THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2010
VOL. 87, NO. 19
Congressional campaign returns By E.J. HIRSCH, MARIE KEMPH Contributing Writer, Campus News Editor
Small-business owner Kerry Roberts contended that the exorbitant amount of money being spent by the United States government is fiscally irresponsible during a speech Tuesday night, hosted by MTSU’s Raider Republicans. “America is on the verge of bankruptcy,” said Roberts, who owns the Bike Peddler, a chain of bicycle stores in the Middle Tennessee area. Roberts is among five candidates competing in the Republican primary race for a chance to run in the general election this fall for Tennessee’s 6th Congressional District.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different outcome.” KERRY ROBERTS CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE
The Springfield native addressed several issues, ranging from the national unemployment rate to the recent health care leg-
islation, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama last week. Roberts, who is a certified public accountant, said he felt running for public office is the right thing to do, referring to the average American’s participation in politics. “What kind of credibility do I have to tell my kids to do the right thing if I don’t – so I am running,” Roberts said. Matthew Hurtt, political strategist and MTSU alumnus, said Roberts’ experience as a CPA will be beneficial to the people of Tennessee. “He’s a down-to-earth smallbusiness owner who knows what
it takes to balance a budget,” Hurtt said. “He’s not afraid to say no to more government and more spending.” Roberts said he believes the United States cannot solve spending problems with more spending, debt problems with more debt and problems created by politicians by sending more career politicians to Washington. “The defi nition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different outcome,” Roberts said. “Politicians need to go.” Hurtt said Roberts is the kind of conservative needed to represent Tennesseans’ best interest in Congress.
“He understands that we can’t fix problems created by politicians, by sending more politicians to Washington,” Hurtt said. Roberts said it is important for a politician to remember that they represent their constituents. “The key here is to be a part of the solution without getting sucked in,” Roberts said. Roberts said Americans are resilient. “There are many stories of people who overcome in history,” Roberts said. “Our proudest moments in America have always been times of spiritual renewal.”
Orators Winter’s pushing daisies bring campus Japanese language By SARAH HAMACHER Staff Writer
Japanese will replace English as a second language Saturday when seven MTSU students compete in a Japanese speech contest in the Business and Aerospace Building’s State Farm Lecture Hall at 11 a.m. The Consulate-General of Japan in Nashville and the Japan-America Society of Tennessee, Inc., along with the main sponsor, American Airlines, will be presiding over the event. “We want the audience members to have exposure to the Japanese language, and the opportunity to hear speeches in Japanese,” said Terry Vo, Japanese Exchange and Teaching Program coordinator in the culture division of the Consulate-General of Japan in Nashville. “We want to encourage everyone to become fluent in a second language.” Others will join MTSU’s Japanese language students from 11 universities from across Tennessee. The contestants will stand before a panel of three judges, Consul General Hiroshi Sato, ConsulateGeneral of Japan in Nashville; Norio Inaba, director of sales at American Airlines; and Noriko Faust, Japanese language professor at the University of Southern Mississippi. All the judges are native speakers of Japanese and chosen accordingly. The contestants will be competing on three different levels based on the amount of hours of study: Level 1 at 150 hours or less, Level 2 at 300 hours or less, and Level 3 at 300 hours or more. MTSU students will be competing at the first and second levels. All levels have a first, second and third prize. However, Level 2 and 3 are eligible for the grand prize, a round-trip ticket to Japan provided by American Airlines. “The students and the teachers have been working very hard to prepare the speeches in Japanese,” said Priya Ananth, professor in Japanese at MTSU. “I am sure the participants will come out with flying colors this year as well.” All participants are required to memorize their speeches. “I’m looking forward to presenting my speech because it’s a challenging way to develop speaking in Japanese and recitation skills,” said Jesse Burks, undeclared freshman who will be participating in the contest.
Opinions page 3 A&E page 4 Features page 5
(Top) Daffodils stretch through the hardened winter ground preparing for the long-awaited summer. (Left) On East Main Street Japanese magnolias shed their winter coats and bask in the warm spring air.
Photographs by Jay Bailey, photography editor
(Above) Dogwood trees bloom on East Main Street near campus, the first signs of spring after a grueling winter.
Honors society granted charter Students recognized for scholarship and leadership merits By E.J. HIRSCH Contributing Writer
Omicron Delta Kappa Honors Society has been approved to form a chapter at MTSU to recognize students for their scholarship and leadership achievements during their academic career
Check out our new crossword puzzle and get the solution for last week’s puzzle.
page 5
An initiation and chartering ceremony is scheduled for April 30 at 6 p.m. in the Tom H. Jackson Building. “It is exciting,” said John Vile, dean of the honors college. “I think this would be a very propitious time for establishing such an organization on this campus.” Vile said school administrators feel that such an organization could benefit the university. “President Sidney McPhee, as well as Vice President and Provost [Diane Miller], both see the establishment of such a chapter as a further way of enhancing student scholarship and
Missing Thursday’s sports section? Cure that by reading articles and columns online.
leadership on campus,” Vile said. According to the petition, ODK’s mission is to recognize outstanding leaders, provide a network for current and future students who aspire to be leaders and to carry out the mission of MTSU. “Honors societies like ODK provide ample tools and opportunities to excel, but it is ultimately up to individual students to make the most of the experience and continue to pursue excellence beyond graduation,” said ODK President Merranda Holmes, senior biology major. HONORS, PAGE 2
SUNNY NO CHANCE OF RAIN HIGH 77, LOW 55
“Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower.”
Hans Christian Anderson
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SIDELINES THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2010
Stylish students to produce show Fashion show set to benefit Haitian earthquake victims By HANNAH HOPKINS Contributing Writer
Models will grace the MTSU catwalk, featuring attire created by students majoring in textiles, merchandising and design, April 9 to raise money for the American Red Cross Haiti Relief and Development fund. This year’s theme is “Retro-fashion: In Search of Lost Time” and will focus on three categories: memories of childhood, power of subculture and pop music from previous decades and tributes to legendary fashion icons. The event is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. and will be held in the Tennessee Ballroom of the James Union Building. The spring fashion show is presented each year. Next
month’s fashion show comprises 60 original outfits, all designed and created by students, and will feature 25 models, most of whom are from MTSU. Catalina Cristancho, senior apparel design major, will be one of the models during the show. She said she was enthusiastic about being a part of the show. “We just want to use our talents to help someone else,” Cristancho said. Jasmin Kwon, TXMD professor and director of the fashion show, said students would see outfits inspired by superheroes, Coco Chanel, Michael Jackson, the ‘20s through the ‘80s, and even Barbie and Ken. Kwon said students from the College of Human Sciences are putting on this event to share their talents with the commu-
nity, however, the main goal is to provide funds for Red Cross Haiti Relief and Development because they wanted to be able to help people while sharing their talents. Kwon said she hoped that students would be able to see the talents that TXMD majors have and in the future might become interested in taking a class as an elective. “We want people to admire the students’ creativity,” Kwon said. “There are a lot of beautiful things they have come up with.” Christy Boner, senior fashion merchandising major, said music would also be used to enhance each category’s theme. She said that they were taking popular songs identified with each category, and then updating and “technofying” them. Boner said the models’ hair and makeup would lean toward a more dramatic style, but would still be used to “enhance the garments but not overtake them.” Boner said that any money
raised would be a success, but knowing that the money was going to a good cause motivated them to organize and plan better. “It makes you want to go big or go home,” Boner said. The fashion promotion class, which is producing the show, consists of juniors and seniors and is a required class for all TXMD majors. The class is divided into various categories, including fundraising, wardrobe selection, modeling, hair and makeup, staging and music, and publicity. “This [fashion show] is just like a puzzle,” Boner said. “Individually we are just a bunch of puzzle pieces, but once we all come together you can see the end result and completed picture.” Tickets are $7 in advance or $10 at the door. Students can purchaseticketsorfindoutmore information about the fashion show by contacting Jasmin Kwon at kwon@mtsu.edu or at 615-904-8340.
HONORS FROM PAGE 1 According to the ODK Web site, requirements for membership include a prospective member to have a 3.25 GPA or higher and be in the top 35 percent of scholarship at their school. The Web site also states students must show that they have distinguished themselves in one of five areas of achievement that the national association recognizes – academics, athletics, campus or community service, mass media, and creative and performing arts. “We are looking for people who have been leaders in their area,” Vile said. Holmes said that among the ben-
File photo
Two models from the 2009 spring fashion show, “Circus,” cross paths on the runway. This year’s show will raise money for the American Red Cross Haiti Relief and Development fund.
efits of being a member of ODK are external scholarships, study abroad opportunities, member discounts for graduate school prep courses and popular retail stores, and some even have databases for finding internships. In addition to the induction of student members, some faculty and staff will also be joining ODK. “President Sidney McPhee will be one of the opening charter members,” Vile said, adding that Roy Martin will also be an honorary member. Martin is the brother of Paul W. Martin Sr., who was an instrumental part of the University Honors College founding and contributed much of the needed funds to pay for college’s building. According to the ODK Web site, the cost for a lifetime membership
is $70, in addition to a $10 charge to pay for university chapter dues, which is used to fund programs and events. “Cost and the amount of time dedication concern me,” said Rachel Sisk, sophomore education and behavioral major, who is an honors student. But Holmes said one of the main purposes of the fraternity is to alleviate those sorts of problems. “The benefit of honors societies, particularly ODK, is that they also offer academic and leadership recognition and opportunities to students whose majors or time constraints do not allow them to participate in the honors college,” Holmes said. “I would need to know the benefits of being in the society before I would join,” said honors student Laura Brake, freshman liberal arts major.
CRIME BRIEFS March 25, 11:40 a.m.
March 26, 1:14 p.m.
second offense DUI.
Burglary
Traffic
March 27, 3:27 a.m.
Rutherford Parking Lot A complainant reported a vehicle burglarized.
James E. Walker Library A complainant reported he was the victim of a hit and run.
Burglary
March 25, 4:10 p.m.
March 26, 4:45 p.m.
Theft
Vandalism
March 27, 5:06 p.m.
James E. Walker Library A wallet was reported stolen.
Judd/ Simms Hall Lot The back window of a red Chevy Cavalier was reported to have been broken in.
Vandalism
March 26, 7:15 p.m.
March 28, 3:46 a.m.
Vehicle
Burglary
Middle Tennessee Boulevard Kesha Thornsbury, 19, was issued a citation for driving an unregistered vehicle without proof of insurance.
Deere Hall A complainant reported a burglary.
March 25, 5:01 p.m.
Gore Hall A complainant reported an aggravated burglary.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon House, Greek Row A window was reported damaged.
Theft Boutwell Dramatic Arts A complainant reported a handbag stolen.
March 26, 3:12 a.m. DUI Rutherford Boulevard Benjamin Damico, 21, was arrested for first offense DUI, traveling north on Rutherford Boulevard.
March 28, 4:20 p.m. Theft
March 27, 1:43 a.m. DUI Greenland Drive Kristopher Fish, 26, was arrested for
Gore Hall Something was reported stolen from Gore Hall.
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THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2010 SIDELINES
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Proof professors prior to class Be careful when grouping by party
Students should use MTSU Review to avoid regretful scheduling, term We’ve all had them: The professors who decree that their courses need to be your full-time job, and the instructors who bumble and stutter through their lectures like they themselves just read the material for the first time that morning. Occasionally, you find one who’senjoyable,personableand approachable without making you feel like an idiot for having a question. This species, however, appears rarely and may be considered endangered. In our age of mass communication, old-school word of mouth is as obsolete as the Betamax – Google it or ask your parents. The Internet gives us a wealth of different places telling us which professors to seek and avoid. Sites such as ratemyprofessors.com and whototake.com give us an idea of what to expect from university professors across the country. However, we have our own tool at our fingertips at MTSU, one specifically tailored to our current roster of professors. I didn’t know about mtsureview.com until late last fall. By then, I had formed my own opinions about the teachers I had signed up for, and luckily, I’d stumbled into a pretty good group.
Scott Henry
Back in my day again Reading a review site, however, can offer a fresh perspective on each professor’s idiosyncrasies. Last semester, a classmate claimed that she had bluntly called the professor a “sexist pig” on the site. That must have crossed MTSU Review’s line of good taste; the said review has never been posted, while mine, submitted only days later, sits there for the world to see. When I was starting my higher-education career at Purdue, there was no Web site offering such feedback. Back then, even the student e-mail system was awkward. We had to seek our own answers by talking to people with similar majors in the blind hope that they had taken the course we wanted to join. A classmate who now works for Purdue has told me that the university still has no independent site of its own dedi-
cated to professor feedback, although Purdue’s own review system was put online in the spring 2009 semester. Of course, any feedback collection service is only as effective as the responses it receives, and it doesn’t appear that MTSU Review gets nearly as many as it should. Some of the professors I took last semester hadn’t been commented on in two years before I toured my schedule. A lot can change in that time, so 2-yearold feedback may as well be no feedback. It’s easy to write off a positive reviewer as someone who received – or expects – a good grade as an apple-polisher. Likewise, the ravings of someone who withdrew early may just be sour grapes from a lazy student crying about having to actually work to earn a degree. However, when you’re sitting down to research which classes you’d like to sign up for next semester, almost any information is good information. If the guy who took a “W” is ranting about a professor knowing he’ll have to take the course again, maybe there really is a valid reason why. I’m convinced that MTSU Review needs to enter into an actual partnership with
I am writing in response to the health care debate in Monday’s issue (“A lawful, necessary cause or a constitutional violation?” Sidelines, March 29). I want to point out the biggest weakness in Dustin Evans’ argument. Evans lumps all those opposed to the health care bill into the piece of trash, neoconservative wing of the GOP. Clearly they, along with the Democrats, have played a vital part in ruining our country and straying from the vision of our founders. But to imply that all those opposed to the health care bill belong in bed with the neocons is the same as saying that all liberals supported the health care overhaul. In fact some liberals, like the bloggers from firedoglake.com, are opposed to the bill. One of their big reasons for opposition is the fact that the bill very closely resembles one written by American’s Health Insurance Plans, an insurance company trade association.
the university. The clumsy Scantron paper review system currently in place could be replaced by mandatory feedback to MTSU Review. The student could receive a confirmation code in return for reviews of each instructor, and once each code is submitted to the instructor’s department head, the student can get his or her semester grade. Also, Purdue’s online review system is estimated to save approximately a million pieces of paper every semester. A school trying to boost its environmental credentials would do well to reduce the current wasteful process. With registration just around the corner, the information on a site like MTSU Review can save many students the headache of having to retake a class simply because a professor is not what they expected. The odds are good that people have already suffered that migraine for you; all you need to do is learn from their pain. And perhaps you might find one of those professors from that endangered species who can actually change your life.
–Christopher Burks, senior economics major
Dems paid for votes on health care My vote from Monday’s health care debate goes with Marie Kemph over Dustin Evans (“A lawful, necessary cause or a constitutional violation?” Sidelines, March 29). Americans, students, taxpayers – most do not even know what is embedded in this bill. What I do know is that the health care bill is an infringement of your rights. The government is making it illegal to not purchase insurance. With that being said, it is illegal to live in this country unless you buy insurance. This is not the same as purchasing car insurance, which is an appropriate comparison according to Democrats. Car insurance lets you have the privilege to drive. It is not a requirement that you drive, only a privilege, one that many people are willing to spend to have that luxury. If you don’t want to drive, you don’t have to pay. Also, your boys in Washington aren’t exactly playing fair ball here. Mr. Evans, let’s talk about bipartisanship? Democrats couldn’t get their own bill passed until paying off the votes. Ask Bart Gordon. He voted no to the bill until a magical $3 billion was allocated to his funds for the check mark “go ahead.” Why do you think this “violent, diluted, angry army” exists Mr. Evans? This is the American people speaking out! This is their voice being heard.
Scott Henry is a junior electronic media communication major. He can be reached at 4quartersradio@gmail.com.
–Olliver Teston, senior business major
New mandate to shift cost to young Americans in their 20s pay more for car insurance because they are considered more risky to insure. Americans in their 50s pay more for health insurance because they are considered more risky to insure. Not anymore. According to an AP story from Tuesday, the federal government will impose price controls on health insurance premiums charged to older Americans. The ratio will be 3-to-1. For example, an overweight 55 year old who is borderline diabetic and also has high blood pressure and cholesterol will pay no more than three times what the young, healthy, slim 20 year old pays for health insurance. This mandate will cost-shift the burden of insurance onto the backs of younger Americans. The modest prediction is that younger Americans in their 20s and 30s will see their health insurance premiums spike at an average of 17 percent.
Calorie info in restaurants a good move toward a healthier country
–Todd Malone, 1998 graduate The health care bill was signed into law last week. The new law requires calorie information be provided on vending machines and chain restaurants such as McDonald’s and Starbucks. It is long past the time that Americans become more health conscious. If we do not change, some of us won’t have to worry about health care being offered. Consumers should be allotted information about what they are putting into their mouths. The Food and Drug Administration already requires labeling on food, so why not put calories on menus as well? If the FDA and the rest of the government are really serious about health reform, this is a great place to start. Obesity is an ongoing health problem in the United States. Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee are the three most obese
Jessica Harris
Perceptions states, according to the latest figures from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mississippi holds the crown of cellulite king with about 32.5 percent in adult obesity for the fifth year in a row. Alabama and Tennessee are fighting each other for second place with about 30.2 percent. In Mississippi, child obesity surpassed that of adult obesity with 44.4 percent. Colorado had the lowest rate of obese adults with about 18.9 percent.
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Providing calorie information is a matter of public health. It can be a burden on society when people do not consider the consequences of their health choices. Some may argue it is too expensive for restaurants to redo their menus; however, legislation could require a deadline in which restaurants have to meet, or they should not be allowed to operate. It is the same for when restaurants have health inspections and either fail or have subpar scores. Another thing that could be argued is that if restaurants change their menus, food costs would increase. There are many excuses. Excuses build the house of failure. This is not another bandwagon issue, nor is this saying that requiring calorie labeling will solve all of America’s obesity problems. This is just a start, and slow motion is better
than no motion. Panera Bread announced last week that it will be the first nationwide restaurant to voluntarily post calorie info at all of its company-owned restaurants. McDonald’s and Chipotle are among other restaurants that already provide calorie information. New York already has a law requiring calorie information, and that will continue because a federal judge upheld the decision last week requiring some chain restaurants to post calories on menus. California, Nashville and Seattle are considering similar bills. People will eat what they want regardless, but at least they will be provided with the information to perhaps make a better decision.
For Nashville, it pays to recycle On a trip last semester to the recycling center in Nashville, our environmental studies class at Belmont (I’m a transfer student) learned about the costs associated with recycling. The city of Nashville receives $10 per ton of recycled goods from the recycling company who operates the facility, whereas the city pays $40 per ton to dump trash at the landfill in the next county over. Of course, the funds represent taxpayer dollars. So there is actually a $50 difference for taxpayers between recycling and dumping trash in landfills. –Whit Ashley, senior RODP student
Jessica Harris is a junior journalism major. She can be reached at jh3y@mtsu.edu.
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SIDELINES THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2010
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT She & Him return with more sunshine jams The ‘70s are reborn with ‘Volume Two’ By GARRETH SPINN Contributing Writer
In 2006, Zooey Deschanel was asked to record a duet with singersongwriter M. Ward for the film, “The Go-Getter,” a movie that she was also starring in. After hitting it off in the studio and bonding on similar musical tastes, the two kept in touch. One year later, they released “Volume One,” a collection of dreamy ‘70s California pop. Now, She & Him are back with similar musical stylings on “Volume Two,” though more noticeably fine-tuned. This time around, Deschanel and Ward went straight for the Chamber Pop jugular, lacing all the tracks with heavy amounts of reverb and
a lot of flowery guitar licks. Deschanel’s lyrics are a cutthroat take on love, cleverly hidden by her enchanting melodies and M. Ward’s masterful production. On albums and in genres like this, the public often ignores guys like M. Ward because they aren’t in the immediate forefront of what the listener hears. We see this with M. Ward previously in the indie super group, Monsters Of Folk. On “Volume Two,” Ward’s arrangements and musicianship is what really keeps the songs interesting and makes the record worthwhile. The duo clearly tried to be more creative its their second attempt, but the best moments on the album are the simple songs such as, “Brand New Shoes,” the Skeeter Davis cover “Gonna Get Along Without You,” and “Lingering Still.” These songs come off as the most believable within a genre that has long since passed. There are some tracks like the lead single “In The Sun” and the album opener, “Thieves,” that are purely
irresistible. They groove perfectly and are bound to be on everyone’s summer mixes. However, the album starts to fade off about midway through. Songs like “Sing,” “Over It Over Again,” and “Gonna Make It Better” are forgettable tracks that should have been left out. Cliché country arrangements make this cluster of tracks seemingly trite, though the weak moments of the albums only make the stronger moments sound even stronger. Overstuffing any album doesn’t make it better. Deschanel’s song writing has certainly improved, but by 2010, her rosy-cheek style feels a bit overdone. It helps that M. Ward’s musicianship and production skills shine all throughout “Volume Two.” But while the album is an improvement from “Volume Two,” at the end of the day it ultimately fails to bring anything new to the table. But at the end of the day, the album brings nothing new to the table, making “Volume Two” less interesting than it could be.
Photo courtesy mbvmusic.com
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Mama Cass “Dream a Little Dream” Folk Rock Photo courtesy of Comcast.com
Photo courtesy of robertobernabo.wordpress.com
Superior Pairings Earthquake Cabernet, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel and Syrah – Lodi, Calif. do some work. Think of If wine bottles could it in terms of chemistry speak, this one would – when oxygen is added sing like full-bodied Pato any chemical comvarotti or maybe more pound, it changes. The like John Cusack with a same goes for wine. boombox outside your Last, but certainly bedroom window. not least, is the EarthThe vines of Earthquake Cabernet. Take quake wines were planted about the time of Aimeé Schmittendorf this glass to the tub or to the table and it’s the 1906 San Francisco equally appropriate. Earthquake, leaving the Velvety cinnamon, bapalette a quivering heap con, coffee, milk chocof taste buds after conolate and clove can be sumption. With only detected as this wine slathers one date to prove your love, or the tongue. Let it sit on your one glass of wine to enjoy in palette and roll it around. It’s a third trimester as a pregnant romance incarnate. woman, this is your juice. Good wine purchases are Earthquake first started part gastrointestinal and part with its Zinfandel vines, which therapy. It’s important to know produce a wine that’s over 15 the mood of the meal and the percent in alcohol, and seems desires of person to match to be their most popular. Acthe experience. Earthquake companied by balsamic, fig, wines are just as good with parmesan, lamb, a sirloin with no food as they are in a brown mushroom sauce or fine restaurant with an cherry cobbler with vanilla expensive plate. ice cream, this purchase There’s a hyperbole falls in the range of $24 on the back of each to $30, as do most of bottle that’s fun to the Earthquake wines. read after a glass or They drink like an two. My favorite is Opus, but are costthe one on the back of efficient enough for a the Petite Sirah with student loan budget. a line reading; “Hail The Petite Sirah will the victor, the king pair with anything inwithout f law, salute tense – triple cream your new master... Brie or a rich, red meat. Petite Sirah.” The heavier and fatter the food is, the betAimeé Schmittendorf ter, as far as pairings are is a senior at MTSU concerned. The Syrah and a wine steward is great for all meats qualified by the Court that can be grilled. This of Master Sommeliers. wine can handle ribs and If you have any winesteaks and kabobs with related questions or peppers and onions spiced would like recommenwith sage, fennel, cumdations, you can reach in and other out-spoken her at itsnotjustthewispices, competently. ne@yahoo.com. She Definitely let this wine also conducts private breathe for 30 minutes in wine tastings. order to allow the oxygen to
It’s Not Just The Wine
Across
1- Knocks lightly; 5- Molten material; 10- Taylor of “Mys c Pizza;” 14- Et ___________; 15- Barbecue le overs?; 16- Collar type; 17- Beethoven’s birthplace; 18- Hit back, perhaps; 19- Person, place or thing; 20- Adult male deer; 21- Fragments of wood; 23- “Seinfeld” uncle; 25- Doc bloc; 26- Sugar apple; 31- Staggering; 35- A dynasty in China; 36- Brit’s discharge; 38- “Peter and the Wolf” bird; 40- Camaro model; 42- Claw; 44- Boris Godunov, for one; 45- So palate; 47- Ascends; 49- Cornerstone abbr.; 50- Mother of Isaac; 52- Musical instruments; 54- Indian holiday resort; 56Manipulate; 57- Message sent by mirrors; 62- ________ contendere; 66- Room in a casa; 67- New Zealand evergreen tree; 68- Lendl of tennis; 69- Gradual; 70Collec on of maps; 71- Polynesian carved image; 72- Bridle strap; 73- Backs of feet; 74- Biblical garden
Down 1- Bar bills; 2- Bunches; 3- ______ colada; 4- Solitary; 5- Central American monkey; 6- Between ports: 7- Steps down to an Indian river; 8- Birthplace of Muhammad; 9- Respira on disorder; 10Le erman rival; 11- Langston Hughes poem; 12- Like Hawaiian shirts; 13- B & B; 22- Bloody conflicts; 24- Airport abbr.; 26Switchblade; 27- Merchandise; 28_____ Gay; 29- Actor Epps; 30Salk’s conquest; 32- Chow down; 33- Ruhr city; 34- Capital of Tibet; 37- Winter Pear; 39- Collec ve word for intellectual pursuits; 41Cad or heel; 43- Not a direct hit; 46- Biblical trio; 48- Hindu tle; 51- Narghile; 53- Set on fire; 55Playing marble; 57- Patriot Nathan; 58- “The Time Machine” race; 59- Mown grass; 60- Dominion; 61- Asian sea; 63- Roman poet; 64Canoeing body; 65- Ge ng _____ years; 66- Georgia, once: Abbr.
Answers for March 25, 2010
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THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2010 SIDELINES
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ARE YOU GOING TO SEE GZA ON WEDNESDAY?
Not your average beauty pageant Students support individuals’ unique heritage for scholarship By JESSICA PACE Staff Writer
Photo by Chris Donahue, staff photographer
Sarah Elizabeth Ayache, Ms. Lebanon, was crowned Miss. Universal 2010 Tuesday night at the Delta Iota Chapter of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin sorority’s 4th Annual Miss Universal Pageant.
The ladies of the Delta Iota Chapter of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority stray off the beaten path when it comes to beauty pageants, as they conveyed Tuesday night in the 4th Annual Miss Universal Pageant. Held in the Wright Music Building’s Hinton Hall, six contestants from the sorority gathered with the purpose of celebrating women of different cultures in an unconventional pageant. Contestants included Cassandra Carris, sophomore electronic media communication major representing the Philippines; Stephanie Steed, senior sociology major representing Ghana; Cassandra Lucatero, environmental science major representing Mexico; Sarah Elizabeth Ayache, junior public relations major representing Lebanon; Ana Linares, freshman speech pathology major representing El Salvador and Lynsie Paul, senior social work major representing Martinique. Competing for a scholarship to be used next semester, the six women spoke about the culture that each was representing, performed a cultural dance, played an instrument and sang or recited poetry before an audience that appeared to be mainly composed of family members. “Our organization believes in being culturally active as well as academic, and therefore we’re giving a scholarship away to the contestant that is crowned, which will be around $200 to $300,” says Shabnam Etemdadi, one of the coordinators of the event and sorority member, as the contestants did last-minute preparations and run-throughs before the pageant began. “Rather than having a bathing suit portion, we have an ethic/cultural-wear portion, so contestants wear whatever they want for the specific culture they’re representing,” Etemdadi adds. As Etemdadi said, in lieu of a swimsuit competi-
tion, contestants donned colorful garments traditional for the women of each country. Hosts Brandon Batts and Melina Rodriguez emphasized the pageant’s goal of wanting to “break away” from stereotypes of traditional beauty pageants and instead promote diversity and cultural awareness. “It’s a way for us to celebrate diversity, because nationally, our sorority is very diverse. We have sisters from India, the Middle East, AfricanAmericans and Caucasians,” Etemdadi says. The pageant also featured two acts between contestants’ performances. MTSU graduate Angela Martinez performed Selena’s “Bitty Bitty Bom Bom” dressed as the late Mexican-American singer, and MTSU student and neo-soul singer/songwriter Alexis Nicole sang a tune of her own. Contestants closed the pageant in formal wear, each defining who she thought the “universal woman” would be, which most described as a woman who embraces her own identity and possesses the desire to learn about other cultures. The judges, who included Teresa McBreen and Oscar Diaz, both professors in the department of Foreign Languages; Angela King, director of Greek Affairs and MTSU alumni Shatina Marshall, selected Steed, Ms. Ghana, as first runner-up and Ayache, a.k.a. Ms. Lebanon, as Miss Universal. Ayache performed a piano piece titled “Love Song” and described the “universal woman” as one who “embraces her own culture with pride, has a desire to learn about other cultures and realizes each individual’s diversity is what makes them special.” “My dad is Lebanese, so I’m half Lebanese, and I heard about this pageant a few years ago and thought it would be really exciting to represent my culture, because I’ve never really been able to do that before,” Ayache says. “I really didn’t think I was going to win, but I just feel really blessed.”
Which should you choose, a Mac or a PC? Consumers left choosing between two products that both have beneficial features By JASON GOUCHER Contributing Writer
For the technologically impaired, shopping for a new computer can be about as fun as getting randomly selected for a strip search at the airport. Needless to say, a lot of research is required to help make an informed decision. Hours of desperately searching the Internet, talking to friends and shopping in stores filled my life for two weeks. Not only did I have to figure
out how much memory and what kind of processor to get, I had to figure out whether I am a Mac or a PC. Most of us have seen Apple and Microsoft engaging in a no-holds-barred advertising feud over the past couple of years. Apple tries to portray its users as hip, young people by casting actor Justin Long to play the part of a Mac in recent commercials. On the other hand, Apple tells us that PC users are, well… nerdy. This is made clear by the actor who plays the role of a PC, John Hodgman. While Hodgman may be hilarious on “The Daily Show,” he is a far cry from cool in his tweed suit. Microsoft fought back with commercials featuring everyone from astronauts to NBA star Tony Parker claiming they are PCs. So which company should you side with? Ralph Butler, a computer science professor, believes that Apple’s operating system allows for better communication between other machines. He was also quick to defend the bigger price tag a Mac often comes with.
“Mac comes with dozens of software packages pre-installed [like] compilers, databases, etc., that all have to be purchased for the [PC],” Butler claims. “When you buy a PC, you get a box with [Windows] Vista or 7 on it and not much more.” Other programs like iMovie and iPhoto also come preloaded on Apple computers. So, Apple is the clear winner, right? Not so fast. Offering an opposing viewpoint is Richard Detmer, chair of the computer science department, who prefers PC or Microsoftbased computers. Detmer lists “better business applications, less expensive to purchase, [and] less expensive peripherals and software” as being some advantages of the PC. Detmer goes so far as to call Apple’s system “dumbed-down” and cites “one mouse button instead of two” and “some software requiring the user to click when a simple keystroke would be more efficient” as being examples of that. For those keeping track at home, that’s one vote for Mac and one vote for PC. Another
option, while it may not be cost feasible, is using both an Apple and a PC side by side. You may be thinking, “Did he really just suggest that? Using a Mac and a PC together in perfect harmony? That’s blasphemy!” Trust me, it can be done. Just ask Jacob Smith, the technology adviser at Project Help on campus. “I switch back and forth between the computers a lot,” Smith declares. “I use the PC mostly for graphic design stuff – I use the Office Suite on the PC, mostly for Publisher, which to the best of my knowledge doesn’t have a Mac version.” Smith says that for audio and visual needs, he uses programs for Mac like Logic and Final Cut. When asked to make a choice between Mac and PC, Smith chooses Mac, although he believes that both are capable of doing a lot of the same things.
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SIDELINES THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2010
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