The Ithacan Thursday, November 8, 20 12
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Volume 80, Is s u e 1 0
Youth vote helps secure four more years
"I have never been more hopeful about America." Senior Writer
Young Americans rocked the vote to once again help President Barack Obama win the presidential election. According to CNN exit polls, 60 percent of youth voters — aged 18 to 29 — voted for President Obama’s reelection, while 37 percent of young voters picked Gov. Mitt Romney. In 2008, 66 percent of young voters chose Obama, leaving 31 percent to vote for Republican Sen. John McCain. This election year, 19 percent of all voters were between the ages of 18 to 29, an increase from the 2008 historic election where 18 percent were in that age group, according to The New York Times polls. At the college, Cheryl Christopher, postal services assistant at the Phillips Hall Mail Center, said she saw the most absentee ballots sent out through the mail center in years.
Art By Caroline Roe
See Pay GAP, page 4
See Housing, page 4
See Election, page 4
New data shows women who graduate from college will probably see a smaller starting paycheck than their male peers. A study by the American Association of University Women published in October found collegeeducated women working full time make an average of 82 percent of their male counterparts’ salaries just one year after graduation. The report, titled “Graduating to a Pay Gap,” examined the salaries of working men and women one year out of college in 2009, when the most recent data was available, and found recent female graduates across majors and occupations made less than male graduates after one year in the workforce. The organization, which includes former president Ithaca College Peggy Williams as a director-at-large, ranked New York sixth in the country for sex-based salary discrepancy, where the median salary for female college graduates aged 25 or older is $57,000 compared to $73,000 for college-educated male
Average Annual Earnings One Year after College Graduation Women
Numbers show 2007-2008 bachelor degree recipients employed full time in 2009 and exclude graduates older than age 35.
$35,296
Gender
SENIOR Writer
men 0
10,000
$42,918 20,000
30,000
Earnings In Dollars
New Yorkers. Christianne Corbett, senior researcher at the AAUW, said the organization used federal data from the Department of Education to study pay according to gender and chose recent college graduates because there should be no reason for a difference in their pay. “We wanted to look as much as possible at apples to apples,” Corbett said. “Working one year out of college, most men and women at that
MESHING MEDIA Student's cross-media thesis film expands story scope, page 15
40,000 $50,000 Source: American Assoc. of Univ. Women
stage in their life do not have kids. They’re as equal as they can be in terms of experience and family responsibilities.” The AAUW attributed the gap to several explained causes, including occupational and major choice, as men are more likely to enter higher-paying fields such as engineering and computer sciences, while women are more likely to work in lower-paying fields such as education and healthcare.
Assistant news editor and news editor
However, the study found a pay discrepancy for many economic sectors even when looking at men and women in the same field. For example, among business majors, females made about $8,000 less than males after the first year, $45,000 for men compared to $37,000 for women. Fields with no significant difference in pay included education, healthcare and the humanities. Though the study set controls for explained factors, including hours worked, job, economic sector and chosen study, Corbett said the AAUW found there was still a difference in pay that could not be accounted for. “We do a regression analysis where we consider everything like major, job and hours worked, put them all together and find there’s still a 6.6 percent unexplained gap,” Corbett said. Carla Golden, professor of psychology at Ithaca College who teaches courses such as psychology of women, said one portion of
“A lot of students mailed their absentee ballots this year,” she said. “I’ve seen a lot of them do priority with delivery confirmation. Quite a few actually did overnighting on them to make sure they were going to be there on time.” IC Democrats and the Residential Housing Association hosted a non-partisan election party for about 300 students in Emerson Suites, and when the final result was announced, the room erupted with cheers. “This is the first election that I could vote in, and my parents got citizenship over the summer, so this was something we were really looking forward to,” junior Andreas Jonathan said at the election party. For some students, recent events — like the president’s reaction to the devastation that Hurricane Sandy wreaked on
Gender salary gap awaits graduating college women bY Gerald Doherty
by Candace King and elma Gonzalez
After negative student feedback about recent proposed housing changes as a part of IC 20/20’s First Year Residential Experience program, Residential Life is reconsidering some aspects of its student housing plans. After announcing Oct. 22 that block housing would be eliminated as a housing RECCKIO said the option next year, block housing this week Bonnie process will change next year. Solt Prunty, director of the office residential life and judicial affairs and assistant dean of First Year Experiences, sent a letter to The Ithacan indicating that block housing will no longer be cut because of student opposition to the change. Block housing allows up to six students to request rooms that are clustered together. Prunty was not available for comment. Freshman Dominick Recckio, Student Government Association senator, said Prunty clarified the new block housing process in a meeting Nov. 2. “She said that block housing is going to be an application process,” Recckio said. “You can choose your top three choices for where you want your block housing to be.” Students also expressed concern over freshman eligibility for Residential Learning communities such as the Housing Offering a Multicultural Experience. Under the IC 20/20 plan, which requires all students to be housed in the FYRE, incoming students would be excluded from participating in the program. Recckio said, however, the H.O.M.E. program will still continue next year, and Prunty said during their meeting that Residential Life is already looking at alternatives to include something similar to the H.O.M.E. program in FYRE. Uncertainties about the logistics of the FYRE program have prompted Residential Life to reconsider its housing plans, Ron Trunzo, associate director of residential life and judicial affairs, said. For example, the full expansion of FYRE was delayed because finances were also being considered. Trunzo said there will be more resident assistant positions in the FYRE to increase the student to RA ratio, which will require a budget increase. “The budget was uncertain,” he said. “There’s certainly a price tag associated with doing the First Year Experience.” In addition to budget concerns, the housing requirements for scholarship
— President Barack Obama By Nicole Ogrysko
Residential Life restores block housing option
pinky's out Student brings quirky, new sport to Ithaca College, page 23 f ind m or e onl ine. www.t heit hacan.org
Listen up
College should involve faculty in decision-making process, page 12
[ T hurs day Bri ef ing]
2 The It hacan
Th ursday, November 8 , 2 0 1 2
Nation&World Puerto Rico debates US statehood
A slim majority of Puerto Ricans want their island to become the 51st U.S. state in a nonbinding referendum that would require final approval from Congress. The two-part referendum asked whether the island favored its 114-year relationship with the U.S. Nearly 54 percent sought to change it, while 46 percent supported the status quo, with 96 percent of precincts reporting as of early Wednesday. Statehood was the favorite option, garnering 61 percent. Sovereign free association, which would have allowed for more autonomy, received 33 percent, while independence got 5 percent. The future of the island’s political status depends on who governs the island. The pro-statehood Gov. Luis Fortuno was ousted by a razor-thin margin, according to partial election results, by an opponent who supports the island’s current status.
Guatemalan earthquake kills three
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck off the Pacific coast of Guatemala on Wednesday, ravaging a small state near the Mexican border, where three people were confirmed dead and as many as 100 missing, according to preliminary reports from the country’s president. More than 300 people, including firemen, policemen and villagers, worked at a sand extraction site to rescue seven people reported buried alive, including a 6-year-old boy that had accompanied his grandfather to work. The quake, about 20 miles deep, was centered about 15 miles off the coastal town of Champerico and about 100 miles southwest of Guatemala City, shaking buildings as far away as Mexico City and El Salvador.
Greeks pass austerity legislation
Greece’s Parliament narrowly passed a crucial austerity bill early Thursday in a vote, as it struggles to secure vital bailout funds. The bill, which will further slash pensions and salaries, passed 153-128 in the 300-member Parliament. It came hours after rioters rampaged outside Parliament during an 80,000-strong anti-austerity demonstration, clashing with riot police who responded with tear gas, stun grenades and water cannons.
Approval of the cuts and tax rises worth $17 billion over two years was a step for Greek efforts to secure the next installment of its international rescue funds and stave off imminent bankruptcy. Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has said the country will run out of euros Nov. 16 without the funds. But the close vote was a major political blow to the three-party coalition government, which holds a total of 176 seats in Parliament. The result shows support for continued austerity three years into Greece’s financial crisis is dwindling fast.
Turkey’s allies discuss defenses
A Turkish official said Turkey and its allies, including the U.S., have discussed the possibility of using Patriot missiles to protect a zone inside war-torn Syria. The Foreign Ministry official said Wednesday that the missiles are one of a number of scenarios being considered as a way to stop regime attacks on the Syrian opposition and civilians. The official says planning was put on hold pending the U.S. election, but the issue is likely to be taken up now that President Barack Obama has won a second term. He says any missile deployment might happen under a “NATO umbrella.” He spoke on condition of anonymity in line with ministry rules that bar him from talking on the record to the media.
Chinese congress transfers power
China’s ruling Communist Party opened a congress Thursday to usher in a new group of younger leaders faced with the challenging tasks of righting a flagging economy and meeting public calls for better government. The weeklong congress is the start of a carefully choreographed power transfer in which President Hu Jintao and most of the senior leadership will begin to relinquish office. Vice President Xi Jinping, the anointed heir for the past five years, came a step closer to power Wednesday, being named the congress’ secretary-general at a preparatory meeting. Whether the new leaders want to move China in a new direction is not known. Xi and other top candidates for the new leadership have forged their careers as capable
Supporting roots
Students hold a poster of President Barack Obama as they watch votes come in for the U.S. election at Menteng elementary school Wednesday in Jakarta, Indonesia. Obama attended the school when he was a child while living with his mother and step-father. associated press
administrators in provinces and bureaucracies, not as policy trail-blazers. Should ambitious change be on their agenda, they will have to confront vested interests within their ranks: cosseted state industries and conservative officials grown prosperous and powerful under the current system.
French consider gay marriage bill
The French Cabinet has approved a bill legalizing gay marriage, sending the measure to the legislature for debate the day after Maine and Maryland became the first American states to approve same-sex marriage in a popular vote. Gay marriage has become a contentious issue in France, where President Francois Hollande made it a cornerstone of his campaign. At the time, it appeared to have the backing of a majority of the population, but support has fallen off amid vocal opposition from religious and rural leaders. Lawmakers from the conservative UMP denounced the Cabinet approval Wednesday.
Storm grounds planes in New York
Major airlines scrapped flights in and out of the New York area Wednesday, as the region was socked with the second significant storm in little more than a week. United and American Airlines suspended operations in the region by afternoon as white-out conditions developed. Other airlines have cancelled flights too. All are encouraging passengers to reschedule are allowing them to do it for free. Wednesday’s storm came with blowing snow and fog and, at times, limited visibility. Making matters worse, Hurricane Sandy damaged some navigational aids at New York’s airports. It wasn’t clear if those systems, which are critical to safe takeoffs and landings in bad weather, had been completely fixed. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey — which runs the region’s three airports — and the Federal Aviation Administration didn’t return calls seeking comment.
SOURCE: Associated Press
Multimedia
corrections It is The Ithacan’s policy to correct all errors of fact. Please contact Candace King at 274-3207.
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Copy Editors Jessica Afrin, Taylor Barker, Greg Broslawski, Rebecca Hellmich, Gretchen Hohmeyer, Rachael Holcomb, Haleigh LaMontagne, Jeremy Li, Kira Maddox, Karina Magee, Erica Pirolli, Sara Webb, Vicky Wolak.
Video
The results are in, and Obama has been re-elected. Watch this video to hear reactions to the election.
Slideshow
Students celebrate world cultures through dance and song. Take a look at some of their performances.
Video
Pinkyball is a new intramural sport at Ithaca College. Find out the rules and watch a short game.
Video
The 54th annual Cortaca Jug is almost here. The football team is gearing up for the game with an eye on the jug. Watch their preparation.
News
Find out how students celebrated El Dia de Los Muertos last Friday in IC Square.
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Accent
See the photos from the freshman First Year Cabaret about new experiences.
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Sports
Look for the latest wrestling action shots from last weekend’s wrestling invitational.
Got a news tip? Contact News Editor Elma Gonzalez at egonzal2@ithaca.edu or 274-3207.
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Th ursday, Novem be r 8, 2012
The I th a c a n 3
‘Half the Sky’ message angers students by emily masters Staff writer
What was meant to be a “difficult dialogue” about gender inequity and challenges, warped instead into an opposition by some students to the Half the Sky movement, a global campaign aiming to empower women against oppression. A group of students have organized against the Half the Sky movement after heated debates during a question and answer session Nov. 1 at the Peggy R. Williams Difficult Dialogues Symposium featuring speaker Sheryl WuDunn, co-creator of the movement. The Half the Sky movement stemmed from the book and movie “Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Women Worldwide.” About 10 students came together after seeing the short preview of the movie on Oct. 5 and gathered for an Intersectionali-tea meeting to discuss the movement. Intersectionali-tea is a group which meets, drinks tea and discusses the intersections of race, gender and other identities, senior Dylan Lowry said. The group organized questions and criticisms to raise after WuDunn’s speech. “The problem we all had with it is that [Half the Sky] makes [the oppression] worse,” Lowry said. “It allows it to continue.” Students met Monday to continue discussions about “Half the Sky” and WuDunn’s presentation. Grace Woodward, co-president of IC Feminists, said she attended but did not give specific details, of the individuals involved. During the Difficult Dialogues presentation, WuDunn, who is co-author of the book and film with husband Nicholas Kristof, New York Times columnist, discussed the major gender inequity challenges women face worldwide, such as sex trafficking, maternal mortality and lack of education and opportunity available to girls and women. WuDunn mentioned ways in which empowering women could end these cycles. WuDunn said the thesis of her book and the overarching theme of the movement and her talk was that “Women and girls aren’t the problem. They are the solution.” Some students disagree with how WuDunn’s
by erica palumbo STAFF WRITEr
Sheryl WuDunn, journalist and author of “Half the Sky,” discusses issues with human trafficking and female oppression in developing countries during the Difficult Dialogues Symposium on Nov. 1.
Stephanie Khoury/the ithacan
movement has manifested itself into Western culture, especially with the film’s production. During the Q-and-A, Lowry made the claim that Kristof was a slave owner himself, based on an earlier comment WuDunn made in which she said her husband had purchased two girls from a brothel while working on the book. “Well, did you actually read the book?” WuDunn said. “Well, I read parts of it,” Lowry said. He also said he has seen half of the documentary. WuDunn said one of the anecdotes included in the book explained how her husband had purchased two female prostitutes in hopes to gain access to the brothel for research and also in hopes to set the girls free, which he was eventually successful in doing. “I’m sorry I implied he was a slave owner;
he wasn’t,” she said. “He just paid so that they could be free.” Cathy O’Neill Spallone, a Groton High School teacher who had brought her human rights class to see WuDunn speak, made the final comment. “What is lacking from some of the last questions and attacks clearly is a full reading of the book,” she said. “As a teacher of world genocide and human rights, your book unlocks the dirty causes of [oppression], and you put a face and a reality and you open people’s hearts, and you are creating an awareness in the world.” After the event, WuDunn said though some students expressed discomfort with Half the Sky’s approach, she hopes they will take action and find better alternatives to help women worldwide. “We’re the first and the challenge is to do a better job,” she said.
New building project could create more jobs by Patrick feeney staff writer
A $30 million project announced to Ithaca’s Planning and Development Board on Oct. 23 could bring greater density and new jobs to downtown by 2014. The project, to be headed by L Enterprises, LLC in Horseheads, N.Y., will renovate a block on The Commons known as “Harold’s Square.” The project is currently under site review by the Planning and Development Board. David Lubin, president and co-owner of L Enterprises said if the board approves the project, construction is expected to start by spring of 2013 and will last 18 months. According to a press release from the Downtown Ithaca Alliance, this area includes the Henry Miller building, which will be renovated, as well as the former Alphabet Soup and Race Office Equipment buildings, which will be replaced. The final building will feature 16,000 square feet of retail space, 47,000 square feet of office space and between 60 and 72 apartments. According to a press release, the building will have six floors on the Green Street side and four on The Commons side. In addition to adding new residences, the new building will potentially create between 110 and 150 full-time office positions as well as 100 construction jobs during the course of renovation,
High requests for tutoring strain services
according to a press release. Gary Ferguson, executive director of the Downtown Ithaca Alliance, said the project is based on goals highlighted by the Downtown Ithaca 2020 Strategic Plan. “The plan talks a lot about the densification of downtown while at the same time trying to protect and maintain a strong street front with a lot of character and pedestrian capabilities,” Ferguson said. The 2020 strategic plan, released in 2010, emphasizes adding extensive housing, retail and office space within this decade. Specifically, the plan calls for at least 1,500 housing units and 78,000 square feet of retail space. The plan also calls for a reassessment of parking situations downtown and to “enliven The Commons as a public space, visually and functionally.” The current buildings in the Harold’s Square area are owned by Lubin. JoAnn Cornish, director of the planning and development board, said Lubin and his family have owned the Henry Miller building and other sites on The Commons since 1969. Lubin said this location would allow a building that could increase density without towering over The Commons. “There’s only so much of downtown,” Lubin said. “Because all the transportation’s there, because all the services are there, we want some density.”
A design sketch, provided by David Lubin of L Enterprises, LLC, displays the intended outcome of the 2013 construction project on The Commons.
Cornish said the planning and development board has been working with Lubin for the past four years to organize the project. “He knew that the city was going to possibly do major renovations on The Commons,” Cornish said. “He wasn’t willing to move ahead with his projects until he knew that the city was committed to moving ahead with The Commons.” Lubin said he believes The Commons and downtown will become a more active business center after the renovations. “Hopefully I will be bringing in new retailers that will be a complement to what exists on The Commons, hopefully tenants that will be crossgenerational and create a better marketplace downtown,” Lubin said.
Courtesy of David Lubin
Scott Bliss, executive director of Cinemapolis, said he only sees positive results coming from the new building. “Any time you have a new project that incorporates higher density residences, it’s going to be a benefit to the downtown district,” Bliss said. “It can only be a bonus.” Ferguson said the additional jobs and residences have the potential to be a huge economic boom for other local businesses. “If you get several hundred workers who work out of that space, they’re going to shop, they’re going to dine right around their building,” Ferguson said. “With the housing, it’s right where we want them to be, right in the center of things.”
Ithaca College students still wishing to receive tutoring for the fall semester may need to seek other outlets for academic assistance. Academic Enrichment Services has not accepted any requests for peer tutoring as of Nov. 2. Yo l a n d a Clarke, direc- HENDERSON said tor of AES, students need to think ahead when a n n o u n c e d requesting a tutor. the majority of student tutors are booked at capacity and are not able to take on more students. Clarke said in her announcement that the program received the highest number of student tutoring requests this fall semester that it has had since it began offering peer tutoring in Fall 2009. Clarke was not available for comment. Carol Henderson, associate provost for accreditation assessment and curriculum and oversight administrator for AES, said the earlier deadline may encourage students to apply for academic help earlier on in future semesters — if AES chooses to implement a permanent request deadline in the future. “A lot of what happened in previous semesters was that students were waiting way too long to benefit from tutoring,” she said. “They were calling two or three days before an exam asking if they could get a tutor. If a student wants or needs tutoring in order to succeed, the sooner they seek help, the more they’re going to benefit from it.” This is the first year AES has implemented a deadline for tutoring requests. However, Henderson said it will not apply to students with learning disabilities who require tutoring services as part of their academic experience. Students will be able to request peer tutoring again for Spring 2013, as AES is always revising its tutoring list based on the course offerings for the given semester. To meet the influx of student requests for the semester, AES is looking to hire student tutors for the sciences and mathematics classes because they are “barrier courses” for students, or classes that have proved to be the greatest obstacles for student success and prevented them from making progress toward their degrees, Henderson said. Senior Bianca Nicolosi, a Spanish and Italian tutor, said she is experiencing the effects of the record request numbers. “Right now I have five student tutees, and I tutor six days a week,” she said. “I mean, personally, I know that at this point in time I would not be able to take on anymore students.” For some students the deadline presents a serious academic roadblock. Junior Noah Delin said he has repeatedly reached out to AES for a tutor to help with his Personal Finance class and has yet to receive his desired response. He hopes AES will provide him with a tutor. “Currently I am cramming for my exam by myself,” he said. “I’m still hoping I can get a tutor.”
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Pay Gap from page 1
unexplained gap, can be attributed to women being less likely to negotiate for a larger salary than men, an idea that the AAUW study cited as possible and that is supported by Linda Babcock and Sara LaschGARCES said pay ever’s book, gap awareness “ Wo m e n may bring about Don’t Ask.” future change. “A difference of $2,000 to $3,000 in the beginning can attribute to the basis for a pay gap in the first year but can accumulate over years,” she said. “It turns out that even for a woman that’s been in a job for any number of years, they tend not to ask for perks or merit increases or travel money.” There are many factors that could account for this, Golden said, including early socialization of women to reject aggressive behavior and a belief that their good work will automatically be noticed. However, Golden said, women of color are more likely to be conscious of sexist obstacles like sexism and racism that are in place. “If you’re more aware we live in a patriarchal culture where men and women are judged by different standards, you might be more aware that you’ve got to advocate for yourself,” Golden said. “For many girls, it never occurs to them that you could be worth a lot of money and that maybe you’re worth more than you’re being offered.” In September, a Yale University study found that when male and female scientists were given identical applications, but with male and female applicant names, the applications from females were scored lower for competence, ability to be hired, and mentoring. Both female and male scientists were also more likely to offer the female applicant a lower starting salary. Senior Mariana Garces, vicepresident of IC Feminists, said knowing about this pay discrimination makes current economic uncertainty more daunting and said the effects of gender pay gap will become more familiar after working in a salaried position. “It is scary to think about graduating into that wage gap already, even though I’m going to be struggling to find a job,” Garces said. The pay gap, she said, can be resolved by educating people about the pay gap, mobilizing to change it and supporting legislation to address it. In June, the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would require employers to demonstrate discrepancy in pay to male and female employees was not gender-related, failed in the Senate. “It’s important for us to see this now and start to do something about it,” Garces said. “It doesn’t have to be like this, we can change this, not only through educating women but also by educating men about the interaction and the structure we live in.”
Outcome reflects shift on social issues Election from page 1
states in the Mid-Atlantic region — prompted them to support the president. “[Students were] able to see that the president is able to really do what needs to be done when faced with a devastating event.” Not all students at the college are excited by another four years of Obama in office. Rob Oliver, president of IC Republicans, said he’s looking forward to 2016 and a group of rising Republicans that could represent the party in the future. “America has spoken, and we do need to diversify the Republican Party,” he said. “We need to reach out more to the minority and immigrant groups.” In the election, the president picked up 303 electoral votes and won several key battleground states, including Colorado, New Hampshire, Ohio and Virginia. Republican challenger Romney won 206 electoral votes. However, Florida still had not submitted the final tally as of Wednesday night.
LOCAL ELECTIONS There were few surprise outcomes in the Empire State on election night. Republican incumbent Tom Reed picked up a second term in a narrow race against Democratic challenger Nate Shinagawa, ’05, a Cornell University alumnus. Reed earned 52.1 percent of the vote, while Shinagawa won 47.9 percent. “Tonight, it looks like the presidential election
Votes by Americans age 18 to 29 This year, 60 percent of voters between ages 18 and 29 voted Democrat for President Barack Obama.
100 80 Percentage
New study reveals gap in salaries
Th ursday, November 8 , 2 0 1 2
60
60% 37%
40 20
3% Obama
Romney Candidate
Other Source: CNN POLITICS
is going a different way than we had hoped, but the bottom line is, tomorrow, the sun will come up, and what we will do is solve the problems that face our country,” Reed said during his victory speech. “The way we’re going to solve them is by uniting as an America to deal with these crises that are before us.” The only Olayinka Omotosho, Humphrey Fellow at Cornell University, celebrates President contested state Barack Obama's re-election at the Democratic Party headquarters in Ithaca. legislature race Shawn Steiner/The Ithacan for Tompkins County voters featured 26-year incumbent and ReLis Maurer, director of LGBT Education, publican James Seward and Democratic challenger Outreach and Services Program on campus, Howard Leib for the 51st state Senate district. said she has seen students excited that same-sex Seward picked up another two-year term, de- marriage was passed in Maine and Maryland. feating Leib with about 69 percent of the vote, "That transmits a number of messages. The compared to Leib’s 31 percent. way that that reverberates on our campus for our For Leib, the loss wasn’t a complete defeat. students and the way that that reverberates in our “We got into the race to make sure that people nation is amazing." had a choice, that issues would be discussed, and Minnesota rejected an amendment that would that the election wouldn’t be a coronation for a 26- ban same-sex marriage in the state. year career politician,” Leib said after conceding Another key proposition for several states deTuesday night. “On that end, we won.” bated the possibility of legalizing medical marijuana. In the City of Ithaca, Stephen Smith defeated Massachusetts legalized medical marijuana, Cornell University student and Republican Misha and Colorado legalized marijuana for recreCheckovich with 65 votes to Smith’s 357 to replace ational use for anyone 21 and older. Washington the 4th ward Common Council seat that former state passed a similar recreational measure. Alderperson Eddie Rooker left open. With the legalization of medical marijuana Democratic Assemblyperson Barbara Lifton now in 18 states, it’s likely that New York could bewill once again represent the 125th District in the gin to take the steps to legalize medical marijuana, New York state Assembly, as she ran unopposed. Evan Nison, president of Ithaca College Students for Sensible Drug Policy, said. “New York was the leader in repealing alcohol PROPOSITIONS prohibition, so I think there’s is a good chance New Though most eyes were on the presidential race York could be among the first states to legalize mariTuesday night, several states made history with new juana through legislature," Nison said. laws that deal with some of the nation’s most widely Chief Copy Editor Matthew Dezii and WICB rediscussed social issues. Maine and Maryland became the first U.S. states porter Bethany George contributed reporting from to legalize gay marriage through the popular vote in WICB News. Contributing Writer Sabrina Knight also added to this report. Tuesday’s election.
Housing changes will not end HOME program HOusing from page 1
programs also conflict with the FYRE plan. Park Scholars and Martin Luther King Junior Scholars are required to live in the H.O.M.E. program during their first year. With the new requirement, it is not clear where those students will be expected to live. Trunzo said one idea was to include the H.O.M.E. program in FYRE and a separate but similar program for the upperclassmen. “It could work,” Trunzo said. “They can certainly do partnerships and do programs and events together to try and promote that bond.” Aaron Lipford, sophomore MLK scholar, lived in the H.O.M.E. program last year. Lipford said he valued the sense of community as well as the discussions centered on race and political issues. He said he does not think the H.O.M.E. program should only be available to upperclassmen. “In a way, it would be isolating first years from getting a different experience from sophomores and juniors,” he said. “You would be getting a limited view. You’re confining culture into a certain space. With similar people you could get that aspect, but the H.O.M.E. program is multicultural. Class year is an aspect of diversity.”
To align with the plans of IC 20/20, Trunzo said one option being considered for the FYRE is to group students according to the themes they will be studying within IC 20/20’s Integrative Core Curriculum. Trunzo said the change would hopefully foster a greater sense of community as well as an intellectual atmosphere among first year students. “It’s not just ‘we’re doing social programs together’ — which I think is very beneficial,” he said. “But it’s also stronger if there is an academic connection ... I think that experience can further strengthen that sense of a tight-knit cohort experience.” Trunzo said he conducted an assessment last year of students living in East Tower, Tallcott Hall and Boothroyd Hall, which were a part of the FYRE, to gauge opinions on their experiences. He conducted the survey three times throughout the year. Feedback was mixed. Some students in the survey said they do not see a difference from other housing experiences and were disappointed in the lack of upperclassmen in the dorms as mentors. Other students, however, said they like living with other freshmen because they are at a similar place in their lives. With this in mind, Trunzo said the positives of the FYRE program out-
Ron Trunzo, associate director for residential life and judicial affairs, said the changes in housing are not intended to restrict student experiences. Nora Noone/The Ithacan
weigh the negatives. Freshman Taylor Graham, a Park scholar, currently lives in the H.O.M.E. program. He said his experience at the college would not be the same without this living experience. “It would be easier to fall into the monotony of American culture,” he said. “[H.O.M.E.] gives you a different college experience and allows you to immerse yourself in a culture that is
harder to find at Ithaca.” Trunzo said though the changes do not intend to disadvantage anyone. “With the shift to doing all first year housing, it just changes the picture and the practice by which we do things,” Trunzo said. “The intent is not to make it less personal.” To read Prunty's letter to the editor, see page 12.
Th ursday, Novem be r 8, 2012
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College adds museum concentration by sally young staff writer
Students in art history now have an opportunity to get hands-on experience in museums and learn what it takes to make it in a museum or gallery. Beginning this semester, a concentration in museum studies has been made available to art history majors. The concentration is an 18-credit experience geared toward students who are interested in pursuing a career in a museum or gallery setting. Gary Wells, chair of the art history department, said there have been museum and gallery-orientated courses on the books for years, and the concentration is recognizing that, together, they form a pattern. Plans for the concentration began about three years ago. Currently, two students are enrolled in the program, while several others are in the process of doing the paperwork. Many lower-level classes in the program have the same requirements for the general art history major. Upper level classes such as Exhibition, Education and Outreach, which was designed for the program, and Museum Practices and Methods differentiate the concentration from the major. Both of the new courses that were developed for the program were taught in the spring before the program was available for enrollment. In classes like the Exhibition, Education and Outreach class, students worked to prepare the Handwerker Gallery for the African art exhibition and went to the collector’s home to pack the objects and led tours when the exhibition opened. Wells said the combination of
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Institutional Advancement surveys alumni for feedback by hayleigh gowans Staff writer
Senior Jaimie Fitzgerald works at the Handwerker Gallery. She said she intends to enroll in the museum studies concentration at the college.
rachel woolf/The ithacan
experiential and theoretical learning will appeal to students. “We’re trying to attract students to perhaps see art history primarily through the lens of a gallery and a museum, both as institutions and as a theoretical framework for the study of art history,” Wells said. Senior Jaimie Fitzgerald, a student who plans to enroll in the program, said the real-life application is what attracted her. “It gives students an opportunity to see what’s possible for their futures, and I think it’s just a little taste of what’s to come,” Fitzgerald said. Museum studies classes are open to all major as long as they meet the prerequisites. Paul Wilson, assistant professor of art history, recommends that students take Introduction to Museology if they are interested in the program. He said the classes are
often applicable to other majors, specifically history and archeology. Next semester, a former director of the Handwerker Gallery is coming to teach Museum Practices. Program supervisors are in the process of hiring another teacher for the more hands-on classes. Other professors who are teaching museum studies classes are current art history faculty. Wilson said he was hired to help develop the concentration. He said it gives students a handson experience of their career interests in college. “We wanted to give students that are interested in museums and art galleries, both as cultural institutions — they love museums — but also as potential workplaces, the opportunity to investigate those career paths as part of their undergraduate major,” Wilson said.
In an effort to improve Ithaca College's alumni relations, the Office of Institutional Advancement has sent out a survey to alumni to get opinions about its services. The survey, titled Alumni Pulse, was made up of about 50 questions and sent out Sept. 19 to 25,000 alumni through email. From those, 2,000 responded. Institutional advancement will have the results by the end of November. The survey includes questions about student experience, alumni experience, how alumni would like to participate, their inclination to donate and their preferred form of communication with the college. Lori Staba, executive director of institutional advancement administration, said it is common practice for institutions to survey their alumni on a regular basis to gauge opinions about the college’s performance. Staba said the last alumni survey was in 2008. “What we’re hoping to gain is an understanding of where we’re at in the perceptions of our alumni right now,” Staba said. Staba said she hopes that the survey will be helpful with improving alumni relations. As of June 1, 2012, there were more than 55,000 alumni of the college on record. Staba said this number was recorded in the beginning of the year to evaluate the institutional advancement administration’s progress toward reaching fundraising goals.
By 2013, the college is aiming to have 10.5 percent of alumni make a donation. The college is working with Eduventures, a Boston-based research and consulting group that specializes in higher education, for the first time. The group will help the college interpret the results of the survey and develop strategies to improve alumni relations based on responses. These strategies include creating events alumni would attend and creating programs alumni think would benefit the college. “It’s easy to look inside your four walls and try to guess what you’re trying to do. This is a way to take real data and look at our own results and compare these results to others,” Staba said. Chris Biehn, vice president of institutional advancement, said he had used Eduventures at his previous job and said he had a positive experience. “Eduventures is well-known in the field as a firm that does good qualitative and quantitative research at a fair cost to help institutions of higher learning better understand the alumni landscape,” Biehn said. Mike Kaplan, ’85, who is a member of the alumni board, said alumni relations are an important factor within an institution to provide opportunities to students. “It’s a different environment, and I think we need to get a better understanding of how we can serve our alumni,” Kaplan said.
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Ithaca talks Israeli politics by GILLIAN NIGRO staff writer
With the U.S. presidential election Tuesday, the upcoming January elections in Israel are not on the minds of many Americans. During a lecture at Ithaca College on Thursday night, Yossi Klein Halevi, research fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem and contributing editor to the New Republic, discussed why they should be. Halevi’s speech, “Looking Within: Israeli Society Faces HALEVI said Itself,” was co-sponsored by external threats may impact the Hillel, the Tri-Fund, Temple Israeli vote. Beth-El, Jewish Studies, the Ithaca Area United Jewish Community, and Student Alliance For Israel. While the U.S. presidential race may seem divisive to many, Halevi said, Israelis are desperate for an election like it: one with a focus on issues such as the future of the middle class and education, rather than on life-or-death issues, such as the future of peace and war. “What I would say marks Israeli society today, and may very well determine this upcoming election, is a longing among Israelis for a kind of normalcy,” he said. “Israelis want to have the kind of election that you’re having here.” Israeli elections are based on nationwide proportional representation, and the makeup of the 19th Knesset, the unicameral legislature, will be decided Jan. 22, 2013. This was Halevi’s third visit to the college. Michael Faber, Jewish chaplain and chief-coordinator of the event, said he admires Halevi’s ability to confront controversial issues. “He’s a very thoughtful, sober-minded, non-ideological realist, with a very clear mind and a very clear way of thinking about things,” Faber said. Halevi is a strong player for Middle East reconciliation efforts, serving as chairman of The Open House, an Arab-Jewish peace
education center in Ramle, Israel. He was also a founder and board member of the now-inoperative Israeli Palestinian Media Forum, which brought together a collaboration of Israeli and Palestinian journalists. The eruption of a social protest movement more than a year ago in Israel brought domestic issues, such as the high cost of living and the relationship with the fervently Orthodox Haredim minority, onto the election agenda. Halevi said this is because citizens realize there is a slim chance of solving the territorial conflict with Palestine anytime soon. “Given the fact that Israelis tend to be very practical people, they figured, well, we’re not going to be able to solve the big issues anymore, let’s try to deal with issues that perhaps we can solve,” he said. However, these are tumultuous times in the Middle East. Israel still faces numerous external security threats, with the possibility of a nuclear Iran topping the list. “I would say that the most interesting question, in terms of these elections, is whether Israelis are going to vote based on their longing for a normal domestic agenda or whether these external threats are going to impinge on how people will decide to vote,” Halevi said. Ithaca resident Richard Rosenfield is a member of both the local Reform and Conservative Jewish congregations in town. He said he was glad Halevi brought up domestic efforts for religious pluralism in Israel. “It’s wonderful to hear about it from someone who doesn’t have a connection to the movement and confirms it’s really happening there,” he said. Marcia Zax, board co-chair of the Ithaca Area United Jewish Community, said there is more than one important upcoming election in the world, but American news media coverage does not reflect that. “There were a lot of things he spoke about in terms of politics and the election that we don’t see at all discussed in our media here,” she said. “I’m glad he brought them to light.”
March of honor
Tompkins County veterans walk at the annual Veterans Day Parade on Sunday on State Street. The parade is always held the Sunday prior to Veterans Day, which is Nov. 11. The county Veterans Day Ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday at Dewitt Park in Ithaca.
Corey Hess/The Ithacan
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Applications for paid positions on The Ithacan’s editorial board for Spring 2013 are now available. Positions include: • Managing Editor • Assistant News Editor • Assistant Accent Editor
• Year in Review Editor • Assistant Sports Editor • Multimedia Editor • Assistant Photo Editor Applications are available at the reception desk in the Roy H. Park School of Communications dean’s office. Completed forms, accompanied by a resume, should be returned to the dean’s office by noon on Thursday, Nov. 17, for all positions. The available positions last for two semesters. Students from all majors are welcome and encouraged to apply. Please address any questions to Michael Serino, Ithacan adviser, at 274-1036.
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College & City Jewish studies program to sponsor film and talk
The Jewish studies program at Ithaca College will host a film screening and lecture on Nazi Propaganda and life in the Warsaw Ghetto. The documentary, titled “A Film Unfinished,” will be screened at 7 p.m. Thursday in Textor 101. The film, directed by Yael Heronski and released in 2010, explores the making, dark history and effects of Nazi propaganda. Bradley Prager, associate professor of German and Russian studies at the University of Missouri-Columbia and Holocaust researcher, will then analyze the film in a lecture titled “Signs of Life: Depicting the Warsaw Ghetto in ‘A Film Unfinished.’” Prager’s talk, which will take place at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12 in Textor 102, will explore the cinematic techniques Heronski employs in the film and raise questions about the use of Holocaust images. Prager’s presentation, sponsored by the Golberstein Jewish Studies Program Fund, is part of the Distinguished Lecture series.
County to install panels to reduce energy costs
As a part of the Solar Liberty Project, Solar Liberty, a firm based in Buffalo, N.Y., will install new solar panels on seven county buildings to lower energy costs and increase use of renewable energy in Tompkins County. Ed Marx, commissioner of planning and community sustainability, said the panels will
provide more than 10 percent of the electricity for the buildings and save the county nearly $13,000 per user in energy costs.
Provost to hold meetings to open college dialogue
In an effort to generate informal conversation, Marisa Kelly, provost and vice president of educational affairs, will hold the first of four coffee meetings in November with the Ithaca College community Friday. The first meeting with the provost will take place at 9 a.m. in room 301 of KELLY the School of Business. The events are limited to 12 people at a time. To RSVP, contact MaryAnn Taylor, assistant to the provost, at mataylor@ithaca.edu.
Haircut fundraiser to aid cancer patients with wigs
The Shoshana Rudnick Inch-athon will offer haircuts Wednesday to help children with cancer. The Inch-a-thon is part of an annual event sponsored by Hillel. All hair will be collected and donated to Pantene Beautiful Lengths to make wigs for kids with cancer. Beautiful Lengths is an initiative by Pantene and the American Cancer Society that began in 2006. Since then, Beautiful Lengths has donated 24,000 free real-hair wigs to cancer patients across the country. Haircuts that are 10 inches or
Public Safety Incident Log selected entries from OCt. 25 to OCt. 28 OCTOBER 25 HARASSMENT LOCATION: Tallcott Hall SUMMARY: Caller reported a person made verbal statement to another person. Investigation pending. Patrol Officer Jay Vanvolkinburg.
OCTOBER 26 IRRESPONSIBLE USE OF ALCOHOL LOCATION: College Circle Apartments SUMMARY: Caller reported a person fell, struck their head and was bleeding uncontrollably. One person transported to CMC by ambulance and judicially referred for irresponsible use of alcohol. Patrol Officer Bruce Thomas. FIRE ALARM ACCIDENTAL LOCATION: College Circle Apartments SUMMARY: Simplex reported a fire alarm. Activation caused by burnt food. System reset. Environmental Health and Safety Officer Tim Ryan.
OCTOBER 27 V&T DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED LOCATION: S-Lot SUMMARY: During a vehicle stop, officer found the operator intoxicated. One person was arrested for DWI. Officer issued traffic tickets for the Ithaca Town Court for DWI and failure to use a turn signal. A campus summons was also issued for running a stop sign. Driver refused the data master test and was immediately arraigned in the Ithaca Town Court. Person released on their own recognizance to a third party and judicially referred. Patrol Officer Bruce Thomas.
IRRESPONSIBLE USE OF ALCOHOL LOCATION: Williams Hall SUMMARY: Officer determined a person punched a wall with a fist, causing injury. Person declined medical assistance and was judicially referred for irresponsible use of alcohol. Master Patrol Officer Mark Denicola. UNDERAGE POSS. ALCOHOL LOCATION: Williams Hall SUMMARY: Two persons judicially referred for underage possession of alcohol and having an open container. SASP.
OCTOBER 28 IRRESPONSIBLE USE OF ALCOHOL LOCATION: College Circle Apartments SUMMARY: Person transported to CMC by ambulance. One person was judicially referred for irresponsible use of alcohol. Patrol Officer Jeremiah McMurray. UNDERAGE POSS. ALCOHOL LOCATION: College Circle Apartments SUMMARY: Five people were judicially referred for underage possession of alcohol. Patrol Officer Patrick Johnson. For the complete safety log, go to www.theithacan.org/news.
Key cmc – Cayuga Medical Center DWI – Driving While Intoxicated V&T – Vehicle and Transportation MVA - Motor Vehicle Accident SASP - Student Auxiliary Safety Patrol
more are free, and all other haircuts are $10. The money will be donated to charity. Professional barbers and stylists will be available to cut hair from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. To make a 20-minute appointment or for more information, contact Jessie Kanowitz, Hillel program coordinator, at hillel@ithaca.edu.
Poet and aspiring teacher to give spoken word show
Colin Masasji “Senbei” Ehara, youth cultural worker, hip-hop/spoken word artist, writer and aspiring English teacher, will speak at Ithaca College. His performance, titled Re:Incarnation: A Pedagogy of Courage,” will take place at 7 p.m. Monday in EHARA Emerson Suites. Ehara is an apprentice teacher at Fremont High School in Oakland. He has lectured and facilitated workshops on race and hip-hop in schools and universities in California.
Institute to hold seminar on aging and disabilities
The Ithaca College Gerontology Institute and the Office of Extended Studies will host its third of three fall workshops, titled “Aging with Disabilities and Quality of Life” on Nov. 14 at the Country Inn and Suites. Edina Williams-Batar, senior opportunity development facilita-
tor at the Franziska Racker Center and Pat Montanez, director of residential services and program development at the Franziska Racker Center, will give the lecture. They will speak about issues related to aging and elderly people with disabilities. They will also discuss supporting the disabled within a home environment and how seniors can build relationships in the community. Registration for the presentation is $25, $15 for people who are retired and free for faculty and students at the college. To register and for more information, visit www.ithaca.edu/agingworkshops.
New media aggregator to analyze political news
Cornell University researchers have developed a new reading tool that takes a different approach to political coverage. The tool analyzes content from 10 major media outlets and more than 20 political blogs using the “selectional preference” feature that links associations with certain words. The tool will investigate the patterns of associations with political terms such as “Medicare” and “Romney.” Eric Baumer, postdoctoral associate at Cornell University, said the tool will shape the conversation surrounding political conversation and provide insight into the way people think about them. ”Reflext” is available at cornellhci. org/reflext. The site also includes a how-to guide for using the tool. The research is supported by
the National Science Foundation’s Social Computational Systems program and Cornell’s Institute for Social Science.
Group to sell cupcakes to educate girls abroad
The Ithaca College chapter of Food for Thought will be participating in the second annual She’s the First Tie-Dye Cupcake Bake-off. She’s the First is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to sponsor education for girls in the developing world and help them to be the first in their families to graduate. The bake-off is a part of a national campaign that encourages students to use cupcakes to fundraise and sponsor girls who cannot afford an education. Food for Thought will be selling cupcakes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday in the Park School and Tuesday in Campus Center. The cupcakes, which were donated by Purity Ice Cream, will be sold for $2 each.
Sorority to collect coats to give to those in need
As a part of the Coats for Kids and Adults Collection: “An Act of Kindness,” the Ladies of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Ithaca Alumna Chapter will be collecting new and gently used winter coats. Coats will be distributed throughout the community to those who lack them to stay warm. The sorority will continue to collect coats at the Greater Ithaca Activities Center and the Southside Community Center until Friday.
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Faculty fight for balance
As faculty members raise concerns about the college’s top-down power structure, administrators should ensure faculty are part of the decision-making process.
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embers of the Executive Committee of the Faculty Council at Ithaca College are calling for change in the way the college is governed. About 70 faculty members gathered in a townhall style meeting Oct. 9 to voice their concerns about the college’s increasingly top-down model of governing, especially with the implementation of IC 20/20’s new Integrated Core Curriculum and the new student media policy. The Executive Committee of the Faculty Council, which has 30 members, now plans to meet with President Tom Rochon and Marisa Kelly, provost and vice president for educational affairs, to discuss the need for more faculty input in college decision-making Concerns about the fast-paced implementation of IC 20/20 policies and the college taking on a more centralized, corporate structure drove the call for change. The concept of shared governance, which allows faculty to have a larger role in policy decisions, does not force the administration to call every action to a vote but offers a pathway to greater faculty involvement in issues that directly affect them and their students. Though the ultimate authority for decisions on academic policies lies with the board of trustees, power is delegated to the president to manage the college and faculty to set academic requirements and standards. While IC 20/20 is being put into practice, top administrators should take extra steps to ensure as many voices as possible are being represented in the new curriculum while still allowing the process to progress in a timely manner. Because faculty spend more time with students and with the curriculum on a day-to-day basis, their opinions are crucial to making IC 20/20 successful. The responsibility for communication lies with both the administration and the faculty. If the college expects to create an environment where educational and personal growth for its students is fostered, the faculty and the administration must combine their expertise to ensure all policies are created and executed in a way that most benefits students.
Silent Majority
Campus response to re-election of President Barack Obama fails to match excitement from 2008 presidential race.
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hen President Obama was first elected in 2008, The Ithacan reported nearly 1,000 students participated in an impromptu victory rally on the quad — many still in their pajamas. Four years later, Obama earned a still-historic second term, but campus remained mostly quiet. Though more 18- to 29-year-old voters cast a ballot in this election than in 2008 and the majority favored Obama, according to the early National Exit Poll conducted by Edison Research, the 2012 campaign season failed to inspire students the way the 2008 race electrified the campus. The lack of celebration on election night this year is discouraging considering the memorable 2008 campus response. However, voter turnout showed the youth vote can remain strong even in elections that fail to fully excite young voters.
your letters Office of Residential Life responds to concerns about housing policy
I am writing in response to the editorial published last week highlighting some changes Residential Life is proposing for the housing process for spring 2013. I recently attended meetings of the Residence Hall Association and the Student Government Association where I shared the proposed changes and requested student input to create a process that supports the expansion of the First-year Residential Experience Program, and meets the needs of returning students. It was clear that returning students
selection, we do not anticipate that it will impact the options available. Currently juniors and seniors do not fill all spaces in the apartments or single rooms. We have no reason to believe this will be different in the future, and anticipate there will be opportunities for sophomores to live in singles and apartments. We look forward to continuing to work with RHA, SGA and other student input as we try to develop the best selection process. Bonnie Solt Prunty, Director of Residential Life at Ithaca College
SNAP JUDGMENT Partisan problems
Does faculty political affiliation affect your education?
Watch more Snap Judgments at theithacan.org.
“That less than 10 percent of our faculty does not affiliate themselves with the Democrats does not mean we, as students, cannot form our own opinions through their teachings.”
“A lot of my more liberal professors seem to like challenging the status quo and opening up ideas.“ Matthew Kercher Emerging Media ’16
John Winters DiMarco Legal Studies ’14
The Ithacan Kelsey o’Connor editor in chief lara bonner Managing editor Shea o’meara opinion editor Elma Gonzalez news Editor Tinamarie Craven assistant news editor Candace King assistant news editor kacey deamer online editor Allie Healy accent editor
were particularly concerned about the elimination of block housing. Based upon this feedback, Residential Life has identified an alternative way to add block housing back into the housing selection process. Residential Life will continue to work with RHA and SGA to discuss ways to address the concerns raised regarding the future of Residential Learning Communities. In the meantime, I would like to address a couple misperceptions about the impact of these changes on sophomores. While the changes to the selection process will affect the timeline for sophomore
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“my professors try to not sway any conversation or say who they’re supporting or what side they stand for, but there’s always some kind of underlying bias in a lot of lectures.” Heidi Miller Occupational Therapy ’15
“I wouldn’t say it necessarily affects my education, but when it comes to my knowledge about the election and who to vote for, it affects that.” Maya Gebhardt Health Science ’13
“When a professor does something like that, it forces you to chew it over yourself and pit your own views against that and make you come to your own conclusions.” Alec Fiorentino Music Education ’15
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Guest commentary
IC Republicans call for ideological diversity A
re you getting a well-rounded education at Ithaca College, or are you being deprived of a full range of ideas? Step onto the college’s campus, and you can’t help but see the progressive bias. In September 2012, IC Republicans completed a study that identified the party affiliation of college faculty who are registered members of a political party in Tompkins County. We found that Democrats and Green Party members make up 92.1 percent of faculty, with only 7.9 percent of faculty covered in the study registered as Republicans and conservatives. Though this is 1.5 percent more Republicans and conservative faculty members than when the group conducted the same study in 2003, the change falls within the study’s margin of error, representing no real change. Further, the English, history, philosophy and religion, politics and sociology departments still do not have a single registered conservative, creating a very lopsided view of these fields of study. Since 2003, Republicans at the college have pointed out the lack of intellectual diversity in programs, curriculum and guest speakers. Intellectual diversity is based on the premise that students should be free to judge each idea on its merits. In the midst of an election year, the campus has shown a rather liberal view of the elections. We have yet to see a school-sponsored conservative speaker on campus in recent years and are left with a very skewed view of American politics and society. We are left with an institution where, according to the Federal Election Commission, only two of our faculty members have given money to conservative candidates. Now, we call for increased intellectual diversity in program spending, the course catalogue and theme months. We suggest that new faculty be considered who study conservative or free market ideas to complement students’ education at the college. We acknowledge that our definition of diversity does not fall into the definition pushed by the administration, which focuses heavily on ALANA,
rachael Hartford
Election results mark new era
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From left, IC Republicans sophomore David Owens and senior Shaun Montoya, Congressman Tom Reed and group president, senior Robert Oliver, attend a Tompkins County GOP event in September. Courtesy oF Robert Oliver
LGBT and international diversity, but we argue that intellectual diversity would enhance the college even further by providing all students with a fuller perspective on public policy and philosophy when they graduate. We do not want college graduates to have what David Brooks, New York Times columnist, calls “cartoonish impressions” of how more than 40 percent of the country — the number of rightleaning Americans — identifies. We believe it would be helpful to establish a Center for the Study of Intellectual Diversity, much like the Center for the Study of Culture, Race, and Ethnicity that already exists at the college. Of course, we oppose federal bureaucracy in Washington that impedes economic growth and centralization, but adding to the college’s intellectual diversity would enhance
the education of all students and help them be more prepared for civic participation throughout their lives, regardless of their personal perspective. Ensuring equality of opportunity is a core value of our country, not ensuring equality of outcomes. The college’s IC 20/20 plan calls for graduates to live and work effectively and in harmony within a diverse society and an increasingly interdependent global community. As an organization, we ask the college for a true commitment to intellectual diversity and to present students with diverse viewpoints, enabling them to be best prepared in a world where we must come together and understand all sides of the spectrum. Robert Oliver is a senior politics and international relations major. Email him at roliver2@ithaca.edu.
guest commentary
Freshman encourages Disney to search beyond stars
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ast week, as part of Ithaca College’s S’park class, I sat in an auditorium of firstyear communications students. We had just wrapped up a Skype chat with ABC News anchor David Muir, and the next face that appeared on the projector drew a collective gasp. Robert Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, graciously spoke with us about how to best prepare ourselves for a professional future in our field of interest. At one point in the conversation, a student asked Mr. Iger where Disney was headed: His response, quoting Disney’s “Toy Story”, was, “To infinity and beyond, I should hope!” On Tuesday, presumably from the same office, Mr. Iger finalized a deal to buy LucasFilm for $4.05 billion, allowing Disney to acquire rights to the Star Wars franchise in addition to the promise of three sequels, the first of which is already scheduled to arrive in 2015. Clearly, Mr. Iger and I have very different ideas of infinity and beyond. As a freshman film student and aspiring writer and director at Mr. Iger’s alma mater, I am well aware of the adversity I will face upon graduation. I have been told time and time again that once I pursue my career in film — ultimately a pursuit of my lifelong
Checks & Balances
Freshman Robert Hummel hopes Bob Iger, chairman and CEO of the Walt Disney Company, will invest in small new films rather than older stories. Shawn Steiner/The Ithacan
dream — I must prepare for a great deal of negative responses and personal discouragement, especially while trying to fund my own projects. I have a wealth of ideas that I want to share with the world through the medium of film, and the obstacle that may prevent me from accomplishing that is a lack of funding. I know that I am not alone. There are thousands of film students in America and abroad who share my ambition and anxiety.
There are also countless children who see films with the Disney brand as a benchmark for quality, who one day hope to enchant audiences in the same way. While Disney’s decision-making during the past several years of Mr. Iger’s tenure has been both highly profitable and widely appealing, it is also perpetuating a film culture that shuts out a generation of filmmakers with original ideas. Even a fraction of the billions that were spent
on LucasFilm could have been used to finance or, at the very least, partially finance numerous mid-to-low-budget projects that provide fresh, innovative ways of telling stories. From my perspective, this business transaction is frivolous and neglects the fertile soil of cutting-edge storytelling. Setting aside some amount of money for independent productions would be the responsible thing for Disney, a titanic force in the film industry, to do. The cultural enrichment that would result would add a new dimension to Disney’s public persona. To audiences around the world, Disney would represent both a bastion for high-quality entertainment and a corporation that invests in the future of filmmaking, rather than in the past. I implore Mr. Iger to take a chance with new ideas. It may not be as financially assured as something as tried-and-true as Star Wars, but it could set a new precedent for studios and moviegoers in America and around the world. It is only a matter of time until audiences stop responding to the same formula, and there are fresh, undiscovered ways of enchanting the public waiting to be found. Robert Hummel is a freshman cinema and photography major. Email him at rhummel1@ithaca.edu.
All opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of The Ithacan. To write a guest commentary, contact us at 274-3208.
resident Barack Obama earned his second term by winning minority voters, particularly Hispanics, and by gaining the support of women and young voters. Census data from 2010 shows America is becoming more diverse. Racial and ethnic minorities, especially Hispanics, are dominating national growth and will continue to do so for years to come. The Democratic agenda, which supports broader federal involvement in medical care, housing and education, is typically more favorable to Hispanic voters, according to the Brookings Institute. True to form, the Floridians are still counting votes, but even its 29 electoral votes are not enough to swing the election in Romney’s favor. It looks like the final split in the Electoral College will be 332 for Democrats (Florida included) to 206 for Republicans. This shows the incredible significance the minority vote had on this election. Overall, Obama won a 44-point advantage among Hispanics. When it comes to women voters, we also saw Obama prevail. According to Bloomberg, Obama built a 11 percentagepoint advantage among female voters. Women’s issues were at the forefront of health care issues this election cycle, particularly concerning reproductive rights, funding to Planned Parenthood and abortion. Ladies, if you’re wondering why we got so much attention this year, it is sheer numbers. In the 2008 election, 60 percent of the female population over the age of 18 turned out to the polls, as opposed to the 56 percent of men. This means about 10 million more women than men voted in 2008. Simply, there were more potential female votes to garner. The gender gap worked in Obama’s favor. Obama won the national youth vote with 67 percent to Romney’s 30 percent. The youth voter share even increased slightly from 18 to 19 percent. Nearly 23 million young people voted, and they widely supported Obama, suggesting a potential new normal for this millennial generation of voters. Overall, women, Hispanics and young people had a noteworthy hand in tipping the scale in Obama’s favor for the presidential race. While this ultimate outcome was expected, it suggests shifts in voting patterns and trends that will prove significant for future races, both presidential as well as on the state and congressional levels. Pundits and GOP members are now urging the Republican Party to re-evaluate how it reaches out to minority voters. If the party hopes to win in the future, it will have to better meet the needs of a wider base, one that does not solely consist of older, white and male conservatives. Rachael HartforD is a senior integrated marketing communications major with a minor in politics. Email her at rhartfo1@ithaca.edu.
Divers ion s
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the here and now alphabet stew By Caroline Roe ’13
dormin’ norman
By Alice Blehart ’16
By Jonathan Schuta ’14
Pearls Before Swine®
Th ursday, November 8 , 2 0 1 2
sudoku medium
very hard
By Stephan Pastis answers to last week’s sudoku
crossword
By United Media
ACROSS 1 Impatient chucks 5 Sir’s companion 9 Jazz genre 12 Belmonts’ leader, once 13 “She’s a Lady” composer 14 Be in need of a sick day 15 In a reserved manner 17 Market upturn 19 Blast letters 20 Pepper grinder 21 Ancient Phoenician port 24 Concerned with “me first” 27 Sudden silence 28 Depend on 29 Winter sports item 30 Rope-a-dope boxer 31 Gloss 32 Large cask 33 Mil. branch 34 Duct 35 Gold-coated
36 Shallow lakes 38 Goalies’ concern 39 Solitary 40 Candied item 41 Envelope parts 43 Holiday quaff 47 Aurora, to Plato 48 -- Khayyam 50 NCAA Bruins 51 -- -relief 52 Marmalade chunk 53 Chirp like a nestling DOWN 1 Gridiron stats 2 Warm the bench 3 Campground initials 4 Tattle 5 Fountain fare 6 Your choice 7 Juneau’s st. 8 Norma Jean 9 Go -- (lose it) 10 Sunflower yield 11 Layer
16 Double helix 18 Snouted TV extraterrestrial 20 State of tumultuous confusion 21 Mover’s rental (hyph.) 22 Sooner city 23 Mica 24 Trickles 25 Lurk 26 Gives a clue 28 Dry white wine 31 Backer 35 Impedes (2 wds.) 37 Dinny’s rider 38 -- de deux 40 Football field measure 41 Valentine mo. 42 Hawaii’s Mauna -43 Opposite of ruddy 44 Poker card 45 Island, to Yvette 46 Swimmer’s count 49 Distance meas.
Need your daily dose of funny? Head to theithacan.org for more cartoons! last week’s crossword answers
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LOST IN TRANSMEDIA Student to debut multi-platform story through senior thesis By evin billington staff writer
It’s angel Samael Morningstar’s job to care for all of the living things inside the Garden of Eden. One day he realizes the garden’s most famous inhabitants, Adam and Eve, are missing a piece of what it means to be truly human. In attempt to help the two, Morningstar is forced to choose between following his instincts and doing what he’s told. The story, told in Michael Watson’s senior film thesis “To Fall and Be Free,” thrives in a universe created through a transmedia narrative, the first of its kind at Ithaca College. Transmedia narratives tell a single, sometimes expanded, story across multiple media and platforms. Essentially, transmedia storytelling is used to grow a story’s universe. Elisabeth Nonas, associate professor of cinema, photography and media arts, said this can involve films, comic books, video games and anything that can expand the story or characters for an audience. “Basically, it’s a way to access a story world from different points and have them all make sense,” Nonas said. “I can read the novels and never go to the movie and still enjoy that world.” Watson initially learned about transmedia storytelling from a class taught last year by Nonas called “Story Telling: From Cave Paintings to Emerging Media.” Though the class is not primarily about transmedia, she touched on the basic ideas behind it. “I learned a lot about transmedia there, and that’s kind of what spurred my interest in it,” Watson said. “A good transmedia world is almost like an infinite story generator, where you create a world that can spawn different characters and stories.” Senior Nick Ljubicich served as the transmedia producer for Watson’s project. He said the way they utilized transmedia in “To Fall and Be Free” both expands the timeline of the story and the cast of characters in the website, film and webcomic. “The transmedia that we’re doing, it takes place after the movie,” Ljubicich said. “More than it would if the transmedia were to take place at the same time as the movie, it expands the story more. It expands the universe.” Chronologically, the story begins with the film itself. It follows Samael Morningstar, an angel in heaven working a desk job. Morningstar grows tired of the bureaucracy involved in his job in heaven, so, Watson said, he goes rogue. Continuing the film’s arc, pandeminc.com follows Morningstar’s story in the present day, Watson said. The website tells each of the visitors that since the time portrayed in the film, Morningstar has started his own company from heaven — Michael Watson called Pan-Dem. Watson said he drew his inspiration from John Milton’s epic poem, “Paradise Lost,” which chronicles Satan’s fall from grace. Morningstar’s storyline mirrors Satan’s, Watson said, as the name “Morningstar”comes from a translation for Satan. The set of the film came from Watson’s summer internship, a desk job where he said he felt confined. “I don’t know why it clicked all of a sudden ... Paradise Lost but set in an office,” Watson said. “I don’t know where that came from I guess, but it just seemed right.” Watson called on Ljubicich, a long-time friend, and Julianne Cort ’12, his girlfriend who graduated last year, to produce the film. Watson said the three of them have collaborated in some capacity on films before, so he knew that they would be able to work together effectively. What none of them knew, however, was exactly how to do a transmedia project. This forced them all
Above: Senior Michael Watson directs a scene during a shoot of his senior thesis film, “To Fall and Be Free.” The story is told through a transmedia narrative, which mixes a film, a website and a webcomic to create an expanded storyline for the project. Below: From left, seniors Alejandro Garay, Cory Tomascoff and Dakota Eckenroth film a shot for “To Fall and Be Free.”
to pull from different skill sets. “Whenever you do something new, you’re not really sure what to expect,” Cort said. “I’ve never made my own website before — that was something I was unfamiliar with — and [Ljubicich] has been a huge help in that aspect.” Watson’s initial ideas for the transmedia aspect of the project were different from what he ended up doing. He said he wanted to use iPhone apps and have location-based streaming videos. For instance, there would be a different video or aspect of the story available depending on which building of the college the user was in. “I ended up nixing the whole location-based streaming stuff for the website, because I felt that, for transmedia to work, you have to be able to easily access all the different parts of it,” Watson said. The group settled on two transmedia expansions of the film — a website for the company called Pan-Dem Inc, and a webcomic. Watson first thought of the website as a kind of hub for the film and the webcomic, but he later found it to be a storytelling tool that revealed more about the company than was touched on in the film. “The website actually ended up really being fun to write for and ended up expanding the story world,” Watson said. “It kind of fills the gap between what happened in the film and what happened in the present day, a little in a vague way, but you can kind of infer what happened.” The group called on Caroline Percello, a high school friend of Ljubicich’s, to illustrate. Watson found the webcomic to be the most challenging aspect of the project. “I can write a script, I can write a short story, but a webcomic is like you have three to five panels to tell a story and have a punch line,” he said. “I can either tell a punch line or I can tell a story, and I had a really hard time doing both.” Despite this, Watson said he found writing the webcomic was one of the most enjoyable components of the project. Thinking of a character and then seeing it drawn
“A good transmedia world is almost like an infinite story generator, where you create a world that can spawn different characters and stories.”
cOurtesy of nick ljubicich
out and truly visualized, he said, was extremely satisfying. Watson plans to release 10 webcomics, one per week for 10 weeks. The group sees this as a potential way to let the audience participate in the story. “Our goal is to eventually have people who are following us submit their own artwork, and then we’ll continue it from there,” Cort said. For now, the audience can participate in the story by applying for a “job” at Pan-Dem Inc., through the website, to create a fan community around the story. “We want a community,” Ljubicich said. “That’s the best case scenario — we get a lively community that cares about the story world.” At first, Watson had doubts about his ability to complete the thesis. Now, as the project nears completion, he feels that he has succeeded. “I was not sure from the get-go that I would be able to do a transmedia thesis and have each part be worthwhile and good, and they definitely are, in their own right, individually very interesting,” Watson said. “As a whole, they all kind of color your idea of the world.” “To Fall and Be Free” will screen at 6 p.m. Dec. 15 in the Park Auditorium.
[ a cc e ntuate]
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The
Playlist
shopper
Freshman and rs dropping and windspeed picking music enthusiast up here Natalie Dionne shares her top 10 tracks to listen to. “The Dreamer” – Tallest Man on Earth “And If My Heart Should Somehow Stop” – James Vincent McMarrow “Hopeless Wanderer” – Mumford & Sons “Piano Man” – Billy Joel “Society” – Eddie Vedder “Pick Up Truck” – Kings of Leon “Parachutes” – Trevor Hall
Shimmer and shake
“One Red Thread” – Blind Pilot
From left, sophomore Nicole Pizappi and Cornell University sophomore Debi Cabrera danced in the Teszia Belly Dance Troupe at the One World Concert on Friday in Emerson Suites. Among other acts at the show, the troupe performed a veil dance called Habibi.
alex mason/The Ithacan
pin this! Accent Editor Allie Healy scours Pinterest and shares her favorite pins of the week. With temperatures dropping and windspeed picking up atop South Hill, nothing shields the neck better than a comfy scarf. This versatile accessory is a necessity in the fall months. But don’t be limited to simply wrapping the fabric around your neck. Thanks to the pin “The Master List: 50+ ways to tie a scarf,” by scarves.net, there are many ways to circle, wrap, knot and belt this accessory around your body. There are simple styles such as the classic “Wrap and Tie” and “Slip Knot” but also more complicated looks including “Four-in-Hand” and “Double Scarf Loop Knot.” Whatever style tickles your fancy, you are in for some serious scarf-tastic compliments. Just wrap and see.
sites to see
“Awake My Soul” – Mumford & Sons “I’ve Just Seen A Face” – The Beatles
clickable online keyboard creates musical tweets
Bringing sweet sounds to Twitter, The Metropole Symphony created a website that allows users to make their very own digital orchestra via tweets. Developed by Havas Worldwide Amsterdam and Perfect Fools, Tweetphony is a digital keyboard on the site that Twitter users are able to click out a short song on. The buttons they press will then appear as corresponding musical notes in the users’ tweets, which they can then share on their accounts for others to hear. The Metropole Orchestra plans to choose some of the songs and perform them for people on a live feed on their website. — Allie Healy
Super
Fab
attractive magnetic ties stylishly snap into place
Forget those clips, the flip tongue technique or the shirt stuff — Magnetie has arrived. Saving much hassle and frustration, Magnetie is a necktie with a hidden talent. Within its fabric there are tiny magnets that help the two tails attract one another, preventing detachment or a cramp in anyone’s style. The Magnetie is also reversible, featuring a different pattern when turned inside out. In case you happen to be a sloppy eater and dripped some mustard right on your classy tie, just simply turn it inside out and move on with your day looking flawlessly dapper. — Allie Healy
quoteunquote I’m not just saying this cause he’s my son, but he is the PERFECT little man. I’m a lucky mommy. — “Jersey Shore” star Nicole Polizzi, also known as Snooki, talks about her son in the caption of an Instagram photo with the smiling Lorenzo Dominic LaValle.
celebrity SCOOPS! K-Stew left high and dry Actress Kristen Stewart, of “Twilight” franchise fame, thinks vampire sex rocks, which is why she is calling out director Bill Condon. This week on “E! News,” Stewart commented on Condon’s direction for the upcoming film, “Breaking Dawn: Part Two.” She said his wish to film the risque sex scenes in a way that makes the audience feel like they are part of the action was “odd… to do that we had to look directly into the camera instead of at each other.” Stewart also said she told Condon, “Bill, you’re depriving me of this experience. We’ve been waiting for vampire sex! What are you doing?!” Here’s hoping the sex scenes don’t appear as awkward as they were to shoot. — Benjii Maust
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Breakout artist to perform at pre-Cortaca event Chris Glover, also known as Penguin Prison, will be performing at the Cortaca Kickoff event Friday in Emerson Suites. The New York City-based artist writes, sings and plays multiple instruments to create his upbeat, electronically influenced music. Penguin Prison’s self-titled album was released in 2011. Contributing Writer Emma Rizzo talked to Glover about his music, his influences and his career as an artist.
tour. We got to see them every night for a month and got to look at all their equipment…and see what they were doing. It was cool. ER: Are you working on anything right now? CG: I’m working on a new album, and I’m collaborating with other people. I’m working on remixes and doing shows, so I’m busy. ER: Do you have any expectations for the show at Ithaca College?
Emma Rizzo: How did you get started making music?
CG: I don’t know seriously what to expect, but I think the students there should expect to come and have fun and dance.
Chris Glover: I started singing in a gospel choir. I went to school in New York [City], where I grew up, at a professional performing arts school, which Alicia Keys was also in and in the choir with me. A lot of kids were in Broadway shows and stuff like that. We performed all over New York City. ER: How would you describe your musical style? CG: I think Penguin Prison is kind of a combination of lots of different things. I try to make serious music but with a sense of humor. So, the lyrics are sarcastic a lot of the time but talking about serious issues. The music is made with the intention of making people have a good time.
ER: What would you say is your biggest success? CG: My success is just that I am doing what I like to do, and that’s how I make a living. Chris Glover, also known as Penguin Prison, is an electronic artist from New York City who is known for his remixes. Glover recently released his first studio album, titled “Penguin Prison,” on Oct. 18 through Downtown Records. Courtesy of Little giant entertainment
ER: Where do you get your inspiration for your music?
comes out of nowhere. Sometimes I sleep with a tape recorder next to my bed and wake up in the middle of the night [with] a melody in my head and sing it into the tape recorder and fall back asleep. The next day I wake up and listen to it and try to turn that into a song. That’s the best way to come up with something, because it just comes to you.
CG: I think inspiration is sort of a complex thing. It’s hard to really define. A lot of the time it just
ER: Was there ever a defining moment when you knew you wanted to do this?
ER: Where did the name “penguin prison” come from?
CG: I don’t think there was a defining moment, because I think I knew I wanted to make music before I would even be conscious of such a defining moment. It’s just always been something I’ve wanted to do, ever since I can remember.
also influenced by a lot of other things, like Sala Kuti, Nat King Cole, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams and Bob Dylan. Hopefully it all blends together somehow to influence me and inform the kind of music that I create.
ER: Are there any particular artists that influence you?
ER: Do you ever see yourself collaborating with any of those artists on future projects?
CG: It came because I made a song with my friend about George W. Bush. When he was the president, we were just making a funny joke rap song about him. We were freestyling, and we just started saying, “He’s a penguin vision, he went to the penguin prison, and assumed the penguin position.” And then I remembered that later when I was trying to think of a name for my band. So, I decided on that.
CG: Yeah. I made a remix for Miike Snow and I went on tour with them. That was a really cool
Doors for Cortaca Kickoff open at 7:30 p.m. The concert is free for students and $5 for the general public.
CG: Yeah, I like lots of kinds of music. Some of influences are Michael Prince, Talking Heads,
different the main Jackson, but I’m
1 8 The It hacan
Th ursday, November 8 , 2 0 1 2
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Moody musical exposes raw emotion
thursday
by Josh Greenfield Staff Writer
Coming from the same realm of new rock and pop musicals as “Spring Awakening” and “RENT,” the Melodramatics’ production of “bare: A Pop Opera” attracts audiences with its modern pop score and angst-filled plot. Playing at the Risley Theatre at Cornell University, “bare” succeeds with its scene-stealing vocal performances and powerful acting. The story revolves around a Catholic boarding school and a group of seniors. Though many of the “bare” characters evolve throughMelodramatics out the show, the primary Theatre Company focus is on Peter (senior Our rating: HH 1/2 Jeremy Ehlinger), a closeted gay teen who is struggling to find a way to come out. At the same time, another closeted gay student at the school, Jason (Dan Middleditch), whom Peter has developed a sexual relationship with, also begins to struggle with his own issues of sexuality, causing strife between the two. With both boys struggling to figure out what they want, their relationship becomes complicated, and other students begin to become involved through acts of cuckolding, betrayal and indignity. An addition to the complication is fellow student Ivy (freshman Emily Behrmann-Fowler), who begins to draw Jason away from Peter and cause him to question his sexuality even further. The cast brings the energy and emotion of the story to life. Even within the ensemble, the actors never cease to bring believability to their roles, which causes the audience to sympathize with the characters as the tragic and serious situations unfold. Among the leading roles, Ehlinger’s shines above the rest with his flawless vocal performance and strong acting. He brilliantly establishes his relationship with Middleditch to the point of total audience engagement. Middleditch, despite occasionally lacking energy in his acting, makes up for it fully with a memorable vocal performance. Junior Kathryn Allison, who plays Sister
hot dates
Juvenalia!!, an event presented by Trampoline, will allow Ithaca residents to bring in letters and poems from before they were allowed to vote and read them before an audience at 7 p.m. at Lot 10 Lounge.
friday
Theater Review
SalsaSon Latin Dance Party, an event sponsored by Palante Ithaca, will feature a day of Latin music. Patrons can dance the salsa, rumba and more at Big Red Barn at Cornell University. Admission is $6.
Jon Kaplan, a local, acoustic indie performer, will have a show at 10 p.m. at AGAVA restaurant.
saturday From left, Jason (Dan Middleditch) and Peter (Jeremy Ehlinger) star in the Melodramatics Theatre Company’s production of “bare: A Pop Opera” playing at Risley Theatre at Cornell University.
courtesy of Melodramatics Theatre Company
Chantelle, a nun at the Catholic school, stands out with her powerhouse vocal performance in her solo songs as well as her heartfelt moments with Ehlinger. Behrmann-Fowler also shines with her memorable vocals and emotionally convincing acting. The technical aspects of the show also shine in some ways. Senior Pascale Florestal’s choreography — though relatively simplistic — is mesmerizing and tight while adaptive to the small performance space. Cornell junior Spencer Whale’s direction generally succeeds, however it does contain flaws — the stage direction is highly cluttered in the small space of the theater. Some high points of the direction include the spot-on casting and the emotional work that Whale brings out with some of his staging in key scenes, such as in the show’s climax.
While it is performing all over the country, the show has gone through much growth, and a revised version, titled “bare the musical,” is currently being performed off-Broadway. With outstanding vocal performances and emotional believability throughout from the cast members, “bare: A Pop Opera” will certainly entertain audiences. Though its mature subject matter may not make it appropriate for all, it is appropriate for any person high school age and above. Overall, “bare’s” compelling storyline is riddled with depth and combines masterfully with its pop-rock score to produce a work that is enthralling, engaging and a definite must-see. “bare: A Pop Opera” will run until Nov. 11 at Risley Theatre at Cornell University. Tickets are $10-15.
Gloomy album comes to life with haunting musicality synthesizers and A Place to Bury Strangers’ love affair with guitar With fall in full swing and the effects, The Soft Moon is a fitting gloomy feeling of shortened, over- hybrid of the three. The album comes to life with cast days around the corner, it’s a death in the form of “It Ends.” the perfect time Blazing synthesizer lines cut for a new, somber through ferocious drum riffs that record from The plunge listeners right into the Soft Moon. The Soft Moon desperation and strife, which What started “Zeros” Captured Tracks courses through the track listoff as a mere solo Our rating: ing. The song dies out with a project by Luis HHH 1/2 failing heartbeat, and the last ratVasquez has now tling gasps for life. grown into a band The title track, “Zeros,” is comthat is a force to be reckoned with in the post-punk rock scene. The pletely devoid of vocals and relies group’s new album, “Zeros,” is a solely on the spooky nature of the hearty dose of distilled depression instrumentals. Synthesizers scream through the atmospherics, creating and melodrama. With a dash of Joy Division’s a twisted siren. The only sign of huchronic doom, Cold Cave’s emotive man involvement comes from the
by Nathan Rafalowski staff writer
Senior Writer
Check out theithacan. org/spotify to listen to the songs featured in this week’s reviews!
Collar Comedy Group, with Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy, will perform at 8 p.m. at the State Theatre.
Fall Tree Walk, a walk led by Anna Stalter to learn how to identify trees by the buds and bark, will begin at 10 a.m. at the Cornell Cooperative Extension. The event is free.
sunday
Fall Utsav!, hosted by the Cornell Indian Association, will feature a three-course Indian meal, Bollywood music and dancing at 7 p.m. at Willard Straight Theatre.
Rock album lacks solid range
by Jared DIonne
Album Review
An Evening with Bill Engvall, a member of Blue
Courtesy of Captured tracks
final cut, “sdnE tI,” which revives the album as the ability to breathe returns and the heart is restored. As the title would suggest, the song is largely a backwards version of “It Ends,” which makes for quite an eerie effect. The Soft Moon is a shining example of how music fit for the darkest of nightmares can still remain an enjoyable experience. For best results: Listen at night and put a match to those candles.
The Sword’s newest album, “Apocryphon,” is its first release with a new record label, Razor & Tie, and without the original drummer, Trivett Wingo. But despite these changes, The Sword has put together a quality album. “Apocryphon” has a slow start, with many of the tracks sounding similar. The best The Sword “Apocryphon” moments of Razor & Tie diversity lie in Our rating: the lead-ins for HHH the songs. The range the band displays on this track doesn’t go very far, transitioning only from hard rock to harder rock. The title track, “Apocryphon,” shows the band’s best qualities. Jimmy Vela’s rhythmic drums
Album Review
accentuate the trippy lyrics such as “Everything is all the time / All around you the points align / Everything is all the time.” Vela, as overshadowed as he is, is able to show off his skills and cements himself as the new drummer. Despite the lack of range, “Apocryphon” sets a great start to The Sword’s new life with Razor & Tie and with a new member on board.
Courtesy of Razor & Tie
quickies “Miracle”
“Power & passion”
The Christian rock group returns with its 11th studio album, which has a bit of a country twang on it on songs like “Your Love Is Like a River.” Singer Mac Powell shows off his thick vocals on tracks like “Forever Yours.”
The newest EP from the hiphop group is a collection of strange sounds. The song “Carl Zalioni” attempts to incorporate a piano to dull down the other noises, and the vocals just sound downright creepy.
Mr MFN eXquire Universal Republic Records
Third Day Essential Records
courtesy of Essential Records
courtesy oF Universal Republic Records
Compiled by Jackie Eisenberg
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Directorial debut lacks strong impact [ RZA fails to engage audiences in action-packed Kung fu flick bY James Hasson
ticket stub
]
valid friday through thursday
cinemapolis The Commons 277-6115
staff writer
The IMposter HH 9:15 p.m. and weekends 2:40 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.
Music producer RZA stars in his Hollywood directorial debut, “The Man with the Iron Fists.” The film has a vapid story and some camera issues, but the gory violence combined with Kung Fu influences makes “The Man with the Iron Fists” a mildly entertaining “The Man fight film. with the Iron The plot sets up Fists” Universal a formula for mayPictures hem. A governor of Our rating: ancient China sends HH a shipment of gold across the country, which makes a stop at the town of Jungle. The town is already thrown into chaos from a blood feud between clans. The arrival of the gold attracts scoundrels and criminals like flies to honey. Among the criminals are Silver Lion (Byron Mann), the second in command of the Lion clan who kills the Lion clan leader, Gold Lion (Kuan Tai Chen), and takes over the town. Zen Yi (Rick Yune), the son of Gold Lion, vows revenge against Silver Lion. Zen Yi teams up with a womanizing British cutthroat named Jack Knife (Russell Crowe) and a lovestruck protagonist, known only as The Blacksmith (RZA), to kill Silver Lion and liberate the town from the Lion Clan’s tyrannical grip. Crowe’s plays the part of a stylized rogue with gusto. Though it gets hammy when he whips out a psychotic monologue from nowhere, he transitions from psycho killer back into a gentleman of leisure with ease. Lucy Liu also enacts a solid performance as Madame Blossom, who appears as the
The Details 5:05 p.m. and 7:10 p.m. and weekends 5:05 p.m. and 7:10 p.m.
Film Review
Detropia 4:50 p.m. and 7:05 p.m. and weekends 4:50 p.m. and 7:05 p.m. Searching for Sugar Man
HHH 1/2
5 p.m., 7:25 p.m., except Tues. and Thurs. and 9:20 p.m., except Fri., and weekends 2:20 p.m., 5 p.m., 7:25 p.m. and 9 p.m. The Perks of Being a Wallflower
HHH 1/2 From left, Dave Bautista stars as Brass Body and RZA stars as The Blacksmith in “The Man with the Iron Fists.” The film surrounds an Asian crime ring looking to overthrow the leader of the ring, Silver Lion (Byron Mann.)
polite matron of a bordello that the story centers on. The two Hollywood stars excel in this film, but the rest of the cast delivers dull performances. Mann tries to add sinister humor to his character, but it comes off as weak compared to the clout of Crowe’s performance. Most of the rest of the cast play hardcore action types, rolling their lines off with blank faces and a slightly angry or confident tone. Gangster rap songs play through martial arts brawls and shots of the risqué bordello. Kung fu fights are abound with slow motion shots glorifying blood or eyeballs flying through the air. The film displays several
Courtesy oF Universal Pictures
exotic, but sometimes fun, weapons, including Jack Knife’s multi-tool blade. There are blades shooting out of a suit of armor and even a hit man with the mystical ability to turn his skin into metallic armor. The story is somewhat contrived and mostly passed along by narration through The Blacksmith. The story also introduces numerous characters with little or no impact on the film at all, such as the Gemini Twins (Grace Huang and Andrew Lin) and an assassin (Daniel Wu) with an irrelevant backstory laid out during the last battle. Though awkward camerawork can fail to capture some of the visuals,
Dynamic film stuns with plot
they still receive ample opportunity to shine. The shots sometimes lack focus or move too quickly. This can make fight scenes difficult to follow or irksome to watch. The camera does stand out in a few moments, such as with comic book-style framing of shots that culminates in a fight scene in a hall of mirrors. The story and execution in RZA’s first movie may be choppy at points, but his fun style fusing west and east makes “The Man with the Iron Fists” a fair film. “The Man with the Iron Fists” was directed by RZA and written by RZA and Eli Roth.
Original story saves the day
By Josh Greenfield
By Rob Mayo
Staff writer
Contributing writer
In 1999, the Wachowski siblings came together to release what is perhaps one of the most memorable films of recent time, “The Matrix.” Now the duo has teamed up again with their adaptation of David Mitchell’s novel “Cloud Atlas,” which succeeds emotionally “Cloud Atlas” and technically. Warner Bros. The plot is a mix of six difPictures ferent stories that all overlap. Our rating: Each story takes place in a difHHHH ferent location and period of time and is linked to the others through subtle hints such as a similarly shaped tattoo on at least one character from each. The stories follow several characters from different backgrounds, including a lawyer in the 1870s and a goat herder in the distant future, with the other stories taking place in varying time periods in between. Aside from the subtle hints, another commonality the stories share is the actors. The cast is an excellent group, playing different parts in each of the stories. Among the group of actors are standouts Tom Hanks and Halle Berry, who both shine in their various roles. Hanks is especially impressive with his versatility, as each of his characters not only has a different look and vocal accent but also has an entirely different feeling to him. Every role is performed so masterfully that the audience will often forget that they are indeed played by just one actor. Berry likewise proves to be memorable while playing so many different characters and is even more unforgettable through the
“Wreck-It Ralph” is an animated comedy film that older gamers can appreciate as well as audiences without as much gaming knowledge. With its zany charm and originality, “Wreck-It Ralph” is a surprisingly emotional movie that excels in creating a universe enjoyable by all. Ralph (John C. Reilly), the antagonist of a retro arcade game, is tired of being a villain and leaves his game to prove he can be a hero. However, two game worlds become endangered when Ralph ac“Wreck-It cidentally brings a robotic Ralph” Walt Disney bug from “Hero’s Duty,” a Pictures subtle parody of the modern Our rating: shooter genre, to another HHH 1/2 game, “Sugar Rush,” a cutesy
film Review
Film Review
Tom Hanks stars in the film version of the novel “Cloud Atlas,” also starring Halle Berry.
Courtesy oF Warner Bros. Pictures
brilliant emotion she employs in some of her more dynamic characters. “Cloud Atlas” also succeeds with stunning cinematography. Frank Griebe and John Toll’s camera work create scenes that feel accurate to their respective settings. In scenes that take place in the ruins of the world after the fall of society, remnants of civilization are seen in the grim scenery. Overall, “Cloud Atlas” comes together to create a film that is truly magnificent. The acting, story and beautiful technical work all blend together in a powerful way that will leave audience members feeling as though they have been taken on a captivating journey.
racing game with the design resembling “Candy Land.” Sarah Silverman stars as Vannelope, an adorable misfit who aspires to win the “Sugar Rush” race. Silverman in particular steals the show with her cartoony performance. The background music almost always calls back to a certain genre or age of gaming, from retro beats in pixelated games to the upbeat soundtrack of “Sugar Rush.” Game characters like Zangrief, Pac-Man, Q-Bert and even Sonic the Hedgehog play minor roles in the film. “Wreck-It Ralph” is a movie that truly reaches out to those who relate to the gaming culture, but its beautiful animation and quirky nature create a movie that is enjoyable for all audiences.
“Cloud Atlas” was directed and written by Lana Wachowski, Tom Tyker and Andy Wachowski.
“Wreck-It Ralph” was directed by Rich Moore and written by Phil Johnston and Jennifer Lee.
4:45 p.m., 7:15 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. and weekends 2:10 p.m., 4:45 p.m., 7:15 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Samsara 9:35 p.m. and weekends 2:30 p.m. and 9:35 p.m. The Master HHH 4:15 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. and weekends 1:30 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.
regal stadium 14 Pyramid Mall 266-7960
The Man with the Iron Fists HH 2:20 p.m., 4:50 p.m., 7:10 p.m., 9:50 p.m. Wreck-It Ralph HHH 1/2 11:45 a.m., 12:55 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 5:15 p.m., 6:25 p.m., 8:10 p.m. and 9:10 p.m. Wreck-It Ralph 3d HHH 1/2 12:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 10:10 p.m. Cloud Atlas HHHH 12:20 p.m., 4:20 p.m., 8:25 p.m. Skyfall noon, 12:40 p.m., 1:40 p.m., 2:10 p.m., 3:20 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 6:40 p.m., 7:20 p.m., 7:55 p.m., 8:55 p.m., 9:30 p.m., 10 p.m., 10:40 p.m. Flight 12:10 p.m., 2 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5:45 p.m., 7 p.m., 9:20 p.m., 10:20 p.m. Silent Hill: Revelation 3D 5:30 p.m. Paranormal Activity 4 HH 11:55 a.m. Argo HHH 1/2 1:50 p.m., 4:40 p.m., 7:40 p.m., 10:30 p.m. Sinister 10:50 p.m. Taken 2 H 1/2 1:05 p.m., 4:10 p.m., 6:50 p.m., 9:40 p.m.
our ratings Excellent HHHH Good HHH Fair HH Poor H
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for rent Spacious 3 + 4 bedroom townhouses furnished, dishwasher, non-coin washer and dryer, 1 1/2 baths, balconies, free parking, free water. Call 607-273-8576 or 607-319-6416. Lovely 6 bedroom house Pleasant 314/316, parking, big rooms. 5 bedrooms Green St. 4 bedroom house 214 Prospect. 6 bed 126 Hudson. All have parking included. Call after 2 p.m. 2925210 for 2013-14. 215-17 Prospect St. — 6 person house. 319 Hillview Pl. — 5 person house. 315-17 Hillview
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sports
Th ursday, Novem be r 8, 2012
The I th a c a n 2 3
Gritty in pink
From left, junior Reeve Moir attempts to block a forehand slap shot from junior Jackson Eagan while playing pinkyball, a new intramural sport at Ithaca College, in the Fitness Center on Monday.
Carl Heyerdahl/The Ithacan
College prepares for newest intramural sport By Shawn Steiner Photo Editor
It started with a group of high school friends in Nahant, Mass., with a net built out of sticks and a 99-cent rubber ball. Twenty-eight years and 350 miles later, a schoolyard game called pinkyball has made its way to Ithaca. Pinkyball, a combination of handball, lacrosse and soccer, has laid dormant for decades , being played only in a small high school in Massachusetts. This December, the sport is being intro- Check out duced on the collegiate a video of a level when the college pinkyball game hosts its first intramural at theithacan. pinkyball tournament. org/27546. Junior Reeve Moir, pinkyball’s local ambassador, stood in front of six students dressed in casual athletic clothes in October in the Fitness Center to facilitate the college’s inaugural game of pinkyball. The players formed into two teams, The Short Guys and The Kentucky Gentlemen, and Moir led a short informational session before the fast-paced game kicked into gear. Moir described the basic move of pinkyball as a type of air juggle, where players try to keep the ball alive with a series of palm slaps while moving up the court. Players are allowed to slap the ball five times before they have to shoot or pass the ball to a teammate. The player can also kick the ball when they run out of palm slaps. Players can incorporate moves from other sports, like indoor soccer, to kick the ball off the walls and advance the ball forward. “The goal of the game is to score points by hitting it into the net, just like soccer or lacrosse,” he said. Shots on goal are directed at a goalie armed with only a baseball glove. Teams feverishly push the ball up and down the court attempting to score a goal. When a goalie makes a save on a high-speed slapshot, he or she can throw, slap, kick or roll the ball out to a teammate, and the play continues. Junior Lucas Knapp participated in the college’s inaugural game of pinkyball. He said the sport was easy to get involved with because it doesn’t require special athletic gear or any type of specific athletic skill. “You just need your hands, your body,
some shorts and a t-shirt and you get to run around and have fun with your friends,” Knapp said. “It’s really not about who wins or loses, it’s just about playing pinkyball.” Knapp identified the process of dribbling and kicking such a tiny ball as the most difficult parts of pinkyball to learn. Despite the learning curve the players faced, Moir said pinkyball’s simplicity got everyone engaged quickly. “Everybody got the rules down really quickly, and then we just played for a while,” Moir said. “It was an awesome time. Tons of fun.” Even with a wide range of athletic abilities present in the exhibition game, the game was evenly matched and ended with a close score. Moir attributed this to the even playing field created by lack of player experience. Junior Reeve Moir holds a pinky ball, the high-bounce rubber ball from which pinkyball “I want to stress to people the fact that derived its name, during a demonstration Saturday in the Fitness Center. since it has never been played here, nobody Shawn Steiner/The Ithacan will have a distinct advantage in it,” he said. Until this year, people only played pinkyball at the Waring School in Beverly, Mass., where it tract people who aren’t interested in more tra- into handball at other colleges was first invented. Moir, a sports management ditional sports,” he said. “There’s a lot more of because of its strong similarities to pinkyball. “[Handball] has been pretty popular in a major, created a project that would have a lasting the casual athlete, and these non-traditional lot of schools, and I thought, [pinkyball] is impact on the office of recreational sports in a sports appeal to them.” Another factor that Flickinger considers nothing we have ever seen before here, and fieldwork assignment. Moir, a Waring alumnus, said he pitched the old high school favorite as when looking at new intramural sports is the it is nothing anyone else has really ever seen cost. Pinkyball uses outside of Ithaca College, so why not be the an intramural tournament equipment already pioneer?” he said. early this semester. Sign-ups for the tournament, set for the available, such as floor To adapt pinkyball to hockey goals and base- weekend of Dec. 1, were recently opened up to the collegiate level, rules ball gloves, and the the campus community after the trial game Oct. had to be formalized and pinkyballs themselves 7 was deemed a success by the department. designed for the resources Knapp said the people that were watching are inexpensive. available to the college Flickinger said a from the balcony in the fitness center during while maintaining the challenge associated the first game looked a little confused, but also integrity of the original with running it as intrigued. Knapp said pinkyball would fit in line game. Goals once made of an intramural sport with some of the campus’ other quirky activities. sticks have been replaced — Scott Flickinger “We play Quidditch and have Humans vs. is getting people to by nets of metal and nylon. Games that used to start with a toss off show up. He said he is hoping the appeal of a Zombies,” he said. “It’s not much of a stretch to have pinkyball in there too.” a chimney now begin with a simple jump ball brand new sport will draw in players. Moir and Flickinger said they hope the “I always want to do something that’s new,” reminiscent of basketball. Because of its newness and unconvention- he said. “There are individuals looking for al- game will be a staple in intramural programal rules, pinkyball is a non-traditional sport. ternative activities to some of the more social ming in the future. Flickinger said there are Scott Flickinger, program coordinator of rec- aspects of Thursday and Friday night. We try even tentative plans to make a pinkyball reational sports, said, non-traditional sports to provide that outlet for individuals looking league next fall, depending on the success of create a relaxed in-game atmosphere and are for a positive, fun release in terms of physical, the tournament this December. “The future is going to be with non-traopen to a larger range of participants. The last mental and emotional safety.” Flickinger researched what other colleges’ ditional sports,” Flickinger said. “Everybody intramural sport that was introduced to the college was Ultimate Frisbee during the spring intramural programs have been doing and he and anybody can play the traditional sports. found that non-traditional sports have been But, every once in awhile somebody will say, of 2008. “What we look at is something that may at- successful elsewhere. He said he also looked ‘I want to try something new.’”
“[Pinkyball] is nothing anyone else has really ever seen outside of Ithaca College, so why not be the pioneer?”
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between the lines
Nathan bickell
Why I switched football teams There are certain unwritten laws for being a sports fan, and I am guilty of violating one of the paramount tenets of them: don’t switch your team allegiances. Over the course of my four years in Ithaca, my NFL allegiance has slowly, but irrevocably, shifted from the Washington Redskins to the Baltimore Ravens. My choice has provoked condemnation from not only my friends back home who are Redskins fans but nearly every sports fan whom I have told about my switch. I was never a die-hard Redskins fan — that special place in my heart is reserved exclusively for the Baltimore Orioles — but I was unquestionably a fan growing up and throughout high school. Most of my close friends were Redskins fans, and gathering on Sundays to sing “Hail to the Redskins” every time the team scored is among my best memories of high school. I was removed from the communal aspect of rooting for the Redskins when I came to Ithaca, and my passion began to slide into indifference. I began to look more critically at the team and began to conclude that the Redskins were the Yankees of the NFL — except they sucked. It is a lot easier to feel good rooting for a bad team that is impeded in its ability to field a competitive team by its small-market size, but it is a lot harder to root for the bad team that has all the money it wants and still can’t win. The Redskins organization also conducts itself in a low-class manner. The Redskins will sue fans who are unable to afford their season tickets, including a 72-year-old retired grandmother. When the weekly Washington City Paper published a list of Redskins owner Daniel Snyder’s top 100 mistakes, Snyder decided to sue the paper for libel. Snyder eventually dropped the suit, but not before the ensuing controversy caused the article to be viewed so many times that the website’s server crashed. I looked to my other hometown team and saw an organization I could get behind. The Ravens don’t make splashy signings every off-season. Instead, the core of the team has remained remarkably consistent over the years, and the team has made the playoffs eight out of the past 11 seasons. I don’t own any Ravens apparel; the idea of it still seems kind of weird. I understand the criticisms for jumping ship on a favorite team, but I vehemently oppose being labeled a bandwagon jumper. I did not switch my allegiances to the best team in the NFL regardless of geographical location; I chose to root for one hometown team over the other. I no longer could feel good supporting an organization that did things the wrong way. Maybe every sports fan should get one mulligan in choosing teams to root for. I’ve taken mine. nathan bickell is a senior documentary studies major. Contact him at nbickel1@ithaca.edu.
Th ursday, November 8 , 2 0 1 2
Bombers welcome NCAAs to Carp Wood By steve derderian staff writer
The previous three games for the women’s soccer team had its coaches and players holding their breath, but the Bombers can now breathe a collective sigh of relief as they prepare for the national stage. After losing their final regular season matchup against Rochester Institute of Technology on Oct. 27, the team won and tied in two pressure-packed games in the Empire 8 Conference tournament to earn an automatic qualifier for the NCAA Division III championship tournament. Junior Amanda Callanan, who was named the tournament’s most valuable player, scored the go-ahead goal in penalty kicks to give the team the The women’s edge over Nazareth College soccer team in the conference chamearned its pionship game Sunday on 10th consecuCarp Wood Field. Callanan tive trip to the said the South Hill squad NCAA Division wasn’t nervous during the III Tournament after winning its decisive shootout. eighth Empire 8 “It was a tough spot afConference title. ter [junior back Anna Gray] missed, but we practice penalty kicks so much in practice that we were ready for that situation,” Callanan said. Becca Salant was in the net the entire game and shut out the Nazareth offense through 110 minutes of play. In an interesting turn of events, the Bombers turned to backup junior goaltender Becca Lewis for the penalty kicks. After Callanan scored to break a 2-2 tie, Lewis proceeded to stop three shots in a row to win the game for the South Hill squad. After the game, Lewis said she was confident through her practice preparation for penalty kicks and knew the team believed in her to get the job done. “All season I needed to be ready to go when they needed me,” Lewis said. “I did my best to read the shooters and got a lot of confidence after stopping my first shot.” The win against Nazareth not only guaranteed the Bombers a chance to play in the NCAA tournament, but they also get to host the first two rounds. The Blue and Gold will play the University of Massachusetts Boston, which boasts an 18–2 overall record, in the opening round Saturday morning on Carp Wood Field.
stat check
From left, senior Christine Belding chases junior midfielder and Empire 8 tournament MVP Amanda Callanan on Sunday on Carp Wood Field. Callanan netted the game’s winning penalty kick.
Shawn steiner/The ithacaN
UMass Boston Head Coach Amy Zombeck said it is a difficult first matchup considering that both teams have closely matched records. “[Ithaca] presents a good challenge for us, and they have experience, especially making it to the Final Four last season,” Zombeck said. “We need to limit their offense and make sure we can control the game the way we want to.” Scranton University and Bowdoin College will also play on Carp Wood Field for the first
two rounds of the tournament. The Bombers defeated Scranton in a 3-2 overtime comeback Sept. 8. Head Coach Mindy Quigg said the Blue and Gold’s home field advantage should help the squad get through a difficult section of the tournament bracket. “We’ve played our best soccer here,” Quigg said. “We have more time to practice on our own field now, and we don’t have to worry about losing time to travel.”
Blue and Gold capture first Empire 8 title in 10 years By danielle d’avanzo senior writer
The men’s soccer team may not have gotten a bid into the Division III NCAA tournament, but the Bombers can still call themselves co-Empire 8 Conference champions. The Blue and Gold won a share of the Empire 8 crown for the first time since 2002 after a 0-0 draw with Stevens Institute of Technology on Sunday. With both teams guaranteed “co-champion” status, the game went on to penalty shots to determine who received the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Ducks won 3-2 in the penalty kick shootout to move on to the first round of the national tournament Saturday. However, the South Hill squad ended Stevens’ 14-game win streak and is now one of three teams to hold the Ducks scoreless this season. The Bombers’ captains said they are ecstatic to be able to return some hardware to South Hill and wear their Empire 8 championship T-shirts with pride. Senior back Dan Shirley said one of the best parts of winning a share of the conference title is seeing how much of the squad improved this season. “To see how our team was when we first came here and how we progressed to the team we have now, it’s really accomplishing to see such a great group of kids earn this
From left, freshman midfielder Guthrie Drake battles Stevens sophomore midfielder Kevin Calloway during a game Oct. 27 on Carp Wood Field. Nora Noone/the ithacan
[championship],” Shirley said. The South Hill squad featured a young squad this season with only five upperclassmen on the roster. Senior captains Ryan Norland, Shirley and his brother, Jack Shirley, instilled
hard work by leading through example, and now the players can call themselves champions. Freshman goalie Kenny Chapman said having the freshmen be able to make an impact this fall is a reflection
of the coaches and the seniors. “It takes a lot for freshmen to come into a new system and play as well as they can,” Chapman said. “All three of our seniors were tremendous leaders. They did a great job of getting us prepared and sharing their knowledge with us.” Jack said one of the things he will remember the most this season is the camaraderie the team had and how much of an impact the players on the bench made. “I’m really proud of the way some of our guys on the bench supported our starters,” Jack said. “They didn’t get as much playing time, but the key to our success was those kids being so supportive.” After finishing with a 7–5–6 overall record, the Bombers were able to make a huge turnaround compared to the 2011 campaign, when the team finished 4–10–1. The seniors have stressed to the players returning next year that if the team wants to keep improving and reclaim the Empire 8 crown, they must put in the time during the offseason. “They encouraged us to become gym rats, because DIII soccer is a physical game,” Chapman said. “Everyone on this team can get stronger. There’s no one that can be content with how strong and fast and fit they are, so off-season is where we’re going to get most of it done.”
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Th ursday, Novem be r 8, 2012
The I th a c a n 2 5
South Hill squad suffers early E8 exit By Alex holt Senior writer
All season long, the women’s volleyball team has had a knack for pulling through at exactly the right time. The clock finally struck midnight, however, when the Bombers lost their Empire 8 Conference tournament semifinal in straight sets to Stevens Institute of Technology on Saturday. After a 3–1 run in their final four regular season conference matches, the Bombers were able to secure the No. 3 seed for the Empire 8 tournament in Elmira, N.Y., last Saturday. But the South Hill squad promptly dropped its final two regular season matches against SUNY-Fredonia and Hiram College. When the Blue and Gold arrived in Elmira, junior Syline Kim, right side hitter and team co-captain, said the squad was once again plagued by some of the same issues that frustrated them all season. “[The problem] was definitely communication with other members of the team,” Kim said. “Mostly playing defense or passing, if we just talked a little more and called out whosever ball it was, it would have definitely made the game a lot more close and easier for us.” Another reason for the team’s lackluster finale, Bombers Head Coach Janet Donovan said, was the Bombers’ inability to pass and serve, which acted as a catalyst for other issues.
“When we couldn’t pass or serve, it kind of threw the rest of our game off,” Donovan said. “When our passing was off, our attack was off also.” One thing Kim and Donovan did like about the Bombers’ performance against Stevens was how the team managed to rally their way back into the match after falling behind early, even if they couldn’t do it fast enough to claim any of the lost sets. “We definitely started to pick it up during the middle of the matches,” Kim said. “It was too late to win it, but we started to play together more.” Donovan said the Bombers’ late rallies are a trend she’s noticed more and more often during the second half of the season. “Earlier in the season, if our passing was off early on, we didn’t have a lot of fight,” Donovan said. “As the match went on, we fought harder, we started to serve tougher and we started blocking better.” After a 13–15 overall mark during the regular season, the Bombers finished without a winning record for the first time in 20 years. However, Donovan said she was proud of her team for improving over the course of the season as much as it did, given the roster’s youth and lack of experience. “Last year at this time with a very experienced group, we were not even playing, we didn’t make the conference championship,” Donovan said. “We had a much better record, but we didn’t per-
From left, junior right side hitter Syline Kim watches while freshman right side hitter Christine Flannery executes a spike against SUNY-Oneonta on Oct. 16 in Ben Light Gymnasium. The Bombers finished 13–15 overall this fall. Carl Heyerdahl/the ithacan
form in the conference weekends when we needed to.” Donovan said the Bombers will have enough healthy players to hold a spring season with actual tournament competition instead of just practicing with the few healthy returning players they had left. Last spring, the Bombers’ roster was held back by several injuries, including a torn ACL suffered by Kim.
“We had a lot of individual training, but we didn’t have a normal opportunity to play in a spring tournament,” Donovan said. “This year we’ll have it because we have a lot more returners than we had last year.” Senior outside hitter and team co-captain Marissa Weil won’t return next year, but Weil said she thinks the Bombers learned some valuable lessons in communication
and teamwork that should make them a team to watch next season. “Our team has learned a lot this year in communication and just trusting each other,” Weil said. “It’s a great group of girls, and they’re young players, but they’re going to be playing together for the next couple years. They’ll definitely have an advantage next year because of learning this year.”
Look online and on our Twitter for game stories from these sports: SATURDAY • TBD Sculling at Frostbite Regatta in Camden, N.J. • 11 a.m. Women’s Soccer vs. UMass Boston in NCAA Division III Tournament First Round on Carp Wood Field • 11 a.m. Men’s and Women’s Cross Country at NCAA Atlantic Region Championship in Rochester, N.Y. • Noon. Football at SUNY-Cortland in 54th Annual Cortaca Jug Game in Cortland, N.Y.
SUNDAY •TBD Sculling at Braxton Regatta in Camden, N.J.
TBD=To Be Determined Bold = Home game
Follow us Saturday on Twitter for live updates and analysis during Cortaca: @IthacanSports The Ithacan
online | theithacan.org/sports
file photo/the ithacan
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2 6 The It hacan
Th ursday, November 8 , 2 0 1 2
Runners set sights on NCAA Atlantic Regionals Women’s senior co-captain Carly Graham said the team has worked extensively with Before both the men’s and women’s cross sports psychologists in order understand country teams toe the line at the NCAA what needs to be done to finish in the top Championship meet, they must approach five teams. “We have been talking to a sports psythe last hurdle of the season to make it there: the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships chologist in the past couple weeks,” she said. “We definitely feel it has helped us combine Saturday in Rochester, N.Y. Men’s senior captain David Geary said thoughts and come up with a good race plan the regional race is the climax of the season, to be successful.” Each of the Bombers’ squads must place not only because of its purpose but also in within the top five teams at the regional its size and excitement. “It’s always the biggest race of the year,” competition to have a chance at qualifying Geary said. “It is always wild. There are for the NCAA Championship. There are multiple steps they must about 30 teams racing go through to receive the on a five-mile course, NCAA championship bid. just lined with people, If either the men’s or so it’s really important women’s squad finishes to stay focused on the within the top two teams task at hand and not get in the division, they will too excited too early.” automatically qualify to As members of the move on to the NCAA Atlantic region, the Championships Nov. men’s team is ranked — Senior Co-captain carly graham 17 in Terre Haute, Ind. 8th, while the women However, if either team are ranked 7th overall going into the meet. The men will face finishes in positions three through five, it off against the east coast’s best teams in an must be selected by a committee to move 8,000-meter race, while the women will race on to the national meet. Graham said the Blue and Gold are enat 6,000 meters. To prepare for these races, both teams tering the regional meet with an open mind, have slowed down their intensity and volume because they believe if they compete to the in practices. Freshman Sawyer Hitchcock best of their ability, they have a chance to said his team’s newly implemented style has reach the top five. “We are all very optimistic that we do slowed the speed and lowered the volume of training even more, making the runners feel have a chance of making the top five as a team,” Graham said. “There are going to be as if it is still the start of the season. “We definitely feel fresh,” Hitchcock said. about five teams fighting for that 5th spot in “I am a freshman, but I feel more fresh at the region, and if we run the race, we know this point in the season than I did in high we can have the ability to beat them.” If both squads were to fall beneath the top school last year, so it is definitely working.” In addition to their athletic training, the five teams, they would not qualify as a team for teams have also added mental training in or- nationals. However, any individual athletes that der to create the perfect approach for what finish in the top 15 non-team athletes will go they hope will lead to a trip to nationals. onto the NCAA Championships as a contender.
by haley costello staff writer
“There are going to be about five teams fighting for that 5th spot in the region, and if we run the race, we know we can have the ability to beat them.”
Senior co-captain Carly Graham runs during a practice this fall on the Ithaca College cross country course. Graham leads the 8th-ranked Bombers to the Atlantic Regionals this weekend. alex mason/the ithacan
Graham said the biggest factor in the team’s success is not just its athletic performance but its mental preparation as well. The entire Bombers cross country program knows it needs to perform to the best of its ability to have a chance of winning the national bid.
“Racing is only half physical and the other half mental, so keeping our heads in check and believing in ourselves is a big factor,” Graham said. “We know we have the physical training under our belt and just need to execute it.”
[The buzzer]
Th ursday, Novem be r 8, 2012
The I th a c a n 2 7
Top Tweets The funniest sports commentary via Twitter from this past week. Faux John Madden @FauxJohnMadden If Norv Turner could play the Chiefs 16 times a year, he might be a decent coach. Brian Phillip @runofplay Can’t wait for Messi’s second and third babies to be born so I can unfurl that joke about how he “can’t stop scoring.” The Bill Walton Trip @NotBillWalton Lakers with their first win since May 18th! Great job. Enthralling victory over those juggernaut Detroit Pistons! #ThrowItDown
In the flick of time
From left, sophomore Connor Brown throws a pass under the arm of senior Miles Eckardt during an intramural Ultimate Frisbee matchup between The Dirty Ts and The Bootylicious Blade Runners on Tuesday night in Glazer Arena.
matt kelly/the ithacan
start ‘em / sit ‘em
Trey Wingo @Wingoz Fairly convinced that Peyton Manning of week 2 was a replacement player ... been on a major tear ever since.
NOV
8
On this day in...
Staff Writer Emily Hull breaks down some of the most important events in pro sports and Bombers sports history that happened Nov. 8.
1970
PRO SPORTS HISTORY
Tom Dempsey of the New Orleans Saints kicks NFL record field goal of 63 yards. His kick led to a victory over the visiting Detroit Lions 17-15. Here’s the kicker, Dempsey was born without toes on his right foot and no fingers on his right hand. He wore a shoe designed for him with a flattened and enlarged toe surface. Around the league, this sparked controversy as to whether Dempsey had an unfair advantage. To this Dempsey responded “Unfair eh? How ‘bout you try kickin’ a 63-yard field goal to win it with 2 seconds left an’ yer wearin’ a square shoe, oh, yeah and no toes either.” Later, there was an ESPN Sport Science analysis of his kick, and it was found that his shoe offered him no unfair advantage. Dempsey still holds this record today.
Start:
Phillip Rivers
Despite the Chargers’ win last week, Rivers struggled against the disappointing Chiefs secondary. Regardless, don’t bench him this week against the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay has the last-ranked pass defense in the league, giving up an average of 321.1 yards a game, and gave up 414 yards and four touchdowns to Carson Palmer last week. With the trade of star cornerback Aqib Talib, the Bucs will be a soft matchup. Expect Rivers to rebound for fantasy owners with a great week.
Fantasy football is all about matchups. Even fantasy superstars can lose you points during a bad matchup. Contributing Writer Cole Tessler gives the scoop on who has a good matchup and who to bench this week.
Sit:
Dwayne Bowe
Bowe has been a consistent fantasy receiver, tallying less than 50 yards receiving in one game this season, but do not start him against Pittsburgh. The Steelers have a stellar secondary, coming off a huge win, holding Eli Manning to only 125 yards. If they could hold the league leader in passing yards to that number, imagine what they could do to Matt Cassel and Dwayne Bowe.
Sports tidbits for the less-than-casual sports fan Sports Editor Matt Kelly offers a few sports topics to use at the bar, a party or an awkward lull in conversation.
BOMBERS SPORTS HISTORY
• NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick suffered damage to his car before Sunday’s race at Texas Motor Speedway even began. Two hours before the green flag dropped, a NASCAR sanctioned parachuter was blown slightly off course and hovered dangerously over pit road. The car was left with a huge dent after the parachuter’s sandbag collided into the driver’s side door. Everything’s bigger in Texas, even ceremonial blunders.
The women’s soccer team won against Stevens Institute of Technology 4-0 to advance to the Empire 8 Conference Finals on Carp Wood Field. Junior midfielder Amy Scheffer scored in the opening and final minutes of the game for the Bombers. The team went on to play Nazareth on Nov. 9 in the finals and won 5-0. This win sealed the sixth Empire 8 Championship for the Bombers in seven years.
• The Brooklyn Nets hosted celebrities during the Nets’ win against the Raptors in the inaugural game Saturday in the Barclays Center. Part owner Jay-Z and his wife Beyonce were in attendance. Jay-Z and Beyonce’s heiress to the pop music throne, Blue Ivy, was left at home with a babysitter.
2008
2 8 The It hacan
photo finish Captu ri ng th e B ombers at t h ei r be st
Th ursday, november 8 , 2 0 1 2
Turnover tactics
After an intercepted pass, junior free safety Skylar Griffenberg runs the ball down the field while being pursued by Hartwick College sophomore tight end Shaun Eichner during Ithaca’s final home game Saturday at Butterfield Stadium. The Bombers had a total of six interceptions, which tied a school single-game record, and won 28-7 against the Hartwick Hawks. jennifer williams/the ithacan