9.11.09

the

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

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 2009

VOLUME CXXXI ISSUE 2

GENEVA, NY

Community Standards Revised

HWS Launches New Green Initiatives

By Whitman Littlefield ’11 Herald Contributor

By Erin Meehan ’12 Arts and Entertainment Editor

When first years and upper classmen arrived back on the Hobart and William Smith campus they found the Handbook of Community Standards waiting with a variety of other pamphlets, leaflets and miscellaneous junk in their mail box. Most of this probably made its way into the trash can conspicuously placed in the mailroom.

However, if on the off chance the Handbook made its way under your bed or is tucked in your desk, you might find it worth your while to read.

Over the summer M o n t r o s e Streeter the Associate Dean of Campus Safety and Student Conduct reworded or added policy to the Handbook. Streeter says, “Every year we do some type of cursory look at the document” he continued,” We have not been able to streamline our policy” until this summer.

Unlike previous adaptations to the only source of students’

rights on and off campus, this year’s changes were not marked and dated within the book. Dean Streeter remarked that this was because policy did not change- it was only reworded, clarified or new to the book all together.

D e a n Streeter was quick to point out that social and academic policies under went only minor changes but other departments under went full rewrites.

Streeter said that the policy involving the bookstor e, students Amy Nimon/Photographer w i t h disabilities, the library, acceptable use of technology, and the fraternity section all underwent serious ‘revision’.

When questioned about who was involved in the rewrite he remarked, “All the changes were run through the departments.”

STANDARDS continued on Page 2

Over the past few years the Colleges have been focusing on new and alternative ways to go green and help protect our environment. This year is no different. In fact the new additions may have some students a little

Amy Nimon/Photographer

shocked at first: $0.50 charge for a take-out container and $0.20 for a cup at the café.

James Landi, an alum and one of the forerunners for the green movement on campus, was able to give some insight into the changes. It is apparent that if students, facility and staff of HWS commit to making these small adjustments, the overall outcome

Hubbs Establishes Appointment System

the requirements issued by the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) which President Gearan signed in the fall of 2007, which requires the Colleges to achieve net zero green house gas emissions.

Few students are aware of the Colleges’ participation in the INITIATIVES continued on Page 2

Convocation Encourages Global Citizenship

By Rebecca Dennee ’10 Campus Happenings Editor

By Alex MacDonald ’10 Herald Contributors As returning students and incoming first years may have heard, the Hubbs Health Center on campus has started a new policy of seeing students only if they have appointments. While this policy makes sense in the organization of the health center, questions have been raised over whether it is changing the effectiveness and mission of Hubbs.

For years, Hubbs Health Center has operated as a walk-in clinic that would allow students to stop in and see a nurse whenever a medical issue appeared.

Unfortunately, the nursing staff has noticed over the years that working like this creates a rush of students at certain times of the day.

Nurse Practitioner Betti Green stated that at times Hubbs would be silent as all the nurses waited, while at other times there would suddenly be a large amount of students would rush in needing to speak to someone.

The change from a walk-in to appointment system was intended to end this. The idea is that

will reduce costs and energy for the school.

Landi states that there have not been many changes made over the summer; instead, they are focusing on a long-term Climate Action Plan and to fulfill

instead of being in one of these packs of students, and having to wait, students now will schedule an appointment at the earliest convenience to see a nurse.

One cause for concern is the idea that this will put people who have a medical emergency (or deteriorating condition) behind those who have scheduled an earlier appointment. This is in fact not true.

Part of the new system is to have different types of appointments.

The average appointment for a cold or other minor condition will be filed under a “general illness” appointment type.

Amy Nimon/Photographer These are scheduled more frequently and the wait to see a doctor can be as long as 48 hours. For more pressing matters, the schedule is categorized as an “urgent appointment” and can be made the same day. Appointments requiring tests, a delay of a week or more may be expected.

What is the recipe for a global citizen?

Care, think and be informed, and act are the three “ingredients” outlined by Convocation speaker Thomas Tighe guest speaker and honorary member of Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

Ranging from local community outreach to studying abroad, speakers of Convocation 2009 spoke to their own personal interpretation of the theme and hopes for the upcoming year.

Opening remarks made by President Gearan highlighted his goals of a Geneva partnership, to engage with the community

HUBBS continued on Page 3

GLOBAL continued on Page 3

Kevin Colton/Photographer

Campus Happenings

A&E

Opinions

Sports

Dis m a l in Afghanistan

Shiny To y Guns R e v i e w

N ot A l l owe d t o Ta ke Shot s

H o b ar t S o cce r Pr e vi e w

W SC Up date

Movie R e v i e w: G a me r

N o P l a c e L i ke H ome

WS Cross Countr y

E xp lo r ing N ew Teaching

Fashion U nde r $ 1 0 0

Be c omi ng A St a t e s me nt

H o b ar t R o w i n g

A Blen ding o f Cultur es

Glee T V R e v i e w

D e ba t i ng t he I s s ue s

W S Te n n i s Fal l Pr e vi e w

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2009

The Herald

Established 1879 By and for the Students of Hobart and William Smith Colleges Belinda Littlefield, Editor-in-Chief Karissa Seeberger, Managing Editor Rebecca Dennee, Campus Happenings Editor Tim Hollinger, Opinions Editor Erin Meehan, A&E Editor Carrie Stevens, Sports Editor Amy Nimon, Photography Editor Jennifer Hollander, Advertising Editor

Contributors Whitman Littlefield Erin Meehan Rebecca Dennee Alex MacDonald Ben Shabot Jennifer Hollander Belinda Littlefield Carolyn Pluchino Taylor Weber

Tim Hollinger Abigail Wandell William McConnell Lauren Wells Darcy Lepore Hannah Semaya Grace Lyttle Carrie Stevens

Distribution Karissa Seeberger Belinda Littlefield

Layout Belinda Littlefield Rebecca Dennee Karissa Seeberger

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.

STANDARDS continued from Page 1 In short the IT department got to make up their own rules, “users should be aware that electronic mail, messages, files, and other electronic information sent through computer networks, including the Internet, may not be confidential” (p65).

The Handbook continues, “The Colleges expect that HWS students, faculty and employees will use the Electronic Resources offered by the Colleges in a lawful, ethical, responsible way, consistent with the mission of the Colleges.”

As one Hobart senior remarked, “You could teach a class on ethical use of the Internet and still know nothing.” If students browse an online head shop, look into making a bomb, or even surf the net for porn, are they using the internet unethically?

However, this raises a bigger issue; the Handbook of Community Standards is littered with rhetoric that is difficult to interpret and is written so the Colleges have the ability to go after nearly anyone.

The section dealing with room checks opens with the line, “While respecting the privacy of individuals in their rooms” and ends with, “There also may be some periodic unscheduled room checks”(p38).

Yet another example of writing that can be used to target students involves the disciplinary scale’s level two, “Please note that students who

participate in drinking games or who consume alcohol quickly (e.g beer pong, shots, funnels - to name a few) are considered to be engaged in unsafe behavior”(pg 47).

Dean Streeter comments, “Shots are associated typically with drinking games” as he justifies “the educational response” (p50). to a level-two offense. But again the bigger issue is how do they prove that an individual student has been “drinking too quickly”. The Handbook suggests, “A reasonable amount of alcohol is that quantity that will be sufficient to serve each of those of legal age the equivalent of one 12 oz glass of beer, one 5 oz. glass of wine, or 1 oz. of distilled spirits during each hour of the event”(p41).

When describing the Colleges’ “education response” Streeter commented, “We could have them all arrested but we chose to use an educational response involving required seminars and screenings.”

He then pointed out, “This is one of the most lenient college policies I’ve seen. I believe students must be held accountable for their actions.”

The student body needs to ask their respective governments and their deans why students have never been involved in drafting the only book that gives them any semblance of rights.

Afghanistan Situation Is Dismal

By Ben Shabot ’10 Herald Contributor

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

INITIATIVES continued from Page 1 program; therefore HWS Goes Green representatives, also known as S.E.A.L.s (Student Environmental Advocate Liaisons) have been implemented in residence halls. They will help to raise awareness about the sustainability program and how students can make even small changes which produce a huge difference. These include turning off the lights or electronics when they are not in use and lowering the heat. The goal is always to have students gain knowledge about how they can make even small differences in their everyday lives.

Buildings and Grounds are also getting in on the fun.

Have you noticed the new biodiesel filling station and the new five diesel powered vehicles on campus? These automobiles run on a bio-diesel fuel mix created from the Dining Services’ cooking oil- talk about being resourceful!

One probably has noticed that dining services such as the café, pub and de Cordova Café have new compostable products, which help reduce contamination from liquids and food in the recycling. These materials must be disposed of in compost bins.

Compost is an important aspect in helping to preserve the environment. Landi commented, “the HWS Goes Green Program installed composting/waste stations in all dining facilities.”

Composting is handled in the back of Saga where approximately 1.3 tons of food waste is composted per week. This is no small feat.

The campus has also gone completely Styrofoam free, except for a few old products from last year. The new “ENVY” program also works with dining services.

A reusable take-out container program will be implemented in the coming weeks; the new charge on these containers is not meant to make life for students more difficult but, instead, have them think twice about whether they really need them. Landi hopes to eventually remove the charge once people are able to make smarter choices.

Cost is a big concern for both the school and students.

Many wonder where the mysterious “green charge” actually goes. However, the new compostable service ware is slightly more expensive and the money will go towards purchasing and financing other green projects.

However, Landi is quick to remind everyone that even though there will be some spending involved in the long run the school will actually be able to save money in the future.

Landi states, “If this awareness leads the campus community to reduce its energy consumption, water consumption, and waste, then we could actually start to reduce our environmental impact, save money and potentially reduce costs that would eventually be past on to students.” Saving the environment and money… this sounds like a program we can all support!

Photo Courtesy Of: http://www.abdulhadihairan.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/election-aks.JPG

The situation in Afghanistan appears to be a dismal one.

Following the August 20th elections the New York Times reported on Monday that accounts of fraudulent votes for incumbent president Hamid Karzai numbered in the tens of thousands. Even worse the death toll for American troops in the month of August was 51. The highest it has been since the start of the war.

The blood and corruption surrounding the elections pose a tough challenge for President Obama. Amid the increased presence of the Taliban in the southern and eastern regions of Afghanistan Obama is now weighing out options of sending even more troops to Afghanistan.

Obama had already ordered 21,000 additional troops at the beginning of this year bringing the total number of troops in Afghanistan to 68,000.

I think as ugly as the situation is in Afghanistan success in the form of a stable Afghan government is essential for American national security. If it takes more troops to achieve that goal it may be necessary for Obama to increase the US presence in Afghanistan.

Losing in Afghanistan would be catastrophic because it would

embolden radical Islamists. One needs only to look back at the violence following the success of the Mujahideen in the 1980s. After the Soviet defeat in Afghanistan radical Islam was strengthened to the extent that men like Osama Bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri were easily able to recruit members. Their success lay in that the mentality of many Islamists was strengthened by their victory in Afghanistan, and it appeared to them that superpowers like the Soviet Union and the United States could be brought down by violence.

The Obama administration needs to take a harsh stance against radical Islam. Potential terrorists and countries that harbor them need to know that if they ever wage war against the United States she will wage war against them and win.

Even though the war in Afghanistan is not directly taking on Al Qaeda it is tremendously important to thwart similar Islamic fundamentalist groups like the Taliban. Frustrating radical Islam in Afghanistan may not be able to completely eradicate groups like Al Qaeda, but it will definitely hinder their abilities to recruit members and thus wage war.

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2009

Campus Happenings William Smith Congress Update

By Jennifer Hollander ’11 Advertising Editor The William Smith Congress meeting for this week was an introductory one. The executive board members introduced themselves and explained the voting rights system. In order to get voting rights, a William Smith student must attend three meetings with two potential absences.

They then went on to explain this semester’s project: William Smith Field Days. The dates are still pending, but they are hoping to set them in either late September or early October. The events would be sports-like and relaxing for students who wish to take a break from studying. Anyone interesting in giving ideas for events or helping out should attend the meetings.

Community Counsels are one of the two new projects Residential Education endorsed by Congress.

It acts as a communication network between students and the residential education staff. These students will act as liaison for students having problems within the dorms and who are unsure of a way to express it comfortably.

Congress hopes to have several representatives from Congress to the community counsels, thus incorporating William Smith Congress into the process. For example, the Senior Trustee, Regina Triplett will be hosting a Scavenger hunt on Friday for the First Years throughout this event. She is a Community Counsel

member for JPR. The second Res. Ed project that Congress endorses is known as the “Red Watch Band.” Students who pledge to this group are asked to help students who have abused substances. As William Smith Congress neither tolerates nor promotes substance abuse, it is something they hope will be successful.

O n e s e n i o r William S m i t h student brought up potential r e s p e c t f o r u m s that would encompass both the Colleges and the Geneva residents. She noted that Geneva residents do not view the students highly as those that they interact with are usually drunk, belligerent, or causing acts of serious vandalism. Only a small percentage of students actually act that way, but it is those few students that Genevans notice.

As a result the Colleges are seen as home to rude and elitist persons. These respect forums would teach the students to present a better image of the Colleges. After the students are aware of how their

drunken acts or blatant disrespect hurts the entire student body, it is hoped that Geneva residents would be more apt to accept invitations to events on campus. It would finish with Geneva residents seeing that the students here do a lot of good and only a few are crass.

The sophomore class president, Colleen O’Hara, would like to see another concert happen at the Colleges.

She, along with Will Gore and Rob Pool, saw that the accredited Girl Talk came to campus in April.

The three of them will be soliciting ideas from students on who should come to perform.

She would eventually like to have a consortium with other colleges; this means Hobart and William Smith would work with other colleges in terms of funding a larger name. The colleges that contribute would all receive discounted ticket prices.

The in-house Committee elections will be next week. The committees are: Committee in Academic Affairs, Committee on

HUBBS continued from Page 1 Another reason concern is being raised over this policy change is the idea that it might be better to merely schedule an appointment with a doctor.

Unfortunately, this is not as simple as making an appointment with Hubbs.

Betti Green reminds students that, while they are fully allowed to seek outside medical treatment, doctors’ offices are often more busy than Hubbs and fees and costs may be incurred by whether insurance agencies cover meetings with a doctor or not.

Also, because of the availability of prescription and non-prescription drugs

at Hubbs, students do not always need to go to a pharmacy to purchase their prescriptions. In fact, because of term billing, students who receive medication from Hubbs are not even required to bring cash to pay for anything.

With all of this, the Hubbs Appointment system is a new system that aims to provide better service to the students and see them in a timely fashion.

As a result, the Hubbs staff is confident that all changes will result in better service and more productivity throughout the semester.

September 11: National Day of Ser vice and Remembrance Honor the victims of 9/11 and those who committed themselves to service in response to the attacks.

Give back to your community!

National Day of Service and Rememberance ng 10am-8pm @ Scandli rm rfo Pe r, Pledge to Voluntee a in ge ga En or a Good Deed ity tiv Ac le tab ari Ch

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e New ba: Th ut m u Z y kO Tr o Wor Way t

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Upcoming Events Friday 9/11 e and Rememberance • National Day of Servic Tuesday 9/15 ining @ Vandervort Rm • 6-8pm Student Org. Tra Wednesday 9/16 me @ Quad • 5-6pm CAB Frisbee Ga ining @ Vandervort Rm Tra • 6-8pm Student Org. Thursday 9/17 @ Sanford Rm • 1st Fisher Center Event Friday 9/18 vie “Up” @ Quad • 8pm CAB Drive-In Mo t Opening @ Houghton Ar n • 7-9pm Susan Dayki Saturday 9/19 Road Trip • 10am-8pm Niagra Falls Sunday 9/20 rien Lake Road Trip • 11am-8pm CAB/SA Da Sundaes @ Scandling eam Cr • 2-4pm CAB Ice

Standards, Sexual Harassment and Grievances, Honors Committee, Campus Services, and Food Services.

The Committee in Academic Affairs deals with new courses and curricula. The Committee on Standards deals with cases such as plagiarism and academic disruptions.

The Sexual Harassment and Grievances is highly confidential and deals with sexual harassment.

Those first three are for only open to upperclassmen, which are students of sophomore status and above. The next three will accept First Years. The Honors Committee oversees students undertaking honors projects. Campus Services works with B&G, campus safety, and other places that offer a service to students.

The representative will act as liaison and express concerns to the appropriate persons. Food Services requires one representative from each class year and works with issues pertaining to Saga, the Café, DeCordova Café, and the Cellar Pub. As most people will not have had voting rights, which requires a total of at least three attendances, voting rights are not necessary to vote for in-house Committees.

Finally, there are two open positions on the Judicial Board for First Years only. Applications for this and First Year class president will be available from Student Activities very soon.

GLOBAL continued from Page 1 at large. Through Geneva Heroes, the Community Lunch program, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and many other initiatives, expanded efforts of collaboration between the town and school were emphasized. An inclusive community, Green initiatives, and important conversations rounded his goals for the semesters to follow. Gearan remarked, “A life of consequence demands global citizenship.”

Following President Gearan’s opening words was Provost Teresa Amott who introduced Professor Oberunner of Philosophy and recipient of a recent faculty award. Oberunner, inspired by her students and her life in philosophy saw illustrations of global citizenship through her relations with members of the HWS c o m m u n i t y.

Oberrunner admitted, “I am constantly inspired by my students. Their endless curiosity, their probing questions, their openness to new ways of thinking, their appetite for hard work, their profound concern for other people - these things light up our classrooms and our campus.”

Professor Oberunner spoke of two former students from whom she learned a lot about life. She reminded us all as to how much we still have to learn about our fellow peers as we follow the advice of President Gearan and embrace community inclusiveness.

In her closing words she left a few thoughts for the campus community: “My wish for all of us is that

the humanitarian and global awareness fostered here and the precious connections which we make here will continue to energize us both for the sake of our own community and for the sake of our fellow beings both nearby and far away.”

Following Professor Oberunner was guest speaker Thomas Tighe, CEO of Direct Relief International and honorary member of HWS. After considering the term global citizen and what it meant to him and the rest of our community, he spoke these choice words: “So for me, being a good global citizen means that it’s up to each one of us to make judgments about the issues that matter, the type of world we want to live in, and where to engage our time and efforts.”

Tighe, a former Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand, has taken every opportunity and advantage he has been given.

His proudest moments are being a husband and father though he spoke humbly of his past: “The series of great nuns who taught me in grade school might read this, so I will say I am not proud. But I will admit to being thrilled to be a parent of four great kids, husband to a great woman, to work at a terrific organization, and to be invited to speak at HWS.” Exemplifying the theme of global citizenship, Tighe should be an inspiration to the campus community in your personal quest to become a global citizenship. In his closing words Tighe instilled hope, “We need you. Good luck!”

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2009

Campus Happenings A Blending of Cultures

By Belinda Littlefield ’11 Editor-in-Chief

Exploring New Teaching Methods

By Carolyn Pluchino’10 Herald Contributor

Kevin Colton/Photographer

We sometimes notice their accents or the multilingual abilities of some of the students that matriculate here at HWS, but rarely do we know the stories, life, or country of origin of the international students here at the Colleges.

Mentioned briefly at Orientation as “the largest group of international students in the Colleges’ history” according to Provost Teresa Amott, the international students are not individually tied to their flag at Convocation but are, instead, included among the student body and a part of a new community, that of HWS. Students were greeted at the Intercultural Affairs house on Tuesday, August 25 by Alejandra Molina, the Director of IC, David Gage, and Hope Galensthe organizer of this particular orientation. If any of the firstyears found First Year Orientation tiring, it is humbling to realize that these students arrived on either Monday or Tuesday prior to Orientation to have an orientation entirely separate from the First Years before joining the Class of 2013 on Friday.

Among these students yet another subdivision exists: some will only be studying here for a

semester and the majority will be here for all four years of their undergraduate careers.

Hope Galens, the International Student Services Coordinator, said that it was “very exciting to see that all of the students had arrived safely and was finally able to put a face to a name after months of communication.”

Xiaochuang Zhao, a Chinese student that has come to study here from Sichuan, the hometown of the panda, said that she has come here to experience American culture. Like the majority of first year students, she is unsure of her major or career plans at this point in time.

International students, while from countries all over the globe- 11 countries to be exactthese students are like American students in almost every other way- they wear jeans, play sports, and participate in clubs.

So, next time you come across a student that speaks with an accent, stop and have a chat with them. You may learn something new about a different culture, make a friend or, in the end see that despite hundreds of miles of geographic separation, we are really all alike in the ways that matter.

For the past three summers, I have been working at the Exploration Junior Program in Southborough, Massachusetts.

This year I taught two classes entitled “3-D studio and Jewelry making” and a weekend workshop, “Berries and Baking”. The daily schedule usually consisted of teaching classes in the morning and activities with the students in the afternoon. These activities changed daily in order for the students to get ample opportunities to try new things.

This is a six-week program containing two sessions (each one being three weeks long). I primarily taught children about arts and crafts and let them explore using their own creativity.

This year I was the Arts Center Coordinator and my main responsibility was making sure that we had all the materials needed for art activities.

Every weekend we took the students to different places for the day; these ranged from a butterfly farm to a theme park.

Wednesdays were called “Workshop Days” where students would take two “mini-courses” for about two hours each.

This allowed the students another opportunity to learn and explore. Wednesdays were great because of this break in the daily schedule. Usually these “minicourses” were a lot more unique and fun for the students. This summer I assisted the Summer Spa mini-course where the students learned how to make their own lotion, lip gloss, and soap. On the last day we had a spa treatment, which the students really enjoyed.

The Exploration Summer Programs comes to the HWS campus every year to recruit new staff members. After attending an info session and going through

a rigorous application process, you will be scheduled to have an interview with someone working for Exploration. This type of summer program is unique in the way they want children to learn; the term “exploring” is their fundamental theme. They believe that students learn from discovering and taking a hands-onapproach.

If you want to work there, you must be prepared to do funny and ridiculous activities like painting with your feet and walking around like you own the place. A typical staff member can be seen wearing googly-eyes on their face and tin foil in their hair during one of Exploration’s favorite theme days: Alien Invasion.

Photo Courtesy Of: http://explo.org/

If you are interested in becoming a teacher or working with children in the future, I encourage you to apply to this program. While you are there, you not only work with children but gain valuable feedback about your classroom and how you can make it even better for the students you work with. This program has made me understand the value of education through exploration and discovery and I will forever be grateful for this amazing opportunity I was afforded. For more information, go to http:// explo.org/.

Opinions Becoming a Hobart Statesman

By Taylor Weber ’13 Herald Contributor It has been only three days into the school year and I probably know almost everything about HWS. Knowing the campus map, local restaurants, names of buildings, and names of local streets came quick to me.

After reading about helpful tips in the first issue of The Herald, I thought that I would be acquainted with HWS by the end of Orientation.

Though these three days were a huge learning experience for me, my full-fledged concept of knowing everything about HWS was wrong. To prove how little I knew about my own college, I am obligated to tell you about a few situations I was involved in.

On Sunday, I was walking back to Sherrill Hall from Saga when I stopped an orientation mentor dead in her tracks. I told her that I was a little lost and could not find my may back to my dormitory. When I told her that I was looking for Sherrill Hall, she chuckled and told me to turn around. I did as she said, and right in front of me stood my dorm. I turned

back around and simply said “wow.” That simply shows how close we can be to things, but yet so far.

Another situation that proved that I knew nothing about HWS came only a few short hours later. I was surfing the web when I came across a link that seemed appealing.

Seemingly enough it was a short quiz about Hobart & William Smith College. Being the egghead in the situation, I thought I would ace the quiz.

The first questions asked about the origin of HWS and the original founders of the College. My dream of acing the quiz was short lived. As the questionnaire went on, it started to ask questions about the year it was founded and who it was renamed in honor of.

I had no idea what the answers were. I guessed for the last few questions of the quiz and still got most of them wrong.

Actually, I failed, earning a thirty two percentile.

After the mortifying quiz, I sat in my chair with a stupid look on my face. I knew I had some work to do.

I wanted to learn everything I possibly could about HWS. So, I wrote down some important questions about campus life and how to obtain a job on campus.

I then gave the list of questions to my OM’s and they answered every one of them. What a relief it was to know that there were people here that knew a lot about the campus. After the two mortifying experiences, I have come to a realization that I need to take learning about HWS one small step at a time.

I would like to thank all of the OM’s for taking time to show us freshmen the ropes.

Orientation could not have gone better. With the help from our OM’s and the well organized weekend, I feel that by the end of the week I will know years of HWS history.

What I have learned during orientation is only a fraction of what I will learn throughout the entire year. I am more than glad to be attending a college such as this, and am eager to learn everything there is to know about HWS. Stay clean, stay happy and stay healthy.

Herald Classic

By Harry Sylvester Simmons Written: 1903 With this issue by literary articles, of the Herald a new we will try to give you board takes control. a money which shall We realize that we represent us in many have a hard task before more colleges than us to equal the work an athletic team of done by the any kind experienced Support then c o u l d men who e v e r the Herald have been think of in ever y way doing and exerting the utmost of possible. Give which will their ability us your hearty advertise to bring the cooperation. tc o l hl e g ee Herald to its present just as standard, and we much. It is but a small earnestly call upon part of the papers you, every student issued that are taken and every alumnus, here. They are sent out to aid us in our work to a number of other by contribution, either colleges and to many literary or pecuniary. of the alumni. Support A large amount of then the Herald in money is spent each every way possible. year to support athletic Give us your hearty teams which are to cooperation, and let us represent us among see if we cannot have a other colleges. Now if paper that we shall be you will contribute us glad to get and proud a fifth as much money to have it represent as you do to athletics Old Hobart. and make up the rest

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2009

Opinions There’s No Place Like Home

You Are Not Allowed to Take Shots

By Abigail Wandell ’13 Herald Contributor

By Tim Hollinger ’11 Opinions Editor

Geneva is a beautiful city. It sits right at the top of Seneca Lake, which has one of the most amazing views in the entire area. I’m sure that’s just one of the many reasons why students decide to attend Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Not only does it offer a variety of classes and programs, but its location is magnificent.

Students come from all over the world to attend HWS, including those from right here in Geneva! I’ve lived in Geneva for my entire life and I love it here. We have the lake, a movie theater, a bowling alley, and tons and tons of pizza places….what’s not to love about this city?

The thought of being stuck in the same small town for your entire life definitely isn’t. When I first started looking at colleges, I didn’t even want to consider HWS. My thought was that I’m still home; this place is too familiar; I want to get out and see the world. But after taking a tour on campus (forced to by my parents),

something inside me just clicked. Deep down I knew that this was the school I wanted to be at.

So the real question is, what’s it like to be from G e n e v a and now attending the local college?

Well, it’s hard to explain.

I know that I’m home; all the places around town are familiar to me, so the good part about that is I don’t need to learn my way around. But what’s different are the people. I can go to all the familiar places, the movies, the bowling, and the pizza, and experience it in a whole new way. I’m going to these places with brand new people, which makes my familiar places seem brand new all over again.

And I’m having so much fun sharing my Geneva with everyone else; it’s good to know that others are enjoying it as much as I am. I’m glad I chose HWS as my school and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

After taking a tour on campus (forced to by my parents), something inside me just clicked.

For years the Community Standards handbook has been broken: it lacked an index, was sprinkled with inaccuracies, and the discipline policies were vexing.

There have been many attempts to fix it. Over the summer, Dean of Discipline, Montrose Streeter gave it another much needed try. Unfortunately, it was largely a solo mission, Streeter, and departments worked without the input of students.

Some of what was accomplished is commendable, many arcane policies and inaccuracies were stripped; however, problems in the discipline portion of the book have remained, and will likely have a negative impact on a large portion of the student body. If you are found consuming “alcohol quickly” you will skip Level Zero and One reprimands and be put on Level Two. According to the book, shots qualify as consuming alcohol quickly.

Another troublesome detail is the fate of students who receive medical assistance because they, or another student, have called Campus Safety.

According to the book, the student getting medical assistance may be placed on temporary probation. That’s the same as a Level Three offence. This rule has the potential to dissuade students from calling for help, and could lead to the unthinkable.

Thankfully, students who call on behalf of their friends are safe from reprimands.

I commend Dean Streeter for working to ensure HWS maintains a safe environment, yet I also invite him to continue revising the handbook with the input of students, faculty, staff, and the other deans. A committee needs to be formed consisting of representatives from the aforementioned groups. Such a committee would be able to work together through the problematic portions of the book, and come to a consensus on the policies that would be best for the HWS community.

Students need to be informed and have a say in the policies of HWS, with this issue, like many that will likely bubble up over the semester, transparency is needed.

The C o m m u n i t y Standards handbook is still broken, it lacks an index, it is sprinkled with obscurities, and the discipline policies are vexing.

Re-writing the handbook will provide an opportunity for us to come together and discuss how to best address substance abuse issues on campus; something that is desperately needed.

We are all still reeling from the untimely passing of Warren “Kim” Kimber; now, as ever, is the time to take action. Get involved in this issue, talk to the deans, faculty, staff, and fellow students, with is; like most matters on campus, you can make a difference.

Re-writing the handbook will provide an opportunity for us to come together and discuss how to best address substance abuse issues on campus.

Debating the Issues

By William McConnell ‘12 Herald Contributor

Should HWS Allow Nudity On Campus?

Point in Agreement

Point in Opposition

A campus which embraces must cover up at all times and more personal freedoms will be those who don’t are weirdoes. a better place to live and learn. The only way to break down this This is not to say that we should offhand dismissal of nakedness is allow anyone to get away with piece by piece – a naked person anything – people shouldn’t deal here or there is the perfect way to drugs here. But drug dealing is get that ball rolling. illegal because of the dangerous Aside from the extension of side-effects, the association with personal liberty, nudity exposes crime, and the certain other potential for tempting Were nudity more abuse. Nudity, fruits. For one commonplace, in most thing, we can circumstances, physical confidence abandon the is not quite so mentality that could lose its threatening. our bodies association with At one need to be point in history, shielded from social elites and some freedomthe eyes of stifling people become something for others. Down decided that by the docks, ever yone to enjoy. ever yone showing some needed to wear clothes in public. skin is a status symbol of the This had to do with antiquated confident and well-groomed. modesty as well as practical Were nudity more sensibilities, i.e. disease commonplace, physical and the weather. confidence could Nowadays, we have lose its association the medical knowwith social elites and how to understand become something that cold is not for everyone to synonymous with enjoy. Some people getting a cold are uncomfortable and we have the being naked even while common sense to alone – it would be a bundle up when it’s better world if we were chilly. all a little more at ease So, weather in our own skin! permitting, why And what better can’t we dare to be w a y to encourage bare? From a young age we are this than by letting people be socialized to believe that being nude on campus, glorious and naked is undesirable; that people unashamed?

HWS should embrace our own imperfections, breaking individual freedoms whenever down rather than bolstering our possible, but never at the expense self confidence. of the well-being of the whole Social and mental implications community. When one persons’ aside, nudity brings about some far liberties start, another’s find less abstract consequences. There’s their limit. That being said, “HWS no guarantee when you walk into goes Nude” would have several a classroom and sit down that a immediate and naked person had u n d e s i r a b l e When push comes not used that very consequences. same chair earlier to shove, nudity Perhaps that day. Clothing our aversion to reveals itself to be became the norm nakedness is about more than a long time ago nothing more than for more than its just clothes or no own sake – take socialization at work. This does away clothes clothes. not mean that and hygiene will the effects of that suffer, disease socialization would be any less will become more likely. real or damaging. We have been When push comes to shove, carefully taught over the years nudity reveals itself to be about that people ought to show a little more than just clothes or no modesty and cover up their clothes. People should not be personal bits. subjected to the whims When naked of others, which is people start exactly what this popping up all plan entails. over campus, And when many of us does it stop? would feel Will it become embarrassed tolerable to and offended. And bathe oneself for good reason, in public? because some Even more of us might have valid personal acts? reasons for not wanting our There are clothes off. Scars, excess c e r t a i n fat, and other personal places nudity issues would have to be belongs: laid bare. Those who could bathrooms, afford to show a little skin would bedrooms, and France; not the remind us each and every day of HWS campus.

6

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2009

Arts and Entertainment Shiny Toy Guns Electrify The Smith

By Lauren Wells ’12 Herald Contributor

Lauren Wells/Photographer

Left: Shiny Toy Guns perform at the Smith Opera House on Friday, September 4th.

Above: Sisely Treasure, singer, guitarist, and keyboardist performs with her band mates at the Smith.

The Live from Geneva Concert Series presented the electronic rock band Shiny Toy Guns this past Friday at the Smith Opera House.

The band enabled the vocal prowess of their newest lead singer Sisely Treasure who replaced Carah Faye Charnow in August 2008.

Her band mates, drummer Mikey Martin, keyboard/ bass player Jeremy Dawson, and guitarist/vocalist Chad Petree made sure that all of the equipment was working properly during the sound check earlier that afternoon.

At the sound check, Petree imitated a majority

of Treasure’s vocals in a comic falsetto, who was not present for the sound check due to travel delays.

After the band completed their sound check, prepared for the show, and waited for the opening act (the wellreceived Simplelife) to play through their set, Shiny Toy Guns emerged from the backstage area to play for the crowd of roughly two hundred people. Although it was a small turnout, the band played exceptionally well, performing crowdpleasing hits such as “Ricochet!” and “Starts With One,” as well as their

Glee Reviewed: A Musical Comedy

newest single, a cover of Peter Schilling’s “Major Tom.” Often between songs, Dawson or Petree would speak with the crowd about how being in Geneva reminded them of being in Idaho, which led to a hilarious tangent regarding potatoes.

Nonetheless, the audience considered the band to be even more personable.

Treasure worked the stage in skin-tight leggings, a shredded shirt, and sky-high, lime green heels. But her outfit was not what made the biggest impression. Her energetic

singing, guitar playing, and keyboard playing was well complemented by her male band mates.

Petree and Treasure often took turns singing throughout the set: Petree crooned melancholy lyrics of unrequited love on “Rainy Monday,” while Treasure applied her sass and vivacity to edgier and more upbeat songs like “Le Disko” and “Ghost Town.”

After performing a two-song encore, the band returned backstage to relax for a few minutes before making their way to the front of the Smith to have pictures taken with adoring

fans. After their brief meet and greet session, the band thanked the stage crew and the concert planning committee for asking them to play at The Smith.

Treasure returned to her hotel while her band mates and tour crew finished up some of their meals in the hospitality room backstage.

Shiny Toy Guns explained that they were happy with the more intimate show at The Smith, and that they would be traveling to California to play at the Sunset Music Festival on the 12th.

A Spirited Review The Original Drink of the Week Since 2006

By Darcy Lepore ’10 Herald Contributor

Pink Squirrel This

randomly

named

drink is a milkshake lovers delight. Different versions call for cream or ice cream if you are looking for a frosty beverage subsitute cream Photo Courtesy Of: http://fd.graceful-lament.com/?cat=44

Glee, which officially premiered on September 9th after a teaser episode in May was comical and fun. A good excuse to take a break from your work on Wednesdays.

By now, most of us have seen the commercials which play the show’s own rendition of “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Rehab.” It is a fun show about a high school Spanish teacher, Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison), who brings a small group of very different students together when he takes over the school’s glee club, which he names New Directions.

In the pilot episode, Mr. Schuester recruits a football player, Finn Hudson (Cory Monteith), who realizes he actually does love the glee club.

Opposite Finn is Rachel Berry (Lea Michele), who wants to be a great performer but is constantly made fun of by the more popular students at her school, especially Finn’s girlfriend. Also in the

glee club are Kurt (Chris Colfer), Artie (Kevin McHale), Mercedes (Amber Riley), and Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz), who are looked down upon by Finn’s friends.

Even if you don’t like musicals, you will most likely find the show hilarious and fun. The show plays into stereotypes a great deal, but throughout the season, the characters will work on breaking these stereotypes because of the friendships they form and the encouragement they get from the glee club.

We see this in the first episode, when Finn begins to enjoy being a part of New Directions, though he actually does not initially join by choice.

What we can likely expect from this season is some fun music, great humor, and more characters breaking through stereotypes so that they can do what they love. Glee airs on Wednesdays at 9 PM. Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5.

for a scoop of ice cream to make a summery treat.

Ingredients 3/4 oz (2 count) creme de cacao

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…

3/4 oz (2 count) creme de noyaux Balance cream Shake and Strain

Garfield Minus Garfield Who would have guessed that when you remove Garfield from the Garfield comic strips, the result is an even better comic about schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and the empty desperation of modern life?

Friends, meet Jon Arbuckle. Let’s laugh and learn with him on a journey deep into the tortured mind of an isolated young everyman as he fights a losing battle against loneliness in a quiet American suburb.

7

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2009

Arts and Entertainment Ask Doctor Blackwell Got a question about sex that you need answered?

Can’t ask anyone else?

Write me at herald@hws.edu

Dear Liz, I am currently in a long distance relationship with my boyfriend from back home. In a recent conversation I had with him, he admitted to me that he cheated on me with another girl, but that he deeply regrets it and would never do it again. I want to believe him, but I do not know if I can trust him anymore. Please help!

Sincerely, Long Distance Distress Dear Long Distance Distress, This is quite the predicament indeed! On the one hand, your head tells you that what your boyfriend did was wrong and you cannot trust him again. On the other, your heart tells you that you love your boyfriend and do not want to see him go out of your life. So what do you do in this situation?

Is there any truth behind the saying “once a cheater, always a cheater”? Without making this into your Sociology 101 class and stating major studies on the subject, research has shown that it is not enough to regret the incident, but that one must become fully aware of what caused the cheating in the first place in order to ensure that it does not happen again; otherwise, your boyfriend is just likely to cheat a second time. Even if he does not cheat, however, and is truly remorseful of his actions, for the rest of your relationship you will probably be wary of him and not trust him like you used to. Since trust is one of the cornerstones of any relationship, especially a long distance relationship, not being able to trust your own boyfriend will make having a connection with him very difficult. Explain to him that you appreciate his honesty, but you are not sure you can trust him anymore. Taking a break away from each other will give you both time to reflect on whether your relationship is something you truly wish to continue pursuing, or if you are better off being a strong and independent young woman without him in your THE life. HERALD GENEVA MOVIEPLEX 8 AD Sincerely, Doctor Blackwell FRIDAY 9/11 2 COL X 5.5”

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Gamer: A Waste of Time

By Hannah Semaya ’13 Herald Contributor Gamer is the type of movie that you really, really want to like. The concept is interesting.

A future in which real people are controlled as characters in a video game is intriguing. Gamer is well cast, boasting names like Gerard Butler (300), Michael C. Hall (Dexter, Six Feet Under), Kyra Sedgewick (Secondhand Lions, The Closer), and a blink-and-you’ll miss it appearance by Milo Vetimiglia (Heroes). Amazing as Gerard Butler and Michael C. Hall are, they cannot save Gamer from being executed extremely poorly.

It’s disjointed and nonsensical, speeding along points that need to be expanded on and lingering on points that are unnecessary. It is not worth 1 hour and 45 minutes of your life.

The movie opens up in a somewhat dystopian future in which the richest man, Ken Castle, played by Michael C. Hall, invented the game beyond video games, where the players control actual live people. There is no question of the

legality of this concept, there is no mention of why people let this game rule over there lives.

Because in this world that is supposed to be our future, lives revolve around a real-person Sims game. Everyone loves this game, the whole world plays it. And then another game is introduced: Slayers. A game where convicts are given a chance to play, where winning is the only way to stay alive. And that’s where Gerard Butler enters, as a convicted murderer (who may or may not have done the deed) is one of many felons forced into the real life, real death shooting game. The storyline is illogical, the secondary characters unremarkable. The action scenes are well done but many are superfluous. The ending is forced and messy. The viewer is left confused and disappointed, as the trailer deceptively made Gamer look like it was going to be pretty firstclass. Alas, it was not to be. Gamer earned its very low rating of one lone star.

8

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2009

Sports Fall Sports Season Previews

By Carrie Stevens ’12 Sports Editor

Hobart Statesmen

William Smith Herons

Soccer

Tennis

After a run to the third round of the NCAA Tournament last season, Hobart’s Soccer Team began the first leg of its 2009 campaign with a trip to Ireland.

“This kind of experience proved to be so valuable,” Head Coach Shawn Kevin Colton/Photographer Griffin said. “We played some top level competition and came home with a 3-1 record. I was very pleased with this trip.”

Back on US turf, the players adhered to a rigorous offseason training plan, which included running, lifting, and playing pickup games. “We have a very strong work ethic culture which has allowed for us to be where we are today as a program.”

Griffin is counting on captains Matt Geswell and Justin Dotzman to be strong leaders and keep their teammates focused both on and off the field. Currently, the Statesmen are ranked ninth in the nation by National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), but Griffin is not worried about cocky behavior.

“We’ve been ranked in the National Top 20 now for three straight seasons, so our players kind of know what the expectations are that go with this sort of recognition. We know that every time we step out on the field opponents will use this as a motivational piece, but our approach is quite simple and we are very prepared as a team.”

The projected difficult games include matchups against Liberty League rivals St. Lawrence, Union, and Hamilton. The annual “Thrilla on the Hilla” will also take place on September 25th against Vassar. T-shirts will be given to the first 200 students in attendance, so Griffin urges us to “fill the hill!!”

Cross Country Losing only one senior to graduation and gaining four first year runners, the Hobart Cross Country team has worked hard over the summer months, training for the upcoming season.

“Our team members have been building their bases Kevin Colton/Photographer during the summer,” started Coach Ron Fleury. “Mainly distance runs with some speed work thrown in once a week during the last half of the summer.”

Fleury hopes this offseason workout regiment will propel the team towards strong showings in their most competitive races: the Liberty League, ECAC, and NCAA Championships. The Statesmen will keep busy until the October races as they host the third annual Hobart Invitational.

The team’s tri-captains this year are Ben Flanagan, Tom Harty and Matt DiBetta.

This past weekend, the team captured first place in a field of eight at the SUNYIT Invitational. Leading the way for the Statesmen, DiBetta set a new course record, posting a time of 19:57 in the sixkilometer race.

Rowing After strong showings last year at the Head of Charles and the Head of Fish Regattas, Head Coach Mike Alton has high hopes for this season. “Our Varsity eight placed fifth last year out of over 40 boats and is looking Kevin Colton/Photographer to improve on that finish this year,” Alton stated.

Hobart will host three regattas this season: the HWS Challenge on the Canal, the Seneca Cup, and a contest versus RIT and Rochester.

During the summer months, members of the team took some time away from rowing, and focused on cross training.

However, once the month of August began, the rowers “stepped up” their workout routines to return in good shape for the initial team fitness test, Alton explained.

Captains Richard Mable, Carmen Cimini, and Jack Trimble will be looked upon to lead this year’s team, which will include seven recruits and fifteen to twenty walk-ons.

Playing in tennis leagues and tournaments all summer, athletes on William Smith’s Tennis Team have been preparing for the start of their season on September 12th.

This Saturday and Sunday, William Smith hosts the Mary Moskings Tournament.

Kevin Colton/Photographer In addition, the Herons host matches throughout the school year against St. Lawrence, The College of New Jersey, Rochester, NYU, and Ithaca, all of which Head Coach Chip Fishback encourages students to attend.

Rowing

Kevin Colton/Photographer

Although the Herons must wait until October for the HWS Challenge on the Canal—their first regatta of the season—team members have used their time during the offseason to improve.

Head Coach Sandra Chu described the team’s workout plan as multi-dimensional. “They dedicate six days a week to training in a variety of modalities including running, biking, swimming, weight lifting, plyometric training, yoga, stretching and rowing.”

“For fun,” she added, “About half the team has been training for and competing in triathlons.”

After finishing the Skinnyman Tri on September 4th, official practices began. The team starts training with regattas like the Head of Charles in mind. “Our team medaled last year in the Collegiate 4’s category. We are looking forward to continuing our strong finishes in this race.”

Leading the team is senior Jamie Billington and junior Alaria Pizzo. “I am very excited about their leadership,” Chu said. “Both are strong performers on the water, level-headed and compassionate teammates with an unflagging commitment to the program and its excellence.”

Field Hockey Posting a final record of 9-8 for the 2008 season, William Smith’s Field-Hockey Team hopes to win the Liberty League Championship and eventually compete for a national title this year. The thirteen players who returned to the team and the eight first-year athletes add depth and versatility to the 21-player roster.

Starting in May, team members received a summer workout program, which included cardio training, agility and stick work, as well as weight lifting. “When the team returns in August,” Assistant Coach Sophie Dennis started, “it is expected that they have completed the training packet and return in great shape.”

While the Herons start the season with wins over Elmira and Nazareth, Dennis knows there will be tough matches down the road.

“All of our Liberty League games will be great competition. In particular, Skidmore, Union and RPI games are home and I anticipate being great matches. Also, Cortland is an out of conference rival of ours and will be good match at home.”

Cross Country Bringing back nine veterans and welcoming five new runners to the 2009 roster, the Herons have their sights set on a successful season.

“Team members have been training all summer, running about Kevin Colton/Photographer 30-40 miles per week since June,” Head Coach Jack Warner said. He hopes this offseason preparation will translate into many high places, especially at the most competitive races.

According to Warner, the team’s toughest meet will be the Cross Country Only Conference Championships (CCOCC) which will be held in Geneva on Saturday, October 19th at the Seneca Lake State Park. This race is exclusively for colleges and universities that sponsor cross country teams but not track and field squads.

The Herons will also compete in the Hobart Invitational on September 19th.