INDEX
Emory Events Calendar, Page 2
Police Record, Page 2
Crossword Puzzle, Page 8
Staff Editorial, Page 6
Arts & Entertainment, Page 9
On Fire, Page 11
THE EMORY WHEEL Since 1919
The Independent Student Newspaper of Emory University
Volume 94, Issue 41
www.emorywheel.com
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Every Tuesday and Friday
EVENT
FINANCES
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Raj Patel Elected As SGA President
Sequester to Reduce Funds For Research by $17.5M By Jordan Friedman Executive Editor College junior Sanket Shah, who works in a lab on campus, was planning to ask his boss for a raise next year. But as a result of the sequester, a series of automatic federal spending cuts that took effect March 1, it ’s looking less and less likely that he ’s going to be able to do so. “I ’ve been working there for two years, ” Shah said. “Now I know for sure I can ’t ask for that. ” Shah is currently a peer mentor in the Scholarly Inquiry and Research at Emory (SIRE) Research Partners program, which pairs students with faculty researchers and allows them to serve as research assistants. Because peer mentors must also be involved in their own research, Shah is a paid employee at the Children ’s Center, which receives funding through grant money. And for students like Shah who receive federal funds in their salary, there might be cause for concern. Like Shah, many student and faculty researchers will soon feel the impacts of the sequester, which will likely lead to reductions in federal funding for research at colleges and universities across the country, including at Emory. On a federal level, there will be a 5 percent cut to federal research funding. For Emory, this means a $17.5 million reduction, according to Director of Federal Affairs Cameron Taylor, who detailed the potential impacts of the sequester on University research in a March 5 Emory Report article. Emory received $350 million in federal grants during the 2011-2012 academic year. The College specifically received
THE SEQUESTER The second story in a series about the sequester ’s effects on Emory.
Victory Follows Cheating Claims
Next Week: Sequester to impact Emory health care.
RESEARCH FUNDING National Level A five-percent cut to federal research funding.
Emory University An estimated $17.5-million reduction in research funding.
School of Medicine A projected $14.2-million shortfall for research. about $21.5 million in federal funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2012, which ended Aug. 31. “The cuts are across the board, ” said Raymond Dingledine, a professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacology at the School of Medicine. “Every laboratory and every research faculty member will feel this. Every research program will have to find a way forward with fewer resources. ” David Stephens, the vice president for research at the Woodruff Health Sciences Center, specified in an interview with the Wheel that the funding decline “could be more or less [than the $17.5 million project reduction],
See FEDERAL, Page 5
Joanna Chang/Staff
College junior Graham Brooks (left), College sophomore Michelle Feldman (center) and B-School sophomore Michael Nathin (center) throw Dooley’s Week shirts to the crowd at Taste of Emory.
Taste of Emory Kicks Off Dooley’s Week By Karishma Mehrotra Asst. News Editor A line of students formed on the side of McDonough Field and wrapped all the way down toward Cox Hall as they waited for the Student Programming Council (SPC) to open the gates to the fourth annual Taste of Emory event. About 2,000 students flooded through the gates in the first 20 minutes of the event. And by the end of the event, more than 3,000 people had showed up on the field. The event kicked off this year ’s Dooley ’s Week by offering free food samples from 20 local restaurants — including Yogli Mogli, Fresh to Order, Johnny Rocket ’s, Yeah! Burger and Which Wich — on McDonough
SIGNATURES FOR CHARITY
Field yesterday evening. “It completely exceeded our expectations, ” College sophomore and Taste of Emory Co-Chair Michelle Feldman said. “It was the most incredible feeling ... to hear people cheering when we opened the gates. ” Feldman said the programming committee started calling more than 100 restaurants in January and began to make personal visits to venues in February. According to Feldman, it was a challenging event but was worth it in the end. Goizueta Business School sophomore and Taste of Emory Co-Chair Michael Nathin said the committee focused on sustainability this year and made every material compostable
or recyclable. He added that sustainability office members helped students sort their waste. “We were also pleased to have 100 percent cooperation from our restaurants in this endeavor, ” Nathin said. Feldman also said SPC changed the location from Asbury Circle this year to promote a more “informal cocktail party ” feel in which students could relax and enjoy the weather or play interactive games like jousting or bocci ball. Students said in interviews with the Wheel that they were pleased with this year ’s location change. College senior Michael Goldberg said holding the event on the field
See STUDENT, Page 5
CONSTRUCTION
Atwood Chemistry Center To Undergo Renovations By Shivangi Singh Staff Writer
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Emily Lin/C0-Editor
ollege freshman Ami Fields-Meyer signs a giant ball to help the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity with their annual “Get on the Ball” fundraiser, which benefits the Children’s Miracle Network. Fraternity brothers rolled the ball around on campus last week collecting signatures from students and faculty.
STUDENT LIFE
ResLife Responds to ‘Act of Intolerance’ By Karishma Mehrotra Asst. News Editor The Office of Residence Life and Housing (ResLife) discovered an incident of vandalism on a Residence Hall Association (RHA) candidate ’s fliers in Clairmont Tower on Sunday afternoon, according to Andy Wilson, Director of Residence Life and Assistant Dean for Campus Life. Elizabeth Cox, assistant director of Clairmont Campus, informed the Clairmont community of the incident
in an email yesterday afternoon. According to the email, a ResLife staff member found derogatory racial slurs written on multiple fliers, which constitutes an “act of intolerance, ” according to Wilson. The Emory Police Department (EPD) removed the fliers, and ResLife informed the candidate. ResLife staff and EPD are investigating the incident. “In my own opinion, this action was ignorant of how far we have come and what we dealt with this school year, ” College junior and
RHA President Niketu Patel wrote in an email to the Wheel. “It shows that we really need active change on our campus. ” Wilson said that in situations where there is an unidentified perpetrator, ResLife enlists community help. In the email to Clairmont residents, ResLife charged students to use this opportunity to educate themselves. “We remain committed to build-
See EPD, Page 5
NEWS ELECTION BALLOT
OP-EDS RELIGION HAS
FORMAT EXPLAINED BY
NO PLACE IN THE POLITICAL
ELECTION BOARD
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A $52 million expansion and renovation of the Stanford S. Atwood Chemistry Center will begin the day after commencement on May 14 and finish in early 2015. Largely funded by proceeds from the discovery of an antiviral HIV/AIDS drug in 1996, the project aims to foster a more collaborative and efficient atmosphere inside Atwood, according to David Lynn, the director of the Chemistry department. These modifications are all part of a long-term plan to designate Atwood-Emerson as a science commons since that area is surrounded by other science buildings, namely the Psychology and Interdisciplinary Sciences,(PAIS) and Math and Science Center. The project entails remodeling approximately 40,000 square feet of existing space in Atwood and adding an extra 70,000 square feet to the current 200,000-square foot Atwood-Emerson Hall, according to a March 26 University press release. Sunlit foyers and glass walls will also replace the building ’s concrete walls. A five-story, glass-fronted atrium will be put in the place of the current walkway along the west side of Atwood. On the ground floor of the atrium, Emory will build a contemporary library consisting of computer stations and conversational corners to encourage collaboration and interaction between graduate and undergraduate students. “By vertically integrating the system ... you walk into [the] chemistry library and see people doing research, and when you are doing research in
ENTERTAINMENT
DESPITE SHORTCOMINGS, OZ WAS AN OVERALL SUCCESS ... PAGE 9
that space what you see is people in the library, ” Lynn said. “Then it ’s completely transparent, and there ’s no boundary between the way we learn and the way we educate, the way we ask questions and the way we articulate new knowledge. ” The current library inside Atwood formerly included the research labs that surround it, but in 2007 — when the Internet made many of the books in the library also accessible electronically — a renovation project condensed the library. The newly created space allowed for the construction of communal areas where undergraduate and graduate students could interact. The second floor of Atwood will be modernized with glass walls and hardwood floors to create space for poster presentations, seminars and guest lectures. The tiered lecture hall in Atwood 360, which contains walls covered with asbestos, will also be replaced by a more interactive space where students can sit at round tables surrounded by huge display screens connected to computers. This change, Lynn said, is another manifestation of the rise of the Internet. Professors no longer need to use classrooms to teach information that is readily available online, he said; instead, these classrooms are built to foster more discussion-based learning. “We need to use classrooms to understand the context of that information [on the Internet], for empowering people to express and articulate the new ideas in the context of the new information, and that ’s things Google
See CHEMISTRY, Page 5
By Dustin Slade Asst. News Editor The names of individuals, other than the candidates, in attendance of the meeting who spoke during the hearing have been omitted, in accordance with the terms that allowed the Wheel to attend the meeting. College junior and current SGA Representative-atLarge Raj Patel was elected to the position of SGA President last night after facing multiple allegations of campaign procedure violations from his opponent, Raj Patel Goizueta Business was named School junior the next SGA and SGA Chief of Staff Matthew president Willis. Monday Although Patel evening. won the election, the SGA Student Elections Board assigned 20 community service hours to Patel to account for the campaign violations. This decision came following controversy over the SGA Elections Board ’s decision not to announce the winner of the SGA presidential race due to these allegations. The confirmation of Patel ’s victory came late last night following a deliberation meeting, in which the Elections Board convened, discussed and weighed arguments that were made in a two-and-a-half-hour hearing held with both candidates earlier in the day. Both the meeting and hearing were closed to the public, but the Wheel was granted access to the hearing. During the meeting, Willis presented four main pieces of evidence and testimony that pointed to Patel ’s alleged breach of SGA constitutional guidelines that say candidates cannot campaign on Election Day. Of the four allegations, the Student Elections Board determined two were considered violations for which Patel would serve 20 community service hours.
Campaign Allegations The first violation was based on three screenshots of a Facebook conversation obtained by the Wheel and then passed along to Willis. The image was a picture taken off a computer screen that showed Patel in a Facebook conversation with an Emory student discussing voting on election day. In the conversation, Patel linked the individual to his platform. “I always say my ideas are just starting points, ” Patel wrote in the chat. The second violation was a “blatant ” act of campaigning that Patel made, said Matthew Kuhn, the chairman of the SGA Elections Board, in an interview with the Wheel following the meeting. Patel posted in a Facebook group “Ask Dean Moon ” and introduced himself. He then asked eligible voters to go online and “make their voices heard. ” The group had approximately 560 members by press time. However, the post was only up for 10 to 20 minutes. Because the post was only up for
See WILLIS, Page 5
SPORTS WOMEN ’S TRACK
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NEWS ROUNDUP National, Local and Higher Education News • Answering North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un ’s declaration of a “state of war ” with South Korea, South Korean President Park Geun-hye promised a strong response to threats from the North. Her comments on Monday, April 1, were accompanied by a deployment of United States fighter jets in the region as part of a joint military exercise. Though the two Koreas have technically remained in a state of war for more than half a century — their conflict in the early 1950s ended in a truce, not a peace treaty — the regime of Kim Jong Un has threatened nuclear strikes against both South Korea and the U.S. in recent weeks. • A 65-count indictment returned Friday and named accusations against 35 former Atlanta public school employees, many of whom are expected to turn themselves in to the Fulton County Jail this week to avoid sentences of up to 20 years. Some of the indictment ’s charges include alleged racketeering, false statements and writings, cheating on standardized test scores and the covering up of those actions. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution first
THE EMORY WHEEL
NEWS
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
reported on test cheating at dozens of Atlanta public schools when improbable test score increases were detected in 2008 and 2009. A state report in July 2011 described organized cheating under former Atlanta school Superintendent Beverly Hall, who immediately retired. Hall ’s bail is set at $7.5 million. • Data recently released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that nearly one in five high school age boys in the United States and 11 percent of school-age children over all have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. About two-thirds of those with the diagnosis receive prescriptions for Ritalin or Adderall, stimulants that can ease ADHD symptoms but can also lead to anxiety, addiction and even psychosis. The findings, part of a CDC study of children ’s health issues that took place between February 2011 and June 2012, used agency interviews of more than 76,000 parents nationwide.
— Compiled by Staff Writer Lydia O ’Neal
Corrections The Wheel reports and corrects all errors published in the newspaper and at emorywheel.com.
POLICE RECORD • On March 31 between the hours of 1 a.m. and 3 a.m., officers received a report of an individual who entered the Sigma Nu house located at 10 Eagle Row without permission. According to the house manager, the back door to the house was propped open and the subject was able to take the fraternity ’s new composite picture frame. The incident is under investigation. • On March 31 at 2:48 a.m., officers received a call from a passing motorist of an Emory student who appeared under the influence of alcohol on the corner of Clifton Rd. and North Decatur Rd. According to officers, the individual had a strong odor of alcohol and had little clothing on. The individual claimed that
TUESDAY
Volume 94, Number 41 © 2013 The Emory Wheel
Dobbs University Center, Room 540 605 Asbury Circle, Atlanta, GA 30322 Newsroom (404) 727-6175 Business (404) 727-6178 Editor in Chief Arianna Skibell (404) 727-0279
Event: Wen-Cheng Xiong, PhD — “VPS35 and Neurodegenerative Disorders ” Time: 12 — 1 p.m. Location: 5052 Rollins Research Center Event: Meet Me @ Lullwater Walking Group Time: 12:15 — 1 p.m. Location: Lullwater Preserve
Founded in 1919, The Emory Wheel is the financially and editorially independent, student-run newspaper of Emory University in Atlanta. The Wheel is a member publication of Media Council, Emory ’s organization of student publications. The Wheel reserves the rights to all content as it appears in these pages, and permission to reproduce material must be granted by the editor in chief. The Wheel is published twice weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays during the academic year, except during University holidays and scheduled publication intermissions. A single copy of the Wheel is free of charge. To purchase additional copies, please call (404) 727-6178. The statements and opinions expressed in the Wheel are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Wheel Editorial Board or of Emory University, its faculty, staff or administration. The Wheel is also available online at www.emorywheel.com.
Event: Submitting Your Electronic Dissertation/Thesis Time: 2:45 — 4 p.m. Location: Woodruff Library room 312 Event: Art History Graduate Colloquia Time: 4 — 6 p.m. Location: Carlos Museum Board Room Event: China ’s Interaction with the World Economy and Global Economic Recovery Time: 4:15 — 6:15 p.m. Location: Jones Room, Woodruff Library Event: CBSC Information Session — Application Deadline 4-4-13! Time: 5:30 — 6:30 p.m. Location: DUC Room E332
he had three “big ” glasses of vodka. The individual was transported to Emory Hospital. The incident has been turned over to campus life.
ten a racial slur on two Residence Hall Association election flyers. The incident has been turned over to Campus Life.
• On March 31 at 12:25 a.m., Emory police received a noise complaint from a resident on Emory road of a “high-pitched machine noise ” coming from Eagle Row. Officers checked the area and determined that the sound was coming from the Sigma Chi house located at 6 Eagle Row. Residents agreed to lower the volume of the noise.
— Compiled by Asst. News Editor Dustin Slade
• On March 31 at midnight, Emory police received a complaint from a Resident Advisor on the sixth floor of Clairmont Tower. Officers were informed that an individual had writ-
April 4, 1995 A linguistics minor, approved by the Curriculum Committee on March 22, 1995, was first offered in the spring semester of 1996. The fledgling program drew from faculty and pre-existing courses in the anthropology, English, philosophy, psychology and foreign language departments. Benjamin Harry, associate professor of Near Eastern and Judaic languages and literature, served as the director of the program. The minor required completion of six courses, two of which were core linguistics courses, while four stemmed from other departments.
EVENTS AT EMORY
Please contact Editor-in-Chief Arianna Skibell at arianna.skibell@emory.edu.
THE EMORY WHEEL
This Week In Emory History
Event: Film Screening: (A)sexual Time: 6:30 — 8:30 p.m. Location: Candler Library Room 125 Event: Dessert Reception with Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield Time: 6:30 — 8:30 p.m. Location: Miller-Ward Alumni House Event: Linguistics Film Festival: “Project Nim ” Time: 7:30 — 9:30 p.m. Location: White Hall Room 112 Event: Emory Jazz Combos Time: 8 p.m. Location: Emerson Concert Hall, Schwartz Center for Performing Arts
WEDNESDAY Event: Toastmasters@Emory Club Meeting Time: 8 — 9 a.m. Location: Old Dental Building 1462 Clifton Rd., Room 231 Event: Athletics — Baseball Time: 3 — 6 p.m. Location: Chappell Park
Event: Art History Graduate Colloquia Time: 4 — 6 p.m. Location: Tate Room, Michael C. Carlos Museum
Event: “The Bonobo and the Atheist ” Frans de Waal (Psychology, Emory University) Time: 6:30 p.m. Location: White Hall room 208
Event: Coffee Hours Time: 5 — 6:30 p.m. Location: N106 Callaway
Event: Is Asexuality Queer? Time: 7 — 8 p.m. Location: Callaway Room C101
Event: Compassion Meditation Group Time: 5 — 6 p.m. Location: Cannon Chapel Room 106
Event: “The Birds ” (1963) Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: White Hall Room 205
Event: What ’s Love Got to Do With It? Ovid ’s Heroides and the End of the Roman Republic Time: 5:30 — 7 p.m. Location: Bowden Hall Room 323 Event: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly:, Measles and the Immune Response Time: 6 p.m. Location: Plaza and Auditorium, Woodruff Health Sciences Center Administration Building (WHSCAB) Event: DareHablar — Spanish Conversation Club Time: 6 — 7 p.m. Location: White Hall Main Lobby
THURSDAY Event: Innovations in Cardiac Surgery: The Value of Bench to Bedside Thinking Time: 7 — 8 a.m. Location: Emory University Hospital Auditorium Event: Emeritus College Orange Gallery Exhibit & Opening Day Reception Time: 4 — 6 p.m. Location: Chace Upper Lobby, Schwartz Center for Performing Arts Event: Buddhist Club Meditation and Discussion Time: 6 — 7:15 p.m. Location: Cannon Chapel Room 106
NEWS
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Tuesday, April 2, 2013
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SCIENCE RESEARCH ROUNDUP A monthly update on research findings and developments at Emory By Mallika Manyapu Staff Writer Study Explores Stress, Racism Connection Researchers examined the connection between the stress associated with expecting racism and cardiovascular disease in black women through a preliminary study at Emory ’s Rollins School of Public Health. The study results suggested that the higher the level of expected racism, the greater the likelihood of abnormal thickening of the walls of heart arteries, often called carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT). This phenomenon is a large proponent of cardiovascular disease, according to a March 12 University press release. Tene Lewis, an associate professor of epidemiology at the Rollins School of Public Health who led the study, said in the press release that because of a long history of racism in this country, most black people have an awareness of racism that causes them to be especially cautious in certain circumstances where racism has been known to occur. Lewis explained that chronic stress is already a well known factor in cardiovascular disease. Even if racist incidents do not actually occur, the body still experiences chronic stress in anticipation for such an event in predisposed situations. An example of this is when women who have been victims of racial profiling in retail settings become hyperalert while shopping in such a store, Lewis said. The study used 54 relatively healthy black women between the ages of 30 and 50 and controlled other risk factors such as blood pressure and obesity. Lewis announced the study ’s results at the American Psychosomatic Society ’s annual meeting in Miami on March 16.
‘Old Blood’ Has Negative Effects on Patients Recent study results suggest that older, stored blood transfusions have negative effects in patients, compared to those who receive fresher blood transfusions through an analy-
sis conducted by Emory ’s Clinical Cardiovascular Research Institute. There is some evidence that patients who receive older, but not expired, stored blood transfusions do not do as well as other patients who receive fresher blood transfusions after procedures such as cardiac surgery, said Robert Neumen, a fellow at the School of Medicine and the key presenter of this study. Although no one is completely sure of the reasoning, these researchers maintain that it may be related to nitric oxide — a chemical messenger that relaxes blood vessels. According to Neumen, old blood disrupts this normal nitric oxide
“It may be that we need to reserve fresh blood for patients who already have low nitric oxide ... ” — Robert Neuman, fellow at Emory School of Medicine function. The study examined 43 patients in Emory University Hospital who needed transfusions and randomized them to get either fresh blood, which means less than 10 days old, or old blood, which means older than 21 days. The researchers then measured the flow-mediated dilation (FMD) which is an ultrasound test that measures nitric oxide functions in their vascular system before and after transfusion, Neumen said. Neumen explained that patients in the older blood group experienced a decrease in FMD after transfusion while patients in the fresh blood group had no change in FMD, indicating less nitric oxide activity with the old blood transfusion. “Blood is in very short supply and almost all of it is used, ” Neumen said. “It may be that we need to reserve fresh blood for patients who already have low nitric oxide, or better yet, come up with a way to improve blood storage techniques to fix the problem. ”
Neumen, along with senior authors Arshed Quyyumi, a professor of medicine, and John Roback, associate professor of pathology and laboratory medicine, presented the study ’s results at the American College of Cardiology in San Francisco on March 10.
Emory Treats Osteoarthritis with Stem Cell Injections Emory ’s Orthopedics and Spine Center has recently become one of the few clinics in the country to treat Osteoarthritis, a degenerative bone disease, with stem cell injections. The procedure involves extracting stem-cell blood from bone marrow in a patient ’s hip, altering the composition of the fluid, and then injecting the solution directly into the damaged joint. Because the stem-cell blood is the patient ’s own, there is little chance of the body rejecting the treatment. Kenneth Mautner, an assistant professor in the Department of Orthopedics at the School of Medicine, said the current, non-surgical treatments are temporary and can actually worsen the problem through time. Mautner said he is most excited by the stem-cell injections because of its short-term and long-term therapy solutions. Osteoarthritis is characterized by an erosion of the protective cartilage in joints. As this cartilage wears down, bones rub against each other and cause pain, stiffness and a loss of mobility. Although the cause of osteoarthritis is unknown, predisposing factors such as age, obesity, injury and genetics contribute to the progression of the disease. Conventional therapy includes steroids and hyaluronic acid to relieve the pain by simply lubricating the joints. Stem cell treatment, however, also can develop into different kinds of cells such as new cartilage in areas that are deficient. While the treatment is not without side effects, most people are back to their normal routine within a short period of time after treatment. Side effects, such as minor pain and fatigue, are usually temporary and localized to the injection site. — Contact Mallika Manyapu at mmanyap@emory.edu
Thomas Han/Staff
The 13th annual Tibet Week included Tibetan artists creating a mandala sand painting, meditation sessions with spiritual leaders, lectures on self-immolation and panel discussions.
Tibet Week Features Scholars, Panels By Dustin Slade Asst. News Editor The Emory-Tibet Partnership ’s 13th annual Tibet Week concluded Saturday following a week of events. Tibet Week brought many Tibetan leaders and scholars to campus to discuss and celebrate Tibetan life, politics, music, medicine and culture through various lectures, meditation sessions and art exhibitions. Some of the week ’s lectures included discussions on self-immolation in Tibet. Self-immolation is the flow of information in and out of the region and the symbolism of the mandala, a word in Sanskrit meaning “circle ” which has ritual and spiritual significance in both Buddhism and Hinduism. Throughout the week, members of both the Emory and Atlanta communities had the opportunity to observe Tibetan artists working on a mandala sand painting or even participate in meditation sessions with Tibetan spiritual leaders. “We had events that really ran through a wide range of interests, and it was really an opportunity for the whole campus to celebrate and learn little bit about what the [EmoryTibet Partnership] does, ” said Keri Leibowitz ( ’12C), the Emory-Tibet
Partnership program coordinator. Some events during the week included a panel with the six monks about their journey to Emory and a discussion on the symbolism of the mandala. The Emory-Tibet Partnership began in 1998 when His Holiness the Dalai Lama first visited Emory ’s campus. In February 2007, Emory announced that the Dalai Lama would be joining Emory as a presidential distinguished professor. Since then, Tibet Week has become a staple in both the Emory and Atlanta communities, according to Zack Malina, an Atlanta resident and self-proclaimed “friend of the Tibetans. ” “This is very helpful to promote the human values of tolerance, patience [and] compassion as a part of the rich Tibetan culture, ” Malina said. “It is informative in that we learn about ways to further our compassion and tolerance. ” The program was designed not only as a means to highlight Tibetan culture but also to help raise awareness about Tibetan studies at Emory, according to Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi, the director of the Emory-Tibet Partnership. Negi explained that the connection between Tibetan culture and Emory is one that has been constructed dur-
ing the last few years through goals that the Dalai Lama set. “One of the dreams of the Dalai Lama is to bring modern science into the monastic education, and Emory University is fully assisting in creating the comprehensive science program that can be cemented into the monastic education, ” Negi said. Since the Emory-Tibet Partnership first hosted Tibet Week in 2001, the event has expanded from what was first a small event focusing on mandala sand painting to a week-long celebration that truly explores Tibetan culture, Negi said. “I am Tibetan and this is my third year at Emory, and I ’m really happy they have this event here to bring all these distinguished scholars to share their thoughts, ” College junior Dawa Tsering said. “It ’s a really fascinating experience for me. ” Tsering added that those who are informed about Tibet have an opportunity to learn more about the people and political issues, and those who come in without any prior knowledge learn a lot about an entire culture. “I walked through the Quad with my friend from Tibet and he was like, ‘Whoa! ’ ” Tsering said. “Today, Emory University looks more like an Emory monastery. ”
— Contact Dustin Slade at dpslade@emory.edu
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REMEMBERING LOST LOVED ONES
SGA Bill for TEDxEmory Funds Tabled, Amended By Rupsha Basu Staff Writer The Student Government Association (SGA) voted to table a bill to fund the TEDxEmory Conference on April 20 after amending the bill to read that SGA would vote on providing the organization with $4,000 rather than the originally-requested $15,000. Ideally, TEDxEmory would have needed $15,000 to fund the event. SGA, however, has only about $9,700 for the rest of the semester. SGA President and College senior Ashish Gandhi explained the procedure for asking SGA for funding, noting that SGA typically requires students to go through two divisional councils before coming to a legislative session. This year, TedxEmory consulted College Council (CC) as the only divisional council, which provided $5,000 for the event. Gandhi said he was concerned that last year a similar incident occurred, in which TEDxEmory asked SGA for money last minute under the same leadership as this year. College sophomore and TEDxEmory Treasurer Ariella Iancu presented the bill to fund this year ’s conference, which will feature 12 speakers and one or two student speakers. The event will be held all day at the Emory School of Medicine, and TEDxEmory will provide lunch, snacks and drinks for those in attendance. Students and members of the Atlanta community will be able to listen to speakers such as Rabbi David Wolpe and Goizueta Business School Professor Joey Reiman, CEO and founder of the corporation BrightHouse. According to Iancu, TEDxEmory is one of the largest university events in the nation, on par with similar events at the University of Southern California and the University of Chicago. Iancu explained that the reason for the delay was that speakers for the event were not finalized until January. According to SGA Speaker of the Legislature and College senior Milan Udawatta, TEDxEmory President and Founder Ishaan Jalan informed him that event could be held successfully if SGA provided $5,000. Freshmen representative and College freshman Jon Darby suggested that event coordinators charge higher prices for tickets in the future. Meanwhile, some SGA legislators such as senior representative and College senior Aaron Leven voiced concerns about the depletion of SGA ’s budget. “How do we come up with what amount to give them? ” he asked.
Finally, Udawatta made a motion to amend the bill to say $5,000. He suggested that if the bill fails, it should be amended to say $4,000 or reduced until the amount can sustain a majority from the legislature. The bill failed at $5,000. Then,\ SGA voted to amend the bill to say $4,000, which has been tabled. Given the concerns about not having enough money to fund other student initiatives for the last weeks of the semester, Gandhi and SGA Governance Committee Chair and College Sophomore Ted Guio encouraged the legislature to vote to table the bill for next week after TEDxEmory asks other divisional councils for funding. Iancu will be presenting the bill to the Graduate Student Council on Thursday, and some legislators suggested asking BBA Council, which has more funds remaining than SGA. Gandhi also pointed out that next year, SGA will receive two percent of the Student Activities Fee (SAF) rather than one percent they received this year. SGA moved into a round-table discussion where legislators voiced their opinions about the success of the year and suggestions for the incoming legislature. Freshmen representatives and College freshmen Raj Tilwa and Sumaali Chheda requested that new members of SGA be provided with more information about specific SGA processes, such as the reason executive members of SGA do not vote on bills and the role of other divisional councils in relation to SGA. SGA Vice President and Nursing School senior Danielle Zamarelli said she wants SGA to become more accessible to the student body. “I want students to know more that they can come to SGA, ” she said. Graduate student legislators voiced approval of SGA ’s response to the controversies facing the University this year, including the department cuts, Chick-Fil-A ’s presence on campus and University President James W. Wagner ’s comments about the Three-Fifths Compromise in Emory Magazine. Darby, along with senior representative and College senior Malika Begum, both said SGA should become closer as a representative unit. “I think it ’d be a really good idea if we were friends, ” Begum said. Darby suggested that the SGA participate in a volunteer project together. Next week, SGA will vote on the amount to fund TEDxEmory and the Minds on Mix Poetry Slam competition.
— Contact Rupsha Basu at rupsha.basu@emory.edu
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Erica Stein/Staff
embers of the Kappa Sigma fraternity came together for the Luminaria Ceremony’s In Memoriam slideshow honoring those who have lost their battle to cancer. Relay for Life, a camp-out by American Cancer Society where team members take turns walking or running around a track, raised just over $51,000 from more than 770 participants and about 60 teams.
Federal Research Grants to See Reduction of Five Percent in Funding Continued from Page 1 depending on how research grants fair in the system. ” The sequester, he said, could lead to a loss of jobs in research or cutbacks on programs, though the exact implications are not yet known.
Federal Grant Funding Reduction Federal grants are often funded for a period of roughly four years, Stephens said. So, grants that continue through the sequester will see an approximately five-percent reduction. New grants will likely see about a 10-percent decrease. Twenty-four federal agencies — including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), among others — partnered with researchers at the University last year. In the “NIH Operation Plan in the Event of a Sequestration, ” statement on its website, NIH said: “Should a sequestration occur, NIH likely will reduce the final FY 2013 funding levels of non-competing continuation grants and expects to make fewer competing awards to allow the agency to meet the available budget allocation. ” Therefore, programs like Emory ’s Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) that pay researchers through federal grants will probably face negative consequences, though at this time the exact changes are unknown.
“It ’s likely that many labs will encounter some reduction in funding, which will moderately impact graduate and undergraduate research opportunities, ” Gary Bassell, a SURE mentor in cell biology and a professor of cell biology, wrote in an email to the Wheel. Funding for SURE comes from grants from federal partners such as the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, according to the program ’s website. “It ’s very difficult — if you ’re a new investigator, a faculty member or student looking to the future — not to say, ‘Gosh, that ’s not a very pretty picture for research, ’ ” Stephens said. “I really am concerned about the junior, young investigators, those who are pursuing research careers. ” Funding for SIRE independent research grants, though, will not be directly affected, according to Leah Roesch, Emory ’s SIRE director. These grants, she explained, receive funds from the College and a variety of outside donations, not from federal grants impacted by the sequester. Still, the sequester could have a “trickle-down effect ” on SIRE students. “Certainly if the professor ’s grants get too tight, they may have to let go of staff or not do ‘side ’ projects which are sometimes the best mentors and projects for undergraduates, ” Roesch wrote in an email to the Wheel.
Facing the Shortfall Dingledine said the School of Medicine in particular expects a
shortfall of $14.2 million as a result of the sequester. This decrease will consist of $3.7 million indirect costs that the Dean uses to support administrative, research and teaching functions of the medical school; and $10.5 million of direct costs that School of Medicine investigators in the School of Medicine use to fund laboratory-based clinical or basic research programs. “We ’re scrambling within the School of Medicine to figure this all out, ” Dingledine said, in reference to determining future faculty and research funding. Dingledine said that because most research awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are backloaded toward the end of their respective fiscal years, most of the shortfall will take place starting during the summer and fall. He added that NIH funds account for about 70 percent of research funding at the School of Medicine. “This is a particularly hard nut to crack, ” he said. In addition, Dingledine clarified that many of the basic sciences departments like Biochemistry and Human Genetics will be “unusually hard-hit ” because research awards comprise a larger portion of their overall funding. Meanwhile, the Yerkes National Primate Research Center will feel the financial effects of the sequester, too. Stuart Zola, the Center ’s director, wrote in an email to the Wheel that Yerkes has a large number of NIHfunded grants.
Students Say Willis Cites Email Exchanges, Brings Taste of Emory Witnesses in Allegations Against Patel Was a Success Continued from Page 1
Continued from Page 1 unified the students to a greater extent. “I think Taste of Emory ... really represents Emory as a community, ” Goldberg said. “It is really awesome that we can come together over food. And everyone loves free food. ” College junior Jackie Resnick said this year ’s event felt more social than
“...Taste of Emory ... really represents Emory as a community.” — Michael Goldberg, College senior previous years. Last year, she left after seeing the crowd in Asbury Circle, deciding the wait was not worth it. “I think that Taste of Emory is so much better this year than it was last year, ” Resnick said. “It is way more uniting. I am seeing all my friends here. ” Although some were frustrated with the long lines, most said they enjoyed the array of vendors and the quality of the food. College sophomore Sophia Dhanani said, on the other hand, that she felt the programming team could have expanded its outreach to restaurants further away from Emory ’s campus. “A lot of this stuff we can get ourselves, ” Dhanani said. But she also noted that she is excited for the rest of the week.
News Editor Nicholas Sommariva contributed reporting. — Contact Karishma Mehrotra at kmehrot@emory.edu
a short amount of time and the group was not large enough to have made a significant change in the election results, the SGA Elections Board agreed that the violation would not have ultimately altered the results of the campaign. Willis also pointed to an email that Patel sent to 1,400 recipients on the day of the election. Of the addresses, according to Patel, most — but not all — were current Clairmont Residents. In the email, Patel introduced himself as a member of the “Residence Hall Association: Clairmont Residential Campus Council ” and urged recipients to vote “for your next student leaders. ” He attached a link to vote in the email. The Elections Board ultimately decided that this was within the restrictions of the rule and did not break campaign laws. Willis argued that by attaching the link to vote within the email as well as his credentials as a part of his email signature could be considered campaigning. Patel rejected Willis ’ argument by stating that he had received approval for the email by the Elections Board before sending it out. The member on the Student Elections Board that approved the email agreed that he did indeed give Patel permission but he said he believed, in hindsight, that he should not have. Patel also argued that it was his duty to send out the email as an RHA publicity chair and that the emails in no way asked students to vote for him. The last piece of evidence Willis presented was testimony from a witness who claimed that Patel had approached her and her friend in Cox Hall.
“[The Elections Board] gave me a call and explained how they decided how to tackle each allegation, and it seems extremely reasonable, ” Willis said. “The reason they have an elections board in place is so that they can make these kinds of decisions. So I wouldn ’t say I ’m jumping with joy, but I completely understand and definitely respect their decisions. ” Patel expressed that he does not believe the controversy will affect his term as SGA President. “I was really happy that I won, ” Patel said. “I was very confident. It took a while to settle in because it has been so long. I ’m very happy with the way the Elections Board did the procedure. ”
Managing Editor Lane Billings and Asst. News Editor Karishma Mehrotra contributed reporting. Editor ’s Note: Although the Wheel was well within its legal right to share the evidence brought against Patel with Willis, we recognize that we did not utilize the proper channels due to a conflict of interest with a member of our staff. Albeit, a nuanced distinction, yet still one worth noting in the interest of transparency. — Contact Dustin Slade at dpslade@emory.edu
— Contact Jordan Friedman at jordan.m.friedman@emory.edu
EPD, ResLife Investigate ‘Act Of Intolerance’
In the original testimony, the witness said that when Patel confronted her friend, he asked that she vote for him. However, during a cross examination in which Patel asked the witness whether he had asked if she did not vote for Patel specifically or did not vote in general, the witness was unable to recall. The testimony was thrown out because of the inconsistencies in the witnesses ’ statements, Kuhn said after the meeting.
Candidates React
In reference to what he sees as the great impacts of the sequester, Zola wrote: “Decreased morale in some. Increased sense of challenge, energy and intent to meet the challenge in others. ” In response to the challenges the sequester is presenting, Dingledine and School of Medicine department chairs have been discussing the effects of the sequester at strategy meetings. “I think we ’ll find out a way through this, but it will require a culture change within Emory, ” Dingledine said. “I think we will move from a go-go growth into a value-seeking mode, and that won ’t be easy. Any fundamental culture change is difficult. ” Stephens said he feels numerous efforts are currently underway to “try and make the case for research in terms of its value to not only Emory but also to the nation. ” As for Shah, he went from volunteering in the lab to earning a salary through the Research Partners program just last year. For many students, though, that same process in already competitive research programs may become more difficult. But for now, there ’s a sense of uncertainty about the exact implications of the sequester on research among students and faculty. “I figure once we get closer to summer, I ’ll ask about funding, ” Shah said. “I ’m not sure what ’s taking place yet. ”
Continued from Page 1
Courtesy of Emory News Center
Computer rendering of what the Atwood Chemistry Center will look like after this summer’s renovations.
Chemistry Center Renovations Aim to Make Building More Modern, Lynn Says Continued from Page 1
Fabrick said. “There will be many opportunities for collaborative efforts doesn ’t help you with, ” Lynn said. and more study spaces and just for “That ’s the way we need to optimize more hanging out. ” our space, and that ’s College junior the way we need to Erin Baker said she optimize our learn- “That’s the way we need took four classes ing opportunities, in the chemistry to optimize our space, building her freshand that ’s the way we need to expand man and sophoand that’s the way we our ability to expand more year, and she need to optimize our into spaces we don ’t views the schedknow — that is new learning opportunities, uled changes to and that’s the way we knowledge. ” soon take place as According to need to expand our abil- beneficial for both the press release, the department and ity to expand into spaces students. the benches in the we don’t know.” general chemis “The building try lab will also be was kind of dull, remodeled, with the — David Lynn, so I never studied fume hoods becom- Chemistry department director there, ” Baker said, ing equipped with adding that “people recording cameras might go there for that make demonstrations easier to finals time since the library gets so understand. full. ” — Contact Shivangi Singh at “We will get a more beautiful ssing62@emory.edu building, ” University Architect Jen
ing unity through respect and appreciation for individual and cultural differences, ” Cox wrote in the email. “These incidents go against the core values of our inclusive and respectful community, and they have no place in our community. ” According to the “Act of Intolerance (AOI) Policy ” available on the ResLife website, the act will be handled through ResLife disciplinary procedures or the Conduct Code, depending on the nature of the act. Wilson told the Wheel that ResLife staff members are partnering with the Office of Multicultural Programs and Services (OMPS) to evaluate intervention programs. Patel wrote that he was disgusted that someone would do this to a student. “Personally, it is disheartening to hear that Emory students are discrediting each other, especially against those who want to make a difference in our community and who will eventually end up representing those individuals on campus, ” Patel wrote. Patel said students seeking support — or those students who were hurt by the act — could use those resources listed at the bottom of the ResLife email. The ResLife email requests that students send relevant information to Cox at elizabeth.cox@emory. edu or EPD at (404) 727-6111. “No matter how small or big the act of intolerance, people can be hurt by the act and we want to give them the proper resources to discuss what occurred, ” Patel wrote. “I encourage those who feel hurt by what occurred to contact the resources Housing listed. ”
— Contact Karishma Mehrotra at kmehrot@emory.edu
EDITORIALS THE EMORY WHEEL
CONTRIBUTE
Tuesday, April 2, 2013 Editorials Editor: Priyanka Krishnamurthy (pkrish4@emory.edu)
Our Opinion
The Importance Of Elections
Email: pkrish4@emory.edu
Jenna Mittman
Jenna Mittman is a member of the Class of 2013. Her cartoons have become a staple of the Wheel over the years.
Though There Are Problems with Ballots, All Should Vote We at the Wheel feel that student elections are one of the most important occurrences that take place at the University. These elections are directly relevant to the University. Those leaders we choose to elect are elected to serve as the voice of the student body. All representatives in the Student Government Association (SGA), College Council (CC) and the Student Programming Committee (SPC) represent us as the student body, and we look to them for proper governance. These people meet with important administrators to determine what happens at Emory, and it is our Student Activities Fee that SGA uses to fund events and activities — which is at least one incentive to take the initiative to vote. This year, Emory had a record number of 3,321 students voting in the student government elections, beating last year ’s number by a few hundred. Though this is a significant increase, we at the Wheel still feel the number could be higher. Therefore, we strongly encourage everyone to vote in these important run-off elections today and those that take place in the future. That being said, there are still kinks in the voting process that should be fixed as soon as possible. Problems mainly center around the ballots themselves. Some students — specifically, those who have earned enough credit hours to be considered a grade above in course registration — have voiced concerns about not being able to vote for legislators for their respective class year. Instead, they are asked to vote for representatives whom they do not know much about because they are in a different graduation year. For example, if you have junior standing but will graduate with sophomores, you will not be able to vote for sophomore legislators — you will only be able to vote for junior legislators. Those with enough incentive and time have the option to email their vote. However, this is obviously frustrating and discourages students to continue going through the process, as it detracts from the ease of an electronic ballot. Consequently, some students might start arbitrarily selecting candidates without any knowledge of their platforms. This is similar to voting for a representative of a district that is not your own in Congress. It is already hard to get students to vote in these elections, and the fact that this is a mistake that has not been corrected for years is unfortunate and has made the process more inconvenient. An editor at the Wheel asked Matthew Kuhn, the chairman of the SGA Elections Board and a second-year law student, whether the ballot issue would be fixed, and he said there are no current plans to do so. As an easy fix, we suggest that students be able to vote for legislators not by how many credits they have earned, but by the year they plan to graduate. Additionally, we feel that opening the voting time at 8 a.m. is too early for many students, given that class timeslots around 10 a.m. are the most popular. Perhaps opening the polls at 10 a.m. and closing them at 10 p.m. would be a positive alternative, considering the fact that many students wake up and hit the sack much later than the currently-designated hours. We urge those who oversee the voting process to find solutions to these problems. We feel that resolving the aforementioned problems could increase voter turnout and ensure the voting process goes more smoothly. The above staff editorial represents the majority opinion of the Wheel ’s editorial board.
Editorial Roundup
College editorials from across the country The Harvard Crimson Harvard University Monday April 1, 2013 In its staff editorial, titled “A Misguided Choice ” the Crimson Staff discusses the problematic nature of bringing Tyga, a rapper they believe to have misogynistic tendencies, to perform at Harvard. It ’s a shame, really, considering Emory chose one of the best rappers, Kendrick Lamar, to perform for Dooley ’s Week. I guess not all colleges can be as great as Emory.
On April 13, scores of Harvard students will fill Tercentenary Theatre for Yardfest, perhaps the greatest recreational event held at Harvard annually. This year, the event will be headlined by Tyga, a rapper who has recently received some recognition for his new hit, “Rack City. ” The same song, however, is a perfect example of why Tyga ’s selection to perform at Yardfest is ill-advised at best: The lyrics are deeply misogynistic, and a number of Tyga ’s other songs betray even more disturbing sentiment about women. It is an absolute shame that College Events Board has chosen an artist whose songs feature little more than hate speech against women. Regardless of the budget, the College Events Board could have made a better choice. According to Jeremy M. Tchack ’15, a member of the Harvard Concert Commission, the main goal in choosing Tyga was to select an artist who had released a Top 40 hit, and although Tchack admits that the rapper may not be popular with all students, he believes
that the Yard will “go wild ” when Tyga raps “Rack City. ” Just look at the lyrics to the rap, however, and you ’ll see exactly why that prediction might not come true. Much of Tyga ’s music, including “Rack City ” and “Bitch Betta Have My Money, ” invoke disturbing pejoratives against women, imply prostitution, and appraise women on the basis of their physical and sexual availability. Certainly, there exists rap that makes use of problematic language with nuance and complexity, but none of this is to be found in Tyga ’s songs: His content is unmitigatedly, overridingly misogynistic. At a university whose students have recently gone to great lengths to combat rape culture, where all students should feel both safe and valued, putting Tyga onstage at a campus-wide event is wholly inappropriate. His message goes against everything that Harvard should be saying to its students about sex and self-worth. As a university, we should work toward a campus culture where women feel empowered and valuable and where all students reject discrimination, be it on the basis of gender, race, or any other component of an individual ’s identity. Any woman could feel personally victimized while listening to Tyga ’s lyrics, and the College Events Board is wrong to ignore that fact simply because they want to get a Top 40 artist within budget.
JONATHAN WARKENTINE
On Death and the Meaning of Life Without death, life would be meaningless. Ironically, it is also death that eats away at whatever meaning we can find in life. Death – that looming, black specter that swallows time, effort and purpose. Death, that nepenthe, that sweet sleep that inhales our life and its work and yet always has appetite for more. I think we are all, to some deep degree, nihilists. That is to say, we all know that death is as inevitable, so the saying goes, in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. Whatever castles we fashion in the sands of life are doomed to crumble in the ever-rising tides of time. But, strangely, very few of us wander the streets with signs declaring life ’s futility. Very few of us imagine the world beyond the bubble of the surrounding century of our existence. Very few of us stare death in the face, fixating on his slow, unstoppable approach. It would seem that in order to function at all, we as human beings must ignore death, must file away our fear and fascination with it. Those who do not are caught like deer in headlights: they cannot enjoy or employ those few moments on life ’s stage. Others, however, are so good at repressing their fear and the very reality of death ’s inevitability that they, too, squander life like it were inexhaustible. There is undoubtedly a balance, then, between the two extremes. Does life have meaning? The question occupies and has occupied most of philosophy since its inception. Most of us, however, simply assume that there is meaning, or the possibility of meaning – why else would we go on living? Without purpose, human selfconsciousness is perhaps the universe ’s greatest absurdity, its cruelest and coldest joke. So what is this purpose? That is the million dollar question. Religion claims answers, as do other isms, but often purpose is self-constructed. I believe the most important question I would like to raise is whether or not selfconstructed purpose is inherently meaningful. Perhaps assuming it is, perhaps deluding ourselves that it has meaning is the only way for our species to continue functioning as we have. Perhaps we cannot face the absurdity of
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An Untrained Eye| Flickr
Let us approach the problem from a purely physical standpoint. As humans, we are a mere arrangement of atoms and molecules, a system of chemical substances with the fluke ability to speak the language of the universe – reason. Disregarding the possibility of a soul, we are nothing more than this – chemicals. What, then, can be our basis for asserting meaning and purpose over other chemicals, molecules and atoms? Furthermore, what basis have we to assert purpose and meaning over the universe as a whole? Any such attempt is ludicrous. Only something inherently transcendent over the material universe would have such authority to imbue into it meaning. It is ridiculous to think that if something would validate itself, something else must give to it its meaning.
A tree, for instance, gives its leaves meaning in a larger ecological context. Those leaves, apart from the tree, are useless, directionless, absurd. Their very existence is achieved with their purpose in the greater scheme of the tree in mind. Similarly, the tree does not assert meaning over the universe. If anything, the universe gives the tree meaning. The only plausible deduction from the physical realms, therefore, is to trace our meaning and purpose back to a larger construct – evolution, perhaps, biological or cosmic. Our purpose might be to pass our genes with selective pressures toward some more developed life form, or, in a cosmic context, to aid the development of stars. There is something unsatisfying about such solutions, however, because again, even though our purpose can be traced to a larger construct, the existential dilemma repeats for that larger construct. It is a fractal, extending infinitely smaller and infinitely larger simultaneously. Some of us may be content to see the immediate context of our existence and its purpose within that context. Such an approach, I think, would be a sad surrender to the problem without really attempting to solve it – as in calculus, understanding vaguely the concept of limits but giving up before actually differentiating or integrating. So let us approach the limit. Is there a final purpose? Is there an original purpose? The gears in a watch do not turn without a spring. The boxcars never jostle their neighbors forward without an engine at their head. Two mirrors facing each other do not reflect infinitely an image unless that image existed somewhere in the past. The first domino does fall spontaneously. I don ’t think it ’s far-fetched to assert that there is a meaning and purpose to our lives and this universe, a shove to that first domino – but it would have to exist outside this realm or it would itself require a cause – that finds itself another domino in a chain still without a beginning. If meaning and purpose exists, that is where we will find it. What is it? That answer is yours to decide.
Jonathan Warkentine is a College freshman from Almaty, Kazakhstan.
LET TER TO THE EMORY COMMUNIT Y
The National Pan-Hellenic Council Encouragse Acting for Change
The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) was nationally established in 1930 to bond and support what we know today as the Divine Nine (Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and Iota Phi Theta HE MORY HEEL Fraternity); the most prominent black sororiArianna Skibell EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ties and fraternities in the world. These black organizations began on the campus of Cornell Jordan Friedman Executive Editor University in 1906 with Alpha Phi Alpha Volume 94 | Number 41 Lane Billings Managing Editor then would move to Howard University, the birthplace of five of the member organiNews Editor Ryan Smith Business and Advertising Nicholas Sommariva Bennett Ostdiek zations, with the remaining organizations Editorials Editor Asst. A&E Editor Glenys Fernandez BUSINESS MANAGER being founded on the campuses of Indiana Priyanka Krishnamurthy Emelia Fredlick Sports Editor Asst. Photo Editor Blaire Chennault Sales Manager University, Butler University (Ind.) and Nathaniel Ludewig James Crissman Alexandra Fishman Design Manager Student Life Co-Editors Features Editor Morgan State University (Mary.). In the midst Jenna Kingsley Nick Bradley of racial prejudice, African-Americans strove Account Executives Elizabeth Howell Copy Chief Arts & Entertainment Editor Bryce Robertson, Lena Erpaiboon, Salaar Ahmed, Adam Sonam Vashi to exert their force as a community and proAnnelise Alexander Harris, Diego Luis Associate Editors Photo Editor duce admirable and influential members of Mandy Kline Emily Lin Business/Advertising Office Number Justin Groot society. Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Asst. News Editor Vincent Xu (404) 727-6178 Karishma Mehrotra Theta, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi and Online Editor Dustin Slade Ross Fogg Zeta Phi Beta were all initially involved in the Asst. Sports Editors founding of the NPHC. Over the years, with the additions of new member organizations, The Emory Wheel welcomes letters and op-ed submissions from the Emory community. the NPHC strengthened and encouraged its Letters should be limited to 300 words and op-eds should be limited to 700. Those selected parts to start contributing to America as a may be shortened to fit allotted space or edited for grammar, punctuation and libelous content. whole. Not only have each of these organizaSubmissions reflect the opinions of individual writers and not of the Wheel Editorial Board tions been positive and prominent influences or Emory University. Send e-mail to askibel@emory.edu or postal mail to The Emory Wheel, in America since their inception, all of them Drawer W, Emory University, Atlanta, Ga. 30322. have held events together in order to show the unity within the Emory black community.
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our existence without meaning or purpose, and intentionally avoid thoughts of it altogether. Perhaps a false sense of meaning is a mere evolutionary product designed to perpetuate our genes – a defense mechanism against suicide, indifference and other Darwinian atrocities. Being conscious of our evolution, are we greater than it? That too is a difficult question with far-reaching ramifications. I think the core of the question of selfimbued purpose and meaning is actually a question of our authority. If we claim that we imbue true meaning, we necessarily claim the authority required to imbue it. What is that authority? Does it even exist? Such existential questions will plague us, I believe, until the end of time. I will, however, attempt to answer them here.
Although our mission statements and goals may differ from organization to organization, we all seek to achieve several common objectives. We provide such a force in the community that enriches the college experience at Emory for not only black students, but all students. In the words of distinguished Alpha man, Thurgood Marshall, “None of us got where we are solely by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps. We got here because somebody — a parent, a teacher, an Ivy League crony or a few nuns — bent down and helped us pick up our boots. ” We, the NPHC, are here to pick up the boots of our fellow council members and Emory Community, to hold each other accountable, to make a difference — together. Having this unity of Black Greek Organizations strengthens the entire black community. The Divine Nine contributes to an infrastructure of a cohesive black community. One that is unrivaled in its ability to uplift African-Americans. However, in situations where member organizations are absent from the NPHC, the “machine ” is unable to operate at maximum capacity. Our honorable founders created the NPHC member organizations to work in conjunction with one another, and we would be remiss to overlook how we help to define and support each other. The Divine Nine is a family; we acknowledge that each member of our family is vital and adds value to who we are. As we continue to make strides in the name of our council and
our individual organizations, we will continue to bring awareness to the value of our presence here at Emory until we are fully united and restored to who we are: “The Divine Nine. ”The NPHC writes this statement to the Emory community to extend our skills and talents to anyone in the community who would like our support; in an effort to create a better experience for all students. Our council nationally and historically ushered in the ideal of “community service and philanthropy ” to the undergraduate college Greek experience. Holding with that tradition we are open to collaborating with any person(s) interested in furthering our movement to create a better college environment and to develop more well-rounded students here at Emory. Although the NPHC was established at Emory just three years ago, we strive to be a driving force for change in the lives and the experiences of fellow Emory students. We end this Statement by assuring everyone that Emory ’s National Pan-Hellenic Council sees the grievances of our community. We charge ourselves and everyone to address what we all see and encourage all to play a vital role in the change. “I am, because we are. ” — African Proverb Best, The National Pan-Hellenic Council Written by Hugh Hunter and Catherine Muse Edited by Christina Cross, Erin Swearing, Courtney Miller
THE EMORY WHEEL
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
OP ED
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Students in Rollins Open Up Dialogue on Various Issues The Benefits of Paperless Medicaid Effects of Orphanages in Sub-Saharan Africa Transition to Grants Benefits Orphans More Than Status Quo SHEELA BOWLER
Mariana Hernandez| Staff
SARAH WANYOIKE In this day and age, where we are paying utility bills online or using the text messaging system, there is a lot of opportunity for Medicaid to go digital. A simple text messaging system could be used to perform an initial screening for eligibility. For years, a solution for the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) to have an easy-to-find single point of entry eligibility and application system has been sought after. From 2012 to present, these efforts have brought us closer to the solution of easing the burden of paper-based applications. When someone is applying for Medicaid for themselves or their children, they normally have to wait in line for hours standing to submit their applications and vital documents. Following this submission, approvals are delayed while the different administrative staff at DCH re-enters the submitted data from the paper application to determine eligibility. Demographics and important eligibility information, which can only be entered once upon the initial application or renewal and replicated where necessary, are entered multiple times by different people, depending on the stage of the application. Secondly, verification documents such as pay-stubs are not always easily available. This paper-based system is cumbersome and allows for errors of omission of important documents, leading to disruption in coverage
of clients. Locating and submitting paperwork brings about barriers for coverage of eligibles. These among other factors, such as unwarranted delays in coverage, affect Federal Quality Control Requirements, which deter Georgia from receiving federal incentives to support Medicaid programs. A paperless system would not only reduce costs for the DCH, but it will also improve Medicaid Eligibility Quality Control (MEQC), which is a requirement by the federal government. Using an electronic means to match and verify client information would free workers from timeconsuming follow-ups that could be avoided due to missing documents and allow for further system improvements. Vital documents for verification such as birth certificates and social security cards could be scanned and linked electronically to the application. Data sharing with other community based agencies such as the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) office, which collect income data and other information upon enrollment could be another way of facilitating verification. Researchers have found that paperless verification has lower error rates and would reduce the ability to falsify documents. Resistance to paperless verification has been largely due to the MEQC and other quality control concerns, which look upon accuracy of eligibility determinations. Several states, including New York, have demonstrated that it is possible to maintain accuracy without paper-based verification by following the federal guidelines to ensure accuracy of submissions. Every state
ROSS FOGG
The Importance of Raising Minimum Wage in the U.S. During February ’s State of the Union address, President Obama called for raising the federal minimum wage to $9 per hour and tying it to inflation — he also made a point to mention that it was something he and Mitt Romney agreed upon during the election. Over four years since the economic collapse, the economy is still on the front burner of political issues. Enacting legislation to raise the minimum wage would be an invaluable way to help recovery as well as to strengthen the long-term foundation of the economy. Contrary to what one might expect, a recent Gallup poll shows staggering support for such a proposal. Seventy-one percent of all Americans are in favor of raising the minimum wage, including 90 percent of Democrats, 68 percent of Independents and even 50 percent of Republicans. Such action has often been seen as another point on the long progressive wish list, but the numbers do not lie. States with a minimum wage higher than the federal government ’s enjoy economic benefits. The states with the highest minimum wages, Washington, Oregon and Vermont, enjoy stronger economies than those without a minimum wage at all like Alabama and Louisiana, or Georgia ’s $5.15 per hour wage, which is tied for the lowest in the nation. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is currently in the process of raising his state ’s minimum wage to $9 per hour, which also indicates to Washington that this can be accomplished. A higher minimum wage adjusted for inflation also benefits the economy on a national level. Minimum wage was at its highest in the 1960s and early ‘70s when the economy was booming. Since 1980, however, it has remained significantly lower, while income inequality has risen by 10 to 20 percent and raises in wages have been nearly exclusive to top earners. Raising the minimum wage and tying it to inflation will not single-handedly lift people from poverty. Short-term growth like enacting better tax policies as well as long-term investments in education are necessary. But it is perhaps the easiest action Congress can take to fundamentally change what it means to work in America and to ultimately redefine poverty. During the immigration debate, many con-
servatives like Marco Rubio, Paul Ryan and Rand Paul have been quick to point out that the Republican Party ’s goal is to lift people out of poverty. Why not have them put their money where their mouths are? Granted, part of the rigid Republican dogma includes the unfounded belief that government policy cannot lead to economic growth, but what better way to take such simple yet transformative action? Ronald Reagan himself said that the best social program is a job, so why not have better-paying jobs and reduce the need for welfare while we ’re at it? We can only expect that Republicans in Congress will label it as a socialist policy that will hurt the beloved “job creators ” of the country, but if the United States wants long-term economic growth that a quick tax cut gimmick can ’t offer, this is an apt solution. In the last election, Republicans tried to make the economy sound worse than it is, so there can not be much of an expectation that they would actually try to improve it. They also have a tendency to ignore public sentiment on issues like taxing the wealthy and gay marriage, so despite a mandate to raise minimum wage, one should not be too hopeful. But if they truly are interested in rebranding themselves and appealing to a wider share of Americans, supporting an increase of minimum wage and tying it to inflation is imperative. The common perception surrounding a president ’s second term agenda is that it gets bogged down and unrealized. Especially with gun control legislation and immigration reform in the foreground of the agenda on Capitol Hill, such an increase may be unlikely. It is, however, difficult to ignore such a clear mandate from the American people. Raising the minimum wage not only has economic benefits, but it is also the morally right thing to do. As the President also said during his State of the Union address: “This single step would raise the incomes of millions of working families. It could mean the difference between groceries or the food bank, rent or eviction, scraping by or finally getting ahead. ”
Online Editor Ross Fogg is a College junior from Fayetteville, Ga.
is responsible for ensuring that the guidelines are followed. Finally, being able to view one ’s application status online would be a muchneeded part of going paperless. This would be vital especially for children or adults on long-term care, which would help in the planning of care. Further, this would also allow for coordination during the enrollment process: the client or DCH staff each know their role in the process and the timelines are visible. The client, advocate or any individual concerned with a particular case would be able to log on and see the history of receipt of benefits. The Affordable Care Act mandates that all Medicaid programs move toward web-based, paperless enrollment processes. It is crucial that Georgia make efforts towards an eligibility system, residents can use a device that has Internet capabilities and can verify eligibility information quickly and easily. The current surge in Medicaid enrollment due to economic hardships experienced by families in Georgia and employers being unable to provide insurance coverage for their employees indicates a need for going paperless. Apart from saving money and time, this initiative would facilitate sustainability of the Medicaid programs.
Sarah Wanyoike is a special standing student, due to be with her first-year cohort in the fall in the Masters of Public Health program in Global Health from Kenya.
There are currently an estimated 53.1 million orphans in sub-Saharan Africa, which comprises 12 percent of all children throughout the continent. This is greater than the total number of children in Denmark, Ireland, Norway, Canada and Sweden combined. A number of strategies have been introduced to provide care and support for these children, the most common response being the expansion of orphanage institutions. Institutionalization should be the last resort for children. Orphanages have an extremely limited capacity. They are financially inefficient, and there are long-term psychosocial ramifications. Furthermore, this response is devastating. Many orphaned children have a surviving parent or relative willing to care for the child, but they are unable to due to poverty. Therefore, there is an immense need for immediate policy changes within The United Nations Children ’s Fund (UNICEF), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Save the Children and other major donors supporting traditional orphanage institution Extensive evidence has made it clear that the psychosocial well-being of orphaned children living in an institution is low. Through institutionalization, children are faced with impaired cognitive and physical development. With an increased risk of depression, anxiety and much more, children within orphanages are 3.5 times more likely to suffer from psychiatric disorders when compared with children living among family. When compared to orphans within foster care, children who are housed in orphanages have higher cognitive and mental inhibition, with significantly lower IQ and test scores. Moreover, orphaned children within institutions lack consistent nurturing as well as overall love and affection. As a result, children ’s social development is impaired and leads to long-term sociological regression. Community-based orphan care has been identified as the most effective and efficient way of caring for orphans, in addition to
providing the basic human right of a family to children. Most orphaned children living within institutions have a surviving parent or close relative but are still enrolled into orphanages. Traditionally orphans in sub-Saharan Africa have been absorbed into extended families. Demographic data has displayed that even the poorest extended families usually take in children whose parents have died, but this is becoming increasingly difficult. In 2008, UNICEF released a report stating that orphaned children are no longer able to rely on the current status of extended family support as “this coping mechanism has been overstretched by poverty and by the sheer number of children to be cared for... ” This burden of care and support is falling on the very young and elderly, which exacerbates household poverty. As orphanages expand across Africa with Western charity donations, the families who care for the vast majority of orphans receive no support. Therefore, there is a need to assist these families in their care for orphaned children. Results from an experimental program in Malawi show that small allocations of cash ranging from $4 to $20 per month to impoverished extended families are more efficient and effective than institutions. When applied to a cash-transfer system, the $1,500 per year cost of sponsoring a child within an orphanage is able to provide eight families with grants. A randomized community trial conducted by Boston University found that families who received grants had improved nutritional status, better health and higher rates of school enrollment when compared to children in families who received none. This analysis demands the immediate shift in orphan care towards that of community and family-based support programs. The solution often provided by Westernbased charities, churches and non-governmental organizations is institution-based care. This method of orphan support is inefficient and ineffective, while causing immense repercussions for children ’s physical, cognitive and social health.
Sheela Bowler is a second year in the Masters of Public Health program in Global Health from Seattle, Wash.
The Separation of Church and State
AplhaBetaUnlimited| Flickr
A Necessary Break-Up: Religion and Politics RYAN GORMAN When it comes to politics, I would describe myself as a liberal. Pick an issue, any issue. Chances are that my views are going to be much closer to John Lewis ’ than John Boehner ’s. With that in mind, you can imagine my surprise when I found myself agreeing with conservative talk show host, Bill O ’Reilly. Just last week, O ’Reilly came forward and attacked opponents of gay marriage, criticizing them for being seemingly unable to do anything but “thump the Bible ” when it came to arguing against same-sex marriage. To be sure, there was much more to O ’Reilly ’s statement, and it would be quite a stretch to say that he came out “in favor ” of gay marriage. But, nonetheless, the fact that O ’Reilly, a conservative pundit who has previously opposed the legalization of samesex marriage, would even dare to criticize such a deeply ingrained social conservative position made me wonder if the debate over gay-marriage was finally starting to shift definitely to one side. Once I pushed through the mini-existential crisis that came with agreeing with O ’Reilly, I started to think a little more concertedly about the issue. Obviously O ’Reilly was not throwing the full weight of his support behind gay-marriage. Indeed, he went on to say that individual states should have the final say on same-sex marriage. Perhaps O ’Reilly ’s statement says more about the waning influence of religious conservatism than it does about the particular issue of same-sex marriage. No more than a decade ago, to dispute the fact that America
was anything other than a “Christian nation ” would have been immediately labeled as unpatriotic. Could we be approaching a time when Christian religious values are no longer readily accepted as a basis for political perspective?
Religion should not be used as a justification for any kind of political action. Of course, this may all sound like a bold exaggeration. After all, it was one quick comment, made by one conservative commentator. But the actual magnitude of the disagreement matters far less than the symbolism behind the action. What was once unquestionable seems to have become, at the very least, questionable. What would this change in influence mean, in terms of tangible political outcomes? Were religious conservatism to lose its unparalleled influence over the Republican party, the most immediate consequences would most likely be seen in the arena of the gay marriage debate. O ’Reilly was right: there are very few, if any, compelling arguments against samesex marriage that are not based heavily in scripture. But will the changes stop there? Politics is an institution that relies on compromise. Groups with different viewpoints come together and work to find some middle ground upon which to improve the whole of society — at least, that would be the case in
an ideal government. While our current system of government may be far from this ideal, that does not mean that compromise on important issues is impossible. Were the Religious Right to lose its cherished place at the center of the Republican party, this reality may become all the more possible to achieve. This is not meant to be a critique of Christianity writ large. All types of religious dogmatism make political compromise more difficult to achieve. When you believe that you are on a righteous mission from God, what room is there for compromise? When your beliefs are based on a dogma that not everyone subscribes to, how can you hope to find common ground upon which to build a compromise? Religion should have no formal place in politics. For centuries, the United States has preached religious tolerance while simultaneously allowing Christian values to hide in the background of some of the government ’s most important policy decisions. Only now does this contradiction seem to be coming to the forefront. I am not an expert on the U.S. Constitution, nor do I claim to know everything there is to know about the debate surrounding same-sex marriage. Nonetheless, I believe that as a citizen who has chosen to keep his religious and political views separate out of respect for those who may hold different views, I am well within my rights to ask my representatives to do the same.
Ryan Gorman is a College sophomore from Plano, Texas.
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Tuesday, April 2, 2013
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ACROSS 1 Sporty car introduced in ’55 6 Italian lawn bowling 11 Urgent dispatch 14 Alaska’s ___ Peninsula 15 Hank with the retired #44 16 Tax season busy bee, for short 17 Where “we can make it if we run,” per Bruce Springsteen (1975) 19 Spanish king 20 Grabbed a chair 21 Take captive 22 Tennessee ___ 24 Where “the nights are stronger than moonshine,” per America (1972) 28 Before, to Kipling 29 Pass perfectly 30 “For real!” 31 Dry Italian wine 34 Bit of Indian music 36 The class of ’13 in ’13, e.g.
37 Where “all the people that come and go stop and say hello,” per the Beatles (1967) 40 N.F.L. scores 43 Finish line 44 Doesn’t budge 47 Figure in the tale of Jason and the Argonauts 49 Pep 51 Corruption 52 Where “we gonna rock down to,” per Eddy Grant (1983) 56 Dessert that may include a banana 57 One of the Bobbsey twins 58 Campers’ campers, for short 60 Stashed away 61 Where “you’ll drink the night away and forget about everything,” per Gerry Rafferty (1978) 65 “Peer Gynt” widow 66 Anti-Parkinson’s prescription
For answers, call 1-900-285-5656, $1.49 a minute; or, with a credit card, 1-800-814-5554. Annual subscriptions are available for the best of Sunday crosswords from the last 50 years: 1-888-7-ACROSS. AT&T users: Text NYTX to 386 to download puzzles, or visit nytimes.com/mobilexword for more information. Online subscriptions: Today ’s puzzle and more than 2,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Share tips: nytimes.com/wordplay. Crosswords for young solvers: nytimes.com/learning/ xwords.
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PUZZLE BY GARY CEE
67 Dark wood 68 “Hannah and ___ Sisters” 69 Homework assignment 70 Lightly wash DOWN 1 Times Square sign shown in lowercase letters 2 Doesn’t act up 3 Unborn 4 Bolted 5 Failed to 6 Singer Streisand 7 Trireme implement 8 ___-Magnon man 9 Raccoon relative 10 Huffy 11 Doctors’ signatures, stereotypically
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Lacking a roof Agrees Liquide clair Yet, informally Kind of tide Plexiglas, e.g. Recover from a break, say 20 Questions category Musician Brian Petrol “Avatar” people Merit Overthrown ruler of 1979 Comic actor Dom Fat’s opposite “It’s a deal!”
46 Former Supreme Court justice often seen in a bow tie 48 Calculator screen abbr. 50 American avantgardist 53 Enjoys literature 54 ___ deferens 55 Step inside 59 Eye irritation 62 Ring wallops, informally 63 Org. that monitors oil spills 64 Baseball stat
Arts&Entertainment THE EMORY WHEEL
Tuesday, April , A&E Editor: Annelise Alexander (annelise.alexander@emory.edu)
FILM REVIEW
‘Oz’ Stands on Its Own Two Slippers
Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios
Mila Kunis and James Franco star in “Oz the Great and Powerful,” Sam Raimi’s prequel to the classic 1939 film based on the novel by L. Frank Baum. The film was released in March and also stars Rachel Weisz and Michelle Williams. By Dhvani Ghatlia Contributing Writer “Oz the Great and Powerful ” is the story of Oscar Diggs (James Franco, “127 Hours ”), a Kansas circus magician, who is a bit of a fraud and charlatan, the archetypical American charmer and trickster. Through a mishap, he flies away in a hot air balloon to the wonderful land of Oz, where he meets Theodora (Mila Kunis, “Black Swan ”), one of the witches of Oz, who, upon meeting Oscar, begins to believe that he is the Wizard of Oz, a prophetic savior of the Oz people. After seeing the for-
tune that the prophecy says the wizard will receive, Diggs plays along, acting the part of the wizard and embarking on an incredible journey to defeat the Wicked Witch and save the city. With a few creative twists and turns, director Sam Raimi adds a creative interpretation to the classic story, making the movie a fun and interesting adventure. As a prequel, the movie is stellar and completely worth watching. Franco as Oscar Diggs is passable, albeit not completely convincing as the swine and player he is clearly meant to be. Kunis and Evanora (Rachel Weisz, “The Constant Gardener ”)
make excellent witches, as they toggle back and forth between beautiful and ugly. Additionally, Michelle Williams ( “Blue Valentine ”) shines as the archetypal good witch, Glinda. Unfortunately, the music was lackluster, especially when compared to the fantastic soundtrack of the original 1939 film. Thankfully, the cinematography made up for this, and completely stole the show. The special effects were outstanding, the vivid colors gorgeous and the depiction of Oz was like a fairy tale come to life. The backgrounds are well-detailed and immerse the viewer into the
world, despite some moments where you can tell the actors don ’t quite blend in and that the scene is computer-generated. Still, watching it in 3-D added an entertaining element to the film. Oz has a lot of the main elements of the original story: the fraudulent wizard, the good witch, the two wicked witches and the flying monkeys. But embellishments on the plot make it unique and engaging. For instance, in this Oz, the wizard is a bit of a ladies ’ man and has relationships with multiple women, adding a love triangle to the mix. And since the main character is a man rather than
a young girl, Oz is targeted toward more mature audiences, which justifies its PG rating with some frightening scenes and romantically-themed conversations. Although it appears that the film was not intended to be scary, in many ways, it is. The flying monkeys are grotesquely frightening and the evil characters are generally cruel. For instance, there is one intense twister scene and several moments that are especially frightening in imposing 3-D. The transformation of the wicked witch was well done, but quite eerie, though ultimately she isn ’t as scary as
the one from the original film. Raimi successfully intersperses humor in the more frightening moments, keeping the mood light — after all, this is a Disney production. Though the film may not get a whole lot of critical acclaim, the movie is a massive production of entertainment and fun, and definitely a blockbuster in its own right. It ’s an enjoyable film, and one that I certainly recommend. And if that sequel does ever get the green light, this movie was engaging enough to keep me interested a second time around.
— Contact Dhvani Ghatlia at dghatli@emory.edu
ALBUM REVIEW
ALBUM REVIEW
Wavves Remains Angsty in New Album By Jordan Francis Staff Writer
courtesy of wikimedia commons
Nick Valensi (guitar, backing vocals) (left) and Nikolai Fraiture (bass guitar) (right) of The Strokes, whose fifth album Comedown Machine was released Tuesday.
Strokes Come Back With ‘Comedown’ By Harmeet bhagrath Contributing Writer Whether you believe The Strokes are the 21st century saviors of rock and roll or consider them nothing more than an over-hyped garage band, there ’s no denying their force in the trajectory of rock music in the last decade. Last week, The Strokes released their fifth studio album, Comedown Machine, a monumental moment in the band ’s history. A quick glance at the album ’s cover indicates just one image: a logo of record label RCA
Records. Though it may seem like lazy design, the image instead holds special significance. After the Strokes ’ 2001 EP The Modern Age generated hype across the music industry, major record labels engaged in an extended bidding war to sign the band. RCA Records emerged victorious and signed the Strokes to a five-album contract, which now comes to a close with Comedown Machine. To fully understand and appreciate Comedown Machine, it ’s necessary to put it into context of The Strokes ’ history. The band first gained critical
acclaim after their 2001 debut album Is This It was hailed by music critics as one of the best rock albums of all time. Room on Fire was met with similar success, and three years later, the band released First Impressions of Earth. Creative rifts in the band caused lead singer and frontman Julian Casablancas to venture into side projects, while the band went on a fiveyear hiatus. Comedown Machine represents the culmination of a rocky, 12-year career. Through the band ’s ups and downs, however, The Strokes have
had fans and critics on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting each successive album. The Strokes are fully aware of their charm. “You don ’t want to be without this, ” sings Casablancas on “Tap Out, ” the funky first track. Casablancas speaks truth. Simply put, Comedown Machine is a solid rock album. It ’s a bit lighter and poppier than the garage rock sound of the band ’s first two albums. Casablancas ’ singing voice is more subdued, sometimes so much
See STROKES, Page 10
For better or worse, Southern California punk band Wavves soundtracked my adolescence. By senior year of high school, I felt stifled by life in suburban Los Angeles and found refuge in grimy, underground rock venues that hosted the kind of scuzzy noise-rock that Wavves was once known for. A sweat-encrusted Wavves setlist — nabbed during my first-ever stage dive — is still taped to my childhood bedroom wall, and whenever I see it, I laugh at my angsty, teenage self. Today, I am a (slightly) more mature person, but after a few spins of the new Wavves album Afraid of Heights, I find myself asking “What ’s my age again? ” Three years on, Wavves has undergone four line up changes, a fantastic sophomore album, an underwhelming EP and enough press to suffocate even the most levelheaded musician. No one has ever accused lead singer Nathan Williams of being “levelheaded, ” and yet, Afraid of Heights is a surprisingly focused, if safe effort. First single and lead track “Sail to The Sun ” begins with a fuzzy tape loop and twinkling xylophone melody but quickly shifts to a more muscular take on Wavves ’ brand of skate-rat punk. This juxtaposition between subtle instrumental flourishes and stomp box power chords continues through out the album, adding a depth previously absent from the group ’s work. Castanets and xylophone on the verse of “Demon to Lean On ” play off the outsized guitar of The Blue Albumcopping chorus. “Dog ” prominently features tasteful cello, giving the relatively quiet song a distinctive
Nirvana: Unplugged in New York feel.
WAVVES Afraid of Heights On sale now
Yet, the album is not without growing pains. The strange, electronic-tinged songs on the B-side 2010 ’s LP King of the Beach are sorely missed, only showing up on the tuneless “Mystic. ” Here, Williams allows his hip-hop side project Sweet Valley to bleed into his day job, but the initially intriguing yelping sample only yields a missed opportunity. Late album tracks “Everything Is My Fault ” and “I Can ’t Dream ” tread the same lackadaisical, reverb-soaked territory, and with the exception of “Cop, ” the album ’s back half breaks no new ground. Thankfully, Afraid of Heights is not the sound of Wavves maturing. I imagine Afraid of Heights will perfectly soundtrack some suburban teen ’s senior year much like 2009 ’s Wavves did mine. And at my next Wavves show, I will be in the pit dancing right beside that 17-year-old enamored guy with the seemingly dangerous world just outside his front door. Growing up? Say it ain ’t so!
— Contact Jordan Francis at jordan.francis@emory.edu
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THE EMORY WHEEL
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
ATLANTA DINING
The Vortex Bar and Grill: An Atlanta Alpha Dog By Annelise Alexander Arts & Entertainment Editor For those who venture through the skull ’s mouth and into the Vortex, an alternate universe awaits. On the other side of the skull ’s jaws, it ’s as if the dimly-lit den was swept up by a tornado, landing in a surreal other world. Knickknacks and rusty beer cans are haphazardly strewn about, hanging from every square inch of brick wall. A skeleton mounted on a motorcycle dangles from the ceiling. A spinning barbershop pole twirls hypnotically next to a giant boar ’s head. Santana ’s “Black Magic Woman ” pervades eerily through the hum and bumble of conversation. With 360 degrees of hodgepodge décor, it ’s easy to forget the main attraction: Atlanta ’s best burger. “Keeping it real since 1992, ” the Vortex Bar and Grill has become an establishment for Atlantans in search of a fine burger and a beer — served with a side of attitude. The giant skull façade of the Little Five Points location has become something of a landmark, and the restaurant has been honored by local and national publications with a handful of awards and has been featured on popular TV shows like “Man v. Food ” and “Rachael Ray ’s Tasty Travels. ” When siblings Michael, Hank and Suzanne Benoit opened the original Vortex in Midtown, they didn ’t anticipate that it would become an alpha dog of Atlanta burger joints. They created the Vortex with dreams of becoming a cozy neighborhood bar, “a secret hideout for serious drinkers. ” To keep their customers from going hungry, they decided to serve burgers as well. The Vortex Burger — a juicy, back-to-basics half-pound of premium ground sirloin — was born. Four years later, the Benoits opened a second location in Little Five Points. Then in 1997, they relocated their Midtown location to Peachtree Street to accommodate growing crowds, where it remains today. To aid in the transition, faithful customers helped the owners with the move, caravanning the few blocks down the road with chairs, tables and tchotchkes galore, a true testament to the allegiance of their fan base.
Soon after the restaurant ’s conception, the owners adopted their trademark unconventional approach to customer service. They declared the bar an “Official Idiot-Free Zone, ” a no-tolerance policy for difficult customers, garnering the eatery some notoriety for its unusual business strategy. The Vortex is not a place for the nitpicky and whining often falls on deaf ears. In 2005, after the passing of the Georgia Smoke-Free Air act that outlawed smoking in restaurants, the Vortex became on adult-only environment, only admitting customers over the age of 18. But throughout the restaurant ’s evolution over the past 20 years, its rough-around-theedges approach has earned the restaurant a loyal following that can ’t seem to get enough. “The Vortex was doing big, bad burgers way before burgers became cool again, ” Todd Brock, Serious Eats blogger and “professional burger eater ” explains. “And that ’s probably why I still love the place so much ... kind of like the way you never get over your first crush. ” It ’s hard to describe the type of person the Vortex attracts. The crowd is much like the restaurant itself: eclectic, an unlikely combination of all things ordinary and bizarre. In one corner, a hipster couple speaks intimately. At another table, a group of jeans-and-tee-shirt guys scarf down the last of their meal. At the bar, a pair of bikers in leather jackets and boots order two bottles of Laughing Skull Amber Ale — Atlanta ’s very own brew. Tattooed twenty-something waitresses dart about, weaving through tables and barstools. In the corner, a woman lights a cigarette and exhales into the busy air. If you think the atmosphere is a lot to soak in, look at the menu. It offers an array of burgers from the Plain Ol ’ Original Vortex to the Triple Coronary Bypass, which consists of three burger patties, three fried eggs, fourteen slices of American cheese and ten slices of bacon packed between two grilled cheese sandwiches. A variety of options exists between the two extremes, from the Hawaiian Yokohama Mama to the Fat Elvis, slathered with peanut butter, bacon and fried bananas.
Strokes Release Final RCA Record Continued from Page 9
more recent ‘Man v. Food ’ gluttonyglorification era. ” At the end of the day, behind the greasy, gritty accouterments, the Vortex serves a quality, no bulls--t burger. Other burger joints may have their 15 minutes, but the Vortex is here to stay.
so that it ’s hard to make out what he ’s saying. In this respect, Comedown Machine follows in the same vein as Angles and even Phrazes For the Young, Casablancas ’ new wave, rock electronica solo project. For the most part, however, the album is upbeat, with the still-present catchy guitar riffs that are so characteristic of The Strokes. Comedown Machine makes way for experimentation as Casablancas goes falsetto over a Latin-inspired riff on “One Way Trigger. ” The song tackles Casablancas ’ transition from his rebellious rock and roll lifestyle to growing up and settling down with his wife. As he sings the chorus, “settle down, out of town/ Find a dream, shut it down, ” one feels that Casablancas ’ days of lurking in bars all night are rapidly flying away — and so are his dreams. “Welcome to Japan ” showcases a quirkier side of The Strokes, with lyrics that feel meaningless and disjointed. On “80 ’s Comedown Machine, ” the album shifts to a dream pop sound, coming down from the energetic sound that ’s been present thus far. Musically, Comedown Machine ’s best songs are toward the latter half of the album. In their simplest interpretations, tracks such as “Partners in Crime, ” “Chances ” and “Happy Ending ” are delicious pieces of ear candy. Song writing hasn ’t ever been a particular strength of The Strokes, however, and lyrically, Comedown Machine is weak. Some of the album ’s vague lines could be interpreted as artistically enigmatic, but they frequently fall flat. If you ’ve been hiding under a rock for the past 12 years and haven ’t ever listened to The Strokes, give this album a listen. If you ’re familiar with The Strokes but are afraid that Comedown Machine couldn ’t possibly measure up to your old favorites, listen to it anyway. If you ’ve already listened to the album, listen to it again, because like all Strokes ’ albums, it gets better with each listen.
— Contact Annelise Alexander at annelise.alexander@emory.edu
— Contact Harmeet Bhagrath at hbhagra@emory.edu
Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
The Vortex Bar and Grill, located in Atlanta’s Little Five Points neighborhood, is alternative, jarring and most importantly, serves up a mean burger. Appetizers range from bar food classics like nachos and fries to fried pickles and beer-battered, deep fried cheddar cheese balls. Needless to say, the menu is not for the faint of heart. In the past decade, a series of boutique bar food pubs have popped up around Atlanta. But the Vortex is not a trend; it ’s an establishment. It occupies a unique niche that can neither be
replaced nor replicated. It exists in a league of its own. “It ’s easy to hate on the Vortex for the giant skull, the tattooed-andpierced wait staff, the tongue-incheek menu ‘rules ’ and the extreme burgers, ” Brock said. “But burgers like the Elvis and the Double Bypass actually predate both the burger boom of the later 2000s and the
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agle xchange
TUES 2
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vs. Birmingham Southern 3 p.m. Chappell
BASEBALL GOLF WOMEN’S MEN’S TENNIS TENNIS
SPORTS
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
On Fire L.A. > N.Y.C.
SAT 6
1. Disclaimer
vs. Hendrix 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Conway, Ark.
Park
Emory Spring Invitational All Day Druid Hills Golf Club vs. Auburn Montgomery 3 p.m. Montgomery, Ala.
vs. Mary Washington 1 p.m. WoodPEC vs. Middlebury vs. Bowdoin College 1 p.m. 2 p.m. Williamstown, Middlebury, Mass. Vt.
Kardys Earns Win in All Three Weekend Games Continued from The Back Page single and scored on an error. A scoreless fourth inning followed before the decisive fifth inning where the Eagles claimed a 4-2 lead that they would not surrender. Gorodetsky led off with a single and eventually scored on an error, tying the game, while Sendel followed with a two-run homer. The Eagles extended their lead to 7-2 in the sixth inning, when Kersthold and Light both hit home runs. Rhodes made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh. Brottman relived Kardys and immediately got the first out before surrendering a pair of singles.
An infield fly and another single scored both runners to chop the lead to 7-4, but Brottman got the final out and secured the Eagles ’ third victory of the afternoon. Kardys was credited for the win in all three games and now stands at 22-1 on the season, while Light contributed four home runs over the weekend series. Emory is now riding an 18-game winning streak. The Eagles will look to extend it on Tuesday when they face a tough test against the No. 11-ranked Piedmont College (Ga.) squad. The teams will play a doubleheader with the games set to start at 4 and 6 p.m. — Contact Ryan Smith at ryan.smith@emory.edu
Emory is now riding an 18-game winning streak. The Eagles will look to extend it Tuesday.
Courtesy of Emory Athletics
Sophomore runner Stephanie Crane finishes an event in first place. Crane and the Emory women’s track and field team finished in first place in the Emory Classic this past weekend.
Crane Earns Two First-Place Finishes, Men Come in Fifth at Emory Classic Continued from The Back Page Morgan Monroe came together as a 4x100-meter relay team and recorded a time of 47.76 second, the best in the UAA and second across all Division III relays coming into the Classic. Monroe continued by placing second in the finals of the 100-meter hurdles with the eighth-fastest mark of 14.86 seconds in D-III this season. Crane earned two first-place finishes, placing at fourth-best in school history, best in the UAA and fifth among all Division III competitors in the 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:41.49. “I personally had the opportunity to race against a former Brandeis All American 1,500 runner, which was very unique and exciting, ” Crane said. “Though I did not set a personal best in the 1,500, I was less than a second off and cannot wait to improve throughout the outdoor season. ” The 4x800-meter relay team consisting of Crane, senior Calley Edwards, freshman Julia Williamson and sophomore Alyssa Doolan came
out fourth-best in the program ’s history with a time of 9:25.58. First-place finishers for the Emory women included junior Meredith Lorch, senior Theresa Ford, sophomore Tamara Surtees and Leonard competing in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, high jump, 5,000-meter run and 400-meter dash, respectively.
“Though I did not set a personal best ... I was less than a second off, and cannot wait to improve throughout the outdoor season.” — Stephanie Crane, sophomore runner Sophomores Elaina Kim and Hannah Moriarty also provided standout performances. Kim brought in a win in the pole vault with a height of 3.35 meters, putting her at seventh-best in the team ’s history, while Moriarty earned
a victory in the 10,000-meter run with a mark of 38:47.44, ranking her as best by a UAA competitor and 13th in D-III. A number of other women came out as top performers, including Ford in the javelin throw and discus throw, Williamson in the 800-meter run, sophomore Electra Korn in the 400meter hurdles, sophomore Ulrica Tull in the hammer throw, junior Khadijah Ameen in the long jump and triple jump and freshman Janay Harris in the shot put. The Eagles ’ 4x400-meter relay finished the meet off with a sixthplace finish (4:03.60). Emory ’s track and field teams will be back in action this weekend competing in two separate meets. The squad will be split between the Tiger Track Classic at Auburn University (Ala.) and the Duke Invitational at Duke University (N.C.). The meets will take place on Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6. — Contact Nicola Braginsky at nbragins@emory.edu
Walk-Off Home Run Defeats Eagles Continued from The Back Page game momentum from Friday into Saturday, immediately jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first two innings of the first game of the double header. Emory refused to go down quietly. Freshman second baseman Dylan Eisner hit a three-run double in a four-run fourth inning for the Eagles, putting the team up 4-3. Eisner went two-for-three on the game with three runs batted in (RBIs) and two stolen bases. Going into the seventh and final inning of the game, Emory led 5-3. Unfortunately for the Eagles, Covenant had one more last inning comeback in them. Down to their last out, Covenant sent freshman infielder Perry Rigby to the plate. Rigby launched a walk-off three run homerun off of Emory freshman righthanded pitcher Tyler Sprague, to give the team a 6-5 victory. In the second game of the doubleheader, Emory bounced back from its second consecutive heartbreaking loss and cruised to an 8-1 win over Covenant. The Eagles got on the board early, when sophomore outfielder Brandon Hannon scored on an RBI single off the bat of junior catcher Jared Welch. The real offensive fireworks came in the top of the third and sixth innings. Emory tallied three runs in the third inning and an additional four in the sixth inning, to go up 8-1. The team would go onto win the game by that score, when junior right-handed pitcher Matt McMahon came in to relieve freshman Dylan Finer for the final two innings. Finer allowed four hits on the day, striking out one and allowing only a single earned run on the game. The game marked the first win of Finer ’s career. The Eagles are now 13-11 on the season and in third place in the University Athletic Association (UAA) with a 4-4 record in conference play. The team will return home on Wednesday to take on BirminghamSouthern College (Ala.) on Wednesday, April 3 at 3 p.m. The game will be played at Chappell Park. — Contact Nathaniel Ludewig at nludewi@emory.edu
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We here at On Fire have struggled lately with being politically correct. We have not been actually politically incorrect to the point where we have offended any real-life human beings. It ’s been more of an awkward struggle with the higher-ups where apparently we aren ’t very politically-correct. We live in a post-racial society now. Referring to people as “white ” or “black ” is pointless because we don ’t see color, man! This isn ’t the 90s or some s--t. Instead, whenever we introduce you to a new athlete we will share the athlete ’s hometown and an exciting Wikipedia fun fact about their hometown. If you are ever made to feel uncomfortable by an On Fire piece, please contact our editor-in-chief or our copy chief. Now let ’s get to the sports issues everyone wants to talk about. 2. Kevin Ware Holy s--t did you see what happened to Kevin Ware (Disclaimer: Kevin Ware is a basketball player from Conyers, Ga. The per capita income of Conyers is $15,805, according to Wikipedia). Of course you saw what happened to Kevin Ware, everyone saw what happened to Kevin Ware. The poor guy was playing for Louisville this weekend when he jumped and landed awkwardly on his leg. Awkwardly is without a doubt the understatement of the century. The part of his leg that ’s above his knee went one way and the rest of his leg went the other way. The bone straight up broke through the skin and was out in the open for everyone to see. As he writhed in pain, we saw players and coaches on both teams either crying or gagging, unable to process what they had just seen. Coach K (Disclaimer: Coach K is a basketball coach from Chicago, Ill. According to Wikipedia, the median income for a family living in Chicago is $43,638), who we never see humanized, had tears streaming down his face. We hear at On Fire send our prayers out to Kevin Ware and his family as Ware recovers from this injury. We can ’t even imagine what he is going through. It ’s kinda hard not to root for Louisville for the rest of the tournament now. 3. FGCU
Chelmsfordpubliclibrary/Flickr
Pictured above is McCarthy Meeting Room A at Chelmsford Public Library. The NCAA committee presumably met in a room much like this one to determine the fate of The Emory Wheel’s request for a press pass to the Final Four.
Sports Genie: If Wichita State Can Dance, Why Not The Emory Wheel? Continued from The Back Page add up to more than the entire 25-man roster of the Astros makes. The Astros may not have money. But they have heart. They have courage. They have a love of the game. Ok, I can sense that I ’m losing my audience. Just let this serve as a warning that the Yankees, Red Sox, Rangers, and all other powers-thatbe in the American League should watch their backs, because the Astros are coming for them. But to be safe, the 1962 Mets should probably watch their backs to. Now on to March Madness. 2. March Madness The great thing about March Madness is that its namesake month is over, but the Madness is not. The Final Four starts Friday just down the road in the Georgia Dome, and Louisville, Michigan, Syracuse and Wichita State will all be there. The Wheel Sports Team, however,
will not be. Once again, that was not a typo. Once again, our copy editors are too good for that. No, this aged and veneration institution of intrepid and objective reporting, the oldest financially-independent newspaper on a college campus in the North Druid Hills area, the home of both On Fire and the Sports Genie, has been denied press passes to the event (and is too cheap to pay for normal tickets). Also, just to be clear, naming Wichita State as one of the four teams in the Final Four was also not a typo. Though you may be excused for thinking that it was. Surely the Wheel Sports Team has as much of a right to be at the Final Four as these guys. Who can even tell me what state Wichita State is in? In fact, I will issue a personal guarantee right now that more of my readers could tell me what state The Emory Wheel is located in than could tell me what state Wichita State is in (according to Wikipedia, the answers are Georgia
and Kansas). It just makes no sense to me how the NCAA could deny a press pass to us. Not only are we an NCAA school, not only did we ask very nicely, but the Sports Genie has tens of readers, every single one of whom is surely dying to read about his first-hand impressions of the tournament. Each and every one of you should feel cheated right now. So we will have to settle for things that the internet can tell me about the tournament. I would love to supplement this analysis with personal anecdotes from having watched practices and talked to players in the locker room, but since the good folks at the NCAA denied me and my readers that option, suffice it to say that Louisville is good. They lost only five games in the regular season. The first was to Duke, and they earned their revenge on the No. 2-seeded Blue Devils in the Elite Eight, routing them by a score of 85-63.
The last was to Notre Dame in quintuple (that means five) overtime. The middle three happened all in a row near the end of January, and since everyone knows that bad luck happens in threes, I ’m going to dismiss those as a fluke. Effectively, Louisville has not lost a game this year, and I see no reason for this to change. Michigan and Syracuse are each decent. They are both number four seeds, and lost seven and nine games this year, respectively. They are both also utterly boring, and I will waste no more time talking about them. That leaves Wichita State. They only lost eight games this year, but come on — they are Wichita State. Their team name is the Shockers, and that is exactly what they did. No one saw this coming. Seriously, if Wichita State can go to this tournament, why not The Emory Wheel? — Contact Bennett Ostdiek at bostdie@emory.edu
So wow, that really sucks that FGCU had to lose. They were really exciting throughout the tournament and if they had actually made it all the way through to the final four, it would have without a doubt been the story of the tournament. It still is kind of the story of the tournament (who really cares about Wichita State?). FGCU was not just barely beating teams, they were obliterating teams with their high-flying acrobatics and awesome dunks. Anyway, that ’s over now. One unresolved issue we here at On Fire have with the team: doesn ’t guard Brett Corner look a lot like a future/current meth user? Ok, you ’re right. That ’s bordering on breaking our rule from earlier about political correctness. Brett Corner hails from Winter Park, Fla. According to Wikipedia, Scenic Olde Winter Park area is punctuated by small, winding brick streets, and a canopy of old southern live oak and camphor trees, draped with Spanish moss. 4. Britney Griner Here is maybe the biggest story of the week. Britney Griner (Disclaimer: Griner is a women ’s basketball player from Houston, Texas. According to wikipedia, the median income for a family living in Houston is $40,000), and the Baylor Bears finally lost a basketball game. Sadly enough, this game was in the NCAA tournament. The team had won 74 of their last 75 games, including 32 straight. They were also the defending NCAA championships. It might have been okay if Griner and Baylor had just casually lost. Everyone would have been sad, but we would have all understood that the game was fair. Sadly the game crossed the line of physical, with Griner being borderline attacked on every play. The refs “let the players play ” when they should have intervened. Sad.
SPORTS THE EMORY WHEEL
Tuesday, April , Sports Editor: Nathaniel Ludewig (nludewi@emory.edu)
TRACK & FIELD
BASEBALL
Women Take First at ‘Emory Classic’ Emory
Falls Short in Series
By Nicola Braginsky Staff Writer The men ’s and women ’s track and field teams hosted the Emory Classic this weekend. The men ’s squad finished in fifth place, and the women ’s squad finished first. The men ’s team came out of the meet with three first-place finishes and 20 scoring performances and scored 91 total points. University of Alabama in Huntsville finished in first place with a score of 125.5, followed by Buffalo State College (N.Y.) with 103, Taylor College (Fla.) in third (96.5), and Cumberlands College (Ky.) who placed fourth (92). The men earned University Athletic Association (UAA)-best marks in four different events coming into the weekend, and continued to impress the crowd on both Friday and Saturday. Freshman Adam Rabushka placed fourth in the 400-meter hurdle with a time of 56.10 seconds, the 19th-best time in Division III this season. “As a team, we have been working very hard to have a successful outdoor season and to do well at the conference, ” Rabushka said. “As illustrated by our results at the meet, the hard work is paying off. With that, we will continue to work with the goal of always being as successful at conference. ” Junior Brandon Bassell, sophomore Ankush Mohile and senior Stephen Ellwood all came in fourth in their respective events, setting the tone for the Classic. “I honestly didn ’t think I had it in me, ” Mohile said. “We ’ve been working really hard to make the transition from indoor season to outdoor as smooth as possible, and the results for the team as a whole over the course of this week have shown that to have been a success. ” During the meet, sophomore James Bassen made the eighth-best mark in school history with a javelin throw with a distance of 55.29 meters. “The combination of a strong work ethic with a devoted coaching staff really allows me to raise my level of performance to the next level, ” Bassell said. “I am very excited to see how I progress and continue to get better in the next few weeks leading
By Nathaniel Ludewig Sports Editor
As of press time, after the first round of the Emory Spring Invitational, the golf team is tied for eighth place. The tournament is being held at Druid Hills Golf Club. The Eagles delivered a score of 304 in the first round, which left them tied with Rhodes College (Tenn.). Methodist University (N.C.) is currently in first place, with a three-under par score of 285. The Eagles were led in the first round by sophomore Alex Wunderlich, who shot a one-under par 71. Juniors Alex Berens and Johnathan Chen each shot 77s and senior David Collura shot a 79. The Invitational will conclude later today.
Featured Athlete: Debora Adjiba Sophomore Debora Adjiba broke the Emory school record in the 200-meter dash at the Emory Classic this weekend. Adjiba completed the event in 24.98 seconds, finishing the event in third and breaking the record set by Alix Dyer during the 2012 season. Dyer gradated in 2012.
Softball With three wins over the weekend, the softball extended its winning streak to 18 games. The streak began Friday, March 8 with a 13-1 victory over Hiram College (Ohio).
Featured Athlete: Dylan Eisner Freshman Dylan Eisner was 4-7 last week, including a double, two runs, three RBIs and two stolen bases.
See CRANE, Page 11
See WALK-OFF, Page 11
Courtesy of Emory Athletics
Junior hurdler Morgan Monroe (center) competes in a hurdling event at an Emory hosted meet at the Woodruff P.E. Center (WoodPEC). Monroe and the women’s track and field team won the Emory Invitational track meet this past weekend. up to outdoor UAA ’s. The goal is to win conference. ” Freshman Young Jin Kim cleared the bar at 4.10 meters, earning a win in the pole vault. Topping it all off was Emory ’s 4x800-meter relay team, consisting of junior William Matheson, freshman Andrew Hemingway, freshman Josh Traynelis and sophomore Patrick Crews, who won their race with a time of 8:02.00. “The level of support and encouragement that goes on before and after
each event is unreal, ” Bassel said. “When your teammates are as excited as you are when you PR (personal record), it ’s something special. ” Bassen, junior Mike Moserowitz, junior Samuel Jean-Baptiste, junior Craig Melissas, freshman Jacob Seigel, junior Nick Cortellessa, freshman Taylor Jarl, and freshman Maxwell Hoberman were all among the top finishers for the Emory men. They placed in the hammer throw, long jump, 100-meter dash, 5,000meter run, discus throw, 400-meter
SOFTBALL Golf
an impressive first-place finish in the women ’s standings at the meet. She made a number of UAAbest marks and earned third and fourth best ratings made by a D-III competitor. “It was a great meet, ” sophomore Stephanie Crane said. “A lot of people set personal bests and started the season off really well. ” Adjibaba, junior Pollara Cobb, senior Kaele Leonard and junior
The Emory baseball team ’s fourgame winning streak came to a close this weekend as the Eagles dropped two games in a three-game weekend series against Covenant College (Ga.). The Eagles hosted the first game of the series on Friday at Chappell Park. The teams then got together at Lookout Mountain, Ga. for a doubleheader hosted by Covenant. The Eagles fell 4-2 on Friday, before splitting the doubleheader on Friday. On Friday, Covenant took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning, but their lead did not last long. The Eagles tied up the game on a sacrifice fly off the bat of junior infielder Ryan Toscano scoring junior infielder Jared Kahn. After a double steal, a groundout to the second baseman by senior infielder Mark Lindemann scored junior outfielder Daniel Iturrey to put Emory up 2-1. The Eagles would keep this lead going into the ninth inning, courtesy of a stellar pitching performance by sophomore Connor Dillman. Dillman struck out three batters in the first eight frames, allowing four hits and a single unearned run. Dillman tried to close out the game in the ninth, but after a pair of leadoff hits he was pulled from the game. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Graham Bloomsmith was called in to relieve Dillman, but by then the damage was already done. Bloomsmith allowed both inherited runners, along with an additional unearned run, to score, and Covenant went on to win the game 4-2. Dillman was credited with the loss, dropping his season record to 2-3. He threw 116 pitches in the game. Covenant carried their late-
Eagles Keep Big Win Streak Alive By Ryan Smith Asst. Sports Editor The No. March 30 2-ranked softball EMORY 8, team dominated RHODES 7 over the weekend at the Salute March 31 to the Troops EMORY 11, Tournament at FONTRhodes College in BONNE 2 Memphis, Tenn., going 3-0 with a March 31 pair of wins over EMORY 7, Rhodes and a win RHODES 4 over Fontbonne University (Mo.). The Eagles are now 37-1 on the season. The first game of the tournament, played against Rhodes on Saturday, was a tight, back-and-forth affair. Emory got off to a quick start in the top of the first inning on a home run by junior first baseman Megan Light, knocking in sophomore catcher Micah Scharff. Rhodes responded in the bottom of the inning, however, with three runs to take a 3-2 lead. The Eagles struck again in the second inning with an RBI single from senior third baseman Meaghan Schultz and an RBI triple by junior center fielder Lauren Gorodetsky, claiming a 4-3 advantage. The momentum swung once again in the bottom of the third when Rhodes countered with a fourrun inning. After a scoreless fourth inning, another Light homer and a Schultz double tied up the game at 7. Neither team could gain an advantage until the top of the eighth, when the Eagles led off with a Gorodetsky double. After a weather delay that
saw the game postponed until noon the next day, a double from junior right fielder Ally Kersthold brought in the go-ahead run. Junior left-handed pitcher Amanda Kardys pitched the final inning to secure the 8-7, extra-inning win for the Eagles. Kardys earned the win. Junior Lena Brottman had started the game for the Eagles. Kardys entered the game as a relief pitcher, and stayed in for the final five and two-thirds innings. The Eagles ’ game against Fontbonne Sunday was not nearly as competitive. Emory jumped out to a commanding 5-0 lead in the top of the first on a three-run homer from freshman designated hitter Hannah Sendel and a Gorodetsky single. Fontbonne responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning, but it was all they would manage for the entire game against Kardys ’ strong pitching. Three scoreless innings followed before the Eagles exploded in the bottom of the fifth. Kersthold knocked in a runner on a fielder ’s choice before a grand slam from Light ran the score to 11-2. Kardys did not allow a run in the bottom half of the inning, and secured the win. The Eagles closed out the weekend Sunday with another competitive game against Rhodes. Neither team scored in the first inning, but Rhodes took the lead in the bottom of the second on a triple and sacrifice fly. Emory cut the lead to 2-1 in the top of the third when freshman left fielder Alyssa Pollard reached out a
See SOFTBALL, Page 11
dash, shot put, 800-meter run and triple jump, respectively. The women had more success, totaling 161 points throughout the weekend. This was good for first place overall. Alabama-Huntsville finished in second with 129 total points and Columbus State finished in third with 91 points. Kicking off Saturday strong was sophomore Debora Adjibaba, who broke the school record in the 200meter dash, helping the Eagles land
HUMOR COLUMN
Bradjward/Flickr
Rick Pitino’s Louisville Cardinals are one of four teams that will advance to Atlanta in the NCAA Tournament. Louisville guard Kevin Ware suffered a now infamous leg injury in the elite eight.
The Sports Genie: March Madness and Opening Day Bennett Ostdiek 1. A Moment to Gloat I am a Houstonian. I love barbecue, Mexican food and baseball. I know all about humidity, traffic jams and losing. And it is both my great pleasure and profound honor to inform my loyal readers that the Houston Astros currently sit at first place in
the American League West. That was not a typo — our copy editors are too good for that. These are the same Astros who have lost a combined total of 213 games over the last two seasons (that is an average of 106.5 games a year, for you English majors out there). These are the same Lastros (see what I did there?) that many experts believe will give the 1962 Mets — the team that lost 120 games and earned the distinction of being known as the Worst Baseball Team of All Time — a run for their money. These are the same Astros whom I love with every fiber of my being and the same Astros who, I would like to remind all of my loyal readers again, currently sit at first place in the
American League West. The Astros beat their in-state rival, the Texas Rangers, who are generally held to be the favorite in the American League West this year. The Rangers certainly are the more chic — I ’m not entirely certain as to the correct usage of this word, but you know what I mean — team in Texas. They have reached the playoffs three years in a row and are named after some of the coolest dudes ever to patrol the frontier. Plus, they are super-duper rich. Their payroll is a cool $90 million higher than the Astros. In fact, the salaries of the Rangers ’ two star players, Adrian Beltre and Ian Kinsler,
See SPORTS GENIE, Page 11
Best
The Emory Wheel’s
of Emory TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013 | FEATURES EDITOR: NICHOLAS BRADLEY (NBRADLE@EMORY.EDU)
BEST OF EMORY
BEST OF EMORY
This Year’s Winners Best Pizza
Best Burrito
Best Breakfast
Best ATL Attraction
Best LateNight Food
Best Sushi
Best Burger
Best Bar
Best Best Best Study Spot Indian Food Package Store
Best Housing
Best Concert Venue
BEST OF EMORY
BEST OF EMORY
Best Concert Venue: The Tabernacle If you’re looking for a concert venue big enough to host a world-famous rock band but cool enough to host even the hippest of indie bands, look no further than the Tabernacle. Situated in downtown Atlanta, the Tabernacle is the modern iteration of a Baptist tabernacle founded in 1898 by Dr. Len Broughton. The church’s congregation continued to grow until the mid-1950s, when demographic changes in Atlanta started a decline in popularity that lasted until the late 1990s. The building was sold in 1994, when it was converted to a House of Blues for the 1996 Olympic Games. The Tabernacle is now one of Atlanta’s foremost concert venues and has hosted big names such as Guns N’ Roses, Bob Dylan and Jerry Lee Lewis. Although The Tabernacle’s rostrum and choir seats have since been removed, the old church’s balcony seating remains, lending the venue a distinguished air. The walls have been painted in carnival colors, and a bar and souvenir stand occupy the basement. The venue is dark and almost ominous — the kind of place where you would want to go to see the coolest new musical act. 152 Luckie St NW, Atlanta
Nicholas Bradley| Features Editor
BEST OF EMORY
Pizza. This refined food is a staple in any college student’s diet. But at a University with a plethora of pizza places within walking distance, how can anyone discern which one serves a superior slice? In a fiercely competitive pool of pizza restaurants, one establishment rises above the rest. The voters have spoken, and the best pizza place for 2013 is none other than Fellini’s Pizza. So what is it about Fellini’s that leads students to trek offcampus when they could choose from the three pizza places in Emory Village (Not to mention the DUC — every student’s mouth waters at the mere mention of coleslaw or carrot pizza)? To the freshmen whose knowledge of off-campus dining consists of the fine eating estab-
lishments in Emory Village, know that your taste buds are missing out until you sink your teeth into a slice of Fellini’s pizza. Perfect your personal favorite combination of toppings with an
with Fellini’s delectable white pizza. Or maybe you’re just not in the mood for pizza? Not to worry, the calzones and salads are equally excellent. With lots of shredded mozzarella cheese and creamy Italian dressing, the salads will make you forget w FFellini’s is known for iits pizza. As for their ccalzones — what’s not to love about n bbread, cheese and yyour choice of topppings? With an ambiance tthat defines “chill hangout” ccollege aand a price that is iideal for a college budget, sstudent’s yyou can’t go wrong with Fellini’s Pizza. From the moment you step inside one of their multiple locations, you’ll never think of pizza the same way again. 1634 McLendon Ave. NE, Atlanta 909 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta
Image Courtesy of Fellini’s Pizza
individual slice or practice the valuable skill of compromise by splitting an entire pie with friends. Prefer Sicilian style? Felini’s has it! Experiment with a variety of their many toppings or keep it simple
BEST OF EMORY
Best Sushi: Falafel King This casual mix of Greek and Japanese cuisine may confuse some people, but Falafel King does it just right. For those of you who are vegetarians or who prefer to have the option on occasion, Falafel King is the place to be. From their delicious falafel sandwiches made with a choice of any side you prefer, to their wide variety of sushi (they have every kind of fish you could ask for!), Falafel King has become one of Emory Village’s most popular feeding grounds. If you’re looking for sushi that’s fresh, substantive and delectable, Falafel King can
and will cater to your needs. Simply entering Falafel King will ensure that your taste buds leave satisfied. Not only is the food almost perfect, but the service and low-key facade of this quick service joint are unbeatable. No wonder this place is always packed to the brim! It epitomizes good food made by even better people. Who needs greasy pizza and poorly-wrapped burritos when you can indulge in some exotic shawarma with a side of miso soup? I promise, you won’t be able to get enough of it! 1405 Oxford Rd NE, Atlanta
Best Burger: Farm Burger A go-to burger joint is a grassfed, locally sourced burgstaple of any college campus. er? You got it. Want it topped Luckily for Emory students, with red bean chili, a fried egg Atlanta’s thriving culinary and 3 types of melted cheese scene features boutique burger — plus a side of sweet potato pop-ups aplenty. Yeah Burger, fries? Coming right up. Flip Burger, Farm Burger: with so many burgers to choose from, how could you choose just one? Decatur’s Farm Burger blends the best of all that the burger world The Food Abides | Blogger has to offer. With a fresh, fun and filling menu, the restaurant Not a carnivore? Try the combines two major trends veggie quinoa burger — it’s in food today: gluttony and tastier than it sounds. Farm sustainability. Looking for a Burger even caters to the salad
lover. Its leafy market salad includes only the freshest seasonal ingredients topped with their “farm goddess” dressing. Feeling adventurous? Try a grown-up version of your childhood ice cream float made with Wells Banana Bread beer. Farm Burger has something to offer for the carnivore, the herbivore and everything in between. With quality, variety and an eclectic drink menu, what more could a college kid ask for? 410 West Ponce De Leon Ave., Decatur
BEST OF EMORY
Best Bar: Brick Store Pub Brick Store Pub was recently rated the number two beer bar in the world But what makes it so good? As any restaurateur will tell you, the devil is in the details. Every one of the 300-plus brews on their beer list (with countless more in the cellar) is shipped, stored and poured at the right temperature in precisely paired glassware. Don’t like beer? There is also a tastefully-curated selection of whiskey, and Brick Store’s pitch-perfect menu feels like it came right out of a medieval inn. More importantly, at a place where the staff can afford to turn their noses up a little, they never do. It doesn’t matter if you’re an ale aficionado or a Reisdorf rookie, they will point you to the beer that is right for you. It’s the pursuit of perfection that has elevated Brick Store from local watering hole to a world-class destination for beer connoisseurs and novices alike. But Brick Store is more than the brews in its cellars and the food in its pantries. As an old friend put it, the greatness of Brick Store is the guarantee that “somewhere past that door, there’s a beer that will change your life.” Several years ago, a friend and I visited the pub after our holiday jazz concert. Like a carefully-chosen program, we found a series of beer to match the turns of our conversation, ebullient to somber and back. Cheery Weihenstephaner Hefe-Weizens for our post concert euphoria, bitter Stone Ruination IPA’s for the doleful reflections on our recent breakups, and a Sweetwater Holiday Ale to celebrate our friendship. That night, I wandered back to my dorm in a warm haze and drifted off to sleep fully-clothed, simply happy to be alive. “Give me wine to wash me clean from the weather-stains of care,” said Ralph Waldo Emerson, though he could have just as easily been talking about beer — beer for every mood and every memory. Beer to help us celebrate our joy, and beer to help us push through tragedy. How lucky we are to have Brick Store, a pub that stocks them all. 125 East Court Square, Decatur Image Courtesy of PSD Graphics
BEST OF EMORY
Best Burrito: Chipotle Building your own burrito (with just a hint of lime) and might seem like it’s too good a drink. In total, there’re more than to be true. But there’s an opportunity to do just that right 60,000 possible combinations. here in Emory Village, along The large number of available with more than 1,400 loca- items makes the experience of tions across the United States. this modern fast-food venue that much To some, more enChipojoyable. tle MexiEssencan Grill tially, the might be Chipoconsidered tle burrito “fast food.” While it’s certainly fast, it’s represents a revolution in fast also much healthier than most food. It’s healthy and hand-made other fast food chains (meaning there’s a much lower likeli- while being just as delicious as that greasy Big Mac. Folhood that it will kill you). And as an added benefit, lowing today’s trend of envitheir burritos and burrito ronmentalism (it’s just a fad, bowls are as tasty, if not tast- really), the Chipotle burrito is ier, than what you might get all-organic. Chipotle’s ingredients are at a more “authentic” Mexican fresh and locally-sourced, derestaurant. The process is simple: get spite what your more skeptical in the back of the line when friends might tell you. Additionally, the restauyou walk in, and wait until rant uses the worker meat from behind the animals that counter asks ‘Chipotle’s ingredients are were raised you what you’d like to fresh and locally sourced ...’ without antibiotics or order. other horAfter demones, acciding between a burrito, burrito bowl, cording to the Chipotle webtacos or a salad (gross), you site. So the next time you need a can to choose your rice, vegquick, healthy and satisfying etables, meat and salsa. You also have the options of meal, stop by Chipotle. After sour cream, guacamole and all, you’ll pass at least two on cheese. Top off your hand- your way home. rolled Mexican masterpiece 1401 Oxford Rd. NE, Atlanta with Chipotle’s signature chips
Best Breakfast: The Flying Biscuit Cafe Even though the biscuit (which can be made with white or whole wheat flour) is this dive’s famed item, the Flying Biscuit grits are the true gem. If you are on the prowl for the most delicious cheese grits you’ve ever tasted (or ever will taste) then the Flying Biscuit is the place for you — or anyone with taste. The expansive menu is filled with every sort of breakfast food you can imagine. From the Eggstra-Ordinary Breakfast (two farm fresh eggs, creamy dreamy grits and
oven-roasted “moon-dusted” potatoes) and the High Flyer (two large farm fresh eggs served with their signature chicken breakfast sausage, creamy dreamy grits, plus an organic oatmeal pancake topped with warm peach compote and served with maple syrup) to the Egg-Ceptional Eggs (two large farm fresh eggs over medium, on black bean cakes topped with ovenroasted tomatillo salsa, feta cheese & sour cream served with creamy dreamy grits), the Flying Biscuit has it all.
And that’s just breakfast. They also have a full lunch and dinner menu, not to mention a bar. There are six Flying Biscuit locations in Atlanta, but if you’re looking for the ultimate dining experience, check out the original location in Candler Park. Even though all the locations are decorated with the same theme, there’s something more authentic about the original. 1655 McLendon Avenue NE, Atlanta
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Best Study Spot: Woodruff Library Stacks Need the perfect place to nish that paper? Have ve pages of calculus review but nowhere quiet to do it? Nestled up in the lofty tower of the Robert W. Woodruff Library is Emory University ’s best place to study on campus: the stacks. Silence and productivity abound in the stacks, where any student is able to claim a personal study carrel for their visit on a rst-come, rst-served basis. Choose any oor, from four to eight, but be sure to remember that oors four, ve and eight are silent. No one will confront you if you forget, but they ’ll be sure to emit an irritated sigh and compose an angry tweet about that one kid chewing gum too loudly on oor eight. One the stacks ’ best-kept secrets is the seventh oor. It ’s not just the soothing green and orange color scheme that
makes this study haven such a popular place; the magic lies — or rather, sits — in the chairs. Unlike the seats on every other oor, oor seven ’s chairs are library luxe, complete with plush lower back and bottom cushions, an adjustable height and the potential for exciting spinning action. Maybe it ’s not much of a step up from a regular computer chair — or maybe it ’s everything you ’ve ever wanted for your backside. But fear not if you nd yourself on a different oor and without a comfy seat! Your impending deadline and crippling anxiety about tomorrow ’s economics midterm will distract you from the fact that your posterior is aching from oor eight ’s horrible wooden chairs with their paper-thin “cushions. ”
Contrary to its name, Pitch ‘n Putt is not a place for playing miniature golf. In fact, it’s the best package store around Emory. Pitch ‘n Putt is known in the 30322 for its wide variety of wine, beer and liquor – ranging from the toast-worthy to the cringe-inducing – its low prices and its openness to alternative identification. Pitch ‘n Putt is conveniently located on Johnson Avenue, across from the Kroger supermarket (so you can grab some mixers at the same time). In fact, Pitch ‘n Putt is so committed to convenience that you can simply pull up to the drive-thru window to buy your hooch instead of walkambience, Bhojanic’s “fusion” ing all the way into the store. is perfectly emphasized. The restaurant manages to sustain a cool and cosmopolitan atmosphere while maintaining the more traditional aspects and home-cooked feel of their dishes. On Friday nights, Bhojanic hosts live jazz and crowds usually pile in to share the fun. A full service bar mixes up drinks as families and nightlife seekers alike keep coming back for more. 1363 Clairmont Rd., Decatur
Best Indian Food: Bhojanic Bhojanic’s website banner screams, “Warning! Food Contains Flavor!” This fusion-homestyle northern Indian restaurant has won awards from Creative Loafing, City Search and Atlanta magazine every year since 2006. Bhojanic is conveniently located right near campus in the Shops Around Lenox, across the Seven Lamp’s parking lot. Bhojanic serves tapas (shareable appetizer plates), specialty parathas (tradition-
al homemade whole wheat layer-stuffed flat bread), chat (popular Indian street food), thalis (traditional Indian combination platters) and much more. The restaurant will cater for a variety of events, including corporate events and famous performances. Bhojanic also maintains strong ties with the community by participating in charitable events, local festivals and the Atlanta media. In terms of the restaurant
Best Package Store: Pitch ‘n Putt
Dennis W. | Yelp
What more could you ask for? It also carries a full selection of domestic, imported, and microbrew beers—great for getting the essentials (Old Milwaukee, anyone?) or trying something new. Despite what the bars on its windows might imply, Pitch ‘n Putt has a strong reputation for having a friendly, knowledgeable staff and accommodating orders when they do not carry a certain type of drink. Thirsty? Then it sounds like you need to make a visit to Pitch ‘n Putt’s drive-thru window – because nothing mixes better than alcohol and automobiles. 1879 Johnson Rd. NE, Atlanta
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Best ATL Attraction: Georgia Aquarium If you have a Sunday afternoon to kill, $34.95 to spend and a desire to be inspired, there is nothing better to do in Atlanta than visit the Georgia Aquarium. Why? In a word: dolphins. In two words: sea otters. In three words: freakin’ whale sharks. The point is, if you want to see grace, power or cuteness, the aquarium is the place for you. The jury is still out on whether or not dolphins are smarter than humans, but there is no question that they are the most majestic of all creatures. They are sleek, solemn and sensible. When you stand in front of the dolphin tank at the aquarium, watching them swim in circles, patrolling their waters, you cannot help but think to yourself, “Those guys do not mess around.” You cannot help but want to be a better person after watching a dolphin.
In contrast, all the sea otters do is goof around. To watch them leap and dive and frolic and wrestle is to witness one of the few pure things left in this world. Standing in front of their tank will set aside all your cares, worries and burdens, and will transport you into a wonderland of uninhibited joy and imagination. That leaves whale sharks. They are huge. Simply massive. Utterly gigantic. In fact, according to Wikipedia, whale sharks are “the largest living non-mammalian vertebrate.” If that does not impress you, nothing will. Standing in front of them, you realize just how small you are. So go to the aquarium. Occupy yourself on a Sunday afternoon with something other than Family Guy reruns. Spend $34.95. Be inspired. 225 Baker St. NW, Atlanta
Best Late-Night Food: Waffle House A well-established — no, revered — Georgia institution, Waffle House is not only an amazing place for affordable breakfast food, but it’s also a very communal experience. Where else can you go to get some deliciously crispy hash browns and indulgently greasy bacon at 3 a.m.? It’s comfort food in the truest sense of the word. Life may get you down, but a massive chocolate-chip waffle will always make you feel a little better. Even if you’re not in the mood for breakfast (although this writer can’t imagine that ever being the case), the eatery offers some burgers and sandwiches that aren’t bad-tasting, and a
few of them are even are even, dare we say, healthy. Founded in 1955, “WaHo” has become a true cultural institution in the South with its bona-fide diner feel (complete with a jukebox!) and
booths. Make sure you try the iconic All-American Breakfast, featuring a smorgasbord of luscious food that would make any breakfast lover cry tears of joy. Many critics disparage WaHo’s menu for being appallingly unhealthy but, you know, sometimes you just need something greasy and delectable to wash the worries of the world away (and maybe clog your arteries). So treat yourself with Waffle House. It’s both the perfect start to every day and its always-interesting clien- the perfect end to any night. tele. There’s a profound social equality that occurs when the 2264 Cheshire Bridge Rd., high-born and the homeless Atlanta break bread (or waffle) togeth2850 East College Ave., er, each sitting in cold, plastic Decatur
Best Housing: Emory Point Gables Emory Point only opened this year, but there’s already so much love for it that you would think it had been here since 1836. It is located on Clifton Road, across from the CDC and roughly a mile from the center of campus. Emory Point is close enough to provide quick access to the university, but far enough away to give residents
their own space. It’s also situated right in the heart of merchandise heaven: the Emory Point retail center features multiple restaurants (there’s Italian, Indian, a deli, salads and sandwiches, a steak place ... you get the idea), boutiques, a spa and, naturally, a CVS. If you’re lucky (and financially secure) enough to snag a west-facing apartment, there’s
a superb view of the Atlanta skyline to be had. Plus, all Emory Point apartments follow the Green Initiative guidelines — all windows, roofs, appliances and heating/cooling systems are energy-efficient. That way, you know your rent money’s paying for more than just a nice view. 1627 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta
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