information to be troublesome, the majority of our staff said this information would not affect their purchasing decisions about Apple products. We all agreed upon the importance of knowing where our products are coming from and under what conditions they are being manufactured, but we realize changing buying habits may not be realistic.

The conditions at the Foxconn plant were not inhumane, but workers are forced to work overtime. They even live on the factory grounds in supplied “dorm rooms ” which were roughly the

size of a two-car garage and housed, on average, eight workers. Workers were isolated from their families and friends, which eventually drove some workers to take their lives by jumping from the roofs of Foxconn buildings.

All buildings on the Foxconn campus have since been outfitted with nets near the bottom to catch any “jumpers. ” One worker who committed suicide left a note explaining that he jumped to provide for his family. According to Wired Magazine, soon after, “the program of remuneration for the families of jumpers was cancelled. ” In an ever-advancing technological world, we are always hungering for the latest and greatest of every product, but we think it would be valuable to take a step back and look at where our products are made from and at what cost. The workers who manufacture these devices fall victim to our technology-obsessed world because the corporations are always looking for cheaper, faster and more effective ways to mass produce this technology and get it to those who want it.

That Apple is involved in this tragic incident proves that even seemingly clean companies can be guilty of horrid business practices.

Foxconn manufactures electronics for numerous popular suppliers besides Apple, like Hewlett Packard, Acer, Asus, Dell, Sony and Microsoft.

We are victims of our own desire when it comes to the latest commodities in the U.S. We never seem to take time to research our products before buying them.

Overall, we are shocked by these 17 suicides in Shenzhen. They have, however, served as an insight into the manufacturing practices some high-power companies use today to produce their phones, computers and other indemand technological devices.

Even after discovering this article many of us said that we would still buy Apple products, but several staff members said they would reconsider buying Apple.

We hope this convinces others to take a closer look at that must-have item and how it is made before purchasing.

We are victims of our own desire when it comes to the latest commodities.

Dependence on smartphones grows stronger with every new app

BY LEXIE SMITH

lhsmith@butler.edu | opinion editor

Technology is advancing constantly. It seems as though every time I buy a new computer or phone, a more advanced one has already appeared to take

its place.

Although it is always exciting to grab the latest edition of the hottest technological device, I am starting to realize that I have become annoyingly dependent on the abilities of my electronic devices.

For Christmas, I got my first smartphone and I love it. It is, however, in some ways assisting in ruining my life. Let ’s start with the Facebook app I installed on it. It is convenient and I can easily upload any picture or status in an instant.

It is also unequivocally distracting. Some days I find myself scrolling through my news feed while walking back from class, going to my room and immediately checking Facebook on my computer.

The most disturbing part is that I have turned into one of those “I would die without my phone ” people.

My phone dies sometimes, mainly because I do not charge it enough.

When it does, I suddenly feel illequipped to handle the world. I feel lost without my plethora of apps to direct me to gas stations and my fa-

OUR LATEST OBSESSION: The new technological devices being made available to the public have spurred a surge of dependence on their varying abilities. We have grown too attached to our smartphones and grown apart from basic human interaction. (Photo from MCT) vorite restaurants, while giving me directions when I get lost driving.

Regrettably, I have fallen into the technology trap. My phone has become an extension of my right hand and when I cannot use it, I turn into someone with no outside knowledge of the world and no clue how to handle the obstacles that come my way.

This new wave of technology is dumbing the world down. I have fallen victim, just as the other “73.3 million U.S. smartphone users in 2011 [have], ” according to rbr.com.

We use our phones to do everything lately, from paying bills to

shopping. Although we are a nation centered on convenience, technology has become more of a crutch for us all. We have even worked to simplify the task of reading a book, with devices like the Kindle.

It is as though Americans have become too lazy to do much of anything without the help of a technological device.

I am not advocating the eradication of smartphones. I enjoy mine far too much to get rid of it. However, what separates me from many of the other 73.3 million drones is that I am aware that I am becoming too depen-

dent on my phone ’s abilities.

It is not as if we do not understand how to navigate city streets or how to calculate 20 percent of a restaurant bill, so why are we so reliant on our phones to accomplish these tasks for us?

We should make a slow transition into being independent human beings again, who talk to each other instead of quick firing text messages.

We should walk around without our heads bent over our phones.

Let ’s work to reestablish a connection with one another, before technology alienates us permanently.