t h e
Herald
By and for the students of Hobart and William Smith Colleges ISSUE 13
VOLUME CXXVIII
February 11, 2005
An Orgasm Faked For Charity
Second Spring Fisher Center Lecture Explores Ecological Effects
Melissa Sorrells Copy Editor Melissa Sue Sorrells Copy Editor
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cologist, author, and cancer survivor Sandra Steingraber will give a talk titled “Contaminated Without Consent: A Human Rights Approach to the Environment” at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 16 in the Geneva Room. Steingraber is an internationally recognized expert on the environmental links between cancer and reproductive health. She is an eminent biologist as well as a cancer survivor and mother, and she utilizes these different filters to bridge the gap between science and activism. Her highly sought-after lectures are “an intricate weaving of scientific data, personal stories and an intensely lyrical style.”
Cancer survivor and Fisher Center speaker Sandra Steingraber
Steingraber has been named Ms. Magazine’s 1997 Woman of the Year, and she has been interviewed in the Chicago Tribune, USA Today, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, on National Public Radio, “The Today Show,” and “Now with Bill Moyers.” She has also written two full-length books, “Living Downstream” and “Having Faith: An Ecologist’s Journey to Motherhood.” Both explore the intimate ecology of the environment and its effects. Currently a distinguished visiting scholar at Ithaca College, Steingraber has also been on the faculty at Cornell University, a fellow at the University of Illinois and worked with the National Action Plan on Breast Cancer. Her keynote addresses are legendary across North America, and she has given talks at Harvard, Yale, Cornell and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. W e e k e n d
Geneva, NY
Acrylic painting by John Vaughn Katie Bell News Editor
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t HWS, there is a course for Art majors that is prac tical, and goes outside of just studying different time periods and styles. Art 440: The Art Museum, taught by Professor Kristel Smentek, required students to create an art exhibition and decide on everything from the theme of the show to the pieces that would be included. Students were also involved in more handson aspects of putting together an exhibit, as the 10 students hung the pieces, selected two or three works to research, and created labels that would accompany the pieces. As a result, “Art Speaks: Voices from the HWS Collection” is more than just an ordinary exhibit; it is a collection that from the start has been organized by students, as a hands-on way of learning how to create an exhibit. “With amazing mentorship, support and guidance from Professor Smentek, our class was able to get great first hand experience of what it would be like to curate a show. We learned everything from writing the labels
to how to properly drill and hang a painting.” explained junior Cassie Priest. Priest, who majors in art history, continued, “It was a great eye opening experience into a possible career.” She received a wealth of knowledge from the course, but also had the privilege of traveling outside of the class room to continue learning the process of the art museum: Priest talked to Robert North, who has donated nearly 100 significant pieces in memory of his wife, Marion de Mauriac North ’32. Priest felt that the student organized exhibition benefited more than just the students enrolled in the class. “I feel that this show was a great way to make the student body more aware of the great art collection HWS has,” she said. If you didn’t make it to the opening reception or haven’t seen the exhibit yet, there is still time to view this magnificent collection. The exhibit, which includes notable works from the Colleges’ collection from artists like George Bellows, Mary Cassatt, Robert Indiana, and Edward Manet, is open 7 days a week at the Houghton House Gallery from 9am-5pm until February 28.
Where Did the Chairs Go? Emily Corcione Assistant Copy Editor
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ike many students returning to campus at the beginning of this semester, I was disappointed to discover that all of the furniture had been removed from the library atrium. The comfortable chairs and couches recently set up in the library’s main entrance had become my favorite study location. They were the perfect spot for study groups or socializing and gave the stark atrium a warmer, more hospitable atmosphere. Unfortunately, after a recent visit from the New York State fire marshal, the furniture was removed
as a fire safety violation. The fire marshal determined that the cozy sofas could turn into deadly obstacles in the event of a fire, considering the number of people that could potentially be in the library and need to use the atrium as a primary exit. Also, the furniture’s material was combustible and would produce toxic smoke if set ablaze. The flower-patterned chairs are now located in the second-floor Brackett-Clark lounge and the maroon couches are currently in storage, although efforts are being made to find an appropriate location for them somewhere in the library. Mandala artwork will still be displayed in the atrium, but will be con-
fined to the corner next to the 24hour computer lab. After talking with Cal Brown, the Director of Campus Security, I learned that such removal of furniture is part of the new fire safety codes that went into effect Jan. of 2003. Prompted by the deadly Seton Hall Fire in New Jersey, a governmental task force put into effect several initiatives to enhance fire safety on New York’s college campuses. The changes are in section 807-b of the State Education Law, in case the idea of actually reading it appeals to you. This past fall marked our Continued on page 7
W e a t h e r
Geneva, Switzerland
Friday:
Friday:
Few Snow Showers, 29°/22°
Rain, 43°/32°
Saturday:
Saturday:
Few Snow Showers, 35°/21°
Rain, 45°/34°
Sunday:
Sunday:
Mostly Cloudy, 36°/29°
Rain / Wind, 42°/24°
f your vagina could talk, what would it say? The students of Hobart and William Smith Colleges will get a chance to explore this and similar questions when The Vagina Monologues are performed at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. This year, two performances, to be held on Friday, February 11 and Saturday, February 12, are being sponsored by The William Smith College Women’s Collective. The show will be held in the Geneva Room at 7 p.m. both nights and tickets will be $2 in advance and $3 at the door. The HWS performances are part of an international V-Day Campaign dedicated to celebrating female sexuality, while educating the public about violence against women, including rape, incest, female genital mutilation, and sexual slavery. In the past 7 years, the movement has grown to more than 76 countries from Europe to Asia. Proceeds from the benefit shows are donated to local anti-violence groups. The campaign has raised more than $20 million to support anti-violence programs worldwide since its creation in 1998. V-Day was born as an outgrowth of Eve Ensler’s award winning play, The Vagina Monologues. The play, subtitled An Anthropological Exploration, reveals a series of different women’s stories and experiences involving their genitalia. The material was gathered from more than two hundred intimate interviews, conducted by Ensler.
More V-Day HWS doesn’t have the V-Day market cornered. Here’s a list of some other V-Day performances in the area: Wells College in Aurora, NY at the Sommer Center Cafe February 11 & 12 at 8 p.m. February 13 at 5 p.m. $7 general admission for SAVAR of Cayuga County Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY at the Emerson Suites February 12 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. February 13 at 7 p.m. $3 general admission for Tompkins Advocacy Center Elmira College in Elmira, NY at Tompkins Dorm February 11 at 7 p.m. for Rape Crisis of the Southern Tier SUNY Binghamton in Binghamton at Dickinson Dining Hall February 11, 12 & 13 at 8:45 p.m. $5 general admission for Mom’s House & SOS Shelter.
A farmer walks among tangerine trees in rural Hong Kong
Bobby Yip / Reuters
Hobart Hero
Gone Country
Unrequited Love
HWS student goes unrecognized, until now, for live saving cancer research.
Kenny Chesney’s new CD, Be As You Are, stays middle of the road in this review.
A student at UMass gives a glimpse into the world of love - with your best friend.
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CAMPUS LIFE the HERALD Page 2
WEOS Spotlight on Elizabeth Cost
THE HERALD Established 1879 By and for the students of Hobart and William Smith Colleges Hadley Mongell Caroline Hettinger Editor-in-Chief Katie Bell News Editor Owen Oertling Brandon Currie Layout Editors Melissa Sue Sorrells Copy Editor David Diehl A&E Editor Roderick P Thaler Jr. Opinion/Editorial Editor John Rosenbaum Sports Editor Veronica Mora El Heraldo Editor Kari Balakar Emily Corcione Assistant Copy Editors
CONTRIBUTORS Terri Hannan Katherine Delp Jonah Levy Alessandra Raimondi Amanda Jantzi Alex Brustowicz Kailey Voellinger Alicia Laible Rachel Stephansky Patricia J. Foster Matt Brochu Liz Staino
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES The Herald is currently accepting submissions for our coming issue. The Deadline for this issue is Sunday at 7pm. All submissions left in the drop box MUST includeThe name and phone number or e-mail of an individual person that The Herald can contact regarding the submission. BOTH a hard copy and disk copy must be left in the drop box. If you are submitting by email, please make your submission an attatchment. If criteria are not met the Herald may not be able to print the subission.
The History of Cupid Hadley Mongell Editor-in-Chief
H
e may be small, and he may be pudgy… but he is sought after by practically every woman on the planet. Who might this mystery babe be, since Danny DeVito obviously doesn’t fit the last description? Cupid, of course! Every February, millions of people around the world flock to card stores, flower shops, and candy connoisseurs to find JUST the right thing to express their love to their “valentine.” Some lovers say that “they were hit by Cupid’s arrow,” and that’s why they unexpectedly fell in love. Well, who is this “Cupid,” and how does he have this power to send our hearts and minds soaring? The basic understanding of Cupid is that, while not a real person, he is the God of Love and the son of Venus to the ancient Romans. In ancient Greece, he was known as Eros, the young son of Aphrodite—the goddess of love and beauty. Universally, Cupid is known as a mischievous, winged child whose arrows would pierce the hearts of his victims, causing them to fall deeply in love. History actually shows that Cupid was not initially the angelic little ball of chub that we envision today. In his original likeness, he was a very impish, sometimes dark God of Love and Desire who enjoyed matching “odd couples” to see how they worked out, possibly creating the well-received notion that “opposites attract.” As a result of his actions, Cupid was sent by Venus (his mother) to punish the mortal Psyche be-
cause Venus was jealous of her beauty. However, Cupid was absolutely smitten by Psyche’s beauty. In this sense, he fell under his own spell of opposite matching. Cupid arranged for Psyche to be brought back to his mountain abode to be with him, but he hid his identity from her and would only visit her at night. Apparently their time together was so tender and full of loving conversation that Psyche fell in love with Cupid without ever really seeing him. In reaction to this love affair, Psyche’s jealous sisters convinced her that her love must really be a monster if he was to hide himself. Her sisters even persuaded her to sneak up on him one night, armed with a knife for her protection. Cupid woke up and saw her there and sadly said, “I inflict no other punishment on you than to leave you forever. Love cannot dwell with suspicion.” Psyche realized how foolish she had been, and concluded that the only way to be with Cupid was to confront Venus and ask for her blessing of their love. Venus was elated to have Psyche kneeling before her, and as a result, asked for Psyche to perform multiple tasks to prove she was worthy of Cupid’s love. Each task was more than Psyche thought she could handle, but in each task a God stepped in to help her. Finally Psyche and Cupid were allowed to be married because Venus was proved wrong. The fact that Cupid still remains an icon for love even on a “Hallmark holiday” like Valentine’s Day proves that no matter how much time passes…we are all still suckers for a good love story.
1) What is your class year and area of study? I’m a sophomore with a major in Media and Society. I’m thinking about doing a minor in Spanish or Psychology or both.
my writing, and speaking skills greatly. It also gives me opportunities to learn more about radio. I went with WEOS to Nashville in the fall for a media conference, and it was such a great learning experience.
2) How did you get involved with WEOS? I explored the website over the summer and emailed Mike Black saying that I was interested in news, since I worked at a television news station in Syracuse.
4) What was your funniest or most embarrassing moment on the air? The word “Episcopal” was in my introduction during the Presidents Convocation, and I pronounced it completely wrong for 5 minutes because it was in almost every sentence of my introduction. 3) What is your position with I must have sounded so stupid! WEOS? I’m the news director. Basi- 5) What is your favorite aspect of cally, I write up stories everyday, HWS? record them, and the newscast goes HWS provides so many opporon the air during NPR news at 5 tunities that involve things that anyo’clock and 5:30. one is interested in. The news director position wasn’t really created 6) What do you like best about until this year, but since I was interworking with the radio station? ested in it, I was allowed to give it It’s such a great experience, try, and it worked out great! and by doing it everyday, I improve
Extra Ordinary
EL HERALDO Veronica Mora El Heraldo Editor
Announcements The Latin American Organization invites everyone to come join us at the weekly meetings every Wednesday at 7 pm in the Intercultural Affairs House (the white house next to Saga). The Caribbean Student Association invites everyone to join them at their 6th annual Come Celebrate Our Diversity Dinner. This event will be held on Saturday February 26 at 6:30 pm in the Comstock Dining Hall. Following this dinner there will be an after-party at The Barn, where you can dance all night. Tickets are available now in The College Store: students pay $3, faculty and staff pay $7. Come and enjoy this wonderful night! Noticias Del Mundo In Ecuador, a radio station that is known for criticizing the government was attacked with a bomb last week. The owner, Wilson Cabrera, leader of the Citizens’ Participation movement, believes that this attack was a response to the radio station’s criticisms of the government. A piece of paper addressed to the
owners of the radio station was found after the explosion, advising them to stop spreading lies. As a leader of the Citizens’ Participation movement, Cabrera was very active in street protest against the dismissal of the Supreme Court by Congress acting on a request from President Guitierrez. According to him, the judges were being biased against him, and all he wanted were judges that were more democratic. In Zimbabwe, millions of people are dying of starvation. It has gotten to the point that people have had to resort to terrible things in order to have food to eat. Many, for example, have taken their children out of school, sold their property, or cut back to only one meal per day. This starvation problem is viewed a political weapon by many. It has been said that the Grain Market Board has denied supplies to government opponents and that Zimbabweans have to show their ZANU-PF membership cards in order to receive GMB grain. A Place Where EVERYONE Is Welcome The Intercultural Affairs House, mostly known as “IC,” is a
place that welcomes everyone on campus. There are many clubs that hold their weekly meetings there, like the Caribbean Student Association (Wednesdays at 8), Latin America Organization (Wednesday at 7), and the Asian Student Union (Thursdays at 8). Cultural clubs, however, are not the only organizations that hold their meetings at this house. NARAL Pro-choice, for example, hold their meetings at IC ever other week, and Buddhist Meditation meets every Monday. On Fridays from 12-1 p.m. there is a representative from Career Services at the house to answer questions about internships. These meetings and events are a few of the many events that the IC offers. Even though these events are open to the entire HWS community, students of color are the majority of the students participating. Many students on campus hold the misconception that the IC is a place only for students of color. Of the many times that I have visited IC, I can’t remember seeing any white
students there. Many of the white students on this campus don’t even know where the IC is located. I invited a friend to attend an LAO meeting, and she responded “I am not Hispanic.” Being Hispanic is not a requirement to attend cultural clubs, but unfortunately many white students don’t realize that. One of our main goals is to educate and share our culture with everyone during our weekly meetings. However, we are not able to share our culture if students do not show up to meetings. Whether you are a green, black, red, orange, white, or purple student reading this article, set aside a few minutes and take a walk to the white house next to Saga. Once there, come in and visit. Find out what events and meetings are held there and make some time in your schedule to attend these meetings. You will discover that everyone is welcome here and that not only Hispanics attend the LAO meetings and not only afro-Caribbean people attend CSA meetings. Get involved with cultural clubs and learn about other cultures.
Melissa Sue Sorrells Copy Editor
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ne glace at the newly re vamped Daily Update, and it’s obvious that there are a wealth of exciting events available every day at HWS: pasta night, a hockey game, a well known speaker. But there are a lot of things happening that aren’t widely talked about on campus. Things a majority of the campus is completely in the dark about. Things that maybe we should know about. Recently, Hobart junior Max Macaluso was awarded a prestigious grant from the American Association for Cancer Research. His award will fund trips to the American Association of Cancer Research annual meeting for two consecutive years. Though Macaluso isn’t yet old enough to purchase alcohol, he will sit among the greatest scientists of our time and learn about the latest advancements in cancer research. The award is intended to inspire extraordinary students to enter the field of cancer research, but Macaluso’s interest has been in cancer research for quite some time Continued on page 7
Burbon Street the HERALD Page 3
Six Degrees Of A Suicide Flick Alicia Laible A+E Contributor
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et’s start with one of the worst movies ever: Tremor. Kevin Bacon was in that movie with Fred Ward who was in Joe Dirt with Brittany Daniels. She stared in White Chicks with Jamie King who was in Pearl Harbor with Ben Affleck. He is rumored to have hooked up with one of the young girls in The Woodsman staring Kevin Bacon. Really bad to down right awful in just 6 moves. I have a few simple rules when it comes to the movies I’ll review. One is that I will never watch some-
thing starring more then one Baldwin brother. Another one of my top three is that I will never see a Kevin Bacon Film. My hatred started with Footloose and continued with The Woodsman. I went against one of my cardinal rules because I get off on controversy, and what’s more controversial then a movie about your neighborhood pedderass? The Woodsman was no Lolita and turned out to be a big waste of time. The movie was about a pedophile (Kevin Bacon) who was released from jail and attempts to readjust to the outside. Smart Move Number One: he chooses an apartment across the street from a grade school. In the past, his MO was to
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molest (never harm, so he says) 1112 year old girls. A couple times, however, a few sly ones snuck by, like a 9 year old who said she was 11 or a 14 year old who said she was 12. That sounds just like something I would have done at 14 to get an older man interested in me or at least to buy me a Boonesfarm. Oh the good old days. The film attempts to be “on the edge” but fails miserably. It is a dreary and dark movie that will leave you pretty disgusted for the rest of the day but never goes anywhere. This should have been a movie I loved, but it turned out to be a movie I can’t wait to forget. The whole movie deals with the fact that he knows what he does is
wrong but still has the Urges. The movie treats the Urges like any other addiction. Most of my readers can relate by comparing it to giving up cocaine and still going to HWS. It’s all around, but you know in the morning you’re going to feel pretty crappy about what you did. His addiction plagues his thoughts, and he constantly fantasizes about little kiddies. In the end, he is finally alone in a park with a girl he has been watching. After he befriends her and asks her to sit on his lap, he learns she has been molested by her father. The big dramatic moment of the movie is what he chooses to do next. But I won’t give that away. The only good qualities of his
movie were the cinematography and soundtrack. Both resembled Requiem for a Dream. The filming was choppy and often distorted or had pictures over-laid onto the scene. It fit with the dramatic subject matter, and the confusion of the character. The soundtrack, which was done by Nathan Larson, has heavy beats combined with lighter notes. He is also credited with doing other dark films such as Boys Don’t Cry. On the Alicia Scale of 1 to 10, I give this movie about a 4.2 only because of the exceptional filming and soundtrack. I recommend it for your own health NOT to see this movie. So, I guess I can tell you that he decides not to play doctor with the little girl.
ART PREVIEW the HERALD Page 4
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rt speaks. These paintings, currently on display in Houghton House, certainly do. They, and many others, are part of an exhibition titled “Art Speaks: Voices from the HWS Collection.”
Included in the show are more than 30 works by such important modern and contemporary artists as Karel Appel, Arman, Milton Avery, Romare Bearden, George Bellows, Sue Coe, Giorgio de Chirico, Marcel
Duchamp, Audrey Flack, Leon Golub, Robert Indiana, Donald Judd, Marisol, Alan Sonfist, and Kara Walker. The paintings will hang until the end of February, and the gallery can be accessed from 9a.m.
until 5 p.m. daily. As you can read in Katie Bell’s article (on the front page), the entire show was undertaken by 10 students as part of the class work for a class in the HWS Art Department.
The students selected the works, hung them, and researched their histories. “The students feel a true ownership of this exhibit and to the HWS Collections,” said Kristel Smentek, assistant professor of art.
A&E the HERALD Page 5
Absent Friends Jonah Levy A+E Contributor
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e’ve all been there: those horribly uncomfortable gettogethers with those people we may call friends. The subtextual messages are overwhelming, the mood is wretched, and you can cut the tension in the room with a play-doh knife. In Alan Ayckborn’s “Absent Friends” which was performed last weekend in the Bartlett Theater, Professor Robert Gross and the phenomenal cast recreate this scene with brilliant wit. The cast, undoubtedly devoid of his part with confidently accurate any semblance of a weak link, was venom, performs one of the many made up of veterans from the fall but genuine nervous breakdowns show “Vassa Zheleznova.” This with fraught nerves and frightening show was another product of madness. Julius Ferraro (the jiggling Gross’s unparalleled directorial Jon) brings to life one of the most technique, which contains a com- likable characters I’ve found on mon theme with last weekend’s per- stage with such pleasant, careless ambiguity. His allergy to the mere formance: discomfort. Gross successfully manages to mention of death was one of the pump every character relationship most enjoyable comic subtleties of with distaste, seething hatred, un- the show. Sarah Walsh (Evelyn) easiness, and comic timing. The plays her part from the moment the well-trained cast carries this lights rise with incredibly effective through so carelessly that we feel uncouthness. The unanimous hatred they’ve actually spent much too for her character seethes with fire, while Sarah much time with moodily yet reeach other Peter Marciano spectfully sits by (This is not too and watches the far from the performs one of the blaze. Jamie truth: the cast genuine nervous Agnello (Dianne) came back captures the aufrom winter breakdowns with diences awe in break four days fraught nerves and the first (oneearlier for allday rehearsfrightening madness. sided) conversation of the show als). and holds it in her The shining pocket with unquestioned outbursts stars that have been doused with all the verbal dirt tossed in this show and internalized weeping. Ms. cannot go without intricate mention. Agnello was also the brilliance bePeter Marciano (Paul), who plays hind the costumes of the show. The
hip, 70’s garb fit the characters, color scheme, style, and feel so well that I was left stunned. Not much can be said for Kelly Burke (Marge) because her unbelievable talent offers us another expected powerhouse performance once again. This senior spent the entirety of her junior year in London studying acting, and needless to say, it shows. Quinn Hurley (Colin) brings to the show more than we can ask for—literally. The entrance of his character sparks the uncomfortable, nervous, and distinct explosion that is “Absent Friends.” The very reason these “friends” have gotten together is to see their long missed chum Colin who had recently suffered a loss of a fiancé who had drowned. Quinn’s over-the-top performance and surprisingly flexible rubber face is everything that “Absent Friends” was meant to be. Gross puts Quinn so directly center in this dark farce that the discomfort level overloads. Mr. Hurley’s whipping eyebrows alone define effective British comedy. It’s worth it to mention that the cast’s perfected British dialect, and unarguably flawless set design by technical director, Ralph Dressler, puts “Absent Friends” in a class of its own.
Coach Carter Kailey Voellinger
A&E
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amuel L. Jackson takes on the role of Ken Carter in the highly anticipated basketball drama, Coach Carter. The story of the undefeated Richmond High School basketball team, and Coach Carter’s subsequent actions of benching the entire team when their poor academic performance was not improved, became national news in the late ‘90’s. Coach Carter is pretty much your typical sports drama as scenes of intense physical activity and drama related to the new coaches are the norm for this genre. The concept of the movie is also fairly unoriginal as the underdogs band together with a hardened coach to learn that they can defeat the odds and better themselves through work and dedication. The acting was decent, except that of Samuel L. Jackson who was phenomenal. He brought a real energy and fire to his character which made the movie more tolerable. The game sequences and practice sessions
were the most intense part of the movie. Overall the plot was also decent as it flowed fairly well and culminated in a dramatic ending. Witnessing the relationships that Carter built with the team and the relationships of the teammates themselves was touching and realistically portrayed. The movie didn’t seem fake at all but sometimes overly stereotypical of the “poor inner-city student.” There was a lot of unnecessary “drama” related to the lives of the players. Another downside to this film is that it was excessively long and didn’t always maintain my attention especially during the scenes that didn’t directly relate to the main storyline. Overall, the movie was worthwhile. This “true story” was an uplifting piece in which people overcome real hardships and troubles to become successful in life. I would recommend Coach Carter if you are looking for a film about real people triumphing over the odds, if you are craving high intensity, adrenaline-filled athletic scenes, or if you really like a good sports flick.
Movies for Valentines Rachel Stephansky A+E Contributor
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. In honor of the Hallmark holiday, here are The Herald’s Top Ten Favorite Romantic Movies. 10. Along Came Polly 9. A Walk to Remember 8. My Best Friend’s Wedding 7. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days 6. 10 Things I Hate About You 5. Dirty Dancing 4. Pretty Woman 3. When Harry Met Sally 2. The Notebook 1. Love Actually
Kenny Chesney – Be As You Are This Pop-Country Phenom ditched the tractor and downhome hair for the ocean, a straw hat, and an Old Blue Chair. By David Diehl A&E Editor
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he endearing truth about Country music is that every song tells a story. It tells a story that we’ve heard before, or that we have been involved in, or that we would like to have happen to us. But normal stuff: Barn stuff. Bar stuff. Girl stuff. Boy stuff. Hemingway stuff. K e n n y Chesney is no different; he just has more sand between his toes. I had never heard about him before this summer, and I probably wouldn’t have given him a second thought when this new album was released. But I saw him in concert this summer— the hottest tour in the country circuit—The Guitars, Tiki Bars, and a Whole Lotta Love Tour with opening act Uncle Kracker. My girlfriend is a country gal, so I put on my ten-gallon, strapped on my shitkickers, and joined her for the show. Kenny didn’t win me over, but with the amount of funds put into the performance, it was entertaining. His latest, Be As You Are: Songs from an Old Blue Chair was released to heavy excitement on January 25, 2005. It immediately topped the allgenre charts. Kenny has a huge fan base with his light-hearted lyrics and beachcomber persona—his success is no surprise considering the elements he combines. So, with this album, Kenny continues his quest of channeling Jimmy Buffet. (Buffet being the most notable country-style singer to convert to the islands). Though I’m not sure that any parrot-heads will jump on Chesney’s tractor no matter how
sexy it is. We know what Kenny likes. He likes to chill on a beach. He likes to sit in a blue chair. He likes to sing about sand, oceans, and tart desserts. We know this, because he tells you in just about every song on this album. Not that that is a problem. If I’m at a Tiki Bar eating key lime pie and drinking a pina colada, and let’s say, Guitars and Tiki Bars pops on the radio, I’m throwing a parade. Some of these tracks are fun, but there is a fairly thick layer of cheese that roofs the album. We’ll start with track nine, Key Lime Pie, sounds more like a key melody for the Muppets Hit the Bakery soundtrack. It sounds like one of the Buffet-spoofs they played in Club Dread. The title track, Be As You Are, I mean I really don’t have to go much further than the title. Do I? The song has more sand, more sun, and more pina colada lyrics, but he does talk about smiling in this one. The album also contains two versions of Old Blue Chair, an acoustic driven reflecting ballad. I really expected this song to have the record’s deepest, most philosophical lyrics, but all Kenny really does is talk about what he would be doing when he was thinking philosophically. Not that I’d really want to know what he was thinking about while catching “a few fish and some rays.” The best part of the album is the percussion. Kenny does have a soothing voice, and he plays a soothing acoustic guitar. When the rhythm of steel and conga drums is added it can make for an earfriendly tune. I see track six, Boston, becoming a big favorite, especially with girls from Boston if you couldn’t guess. “She wears a Red Sox cap/ to hide her baby dreads/the girl she was in New England/is different now and dead/In all the local bars/ she flirts and tells the boys while they’re talkin’/she’s from Boston.” Women love to hear songs that are about characters that resemble them. Well, if you are a woman, and you’re from Boston, then believe me, Kenny is talking about you. So every time you go to a bar, especially in Boston, and especially while wearing a Red Sox cap, play this song as much as you can, and sing it proud constantly, because Boston is your story.
OPINION-EDITORIAL the HERALD Page 6
How I Came to Love My Vagina
A Common Myth Dispelled Alessandra Raimondi & Amanda Jantzi
Katherine Delp Op-Ed Contributor
Op-Ed Contributors
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t’s commonly known that William Smith students are smarter than their Hobart counterparts. After all, we have separate qualifications for the Dean’s List – WS : 3.6; Hobart: 3.2. Also, admissions standards are different, guaranteeing that smarter and more active women come to William Smith.Or, not. In actuality, all of these “commonly known facts” are entirely false, as interviews with Hobart Dean Clarence Butler and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Don Emmons revealed. Nonetheless, it’s a misconception that is entrenched in our campus. The criterion for achieving Dean’s List honors is, in fact, exactly the same for both Hobart and William Smith students. You must have a 3.5 for the entire semester and no incomplete courses. Only one aspect of this policy has changed within the past twentyfive years or more: this fall, both the Hobart and William Smith Dean’s offices decided to calculate Dean’s List standing per semester instead of per year as it has been done in the past. Dean Butler commented that this is a way to reward students who have worked hard for a semester and encourage them to continue their efforts. The admissions myth actually has basis in fact. Until 1994, the Colleges did have separate admissions for men and women, which, according to Dean Don Emmons, resulted in “differences seen in the quality of students.” However, since the admissions offices became combined in 1994, this gap has closed considerably. Applicants are judged regionally, and many factors – including race, socioeconomic background, athletics, and alumnae relationship – influence the decision. Ultimately, admission is granted to students who meet a general profile to ensure a homogenous class is admitted in terms of academic ability. Dean Emmons did mention that admissions does feel a responsibility, based on HWS’ history as coordinate colleges, to make sure that enrollment of the two genders is not “egregiously out of balance.” Currently, 5253% of students are female while 47-48% are male, compared to national numbers of 56% women and 44% men. So rather than propagating mythology, you, informed reader, might well consider questioning why such falsities persist. Perhaps in this way we can engage in an open discussion of academic policies and reasons for perceived disparities and work to improve our campus and community.
Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend Patricia J. Foster Op-Ed Contributor
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inner, dancing, a moonlit walk, a memorable gift, a bottle of wine—a perfect Valentine’s Day date … for a female, that is. While hopeful, those TBS inspired Valentine’s evenings don’t always occur. Sometimes Valentine’s Day turns out to be one blooper after the next. Naturally, females are more nurturing. Females spend more time picking out the perfect gift for their boyfriend. They think about what he will get her, if he will surprise her with anything. The typical romantic crap. But is the fuss worth the hype? One anonymous junior said, “No!” She hates Valentine’s Day because she, “always ends up getting shitty presents or nothing at all.” The junior continued, “My mom always gives me something, and if I have a boyfriend, I always pick out this super expensive thing, and I get the candy and flowers routine.” Senior, Kelsie Kroll, was very disappointed one Valentine’s Day. She and her boyfriend split a hotel room at Geneva on the Lake and had dinner there, which he paid for, she described. “But he gave me a DVD, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, some little heart shaped candle, a chocolate rose, and a ceramic M&M jar. It was totally lame.” She explained,
“I spent so much money framing a picture and engraving it with a poem I wrote. He showed no thought! It was as though he went to Target or something and picked up some crap before he picked me up.” In agreement with Kroll, “I always put more thought into Valentine’s Day than whoever I am spending it with does,” an anonymous sophomore said. “I end up feeling like a complete asshole because I waste money on someone who doesn’t seem to care. It should be a fun thing for couples and friends, but I have never found it fun. I am always disappointed with the lack of emotion my male friends or a boyfriend at the time shows.” Lily Gillett, senior, said, “I think girls love it and guys don’t. So girls put a lot of time into it. Sometimes I think it’s a holiday made for girls.” Sophomore, Frank Polito, “Girls like the day because they get free stuff.” He added, “It’s a ploy for sex.” Whether it is a girl’s holiday or a ploy for gifts or sex, the majority of females agreed that Valentine’s Day isn’t worth extra time and unnecessary pressure because the males seem to show “no thought.” Quite possibly the saying is true: Diamonds are a girl’s best friend. For a college male, diamonds are bit extreme; replace diamonds with thought and effort.
still remember the first time I heard of The Vagina Monologues. It was fresh man year. I was sitting at my desk in my tiny Comstock double, checking my email. One message invited women to read a monologue on Valentine’s Day. Vaginas? I thought. Why would anyone want to participate in that? For the first time in my life, I had a boyfriend on Valentine’s Day; I was going to enjoy myself. None of this vagina nonsense. A year later, the boyfriend was ancient history, and my best friend had invited me to participate. This year, I was a bit more openminded. Why not? I went to the College Store and bought a copy of the book. For the first time, I understood the history of the movement. How Eve Ensler had interviewed hundreds of women about their vaginas. How celebrities performed The Vagina Monologues to packed halls. How all proceeds go to help stop violence against women.Wow. And not only did The Vagina Monologues have a great history, they were fabulous in themselves. Some funny, some poignant—I couldn’t wait to perform. I even wore a pin that said “My vagina is a flower.” I was wearing it when my friend’s parents came to lunch. His mother saw the pin, but instead of looking shocked, she asked me if I was performing. Had everyone but me heard of The Vagina Monologues? Opening night arrived. The performers were all dressed in red, some wearing feather boas or eating chocolate vaginas. I’ve never been in a room with so much positive energy. It was exhilarating. All the performances were spectacular, and the audience loved it. From brief lists—what would your vagina wear? Say?—to humorous pieces, from tragic to empowering, seeing the monologues was even better than reading them. You know what? I don’t even remember how I spent Valentine’s Day my freshman year. But the years since? I’ll never forget. Because that is how I came to love my vagina.
What She Doesn’t Know Will Kill You Matt Brochu Massachusetts Daily Collegian, November 2003
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ou met her a few months ago, and somehow she managed to seep into your subconscious like that “Suga how you get so fly” song. Just like you have no clue who the hell sings it, you don’t know why she’s there. But she is, whether you like it or not. You know her cell phone, her room phone. You can dial her Aunt Doreen’s house in West Springfield (where she goes to do her laundry every two weeks) faster than you can peck-out 911. But she doesn’t know. Her screen name, that generic one with her first name followed by three to five random numbers or UMass, has its own category at the top of your buddy list. Not only do you know what a “Buddy Alert” is, you’ve rigged your computer to play “Fat Guy in a Little Coat” from “Tommy Boy” every time her screen name changes from gray to black. Then her away message comes down, and you have a decision to make. To IM or not to IM? These are the ridiculous games that you play on a daily basis. But she doesn’t know. She’s it. All right, so maybe not “it” it. Not necessarily Ms. Right, but closer to Ms. Right-up-there-with-Anna-Kournikova-andLizzie-McGuire-on-your-list-of-people-you’dgive-anything-to-be-stranded-with-on-a-broken-down-elevator. But it’s about more than that. When is it ever about more than that? Never. Not like frilly white dress, overpriced
catering, embarrassing drunk in-laws more, but closer to UMass sweatpants, two D.P. Dough Roni Zonies, a futon and a movie you have no interest in seeing more. But she doesn’t know. She’s gorgeous, but gorgeous is an understatement. More like you’re startled every time you see her because you notice something new in a “Where’s Waldo” sort of way. More like you can’t stop writing third grade run-on sentences because you can’t remotely begin to describe something ... someone ... so inherently amazing. But you’re a writer. You can describe anything. That’s what you do: pictures to words, events to words, words to even better words. But nothing seems right. More like you’re afraid that if you stare at her for too long, you’ll prove your parents right: that yes, your face will stick that way. But you wouldn’t mind. You wouldn’t mind that the questioning, “Hello?” on the other end makes you want to smile and throw up at the same time. You wouldn’t mind worrying about what to get her for her birthday and spending $300 when you only have $17.50 and a Triple-A card to your name. You wouldn’t mind that she left your TV on and the blaring infomercials wake you up at 4 a.m. ... because it gives you a chance to watch her sleep. You don’t mind that you’ve slipped up twice when you were hammered and hinted at how you feel, but
she was too drunk to remember. So she doesn’t know. Sure, she’s pretty, but it’s about more than that. You two connect. Anything you throw at her, she can throw right back. You figured out what’s going on in that predictable head of hers in under five minutes, but something tells you her heart would take about five years. You remember everything she’s ever said to you, and when that freaks her out you blame it on your photographic memory (which is a lie, you have a 2.7 GPA). You can’t remember your teaching assistant’s name, and you can’t remember that your Puffton rent check was due four days ago, yet you remember the middle name of the kid who tripped her in fifth grade and gave her that cute little scar on her shoulder. Maybe it’s because you actually listen when she talks. When do you actually listen? Never. But she doesn’t know. But she has a boyfriend. The kid is a tool, and you are not. He has no redeeming qualities, and you have about 38, even when you’re hung over. You could kick his butt, and you’ve never been in a fight in your life. He treats her like crap, and you would treat her like the princess she believed herself to be on Halloween in 1988. But she loves him. He wouldn’t know what he had even if she slapped him across the face and dumped him, but somehow she
still loves him. And somehow she still doesn’t know. Then, out of nowhere, she slaps him across the face and dumps him. She comes to you. You’ve been there before, so you seem like the smartest guy on earth. She cries, but your corny half-joke, half-compliment somehow gets a smile out of her that almost makes you feel ashamed that you’re the only one around who gets to witness it. It looks like you might make her realize that all guys don’t deserve to have rocks thrown at them. But nothing changes. She doesn’t know. You get that library elevator feeling in your stomach that she’ll never know. You get that feeling that you’ll be forced to write a cheesy Collegian column about her that makes “Sleepless in Seattle” look like “Girls Gone Wild.” You go to sleep. You wake up. She doesn’t know. You’re not in love. You’re not obsessed. You blame it on the fact that you just need to get some, but still, it’s about more than that. It would just be nice if once in your life, things worked out the way you wanted them to. So ___________, it’s about time you know*. * Now cut this out, fill in her name, and give it to her, coward. Just let me know how it works out.
AWESOME STUFF the HERALD Page 7
ECHO AND PINE
HEALTH HINTS FROM HUBBS Terri Hannan Health Hinter
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ebruary 14th is Valentine’s Day. It is a day known for hearts, candy, flowers, and expressions of love. February 14th is also V-day. V-Day is a nonprofit grass roots movement dedicated to ending violence against women around the globe. On V-Day students and faculty on college campuses across the world perform The Vagina Monologues to raise money to stop violence against women. The Vagina Monologues will be read on our campus on Friday February 11th and Saturday February 12th at 6 p.m. in the Geneva Room. The Monologues are serious, funny, and sad. They are excerpts from real interviews with women, young and old, from all walks of life. All women and men are encouraged to attend. I have seen the Vagina Monologues three times. Last year my daughter performed a monologue at R.I.T. It was her first time on stage, and she did a wonderful job. At R.I.T. the monologues were simultaneously signed for the deaf. It was a moving performance. This article is dedicated to the vagina. It is not a monologue, but a discussion of issues that concern our female patients. Just as men can learn from the stories of The Vagina Monologues, men can learn about the troubles the vagina faces and how to help make them happier places.
The vagina is a microcosm of its own. There is a balance of ph, bacteria, and lubrication. When the vagina is in balance, all systems are go. She is happy. There are times, however, when the vagina is out of balance. Things go wrong, and she is not so happy. Too much cleansing, fancy deodorants, and powders can upset the delicate balance of normal bacteria and ph. Too little cleansing, foreign objects, and retained feminine products can cause an overgrowth of unfriendly bacteria. Systemic changes such as hormonal surges, stress, and medications can also change the delicate balance and allow opportunistic fungi and bacterial to grow and overpopulate the vagina. Unprotected sex is an enemy to the vagina and can bring her many different unwanted sexually transmitted diseases. Bacterial vaginosis is an overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina. It is not sexually transmitted, but often is the result of an upset in the normal vaginal “flora.” A woman will notice itching or burning, a thin discharge that is white or gray, and an odor that can best be described as “unclean.” A trip to the health center is needed as there are no over-the-counter medications available for “BV.” The pesky yeast infection is a well known occurrence with advertisements for treatment in magazines and on television. If a woman has never experienced a yeast infec-
tion, she should have an exam to verify that the itching, thick white discharge and external swelling is truly a yeast infection. Yeast infections often follow treatment with an oral antibiotic or can occur while taking oral contraceptives. Over the counter creams are available. The 3 or 7 day treatments seem most effective. Generic products are just as good as the name brands. The oral one-day treatment for yeast infections has to be prescribed by a health care provider and should not be repeated too frequently due to liver toxicity. Recurrent yeast infections need to be reviewed with a health care provider. Sexually transmitted diseases can sometimes be asymptomatic. Often, though, there is discharge and burning. The most common infections are Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Trichomonas. Women and men can request STD testing at the health center. An STD screen is done at the time of a women’s annual exam. Sores, bumps, warty growths, or anything that seems unusual should be evaluated in the clinic. Herpes, genital warts, Molluscum Contagiosum, and folliculitis can be identified and treated during a clinic visit. On February 14th, enjoy your Valentines, reflect on how you can help stop the violence against women, attend The Vagina Monologues, and be kind to vaginas. Practice safe sex.
The Secret Truth Behind Founder’s Day Kailey Voellinger Herald Contributor
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ho Was William Smith? Why do we celebrate him? One of the oldest traditions on the William Smith campus, Founder’s Day allows students, alumnae, and faculty to celebrate the founding of the College and the achievements of its women. President Gearan notes that, “in celebrating Founder’s Day, current students join with the thousands of William Smith women before them in acknowledging the unique benefits of William Smith College.” About 100 years ago, William Smith College was founded by a wealthy local businessman. Around the turn of the century, William Smith was interested in creating a liberal arts college for women. The College started out in a coordinate arrangement with Hobart, with classes, residences, and campus life remaining mostly separate. Initially women were not even allowed on the men’s campus except to attend classes in Merritt and Trinity halls. They were also allowed to visit the library and the chapel and had to walk the Hobart public sidewalks. It wasn’t until 1941, that co-ed classes at the Colleges were the norm. Also, in 1943, William Smith was removed from coordinate status and made equal in standing to Hobart College, and the two colleges made a joint corporate identity. William Smith College has a long and rich history of women’s education, as it remains one of about 50 colleges for in the country. President Gearan noted the importance of commemorating this event: “An event like Founder’s Day reaffirms to the current generation of students
the proud history and rich legacy that precedes us.” Dean Kaenzig also noted that it is important to, “recognize the differences between Hobart and William Smith in a positive way.” It is one of the traditions that William Smith maintains along with Moving-up Day that remains separate from Hobart College. On February 8th, the William Smith community celebrated the 96th annual Founder’s Day with a dinner. The dinner itself was excellent (it goes without saying), but the most important aspect was coming together to celebrate the founding
I will find success and happiness just by being myself of our college and commemorating it with speeches from selected guest speakers. Dianne Doctor ’78, news director for WCBS, and Julia Heemstra ’96, a social service worker, were invited to speak at the event. The speakers both commented that their selection as a guest speaker must have “been a mistake,” as they felt they hadn’t done enough to be entitled to such an honor. The featured speakers discussed “Women in Action.” These women spoke about following “your voice” and how William Smith helped them to do that. They discussed their experiences at the school: Heemstra designed her own major, and Doctor was a co-editor of the Herald. They both participated in sports and other activities around campus to help improve their lives and the lives of others.
After graduation, Doctor found being a woman in a largely male dominated job market to be invigorating and later realized how important her job was during 9-11, when she ran the newsroom at her station 24 hours a day for a week. She values the impact she has on others, just by being able to provide them with a source of information. Heemstra discussed that she never felt satisfied working in the corporate world, and women need to define success in their own terms. She now works providing substance abuse programs to elementary, middle, and high school students in Teton County, Wyoming. Through their speeches, both showed themselves to be amazing women who have done a lot to help others and have had an impact on the world. They undoubtedly deserved the chance to speak and advise the women currently attending William Smith to follow their hearts, as we all can do great things. Dean Demeis noted that the women of William Smith can and always have been successful in impacting the world. The dinner was an amazing opportunity for students and alumnae to support our college. It made me truly take pride in attending William Smith, and it made me able to realize that even if I’m not ready to take on the world upon graduating, I will find success and happiness just by being myself. In the future, I strongly advise William Smith women to attend school dinners and celebrate our school together. The night that celebrated our community values can truly be summed up by the William Smith alma mater: “For all the days that we shall live, we pledge our love to thee.”
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n a few short months you will be graduating from Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Make the memories of your experiences over the last four years last a lifetime! We are currently trying to put together an edition of Echo and Pine Yearbook for 2005. WE NEED YOUR HELP to make this a yearbook that is ALL ABOUT YOU!!!! We need candid pictures of students (write the names of the people in the picture on the back). The photographs can be submitted to Student Life with your name and address written on the back so that we can return them to you. We will also accept digital pictures submitted on a disc. We also need students willing to help design and layout the yearbook. This includes choosing specific sections and topics that you would like included in the book, like special senior farewells, baby pictures, feedback from seniors about specific things that happened over the past four years at HWS. We need your help in order to make this a meaningful yearbook, one that you will be able to cherish long after your time here at HWS. If youre interested in helping, please email Kristen Tobey at tobey@hws.edu or call her at extension 3513. YEARBOOKS MAY BE PURCHASED IN THE STUDENT LIFE AND LEADERSHIP OFFICE NOW THROUGH SENIOR WEEK. The yearbooks cost $55, adding $7 for an engraved name plate with your first and last name. They may be purchased at SL&L or The College Store with cash, credit (Visa or Master Card), or check.
Comfort A Fire Hazard Continued from Front Page
school’s second round of mandatory inspections. This year, the fire marshal came once to do inspections, cited violations, and returned over winter break to make sure that the violations were corrected. So far, our school has been issued 640 violations, compared to 662 last year, and 1400 recommendations, which are minor violations that are not officially cited. Individual students or faculty members are responsible for paying any fine issued. Furniture and other items from students’ dorms and from faculty offices and lounges have been cited as violations and either rearranged or removed to storage to be picked up at the end of the school year. Many
people have voiced their discontent to school officials, but because these are state regulations, there is very little that HWS can do. The fire marshal returned to campus in light of the Chi Phi Fraternity fire, which is still under investigation. There were two other incidents last week, one involving smoke from an overh e a t e d dryer in Comstock kitchen and the other in one of the new dormitories where smoke was produced when a new toaster oven was turned on before all of the packaging material was removed from it. These incidents are not expected to lead to increased inspections or heightened regulations—at least not this year. The fire marshal will come back within the next two weeks for the final inspection and will issue fines for uncorrected violations.
Students Worst V-Day Experiences
Congratulations
As told to Liz Staino
now. He has spent the past two summers working with his mentor, Professor Carol Parish of the HWS Chemistry Department. He has even worked side by side with Nobel Prize winner Roald Hoffmann of Cornell University. Macaluso’s work with anti-cancer enediyne warhead drugs has been published in the Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, and he’s presented it at numerous regional forums, including the American Chemical Society annual meeting and the MERCURY super computer conference. Macaluso is the very definition of a great Hobart student. On top of his huge, incredible contributions to science, his grades have consistently earned him a place on the Dean’s List, and he always seems to have a smile on his face. His work is something that we should all be proud of, but so few students are aware of it. Well, now you know. So if you see Max Macaluso around campus, stop and say hi. Congratulate him for his achievements. And give him a big ‘ole hug from the Herald staff.
< One Valentine’s Day, my boyfriend gave me big gift. There was a stuffed animal, candy, and flowers. I had not bought him anything. I tried to play it off. I had received another gift from a friend earlier that day, so I ripped off the card and gave it to him. < Last year, my boyfriend didn’t give me a Valentine’s Day present because he supposedly doesn’t believe in commercial holidays.
< I broke up with my girlfriend because I didn’t want to go through all the Valentine’s Day commotion. I mean it isn’t the only reason, but it was a reason. < I tried to make Valentine’s Day dinner. It was going perfectly until I spilled the pasta sauce all over the table. Luckily for me she didn’t mind, but I felt like an idiot.
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Sports the HERALD Page 8
The Embodiment of Dullness John Rosenbaum Sports Editor
D What’s So Bad About A Dynasty? Alex Brustowicz Sports Contributor
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n the 70s, it was the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the 80s, it was the San Francisco 49ers. In the 90s, it was the popular Dallas Cowboys. And now – just as Donovan McNabb threw away the ball for his third interception of the game in the dying seconds of Super Bowl XXXIX – the New England Patriots became the team of the 21st century … however dull and unexciting they may be. The Patriots beat the Philadelphia Eagles 24 – 21 on Sunday night to win the Super Bowl for the third time in four seasons, and although the Patriots had no curse of the Bambino to contend with, they surely felt the pressures of trying to become one of the truly great teams in the history of professional sports. The Patriots are not the first to win three Super Bowls in four years, but they are the first to do so in the competitive and supervised world of salary caps, meticulous drafting, and the precarious existence of free agency. But in all the admiration of their effectiveness and ability to win, did I forget to mention that the Patriots are about as loveable as Donald Trump – successful, wealthy, always in the limelight, and yet explicitly uninteresting. They know how to win; but are clueless of how to do it with any flare, style, grace, or other glitzy adjective. It was not all bad though. In fact, there was a
glimmer of positivism that shown through. The Super Bowl is perhaps one of the few things that bring the polarized American people together – especially with the turmoil of the war in Iraq and the zealous division of party lines that currently wreaks havoc all across the United States – albeit for a day, or even just a few hours. The game itself was close throughout, but failed miserably to excite, as did the halftime show and Paul McCartney, who was emblematic of the entire night – lackluster, tedious and unappealing. The Eagles were more interesting throughout the week than they were on Sunday, although Westbrook, Owens, and Pinkston did their best to keep the game close. Their unfaltering leader, ‘General’ Brady, kept things in order just as he always does. It was almost as if the game was scripted. In stark contrast, Donovan McNabb, the Eagles quarterback, threw for 357 yards and three touchdowns but was also intercepted three times. He might not have lost the game for the Eagles, but his face told a story of considerable unhappiness. Even so, the Eagles will be back, perhaps as soon as next season, unfortunately for the Eagles and everyone else who desires spectacular plays and excitement – so will the New England Patriots. Editor’s note: I would just like to extend my deepest gratitude to the six great ladies that I got to watch the game with. Without you, it would have been truly painful.
uring the Red Sox run to their first World Series in eighty-six years, de feating the hated Yankees was a driving force central to their season. From the start of training camp all the way through the playoffs, the history between the two teams was omnipresent for Boston fans. For as long as I could remember, the Yankees were the team to beat. It wasn’t just Red Sox fans who hated them though. It was the entire baseball world. When the two teams met, everyone outside of New York was rooting for the underdogs and hoping that the impossible would happen. After the Sox’s incredible comeback over the Yankees, the world rejoiced, happy that the evil juggernaut was finally slain. Four months later, as I watched the Patriots dominate the Steelers in this years AFC Championship joust, I was surprised to see how many people walked into the room, noticed the lopsided score and stated, “God, I hate the Patriots.” What? How could anybody hate the Patriots? Hate should be reserved for evil teams, not the Patriots. I was shocked, and yet this trend continued throughout the night and up through their Super Bowl victory. Listening in to other conversations, I found the same sentiment to hold true throughout the campus. Unless you’re a New England fan, the Patriots are not a team to root for. How could this be? Weren’t the Patriots always the team to root for? Isn’t this the team that was the definition of a Cinderellastory come true? Is this not the same group of hardworking, determined, blue-collar players the country grew to respect and love? Isn’t this the model franchise all others hope to imitate? The Patriots have created a system that has proved to be virtually flawless, and in the process turned themselves into one of the greatest teams the NFL has ever known. This is exactly why people have begun to dislike them. Maybe people exaggerate when they claim to hate them, but it is true that the Patriots are no longer getting the love they once
Super Bowl Commercials Hadley Mongell Sports Contributor
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his past Sunday, millions of Americans gathered around their televisions to settle in for an exciting night of commercials…I mean football. As people got hyped up to watch the Philadelphia Eagles take on the New England Patriots, some fans got pumped about what new commercials this Super Bowl would bring. Since the championship’s inception in the 1960’s, advertisers have grown to see that the Super Bowl fan base is essentially a marketer’s dream. Commercial spots for the Super Bowl have grown so much that companies like Pepsi and Ford will willingly pay millions and millions of dollars just to secure a 30 second spot of TV time. This year in particular, I was pleasantly surprised to see these powerful time slots used for the good of spreading an important message. For instance, Alicia Keyes starred in a commercial during the first half that promoted HIV testing. Also, at other times during the broadcast, Budweiser made a touching salute to all soldiers fighting for us on foreign soil. But who are we kidding? The reason we all watch the Super Bowl commercials is because we love to laugh. We love to see what outrageous and creative presentations will come out of these new and improved adver-
tising campaigns. Overall, the Super Bowl Commercial Class of 2005 proved to have some clever campaigns, but mostly mediocre messages. I say this because repetition seemed to be the theme of this year’s advertising warriors. Instead of spending a few more million dollars to come up with more than one commercial for products like Bud Light, they seemed to just overbook the same commercial in hopes that the repetition of the message and the picture would successfully seep
into our consumer craniums. My favorite commercial of this year was the Fed-Ex commercial. It was absolutely genius how they created an effective commercial by calling out the audience on what makes us love commercials. So for instance, by listing the different Classical Hollywood elements (i.e. sex appeal and physical comedy) we love all in one commercial, their basic message was “We want to be the best ad, so we put everything you love about com-
mercials into this one commercial.” All I have to say is…genius. Other appealing commercials were the Bud Light commercial with the skydivers, the Diet Pepsi commercial with the trucks and the celebrities, and the Lays commercial with M.C. Hammer. How could you not like a commercial where the 80’s icon makes fun of himself and willingly allows himself to get rejected on national TV? Another overall theme I picked up on was the heavy reliance on visible icons. This year it was not only the expected “hot” celebrities, but it was the appearance of characters like Captain America, Santa Claus, and yes…even the Easter Bunny made an appearance in a commercial. If the commercials didn’t have a visible icon or didn’t play on the obvious reasons why we like commercials, it simply didn’t make sense at all. For instance, the Godaddy.com commercial. First of all, what is godaddy.com? Second of all, what the heck was the wardrobe malfunction in the courtroom about? So, overall, I would say that even though this year (in regards to football) was a fantastic game that came down to the wire, the commercials weren’t anything to write home about. As every other Eagles fan (and commercial fan), I look forward to next year in the hopes that Super Bowl’s 40th Anniversary will bring better things.
received. Why? Because the Pats have been too successful for too long. Still, isn’t this the case with any consistent team? If a team wins too often, people are going to start viewing them as a power, and it’s only natural to root for the underdogs in this situation. In the 2001 season, when the Patriots began their run towards becoming the newest dynasty in NFL history, they were nothing more than a 5-11 team getting hot at the right time and finding a way to win. No one gave them any chance of winning, so naturally people began supporting them and hoping for upset after upset. When these upsets were delivered, the Patriots were hailed as the little team that could grow a strong following of support. Unfortunately for the everyday fan, the Pats didn’t stop winning. Sure this was great for true New England fans, but for the everyday person the Patriots success was no longer fun to root for. The Patriots turned their one miracle season into a blueprint they’ve followed ever since. Suddenly everyone from ESPN to SI was calling the Patriots organization a dynasty and suggesting that they may be the best team ever. Agree or disagree, the statement isn’t that farfetched, and the Pats are indeed the envy of every owner in the NFL. Is this a good reason to hate the Patriots though? Should they be compared to other sport powerhouses, such as the Yankees? Not at all. In fact, it’s infuriating to think that the Patriots could even be considered in the same class as the Yankees. Any intelligent fan would realize that the Patriots came about their success through hard work, perseverance, and belief in themselves. They are the true definition of a team. They didn’t buy themselves a winning team by throwing together a bunch of all-stars. They didn’t make it by bullying weaker teams. They learned a winning game plan, studied and practiced hard, and played their hearts out to get where they are. Because of their strong work ethic, the Patriots are the perfect team to cheer for, so to say you hate them is essentially rooting against everything sports are supposed to represent. The Patriots have earned everything they’ve gotten, and it’s idiotic for anyone to root against all their success.
TOP FIVE BEST AND WORST SUPER BOWL COMMERCIALS The Super Bowl Best/Worst list was generated by the “clap-o-meter.” Basically, a bunch of us sat around an clapped for the commericals we liked the best.
THE BEST 1.) Fed Ex (what we love about commercials) 2.) Bud Light (six-pack and Skydivers) 3.) Diet Pepsi (P.Diddy and other celebs with pimped out trucks) 4.) NFL (“Tomorrow”- we are all undefeated) 5.) Lays- (MC Hammer) THE WORST 1.) Godaddy.com (girl in the courtroom) 2.) Degree (dolls) 3.) Quizno’s (poolside baby with weird mouth) 4.) Subway (stoners) 5.) Mastercard (Gladys Knight)