CSU President Celebrates Holiday Spirit
Got Stress?
By Kristen Mott
By Co rtney Jones
Finals week is rough, but The Cauldron has a few tricks to survive
No Shortage of Great Sporting Events Over Holiday Break By Robert Ivory
The Cauldron
monDAY, DECember 7, 2009
The Melting Pot
IllumiNation: Afghanistan Plan; Obama Approval Falling By Reid May
NEWS
Freebie Wednesday Makes For Undeniable Success By Laura Krawczyk
Arts & Entertainment
Midgard Awards: Year-End edition
Best of this Viking Planet By Jonathan Herzberger
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No Worries At 2-4: Women’s Basketball Can Right Ship By Robert Ivory
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The Melting Pot
Contents
Volume 109 • No.15 • December 7, 2009
Page 3 Opening Statements Page 3 IllumiNation:
Afghanistan Plan; Obama Approval Falling
Page 3 Got Stress?
Finals week is rough, but The Cauldron has a few tricks to survive
Page 4 Student Organization Spotlight: Association for Women in Communications
Page 3 Page 6
News
Page 4 Freebie Wednesday Makes For Undeniable Success
Page 6 Honors Students Produce Unique Film,
Raise Consciousness on HIV/AIDS
Page 7 Newman Ministry Brings Catholic Mass to CSU
Page 14
Page 7 $13M Awarded to Wind and Solar Projects in Ohio
Arts & Entertainment
Page 12
Page 6 CSU President Celebrates Holiday Spirit
Page 10 Midgard Awards: Year-End edition Best of this Viking Planet Page 11 Kill Paradise brings The Second Effect Page 11 Peter Jackson Talks About The Lovely Bones And The Emotions Behind It Page 12 Concert Picks of the Winter Page 13 No Shortage of Great Sporting Events
Sports
Over Holiday Break
Page 14 No Worries At 2-4:
Women’s Basketball Can Right Ship
Page 14 Alumni Support CSU Swimming and Diving
2 | csucauldron.com • December 7, 2009
By Rob Ivory, Cauldron Sports Editor
W
IllumiNation: Afghanistan Plan; Obama Approval Falling By Reid May, Copy Editor
ith the end of anything in life; changes are inevitable. But we need to be thankful for the opportunities that we had, the people that we have met and the relationships that we have cherished. That is why The Cauldron would like to thank the diligent work that Editor‑In‑Chief Chris Enoch and Managing Editor Emily Ouzts have put towards the paper since they have picked up the pen and wrote for this publication. Both Chris and Emily will be stepping down from their posts after this issue and we will be voting for a new Editor‑In‑Chief this week. But we can definitetly not think about the future without mentioning how these two have put their own touch on the paper. In early August; we, the editors, were asked by Chris to think long and hard about what our intent was, not only for our own section, but also for the paper as a whole and since that moment, The Cauldron has ran smoothly. At times, it was rough for some on the staff, but thanks to the work and especially the dedication that Chris puts into every single project that he is handed, the paper and all of its members have been able to enjoy the fortunes of a terrific semester.Chris has helped everybody involved with the process of making the paper become motivated to give their best effort week in and week out, and has truly made The Cauldron a vital piece to the campus of Cleveland State University as a result. I truly believe that Chris has made the publication a place where everybody on staff is bound to make great contributions thanks to him being able to effectively create his vision. With Chris leaving, we truly believe the next Editor‑In‑Chief can continue the success that he and his managing editor have created inside the pages of Cleveland State University's premier publication: The Cauldron.
O
n Tuesday this week, President Obama announced the United States new plan for Afghanistan, which has occupied much of the United States military force for the last eight years. In summary, the President plans an influx of 30,000 troops, beginning as soon as Christmas Day, when the first Marines are expected to land. The surge comes with a timetable, however, as the President also announced a plan to begin withdrawing troops from Afghanistan by July of 2011. President Obama said Tuesday that he deployment of 30,000 additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan is part of a strategy to reverse the Taliban's momentum and stabilize the country's government, according to CNN. President Obama also ensured the surge was not because of an “imminent threat of the government being overthrown,” but that the Taliban had gained strength and that the influx is meant as a strategy to help the United States hand off the control of Afghanistan to Afghan forces much sooner. Concern exists among many government officials that the somewhat speedy timetable will make it difficult for United States’ troops to accomplish stated goals before being rushed out of the country. In addition, the cost of the surge, estimated at $30 billion concerns Republicans and Democrats alike who are attempting to deal with domestic priorities such as unemployment and healthcare. This troop surge is a very difficult decision, no matter how you spin the prospects. I dislike the idea of a multi-billion dollar investment in any type of policy—foreign or domestic—in this current economic climate. Yet, I see a great need in Afghanistan and realize that we must either leave the country to itself—which means accepting the realistic possibility of a Taliban controlled nation—or make the difficult investment. Of all the possibilities, the wrong answer would be no action. Our troops cannot make a difference without help and we should not expect them to continue occupying and protecting the nation unless we have a plan for giving control back to the Afghanis. On this issue, I side with the President. He went against his own party to make a tough decision—but it is the right decision. We must be responsible in deciding on an exit strategy when the time comes, but for now, our best choice is to finish what we started. Speaking of President Obama, his approval ratings have recently dropped below 50 percent, according to a recent CNN poll. His approval currently stands at 48 percent of Americans, with 50 percent disapproving of his job as President. The remaining two percent incorporates the margin of error. Statistics show that the majority of those changing their approval are white, noncollege educated, white voters. This indicates that the disapproval is related strongly to the economy and less so to international issues—such as the recent Afghanistan announcement. In the meantime, this development should have little impact on the President, who continues to follow his stated goals for the country. The bigger impact could occur next fall, when the mid-term elections occur, replacing the House and one-third of the Senate. Should President Obama continue to falter nationally, his party could be very affected, perhaps losing the majority in the Congress and almost certainly the filibusterproof majority in the Senate. Such results could hamper President Obama much like it did for a greater part of President Bill Clinton’s tenure—creating deadlock that no person in the United States, no matter what side of the spectrum they fall on, desires.
The Melting Pot
Opening Statements
Author’s Note: This is the last IllumiNation for Fall 2009. What we have written about this fall is a country torn on many decisions from healthcare to Afghanistan, the economy to the North Korea policy. Rest assured, while you enjoy your winter break, we’ll keep observing and be prepared to bring you all the information, when IllumiNation returns in January. Thanks for reading—and more importantly, thanks for caring.
Got Stress?
Finals week is rough, but The Cauldron has a few tricks to survive By Courtney Jones, Cauldron Staff Writer
Finals week: what a wonderful thing to endure. Not! Many students have the same problems with finals week. It’s freaking stressful! It’s the fact that you are being tested on a ton of material with a score that impacts your grade a great deal. Don’t sweat it; here are some helpful stress relief and studying tips that will make finals week more bearable: 1) Breathe: No literally. Breathing exercises have been proven to reduce test anxiety. Just sit or stand in a relaxed position, inhale through your nose (counting to five), then exhale through your mouth (counting to eight). Just rinse and repeat. 2) Get up and exercise: Exercising really helps to blow off some steam and clear the mind. 3) Start studying early: Studying before you think you need to lets you study at a relaxed pace and increase the possibility of you retaining more information. 4) Don’t pull all nighters: Not to mention being tired all day, but you won’t able to think clearly. Studies have shown that students who pull all nighters have lower GPA’s than those who don’t! 5) Note cards: Make note cards that contain the important pieces of information. It will give you a visual and help you to retain the material better. 6) Study in groups: Group studying allows students to help one another remember important tidbits. It helps then understand the material better. 7) Stay organized: Being organized saves time and stress. 8) Ask your professor: Professors are not as unapproachable as they seem. They are here to help you if you don’t wait until last minute. If you can manage to incorporate these tips into your studying schedule, you will be less stressful and more prepared. Good luck!
Photo courtesy of bl-libg-weblab.ads.iu.edu
3
NEWS
(left to right) Makenna Hansen, Shawna Jackson, and Jackie Bugaj Photo by Shanette D. Buford
Student Organization Spotlight:
Association for Women in Communications
D
By Shanette D. Buford, Cauldron Staff Writer
o you like to advertise, market products, be a journalist or public relations specialist? Are you a female majoring in Communications? Well CSU has a new student organization for you to join. The Association for Women in Communications (AWC) student chapter is now on campus, with twelve members who are currently CSU students and concentrating in different areas of Communications. “We are a new student organization on campus but are always looking for new and exciting members,” said Shawna Jackson. The national organization has been in existence for about 100 years. It recognizes the different complex relationships that exist across the communications disciplines. The different disciplines that are represented within the communication association include: print and broadcast journalism, television and radio production, film, advertising, public relations, marketing, graphic design, multi-media design, and photography. This student chapter is excited about the event they have planned for the remainder of the semester. They are currently having an Angel Tree Toy & NonPerishable Food Drive that ends on Friday. You can
make donations everyday from 12 to 3 p.m. in the Music and Communications lobby on the second floor. “Our student chapter of AWC is excited about starting this student organization on the CSU campus, because there is not a student organization that represents the women who are majoring in the communications field. We are happy to help students in the department of communications,” said Makenna Hansen. CSU’s AWC student chapter will be volunteering for different charities every month and also during the summer months. Other benefits the student organizations will conduct are having one member social event per semester, round table discussions with professionals, alumni speaker events and a guest table at the career fair during the spring semester. The organization will have one bake sale per semester, following the successful one they had this semester. To be a member of CSU’s AWC student chapter you must be a communication major, minor or pre-communication major with six or more credits, and a minimum 2.0 GPA. The student member meetings are held once a month. To learn more information about AWC, please contact the members at csuawc@gmail.com. This student chapter also has a facebook page, and you can follow them on twitter/csuawc.
Cleveland Public Library Hosts Prison Reform Discussion Freebie Wednesday Makes For Undeniable Success By Ricardo Derrek J. Brown, Staff Writer By Laura Krawczyk, Cauldron Feature Editor
Photos by Laura Krawczyk
T 4
here’s usually only one reason for a line of students patiently waiting for nearly an hour, through about half the length of the main classroom: free stuff. Cleveland State’s department of student life collaborated with Chipotle Mexican Grill and Metromix.com last week for Freebie Wednesday in the MC atrium, with a (not unanticipated) tremendous turnout. Metromix.com, Channel 3’s entertainment guide, is a website for several big-city locations in the United States, and reads as a local insider guide to clubs, bars, concerts, restaurants, movies. Marketing and Promotion Director Erica Wilke was on the spot for Metromix. “We partnered with Chipotle and with the student life folks at CSU to put on Freebie Wednesday. The idea behind it is just give away a ton of free stuff to college students,” she said frankly. “We all know every college
student loves free stuff.” “[The event gave away] free t-shirts, movie tickets, Chipotle swag, guacamole, burritos, anything you can think of, we’re giving it all away for free,” she announced. The idea of a college campus free-giveaway event is not necessarily original. Most organizations have abandoned a more modest “light refreshments provided” on event posters for a bolder “FREE FOOD!!,” knowing that it will attract a crowd. Metromix was part of a similar free giveaway function a few weeks ago at the John Carroll University campus, and will host another in January at Baldwin-Wallace in Berea. “We’re kind of just trying to bring cool events out to all the college campuses in the area,” said Wilke. “It’s great exposure for us and the students are getting free stuff, so it’s a win-win sort of situation for everybody.” And a win-win it was.
“I got free food,” “It’s amazing,” and “There should be more stuff like this” – “Daily!” were all heard from students Jasalynn Glosun, and Angil and Anissa Benson. The group, who waited in line together, was all for more events that give away free things on campus. “You will see a lot of lines like this – we will stand here all day for it,” they unabashedly confessed. Wilke didn’t disagree. “I’ve been working with a lot of people here at the department of student life and they’ve been fantastic,” she said. “Their goal is to bring cool things to campus, and so when Chipotle and I came to them and said ‘Oh, we want to throw this event,’ they thought ‘This is great.’ That’s the whole goal, is to try and get students to see that there’s cool things happening at CSU.” And as for future happenings? Wilke said, “Concerts – whatever it is – I’m sure we’ll be back to do more things.”
December 7, 2009 • csucauldron.com | 5
CSU President Celebrates Holiday Spirit By Kristen Mott, Cauldron Staff Writer
T
he end of the semester is stressful for students and faculty alike. Papers and projects are being completed and finals are right around the corner. To take a break from it all, the president of Cleveland State holds an annual Christmas party to bring the holiday spirit to campus. President Ronald M. Berkman hosted the holiday reception last Thursday in Fenn Tower. “I would like to welcome you all to my first Christmas party here at CSU,” greeted Berkman. The reception was a way for the president to acknowledge the hard work of the faculty and staff, and allowed them to take part in the holiday season together. The anticipated celebration turned Fenn Ballroom into a picturesque Christmas scene. Bright towers of poinsettias lined the walls and the tables were topped with an assortment of red and white flowers. A steady stream of distinguished faculty, staff and alumni made their way into the event. Berkman welcomed each guest as they walked through the door and took a few moments to speak with them. The fully-catered event allowed the guests to mingle and offered a chance for them to catch up with each other. Once all the guests made their way into the ballroom, Berkman took
some time to thank everyone for coming and spoke a few words about Cleveland State. “One of the things I’ve enjoyed most about this gathering is the wonderful mix of faculty, young and old, the staff, and the retired faculty who came back to join in the festivities,” commented Berkman. “It’s a nice chance as a family to celebrate together.” Berkman showed his gratitude towards the staff for their dedication to Cleveland State. “I would like to thank you for your work, your commitment to the ideal, and for welcoming my wife and I since coming to CSU,” he said. It is clear that Berkman is very excited to be a part of Cleveland State and is hopeful for its future potential. “This is not only a university, but an ideal,” he stated. “We are part of a special mission to allow students who would not otherwise have a chance to get an education to come here to Cleveland State.” Before leaving the spotlight to socialize with the rest of his guests, the president closed with a holiday message. “I would like to wish you and your family the best of the holiday season and hope you have a wonderful holiday.” The reception was a perfect way to end the semester and usher in the holiday season.
Honors Students Produce Unique Film, Raise Consciousness on HIV/AIDS By Chris Enoch, Cauldron Editor‑In‑Chief
A
t the Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland, humor and solemnity intersected in a notable visual display of HIV/AIDS awareness presented by the Cleveland State University Honors Program. Throughout the fall semester, HON 201, or Honors Service Learning, has produced, directed and filmed a fourteen-minute educational video to be distributed to local high schools in the Cleveland area. The film, which worked to dispel myths and fictitious hearsay about HIV/AIDS and promote greater consciousness of the pandemic, methodically ridiculed each piece of popularly-circulated misinformation on the virus. Comical scenes included a visit to a “Dr. Acula” at a local clinic filmed in black-and-white, a stoogelike portrayal of rapper Asher Roth, and even one student drinking and dousing himself with a bucket of saliva (not real), forever shattering the illusion of HIV as contractible through this means. “Even though we took a humorous approach at [the video] we brought it together in the end, saying that silence is betrayal. That says it all,” asserted Ronnette Johnson, professor of the
6 | csucauldron.com • December 7, 2009
Photos by Chris Enoch
Honors Service Learning course. Aside from being focused in efforts to convey the video to a broader audience, students took on a variety of tasks before filming and during the process. “Before we officially started filming, we were trained in HIV/AIDS and other STDs so we could get all of the info that we needed and convey this strong message,” said Johnson. “[Students] all took on different roles. Some went on to write the script. Some went on to produce the actual film, some filmed the film. Some students actually just helped out with the high school students that were involved,” explained Angela Follina, the course’s teaching assistant. Johnson and Follina jointly emphasized the importance of thinking globally and acting locally with regards to the pandemic. “[Awareness] starts in the community. If we are not doing our own part here at home, how can we take the awareness out there?” asked Follina. “Everybody has to [spread awareness] in their own little way, however they feel comfortable. The main thing is we should not
be afraid. We cannot put HIV or AIDS under the candleholder anymore,” stated Johnson. From here, the efforts will only continue. “The film will give [high school students] ownership of passing on the knowledge to their peers,” said Follina. “The students that are here will take the message back to their school. They will receive a copy of the video to show at their school. We will also have a copy of the video on our website,” stated Johnson. “I plan to have this class every fall. I’d like to have the Cleveland public school students continue to work with us.” Alex Brinkman, an honors student who was in charge of producing the video, understood the hard work present in the initial effort. “This was the first project so of course there were rough spots here and there. Taking from [the first project] is going to create a great opportunity to improve upon it, making a better video in an even better way than we have done.” “I don’t think anyone who was involved in this project will ever forget the experience,” Johnson declared.
Newman Ministry Brings Catholic Mass to CSU By Kristen Mott, Cauldron Staff Writer
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or students with faith-based backgrounds, it’s sometimes difficult to find a group on campus that shares the same beliefs. The Newman Catholic Campus Ministry at Cleveland State is working to fix that problem and encourages all students to explore their faith. The Newman group is named after and founded on the principles of John Henry Cardinal Newman, who was an important figure in the Roman Catholic Church. Michael Herdmann, the president of the group, explained, “Our organization is a community of Catholics that get together to share fellowship and faith on campus.” The members meet weekly on Tuesdays in MC 102 during the common hour. “At the meetings we have lunch, we listen to a Gospel reading, and then discuss what it means to each of us,” stated Amanda Perusek, who joined Newman this past fall. Photo courtesy of fri-el.it
The members of Newman work together to bring awareness of the Catholic faith to campus, whether that is through making banners or hosting events. An upcoming event they’re excited about is having a mass on campus for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Bishop Gries will be saying the mass in the Fenn Tower Ballroom from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday. The mass is open to the whole CSU community. “We’re celebrating the feast of the Immaculate Conception, which for Catholics is a holy day of obligation,” stated Perusek. “Holding it in Fenn makes it easily accessible for students.” Glenn Argento, the vice president of Newman, added, “The atmosphere of Fenn is a lot more reverent and it’s a decent size room to fit a large amount of people.” Newman hosts various opportunities for students to discover their faith, such as the Busy Student Retreat which was held this past semester and the Catch the Spirit Retreat which is taking
place in the spring. Herdmann elaborated, “The Catch the Spirit Retreat we’re looking to go on every year. It runs from noon March 27 to noon March 28 in the Villa Maria Retreat House, just over the border in Pennsylvania. It’s a great way to escape from life for a little bit and spend some time strengthening your faith.” Students who took part in the Busy Student Retreat will also have a chance to continue their spiritual advising. “Followup advising for the Busy Student Retreat will hopefully take place once a month to see how we’re doing spiritually,” said Argento. The Newman group is always looking for new members, and you don’t need to be Catholic to join. Argento eagerly remarked, “Catholic students are welcome to join a community of believers and non-Catholics can learn more about different faiths. Plus, it’s always a good stress reliever to talk about issues affecting us as students!”
$13M Awarded to Wind and Solar Projects in Ohio By Gloria Eadeh, Cauldron Staff Writer
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enewable energy will be spreading rapidly throughout Ohio over the next two years, giving us a competitive edge in energy saving technologies. According to ohio.gov, $84 million has been awarded to Ohio towards renewable energy projects. $13 million of that will be dispersed to 25 wind and solar power projects throughout Ohio. Recipients of the federal stimulus money were announced on Monday by Gov. Ted Strickland at Lincoln Electric Co. in Euclid, who is receiving a $1 million award toward a $5.1 million project intended to create a utility-scale turbine on its campus. Ohio.gov has provided a list of all the recipients, some include: Forest City Residential Management Inc., Hull & Associates Inc., Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland, Great Lakes Brewing Company, and Cuyahoga County Board of Commissioners. Many of the projects in Northeast Ohio included wind turbines and solar electric projects. Gov. Strickland said, "These projects will create energy, create jobs and reduce greenhouse gases and these projects will take us another vital step forward as we work to make Ohio a world center for advanced energy." Grants started at $250,000, but solar thermal projects, such as the Great Lakes Brewing Company’s hot water heating systems, received much less. While some of the money has been awarded to various projects including 10 in Northeast Ohio, the Ohio Department of Development's Ohio Energy Office is accepting applications for $8.2 million to distribute to state government agencies, departments, boards, commissions, and institutions of higher learning. The project must demonstrate the ability to lower fossil fuel emissions, reduce energy usage and create jobs. Obtaining the grant is a highly competitive process. Applicants must have the project completed by July 20, 2012 and it must provide a direct economic impact in Ohio, help create jobs, and prove considerable amounts of energy saving or energy production. Interested applicants should visit ohio.gov for more information. Renewable energy is an important tool to sustain our future without having to rely solely on diminishing, and environmentally harmful, fossil fuel supplies. Using various forms of renewable energy reduces the impact of energy consumption on the environment, and the impact on our globe is minimal. Along with these benefits comes the need to find an infinite supply of energy for generations to come.
December 7, 2009 • csucauldron.com | 7
How the Aughts Ough To Be Remembered By Chris Enoch, Cauldron Editor‑In‑Chief
I
t started with an uproar; it’s ending with a whine. The decade of 2000-2010 (better known as “the Aughts”) will be remembered differently by each of us, dear reader, but we all comprehend the national bulletpoints. The millennium bug that never happened. A presidential election mediated by the Supreme Court. The horror of September 11, 2001. Two American wars in the Mideast. Hurricane Katrina. The Great Recession. The election of a black president, one glimmer of hope in a flurry of other discouraging predicaments. Sarah Palin. In the magazine’s 11/23/2009 feature, Time magazine refers
THE POSITIVES
Photo courtesy of cinematicwallpaper.com
to the Aughts as “The Decade from Hell.” I will not debate this assertion at length except to say that this decade has been transformative--creative and destructive in sweeping and tremendous ways. At The Cauldron, we’re honing in on the positive. We can move forward from there. I expect that each of us has learned more than a few valuable lessons throughout these years. Nationally; that same expectation applies. That being said, let’s not get too down on ourselves. If lessons are learned; each of us will surely prevail, as will our great nation. In the quest to find the positive; editors and writers of The Cauldron are chiming in with their two cents. After reading, hopefully you will be convinced that the Aughts have not been a complete loss after all.
Photo courtesy of goerie.thinkhost.com
Politics, Government and Policy
Photo courtesy of mburgan.files.wordpress.com
Equal Pay for Women This past January, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was approved by President Obama and it’s about time, too. Men have been getting paid more than women for a long time. “It was ridiculous that men, who are doing the same work, were being paid more than women” said Kaitlin Vandemark, a current CSU student. The Declaration of Independence states that we are all created equal and that we are all entitled to the pursuit of our own happiness whatever it may be. Having a wage gap definitely was not making any of us women happy. The way we live in this day and age is so much different than in the past. Everything is not always perfect when it is first made; there needs to be corrections. We shouldn’t live in the past; it’s the future that we should look forward to. This new act is definitely going to send our country in the right direction. —by Courtney Jones, Staff Writer.
New Found Environmental Awareness
Perhaps the most positive outcome of the Bush administration’s environmental policies was the backlash they caused. The very man Bush defeated, Al Gore, became a spokesperson for climate change after starring in the 2006 documentary “An Inconvenient Truth.” “Going green” became society’s latest fad. From reusable shopping bags to shopping locally, most Americans have changed how they live in the past decade to reflect the growing concern for the environment. Companies seeing the trend have been altered to supply consumer demands, and many big businesses are now a vehicle for change instead of against it. Mel Miller, a CSU English major, has lived in Lakewood for ten years and has watched the green movement blossom in the city. A big supporter of the RTA to get downtown to class, she also says, “I bike often, so does everyone I know.” Biking groups have started popping up across the country, and Cleveland’s no exception. Patrons of the Lakewood Phoenix Coffee shop have organized weekly rides for bikers in the community. The city has also recently begun enforced recycling. “I’ve always [recycled],” she explains, “But I think it helps people be more aware.” Environmentalist tree huggers don’t just come in tie-dye anymore, they come in white collars. —By Laura Krawczyk, Feature Editor
Black Man, White House
and the Nobel Peace Prize
Certainly, turmoil has been a significant part of the Aughts. For a bit of perspective, the forties had a couple difficulties of their own; there were some wars, as I recall. A genocide or three (or four) happened, and sacrifice was hardly a buzzword. They're often referred to as the greatest generation. Now, I would no more label our beloved post-millennial decade the "greatest" any more than I would be so brazen as to christen it the "worst." Certainly, we have endured our own share of hardships. We have also seen our share of monumental events, history-shaping occurrences that will influence the path of not only the United states, but the world at large, in the coming years. In the past year, the United States has seen the president bestowed with the Nobel Peace Prize. This selfsame president took office earlier in the same year, becoming the first AfricanAmerican to hold the nation's highest office in its history. Think about that for a second. Slavery was abolished in 1865, after having been an unavoidably significant part of America's history since 1609. More than 250 years of indentured servitude, of one ethnic group being Bybought Robertand Ivory, Sports Editor sold by another - and then a mere 145 years later, a Black man sits in the White House. —By Jonathan “Killstring” Herzberger, Arts & Entertainment Editor
Viking Fever Runs Rampant
That’s right; it’s that time again!
8 | csucauldron.com • December 7, 2009
Sports
Technology
Photo courtesy of fwnet.ipower.com
Mp3 Players, Smart Phones and User-Generated Content
The Age of the Geek So, Time magazine called this decade one of the worst ever, huh? Last I checked Americans had entered into one of the most awesome periods this country will ever know. Welcome to the Age of the Geek. Sure, I'm biased, but even CSU grad student Pete Lindmark sees it, “Everything we do runs on technology,” he says, “and who knows technology better than geeks?” Beyond just the revolutions in video gaming, there have been massive improvements and inventions concerning the Internet, cell phones, portable music players and communications. 10 years ago I was 12 (yah, I’m young… get over it) and if you had asked me then if I thought in 10 years I would have a touch screen music player called an iPod in my pocket or a motion-sensitive video game console called a Wii to play with I probably would have laughed at you -- mostly because at 12 the word Wii would have been too funny not to laugh at. Regardless, I just can’t find a reason to say that this past decade was the worst ever . . . yah it hasn’t been great, and it probably won’t get easier anytime soon, but us geeks have worked our butts off (admittedly mostly while sitting on comfortable couches in front of laptops and game consoles) to keep everyone’s spirits up and minds entertained. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the Age of the Geek, baby. —by Justin Brenis, Staff Writer
Over the past decade technology has advanced quicker than ever before. In the device world, nothing can surpass the invention of mp3 players and smart phones. Whether you use an iPod, Zune or Creative; being able to fit thousands of songs in your pocket is quite the leap from the CD player. There’s a pretty good chance you can fit every song you’ll ever listen to in your lifetime on a player. We couldn’t just stop at all our music in our pockets though. We needed to put everything in there. Thus, the smart phone. You’ve got iPhones, Palms or Androids with apps to do pretty much everything. We all know what they can do so I won’t go through the list but in the device world, this decade has surpassed all before with what we simply can keep in our pockets. Another one of the great advances this decade is easily accessible user-generated content. I’m not just talking about funny cat videos here. Thousands of people retreat to their bedroom to make video blogs which may sound kind of nerdy but some of the greatest web content comes from these people. (For vloggers check out vlogbrothers & communitychannel on YouTube) There is also a lot of great sketch comedy that is produced exclusively for the web. (Check out metropolitanbandt on YouTube or the always classic collegehumor.com) Then there is the full web series. Shows produced for the web like “The Guild,” starring Felicia Day, have excellent content that “is as entertaining as any 30-minute sitcom” according to USA Today. During the writers’ strike Joss Whedon decided to create a musical comedy and release it on Hulu.com before selling it on DVD and iTunes. His creation, “Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog” was #1 on iTunes for weeks after its release, so the impact is already showing. (Check out The Guild at watchtheguild.com and Dr. Horrible on Hulu, iTunes, or Amazon). User Generated Content is becoming both more popular and more awesome as each day goes by, so go check out some of these recommendations to see why this decade was one of the best ever. —By Eric Schneider, Contributing Writer
Education Education
Photo by Steve Thomas
Photo courtesy of teamowens313.files.wordpress.com
Michael Phelps
Despite his recent media attention for drug use and less than admirable behavior, Michael Phelps is truly an Olympic star. Phelps first gained recognition in Athens at the 2004 Olympics by winning eight medals in swimming, four of which were gold. It was the 2008 Beijing Olympics, however, that propelled him to stardom. By winning eight gold medals, he broke Mark Spitz’s famous record of winning seven back in 1972. This Olympic feat made him a worldwide sensation, and the media frenzy began. Phelps appeared on every talk show possible, numerous news specials, and even hosted Saturday Night Live where he poked fun at his extreme 12,000 calorie diet. Phelps became as well known for his physique and image as for his athletic strength. Diane Furlong, freshman, agrees that “He is a great athlete who worked hard for what he wanted, while looking gorgeous.” Phelps brought a positive image to America, amidst all the other national problems, and will always be known as one of the most exceptional Olympic athletes of all time. —By Kristen Mott, Staff Writer
We “Aught” to Go to School Despite the economic downturn during the past decade, more people are choosing to further their education. Meghann, a Cleveland State freshman, said, “The bad economy forces people to improve their education to better their chances of getting a job, and, as a whole, enlightens society.” It is not the fact that people are choosing to further their education to improve their job prospects but that people are consequently becoming more educated in aspects of culture that is a positive result of the past decade. Instead of just sitting in front of a high definition television and rotting their brains while watching reality shows, people are reading for their classes and engaging in higher levels of thought. If all of society chose to turn off the television for one more hour each day and use that time for reading, then great things could happen. —by Samantha Shunk, News Editor
6 Big Ten Titles for OSU, Browns Back, Lance Armstrong, 2008 Beijing Olympics For the past decade, sports fans have been treated to many great games and events both in the local stage and in the worldwide arena. In Columbus, the Ohio State Buckeyes rolled to the tune of six Big Ten titles in football and claimed a National Championship in a thrilling double overtime win over the Hurricanes of Miami. Both teams would produce notable NFL players and other players that just simply made headlines (Maurice Clarett). In Cleveland, most fans were just happy to have their Browns back, as the ‘00s were the first complete decade the team competed since their return to the National Football League, but have only made the playoffs once and have compiled a 53-102 (.341) record since the beginning of the decade. The most impressive spectacle is down to two events; first was Lance Armstrong getting six of his seven Tour de France victories in the 00’s and the second was the Opening Ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. The whole world was behind Lance as he was continuing both the dream an the impossibility of becoming the greatest athlete to overcome a major disease, especially getting Americans to focus on a sport that many few knew about other then by name. The Olympics, however, created the most buzz about an Opening Ceremony characterized by outstanding choreography and unforgettable acts. Overall, the 2000s wasn’t a bad decade in sports. Our Proud University Worst decade in American history? Not from my view -- on the west side of Fenn Tower, overlooking East 24th Street. See, a decade ago there was no window here to observe the street. In fact, the building was being considered for demolition, viewed as obsolete. Now, Fenn is home to nearly 400 Cleveland State students. Look to the east of the seventy year old structure and see the new College of Education construction. To the north, a three year old, state-of-the-art Recreation Center. Farther west, the new University Center nears completion, and to the south, behind the bookstore, the new Euclid Commons dormitory complex rises from a former parking lot. From this view, this decade is spectacular. It has seen a University recover from the depths of disregard and deterioration. After years of complacency, Cleveland State found life: new buildings; an Honors Program; a freshman class with a cumulative 3.0 GPA; an Ohio-leading bar passage rate; Viking Expeditions; many Horizon League Champions; research initiatives; brilliant leadership; higher enrollment and hope— abundant hope for the future. Maybe the rest of the country has had a rough decade, but here at Cleveland State, life has never been better. —by Reid May, Copy Editor There you have it: the Aughts. Locally, statewide and nationally; we know where we have been and so we better know where we are going. Another journey, lined with opportunity but also with danger, soon awaits us in the 10’s. The ride will surely be rutted and rough, but as that great revolutionary Thomas Paine once wrote, “What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly…” The costs may be high but the value will inevitably be dear. Are we ready; in short, yes. In fact, you might even say we were born that way.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Midgard Awards: Year-End edition Best of this Viking Planet
By Jonathan “Killstring” Herzberger, Cauldron Arts & Entertainment Editor Photo courtesy of jeffzeller.files.wordpress.com
Photo courtesy of macleans.files.wordpress.com
Oh finals week.
10
courtesy of hardcoregaming.wordpress.com
You mean so many things to us, here at CSU. Staying up all night to finish a paper. Going through a 24-pack of mountain dew in two days, as we stumble toward the finish line that is winter break. Also, you mean another edition of The Cauldron’s Midgard Awards! We’d briefly discussed calling these the “We’re right” awards, but that trademark apparently belongs to the webcomic Penny Arcade, and Odin knows we don’t have time for a frivolous lawsuit – we’re too busy crawling through a mountain of media to bring you the best – and only the very best – from this Viking planet. So then – without further introduction, let’s get this party started. Television Best sitcom that will not get to the point: How I Met Your Mother Five seasons later, How I Met Your Mother is still evading the introduction of that most pivotal of unknown characters: mother. The fashion in which this pattern of indiscreet evasion has occurred is bold—too bold. The show has teased audiences with hints and subtle persuasion as to the mysterious mother’s identity and has even led viewers on for long strings of episodes slowly convincing them that one particular character met all the criteria for Ted Mosby’s (played by star Josh Radnor) mate in perpetual wedlock. Then, in Season Four, they scrapped the whole relationship in the highly cliché (and sadly, highly comical) “abandonment at the altar episode.” Outgoing Editor‑In‑Chief Chris Enoch says it best: “although we will surely miss Neil Patrick Harris’ portrayal of the womanizing, scotch-drinking, bar-hopping Barney Stinson, CBS - much like a man proposing - needs to close this deal. How hard could it be to find a mate in New York City, anyway?” Best thing to half-watch while you’re up too late doing homework: The holy trinity of late-night hosts. Or maybe they’re unholy. Regardless, Conan O’Brian, David Letterman, and Jay Leno are all embroiled in their own manner of drama – which is, perhaps unsurprisingly, driving them to greater creative heights. Letterman’s drowning in scandal, Leno quit/retired, only to resurface with a new, competing show, and Conan’s not happy about it. But we are. A classic case of adversity breeding a more competitive animal. That, and Conan’s just plain on when he’s ticked. And the Midgard Award for the best thing about TV (that we miss already) goes to: Battlestar Galactica In the six years it ran, BSG somehow managed to turn this campy 70’s property – complete with a young kid
Photo courtesy of the10k.com
who keeps wandering off into trouble, and his adorable robot dog companion – into a gritty, no-holds-barred drama that kept audiences on the edges of their collective seats right until the conclusion. And it got a proper conclusion! Having said this, our A&E editor posits that there is no longer any compelling reason to watch TV, and has sulked back to his office to watch Firefly on DVD. We’ll let you know when/if he comes out. Honorable mentions: Scrubs coming back, The Shield finale, using your tv as a shelf to hold your laptop, . Film Best tear-jerking film that didn’t actually need cameras: Up. So yeah. We’re suckers for Pixar here, we’ll admit it. Heartwarming, beautiful, funny, and genuinely moving – Up accomplishes things that most films never get close to touching, animated or otherwise. Honorable Mention: Where The Wild Things Are Best movie that you didn’t see, but totally should have, and no we’re not being sarcastic: Funny People. Judd Apatow. Adam Sandler. How could this be anything but terrible? Quite easily, as it turns out. Sandler has shown us repeatedly now that he has the skills to portray characters with a great deal of pathos – and his bitter take on the life of a comic paints a shockingly delicate portrait of the inherently alien nature of so many performers, and their isolation from the world they entertain. It bombed at the box office, so it’s probably back to tedious jokes about bodily functions for these two. I hope you’re happy with yourself. And the Midgard Award for the best reason to spend hours in the dark goes to ... Inglourious Basterds If there’s one thing that pop culture has taught us, is that horrific acts of violence are okay, so long as they’re committed against zombies or Nazis. Quentin Tarantino takes this to heart, and put forward a gleeful display of ultraviolence that caused even mildmannered News Editor Samantha Shunk to say that Basterds “may just be the best movie of all time.” Tarantino combines action, adventure, blood, drama, history, blood, suspense, blood, murder, romance, comedy and blood to create a two hour and thirty-three minute film that holds the viewer’s attention for the duration. “And,” Shunk continues, “watching the killing of those Nazis just makes you feel so darn good, not to mention seeing the swastikas carved into their foreheads.” If you missed this one, never fear – the DVD drops on December
15.
Honorable Mention: Zombieland, (yes, we’re serious) Gommorah, The Last Station Video Games Best game based on a fantasy that’s actually somewhat realistic: FIFA 10 Sure, it’d be fun to be a superhero, dragon-slaying knight, or el Batman – but let’s face it, that’s simply not possible, and you’ll hurt yourself if you go out and pretend. But you can get your futbol on, and you probably won’t even attract police attention! FIFA is designed from the ground up with love, and it really shows in this iteration – this is a game designed to envelop you in a love of “the beautiful game,” whether you had said feelings to begin with or not. Honorable mentions: DJ Hero, NBA 2k10 Best game that does nothing new, and doesn’t need to: Dragon Age: Origins A strong contender for Game of The Year, DA:O reinvents no wheels, borrows heavily and unapologetically from its sources, and has graphics that would have been pretty impressive – if this were 2004, and it was released on the Playstation 2. Having said that, believe us when we say that this is the best Fantasy RPG ever made. Ever. Made. The morally ambiguous story Bioware set out to tell isn’t quite so brave as they’d have you believe – but it doesn’t matter. The tale is engrossing. The game play is addictive. The sheer amount of content here is said to be equivalent to six novels worth of material, and we believe it. A brilliant cast delivers some of the best voice acting of this generation, and after dumping fifty to sixty hours of time into the game, you’ll be tempted to start a second playthrough, just to see what might have gone differently. It might not be everyone’s game of the year. But for those with a soft spot for the western RPG, it might well become their game of the decade. Honorable Mentions: Halo 3: ODST, Beatles: Rock Band And the Midgard award for the game we were playing instead of studying for finals goes to... Batman: Arkham Asylum Now, this one was hotly debated. And by hotly, I mean that Justin Brenis threatened to drop Mr. Killstirng down three stories, Dark Knight-style, if he didn’t recognize Batman’s superiority. (This did not actually happen.) What did happen, was that the cast of Batman: The
Animated Series reunited, from writer/director Paul Dini, to Mark Hamill’s immortal Joker, right up to Kevin Conroy’s inimitable Batman (Pay attention, Bale: the character doesn’t need a permanent nose cold) this is a property by people who love Batman, for people who love Batman. A thrilling blend of stealth and action, Brenis aptly sums it up as “survival horror done right” - the only difference being, the Batman is as much a terror as any of the madmen he faces. If you just can’t get enough of Mr. Wayne’s antics – and lord knows, that seems to be the case with pretty much everyone these days – this is one asylum you’ll be locking yourself in. Honorable Mentions: Assassin’s Creed 2, Borderlands, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, Street Fighter IV Music Best Release of your finals week anxiety: Mastodon – Crack The Skye I know what you’re thinking (okay, so I don’t actually know. Just play along) – didn’t we talk about this record pretty recently, say about six months ago? It’s true, Crack The Skye took home our Midgard Award in the spring for our favorite bit of heavy music. Since then, we’ve brought on a little coterie of dedicated metalheads, and you know what? Skye is still the staff consensus pick. Paul Kahan raves that “from sludgy metal sounds to a thunderous death howl, all the way to a crunchy punk exterior: the band adds a twinge of classic rock to their already impressive repertoire.” Whether you like Ozzy or hail Asmodeus, this is the album that will have you throwing up the horns. Means “I love you” in American Sign Language! Honorable Mentions: Oh Sleeper – Son Of The Morning, Between the Buried and Me - The Great Misdirect, The Devil Wears Prada - With Roots Above and Branches Below. Record that nobody expected to be as good as it was: Emery – In Shallow Seas We Sail Emery is one of those post-something-spiritual-glitter-scream bands that all the kids adore so much these days – the difference is, an average record from them will blow many bands’ best efforts. Despite this, their last release, I’m Only A Man, wasn’t even an average release – it was actually pretty terrible. Imagine our surprise when Seas arrived, full of a vital energy that just dares you to ignore it. Alexes Spencer was not surprised, however. “After the release of I’m Only A Man... an album like In Shallow Seas was exactly what the band needed. It’s not The Question, but it’s close.” You owe it to yourself to see what all the buzz is about. Honorable Mentions: ...And you will know us by the trail of dead – Century of Self, Slayer – World Painted Blood, Thrice – Beggars, Pearl Jam - Backspacer And the Midgard award you should be listening to right now goes to... Regina Spektor – Far. Most critics didn’t really take to this record. This is proof that they are dead inside, and feel no joy. People downplayed it, saying that Far could maybe be pretty good, if not for Spektor’s lyrical flights of whimsy. That the songstress’ travels through imagination, fairytale, and renewing myth were cute and all, but they didn’t get it. Then said critics go to rave about how a recently-issued Nirvana live album is the best thing released all year. I will note that all you mainstream rock critics didn’t ‘get’ Nirvana until they were granted classic rock icon status, either. I will note that Rolling Stone puts Disney artists on their cover. I will note that mainstream rock critics love nothing more than being safe. Far isn’t safe. It takes risks, and not all of them pan out great. It’s the instinct you have, driving in the summer, to just stop your car and run through the sprinkler real quick. It’s going crazy the day after Halloween, and buying great big sacks of half-price candy, and eating them all because you’re a grownup now, and it’s your turn to decide what that means. It’s the difference between wondering what it’d be like to color outside the lines, and getting hopped up on espresso and driving off the edge of the map. It’s beautiful, flawed, and inspiring. Ultimately, it’s the parts of human nature worth celebrating. And you can dance to it! Honorable Mentions: Jay-Z – The Blueprint 3, August Burns Red – Constellations, Animal Collective – Merriwether Post Pavilion.
Kill Paradise brings The Second Effect By Samantha Shunk, Cauldron News Editor
Kill Paradise is a band classified as an Electro-Pop Duo. Their first album, The Second Effect, is exclusively sold at Hot Topic stores, but The Cauldron was lucky enough to be sent a copy in the mail. Nick Cocozzella and Bryce Hoops are two guys from Denver that have a passion for the electro-pop brand they have developed. From the second you hear the first few electronic chords of “Oh Lexi,” the first song on the album, an overwhelming urge to dance will come over your body. You won’t be able to stop it; it will be as if you have just been transported into a hip, and probably gay, nightclub. This is when you will realize that Kill Paradise has named their album The Second Effect because it only takes a second to take effect on your body. Cocozzella claims, “The songs on the album are really fun and bouncy, but pack an emotional punch to them. I just want to put a smile on people’s faces.” It is true that all the songs are quite bouncy due to the electronic elements and the whiney vocals. It is difficult to listen to the entire album in one sitting because the songs are a little too similar; however, just a few songs at a time
can be perfect. Cocozzella does succeed in putting a smile on my face as he hoped; maybe he can put a smile on your face, too. And, when listening to the tenth track, “Radio Arcade,” there is a little rap thrown in out of nowhere for the last thirty seconds of the song. It breaks the whiney voiced electronic sound up, but it happens too late in the album. The rhyme that is employed in every song provides the hook found in all typical pop songs, and it helps give them their catchy quality. Although this album is not really a relaxing one, it can be perfect for singing to your very own steering wheel. Chances are that you have a better voice than either Cocozzella or Hoops. Also, if you want to make people get out on the dance floor at your next house party, just pop this electro-pop album in the CD player, if you still have one of those, and watch the dance floor fill with plenty of people who do not really know how to dance. Try it. Throw some of the songs on a playlist and let them energize your morning drive to class.
Peter Jackson Talks About “The Lovely Bones” And The Emotions Behind It By Alexes Spencer, Cauldron News Editor
P
eter Jackson said in a recent conference call with colleges nationwide that the emotions behind the novel, “The Lovely Bones”, were one of the primary reasons he wished to make a film. “It touches on all sorts of themes and things that, you know, we recognize in our own lives, and once you’re emotionally affected like that, you try to hang on to that feeling, or that emotion, and get it into the finished film,” Jackson said. Jackson, most widely recognized as the director of “The Lord of the Rings,” said that directing each film is a learning experience. He also spoke on the challenge of creating a film from a novel as he did with “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Lovely Bones.” “You’ve got to realize that you’re only going to get half of the book into the movie, and you’ve got to start making decisions about what the most important aspects of the book are,” Jackson said. “It’s seeing passages of the book that you really liked, that you assumed you’d put into the movie, but you suddenly haven’t got time for them. And it’s having to say
goodbye to characters and to scenes that you were looking forward to doing. But when you start writing the script, you realize that there’s no room for it,” Jackson said. Though “The Lovely Bones” appears to continue a pattern of film adaptations of novels, Jackson stated that he is just as happy to make films from original ideas. He does, however, believe it is incredibly easy to envision a film while reading a novel, a process that makes the adaptation almost natural. “As you read a well-written book, you start imagining what these people look like, and you imagine the locations and action. And before long, you’ve got this little movie playing in your head,” Jackson said. “And then it doesn’t take much for me to get excited about the little movie that’s being inspired by the words in the book. You know you want to think seriously about the idea of putting that little movie in [your] head onto film and showing it to other people, which is ultimately what we end up doing,” Jackson said. To see Jackson’s vision of Alice Sebold’s “The Lovely Bones,” look for it in theaters on December 11.
December 7, 2009 • csucauldron.com | 11
courtesy of blog.quickdfw.com
Concert Picks of the Winter By Alexes “Texas” Spencer & Jonathan “Killstring” Herzberger, Cauldron Staff Writer & Arts & Entertainment Editor
Other Shows
It’s been a long, hard road, concerteers: but here we stand, at the brink of finals. At long last, you’ll be able to rest, to catch your breath, maybe even catch up on all that sleep you’ve been missing. Maybe you could catch up on your reading, or finally update your blog. Perhaps you could spend some time with your family; your aunt called by the way - she’s worried about you. Thinks you don’t
Deck the halls, but not the bouncers at these lovely holiday galas:
12/7 The Queers w/Hostile Omish, The Leftovers, Cypher @ Peabody’s, $10
eat enough, and might be running with the wrong crowd. So yeah, maybe you could go catch up. You could do any or all of these things. Conversely, you could rock so hard that the moon weeps, and the earth begs restraint. We know what we’ll be doing. No it is not calling your aunt: that would be silly.
Alexes Pick:
12/9 Los Straitjackets w/El Vez, The Lovely Elvettes @ the Beachland Ballroom, $16
12/16
IWrestledABearOnce w/ Miss May I @ Peabody’s
12/9 Rookie of the Year w/Backseat Goodbye @ Peabody’s, $10 12/11 Black Veil Brides w/The Hey Yoos @ Peabody’s (Pirate’s Cove), $8 12/13 Jessica Lea Mayfield w/Frontier Ruckus, Beaten Awake @ the Grog Shop, $8 12/14 Q104 aQstic Christmas featuring Howie Day, Kate Voegele, Joshua Radin @ House of Blues, $15 12/15 Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s Wild and Swingin’ Holiday Party w/Madison Crawl @ House of Blues, $22
Photo courtesy of flickr.com
There’s a big long break here for you guys to fill up with showy goodness. Here is delicious show number 1: IWrestledABearOnce. The members of IWrestledABearOnce proved time and time again that they are an incredible force of nature when put on stage, capable of hanging tight with the toughest acts out there, even with a girl growling into the mic. On top of the teency-weency $12 it takes to get in, anyone who wants to take their chances can enter a $1 raffle for one of two boxes. One of these boxes is filled with delicious goodies. Yum.
12/17 Skindred w/3SO @ Peabody’s, $10
Jonathan’s Pick:
12/18 Mr. Gnome (Cd Release show) w/The Uncanny Xela @ the Beachland, $7
12/19 or 12/20
12/18 The Promise Hero w/Everything Zen, Hot Mess Electric @ the Grog Shop, $5
Trans-Siberian Orchestra @ The Q
12/19 30 Seconds to Mars @ House of Blues, $25
Let’s throw a little Christmas spirit into the mix. Well-known for their rocked out versions of classic Christmas tunes, the rock-orchestra will be performing at The Q days before Christmas. Tickets come as low as $25, and portions of the proceeds will go to the St. Augustine Hunger Center. So rock out and get your charity on, y’all!
12/22 Grant Hart (Husker Du) w/Brian Strazek, The Lawton Brothers @ the Grog Shop, $8 12/26 Coffinberry w/Buried Wires, Good Touch Bad Touch @ the Grog Shop, $tba (likely dirt cheap) 12/27 After X-Mas Tragedy 5 W/Scalara and a hojillion other bands @ Peabody’s, $6 12/30 Rusted Root @ House of Blues, $22.50 1/9 Salt The Wound (Final U.S. Show) w/ Above This Fire, Cholera, Dead Even, The Analyst, The Screwtape Letters @ Peabody’s, $12
12/31
New Years Eve
at The Grog w/ Gil Mantera’s 1/17 - Gold Motel (Greta from The Hush Sound) Party Dream
1/15 Kid Cudi w/Chip Tha Rippa @ the Agora, $27 w/ Uno Lady, Pet Tigers @ the Grog Shop, $7
12 | csucauldron.com • DEcember 7, 2009
It's show number four, kids! Even with the extra slots, this wound up being a tough call - CSU students (and overall rad chicks) The Hey Yoos are playing the Pirate's Cove - and while they'll be a rare treat, it's tough for me to reccomend headliner Black Veil Brides. Seeing Howie and Kate for 15 bucks should prove absolutely lovely as well - but we're going to go with the quintessential experience for your rec-
Photo courtesy of trans-siberian.com
comended concert experience: the incomperable Gil Mantera. You should not do drugs, kids. They're bad. That, and you could just see Gil and have the same experience as a freaked-out acid trip, but it'll be an entertaining journey; and one that your friends can share with you! $13 lucky dollars will do the trick, so it's an economic alternative as well.
SPORTS
Photography by Robert Ivory
No Shortage of Great Sporting Events Over Holiday Break
O
By Robert Ivory, Cauldron Sports Editor
kay, if you are like me, this Holiday break could not have come any sooner. 2009 has been a great year of sporting events, but there are many more memories to be made in the last weeks of ’09 and in the newest days of 2010. We here in the Sports section have compiled a list of things that you ‘Cannot Miss;’ ‘Better Watch,’ or simply ‘Would Be Nice To See.’ Here is our list for the Christmas Break, 2009.
Cannot Miss:
12/19; Men’s Basketball vs. West Virginia 2pm, Wolstein Center Cleveland State basketball has now made a name for themselves and its time to start playing with the big boys of NCAA Hoops. The Mountaineers will be well rested for this big game and will look to continue their dominance over the Vikings. This meeting will be only the second time that Cleveland State has hosted West Virginia and only the fourth time both teams have met total. Last year’s 53-42 WV win was the second time the Vikes have lost by ten to the Mountaineers, and the first time these two teams met in 1976-77, the Vikes lost by 38. 12/19; Women’s Basketball vs. Indiana 4:30pm, Wolstein Center Big Ten Indiana make their Wolstein Center debut, as these two teams have met three times (once between men’s teams and twice between women’s teams) prior to the Saturday game. This is the first time t in over a decade that the women’s teams have met and the Vikings are looking for their first win against the Hoosiers. Indiana will play the Vikes on Saturday, then host the Toledo Rockets before continuing their Big Ten schedule. 1/1; Winter Classic Philadelphia Flyers vs. Boston Bruins 1pm, Fenway Park, NBC Of the many sporting events on New Years Day, the one that you must watch is the NHL’s Winter Classic, this year in the Bean City. Home to great hockey moments, Boston will be place where history comes to life. The B’s and the Broad Street Bullies met in the 1974 Stanley Cup Finals, where the Flyers claimed their first cup in only a few years of existence. The Winter Classic never fails to be the exiting marketing campaign that the NHL wanted it to be and we are glad that the tradition continues. 1/2, 1/4; Women’s Basketball vs. Green Bay, Milwaukee
3pm, 7pm, Wolstein Center If you are in the know, you know that Cleveland State is only 10-65 all-time against these two squads. CSU’s last win against Green Bay was in Wisconsin almost two calendar years ago. The Vikings have had better success against the Panthers, as the Vikes have won the last three out of four meetings. In this league, you need every win you can get, even in early January. 1/14; Men’s Basketball @ Butler 7pm, Hinkle Fieldhouse, 1220am The Word Ok, you have had a month to lounge around, but the last free Thursday before classes restart belongs to a road trip to Indiana. Never a dull moment between these two clubs, the 33rd meeting of these two clubs will be as good as it has been. CSU has only won one of the last five in the series, but made it at the right time last year. Will Butler be looking for revenge? You bet! 1/16; NFL Divisional Round, teams/times/venues tbd, CBS/FOX Nothing is bigger during the break than NFL football. Yea, we all know that the Brownies won’t be in the playoffs, again, but at least there will be great football going on. So many questions to be answered by this time, but one thing is for sure, you cannot miss the last few games of the 2009-2010 NFL season.
Better Watch:
12/25; Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic/Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Los Angeles Lakers 2:30pm, 5:00pm, Amway Arena/Staples Center, ABC Just as you are getting your knit sweater from your annoying Aunt Rita, you are going to escape to see Kobe and the Lakers take on the Cavs. Again, as you are blanketed in snow, they are going to show the palm trees lit up with lights for Christmas. The Christmas Day festivities are once again going to be delightful with these two marquee matchups that the NBA gives to us on Christmas. Some maybe in the games, but others will be sleeping from the Christmas Day feast. Please, don’t eat too much turkey on Christmas Day! 12/29; Men’s Basketball @ Kansas State 8pm, Bramlage Coliseum, 1220am, The Word The last game for the men’s basketball team may not be filled with Christmas joy towards the Wildcats, but the Vikings will travel to Manhattan, KS during the break. Like WV, CSU has never beaten the team from Kansas, but only lost by 10 in their last meeting at the Wolstein
Center during the 2007-08 campaign. 1/7; 2010 Citi BCS National Championship Game 8pm, Rose Bowl Stadium, ABC Ohio State will be going to the Rose Bowl, but it will not be for the National Championship. If this was not the National Championship, it would be down there with the Ohio State game, but since it is, you’re going to watch this game whether its at home or with the annoying guy wearing the school colors next to you at the bar. Would Be Nice To See 12/10; Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:30pm, Cleveland Browns Stadium, NFL Network Yea, I know this is not officially during break, but there are no better Browns games to watch than the Steelers. Best part, it is on National TV and the Browns have not played bad in prime time games lately and the Steelers WILL NOT make it to the playoffs this year! What better way to help the Stillers not make the playoffs by beating them when they need the win the most. 12/26; Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Detroit Red Wings, 7pm, Joe Louis Arena, FS-O (HD) No hockey on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, but the Western Conference Central Division gets it going on the 26th. Columbus is still looking to avenge last year’s playoff embarrassment to the Wings, so the Jackets will be at the Joe to get things squared away. The Jackets will be looking to make the playoffs again this year, but will need a solid December and January to get back into the picture, as they are two points behind the eighth and final playoff spot. 1/1; 2010 Rose Bowl Ohio State vs. Oregon Ducks, 5:10pm, Rose Bowl Stadium, ABC The 96th installment of this tradition will see the Bucks take on the Ducks in the warm weather of Pasadena as Ohio will most likely be covered in snow. Last chance to see the Bucks play in the 2009-10 season, but this is a game you’ll flick in and out of. 1/16; Cleveland State Men’s Swimming vs. Duquesne/ Xavier, 1pm, Busbey Natatorium This is your only chance to see the Vikings at home until February. Despite a hiccup against the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Vikings are looking for another great run to the Horizon League Championship in 2010. The best reason to see the Vikes is because it is your last chance to see Jakub Dobies swim at Cleveland Stat, as he has become the most dangerous man in the CSU lineup.
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No Worries At 2-4:
Women’s Basketball Can Right Ship By Robert Ivory, Cauldron Sports Editor
There are no givens in life. The Cleveland State women’s basketball program knows that first hand. The Vikes have hit a wall in the beginning of the season, but have come off to a tough start for two years running. Despite a MAC heavy season last year, the Vikings dropped six of their first ten, but that included the Arizona State and Ohio State. Head Coach Kate Peterson-Abiad has stressed, like any coach that wants to succeed, that a good non-Conference schedule could make or break the way you play in the closing games of the year. That is why the two-point loss should be nothing but motivation for the coach to know that she has her team in the right frame of mind. The real about-face for the Vikings occurred in January when they started a great run in the Horizon League part of their schedule. Despite a nine-point loss to Butler in Indy, the Vikes were able to beat Valpo by 13 on their home floor and set the Vikings up right for the rest of the season. A five game win streak and two three game win streaks in their league portion of the schedule helped CSU claim the third spot in the league with a 12 and 6 record, with 19 total wins over the year. There has been much to be proud of in this year’s Vikings, including a trip south of the border. As mentioned above, a two point loss to the Badgers was the highlight of the Vikings season so far. Holding a 12-point lead at the half, the Vikes knew that the second half was going to be a wild ride from the Big Ten opponent and the Vikings nearly did hold on. Favorite for Horizon League Player of the Year, Kailey Klein put in 19 points in 34 minutes, but Shawnita Garland has the coach and others close to the CSU community singing of her praises. Garland had 23 and went 4-8 from beyond the arch. The team knows now knows how they will have to play coming into the Horizon League schedule, but they have been able to get team efforts and will look unstoppable when they do so. Just look at their recent appearance in Cancun. In their 64-58 win over IONA in Mexico, Jessica Roque threw up 7 of 8 threes and finished with 23 points. The team as a whole only shot 36% for the game, but were still able to hold of their opponents. You will not get seven threes every night, but when the team can gel like the Vikings have, including their new pieces to the puzzle, this team will be as dangerous as 2007-08.
Alumni Support CSU Swimming and Diving
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By Samantha Shunk, Cauldron News Editor
ecently a new scoreboard has been added to the Robert F. Busby Natatorium to improve the quality of the swimming environment. During the economic recession that the nation is in at the moment, everyone is always wondering where the money comes from for projects such as this one. Mike Dolsak, director of development for athletics, said that it was entirely “done with private dollars through Cleveland State alumni, and it just opened the doors for us to do other projects because we know that our alumni will actually step up.” In October 2008, the athletics department began what is called The Robert F. Busby Natatorium Champions Campaign in order to raise $130,000 for the new scoreboard. Dolask related, “This thing started because our old scoreboard was put up in the early 1980s, and it started to not allow us to have events anymore because it was outdated. We were losing local events and possibly some national and international events because the scoreboard just didn’t have the capacity to do what the customers needed.” With the new equipment in place, hopefully CSU will be approached to host more aquatic sporting events here in Cleveland. In the beginning, the athletics department was not sure that this campaign would receive the support of the alumni. Before starting the campaign, Mike Dolsak said, “We focused on five or six donor alumni that we think could do the $130,000, which was what the scoreboard cost, so we met with some of them and we did a feasibility study, and it came back favorable.” Since the result of the study showed that the alumni would support the endeavor, the campaign was put into action.
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This scoreboard has state-of-the-art technology with the board that will show the times, scores, and photos of the team. It even has the capability to play a movie, so it may be used for some instant replay. When asked if the technology is like that of the Olympics, Mike Dolsak explained, “So there’s a touchpad that’s under the water that records the end time,” and it sends it through to scoreboard instantaneously. This scoreboard is actually the first part of the three phase renovation. The next step is the record board that is expected to cost between $15,000 and $20,000. When the goal of fundraising $200,000 is reached, an alumni recognition display will be created in the form of a mural inside the natatorium. Dolsak mentioned that “Wally Morton, who is our head swimming coach, was really the driving force of the campaign.” After many years coaching the swimming and diving at CSU, Wally has a personal connection with many of the alumni donors. Dolsak said, “When we do these fundraising projects, it helps us engage our alumni and it helps them feel a part of something, so really it’s a good thing for us to do these projects for the kids, but it is also a good thing for us to do this for our alumni because it brings them back down to campus, it engages them in our programs, and it makes them feel a part of the program.” It seems the CSU alumni may just be who will pull CSU athletics through this economic recession. Director of Athletics, Lee Reed said, “This project is a shining example of the power of an engaged and supportive alumni base.”
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December 7, 2009 • csucauldron.com | 15
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