Star PLayer
long haul
Senior cross country runner competes in Boston Marathon, page 23
Senior hones classical sax skills as U.S. Army Band composition competition winner, page 13
Thursday A pr il 2 8 , 2 0 1 1
The Ithacan
Making the grade 35%
of students with learning disabilities go to college
million
91.2%
Colleges and universities are responding to a nationwide increase in students enrolled with learning disabilities by providing more services to help them succeed. According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities, 35 percent of students with learning disabilities attend a university, up from 15 percent in 1987. At Ithaca College, Leslie Schettino, director of the Office of Student Disability Services, said the number of students using SDS
in fifth grade. Signs of this nonverbal learning disorder include an inability to read faces or body language, reduced mathematical skills and trouble developing habits easily. “Walking down the street, you wouldn’t know that faces in my memory blur into an indistinct shape or the fact that my motor skills are so poor that I drop plates while eating,” De Tota said. “You wouldn’t know that to look at me, but it’s stuff that affects every aspect of my life.”
See learning, page 4
Students question unpaid internships by melanie breault senior writer
Senior Nykaulys Cruz has done only unpaid internships during her college career. In Summer 2009, Cruz spent her days logging tapes at the MTV Networks Tape Library and writing for online fashion magazine, Vain Style, in New York City. Originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Cruz said she stayed with her aunt in Manhattan. “I was living off of what my mom gave me, sort of like a stipend,” Cruz said. Three-quarters of America’s 10 million four-year college students will work as interns at least once before graduating, according to the College Employment Research Institute. The research firm Intern Bridge found between one third and half of those students will be unpaid. While unpaid internships can offer valuable experience and contacts for students, they also risk excluding
students who cannot afford to forgo wages during the summer. Bethany Kilgore, professional development coordinator for the Ithaca College School of Business, said students must have at least one, if not two internships, to be competitive in securing a full-time job after graduation. “I highlight this for first-year students during orientation in the summer stating it’s imperative that they get an internship while in college,” she said. “That being said though, I always advise students who have a relevant unpaid internship to couple it with a paid opportunity so [they have] the chance to make money over break.” Junior Kayla Inanc, an integrated marketing communications major, spent her summer editing Excel spreadsheets at Wainscot Media, a full-service communications company, which specializes in publishing print, digital and mobile content. Inanc said because her po-
From left, junior Jennifer O’Leary reviews and revises her résumé with Bethany Kilgore, professional business coordinator in the business school.
graham hebel/the ithacan
sition was unpaid for 20 hours per week, she had to take on a paid job to earn some income, which meant interning from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and working from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Junior Jennifer O’Leary, a business administration major, was able to obtain a paid internship at Partners HealthCare System, a nonprofit inte-
staff writer
See mascot, page 4
of learning disabled students at the college return for a third semester, compared to 86.3% without a disability
has increased by more than 100 students over the past five years. Schettino attributes this national trend to the increased sophistication of diagnoses and improved services in public schools. “Maybe 10 years ago students were reluctant to use these services,” she said. “Now, I don’t think they are. The stigma that once existed doesn’t exist anymore and confidentiality is protected — so I don’t think most students are reluctant anymore.” Sophomore Cameron De Tota was diagnosed with Right Brain Processing Disorder
by patrick duprey
See internship, page 4
U.S. Census Bureau
College meets needs of students with learning disabilities senior writer
Alumni seek results from mascot poll
grated health care system, last summer in Boston. O’Leary, who worked 40 hours per week making $16 an hour, said she would not have been able to do an unpaid internship during the summer. “I can’t afford to be working for
Americans have a disability
Ithaca College Student disability services
by matthew biddle
I t h a c a , N . Y.
Volum e 7 8 , I s s u e 2 7
Several alumni are voicing concerns that their opinions will not be accounted for in what some call a “closed-door” selection process for the next Ithaca College mascot. Keep the discussion going. The colComment on lege announced the mascot at a search for a theithacan.org. new mascot in November to correspond with its branding initiative. In January, the task force selected three finalists, which were unveiled to the campus community earlier this month. Students, alumni, faculty and staff offered feedback on the finalists from April 7 to 21. Raw data gathered from the survey will not be released to the campus community, Rachel Reuben, task force co-chair and associate vice president of marketing communications, said. Reuben said releasing survey information is not a common practice, regardless of who conducts the survey. “You don’t release raw data,” she said. “That’s why there’s professionals who know how to analyze this data.” The task force will work with the Office of Institutional Research to evaluate the survey feedback, Reuben said. The task force will review all responses before it comes to its final decision over the summer, she said. “We have been completely transparent and open through this process,” Reuben said. “This is what the task force is charged to do, and this is what we will be doing.” Adam Mazzuto ’99 said he did not receive an email survey for the mascot and felt the process has not been inclusive. “They’ve got a plan; they’re going to go through with it whichever way they like,” he said. “If there’s going to be alumni input, that’s going to be fine, but if it doesn’t gel with whatever their plan is, they really don’t mind.” A few alumni also voiced concerns about never receiving a copy of the Mascot Selection Task Force’s survey before last Thursday’s submission deadline. Chris Remillard ’03 said he did not receive a survey and he’s not aware of many details regarding the mascot selection process. All the information he’s gathered has come from the college’s website, not emails from the college or task force. “I feel like the process has
National center for learning disabilities
41.3
education
Schools need to keep hands-on courses a priority with core curriculum, page 10
find more. online. www.theithacan.org
[ Thursday Brie f i ng ]
2 The I thacan
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Nation&World
Somalian pirate pleads not guilty A Somali man accused of acting as chief ne-
gotiator for pirates who took four Americans hostage and killed them in February has pleaded not guilty. Mohammad Saaili Shibin pleaded not guilty yesterday in a Virginia federal court to piracy, kidnapping and weapons charges in association with the hijacking of the yacht Quest several hundred miles south of Oman. Federal prosecutors say Shibin is the highest-ranking pirate the U.S. has captured. He is the first suspected pirate to be captured by the U.S. in Somalia instead of at sea.
Woman pleads guilty to stabbing
An American woman who stabbed her three children to death in Scotland amid a custody battle with their father was sentenced yesterday to 16 years in prison. Theresa Riggi admitted to killing 8-year-old twins Austin and Luke and their 5-year-old sister Cecilia. She pleaded guilty to culpable homicide on the grounds of diminished responsibility. Her lawyer, Donald Findlay, said she was suffering from narcissistic, paranoid and hysterical personality disorders and acute stress.
Gay soldier denied readmission A lesbian cadet who resigned from West
Point last year has been rejected for readmission to the academy even as the military moves toward ending its “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. Officials at the U.S. Military Academy say they reached the only decision they could because the repeal of the policy is not in effect yet. Katherine Miller left halfway through her stint at the academy in August, saying she couldn’t lie about her sexuality. The 21-yearold from Findlay, Ohio, became a prominent face in the debate over gays serving openly.
Ukrainians remember Chernobyl
Black-clad Orthodox priests sang solemn hymns, Ukrainians lit thin wax candles, and a bell tolled 25 times for the number of years that have passed since the Chernobyl disaster. The world began marking the anniversary of the worst nuclear accident in history Tuesday. Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill led the
this week 28
thursday
Take Back the Night will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Bernie Milton Pavilion on The Commons.
29
nighttime service near a monument to firefighters and cleanup workers who died soon after the accident from acute radiation poisoning. The explosion released about 400 times more radiation than the U.S. atomic bomb dropped over Hiroshima. The U.N.’s World Health Organization said at a conference in Kiev last week that among the 600,000 people most heavily exposed to the radiation, 4,000 more cancer deaths than average are expected to eventually be found.
Obama rejects union restrictions
President Barack Obama says he strongly disapproves of new laws restricting public employee unions in Ohio and Wisconsin and says states should not use the financial crisis as an excuse to erode bargaining rights. He told Romona Robinson of Cleveland’s WKYC-TV in a White House interview Tuesday that public employees should not be blamed for a financial crisis they had nothing to do with, and sacrifices should be shared in tough economic times. Under Ohio’s new law, 350,000 public workers can negotiate wages and certain work conditions but not health care, sick time or pension benefits. Opponents hope to ask voters to overturn the measure.
Storms continue to ravage South
Violent weather ripped through the South for a second straight night, killing at least three people in Mississippi and one in Arkansas, damaging homes in a rural Texas community and causing widespread destruction and injuries across Alabama. The latest round of severe weather Tuesday night and early yesterday came a day after a series of powerful storms killed 10 people in Arkansas and one in Mississippi. The National Weather Service had issued a high-risk warning for severe weather from northeast of Memphis to just northeast of Dallas and covering a large swath of Arkansas. It last issued such a warning on April 16, when dozens of tornadoes hit North Carolina and killed 21 people. Dozens of tornado warnings were issued in Arkansas throughout the night. Strong winds peeled part of a roof off of a medical
sunday
friday
Shabbat Services will begin at 6 p.m. in Muller Chapel. Shabbat Dinner will begin at 7:15 p.m. in Terrace Dining Hall.
Catholic Mass will be held at 1 and 9 p.m. in Muller Chapel.
2
Israeli environmental activists and Anti-Fur Coalition members protested the Canadian seal trade yesterday in Tel Aviv, Israel. Fifty activists gathered in front of the Canadian embassy to protest seal hunting. One sign read in Hebrew, “It hurts the seals like it hurts me.” ArielSCHALIT/associated press
building next to a hospital in West Memphis, near the Tennessee border, but no one was inside the hospital.
China adheres to one-child policy
China will maintain the strict family planning policy it imposed a generation ago to keep the birthrate low and the economy growing, President Hu Jintao said in remarks before new census data are released. There has been growing speculation among Chinese media, experts and ordinary people about whether the government would soon relax the policy—introduced in 1980 as a temporary measure to curb surging population growth—and allow more people to have two children. Currently, most urban couples are limited to one child and rural families to two. The ratio at birth in China is about 119 males to 100 females, with a gap as high as 130 males for every 100 females in some provinces.
monday
Jazz Lab Band will perform at 8:15 p.m. in Ford Hall.
30
saturday
Remember the Time: Class of 2011 Senior Banquet, sponsored by the AfricanLatino Society, will take place from 6:45 to 9 p.m. in Emerson Suites.
SOURCE: Associated Press
Video
add your event Drop events for “This Week” in the marked box in The Ithacan office, or email Assistant News Editor Kelsey O’Connor at koconno3@ithaca. edu by 5 p.m. Monday.
Campus Choral Ensemble will perform at 2 p.m. in Ford Hall.
The Ithacan reported in “Cyber Self” that junior Jake Tenenbaum will intern for the Adirondack Small Cap Fund this summer. He will actually intern there this fall. The Ithacan credited Rachel Orlow with taking the photo “Send the Silence Packing.” The photo was actually taken by Zac Blitz.
copy editors
3
tuesday
The Strategic Communication Banquet and Showcase will go from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in Emerson Suites.
Can’t get enough of our stories? There’s even more online. Check out our multimedia at theithacan.org.
Stocks are wavering between modest gains and losses ahead of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke’s latest assessment on the health of the U.S. economy. Bernanke discussed the current job market, inflation and the prospects for economic growth in a news conference yesterday following the conclusion of the Fed’s two-day policymaking meeting. Investors want to know when the Fed will begin raising interest rates. They also expect the Fed to confirm that its $600 billion bond-buying program will end as scheduled in June. In midday trading, the Dow Jones industrial average is up 16 points, or less than 0.1 percent, at 12,612. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index is down 1, or 0.1 percent, at 1,346.
corrections
2014 Ice Cream Social, sponsored by the Class of 2014 Student Government Association senators, will go from 8 to 10 p.m. in the Six Mile Creek Room in Campus Center.
Intergenerational Choir will perform at 5:30 p.m. in the Hockett Family Recital Hall.
Multimedia
Investors seek answers from Fed
April 28 – May 4, 2011
Wine and Cheese Etiquette, sponsored by Women in Business Network, will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Business School Upper and Lower Atrium.
1
Saving the seals
Hear from students about whether they plan to tune into Prince William and Kate Middleton’s royal wedding tomorrow in this week’s Snap Judgment.
4
wednesday
On the Floor Dance Company will perform pieces they’ve been working on during the spring semester at 8:30 p.m. in Clark Theatre.
Alexa d’Angelo, Adeesha Ekanayake, Sara Friedman, Rebecca Hellmich, Lewis Kendall, Kristin Leffler, Carly Sitzer, Brittany Smith, Carly Smith, Vicky Wolak
designers
Evensong, a Protestant Community worship service, will begin at 9:30 p.m. in Muller Chapel.
Flora Wang
Audio Slideshow
Follow the Organic Growers of IC on a walk in the IC Community Garden and see what the group was up to during Earth Week.
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Thursday, April 2 8 , 2 0 1 1
The Ithacan 3
City presents new downtown redesign by Brian Rank staff writer
In a meeting with a committee of about 25 business owners, college representatives, community planners and elected officials yesterday, the Downtown Ithaca Alliance presented a plan to increase sustainability and business downtown. Gary Ferguson, executive director of the Downtown Ithaca Alliance, said the Downtown 2020 Strategic Plan outlines improvement projects for the downtown area over the next decade — a continuation of the goals outlined in the city’s plan for 2010 to make The Commons more sustainable and business-friendly. Ferguson said if the plan was implemented, it would create up to 1,500 residential housing units near downtown and open the center of The Commons for an enhanced transit system. The new transit system would provide transportation from Ithaca College and Cornell University to The Commons by shuttle or streetcar. Ferguson said DIA drafted the plan in December in hopes of making The Commons more appealing to pedestrians and reducing the need to drive. He said the plan also calls for the increased collaboration with the college, Cornell and Tompkins Cortland Community College on downtown projects. Ferguson said the plan would act as a road map for redesigning The Commons in the next decade. He is optimistic DIA will complete a substantial part of the project as many of the alliance’s goals for the 2010 strategic plan were met. “If everything gets implemented, it will have a significant impact on our community,” he said. The plan is partly a response to a 2006 study that estimated the county would need 3,894 housing units by 2014. The 2010 plan created housing downtown but only 225 units — not enough to house the community’s growing population. According to census data, the county’s 2010 population has increased by 5.2 percent to 101,564 residents since 2000. Tom Hirschl, professor and chair of the program work team on poverty and economic hardship at Cornell Cooperative extension, said people choose to live in the area because of its ample job opportunities at the colleges and local businesses. Hirschl said the local job market continues to flourish despite the state’s troubled economy because of a high number of technical workers such as teachers and computer software engineers. “[The county] has higher order urban services, which have been less hurt by the recession and the aftermath of the recession,” he said. “Its
by elma gonzalez staff writer
HOLT Architects created this prototype of the intersection of East Seneca Street and North Tioga Street near The Commons if the Downtown Ithaca 2020 Strategic Plan is approved by community members.
Courtesy of holt architects
profile is more like Manhattan than it is like any of the surrounding commons.” Ferguson said the 1,500 housing units would reduce the need for new housing outside the city and decrease negative environmental impacts. He said building outside the city would destroy farmland and require homeowners to drive further to get into town, creating pollution in the process. “We should strive to get as many [houses] as possible in the center of our community, because it’s the right thing to do, and it’s a cost-effective thing to do,” he said. “It’s green and sustainable.” Ferguson said the college is the only institution not to have bought or built buildings downtown, and he would like to see that change. He said the DIA has been in communication with the college about strengthening its presence downtown, but so far nothing has been planned. Ian Golden, owner of Finger Lakes Running & Triathlon Company, said the meeting was his first exposure to the plan. He said he currently doesn’t get much business from students at the college and sees how the proposed shuttle between the college and The Commons would increase the amount of business he receives. If the plan is implemented, he said he would put more money into attracting student shoppers. “I may push to put renewed marketing efforts into Ithaca College knowing that it would be more
tangible to get more students down and onto the commons,” he said. Anthony Hopson, assistant vice president for community and government relations and a DIA board member, said the college has no immediate plans to contribute financially or build near The Commons. He said the college is focused on campus projects like the Athletics and Events Center and will not consider contributing to the downtown projects. “There are some infrastructural kinds of improvements that we need to do on this campus, so our investment is with this campus,” he said. Jean McPheeters, president of the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce and head of the plan’s housing development project, said she expects to encounter challenges as the plan moves forward. “I don’t expect this to go through as a slam dunk,” she said. “It’s going to require a lot of discussion, a lot of explanation and a lot of people really saying what they want.” Ferguson said DIA has not decided on a timetable for the progression of the redesign, but he would like to move forward as soon as possible so downtown Ithaca can see benefits of the project in the near future. “We want to do this as soon as we can,” he said. “We want to figure out the best ways to do it that makes sense for our community.”
State to slash taxes for microbreweries by Gillian smith staff writer
Local microbreweries may get a leg up with a new act making its way through the Senate. On March 9, Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York and Richard Burr of North Carolina announced their backing of the Brewers Employment and Excise Relief Act of 2011. If passed, the act would support a $67 million tax break for microbreweries nationwide. Under this act, any brewery that brews fewer than 6 million barrels of beer per year is eligible for the tax break. It would allow brewers to reinvest in workers and new equipment as they expand their businesses. In a press release, Schumer said breweries are the “crown jewels” of many communities in upstate New York, and putting more money back into breweries will be good for the state’s economic development. “Small breweries throughout upstate New York not only brew great beer, they also create great jobs,” Schumer said. Schumer visited the Ithaca Beer Company in February to discuss the
Asian minor submission gains steam
implications of the BEER Act and the ways it would benefit the company. Dan Mitchell, founder of the Ithaca Beer Company, said if the bill was passed, it would cut the federal tax on each barrel that he produces in half. “It puts money back into the company which allows us to do a variety of things to control the growth of the company,” Mitchell said. This would allow Ithaca Beer Company to add capacity by purchasing tanks, support the brand better in the market, hire more people and pay employees a higher salary. Mitchell said the price of beer would only be reduced by about a quarter per case. “It’s not that significant an amount that it would change the price customers pay,” he said. Senior Sara Leonard, who works at Ithaca Beer Company in the front tasting room and gives tours on the weekends, said the act would help the company hire more workers and lighten the load of current employees. “We can probably invest in two to three more workers here,” she said. “It gets really busy, so just having an extra
Brian Fuller, bottling line operator, bottles beer yesterday at Ithaca Brewing Company. An act proposed in the Senate would give the brewery a tax break.
Kevin campbell/the ithacan
hand to take over certain days or to help in general is always a good thing.” Leonard said the money would be directly invested into the paychecks of the employees, who are already paid more than minimum wage, and reinvested in the company. “On top of everything that is going to help individual workers, it’s also going to go right back into Ithaca,” she said. Chris Ericson, owner of the Lake Placid Pub and Brewery, said the impacts of the act on his business would be enormous.
“It is real cash which would be available for new equipment or new employees,” he said. “We would probably get two tanks instead of one in our upcoming expansion.” Mitchell said the act would strengthen the industry as a whole by allowing small manufacturers to compete with larger manufacturers. “Its not an unfair advantage to small brewers because we are so small,” he said. “You are talking about us doing 10,000 barrels versus Budweiser doing 200 million barrels. It’s a much different dynamic.”
A new Asian American studies minor, proposed by the Center for the Study of Culture, Race and Ethnicity, has gained the support of student organizations and will soon be submitted for approval. Asma Barlas, professor and program direcBARLAS said the tor of CSCRE, minor would not drafted and gave be available until the proposal to Fall 2012. Leslie Lewis, dean of the School of Humanities and Sciences, hoping to encourage her to hire faculty with experience in this area. Barlas said the department chairs in the school will meet May 18 to discuss the possibility of hiring an additional faculty member to support the minor. The proposal will not be submitted to Ithaca College’s Academic Policies Committee for approval until the department can hire faculty to solidify the program. The minor would be available no sooner than Fall 2012. Senior Sherry Shen, president of the Asian American Alliance, said the organization has been a strong supporter of the initiative throughout its development and has made an effort to sponsor events and programs that would facilitate the creation of Asian American Studies programming on campus. Sophomore Kristy Zhen, AAA co-vice president of public relations, said she conducted research on what an Asian American studies program at the college might look like with senior Kaitlin Hibbs and sophomore Kristiana Reyes through a film about how the college might implement the minor. The documentary titled “Missing in History,” will be screened at Cinemapolis on May 7 and at the college on May 9. In addition to the film, Zhen said the club plans to circulate a petition to gather student support for the program. On April 19, AAA sponsored the “Future of the Asian-American Studies Program,” where Barlas explained her proposal for the minor. Derek Chang, associate professor in the department of history and director of the Asian American studies program at Cornell University, also spoke at the event. “These are fields that grew out of students of color around college campuses demanding that their education speak to them in a particular kind of way,” he said. Zhen said the minor would empower students at the college. “It makes you feel more connected to who you are, and it makes you realize your place in society and makes you want to bring change to what you see in your marginalized community,” she said. Barlas said incorporating the minor into the college’s programming has been a constant struggle. “We know that any curriculum that is going to be comprehensive needs to include the experiences of large segments of its own population,” she said. “I don’t know about the college in general, but the center is very much committed to it.”
ne ws
4 The Ithacan
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Disability services level learning learning from page 1
Traevena Byrd, associate counsel and director of Equal Opportunity Compliance, said under state and federal law the college must provide disabled students with reasonable accommodations to ensure they receive equal opportunities as other students at the college. “It’s not at all about giving anyone a leg up,” Byrd said. “It’s really about creating balance so individuals with physical, psychological and learning impairments have the same access to resources.” Some reasonable accommodations include assistive listening devices, textbooks on CD and permission to tape-record classes. De Tota is allowed to use a laptop in every class because his fine motor skills are so poor he cannot write with a pencil. “If I didn’t have the organizational capabilities of my computer available to me all the time, there’s no way I’d be succeeding,” De Tota said. Linda Uhll, assistant director of SDS, said De Tota is just one of 570 students at the college – or nearly 10 percent of the student body – who use SDS to access accommodations for classes, exams and other academic needs. Uhll said the number of registered students rose from 442 students in 2005. Byrd said the office can accommodate any student with an impairment or illness that affects a “major life activity.” The office also helps students with learning, developmental and physical disabilities, among other impairments. Sophomore Samantha Sheldon frequently misses class because she has diabetes. She said she was initially reluctant to use disability services because peers in high school often misunderstood the severity of her illness. “I’ve been asked if people can catch my diabetes,” Sheldon said. “Are you kidding me? You just want to be looked at like everyone else, but you’re different, so embrace it.” Despite difficulties and perceived limitations, students using SDS have a higher retention rate than other students. Uhll said the third-semester retention rate for SDS students is 91.2 percent. According to the college’s data from 2010, 86.3 percent of all students return for sophomore year. A common service is exam accommodation. In 2009, the office provided accommodations for 1,045 tests during one semester for students needing extra time or the use of a computer. Junior Alyana Pomerantz said she uses the testing isolation rooms SDS offers because with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, it can be difficult to take an exam in a large room. “I can’t take a test in a room with more than three people — I can’t concentrate,” Pomerantz said. “If I didn’t have those rooms, my grades
internship from page 1
Junior Alyana Pomerantz takes extra time on her Abnormal Psychology exam yesterday in the Office of Student Disabilities Services in Towers Concourse. SDS provides isolation testing rooms for students.
rachel orlow/the ithacan
would be much, much lower.” Students first work with SDS to submit the necessary paperwork and medical information to document their disability. From there, students are paired with an SDS counselor and meet with them at least once per semester to decide what services the student needs based on their classes. Byrd said professors are expected to grant any reasonable request for accommodation. Schettino said most professors are willing to accommodate students, but when there is an issue, SDS advocates for the student and works with the professor to find a solution that addresses the student’s needs and does not disrupt the class. In one class last semester, Tom Bohn, lecturer in television-radio, wore a microphone and made sure to face forward at all times so a hearing impaired student could read his lips. “SDS does a remarkable job,” Bohn said. “Each student receives individual attention, and the staff goes out of their way to work with faculty to make sure student’s needs are accommodated.” The office contacts students’ professors at the beginning of each semester to inform them of the student’s disability. De Tota said, however, it can be best to speak with professors in person. “I’ve found that professors are more considerate of your disability if you come up and talk to them
at the beginning of the semester,” De Tota said. “It helps attach a human face to a set of papers.” Other students also help SDS accommodate students with learning disabilities. Sophomore Hayley Nickerson took notes for a learning disabled student last spring. Nickerson said she enjoyed helping another student while also forcing herself to pay closer attention in class. “I couldn’t imagine having a learning disability and having someone else take notes for me, so I felt like if I could take the best notes for him and for myself, that could be my way to help out,” Nickerson said. “I would definitely do it again.” Though the college doesn’t promote their disability services in admissions materials, Pomerantz said she spent a great deal of time researching disability services at prospective universities. “Ithaca was one of the only schools that had a good name and reputation along with good support services,” she said. De Tota said without the services at SDS he would not be able to complete his course work or do well in college. “I’d fail — no doubt about it,” De Tota said. “I cannot write. I have no ability to hold a pencil. It’s a not a question of ‘Just try harder, and you’ll get it’ — it’s biological. [SDS] really levels the playing field.”
College still open to alum response mascot from page 1
been kind of behind closed doors,” he said. Derek Vintschger ’03 said he had received other mascot-related emails, but days after the survey’s launch, he still had not received a survey. Vintschger said he emailed the Office of Alumni Relations, the task force and Institutional Research, who said about two weeks ago he would be sent a survey. That survey never came. “Ithaca has no trouble sending out emails for fundraising to everyone with an alumni email address,” he said. “But for some reason, the survey didn’t seem to make it to any of us.” Despite alumni complaints, Reuben said there were no bad intentions. “We have no ulterior motives even though these handful of alumni think we do,” Reuben said. Reuben said the task force sent out
Interns find fewer paid positions
more than 50,000 emails with a survey link to current and prospective students, faculty, staff and alumni. During a two-week time period, Reuben said the task force received almost 10,000 responses, of which 5,640 came from alumni. Govind Acharya, research analyst in Institutional Research, said some emails might have ended up in spam folders and there is no way to know how often that happened. Though the survey can no longer be accessed, Christopher Pollock, a member of the task force and director of advancement communications, said he will still include email responses as part of the open-ended survey material for the task force to consider. “I know there might have been some technical difficulties, but we certainly don’t want that to prevent them from being heard,” he said. Reuben said the Division of Institutional Advancement has email ad-
Rachel Reuben, task force co-chair and associate vice president of marketing and communications, sits at her desk last fall. Results will come out in June.
michelle boulé/the ithacan
dresses for about 38,000 of the 50,000 on file. To offer the remaining alumni a chance to give feedback, she said the task force posted a form on the mascot search’s blog March 17 to gather email addresses from alumni who don’t have an address on file. Reuben said the task force received about 100 addresses from the initiative. Reuben said the task force will
consider all feedback by the end of June and then make the final decision. Reuben said there’s been a consistent effort to reach out and hear feedback from alumni. “I don’t know what more we possibly could have done,” she said. “I feel we’ve gone above and beyond to try to include them because we absolutely do value what they have to say.”
nothing in the summer,” she said. Companies can offer unpaid internships when they resemble educational training programs and follow the Fair Labor Standards Act guidelines laid out by the U.S. Department of Labor. Ross Perlin, author of “In- KILGORE said she reminds employers tern Nation: to mind federal How to Earn labor standards. Nothing and Learn Little in the Brave New Economy,” said there has been an internship boom over the past 40 years, and the recent economic recession has only exacerbated this trend. “I’ve documented a lot of instances where paid internships are becoming unpaid as companies try to save money,” he said. Walker Harman, an employment lawyer at Harman Firm, P.C. in New York City, has worked on a few cases regarding violations of the Labor Standards Act, which requires the payment of minimum wage to nonexempt employees. With the downturn of the economy, Harman said, people were looking back on internship experiences and determining they were entitled to wages, but many are afraid to come forward. “Many people use internships as a platform to get jobs,” Harman said. “[Students] don’t want to sue and hurt their career by requesting what they otherwise would be entitled to.” In April 2010, officials in states such as Oregon, California, and New York began fining employers and ordering investigations into several firms’ internship programs for violating the Labor Standards Act. At the time, the Department of Labor said it was going to crack down on firms that failed to pay interns properly. If the opportunity is unpaid, Kilgore said she reminds employers the internship must follow federal labor standards. Many employers require academic credit, which Kilgore said is not up to the employer to decide. “It’s up to the students and the college to dictate whether students receive credit,” she said. “We have to make sure the majority of their work relates to their major and that it’s not just administrative work.” Kilgore said it is better for the students and the employer to provide at least a small pay. “It’s a better opportunity for our students to have a paid opportunity,” she said. “[The employer will] get better quality work and the students will be more into doing the work.” Though academic credit can be suitable, Perlin said, it does not guarantee the employer is following labor standards. “There are some instances where academic credit is appropriate, [such as] when there’s real educational experience,” he said. “This idea that people have — that it’s either paid or for academic credit — is a misleading one.”
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International student juggles commitments By Casey Musarra Managing editor
Senior Agata Kubik, a native of Czestochowa, Poland, didn’t have aspirations to study in the United States until late in her high school career. After making her first trip to the states during the summer after her junior year to be a camp counselor in the Poconos, she decided she really liked America. But what went along with coming to school here wasn’t easy. “I didn’t know what I needed to do at all,” Kubik said. “I was like, ‘What? SATs? What is that exactly?’ And it was already September of my senior year, so by that time most American students almost have their applications ready, and I was only figuring
Standout Seniors
Division of Interdisciplinary and international studies
Agata Kubik
out what the whole process is about.” With her do-anything-youset-your-mind-to attitude, Kubik whipped out the SATs, three SAT IIs and the Test of English as a Foreign Language in a matter of three months. The culture and communication major has a passion for international relations. She spent time living in Germany when she was younger and speaks five languages — Polish,
German, English, French and Russian. With her broad range of interests, Kubik said the Division of Interdisciplinary and International Studies has been a great fit. “This major, being an interdisciplinary major, was absolutely perfect because I got to develop knowledge in all of these other areas and combine it as well as methods of communication and different cultures and how they interact and so on,” she said. Though being an international student has its limitations and difficulties, Kubik never lets that affect her. She takes everything in stride and has yet to be hit by senioritis. Since she can’t work an off-campus job, she works four different jobs on campus in order to support herself. And on top of that, she has two internships and an 18-credit course load in her last semester. But no matter what she’s doing, she wears the same bright, wide-mouthed smile. The laugh she emits from that smile is something most of her friends, and even strangers, recognize. Senior Kirsten Cornille, Kubik’s roommate and close friend, described it as a dolphin laugh but with a closed vowel instead of an open vowel. Jean Celeste-Astorina, admissions counselor and co-chair of Class Hosting at Ithaca, said when she first met Kubik she was struck by her dedication and outgoing personality. “When she’s faced with a challenge, it really brings out her best,” Celeste-Astorina said. “I was new to the program; she was learning along
Senior Agata Kubik poses in the Peggy Ryan Williams Center in front of the Ithaca College seal. Kubik can often be found in the center or walking across campus giving tours to prospective students and their families.
MichelLe Boulé/The Ithacan
with me, and she seeks to learn, she seeks responsibility. She’s a naturalborn problem solver.” Senior Liana Garcia-Osborne, Kubik’s other roommate and best friend, said when she first met Kubik freshman year, she was the type of person who took on too much at once, but she has since developed into someone who knows what she can and can’t commit to. Kubik’s organizational skills, something she said she really had to work on, have helped her manage a still-overwhelming schedule. “Organization is not my strong suit, but I had to master it in order to be able to do everything I want to and
still be able to afford rent,” she said. But regardless of Kubik’s many commitments, Garcia-Osborne said Kubik puts everything aside for a friend in need. “She kind of intuitively gets a sense of your emotional state maybe even when you don’t know,” she said. “She’ll oftentimes be like, ‘Are you OK? Did something happen?’” Along with her already demanding schedule, Kubik has managed to start the small nonprofit Women’s Vocational Organizing for an Indelible Change in Ethiopia. A year and a half from now, Kubik plans to move to Ethiopia to execute this program, where she
hopes to teach women in rural areas different vocational skills so they can earn a steady income, become empowered and get nutritious food. Kubik had a chance to attend a summit in Philadelphia recently where she was able to talk to women of the Ethiopian Diaspora. She said they helped give her great ideas that she hopes to use in her initiative. “I don’t want to make the mistake that a lot of NGOs do that they go into a developing country and tell people what to do,” she said. “I want to empower them, so be able to hear their voices, have their input and learn from them just as much as they might learn from me and my experience.”
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The Ithacan 7
Advocate ties profit to service BY Hayleigh Gowans Staff Writer
While working in Washington, D.C., in nightclubs and restaurants, Robert Egger realized businesses threw away food that could go to the needy. The advocate, who started his career in nonprofits in the 1980s after he volunteered for a church group that provided food for the needy, has created nonprofit groups such as DC Central Kitchen and the Campus Kitchens Proj- EGGER said he ect. He will speak at 7:30 uses existing resources to today in Textor 103 about provide service. the struggle between doing good for the community and making money. Staff Writer Hayleigh Gowans spoke to Egger about his community-focused work and passion to fund nonprofit groups. Hayleigh Gowans: How did managing restaurants and nightclubs help you realize you wanted to work with nonprofit organizations? Robert Egger: I didn’t set out to work for nonprofit groups. I just volunteered one night and realized that the group I was helping was buying food and the restaurant and nightclub I worked in threw away most of their food. So I just came back with a little bigger plan saying, “Hey, here’s a way you can feed food for less money, but you can also shorten the line by the way you serve it along with job training.” HG: What are the main goals of the Campus Kitchens Project? RE: There’s 60,000 school cafeterias in America, and a majority of their cafeterias are closed all afternoon, all night, all weekend. I want to take the nonprofit to the school. The idea is that these [kitchens] are amazing resources, and they could be a tremendous place, not
just to do service, but the cafeteria can be a place that can provide meals to go for working moms and Meals on Wheels. This has the potential to start things like cooking clubs, kitchen classes, fundraisers. I’m the king of what’s already there. I love exploring resources that exist in every community and how you can use them each differently. These school cafeterias are perfect. HG: What services does the DC Central Kitchen provide? RE: The DC Central Kitchen recovers food from different restaurants, hotels, universities, hospitals and farmers. We do 5,000 meals a day, 365 days a year. We have street outreach that takes people off the streets and gives them housing or treatment. We have job training that takes people who need jobs and puts them into training in culinary positions. About 90 people a year graduate from this training and go on to earn about two million dollars all together in salaries. HG: What advice you would give someone who wants to start a nonprofit organization? RE: The advice I would give somebody is to just try your best to see if there’s already something out there that you can add on to. The thing is the future of nonprofit isn’t going to be serving; it’s going to be empowering. And the future of nonprofit is to be really engaged with the community. We can’t operate independently anymore. Our future is tied to both government and the business communities. HG: What are you hoping to accomplish by coming to speak to students? RE: On graduation day, they have to decided whether they want to be a .com or .org. What I want to say, with all my heart, is that you can do both. This is your generation’s new destiny — to explore this new hybrid — and I want to help.
For an audio slideshow of the garden, visit theithacan.org.
Thyme for spring
Sophomore Amanda Sirois stops to smell organic thyme Friday at the IC Community Garden. As part of Earth Day, the Organic Growers of Ithaca College hosted a walk to the garden. The group is a student-run organization that experiments with sustainable gardening and farming. claudia pietrzak/The Ithacan
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The Ithacan 9
College & City Review places college at top of green rankings
Ithaca College was named one of the top “Green Colleges” in the United States and Canada by the Princeton Review and the U.S. Green Building Council. The college is one of two institutions globally to have two Platinum Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified buildings — the Park Center for Business and Sustainable Enterprise and the Peggy Ryan Williams Center. The college’s profile also noted dining services’ energy and resource reduction efforts and the college’s commitment to promoting sustainability in its curriculum. For more information on Ithaca College’s sustainability programs and practices, visit www.ithaca. edu/sustainability/edu.
Visiting CEO to lecture on music industry startup
Alex White, cofounder and chief executive officer of Next Big Sound, will speak at 11 p.m. tomorrow in Textor Hall 103 as one of the speakers in the Visiting Entrepreneurs Series sponsored by the School of Business. NBS, a music WHITE analytics website, is used by industry professionals to track the number of plays, views, fans and comments on sites. Facebook, Twitter and Last.fm have used it to measure how millions of fans interact with music online. White developed the business
as part of a class assignment at Northwestern University. NBS received $25,000 in seed money from several investors when it was presented to venture capitalists. In 2010, White was named one of the 30 under 30 “power players” in the music industry by Billboard.
weekly computing workshops ITS holds free of charge for Ithaca College faculty, staff and students. To register for the introductory or advanced Access workshops, visit http://ithaca.edu/its/tlc/schedule.
Coalition to host forum about underage drinking
Jefferson Cowie, associate professor of labor history at Cornell University and William Keeton house professor and dean at the University of Vermont, will give the Marjorie Fortunoff Mayrock lecture, which is hosted by the his- COWIE tory department, at 6 p.m. today at Textor Hall 101. Cowie’s talk, “A Nation without Class: The 1970s and the Origins of Our Own Time,” is based on his book, “Stayin’ Alive: The 1970s and the Last Days of the Working Class”, a 2011 Francis Parkman Prize winner from the Society of American Historians for the best book on American history. The lecture will focus on how popular culture reflects the changes of the American working class in the 1970s and its current effects.
Campus-Community Coalition, led by Cornell University, Ithaca College and Tompkins Cortland Community College, will host a public forum about underage drinking from 7 to 8:30 p.m. today at St. Paul’s Methodist Church. The event includes presentations about initiatives within the Ithaca City School District, Cornell, TC3 and the college. Other community organizations will also distribute literature and serve as a resource. Joseph Cheng, professor of business at the college, will speak at the event. His daughter, Victoria Cheng, an Ithaca College freshman, was found dead in February. For more information, contact Gary Stewart at 255-4666.
Learning center to offer Windows Access training
The Technology Learning Center will offer new, back-to-back Access for Windows introductory and advanced training sessions from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 6. Microsoft Access is a database design program found in Microsoft Office 2007. The Access sessions are part of
Author to share research about American culture
Renowned performers to deliver spoken word
The Center for the Study of Culture, Race and Ethnicity will host “The Margins Speak”, a spoken word performance, as part of its 10th Anniversary Community Celebration from 7 to 9:30 p.m. today at the
Public Safety Incident Log march 31 Criminal tampering LOCATION: W-Lot SUMMARY: Caller reported two unknown people stole a parking lot sign. Officer recovered the sign. Investigation pending. Patrol Officer Mark Denicola. V&T VIOLATION LOCATION: Tower Skyline Drive SUMMARY: During a traffic stop, one person was arrested for driving while intoxicated. Officer issued the operator uniform traffic tickets for the Ithaca Town Court for DWI, a blood alcohol content more than .08 percent, and a campus summons was issued for disobeying a stop sign. This person was restricted from campus. Patrol Officer Mark Denicola. Fire Alarm LOCATION: Terraces SUMMARY: Fire alarm activation caused by burnt food. System reset. Fire Protection Specialist Enoch Perkins.
April 1 CRIMINAL TAMPERING LOCATION: U-Lot SUMMARY: Officer reported a person in possession of another’s ID card. One person was judicially referred for violation of college policy. Master Security Officer Wendy Lewis. Trespass LOCATION: Circle Lot 8 SUMMARY: Caller reported persons going through recycling. Officer issued a warning, and two people were restricted from campus. Patrol Officer Christopher Teribury.
Conduct Code Violation LOCATION: L-Lot SUMMARY: Officer reported a person with another’s ID card. One person was judicially referred for violation of college policy. Master Security Officer Wendy Lewis.
April 2 Conduct Code Violation LOCATION: Terraces SUMMARY: Person transported to CMC by ambulance and person was judicially referred for responsibility of guest. Patrol Officer Christopher Teribury. Criminal Tampering LOCATION: West Tower SUMMARY: Officer reported an unknown person maliciously discharged a fire extinguisher in the stairwells. Investigation pending. Patrol Officer Mark Denicola. conduct code violation LOCATION: Grant Egbert Boulevard SUMMARY: Caller reported a vehicle ‘rollover’ accident. Operator declined medical assistance. Officer arrested the operator for DWI and issued a uniform traffic ticket for Ithaca Town Court for DWI, BAC more than .08 percent and leaving the scene of an MVA. This person was also judicially referred for criminal conduct. The vehicle leaked engine fluid, and an Environmental Health and Safety Officer cleaned up the spill. Patrol Officer Mark Denicola.
April 3 Danger to Self LOCATION: Circle Apartments SUMMARY: Caller reported a person took several Tylenol pills and alcohol.
selected entries from March 31 to April 4.
One person was transported to CMC by ambulance and was judicially referred for danger to self and irresponsible use of alcohol. Patrol Officer Mark Denicola. criminal mischief LOCATION: Phillips Hall SUMMARY: Caller reported an unknown person damaged a window. Investigation pending. Master Patrol Officer Erik Merlin.
April 4 Burglary LOCATION: Talcott Hall SUMMARY: Caller reported an unknown person entered and stole iPods and an iPhone between 10 p.m. April 2 and 1 a.m. April 3. Investigation pending. Master Patrol Officer Jeffrey Austin. criminal mischief LOCATION: I-Lot SUMMARY: Caller reported an unknown person scratched words into the paint of a vehicle. Investigation pending. Patrol Officer Jay Vanvolkinburg. For the complete safety log, go to www.theithacan.org/news.
Key cmc – Cayuga Medical Center CCV – College Code Violation DWI – Driving while intoxicated IFD – Ithaca Fire Department IPD – Ithaca Police Department MVA – Motor vehicle accident RA – Resident assistant SASP – Student Auxiliary Safety Patrol V&T – Vehicle and Transportation
Greater Ithaca Activities Center. The event features local and college performers Naseem Williams, DeVante West, Luis Santos, Jonah Tate, senior David Cruz, Ernest Verb, Kelsey McBean aka Kid N0va and El Danny. World-renowned spoken word poets Edward Askew, Eden Connelly, Daniel “Fritz” Silber-Baker, David Scott and Lauren Whitehead will also perform. For more information on the event and CSCRE visit http://www. ithaca.edu/cscre/discussionseries/.
Sport club to host annual Hole-In-One Tournament
The Sport Event and Networking Club will host the eighth annual HoleIn-One Golf Tournament Weekend at noon Saturday and Sunday. The first-place team will be awarded free entry to the next tournament, and the competitor who makes a hole-in-one in the second hole of the course will be awarded $10,000. The tournament will be followed by a dinner and an awards reception, where Brendan Long ’08, who works for the Golden State Warriors, will give keynote speech. The club will also host the Rec-way Mayday 5K and 10K race following the golf tournament Sunday on South Hill Recreation Way. There will be an awards ceremony and food following the race. All proceeds will go to the Ithaca College sport management and media department.
Junior publishes software for interactive displays
Junior Scott Constable, mathematics and jazz performance double major, published two software
demonstrations with the Wolfram Demonstrations Project. The project grew from research in applied mathematics. Constable completed the first demonstration, Predicting Maximum Sea Levels, which explores maximum sea levels over the next century, with Tom Pfaff, associate professor of mathematics. His second project, Intercepting Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles in Three Dimensions, models the process of missile defense and was completed with research from David Brown, associate professor of mathematics.
Photo contest to award gift card to bookstore The Natural Lands Committee
will host a spring photo contest for Ithaca College students. The contest will be open until May 6. Students can submit photographs of springtime in South Hill. The winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to the bookstore and have their photo displayed in the Center for Natural Sciences and on the Ithaca College Natural Lands website. Visit www.ithaca.edu/naturallands/photocontest to download the contest rules and guidelines.
Buffalo St. Books opens with new business model Buffalo St. Books reopened
Saturday as a cooperative business with 600 individual sponsors who now own the bookstore. The bookstore closed earlier this year but reopened after community efforts raised $200,000.
Everybody has issues ... ...we have a new one every week.
The Ithacan every Thursday.
Opin ion
10 The Ithacan
Thursday, April 28, 2011
editorials
well-rounded education
As Ithaca College moves toward creating general education requirements, schools should not lose their identities
A
s part of the IC20/20 plan, all schools at Ithaca College will come together to establish a core general liberal arts education. As long as it doesn’t take away from the culture of the professional schools and departments, the initiative should give students more of an interdisciplinary education. The initiative will include scheduled advising sessions, mandatory academic writing courses, first-year seminars and portfolio requirements. Greg Woodward, interim provost and vice president of academic affairs, said all of the schools have expressed approval of the plan, acknowledging that there is work to be done on details and specifics if the plan is approved. Having core general education requirements will engage students in general course work rather than make it seem like an obligation. By including “themes” in the coursework, it will also allow students to take classes that they are interested in. By including a core general education requirement, the college needs to make sure it doesn’t take away from the atmosphere of professional schools, such as the schools of communication, business and music. The core requirements shouldn’t come ahead of production or performance classes — courses that will give students more of a hands-on education in their chosen area of study. Having professional schools and departments is what makes the college stand out from other liberal arts schools. The IC20/20 committee needs to make sure that students are not only well-rounded but still prepared in their areas of study when they graduate from the college. The initiative for general education requirements will broaden students’ education — as long as it doesn’t take away from the professional education. Otherwise, students will be leaving the college unprepared in their area of study.
joint effort
Interdisciplinary conferences allow faculty and students to work together
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esides connecting science fiction and women’s studies, last week’s “Pippi to Ripley” conference brought together Ithaca College professors and students. The one-day interdisciplinary conference examined everything from females in fairy tales to young adults in video games. The conference included about 100 presentations, including 13 students from the college. The event was coordinated by three students and Katherine Kittredge, professor of English and women’s studies. The conference was a successful interdisciplinary education tool. By focusing on science fiction and women’s studies, it allowed for different time periods and forms of literature to be analyzed. Presenters from different institutions were invited, giving the college’s students and faculty different perspectives. Saturday’s event was also a way for faculty and students to collaborate on a project that was educational and enjoyable. To create different learning tools, more professors are encouraged to organize conferences like “Pippi to Ripley.” Interdisciplinary conferences bridge different departments and bring students together. And in doing so, conferences will create more perspectives and give students an interdisciplinary education on subjects they are interested in.
your letters Fitness Center in poor condition
The Ithaca College administration needs to focus more attention toward maintaining and repairing the existing Fitness Center. I have been to the Fitness Center on several occasions and have found the machines and facility in a sorry state. The personal televisions on each of the cardio machines either do not work at all or function so poorly that it is impossible to watch shows or even hear them. Also, the machines themselves must be repaired. Many of them are currently broken, and others need new pads and handrails. Furthermore, the ones that are broken have been in disrepair for several weeks. In addition, repairs must be made to the facility itself. In some areas, puddles have formed
Clayton Moser ’11
LETTER POLICY
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Write a letter to the editor by emailing ithacan@ithaca.edu or leave a comment on commentaries and editorials at theithacan.org.
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The Ithacan Elizabeth Sile editor in chief Casey Musarra Managing editor Jacqueline Palochko opinion Editor Taylor Long news Editor Alexandra Evans news editor Kelsey O’Connor assistant news editor Kelsey Fowler accent editor
and ceiling tiles have been damaged because of holes in the roof. The Fitness Center placed buckets underneath them because the holes are not being repaired. When I was a freshman, the Fitness Center repaired machines — as well as damage to the facility — shortly after the problems were noticed. Now it seems that these repairs are not being dealt with in a timely manner. I believe the construction of the Athletics and Events Center has something to do with it. I bring this up because it is tour season, and the Fitness Center is one destination for these tours. The Fitness Center is in poor shape, and I believe it does not do the college justice.
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Opinion
Thursday, April 2 8 , 2 0 1 1
The It hacan 11
Guest commentary
Students travel to DC for conference on genocides
L
ast week a group of Ithaca College students traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend an “activist bootcamp.” The students went to our nation’s capital to attend the Pledge2Protect 2011 conference, organized by STAND: A Student Anti-Genocide Coalition, and the newly merged Genocide Intervention Network and Save Darfur Coalition. The weekend included activism and leadership training from Organizing for America and the New Rachel Merkin Organizing Institute. We went through hours of training and learned about what exactly is going on in STAND’s conflict focus areas, including The Congo, Burma, Sudan and the developing situation in Libya. Conflict updates were given by Genocide Prevention Movement leaders including Rebecca Hamilton, author and journalist; John Prendergast, author and former diplomat and negotiator under the Clinton Administration; and Sam Bell, executive director of the Genocide Intervention Network. The whole weekend was an intense experience and gave students an opportunity to see the movement as it exists beyond the college campus. The IC STAND chapter has been extremely successful in progressing the Anti-Genocide Movement’s mission. As well as fundraising, IC STAND is currently participating in the national Conflict Free Campus Initiative, which is bringing awareness to campuses across the nation regarding the conflict mineral trade in Eastern Congo, and what campuses can do to put forth an effort to end the conflict mineral trade. But this weekend was the first time many members of IC STAND witnessed the power a large group of organized individuals can have on an issue. It was
A bunch of misfits
A group of adolescents are sentenced to community service and get supernatural powers from a lightning storm. I’m hooked on this British comedy-drama series, “Misfits.” — Aaron Edwards
Green birthdays
From left, Ithaca College senior Sarah Burleson, sophomore Maddie Chopskie and freshman Meredith Hicks attend the Pledge2Protect conference Saturday at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C.
courtesy of Vanessa Nguyen
incredible to see the satisfaction on students’ faces when important leaders of the Anti-Genocide Movement listed off instances where STAND’s organized call-ins to members of Congress, the White House, the State Department and the United States Ambassador to the United Nations affected change in how the United States handled issues of foreign policy. The students from Ithaca who attended Pledge2Protect left D.C. with more knowledge of how to organize students and tell personal narratives. We also got a chance to see we were a part of something bigger than ourselves and realize that our efforts are making a difference in world politics and policy. While some of our peers are apathetic toward the world around
them, we realize our impact and meet that apathy with activism and motivation. We each took the time out of our lives and schedules to build the individual tools we need to make a difference. The power is in the collective force of the movement, but without the strength and dedication of the individual students willing to make a difference and work to create a world without genocide, there would be no movement. We are the future of the Anti-Genocide Movement and are critical components in the fight to end genocide globally. Rachel Merkin is a senior integrated marketing communications major and president of the college’s chapter of STAND. Email her at rmerkin1@ithaca.edu.
If you’re a spring baby and having a birthday party, send electronic invitations, and purchase biodegradable tableware and reusable party decorations. For fun, have an eco-based activity for your guests. — Meagan McGinnes
Steroids in baseball
With Barry Bonds being convicted of obstruction of justice and prosecutors debating whether to retry him on other charges, steroids are back in baseball. One of the areas where the issue of steroids is still having its greatest effect is in the Baseball Hall of Fame. — Alex Holt
Guest commentary
Senior films confront racial tensions and stereotypes
I
n the cinema production concentration, students spend four years waiting to make their senior thesis film. The culmination of technical and creative skill sets are fleshed out on the big screen after an entire semester of production. For two emerging female filmmakers, one black and one Hispanic, this was the semester to risk it all. The following are reflections on their films. The media today fails to portray how Arizona’s SB 1070 has revived and reemphasized racial tensions in the United States. The danger is that the message of unfair and inhumane treatment of Hispanics gets lost in today’s major media outlets. Ithaca College senior Sean Temple asked me to get on board with a screenplay he was writing as part of a David Ames Award project, where he would win $5,000 to bring the script to life. Of course, I agreed to co-direct the film “Illegal” with him. When the film wasn’t chosen for the David Ames Award, we felt even more empowered to show this is an issue that must be talked about. It is currently our senior thesis project. I also wanted to tell another story. As part of my second thesis project, I’m directing another short film, “Morado,” that deals with a topic not often explored in student shorts. For me, the issue of domestic abuse hits close to home. Too often films depict the victim as a weak female, eventually finding a way to escape the wrath of her abusive partner. But the reality is that many women, especially in
The crew of “Jemila’s Tale” poses March 4 at Beverly J. Martin Elementary School. The film follows a young black girl in a fairy tale.
the Hispanic community, submit to their partner’s authority, not merely because of weakness but because of love and what it means to them. In my films, I seek to not only expose the underrepresented groups of society — illegal immigrants and victims who decide to stay in abusive relationships — but also examine the power dynamic held in today’s society. What is film if not a means to generate debate among spectators? — Jalissa Cruz
Courtesy of Christina Bryant
With “Jemila’s Tale,” I stepped into uncharted territory. I hesitated at even writing a script about a young black girl named Jemila, who makes her own black fairy tale. What if I couldn’t corral all the complexities of black identity into a coherent short film? Thankfully, I formed a team with cinematographer Ayshea Khan and producer Allie Taylor, two senior cinema production majors who were true collaborators in this journey.
The film follows a young black girl feeling underrepresented in the predominantly white fairy tales she reads. As an emerging black filmmaker, even coming up with an idea about a film centered on a black character was easier said than done. It required shelving my knowledge about technical film production and going back to the organic nature of why I tell stories. It took a lot of soul searching on my part about being a black person today and still not seeing myself fully represented in mass media. It was a challenge casting a dynamic child actress to play Jemila. I felt frustrated, even at our class’s auditions, because I was looking for such a specific demographic. I had to find a young local black girl, who was enthusiastic about the part, had a flexible schedule and had family supportive of the project. I finally did meet a little girl named Cynthia, who I have been excited to learn and grow with. Most of all, she reminded me every day of why I should continue writing films about compelling black protagonists. Good films are reflections of how filmmakers see the world around them. That’s why I love film. If I don’t like what I’m being shown, I can always tell my own tale. — Christina Bryant Jalissa cruz and Christina Bryant are senior cinema photography majors. Email them at jcruz2@ ithaca.edu and cbryant1@ithaca.edu.
All opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of The Ithacan. To write a guest commentary, contact Opinion Editor Jacqueline Palochko at 274-3208.
Golf pro
Every time I work for the athletic department, I get a solid story. No matter if I’m chasing balls for field hockey or selling snacks at wrestling matches, something happens. This weekend I was a “spotter” at a golf tournament, and I had to find the ball in the mud. — Lilly Miller
Total Dom-ination
I’m obsessed with this new band called Dom. They’re a fresh, young band out of Worcester, Mass., whose music just makes you happy. If I had to compare them to anyone, I’d say it’s a mix of Passion Pit and Best Coast: raw guitar riffs, easy beats and a dude with borderline feminine vocals. — Jared Dionne
Connect, rekindle, donate
I found the solution for alumni who won’t give donations: Alumnidate.com. The website rekindles old flames, and for each member who makes a profile at $29.95, AlumniDate will donate 10 percent to the member’s college. If donations and wedding announcements are up next year, thank me. — Jacqueline Palochko
12 The Ithacan
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Thursday, April 2 8 , 2 0 1 1
a ccent
l u f e n A tu salute The Ithacan 13
Senior honored as military soloist
e Competition, ional Collegiat at N ’s nd Ba y Saxophone.” acan e U.S. Arm certo for Alto y, winner of th on rr “C Pe s n’ el hebel/the ith to ch es am Ra grah Senior ece, Paul Cr pi n tio di au l ca plays her classi
By Alexandra Palombo senior writer
Smooth, deep-toned music wails out of the bell of her saxophone, dancing over the quick, staccato sections of “Meditative” and lingering over its legato sound. The notes are clear and perfectly pitched. For senior Rachel Perry, there is nothing else in the world. “When I perform, I try to completely immerse myself in the music,” she said. “At that moment, nothing else really matters or is more important.” As a performance and music education major, Perry has honed her classical saxophone skills in the Ithaca College School of Music for the past four years, and her hard work has paid off. This June, she’ll show off her talent when she plays as the U.S. Army Band’s featured soloist in Washington, D.C. Perry was one of 99 applicants for U.S. Army Band National Collegiate Solo Competition. College undergraduate and graduate students from competitive music programs across the country — such as Bowling Green State University, Michigan State University and the University of South Carolina — entered for the chance to perform with the band. As the winner of the competition, Perry will perform in front of an audience of music educators and high-ranking military officials at two of the U.S. Army Band’s concerts in June: one at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall in Alexandria, Va., and the other on the west steps of the Capitol. Perry said she is excited to play and rehearse with talented musical professionals. “It’s going to be so much fun because they’re so good,” she said. “Not just to be able to work with them, but to be a soloist in front of the band, and work with them for
three rehearsals and the concerts.” Contestants submitted CDs of themselves playing a solo of their choosing on their individual instrument. The judges held a blind audition and chose the winner based on outstanding technique, maturity of skill and quality of sound. Reaching the allegro in the second movement of Paul Creston’s “Concerto for Alto Saxophone,” Perry’s fingers flit across the golden keys, gliding from sixteenth note to sixteenth note with ease. Suddenly, the music slows, and she hangs onto a fermatta before quieting to a gentle calm. Perry said she chose Creston’s piece for her audition because of the instrumental exchange between its three movements. “It has so much energy, and the interplay between the saxophone and the piano part is really exciting,” she said. Perry, who has been training as a classical saxophonist since middle school, said she felt the musical style suited her technical talents. Tim Rosenberg, assistant professor of musical performance, commended Perry’s talent and passion for music. He initially told Perry about the U.S. Army Band competition. “I thought she had a really good shot,” he said. “She’s a really mature player. I can’t say that I was surprised that she won.” Rosenberg said while Perry is quiet and reserved, she was confident in her audition piece. He said she likes to let her work speak for itself. “When she recorded the winning CD, she was very prepared,” he said. “She played it through once, and I asked her if she wanted to do it again. She said, ‘I could, but I don’t think it will be any different.’ It turned out her intuition was right.” Staff Sergeant Leigh Lafosse, a clarinet
From le ft, junio RaFcrohm rs Han el Pleeftrr, tao Li Rachel yjupnraiocritscH e aanstaaox and Eric Tro Perr y p iano, oLpihaond ractice nd sen a piece e qEuric a Trt.ianoa iors Ju ,a for theirr teo saxoph nd seniors Jsutin Canzan stin Ca o and one qu agrrteathp am erfo ela nzano and graha herbm /nceith Frid m hebelthe acaayn. /the ith player for the U.S. acan Army Band, managed the competition’s application process. She said the winner receives notable recognition would be performing because the national competition is one of with the band, Perry said she could be deployed for combat. But she said a few for solo instrumentalists. “Being selected as the winner means your she doesn’t know if she wants to undergo all name will become recognized on a national the rigorous training if her primary role is scale,” Lafosse said. “Whenever you can put playing the saxophone. “I would be a little hesitant to do that,” she a big-name competition on your résumé, you increase your chances of being invited to said. “The end job would be great, but in orperform, apply and advance in auditions and der to get there, you have to survive the same intense physical and mental training that all job interviews across the country.” Perry hopes the recognition will help her soldiers and sailors go through. It’s a lot to reach her goal of joining the U.S. Navy Band go through just to be a musician assigned to after graduation. She said military bands are play in the band.” Perry’s backup plan is to attend the Eastone of the best career performance options. “Saxophone players don’t have a lot of man School of Music at the University of performance opportunities in major sym- Rochester, where she has been accepted to phony orchestras,” she said. “So the military earn her master’s degree in musical perforband is the perfect opportunity, especially mance. She said if she cannot make the U.S. Navy Band by this year’s graduation, she for classical performers.” Perry auditioned with 49 other musicians would like to continue teaching music. She has been student teaching at a school for the U.S. Navy Band this past February, but she wasn’t chosen. She said the audition piec- in Horseheads, N.Y. As a proponent of mues were difficult, and her competition was sic education, Perry has been helping the more talented and experienced than she was. school’s campaign to save the music program. “I felt that I played fairly well on the solo She said she believes all students should have and excerpts, but the sight-reading was ba- access to a music education. For Perry, teaching is just a way of spreadsically impossible,” she said. “All of the other finalists were graduate students or teachers. I ing the joy of music to students who may not experience it otherwise. was the only undergraduate student.” “Music in school has made me a more This June, Perry will try out for the U.S. Navy Band again. If accepted, she will en- well-rounded person,” she said. “It builds list in the Navy and complete basic train- community in working with other people. It’s ing. While her permanent assignment an outlet that I really enjoyed.”
[ a ccentuate]
14 The Ithacan
Hot or Not
Th ursday, April 28, 2011
This week’s hits and misses
Staff Writer Shea O’Meara rates the best and worst options students have for employment this summer.
Hot
Outdoors Just because you’re looking to make a few bucks this summer doesn’t mean you can’t still soak up the sun. For those who want an adrenaline boost, adventure work can be a blast. Fearless college students can spend the summer teaching kids to rock climb, work as a lifeguard or lead white water rafting tours. Those who want to keep their feet on the ground can throw on flip-flops and a pair of shades when they head to work as a camp counselor or amusement park attendant. After being locked up in closed-curtain classrooms and battling low Ithaca temperatures, a summer in the sun is certainly hot.
Lukewarm
Career-Related Internship This summer occupation is bittersweet. While gaining great experience and building an expansive résumé, students are giving up a summer of friends and fun. Unlike life on the open water, summer interns often brew coffee and enter database information for upper management. Many internships are often unpaid or offer stipends that barely cover the cost of housing, which causes students to pay for their learning experience. But there are a few ways to brighten this summer occupation. Students with a paid internship learn skills and save money at the same time. Those who spend the summer away from the coffee pot and in their field gain valuable experience to further their careers.
Helping hands
From left, freshmen Chau Nguyen and Joanna Miller construct origami paper cranes last Thursday in IC Square during Cranes for Japan, an event hosted by the Residence Hall Association and the Asian American Alliance to raise money for the Japanese relief effort. Parker Chen/The Ithacan
omg!
CONNECTICUT ARTIST TED MIKULSKI gives tweets place in community
Do you ever wonder if anyone reads your old tweets? Ted Mikulski might. This Connecticut-based artist doesn’t just tweet online, he also posts on park benches, in graveyards, on walls, in shopping carts and on old cars. In his exhibit “Tweets In Real Life,” Mikulski takes tweets from the walls of random users who probably thought their quick messages were lost in their news feeds long ago. He takes these tweets, which are printed on white pieces of paper, laminated and posted around the community, to create funny or ironic works of art. If you can’t get enough of Twitter on your computer or smartphone, now you don’t have to. Mikulski is bringing Twitter to the masses, no username or password required. — Shea O’Meara
Not Retail The in-store air conditioning isn’t the only thing that makes a summer in retail cold. With their long hours and menial tasks, these jobs add little to students’ résumés, along with keeping them out of the sun and away from friends. Sorting clothing sizes and organizing messy dressing rooms doesn’t stand up to a summer crafting with kids or meeting industry professionals. Not a total loss, a summer in retail is a good way to earn money for the upcoming semester, and students with employee discounts can stock up on merchandise.
“
catching CRAZE
bright and colorful flash drives bring personality to file sharing
If you think saving your final paper on a regular flash drive is boring, now you Content blah blah blah Phil Collins can save it on a hamburger. New fun and colorful flash drives are making the — Person typically dull process of saving and transferring files into a guaranteed good time. With a collection ranging from “Star Wars” and Hello Kitty characters to diamond rings and fake fingers, there is a flash drive sure to make everyone giggle. Who said saving had to be serious? Pop out the old dull drives and plug in your personality with this new trend. You’ll never confuse your USB flash drive with a friend’s again. — Shea O’Meara
quoteunquote
I am the worst driver in the world. Every time I get in a car, I call up my parents and say goodbye.
— Robert Pattinson to ELLE about his poor driving ability.
celebrity
OOPS!
Lohan hits all-time low
While Lindsay Lohan is no stranger to the court system, she was reportedly shocked when Judge Stephanie Sautner sentenced her to 120 days in jail Friday. Lohan was on trial for violating her probation after she was found guilty for grand theft. She was also sentenced to 480 hours of community service, 360 of which she will fulfill at the Downtown Women’s Center in Los Angeles. Lohan filed to appeal the charges and was released after posting her $75,000 bail. Unlike her characters in the 1998 film “Parent Trap,” Lohan may have a hard time “swapping” her conviction for something a bit more favorable outside of the Lynwood Correctional Facility. — Shea O’Meara
ACCENT
Thursday, April 2 8 , 2 0 1 1
The Ithacan 15
Students display Bomber pride with lip dub video By Jared dionne Staff writer
Many people conceal their inner pop-star personas from the public eye. Common hiding places include driver’s seats, locked bedrooms and steamy showers. But on May 1, many of Ithaca College’s wannabe Britneys and Justins will put down their improvised microphones and display their talents on campus. The Student Government and Residence Hall associations are collaborating to strengthen school spirit by creating a ’90s-themed lip dub video. Lip dubs feature people lipsynching to a particular song. The actual track is laid over video footage to create the illusion that participants are actually singing. More than 350 students signed up to participate in the college’s lip dub. They are now practicing their song segments, which include ’90s mainstays such as the Backstreet Boys’ “Everybody,” the Spice Girls’ “Wannabe” and Eiffel 65’s “Blue.” The route will start at Textor Ball, run through Campus Center and end at the Dillingham fountains where participants will form a human “IC.” Sophomore Rob Flaherty, SGA’s Park School senator, is the director of the video shoot. His job is to make sure the video adheres to traditional lip dub aesthetics. “It’s my artistic vision, according to the job description,” Flaherty said. “I’m making sure all of the people have a section, that it’s all very consistent and it fits the general look.” Lip dubs are filmed in a single shot, letting the camera roll for the song’s duration without any breaks. Flaherty said it has been a challenge
spreading the word to get more students involved, which is essential for this technique. “On the Facebook page we’ve got 370-something people who are interested, and we have about that many signed up,” he said. “But to make the video look good, there’s got to be about 500 people.” Sophomore Nate McCoart, lip dub producer, said the production costs are currently budgeted for $2,000. He said the group has reached out to the campus community to help secure more funds to create the video. “It’s dependent upon what funding we can secure,” he said. “We’re doing what we can to reach what we need, but it’s getting down to the wire.” Junior Sheraz Iqbal, president of RHA, said unity and entertainment motivated the video’s creation. “It’s a nice, fun way to end the year with everyone getting together and just going crazy,” he said. “We’re telling people to come in with any skills they [have] or any performances they want to do.” The video’s original purpose was to generate excitement on campus, but it may also help market the college to prospective students. Senior Julia Dunn, SGA’s vice president of communications, said SGA and RHA are working with David Cameron, coordinator of the college’s marketing communications, for advising in the planning stages. Cameron said he did not want to control the lip dub but was there for assistance if needed. He stressed the importance of the lip dub project being entirely student-run. “A lot of us in marketing have been hoping to have students do a
From left, sophomores Chelsea Rein and Hayley Fox participate in a meeting to coordinate Britney Spears’ “Hit Me Baby One More Time” section of the lip dub. They will rehearse throughout the week before the shoot Sunday. michelle boulé/The Ithacan
video like this, but we didn’t want to do it,” he said. “It’s more real if the students do it all themselves.” Dunn said preparations for large events often encounter problems, and the lip dub is no different. She said Ithaca’s notoriously unpredictable weather may be the biggest threat the group will face the day of the shoot. “We’ve had so many challenges setting the actual date and booking the route across campus that if it rains, it’s going to be a large obstacle,” she said. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, Dunn said the group will have to put off filming the lip dub until the fall.
But if all goes as planned, the man capturing the moment will be sophomore Wade Ferrari, a cinema and photography major. He owns a Steadicam, which uses pneumatic springs that compensate for body movement to capture a smooth shot. Ferrari said Steadicam operators are rare in the Ithaca-Syracuse area because of the sizeable financial investment and time commitment to the art. “I am the only Steadicam operator on campus,” he said. “I happen to be really good friends with Rob Flaherty, so he approached me and knew that I already had the rig.”
Ferrari said he thinks the technical portions of the shoot will be difficult because of lip dub’s specific style. “Most Steadicam shots are at max a minute, and we’re doing between a nine- to 12-minute straight shot,” he said. “That’s going to be the biggest challenge for me.” If all goes well, Iqbal said the lip dub video will give students a chance to have fun while getting a behindthe-scenes peek at the process of viral video production. “It’s one thing to watch the video, but it’s another thing to be a part of it and see how it’s made,” Iqbal said.
16 The Ithacan
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Thursday, April 2 8 , 2 0 1 1
Accent
The Ithacan 17
Local dancers to perform classic ballet fairy tale By Ayla Ferrone Contributing Writer
Once upon a time at the Ithaca Ballet, the company was hard at work on the final performance of its 49th season, “The Sleeping Beauty.” If you Go Written by Pyotr “The Sleeping Tchaikovsky and origiBeauty” When: 7:30 nally performed in 1890, p.m. Saturday “The Sleeping Beauty” and 3 p.m. chronicles the life of Sunday Princess Aurora, from Where: The the prologue, where an State Theatre evil fairy casts a deathly How much: $7 spell on the child, to her to $19 happy fairy-tale ending. True to the familiar Disney version of the story, which was based on the ballet, a fairy casts a spell putting Aurora into a deep slumber — rather than to her death — when she pricks her finger. A prince falls in love with a vision of Aurora and goes to the castle where she is sleeping to kiss her awake. Artistic Director Cindy Reid said she was excited to stage “The Sleeping Beauty” as her third full-length ballet with the company. Though Reid had previously staged the third act of “The Sleeping Beauty,” the company has never performed this ballet in its entirety before. Usually, sections of a ballet are taught to the dancers altogether, but this production of “The Sleeping Beauty” has not followed the traditional rehearsal formula. Lead dancers Beth Mochizuki and Brett Whitney are both returning to Ithaca to play Princess Aurora and the Prince, respectively. Though they have performed with the Ithaca Ballet, the dancers are both now freelance professionals dancing outside Ithaca. Reid said she tried to make it easier on the dancers by using the original choreography
from the Royal Ballet version of the show performed in 1890. “I have had to choreograph certain sections,” Reid said. “Either the personnel was different from how the Royal Ballet did it or I didn’t have 16 young men. I only had two.” Since Mochizuki is living in Boston, she had to learn her part on her own before collaborating with the other dancers. “I would just watch the [Royal Ballet] video,” she said. “Some of the parts I’d practice with a barre. Certain steps I just can’t practice [by myself ], like the promenades.” “The Sleeping Beauty” has more than 88 different roles, but Reid cast this production using only 40 dancers. She casts the company in the fall, and then casts the ballets using those dancers. Approximately 20 of the dancers in this production are company dancers who take daily classes at the Ithaca Ballet, while the other half of the cast is made up of local adult actors. Reid’s mother, who is a co-founder of the company, is an expert on costuming performances for period shows like “The Sleeping Beauty.” Reid said though the company owns some tutus and costumes that can be reused for this production, volunteers are constructing many new tutus and dresses that are primarily used in the Waltz in Act One. One of the hardest sections of the ballet comes in Act Two. The famous “Rose Adagio” is an extremely technical dance called a pas de deux, which is typically a dance between two dancers, but in “The Sleeping Beauty,” the ballerina playing the part of Aurora must dance with four different men. Usually a slower dance, it focuses on the female dancer’s technique while showcasing the male dancers’ strength as it requires them to lift, carry and turn her often. Dancer Johann Studier, who is one of four
From left, dancers Johann Studier as one of four courtiers and Beth Mochizuki as Sleeping Beauty rehearse Saturday for the Ithaca Ballet’s upcoming production of “The Sleeping Beauty.” Rachel Orlow/The Ithacan
suitors in the “Rose Adagio,” had been practicing without Mochizuki. Studier has performed in a staging of this show before and has also seen it a few times. He said it was not as challenging for him and the other men to rehearse because they had two stand-in ballerinas, but it still takes practice to relay emotions to an audience without words. “You have to use your whole body to express an idea, and if you don’t do it well it just looks like you’re flailing out there,” he said. Studier said though the ballet requires hard work and long hours, he enjoys dancing in the show.
“I love being part of any ballet, be it on stage, backstage or in the audience,” Studier said. “Here, in Ithaca, I get to see the kids that I have taught and danced with grow into great performers.” The company had all of its dancers together for their first full rehearsal Monday. Reid said though only having five days together is difficult, she can’t wait to see the ballet’s premiere. “It’s satisfying to see it up on the stage with the costumes and everybody all sparkly,” she said. “Opening night, [I hope] the curtain comes up and everyone applauds spontaneously.”
Accen t
18 The Ithacan
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Strong voices carry upbeat musical
hot dates thursday
by Isabel Galupo Contributing Writer
An animated sperm swims off screen for a moment, returning with a bouquet of flowers and a gentleman’s bowler adorning its head. Satisfied, the egg in question accepts her gift and the two quickly unite. So begins the Ithaca College production of “Baby,” a Tony “Baby” Award-nominated musical that Ithaca College follows three separate couples Theatre as they embark on the journey Our rating: to parenthood. “Baby” balances HHH1/2 humor with occasional and well-placed solemnity. The play addresses weighty issues such as conception, miscarriage, infertility, masculinity, pleasure, parenthood, aging, love and sacrifice with a pleasing overtone of optimism. “Baby” was adapted from the book by Sybille Pearson, which was based off of a story developed with Susan Yankowitz. “Baby” is a treat for the ears, with witty lyrics written by Richard Maltby Jr. and contemporary upbeat music by David Shire. The audience is first introduced to Lizzie (senior Emma Poole) and Danny (senior Steve Moore), two aspiring student musicians. Then there’s Pam (senior Meg Schneider) and Nick (sophomore Ryan MacConnell), an athletic couple in their thirties. There’s also Arlene (senior Amber Wood) and Alan (senior Tim Quartier), who have already been parents three times over. Lee Byron, professor and chair of the theater arts department, directs a cast that presents itself as surprisingly well-informed about the trials and tribulations of pregnancy and parenthood. This results in convincing performances that add an overlaying feeling of familiarity to each character’s experiences. Wood and Quartier’s performances add a crucial level of believability when assuming the roles of their older characters, which continuously evoke signs of empathy from the audience. While Schneider flawlessly manages her character’s fluctuation of tone between serious and amusing, MacConnell’s tendency to overact with over-the-top facial expressions sometimes distracts from his character’s honest tenderness. All six of the main actors successfully delivered their humor-laced lyrics with equal parts wit and technical skill. Moore’s rough voice
Mix It Up with the Class of 2013, a night for sophomores at 8 p.m. in tc lounge, will include exchanging mixed CDs and coupons for discounted treats. The event is sponsored by SGA.
Theater Review
friday
Visions, On the Floor Dance Company’s final performance of the semester, will start at 8:30 p.m. in the Fitness Center. Guest acts also include IC Ballroom and IC Gaelic Society. Admission is free.
saturday
“My First Time,” a play from
From left, Lizzie (senior Emma Poole) and Danny (senior Steve Moore) try to balance their creative aspirations and adulthood in “Baby.” The show follows three couples dealing with parenthood. Rachel Orlow/The Ithacan
matched the young, rock ‘n’ roll edge of his character, while Quartier’s smooth and even notes corresponded perfectly with his character’s distinguished maturity. Arguably the most enjoyable parts of the performance were the songs, such as “We Start Today” and “Baby, Baby, Baby,” where all three couples sang together on stage in separate areas, resulting in overlapping vocals and lyrics. Except for a few moments of awkward basketball choreography, the actors did a good job navigating the somewhat limited stage space of Clark Theater while still taking care to not let their dancing detract from their singing. The fun and seductive movement that slyly bounced between Poole and Moore especially spoke to their young and passionate characters. Impressive attention to detail was employed on set, especially with regard to the
lighting. Soft pink and blue hues often danced across the floor of the theater, recalling common symbols of pregnancy and gender. When Wood sings “Patterns,” a heartfelt testament to the painful repetition of middle-age suburban life, an intricate lattice pattern is projected across her face and surroundings by the warm overhead lights. While each couple faces their own twists and turns while negotiating pregnancy and parenthood throughout the play, it is clear “Baby” is, in part, a testimony to the universality of the experience of bringing life into the world. Regardless of age, everyone in the audience will find something to relate to in this dynamic musical. “Baby” will run through Saturday in the Clark Theater. Tickets are $8 for students and $11 for adults.
Staff Writer
After changing record labels in 2007, Jennifer Lopez starts anew with a concept album that attempts to delve into the bewilderment of looking for love. The end result Jennifer of J-Lo’s musings is Lopez the lackluster dance “Love?” Epic Records floor confessional, Our rating: “Love?” J-Lo appears H1/2 to be just as con-
Album Review
fused about love as her producers are about what it takes to create a successful introspective and biographical compilation. The album fails to meet any of its preconceived expectations, and as a personal reflection, it never
gets any better than the songs that specifically tackle the topic at hand — the confusion love can bring. Most notably, the song “(What is) Love?” combines impressive vocals and lyrics that aim for the heart, and when the beat drops and J-Lo passionately shouts, “I’ve been alone for the past three years on Valentine’s Day,” listeners can’t help but appreciate the honesty the song offers. But lyrically, other tracks fail to maintain the overall mood or concept. With the album’s Latin-inspired percussion and pulsating urban synthesizers, J-Lo’s hearty vocals never sound out of place, and the devotion to the propagation of a solid, beatdriven sound is admirable. Other tracks, like the sloppily
“To A Pulp,” ICTV’s awardwinning comedy show about a college newspaper, will screen the second season premiere at 7:30 p.m. in Park Auditorium. Admission is free.
sunday
2011 Ithaca Walk MS, sponsored by Ithaca College’s Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Club, will start registration at 9 a.m., with the walk beginning at 10 a.m. in Stewart Park. There will be music and free food. There are no registration fees to participate.
Band loses sonic sound
J-Lo muses on love and self on first album in four years by Benjii MAust
Standing Room Only Performing Arts Company, chronicles awkward, inspiring and hilarious first sexual experiences. The play begins at 6 p.m. in Klingenstein Lounge. Tickets are $5.
by Jared Dionne Staff Writer
With three critically acclaimed studio albums and a number of EPs under their belts, Brooklynites TV On the Radio TV On the have been prolific Radio within the indie “Nine Types rock scene. of Light” With its Interscope new release, the Our rating: band takes a HHH1/2 step back from the sonic elements. This new album, “Nine Types of Light,” favors comfortable grooves and more retrospective musings. “Killer Crane” is a work of pure beauty as lead singer Tunde Adebimpe’s hushed vocals hang suspended between tranquil piano chords, soothing strings and acoustic guitar plucking. The song melts into “Will Do,” which
Album Review
Courtesy of Epic Records
produced “Good Hit,” ruin the potency of the all-too-relevant “One Love.” Lyrics like “Got my California Loub’s on, all up in your face” and “Don’t you want me to have your babies?” do not give the song any palatable qualities. The Lady Gaga-penned “Invading My Mind” redeems the album because it is as infectiously catchy as it is honest. “Love?” suffers from an identity crisis. J-Lo’s conceptual vision simply needed more meat on its bones.
features hypnotic drum loops and sustained guitars. On “No Future Shock,” the band introduces the newest dance craze that will be brought on by “the family of kids who pop your pills and smoke your pipe.” “Nine Types of Light” allows listeners to witness TV On the Radio’s expansive genre samplings while remaining true to the sound that got them to where they are.
Courtesy of Interscope
quickies “Thecontrollersphere”
“This Modern Glitch”
The debut album from New York City-based electropop duo Holy Ghost! is full of perfect pop hooks. But despite their successful style, the lack of emotional substance makes this album fall flat.
British indie-pop band The Wombats’ long-awaited sophomore album doesn’t disappoint. Though it has pleasant, quipping melodies, the subject matter provides something for listeners to seriously contemplate.
The Wombats 14th Floor Records
Holy Ghost! DFA Records
of Montreal Polyvinyl
The latest EP from psychedelic band of Montreal is full of odd sounds. With wild instrumentation swirling chaotically around each of the five tracks, the EP will entice old fans but may repel new listeners. courtesy of PolyVinyl
““Holy Ghost!”
courtesy of DFA Records
courtesy oF 14th Floor Records
compiled by lara bonner
Accen t
Thursday, April 2 8 , 2 0 1 1
The Ithacan 19
Big-top book moves onto big screen Stars’ lackluster chemistry drags down uninspired film adaptation bY JEsse Maeshiro
]
valid friday through thursday
cinemapolis The Commons 277–6115
Contributing Writer
“Water for Elephants,” based on Sara Gruen’s poignant New York Times Bestseller, is a film with definite potential but limited plot execution. Set in the early Depression era, the movie tells the story “Water for of a traveling circus Elephants” amid a whirlwind of 20th Century drama, violence and Fox forbidden romance. Our rating: Robert Pattinson HH1/2 stars as veterinarian Jacob, who drops out of school and jumps the train of a traveling circus. Jacob soon becomes locked in a taboo romance with circus performer Marlena (Reese Witherspoon) even though she is married to circus owner August (Christoph Waltz). The film is told from both the perspective of young Jacob at the circus and old Jacob in a nursing home. Pattinson’s performance is endearing and much more convincing than his role in the cult-classic “Twilight,” but his character lacks the passion found in the novel and often falls flat on screen beyond his striking good looks. But, his older counterpart, played by Hal Holbrook, wins over the audience with his impassioned speeches and elderly charm. Witherspoon makes a decent leading lady and looks stunning in the role but seems old next to Pattinson’s character in their uninspiring romance. Waltz makes up for the lack of spice, easily channeling the violence and volatility of his character. The grittiest scenes, such as when August assaults the people and creatures around him, are sickening.
[
ticket stub
The Conspirator 7:10 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. and Weekends 2:10 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Film Review
Super 7:25 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. excluding Weekends Of Gods and Men 7:05 p.m. and Weekends 2:05 p.m. Even the Rain HHHH Weekends 2:10 p.m. and 4:10 p.m. Certified Copy 9:15 p.m. and Weekends 4:15 p.m.
Jacob (Robert Pattinson) drops out of school to join the circus, where he is put in charge of Rosie, the star elephant. Along the way, he falls for Marlena (Reese Witherspoon), who is married to circus owner August (Christoph Waltz). Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
It is unfortunate the acting is not more engaging overall, as the movie is beautifully filmed, with scenes of sweeping hillsides and wide skies. The film does a solid job of following the same story line as the novel, but scenes were rushed. Jacob transitions from an outcast to one of the gang before the audience even knows it, and his romance with Marlena is just as spontaneous. It is disappointing to see the meticulous development of the characters in Gruen’s novel not play out on screen. Many important book characters were hardly featured, such as Barbara, the exotic dancer, and Camel, the elderly friend of Jacob who falls ill.
One change to the plot that benefits the story line is the combination of August’s character with the character of Uncle Al from the novel. In the book, August is strictly in charge of overseeing the animals, and Al owns the circus. The movie combines the two characters into one major villain. The romance between Jacob and Marlena is missing the unbridled passion. The characters bond over their love for Rosie the elephant more than for one another. That being said, Rosie is the most endearing character in the film, showing greater compassion and range of emotion than many of the human characters. August purchases Rosie
Compelling story reigns supreme
as the circus’s new main attraction in order to boost sales and places her under Jacob’s care. She quickly becomes the hero of the film. Despite its plot failings, “Water for Elephants” has the makings of a crowd pleaser. Big-name actors star in the film, and the movie is aesthetically pleasing. But, the rushed plot line leaves audiences missing out on vital information from the book. It may not be the “Greatest Show on Earth,” but it is an enjoyable film. “Water for Elephants” was written by Richard LaGravenese and directed by Francis Lawrence. It was adapted from the novel by Sara Gruen.
Immature remake keeps comedy fun By Brian Porreca Contributing Writer
By Kelsey Fowler Accent Editor
Using strong parallel story lines, “Even the Rain” takes a hard look at the operation of the modern film industry and the battles of a developing city. This Spanish-language film fol“Even the lows fictional director Sebastián Rain” (Gael García Bernal) and his crew, Vitagraph with producer Costa (Luis Tosar), Films who are shooting a controversial Our rating: film in Bolivia about Christopher HHHH Columbus. Meanwhile, the native people, including the star of Sebastián’s movie, revolt against their government’s plans to privatize the water supply, putting his film in jeopardy. Daniel (Juan Carlos Aduviri) is superbly cast in the role of Hatuey, the first Indian crucified for his resistance of the Spanish and Christian empire in Sebastián’s film. In the film’s most compelling parallel, Daniel is also the leader of the water rebellion. The stories of the real-life modern revolt, coupled with the imperialist past, interweave beautifully. Aduviri’s acting is also subtle and powerful. Filmed in a luscious natural setting, the film takes on a documentary-style look, occasionally showing riot footage from the actual 2000 water revolts, and sometimes through the lens of the crew’s cameras. The urban scenes in the city, especially the street conflicts, have raw power. Tosar gives a fantastic performance as he slowly becomes the hero of the film, evolving from a producer only concerned about saving costs to one of the only characters who can put the local water struggle above their attempt to finish the film. The dire water situation adds potency to the script’s already dramatic situations while also underlining how the self-righteous film crew is ignorant of
its own exploitation. The extras can be hired cheaper than anywhere else, yet the filmmakers acknowledge the people could never pay more for water because they are so poor. The historical film-within-a-film sequences are also nicely produced. It’s almost like watching two movies in one, until the camera pans back, and the audience remembers Sebastián and Costa are there behind the lens. The breathtaking movie critiques its own industry, calling itself into question. Considering the ambition of the film and the multiple narratives it ties together, “Even the Rain” succeeds as a powerful commentary but also as a testament to the endurance of the human spirit.
Rebooted with a star-studded cast, the updated “Arthur” takes comedic antics from the 1981 original and sprinkles in some modern humor. The comedy revolves around the bratty Arthur (Russell Brand), who is “Arthur” forced to grow up fast or Warner Bros. be denied his inheritance. Our rating: HHH To keep his wealth, Arthur must marry Susan (Jennifer Garner), who he doesn’t love, at the insistence of his mother. Arthur hilariously resists her promiscuity and attempts to fend her off with his childish humor. In one scene, he even tries to map out a life plan in crayon. Brand, the quirky comic, was made for this leading role. He not only shares the British heritage of the main character, but his prankster personality fits the mold. Thankfully, he’s not too over-the-top, like he was in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.” Fellow Brit Helen Mirren plays Arthur’s nurturing nanny Hobson. In the original film, Hobson was played by John Gielgud and was not a nanny, but a caring butler. Whether she is tucking him into bed or knocking him out in the boxing ring, Hobson is always there to lend support. Their relationship is heartwarming and funny, adding some of the most genuine moments in the movie. The comedy stays pretty true to the original movie plot. With Brand’s quirky humor, this remake has its own flare.
“Even the Rain” was written by Paul Laverty and directed by Icíar Bollaín.
“Arthur” was written by Peter Baynham and directed by Jason Winer.
Film Review
Film Review
Daniel (Juan Carlos Aduviri) plays an Indian rebel in the film-within-a-film of “Even the Rain.”
Courtesy oF Vitagraph Films
Win Win HHH1/2 7:20 p.m., excluding Wednesday, and 9:20 p.m. and Weekends 2:20 p.m. and 4:20 p.m. Jane EYre HHH 7:15 p.m. and 9:25 p.m. and Weekends 2:15 p.m. and 4:25 p.m.
regal stadium 14 Pyramid Mall 266-7960
Fast Five 1:10 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4:10 p.m., 4:50 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7:10 p.m., 7:50 p.m., 9:30 p.m, 10:10 p.m., 10:50 p.m. Hoodwinked too! Hood Vs. Evil 1:50 p.m. Hoodwinked too! Hood Vs. Evil 3-D 4:20 p.m, 6:50 p.m., 9:10 p.m. PRom 2 p.m., 4:40 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 10:30 p.m. African Cats 2:50 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 8:10 p.m., 10:25 p.m. Madea’s BIg Happy Family 1 p.m., 3:40 p.m., 6:10 p.m., 9 p.m. Water For elephants HH1/2 1:30 p.m., 3:50 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 6:40 p.m., 7:35 p.m., 9:40 p.m., 10:20 p.m. rio the movie 2:40 p.m., 5 p.m. rio the movie 3-d 1:20 p.m., 2:10 p.m., 4 p.m., 6:20 p.m., 8:50 p.m. scream 4 H1/2 2:30 p.m., 5:10 p.m., 8 p.m., 10:40 p.m. Your Highness HH1/2 7:20 p.m., 9:50 p.m. hop 2:20 p.m., 5:20 p.m., 7:40 p.m., 10 p.m. source code HHH1/2 1:40 p.m., 4:25 p.m., 7 p.m., 9:20 p.m.
our ratings Excellent HHHH Good HHH Fair HH Poor H
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Thursday, April 28, 2011
sudoku
By Jonathan Schuta ’14
2 5 6
9 1 1 4
7 4 8 3
5 7
1 3 8 3 6 5 6 2 3 6 5 9 8 4 5 9 2
9 4 2
2 5 6
9 1 1 4
7 4 8 3
5 7
8 3 2 6 8 1 9
Š Puzzles provided by sudokusolver.com
1 3 8 3 6 5 6 2 3 6 5 9 8 4 5 9 2
9 4 2 1 3 2 8 5 6
9 9
1
4 2
Š Puzzles provided by sudokusolver.com
Š Puzzles provided by sudokusolver.com
2
answers to last week’s sudoku
1
2
3
4
12
5
8
16
21
30
34
23 31
53
26
49
50
36 39
41
52
25
33
38
44
24
32
35
40
11
20
22
29
37
10
17 19
28
9
14
18
51
7
13
15
27
6
42 45 54
46
43 47
48
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
crossword ACROSS 1 Brass component 5 Movie 9 Fall veggie 12 Racing’s Luyendyk 13 Lady’s man 14 911 responder 15 Trifle ingredient 17 Says hoarsely 19 Bench warmer 20 Fine sediment 21 White heron 24 Game wardens 27 Orders to plow horses 28 Runs its course 29 Aunt or bro. 30 Econ. datum 31 Kilt feature 32 Fiddle-de- —
By United Media
33 Memorable time 34 One of the Karamazov brothers 35 Blanch 36 Condescended 38 Rendezvous 39 Worn-down pencils 40 Hi-tech scan 41 State Farm competitor 43 Part of RCMP 47 — kwon do 48 Veld prowler 50 Shoreline indentation 51 Soggy soil 52 Tress 53 Wide-spouted container
DOWN 1 Zig opposite 2 Dublin’s loc. 3 Frequent English football score 4 Comes to a halt 5 Corn storage 6 Lightning by-product 7 Sweater letter 8 Most mysterious 9 Not long ago 10 Elec. unit 11 Atlas abbr. 16 Egyptian boy-king 18 Yodeler’s perch 20 Car with four doors 21 Spurred on 22 Literary type 23 Spruced up the house
24 25 26 28 31 35 37 38 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 49
Handle dough Fishing gear Winter precip Brownies Mechanical game Hamlet’s title Outlaw’s “must� Robert Morse role Friar Modern-day teller — de cologne Comfy shoe AAA service Festive night Article for Angela Merkel A moon of Jupiter
answers to last week’s crossword S I A M
A B L E
WE KO S N C L A Y
H I R E
R E A L
A MA X E L I D E OD I C MA C L S H L A F L OOP E D R E B UGS A P S T I C I E T R N R T E
S T I A S I G L E I ON OR E U T R C I A UC T K H E E S R
M Y N A
R E E F
S P R Y
L E I A H S Y S T I O T A
O M N I
N E A L
sports
Fight
Thursday, April 2 8 , 2 0 1 1
to the
mpetes co er n n ru y tr n u co ss Cro arathon in this year’s Boston M by chris lotsbom staff writer
3:40:1 5
Buff Maraalo City 201 thon 0
Lak rathon Ma 07 20
9 3 : 6 3:4e Placid
Senior cross country runner Alissa Kersey’s accolades range from MVP of her high school team to a two-time all-conference team selection. Kersey recently added yet another title to her résumé when she completed the Boston Marathon on April 18. The Hopkinton to Boston footrace is the only marathon in the world, besides the Olympics and World Championships, where a race entry number is necessary to qualify. The cutoff for women ages 18 to 34 is 3:40.59. Kersey made this time by only 44 seconds with her finish of 3:40.15 in the Buffalo City Marathon in Spring 2010. Kersey said running became embedded in her lifestyle when she realized how much of a thrill she got from physical activity in high school. “I just focused on enjoying it, and not letting it stress me out,” Kersey said. “It became kind of second nature.” A native of Sodus, N.Y., Kersey began running in the sixth grade at Sandy Creek Central High School. When she ran the mile in gym class, she discovered how athletic she was. “I realized I could beat all the boys, and that was kind of fun,” she said. Competing for Sandy Creek Central High, Kersey became close to her coach, Jim Pelton, a
Mar at Tim hon es
Ma
finish
her off-campus Kersey nds in the bedroom of comp Senior Alissa Kersey sta in races. n Boston Ma etes in the 115th wo has she s ard aw g din n hol rath y ithaca apartment Sunda Michelle boulÉ/the photo co on on April 18 . urtesy
runner who has completed 10 marathons, including one Boston Marathon. During her junior year, Kersey was inspired by Pelton and math teacher Kevin Halsey, both of whom were training for that year’s Lake Placid Marathon. After seeing them complete the marathon, Kersey proposed the idea of running one before graduating high school. Initially, Pelton was worried about Kersey attempting the long, arduous distance. “When she asked about a marathon, my first reaction was that I was afraid it would hurt her as a runner,” he said. “I wasn’t sure if her body, as a senior in high school, was ready for such a race distance.” Kersey assured him that she could handle the distance though. With the support of Pelton and Halsey, she trained to compete in the Lake Placid Marathon. A week before she graduated, Kersey finished the 26.2-mile race in 3:46.39, exceeding her expectations and finishing first in her age group. Kersey focused on running with the cross country team at Ithaca College during her freshman and sophomore years but decided the winter and spring seasons provided her with too much of a gap between competition. She then turned her sights toward running in more marathons. Kersey said she is motivated to run in marathons because she can inspire people by doing something she enjoys. She said she wants to help people discover their passion for running the way Pelton and Halsey did for her. She defines her success using the Ralph Waldo Emerson poem titled “Success” as words to live by. In the poem, Emerson says “to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived” is to have succeeded. “I saw it one day and it just spoke to me,” she said. 1 “Success is some1 20 thing that’s always been so personal to me.” In Spring 2010, Kersey decided to run in the Buffalo City Marathon to try to meet the Boston Marathon qualifying standards. “Boston was always kind
6 5 : 6on n 1 : 3Bost ratho
The Ithacan 23
of Alissa
of in the back of my head as something I wanted to do,” she said. “I figured since I was six minutes off of the [Boston Marathon] qualifying time the first time I did it, and I didn’t even train that much or try that hard, I figured why not.” Kersey said her diet in preparation for the Boston Marathon consisted of a lot of energyrich foods such as bread and pasta along with a lot of water and Gatorade for hydration. Kersey trained for the Boston marathon completely by herself, combining well-balanced meals with long runs and upper body workouts. She said it was tough to balance her academics and social life with preparation for the marathon, as she was in the process of switching her major from physical therapy to health sciences. “I had a lot going on, changing majors and stuff like that,” she said. “Training just wasn’t my top priority. I actually almost didn’t go through with Boston because I was doubting my training.” Inspired by the Eleanor Roosevelt quote “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent,” Kersey kept her self-esteem up and decided to go through with the race. By the time the day of the race came, Kersey was more nervous than ever. She said she had some doubts before the gun fired because of the number of runners participating in the marathon. “It was really intimidating,” she said. “I was really nervous. I had no idea what to do. There’s so many other runners, you just follow them around.” With temperatures dropping into the low 40s and a blustery tailwind causing an even cooler windchill, Kersey found herself caught by a chilly surprise at the start. But she went through the first 10 kilometers in 48 minutes, feeling great and well ahead of her planned pace. Kersey said she channeled her nervous energy in the beginning by focusing on proper breathing and her body’s limitations so she could have the stamina to finish the Boston marathon. “I just wanted to get in the groove, a pace that I was comfortable at,” she said. “That’s when I realized I was comfortable but running at a really fast pace.” Hitting the halfway mark in 1:39.03, Kersey was not only driven by her time but also the crowd and checkpoints along the course. She said the energy of the spectators pushed her to keep running. “The crowd was so positive and uplifting, it just carried me along,” she said. “I pretty
kersey
much smiled the whole race. Everyone was so happy and loud.” Kersey finished the marathon in 3:16.56, more than 23 minutes ahead of her previous best. Her time was the 455th fastest among more than 10,000 women finishers and good enough to qualify her for next year’s marathon. Knowing how hard the Boston course was, Pelton was just as excited for Kersey. “I couldn’t believe it when I saw her time,” Pelton said. “I was like a proud parent. I called everyone I could think of to tell them how she did.” Kersey’s Ithaca cross country teammates also tracked her checkpoint times closely online. Following her progress, senior Liz Schloss said everybody was excited, proud and inspired. “It’s a great accomplishment and makes me want to work up to do the marathon,” Schloss said. Besides some blisters on her right foot and severe sunburn, Kersey said she c a m e a w a y f r o m t h e marathon relatively unscathed. Kersey said she isn’t sure if she will run the Boston Marathon next year, but definitely thinks there are more marathons in her future. “As of right now, it sounds very exciting, and I still have Boston fever,” she said. “If I’m healthy, then I’m game for it”.
Sports
24 The Ithacan
The Hot Corner Casey Musarra
NFL lockout looms large The NFL draft is like the MLB All-Star Game of professional sports drafts — it’s the only one anyone actually watches. While the big lockout has been lifted as of Tuesday, there’s still a mess of confusion. With draft weekend set to kick off today, this year could be one of the most disappointing drafts of all time considering the league won’t allow players to work out even though the lockout has temporarily ended. I was too young at the time to remember the 1994 MLB strike, and as crushing as I’m sure that was, I’m finding it even harder to imagine going a whole fiveplus months without football. It would be about as hard to quit eating pizza while still in college. I’m not sure what’s expected of us football fans on Sundays if there’s no season. We may have to start going to church. Or maybe we can start watching soccer. I could definitely get into watching Ochocinco’s antics on the pitch. If only the owners and players could stop arguing over a measly billion dollars. The fans aren’t the only ones who’d suffer without the season, though. Young rookies and veterans alike would struggle from missing the year. Not only would they be missing out on some moola, but they’d also miss a year of game experience they need to stay in tip-top shape. With all of the mess, the players have managed to stand strong together. DeMarcus Ware even opted not to accept his $60,000 the league decided to give to players to help financially support them. I love Ware, and I totally appreciate that he wanted the money to go to some players who are “less fortunate,” but 60K is chump change anyway for a guy who’s guaranteed $40 million through 2015. I mean, it would’ve been nicer if he passed the 60K along to, oh I don’t know, a senior at a private institution in upstate New York. The NFL had the nerve to unveil the 2011 season’s schedule a couple of weeks ago, and players reacted strongly. Maurice JonesDrew, Steven Jackson, DeAngelo Hall and Brian Dawkins highlight a list of players who made statements on Twitter about the tease. Jackson tweeted, “I see our new schedule is out but does that mean they will #LiftTheLockout tonite too? We want to play, especially on MNF #LetUsPlay.” Hopefully the schedule’s release means they’re getting closer to an agreement. I just hope, come Sept. 8, I can turn on NBC and hear Al Michaels’ beautiful voice as the past two Super Bowl winners — the Saints and Packers — square off in Green Bay. casey musarra is a senior televison-radio major. Contact her at cmusarr1@ithaca.edu.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Freshmen trio steps into larger roles By harlan green-taub staff writer
Adjustment is a key part of freshman year for any college athlete. Many come in expecting to observe and learn from the upperclassmen. But shortstop Tim Locastro, third baseman Colby Gee, and catcher and third baseman Bill Collins have stepped up to play important roles for the baseball team this season. Locastro is one of only three Bombers to start evThe Bombers ery game, Collins has seven freshman class has hits in 17 at bats and Gee made 39 starts this has been thrust into the season and has starting lineup at third base 151 at bats. after graduate student Dave Ahonen was injured. Locastro, who was recruited by some schools in Division III, said the upperclassmen on the team have helped take the pressure off of him being a first-year starter. “At first coming in you don’t really know what to expect,” he said. “But the older guys really embraced me from the get-go and allowed me to feel comfortable and focused on playing baseball.” Locastro has struggled at times this year adjusting to pitching at the collegiate level. He said to get back into an offensive groove he had to cut down on his swing. “[The coaches] adjusted my approach and are trying to get my hands quicker to the ball,” he said. Locastro went 2-for-3 with a key RBI single in the sixth inning of Friday’s one-run loss to St. John Fisher College, having one of his best games this season. While Locastro has started the whole season, Collins and Gee have only seen increased playing time the past few weeks. Gee is hitting .285 in his past five games with five RBI and three runs scored. He said it was important to take something away from every at bat. “As a freshman you have to go up to the plate with a mentality of just trying to get better,” he said. “It’s always great when you get a hit, but even when you make an out, you’re hoping you did something positive that you can build off of.” Gee said the biggest improvement to his game has been his mental awareness, which came in handy during Friday’s 5–4 loss to the Cardinals. After hitting a weak infield single and popping up in his first two at bats, Gee said he took note
stat check
Freshman shortstop Tim Locastro fields a throw at second base in the Blue and Gold’s 8–6 win against SUNY-Oneonta yesterday at Freeman Field. Locastro has a fielding percentage of .941 this season.
andrew casper/The ithacaN
of how the pitcher was throwing to him and switched his approach. “I realized in my first two at bats they were pitching me away,” he said. “So in my third at bat I moved a few inches closer to the plate, was able to square up on the ball and wound up with a double.” While offense has been the main concern for Locastro and Gee, Collins said the biggest adjustment as a catcher has been handling a veteran pitching staff. “It’s nice because the pitchers know what
they’re doing and have a game plan, but at the same time guys are throwing harder and runners are faster, so there’s another level of awareness that goes into it.” Locastro said his prominent role on the team has made him a focal point on this year’s freshman class. “Being out there a little longer than they have, it’s been interesting for me to take the lead and make them feel comfortable with the rest of the guys,” he said.
Long ball lifts Bombers to high regional ranking By kevin mccall
assistant sports editor
Freshman designated player Jackie Branco steps up to the plate with two outs and the game tying run 60 feet away. With a quick flick of her wrists, she crushes a sinking pitch over the left center-field fence. Power has come from many players for the softball team this season, with every starter going deep at some point this season. Branco and senior pitcher and outfielder Britt Lillie are first and second on the team, respectively, in the power categories of slugging percentage and on base percentage. They share the lead in home runs for the Blue and Gold, having hit four apiece. Lillie said she and Branco are similarly built players that have adjusted their swings to fit their strengths. “We both have the same body type and can use our upper body strength to get under the lower pitches,” Lillie said. Branco said Lillie has taught her to develop a good eye in the batter’s box, and she has to use her quick hands when she makes contact to become a complete power hitter. “When I see a ball in the middle of the strike zone, it’s about bat speed and being able to turn on the pitch quick enough so I’m not just fouling
Freshman designated player Jackie Branco takes a pitch in a rain-shortened doubleheader against Elmira College on Tuesday at Kostrinsky Field. kevin campbell/the ithacan
off pitch after pitch,” Branco said. The Bombers have gone deep at least once in five of their last seven games, and have 18 home runs on the season to their opponents’ nine. They are second place in the
National Collegiate Athletic Association Northeast Region rankings with a record of 21–9 overall, sitting behind only SUNY-Cortland. Sophomore infielder Molly O’Donnell, who led the team with
seven home runs last season, said the long ball is the main reason behind the Bombers’ success this season compared to last. “Home runs mean guaranteed runs,” she said. “When we hit one over the fence the excitement gives all of us a huge energy boost.” O’Donnell hit a solo shot in the second game of a doubleheader April 20 at Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute, which began a six-run inning for the Bombers. Senior first baseman Courtney Noster also went deep for the first time in Friday’s 10–0 shutout at Utica College. Head Coach Deb Pallozzi said though home runs could give the team runs in large chunks, the Blue and Gold can’t solely rely on them for scoring. “We can’t count on one of our bats going deep every game,” she said. “If we want [home runs] to have a big impact on the game, we still need to get runners on base so we can turn all of our hits into ones that lower our opponents’ confidence.” Lillie said the South Hill squad will not be completely satisfied with its play until it wins the Empire 8 conference tournament. “We know we’re the best team now, but any team can go on a hot or cold streak at any time and shift the standings,” she said.
Sports
Thursday, April 2 8 , 2 0 1 1
The Ithacan 25
Clash of the titans Blue and Gold prepare to play rival and reigning champion by nathan bickell staff writer
During the past four years, two men’s tennis teams have dominated the Empire 8 conference — Ithaca College and Stevens Institute of Technology — rivals that are slated to clash twice in the next two weeks. The men’s tennis team will travel to face the Ducks on Sunday in Hoboken, N. J., to determine who will be the top seed in the Empire 8 tournament. The Blue and Gold will host the conference tournament May 7 and 8, which was decided before the season started — regardless of the outcome — at Cornell University’s Reis Tennis Center. The Empire 8 champion will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs. Since Stevens joined the Empire 8 in Fall 2007 the Blue and Gold have faced the Ducks in the final every year. Stevens holds a 2–1 edge with the title changing hands every year. Senior Josh Rifkin said the Stevens match is important because it’s the final regular season game.
“If you win you have the confidence and the momentum,” he said. “If you lose, you can’t make major shifts or changes because there is not much time to get used to a new lineup or new positions.” Senior Steve Ochs said the rivalry is intense, but there is mutual respect between the two teams. “It isn’t friendly, we keep the competitive spirit, but their isn’t any animosity between individuals,” he said. “At the end of the day we shake hands, walk off the court and say, ‘See ya next year.’” The Bombers will be looking to avenge a heartbreaking loss in the Empire 8 finals from this past year. The Blue and Gold were uncharacteristically swept in doubles to put them in an 0–3 hole to start the match and fell 2–5, after defeating Stevens 5–4 in the regular season. Both the Bombers and Stevens are undefeated in the Empire 8 this year and matches in conference have tended to be blowouts. Rifkin said Stevens only graduated
Sophomore Josh Berggrun lines up a forehand during the Bombers’ 5–4 loss Tuesday against Hobart College at the Reis Tennis Center at Cornell University. The Blue and Gold are 7–0 in Empire 8 conference play this season. rachel orlow/the ithacan
one senior from its starting lineup this past year, while the Blue and Gold will start two or three players who don’t have experience playing Stevens. The Bombers have eight underclassmen on this year’s 13-man roster. Stevens senior Arik Zeevy said Stevens has played nationally ranked teams this season, but the match
against Ithaca is still the match he looks forward to the most. “There is a cool kind of bond there even though it’s an intense rivalry,” Zeevy said. “The Ithaca match has [that competitive edge] that the other matches don’t have.” Junior Jimmy Newton said the new members in the Bombers’
starting lineup could be an advantage against Stevens. “Our one, two and three [singles players] we played against them last year, we know what to expect,” he said. “But at the bottom of the lineup no one really knows, so it will be interesting to see if our guys can pull out some of those wins.”
Squad takes success in stride by alex holt staff writer
For most Ithaca College students, the end of April is the signal to hit the books and prepare for exams. But while most students prepare to go home, for the men’s track and field team, the end of classes also means something entirely different — championship time. In the next month, the Bombers will compete in six different meets, which include as many as four during the final week of classes and the week after commencement. These upcoming meets include the New York State Collegiate Track Conference, Eastern College Athletic Conference and NCAA Championships. As a team coming off of its fifth straight Empire 8 conference title outdoors earlier this month, the Blue and Gold are determined to close out the year on a winning note. When it comes to April and May, the Bombers know how to put their foot on the gas. In the past six years, the Bombers have never finished worse than eighth of up to 15 teams at the NYSCTC meet, winning the past two, and finishing in the top 10 in each of the past three ECAC Championships. Head Coach Jim Nichols said a large part of the team’s success is the example the seniors have set on the track. “Our senior leaders have been outstanding,” Nichols said. “They have not lost an Empire 8 Championship at Ithaca College, indoors or outdoors, and they’ve won an ECAC Championship, which we’d never done before.” Once the championship meets draw near, the team’s practices take on a different form. Practices become much more about training for specific events and saving as much energy as possible. Senior and co-captain Jeff Wetmore said the Blue and Gold should be particularly successful this year because of the 14 seniors on the squad. “We’ve just got some really good athletes,” Wetmore said. “We have a really deep team, lots of people are able to score and lots of guys who’ve been on our team for the past four years.” It’s all part of tapering, a process common in many sports where athletes reduce their exercise leading up to important competitions. But during the week before states, the team almost takes an opposite approach. Senior Kyle Devins said jumpers start working on
Senior Lindsay Johnston lands in the pit Tuesday during the Cornell University/SUNY-Cortland/ Mohawk Valley Community College meet at the Robert J. Kane Sports Complex at Cornell. zac blitz/the ithacan
Bombers claim fifth straight title by nathan bickell staff writer
Junior Dan Moloney clears a hurdle Tuesday in the Bombers’ meet at Cornell University.
zac blitz/the ithacan
runs and jumping technique while sprinters focus on block starts and perfecting handoffs. “From the beginning of the year when practice starts, you’re just building up and building up with the difficulty of the workouts throughout the indoor and the outdoor season, Devins said. “But when championship season starts, we tend to back off. Devins said unlike football and soccer where players can study their opponents, each athlete’s focus has to be on what he can control individually in his event. “I don’t pay too much attention to how far my competition is jumping or anything like that,” Devins said. “I just try to focus on what I can do to jump the farthest.” Even with that singular focus, Nichols said it’s still the team’s competitiveness that has allowed it to do well in the postseason, and that will give them a chance to succeed this year. “We’ve got a great group of competitors, and that’s the greatest asset that we have,” Nichols said. “They don’t like to lose.”
After dominating the Empire 8 championships — in near apocalyptic weather — for the fifth straight year, the women’s track and field team is working toward its next goal — NCAAs. Temperatures at Empire 8s, hosted by Rochester Institute of Technology on April 17 in Rochester, N.Y., hovered in the low 40s all day with constant gusting winds of up to 30 mph and periodic rain showers. Emma Dewart said the Blue and Gold have been dealing with inclement conditions all season. “The weather has been unfortunate this season, as far as the snow and the wind, and the rain and the cold,” she said. “But I feel like it makes us stronger athletes and a stronger team in general.” The South Hill squad persevered through the weather and defeated runner-up RIT by 130 points, 250–118, with Stevens Institute of Technology finishing third with 94 points. Junior Ashley Dlubac had a breakout performance at the Empire 8 meet in the javelin setting her first personal record since freshman year, breaking the meet record. Dlubac said it was a memorable moment when she realized how far she had thrown. “I knew it was going to be a good throw,
but I didn’t realize how far it was until I walked out to go retrieve the javelin,” she said. “I was pretty shocked when I saw how far it was.” The South Hill squad’s success at the Empire 8 meet was fueled by several athletes stepping up and turning in top times earlier than previous seasons. “Normally I don’t run those kind of times until late May, so I was really excited that they came at the end of April,” senior sprinter Marcia McCord said. “I’m really looking forward to trying to be on top of the podium this year.” Dlubac said it’s good to have a large group of athletes hitting national caliber marks. “It’s pretty exciting for me personally because I know Emma and Marcia and Kate Leugers have had a lot of experience there,” she said. “It’s just exciting to be able to join them at nationals.” McCord said even though the Blue and Gold have won the Empire 8 outdoor title the past five seasons, the victory still has meaning to the athletes. “It’s really cool that they go out there and show what they can do,” she said. “They’re kicking butt whether or not they’re qualifying for ECACs or nationals. It still means a lot to everybody that we come to this meet and we’re the champions and we’re the team to beat.”
26 The Ithacan
Look online for game stories from these sports: TODAY
• 9 a.m. Men’s and women’s track and field at Penn Relays in Philadelphia • 2 p.m. Baseball vs. Rochester Institute of Technology at Freeman Field • 4 p.m. Softball vs. Elmira College at Kostrinsky Field
tomorrow
• 9 a.m. Men’s and women’s track and field at Penn Relays in Philadelphia
SATURDAY
• 8 a.m. Men’s and women’s crew at New York State Championships in Whitney Point, N.Y. • Noon. Men’s lacrosse at Stevens Institute of Technology • 2 p.m. Baseball at Penn State University-Behrend • 3 p.m. Softball vs. St. John Fisher at Kostrinsky Field
SUNDAY
• 8 a.m. Men’s and women’s crew at New York State Championships in Whitney Point, N.Y. • 10 a.m. Men’s and women’s track and field at Cornell University Big Red Invitational • 10 a.m. Men’s and women’s track and field at New York State Collegiate Track Conference Decathlon at Nazareth College in Rochester, N.Y. • Noon. Men’s tennis at Stevens Institute of Technology • 1 p.m. Softball at SUNY-Buffalo • 2 p.m. Baseball vs. SUNY-Plattsburgh at Freeman Field
Monday
• 10 a.m. Men’s and women’s track and field at New York State Collegiate Track Conference Decathlon at Nazareth College in Rochester, N.Y.
TUESDAY
• 4 p.m. Baseball at SUNY-Brockport
WEDNESDAY
• 3 p.m. Softball vs. Keuka College at Kostrinsky Field Bold = Home game
The Ithacan
online | theithacan.org/sports
DANIELLE D’AVANZO/the ithacan
Thursday, April 28, 2011
[the buzzer]
Thursday, April 2 8 , 2 0 1 1
The Ithacan 27
where we stand
1 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
men’s track and field* Points
Ithaca College Rochester Institute of Technology Utica College Alfred University Stevens Institute of Technology
3 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
women’s lacrosse* W
Stevens Institute of Technology Nazareth College Ithaca College St. John Fisher College Rochester Institute of Technology
1
230 148 104 61 27
L
Win%
2 4 5 5 9
.867 .733 .667 .667 .400
13 11 10 10 6
Way of the sword
From left, senior Chris Manza, freshman Nils Schwerzmann and freshman Tom Kruger practice their technique Monday in the Fitness Center aerobics room. The three participate on Ithaca College’s intramural competitive sword team. rachel orlow/The Ithacan
Women’s track and field* Points
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Ithaca College Rochester Institute of Technology Stevens Institute of Technology Alfred University Utica College
250 118 94 55 41
*Empire 8 Standings/Overall records
by the
numbers
5
The number of consecutive Empire 8 conference outdoor championships the women’s track and field team has won. See story on page 25.
1
The number of Empire 8 conference titles the men’s tennis team has won in the past three seasons. See story on page 25.
the foul line
Weird news from the wide world of sports Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall found himself in the intensive care unit of a Miami hospital Friday night with a stab wound to the stomach. Marshall claims he suffered the wound after slipping and falling onto a broken glass vase, but the Broward County Sheriff’s office suspected otherwise after finding no blood around the area where the vase was located. According to the Miami Herald, Marshall’s wife of a year and a half, Michi Nogami-Marshall, admitted she armed herself with a kitchen knife and stabbed Marshall in the stomach in an act of self-defense. This is not the first time the couple has been in hot water. Back in March 2009, Marshall and NogamiMarshall were arrested outside an Atlanta nightclub on charges of disorderly conduct after the two were seen kicking and punching each other. The charges were later dropped. While the embattled star has found himself in trouble with the law before, this case is by far the most intriguing. —Harlan Green-Taub
play of the week Kyle Devins Senior Men’s Track and Field Devins shattered a 29-year-old school record in the long jump last weekend in the Bombers’ meet at Cornell University’s Barton Hall. Devins posted a jump of 7.43 meters, breaking 1982 graduate Mike Page’s record of 7.29 meters.
AIR walker By setting the school record in the long jump, Devins automatically qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships and earned Empire 8 men’s track & field Athlete of the Week honors. The jump paced the Bombers to a second-place finish at the meet, ahead of four Division I programs and behind only Cornell University. Devins also competed in the triple jump, where he has posted a team best of 13.60 meters this season.
they saidit
He’s 12 years old, and he’s 5’10”– the dude is taller than me – but the head is still there. Washington Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall in an interview when asked about seeing Jason Kidd’s son at the Atlantis Resort and Casino in the Bahamas.
28 The Ithacan
photo finish Capturing the Bom bers at their be s t
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Letting it slide
From left, St. John Fisher College sophomore Ben Bostick makes the throw to first base as senior Matt Keller slides into second base in the Bombers’ 4–1 front-end loss in a doubleheader Friday at Freeman Field. The Blue and Gold dropped both games in the doubleheader and continue their season on the road against Penn State University-Behrend on Saturday in Erie, Pa. rachel orlow/the ithacan