equal time magazine -- fall 2009 by Equal Time magazine

equa L » TI FALL 09

MAGAZINE

Julyin

Christmas

WESTCOTT HOT SPOTS

VAMPIRE CRAZE

TECHNOLOGY VS. LOVE LIVES

INSIDE “SU IN LA”

TI FALL 09

MAGAZINE

EDITOR IN CHIEF Andrea Roxas MANAGING EDITOR Melissa Romero DEPUTY EDITOR Tory Marlin SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Jenna Passmore ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR Alex Yeske FEATURES EDITOR Danielle Alvarez ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Stephanie Chen FASHION+BEAUTY EDITOR Jordan Walker SPORTS EDITOR Meredith Popolo HEALTH EDITOR Leah Rocketto FRONT OF BOOK EDITOR Eunice Huang RESEARCH EDITOR Kara Landsman PHOTO EDITOR Mitchell Franz RESEARCHERS Taylor Bryant Marina Charny Olivia Cho Katie Garton Fabiola Miranda-Ferra Amanda Smith Jordan Walker CREATIVES Caitlyn Bom Keisha Cedeno Yumiko Hirao Catherine LaPointe Kristin Levesque Morgan Spicer SPECIAL THANKS William Glavin Greg Hedges Clare Merrick

EDITOR’S

NOTE

People have asked me how Equal Time got its name. I recently learned it was founded as a feminist magazine, devoted to giving “equal time” to women. Nearly 30 years later, the meaning behind our name has evolved with the magazine. Now we work hard to give “equal time” to students with differing interests. If you like trying new foods, check out the authentic ethnic restaurants we recommend on page 4. Flip to page 13 and learn to host the theme party that suits your sense of humor. Find out which culture’s standards of beauty you agree with on page 21. We made the best of SU talent in this issue and included more original student photography, featuring student models of different majors and years. Also keep an eye out for illustrations drawn by creative students that really make our stories pop. Ultimately Equal Time is about you, the readers. So let us know what you want to see in future issues by shooting us an e-mail at equaltimemagazine@gmail.com. Enjoy the winter holidays. We’ll see you in the spring!

FRONT OF BOOK 2 The Lowdown on Post-Grad Exams Oh, The Places You’ll Go 3 Bits + Pieces: Beer Pong History 4 Ethnic Eats I’m the Orange Girl 5 There’s an App for That @SU Think B4 U Tweet HEALTH 6 Paging Local Doctors 7 Online Overdose 8 Baby Got Back Issues Banish the Holiday Bulge 9 Gym Getaways Get Rid of Gluten ENTERTAINMENT 10 Love at First Bite 11 The Ugly Truth About Romantic Comedies Deja View 12 Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Syracuse Style Editors’ Picks: Suggested Reading 13 Theme Party Throwdown Just Push Play 14 When Bands Collide Where it’s at on Westcott 15 Lights, Camera, Scholarship in Action

contents »

equa L »

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FASHION+BEAUTY 16 July in Christmas 19 Cute to Boot Assault on Salt 20 Coat Stashing 101 D.I.Y. versus P-A-Y 21 Global Beauty 22 Making Scents Editors’ Picks: Smells We Love Look Comfortably Chic in Class FEATURES 23 Divided We Stand 26 Is Technology Ruining Relationships?

Andrea Roxas Editor in Chief

ABOUT THE COVER

Photo editor Mitchell Franz shot this picture at Critz Farms in Cazenovia. Check out Mitchell’s racy vampire pic on page 10.

SPORTS 30 The Reality of Fantasy Sports 31 Trials of a Triathlete Hidden Talent 32 The Loud, The Proud, The Orange Orange Fever BACK OF BOOK 33 Overheard at SU Equal Time has been the general interest publication of Syracuse University since 1981. The writing contained within this publication expresses the opinions of the individual writers and does not reflect those of the Equal Time editorial board. Equal Time is not responsible for the individual opinions expressed within. Equal Time is published twice each academic year at Syracuse University. All contents within are copyright of their respective creators. No content may be reproduced without the written consent of the Equal Time editorial board.

EQUAL TIME

» FALL 2009

TI FALL 09

MAGAZINE

EDITOR’S

NOTE

contents »

equa L »

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Andrea Roxas Editor in Chief

ABOUT THE COVER

Photo editor Mitchell Franz shot this picture at Critz Farms in Cazenovia. Check out Mitchell’s racy vampire pic on page 10.

EQUAL TIME

» FALL 2009

FRONT OF BOOK

GRE GRAD SCHOOL $150

LSAT

WHEN: November of senior year for those planning to enter grad school right after college

LAW SCHOOL $132

MCAT

WHEN: Spring of junior year

BUSINESS SCHOOL $250

WHEN: No later than December of senior year

AIM FOR: According to the GRE Explorer Web site, test-takers should aim to score around 550 or above in the verbal section, and around 700 or above in the quantitative section.

SECTIONS: verbal, quantitative, analytical writing

SECTIONS: reading comprehension, logical reasoning, analytical reasoning, writing

MEDICAL SCHOOL $225

GMAT

words | Kayla Caldwell

SECTIONS: verbal reasoning, physical sciences, writing, biological sciences

SECTIONS: analytical writing, quantitative, verbal

BITS PIeCeS BEER PONG HISTORY—WE GOT NEXT. compiled by | Sara Goldberg

Students accepted into Yale, the No. 1 law school in the country, had a median LSAT score of 174, says Carina Wong, Executive Director of Communications at Kaplan Test Prep.

AIM FOR:

According to the “StudentDoc” Web site, average scores for each section ranged from 10 to 12 at schools like Boston University, Columbia University, and Cornell University. The MCAT is notoriously grueling and longer than other graduate exams, so students should plan and prepare accordingly, Wong says.

AIM FOR: According to the GMATCat Web site, the average scores for Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Sloan, and Yale were between 710 and 720. Practice tests are offered at www.mba.com.

Oh, The Places You’ll Go Forget NYC—these cities offer plenty of opportunities for job-seekers words | Justin O’Neill

Nintendo Wii has a

Ranked No. 1 on Forbes’ “Best Places for Business and Careers” for the third time, Raleigh promises future growth. Research Triangle Park is home to 170 companies and 42,000 employees. Baby boomers retiring to the Raleigh area will spur job growth in the local health care industry.

FALL 2009

» EQUAL TIME

Austin, Texas

The self-proclaimed “Live Music Capital of the World” is home to the global headquarters of Dell Computers, and ranks eighth in projected job growth, according to Forbes. It’s easy to de-stress in this laid-back university town with its music festivals and miles of hiking and bike trails for nature lovers.

Atlanta, Ga.

As one of the fastest-growing cities in America, Atlanta offers strong growth in manufacturing industries. “This bodes well for the general economic climate,” says Mike Cahill, director of the SU Center for Career Cervices. If those working in manufacturing have money to spend, they can stimulate the local economy. The city’s expanding SU alumni base is also a plus for networking.

Baltimore, Md.

“It can be gritty, but it is growing,” Cahill says. Cities in the Washington, D.C. area will be expanding in response to the growth of government jobs. Increased job opportunities in consulting groups are a notable result of this economic upturn.

1in9fra5ter0nitsy

virtual beer pong

when basements ould hit brothers w ’s beer each other table mugs on a

game called Frat Party Games: Pong Toss

1986

The year Lehigh University standardized the rules of beer pong as we know them today

“L et

Raleigh, N.C.

ames Drinking g the emerged in

AIM FOR:

it R

id e

the official term used when house rules state that you can not blow or swat away at the balls

”

m colu nist

T:n IReU BE ose e nam ch

The average American th g n o p r for “bee consumes dles”

ad without p e the liz to symbo bings in 1970s bom West t and East Beiru ebanon Beirut in L

, 0 0 0 5 $

23.1

gallons of beer each year

WHEN: June after junior year or fall of senior year

What to take and when if you plan on continuing school after SU

ES P

THE LOWDOWN ON POST-GRAD EXAMS

RICK REI

LLY believ

beer pong

es will be th e

”next gr Americeaat pastime”n % D 62 Y N A % LAY HEAV 7 4 N E E P W

the grand prize for the winner of the 2010 World Series of Beer Pong

The Flamingo Hotel hosts the official

WORLD SERIES OF BEER PONG

tournament in Las Vegas every year.

BET KIDS E G E LL AMES OF CO RINKING G D

15%

of the entire U.S. rice crop is used by Anheuser-Busch to brew beer

EQUAL TIME » FALL 2009

FRONT OF BOOK

GRE GRAD SCHOOL $150

LSAT

WHEN: November of senior year for those planning to enter grad school right after college

LAW SCHOOL $132

MCAT

WHEN: Spring of junior year

BUSINESS SCHOOL $250

WHEN: No later than December of senior year

AIM FOR: According to the GRE Explorer Web site, test-takers should aim to score around 550 or above in the verbal section, and around 700 or above in the quantitative section.

SECTIONS: verbal, quantitative, analytical writing

SECTIONS: reading comprehension, logical reasoning, analytical reasoning, writing

MEDICAL SCHOOL $225

GMAT

words | Kayla Caldwell

SECTIONS: verbal reasoning, physical sciences, writing, biological sciences

SECTIONS: analytical writing, quantitative, verbal

BITS PIeCeS BEER PONG HISTORY—WE GOT NEXT. compiled by | Sara Goldberg

Students accepted into Yale, the No. 1 law school in the country, had a median LSAT score of 174, says Carina Wong, Executive Director of Communications at Kaplan Test Prep.

AIM FOR:

AIM FOR: According to the GMATCat Web site, the average scores for Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Sloan, and Yale were between 710 and 720. Practice tests are offered at www.mba.com.

Oh, The Places You’ll Go Forget NYC—these cities offer plenty of opportunities for job-seekers words | Justin O’Neill

Nintendo Wii has a

FALL 2009

» EQUAL TIME

Austin, Texas

Atlanta, Ga.

Baltimore, Md.

1in9fra5ter0nitsy

virtual beer pong

when basements ould hit brothers w ’s beer each other table mugs on a

game called Frat Party Games: Pong Toss

1986

The year Lehigh University standardized the rules of beer pong as we know them today

“L et

Raleigh, N.C.

ames Drinking g the emerged in

AIM FOR:

it R

id e

the official term used when house rules state that you can not blow or swat away at the balls

”

m colu nist

T:n IReU BE ose e nam ch

The average American th g n o p r for “bee consumes dles”

ad without p e the liz to symbo bings in 1970s bom West t and East Beiru ebanon Beirut in L

, 0 0 0 5 $

23.1

gallons of beer each year

WHEN: June after junior year or fall of senior year

What to take and when if you plan on continuing school after SU

ES P

THE LOWDOWN ON POST-GRAD EXAMS

RICK REI

LLY believ

beer pong

es will be th e

”next gr Americeaat pastime”n % D 62 Y N A % LAY HEAV 7 4 N E E P W

the grand prize for the winner of the 2010 World Series of Beer Pong

The Flamingo Hotel hosts the official

WORLD SERIES OF BEER PONG

tournament in Las Vegas every year.

BET KIDS E G E LL AMES OF CO RINKING G D

15%

of the entire U.S. rice crop is used by Anheuser-Busch to brew beer

EQUAL TIME » FALL 2009

ETHNIC eats

FRONT OF BOOK

Take your taste buds around the world while staying local

words | Bethany Devendorf

photography | Caitlyn Bom

FRONT OF BOOK KOREAN

SAHOTA PALACE

668 Old Liverpool Road, Liverpool, N.Y. 13088 Price: $10+ Throughout the week (for lunch) and on weekends (for dinner), Sahota Palace offers an all-you-can-eat buffet with a wide selection of dishes. Pile on the curry and tandoori, but save room for the chicken mango, a dish consisting of tender chicken and mango pieces and topped with a sweet, tangy, and spicy sauce.

ET’s favorite apps for the iPhone or iTouch

1121 E. Fayette St., Syracuse, N.Y. 13210 Price: $12+

The Chorong House is a place for both food and song. Feast on mouth-watering dishes like bibimbap, which means “mixed meal” in Korean and is made up of rice, meat, vegetables, egg, and chili pepper paste. Or try the seafood pa jun, a giant seafood pancake, along with a session of karaoke. If embarrassed to sing in public, rent a private room at no extra cost.

words | Katie Garton

MIXOLOGIST

VIETNAMESE

For 99 cents, the Mixologist app turns you into a skilled bartender with its library of 7,900 recipes. Enter what alcohol and mixers you have, and voilà, you get the perfect drink to mix.

518 Kirkpatrick St., Syracuse, N.Y. 13208 Price: $7–$15 Offering an extensive menu and fast service, New Century is worth checking out. Try something new with pho, a beef and noodle soup that is a staple of Vietnamese cuisine. It is served with basil, lime, bean sprouts, and peppers, all of which can be added to the soup. Also order the crunchy New Century spring rolls as a side—you won’t find them anywhere else.

BAD DECISION BLOCKER (BDB)

NEW CENTURY

INDIAN

THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT

CHORONG HOUSE RESTAURANT

LAOTIAN, THAI LAO VILLAGE

208 W. Genesee St., Syracuse, N.Y. 13202 Price: Under $10 A small and casual restaurant, Lao Village offers inexpensive dishes made with vibrant spices and served in generous portions. Start off a savory meal of curry with the chicken summer roll, dipped in a side of lime-chili sauce.

SHAZAM

You’re in the car and are loving this song—but you don’t know what it’s called or who sings it. Shazam will tell you for free. Hold your phone up to the music and Shazam will recognize the song and provide lyrics, band information, and reviews. It even links you to iTunes for an easy song purchase.

TEXTPLUS

Send unlimited texts for free with TextPlus, an app that’s perfect for those without unlimited texting plans or who only have an iTouch. You can even have group conversations to see what everyone is saying. There’s no catch—the company pays for all texts.

Save yourself from the embarrassment of drunken calls and texts to an ex. The Bad Decision Blocker costs 99 cents and allows you to block people you may have an urge to foolishly contact on a night out. Don’t worry, blocked contacts will become visible after the time period you set expires.

I’m the Baton Girl

Meet Ashley Andrew, SU’s new twirler

as told to | Allison Polster photography | Caitlyn Bom, Jenna Passmore

I stretch nervously as I stand in the tunnel, about to run onto the Carrier Dome field. In high school, my dad used to remind me before every performance that delivery was all about mind over matter. Now, as the SU baton girl, I prepare for games by telling myself over and over that it’s all mental. So I run out of the tunnel and twirl into the spotlight with a huge smile. As a freshman, this is my first year as the Orange Girl—my official title as the SU twirler—but I’ve been twirling since I was 3 years old. I definitely have big shoes to fill here at ‘Cuse since four girls from my high school twirling team were Orange Girls before me. Completing my routines alone on the field is a little nerve-racking, but since I don’t have a coach or teammates, I get to design my own costume 4

FALL 2009

» EQUAL TIME

and choreograph my own routines. So much more goes into twirling than people might think—I also have to be a dancer and a gymnast. When I’m performing, the only thoughts running through my head are, “What is my next trick?” and, “Where do I need to get to on the field?” So far, everything has run pretty smoothly, except for one slight mishap at a band show on the quad. It was extremely hot outside and my hands were a little sweaty. The next thing I knew, the baton slipped out of my grip and hit a dancer. I was completely mortified. Being the Orange Girl definitely has its perks; I usually get to watch football games at the end zone, and I’ve witnessed a touchdown from five feet away. I’m definitely more of a ham when I’m the baton girl, but I’m much more laid-back as Ashley.

@SU think b4 u tweet

Boring things you do all day. No one cares if you’re sitting on a stoop outside your office.

You Complaining about what you

uoY

If you’re upset about something, tweeting won’t help. Talk to a friend, not a follower.

You Being like Ashton Kutcher,

who often tweets 20 times a day. Not that many things are tweet-worthy in a 24-hour span.

You TUI—Tweeting Under the

Influence. No one wants to decipher incoherent tweets about your night out. Keep it classy.

9 10

uoY

Your sex life or your friend’s sex life. This is personal stuff, not public information.

ate earlier or wish you could be eating. Then eat, don’t tweet!

words | Rebecca Toback

uoY

Your bodily functions. TMI.

Ten tips for good Twitter etiquette Twenty-six million users are expected to be on Twitter by next year, according to an emarketer.com study. Chances are, most of their tweets will be unnecessary. Here are some things to avoid while tweeting.

You

Y Fighting with friendsuo via @ responses. Way to take the high road.

You your job. You never Hating know when your boss is reading your tweets.

uoY Personal jokes. No one will get what you’re saying except maybe the other person involved in the joke.

EQUAL TIME

» FALL 2009

ETHNIC eats

FRONT OF BOOK

Take your taste buds around the world while staying local

words | Bethany Devendorf

photography | Caitlyn Bom

FRONT OF BOOK KOREAN

SAHOTA PALACE

ET’s favorite apps for the iPhone or iTouch

1121 E. Fayette St., Syracuse, N.Y. 13210 Price: $12+

words | Katie Garton

MIXOLOGIST

VIETNAMESE

For 99 cents, the Mixologist app turns you into a skilled bartender with its library of 7,900 recipes. Enter what alcohol and mixers you have, and voilà, you get the perfect drink to mix.

BAD DECISION BLOCKER (BDB)

NEW CENTURY

INDIAN

THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT

CHORONG HOUSE RESTAURANT

LAOTIAN, THAI LAO VILLAGE

SHAZAM

TEXTPLUS

I’m the Baton Girl

Meet Ashley Andrew, SU’s new twirler

as told to | Allison Polster photography | Caitlyn Bom, Jenna Passmore

FALL 2009

» EQUAL TIME

@SU think b4 u tweet

Boring things you do all day. No one cares if you’re sitting on a stoop outside your office.

You Complaining about what you

uoY

If you’re upset about something, tweeting won’t help. Talk to a friend, not a follower.

You Being like Ashton Kutcher,

who often tweets 20 times a day. Not that many things are tweet-worthy in a 24-hour span.

You TUI—Tweeting Under the

Influence. No one wants to decipher incoherent tweets about your night out. Keep it classy.

9 10

uoY

Your sex life or your friend’s sex life. This is personal stuff, not public information.

ate earlier or wish you could be eating. Then eat, don’t tweet!

words | Rebecca Toback

uoY

Your bodily functions. TMI.

You

Y Fighting with friendsuo via @ responses. Way to take the high road.

You your job. You never Hating know when your boss is reading your tweets.

uoY Personal jokes. No one will get what you’re saying except maybe the other person involved in the joke.

EQUAL TIME

» FALL 2009

HEALTH

ONLINE over Dose Medical Web sites can't always give you the right answers words | Alexandra Fretts

illustration | Morgan Spicer

local doctors PAGING

n light of the swine flu health scare, many people are turning to the web for medical advice. People who aren’t feeling well often use the Internet to research, diagnose, and treat their afflictions in the privacy of their homes. It seems to make sense, since self-diagnosis is easier and faster than visiting a doctor. On WebMD.com, users type ailments into a “symptom” tab, and within a few seconds receive an extensive list of possible illnesses they may suffer from. These exhaustive lists of potential diagnoses have given sites like WebMD a bad reputation among many college students. Amrita Mainthia, a sophomore magazine journalism major, believes that WebMD can be misleading.

If you need more than what Health Services can offer, schedule an appointment at these practices around the area words | Brianna Quaglia

illustration | Catherine LaPointe

Central New York Orthopedic Sports Medicine (315) 422-9233 1000 E. Genesee St. Suite 201 Hours: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday 7:30 a.m.–2 p.m. Friday

Weiss, Savedoff, & Ciccone, Doctors of Optometry, PC (315) 472-4594 60 Presidential Plaza, Madison Tower Hours: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Friday Weiss, Savedoff, & Ciccone provide optical prescriptions, vision therapy, and eye evaluation and treatment. Appointments are required, although the office is accommodating to emergency situations. Weiss, Savedoff, & Ciccone accept a number of different insurance plans, as well as cash, check, Visa, or MasterCard.

Women’s View Gynecology (315) 634-2500 1200 E. Genesee St. Suite 207 Hours: 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Monday–Friday Women’s View offers full gynecological services to students who prefer more specialized care. It is conveniently located on the edge of campus. Appointments must be made.

FALL 2009

» EQUAL TIME

CNY Orthopedic Sports Medicine specializes in treating sport and joint-related injuries. The practice also takes care of surgeries and accepts several insurances.

Anthony J. Grasso, Jr., DDS (315) 476-1985 502 Walnut Ave. Hours: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday 9 a.m.–7 p.m. Thursday By appointment Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday Dr. Grasso offers dental cleaning and takes care of most oral surgeries. His practice is close to campus and appointments can be made online at syracusenydentist.com. The office accepts all insurance plans, as well as cash, checks, and credit cards.

“I’ll go on to check symptoms that look like the flu, and all of a sudden I think I have cancer,” Mainthia says. “Suddenly I want to go on more and more to see if every little thing will kill me.” Mainthia’s sentiment sounds similar to hypochondria, a disorder characterized by constant worry over one’s

medical health. Some wonder if medical Web sites are causing people to develop this psychological disorder. Others, like Dr. David Geller, a Massachusetts-based physician, don’t believe medical Web sites are at fault. “WebMD probably wouldn’t create a problem, but it probably wouldn’t fix a pre-existing problem with hypochondria,” Geller says. In fact, he believes these Web sites could be helpful. “If a child has a symptom where they wouldn’t have gone to a doctor, now they might, because they see that it could be more serious than they initially thought,” he says. Dr. Jed Lehrich, a clinical psychologist also based in Massachusetts, agrees with Geller about health Web sites’ effects on hypochondria. “I don’t think it’s the Web site,” Lehrich says. “Before the web, we had the books. An anxious person picks up an abnormal psychology book and goes, ‘Oh my god, I’m depressed!’” But Lehrich does believe that people who actively research medical issues should be careful with the resulting information; symptoms that seem to add up to an illness or disease could just be a coincidence. Lehrich thinks Internet research can enrich the medical experience. “If people had more information, the interaction with the doctor, which is often very brief, might be a much more productive and comprehensible interaction,” he says. Lehrich compares self-diagnosing to getting your car fixed. If you’re having problems with your car, you might get more information about it so that you can ask a mechanic some questions. But you probably wouldn’t try to fix the car on your own. Both doctors agree that final medical advice should come from a professional. “Patients can gather information however they want, and then come to me,” Geller says. EQUAL TIME

» FALL 2009

HEALTH

ONLINE over Dose Medical Web sites can't always give you the right answers words | Alexandra Fretts

illustration | Morgan Spicer

local doctors PAGING

If you need more than what Health Services can offer, schedule an appointment at these practices around the area words | Brianna Quaglia

illustration | Catherine LaPointe

Central New York Orthopedic Sports Medicine (315) 422-9233 1000 E. Genesee St. Suite 201 Hours: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday 7:30 a.m.–2 p.m. Friday

FALL 2009

» EQUAL TIME

CNY Orthopedic Sports Medicine specializes in treating sport and joint-related injuries. The practice also takes care of surgeries and accepts several insurances.

» FALL 2009

HEALTH

BABY GOT

BACK U S S IS E

Fixing your posture can prevent back pain words | Genevieve Tabios

Break out the heating pads and pop open a bottle of Aleve. Our parents aren’t the only ones with back problems. Back pain is a common issue among college students, says Dr. Roman Bobila of Hamilton, N.J. “During long classes, you tend to relax your posture and end up putting all this extra pressure on your tailbone,” he says. In fact, sitting down doubles the amount of stress on the spine, and slouching only adds additional pressure. Poor posture can result in misaligned shoulders and unequal leg lengths, so here are some simple ways to perfect your posture:

» Pop a squat. As silly as it looks, squatting takes pressure off your back and butt. As an added bonus, it also tones your thighs and butt.

» PC Posture. When on the

computer, make sure your ears are not ahead of your shoulders, your eyes are level with the top of the screen, your feet are resting flat on the floor, and your back should be against the chair.

Banish the Holiday

BULGE

Let Santa be the only one with a belly this season

words | Danielle Alvarez

» Change positions. Stand up and loosen your muscles up every 15–30 minutes. If your professor has a problem with you shaking it out, a simple arm stretch will do the trick. » Give yourself a lap desk.

When using a laptop on a couch or bed, place a lap desk on your knees to help you sit up straight with your legs flat on the floor.

perfect your

posture

Products that will straighten out the slouch

» iPosture. This device contains a microchip that monitors your stance. Worn around your neck or clipped to your clothes, the iPosture vibrates when posture changes at least three degrees from the chosen setting. $65 at iPosture.com. » USB Posture Alert. Placed on top of your computer, this gadget measures your distance from the screen. A flashing red light or chime warns you when you are leaning in too close. $22 at Amazon.com.

» Eat Regularly. “Skipping meals

could lead to overeating,” Sterling says. Eat a balanced breakfast and lunch to keep dinner portions in check.

» Deny Drinks. “Eggnog and alcohol add hundreds of excess calories,” she says. Opt for non-caloric drinks like diet soda.

» Compare dishes. “There’s a lot

of anticipation for the meal and a lot of pressure to try Aunt Sally’s mashed potatoes,” Sterling says. Choose just two items you’ve waited for all year to satisfy cravings and keep calories low.

» Stay active.

Take a walk after meals or help clean up after the party. You’ll get some exercise and get away from the food.

words | Cassie Kreitner

Bally Total Fitness

Planet Fitness

Hours: 5 a.m.–11 p.m. Monday–Thursday 5 a.m.–10 p.m. Friday 7 a.m.–9 p.m. Saturday, Sunday

Hours: 5 a.m.–midnight Monday–Thursday 5 a.m.–11 p.m. Friday 8 a.m.–9:30 p.m. Saturday 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Sunday

Hours: Open midnight Monday–8 p.m. Friday 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Saturday, Sunday

5791 Widewaters Parkway, DeWitt, N.Y. 11 minute drive from campus

Fee: $199 for the school year.

With plenty of machines, Gold’s Gym has lots of room for both first-time gym-goers and workout fanatics. Each machine also comes with a TV to keep you entertained while you break a sweat. www.goldsgym.com

Carousel Center, Syracuse, N.Y. 8 minute drive from campus

5859 Bridge St., DeWitt, N.Y. 10 minute drive from campus

Fees: $10 a month for basic membership, which includes locker room and equipment use. For additional options, visit the Web site.

Bally Total Fitness is easily accessible—just jump on the Centro bus. For an extra $10 a month, you get a monthly personal training session. Plus, after your workout, you can hop in the sauna and let off some steam.

Fees: $99 start-up fee plus $58.99 annually.

This gym’s “no bodybuilding” policy helps beginners learn workout basics. It offers group sessions that focus on upper body, lower body, and abs. If one of these workouts leaves you stiff, take a seat in the massage chair. planetfitness.com

www.ballyfitness.com

gluten of

» 2 green tomatoes » ¼ cup of gluten-free cornmeal » ¼ cup Parmesan cheese » 2 Tbsp. gluten-free baking mix » ¾ tsp. garlic salt » ½ tsp. crushed oregano leaves » 1/8 tsp. pepper » 1 egg » ¼ cup corn oil » salt

» 2/3 cup of gluten-free baking mix » ½ cup cornstarch » 1 cup white sugar » 1 cup packed brown sugar » ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder » 1 tsp. baking soda » 2 eggs, beaten » ¾ cup melted margarine

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. 2. Grease an 8”x8” baking dish. 3. Stir together baking mix, cornstarch, sugars, cocoa powder, and baking soda. 4. Pour in eggs and margarine. 5. Mix until batter is smooth. 6. Scrape batter into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes.

Three tasty gluten-free recipes words | Melissa Romero

1. Slice tomatoes into ¼ inch slices. 2. Sprinkle slices with salt and drain on paper towels for 30 minutes. 3. Combine cornmeal, Parmesan cheese, baking mix, garlic salt, oregano leaves, and pepper on plate. 4. Beat egg. 5. Dip tomatoes into egg, then cornmeal mixture. 6. Heat corn oil on medium high in a skillet. Fry tomatoes for two minutes per side.

Southwestern Chicken Lasagna » 1 egg » 2 cups low-fat ricotta cheese » 1 cup reduced-fat cheddar cheese

get rid

Fried Green Tomatoes

Fudge Brownies » Lumbar Roll. This cylinder-shaped support pillow offers relief from lower back pain while properly aligning your spine. Originally made for travel needs, it is compact and can be used at any time in any place. $10 at most pharmacies.

If campus gyms don't cut it, try these local fitness centers

Gold’s Gym

» FitFlops. These biomechanically engineered shoes improve posture and reduce back stress. They also increase muscle activity, giving you leaner legs. Range from $30 to $200 at J. Michael Shoes.

Americans consume 3,000 calories at the average holiday feast, according to the American Council on Exercise. Wendy Sterling, a registered dietician of Westchester County, N.Y., says “tempting, calorically dense foods make it very hard to stick to your diet.” Follow Sterling’s tips to get all the pleasure and none of the pudge this holiday season.

» Think tiny. Since visual cues help you determine how full you are, using smaller plates makes it easier to control portions.

GYM getaways

HEALTH

» 1 lb. ground chicken » 2 cups mashed kidney beans » ½ cup water

» 1 tsp. cumin » ½ tsp. garlic powder » 1 cup picante sauce

Pizza and beer are staples in a college diet. But a growing number of people can’t eat these foods because they suffer from Celiac Disease (CD), a chronic disorder that damages the small intestine. If someone with CD ingests the protein gluten, the absorption of nutrients to the bloodstream can be disrupted. Because no one should have to miss out on a good meal, ET has found the perfect recipes for a gluten-free diet.

» 1 small can of chopped green chilies » 2 cups crushed stewed tomatoes » 1 package of DeBoles Rice Lasagna noodles

1. Mix 1 egg and cheeses in a bowl. 2. Sauté chicken in skillet. 3. Add beans, water, cumin, garlic powder, ½ cup of picante sauce, and chilies. 4. In separate bowl, mix tomatoes and ½ cup picante sauce. 5. In 9”x 13” pan, layer as follows: sauce, uncooked DeBoles Rice Lasagna noodles, chicken mixture, and cheese mixture. Repeat until dish is filled. 6. Cover and bake at 350° F for one hour.

EQUAL TIME

» FALL 2009

HEALTH

BABY GOT

BACK U S S IS E

Fixing your posture can prevent back pain words | Genevieve Tabios

» Pop a squat. As silly as it looks, squatting takes pressure off your back and butt. As an added bonus, it also tones your thighs and butt.

» PC Posture. When on the

computer, make sure your ears are not ahead of your shoulders, your eyes are level with the top of the screen, your feet are resting flat on the floor, and your back should be against the chair.

Banish the Holiday

BULGE

Let Santa be the only one with a belly this season

words | Danielle Alvarez

When using a laptop on a couch or bed, place a lap desk on your knees to help you sit up straight with your legs flat on the floor.

perfect your

posture

Products that will straighten out the slouch

» Eat Regularly. “Skipping meals

could lead to overeating,” Sterling says. Eat a balanced breakfast and lunch to keep dinner portions in check.

» Deny Drinks. “Eggnog and alcohol add hundreds of excess calories,” she says. Opt for non-caloric drinks like diet soda.

» Compare dishes. “There’s a lot

» Stay active.

Take a walk after meals or help clean up after the party. You’ll get some exercise and get away from the food.

words | Cassie Kreitner

Bally Total Fitness

Planet Fitness

Hours: 5 a.m.–11 p.m. Monday–Thursday 5 a.m.–10 p.m. Friday 7 a.m.–9 p.m. Saturday, Sunday

Hours: 5 a.m.–midnight Monday–Thursday 5 a.m.–11 p.m. Friday 8 a.m.–9:30 p.m. Saturday 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Sunday

Hours: Open midnight Monday–8 p.m. Friday 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Saturday, Sunday

5791 Widewaters Parkway, DeWitt, N.Y. 11 minute drive from campus

Fee: $199 for the school year.

Carousel Center, Syracuse, N.Y. 8 minute drive from campus

5859 Bridge St., DeWitt, N.Y. 10 minute drive from campus

Fees: $10 a month for basic membership, which includes locker room and equipment use. For additional options, visit the Web site.

Fees: $99 start-up fee plus $58.99 annually.

www.ballyfitness.com

gluten of

Three tasty gluten-free recipes words | Melissa Romero

Southwestern Chicken Lasagna » 1 egg » 2 cups low-fat ricotta cheese » 1 cup reduced-fat cheddar cheese

get rid

Fried Green Tomatoes

If campus gyms don't cut it, try these local fitness centers

Gold’s Gym

» FitFlops. These biomechanically engineered shoes improve posture and reduce back stress. They also increase muscle activity, giving you leaner legs. Range from $30 to $200 at J. Michael Shoes.

» Think tiny. Since visual cues help you determine how full you are, using smaller plates makes it easier to control portions.

GYM getaways

HEALTH

» 1 lb. ground chicken » 2 cups mashed kidney beans » ½ cup water

» 1 tsp. cumin » ½ tsp. garlic powder » 1 cup picante sauce

» 1 small can of chopped green chilies » 2 cups crushed stewed tomatoes » 1 package of DeBoles Rice Lasagna noodles

EQUAL TIME

» FALL 2009

FRONT OF BOOK FRONT OF BOOK

»»

Love at

ENTERTAINMENT FRONT OF BOOK

FIRST BITE

ET’s hunt to find out what makes vampires devilishly sexy

They may do more harm than good

words | Eunice Huang photography | Mitchell Franz

Tune into these modern adaptations of your old favorites words | Melissa Savignano

If You Like Check out Eastwick

With an abundance of medical shows filling up primetime this season to become the next ER, Three Rivers provides the sweet mixture of heart, good-looking doctors, and intense medical cases. The show focuses on a heart transplant hospital in Pittsburgh, mixing patient traumas with doctor’s personal issues. Alex O’Loughlin plays celebrity surgeon Dr. Andy Yablonski, a doc as dreamy as George Clooney’s Dr. Ross in ER’s first seasons.

Modern Family films a mockumentary of the Pritchett family as it deals with gay marriage, adoption from Vietnam, the father’s much younger trophy wife and growing teenagers. While nothing can replace the Bluth family in the hearts of Arrested Development fans, Modern Family’s dysfunction will make you laugh just as much. Comedy veteran Ed O’Neil (Married with Children) plays the cranky patriarch of the primetime family.

Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on ABC

Sundays at 9 p.m. on CBS

FALL 2009 EQUAL TIME FALL 2009 » EQUAL TIME

Twilight (2008) Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen

If You Like Check out Three Rivers

Eastwick, an adaptation of the 1987 movie, features three friends who develop magical powers and battle the mystifying Darryl Van Horne, who tries to control the friendly witches. As the three women grow into their powers, they find love interests, and use their powers for personal benefit in the town Eastwick. Fans of the supernatural and sisterly bond of Charmed will find this adaptation refreshing and reminiscent of their beloved Halliwell sisters.

If You Like Check out Modern Family

3 10

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003) David Boreanaz as Angel

can’t my life be like that?’” Brode says. “I would try to tell her it was only a movie, but it didn’t matter.” If relationships were like those on the big screen, we’d all catch that special someone’s eye in the street and fall madly in love in 90 minutes. Real relationships, however, take work, communication, and even the occasional fight—things that go on behind the scenes.

DEJA VIEW

Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on ABC

Interview with a Vampire (1994) Brad Pitt (R) as Louis de Pointe du Lac, Tom Cruise as Lestat de Lioncourt

MODEL | KATY HAAS

Cheesiness is a key ingredient to romantic comedies. Some eat it up like their favorite comfort food, while haters cringe at the sickeningly sweet storylines. Those haters’ reasons for, well, hating, might now be justified: a new study found that women who watch romantic comedies are more likely to have unrealistic expectations about love than those who watch other genres. In the study, conducted by Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, 100 women watched a drama, while another 100 women watched Serendipity, a romantic comedy about a couple that reunites years after they first met. After the viewings, the women voiced their opinions on fate. The majority of women who viewed Serendipity believed in destiny when it comes to love and dating. Douglas Brode, a television, radio, and film professor at SU, isn’t surprised by the study’s findings. “Romantic comedies are ultimately fairy tales, but they are shot in real locations,” Brode says. “Because they are filmed on real locations, this grounds the movie in reality, which makes people believe it’s real.” Brode has seen firsthand how movies can affect a woman’s mind. He had a friend who was a dancer and watched Flashdance regularly. Brode recalls her being more beautiful and a better dancer than the movie’s main character. “She would watch the movie, cry, and ask, ‘Why

Sexiest Vampires on Screen

MAKEUP | KAYLA RAWDEN

vampires. “They’re tortured souls. They don’t want to be monsters,” she says. “It’s like a Disney movie; every girl wanted to be a princess, now they want their own vampire.” Gael Sweeney, a writing professor at SU, thinks vampires are more like romantic heroes than horror figures. “Vampires are very sexy. They come through your window at night and suck your blood—that’s very sexual,” Sweeney says. But at the same time, “there’s the danger that this creature is not human, so it’s the fantasy that you can tame him,” she says. True Blood heroine Sookie Stackhouse embraces these contradicting characteristics in her vampire lover, Bill. “I know there’s darkness in you… it scares the life out of me,” she says to him. “There’s goodness in you too, and when I look in your eyes, that’s what I see.” “People are obsessed with vampires for the idea of immortality,” says Robert Niedt, a pop culture expert and columnist at The Post-Standard. “People are afraid of death and living forever. It’s awesome and terrible at the same time.” Vampires first surfaced onto the pop culture scene with the 1931 film Dracula, Niedt says. For generations after, vampires have re-emerged as pop culture icons in cycles, reflecting the harsh reality of times. Niedt cites the gothic ‘60s soap opera Dark Shadows and the ‘90s show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. “People are looking for escapism, especially in unprecedented economic times,” he says. “There’s nothing more escapist than these fantasies,” writing professor Sweeney says. The entertainment industry “will ride this as long as they can, waiting for the next fad.” So for now ladies, get them while they’re hot…or cold.

words | Leah Rocketto photography | Mitchell Franz

MODELS | NICHOLAS DEYO, SARA GOLDBERG

irls’ expectations for guys have reached impossible heights. “Today, my girlfriend dumped me proclaiming she wanted someone more like her ‘Edward.’ I asked her who Edward was. She held up a copy of her Twilight book. She was talking about a fictional vampire. FML,” posted a fangless ex-boyfriend on the “fmylife” Web site. The recent influx of vampires on the pop culture scene has swept young women into a frenzy for the undead. Ordinary guys must compete with Edward Cullen, who can use his supernatural strength and speed to save a helpless damsel from a skidding van. Every move is upped by True Blood’s handsome and polite Southern vampire, Bill, who has had centuries to perfect his manners. Tough luck, boys: these vampires won’t turn to dust any time soon. The Twilight movie grossed almost $400 million worldwide, and the novels dominated USA Today’s best-selling list with the longest staying power — a title that once belonged to J.K. Rowling. HBO’s True Blood averages 12 million viewers per episode as the network’s second most-watched series, and the CW’s The Vampire Diaries, which launched this fall, was the most-watched premiere in the network’s history. Jaclyn Mirault, a senior biology major, has watched Twilight almost 30 times. “It doesn’t get boring,” she says. “I love the supernatural world. It’s exciting. It’s different.” Mirault believes people can relate to these humanized

The UGLY TRUTH About Romantic Comedies

True Blood (2008) Stephen Moyer (R) as Bill Compton, Alexander Skarsgård as Eric Northman

EQUAL TIME » FALL 2009

FRONT OF BOOK FRONT OF BOOK

»»

Love at

ENTERTAINMENT FRONT OF BOOK

FIRST BITE

ET’s hunt to find out what makes vampires devilishly sexy

They may do more harm than good

words | Eunice Huang photography | Mitchell Franz

Tune into these modern adaptations of your old favorites words | Melissa Savignano

If You Like Check out Eastwick

Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on ABC

Sundays at 9 p.m. on CBS

FALL 2009 EQUAL TIME FALL 2009 » EQUAL TIME

Twilight (2008) Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen

If You Like Check out Three Rivers

If You Like Check out Modern Family

3 10

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003) David Boreanaz as Angel

DEJA VIEW

Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on ABC

Interview with a Vampire (1994) Brad Pitt (R) as Louis de Pointe du Lac, Tom Cruise as Lestat de Lioncourt

MODEL | KATY HAAS

Sexiest Vampires on Screen

MAKEUP | KAYLA RAWDEN

words | Leah Rocketto photography | Mitchell Franz

MODELS | NICHOLAS DEYO, SARA GOLDBERG

The UGLY TRUTH About Romantic Comedies

True Blood (2008) Stephen Moyer (R) as Bill Compton, Alexander Skarsgård as Eric Northman

EQUAL TIME » FALL 2009

» Fake sick, but skip the Ferrari. How to make the most of playing hooky

Leah Rocketto, Health Editor Drink, Play, F@#k: One Man’s Search for Anything Across Ireland, Las Vegas, and Thailand by Andrew Gottlieb Maybe it’s my inner dude, but I found Gottlieb’s novel much better than its female predecessor, Eat, Pray, Love. His tales of drunken debauchery, winning big, and one-night stands will remind you of nights on Frat Row. Melissa Romero, Managing Editor On the Road by Jack Kerouac It tells a beautiful story of what one can encounter on the roads of the U.S. The book is a perfect precursor for that postgraduation road trip. Meredith Popolo, Sports Editor The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls An eccentric memoir about a nomadic family and a daughter who is often forgotten. After reading it, you’ll never complain again. Jordan Walker, Fashion+Beauty Editor Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan It made me realize that there was nothing to be afraid of in life, because any problem can be overcome. Danielle Alvarez, Features Editor Expat by Christina Henry De Tessan Traveling to a foreign country and living in a foreign country are two very different things. In this collection of short stories, De Tessan captures the adventure, the apprehension, and everything in between.

FALL 2009

» EQUAL TIME

White trash They may not be the classiest bunch, but white trash know how to party. Don’t bother with hors d’oeuvres. White trash can’t even spell hors d’oeuvres.

If anyone knows how to play hooky, it’s Ferris Bueller. Life moves pretty fast, so try these five fun and cheap ways to make the most of your day off. In the words of Ferris himself, “The question isn’t, ‘What are we going to do?,’ the question is, ‘What aren’t we going to do?’”

3 5

HEAD FOR THE HILLS. A fresh layer of snow is a shame to waste. Grab your sled and hit the slopes—the Crouse slope to be exact. On your way over, call up your best friend to come along. SNAG A RIDE. If you don’t have a car, rent a Zipcar. For $35 a year you can have access to wheels parked right on campus. Reserve online to pay a low hourly or daily rate that includes gas and insurance. Not quite Ferris’s red 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California, but at least you don’t have to worry about parking it in a garage.

SADDLE UP. Now that you’ve got wheels, cruise on over to the Carousel Mall and pony up $1 for a ride on the 1909 Philadelphia Toboggan carousel. As Ferris says, “It’s a little childish and stupid,” but then, so is college (sometimes). HIT THE ICE. Visit the Clinton Square Ice Rink in downtown Syracuse to take advantage of the half-price lunchtime skate. From 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on weekdays, admission is just $1.50 and skate rental is $3.00.

words | Meghin Delaney

‘80s Prom

words | Meredith Popolo

Tory Marlin, Deputy Editor Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson + David Oliver Relin It often seems impossible to have an impact on the wider world, but this book shows that one person can, with hard work, sacrifice, and a love for the cause.

Four fool-proof themes for a great party

celebrity scan

Books to read before you grab that diploma

THEME PARTY THROWDOWN

SYRACUSE STYLE

GET WILD. Unleash your inner animal at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park. For $4.50 with your SU ID you can get up close and personal with penguins, lions, and elephants (oh my!).

Celebrate everything John Hughes, from preppy to punk. Get inspired by The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, and Pretty in Pink.

ls da

Dig up the best dirt and get ready for the paparazzi (or just some serious un-tagging on Facebook).

Michael Jackson MJ’s legacy will live forever in his music, but there’s no better way to honor the late great than with a party.

ATTIRE

Suggested Reading

FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF,

Flannel shirts, trucker hats, wifebeaters, Daisy Dukes, Nascar T-shirts, ripped T-shirts or jeans.

Girls: leg warmers, BIG hair, red lips, bright eyes, anything pink. Boys: rolled-up jeans, ankle socks, spiked or feathered hair.

Do your best rendition of any paparazzi fave. Think Octomom, Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton, Janet Jackson’s exposed boob, and Jon and Kate.

Military coats, red leather, white gloves, aviator shades, fedoras, and anything gold or glittered.

FOOD DECOR

EDITORS’ PICKS:

ENTERTAINMENT

Bring in some mismatching lawn furniture and those black light pictures you can color yourself.

Crowns for the Prom King and Queen, yellow, pink, and green streamers, disco ball.

Gold and silver balloons, red carpet, strobe light.

Black and white streamers and balloons, confetti.

Twinkies, Hostess Cupcakes, Doritos, Cheez Whiz.

Add some Cap’n Crunch to sandwiches like Allison in The Breakfast Club.

Think finger food: cheese and crackers, shrimp cocktail

Celebrate Jackson’s hit “Black or White” by baking dark fudge cupcakes with vanilla frosting.

DRINK

FRONT OF BOOK

Colt 45s, PBRs, and Keystone Lights: so trashy, they’re classy.

Spiked punch bowl: 8 oz. gin, 8 oz. rum, 8 oz. vodka, 8 oz. pineapple juice, 1 gal. fruit punch. Add ice and drink it down.

So you can’t pop Cristal or Dom. Good thing a bottle of Andre runs for $5.

Black Russian: 1 oz. Kahlua and 1 oz. vodka. Pour over ice cubes and stir well.

JUST PUSH PLAY

Please note: All decorations can be found at Party City in North Syracuse or on their website at www.PartyCity.com

Whether working out at the gym or getting a workout in bed, these playlists will keep you pumped compiled by | the editors

IN THE BEDROOM

AT THE GYM

AT THE TABLE

ON THE ROAD

» » FALL 2009

WHEN BANDS

COLLIDE Rockstars are joining forces to form supergroups

words | Stephanie Chen

Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes)

Jim James (My Morning Jacket)

Jack Lawrence (The Raconteurs)

Matt Ward (M. Ward)

Jack White (The White Stripes)

Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age)

John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin)

words | Ka

Alison Mosshart (The Kills)

Dean Fertita (Queens of the Stone Age)

On the recently released Horehound, White drops his guitar to pick up the drums. Mosshart’s vocals are sexy and sweaty as she sings on the sexually charged “Treat Me Like Your Mother.” Even through reggae-funk tracks like “I Cut Like A Buffalo” and the bluesy acoustic “Will There Be Enough Water?,” you can almost smell the bourbon and cigarette smoke on White’s breath during the making of this album.

» DOWNLOAD: “Treat Me Like Your Mother”

» DOWNLOAD: “Say Please”

+ +

ter augural seicamPaeslmer in s it ff o ks ic k SU in LA ra Landsman illustration | Mon

THE DEAD WEATHER

Four of the biggest names in alternative/indie rock today bring their individual styles to create a sound not entirely cohesive. James brings Southern twang and country vibes on “The Right Place,” while Oberst’s begging guitar and lyrics on “Ahead of the Curve” sound like something off his John Mayer-ish album Cassadaga from 2007. Ward’s old-fashioned voice also shines with laid-back guitar chords on “Goodway.”

Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters)

Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes)

MONSTERS OF FOLK

THEM CROOKED VULTURES

Grohl isn’t shredding on guitar either, but hitting the drums like a madman on his current tour. Dynamic, guitar-driven tracks like “Scumbag Blues” and “Elephants” showcase Homme’s skills, while other songs, like “Daffodils,” feature Jones rocking stunning outros on keys and keytar.

» DOWNLOAD: “Nobody Loves Me and Neither Do I”

Where it’s at on WESTCOTT Take a break from Marshall Street and head to these lesser-known spots

DE-STRESS In this serene, calm setting (think waterfalls) with an array of books, you’ll find yourself more centered than ever at Seven Rays Bookstore. While it looks like a typical bookstore, Seven Rays gives their customers the option to take a meditating or African drumming class. A little anger release and reflection never hurt anyone. 14

FALL 2009

» EQUAL TIME

LIGHTS, CAMERA, SCHOLARSHIP IN ACTION

When the power trio Cream, consisting of Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker, joined the progressive rock scene in 1966, their talents exceeded the sum of their parts. The term “supergroup” was born: already-famous musicians from other bands jamming together—until egos get in the way. Since then, supergroups have turned out tunes both supergood… and well, just plain bad. Here are the ones we think live up to the hype:

RE-DRESS Spend some time rummaging through clothes at Cluttered Closet. This small vintage shop houses clothing dated from the twenties to today. From suede jackets to gold jewelry, the options are endless and inexpensive. If you’re feeling lucky, comb through the selection of clothes Cluttered Closet offers and snag some of the designer pieces hiding in there.

words | Taylor Bryant photography | Mitchell Franz

CHOW DOWN Head over to Metro Lounge & Café with some friends for a fun time. Metro gives off a modern New York City vibe with its stylish bar, dining area, and pool table room. If you’re looking for a place to socialize, watch the game, or simply dance the night away, make a stop at Metro.

n a typical weekday, senior film major Sophie Benhamou pitches ideas in development meetings with network executives. Later, she attends classes and schmoozes at the home of The West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin before going to a screening for an independent film from Mali, and then a Q&A session at the Directors Guild of America. Benhamou is one of 28 SU students studying in Los Angeles for the inaugural semester of the “SU in LA” program. Students attend classes in their respective majors while working at least 20 hours a week at an entertainment industry internship. The program’s director, Andrea Asimow, has 25 years of experience in the entertainment industry. Asimow first worked to create a program for Newhouse graduate students; they would fly out to L.A., stay in a hotel, and attend a week-long series of meetings with professionals. “I think that was a nice transition to the idea of getting a campus going,” Asimow says. “The idea was to be an exciting dynamic presence on the west coast, and eventually grow beyond just coursework having to do with entertainment.” Television, radio, and film Chairman Richard Dubin realized that students in Newhouse had very little connections to the reality of the entertainment business. “I started to lobby for some connection to Los Angeles,” Dubin says. “School is school and the entertainment business is the entertainment business, and I think once students get exposure to the real thing, they get very excited. It’s happening in a place where the business is real. They’re

seeing the potential for some of their aspiration.” Since he did not study abroad as a junior, Dan Siegel, a senior television, radio, and film major, decided the L.A. program was a perfect fit. “It seemed like fate,” Siegel says. “The program has everything you could imagine. If you’re deciding if you want to move to L.A., it’s the perfect opportunity to experience it. And you can’t argue with 75-degree weather everyday.” Siegel currently interns with the production company Super Delicious. He has had the opportunity to work on set with a production team shooting a competitive baking show for The Food Network. All students take an internship class, where they discuss their experiences and any problems they may be facing at work. However, Asimow keeps the focus of the program on real world experience. “If there is any kind of event that we’d like to attend during that class time, she encourages us to take advantage of it while we can,” Siegel says. “A group of four students were out last week to see a taping of the new Jay Leno Show. Dubin expects the program to continue expanding. He believes the “SU in LA” students will come back to Syracuse fired up about the program and will spread the word. “The guidance we are getting from these industry professionals is unbeatable, and the lineup has been extremely impressive,” Siegel says. “It makes you start to realize the pulling power that the Syracuse University brand has in L.A.” EQUAL TIME

» FALL 2009

WHEN BANDS

COLLIDE Rockstars are joining forces to form supergroups

words | Stephanie Chen

Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes)

Jim James (My Morning Jacket)

Jack Lawrence (The Raconteurs)

Matt Ward (M. Ward)

Jack White (The White Stripes)

Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age)

John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin)

words | Ka

Alison Mosshart (The Kills)

Dean Fertita (Queens of the Stone Age)

» DOWNLOAD: “Treat Me Like Your Mother”

» DOWNLOAD: “Say Please”

+ +

ter augural seicamPaeslmer in s it ff o ks ic k SU in LA ra Landsman illustration | Mon

THE DEAD WEATHER

Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters)

Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes)

MONSTERS OF FOLK

THEM CROOKED VULTURES

» DOWNLOAD: “Nobody Loves Me and Neither Do I”

Where it’s at on WESTCOTT Take a break from Marshall Street and head to these lesser-known spots

FALL 2009

» EQUAL TIME

LIGHTS, CAMERA, SCHOLARSHIP IN ACTION

words | Taylor Bryant photography | Mitchell Franz

» FALL 2009

JULYin Christmas Whether you’re skiing in Aspen or sunbathing in Aruba, ET's got your wardrobe covered

ON STEPHANIE: Vest, Forever 21 Bikini, model's own Ear muffs, model's own Boots, Uggs “Adirondack,” J. Michael Shoes

ON KIM: Scarf, model's own Bikini, Victoria's Secret Vest, LOGG from H&M Boots, UGGS “Sunburst Tall”

ON ETHAN: Scarf, model’s own Gloves, Thinsulate, J. Michael Shoes Swim trunks, model’s own

ON KATY: Hat, Woodenships, Urban Outfitters Gloves, model’s own Bikini, model’s own Vest, Luii, J. Michael Shoes Boots, Pajar, J. Michael Shoes

ON VICTOR: Hat, The North Face, J. Michael Shoes Gloves, Thinsulate, Charney's Swim trunks, O’Neill

styled by | Jordan Walker photography | Mitchell Franz

FALL 2009

» EQUAL TIME

JULYin Christmas Whether you’re skiing in Aspen or sunbathing in Aruba, ET's got your wardrobe covered

ON STEPHANIE: Vest, Forever 21 Bikini, model's own Ear muffs, model's own Boots, Uggs “Adirondack,” J. Michael Shoes

ON KIM: Scarf, model's own Bikini, Victoria's Secret Vest, LOGG from H&M Boots, UGGS “Sunburst Tall”

ON ETHAN: Scarf, model’s own Gloves, Thinsulate, J. Michael Shoes Swim trunks, model’s own

ON KATY: Hat, Woodenships, Urban Outfitters Gloves, model’s own Bikini, model’s own Vest, Luii, J. Michael Shoes Boots, Pajar, J. Michael Shoes

ON VICTOR: Hat, The North Face, J. Michael Shoes Gloves, Thinsulate, Charney's Swim trunks, O’Neill

styled by | Jordan Walker photography | Mitchell Franz

FALL 2009

» EQUAL TIME

FASHION+BEAUTY

Cute to BOOT

FASHION+BEAUTY

Check out the best boots for this winter words | Allison O’Brien

SOREL 1964 PAC BOOT A sporty boot with unexpected flair, Sorel’s 1964 Pac Boot is a skier’s dream come true. The waterproof outer-layer combines function with fashion, ideal for trudging around campus after a snowfall. Available in three fun prints, the boots make up for winter’s often lackluster wardrobe options. The lining of the boot is washable and removable, perfect during muddy spring months. They’re also ideal for shoppers looking to go green—the cozy inner boot is made of recycled felt. ($109.95, zappos.com)

C1RCA “STREET SELECT” BOOT For a fresh, funky twist on snow gear, try the “Street Select” boots made by C1RCA. Offered in five colors, they are sure to attract attention amid a sea of UGG boots. Most of the boot is made of canvas. They can be worn as high tops or folded down for an edgier look. The rubber soles ensure a no-slip grip on icy walkways, and the button on the side adds flair. ($59.95, zappos.com)

DVS SHOE COMPANY “SHILOH” BOOT For those desperate to stay warm without sacrificing style, the “Shiloh” boot by DVS Shoe Company is the right choice. The boots fall at mid-calf but can also be folded down. A sturdy fur lining guarantees warmth on the most frigid days, and the hemp-infused soles improve traction and grip. Adjustable ties on the back give the boot a personal touch. Styles include Navy Tweed, Gray Canvas, Black Flannel, and Cream Leather. ($69.99, endless.com)

UNLISTED “MID-CALF SLOUCH” BOOT Thanks to the “Mid-Calf Slouch Boots,” fashionistas everywhere don’t need to put their heels into hibernation this winter. A modern take on a timeless classic, this leather boot is a true investment. Offered in ink black or chocolate brown, the 3-inch heel and pull-on style make these boots ideal for traipsing down Comstock Avenue. The boots come in whole and half sizes and are available exclusively at metrostyle.com. ($54.99, metrostyle.com)

ASSAULT

on SALT Keep salt on the sidewalks and off your boots models | Katy Haas special thanks | Charney’s Stephanie Hernandez Critz Farms Victor Nwosu J. Michael Shoes Kim Smith Ethan Parisen

words | Lucia Schepps

FOR RUBBER BOOTS Remove white residue left by the salt by using Armor All, the car cleaner, says Erik Hicks, assistant manager of J. Michael Shoes. “Saturate the boot liberally and let it sit for a few minutes,” he says. Then scrub the boots with a towel.

FOR LEATHER BOOTS Cough up some money to get this pair cleaned. Bring leather boots to a shoe repair shop, Hicks says, “so a professional can get it right the first time.”

FOR SUEDE BOOTS Mix one part white vinegar and one part warm water and use that solution to carefully scrub the boots. Hicks suggests using a soft cloth to do this. “Salt makes the boot brittle, so you need to be much more gentle,” he says.

EQUAL TIME

» FALL 2009

FASHION+BEAUTY

Cute to BOOT

FASHION+BEAUTY

Check out the best boots for this winter words | Allison O’Brien

ASSAULT

on SALT Keep salt on the sidewalks and off your boots models | Katy Haas special thanks | Charney’s Stephanie Hernandez Critz Farms Victor Nwosu J. Michael Shoes Kim Smith Ethan Parisen

words | Lucia Schepps

FOR LEATHER BOOTS Cough up some money to get this pair cleaned. Bring leather boots to a shoe repair shop, Hicks says, “so a professional can get it right the first time.”

EQUAL TIME

» FALL 2009

global

beauty

FASHION+BEAUTY

COAT STASHING 101

Stealthy secrets for storing winter coats on a night out words | Stacie Foster

Crossing cultural boundaries to define what is beautiful words | Jordan Walker

AT HOUSE PARTIES:

» Use the oven or cupboards as storage to keep coats clean and out of the way. » Ask the owner of the house to keep coats in a locked bedroom.

FACIAL

HOME

Drug stores carry several creams, scrubs, and masks that effectively mimic a professional facial, which can cost you more than $60 at salons. Add some cucumber slices to your eyes and you’re good to go. (Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew crème: $12.99, CVS)

SPRAY TAN

A wide range of inexpensive and effective self-tanning products make it easy to get that healthy summer glow at home in the dead of winter. Use a spray can for instant bronze results. (Neutrogena Micromist Tanning Sunless Spray: $10.99, CVS)

MANICURE+PEDICURE

At-home mani-pedis produce the same results for a fraction of the salon price. Many drug stores offer inexpensive nail kits that get the job done. (Kiss Everlasting Nail Kit: $3.99, CVS)

FALL 2009

» EQUAL TIME

AT BARS:

» Be creative and find somewhere out of the ordinary to store coats. Junior Julia Wolkoff says that before Maggie’s closed, she had her own secret hiding place for her coat: the space between the TV and the wall.

D.I.Y. versus P-A-Y Let's face it—there are some beauty services that shouldn't be tried at home. Here are some tips for which ones require trained professionals and which can be done with no help at all. words | Paige Westin

AT FRATS:

» Find a piece of furniture such as a couch or chair that has enough room to stuff a coat behind. » Ask a friend or brother to hide a coat in his room.

WAXING

Leave this to the beauticians. Waxing at home risks the removal of too much hair (no one wants just one eyebrow), bruising, or even burnt skin. (Eyebrows: $10, Brazilian: $65, Spa Zend)

illustration | Yumiko Hirao

n the United States, many women strive to be as thin as the supermodels that grace magazine covers. In India, size 0 doesn’t even exist. Shanthi Karanam, a computer engineering graduate student from India, laughs at how her country’s views on beauty differ from those of the United States. “Indian people don’t like skinny women,” she says. Instead, women in India try to maintain a “normal” weight: not too thin, not too fat. They wear no makeup and use natural creams to whiten their skin. “We put them on before special occasions like weddings to make our skin temporarily fairer,” Karanam says. John Townsend, an anthropology professor at SU, says women in Japan also strive for whiter skin. “Darker skin signifies that you aren’t as high class,” he explains. “Here in America, it means you have the time and money to get a tan, but there, a lot of women carry parasols when it isn’t even raining.” Townsend identifies other locations in the world where physical traits signify status. “Wherever food is scarce, higherclass people tend to be plump,” he says. This is the case in parts of Africa, where body fat coincides with attractiveness. Dr. Susan Wadley, SU professor of South Asian studies, says, “The goal is to put girls in seclusion for three

weeks to fatten them and make them more fertile, which is, in essence, more marriageable.” Despite this practice’s unhealthy side effects, force-feeding is a common puberty ritual in many African tribes. People from Nepal, on the other hand, like skinny women, says Rashmi Bhandari, a junior nutrition major from Nepal. “If a girl is fat, people figure she is married,” Bhandari says. “I have a cousin who is fat and she doesn’t normally go out of her house because people call her ‘fatty’ in public.” The Nepalese also consider long hair the standard of female beauty. “Short hair means you aren’t feminine,” Bhandari says. Women with long hair and an extremely slim figure, like Bhandari, are true icons of beauty in Nepal. But professor Townsend adds that the basis of attractiveness is youth, regardless of the country. “As long as they don’t interfere with fertility and aren’t correlated with old age, almost any trait can be attractive,” he says. Any trait. Like those of Karanam, whose Indian standard of beauty does not require her to spend hours at the gym or go to the salon (which she never does). Many American women put huge effort into perfecting their appearance, but not Karanam and other women from her country. “If you look at me, I’m just normal,” she says. “I don’t put on makeup. I come like this.”

SALON

When it comes time to head out for the night during Syracuse’s snowy season, finding a safe place to put winter coats can be quite a challenge. Sophomore Elizabeth Pickens knows from experience. “I was at a frat last semester and put my coat on a couch with my phone in the pocket,” she says. “When I went to leave, it wasn’t there.” Follow these tips to keep your coat out of harm’s way:

FASHION+BEAUTY

HAIR COLORING

With something as valuable as hair, it is much smarter and safer to go to a color specialist. Self-coloring at home can result in the wrong color or even hair breakage from over-processing. (Coloring: $50+, Liz Lanza's)

HAIR CUT

Even professionals do not cut their own hair; no one else should either. There are many salons that offer fairly priced, simple cuts that last at least a month. (Cut: $33–$45, Innovation's Salon and Spa)

EQUAL TIME

» FALL 2009

global

beauty

FASHION+BEAUTY

COAT STASHING 101

Stealthy secrets for storing winter coats on a night out words | Stacie Foster

Crossing cultural boundaries to define what is beautiful words | Jordan Walker

AT HOUSE PARTIES:

» Use the oven or cupboards as storage to keep coats clean and out of the way. » Ask the owner of the house to keep coats in a locked bedroom.

FACIAL

HOME

SPRAY TAN

MANICURE+PEDICURE

At-home mani-pedis produce the same results for a fraction of the salon price. Many drug stores offer inexpensive nail kits that get the job done. (Kiss Everlasting Nail Kit: $3.99, CVS)

FALL 2009

» EQUAL TIME

AT BARS:

AT FRATS:

» Find a piece of furniture such as a couch or chair that has enough room to stuff a coat behind. » Ask a friend or brother to hide a coat in his room.

WAXING

Leave this to the beauticians. Waxing at home risks the removal of too much hair (no one wants just one eyebrow), bruising, or even burnt skin. (Eyebrows: $10, Brazilian: $65, Spa Zend)

illustration | Yumiko Hirao

SALON

FASHION+BEAUTY

HAIR COLORING

HAIR CUT

EQUAL TIME

» FALL 2009

FASHION+BEAUTY

MAKING

scents How perfume makes us smell so sweet words | Jennie Pikowsky

Axe commercials depict women losing self-control and ripping a man’s clothes off after getting a whiff of his scent. Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister Co. tempt customers by leaving traces of colognes and perfumes on their clothes. So what is it about fragrances that make humans go wild? It turns out that certain fragrances have the ability to attract others and alleviate stress. Fragrances work best when applied to the points of the body that release heat, such as the inside of the wrist and the base of the throat. Within the first 20 minutes of applying the fragrance, body heat rises and the perfume’s alcohol measure evaporates. Then, each layer of the perfume is released at different times, causing the scent to linger. Perfume is also used for aromatherapy, which cures physical and emotional problems by using essential oils. “Aromatherapy has value,” says psychology graduate student Nathaniel Thomas, who studies the sense of smell in society. “Odor in general is a powerful binding mechanism.” Sometimes perfumes and colognes just enhance one’s natural “scent.” Pheromones, powerful chemical signals that our bodies emit, attract the opposite sex. Some perfumes are created to replicate the effect of pheromones in order to energize sexual arousal receptors in the brain. In other words, with the help of aromatherapy and fragrances, sex lives could improve. No complaints here.

FEATURES

LOOK comfortably chic IN CLASS Because you should only wear pajamas to bed

words | Samantha Schoenfeld

Getting dressed for that 8 a.m. class each morning is a challenge. Don’t sweat it—there are easy outfits that you can put on while halfasleep. Here are some tips on looking cute and being comfortable in class at the same time.

» THINK STRETCH

Try stretchy yoga pants, which come in shiny and matte materials for added variety and extra oomph. Couple them with a long shirt, a stretchy tank top, a baggy T-shirt, or a sweater. Add a cropped jacket or scarf for extra flair, and finish off with boots, a long necklace, and some bangles.

THINK SWEATS (NOT SWEATSUIT)

Put on a pair of sweatpants—they’re the closest you’ll get to PJs—and add a form-fitting T-shirt on top to give your body shape. Or, try wearing a comfortable hoodie or zip-up sweatshirt with jeans and sneakers. Just don’t wear a sweatshirt and sweatpants together—one baggy part of an outfit is enough.

DIV DED

we sTanD

» THINK BIG

To look feminine and stay comfortable, try a long, loose-fitting flannel button-down with a pair of your favorite worn-in jeans. If jeans are too restricting, rock leggings—just make sure your top is long enough to cover your behind. Wrap a thin belt around the shirt to accentuate curves, and add a pair of flats or Chucks to finish the look.

EDITORS’

PICKS Scents we love on the opposite sex

LE MALE BY JEAN PAUL GAULTIER Stephanie Chen, Entertainment Editor

OLD SPICE Kara Landsman, Research Editor Even though it's such a classic, I really like Old Spice. It has such a fresh scent. My friends and I always joke that it's the “hot guy” scent.

FALL 2009

LACOSTE ESSENTIAL Alex Yeske, Assistant Art Director It's very clean and fresh and isn't too strong.

» EQUAL TIME

It's got a very minty, freshshaved manly scent.

The truth about race relations on campus

SHAMPOO Mitchell Franz, Photo Editor Freshly shampooed hair. The scent is just so fresh and vivid in my nose. EUPHORIA FOR MEN BY CALVIN KLEIN Andrea Roxas, Editor in Chief It’s definitely a man’s scent. And it doesn’t make me sneeze, like most colognes do—always a plus.

words | Sarah DiGiulio

LIGHT BLUE FOR MEN BY DOLCE AND GABBANA Eunice Huang, FOB Editor It’s a refreshing fragrance that smells masculine and sophisticated. It’s not too musky, so its subtlety makes you want to just snuggle up with your guy and relax.

EQUAL TIME » FALL 2009

FASHION+BEAUTY

MAKING

scents How perfume makes us smell so sweet words | Jennie Pikowsky

FEATURES

LOOK comfortably chic IN CLASS Because you should only wear pajamas to bed

words | Samantha Schoenfeld

» THINK STRETCH

THINK SWEATS (NOT SWEATSUIT)

DIV DED

we sTanD

» THINK BIG

EDITORS’

PICKS Scents we love on the opposite sex

LE MALE BY JEAN PAUL GAULTIER Stephanie Chen, Entertainment Editor

OLD SPICE Kara Landsman, Research Editor Even though it's such a classic, I really like Old Spice. It has such a fresh scent. My friends and I always joke that it's the “hot guy” scent.

FALL 2009

LACOSTE ESSENTIAL Alex Yeske, Assistant Art Director It's very clean and fresh and isn't too strong.

» EQUAL TIME

It's got a very minty, freshshaved manly scent.

The truth about race relations on campus

words | Sarah DiGiulio

EQUAL TIME » FALL 2009

FEATURES

andra Appiah sat back and watched as her group members shared ideas about their video project. No one asked Appiah, the only African-American in the group, what she thought. So the senior television, radio, and film major made an outline for the project. That got her group’s attention. “I came prepared and they weren’t ready for that,” Appiah says. As the only black student in the class, Appiah feels different and is less likely to speak up and pitch ideas. “When people see me now, they see my skin color,” she says. “I tend to feel uncomfortable because I’m different.” One lap around the SU quad shows that not all students look the same. According to the SU Web site, minority students make up 21 percent of the student population. Almost 30 percent of the freshman class of 2007 represented minorities. But in its 2010 edition of The Best 371 Colleges, the Princeton Review ranked SU as eighth on a list of schools with the least race and class interaction. The ranking is based on student survey responses. Appiah notices the racial divisions on campus. “You see the Latinos hanging out together. You see the Africans hanging out together. It’s always different groups of people, and that’s a problem,” she says. Collette Eccleston, Ph.D., a psychology professor at SU, says many students who come to diverse college campuses from non-diverse neighborhoods feel uncomfortable interacting with other races because it’s something they’ve never had to do before. But she says students need to work through their unease. “If you don’t deal with the fact that you have the discomfort, you’re certainly not going to get beyond it,” she says. Courtney Cannon and her roommate both plan to graduate from SU in May 2011 with degrees in public health and advertising. But Courtney thinks she will to need to work ten times harder than her roommate to

“

get the same job. Courtney is black and her roommate is white. “It’s not fair, but that’s the way it is,” Cannon says. “It’s naïve to think racism does not exist anymore,” she says. “There’s still hidden racism everywhere.” Cannon thinks people should start talking. She and her roommate talk about how Cannon’s race may hinder her job hunt after graduation. “We’re the same person in a lot of ways, but we’re also very different,” Cannon says. She believes it’s important to acknowledge the differences. “Unless we talk about it, we won’t get past those issues,” she says. Two Florida State University psychologists conducted an experiment in 2006 comparing the actual quality of racial interactions with participants’ expectations about the quality of racial interactions. The study, published by the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, found that participants who reported concern over their ability to act unbiased during the interaction were found to have shorter interactions with less smiling and eye contact than those who reported less anxiety about acting unbiased during the interaction. The researchers concluded that the more anxiety a participant had about the racial interaction, the more likely he or she was to avoid the interaction or have a negative experience. The more people feel uncomfortable about racial interactions, the more likely they are to avoid racial interactions. The more people avoid racial interactions, the more likely they are to be uncomfortable about racial interactions. It’s a vicious cycle. Before long, people find themselves surrounded by others who look like them and avoiding those who don’t. While people naturally notice categorical differences like race, Eccleston says the meaning behind those differences is “completely socially constructed.” And it is counterproductive to leave differences unacknowledged.

It’s naive to think racism does not exist anymore. There’s still hidden racism everywhere.

”

“

Race should be a celebration of our differences. Race should be a beautiful thing.

“Part of why these interactions are stressful for people is that people don’t talk about it,” she says. But talking about it is easier said than done. SU’s intergroup dialogue course on race and ethnicity meets three hours a week over the course of the semester to host tough discussions about race. “It’s about you in your interactions in your everyday lives,” says Janet Dodd, an intergroup dialogue facilitator and SU sociology and women’s and gender studies instructor. Students in the class talk about what creates racial and ethnic challenges and propose solutions. “If we learn to work in alliance with others—oh my heavens—the sky’s the limit,” Dodd says. Dodd says students come to the class not knowing how to talk about their racial differences because they’ve been taught not to talk about it. White students, for example, fear they’ll be labeled as racists. The class pushes students to overcome those fears. Students set dialogue rules at the beginning of each semester. For example, the “ouch rule” gives them the chance to stop discussion and talk about why they found a comment offensive. The class also ensures confidentiality. “What happens in dialogue stays in dialogue,” Dodd says. “People have to have a language. People have to have a space. People have to talk.” Judy Ho, a senior computer animation graphics major and member of the discussion group, says the class has forced her to consider different perspectives. A black student in the group once spoke about a taxi driver refusing to pick him up downtown one night. Many students in the class were unaware that such incidents occurred. At first, Ho was nervous to offend people in the class. “I didn’t know what the right protocol was, so I just stayed back,” she says. But she eventually found a

”

way to speak up. “People were offended at times, but the class was a learning environment,” Ho says. “Those who tried to be ‘politically correct’ all the time got tongue-tied because they were constantly thinking about how to communicate. You have to just talk about it in order for it to mean anything.” Like the intergroup dialogue class, several SU multicultural student organizations and campus offices have made efforts to encourage discussion over race. The Asian Students in America organization promotes Asian-American representation on campus through social events and panel discussions. The African Student Union leads public dialogues for people of all races to promote diversity on campus. The Slutzker Center for International Students hosts “Mix It Up,” a potluck dinner and dialogue for students of all backgrounds to contribute food and perspectives from every ethnicity and race. “It’s a human sharing,” says Elane Granger, “Mix It Up” coordinator and assistant director at the Slutzker Center. It may be scary to confront the unfamiliar, but proactive students like Appiah and Cannon, initiatives like intergroup dialogue class, and multicultural group events prove that facing the fear can eliminate the problem. Here is a new cycle: strike up the conversation and the differences fade away. Once the differences fade away, it’s easier to start a conversation. For Appiah, acknowledging racial differences at SU has made it easier to work with people from different backgrounds. “Just because we’re both different doesn’t mean we can’t have that discussion,” she says. Having the conversation allows her to get comfortable with people of other races and for them to get comfortable with her. “Race should be a celebration of our differences,” Appiah says. “Race should be a beautiful thing.” eT» EQUAL TIME

» FALL 2009

FEATURES

“

It’s naive to think racism does not exist anymore. There’s still hidden racism everywhere.

”

“

Race should be a celebration of our differences. Race should be a beautiful thing.

”

» FALL 2009

FEATURES

is TECHNOLOGY

ruining

Relationships How instant communication is changing the way we interact — for better and for worse words | Samantha Lear illustration | Keisha Cedeno

ast spring, Stephanie Parra logged onto her Facebook account, as she normally does during the day. Parra was in a longdistance relationship. She scrolled through her then-boyfriend’s profile and noticed him with the same girl in a significant number of photos. Parra tried to ignore her instincts, but she knew something wasn’t right.

FALL 2009

» EQUAL TIME

FEATURES

is TECHNOLOGY

ruining

Relationships How instant communication is changing the way we interact — for better and for worse words | Samantha Lear illustration | Keisha Cedeno

FALL 2009

» EQUAL TIME

FEATURES Around 800 nonverbal messages are exchanged during the average 30-minute face-to-face meeting, according to an article in The Forensic Examiner. Changes in voice, facial expressions, eye movements, postures, gestures, and mannerisms help convey the true meaning and emotion behind a verbal message. With these aspects lost in virtual conversation, miscommunication is likely to occur. Senior graphic arts major Steve Gardner tried using text messages, Facebook, and phone calls to maintain a

“

I don’t see technologies going away,” says graduate student Standlee. “They’ll simply change form, and I expect that we’ll start as a society to develop new rules and informal customs about how the technology should be used.

“

I would never have known about the cheating if I hadn’t seen those pictures online,” Parra says. “People are always going to have secrets, and now the secrets are being brought out when people don’t want them to be.

Just one month later, Parra confirmed the cheating: she looked through her boyfriend’s e-mails (she had his account password) and found messages he had sent to “the other woman.” When confronted about it, the boyfriend admitted to the relationship. “I would never have known about the cheating if I hadn’t seen those pictures online,” says Parra, a sophomore in the Whitman School of Management. “People are always going to have secrets, and now the secrets are being brought out when people don’t want them to be.” Welcome to the new era of communication. Guys and girls make plans via text message, couples argue on each other’s Facebook walls, and families keep in touch through e-mail. It’s a world of limited privacy, where relationships form quickly and impersonally. According to a Nielsen study conducted this year, the average teen sends about a hundred texts a day, a 566 percent increase from 2007. Last year, a survey of 250 students at California State University, Fresno, found that about 40 percent of those students spent between one to four hours a day on social networking sites. Alecea Standlee, a sociology graduate student, isn’t surprised by these numbers. “The development of technology has gotten easier and less expensive, and the Internet has grown up with people within this age group,” Standlee says. “It has very quickly become a normal part of their lives.” Standlee, who is working on a dissertation that studies how college-aged students use the Internet, has already noticed changes in the way students interact. Standlee says some people use social networking sites to update others without providing intimate details they would share with a family member or best friend. In fact, this control over the content displayed on the web can create false first impressions. John Townsend, an anthropology professor at SU, says initial encounters on the Internet are often skewed because people regulate how peers view them. An unflattering picture is easily “un-tagged” on Facebook. A rude wall post disappears with one click of the “Delete” button. “The chances to withhold information are even greater,” Townsend says. “Everyone wants to make themselves look better.” Technology can make it easier to build relationships and keep in touch with people. But at the same time, it pulls people apart. About a quarter of the students surveyed at California State admitted to having problems with relationships due to the use of technology. When people rely on technology to communicate, they lose the social skills and privacy crucial for successful relationships— particularly romantic ones. They also lose a vital element of communication: body language.

long-distance relationship. He says he and his girlfriend’s repeated misunderstandings of texts and online messages led to their eventual breakup. “Because we are humans, we try to interpret technology in the way we would if we were interacting person-toperson,” Gardner says. “It’s like the AIM feature with the ‘…,’ where you know someone is writing back to you. Technology is speaking for us. It’s technology’s interpretation of our body language, and it’s not accurate.” Body language isn’t the only thing missing with communication through technology—so is privacy. Instead of writing down thoughts in diaries, students use Twitter to express themselves and find a false sense of comfort behind the computer screen. What they can’t say in a physical environment, they unabashedly publish in the virtual world. Abby Silverman thinks Twitter leads to over-sharing. “I don’t think it’s the venue to express every emotion you have, because everybody can see it,” says Silverman, a senior political science major. “Do you really want your crazy aunt or ex-boyfriend knowing every minute detail about your life? I don’t.” People in agreement with Silverman’s sentiments congregate on Lamebook.com, a popular Web site devoted to mocking the information overload on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.

But senior biology and policy studies major Kimberly Holley feels differently. Cell phones and texting have enabled her to sustain all of her relationships. “Communication has changed a lot since our parents were in college,” Holley says. “If you went to school away from home, you would talk to your parents once a week. I talk to my mom probably twice a day. Technology has made it a lot easier to be in long-distance relationships, whether they be with family or significant others.” Even older generations are taking advantage of modern communication methods. Since her divorce five years ago, Jill Dorfman has slowly integrated technology into her friendships and dating habits. She has joined the dating site Match.com, created a Facebook profile, and also sends e-mails and texts. Dorfman appreciates staying connected with old friends. “You can check out what’s going on with people and you don’t necessarily have to respond,” she says. Dorfman does, however, feel less tech-savvy than younger generations—emphasis on young. The elementary school teacher says her five-year-old students are more comfortable with technology than she is, partly because they were exposed to it so early in life. Dorfman believes upcoming generations growing up in this digital age will be able to handle a bombardment of communication from a lot of different places. Technology, as simple and as complicated as it can be, is on the rise. Each day, more and more people join Facebook. The site gained 208 million visitors in the last year, according to comScore, an Internet market research company. “I don’t see technologies going away,” says graduate student Standlee. “They’ll simply change form, and I expect that we’ll start as a society to develop new rules and informal customs about how the technology should be used.” Years from now, people may be able to fully convey emotions through a simple text, without the aid of facial expressions or changes in tone. But for now, don’t let virtual communication replace a good oldfashioned face-toface talk. A no-holdsbarred laugh trumps an LOL any day. eT»

“

SPORTS

TRIALS OF A TRIATHLETE

The Reality of FANTASY SPORTS

SPORTS

Swim, bike, and run with SU’s Triathlon Club

words | Jon Harris photography | courtesy of Kate Callahan

How fantasy leagues have scored with millions of sports fans words | Andrea Roxas photography | Mitchell Franz

FALL 2009

» EQUAL TIME

MODEL | JAY MORETTI

ameson Fleming originally thought fantasy sports were “really stupid.” When he decided to give them a shot five years ago, he proved himself wrong. Fleming only played in four leagues for his first season of fantasy baseball. The year after, he played in 12. “I was hooked immediately,” he says. Fleming, a senior broadcast journalism major, is just one of the estimated 27 million Americans who play fantasy sports, according to the Fantasy Sports Trade Association. Fantasy leagues are based on point systems. Players draft real-life professional athletes onto their fantasy teams, and how well those athletes play in real games determines the number of fantasy points they earn. To win a fantasy game, one’s fantasy team must win more points than his opponent’s team. The most popular fantasy sports are football, baseball, and basketball. Success in fantasy leagues requires considerable knowledge of the sport involved, which explains why the most involved fantasy players are also devout sports fans. Dr. Richard Lustberg, a sports psychologist in New York, says fantasy sports give fans a sense of control they’ve never had. “They allow you to be a manager of a team and act out,” Lustberg says. “Fans are always saying, ‘He should make this move,’ or ‘They should make that move.’ Fantasy gives fans a chance to do that.” Fantasy also gives fans a reason to like players other than those on their favorite sports teams. Senior chemical engineering major Jay Moretti loves the Buffalo Bills so much he once punched a hole in a wall in his South Campus apartment when they lost a game. But he wouldn’t react as strongly if his fantasy players were responsible for the loss. “It’s not that you root for them, but you’re just not as mad when they do something good against your favorite team,” Moretti says. It’s even harder to be mad at those players when money’s on the line, which is the case for many fantasy leagues. Moretti stands to win $300 if he finishes first place in his fantasy-football league. If he finishes below third place, he loses the $20 he paid to enter the league. Lucas Levin, a senior marketing and entrepreneurship major, is cashing in on the fantasy sports industry’s estimated $1.5 billion market in a different way. Last year, Levin developed a drafting

model that uses athletes’ rankings to predict which ones will be the best fantasy players. He now sells that model on DraftPerfect.com, a Web site he recently founded that provides fantasy players with the strategy and information they need to win leagues. “To be honest, I just wanted to win my league and I thought the model would help,” Levin says. “It helps me solve a problem and it works, so why not try to make some money off it?” This commercialization of fantasy sports is evidence of how much the industry has grown. Dr. Jeff Pauline, an assistant professor of sport management in the College of Human Ecology, believes the Internet has boosted the fantasy phenomenon. Old school fantasy leagues were done over paper and pencil. Now, Pauline says, it’s just “pointing and clicking,” since leagues are run through Web sites like Yahoo.com and CBS.com. “The ease of being able to be a fantasy sport person has greatly increased with the digital age,” Pauline says. “To follow stats and set up leagues is easier than it’s ever been before.” Pauline, who has played fantasy football in the past, thinks fantasy sports are great for fans. “They’re an excellent outlet for fans and spectators to become closer to favorite players and teams,” he says. “It’s just another way to connect to the sport.”

While some college kids hit up happy hour, the Syracuse University Triathlon team hits the gym. Triathlon races vary in distance, but the SU team trains for both sprint triathlons (750 m swim, 20 km bike, 5 km run) and Olympic triathlons (1.5 km swim, 40 km bike, 10 km run). The club invests countless hours training and preparing for a race that typically takes under two hours to complete. Most of the club members train individually, leaving each athlete responsible for staying in peak shape. “Training varies by person and skill level,” says Kate Callahan, co-president of the club. Callahan, a nutrition and policy studies senior, runs 70 miles per week. She also swims and bikes for cross-training purposes. “Most athletes work on the core, since it is so important for balance and stability within your body,” says Paul Knepley, co-president of the club and fifth-year architecture student. Triathletes do sit-ups, pull-ups, and push-ups to tone their bodies. Knepley says more and more people are dedicating time and energy to train for this test of endurance. “It’s a growing sport with a country-wide view, and it’s obvious that America is into healthy lifestyles,” he says. The Triathlon Club aims to provide an exciting atmosphere for students who want to try something new. “We are here to give people a venue to race, to mentor people into the sport, and to let them know they can do it,” Callahan says.

A TYPICAL RACE WEEKEND

a typical race weekend Friday, Oct. 2, 2009 3 p.m. Leave Syracuse 10:30–11 p.m. Arrive in Montauk and settle into motel Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009 12–1 a.m. Head to bed 5 a.m. Alarms go off, but everyone hits snooze 5:30 a.m. Wake up and get ready 6:25 a.m. Mandatory check-in for all athletes 6:40 a.m. Race begins (in pouring rain) 8:30 a.m. Most athletes finish

HIDDEN TALENT Two under-appreciated athletes give ‘Cuse their all words | Joshua Lee

photography | Mitchell Franz courtesy of Erin Little

JON BUICE Track + Field Jon Buice knows what it means to be well-rounded. The track and field senior is a decathlete, which means he has to train for 10 events instead of just one. In the spring, Buice competes in a decathlon held over two days and performs in events like the high jump, 50-meter sprint, shot-put, and pole vault. He says it’s important to stay focused throughout the entire decathlon. “It’s hard to get perfect results,” Buice says. “If you do well on the first event, you can’t get caught up in it.” Buice doesn’t mind the fact that he has to stay in top shape all-year round. He says it keeps him sane, and without it, he wouldn’t know what to do with himself. The man who wins the Olympic decathlon is hailed the “World’s Greatest Athlete.” But even as a college athlete, it’s hard to ignore Buice’s talent.

ERIN LITTLE Volleyball Erin Little has a list of demands. At the top of that list is getting more people to come out to her team’s games. The sophomore advertising major is openly marketing a product that she is proudly part of: the SU women’s volleyball team. Her versatility on the court makes her a strong asset for the team. “I play outside, middle, anywhere they need me,” she says. As the former New York Volleyball Gatorade Player of the Year, Little brings the best volleyball talent in New York to Syracuse University. She and her team may just be the greatest show on hardwood this fall. EQUAL TIME

» FALL 2009

SPORTS

TRIALS OF A TRIATHLETE

The Reality of FANTASY SPORTS

SPORTS

Swim, bike, and run with SU’s Triathlon Club

words | Jon Harris photography | courtesy of Kate Callahan

How fantasy leagues have scored with millions of sports fans words | Andrea Roxas photography | Mitchell Franz

FALL 2009

» EQUAL TIME

MODEL | JAY MORETTI

A TYPICAL RACE WEEKEND

HIDDEN TALENT Two under-appreciated athletes give ‘Cuse their all words | Joshua Lee

photography | Mitchell Franz courtesy of Erin Little

» FALL 2009

SPORTS

Overheard at SU

BACK OF BOOK

compiled by | the staff

Even through the freezing cold, Otto’s Army keeps the fire burning

The Loud, The Proud, The ORANGE

Ten ways to be a true SU fan words | Amrita Mainthia

1. WEAR ORANGE Self explanatory—dare to be different and you will be booed. 2. BRING THE KEYS Third down. Key Play. You’re lame without keys. 3. CHEER LIKE IT’S 2003 Actively attempt to lose your voice. 4. KNOW SOME PLAYERS Pre-game research won’t hurt. Check out www.suathletics.com. 5. HATE THE OPPOSITION Forget family ties or best friends on the other side. Bleed orange for a few hours. 6. NEVER SIT You can rest when you’re old. Energy is everything. 7. CAMP OUT It’s the only way to get awesome seats, and storming the court from the front row is unbeatable. 8. MAKE A SIGN Be creative and you could be ESPN’s new BFF.

words | Marina Charny photography | Mitchell Franz

Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stops them from their call of duty. No, they are not United States postal workers. They are the members of Otto’s Army, the only officially recognized organization representing the student fans of Syracuse University Athletics. The seven board members of Otto’s Army call themselves the most devout fans on campus. They weather subzero conditions outside the Dome before games to get front row seats. During the Big East championship, members sometimes camp out for the next game immediately after the last one ends. Mike Monacelli, a junior music industry major and Otto’s Army events officer, says the experience is unlike any other. “Camping out is a test of endurance, among many other things, but watching SU play some of the greatest teams in the nation is always worth it, win or lose,” he says. Otto’s Army is based on a concept called “The List,” which determines priority of student seating at games. The rules state that for every group of four, one person must remain by the Dome at all times. So students take turns living the “campout” life: they wake up, go to class, return to their tent, and do homework in the cold by flashlight. Once the Dome gates open, these fans are the loudest and brightest inside. They represent the true source of the home court advantage. The organization holds bimonthly meetings to gather feedback. “The purpose of Otto’s Army is to find out what students really want to see happen in their student section,” says junior accounting major Trenton Gaucher, president of Otto’s Army. Gaucher looks forward to spending many more frosty nights outside the Dome. “We are just donating time towards making the student section the best that it is truly capable of being,” he says.

Guy: She can’t even talk about Project Runway if she’s wearing sweatpants and looking like shit.

Girl 1: What is link-sees? Girl 2: You mean link-sys? Girl: I used to think it was, “Don’t go, Jason Waterfalls, please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used toooo!”

Girl: Oh my God, you had Skype sex?!

Girl: I don’t want to lose my virginity while fencing!

Girl (about picture of baby): Oh my God, it’s so alive and awake-looking!

Girl: I gotta go. I just got out of class and I need to go get some sex.

Girl 1: Oh my God, I got the perfect dress. Girl 2: Yeah? Girl 1: Yeah, it’s so trashy!

Girl 1: At least I enjoy sex. Girl 2: Oh and you think I don’t?

Guy (as he’s getting into his BMW): Dude, I totally wish this was a Maserati right now.

9. PAINT YOUR FACE See how it feels to have an orange face on purpose and not just because of a bad tan. 10. STAY THE WHOLE GAME SU has a habit of making the last five minutes of games unbearably thrilling (Think 6 OTs in the 2009 Big East game against UConn). You’ll never have to say, “I could have been there.”

Girl 1: I was really sick—they told me I had the flu. Girl 2: Oh, was it the seasonal flu? Girl 1: No, they told me it was the “piggy,” but I don’t believe them.

Girl: Why am I not dating him? Oh yeah, because he kisses like a dog.

Girl 1: We should have them over for that really big football game... Girl 2: You mean the Superbowl? Girl 1: Yeah, that’s it!

Guy: You only like super skinny girls because you’re super skinny.

Guy 1: Dude, there was so much talent in that class! Guy 2: What do you mean? Guy 1: Chicks.

Guy: Yo, you drink like my little sister!

Girl 1: I’m totally going to be lust for Halloween. Girl 2: What does that look like? Girl 1: I don’t know, pure sexiness I guess.