THE OCCIDENTAL WEEKLY THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE SINCE 1893 Wednesday, September 28, 2011
www.oxyweekly.com
Volume 132, Issue 3
Veitch’s Vision Focuses On Occidental’s Urban Location Ryan Strong
Giovanna Bettoli Oxy students from the Youth Coalition for Community Action (YCCA) participate in a protest for Hunger Action Day L.A.
YCCA Strives To Live Up To Occidental’s Radical Rating Annie Wolfstone Occidental College is one of the nine most radical colleges in the country, according to a July 8 ranking in “The Huffington Post.” While the College has been home to several activist organizations, including the new Youth Coalition for Community Action (YCCA), some are skeptical about the accuracy of the ranking. “The compiler of the July 8 list, Lindsay Dittman, is a high school student from Houston who attends a Connecticut boarding school,” Director of Communications Jim Tranquada said. Tranquada also made the case that Occidental’s reputation as “liberal” or “radical”
is likely tied to Obama’s election rather than to any tangible evidence of the college’s activism. “In 2009, immediately after his election, ‘Princeton Review’ suddenly ranked Occidental as number one for ‘most liberal students,’” he said. Professor of Politics and Director of the Urban & Environmental Policy Program Peter Dreier, who has long been involved in politics and community organizing, shared some of Tranquada’s skepticism. “I’d say that many Oxy students and faculty talk the talk, but far fewer walk the walk,” Dreier said. “Students get committed about social injustice but few have the organizing skills to figure out how to translate their passions into sus-
tained action that gets results.” However, some emerging activist groups on campus, including YCCA, have started to take action and engage in events that one might consider radical. YCCA protested as part of Hunger Action Day L.A. on Sept. 22 at L.A.’s City Hall. UEP major Guido Girgenti (sophomore), who was voted Occidental’s 2011 Emerging Leader of the Year, along with the help of other local YCCA organizers, gathered a group of 50 students to attend last week’s march. Of those 50 students, 40 were from Occidental’s YCCA chapter. Many of those students are also active in other clubs at Occidental including the Black Student AlYCCA continues on Page 3
President Veitch released a draft of the vision statement for the College on Sept. 16, enumerating Occidental’s goals while focusing on the College’s urban and global identity. On Sept. 20, he held an atcapacity meeting for students, professors, administrators and staff to comment on and offer suggestions for the statement. The one-page statement, intended to convey the College’s plans and priorities for the foreseeable future, has critical implications. “This isn’t just wallpaper,” President Veitch said at the meeting. “There are consequences to this process.” The vision statement refocuses the College and commits to investing in the areas where it can be distinct – on both the urban and global stage. It links the two by commenting on the global nature of Los Angeles, while also renewing the College’s commitment to diversity. The document then moves on, resolving to continually “reinterpreting” and reinvigorating the liberal arts. Once the vision statement is finalized and the committees and task forces involved in shaping it finish their work, discretionary money in the budget will begin to be appropriated based on the conclusions the integrated planning process produces. Veitch acknowledged that this means the College will have to say no to some good initiatives. “Since everything needs to get
done, nothing gets done,” Veitch said, arguing that the College needs to choose areas to focus on. He also asserted that such tough decisions must be made delicately. “We need to make sure everyone feels enfranchised,” he said. Veitch insisted that the tough decisions had to be made in order for the College to accomplish the goal he set for it, which he stated directly in the document’s first line. “Simply put: Occidental College will be recognized as the best urban liberal arts college in the country,” Veitch wrote. Later in the document, he called the vision statement ambitious. However, when President Veitch opened the floor for comments and questions regarding the statement at the meeting, one of the first issues was whether the goal set by Veitch was ambitious enough. One participant noted that there are only a few urban liberal arts colleges in the country that Occidental is competing with for that title. Another asked why “urban” can’t be taken out, to make the goal to be simply the best liberal arts college in the country. Veitch responded candidly, stating that the College’s annual endowment of approximately 300 million dollars pales in comparison to the best liberal arts colleges, many of whom raise in excess of one billion. He argued that, with that limitation, the proposed goal would be unattainable and therefore not a valuable one to try to accomplish. VEITCH VISION continues on Page 3
New Coach Takes the Helm, Leads Women’s Volleyball to Early Wins
Oliver Field
The Occidental volleyball team started the season ranked 23rd in the nation for Division III colleges and has lived up to its high expectations thus far. Led by All-American captain Logan Boyer-Hayse (junior), the women climbed as high as number 22 this past week. Most recently, Occidental defeated Cal Tech at home on Sept. 24 in shutout fashion at 3-0. The Tigers have started the year off on the right foot, winning crucial games against nationallyranked opponents on multiple occasions. On the road against several non-conference teams, the Tigers toppled the 23-ranked Trinity University with a score of 3-1. The next day, the Tigers faced
10-ranked Southwestern University and again came out on top. These big wins against ranked opponents are all the more impressive when considering their tough road schedule. The girls have only had one home game through their first 10 matches. This type of travel usually takes a toll on a team, but the Tigers are staying strong and maintaining their national ranking. New head coach Heather Collins took the helm following a 13year career as an assistant coach at Loyola Marymount University. Collins is off to a great start with the young team. “In order for our team to have success this season, we must compete like the top-25 team we are capable of being,” she said. After conceding their first game to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) school
NEWS ................................... 3 OPINIONS ............................ 4 LETTERS .............................. 5
Master’s College, Occidental went on a win-streak, taking six straight victories against top opposition and earning that desired top 25 ranking. At the Posada Invitational Tournament in Thousand Oaks on Sept. 9 and Sept. 10, the Tigers won four straight games over four strong west coast schools: Willamette, Lewis and Clark, George Fox of Oregon, and Chapman. The team then took a trip to the Trinity National Invitational in Texas, where their tough preseason schedule continued. These early victories created momentum and spirit that fostered a positive attitude amongst the young team, one that they hope to carry into conference play over the coming weeks. Boyer-Hayse, VOLLEYBALL continues on Page 8
FEATURES ............................ 6 A&E ...................................... 8 SPORTS ................................. 10
Chris Ellis Katie Wiese (first-year) spikes the ball over the net and scores for the Tigers.
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THE OCCIDENTAL WEEKLY
- September 28, 2011
THIS WEEK Men’s Soccer vs. Pomona Today, 9/28 - 4:00 p.m. Claremont
Oxy Cinematheque Thursday, 9/29 - 6:30 p.m. Johnson 200
Love Bites Friday, 9/30 - 7:00 p.m. World Famous Comedy Store
Free Magic Mountain Trip Saturday, 10/1 - 11:00 a.m. Meet at Rush Gym
Shogun Warrior Sunday, 10/2 - 9:30 p.m. The Baked Potato
After a tough loss, the Tigers look to recover against Pomona in today’s match.
Screening of Babel, followed by a talk by Prof. Aine O’Healy from Loyola Marymount University.
A celebration of Banned Book Week. Will feature actors from The Office and Dexter.
The Bengal Bus and SAC cosponsor a trip to Six Flags for 21 people.
Fusion/jam superband Shogun Warrior, similar to Phish, performs in Studio City.
INFORMATION: Occidental Athletics
INFORMATION: Student Events Calendar
INFORMATION: Student Events Calendar
INFORMATION: www.voiceplaces.com
INFORMATION: www.voiceplaces.com
IN THE NEWS
This
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AT OXY
IN L.A.
NATIONALLY
GLOBALLY
The Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority Chapter has been hard at work selling Dodger game tickets all month. After reviewing the lucrative profits made the Chapter’s founding year, one of the founding members of the Chapter suggested to the other girls of Gamma to resurrect the fundraiser. The idea proved to be quite successful. The girls made over five hundred dollars in profit, and will continue this fundraiser annually in the years to come. Throughout the summer, the sisters have been selling tickets for $20 a piece, but sales went through the roof once school started and the girls were able to quad-sit. Their hard work paid off as more than 50 people bought tickets, including alumni, faculty and community members. This fundraiser is meant to fund the various projects which the Chapter will bring forth throughout the year. The sisters are aiming to direct proceeds towards different positive impact organizations who undertake critical and beneficial work in the community.
NBC4 LA recently discovered an adult video that features a Los Angeles Fire Department Truck. The video showcases a nearly bare actress lewdly exposing herself in Venice Beach. She then remarks on the quality of the fire truck, which is from Station 63, as she once again exposes herself. Additionally, a fire truck from Station 41 has been used in a different shoot in Hollywood. A departmental investigation into who is responsible for Los Angeles Fire Department vehicles appearing in the film is underway. According to further investigation by NBC4 LA, firefighters may have helped set up the shoot as well as possibly appearing in the video. Representatives of the two alleged stations have not made a comment at this point about the scandal. Mayor Villaraigosa announced that if the fire fighters were indeed involved in instigating the shoot as well as abusing public property, proper disciplinary action will be taken. “It does cause me concern that a film of that type would be filmed anywhere close to city property,” Villaraigosa said. “It’s unacceptable.”
Amos Wayne Richards, 63, embarked on an adventure into the Little Blue Canyon in Utah on Sept. 8 and fell three meters, breaking his leg according to the Washington Post. Canyonlands National Park rangers discovered the man four days later with multiple injuries, sun burns, and various other ailments one would expect to see after a victim had to crawl his way towards survival. Not only did Richards break his leg but he also dislocated his shoulder. “It took me about three or four minutes to work my shoulder and get it back in place, and once I got it back in place, I stood up and realized my ankle hurt a little bit,” Richards said to WBTV in Charlotte, North Carolina. As if from an episode of “Man vs. Wild,” Richards had only limited supplies and food. He did not have cell phone service and his food was limited to two protein bars. For water, the man collected rain in his water bottle. Thankfully, he had a GPS, which he used to trace his steps back to his car. “I was actually following my GPS, crawling right on top of my feet print that I had hiked in on,” Richards said.
On Sunday September 25, the Catalonian region of Spain said adios to bull fighting, one of Spain’s oldest and most iconic social events. Animal rights activists have been speaking out against the practice. Not only is bull fighting considered inhumane by many, but the event is losing patrons, which has resulted in a financial crisis. According to research done by the LA Times, the number of Spanish bull fights has decreased by a 1000 since 2007. The crisis has created a ripple effect in Spain as bull breeders in the countryside have felt the economic toil. Spain seems to be following in the footsteps of Portugal who has taken strides in raising animal cruelty issues and reforming bull fights to reduce cruelty. Not only has opposition risen from within, but the international community has also taken a stance on the issue. With recent votes in May, a referendum to ban the slaughter of bulls was made by Ecuador. President Rafael Correa spearheaded the initiative in hopes of bringing animal cruelty issues into the public spotlight.
REPORTS 4:22 PM Ave 49 & York Blvd. Female student reports she is being followed by an older male in a red Mini-Van. Dispatcher remained on the line with student until responding Officer picked up and escorted student to her residence.
2:06 AM 4909 Range View Ave. (SAE) Received a loud noise complaint coming from the location. Responding Officers advised five students who were playing basketball in the backyard. All students complied by dispersing from the location.
10:58 PM Munson Ave (Halfway House) Observed a social gathering of approximately 25 persons inside the residence. Officers made contact with student tenant and issued “Sanction flyer.” No complaints received.
5:50 PM AGC Rd. & Gilman Rd. General Services Police requested Campus Safety assistance in locating two males, who fled while they were conducting a narcotic investigation. Subjects issued “Trespass Notice.”
10:15 PM N. Bird Road Observed a male acting suspiciously near a parked vehicle. Investigation revealed subject was a student who was involved in an argument with a guest who had locked himself into the car. Subjects were advised and complied by agreeing to complete their conversation after calming down.
Editor in Chief Dean DeChiaro
Managing Editor Aralyn Beaumont Senior Editors Ashly Burch Mitchell J. Cde Baca
EDITORIAL STAFF News Faryn Borella Ryan Strong
Features Sam Ovenshine Kirsten Wright Sports Ryan Graff Juliet Suess Opinions Alexander LaRose Rachel Liesching Arts & Entertainment Cordelia Kenney Ian Mariani
BUSINESS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
EDITORIAL BOARD
Photo Editor Evan Carter
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
9:29 PM Rangeview Hall Campus Dining Staff requested FirstAid material for a cut he sustained at home. Responding Officer provided him with band aids and antiseptic spray.
Occidental College 1600 Campus Road M-40 Los Angeles, California 90041 (323) 259-2886
Senior Layout Editor Christine Lew
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
6:20 PM Pauley Hall Parent of an Oxy student said she was unable to reach daughter by phone. Responding Officer contacted roommate who stated that she was last seen going to class. Roommate will advise her to call her mother.
The Occidental Weekly
10:16 PM Campus Rd. RHOPO Officers stopped one underaged student who was in possession of alcohol. Officers warned student and had him pour out alcohol without incident.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 10:58 PM Munson Ave (Halfway House) Observed three males acting suspiciously near garage. Investigation revealed subjects were Oxy students who were lost looking for an off campus party. No further action required.
11:34 PM Hazelwood Ave. Neighbor reports loud party involving Oxy students at the location. Responding Officers checked entire street but were unable to locate any party.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 1:06 AM Paulhan Ave. Student tenant requests assistance in shutting down party and removing unwanted people from her residence. Responding Officers assisted student tenant by dispersing approximately 200 people from the location. 10:30 AM Stearns Parking Lot Student reports that her vehicle was vandalized with eggs and shaving cream. Incident report submitted.
10:22 PM Erdman Hall Staff requested that an Officer meet them in the lobby to confiscate a marijuana bong from a room. Incident report filed.
Advertising Manager Tucker Eason Business Manager Andreas Bloomquist Communications Director Arielle Darr
Founded in 1893, the Occidental Weekly is the official newspaper of Occidental College. Published by the Associated Students of Occidental College, the Weekly is distributed to 2,000 faculty, staff, students, parents and community members every Wednesday during the academic year.
RESOURCES If you would like The Occidental Weekly to cover a story, please write to weekly@oxy.edu, contact a section editor, or call The Occidental Weekly office. If you would like to write a letter to The Occidental Weekly to express an opinion or address a current event, please e-mail weekly@ oxy.edu. Letters are capped at 700 words.
THE OCCIDENTAL WEEKLY
September 28, 2011 -
Recording Studio Opens For Student Use
Jake Steele Professor Bruno Louchouarn sits in the new cramped RAWRecords Studio.
Jake Steele
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AWRecords (RAWR), a new Occidental record label, opened the College’s first professional-style recording studio last Monday for student use. RAWR provides a means for non-music majors to record, produce and collaborate on making their music.
The recording studio is located in a small room in the Keck Language Studio, but has to share this space with foreign language students who use the room to submit podcasts. “I wanted this to be a music collective where ideas and equipment could be shared by artists,” founding member of RAWR Ryan Bartecki (junior) said.
ASOC gave RAWR $1,500 last spring to buy equipment and software for the studio, including music-editing programs, microphones, hard drives and instruments. The leadership team then began searching for a space. Advisor for the club and Cognitive Science and Music Professor Bruno Louchouarn obtained the room where RAWR now resides. However, the room is not exactly what the club had hoped for. “It is like a big closet,” Louchouarn said. He stated that two people can barely fit in the room. One of RAWR’s main goals is to find its own space independent of other departments and organizations. Keck has priority on the space which requires RAWR to work around its schedule. RAWR plans on asking for more funds every semester for new equipment and programs. One hope is to be able to buy equipment that would allow for live DJ-ing as well. “In the future, we hope to release RAWRecords albums, composed entirely of student created and produced works, to be distributed around campus,” Bartecki
said. According to President Redd Barua-Norton (junior), the album would be available as a free download and would cost a minimal amount as a CD. The organization will also create a blog so that members can showcase their newest tracks. RAWR hopes to promote its members by sending their material to radio stations and local labels, as well as pushing for collaboration with local bands and DJs. Upon learning about the new studio, many students were excited about the prospect of having a dedicated studio. “As a struggling artist, RAWRecords provides me the equipment that I can find nowhere else because it is so expensive,” Jack Moreau (junior) said. “I can use professional equipment instead of bootleg versions of Ableton with terrible midi keyboards I find.” RAWRecords is open Monday through Friday from 5 to 11 p.m. and on Sunday from 5 p.m. to midnight. To use the studio contact BaruaNorton at baruanorton@oxy.edu or Louchouarn at blouchou@oxy.edu.
Student Organizations on Edge about Palestinian Bid for Statehood Clark Scally
Occidental students watched closely as Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, submitted a bid for statehood to the United Nations last Friday. Two student organizations on campus, J Street U Occidental and OneVoice, focus their efforts on this conflict, pushing for cooperation and peace. Both organizations hosted events this past week, including movie screenings and live panel debates, to inform the student body on the current state of affairs and to provide a forum for discussion. “Both J Street and One Voice want a peaceful two state solution. We both support a bilaterally negotiated resolution to the [Israeli-Palestinian] conflict” Vice-President of J Street Jessie Salter (sophomore) said. J Street U Occidental is a chapter of
a larger, national organization - J Street. The organization’s website calls their views “Pro-Israel, Pro-Peace, Pro-Democracy, Pro-Two States, Pro-Justice, Pro-Human Rights, Pro-Palestinian Progressive vision for Israel.” J Street officially opposes the Palestinian UN bid. “Nothing on the ground will be different over night based on the UN resolution,” Salter said. “What we here at J Street are really afraid of is unnegotiated action like the UN bid has the potential of provoking violence from the extremes of both sides, and so we feel that ultimately that this will not move us towards a peaceful two-state solution, but could lead us farther way.” Members of J Street U Occidental have been calling Congressman for the 31st district Xavier Becerra, asking him to sign on to the Price-Welch Letter, which urges members of the U.S. government to not cut aid to Palestinians.
The drafters of the letter, Congressman Price (D-NC) and Congressman Welch (D-VT), believe that doing so would hinder the peace process. “Supporting the Price-Welch letter is very effective politically. It’s a fight we can actually win,” Salter said. Meanwhile, One Voice, an international organization advocating for cooperation and a two-state solution, supports the bid. “A Palestinian State will solidify the viability of a peaceful two state solution,” CEO of OneVoice Howard Sumka said in an official stance essay submitted to every college chapter. “The granting of statehood in a crucial international body provides an opportunity for Palestine, Israel, and the International community to recognize the legitimacy of Palestinian leadership,” President of Occidental’s chapter of OneVoice Marissa Robbins (junior) said. “Though perhaps simply symbolic
on the ground, the action further propels Israeli and international leaders to support Palestinian efforts, hold their politicians accountable for seeking peace efforts, and ultimately moving the peace process forward.” In order for Palestine to be admitted as a member state, it needs the approval of the 15-member United Nations Security Council. Any Council recommendation for membership would then need a two-thirds majority vote in the 193-member General Assembly for final approval. Both J Street and OneVoice hope to raise higher campus awareness of this critical international issue in the coming days. “This is especially important at Oxy, such a small school,” Salter said. “This issue is huge.This is not just a Jewish issue, this is not just an issue for proIsraelis or pro-Palestinians. It’s so much more than that.”
YCCA Aims to Expand its Political Influence in Los Angeles YCCA From Front Page liance and Student Labor Action Committee. The remaining 10 were from Growing Youth Growing Justice L.A. (GYGJ), a satellite group of YCCA for local high school students. In total, YCCA and GYGJ made up half of the protesters in attendance that Thursday. “We saw the great disparity between the socioeconomic classes and how the impoverished people struggled to gain access to good food,” Eagle Rock High School (ERHS) student and GYGJ youth organizer Isaac O’Leary said of his organization’s founding. The partnership between Occidental’s YCCA chapter and GYGJ began after Occidental students began working with an ERHS horticulture class. The organization then worked on a summer program with interested high school students, and GYGJ was formed. “Over the summer, Guido had a
project that empowered young people from Eagle Rock High School to build our own political views of social, economic, racial and food-related injustices in Los Angeles,” GYGJ student organizer Jasmine Quintana said. Occidental’s chapter of YCCA was officially founded less than six months earlier, in February 2011. Students were spurred into action after participating in the winter 2010 New Orleans “Rebirth” project. YCCA’s central goals include sustained commitment to correcting social injustices, community organizing and youth empowerment. Its mission is to encourage radical political analysis that engages youth in community organizing, education for liberation and a collective struggle toward justice. Girgenti emphasizes that YCCA values collective political action over community service and notes the critical distinction. Echoing Professor Dreier’s sentiments, Girgenti stresses that YCCA wants to unite students as equals across social, racial economic and generational boundaries.
Giovanna Bettoli Students assemble in front of City Hall to protest during Hunger Action Day L.A.
“If we want to be radical, we need to look at the root of the problem,” Girgenti said. YCCA is one among several other groups at Occidental whose central aim is social justice. MECha/ALAS, BSA and SLAC—also in attendance at the march—have done work in the L.A. community to promote justice. Professor Drier points to SLAC’s recent achievement that brought nonsweatshop “Alta Gracia” clothing to the Occidental Bookstore.
While Dreier, Tranquada and a number of students, faculty and staff have doubts about Occidental’s ranking as ‘most radical,’ Girgenti, YCCA and GYGJ members remain optimistic. “Hopefully, with this rising student movement that is multi-institutional, multi-racial and multi-issue, we can engage youth in struggles toward equity and move toward this goal of being a robust and radical campus,” Girgenti said.
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Community Members Share Opinions at Meeting VeitchVision From Front Page Another issue touched on by numerous participants was the “objectification” of Los Angeles. The vision statement refers to Los Angeles as an “open-air laboratory” and “object of study;” two phrases some thought could be improved upon to better characterize the relationship between Occidental and Los Angeles. One suggestion was to use the word “reciprocity.” The one-page document does mention Los Angeles multiple times. Three of the first four sentences are devoted, exclusively, to reciting characteristics of L.A. and the surrounding area. A quantitative content analysis of the College’s vision statement revealed that there were five references to Occidental itself in the first two paragraphs. Those same two paragraphs contained eight references to the location of the College. Keywords used to conduct the analysis were, “Occidental, the College, campus and the institution, city, Los Angeles, urban and Southern California.” The relationship between the College’s old mission statement and the new vision statement, specifically whether the new would supplant the old, was also at issue. One participant noted that the one main concept in the mission statement absent from the vision statement’s draft is “equity.” President Veitch reaffirmed his commitment to equity and explained how the mission statement and the vision statement were distinct. Finally, President Veitch shared his own concern with the integrated planning process to the meeting’s attendees. Veitch worried that new programs or initiatives the College should pursue face uphill climbs as they compete with embedded programs and their respective constituencies. He said that such a dynamic, if it plays out, “locks us into inertia.” “Everything we have now is embedded in our history,” Veitch said, noting that these programs have solid constituencies at the College. “What happens where there is no constituency?” The College meeting is the beginning to the end of a comprehensive process of college review that is in its third year. Supported by a $700,000 Mellon Grant, the initiative has included three committees and at least 14 different task forces, with many groups carrying in excess of 10 members. “There has been an extraordinary amount of effort put together,” Dean of the College and Vice President of Academic Affairs Jorge Gonalez said. The committees and task forces have been documenting their progress on OxyPedia. Their work can be viewed by clicking the link that says “Integrated Planning Site.” President Veitch concluded the meeting by sharing renderings of what a renovated Johnson Hall would look like. A $5 million donation has guaranteed that the renovation will closely follow the completion of Swan Hall. Johnson will become an international center, featuring a high-ceiling common area, a new and innovative Johnson 200 to host distinguished guest speakers and more. The identity of the donor has not yet been made public.
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- September 28, 2011
OPINIONS
THE OCCIDENTAL WEEKLY
Campus Safety Should Open the Window to Community SamVan Buren
I
n a time when going green is becoming increasingly necessary, Campus Safety should explore energy-saving and cost-cutting alternatives to their patrol cars as a means to improve their interactions with the Occidental community. Communication between Campus Safety and students is essential in strengthening an already close bond between the two groups, and new eco-friendly vehicles can facilitate an improvement. While the officer’s uniform might bring to mind the classic image of authority or “the establishment,” Campus Safety officers are actually friendly, personable individuals who want to engage with students. However, the day-to-day interactions, or the lack there of, between officers and students reinforce a feeling of disconnect between the parties. Campus Safety’s use of automobiles plays a significant role in separating students from officers, and the addition of some open air electric vehicles, similar to golf carts, could rectify this situation. Campus Safety officers at other colleges and universities around the nation have begun to utilize alternate modes of transportation that put them in close-contact with students and the public. In addition to SUVs, USC’s public safety department uses Segway-like vehicles that are emissions-free and allow officers to cruise around sidewalks, academic quads and parking lots with ease. The use of these vehicles allows for daily conversation and contact with officers that makes them people, not uniforms. This is essential in building a strong relationship between those responsible for securing the campus and students. While Occidental’s security needs differ from USC’s, the importance of communication and environmentally responsible policies are similar at both institutions.
Despite the increased accessibility and decreased emissions associated with electric carts, Campus Safety maintains that the cost of these vehicles is prohibitive for Occidental and could sacrifice officer safety. Campus Safety relies on its vehicles to conduct patrols in the neighborhood and on the campus perimeter at night, which are not ideal situations for using electric carts. Thus far the department has acquired three hybrid patrol cars, which is a significant step forward in reducing vehicle emissions associated with the department’s patrols. “Officers need a place to retreat to in a dangerous situation,” Campus Safety Director Holly Nieto said when asked about the use of electric carts instead of cars. Although the department certainly relies on cars for some situations, this does not mean that alternative vehicles do not have a place on campus. During the summer, several officers patrol the campus on bicycles, which makes them far more approachable and integrated within the greater campus community. Adding electric carts to Campus Safety’s fleet would extend this level of interaction into the academic year when it is most beneficial for the campus community. Campus Safety officers consistently make an effort to engage students in a friendly, respectful manner; however, they can only do this when they are actually in contact with students. While patrol cars are an important part of Campus Safety’s vehicle fleet, they are not particularly environmentally friendly and keep officers isolated from students. If Campus Safety cannot procure electric vehicles then officers should ride with the windows down, smiling, giving friendly hand signals and head nods and students should do the same.
If Occidental students designed the perfect Campus Safety officer...
Sam Van Buren is an undelcared sophomore. He can be reached at vanburen@oxy.edu
Mike Kralovich
The Melting Pot or Not, Learning English is Imperative Alexander LaRose Despite its checkered past with respect to its treatment of immigrants, the United States is a nation built upon the ideals of freedom and the American dream. People from all walks of life and all corners of the globe have sought new beginnings in the United States. In the past, America has been considered a melting pot in which various cultures mixed together and broke down to form a single, unified culture; however, America is now considered a salad bowl that tosses various customs together without the creation of a cohesive new identity. Whatever the metaphor and whichever the era, the most successful immigrants are those who embrace American culture and make a wholehearted effort to learn the native language, English. Without knowledge of language,
it is impossible to communicate effectively. From a practical perspective, the choice not to learn English after a long stay in the U.S. is asinine. Attempting to function on a daily basis while at the mercy of translators or another individual’s limited knowledge of one’s native tongue prevents assimilation into a new society. In the past three to four decades the idea of America as a “melting pot” has given way to the notion of a “salad bowl,” which does not include the creation of a shared vision of society. To an extent, the difference between the metaphors is semantic, as both involve a combination of cultures, but the increasing popularity of the salad bowl ignores the pragmatism of the melting pot. Immigrants’ beliefs and traditions are an important part of their identity, yet when people choose to leave their homeland they must
make certain sacrifices so that they idea, at least in this respect, is nonmay prosper in a new land. In or- negotiable if an immigrant wants to der for a society to function in har- have a happy, financially stable life mony, its members must all have a in the United States. strong faith in the principles that Acquiring the native language of anchor the American tradition and the destination country is an essenthe ability to converse in the same tial aspect of assimilation, as faillanguage. ing to do so results in an inability to Americans value technologi- gain employment or have meaningcal process, ful interactions with m o d e r n the majority of socimedicine, While language Individuals must take ety. freedom skills are essential, responsibility for their the melting pot conand the opportunity to cept places so much futures. start with emphasis upon nothing and adopting American build a betideals that it may ter life. sacrifice certain benefits that are The stories of immigrants like associated with immigrants mainSergey Brin, one of the founders taining their culture. of Google, and former Attorney When immigrants learn English, General Alberto Gonzales, who yet retain their native language was the grandson of Mexican im- and pass the native language on to migrants, exemplify the American children, American society benefits dream. Assumption of these values because it has more diverse and and acceptance of the melting pot well educated citizens who will
contribute to the nation’s growth and prosperity, both domestically and abroad. The complementary aspects of immigrants’ culture undeniably have a place in American society. Pragmatically, an understanding of English is essential for engaging in daily life, while it is also a part of the larger process of assimilating within American culture. Asymmetric language skills have placed immigrants at a tremendous disadvantage in the U.S. throughout the past two centuries, yet at this juncture there is no reason for this problem to persist. Individuals must take responsibility for their futures and make the necessary investments of time and resources to insure that they do not place themselves or their family members at a disadvantage. Alexander LaRose is a senior economics major. He can be reached at larose@oxy.edu
THE OCCIDENTAL WEEKLY
September 28, 2011 -
Students’ Weekend Exodus OffCampus is Unsustainable
Overly Politicized, Under Analyzed
The flap over Taiwan’s F-16’s
Jack McHenry
Last week the Obama administration made the decision not to sell advanced F-16 fighter aircraft to Taiwan. According to the New York Times, this decision was made much to the chagrin of legislators on both sides of the aisle, but to Republicans in particular. Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas was quoted on Friday, Sept. 16, saying, “Today’s capitulation to Communist China by the Obama administration marks a sad day in American foreign policy, and it represents a slap in the face to a strong ally and longtime friend.” Since the Communist victory in 1949, China and Taiwan have harbored great enmity for one another, while Taiwan faces the constant threat of invasion by China. At a glance, the Obama administration’s decision could appear to be just that: the denial of assistance to a long-time democratic ally. However, upon further examination, it becomes clear that the United States under the Obama administration has provided substantial aid to Taiwan, and the criticism is largely nonsensical and partisan. It is important to note that the U.S. has continued to provide military support to Taiwan despite the uproar over the decision not to sell F-16s. In January 2010, the U.S. sold $6.4 billion worth of weapons, military vehicles and technology to Taiwan as part of the U.S. commitment to supporting the democratic island off the coast of China. Any claim that this assistance is insignificant or “a slap in the face” to Taiwan fails to take that massive funding commitment into account. Despite the partisan nature of this debate in the U.S., when George W. Bush was faced with the decision whether or not to assist in upgrading Taiwan’s aircraft, he made the same decision that President Obama made just last week: no new jets. The consistency across presidential administrations indicates that American policy with respect to military aid for Taiwan has
not changed with President’s Obama’s administration. Much of the domestic criticism of President Obama’s decision is tied to pork barrel, self-interested politics. According to the New York Times, two legislators, Senator John Cornyn, RTexas, and Senator John Menendez, DNew Jersey, have begun work on a law that would require the U.S. to provide Taiwan with sufficient arms to defend itself, whatever that may mean. The senators who began work on the Taiwan arms legislation both have a vested interest in the continued manufacture of F-16s, as their states are home to companies that manufacture the aircraft. Although Taiwan has long been an ally of the United States, it seems that most of the critics of President Obama’s decisions are more interested in bringing home the bacon for their states than assisting Taiwan. There is nothing wrong with looking out for the interests and well-being of constituents, but it is unacceptable when this kind of shortsighted porkbarrel thinking works its way into the debate over what is important for U.S. foreign policy. Criticism based on partisan allegiances appears even more shortsighted. The trend in politics today seems to be toward overly-politicized and under-analyzed criticism of important policy decisions. A senator from Texas does not need to criticize this recent decision on the basis of clinging to the simplistic notion of supporting democratic Taiwan in the face of communist China, when in reality, the Obama administration is still providing significant support to Taiwan. Going forward, when faced with issues that truly matter in international politics, politicians should take the time to act based on diplomacy and what is in the best interest of the country, not the party line- or worse, their wallets. Jack McHenry is a senior DWA major. He can be reached at jmchenry@ oxy.edu
tial and those who purchased homes in Eagle Rock did so with the knowledge that they would be near a colSince Occidental’s founding in lege. 1887, the surrounding town of Eagle A consequence of this social dyRock has grown into a well-popunamic is evident from the several lated Los Angeles neighborhood, a party-related noise complaints to far cry from its pastoral roots. With Campus Safety and the Los Angethe growth of both Eagle Rock and les Police Department this semester the College, the administration has from frustrated residents. If the Colreached out to the greater community lege were to embrace an on-campus in hopes of establishing a respectsocial culture that includes greater ful, interactive relationship tolerance for moderate alcowith Eagle Rock residents. hol consumption and high Although the College has esdecibel gatherings, then some ...policies that result in students of these conflicts would distablished many community involvement programs that congregating in off-campus housing appear. Embracing students’ employ students as tutors, desire to blow off some steam educators and mentors, there on the weekends must be reworked. at the end of the week, and remains a significant disconallowing them to do it on nect between Occidental and campus, will stem the flow of its surrounding residential students into the Eagle Rock area. If the administration is serious dents are only allowed to engage in neighborhood on weekends. about strengthening a mutually re- substance-free and quiet activities on Occidental’s outreach initiatives spectful relationship with the Eagle campus, many students consequently are undeniably effective in aiding the Rock community, policies that result filter into Eagle Rock each weekend youth in the immediate area; howin students congregating in off-cam- in search of a less supervised envi- ever, in order to fortify the relationpus housing on the weekends must be ronment. Unfortunately, the influx of ship between the greater community reworked. students inevitably disrupting the re- and Occidental, the College cannot Despite the significant divide spectful balance between the College rely merely on these nurturing probetween the College and the com- and the immediate neighborhood. grams. The administration needs to munity, which results from a pre- While it is understood that not ev- recognize that college students are dominately off-campus student social ery student prefers a more boisterous constructing their own paths to reculture, Occidental boasts an impres- social atmosphere on weekends, the sponsible adulthood during their time sive history of promoting commu- majority of students favor environ- at Occidental, and social experimennity outreach initiatives throughout ments where they can surround them- tation is unavoidably part of this matEagle Rock and neighboring areas. selves with other students. uration process. The College currently offers six In prohibiting the majority of the These behaviors need to be almajor programs that reach out to student population from conduct- lowed to take place within the paramthe larger community, including the ing this typical college behavior on eters of the campus so that students Community Literacy Center, which campus, the College is forcing its do not come into conflict with the provides one-on-one tutoring for il- students upon the Eagle Rock com- Eagle Rock residents and do not risk literate members of the greater Los munity, creating tension between stu- their personal safety. Angeles area, and Upward Bound, dents and residents. This “us versus Some patience and understanda program that helps over 100 low- them” mentality is perpetuated when ing on both ends, along with some income, first generation high school the residential community in turn re- rethinking about the College’s onstudents attend college. In his two sents the student population as peo- campus policies, could go a long way years at Occidental, President Veitch ple who have invaded their domestic toward merging the Occidental and has continued to place outreach ini- space and disrespected their commu- Eagle Rock communities into a suptiatives at the top of the agenda. Last nity, viewing students as entitled and portive and communal environment. February, President Veitch met with a uncaring. reporter from the Eagle Rock Patch On the other hand, Occidental was Sam Byrne is an undeclared sophto discuss his plans to improve rela- established before the surrounding omore. She can be reached at sbytions between the College and its area became predominantly residen- rne@oxy.edu
Sam Byrne
LETTERS Dear Editor, I am writing in response to Sarah Spinuzzi’s opinion article, “iPads are Not the Answer for ResEd’s Dysfunction.” I first wanted to correct the misconception that ResEd is the only department that received iPads- many professional staff members in most departments did, and their specific funds were not used for the purchase. Instead, the budget for the new technology was allocated to each department by the school at large- a statement that was made on the Oxy Housing Facebook page this summer, so the “reasoning behind the acquisition” had actually already been stated before the publication of this article. Secondly, Ms. Spinuzzi cites “ResEd’s failure to maintain an open discussion with students on a variety of issues.” ResEd has been trying to support such a discussion- if anyone has any issues they would like to raise, there are weekly feedback sessions held every Thursday at 8:00, rotating through different buildings. If you want to attend one, your RA has a list of locations. In addition, after Room
Draw every year, ResEd holds student feedback sessions in order to plan the following year’s room draw. While there would be benefits to an online system, the ResEd staff would be happy to explain why they did not make that particular choice, as they have several times before. Finally, Ms. Spinuzzi criticizes one of the “bad residential policies”: that “financial aid packages would be reduced if students moved off campus.” This is not, in fact, a ResEd policy, but an issue with the Office of Financial Aid that needs to be resolved within that department. As always, I caution all students against blaming ResEd for policies (such as the three-year live-on requirement) that are not created within ResEd, simply because they are one of the departments that is the most visible to students. Ariana Moseley (Senior, Group Languages) Resident Advisor, Berkus House
Dear Editor, I am absolutely outraged by the news that ResEd recently purchased
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six iPads for its staff. But, to be honest, such a ludicrous move does not surprise me. During my three-plus years at Oxy, no group of people has frustrated me more than those who work for Residential Education. Their policies are outrageous—only in their dorms is it apparently illegal for four 21-yearolds to share a 12-pack of beer while playing video games. Their programs are lacking—can anyone explain what their purpose was of bringing in someone to make those balloon things that sat in “AGC” for months last year? And their professionalism is nearly nonexistent—where else in the world is it okay to only post important information like Room Draw numbers on Facebook? Yet apparently, even with all the complaints—both private and public—that students make against ResEd on a daily basis (remember those ridiculous ResEd = Gaddafi posters?), they still feel compelled to piss us off further by purchasing six $499 iPads. But why? What is the reason for this? How can this possibly benefit our campus living experience? Will dropping almost three-grand on fancy new toys suddenly open up more rooms so that students aren’t forced into triples again next year? How about pushing
surrounding area. “We want to create an overlay for the community that makes sense for them, as well as us... we want to keep them close to us,” Veitch said. While the idea of maintaining a close bond with the greater community is a sensible start to strengthening relations, students have overstepped boundaries of good judgment within the residential community and subsequently angered residents. Since stu-
back the Room Draw date so that upper-class students like myself actually have time to weigh the option of living off campus with their given financial aid packages—will iPads be able to do that? This move is absolutely absurd, especially given that Oxy’s room and board fee now falls into the “high” category in U.S. News’ list of college costs, and that ResEd so aggressively charged students for damage in rooms last year ($60 for “chair scuffs on floor”; give me a break). How could these people have the senselessness, the arrogance, the audacity to go out and purchase six iPads without justification? Oh wait. I almost forgot. They’re ResEd. Josh Throckmorton (Senior, American Studies)
Dear Editor, We are writing in response to Issue 1’s article entitled “Violent Crimes Lead to Questions About Emergency Protocols.” We are disappointed with The Weekly’s coverage of the “gun-
man incident” that occurred on Alumni on July 27th. The authors wrote that the OxyAlert system was not activated to immediately inform the campus of the situation. As two students who were unintentionally caught in the perimeter set up by LAPD, we feel that an OxyAlert would have been both unnecessary and would have compromised the integrity of the OxyAlert system. An OxyAlert could have provoked unnecessary panic on campus and interfered with LAPD’s handle on the situation. If OxyAlert was activated every time there was an incident like the one on July 27th within a mile of campus, we would receive an alert nearly every week. We would like to defend the actions of Campus Safety in this incident; we feel that the campus does not give enough credit to Campus Safety - in this situation and in general. Simply put, Campus Safety is charged with the duty of protecting the campus and its students from any harm. They operate under a motto of mutual respect, and it’s about time we start respecting our Campo officers and their protocol. Sincerely, Nora Utevsky (Junior, Geology) and Sarah Duer (Junior, DWA)
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THE OCCIDENTAL WEEKLY
- September 28, 2011
FEATURES
Giovanna Bettoli “Robert Ward’s years with the Music Department have given our students invaluable experience. His international career is a model of what it is to live a rich musical life — as a pianist, conductor, director of festivals, master teacher, Professor Ward has done it all.” — Professor Irene Girton, Music Dept. Chair
Connecting Cultures Through Concertos
Austrian government honors Professor Ward for service in the Arts Mirin Fader
T
hirty years ago, Austria established a number of councils within the United States to unite existing Austrian clubs and associations. Seventeen years ago, to celebrate the friendship and cultural contributions and relationships between Austria and the U.S., President Clinton declared September 26 Austrian-American Day. This September, in honor of Austrian-American day and the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Austrian-American Council of North America, the Council introduced an “In Recognition of Extraordinary Service” award for individuals who have contributed extensively to fostering Austrian-American artistic and cultural exchanges. Last weekend, an Occidental professor became the first-ever recipient of this noteworthy award. “I was quite surprised, but nonetheless very touched and quite pleased. It was a beautiful event,” Professor Robert Ward, piano professor in the Occidental Music Department, said. He recently received an “In Recognition of Extraordinary Service” award from the AustrianAmerican Council for his advocacy of music and longtime work as the Artistic Advisor to the Council. The Austrian-American Council of North America connects Austria with the United States in a variety of ways to promote cultural, educational and humanitarian values between the two nations. “[The Council] fosters good will and better understanding between the people of Austria and the United States,” the official website for the Council explains. Austrian cultural events like a chamber music concert Ward arranged featuring performers
on tour with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra last February are frequently sponsored by the Council. Ward has contributed to this cultural exchange by facilitating the process of bringing noteworthy Austrian musicians to Los Angeles and, more recently, by annually taking a group of talented young musicians to perform and study in Vienna under the guidance of Austrian musicians. A strong passion for Viennese culture, history and music has permeated Ward’s work as a musician from a young age. After studying Viennese composers during his formative years as a student, he was able to study music in Vienna, deepening his connection to the city and its arts. “Vienna provided an expressive framework for my music making and formed aspirations which have guided me ever since. And compelled me to take the next steps,” he said in an interview with Connect: U-S-A, the newsletter of the Austrian Consulate General. Ward began to bridge Austrian and American cultures during his time as vice president of the California State Music Teacher’s Association in the early 1990s. During this time, he brought many Austrian musicians and artists to California to perform, lecture and conduct master classes at state conventions. And always, he brought them to the Occidental campus for a weekend seminar. Ward eventually began coordinating such intercultural events at the national level and received a presidential commendation for “outstanding service to the Music Teachers National Association” for international outreach. “Cultural exchange is a powerful tool for uniting people,” he said. “Music can connect people. It’s a language. Fewer misunderstandings would happen if we spoke music.”
Considering this, Ward decided that reversing this process could be an even greater method of exchange. To accomplish this, he co-founded Concert*Fest*Austria with Austrian musician Robert Lehrbaumer ten years ago and has been organizing the festival every summer since. “It’s a wonderful international mix of students,” Ward said. “We develop a musical family. We encourage everyone to do their best. It’s a very supportive program.” The festival provides motivated musicians with an invaluable opportunity to learn in Vienna, home to some of the world’s most famous musicians and composers. The students take private lessons, attend classes and of course, experience the historic musical heart of the city firsthand. The unique experience even includes walking tours of the city led by Professor Ward. “You won’t get the same experience in America as you would walking the streets of Mozart,” Ward said. “There is a connection you will feel with the music when you are there. The students get to be at the source of the music. It is very spiritual for those who deeply care for art.” Professor Ward enjoys bringing eager musicians to Austria, aiming to share his own experience studying abroad in Vienna as an undergraduate student with an upcoming younger generation of artists. “When I see the looks on students’ faces in awe of the music, their professors and deeply moved by the atmosphere, I remember myself feeling that same way 40 years ago when I was in Vienna,” he said. This sentiment was clear in his acceptance speech for the AustrianAmerican Council award, where he expressed his devotion to artistic cross-cultural exchange. “The award represents your rec-
ognition of our common mission: to promote cultural exchange between Austria and America,” he said. “One of the most important gifts we can give the world is the sharing of those miracles of human expression which we call ‘the Arts.’” Indeed, Professor Ward has been sharing the art of music, working with students both around the globe and locally. Currently, Ward is Professor of Chamber Music at the California Institute of Technology, Professor of Piano at California State University Los Angeles, and Piano Professor at Occidental, where he has taught for the past 20 years. One piano student, Biochemistry major Evan Choate (junior), expressed his appreciation for Ward’s passionate teaching style.
“One of the most important gifts we can give the world is the sharing of those miracles of human expression which we call ‘the Arts.’’
— Professor Ward
“He’s helped make piano fun again by teaching me important piano skills and by exposing me to a wide variety of piano repertoire... Mainly, though, I like his enthusiasm for music, a characteristic that rubs off onto me every lesson,” he said. Alexis Holmes (sophomore) explained how Ward tailors his teaching style to fit the needs of each student. “He uses sports for me to get me to understand music because I am an athlete and that really helps make his points relatable for me, so I learn
much more effectively,” she said. In turn, Professor Ward values the sense of cultural awareness and diversity that is prevalent at Occidental. “I’m very comfortable at Oxy,” he said. “It’s not just an isolated enclave focused on itself. Oxy always reaches out.” No matter where and to whom Ward is teaching, he is deeply passionate about sharing his knowledge and love of music. “I wanted to pass my experience in Vienna on,” he said. “That was 40 years ago. The torch is passed now. My professors have passed away. Now I’m one of those professors. It’s always a very emotional moment for me.” Despite having toured internationally as a soloist and, more recently, conducted orchestras, Ward emphasizes his enthusiasm not just for performing, but for teaching music and providing experiences for young, budding musicians. “It’s very important to do something for the next group coming along. That’s why I’m a teacher. I love it. It’s my calling,” he said. As Professor Ward reflects on his 30-year music teaching career after another summer of teaching in Austria, he hopes to continue sharing his passion for music with the world. “Music is one of those things that no matter how old you get, there is energy and love in pursuing it,” he said. “As a professor and musician, my mission is to make sure the arts survive. They are invaluable to society.” Professor Ward said his love for music and music instruction is inexhaustible, despite the already long length of his successful career. “People ask me, ‘When are you going to retire?’” he said. “I don’t think I could ever retire from being a musician.”
THE OCCIDENTAL WEEKLY
September 28, 2011 -
7
Room Damages: Disputes and Disclosures
Controversial process produces friction between staff and students Chelsea Kellogg For many students facing their residence hall check-in at the beginning of the term, the room condition report (R.C.R.) listing damages in their new digs seems like a chore, involving more tedious paperwork. Last summer, however, some students learned firsthand the costly consequences of brushing over these compulsory damage checks. Many students were stunned in mid-May to learn that Residential Education and Housing Services (RedEd) was charging them for extensive room damages. In the week after graduation, ResEd flooded students’ inboxes with high-priced fines to repair dorm room damages. According to Michelle Saldana, Assistant Director of Housing Services, the most common of these damages included marks and scratches on floors and doors, missing window screens, peeling paint and dirty refrigerators, with fines varying from $25 to several hundred dollars. “Absolutely preposterous charges,” Rebecca Rodriguez (junior) said. “Nearly all of the charges that I had acquired were damages committed prior to me even occupying the room, one of which included a charge for the window not staying up, which I remember putting in a work order for. All the charges seemed to be forced in the sense that there was no actual damage and ResEd just wanted money from me.” For Rodriguez and many other students saddled with fines, the high cost and sheer number of room repairs seemed suspicious. Tim Chang, Assistant Dean of Students for Residential Education and Housing Services, explained that any surplus collected from room charges does not stay with ResEd. “Damage charges are dictated by the damages that were done. So if there are no damages, there are
no damage charges. We strive for this to be the case each and every year. Once the damage funds are collected, they are turned over fully to Facilities to repair the damages. ResEd does not hold any of the funds as a surplus,” Chang said. Many students last year paid little or no attention to the room condition report—behavior which may have caught up with them later. “During the initial check-in process, students weren’t reviewing their R.C.R.s as closely as they should have been,” Saldana said. “At the end of the year we would show up, and it’s not there on the R.C.R., so we have to process the charge.” First-time R.A. Zach Ehmann (sophomore) thinks he knows why students fail to give room condition reports adequate attention. “The R.C.R. form can be a little overwhelming when you are dealing with move-in and all the other over-stimulation associated with coming back to school,” Ehmann said. Some students believe they weren’t properly warned about their liability or the cost associated with common damages. According to ResEd, a nail left in the wall will cost both roommates $50. Failure to remove putty or adhesives from the wall costs another $50. Marks on the front door, even on the outward-facing side, is also $50, which is again charged to both roommates. Whenever damage is found in a room, Reslife initially charges all residents the full cost of the damage. If one of the roommates owns up to causing the damage, the other will have the charge reversed on his or her student account. If both of the roommates admit to causing the damage, ResEd refunds each student half the charge. One R.A. in an upperclassman hall who declined to be named said ResEd checked rooms for damage more thoroughly last summer than in years past. “In my residence hall the amount of damage was similar
The Price is Right?
Marks on Door $50.00
Marks on Wall $50.00
Dirty Floor $50.00
Nail in Wall $50.00
Room Damage Charges at Private Institutions to years past, but there were Occidental Brown Notre Dame Whittier Stanford Middlebury Bowdoin many charges $200 $150 $360 $25 $279 $161-450 $245 Bed frame that would 250 150 100 175 128 60-140 142 Chair not have been 50/hr. 100 100 35 50 * ≥ 92 100 Cleaning, room charged in pre500 300 350 490 489 185-265 424 Desk vious years,” 675 300 350 475 337 210-400 474 Dresser the R.A. said. 50 25 24 4 150 Floor tiles, each At the end 200 150 100 395 169 120 145 Mattress of the semes100 30 75 20 10 101 Mirror 600 250/wall 200 500 100/wall ter, R.A.’s were Paint, walls 100 ≥ 75 75 75 55 25-75 150 Window screen not apprised 85 15 10 175 4-250 36 Wastebasket of the policy 175 ≥ 75 40 65 180 150-400 50 Window blinds tightening and * $50 for room cleaning, $100 for bathroom cleaning. Note: Fixtures may vary between schools. operated on the assumption Source: Respective schools’ residential life and housing websites. that minor infractions would not be charged, just Chang said charges collected year, they could be informed of as in prior years. from students are never used to pay their charges in order to plead their “As a result, many residents for the repair of damages that are case in person. Instead of a checkwere told by their R.A. that they appealed successfully. list, ResEd could take photographs would probably not be charged but “If there is a damage charge of the state of the room at the bewere then charged later by ResEd,” which has been reversed, facilities ginning of the year—leaving no the R.A. said. covers the repair under a general question about which damages are A painless check-out is no guar- wear and tear budget,” he said. new and which developed over the antee that a student will not face During breaks and summers, course of the year. fines. After check-out, students al- non-Occidental affiliated organiThe current communication ways receive a half-sheet of paper zations stay in residence halls for mechanism between students and reminding them that a professional conferences, meeting and special ResEd is generally poor. While durstaff member will later inspect the events. They are likewise subject to ing the year students can pass along room. An R.A.’s assurance that a a room damage contract, and fines grievances through their R.A.s, the room is in good shape has no bear- charged are typically higher than summer appeals process has no ing on this professional inspection. those for students. such mediator. Although the room Saldana said R.A.s should not According to Occidental’s 2011 damage policy is online, the list detell residents there will be no dam- conference planner, provided by tailing the price of each infraction age charges, and students should Hospitality Services, per instance is not. not believe R.A.’s if they do. “They fines for conference groups include ResEd hosts community forums are not the ones that are going to $50 for propped doors and $250 every Thursday at 8 p.m. where determine whether charges are go- for unauthorized heating devices, students can vent frustrations, but ing to be posted on your account,” such as hotplates and irons. Gen- these are poorly attended. In an she said. Graduate hall coordina- eral cleaning is billed at $25 per internal change for this year, R.A. tors, not R.A.s, assess the damage hour per person, plus materials and training now stresses extensive in each room, typically 24 hours overhead. room checks, and the room condiafter check-out. Other schools, such as Brown tion reports were revamped to inThe stricter ResEd standards University and the College of Wil- clude more white space for handled to overlapping, extravagant liam and Mary, have fines and dam- written comments from R.A.s and charges for some residents. U.E.P. age policies similar to Occidental’s. residents. major Jack Moreau (junior) was At Brown, a room condition “This year, ResEd staff (includcharged for a filthy room, a dirty report is filed within the first two ing R.A.s) have been much more sink, dry-erase markers on the mir- days of residency and returned to careful to mark down all defects in ror and personal items left in the an R.A. Subsequently, any dam- the room so that residents are not room. “Most of those things would ages to the dorm room are charged charged for damage they did not all seem to fit under ‘filthy room,’ to a student account and an appeal do,” the anonymous R.A. said. but instead they gave us individual is required to reverse the charges. Ehmann said R.A.s are now cogcharges,” Moreau said. William and Mary differs by charg- nizant that they bear responsibility This sort of discrepancy was ing the students a $75 deposit when to prevent frivolous and excessive common, according to the anony- they move in and refunding their damage charges. mous R.A. “Basic marks on the deposit when they move out. “R.A.s are well-aware that we floor and walls were not charged Although ResEd does not will share part of the blame should in the past, but last year they were. charge students a deposit, it is un- unwarranted charges occur, so we Cleaning charges were also en- clear whether they should be held are doing our best because it’s also forced to a greater extent,“ the R.A. accountable to the guidelines of in our best interest. We don’t want said. the California Department of Con- to let our residents down, and we After damages were identified sumer Affairs (DCA). The DCA don’t want to have to deal with disin May, fines were billed to stu- stipulates that a landlord wishing putes later either,” he said. dent accounts immediately—before to withhold any amount from the Saldana said ResEd made these students had the chance to appeal. security deposit must provide the and other adjustments to prevent a Yady Barajas in Student Business tenant with an itemized list of dam- repeat of last semester. Services explained the reason for ages and receipts proving the cost “The summer was a learning the tight timeline. of repair was as charged. process for all of us. We’re making “Because we have such a short ResEd, which contracts out end- sure we’re establishing the systems time between students leaving the of-the-year room repairs, does not and making sure we’re educating dorm and the next billing statement provide receipts proving the charg- not only the R.A.s., but also the (usually the 15th of the month), we es cost the same amount they billed residents,” she said. request the charges as soon as pos- students. Although her advice comes too sible thereafter,” Barajas said. One Eagle Rock handyman and late for fall semester check-in, SalMost students who were charged landlord who declined to be named dana suggests that residents take appealed in an attempt to reduce or believes the Occidental room dam- time with their room condition reeliminate their charges. age policy is neither unfair nor ex- ports in the future—if experience “We did have the damage appeal orbitant. has not already taught them so. process, and we did reverse a large “The prices seem fair. What you “If you look at the back of the number of charges,” Saldana said. have to understand about organiza- R.C.R., it actually says allow 20 “We received approximately 550 tions [like Occidental] is that their minutes to complete an R.C.R. for appeals. Of those, 75 percent were employees are unionized, and they each room,” she said. reversed.” have to pay them higher wages,” One question still remains as to Thus, many students were he said. “I would charge similar the annual recurrence of room damable to nullify all their charges prices to repaint a room or repair a age charges. “If they actually fix all through appeals. “The appeal pro- scratch.” the damages to a room every year, cess seemed fair in my opinion. I There are solutions that could then how are there still damages to didn’t end up with any charges in minimize student outrage over report on the room condition report my room at all,” Jessica Grenader damage charges. Before students each year?” Alexander King ’10 (junior) said. leave for home at the end of the asked.
THE OCCIDENTAL WEEKLY
8 - September 28, 2011
SPORTS
Fall Club, Intramural Sports Start Out Strong
Club Sports and Intramurals Become More Popular At Occidental Woon Jo has already begun planning for the spring. “We always get a few people requesting inner-tube water polo, so if that got a good response we could move forward with it. We’re also looking at dodgeball or kickball,” he said. Jo added that student input will ultimately determine his decision, so anyone interested in these sports should express that to athletics. The new spring sports will come in addition to the planned spring intramurals of soccer, 5-on-5 basketball, volleyball, team or doubles tennis and possibly outdoor court hockey. Club sports will also see new offerings in the future. Jo has initiated the provisional stage for men’s volleyball and fencing, and if these
teams can fund-raise and prove their abilities to maintain rosters after the founders graduate, they may be added as full club sports. The aforementioned club sports would be added in addition to Occidental’s current eight offerings of men’s and women’s rugby, men’s and women’s ultimate frisbee, Quidditch, men’s lacrosse, cheerleading and dance. Having doubled participation and expanded sports offerings considerably, Jo looks forward to the future of Occidental intramurals and club sports. “We’re constantly trying to grow and evolve, to get better,” he said, “We’re incredibly excited to have so many people participating.” The Intramural and Club sports are looking forward to playing games.
Jai Levin Men’s Ultimate Frisbee is one of the fastest growing club sports at Occidental College and looks to be more competitive this season.
Riley Kimball
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ast Saturday marked the first day of fall intramural sports at Occidental. Adding one new sport each, intramural and club sports are expanding rapidly with the incorporation of singles tennis and Quidditch, respectively. This year, there are 55 teams and over 500 registered participants in club and intramural sports. These participants vary in athletic ability, but intramural sports give them the opportunity to get involved in athletics at Occidental. With so many new programs for this school year, virtually all skill sets will be incorporated in both club and intramural sports. As part of a new program for 2011, Occidental intramurals have partnered with an online service called Athleague, to digitize and
evolve athletic participation. On the website, students can sign up for teams, see schedules, compare statistics and read updates on scores or rain outs. The streamlined system has produced the largest intramural season yet. Club sports, more competitive teams that play against other schools outside of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sanctions, have also grown. Club sports have not only become more popular, but have been largely successful in their conquests. After a two-year provisional process, the Club Sports Council, made up of captains and representatives of each club team, voted unanimously to add Quidditch as an official club sport, which has become a popular sport on campus. Intramural sports and club sports exist between the formality and competitiveness of varsity NCAA
sports and the physical activity clubs that meet just a few times a week. Intramural sports are small leagues of teams composed entirely of Occidental students and staff. “They’re a good way to play sports competitively, which I haven’t gotten to do since high school,” said Conrad Fihn (junior). Club sports require a larger commitment and function much like varsity sports, but they practice slightly less often, exist outside of the NCAA and receive less money from Occidental. “Club sports are amazing because you spend so much time over four years with the same team, and you get really close with a group of people” said Wes Goodman-Levy (senior), who plays club lacrosse in addition to a number of intramurals. With the fall leagues just starting, Recreation Sports Manager Sae
Jai Levin Co-ed Quidditch begins its first year as an official club sport at Occidental College.
Nationally Ranked Volleyball Heats Up In SCIAC Play Volleyball From Front Page
Chris Ellis Jessie Altman (sophomore) sets up Tiger teammate Gwynne Davis (senior) for a spike.
whose play has been incredible according to Collins, and a deep sophomore class provide the young Tigers with results this season and also allows future growth of the program. Despite a narrow loss on the road to the Regals last Wednesday, they will look for revenge in a rematch on Oct. 21 at home. The team is looking for a large home crowd after gaining support from the students, who have noticed their success. Collins feels the girls are on the right track to do big things. “I am looking forward to guiding our team to success both on and off the court,” she said. As the Tigers begin to get in the familiar rhythm of SCIAC volleyball, they can only hope to achieve more success and contest for the league title and a trip to the NCAA tournament. The team will take to the court again on Sept. 30 at 7:30 p.m. as they travel to Whittier College ready to pick up yet another SCIAC victory.
Chris Ellis Stephanie Gann (sophomore) pumps her fist in triumph after a Tiger point against Cal Tech.
THE OCCIDENTAL WEEKLY
September 28, 2011 - 9
SPORTS IN BRIEF Oliver Field
Women’s Soccer
Men’s Soccer
The women’s soccer team recorded an overtime victory and their first win of the season against University of La Verne on Sept. 21. The closely contested affair got off to a quick start as Elissa Minamishan (sophomore) scored the first goal of the game after just 10 minutes. La Verne responded quickly and brought the score to 2-1 before halftime. The Tigers fought back and a goal by Liz Martin (senior) brought the game into sudden death overtime. Alex Nicholson (junior) scored the golden goal, sealing the win for the Tigers. The forward split two defenders with a dribble and placed a shot past goalkeeper Delanie Pacheco (first-year) to defeat the Leopards on the road. The Tigers continued their streak at Redlands on Saturday, recording a solid 2-0 shutout against their opponents. Minamishan continued her impressive performance with one goal in each half off two Martin corner kicks. The win brought the Tiger’s record in SCIAC play. The women will host Pomona-Pitzer on Sept. 28 at 4 p.m. and look to pick up yet another important win against a quality SCIAC opponent.
In a home game against University of La Verne on Sept. 21, Occidental raised momentum on a free kick by James Kornfield (senior) that was headed in by Garret Schwab (first-year) to put the Tigers ahead going into halftime. Kornfield fired one home shortly after the break before Dan Watson (junior) finished the scoring for Occidental. La Verne was able to score a goal to bring the final score to 3-1. The Tigers’ second game of the week against Redlands did not go as smoothly. They fell behind by two goals after the first three minutes of the game and went into halftime trailing with a score of 3-0. Occidental stayed strong in the second half, however, and their hard work paid off in the last 10 minutes. Ben Murray (junior) scored from the penalty spot to earn a goal back. The game ended 3-1 and brought Occidental to 2-2 in SCIAC. Then, on Sept. 26, the Tigers lost a tough one to Wheaton College by a score of 5-1.The Tigers travel to Pomona-Pitzer on Sept. 28 at 4 p.m.
Ian Agrimis Forward Marcus Brandford (sophomore) storms his way through the University of Redlands defense at Patterson Field on Sept. 24.
Kleinsasser Invigorates Tiger Men’s Cross Country Team Sant Kumar Eric Kleinsasser (senior) was voted SCIAC Male-Student Athlete of the Week for Sept. 11 through the 18. He adds this accomplishment to an impressive resume, which includes being a three-time SCIAC champion. This year, he hopes to help the men’s cross country team achieve its goal of reaching Nationals on Nov. 19. Kleinsasser runs for Occidental because of the camaraderie that he feels with his cross country teammates. “What I like most in the team is the unmistakable but wonderfully quirky dynamic that is generally unmatched anywhere else. It’s an accepting environment for someone like me,” Kleinsasser said. Kleinsasser believes that cross country is a home for young men and women who may feel socially awkward or unaware of their actions. “If there was a sort of ‘runner demographic,’ I suspect a representative member generally would exhibit mild social awkwardness
Emma Schulte Kleinsasser was named SCIAC Male Student -Athlete of the Week for Sept. 11-18.
and an associated, innocent lack of awareness. When you get a bunch of those folks together, I think they sort of thrive off of each other’s offbeat personalities. That’s a group I feel that I fit into,” he said. The competitive nature of the sport, where the difference between first place and third place can be counted in milliseconds, also attracts him. “Particularly in the case of cross
Men’s Soccer (2-5 overall, 2-2 SCIAC)
country, my motivation stems largely from wanting to compete against other individuals. Having a supportive team also makes a huge difference,” Kleinsasser said. His road to success has certainly not been easy. Kleinsasser and the other cross country runners stick to a schedule that includes up to 90 miles of running a week. “By the end of the summer I had a couple of weeks just above
90 miles, but as we start to bring in slightly more intensity with workouts I’m dropping to between 70 and 80 for the fall,” Kleinsasser said. Though Kleinsasser spends so much time on his sport, he has not lost sight of why he runs. For him, running is not merely a way to stay healthy, but an activity that brings him immense joy and satisfaction. “When someone asks me why I run, I usually have a two part answer. One, I love to run. Two, lacking any semblance of coordination and agility, I run because I can’t do anything else,” Kleinsasser said. He emphasizes the importance of having fun when he runs, and he urges his teammates and other runners to not feel burdened by running, but to enjoy it. “Sometimes I think every runner needs to remind him or herself that it’s alright to enjoy running. In the fog of a long season it can sometimes start to seem like a chore, but everyone who runs should remember that we’re allowed to have fun. That’s really the ‘net’ emotion that I think should be associated with running,” Kleinsasser said.
SCOREBOARD
Woman’s Soccer (2-4 overall, 2-1 SCIAC)
Volleyball
(9-4 overall, 2-1 SCIAC)
One of the ways Kleinsasser has fun with the sport is by having a specific pre-race ritual that he follows. “As far as the silly inconsequential habits go, I’ll admit to beginning every race day with a peanut butter flavored Power Bar,” he said. Additionally, he enjoys wearing his running clothes, finding them comfortable. “I suppose one characteristic I distinguish myself with is an extreme reluctance to change out of my running clothes, unless it’s a really special occasion,” Kleinsasser said. As Kleinsasser is a senior, he understands that his days on the men’s cross country team are numbered. He plans to keep running competitively after college, though. Stepping up to marathons after college has sort of been a dream of mine, even back before high school. It would be great to take a year to build up a larger mileage base and give those a shot,” he said. Kleinsasser and the rest of the men’s cross country team may be seen next on October 1st, at the Pomona-Pitzer invitational.
Men’s Water Polo (0-8 overall, 0-0 SCIAC)
3-1 win over La Verne on Sept. 21 3-1 loss to Redlands on Sept. 24 5-1 loss to Wheaton College on Sept. 26
3-2 OT win over La Verne on Sept. 21 2-0 win over Redlands on Sept. 24
3-2 win over Pomona-Pitzer on Sept. 23 3-2 loss to Chapman on Sept. 24 3-0 win over Cal Tech on Sept. 24
18-6 loss to Cal Baptist on Sept. 24 14-9 loss to Santa Clara on Sept. 24 19-4 loss to UC Davis on Sept. 25 13-7 loss to Chapman on Sept. 25
UPCOMING
UPCOMING
UPCOMING
UPCOMING
Sept. 28th: At Pomona-Pitzer, 4:00 pm Oct. 1st: At Whittier, 11:00 am
Sept. 28th: Versus Pomona-Pitzer, 4:00 pm Oct. 1st: Versus Whittier, 7:00 pm
Sept. 30th: At Whittier, 7:30 pm Oct. 1st: Versus CMS, 6:00 pm Oct. 4th: At Redlands, 7:30 pm
Lancer Invitational: Oct. 1st: Versus Fresno Pacific, 10:30 am
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THE OCCIDENTAL WEEKLY
- September 28, 2011
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Deconstructing the Arab Archetype in Cinema
Documentary examines the stereotypical brutish portrayal of the Middle East, its people
Brittany Wightman
D
r. Jack Shaheen visited Occidental Tuesday, Sept. 20 for a screening of his documentary “Reel Bad Arabs” and an informal discussion of the issues raised in the film. Attempting to engage students in a dialogue regarding prejudice that exists in today’s society, Shaheen explored the stereotypical representations of Middle Eastern people in films throughout history which continue into modern times in “Reel Bad Arabs.” In his introduction of the film, Shaheen described what inspired him to create “Reel Bad Arabs.” In 1975, Shaheen wrote his first critique of the negative portrayal of Arab people in the media and the affect of such images on societal preconceptions of the Arab. His essay was one of the first to discuss this prejudice, and the criticism he received from colleagues and other professionals spurred him to pursue further research. “I didn’t expect it,” he said. “But when you’re working on a project, you stay the course. What matters most is not letting those types of incidents change you.” The essay eventually grew from a simple critique to a fully fledged
research project ending in Shaheen’s book, “Reel Bad Arabs.” In the 25year process of writing the book, Shaheen examined over 1,000 films that referenced the Arab and repeatedly found stereotypical representations. The book, sparked by the initial exploration of prejudice, eventually led to the conception and subsequent production of the documentary Shaheen screened at his Occidental lecture. Narrated by Dr. Shaheen, the documentary contains clips from 60 different films, including some of the oldest cartoons of the mischievous Ali Baba, slapstick comedies with the idiotic terrorist representations as well as more contemporary examples of blockbuster hits about dark-hearted jihadists. In the film’s opening chapter, Shaheen delved back to the history of Orientalism. It examines the Middle East in the context of a rich Oriental fascination blossoming in the West, a tradition established during British and French occupation centuries ago. As Shaheen showed, this particular image exists in many films today. Shaheen called this creation “The Arabland,” which is often replete with gleaming scimitars, turbaned snake charmers and belly dancing women. With the advent of Orientalism came the easily recognizable image of the
Ruby Paiva Dr. Shaheen began his research on Arab stereotypes in 1975 against urging from friends.
Arab man as an immediate source of danger and the Arab woman as the sensual and oppressed accessory. To explain the roots of the prejudice more deeply, Shaheen traced the history of American interaction with the Arab world and how it has shaped the stereotypical presentations of Middle Easterners. He noted that America’s involvement with the Middle East began with the Arab-Israeli conflict in which the U.S. supported the establishment of Israel. The oil
embargo that followed wrought havoc on the American economy, further turning Western sentiment against the Middle East. The violence and chaos of the Iranian Revolution, an event which was covered extensively in the media, crystallized the region of Americans’ imaginations that pinned the Middle East as an area of political opposition and strife. Shaheen then addressed how the events of September 11 have warped Americans’ perception of Middle
Easterners generally. He suggested that for some Americans, the faces of the 19 Muslim Arabs who are associated with the attacks became comparable to the face of anyone who appeared to be of Middle Eastern descent. He then continued to show images of the attacks, the faces of the terrorists and images of abuse against Arab prisoners of war. “We have been conditioned not to feel sympathy,” Shaheen said after this sequence of visuals.“For many of us, we are comfortable with our prejudices.” An antidote to these prejudices exist, however, and Shaheen has hope for that change. He discussed the role of humor in unraveling the stereotype by suggesting that comedians have historically eased the tension that surrounds stigmas and social injustices. He also mentioned several films that positively portray Middle Easterners, including “Kingdom of Heaven,” “Hideous Kinky” and “Syriana,” the latter for which he served as a consultant. Shaheen ended on a note of optimism. In the film he emphasizes his hope for the future, while at the end of his presentation he imparted a piece of wisdom to the students: despite different faiths, races or histories, a coalescence of spirit that transcends all else unites us all.
Exploring Race, Slavery Through the Lens of Gender
Cordelia Kenney
Professor Sharla Fett, chair of the history department, kicked off the Center for Gender Equity’s third annual Feminist Faculty Series on Sept. 21 with her talk entitled “You Just Had to Depend on Yourself: Self-Reliance and the Healing Work of Enslaved Women.” Based on previous research, Fett’s talk explored the relationship between race, age and gender in the context of 19th century slavery and healing work done by older enslaved women. Through a thorough discussion of these complex power dynamics, Fett related their lasting impressions in terms of modern problems in the health care hierarchy. Fett emphasized the importance of recognizing the meaning of the work and skill of these women. Historical literature and contemporary discussions,
however, often mute the relationship between servitude and authority, which has warped the perceived value of their work. “There was a dependence on [enslaved women’s doctoring] skill yet a devaluing of it,” Fett said in her talk. “The health-based self-reliance was overshadowed because enslaved people are portrayed as being dependent on slave owners.” As a result of the labor systems on the plantation, the “doctress” title given to older enslaved women did not immediately bestow upon them the merit of authority, yet plantation owners relied heavily on their traditional cures and depth of skill and knowledge. In an interview, Fett expanded on this point, adding that personal bias often plays a role in suppressing the actual value of the healing work of these women. “The midwife tradition has
deep knowledge behind it, yet different forms of different medical knowledge are acknowledged according to the race, class and gender of the practitioner and the culture of healing that it’s coming out of,” she said. Similarities can be found between enslaved women’s medical work and the care work that is done today. “I’m not sure there’s that much advance in recognizing the real people who are doing the actual work,” Fett said. “People who are home health aides or working in rehabilitation centers or homes for the elderly—these places are filled with low-wage earners who are often women of color or immigrants. All these things involve work that is not recognized by pay or by status.” Even today, healing work is still categorized as women’s domestic labor, alongside cleaning and cooking. Although the skill and knowledge in-
Y Y L X O EEK OM .C W
herent in domestic healing work have not always been recognized in the past, recent scholarly works, including Fett’s, hope to shed light on its importance and significance. “We’re changing the interpretive frameworks for what that work was,” Fett said. The series, moreover, provides the opportunity for students, faculty and staff to participate in an informal discussion about issues related to gender. “It’s a great way to have a conversation about scholarship outside of the classroom and outside a certain major or department,” Fett said. The CGE strives to incorporate as many different backgrounds and perspectives as well. “Each month we invite a member of faculty or staff to speak on any topic regarding gender or sexuality that interests the professor,” Estrella Lucera (sophomore), the CGE Programming Assistant, said. “We also
try to arrange speakers from a variety of departments and disciplines.” The series attempts to open up a dialogue, according to Lucero. “Feminism—and by extension the Fem Fac— is a concept that explores and discusses gender oppression that is not restricted only to women’s issues,” Lucero said. “The topic is titled Feminist Faculty Series because we ask professors to speak on any topic regarding gender, [whether] male or female or anything else, sexuality or identity.” Previous speakers include Professor Keith Naylor from Religious Studies, Professor Leila Neti from English and Comparative Literature Studies and Professor Linda Besemer from Art History and Visual Arts. Professor Upson-Saia of the Religious Studies Department and Reverend Susan Young are expected to give talks in October and November. Advertisement
ON THE WEB THROUGHOUT THE WEEK
THE OCCIDENTAL WEEKLY
September 28, 2011 -
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Fast-Tracked Innovation Meets Sleek Design
Orange County Auto Show exhibits power, progress in Anaheim showcase
Chris Ellis The Orange County International Auto Show showcased new concept cars from Honda, Ferrari, Toyota and Lamborghini. The concept cars boasted aerodynamic, sexy designs that complemented the new internal changes.
Chris Ellis The Orange County International Auto Show opened in Anaheim last Friday, Sept. 23 showcasing to the public the latest models from all over the globe. Ranging from the perennial popular favorites of Honda and Toyota to Ferrari and Lamborghini at the uppermost echelons, the show offered a glimpse into the dynamic world of automotive innovation. One of the major highlights from this year’s show came from Honda, who used the exhibition as an opportunity to unveil its brand new CRV concept car. Its striking lines and swooping body panels foreshadow a shift to style in Honda’s future. The car shocked many observers by boasting uncharacteristically sporty credentials, including slotted brake discs and Bespoke brand wheels. When asked about the differences between the production model, which will debut at the Los
Angeles International Auto Show, and the concept shown at the O.C. International Auto Show, a Honda spokesperson said, “While I cannot comment at this time about the production model, I can tell you that Honda has traditionally kept very closely to its concepts when it comes time for production.” Another one of the showstoppers on display was the new Jaguar XK-RS, which boasts a 5.0 liter supercharged V8 engine churning out 550hp and a series of aerodynamic tweaks that make this the fastest Jaguar XK ever at 176 m.p.h. It is once again a testament to the unique sense of twenty-first century styling that Design Chief Ian Callum has brought to Jaguar. Beyond the bulging hood and the aggressive quad tailpipes, the new XK provides further evidence of the evolution of Callum’s vision for designing Jaguars for the twenty-first century. As Callum said in 2010, “Good design is about pushing the boundaries of physics and legislation, going for a millimeter every day.”
Fantastiprov’s New Troupe Hits An Early Bump
Ian Mariani
On the evening of Sept. 3, students filled Thorne Hall to see the nationally recognized improvisational comedy group known as Upright Citizen’s Brigade (UCB) perform. The event, scheduled to start at seven in the evening with a show that promised laughter, with audience participation, was a part of the Labor Day weekend schedule set up by O.S.L. The only people missing from the show, unfortunately, were the members of UCB. The representatives helping with the show from O.S.L. contacted the absent members of UCB
five minutes before the show was scheduled to begin. “[They] called a woman in New York, woke her up. She was very confused, and she called members of UCB in Los Angeles . . . She found out they had the wrong day and that the performers that were supposed to be there were at some other show entirely,” Michael Fontanesi (sophomore), the new organizer of campus improv troupe Fantastiprov, said. Fontanesi explained that Fantastiprov has opened for UCB on campus in the past, and it was this history with UCB that brought them into the planning process in the weeks leading up to the failed show. That particular night, however, Fantastiprov was not sched-
uled to perform, as the troupe, previously comprised of graduated seniors and members abroad, went from eight people at the end of last year to only three at the start of this year. When meeting with OSL, Fontanesi was faced with few options. “We decided that [Fantastiprov] wouldn’t perform that night, but instead that I would simply get up on stage to introduce UCB . . . basically get the crowd going,” Fontanesi said. Fontanesi never got the chance to introduce the group, but instead was tasked with telling the patrons that the show was cancelled when there was confirmation that UCB would not be coming. All was not lost, however, as another show is
tentatively slated for later in the semester. “Changing of the date actually works in Fantastiprov’s favor,” Fontanesi said. The troupe has, since the cancelled show, held auditions and filled their roster once again to fill the gaps left from last year. In subsequent conversations with UCB, Fontanesi said that the possibility of a joint performance over Family Weekend continues to be an option, and that it would hopefully include an opening act by Fantastiprov. Although the troupe chemistry that Fantastiprov had built does not carry over to the new members, Fontanesi still expressed optimism when it comes to the potential of the new troupe. Practice, he says, is
what the troupe will need to get better, but it’s not them just practicing “being funny.” Fontanesi squashed the idea that “being funny or quick” is the only factor in what makes an improv troupe good at capturing its audience. Comedy is important, he maintains, but the scene composition as a whole needs “honing.” “We need to learn how to tell stories with each other,” Fontanesi said. “Everyone has to be comfortable with everyone else . . . there can’t be any drama within a troupe.” With Parent’s Weekend only a month from now and Fantastiprov’s rehearsals fully underway with the new cast, only UCB’s datebook stands in the way of the show happening as hoped.
THE OCCIDENTAL WEEKLY
September 28, 2011 -
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“Mex/LA” Exhibits Sandwiches Made by a Silver Wing Modern Chicano Art Natania Reed The Getty Center-sponsored Pacific Standard Time initiative, a collaboration between more than 60 art institutions across Southern California, celebrates the growth of Los Angeles’ art scene and its establishment as a center of artistic innovation between 1945 and 1980. The project officially starts October 1, but several participating institutions have opened their doors early, including the Museum of Latin American Art, located in the East Village Arts district of Long Beach. The Museum of Latin American Art unveiled “MEX/LA: ‘Mexican’ Modernism(s) in Los Angeles, 1930-1985,” on Sept. 18, an exhibit that examines the complex relationship between Mexican culture and the Los Angeles melting pot through modern, avant-garde artwork. On display until Jan. 29, 2012, much of the work displayed showcases the interaction between pop culture, modernist traditions and traditional Mexican folk art. “The exhibition, in a way, is like the city of Los Angeles itself,” the curator Ruben Ortiz-Torres said. “Like a modern collage, it is a fragmented juxtaposition of simultaneous clashing and contesting representations and misrepresentations that do not quite integrate but talk to each other and together form a whole.” Saturated with allusions to political and social issues, the exhibit does more than merely showcase significant pieces of art produced throughout this particular time period. Ortiz-Torres selected pieces from an incredibly vast selection of artists, varying from filmmakers to photographers to experimental artists. Numerous pieces are on display, for example, by Graciela Iturbide, a Mexican-born photographer who is best known for her images of the daily lives of Mexican-Americans in East Los Angeles. Her photograph “Cholas, White Fence, East LA” (1986) captures four young women flashing gang signs while posing beneath a mural of former President of Mexico Benito Juarez, infamous revolutionary general Pancho Villa and Mexican Revolution figurehead Emiliano Zapata. David Alfaro Siquerios’ mural “Mitin en la calle” (Street Meeting) documents a trade union militant addressing a multiracial audience, making more overt social commentary. Harry Gamboa Jr., one of the
founders of the Chicano performance art collective, ASCO, is also featured in the exhibit as well as the influential photographer Edward Weston, a Southern Californian who lived and created his most powerful work in Mexico. Weston’s famous portrait of Mexican painter Jose Clemente Orozco is featured at the exhibit and reflects the relationship between Mexican and American artists during this time period. Martin Ramirez’ work of collages and drawings, which directly evinces pop culture’s intersection with high art forms, deals with Mexican folk traditions in a way influenced by twentieth-century modernism. A large selection of Disney sketch artists is on display as well. In the ultimate portrayal of low/ high art, however, the 1944 Disney film “The Three Cabelleros” plays among pieces by Weston and Siquerios. Despite the cohesive execution and diverse selection of art, the exhibit lacks an adequate appraisal of the audience’s knowledge of the history behind the pieces on display. The brief timeline of Latino history in L.A. outside the entrance to the building provides some context, but in retrospect, it would have been beneficial to have a more extensive knowledge of the Chicano experience in L.A. throughout the twentieth century in order to appreciate the complexity and multidimensional quality of the exhibit. Many images reference specific incidents in Mexican history, without adequate explanation on the placard. Consequently, the importance of the artwork might be lost on those who are uninformed about Los Angeles and Mexico’s tumultuous history. For example, multiple pieces pay homage to the Zoot Suit Riots of 1943, when violence erupted between white sailors stationed in Los Angeles and Mexican youths. Without sufficient background, much of the meaning is lost on the viewer. If “MEX/LA” is any indication of the Pacific Standard Time exhibits to come, though, Los Angeles art enthusiasts can expect increasingly vibrant and important cultural milestones. The works of “MEX/LA” portray the chaotic periods of Los Angeles’ past through the lens of social, political and racial analysis. The art displayed is not only aesthetically interesting, but also culturally relevant, a theme to be continued throughout the remainder of the Pacific Standard Time initiative.
The Occidental Weekly Occidental College 1600 Campus Road, Box M-40 Los Angeles, CA 90041 Return Service Requested
Ruby Paiva Kathy Lauriha came to Occidental in 1997 after serving as a flight attendant aboard flights for Trans World Airlines (TWA).
Rachel Stober Known to most students simply as Kathy, the Marketplace chef Kathlene Lauriha embodies the polar opposite of the stereotypically mean “lunch lady.” Almost any day of the week, students can count on a compliment, pet name or friendly conversation to accompany a sandwich from Lauriha, who has become a comforting staple at the Marketplace. Lauriha, however, has not always been Occidental’s beloved sandwichmaker. In 1997 Lauriha retired after 33 years as a flight attendant for Trans World Airlines (TWA), an occupation she chose as an alternative to expected career paths for women during that era. “When I was in college you could do one of two things: become a teacher or nurse,” Lauriha said. “I saw an ad for being a stewardess and it looked so enticing, and I really didn’t want to be a nurse or a teacher. I think subconsciously it wasn’t that I didn’t want to be [those occupations], but that I didn’t want to stay in a small town, and that’s what you did then, you stayed in a small town.” So instead of staying in Arcadia where she grew up, Lauriha joined the ballooning jet age, a time when flying was still a novel luxury to many Americans. “[TWA] was hiring a lot of young women, and it was a really great job to have,” Lauriha said. “If you grew up in the 50s, you never took a plane anywhere, it was always a road trip. So one of the perks was after six months you got a pass so we could take our parents on trips, and they’d never flown before so it was really nice.” Lauriha says she loved her time as a stewardess, flying both domestically and internationally throughout her ca-
reer before landing at Occidental in 1997. She started out working in the Faculty Club, which is currently the Dennis and Mollie Collins Admission House. Lauriha joined the Marketplace’s workforce after a few years and has been there ever since. “I love working here,” Lauriha said. “There’s a lot of different personalities. Days can get interesting, let’s just put it like that, but I think most everybody that works here, especially preparing the food, really cares about the students and they want to do a nice job.” When asked what the secret to her carefully crafted sandwiches is, Lauriha says she does not like to rush and instead prefers to put an effort into layering the sandwiches’ contents and cutting it for presentation. “I’m sure some kids say, ‘I wish you’d hurry up,’ but . . . I want to make something that I’d want my child to eat or that I’d like to eat,” Lauriha said. Perhaps her real secret is what most students know Lauriha for, her warm smile and genuine interest in how each student is faring. “A typical interaction with Kathy is definitely something to brighten anyone’s day,” Caroline Bringenberg (sophomore) said. “She is always interested in how our classes are going, how we are enjoying life on campus and what else is new in our lives. She definitely takes the extra initiative to get to know each and every student on campus.” Lauriha attributes her friendly manner and dedication to providing an enjoyable customer experience to her kind parents and years of serving people as a stewardess. “When you started flying in ‘64 everything was about customer service,” Lauriha said. “When you finished, you didn’t sit down and talk to your friends,
you circulated the cabin and talked to people to make them feel secure, so I really like to do that . . . When you go to a restaurant and the wait person takes time with you and pays a little attention to you and doesn’t throw the food at you and doesn’t act like they’re incredibly annoyed with taking your order, the food might not be the greatest, but you’ll go back for the customer service and the kindness.” Although Lauriha says providing such customer service from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. does not leave her with much free time, she fills her spare hours with reading, her two cats, Zachary and Thomas, and regular get-togethers with other members of The Silver Wings, an international organization of retired TWA flight attendants. Even though her job keeps her busy, it is clear that Lauriha finds joy in the personal aspect of her work and watching students grow through the short but frequent lunchtime glimpses into their lives. “I love it when they come in as freshmen, and you can tell they’re a little apprehensive and then to see them four years later ready to graduate with a specific goal in mind of what they want to do. [It] is really great,” Lauriha said. “I think when they let me into their lives, even just a little bit, it’s so nice.” Students seem more than happy to have Lauriha’s supportive presence and daily encouragement as a part of their Occidental experience. “In my opinion, Kathy is an integral part of the Oxy community,” Bringenberg said. “She definitely works to strengthen the bond between staff and students, and I think her extremely friendly, kind personality is a great reminder of how close-knit the Oxy community is. The marketplace wouldn’t be the same without her.”