February 17th, 2012

the

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

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2012

VOLUME CXXXIV ISSUE 2

GENEVA, NY

Apple Products Raise Questions of Morality

By Emma Stratigos ‘12 Campus Happenings Editor There is nothing quite of the issue, Apple like opening that sleek released this statement: white box and laying eyes “We care about every on the chic, shining Apple worker in our worldwide product that situates us in supply chain.” the digital age. Focusing The conflict lies in on the journey the product supply and demand. must travel, however, Even if the company took sheds a different light on the initiative to improve the attractive technology. factory conditions, it The inhumane conditions often doesn’t bode well of many technology for important supplier manufacturing plants relations and speedy in China have recently delivery to consumers. attracted the attention of Meeting the demand the media and consumers does not leave room for a alike. major system overhaul.

The systems used to Published reports meet demands for vast from Apple require all numbers of technology unfair labor conditions to products are sophisticated. be corrected, but finding Apple, along with other new suppliers is a costly line workers in China face unfavorable conditions on a daily basis. large corporations, wants Assembly and time-consuming Photo Courtesy of static.guim.co.uk their products to be built undertaking. There are as quickly as the ideas for not many manufacturers alerted to the unsafe conditions of billion worth of merchandise and them are conceived. Respect for its facilities. in the world with the resources to collected a $13.06 billion profit. workers is sacrificed for efficiency. build huge numbers of iPhones “What’s morally repugnant Foxconn is one of Apple’s Workers on assembly lines are in one country is accepted largest and most influential and iPads like Foxconn. expected to work excessive hours, business practices in another, and manufacturing partners. One “Apple never cared about sometimes seven days a week companies take advantage of that,” anonymous worker at the Foxconn anything other than increasing without sufficient breaks, and live said Nicholas Ashford, former factory in Chengdu, China, where product quality and decreasing in crowded dorms. They are often chairman of the National Advisory one of the deadly explosions production cost,” said Li Migqui, a banned from talking or sitting Committee on Occupational Safety occurred, earns less than $1 an former management worker at the down in the factories, causing and Health that advises the U.S. hour for her work.

Foxconn location. many to report swelling of the legs Department of Health. “If Apple “We’ve known about labor She works a 60-hour week on so severe that walking is impeded. was warned [about the hazardous an assembly line where she applies abuses in some factories for four They are required to work with conditions], and didn’t act, that’s more than 4,000 stickers a day years, and they’re still going on,” poisonous chemicals and in reprehensible.” by hand to iPad screens. “They explained an anonymous executive extremely dangerous conditions.

Throughout the last decade, use women as men and men as from Apple.

In the past year there have been Apple has grown to become machines,” she said. She saw her “Why? Because the system two explosions in Chinese factories one of the most powerful global first fully assembled iPad during works for us. Suppliers would resulting in four deaths and 77 manufacturing change everything tomorrow if companies. an interview with CNN. injuries. These incidents occurred Last quarter, Apple sold $46.3 In response to CNN‘s coverage Apple told them they didn’t have even after Apple was reportedly another choice.” got some air Super Bowl Play 60 and 60and Program positive publicity from viewers across the United XBOX Kinect Tackle States. In the Super Bowl Play 60 commercial, young girls Childhood Obesity and boys accompanied by

By Meghan Gaucher ‘14 Sports Editor

Photo Courtesy of marketingonlineetc.files.wordpress.com

On Sunday, Feb. 5th during the big game between the Giants and the Patriots, crowds of viewers fell silent after the chirps and spirited cheering for their desired team to view and judge the Super Bowl commercials for 2012. Aside from Coca Cola’s ad starring the polar bears and Acura SNX’s ad featuring Jerry Seinfeld, the National Football League’s (N.F.L.) Play

pro football players “get their whole body in the game” on the game field and on the home field. The slogan, “be a player, get up and play 60 minutes a day” is used by the Play 60 Ad Council to promote “the N.F.L. movement for an active generation”, according to nflrush.com. By including star athletes in Play 60 ads like Arthur Blank from the Falcons, N.F.L. encourages kids to jump in and pledge to Play 60 initiative to promote exercise and join the fight against child obesity.

Obesity in the United States has dramatically increased due to high-fat, high-calorie diets and lack of exercise-due to such timekillers as television and video games. In 2010 alone, no state had a presence of obesity less than 20 percent, according to cdc.gov. Put into effect at a grassroots level, N.F.L. Play 60 has hosted after school team-based programs and educational sessions to create student awareness about obesity and the importance of exercise. Coaches and athletes support Play 60 year round, holding special activities around key NFL events such

as: Thanks Giving, Kick-off, the Draft and the Super Bowl.

The such contests as the Punt, Pass and Kick to the Pro Bowl or the Play 60 Super Bowl Contest that bring athletes and children together in an active, friendly setting usually on school grounds or community fields and parks. “Our players recognize the value of staying healthy,” Roger Goodell, the N.F.L. commissioner says. “It’s important that young fans recognize the benefits of exercise. Play 60 is a tool that ensures children to get their daily physical activity.” Many of these contests and after school events require a submitted essay and photograph by a teacher or administrator in order to win a visit from the N.F.L. Play 60 bus full of pro football players.

Although video games have played a part in rising obesity levels, N.F.L. Play 60 has shed light on a new and evolutionary way of exercise through its rather recent partnership with XBOX 360. Whether inside or outside of the house, families participated in the contest “Kinect for XBOX 360 Super Bowl Challenge” in which Drew Brees and Play 60 teamed up with XBOX and Kinect to challenge everyone-young and old- to participate in a total of 60 minutes of controller-free activities with Kinect for XBOX 360 anytime during Super Bowl Sunday. XBOX, a video game console owned by Microsoft created Kinect, a controller free video game that allows players to virtually participate in such videos games as Kinect Adventures or Kinect Carnival.

Many parents, kids, sponsors and professional athletes have rectified the innovation and appeal that Kinect possesses that contributes to bettering general health. “Weather and daylight can limit how long kids OBESITY continued on page 14

Campus Happenings

A&E

Opinions

Provost Status

Osc a r s

W r itin g Co lle a g u e s

Vagina Monologues

Gra m m y ’s

E du c a tio n P r o g r a m

Two Degrees

Me ninst y le so c ie ty .c o m

iP h o n e M is- h a p

Sports Superbowl and Obesity National Girls in Sports Day Alpine Ski

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2012

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2012

The Herald

News

Established 1879

Fire Wreaks Havoc on SUNY Canton

By and for the Students of Hobart and William Smith Colleges

By Meghan Gaucher ‘14 Sports Editor

Annie Mandart, Editor-in-Chief Kristyna Bronner, News Editor Emma Stratigos, Campus Happenings Editor Laura Alexander, Arts and Entertainment Editor Meghan Goucher, Sports Editor Morgan Gilbard and Jess Lynn, Opinions Editors

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Contributors Laura Alexander Nicholas Altmann Kristyna Bronner Nora Burd Bonnie Bushnell Blair Dector Taylor Desgrosseilliers Kat Frabotta Ellen Harvey Leslie Fox-Humphreys Meghan Gaucher Morgan Gilbard

Caley Goldblatt Katie Levenstein David Luna Jess Lynn Luke Lyons Haleigh MacCloy Annie Mandart Katie McLean Avery Share Sophi Skaff Emma Stratigos Kyle Zaverton

Layout & Copy Editing Annie Mandart Kristyna Bronner Meghan Gaucher Emma Stratigos Morgan Gilbard Laura Alexander Jess Lynn

Distribution Blair Dector Meghan Gaucher Morgan Gilbard Annie Mandart Kristyna Bronner

Submission Guidelines The Herald is currently accepting submissions for our upcoming issue. The deadline is Monday at 5 p.m.

Must include the: 1. Name and Class Year 2. Individual phone number or e-mail E-mail submissions must be made via file attachment.

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On Friday, Feb. 10 at SUNY Canton, a fire broke out just before noon in Cook’s Hall, home to the studies of Health, Science and Criminal Justice. Harmful chemicals forced all students to evacuate the building and leave campus until air-quality tests had been taken to ensure there were no toxic chemicals in Cook’s Hall and connecting academic buildings.

The cause of the fire is still in question as of this publication. Students in Cook’s Hall and neighboring buildings evacuated after the alarm sounded and black smoke rose from the roof of the building.

According to the Watertown Daily News, the local fire department showed up immediately. During the fire on Friday, students were directed away the smoke, so as to not come in close contact with toxic chemicals that may have been spread to neighboring buildings. According to the state

University President, Joseph L. Kennedy, no students were injured or harmed during the explosion. Since SUNY Canton runs on a Monday through Thursday class schedule, there were only a few students in the buildings connected to Cook’s Hall and only one student in the actual building in which the explosion occurred.

“We consider ourselves very fortunate that no one was hurt,” SUNY Canton President Joseph L. Kennedy said in a press release.

“It was a tremendous response from our local firefighters, rescue squads and police agencies, including our own university police here on campus. This situation could have been worse, but these agencies and individuals were exceptional in containing the fire and minimizing the damage.”

Chief Dalton of Saint Lawrence County Fire Investigators said that sodium, lithium,

and water reactant organic and in-organic chemicals were stored in the lab that exploded, possibly the cause of the fire. Considering the harmful chemicals in the air, fire fighters had to go through an extensive decontamination process to ensure that all chemicals were removed from their bodies.

Students outside of Cook’s Hall snapped pictures, posted comments, took videos and spread the word to other college friends beyond the campus walls. “People were tweeting pictures like campus on fire and stuff,” said SUNY Canton student, Richard Brogden.

Air quality was the biggest concern, which is why students were asked to leave campus as soon as possible. However, considering the circumstances, the SUNY Canton Hockey game versus the Syracuse club team remained scheduled for Friday night.

Photo Courtesy ofkyrillos.senatenj.com

Hobart Alum to Run for U.S. Senate

By Kyle Zaverton ‘15 Herald Contributor New Jersey State Senator Joseph M. Kyrillos Jr. ‘82 recently announced his intentions to run for the United States Senate. Kyrillos, a Republican, hopes to unseat the Democratic incumbent, Robert Menendez, and become the first Republican to win the seat since 1972. The 51-yearold Hobart graduate plans to push for a balanced budget amendment, repeal the new health care law and to overhaul and simplify the tax code.

After receiving his Bachelor of Arts from Hobart College in Political Science, Senator Joseph Kyrillos went on to earn his Masters in Communications at Boston

University, and was elected to New Jersey’s General Assembly in 1988.

After serving two terms in the General Assembly, Kyrillos was elected to the State Senate and has served since 1993.

In terms of his upcoming campaign, Senator Kyrillos plans to use current New Jersey Governor, and close friend Chris Christie, as a jumping off point to gain some momentum. Although it remains early in the campaign, Kyrillos is favored to win the Republican primary, but polls show that Kyrillos still remains double digits behind incumbent Robert Menendez.

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Conflict Continues in Syria

By Sophia Skaff ‘15 Herald Contributor

WHWS is looking for any and all HWS students to join its team.

For more information, visit www.whws.fm

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The death toll continues in Syria. Following political protests against Syria’s oppressive government and a fight to gain democracy in the country, the Syrian people have been subject to harsh and brutal force by their dictator President, Bashar alAssad. The state of the country has become increasingly worse, to the point of a possible civil war between the Free Syrian Army and the government. Killings and bombings of civilians by the Syrian government, including women and children and the targeted city of Homs, have recently increased. The exact death toll is unclear because of difficulties blocking outsiders and journalists from entering the country, but according to CNN the number is known to have grown to over 7,000 causalities. Hospitals are controlled by government forces, making it impossible for the injured to seek help without the risk of being tortured or killed.

Al-Assad denies the killing of civilians and claims the violence is against terrorists and gangs who are trying to disrupt government stability. Syria was removed from the Arab League after increasing attacks against protesters instead of following the peace plan agreed to. Other attempts by the Arab League to create stability in Syria have failed to succeed

due to Assad’s refusal to cooperate. This includes the plan for Assad’s Vice President

the Arab League. Saudi Arabia has created a similar resolution but submitted it to the U.N. General Assembly, where there is no veto power but the resolution is not legally binding. Most recently the Arab League has requested the United Nations Security Council to send peacekeeping forces to Syria as well as asked all Arab nations to cut diplomatic ties with the country to further influence them to stop the violence.

The United States have closed their Syrian embassy for security reasons. While, the U.S. has no plans to send forces to Syria, it will help continue efforts with the U.N. to stop the violence. The New York Times quotes President Obama reprimanding “the Syrian government’s unspeakable Photo Courtesy of google.com assault against the people of Homs,” saying in a statement that to take over and eventually hold democratic Mr. Assad “has no right to lead Syria, and elections. has lost all legitimacy with his people and the The U.N. has also tried to take measures international community.” Through these against the violence. However, the February resolutions, pressure and economic sanctions U.N. Security Council resolution for peace by outside countries, the majority of the and an end to the violence in Syria failed with international community is making attempts to a double veto by Russia and China whom are combat the brutality in Syria and force al-Assad allied with Syria and said the resolution put to step down and create a democratic system to unjust responsibility on the Syrian government. stabilize the country.

This rejection was a great disappointment to the international community as well as

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2012

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2012

News

News Susan G. Komen Pulls, Reinstates Planned Parenthood Funding

Leroy, NY Receives Diagnosis Without Answers

By Laura Alexander ‘14 Arts & Entertainment Editor

By Morgan Gilbard ‘15 Opinions Co-Editor

Chemical substances and other environmental factors have not yet been ruled out as potential causes of the sudden onset of the students’ Tourette’s.

Photo Courtesy of blogspot.com

Mass hysteria, once primarily associated with the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, has reappeared in the twenty-first century. Medically diagnosed as a conversion disorder, this frenzy-inducing condition with symptoms that affect movement and balance and are often a physical manifestation of psychological stress. In early Jan. 2012, this condition made national news when 12 teenage girls from rural Leroy, New York began showing Tourette’s-like symptoms that neurologist Laszlo Mechtler classified as conversion disorder.

“It’s a rare phenomenon,” Dr. Mechtler told a TODAY reporter.

“Physicians are intrigued by it.”

The girls first exhibited symptoms in Oct. of 2011. Thera

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Sanchez, a Leroy high school senior, awoke from a nap one afternoon and began suffering from physical tics, verbal outbursts and other unwelcome, uncontrollable body movements.

Another Leroy high school student, Katie Krautwurst, began experiencing these same symptoms. Krautwurst and Sanchez, along with ten other teenage girls at Leroy High School have been suffering from these symptoms ever since. “I’m very frustrated,” Sanchez told an NBC reporter. She contiuued, “No one’s giving me answers.”

Since the girls first began exhibiting symptoms, numerous tests have been done in the school and in the surrounding areas to determine if the cause of these tics

could be environmental. After a nearly four-month investigation, however, all environmental factors have been ruled out. The cause of the symptoms is not drug related or connected to carbon monoxide.

However, in recent weeks, the possibility of the symptoms being connected to a 1970 toxic spill of 30,000 gallons of tricholorethene from a train derailment in Leroy has been brought into question.

While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a statement saying that the chemicals have been handled and that the waste has been removed of properly, for many of the parents of the girls, questions linger as to whether these chemicals could be causing the symptoms in their

daughters. So many questions have been raised about this possibility in fact that in late January, Erin Brockovich, famous for linking cancer cases with contaminated drinking water in a California town, visited Leroy. She spent the day listening to various testimonies from the girls and their families and attempted to do her own research on the case, but was ultimately asked to leave the property of Leroy High School.

Nearly four months after the girls began showing these Tourette’s like symptoms there are still no concrete answers as to what caused them or what can be done to fix them. For now, the case remains a medical mystery.

Facing national backlash following its announcement to discontinue future donations to Planned Parenthood,the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation reinstated Planned Parenthood’s eligibility for future grants and emphasized that they had always intended to satisfy the pledged funding for this year.

Komen founder Nancy Brinker issued a public apology, stating, “We have been distressed at the presumption that the changes made to our funding criteria were done for political reasons or to specifically penalize Planned Parenthood. They were not.”

Planned Parenthood is currently under government investigation for allegedly using unauthorized tax dollars for abortions. While Komen credits this as the reason for the budget cut, Planned Parenthood attributes the move to Komen bowing to continuous pressure from anti-abortion activists.

However, sources from inside Komen attribute the change in funding to Komen’s now former Vice President Karen Handel, who supposedly advocated for the move based on her anti-abortion views. Despite defending Komen’s decision, Handel resigned from

her position within a week of the controversy.

Komen has donated approximately $600,000 each year to fund breast cancer screenings for disadvantaged women at Planned Parenthood, according to the New York Daily News. With the promise to reevaluate the family planning center’s grants in coming years, Komen may have done Planned Parenthood a favor when temporarily pulling support.

The Washington Post reports that within the first 24 hours of the announcement, Planned Parenthood received $650,000 in donations; that number has nearly reached $1 million within the past week, including a $250,000 pledge from NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

“People respond powerfully when they see politics interfering with women’s health,” said Planned Parenthood spokesman Tait Sye. “That’s why we’ve seen a tremendous outpouring of support.”

Established in 1916 as America’s first birth control clinic in Brooklyn, there are 800 now Planned Parenthood centers nationwide. Their services have expanded from preventative care to include sex education, breast exams, STD testing, and abortions.

Just a few days after pulling funding, Komen representatives announced they would be reinstating their funding to Planned Parenthood.

Photo Courtesy of abcnews.com

Talking Politics with David Luna ‘14:

Religion and Election 2012

Religion in the United States has played a crucial role in shaping American values and beliefs that exist today. As one of the foundational principles of the U.S. Constitution, the First Amendment states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

Religion is generally accepted as having a public role as a unifying force in American politics. However, a tremendous level David Luna ‘14 of religious Photo Courtesy of Annie Mandart diversity also characterizes American society. There is no established church in the United States; nor does one religious faith dominate.

In addition to hundreds of different Christian denominations, there are non-denominational, independent congregations that function as well. and structures that operate within American social and political life. It is this pluralism, in part, that makes it difficult to grasp the ways by which religion is shaping contemporary American electoral politics.

A poignant argument against government-religion relations is simple: such actions alienate large numbers of Americans. The film With God on Our Side aptly portrayed the mixture of religion and politics as President Bush “pushed” Christianity in the U.S. government by frequently including Christian references in his speeches and nominating judges to support a Christian interpretation of U.S. law. As Christian lobby groups succeed in including Christian ideals in U.S. legislation, non-Christians lose their voice in government. Indeed, even if the government does not favor one religion, sponsoring any religion alienates every American who feels they can fulfill their spiritual needs outside of an organized religion.

On the other hand, religion integrates society by providing it with a common framework of meaning and experience. Through the ordinary processes of socialization, the young acquire a common set of beliefs and values associated with symbols of the sacred. Participating in the same rituals, members of the society are integrated. Religion may

contribute to the process of mass politicization by providing sacred symbols that acquire political significance. Organizations, interest groups, and religious political parties find in these sacred symbols an important key to acquiring mass support. It should be noted that religion is not the only factor in political mobilization of the masses. Many secular agencies and ideologies also contend for mass support and are often influential; some include Center for Inquiry, Council for Secular Humanism and The Brights.

Both sides have touched on the question of whether religious belief makes politics more dangerous. History has given us examples of the negative aspects of religion such as the Crusades. It is true that man has used religion for political gain; Nazi Germany had “God with us” engraved in German on the belts of Nazi soldiers. However religion also has had positive roles; lamentably, the negative is most focused on. The positives seem to revolve around how religion seems to unify the public during a time of crisis. This irreplaceable unity is evinced through civil rights movement in which African Americans organized and gathered support through religious institutions and religious rhetoric. Another example of how religion has positively impacted society through unity can be seen during the red scares and rising tide of Communism. America in response became religiously unified and quickly turned communism into a moral issue and deemed it dangerous to religious faith.

According to the secular community, why religion makes politics dangerous is because religion is not simply a belief. Religion acts like a switch that once activated permeates all actions in that person’s life. When religion mixes with political debate, religion becomes susceptible to the pragmatic and confrontational nature that is politics.

Religion is strongly linked to political divisions within American politics. People make decisions about their political choices and whether or not to participate politically based not only on their personal interests, their political knowledge, and personal skills, but also as a result of being part of social and organizational webs. These webs serve to channel information, reinforce group preferences, and stimulate participation.

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Breast cancer awareness products: KFC buckets for the cure and Chambord.

Photo Courtesy of ecouterr.com

Interested in Joining CAB? Meetings Are Wednesdays @ 8 p.m.

Female protestors gathered in Washington, DC to protest Komen’s funding cut to Planned Parenthood.

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located in Student Activities

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This year’s Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Miami will be held on Oct. 15.

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Check out CAB’s Facebook page or email Campus Activities Board (campus.activities@hws.edu) for more information.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2012

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2012

Campus Happenings

Interim Provost Passes off the Baton

Women’s Collective Presents Vagina Monologues

By Luke Lyons ‘13 Herald Contributor Did you know that academic faculty members have a dean? But did you also know that said dean is on his way out? After a year of filling in as Interim Provost, Patrick McGuire will finally retire.

With 43 years as an economy professor for the colleges under his belt, this will be McGuire’s final year working at HWS. McGuire took the position last February after the previous Provost, Teresa Amott, was hired at Knox College.

President Gearan asked McGuire to step in as Interim Provost for a year which leaves the school enough time to acquire a candidate worthy of such a position. So then, what exactly does a Provost do?

The short answer to that question is: a lot. While on most other campuses, the Provost and Dean of Faculty are two separate entities, here, they’re one and the same. The Provost is the chief academic officer on campus. Overseeing the academic budget, staffing plan, hiring, and promotion of the academic faculty on campus are just a few things on the Provost’s to do list.

And when HWS faces an increase in the student body like this past year, more resources are needed.

More classes need to go on the curriculum, equipment must be upgraded and the colleges must make accommodations for the students. All of these things are the Provost’s responsibility.

Also, the overall management of institutional research, the library, registrars’ office, and Center for Global Education all falls on the Provost shoulders. “So between

me [Provost], 3 associate Provosts, 1 assistant Provost and 1 assistant to the Provost, we’re always busy,” says McGuire.

Since McGuire is only the Interim Provost, the search for a full-time Provost has been underway since last summer.

Various members of the faculty, staff, and students make up the search committee. There are currently 5 candidates in the running and the process is already to the point where they’re starting to visit the campus. When asked what makes a great Provost, McGuire did not hesitate answering the question. “Commitment to a liberal arts education,” says the soon to be retired McGuire. “The new Provost will need the ability and willingness to listen and be a problem solver. They will need to be ready to understand the culture at HWS; each and every school has their own unique brand. Patience is key to truly understanding an appreciating such a brand. The Provost’s ultimate goal is to fulfill the mission of the school.”

McGuire urges that all of the student’s get involved. “Attend the presentations!” says McGuire.

“Students need to ask more questions and become more aware of who has the possibility of essentially becoming the academic faculty voice on campus.”

Upcoming events and background information concerning the candidates is found on the HWS website under the “Office of the President” section on the “About HWS” page.

Campus Happenings

By Katie Levenstein ‘12 Herald Contributor

Photo Courtesy of Tsalon.com

Photo Courtesy of Hws.edu

Photo courtesy of Hws.edu

Photo Courtesy of katebrodock.com

Stuffing the Ballot Box: HWS Votes Spreads Awareness

By Nick Altman ‘13 Herald Contributor HWS Votes poses polling they would become eligible for jury and political questions that are duty. It is this type of ignorance pertinent to every student and and thoughtless thinking HWS member of our campus. Aside from Votes wishes to eradicate. getting students registered to vote, Regardless, when asked, if the campus organization aims HWS is a politically motivated to inform and spark discussion campus, Mitchell claimed, “We to aide the liberal arts education are, but in specific areas like LGBT every student receives. marriage for instance,” and among Tiffany Mitchell ’14 is the head other hot topics. HWS Votes of HWS Votes through becoming a wishes to broaden this motivation Civic Leader, and wants students to the ballot box and to ignite to care more about the democratic political discussion. However, process and take the initiative students generally keep quiet to become informed about the about political issues because issues. Hobart and William Smith the fear of argument looms. This provides an education that aims is a false portrayal of politics. It at developing us as intellectual doesn’t have to be about arguing beings, yet there is still a major and winning debates; political lack of enthusiasm, and care, discussion just needs to share in deciding who will become opinions and expand on ideas. president of the United States, a Mitchell wishes students position that affects us individually will, “go out and vote and send and collectively as citizens of the in absentee ballots to make their world. voice heard.” Keep an eye out During a tabling session that for bi-annual HWS Votes Potty Mitchell was holding to register Politics and other HWS Votes students to vote, she heard a events to keep informed on the Hobart student say, they didn’t upcoming presidential race. want to register because they feared

V-day is a creative movement originated by Eve Ensler to spread awareness about violence against women and girls.

Valentine’s Day is an annual holiday for family, friends and couples to celebrate their love for one another. Around this time each year, the colors red and pink signify another holiday: V-Day. Eve Ensler started this in 1998 as a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls. As a part of this tradition she created the Vagina Monologues, a collection of stories adapted from interviews with girls and women about their vaginas.

Their stories are told through avenues of sex, love, rape, menstruation, female genital mutilation, masturbation, birth, orgasm and physical aspects of the body.

The Women’s Collective of William Smith

On Feb. 17 the Women’s Collective will put their production of the Vagina Monologues featuring students, faculty and staff.

College, in conjunction with female faculty and staff members, will perform the Vagina Monologues on Friday, February 17 and Saturday, February 18. According to Gabby Perez ’12, a member of the women’s collective, the performance has not included faculty in over five years. Michele Polak, a professor of writing and rhetoric and women studies will be performing for the 13th time as a member of this year’s show. “I am so happy to be a part of it,” she said. “It is not just about the performance, but also about sexuality and the recognition of self. I’m very excited.”

A new edition to the show includes a monologue written by Shanelle France ’11 about

By Kristyna Bronner ’14 News Editor

Ian Ford ‘14 is HWS’s Two Degrees campus representative.

Photo Courtesy of Kristyna Bronner

The company, just over a year old, has already given over 200,000 meals to children in need in Somalia, Malawi, Haiti, India and Kenya. Two Degrees works with NGOs like Valid Nutrition, Partners in Health and others

to distribute the nutritional meals to places in need. The meals distributed are referred to as “RUTFs”, Ready to Use Therapeutic Foods.

Packed with nutrients and vitamins, the meals can be given to children on the spot. Two Degrees is currently working to establish a program within the U.S. Created by Barr Hogan, former chef for Odwalla, Two Degrees’ products are all natural, low sodium, gluten free, GMO free and vegan.

So far, the nutrition bars come in five different flavors: chocolate banana, apple pecan, cherry almond, chocolate peanut. They are available at Whole Foods, on twodegreesfood.com, and now at Hobart and William Smith!

Ian Ford, a Hobart sophomore, is working with Two Degrees to bring their products to HWS. Ford got involved with Two Degrees because the founder TWO DEGREES continued on Page 7

her experience living in Lesotho, Africa, which Perez will read. “The monologues are about community building,” said Polak. “I am hoping men will attend too.” All are welcome to come to the show, which will have performances at 7pm on Friday and 2pm on Saturday in the Geneva Room. Tickets are $5 for students and $7 for faculty and staff. This year, 90 percent of the proceeds will go to Safe Harbors, a rape and abuse hotline for the Fingerlakes. The other 10 percent will go towards the V-Day Campaign for women’s and girls of Haiti.

Come to the show and cheer on your friends and faculty allies as they talk about vaginas.

TWO DEGREES continued from Page 6

Saving Lives, One Nutrition Bar at a Time Imagine that purchasing a nutrition bar could provide a meal for a malnourished child somewhere in the world. Could an act so simple make such a difference? Two Degrees Food, founded last year by Lauren Walters and Will Hauser, has set out to make a difference.

Their one-to-one model vows that for every nutrition bar purchased, they will give a meal to a child somewhere in the world. The company’s slogan “Is good Does good” embodies their mission—“to empower the average consumer to help feed 200 million hungry children through just Two Degrees of separation.”

Walters, a lawyer, and Hauser, a Harvard graduate, came across the effects of childhood hunger firsthand while traveling in Africa. To combat hunger, Walters and Hauser, decided to put their business backgrounds to good use with the belief that “everyday choices can make a big difference.”

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Photo Courtesy of Fingerlakesdailynews.com

Students gathered at Scandling Center on Feb. 6 to discuss police brutality and other issues concerning the Occupy movement.

Students Occupy Scandling: Police Brutality Must End

By Nick Altmann ‘13 and Christian Berk ‘13 Herald Contributors On Feb. 6 at 6 pm, students occupied the Scanding Center for a general assembly addressing brutality and repression perpetrated by law enforcement across the country, specifically in Oakland, California on January 28th, 2012. The event was in solidarity with demonstrations at colleges and cities throughout the United States.

The assembly held at Hobart and William Smith projected images and videos of police brutality and organized repression to raise awareness and pose questions about the role of non-violent action, which is facing brute tactics by law enforcement.

The focus was placed on “Move-In Day” in Oakland, where people attempted to occupy a vacant building and create a free community center to serve the poor as well as organize direct actions against “the 1%.” Occupiers faced off with police, who fired tear gas, flash bang grenades, rubber bullets, and sand bag rounds preventing the occupation of the vacant building. 400 people were arrested, bringing the arrest total to over 6,500 nation wide, according to OccupyArrests.com.

The number of total arrests in Oakland is 639, which is second highest in the nation; the first being occupiers on Wall Street in New York, where the movement began. The 400 arrested in Oakland on Jan. 28th was the second highest arrest day total in the Occupy Movement history, with the first being Occupy Wall Street in which 700 non-violent citizens were arrested on the Brooklyn Bridge march that took place on Oct. 1, 2010, according to OccupyArrests.com. The Oakland arrests lead to merely 12 convictions.

The Federal Government is threatening a takeover of the OPD because of their violent and provoking tendencies.

Police are required to use minimal force for crowd control, however, the Oakland police depart has consistently defied these orders. Additionally Oakland Mayor Jean Quan claimed on BBC that she was apart of a teleconference coordinating attacks on powerful occupations nation wide, which the events in Oakland are only one example of.

Individuals who were arrested by the OPD claimed they were “tortured.” Livestreamed to the DailyKos.com, “Prisoners were denied medication, brutally beaten, had tear gas poured into the vents of their cells, and were also denied bathroom access forcing self-defecation.”

The OPD’s actions were discussed at the Emergency General Assembly held here at our colleges eventually raising questions such as: how can citizens stand up to police brutality and repression through non-violent means? What are the lines between citizenry, self-protection and violence?

“The videos shown of the police violence in Oakland were thought provoking. They were shocking and more people should see them to be aware of police brutality,” said Olivia Jacquemin ’14.

Ultimately, these violent police tactics are just pieces of the puzzling problem that ignited the movement. One ought to look at OPD as interments of intimidation and oppression. The movement recognizes and seeks to overcome this oppression, by “the 1%”, through non-violent tactics.

Students and faculty hold General Assemblies every Tuesday at 5:15pm in the Scandling Center to discuss issues and possible direct actions in solidarity with the global movement.

of the company, Lauren Walters lived in his hometown of Concord, MA. Walter’s son, Peter, graduated high school with Ford’s older sister. Peter Walters then went on to Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. where he started the Campus Directory program. The Walters, along with Two Degrees Food, are now based in San Francisco. Ford thought the mission was “cool” and decided to bring the program to campus as the HWS Campus Director. His job is to promote the product on campus in the community and sales. Last week, he made a deal with the College Store. At the moment, they have a few bars for sale, but the full shipment of bars should be in by the end of next week. Ford also plans to meet with the head of Sodexho on campus to try and get the bars into the Café. If successful, Ford hopes to expand into the greater Geneva community anywhere bars of this type are sold, like Mother Earth’s Natural Foods.

When asked why students should buy Two Degrees products instead of Odwalla, Cliff bars, or similar products Ford replied, “Buy these because they taste better and every time you buy a bar you’re giving a meal to a malnourished child.”

For more information contact Ford at Ian.Ford@ hws.edu or look for him next week tabling in Scandling.

Photo Courtesy of Twodegreesfood.com

Photo Courtesy of Blog.opensky.com

8

Campus Happenings

Campus Happenings Religious Events Hillel

By Blair Dector ‘15 Herald Contributor

Two William Smith students kick off Recyclemania on Feb. 8.

Photo courtesy of hws.edu.

Recyclmania at HWS: The Sustainability Sweep

By Helen Hunsinger ‘12 Herald Contributor Let the mania begin – Recyclmania that is!

During the eight-week recycling competition, HWS will be competing against 500 colleges and universities in an effort to boost the Colleges’ recycling effort to 35 percent and build awareness about the nationwide competition.

“The fact that the Colleges are competing on the national level to waste less and recycle more is awesome,” says Sustainability Coordinator James Landi ’08. “Not only does this national competition substantially reduce environmental impact, it raises awareness and gets students, faculty and staff thinking about an essential question - what do we consume and where does it go after we are done with it? How we respond to the question has tremendous relevance from the personal to the global level. This competition challenges us to ask it.”

The first event, held on Monday, Feb. 6, was the fourth annual Sustainability Sweep, a competition where teams of four have an hour to collect the most recyclable material from all over campus.

Competing for a $100 gift card to the Red Dove Tavern, students collected more than a quarter ton of recycling during the event. The winning team, comprised of Laura Kenny ‘14, Jasmine Rostamnezhad ‘13, Richard Bonney

‘14, and Helen Hunsinger ‘12, collected 179 pounds of recyclable material in the hour.

“It was a great kick-off to Recyclemania,” says Landi. “It definitely got us off to a good start towards achieving the goal of 35% recycling here at HWS. We just need to keep building on the momentum!”

Currently HWS is ranked 167th in the nation with a 25.41 percent recycling rate.

Local colleges such as Hamilton, Union and Ithaca currently have recycling rates of 27.69, 26.82, and 30.83 percent, respectively.

However, these numbers pale in comparison to Middlebury College, which recycles at a rate of42.91 percent. It is Landi’s goal to get HWS to a 35 percent recycling rate by the time Recyclemania ends on March 31.

The second event, on Monday, Feb. 13, is the Hall Storm, where groups of students will meet at various residence halls and collect their recyclable goods.

Recyclemania will continue through Saturday, March 31, so keep an eye out for posters and flyers around campus with recycling facts and events!

For the latest information about consumption and environmental facts on campus, check out: http://buildingdashboard. net/hws/#/hws/ and http://www.hws.edu/ about/green/.

Genocide Speaker Romeo Dallaire Enlightens Campus

By Leslie Fox-Humphries ‘15 and Courtney Acquadro ‘15 Herald Contributors On Feb. 10, hundreds of students gathered in the Albright Auditorium to listen to Lieutenant General Romeo Dallaire speak. The applause before and after brought a great smile to the General’s mustached face. The students certainly respected him and all he had to say.

“It was a culmination of a career,” said the Lieutenant during an interview on what he thought of his induction into the Rwandan UN assignment in late 1993. The Canadian Featured above, Romeo Dallaire.

Senator, humanitarian, and Photo courtesy of hws.edu. author is best known for his work as the Force Commander massacre, Dallaire proposed that the United for the United Nations in his assignment in States let middle class countries like his Rwanda from 1993-94. Earlier in the night, Canadian homeland take the reigns of foreign the Lieutenant met for a question and answer assistance and intervention, that way “the U.S. session, and was the center of a dinner with the won’t jump into a problem, get a bloody nose, Colleges’ president and a group of students. pull back, and then give the rest of the world Dallaire spoke of genocide in general, less motivation to go in after them.” and gave a graphic presentation of the evils of The audience came away with a new civil war. The audience was confronted with understanding of the international struggle pictures of child soldiers bombarding their with the devastating tribulations of genocide. equals with shrapnel, cold blooded killing so He intended to evoke feelings that “make [us] horrifying that a few spectators in the front very uncomfortable. To create a pilot light row were tearing up. of humanity.” By the end of his concluding Dallaire offered solutions to genocide in remarks, the room had learned that no human conflict prevention, the principal of which is better than any other human. is the empowerment of women and better Dallaire’s address was jointly sponsored education for the children of poverty ridden by the President’s Forum Series and the countries—especially young females who are student/professor-run Human Rights and most often cast aside in schooling. He also Genocide Symposium (HRGS). The address discussed international law, and debated the served as the kick-off to a three semester long opening question: “Are all Humans Human? symposium on genocide.

Or are some more Human than Others?”

For more information on upcoming events In response to a spectator’s inquiry on sponsored by the HRGS, contact Professor what exactly the international field should do Salter, or go to the Hobart and William Smith in the situation of genocide or an impending Colleges website.

9

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2012

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2012

Everyone knows on campus that Friday night is the night a few tables are set up in the Abbe Center and people are ready to enjoy the upcoming weekend. With tasty food cooked

by Showtime Joe, people from all religions are coming to join for the scrumptious meal. That being said, it is simple to join Shabbat dinner because all one must do is RSVP at Shabbat@ hws.edu and it starts at 6:30pm on Friday evenings. Other events that are going on this month is a lunch and learn which is at 12:15 at the Abbe Center, which happens on Mondays.

February 25th, which is a Sunday, Emily Hamburger’s father will lead a discussion at a lunch and learn on a certain topic regarding how Jews live in a secular world. Other than those events this month, be on the look out in your mailbox for a save the date for Shabbat 200! It will be happening March 9th at 7:00 pm in the Vandervort room. The objective of the event is to have all 10% of the Jewish student population to join this event but it is open to anyone who is interested. We hope all of you will join the events at Hillel as they are funfilled and memories that you will never forget!

Newman Club

By Kathryn Bezbatchenko’15 Herald Contributor Welcome to HWS Newman Club, a club that establishes a sense of community among all Catholics on campus. It is an open and inclusive community of happy and supportive Catholics who celebrate their faith through on-campus involvement and charity work. You don’t have to be Catholic to attend; Newman Club is open to all faiths. It provides a safe environment for all students to come and discuss their faith. The Newman Club meets on Sunday’s following mass at 5:30 in Demarest 14. Each meeting, we discuss important happenings in the news and in the church. We are currently preparing for our big Easter celebrations. On Tuesday February 21st, also known as Mardi Gras, Newman Club will be providing purple, green and gold Mardi Gras beads. These beads have a significant religious tie, symbolizing justice (purple), power (gold), and faith (green). There will be a pancake dinner at the Chaplain’s house to celebrate Mardi Gras. Newman Club will also be hosting a large Easter dinner. The event will feature a delicious buffet with entertainment provided by Chaplain Leslie Adams and quite possibly the College’s a capella groups. More details are to come, as we are still in the process of planning this event. It’ll be one you won’t want to miss. For more information about Newman Club, contact Melissa Hosek at melissa.hosek@hws.edu.

Study Abroad 2012:

CGE Changes Essays Late in the Game

By Taylor Desgrosseilliers ‘12 Herald Contributor

Where in the World?

Aix-en-Provence, France Jordan New Zealand Bath, England Israel Beijing or Nanjing, China Berlin, Germany Brussles, Belgium Budapest, Hungary Copenhagen, Denmark Costa Rica Galway, Ireland Vietnam Hilkone, Japan Jaipur, India Landau, Germany Leizpig, Germany Lingnan, Hong Kong London, Egland Maastricht, Netherlands Mendozza, Argentina Norwhich, England Perth, Australia South Africa Prague, Czech Republic Quebec, Canada Queensland, Australia Rennes, France Rome, Italy Russia Sao Paulo, Brazil Seol, South Korea Seville, Spain Ecuador and Peru (Combined) St. Louis, Sengal Taiwain Tokyo, Japan Tuebingen, Germany Wales (Carmathen) Wales (Lampeter) Washington, D.C.

When students learned of the new essay questions that make up the Spring 2013 study abroad application, they were surprised, and in some cases, upset. These students had planned on going abroad in the spring partially because they wanted to take advantage of winter break to write their essays in peace, instead of trying to squeeze them in between class, sports, and clubs. Now, they have no choice. The situation hardly seems fair, especially because the changes were not announced via email until January 25, a little less than a month before the due date. One William Smith student expressed the feelings of many when she said, “I’m really pissed off.

I just feel like they should have let us know sooner.

I know a lot of people that did the same thing, and it sucks.”

However, the application was not changed on a whim. According to Tom D’Agostino, who directs the Center for Global Education (CGE), an update has been in the works since early last year. The questions have remained largely unaltered since they were instituted about four years ago, and the team responsible for evaluating applicants was bored.

They had read around 700 essays a year addressing the same topics, and the essays, no matter how well written, began to seem repetitive.

Perhaps more importantly, D’Agostino says that they believed there were “better questions to ask, [ones] more reflective of a student’s interests and abilities” than those currently in the application. To find those questions, the CGE asked for suggestions from other institutions around the country with similar study abroad needs. They received an enormous number of responses, but eventually chose several of the most promising and tailored them to suit the Hobart and William Smith community. Problems arose because the process of creating a new application was completed only just in time for the most recent admission cycle, so students only learned that the questions had changed after returning from break.

Still, in some ways this new application is an opportunity, because almost any composition will seem more original than those from past semesters.

Although students occasionally question the importance of the essay, according to D’Agostino it is often the deciding factor in a student’s placement.

It can certainly be more important than a student’s GPA. Other important elements that influence a student’s acceptance include disciplinary record and overall involvement in the community. D’Agostino also pointed out students frequently get caught up describing the emotional reasons that determined their study abroad choice. These are “academic programs,” so students who show that their chosen program is important to their education are preferred. Even attention to grammar and neatness in an essay are taken into account.

Bath, England

New Zealand

And More...

Quaker Meeting for Worship Sunday, 9:30 am The Fisher Center, Demarest Roman Catholic Mass Sunday, 4:30 pm St. John’s Chapel

France

Australia

College Chapel Sunday, 6 pm St. John’s Chapel Buddhist Meditation Monday, 6:30 pm Second Floor of Intercultural Affairs Pasta Night Wednesday, 6 pm Chaplain’s Residence (630 Main St.) CloseKnit Thursday, 4 pm Chaplain’s Residence (630 Main St.) Kosher Shabbat Dinner Friday, 6:30 pm Abbe Center (764 S. Main St.)

Jordan

Rome Photos courtesy of hws.edu.

10

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2012

Arts and Entertainment

Oscars Offer Variety for 2012 Ceremony

By Kat Frabotta ‘15 Herald Contributor On Feb. 26, & Incredibly 2012, celebrities C l o s e , will waltz the Bourdain famous red does not wish carpet of the Midnight Kodak Theater in Paris, in their haute directed by couture finest— Woody Allen, pausing only for to receive photographs and the award. brief interview— On Paris, and will then be Bourdain seated inside, asserted, “It’s anxiously awaiting everything bad the winners of this about Woody years best feature Allen. It has films. For many characters viewers, the night that don’t will be one of exist in real marked contrast. life, speaking Billy Crystal hosted the 2012 Oscars. At age 63, Crystal would be the oldest solo host of the While they plop onto show since Bob Hope in 1978. Photo Courtesy of latimesblogs.latimes.com dialogue like couches behind TV no one has ever dinners, the starlets spoken except standout success. Perhaps less surprisingly, will shine. . in a Woody Allen film.

I hated everything about Meryl Streep is also up for the award. This year The Academy Awards are a favorite event marks Streep’s seventeenth Oscar nomination, it.” Bourdain is instead hopefull that The Tree for movie lovers and have been part societal this time for her role as Prime Minister Margaret of Life will take home the best picture Oscar. “I tradition since the year 1929. The Awards Thatcher in The Iron Lady. am seriously rooting for it,” Bourdain declared. reward the most well received films of the The nominees for 2012’s Oscar for Best Actor “I just think it’s such an ambitious film. It sends year, and those nominated for 2012 do not are equally varied. Gary Oldman, the award’s a message.” Randy Jackson, of American Idol, disappoint. This year in particular showcases nominee for Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy, has however, is in support of The Help sweeping an array of movies that cover a myriad of had a highly acclaimed acting and filmmaking both Best Picture and Best Actress Oscars. different topics, from the civil rights movement spanning from 1982 to the present. Yet, this Students at HWS have also been sharing in The Help, directed by Tate Taylor to an year marks his first ever Oscar nomination for their opinions about the upcoming awards. entirely silent film depicting Hollywood in his role in the Anglo-French spy film, Tinker Haleigh MacCloy ’15 is rooting for Viola Davis the 1920’s in Michel Hazanavicius’ The Artist. Taylor Soldier Spy. Two foreign actors are also to win best actress. “Although Meryl Streep Other films nominated for Best Picture, Best nominated for Best Actor—Deminan Bichir, a is great, I feel like someone else should win Actor, and Best Actress include director Simon Mexican actor, for his portrayal in A Better Life this year,” Haleigh said. Another William Curtis’ indie biopic My Week With Marilyn, and and French actor Jean Dujardin of The Artist.

Smith first-year, Emily Nalbone, argued for an Alexander Payne’s bittersweet dramedy, The With the nominations in and the big day underdog choice for the award instead: Rooney Descendants. approaching, celebrities have been weighing Mara in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. “She Beyond the outstanding directors in with their opinions on the Awards. Anthony was really good (in the movie),” Emily stated. nominated this year, several actresses both Bourdain, host of Travel Channel’s The Layover “Her character felt really authentic.” familiar and new to Oscar acclaim are in the and No Reservations, holds incredibly strong Regardless of the eventual winners, with running for the Best Actress award. One first opinions on who should be selected. Of the a diverse group of nominees this year, the time nominee is Viola Davis of The Help, a films nominated for Best Picture, including The Academy Awards are bound to be interesting. popular hit of the year for which she achieved Artist, Midnight in Paris, and Extremely Loud

Grammy’s Honor Whitney, Reward Adele

By Emma Stratigos ‘12 Campus Happenings Editor

The 40 million viewers that tuned in to the 54th Annual Grammy Awards got a strange journey through live performances with awkward collaborations (some of which worked better than others). Many wondered how producers would handle the recent death of pop icon Whitney Houston.

Others were eager for Adele’s first live performance since her throat surgery. One thing can be said: the ceremony wasn’t boring.

In other news, Nicki Minaj definitely “brought the Pope” and I guess the blue hair means Katy Perry is adjusting well to the divorce.

Starting the show off with Bruce Springsteen was a good choice – “The Boss,” has still got it. He set a high standard for the subsequent old timers – Tony Bennett, the Beach Boys, Paul McCartney – and he appeared to be having a great time up there. The performance was followed pretty abruptly by a flashy – seriously, gold jackets and flashing lights – Bruno Mars number, giving viewers a look at the broad spectrum of contemporary music.

Later performances included a blond Rihanna joined by Coldplay, a captivating comeback performance by the one and only Adele, a theatrical exorcism of sorts

by Nicki Minaj (who may or may not have been possessed) and the return of Chris Brown. The super lovable Beach Boys took the stage to celebrate their 50h anniversary with Foster the People and Maroon 5 for some classic tunes.

The ceremony was overcast by the recent death of Whitney Houston. With only two days to prepare, the Grammys did a great job. It might have even been the time crunch that made for such tasteful tributes. Artists relied on sincerity in their recognition of the hugely talented performer. Host L.L. Cool J lead a prayer and said, “There is no way around this: We have had a death in our family.” A video played on the big screen of Ms. Houston performing “I Will Always Love You,” an

appropriate way to honor the late singer’s talent. Jennifer Hudson also performed the song later in the show. Many other artists incorporated shout outs to Ms. Houston in their performances.

Winners of the big categories included Adele, Adele and Adele. Welcome back!

She won six Grammys including Record of the Year and Song of the Year for “Rolling in the Deep” as well as Best Pop Solo Performance and Album of the Year for “21.” She accepted Album of the Year with her adorable British accent full of tearful gratitude and even a bit of snot.

The talented and deserving Bon Iver won the Best New Artist category and front man Justin Vernon expressed discomfort in doing so. It’s hard to blame him, as the word “new” appears to be arbitrary – he released his first album, “For Emma, Forever Ago,” in 2008. He humbly thanked voters for the “sweet hook up” and commended the talent that never makes it to the big stage.

His 2011 self-titled album won the indie world’s heart and also won Best Alternative Music Album.

Foo Fighters were not far behind Adele. Their awards included Best Rock Performance along with Best Hard Rock/ Metal Performance and Best Rock Album.

Best R&B Album went to Christ Brown for “F.A.M.E.” In other genres, Lady Antebellum won Best Country Album and Best Country Song went to Taylor Swift for “Mean.”

There was controversy this year concerning the elimination of genre awards for Latin jazz, Hawaiian music, American Indian music and zydeco. The cutbacks resulted in ethnic minorities and lesser known genres being overlooked – but, sadly, I guess that is what has come to be expected from main stream media.

The Grammys producers successfully pulled off another show that crammed the weird motley crew that is popular music into a tight four hour viewing space.

11

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2012

Arts and Entertainment

Photo Courtesy of Blair Dector

Ask Doctor Blackwell Have a question that you need answered?

Can’t ask anyone else?

Write me at Herald@hws.edu

Dear Dr. Blackwell, I was partying at a frat last weekend when I encountered one of the worst things that can happen to a girl in Snooki make-up and a blast-in-a-glass kind of mood: a bad kisser. He was the absolute worst. He bit me so much; it was like making out with a toddler. I didn’t want to be rude so I let it fly.

When I looked in the mirror later, though, I had a purple bruise across my bottom lip decorated by some teeth marks. How does one escape an aggressively bad kisser without being rude?

-(Don’t) Bite Me Dear (Don’t) Bite Me, I believe that in a situation like this, you shouldn’t mind so much whether or not you are rude. In reality, this boy probably will not care if you don’t enjoy his aggressive kissing tendencies. If you were to deny this boy, he would likely move on to another William Smith student. Although consequently dancing alone may not seem ideal, it does mean you won’t have purple teeth marks on your lip next time. At the next party, find a close group of friends with whom to share the dance floor. Never mind what anyone else thinks; you’re there to have fun, too.

- E. Blackwell

Dear Dr. Blackwell, Everybody is SICK. It’s DISGUSTING. I feel dirty and gross and just plain GERM-Y all the time. I do not want to catch whatever is going on, but it seems like this cold going around is the next Black Plague. SOS. -Emergen-C-elia Dear Emergen-C-elia, I can say to a degree of certainty that the common cold will not turn into the next Black Plague. However, I do agree that you do not want to catch whatever illness is circulating the school. What I would suggest is to get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids (especially those containing nutritional value), and avoid sharing anything you can pick up at Saga—cups, forks, knives, etcetera. In addition, keep up your immune system by sleeping and eating well. Try to get down to the gym if you can too. Remember, stress will only hurt you in the long run and make you get sick more easily.

Good luck and stay healthy!

Shane Samuel ‘13 poses in front of Coxe Hall. Samuel’s blog, Meninstylesociety.com has been consistently increasing in popularity, gaining Samuel recognition across continents.

HWS Style Blog Dresses Up Campus

By Blair Dector ‘15 Contributor “Fashion is the more than simply putting pieces together- it is an art. Style is a representation of the art that you have created to reflect who you are.” This is the motto that Shane Samuel ’13 lives by. Since the inception of his blog, Men in Style Society, last fall, Samuel has been merging fashion with campus life on a regular basis.

Showcasing the big-picture style of entire outfits as well as smaller details like watchstraps, Samuel is acting on a love for fashion that started at an early age. Samuel writes, designs, and styles photo-shoots for Men in Style Society, occasionally soliciting friends to serve as models and photographers.

It was Samuel’s experience as a fashion editorial intern at GQ Magazine last summer inspired him to start Men in Style Society. “I was actually surprised by how much GQ helped me with my blog because they helped me understand how to lay out the clothes, the way people should pose, and how to make clothes that fit one person to fit another.”

Using the HWS campus

and Geneva as a backdrop, one of Samuel’s most notable blog entries focused on androgynous style for women, featuring Gabrielle Ben-Yaish’15. “Talking about androgyny has definitely opened my eyes to using it more on my blog. I definitely want to have a shoot like Ralph Lauren where there are a bunch of guys lined up, but have [a few people be] women dressed up as men.”

Samuel posts every day, discussing everything from his favorite stores to Asian fashion for men. However, for shopaholics, the best section of Men in Style Society is Shoeicide. Featuring Sperry Topsiders in every color, boots, and stylish sneakers, Samuel emphasizes the importance of looking amazing from head to toe, and never neglecting the latter.

Although Samuel has a passion for fashion, he has more serious matters on his mind as well. Samuel plans on pursuing his PhD and JD degrees, hoping to become a corporate lawyer advocating for more representative marketing in the fashion industry.

- E. Blackwell

MOVIE TIMES

BOOK REVIEW:

The Woman in Black

by Susan Hill

By Jess Lynn ‘14 Opinions Co-Editor

Adele, along with her six Grammy awards also won Album of the Year.

Photo Courtesy of www.billboard.com

For his first performance at the Grammy Awards, Paul McCartney sang the classic, “My Valentine.”

Photo Courtesy of blog.zap2it.com

Set in the misty moors of southern England, with chilling fogs and creaky chairs, The Woman in Black seems to present the perfect formula for a goose-bump inducing thriller. This short novel, now a motion picture starring Daniel Radcliffe, tells of Arthur Kipps, a solicitor from London, who travels to the remote town of Crythin Gifford to handle the affairs of the late Alice Drablow, an old lonely spinster with a sordid past. What he finds at her estate, however, sends him running back to London.

This story builds up painfully slowly, and this isn’t helped by the dry, dull tone. While it does get steadily more exciting, the language is so simplistic and the sentence structure so mundane, the story loses a certain luster that surrounds other supernatural tales of the same mold. The subject matter is enough to speak for itself, but the monotonous language, while reminiscent of earlier mystery novels, leaves the mind wandering from an otherwise thrilling story.

Because the events build so slowly, I expected the climax to be some dramatic, ultimate and frightening happening, but it fell kind of flat. Just when Arthur is at his most panicked, the illustrious Samuel Daily rescues him, leaving the reader without a satisfying solution to the mystery. That is, until the very end of the novel.

The foggy marshes and Victorian time period brings the reader back into the Gothic era of literature, as both the setting and the language are reminiscent of novels such as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Psychological thrillers were popular in Shelley’s time, and The Woman in Black would fit seamlessly within this genre of chilly, Gothic ghost stories.

On the whole, this quick, weekend read is thoroughly entertaining. While there isn’t much literary merit, as is common with most mysterious horror stories, the building suspense of The Woman in Black is certainly worth cracking its spine. The story will undoubtedly translate well into film, and perhaps Daniel Radcliffe can liven the mundane language.

12

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2012

Opinions

The Write Stuff

By Alex Janney, Writing Colleague Coordinator & Caitlin Caron, Coordinator of Writing Initiatives

I do not have enough fingers and toes to account for how many times I have heard someone say “I hate writing” or some version of that phrase.

For many, writing is either loved or hated; there tends to be very little grey area. Yet, regardless of how people feel about writing, its necessity is undeniable. According to a report from The National Commission on Writing entitled Writing: A Ticket to Work…Or a Ticket Out, “remedying deficiencies in writing may cost American firms as much as $3.1 billion annually” (3). With that kind of price tag being attached to improving writing of employees, it’s hard to deny the importance of being able to write well. Fortunately, students of Hobart and William Smith Colleges should not be discouraged, as they have the ideal writing resource well within reach—Writing Colleagues.

Cheryl Forbes established the Writing Colleagues program in 1993 as a way to work with Hobart and William Smith Colleges’ emphasis on faceto-face student/faculty interactions. Since then, the program has placed Writing Colleagues in an array of classes from First-Year Seminars about birds and art, to Africana and Environmental Studies courses; there is no telling where a Writing Colleague might end up.

Writing Colleagues are skilled in various aspects of writing, which enables them to be versatile in the types of courses they are placed in and students they work with. Before being placed in a course, Writing Colleagues must complete a semester long, 300-level seminar that prepares them for their work through various texts and writing. Also, to complete the Writing Colleagues program, the students must complete a practicum in which they begin their colleaguing work with 1-2 students from a Writer’s Seminar.

Upon successful completion of the seminar, Writing Colleagues are placed in the field, in which they begin to work with their peers as well as faculty on all things writing related. While in their placement, Writing Colleagues are expected to complete all of the readings for the course, meet regularly with students and the professor, and meet regularly with the Writing Colleagues Coordinator.

For faculty who have Writing Colleagues in their courses, these extra hands, eyes, and ears can help with the development of writing assignments, hold brief writing tutorials on things like citation and peer review, and provide insight into the ways in which students are working through writing assignments.

For students, writing Colleagues are like having a personal writing assistant. While they won’t schedule appointments, pick up dry cleaning, or make coffee runs, Writing Colleagues will collaborate with students on an individual basis for 15-20 minutes a week; they will enable students to decide what aspects of writing need attention and will work with students throughout the writing process. Writing Colleagues might even hold meetings in the café, so the possibility of coffee isn’t completely out of the question.

If students are looking for someone to mark up their paper with a red pen, circle every grammatical and punctuation error, and tell them exactly what they should do without regard for a student’s writing voice or style, then they should probably look elsewhere. Writing Colleagues facilitate the writing process; they do not direct it. In addition to being knowledgeable about various facets of writing, Writing Colleagues also have an open line of communication with the faculty they work with, which means that they can provide students with a stronger sense of what their instructor is looking for in their writing.

While many classes having writing colleagues, not all courses do, which is when the Writing Colleagues at the Center for Teaching and Learning can prove to be an indispensable resource. The Writing Colleagues at the Center for Teaching and Learning have completed all of the same coursework as those with a placement, but they must apply and interview for the position. Unlike Writing Colleagues in the field, those in CTL provide writing assistance to students who have made an appointment or who drop-in during the designated drop-in hours. Writing Colleagues in CTL may work with multiple students during the semester, rather than the same 15 students like those in a placement.

In order to provide writing assistance to those students who do not have a Writing Colleague in their course, who may miss out on making an appointment with a Writing Colleague in CTL or who just can’t seem to make the drop-in sessions, the current Writing Colleagues in practice will be offering a weekly writing tip in “The Write Stuff” section of The Herald.

Each week a different Writing Colleague will be offering his or her advice to help you cope with the weekly writing challenge ahead. Want to know who will be doling out this advice? Take a look at the faces and profiles of the current Writing Colleagues for Spring 2012.

Meghan Gaucher ‘13 Current Placement: Writer’s Seminar 100 with Professor Conrey “Writing is like music, weaving together various texts can create a beautiful fluidity and style.”

Photos Courtesy of Cailtin Caron. Kevin Colton and Writing Colleagues

Opinions Ali Schreiber ‘13 Current Placement: Gender and Sexuality in Modern Africa with Professor Thornberry “Writing is like cooking. Each type of paper differs from one another and needs something special to it, just like each dish needs its own special ingredients to make it taste good.”

Bonnie Bushnell ‘14 Current Placement: Writer’s Seminar 100 with Professor Conrey “Writing is like the weather. There are good days and bad days, but even when suffering from writer’s block, there are ways to avoid the rain.”

Maggie Manko ‘14 Current Placement: Black Earth with Professor McCorkle “Writing is like a movie, it takes planning, editing and attention to detail before you can achieve the final product.”

iPhone, My Phone, No Phone

Dan Dechert ‘14 Current Placement: Rhetorics of Feminist Activism with Professor Polak “Writing is like fishing, without preparation, patience, and a little teamwork you’ll never land the big one.”

By Haleigh MacCloy ‘15 Herald Contributor

Photo Courtesy of vehiclefixer.com

Daphney Etienne ‘14 Current Placement: Ghettoscapes with Profess Maclean “Writing is like anything else in life, the more you practice, the better you get.”

Scott Earl ‘14 Current Placement: Black Earth with Professor McCorkle and Writing Colleague for CTL “Writing is like any other thing you do: it takes practice and effort to do it well, but you can save yourself some time and trouble if you let others help you.”

Yuliana Baez ‘13 Current Placement: ESL II with Professor Janney “Writing is like chores. You just have to know how to do them some of them could be really fun and others could be really boring; depending on how you approach them and your interests.”

Jocelyn Rapp ‘13 Current Placement: Environmental Justice in Film with Professor Helfrich

Eli Jarvis ‘13 Current Placement: Foundations of Africana Studies with Professor Pinto

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2012

Kevin Pollard ‘3 Current Placement: Foundations of Africana Studies with Professor Pinto and Writing Colleague for CTL “Writing is like completing a puzzle. There are many pieces that go into it, and you have to match up similar pieces first like paragraphs. In the end, the pieces all fit together to make one big picture.”

The Price of Teaching

By Jessica Lynn ‘14 Opinions Co-Editor It is the general consensus in This semester I am placed modern America that we need better in Penn Yan Elementary school, teachers. In response to this need, another thirty-minute drive from HWS has designed a wonderful campus. I drive a relatively fuelTeacher Education program that efficient car, and I’m still spending places students in grade school $20 a week just on gas. The classrooms from the first semester reason I’m offended is that carof involvement. While there are less students are making it to their immense benefits to interacting placements without this high price. with real students this early in I feel as though I am being training, my bank account is taking penalized because I have access to a serious hit. a car. Some students are receiving I am involved in the Education the same teaching experience, but program and in love with teaching, without being forced to face the but the travel expenses to and from high price of gas. This vast gap is, I my tutoring placement are taking a believe, unfair. toll both on my wallet and my stress Something has got to give. I level. am not an affluent student, and I On the form prospective simply cannot afford to pay this teachers fill out prior to receiving much without reimbursement. The their placement location, students Education program needs to either are required to state whether or not begin compensating students for he or she has a car. This answer is the large amount they spend on gas a damning statement. If you have a or talking to the Geneva schools car on campus, and are involved in to secure more local placements. the Education program, you will be It is not fair or right that I am placed in a school in a whole other forced to pay out of my pocket for county. a placement I did not choose, while Last semester I was placed in other students get to walk to their Middlesex Elementary School, a placements free of charge. thirty-minute drive from campus.

I don’t mean to sound While I wasn’t thrilled with the unappreciative, as I am grateful for distance, I figured that I would be the hands-on teaching experience placed in a school closer to home the Education program has afforded the following semester, and took me, but I take issue with the varying solace in this hope. Unfortunately, amount of money students in the this hope never came to fruition. placement must pay or not pay.

It’s your camera, it’s your calendar, it’s your address book, it’s your alarm, it’s your gaming device, but most importantly, it’s your primary means of communication. It’s all in one little device. Poof! It – the precious cellphone – is gone.

This is real, folks. It happened to me two weeks ago at Kappa Sigma Fraternity. I was there for the annual Highlighter Part II Party. I was no fraternity virgin, so I was worry-free when I threw my brand new winter jacket (which held my keys, student ID, and phone) on a booth in a dark corner. The worry swarmed over me at the end of the night when my jacket was nowhere to be found. My mind was all over the place: “It’s cold outside! I’m going to be freezing walking back to my dorm! Wait, what was in my jacket? My keys, my ID, myPHONE?!” There was no room to worry about my jacket, keys, or ID. All I wanted to find was my phone.

I was hoping against hope that it was just a temporary misplacement and that by the time I woke up the next day my phone would reappear.

But no, that didn’t happen. I used four different peoples’ phones make calls. By the time I finished using the fourth floor mate’s phone I realized you can only mooch so much before you feel like “that kid.” It had been forty-eight hours since my phone went missing and I had to accept the fact that it was really gone.

When I got over the initial shock, I had to decide on alternative forms of

communication: Facebook, email, iChat, and (horror of all horrors) face-to-face interaction. Naturally, as an American college student, I had a backup electronic device: my laptop. So my new phone became iChat, where I would video chat with (call) my parents, and Facebook, where I communicated with (texted) friends. At the risk of sounding lazy, that was a lot of work.

I checked my Facebook and email constantly. And if I didn’t, there were consequences-unexpected obstacles kept friends or myself waiting in the lobby of Scandling and on the steps of the library. And talk about distracting! As if I don’t check Facebook enough, the constant thought in the back of my mind “what if someone is trying to contact me?” forced me to keep Facebook open as I did my homework. I don’t want to flatter myself though…

Thanks to my new communication system I survived. I went approximately thirteen days without a phone, received a new jacket as an early birthday present, and, confusingly, had my keys and student ID returned to me.

So a word of advice to all my fellow party-goers: Either hold on to your belongings for dear life or don’t bring anything you remotely care about, or don’t want to replace, to a crowded Highlighter Party. Maybe buy a “fracket” (a cheap or old jacket devoted just for the frats) or wear a satchel and don’t take it off. It’s a crazy world out there.

We have to learn to hold on to our beloved possessions.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2012

Health & Sports Alpine Ski Team: A Quest for Nations

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Photo Courtesy of hwsathletics.com

By Caley Goldblatt ‘12 Herlad Contributor Hobart alpine skier, Bart Flynn ‘12, won both the Slalom and Giant Slalom races at Bristol Mountain last month, beating racers from Cornell, Syracuse, Alfred, RIT, and Buffalo Division all III varsity teams. Last year, the HWS Alpine Ski team just barely missed qualifying to compete in the USCSA D-III National Championships.

“At the end of the season we tied for a national qualifying spot and unfortunately lost in the tiebreaker,” Hobart cocaptain Bart Flynn said.

“Even though we didn’t get to go it showed us that it was possible with the team we have. That said, we have the same team this year, so we have high expectations about the possibility of qualifying!”

Together with William Smith co-captain Sarah Wilson ‘12, Flynn provides leadership to an all-star team that only has club status. For funding, the leaders allocate to the BAC every year and usually scrape up just enough funding to just get by. Unfortunately, this financial burden does deter perspective team members from signing up. Though they

pay most of their traveling cost and all training cost out of pocket, that has not held them back from being a force to be reckoned with on the slopes.

The USCSA Mideast (NY) regionals are coming up on Feb. 25th and such qualifiers and Flynn and Weston Traub ’14 will give them a fighting chance at nations.

Both Flynn and Traub have been dominating the men’s slalom category while Rebekah Kallgren is generally a top 5-10 finisher for William Smith. The alpine ski team has managed to maintain a level of excellence despite not having the proper funding or varsity status.

“So as far as a goal for the season, I want to do my best to put the team in a position to be competitive,” Flynn ’12 explains. “That means focusing on my own skiing and competing at the highest level I can, in addition to supporting the training and racing of my teammates.

By doing that I’m hopeful that we can become more competitive and closer as a team....and of course have a great time doing it.”

OBESITY continued from Page 1 can play outdoors safely, but with Kinect for XBOX 360, your body is the controller,” says Yusuf Mehdi, chief officer of Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment Business, “Our games get kids kicking, jumping and running right in their rooms.”

Drew Brees, who can win Super Bowls and break passing records also has excellent gaming skills. His involvement with N.F.L.’s Play 60 has created a challenge for a group of regional kids in a track and field match through Kinect XBOX 360 on Super Bowl Sunday. Brees, an endorser of the product, explains: “The stuff that’s so much fun now is the dancing,” he says. “It’s hilarious. It’s interactive, and we get a kick out of that.”

Track and field, however, was not something Brees thrived at; more than a dozen of the participating children beat him in the 100-meter dash. Following the event, the participants were each given his or her own XBOX 360 Kinect video game console, a black box that can sense a user’s voice commands and movements. For many of the youngsters, this console was not their first gaming system.

The large consumer market of Kinect is only one of the highly advanced technological innovations of the recent century. Video games and gaming systems have been evolving from hand-held devices to large, intrinsic video game consoles.

In 2011, the U.S. gaming industry as a whole is worth 65 billion dollars, an extremely profitable market for producers such as Microsoft.

The producers of Halo, for example, sold 2 million units in the first 24 hours in Sept.

of 2009, according to Yahoo News. N.F.L.’s partnership with XBOX 360 Kinect has launched Kinect into the spotlight, creating an alternate world of exercise for many of its users.

XBOX 360 and the N.F.L. announced a multimillion dollar partnership that made XBOX the official sponsor for N.F.L. Play 60, according to The New York Times. The contract has allowed the organization to promote active living while having fun with Kinect for XBOX 360. Dennis Durkin, vice president of Microsoft Corp.’s Entertainment Business says, “We believe that XBOX 360 Brand represents many of the same values as the N.F.L., including fun, fitness and entertainment.”

Kinect with XBOX 360 has sponsored 250 million dollars for Play 60 events. Over the six years since Microsoft signed the sponsorship with the N.F.L., the project has created 1,500 youth events and 100 fitness zones for the future generations across the United States, according to the official Play60 website.

After the Super Bowl when New York fans celebrated the victory of their beloved Giants and New England fans sulked about the loss, there was still some unition between the opposing fan clubs: Super Bowl Commercials. Some ads will immediately be forgotten and some will stick, making an impact on its viewers.

Do the Super Bowls ads stack up to what people want to see or what they need to see?

Among many other hilarious and clever ads, the N.F.L. Play 60 ad touched on the serious crisis of child obesity and promoted awareness of their cause and their mission.

Kristen Kush ‘12 shoots over an RPI player on Saturday, Feb 11.

William Smith Basketball Honors Women in Sports

By Avery Share ‘15 Herald Contributor

The William Smith Herons basketball team exchanged their usual green and white jerseys for pink uniforms in their games on Friday, Feb. 10th and Saturday Feb. 11th, in honor of National Women and Girls in Sports Day (NGWSD). A variety of events celebrating NGWSD were planned by the Heron StudentAthlete Advisory Committee, SAAC, in addition to honoring the seniors.

Saturday’s game vs. Rensselear Polytechnic Institute was the final home game for the team’s two seniors.

National Girls and Women in Sports Day is a day to acknowledge the past and recognize current sports achievements,” says the National Girls and Women in Sport website.

“The positive influence of sports participation, and the continuing struggle for equality and access for women in sports.” To celebrate NGWSD at William Smith both the SAAC and basketball team collaborated to plan a fun-filled weekend of events and activities for girls and women from the William Smith and Geneva communities. Co-President Kierstan Hamilton ‘12 says the SAAC mission, “to promote athletics across campus and to encourage men and women to become a part of the campus community through service and other various events” was kept in mind while organizing the activities for Saturday’s game. Girls received free sports bags and popcorn, in addition to free face painting by the William Smith Basketball Team, autographs from players, and a half-time relay race. “We had 14 participants in the relay race,” says Hamilton.

“Most participants were girls at the elementary school level.”

One goal of NGWSD is not only to attract Hobart and William Smith students and staff, but girls from Geneva as well. To get the word out to the community, the SAAC talked to principles and hung up posters throughout the local schools.

The turnout of Geneva girls was good, however, Hamilton explains, “We always wish for more girls to

show up year to year.” Weather as well as events can be a major turnoff for local girls. In addition to the SAAC’s planned events, the William Smith basketball team sold t-shirts to benefit the Embrace Your Sisters breast cancer foundation at the game on Friday night.

Not only was the event celebrated at William Smith, but other colleges across the nation held events honoring the annually celebrated NGWSD. Other universities, such as University of Rhode Island and University of North Carolina Asheville, organized events similar to that of William Smith with free admission and activities with an emphasis on girls from surrounding communities, according to the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport website.

“This is a community event designed to expose women and girls to a variety of activities that will inspire them to lead active, healthy lives,” the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport website says of UNC’s celebrations.

National Women and Girls in Sports Day began in 1987, in remembrance of Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman. It runs hand-inhand with the objectives of the Title XI bill passed in 1972 to promote equal rights for women in high school and collegiate athletics. Today, the event is celebrated across the country with various activities and events “honoring the achievements and encouraging the participation of girls and women in sports” according to the NGWSD website.

The William Smith basketball team finished the weekend with one loss on Friday night to Skidmore College and a heart-wrenching 60-58 senior-day victory over Rensselear.

The young girls of Geneva also had a great time supporting the basketball team throughout the weekend. “The weekend went smoothly and was a great success,” says Hamilton. “The girls got to participate in the events and the Herons won the game.”

Following the game, the women joined each other on court for a post-game congratulatory hug.

Photo Courtesy of Jacqueline Murphy