Vol. 52, Issue 5 - September 29th, 2010 by Mace and Crown

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Mace & Crown VOL. 52, ISSUE 5 | SEPTEMBER 29, 2010

Student newspaper of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, since 1930

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“Just because someone isn’t saying no, doesn’t mean they are saying yes”

Crime hits close to home University takes immediate action to increase safe measures By Stuart Miller Editor in Chief Crime has always been a hot button issue for the surrounding areas of Old Dominion University, but due to recent incidents around and on campus, students have begun to question exactly how safe they are. One of the more recent and startling incidents occurred on the evening of Tuesday September 21st outside of the Perry Library when a female ODU student was robbed at knife-point and was forced to hand over her book bag and purse. “I was at [Mills Godwin Building] at the time and I was freaked out,” said ODU Junior LaVatta Hines, “Before I wasn’t too worried about the crime off-campus, but this was a wake-up call that I have to start being more cautious.” It was this incident that influenced an immediate e-mail from ODU President John Broderick concerning the safety on ODU’s campus. “Crime of any sort is not acceptable at Old Dominion University” was the distinct statement in the e-mail underlining the seriousness of the situation, but the university has still seen its fair share of crime since the beginning of the school year. Since August 30th there have been 64 cases of larceny, four robberies, and eight cases of assault reported to the Old Dominion University Police Department with seven of the cases reported just in the last week. With such a spike in crime around the ODU community, calls and e-mails from concerned parents and students have become common, but Assistant Vice President for Marketing and Communications Jennifer Mullen confirmed that the necessary steps are being taken. “There have been some calls and e-mails from parents about campus safety,” Mullen said. “While all were concerned, the majority of parents expressed thanks for President Broderick’s e-mail to them and the campus explaining the actions he was taking to address the issue. Since August the university has been in the process of developing a joint police force with the Norfolk Police Department and the plan is to construct a facility neighboring ODU’s campus which would establish a third precinct in Norfolk as well as a headquarters for the ODUPD. The efforts of establishing the new precinct are still underway, but President Broderick has already taken action in light of the recent incidents by working with Chief Rudy Burwell of the ODUPD and Chief Bruce Marquis of the NPD to endorse an increase of security and patrols from both precincts to increase the safety of ODU’s campus and the surrounding jurisdiction. Even though the university has taken action to prevent crime, ODU students still feel that the prevention of these overwhelming acts should have been handled earlier rather than later. “They should have already had more security out instead of waiting for people to start getting robbed to act,” said ODU sophomore Marcus Martin. “I felt safe until the recent incidents happened, now I don’t feel safe walking outside at any time of day.” Although the extra security has recently been added to ODU’s campus, the university has taken steps in the past to ensure student’s safety by establishing a safe ride and escort service for students to use. The Danielle Buxton Mace & Crown escort service consists of 22incident ODU students, of which The on 48thmany occured Sept are 17. a part of the Reserve Officers Train-

Sexual Assault Resource Team helps inform, protect campus Danielle Buxton Mace & Crown A female student was held at knifepoint near Perry library on Sept 21

ing Corps (ROTC) program who are available daily from 5:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. ODU also provides a courtesy van that runs from Thursdays to Sundays from 8:00 p.m. until 2:30 a.m. and both are reachable by phone at 683-3477 or 683-6397. “As a female I’m probably affected the worst by the recent crimes,” said ODU Junior Caitlin Basknight. “My parents asked me to walk with a security guard to the Webb Center at night, but I declined even though I am happy that the services are available.” Besides programs that have been implemented by ODU the university has instilled a set list of warnings that are preached thoroughly to ODU students to ensure their safety. “Don’t walk alone at night. If you are out past the hours of the university services, have someone drive you back to your residence or consider spending the night where you are if it is safe,” Said Mullen. “Be aware of your surroundings both day and night. Lock your doors and don’t leave valuables in plain sight. Make sure to report any crime or suspicious circumstances to the police immediately.” The next step for the university is to finalize the plans for the ODUPDNPD joint precinct, but the timeline its completion is unknown for now. ODU’s campus has seen crime off-campus for years, but the raised issue of safety on campus has continued to be the most notorious topic discussed whether students feel safe or not. “I feel pretty safe because I haven’t seen anything actually happen,” said ODU Freshman Chris Morrow. “I think the university has done a good job for the most part to make sure students are staying safe.” With the increase in law enforcement around campus and the safety services provided by the university, President Broderick looks to tackle the issue head on to ensure that ODU becomes a crime-free campus. The ODUPD can be reached 24 hours a day and seven days a week at 683-4000 or at one of the 43 call boxes located throughout ODU’s campus.

Danielle Buxton Mace & Crown The PD has 43 call boxes located around campus.

Jillian Baylor Staff Writer A panel discussion undertaken to educate students about sexual assault last week focused attention on the important support services available on the Old Dominion University campus and in the community. The university’s Sexual Assault Resource Team (SART) held a panel discussion that provided a platform for students to ask questions pertaining to sexual assault. Joann Bautti-Roche, the assistant director, of ODU’s Women’s Center and the Sexual Assault Free Environment (SAFE), coordinated the discussion. Many young adults lack an understanding of what exactly sexual assault is, panelists said. They also agreed that sexual assault does not only consist of forced penetration, which is what most young adults assume. “Just because someone isn’t saying no, doesn’t mean they are saying yes,” said Joann BauttiRoche. It is important that this fact and what consent is, is explained to young adults, which is the mission of the SAFE program. “Sexual consent for one thing doesn’t apply for everything just because you’re making out or there is intimate touching you shouldn’t assume they want to have sex. Consent can be withdrawn at anytime and that’s where the crime starts.” said BauttiRoche. Many sexual assault victims are scared to come forward. Many believe it could be their own fault because they were drinking or they were in the wrong place at the wrong time, etc. “We live in a victim blaming society…drinking too much doesn’t mean it’s acceptable to be sexually assaulted, con see ASSAULT A3

NEWS

SPORTS

ARTS & ENT

OP-ED

Greek pull-out see center spread

Men’s Soccer opens up conference play C4

Fall Formal Recruitment B1

Don’t ask don’t tell D1

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Mace & Crown

Mace & Crown staff Stuart Miller Editor in Chief smill073@odu.edu Megan Morrow Assistant to the Editor in Chief mmorr032@odu.edu

Christian Ernst News Editor cerns002@odu.edu

Jessica Starr Interim News Assistant Chelsea DeAngio Arts & Entertainment Editor cdean006@odu.edu

Alyssa Odango Assistant Arts & Entertainment Editor Garrison Cole Sports Editor gcole015@odu.edu

Nick Liedel Advertising Director nlied001@odu.edu

Sarah Nadeau Design Director sarah.nadeau7@gmail.com

Danielle Buxton Photography Editor dbuxton08@gmail.com

Sateesh Kadiyala Website Designer sateeshkadiyala@gmail.com

Staff Writers: Matthew McCracken Ben Decowski Donnell Coley Leslea Kuhrt Kevin Hollister Diane Dougherty Donnell Williams Jessica Piland Robbie Ciara Travis Kennedy Amanda David Janah Stokes Dustin Jensen Katie Davis Jillian Baylor Staff Photographers: Jake Zimmerman Loni Earley Rachael Chasin Anna Nguyen

All views expressed in this collegiate paper are those of the author, not of the University, Mace & Crown, or the editors.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2010

Merging Generations:

Interacting From Different Perspectives Taking a look from a bus driver’s perspective By Siaga Johnson Contributing Writer As college students, we normally fall into the habit of becoming absorbed with the university social scene, classes, and the life that university presents us. How often do we just take a moment to think about what university life is like for faculty and service staffers of the school? On occasion we may find ourselves in situations where we may disagree and we feel we misunderstood by faculty. However, the central problem is a lack of communication between the two groups that make up university life. So, a way to solve the problem would be to communicate with any faculty or staff member to assess concerns and observations they have about students. More importantly is the ability to see trends that separate the two generations. In interviewing a university shuttle bus driver employed by Carey Transportation, described some of the concerns that university service personnel have about the student body. Monroe Adcock, a Carey Transportation employee, defined some of the differences between his generation’s school years and contemporary campus life. Adcock recalled a moment when a co-ed infuriated him to the point where he remarked, “I swear, I wanted to get out of the car, and put her over my knees.” After she hurried into the crosswalk without heeding the stoplight warnings, Adcock nearly ran her over. Even though he had made every effort to avoid hitting her. So does this incident indicate that our generation lacks an appreciation for what we have? Adcock said, “Yes.” Many stu-

Christian Ernst Mace & Crown Monroe Adcock is one of the many drivers employed by the carey bus system who work on ODU Shuttle Bus Services

dents live lives in which most things are handed to them and many have no idea what it feels like to make a true sacrifice. Although it is an uncomfortable reality, I found some truth to this. I recalled a study that indicates our generation is projected to do worse financially than their parent’s generation for a wide variety of reasons. I wondered whether Adcock’s observations had something to do with this statistic. This interaction therefore gave me a glimpse of my generation from an outside perspective and shed some light on why we may face some of the issues we do. Perhaps talking to university faculty members does have some benefits!

ODU Student awarded scholarship by Marine Corps Marine daughter recognized with scholarship money By Christian Ernst News Editor Courtney Stirckland, daughter of Lance Corporal Brian Strickland and student at Old Dominion University, recently received a scholarship from the United States Marine Corps for her father’s service. On Sept. 14, she was recognized at a ceremony hosted by General Robert Magnus, USMC (Ret.), and Margaret B. Davis, President and CEO of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. Strickland was one of 24 in attendance who received the scholarships, and they represented more than 1,400 students nationwide. Gen James Amos, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps; SgtMaj Carlton Kent, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps; and Scott D. Pearson, Associate Assistant Deputy Secretary of Education, presented the scholarships to the students. All children of Marines were eligible for the award, according to the Marine Corps Scholarship Committee. Strickland was chosen because of her drive to better serve her community, according to the scholarship committee. “She says her father’s example of serving our country is the one that she follows by educating herself in order to

so that I can focus more on my studies.” The experience was new for not only Courtney, but the Marine Corps as well. “This was the first ceremony for scholarship recipients that the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation has done. It took place in Washington, D.C.,” said Strickland. “We were given a tour of the Library of Congress, followed by a reception on the 2nd floor of the Library.” Many high-ranking officials in both politics and military offices were in atCourtesy of Courtney Strickland tendance for the ceremony. Student Courtney Strickland received her “We were able to meet with the Conaward at an event in Washington D.C. Sen. gressman for our district, and mine is John McCain was in attendance. Representative Bobby Scott. There were better serve her community in the fumany Marine Corps officials and offiture,” said the committee. cers present, and we also received a visit “In order to separate myself from othfrom John McCain,” said Strickland. ers, I made sure to let the Marine Corps The Marine Scholarship Committee how much this scholarship meant to has provided the most need-based aid me and the work that I plan to do for to military families since its inception the community with my degree,” said in 1962. It has provided scholarships Strickland. “Aside from grades, I think to children of Marine Corps members that the Marine Corps Scholarship Founwho have been killed, injured or shown dation wants to make sure that their financial need. Over 25,000 total scholmoney is not going to waste, since they arships have been awarded, valued at acquire it from donors.” over $60,000,000. In 2010-2011, 1,423 Strickland is thankful for the scholarscholarships will be awarded, and they ship because it allows her to fund her total 4,250,000. education. The organization has also been recog“This scholarship has definitely helped nized recently for its charity. further my education financially. We are “The Foundation is proud to have all aware that tuition for a University is been named by Independent Charities not cheap, and over the past three years of America as ‘Best in America’ for the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundademonstrating “the highest standards of tion has awarded me with over $5,000,” public accountability, program effectivesaid Strickland. “It takes away from the ness, and cost effectiveness,” said the stress of finding a way to pay for school, Marine Corps Scholarship Committee.

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Mace & Crown

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2010

Assault from A1

Panel discusses free speech issues as part of Constitution Day at ODU By Cameron Allen Staff Writer Old Dominion University featured keynote speakers Dr. Lee E. Bird and Mary Beth Mackin as part of a lecture concerning free speech issues on college campuses. The event was hosted in the Diehn Fine and Performing Arts Building and was part of ODU’s Constitution Day celebrations. Moderator Beth Esinhart began the discussion on Sept. 21 by stating that questions surrounding limitations placed on free speech by college administrators need to be answered. Courts have decided that hate speech is protected under the First Amendment, but there are limitations for situations like making threats or instigating civil unrest. “Everyone around us has the right to hold whatever deeply held belief we have,” said Bird, vice president of Student Affairs at Oklahoma State University. “The power of the First Amendment is that it allows us to express those feelings and thoughts even when it may seem hateful.” But she went on to say that students learn best in an atmosphere that is free of fear and hate. The First Amendment provides us with the freedom of speech, religion, press, public assembly and petition. ODU and other universities across the country are prohibited from creating rules that infringe upon these rights. “Daily on a college campus many things offensive to good taste happen regularly,” said Bird. “How do we maintain those ideals and create a civil society?” Recent free speech issues on college campuses have had to do with electronic expression, theme parties and protests. “I work with faculty and staff, but it doesn’t mean I’m not offended by some of the things that go on,” said Mackin, who is the assistant dean of students at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Electronic expression has been controversial, par-

The Tea Party A growing extremist group or a conglomerate of frustrated citizens? Alex Yarbrough Contributing Writer The Tea Party has become a rising star in recent news as this party is repeatedly subjected to daily abuse from the media. Across cable news broadcasts, reporters degraded the group and continually shamed the party with an innumerable amount of insults and verbal abuse for its extremist tendencies. The Tea Party has often been portrayed as a group of alarmist conservatives teeming with racists and anarchists amongst their unruly crowds. The media has covered and defamed certain members of the Tea Party for protesting with signs that hold congress to be a “slave owner” while “tax payers are nwords” (Weigel, 2010)1 as well as disgracing another tea party member when one declared the Muslim God Allah to be a “monkey God” (Weigel, Mark Williams, the monkey god and the controversy game, 2010)2. Though the allegations are valid in their assertion that party members tend to adhere to a more strict conservative set of political tenets, the enormous fervor that surrounds the group has now reached a level of gross exaggeration, incessantly fueled by the media. As the mid-term elections approach, incumbent candidates begin to sweat for fear of losing their seats as rising political stars attempt to start a following within their districts or states. These political candidates thus turn

ticularly on gossip sites like juicycampus.com and collegeacb.com. These online forums allow students to anonymously post photos and videos of embarrassing situations and rumors. “The biggest source of controversy has been and continues to be Facebook,” saidMackin. Problems usually arise when students create groups targeting faculty members or posting racist and offensive remarks. Student protests are also a cause for concern nationwide, especially when they become violent. Mackin said March 4, 2010 was dubbed the National Day of Action, where students protested in several states across the country. The main issue had to do with tuition hikes and lack of support for education. Protestors at the University of California Davis held a naked rally to symbolize the state stripping them of their right to a public education. University of Milwaukee students threw ice chunks at police while protesting over similar issues. Free speech has also come under fire because of the aftermath of the Virginia Tech shootings in 2007. Mackin said that safety concerns have been taken to a whole new level. Campuses like Yale have even banned the use of fake weapons during the showings of stage plays. In recent years, college guest speakers have prompted outcries from students and faculty. Most notably President Obama’s speech at Notre Dame University in 2009 and the invitation of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Colombia University in 2007. “Just because we can doesn’t mean we should,” said Bird, when concentrating on the right to use speech that offends people. “It may end up trivializing the First Amendment, which I think would be a tragedy.” “The best way to even change people’s thoughts and values is by talking to them,” said Mackin. “The best way for us to talk about these issues is to put them out into the open.”

to the American voters in order to determine which issues are the most prominent in the upcoming election. After the recent plunge in the economy, American voters are anxious as to how the government plans to address unemployment, taxes, and health care costs among a multitude of other economic issues. It is, therefore, wholly unsurprising that a political party would arise whose aims are to revitalize the economy. Former American Democratic President Bill Clinton stated that the rise of such an entity was “totally understandable”. He also asserted that the prominence of the tea party “reflects the feeling of a lot of Americans that they’re getting the shaft”3 (Cary, 2010). The differences of views on the party are astounding, however the media certainly has its own agenda. By November 2010, voters must take an initiative to find an unbiased source of information regarding the candidates available for election. The news broadcasts recently displayed across television certainly do not offer a wholly unbiased or even valid source of information. As such, the media has repeatedly reported on the outlandish acts of few members of the party but has failed to deliver the tenets of the party’s beliefs, which rally around a small number of broad, yet reasonable, requests. These requests speak on behalf of the party’s members and as they ask congress to review the allocation of inefficient federal spending, reduce emissions trading, confirm the constitutionality of every law, and simplify the tax system. The November elections will determine a new direction for the political movement and it is imperative that each voter must be well informed prior to election day in order to ensure that the future of American policies are not lead astray.

A3 sent was taken at one time but it doesn’t mean it cant be revoked.” said Kristen Pine, manager of the Response Sexual Assault Support Services of the YWCA. Sexual assault is the most unreported crime in the US. “Most rapes that occur are not random, they’re acquaintance rapes…nine times out of ten they know the name of their rapist” said Sgt. Mark Heckman, Norfolk Police Department’s Special Crimes Unit, whose main goal in a sexual assault case is to prosecute. There is only a 72-hour window for collecting forensic evidence. “I or any of my officers, don’t care if you’ve done drugs or are underage and have been drinking,” said Sgt. Heckman. His main concern is getting enough information to catch the assailant and preventing future assaults

As the numbers of sexual assaults have risen over the past 15 years, so have the efforts promoting awareness and prevention. . According to the Old Dominion University’s Police Department’s crime statistics there were 15 reported sexual assaults in 2006, 16 reported in 2007, and 7 reported in 2008. It is important to remember that most sexual assaults go unreported. Other panelists were Tanya Rogers the supervisor of Norfolk’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response, Janet Westbrook a prosecutor for the Commonwealth of Virginia, Angie Laing the program coordinator of the Forensic Nurse Examiner Program at Sentara Hospital, and Denise Balfour the assistant director of the Office of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity at ODU.

MELBOURNEPROTESTS.WORDPRESS.COM Most cases of sexual assault are never reported and nine times out of ten the victim knows the assailant.

Secretary Clinton Urges Israeli PM to Extend Housing Freeze By Rakan Beshara Contributing Writer Jerusalem, Israel - On Tuesday, September 21, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in conjunction with Russia, the European Union and United Nations General Assembly urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to extend the moratorium on new housing settlements in the West Bank by three months in an effort to keep peace talks going. The Palestinians have threatened to walk out of the talks if the moratorium was not extended once it expires on September 26. Secretary Clinton finds herself in the precarious position of trying to keep the momentum of the peace talks while trying to urge the Israelis to reconsider their refusal to extend the housing freeze on land the Palestinians claim is their land. Peace talks resumed on September 2 at the behest of President Obama, who is pushing for a resolution to decades of fighting that has resulted in the death of hundreds Palestinians and Israelis alike. Before the latest talks resumed, there had been an 18-month lull in negotiations. According to a report from Reuters, State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said that Middle East peace envoy, former Senator George Mitchell met with both sides, including one meeting where all three sides were present together. “We are working as hard as we can demonstrating our commitment to the process and encouraging the parties to do everything possible to keep the negotiations moving forward,” Crowley told a news briefing. However, Netanyahu has refused to budge on extending the 10-month morato-

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rium. “They need to keep talking,” Clinton told the ABC program “This Week.” She added, “We don’t want either party to leave the negotiations or to do anything that would cause the other party to leave the negotiations.” Mitchell remained optimistic, saying that there are numerous ideas on the table to break the logjam, including a “quid pro quo” designed to keep the Palestinians at the negotiating table. Another idea includes recognition of a Jewish state by the Palestinians, in hopes that doing so will encourage the Israelis to compromise. Another option on the table is partial extension of the moratorium, although it is reported by CNN that such a concession is not amicable to Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, who desires nothing short of a full extension. Both sides are expected to continue their talks at meetings on Sunday. A planned news conference by Mitchell, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton was scrapped at the last minute because of power problems and scheduling delays. Despite rumblings that disagreements between the parties derailed the news conference, spokesman Crowley said, “I can attest to the technical challenge,” Crowley said, saying an elevator outage was part of the problem. “We all walked up six flights of stairs to the Quartet meeting.” Future talks, which would include the leaders of the three nations, have been discussed, but plans have not been etched in stone. Regardless, the State Department and US Envoy remain optimistic that neither side will leave negotiations and will reach an agreement.

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2010

arts enter tainment Mace & Crown

Save the ta-tas, save the world Breastival & Fun Walk Preview By Alyssa Odango Staff Writer Breast cancer is one of the most notorious diseases. It affects not only the lives of women, but the lives of their families and friends. Breast cancer awareness has immensely grown in the past years, and there are many ways to contribute to the fight against this cancer. Colleges are among the thread of ways of spreading information about breast cancer, and Old Dominion will be doing its part to provide its community with the opportunity to help in the battle against breast cancer. On October 3rd, ODU will host an event called the Breastival & Fun Walk held in Kaufman Mall. The event is designed to promote the awareness of breast cancer and to provide information and activities that will help participants learn more about the cancer. The event is open to ODU students, faculty, and staff, and all are encouraged to join. It is also a fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Tidewater Affiliate, which will be present to give out educational materials. The Breastival will include fundraisers by various ODU groups that will provide fun activities such as games, raffles, and a silent auction. Food and drinks will be served in the traditional breast cancer awareness theme of pink. Later on in the evening the Fun Walk will start, led by the Phi Boota Roota Percussion Fraternity along with breast cancer survivors, and Big Blue will also be walking. On the sidelines will be supporting spirit tables, cheering on the walk participants and giving away items. The bra decorating contest is a much-anticipated event during the Breastival. Bras decorated with the theme of empowerment, women’s strength, and creative remembrance of loved ones lost due to breast cancer will be on display for voting. Each vote is $1, and all the proceeds of the fundraisers will go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The contest is a creative way of showcasing the dedication and support of the participants. The designer of the winning bra will win a prize donated by ODU Women’s Center & Monarch Tech Store. Reaching out to students, faculty, and staff members and educating them about breast cancer is

the primary goal of the Breastival & Fun Walk. Kim Cholewinski, Health Education Coordinator of Student Health Services said, “Cancer is very scary and by having a fun event about a serious subject, hopefully students, faculty and staff will attend and at the end of the night leave with knowledge that breast cancer is real and affects many people.” Early detection of breast cancer is important, and this event will hope to encourage its participants to feel empowered about the disease and by being aware of breast cancer, they will be able to take charge of their health. Cholewinski hopes that from this event people can learn the importance of early detection and be reminded that “cancer does not discrimanate who it affects.” The Breastival & Fun Walk will be an event that gives ODU members the information they need wrapped up in a fun and eventful night. It is important for the female members of ODU to be proactive in screening for breast cancer, and for all members to be aware of the effects of breast cancer. The various educational groups that will be at the event will be ready to offer such information and materials. The Breastival & Fun Walk will be a fun way of learning about breast cancer. With many groups co-sponsoring such as student organizations, departments, and individuals, it is a widely-advertised event. The first 300 students who arrive will receive free t-shirts. The fundraisers and voting for the bra decorating contest will start at 5 p.m. and the Fun Walk registration starts at 5:30 p.m. with the walk starting at 6 p.m. “We want people to feel empowered by the event and to take charge of their health by simply being more aware,” said Chowlewinksi. Hopefully by the end of the night the Breastival & Fun Walk participants will come away with more knowledge about breast cancer.

ERINGS.SYNTHASITE.COM

Peace, Love and Greek Fall Formal Recruitment Returns By Malinda Orefice Contributing Writer Over the past few months most students on campus have seen the many signs, banners, and t-shirts that can be found all over promoting the PHC or, Pan-Hellenic Council, sorority chapters oncampus and greek life in general. It may sound like a spur of the moment decision, however actually going Greek is a long and tiring process. In order to accomplish this goal, a potential new member, or PNM, must meet a few different requirements such as being a full-time student as well as meeting the grade point average requirement which is a 2.6. If the PNMs meet these two requirements then they areable to continue on to the weekend that is lovingly referred to by all sorority women as FFR.

courtsey of Kyle Bartinikas After much planning, Fall Formal Recruitment went off without a hitch.

For PNMs this year, events started on Thursday where they attended a short informational meeting about the weekend as well as get assigned to a smaller group of women designated by a specific color. On Friday, the PNMs attend a “party” hosted by each of the five PHC chapters, which are: Delta Zeta, Pi Beta Phi, Alpha Xi Delta, Zeta Tau Alpha, and Alpha Phi. After attending theses parties the women select their top four choices which determines which sororities they will see again on Saturday. This process is repeated again and again until each girl has decided upon her top two choices. After attending an intimate and unique ceremony for each of their choices the PNMs decide on their top choice and await a bid. Upon receiving a bid the PNM can either accept or reject it which will also decide whether or not the PNM becomes a new sister in a sorority. This process is stressful and emotional, and a time for future members to really decide what they want to get out of joining a sorority. “We were all so nervous and excited for this weekend, and now we just can’t wait to see where we end up so that we can start getting to know our sisters,” said PNM Jordyn Discheck. Fall Formal recruitment is the biggest time of the whole year in the female “Greek” community because of the fact that it is the only time, besides in the spring, that sororities can recruit their new members. This year the number of PNMs had skyrocketed to almost two hundred future members, which is one of the best turnouts in the last few years that PHC has had. “This weekend is something that we have been looking forward to and preparing for since the end of last semester,” said Amy Duncan, a Delta Zeta sister. This long term preparation seemed to payoff in the end with Delta Zeta almost doubling their chapter gaining 27 new sisters bringing their total to 77. All of the chapters worked extremely hard on this weekend and making sure that their passion for their sisterhood was understood and appreciated by the new members that they gained out of this overwhelming time of year.

The Black Caucus takes ODU on a walk down their “Block” By Ka’Lyn Banks Contributing Writer

September 24, 2010 marked the day that Old Dominion’s own Black Caucus, an organization that focuses on unifying the Black community and Black organizations on campus, had their first big event called “Welcome to the Block”. The purpose of the event was to “ showcase the talents and factional pursuits of black based organizations and to also increase extracurricular awareness and involvement in the black community” stated by Dylesia “Dolly” Hampton, a senior communications major and an organization representative in the Black Caucus. President, Christina Kanu, explained how the organization was re-emerged in January 2010. She herself had a vision of being able to successfully plan events for the Black population on our campus such as this “Block Party”, which was ironically enough not an actual party, informational events, leadership seminars for the executive boards of black organizations on campus and as she stated with a giant smile “classy events”. With the help of her esteemed executive board consisting of Harold Thomas whom is the Vice President and Erica White who is the secretary, Kanu has a positive mindset for the future of the Black Caucus on this campus. Although this organization is about unifying the black community on campus, in order to become a member you must be a representative selected by your organization in order to attend the bi-monthly Black Caucus meetings. Being that this was their first event it had it’s up and downs when it came to planning but the final outcome was unbelievable. Kaufman Mall was filled with students from the front steps all the way out to the grass areas. There were a handful of entertaining perfor-

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courtsey of Iain Eudailey The block party featured several musicians, which caused infectious dancing among everyone.

mances and the host and hostess brought laughs and smiles throughout the audience. The performances at this showcase ranged from poetry performances by some of the members of Floetic Movement to a musical selection by Ebony Impact, the gospel choir on campus. “Welcome to the Block” even had a unity hop performed by some of the sororities on campus, which was quite magnificent. Community service organizations, including T.R.U.S.T. , SWL and D.E.S.T.I.N.E.D. raised money to give to a charity of their choice during the event and there was even a raffle with great bookstore prices. This entire event was definitely a success and Kanu was extremely thankful for all of the organizations that helped her put on this event. After the event, Kanu and Thomas were asked how they felt about their first event. Both were elated about the turnout and the positive outcome they believe it will make on the campus and in the black community. multivu.prnewswire.com

WWW.MACEANDCROWN.COM WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2010

Mace & Crown

A Fresh Perspective

Swim the pounds off Stay Fit in the Winter with the Channel Challenge By Jonathan Moran Staff Writer Looking for a new way to lose a few pounds? Summer has ended and humans are genetically engineered to gain weight when the temperature drops. Why? It’s cold outside so we are forced indoors making us less active. Great cardio work outs like biking and jogging cease, especially when the wind makes you feel like your ears will freeze off. We are not exposed to sunlight making our moods change which means we seek comfort foods full of sugar and fat to perk us up. And don’t forget the holiday feasts? They are incredible, but definitely work against the idea of getting fit. ODU’s aquatics program has come up with a free solution called the Channel Challenge. The Channel Challenge was developed by Justin Anderson, the Aquatics Coordinator for ODU and is a semester-long incentive program that encourages students and faculty to develop a healthy life-style through swimming. The challenge is simple. The lengths of the Strait of Gibraltar, the Panama Canal, and the English Channel have been calculated and broken down to see how many ODU

pool laps it takes to accomplish them. Participants come in, swim, and record how many laps they did in a log. The goal is to complete all three challenges, one would have to swim the length of these canals in one semester; an incredible feat. Prizes will be handed out for the completion of each challenge at the end of the semester, giving you get a chance to keep up your cardio, work out, and have fun at the same time. Why swimming? The benefits of swimming are endless. It works every muscle resulting in increased muscular strength. The resistance of the water and smooth motion tones your body while developing cardio and endurance. After a strenuous day of jogging or lifting weights, swimming is a great way to stretch muscles. The gliding loosens them up while providing you with the cardio you need on track with your workout. Swimming clears your mind. For a few moments, the deadlines of tests and papers will melt away. Justin Anderson called it, “A stress relief for a workout.” Another great aspect to the challenge is that you can do it whenever you want. Students busy with assignments or work may have days where there is no time to go to the pool. This way you come in when you can and log it so that it keeps you on track for your goal. Signing up for the program is easy and you can do it anytime during the semester. All you do is register at the pro-shop of the ODU gym. Justin Anderson puts it bests when he says, “It’s a great way to stay in shape and it’s a great way to try something new.”

Literary Magazine Foreshadows Great Success By Alyssa Narvell Contributing Writer Old Dominion University’s student literary magazine is becoming the hot new commodity on campus. The magazine’s purpose is to collect submissions of literary pieces by students and publish the best of them for the entire Old Dominion population to enjoy. The magazine is a great way to get student work published and to acquire writing and publication skills. A group of students are working to change and revive this once abandoned literary magazine and transform it into an outlet of expression. Old Dominion has had a literary magazine for years, but it was run by a couple of students who have graduated and left the magazine to die. The magazine only featured works of art created by juniors and seniors, making it unknown by the majority of the Monarch population. The dark ages of the literary magazine are long gone, and a new light is being illuminated on this publication. This semester, newfound president of the magazine, junior Alan Mathews, as well as vice president, Sarah Goughnour, have a plethora of new ideas and approaches to get the magazine back on its feet. Mathews and Goughnour are both English majors, and are advocates for self-expression. They welcome an array of literary pieces from any student or faculty member, including: short stories, plays, poems, paintings, and more. The magazine’s members conduct a vote on which pieces will actually be published, but there is no particular criteria your art must conform to in order to get published. Mathews and Goughnour both made it adamant that they are looking mostly for unique and aesthetically appealing work. Mathews mentioned that there have already been about twenty submissions. The most interesting piece of work so far has been an oil painting. The literary magazine is always looking

Alyssa Narvell Mace & Crown Junior Alan Mathews cites his favorite English professor as inspiration for reviving ODU’s literary magazine.

for new members and new art to display. Being a member of the literary organization can help improve your resume as well as your publication, writing, and collaborative skills. Members of the literary magazine meet on Monday nights from 5-10p.m., as well as Tuesday and Thursday afternoons during activity hour. The location for the upcoming meetings are still being determined, but Mathews is working hard to find a permanent meeting location as soon as possible. The magazine will be published once a month starting in October. The literary organization has roughly 20 members so far, but that number increases little by little during every meeting. All of the current members are excited to see what this magazine can evolve into. Why, exactly, did Mathews and Goughnour want to take the literary magazine into their hands? When Mathews was asked this question, he immediately responded with “Jon Ponetta,” a professor who has inspired him to breathe life into the magazine. “A lot of schools are trying to get rid of their art departments, and we don’t want that to happen here. We want students to have something enjoyable to read, and to be able to get their work published. We want to bring this magazine back to life and improve it,” says Mathews. To submit a piece of work, e-mail oduliterarymagazine@gmail.com.

The elusive comfort room The Counseling Center’s Little Taste of Bliss By RJay Molina

Chelsea DeAngio Mace & Crown Though you might not be able to swim the actual English channel, swimmers can do the equivalent in ODU’s pool.

Sources say that two years ago a small room was created for the sole purpose of relaxing from the stresses of college. But up until now only a few people had known about it. The Comfort Room, located in the Counseling Center, offers students the chance to relax for about a half hour in a small room with one of the best massage chairs, a CD player, incents, and a little feng shui waterfall to lighten the mood. There is no reason for the Comfort Room to be so elusive. Sources say that just like everything else offered at ODU, the Comfort Room was given proper advertisement, “We’ve posted flyers about the room all over the Webb.” Yet for some reason even the receptionists at the front desk of the Webb had no idea about the room. So while the mystery of the Comfort Room’s missed advertisements remains a mystery, all the students at ODU should check out the actual place before it becomes a victim to endless swarms of students once the word gets out. One of the best things about the room is that it is free of charge.

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Kathryne Mason Mace & Crown Relax in Counseling Service’s comfort room, where you can enjoy their luxury massage chair.

The only requirement is that students make an appointment to use it ahead of time. ODU student Ariana Walk anxiously rushed to find the Comfort Room after hearing about it to have a place to sleep before class. When asked about how she felt upon entering the Counseling Center to inquire about the room she stated that she “felt nervous because I had no idea what I was in for. It was a pleasant surprise.” Walk went even further to add that, “It was shockingly relaxing. I would have paid money to go into that room. It was the perfect way to end a stressful week and start fresh for the weekend.”

Hopefully the Comfort Room will garner some attention. It is a luxury that is too good to pass up. Anyone in need of a good escape from their roommate, or simply to kill time, should check out the place immediately. It would be wise however to bring a set of headphones and an iPod because only soft music is permitted in the room. Nevertheless it will the best massage and sleep anyone gets while here at school. So go with pride, get some rest, and do not fear what may seem like a title to a Stephen King novel. Enjoy the Comfort Room.

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Mace & Crown

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2010

CINEMA 127 Swans and Monsters Independent Filmmakers Are Aiming To Captivate Yet Again By RJay Molina Staff Writer Two years ago mainstream audiences were introduced to Danny Boyle and Darren Aronofsky, independent filmmakers who were already notable within the independent film community. Boyle showed the world India through the eyes of a young slumdog with “Slumdog Millionaire” and Aronofsky revitalized the career of one of Hollywood’s most faded actors, Mickey Rourke, with “The Wrestler.” Both films caught the attention of numerous award ceremonies and finally gave credibility to two highly underrated filmmakers. Now Boyle and Aronofsky are back with films that are guaranteed to fire up mainstream audiences yet again. Danny Boyle’s new film, “127 Hours,” tells the true story of Aron Ralston, a mountaineer who has to go to extreme measures when he ends up in a horrific ordeal. James Franco plays Ralston and appears as charming as can be in the deceiving teaser trailer. The trailer starts off with a series of flashbacks honoring Boyle’s previous films like “Slumdog Millionaire” and “Trainspotting” and quickly cuts to a series of swooping aerial shots of Franco Mountain biking through a beautiful landscape. Hip upbeat music plays in the background. Next Franco crashes into a rock but brushes it off as if it was nothing. Franco quickly gives the impression that Ralston is a man who enjoys life to the fullest, especially after he meets two young women and shows them the time of their lives. Afterwards the conflict is introduced as Franco becomes trapped in a canyon with a boulder crushing his arm. Franco’s screeching cries for help overpower the background music, and the words “Every…second… counts” appears on screen followed by the main title. Danny Boyle has always been a director who loves turning things around on his audience once he has grabbed them from the get go. With his sci-fi film, “Sunshine,” Boyle took it from being a philosophical sci-fi and twisted it into an effective horror film, only to go back to something mysterious and wonderful. If “127 Hours” is anything like his previous films, then audiences will be

in for a powerful ride. The film premieres nationwide on Nov. 5th. Darren Aronofsky is an intense filmmaker. His work is wonderfully complex and guaranteed to hit your heart with intense emotion. A short but effective scene from his most notable work, “Requiem for a Dream,” features a lonely mother, played beautifully by Ellen Burstyn, confessing her feelings to her drug addicted son about how she has absolutely nothing to live for. Aronofsky is not afraid to go the extra mile to get his point across and with his new film, “Black Swan,” it appears that he intends to keep it that way. The eerie trailer for the film features the beautiful Natalie Portman as a ballerina dancer saying that she “had the craziest dream last night, about a girl who was turned into a swan but her prince falls for the wrong girl and kills herself…” Right away haunting music plays as her character’s world is unraveled. Portman’s character is shown to be going through a lot of pressure after a new dancer, played by Mila Kunis, shows up and starts stealing the spotlight. “Watch the way she moves, sensual, she’s not faking it,” says Portman’s instructor played by Vincent Cassel. Strange bumps are seen on Portman’s shoulder, the background music intensifies, and haunting visuals of fill the screen, and as her mother in the movie asks “what happened to my sweet girl?” Portman exclaims “She’s gone!” Title cards displaying the three main actors fade in and the screen goes to black, and to conclude, a shot of Portman’s character fades in with her pulling a feather out of her shoulder. She looks upon it with bloodshot eyes and the main title appears. “Black Swan” will be given a limited release on Dec. 1st of this year. While “127 Hours” and “Black Swan” are the biggest independent films to come out this year, there are others that are pushing their way through various film festivals to receive attention by audiences everywhere. A notable one is the British sci-fi film, “Monsters,” by newcomer Gareth Edwards which was shot on a low budget with consumer-grade film equipment. Old Dominion University student, Todd Hayward, expressed his excitement for the film saying that “it will be interesting seeing a lower budget film focused around aliens. I came across “Monsters” online after finding a link to a video about how the movie was made.” The film will be available on “Video On Demand” Sept. 24th and released in select theaters on Oct. 29th. One thing is for sure, this season will be an unforgettable one with independent films that are just aching to explode on the big screen.

The fall film season takes flight with “Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole” By Daniel Felarca Contributing Writer First thing’s first: the idea of a talking barn owl wearing a helmet and soaring off into battle is completely absurd. From the creative minds that brought you Happy Feet comes “Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole” (opening September 24th in theaters everywhere), a classic tale of good against evil. For a children’s film about talking owls, it takes itself a bit too seriously at times. As such, parents and/or older siblings planning on taking younger children to this movie should be warned, as several of the fight sequences are surprisingly graphic. That being said, the main draws of Legend of the

Guardians are definitely the stunning visuals, which, at times, can rival James Cameron’s “Avatar”. Directed by Zack Snyder (“300”, “Watchmen”) and based on the first three volumes of author Kathryn Lasky’s Guardians of Ga’Hoole book series, Legend of the Guardians is the story of a young barn owl named Soren, voiced by Jim Sturgess of “Across the Universe” fame. Soren is a dreamer who idolizes the titular Owls of Ga’Hoole, a mythical group of birds said to be the sworn protectors of the Kingdom of Ga’Hoole, a kingdom under siege by the forces of evil. Though the concept of the warrior owl is original, the story of this film is not and ultimately boils down to the typical hero’s journey.

Legend of the Guardians is not a bad movie by any stretch of the imagination, especially when compared to certain other films of the genre, but it is by no means a cinematic masterpiece. However, with the visuals it has, it does not need to be. Zack Snyder is, admittedly, an odd choice of director for a film like this, but given the material with which he had to work with; he did a decent job. It is a beautiful looking movie that deserves a view from all movie-goers, but do not go into theaters expecting the world. “Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole” is rated PG for some sequences of scary action. Run time: 90 minutes. Two stars out of four.

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“You Again”

Shows Old Rivalries (And Clichés) Die Hard… By Timothy Fulghum Contributing Writer What happens when Kristen Bell, Jamie Lee Curtis, Sigourney Weaver, Odette Yustman, Betty White, and Kristin Chenoweth appear in the same movie? “Two scoops of crazy with a side of coo-coo-kachoo.” In “You Again”, directed by Andy Fickman, Marni (Kristin Bell) discovers that her brother’s fiancé is none other than Joanna (Odette Yustman), the ‘emotional terrorist’ that ruined her high school experience. The film opens with a younger Marni explaining her trials and tribulations to a time capsule video for her school. Her timidity, naivete, and appearance mark her as an outcast; whereas, her brother, Will, is the all-star athlete of the family who is always trying to look out for his sister. Despite this, Joanna, the Wicked Witch of Ridgewood High, never fails to allow Marni the chance to forget where she stands in the social food chain. Fast-forward eight years: Marni ditches the glasses, snags a haircut for more than $10, and leaves puberty back in high school where it belongs; life has treated her well. However, like all good stories, the other shoe always drops. Marni learns that Will’s ‘mystery-fiancé’ is Queen Bee Joanna, and not only does her introduction, as well as the rest of her family, command a slow-motion-fan-blowing montage, but she has ‘forgotten’ all about Marni. Worse, her family has seemingly replaced Marni, making Joanna the daughter they always wanted. The plot thickens as Joanna’s aunt (Sigourney Weaver) and Marni’s mother (Jamie Lee Curtis) are revealed to have been best friends in high school. However, an event at prom has turned them into bitter enemies. Each woman faces off against her respective arch nemesis as their old high school rivalries resurface creating tension that make other revenge-comedies whimper in the corner. Betty White does acrobatics, Kristin Chenoweth speaks six different languages, Victor Garber diets, Sigourney Weaver and Jamie Lee Curtis show that bootie-shaking doesn’t have an age limit. Food is tossed, trust is lost, the wedding is canceled, spray cheese is mixed with chocolate, a tree house collapses, and two lovers are united. “You Again” is rated PG and contains virtually zero foul language. The film is good, and although the story is believable, it often becomes predictable. It does shed new light on just how deadly spray cheese is. Slapstick comedy and dangerous gags seem to drive the plot in some areas, and much of the cast’s talents are wasted. One cast member particularly cheated is Betty White as Marni’s grandmother. She’s only given the occasional oneliner: “I’m on Facebook, and I’m on the Twitter too…” and even her own rival doesn’t make an appearance towards the last five minutes of the film. The film is cute, although overly clichéd, but it’s not something to see ‘Again’, much less at the theater. Other than its cast, not much will set it apart from other comedies: loser-esque-kid opener, check; rise to success, check; petty conflict, check; women dancing, check; older women dancing, check; wedding that falls to chaos, check; teary-eyed resolve, check; fixed wedding, check; Happily-Ever-After, check.

WWW.MACEANDCROWN.COM WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2010

Hands All Over

Mace & Crown Interpol’s fourth album a success By Nathan Humphrey Contributing Writer

Maroon 5 is Back, Better Than Ever By Ka’Lyn Banks Contributing Writer

Released on September 21,2010, the newest album from infamous pop group Maroon 5, entitled “Hands All Over” was a complete success. The album began with their first single, “Misery”. This song is universal in its meaning and has that soulful vibe to it like most of the music Maroon 5 makes. Lead vocalist Adam Levine’s voice on “Misery” and throughout the whole album can certainly send chills through anyone who loves good music. As the album progresses through each track, the songs vary on subject matter from broken relationships to rebuilding trust. Not only is the actual track list amazing, but the album artwork is breathtaking as well. The symbolism of the hands on the young woman are pertinent to the entire album’s cadence. Each song on this album has its own vibe and offers a different genre of music almost as every single track is played. Levine wrote most of the songs with the help of many others and the album even includes an appearance from country-pop group Lady Antebellum. That song is entitled “Out of Goodbyes” and has a country melody to it, which is a first for Maroon 5. Many critics such as Fraiser Mcalpine from BBC Music feel as if the opening song is a remake of Ma-

REMIX.VG Adam Levine and the boys are back with catchy single “Misery” from their newest album, “Hands All Over.”

roon’s first single ever , “This Love,” but as the album goes on, all listeners and Maroon 5 fans can see that this album stands alone. It contains a wide variety of future hits and it will be moving its way up rapidly on the Billboard charts. Maroon 5’s album “Hands All Over” can be found on iTunes and local stores. There is also a deluxe version which contains several acoustic versions of some of the tracks and a few extra previously unreleased tracks. All Maroon 5 lovers and music connoisseurs should go get this new album!

“My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky”

NORMANRECORDS.COM After a long hiatus, Michael Gira has revived Swans for a twelfth studio album.

Swans Return with Another By Clay Blondin Contributing Writer Swans debuted in the 1980’s with music that represented anger beyond anger. It was the most abrasive sound to have come out of New York’s no wave scene, easily being compared to a heavy metal sound, stripped down to its razor-sharp core. Eventually, the group would try to make their sound more accessible, due to Swans core member, Micheal Gira, desiring to get away from that louder than almighty God sound. The group disbanded in 1996 after releasing the sprawling masterpiece “Soundtracks for the Blind.” When Gira announced last year that he would be resurrecting Swans, the underground music world was ecstatic. Few bands have done as much for the avantgarde scene than Swans, and their return was duly noted. With this, comes a question of relevance. Can a band

who has been out of the game for 14 years create something interesting for today’s world? The answer is holy crap, yes. Gira continues to show his genius of creating music that is pissed off beyond all belief, while still retaining some sense musicianship. As the title suggests, ‘My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky’ brings out a common Swans theme of religion, innocence, and corruption. “No Thoughts/ No Words”, the album’s opener, begins with the ringing of distant church bells until it errupts with the chaos of industrial drums and shrieking noises of metal, pounding the listener into submission. This is what Swans is best at: placing a metaphor in the ugliness of music to represent the ugliness of the world. Gira creates an atmosphere of complete chaos, ready to unravel and explode at any minute. 30 years of watching a world burn will do that. “You People Make Me Sick” encapsulates this idea the best, as Gira sings “I love you/I need you/Little flower/Now give me what is mine”, as the song erupts into dissonance. Themes of religion’s hold on society run deep on “Eden Prison” as Gira declares that he is “free of the chocking hold that began in Eden Prison.” The music remains an ever-powerful catalyst that pounds the themes into skull listeners. Musically, “My Father” isn’t so far removed from “Soundtracks.” Both retain moments of industrial, folk tinges, and an ever-present ambiance. It keeps Swans trademark minimalism and ability to create hypnotic rhythms in tact. If there is any complaint about “My Father,” it is that it is a little too much like “Soundtracks.” After 14 years, you would expect the band to take a drastically different approach, but they stick to a tried and true formula instead. The world is falling apart, and Swans has little interest in showing listeners the light. This world is entrenched in darkness, and the first key to taking it back is recognizing it. This as always been the goal of Swans, and here they accomplish it spectacularly. For a band to be gone for so long and come back just as good as before, is nothing short of a miracle. “My Father” is easily a contender for one of 2010’s best, as it brings a sprawling evil into a world that likes to forget it is there.

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It’s too bad there’s not a bigger market for Gothic-Trance music these days because if there was, Interpol would be topping the charts with their newest self-titled album. Released September 7th under Matador Records, Interpol’s fourth album seems to be a culmination of the sound that the New York based band touched on in their previous three albums. Still masters of adding layer upon layer of sound over a repeating pattern, Interpol takes this a step further, gradually drawing the listener into eerie soundscapes which range from Pink Floyd circa 1971 to modern day acts such as Grizzly Bear or She Wants Revenge all the while maintaining a danceable beat. Lead singer Paul Banks’ haunting lyrics are perfectly accentuated by guitarist Daniel Kessler’s echo enhanced guitar sounds and textures ranging from pipe-organ to full scale orchestra provided by keyboardist Carlos Dengler. Despite these components, with every album there are always highs

130BPM.COM Interpol returns for a fourth studio album with this self-titled record.

and lows and sadly “Interpol” is no exception. With “Barricade”, the album’s first released single, the band seems to compromise the daunting sound that permeates the rest of the album for a more upbeat, radio friendly sound, that sound sticks out like a sore thumb, especially when sandwiched in between such despondent gems as “Lights” and the appropriately named “Always Malaise (The Man I Am)”. Nonetheless, if fandwant to hear a truly original band coming to the height of their career, “Interpol” is definitely an album worth taking a listen to.

How vinyl got its groove back

The Return of a Music Media Giant By Clay Blondin Contributing Writer

The smooth, warm sound. The delightful analogue crackle. The vinyl record has always been the gold standard of music media, and after a long hiatus, it is finally making its comeback. Vinyl sales went up by 89% in 2008, and 37% in 2009 according to the Nielsen SoundScan and everyday, hundreds of newcomers are discovering the joys of the LP (long- play) record. Whether it’s the elaborate artwork, the superior analogue sound, or that nice feeling of nostalgia for a lost age of physical music, vinyl is definitely making a comeback. Why is vinyl making this comeback? First off, it offers a better sound quality than CDs or mp3s by producing an analogue sound as opposed to a digital sound. By definition, an analogue sound is a complete sound wave while a digital sound wave is compressed and produces a distorted sound. Records have a much more full and warm sound compared to the CD. As ODU sophomore Sam Winters put it “When I sit down next to the record player and just listen to the music, it makes me feel as if I’m in the studio sound booth hearing the musicians make their final run through their song.” There is still the issue of portability. Labels, such as Sub Pop and Matador, are responding to this by including coupons for the MP3s of the album. Many find the big beautiful artwork and the physicality of vinyl one of its most appealing qualities. As ODU student Jose Martinez

puts it, “It’s just something about owning the music on a physical copy that’s different from a CD or Mp3.” Labels are making more of a push to appeal to young buyers by suggesting colored vinyl. “It’s something about having a mint green vinyl of Minor Threat, a transparent red vinyl of Salt n’ Pepa that just makes collecting vinyl fun,” Martinez says about this new trend. Where can a newcomer get introduced to the world of vinyl records? Skinnies Records, located at 431 W 22nd Street, is a favorite among locals for new and used vinyl. Steve Athey, owner of Skinnies, emphasized that many of the people buying vinyl are “college age individuals looking to buy records from their favorite bands”. Steve is phasing out the CD because “it’s not what it was 15 years ago.” People travel from all over the Hampton Roads area to come and buy their favorite records at Skinnies. Upon walking in, it’s easy to see why. Skinnies offers a friendly atmosphere that is impossible to replicate from online music buying. Steve also emphasized his focus on community “I don’t sell things online so my valued customers here in Norfolk can have the records they want”. With music piracy at an all time high, music is becoming more and more disjointed from the common collective. The slowly rising popularity of this old medium is a response to that. Major corporations, such as Best Buy and Walmart, have taken notice, experimenting with selling new vinyl. The people have spoken, and they want their physical music back.

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Mace & Crown

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2010

spor ts

Transfers from Hofstra paying immediate dividends Inside look at Mayo The creation of last year ODU’s football program has brought with it an excitement and opportunity for many fans, players, and coaches. One of the players is Monarch Co-Captain and Defensive Lineman Deron Mayo who transferred to ODU from Hofstra University in Long Island, New York. After the Hofstra football program was cancelled last year due to growing costs and lack of attendance, Mr. Mayo, a native to the Hampton Roads area, returned to Virginia to play football for the Monarchs in his fifth and final year. With football in his blood (his older brother Jerod Mayo is starting linebacker for the New England Patriots); Mayo has been a monster on the field with 2.5 sacks through 3 games. His impact has made a difference and he was named defensive player of the game against Campbell. Mayo sat down to discuss his composure during games, the decision to transfer from Hofstra, and his ODU experience thus far. M&C: This is old news to you? You do interviews all the time now or what? Deron: Yes… I hate interviews. M&C: Really? Deron: Yes M&C: Do youDeron: I just hate interviews. M&C: You are really disappointing me right now. Deron: I’m just not a speaker, man. I like to lead through my actions.

M&C: I feel like you are a speaker, though. Deron: I’m not. I’m a goofy guy, but when it comes to speaking, it’s just not my game, my strength. M&C: Okay, I wrote down some questions for you. How are you feeling today? Deron: I feel good. M&C: You just finished working out orDeron: No, I just changed for practice because… M&C: Why is your hand sweaty? That’s what I want to know. Deron: I got clammy hands. It’s just a natural reaction. M&C: You’re just nervous because of the interview? Deron: Yeah. M&C: Okay. Okay. Deron: When you have the helmet on out on the field no one can see you, but out here it’s a different story. M&C: Speaking of out on the field, I notice in the games everyone else on the field is jumping around, hyping up the crowd. You? Is it just all intensity and focus? What is going on in your head? Deron: Anytime you have got the crowd behind you it definitely gives you the advantage on the field. The players out here like playing with a little swag, so pumping up the crowd makes it hard on the offense. We use that to our advantage.

see MAYO B5

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Inside look at cameron By Matthew McCracken Staff Writer Ronnie Cameron is a football player who defies all the stereotypes. The Monarchs’ redshirt junior defensive tackle is earning his graduate degree in information technology. He is more than just a player, he is a student of the game, who spends time analyzing game films during his downtime. At Hofstra University, where he also played defensive tackle, (academic honor stuff). Cameron transferred from Hofstra after the school cancelled its football program in 2009. Cameron already has a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, and is working towards his masters in business administration. Standing at 6’2”, weighing 295 lbs, Cameron is a force to be reckoned with on the grid-iron. Already recording 18.5 tackles, 5 for loss of yards, and 2.5 sacks for 19 yards loss in only three games, Cameron is the silver lining to what many considered a less than substantial

start for the Monarchs’ 2010 football season. Starting off 1-2, the Monarchs only have eight games left to pull it together. When asked about what is needed to be done, Cameron simply states “Consistency. We’ll have great periods of play, but we’ll lapse sometimes because of lack of focus. We’re getting it down pact now though.” Because Cameron’s brutal force brings him to the opposing backfield, the Monarchs should be undefeated this season. After every blink of the eye, Cameron comes up with another tackle for loss. With this consistency, it’s unusual that Cameron cares so little about personal statistics. “Honestly, I could care less about personal stats. Its more about total defense that I care about,” Cameron says. Not worrying about the praise linebackers and secondary get for great jobs on defense while the big guys in the middle get nothing more than a whisper, Cameron is a true team player. “I just want to cause as much havoc as I possibly can. I want to help my linebackers make reads by pushing the offensive line back, and make it easier for my secondary since I’m getting see CAMERON B5

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Mace & Crown

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2010

ODU VS MONMOTH box score

BY THE NUMBERS: WEEK 4 VS MONMOUTH

TEAM STAT COMPARISON 1st Downs

3rd down efficiency

7-14

6-15

4th down efficiency

0-1

2-3

Total Yards

472

345

Passing

407

256

Comp-Att

28-47

21-31

Yards per pass

8.7

8.3

Rushing

Rushing Attempts

Yards per rush

2.3

2.4

Penalties

7-46

4-49

Turnovers

Interceptions thrown

Possession

28:19

31:33

GAMES NYJ @ BUF CIN @ CLE DEN @ TEN CAR @ NO DET @ GB SF @ATL SEA @ STL BAL @ PIT HOU @ OAK IND @ JAX WAS @ PHI ARI @ SD CHI @ NYG NE @ MIA

PASSING

C/ATT YDS

AVG

INT

T. DeMarco Team

28/47 28/47

407 407

8.7 8.7

4 4

1 1

RUSHING

CAR

YDS

AVG

M. Crawford T. DeMarco C. Goodwyn Team

16 10 2 28

49 14 2 65

3.1 1.4 1.0 2.3

0 0 0 0

15 20 2 20

RECEIVING LG P. Gill R. Evans N. Mayers C. Lovitt M. Crawford C. Goodwyn K. Blanco D. Williams Team

6 6 4 5 3 1 1 2 28

REC

YDS

AVG

154 95 67 41 25 11 11 3 407

25.7 15.8 16.8 8.2 8.3 11.0 11.0 1.5 14.5

2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 4

48 28 26 11 11 11 11 4 48

By Garrison Cole Sports Editor

Number of turnovers forced by the Monarch defense in the victory

Number of road victories for the Monarchs this season. The team is 0-2 at home.

Number of touchdowns thrown by quarterback Thomas DeMarco.

Number of different receivers that caught a pass led by Prentice Gil who had six catches for 154 yards and two touchdowns.

407

Number of passing yards thrown by DeMarco in the victory, including 321 yards in the first half.

472

Number of total yards gained by the Monarch offense in the 35-21 victory over Monmouth.

E Chelsea BOARD John Danielle Christian Stu Garrison Nick Sarah NYJ CIN TEN NO GB ATL STL BAL HOU IND PHI SD NYG NE

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Mace & Crown

ODU

SOCCER

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2010

Making the grade Monarchs Star Goalie constantly seeking improvement By Donnell Coley Staff Writer

Monarchs fight Patriots to draw After posting nine shutouts a year ago, Newton already has two this season

Goalie Evan Newton big as both sides couldn’t find the back of the net By Travis Kennedy Staff Writer The Monarch’s continued conference play Saturday night against George Mason University at the ODU Soccer Complex in a match which ended in a goalless draw. ODU managed a total of 21 shots on goal throughout the game and two overtime periods, but was unable to finish by putting the ball in the back of the net. With the George Mason Patriots attempting 17 shots themselves, the defense of the Monarchs did well to pull out of the game with a 0-0 tie. Evan Newton, senior goalkeeper and co-captain of ODU’s squad said of the effort, “You always want to get 3 points at home, but keeping a duck egg and getting one point is better than losing.” Newton had 8 saves in the game and played an integral role in maintaining the score for the Monarch’s at several crucial moments. Only seven minutes into the game, Newton found himself fending off two attempts on goal by the Patriots. The keeper dived, reaching out to block a shot aimed from the left side of the box across the goal toward his lower right side. In blocking it, the ball was played dangerously back into the box. An attacking forward of GMU connected his right foot with the ball to send it back at the goal, but Newton recovered and skillfully managed another save. Moments later, the Old Dominion keeper aggressively jumped off his line to rid the box of a well placed Patriot through ball and met the pass with a swift kick, sending it up field, out of harm’s way. Newton dealt with numerous GMU chances in the same manner. The Monarchs finished out the first half without a goal, but seemed to be lacking energy. The team was not playing with the same fervor and haste that the Patriots brought with them to the ODU Soccer complex that evening. “I didn’t think we played a good first half. It’s their first CAA game so they came very motivated and ready to get it done,” said Coach Alan Dawson after the game. The coach told his team at halftime that if they continued to play with the sort of energy they had been, then they would lose the game against their conference foe. After halftime the team lifted their spirits and raised the level of aggression. The backline held strong and

Kathryne Mason Mace & Crown

the offense raised the stakes, testing the Mason goalkeeper 5 times on a total of 8 shots. One of the saves the GMU keeper Sean Cote was forced to make came off the boot of ODU forward Gideon Asante. The freshman out of Sunyani, Ghana seemed full of innovative ideas in the second half of regular time. He worked his creativity, freely threading the ball up field while he maintained possession. After flustering 3 defenders, Asante was unable to finish the run with a goal due to the charging Cote halting his attack on a blocked shot. Despite the offense’s best efforts, the Monarchs were unable to find a goal for themselves by the end of regulation. The team huddled together during the five minute intermission before the first overtime period began and with little time to rest, the player’s of Big Blue looked to rehydrate and stretch in attempt to recover a bit before the match continued. The CAA faceoff heated up in the overtime periods. Both teams pressing for a goal left themselves vulnerable on defense, but nothing would give either way. The physical battle had players of both squads putting their bodies on the line with several hard fouls. In the second period of overtime, Old Dominion caught a break as the Patriot’s Anthony Han, who had the defense beat, tapped a shot off the left post and out of bounds for a harmless goal kick. The crowd looked on in stunned silence as a frustrated Han covered his face. The only words that could be heard in the center section of the stands were those from a small child near the top row who shouted, “Wow, I could have made that!” The intensity of a conference game was enough to motivate the players and fans, but with less than two minutes to play under golden goal rules, the game took the excitement to a new level. In the final minutes ODU keeper Evan Newton slid to block a chance on goal, throwing himself to the ground and shooting his foot out to poke away an otherwise unreachable ball. Only a minute later with the seconds winding down, ODU developed an opportunity for a shot to win the game that ended with three bodies, the Patriot’s goalkeeper, a GMU defender, and Asante, piled in front of the goal and the ball in the goalkeeper’s grasp. “It’s a bitter-sweet feeling. We had our chances to win, but we didn’t do that at home in front of a good crowd. That’s always disappointing,” commented Newton after the game. The Monarch’s came away from the draw with a point in the CAA standings. They sit atop the standings with four points as of Saturday night. The Monarch’s meet their next conference opponent Saturday October, 2 when they travel to Newark to take on the University ff Delaware’s Fightin’ Blue Hens at 7pm.

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For an athlete who is a goalkeeper for a collegiate soccer team, being first in shutouts and second in shutouts per game in the Colonial Athletic Association would be a great accomplishment. However for one particular ODU player, this is not nearly enough. In fact, it receives a “solid ‘B’, not a ‘B+’, just a solid ‘B’,” according to ODU redshirt senior goalkeeper Evan Newton. Clearly, Newton has high expectations for not only himself but also his team as the Monarchs men soccer team found themselves with a 1-0 record in the CAA (4-2 overall) after their win versus rival William and Mary last week. Hailing from Virginia Beach, VA, Newton is does not stray from the typical laid-back attitude of beach area residents. But lackadaisicalness is not appropriate when describing his work ethic on and off the field. When not found on the field shutting down opposing offenses, Newton goes through a pretty exhausting daily routine in which he describes as “hectic”. As if the daily training regiments from 3-5 p.m. strenuous practices, and games both home and away aren’t time consuming enough, like all student athletes he still has to find time to do homework for and attend the three classes he has this semester, en route to complete his studies in the field of Sports Management. But for Newton this arduous routine is a microcosm of the hard work he has put in during the off

season to get to the elite level of play he currently finds himself in. “I trained with D.C. United almost every day for a month. I didn’t have fun all the time like everybody else does during the summer, I took a professional look on it,” said Newton. This busy summer differed from summers in the past where he would take the beginning of the summer off from workouts to enjoy the fun in the sun that a normal college student makes time for. He went on to say, “When other people are taking days off, you’re staying after 15-20 minutes every day.” But knowing that last year was an off year for him after coming back from a devastating injury in 2008, Newton knew he had to work harder than before to make it back to the high level of play he had during the 2007 season in which he led the CAA in shutouts. No doubt with the numbers he has already put up with so much of the season left to play, it seems as if he is well on his way to attaining the goals he has set out for himself this season. Along with winning the CAA championship and advancing to the NCAA tournament, he also stressed the importance of winning goalkeeper of the year in the conference. Of course to achieve high standards of this nature a great deal of mental toughness and confidence is a necessity, both of which Newton does not lack. “I like the aspect that as a keeper you can be the hero or the guy everybody hates, and I just want to make sure I’m the hero that night.” In regards to his strict grading scale, Newton feels that issue can be solved as long as he keeps playing “some of the best soccer of [his] career.” You can catch the Monarchs in action at the ODU Soccer Stadium throughout the course of the year as Newton and crew look to “take [the] grade up into the ‘A’s’” instead of just a “solid ‘B’.”

Danielle Buxton Mace & Crown After posting nine shutouts a year ago, Newton already has two this season

Mace & Crown presents:

K E E R G E F I L 101

@ODU

AF ALPHA PHI Panhellenic Council Came to ODU in 1970

Philanthropy: Cardiac Care They participate in Cardiac Arrest, Jump into my Heart and King of Hearts which is a male talent show. All the money they raise goes to the Alpha Phi Foundation. Their colors are silver and Bordeaux Their symbols are ivy and the phi bear.

DELTA SIGMA THETA National Pan-Hellenic Council Motto Intelligence is the torch of wisdom

DSQ Colors crimson and cream Symbol Fortitude Flower African Violet Sigma Gamma Rho Motto Greater service greater progress Colors Royal Blue and Gold Symbol Poodle Flower Yellow Tea Rose

ZTA ZETA TAU ALPHA Panhellenic Council Came to ODU in 1987

Every year they put on a male talent show called “Big Man on Campus.” They also participate in Race for the Cure every October. They have a kickball tournament called Kick for the Cause in the Spring and a donation event called Kiss Away Cancer, where you can donate $1 to put a lip print on their poster. All the money they raise goes to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Their symbols are the 5 pointed crown and the strawberry. Their colors are steel grey and turqoise blue.

DELTA ZETA Panhellenic Council Came to ODU in 1965

Every year they hold Turtle Tug, a tug of war over green jello to raise money for the Painted Turtle Camp. In the fall they host ARK week, which stands for Always Remember Kelly. It is about seatbelt safety and driving awareness in remembrance of a sister who was killed in a drunk driving accident Their philanthropy is Speech and hearing impaired- Most proceeds go to the Painted Turtle Camp. Also, they support the Star Key Hearing foundation and send both money and contribute hearing aid teddy bears to the children who are part of the foundation. Their symbols are the turtle and the roman lamp. Their colors are old rose and nile green.

SORORITIES

ZFB

AKA

AXD

PBF

ZETA PHI BETA National Pan-Hellenic Council

Motto Scholarship, Sisterly Love, Service, Finer Womanhood Colors Royal Blue and Pure White Symbol White Dove Flower White Rose

ALPHA XI DELTA Panhellenic Council Came to ODU in 1964.

Their colors are double blue & gold. Their philanthropy is Autism Speaks. They raise money and raise awareness for the foundation Autism Speaks. Their events include Xi Paint Wars and AmaXIng Challenge. Their symbols are the quill, the zebra and the bet-xi bear

ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA National Pan-Hellenic Council

Motto: By Merit and Culture Colors : Salmon Pink and Apple Green Symbol Ivy leaf Flower Pink Tea Rose

PI BETA PHI Panhellenic Council Founded at ODU in 1965

Philanthropy is breaking the barrier to illiteracy. Events include Pie With the Pi Phi’s, ArrowSpike VolleyBall Tournament, Speed Read, Crushed by an Angel, Brown Bag Book Drive.. Colors are Wine and Silver Blue Mascot is the angel

LCA PKA LUL QC AFA SFE FRATERNITIES WYF KDR FBS TKE IFQ FKT SP SN

LAMBDA CHI ALPHA Interfraternity Council Founded November 2, 1909 by Warren A. Cole at Boston University Over 270,000 initiates We believe in Lambda Chi Alpha, and its traditions, principles, and ideals. The crescent is our symbol — pure, high, ever growing; and the cross is our guide — denoting service, sacrifice, and even suffering and humiliation before the world, endured if need be, in following that ideal. May we have faith in Lambda Chi Alpha and passion for its welfare. May we have hope for the future of Lambda Chi Alpha and strength to fight for its teachings. May we have pure hearts that we may approach the ideal of perfect brotherly love. Values: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Service and Stewardship, Honor, Integrity, Personal Courage Colors: Green, Purple and Gold Mascot: Lion Flower: White Rose National Philanthropy: North American Food Drive

LAMBDA UPSILON LAMBDA National Pan-Hellenic Council

Motto La Unidad Para Siempre Colors Brown and Gold First Latino Fraternity to be chartered at a Ivy League School

ALPHA PHI ALPHA National Pan-Hellenic Council

Motto First of All, Servants of All, We Shall Transcend All Color Black and Old Gold Symbol Great Sphinx of Giza Flower Yellow Rose

OMEGA PSI PHI National Pan-Hellenic Council

Motto Friendship is Essential to the Soul Colors Royal Purple and Old Gold Symbol Lamp Publication Oracle

PHI BETA SIGMA National Pan-Hellenic Council

Motto Culture For Service and Service For Humanity Colors Royal Blue and Pure White Symbol Dove Flower White Carnation

IOTA PHI THETA National Pan-Hellenic Council

Motto Building A Tradition, Not Resting Upon One! Colors Charcoal Brown and Gilded Gold Symbol Centaur Flower Yellow Rose

SIGMA PI Interfraternity Council Founded February 26, 1897 at Vicennes University

Over 90,000 initiates Colors: Lavendar, White and Gold Jewel: Emerald Flower: Lavendar Orchid National Philanthropy: The SAM Spady Foundation Creed: I Believe in Sigma Pi, a Fellowship of kindred minds, united in Brotherhood to advance Truth and Justice, to promote Scholarship, to encourage Chivalry, to diffuse Culture, and to develop Character, in the Service of God and Man; and I will strive to make real the Fraternity’s ideals in my own daily life.

PI KAPPA ALPHA Interfraternity Council March 1, 1868 at UVA Over 240,000 initiates Colors: Garnet and Gold Symbols: The Oak Tree, Shield & Diamond, White Horse Flower: Lily of the Valley Jewel: Diamond Creed: We believe in the importance of virtue and commit to living the values of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. We recognize that truth is the foundation of all lasting association, and we will seek wisdom and knowledge while serving others in modesty and dignity. Recalling that Pi Kappa Alpha is a lifelong commitment, I therefore reaffirm to live my life with honor and courage seeking the inherent worth in each person I meet; to accept all brothers of Pi Kappa Alpha in love and friendship; and to serve my faith, my family, my community, my alma mater, and my Fraternity. Only then, by living these virtues, will we realize our fullest potential.

THETA CHI Interfraternity Council April 10, 1856 at Norwich University

Colors: Military Red and White Symbol: Rattlesnake Flower: Red Carnation Creed: I believe in Theta Chi, its traditions and its ideals. Born of sturdy manhood, nurtured by resolute men, ennobled by high and sacred purpose, it has taken its place among the educational institutions of America as a promoter of knowledge, an advancer of culture and a builder of character. It inspires true friendship: teaches Truth, Temperance and Tolerance, extols virtue, exacts harmony, and extends a helping hand to all who seek it. I believe in the primacy of Alma Mater; in the usefulness of my Fraternity, in its influence and its accomplishments and I shall do all in my power to perpetuate its ideals, thereby serving my God, my country and my fellow-man.

SIGMA PHI EPSILON Interfraternity Council Founding: November 1, 1901, at Richmond College Cardinal Principles: Virtue, Diligence, and Brotherly Love. Today, the Fraternity has grown to more than 280,000 lifetime members, including over 14,000 undergraduates on 241 campuses in the United States. SigEp is currently the largest fraternity in terms of undergraduate enrollment. First to charter a chapter in all 50 states. Philanthropy: YouthAids Chartering at ODU: April 20th 1985 Over 283,000 initiates Colors: Purple, Red and Gold Flower: Violet and Dark Red Rose

KAPPA DELTA RHO Interfraternity Council Founded May 17, 1905 at Middlebury College in Middlebury, VT. 25,000+ initiated members, 35 active chapters across the country Values: Fellowship, Leadership, Scholarship, Service, and Tradition Colors: Middlebury Blue and Princeton Orange Flower: Red Rose Mascot: Peregrine Falcon

TAU KAPPA EPSILON Interfraternity Council January 10, 1899 at Illinois Wesleyan University Over 250,000 initiates Symbol: Equilateral Triangle National Philanthropy: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Flower: Red Carnation Crimson Lake Cherry and Pure Silver Gray The Creed: To Believe in love and loyalty to my College, my Fraternity, my Country, and my God; To Believe in the worthiness and dignity of my fellow man, and judge him solely upon his personal worth and character; To Believe with fidelity in the traditions and ideals of my Fraternity, and upon my sacred honor, to uphold them; To Believe in the constant search for truth, and through it, to seek the goal of wisdom; To Believe in the life based upon integrity, justice, sincerity, patience, moderation, culture, and challenge in order to serve as a responsible, mature member of society; To Believe in the cardinal principles of Love, Charity, and Esteem and to use them to guide my life; To Believe in my Fraternity as a brotherhood of gentlemen in perpetual quest of excellence as a way of life. PHI KAPPA TAU Interfraternity Council March 17, 1906 at University of Miami Ohio Over 90,000 initiates Symbol: Star Mascot: Chief Flower: Red Carnation Colors: Harvard Red and Old Gold National Philanthropy: Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang Camps Paul Newman was a Phi Tau Creed: Phi Kappa Tau, by admitting me to membership has conferred upon me a mark of distinction in which I take just pride. I believe in the spirit of brotherhood for which it stands. I shall strive to attain its ideals, and by so doing to bring to it honor and credit. I shall be loyal to my college and my chapter and shall keep strong my ties to them that I may ever retain the spirit of youth. I shall be a good and loyal citizen. I shall try always to discharge the obligation to others which arises from the fact that I am a fraternity man.

SIGMA NU Interfraternity Council Founded January 1, 1869 at VMI Creed of Sigma Nu To Believe in the Life of Love, To Walk in the Way of Honor, To Serve in the Light of Truth This is the Life, the Way, and the Light of Sigma Nu This is the Creed of our Fraternity. 219,000 initiates Black, Gold and White White Rose

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2010

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Mace & Crown

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2010

ODU

Monarchs open conference play with win

Danielle Buxton Mace & Crown

LeBlanc’s goal his second on the season was enough to give the Monarchs a 1-0 victory.

Early goal proves to be enough to beat William and Mary The Old Dominion men’s soccer team knew what was at stake last Tuesday night. After tough home losses to West Virginia and Elon University a third consecutive defeat would mean falling further away from the top 25 and starting out conference play 0-1. They simply weren’t going to let that happen. Sophomore Jordan LeBlanc scored in the 23rd minute of the match to give the Monarchs a 1-0 lead. That lead, as well as some heroics from captains Tommy Webb and Evan Newton, would be enough to see out a hard-fought victory. The game was played under a beautiful sky with a turnout of over 1,000. The visiting Tribe certainly wasn’t new to the surroundings, playing at ODU earlier in this season when they won the STIHL Soccer Classic with two victories.

The game started out positively for the Monarchs. LeBlanc whipped in a dangerous cross for sophomore Chris Harmon to meet at the back post that went just wide. Later, freshman striker Placide Buduri had a quick shot inside the box that the keeper saved first and then again from the rebound from Chris Harmon. A few more first half chances went wide and some lingering doubts came into the minds of the players – reminders of their last game where they outshot Elon 25-10, but were unable to find the back of the net, losing the game 1-0. In the 23rd minute, Jordan LeBlanc answered those doubts. “I had the ball in the middle third of the field, I played it to Harmon and then went for the 1-2,” LeBlanc said of the goal. “I had one man to beat, slid it to my left foot and finished in the bottom right.” The goal sent both fans and teammates into a craze. They knew an early goal would settle the nerves and set the Monarchs up for a great chance to seal the victory. The Monarchs continued to put the pressure on the Tribe. In the 38th minute freshman Tim Hopkinson met a LeBlanc cross and

ODU’s New Attacker Jocelyn Weidner Accepts Her New Role

Last year Jocelyn Weidner was one of the great defenders on ODU’s women soccer team. This year, however, she is stepping into another role as an offensive threat. Jocelyn is currently second on the team with two goals. She has also managed an assist in this young season of only six games. Although the Lady Monarchs have started off with a 2-3-1 record, they have been playing well and been close in each game. Only once were they beat by more than two goals. Weidner said, “It’s tough when you play better than

the other team but you don’t win.” It gets frustrating not only to Weidner, but the whole team, when they can’t, as Weidner said, “Put one in the back of the net.” Hopefully this will not be the case as the Lady Monarchs begin to play in Conference games. The same rivalries that have gone on for years will continue in the weeks to come. Weidner spoke of these rivalries, “We tied Towson last year and lost to George Mason. So we need to beat them this year. We really need to beat Towson!” As she said this her voice rang out with the determination that would be needed to turn this season into a successful one. When asked if she thought this year’s team was better than last, Weidner answered before the question was even finished. “We are a

was unlucky when his strike hit the crossbar. For all the chances the Monarchs had, they were unlucky not to put another goal away. The lack of finishing almost came back to hurt them when the Tribe had an excellent chance in the 42nd minute. Goalkeeper Evan Newton was caught out of the goal in an attempt to clear a ball. The ball fell directly to a William & Mary forward. The forward looked up and felt certain he would level the game up. Tommy Webb had a different idea. Hurling himself in front of the shot, Webb saved an almost certain goal to keep the lead intact for the Monarchs. Not without any pain though. “It’s just one of things you got to do -- you got to put your body on the line,” Webb said. “But, yeah, it hurt a lot.” The second half began and it seemed the roles had reversed. The Monarchs outshot the Tribe 9-2 in the first half, but managed only seven shots to W&M’s 10 in the second, with most of those coming late in the game on counter attack opportunities. William & Mary were piling on the pressure and seemed destined for an equalizer. A diving header, a breakaway shot, and a long

much better team this year,” she said with a smile. And the offensive stats so far do show this. In only the six games the Lady Monarchs have been able to score nine goals. In 2009 they only scored 19 the entire season of 20 games. They have also been able to up the number of shots they take per game from 14.9 to 17.0. Weidner is excited with the turn out the Lady Monarchs have gotten at home games. “It’s good to see so many people out there. I just hope we can score some more goals for them.” Last year ODU had a conference record at home of 0-3-3. With the continued turnout and ODU’s strong offense hopefully that will change this year. Many have helped Weidner improve her game; one such person is fellow midfielder Ashlee Coutu.

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SOCCER

distance shot all went just a whisker wide of Newton’s posts. In the 73rd minute, things got a bit easier for the Monarchs. William & Mary defender Nick Orozco was giving his marching orders after a deliberate stamp on Monarch forward Yannick Smith. Now playing against 10 men, it seemed ODU would have a much easier time seeing out the victory. William & Mary had a few more opportunities denied by keeper Newton, and the Monarchs were able to hold out for a solid 1-0 victory. Coach Alan Dawson emphasized the importance of not only bouncing back after two tough losses, but also of starting out the conference on the right foot. “We had two good practices coming in, changed a little bit. We’re coming into the conference and it’s such a battle. You have to do a lot of little things to win here,” Coach Alan Dawson said. “It’s huge starting off with a win. Getting three points in the bag, to get that win against a team like William and Mary, it’s great.”

Jocelyn said Coutu has been a tremendous help to her as game has matured. Another element that helped has been Jocelyn’s sister, Jessica. Jessica is two years older than Jocelyn and played field hockey for the University of Richmond. As Jocelyn entered high school Jessica, being two years older, was able to make her feel comfortable. Weidner’s high school soccer resume includes an All-State senior year. She was team captain her junior and senior year. She was named Mid-Penn Commonwealth Player of the Year. Jocelyn also was named Mid-Penn Commonwealth Player of the Year in field hockey. As the season starts a new chapter with the start of conference play, Jocelyn is ready to own her new role. When asked if she is

happy about her new status as an offensive player Jocelyn’s eyes lit up. “Yeah, I have been waiting a while for this.”

ODUSPORTS.COM

Weidner is ssecond on the team with five points.

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Mace & Crown

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2010

So many sports to choose from

Lauren Miller & Courtney Parameter: We don’t really have a rival team yet because we’re still a new team. We’re still getting our name out there. Tyler Duchaine: Christopher Newport University is definitely our rival just because of the history between the two teams. But we definitely are competitive with every team we play against, we don’t go easy on anybody, every game we play we play with 110%.

No secret handshake needed to join these clubs By Kathryne Mason Contributing Writer

Old Dominion University has a variety of club sports: from rugby to lacrosse, fast-pitch softball to soccer, golf, and ultimate Frisbee. Joining a club sport is a great way to meet new friends, get in shape and have fun. The Mace and Crown had the chance to catch up with prominent leaders of three of Old Dominion University’s sports clubs teams; Tyler Duchaine from Men’s hockey; RJ Hartman from Men’s lacrosse, and Lauren Miller and Courtney Parameter from the Women’s Field Hockey Team. Mace and Crown: What are your thoughts on the season so far? Lauren Miller and Courtney Parameter: I think we’re doing a lot better than what we’ve expected. I guess you could say it’s been an unexpected surprise. Hopefully, we’ll make it to Nationals this year, which I think are in Pennsylvania this year. Tyler Duchaine: We have a very strong core of returning players from last year. Last year was our rebuilding year because we had a lot of players graduate the year before, but we’ve got a really good collection of rookies that are showing some promise. We had a summer development camp over the summer, so that way we’re not wasting time practicing things we don’t need to be practicing during the season. As far as expectations, we’re definitely setting our eyes on Nationals. M & C: What would you say are some of the benefits to joining a club team at Old Dominion University? RJ Hartman: You meet a lot of cool people, a lot of people who are interested in the sport. It’s also a great way to get shape, and if you’re a freshmen, like I said before it’s a great way to meet people. We just have a ton of fun. Tyler Duchaine: I like to not think of our team as a club sport just because of how competitive we are. Our team belongs to the

Mayo from C1

M&C: But you’re not trying to pump up the crowd. Are you just chilling? Deron: (Chuckles) Yeah, I’m not really into all that. At Hofstra we didn’t have a crowd, so you had to hype yourself up. M&C: So what’s it like having those 20,000 people screaming when you are on defense? Deron: It is crazy. Going back to Hofstra, the only people you could hear were the players. You could hear our calls loud and clear, but here the linebacker has to come up to the D-line and yell the calls because the crowd is so loud. It’s good. It definitely amps us up. It’s been a great experience. M&C: So four years at Hofstra and you found out the program was being shut down. Where was your mind at that point? What were you thinking? Deron: The first question that popped into my head was “Why?” The next thing I thought about was all the friendships I built. It wasn’t just football. It’s the people that I got to know through those four years and the relationships I built with people. When that happened, Coach called all of us in the room and there were psychologists in case all hell broke loose (laughs). When they said (the football program was cancelled) everyone was like, ‘Damn, what are we going to do now?’ And I knew right away there was no way I was going to stay there. They were going to pay for

Kathryne Mason Mace & Crown The men’s club lacross team practices Tuesday through Thursday on Powhatan field.

Blue Ridge Hockey Conference, in the Colonial League, which is a really premier league. We’re also part of the American Collegiate Hockey Association, which is made up of over 300 teams. As I said before, we’re a very competitive team and being a part of this team it’s a real commitment. M & C: What position do you play? Do you wish you had the skills to play another position? RJ Hartman: Attack, I’m a goal scorer. I’d be interested in playing faceoff midfield, but I’m not very good at face-offs, so I don’t see that happening anytime soon. Lauren Miller & Courtney Parameter: Center Midfield and forward. Tyler Duchaine: I’m goalie. I first started out playing left wing, so I might go back to that, but I like being goalie. M & C: Have you guys had any problems financing the team, or just any obstacles in general? RJ Hartman: Not really, because everyone

our scholarships, but I said, “There is no way I am going to stay here. I have to play football one more year because I know I will regret it for the rest of my life if I don’t.” So I’m excited to have this opportunity over here at ODU. M&C: You didn’t freak out? You kept your head? Deron: Yeah, I kept my head, but inside I was burning up. It was a heart breaker to be told such terrible news. M&C: Has it paid off coming here? Deron: I just feel like everything happens for a reason to tell you the truth. This has been a great experience. I never would have imagined something like this would happen, something this extreme. The ODU football team is on the rise. There is a lot of buzz out there. This has been a blessing. M&C: Getting into football and the ODU team, what are your thoughts on the season so far? Deron: We have had our ups and downs. Obviously, the Jacksonville loss was an upset, but we bounced back versus Campbell. That was good to see in our team. We have a young team and anytime you can bounce back, that is always great. It shows we have some fight in our team. Then William & Mary came in here and they beat us… Or we beat ourselves to tell you the truth. It showed what type of character our team has. Our boys played hard. William &

Kathryne Mason Mace & Crown The women’s club field hockey team practices Monday through Thursday.

that’s on the team has played lacrosse before, so they already have all the equipment they need. Lauren Miller & Courtney Parameter: Our biggest problems are club budget and getting equipment. Also travel expenses and time management. The Field Hockey Club is still a pretty new club, so just about everything is an obstacle, but we’re facing them head on. Tyler Duchaine: We don’t really have any problems with equipment. The university gives us a few helmets, but pretty much everyone on the team; this isn’t their first time playing hockey, so they already have their own equipment. M & C: Who are your rival teams? Or just a team that you always look forward to competing against? RJ Hartman: We don’t really have a rival team yet, but our most competitive games is probably against William and Mary, just because we play them so often and we’re pretty equal on how many times we’ve played them and won.

Mary thought they were going to come in here and basically shut down the house, but we stood up. We went blow for blow with them. M&C: Good stuff. I’ve heard the name Deron Mayo. I’ve heard him be described as “a beast” or “a freak of nature” with the numbers you put up; I’ve read all about it. I’ve heard all about it. I’ve seen it in person. How would you describe yourself? Deron: I just think I’m a hard worker. I owe all of that credit to my parents, my brothers and my grandfather. They always instilled that hard work mentality in me and all three of my brothers. I have worked hard for everything I have. It’s not given to me. M&C: In the future, of course you want to focus on this season right now, but you have to have a plan. I have read rumors here and there of scouts and things like that. What’s on your radar? What do you have lined up? Deron: First and foremost is getting wins. We are trying to make the playoffs. With that said, where ever this career takes me, I am going to take it as far as I can. Whether that means professional or any other league, I am going to take football as far as my body will let me. The NFL? If that doesn’t work then God has a plan for me somewhere else. I am an Exercise Specialist major so I hope to start a gym somewhere. Maybe I can team up with my brother and start something special.

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M & C: Is your club sport a year round sport, or just a fall semester/ spring semester sport? RJ Hartman: We play most of our games during spring semester. During fall semester is when we practice and play in a few scrimmages and tournaments, but our official season doesn’t start until spring semester. Lauren Miller & Courtney Parameter: Field Hockey is pretty much in season year round. We play during fall and spring semester, but I would say we have more games during the fall semester. Tyler Duchaine: Hockey is an interesting sport because we start in the fall semester and ends in spring semester, usually around March or April, depending on how far we get, so I guess you could say it’s a year round sport. M & C: For those interested in playing for the team, or just coming to watch and be a fan where are your practice facilities/ games played? Lauren Miller & Courtney Parameter: We practice at Powhatan Field, Monday 9-11 pm and Tuesdays and Thursdays 7-9 pm. Our games are usually at Powhatan also. RJ Hartman: We practice at Powhatan Field Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-11pm and Wednesdays from 7-9pm. Most of our home games are also at Powhatan Field. Tyler Duchaine: You can go online to brhockey.com to see where our games are, but most of our games and practices are held at Ice Land in Virginia Beach off Broad Street, it’s about 20 minutes from here, so it’s not to far. Tuesdays and Thursdays practice is at 9:45 and then we usually have two days a week where we do off ice conditioning.

Cameron from C1 pressure on the quarterback.” As part of track and field at Holy Trinity High School in Hicksville, New York, Cameron has great feet to balance his near-300 pound build. To answer his dominance on the field, Cameron says “I just try to have a good combination of quickness and strength. I try to beat people at the point of attack, and be physical imposing.” The point of attack changes depending on field position. Cameron’s favorite individual play of the season was chasing down William and Mary’s running back beating him to the line of scrimmage to stop a potential touchdown run. Considering all the sacks and tackles for loss he has, the fact that he picks that play as his favorite illustrates his character. He cares more about the little things that make a big difference. Cameron does whatever it takes to

make his team successful. He feels strongly about putting him in goal-line packages on the offensive side of the ball. “Get me in on goal-line as a tight-end or running back. It doesn’t matter as long as the ball is in my hands,” Cameron says. Almost every linemen’s dream is to score with the ball in their hands. Many coaches wouldn’t even consider putting a defensive lineman at such a versatile position, but according to Cameron, “defensive linemen are usually a lot more athletic than they are given credit for.” Cameron is more than just a big man to clog up a hole. He isn’t just one out of the eleven on the defensive side of the ball. He is the type of player that represents Monarch football. With his heart on his sleeve, Cameron is a man who understands what it takes to be successful in both life and on the field. He is the ultimate student-athlete.

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LEAGUE

Far from saviors Why drawing racial comparisons to that of Donovan McNabb and Wes Welker is counterproductive

Upside Down: NFL regular season off to a wild start

Kevin Hollister Staff Writer

Cutler has been better taking care of the ball only throwing one interception.

Surprised a plenty so far in the NFL By Ben Decowski The NFL regular season has begun and the league seems to be turned upside down. Teams that were “gimme’s” on the supposed elite team’s schedules are off to a fast start while those thought to be upper echelon teams are struggling to get their season going in the right direction. Every year there seems to be one or two surprise teams that emerge from the ashes and have a turnaround season (see 2009 Bengals). So why is this year any different? Well this year there is a staggering total of four teams coming off of losing records that have shot out of the gates to a 2-0 start. These teams include the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears and the Miami Dolphins. The surprises don’t stop there though. The Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers, all thought to be divisional favorites, are 0-2. The Cowboys, who experts and analysts raved about all offseason and were basically given the NFC bid for the Super Bowl, have been every bit of a bust so far. The offense has repeatedly struggled to find the end zone. The offensive line has performed poorly and the running game has been non-existent. While the defense kept it close in week one against the Redskins, they surrendered 27 points to the Bears in week two. With a tough schedule that includes opponents like the Colts, Titans, Packers and Saints, the Cowboys are going to have to figure out how to get back on track quickly if they want to live up to expectations. What about the Vikings and their savior Brett Favre? Favre has to be second guessing his decision to come back now that his go-to receiver Sydney Rice is out for at least half of the season. Star running back Adrian Peterson is going to have to pick up the slack for his team if they want to repeat last year’s success, especially with Divisional rivals Green Bay and Chicago playing so well. As for the 49ers, they are blowing a golden opportunity to get back to their winning ways. They did not take the Seattle Seahawks seriously in week one and were blown out 31-6 in what should have been an easy divisional win. They did almost stun the Saints in week two but Drew Brees lifted his team over the 49ers on a last minute game winning drive. Fortunately for San Francisco they are in one of the leagues weakest divisions and can easily make up ground. The Detroit Lions have made some noise early in the season and were very close to being added to the list of 2-0 teams. In week one the Bears defeated the Lions due to a questionable call in the end zone after star Detroit wide receiver Calvin Johnson appeared to make a game winning touchdown catch that was called a drop. Then in week two the Eagles staved off a spectacular comeback by the Lions and dealt them a 35-32 loss. Perhaps the hottest and most popular team right now is the Houston Texans. The Texans jumped out to a 2-0 start with two tough wins. In week one the

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Texans defeated their divisional rival the Indianapolis Colts 34-24 thanks to at the time an unknown running back Arian Foster who ripped the Colts defense for 231 yards rushing. Then in week two the Texans erased a 17 point deficit against the Washington Redskins that was capped off with an incredible 34-yard touchdown grab by wide receiver Andre Johnson on a fourth and ten. The Texans completed the comeback with a 35yard field goal in overtime. The NFL is also rapidly transforming into a pass happy league. Through two weeks there have only been 9 players to rush for one hundred yards in a game and one of those players is Eagles quarterback Michael Vick. While on the subject of the running game, Tennessee’s Chris Johnson is fifth in the league in rushing with only 176 yards after promising 2000 yards on the year. If Johnson wants to break that 2000 yard barrier for the second straight year he is going to need to average a little over 130 yards a game for the rest of the season. There have also been multiple quarterback controversies so far. The Philadelphia Eagles Head Coach Andy Reid named Michael Vick the new starting quarterback over Kevin Kolb who was the starter coming into the season before being dealt a minor concussion in week one. The Oakland Raiders also changed their starting quarterback from former Redskin Jason Campbell to Bruce Gradkowski. The Bills have benched quarterback Trent Edwards and gave the nod to new starter and Harvard grad Ryan Fitzpatrick. Jimmy Clausen was awarded the starting job after Matt Moore failed to impress Head Coach John Fox. The Jacksonville Jaguars benched David Garrard in week two and put in Luke McCown who then suffered a season ending knee injury, most likely giving the job back to Garrard. The Tennessee Titans benched Vince Young in week two against the Steelers to put in Kerry Collins in the Titans horrible 7 turnover performance. In Arizona, quarterback Derek Andersen has rookie quarterback Max Hall breathing down his neck and if Andersen turns in another performance like he had in week two Hall will likely get a chance to play. There have also been multiple off-the-field events that have been out of the ordinary. For starters Giants running back Brandon Jacobs threw his helmet into the stands in Indianapolis and then requested to be traded due to a reduced role in the offense. Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards was pulled over and charged with DWI after his team defeated the rival New England Patriots and will likely face a suspension. The Buccaneers safety Tanard Jackson was suspended for the rest of the year for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Last but certainly not least, Broncos wide receiver Kenny McKinley was found dead in his home from what appears to have been from suicide. The NFL regular season is still very young but it has been a wild one so far. It is likely that there will be many twist and turns throughout the season. It is too early to say who will come out on top and who will be this year’s “gimme” teams. There will be many teams that claw their ways to the top of their divisions only to slip back into the middle of the pack. The only way to find out who are the top teams is to sit back and watch the season unfold.

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Remember back in 2003 when Rush Limbaugh made his comments regarding Donovan McNabb? McNabb, Limbaugh argued, McNabb was portrayed by the media as the “great hope” for all black quarterbacks. Now, the same be could be said about the Patriots’ Wes Welker—the media hypes him as the “great hope” for the white wide receiver. But framing McNabb or Welker as saviors for their race at their respective positions isn’t the solution to seeing change. In an article published in 2010 in The Howard Journal of Communication titled “Roughing the Passer: The Framing of Black and White Quarterbacks Prior to the NFL Draft,” Eugenio Mercurio of Ball State University examines the black and white quarterback racial stereotypes. He concluded after examining data from a 10-year period (NFL Drafts from1998-2007) that black QB’s were “primarily described with words or phrases that emphasized their physical gifts and lack of mental prowess” while white QB’s were described as “less physically gifted, but more mentally prepared for the game and less likely to make mental errors.” Mercurio’s data illustrates that there is a flaw in comparing black quarterbacks to other black quarterbacks. But, his conclusions also demonstrate a flaw in comparing white receivers to other white receivers. And these misconceptions may be what are crippling each race at the respective positions. According to ESPN.com, there are currently 16 active black QB’s on NFL rosters—and as of recent quarterback shuffles—seven are Week 3 starters. Seeing as each of the 32 teams is allowed to carry a max of three QB’s on their active roster, there are potentially 96 QB spots available; therefore, black QB’s account for a shade more than 16 percent at the position. As for receivers, looking at the top four WR’s on each team’s active depth chart (because basically only four really play), of that sample set, 14 are white. Only four white receivers are in the team’s Top-2 on the depth chart. So with more chances to play at the wide receiver position, a mere 14 out of a possible 128 are white. Clearly these statistics for quarterbacks and receivers show glaring racial discrepancies at each respective position—with McNabb (for black QB’s) and Welker (for white WR’s) seen as the excep-

tions. These discrepancies can be attributed to a variety of factors, but there is no denying that the framing of these two players is a contributor to these grossly top-heavy statistics. Hypothetically, while comparing current and future black quarterbacks to McNabb can be seen as complimentary, it puts a ceiling on their talents. As Mercurio alluded to in his study, there are a variety of stereotypes that go into evaluating black QB’s. For instance, instead of using McNabb as a comparison for the black quarterback Jason Campbell, his 2009 statistics compare more aptly to that of white Carson Palmer or white Kyle Orton. Occasionally using white QB’s as a barometer of comparison, and not constantly falling back on obvious physical similarities, may arouse more positive and less racially-driven extrapolations of a quarterback’s talent. It’s easy to fall in the same trap when it comes to white receivers. There’s no denying Wes Welker’s laundry list of accomplishments, but let’s face it: he’s an undersized, hardworking overachiever. Comparing every white receiver to Welker (just like every black QB is usually compared to McNabb)— whether their skill-set is the same or not—may seem flattering, however it paints the white receiver as inferior, and having to overcompensate for a lack of God-given athletic ability with less tangible skills ( desire, work ethic, determination). For example, is Houston’s Kevin Walter a scrappy, not too speedy, small, possession slot receiver? Of course not. Aside from being white, 29-years-old and having the number “83 on his jersey, he has no more in common with Welker than the average fan. Perhaps a more apt comparison for Walter would be to that of the black Terrell Owens. Sound crazy? Well, it’s actually more accurate. While Welker is a mere 5’9, 185 slot receiver, T.O. and Walter (despite a seven-year age difference) both are 6’3, 220 pound, and physical wide-outs. Throughout a 16-game season, their stats were even comparable: Walter-66 catches, 784 yards, 4 touchdowns, 12.4 yards per catch (combining 14 games from last season, and two games from this season); Owens-55 catches, 829 yards, 5 touchdowns, 15.1 yards per catch (in 2009—because he played all 16 games). Putting labels on players and comparing them to others of their race further perpetuates the negative traits attached to their race at the position. McNabb and Welker should not be seen as exceptions to the rule at their positions, or measuring sticks for other players of the same race—they should be treated as just simply “exceptional football players.” PHOTO CREDIT

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Don’t ask don’t tell A Discourse in Civil Rights By Rakan Beshara Contributing Writer In light of the United States Senate’s inability to pass a proposal to repeal last week on the 17-year old “don’t ask don’t tell” Policy regarding homosexuals in the military, I decided to voice my opinion on the matter. Who am I to voice an opinion on “don’t ask don’t tell”? My credentials speak for themselves - I am a veteran of our military, having served in foreign duty in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Nearly ten years of honorable and proud service has allowed me to witness first hand many of the policies set upon the military by the government, one of which is “don’t ask don’t tell”. There’s a lot of conjecture on this subject and a lot of people speak from an uninformed position or an outdated one (yes, that would be you, Senator McCain). I do not affiliate myself with any political party; in fact, I abhor the concept of political parties because they only serve to divide a nation. Abraham Lincoln quoted Matthew 12:25 when he said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” It is sad to say that one of the many political discussions that divide us today is the policy of “don’t ask don’t tell”. I was an adolescent preteen when President Bill Clinton proposed the compromise of “don’t ask don’t tell”. And while I believe he meant it with the best of intentions, I think it has resulted in the unfair and unlawful discharge of thousands of Americans who voluntarily answered their nation’s call to serve. Before I go any further, a brief understanding of what the policy entails is in order. “don’t ask don’t tell” simply says that no one can ask the sexual orientation of any member of the military and no homosexual member of the military should disclose their sexual orientation. Before and after the imposition of this policy, homosexuality and military service were deemed incompatible. The policy further states that anyone who makes a homosexual statement (i.e. “I am gay”) or engages in a homosexual act shall undergo an investigation by their commander and a hearing by their peers. This doesn’t mean that an individual would be discharged as a result of the investigation (one time experimentation, for example, is excusable) but if it is determined the member is homosexual, then discharge is initiated. Even though the discharge is classified as Honorable, it seems to hearken back to the days of the Salem Witch Trials of the 17th century, minus the burning. People who oppose the idea of homosexuals in the

GAURDIAN.CO.UK Margaret Witt, who was discharged from the Air Force in 2004 for being openly gay, was reinstated this past Friday, causing some issues for the “don’t ask, don’t tell,” policy.

military tend to be against the whole idea of homosexuality in general, either implying or blatantly stating that such a phenomenon is unnatural, with homosexuality being a choice. Put simply, homosexuality is not a choice. I don’t remember the day when I had to choose to be straight - I was born heterosexual. Homosexuality exists naturally in the animal world (do you think gay Bonobos monkeys made the conscious decision to be homosexual?), so why is it impossible for it to exist naturally among humans? Put simply, it isn’t, but in the broader sense, it shouldn’t even matter to begin with. The existence of homosexuality as a natural or unnatural phenomenon is irrelevant. Homosexuality exists in our society, which makes this issue about one thing and one thing only: Civil Rights. Let’s reflect on our past for a minute. There was a time when it was illegal for blacks to serve in the United States military and often times when they were allowed to serve, it was in their own regiments under white commanders. It wasn’t until the middle of the 20th century when blacks were integrated into white units. Studying the history of our military, it is documented that this integration was met with an uproar. Are blacks less entitled to fight in our military alongside whites? Of course not. They are Americans, who bleed the same red colored blood as whites and fight just as bravely as whites, despite the fact they have been oppressed through so much of our nation’s history. The same argument can be made for women. There was a time women were banned from serving in the military. It wasn’t until recently women were allowed into the Service Academies at West Point, Annapolis and Colorado Springs

For Crying Out Loud Is the recession really over?

By Christian Ernst News Editor The recession ended in June 2009. While that may seem a laughable statement, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research, it’s true. In a September 20 statement, it said the downturn that had started in

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2010

December 2007 had ended more than a year ago. Even so, it is the longest recession since World War 2. According to the public, though, this might not be so true. According to a poll conducted by CNN and the Opinion Research Corporation, 74 percent of Americans believe the recession is still happening. Further, one third of Americans believe the recession is serious. Technically, the recession may well be over. A recession is a quantitative term, meaning two or more consecutive quarters of contracting gross domestic product, according to bussinessdictionary.com. So maybe we no longer have consecutive declining quarters. But many people are still feeling the crunch of a hurting economy. Unemployment still hovers near 10 percent, including 9.6 percent for August 2010. The U.S. import price index is rising, but only slightly, hitting 0.6 in August. Average hourly earnings are also increasing, up to

and even still today, women are not allowed to be fighter pilots or fight in combat. Why? If women can perform to the standards as men, why can’t they fight alongside them? If they have the desire to serve their country, shouldn’t they be allowed to serve in the exact capacity as men? Do you see where I am going with this? The only difference now is the newest fight on the Civil Rights front has to do with sexual orientation, not gender or race. By denying gays the right to serve openly or forcing them to live a lie by hiding who they truly are in order to serve, lawmakers are in essence saying that homosexuals are less American than whites, blacks, Hispanics, women, and even non-citizen service members who fight for their country everyday. I don’t think anyone would dare argue that they are lesser Americans, but there is the fear that it will affect morale, good order and discipline in the military. I served alongside gays during my tenure in the military. It was never a big secret who was gay - it was usually not very hard to tell. But never once did I feel threatened, uncomfortable, or scared that my gay coworker would do something to erode that good order and discipline, even during military training when we had to shower in open bays. They work just as hard as I did to defend their nation. When you’re in a location that is designated a combat zone, the first thought on your mind is protecting your camp, wingmen and country, not making a mental roster of who in your unit is gay. Who cares? When there is the ever-present threat of hostilities from an enemy that will not hesitate to kill you, a homosexual with a gun pointing downrange is just as lethal as the heterosexual doing the same exact thing. Any argument to the contrary is ignorant, uninformed and bogus. Let homosexuals serve openly in our military. It harms no one; in fact, it only makes us stronger as a nation because we are showing our tolerance for a group of people that are different than the mainstream. We are America, the country of opportunity, equality and liberty for all Americans, regardless of creed, color, gender, religion or sexual orientation. I am a firm believer that as long as we continue to oppress any group of people in this country, we continue to oppress everyone in this country. No one is free in this country until all of us are free. And if none of us are free to be who we truly want to be, then that means every life that has been lost in defense of this country has been lost in vain. As a proud veteran of our military, it pains me to even entertain that notion, but I must be pragmatic. We are only as strong as our weakest link; we are only as free as the most oppressed group of people within our borders.

22.66 from 22.48 in March. These statistics may just seem to be numerical characters thrown at terms that fly over your head, as they did mine, but they are what are used to judge whether or not we are still in a declining economy. It’s hard to consider the fact that these numbers, as arbitrary as they are, as little as they mean to the average American, decide whether or not we can use the term recession to describe the negative trends we see. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development figures the U.S. economy will grow 2.6 percent this year. It would take growth twice that fast to drive down unemployment by a single percentage point, according to FoxNews.com. We have all seen the affects of the recession in our daily life, at some point, in some way. We’ve all made decisions to better our wallet by not making that splurge purchase or downgrading the size of the trip to the store. In any case, most of us have made a decision

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that reflects the shrinking numbers in our wallets. “Obviously, for the millions of people who are still out of work, people who have seen their home values decline, people who are struggling to pay the bills day to day, [the recession is] still very real for them,” President Barack Obama said last week, according to CNN. As much as we may deny the fact that the recession is over, the numbers do show one thing. They show that it may be looking on the up and up. They show that some things may be improving little by little. That 74 percent of Americans that believe the recession is still alive, is down 13 percent from August. Although the recession may not be over to many of the people who see its ill effects on a daily basis, the end may be in sight, and the optimistic signs that sway the technical terms may soon be seen.

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Adventure Racing, OBX-style Crash Course in Natural Beauty and Pain Management By Tom Anderson Staff Writer This past weekend, I competed in the Blackbeard Adventure Race in the Outer Banks in North Carolina. The event was advertised as a 50-mile adventure race consisting of coasteering (running along the beach), kayaking, mountain biking, and orienteering. My teammate Josh flew in from New York City specifically for the race, even though we were both admittedly not in the best physical condition of our lives. Josh hadn’t kayaked for years, and I currently don’t own a bike. We were prepared for a very rude physical awakening at the hands of the roads, waters, and beaches of the Outer Banks. We showed up for the race on Friday night, and the event organizers gave us our maps and pointed out the locations to which we were expected to navigate when the race began Saturday morning. It was mostly a sleepless night as we both pondered the physical destruction that lay ahead. We showed up at the starting point near Jeanette’s Fishing Pier in southern Nags Head just as the sun was beginning to make its ascent in the morning sky. About 100 other competitors lined the beach, with some racers competing individually and others competing in two, three, or four-person teams. Most of the other racers evidenced similar trepidation prior to the start of the race, but as the Race Marshall shouted “Go!” all of

the racers left their fears in their footprints at the starting line. The mass of runners started to thin as the veteran racers outpaced the newbies, and my teammate and I took up our place in the middle of the trail of runners. We ran south with the Atlantic Ocean and the sun to our left, and we fought the long, quick lap of the waves as we consistently struggled to find a route that avoided both the sinking, dry sand to our right and the wet , stick-to-the-bottom-of-your-shoes sand to the left. After two-and-a-half miles of trudging across the shifting surface, we reached the turn-around point and faced the devastation that the beach run was only half over. We both sucked hard on the straws of the Camelback pouches on our back, hoping for Ambrosia instead of the simple water that poured forth. We later reached the culmination point of the beach run as shattered versions of ourselves from only an hour prior, and with much of the race still to complete. The adventure continued as we ran another mile along the road towards the Roanoke Sound Bridge. We quickly reached our next checkpoint, and I climbed the four-story observation tower overlooking the Sound to check-in. The race personnel gave us a two-person kayak and we raced into the water. Our objective was to head west and cross the Sound from Bodie Island to Roanoke Island, find the checkpoint, and return to the same docking location on Bodie Island. This would be no small task. Our first challenge was the waves; even though Bodie Island protects the Sound from large waves, we still faced strong currents that forced water into our kayak and pulled us off-course. We were also outfitted with paddles that might as well have been plastic spoons. They bent and tugged as they

Dear Diane Senioritis Takes a Different Form

By Diane Dougherty Staff Writer Dear Diane, I’m a senior this year and I feel really nervous about graduation approaching. I feel like I have no idea how to pursue a job once I graduate and I don’t feel very informed about my options of careers once I’m out hunting for one. How do I better prepare myself to face the “real world”? - Lost in Translation Dear Lost in Translation, I know exactly how you feel. There isn’t a worse feeling during the school year then not knowing about your future. Good thing is, there are plenty of ways to get help here on ODU’s campus. The Career Center located in the Webb across from Starbucks is an excellent place to start. You can go there in person or just go online to the ODU website and search the Career Management Center’s webpage through there. They give you all kinds of information on events such as job fairs located on campus, links to networking sites, or just people to talk to about your interests within your degree and how you can begin to start the journey to finding a job that is right for you. Another way to get a grasp on life after college is to talk to your school adviser. Schedule an appointment to see them and make sure you have

fought against the water, and they nearly snapped in half as we paddled in the middle of the Sound. We reached the checkpoint and were halfway back to shore in the middle of a small creek separating two islands when the depth of the water dropped to a mere six inches, and we both had to jump out and pull the kayak. The creek bottom was a chunky, black sludge, and we sunk down to our thighs as we labored for approximately 300 feet, pulling and yanking the kayak, until the water level rose and we were back in the Sound. After four hours in the kayak and our shoulders throbbing from the tyranny, we were finally back on land. We soon transitioned to the mountain bikes, and the tranquility of the Sound and the birds overhead was soon replaced by the horns and traffic lights of the Nags Head beach town. We raced north along Virginia Dare Road and passed the sand dunes and the hang gliders of Jockey’s Ridge. We turned left just before we reached the monument to the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk, and the sky was replaced by the oak and hickory-lined canopy of the trails in Nags Head Woods Preserve. We shifted gears constantly as we climbed the rockstrewn paths and glided down the casual slopes. We were actually beginning to enjoy ourselves when we reached the checkpoint at the end of the Woods. At the checkpoint we were told to leave our bikes, and in a surprise event, we had to find several additional checkpoints in the woods on foot. Our legs and lungs still reeling from the beach run, we took up this task with reluctantly silent determination. We passed over the wooden bridge overlooking the salt marsh, and other racers scurried past us along the many single-track

trails. The task was quickly completed, though and, nearly out of water and sapped of the last of our energy and motivation, we returned to the bikes to finish the race. Riding back past the sand dunes and the city of Nags Head, the miles seemed to stretch on forever. While my own sweat dripped down my forehead and burned my eyes, the sun hung resolutely in the sky, reminding us of our goal to hold on and complete the race. Seven miles from the Nags Head Woods, our goal was soon in sight. We ditched our bikes at the last checkpoint and ran another 300 feet to glory. There was no finish line, no cheering crowds. Just a plastic table and an old man with a timer and a clipboard. We ran up to the table, wheezed out our names, and received a muffled “Congratulations.” We hobbled back to pick up our bikes and retreated to the tailgate of my pickup to guzzle water and Gatorade and clean the visible wounds from the day. Although it took several days for the soreness in my muscles to fade, the wonder and awe I experienced at the transcendent natural beauty around me during the race endures. Our team was clearly not one of the faster teams (we finished in just over eight hours), but our commitment to endure physically gave us in exchange a longlasting appreciation for the simple gift that is our American outdoors. It truly was an Adventure Race, and Mother Nature helped turn the terror of physical exertion into a captivating adventure of a lifetime. ***Please visit the North Carolina section of www.nature.org for more information on the mountain biking trails at Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve and http://www. townofnagshead.net for more information on Nags Head area attractions.

Caught! an idea of all the questions you’d like to ask them before you get there so you don’t miss out on any information you may be confused about or just unaware of. Your peers would also be ideal for insight to the “grown up world.” If you have any friends who have recently graduated, ask them how they researched jobs and what to expect in an interview, etc. Use your resources to their full extent, it could really help out in the end. Dear Diane, The people who live above me in my apartment complex are always so loud at the worst times of the night. I’ll be trying to sleep or study and they will be blasting music or stomping around, I’m getting really irritated and I don’t know how to control the situation. What should I do? - Annoyed with Noisy Neighbors Dear Annoyed, The only thing you can do to really come up with a solution is to confront them. Explain to them your concerns about how their noise affects your schoolwork and your sleeping schedule and that they should stick to the loud music or stomping around, if they must, during the daytime when most people aren’t home. Remind them that there are plenty of other people who probably are just as bothered by their noise but haven’t complained yet and to respect the people living around them. I’m sure there is some sort of noise violation ticket they could receive if complained about so encourage them to take the easier route by stopping now. If they have a good head on their shoulders and didn’t realize they were being so loud, I’m sure they will stop when you ask them but if not maybe a ticket or complaint from the landlords would be a good dose of medicine for them.

By Danielle Buxton Photography Director Look at it. Just take one hard look at it. It sure does look tasty. Don’t worry, you can say it. No one is around; we won’t say you’re crazy. You are looking at a plate of Italian deliciousness. This is a piece of fantastic lasagna. This Italian dish looks like it is ready to be devoured by one hungry person. It doesn’t help that there is a fork right next to it. If I didn’t just eat something, I would be tempted to go buy me a microwaveable Stouffer’s lasagna and just melt away in the Italian goodness. You can see the sauce and herbs just oozing out of that one slice. I’m a sauce person. In my opinion, the more sauce it has, the better the dish will taste. You can see the fresh tomatoes just coming out of the slice. Already, my mouth is becoming watery. Again, you will not need to worry because I am not drooling. It looks amazing but I’m perfectly capable of keeping

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my saliva to myself when it comes to looking at great food. The herbs used in this dish are easily recognizable. For example, I can see oregano flakes everywhere. As I mentioned earlier, just by looking at this slice makes me want to go a buy a Stouffer’s microwavable lasagna. I’m a college student living in a dorm where there is no oven, so Stouffer’s microwavable lasagna will have to do until I get my own apartment. But I assure you that if I had the chance to make lasagna that somehow shared the same physical features as this piece, then my cooking skills would have satisfied me beyond my 19 years of living. I happen to be a picky eater. If it has too much cheese and meat then it’s an automatic turnoff. Yep, I said automatic turnoff. I determine if food is worthy of me eating it like I determine if a guy is worth giving a second look to. I can not believe that this piece of food has a lot of things that I happen to look for in an Italian dish. Not too much cheese, not too much meat, and a lot of sauce. It’s perfection up in a square of deliciousness. I’m not saying that you will catch a heart attack while eating it because of the pasta and cheese. My personal philosophy if a fruit or vegetable is chopped up and readily seen in the dish, it automatically has a 10 % healthy factor. In this case, it would be the tomatoes. Tasty piece of lasagna, you have just been Caught! You have been caught being magically delicious and very narrowly nutritious.

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2010

My Way or the Highway

Hershey Trip Provides Bittersweet Saturday

By Chelsea DeAngio Arts & Entertainment Editor I’m not big on chocolate. Chocolate chip cookies, yes, and the occasional decadent chocolate sundae, sure. But chocolate bars have always been too sweet and too rich for my taste. That said, I’ve always dreamed of visiting Hershey Park. Since watching the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory film as a kid, I pictured Hershey as a magical candy city, with rivers of chocolate flowing through the town. Add rollercoasters alongside, and I was sold. Naturally, when the Student Activities Council announced their trip to Hershey Park for just $25, I jumped at the chance to live out my Willy Wonka dreams. Even if I wasn’t necessarily going to pull an Augustus Gloop and dive into the chocolate river, I was definitely going to enjoy the trip. I grabbed a few friends and signed up/

Though I consider myself fairly involved on campus, I’d never actually attended a SAC trip. They put on several each semester, often to New York, Washington, D.C. or other cool cities along the east coast. I’d always appreciated the trips from afar, but was always too late to sign up for these ridiculously low-priced road trips. Snagging a spot on the Hershey trip was lucky. The rest of the trip? Well, let’s just say this: I feel like I’m recovering from a chocolate hangover. And not in a good way. We arrived at the park around noon, after nearly eight hours on the bus. Google Maps told me the trip took roughly five hours each way, but I suppose Google doesn’t factor in slow charter buses (slow, but fairly comfortable, I’ll admit). Even stepping off the bus, I was exhausted. The heat – an astounding 85 degrees – was too much for a late September trip. Wasn’t this Pennsylvania? Wasn’t it supposed to be cooler here? The park presented several traditional rides – wooden rollercoasters, a ferris wheel, and my personal favorite, the Tilt-A-Whirl. Hershey Park opened in 1907, and its age really shows. I’m an avid Busch Gardens fan, and hold everything up to its standards –Hershey just didn’t measure up. Creaky rides, untidy pathways, and a general feeling of age were disappointing for the ardent theme park fan I am. What I was most disappointed in was the loss of the chocolate theme as soon as we stepped through the gate. Throughout the town of Hershey, chocolate is everywhere. Their lightposts are adorned with

By Robbie Ciara Staff Writer The Scoop! watched Shakira’s truthful hips on David Letterman last Thursday perhaps a little obsessively. Stalking charges aside, there’s no denying that Shakira keeps grabbing our ears and the billboard charts with her new release “Loca.” Shakira sounds off with the catchy hook: “I’m crazy but you like it!” Her last effort “She Wolf” did not exactly go diamond, but it did provide the musical landscape with some of the best pop music we’ve heard in a while. She collaborates with U.K. rapper Dizzie Rascal on “Loca,” and together they bring a well-baked meringue topped with tropical icing to the table. Shakira has made some bold choices over the years including the fan favorite “Beautiful Liar” collabora-

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tion with Beyoncé and this is bold as well. The Scoop! feels that this may be more of a club hit than a billboard burner but Shakira would probably have it no other way. She whispers “Dance or Die” over the hook and we suggest you do so as well. When it comes to dancing, Ke$ha has been making the campus dance all year. Her latest single “Take it off” invites everyone to dance nursery rhyme style instead waking up feeling like P. Diddy. The song itself is a little uneventful with its auto-tuned and sing/rap/vocalizer hybrid atmosphere but there’s no denying the track is catchy. This is the fourth single off of Ke$ha’s debut album entitled “Animal” which

Kisses, and each street name contains some reference to chocolate, be in Cocoa street or Chocolate drive. But inside the theme park, you’d never really know you were in the chocolate capitol of the United States. I expected decadent desserts and chocolate themed rides. I got an old-school carnival style park with typical snacks like popcorn and burgers. Yes, chocolate could be found by the pound inside the gift shops and yes, you could take a photo with your favorite candy bar. But I expected chocolate waterfalls and streets lined with Reese peanut butter cups. Okay, okay. Maybe I was expecting too much. But I at least figured I’d find decadent Hershey themed desserts inside the restaurants. Instead, I was treated to an overpriced mystery meat burger and hour long lines in direct sunlight. (I’ll say this: for a theme park based on culinary mastery, food in the park left much to be desired. My lunch was

That’s G

THE SCOOP! (Music News and Reviews) September brings the girl power

Chelsea DeAngio Mace & Crown

inedible, worse than the assembly line cafeteria food from my high school years). Bonus points should be awarded to the excellent customer service and the fabulous Rockin’ Jukebox cast, who provided a lateafternoon pick-me-up show when we were dying for a place to rest our legs. By 10 p.m., we were ready for bed – but still had a six hour ride home. Just outside of the theme park is Chocolate World, a free Hershey museum that offers a behind the scenes look at how chocolate is made. Chocolate World, it turned out, was Hershey Park’s saving grace. It is what I expected the entire park to be like – state-of-the-art, a bit campy, and full of delicious goodies. My friends and I took the history of chocolate tour twice – we enjoyed the free samples and the air conditioning. But the real fun started in the food court just outside the tour, with chocolate coffee, chocolate milkshakes, S’mores in a cup, Reese’s peanut butter cheesecake, and much, much more. This was the Hershey Park I’d been looking for all along. 25 hours after we departed, the bus finally rolled to a stop in front of Webb center. SAC provided a fun, inexpensive trip to a place I can now check off of my personal bucket list. Will I return? Probably not. Perhaps my expectations were too high, but I ultimately found Hershey Park to be outdated and inefficient. Somehow, some way, I’ll live out those Willy Wonka dreams – but it certainly won’t be at Hershey.

has garnered over 900,000 in sales and 8 million in downloads. Earlier this year Rolling Stone called the album, “repulsive, obnoxious and ridiculously catchy” but The Scoop! calls it another pop offering that promises to go platinum - but it could be time to see if Ke$ha’s got what it takes to be more than a one-album wonder. Kheri Hilson broke the scene wide-open with her world-wide smash “Knock You down” although she has been a very successful songwriter over the past decade. She’s been writing hits for artist such as Britney Spears, Ciara, Ludacris, and Usher now she has a written a new release for herself. The timing of the track, “Breaking Point”, could be misplaced due to the success of the RihannaEminem collaboration “Love the Way You Lie.” “Breaking Point” has a doo-wop feel and is laced with piano rhythms. It speaks of women being mistreated by men and feeling underappreciated. Controversial topics of spousal abuse and infidelity are lyrically addressed but this doesn’t exactly add up to a top 10 hit. Kheri’s upcoming sophomore album “No Boys Allowed” is set to be released in 2011.

Arenas Trying to rebuild his career

By Garrison Cole Sports Editor This summer was like no other in recent NBA history, maybe ever. Headlined by the biggest free agent “decision” the NBA has new faces in new places and a lot to talk about as the season approaches. But maybe the biggest storyline heading into training camp beginning this week will be centered on Gilbert Arenas. Just a few seasons ago Arenas was the one of the elite players in the NBA. The talented guard could get to the rim at any point, had unlimited range, and was seemingly hitting buzzer beaters once a week. Then it all changed. After multiple surgeries on his knee and the debacle that was the gun situation, Arenas concluded his plunge from NBA superstar to rock bottom. After the gun fiasco ended with Arenas being suspended in January, the Wizards removed themselves from Arenas, who at once was the most beloved athlete in all of Washington D.C. The Wizards management took down the billboard poster that hung right outside of the Verizon Center. They stopped selling his jerseys at games, and tried to erase Arenas from their memory as if he was an ill advised mistake on a middle school paper. Arenas then narrowly avoided jail time instead serving a month in a halfway house, forcing him to look at himself. Then in the off-season the Wizards

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reportedly tried to move on altogether, by shopping Arenas on the trade market. However, with still 80 million dollars and five years left on Arenas’s contract it was unlikely a move would get done. Then the Wizards who are a franchise that is notoriously known for its terrible luck, won the lottery in more ways than one, and thus in June’s NBA Draft, took John Wall with the number one pick. Despite the excitement that comes with the number one pick and the impressive debut of Wall albeit in the Las Vegas Summer League the headline surrounding the Wizards is not how good can Wall be, but how can Arenas coexist can Wall. Arenas has always been a guy who throughout his career loves being the guy. He was the face of the Washington Wizards and now he is no longer that. The Wizards were his team, and now thanks to a celebration welcome unlike any other in which Wall was presented to the Washington D.C. fans as if he was a savior of the franchise, and Arenas was once again pushed further back in the minds of the organization. Arenas has taken steps to try and rebuild his image during the off-season. He has kept quiet and by all accounts of people who are close to Arenas say he motivated by what has transpired in his life over the past eight months. He has changed his number again, from his patented 0 to 6 and now to 9(he was suspended for the rest of last season on January 9th) Arenas, 28 still has a chance to regain what he lost. Because he wasn’t overly reliant on his athleticism, he should still be able to do all the things that he was able to do before his life took such a downward turn. His ability to attempt to revitalize his career, on and off the court will be one of the many storylines to follow in a league that has so to follow.

WWW.MACEANDCROWN.COM WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2010

Mace & Crown

MILLER TIME! Three-‘Dumb’mension

By Stuart Miller Editor in Chief Remember when you and your family went to Disney World or Universal Studios and went to the 3-D showing of “A Bug’s Life” or “Spongebob Under the Sea”? You would get the goofy glasses and sit in a large movie theater and watch a five minute show with the lovable cartoon characters you used to watch (or still do). The show would do it’s best to engage the audience by making things flying out of the screen or spray water to imitate the feeling of being sneezed on or hit with rain drops. After the show you and your family would walk out laughing about how Aunt Suzie screamed at the top of her lungs or the fact that your little brother had an incident in his pants because the spider that popped out of the screen scared him. This was the 3-D technology I used to know and love. However, the simple love of your basic amusement park 3-D adventure has exploded into a frenzy of tomorrow’s next “must have” product. First of all, I feel like we as a society just got settled into the “High Definition Era” and people are still getting used to Blu-Ray technology as well. So basically the transition to 3-D couldn’t have come at a worse time for those who aren’t very technology savvy (like my entire family). I have been forced to ask “Why now?” when it comes to this technology. Is the film industry that much in the gutter to where they are forced to put out their awful movies in 3-D just to draw an audience?

Because honestly I don’t know anyone in their right mind who would pay for a movie like “Piranha 3D” or a movie with warrior owls like “Legends of the Guardians”. It is movies such as these that show we’re the only people willing to see them enjoy a mindless plot or enjoys the 3-D experience because they decided to experiment with an illegal substance. Now before I become public enemy number one for those of you who enjoy this “new yet old” technology, “Avatar” was simply amazing in 3-D and I would buy it if I ever invested the mass amounts of money required to have a 3-D Mecca in my entertainment room. But, seeing that I’m still a near-broke college student this technology doesn’t catch my eye, especially after seeing the price tag. According to Samsung.com a 40 inch Class 7000 series 3D 1080pm LED HDTV will run you about $2,000 and that doesn’t included a pair of the 3D glasses which go for an additional $200. Why do the glasses cost that much you ask? Well they aren’t your paper red and blue lens glasses that you are used to. These glasses are polarized and have the design of some top of the line sunglasses. This is a good thing because these companies don’t want you to look like more of a loser sitting in front of your TV waiting for Peyton Manning to appear to throw a pass at your face (if you guessed if that was sarcasm. You’re correct.) However, one of the main questions raised about the “new and improved” 3-D technology is its safety. If the technology was unsafe in the 1950’s and the 1980’s then what makes today any better? According to the article titled “Split Screen: How safe is 3-D TV?” by blogger Jason Dominguez, “3-D technology attempts to fool our eyes into seeing 3D are based on the same stereoscopic binocular imagery as they were sixty years ago. The technology may have progressed, but the basic technique is still the same: it shows each eye an image

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from a slightly different perspective.” The article goes on to explain how long term exposure to the technology can possibly damage the visual processing centers of the brain and the effects are increasingly damaging to children seeing that their brains are still developing. “It’s all about the amount of exposure,” said Mark Pecse, the co-inventor of Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML). “I’m not particularly worried about people going to see a 3D movie; they’re going to get two hours of it a month. But two or three hours a night?” This statement doesn’t even considering the fact that video game companies are now pursuing 3-D technology in their respected

systems. Both Sony and Microsoft have announced that 3-D gaming is on the horizon which could make the exposure issues even more controversial due to the fact that some gamers play video games longer then the duration of a full-length film. As cool as it would be to play “Call of Duty” or “Madden” in 3-D the effects could prove costly in the long run. So before you reach in your wallet to buy this shiny new toy ask yourself whether this influx of 3-D technology is here to stay or of it is just a fad that will prove to do more harm despite the entertainment factor.

Insurance, Risk Management, and Financial Planning Careers Event • Purpose: Provide ODU students from all majors the opportunity to mingle with industry professionals and learn about career possibilities in these professions: – – – –

Insurance: underwriter, claims adjuster, actuary, sales Risk manager, loss control specialist Financial planner, Employee benefits specialist And more

• Last year we had more than 70 students and 70 industry people from 32 different companies attend the reception. • To attend, e‐mail Dr. Michael McShane: mmcshane@odu.edu • Sponsored by the Insurance and Financial Services Center •

– http://bpa.odu.edu/ifc/ When: Wednesday, Oct. 6 from 5:30 to 7:00 PM in the Webb Center at ODU WWW.MACEANDCROWN.COM

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2010

FRIDAY 1: 75°

SATURDAY 2: 73°

sundr y

SUNDAY 3: 72°

[SUHN-DREE] (look it up)

Mace & Crown

MACE IN YOUR FACE

DR. JOYCE HOFFMAN

Favorite breakfast food?

Slurpee or Frosty?

Better hair: Pauly D or Mel Kiper Jr.?

Who would you bring back to life for a day?

3D TV technology: smart or stupid?

Favorite superhero?

Almond milk and banana

Neither. I prefer water.

Pauly D

Thomas Jefferson: to talk about the 1st Amendment

Don’t know anything about it

Elanore Roosevelt

Between Captain Cruch and pancakes

Chocolate Frosty

Neither

Audrey Hepburn

Stupid

Flash

Toast with butter and jelly

Frosty

Mel Kiper Jr.

Marilyn Monroe

Stupid

Spider Man

Omelette

Neither, Frappuccino

Pauly D

General Macarthur

Stupid

Superman

Glee and One Tree Hill

Moe’s but I don’t die for any of them.

Jersey Shore of course

Finals

No school

Vuvuzelas

English Professor

AMANDA MAY women’s rowing

KAREN PEARCE Zeta Tau Alpha

SARAH VANCE Alpha Xi Delta

Dynasty Dancer

BestCrosswords.com - Puzzle #6 for September 25, 2010 Across 1- Old Testament book; 5- Chambers; 10- Pianist Myra; 14- Back of the neck; 15- Up; 16- Bread spread; 17- Not us; 18- Golfer Calvin; 19- Horse color; 20- Floating; 22- Longing; 24- Woody vine; 25- Institution for mentally ill; 26- Bedouin; 28- HOMES, e.g.; 32- Tablet; 35- Resinous deposit; 37- Edit; 38- Loss leader?; 39- In ___ (unborn); 41- Part of TNT; 42- Native drum; 45- Escape; 46- Rain cats and dogs; 47- Accumulate; 48- Distasteful; 50- Abut; 54- Aggregate of qualities that make good character; 58- Counselors; 61- Hot; 62Spahn teammate; 63- ___ nous; 65- Ad word; 66- Actress Daly; 67- Actor’s parts; 68- Bit of gossip; 69- Aha!; 70- Stalks; 71- Hot; Down 1- Conductor Dorati; 2- Muslim messiah; 3- Musical drama; 4- Highly original; 5- Engrossed; 6- Suffix with Capri; 7- Follows orders; 8- British buddy; 9- Pilfer; 10- Intensely angry; 11- “The Time Machine” race; 12- Actor Penn; 13- Album unit; 21- At a great distance; 23- Dominion; 25- Blind as ___; 27- Grad; 29- The Green Hornet’s sidekick; 30- Beige; 31- Agitate; 32- Course; 33- Langston Hughes poem; 34- Priest of the East; 36Corp. bigwig; 37- Campus mil. group; 40- Undoing; 43- Apprentice; 44- Probability; 46- Heartburn; 49- Krazy ___; 51- Mocks; 52- Ready ___...; 53- Cordage fiber; 55- Delight; 56- Old-style fax; 57- Adversary; 58- Italian wine city; 59- 24 hour periods; 60- Grape plant; 61- Cong. meeting; 64- “Losing My Religion” band;

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Mace & Crown

Mace & Crown student newspaper MEETINGS EVERY TUESDAY AT 12:30 IN THE U-CENTER NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED WRITE FOR NEWS, SPORTS, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT OR TAKE PHOTOS! PICK UP A COPY EVERY WEDNESDAY MACEANDCROWN.COM

BY THOUGHTS

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Customer service evaluator needed, computer literate and english speaking a plus. Earn $250.00 weekly. Resume to dsylver1977@sify.com

Weekly29th Calendar 23 THURSDAY Coors Light Bobby Wilder

Coachs Show 7:00 PM Buffalo Wild Wings Chesapeake, Va.

24 FRIDAY Sugarland, $25-49.75

7:00 @ the Virginia Beach Amphitheater The ODU Football Show 10:45 PM - Norfolk, Va. ODU Scholarship Tennis Tournament All Day - Virginia Beach, Va.

25 SATURDAY Lori Nix, Photograpy Exhibit ODU Galleries OUTERBANKSLIFE.COM Black Caucus puts on a show in front of thousands of students in front of Webb Center.

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George Mason 7:00 PM - ODU Soccer Stadium

- 5th

ODU Scholarship Tennis Tournament All Day - Virginia Beach, Va.

26 SUNDAY

ODU Scholarship Tennis Tournament All Day - Virginia Beach, Va.

27 MONDAY

Daring girls by Miriam Peskowitz 7:00-8:30 - North CafĂŠ

Daring Girls lecture 7:00 p.m. - Webb Center Bobby Wilder Weekly Press Conference TBA - Norfolk, Va

28 TUESDAY Global Family Cookout 4-8 pm. Kaufman mall

Bobby Wilder Weekly Press Conference TBA - Norfolk, VA