1.29.10

the

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

FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2010

VOLUME CXXXI ISSUE 15

GENEVA, NY

Board of Trustees Approves Plans for the New Performing Arts Center

By Belinda Littlefield ’11 Editor in Chief On Sept. 21, 2006, Hobart and William Smith Colleges launched the Capital Campaign, a fundraising effort of $160 million that has been unequaled in the Colleges’ history.

Recently, this objective was reached and the Board of Trustees made the decision to allot the money for a new performing arts center. The necessity of a performance arts center has been discussed since the 60s, but economic constraints have precluded the necessity from being resolved.

The reason for the Board’s decision was made in the fear that not putting an equal importance on the performing arts will run the risk of losing good students who have varied interests such as politics and theatre.

Further, having attained the Capital Campaign’s goal of $160 million, they have a set a new goal of $200 million.

President Gearan, told the Herald, “The performing arts center has been a clear priority on campus for the Board, faculty, and departments.” However, President Gearan has also informed the Herald that both a performing arts center and a science building are two of the most expensive buildings to afford due to the requirement for expensive equipment and design re-

quirements. In that regard, the fundraising committee is now actively fundraising for the $28 million necessary to build the performing arts center.

These efforts are being carried out by a committee of Trustees that is chaired

by Hobart alumnus Reynold Levy ’66, the President of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City.

Over the course of the past year the Colleges have retained the services of the Graham Gund Architects Inc. in Cambridge, MA to The Graham & Gund, Inc. plan above shows the front of the new performing draw up the plans arts center, which will be built directly across the street from Scandling for the performing Center in the south end of Medbury parking lot. arts center. This architectural firm described the designs for the per- being most excited about the “synerhas designed for both Boston Bal- forming arts center as having the gy of putting the dance, music, and let as well as Kenyon College’s mu- “vitality of a mini-Lincoln Center.”

ARTS continued on Page 3 sic building. The Gund partnership President Gearan confesses to

HWS Students Bring Hope to Haiti

By Annica Crouse ’10 Herald Contributor

Photo courtesy of: www.sportsmansblog.com

Harr y Coover ’41: Inventor of Super Glue

By Kelsey Lee ’12 Herald Contributor

Photo courtesy of: Gabrielle Perez

In the aftermath of one of the worst earthquakes to hit Haiti in 200 years, students from Hobart and William Smith Colleges are stepping up to help make a difference. The “Hope For Haiti Dance Party,” which took place at the barn on Saturday, Jan. 23, will be donating all of it’s proceeds to help the people of Haiti get back on their feet.

Students Innis Baah ’10, Morgan Hopkins ‘10, and Gabrielle Perez ‘11 headed this

event in conjunction with cultural clubs on campus as part of an ongoing initiative.

“We have been tabling for the past week and as of right now we have made around $750 since tabling on Wednesday,” said Gabrielle Perez ‘11. “We will continue to table until the 29th.

During tabling we are collecting money, clothes, cans, and toiletries for relief.”

HOPE continued on Page 2

Campus Happenings

A&E

WS C o ngr es s Update

“Pugili s t Spe c i a l i s t ”

C TL H elp s P lan Ahead

From chief justices to children’s book authors, pediatricians to founders of illustrious theaters, and of course possibly our most celebrated alumnus, the first female doctor Elizabeth Blackwell, our academic institution is proud to boast several remarkable alumni who have spent their adult lives leading, forging new ground, and innovating.

HWS is committed to the principles of camaraderie,

justice, and service, cultivating its students as developing citizens who live and will go on to live lives of consequence and altruism.

One such alumnus was celebrated for his extraordinary and highly inventive achievements at the Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia this January. He was celebrated as an outstanding inventor and a first-rate example COOVER continued on Page 2

Opinions

Sports

Book of t he We e k

D e ba t i ng t h e I s s ue s: S h ould Ne w York S pli t ?

W i n t e r S p o r t s R e cap

Get In v o lved!

“Scenes f r om Ke ra l a ”

Don’t Jump!

P r e s ident’s F o r um Series

Legion Plagued by Poor Plot

U p co m i n g G am e s

2

FRIDAY, January 29, 2010

The Herald

COOVER continued from Page 1

Established 1879 By and for the Students of Hobart and William Smith Colleges Belinda Littlefield, Editor-in-Chief Rebecca Dennee, Campus Happenings Editor Tim Hollinger, Opinions Editor Liz Witbeck, A&E Editor Carrie Stevens, Sports Editor Amy Nimon, Photography Editor Erin Houck, Advertising Director Contributors Jennifer Hollander Belinda Littlefield Liz Witbeck Melissa Warner Carrie Stevens

Annica Crouse Emma Daley Tim Hollinger Hannah Semaya

Copy Editing Belinda Littlefield Daphne Etienne Cory Andrews Rebecca Dennee

Distribution Belinda Littlefield Jennifer Hollander Annica Crouse

Photo courtesy of: cdn.physorg.com

Layout Belinda Littlefield Rebecca Dennee

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

Must include the: 1. Name and Class Year 2. Individual phone number or e-mail 3. Articles must be between 250-700 words E-mail submissions must be made via file attachment.

Please send it as a .doc file.

Please send pictures as separate attachments.

If criteria are not met, the Herald may be unable to print submission.

HWS is Goin’ to the Dogs

By Jennifer Hollander ’10 Advertising Director

Plume Erussard

Plume, how old are you and what breed?

I’m about thirteen and a Brittney Spaniel Mix. Do you have any toys you really like?

Lucy thinks I’m a toy.

Do you have any special talents, Plume?

Oui! I can understand French, English, and Spanish.

What does you mom do for the Colleges?

She is a professor of English and European Studies.

What can you tell us about that?

The medieval era is interesting.

And weird.

of the proactive citizen HWS strives to mold each of its students into.

Harry Coover ’41 received Hobart College’s Alumni Association’s most prestigious honor, the Medal of Excellence, which is granted to a former student who has lived in accordance with his alma mater’s principles and has brought honor to The Colleges.

Dr. Coover is the inventor of cyanoacrylate, or, as we know it, Super Glue. It is encountered under various tradenames,likeLiquiBand,SurgiSeal, and Nexaband. We’ve all used it for broken cups and minor construction projects, but few of us realize that the tenacious bonding agent was and is still used to save people’s lives.

The adhesive is excellent at bonding body tissue, and while this can be inconvenient to us during dayto-day use, it has been extraordinarily beneficial during surgery with the absence of sutures. It has also been used as a forensic tool, able to reveal dormant fingerprints on surfaces like glass and paint. In the early 1970s, it was popular in veterinary surgical equipment.

Prior to Coover’s invention, synthetic glues were made of rubber, animal bones, or starch. Super Glue is made of cyanoacrylate monomers, which form long, strong chains, especially in the presence of hydroxide ions. In 1942, Coover and Fred Joyner of Kodak Laboratories were trying to make an especially translucent plastic appropriate for sights used in telescopes, firearms, and measuring instruments. Although not suitable

for optical devices, they did find that cyanoacrylates were extremely strong and fast-acting binding agents. Thus the first real “Super” Glue was born.

Coover was the first individual to realize that cyanoacrylates could be used on the human body, specifically to join damaged veins and soft internal organs. He first utilized his new invention during the Vietnam War, temporarily mending the internal organs of injured soldiers until surgeons were available to operate.

Alumni Association President and plastic surgeon, Dr. Robert Gilman, says he uses cyanoacrylate during nearly every one of his operations and lauded Coover for his resourcefulness at the awards ceremony. Clearly Coover’s invention is an enduringly functional product, and he certainly deserves acclamation for creating the invaluable product that we so often take for granted.

Coover is the recipient of many more awards and distinctions. He received the Southern Chemist Man of the Year Award, the Earle B. Barnes Award for Leadership in Chemical Research Management, and the Maurice Holland Award. He is also a medalist for the Industrial Research Institute and was inaugurated into the National Inventor’s Hall of Fame in Akron, Ohio.

After receiving his B.S. from Hobart College in 1941, Coover went on to earn his Ph.D. from Cornell University. He now lives in Kingsport, Tennessee, and has three children.

HOPE continued from Page 1 Students who wish to help should keep their eyes and ears open for upcoming events supporting this cause. On Feb. 4 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. there will be a Kombit Kreyol Open Mic event organized by Youdlyn Moreau ’13 in conjunction with CAB. Musician Rudy Currence will join students for this Open Mic event.

More fundraising ideas are in the works and will be coming soon. The Hope for Haiti Dance Party hoped to draw 100-200 people, and raised $662 from the party alone. Thanks goes to all of the students who organized this

event, as well as those who donated and attended, for making the event a success.

College Housing

Apartments starting at $800.00 Houses starting at $1300.00 Call 315-759-1434 Email: DDCLA22@Gmail.com

3

FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2010

Campus Happenings ARTS continued from Page 1 theatre departments together.” He compared this synergetic effect to the cooperative efforts that occurred when Career Services, the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning, and Global Education were all put in Trinity.

The performing arts center will be located in a part of what is now Medbury parking lot, which is directly behind both Medbury dorms and Williams Hall. When asked about the availability of parking, President Gearan assured the Herald that parking will not decrease as a result of this addition; instead, the parking will be shifted north and three houses that have previously been allotted for demolition will be replaced with parking.

In creating the design for the new center, the Colleges had to take into consideration whether they wanted to focus on the academic or the performing aspect of the building. President Gearan pointed out that the availability of large performance spaces either already on campus or the Smith Opera House downtown preclude the necessity of a 700 seat auditorium as many other colleges have constructed but rarely use.

Therefore, the Colleges have chosen a design that focuses on academics with the inclusion of five performance and rehearsal spaces with adaptable seating, removable floor panels, Design plans include three different buildings, each of which will separately host as well as a sound dampening design. The plans, dance, theatre, and music, and will converge in the lobby/atrium above. further, include facilities for students interested in lighting and sound design as well as stage management. The exterior design will incorporate a cated behind Medbury dorms and the perform- cally greater emphasis on the performing arts by circular green similar to the quad that will be lo- ing arts center. The hope is to place a metaphori- locating it in such a prominent place on campus.

William Smith Congress Update

By Jennifer Hollander ’10 Herald Contributor This past Tuesday was the first Congress meeting of the spring semester. The executive board began the meeting by offering delicious cookies for the quorum.

Next, the treasurer, Kara Ruskin ’12 explained what was required for a student wishing to occupy the open BAC slot.

She explained that the position requires a student to be willing to dedicate two weekends from her semester in order to help with the distribution of funds; her vote will carry a lot of power so the student must be responsible and judge fairly. Petitions are currently available. There was an open spot on the Committee on Academic Affairs as well; this position was filled quickly by the quorum. The student here will help to evaluate goals and academia.

Last semester the yearbook requested $10,000 from the excess funds. Congress agreed to give

it to them but Hobart Student Government left stipulations. They were that if the Yearbook went into debt again: they could not ask for money again and they would lose their club status for four years. The quorum began to discuss these terms.

They felt that a fouryear ban would destroy the yearbook. Given that the Echo and Pine has been an important part of HWS tradition, destroying it was bad. They also did not agree with the “not asking for money again” clause. Instead, it was worked to be, “not asking money from the student governments” as not allowing them to ask for money at all prevents from receiving donations or fundraising.

HSG and WSC would like to

a Mitch Messin “Linkage” 29 Friday, Januar y Galler y 7:00pm @ Davis se Houghton Hou

Want to Write For

The Herald?

We Look Forward To Hearing From You!

having her dorm broken into earlier this week. She asked if the school could change to a swipe card system; many colleges have this system and the student believed it might prevent unwanted persons from entering less often than they normally do. Hopefully, the executive board will look into this.

Will Gore, the Hobart Sophomore class president explained what he and Colleen were planning on for the Spring Concert.

As Kid Cudi fell through, they are hoping to bring in a new artist. They have reserved the Smith Opera House for Saturday, April17.

A poll has been created with three artists and a fill in.

The requested amount for the concert will still be $20,000. He and Colleen will re-propose at the joint meeting next week. All students are encouraged to attend the joint meeting to express concerns or opinions about the concert.

an Sulliv s s e l Head resents: P The e r t a The

t”

cialis list Spe

m 9 @ 8p 2 . n a J Friday, Street e g n a ch 427 Ex

Join the

Upcoming Events

HERALD

Friday, Jan. 29th ”: Opening Reception • 7:00pm- Mitch Messina, “Linkage @ Davis Gallery, Houghton House

atre Presents: • 8:00pm- The Headless Sullivan The Exchange Street 427 “Pugilist Specialist” @

Review a Concert

Saturday, Jan. 30th ce Making • 9:00am- Sustainable Saturdays: Sau @ Chaplain Lesley Adams

atre Presents: • 8:00pm- The Headless Sullivan The Street “Pugilist Specialist” @ 427 Exchange

• 9:30pm- 80’s Party @ the Barn Sunday, Jan. 31st all Tournament • 7:30pm- Protect Your Balls Dodgeb @ Bristol Fieldhouse

herald@hws.edu!

“Pugi

donate $1000 from the excess funds to the relief in Haiti. Currently, there is about $112,000 in the excess fund so donating this amount will not leave a great dent. The quorum discussed donating again in about another month and continuing to make small donations to the relief efforts.

The final item on the agenda was the discussion of Founder’s Day. Founder’s Day celebrates William Smith, the man, for founding the women’s college.

It usually occurs in the fall but this time will occur in the spring. The event was yesterday in the Vandervort room and acknowledges many great women at William Smith.

One member of the quorum brought up the concerns after

Monday, Feb. 1st • 7:30pm- Professionals in Residence: Trinity 305 “A Career in Sports Psychology” @

Wednesday, Feb. 3rd & Munchies •12:15pm- Bach: Music, Meditation @ St. John’s Chapel

Thursday, Feb. 4th ments for Seniors •9:00am-4:30pm- Cap/Gown Measure @ Library Atrium

Interview Big Names Learn New Things About Campus Get To Know Your Classmates Learn InDesign Take A Position of Leadership Bring Issues on Campus to Light Make the Paper Your Own

Meetings: Tuesdays 7pm @ Creedon Room

4

FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2010

Campus Happenings Learning How to Plan Ahead

By Jennifer Hollander ’10 Herald Contributor Nestled in the second floor of the Library, the Center for Teaching and Learning- or CTLoffers a variety of great services for students. The Herald spoke with staff members at CTL about the services they offer and how they can be of great use for students.

An example of this is the Teaching Fellows program they sponsor. This program has student tutors in a variety of fields such as biology, Spanish, and philosophy; these students will either help to focus on specific classes in the respective department or for the department as a whole.

CTL also has Writing Colleagues. These are students work on a scheduled routine and can help students with important

papers. They also help to arrange study mentors if it is deemed necessary by the professor and student. There are a great number of student athletes who tutor others.

This shows that CTL’s student staff leads active non academic lives.

The staff specializes in a variety of areas, just like the students do. They may help in overseeing honors write-ups, study abroad essays, scholarship essays, and even have some advice for graduate applications.

While their advice for graduate schools, the Herald was informed, is not to the degree of Career Services, they can help with editing. They would further like students to know that they need to make appointments with

the necessary staff or student personnel. This is because they need to help many students; making a designated appointment allows them to focus wholly on a single student’s needs.

Life on campus is not all about studying and tests. Students are advised to have planners so that they may incorporate extracurricular and time with friends while at HWS. For this, CTL offers a variety of different schedules one can fill in.

The staff explained to the herald that students should use a planner that best works for them, even if it is not one CTL created.

For students that feel their academic life is in check but want to add more to their extracurricular

Photo courtesy of: blogs.kcls.org

life, it is advised that they take baby steps. Devote time to one club at a time; add more when possible.

Planners and student mentors can also help in arranging a schedule or determining how much is too much.

In the end, CTL offers a wonderful array of services and can help any student. There is no shame in needing to ask anyone for help understanding a problem; students who ask are students who tend to do better academically.

Author David Relin Visits HWS

By Andrew Donovan ’12 Herald Contributor The first installment of the President’s Forum Series was held Tuesday at the Smith Opera House with guest David Oliver Relin who co-authored “Three Cups of Tea.” The entire Geneva community came together to read the book and then welcomed the co-author who shared stories about his trips to Pakistan. The Herald’s Rebecca Dennee and Andrew Donovan spoke to Relin before his presentation at the Smith Opera House.

Rebecca Dennee: How did you get involved in the project originally?

David Oliver Relin: I had been writing about these kinds of subjects at that point for nearly 20 years and Greg approached the editor of one of the places I work for, Parade Magazine, and asked if we could be introduced. I was at my friend’s wedding in New York City and I was called away. The editor said ‘there’s someone you’ve really got to meet’ and I came into the office. I got back to the wedding to see my friend get married but snuck over and met Greg. He told me what he was trying to do, showed me maps and charts of where he was working and asked if I would write a book on what he was doing.

I said I can’t imagine anything more important than that at this time in history.

areas of Pakistan with and without Greg. I interviewed as many people as I could that he worked with. I interviewed guys he had been on expedition with and climbed with, interviewed village leaders, and religious leaders and students and teachers at the school. And then I was writing, there was a lot of pressure for the book to come out. I was writing when I was traveling then I then I would run it by Greg and say did I get anything wrong and that was the process. The funny thing was that the publisher said to us that you really had to hurry and you need to get this out because the problem with the Islamic world might be over by the time the book’s published. I kind of laughed about that and said I think we’ve got plenty of time; I want to do this properly.

Andrew Donovan: The original subtitle for the book was “One man’s mission to stop terrorism one school at a time.” Some suggest that when the subtitle was changed, book sales improved. What are your thoughts on that?

David Oliver Relin: I don’t really think that had much of an effect. I think the book took off when it came out in paperback and a lot of books do that. Dealing with the publishing industry is a very confusing process and they were at the time, very gung-ho about putting the word “terrorism” on the book. Neither Greg nor I wanted that on the book. I would have been happy if the book had no subtitle whatsoever.

The book didn’t do particularly well in hardcover with the original subtitle. When it came out in paperback, it sold much better and it had a much more powerful subtitle, promoting one man’s mission to promote peace. I personally hate subtitles. I think they treat the audience like idiots and I’d rather they figure it out without having it boiled down to a sentence.

Andrew Donovan: How do you feel the mission is going, one man’s mission to promote peace on school at a time?

David Oliver Relin: I actually think amazingly well. The book has had a measurable impact on U.S. foreign policy. All of the generals who are responsible for running the Kevin Colton/Photographer war in Afghanistan have read “Three Cups of Tea.” As I understand, their wives put it on their bedside tables; that’s the way it got into their hands. Admiral Mike Mullen, the Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was interviewed recently. He’s been trying to create a close relationship with General Kayani who runs the Pakistani military. They asked why he was meeting with him so often and what they were trying to do. Admiral Mullen said, “well I guess you could say we’ve had two cups of tea so far and I’m working on the third.” I’ve also heard that people at the state department when they were arguing for more funds to build schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan went into meetings holding copies of “Three Cups of Tea.” So it’s pretty amazing to see that kind of impact.

Rebecca Dennee: Describe the process you went through to write the book You said you followed Greg for about two years. How did you go about writing the story?

David Oliver Relin: I knew that a story as big and complicated as this, that I had to get to as many of the places that I could and I had to interview as many people involved with the story as I could. I just immediately started traveling. I made three trips to the northern

Rebecca Dennee: What are you working on now?

David Oliver Relin: My new book comes out next year. It’s called “See How They Shine.” It’ll be published by Random House, I’m writing it right now. I’ve spent the last two years traveling with a surgeon, an eye surgeon from Nepal and an eye surgeon from American who’ve invented a very inexpensive way to cure a lot of the blindness in the world.

It Is Never Too Late to Get Involved!

Club of the Week: Anime Club Anime Central is a club that encourages the discussion of different Asian media. We watch Anime and Asian Dramas every week, and try to keep the selection as diversified as possible; in other words we watch all sorts of animes and dramas from different genres and countries.

We decide on what we want to watch that week by voting so all of the member get a say in what they want and are interested in. There are two new divisions of Anime Central that look deeper into the different types of media in asian entertainment and entertainment in general. The Gaming Guild focuses on all types of games and Soup Opera Sundays, which is the viewing of Asian Dramas of all kinds.

We host Movie events where we watch either an animated movie or live action drama movie and usually have a faculty hosted discussion afterwards to understand some of the underlining issues in the films. We also host sub-free dance parties for fun and a study break and game night at the end of the semester so people can relax before finals.

If your club is interested in being this week’s Club of the Week, send us a short profile (100-200 words) along with a picture. Submissions are due by 5:00 p.m. on Monday nights.

5

FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2010

Opinions Don’t Jump!

By Tim Hollinger ’11 Opinions Editor “That’s not him!” I kept thinking. They’ve got the wrong guy and they’re not telling us. For the last few weeks my dismay had been growing. The colleges were pouring energy into an all-out PR campaign for the first Presidents Forum of 2010, students were told to read the book Three Cups of Tea over the winter recess and then hear the CO-author talk about his experiences at the start of spring semester. Everyone paying attention was excited—except me.

It’s easy to jump to conclusions based on what you think you know. I’ve found that experience is more valuable than impressions.

David Oliver Relin wasn’t the protagonist of the book. He was just some writer that had helped Greg Mortenson tell his story.

Mortenson, on the other hand, had changed the world with his humanitarian work. He was the guy the colleges should have booked,

who deserved the PR. I went to the lecture anyway-I’ve got a thing for journalists. I was stunned; the Smith was packed.

Book groups, high school, middle school, and college students spilled into the last rows of the balcony. I shook my head: the colleges had really pulled one over this time.

President Gearan thanked every other person in the opera house, and then Relin took the stage. I was enthralled.

One of the most important things I’ve learned at HWS is how little I know. It’s easy to jump to conclusions based on what you think you know. I’ve found that experience is more valuable than impressions. I thought, almost hoped, Relin would flop. I was pleasantly surprised to witness one of the best Presidents Forum speakers in the last few years.

Relin was passionate, smart, funny, and had, in fact, changed the world. He may not have built over 130 schools in remote areas in and around Afghanistan and Pakistan, or performed surgery, returning sight to over fifty people a day but he did change, and continues to change, the world by telling the stories of humanitarians who are

Do you have questions that you want to ask upcoming

President’s Forum Speakers?

If so, email them to herald@hws.edu, and maybe your question will be asked during the Herald’s next interview.* *All questions should be submitted one week before the relevant President’s Forum

Photo courtesy of: www.sagecomm.com

often unsung superheroes. Relin shows us that anyone who wants to- a lost hiker, a restless doctor, or you- can make a huge difference.

Relin explained that one of the keys to making positive change is that it takes time and you need to listen to people. You can’t parachute and hand out a few Band-Aids; you need to know what people want and need.

The theme resonated because people today seem to be looking for quick fixes; America and the world face huge challenges and people are holding out their hands, assuming there’s an easy panacea. There isn’t.

We need to stop expecting solutions to appear, and start putting in the work to find them. One way towards solutions is to start listening to each other. I assumed Relin would give a boring speech. I listened, and was surprised by what I heard. Some of the answers, or at least parts of them, are already out there. We need to stop jumping, and start listening.

In March, Mortenson will be a few miles down the road giving a talk in Auburn. Maybe I’ll go listen to him then.

New Student Activities Hours and Services: A Variety of Board Games Rock Band/Band Hero A Variety of XBox Games Pool Table and TV

Mon-Thur: 9am-2am Fri: 9am-12am Sat. 3pm- 11pm Sun: 3pm- 2am

OPEN TO THE CAMPUS!

Debating the Issues Should New York City Be Separated From New York State?

Point in Agreement

Point in Opposition

By Jennifer Hollander ‘10 Herald Contributor

By Emma Daley ‘10 Herald Contributor

New York City puts a great deal of stress on the rest of New York State. A great deal of the state aid goes to the people in NYC when the people in downstate, central, western, and upstate area really need it. The schools in the rest of the state are suffering from lack of funds; property taxes have been hiked in order to compensate for this. If NYC was not attached, the rest of the state could be relived of such high taxes.

Another problem is that when congresspersons or senators run for positions, they tend to ignore the needs of the rest of the state and focus on getting NYC’s vote. In 2000 when Hillary Clinton ran for the senate, she travelled all around central New York, promising many changes. She, like many other people who have campaigned here, ignored the rest of New York State after achieving power. New York City reaps the benefits while the rest of the state is in shambles. The lack of funding not only affects schools, but roads and jobs.

As a result of the high taxes New York State has to have, many people cannot afford to live here. Companies can find more workers down in the NYC area and move out. People then move out of New York State. Bustling cities are depopulated and friendly towns lose their neighbors. A problem with lack of jobs that is not NYC’s fault is that many companies are moving overseas. There are however, jobs that remain in the New York City region.

A final problem that many residents of the rest of the state have is how they are dismissed as “upstate.” Just because one is from New York State and not the City does not mean is from Upstate New York. Referring to it is such indicates both arrogance and that the rest of the state and its entire people are so unimportant that they don’t get properly acknowledged. No wonder many people from the rest of the state despise New York City so.

If NYC secedes from the rest of the state, the state would stand to lose a huge amount of money. High-stakes business done in the city can generate enormous tax revenues, as can some of the priciest property in the state. The state receives far more money from New York City than it puts back into it, and while that may be reason for the city to secede, it provides exactly the opposite incentive to the state legislature, which would have to approve the secession to make it legal.

Even if the state legislature were for some reason to approve the secession, the U.S. Congress would have to approve the addition of a new state. With health care reform, a multitrillion dollar deficit, a couple of wars, and an economic recession already on center stage, New York City trying to stand alone pales in urgency. Moreover, establishing yourself as a state is not child’s play, and it seems likely the new state would need additional federal support to stay afloat, support for which there is already an unfortunate precedent in place.

For many of us, the loss of NYC would devastate the state’s political choices. Without NYC’s votes, New York State would lose its status as a blue state and join

Photo courtesy of; www.photobucket.com

the league of swing states. In 2008, for example, Obama received 62.2% of New York State’s votes.

Excluding NYC, though, that slips down to 54.6% (based on numbers from the New York Times). Samesex marriage recently flopped in the state senate for the third time, this time by a vote of 38-24.

Marriage equality and other such civil rights would surely suffer even more greatly without the support of NYC. The benefits of the combined states do not accrue only to mainland residents. There are college scholarships available to New York State residents which are more often taken advantage of

by NYC natives to attend schools in the rest of the state than viceversa. The HWS campus itself hosts many students from NYC who would be a tremendous loss were they suddenly unable to attend here.

6

FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2010

Arts and Entertainment Book of the Week:

Water For Elephants By Sara Gruen

By Melissa Warner ’12 Herald Contributor

If you’re looking to learn about a subject unfamiliar to you and enjoy yourself while doing so, try reading Water for Elephants.

Written by Sara Gruen, this work of historical fiction follows the experiences of Jacob Jankowski, a young man who joins a travelling circus during the Great Depression.

Although the characters and circus itself are fictional, the book paints a fascinating picture of what life on a travelling circus was like during those times.

After the untimely death of Jacob’s parents, he drops out of veterinary school and runs away. When Jacob jumps onto a train, he discovers that it is the train of a circus called Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth.

Following a series of strange events, Jacob is hired as the circus’s veterinarian. After being taken on by the show, Jacob learns to adapt to life in a travelling circus, meets an array of interestingly odd people, finds friendship, falls in love, and deals with the many troubles that develop during his stay with the Benzini Brothers show.

For the reader, Jacob’s tale is not only entertaining but enlightening. Life in the circus is not how small children imagine it

after seeing a show or reading a picture book about it. The reality is harsh and sometimes sad. The treatment of both animals and employees is often terrible to read. Despite this, the magic of the performances can be enchanting to both the reader and the characters.

The perspective from which the story is told is very interesting. At the beginning of the story, a roughly ninety year old Jacob (he has trouble remembering his age) in a nursing home slips into his memories and begins to live them again.

Throughout the book, the story of the younger Jacob in the circus is laced into the current life of the older Jacob in the nursing home. The comparison between the two is one of the saddest and most touching parts of the entire work.

While old Jacob is sitting through long, dull days where he has few freedoms and is constantly limited by his aging body, the younger version of himself, in his memories, is having countless good and bad adventures.

It is difficult to come to terms with the fact that younger Jacob is also older Jacob. For all of the readers who can’t imagine growing old, Water for Elephants makes the concept eerily close and visible.

One of the most important lessons this book gives us is to live our lives fully because, sooner than you think, your youth will be gone. As elderly Jacob tells us, “Age is a terrible thief. Just when you’re getting the hang of life, it knocks your legs out from

under you and stoops your back. It makes you ache and muddies your head and silently spreads cancer throughout your spouse”.

Through the ups and the downs, this book keeps the reader thoroughly captivated.

There is never a dull moment living on a travelling circus, just as there is never a dull moment reading a book about one!

Connie Wilson prepares for a show with the Wallace Bros. Circus.

“Linkage” Links Community to Lost Art and Labor

By Liz Witbeck ’10 A&E Editor give meaning and purpose to the world.

According to Messina, “The actual pieces are reminiscent of the forms and functions of preindustrial tools that have become unfamiliar or lost to us with the rise of industrialization.

I see these implements as allegorical symbols of the inner working of the human struggle to give shape and meaning to an irrational world. I attempt to recapture the tension, precarious balance, complexity and dissonant relationships that exist in our society; A society faced with an ever increasing dehumanization and mechanization away from objects made by hand; creating an alienation between the maker and the finished product.”

Messina hopes that “Linkage” will create a bridge with viewers and the society that industrialization has left behind, in an attempt to reconnect that dissonant relationship and tension.

Houghton House will hold an

“Scenes from Kerala” Draws Crowds to Demarest

By Liz Witbeck ’10 A&E Editor The South Asia Speaker Series starts the Spring semester with “Malabari Manorama: Scenes from Kerala”, a photography exhibit whose opening reception took place this past Wednesday night.

Malabari Manorama (“Malabari” meaning “of the Malabar coast” in Southwest India, and “Manorama” meaning “pleasing to the mind) is an exhibit that consists of photos taken by Professor Cerulli of Religious Studies.

Cerulli spends much of his time in Kerala doing fieldwork, especially under the guidance of Indian physicians. He started his work in 2004 as a Fulbright scholar and continues to travel to the area for additional research.

The photos, which have been taken between October 2004 and June 2005 during Cerulli’s time as a Fulbright scholar, consist of many different aspects of everyday life in Kerala. There are photos of families at rest and at work,

opening reception for “Linkage” this Friday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m. in honor of Trustee’s Weekend. The exhibit will remain on display in the Davis Gallery until Feb. 19.

Photography courtesy of; www.hws.edu

“Linkage”, an exhibit by artist Mitch Messina, is now on display in the Davis Gallery of Houghton House.

The exhibit is a celebration of artifacts from pre-industrial societies, what humans relied on to work with before the rise of technology.

Using his well-known mediums of ceramics and paint, Messina, Chair of Sculpture and Ceramics at Nazareth College, creates shapes that may or may not be familiar to the audience now in this technological age.

Threshers, cogs, augers, scorpers and more are found within “Linkage”, showing the distant relationship that has formed between modern society and the societies which created such tools.

Allegorical in nature, Messina created “Linkage” to show how these tools have been used by humans to

photos of the landscape, photos of wildlife.

The exhibit drew dozens of people to the small Demarest lounge on Wednesday night to sample Indian food and enjoy the photos, which were believed to be well taken as well as great glimpse into the life of culture in Kerala.

The South Asia Speaker Series (SASS) started in the fall as the collaboration of Professors Cerulli, Kahn, and Yadav, of Religious Studies, Economics, and Political Science, respectively. It is their attempt to get the HWS community more aware and interested in the goings-on of South Asia.

In the past SASS has held formal lectures.

As Professor Cerulli explains, “We hoped more people would come to a gathering than a formal lecture”.

Malabari Manorama is only the first in many events planned for the rest of the semester; check the Herald for details as to future events. The exhibit is on display now in the Demarest lounge and will remain up for at least two weeks.

: g n i t n e s e r P A new discussion forum series titled:

“Boiling Point”

kick-off is next

Friday Jan. 29th

7:30PM, Geneva Room Movie & Discussion: Higher Learning (1995)

*Discussion based on issues regarding intercultural social change, inclusiveness, or other issues pertinent to HWS students’ lives.

Brought to you by: Student Activities, Intercultural Affairs, Campus Activities Board (CAB), and the Student Movement for Real Change (SMRC)

7

FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2010

Arts and Entertainment “Pugilist Specialist” to Open at the Sullivan

By Liz Witbeck ’10 A&E Editor Funny, dark, and complex are some of the words that have been used to describe Pugilist Specialist, a play opening at the Headless Sullivan Theater that brings a new approach to military life as it is known.

The play follows four Marines, three men and a woman, on their mission of assassination. Their target remain largely unknown throughout the performance as the audience is immersed in the war zone with the characters and forced to consider their positions on wether it is ethical to kill, the significance of war, and who is “good” and who is “bad”.

Pugilist Specialist, written by Adriano Shaplin, is a play that will have audience members thinking and reconsidering as they follow the lives of the characters during war.

The importance of war in present day was a major factor in the decision to perform this play. Another major factor was the ability of Pugilist Specialist to remain neutral despite its war theme: it does not carry a pro- or anti-war message like most political plays. It is this neutrality that allows audience members to more clearly consider the play and be challenged more deeply.

Gabriela Mrvova, director of the play and SILP program manager at HWS, brings an outsider’s perspective as a native Slovakian. Her insights as somebody unfamiliar with American military culture bring a fresh outlook to the play that the audience will enjoy and be challenged by.

Playing the roles of the Marines are two students well known to the theater community at the Colleges, Johnathan Patterson ’11 and Reina Apraez ’11.

Both have been in Bartlett Theater productions in the past and will now be seen on stage at the Headless Sullivan.

The other two Marines include Geneva community members Bob Bittner and Scott Bowes, a Gulf War veteran.

Pugilist Specialist opens Friday, January 29th at the Headless Sullivan Theater (427 Exchange Street). The show will also run on January 30th, and February 4th through the 6th. All shows begin at 8 PM. Tickets can be bought at the door or in advance at Area Records. Plan to arrive early as Sullivan shows have sold out quickly in the past and be prepared to have a night of entertaining and stimulating fun.

Blog of the Week

Movie Review: Legion Plagued by Poor Plot

By Hannah Semaya ’13 Herald Contributor

passiveaggressivenotes.com Procrastinating on my work as usual I stumbled upon this site (literally while using Stumble) and was highly amused.

Passive agressive notes seem like a common occurance in any college dorm and roommate situation you will be sure to see some notes that reflect situations you yourself have been in.

Legion follows in the apocalyptic horror genre that has recently been gaining momentum. Set in a world where God has lost faith in humanity, the end of the world has become imminent.

God decides to deal with his loss of faith by cleansing the entire earth of the human pestilence, as he had with the great biblical flood.

Legion’s downfall lies in its plot, which becomes more and more convoluted as the film goes on. There is a general failure to explain key points to the audience. Although Legion has its faults, it could be worse.

At a very reasonable 100 minutes, Legion is an entertaining, original action movie that fails to named Paradise Falls Diner, located at the edge of the desert. deliver on the story.

She is joined by an impressive cast of actors Legion opens with the angel Michael, played led

by Dennis Quaid (Flight of the Phoenix),

by Paul Bettany (The DaVinci Code) falling down Tyrese Gibson (Transformers), and Kate Walsh to a dismal looking earth. His mission is to save (Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice). They are the the human race from a vengeful god. For God only ones who can save the human race from has decided that the time for the apocolypse is extinction. now.

Fantastic action sequences help move the His faith has gone, so he of course sends film along. The horror of angels behaving more angels down to earth to destroy just about like demons is also interesting to watch. everything. For a reason that is unclear, the only Legion is hope for humanity lies in the unborn child of a HERALD no great film, but it could have THE waitress, Charlie, played by Adrianne Palicki been if the plot was developed fully. As it is, it’s GENEVA MOVIEPLEX 8 AD a fun horror-action flick that can provide some (Friday Night Lights). She works at the subtly

FRIDAY 1/29 2 COL X 5.5”

A Spirited Review The Original Drink of the Week Since 2006

Painkiller While vacationing over Christmas break I had the good fortune to spend two weeks in Tortola. This drink hails from a small beach island called Jost Van Dyke a short ferry ride away in the BVIs. Originally mixed at the Soggy Dollar Bar this drink is similar to a pina colada.

Ingredients: 9 ounces orange juice 9 ounces pineapple juice 3 ounces Coco Lopez 1/2 cup cruzan rum freshly grated nutmeg Directions: 1. Combine the first four ingredients.

2. Pour over crushed ice.

3. Sprinkle with nutmeg.

The Herald reminds you to enjoy the drink of the week safely and at the appropriate time and location, as long as you are of age…

M O V I E T I M E S

GENEV A MO VIEPLEX DISCOUNT AVAILABLE GENEVA MOVIEPLEX 371 HAMILTON ST 789-1653 W/VALID COLLEGE ID! TOWN & COUNTRY PLAZA STADIUM SEATING MEL GIBSON

DTS R

z2:00-4:30-7:20S9:55 STADIUM SEATING KRISTEN BELL & JOSH DUHAMEL z12:40z2:50-5:05-7:10S9:10

DTS PG-13

STADIUM SEATING

DOLBY PG-13

z1:25-4:10-7:00S9:40 SUSAN SARANDON WINNER 2 GOLDEN GLOBES - BEST PICTURE & DIRECTOR

IN DIGITAL 3D

& DOLBY DIGITAL z1:00-4:20-7:50 #1 MOVIE! STADIUM SEATING PG-13 z12:50z3:10-5:25 D T S -7:40S9:45 R TOOTH FAIRY z12:00z2:20-4:40-6:50S9:00 PG EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES 8:00S10:00 PG THE BOOK OF ELI DENZEL WASHINGTON z12:05z2:30-4:55-7:30S9:50 R ALVIN & THE CHIPMUNKS:THE SQUEAKUEL z12:10z2:10-4:10-6:10 PG

VISIT WWW.ZURICHCINEMAS.COM TO BUY TICKETS ONLINE!

$1POPCORN MONDAYS!

GET A SMALL POPCORN FOR $1 WITH EVERY ADMISSION

zMATINEES FRI-SAT-SUN SLATE SHOWS FRI-SAT-SUN

NON 3D EVENING ADMISSION W/COLLEGE ID $6.75

$5.75 ALL NON 3D SHOWS BEFORE 6:00

A

FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2010

8

Sports Upcoming Games Friday, Jan. 29 WS Basketball at St. Lawrence 6:00 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 29 Hobart Basketball at St. Lawrence 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 30 WS Swimming & Diving at Wells 1:00 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 30 William Smith Basketball at Clarkson 2:00 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 30 Hobart Ice Hockey vs. Manhattanville 7:00 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 5 William Smith Basketball vs. Union 6:00 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 5 Hobart Basketball vs. Union 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 6 Hobart Squash vs. Navy 10:00 a.m.

Winter Sports Recap

By Carrie Stevens ’12 Sports Editor

William Smith Basketball

Hobart Basketball With regular season contests beginning on Jan. 9, the Statesmen (9-7 overall) currently post a 2-3 record in Liberty League play. Although the team lost to RPI in overtime last Saturday by two points (64-66), junior guard Tim Llewellyn broke Mike DeMaria’s ’90 record Kevin Colton/Photographer for career steals and raised the mark to 183. The team travels to the North Country this weekend for a double header against St. Lawrence and Clarkson.

In preparation for regular season play, the Herons traveled to Texas over the winter recess for two games.

The team dropped both contests to powerhouse programs, but returned to New York a changed squad.

This past weekend, William Smith (5-10, 1-4) posted its first win in conference play over Vassar, 60-51.

Hobart Squash

Hobart Hockey

Kevin Colton/Photographer

After nabbing two road wins on Jan. 22 and 23 against Neumann College, Hobart heads back to the Cooler this Saturday to take on Manhattanville.

The Statesmen are 1-1 against the Valiants this season, with each squad scoring a total of six goals.

William Smith Squash Kevin Colton/Photographer

Six members of the Hobart Squash Team were named to the Liberty League Men’s Squash AllAcademic Team. Seniors Teddy Desloge and Dane Evans, juniors Will Harris, Darren Scott and Dan Sills, and sophomore Kevin Kent all met the criteria of holding at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average and as Kevin Colton/Photographer well as being sophomores academically. The team currently holds a 4-10 record, and their next match set for Feb. 6 against Navy.

Kevin Colton/Photographer

In the midst of a three-match win streak–with victories over Columbia, Smith, and Tufts– William Smith’s Squash Team improves to 7-6 on the season. The Herons are back in action on Feb. 7 when they face Franklin & Marshall.

William Smith Swimming and Diving

Kevin Colton/Photographer

In the Liberty League Swimming and Diving Championships hosted by the University of Rochester, the Herons took sixth place in a field of eight teams. The team accumulated 245 points over the course of two days, which led to its best showing since the 2004 competition.

Sunday, January 31st @ 7pm in Bristol Fieldhouse All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society