The Cauldron - Issue 10 by Steve Thomas

The Cauldron Photo Spotlight

CSU Men’s Basketball • On Page 7

SAVE Holds Anti-CAFO Presentation On Page 6

Monday, march 29, 2010

Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition The return of the typewriter… • On Page 11

Issue 10 | FREE

*** ESTABLISHED 1929 ***

1 0 1 Healthcare By Reid May

The Melting Pot

TEXtbooks

And other issues with the Texas education system By Alexes Spencer

Arts & Entertainment

CIFF Review:

Three Days with the Family By Samantha Shunk

News

‘Feed the Gays’ Scholarship Fundraiser Held By Lisa Sanchez

Sports

Does Cleveland State Get Behind the RightTeam? By Rob Ivory

Page two / Monday, March 29, 2010

Contents Volume 110 • Issue 10

The Melting Pot

03 Opening Statements: I Want My (Old) MTV 03 Breaking Down Football 04 TEXtbooks And other issues with the Texas education system

News

05 ‘Feed the Gays’ Scholarship Fundraiser Held 06 SAVE Holds Anti-CAFO Presentation 06 Learning the Art of Living Could Relieve Your Stress 06 Weekly Events Calendar 07 Sports Photo Spotlight: CSU Men’s Baseball

Healthcare 101 By Reid May, The Cauldron Managing Editor

The Cauldron is a free newspaper; however, to preserve readership each person may only take one copy of each issue. For larger quantities, contact the Editor-in-Chief at cauldroneditors@gmail.com.

The Cauldron Samantha Shunk Editor-In-Chief

Managing Editor Reid May

Arts & Entertainment

10 Noise Inspector 10 CIFF Review: Three Days with the Family 11 Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition The return of the typewriter… 11 Concert Picks

Advertising Manager Jayson Gerbec

Sports

Copy Editor Kristen Mott

13 CSU Rowing with a New Crew 13 SGA Football Forum 14 Does Cleveland State Get Behind the Right Team? 14 Are The Off Field Antics Costing Him A Shrine?

Copy Editor Justin Brenis News Editor Alexes Spencer

T***he Cauldron Weekly in

Sports Editor Rob Ivory

Arts & Entertainment Editor Jonathan D. Herzberger Layout Editor Steve Thomas Business Manager Anne Werner Student Media & Web Specialist Daniel Lenhart Faculty Advisor Dr. Rodger Govea

Mission Statement As Cleveland State University’s student run, managed, and operated alternative weekly paper, The Cauldron is dedicated to delivering information to the student and professional body of CSU; doing so without bias, without constraints, and without fear. Presenting news, entertainment, opinion and other media that originates organically from within the student body, our distinctive media will organically flow and adapt to suit that body’s needs. The Cauldron prints according to sound journalistic principles of accuracy, accountability, integrity, transparency and with a recognition of press freedom and student expression. The Cauldron shall remain a forum; maintaining a strong connection to the diverse campus community, regarding but not limited to Cleveland State University, the city of Cleveland, the United States, and the Global Community.

Advertising Policy: For advertising inquiries e-mail us at cauldronadvertisements@hotmail.com or contact Jayson Gerbec at (216) 687-2270

New Artists Reviews • Concert reviews • Album Reviews

Cleveland State University 4th Floor Cole Center Cleveland, Ohio 44115 Phone (216) 687-2270 Fax (216) 687-5155 www.csucauldron.com

The Melting Pot

Monday, March 29, 2010

This Week’s

Opening Statements I Want My (Old) MTV By Justin Brenis, The Cauldron Copy Editor September 9, 2009 is, in the eternal words of Don McLean, “the day the music died.” This is because it is the day that “Glee” premiered, and I hate “Glee.” No, I don’t think you understand…I really, really HATE “Glee.” Seriously. I’m no music expert, and elementally, on an individual level I understand and appreciate what Fox is trying to accomplish here, but dear deity of your choice do I hate “Glee.” Now I know that this puts me in a very small minority, which I suppose is the most appropriate size minority to be a part of, but I will wear my brand proud. Don’t get me wrong, I am a theater person through and through: I was in my high school show choir and I attend karaoke like married men read Playboy…you know, for the culture. I also think it’s great that shows like “Glee,” “American Idol,” and whatever it is they show nowadays on MTV, VH1 and BET, along with games like “Rock Band” and “Guitar Hero” have reintroduced real music to a generation that is more familiar with the aspects of AutoTune and synthesized music than they are with guitars, pianos and drums. But what I cannot stand is that they do nothing in the way of encouraging that same generation to learn anything about the music. What happened to the MTV that used to be on when I was younger? You know the one with a slightly more “sophisticated” music tastes and whole music

Courtesy: current.com

videos? (Please know how it pains me to use the word sophisticated for a network that made it big airing “Beevis and Butthead,” but that’s besides the point). Now we get fragments of these artist wannabes, and we get our good, classic tunes in their near entirety from the likes of “American Idol,” “Kidz Bop!,” and <shudder> “Glee”? It is entirely possible that in the long run video really did kill the radio star. I’m sorry, but if I have to hear one more middle-aged man or woman, who really ought to know better, exclaim “Omigawsh this is that song from “Glee!”” every time the radio plays or bar-singer sings “Don’t Stop Believing,” I may just go nuts. Perhaps I am being a bit too idealistic and it isn’t so much the fault of these shows and recording execs as it is our own laziness to go out there and seek out the artists that are really due the credit for those glittered up remakes we get on TV every Tuesday night. But at the same time I think that same laziness is an extension of the problem that truly began around the time that MTV created “TRL,” Apple created iTunes and Fox created “American Idol”…it was occurrences like these in that three or 4-year period that lead to “Glee”’s existence and our low tolerance for music knowledge beyond what is force fed to us. Growing up I learned about music, in many different genres, from my Dad. Before I ever got a CD/Stereo I was given his old turntable, a couple of vintage speakers and access to his record collection. While this seems nostalgic,

Breaking Down Football On Wednesday, March 24, the Student Government Association hosted a “Football Forum,” allowing students to ask questions of Lee Reed, Cleveland State’s director of intercollegiate athletics and Tim Long, the University’s budget director. The topic revolved around the feasibility of football, and The Cauldron was there to ask the hard questions. Here are a few of the topics that should be given extra weight when considering the possibility of adding a football program at Cleveland State with the opinions of the Reed and Long to accompany them. First, understand what the ballot measure you are voting on means. This provision is an up-or-down vote regarding the support of the CSU community. In three parts, the ballot asks whether you will support a football program at CSU and then measures your willingness to commit financial support to the program. Specifically, the language asks whether you would be willing to pay an additional four to six dollars per credit hour and, separately, whether you would be willing to commit an additional six to eight dollars per credit hour. No matter how you vote, the measure is non-binding,

it was more so he could afford his new CD player, stereo deck and JBL tower speakers, but I digress. From this, and his taste in music, I learned so much and enjoy sharing these experiences with other people. But when the media has decided that it is more profitable to show you Joe and Jane Everyman singing classic songs on particular genre-weeks of “American Idol,” or more apt to drive in viewers during sweeps to have a bunch of kids, pumped full of Red Bull, singing “Rolling Down the River” while gliding across a stage in wheelchairs, than I feel like everything my Dad has taught me was for nothing. How can we truly learn to appreciate music as a culture, if culture has seemingly abandoned music? Instead, leaving us these sugar-coated shells of songs that came from eras so packed full of emotion that the only way to express the mind of the masses was through incredible guitar riffs (like Jimi Hendrix), awesome drum beats (like Ringo Starr), eternally popular lyrics (like Journey) and ridiculous hair (like…well pretty much the entire 1980s). Even worse, what does this leave us to pass on to our kids? I personally want my children to be able to appreciate music from its roots. I fear that if things continue the way they are going, we’ll be lucky if music has any roots left by then to appreciate. In the end though, I know my plea is the David to Fox’s mega-hit Goliath, but you’d be awfully surprised what one guy can do with a little rock on his side.

By Reid May, The Cauldron Managing Editor

with no financial commitments tied to a ‘yes’ vote. This is just a measuring stick for the administrators at Cleveland State to determine whether additional research is appropriate. “We’re talking about adding a football program that would be in the category of Division 1-AA NCAA nonscholarship football,” said Reed. This means that all players will be at CSU without financial assistance. The legislation does not call for student funds to pay for athletes’ tuition. According to Reed, this could change in the future if it were determined that it would benefit the university.   “I imagine that we might see increased financial needs at some point in the future,” Long told students. If that were the case, he added, students would have to approve any further tuition increases. SGA Secretary, Shauna Jackson, said that language regarding the need for future student approval is something they want in the language for binding ballot issues that could come as soon as next year. For those considered with Title IX issues, which prohibit sex discrimination at educational institutions (thus meaning that universities must have equal numbers

of men’s and women’s sports), “adding another [women’s] sport is something that would be decided after the vote,” said Reed. He added that while the issue has been considered, nothing conclusive has been determined. Voters should be aware of the possible implications of another high-publicity sport at Cleveland State, given the challenges already present for the smaller sports that exist. One of the students voicing opinions at the forum suggested a women’s cross-country team, which perfectly illustrates the awareness issue, because we already have one unbeknownst to many. So, what will be done for smaller sports and women’s sports that already struggle in a world where fans are predominantly in favor of basketball and football? “There are always going to be programs on campus that get more attention and more funding, but they are equally supported,” said Reed. “We have tried to have success across all sports and all of our athletes have had a positive, successful athletic experience.” That was code for ‘I really don’t have an answer, but we put on a nice façade of equal support and interest for Continued on Page 4

Page four/ Monday, March 29, 2010

TEXtbooks

And other issues with the Texas education system By Alexes Spencer, The Cauldron News Editor and Resident Texan Approximately two weeks ago, on March 12, the Texas Board of Education passed a new curriculum for students in Texas that has the potential to affect the education of students across the United States. This system has not been officially passed and awaits a final vote. It is very unlikely that it will not pass due to the conservative influence on the Texas Board of Education. Unfortunately, I see multiple problems with this, the first being that I’ll no longer be able to tell anyone I’m from Texas (all copies of this article will explode in a week). I also have to point to the current flaws in the Texas education system prior to this decision. In my high school, we were all required to complete what was referred to as “the recommended plan.” This was essentially the minimal education plan offered to students without a learning disability. The state also offered a “distinguished plan” which basically only differed in the number of foreign languages you had to take--two vs. three. You also had to receive credit for two college courses though dual credit courses or Advanced Placement testing. This system was problematic in multiple ways. The biggest issue would be that had I not opted to take a third year of foreign language, I would not have met basic entrance requirements for the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at CSU. The current education system in Texas (and the rest of the US) does not adequately prepare students for higher education, and this new curriculum will only further distance students from the information they will learn in the future. On top of this, it will further contribute to the exact issues that sociologists across the nation are trying to change. In my school years, we learned very little outside of white and black. We spent time talking about the history of the US, slavery and the civil rights movement. We focused very little on the history of any other cultures. The only time we talked about Asia was in referring to

the fact that Japan was involved in World War II. Mexico only existed when we were winning independence from it. From my understanding, the things that were left out of our curriculum are a problem across the nation. With the new additions, this system will become even more skewed. From now on, students will be taught more than ever that this is a white America as the board’s decision rejected the inclusion of more Hispanic role models in the new social studies curriculum. Children and young adults across America will grow up without knowing the role that Thomas Jefferson played in the American Revolution. Students will be taught that the separation of church and state is not a guaranteed constitutional right and that the founding fathers perhaps didn’t believe in freedom of religion that much at all. Students will also be taught about a conservative resurgence in the 80s and 90s, the National Rifle Association and the Moral Majority. In addition to this, the new curriculum will include the role conservatives played in the votes during the civil rights movement. This entire agenda (and it is an agenda) appears to paint conservatives in a really positive light while leaving out important liberal stances. In essence, this curriculum will do nothing but brainwash students into believing that the conservative side is right, white and moral. The possibilities related to this sort of misinformation are endless for the Republican Party in the future. My only praise of the new textbook decision so far is the addition of the Black Panther’s role in the civil rights movement. I don’t agree with the likely reasons for its inclusion, but I believe people should know all sides of every story. Currently, the only solution I see to this massive issue is a consortium of other states in the US. Liberal states and more liberal conservative states need to collectively put their feet down and say no to this system of misinformation being propagated throughout our nation.

Common Questions & Answers for Those Teaching the New “Texas” Curriculum

Question: Who was the 3rd president of the United States? Suggested Answers: • John Adams II • The United States does not believe in the number 3. • George W. Bush Where did the land in which Louisiana and most of the Midwest are located come from? • The French willingly gave this land to the US as a birthday present. • Hard-working white men fought the battle of Louisiana in 1803 to gain this land from the godless French.

What are Hispanics? • These are a fictional people said to roam the United States and other parts of the world. • Hispanics ceased to exist after Texas won independence from Mexico. What is freedom of religion? • There is one true God and he is the God of Texas and the United States. • The freedom to practice Christianity.

Breaking Down Football Continued from Page 3

all our sports.’ If we bring football to Cleveland State, you can bet your tuition that sports like tennis, golf and, yes, cross country will fall farther into the abyss of insignificance. “The key becomes hiring the right coach and having the commitment to go out and do that [win],” Reed said. “We’re going to win.” Those were Reed’s sentiments when asked how we could field a winning program with nonscholarship athletes—essentially the leftovers—from universities with bigger recruiting abilities. Optimism appreciated, what happens if the team fails to win? Two or three 10-loss seasons, Cleveland weather and the already fragile loyalties of CSU fans could turn Saturday into “empty-stadiumblowout-day.” If that happens private investors and alumni donors become less generous, and CSU has a program that bleeds money and either kills university finances or folds. Neither is appealing. “Every university doesn’t have an athletic program just to win,” said Reed. “ If we embrace this then this will drive students to our campus.” The possible non-athletics related benefits include a marching band, more sports management options and an athletic training program. Again, a question that was more avoided than answered. No matter what, we must consider what happens if plans fail and the University is left with the ruins of a football program that has no hope for survival. A few other notes: Students will not pay for tickets. A wise decision, given the tuition increases that would already be in effect. The department is considering allowing family members, to a certain limit, in at no charge as well. CSU students take approximately 300,000 credit hours per year. At five dollars per hour, that generates 1.5 million dollars for a football program. The projected annual operating cost is 1.2 million dollars. The long-term goal would be an on-campus playing facility. “As we become a more residential campus it becomes a big part of campus life,” Reed said. The university would also need to accommodate for locker room facilities and a practice field, part of the projected $11.5 to $13.3 million dollar one-time startup costs, which include renovating Krenzler field, according to the Cleveland State University Football Feasibility Study. Finally, the tuition that Cleveland State students pay every semester splits three ways. Those are an instructional fee, a technology fee and general fee dollars. General fee are those monies that are available fund entities like SGA, the Campus Activities Board and a portion of The Cauldron. Presently, athletics receives 59 percent of the total general fee budget and 6 percent of total tuition revenue, according to the Football Feasibility Study. That is a huge piece of the pie and you have to wonder how much football will eat long-term—even if the percentage allotted to athletics does not increase. How would this affect other sports?

5 News ‘Feed the Gays’ Scholarship Fundraiser Held Monday, March 29, 2010

By Lisa Sanchez, The Cauldron Contributing Writer

The second annual Feed the Gays fundraiser was held at Bounce Night Club on March 27 to help raise money for scholarships at Cleveland State. Many different artists, including painters, photographers, and concept artists were at Bounce to sell their pieces with the option of donating half or all of their proceeds to the scholarship fund. The event, which was sponsored in part by GLASA (Gay Lesbian and Straight Alliance) of Cleveland State, collected money in order to give scholarships to students involved in the LGBT community in Cleveland. Local businesses and organizations including The LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland, The Cleveland Indians, The Cleveland Playhouse, Ambiance, and many more donated items to be sold to help raise money for the scholarship fund. Among the many pieces of art, there were also numerous silent auction items, ranging from gift certificates to the Metroparks Zoo to assorted goods baskets. In order to add to the display, poets and bands offered to perform in both Bounce and Union Station throughout the night. Some performers were spoken word poets, while others covered songs from The White Stripes and Fall Out Boy. In addition to all of this stimulation, there were artists also doing air brush tattoos for as little as three dollars. Overall, the event was filled with entertainment and excitement. In addition to the performing acts, two of GLASA’s own members, Selena Vicario and Michael Robinson, helped to MC throughout the night, both of them adding a theatrical flare to the night by changing outfits multiple times throughout their appearances. “I have a different personality assigned to each costume,” stated Michael, who prefers to be called Fluffy. “It’s really fun for me to put on a show, even if I’m not the one people came here to see.” There were many people at Bounce to either view the art or see the numerous performances. The scholarship fund collected five dollars from everyone who paid to see the show. Among the artists and donations, many CSU students and GLASA members also donated their pieces to sell. “Even if my piece doesn’t sell for as much as I’d like it to, I know it’s for a good cause,” explained Jonny Wise, a sculpture major at CSU. “My piece is sentimental to me, but if someone else wants to buy it, I’ll feel better knowing the money is going somewhere it’s needed.” Donating and buying for a good cause seemed to be the general consensus of the attendees at the art show. Even if someone was not able to purchase art or auction items, they still had the opportunity to buy raffle tickets or simply enjoy the entertainment. “This is the most fun I’ve had in a long time,” said attendee Kate Monroe. “This is not only great for the LGBT community, but great for Cleveland, so it can show how much talent this city has.”

Photography by Alexes Spencer

Page six / Monday, March 29, 2010

SAVE Holds Anti-CAFO Presentation By Alexes Spencer, The Cauldron News Editor

Attorney John Sproat spoke March 24 on the environmental and health issues associated with Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). The program entitled “The Human, Animal and Environmental Health Impact of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations” was sponsored by CSU’s Student’s Advocates for a Vegetarian Ethic (SAVE) and held in the Nance College of Business. Sproat, a partner at the former law firm of Britt, Campbell, Nagel and Sproat law firm in Columbus, got started in his research on CAFOs through representing several neighbors of these large farms. He became interested in the environmental and health impacts associated with CAFOs and embarked on a review of published research regarding these large industrial farms. All of the information in his presentation came from various published research studies. According to Sproat’s presentation, a CAFO is a structure or lot in which agricultural animals will be confined and fed for 45 days or more within the period of a year. To qualify as a CAFO, 700 mature dairy cattle, 2500 swine, and/or 30,000 laying hens must be housed. In these CAFO’s animals are held in cages too small for them to turn around, lay down, or stretch out in. These animals also produce 900 million tons of excrement a year in the US. According to Sproat, though some of this waste is used as fertilizer for plants, much of it gets in the groundwater, polluting nearby wells, rivers and lakes. Sproat believes the bacteria in this water not only pollutes water, but has the ability to be pulled into plants through their root system. Also contained in this waste water is undigested antibiotics that contribute to bacterial resistance. According to the CDC, an estimated 20 million pounds

of antibiotics are consumed by the agricultural industry annually. These antibiotics are used to promote growth in animals. However, much of these antibiotics go undigested by animals, and contaminate water and plants as well. Sproat very firmly believes that CAFOs are a large reason behind the growth of antimicrobial resistance. In addition to the environmental and health risks associated with bacteria and antibiotics, CAFOs are responsible for significant amounts of air pollution. Sproat said that among the gases released into the air as a result of CAFOs are greenhouse gases methane and carbon dioxide, as well as hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, major contributors to acid rain. Not only do these gases affect our planet, says Sproat, they have a significant effect on nearby communities. Sproat talked about those living near CAFOs not being able to go outside or open their windows. He also presented research regarding a correlation between living on or near CAFOs and health problems. In children living on farms raising 500 or more swine, 46% had asthma related issues compared to a rate of 22% for children living on a typical farm. Those living near farms also reported more instances of respiratory issues and diarrhea. Countries that have CAFOs also see a rise in infant mortality rates. Sproat related this information with the hope that attendees would spread the message of CAFOs to at least get regulations passed on the CAFOs, if not to see them eliminated completely. He also urged people to encourage others to reduce their consumption of animal products that come from CAFOs. For more information on CAFOs, contact SAVE adviser Barbara Benander at 687-4781.

Learning the Art of Living Could Relieve Your Stress By Samantha Shunk, The Cauldron Editor-in-Chief

Before spring break, the Art of Living came to Cleveland to teach people to be more in the moment and appreciate their lives without unnecessary stress. One CSU student, Sarah Arth, was truly affected by her experience in the four day Art of Living class that took place in Trinity Cathedral across the street from main classroom. Arth shared her experience: “I belong to you. Everyone was instructed to go around the room, introduce themselves and repeat this statement. It would be until the end of the course before I understood this statement. My experience with the Art of Living can be summed up in two words: life changing. It may sound cliché, but this is the truth. Through this four day workshop, I was able to appreciate this life I was granted and see the optimism within it. Who knew that something as simple as breathing can produce so many positive benefits?” “Not only was I able to learn techniques to rid myself of negativity and stress, but I was able to connect with others who were taking the course. What we all experienced together helped to create a strong connection of unity and oneness. The sense of being accepting for myself and for the others was just one of the many marvelous gifts that will be cherished and carried with me for my days to come,” Arth said. Arth spoke of how she would like to bring this

experience to CSU students because it has helped her so much and knows it will improve the lives of others. Arth said, “My hope would be to be able to share it with everyone… So they could learn the art of living; how to remain peaceful in stressful jobs and deal with irritating people.” As everyone has those people in their life that really bother them, the Art of Living can make it easier to deal with those people that are bothersome. Although this way of life may appear to be religiously based when not experienced, Arth assured, “There’s no religious aspect to it.” She did admit that the Art of Living could easily go along with any or no religious beliefs and practices. Arth explained that the Art of Living does not incorporate any religion and continued, “The philosophies of it really don’t fit in with a religion; it’s just basic.” She mentioned that it is just a basic improvement for one’s life. Arth expressed how wonderful her experience with the Art of Living was during her class and how it continues every day. “It teaches you to get into that rhythm of life. Through that you find such a better outlook and such optimism.” On April 24, there will be a preview class held at a local middle school to introduce people to the class. For more information about the Art of Living, call 440-665-5060 or email Sarah Arth at ArthS171@ aol.com.

Weekly Events Calendar

3/29

God of War History and Game Play in MC 102 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Candidate Open Forum in MC Atrium from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

3/31

SGA Presents Presidential Town Hall meeting with President Berkman in MC 134 from 3-4 p.m. Open to all students. Refreshments provided. Dinner and a Dialogue “Our Global Community: Focus on Haiti” in MC 101 from 5-7 p.m. “Conversations,” the President’s advisory committee’s presentation on the role & status of women from 12:30-5 p.m. on the 3rd floor of Fenn Tower. SAVE movie presentation of “Food Inc.” in BU 118 at 4 p.m.

4/1

National Poetry Month kick-off poetry reading and book signing with Sean Thomas Dougherty and Jeffrey McDaniel. MC 134 at 7:30 p.m.

4/2

Opening reception for 39th annual student art show gallery to run through May 8. Reception from 5-8 p.m. The gallery is located in the art building on Chester.

Hey! Don’t see your event here? E-mail cauldroneditors@gmail.com to ensure that your next event makes it in.

March 29, 2010

Photo Spotlight: CSU MENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Baseball Photography by Rob Ivory, The Cauldron Sports Editor

Page eight / Monday, March 29, 2010

Healthcare 101 By Reid May, The Cauldron Managing Editor

n Thursday, March 25, the House of Representatives officially passed the health care “fixes” bill, capping legislation on the contentious issue that has been debated for the last year. The total package, which will cost an enormous $940 billion dollars, is filled with numerous provisions that will extend coverage to 32 million more Americans, while beginning to change the way health care in the United States is administered. Naturally, something this robust can be a bit confounding. In order to assist our readers in understanding the bill’s implications, this article will examine the contents of the bill and what is missing that should have been included. Other relevant issues, such as the impact this vote has on November elections and loud protests from the right, will also be discussed. President Barack Obama signs the health insurance reform bill.

The contents of the legislation In a most basic sense, the health care bill attempts to make coverage universal. Congressional projections say the plan will cover 32 million Americans who were previously without health care. In order to do that, the bill makes holding insurance mandatory—most Americans will have to pay a fine if they do not purchase a plan. However, most of the compulsory insurance requirements do not take effect until 2014. What is included this year are more options for those who have struggled to find insurance because of complications like pre-existing conditions. In order to account for the gap between the present and 2014, some of the bill’s other accommodations take hold soon. First, the age of young adults allowed to remain on their parents’ insurance plan has been raised to 26. Within the next six months, insurance companies can no longer deny coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. The ban on denying anyone insurance because of a pre-existing condition will not take effect until 2014, according to PolitiFact. However, within 90 days, adults who cannot get insurance because of pre-existing conditions will be able to sign up for a new high-risk insurance pool, which will provide them with affordable options. Many Democratic leaders hope these immediate benefits will encourage opponents of the legislation to reconsider their objections, since the legislation will help those who have struggled the most with health care coverage immediately. In 2014, the fine for individuals who do not purchase coverage and are not exempted due to low income will be $695 dollars or 2.5 percent of their income, whichever is greater. Large businesses—those with 50 or more employees—are also bound by the legislation. If they do not provide insurance for their employees, their fine will be $2,000 dollars per employee, according to CNN. However, it is not all bad for businesses. According to PolitiFact, from 2010 through 2013, qualifying small companies could get a tax credit of up to 35 percent of the company’s contribution to employee’s health coverage. Beginning in 2014, when the exchanges start up, small businesses could qualify for up to 50 percent of the cost. The bill creates state-based health care exchanges, which will allow individual and small businesses the opportunity to purchase affordable health care plans in a transparent marketplace. It has yet to be determined whether there will be separate exchanges for individuals and small businesses. These exchanges will go also go into effect in 2014. The plan is set to subsidize insurance for a family of four making up to 400 percent

of the federal poverty level, or $88,000 dollars annually. Medicaid will be expanded significantly, covering those who make up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level, or just over $29,000 for a family of four. One of the most important parts of the legislation is the provision in the “fixes” bill that will close the Medicare prescription drug “doughnut hole” by 2020. Presently, Medicare stops paying drug costs after they have exceeded $2,380 dollars and will not begin paying again until out of pocket expenses exceed $4,550 dollars, which means total drug costs exceed $6,930 dollars. By 2020, this gap will no longer exist. Anyone stuck in the doughnut hole this year will receive a $250 rebate. However, this will clearly not cover most of the expense for someone who needs, say, $6,000 worth of prescriptions this year. What, if anything, is missing? Two significant items stick out. First, there is no provision for a public-option. The original plan was to provide a government insurance plan that could be purchased at a very reasonable rate—creating a more competitive market figure to combat insurance companies that try to charge outrageous prices. With no public-option, the goal of reducing the costs of other insurance plans will be significantly harder to attain. There is no provision for a single-payer system, in which all medical support fees are collected by a single entity (usually the government) and then distributed to those who need assistance. Single-payer is very often described as universal health care, especially in wealthier nations where all citizens are covered. In the case of the United States, a single-payer system could take in all health care contributions (tax dollars, insurance premiums) and then pay out for all required services. This would reduce administrative costs and help avoid price inflation for profits sake. While it is unlikely that this will happen--due to extreme objections from hands-off conservatives--the single-payer system would be the most comprehensive method of providing universal care. One other challenge could be the decision to establish state-run exchanges, instead of nationally run exchanges. Without federal oversight, regulation will be more challenging and the transparency that is supposed to be a cornerstone of the exchange idea, may be more difficult to mandate.

Paying for Health Care The bill will impose a 3.8 percent Medicare payroll tax on investment income for individuals making more than $200,000 a year or couples making more than $250,000 a year. In additions, here are some of the Joint Committee on Taxation’s estimates on what the big tax provisions will bring in over the next 10 years, according to Politifact: • Starting in 2018, a new 40 percent excise tax on high-cost health plans, socalled “Cadillac plans,” over $10,200 for individuals, $27,500 for families. That’s expected to bring the government a total of $32 billion in 2018 and 2019. • Starting in 2014, a 2.3 percent excise tax on manufacturers and importers of certain medical devices. The 10-year total: $20 billion. • Starting in 2014, a new annual fee on health insurance providers. Total estimated 10-year revenue: $60.1 billion. • Starting in 2013, the floor on medical expense deductions will be raised from 7.5 percent to 10 percent of income. That is expected to bring in $15.2 billion over the next 10 years. • Starting in 2011, a 10 percent excise tax on indoor tanning services. That is expected to bring in $2.7 billion over the next 10 years. Most of the significant tax increase will hit higher income people. In fact, some predict the middle class to see tax reductions—through the planned exchanges and available tax credits for those who need to purchase insurance. Despite the tax increases, the insurance plan will almost certainly lose money (at least in the short term), ultimately adding to the already dangerously high federal debt, which is projected to exceed the GDP by 2015. Opposition implications Many opponents of the legislation are suggesting a difficult midterm for Democrats who voted for the health care bill. In all likelihood, some of the traditionally Republican regions where Democrats were elected on Obama’s coattails will go back to the GOP. However, the claim that the Republicans will see sweeping victories based solely on this vote is a bit presumptuous. A number of voters will save their opinions until after they have seen some of the results of the legislation. For those seeing direct benefit from provisions like a high-risk pool, bans on denial for pre-existing conditions and young adults 26 and under staying on their parents insurance, this legislation may become a reason to vote for the Democrats. Additionally, the great opposition to this bill is coming from the most conservative Republicans and, for the most part, from those with the best platform to share their opinions. Consider the words of characters like Rush Limbaugh, Bill O’Reilly and Glenn Beck with a grain of salt. If ten people are standing on a street corner and nine of those people like apples, but the one who prefers oranges has a bullhorn, passersby will have a skewed perception. That is misrepresentation at its finest. In the case of the heavy Republican opposition that keeps popping up in the media, observers must determine whether they are hearing the views of a few extreme members of the party, or the honest feelings of most. Finally, it is important to note the threatening behavior toward our elected officials. This week has been filled with talk of added security due to angry letters, hate speech and even some life-endangering statements. Whether you agree with health care or not, the majority of the country elected President Obama knowing that this was his number one domestic priority, and it is a bit late in the game to begin serious opposition to legislation that everyone has been aware of for more than a year. Time will tell whether this is the right reform. It might be too little, as I would argue, or perhaps too much, as some others would. Every administration, every Congress, has been allowed the chance to try their hand. For now, at least they made an attempt.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Noise Inspectors

Arts&Entertainment

Frightened Rabbits, Lightspeed Champions By Jonathan “Killstring” Herzberger, The Cauldron A&E Editor Sometimes, reviews are easy. If something is immediately brilliant, or obviously awful, crafting a review demands little in the way of time dedicated to it. Sometimes one just knows, and the question becomes one of eloquence, not resource allocation. But not everything is so immediately apparent. With music, this can be especially true – at least, for me it can. I hated Radiohead’s Kid A when I first heard it – I didn’t get what the big deal was supposed to be, I just wanted them to go back to playing guitars and being sad. Eventually, I grew to appreciate the album for what it was, not what it wasn’t – and even if I preferred The Bends, or Ok Computer, that didn’t mean that Kid wasn’t beautiful in its own right. I used to hate ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, and not just for their irritating name that begins with ellipsis. Century of Self is possibly one of my favorite albums. So, what is the point of this rambling? Experiences like these have taught me to value patience as a reviewer, if also introducing an element of self-doubt in my initial judgments. As such, the following two albums sat for a non-trivial span of time, being played, and rested, and played again since I acquired them. The reason? I really didn’t much care for either. So, given time, investiture, and attention that I was mostly certain they didn’t deserve – let’s see if either of these records has found itself cast in more favorable light. Frightened Rabbit – The Winter Of Mixed Drinks 2008’s Midnight Organ Fight was brilliant, filthy, and fragile. It was Scottish indie rockers moving out of the garage, and trying to make gorgeously orchestrated music while passed out in a gutter behind a dive bar. It was beautiful. I tore into their new release with a rabid anticipation, eager to get my hands (and eventually, ears) on more of this raw, emotional, honest, and compositionally lush music. Listening to the record for the first time, I was immediately struck – with how bored and disappointed I was. Imagine my chagrin. This, honestly, proved the reason for the delayed reviews featured in this installment – the goodwill garnered by Midnight Organ Fight lent this collection of new music a substantial benefit of the doubt, that it would otherwise have never enjoyed. Frankly, I just wanted to believe that there was something good that I was missing. Unwilling to give up on the disc, but even more unwilling Courtesy: theauteurs.com

to write one of those self-delusional reviews that praises a product for what the writer remembered its predecessor for being, rather than it’s own merits – as I understand, you have to be over fifty, and write for Rolling Stone to pull that off – I let it sit. Fell in love with other albums. Let it sit some more. Listened to it a lot in the background. Used it as a daydream soundtrack, letting the album really sink in on a subconscious level. And it’s still not very good. This is not to discount the many good things about Winter – far from it, the album actually succeeds in going where the band has always imagined they were – the production is crystalline, the compositions are sweeping, and epic, and lush; the word grandiose springs to mind. Scott Hutchinson’s awkward Scottish warble is still here, and seems to be, well, as much itself as ever. So what’s wrong? For a band that’s made their way on pure, artistic passion, on soul, this is an incredibly soulless album. Majestic symphonies about nothing. The main refrain of the album, “Swim Until You Can’t See Land,” later reprised in “Man/Bag of Sand,” is given the epic treatment of a colossal work, and the lyrical theme – using the ocean as a metaphor for making difficult decisions – could conceivably lend itself to something resembling the scope the music implies. It doesn’t work. The words don’t carry gravitas, or fear, or hope – they don’t seem to carry anything at all. For all the emotionally powerful composition, the piece is devoid of any real emotion or power. The whole album is like this, really – and the effect is more disjointed – like shooting a film about doing the dishes, but set on Mount Olympus, with everyone in Gladiatorial armor, and the gods taking everything deadly serious. If you do that, you’d better be playing for comedy, or you’d better know something the rest of us don’t – as otherwise, you’re just going to look ridiculous. Not to say that this idea can’t work – Elbow’s “The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver” takes the mundane, and casts it in an epic light, and it works brilliantly. The difference being, Guy Garvey spins the tale of our titular hero with such commitment, that it matches the scope, and becomes one of those strange, wonderful moments, where one can see the huge in the tiny, and the majesty in things meek. It’s hard to do, but amazing when it works. And it really seems like what we have here, is one of those unfortunate albums that represents a transitional

phase, without really succeeding on its own merits. If Midnight Organ Fight was an album about reaching for the heavens from the gutter, Winter of Mixed Drinks is somewhere between those two worlds. It’s an album without a clear sense of identity, and with the exception of the singularly magnificent “Skip The Youth,” it just sounds lost. If this is a journey, I love where Frightened Rabbit has been, and I love the promise of where they’re going. I just wish they didn’t stop for these mixed-up drinks along the way.

CIFF Review: Three Days with the Family

extended family. With separated parents and a mother who continued to pretend that everything was fine when around the extended family, Lea had a lot to cope with during those three days. Not to mention the death of her grandfather and the dissolution of her relationship with her French boyfriend, Séb. An Americanized version would have made this more comedic than it should be, but the Spaniards have done it right. It is a portrait of a family with real problems, even an aunt who chose to write a novel about the family exposing all their pasts, but even treats her own son like dirt. Tres días con la familia was worth watching, but not more than once, so TRY IT when it comes out on Netflicks or wherever it is rentable.

By Samantha Shunk, The Cauldron Editor-in-Chief This Spanish flick directed by Mar Coll was quite the deep film. Full of all the drama expected when an extended family is brought together by the death of the patriarch, and more. The protagonist returns from her studies in France to attend the funeral, and finds her life significantly different from when she left. Lea had a dysfunctional immediate family which became even more dysfunctional with the addition of the

Lightspeed Champion – Life is Sweet! Nice to Meet You Some albums clearly benefit from the added scrutiny of additional time, repeated listens, and just generally having some space to show their hidden charms. Some albums turn out to be exactly what you thought they were the first time. Lightspeed Champion is the current front name for singer-songwriter Devonté Hynes’s body of work. Infinitely preferable to his previous work as the guitarist for Test Icicles, who billed themselves as a “DancePunk” band – which is a fancy way of saying borderlineunlistenable trend-hopping emo hipster also-rans – Lightspeed Champion is a fairly innocuous little Britpop outfit, churning out some moderately catchy ditties. ‘Ditties’ is a deliberately chosen word, by the way – if it seems like it might trivialize the compositions, that’s intentional, if not necessarily a terrible thing: this collection of songs comes off as pleasant, but utterly disposable. Blending elements of 50’s rock n’ roll, with some 60’s jangle and doo-wop, Life is Sweet takes a safe, paint-by-numbers approach to mainstream pop. The problem, if it could be called such, is that this album lacks a distinctive “earworm” - the melody that gets caught in your head, the hook you can’t shake – and that’s honestly as close as one can get to essential in anything this vanilla. Again, sometimes you want vanilla – it’s a fine choice for any latte, or ice cream – but there’s nothing to reach out and grab you here. It’s flat white vanilla, not the tasty kind with flecks of beans in it. In the end, this is an inoffensive, pleasing little album that won’t matter to you in a year’s time. I suppose you could do a whole lot worse. Would I clamor for a change if it came on a radio? Unlikely. Would I buy this with my own money, if it weren’t for a review? Even more unlikely.

Page eleven / Monday, March 29, 2010

Resident Evil 5:

Gold Edition The return of the typewriter… By Justin Brenis, The Cauldron Copy Editor

Concert Picks By Alexes Spencer and Jonathan “Killstring” Herzberger, The Cauldron News and A&E Editors

Was it just us or was the week after Spring Break pretty hellacious? Tests and papers and more tests, oh my! Now that we’re all back in the swing of things and gearing up for the final leg of the academic year, your week-day warriors are here to, yet again, give you the best in concert-related goodness. Enjoy.

Courtesy: wikimedia.org

Courtesy: assets.vg247.com

Courtesy: last.fm

Well folks, I don’t want to say I called it...but I totally called it!!!  Yes, that’s right, way back before I wrote for The Cauldron I wrote a review about Resident Evil 5 (RE5) mentioning that if there was one thing the game was lacking it was an engaging plot line. I then went on to mention that there were a series of flashbacks that Chris Redfield experiences that I thought would have served as a much better, and more interesting game, should they ever make it. Well the folks over at Capcom must have been listening because they have released two new RE5 adventures; available right now as DLC, or packaged together with the main game (if you don’t already own it) in RE5: Gold Edition, which came out on March 9th. Lost In Nightmares is the first of the two, which chronicles the flashback story of Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield visiting the REAL Spencer Estate (as in the one where Spencer actually lives, not the one he built as a replica/lab in Raccoon City) in an attempt to apprehend Ozwell Spencer himself. The second is Desperate Escape, which explains how (SPOILER ALERT: if you haven’t played RE5 yet, you may not want to read this part of the review) Jill and Josh manage to get into that helicopter that saves Chris and Sheva from a lava-laden death.  While neither add up to a full game release, clocking in at about a solid 2-2.5 hours of gameplay apiece, they are both really fun on their own merits.  Lost In Nightmares If I had to qualify each DLC package as its own entity, I would say they are kind of like sitcom-y identical twins, with Lost In Nightmares being the smart, geeky, quiet one of the two. In this adventure you are taken back to what is essentially a replica of the Spencer Estate that players came to know and love in the very first Resident Evil game. That being said, you can expect that the mansion will be heavily laden with deadly monsters and puzzles to match. This inevitably requires a more light-handed Continued on Page 12

Alexes’ Pick: 4/4 From First to Last w/ Eyes Set to Kill Killstring’s Pick: 4/3 Electric Six w/The Hot Rails, and Confide @ Peabody’s Swarm of Bats @ the Grog Shop What a horrible week for shows. As I went through the various venue sites to find material for this week, I became sort of amazed at the sheer lack of cool stuff to go to. There just...isn’t anything (besides what Jon will mention in a moment). On another note, if you’re looking to get out and go to some shows without spending a lot of money, this is the week for you. That being said, my pick isn’t something I feel all that strongly about. I like Eyes Set To Kill sometimes. It’s a pretty casual like. However, I do enjoy the mix of harder metal and a female voice. I think this band really filled their own niche when they came out, and their passion and style of music indicates a strong possibility of an enjoyable show. From First to Last used to put on a pretty decent show before they changed vocals. I haven’t seen them since, but I’m going to assume that those that were previously in the band are capable of similar things so if you’re capable of liking FFTL post-Sonny, you probably won’t be all that disappointed. All pseudo-indifference aside, no matter what the latter part of this show promises or doesn’t promise, Confide will knock your socks off. They’re pretty much amazing live. They’re probably worth the $12 door price in themselves. Other shows: 3/30 Warbringer w/ Woe of Tyrants @ Peabody’s, $9 3/30 Mayer Hawthorne and the County @ House of Blues, $10 3/31 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club @ House of Blues, $18 3/31 Vernon Jones Blues Cartel @ Peabody’s, FREE 3/31 Little Dragon @ Grog Shop, $12

Now, this was actually a tough call. Henry Rollins is going to be at the Kent Stage on the first, and that’s definitely an experience. Seabear is playing the Grog on the same day, and if there’s anything I have a soft spot for, it’s gentle Indie rockers from Reykjavik, Reykjavik, Iceland. Not that I know of any others, and yes, that’s kind of a specific sort of soft spot, but either way... ah, but I digress. These are both fairly high-brow sorts of entertainment, the sort of thing pretentious elitists such as myself fall all over ourselves fawning over. My pick is not high-brow. Electric Six is quite possibly the dumbest band in rock, or rather; the dumbest band in rock that is actually doing it on purpose, thereby exposing the fact that they’re actually quite clever. Andrew W.K. may come a close second. But make no mistake: an Electric Six concert is not about appreciating nuance. It is about absurdity, and keeping as straight a face as possible while singing “Nuclear war on the dance floor.” It’s ridiculous, exaggerated, overblown, and completely stupid. Like if Frank Zappa shot Michael Bay out of a cannon, and he landed in a frat house on mars. And became a Muppet. Point being, it’s not about subtlety. It’s about obeying the Dance Commander, giving out the order for fun.

4/1 Lady Gaga @ The Wolstein Center, $10 (APRIL FOOLS!) 4/1 Seabear @ Grog Shop, $10 4/1 HIM @ House of Blues, $28 4/2 Feargrinder w/ Law of Destruction @ Peabody’s, $6 4/3 Vendetta Point @ Peabody’s, $6 4/4 Love is All @ Grog Shop, $10

Page twelve / Monday, March 29, 2010

Resident Evil 5:

Courtesy: scrawlfx.com

Continued from Page 11

approach, where you have the guns and the ammo you’ll need to survive, but it is brains and strategy that will inevitably lead you to your goal. If anything, the designers did an excellent job of bringing back that eerie feeling of never knowing what lies around each corner or behind each door, without overdoing it. It took awhile before I ran into my first enemy, (of which it should be noted there is only one type of enemy through the whole adventure) but I spent the whole time walking very cautiously and always checking my back in every hallway. It was this sense of tension that that Resident Evil 5 sorely lacked. Even though the DLC sticks with the 2-player partner mechanic - a gameplay design I’ve hated since its introduction in Resident Evil 4 - you never quite feel safe or secure. With Sheva, there was always a sense that - despite her item-grabbing neurosis - she was going to make sure you made it out of Africa unharmed (and subsequently free of any discriminatory accusations). Somehow Lost In Nightmares was designed in such a way that having a partner there, be it AI or with split-screen or online, it wasn’t going to make this trip through hell any easier. Oh, and I should probably mention, they brought back the pre-loading door sequences...and I love them. Nothing is scarier than being forced to wait to see what is on the other side of the door you are watching yourself walk through. It was also a nice homage to where the whole series began, and they managed to do so while only encountering one continuity error, which I’ll leave up to the more serious fans of the series to figure out. Desperate Escape - (SPOILERS AHEAD) Now we get to the other twin. The sporty, flashy, show-off-y twin who was born mere seconds after its sibling, but feels like it has years to make up for.

Does this mean I didn’t like Desperate Escape? Not in the least. The twin analogy is just the closest I could get to what I wanted to convey in comparing two things that are so much alike while trying hard to be completely different. The appeal of Desperate Escape is not in its flashback and homage appeal, so much as it exists as a continuation of a plot-line from RE5 that was left kind of unanswered in the main game. How exactly did Josh and Jill end up in the helicopter that saved your ass from being consumed by lava and then impaled by a genetically-modified, monstrous Wesker? Well, now we get to find out. Essentially you are looking at about an hour and a half of gameplay fused together with about 2030 minutes of footage already seen in the RE5 play through, just from another perspective. In fact I would say that Sheva and Chris’ voice-actors probably didn’t even have to return to the studio for this one. Where this game differs from Lost In Nightmares is in the experience that they are trying to deliver. Jill, having passed out after motivating Chris and Sheva to pursue Wesker, is awakend by Josh, saying that they need to get to their partners and get the hell out of dodge. Grabbing her nearly ammo-less machine gun, she and Josh rush out in an attempt to get to Chris and Sheva by way of a communications station, which serves a dual purpose. First, Jill needs to warn Chris about Wesker, and second there is a helipad on the roof that a pilot is on their way to pick them up on. What stands between them and their escape, you ask? Lots and lots and lots and lots of zombies, and very little ammunition... and that about sums up the entire experience. True to its name, Desperate Escape is a no-holds barred, guns-a-blazin’ fire-fest, and essentially your goal is to make it out alive. I wouldn’t recommend relying on the AI for this purely because Josh has no

incentive to find ammo, or new guns outside of his pistol, on his own, and you’ll be too busy hoarding supplies to help him, so the incentive of having a live person on the other end may help. Outside of that, while Lost in Nightmares revisits the puzzle-laden, brain-wrenching side of Resident Evil, Desperate Escape is there to complement it with a slightly more action-packed survival-horror experience. Overall In the end, I think that both DLC serve a purpose, if not in extending the story line, than in filling in gaps that RE5 left poorly unfilled. If you already own a copy of RE5 I wouldn’t suggest trading it in and running out to get yourself a copy of “Gold Edition” mainly because you’ll be dropping $39.99 on something that isn’t much more expansive than what you already have. Instead, I would download the two DLC packages, which come in at about 400 Microsoft points apiece (roughly $5.00 for one game, $10.00 for both). As for Playstation 3 users, at the time this review was written I wasn’t able to find any information regarding the cost of the missions as DLC. Both the Gold Edition disc and the DLC also come with new figurines, as well as costumes (which are as laughably terrible as the ones you already have) for the main game, and characters for The Mercenaries, which for some reason has a new mode called “Reunion” leaving you to unlock characters all over again despite your progress in the Mercenaries mode that came with the game originally. Also to note, pay no attention to the in-game scoring system of either Nightmares or Escape, as they do not allow you to unlock new items like the main game does. In fact the scoring system only exists as a metaexperience for Capcom’s online leaderboard system. All in all, I’d say these adventures are a must have for any fan of the series, and RE5 itself.

<< Sports Photo Spotlight: CSU Men’s Baseball

Sports

Monday, March 29, 2010

CSU Rowing with a New Crew

Photograph by Elizabeth Hecker

By Samantha Shunk, The Cauldron Editor-in-Chief

This season has found the Cleveland State club rowing team with all novice rowers. A novice rower is one who has rowed for one semester or less and will compete against others who have the same amount of rowing experience. Even with a less experienced team, the CSU Viking Crew is going far. Elizabeth Hecker, the president of the CSU Viking Crew, revealed, “At the Hammer Ergatta everyone got their personal best.” By that she means that each rower on the team did better than they had ever done previously throughout all their weeks of winter training while pulling 2000 meters on the ergs, which are the rowing machines. The team won five medals at the Hammer Ergatta, which was hosted in Cleveland. Wells Mueller, finished the race with the fastest time of anyone who participated at the ergatta. After this occurred, Hecker said, “Coach Dave decided that we should take Wells to Midwest Collegiate Erg Sprints in Columbus, and he placed second there.” She continued to note that he was very close behind the first place winner, and Anthony Adamo, the CSU Viking Crew treasurer, claimed that he was within ten seconds. After indoor training on the ergs since classes started in January, the team shipped out for spring break. They did not go for the stereotypical spring break, but as Adamo said, “We went to spring training in Oakridge, Tennessee.” While they were in Oakridge, Adamo continued to say that

“it was pretty much six hours of practice a day.” For some of the rowers, this was the first time they actually got in a boat on the water. There were some scrimmages mixed in with the six hours of practice each day that gave the new rowers a sense of what it is like to compete in a head-to-head style race. Adamo claimed that the men even raced the US Army while at spring training in Oakridge. Now that the team is back in Cleveland a normal practice schedule has resumed. Hecker explained, “For practices when we take out boats, it’s still dark and kind of cold” which makes perfect sense as practices are held at 5:30 a.m. each morning. Hecker spoke about the upcoming events for the team, “Our first regatta is on April 10, and that’s actually Home Schools Regatta, so it is down in the Flats in Cleveland. Anyone interested in what a regatta looks like can come from eight in the morning till noon that day. It’s just John Carrol, Case, Baldwin Wallace, and Cleveland State; we all race each other because we all row out of the same boathouse.” For anyone who has ever considered rowing or is just curious about the sport, visiting this regatta would be a good experience to learn. With the help of volunteer coaches David Dressler, Maddy Widen and Tom Kotula, the team is sure to continue the season with more success, so keep watch of what they will accomplish next. To learn more about the team visit csurowing.com.

SGA Football Forum By Kristen Mott, The Cauldron Copy Editor The topic of a football team has been one of great debate within the Cleveland State community. Some students are in favor while others are ardently opposed. Due to these contrasting feelings, the Student Government Association (SGA) held an open forum which allowed students to voice their opinions and learn about the facts. The football open forum was held on March 24 from 3-4 p.m. in the MC atrium. The panel was composed of Lee Reed, the director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Timothy Long, the director of Budget and Financial Analysis. The talks surrounding the possibility of CSU developing a football team have been going on for quite some time. Michael Schwartz, the previous president of CSU, made an announcement a year ago about the feasibility of a football team. Since then, a committee has been formed which has looked into the advantages and disadvantages of having a team. The team would be a NCAA Division I non-scholarship football team. Other universities which have similar teams include Butler, Dayton and Drake. Reed discussed the benefits of having a football

team on campus. “Playing this brand of football is very cost-effective,” Reed said. He pointed out that other universities, such as Akron and Kent, spend as much as $5-6 million on their respective football teams, whereas CSU would spend closer to $1 million. Reed expressed his belief that having a football team would attract more students to campus and said, “To me, if it can have a positive impact on enrollment, then that’s a good thing for Cleveland State University.” Long explained the financial aspects of developing a football team. If the team becomes a reality, a fee would be added to each student’s tuition, which Long said could range from $4-6 to $6-8 per credit hour. Incoming freshmen would not be assessed the fee, and Long noted that this fee could rise over time. However, students would be allowed into all games for free. Students were allowed to ask questions and address their concerns at the end of the forum. The most common questions included where the team would play, how the campus would acquire the proper facilities and how the school would pay for the rest of the cost. Long said that

nothing has begun yet on their front for the search for facilities or endowment. Long said that he realizes the team will not be selfsustaining from ticket sales or sponsorships, which is why there is the added student free. Both Reed and Long stressed the fact that this proposal is just starting out, and their first concern is to see if students are even interested in having a football team. The committee has given themselves four to five years just to get the team started. Mohammad Faraj, the president of SGA, emphasized the importance of students voting in the upcoming poll and voicing their opinions. A preference poll will be available online beginning April 12 and will remain up until April 14. During the poll, no specific fee will be voted on. Instead, students will be asked whether or not they would like to have a football team, and then their preference for the fee level. The results of the vote will determine if the committee will continue forward with its plans. Student interest will play a major role in the poll, and Reed affirmed this by adding, “We want this if you want this.”

Page Fourteen / Monday, March 29, 2010

Are The Off Field Antics Costing Him A Shrine? By William Wodka, The Cauldron Staff Writer

Ben Roethlisberger is yet again in the sports news again, but once again for the wrong reasons. Over the years Roethlisberger has grown from a shadow behind quarterback Tommy Maddox to a two time SuperBowl winner. But through the years he has been making the news wire in different ways. His off-the-field antics, raise the question of whether he will be viewed and respected for his statistics or for his troubles? The Ohio native came into the league in 2004 and since then has really made his mark on the league. So far, according to Yahoo! Sports’ player profiles, he has thrown for almost 20,000 yards and has two championship rings on his finger. He does not just stand back and throw, he can also move around in the pocket as well. In total he has ran for 698 yards and Cleveland Browns fans alike can tell a tale or two of Roethlisberger fleeing the pocket and adding positive yards. Though he doesn’t look like he will be hanging up the cleats anytime soon, when he does, these stats won’t hurt him in getting that all exclusive hall of fame jacket. But will other more publicized

events distract hall of fame voters from allowing him into Canton? Over the past few years the name Roethlisberger has been in and out of the news. It all started with the motorcycle crash that almost ended his career before it ever began. In an article written by ESPN’s John Clayton, Roethlisberger broke his jaw and had chipped and lost a number of teeth as he flew through the windshield of the car and landed on the pavement hitting his head. It took several weeks and many operations for him to heal and get back on the field. But with the many hospital visits from his family, he was also visited by Terry Bradshaw and then coach Bill Cowher who gave him guidance and talked to him about wearing a helmet and being careful on a motorcycle. Looking to mentors has been a reoccurring theme for Roethlisberger in his brief career. Another event that landed him in the public spotlight again happened just under a year ago. According to an article from the Sports section of the the Associated Content website, Robert Dougherty wrote that Roethlisberger was

being accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Nevada. Though not much came out about the case, it was quickly hushed up as he gave some money to the alleged victim. Then there is the recent sexual assault case that just came up earlier this month in Georgia. Though police are still gathering information, according to NFL.com a concerned commissioner, Roger Goodell, set up a meeting with not only Roethlisberger, but team President Art Rooney and Roethlisberger’s attorney. Goodell was stated as saying ‘We take this issue very seriously,… I am concerned that Ben continues to put himself in this position.” Roethlisberger’s coach has also stepped in to give Ben some guidance. Roethlisberger is continuing to play well on the field; although, if he cannot stay out of the bad side of the celebrity lime-light, I don’t see him getting into Canton. Only time will tell and right now through everything that Roethlisberger has gone through he is sure to learn from his mistakes and hope that someone can come and mentor him along.

Couresty: csuvikings.com

Does Cleveland State Get Behind the Right Team? By: Robert Ivory, The Cauldron Sports Editor First of all, I want to personally congratulate women’s head coach Kate Peterson Abiad and her squad for winning their second Horizon League Championship in three years. I have been covering the Vikings since The Cauldron’s home was in the basement of the old UC building. Therefore, I feel that I know what I am talking about when it comes to sports here at Cleveland State. And due to the Vikings dancing again in the NCAA Tournament, I felt that I needed to stick up for the team. Before I get into my problem here at CSU, I want you to know that this is simply being written to inform the student body of what the situation is here on campus. Here’s what I see wrong with the system at Cleveland State: Imagine playing your heart out every night and being the best in your conference. But, at the same time, playing in front of only 100 people. That’s the situation that the women’s team had to deal with. I understand that it takes time to buildup a fan base, and I understand that CSU basketball is still trying to catch on in the city of Cleveland. I also understand that the media coverage for CSU basketball is geared to the men more then the women. Also, I know that in the nation’s eye, the only news of women’s basketball is how the University of Connecticut has won over 70 straight games. Also ruffling some feathers is the idea that Cleveland State may become a school with a football program. There are two theories about a football team; first, it could take away basketball fans since Cleveland loves football.

Or secondly, the student body would get so used to the idea of coming together for football games that the idea would flow into basketball season and more students would attend. What I have said so far is dandy, but facts speak louder than any opinion. The NCAA has updated their last attendance records for the 2010 season on March 13, and the Vikes don’t stack up too well. In the 14 home games that the Vikings played this year, the Vikings won 10 of those games, yet still averaged only 381 in attendance. 381!! You could fit that onto a 747 jet with room to spare. The total attendance for 2009-2010 was only 5,332 for the whole year, only 45 spots from the bottom of the list. (To see the entire list, go to http://web1. ncaa.org/app_data/weeklyrpi/2010WBBattend1.html). Senior night (February 27) brought in officially 669 fans, and when Kailey Klein became the top scorer in Cleveland State history only 451 came through the turnstiles. When Cleveland State played the University of Chicago-Illinois in their first game of the Horizon League Championship, 307 were on hand to see that crucial game. This has become a trend, an embarrassing trend. Fifteen schools have a bigger average attendance then the Vikings had all year long. Within those 15 schools, Notre Dame, the school Cleveland State lost to in the first round of the NCAA Tournament is present. To compare apples to apples, here are some Ohio schools and how their women’s basketball programs fared: Bowling Green, about an hour-and-a-half drive

from downtown Cleveland, which finished the year 27-7 had an average attendance of 1,620 in 13 games. Buffalo, which finished dead last in the MAC and won only seven game all year, still had 6,716 in total (560 average). Kent State and Akron had decent years, but still had higher attendances than CSU. “So,” you may be saying to yourself since I’ve identified an embarrassing trend, “go find a solution.” Well, my friend, it starts with you the fans. The student body needs to embrace this team because now the Vikings’ greatest player is gone. Kailey Klein played her last game at the Wolstein Center this month and now it is life without the star. What can possibly be more exciting on the campus of Cleveland State on a Tuesday night in the middle of winter? I know Cleveland winters are not the most hospitable, but its only a few blocks from the dorms. Secondly, when the Cleveland State men’s and women’s program play doubleheaders, both teams tend to do better statistically. And finally, I believe the media in Cleveland does not give both the men’s and the women’s programs equal coverage. The Cauldron was the ONLY media outlet covering the game in almost half of the women’s home contests. Another quarter of the time, one other outlet was there and it was not a citywide print media (Trying to name names, without naming names). I am warning you students of Cleveland State, I am going to bring this column out when basketball season begins again next year, because simply, every team needs fans. Especially teams that win Championships.

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