The Hunger Games makes hearts pound, columnist says
Editor urges students to fight for right to read banned books
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The Mooring M ast Pacific Lutheran University
MARCH 23, 2012
WWW.PLU.EDU/MAST
VOLUME 88 NO. 16
Students justify theft New House with cost of meal plans bill overhauls state colleges Amelia Heath COPY EDITOR
heatham@plu.edu
Public colleges in Washington state are about to undergo major changes. In a press release issued March 6, the Washington state House of Representatives announced it passed House Bill 2483, a bill which will “completely overhaul” the management of the state’s higher education system. The bill was originally sponsored by representatives Larry Seaquist (D-Gig Harbor), Larry Haler (R-Richland), Hans Zeiger (R-Puyallup) and Troy Kelley (R-Tacoma) in response to “years of concern” by the Washington state business community. The bill will affect six fouryear public universities: the University of Washington, Washington State University, Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, Western Washington University and Evergreen State College. Thirty-four community and technical colleges will also be affected. The institutions affected will undergo “major expansion,” including building new institutions, campuses, branches or centers, or conversion of existing campuses, branches or centers. The house voted 72-26 in
favor of the bill. Under House Bill 2483, a 10-member “Student Achievement Council” will develop a 10-year plan for the state’s higher education system. The council will consist of members of the higher education institutions affected, workforce training, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and five governorappointed citizen members, including one student member. The 10-year plan will be submitted to the state governor and legislature by Dec. 1 and updated every two years. According to the bill document, the 10-year plan created by the student achievement council will “[increase] educational attainment, including improving student transitions from secondary to postsecondary education and training and between and among postsecondary institutions.” The bill cites studies indicating “successful participation in higher education” by residents of Washington state is the lowest in the nation. According to the bill, by increasing educational attainment, the legislature hopes to develop citizens “more capable of critical SEE HR BILL PAGE 4
PHOTO BY JACK SORENSEN
Junior Kelli Peterson swipes a customers card in Old Main market, a daily occurrence for any market employee. There have been reports of market employees in the past who have faked swiping friend’s cards in an attempt to let them go without paying. “I know that that has happened in the past and we have had to let those people go,” A.M. lead Cora Stoneham said. FOR MORE ON THIS STORY, SEE PAGES 8-9.
Faculty, fatherhood go hand-in-hand PLU professors receive paternity, maternity leave in leiu of paid vacation Nick Neely NEEWS REPORTER
neelyna@plu.edu
The only difference between paternity and maternity leave at Pacific Lutheran University is the letter it starts with. Paternity leave falls
under the Federal Medical Leave Act passed by Congress in 1993, employment specialist Laura Fuhrman said. This act protects all workers’ jobs during an unpaid paternity leave. PLU, however pays for its faculty’s paternity leave, Fuhrman said.
A&E pp. 5-7 HERmonic and PLUtonic are confidant, cheeky and cohesive, columnist says.
“I’d say we’re more generous,” Human Resources Director Teri Philips said. Philips said PLU employees are split into three categories: professors or faculty, staff and administration. Staff and administration receive paid vacation days, which they can use during their maternity or
paternity leave to receive pay. Faculty members are not given paid vacation days and thus cannot use this strategy to be paid for their leave. “You can’t have a faculty member take a two-week vacation to Hawaii in the middle of the semester … that’s the nature of the work
they do,” Philips said. Federal law requires 480 working hours leave for new fathers. This usually equates to a term of 12 weeks. Fuhrman said maternity leave lasts for the same amount of time. Employees do not have SEE PATERNITY PAGE 3
NEWS pp. 1-4
FOCUS pp. 8-9
OPINION pp. 10-11
SPORTS pp. 13-16
When studying abroad, students are encouraged to pack common sense to ensure a safe journey.
Theft rates at UC rise as students respond to increased prices in Market and Commons.
Guest columnist describes hotspots for an Oregon spring break, including Hollywood movie sets.
Women’s Ultimate team kicks off season with aspirations toward second stint at nationals.
2 NEWS
THE MOORING MAST
weather forecast FRIDAY
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BRIEFS Building alarm tests scheduled over break
Spring break will be used as a chance to double check the fire alarms around campus. The University Center, Columbia Center, Names Fitness Center, Mary Baker Russel Music Building, Park Avenue House and Facilities Management building are scheduled for alarm testing Tuesday and Wednesday. Students on campus over spring break should expect loud noises in the area.
School of Business offers scholarship for transfers Business transfer students to Pacific Lutheran University now have an opportunity to receive the Saugen Business Scholarship. Five students will be awarded the $17,000 scholarship. Endowed by Doug Saugen, the scholarship will help
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transfer students make the adjustment to PLU. “It enables them to experience the quality of a PLU education without worrying about cost,” Dean of the School of Business James Brock said. “It’s just a fabulous icing on the cake.” To qualify, applicants must have a 3.3 GPA or higher and complete necessary applications. Finalists who applied for next year’s scholarships will be notified March 23.
Court returns stolen Nazi art to family The issue of Nazi stolen art was the core topic of PLU’s annual Holocaust Conference this year. The keynote speaker, Northwestern University’s Chair of Holocaust Studies Peter Hayes, focused on resitution to Jewish populations in his lecture. In recent news, German courts ordered the return of 4,529 rare posters to Peter Sachs March 16 that were
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The Mooring Mast editor-in-chief KCNS general manager LASR general manager The Matrix co-editors Saxifrage co-editors
stolen by Nazis during World War II. The posters belonged to Sachs’ father, a Holocaust survivor who is said to have had close to 12,500 of these posters stolen. Sachs’ legal battle began in 2005, when he became aware of a display of the posters at the German Historical Museum in Berlin, according to an article by BBC News. After seven years in court, Berlin’s Federal Court of Justice ordered U.S. citizen Peter Sachs the rightful owner of the pieces. As quoted in the BBC article, the judges said the museum keeping the posters “would perpetuate Nazi injustice.”
Kansas, to await charges, according to an article by the Washington Post. Bales’ lawyer said Bales did not confess to the shootings, according to a report by the Associated Press. Bales’ wife, Karen, said in a statement her family and in-laws are “profoundly sad,” according to the Associated Press, calling what she has seen and read in news reports “completely out of character of the man I know and admire.”
Pentagon identifies accused soldier in Afghan massacre
Jason Russell, the director of the Kony 2012 video that drew audiences over the world, was taken to a medical facility Thursday morning. Invisible Children’s CEO Ben Keesey cites “exhaustion, dehydration and malnutrition” for Russell’s incident, according to a report by MSNBC. Witnesses said they saw Russell acting strangely, partially dressed and darting through traffic. After several
The Pentagon identified the United States soldier accused of killing 16 Afghan citizens outside of his Kandahar base as Staff Sgt. Robert Bales. A father of two, the 38-year-old soldier has been transported to a prison at Fort Leavenworth,
Director of viral Kony video checks in to hospital
The Mooring Mast The Mooring Mast adheres to the Society of Professional Journalists’ code of ethics, which includes the guidelines to “seek truth and report it,” “minimize harm,” “act independently” and “be accountable.” The Mooring Mast also has taken the TAO of Journalism pledge, which promises our readers we will be transparent about who we are, accountable for our mistakes and open to other points of view. The views expressed in the editorials, columns and advertisements do not necessarily represent those of the PLU administration, faculty, students or The Mooring Mast staff.
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Court finds Rutgers student guilty for video of roommate Dharun Ravi, the former Rutgers University student accused of broadcasting his roommate having sex with another man in 2010, was found guilty of 15 charges last week. According to a New York Times article, Ravi used his webcam to broadcast a video to his fellow Rutgers classmates of his roommate, Tyler Clementi, and another man having sex. Ravi will serve up to 10 years in prison with the possibility of being deported to his native India. Briefs compiled by guest writer Amanda Brasgalla
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phone calls by witnesses, police detained Russell and brought him to a hospital. Russell’s wife, Danica, claimed the stress due to the surge in popularity of the Kony 2012 video lead to Russell’s breakdown.
Heather Perry mast@plu.edu
BUSINESS & ADVERTISING MANAGER
NEWS & FOCUS REPORTER Nick Neely
NEWS EDITOR
mastads@plu.edu
donlincl@plu.edu
PHOTO EDITOR
A&E REPORTERS Alex Domine Kelsey Hilmes
A&E EDITOR
biggsec@plu.edu
natwicmk@plu.edu
ONLINE EDITOR
FOCUS EDITOR
waloda@plu.edu
Courtney Donlin
Melissa Natwick
Jack Sorensen sorensjc@plu.edu
OPINION EDITOR
Jessica Trondsen trondsjk@plu.edu
SPORTS EDITOR
Justin Buchanan buchanjj@plu.edu
Alexis Briggs
Emily Biggs
SPORTS REPORTERS Sam Horn Nathan Shoup
Daniel Drake
OPINION COLUMNISTS Thomas Haines Paula McFadden
COPY EDITORS
PHOTOGRAPHERS Shelby Daly Emily Litterer Ben Quinn Igor Strupinskiy
Alison Haywood haywooaj@plu.edu
Amelia Heath
heatham@plu.edu
ADVISER
Joanne Lisosky
CARTOONIST Ralph Mallare
MARCH 23, 2012
NEWS 3
THE MOORING MAST
Lutes lop off luscious locks
TOP: Senior Alex Smith checks her phone while getting her head shaved during the annual Save It or Shave It fundraiser Friday. All proceeds from the event will go to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital’s Free Care Fund to provide treatment for children of low-income families. Photo by Ben Quinn. ABOVE LEFT: Senior Nicole Bayard is the first person get her head shaved. Photo by Emily Litterer. ABOVE RIGHT: Sophomore Nathan Youmans shaves Smith’s head. Smith said shaving her head was on her “bucket list.” Photo by Ben Quinn.
PATERNITY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 to take off all 480 hours at once. This enables them to ease back in to working by spending fewer paternity leave hours each consecutive week, Fuhrman said. Philips said when a faculty member takes leave, it makes a more notable absence to students. “Generally, what students would see is a full replacement for the full semester,” Fuhrman said.
When a faculty member applies for paternity leave, he can also request it be extended. That faculty member will likely not teach classes but still remain on campus to carry out other duties, Philips said. Fuhrman said these duties include scholarly research, committee work and advising. To be eligible for paternity leave, the father needs to
have worked at his current place of employment for one year and have worked at least 1,250 hours within that year. This equates to just more than 20 hours a week, Fuhrman said. “There’s a fair number of people who take it [paternity leave],” Fuhrman said. Under the FMLA, a form of paternity leave is also offered to employees who adopt a child. This kind of leave is
called “child bonding leave” and has the same guidelines, Fuhrman said. Student employees’ jobs are not protected by the FMLA act. In the case a student wants time off work for maternity or paternity reasons, Philips said, “I would encourage students to work with their individual supervisors to see if something could be worked out.”
For more information on paternity, maternity and child bonding leave, visit www.plu.edu/humanresources or stop by the Human Resources office.
To be eligible for paternity leave, the father needs to have worked at his current place of employment for one year and have worked at least 1,250 hours within that year.
4 NEWS
THE MOORING MAST
MARCH 23, 2012
Studying abroad requires caution Students are ‘never 100 percent alone’ when studying abroad, short-term study away manager says.
Amanda Brasgalla GUEST WRITER
brasgaal@plu.edu
Pacific Lutheran students interested in traveling abroad in the 2012-2013 school year look forward to worldly experiences and adventure. Yet, when studying away, they should also consider their safety. Three United States college students died during study away programs in 2011. In March 2011, San Diego State University student Austin Bice died while studying business in Madrid. After leaving a club, he disappeared and was found in a Manzaneres River in Spain. According to a CBS report, no foul play was suspected, but authorities state alcohol was involved. Six months later, University of Iowa student Thomas Plotkin fell from a ridge while studying away in India. According to a Huffington Post article, Plotkin went missing in September in Lucknow, India after twisting his ankle and falling into the Gori River. His body has yet to be found. Alexander J. Reinis, a student at Trinity University
HR BILL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 thinking, more aware of their world and its diversity, more creative in their problemsolving, and more successful in addressing social and
economic challenges of the future in an informed and thoughtful way.” “Thousands of our citizens need a degree or a certificate
“Students should plan ahead and be responsible for their needs.” Megan Grover
Wang Center short-term study away manager
in Texas, died while studying in London in November 2011 due to bacterial meningitis, according to the San Antonio Express News. These incidents are unusual, but thinking of safety while on a trip helps students maintain their oncein-a-lifetime experience. “There are so many great programs, but the best thing for a student studying abroad is to watch for everything and use common sense,” Wang Center shortterm study away manager Megan Grover said. Grover assists faculty members in planning study away programs. She has encountered several incidents in programs over the years, but never any as serious as death. Grover said the most common problems occur with traffic accidents and prescription medications. “Students should plan ahead and be responsible for their needs,” Grover to get a better job or start a new career,” Seaquist said in the press release. “Today we have taken a major step toward making sure all our citizens can get the education they need.”
said. “But students should know that they are never 100 percent alone.” On all PLU trips, faculty members join students and remain as resources in times of need. If traveling on a PLU program, the Wang Center sets up other contacts to watch out for students. Junior Hayley Rea knows this advice well. While studying away for fall semester 2011 in France, Rea recalls being followed by a strange man after leaving the Metro. Rea had no problem conversing in French, but thought it best to call for help. “I called my host mom, and she yelled at him to go away,” Rea said. “It’s better to travel in pairs.” Rea’s other advice for students was to “know where you’re going before leaving and be conscious of your surroundings.” Sophomore Ally Stillwell said she will take this advice into consideration when she The bill also focuses on the state economy. The bill cites education as “perhaps the most important engine of economic growth and individual and financial health.”
studies away in the future. “I would take the precaution as much here as there,” Stillwell said. Hoping to study in Namibia or Germany, Stillwell will research the area beforehand to prepare for any situations. She said she does not want to risk missing fun experiences abroad because of issues over safety. In case of emergencies, the Wang Center provides resources for students in difficult situations. For all PLU students traveling abroad, the Wang Center sets up students with EIIA insurance. The EIIA program is a comprehensive insurance that protects and reimburses students in almost any emergency. Along with coverage, its services include translation services, coordinating payments and paperwork. “The Wang Center’s top priority is student/faculty safety,” Grover said. Seaquist also said he was pleased with the cooperation of both parties in the creation of this legislation. “Working closely with the governor, I found broad agreement with our university
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A&E 5
THE MOORING MAST
'The Hunger Games' puts film critic on edge of his seat review Alex Domine A&E COLUMNIST
domineac@plu.edu
My heart rate pulsed rapidly, I started to sweat and I wouldn’t be surprised if my eyes dialated when I watched the premiere of The Hunger Games. The movie is based on the first novel in a young adult trilogy by Suzanne Collins. The Hunger Games is set in a post-apocalyptic world. There are 12 districts where children between the ages of 12 and 18 are chosen from each to be “tributes” required to participate in The Hunger Games. A 13th district, earlier obliterated by the Capitol which controls the games, does not participate. The film was abundant with scenes stressful to watch. The 24 children fight to the death like gladiators in the jungle until a victor is standing. The prize: fame and riches
for their hungry family and resources for their district. The cinematography throughout the film falls somewhere within the marriage of The Blair Witch Project and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The juxtaposition between the outrageous personalities clad with neon shades and the macabre interpretation of the Olympics made me uncomfortable from the opening scene. That discomfort in tandem with the imagery of children slaughtering each other was a cardio experience. Academy Award nominee Jennifer Lawrence played the female lead, Katniss Everdeen. Lawrence gracefully marched the line between fierce and deadpan. Her expressionless portrayal was just enough to give me a good idea of Katniss’s life of hardship. Josh Hutcherson played Peeta, the romantic male lead in this installment of the trilogy. Too often do teen heartthrobs bank on pretty eyes and a sharp jawline for good reviews.
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Hutcherson surprised me. He brought the right amount of schmooze and charm to make the audience believe that he would give you his last loaf of bread. The lack of context in the movie, however, was disappointing. You need to pay acute attention to get the appropriate background knowledge. It was obvious the
filmmakers were relying on the audience to have read the book. I wouldn’t have known that asking for food meant a greater chance of being chosen as a tribute if I didn’t catch the fleeting three seconds when Katniss mentioned it. Stanley Tucci as the outrageous talk show host, Caesar, was brilliant. I’d expect nothing less from Tucci. Woody Harelson was cast well as the perpetually intoxicated Haymitch. His entrance was reminiscent of Billy Ray Cyrus at a saloon. Lenny Kravitz proved skeptics wrong by playing compassion well as Cinna. The Hunger Games was more taxing on my emotions than I expected it would be, which is a good thing. I was all too familiar with the edge of my seat while watching the film, and I admittedly had to shut my eyes for some scenes. I may have even shed half a tear. If I walk out of a movie feeling like I just crossed the finish line of the Tour de France, I’m satisified.
PHOTO BY BEN QUINN
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Audience votes in harmony The 12-member band The House Cats woos PLU students during Battle of the Bands, earning themselves a spot at LollaPLUza and a recording with LASR.
Alison Haywood COPY EDITOR
haywooaj@plu.edu
Six student groups broke the hard rock stereotypes associated with Battle of the Bands with their various indierelated genres Wednesday at 8 p.m. in the CAVE. The House Cats won over Pacific Lutheran students with indie/folk/rock tunes. The band consists of 12 Pacific Lutheran students playing a variety of instruments including the acoustic guitar, violin, harmonica and egg shakers. Six bands competed for the right to perform at the annual ASPLU-sponsored music festival LollaPLUza, as well as get a recording with student radio station LASR and a spot on one of its shows. Bands performed two songs, one original and one cover, in sets lasting about 10 minutes. Roughly 100 people were in the audience, consisting mostly of PLU students and other bands. ASPLU entertainment chair sophomore Emily Bishop and LASR General Manager senior Katy Allen-Schmid organized PLU’s second annual Battle
of the Bands. Bishop said the contest was a bit different this year than last year in that only one member of each band had to be a PLU student, unlike last year in which all members did. LASR promotions director first-year Olivia Ash and AllenSchmid attended the show to promote LASR and encourage musicians to make submissions for LASR’s upcoming student CD. The deadline is April 15. The House Cats formed in January, and the sound check before Battle of the Bands was their first time performing with all 12 current members, said guitarist first-year Jakob Maier. “I think we have a chance of winning, but we’re pretty much here to have fun,” said bass guitarist first-year Nate Schoen before the performance. The House Cats’ set consisted of “The Honest Truth” by Typhoon and an original composition by Maier called “Miss You.” Maier said they chose to cover “The Honest Truth” because it features a 16-piece band. “If we play at LollaPLUza, we’ll be getting so crazy. We’re going to be turning Garfield Street into a tiger,” said Schoen. “Get it? Garfield the cat?”
6 A&E
THE MOORING MAST
MARCH 23, 2012
PLUtonic member shares character of PLU's cappella groups
PLUtonic
BEHIND THE SCENES
HERmonic
PHOTOS BY IGOR STRUPINSKIY
ABOVE: HERmonic members sophomore Charlie Herrmann, junior Erin White, junior Marina Pitassi and junior Gina Sabia perform "King of Anything" by Sara Bareilles. RIGHT: PLUtonic members junior John Marzano, senior Alex Domine, first-year Chris Glessman, senior Tyler Morse, senior Daniel Gilbertson and sophomore Adam Johnson sing "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye. BELOW: Pacific Lutheran students give a standing ovation for the a cappella groups' performance Friday at Lagerquist Hall.
Alex Domine A&E COLUMNIST
domineac@plu.edu
Three years ago, you would have read my first column in the Mast calling PLUtonic and HERmonic out for their “cheeky confidence.” The PLUtonic president at the time reacted adversely, so the thought of writing a column three years later as a veteran of the group was unthinkable at the time. HERmonic is the 13-member all-female a cappella group at Pacific Lutheran University. PLUtonic is their 14-member male counterpart. Our voices echoed in Lagerquist Concert Hall Friday when we performed two separate concerts.
I stand by my autonomy that our groups are confident and especially cheeky. As a critic, that comment would be directed towards stage presence. As an insider, it is a testament to the cohesion that makes the group not so much about performing. The audience sees PLUtonic and HERmonic on stage goofing off while singing pretty chords. The side the audience does not see is the people who do the same thing any family with prepubescent siblings would do. We argue, call each other names and disagree. Despite all of this, there is a sense of community between PLUtonic and HERmonic that is understated even among
The magic comes from our low-pressure, high-energy dynamic.
its members. Our camaraderie doesn’t come from a perfect performance. Singing pop music is not as fear-inducing as singing opera or musical theater, where everything from technique to timing must be executed meticulously. A pop singer can get away with making a tragic voice crack sound like a passionate Aretha-esque howl. It is our relationship with each other that fosters the vibrant stage presence our audiences expect. Our pre-performance pep talks rarely include intensive warm-ups. We do energizers, talk about why we are in the group and play violent games. The magic comes from our low-pressure, high-energy
dynamic. It gives way for more personal relationships. Let’s face it, a cappella music doesn’t attract music buffs. Singing the latest Jason Derulo doesn’t deliver a cutting edge musical experience. I see a different assortment of personalities in the audience at a PLUtonic concert compared to a choir concert or opera. People come to a cappella concerts to see us have fun. I think both groups could take the stage and improvise a song littered with dissonance and it would still be amusing. If we look like we know what we’re doing, it’s all in the spirit of having fun. I guess “cheeky confidence” isn’t such a bad thing.
MARCH 23, 2012
A&E 7
THE MOORING MAST
Female scientist experiments with love in unconventional chick flick Critic compliments film for great main actors, weak supporting roles review Alison Haywood COPY EDITOR
haywooaj@plu.edu
Actress Miranda Kent proves in the film Losing Control that you don’t need to be a ditsy blonde to make a good romantic comedy. It’s rare to see a Hollywood rom com with a complex plot and distinctive characters, which is why it’s no surprise that Losing Control comes from an independent film company. Little-known actress Miranda Kent from Campus Ladies and In & Out plays Sam, the lead character who is not the stereotypical ditsy blonde pursuing hookups with the hunky guy next door, but rather a Harvard grad student putting her long-term lover second to a series of scientific experiments. When Sam’s boyfriend Ben, played by Reid Scott from The Big C and All My Children proposes marriage, she is unable to accept before establishing empirical proof that he is indeed her true love. What follows is a series of wacky dates with different
men while she struggles to find a “control group” with which to compare Ben. But when Ben accepts a fellowship to research in China, it may be too late for Sam to get him back. Paralleling this plot is Sam’s struggle to reproduce a scientific experiment she has been working on for the past four years, when she discovered a protein that could prevent genetic disorders by killing Y-chromosomes. She is constantly ditching lovers to run back to the lab and at one point actually brings a date to the workplace, an event that ends disastrously. The two plots arrive at the end in a surprise twist that ties up all the loose ends and makes sense of seeminglyirrelevant details. Uncharacteristic of a typical chick flick, I thought the added drama and suspense made the film more interesting. The pacing was good overall and kept me engaged, but the ending was a tad abrupt as the film lasted only
Although the cast of Losing Control was mostly unknown, the acting was spot-on.
90 minutes. Although the cast of Losing Control was mostly unknown, the acting was spot-on. Sam was realistic and relatable despite her neurotic tendencies and supporting roles were quirky and distinct. I did not, however, like the one-dimensional nature of the “other lovers,” most of whom served merely as placeholders and contrasts to Ben. Their exaggerated personalities made them unbelievable, albeit hilarious. The poorest executed contrast was Sam’s best friend Leslie, played by Kathleen Robertson from Scary Movie and Beverly Hills 90210. Although the laid-back, promiscuous woman was meant to serve as a foil to neurotic and uptight Sam, there was nothing to suggest how these polar opposites could have become friends, and we learned nothing about her character. I was pleased to see a strong, smart female scientist in the lead role, loosely modeled after writer and director Valerie Weiss and her own experience as a Harvard PhD candidate before she became a filmmaker. My sense of social justice was disappointed, however, to see a clear use of stereotypes later in the film with Sam’s stingy Jewish parents and her Chinese lab assistant. One of the film’s greatest
PHOTO COURTESY OF HOUSE LIGHTS MEDIA
highlights was the original soundtrack, composed by John Swihart. The catchy, folksy music reminded me of the soundtracks to Juno or Amélie and the down-toearth feel helped balance Sam’s neurotic nature. The film contained great acting, plot and soundtrack.
However, the supporting roles made the film its weakest link. For that, I give this film four stars.
Losing Control will play for one week at The Grand Cinema in Tacoma starting March 30.
Saxifrage reaches out to community
Art gallery opens at NPCC to feature PLU students' art Kelsey Hilmes GUEST WRITER
hilmeskl@plu.edu
Community members and Pacific Lutheran students can support student art by looking no further than a cup of coffee on Garfield Street. An art show opened at Northern Pacific Coffee Co. March 3, featuring the work of PLU students. The pieces were selected from submissions for Saxifrage 38. According to the Saxifrage website, Saxifrage is PLU’s premier literary and art magazine, featuring a variety of work by students, staff and alumni. Saxifrage is released once a year and accepts submissions from fall into early spring. Typically, Saxifrage receives about 300-400 submissions for each issue. Co-editors of Saxifrage, senior Jen Jepsen and sophomore Sam Hosman, chose the pieces from the year’s early submissions. Jepsen and Hosman had been planning on doing the art show since fall semester to increase community
involvement as part of Saxifrage’s mission statement, but this is the first time Saxifrage has teamed up with NPCC for an art show. “We’d like the art show to continue in the future,” Hosman said. “I think it’d be a good legacy to lead.” Jepsen said the owner of NPCC was excited to feature student artwork. Kevin Knodell, recent PLU alumnus, was also instrumental in planning the art show, working as a liaison between Saxifrage and NPCC. The art show displays three poems, nine photos and one print by PLU students. The photographs explore subjects varying from Egypt, London and France, to the freeway from the Chihuly glass bridge. “It is very special to me, knowing that everyone will have an equal chance to enjoy the pieces that we worked so hard to create,” said junior Krista Fredricks, whose image “Light Streaks” was selected for the art show. Art shows don't typically feature poetry, which provided a unique opportunity to the
PHOTO BY JACK SORENSEN
Alumnus Kyle Bielen and Kristi Krabbenhoft sit in front of photographs part of the art show started by Saxifrage at NPCC Wednesday. Saxifrage opened the show March 3 and will be displayed for the next couple months
three poets whose work was selected. One poem, “Navy,” by senior Clayton Haselwood, is printed on blue and beige cardstock to transfer it to an aesthetic piece as well. For many of the artists, having their piece in a show is a new experience. “I was honored to have my piece, ‘Vein of Nature,’ which is a close-up photograph of a leaf with all the veins
apparent through its structure, presented to the PLU student body,” first-year Aubrey Frimoth said. Artists who had experience submitting their art to shows before were still excited to see their work in NPCC. Senior Joseph Flood, for example, had a few pieces in the student art exhibition in the fall and was contacted by Saxifrage editors for submissions.
“I've had some friends who don't do stuff like art shows comment that they had seen my piece at NPCC,” Flood said. “So it does help with exposure.” The show also provides students with an opportunity to grow as artists, receive critique and reach the community. “The act of having a gallery at NPCC also shows the wonderful generosity that the community gives to PLU students,” Fredricks said. The pieces showcased at NPCC are also available for purchase to anyone interested in supporting PLU artists. “At the least it is exciting for me and gets people thinking and feeling,” Flood said. “Hopefully it will lead to something more, like a sale or commission.” Jepsen and Hosman anticipate the art show will be up for at least a couple of months. The pieces can be viewed during NPCC’s regular hours. The works will also be printed in Saxifrage 38, which will be released at the end of May.
8 FOCUS
THE MOORING MAST
PHOTOS BY JACK SORENSEN
TOP: The busiest hours in Old Main Market at Pacific Lutheran University, typically around 5 p.m. through the evening, are the hours when most thefts occur, said Director of Dining and Culinary Services Erin McGinnis. While catching a student in the act is infrequent, McGinnis said unexplained budget margins at the end of every month indicate more theft than what OMM workers are able to document. ABOVE RIGHT: Junior Kelli Peterson, OMM worker, said she is well aware theft occurs on a daily basis. OMM student employees are instructed to inform an adult shift lead rather than confront the theives — whom are also their peers, Peterson said. ABOVE: Theft and financial malpractice is not isolated to student shoppers, McGinnis said. She said there have been incidents in the past of OMM workers not charging their friends for food. RIGHT: By McGinnis’ definitions, students who leave the University Center “all-you-care-toeat” dinners with pieces of fruit or other food items in containers such as Tupperware are just as guilty of stealing as students who take items from shelves in OMM. But many students, like first-year Jessica Dudley, said the $10.75 dinner swipes — $15 for students without a dining plan — are overpriced and most students would have to take food home to consume over $10 worth.
PLUSTUDENTS SWIPEWITH
FOCUS 9
T / MARCH 23, 2012
OUT
Emily Biggs PHOTO EDITOR
biggsec@plu.edu
SWIPING
Five finger discounts with students are on the rise as prices and irritation increase in the University Center. The never-ending cycle of theft is making the job difficult for Director of Dining and Culinary Services Erin McGinnis. Theft results in price increases, which prompt higher rates of theft, plaguing students and faculty as both search for alternatives in the struggle against stealing. McGinnis said she stands firmly in the opinion that stealing is wrong, no matter the situation. “Theft is theft whether it is here, or at a mall, or at a grocery store,” McGinnis said. “It saddens me that with our students and the caliber of our students this is a prevalent issue.” Cora Stoneham, morning shift lead at Old Main Market, said she didn’t want to believe students stole from the university, but witnessed it first hand. “I have physically caught a few people,” Stoneham said. “I actually approach them and ask them to pay for their products.” For McGinnis and Stoneham it all comes down to morality. Though one student stealing two bottles of soda from the market is not going to make a significant difference in a multimillion dollar budget, McGinnis said, widespread stealing can make a significant impact in the monthly revenue of OMM and the UC Commons. Dining and Culinary Services performs monthly cross-references between OMM’s revenue and inventory. The money that is not accounted for prompts red flags for McGinnis and other management, so even if workers do not catch thieves in the act, monthly estimates give McGinnis an idea of theft rates. “I understand where people feel entitled and feel like it’s too expensive,” McGinnis said. “But it’s part of the package here. It [not stealing] is part of what you agree to when you come here.” Sophomore Kristina Lapo said she disagrees. “Isn’t making me pay $10 for food that I’m not going to eat $10-worth-of stealing too?” Lapo admitted to stealing cereal a few times from the Commons, but said she does not take it often because she does not remember to bring Tupperware. “It is okay as long as you’re not doing it too often or too much,” Lapo said. “I don’t usually eat $10 worth of food, so when I do take a sandwich or something out like in a Tupperware I feel
pretty justified doing it.” First-year Jessica Dudley said she also forgets her Tupperware — the main reason she does not take food out of the UC. “I have The Light [meal plan],” Dudley said, “because it’s really expensive to have the normal ones.” McGinnis said she did not feel students are pushed into stealing food out of starvation because the “people that we catch stealing are people who are not hurting for money.” The problem lies in the fact that students are unaware of the impact stealing creates, McGinnis said. Though it may come as a surprise to students, stealing from the UC “affects the budget overall at the university,” she added. “Any money that is left over at the end of the year goes back to the general fund of the university,“ McGinnis said. In essence, students are taking money away from student programs and facility improvements with each stolen item. On more than one occasion in her time at Pacific Lutheran University, McGinnis said she has witnessed suspicious behavior by students in the Old Main Market and in the Commons. Recently, McGinnis dealt with cases regarding employees swiping students and guests into ‘all-you-care-to-eat’ dinners whom do not have meal plans. Whether in the market or in the Commons, McGinnis instructs student employees to report suspected theft to shift leaders rather than confront the thieves themselves, allowing shift leaders to wait for an opportunity to ask the suspected students if they were stealing. Sophomore Geena Pfeninger, twoyear Dining and Culinary Services employee, has witnessed a lot of student theft in the Commons. “We all know it is happening and it’s kind of a bummer,” Pfeninger said. “We’re losing a lot of money.” In the last month alone, Pfeninger said three people have been caught trying to swipe in on another student’s card. It is a common practice for a student to swipe in at dinner, walk to the dining area and pass his or her card over the glass for another student to try and use, Pfeninger said. When Stoneham catches a thief, she gathers all of the student’s important information, photocopying their I.D. and totaling up the value of the stolen products. She then hands the info over to student conduct. “After that, we don’t know what happens,” Stoneham said. She said she prefers to handle confrontations herself to avoid putting her student employees in a compromising situation, forcing them to confront a peer, possibly even a friend. “I don’t let any of my students or student workers confront anybody,”
Stoneham added. “I wouldn’t want the student to confront a student.” Stealing is not isolated to student shoppers, however, and shift leads have had some difficulty with OMM employees assisting their friends with stealing from the market. Stoneham said Dining and Culinary Services has had to review issues regarding market employees pretending to ring up friends and letting them walk away without a bill. “I know that that has happened in the past and we have had to let those people go,” Stoneham said. “So far I haven’t had a problem with that on any of my shifts.” First-year Sanne Metz, a barista in OMM since the beginning of the school year, said she has witnessed theft firsthand in the market.
“There’s some issues that we need to work out down there,” Stoneham said. “That’s a newer thing that we’ve just started working on.” McGinnis said theft has not been an issue at Kelley Café or the Hauge Administration Building coffee cart because all of the items are either in enclosed containers or behind the Dining and Culinary Services employee. Stoneham said conversations to reduce theft are constantly in the works, including rearranging the market so those working at the counter can get a better sightline. For students who resort to stealing because they cannot afford food prices at PLU, Stoneham said she tries to offer alternative resources like the Food Bank Ministry for Parkland First Baptist
Have you ever stolen food from Old Main Market or taken food out of the all-you-care-to-eat dinner swipes? Head online to www.plu.edu/mast to take our anonymous poll. “Most of the time we just tell the lead, but student-to-student is kinda awkward,” Metz said. Metz also said thieves commonly take small items located toward the back of the store, such as granola bars. “Things like that people put in their pockets so usually we don’t say anything,” Metz said. “We let the lead know.” Surprisingly, students almost always admit to stealing, Stoneham said. “We’ve never had someone run out of the market.” Adding further complication, Stoneham said the variety of stolen goods — ranging from healthy granola bars and fruit juices to potato chips and soda — makes it impossible to draw conclusions on a discernible ‘stealing demographic.’ But even though there is no specific item stolen most frequently, there is a specific time when most thefts occur. “People just know when to come in and when is the best time,” Stoneham said. Stealing primetime falls every evening when the market is at its busiest point. A crowded market makes it increasingly difficult for Stoneham and other OMM workers to monitor. McGinnis discussed supplementing monthly inventories with daily checks for items that are small and easily put in backpacks, allowing managers to keep track. McGinnis said Dining and Culinary Services is also looking into installing cameras and corner mirrors into the market, especially in the back areas. Financial shortcomings are not exclusive to Old Main Market and the Commons — McGinnis said she was also concerned with potential theft in the Tahoma Bakery.
Church, an organization Stoneham said reaches out to support students. “I work with students all the time,” Stoneham said. “I know it is a hardship — food is a hardship.” “Everything comes when we need it,” Tucker said, referencing a time he said PLU stepped in during the winter snow storm and donated food from the cafeteria. He invited PLU’s college students to come to the food bank if they are ever in need. “We are here for college students,” Tucker said. “I know what it was like when we were in school,” Tucker said, recalling how macaroni and cheese and Top Ramen are difficult to live off of. Somewhere in the UC today a student is contemplating stealing a ham and cheddar pre-packaged sandwich for lunch from the market since they already used their dining dollars on breakfast. As the student is well aware, buying the sandwich will cost them valuable money. But as McGinnis said, so does stealing it.
10 OPINION
THE MOORING MAST
MARCH 23, 2012
Congress requires compromise Thomas Haines OPINION COLUMNIST
hainestm@plu.edu
When Bill Clinton became president, he, along with Congress, raised taxes on corporations and businesses. Later in his presidential term, however, he lowered taxes in a compromise with the newly-elected, now Republican-controlled Congress in 1994. In an interview on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
on Nov. 8, Bill Clinton said he believed “the system [the American government] is geared towards compromise.” Without compromise and bipartisan regulation in Congress, the American government essentially cannot do the job it was designed to do. This is the problem we are facing today with the people who are in power in Congress. A total of 95 percent of all Republican Congressmen and three out of the four 2012 Republican presidential candidates have signed the “Taxpayer Protection Pledge.” This pledge says those who signed it “oppose increases in marginal income
Without compromise and bipartisan regulation in Congress, the American government essentially cannot do the job it was designed to do. tax rates for individuals and businesses.” The problem with this pledge is it exemplifies the issue with having a Congress that refuses to compromise. By promising they will refuse to look at any legislation that may even slightly increase taxes,
Wandering sole: big world , small budget
Oregon offers ‘exciting’ Spring Break road trip Jen Jepsen
GUEST TRAVEL COLUMNIST
jepsenjk@plu.edu
What do “The Goonies,” “Free Willy,” artisan cheese shops, beachside cliffs and the Overlook Hotel from “The Shining” have in common? Oregon. For an exciting alternative spring break trip, grab some friends, pack some sleeping bags, buy some groceries and explore the film star side of our neighbor state while tracing its iconic coastline down Highway 101. First stop: Astoria, Oregon. Set along the coast, Astoria is a quaint coastal town that has hosted the sets of “Short Circuit,” “Kindergarten Cop” and “Free Willy.” More importantly, you can visit the iconic house of Mikey and Brandon from ‘The Goonies” or go to the beach where you can look for “Free Willy” among the other wildlife in the bay. Now that you’re on the coast, head down Highway 101 and enjoy some of the best scenic roadways in the West. From Haystack Rock to the cliffs of Coos Bay, there’s nothing quite like the dramatic sea bluffs and meandering beaches of the Oregon coast. Camping offers a variety of overnight options at very affordable prices, costing less than
$17 a night at state parks. Along the way down, check out the Tillamook factory, home to more types of cheese than you thought were possible and every Tillamook product in their stock. After touring the factory, be prepared to sample more than 30 types of ice cream, from Sticky Bun to Mountain Huckleberry, in their creamery. A little less sweet, the sea-side town of Newport further down the 101 is home to the lighthouse from the infamous horror flick ‘The Ring.” The Yaquina Head Lighthouse stands alone on the coastal bluffs that overlook, giving it its creepy, isolated appearance. Nearby, Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area offers nearly a mile’s worth of tide pools to check out as well. To continue with the movie theme, head inland up the I-5 to Timberline Lodge, the set of the Overlook Hotel in “The Shining.” Enjoy a springtime walk around the grounds and have some drinks by the famous fireplace, hopefully bypassing haunted room number 237 along the way. A final stop in Portland
rounds out the trip as the home of “The Simpsons” and the Portland Farmers Market. While walking downtown, see how many Simpsons signs you can pick out and keep an eye out for streets that double as character names, such as Flanders St., Quimby and Lovejoy. The lesser-known farmers market on Saturdays, open March through December, offers several stalls worth of local artisan cheeses unique to Oregon. Grab a few friends to share the trip with and you’ve got the recipe for a spring break your friends will be jealous of — at budget prices. Splitting the cost with friends makes it surprisingly affordable while sharing food, lodging and gas. Expect to pay $100$150 or less and to have an unforgettable week making your own silverscreen worthy memories. Jen Jepsen is a senior English major at Pacific Lutheran University officially diagnosed with a bad case of wanderlust. Aside from travel and photography, her pastimes include dancing, hiking, Bananagrams and being vegetarian.
Grab a few friends to share the trip with and you’ve got the recipe for a spring break your friends will be jealous of — at budget prices.
Congress is creating a situation where if it becomes evident that taxes need to be raised, Congress will be unable to pass any progressive reform. For example, if raising taxes becomes necessary to finance a war against a foreign aggressor or to pay for recovery after a horrific
natural disaster, Congress will be helpless in raising the money for these situations because compromise on a tax reform legislation will be impossible. So, while I understand many people do not want to raise taxes, whether it be taxes on individuals or business, it becomes clear compromise is needed. Congress will never be able function well without the ability to compromise on issues. Thomas Haines is a junior at Pacific Lutheran University studying history. He is the vice president of the PLU Democrats and secretary for the PLU Secular Student Alliance.
Education budget cuts alarm columnist Paula McFadden OPINION COLUMNIST
mcfaddpc@plu.edu
Education is in a sad state in the United States. Currently, Washington state lawmakers are arguing over budget plans in a special session. One plan was to cut an additional $43 million from public schools and $30 million from higher education. Lawmakers have moved away from this plan, but the thought they considered more budget cuts to education is alarming. Even at Pacific Lutheran University, students are faced with another increase to tuition for the coming academic year. A survey, released on March 7 by MetLife Survey of the American Teacher, reported the morale of teachers, students and parents is at an all-time low. Lack of job security, budget cuts, teaching to standardized tests and increased class sizes are the common reasons for the decrease in morale. These budget cuts come as a result of the economic crisis, but cutting education should be the last resort. Without a strong education system, the United States lets too many young people slip through the cracks of society. For example, Timothy, an inmate in California, wrote a letter to an archeology magazine to disagree with an article involving hieroglyphics. He gained the attention of the Los Angeles Times because he was a high school dropout whose birth parents were not around. Timothy was imprisoned for stabbing another person during a fight. Now, he is using his 19-year sentence to educate himself on Egyptology and memorize hieroglyphs with
cut-up milk cartons as flash cards. Timothy is an example of how our education system is doing a disservice to this nation’s youth. There might have been other factors that led to his imprisonment, but his actions within the prison walls show his interest to learn.The issue for Timothy and for many other kids in the education system is simply not caring or not feeling cared for. Where the education system fails, parents are the ones who need to step in and hold schools accountable. What happens to our society when educational programs continue to be cut and parents refuse to see the capability of their own children? A few weeks ago, I was working at Barnes and Noble when a mother and her 13-year-old son came up to purchase three books. They were arguing as they walked up to the counter. The mother was adamant the books were too difficult for her son to read. I politely defended the boy and said anything was possible with a good dictionary, but the mother said he would not even know what a dictionary is. The mother became so focused on the word “can’t,” and the boy became visibly depressed that his mother did not think he could read the books.Although I could not change the mother’s mind, the boy at least heard me defend him. Society has the power to help by encouraging kids and voting for school levies to give more money back to schools. Education is the backbone of our society. Without it, we have nothing to stand on. Paula McFadden is a junior at Pacific Lutheran University pursuing a degree in English with an emphasis in writing and minors in communication and publishing and printing arts. She lives on-campus but calls Lakewood, Wash., home.
MARCH 23, 2012
OPINION 11
THE MOORING MAST
from the Challenge book bans
EDITOR
Mel Natwick A&E EDITOR
natwicmk@plu.edu
Imagine you are reading your favorite book. Now imagine someone taking that book from you and saying you cannot read it anymore because it’s not suitable for you. Each year the American Library Association creates a top 10 list of frequently challenged books. Challenged, as in somebody complains to have a book banned from public libraries and/or public schools. Every time someone challenges a book, that someone is challenging your First Amendment rights. According to the ALA website, 348 book challenges were reported in 2010, which is small compared to the 546 challenges in 2006. These challenges need to stop and need to be brought to
Editor supports First Amendment rights
national attention. “Any time a conversation is started about a topic like book challenges or bans, it is a good thing because the general public is often oblivious to the fact that our freedoms and rights are being attacked on an ongoing basis,” Lincoln High School teacher and librarian Jan Muelhans said. Books educate us. They serve a purpose. They have a goal to serve a certain audience. If books are removed, how will that audience be served and educated? In New Jersey, Rancocas Valley High School Media Center Coordinator Dee Venuto fought an organization challenged to keep three books on the school shelves. Members from a New Jersey local chapter of Glenn Beck’s conservative group, the 9/12 Project, came to the
corrections 1. The dateline was incorrect on the March 16 front page. 2. From the March 16 page 4 article, “Follow the money,” PLU does not plan to stop using Banner, but has changed its operating system from VMS to UNIX.
CLASSIFIEDS:
Your classified ad could appear here in the April 13 issue of The Mooring Mast. Contact mastads@plu.edu for more information.
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high school wanting to ban Love and Sex: 10 Stories of Truth, The Full Spectrum: A New Generation of Writing About Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Other Identities and Revolutionary Voices. All three of the books talk about sexuality. At Rancocas Valley High School, Venuto said that there is a LGBTQ community in the school system and it is their responsibility to provide them with material. Venuto did massive amounts of research in order to keep these three books on the shelves. “I came in here [the library] a day after the book was challenged and I looked at my 150 students sitting in the library,” Venuto said. “To look at them and think I would not stand up for what they want to read, I couldn’t do that.” In the end, the school
Submit photos to biggsec@plu.edu for the opportunity to be featured in an upcoming Caption Contest. Photos will be judged for creativity and humor and must be tasteful. Please include your full name and class standing.
vinyl windows, washer, dryer, dishwasher, microwave, selfcleaning oven, covered patio, fenced back yard, hardwood floors computer network, and lots of off-street parking. $1500 per month. Rent includes: Garbage, Recycling, and yard care. Contact Dave Carlson carlsode@plu.edu or 253-531-5966. 1116 Wheeler Street Daylight Basement - 2 Bedrooms, 1 Bath, Built in 2005! Includes Washer, Dryer, private setting and close to campus. Walk to class! $790 per month. Rent includes, Garbage, Recycling, and yard care. Contact Dave Carlson
Each time someone challenges a book, that someone is challenging your First Amendment rights. board decided to ban Revolutionary Voices from the school. Even though it can be scary to stand up against organized groups, it’s extremely important to fight for your First Amendment rights. For Venuto, the opposition was “none too pleasant” because of a hateful email about her that circulated around the community, but she said she would fight for intellectual freedom again because it is her
responsibility as a librarian. It’s not fair to have books banned because one opposition thinks it is inappropriate for everyone. Don’t let one voice keep you from reading what you want to read. It is rare for book challenges to happen in Washington state, but these challenges are still happening across the country. Book censorship is an issue that needs to be addressed. Support events such as Banned Books Week on the ALA website and if someone challenges your right to read, fight for it, because once that freedom is gone, it’s gone.
For more on banned books, view Mel’s blog at readuntilyoudie. wordpress.com
The Mooring Mast now offers classified ads for $6 per 50 words. Payment is only accepted through a check, cash or PLU accountnumber. Contact Alexis Briggs at mastads@plu.edu for more information or to place an ad.
253-531-5966 or carlsode@plu.edu 1116 Wheeler Street Studio Apartment. Almost new! Full size washer, dryer, dishwasher, microwave and self-cleaning oven. Walk-in closet, cathedral ceiling and skylights too! $670 per month. Rent includes, Garbage, Recycling and Yard Care. Contact Dave Carlson 253-531-5966 or carlsode@plu.edu.
COMMUNITY PLU Relay for Life is in need of cancer survivors! Any cancer survivors who are a part of the
Visit The Mooring Mast online at www.plu.edu/mast to see online-only content, photo albums and more!
PLU community, please register as a survivor at www.plurelay.org Relay is April 27-28. Anyone else interested in Relay also sign up to be a part of this event!
JOBS The Mooring Mast is looking for cartoonists, photographers and reporters for the News and Focus team. Applications are available online at PLU’s student employment website.
12 STUDY BREAK
THE MOORING MAST
MARCH 23, 2012
ANSWERS TO march 16
crossword
submit
CORRECTIONS
& LETTERS TO THE EDITOR to mast@plu.edu
Let’s talk about SEX aybe m
sidewalk talk
submit your relationship or sex questions to mast@plu.edu to be answered in a new column
Do you have a March Madness bracket? How are you doing?
“I don’t know anything about March Madness. I interpreted the numbers wrong. I’m doing awful.” Katherine Hoffmann, first-year
“I don’t even watch football. I don’t have a television.”
“I’m doing okay. I have 11 of the sweet 16.”
“I am in the top three of a group of 20 people.”
“I’m number 2.”
Caitee Borges,
Mark Walsworth,
Curtis Wildung,
Markus McClurkin,
sophomore
sophomore
first-year
first-year
MARCH 23, 2012
ALTERNATIVE SPORTS 13
THE MOORING MAST
Lute provides March Madness perspective Columnist praises NCAA Division I basketball tournament’s inclusiveness of smaller universities, reminds students to shower Nathan Shoup SPORTS COLUMNIST
shoupma@plu.edu
Two class periods, approximately 36 hours of my life, a couple homework assignments and a few showers. These are just a small handful of the things I missed or put off during the first weekend of the men’s NCAA tournament, otherwise known as March Madness. While some claim baseball is America’s true “pastime,” others claim football has now taken over that role. I have yet to hear that March Madness deserves the title, but it does. In a poll conducted of 75 random male Pacific Lutheran University
“I think the tournament is special because any team can win it.” James Conti
senior, point guard
students, 45 percent – 34 students – said they had filled out a bracket projecting the winners of each individual game in the tournament. This does not include the students who undoubtedly will watch the tournament but did not fill out a bracket. More than 6.5 million people filled out brackets on ESPN.com alone and the tournament has been shown simultaneously on TNT, TBS, truTV and CBS. Outside of the Super Bowl, there is not a single sporting event in America that garners the attention and participation the NCAA tournament gathers. While some of the hoopla surrounding the NCAA tournament comes from fans supporting their favorite team or teams, the majority of the attention paid to March Madness, is just that: for the madness. For the first time in NCAA history, two No. 15 seeds knocked off two No. 2seeds, on the same day nonetheless. PLU women’s basketball guard senior Sara Backstrom said this is exactly why she loves the NCAA Tournament. “The Cinderellas, the smaller underdog and the no-name teams finally
get their chance at the big dance,” Backstrom said. The no-name teams Backstrom is referring to are endless this season. In the second round, an unprecedented nine teams with double-digit seeds advanced. The biggest upset thus far in the tournament came last Saturday when No. 15 Lehigh knocked off No. 2 Duke. To those who say they picked Lehigh, which has roughly 4,700 undergraduates compared to almost 3,500 at PLU, I say you are a liar. Either that, or you picked Lehigh by playing ‘eenie meenie minie mo.’ My mother, who I love to death but may not know the difference between a beach ball and a basketball, remarked at how nervous she was watching the closing seconds of the shocking upset as Lehigh hung on 75-70. I would be willing to bet my position at the Mast she could not name either team that participated in the game today. “I think the tournament is special because any team can win it,” said PLU basketball point guard senior James Conti. “No matter the size of the school, the conference or what their
seed is, everyone has an equal chance at running the table.” As a No. 4 seed in last year’s Northwest Conference Tournament, the Lutes with Conti at the helm nearly upset No. 1 Whitworth before falling 74-63 in the waning minutes. PLU basketball player junior Cameron Schilling spoke to the significance of the upsets in this year’s tournament. “The best part of the tournament in my mind is that you get a chance to watch teams that aren’t normally on the center stage,” Schilling said. As a No. 15 seed, Norfolk state busted millions of brackets when the defeated No. 2 seed Missouri 8684 Friday. Likewise, No. 12 seed VCU made people break out the red highlighter when they knocked off No. 5 seed Wichita State 62-59 March 15 in Portland. Despite the inevitable fact there will be upsets in the tournament and they will ruin our brackets, we still root for the underdog. As a spectator, it is hard not to applaud for a team like Lehigh when they knock off the perennial powerhouse Duke. While I admittedly had
“The Cinderella, the smaller underdog and the no-name teams finally get their chance at the big dance.” Sara Backstrom senior, guard
Duke in the Elite 8 of my bracket, getting to watch the Lehigh team celebrate the victory of their lives makes it all worth it. For those of you who fill out brackets, there is no better feeling in the world than getting to watch an upset and say you picked it correctly in your bracket. My pride and joy pick of the tournament was selecting No. 12 University of South Florida over No. 5 Temple. As the tournament enters its final rounds and the games become exponentially more significant, I wish you and your bracket good luck. Don’t forget to shower.
Seniors apply skills to future careers
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M.A. in Social & Sustainable Management
SPORTS REPORTER
adambg@plu.edu
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Apply today. Application deadline: April 15.
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Seniors from Pacific Lutheran’s track and field team have high aspirations after college. The soon-to-be graduates from PLU hope to apply their academic skills as well as their athletic experience to the careers they will be entering after college. Many of these student athletes are graduating from diverse fields of studies. “My plan is to go to officer candidate school,” decathlon runner senior Barrett Bollen said. “I am in the Marine Corps Reserve right now.” Bollen said he hopes to apply his leadership skills learned from being team captain of PLU’s track team the past three years. He said he also wishes to return to track after his service to become a coach. “I want to get back into track and field because I love it,” Bollen said. Senior thrower Joel Ramos, a business major, said he wants pursues a career as a public certified accountant. “I am going to be in the hiring cycle next year so I can start looking for a position at an accounting firm,” Ramos said. Though Ramos is currently at senior status, he still needs 11 more credits to finish his major. “I’m going to graduate with 139 credits, so I need to go back to community college for just one semester to finish up those credits,” Ramos said. Ramos has been involved in track since his sophomore year in high school and said he really enjoyed his experience participating in PLU as a hammer thrower. “You have so much stress that goes on in school,” Ramos said. “It’s just nice to go out there.” Ramos said he hopes to stand out in throwing during his last year at PLU. SEE TRACK PAGE 16
PHOTO BY IGOR STRUPINSKIY
Senior pole vaulter Chestor Holts successfully completes a vault during the invitational at PLU last weekend.
14 SPORTS
THE MOORING MAST
MARCH 23, 2012
Baseball
Softball
Men’s Lacrosse
Men’s Tennis
Women’s Tennis
Mar. 24 at Puget Sound, noon Mar. 24 at Puget Sound, 3 p.m.
Mar. 24 at Hardin-Simmons, 10 a.m. Mar. 24 at Hardin-Simmons, noon
Apr. 7 at Central Wash, 1 p.m. Apr. 14 at Whitman, 1 p.m.
Mar. 24 at Hope Int’l, 2 p.m. Mar. 25 at Occidental, 10 a.m.
Mar. 25 at La Verne, 4 p.m. Mar. 26 at Cal. Lutheran, 3 p.m.
Previous Games
Previous Games
Previous Games
Previous Matches
Previous Matches
Loss (1-7): Mar. 18 at Whitworth Win (3-1): Mar. 17 at Whitworth
Loss (1-3): Mar. 18 at George Fox Win (3-2): Mar. 18 at George Fox
Win (8-1): Mar. 17 vs. Lewis & Clark Loss (2-7): Mar. 11 vs. Pacific
Loss (2-7): Mar. 17 vs. L & C Loss (4-5): Mar. 10 vs. Willamette
Upcoming Games
Upcoming Games
Upcoming Games
Loss (21-2): Mar. 10 at Western Wash. Loss (19-4): Mar. 3 at Gonzaga
0-9: Elyse Glahn GUEST REPORTER
glahnse@plu.edu
PHOTO BY SHELBY DALY
First-year Catherine Miolla prepares to serve the ball in a match against Whitman Feb. 24. The Lutes would lose the match 0-9. Their current record stands at 0-9.
Baseball
Softball
as of 03/14/2012
as of 03/14/2012
NWC Standings: Team NWC Whitworth 5-1 Pacific 7-2 Linfield 9-3 PLU 6-3 George Fox 5-4 Willamette 3-6 Whitman 2-7 Puget Sound 1-5 L&C 1-8
NWC Standings: Team NWC Linfield 14-2 PLU 14-2 Willamette 10-4 George Fox 7-6 Whitworth 6-10 Pacific 6-10 Whitworth 2-12 L&C 0-13
BA .463 .327 .368 .350 .283 .304
OBP .500 .414 .457 .488 .437 .418
SLG .720 .510 .447 .417 .340 .393
Player ABs K. Haatlen 59 H. Harshaw 36 M. Califano 64 A. Hall 53 A. Gran 40 S.Hagensen 72
ERA 0.00 0.00 1.69 1.88
SO 10 1 4 12
BB 7 1 0 5
BA .458 .361 .406 .358 .325 .389
OBP .560 .439 .418 .439 .372 .430
SLG .814 .472 .547 .509 .550 .653
Pitching Leaders Player IP S. Hagensen 72 L. Butters 36 K. Hatlen 43
weeks and thinks it made her a better player. Since they are young, many members of the team believe they have muchneeded chemistry that’s been building positively since the fall preseason tournament. Junior Tina Aarsvold said the team has been more cohesive than it was in the last couple years. Aarsvold believes the team’s chemistry off the court matters because it will affect their play on the court. Aarsvold said the team’s age isn’t a main factor in the losing record. “Our freshmen are good players,” Aarsvold said. “The competition is tough. All the matches are close though, and I don’t feel like we’ve been blown away like in the past.” So far, the Lutes’ closest game has been against Willamette, scoring 4-5. “The losses give us more motivation, and the close matches have driven us, Aarsvold said. ”We know we’re a good team, very
ERA 1.57 2.28 3.10
SO 53 15 22
BB 11 5 9
eager to get that win.” The season has reached its midpoint without a win, but the Lutes will have a chance to improve their game and rematch the same teams in their league, such as Lewis & Clark, Willamette and Pacific. “After each match, we improve,” Patton said. “When we play these same teams again, we can go in with a new strategy.” Until then, the Lutes will go to California during spring break to play Biola, California Lutheran University, La Verne and Occidental March 25-28. Aarsvold said these teams are good, but it will be an opportunity to build upon that positive chemistry and, more importantly, learn skills from these teams and use them against local conference teams. “I just brush off the lost matches and move forward,” Patton said. “We have confidence, we’re excited about tennis and looking forward to future matches.”
“After each match, we improve. When we play these same teams again we can go in with a new strategy.” Katie Patton
first-year, tennis player
Track and Field
Men’s Tennis
NWC Standings:
NWC Standings:
Team NWC Whitworth 0-0 PLU 0-0 Puget Sound 0-0 L&C 0-0 Pacific 0-0 Linfield 0-0 Willamette 0-0 George Fox 0-0 Whitman 0-0
Batting Leaders:
Pitching Leaders Player IP C. Nilson 19.1 B. Lundeberg 1.0 R. Frost 5.1 K. Godfrey 14.1
All 16-2 16-6 11-8 12-11 8-14 8-16 2-18 0-16
Upcoming matches
Women’s tennis has positive outlook despite season hardships
as of 03/14/2012
All 11-6-1 10-9 12-4 11-7 9-12 5-14 2-19 4-15-1 2-19
Batting Leaders: Player ABs B. Gates 82 J. Iwakami 49 E. Ottemiller 38 D. Courcy 60 F. Frost 53 B. Pearson 56
They came. They saw. They lost. Again. The Pacific Lutheran women’s tennis team played against the Lewis & Clark Pioneers this weekend and came out with yet another loss, but players believe the team is improving nonetheless. The Lutes lost to the Pioneers to a final score of 2-7 and haven’t beaten the Pioneers since 2008. Even though the team faced a loss, they still have individual wins from players who continue to show consistency. First-year doubles partners Allison McClure and Katie Patton won their fifth match in a row over the weekend with a 9-8 score. They are currently ranked No. 3 on PLU’s roster. I was excited to play them [Lewis & Clark] for the first time,” Patton said. The McClure–Patton duo began their winning streak March 2 against Linfield. First-year Catherine Miolla also constantly brings in wins for the Lutes. Milolla won her third singles match against the Pioneers, and won two out of three games within that match, coming out with a 10-5 score. Miolla said she has been working on her forehand stroke for the past several
Upcoming matches
All 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
Men’s Lacrosse as of 03/14/2012
PNCLL Standings: NWC Gonzaga 1-0 W. Wash. 1-0 Whitman 1-0 Puget Sound 0-0 C. Wash. 0-1 PLU 0-2
All 5-0 5-3 3-1 1-4 1-4 0-5
as of 03/14/2012
NWC Whitman 8-0 Pacific 7-1 Whitworth 5-2 George Fox 5-4 PLU 3-4 Willamette 3-4 Linfield 2-6 L&C 1-7 Puget Sound 0-7
All 15-3 7-2 7-5 6-7 4-4 3-4 2-7 1-7 0-8
Women’s Tennis as of 03/14/2012
NWC Standings: NWC Linfield 9-0 Whitworth 6-1 Whitman 6-1 Pacific 5-4 Willamette 3-5 Puget Sound 3-5 L&C 2-6 George Fox 1-6 PLU 0-8
All 9-1 10-2 7-2 6-4 5-4 3-6 2-7 2-7 0-9
MARCH 23, 2012
SPORTS 15
THE MOORING MAST
sports
BRIEFS
Justin Buchanan SPORTS EDITOR
buchanjj@plu.edu
Pirates plunder Lutes, loses two of three
Making it Reign Ultimate team boasts high spirits, prepares for Texas Alison Haywood SPORTS REPORTER
haywodja@plu.edu
After weathering the long and rainy preseason, Pacific Lutheran’s women’s Ultimate team hopes to return to nationals this year. Despite their competetiveness, players still emphasize the importance of having fun. Senior Teresa Brna says of her teammates, “They love playing Frisbee, and they love having fun and they love doing well.” Brna has been playing Frisbee since before she came to PLU, but this is her first year on the team. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” Brna said, adding that she likes the competitive environment of the organized sport. A highlight of this season will be a trip this weekend to Austin, Texas to compete in a tournament put on by the University of Texas. Co-captain senior Flannery Spinhirne estimates 48 women’s Ultimate teams will be there. “It’s really exciting, since this is our first year going. It’s a huge tournament,” Spinhirne said, adding that this tournament will help determine their rankings for the conference championship. Since club sports are not funded by PLU, the team raised money for this trip last
year by doing a bake sale. Co-captain senior Jihan Grettenberger said that although club sports are affiliated with particular schools, they don’t always identify with the school’s official mascot. Teams often come up with their own names. The PLU Women’s Ultimate team chose “Reign” as a play on words to reflect their competitive nature and the local weather, Grettenberger said. Reign participated in its first tournament of the season last weekend, going up against different teams at Heritage Park in Puyallup. Grettenberger said they technically placed first since the official winner was a UPS alumni team that did not compete. “After beating Whitman and the University of Victoria, it shows that we’ve got it in us to get first in this region,” Grettenberger said, adding that two years ago the team placed first at nationals and “there’s the potential to do that again.” Spinhirne said their chances are high for heading to nationals again this year. Despite the team’s competitivness, it’s also about making friends and having fun. “It’s not only about how well we do, but just the fact that we’re all here and we’ve
“Come out and toss on Foss.” Teresa Brna
senior, ultimate player
having fun,” Grettenberger said. “It’s more competitive than just doing intramural, but not as competitive as a varsity sport.” Brna said she liked the laidback competitive atmosphere of the team. Last weekend, for instance, all of the players
wore colors of the rainbow and the coaches dressed up as leprechauns in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. “We play hard, but we have fun … but we’re gonna kick butt at the same time,” Brna said. Grettenberger has been on the team all of her four years at PLU. She said this year the team has a lot of fantastic rookies. “Everyone brings a different component to it,” Grettenberger said. “There’s a high level of spirit, but also that competitive nature.” Brna encourages students to “Join the team!” she said, “or come out and toss on Foss.”
The Pacific Lutheran baseball team struggled last weekend as they dropped two of three games against Whitworth.The Lutes lost 5-10 and won 3-1 Friday then lost 1-7 Saturday. Their record now stands at 11-7 overall, granting them fourth place in the NWC. Senior Nathan Eisenhauser suffered his first loss of the season and now has a 3-1 record. They take on Puget Sound this Friday at noon and 3 p.m. and Saturday at noon.
Lute first baseman wins NWC award First baseman senior Brock Gates was named NWC Student Athlete of the Week for his play against Whitman. Gates has earned a slashline of .463/.500/.720 in 82 ABs. Gates has gotten a hit in all 15 games this season and has 13 multiple-hit games.
Softball bats go cold, preventing series sweep The Lutes struggled to have runners cross home plate this past weekend. They won their first three games against George Fox, but the Bruins prevented a sweep by winning the last game Saturday 3-1. Softball’s current record is now 14-2 in the NWC and 16-6 overall. They are tied for second place in the NWC with Linfield.
Men’s tennis team pounds Pacific Boxers The Pacific Lutheran men’s tennis team picked up a big win against Pacific University 8-1 Friday. With the win the Lutes now have a 4-4 record overall and 3-4 record in the NWC. They take on Hope International March 24, Occidental March 25 and Biola March 26.
Lutes earn individual wins at Pacific track meet
PHOTOS BY JUSTIN BUCHANAN
TOP: Senior Breanna Rae Nelson throws a pass over an opposing player’s head Saturday. MIDDLE: Senior Elizabeth Herzfeldt-Kamprath defends an opposing player’s pass Saturday. ABOVE SERIES: Junior Anna McCracken tracks down a pass from senior Chelsea Paulsen.
The Pacific Lutheran track and field team had a few winners Friday and Saturday. Senior Mike Vavrick won the shotput with a throw that traveled 46-11 1/2. Samanatha Potter won the discus with a throw of 123-9. The Lute’s next meet is the Peyton Scoring Meet Friday and Saturday.
16 SPORTS
THE MOORING MAST
TRACK CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 “I just look forward to go out on a high note,” Ramos said. Senior pole vaulter Chester Holt said he wants to pursue a career in Hawaii as an organic farmer and become a “struggling artist and apply for grants.” Holt said being on the track team taught him to collaborate. “You might not want to work with everybody, but you’re going to have to work with everybody if you want to succeed,” Holt said. Senior runner Sean Andrascik, a double-major in political science and communication, has many aspirations after graduating from PLU. Aside from running a state senate campaign for one of his friends this coming November, Andrascik also plans on starting a non-profit soccer program for underprivileged youth. “It’s skills building,” Andrascik said. He said he hopes to apply his athletic
MARCH 23, 2012
FRIDAY SPECIAL
skills and the discipline learned from his experience in track to his youth program. He said his project will go overseas to Uganda. “I’m going to be over there for five or six weeks,” he said, adding he hopes to engage the local community and start a soccer tournament while there. Andrascik aims to pursue a career as a member in congress. “Working at the grassroots level on different projects and initiatives and stuff has really got me interested in social work,” Andrascik said. Andrascik said he hopes his acquired leadership skills from cross country and track will help him with his political and social work. “What I have learned in those positions is being an initiative-taker,” Andrascik said. “I think that’s a big part of life — just simply getting the ball rolling on things and getting other people involved.”
March 23 - 10am-8pm
50
%
off All Dakine
Terms subject to change without notice. No cash value. Select styles. While supplies last. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. In-store only at Garfield Book Company. Offer valid only 03.23.12 from 1pm-8pm. PHOTO BY IGOR STRUPINSKIY
Senior Sean Andrascik runs in the steeplechase during last weekend’s PLU Invitational final meet.
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