Cauldron The
October 27, 2008
Volume 107 No.10
A Haunted History Where the scares came from, why we like them, and where to get them By Laura Krawczyk and Eric Sever
WWW.CSUCAULDRON.COM
The Contents
Volume 107 No.10 - October 27th 2008
Feature
“For the Students...By The Students”
Editor-In-Chief Managing Editor Advertising Manager Copy Editors
A Haunted History
The Melting Pot
5
Opening Statements………Page 3 The Cauldron Endorses…Vigilance………Page 3 The Struggle………Page 5
News
Arts & Entertainment
To Submit Editorials, Articles , Etc.: cauldroneditors@hotmail.com
Not Just for Boozers Part 1………Page 12
Music Reviews
6
4 18
Frank Grigonis presents: Elf & The Big Guy………Page 17 A Cartoon by Mike Quintero………Page 17
Sports
Despite Some Success, Fall Sports Not as Impressive as Last Year………Page 18 With Halloween Approaching, Always Good to Remember “Chappie”………Page 19 Cleveland Browns Hall of Famer Dies at 73………Page 19
Contributing Writers Christina Niehaus Dan Langshaw Eric Sever Emily Ouzts Drew Cappy Alexes Spencer Melissa Alewine Cheryl D. Mello Jonathan ‘Killstring’ Herzberger Bob Demyan Robert Rozboril Stephanie Berhannan Ron Arnett Leah Juresko Nathan Genovese 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.
Blowing the Whistle About the State of Whistleblowing…………Page 6 The Verzubian Political Notebook………Page 8 The Cleveland Library: A Place Every Student Needs to Check Out………Page 8 Crunch Time………Page 9
The Comics
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
Each fall, when trees erupt into torches of burning orange and red leaves, the days become concoctions of gray skies and chilly breezes, and Halloween rolls around, it seems that you can’t rush quickly enough to take a hike through a pitch-black haunted forest, inevitably teeming with chainsaw murderers and mental hospital escapees, or to Blockbuster to rent 90 minutes of blood, gore and suspense. year round, we go skydiving, ride roller coasters, partake in the stock market, take turns so fast in our cars that we leave marks on the pavement -- all just to feel that rush of adrenaline. . …Page 10
Now Hear This………Page 13 Keane………Page 13 Amon Amarth………Page 14 Concert Picks of the Week………Page 14
Cauldron The
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www.csucauldron.com
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. Advertising Policy For advertising inquiries e-mail cauldronadvertisements@hotmail.com or call (216) 687-2270. Contact Us: Cleveland State University 4th Floor Cole Center Cleveland, Ohio 44115 (216) 687-2270 / FAX (216) 687-5155 www.csucauldron.com
The Melting Pot 10-27-08
Opening Statements By Nick Camino The Cauldron Editor-in-Chief In order to provide Cleveland State University students, faculty and staff with the best college newspaper possible, the editors, staff writers and contributing writers from The Cauldron are interested in what you want to read. For the past seven weeks, since the beginning of the 2008 Fall Semester, CSU has gotten a small taste of what this independent student newspaper is all about. Staff members have not only become fellow co-workers, we have become friends as well. Despite the relationships that have evolved in our department, we all have different voices and a variety of opinions. And that is what makes this publication work. The individuals who put the newspaper together are uniquely different from each other, which enable us to present to readers a product that is unbiased, professional and hopefully, fun to read. However, since this semester has reached the halfway point, we want your feedback. Whether you are a student, a professor, a
custodian, a security guard, a coach, or even a graduate, we want to hear from you and tell us what is on your mind. We want to know how you feel about this newspaper created solely by students from this fine institution, with the help of a caring student media specialist and a new dedicated advisor who teaches at CSU. So tell us what do you want to see more of? Also is there too much coverage of any in particular subject each week? Do you like the design of the paper? Do you ever read our online edition of The Cauldron online at www. csucauldron.com? What has been your favorite article so far this semester? What should we consider changing as we move forward? In order to be successful in life, an individual needs to know and hear what they should do to improve and make themselves or their product better. The Cauldron staff is confident that your feedback will help us create an even better product than what we already do now. Those people who make it a point to read this well-established publication are what matter to
us most. Your commitment to The Cauldron is what keeps our entire staff coming back every Monday preparing to produce yet another edition for our loyal readers. The Cauldron not only gives the members of our staff a chance to build their own individual portfolios while working for a respected media outlet, it also provides them an opportunity to present the reader with the best college newspaper that we proudly believe possible. So how do you share your thoughts with us? Simple. The easiest way would be by e-mailing us at cauldroneditors@hotmail.com. Calling the newspaper is fine too. Just dial 216-6872270; if we don’t answer, leave a short message and a phone number and one of our editors will be sure to get back to you. Finally, if you feel like writing us a letter, just mail it to our offices at the Joseph E. Cole Center at 3100 Chester Avenue, CE 4th Floor, Cleveland, OH, 44115. Thanks for reading; we look forward to hearing from you.
The Cauldron Endorses…Vigilance By Chris Enoch The Cauldron Staff Writer
While every other periodical is racing to endorse John Sidney McCain or Barack Hussein Obama, The Cauldron, to the disappointment of some of our readers and the satisfaction of others, we’ll be making no endorsement this election season. We aren’t endorsing for president and we aren’t endorsing for local, county or state offices or taking spirited stands on issues either. We’ve received an extraordinary amount of commentary from our readers in regards to these matters, and, while I like to think of our readers more as our active constituents than passive speculators, an endorsement by this campus newspaper would only signify loyalty to potential officeholders rather than the spirit of vigilance this paper will continue even after the election. While many individual writers as well as members of our editing staff have devoted political positions, this paper is no place to proselytize a particular point of view, even
if that view is held by the majority of our readers. I don’t want our staff, our readers or myself to cozy up to a candidate two months before they are sworn in, nor does this paper. Whether my particular (and undisclosed) choice for president is the victor come Nov. 4 will hold no sway over this paper’s coverage of politics. Whoever gets the privilege of independent electoral victory that day can expect to have their feet held to the fire as much as any other potential officeholder. Voters need to exercise caution in their fiery support of one candidate or another. Presidents try to be all things to all men. As citizens and learners all, let us not get absorbed into a continual cult of personality in support of our political representation. Thomas Jefferson once exclaimed that “the price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” For The Cauldron, let vigilance prevail now and ever onward. As to our staff, I’ll let them speak for themselves.
Staff opinions: Staff Writer Jon Herzberger: As journalists, we’re in a unique position to bring information to the public eye, and that’s something we care about a lot at The Cauldron. I’ve poured hours of my blood, sweat and tears into articles that encourage our readers to think for themselves - as opposed to sharing an opinion because I worded something eloquently. Why would I sabotage all my hard work by throwing public weight behind a candidate? Different things are important to different people - and if I have any skill as a writer, I hope I’ve empowered our readers to make well-informed decisions, based on what matters to them. Staff Writer Dan Langshaw: Our readers support Obama and so should we. The Cauldron needs to give the overwhelming majority of the students our support and voice. Continued on Page 5
Monday, October 27th • The Cauldron • Page 3
Page 4 • The Cauldron • Monday, October 27th
The Melting Pot
The Cauldron Endorses…Vigilance Continued from Page 3
We are with them in our collective support for the next President of the United States. We are the heart and soul of the student body. The student body and the campus echo “Vote Obama. “ We should reflect this in our paper. News Editor Roman Verzub: I don’t think we should endorse a candidate. First off, it would continue the misconceptions about the news media all thinking the same thing. I am pretty sure that is not the case, but we shouldn’t endorse either way. Plus, people can be rightfully suspicious of everything we write. Every notebook I wrote will be “Let’s see how he’s biased towards [candidate we’ve endorsed].” I don’t think that’s a good idea. Sports Editor Robert Ivory: I am proud to be a ‘Nader Raider.’ I feel that there is a real injustice that the Ralph Nader/ Matt Gonzalez ticket does not get more national attention than it does. Nader is a brilliant American who has been fighting for the average American since 1965 with his fight against the Chevy Corvair in his study, Unsafe at Any Speed. If the average citizen would take the time to get to know Nader’s background, more Americans would be pro-Nader. Arts & Entertainment Editor Faith Larraine: I know that we have gotten numerous e-mails asking if we are a “Democratic” newspaper; and these e-mails were not of the nice “for Obama” kind. As a paper we can not endorse a candidate. Politics are politics and they are against the general public. Editor-In-Chief Nick Camino: This upcoming election is a historical one, and it may be the closest finish ever in the history of a presidential election. The staff and I have enjoyed brining you election coverage for the past seven weeks and next week will be even more in-depth. A person’s vote should be kept to themselves, and as an American citizen I will exercise that right. However, I can ensure you all that I will be voting for one of the two leading candidates; but I fully support our publication’s decision not to endorse a candidate. Layout Editor Steve Thomas: November 4th will be a day (whether Obama wins or loses) that I would’ve never imagined possible. It was only 43 years ago that Martin Luther King Jr. helped to organize the Montgomery Bus Boycotts. Eight years later the “I Have A Dream” speech ushered in new hopes for racial solidarty in our society. Their are still many struggles that we have yet to overcome, but we must continue to move forward as a people, as a nation and as a society. So please, let your voice be heard!
The Struggle
Maintaining a Bank Account in College By Faith Larraine The Cauldron Arts & Entertainment Editor
It’s a struggle making sure not to go over your bank account limit while in college. In my own experience, it is extremely easy to go in the red in your bank account during your college years. It has happened to me numerous times and I have a few assumptions as to why. For one thing, being a college student is a full-time job and it would be nice if it were the only thing we had to do, but it’s not. Most of the students at CSU have on or off-campus jobs to support themselves. Eating Viking food everyday could possibly contribute to the Freshman 15 and it’s not healthy. People who live in the dorms and have kitchenettes obviously have to stock up on groceries, but that costs more money than you think. Getrichslowly.com confirms that the average college student spends about $300-$400 a month on food. Of course, it’s not just food. Some students have no concept of money management. They go to the mall every weekend, or to the movies, or here, or there, or everywhere. They spend all that they think they have and then wonder why they are $300 under in their account. And believe me, no matter how much you cry or whimper, the people at the bank don’t care. According to an article on the Talk Radio News website, Bob Brandon of the Campaign for College Affordability said that tuition in public institutions has gone up 60 percent in the last eight years. Luckily, if you go to CSU, our tuition has been frozen for the past couple years. Students are graduating with tens of thousands of dollars in loan debt, and even
less money in their pockets then ever. And with the economy the way that it is, it will be even more difficult for any student to find a second job anywhere. Many newspapers discuss the issue of credit card debt amongst college students, but I’m simply talking about what is on your regular debit card or the cash in your pocket. Financialplan.com made me realize something. We spend a lot of money on the little things such as coffee, cigarettes, etc. But afterwards, we complain about not having enough money for gas, food, and college fees. I suppose that one of those ‘Intro to University’ courses may have covered money management issues, but I highly doubt that the majority listened and got something out of it. A good idea is to keep your checkbook in an Excel spreadsheet. Start off with however much you have and then just keep going down. Write what it is you bought or received, how much it was, and then you can drag the total down and it does the math for you. It’s easier than a real checkbook because it’s easier to fix your mistakes and if you are bad at math you don’t have to worry about that either. Also, keeping up with any checkbook on your own is good because oftentimes charges can take days to show up on your account balance. Then you think you have the money when you really don’t, and the next thing you know, you’re in the red. If you are having money issues, it is best to talk to your parents if they can help provide for you. Put your pride aside and simply say, “I need help.” But if they do help you, use the money wisely and buy the necessities and not the redundancies. Monday, October 27th • The Cauldron • Page 5
News 10-27-08
Blowing the Whistle About the State of Whistleblowing By Roman Verzub The Cauldron News Editor
“Depending on their behavior they can be a hero or a traitor,” described Tom Devine, the legal directory for the Government Accountability Project. He was talking about whistle blowers, and he was doing it at the Cleveland State Marshall College of Law at a lecture entitled The End of the Dark Ages? The Revolution in Legal Rights for Whistleblowers. Promoted as part of the 2008 Employment and Labor Speaker Series, the event started at 5 PM and consisted of Devine’s account of the current status of laws for protecting whistle blowers in the US, though he also took the time to first explain why people should become whistle blowers if they see something going on that is questionable, especially if it is illegal. He mentioned that some people are afraid, to “bite the hand that feeds” them and prefer the old cliché of “see no evil, hear no evil, speak your evil.” He called them “very valid, but very conflicting values.” According to Devine, the right to be a whistle blower is connected to four other rights: 1) The freedom to protest (in the streets, or by being a government witness) Page 6 • The Cauldron • Monday, October 27th
2) The freedom to warn others 3) The freedom to challenge conventional wisdom, citing the likes of Galileo, as keeping society from being too stagnant 4) The freedom to educate others to make informed decisions, which he said key to having more control of our lives. Devine came packed with examples of how he says whistle blowing has contributed significantly to the public good. The first example he used was of Dr. David Graham, the senior drug safety researcher and the whistle blower who first revealed the dangers of Vioxx, which was then later found to significantly increase the risk of heart attack. He also said that until 5 years ago, those entering the country who were accused of drug smuggling were routinely held for 2 days and subjected to body cavity searches, during which time they had no legal rights. Devine said that a whistle blower tipped off the right people and now a suspected drug smuggler can only be held for 2 hours at the airport. The current system, Devine said, is a “Trojan horse” for what he called free speech
rights. “40 states have a public policy exception, 18 states have laws that protect workers, but they are ineffective.” According to Devine, most whistle blower lawsuits end in failure for the whistle blower. Occupational safety whistle blowers only win cases 6 percent of the time, nuclear power whistle blowers only about 3 percent of the time. The largest case winning statistics for whistle blowers, he said, belong to the airline safety field at about 10 percent. “The deck is stacked against you,” he said. The event was attended by both students and local attorneys, who generally reacted positively. “[Devine’s] short stories gave good insight on how whistle blowing works,” Chris Baxter, a second year law student said. “The presentation was informative, especially for here in Northeast Ohio.” Joel Nash, a practicing attorney here in Cleveland also attended the event. “[Devine] gave a lot of good information on something not a lot of attorneys know about,” Nash said.
Monday, October 27th • The Cauldron • Page 7
News The Verzubian Political Notebook By Roman Verzub The Cauldron News Editor
Lunch time, as they say, is crunch time. Now that we’re down to the wire in elections the two main candidates for president, John McCain, R-AZ, and Barack Obama, D-IL, are doing their best to bring undecided voters from swing states into their corners. The Obama campaign has been aggressively outspending the McCain spending by more than $105 million during the first week of October alone. Unlike McCain, Obama is not in the public financing program, and has much more spending freedom. The McCain campaign now spends around $1.5 million a day, with likely around $12 million in hand to spend in these final days. McCain also has $21 million left over from the primaries that he isn’t allowed to use in the general election. Instead, he’s distributed
the funds to Republican parties in battleground states like Ohio, North Carolina, Nevada, Virginia, and Florida. Obama has around $14 million that he’s donated to local Democratic Party committees in similar key battleground states. CNN currently estimates Obama with a wide lead over McCain, though that doesn’t include numbers from around 21 states where the projected winner is not clear. MSNBC estimates are much closer, though still put Obama in the lead, and still depend on results from around 21 inconclusive states - nearly half of the country. Obama’s strongholds will likely be traditional Democratic strongholds like California and New York. Most Democratic strongholds haven’t voted for a Republican since the 1980’s.
The District of Columbia has never supported a Republican candidate. Though most of the liberal strongholds are small in size, California, New York, and Obama’s home state of Illinois alone carry one-third of the electoral votes Obama would need to clinch the nomination. McCain’s strong points will be states that haven’t typically supported a Democrat since the 60’s. States like Texas, Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming will be crucial for McCain. McCain’s own state Arizona is typically very competitive, though Republican-leaning in years past. McCain now has this highly competitive state under his wing, which is sure to be significant for him. Further worth mentioning is that no Republican has ever won the election in recent years without winning Ohio, currently considered a “toss-up state” by most polls.
The Cleveland Library: A Place Every Student Needs to Check Out By Nathan Genovese The Cauldron Contributing Writer
The fall semester is about halfway over. College students everywhere know what that means: an unending torrent of papers, projects, and tests as we head towards finals week. The workload can get overwhelming but, fortunately, there’s a convenient resource within walking distance of Cleveland State University. This is, of course, the Cleveland Public Library. In fact, the Cleveland Library has a lot to offer the average college student. Divided into the older main building and the more modern Louis Stokes Wing, it is a great place to do research. This reporter cannot count the times when something he found in the library that came in handy for class. The library has thousands of books on a myriad of topics that a college student might find useful. If one needs to write a paper for film class, for example, one can head to the literature section on the second floor of the main building to check out the rather large selection of books on film. Chances are you’ll find something on the topic you are looking for. Their social sciences section, located on the fifth floor of the Louis Stokes wing, is nothing to sneeze at either. The religion selection alone contains enough information to keep a dedicated researcher occupied for decades. If there is something a student can’t find, they can just ask one of the many librarians, Page 8 • The Cauldron • Monday, October 27th
who are usually happy to help out a student researcher. For example, fine arts librarian Bruce D. Biddle directs students to the “biggest collection of fine arts book on this side of the country” located on the second floor of the main building. However, it would be wrong to dismiss the Cleveland Library as just another place to study. Cleveland State student and library worker Richard Jenkins agrees that the library “has resources students can’t find in other areas.” He points out that the library is also a “nice hang-out spot to get away from the usual routine.” Investigation of this bears him out. For example, right across from the fine arts section, is the library’s CD room. This room contains music from all genres from opera to rock and roll. It also spans all eras of popular music. Oldies fans can listen to the early rock and roll of Chuck Berry while fans of more contemporary music can listen to bands like She Wants Revenge. For film buffs, there is a vast collection of DVD’s in the basement of the Louis Stokes Wing. This includes not only recent films, but also foreign, classic, and even cheesy 1970’s cult films. There is, quite literally, a film to fit everyone’s personal taste. As a devoted comic book fan, this reporter would be remiss if he did not mention the library’s large selection of graphic novels. Graphic novels can be found in the main
building on the second floor literature section and the fourth floor children’s section. According to librarian Timothy Phillips, “graphic novels are very popular. [They] enable the reader to progress to more demanding works of literature.” Speaking of more demanding literature, the fiction section is right down the hall, for those looking to do a bit of pleasure reading. Containing an astonishing number of books, it is quite easy to get lost just looking around. The Cleveland Public Library quite literally has something for everyone.
Cleveland Public Library - Downtown
News
Crunch Time
Straight Talk on War, Peace, and Homeland Security ByJonathan ‘Killstring’ Herzberger The Cauldron Staff Writer
W
ith the elections a heartbeat away, we find ourselves getting quite literally down to ‘Crunch Time’ – and there have been few issues as polarizing as homeland security, our military policies, and the war in Iraq. This week’s ‘Crunch’ seeks to cast a light on these often cloudy issues, again using the debates, the candidate’s web sites, speeches, press releases, the Library of Congress ‘Thomas’ archives. We’ve done our best to paint a clearer picture for the American people - whom we think are pretty smart, and will make informed decisions so long as they are, in fact, informed. So without further deliberation, let’s get down to this week’s Crunch Time focus – War, Peace, and Homeland Security.
Obama
On use of Military Force, and “The Obama Doctrine”: “We may not always have national security issues at stake, but we have moral issues at stake. If we could have intervened effectively in the Holocaust…If we could've stopped Rwanda… we would have to strongly consider and act… when ethnic cleansing is happening… and we stand idly by, that diminishes us.” Military Voting Record: Voted YES on redeploying US troops out of Iraq by March 2008. (Mar 2007) Voted NO on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007. (Jun 2006) Voted YES on investigating contract awards in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Nov 2005) “Would have voted NO” to authorize the President to go to war. (Jul 2004)
VS.
On use of Military Force, and “The McCain Doctrine”: “I agree with the (Bush) doctrine, (In 2002, the president said “we have a right to a pre-emptive attack, if this country feels threatened”) and I'd also like to give President Bush a little credit… Now, I strongly disagreed with the strategy employed by Secretary Rumsfeld… but we are succeeding now in Iraq.” Military Voting Record: Voted NO on redeploying non-essential US troops out of Iraq in 9 months. (Dec 2007) Voted NO on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007. (Jun 2006) Voted NO on investigating contract awards in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Nov 2005) Voted YES on authorizing use of military force against Iraq. (Oct 2002)
On Homeland Security: “We often hear about two debates - one on national security and one on the economy - but that is a false distinction… We must be strong at home to be strong abroad - that is the lesson of our history. Our economy supports our military power, it increases our diplomatic leverage, and it is a foundation of America’s leadership and in the world.” Homeland Security/Civil Liberties Voting Record: Voted YES on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees. (Sep 2006) Voted YES on requiring CIA reports on detainees & interrogation methods. (Sep 2006) Voted YES on reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act. (Mar 2006) Voted YES on restricting business with entities linked to terrorism. (Jul 2005)
On Homeland Security: John McCain’s reaction to the (911) Commission in 2004 remains his overarching homeland security position: “One lesson…is that no one set of strategies is sufficient to prevent future terrorist attacks. The United States must use all of the instruments at our disposal to counter the short and long-term threats posed by international terrorism.” Homeland Security/Civil Liberties Voting Record: Voted NO on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees. (Sep 2006) Voted NO on requiring CIA reports on detainees & interrogation methods. (Sep 2006) Voted YES on reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act. (Mar 2006) Voted NO on restricting business with entities linked to terrorism. (Jul 2005)
McCain
The Bottom line: On foreign policy, the two senators are divided rather sharply. McCain was an early, avid, and consistent supporter of the Iraq war, whereas Obama pushed for resolution in Afghanistan before deploying U.S. troops elsewhere. Obama is against the idea of preemptive military actions, and high on “a common security and a common prosperity with other peoples” and the idea of prevention, whereas McCain proposed something called “Rogue State Rollback” in 2000, which formed the basis of what we now refer to as “The Bush Doctrine.” Both supported the Patriot Act, and both are staunchly anti-torture – although there is a clear split regarding exactly how detainees ought to be dealt with. There isn’t a clear statistical difference in the effectiveness of their particular strategies, mainly because such things are difficult to quantify. It comes down to which strategy you feel more confident in, and what you want out of our next Commander-InChief We must choose wisely, and with great deliberation – the next president’s actions will affect the entire world, and by extension, so will our votes. Make sure your voice is represented. Monday, October 27th • The Cauldron • Page 9
A Haunted History Where the scares came from, why we like them, and where to get them
Scare Tactics By Laura Krawczyk The Cauldron Copy Editor
The Ancient Origins of Halloween By Eric Sever The Cauldron Staff Writer
H
alloween’s constantly evolving traditions originated about 2,000 years ago in the Celtic culture that thrived in what is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France. Oct. 31 marked the end of the Celtic year and the annual ancient festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). This event celebrated the end of both the summer and the harvest. It was a pivotal time for early pagans whose lives were so closely linked to the land. Perhaps more closely linked to modern concepts of Halloween, the time also marked the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time often associated with human death. During the night of Samhain, the boundary between the living and the dead was thought to become blurred. Celts believed ghosts returned to Earth at this time to cause trouble and damage crops. In order to lessen the mischief of the dead, they lit huge bonfires and burned crops and animals for sacrifice. During these ceremonies, they wore costumes usually consisting of animal heads and skins. By 43 AD, Romans had conquered much of the Celtic territory. The conquerors merged Samhain with two customs of their own. The first, called Feralia, commemorated the dead. The second tradition honored Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. Her symbol was an apple, and this explains the inclusion of apple-bobbing during many autumn festivals. Page 10 • The Cauldron • Monday, October 27th
In 800 AD, Pope Boniface IV tried to replace all of these fall rituals with All Saints’ Day on November 1, in honor of saints and martyrs. The night before became known as All-Hallows Eve, which was eventually shortened to Halloween. Two centuries later, the Catholic Church named November 2 All Souls’ Day, and citizens began dressing up as saints, angels, and devils to honor Catholic beliefs. Eventually, the three day period from October 31-November 2, which included the eve of All Saints’ Day, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day, became known collectively as Hallowmas. When European immigrants settled in North America, their differing ethnic customs merged with aspects of Native American cultures to form a Halloween holiday unique to America. In its early days, Americans celebrated with costume parties, where they often played fortune telling games. These frequently focused on determining which of a young woman’s suitors she would marry. At the turn of the twentieth century, there was a push away from superstition and the occult to make Halloween a more neighborhood-oriented event. By the 1950’s, the holiday was largely for children. Over the next few decades, the holiday once again became popular among adults. Halloween is now the second largest commercial holiday in the country, with Americans spending $6.9 billion each year.
E
ach fall, when trees erupt into torches of burning orange and red leaves, the days become concoctions of gray skies and chilly breezes, and Halloween rolls around, it seems that you can’t rush quickly enough to take a hike through a pitch-black haunted forest, inevitably teeming with chainsaw murderers and mental hospital escapees, or to Blockbuster to rent 90 minutes of blood, gore and suspense. year round, we go skydiving, ride roller coasters, partake in the stock market, take turns so fast in our cars that we leave marks on the pavement -- all just to feel that rush of adrenaline. Blood-pounding, nail-biting, heart-in-your-throat rush of adrenaline. Why do we want to relive that primal feeling of fight or flight? Why do we watch helpless victims be decapitated from the safe, cozy cushions of our couch, or take a two-minute thrill ride from inside trains that have been tediously tested and retested, that we know will never fall off the tracks? We want to have our cake and eat it too. We’re compelled to feel as if we could die any second, even though we are the proprietors of vanilla-flavored lifestyles. Something inside us craves danger – even if it’s just vicarious. If something gets too scary or too realistic, it can be gone with the click of a remote. Our lives are so redundant, so expected and so nauseatingly innocuous that we crave a taste of the dark side of life. Just as blazer-wearing female CEO’s are secret sexual deviants in bed, our obsessively calculated lives can lead us to desire that forbidden side of the human instinct. A New York entrepreneur recently began a company that offers a personalized kidnapping experience. You can arrange the day, time and place of your kidnapping, whether they will tie you up or use duct tape, what they’ll be wearing, and where they’ll hold you hostage. Honestly. People pay thousands of dollars for this. They even have gift certificates available. We want to know how far we can be pushed. How much can we watch without covering our eyes and just how long can we stare into the face of death? Halloween gives us the chance to flirt with death and create a psychological dominatrix out of our greatest fears. So sure, I’ll continue watching slashers and going to Cedar Point every year. Is it the false sense of bravery, or catharsis that makes being scared worth it?
The Cauldron’s Top Ten Scary Movies:
Halloween Around the World
1. The Exorcist 2. Halloween 3. The Shining 4. Friday the 13th 5. Psycho 6. The Omen 7. Amityville Horror 8. IT 9. House on Haunted Hill 10. Texas Chainsaw Massacre
By Eric Sever The Cauldron Staff Writer
Día de los Muertos In Mexico, Latin America, and Spain, Nov. 2 is known as “The Day of the Dead” and marks the end of a three-day celebration beginning on Oct. 31. During this period, it is believed the dead returned to their earthly homes. Families build altars in their homes honoring deceased loved ones. These altars contain candy, flowers, and photographs of the deceased, along with the favorite foods and drinks of the dead relatives. Believing these lost relatives actually attend the festivities, a wash basin and towel are also set up so that the spirits can wash before their feast. Candles and incense are then used to guide the dead back to the underworld. On the final day, “The Day of the Dead,” relatives carefully groom and decorate the gravesites of loved ones. Children often decorate and eat skulls made out of sugar. The celebration culminates in a picnic at the gravesite, where the family reminisces about those they have lost.
Guy Fawkes Day In England, the celebration of All Saints’ Day was halted after Martin Luther’s Protestant Reformation, because many citizens no longer believed in saints. On November 5, 1606, a new autumn holiday, Guy Fawkes Day, was created when English traitor Guy Fawkes was executed. Fawkes, a Catholic, attempted to blow up parliament in opposition of King James, a Protestant. After his death, The English began the tradition of burning effigies of Fawkes, along with symbolic bones of the pope, in large bonfires. Two centuries later, it had become more common to instead use effigies of the pope himself. Today, English children still carry around small effigies called “guys.” They go door-todoor asking for “a penny for the guy.” This is the closest tradition the modern English have to trick-or-treating.
Halloween, Irish-style In Ireland, Halloween is still celebrated much like in America, but with a few unique customs. One such tradition is “snap-apple,” where an apple is hung by a string in a doorway. Players try to take a bite out of it without using their hands. A popular game at children’s parties is the hiding of candy and coins under facedown playing cards. Children get to keep the prize underneath whichever card they end up selecting. The Irish also eat “barnbrack,” a fruitcake with a wrapped toy baked inside. Superstition says that the particular toy an eater gets can tell their future. For instance, a ring means they will soon be wed, while a piece of straw signifies a prosperous coming year. A trick that Irish children often play on Halloween is called “knock-a-dolly.” Similar to American pranks, it involves knocking on someone’s door and running away before they answer.
Top Local Spots to Hit for Halloween: Seven
Floors of Hell - The Berea Fairgrounds is transformed every year for this event. Only one ticket for a total of seven houses: Scarecrow’s Revenge, a haunted corn maze made of 10,000 stalks, Camp Nightmare, House of Nightmares, a haunted mansion and laboratory, the Cemetery, The Crypt, CarnEvil in 3-D, and The Butcher Shop. Mansfield Reformatory - The prison used for multiple blockbuster hits, including Shawshank Redemption and Air Force One, is turned into “Prison of the Evil Dead” September through November, where the site’s rumored hauntings are brought to life with actors and special effects. Lake View Cemetery - The grounds where the ghosts of James A. Garfield, the Collinwood School Fire victims, Eliot Ness, John D. Rockefeller, and John Hay supposedly roam. It’s said that Garfield plays a game of chess with Rockefeller, using tombstones as pieces, to explain the moving gravestones around the cemetery. Franklin Castle - An old mansion in Ohio City houses some of the darkest mysteries around Cleveland. The house was built by Hannes Tiedemann in 1865, and a rash of family deaths led to the urban legend that the father was killing them all. Chock full of hidden passages, underground tunnels, and rooms discovered full of baby skeletons, who knows how much is myth and how much is true? Haunted Cleveland - This tour team will take you to all of the sites where the Cleveland Torso Murderer’s 12 victims were found. Decapitated and dismembered by the “Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run,” many remain unidentifiable. Also included is a private tour of the Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office and the Cleveland Police Museum. Monday, October 27th • The Cauldron • Page 11
Arts+Entertainment 10-27-08
Not Just for Boozers Part 1
Cheap eats during happy hour By Eric Sever The Cauldron Staff Writer
Some of the finer restaurants in Cleveland offer amazingly inexpensive dishes for their happy hours. In our sagging economy, it’s nice to know that anywhere from $5-$9 can get you a taste of the good life. If you’ve got a ten dollar bill, here’s just a sample of what you can get at three high-end restaurants and, even after tip, still probably walk out with change in your pocket. Flying Fig 2523 Market Ave. Cleveland, OH 44113 (216)241-4243 www.theflyingfig.com Happy Hours Mon-Fri 5-7:30p.m. Sat 3-5p.m. The Flying Fig is one of Cleveland’s most fabulous restaurants, courtesy of Chef Karen Small’s wonderful culinary prowess. “The Fig” offers five happy hour plates with something that should please everyone’s palate, and they’re all just $5. A favorite from the regular menu, the tempura green beans showcase the fresh, green veggies fried crisp in a light, flaky batter. Dip them in the thick pineapple caramel for a wonderful balance of acidity and fruity sweetness. Also taking on an Asian slant, the chicken dumplings hit the right notes with a brightly flavored citrus soy glaze playing off of rich peanuts and savory scallion. An elegant stew of shrimp and tender fish in a silky coconut curry broth makes up the Asian Ciopinno. Another high point includes the smoked pork nachos, featuring tender shredded pork and an Page 12 • The Cauldron • Monday, October 27th
elegant drizzle of tangy, rich barbecue sauce. The heartiest and perhaps most accessible dish is the blue cheese burger topped with bacon and caramelized onions. The moist burger is served with a generous portion of hand cut fries. Momocho 1835 Fulton Rd. Cleveland, Ohio 44113 (216)694-2122 www.momocho.com Happy Hours Tue-Fri 5-6:30 p.m. Modern Mexican cuisine is the name of the game at Eric Williams’ Momocho. Rather than designing specific happy hour food, it is one of the few places that offer discounts on dishes from their normal menu. Aside from its half-priced, from-scratch margaritas (the best in Cleveland), the dozen varieties of taquitos are also half their usual price during happy hour. Each order of taquitos comes with a choice of a meat or veggie, two distinct sauces, and a stack of corn tortillas to wrap the delicious ingredients in. Options range from avocado leaf crusted tuna with a candied jalapeno and blood orange marmalade (happy hour price $8.50) to sixteenspice chicken with pico de gallo ($7) to roasted beets and spinach with spiced peanuts ($6.25). The juicy braised duck taquitos ($7.75) comes with an absolutely craveable ancho chile and pomegranate barbacoa. The beef brisket taquitos ($7.50) are braised with ancho chiles in coffee, and they’re served with Momocho’s signature, made-to-order guacamole. Touch Supper Cub
2710 Lorain Ave. Cleveland, OH 44113 (216)631-5200 www.touchohiocity.com Happy Hours Tue-Thu 5-8p.m. and 9p.m.-Midnight Fri-Sat 5-8p.m. and 10p.m.-Midnight Chef Jeff Fisher’s contemporary American fare is nicely highlighted in his small, but decent happy hour menu, with all items costing only $5. Though mussels are a mainstay on several happy hour menus around town, here they are steamed in Delirium Tremens Ale, along with bacon and garlic. Also omnipresent is the happy hour burger, though Touch serves it with its own special sauce. The juicy patty is also topped with a fried egg and crispy coppa, a smoky Italian luncheon meat. Tempura calamari with a lemon garlic aioli should satisfy lovers of seafood, while the mac, with its Vermont cheddar, taso ham, and petite peas, should cover the need for classic comfort food. The house made ravioli is by far the musthave. Stuffed with lamb, the huge ravioli are lightened with a crowning of earthy arugula and tomato feta salsa. This is only the beginning. While it would be impossible to cover all of the amazing happy hour specials in our fair city, three restaurants is just too small of “a tip on the iceburg.” Next week- Fahrenheit, Light Bistro, and Bar Cento, as well as a list of other restaurants offering plenty of bang for your buck. Or, rather five to ten bucks.
Music Reviews
Now Hear This!
Music You May Have Missed By Jonathan ‘Killstring’ Herzberger The Cauldron Staff Writer
Britain. Over the years we’ve seen countless musical trends from across the pond, and the interplay between popular music in the U.S. and U.K. (Rock n’ Roll influences the British invasion, which spurs psychedelica, which punk rebels against, etc.) has certainly moved musicians to create new and different approaches, and many of our current genres are a result of this exchange. Of course, with so much variety over the years, entire movements can be lost in the shuffle. A prime example of this would be the British “Shoegaze” scene, which peaked in popularity around 1990, but never really caught on in stateside. Blending atmospheric, dreamy pop stylings with wall-of-fuzz guitars, lush atmospheric synths, and vocals that were more about melody and texture than lyrical delivery, the shy, introspective musicians in bands like Ride and Slowdive earned the “Shoegazer” moniker by playing entire concerts without looking up at the audience, focusing more on the ground than the camera during interviews. Unsurprisingly, this was difficult to market, especially with the theatrics of Grunge beginning to captivate the musical imagination of so many. The scene didn’t just fade into the night without any sort of legacy, however -- the real impact of Shoegaze would be its influence on American altrock – from bands like The Smashing Pumpkins, The Verve and Mazzy Star to modern groups like Blond Redhead and Silversun Pickups, the genre had no shortage of effect on this side of the Atlantic. California’s Starflyer 59 is arguably foremost among these acts. Frontman Jason Martin has been making quirky, introspective pop records for about 13 years now, and the band’s latest, Dial M should be hitting stores by the time this article is published. From the Sonic Youth-style fuzzy art rock of Silver and Gold, to the electric jangle pop anthems of Everybody Makes Mistakes and The Fashion Focus, the band continued releasing records at a prolific rate, arguably reaching a creative zenith with 2001’s Leave Here A Stranger, a symphonic surf-rock masterpiece that sounds like nothing so much as a soundtrack to an art film that was never made, by an existential director who doesn’t exist. In tribute to the Beach Boy’s seminal Pet Sounds, the album is recorded entirely in mono. From 2003-2006, Martin & Co. released one record per year, culminating in My Island, which saw a more up-tempo feel, and the release of a single and accompanying video. True to form, the band hired actors to play them in the video, with the musicians proper only appearing briefly towards the end, staring uncomfortably at their avatars, awkwardly out of place in the rock and roll world they created. With 2007’s The Brothers Martin (a collaboration with Ronnie Martin of Joy Electric) the punch and atmosphere of Starflyer was blended with electric synth-pop to create one of the most surprisingly good records of the year – and with Starflyer’s latest, Dial M coming out roughly the same time as this article, Starflyer’s keeping the Shoegaze ethos of complex, beautiful songwriting alive and well, while infusing it with the verve of modern indie pop. Even if he still can’t make eye contact with interviewers.
Keane performing at Rock im Park in 2006
Perfect Symmetry Keane
By Jonathan ‘Killstring’ Herzberger The Cauldron Staff Writer
When Keane burst onto the American music scene in 2005 with the single “Somewhere Only We Know,” they were a refreshing change from the angst-riddled, guitar-heavy vitriol dominating the airwaves at the time. Composed solely of piano, drums, and vocals, it summarized their debut album, Hopes and Fears, perfectly. Hell, it may as well have been Elton John in his heyday. With 2006’s Under The Iron Sea, the band began incorporating more synth and guitar-based songs, to mixed reviews (but commercial paydirt), moving away from the sound they rode to the top of the charts. Now, with the release of their latest album, the aptly titled Perfect Symmetry, we find the band attempting to strike a balance between the group they’ve been, and the group they’re becoming. I’ll be honest – I was severely disappointed when I first gave Symmetry a listen. Tracks like “Again and Again” and leadoff single “The Lovers Are Losing” seemed overly derivative of neo-new wave bands like The Killers,
and while the more traditional pianobased fare of “You Don’t See Me” and the title track were pretty solid, there was little of the meandering, contemplative work that I had grown to love so much. And therein lay the problem – looking at what Symmetry isn’t will leave many disappointed. But if you can get past the band’s history and judge the songs on their own merit, there’s a lot to like here. The synth hooks in “Better Than This” may be lifted directly from Bowie’s “Ashes to Ashes,” but that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable. “Spiralling” is an enjoyable bootyshaking romp, if you can reconcile the fact that this is Keane playing a bootyshaking-romp. So actually, Keane has done an admirable job of transitioning to their new upbeat sound, retaining elements of the uniquely British charm that characterized their early works while turning up the volume a notch or six. So while the record’s far from perfect, we actually find Keane establishing some symmetry. It’s worth a listen. Monday, October 27th • The Cauldron • Page 13
Music Reviews
Amon Amarth
Concert Picks of the Week
By Alexes Spencer & Jonathan ‘Killstring’ Herzberger The Cauldron Contributing Writers Alexes’ Pick: Norma Jean, Haste the Day, The Showdown, MyChildren MyBride, Oh, Sleeper at Peabody’s, Nov. 2 They are all playing…together?! No words can express how much $19 dollars seems like a ridiculously low price for the amount of satisfaction you will have when you walk away from this metal/screamo extravaganza. This concert offers you five of Solid State records’ greatest (including my fellow Texans, Oh, Sleeper). I can personally attest to amazement that Norma Jean, Haste the Day (the nicest band you‘ll ever meet), and Oh, Sleeper can offer you in a concert environment (melted faces), and I can only imagine what MyChildren MyBride and The Showdown will do (melted body?). You do not want to miss this, so don’t.
CD Review
By Leah Juresko The Cauldron Contributing Writer
“Twilight of the Thunder God” is the seventh album from Viking death metal veterans Amon Amarth. Their melodic, yet brutal sound is characteristic of Swedish death metal, utilizing crushing riffs, harsh vocals and dual guitar leads. The title of Viking metal is usually reserved for bands like Finntroll or Ensiferum; traditional folk inspired bands that lean heavily on treated keyboard effects and native Scandinavian instruments. Amon Amarth is purely death metal. If you are looking for female vocalists, atmospheric keyboards or long acoustic interludes, this band is not for you. The only thing that Amon Amarth does have in common with the typical Viking metal bands is their image. Lead singer Johan Hegg’s luxuriant beard brings to mind Norse warriors primed for battle. With his beer horn ready at his belt and his hands raised in the sign of the horns, the temptation to hail this mighty Viking warrior is hard to hold back when you see them live. “Twilight of the Thunder God” is a great example of the band’s ability to bring their Swedish heritage into the mix without neglecting their brutal, death metal sound. As a follow up to 2006’s opus “With Oden on our Side”, their new album is a worthy successor. “Twilight” follows the Amon Amarth formula of frenzied guitar parts, technical riffs and catchy rhythms. Somehow, the album still manages to sound fresh, even though we’ve heard its like before. Page 14 • The Cauldron • Monday, October 27th
The title track opens the album with a barrage distorted guitars and pounding double bass drums that lead the way through an epic journey of Norse mythology and Viking raids. The brutal vocals are harsh yet intelligible even with the lower range growls that death metal is famous for. This album is a concept about the Norse god Thor and some of the battles that he faces during Ragnarok, the last battle of the Gods. The lyrics read like a cry to battle: “Thor! Oden’s Son/ Protector of Mankind/ Ride to meet your fate/ Thor! Hlödyn’s Son/ Protector of Mankind/Ride to meet your fate/ Ragnarök awaits”. No tracks need to be skipped over on this album; each songs moves at a fast past, with crystal clear production and melody that mix well with the overall brutal feel. The songs don’t pass the midtempo range and there are less blast beats than previous albums. The guitar solos show considerable polish this time around, offering sweeping melodic counterparts to the Viking rampage. The album does offer some surprise guest appearances, the most unexpected being the cello quartet Apocalyptica on one of the last tracks, as well as Children of Bodom guitarist Roope Latvala, who delivers a blistering solo on the title track. A definite must have for Amon Amarth’s fans, also a great way to be introduced to the genre. “Twilight of the Thunder God” was released September 30, 2008 by Metal Blade Records.
Jonathan’s Pick: Reliant K (w/Ludo) at the House Of Blues, Oct. 31 If this were 10 years ago, there’d be no contest – we would all be at Peabody’s, taking in Mushroomhead’s once-revolutionary mask-metal. Well, it’s not 1998, and though it pains me to say it, our hometown heroes are closer to Classic Rock Irrelevance than cutting-edge performance art. Fear not - for those of us wanting something more genuine (and infinitely less pretentious), Reliant K and Ludo are coming to town – and while these guys are normally good for some campy, entertaining pop-punk, Oct. 31 practically begs for Ludo’s concept album The Broken Bride. Can you imagine a better setting for an epic tale of Time Travel, Pterodactyls, Zombies, and true love gone horribly, horribly awry? Not for $17.50, I betcha can’t. If these concerts have you running scared, there’s always: 10/27 See You Next Tuesday and IWrestledABearOnce at Peabody’s, $10 10/27 Shiny Toy Guns (w/Jonezetta) at the Grog Shop $15 10/28 GWAR (w/Kingdom of Sorrow) at the House Of Blues, $20 10/29 H20 (w/Bane, Outbreak, Cruel Hand, Energy) at Peabody’s $12 10/30 Mest and QuietDrive at Peabody’s, $16 10/30 Idina Menzel (Maureen in Rent) at House of Blues, $30$47 11/2 Wolf Parade (w/The Listening Party) at the Beachland Ballroom $16 11/2 Dicky Betts at the House Of Blues $22.50 Our overly costumed staff recommends you do not take in any of this concert’s tricks or treats: 10/31 Mushroomhead at the Agora $25.00 ($61-$81 if you just have to meet the band) Sure, it’s awesome that they’re Cleveland natives and they’ve been places and done things, but their sound has gotten increasingly worse over the years, and their annual Halloween show is entirely beyond the definition of overrated. That, and any band that charges you to meet them obviously only cares about one thing (your money). While you may want to go just for the nostalgic purposes, or to say that you did, there are far better, more entertaining ventures you could take part in.
Monday, October 27th • The Cauldron • Page 15
Tap into your professional side The Cauldron’s News Section covers local job seminars as well as business events happening on and around campus. Stay ahaead of the curve!
Read the Cauldron online at
www.csucauldron.com Page 16 • The Cauldron • Monday, October 27th
Elf & The Big Guy
A CARTOON BY MIKE QUINTERO
by Frank Grigonis
The Comics
Monday, October 27th • The Cauldron • Page 17
Sports 10-27-08
Despite Some Success, Fall Sports Not as Impressive as Last Year CSU Fall Sports Programs Have Been in Role Reversal
J
By Robert Ivory The Cauldron Sports Editor
ust when you thought they were out, they just keep bringing you right back in. That has been the story for Cleveland State Athletics in the fall semester. Some of the Viking teams have disappointed the school as they were looking to continue on their success from last year or breakout of their slumps. When the teams were at their peak performances last year, this season they have descended from the ranks that they displayed last year. Even though most of the teams haven’t been on their top game, certainly there have been very positive results from different squads on campus. As the fall teams from last year set the stage for Cleveland State’s run to the McCafferty Trophy, this year just has not been the same. What has been the difference in just one year? Are us Vikings fans spoiled after a year as good as last? Breaking down the teams may be tricky, but let’s not pass judgment until we have read all the facts. The biggest disappointment on campus has to be the volleyball team. Leading their way to the NCAA Tournament last year, the Vikings knew that this was the best year to repeat their powerful run, as the squad was still young and head coach Chuck Voss had plenty of talented freshmen coming in. Last year, the team did not lose their second Horizon League game until Oct. 19, against the Panthers of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Until that game, the Vikings had rattled off nine wins in a row and were beating teams in less than two hours. This year the Vikings dropped their second Horizon League game in just their third match of their conference schedule. A big difference for any squad. The next team that has been disappointing has been the women’s soccer team. By no means does this mean the club is bad, but this was the year that the team was going to be in the top half of the league, rather than slugging it out with Youngstown State and the other two win teams in the league. What hurts the most is that head coach Derek Falor was so confident that this was the year to break out. With his enthusiasm and the skills of the seniors on the squad, the Viking Village could taste the wins that were sure to come.
Page 18 • The Cauldron • Monday, October 27th
Junior #99 Slavisa Ubiparipovic
Why then are we talking about their disappointing season then? It is really hard to find a cause for this team’s troubles. The team as a whole has given up 15 less goals then last year as of their 2-0 loss to Valparaiso last week. Additionally, the Vikings have won the most games ever in a season. Scoring has come at minimal from time to time this year (they have not scored two goals when they have lost or tied), but they did go on a four game winning streak in August. Senior Jennifer Wieand has admittedly not been on top of her game after she was such a key scorer for the Vikings last year, but the biggest hurdle for the team has been the absence of a goalkeeper. Sophomore Kelly Zinkiewich was sidelined for nearly a month and a half after a freak accident in Detroit left her with a concussion. Sophomore Goalie Shannon Saunders did an admirable job taking over the net, but without Zinkiewich, the Vikings missed much of the talent on defense. Despite these teams not having their best years, there are a couple of clubs that are having a great year. The men’s soccer team has been a very pleasant surprise as they will certainly finish in the top half of the Horizon League. Regardless of what they do in their last regular season game at Butler on Nov. 2, the Vikings will finish at or above .500 in the league for the first time since
2002 when they finished second in the league with a 5-2-0 record. In fact, the Vikings have finished over .500 in the league twice in the past 15 years (in 1993 and 2002). Head coach Ali Kazemaini’s goal for the team was getting to .500 overall at the end of the year seemed like an almost impossible mountain to climb, but he may have the Vikings in the right position to do so. Despite dropping two games 5-0 each in Chicago in the early part of the Horizon League schedule, the Vikings have played their best soccer at home. Having played a terrific game against the No. 17 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes; the match has gotten the Vikings into the right form right before the postseason. The final team that needs to receive the credit for what they have done is the men’s golf club. Senior Jake Scott has continued his smashing form from last year, as he has helped lead the team to a first place position heading into their winter break. Scott, who has been named the Horizon League’s Golfer of the Week twice this season, is looking to bring the Vikings their second championship in a row. After he medaled last year, Scott will want to finish his final year out with a bang. With the Vikings getting ready to play in their postseasons, all fans can hope is that they will remake the magic that they did last year.
Sports
With Halloween Approaching, Always Good to Remember “Chappie” Former Cleveland Indians Slugger Still As Infamous As Ever Squads By Robert Ivory | The Cauldron Sports Editor
If I asked you who Ray Chapman was, could you tell me who he was? Only a handful of faithful Indians fans and baseball fans can tell you that Chapman batted Ray Chapman .278, had only 17 Photo courtesy of Cleveland State Special Collections career homeruns, 364 RBI’s, swiped 233 bags, and his last game was played at the Polo Grounds on Aug. 16, 1920. Why was the last game he played so significant? On that date Chapman would become the first Major League Baseball player in the modern era to be killed while playing the game. Chapman, who was 29 when he died, was known to crowd the plate when on that day in August, Chapman took a pitch right to his temple in the fifth inning.
According to eyewitness accounts, Chapman never saw the ball coming in the shadows of the Polo Grounds. This has been a long remembered story in Indians history, but the story does not end there. After the incident, a plaque was made for him to commemorate his time with the Indians. When the Indians moved from the old stadium to then Jacobs Field, the plaque was boxed up but it found its way into a storage room and became forgotten. When the nearly 85-year old plaque was found, it was illegible from the oxidation that had taken place in storage. Now proudly affixed in Hertiage Park, the Tribe infielder will be remembered by fans for generations to know his story as a part of Cleveland Indians history. His plaque reads, “He lives in the hearts of all who knew him.” The finding of the plaque was not much of an interest, but when the Indians were one game away from the World Series last year, many people believed that some sort of curse had been
lifted when it looked like they were heading to the fall classic. If you believe in an Indians curse, many interesting facts can help you in your decision: When the Indians went to the World Series the year that Chapman died, they won their first World Series. Secondly, the infielder that took over for “Chappie” was a rookie by the name of Joe Sewell. Sewell would end his Hall of Fame career as a Yankee, the same team that the Indians played when Chapman was killed. Finally, the pitch that beaned Ray was thrown by Carl Mays. Mays never made it to the baseball Hall of Fame and was adamant that him killing Chapman was the reason he never made it. When one thinks of curses, may they not forget the curse of Ray Chapman. For Indians fans, they know that the Boston Red Sox broke the curse of the Bambino. Therefore they are hoping that the next longest curse will be broken, the curse of Ray Chapman.
Cleveland Browns Hall of Famer Dies at 73
Hickerson Was One of the Greatest Browns Linemen of All-Time
Gene Hickerson
Photo courtesy of Cleveland State Special Collections
By Robert Ivory | The Cauldron Sports Editor Whenever Cleveland Browns fans talk about the good-ol’ days of the 1960’s, there are only a handful of players that people remember. Undoubtedly, former lineman Gene Hickerson was definitely one of those names. Hickerson, who passed away this past Monday, was one of the greatest players in Browns history as he was the right guard who blocked for Cleveland Browns running backs, Jim Brown (inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1971), Leroy Kelley (1994), and Bobby Mitchell (1983). Brown called Hickerson, “the greatest downfield blocker in the history of pro football,” according to the New York Times. Hickerson, who graduated from Ole Mis, was drafted as a sixth-round draft pick in 1957 by the Browns. The reason Hickerson was so crucial to the team was that he paved the way for the three fore-mentioned running backs reaching the Hall of Fame. In Terry Pluto’s book, When All the World Was Browns Town, Brown gave Hickerson the credit he deserved, “I had great blocking in front of me. Gene [Hickerson] and John [Wooten] were knocking people on their ass.” This is just another example of how important Hickerson was to those teams. Arguably one of the greatest running backs of all time had wide open lanes due to the late Hickerson.
The two-time all-pro selection, five-time All-NFL selection, six-time Pro Bowler, member of the 1960’s All-Decade team, and member of the Browns’ 1964 Championship team was not elected into the Hall of Fame until 2007, 34 years after he retired. “Gene Hickerson’s contribution to this great game will never be forgotten. Certainly he will be remembered for his Hall of Fame career and the fact that he helped pave the way for Hall of Fame runners like Jim Brown, Leroy Kelly and Bobby Mitchell,” Pro Football Hall of Fame’s President/Executive Director Steve Perry said on the Hall of Fame’s website. As the late Cleveland Plain Dealer columnist Hal Lebovitz described Gene in a 1972 column, “First, to describe him: Well, imagine a fire plug, standing about six-two and weighing 255 pounds, stick some brown hair on top and give it blue, spaniel-like eyes.” Many Browns fans that grew up during that time will never forget the 1964 season, as the Browns went on to beat Johnny Unitas and the Baltimore Colts 27-0 in Cleveland. The Browns’ famous roster had Jim Brown, Blanton Collier, Bernie Parrish, Galen Fiss, Frank Ryan, Gary Collins, Lou Groza, and Hickerson. Browns fans will mourn the loss of one of Cleveland’s outstanding players of all-time. Monday, October 27th • The Cauldron • Page 19