Women’s soccer hosts youth clinic on Saturday Instructional day lets high school soccer players gain college experience.
Undergraduate Research Conference opens
SAC Spring Concert thrills campus
Plastic surgery and body image
Over 100 presentations on exhibition today.
Four Year Strong and Mayday Parade performed at the annual concert.
Skyla Seamans dedicates her column this week to the topic of plastic surgery.
NEWS, page 3
SPORTS, page 9
ARTS and ENTERTAINMENT, page 8
The Beacon
Student Newspaper of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts North Adams, Mass.
OPINION, page 13
Volume 75 Issue 11 Thursday April 19, 2012
theonlinebeacon.com
Venable Gym Rocks
The 10th Annual Undergraduate Research Conference is all day today! See the schedule on page 3 and learn about the day’s events.
Students line up for Student Activities Council’s Spring Concert this Monday. The concert featured co-headliners Four Year Strong and Mayday Parade. Think Big! was the opening act. To read more about the concert, turn to page 8, and look to the Photo Essay on page 16. Photo by Marissa Zelazo/Beacon Staff
And follow The MCLA Beacon Online on Facebook, and Editor in Chief Ed Damon on Twitter (@BeaconMCLA_EIC) to see live coverage of the conference!
New garden planned to cure what ails you By Amy Cubello Staff writer
A new medicinal garden on the wooded hill in between Hoosac Hall and the Shapiro House is being planned by interns. The interns are Max Dilthey, Kathy Lloyd, and Korinna Dennehey. These students have tracked down plants, drawn up maps, created signage for the garden and are in charge of getting the word out on campus about the garden. Biology professor Emily Mooney received a grant last year from United Plant Savers, a group that protects native medicinal plant species in North America. The medicinal garden will include herbs and other plants along a walking path for visitors. A number of the plants are endangered, such as the yellow lady slipper and black cohosh. Others, including true unicorn root and goldenseal, are at risk of threat. Plants such as the white snake root and sassafras are already found on our campus but will also be grown in the garden. “Everything being planted in the new garden are plants native to this area that are known to
Beacon archive
MCLA has a long history of gardening. From the original gardens of North Adams Normal School (left) in the early 20th century to the Campus Garden which opened recently. The newest will be a medicinal garden. have a wide range of healing and medicinal properties,” Dennehey said. The purpose of the garden is “to educate our community on an interesting, and largely unknown part of the local biodiversity,” she added.
Weekend Weather Friday
Saturday
Mostly Sunny High: 63 Low: 49
Thunderstorm
High: 68 Low: 49
Sunday
Rain High: 53 Low: 49
The interns are hosting a volunteer day Saturday, April 21 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. to clean up the garden site in preparation for planting in May. Tasks include cleaning up trash and debris, weeding invasive plant species, and clearing
the walking path. Lunch will be provided to those who volunteer. If you would like to help, RSVP by contacting either Korinna or Emily on FirstClass. Drop-ins are also welcome to those who do not RSVP.
IN THIS ISSUE News
2-5
Op-Ed
12-13
A&E
6-8
Science & World
14
Sports
9-11
Comic & Games
15
Photo Essay
16
Campus Comment 12
Students, faculty and the surrounding community members are welcome to visit the garden from sunrise to sunset over the summer and into the fall semester.
For updates, friend us at: facebook.com/ MCLABeacon For breaking news, follow us on Twitter: @BEACONMCLA
2
News
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Events Around Campus
theonlinebeacon.com
Jack’s a fixture for 95 years By Ryan Flynn
Special to The Beacon
Plant Sale
The faded black sign wearing the name Jack’s in front of the Thu, April 19 small brown building just off of 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Main Street may not look like @Marketplace Table 2 much, but for many the hot dog stand is deeply embedded in the roots of North Adams.
Aikido Club Practice Thu, April 19 6:30-9:00 p.m. @Dance Complex
Accounting Society Meeting
Thu, April 19 7:00-8:00 p.m. @Murdock Conference Room 302
BSU General Meeting
Thu, April 19 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. @Murdock Conference Room 202
SSDP Meeting
Thu, April 19 7:00-8:00 p.m. @Bowman Room 106
Pillars Club Meeting
Thu, April 19 8:00 - 9:00 p.m. @Murdock Conference Room 202
SAC Drive in Movie: Bridesmaids Thu, April 19 9:00-11:00 p.m. @Academic Quad
Community Day Sat,April 21 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. @Academic Quad
While several community members have been ordering from Jack’s barstools since they were small children, it’s even become a tradition for several students. Former MCLA student and Beacon Editor in Chief John Durkan was quick to talk about his connection to Jack’s. “I love Jack’s, it’s a nice and cozy place. Mike and Jess always know that I either want a cheese steak or chicken from the freezer when I come in,” said Durkan. It’s easy to see why Berkshire residents as well have fallen in love with Jack’s. The old fashioned milk vendor, its barlike set up, and of course the giant over-head sign presenting low prices stick out immediately. The one thing that really stands out though, is its old-fashioned grill where burgers, bacon, and hot dogs are cooked from open until close. Not only does this grill look well-aged, but it’s actually as old as the prominent hot dog stand itself: 95 years old. Still being the sole provider of the Jack’s menu, the grill will be celebrating its one hundreth birthday soon
Townhouse drug offense: Highlights from the Public Safety Log Week of 4/8-4/14
Photo by Jess Fratus/Beacon staff
Mike Canavan, employee of Jack’s Hot Dogs, stands outside of the business. Jack’s, which was started by Jafross Lavano in 1917, is a fixture on Eagle Street in North Adams. The owner and main cook at Jack’s is Jeff Levanos, Jafross Lavano’s grandson. enough with the restaurant and its employees. “Just look on the Jack’s website archive, and you’ll see the same grill from a picture taken in 1917,” said customer Jeff Sylvester. In fact, Sylvester knows more
Monday 4/9
about Jack’s history than just about anyone. He’s been coming to the hot dog stand since he was just a kid with his father. An older well built man wearing a faded Carhart jacket with a U.S. Army patch sewn in, Sylvester excitedly talked about his long-
in the Townhouse complex.
standing connection to the Jack’s legacy. He’s even close friends with the family of Jafross Lavano, the founder of Jack’s. JACKS continued on page 14
safety responded to a drug offense in the Townhouse Complex. A report was filed.
3:46 p.m. – Public safety responded to 9:10 a.m. – Public Tuesday 4/10 a domestic distursafety responded to bance at the Brewera report of larceny at 5:34 p.m. – Public Perkins building. A Bowman Hall safety responded to a report was filed. 11:50 p.m. – Public medical call in Mursafety responded to a 4:56 p.m. – Public dock Hall. Friday 4/13 report of suspicious safety responded to a activity in the Townreport of harassment Wednesday 4/11 1:34 p.m. – Public house Complex.
Mardi Gras Social/ Potluck Sat, April 21 7:00-9:00 p.m. @Sullivan Lounge
Luau Party
Sat, April 21 11:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m. @Venable Gym
Contact us Email: Beacon@mcla.edu News desk: 413-662-5535 Business line: 413-662-5404 www.theonlinebeacon.com Editor-in-Chief Edward Damon
Copy Chief Jessica Wright
Managing Editor Andrew Roiter
Business Manager Jennifer Smaltz
Senior News Editor Jessica Gamari
Ad Manager Dylan Glaser
Sun, April 22 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. @Academic Quad
Sports Editor Brendan Foley
Web Editor Caleb Hiliadis
A&E Editor Mary Redstone
Mr. MCLA
Advisers
Copy Editors Megan Cooney Kristen Rubano Emma Farley
Grand Opening Bike Share Program
Sun, April 22 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. @Academic Quad
Jenifer Augur Gillian Jones Peter Seward
Cartoonist Aurora Cooper
Location: Mark Hopkins Hall, room 111 Staff Writers Amy Cubello Jessica Gamari Andrew Hodgson Tano Holmes Holly Johnston Kayla Koumjian Skyla Seamans Nora Weiss Design Editors Chris Goodell Stephen Kilduff Videographers Ken Rodriguez Kyle Serino Ariana Tourangeau
Photography Editor Marissa Zelazo Photographers Will Casey Aaron Crawford Takeya Lee Carly Samach Serina Stimpson Ad Representatives Brian Comeau James Courchaine Aaron Crawford Roz Cummings Michael Feloni Jessica Fratus
The Beacon is published Thursdays during the academic year and is distributed free to the College community. The Beacon is funded by the Student Government Association, the English/Communications department and from ad revenues. Mission Statement The Beacon strives to provide timely and accurate news of campus and local events. Editorials Policy Unsigned editorials that appear on these pages reflect the views of The Beacon’s editorial board. Signed columns and commentaries that appear on these pages reflect the views of the writers. Letters Policy The Beacon welcomes Letters to the Editor. Deadline is noon on Mondays for that week’s newspaper.
Letters should be kept to 500 words or less and are subject to editing for grammar and content. The Beacon will not publish anonymous or libelous letters. Letters must be signed by the writer and include a phone number. Letters may be dropped off at the office or e-mailed to Beacon@mcla.edu. Contributions Policy The Beacon accepts stories, photos and opinion pieces for publication. Submissions should be dropped off at the office by Monday at noon or e-mailed to Beacon@mcla.edu. Advertising Policy The Beacon reserves the right not to publish any advertisement it deems to be libelous, false or in bad taste. For questions regarding ads, call the business line or email us.
News
Thursday, April 19, 2012
theonlinebeacon.com
Students showcase scholarship
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Over 100 presentations at this year’s URC By Jess Gamari Staff Writer
Each spring, undergraduates have the opportunity to present and discuss their work at the Undergraduate Research Conference, which takes place today all around campus. According to English/Communications professor Rosanne Denhard, 114 students will take part in 100 presentations representing a wide range of disciplinary areas. There will be 28 faculty members sponsoring student work, and 40 special session talks; 26 general session talks; and 34 posters. All day classes are suspended for the day, but all students are encouraged to attend whichever sessions interest them. “We have over 100 presentations throughout the day, and every discipline is represented,” said psychology professor Maria Bartini, who serves as Director of the Undergraduate Research Program. “There is something for everyone. It’s the broadest representation we’ve had before, and the reach continues to grow every year.” The day begins at 8:30 a.m. with a poster session in Venable Gym, featuring 34 posters. From 9:30 a.m. until 12:20 p.m., there will be a series of paper presentations and special sessions running concurrently. A special session, according to Denhard, is a session devoted to a particular theme or method of inquiry or content area. These sessions will be followed by a lunch and address from keynote speaker, Jarrod AbbottWashburn, MCLA class of 2008. During his time here, AbbottWashburn, Professor Donald Washburn’s son, double-majored in history and philosophy with a minor in political science. He is a recent graduate of Suffolk University’s Master’s Program in Ethics and Public Policy. “I plan on speaking largely about my personal experience at MCLA and how the opportunities there, particularly the support of the marvelous professors that I enjoyed, have directly influenced any success I’ve had since my time there,” he said. “I actually failed out of what was then North Adams State College in 1993, and it was not until my return ten years later that I made the most of the opportunity.” The lunch will be followed by a Q&A session with Abbot-Washburn for students only in the Sullivan Lounge. This is the first year the URC is hosting an opportuni-
ty for students to confer with the keynote speaker about his experiences an intimate setting without professors. “It will be very informal and relaxed,” said Bartini. “Students may not be as comfortable asking questions in the Campus Center gym. Students can learn about how [Abbott-Washburn’s] experiences at MCLA prepared him for graduate school and beyond.” “Breathe! I know that I was incredibly nervous when I presented at the Conference,” AbbottWashburn said when asked if he had any advice for student presenters. He is most looking forward to seeing his old professors and taking in the presentations at the conference. “The URC is such a great forum for Scholarship,” he commented. After the Q&A session, the conference will continue with special sessions and paper sessions from 2 p.m. until about 5 p.m. as well as the philosophy mini-conference held in Murdock 218. This year’s URC will also feature an art show on the 3rd floor of Bowman Hall. Although not an official part of the URC, Bartini invites all students to attend the Theater Lab performance of “Hedda Gabler” in Venable Theater, a showcase of the fine and performing arts department. The performance is free to students and staff who present their name badge from the conference. “The theater lab performance expresses an appreciation of theater,” said Bartini. “It seems innovative and in line with encouragement of student interdisciplinary scholarship. It falls outside of typical time for the URC, but we feel it’s still important to include it.” She is most looking forward to talking with the students about their work. “I think undergrads convey a level of enthusiasm for their material that you just don’t see at professional conferences,” she said. “That enthusiasm can be infectious. I get inspired from listening to them speak, so I know it can inspire underclassmen as well.” The URC Advisory board consists of 15 faculty members from various disciplines and three students. Seniors Shelby Giaccarini and Alexandra Nichipor, and junior Max Dilthey represent the arts and humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, respectively. This is the first year students have served on the board. CONFERENCE, continued on page 4
Beacon archive
Political Science and History major Brian Keenan presents in Murdock Hall for the 2009 MCLA Undergraduate Research Conference.
Undergraduate Research Conference Schedule of Events 8:30 – 10:30 am Welcome Remarks, Monica Joslin, Dean of Academic Affairs Poster Session (Venable Gym) 9:30 – 10:50 am Special Session I-A: E-Portfolio Fellows (Murdock 218) Special Session I-B: Artist Talks I (Murdock 201) Special Session I-C: Aging and the Life Course (Murdock 301) Paper Presentations I-D (Murdock 322) Paper Presentations I-E (Murdock 216) 11:00 am – 12:20 pm Special Session II-A: Medieval and Renaissance Studies (Murdock 218) Special Session II-B: Artist Talks II (Murdock 201) Special Session II-C: Politics of Culture I (Murdock 301) Paper Presentations II-D (Murdock 322) Paper Presentations II-E (Murdock 216) 12:30 – 1:30 pm Keynote Address and Luncheon (Campus Center Gym) Presented by Jarrod Abbott-Washburn ‘08 “A Non-traditional Journey: Opportunity in the Liberal Arts” 1:30 – 2:00 pm Meet the Keynote Speaker (Sullivan Lounge) FOR STUDENTS ONLY Come meet Jarrod Abbott-Washburn for an informal Q & A Session 2:00 - 3:20 pm Special Session III-A: Summer Research in Physics (Murdock 216) Special Session III-B: Politics of Culture II (Murdock 301) Paper Presentations III-C (Murdock 201) Paper Presentations III-D (Murdock 322) Paper Presentations III-E (Murdock 213) 3:30 - 4:50 pm Special Session IV-A: Philosophy Mini-Conference (Murdock 218) Special Session IV-B: We are for ART! Student Art Works (Bowman 3rd floor) 8:00 pm Theater Lab Performance of Hedda Gabler (Venable Theater)
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News
Thursday, April 19, 2012
CONFERENCE, continued from page 3
“The goal of the Undergraduate Research Advisory Board is to find various ways to support student research at MCLA,” said Nichipor. “Undergrad research is what college is all about; it’s nice to go to classes and do well academically, but it is even more important to nurture and pursue serious interests in the form of research. It is also great practice for both graduate school and the professions.” Nichipor and nine other students will do a presentation on their trip to the United Arab Emirates in March as part of their travel course. She will also be one of eight presenters in the the 2012 MCLA ePortfolio Fellowship. The ePortfolio is an online tool students use
to present their cumulative experiences, much like a resume for potential employment or further study. The advisory board has been planning for the URC since September, but kicked it into high gear near the end of January, early February. As Bartini said, “this is not a one person show.” She would like to thank the hard work and dedication of the URC advisory board, the Advancement office, computer services, and the many volunteers all over campus. www.theonlinebeacon.com On Twitter
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TOWNS, continued from page 7
The movie posits that holding out for federal or state intervention to reinvigorate North Adams is foolish. Instead, the movie claims that local entrepreneurs investing in the area would be the best way to revitalize the city. During the panel discussion, Mayor Alcombright echoed this sentiment. The hurdle the community now finds itself stuck at is where these local entrepreneurs are. The issue is circular. Smart entrepreneurs invest in markets with the potential for a thriving business. How can we expect a restaurateur to come to a town, which in 2009 had a poverty rate of about 25 percent? Without disposable income to be spent, Main Street will remain full of vacant storefronts. And without new businesses coming to town, unemployed residents will remain unemployed. If nothing else, the film serves to create a local dialogue for continuing the revitalization that Mass MoCA began in 1999. Many towns in America find themselves in the same situation. The world has come a long way since the manufacturing boom of the postwar U.S., and it is time for North Adams to move into the 21st century, but how?
theonlinebeacon.com
GEEK DANCE!! Hosted by the Anime Club
April 26, 8pm to Midnight in Sullivan Lounge $3 per person or $5 for a couple A fun night of geeky music, nerdy dancing and dorky food and prizes! Dress up in your nerdiest outfit! Help us raise money for The Trevor Project! Learn more about us on Facebook; just search MCLA Anime Club’s GEEK DANCE
Friends of the Milne Public Library
K O O B LE A S
24th Annual 1346 Curran Highway North Adams, MA 01247
Buy One Soft Serve Cone, Get One Free! (Of equal or lesser value)
Must present coupon at purchase
FINANCIAL AID ANNOUNCEMENT
t s s k o o b d use
Josie’s Cafe Bake Sale
g n i t ar
¢ 0 5 at
Friday, April 20 Saturday, April 21 10am - 4pm
Silent Auction Closes 2 pm on Saturday
Williamstown Elementary School • 115 Church St., Williamstown, MA milnefriends@gmail.com
Attention MCLA Clubs!
SMART CREDIT MANAGEMENT:
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That’s right! Each semester, your club or organization is eligible to run one free advertisement in The Beacon newspaper! For more information, contact Dylan Glaser on FirstClass
news
Thursday, april 19, 2012
theonlinebeacon.com
Electric idea wins Venture Competition
Photo by Takeya Lee/ Beacon staff
Sophomore Kelley Bryant presents a plan to create a college recess program at MCLA.
By Skyla Seamans Staff Writer
After a semester full of workshops, research, and plan composition, students presented their business ideas at the Entrepreneurial Club’s first annual Venture Competition on April 11. The winner of the competition, senior Max Eve, pitched his idea to create a device that would measure the amount of energy emissions from an outlet, record the costs of energy consumption, and send these calculations to a person’s smartphone. His business, named “Feltric” to stand for future electric, would appeal to anyone who pays for electricity. “The power strip would measure how much energy each device uses throughout the day,” Eve said, “and would show consumers where
their money is going. Knowledge is power and having the ability to understand energy consumption gives consumers the chance to change their habits and conserve.” The average cost of energy per person each year is $1,300. Eve’s business would help the consumer save money and energy, he said. “Feltric is a simple product and similar devices are already on the market and are seeing success,” he said. “However, my device would send readings right to a person’s phone and would measure costs. It is also self-contained and convenient so anyone can use it.” He estimates the device would be on the market for $40 to $60 and would make energy saving fun, interesting, and competitive. He used the example of neighbors competing to see which household will save the most money and energy with these devices. Senior Max Eve smiles after winning the Venture Competition and being awarded an Apple iPad.
Judge and business owner Bernie English said the reason the judges chose Eve’s business as the winner of the competition was because of his presentation style and the possibility of his plan becoming a reality. “Max Eve was quick on his feet, his presentation and plan were to the point, and he incorporated a little bit of humor,” English said. “A relaxed presentation goes a long way.” Eve was rewarded with an iPad and connections to start up his business if he chooses to. Sophomore Kelley Bryant also presented her plan to create a recess program at the College. Her non-profit group would allow students to come together and participate in teambuilding games and individual tournaments such as capture the flag, four square, soccer, relay races, whiffle ball, and so on. “This group would not be an obligation for students,” Bryant said. “It would simply be something fun for students to do, would get students active, and would create hands on education.” She would also look to revamp local elementary school playgrounds as a volunteer project and would try to make her club count for a physical education require-
ment for dedicated attendees. Seniors Andrew Roiter and Brett Hinchliffe presented on the idea of a Hookah Lounge in North Adams. Their business would be called “Elysium” and would appeal to college students and young adults who are interested in Hookah or a place to relax and meet others. “Hookah smoking is a recent and growing phenomenon in the United States,” Hinchliffe said. “However, there is no place for people to go who want to smoke Hookah. Our lounge and café would provide a relaxed atmosphere for anyone to visit.” Their business would include a selection of Shisha flavors, a small but diverse menu of foods, and premium coffee and tea, Hinchliffe said. They would also bring in herbal Hookah for customers who are looking for something tobacco and nicotine free. “It would be a low risk business with little competition,” he said. “We would have a small staff of three servers and experienced owners. We would hope to work with local businesses and restaurants in order to work together to bring more people to the Berkshires.” Their goal is to bring meditation to the Berkshires, to provide
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a touch of Mediterranean culture, and to mix up the monotony of the classic dinner and a movie date, Hinchliffe said. Other business presentations included Joseph Harding’s International Art Emporium to reintroduce lost Haitian art to the population and Giancarlo Bravo’s plan to create a wellness website, called “Betterme.com,” in order to provide individual plans and tips on health, exercise, and self-improvement for students and teachers in high schools and colleges. Senior and Entrepreneurial Club president Michael Lattanzio said he enjoyed the passion and professionalism behind each presentation. “Although each plan is still in the developing process, each contestant had a great handling on their idea,” Lattanzio said. “The competition really came together; it was great to see the Small Business Development Center, the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce and the MCLA faculty, staff, and students work together to create this.” He said he anticipates the competition to grow within the next couple of years. For next year, the club hopes to raise money for the contestants and to start the competition in the fall semester to allow students more time to construct their plans. Junior and club Vice President James Wetzel said he has received positive feedback from the attendees and especially from the administration, who have shown their support throughout the competition. “One great suggestion made by Tom Alexander was to hand out a certain amount of monopoly money to each audience member and after the presentations people could ‘invest’ that money to the business they think is the best,” Wetzel said. He also wants to thank Lattanzio for bringing the competition together and for his hard work. “Mike had this amazing idea to start this competition,” Wetzel said. “Not only that but the club was still in its first semester of creation and we did not even have a budget. It takes dedication and vision to bring an idea up off the ground like that, and this is one of the reasons why wherever Mike chooses to go after graduation this spring, his qualities will immensely benefit the people and community around him.” Giancarlo Bravo presents a plan to create a wellness website for students and teachers in high schools and colleges.
Photo by Takeya Lee/ Beacon staff
Photo by Takeya Lee/ Beacon staff
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A&E
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Cooking Corner By Marissa Zelazo
Home-made energy granola bars
Ingredients: 1 cup rolled oats 1/2 cup wheat germ 1/2 cup oat bran 1/2 cup vanilla protein powder 1 cup crunchy peanut butter 1 cup raisins, dried fruit, and/or chopped nuts 1 cup chocolate chips 1 cup light Karo syrup To make these healthy granola bars, all you have to do is combine all the ingredients together. Then, freeze them in bar-shapes or in a baking sheet and cut them apart.
‘Halo 4’ scheduled for November launch
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Master Chief will awaken in November. Microsoft Corp. announced Tuesday that “Halo 4,’’ the seventh game in the popular sci-fi franchise starring armored hero Master Chief, is scheduled for worldwide release Nov. 6 on Xbox 360. Set four years after the events of “Halo 3,’’ the shoot-’em-up sequel will focus on Master Chief Petty Officer John117 and sidekick Cortana battling an ancient enemy. “Halo 4’’ marks the return of the superpowered protagonist, who has been absent from the series since drifting into space in cryogenic slumber at the end of 2007’s “Halo 3.’’ (2009’s “Halo 3: ODST’’ and 2010’s “Halo: Reach’’ focused on other characters in the “Halo’’ universe.) It will also be the first “Halo’’ shooter installment not created by Bungie Studios. After the developer broke off from Microsoft in 2007, Microsoft established 343 Industries to push the “Halo’’ universe into the future. For Master Chief ’s lat-
est intergalactic adventure, 343 Industries is giving him a minor makeover, tweaking both the supersoldier’s iconic suit of armor, as well as his usually silent, oh-sostoic attitude. “One of the things we wanted to do was put Chief up against new challenges and have him face obstacles unlike anything he’s faced before _ some of those are external and some of those are internal,’’ said “Halo 4’’ creative director Josh Holmes. “Throughout the course of the story, we wanted him to undergo some kind of meaningful change as a character.’’ “For us, Chief is such an athletic and agile warrior. It was necessary that his core armor design reflect that. As he is fighting his way through the environments in this game, he needs a freedom of movement that feels believable.’’ Wolfkill noted the physical changes aren’t merely cosmetic. She said “Halo 4’’ art director Kenneth Scott redesigned the suit to prepare Master Chief for a new trilogy. Unveiled at last
year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo, “Halo 4’’ is the first of three new “Halo’’ games planned by Microsoft. 343 Industries has dubbed the new games the ``reclaimer trilogy.’’ “Kenneth’s intention was to make sure that the things we needed Chief to do were supported but to also look at the things we need Chief to be able to do over the next decade, building in a visual vocabulary around attach points and different functionality on the armor that we may not be using now but hopefully will be utilizing in the future,’’ said Wolfkill. Over the past 10 years, the “Halo’’ franchise has evolved into a huge moneymaker for Microsoft. It has spawned novels and toys, sold more than 40 million games and boosted the sales of Xboxes, the only consoles where “Halo’’ can be played. Microsoft released “Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary,’’ a high-definition version of the original 2001 game, last year.
theonlinebeacon.com
Community Day comes to MCLA Quad Saturday
NORTH ADAMS, MA– This Saturday, April 21, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts will welcome the North Adams community to its campus for its annual Community Day. As a collaborative effort between the Student Activities Council, Student Development Office and a host of other campus clubs and organizations, Community Day is designed to be an open event for our MCLA and North Adams communities joining together for a day of games, tours, area business, informational booths on various college departments, and performances. This event kicks off at 11 a.m. and goes until 3 p.m. and will be held outdoors in the quad. The rain location will be Venable Gym. Community Day is an all-ages event. Prospective students, families, alumni, and community professionals are all invited to take part. Starting at 11 a.m., campus clubs, departments and local businesses will be present for community members to browse and enjoy. Attendees can also participate in interactive inflatable attractions, such as a climbing wall, and bring home special novelty items. Community Day is a free event. For more information, please contact the Student Development Office at 413-662-5252 or Amanda Schuler at as7786@mcla.edu.
MCLA PAM class to present Rock the Block NORTH ADAMS, MASS. - The Performing Arts Management (PAM) class at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) will curate, produce and present the final MCLA Presents! performance of the season, “Rock the Block.” The event, which will include music by Debo Band – also known as “Boston’s Ethiopian Groove Collective” – will take place on Sunday, May 6, from 2-9 p.m. on Main Street in downtown North Adams. For the first time, this Third Annual PAM show will happen away from campus. A free, street-wide block party, it will celebrate and embrace cultural interaction in North Adams through music and dance. The PAM students have collaborated with the City of North Adams to create a friendly and welcoming atmosphere for all. Taking place in the heart of North Adams, “Rock the Block’s” central location encourages and provides opportunity for participation from the North Adams community. This block party is designed to bring North Adams residents and businesses onto the streets in celebration of community culture and interaction. Sophomore Ben Mancino, a member of the “Rock the Block” marketing committee, said he looks forward to presenting a block party. “Our goal is to mesh the MCLA and North Adams communities through celebration,” he said. “Main Street is the perfect place to create an inviting sociable atmosphere for everyone.” Debo Band, an 11-member group led by Ethiopian-American saxophonist Danny Mekonnen and fronted by charismatic vocalist Bruck Tesfaye, will headline the final event of the day, an energetic dance party beginning at 7 p.m., for what is sure to bring the celebrations to an unforgettable close, according to Mancino. “A different archival impulse paid off for Debo Band, a Boston group devoted to the Ethiopian funk of the late 1960s and ’70s: fierce, jagged, complex and galvanizing music. With a beefy horn section, biting violins and a lead singer with a convincing Ethiopian quaver, the group brought back a live version of a style that was never recorded as vividly,” The New York Times stated. The group has graced national and international stages including Ethiopian Music Festival in Addis Ababa, and in New York City’s Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors, The Kennedy Center, GlobalFEST 2012 at
Webster Hall and Joe’s Pub. Other performances include those at the World Music Festival: Chicago, as well as Sauti Za Busara in Zanzibar, the largest music festival in East Africa. Performances will include those by the MCLA Jazz Band, Allegrettos’ A capella group, the Drury Jazz Band, and Spooky and the Nomads. Other MCLA groups performing include Yorick, Nexxus Step Team and Harlequin. In addition, DJ Leila will perform throughout the day, beginning at 2 p.m. and ending at 7 p.m. Downtown businesses and a variety of Berkshire vendors also will join the block party, connecting and sharing with the North Adams community by offering business specials, as well as later hours of operation. The PAM Show, part of the MCLA Presents! performance series, gives arts management majors the chance to produce, program and present a public event. This process creates a hands-on opportunity for students to experience and examine all aspects of performing arts. Ultimately, through the PAM class, students receive a chance to reach out to the MCLA campus and North Adams community through the arts and culture. Senior Sarah Spaulding said she enjoyed participating in the PAM class. “PAM students get to play an important role in enhancing audience experiences through their combined presentation of class gained knowledge and creative artistic performances that make up the PAM show. As my fellow classmates say, May your blocks be ever rocked!” Spaulding said. MCLA Presents! is a program of MCLA’s Berkshire Cultural Resource Center (BCRC), a collaborative project with Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) and the City of North Adams. The BCRC provides professional development training, resources and support to the artists, art managers and creative workers of Berkshire County. Through its multiple programs and presentations, BCRC brings the best of performance and art to the Berkshires and showcases the best of the Berkshires to the world. For more information, call 413-6648718, or go to mcla.edu/presents. To learn more about Debo Band, go to deboband. com.
A&E
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Photo by Aaron Crawford/Beacon Staff Linda Kaufmann introduced the documentary ‘Farwell to Factory Towns?’ Tuesday night to a packed crowd in Murdock Hall.
‘Farewell’ brings light to city’s past By Andrew Hodgson
A&E Writer Driving into North Adams, anyone will notice the dozens of rundown mills and factories. The problem is not new, but Maynard Seider set out to make a documentary thatcreates a local discourse on the current state of the economy of North Adams. Linda Kaufmann, a librarian at the College, introduced Seider, who then debuted his documentary “Farewell to Factory Towns?” to a packed conference room on Tuesday night. Space was at full capacity, as facilities staff hustled another row of folding chairs into the space to accommodate a few more standing guests. An overflow room was quickly arranged down the hall to give some of the standing guests’ relief. Students, staff, faculty, and members of the community packed in to watch the local film about the place most of them grew up and chose to raise their families. The event was kicked off by the musical trio Wintergreen, which
also provides much of the music for the movie. The band was composed of a standing double bass, a guitar, and the exotic sounding hammered dulcimer (a stringed instrument played by striking the strings with a small mallet). The group played three songs to get the crowd’s blood pumping for the main event. “Millions Mister,” “We Shall not be Moved,” and “This Land is your Land,” all got the crowd singing and clapping. Even the woman next to me put down her knitting to join the crowd in the fervent clapping. In a time when manufacturing in the U.S. is actually on the rise, North Adams is still a town full of poverty and economic stagnation. The documentary, which is divided into three sections, describes the history of North Adams as a thriving mill town in the early 20th century through interviews with local residents and historians. The film begins with the gorgeous view from the Golden Eagle on Route 2. The mood quickly shifts to the history of North Adams, and the current is-
sues the city faces. It also examines the addition of Mass MoCA in 1999 as a move to change the identity of the city from run-down mill town to artistic enclave. Since the creation of Mass MoCA the North Adams economy has seen few new jobs. The documentary states that the museum employs around 65, a tiny percentage of the thousands of workers left jobless in the 1980’s when companies like Sprague Electric Company pulled up stakes due to their own economic woes, and left the town in the dust. Another point raised by the film, an issue the community organizers in DownStreet Art and Mass MoCA staffers are keenly aware of, is the location of Mass MoCA. The Route 2 overpass essentially separates the museum from downtown North Adams. Patrons visit the museum, return to their cars, and the effect on the local economy is limited to the ticket price at the museum and potential gas sales as people fill their Escalades on their way out of town.
7 MCLA’s Emerging Artists comes to Gallery 51 theonlinebeacon.com
NORTH ADAMS, MA – Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts’ Gallery 51 is proud to present “Coming up Next! MCLA’s Emerging Artists,” a group exhibition of the largest class of graduating art majors since the program’s inception. The exhibition will open on April 26, and run through May 27. An opening reception will be held on Thursday, April 26, from 5-7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. “Coming up Next!” is the thesis project of the nine graduating MCLA art majors. The work runs a spectrum of mediums from photography, collage, drawings and paintings, to fiber arts, scenic art, book arts and sculpture. The artists express a multitude of subject matter, from the humorous to the macabre. The thesis show is coordinated by MCLA Assistant Professor of Art Melanie Mowinski. It is the fourth installment of the senior art show since the art major’s inception four years ago. “It’s really exciting to see such committed, engaged and creative students working together individually on their own projects, and together as a group to put together this show. I met many of these students four years ago when they first enrolled at MCLA. It’s an honor to see them reach this important milestone,” Mowinski said. Pam Buchanan ’12 said, “It’s fantastic that this exhibition is the culmination of all of our efforts ~ throughout our educational experience…the show represents the creative diversity that is encouraged at MCLA.” Shanti Sponde ’12 is themedriven. She focuses on the memories and connections she made during her childhood that continue to inspire her to create fungi-centered works.
Kristen Parker ’12 works in a variety of mediums to explore and understand emotional reactions, associations and control, with regard to ideas that involve death, dying and mortality. Joanna Gillis ’12 is theme-driven as well: her work explores the influence of romance during the early 1900s and expresses stories that reference a time in history where love was elegant, in the forms of collage and bookmaking. Buchanan creates prints, artist books and mixed media collages to develop visual narratives illustrating themes of child abuse and domestic violence. This allows her to channel emotions enmeshed in her own memories of abuse and to provoke dialog, and to prompt others to share their stories. Artwork by Gordon Polglase ’12 primarily is theme orientated, as well, and draws on his emotion, personal experiences and hardships to create “Netherworld,” a fictional world of symbolism, suggestion and mystery. Artwork by Jessica Atanas ’12 focuses on theatrical, scenic artistry and design; inspired by storytelling and the theatrical world, it draws from many mediums in order to create new realms of experience. Work by Fiona Slattery ’12 is focused on themes of the past and childhood. She uses collage and text to recreate the details of her memories and as a tool for confronting and accepting what has come to pass. “Coming up Next” runs through May 27. MCLA Gallery 51, a program of MCLA’s Berkshire Cultural Resource Center, is open daily, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call the Gallery at 413-664-8718, or go to www.mcla.edu/gallery51 .
Continued on page 4
‘Cabin in the Woods’ stands up to horror-movie norms By Nora Weiss A&E Writer
Good horror movies are hard to come by, mostly because everyone’s idea of an acceptable scary movie is different and always changing. There are staple classics we use, instead, to compare current movies to figure out if what we’ve seen is good, or not. “Cabin in the Woods” stands up pretty well. It’s tough to review the
movie because I don’t want to give anything away. If I did, you’d miss out on that unforgettable twist I thoroughly enjoyed myself. We follow the long weekend of college friends who go to the creepiest looking cabin in the middle of nowhere, past a long forgotten gas station where they, of course, stop to ask for directions and only received jumbled metaphors from old Mordeca who pumps
the gas. There’s drinking, a blonde moving like a cage dancer all by herself, and that good ol’ paranoid stoner friend who was right all along. Sort of. From the previews, you can gather these kids are part of some government experiment. You’re left wondering throughout the film how they’re going to make it. More importantly, who will make it. The movie almost comes at you in an ana-
lytic sort of way, looking back at what scares us and what other movies have done in attempts to terrify us. “Cabin” puts these elements on the chopping block, but leaves nothing on the cutting room floor. It’s all in there: tits, blood, and a few twists. That’s just it with this movie. It takes the stereotypical horror flick (think “Friday the 13” series, or “Halloween”) and turns it on its ironic head (think “Scream”).
Photo by Aaron Crawford/Beacon Staff
‘Living in Exile,’ a retelling of ‘The Illiad’ set in an American living room with the use of modern media, took place last weekend at 107 Main St.
8
A&E
Thursday, April 19, 2012
theonlinebeacon.com
SAC Spring Concert rocked Venable Gym
By Tano Holmes A&E Writer
Mayday Parade and Four Year Strong brought the campus to life on Patriots’ Day. Venable Gym was transformed into a concert venue for one night, complete with a full stage, eight massive speakers and neon blue lights. Junior Brycen Waters made a quick introduction for Nora Weiss, President of the Student Activities Council (SAC) and Kenneth Borter, who is the Concert Chair for SAC. The duo told the anxious crowd about other Spring Fling events and then promptly flung a few free T-shirts, which were emblazoned with “GO Big or GO Home,” into the audience. They also told the audience that crowd-surfing and moshing were strictly prohibited, which drew a loud round of “Boos” from the crowd. Think Big! opened the show at 7:30 p.m. playing a variety of pop-punk with plenty of energy. The lead singer jumped and spun around the stage to the blaring guitars and pounding drums. The crowd started to warm up to the band by its third song. People started waving their hands and singing along to the lyrics. At one point Think Big! had the audience swaying and clapping their hands to one of their more well known tunes. The band thanked the audience at the end of their set, and got a roar from the crowd when they asked if they were ready to see Four Year Strong. “I actually thought that Think Big! was pretty good,” freshman Liesa Lajeunesse said. “I really
Mary Redstone A&E Editor
Record Store Day returns as the unofficial audiophile holiday
Photo by Marissa Zelazo/Beacon Staff
Mayday Parade (above) played to a packed Venable Gym on Monday night as a part of SAC’s Spring Concert alongside Four Year Strong and Think Big. like the breakdowns in their set.” When Four Year Strong’s drummer came on stage early, the crowd cheered at every one of his sound checks. The rest of Four Year Strong took the stage a little behind schedule at 8:10 p.m. to a tumultuous applause. The four bandmates all sported full beards, their trademark in the hardcore scene. Four Year Strong’s music featured deep booming bass and angry sounding lyrics. The crowd jumped and head-banged throughout their set and many seemed to know the words to most of the songs. Four Year Strong’s set utilized the stage’s lights, flipping through a variety of vibrant colors, and sometimes switching to a yellow strobe light, which made the crowd roar and
jump in excitement. At the end of the set, the crowd cheered for an encore, but unfortunately the band did not give one. “I really liked Four Year Strong,” Junior Anita Alvarez said. “I am not going to lie; I didn’t really know the band’s music before I came but I heard they put on a great show, and that they did!” Mayday Parade came on at 9:10 p.m. and the crowd went crazy. Their Emo-pop-punk style was well received by the audience and people immediately began to jump and put their hands in the air. Mayday Parade’s appearance was drastically different from Four Year Strong. Instead of burly bearded men, Mayday Parade’s members were thin, beardless, and both guitarists had long hair.
Their music was also quite different. The lead singer of Mayday Parade showed off a variety of tricks with the microphone, like swinging it in a wide arch around his head during moments he was not singing. Mayday Parade’s lyrics were more distinguishable than the first two bands, and themes of love and rebellion were decipherable. “They seem pretty enthusiastic, especially for such a small venue,” junior Mike Dahlroth said about Mayday Parade. Mayday Parade had a booth in Venable selling their T-shirts for $20 a piece, while Think Big! had a booth selling some of their CD’s for only $3 each. Four Year Strong is scheduled to perform at the Warped Tour this summer.
Hedda Gabler premieres Thursday By Nora Weiss A&E Writer
The Theatre Lab Performance class’ production of “Hedda Gabler”, written by nineteenth-century Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen and directed by Professor Laura Standley, premieres Thursday, April 18 at 8 p.m. in Venable Gym. The Theatre Lab Performance class was assigned “Hedda” at the beginning of the semester to research and eventually put on. The students were to understand the time period, assign roles, and manage the production of the overall show. “It’s separate from Maintsage,” Assistant Director Tyler Prendergast said. “We work all semester with the text and the process of research.” Pendergast explained the complexity of looking at a play as more of project than a basic performance. He mentioned the amount of time that he and his peers spent on dramaturgy work where students analyzed the time period of the play itself; studying everything from the costumes to the values of society within the setting. “We’re also going to have the play in exhibition style,” Prendergast said. “Audience members can walk around the set, peer into
windows, and sit around the stage.” Hedda Gabler itself is a play about different views, specifically Hedda, a young woman in the late 1800s who comes back from her honeymoon with a man she married for all the wrong reasons. Jorgen, Hedda’s husband, is a determined academic whose priorities leave his young and passionate wife on the back burner. We see Hedda’s lust for life and live foil her boring husband’s goals for academic success when Jorgen’s rival Ejlert enters the scene as a reformed alcoholic with a bright creative side. The role of Hedda, commonly referred to as the “female Hamlet”, is a coveted role due its complex nature. “There are so many layers to her,” Prendergast said. “It’s about struggling with society.” The role of Hedda is played by Elizabeth “Lily” Cardaropoli, Jorgen is played by Jimmy Dunn, and Ejlert is played by Erik Dabrowski. The show premieres Thursday, April 18 at 8 p.m. through Saturday. There wil also be a matinee on Saturday at 2 p.m. All MCLA students get in free, as well as Undergrad Research Conference attendees on opening Photo Courtesy of the Theatre Lab Performance Class night who present their ID badges. General Hedda Gabler premieres tonight in Venable Admission is $8 and faculty admissions is $3. Gym at 8 p.m.
It’s that time of year again, when audiophiles, vinyl enthusiasts and hipsters get their own holiday: Record Store Day. Saturday, all day, across the country independent record stores are celebrating, well, their independence. No FYE or Best Buy on this day, just locallyowned, independent music stores. The Record Store Day website, recordstoreday.com, lists the requirement for a store’s participation as, “...a stand alone brick and mortar retailer whose main primary business focuses on a physical store location, whose product line consists of at least 50% music retail, whose company is not publicly traded and whose ownership is at least 70% located in the state of operation.” Also on their website, you can find a list of every participating store that signed a pledge. “The stores with this mark have signed the Record Store Day Pledge,” says their website, “which means they have agreed to act in the spirit of Record Store Day, and sell the commercial Record Store Day releases to their physical customers, on Record Store Day; not to gouge them, or hold product back to sell them online.” The day is marked by in-store appearences and special releases. Newbury Comics has all of their appearences listed on their website, newburycomics.com, including a signing from indie pop band fun. at their Faneuil Hall store. If you are up for a trip into Northampton, you can stop in the Newbury Comics there or head further down the street to Turn it Up. Both locations will be selling all of the Record Store Day specials as well as handing out goodie bags and sampler CDs. Some of the special releases for the day which will be unavailable after Saturday include a 12” of remixes of “Sprawl II” by Arcade Fire, a 7” of Arctic Monkeys’ “R U Mine?”, Death Cab for Cutie’s Remixes LP on 180 gram vinyl, and “The Whole Love: Deluxe Editon” by Wilco. There are dozens more releases, spanning all genres and decades, that can be found on recordstoreday.com. Each store is in charge of its own celebrations and what they decide to stock, so participants are encouraged to check out as many stores as their hearts desire.
9 Women’s soccer hosts youth clinic on Saturday Sports
Thursday, April 19, 2012
By Ariana Tourangeau Staff Writer
The MCLA women’s soccer team held a soccer clinic on Saturday April 14th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for high school girls to come out and play with the team. Coach Deb Raber, one of the only female NSCAA National Academy Staff coaches in the northeast, held the clinic and the team helped assist her with instructing the girls. The clinic was an instructional day for any high school female soccer players to come to Shewcraft Field and get the experience of playing with and being instructed by college athletes and a college coach. There were about 20 girls who came from New York and Massachusetts. The group consisted of mostly juniors and seniors but there were also a few freshmen and sophomores present. Clinics such as this one can be very advantageous because high school athletes who are planning on playing a sport in college can get a “sneak peak” at what it is like for one day. Although it is beneficial for all ages in high school it is more useful for juniors and seniors because those are the years when the college searching process begins. The clinic instruction includes all aspect of soccer such as: fitness, attacking, goalkeeping, and de-
Photo by Serina Stimpson/Beacon Staff
The women’s soccer team held a clinic for high school girls with an interest in playing college-level soccer at the athletic complex on Saturday. fending. The itinerary for the day consisted of check-in at 9 a.m., staff introduction and warm-ups
at 10 a.m., including agility and fitness training tips, and stations highlighting all aspects of game-
play from 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. After a brief lunch, the girls were back to their hard work at 1 p.m.
with small-sided and full-field matches until 3 p.m. CLINIC, continued on page 10
Kayla Bromback selected for New England Volleyball By Kayla Koumjian Sports Writer
Once their college years are finished, many athletes hang up their jerseys with the knowledge that their competitive career is over. This cannot be said senior Kayla Bromback, who for four years had worked and trained with the Trailblazers volleyball team, amassing a large number of accomplishments and accolades in her time with the College. Recently she was recruited to take her skills to the next level of professional play. On March 18, Bromback received great news about the continuation of her athletic career. She was selected to play volleyball for the New England team.
Bromback was stunned to find her name on the roster, saying, “I was shocked. I had had to read the list twice.” Tryouts for the premiere team began on Feb. 26 and cuts were made on March 18. Bromback was stunned to find her name on the roster. “I was shocked, I had to read the list twice,” she said. The New England team is a
Photo by Ian Grey/iangreyphotography.com
Kayla Bromback has been recruited to join New England Volleyball for a professional career. part of the USA Premier Volleyball League (PVL). The PVL is a grassroots professional volleyball league and began this year. The teams are made up from the 40 regional volleyball associations across the U.S. “It’s for post-collegiate athletes,” Bromback explained. “I’m not sure how old the oldest player is on our the team, probably around 30 and I’m the youngest at 22.” Bromback will be graduating at the end of the spring semester with a degree in psychology. Bromback explained that 16
girls made the roster, and only 12 of them will be attending the USA Open National Championship in Salt Lake City, UT. She was first informed about the team from MCLA’s women’s head coach, Amanda Beckwith. “I had found out about the opportunity at a big recruiting event in Hartford this January and shared the information with her and other seniors,” Beckwith explained. She is happy for Bromback. “I think Kayla saw a great opportunity and went for it. I am
very proud of her achievements and look forward to watching her play more in the future,” she said. Bromback has had a great career here at MCLA. She has played volleyball for all four years she attended and received many honors while playing. “She has been ranked nationally twice for hitting percentage,” said Beckwith said. “She also finishes as our all-time block and kills leader.” Along with those achievements, Bromback has also been a fouryear starter, a captains council
member, MASCAC player of the week, and an All-MASCAC second team member. “Kayla has led our team in blocks and kills for many years and she currently holds the all time career record in both here at MCLA,” Beckwith explained. Bromback is from Lee, Mass., and used to play on a young Berkshire Country team. Her position was an outside hitter during high school. When she came to MCLA, Coach Beckwith moved her position to a middle hitter. Bromback has started in that position since then. “Kayla grew so much from the high school outside hitter, to the dominant middle hitter she has become,” Beckwith said. “She is a tricky middle hitter,” Beckwith continued. “She sees the court well and knows how to find holes in the opponent’s defense.”Her hit is also a force to be reckoned with.” Bromback is very eager to play and continue improving in her sport. “I’m just hoping to improve and learn from the players. They have all been playing for a while and most are on the national team,” Bromback said. Beckwith is very happy for Bromback and has enjoyed her time here at MCLA. “It has been a pleasure coaching Kayla this past four years,” she said.
Sports 10 Softball team continues to struggle for wins theonlinebeacon.com
Thursday, april 19, 2012
By Brendan Foley Sports Editor
What has been a largely discouraging season for the MCLA softball team has taken another downward turn as the Trailblazers suffered back to back sweeps at the hands of Worcester State on April 14 and then Bridgewater State on April 16. Worcester, currently the thirdseeded team in the MASCAC conference, travelled to MCLA for a doubleheader. It was a warm Saturday afternoon when Ainsley MacDonald took the mound. MacDonald was shelled throughout her seven innings, giving up nine hits and walking another seven batters. Worcester capitalized on these oppurtunities to smash their way onto the scoreboard with ten runs. MacDonald was given little support from the Trailblazers offense, with only two hits in the entire game, courtesy of Erin Kelly and Sam Barbarotta. Things only got worse for the ‘Blazers in the second game, where they were routed 16-1. MCLA bats continued to stay silent, with the girls only getting four hits for the entire game. Worcester bombarded pitcher Kelly Pirzl with 15 hits over seven innings. The team then traveled to Bridgewater, to face off against the number one team in the MASCAC conference. The fortunes of the Trailblazers continued to spiral downwards as they were soundly defeated in both of their games. In the first game of doubelheader, the Trailblazers were completely shut out, not getting a single hit throughout the entire game. Bridgewater only had four hits, but managed to convert that into eight runs. The final score
Photo by Serina Stimpson/Beacon Staff
The Trailblazers could not keep Worcester down as they were swept in a home doubleheader. was 8-0. Things did not pick up in the second game, when the Trailblazers were struck down, 12-1. The team managed to scrounge up three hits for the day, and converted those into one run. Bridgewater had no intention of giving the
team any corner, and struck back with eight hits and 12 runs. Six of their runs came in the first inning. The softball team is currently standing with a record of 4-22, and a conference record of 2-6. They are tied for next-to-last in the conference with Framingham
State and are only two victories outside of the dead last Mass. Maritime. After 26 games, the softball team has a batting average of .233 and have pitched to an ERA of 7.12. Among the numerous factors standing against the team, one
major problem is the relative youth of the team, with only two seniors to the roster and the bulk of the roster devoted to freshmen and sophomores. The Trailblazers will next play on April 21 against Salem State.
Women’s soccer invites new faces for training clinic
$30 fee gives local high school girls the oppurtunity for a sneek peek into the demands of college soccer. CLINIC, continued from page 9
Although the clinic might tell some high school soccer players that playing a college sport is not for them, it got others excited to play in college. It was a good way for the soccer players to see how different college soccer games are from high school soccer games.
Borbolla said, “It gives them a chance to become more familar with our style of play and what they will be coming into in the fall.” Trailblazers teammate, junior Lindsay Borbolla, noticed how some of the girls benefited from the clinic. “They get to see how they would compare to a college level player,” Borbolla said. “I asked one
Photo by Serina Stimpson/Beacon Staff
High school girls from the local area swarmed the atheletic complex to practice with and get advice from current MCLA women’s soccer players.
of the girls how they were feeling while playing with our team and she said, ‘This is way different from playing with and against high school girls. The game is so much faster and more physical. It is something new, but I am definitely loving it.’” It was a chance for the girls to see if playing a college sport was something these girls would be interested in. They got to dip their toes into something that they have not really tried before and it gave them the experience that they will benefit from and potentially use if they decide to play in college. “Only two of the girls at the clinic are already committed,” Borbolla said. “It gives them a chance to become more familiar with our style of play and what they will be coming into this fall.” The clinic was $30 to participate and each player received a Trailblazer t-shirt. Water was included at the clinic and there was an athletic trainer present in case of injuries.
Sports
Thursday, April 19, 2012
theonlinebeacon.com
Baseball drops four straight games By Brendan Foley
Brendan Foley Sports Editor
Sports Stories For as long as people have created art to try and capture human experience and motion, they have strived to capture the physicality and athelticism of sports. Today, that drive is encapsulated with the never-ending stream of sports movies which Hollywood cranks out with machine-like precision and same-y-ness. The modern sports movie essentially breaks down into two major narratives: 1) movie star leads ragtag group of misfits to victory (or near victory) or 2) seasoned pro gets last shot at victory and personal redemption. Even fantastic, Oscar-gold snatching films can be broken down into these basic narrative threads (hello, ‘The Fighter’ how have you been?). Some use this form to tell broad comedies (‘Semi-Pro’, ‘Dodgeball’) while others try for an earnest and informative point of view (‘Remember the Titans’). But regardless of tone, the stories essentially boil down to these basic types. Considering the sheer number of films that follow these plot threads, and the rate at which Americans tend to burn through their fixations (the spawn of ‘Twilight’ will have a shelf life roughly equivalent to that of curdled milk) it is worth asking why people still seem not to care that every sports movie released follows the same narrative arc over and over. Partly it’s a matter of iconography. Next to superheroes, sports stars are the default icons of American action. And like comic book and super hero fiction, sports narratives deal primarily in archetypes (and just straight up Types) which viewers young and old are able to grasp and establish relationships with, with very little work on the part of the filmmakers actually needed. One look at Cory Haim in the coke bottle glasses, and everyone watching ‘Lucas’ immediately identifies and likes him. Just from looking at a picture of the Mighty Ducks, one could probably guess 90% of their personalities. And more than that, sports films serve as a refresher of our basic values as a culture. We like to imagine sports as one of the few places where competition plays out completely fair and on even ground. And it is to that image that the sports movie plays, trading on that level playing field to insist upon core beliefs like hard-work, fair play, and equality. Not that those things actually ‘exist’ in pro sports, but hey, that’s why movies are so important.
bridgewater framingham salem westfield mass. maritime MCLA worcester fitchburg
Sports Editor The burgeoning men’s tennis program has netted their second victory in the history of the young program this past Monday, April 16, with a win against Sage College. The men’s tennis team was recently reformed after a hiatus of over twenty years. After a trial match that the team played in Springfield on Oct. 7, the new squad took a break to train for the main season. The team debuted in a match
All
Conf
20-12 18-11 24-8 13-14 10-13 11-17 9-20 8-20
7-1 6-2 5-3 5-3 3-5 2-6 2-6 2-6
Softball bridgewater salem worcester westfield fitchburg framingham MCLA mass. maritime
All 23-7 22-7 13-13 11-16 11-19 11-17 4-22 2-15
Conf 7-1 5-1 6-2 4-4 4-4 2-6 2-6 0-6
Baseball 4/19 vs. Skidmore
4 p.m.
4/21 @ Salem
1 p.m.
4/21 @ Salem
3:30 p.m.
4/24 @ Westfield
2 p.m.
4/24 @ Westfield 4:30 p.m. 4/28 vs. Framingham 1 p.m. 4/28 vs. Framingham 3:30 p.m. 4/29 vs. Newbury
1 p.m.
4/29 vs. New bury 3:30 p.m. Softball
Photo by Serina Stimpson/Beacon Staff
The baseball team has struggled to regain its momentum after losing four games in a row. to stand against Bridgewater’s onslaught. Once again, Bridgewater got out in front early, with five runs in the second inning alone. The Trailblazers struck back with three runs in the third inning, and for a moment it looked as thought the game might be
neck-and-neck. Then Bridgewater got back up to bat, and roared to life, pounding the Trailblazers defense for eight runs. It was a deficit the ‘Blazers could not recover from and the game concluded witha final score of Bridgewater 16, MCLA 7.
Men’s tennis nets another win By Brendan Foley
Standings
(As of Press Time)
Baseball
Sports Editor The baseball team has hit a rough patch, entering into a four game slide that has dropped them several places in the MASCAC conference standings. After a solid trouncing of Maine Presque-Isle on Friday, April 13, which saw the Trailblazers victorious, 7-0, MCLA turned its attention to third-seed Worcester State for an April 14 doubleheader. MCLA was the first onto the scoreboard during the day’s first game, notching a run in the bottom of the third inning. Worcester retaliated in the fifth, with two runs to snatch the lead away. They then added another run in the top of the sixth to put a cap on their victory, for a final score of 3-1. Chase Preite and Sean Coyle led the team in hits, contributing two hits apiece. Centerfield Joe Duncan got the lone other hit for the team. The second Worcester game would not be so close. This time, Worcester attacked the scoreboard early and often. Worcester broke onto the scoreboard with a run in the top of the first. The team then loaded on another three runs in the second inning. MCLA responded with one run in the bottom of the second, but Worcester’s bats were now fully awake. Worcester added an additional two runs to their tally in the third inning, and then another two in the sixth, putting the score at 2-8. A final run in the top of the seventh capped off the game at 2-9 and left the Trailblazers tumbling down the MASCAC rankings. The Trailblazers then travelled to Bridgewater to go toe-to-toe with the current number one team in the conference in a doubleheader. It did not end well for the ‘Blazers. MCLA failed to get a single hit in the first game, and instead were left to watch helplessly while Bridgewater racked up four runs in the bottom of the second and then cruised to the end of the game uncontested. Another run in the bottom of the sixth gave the game a final tally of 0-5. MCLA put up a much better fight in the second game of the day, but it simply was not enough
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against Becker on March 29 which saw the new team walk away victorious. Since their debut, the men’s tennis team has dropped two matches, losing to first Clark and then the Western New England College. This skid was halted on Monday when the Trailblazers hosted Sage at the Athletic Complex. Daniel Nesti, Mitchell Mabardy, Taylor Krowitz and Joseph Whitehouse each walked away from their respective singles matches as winners. This hot streak carried over to the doubles competitions, where
MCLA once again held their own. Daniel Nesti and Taylor Krowitz made up one team while Whitehouse and Armory Galili formed the other winning squad. For singles competition, the team finished 5-1 collectively, and 2-1 for double’s competition for a combined final score of 7-2. Men’s tennis has three matches left in this, their debut season. They will next go up against Johnson State on Sunday, April 22, before travelling to Lyndon State two days later. The season will conclude with a final home match against Springfield, on April 25.
4/21 @ Salem
1 p.m.
4/21 @ Salem
3 p.m.
4/24 @ Westfield
2 p.m.
4/24 @ Westfield
4 p.m.
4/27 vs. Southern Vermont 3:30 p.m. 4/27 vs. Southern Vermont 5:30 p.m. 4/29 vs. Framingham 1 p.m. 4/29 vs. Framingham 3 p.m. Men’s Tennis 4/22 vs. Johnson State 1 p.m. 4/24 @ Lyndon State 3:30 p.m. 4/25 vs. Springfield 4 p.m.
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Opinion
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Campus Comment
Burlington Free Press a Pulitzer finalist
compiled by Marissa Zelazo
What would you like to do after you graduate from college? “I’m applying to teach English in China at Hebei University.”
Associated Press MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - Vermont’s largest newspaper has been honored as a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing for its campaign to reform the state’s access to public records laws. The Pulitzers were announced on Monday, and The Burlington Free Press was chosen as one of three finalists in the editorial writing category, along with Bloomberg News and Florida’s Tampa Bay Times. The judges did not choose a winner from among the finalists. The judges praised the Free Press for an editorial campaign that resulted in the state’s first reform of open government laws in 35 years, reducing legal obstacles that helped shroud the work of government officials. The writers of the editorials were editorial page editor Aki Soga and Mike Townsend, the paper’s executive editor.
Politico cartoonist Wuerker wins Pulitzer Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) - Editorial cartoonist Matt Wuerker says he ran around the newsroom at Politico giving high-fives after learning he had won a Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning. The Pulitzer judges honored Wuerker Monday ``for his consistently fresh, funny cartoon, especially memorable for lampooning the partisan conflict that engulfed Washington.’’ The 55-year-old Wuerker has been drawing editorial cartoons for 33 years and was a two-time Pulitzer finalist. Yet he says nothing could have prepared him for winning the prize. Iti s the first Pulitzer for Politico, the five year-old newspaper and website about Washington politics that was launched by two former Washington Post reporters. Editor-in-chief John Harris says Wuerker’s cartoons are in Politico’s spirit because ``he takes raw delight in politics.’’ Harris says Politico’s first Pulitzer ``means a lot to the whole publication.’’
theonlinebeacon.com
-Jessica Nestell, 2012
“I want to be a professional dancer and dance for Beyonce.”
“Visit Jessica in China and marry Eric Edmonds.” -Matt Kahn, 2012
“Go to California to sell a screenplay.”
-Eric Edmunds, 2012 -Ashley Brand, 2013
“Travel.”
-Alex Butfilowski, 2015
Letter to the editor: Student Voice. Student Rights. Student Government. SGA President Todd Foy reflects on his time in the organization, the accomplishments made in the past year, and urges students to stay active.
T
his time next week, the Student Government Association (SGA) will have a new Executive Cabinet and Student Senate. I am excited for both the newcomers to the SGA and the proven leadership that I know President Jason Brown will bring. Before I bow out, though, I want to ask you this: what does this mean to me as an MCLA student? I can tell you that it means many things. I have seen this SGA transform during my time here and even more so this past year. I have never seen such incredible leadership, heated discussion, and substantive work from this student body. We stood our ground and produced a student referendum on the arming of campus police, which had the largest voter turnout in SGA history. We protested and voiced our discontent even after the decision was made, proving that we MCLA students can do big things. And, most recently, we participated in a dialogue around the SGA budget process that led to students responsibly increasing the fees that matter most to them. Of course, there were many other things along the way, but I think we will remember these the most.
What I am saying is that the SGA belongs to every single student at this institution. I had the honor of representing you all this year, working with some of the most amazing student leaders I have ever known, and truly making the student voice something that matters at MCLA again. The work isn’t done though, by any stretch of the imagination. The student body must stay informed, aware, and vigilant if it wants to continue to make the progress it did this year. You have many challenges ahead of you, but so much to learn as well. Take every opportunity to do so and I can assure you that big things will continue to happen. I leave you now with a resonating quote that has inspired me through the years and I hope it will guide you all as well. Inspired by a Buddhist proverb, the quote reads, “True progress is made when a man plants a seed knowing that he will never stand under the tree’s shade.” Think on that; remember your role as a student at MCLA, and best of luck to the lot of you. –Todd B. Foy, Jr. SGA President Class of 2012
“I hope to get a job travel writing for a magazine and travel more of the world.” -Nicholas Swanson, 2013
Do you have an opinion and don’t know where to voice it? Send your letters to The Beacon at beacon@mcla.edu and let your voice be heard!
Opinion
Thursday, april 19, 2012
theonlinebeacon.com
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Plastic surgery and body image Senior Week Calendar
O
ur culture’s focus on beauty and body image has led to a surge in cosmetic surgery, as well as eating disorders, and the only way to stop this trend is to change our beauty standards for young girls and women. Just last year, over 14 million cosmetic surgeries were performed. Americans spend 10 billion dollars annually on these procedures, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. However, when actress Ashley Judd was accused by the media just last week for supposedly having cosmetic surgery, she fought back.
“In 2010... about 220,000 cosmetic procedures were performed on teens between 13 and 19 years old in the United States” “I don’t think that being a public figure makes it legitimate to criticize people the way they are currently criticized in this cultural climate,” Judd said to the press. “I think it’s the objectification of girls and women in this hyper-sexualization of our society that invites the criticism.” Judd was recovering from the flu, which made her face red and swollen. Contrary to popular belief, she had not undergone cosmetic surgery. While some people need plastic surgery to correct a birth defect or for health reasons, others choose cosmetic surgery to fix
Skyla Seamans Columnist
what is otherwise normal. I will admit that for some people, one procedure leads to an increase in self-esteem and personal satisfaction, which is wonderful. However, many find themselves still displeased with their bodies even after multiple surgeries. What I do not think many people realize is how much the media effects young girls and teenagers when it comes to changing their appearances to fit one beauty standard. Cosmetic surgeons say that the most commonly mentioned celebrities who their patients wish to look like are Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Jenifer Aniston, Jennifer Lopez, and reality television stars Kim Kardashian and Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, according to the Toronto Sun. This has a grave effect on teens who are feeling pressured to be thin, beautiful, and flawless just like the celebrities they see in the media every day. In 2010 alone, about 220,000 cosmetic procedures were performed on teens between 13 and 19 years old in the United States. Boys and men are not exempt
from these statistics, either. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, cosmetic procedures among men saw an increase of 44 percent from 2000 to 2005. It is very unfortunate that so many men and women from all different walks of life are succumbing to societal pressures to change their appearances through surgery. What happened to loving ourselves just the way we are? Judd was not going to stay silent. She wrote a piece in the Daily Beast to combat the media’s judgmental comments. “The conversation was pointedly nasty, gendered and misogynistic and embodies what all girls and women in our culture, to a greater or lesser degree, endure every day, in ways both outrageous and subtle,” Judd wrote. “The assault on our body image, the hyper-sexualization of girls and women and subsequent degradation of our sexuality as we walk through the decades, and the general incessant objectification is what this conversation allegedly about my face is really about.” Judd said she hopes her piece will trigger conversation about this type of speech, bullying, and about body image. “The insanity has to stop,” she said. “It affects each and every one of us, in multiple and nefarious ways: our self-image, how we show up in our relationships and at work, our sense of our worth, value, and potential as human beings. Join in and help change the conversation.” For more on cosmetic surgery and its effects on our society or other body image issues, check out the Women’s Center’s newsletter coming out this month!
With Spring comes nice weather. And Bees. Ahhhh spring, when a young person’s mind turns to… “BEES! OH MY [EXPLETIVE] GOD BEEEEEEEESSSSS!” Aside from the threat of being dive-bombed by vicious black and yellow kamikaze insects, I quite like spring. Five years of suffering through the bone-dry, barren wasteland that is North Adams during the winter gives one a new appreciation for this season. My favorite days are lightly breezy ones in the 70’s to low 80’s, with just the right amount of humidity that makes one feel as if they were wrapped in a delicious blanket of air. That first truly warm day of the year is like a holiday. One can observe their fellow college denizens, pale as the underbelly of a catfish and so used to being holed up inside during the chillier months, emerge unsure from their dorms stretching their winter-weary limbs, and blinking, step into the sun. As an avid people-watcher, I love seeing this phenomenon, as sluggish students become more and more spritely and rejuvenated as their
Jessie Wright Columnist
time in the sunlight increases. Like lizards. MCLA never feels more like a college than during these last few weeks of the spring semester. The campus becomes alive with activity as students play hackysack, wiffleball, and Frisbee. The air bristles with music as guitarists, flautists, singers and accordion players mill about campus, and the creepily unadorned Mr. Ding-a-Ling truck makes its ice-creamy rounds.
Bodies dot the lawn as students sunbathe in hopes of erasing the last remains of the winter season on their bodies. There is a sense of community in our enjoyment of warm weather, one that I will miss being a part of. Sunlight is healthy, according to my thorough Internet research. Ten to 15 minutes of sun exposure a day increases Vitamin D production, which in turn decreases the risk of conditions like high blood pressure, bone disease, type II diabetes, and cancers that aren’t of the skin variety. It boosts the immune system and lowers cholesterol and increases metabolism. Based on my scientifically legitimate personal experience, I’m also 100 percent certain sunlight (and warm weather in general) increases one’s susceptibility to… Senioritis. The more time I spend out of doors, the greater my desire to finally graduate. I’m ready to spread my wings, and soar into the sun… which worked so well for Icarus, but, hey, live and learn.
Tuesday, May 15 •Check-in •Movie Night
Friday, May 18 •Graduation Information Meeting •Baccalaureate Wednesday, May 16 Ceremony •Brunch followed by •Senior Banquet Presentation of Class Number on Saturday, May 19 Murdock Hall •Commencement •Baccalaureate Ceremony Ceremony Rehearsal •Alumni Social •Dance Party office s ’ g i a Cr Jenn 18 Thursday, May 17 n i 3 up er •BBQ Lunch Sign Room pus Cent •Day Trip: r Cam e l s Am Boston OR Mohegan Sun
Senior Day Packages EVENTS PACKAGE: $80 Yearbook, T-shirt, senior cup, day trip, donation towards class gift, Sullivan Lounge movie night, alumni social, senior banquet, brunch, cookout, dance party GIFT PACKAGE: $45 Yearbook, T-shirt, senior cup, donation to class gift YEARBOOK: $15 *Last Day to Purchase a Package is Fri. April 20* **Resident students wishing to stay on campus must purchase Events Package!**
We need your opinion!
Marketing Research students have developed surveys on the following MCLA topics – please respond to any and all that you have an interest in! *Deadline for response is April 20th!* Health Services: www.surveymonkey.com/s/MCLAHealthServices Study Abroad Opportunities: www.surveymonkey.com/s/MCLAStudyAbroad Practice & Performance Space: www.surveymonkey.com/s/MCLAPracticeSpace Meal Plan Options: www.surveymonkey.com/s/MCLAFood Commuter Students: www.surveymonkey.com/s/MCLACommuter
All responses will be anonymous Any questions or concerns? Contact Dr. Ovitsky at N.Ovitsky@mcla.edu
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Thursday, april 19, 2012
JACKS, continued from page 2
“I’m even good friends with Jafross son, John Lavanos, who was the second generation owner. His son Jeff and I, who’s the current owner, still play poker together,” Sylvester noted. “Heck, he taught me the game. I’m practically family.”
“The current record is 27 hot dogs... a list of all contestants hangs proudly on the milk vendor at the end of the back counter.” Customers such as Sylvester aren’t uncommon, according to employee Jessica Bogel. For many people who grew up in the area, eating at Jack’s is a tradition. A fairly tall, slender brunette in her early thirties, Bogel has lived in neighboring Adams her whole life. “It’s a tradition for a lot of people to bring their kids here, and then have them bring their own kids year later,” she said. Having worked at Jack’s for little over a year, Bogel said she very much already feels like she’s a part of the Jack’s family. She did note, however, that almost no one has been working there as long as co-worker Bill Sprowson. “I’ve lived here my entire life and have been working here for about 20 years now,” said Sprowson. “The owner’s a great guy and I love working with the people who come in here every day.” Sprowson, a big built middle aged man with short auburn hair, was quick to talk about how his boss sticks to tradition. “Well, he’s a third generation owner who stays true to his family business,” said Sprowson. “He tends to keep the same employees and he’ll do anything for you once you’ve been around for a while. Mike the manager’s been here for over 8 years” A Hungry Tradition Tradition seems to be trend at Jack’s Hot Dog Stand, as they even have a regular hot dog eating contest. The current record is 27 hot dogs and unless someone beats it, they have to pay for what they eat. A list of all of contestants hangs proudly on the milk vendor at the end of the back counter. “A lot of the little kids will sign up for it just so they can have their name on the sheet,” said Sprowson. “They know they can’t eat 28 hot dogs, but they love to do it anyways.” A strong advocate of the Jack’s tradition, Durkan himself has of course competed in the contest.
Durkan is of fairly small stature, but his vibrant red dread locks always make him stand out in a room. “I competed in the hotdog eating contest about a year ago,” he said. “Actually there’s a Beacon article about it still kicking around somewhere.” Durkan wasn’t shy to admit that he didn’t eat as many as he thought he would, however. “Well I only ate about ten, but it was good enough to get second place for that month,” he noted. Ten hotdogs, however, still has to be a feat as Durkan described the grueling process. “The process was awful; I ate the first few too quick. Unfortunately, It was also busy so I wasn’t able to get the refills I needed early on,” he explained. “I was on a bit of a ramen diet at the time though, so my stomach wasn’t nearly as stretched as I wished.” Though Durken did have to pay for those hotdogs, at just over $1.00 a hotdog, it’s never too pricey. On the day the hot dog stand celebrates its 100 year anniversary, prices will be even cheaper. “When we do hit the 100 year mark, we’ll be selling our hot dogs at the original prices when Jack’s opened,” said Bogel. “It was five cents a hot dog and seven for two.” The Test of Time Bogel also joked that she’ll be sure to take a day off when the anniversary comes. There is no doubt that the staff is proud of this feat though, as the restaurant has seen a lot through its long existence. “We’ve stood the test of time,” Bogel proudly boasted. “Jack’s has stayed in the same family all along; we still buy our potatoes from the same farm, and that grill’s still here.” Jack’s indeed has stood the test of time as it has gone through many hardships. Since Jack Levano’s opened the stand in 1917, the business kept strong through the roaring twenties, the Great Depression ,World War II, the economic booms of the 50’s and 60’s, the fuel crisis of the 70’s, and the economic hardships of the 80’s and 90’s (jack’shotdogstand.com). While there seem to be several reasons explaining the stand’s log time sustenance, the answer for long-time customer Sylvester is a simple one. “It’s fit for a king,” he said happily pointing at the same phrase painted in the glass window that’s in front of the store. “Since I can remember people have been coming for the free food, but they always stay for the free entertainment.” This seemed like an appropriate final word on the matter for Sylvester, as he happily dove into the plate of fries and ketchup he’s been eating since he was a kid afterward.
theonlinebeacon.com
Equestrian Club plans semester
Photo by Takeya Lee/Beacon Staff
Junior Morgan Nankivell, along with club advisor Christy Vlatch, plan with other students. Equestrian Club is one of the two newest clubs on campus.
Cable television has literally gone to the dogs LOS ANGELES, CA (AP) Filmmakers are calling DogTV a new breed of television - an eight - hour block of on-demand cable TV programming designed to keep your dog relaxed, stimulated and entertained while you are at work. To get the right footage, cameramen got on their knees and shot low and long. ``I shot from the point of view of the dog,’’ said Gilad Neumann, chief executive officer of DogTV. In production, they had to mute colors, alter sound and add music specially written for dogs. One million subscribers with two cable companies have access to DogTV in San Diego. It is doing so well that parent company PTV Media plans to offer it across America in the next several months, Neumann said. He also says it will cost about $4.99 a month. If you figure more than 46 million U.S. households have dogs (according to the American Pet Products Association) and 97 percent of U.S. homes have televisions, the future looks promising. For years, pet owners have been leaving a television or radio on when they go out so their pets have company, said Dr. Nick Dodman, director of the Animal Behavior Clinic in Department of Clinical Sciences at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in Massachusetts.
But Dodman said that according to research on the canine brain, with analog television, dogs could only see a flickering screen. New technologies like digital TV, high-definition cameras, and enhanced production have changed the way dogs perceive the images, while big screens allow them to see from anywhere in a room, Neumann said. Do dogs really understand what they’re watching? Dodman said research is ongoing, but it appears that dogs not only recognize other dogs on TV, they may even respond differently to their own breed. They definitely recognize sounds, though, whether it’s barking or sirens, and audio on DogTV has been tailored accordingly. Because high frequency sounds can be very irritating to dogs, they’ve been removed. And music is written and tailored for their hearing, though it sounds like elevator music to humans. Based on dog sleeping pattern studies, programmers alternate footage and soundtracks designed for stimulation, relaxation and exposure throughout the eight hours. Exposure is designed to acquaint dogs with things they will see each day. ``There are studies that show when young puppies are exposed to video images of other dogs, it acts as a form of socialization,’’ Dodman said.
Sights and sounds during this part of the programming expose the animals to things like traffic, babies, other pets and doorbells. Relaxation segments feature sleeping dogs and nature scenes - like the slugs - accompanied by dog lullabies. Stimulation includes dogs running, playing and surfing, animation and a lot of panting. The idea behind this part of DogTV is to get a dog moving, even if it is home alone. Shows are “refreshed’’ daily for variety. The Escondido Humane Society, on the outskirts of San Diego County, isn’t wired for cable yet, but DogTV offered to give them relaxation-only test videos. “We handle 5,000 animals a year. We get high-energy, big dogs that need to calm down. When we plugged it in, we saw almost immediate results,’’ said development director Jean LooRusso. If an extremely active dog is confined for long periods of time, a chemical imbalance can occur and it can go kennel crazy, LooRusso said. You can prevent that with DogTV and 20-minute walks twice a day, she said. Every dog at the shelter can’t see a TV, but they are all within hearing distance and that’s helping too, Loo-Russo said. Too bad they can’t control the remote.
For Fun
Thursday, April 19, 2012
This Week in MCLA History
15
Horoscopes
Aries: March 21-April 19 You are feeling excited and enthusiastic over a new person or project, and it’s contagious! Your amazing energy keeps those around you alive and engaged with whatever’s going on. Taurus: April 20-May 20 You may panic when you remember something big today, but don’t just zip online and buy whatever it is you think you need. Either borrow it or go without for a bit longer.
April 18, 1996
The Dean of Students Scott Kalicki formed an organization to improve the Amsler Campus Center and Hoosac Harbor. The board was made up of a select group of students, faculty and staff, with the goal of making the buildings more functional centers for student activities. Sophomore Dave Nickerson said that there was really no center or common area for students. Some of the proposals included improvements for sound systems, lighting installations, and new drapes. It was suggested then that Sullivan Lounge have track lights so that lighting can be changed from gallery lighting for art exhibits to stage lighting performances.
Gemini: May 21-June 21 Your people are all on your side again -- any little fractures should have healed by now. One of them needs to give you some advice, though neither of you may recognize it as such until tomorrow or the next day. Cancer: June 22-July22 Try not to overreact today -though that might be easier said than done! Your emotions are closer to the edge than usual, and that could mean that you need to just remove yourself from the fray.
April 20, 2000 Date rape survivor, Katie Koestner gave a speech about her detailed account of her rape at the college of William and Mary. She is quoted saying she could share her story 1,000 times but if one man could stand before his peers and say, “rape is bad,” that one voice could be stronger than hers. When she first told her peers her story, no one believed her. Over 250 people signed a petition stating that she lied. In the early 90’s, “rapists were men lurking in dark alleys, not the man you just had dinner with,” she said. “Now, it has been found that in 84 percent of all rape cases, the rapist is someone the victim knows.”
Leo: July 23-August 22 You are learning something new today -- maybe something important, maybe something small and silly, but something fascinating! Your great mental energy makes it easy to absorb it all.
Courtesy of www.puzzles.ca/wordsearch.html
Comic by Aurora Cooper
theonlinebeacon.com
To view this and other comics online, visit us at theonlinebeacon.com
Virgo: August 23-Sept. 22 You may rediscover an old sense of purpose -- that thing you thought you had lost? Now is the time to regroup and push yourself to new heights. When you’re determined, it can all come together. Libra: Sept. 23-Oct. 22 You are more involved with people today in almost every way -- so spread the love around! Your sweetie (or crush) deserves some attention, of course, but not all of it. Be as generous as you can. Scorpio: Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Watch your health today! Of course, that’s great advice on most days, but your head is in the right space to make positive lifestyle adjustments today,. Sagittarius: Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Even if you have no patience for video games or other supposedly fun distractions, give one a try today. Your ferocious energy needs competition, but you can’t be bothered with a real life-ordeath struggle just yet. Capricorn: Dec. 22-Jan. 19 You need to deal with some issues related to stability and permanence today -- maybe you’re craving it, or maybe you need to settle something once and for all. You can pull it off! Aquarius: Jan. 20-Feb. 18 You are feeling a bit less chill than usual, but that doesn’t matter -- you can still handle your social life with your usual good graces. In fact, if you keep it low-key, things should be great! Pisces: Feb. 19-March 20 A thick fog settles in, metaphorically speaking, and you may as well hole up where you are -there’s no cutting through this one! The good news is it offers time for quiet reflection. Horoscopes courtesy of Yahoo.com
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Thursday, april 19, 2012
Photo essay
theonlinebeacon.com
Students line up outside Venable Gym to see Think Big, Four Year Strong, and Mayday Parade perform at this year’s Spring Concert, sponsored by SAC.
Spring Concert
Sponsored by the Student Activities Council (SAC)
Featuring headliners
Four Year Strong and
Mayday Parade Opening act: Think Big
Derek Sanders, lead singer of Mayday Parade, grips the microphone.
Alan Day of Four Year Strong looks into the crowd.
Students in the front row look toward the stage erected in Venable Gym.
Four Year Strong rocks out for a crowded Venable Gym on Monday night amidst the flashing neon lights.