Cauldron The
Volume 107 No.5 September 22, 2008
“The Great Gig in the Sky” Illustration by Michael Quintero
Richard William Wright 1943 - 2008 - A Tribute
STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1929
The Contents
Volume 107 No.5 - September 22, 2008
Feature
“For the Students...By The Students”
Editor-In-Chief Managing Editor Advertising Manager Copy Editors
Richard William Wright: 1943 – 2008
Contributing Writers Christina Niehaus Dan Langshaw Eric Sever Emily Ouzts Drew Cappy Alexes Spencer Melissa Alewine Cheryl D. Mello Jonathan ‘Killstring’ Herzberger Bob Demyan
The Melting Pot
Opening Statements………Page 3 Liberal Media is Not the Problem………Page 3 The Struggle………Page 4 Ebony & Irony………Page 4 Is John McCain a secret Muslim? ...And is Barack Obama a secret leprechaun?………Page 7
The Melting Pot The Cauldron reserves the right to edit letters for space and clarity. All entries must include your name, year-in-school, and daytime phone number for verification purposes. All entries must be submitted by Friday at 5 p.m.
News
Hispanic Heritage Film Shown at Cleveland State…………Page 8 Noon@Nance Begins for Yet Another Year………Page 8 The Plain Dealer Human Relations Endowed Scholarship Hits CSU………Page 9 Cleveland-Marshall Presents Lecture on News and Government Accountability………Page 9
To Submit Editorials, Articles , Etc.: cauldroneditors@hotmail.com
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Arts & Entertainment Sports
America’s Greatest Stadium Says Good Bye………Page 18 CSU Assistant Basketball Coach Part of Special Experience………Page 18 Tennis Teams Smash Way to the Top………Page 19
Nick Camino Christopher Enoch
Jayson Gerbec Sairah Zaidi Laura Krawczyk News Editor Roman Verzub Arts & Entertainment Editor Faith Larraine Sports Editor Robert Ivory Layout Editor & Web Designer Steve Thomas Cartoonists Michael Quintero Frank Grigonis Business Manager Anne Werner
Richard William Wright, 65, a founding member of the infamous band Pink Floyd, died at his home in Britain last Monday due to an undisclosed type of cancer. Much of Wright’s life revolved around his music, being a self-taught pianist and keyboardist. Although often in the shadows of Syd Barrett and Roger Waters, his contributions and involvement in the band shaped much of the style that has created Pink Floyd’s legacy…Page 10
Flashback 1985: Don’t You (Forget About Me)………Page 12 Finally, on the inside………Page 13 Machinima ………Page 14 CD Reviews ………Page 16
Cauldron The
Campus Life Releases 100 words or less: Organization name and phone number must be included. Releases are for student organizations only and should include the event date, time, and location. Letters to the Editor 800 words or less: Letters must be in response to a written article or campus issue. Student Columns 600-800 words: Columns can be submitted by students regarding campus issues, positive or negative, and will be sent directly to President Schwartz in order to bring more student awareness.
8 12 19 www.csucauldron.com
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Monday, September 22th
Opening Statements
The Melting Pot
By Chris Enoch The Cauldron Managing Editor American banks and insurance companies are officially on the government payroll. In recent financial news, the Federal Reserve Bank and the United States Treasury Department approved a sizeable $85 billion bailout of American International Group (AIG), a heavyweight in the insurance industry and the 18th largest company in the world, according to the 2008 Forbes Global 2000 list. AIG employed 103,000 employees and held more than $1 trillion in assets. The Federal Reserve and economic specialists have made the case that a financial breakdown at AIG could have globally economic implications. With such weight in the world market, most observers would have a hard time arguing that proactive governmental action to save, and in effect, nationalize such a large corporation wasn’t a wise move in a chaotic economic environment. The debate inevitably shifts to who pays, there’s no free lunch in America. The plan proposed for continued bailouts by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and backed by Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke could cost the government as much as a trillion dollars.
But, who pays? It seems so clear, so instructive that the government would save such economic pillars, but when the cost of these continued bailouts become the debts of average American taxpayers at the whims of smoke-filled rooms wheeling and dealing of CEOs, politicians, and Federal Reserve Board members; greater accountability and transparency are needed within our financial institutions. Regulations, long the bane of Wall Street and American enterprise finally seem to be making a comeback. Gone are the ideas of the self-auditing corporation and the self-regulating economy. Politicians on both sides of the aisle are now screaming “oversight, oversight, oversight!” The realization may have finally sunk in that the business of the American people can’t always be trusted to business. AIG’s bailout is the latest development in what perhaps might be the greatest financial crisis in the USA since the Great Depression. AIG wasn’t the first to fall though. On Sep. 13, Lehman Brothers, the 158year-old investment bank went bankrupt
and insolvent. Merrill Lynch, a broad-based finance, investment and insurance player was purchased by Bank of America under economic duress due to insecurity stemming from the sub-prime mortgage crisis. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two state-sponsored enterprises who approve loans and loan guarantees, also had to be bailed out by the federal government due to the collapse of the housing market. Retail bank IndyMac, once the seventh largest leader in mortgage loans has also folded. Bear Stearns bank was provided an emergency loan by the Federal Reserve Board and JPMorgan Chase. How many more companies that gambled on a risky bet will the USA save, and in effect, nationalize? A tricky, indeterminate question. How many ordinary American taxpayers enthusiastically anticipate government intervention and imminent relief on their behalf-for their homes, their health, and their assets? That’s easier, not many. Who is there to bail us out? No one.
Liberal Media is Not the Problem By Sairah Zaidi The Cauldron Copy Editor Last week, I heard about MSNBC’s decision to replace Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews as anchors of its live political coverage for the rest of the election season. The decision came on the heels of a chorus of criticism from various conservative media watchdog groups, media commentators, and other figures of importance. I was curious to see what Fox News was saying, so I tuned in to Fox & Friends just as host Brian Kilmeade was asking Tim Graham about these developments. This is what he had to say: “Not only is the damage already done, the damage continues. I mean, not only are they keeping these people on for an hour a night, they’re adding this lesbian Air America radio host, Rachel Maddow, on every night. So, I mean, they’re really entrenching and solidifying a left-wing agenda on this network, not just, you know, pulling something back.”
I was appalled at the blatant homophobic tone of his comments, insinuating that a commentator’s sexual orientation is a barometer for credibility or the degree to which one is a liberal. What was most surprising was that the comment did not generate the type of backlash aimed at Olbermann and Matthews. If the media is so biased in favor of the left, then why would such a statement be overlooked? The point is not that MSNBC does not lean left – it does. In fact, it has not just an ideological leaning but also a candidate preference, as evidenced by the positive coverage of Sen. Barack Obama and negative coverage of Sen. Hillary Clinton during the primaries. Chris Matthews’ statement that one of Obama’s speeches made a thrill go up his leg, in contrast to his observation that he involuntarily crossed his legs whenever
Clinton appeared on television, provides both damning evidence and comic relief. MSNBC is often unabashedly pro-Obama, just as Fox favors Republican nominee John McCain. The point, then, is that news in general is not threatened by a liberal media bias crisis. If that were true, it is doubtful the media would have been so willing to help pound the drumbeat of misinformation leading up to the war in Iraq. In April of this year, The New York Times published an astonishing exposé of an active campaign orchestrated by the Bush administration and the Pentagon to “dupe the American public with propaganda dressed as independent military analysis.” These analysts, referred to in internal Pentagon documents as ‘message force multipliers’, appeared on ABC, ABC News Now, CBS, CBS Radio Network, NBC, CNN, CNN Continued on Page 6
The Melting Pot
Monday, September 22th
Ebony & Irony
A [Nearly] Serious Look at Modern Music By Jonathan ‘Killstring’ Herzberger The Cauldron Contributing Writer
The Struggle
Trying to Quit Smoking
By Faith Larraine The Cauldron Arts & Entertainment Editor
I
t’s a struggle when trying to quit smoking. According to the American Heart Association, an estimated 25.9 million and 20.7 million women are smokers in the United States. Being a part of those 20.7 million smoking women, I know how hard it is to quit smoking. My first pack of cigarettes didn’t get smoked as fast as my most recent pack did. I usually smoke about five to eight cigarettes a day, depending on the day. My boss at work is always telling me to quit smoking. Her logic is partly because I’m only 20, but also because of the cost of cigarettes. The usual pack of Newports I smoke cost around $5.64 a pack. When I buy a carton, it’s a little over $50. Ten packs come in a carton, so it’s like you get one single pack for free. Another thing is that I’m already about twenty pounds underweight. According to Young Women’s Health, smoking does make you lose weight. But, when you quit smoking, you might gain a little back. My experience when I first started smoking was only social smoking. I would smoke after we would go out or during drinking alcohol. But then, I bought my first pack about six months ago. When you first start smoking, it really just gives you a buzz…especially while drinking. Now, I don’t feel anything. I use the excuse that smoking helps me to relax and calms me down when I’m stressed. But, most of the time, I just think I look sexy and it does calm me down a little. Smoking helps me to forget things that are bothering me. It feels like my mind is being clogged and all the oxygen is being sucked out. But, at least I won’t have to think about the stressful things in my life.
Of course smoking isn’t healthy for you. And of course I probably don’t look sexy smoking. However, it’s nice to drown out the world. If you want to quit smoking you might want to try to change your environment. Some people feel that having fewer friends that smoke or going to more places that restrict smoking will help you in the quitting process. You can also try to drink a full glass of water instead of smoking a cigarette. My boyfriend told me that when your body wants a cigarette, part of it is that it really just wants to consume something. Drinking the water might take away the anxiety of wanting to smoke. Whether his theory is right or not, I don’t know. But we could all give it a try. Another technique is the infamous exercising. Exercising releases endorphins, and endorphins make you happy. I’m not a quitter, but I do want to quit smoking after this $50 carton I bought. But even though I know I want to, it doesn’t mean I will. Especially if something else stressful comes up. I’m going out tonight…with a brand new pack of cigarettes. It’s going to be a serious struggle for me not to smoke because I’m going somewhere that lets you smoke in their basement, I’m going to be in a social area, and I’m stressed about school. If you want to seek professional help about quitting smoking, you can contact Cleveland State University’s Counseling Center at 216687-2277. Call them and make an appointment with a counselor. You can also try other outside sources. If you want to know how smoking affects the environment, you can call CSU’s Environmental Health & Safety at 216-687-9306. It’s a struggle to quit smoking. But, some of us aren’t ready.
After a few brief moments of silence, the crowd erupts as lights violently snap to life. Our heroes revealed, they acknowledge our tribute, exploding in a cacophonous roar of sound. Complete strangers stand shoulder to shoulder, shouting platitudes in unison, and for a brief moment, there is a palpable sensation of magic. So yes, suffice to say that I think live music is kind of neat. It’s sweaty. Loud. Personal in an immediate sense that’s difficult to replicate via recordings. And in a local sense, it’s dying out. Back in my days as a concert promoter/ tour manager/all purpose rock star accessory, people all over this fine nation of ours had a lot of preconceptions about Cleveland. Shockingly, most of them were positive. “Birthplace of rock and roll – you guys must have a great scene!” Patriotic native son that I am, I would dutifully reply that yes, we certainly did. Do. Have such a thing. And sonically speaking, it’s true that Northeast Ohio has a wide variety of local and independent acts spanning all genres and tastes, and a lot of that is focused here in Cleveland. Plus, while normal artistic ratios of tone-deaf and horribly misguided folks do apply, there’s a lot of very high-quality music being produced right here in our backyard (quite literally ‘on-campus’, if one is to take the brochures seriously). So in a sense, what I told them was true – from a certain point of view. But the harsh reality is that for many local acts, the support just isn’t there – record contract or not. Acts like Brandston, Driver Side Impact, The Vacancies have no trouble drawing a crowd all over the country – provided that place is anywhere but Cleveland. In a conversation with Labor Force guitarist Josh Vardous, I commented on their laudable success in the surrounding markets – Detroit, Columbus, etc – to which he agreed that yes, they were off to a pretty good start, but it was “too bad Clevo doesn’t rep us.” Wondering what that meant exactly, I headed to their show at The Grog Shop. The Grog’s a veritable institution, having proudly hosted bands like Fall Out Boy long before most folks had any idea who they were. So I made it a point to attend. Continued on Page 6
The Melting Pot
Monday, September 22th The Grog Shop
Ebony & Irony Continued from Page 4
12 other people made it a point, too. Now, if there is any haven for blue-collar punk rock in the area, surely it’s The Grog, right? Bands like The Street Dogs constantly fill it to capacity - so what gives? Where’s the love? Granted, this was one show out of the dozens that go on every week in our city – which might actually be part of the problem. Are we oversaturated? We live in a time where musical equipment is the most affordable it’s ever been, and easy access to software means that making a demo is no longer an investment requiring thousands of dollars. And this is a good thing, right? Who wouldn’t want artists to have access to the tools they need (besides professional recording studios trying to make a profit, but that’s another story)?
Photo by James A. Baron Toss in the power of the internet, and BAM! A brave new world of creation and distribution for the everyman, free from dependence on record labels – Karl Marx would headbang in approval, no doubt. This is all well and good, but the greatest strength of the information age, namely that everyone has a voice – is also its greatest flaw. Because, well… everyone has a voice. Every. One. A cursory search on myspace will reveal hundreds of acts within a meager 5 miles of campus. And while some of these will doubtlessly be pretty good, the normal ratios still apply – not everyone is a brilliant artist, and that’s ok. But my ears get pretty fatigued trying to find any diamonds hidden in this rough. Finding new music should be fun, and exciting – it shouldn’t feel like work. Also,
despite what certain political figures may claim, our economy is All Manner Of Suck right now. If you have to scrimp and save so that you can see a big national tour, why go through all that trouble for some scruffy local kids? I’ll tell you why. Because something worth doing is simply worth doing – regardless of who else thinks so. Because there was more honesty in that concert than in a year’s worth of over-commercialized glitz. Because some guy you’ve never met said it was cool in his newspaper column (The logic of this last one is virtually unassailable). Besides, there’s always the chance one of these bands will explode in popularity – then you can be that insufferable jerk who saw them first, before they were popular. Who doesn’t love that guy?
Liberal Media is Not the Problem Continued from Page 3
Keith Olbermann
Chris Matthews
Headline News, Fox News, MSNBC, CNBC, and NPR. Many of them had ties to the defense industry as contractors, lobbyists, contractors, and senior executives – that is, the war was a profitable venture for them. This information was often not disclosed by the respective media venues. The news media is in crisis for many reasons. Networks often cherry-pick information and analysts based on their political leanings. We consequently have to listen to a bunch of spin and manipulative soundbite analysis, all dressed with a thin veneer of supposed objectivity. Then, of course, there is the terrible bias towards sensationalism and news that is not news, all in the noble corporate
goal of increasing ratings. Maybe I missed the memo explaining why newsworthy items are no longer worthy. The trivial hogwash spewed by news outlets every day about lipstick, pigs, hockeymom-ery, political gaffes, and, if we’re lucky, the latest O.J. Simpson debacle, is disturbing. The carefully orchestrated propaganda effort of our government, and the accommodating reception of such a campaign by our ‘free press’, is even more disturbing. Perhaps we should focus on this instead of quibbling about whether or not MSNBC and Fox News have engaged in a veritable love-fest with their respective candidates of choice. It’s a problem, to be sure, but we’ve got bigger fish to fry.
Monday, September 22th
Is John McCain a secret Muslim? ...And is Barack Obama a secret leprechaun?
The Melting Pot
www.csucauldron.com
By Roman Verzub The Cauldron News Editor
I don’t like to make political statements, but well here it is: Neither of the two candidates remaining in the major parties are, quite frankly, are qualified enough to be the next President. Furthermore, not one of the 3rd party candidates is any better. Our political system is ridiculous sometimes. Barack Obama, the junior Senator from Illinois originally ran to “change” everything. Not about bringing the opponent down, but about bringing the country up, he alleged. Yet, in the perfect snake oil salesman fashion anyone who’s followed Obama can expect, there was a complete 360. Now, Obama’s advertisments are increasingly negative - assaulting on McCain for voting with his own party too often for Obama’s liking. Yet, Obama himself voted with his own party more than any one else. He was ranked, after all, the most liberal Senator in the Senate by the National Journal. This didn’t come as a shock to those who followed Obama and his record closely. In 2002 he referred to members of the administration as “armchair, weekend warriors” and “political hacks.” Not quite the “nice guy” we all thought Obama was, especially after his 2004 speech at the Democratic National Convention. “There is not a liberal America and a conservative America — there is the United States of America,” Obama proclaimed. Besides angering the future John “Two Americas” Edwards, the speech propelled Obama into the national spotlight - this was, after all, someone who appeared moderate, someone who could work together with conservatives and compromise. It’s just too bad he never did, never does, and probably very rarely will in the future. His Iraq plan is both horribly short sided and in many ways contradictory. While always promising a withdrawl from Iraq via timetable, Obama has occasionally expressed desire to not set a rigid time table, especially if political progress is made in Iraq. This is essentially the same fault that befell John Kerry four years before. Foreign affairs, especially those relating to war are extraordinarily complicated - filled with the kinds of twists and turns that cannot be
predicted rigidly two or three years in advance. Considering everything that can happen in just the next six months it’s absurd to believe that anyone can make the kinds of promises Obama has made on occasion about withdrawal. The improvements in Iraq are real. The Awakening Movement is fighting al-Qaeda and foreign influence, political reconciliation is taking place, Iraq’s economy is flourishing, and the facts on the ground just don’t match Obama’s typical rhetoric. For Obama not to take this into account would be foolish. Sure, he may alienate his far-left base, but if he wishes to play the moderate role again, it might be necessary. Nothing about Sen. John McCain of Arizona in any way suggests that he is qualified to handle very much else. Sure, his foreign policy will be based soundly on the facts on the ground, and not heated political rhetoric, but when it comes to domestic policy he’s lost and confused. Once hailed by moderates and even some center-left and Reagan Democrats for his McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill, his McCain-Kennedy amnesty bill, and his McCain-Lieberman global warming prevention act, McCain has shifted in a direction most of these people no longer like. McCain now says he’d vote against his own amnesty bill. He now says he supports the tax cuts he once criticized as not providing to the middle and lower classes - all in an effort to be someone he’s not. It’s clear that McCain is only trying to pull in conservative voters - the people who voted for Romney, Huckabee, and Thompson during the primaries. Now McCain tries to reach out to them, and Bush supporters, posing for awkward photos and attending awkward church services and supermarkets to speak to people and try to get his “I’m a conservative now” message across as best as he can - even seeking the support of Pat Robertson and the late Jerry Fallwell, whom he once called “agents of intolerance.” This is, above all else, why I am still not sure for whom I wish to vote. No one is left, and I predict that in four years, lots of the same candidates that ran this year will run again. This time, their slogans will all be something like “I told you so.” We are so screwed at this point.
Mr. Pissed by Frank Grigonis
www.elfandthebigguy.smackjeeves.com
News
Monday, September 22th
Hispanic Heritage Film Shown at Cleveland State Movie Gets Good Reviews From CSU Students By Alexes Spencer The Cauldron Contributing Writer As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs (ODAMA) presented a film in the Fenn Tower Theater last Thursday called Mad Hot Ballroom. The documentary-style film featured third, fourth, and fifth grade classes at New York City public schools as they prepared for a citywide dance competition, and followed them through the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals. The film aims to show how much any sort of program that will allow kids to have fun and compete can help pull kids off the wrong path. With negative influences, especially predominant in the inner city, it is becoming more of a challenge to raise and educate strong, moral youth. It features footage of the competitions, practices, and interviews with teachers, students and administrators. In addition, it followed many of the personal stories of the students, many going through
Photo by PHOTOFEST dramatic changes in their lives and behavior at school. “I thought the film overall was really well put-together,” freshman Bill Coch said. Students who attended the film presentation were given the opportunity to discuss what they’d seen afterwards in an open forum. “It was good to see people cooperate with each other, even though they were from different parts of the city,” senior Arlist Hunter III said. “What I appreciated most about the movie is the way [the program] pulled together people from different areas, and they got to spend time together and get to know each other.” This year’s Hispanic Heritage Month features an array of various activities, including films every Thursday night in the Fenn Tower Theater, art gallery exhibits, presentations by various influential Hispanics in the community, and leadership forums. The majority of the
activities take place on campus, are open to the public, and involve free food. “A lot of people don’t know about Hispanic heritage, and it helps them understand more,” freshman Mary Block said. “I think it’s a good thing.” The film was part of the ODAMA’s efforts to change students’ misconceptions about Latinos in America, this year’s theme being “Reflections: Latino Identities in the U.S.” “Mostly, we are presented with negative identities about Latinos. [They’re] either illegal, thugs, gang bangers, [or] dropouts. This is one of the 19 programs we have from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 to present a more accurate picture of Latinos in the United States,” Coordinator of Multicultural Programs Roberto Chavez Jr. said. More information on Hispanic Heritage Month activities can be obtained from the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs.
Noon@Nance Begins for Yet Another Year By Drew Cappy The Cauldron Contributing Writer
The “Noon@Nance” series kicked off its fourth year last week, with this year’s focus being “Creating a WOW Customer Experience.” The event, which was sponsored by the CSU Marketing Department and the student chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA), was geared toward defining the customer experience. On the panel for the discussion was Jenifer Downey, the President of Ambiance, and Cathy Zapata, Vice President and Web Business leader for Key Education Resources at Key Bank. The meeting included several key topics including: how to define the customer experience, how to create a unique and memorable customer experience, the difference between a good customer experience and good customer service, and how to measure the impact and effectiveness of the customer experience.
Each panelist explained what she felt were the important points to impart to the audience on each topic. Zapata felt that the customer experience was defined, “…as a collection of events a customer goes through while interacting with your product, service or brand.” Developing on this point, she continued to describe what events in particular contribute to the perception of your business. “The Customer Experience is both mental and physical — encompassing not only completion of what she is trying to do, but the emotions felt before, after and during the interaction as well. Creating a ‘wow’ customer experience is when the ultimate result is a satisfied and profitable customer, with established trust and brand loyalty, who becomes an advocate of your brand.” There was a wide diversity of those in attendance, including members from National City Customer Service center, ex-AMA
members, and of course several CSU students. One student, Matt Murphy, a marketing major, said the event was “…a good opportunity to network a little bit and get real life feedback from people in the industry.” “It’s been an attempt to get business community involvement for a good exchange of ideas, and it’s been fun,” moderator of the meeting Jim D’Orazio said. “Recognizing the importance of real world experience to the education of CSU business students is important,” Downey said. “[We] like to give back to the community and impart some wisdom.” “[It was] extremely interesting to see different sections of retail and how similar customer concepts are,” attendee Beverly Pereirra said. The next in the series of this year’s “Noon@ Nance” meeting will be held on Nov. 13, and will focus on “The In-Store Experience.”
News
Monday, September 22th
The Plain Dealer Human Relations Endowed Scholarship Hits CSU
www.csucauldron.com
By Cheryl D. Mello The Cauldron Contributing Writer
Cleveland State University students Christine Jamison, a senior whose major is Biology and Huong Nguyen, a senior with a combined major of International Relations and Spanish, were awarded The Plain Dealer Human Relations Endowed Scholarship of $1000 each. “Both students are real role models for other students,” said Dr. Njeri Nuru-Holm, Vice President, Division of Institutional Diversity at Cleveland State University, who recognized and congratulated the students at a special reception on September 3, 2008. “Ours is an urban metropolitan university; commitment to service is important, and there are not a whole lot of people who make an effort. It takes a lot of creativity and passion for public service and social justice,” she said. Christine Jamison, has a GPA of 3.7, and has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity in
the New Orleans Katrina Recovery Effort, Dress for Success in Cleveland and V-Day at CSU. She also worked on a project in the Detroit Shoreway Community, developing the urban youth in leadership and service. She has participated in the Cleveland Council on World Affairs Model United Nations, chairing high school parliamentary debates. Huong Nguyen, whose GPA is 3.9, cofounded two student groups to promote cultural diversity on campus: the Vietnamese Student Association and the “Club de Espanol” (Spanish Club). She also helped create the Viking Expeditions, a student-led servicelearning group at CSU. Nguyen has volunteered with the Ten Thousand Villages, a fair trade retailer of artisan-crafted home décor and gift items from across the globe, and has worked for the
Cleveland Council on World Affairs as chair to various committees at its Model United Nations conferences. The scholarships were established by Alex Machaskee, CSU alumnus and retired President and Publisher of The Plain Dealer, in acknowledgement of an honorary degree that he received from CSU in 1995. The scholarships recognize student effort by advocacy and deed that have resulted in enhanced relations at CSU or the Greater Cleveland community. A plaque bearing the names of all recipients is displayed in the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, which administers the competition. Applicants have to be full time juniors or seniors with a cumulative GPA of 2.75. The applications are available at www. csuohio.edu/offices/odama/
Cleveland-Marshall Presents Lecture on News and Government Accountability By David Edwards The Cauldron Contributing Writer
Last Thursday, investigative reporter for Fox 8, Bill Sheil, gave a speech about news and government accountability in the Moot courtroom at Cleveland State’s Marshall School of Law. The presentation was broken down into four sub-topics: ‘Avoiding Embarrassment’, ‘the Laugh Test’, ‘Impact of the New Media’ and ‘Whats Next?’ Sheil began his presentation by showing the audience videos of past reports by him and his fellow journalists that exposed government corruption. The first report was an investigation on the water department. According to the segment, many of the people who work for the water department were caught drinking on the job. As a result of the I-team investigation, 1,100 water employees have been suspended and the video is actually shown to new employees to prevent the same occurrence. The next video displayed a human-interest style of journalism to expose government complacency. In this segment, Sheil discovers that $600 million in government funds, set aside for people who are struggling and need some form of government assistance, was not distributed. In fact, it was supposed to have been distributed four years ago. Sheil attributed this to bureaucratic inefficiency.
The last video clip is more complicated. In this clip, viewers were shown a report on government waste. The problem in this story is that the board of elections had purchased a series of voter machines for $20 million, and yet the machines kept breaking and little was done to fix the malfunctions. Sheil argued that it’s perfectly fine for the government to make mistakes every once in a while. However, he warned, when government abuses its power regularly it becomes obvious that something should be done about it and the media must do its part in identifying the issue. In the middle of his presentation Sheil sang a song lyric – “Why deny the obvious?”- from Paul Simon to illustrate his point further. According to Sheil, reporters love it when the government officials deny the obvious when it comes to corruption. “Denying the obvious makes for great television,” Sheil said. This point was highlighted when the ‘laugh test’ came. For the laugh test the audience watched a video clip where a news reporter was interrogating the former mayor of Eastlake. The mayor was being accused of using tax money to finance his vacation trip instead of its designated use for conference trips. As corruption became more obvious, the mayor started to sweat more profusely.
After the presentation Sheil opened the forum for questions and answers. One person asked about censorship in the media. Sheil explained that today’s media enjoys more rights than is generally perceived. “You have to pick your battle, it depends on the degree of damage a news story carries,” he said. “You have to balance out what’s important with what people care about,” Sheil said. “Issue stories are harder to get people involved than emotional stories,” he explained. Students left the event with mixed feelings. “There is a lot going on, like the foreclosure controversy, etc, and there is not a lot of accountability,” law student Marcel Whieth said. “It’s great to have an investigative reporter come in and explain things.” He said he would have enjoyed a discussion of more current issues relevant to the theme. Law student Hong Zenisek said she would have liked more discussion on national politics. “It would be nice to dig more dirt out on the president,” she said. Ishmael Abdullah, a former law student who is now taking chemistry and biology in hopes of becoming a doctor, enjoyed the speech. “He was right! Why are they holding 600 million dollars? They are getting paid by interest in the bank, at least $300,000 of it is interest,” he said, in reference to one of the stories.
Richard William Wright: 1943 - 2008 A Tribute
By Faith Larraine | The Cauldron Arts & Entertainment Editor Entertainment Editor A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987)
The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
The Division Bell (1994)
R
ichard William Wright, 65, a founding member of the infamous band Pink Floyd, died at his home in Britain last Monday due to an undisclosed type of cancer. Much of Wright’s life revolved around his music, being a self-taught pianist and keyboardist. Although often in the shadows of Syd Barrett and Roger Waters, his contributions and involvement in the band shaped much of the style that has created Pink Floyd’s legacy. His tracks begin here. Wright was born on July 28, 1943 in Hatch End, Middlesex, England. In 1963, he attended Regent Street Polytechnic College of Architecture in London, where he would meet fellow band mates Roger Waters and Nick Mason. Having gained an interest in jazz early on, the genre greatly influenced Wright’s own style, along with specs of blues and folk music. As a keyboardist, he enjoyed utilizing the organ and electric piano to heighten the outcome of different pieces. Pink Floyd was originally comprised of Wright, Barrett on vocals, Nick Mason on drums, and Bob Klose on lead guitar. Before Pink Floyd became what we would recognize it as today, the band went by several different names. They started off as Sigma 6, switched to The Megadeaths, then The Tea Set, The Architectural Abdabs, The Abdabs, The Screaming Abdabs, and ultimately arrived at Pink Floyd, after blues musicians Pink Anderson and Floyd Council.Their music has been classified as psychedelic rock, space rock, art rock, and progressive rock over the ages. Wright’s experimental sound with different instruments contributed heavily to a sound that transcended genres. In the early days of the band, for example, Wright decided to use a Farfisa organ as one of his many instruments on stage. He wrote several songs for the group between 1967 and 1968, but soon became much more focused on instrumental experimentation. In 1969, he decided to switch over to the vibraphone on several of the band’s songs and in some live shows. He sang back-up for Pink Floyd, and occasionally lead sining. He has been credited on songs such as ‘Echoes’, ‘Time’ and ‘Shine on You Crazy Diamond’. He also wrote some musical parts for the albums Meddle, Wish You Were Here, and Pink Floyd’s final album, The Division Bell. His most recognized compositions are ‘Us and Them’ and ‘The Great Gig In The Sky’ from the hugely popular album The Dark Side Of The Moon. When asked to comment after his death, Gilmour and Waters both emphasized his writing of these two songs as essential to the success and sound of the album. Wright generally kept a very low profile while with Pink Floyd. However, during the eight months of recording their ninth album title The Wall, Wright was thrown out of the band because of his personal problems with Waters, Pink Floyd’s vocalist from 1964 to 1985. Despite this, Wright was kept on the payroll list simply so that he could promote the album during live concerts. The movie that was created for the album premiered in 1982, at which time Wright was nowhere to be found. During the creation of The Wall album in 1979, Wright released his own solo album titled Wet Dream in 1978, which met with little success, even though Wright self-produced it himself and wrote all the songs except one. He co-wrote ‘Against the Odds’ with Juliette Gale, his wife from 1964 whom he has two children with and divorced in 1982. The album was re-released in the 90’s but did not attain the level of recognition Wright had hoped for. In 1984, Wright went ahead with a duo project with Dave Harris from the band Fashion. The group was named Zee. Their single album was titled Identity, which, like Wright’s solo album, didn’t sell in significant numbers. Wright married his second wife in 1984, Franka. After Roger Waters’ departure in 1985, Wright rejoined Pink Floyd. However, he was not a contractual member again until 1987 during the Momentary Lapse of Reason world tour, because of the complications with The Wall world tour. In 1994, Wright was writing songs again and spitting out lyrics for the album The Division Bell. This provided material for the double live album and video release of THE 1995 P*U*L*S*E. It was taken from the October 20, 1994 concert at Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London, in The Division Bell tour, originally released on VHS and Laserdisc in 1995. It went platinum eight times in the United States and twice in the United Kingdom. It is now available on DVD. By 1994, Pink Floyd had disbanded. Wright and Franka also divorced the same year. Wright tried again with a solo album in 1996. Broken China, which had vocal contributions from the infamous Sinead O’Connor, was a little more successful because it was perceived as more artistic. He dedicated this album to his third wife Millie, whom he married in 1996. The album consisted of more computer-based recording and different production techniques. There were some remixes created by Anthony Moore, a British experimental music composer, for the song ‘Runaway’. This would be Wright’s last completed solo album before his death. Pink Floyd had many on and off reunions and single song performances between 2003 and 2007. November 2005, Wright had to have eye surgery for cataracts, which prevented him from attending Pink Floyd’s United Kingdom induction to the Music Hall of Fame. Waters, who had joined the group again on stage for the first time since The Wall concerts, could not be at the induction because of his opera rehearsals. Wright helped David Gilmour, lead guitarist for Pink Floyd, with his solo album titled On an Island in 2006. He played keyboards and electric piano for Gilmour, while also singing some background vocals. Around this time, Waters had asked Wright to join him and Mason for his The Dark Side of the Moon Live tour. Wright declined due to the production of his solo album that was supposed to be released sometime this year. At the time of Wright’s death he was working on another solo album, which was to have been a compilation of instrumental pieces. Pink Floyd has produced 14 studio albums and five live albums. Extreme shows were a trademark of the band, implementing wild visual effects and running music videos alongside the stage during live performances. The popularity of the band has transcended not only genres of music, but also generations of loyal fans. Wright’s contribution to the unique sound of Pink Floyd cannot be overstated. Perhaps Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason said it best when he told Entertainment Weekly, “Like any band, you can never quite quantify who does what. But Pink Floyd wouldn’t have been Pink Floyd if [we] hadn’t had Rick. I think there’s a feeling now - particularly after all the warfare that went on with Roger and David trying to make clear what their contribution was - that perhaps Rick rather got pushed into the background. Because the sound of Pink Floyd is more than the guitar, bass, and drum thing. Rick was the sound that knitted it all together... He was by far the quietest of the band, right from day one. And, I think, probably harder to get to know than the rest of us... It’s almost that George Harrison thing. You sort of forget that they did a lot more than perhaps they’re given credit for.”
12 Arts & Entertainment
Monday, September 22th
Flashback 1985: Don’t You (Forget About Me) A Simple Minds song flashback
By Faith Larraine | The Cauldron Arts & Entertainment Editor This is one of those songs that reminds you of an era that most people will never forget. It brings back memories of so much, even if you were born after its release. The band that performed the song was unknown in the United States before it was released. But one simple movie soundtrack song changed all of that for them. Band History Simple Minds was formed in 1978 in Glasgow, Scotland. Charlie Burchill, guitarist, and Jim Kerr, vocals, had created a band called Johnny & the Self Abusers in 1977. When the band seemed to be going nowhere, they were joined by Brian McGee on drums and Tony Donald on bass. Donald was quickly replaced by Derek Forbes. They also included Mick MacNeil on keyboard. The bands name was changed to Simple Minds shortly after. Simple minds created 15 albums together with their debut titled Life in a Day in 1979 and their latest album created in 2005 titled Back & White 050505. Their seventh album Once Upon a Time was the only album to reach above 20 on the United States Billboard charts. Five of their albums were at number one or number two in the United Kingdom. The Movie and The Song The song Don’t You (Forget About Me) was a song written for the soundtrack of the popular John Hughes 80’s movie The Breakfast Club. The songwriters were Oscar winner Keith Forsey and Steve Schiff from the Nina Hagen band. The Breakfast Club consisted of actors Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson, Anthony Michael Hall, Ally Sheed, and Emilio Estevez. In the movie five high school students are assigned to Saturday detention in their school library. The children are classified as (in order of the actors listed above) a princess, a criminal, a brain, a basket case, and an athlete. Detention proves to be rather enlightening and they find themselves transcending the tightly drawn social boundaries typical to high school. The movie was ranked No. 1 on Entertainment Weekly’s list of the 50 Best High School Movies, but the song was ranked No. 1 for a lot longer. This was the song that put Simple Minds
The Breakfast Club
on the United States map. It was ranked No. 1 from 1985 to 1987, which makes it a song with one of the longest time spans on the Billboard charts. Who Will Perform? Bryan Ferry, an English songwriter accused of being a Nazi, and English rock musician Billy Idol, were both offered the chance to perform the song and declined. After some persuasion from their label, Simple Minds agreed to perform the song. Even though it made the band famous in the US and was tremendously successful, the band still did not want recognition. It was not placed on an album of theirs until the 1992 “best-of” release Glittering Prize 81/92. The Music Video The music video for Don’t You (Forget About Me) was filmed in 1984 in England on the day after Christmas. This was Simple Minds’ first music video. Kerr hated the video because, according to a quote from Pop-Up Video, “It has inane lyrics and a trite message”. The video was filled with items and toys that
had been forgotten. Because the objects were all over the floor, it made it hard for Kerr to walk around easily. When he could no longer move without falling, he would improvise by dancing in place. Song Appearances and Covers Other than the cover by Billy Idol, the song was also covered by the group Empathy on their 1994 album Under the Lost Smile. American Idol contestant Michael Johns also performed the song, and got good reviews. The song was covered this year by the band New Found Glory for a J.C.Penney back-to-school commercial. The song has also appeared on many video games, such as SingStar 80’s and Brooktown High. Don’t You (Forget About Me) is a song that sticks in a lot of people’s minds. The Breakfast Club is still a hit movie. And Simple Minds are still together to this day, but Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill are the only remaining original members.
Arts & Entertainment
Monday, September 8th
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Finally, on the inside…
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My first week at Lucky’s By Eric Sever The Cauldron Staff Writer
A gray mist bathes the Tremont garden in a dreamy haze shortly before the sun wakes. Even in the light fog of an early summer morning, the colors created by the earth are unmistakably beautiful. Golden sunflowers gaze down upon the deep indigo of purple basil. Ripening peppers proudly testify to their heat by showing off their rich crimsons. Thyme, rosemary, sage and mint all share a blanket of water droplets, making their various greens glisten. It is here that I find myself searching through the lush vegetation for tiny peachorange orbs. Each one hangs like a vibrant dew drop on the vine. These are the sun-gold tomatoes that add color and a tangy acidity to the specials this weekend. This is how I began my first day of work at my favorite brunch in Cleveland. All of this stunning produce is flourishing, along with a deep respect for all fresh, local ingredients, at the fabulous Lucky’s Café on Starkweather. I had been sent to gently pluck each tiny, tender fruit (yes, tomatoes are technically fruits) by a sweet, blonde woman that everyone calls Mom. Looking up at me from under the bun on
her head and over the glasses that sit low on her nose, she hands me a half-full bucket and says quietly, “My arms are too short to reach them all. Would you mind?” Would I mind?! I had eaten endless alfresco meals in that flower-studded garden as a customer, always quietly admiring the produce. Now I’m asked to go into that fragrant wonderland and collect ingredients to be used by a chef I have long admired. At that moment, I knew that I’d love working here. I learned later that Mom is the actual mother of owner Chef Heather Haviland. Meeting Chef Haviland was, for me, what I must imagine it’s like for other people to meet their favorite sports star. I’m a diehard food fan, Cleveland is my hometown, and Heather is definitely an MVP. After sputtering my way through a star-struck interview, I now get to watch her “play” every Saturday and Sunday. Starting out as a pastry chef, Haviland has carried much of her love and talent for sweets and baking into her all-killer, nofiller brunch menu. For those who aren’t shy about their sweet tooth, there’s the Vanilla Bean Griddle Cakes, served with summer berry
compote, or the Lemon Waffles, served with warm blueberry compote. A newer addition, the Sweet Crepes are filled with burnt sugar ricotta and topped with ovenroasted peaches. All are finished with honey whipped cream and caramel, both made in house. The best of many vegetarian choices is The Breakfast Burrito. It is stuffed with veggie scrambled eggs and is baked smothered in cheddar and guajillo pepper sauce. This sauce, made from scratch, pairs the spicy peppers, from the garden when in season, with the sweet richness of cocoa. The dish is then artfully striped with a traditional and a fresh herb sour cream. For the more health-conscious, the Housemade Granola is a gorgeous serving of rolled oats, spelt, wheat germ, flax seeds, and almonds poured over yogurt and decorated with a gorgeous array of fresh fruits. The colorful dish is then made to sparkle with stripes of honey. One of Lucky’s signature dishes, the Biscuits, is created by laying scrambled eggs on cheddar and scallion scones. Then, it is all covered in the house made sausage gravy and served with hash browns. Always believing in the power of sweetness, Chef Haviland serves the hearty dish with crisp grapes on the side. Nearly everything is made from scratch, right in house, from the breads and pastries to the sausage to the jams and amazing hot sauce, which takes four days to make. Few idols live up to the hype. Working at Lucky’s Café with Chef Heather Haviland has exceeded everything I could possibly have imagined or hoped. Trust me, I only want to eat there more. Lucky? Indeed. Lucky’s Café 777 Starweather Avenue Cleveland, OH 44113 216-622-7773 www.luckyscafe.com
Open Daily Brunch HoursSaturday & Sunday 9a.m.-2p.m.
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Arts & Entertainment
Monday, September 22th
Machinima An Overview
By Drew Cappy The Cauldron Contributing Writer
Although they have been around for more than a century, movies still hold a potent and seemingly magical power over us. They can send us into fantastical worlds full of mystery, excitement or adventure, or show us different sides of life we never thought we’d see. They can fill us with laughs of joy or with tears of sorrow. They come in all sorts of genres, from the side-splitting comedy, to edge-of-your-seat action, to the intense drama. Yes, movies come in all shapes, sizes and forms. However, there’s a new form of movie that’s been picking up speed since its inception in just the last decade, although most people still haven’t heard of it. It’s called Machinima, and it’s the movie of the future. What is Machinima? Simply put, it’s a movie made via a videogame engine. That’s it. It has all the requirements of other movies: actors, a set, and props, to name a few. The only difference is that they are from the video game engine. The actors are the character models from the game, like the Spartan or
Elite from Halo, or the creatures from World of Warcraft; the set is the chosen map or level from the video game, like Backlot from Call of Duty 4; and the props are the objects used in the game, such as the guns in shooters or the swords in role-playing games. Other than the fact that most, if not all, of the assets used to make the film come from the video game, Machinima is not different from regular movies. And how is Machinima made? What’s needed to put it together? The same thing needed to make regular movies. You still need actors, though they’ll only be voice actors playing the role of the character model from the game. You still need a story or a plot, whether that plot is inspired from the game you’re making the machinima from, or one you just come up with on your own. And you still need a crew, such as a director and an editor to put the film together. One of the best things about Machinima is that it’s relatively easy to make. All that’s needed is a camera, a computer, and a video game console. That and some basic
knowledge about how to make movies. All you have to do is first record the voice actor’s lines and then act out the scene in the video game with some nifty controller work and editing tricks. One of the most famous Machinimas is Red vs. Blue by RoosterTeeth Productions. The series, which began April Fools Day, 2003, is the story about two teams, one red and one blue, and their exploits and interactions that take place in the canyon they inhabit. The series spanned five seasons and 100 episodes (the current record for a Machinima series), and has spawned several similar works from other production companies. Overall, Machinima may be new, but it’s becoming very popular, very fast. Although it’s currently only viewed over the internet, it is the prediction of this writer that one day in the near future; we can expect to see Machinima begin to make its way onto the big screen. For more information, including information on how to make Machinima and examples of Machinima, please check out machinima.com.
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Arts & Entertainment
Monday, September 22th
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CD Reviews
By Christina Niehaus, & Bob Demyan The Cauldron Contributing Writers imperfections, not everyone can get their first “real” EP quite right. But The Yippee EP is, overall, a great promise of a future for Never Shout Never.
Kardinal Offishall Officially Hits the Shelves 2 out of 5 Stars You may have heard Kardinal Offishall’s song Dangerous ft. Akon on 96.5. Do you really know who Kardinal Offishall is, though? His real name is Jason Harrow and he was born in Scarborough, Ontario to Jamaican Immigrants. This has helped the “Ambassador of Canadian Hip Hop” and has influenced his unique genre of music. Harrow was signed in 2000 to MCA records and released an album in 2001 titled Quest for Fire; Firestarter Vol 1. When MCA Records folded in 2003, he didn’t get another major record deal until 2007 with Kon Live/Geffen Records under which, on Sept. 9 he released his next mainstream album Not for Sale. Kardinal got the idea for the album title from a t-shirt that said “Not for Sale” on it with a barcode. After Dangerous, which peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Top 100, this album is pretty lackluster. His rap, reggae and R&B mix has great potential but I really am not feeling it. The songs on the album were very hit-or-miss, and I knew in the first 20 seconds if I would like the song or not. Most of the pure reggae tracks either had incomprehensible lyrics or a very unpleasant, irritating beat. The R&B songs Kardinal did very well Nina and Numba 1 (Tide is High) ft Rihanna. I felt some of the hooks were not catchy and didn’t go with the lyrics. There were some bright spots - as I pointed out the R&B tracks were good, and there were some beats that were simple but high quality. Kardinal also had some pure rap songs which were rather mediocre. Overall, the album falls short but there are a couple worthy tracks I would recommend.
Never Shout Never The Yippee EP 4 ½ out of 5 Stars Missouri native Christopher Drew, 17, surely never anticipated such a following after he recorded his first EP, Demo-Shmemo, in his basement. His first studio release, The Yippee EP, came out at the end of July and is still constantly being played all over the Internet. And rightfully so. Here Goes Nothin’ has the lyrics of a love – or rather, tragic love – song, but the music makes it much easier to listen to. With this first track, you get the chance to listen to a love song without afterwards feeling horribly depressed. The second track, Big City Dreams, is reminiscent of She’s Got Style from Never Shout Never’s first EP. It could almost be considered a part two of sorts, and similar guitar riffs aside, let’s face it – this song is adorable. Smelyalata starts off slow, then randomly gets faster, and then suddenly takes a completely different turn. It’s almost as if it can’t really find its way. The lyrics are great, as well as the guitar work, but if one main beat could be found to better transition the tempo changes and the song didn’t end so abruptly, Smelyalata would be much easier and much more enjoyable to listen to. The final track, Dare 4 Distance, is a song you could easily listen to regardless of your mood. Again, it has love tones, but not overly so and plenty bearable for those antilove people out there. While there are obviously some
Jack’s Mannequin Review 4 out of 5 Stars Jack’s Mannequin was originally a simple side project of Something Corporate’s Andrew McMahon. However after the success of Everything in Transit, Jack’s Mannequin has continued to delve out the great acoustic piano ballads. In Valleys features 4 B-sides and tracks from the upcoming and much-anticipated The Glass Passenger. The In Valleys EP starts off with Swim, which delivers basically everything you expect of a Jack’s Mannequin song. It has great rhythm, and leaves the listener feeling hopeful and, dare I say, inspired.. This song definitely delivers, and sets the bar quite high for the rest of the tracks. Cellphone is another semi-inspirational track but isn’t anything especially different than what we’ve heard from Jack’s Mannequin before, which is a slight disappointment. This EP is, after all, going to be preceding a longawaited album. The first full album in three years, in fact. Up next is Sleazy Wednesday, a decent enough song, but not quite there. Sure, it sounds great but the chorus is mostly what carries it along. However, as with many songs, it may sound better when seen live coming out of a very passionate Andrew McMahon. The fourth and final track of the In Valleys EP is At Full Speed, a good example of saving the best for last. Again, this song – corny as it sounds – makes the listener feel hopeful for reasons unknown. The piano paired with the soothing vocals meld perfectly. All in all, the EP was good. Not as great as some might have anticipated, especially those with high expectations of Jack’s Mannequin. And some die-hard Mannequin fans might threaten to torch my home for this, but in all honesty, the album preview could go either way as far as demonstrating the overall thematic sound of The Glass Passenger. In some ways, it promises an amazing new album. In others, it illustrates an average, run-of-the-mill Jack’s Mannequin album.
18 Sports
Monday, September 22th
America’s Greatest Stadium Says Good Bye Yankee Stadium has its curtain call By Robert Ivory The Cauldron Sports Editor
When the New York Yankees finished their home schedule Sunday against the Orioles, it was finally over. This year’s Yankees were well out of the playoff hunt in August, but tickets for the last game of the year were nearly impossible to get since the ‘House That Ruth Built’ was done. No longer can you sit in a stadium where legends, such as Babe Ruth, ‘Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Reggie Jackson, and Derek Jeter graced the field. The stadium may be knocked down and paved over for a parking lot, but no one will forget their first time they walked down the tunnel and saw their first glimpse of that heavenly field. For me, it has always been tough living in Cleveland being a TRUE Yankees fan. I say a true fan, because I have always been there through thick and thin and always proud to wear my New York lid, unlike some bandwagon NBA player that will remain nameless; LeBron. But, when I was able to
see the Yanks play the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim this year, I felt like I was a true Yankees fan and made my visit to Mecca. The Stadium has meant so much more that just a place to sit down and watch a ball game. Yankee Stadium has stood the test of time and is a true American Landmark, almost as much as the Statue of Liberty or Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. When New York was struck by the disaster that was 9/11, Yankee Stadium became the place for New Yorkers to go for three hours and forget the tragedy that had struck the ‘Big Apple.’ The Cathedral to baseball was the place where proud Americans untied to not only cheer on their beloved Yankees, but to also remember why we have become proud to live in the United States. Emotional nights like those have never been too far from Yankee Stadium, as many people have entered its gates, but none will forget their visits. The stadium that cost only $2.5 million to build has never looked better as it reached its 85th birthday this year. With an era coming to
The greatest place to watch a game at Yankee Stadium, in the bleachers.
an end and another one beginning, it is safe to say that no one will ever forget this true treasure of America. As a famous New Yorker and singer of the Yankees’ winning song Frank Sinatra once put it, “That’s Life.”
CSU Assistant Basketball Coach Part of Special Experience Jayson Gee Takes Part in Achieving Excellence Program By Robert Ivory The Cauldron Sports Editor “It was a life changing experience.” These words were said by men’s assistant basketball coach Jayson Gee on his time in the Achieving Excellence Program sponsored by the Black Coaches Association. “I was very honored and everyone was a great mentor,” Gee said, who starts his third year as an assistant coach with the Vikings. “The time I spent there was great, and anytime you can spend an hour and a half in an intament group with Myles Brand (president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association) is great.” “He (Brand) is genuine, highly intelligent, and committed to diversity,” Gee said in a phone interview as he was in an airport terminal in Florida on a recruiting trip. The Vikings’ Gee was one of 18 assistant
coaches to be selected to attend the program. The program was sponsored by the Black Coaches Association. The Association is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to aid the growth and development of ethnic minorities at all levels of sports. The BCA has many prominent African Americans as their spokespeople, such as Indianapolis Colts and the first African American Head Coach to win a Super Bowl, Tony Dungy, Rutgers Head women’s basketball Coach Vivian Stringer, and University of Washington and Former Notre Dame Head Football Coach Tyrone Willingham. “I am very much honored to be mentioned with those prominent coaches,” Gee added. “They are great mentors.” Gee aids Head Coach Gary Waters working
with the post players and helping with game strategies. Off the court, Jayson is head of recruiting, puts together the men’s schedule, and monitors the academic progress of his athletes. “Coach Waters gives me two opportunities: I am mentored by a value system, and he lets me be me,” Gee said of his role as an assistant coach. Gee’s invaluable insight has lead the Viking program in the right direction. Before heading to Cleveland, he had been through several programs in the same or similar roles. His services have led him to Youngstown State, Ohio University, and St. Bonaventure. He has also been a Head Coach for the University of Charlestown and led the Golden Eagles to their first-ever NCAA bid in 1998-1999.
Monday, September 22th
Tennis Teams Smash Way to the Top
Sports
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19
Clubs train for maximum performance By Robert Ivory The Cauldron Sports Editor
Head tennis coach Brian Etzkin knows his teams are ready. Their training has been hard and Etzkin knows they are getting closer. “The biggest challenge is that the hunter is now the hunted,” as Etzkin puts it. The team, a year removed from their upsetting of the defending champion Butler Bulldogs, now looks to keep their spot on top of the mountain. The men’s squad took out the University of Illinois-Chicago last April and wants to keep the momentum going into the new year. “Team chemistry and every player playing for each other is our biggest advantage,” Etzkin said. The men are led by seniors Rob West and Steven Wipprecht who will be the driving force for this year’s club. “It’s good when you can lead by example,’ Etzkin said of his seniors. But with the two seniors on the top of their game, its easy to overlook the reigning Horizon League Player of the Year, Phil Orno. “Horizon League Player of the Year is tough to get, but Phil does have room to improve,” the coach would say of the award winning junior. “He has to work extra hard, but if he does he has a shot to become a professional.” The men’s squad will start their fall season at the Ball State Invitational on Oct. 10, travel to Louisville for their Invitational the following weekend, and finally head back to Columbus, OH where they spent their first NCAA bid, last year. As the men finish their workout at the Cleveland State Recreation Center and Etzkin’s training regimen, the women’s squad has already shown how well this year should go. The team had an easy weekend when they went to the Detroit Invitational and defeated the University of Oakland and the Titans of Detroit-Mercy. Junior Charlotte Gibbons highlighted her weekend by sweeping the former Horizon League Player of the Year, Annie Moore of Detroit, in straight sets 6-4, 6-1. “It was a very exciting experience,” Gibbons would say of her beating of Moore. “I was really nervous before the match, but once it started I was ready.” The Vikings’ number one has shown that she can be the one to lead the team. “I have been looking to become No. 1 since freshman year. I have been pushing myself really hard and I think I deserve it for my hard work,” Gibbons would say of her efforts for the team. Charlotte’s doubles teammate, which won 8-3 against an Oakland pair; Catrine Bjerrehus has won the Horizon League Player of the Week. Bjerrehus won the award in her first week as a Viking.
Coach Brian Etzkin has his girls trained and ready to go for this season.