Etownian Issue 19 - February 26, 2009

the February 26, 2009 • Volume 105, No. 19

Etownian elizabethtown college

One Alpha Drive • Elizabethtown, PA 17022-2298

On the Web: www.etownian.com

on campus

Newly acquired property prompts student speculation Joelle E. Atkinson Assistant Campus Life Editor

T

here is now a recent addition to Elizabethtown College. The College’s newwest piece of proparty is located at 923 Campus Road. It was recently purchased at market price. The College owns 33 acres behind this piece of land and this acquisition connects all of the locations on campus.

What will the College put there? “Wallflowers,” Joe Metro, director of Facilities Management said. “The process has already begun of tearing the buildings down.” Behind this piece of property lie acres of corn and soybean fields rented out by a local farmer.

The property was purchased prior to the College’s financial crisis, in which much needed renovations on dorms such as Ober, Myer and Royer have been put on hold. In addition to the delay on dorm reconstruction, several recently purchased properties, such as the empty land next to Founders, now lie underdeveloped and overgrown with weeds.

When asked how this new property would benefit students, Metro said it is a long term project. The College has purchased many properties for future development. This includes the 33 acres to which

the new property is connected. Metro said it would be a revenue booster for the College, but there are “no plans to do anything with the land right now.” The College saw this as an opportunity for the whole college community to grow larger and stay connected.

If students could see the future, they would want to see several different things on that piece of land.

Many students, such as sophomores Sam Alleman and Joanne Potter, believe that the new property is too far away to be convenient. “Why would I ever go there?”

Alleman asked. Others, such as sophomores Rachel Sullivan and Stephanie Carroll and first-year Shannon Brown, think that it would be important to have more coffee venues on campus.

Photo: Peter S. Northrop “I’d build a little café [or] coffee house where all of the Etown students could The College’s newly-acquired property at 923 Campus Road as it looks today. No current plans have yet been drawn up for how the space will be used. hang out,” Sullivan said.

Carroll agreed, saying, “I’d like it about the need for new dorms on campus. to be another study area similar to the and feel like home,” Hitchens said.

Because this new piece of land is located Blue Bean.”

Junior and Student Secretary Autumn “I’m a coffee-holic, so I think a Starbucks Metcalf sees this from a different perspec- so far from the main part of campus, junior would be a good asset,” Brown added. tive. “After collecting student concerns Laura Kuserk had a very different idea. “AnSophomore Cait Hitchens agreed that recently, students want a new dorm and other parking lot,” she said. A new parking lot would allow for more students to bring anything newly built should be a gather- some sort of fitness center.” ing place for students. “A really comfortStudents such as sophomore Melanie their cars on campus and keep them in a able place where students could hang out Giardina and junior Allison Waldron agree centralized location.

on campus

Going Greek? Kappa Sigma looking to expand our way Aidan E. Bauernschmidt News Editor

S

ince its establishment in 1899, Elizabethtown College has not played host to any Greek societies. However, by fall of 2009, history could be made. Ross Benincasa, a first-year student, is determined to bring the fraternity Kappa Sigma to campus.

Benincasa said he first heard about the fraternity while talking with a friend from home whose brother had joined the society in Amsterdam.

“I looked it up and really started to like Kappa Sigma — it’s the biggest [fraternity] in the country,” Benincasa said.

“I figured that they would have

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the most resources to help us out. They do a lot of community service, and seeing as the College’s model is ‘Educate for Service,’ and I’m an English education major, it seemed like a good fit.”

“I kind of always wanted to get involved in some way,” Benincasa said. “There was nothing at Etown that was built around that kind of community. I think it was November we started looking into it and got in contact with the head of Kappa Sigma.”

Benincasa said that his first step was to get friends involved.

“Everyone seemed to be happy about it and interested in joining,” he said. “From there, we

sent an email to head of recruiting at Kappa Sigma, and he forwarded it to their regional guy, who is out of Maryland. [We] went over some things we had to do to gain interest.”

These things included starting a Facebook group in order to make students aware and passing out merchandise provided by the recruiting agent. “[We] went over the basics; trying to form a colony which doesn’t need school affiliation,” Benincasa said. “We would need 25 guys to commit to helping this become established. When this happens, the directors will come to Etown, talk to Dean [of students Marianne] Calenda, the guys and

President Long. If they approve it, it would become a full chapter which does have the school affiliation. Housing is optional, though people attribute it to housing. I’d be interested to have the guys close together; you could get a floor in founders or Ober or like a section to have everyone, but the actual aspect of having the close-knit of the fraternity would be easier in a house.”

Still, the senior staff approval might not be a sure thing. Elizabethtown College President Theodore Long said that bringing a fraternity to campus might be “an upward climb.”

“It would be a big step for the College to recognize social

Free Rice

Donate your break

It’s almost time again

Find out how to feed the hungry right from your own computer.

Features, page 5

Discover how you can give back over spring break.

Centerfold, pages 8 & 9

Be sure to prepare for registration in a timely manner.

Campus Life, page 10

fraternities, so I’d say it’s not something that’s likely to happen,” Long said. “We’ve built an identity without them and it would have to be a pretty big policy decision.”

As for Benincasa’s statement that Kappa Sigma would bring a much-needed sense of brotherhood to the College, Long doesn’t think a fraternity is necessary.

“One of the things that I think is attractive about Elizabethtown is that students are free to form associations, and many of them have social functions of their own,” Long said. “When people are part of

see FIRST-YEAR’S, page 3

The break debate Does Etown’s spring break live up to the name?

Opinion, page 13

2

news

the Etownian

news in brief

in the nation

The FBI announced Monday that it has taken 48 juvenile prostitutes into custody. These results follow a 29-weekend sweep of cities in several states, including Alaska, California, Texas, Oregon and Alabama.

Department of Justice prosecutors, the FBI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children together founded the Innocence Lost National Initiative in 2003. The initiative consists of 32 task forces, and their sweeps aim to rescue children who were forced into prostitution, many of them runaways.

The initiative has rescued over 670 children since the program began six years ago and has seized more than $3 million in cash and property, such as cars and computers.

A

A NASA satellite meant to monitor greenhouse gases in the atmosphere crashed just three minutes after launch Tuesday morning.

The satellite, a $273 million endeavor called the Orbiting Carbon Observatory, was launched from Vandenburg Air Force Base in California. The rocket itself was successful, but the payload fairing, a clamshellshaped structure that allows the satellite to travel through space, failed to separate from the rocket, bringing them both back to earth.

“Initial indications are the vehicle did not have enough force to make orbit and landed just short of Antarctica in the ocean,” NASA program manager John Burnschwyler said. “Certainly for the science community, it’s a huge disappointment.”

The death toll from the deadly Australia bushfires has risen to 210, police in Victoria said Tuesday.

As several small fires continue to burn, police are still working to identify bodies of all of the victims. To date, the fires have destroyed 2,029 homes.

The previous total, as estimated by Bruce Esplin, the emergency services contact for Victoria, was 1,800 homes.

Compiled by Aidan E. Bauernschmidt from cnn.com.

February 26, 2009

Plane crashes near Buffalo, N.Y.; kills 50 Christopher A. Tjaden Staff Writer

the height at which the plane was flying.

“Almost every minute of their flight was in an ice event,” Myers stated on CNN. The buildup disrupted the flow of the air over the wings and the plane stalled. According to Steven Chealander of the National Transportation Safety Board, the plane was a Bom-

portation Safety Board, told The New York Times. “It’s not really susceptible to ice.”

When one of the pneumatic boots fails to break up the ice or simply doesn’t work, a signal is sent to the cockpit, alerting the crew.

So far in the investigation, no such signal had appeared at any point in the flight, Chealander said.

crash, one of the planes’ two propellers was completely disabled. Regardless of the actual casues, however, the crash of small town close to BufContinental Connection Flight falo, N.Y. saw Continental 3407 will mark a major tragedy Connection Flight 3407 plumin 2009. met from the skies around With this accident and oth10:20 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12. er plane accidents that have The plane crash claimed 50 occurred in the recent past, lives total; 49 of those killed the nation watches to see how were passengers on board, the airline industry reand the other was a acts. With spring break victim in the house approaching on most into which the plane college campuses, travel crashed. Though the is almost guaranteed. cause of the crash is Etown’s own men’s socstill under investigacer team will fly to Iretion, many speculate land over the break. that it was due to an Mike Golder, a firsticy buildup on both year for ward on the the wings and the team, said, “I didn’t windshields, accordeven know there was a ing to CNN and The plane crash, so let’s fly.”

New York Times.

First-year Erik Webber, Flight 3407 was a left midfielder, said, on a routine journey “I’m not too worried; from Newark InterI’ve traveled by plane national Airport in Image: metro.co.uk several times before, N.J. to Buffalo Niagara International Air- Firemen throw water on the blaze that erupted after Continental Connection and I feel safe.” flight 3407 crashed into a house near Buffalo, New York on February 12.

Despite the recent port that Thursday accidents and events in night. All appeared So if ice buildup was not the the airline industry, our men’s to be going as planned after bardier Dash 8 Q400, certified takeoff. The crew even began for flight in icy conditions. cause of the tragic crash, what team will still be traveling to to calmly discuss the icy build- The plane was equipped with was? One theory surrounding Ireland for the break.

Through the sadness and up appearing on the wings, as pneumatic boots on the edges the crash is that the propellers indicated in the cockpit voice of the wings, which inflate and may have become disabled in despair over the loss of so deflate in order to disable the some way, causing the plane to many lives on Flight 3407, and data records. lose momentum and plummet improvements will be made According to CNN me- accumulation when needed.

“This Dash 8 is a workhorse downward. When Chealander in needed areas to prevent a teorologist Chad Myers, the weather was “icing all over airplane,” Steven Chealander, a spoke about this issue, he also tragedy like this from happenwestern New York” at exactly member of the National Trans- noted that at the scene of the ing again.

in the nation

Secretary of State, Clinton, takes Asian tour Julia N. Hadinger Staff Writer

plans to deal with problems from a different perspective than previous administrations.

We face conflicts as well as opportunities and ewly-appointed Secretary of State Hil- Secretary of State Clinton plans on addresslary Clinton has spent previous several ing every single one of them. weeks visiting Asia. She has already stopped While in China Clinton will visit nuin major countries along the way, such as merous places such as a town hall and a Japan and Indonesia, and she plans on stop- church, and will meet with many differping in China as well. This is Clinton’s first ent people involving serious issues such trip as Secretary of State. as human rights, how to deal with, the Clinton will reach out to other countries economic crisis and North Korea. to show that the new Obama administration Clinton also stopped in Tokyo, Japan while on her trip.

The U.S. and Japan have had an up-anddown relationship and strengthening it is a major part in cementing our countries’ reputations. Clinton spoke with many Japanese leaders and citizens about mutual environmental and economic concerns.

Some of the people who Clinton met included members of the Japanese Special Image: CNN.com Olympics Committee as Hillary Clinton shakes hands with Chinese Prime Minister well as the athletes and Wen Jimbao at a Bejing meeting, capping off her Asia tour. coaches of the team.

N

She also met with the famous Dr. Mukai, who is renowned in Japan not only for her history as a medical doctor, but also for missions on the U.S. space shuttles Discovery and Columbia she has taken.

While in South Korea, Clinton worked on global and regional issues. Both Foreign Minister Yu and Clinton agreed that the relationship between the two countries is extremely important to maintaining peace and stability both on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia.

Clinton and Foreign Minister Yu also came to many other important agreements. The two countries must work together to strengthen the relationship that is already there. This foundation is built upon the common values of democracy, human rights and the economy.

Both agreed that the Republic of Korea and the U. S. will not tolerate North Korea’s possession of nuclear weapons and plan on continuous efforts to remove them.

Clinton, like President Obama, has already taken an ambitious role in her position’s first months. Our country has had its ups and downs with Asia, but Secretary Clinton plans to strengthen our relationships.

By talking with China, Japan and South Korea, Clinton will have already begun to bring east and west closer together in the coming years.

news

February 26, 2009

the Etownian

on campus

3

First-year’s fraternity recruiting could break tradition them, the social relationships are also important to them.

“So the students are free to associate however they want to, but the character of Etown has always been that students no matter what their activity have still had multiple and cross-cutting relationships, which is not what happens in sororities and fraternities, when people can become clustered in the groups themselves.”

While Kappa Sigma may not seem like a local fraternity, Benincasa revealed that Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa. has a sect. That branch, he said, even managed to incorporate its service into helping out a pledge when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The fraternity brothers raised so much money in 4-5 weeks that few medical treatments needed to be paid for by the sick pledge’s family.

Benincasa said that many of Kappa Sigma’s activities would be “basic community service things, like picking up litter in parks, landscaping around the school [and] tutoring anyone that needs help in an academic subject. Guys in a fraternity have .4 to .5 higher GPA,” he said, “and that’s because you always have people over there to help you out.”

Famous brothers of Kappa Sigma

include Charlie Montorf, owner of [against Greek life] at this school, just a the Colorado Rockies baseball team; lack of trying from people who have been Jimmy Buffet, the musician of “Mar- here before.” garitaville” fame; and U.S. Senator Bob Armed with a tee shirt and a brochure, Dole, former presidential candidate.

Benincasa was ready defend and advance Benincasa has already seen his efforts his objective by all means possible. go a long way, “O u r g o a l and remains right now is not optimistic. “We to be like ‘Aniare still in the mal House’ or form of a colony ‘Old School,’” right now, but he said. “The t h e re c r u it e r school has an mentioned that opportunity he will give the to gain more school a call befunds from fore they come [Kappa Sigma], down,” he said. but it’s also a “ We h av e 1 8 great service to guys now, and the communiwe’ll have 25 by ty. They pride Photo: Peter S.Northrop themselves on March, hopefully. When we get First-year student Ross Benincasa is currently that; I think the 25 guys, that’s trying to bring the fraternity Kappa Sigma it would be a to Elizabethtown. The College has never w hen [Kapp a good fit.” supported Greek life before, and many doubt Sigma will] talk whether that will ever change.

Benincasa to Dean Calenda did have a word and President Long. Our goal is to have of warning to those who would join for a chapter by first semester of 2009. That’s the wrong reasons. “I would say if you what we’re hoping for. From what we have want to pledge because you think it’s heard from people, there is not actual rule gonna be like the movies, don’t bother,”

he said. “It’s going to be fun, and there will be sports involved with it, but it’s going to be more of just a way to keep everyone intact and keep the community oriented. It’s a good résumé-builder, too.

It’s going to be fun, obviously, but at that expense, you’ll have to do everything everyone else has to do in terms of community service.”

“I’d be happy to talk to the students, because I haven’t yet,” said Long, who admitted that he has not formally been made aware of the situation. “I think I’d much rather talk to our students than to some national organization; that’s where I’d rather start. We don’t even know if we want that national organization here.

“If you think about what social fraternities are — segregated housing — we’re not going to do that. And as for giving some special recognition, I think that’s unlikely, too. And as Dean Calenda indicated, because our profile is so strong, it’s like we virtually have a policy [against Greek life], even if we haven’t made some formal written statement about it. Historically, we have not encouraged it, we have not sought it out, we have not taken any steps to bring it here. That has been our practice over the course of history.”

on campus

on campus

President’s forum discusses financial worries Student assaulted P E Peter S. Northrop Assistant News Editor

resident Theodore Long held his annual forum last Wednesday in the Event Space.

There, he addressed many of the financial and ideological concerns that Elizabethtown faces today.

The majority of attendees were faculty, though some students were present.

Long started off by discussing the new technology he used to give the presentation, but quickly got down to business.

First, Long talked extensively about the 2009 budget.

Despite the economy’s sorry state, the College is actually doing fairly well where its budget is concerned.

The current budget is right around where the College projected it should be. Revenues (the amount of money Etown brings in) are on target with what officials wanted. At the same time, the College’s expenses are slightly less than expected.

Of course, this picture of the Etown’s finances came at a price. You might recall the memo all students received earlier in Februar y, where Long outlined his plan to increase tuition for all students by 3.5 percent to $39,950.

Keep in mind, however, that this is the lowest increase in the college’s fees since 1996.

Along the lines of finances, the President also discussed the

College’s endowment. Endowment is the amount of money the College receives from nonstudent sources. To be blunt, Elizabethtown’s endowment is down 21 percent, leaving it at around $41-$42 million.

Long was quick to note that we are actually in a better financial position than most other schools.

The president mentioned that Franklin and Marshall College’s endowment is also down, but by a degree of 30 percent. Etown is also using its endowment more efficiently, according to Long.

Long then issued a challenge to the faculty and staff.

He started off by saying that the College would try to save $1 million over the next year.

He said this should be done by having every department across campus reduce its budget by 10 percent, since it’s better for the entire college to share the burden rather than forcing one area of study to downsize dramatically.

From finances, Long moved on to admissions. Once again, Elizabethtown is admitting students at a higher rate than normal. Aside from concerns that the College is already admitting at too high of a rate, causing large numbers of students to be crammed into transitional rooms all across campus for their first semesters here.

The College had good rea-

soning for increasing the admittance rate. Long mentioned a large series of “uncertainties” that administrators had about the coming year.

First, incoming students may not have the capacity to secure loans and other forms of financial assistance. The economy has really hampered everyone’s ability to get loans of any type, especially student loans.

The College is anticipating that there will be a good number of accepted students that will decline their admission simply on the basis that their families will not be able to require the necessary finances to afford Etown.

The second concern the higher-ups have is that people may not be willing to invest in an Etown education. Since the economy is so poor, it is assumed that even if people are able to find the means to pay the College’s fees, they might not want to.

Administrators figure that by the time the incoming firstyear class beings its August orientation, a number of kids may have to leave the College simply because their parents don’t want to pay anymore.

The College’s image was also discussed. Long first introduced the new Office of Marketing and Communications, which will handle all of Elizabethtown’s marketing needs. He also outlined several new marketing ideas for the

college that advertising agencies have had.

Advertisers wanted to bring out the fact that Etown is different from other colleges due to its lack of fraternities and football. One proposed slogan was even “No Greeks? No Football? No Problem!”

Also, Long talked about the College’s efforts to improve life on campus. The College contacted an outside agency to offer advice on how to make Elizabethtown a better place to live.

The main suggestiion offered was to increase the number of “common areas” on campus. Long seemed particularly enthusiastic about adding coffee and juice bars to buildings around campus to give students more places to hang out and study.

Long said that new upperclassman dormitories will be built across the street from Ober with these suggestions in mind.

The dormitories will be small, and have plenty of spaces to eat drink, and study throughout.

Finally, Long assured the audience that while the current economic climate is forcing the College to constrict its size and goals for upcoming years; this would not be something permanent. The College will continue on its path to furthered academic excellence. “ The weather changes,” Long said, “but we don’t change direction.”

Shaleen A. Spulio Managing Editor

arlier yesterday, EC Alert notified the entire Etown community about an on-campus incident that occurred late Tuesday evening.

The e-mail reported that the incident took place in Ober Residence Hall. Between the hours of 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., Elizabethtown Borough police cars were spotted around the residence hall.

An Elizabethtown Campus Security officer was seen running behind schedule when checking the Brossman Commons Center doors later than usual because of the event.

The Elizabethtown Borough Police Department sent out a press release providing additional information regarding the event.

According to WGAL 8, the incident was an alleged sexual assault involving two Elizabethtown College students.

Borough police reported that the alleged male assailant and alleged female victim knew each other.

A local hospital treated the alleged victim and afterward released her. Yesterday, the Borough police interviewed everyone involved in the matter. The Etownian is unaware of any charges filed by any parties involved.

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profiles • monthly series • campus events

February 26, 2009 town events • facts & figures• business

on campus

Dr. Jim Yong Kim keynote speaker for Scholarship Day Patricia A. Cangelosi Staff Writer

H

e made you believe you could change the world,” one of Dr. Jim Yong Kim’s students said in an interview for Time magazine.

Kim, one of Time’s 100 most influential people, will speak this year at Etown College’s Scholarship and Creative Arts Day. This keynote speaker is the François Xavier Bagnoud Professor of Health and Human Rights at the Harvard School of Public Health and professor of social medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Kim also serves as the chief of the department of social medicine at Harvard Medical School and the Division of Social Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

“US News & World Report” named him one of “America’s 25 Best Leaders” in 2005. He also served as executive director of Partners in Health, an organization that sponsors programs to improve the health of underprivileged people worldwide.

In 2003, Kim was given a MacArthur “Genius” award. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation recognizes “25 exceptionally creative people” each year, according to Jonathan F. Fanton, the foundation’s president.

Many may find it fitting, then, that Kim will speak at Scholarship and Creative Arts Day, which is, according to the College’s Web site, “a celebration of the scholarly and creative accomplishments of Etown’s students.”

Born in South Korea in 1959, Kim moved the World Health Organization (WHO), to a 2006 Time magazine article, which with his family to Muscatine, Iowa, where Kim contributed substantially to finding introduced Kim as one of the world’s most only one other Asian family lived. He gradu- treatments for the widespread disease. influential people. ated from Brown “The concrete naUniversity and went ture of his goals peron to earn a medical m ane nt ly ch ange d degree from Harthe effectiveness and vard Medical School urgency of the global and a doctorate in AIDS response,” Baranthropology from ry R. Bloom, Dean of Harvard University. the Harvard School of Wo r k i n g f o r Public Health, said in Partners in Health an article on Brigham in 1996, Kim and & Women’s Hospital several other docWeb site. tors discovered an Kim will speak outbreak of drugApril 21 at 11 a.m. resistant tuberculoin Leffler Chapel and sis in Lima, Peru.

Performance Center.

Most experts beHe may not mention lieved that there was that he has dedicated no way to treat such over twenty years to an epidemic, but enhancing health in Kim was determined developing nations, or to try anyway. that the World Health He used a numOrganization has adImage: brighamandwomens.org/socialmedicine ber of other tradiopted treatment methDr. Jim Yong Kim pictured here with children in Peru during his 1996 trip. Dr. tional treatments Kim will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Scholarship Day. ods from his associaand, according tion, Partners in Health, to a “US News & in almost 40 countries.

World Report” article, “cure rates ex- In 2003, 300,000 worldwide were being In fact, according to the St. George’s ceeded a stunning 80 percent, better treated for AIDS out of millions diagnosed. University’s School of Medicine’s 2008 Through WHO, Kim launched what he newsletter, Kim, who spoke at the than in U.S. hospitals.”

Not only did Kim find a treatment called a “three-by-five” campaign, aiming commencement ceremony, is humble: for the disease, but he also fought to to treat three million by 2005.

“His speech was both memorable and decrease the prices of needed drugs so While the plan did not successfully inspirational as he gently, intelligently that those affected could afford them. reach its goal, Kim did manage to increase and with humor … explained his world After handling one epidemic so effec- the number of patients treated to over one view … that an individual or a small tively, Kim had no desire to stop. As former million. The total number of people treated group can significantly change the director of the HIV/AIDS Department of in Africa increased eightfold, according world for good.”

in the nation

Dr. Mark Harman speaks about ‘Amerika’ at embassy Carey E. Betts Staff Writer

J

an. 21, 2009, Dr. Mark Harman spoke at the Austrian Embassy in Washington D.C. Harman, the department chair of modern language and German and English professor, spoke at the event regarding his translation of Franz Kafka’s novel, “Amerika,” originally titled “The Missing Person.”

While at the Embassy, Harman spoke about “the process of translation and Kafka’s relations to America,” and his own experiences as a translator.

Harman, a Kafka scholar and Yale graduate, spent about four years translating this novel and is now speaking about his practice.

“It was a very sophisticated event. Professors and diplomats and people from all walks of life were there,” Harman said.

English and German professors from the Kelly Writers House of University of Pennsylvania attended the forum.

The translated work, Franz Kafka’s first novel, is about a boy whose parents banish him to America after impregnating a servant.

The novel was never finished. In the translator’s preface of the novel, Harman explains how he went about translating the novel so it was still what Kafka wanted it to be.

“I have sought to keep the interpretative options open and to follow Kafka whenever he chooses to be ambiguous and whenever he flouts conventions,” Harman said.

“Harman even changed the name of the novel to include Kafka’s original title. “The Missing Person.” which was later changed by the first translator to “Amerika.”

Kafka’s novel translated by Harman is titled, “Amerika: The Missing Person.”

Kafka, an Austrian native, has written many other novels, including “The Castle,” which Harman has also translated and for which he has been highly acclaimed. Harman has also translated the works of Robert Walser and Hermann Hesse.

The novel, which has been reviewed by both The New York Times and Los Angeles Times, portrays Kafka’s view of America, a place he never got to visit.

In Harman’s opinion, this novel is still “very relatable to readers.” Harman’s goal in this novel was to relate in a new way to Kafka himself. “If approached afresh, this book could … reveal a new way of understanding Kafka,” Herman said.

Wednesday, March 11, Harman will speak about the novel in a faculty forum in Hoover at 11a.m.

The speech, titled “Franz Kafka’s ‘Missing Person’: Reading, Commentary and Discussion,” will cover the material from the forum at the Austrian Embassy.

This will include Harman’s translation and meaning of the novel, along with a reading of “Amerika.”

Harman will also speak about the novel at approaching events this semester. He will visit Barnard College in New York this April to speak and give a similar lecture on.

Harman will also attend an upcoming trip to the PEN World Voices Literature Festival, the forum’s theme this year being “Make it New: Retranslating Classics.”

Image: mobipocket.com/ebooks

Harman recently visited the Austrian Embassy to talk about this novel. Dr. Mark Harman’s book, “Amerika: The Missing Person” is a new translation of Franz Kafka’s novel.

February 26, 2009

features

on campus

the Etownian

5

Free Rice Web site combats hunger, enriches minds Kevin J. Yu Staff Writer

donated by users playing the games. The rice is distributed through the World Food Programme (WFP), a UN frontline agency that is responsible for delivering food to the hungry people of impoverished nations. It decides how the food can be distributed multiple-choice question appears with four possible answers. Pick the right an- in the surrounding areas and during emergencies.

The rice has reached many countries such as Uganda, Cambodia, Nepal and Myanswer, and the rice bowl on the right-hand side of the screen fills with rice. The more questions you answer correctly, the more rice that fills the bowl. Eventually, mar. “I read how the rice was delivered to refugees from Myanmar living in Bangla1,000 grains of rice is donated, then at 10,000 grains, the Web site reads “Wow! Now, desh. I really enjoyed playing the Web site with my friends, knowing that this will go to help many people from Myanmar,” that is impressive!”

Aung said.

Freerice.com is a Web site that gives According to the WFP news, the students a chance to improve their site has been highly effective, donating academic skills while helping to feed almost 200 million grains of rice each hungry people around the world at the day. The total donations can be acsame time. When users first enter the cessed on the Web site, and numbers site, they are asked the definition of a are reaching into the billions. More vocabulary word. If a user decides to than 59 billion grains of rice have been change the subject, he or she can pick distributed up to today. from topics like art history, chemistry Dr. Michele Lee Kozimor-King, symbols, English vocabulary words, professor of sociology, said, “Young geography, basic pre-algebra and the people today are bombarded by stalanguages of the world. tistics of world hunger. And instead of “My personal favorite is English as a doing the same, the Web site makes it subject. It gives me an opportunity to a great and fun way for young people improve my vocabulary and add to my to help the cause.” knowledge of English words,” junior In fact, this was Breen’s intention.

Than Aung, an international student Image: sphaerula.com/images “I wanted to have something fun to from Myanmar, said. “Knowing the Freerice.com is a Web site that promotes learning while fighting world hunger by donating meaning of words can help you under- 20 grains of rice for each correct answer. Hunger is a major problem all over the world do that wasn’t just a waste of time. It’s hard to get people to read about povstand the context of written English.” and Free Rice is an easy and educational way to combat this issue. erty. It’s kind of depressing, so I had to John Breen, the programming genius behind freerice.com, got ideas by incorporating all 10,000 SAT words and definitions think of an entertaining way to draw people in,” he told the Washington Post.

“Hunger is a major problem and it is a great way to get people involved that might his son was studying into the Web site. He also helped develop the site poverty.com and thehungersite.com. Some of the vocabulary words are definitely tricky and may not be aware of the situation,” Kozimor-King said. She said it was such a good idea that require multiple attempts to answer correctly. Some schools have promoted the use she plans to show it in her Population and Global Issues class and allow her 9-year-old of the Web site in class. It is a great tool to help students learn basic knowledge for daughter to learn from the Web site.

It’s a great season to stay warm indoors and get away from the cold. Put down the their academic career.

Freerice.com is associated with its sponsors, Yum! and its brands, which have de- remote controls and video games. Challenge yourself to get on freerice.com and make veloped an initiative called the World Hunger Relief campaign to help pay for the rice a difference today.

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on campus

‘Amish Grace’ re-explored by theory class in discussion Jasmine N. Gollup Guest Writer

the fact that the book being critiqued was written by an Elizabethtown professor, and not just any professor, but ost students cringe upon read- the internationally-known and muching two simple words in their admired Dr. Donald Kraybill. course syllabus: book critique. Add in But wait, just to make the project more nerve-wracking, let’s hold a public discussion and critique of the book, the outcome of which will determine a sizeable portion of the course grade.

This was the challenge presented to a group of students in Dr. Kanagy’s Sociological Theory class: to read, write a critique of, and lead a critical discussion on Kraybill’s bestseller “Amish Grace.”

Feb. 12, Etown students, faculty (including President Long), community members and interested students from as far away as Eastern University in Philadelphia gathered in the Bucher MeetingImage: etown.edu/news house to discuss the Donald Kraybill lead a discussion on his book “Amish sociological signifiGrace: How Forgiveness Transended Tragedy” Feb. 12. Dr. cance of the Amish Kanagy’s Sociological Theory class is critiquing the book practice of forgiveas a class project. ness and the ramifi-

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cations of the Nickel Mines shooting.

“Amish Grace” was published just one year after the tragic school shooting at Nickel Mines, Pa. Oct. 2, 2006, Charles Roberts IV killed five and seriously injured five more young Amish school girls before committing suicide.

The story quickly became an international headline as many wondered how such a violent tragedy could befall the peaceful Amish community.

However, the story of the massacre itself was soon eclipsed by another astonishing and remarkable event: within hours of the shooting, members of the Nickel Mines Amish area visited the remaining members of the Roberts family offering forgiveness and aid.

Authors Kraybill, Nolt and Weaver-Zercher wrote “Amish Grace” to explain the unique practice of forgiveness, which traces its roots to the teachings of the New Testament, and to clear up the misconceptions of the practice that flourished in the weeks after the tragedy.

“Amish Grace” is an interesting and easy read and is highly recommended to anyone interested in the Amish, the Nickel Mines tragedy or the practice of forgiveness.

The author-meets-critics event began with a series of analytical questions asked by student panelists focusing mainly on the sociological theory utilized by Kraybill in his creation of the book and the social significance of forgiveness in Amish and American

society. After refusing to pigeon-hole the Amish into any one sociological frame of mind, Kraybill emphasized the social importance of religion in everyday Amish life and the striking differences between Amish and contemporary American culture.

The event was then turned over to the audience for questions, many of which focused on the practice of forgiveness and the sociological interpretation of several other unique Amish practices.

After the event, the audience enjoyed desserts and hot drinks courtesy of the departments of sociology and anthropology.

The response from the event was overwhelmingly positive and the group received many congratulatory remarks from numerous attendees, including President Long.

Senior Jenna Zimmerman said, “I had never met Dr. Kraybill before this event, and I was completely awed by his knowledge about, and respect for, the Amish as a culture and as individual people. You can tell that he has great admiration for all aspects of their society.”

“Dr. Kraybill gave great insights into the life of the Amish community,” senior Margie Hedlund said. Senior Doug Eroh thought the event was a great success that everyone, especially Kraybill, seemed to enjoy.

Jessica Pandolfino summed the event up nicely,saying that it was “100 percent awesome.”

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features

the Etownian

February 26, 2009

SIFE Sense

The

Jayd-ed edge

Rachel A. Marsteller Features Editor

Those aren’t my bills The family of an 86-year-old woman was surprised to receive over $1,000 in bills for phone sex. They suspect identity theft.

Arlene Hald recently received a credit card bill addressed to her husband, Sylvester, who died nearly 20 years ago. Hald said they never had a credit card.

Hald’s daughter believes her father is the victim of ID theft. She called the billing company, who agreed to remove the charges.

Just when the family thought they had seen the last of these types of bills another bill arrived for over $70.

The company removed the latest charges and promised to never bill Hald again.

Delayed mail An Oregon woman finally received an invitation to her nephew’s high school graduation in New Jersey, but she may be a little late — it was in 1987.

Theresa Schlossarek, of La Grande, found the invitation last week in her mailbox. The envelope, which had been opened, was postmarked June 2, 1987, from Toms River, N.J., where her brother, Hermann Ilnseher, lives.

“We just thought that she lived so far away, she couldn’t come,” Ilnseher said. “She usually would send money, though, so we did joke about that later on ... ” Peter Hass, spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service’s Portland district, called the delay “very unusual and very unfortunate.”

Hass said the envelope could have been stuck in machinery or misrouted and delivered to the wrong address, which would explain why it arrived opened. But he said no matter the age of the mail, “If it’s postmarked, we’re obliged to deliver it.”

Not the usual funeral Going to church brought no peace to a man tasered by police as he stood in the nude in 27-degree weather.

A funeral Mass was being held inside St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church when police received 911 calls about a naked man Friday morning. Sgt. Gordon Cameron said the man told officers he was having problems with his parents and wanted to go to church.

Cameron told The Bay City Times that the man cursed and verbally abused police before Officer Troy Sierras immobilized him with a taser, a barb-firing electronic device that causes temporary paralysis.

Cameron said the man wouldn’t be charged with any crime.

Compiled from myway.com.

Day trading difficult, risky investment T he stock market offers plenty of opportunities to purchase shares of stock, or buy long, and sell shares short, planning to buy them back at a later date with the hopes that the price will have increased.

In recent months, stocks which were once considered relatively sound bets, including many financials, have lost much or all of their value as economic confidence plummeted.

In response to fluctuating stock prices, many investors buy and sell within the same market day as the stocks crest their rollercoaster hills and fall in a process known as day trading.

Day trading gained popularity as online stock brokerage services such as Etrade attracted business during the online revolution of the early 21st century. Many investors successfully speculated on Internet stocks only to see their fortunes vanish almost overnight when the “Internet bubble” burst in 2002.

Although day trading can yield great profits if speculative luck is on the side of the investor, it is one of the riskiest investment strategies because there is

no guarantee that the stocks will perform as expected.

Certain stocks can fluctuate very rapidly, and buying and selling within the same day can be difficult. While some savvy investors have reaped profits by day trading, it is better to invest in a stock for the longer term, as investors will probably

stock analysis service, it remains an uncertain endeavor.

If anyone decides to dabble in day trading, using one of these sources will increase their odds of being successful by at least a small amount. The successful day trader must be prepared to buy or sell as quickly as the position of the stock changes to prevent losses.

Several corporate officers have seen their companies’ investment portfolios dwindle in value after being used in day trading.

Day trading is comparable to gambling, because in a strongly efficient market it is difficult to find undisclosed information about a company’s performance.

Unless you are well versed in the tricks of investing, you are likely to lose at day trading.

Written by Elizabethtown College Students In Free Enterprise, a nonprofit organization that teaches others the principles of

be more certain of its solidity.

Day trading involves a lot of speculation on the rapid fluctuations on the market, including sudden downfalls as well as rapid rises. While there are tools available to assist day traders in their investing, such as Morningstar’s

free market economics. Students, faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to visit the SIFE blog at etownsife.blogspot. com/. Contact SIFE@etown.edu with any questions.

on campus

Dr. Emmert Bittinger speaks at Young Center Huntley C. McGowan Assistant Layout Editor

W

ith this year and month being the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth, we wanted to do a program that might in some way have a connection to Lincoln or the Civil War,” Jeff Bach, director of the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies, said.

Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009 at 7:00 p.m., the Young Center for Etown will host Emmert F. Bittinger, Ph.D. “Because Dr. Bittinger’s work is still fresh in publication, he seemed like a natural choice to speak to us. So his coming is more a link to the Civil War and the experience of some Anabaptists during the time of Lincoln’s presidency,” Bach said. “Dr. Bittinger is also a senior scholar among Church of the Brethren scholars, and I wanted to have an opportunity for him to speak from the breadth of his accumulated scholarship. Dr. Bittinger does not do a lot of speaking engagements any more, so we are very pleased that he agreed to come and speak here.”

Image: etown.edu/youngcenter

Dr. Emmert Bittinger gives a lecture entitled “Crisis of Conscience:The Shenandoah Anabaptists During the Civil War,” which links the Civil War to the experiences of Anabaptists during that time. Bittinger also donated his collection of rare books.

Bittinger is a retired professor of sociology at Bridgewater College and lives in Bridgewater, Va. He is also an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren.

His interest in Anabaptists during the Civil War comes in part from his long career teaching at Bridgewater in the Shenandoah Valley. His recent publications on this topic focus on Mennonites and Brethren in the Shenandoah Valley during the Civil War. “The fruit of his research on Mennonites and Brethren in the Shenandoah Valley during the Civil War is coming out in a multi-volume series of primary-source documents pertaining to the cases of Brethren and Mennonites who objected to war on religious grounds during the Civil War,” Bach said. “The series is titled, ‘Unionists and the Civil War Experience in the Shenandoah Valley’, published by the Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center and The Valley Research Associates, on Penobscott Press. Vol. 1 came out in 2003 … This is really a monumental achievement, because it is a publication of archival records from the National Archives related to Civil War-era claims from Mennonites and Brethren.”

This material will now be more readily available to researchers. He finds his information from records in the National Archives, where he spends a lot of time reviewing and transcribing this material.

“Also, I should mention that he and his wife, Esther, have made a very generous gift to the Young Center of his collection of rare books related to Brethren history and Pietism. There are about 60 books, most are in German, from the 18th and early 19th century,” Bach said. “These are a great addition to our research collection for scholars to use. We have named the collection the Emmert and Esther Bittinger Research Collection.”

After the speech, Thursday night there will be a reception to honor and thank Bittinger and his wife.

“All of the books are here at the Young Center, and we have made a special display of some of them in the lobby area of the Young Center,” Bach said. “Also, their daughter, Marion Bittinger, is an alumna of the college, as is their grandson, Jordan Bowman (class of ‘08; he’s working in admissions this year), so their gift of books is also an acknowledgement of their family’s connection to Elizabethtown, and their interest and support of the Young Center.”

February 26, 2009

campus life

movies • music • television • humor • travel

the Etownian

lifestyles • arts • advice • college issues

Big Winners

Best Picture

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” “Frost/Nixon” “Milk” “The Reader” “Slumdog Millionaire” WINNER

Best Director

Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire” WINNER Stephen Dalrdy, “The Reader” David Fincher, “...Benjamin Button” Ron Howard, “Frost/Nixon” Gus Van Sant, “Milk”

Best Actor

Richard Jenkins, “The Visitor” Frank Langella, “Frost/Nixon” Sean Penn, “Milk” WINNER Brad Pitt, “... Benjamin Button” Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler”

Best Actress

Anne Hathaway, “Rachel Getting Married” Angelina Jolie, “Changeling” Melissa Leo, “Frozen River” Meryl Streep, “Doubt” Kate Winslet, “The Reader” WINNER

Best Supporting Actor

Josh Brolin, “Milk” Robert Downey Jr., “Tropic Thunder” Phillip Seymour Hoffman, “Doubt” Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight” WINNER Michael Shannon, “Revolutionary Road”

Best Supporting Actress

Amy Adams, “Doubt” Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” WINNER Viola Davis, “Doubt” Taraji P. Henson, “...Benjamin Button” Marisa Tomei, “The Wrestler” Left: Sean Penn nabs Best Actor for his performance as Harvey Milk in the film “Milk.” Below: Kate Winslet accepts the Best Actress Oscar for her role in “The Reader.”

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Top: Heath Ledger’s father, sister and mother accept his Best Supporting Actor award. Below:The cast and crew of “Slumdog Millionaire” celebrate.

awards show recap

‘Millionaire’ steals the show Khouri E. McGrann Assistant Opinion Editor

T

hat’s right, ladies and gentlemen: Sunday, Feb. 22 saw the 81st Annual Academy Awards in the beautiful and sunny Hollywood Kodak Theatre.

The events started off with some red carpet coverage, co-hosted by Tim Gunn.

Gunn knew every designer and carried on smooth conversations with all the popular A-listers.

The best dressed ladies of the night were numerous, but those at the top were Marisa Tomei — nominated for Best Supporting Actress — as well as Sarah Jessica Parker and Meryl Streep. Topping the worst dressed list was Beyoncé Knowles, wearing a black-and-gold gown, as well as Jessica Biel in a beige, ribboned dress.

Sean Penn and Brad Pitt looked sleek in black tuxes, while Mickey Rourke wore an unflattering white tux. Phillip Seymour Hoffman sported a knit black skull cap.

Enough said.

Hugh Jackman was both a charming and handsome host. He started the night off with an introductory dance number, which recounted the most popular movies of the year. It was the start of a very entertaining evening.

Among the most memorable moments of the evening was Ben Stiller’s impression of Joaquin Phoenix (who has apparently “retired” from acting and taken up rapping). Tina Fey and Steve Martin presented, accompanied by voice recordings of both insinuating the audience should be insanely jealous of them, as they are such gorgeous and popular actors. The pair also took a few stabs at Scientology, the Hollywood religion of choice. Seth Rogen and James Franco revived their “Pineapple Express” roles to poke some fun at Oscar nominations (“Wait, did the academy just recognize comedies?”).

Some of the worst moments included the musical tribute done by Hugh Jackman and Beyoncé, leaving viewers wondering, “Why didn’t they just stick to one?” Additionally, the awkward jokes that Jackman tried to provide throughout the entire show didn’t quite land. The man tried, but let’s face it; he’s not a comedian.

The big winners of the night included Penelope Cruz, who won Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Heath Ledger posthumously won Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Kate Winslet won Best Actress in a Lead Role for her work in “The Reader,” and Sean Penn took Best Actor for his portrayal of Harvey Milk in “Milk.” “Slumdog Millionaire” cleaned up, winning Music (song), Music (score), Cinematography and, most notably, Best Film.

It was a night to recognize and congratulate in Hollywood film production.

Images: accesshollywood.com, blogtribuna.com, hep.man.ac.uk, movies.ndtv.com, oscar.com and southwestern.edu

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campus life

the Etownian

February 26, 2009

cinema review

‘Coraline’ challenges traditional animated film genre Peter S. Northrop Assistant News Editor

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ost 20-somethings don’t bother with animated films. These films are usually the providence of children or emotionally crippled housewives. The plots are generally vapid, and the characters are less interesting than your average brick.

This is not so for the new film “Coraline,” brought to us by the same creepy dudes who presented “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “James and the Giant Peach.” It is based off of the novel “Coraline” by Neil Gaiman, who is equally dark as the film’s directors.

The movie concerns the adventures of the unfortunately-named Coraline Jones. The film opens with Coraline’s parents moving her from their somewhat exciting home in Michigan to the most boring place in the world — Oregon.

For a while, Coraline stomps around and demands attention from her parents, who are too wrapped up in their own nonsense to care about their daughter’s needs. Eventually, after enough exploration through her bug-ridden and mossy new home, Coraline discovers a hidden door leading to an alternate universe.

This new world is just like her own, except Coraline’s parents actually love her and have disturbing black buttons for eyes. Oh, and mice perform acrobatics, too. At first, Coraline falls in love with this new place, but she quickly learns of its more sinister nature. Most of the film’s conflict revolves around Coraline’s quest to return to Oregon and save her real parents.

Now, that story may seem kind of drab, as all of Gaiman’s stories do on the surface. However, the real value in this movie lies in the way the story

Images: kaylacastille.com, flickdirect.com and latimes.com

unfolds, not the story itself. The directors created a variety of vibrant characters, bringing the whole tale to life. There’s the eccentric acrobat neighbor and the friendly-yet-freaky “other mother” with buttons for eyes and a penchant for transforming from a benign cupcake-baking angel to an angular harpy at the drop of a hat (just like my mom!). Coraline herself is snarky enough to be interesting — and the way she changes throughout the story will keep the viewer engaged.

The biggest mistake the producers made with “Coraline” was marketing it as a children’s film. This is not a movie to which you take children or friends who startle easily. It is a very dark piece of art, much like its predecessor, “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

However, the artists involved took a very original spin on the term “dark.” Rather than looking like a goth kid’s dorm room, the colors of “Coraline” are primarily muted blues and greens paired with fluorescent oranges, pinks and purples. It’s like watching Van Gogh collide head-on with a neon sign.

The animation itself is glorious. All in all, “Coraline” took two years of pre-production work and then was filmed over 80 weeks on 50 stages. All this work paid off. Every image is beautiful and awesome in its detail.

Sure, “Coraline” concerns children and their adventures into nightmarish alternate universes, but that’s what makes anything Gaiman touches so genius. Gaiman takes childish issues and raises them up to the adult arena, making us question what is really important in life.

In the end, “Coraline” is a beautiful and mature movie that is sure to impress. Grab that weird kid down the hall from you and see it immediately.

academic planning

Class registration made easy: how to plan, what to avoid Allison M. O’Boyle Staff Writer

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t’s time again to consider which classes you’ll schedule for next year. With midterms and papers weighing down your mind, the last questions you want to ask yourself are, “What core do I still need to fill? What major requirements should I get booked? Will I actually get into the classes I want? This is going to be such a headache.”

The silver lining to this mess is that with a little bit of planning, speaking with the right people, and getting advice from the Etownian about registration, signing up for classes will not be such a nightmare.

There are two points essential to a smooth registration. Beverly Schmalhofer, senior associate registrar, stresses that “prior to registration, students are required to consult with their academic advisors regarding course selections, and students must address any ‘holds’ placed on their registration prior to open registration.” Students will not be able to register for classes as soon as their time slot opens on registration day if these holds are not lifted.

Stephanie Rankin, assistant dean of students and director of academic advising, recommends that “students create more than one schedule with alternative courses/core classes in case of close-outs. They should also keep in mind that sometimes it is beneficial for them to ‘waitlist’ a course, as there is movement to class lists over the sum-

mer months and through the first week of fall courses.”

Senior Peer Mentors Carl Marrara and Elyse Venturella stress that it is important to have a backup plan, “especially if you are one of the last days or hours on the time slot,” Marrara said.

Venturella believes that backup plans are essential because “you never know how fast a class is going to fill up. Also, don’t be scared of being waitlisted; you may get lucky.”

Reading the college catalog to “understand the college policies, programs and terminology that relates to registration” and sorting through Registration and Records’ online checklists for graduation will add organization to the registration preparation, according to Schmalhofer. If you are still undecided in your major, Schmalhofer recommends that you focus on satisfying the core requirements: “Engage in coursework within various disciplines, allowing … the opportunity to explore future declaration possibilities.”

If you have declared an intended major or minor, Schmalhofer suggests meeting with your advisor on a regular basis, not just prior to registration.

“Departments work with our office in building the master schedule each semester,” she said. “Every course is not offered every semester … It is important to understand the timing with regards to course offerings when working towards degree completion.”

If you want to hear a first-hand student perspective about the registration pro-

cess, there is no better group to go to than done as soon as possible, while Marrara the Peer Mentors. Advising is part of their and Venturella believe you just get them job, so Peer Mentors are usually the go-to finished when you can. people, especially for first-years, when “Don’t stress about it,” Venturella said. registration gets tricky.

What you really want to know now is what to take and what to avoid semester.

While it’s not as easy as listing a handful of classes that you should or should not take because of the professor or the subject, the Peer Mentors have a little advice from their experiences.

Junior Matt Torresani says the most difficult core to fulfill is that which “students feel least comPhoto: Jamie A. Miller fortable with.”

First-year Rebekah Frischkorn prepares to register Senior Jake Keeler agrees. for classes. Staff and upperclassmen recommend “Many people are more planning ahead for this relatively painless task. ‘left-brained’ and find the creative expression core difficult to Marrara reminds of “high risk, high recomplete, while the ‘right-brainers’ … ward ... It can be risky to wait, but if it is have difficulty with the science courses,” for a class that the upperclassman really he said. wants, it may be worth the wait.”

As for the hardest core to get into, TorRegardless of what you are takresani and Keeler both feel that science ing when, Torresani recommends “to core classes, especially “Earth in Space” constantly keep checking before your and “How Things Work,” fill up quickly. registration time to see availability” Keeler reminds that “it is important to on ECWeb. take classes that you enjoy; don’t just take Start thinking about registration now a class to fulfill the credits.” while you still have a few months to As for all of the upperclassmen who plan. Look over the College’s resources are still working on squeezing core classes and start speaking with your adviser. As into their busy schedules, the Peer Men- the weeks pass, work on back-up classes tors have a few words of wisdom. Tor- and consider all of the variables that the resani and Keeler suggest getting them registration process entails.

campus life

February 26, 2009

the Etownian

location evaluation

11

Peace, quiet uncovered in little-known BSC lounge Nancy C. Briscoe Staff Writer

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eyond the doors of the Brossman Commons, up the staircase, past the Commuter Lounge, and through a small-framed door lies the Student Activity Club Lounge. Most of the time, this area of campus is deserted.

A plethora of offices lie on the outskirts of the space, including those of the Conestogan, the Etownian, the Office of Diversity, the Office of Student Activities (OSA), Students Working to Entertain E-Town (SWEET) and the Chaplain.

For the most part, the organizations that have offices in the Center for Student Involvement rarely use the lounge. Junior Samantha Schneider, president of SWEET, does not use the space for official SWEET business.

When they are working to en-

Photo: Aimée M. DiMichele

The empty Student Activity Club Lounge beckons for students to utilize it. This oft-unoccupied space can accomodate everything from solo study sessions to informal group meetings.

tertain Etown, SWEET members are more likely to be found within their office or either of the conference rooms available in the Center for Student Involvement.

Sophomore Mike White, OSA student assistant, said, “The members of the [OSA] office sometimes use the lounge to tem-

porarily hold posters [before they are] hung.” Other than poster prep, the space is not used for any official OSA work.

One club that can be found in the Student Activity Club Lounge is Elizabethtown College Circle K (ECCK). This organization utilizes the space every

Wednesday night to hold general meetings with approximately 20 members in attendance.

“It’s nice to have a space to meet with a group of that size that isn’t in a classroom,” junior and ECCK president Erin Lengel said.

“It’s definitely a more relaxed environment than a conference room or classroom.”

In preparation for Senior Day, the women’s basketball team occupied the lounge Thursday, Feb. 19. They created signs in recognition of seniors Jennifer Montague, Megan Romano and Megan Quinn. A sign was also made for the lone senior on the men’s team, Phil Schaeffer.

So what exactly is the cause for this lack of occupancy during the day? One finger can be pointed directly across from the Student Activity Club Lounge at the Marketplace. The noise and smells

of the cafeteria may come as a distraction, not to mention a temptation, for some. Another culprit may be found in the offices surrounding the space. With all of the foot traffic occurring through and around the area, it can be hard to concentrate.

White, however, prefers studying in this lounge over the Blue Bean and the Commuter Lounge.

With the Blue Bean’s constant music and both areas’ overcrowded seating, “[The Student Activity Club Lounge] provides a quiet place within the BSC to just sit and unwind,” he said.

Overall, the Student Activity Club Lounge just may have gotten lost in the shuffle. Next time you are looking for a place to construct your next thesis, cram for an exam, or do some group planning, don’t forget about the BSC’s hidden gem.

spring break preview

Etowners eagerly anticipate service-learning, vacationing Laura A. Farnish Staff Writer

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“It always amazes me how many students are willing to give up a potentially relaxing week of their time to get their hands dirty and help those in need,” Paporello said.

“As we live and work in this community for a week, we will have a small glimpse into the struggles and joys of the Caimito community,” Karen Hodges, adviser of FIA, said. “These experiences will very likely challenge each of us personally, intellectually and spiritually.”

In addition to the Puerto Rico service trip, other students will travel to New Mexico and aid residents at the Navajo Indian Reservation in Shiprock.

Students will paint and repair buildings on the reservation, visit with the reservation’s elderly residents, repair the play yard of the childcare center, and work at the thrift shop.

Additionally, students will assist with a program called “Feed the Needy,” during which they will prepare Indian fry bread and green chili stew to feed those in need.

Just like on the trip to San Juan, students will enjoy a day of sightseeing before returning Sunday, March 8, in time for class the next day.

“The students attending this trip will have the opportunity to help others in need,” Sharon Sherick, coordinator of service-learning, said. “Everyone will not only be giving of their time and talent to help others, but they will also be ‘given’ something in return. I believe they will all come back with a new awareness, new friendships, new experiences and hopeful they can begin to bridge the gap between the two cultures.”

n only a few hours, most of us will be enjoying our spring break in the comfort of our homes. Some will return to jobs for the week, others will be busy with schoolwork, and some will simply relax for a few days.

“I am going home for break and will be spending time with my family and running,” first-year Kathryn Howser said.

“I wanted to visit my friend in Texas, but I didn’t have the money,” sophomore Tom Hagerty said. “I may go visit my friends at their colleges who have spring break at another time.”

Others will travel farther distances to warmer climates.

“For spring break I am flying down to Miami for the first weekend,” junior Tammy Bateman said. “[A friend] goes to the University of Miami, so it will the first time I get to see her campus, and we’re going to spend the weekend at South Beach with a few of her friends.”

“I am on the Elizabethtown softball team, so I will be going to Florida for spring break,” junior Paige Tanner said. “We have been working in the gym for the last month and can’t wait to put on our cleats and actually run on a dirt diamond.”

In addition to these varied spring break plans, some Etown students have the opportunity to travel to Puerto Rico and New Mexico.

The trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico, co-sponsored by the Chaplain’s Office and Faith in Action (FIA) student group, will consist of 20 students and two Do you like to write? staff members.

The participants will stay in a community cenDo you like to take pictures? ter in Caimito, a small urban area on the outskirts of San Juan. Here, they will work with a Christian Are you interested in sales? ! community center where community members come for medical care, worship services, hot meals and fellowship, among other things. AdDo you like to help people express their opinions? ditionally, they will be involved in construction, painting and cleaning. These Etown students are ! needed after heavy rains caused flood damage throughout the community. Evenings will be We are currently looking for staff writers and staff phospent sharing meals with underprivileged families in small groups. tographers, as well as an Assistant Advertising Manager.

“Our jobs will be considered more light-duty than the Hurricane Katrina rebuilding and cleanup work of past FIA trips, but hopefully we will We are also looking to fill the paid have the same impact on the lives that we will be able to touch,” senior Kristen Paporello said.

Opinion Editor position.

Although the trip requires a lot of work, participants will also have a chance to enjoy the Email us at EDITOR@etown.edu or\visit our Web site at www.etownian.com to apply. warm weather and relax on the beach. They will also tour the historic districts of San Juan and the Yunque Forest.

Etownian Opportunities

THEN THE ETOWNIAN IS FOR YOU!!

12

opinion

the Etownian

campus controversies • letters to the editor

d n u

S o Off

How do you feel about having a fraternity on campus?

by Matthew P. Butera

Greg Snow Class of 2009 “If they could get it, that would be cool, but I just don’t see it happening.”

Melissa Turpin Class of 2010 “Our campus is too small.

SDLCs are more ideal.”

February 26, 2009 national debate • our take • guest columns

in the nation

‘No Child Left Behind’ breaks education Katherine E. Blackman Copy Editor

I

t has been done before, I know. No one I talk to seems particularly thrilled about former President Bush’s No Child Left Behind Act, and I’m not different, except perhaps that I’ve glimpsed the aftermath first-hand.

Having a Spanish teacher for a mother in convenient; I often call her to clarify a concept or ask for the English equivalent of a word. That woman knows her stuff like none other. On bring-your-child-to-work day, I always accompanied my mother to school, and I listened to her teach even as I hid beneath her desk with a few pilfered highlighters and a coloring book, in terror of the giants who dominated her classrooms.

Over the years, I’ve gained an interesting perspective on American education. My mother has hopped from district to district, watering her material down further and further and complaining more and more bitterly about the unresponsiveness of administrators. The addition of state assessment tests (my mother calls them “pissas” behind closed doors because of the acronym PSSA) means she has to forfeit at least two weeks of class time every year to make room for these tests. Of course, in a high school setting, that means all graduating classes get jumbled together. So, if juniors are pulled out of her fourth period class one week to take the reading section of a test, should she set some busy work aside for the remaining students or push ahead with the already weakened curriculum? How can she hold the missing juniors responsible for what she teaches in that week when it’s impossible to blame them for their absence?

One night, my mother told the family a very interesting story over dinner. PSSA season was in full bloom. Students were a little more attentive than usual that week — no doubt a result of the sugared orange juice and substitute breakfasts provided to them each testing session (though juice in a plastic baggie, however entertaining to drink, is poor compensation for ninety minutes of my life).

It turns out, however, that a slightly unbalanced breakfast was not the source of the students’ easygoing attitude. Rebellion was in the air, but little did the high-schoolers know that their retribution would be very short-lived and come

at a high price for themselves and for their high school.

I read somewhere that an elementary school principal somewhere in the continental U.S. had to discard as many as 120 test booklets on the days where state assessments were administered because so many students vomited on them.

My first thought: are you serious? Those poor children!

But can we really blame the school district for putting so much pressure on Bobby and Sue that they lost that state-purchased fruit juice right after having swallowed it?

I’m not so sure. The procedures (prescribed instructions a teacher must read, special pencils, etc.) surrounding these kinds of tests must be terrifying for a 6-year-old. At the same time, there are so many under-funded school districts in the U.S., and I understand those schools’ desire to obtain more money, but how far can you stretch this ethically? Is a child’s terror worth a few federal dollars?

So, back to my mother’s insurgent juniors. Unfortunately, while they proved an important point to those willing to listen, they sacrificed themselves to the demons of state legislation. Instead of reading each question carefully and tapping into that vast cache of knowledge (hopefully supplied and molded by competent, qualified teachers) to determine the very best response for each multiple-guess question, they performed the unexpected. These heroic young men and women, in short, had had the enough of state assessment tests. Blindly and at random, they answered the questions without a care in the world as to what they actually said.

That would teach them all, they thought. This would show everyone how we, the students, feel. No one has ever asked for our opinion, but by gum, we’ll give it to them.

So, giddy with triumph, they treated each test sheet alike.

Victory was theirs. Until the results came in.

Because they failed to achieve “proficient” scores, they were yanked out of their honors chemistry and calculus classes for remedial math instruction for the rest of the year, martyrs for their cause.

I bet if we handed our educational system over to teachers, it would run much more smoothly. Who knows better than a teacher? I don’t deny that some educators are dramatically less qualified than others, but in the very least the government should reexamine what it has done to the American public education system since NCLB.

on campus

Spring break comes before winter ends Huntley C. McGowan Assistant Layout Editor

Alex Liebergall Class of 2012 “It is a must for the college experience.”

Angeline Alessandri Class of 2009 “Maybe it will happen in a few years, but I don’t see it happening anytime soon.”

I

f you were to pick up the phone right now and call one of your friends who attends a college other than Etown, chances are they will tell you that their spring break is sometime in the middle of March. That sounds normal, right? You would expect to be able to go outside and enjoy the sunshine and play basketball with your younger brother or sister. Well, not Etown; our spring break is in February this year!

Right now, it is 31 degrees outside.

By the time classes are done Friday and spring break rolls around, it will be 49 degrees, and it is supposed to be in the low 40s almost every day for the rest of our time off. To me, this time frame just seems silly. I want to be able to wear shorts and hang around outside while enjoying my Make sure to check out the Sound Off poll and the opportunity to comment on articles on our Web site: www.etownian.com

time off from classes and homework.

“I think spring break should be the week that spring actually starts,” first-year Matt Matyas said. “It would just make more sense given that it is called spring break.”

Although many students travel to warmer places such as Florida during this time, for the people staying home, it seems the weather forecast will provide lots of doom and gloom.

“When I think of spring break, I think of warm weather,” sophomore LeighAnn Matthews said. “Right now, that is not the case.”

Even though the weather may not be a plus, there are a few students who are trying to take a more positive look about where the calendar falls this year.

“I would obviously rather it be warmer, but I’ll take a break whenever I can get one,” first-year Jackie Halliday said. “I think it is a good distance between the start of the semester and Easter break, though.”

One good thing about Etown’s calendar this year is that we get five days off for Easter. If you ask any of your other friends, I’m sure they will not be able to say the same thing.

“I like it because it breaks up March, and then we have Easter break to split up April too,” first-year Jen Elliot said. “It is true I would like it to be warmer, but I like having a break coming up next week too.”

If you have, in fact, glanced at the calendar for the year, you will see how fully packed it is. It seems as though there is some kind of event going on every weekend until graduation. Finding time to fit things in can sometimes be very challenging, so perhaps that is why spring break fell at such an awkward time this year.

“I feel like there is a lot of stuff going on in April, so there is really no way to change spring break unless you shuffle dates around,” first-year Hannah Desmond said. “In high school, March was not fun for me because we never had any time off. It is nice to have some now.”

Whether you go to Florida or stay here in wonderful Pennsylvania, enjoy your time off. Use this break to come back refreshed and ready to finish out the semester. Don’t let the weather get to you, and celebrate the fact that when we get back there are only eight and a half more weeks separating you and your summer sunshine.

opinion

February 26, 2009

the Etownian

staff column

on campus

Co-ed residence: Myer rumors fly After ink and paper R I

By Chelsea E. Decker Staff Writer

umors have b e en f lying. The humble halls of Elizabethtown College have been buzzing with talk of turning the all-girls dorm Myer into a co-ed residence hall.

Though plans for the setup have not been set in stone, the Residence Life office has confirmed block housing for the Fall ’09 semester.

Ideally, block housing will occupy nearly 16 rooms, with eight reserved for guys and eight reserved for girls. The block housing was set up by Residence Life to provide options to upperclassmen who may not get into apartments or the quads or may choose not to live there. The block housing will operate on the lottery system, which provides each students with a number based on their amount of credits.

For each group of 16 boys or 16 girls, there will be a team leader who has the highest lottery number and will reserve the housing for the rest of the group.

As a rising sophomore, I have only spent a few short months on the Etown campus, but one thing has become apparent to me: there seem to be plenty of living options available to upperclassmen in order to keep them on campus.

Though Brinser Hall is open to sophomores, the apartments and quads are strictly reserved for juniors and seniors. Let me preface by saying that I completely support this about the apartments, the quads and Brinser Hall. However, I do have a problem with the lottery system that will apply to the block housing in Myer next semester.

Theoretically, the number of upperclassmen decreases as students drop out, transfer or generally leave the college.

Wouldn’t the College try to make more options available to rising sophomores who decide to stay the four years at Etown?

Wouldn’t it be logical to encourage students to stay by opening up more creative options besides the residence halls? After all,

these are the years where students decide if Etown is really worth it.

Yes, call me biased. But, even in the first semester, I have already witnessed first-year students consider transferring. With the unstable economy, it seems to me that the students Etown risks losing are the students who survived their freshman year, but haven’t invested the time and money like the upperclassmen.

Perhaps this is my rant for the lottery system, rather than the co-ed Myer block housing.

Let it be. I see Myer as the biggest opportunity to keep students here. After all, what are the factors that are going to keep students at Etown when they question money, classes and majors? Friends. People stay in college because their friends keep them sane when all their other troubles overtake them. Yes, there are exceptions to the rule, but someone who has true friendships established at school is more likely to stay than someone who never felt connected.

in the world

Local Mardi Gras loud, pointless Khouri E. McGrann Assistant Opinion Editor

Getting wasted and flashing and/or being flashed for a holiday that I know people are celebrating in a state I’ve never been to, or in several countries I’ve here’s the booze? I need my beads! It’s only been to once, is not my idea of a good time. time for Mardi Gras, a traditional EuIf you really want to go out and celebrate ropean holiday, which celebrates the Tuesday Mardi Gras, go do it, and I hope you have fun. before Ash Wednesday.

I just also hope that you know what you’re Although this holiday celebrating and that this isn’t commonly celebrated isn’t just another opporin the United States in the tunity to consume copisame way it is celebrated ous amounts of alcohol in European countries, it and maybe sleep in the is certainly still enjoyed street (although for some here. After all, when do that may be considered people in America not an adventure!). like to drink? That is exI like to hope that in actly what Mardi Gras has American, we all possess become in this country: a bit more depth than another excuse to get just thinking, “Oh, it’s wasted (conveniently on a Tuesday! And somea weeknight) and maybe where people are celeven see some ta-tas in ebrating something! Pull the process. into that bar!”

I’m all for having a America is all about good time; I just think it the land of the free, the has to be within reason. land of the good times, Mardi Gras is most popImage: buycostumes.com and the opportunity to ularly celebrated in New Mardi Gras, French for “Fat Tuesday,” has celebrate Mardi Gras is Orleans because it is, come to define the activities and events held certainly a good time. after all, a French holi- on the day before Ash Wednesday.

I would just much preday, and New Orleans fer to celebrate it in New is largely influenced by Orleans, or in France, French settlers. where the costumes are elaborate and the prepaSo, if a person wants to celebrate Mardi Gras, rations and knowledge make the experience then they should hop on a plane and go hit up even richer and more memorable.

Bourbon street! There’s no need to celebrate But if celebrating Mardi Gras in a bar with a with the same exuberance in the streets of rural couple friends and a few shiny plastic bead neckPennsylvania. laces that you bought at the dollar store does the Call me a party pooper, but when I celebrate same thing for you as being in New Orleans would a holiday, I like to know why I’m celebrating. do for me, then more power to you.

I couldn’t tell you a thing about Mardi Gras; I just caution all you lovely ladies: go on and

by Jill Hugus all of the facts I found were the hard-earned have a good time, but don’t lift any shirts around results of googling. any cameras; it might not end too well.

W

Jameson C. Rohrer Copy Editor

’m writing for the Opinion section of a newspaper, which means that I can say things like “‘Slumdog Millionaire’ is the best film since ‘South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut’” without any real fear of retribution. It’s easy to become comfortable with this medium, and to get in the habit of writing something, passing it to an established audience, and chasing paper.

It is perhaps equally easy to expect that print media will continue to sustain people like me (but not me) into the coming decades, and that it is the Heaven-instilled responsibility of Readers Like You to keep us going.

(It is not.)

Print media — those inexplicable human habits of staining bits of crushed dead trees with scribbles and charging exorbitant prices for the privilege of staring at them — are dying.

Tears will not sustain them.

Broadcast is hiccupping, too.

Readily replicable information now exists — in varying states of legality — over the Internet, and it’s simply not costeffective to pump advertising dollars into cathode-ray tubes lit by Hearst or Time Warner.

The world is what it is. A handful of magazines (including The Economist) reported growth in 2008, but 525 more closed. Even Rolling Stone and US Weekly are floundering. Some publications will endure, but the financial viability of many media is being questioned. Television, for example, will likely deteriorate.

In March, the Atlantic prophesied that networks would mutate to become the “equivalent of AM talk radio.”

This is not an excuse for you comm majors to weep, beg for attention, or exploit your positions to print “rants.” Instead, it is an opportunity to cast off obsolete dreams and demonstrate powers of actual communication. Rather than honing your teleprompter-reading and lining up for newsroom jobs in Needmore, Pa., y’all should learn yourselves some body language and rhetoric.

Negotiation, persuasion and rainmaking are timeless and transcend both industry evolutions and economic crises.

The jobs that you want do not exist. Deal wif ’ it. If you must work in media, you’ll only make money if you learn the rules of the industry.

13

the Etownian the board

Editor in Chief Jennifer L. Tarr Managing Editor Shaleen A. Spulio Assistant Editor Jamie L. Bartolino News Editor Aidan E. Bauernschmidt Features Editor Rachel A. Marsteller Campus Life Editor Aimée M. DiMichele Opinion Editor Christopher T. Care Sports Editor Abigail R. Kramer Photography Editor Kalie M. Desimone Copy Editors Katherine E. Blackman Jameson C. Rohrer Online Editor Steven E. Bicker Layout Editor E. Adam Quinn Assistant News Editor Peter S. Northrop Assistant Features Editor Craig H. Meaney Asst. Campus Life Editor Joelle E. Atkinson Assistant Opinion Editor Khouri E. McGrann Assistant Sports Editor Michael D. Steiner Asst. Photography Editor Matthew P. Butera Assistant Online Editor Zachary T. Johnson Assistant Copy Editors Michael D. Moss Noelle A. Withelder Assistant Layout Editor Huntley C. McGowan Editorial Cartoonist Your name could be here Business Manager Anh P. Nguyen Asst. Business Manager Brittny E. McLaughlin Advertising Manager Elizabeth L. Cox Faculty Adviser Kirsten A. Johnson

The Etownian is the student newspaper of Elizabethtown College. All editorial decisions are made by the student editors. With the exception of editorials, opinions presented here are those of quoted sources or signed authors, not of The Etownian or the College.

Submissions to the Etownian are always welcomed. We will make every effort to print submissions, but do not promise publication.

Submissions may be printed anonymously at the discretion of the editor.

Submit letters to opinion@ etownian.com

14

the Etownian

sports

February 26, 2009

etown men’s basketball

Jays advance to conference championship Saturday Ross M. Benincasa Staff Writer

T

he Elizabethtown men’s basketball team solidified their spot as one of the top teams in the Commonwealth Conference, bringing down Arcadia University in a 71-49 rout this past Saturday.

The win maintained the Blue Jay’s undefeated streak against Arcadia, now standing at 5-0, and kept the team’s momentum up after having won their past three games against conference opponents.

The win also put the team in great shape as they prepared for the playoffs, which started yesterday when the team faced Albright College.

Junior Mike Church scored a game-high 16 points for the Blue Jays, grabbing seven rebounds in the process.

Sophomore Joe Flanagan also added 14 points to help the team clinch the third seed in the Commonwealth Conference. Impressive shooting by Etown was the story of the game, as the team combined for a stellar 56.5 percent from the field.

They also crashed the boards throughout the game.

Senior Phil Schaffer recorded a career-high 12 rebounds from the point-guard position.

“To be honest, the first half, we didn’t play that well,” sophomore forward Chris Hill said. “But we came out in the second half, and played like the team we know we can be and the team that can win the [Mid-Atlantic Conference].”

Juniors Chris Jomes and Josh Houseal also finished the game with double-digits. Jones continued his streak of sucessful 3-pointers, stretching it to seven, and finished with 10 points, matching his career high.

Houseal finished with 11 points and kept up the Jays’ rebounding, adding four to the total. The Blue Jay’s

Photo: Matthew P. Butera

Junior Josh Houseal looks for somebody to pass to in a match two weeks ago.The Jays played their first playoff match last night at Albright College.

defense, as was evident throughout the year, is what really helped bring down Arcadia in the second half.

They were able to force Arcadia to commit 21 turnovers throughout the game, increasing their total forced to 53 over their three-game winning streak.

The defensive tenacity of the team helped Etown maintain the lead through all but 28 seconds of the

game, and will hopefully carry over to the conference playoffs.

The game against Albright was a big one for Etown, not only because of the playoff implications that come along with the outcome, but also due to the arrogant style of play Albright with which played during their last overtime win in Thompson Gym. “We needed the momentum to get to the playoffs if we won like we did [against Arcadia],” Hill said. “We wanted Albright to begin with, ‘cause they’re kind of cocky, and because of the way they acted here when they won in overtime. And right now, between us and Albright, we’re playing better basketball. We have that swagger that they had when they played us.”

Although the game against Albright would be the team’s first priority, it will not be the only match with which they will be paying attention.

The key game will be Messiah’s playoff match against Widener, who ended the season at the head of the Commonwealth pack.

If Messiah beat Widener, which they had already done this year, and Etown defeated Albright, then the MAC Championship Game Saturday would be here at Thompson — Etown versus Messiah.

After a rough matchup, the Jays defeated Albright 68-64. They will be playing in their first Commowealth Conference championship since 2004. Church led the men with 17 points. Keith Fogel added 13 points, and Flanagan had 12 points.Both Flanagan and Fogel and two three-pointers in the game as well.

Unfortunatly, Etown will not have home field advantage Saturday for the championship match. Widener University defeated Messiah 76-61 last night. Etown will face Widener in Chester, Pa. Saturday. The last time these two teams met, Widener won 80-69.

etown track and field

Team competes at MACs this Saturday with high hope Brielle E. Parady Staff Writer

shy of the women’s mile standard for a en’s teams are hoping to remain competitive and maintain our position as flat 200m track.” “[Junior] Wyatt Eaton had an out- a top four team in the Middle-Atlantic lizabethtown’s track and field standing day, moving up to 4th all-time Conference at the indoor and outdoor teams came out strong this week- in school history in the 200m. He end at Susquehanna University. With also got a personal best in the high these improved records, the teams are jump at 5’11, or 5th all-time. He closer to qualifying for the NCAAs, a closed his day with a split of 50.8 goal that has been in their minds since seconds in the 4X400m relay. He is very close to becoming a nationalthe beginning of the season.

“The meet [on Saturday] went really caliber sprinter. His hard work is well for us,” Coach Chris Straub said. starting to pay off and is a tribute “We had ‘rabbits’ set the pace. All had to his work ethic, patience and season best performances. Dylan Ru- ‘coachability’ under the tutelage lander had Drew Graybeal ‘08 rabbit for of Coach Erin VanderSchaaf last him in the 800m and missed making the year and Coach Joel Hoffsmith national qualifying standard by 4/10ths this year.”

“Susquehanna’s meet went of a second.”

First-year Eric Reichert had Evan really well,” first-year Kathryn DeArmitt rabbit for him in the mile Howser said. “We, as a team, were and came up just 2 seconds shy of the able to try and get in some final standard. Senior Tiffany Kulp had qualifications for MACs this comAmanda Daws rabbit for her in the ing Saturday as well as better our mile and “came up about 2-3 seconds qualifying times. We are looking to go out there this Saturday and do our best next to win with the support of our team, those In last week’s swimming article, The competing and those Etownian published several mistakes.

Photo: Drac Williams not competing.”

First-year Kathyrn Howser competes at the The last Etown swimmer to win the David Af te r a su c c e ss f u l NewYork City Armory earlier in the season.

B. Eavenson Award was Chris Miller, who weekend, the team is The team’s final test will come at MACs this won the award in 2007. Etown graduate Jackie looking forward to the Saturday, Feb. 28.

Miller also won the award in 1997 and 1998.

MACs Saturday, Feb. 28.

Also, Gretchen Geiger broke the school They have remained on top championships,” Straub said. record in the 400-meter Indivudual Medley, Etown has done so in all six chamthroughout the season and not the 100-meter breastroke. are preparing to continue as pionships per year since 2002 or 40 The Etownian sincerely apologizes for championships in a row. The team has a top four seed. these errors.

“Both the men’s and wom- also had representation at every indoor

E

CORRECTION

and outdoor NCAA Championships since 2003. Etown would like to keep that streak alive. Both teams appear to be in position to achieve this team goal, but it will take a group effort Saturday, Feb. 28th to make it a reality.

“Tiffany Kulp (mile in 5:07), Eric Reichert (mile in 4:18) and [senior] Dylan Rulander (800m in 1:55) were all relatively close to qualifying for NCAAs at the Susquehanna Open Saturday, Feb. 21. Wyatt Eaton, Allie Gold and Chelsea Miles are all having excellent seasons as well and are making progress toward becoming national-caliber track & field athletes,” Straub said.

At this point, the work is done. The hay is in the barn. We’re focusing on doing all the little things away from practice correctly to be at our mental and physical best come Saturday.”

“The season has had its ups and downs, but the team is pulling themselves together for MACs next Saturday and really focusing on achieving our team goal of winning MACs,” firstyear Russell Speiden said. “Everybody is determined and giving 110 percent in practice so they can be ready for the competition at MACs.” The teams have come together this season to continue the success they have had in previous years.

With their times consistantly improving after every meet, the men and women are on their way to qualifying for the NCAA and ending the season on top.

February 26, 2009

sports

sports scandal

the Etownian

15

Steroid use plagues All-Star; athletes react differently Abigail R. Kramer Sports Editor

substance that was banned in the United States and also the Dominican Republic, Rodriguez and Sucart’s native country.

While the MLB has tried to step in and take a stand, it cannot punish the all-star, he Major League Baseball off-season was going smoothly. So smoothly, in fact, because under a labor agreement, players cannot be punished for taking illegal subthat little to no controversy rose. The New York Yankees dominated and other stances before 2003, according to ESPN. teams threw in a few clutch pickups. Because the acquisition of K-Rod, the New York Rodriguez showed up, as expected, to the Yankees training camp in Tampa, Fla. Mets now show promise of surviving a year without an end-of-season collapse, and He was greeted by supportive teammates; however, not all of them had positive the Atlanta Braves filled a pitching gap by picking up Derek Lowe. However, all of things to say. Yankees’ shortstop Derek Jeter expressed his support, but he does not these large headlines were nothing compared to the storm that was brewing ahead. condone Rodriguez for blaming the time as a reason Feb. 7, Sports Illustrated magazine posted a story on to take steroids. its Web site that changed MLB history: New York “I think it sends the wrong message to fans, to base“I think it sends the wrong message Yankee’s Alex Rodriguez tests positive for steroids. ball fans; I think it sends the wrong message to kids, Up until this point, few powerful mainstream to fans, to baseball fans; I think saying that everybody was doing it, because that’s just athletes in baseball have remained steroid free; Ronot the truth,” Jeter told ESPN. “Not everybody was it sends the wrong message to driguez was one of those men. doing it.”

According to SI, the initial story reported that kids, saying that everybody was Rodriguez’s scandal caused many people to question Rodriguez’s name was mentioned in a list from a 2003 doing it, because that’s just not whether or not Rodriguez was, in fact, telling the truth, MLB random drug test results that named players and also it has raised questions over the trustworthiness the truth.” who tested positive for steroid use. The results were of the MLB. supposed to remain anonymous. However, testing “If you are an athlete, you know what you’re putting Derek Jeter was conducted at the time to see if the MLB should in your body at all times,” first-year baseball player Yankee’s shortstop enforce a stricter steroid policy. Of the 1,198 players Tim Rosser said. “You wouldn’t put something in your tested, 104 results were positive. body if you didn’t know what it was.” Rosser also said Two days after the story was published, Rodriguez talked to ESPN’s Peter Gam- that from a fan’s perspective, it’s sad to find out that some of the great all-stars in the mons about the issue. While he admitted to steroid use during the 2001-‘03 seasons, league cheated their way to the top. he said, “When I arrived in Texas in 2001, I felt an enormous amount of pressure. I Though the case brought about mainly negative feedback from fans, some don’t felt like I had all the weight of the world on top of me, and I needed to perform, and think it’s that big of a deal. perform at a high level every day.”

“Obviously what [Rodriguez] did was wrong and a very poor choice but I believe Rodriguez blamed MLB culture at the time for his use of steroids, and he men- that Major League Baseball was one of the major problems with steroids in the game tioned several times in the interview that he was too naïve to understand that what in the past and today,” first-year baseball player Alex Poppe said. “No matter what, he was doing wrong.

Alex Rodriguez is still one of the greatest players of all time. Steroids do not make During the seasons he used steroids, Rodriguez, who played for the Texas Rangers, you a great hitter and a great fielder, which [Rodriguez] is.” led the league in home runs, and he won the MVP title in 2003. After his recordNo matter what the opinions are, Rodriguez’s case will certainly be one of the breaking year, he was traded to the New York Yankees. most talked-about stories in the months leading up to the beginning of the season.

Since Rodriguez’s interview, more information about the case has surfaced. As it Rodriguez is sill slated to start at his third base position when the Yankees face the turned out, Rodriguez’s cousin, Yuri Sucart, injected Rodriguez with Primobolan, a Baltimore Orioles April 6.

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etown wrestling

etown spring sports

Two take gold at Metros Spring sports start strong Thomas D. Hagerty Staff Writer

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he wrestling team took to the mat this weekend, competing in the Metropolitan Wrestling Conference Championship Tournament at York College. As a team, the Blue Jays took sixth place in a close battle for points. Sophomore Mike Lussier and first-year Jordan Becker both got some points for the Jays by making it to the consolation semifinals. Junior Deron Sharp and Tyler Erdman were standouts Sunday, each winning his respective weight class.

Sharp took the 285-pound weight class as the top seed. He was very well prepared for his matches, as he has seen his opponents throughout the season.

“When I looked at the seeds, I knew if I wrestled well I could get to the finals. I had already seen the guys in the past, so I knew I had it in me [to beat them],” he said.

Sharp had previously beaten both his semifinals and finals opponents just two weekends ago.

Those wins came on a weekend where Sharp won three bouts in two days and was given the honor of being named the Etownian’s Athlete of the Week.

With his successes this season, Sharp noted that winning Metros was always his main goal.

On the other end of the scale is 125-pound Erdman. He came to Elizabethtown with a distinguished high

school résumé from Line Mountain.

He was 44-1 last year in AA wrestling and was the PIAA State Champion at 119 pounds. Despite his near-perfect past, Erdman did not expect to win the Metros from the beginning.

“I didn’t think about it until about halfway through the season, and then I started thinking I could really do some damage,” he said.

Erdman went 29-4 on the season, won an individual title at 125 pounds, and was named the conference’s Rookie of the Year. Erdman attributed his tough mental attitude to his coach and brother.

“Although I was a little nervous, Coach Walker told me no one works harder than me, I just have to go prove it. Also, my brother told me to just fight like there’s no tomorrow,” he said. He did just that, and now there will be more opportunities for him in early March in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Both Sharp and Erdman will head to the NCAA Division III National Championships in Iowa March 6. Sharp hopes to stay sharp in Iowa in the most prestigious wrestling tournament of his career.

“I’ll be ready to go. Ready to make some noise,” he said when asked about his looming trip to the U.S. Cellular Center in Iowa. Erdman was just as excited. “My goal is to come back as an All-American.”

The Etownian wishes the best of luck to Deron Sharp and Tyler Erdman in the National Championship.

Abigail R. Kramer Sports Editor

L

ast weekend, two Etown spring sports teams, baseball and women’s lacross, took the field for the first time.

Baseball The Blue Jays traveled to Winchester, Va. to face Shenandoah University for their opening game of the season. Etown lost the game 7-4 after shutting the Hornets out for the first six innings. The Hornets came back and scored seven runs in the second half of the game.

Some notable performaces by the Blue Jays include senior Tom Semanek who went 2-for-4 and had two doubles, including one that scored two runs. Junior Matt Vinagro also hit a two run single in the fourth inning. Senior Sam Heaps was the starting pitcher and allowed two hits and three earned runs. Junior Adam Hartzell took the loss for Etown.

Etown finished the game with six total hits and one error, compared to the Hornet’s eight hits and two errors.

The Jays are tied for first with Messiah College in the Commonwealth Conference baseball preseason coaches poll.

The men will head to Fort Pierce, Fla. to play seven games during spring break.

Women’s Lacrosse The Lady Jays opened strong against York College in their first match of the season.

Etown took their home field Saturday and defeated York 18-3. The Jays earned 15 goals in the first half of the game. Senior Anne Ford scored seven goals and set a career high record.

Also adding to the Jay’s total were senior Katie Foley with three goals, and junior Megan Byrnes and senior Kelsea Kozak who each had one goal and three assists.

Juniors Stephanie Kreis and Katie Caprinolo, and sophomore Sara Cullinan each scored two goals, and sophomore Maria Dematteo had one goal and one assist for the Jays.

Playing goal in the first half of the game was senior Jenn Hawkins, who made six saves. Junior Becca Watkins stepped into the goal the second half and made four saves.

The ladies will travel to St. Crois, U.S. Virgin Islands over spring break to face Roanoke College.

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sports

the Etownian

etown athletics • pro sports • ncaa coverage

February 26, 2009 high school football • olympics • analysis

etown women’s basketball

Quinn makes 1,000th career point in finale Sara F. Neumann Staff Writer

T

he Lady Jays ended their season Saturday, Feb. 21.

They closed on a win, a high note in a season where the winning percentage was worse than seasons past, beating Arcadia 90-67.

While the win-loss percentage for the Lady Jays remained lower than desired, the team is pleased with how everyone has worked together, and even more so, how they’ve gotten along on and off the court.

“Our entire team got along so well together, and that has normally not happened,” senior captain Jenn Montague said.

First-year Teanna Ziegler said, “I think that the fact we were close outside of basketball gave us the ability to work well with each other on the court.”

This year, the Lady Jays took a week-long trip to St. Thomas over winter break, which Coach Yvonne Kauffman believes only further cemented the bonds in the team.

There, the team had one of their best games against Cabrini College, beating them 63-58 after losing to Montclair State University.

Another top game for the Lady Jays was against Widener Jan. 17. The team was behind 15 points and came back to win 72-65.

Four players finished the game with double figures in

Photo: Matthew P. Butera

Making history, senior Megan Quinn scored her 1,000th career point in a match against Arcadia this past Saturday.

scoring, including senior captains Megan Romano and Megan Quinn.

Such games as Widener and Cabrini helped boost the Lady Jays’ record but they still ended the season with 11-14 overall, and a 4-8 record at the Commonwealth Conference. Even though the Lady Jays lost the conference, they were still able to end on a win, a final victory for the season.

“It definitely was worse than last season, and it wasn’t what I expected, but team unity was better and they continued to come to practice with a good work ethic,” Kauffman said.

That work ethic carried on through the end of the season at Saturday’s game against Arcadia, as the team had two major highlights.

Two of the senior players were able to accomplish their

goals during the last game of their careers.

Quinn scored her 1000th point, making her the 23rd player in program history to receive the honor. Her teammates congratulated her by unrolling a banner in front of the Lady Jays bench.

Montague scored the first three-pointer of her career with 24 seconds left in the game.

“She really wanted to be able to accomplish that before leaving,” Kauffman said.

When asked if there should be anyone on the radar for next season, Kauffman immediately mentioned first-year Stephanie Ellwood, who was a starter this season and an unexpected boost to the team. However, Kauffman said that all the first years this season did an amazing job stepping up to the plate when center player Montague was injured in practice and unable to play for three weeks.

“The first-years got experience playing center, and even with a lot on their shoulders, they didn’t let us down,” Kauffman said.

Overall, for the Lady Jays, while the season was not as successful as they all had hoped, the women not only enjoyed playing basketball as a team but also becoming one off-court.

“This year has definitely been the best out of my four years.

We all had fun together and definitely have had some good laughs,” Montague said.

the etownian’s

Athlete of the Week Tyler Erdman

Michael D. Steiner Assistant Sports Editor

Erdman then went on to beat Shaun Farnham of Wilkes University in the final by a score he Etownian is proud of 5-3. These two victories imto name first year Tyler proved his record for the season Erdman this issues Athlete of to a mind-blowing 29-4. (That’s really good for all of you who the Week.

Erdman, in his first ever didn’t pick up on the large number in the first part Metropolitan of the record.)

Wrestling ConWhile we’re on ference Chamthe subject, let’s talk pionships, was some more statistics. t he top s eed During the reguin the 125-lb lar season, Erdman weight class. In went 27-3 in the his first match, 125-lb weight class Erdman won and 0-1 at 133. Out by decision of those 27 wins he 10-4 over Jerpinned 3, teched 9, rid Hartman of Photo: Matthew P. Butera and scored majors York College.

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against another 3. If you don’t know wrestling, just say ‘wow’ after reading that last line. Erdman was also nearly perfect in dual matches, posting a record of 12-1.

Oh, and did I forget to mention he was named Rookie of the Year? I would have personally called the voters if he didn’t win with those numbers.

Erdman and fellow Champion Deron Sharp will train for the upcoming NCAA D-III Championships at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids Iowa March 6-7. They will be the first wrestlers since 2005 to represent Etown at the national tournament.

Congratulations to Mr. Tyler Erdman for winning his weight class, Rookie of the Year and the Etownian’s Athlete of the Week.

Q&A Favorite Jay’s Nest grill item: Italian chicken wrap Something not many people know about me: I’m very competitve at Dance Dance Revolution.

InsideSports Etown Sports:

Men’s basketball Page 14 Track and field Page 14 Steroid scandal Page 15 Wrestling Page 15 Spring sports Page 15 Women’s basketball Page 16 Athlete of the week Page 16

Sports Recap Wrestling (5-12, 2-6): Metropolitan Championships, 6th of 9 Track and Field: Susquehanna Open Unscored Lacrosse (W) (1-0, 0-0): Etown 18, York 3 Baseball (0-1, 0-0): Shenandoah 7, Etown 4 Basketball (W) (11-14, 4-8): Etown 90, Arcadia 67 Basketball (M) (13-11, 7-5): Etown 71, Arcadia 49 Etown 68, Albright64

Schedule

of Sports

Track and Field: Feb. 28: MAC Championships, 10 a.m.

Lacrosse (W): March 3: vs. Roanoke @ neutral, 10 a.m.

Lacrosse (M): March 4: @ Guilford, 4 p.m.

March 8: vs. Moravian, 12 p.m.

Baseball: March 1-5: @ Forth Pierce, Fla. Softball: March 1-5: @ Clermont, Fla. Tennis: March 1-7: @ Hilton Head, S.C .

Basketball (M): Feb. 28: @ Widener, Conference championship www.etown.edu/spor ts