the
Herald By and for the students of Hobart and William Smith Colleges
FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 2010
VOLUME CXXXI ISSUE 20
GENEVA, NY
Results Are In:
Theme Houses Decided for Upcoming Year By Elizabeth Witbeck ’10 A&E Editor
Rebecca Dennee/Photo Manipulator
In the aftermath of the the NYTimes blogger Steinberg’s article about the Colleges, Dean Banks responds that he cannot make an entire college disappear.
Where Is William Smith? Do Not Let William Smith Disappear By Rebecca Dennee ’10 Campus Happenings Editor
In the midst of controversy comes conversation and education. In response to a recent NY Times blog post which referred to HWS as Hobart the William Smith community is speaking out with pride. Dean Banks, who first learned of the article after a William Smith Congress member emailed her, prepared an email response
to Jacques Steinberg emphasizing the rich history of William Smith College. Her reaction, “You cannot make an entire college and the people connected to it invisible.” Understanding that many William Smith students and others refer to the school as Hobart, Dean Banks hopes this conversation SMITH continued on Page 2
Photo courtesy of: hws.edu
Twenty theme houses have been chosen for the 2010-2011 academic year; twelve are returning themes from previous years, including the Abbe Center for Jewish Life (above). The results are in: 20 of the 36 theme houses that applied for the 2010-2011 academic year have been chosen to have their theme house be available for residence in the upcoming year. Theme houses that have been selected include the following: Abbe Center for Jewish Life, Arts and Social Change, Asian Language House, Athletics for Change, Bampton House, Community Service House, Emergency Services, German Language and Culture House, Global Perspectives House, Green Theme House, Hope House, HWS
Domestic Violence Awareness, International House, Leaders of Tomorrow, RISE House, Stewardson House (WS Honors), Substance Free House, Sustainable Cooking, The Writer’s House, and Women & WS Appreciation House. The list includes both new theme houses, such as Athletics for Change and RISE House, as well as reapplying theme houses that have been mainstays of the Colleges’ residential experience, such as Bampton and Stewardson Houses. RESULTS continued on Page 2
How Global Warming Is Affecting Your Breakfast By Kelsey Lee ‘12 Herald Contributor
Photo courtesy of: www.vancouver2010.com
Michael Copacino ’12 travelled to Canada to see the Canadians compete in the Men’s Finals of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Curling competition.
HWS Student Goes to Olympics in Vancouver By Andrew Donovan ‘12 Herald Contributor While millions of Americans were watching the Olympic Winter Games from their homes on NBC, HWS student Michael Copacino ’12 had the opportunity of a lifetime – actually travel to Vancouver and watch Olympic completion in person. Copacino calls himself an Olympic buff, following each sport and athlete since a young
age and dreaming of traveling to the seemingly far-off country that had the honor of hosting. It was not until the Olympics came to America’s neighboring country of Canada that Michael decided to make his dream come true. The dual-citizen of America and Canada decided to make the trip with his OLYMPICS continued on Page 8
Campus Happenings
A&E
Vote for Your Student Trustee
Revie w: Cop Out
Inter view with Vikki Spruill
Book of t h e We e k
Clu b o f the Week: CSA
Review of Lil Wayne’s Rebirth
WSC & HSG Joint Meeting
Francophone Film Series
Photo courtesy of: widescreen.pixxp.com
Coffee prices are on the rise as global warming affects coffee bean growing seasons and climate factors such as rainfall. Coffee-drinkers may have taken notice of the erratic ranges in the prices of the much-coveted beverage beans. These sporadic price ranges are not the result of greedy growers; in fact, the economics of coffee is being substantially affected by global climate change. The effects of global warming impact our daily atmospheric quality, as well as a large majority of agricultural industries. These include, as you may have guessed, coffee crops. Climatic patterns are
Opinions Entertainment (Or Lack Thereof) A Weekend at CPAC: A Liberal’s Review of CPAC
becoming increasingly variable, from extreme dry spells as a result of deforestation to an excess of rainfall. These unpredictable patterns are the bane of many plantation owners’ existences. As a result these unpredictable global temperature changes, a multitude of tropical regions are experiencing irreparable losses in terms of crop yield. These areas, which may include Central America, Africa, BREAKFAST continued on Page 2
Sports Olympic Games Wrap Up Statesmen Gear up for ECAC’s HWS Student at Olympics (cont.)
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FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 2010
The Herald
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 Melissa Warner Hannah Semaya Carrie Stevens Kelsey Lee Rebecca Dennee
Andrew Donovan Elizabeth Witbeck Shane P. Simon Amy Nimon Annica Crouse Will Abbott
Copy Editing Belinda Littlefield Rebecca Dennee
Layout Belinda Littlefield Rebecca Dennee
Distribution Belinda Littlefield Jennifer Hollander Annica Crouse
Selection of the theme houses for each year is made by the Theme House Committee. The group meets during the course of the semester to discuss the decision making process, individually reviews the applications for each theme house, and assembles in entirety to discuss which theme houses should be chosen. The Theme House Committee consists of Kate McCaffrey, Director of Residential Education; Kristen Tobey, Assistant Director of Residential Education; Brian Fitzgerald ’09, Assistant Area Coordinator; Valerie Gunter, Assistant Dean of William Smith; David Mapstone, Assistant Dean of Hobart; and two student representatives, selected from the governments from each college. Students who wish to nominate a new theme house or reapply must submit an application, which is considered the most important part of the process. “There’s some very important questions [on the application] about goals and ideas and how they are going to utilize a house and their theme to spread their message and raise awareness about their cause” says Kristen Tobey. “So,
the application is very important.” Also significant in the decision making process is the conceivability of the theme house that is being proposed. Part of the responsibility of the Theme House Committee is to judge “how likely or feasible the theme is, and then what ideas and thoughts they have to sustain the theme”, Tobey says. The final list of theme houses is the result of the Committee’s work to provide not only the most feasible themes, but also the most diverse. The group looks for “a representative group of diverse themes” in order to create “variety for students to choose from” says Tobey. Two theme houses are also scheduled to be renovated for the upcoming school year. The decision has not yet been made what houses will receive renovations. The theme house application process is being conducted online. Students can respond to the essay questions and submit them via the Internet to the appropriate house manager. All theme house applications are currently available online.
BREAKFAST continued from Page 1
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 4. Articles must pertain to recent events 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.
SMITH continued from Page 1 will create a larger dialogue for years to come including how a coordinate school fits in the broader community; she also hopes that students will have more pride in the William Smith heritage. When speakers come to the school it is emphasized that the Colleges should be referred to as such and in some cases it slips through the cracks. Dean Banks did not assign blame on Steinberg but wanted to educate him on the achievements of William Smith students. “One of the things I am looking forward to next year is some real campaigning around
RESULTS continued from Page 1
William Smith College, who we are and why it is important that we exist. There is a really important history here and we shouldn’t erase that. “ Future plans are being made to hold a conference for women and girls on campus next summer, as well as programming about education and women. A group of students have created a Women and William Smith Appreciation theme house, which will hold events that will emphasize William Smith pride. “Out of struggles come good things,” stated Dean Banks in her final words of the interview with the Herald.
HWS is Goin’ to the Dogs By Jennifer Hollander ’10 Herald Contributor
“Dean” Isabella Banks How old are you and what breed? I’m about half a human year and some mix What does your mommy do for the Colleges? She is the Dean of William Smith College and for WS seniors Are you a dean then? Yes. I am the Dean of all Campus dogs, Hobart and William Smith What are your duties as dog dean? Making sure all the dogs get all the treats they want What do you love here at the Colleges? The power, the treats, and seeing the Herons or Statesmen.
and India, are some of the most prominent areas for coffee crops in the world. A flourishing agricultural system depends largely on rainfall, not just the presence of it, but the timing and quantity of it all. During the spring season, plants need considerable rainfall to assist with the progression of their flowering phase. If heavy rains come during the months prior to the flowering stage, the crop’s growth is tragically stunted, and the entire developmental process of the crop is thrown out of whack. The summer months of June and July approach, and the plants have a pervasive desire for moisture. Finally, into the fall months, coffee plants necessitate dryness so that the bean can ripen. Therefore, a drought during this time frame is most desirable. But when global warming causes the weather to work in backward succession with the crop’s developmental necessities, the farmers do not have a way to eradicate the problem. Shade-grown Indian coffee plantations were the first to be affected by this sudden problem. Coffee plantations in India especially are rich in biodiversity as well as ecologically sensitive. It is often in the most remote places that the most extraordinary array of herbs flourish. In fact, satellite images have helped us understand that wherever coffee plantations exist, the biodiversity of the region has
also been enriched. If you think about it, the loss of one species can have a tremendous bearing on the other. Coffee plantations can be lodges for the survival of thousands of species of wildlife and shrubbery. Institutions worldwide have begun to realize the importance of this vital link for the future existence of man and nature. Here are the consequences for coffee drinkers: increased prices. As most of us know, when supply decreases, market prices rise. For the harvesters of the crop, losses will defeat the majority of their efforts. Strategic laboring and maneuvering in pattern with reliable greenhouse effects are no longer effective, as nature consumes a large portion of farmers’ yields. Due to the immediacy of the global warming problem, people all over the world are coming together to collectively find solutions to these man-made problems, which cannot be tackled in isolation. The approach to coffee crop damage can be considered analogous to the aforementioned global actions. Agricultural experts in conjunction with coffee farmers are working together to develop a stronger coffee plant that will have the capacity to battle the effects of global warming by utilization of their own resiliency. We cannot know how effective this will be in this everevolving world, which is currently striving to create a safer environment for all life, including vegetation.
The Blotter Saturday, Feb. 13 • iPod touch stolen from Odells and is still under investigation\ Sunday, Feb. 14 • Criminal possession of marijuana in Bartlet Tuesday, Feb. 16 • Trespass on Pulteney St. lead to a GPD arrest and referral Thursday, Feb. 18- Sunday, Feb. 21 • Two incidents of marijuana possession in Potter and Bartlett • Thirty-four cases of possession of alcohol <21 in Emerson, Jackson, Hale, 730 South Main, Sherril, and Rees- all were referred to the Dean’s Office Monday, Feb. 22 • Several cases of petit larceny in Hale, the Cafe, Medbury, Sherrill and Bartlett- the largest item stolen in these instances was a couch from the Cafe and that is still under investigation Sunday, Feb 28 • Eight cases of possession of alcohol <21 in Kappa Sigma and deCordova- referred to the Dean’s Office • Xbox was stolen from Kappa Sigma and a wall was vandalized- both incidents are still under investigation
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FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 2010
Campus Happenings WSC & HSG Joint Meeting Update By Jennifer Hollander ’10 Herald Contributor The Geneva Concert Series were the first to speak at this week’s quorum meeting. The concert series was founded in 1946 to bring concerts to the city of Geneva. The events have been mostly orchestral. The Colleges have supported the concert series with a grant for at least 35 years. In return the Concert Series offers free admission to HWS students. The Colleges did not donate money with the expectation of free admission for students; the Concert Series did this on its own accord. Part of the $3000 grant comes from the student governments. They were not proposing at the meeting, but they were explaining how their organization works. The March for Hope also came to the quorums to request money. The March for Hope is an event that will take place in May in conjunction with Nazareth College. The event is to promote Holocaust awareness and understanding. There will be approximately 15 or 16 HWS students attending on this trip. They are asking for $3000 total. They explained that the money would only go to fund HWS students and that it was only 14% of the total budget needed. They intended on raising the rest themselves through
fundraising or grants. The South Asian Cultural Club proposed for Club status. They felt that the current cultural clubs in existence did not do justice to south Asian countries and wish to rectify that. The countries that they would represent include, but are not limited to: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. They wish to celebrate major holidays such as Diwali and Holi. They have already come up with events that they would want to hold such as a Bollywood Dance Party, pop culture movie night, and Friday Chai nights. A concern about this was raised in the quorum. There are already so many cultural clubs in existence. The more clubs that are approved, the less money each existing club gets from the BAC pot of money. Why could these clubs not working with already existing clubs? The group representing SACC explained that the current clubs did not offer what they want and were fine with their existence. The Alternative Spring Break came to the quorums a few weeks ago to ask for a significant amount of money from the quorums to fund a trip to Nicaragua. They did not get the money and came back asking for a smaller amount. The
amount they requested the second time totaled $4000. One student expressed annoyance on giving that amount of money so nine students could do work in Nicaragua. A reply came that the student governments had funded $3000 for three students on the debate team- a club that brings a lot to the Colleges, but is not community service- to attend a debate. The students who wanted to attend the trip noted that Community Service is an important part of the Colleges. International community service is merely taking this further. The Echo and Pine is now $12,000 in debt. In order to even sign the contract for the 2010 yearbook, they need to remove this debt. They asked the quorums for the money. The Echo and Pine showed off its new staffmostly first years who would stick with the Yearbook. The debate on this issue lasted nearly an hour. Some students wanted to give the money, noting that not doing so would likely destroy the yearbook. In the
past, the Echo and Pine has always come out, even if the yearbooks were Hobart only and William Smith only. The Echo and Pine was aware of the debt that it was in and what caused that debt. They had taken step to fix this situation. Stipulations had been set up. There must be a student representative in each quorum during HSG and WSC meetings. They must have weekly meetings with Robert Pool and the business office to review the financial situation. These stipulations are being met. One student, during the debate, wanted to revoke the Echo and Pine’s club status. This was not well received. In the end, William Smith agreed to give the money but Hobart did not. The fate of the Echo and Pine is unknown.
The Class of 2010 has
72 Days Until Graduation
It Is Never Too Late to Get Involved! Club of the Week: Caribbean Student Associations The aim of the Caribbean Student Associations is to educate the Hobart and William Smith Colleges community of the cultural, political, and social issues surrounding the dynamic region that is the Caribbean. We recognize that there exists an expansive diversity across the Caribbean and intend to represent and celebrate this in our meetings and events. Some events we hold on campus are Come Celebrate, Taste of the Islands in conjunction with a Panel Discussion, Caribbean Night at Saga, and Masquerade Ball. We feel that CSA serves as an instrument in eradicating the many stereotypes and misconceptions that the general community have / may have about the Caribbean. This year, we have celebrated 10 years of Caribbean culture at HWS, and will continue do celebrate for years to come. CSA meets on Thursdays at 7pm in Intercultural Affairs house. 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.
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The Herald? We Look Forward To Hearing From You! herald@hws.edu!
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Upcoming Events e for Student Trustee! Friday, March 5th- Remember to Vot Do @ Bristol Field House • 5:00pm- ASU Intro to Tae Kwon d Side” @ Vandervort • 8:00pm- CAB Friday Flix: “The Blin Saturday, March 6th lege Store • 11:00am- Books ‘n’ Brunch @ the Col l for Kids’ Sake • 3:00pm- Big Brothers Big Sisters: Bow @ Sunset Lanes go @ Hirshson Ballroom • 4:30pm-8:00pm Learn Argentine Tan g Extravaganza • 6:30pm- Bagel Supper and Colorin ish Life Jew @ Abbe Center for Sunday, March 7th e Center for Jewish • 3-5pm- Progressive Open House: Abb stance Free, Life, Multi-Cultural Sisterhood, Sub Hope House, and WS Honors House @ S. Main Street Geneva Room • 7:00pm- Academy Awards Party @ Monday, March 8th Demarest 309 • 4:30pm- Tea with Philosophers @ Speaker: Roja Singh • 5:00pm- International Women’s Day @ Office of Intercultural Affairs rcultural Affairs • 6:30pm- Buddhist Meditation @ Inte
Join the
HERALD Review a Concert 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
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FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 2010
Campus Happenings Ocean Conser vancy with Vikki Spruill P’12 By Andrew Donovan ’12 and Rebecca Dennee ’10 Herald Contributors Vikki Spruill P ’12 joined the HWS community as part of the President’s Forum this past week discussing the issues of ocean conservation and climate change. Spruill spoke to The Herald’s Rebecca Dennee and Andrew Donovan about the ocean conservation movement and what it is like to be a parent visiting campus. Andrew Donovan: When most people think of environmental conservation they think of land and trees. Why do you think it’s important to focus on ocean conservation? Vikki Spruill: Well what you just asked is probably the fundamental challenge that we in the ocean conservation community face because we are terrestrial beings. We tend to think about land first which makes a lot of sense but 75% of the planet is water and over 90% of the biodiversity exists in the water. It’s sort of an out of sight, out of mind problem that is essential force of the planet it drives the climate, much of the food that we eat, the rain that supports these beautiful lakes we have here, half the oxygen in your next breath is thanks to the ocean. So we don’t intuitively, for whatever reason, make those connections. I think we really need to be because when we harm the ocean we are harming the rest of the planet and our health.
AD: How is the government support on all levels for these issues? VS: We are not as far along as we would like to be but I am more optimistic than I have ever been. This administration is taking steps to put science back in the White House. We have a new administrator who is the head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who is an ecologist bringing an ecological understanding to the agency side of things. President Obama has created at the end of last year established a task force mandating that groups that have a focus on the ocean work together to develop strategies in nine key areas that relate to issues going on in the ocean and ecosystems.
Rebecca Dennee: What are changes we can make to our daily lives? VS: One of the things we can do is learn more, which may seem obvious to say at a university but the connections between oceans and climate change for example are just not being made. You can’t have action without awareness. We need to be thinking about the planet more holistically. On the macro level we need to be reducing carbon emissions that we are emitting into the atmosphere because that is having a huge impact on the ocean in the form of acidification. So all the things you would do to just be a better citizen of the planet also applied to the ocean because everything we do on land ends up in the ocean. So that is on the macro scale, on the micro scale you can think about where the seafood you are eating comes from, there are choices you can make that are better than others. Litter is also a huge problem on land but again it all ends up in the ocean. We hold an event called the International Coastal Cleanup, which is a very hands on way to get people involved because once they spend a day cleaning up their lake, river or beachfront they feel more connected to how that litter got there. Also building a constituency that favors policies that will support the ocean.
AD: How does it feel to be visiting campus as a parent? VS: That is a great question. It has been really fun but really strange. I walked into the pub yesterday and saw my poster there and thought “Whoa!” It’s funny because my relationship with the school has always been as a parent and [HWS] is a wonderful place. We fell in love with it when we first came. I feel close to the school, and over the past two years I’ve met a bunch of students, but first in fore most I relate as a parent. I do a lot of talks to various groups but I haven’t done a lot for the university circuit other than being invited by a particular professor to a class and I love it. This has sparked my interest to do way more of this. RD: Do you have advice for students? VS: I am a huge believer in interdisciplinary studies and you have a good dose of that here and a lot of flexibility in building your majors. To build on what I just said, while you’re here really explore a lot of different kinds of classes. If you’re really into science take some journalism classes because out in the real world it’s getting a lot more multi disciplinary and I think you are a much better job applicant if you have a savvy-ness about you. Being one dimensional—I don’t think—works anymore. The more you can expose yourself to that the better. I also believe in internships and getting a taste for the real world.
Make an Informed Decision for Student Trustee
Jade Vasquez
Melody Acosta
Caroline Dosky
Rachel Ferry
She believes Jade places an Rachel wants Melody spoke that her role emphasis on to facilitate about her three her experiences communication as a student semesters through her study between the trustee would listening to abroad experience students on the be to give back leadership in Spain as well as positions on to campus. She judicial board her participation in and emphasized campus and the belives that the New Orleans student body as through her her desire alternative spring well as change experience with to promote break trip. She hopes the position of the HWSLeads student to unite the campis, student trustee program and involvement urban, and global to be more Koshare, she and further communities with an accountable. She can emphasis further hopes to promises to emphasis on creating the current do so whether better relationships place a greater as well as the or not she is between the campus emphasis on future of HWS. green building. elected. and Geneva.
Jerimiah Booream-Phelps He believes that actions speak louder than words. Further, he is already acquainted with the trustees and is a liason to HSG for two groups: CAB and Campus Greens. He hopes to continue making the campus green.
Elizabeth Marder
Kaylyn O’Brien
She sees herself as being outgoing, responsible and focused on campus issues. She says that she can work from the ground up- from students to the trustees, rather from the top down. She believes a big problem is exclusiveness.
Kaylyn considers herself to be a part of a lot of different aspects of campus life from HWS EMS to music. She wants to create an online forum for students to voice their ideas to the trustees and believes that the student perspective comes first.
Colleen O’Hara
Maggie Smith
Colleen said Maggie is a part that she had of Res Ed, the advocated for the crew team, as students in the well as having a past; both were role on campus performances of as an artist. She musical groupsbelieves that Girl Talk and diversity is very State Radio. She important and also said that she helped to start saw that after the regular Mixintruder on the It-Up Days so Hill, WS women students could did not feel safe appreciate each so she advocated other for their to get funding for differences. safety whistles.
Adam Brooks
Isaias Garcia
Marcelo Triana
Chip Staats
Syed Zaidi
Adam believes that he would be able to view things objectively and he wants to revise the goals into a cocurricular program. Another issue he saw on campus was the retention rate, and he hopes to address and fix it.
Isaias believes that he can represent everyone, not just those who are acive; he believes that he can be impartial since he has not yet been on any committees. He wants to encourage participation with the Geneva community.
Marcelo wants to have more people involved in the process and he wants to facilitate communication with those who are already engaged and help those that are not to become so. He also wants to place a greater emphasis on service learning.
Chip has acted as a liason in th e past and will in the future. He wants to help people understand that it is not worthless to be engaged and he wants to engage those who are already active to work together.
Syed hopes to promote mutual respect and acceptance between students and faculty. He also wants to update the technology on campus because he feels that a lot of it is out of date.
Remember to check your email today and vote for Student Trustee!
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FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 2010
Opinions Entertainment (Or Lack Thereof) By Amy Nimon ’11 Photography Editor There is something disturbing about using crime as entertainment. A friend of mine recently told me of her interest in the television network TruTV. “I watch that channel all the time,” she told me. She’s not the only one. I myself was hooked on the channel for a time last year. One day during a particularly grueling story about a woman who was kidnapped and found murdered, complete with suspenseful music and a deep, mysterious narrating voice, I suddenly wondered why I was watching the show. Do viewers really sit in their warm living rooms engrossed in these horrific stories? The program even showed real crime scene photos and played recordings of 911 calls. Bodies, blood, the mother who swears her son could never harm anyone—all typical of television crime stories. Is this entertainment? And if it’s not… then what is it? It’s certainly not just informational or awareness-raising. What would be the point of the narrator’s ominous voice? The thrilling music? The structure of the program so that suspense builds and the audience is glued to the television? This sounds a bit like entertainment. Everyone you know can probably list off several TV crime shows. NCIS, CSI, Bones, Without a Trace, 48 Hours: Mystery, Forensic Files, and of course Law and Order: Special Victim’s Unit and Criminal Intent. Particularly disturbing is Law and Order: SVU; almost every episode is about rape or sexual assault. The show was originally titled Sex Crimes, but was later changed. Each SVU episode begins with the introduction: “In the criminal justice system, sexually based offences are considered especially heinous,” spoken by a man with a deep, serious voice. Enter theme song. Sexual violence right at your fingertips for your entertainment! Now all you need is some popcorn. Producers create television shows that they think will make a profit. Their goal is to attract large audiences. Why do people want to watch shows like SVU? The notion of “sex sells” comes to mind. Sure, sex sells in terms of advertisement (buy this car and beautiful women will want you—we all know the deal), but the allurement of sex exists in more than just your average magazine ad; it extends to TV shows and other
forms of media. U C L A media researcher Neil Malamuth, after conducting a study on viewers’ reactions to sexual violence in movies, stated “…viewers are bothered and depressed by this content. But as they watch more and more of it they not only become desensitized, they begin to Picture courtesy of: http://imgs.sfgate.com find the material enjoyable.” Elliot Stabler interrogrates a criminal on the popular TNT show In the Law and Order: SVU, which tells the of a police division that SVU episode investigates sex crimes. “Undercover,” the investigation, it’s really much more than that. character Olivia Benson goes undercover at a women’s prison The show is constructed as a story; the viewers to try and expose a rapist security guard. In are introduced to the setting and the characters one scene, Benson is nearly raped. She is taken early-on. The plot then develops like a movie: downstairs by the guard, abused and beaten, and Bits and pieces gradually fall into place, some handcuffed to a door, at which point the guard evidence leads nowhere, the family of the victim almost forces her into sex. Just in the nick of worries, suspense builds, and at the end, the time, she is rescued. The scene is painstakingly crime is either solved or remains unsolved. If the long, and Benson screams almost continuously. plot element isn’t enough to make these shows Law and Order: SVU has approximately 10.5 entertainment, consider the back-to-back airing for seven hours. Viewers become invested in it million viewers. This is what people are watching in their like it’s a Friends marathon. There is a point when crime on television warm living rooms with their popcorn. While it’s stops being about education for the viewers, extremely important to raise awareness about and more about entertainment for the viewers. abuse against women and potential dangers and A news story about sexual assault of women so forth (and many people believe SVU does just and how women can protect themselves is very that), is that really what’s being accomplished by different than a Law and Order: SVU episode this episode? How necessary was it to show that where graphic scenes are portrayed, fictional sexually violent scene in such graphic detail? That characters discuss explicit details of sexual near-rape scene was created as entertainment. assault, and emotionally distressed victims sob Of course, SVU is not the only program at testimonies. People watch television in their at fault. TruTV is an entire channel dedicated to free time—as a break from work and other dramatizing crime. Last Friday, the show Forensic responsibilities—for amusement, most of the Files aired back-to-back for seven hours straight. time. It disturbs me to know that the media That’s seven hours of stories about murders, sexual assaults, and related crimes. While the can use sexual violence as entertainment—and show claims to be about the “forensics” of crime actually succeed.
A Weekend at CPAC
A Liberal’s Thoughts on the Conservative Political Action Converence By Shane P. Simon ’10 Herald Contributor Two weeks ago, I was able to attend the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, D.C. The event serves as a yearly barometer for American conservatives and brings together some of the mostwell known politicians, pundits, and would-be presidential pugilists in the Republican Party. Speakers included Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, and even former vice president Dick Cheney— who emerged from his bunker to make a brief appearance. However, unlike most of the other young students at the conference, I did not seek out a signed poster from Ann Coulter, snap a photo with House Minority Leader John Boehner, or join in a standing ovation as newly elected Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown took the stage. I self identify as a “liberal,” but not in the Nancy Pelosi sense of the word. I’ve been very active in Democratic politics for almost my entire life, working for local committees, a state representative, and my congressman. This past semester, I took Professor Iva Deutchman’s seminar on iconic books of modern American conservatism. Reading classic texts by Milton Friedman, Barry Goldwater, and Richard Weaver helped me to better understand the philosophical roots of intellectual conservatism in the United States. While I certainly didn’t agree with everything I read,
campus activism, things turned ugly. Wes Siler, a student at the University of Virginia prefaced his remarks by applauding the fact that CPAC organizers had invited GOPROUD, a gay Republican group, to participate in the conference. The audience Photo courtesy of: papundits.files.wordpress.com cheered and clapped the course served to increase my in support. appreciation of the true principles Another panel member on conservatism. As an honors student stage, Ryan Sorba, greeted Siler’s in political science, I was thrilled statement with loud, raucous when Professor Deutchman asked boos and thumbs down signs of me to be one of two students to disapproval. In turn, the audience attend CPAC. I could have hardly booed Sorba. Minutes later, known what I was getting myself Sorba took the podium and the into. crowd booed and jeered him as The conference was a he approached. Sorba appeared strange coalition of the various to shrug off the attention and factions of modern American seemed ready to begin his preconservatism. Libertarians planned speech, but then launched mingled with evangelical Christians into a homophobic tirade. “Let me while neo-conservatives debated change the topic for a minute,” he with members of the Tea Party said, “I want to condemn CPAC for movement. inviting GOPROUD here.” His next At times, some of the panels statements were drowned out by seemed to contradict the overall the roaring screams of the crowd. goals of the conference. For instance, Hundreds of audience members some presenters urged a more rose up and shouted Sorba off forgiving and accepting immigration the stage, despite his attempts to policy while others called for a continue his hate-filled diatribe, his tough, no nonsense stance. The voice could not be heard. most controversial issue, however, This story demonstrates why was the conservative movement’s I think conservatism is taking on acceptance of LBGT individuals. I’ll a new face in America. The many use a particular story to illustrate. factions within the movement are In a panel with college- struggling to come to a consensus age conservatives advocating for over issues such as gay marriage,
immigration, and abortion. Five years ago, Sorba would not have been booed off the stage, but times have changed. Divisive social issues like gay rights are still a thorn in the movement’s side, although from what I witnessed at CPAC, conservatives are shifting toward becoming more accepting. The movement has realized that it needs to grow, at any cost, or be crushed. Over half the participants at the conference were under the age of thirty-five, representing a bright future for conservatism in the United States. What’s interesting, however, is the fact that these young conservatives overwhelmingly support candidates like the libertarian leaning Ron Paul (who won the CPAC leadership straw poll) over more traditional politicians like Mitt Romney. This certainly isn’t your father’s Republican Party. CPAC provided me with the wonderful opportunity to engage in a first-hand learning experience. I’ve learned that while conservatism in the United States has the potential to be a powerful cohesive political force, it must first overcome its many internal debates. The path will be difficult, though with the aid of a new breed of young conservatives success may be in sight. It all depends on how conservatism will adapt and change with the times. If the movement continues to identify with the older beliefs of the Republican Party, however, things may be a bit slower in the making.
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FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 2010
Arts and Entertainment Book of the Week: The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls By Melissa Warner ’12 Herald Contributor The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls is one of those memoirs that seems so unbelievable that you almost wonder how it could possibly be real. The story is, however, entirely true. Walls’ memoir chronicles her bizarre childhood full of poverty and hardship during the 1960’s and 1970’s. Her family consisted of her father, Rex Walls, her mother, Rose Mary Walls, and her brother Brian and two sisters Lori and Maureen. Walls tells the story in first person, always honest and non-judgmental. She never puts her parents in villain roles; in fact her love for them shines through even during the bad times. With an immensely intelligent, alcoholic father and a free spirited, artistic mother, Walls and her three siblings found themselves more often than not on their own growing up. Their family was nomadic, traveling from town to town because their parents were unable to keep steady jobs or pay the bills. Walls and her siblings never went to school for any long period of time because they were constantly moving in an attempt to avoid bill collectors. There was never much money to pay for clothes or food, something that
forced the Walls children to mature quickly so that they would be able to take care of themselves. Their parents’ attitude towards childrearing was very loose, to the point of being neglectful. Despite all these difficulties, Walls and her family loved each other and tried to make the best of what they had. The title of the book, The Glass Castle, comes from a promise Walls’ father used to make to them, that one day he would build them all a beautiful home made entirely of glass. In that house, they would be happy and safe. This dream was a hope for the family, throughout their many adventures and problems. Reading The Glass Castle is a mesmerizing experience as it inspires feelings of wonder and, occasionally, shock. The lifestyle of Walls and her family is unlike anything imaginable and her unbiased manner of telling it is particularly moving. Her feelings and opinions are always present in the story but, at the same time, she does not write the story to berate her parents for their actions. If anything, she accepts and loves them for who they are despite all the hardships they all went
Photo courtesy of: Antioch Community HS
through. She understands that her parents aren’t perfect people, and doesn’t try to make them seem as if they are. She writes them as real, flawed human beings who often try to do right, although it doesn’t always work out. The Glass Castle is a fascinating story about a family’s ability to live and love, in even the strangest of conditions.
Exploring the Francophone World By Annica Crouse ’10 Herald Contributor The French Film series occurs almost every semester and presents films to the HWS and Geneva communities, seeking to broaden horizons and open the community up for discussion about issues of the Francophone cultures and peoples. Although the films are in connection with French courses, all are welcome to attend and participate in the events and the discussion afterwards. The films are different each year, depending on the organizing professor and the themes that he or she chooses. This semester Professor Kanaté Dahouda organized the Film Series in connection with his course, “Topics in Francophone Culture”. The course is taught entirely in French, allowing students to develop their language reading, speaking, and comprehension skills while discussing issues that are important not only to France and the French speaking world, but also to America, Canada, and Europe. The films delve into many social and political issues, from linguistic differences, culture, and identities within the Frenchspeaking world to racism, integration, and immigration. The students in this course explore these issues through readings, movies, and discussion, gaining important knowledge of societal issues throughout the French-speaking world. All of the films will be shown in their original language (be it French or English)
with English subtitles. Knowledge of the French language and culture is not a prerequisite, and those who are new to Francophone culture will be able to gain valuable insights from attending these films. “For those who want to extend the border of their knowledge about the French speaking world, about France, it would be very interesting to come and see these movies,” Professor Dahouda says. Films so far this semester have included La Fracophonie: S’uir ou Périr, The Silences of the Palace, Nationalism, Blood and Belonging: Quebec, 100% Arabica, and Aimé Césaire; A Voice for History. The films are shown on Tuesdays at 8pm in Gullick 206a. Next week students will be watching Camille Claudel, a romance about Isabelle Adjani and Gerard Depardieu, two artists who are passionate about art and about each other. Although there are only a few films remaining this semester, new faces are always welcome at these events. “All of these issues are very important, not only in the American context, but it will be interesting for them to see how these foreign movies are dealing with the same issues,” Professor Dahouda adds. “Especially if you are interested in the world politics, the world history, and the world culture.”
CAB Friday Flix Academy Award Nominated
THE BLIND SIDE 8 PM in the Vandervort Room
The Smith Screens “Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire” Courtesy of The Smith Opera House “PRECIOUS” has received awards and nominations including three Golden Globe and Screen Actor Guild nominations, and 6 Oscar nominations. Lee Daniels’s PRECIOUS is a vibrant, honest and resoundingly hopeful film about the human capacity to grow and overcome. Set in Harlem in 1987, it is the story of Claireece “Precious” Jones (Gabourey Sidibe), a sixteen-year-old African-American girl born into a life no one would Photo Courtesy of Impawords.com want.
She’s pregnant for the second time by her absent father; at home, she must wait hand and foot on her mother (Mo’Nique), a poisonously angry woman who abuses her emotionally and physically. School is a place of chaos, and Precious has reached the ninth grade with good marks and an awful secret: she can neither read nor write. Precious may sometimes be down, but she is never out. Beneath her impassive expression is a watchful, curious young woman with an inchoate but unshakeable sense that other possibilities exist for her. Threatened with expulsion, Precious is offered the chance to transfer to an alternative school, Each One/Teach One. Precious doesn’t know the meaning of “alternative,” but her instincts tell her this is the chance she has been waiting for. In the literacy workshop taught by the patient yet firm Ms. Rain (Paula Patton), Precious begins a journey that will lead her
from darkness, pain and powerlessness to light, love and self-determination. In Official Selection at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival - Un Certain Regard, and winner of three awards at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival including the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award in the U.S. Dramatic Competition.
Come See Oscar Nominated
PRECIOUS:
Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire Where: Smith Opera House When: March 5 and 6 at 7pm March 7, 2010 at 2pm.
Tickets: $5
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FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 2010
Arts and Entertainment Cop Out: Predictable Plot, Lots of Laughs By Hannah Semaya ’13 Herald Contributor Photo Courtesy: shockya.com
Cop Out is not what would typically be seen as a good movie. The film follows two policemen who just can not seem to stay out of trouble while on their current case. Tired jokes, a lot of cursing, and sight gags do not usually add up to make a high-quality movie. Coming from directing the underground success Clerks. and the popular sequel Clerks II, Director Kevin Smith proves that he can make a very entertaining, character driven movie in spite of almost no coherent plot.. Cop Out is fun, exciting, and does not disappoint the viewer. It may not be a good movie, but it sure is fun to watch. The plot centers around two Brooklyn policemen. Detective Jimmy Monroe is played by and Detective Paul Hodges by Tracy Morgan. As longtime partners who run into some trouble on their current case, Detective Jimmy refuses to give up. Bruce Willis is well known for playing roles
as a policeman in films such as 16 Blocks, Sin City, The Last Boy Scout and all four Die Hard films. His history of playing a cop adds validity to his role Tracy Morgan (“30 Rock”) is not quite as believable, but even he is given some character depth, helped by Rashida Jones (“The Office”, I Love You, Man) as his wife. The most successful element of the movie was the characters that the detectives encounter on their adventure. The most memorable of these include Sean William Scott (American Pie) as an affable, slightly crazed thief with impressive skills. The cast also showcases Michelle Trachtenberg (EuroTrip), Susie Essman (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”), and Adam Brody (Thank You for Smoking, “The OC”). These actors and their actors all help the movie move along and be generally entertaining. They could not save it from failing to be the homage to old time buddy cop flicks that it aspires to be. Expect to leave the theater laughing, but not entirely satisfied.
Music Review: Rebirth “Fool with a Guitar” By Will Abbott ’12 Herald Contributor
“Louder is Better” is generally the case, but should not be an expression attributed to Lil’ Wayne’s debut rock album, Rebirth. Through twelve painfully incoherent tracks featuring many artists from Wayne’s label Young Money, Lil’ Wayne has provided us with a collection of the worst music of the year. The Carter, Lil’ Wayne’s documentary, is a complete representation of his current downfall. After the commercial success of the highlyacclaimed Carter III, Lil’ Wayne clearly began to take his fame too seriously, assuming he could turn anything he touched to gold. Not the case, Weezy. His confident demeanor comes off as pretentious, and his ‘laid back’ style is idiotic and irresponsible. Rebirth is agonizingly loud and riddled with elementary guitar riffs, oppressive rhymes, and excessive auto-tune (D.O.A. please). The majority of the album lacks production creativity to an extent where it’s safe to assume Lil’ Wayne is a rock ‘n roll amateur. High-points: Knockout, Drop the World (Eminem’s verse especially). Low-points: Get a Life (Whew, bad), The Price is Wrong. The price is wrong, Lil’ Wayne. Harsh? Perhaps. But if it’s one thing I urge, it’s that we most keep the faith in Wayne, he is a proven emcee and a lyrical genius. Rebirth was not the album the Wayne-nation was hoping for, but we must applaud his bravery. Maybe The Carter IV will restore Lil’ Wayne’s crown, and dignity. Lil’ Wayne should stick to what he’s good at, and leave the rocking to the professionals. (The Warren: wabbott. wordpress.com)
Relay for Life Rally Sunday March 7th, 2010 at Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity 11a.m. to 2.pm.
Learn about Relay for Life Discover Fundraising Ideas Pancake Brunch Food from Joe’s Hots Sign-up for Relay
Sledding
M O V I E T I M E S
A Spirited Review The Original Drink of the Week Since 2006
After Midnight To get through finals this non-alcoholic drink is perfectly named. A bit of coffee, cream and cocoa with the option of adding a splash of rum it will be a good midnight snack for the late nights and all nighters and a break from the energy drinks like Red Bull and Monster. Ingredients: 2 tsp instant coffee 1 glass of cold milk 2 tsp instant cocoa 1 dash cream
Preparation: Add coffee and cocoa to milk. Add cream to smoothen. A bit of Jamaican rum is optional. The Herald reminds you to enjoy the drink of the week safely and at THEtime HERALD the appropriate and location, as long as you are of age…
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8
Sports Statesmen Fall to Saints in Liberty League Championship Game, But Gear Up for ECAC’s By Carrie Stevens ‘12 Sports Editor
Finishing the regular season on a two-game winning streak, the Statesmen traveled to Canton, NY to compete in the Liberty League Tournament on Feb. 26 and 27. Hobart was among the top four teams in the league – along with Skidmore, St. Lawrence and Union – and therefore clinched a playoff bid. “Our game plan was to play like we had all season,” Head Coach Izzi Metz said of the matchup against Skidmore. “We didn’t have to make major adjustments. We stuck with aggressive, full court pressure, fast break points and good ball movement.” Hobart held the lead at halftime, 45-38, and was able to hold on and finish the game with an 8376 victory. The following afternoon, the Statesmen faced the Saints in the Championship Game. Hobart only lost five games during the regular season, two of which were to St. Lawrence. The Saints started the game on a 7-2 run, and held the 4734 lead at the break.
As the second half came to a close, Hobart found itself down by twenty with six minutes to play. “I told our players there was still time left and that I expected them to compete like they had all season,” Metz started. “We needed to score, we needed to get stops and we needed to make a run.” Thanks to backto-back three points from Tim Llewellyn, the Statesmen cut the lead, but the deficit proved too much, and Hobart dropped the contest 90109. Kevin Colton/Photographer Next up for the Tim Llewellyn ’11 broke his own season record for steals, getting two Statesmen is the ECAC Tournament. The more on Saturday, Feb. 27, bringing his season total to 78. team plays Brockport Eagles, the Statesmen will square against teams that had successful (16-11) in the opening round on off against either Ithaca College or seasons. And every team is playing March 3. “Our goal is to win RPI in the Upstate Championship well, so it should be a fun experience the championship,” Metz said. contest. “The competition will be for our players.” Contingent on a win over the Golden strong because we will be competing
Vancouver 2010 Olympic Wrap Up By Carrie Stevens ‘12 Sports Editor
During Feb. 12-28 you missed the Olympics? Not to worry—here’s a comprehensive wrap-up of the important victories and medal drama.
Noteworthy US Gold: Evan Lysacek – Men’s Figure Skating Bode Miller – Men’s Super Combined Lindsey Vonn – Women’s Downhill Shaun White – Men’s Halfpipe
Noteworthy US Silver: Men’s Ice Hockey Women’s Ice Hockey Julia Mancuso – Ladies’ Super Combined & Ladies’ Downhill Apolo Ohno – Men’s 1500m
Noteworthy US Bronze: Bode Miller – Men’s Downhill Apolo Ohno – Men’s 1000m Lindsey Vonn – Super-G
The Drama:
Nodar Kumaritashvili, a Georgian luger, died a few hours before the opening ceremony on Feb. 12 when he lost control of his sled during a training run. The 21-year-old’s fatal crash elicited several questions concerning the safety of the Whistler Olympic Park track. Kumaritashvili’s death came shortly after two-time Olympic gold medalist Armin Zoegller of Italy crashed higher up on the course. On Feb. 21, three days before the Giant Slalom competition, Julia Mancuso told “Sports Illustrated” that there’s an ongoing “popularity contest” between herself and fellow skier, Lindsey Vonn: “People are having a hard time reaching their potential because it’s such a struggle for attention. You come to meetings after races and it’s like it’s a bad day if Lindsey didn’t do well.” Since the incident, tensions between the two medalists have cooled. Russian figure skater silver medalist Evgeni Plushenko pouted at the medal ceremony on Feb. 18, and then trashed Evan Lysacek’s routine: “For someone to stand on top of the podium with the gold medal around his neck by just doing triple jumps, to me it’s not progress, it’s a regress because we’ve done triples 10 or even 20 years ago. Just doing nice transitions and being artistic is not enough because figure skating is a sport, not a show.”
OLYMPICS continued from Page 1 twin brother, Steve and friend from elementary school, John. After months of planning, which included getting tickets to numerous events and finding temporary housing on a woman’s living room floor on Craigslist, the trio started off on their travel to see the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, British Columbia. They arrived just in time to get settled before having to head to their first sporting event – Nordic combined ski jumping and cross country on Sunday. They say first impressions are everything, and this event would set the mood for what turned out to be a record-breaking performance by Team USA. Team USA skier Johnny Spillane took home the silver, which turned out to be the first ever medal for America in this event. Copacino got to witness that and recalls how exciting it was to be at such a great moment early on for Team USA. The group then planned to attend skiing in Whistler but that event was cancelled before they left. Instead, curling would have to do for the day. Michael recalls this event as an incredible experience. Copacino said, “We got to sit in the section with USA team member families. Someone had their head painted
with ‘Go USA’ and some parents of a team member explained the sport to us.” Michael says he was one of the 6,000 people who attended. Finally, the weather conditions in Whistler improved, so the group got to go on Wednesday. Before the sporting event they had tickets to, the group got to walk around town. They bought a puffy USA cowboy hat to wear when they saw cross country skiing that afternoon. Luge was next on their list out in Whistler. They saw the men’s doubles event. Michael described this as not the best spectator sport. They just go “really fast,” he described. Thursday brought an event that would be memorable but had nothing to do with an actual Olympic sport. The group got to see Stephen Colbert shoot an episode of the “Colbert Report.” Colbert was in Vancouver for the duration of the games for special editions of his Comedy Central show. Copacino said, “I was impressed because he’s pretty much the same person in person. That was pretty cool.” If one sport resonates in Canada, it’s hockey! Michael got to experience this first hand as he witnessed two games. Michael said he enjoyed the USA vs. Norway
Photo courtesy of: calibersportsenterprises.com
Team USA skier Johnny Spillane took hom ethe silver in the Combined Ski Jumping competition. game but it was the Canada vs. Switzerland game that will remain memorable to him. He said, “It was the best atmosphere for any sports event I’ve ever seen.” When it came to other events, Michael said spectators would gather around televisions at restaurants in town. When some big event was going on, “people would just go crazy. You could hear the place erupt,” he recalls. Friday morning the group went to see the Olympic flame. Michael does admit that he was disappointed with what can be expected as one of the best parts of the trip. He said, “It was behind a
chain link fence, it felt like a prison.” This poor scenery and limited access of the Olympic torch is something that the Canadian Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games is still taking criticism on. Copacino said he had a really incredible experience in Vancouver and says it was “worth the school work I neglected.” He said it was a “unifying experience” because citizens from all over the world became one group of people as he said one could just strike up a conversation with anyone. What’s next for Copacino? Learn curling himself!