Snowed In by The Harvard Independent

02. 03. 11

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NOWE D S N I

I ns i de: OWAW per s pec t i v es , a wa r ds ea s on, a ndmen’ shoc k ey .

02.03.11 vol. xlii, no. 13 The Indy is trying to stay warm.

Cover photograph by MARIA BARRAGAN-SANTANA

Cover art by

ALEXANDRIA RHODES

FORUM Kaine is Able 3 Big Bang? 4 Friday Night Fever 5 Shop Til You Drop 5 Endless Summer 6 Productivity Purgatory 7 Word 7 ARTS The King and His Consonants 8 Stranger Than Fiction 8 All That Glitters 9 American Aesthetics 9 10 Like a Fine Wine SPORTS 11 Mighty Pucks 11 Full Court Press As Harvard College's weekly undergraduate newsmagazine, the Harvard Independent provides in-depth, critical coverage of issues and events of interest to the Harvard College community. The Independent has no political affiliation, instead offering diverse commentary on news, arts, sports, and student life. For publication information and general inquiries, contact President Weike Wang (independent1969@gmail.com). Letters to the Editor and comments regarding the content of the publication should be addressed to Editor-in-Chief Yuying Luo (independent1969@gmail.com). Yearly mail subscriptions are available for $30, and semester-long subscriptions are available for $15. To purchase a subscription, email subscriptions@harvardindependent. com. The Harvard Independent is published weekly during the academic year, except during vacations, by The Harvard Independent, Inc., Student Organization Center at Hilles, Box 201, 59 Shepard Street, Cambridge, MA 02138. Copyright © 2010 by The Harvard Independent. All rights reserved.

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President Weike Wang ‘11 Vice President Whitney Lee ‘14 Editor-in-Chief Yuying Luo ‘12

Production Manager Miranda Shugars ‘14

Executive Editor Riva Riley ‘12

Business Manager Amanda Hernandez ‘14 Associate Business Manager Publicity Coordinator Eric Wei ‘14 Ezgi Bereketli ‘12 News and Forum Editor Arts Editor Sports Editor Design Editor

Meghan Brooks ‘14 Zena Mengesha ‘14 Brett Giblin ‘11 Alexandria Rhodes ‘14

Columnists Sam Barr ‘11 Luis Martinez ‘12 Staff Writers Michael Altman '14 Peter Bacon ‘11 Arthur Bratolozzi ‘12 Colleen Berryessa ‘11 Arhana Chattopadhyay ‘11 Sayantan Deb ‘14 Levi Dudte '11 Gary Gerbrandt ‘14 Sam Jack ‘11 Marion Liu ‘11 Hao Meng ‘11 Alfredo Montelongo ‘11 Nick Nehamas ‘11 Steven Rizoli ‘11 Brad Rose '14 Marc Shi ‘14 Jim Shirey ‘11 Angela Song '14 Diana Suen ‘11 Alex Thompson ‘11 Christine Wolfe ‘14 Sanyee Yuan ‘12 Faith Zhang ‘11 Susan Zhu ‘11 Graphics, Photography, and Design Staff Maria Barragan-Santana '14 Chaima Bouhlel ‘11 Eva Liou ‘11 Lidiya Petrova ‘11 Schuyler Polk ‘14 Patricia Florescu ‘11 02.03.11 • The Harvard Independent

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Citizen Kaine Comes to Campus By GARY GERBRANDT

im Kaine is about as folksy as you can get. He comes across as down-to-earth and relaxed, and smiles more than is probably healthy. When he speaks, he utters words in a wispy, vaguely Southern way, which reminds his listener of his time in the Virginia political world (and not his Missouri upbringing). He married a woman with parents named Linwood (the family of the first Republican governor of the state since Reconstruction) and Jinx, and named one of his kids Woody. After graduating from Harvard Law in 1983, he quickly rose through the Virginian political system. This past Thursday, former Governor Kaine — who, as you probably know, has since taken the reins of the Democratic National Committee — paid a visit to Harvard at an event co-sponsored by Conversations with Kirkland and the College Democrats. The room was

packed, but those who showed up enjoyed almost an hour of his remarks on topics ranging from the State of the Union to his future expectations for the Democratic Party. Kaine was an eloquent, energetic presence, clearly excited to return to Harvard for the first time in almost 28 years. Predictably, Kaine dodged the harder issues in his speech, deciding instead to focus on those things which traditionally unite Democrats — support for government social programs, the revitalization of the American economy, the party’s focus on “diversity and equality” — and ignoring many of the problems the party currently faces. Kaine hardly mentioned the Tea Party and its new, powerful influence over the American right; he only referred to health care reform in a positive light, ignoring its unpopularity with a substantial part of the American public; and he largely glossed over the shooting of

indy

Insights from the Chair of the Democratic National Committee.

Gabrielle Giffords and its political aftermath. Yet Kaine managed to craft a successful, substantive speech, with some energizing hopes for Democrats as America slowly descends into the 2012 presidential campaign. His words largely reflected the conciliatory but strong tone of President Obama’s State of the Union Address, with its emphasis on the good that has been done already by the administration, and that which is still in the works. With the announcements of ambitious transportation and clean-energy initiatives coming this month, and opportunities to work together with Republicans on certain legislation, today’s polity is likely to improve. As the leader of his party, Tim Kaine is more or less a symbol of what the Democrats aspire to be. He took a year off from Harvard to go to Central America to work

with Jesuit missionaries, worked on housing discrimination cases as a lawyer in Richmond, initially got involved in politics to organize his community and address its problems, was the governor of a Southern state who had to work with Republicans, and is a fiftyplus Caucasian male (not exactly a traditional Democratic constituency). While he has presided over some hard times for the Democrats — he became DNC Chairman in 2009 and helmed the party through the disastrous 2010 midterms and losses to Republicans in a few important off-year elections (including the race for his successor as the governor of Virginia) — he has shown himself to be a strong leader. Truly, it was wonderful to have him here on campus, returning to the place where he got started. Gary Gerbrandt ’14 (garygerbrandt@college) thinks Tim Kaine could out-chair a sofa.

Crimson in the Winter

Maria Barragan-Santana/INDEPENDENT The Harvard Independent • 02.03.11

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The Story of Our Universe A short scientific journey back in time. By LESTER KIM

n the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was a formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” –Genesis 1:1-2 Where are we? Where did we come from? How did our universe come into being? These are the questions that have been asked since the dawn of our existence yet we still cannot fully answer them. A common characteristic of most religions is a creation myth that explains the Beginning. Humans have often attributed these inquiries to the supernatural and claimed they are eternally beyond the realm of human knowledge. Despite these claims, creative people have attempted to answer them and have developed countless theories. In this article, we will explore the evolution of the cosmos. In the beginning, there was something. No one is certain of what that something was, but our current understanding of it is that the universe was incredibly small (much smaller than the radius of an atom’s nucleus). In extremely small scales, quantum physics gives us the best description of the system. We also know that energy must be conserved, so all of the energy that currently exists existed before in some form (mass, light, thermal motion). Thus, Einstein’s theory of general relativity must be used to model such massive systems. Presently, quantum mechanics and general relativity are incompatible so we need a more powerful, more general theory to explain what happened at the beginning. One of the hopes in theoretical physics is that string 4 independent1969@gmail.com

theory may provide an answer to what this initial state was. Whatever there was in the beginning, a tremendous explosion took place. It sent particles in all directions, creating a sphere of dispersing energy. The universe was so hot that all the matter was in the form of elementary particles (they cannot be broken down into smaller pieces; an example would be an electron). Most of this inflation took place between 10^36 seconds and 1032 seconds after the Big Bang where

have happened was that some of the strings were wrapped around the extra dimensions and constricted them from expanding. Three of the dimensions were freed because in three dimensions, randomly moving strings are likely to collide into each other. This caused them to annihilate and the freed dimensions were able to expand. As the universe expanded, it began to cool down. At this point, more massive, composite particles like the proton formed and eventually bonded

most of the star’s mass compacted into the sphere, the weak force that is responsible for the radioactive decay emits particles out of the star as well. This is why our Sun gives off light at various frequencies and many dangerously energetic electrons and protons. Fortunately, our planet has a magnetic field that shields us from these “solar winds.” After many billions of years, a massive star can suddenly collapse and explode. This is called a supernova. It is so luminous that it can temporarily outshine the star’s neighboring galaxy. They play a vital role in creating elements heavier than oxygen and distributing them throughout the universe. At the same time, they are incredibly dangerous. Even if a supernova exploded 3000 light-years away from the Earth, every species would evaporate away from the heat. This covers the first several billion years of the universe’s existence. There is still much more to discuss: black holes, the geometry of spacetime, the universal expansion rate, the formation of planets, the inception of life and its evolution, and the death of the universe (and how we could survive it). We are made up of the same elementary particles of which planets, moons, asteroids, stars, and galaxies are made. Through us, the universe is now conscious of its existence begins its quest to discover what it is. I hope this brief overview encourages you to look deeper into the fascinating nature of everything around us. For a fun reference, check out Bill Bryson’s A Brief History of Nearly Everything.

"According to some models, our universe has more than three spatial dimensions (for example, there are ten spatial dimensions in M-theory). The reason we do not notice the extra dimensions is because they are tightly curled up within the three macroscopic dimensions." the universe’s volume increased by a factor of 1078. What is interesting to note is how the dimensions of space came to be the way they are now. According to some models, our universe has more than three spatial dimensions (for example, there are ten spatial dimensions in M-theory). The reason we do not notice the extra dimensions is because they are tightly curled up within the three macroscopic dimensions. From a biological standpoint, our ancestors did not need to develop the ability to perceive more than three dimensions to survive. Why did three of the dimensions expand while the other seven remained small? A theoretical physicist at Harvard, Cumrun Vafa, proposed one solution. What may

with free electrons to form hydrogen, the simplest atom (one electron orbiting around a single proton). A proton is three quarks bound together by the strong nuclear force. The strong force is the strongest of the four forces; it is 100 times stronger than the electromagnetic force, 1013 times the weak force, and 1038 times the gravitational force. The stage was set for star systems to form. Stars are massive spheres of plasma, mostly in the form of hydrogen. Plasma is like a gas in which some of the atoms have been ionized. Stars act as giant furnaces where hydrogen undergoes nuclear fusion to produce helium and virtually all naturally occurring elements heavier than helium. Although gravity keeps

Lester Kim ’11 (lkim@fas) is a Physics and Mathematics concentrator in Eliot House. 02.03.11 • The Harvard Independent

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A Midwinter Night’s Dream Not your freshman’s prom. By KALYN SAULSBERRY

uring winter break, the freshman class of 2014 finally caught its breath after meeting the whirlwind of new faces and new challenges experienced throughout its first semester at Harvard. The sold-out, January 28 th Freshman Formal planned by the First Year Social Committee eased the freshman class back into social life at college. This year’s theme was “A Midwinter Night’s Dream.” Before the dance, some students found themselves accidentally referring to it as the prom, especially since many planned on sporting attire from their own high school proms. Yet the formal was far from the angstridden prom scenarios depicted in teen comedies such as “Never Been Kissed” and “Pretty in Pink”. Some partygoers figured it would just be another

Shopping Week: v2.0 By CINDY HSU

he snow-covered Harvard we came back to greatly contrasted the Harvard that greeted us back in late August in more aspects than just the weather, especially for the freshmen. The flurry of activity present during the first week of the fall semester was absent. This semester started off calmly, sluggishly even. People trickled back onto campus at a gradual pace, but then shopping period came around, and along with it came the frenzy. Granted, there were no more Crimson Key events or Activities Fairs to entertain the freshmen and entice potential members, but shopping period itself was enough to induce a whirlwind of mixed emotions from excitement to anxiety to frustration. While shopping period is useful in the sense that it allows us students to sample all the classes that interest us, it can also be stressful because of the uncertainty inherent in starting the semester with essentially no The Harvard Independent • 02.03.11

dance in which the fun was limited to the time spent getting ready for it; instead, students had a genuinely exciting time, and used it as a way of unwinding and reconnecting with their friends after shopping period. The evening began with an optional dinner in Annenberg. The usual ambience of the ’Berg was transformed into a festive setting with tablecloths, live music, and decorative lights. However, eating a formal dinner in the ’Berg was strange to some. According to Matt Marotta ’14, “It was weird to see people dressed up and still getting food on trays like a normal day.” Also, many ladies complained of the precarious balancing act of carrying a tray to a table while tottering in high heels. Although there was always the option of dining at a restaurant that didn’t require swiping an ID

card, most partygoers saw the ’Berg as an opportunity to save cash and to share the dining experience with more classmates. After dining carefully to avoid stains and snapping a few pictures, it was time to leave the ’Berg. While the lack of school-sponsored transportation to the party was a subject of concern for some, the brief T ride and short walk to the Plaza proved to be painless. “I thought it was going to be much worse than it was,” said Marotta, who took the T. Finding the Plaza turned out to be a simple matter of following the hordes of spiffy freshman out of the T station. Upon arriving at the event, students were greeted by flashing multi-colored lights and a DJ who played mixes of popular songs. While many of the songs were recognizable, such as Lady

Gaga’s “Bad Romance,” the selections were played with a unique techno mix. Georgia Shelton ’14 commented, “The music itself was pretty good, but I didn’t like the techno beats.” Charlotte Smith ’14 summed up many of her classmates’ thoughts by saying, “At first I was a little worried it was going to be like the prom, but I ended up having a really good time.” Despite a few songs that raised more than a few eyebrows, including the Baja Men’s “Who Let the Dogs Out,” the night was a success because people were able to spend time with all the friends they made in just one semester. Kalyn Saulsberry ’14 (ksaulsberry@ college) is a freshman in Weld and a fresh face at the Indy.

A freshman’s perspective on our first week back. schedule at all. Furthermore, because this semester’s first two weeks of classes were not split up with a weekend and a holiday in between like last semester’s, it seemed much shorter even though there was only a one day difference. Despite the fact that there was only a one day difference (disclaimer: this is not completely true since a few professors had cancelled class due to the snow storm) between the fall semester’s and this semester’s shopping period, the week still ended up being more stressful than the last one for some people because it was more rushed. Without the weekend and Labor Day, there was definitely less time to think over our schedules. On top of classes, there were extracurricular activities to consider as well. Common casting was happening for a variety of shows (which was why my roommate was barely in the room). Applications for summer programs, internships,

stipends, and grants had to be filled out. Publications and organizations needed to start their comping process once more. Shopping period isn’t just about shopping for classes really, but rather shopping for your entire schedule, including extracurriculars. Basically, last week was full of things to do and deadlines to meet. In essence — it included everything you need to spike a person’s blood pressure. Sounds lovely, doesn’t it? However, we are no longer the naïve freshmen we came to Harvard as (some may even say they were never naïve and good for them). We are now better at juggling academics and our social life (or at least we hope to be), and some of us might even have a better idea of what we are interested in studying or what we want to do with our lives. We have a better grasp on the kind of classes we like and don’t like, all of which made this shopping period less of the chaotic circus it was last semester (no, but really, last

semester was a circus, what with all the shows and events interspersed in the first few weeks). Not only do we have a clearer vision of ourselves and our future, but we are now also armed with experience. We have tried classes we thought we would like but ended up hating, which may have resulted in misery, but at least we now know better than to venture into those areas. Picking classes is now easier because of our greater knowledge of how courses are taught and the expectations professors have. The development of our expectations for classes in what we hope to get out of a class helps us not just with shopping period, but also with finding what exactly we want from our college education. Cindy Hsu ‘14 (cindyhsu@college) wishes all shopping were like Black Fridays at Bloomingdale’s.

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500 Days of Summer (Applications) Summer planning in the dead of winter. By MEGHAN BROOKS

oday marked the deadline for Harvard Summer School Abroad applications, and if the past three weeks’ bustle of activity at the Office of International Programs (OIP) is any indication, this deadline has been on students’ minds for quite some time. From two to four o’clock in the afternoon on most days of the week, troops of students file into the Dunster Street office’s first floor resource room in the hope of meeting with one of many peer and professional advisors. As waiting students peruse program brochures, the same questions are voiced over and over again: What are my options? How competitive is admission? How will I pay for all of this? While OIP advisors try to quell fears about study abroad, across the street at 54 Dunster, Office of Career Services (OCS) advisors are trying to answer some of these same questions about résumés, internships, and summer jobs. The signs are clear: Harvard students have launched into the yearly search for summer activities and opportunities, and they are not happy about it. “Applied to 13 ibanking (sic) internships. Number of interviews I got called back for? Zero.” This January 18 th HarvardFML post illustrates the fears of all applicants to competitive summer programs or positions. Behind the daunting amount of work that writing essays, asking for recommendations, and interviewing requires lies the fear that no matter how many applications you send in and no matter how stacked your résumé is, you could still end up spending the summer bagging groceries in your hometown. Harvard students are all too aware of the threat competition poses to their summer plans, especially because many of their toughest competitors are the people they live and study with everyday. It is to prepare for this 6

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competition, as well as to sort through the wealth of available opportunities, that students have flocked to the OCS and OIP. It was for these reasons also that the OCS offered extended drop-in hours during OWAW and kept its phone lines open for calls during J-Term, when many students began their summer search in earnest. It might be said that the official kickoff of summer planning anxiety was the OCS’s Summer Opportunities Fair. Held in the Radcliffe Gymnasium and Gutman Conference Center in early December, the event saw students traveling from booth to booth, stuffing their complementary plastic COOP bags with potential summer plans in the forms of flyers and brochures from organizations as diverse as WorldTeach, DRCLAS, PepsiCo, Microsoft, and TIME Magazine. Since then, reminders of summer opportunities have slowly been increasing in number on campus. January saw promotions over house and club e-mail lists for the IOP’s highly competitive Director’s Internships and various CPIC internships as well, and the inner pages of the Crimson are often filled with full-page advertisements for internships with companies such as the Boston Consulting Group and Bridgewater. At the same time, flyers for Harvard Study Abroad and various other international programs have been a regular fixture on campus bulletin boards and kiosks since at least December. With so many options out there, what are students’ plans? If last summer is any indication, they vary greatly. According the results of an OCS survey that 1,557 students responded to, during the summer of 2010, approximately 62% of the student body worked at paying jobs or internships, with scientific

research representing the greatest employment, followed by finance, nonprofits, communications, and education. Another 12% volunteered or took unpaid internships in many of the same fields. Students’ reasons for taking jobs or internships, even unpaid ones, range from wanting to gain experience and make connections in career fields to trying to earn enough to cover the expected student contribution in one’s financial aid package. Rising seniors are especially concerned with finding positions in organizations within their chosen professional fields, and as such, some of OCS’s most valued services are interview preparation and résumé editing. While the majority of Harvard students spent their summers in the States, either working or taking summer courses (Organic Chemistry anyone?), 28% were able to spend their summers abroad. A full 65% of these students worked in other countries, while 35% studied abroad, mostly through Harvard-run programs in places like Ghana, Argentina, Greece, and Japan. Spain, Paris, Venice, and Oxford, England, are especially popular among Harvard students, and for good reason: the programs offer course credit in the context of a new culture and country and are a great social experience as well. Many alumni of the programs would agree with Billy Corcoran ’11, who said of the Oxford program, “It’s probably the best experience I’ve had while at Harvard.” Cathy Winnie, director of the Office of International Education, is well aware of the popularity of the college’s study abroad programs. Despite, or, more likely, because of the number of students seeking advice at the Office of International Programs, Winnie was able to say that, “Students are very well-prepared for summer study abroad this year.” Although

many students nervously awaiting admissions decisions might disagree, Winnie sees students “planning to apply for credit… having conversations with their concentration, language, and secondary field advisers, and moving forward deliberately with their plans” as all good signs. Of course, for many students, simply applying to programs is not enough. As Harvard study abroad programs run between $5,000-$8,000 and simple plane ticket to Europe or South America costs well over one thousand dollars, obtaining funding in the form of grants, loans, or fellowships is an integral part of many students’ summer planning. One of the many reasons study abroad programs are especially popular among freshmen and sophomores is that they are eligible for the David Rockefeller International Experience Grant, which, when given, can be generous. However generous these grants may be, as with almost all other elements of summer planning, competition is stiff; last year only 404 out of 949 applicants were awarded Rockefeller grants, leaving the rest to find funding either through Harvard’s grant database, the OIP, or outside sources. Unfortunately for some applicants, not receiving a Rockefeller grant means not being able to go abroad at all. In the end, as ridiculous as planning for summer seems when winter weather makes it hard to imagine ever being warm again, competition, funding, and deadlines make planning ahead necessary. Hopefully though, if we plan well, when the last final exams are over and the Yard is green again, we will head into summer excited and prepared for whatever lies ahead. Meghan Brooks ’14 (meghanbrooks@ college) thinks spontaneity is for the lazy, the crazy, and the envied. 02.03.11 • The Harvard Independent

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No Place Like Home

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Failures and Fevers An alternate OWAW.

By MEGHAN BROOKS

F Students embrace OWAW as a time for artistic expression.

By WHITNEY LEE

hile many of us were still relaxing at home or on sandy beaches, trying to escape winter, some of our peers opted to return to Cambridge one full week earlier to participate in the newly formed Optional Winter Activities Week (OWAW). OWAW was a week full of optional activities that ranged from workshops at the John F. Kennedy Institute of Politics to pottery classes and dance workshops. The purpose of OWAW was to give students a week in which they could dabble in an unfamiliar area, learn a new skill or perhaps do something that they had not had time to do during fall semester. On the arts side, OWAW gave students the time and opportunity to explore new mediums of artistic expression, and one such medium was spoken word. Funded by the Undergraduate Council, and led by two freshmen students, the spoken word program aimed to introduce a small group of students to the use of spoken word as a form of expression. For many freshmen or any student for that matter, teaching a group of Harvard undergraduates how to appreciate spoken word and then how to write and perform it would be a daunting task, but freshmen Cassandra Euphrat-Weston ’14 and Kyra Atekwana ’14 embraced the opportunity to expose their peers, a mixed group of freshmen and upperclassmen, to an art form that they both love. During this week, participants first learned the history of spoken word poetry, its cultural significance and its historical role as a form of poetry in which people could voice frustrations, controversial beliefs or pent up tensions in an open forum. One of the unique hallmarks of spoken word is the fact that spoken word is The Harvard Independent • 02.03.11

most often used to call attention to social injustices. Their week of learning culminated in a performance open to the entire Harvard community. The performance, entitled “No Place Like Home: A January Spoken Word Performance” was held in the first weekend after break, in the Ticknor Lounge of Boylston Hall. With lights dimmed, music playing softly in the background the mood was set. The room was completely packed with students, most of whom had never been to a spoken word performance before. While each performer chose a different topic, the poems seemed to be linked by a unified idea, which was sharing truth. The program began with a passionate performance by Daily Guerrero ’14 about being a first-generation Latina immigrant, followed by a jarring, and thoughtprovoking piece about being Black in America. Rossi Walter ‘14 differed from the previous two poems by speaking about the force of social pressure and expectations, using an extended analogy of a dancer who is having difficulty moving. One of the most emotionally resonant poems was one by a student who spoke about being a Native-American and the cultural hardships that have come along with her identity. Speaking as someone who had never-before attended a spoken-word performance, “No Place Like Home” was a wonderful mix of raw talent and uninhibited selfexpression that I am extremely glad to have witnessed.

Whitney Lee ’14 (whitneylee@ college) is excited and looking forward to experiencing a second spoken word performance.

or the first time in Harvard’s history, the doors of resident houses and halls creaked open a full week before the beginning of the spring semester, admitting a slowly growing trickle of students returning from a prolonged winter break. These students had returned for Optional Winter Activities Week (OWAW), for paintball, cooking classes, throat signing, and a Celtics game. The week has variously been declared enriching, entertaining, and if not relaxing, helpful. It was, in general, a success. In this case, the individuals who prevented this writer from describing OWAW a unanimous success were my roommate and I. We hadn’t meant for OWAW to be a failure, honestly. She and I had decided rather quickly in the weeks of J-Term that an early return to the collegiate nest would provide a needed vacation after the vacation that was in reality a full month of nearly uninterrupted channel-surfing and chores. OWAW was going to be a week of taking jaunts into Boston, enjoying threehour-long meals in the dining hall with friends, plopping down for movie marathons, and putting the finishing touches on our summer study and internship applications. There was even talk of taking the fifteen dollar Fung Wah down to New York City to camp out with a thousand other dreamers in front of 30 Rockefeller Plaza for SNL tickets. Instead, due to circumstances both within and without our control, we spent OWAW in the exact same miserable positions: she on the couch with her feet on the coffee table, and I stretched out between a chair and its ottoman. And thus, for four days, we did nothing. I would like to say that in our defense, my roommate was suffering from a misdiagnosed and wholly under-medicated case of the flu in tandem with an undeserved head cold. Fevers spiking to 102.7 degrees Fahrenheit kept her in a state of cranky delirium, and I, so as to avoid charges of criminal neglect, stayed in the suite and

played nurse. Nevertheless, this autoimmune unfairness should not have prevented us from fulfilling at least some of our OWAW goals. Fevers are actually beautifully conducive to movie marathons, and Harvard students and productivity go together like peanut butter and jelly (supposedly). Unfortunately, our one attempt at movie watching was inexorably marred by the plot-less, melodramatic flesh fest that was Ashton Kutcher’s Hung. It was days before I could look at any visual media without aggravating my gag reflex. Actually, compared to our attempt at movie marathons, our productivity was admirable, especially after a month of university-sanctioned inertia. Part of the problem was that neither of us had actually come into OWAW with any applications to “finish up.” What was planned to be a few quiet hours of essay writing became days of confusedly searching Harvard databases for internships, programs, and funding. What were planned to be trips into Boston became treks to the Office of International Programs. How productive did we turn out to be? Well, as I reflect on OWAW two weeks after the fact, my roommate is still staring hopelessly at a summer school application she began when some of our more collected classmates were learning how to make artisanal cheeses. After the debacle that was our inaugural OWAW, will my roommate or I ever return for this week of optional winter activities again? The answer is still unclear; however, I lean towards “yes”. If anything, at its core OWAW is a week to enjoy being at Harvard without working like it, and for someone who sees homework as an annoyance tacked on to a school that is otherwise a pretty sweet deal, that might not be such a bad thing. Meghan Brooks ’14 (meghanbrooks@college) wasn’t able to fit “Oh wow! OWAW!” into the body of the article so she put it here instead. independent1969@gmail.com

Arts

Internet

Catfishuncovers one reality about online social networking. BY WHITNEY LEE

irected by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, and often referred to as Schulman’s “breakout” film, Catfish explores the complex world of online social networks and more specifically how they have become an ever-increasing part of modern life. Through Catfish, Schulman explores the ideas of Internet truth, subjective selves and the sharing of intimate personal information with others online.

The film begins with a fairly innocuous idea. An eight-year old painting prodigy, Abby Pierce, seeks out photographer Nev Schulman, (the brother of director Ariel Schulman), and begins an innocent, mutually beneficial friendship in which works of art are exchanged. As their correspondence continues, by mail and by phone, the two kindle a Facebook friendship to match. As time progresses, Nev becomes “friends” with several members of Abby’s family and even begins an

Selves

internet romance, of sorts, with Abby’s older singer-songwriter sister, Megan Faccio. While everything seems to be going well at first, but the discovery that all of Megan’s supposedly original recordings have been stolen from other people, starts to suggest that Megan and her family may not be telling the truth. As the inconsistencies and suspicious behavior begins to pile up, Nev begins to understand that not everything is, as it seems. Eventually fed up with being deceived, the Schulman brothers and a couple friends take a road trip to Michigan to uncover the truth. Filmed as a raw documentary with seemingly very little editing, Catfish captivates the viewer through its innate sense or reality. The entire film is shot essentially with three handheld cameras, manned by various friends of Schulman. Schulman uses this perspective to give the viewer a firsthand experience of the development of

Nev’s relationship with Megan and then the eventual confrontation of the Pierce/ Faccio Family to discover the truth. One of the great things about Catfish is that the problems presented— the conflict in Nev’s situation—are particular to our generation. With the advent of Facebook, new concerns over Internet privacy and information sharing have arisen in a way for us that no other generation can fully understand. Part of the emotional tether in Catfish is the idea of betrayal. Facebook allows users to share personal information about their lives, the lives of their family members and the lives of their friends to everyone on their friends list. When one of those “friends” is proven to be something other than he or she claims to be, it presents the question of whether or not Facebook truly is a safe online social space. It is very commonplace to see people claiming to be people who they are not

on Facebook, but when the deceiver is someone on ones own friend list, the deception becomes personal. Though the story of Nev’s Facebook encounter is specific to him and to his situation, it resonates with viewers in this generation in that a similar situation could happen to anyone. Through Nev and Ariel’s investigation and exploration of the Pierce-Faccio family, they provide for the viewer a way to vicariously uncover the representative truth of thousands of instances of Internet deception/ Internet stalking. In a way, it both satisfies ones curiosity and serves as a warning of sorts… to be extremely careful with what you share. Whitney Lee ’14 (whitneylee@college) only accepts friend requests from people she knows personally.

A Royal Flush

The King's Speech delivers.

very year, there is only one Oscar race I pay attention to. This year’s Oscar race for Best Picture has been more tightly contested than those in recent memory with a diverse range of contenders such as The Social Network, Black Swan, and True Grit. The King’s Speech emerged as the front-runner in the race after taking home top honors at the Golden Globes a few weeks ago. Directed by Tom Hooper, the historical drama depicts how King George VI, played by Colin Firth, overcomes a speech impediment with the help of the unconventional speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush) during a particularly trying time in British — and world — history. The film has been a critic’s favorite, garnering 12 Academy Award nominations including Best Picture, Actor (Firth) 8

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and Director. The obvious strength of the film is the masterful performances by the two lead actors. As someone who has only seen Colin Firth in the Bridge Jones’s series and BBC’s adaptation of Pride and Prejudice (interesting tidbit: Firth’s costar in the series Jennifer Ehle also appears in the film as Logue’s wife), I was thoroughly impressed with this change of pace. His performance is deeply engaging and utterly believable. From the opening scene, his portrayal of the future King George VI is commanding, but he manages skillfully to convey an incredible sense of vulnerability that draws on the audience’s empathy. The trajectory of his character’s growth becomes the most heartwarming element of this film. Truly, though, what I enjoyed

most about the film is Geoffrey Rush’s portrayal of Lionel Logue. His eccentric character is highly likeable and complements the straight-laced royal he attempts to help. While Logue catalyzes much of the plot movement in the film, it is unfortunate that we do not given more of his back story. Instead, we are shown snippets that give us an idea of the kind of man Lionel Logue was, but it is up to the audience to do most of the work piecing together his character. The King’s Speech also has its share of unexpectedly humorous scenes. The film takes place during the years leading up to World War II, an undeniably somber period, but Tom Hooper manages to balance the gravity of the events with scenes that are amusing enough to have the whole audience laughing. While the film is

By YUYING LUO

undoubtedly a crowd-pleaser, it is befitting that it still retains a certain sense of regality to it. The King’s Speech is a historical drama, but at its core, it is a powerful personal story of how one man overcomes his struggles. While at first his ‘royal’ pains may seem removed from our sphere of experience, as we get to know the man behind the crown, we sense how familiar his vulnerabilities are. Such is the film’s draw, that we can see our own insecurities in those of a King, and it reassures us that with help and humor, we too, can surmount them. Yuying Luo ’12 (yluo@fas) knows which film she’s rooting for on Oscar night.

02.03.11 • The Harvard Independent

Arts

‘Tis the Season

indy

An analysis of the 68th Annual Golden Globes

By SAYANTAN DEB

ou may be wondering what I mean when I say that the season is here seeing as we just returned from our winter break, but as any avid entertainment buff would know, ‘tis the season for awards. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association kicked things off a few weeks ago with the Golden Globes. Now, let me be a frank, I was skeptical about this year’s nominations. Acting nominations for Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie for The Tourist — really? I am happy to say that I was proven wrong. Here are my thoughts on some of the big wins of the night: Chris Colfer (Glee) for Best Supporting Actor on TV: As a self professed Gleek, this one made me the happiest. The odds were stacked against Colfer from the beginning. It was his first nomination and he was up against some of the most seasoned actors (including Chris Noth, one of my other favorite actors). He also portrayed an openly gay character, which does not play to his advantage at these awards shows (remember the Brokeback Mountain debacle at the Oscars?). I am glad that the HFPA recognized Colfer’s talent. I think the iconic Kurt and Colfer himself

stand for and gives hope to an entire generation of teens who have been bullied and repressed because of who they are. Jane Lynch (Glee) for Best Supporting Actress on TV and Glee for Best Comedy on TV: Now these two were the front-runners, Glee having won already, and Lynch having won the Emmys. These awards just proved that the first season of Glee wasn’t just a fluke. Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory) for Best Actor Comedy on TV: It was an overdue award in my opinion. Parsons has been absolutely lovable as the obsessive nerd right from the first season, and if anyone deserved to break Alec Baldwin’s winning streak, it had to be Parsons. Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire) for Best Actor on TV Drama and Boardwalk Empire for Best Drama on TV: Anything that has Martin Scorsese attached to it is bound to be a winner, and Boardwalk Empire was no exception. The surprise of the night, however, was Buscemi. Having always being relegated to supporting roles, it was about time he

got his due, and it was heartwarming to see the HFPA recognize it. Annette Bening (The Kids are Alright) for Best Actress Comedy and The Kids are Alright for Best Comedy: I have to say that these are great choices. This was a little movie with something important to say, it brought to a very relevant issue to the forefront. At its heart though, this movie about a lesbian couple, their kids, and their biological father, was about family. It turned out to be a delightful tale that left a smile on my face. Natalie Portman (Black Swan) for Best Actress Drama and Colin Firth (The King’s Speech) for Best Actor Drama: Undisputedly, two of the most accomplished performances this season. For Firth, this has been long overdue and as always, he was great. Portman worked magic to make Black Swan a movie to watch out for. There is precious little in the story other than her performance, but because of her, the movie has turned into a cinematic experience. David Fincher (The Social Network) for Best Director and

Redefining Art

usy crimson students frequently forget that Harvard offers free access to many of the museums around Cambridge and Boston. During OWAW, I had the opportunity to visit the Museum of Fine Arts for the first time. The MFA is an incredible venue. It recently underwent a landmark expansion with the addition of a new wing for the Art of the Americas collection. The wing houses four floors of American art, from Ancient American art, to Native American art, to the art from the 18th to 20th centuries to modern art from the 1970s. It is almost overwhelming the The Harvard Independent • 02.03.11

The Social Network for Best Film: When we all flooded into the theater in Harvard Square to see the little movie about our very own campus, I didn’t expect it to become huge. Yet The Social Network, about Facebook, broken friendships, computer programming, business, and an extended session with a bunch of lawyers was the most thrilling movie of the year. Wait, exciting and thrilling — am I out of my mind? Not quite. Fincher had directed some of the best movies about serial killers before he took on this movie, and managed to turn what could have been a dull affair into a box office success, and now, an award favorite. The Golden Globes gives me hope that perhaps this year, the awards will come out of their excessive need to be “right” and hand out awards to those who deserve it, no matter how new, how unexpected or how unorthodox the recipients are. Here is to hoping that the Oscars don’t screw it up! Sayantan Deb ’14 (sayantandeb@ college) thinks Hollywood should give him a call next time they need expert advice.

By YUYING LUO

The Museum of Fine Arts gets a facelift. number of pieces (some not displayed for decades) on display. A must-see is Thomas Sully’s “The Passage of the Delaware.” The sheer scale of the painting is breathtaking — in fact, the ceiling heights of the new wing were determined to accommodate just this painting. But the highlight of my visit was the special exhibition “Fresh Ink: Ten Takes on Chinese Tradition.” The MFA selected ten artists from diverse artistic backgrounds, but all of who share a deep passion for traditional Chinese ink painting. The artists created profound and larger-thanlife responses to ten selected pieces

from the MFA’s permanent collection of Chinese art. Their contemporary interpretations are truly spectacular, and you can easily spend an hour taking it all in. The works offer fresh insight into classical Chinese works and lends an indelible sense of history to these contemporary Chinese pieces. Unfortunately, this exhibition will only be available for viewing until next week (closing on February 13, 2011). However, the MFA also holds one of the largest collections of Asian art in the Western world from Japanese prints (including Hokusai’s “The Great Wave,” a personal favorite) to Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese

ceramics, and various arts from the Islamic world. It is surprisingly easy to access the MFA (take the Red Line to Park Street, switch to the Green Line (Line E) towards Heath Street, and get off at the Museum of Fine Arts stop). The museum is open seven days a week and until 9:45 from Wednesdays to Fridays. A visit is highly recommended! Yuying Luo ’12 (yluo@fas) can be found in the MFA’s meditative Buddhist temple room when she’s stressed. editor@harvardindependent.com

Arts

Walking Far from Home A review of Iron & Wine’s “Kiss Each Other Clean.” By CHRISTINE WOLFE

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I saw sinners making music, and I dreamt of that sound dreamt of that sound.” Iron & Wine fans dreamt many sounds this week as the band’s newest album, “Kiss Each Other Clean”, was released on Tuesday. But they may not have expected what Sam Beam had in store for them. The album cover alone is a beautiful representation of what Iron & Wine is doing with this album — a house burns in the background, with Beam standing in a neon river flocked by peacocks on the shore. He is obviously departing from his past — the fluorescence against the black background is a stark comparison to the simplicity of a red tree on a tan page on the cover of “The Creek Drank the Cradle.” But the true metamorphosis from the melodious solitude of “The Creek Drank the Cradle” and “Our Endless Numbered Days” becomes readily apparent as the first track, “Walking Far from Home,” begins. Sam Beam, the forerunner of the indie folk band Iron & Wine, is best known for his quiet, harmonious voice and lack of a full range of instruments. His most famous songs, “Naked as We Came,” “Flightless Bird, American Mouth,” “Boy with a Coin,” and his cover of The Postal Service’s “Such Great Heights” are flawless examples of his individuality in an electronically-dominated industry. But he can no longer claim that position. “Kiss Each Other Clean” is a leap out of the realm of the slowpaced acoustic into an electronic,

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jazzy world in which some Winos may feel a bit out of place. Fans who felt that “The Shepard’s Dog” was a blasphemous bullet in the heart of Beam’s lyricism and heartbreaking acoustic power will detest “Kiss Each Other Clean,” which has no “Flightless Bird, American Mouth” to save it from complete electronic dominance. Those who understand that musicians must evolve, however, will find a new intensity within the album. And while Beam may have ditched his solemn guitar, he

pattern that keeps the listener at Beam’s beck-and-call — we wait for a chorus and are rewarded with only a continuous questioning of what the world is and who we are in it. “Tree by the River” and “Half Moon” are the only love songs to be found on the album, and they pale in comparison to “The Sea and the Rhythm” and “Bird Stealing Bread.” His love songs’ gorgeous sadness is wholly reliant on his acoustic backdrop; the funky drumming and whistling is better suited for the coming-of-age song.

has held as strongly as ever to his wrenching, inspiring lyricism — it is unmatched in today’s music scene. “Kiss Each Other Clean” leaves behind the mournful love songs and replaces them with intense, poetic social commentary. The focus is on the growth of the rebellious spirit rather than the growth of the broken heart. The album starts and ends with its best songs, “Walking Far from Home” and “Your Fake Name Is Good Enough for Me.” Both follow a climatic, stream-of-consciousness

One can detect a sort of anger in “Kiss Each Other Clean” — Beam’s lyrics are more sarcastic, more insubordinate, and more demanding than in his previous work. “Rabbit Will Run” and “Big Burned Hand” seem as though they are diatribes written furiously against the political domination of the oppressive. That is, Beam writes as furiously as he could ever write, as his calm seeps into every song he sings, which tones down the political overtones and gives voice to the struggles of

the individual. Beam reflects not only on oppression but also on the wrong of the oppressed — no person can escape without guilt, they’ve “all kissed a virgin as if she were clean.” Beam succeeds in “Kiss Each Other Clean,” as he has in every album he has released, to tell the stories of human beings wrought with emotions that only he seems to truly comprehend. He is a masterful storyteller and a peerless lyricist. As one who adores the languorous perfection of “The Creek Drank the Cradle” and “The Sea and the Rhythm,” I was taken aback by the complete departure “Kiss Each Other Clean.” I fell in love with Iron & Wine because of the sweet, contemplative love songs with an unencumbered depth. However, I admire Beam for his venture into a new genre, and he pulls off the transition with his usual grace. I would recommend that newcomers to Iron & Wine listen to his earliest work before moving into the complexity of “Kiss Each Other Clean”; the emotional intensity that makes Iron & Wine so unique is not on the same level in his new album as in his older work. For more weathered fans, I suggest that you give the new album a try — if you have remained faithful to Iron & Wine, you must find a certain kind of perfection in a line like “I saw sunlight on the water / Saw a bird fall like a hammer from the sky.” Christine Wolfe ’14 (crwolfe@ college) still wants to go upwards over the mountain.

02.03.11 • The Harvard Independent

Sports

In Like a Lamb, Out Like a Lion

indy

Harvard Men’s Basketball looking like a sure bet to secure an NCAA Tournament berth.

or the many fans who headed out to the men’s basketball back-to-back this weekend, questions about the post-Jeremy Lin era abounded. The Crimson stood at 13-3, but it was inconceivable to believe that a team who had lost the first Harvardian in recent memory to find significant time in the NBA could be better than recent incarnations. Harvard basketball, even with such starpower, hadn’t been relevant on campus for quite some time. Suffice to say, I thought that the talk of Harvard making the NCAA Championship Tournament this season to be premature. But when I exited after Saturday’s blowout of Cornell, I had a different thought embedded in my mind. This team was bigger, faster, more athletic,

and had a better chemistry than any I had seen at Harvard. Although Tommy Amaker’s recruiting practices initially came under scrutiny, none of that matters to the team that he assembled nor does it seem to matter to the fans who have become captivated by the team’s success. On each night, the Crimson maintained control of the game, and were never in danger of losing. They maintained their composure, made timely shots, and controlled the paint. Each game was a complete effort, led by the steady inside game of team captain Keith Wright ’12. Complementing Wright’s blue-collar effort rebounding and scoring in the post, the guards played at an extremely high level on the perimeter. However, what stood out was something that

By BRETT MICHAEL GIBLIN

had been missing on teams of late – the explosive athleticism of Kyle Casey ’13. He brought to everyone to their feet with a series of thunderous dunks and perfectly executed alleyoops with either him or Wright on the receiving end. The way Harvard dominated every aspect of both games made it extremely clear to all in attendance that the Crimson and their Ivy opponents are in the same league only by organizational principles. It looks like Harvard has a clear shot at an NCAA Tournament bid (where they were currently projected as the 14th seed by ESPN “Bracketology Expert” Joe Lunardi). The only roadblocks in the schedule are the upcoming homeand-home dates with Princeton. After this weekend’s date with the Tigers,

the Crimson will have a much better picture of whether they truly have a date with destiny. Although a tournament berth, and ultimately their first victory in a March Madness game sound quite optimistic for a program that has not been relevant for some time, the future looks bright for Tommy Amaker’s squad. There are no seniors on the roster, and this team has already improved immensely from last year. They only stand to continue to improve, and the Harvard program seems to have relegated the days of lurking at the bottom of the standings to the past. Brett Michael Giblin ’11 (bmgiblin@ fas) hopes that fans of the Crimson will be motivated to join him at basketball

The Fast and Furious

Senior Bucket List: Harvard Men’s Ice Hockey

ver the long and lovely winter break, I made a senior spring bucket list, including a few Harvard sporting events. In my three-and-a-half years here, I’ve been to three Harvard-Yale games (as a nervous freshman, I skipped out on going to New Haven in favor of studying for my Life Sciences 1a exam), and a handful of other heavily publicized sporting events, ranging from basketball to lacrosse and fencing. I started with the Harvard vs. Cornell men’s ice hockey game this past Saturday. A hockey player had recommended this game to me; apparently, they are our Ivy League rivals in hockey. Harvard unfortunately took a 2-1 loss as Cornell’s goalie, Iles, saved shot after shot. The first thing I noticed about this game, supposedly a Harvard “whiteout” game (wearing white against the Big Red), was the lack of white in the arena. The band was decked out in white Harvard hockey jerseys, but everywhere else was a sea of red. Cornell students made up the majority of the student section, and Cornell alumni filled the rest of their half of the rink. It was ridiculous – an Ivy actually caring enough about their sports team to travel to another city to watch a game? Harvard students The Harvard Independent • 02.03.11

By SUSAN ZHU hardly ever care enough to walk across the river to watch a game. It was still eye-opening to see so many of them, with full knowledge of their chants, all the lyrics to their fight songs, talking in hockey lingo. I sat with my freshmen advisees, but I didn’t know any more to “10,000 Men of Harvard” than they did. I had only learned hockey lingo in the past year, helped along by the 2010 Winter Olympics and the Flyers’ trip to the Stanley Cup last year. Before last year, I thought hockey had a halftime. A horrified Canadian politely corrected me last year during the Olympics: it has three periods, and two intermissions. I play basketball and I thought that basketball was a relatively fast sport, at least compared to say, soccer and baseball. But now that I can see why hockey players think basketball is slow. Hockey happens at a ridiculously fast pace. Luckily, it’s easier to spot the puck in person, but the sheer speed that everything happens makes you realize why plexiglass surrounds the rink – if you got hit in the face with a slapshot, you would probably get your nose broken. Want to make a substitution? There is no delay of game. In fact, you’d get a penalty for a delay of game. You don’t wait for a free throw or a change in possession, you don’t make a coaching

visit to the mound. In hockey, padded bodies and sticks scramble into and out of the box even as play continues. If you make a mistake during the quick change, your team could get a penalty for having too many men on the ice. Lose your stick in a scuffle? Leave it, keep playing, and try to grab a new one. Puck flying at your face? Block it out of the air with your glove, but drop it immediately (unless you’re the goalie). Even the referees have to have cat-like reflexes, hopping onto the boards to escape a loose puck or darting away from an oncoming bodycheck. Hockey is definitely an underappreciated sport. It’s not just for Canadians, especially when admission to the game is free. For anyone who appreciates athleticism and velocity, it’s a great way to spend an evening. Terms to know: Face-Off: Ref drops the puck. Two guys battle for it. There are specifically designated areas where face-offs can occur, such as the four circles outside the two goals. This happens every time there is a stoppage in play (goals, penalties, icing, offsides) to determine who gets possession. Icing: Sounds like it should taste good, but there’s no cake. Essentially, you’re not allowed to clear the puck

away from your goal by sending it down the length of the ice. If the puck is cleared past the goal line of the opposite team, icing is called. Penalty: If you commits a penalty (tripping, high-sticking, or interference, for instance), you have to go sit in the penalty box. Only nice kids get to play. There are minor penalties – 2 minutes in the box – and major penalties – 5-10 minutes, depending on the severity. Your team will be playing a man down “on the penalty kill,” and there are no icing calls on your team during this time. Powerplay: The other team committed a penalty, so now you’re playing a man up. If you score while the opponent is still in the penalty box, you’ve just scored a powerplay goal. Penalty Kill: Congratulations! Despite playing a man down, your team managed to play the length of your penalty without giving up a goal. Open Net: when the clock’s running down and a team is behind, it is common for the team to pull the goalie out of the game, leaving an open net, but also allowing them to then put six men on the ice to try and score against the other team’s five men (and goalie). Susan Zhu ’11 (szhu@fas) can skate, as long as it doesn’t require turning, stopping, or going backwards. independent1969@gmail.com

captured & shot By SUSAN ZHU