Street: March 28, 2012 by The Daily Princetonian

The Daily Princetonian

Thursday March 28, 2013

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BREAKING OUT OF PRINCETON Students spend their spring break exploring civic engagement Maggie Zhang Staff Writer

his past week, six groups of Princeton students spent their spring breaks living on food stamps, painting murals, restoring parks, recording heritage stories and visiting charter schools — a departure from the typical college spring break. These students participated in Breakout Princeton, a Pace Center program designed to help students travel outside Princeton’s campus (and their comfort zones) in order to learn about social issues. This spring, students learned about art and social change, art and music education, hunger and homelessness, the rhetoric of fracking, education entrepreneurship and language preservation. Sioux Nation: Preserving Oglala Heritage Stories, Pine Ridge, S.D. “Our breakout trip was like Murphy’s law: If anything could go wrong, it did. This trip was more full of surprises than anything I have planned before. I didn’t expect a storm to land our group in the Mall of America when we should’ve been interviewing elders in South Dakota. I didn’t expect a spider infestation to cause our main source of interviewees to be evacuated and leave us without interviews,” Sarah Jeong ’15, one of the co-leaders of the Sioux Nation group, said. Indeed, even before arriving at their destination, the Sioux Nation group faced poor weather conditions, delayed and canceled f lights and hours in the Minneapolis airport. These obstacles did not stop the students from learning about language preservation in the Lakota tribe of Pine Ridge Reservation. They studied the subject by speaking to Princeton alumni, meeting with nonprofit organizations, visiting cultural sites, giving college advice to local students, interviewing elders of the tribe and discussing their ideas on heritage and identity. “Pine Ridge Indian Reservation has so many social issues, from high poverty levels to low life expectancy, from alcoholism to depression. At times it was really hard for us to be confronted with these issues and not to feel upset by what was going on around us,” participant Michael Chang ’16 said. Despite the troubling nature of Pine Ridge Reservation, the students felt inspired to think productively and ask themselves what they could do to improve the future. “In that sense, the Breakout trip doesn’t necessarily have to end, if we choose to continue to think about and address these issues,” Chang said. The Sioux Nation trip differed from its fellow Breakout program trips in its longdistance

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locale. “On previous Breakout trips, we were consistently going over budget, so now Pace is cutting the number of trips that can f ly to places. I lucked out and got to go to South Dakota, but I have a feeling that next year there may not be f lying trips,” co-leader Steven Russell ’14 said. “Hopefully with some alumni support we will be able to have trips across the country again.” Hunger and Homelessness: Discovering the Uneaten Potential, Washington, D.C. The Hunger and Homelessness group took on the SNAP challenge: a week in which they lived solely on food stamps. With $1.50 in stamps per meal, students ended up eating a lot of beans and rice. “My conception of it was that we would be starving and it would be awful. And to an extent, yes, every meal was unsatisfying. But in all honesty, it was a really interesting experience,” co-leader Azza Cohen ’16 said. The budget gave insight into the options available to Americans on food stamps and how that could affect possible lifestyle choices. “One night, we went to McDonalds for dinner — there were four vegetarians, so the only thing we could eat was a side parfait. Another time we went to Safeway, and most people got a banana and a piece of cheese or donut,” Cohen said. During their trip, the group attended the DC Health & Fitness Expo, visited the National Coalition for the Homeless, volunteered in “food recovery,” worked with local chefs at DC Central Kitchen and even talked to Congressman Rush Holt about the farm bill and childhood nutrition. “One of the main realizations that I think we all experienced was that homelessness can happen to anyone and it is wrong to simply assume that people are homeless due to their own mistakes or wrongdoings,” Clara Kerwin ’16 said. Students not only learned a lot but also found ways to contribute. “We didn’t accept the solutions that were given at face value. Rather, we discussed ways in which the solutions could be improved,” Clarissa Kimmey ’16 said. “The f laws we found were encouraging rather than discouraging. They meant that we might be able to help improve these organizations whenever we graduate or even beforehand. Art and Music Education: The Sound of Community Development, Princeton/Trenton, N.J. The Art and Music Education group focused on schools around Princeton, Trenton and Camden. “Even though I was part of the local trip, I think the

service we did, the people we met and the discussions about music and arts education in New Jersey was an experience I will never forget,” participant Dee Luo ’16 said. Though some members expected to spend their week working on a solution to disparities in public schools across the state, they found that pinpointing a clear problem to solve was nearly impossible. “Many of us found that the issues in the education system of New Jersey run so deep that the problem is quite complex — in fact, there is no one problem. There’s a network of problems, and it may take an entire restructuring of the system to resolve them,” Luba Margai ’15 said. When not doing their own research, the students gave back to local schools. They taught elementary students dance moves, lyrics and percussion instruments to an arrangement of the song “My Girl.” “We wanted to show the kids that, as college students, music is still relevant to our lives and that it wasn’t just isolated to a high school classroom. We hoped to encourage the students to stay with their instruments, because there is a chance that in the future they’d be able to play with bigger and better ensembles,” Margai said. The Breakout group also spent time painting inspirational quotes on the walls of the City Invincible Charter School in Camden and attending a poetry jam at Trenton Central High School West. “It was clear that for the students, it wasn’t the praise or recognition they got for performing — it was their own desire to speak out and believe in themselves. It was truly inspiring!” Luon said. Art & Social Change: The Art of Creative Empowerment, Philadelphia, Pa. The Philly group broke the mold of typical Breakout programs, as they heavily emphasized the arts. Students spent a week splatter-painting a formerly graffiti-ridden wall, talking to local artists and alumni, walking the Mural Mile, visiting Urban Outfitters’ headquarters and more. Many students found inspiration for their own artistic pursuits. “The positive impact of the City of Philadelphia’s Mural Arts Program really refueled my belief in the potential and worth of public murals in creating a long-lasting and significant impact on society,” said Felicia Ng ’15. Students also worked with the Norris Square N e i g h b o rhood Project

COURTESY OF MAGGIE ZHANG

Students on the Art & Social Change Breakout trip get to contribute to a graffiti wall in Philadelphia.

2008 2012 number of trips

locations

PA, L.A., Boston, D.C., AZ, FL South Dakota, Trenton DESIGN BY LIN KING :: STAFF WRITER PHOTO COURTESY OF PARINDA WANITWAT

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The Daily Princetonian

Thursday March 28, 2013

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Students reflect on unique spring break service opportunities BREAKOUT Continued from page s1

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and helped a young local artist named Tim finish a mural project. A blog post by Amber Stewart ’15 and Aaron Yin ’16 gave background for Tim’s work: His personal inspiration was his uncle, who was a graffiti artist and sought to bring positive social change through art forms like graffiti and breakdance. It was through interactions like these that students explored the various forms of inf luential art. Every student found his or her niche or area of fascination, whether it was in arts-related public policy, the construction of artistic images in fashion or painting with local artists. “The most rewarding part of Breakout is seeing participants latch on to the opportunities that my co-leader and I have spent months planning, whether it’s a particular community partner or service activity. It’s incredible to see participants’ enthusiasm and passion come through,” co-leader Kemy Lin ’15 said. Education Entrepreneurship: Innovative Learning, Boston area The Boston Breakout trip explored how to provide students with the tools they need to succeed in K-12 public school systems. Specifically, they focused on educationtechnology companies and their evolving role in education reform. Having the oldest public school district in America and a thriving entrepreneurial community, Boston was the ideal location for this trip. Throughout the week, students visited the Department of Education, talked to the president of the Boston Teacher’s Union, traveled to various charter schools, met

with venture philanthropists and held discussions with local teachers and leaders in order to explore the role of technology and innovation in Boston. Every day the group met with three or four community partners. “The diversity of community partners that we met with gave us a better perspective into all of the different organizations involved in reforming the urban education system and those organizations’ viewpoints on technology,” participant Mike Wise ’15 said. The trip altered many students’ perspectives on education reform. “It challenged my preconceived notions about the role of technology in education, and I was able to learn about the complexities involved in education reform. The Breakout trip provided me with insight about the education sector I never would have gained in the classroom,” Karena Cai ’15 said. Fracking: Moving Beyond the Rhetoric, Pittsburgh, Pa. Students in the fracking group investigated the economic, environmental and political impacts of hydraulic fracturing. As the first major American city to ban fracking, Pittsburgh was an ideal location for this trip. In order to explore the controversial issue, students met with oilfield service companies, local officials, environmental agencies, scientific researchers and more. The leaders wanted to expose students to many perspectives so they could gain a more comprehensive understanding of the issue at hand. “For many participants, the only exposure they had to fracking was through biased portrayals in the mainstream media. We wanted to delve beyond the partisanship of the issue in order to gain a comprehensive view of the fracking debate,” co-leader Lance

Lively ’13 said. To share its newly gained knowledge with others, the Breakout group visited a school and taught K-12 students about environmental science and energy policy. It also helped with park and river restoration around the area. Lessons learned during the Breakout trip extended far beyond the issue of fracking. Students examined the inherent partisanship and misinformation involved in addressing controversial issues. “We must be able to move beyond the rhetoric in order to thoroughly examine the content of an issue and determine whether the practice is being conducted in an appropriate manner,” Lively said. Breakout over the years The Breakout program has seen enormous growth since its inception in 2008, with rising numbers of applicants and trip proposals each year. “The trip I helped lead this year had almost three times as many applications as the last trip I led,” Russell said. Much of this new interest can be attributed to the publicity of each trip. “What really stood out about this spring’s Breakout trips was the large-scale real-time social media documentation of our trips--people told me that they had followed our trip on Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter!” Lin said. Above all, though, the success can be attributed to the wide variety of fascinating and eye-opening opportunities. Breakout trips allow students to pursue unique service opportunities and confront current social issues. Breakout aims to ignite a passion in participants and leaders that will lead them to pursue these issues in the future. After breaking out, participants break back into Princeton life, bringing new experiences and motivation with them.

COURTESY OF DIANA LIU

The smiling Boston Breakout trip gets a hands-on look at technology in schools and its application.

In defense of: ‘Prince’ commenters Katie Bauman Emily Tseng Abigail Williams Editors

o all the haters out there, let us spit a little truth. Three words: freedom of speech. This is America, damn it, and we have the right to say whatever we want, whenever we want. Our Founding Fathers knew that Man would never cease in his quest to stifle the spirit of society, to muzzle the masses, to hush the hoi polloi — and thus, every word emitted from the keyboard of a Prince commenter is a war cry against this fate. Prince commenters are patriots, and their comments are declarations of freedom. They stand ready at the front lines to fight for our collective Princetonian reputation, battling those who criticize us for being apathetic “organization kids.” We challenge any naysayer to look us in the eye and tell us that Princeton is apathetic after browsing through the rich world of discourse that comes alive on the ‘Prince’ website in the wee hours of the morning. Actually, don’t look us in the eye and say it. Create a clever screen name, type up your critique and then display it on the Internet where everyone can see it, but nobody can know your name. After all, where better to make sweeping claims and assert your knowledge than the comments sections at 4:37 a.m.? How better to ensure truthful, accurate

reporting than by posting comments like “how is this news?” “this isn’t news!” or “why are you writing about this?” Seriously guys, where is the secret society that determines what is newsworthy and what isn’t? The ‘Prince’ clearly missed out on their rush parties. Although we suspect their home base is hidden in the deepest pits of Firestone, we will not attempt to ferret out this mythic, superior news organization. We fear the magical powers they must possess, like the ability to write sharp, intellectual commentary six times a day every day, or to turn bad writers to stone. We beg of you, journalists of legend, teach us your ways, give us your leads, and show us the paradisiacal fields beyond articles about the hookup culture. As we strive to seek the approval of these cloaked watchmen, we are astounded by the dogged loyalty of other commenters. The link between writers and commenters begins when our writers are but young contributors. ‘Prince’ commenters and their particular brand of telepathy can sense the failure of freshman writers before it actually happens. This relationship blossoms as writers continue to write and commenters continue to troll. No matter the subject, no matter the time, every writer can count on his or her legions of eagleeyed oracles to greet the arrival of a new, inevitably horrible article with pages upon pages of comments like “Yet again, Amadeus fails to write any-

thing worth reading,” “Another worthless piece by Amadeus,” and “this Amadeus person is the worst person in the world!!!” It takes a special kind of dedication and strength to slavishly, repeatedly, continuously subject oneself to the horrors of ‘Prince’ articles. Is it personal conviction? Self-sacrifice? The role you were born to play? We suppose we will never know, but know that we salute you and wish you well in your future endeavors (which will undoubtedly be our writers’ future failures.) Don’t get us wrong; we don’t want people to stop commenting. The comments are vital. If not for the 76th commenter, “This Blows,” how else would our writers know that their writing did, in fact, blow? And if it wasn’t for commenter 77 and his/her deeply thoughtful critique, “but actually this sucks,” we would never have realized that actually, it sucked. Shoutout to commenters 78-84, whose continued reinforcement of the above sentiments was absolutely critical. If not for 16 pages of anonymous insults, no writer would ever know that they had room to improve. Thanks guys! ‘Prince’ commenters are warriors. They are creating a rich world into which the next generation of young commenters will soon be born. We can only hope that when we hit the scene as those random Alum commenters, we will be surrounded by future generations of commenters carrying on the traditions of their ancestors. Viva la Comentaria!

Did you know... that the ‘Prince’ has a Facebook page? Like our page! Procrastinate productively!

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The Daily Princetonian

Thursday March 28, 2013

Ask the Sexpert

LOVE AND LUST IN THE BUBBLE

Escaping the friendzone

This week, she discusses sex toys. dear sexpert, I am interested in using sex toys while masturbating and also with my partner. My problem is that I just don’t know where to start learning more about them, or even where to buy any. I don’t feel comfortable asking my friends about them because I’m a bit embarrassed. I feel like I only ever see women using toys when they’re being portrayed as single and sexually frustrated in movies. I just want to explore my options in a healthy, fun manner. Can you give me some tips on how to introduce toys into my sex life? Thanks, —Ready to Play dear ready to play, Sex toys are something we often don’t discuss, so it’s normal for you to be unsure about how to approach them. Have no fear; there are plenty of resources to help you learn about toys and begin incorporating them into solo play or sex with your partner!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: It’s important to know how to use toys on your own versus with a partner, and you should be sure to practice safe sex and keep your toys clean.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: There is much to cover in terms of toys. It’s important to know how to use toys on your own versus with a partner, and you should be sure to practice safe sex and keep your toys clean. There are a wide variety of toys available to you, such as dildos for penetration and vibrators for stimulation. Vibrating cock rings and prostate massagers can be used during penetration as well. If you’re interested in anal stimulation, look for anal beads and butt plugs. Anal beads are strings of silicone or plastic beads that are moved up into the anus. Butt plugs are meant to stay inside the anus to stimulate it; they also can vibrate. Both of these toys come in a variety of sizes and shapes (smaller-sized ones tend to be more suitable for beginners). If you are interested in breast stimulation, utilize nipple clamps. All of these toys can be used on one’s own or with a partner. With a little creativity, you can figure out what

works best for yourself and for your partner. The possibilities are endless! Just don’t forget to have lube and condoms on hand for safety and comfort. When it comes to purchasing these items, a trip into New York City would probably be the most useful and enjoyable. Bring your partner if you’d like! The city has tons of sex-positive shops, like “Babeland” or “The Pleasure Chest.” The staff in these shops can help you find the toys best suited to your needs. If you’re not comfortable making the trip in person, you can also browse online! Both stores have websites that are very informative, with several tips and guides on how to use toys, how to be safe with them and how to keep them clean. The stores will also ship any toy you order right to your campus mailbox. They use discreet packaging so you won’t have to worry about your privacy. Some other stores with very useful websites are “Early to Bed” and “Good Vibrations.” Just do a quick Google search and you’ll find plenty of helpful information. One last thing — don’t forget to keep these toys clean and keep yourself and your partner safe! Silicone, glass and stainless steel toys are best to use, as they are easiest to clean. The easiest way to keep toys clean is to wash them with hot water and soap or to put them in boiling water for five to 10 minutes. Using condoms when using toys is also a quick and easy way to keep them clean and is essential when using toys with partners. Always change condoms when a toy is moving from your partner to yourself or from the anus to the vagina. Do not use silicone-based lube when using silicone toys. Hopefully this was a good primer — be sure to check out a sex-positive store either in person or online for more information. If the toys are suited for you and you know how to use them safely and properly, you’re sure to have a good time! Best of luck on your new adventures! —The Sexpert Interested in Sexual Health? The Sexpert is always looking for members of the community to join the team of sexual health educators who, along with fact-checking from University health professionals, help write these columns. Email sexpert@dailyprincetonian.com for more information and questions about sexual health. Don’t be shy!

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Anonymous

Guest Contributor

“Tell me a secret.” I open my eyes and tilt my head to the left. It’s dark in her room, but rays of light from the tiny lamp on her desk somehow curve to reach her bed, dimly illuminating the outlines of her face. The tips of her fingers gingerly glide down my left arm and slide into my palm. We interlock fingers, holding tightly — no intention of letting go. “Another secret? But you already know too many!” I plead. “Tell me a secret. Please?” She curves her mouth downwards in a slight frown. Tears leak from the corners of her eyes — or maybe that’s just a trick of the light. Her eyes search my face for a sign; any sign to show her that she’s persuaded me.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: We studied in the dining hall together, laughed at spontaneous Google searches, discussed our mutual love of Arcade Fire and The Killers and vehemently debated whether raw or boiled carrots were better. (We still haven’t come to a consensus on this issue.)

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: I sigh deeply and give in. I toss my head back onto the pillow and stare at the ceiling. I squint and try to think of something, but nothing comes to mind — my brain is barely functioning. What time is it anyway? Four in the morning? Five? I can’t remember anymore. We’ve spent so many hours laying here. My eyes wander from the ceiling to the wall, where they settle on a collage of black and white photographs. A collection of photos, ink drawings and musical pamphlets frame the outer edges of a poster reading “Night Market, April 27th, 8-11 p.m.” The poster reminds me of what we used to

be like ... except she doesn’t know what it used to be like for me. I turn to her and tell her something I’ve wanted to share with her — something I’ve kept from her for a long time. I tell her how when we first met on OA, I didn’t know what to think of her. I was fresh off a relationship that left me scarred in more ways than one, and I was in no way ready for someone new. But there was something about her that attracted me — something that piqued my interest. I found myself paying more attention to her than to anybody else. When I found out that she had a boyfriend, and that they had been going out for more than a year, I wasn’t disappointed, but I definitely wasn’t thrilled. I tell her that as first semester f lew by and second semester crept up on us, we became best friends. We studied in the dining hall together, laughed at spontaneous Google searches, discussed our mutual love of Arcade Fire and The Killers and vehemently debated whether raw or boiled carrots were better. (We still haven’t come to a consensus on this issue). I tell her how, throughout that entire freshman year and the next semester, I forced myself to suppress my feelings for her. With our friendship at stake, I couldn’t acknowledge how I felt about her. That whole year I searched for other girls. I wanted to convince myself that I liked this girl or that girl, and tried to solidify those feelings by confiding in her. Maybe I told her about the other girls because I hoped she would get upset and intervene, ultimately telling me not to like anyone else. I think I was still hoping that something inside of her would click, just like in a cheesy Taylor Swift music video. I tell her how Night Market was one of the best nights I’ve ever had. I remember assuming that her boyfriend would show up and being surprised when he never did. Instead we stuck together, eating delicious dumplings and a sharing a skewer of shrimp. We huddled on the steps inside East Pyne, grinning as we slurped up red

bean soup, trading stories of the best Chinese food we’ve ever consumed. I walked back down campus feeling like an important part in her life — more so than ever before. I tell her how I always kept track of her: how I wanted to take care of her when we went to the Street. Even if I wasn’t

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: I couldn’t suppress my feelings any longer. I remember the exact night that I admitted to myself that I liked her — that I had liked her the whole time.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: right next to her, I knew where she was in the crowd. If she felt a little sick or even just tired, I would rush to her side, yank her from the masses and sit down with her. I tell her how I remember the one night at Colonial when she got too drunk and fell asleep on the couch right outside the taproom. She rested her head on my shoulder, snaked her arm around mine and tightened her grip around my wrist. I remember sipping on a foamy, lukewarm beer, thinking over and over again: Why can’t it always be like this? I tell her how everyone passing by that couch glanced at us, assuming we were a couple. Hell, it wasn’t just them: all of our friends thought we were a couple when we first got to know them. They would question why we weren’t together — why I wasn’t pursuing a relationship with her. And I’d always answer in the same way: that she was my best friend, that I couldn’t see us together or that it grossed me out to think of her in that way. I’d lie with a straight face, faking a grimace at the suggestion of us together. But deep down, I was secretly satisfied that people thought of us as a couple. Maybe we did have real chemistry after all — but I could never admit it out loud. I tell her how my feelings for her overtook me after she broke up with her boyfriend. She told me she was done with that relationship — that she wanted to experience single

life for the first time in three years. I supported her all the way through it; we became even closer as a consequence. I tried to stay focused on being her best friend, but eventually I couldn’t suppress my feelings any longer. I remember the exact night I admitted to myself that I liked her — that I had liked her this whole time. I contemplated whether or not I should tell her; of course I didn’t want to ruin our friendship. I knew I would rather be her best friend than not have her in my life at all. I tell her how I planned to confess my feelings to her after finals, and how those plans didn’t exactly pan out. Between two viewings of “500 Days of Summer” and frequent “Breaking Bad” episodes during Reading Period, I felt my self-control crumble. We cuddled in her bed twice, and on the second time, I kissed her. The kiss brought all my fears and insecurities to the surface. We both questioned whether or not it was a good idea, and we both took turns blaming ourselves for fucking up the situation. The next day we didn’t even talk — we just studied next to each other in total silence. I tell her how I was so scared that I couldn’t bring myself to ask her what she thought about us and what she wanted to happen. The next night, after yet another day of uncomfortable silence, we went to Colonial, Tower, Quad, and then finally back to her room. I found the courage to talk to her about us, and ended up staying over that night. The transition from friendship to coupledom was new territory for both of us, but slowly we became more comfortable with our relationship. I want to tell her more, but she stops me. I stare into her eyes; my fingers curl a strand of her long, jet-black hair around the back of her ear. Maybe she wants to ask me questions, and maybe I want to keep telling her what she means, but we don’t say a word to each other. There’s no need. We both close our eyes and fall asleep, fingers still interlocked, knowing that when we wake up, we’ll still be together under the same blanket and in the same bed.

Quipfire! Competes in College Improv Tournament’s National Championship Abigail Williams Street Editor

n saturday, march 23, Quipfire! Improv Comedy competed in the College Improv Tournament’s National Championship in Chicago, Ill. Described as “March Madness meets ‘Whose Line is it Anyway?’ ” the championship featured 16 college improv groups from all over the country battling for the national title. Of these 16 groups, 12 were regional winners and four were wildcard picks. Although Quipfire lost in their semifinal match, it came in second of the four teams in that round. Those results place Quipfire in the top eight of 123 college groups that competed in the tournament this year. “We were a little disappointed not to bring a trophy home, but ultimately we were way more excited to have made it this far while competing in the tournament for the first time,” publicity director Adam Mastroianni ’14 said. “Luckily, we’ll be that much more prepared for the tournament next year.” The road to CIT’s National Championship began back in November for the members of Quipfire. The group competed in the CIT Big Apple Regional in November in New York City, beating 16 other teams and guaranteeing themselves a spot at Nationals in Chicago. “It’s not mean or cutthroat,” artistic director Amy Solomon ’14 explained. “It’s a weird concept because all of improv is about, you know, supporting your teammates and all that kind of stuff. So it’s weird for it to be com-

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petitive, but it’s just like a fun way to get people excited about it.” Quipfire members maintained their usual rehearsal schedule before CIT, practicing twice a week every week for two to three hours at a time. During weeks leading up to shows or gigs, Quipfire practiced every night. Members practiced a form called “Close Quarters” in preparation for their CIT National debut. This form features scenes that all take place in

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: “Improv isn’t a competitive sport. It thrives on randomness and doesn’t lend itself well to objective consideration.” ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: the same location, almost like an improvised play. “We have a legup sometimes in that we’re all so fascinated by improv, and we have a lot of incredible alums who are performing elsewhere, so we see a lot of shows.” Solomon said. “So we do kind of, I think for college teams, more advanced and mature forms.” CIT Nationals were held in Chicago’s Athenaeum Theatre. Teams signed in at 10 a.m. the morning of the competition, and semifinals were held at 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Quipfire competed in the 6 p.m. slot and was able to watch the 4 p.m. semifinal to size up the competition. Stiff

competitors included Improv Mafia from Illinois State University, Paperback Rhino from University of Iowa and Glaundor from the University of Houston. Princeton and Cornell were the only two Ivy League universities in attendance at Nationals this year. According to tournament organizers, this is the first year any Ivy League teams have advanced this far. Although they felt they delivered an excellent set, Quipfire lost in their semifinal to the team from University of Iowa, Paperback Rhino. University of Houston’s Glaundor won the national title later that night. “That was a little disappointing,” Solomon said, “But we were really happy we had a good set, so we weren’t upset.” Managing director Lauren Frost ’16 agreed: “We felt good about our performance. And we made the audience laugh, which is what we always set out to do.” Mastroianni is positive about the results, but remains grounded. “We’re proud to rank among the best college improv groups in the country, but improv isn’t a competitive sport. It thrives on randomness and doesn’t lend itself well to objective consideration. That’s why we care way more about having fun and showing our audiences a good time than we do impressing a judge from an improv theater in Milwaukee,” Mastroianni said. “Still, it was fun to hear a former star of Nickelodeon’s ‘All That’ say that he loved our set.” “ ‘All That’ is our primary comedic inspiration,” Solomon added. You can watch Quipfire’s set in the webcast of the 2013 CIT Nationals!

COURTESY OF ADAM MASTROIANNI

Quipfire! members competed in Chicago this past weekend against 16 other college improv groups.

I’m back, bitches. And I know everything. -’A’

Read our blog. blogs.dailyprincetonian.com/prox

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The Daily Princetonian

Thursday March 28, 2013

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{ your guide to weekend arts & entertainment }

CAMPUS PICKS Opera: “Amelia Goes to the Ball” Lacking some love and lust in the bubble? Get your fix at Princeton Opera Company’s presentation of “Amelia Goes to the Ball,” an opera buffa by Gian Carlo Menotti. In this one-act opera, the young Milanese socialite Amelia, her husband and her pesky lover find themselves caught in a love triangle. During the mayhem that ensues, all Amelia wants to do is go to the ball. Accompanied by the Princeton Chamber Orchestra, this event is sure to be filled with scandal, intrigue and some great music. Taplin Auditorium in Fine Hall Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Talk: Chen Guangcheng Interested in human rights? Inspirational stories? Famous people? If so, be sure to mark your calendar Thursday afternoon for the lecture by Chen Guangcheng, this year’s recipient of James Madison Award for Distinguished Public Service. Chen, a blind, self-taught lawyer, caught public attention in 2005 for defending women’s rights and exposing familial abuses in rural China. In April 2012, he famously escaped house arrest in China and fled to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. His humanitarian efforts have won him numerous awards and accolades, including a mention in 2006 Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World,” and more recently, GQ’s 2012 “Rebel of the Year.” The event is free, and tickets will be distributed at Frist. You won’t want to miss this first-hand account of a man who has overcome seemingly endless obstacles in life to help others. Whig Hall Senate Chamber Thursday, 4:30 p.m.

Dance: Raks Odalisque presents “Arabian Nights” Do your hips lie? They don’t? Then you’d better listen when they tell you to check out Raks Odalisque in its annual spring show, “Arabian Nights.” As Princeton’s one and

only belly dancing troupe, Raks Odalisque will unquestionably deliver a unique dancing performance that is not to be missed. Is there a better way to begin the final stretch of the school year than with soothing traditional Middle Eastern music as you watch the elegant moves of the Raks dancers? Of course not. Frist Film/Performance Theatre Thursday and Friday, 8 p.m. Saturday, 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Crash Course: Spring Bartending 101 Class Ever wanted to be Tom Cruise in “Cocktail”? Want to be that cool kid at pregames who can actually make a good drink? Want a job that gets you invited to parties and you get paid for it? Look no further than the Bartending 101 Class, which will get you certified in all 50 states and for Reunions! Classes are only four hours long and you will get to learn mixology, technique and other important skills. What is better than one bartender? Two bartenders! Sign up with a friend and get a discount. Don’t forget, shaken not stirred. Taproom Cafe in Campus Club Saturday, 1 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.

Theater: “Circle Mirror Transformation” This weekend and next, Theatre Intime presents “Circle Mirror Transformation,” the 2010 Obie Award winner for Best New American Play. The play follows Marty Kreisburg as she teaches an Adult Creative Drama class at her local community center. She and her students stage seemingly harmless games, but hearts break and battles are waged as the course wears on. “Circle Mirror Transformation” is a thought-provoking comedy that will leave you stunned. Who will take you to Ballyhoo? Theatre Intime Thursday through Saturday, 8 p.m.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Campus picks compiled by Lillian Xu, Oliver Sun, Lin King, Grace Lin, Zoe Perot, Abigail Williams and Katie Bauman.

Take it like

‘Arabian Nights’ ambitious, but flawed Christine Wang Senior Writer

nder the artistic direction of Lili Driggs ’14, Raks Odalisque’s “Arabian Nights” packs a lot of different pieces into a show with a run time well under two hours. Beyond the vibrant costumes and impressive sword and pot-balancing tricks, “Arabian Nights” offers more creative and conceptual pieces that help diversify the program. While some of these artistic endeavors are better executed than others, you can expect an entertaining show supported by comical fillers — all you bros out there, make sure to practice your body rolls and hip isolations before the show — and committed dancers. The highlight of the first act was “Kulturklash,” an ambitious piece

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ‘Arabian Nights’ Pros: Gorgeous costumes, innovative pieces, beautiful visual effects Cons: Inconsistent execution,

repetitive traditional pieces

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: choreographed by president Briana Wilcox ’13 that features the men of Sympoh. You might think that a piece that incorporates a dizzying number of styles including belly dance, hip-hop, lyrical, Kathak, Debka, ballet and bboying would quickly devolve into a hot mess, but Wilcox highlights similarities between the various styles with ease. She takes hard-hitting hip-hop movements, adds elements of belly dancing and effortlessly unites the two through isolations, a class of movements present in both styles. Although nobody is going to mistake the Raks women for members of BAC, they make up for being out of their element with killer conviction as they don crop tops and sneakers. Wilcox has also managed to fully utilize the Sympoh men with creative formations that help elevate the energy of the piece. Another refreshingly different piece was “The Dark Side,” one of four pieces choreographed by Driggs. “The Dark Side” opens the second act of the show with aggressive American tribal style choreography set to dramatic tracks like the instrumentals from “No Church in the Wild” by Kanye West and

DANIELA COSIO :: CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Raks Odalisque combines many different genres of dance in “Arabian Nights.”

Jay-Z and “Sail” by AWOLNation. The five women command the stage with unwavering ferocity while executing a powerful f lurry of isolations and popping movements. The musicality of the movements enhanced by the formations produce a stunning visual effect that takes the audience by surprise. Gone are the practiced seductive smiles as Driggs raises the bar to new heights that were not bested by later pieces in the program. If the rest of the show were executed at the level of these two pieces by Wilcox and Driggs, “Arabian Nights” would earn a higher rating than what I have given below. While there are certainly other ambitious pieces, unfortunately they are not as polished as “Kulturklash” and “The Dark Side.” For example, “Hahbi ’Ru,” choreographed by Helen Greene ’15 and Temi Odimayo ’15, features some extraordinarily impressive balancing acts involving various level changes while the dancers balance pots on their heads. Minor slip ups aside, the dancers execute the movements at a very high level, but at the sacrifice of composure. This tradeoff between convincing facial expressions and concentration is further exaggerated in “Rites of Passage,” a female sword dance choreographed by Wilcox. The dancers are visibly nervous, with the exception of Wilcox, who steals the spotlight. Wilcox later bests herself in her solo performance, “Evolutions,” which not only includes sword balancing, but also double-sword techniques. These more challenging pieces were impressive and memorable, but imperfect. Regardless, the

a polaroid

pieces mentioned above outshine the rest on the program, especially the more traditional belly dancing pieces which struggle to be memorable, as they seem to blend together. All this being said, “Arabian Nights” is still a fun and entertaining show. The women of Raks Odalisque showcase their incredible technique and winning smiles, complimented by beautiful costumes that help produce the stunning visual effects that carry the performance.

Street’s Top Ten Top Ten: Bummers About the Weather

1 The shorts in the closet are beginning to mock us.

Spring break tans are awkwardly out of place.

March showers + April showers = May mud pit.

4 We’ve traded bikini bodies for warming flubber.

picture.

It’s only a preview of what’s to come when Shirley leaves.

6 “Spring Breakers” has begun to look like a fantasy film.

There are only so many ways to make a cable-knit sweater look cute.

Join ‘Prince’ Photo.

8 Bet it’s sunny at Stanford.

Email join@dailyprincetonian.com

Who needs a white Christmas when you can have a white January, February, and March?

HARRIET KIWANUKA :: STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Dancers don intricate and elaborate costumes that complement their dancing.

STREETFORLUC.indd 6

America got punked by a groundhog.

3/27/13 11:43 PM