April 20th, 2012

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the

Herald By and for the students of Hobart and William Smith Colleges

FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

VOLUME CXXXIV ISSUE 6

GENEVA, NY

Commitment to Give Back Continues After HWS By Avery Share ‘15 Herald Contributor

Photo Courtesy of Colleen Richards

HWS prides itself on its commitment to give back to the Geneva community and surrounding areas. For recent HWS graduate Colleen Richards ‘11, this commitment resonated deeply as she has continued to engage in volunteer work after graduation. Richards will be participating in the 2012 “Blondes vs. Brunettes Flag Football Powderpuff Game” in New York City, on May 12, to benefit the New York City chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. This is just one event on the long list of fundraisers Richards has participated in with various organizations. What started as an extra curricular activity at HWS has developed into a true passion for Richards as she regularly gives back to the community. Richards, who majored in sports business and society, has a unique passion for “giving back through sports.” This means that she gives back to the community through sports fundraising events, such as the upcoming Alzheimer’s Powderpuff Football Game. “At HWS I played soccer and golf,” recalled Richards, “It was encouraged to give back to the

community and lend a hand when possible.” Richards took this advice and fostered a true passion for volunteering that started with helping to run soccer clinics with the Geneva Soccer Club. She also volunteered at the community lunch program and maintained a two-year residence at the Community Service House in her time at HWS. Today Richards continues to give her time to benefit a number of organizations. She is employed as executive associate to the president of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA). “I assist the president, Richard Geswell, as well as other vice presidents with special projects and administrative needs,” said Richards. Richards’s cousin suffers from the Crohn’s disease, so she feels a personal connection and commitment to the organization and helping to end the disease. Not only does Richards take on the responsibilities of her position, but also manages to pursue her passion for volunteering through sports. She serves as the mentor for the organization’s half marathon training programs and participates

in the marathons. “I ran in the Las Vegas half marathon in December,” said Richards, “And I am currently training for the Virginia Wine Country half marathon in June.” Richards also chose the CCFA as her soccer teams “charity of choice.” Richards recently started volunteering for the Alzheimer’s Association, another cause to which she feels personally connected. She will participate on “Team Brunette” in the Powderpuff Football Game at Octagon Field, in New York City to benefit the New York City chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. “I decided to join team brunette because my grandmother, Alina Diaz, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s two years ago,” she said. Making it on to “Team Brunette” was no easy feat, “There are five try outs before the coaches pick their teams,” explained Richards, “This year 50 girls tried out so the coaches had a really tough decision to make.” Despite the competitive edge that may come out in many of the players, the game keeps its focus on fundraising and is Young Alum continued on page 6

Women Voters Favor President Obama By Krystina Bronner ‘14 News Editor

Since Republican GOP Candidate Rick Santorum dropped out of the race on April 10, focus has shifted to the competition between Mitt Romney and President Obama in the 2012 presidential election. Although Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul continue their campaigns, with Santorum out of the race, it is recognized that Romney will be the Republican candidate come November’s election. According to a CNN poll conducted just a few days after Santorum’s withdrawal, President Obama holds a nine-point lead over Romney. CNN Political analysts speculate that the President’s lead is due to the fact that he is “more likeable and more in touch with the problems facing women and middle class Americans.” The results show that “52 percent of registered voters say if the presidential election were held today, they would vote for the president, with 43 percent saying they would cast a ballot for Romney.” The information gathered also shows that women favor President Obama over Romney, with a gap of 16 points between the two; Obama is favored 55 percent to Romney’s 39 percent. After months of debate and controversy over women’s health and reproductive rights regarding access to birth control, the candidates’ stance on these issues is set to play a key role in the decision of women voters come November. Women’s health and reproductive issues took center stage in the Republican primaries. The apparent effort to reduce the rights of women has been dubbed the “War on Women,” and is alleged to be a Republican-led phenomenon. According to ABC News, Vice President Joe Biden is credited as the first to use the phrase on the national stage. During an MSNBC interview he was quoted as saying “I think the war on women is real.” In an attempt to connect with women voters, Romney has turned to his wife, Ann. In his stump speeches, he has cited Mrs.Romney as a source of information regarding women’s issues, angering many. Democratic strategist and CNN contributor, Hilary Rosen, fueled this anger, saying that Ann Romney “never worked a day in her life.” The day after Rosen’s comments, Ann Romney tweeted for the first time, “I made a choice to stay home and raise five boys. Believe me, it was hard work.” By the next day, she had gained more than 27,100 followers, according to AFP. Rosen later apologized for her remarks.

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Campus Happenings

A&E

Opinions

Young Alum

Ask D r . Bla ckwe ll

“ Ga te ke e p e r s” a t H W S

Geneva Slutwalk

21 Ju m p S tr e e t

Br itish Co lu m n ist

Debate Recap

Tacky Tw e e tin g

F B Bu y s In sta g r a m

Campus Greens Initiative

Health and Sports Bicycling and Women WS Cross Country NHL


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FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

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Restrictions on Livestock Antibiotics By Sophia Skaff ‘15 Herald Contributor An order by a federal district court to ban antibiotics used to enhance livestock is pending. The two common antibiotics penicillin and tetracycline can be used to treat disease in animals but are widely fed to livestock to increase growth in order to make them bigger for consumption. The use of such drugs in meats can create drug-resistant bacteria within humans and weaken the affect of the antibiotics to treat illness, causing sickness and even death. The Natural Resources Defense Council filed the suit to ban these antibiotics. The U.S. Magistrate Judge Theodore Katz has ruled that the antibiotics be taken away unless the drug companies can prove they are safe to use. An outright ban has not yet been in place. The FDA must notify the manufacturers of this and if they can prove the antibiotics to be harmless the ban will be lifted. Avinash Kar, a lawyer at the Natural Resources Defense Council, has said, “This is a long overdue step toward preserving life-saving medicines for when we need them,” “These antibiotics were meant to cure disease, not to fatten up pigs and chickens.” The Natural Resources Defense Council reports that eighty percent of antibiotics purchased in the US are given to livestock and only twenty percent for human use. This issue has been ongoing for 35 years. In 1970 scientific knowledge developed on the dangers of antibiotic use in animals. In 1977 the FDA were planning to ban antibiotic use in livestock for purposes other than medical. However, the FDA never followed through with this proposal. Since then the Natural Resources Defense Council and various heath and environmental groups have been pushing the FDA to respond to their original motion. Groups such as the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association are unhappy about this development, as it will affect the way they raise their livestock. Two months prior to this trial the Obama administration released notice of bans on the agricultural use of the drug cephalosporins, which is used to cure pneumonia, step throat and skin and urinary tract infections. Though this is a big step towards the elimination of antibiotics in meat, it is likely that the ban will not have a great affect overall, as farmers will continue to claim the use of antibiotics for disease and weight gain.

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Mourning loss of loved ones lasts a lifetime for family and friends of those victimized during such crimes. “Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster the People is more than just a pop music song with an ear-candy quality rhythm. Although the single launched the band Pumped Up Kids into Kiss 108’s Top 30 Countdown, the deeper meaning behind the lyrics hints at a first-hand gunman’s account of a school shooting. The themes of murder and power associated with guns are nothing unseen in media today. As the anniversary of the Columbine massacre creeps closer, a sense of remembrance of dark times falls over Jefferson County, Colorado like an ominous shadow. 13 years ago today, on the morning of Tuesday, April 20, 1999, 13 innocent lives were lost and 25 students were injured at Columbine High School, the newly furnished, re-modeled town high school. Bullet holes, broken glass, and other such damages destroyed the 15 million dollar makeover. The two senior students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, pursued their planned massacre, attempting to kill as many students, faculty, and staff as possible before bombing the entire school and committing suicide. Columbine today is known as the fourth deadliest massacre in school massacre history, aside from the 2007 Virginia Tech murders and the 1966 University

of Texas massacre. However, Columbine is known as the deadliest amongst American high school massacres. The themes found in the song lyrics “Foster My People” hint at the lives of troubled teenagers and the nature of high school cliques and bullying, according to Columbine journalists and investigators. Following the Columbine massacre, a debate ensued, which resulted in stricter gun control laws, a Zero Tolerance Policy on potential weapons on school grounds, psychology and depression investigations, an overall emphasis on school safety, and a serious look into understanding the cause and effects of video games. Yet all the law making and buckling down of control and safety measures was not enough to end school shootings and massacres. According to the Brownsville Herald, a policeman shot down an eighth grader who was supposedly seen waiving a gun around in Brownsville, Texas on Jan. 12. However, it was later discovered that the gun was not real. It was a pellet gun that looked like a semiautomatic handgun. Authorities identified the student as 15-year old Jaime Gonzalez. Brownsville Police Chief Orlando Rodriguez

By Laura Alexander ‘14 Arts and Entertainment Editor

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who shot the boy, says the 15-year-old had plenty of time to put down the gun, but “didn’t want to.” Zero Tolerance in schools includes police reinforcement in given situations of student threats or actions that appear violent. Police are required to react appropriately, sometimes resulting in lethal action. On the 12-year anniversary of the Columbine shooting in 2011, Earl Albert Moore, 56, pleaded guilty on trial in Denver, Colorado after the man admitted to planting a homemade bomb at a shopping mall. The man told the court it had nothing to do with the Columbine shooting. In 2012, the Columbine memorial will be open to all of those who lost loved ones in the Columbine massacre. At the Albany high school in February, in recognition of the anniversary on 4/20, students participated in a mockColumbine drill. “This is something that could happen,” said Albany High Emergency Medical Instructor. “Now they can at least know they can respond and they can do something instead of just being scared. We just have to practice.”

Miss Universe Contestant Challenges Pageant Regulations

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Talackova with her lawyer, Gloria Allred. “I have never asked for special consideration. I only wanted to compete,” said 23-year-old Jenna Talackova, a Canadian beauty queen. Talackova has modeled and competed in various beauty pageants across Canada for most of her life. She is also a transsexual; she had gender reassignment surgery four years ago at the age of 19. “I regard myself as a woman with a history,” she told the host of the 2010 Miss International Queen Transgender and Transsexual Competition. Now, Talackova’s history is set to become even more remarkable: She has become the first transsexual allowed to participate in the Miss Universe Pageant. While Talackova has been granted permission from Miss Universe sponsor Donald Trump to compete in the contest, the victory isn’t exactly what she was looking for. Currently, pageant rules state that all contestants must be “naturally born females,” which Talackova is not. With the help of renowned civil rights

attorney Gloria Allred, however, Talackova has been granted admission to the pageant. Allred, known for many high profile cases, such as the Scott Peterson and O.J. Simpson trials, Allred is a civil rights attorney based out of Los Angeles, California. Much of her work has involved women’s civil liberties, and the case of Jenna Talackova is no different. In one statement regarding the case, Allred said, “All that Jenna wants, all that she has ever wanted, is to compete on the same basis as everyone else. She deserves that chance. We say to Mr. Trump open your eyes and your heart. Put aside any fears, prejudices, or stereotypes and see Jenna for who she is, a woman.” Although Talackova is allowed to compete, the Trump Corporation shows no signs of changing the rules of the pageant to allow future transsexuals and transgender to compete. “The Miss Universe Organization will allow Jenna Talackova to compete in the 2012 Miss Universe Canada pageant provided she

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meets the legal gender recognition requirements of Canada, and the standards established by other international competitions,” said Michael D. Cohen, Trump’s Executive Vice President and Special Counsel, in e-mail to CNN. But, this provision does not eliminate the rule that contestants must be naturally born females; it simply makes an “exception” for Talackova. As an advocate for transsexual and transgender rights, the statement brings mixed feelings for Talackova. Though she will be able to compete, the rule is still in place, prohibiting other transsexuals and transgenders from competing. Talackova will be permitted to participate in the Miss Universe 2012 Canada Pageant, but whether or not she will choose to do so is uncertain. Her own desire to compete may ultimately be overshadowed by her desire to advocate for the rights of future transsexuals and transgenders. As Allred said, “Jenna is standing up for others, not just herself.”


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FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

News Saudi Arabian Women to Compete In Olympics By Taylor Desgrosseilliers ‘14 Herald Contributor

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Equestrian Dalma Rushdi Malhas of Saudi Arabia competing in Singapore. Hopes that every country participating in the London Olympics would field both male and female athletes were crushed when Prince Nawaf bin Faisal, head of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee, announced that the country would allow women the chance to compete, as long as the competing women don’t violate or disrespect Islamic laws. This denial contradicts an earlier statement from Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz, says the New York Times,

in which he approved the participation of female athletes, with the caveat that they maintain the modesty expected of them in their home country. Further, Prince Aziz’s statement does nothing to satisfy the demands of the International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.), which this year pressured Saudi Arabia and the two other holdouts, Brunei and Qatar, to include women on their teams. These countries, all of which have a strong Islamic identity, have resisted change in the past. However, the I.O.C. was successful in Brunei and Qatar. They will send female athletes to London, although Brunei plans on sending only one, states the Associated Press. Saudi Arabia’s decision comes at a time when many analysts are questioning the behavior of the I.O.C. itself. These critics are asking why the Committee banned South Africa from the Olympics for thirty years because of its apartheid laws, but continues to allow countries to discriminate against women. Perhaps because of this, the I.O.C. seems reluctant to back down and still plans to hear a formal proposal regarding the inclusion of female Saudis, says the Associated Press. Even if women are not permitted on the Saudi Arabian team, according to reports from the Associated Press, Prince Nawaf did clear women to participate independently. This may open doors for athletes like Dalma Rushdi Malhas, one of the most likely individual competitors, say reporters from the New York Times. Malhas is a twenty year old show-jumper who already has Olympic experience, obtaining a bronze from the 2010 Youth Olympic Games. Another likely event is track and field, since women can participate in less revealing gear than in many sports such as swimming or volleyball. However, it can be very difficult to receive permission to compete independently.

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Knowledge to Lead to HIV Vaccine By Sophia Skaff ‘15 Herald Contributor New knowledge may contribute to an eventual development of a broadly protective HIV vaccine. Scientists have recently discovered that different antibody levels in patients with HIV have contributed to the effectiveness of current vaccines for the disease. The discovery was made from a 2009 AIDS vaccine trial, involving 16,395 HIV-negative volunteers in Thailand. The vaccine was able to help 31 percent of the people tested in that trial. It was found that many of those whom the vaccine helped had IgG antibodies which attached to the HIV protein and prevented infection.On the other hand, those who had high levels of the antibody IgA appeared more susceptible to HIV. The high levels may have even made the vaccine less effective.

Antibodies are created by the body’s immune system to help bacteria, viruses, fungus, animal dander, or cancer cells. Antibodies attach to the detrimental substances and the immune system destroys them. An IgG is the most common antibody and makes up about 75-80 percent of the body’s antibodies. IgG is found in bodily fluids and helps fight off infections. IgA is a less regular antibody, which protects vulnerable body surfaces from alien substances. It is found in saliva, tears, and blood. IgA only makes up about 10-15 percent of the body’s antibodies. Some people do not even have IgAs. The findings from the trial may help scientists create preventive HIV vaccines, which establish the correct human immune

responses, as well as making variations of vaccines that function in different patients. A vaccine needs to be tested and concluded to have a 50 percent protection rate before it is given publicly to those infected. HIV or Human immunodeficiency virus attacks CD4 white blood cells, which fight disease. HIV is said to become AIDS when the body has lost all ability to ward off disease. According to Webmd, 1,051,875 people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with AIDS and 583,298 have died since 1981. The antibody discovery was a large development in finding an HIV vaccine, however more research is needed to come to definite conclusions.

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AIDS: The Battle Not Yet Won

First identified in the 1980s, the AIDS epidemic remains a huge concern to such countries as Africa, which continues to lose thousands of lives day by day to sexually transmitted diseases. Now, thirty years after the wildfire spread of AIDS, Aids2031, RethinkHIV, and other organizations recommit themselves to the battle to find a cure and remember those affected individuals, reports the U.S. Department of State. The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) continues to provide testing and counseling services to those affected by the disease. PEPFAR supports nearly 3.2 million people with aids, the vast majority of those in Africa. The Wall Street Journal reports a 17 percent worldwide decline of people infected by AIDS, even with the giant cuts in funding for AIDS foundations. The fight is now losing momentum, though. National organizations are rethinking the fight against AIDS and how to get more value out of the billions of dollars spent on short-term aid. Started by the Bill Gates Foundation, the AIDS2031 project calls for a stronger analysis on local levels of conditions. RethinkHIV, founded by Copenhagen Consensus Center and Rush Foundation, promotes research by professionals on costs and benefits of different approaches to the epidemic, reports the Canberra Times. In the 1990s and the early 2000s, abstinence advertisements created by such organizations as the Love Carefully Campaign preached reducing sex partners and using condoms. The ads proved unsuccessful. Although the numbers of those affected with AIDS has dropped, the battle cannot halt. Photo Courtesy of planetpit.com

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FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

Campus Happenings SlutWalk Comes to Geneva By Katie Levenstein ‘12 Herald Contributor

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“Women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized,” said Toronto Police Constable Michael Sanguinetti to a personal security class at York University in January 2011. Though

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Sanguinetti apologized for his actions, his statement caused an uproar not only in Toronto, but around the world, reported CBC News. Today, there is the SlutWalk movement, which is a social and political movement that aims to reclaim the word slut in an effort to stop the blaming of victims for assaults. SlutWalk organizers, supporters and marchers want to make the message that “slut” does not need to be a negative term loud and clear. What started in Toronto as a march on April 3, 2011 has grown into a global movement, with SlutWalks occurring in places like Boston, New York, Singapore and New Delhi. This year, the Women’s Collective at William Smith College will host a SlutWalk Geneva for the women and men of the Geneva and HWS Community. The march till

take place on Sunday, April 22, starting at 12pm on the quad. Connie Mandeville ’12 and Gabrielle Perez ’12, presidents of the Women’s Collective, have been in contact with the Geneva police about collaborating with the community to allow the march to extend from campus into the town. As Mandeville said, “We would really like to rally at Seneca Lake Park at the end of the march.” So far, Mandeville has invited student groups at Cornell University, Syracuse University, Ithaca College, St. John Fisher College, Nazareth College, University of Rochester, SUNY Geneseo, SUNY Rockpoert, Wells College and Fingerlakes Community College to join the event. An important message the collective has passed on to the public is that participants do not have to identify as a “slut” or dress like a “slut.” The goal

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of the march is to work towards reclaiming public space where women are encouraged to dress a certain way for their safety. “The term slut is so negative,” Perez said. “We are hosting this event in order to reclaim both space and language that is used towards victim-blaming.” Perez also identified a need to recognize a divide between words that are used to address men versus women. “There are studs and there are sluts,” she said. “We need to reclaim slut.” SlutWalk is about female sexuality in general, and the Women’s Collective is inviting men and women from different walks of life to join in on a walk to end victim-blaming and slutshaming. For more information, visit the Facebook event page entitled “SlutWalk Geneva,” which is open to the public.

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SlutWalk in New York City draws more than 1,000 people who march through the streets to raise awareness about sexual assault and street violence against women. On April 22, a SlutWalk will take place in Geneva, organized by the William Smith College Women’s Collective.

Seneca 7 Races Closer By Caley Goldblatt ‘12 Herald Contributor Remember those days back in gym when you had to run the dreaded “lap?” Imagine that same lap on a larger scale, instead of a puny football field envision running a lap of Seneca Lake. On April 28th, 2012 Geneva will host the second annual Seneca 7 race. This is a 77.7 mile relay race that circumnavigates Seneca Lake. There more than 150 teams of seven signed up to participate in the race, over 1000 runners! Each team member will be responsible for approximately 11 miles of the unleveled terrain, all with beautiful lake views. Hobart and William Smith senior, Carrie Steven ’12 says “I’m running the race this year with a Writing and Rhetoric/Writing Colleagues team, and I’m super excited. It’s a great way to further connect with classmates, and the race itself will be great for Geneva and the Finger Lakes community.”

The day starts bright and early at 7am where the first wave, out of four, of runners departs from the Geneva Chamber of Commerce which is located next to the Ramada. During the day while the race is happening, there will be a lake clean-up and a mini race for children back at the starting line. There is a large emphasis placed on highlighting local products and there will be beverages provided by Red Jacket and Nalgene water. Additionally the top three teams will receive carved awards made by local woodworkers out of Maplewood. All of the money raised will be donated to the Geneva Fund, which keeps the money in the community. Currently the Seneca 7 is looking for volunteers at any point throughout the day. For more information, log on to www.seneca7.com to get involved.

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Young Alum continued from page 1 set to raise $200,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association. “We had to raise a minimum of $350 to be eligible to play,” said Richards, “The money from Team Blonde and Team Brunette will go to will go towards the fulfillment of the Alzheimer’s Association mission.” For those who are unable to participate in the Powderpuff Football Game but who are still looking to give to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are a number of other ways to get involved. “People can run, walk, or cycle to fundraise for the association,” explained Richards, “Or attend different special events.” Richards is already looking forward to getting more involved with the Alzheimer’s Association and participating on next years “Brunette Team.” However, her ambition doesn’t end there. Richards has set even bigger goals for the future. ”I hope to further pursue this passion as I continue down my career path,” said Richards, “My long term goal would be to have my own non-profit and have sporting events be its main source of revenue.” Richards plans to continue volunteering and motivate the HWS community to do the same. “It is my real motivation and inspiration to do what I can for these charities,” said Richards, “To help fulfill their mission and help these organizations to have a world free of Alzheimer’s disease, Crohn’s Disease, and ulcerative colitis.”

Campus Happenings

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Yusef Komunyakaa Concludes Trias Reading Series By Emma Stratigos ‘12 Campus Happenings Editor

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The Trias Reading Series concluded on Thursday, April 12 in the Hirshon Ball Room with awardwinning poet Yusef Komunyakaa. His reading was not only the last of the semester, but also the final installment of the series arranged by Hobart and William Smith’s writer in residence, Tom Piazza. Komunyakaa grew up in Bogalusa, Louisiana, not far from Piazza’s home, New Orleans. He served in the United States Army in Vietnam and earned a Bronze Star.

He graduated from the University of Colorado Springs in 1975 and went on to earn his MA in creative writing at Colorado State University and his MFA at the University of California Irvine. Komunyakaa is the author of thirteen books of poetry including Neon Vernacular: New and Selected Poems, for which he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, and his most recent, The Chameleon Couch, which was a National Book Award Finalist. He has taught at several universities around the

country and currently holds the title of Distinguished Senior Poet at New York University. Before Piazza took to the podium, Professor Melanie Conroy-Goldman took a moment to voice her appreciation for the support that the program has received and the passion that everyone has shown as readers and writers of creative work. “It’s great to know that about this campus,” she said. Tom Piazza began his introduction with a reflection on his year as the first Trias Resident Writer at HWS. “I can’t believe that this year has gone by this quickly,” he said, “the hospitality of the entire community… it [has] just meant so much to me.” Piazza took time to recognize late Hobart alumni Peter Trias’s endowment that makes the Trias program possible. He went on to thank the English department and his students, who he recognized by name. “I’ll never forget the warmth and kindness.” Turning his attention to Komunyakaa’s introduction, Piazza said, “his work speaks itself so much more eloquently than I could speak about it… it’s a great, great thrill for me to do

this.” Komunyakaa began his reading with a work-in-progress and proceeded to read selected poems from several of his books. The subjects of his poems ranged from jazz music to the war in Vietnam. In a short question and answer session following the reading, Komunyakaa was asked about his writing process and influences. “Part of my process is to read things aloud,” he said, “the ear is a great editor… it makes us remember that language is music and the body is an amplifier, a resonator. It keeps us true to language, I think.” “Often it’s that alignment of terror and beauty,” he said when a question was posed about the interaction between beauty and atrocity in his writing, particularly when he writes about war, “there is a dialogue between [them], and sometimes a very striking, illuminating merger of the two.” Komunyakaa responded to a question about his introduction to writing with an anecdote about his first experience with poetry. “When I was in high school I had volunteered to write a poem,” he said, “I was too shy to read it.”

Fighting Back with Community Support By Laura Alexander ‘14 Arts and Entertainment Editor “Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back.” This is the slogan for Relay for Life, an event designed to raise money for the American Cancer Society. This past weekend, Hobart and William Smith Colleges hosted their fifth annual Relay. A twenty-four hour event that emphasizes the importance of community in fighting the battle against cancer, it is estimated that this year’s Relay raised over 30,000 dollars. Relay for Life began in 1985 when Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon in Tacoma, Washington wanted to find a way to participate in the fight against cancer, and support his patients that were battling the disease. That first year, Dr. Klatt ran an astounding 83 miles in twenty-four hours. He raised over 27,000 dollars alone that he contributed to the fight to cure cancer. Over the next few months, Dr. Klatt worked with a small team of dedicated activists and created the City of Destiny Classic 24-Hour Run Against Cancer. By 1986, 19 teams were organized and took part in the first official Relay event, which raised 33,000 dollars. Since then, Relay for Life has become an annual, international event that organizes over 3.5 million people every year to participate in the battle against cancer. Bridget Sakowski, ’14, was a member of this year’s Relay for Life planning committee and

worked as the Food and Sponsorship Co-Chair. “We were responsible for getting donations for food, and things like gift cards and prizes for participants that raised money,” she said. The entire planning committee is a group of dedicated volunteers who are responsible for making the night of the Relay event a success for all involved. This year the committee was headed by Adam Brooks ’12 and Meredith Ciaccia ’12, both who had participated in the event in past years. The committee on the whole is responsible for coordinating logistics of the event such as food, volunteers, booking the gym, making sure all paperwork is documented, and following all safety procedures that come with having an event of over 200 participants. As Sakowski said “The event has been done numerous times, so people know it’s coming and they expect to participate, but the hardest thing is getting everything lined up and making sure that the ‘behind the scenes’ stuff runs smoothly.” Because cancer is such a far-reaching, nondiscriminating disease, the reasons people participate in Relay are incredible varied. Some do it for family or friends who are currently battling the disease. Others do it for those that have lost the battle. Some are survivors themselves. “Everyone knows someone who

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has been touched by cancer, and on a college campus Relay is a really fun, easy way to get involved in something that fights back. Plus it’s community service based,” said Sakowski. The community service aspect is something that makes Relay for Life a very unique experience. The primary goal of the event is, after all, to create a sense of community support around survivors and families that have been impacted by the disease. This community connection isn’t lost on Sakowski. “Everyone has a lot of pain, or hurt, or difficulties with whatever lost they’ve experienced or are experiencing but it’s really nice to have a group come together that can offer solidarity and comfort, and provide a way to fight back in whatever way they can. Like the remembrance ceremony where everyone is crying, but you’re all together and supporting each other and there’s just this great sense of ‘We can fight this thing.’” While it has always been easy to find student participants for Relay, organizers would like to see more faculty and staff involvement in the future. But, regardless of who or how many take part in the event Relay for Life will continue to be an integral part of the HWS community and the message of “Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back.” will live on long after the final lap of the night.


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FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

Campus Happenings

Campus Happenings

9

The Salisbury International Internship Award Funds Three Student Trips By Luke Lyons’13 Herald Contributor

After two months of careful decision-making, Raphael Durand, Brianne Ellis and Molly Krifka have been named the recipients of the Salisbury International Internship Award. Awarding each recipient with $20,000, the Salisbury International Internship provides funds for three hard working and motivated students who plan on holding internship abroad in the summer.

Photo Courtesy of pinkandgreenmama.blogspot.com

Countdown to Bloomfest Begins By Katie McLean ‘12 Herald Contributor Arts Collective, HWS Live, and the Architecture Society are ready to pull back the curtain and reveal the tremendous effort put into Bloomfest 2012. On April 27, 28, and 29, the clubs will host a three-day celebration of the arts, with hands-on workshops, student performances, and professional artists. This collaboration targets all outlets of artistic integrity and allows everyone the chance to plug into their creativity. Last year’s ArtFest—a project that William Smith graduates, Claire LeavengoodBoxer ‘11 and Kate Giglio ’11 started—inspired this year’s Bloomfest. It prompted recognition of the arts on campus when Arts Collective and the Architecture Society renovated a store front on Seneca Street together, where the student body was invited to take a peek into an artist’s hand. This year, “Bloomfest” seeks to reinforce an even more cohesive reunion of the campus art clubs, highlighting an overwhelming excitement for the arts. The event will kick off on Friday at 12:30 PM at Scandling Center with CAB-sponsored Drive By Press joining campus for the afternoon. This group of printmaking artisans from

New York City will hand out free, originally designed, Bloomfest t-shirts. They will demonstrate their profound knowledge of contemporary printmaking right out of their own car, offering a thought-provoking perspective on this innovative art industry. On Friday night, ArtFest’s renovated storefront returns, this time with the location on 87 Castle Street. The Architecture Society and other student volunteers worked hard to make a space that showcases student work. Art of all mediums will hang in this gallery, inspired by class work, an independent study, or leisure time. During the exhibit, onlookers will have the opportunity to make a bid and take original artwork home during the Silent Art Auction. Meanwhile, the mood will liven with a DJ, student performers, a jazz ensemble, and Spoken Word poetry. On Saturday, April 28, the workshops commence and students can sign-up for tutorials in Studio Art, Dance, Architecture, Music, and Fashion Design. Students of these majors will guide the workshops alongside an accompanied professor. Audrey Yifei Li ’15 and Professor Nick Ruth present an exciting new project to campus; they will pioneer a group-

painting project that will become a large, mural installed on the side of Coxe Hall. Karah Charette ’14 and Professor Davenport exhibit their graceful movement during their “Funky Strides” workshop held in front of Scandling Center. Students of all skill level are encouraged to join them and experience the process of creating dance through choreography. In the last 15 minutes, a public dance performance will take place—an experience that ignites the carefree spirit of spring. Elva Ye ‘13 and Professor Nick Ruth will spark competition in their proposed challenge of building skyscrapers from recycled cardboard boxes, glue, tape, and scissors. These skyscrapers will stand tall in front of Scandling Center. Kevin Bates ’12 and Greg Wachala improvise in music at their workshop, “Off O’ The Dome.” Jazz and poetry will fuse together to achieve vibrancy meaning in musical form. Imani Schectman ’12 and Namboowa Bariika ‘15 offer a chance to experiment in fashion through raw material design. If you plan to participate in the Arts Collective fall Fashion Show, this is not a workshop to miss. At 3:30, follow the music to Bristol Lawn, where students can expect upcoming artists: The

Sparrows, Time Travels, and Battle Ave. These bands are folk, acoustic, and indie—all genres suitable for spring in Geneva. Our very own Nate Ginnity ’12, Steve, and Adarkwah will also perform, producing acoustic, hip-hop, and instrumental sounds. Last, but certainly not least, the weekend completes with an Alice and Wonderland Tea Party at the Sunken Gardens by the Houghton House. Come sit in the grass alongside the Madhatter, eat four different types of pastries, and watch dance performers move rhythmically. If that’s not enough, Inette Heredia ‘13 will share her independent study work at the Fashion Show, where she is one fashion designer amongst a list of other students who will premiere their clothing lines. “The Wonderland Tea Party is really meant to be a celebration for artists to see dance, do some crafts, play croquet, and be in a zany environment that’s put on by the art student body,” comments Arts Collective member Lucia Berliner ’12. “I’m really excited about all the people that have been involved. It’s important to maintain the present of the art community on campus— there are a lot of really talented people here.”

Brianna Ellis ‘13 Major: Sociology/Anthropology and Latin American Studies Minor: Child Advocacy

Raphael Durand ‘13 Major: International Relations and Economics

In Johannesburg, South Africa, Ellis will work with the US Water Partnership evaluating and implementing potential locations to assist and educate urban and rural communities about pertinent water and sanitation issues. Ellis has always been extremely interested in studying in South Africa and has become more and more passionate about helping those whose voices often go unheard. Becoming a social agent for change, Ellis will help disenfranchised children by using this internship to gain a better understanding about water and sanitation issues. Through this understanding, she then seeks to help better the lives of people around the world.

Raphael Durand will spend his summer working for Coach Inc. and DFS Group Limited in Hong Kong, New York City, and Singapore. Durand will spend time in stores researching consumer behaviors of Asian travelers in large markets. He chose this internship because his regional concentration is Asia and this gives him the chance to explore places he has only read about. Not only will Durand gain incredible insight on the challenges of expanding an international business by conducting critical market research, but he’ll also be able to apply and expand his knowledge of the diversity of Asian Cultures. Photo Courtesy Annie Mandart’14

The Write Stuff: Tips From Two Writing Colleagues

By Ali Schreiber ‘14, Herald Contributor Meghan Gaucher ‘14, Health and Sports Editor

Law & Order:

Special Hobartones Investigation Team We are the Special Hobartones Investigation Team. We are the S.H.I.T.

This spring, when the number of “Safety Announcement” e-mails at HWS approaches a critical level, one group of singers will assume of the mantle of justice to promote law and order. The team of vigilantes - known only through rumor and infamy - will be hindered by no fa...culty member, social standards or legitimate law enforcement officers in their pursuit of legality in Geneva. Crime will not be tolerated. Perpetrators will be brought to justice. Songs will be sung. Come to Albright Auditorium on April 30 for the A Capella concert experience of the year. Get there early for a good seat, and as always, don’t forget to hydrate accordingly. No criminals or reptiles allowed.

Successful Recyclemania And Campus Conservation Nationals at HWS By Helen Hunsinger ‘12 Herald Contributor Congratulations, HWS! These past few weeks, the members of the HWS community have really stepped up to take environmental responsibility by participating in many of the environmental and sustainable events on campus. With the completion of Campus Conservation Nationals and Recyclemania, it is evident that the HWS community is taking the right steps towards achieving commendable sustainable advancements. HWS’s participation in Campus Conservation Nationals ended with a successful 5.5% reduction in electricity consumption, which was enough to take first place over four other colleges in New York State. During the competition, residence halls including Caird, Decordova, Emerson, Hale, Durfee, and Bartlett were monitored on the new Dashboard website. Sustainable Coordinator James Landi argues that the Dashboard site played an important role in our success in Campus Conservation Nationals as it provided a resource for students to monitor their consumption. Fresh from our successful reduction of electricity consumption during Campus Conservation Nationals, HWS also made great strides towards lessening our impact on the environment during the Recyclemania campaign. At the end, the HWS community has successfully achieved a 30% recycling rate. This is a big step up from last year’s

recycling rate of __NEED THIS NUMBER__. Since February, HWS has recycled over 60,000 pounds of recycling and over 145,000 pounds of trash. These are significant achievements and Sustainability Coordinator James Landi is very happy with these results. “This year’s Recyclemania campaign was a phenomenal achievement,” says Landi. “Not only did we make significant progress with our recycling rate but we also pioneered new programs such as the Dashboard site, that monitors our energy consumption, and the Green Room Certification program, through which individuals can make a change by getting their residence certified green. I am really proud of how the Hobart & William Smith Colleges community has stepped up to participate in Recyclemania and Campus Conservation Nationals because the results speak for themselves: we really made some significant progress recycling and raising awareness about what we can do on campus to help create environmental change.” With Recyclemania and Campus Conservation Nationals successfully finished, next up for environmental awareness and sustainability at HWS are events for Arbor Day and Earth Week, leading up to Earth Day. Check back with the Daily Update to keep track of the latest green events at HWS!

As the 2012 summer approaches and students are frantically applying to last minute jobs, internships, and programs, writing can be a critical component to acceptance and response from employers. Although Writing Colleagues work with students on writing history essays, creative pieces, lab reports, and text responses, there is also a big emphasis on bridging the gap between students and faculty, but not to the gap between students and companies. When under pressure to put one’s writing out into the “real world”, thus breaking the wall between the “bubble” of HWS and professional business and organizations, CTL Writing Colleagues are equipped with the skillset, strengths, and a similar student situation to help job-seeking students formulate business letters, cover letters, resumes, and rhetorically appropriate emails. Keeping the current job-seeking situation in mind, I have found that learning how to write a speech was the most informative and helpful thing I have learned here at HWS because it prepares one for future careers as well as establishing confidence as a writer and leadership ability. In order to write a speech or any type of writing assignment, a certain formula or outline can be used as proper guidance. This is one step that I highly recommend following, as it will help the over all fluidity of one’s writing. The outline focuses on the key components to any typical paper: introduction, body, and conclusion. However, within each section there are many things to be aware of. To begin with one example, a speech outline should put into consideration the essential components of rhetoric: ethos, pathos, and logos. In other words, a writer should consider appeal to emotion, gain trust in the reader, and include logical and wellresearching information and reasoning. Here is an example of how a layout for a speech should look: Introduction I.) Attention getting device- make it something fun and upbeat to gain the attention of your audience. II.) Relevance of topic to audience- show them why they should care III.) Establish credibility- you need to prove that you know what you are talking about. IV.) Thesis- your specific purpose of the speech V.) Preview- one sentence that foreshadows your overall speech and what you will be talking about. (Add transitions between each section of your speech to link topics) Body For the body break topics down by having a main point and then sub points to support your main point. For example: A.) Main point 1.) Sub point 2.) Sub point (Transition) Conclusion I.) Re-state the purpose and review main points- This reminds audience of everything you covered in your speech. II.) Close with impact- leave your audience thinking After completing a detailed outline, one then should condense sentences onto note cards. I recommend sticking to a 5-note card limit. Practice makes perfect when giving a speech; do not plan on reading from the note cards but rather have them there as an aid. The writing aspect preceding the delivery of a speech is crucial as it helps one prepare to give an organized and clearly written speech.


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FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

Arts & Entertainment

11

Opinions The “Gatekeepers” at HWS

Ask Doctor Blackwell

By Daniel McGowan Professor of Economics, Emeritus

Have a question that you need answered? Can’t ask anyone else?

Photo Courtesy of blog.zap2it.com

Write me at Herald@hws.edu

Movie Review: 21 Jump Street By Bonnie Bushnell ‘14 Herald Contributor

Dear Dr. Blackwell, Summer 2012 is going to be the Tannest Summer Ever. I’m still choosing between real bake and fake bake though. And if fake bake, spray it or bed it? YOLO. -Fantastic Orange-tastic

Dear “Fantastic Orange- tastic,” The safest method of getting tan is the ‘fake-bake’ spray that you mentioned. It does not involve harmful UV rays, but does give you the tan glow that you seek. I would caution you to take care of your skin, though. Summer can be extremely damaging because of the lengths some people will go to tan themselves more than is healthy. Stay hydrated and alternate between sun and shade if you are outside a lot. Good luck and stay safe, - E. Blackwell

Dear Dr. Blackwell, Spring Fever is hitting me hard. With all the amazing events going on campus over the next couple weeks, how can I ever focus on finals? And if I do, how do I avoid spiraling into extreme sadness from missing Passion Pit, the Quad Olympics, or Bloomfest? -SOS (Save Our Studies/Social Life) Dear “SOS,” With some careful planning, you don’t have to miss any of these fantastic events. In order to not miss out on anything and still get your work done, lay out a schedule for yourself. Make your planner your best friend during this busy time. If you have a clear view of what work you have to do and how long you have to do it, you will be able to determine whether or not you should attend other fun events. This includes studying for finals. Set aside a few hours each day to study for each of your classes and stick to that schedule. Best of luck, - E. Blackwell.

21 Jump Street begins in a typical sense, promoting that “nerds” can’t take hot girls to the prom and jocks are jerks lacking intelligence. While this pretense is perhaps necessary to serve as a counter to what later transpires, the movie could be more progressive in all of its stereotypes. Channing Tatum, Jenko, and Jonah Hill, Schmidt, are enemies in high school but bond while training to be in the police academy seven years after graduating. Jenko has the looks and strength while Schmidt can accurately recite the Miranda Laws. Despite how they should be able to perform functionally when joined together, they are still rather inadequate as officers, which the movie relies on to fuel its comical value. Jenko and Schmidt are sent as undercover cops to end a new drug circle in a high school. Going back to a time of hall passes and pop quizzes, Jenko and Scmidt also realize how times have changed. They begin to point out the different cliques (goths, nerds, etc.) but don’t recognize new groups that have emerged, such as the hipsters and the animeobsessed. Jenko finds himself no longer reining over the other students, replaced by the environmentally aware “crunchy granola dudes” while Schmidt finally fits in. This leads to conflict over power and complicates how the two

deal with their mission. The movie was respectable in some of the ideas it introduces, but it would have been more effective had it not blatantly pointed them out. Schimidt calls a girl versus texting her. She finds it strange, but her commenting on how weird it was, that no one ever calls her anymore aside from distant relatives, displays the distrust for the audience not to pick up on the movie’s central ideas. 21 Jump Street was at least worth a few laughs. The humor was juvenile—“you can suck my d***” loses any potential to be funny after maybe the tenth time. The disturbance Jenko and Schmidit cause is completely unnecessary simply to uncover a drug deal. Even if you are able to dismiss the fact that the situation is completely unbelievable, it still seems awkward to celebrate when numerous people are killed over drugs. The love story unfolding is also rather uncomfortable. The students Jenko and Schimidt are associating with have to be juniors in high school, as they discuss applying early decision to U.C. Berkeley in the future, and so rooting for a 17-year-old to be with a 24-year-old doesn’t feel quite right. The plot has some disconnect, but it does express some thoughtful concepts and is somewhat funny.

Tacky Tweeting By Laura Alexander ‘14 Arts & Entertainment Editor Twitter Inc. is taking over. The company, founded in 2006 by Jack Dorsey, rapidly gained a following when it first launched nearly seven years ago. Today, it boasts over 175 million registered users, and ‘tweeting’ has entered the English lexicon as a verb. For many users, the appeal of Twitter lies in its speed and simplicity. Users can ‘tweet’ from any Smartphone, iPod, iPad, or other electronic device that has access to Wi-Fi. Each tweet is limited to 140 characters, which forces users to be concise and precise in their wording. This word limited, however, has generated its own problems. Tweeters don’t have room to explain their thoughts beyond the 140-character limit, or it seems like many users simply don’t want to elaborate on questionable tweets. This problem is even more rampant in the celebrity tweeting culture. Celebs, often with followers exceeding six-digit figures, post tweets that can be offensive, lewd, or frankly too much information about their lives. Thus, a list of the Top 10 Tasteless Tweets makes perfect sense. 10. Lindsay Lohan After a rough break-up with girlfriend Samantha Ronson, Lohan tweeted “Being cheated on does wonders to you. I’m doing this publicly because u & ur friends call People (magazine). So you win, you broke my heart. Now go away. I loved you.” 9. Ashton Kutcher Now officially off the Twitter bandwagon, Kutcher sent numerous questionable tweets during his time on the social media site. One in particular that garnered extra attention was a photo of his former wife Demi Moore bent over in a white bikini. The photo was captioned with “Shhh!, don’t tell wifey” and was then followed up by: “Watching my wife steam my suit while wearing a bikini. I love God!” 8. Gilbert Gottfried Known as the former voice of the AFLAC duck, Gottfried tweeted following the Japan Earthquake in March 2011, ““What do Japanese Jews like to eat? Hebrew National Tsunami.”

Photo Courtesy of thechristianmanifesto.com Photo Courtesy of bigkenny.co.uk

7. KTVX Reporter While working as an ABC news affiliate in Salt Lake City, one reporter used the company account to tweet “I’m downtown eating and surrounded by Mormons and repressed sexual energy.” The reporter later lost their job. 6. Jim Carey In response to the Tiger Woods cheating scandal, Carey tweeted commenting on the role Elin, Woods’ wife, played in the scandal. “No wife is blind enough to miss that much infidelity. Elin had 2 b a willing participant on the ride 4 whatever reason.” 5. Michael Lohan Father of Lindsay Lohan, in 2010 Mr. Lohan tweeted “the truth about my daughter living with HIV for the rest of her life as a result of the decisions she has made.” This statement proved to be false, and a few days after it was tweeted Michael Lohan said his Twitter account had been hacked. 4. Asher Roth In 2009, following President Barack Obama’s acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize, Roth tweeted “Didn’t know you could win the peace prize by just talking s#@%.” 3. Blair Fowler Known for her YouTube videos, created under the moniker juicystar07, Fowler tweeted on the ninth anniversary of September 11, “oh…happy 9/11 everyone!!!! i feel honored to be in NYC on a day like this. YAY USA!” 2. 50 Cent When gossip journalist Perez Hilton insulted him, 50 Cent retaliated with a tweet saying “Perez hilton called me a douchebag so I had my homie shoot up a gay wedding. wasn’t his but still made me feel better.” 1.Terry Jones On the ninth anniversary of September 11, this Florida pastor shared how he thought the day should be commemorated. “9/11/2010 Int Burn a Koran Day.”

Photo Courtesy of Dan McGowan.

According to Professor Linda Robertson, the connotative meaning of gatekeeper “refers to anyone in a position of power who can block access to a resource, often through the control of information, or through the control of decision-making, and whose motives are self-centered or invidious.” That is precisely what was done to keep HWS students from the Gilad Atzmon concert on March 13th, a fundraiser for scholarships to study in Palestine. Once the Office of Student Affairs and the Geneva Human Rights Commission knew the time and place of the Atzmon

concert, they planned an alternate event (to show the excellent movie and director’s discussion, The Anatomy of Hate) for the same date and time. An academic smear was initiated. The Cracker Factory was pressured to cancel the concert venue. The Smith Opera House was pressured to remove advertisement of the Atzmon concert. Its colorful red and black posters were not distributed around campus or were deliberately removed shortly thereafter. Headlines in the local paper warned, “Human Rights agency urges public to see “Anatomy of Hate’ instead of going to controversial, Israeli-born musician’s show.” A whisper campaign began. “Anti-Semite,” “Holocaust denier,” and “hatemonger” were used to slime both the performers and myself, their sponsor and a long-time advocate for Palestinian human rights. Who could doubt these charges when they came from people like the Executive Director of the Geneva Human Rights Commission and wife of the Hobart Dean, Karen Baer? The HWS gatekeepers were magnificently successful; only one student went to the Atzmon concert; how he climbed over their gate is still a mystery. But the best part (or the most invidious part depending on your perspective) is that student activity fees of over $2,500 were used to stifle some of the best music and the most important contemporary dialogue to come to our community in a long time. Unknowingly, students paid to make sure they did not go to hear Atzmon. The gatekeepers kept out the students and forced them to pay for it. And this all occurred within a cloud of righteousness and proclamations of diversity, inclusion, and academic freedom. The hypocrisy is breathtaking. For those interested in the philosophy and opinions of Gilad Atzmon, here is a current interview by Norton Mezvinsky on the website of The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs http://www.wrmea.com/ interview-with-gilad-atzmon-by-prof-norton-mezvinsky.html.

Instagram Buys Facebook By Blair Dector ‘15 Herald Contributor

Photo Courtesy of dailymail.co.uk.

Daily Mail Journalist “Too Beautiful” or Vain? By Morgan Gilbard ‘15 Opinions Editor A narcissist whose vanity rivals the Greek god himself, Samantha Brick is now the most hated person on Twitter. After her Daily Mail article accounting the hardships of being “too beautiful” hit the web on Apr. 2, Brick received two weeks of vicious backlash across the board; criticism ranged from calling Brick “delusional,” “arrogant,” and “not even remotely attractive” in the comments section below her piece. Brick’s account of “women hating her because of her beauty” and the countless gifts she’s received from random men—accompanied by seven “glamour shots” of Brick—has elicited no public support, and so Brick has launched a continuous defense of her comments. She’s written three follow-up articles, describing how “horrendous” and “malicious” the public response has been. She’s given interviews to Britain’s This Morning and the Today Show, citing having a “strong father figure” and the “way women and men treat her” as validation for both her beauty and confidence of it. To follow suit with Today’s Anne Curry, I also would have to ask Brick point-blank, “Are you serious?” Brick’s complaints regarding her looks defy psychology’s most significant assessment of beauty’s role in the social world; the halo effect is the association of positive qualities with attractive people regardless of one’s actual knowledge of the individual, i.e. Ryan Gosling must be smart and charming because he is gorgeous. This widespread psychological tendency to equate “beautiful” with “better” renders Brick’s complaints of universal hate from women unlikely; yes, women have the tendency to be jealous of one another, but one is never ostracized solely because she is more attractive. In Brick’s case, it is much more likely that the backlash from both the online community and “countless friends” is for the same reason: egomania, not beauty. Attractive women who fail to become self-absorbed tend to have

friends. Attractive women with an attitude problem, like Brick, don’t. However, my issues with Brick’s view on beauty extend further than her arrogance; while Brick whines about being “this pretty”, millions of women attempt to reach that level of attractiveness every day. Lose ten pounds in two weeks with our diet pill! Spray tan for a beautiful summer glow! Anybody can have double-Ds with the right plastic surgeon! Modern societies are obsessed with physical change to reach a culturally-perpetrated ideal. The National Association of Anorexia estimates that as many 20 million American women have an eating disorder, while 69% of girls in 5th through 12th grade cite magazine pictures as the influence for their idea of a perfect body shape. 20 million women in the United States are risking their lives to be considered beautiful, while Brick complains about being “this pretty.” Considering the amount of women that strive to look more like her, regardless of how ludicrous the ideal may be, Brick is insensitive to their plights and ungrateful for her own “beauty.” Being “this pretty” may be hard for Brick, but millions would trade places with her. Furthermore, if Brick truly did not enjoy the treatment she supposedly receives because of her looks, she could avoid bleaching her hair, caking on make-up, or posing for the multiple contrived “glamour shots” that accompany each of her articles. Just a thought. Brick deserves the majority of criticism and negative attention she’s received from her article. A reality check for this narcissist has clearly been long overdue. Hopefully, her ordeal will lead her towards a supportive therapist that can guide her into the direction of only using “I” occasionally in an article, instead three times per a sentence. If not, I hope Brick likes the way she looks as much as she says she does, because the face she sees in the mirror is the only friend she may ever have again.

Photo Courtesy of businessinsider.com

Ever since I deleted my Facebook Application on my iPhone, also known as an app, I have been checking my Instagram account constantly. For those who don’t know what Instagram is, I am glad to explain. Like Twitter, Instagram includes hash tags (#) with sayings or keywords paired with pictures (taken by you) with cool effects. The effects are Amero, Rise, Lo-fi, and Early bird just to name a few. Users can have accounts on private, where you can see who adds you as well as add others, or just have it public, and you “follow” each other. Instagram is becoming bigger than ever, and Facebook cashed in on the trend by purchasing the company for $1 billion. The public feedback about it has been interesting. A few of my friends shouted, “I can’t believe Facebook purchased my favorite app!” Another friend of mine from back home said, “If I had as much money as Facebook, I would buy everything too, such as Instagram.” So many people are obsessed about Facebook that it’s going to be interesting seeing what changes that they make. As for my opinion, I wasn’t quite happy that Facebook bought one of the greatest apps that the iTunes App Store had available and free. Who knows where it is going to go now that Facebook purchased it with such a high ticket price? All I can say is, don’t be surprised if you see it starting to look like Facebook. Regardless, the company can possibly do some pretty amazing things. Keep calm and Instagram on!

Photo Courtesy of appboy.com


FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012

Health & Sports

12

It’s Not Just A Men’s Issue: Bicycling Can Affect Women’s Sexual Health By Meghan Gaucher’14 Sports/Health Editor In 2008, a study was completed at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health on male officers on bicycle patrol and hobby bicyclists including participants in the Tour De France. It was found that bicycling has been linked to the erectile dysfunction of men. Researchers have now begun to pose the question: Does bicycling effect women’s sexual health? Yes was the proven answer. Recent studies have shown that riding on the seat of a bicycle, whether in spinning class or on the road, can be haphazard to women’s sexual health. At Yale University in 2006, this concern was looked at more closely. By comparing a group of female cyclists with a control group of inactive women, it was found that the female cyclists experienced numbness and soreness in the genital area. 48 women took part the study who were avid cyclists, hitting the pedals for a minimum of ten miles per week. Each women had a sensual dector device inserted in the pelvic floor, and were told to report any sort of uncomfortable feelings of numbness or tingling after their ride. Once the women completed the study and turned in their results, it was found that the position of the handlebars was the issue, as women have to lean forward, drop their hands onto the lower set of handlebars, and push their weight forward to work up relentless hills. An uncomfortable feeling of numbness was caused by the pressure of the nosed bicycle seat against the female genital area, which can compress and flatten the nerves and blood vessels like mustard slapped between two

pieces of bread. “We’re basically showing that there may be modifiable risk factors associated with female riders,” said Dr. Marsha K. Guess, an author of the study and an assistant professor at the Yale School of Medicine. “This better positions us to educate riders on safe riding practices that may actually be beneficial to reduction of pressure and lost sensation in the pelvic floor.” The result was the same with that of men in a 2008 study, in which men who cycled frequently put 25 to 40 percent of their weight on their genital parts, causing shorter erection periods, according to Dr. Steven Shrader, a reproductive psychologist at Niosh who took part conducting the study on male police cyclists. In a sense, the 2008 study saved the male cyclist’s penis with a newly designed bicycle seat that had no nose, according to Dr. Shrader. In six-months, three quarters to onefifth of the officers involved in the study had less genital dysfunction, according to New York Times review of the study done at Yale. Dr. Shrader and other such researchers concerned out the overall sexual health of male and female bicyclists found that this issue must be looked into further to reduce this risk of genital dysfunction. Dr. Shrader plans to complete a study on women using the no-nose bicycle seat that he had completed in the past on men. However, the doctor suggests putting pressure on the sit-bones on the bike as opposed to the soft tissue of the female perineum, therefore decreasing the pressure and discomfort.

Photo Courtesy of copystrands.com

Recent studies have shown that cycling, whether its a long ride through the woods or a short trip to work, can actually severely affect women’s health.

Photo Courtesy of HWS Athletics

Cross-Country Herons Earn All-Academic Award By Meghan Gaucher’14 Sports/Health Editor Within Division III Athletics, which contains up to 400 Division III women’s cross country teams, the 21 William Smith herons produced the highest GPA amongst the 182 All-Academic teams in the Division. Since 1993 and on, the cross-country herons have earned themselves the honorable title of an All-Academic team by the USTFCCA (United States Track and Field Crosscountry Coaches Association). During the fall season, however, the Herons exceeded their previous GPA, producing an average of a 3.77 on scale of from 0 to a 4.0. Head Coach Jack Warner, who has been coaching the William Smith Herons since 1995, is proud of and honored to have been in the presence of such a hard-working team this past 2011 season. “I certainly hope that the team has pride in its’ academic accomplishments, “ says Coach Warner. “Their accomplishments and commitments are what creates such a great general attitude.” Of the 21 girls on the team, 15 of them generated a GPA over a 3.5, a remarkable accomplished for Division III competitors. During the 2011 season, Coach Warner, along with Assistant Coach Gannaway’02, a former cross-country runner for WS, created both a challenging and supportive environment through training, workouts, team bonding, general guidance, and coaching. Not only did the cross-country herons exemplify facing and defeating challenges on the course, the runners also thrived in academic challenges off the course. Jenna Lohre’12, a Religious Studies major and America Reads volunteer is going into Pre-Med, taking with her an excellent GPA, a team experience, and a clinical internship at a doctor’s office with Finger Lakes Health. “I know that as a senior I am looked up to, “ said Lohre. “Having developed leadership skills through academics at HWS, it has really helped me become an effective team leader.” As the other cross-country members point out, the All-Academic Award shows the depth of the team, in that each team member takes the responsibilities seriously as a student-athlete, re-iterating the meaning of, “Herons fly high”. During the 2011 season, the WS herons finished with one of the best places in WS cross-country history, placing 19th out of 26 teams at the NCAA Championships based at Saint Lawrence. Previously, they also placed 12th out of 40 teams at the NCAC Championships at Williams. The team also had one NCAA AllAmerican, Emily D’Addario, who placed 19th at the Lake Breeze Golf Course in Wisconsin. Coach Warner points out that the student-athletes on the WS cross-country team do a good job of balancing schoolwork and athletics. The structure of the program also exemplifies this balance. “We do not require two-a-day workouts,” says Coach Warner. “We have serious students who take their academics seriously.” On September 19th, the William Smith cross-country members will return to campus to prepare for the 2012 season, hopeful to continue to hold their reputation on and off the course.

This Weekend in Hockey: NHL Playoff Schedule

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