Nov. 22, 2005 | The Reflector

VOLUME 84, ISSUE 5

NOVEMBER 22, 2005

“EDUCATION FOR SERVICE”

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INSIDE

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REFLECTOR

Swim teams win season opening dual meets.

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UNIVERSITY OF INDI HA N NA AVENUE I NDI

Faculty member researches fire fighting equipment.

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■ HANNA AVENUE

Plans to make Hanna Avenue safe to begin 2006 Shelly Grimes Opinion Editor Hanna Avenue will soon undergo a renovation designed to beautify the campus and enhance pedestrian safety on the busy street. The project is a partnership between the university and the City of Indianapolis and is expected to break ground sometime in 2006.

The City’s multi-million dollar renovation of Hanna Avenue will stretch from US 31 to Carson. The university will incur the cost of renovation between Shelby Street and State Street, paying only for services above and beyond the city’s typical streetrepair package. The project is expected to cost the university approximately $1.2 million and will include upgraded lighting as well as plant life and trees along Hanna Avenue.

“Pedestrian safety was our number one issue,” said Ken Piepenbrink, director of the physical plant. “The second issue was the opportunity to beautify Hanna Avenue and make it a showplace instead of just a hazard.”

According to Piepenbrink the biggest change of the involves the metamorphosis of Hanna Avenue into a four-lane boulevard with a 12 to 16-foot median down the center, requiring the university to give up some land on each side of the street.

“The center medians will be very wide, so that when you cross the street you only have to worry about the first two lanes of traffic,” Piepenbrink said. “Then, you’ll get to a safe haven area, and you can worry about crossing the second two lanes of traffic.”

Another change includes moving the sidewalks away from the street so that

pedestrians will not walk right next to the road. Shrubbery will be placed between the sidewalks and the road, forcing pedestrians to cross only at designated crosswalks. The crosswalks will be 18 feet wide and paved with bricks, according to Dr. David Wantz, vice president of student affairs.

“Our hope is that when you drive near campus, you’ll realize something is different due to the boulevard and the bricks, and that should immediately make [the driver] more alert,” Wantz said.

A new stoplight will be added at the intersection in front of Nicoson Hall, which will force drivers to slow down.

New lighting will be added so that “Hanna Avenue will be as illuminated as any of the parking lots,” Piepenbrink said. The new lights will be lower to the ground and strategically placed to enhance pedestrian safety.

“Hopefully, by forcing students to go to certain locations [to cross] and by making those locations very visible and well-lit, it will make a big improvement without creating chaos,” Piepenbrink said.

According to police reports, there have been at least seven students hit on Hanna Avenue since 2000. These accidents have resulted in injuries such as broken bones and concussions.

According to Wantz, the majority of these accidents occur at times of poor visibility, such as at night or during rain.

Wantz added, however, that the safety problem on Hanna Avenue is aggravated by the behavior of people crossing the street.

“Students often step off the curb and walk without looking or making eye contact with the driver. They think that they are supposed to go and cars will

Photo by Valerie Miller

Students crossing Hanna Avenue during a mid-day class break. Hanna Avenue will be renovated in a partnership between the university and the City of Indianapolis in 2006. stop,” Wantz said. “The pedestrian has the right of way, but also has to realize that a couple-ton vehicle is more dangerous than the pedestrian’s right to cross.”

The city began assessing the need to renovate Hanna Avenue in the fall of 1996. According to Piepenbrink, the city realized that there were several problems with Hanna Avenue that needed to be addressed, including flooding and pavement breaking up. The university got involved with the project, hoping that Hanna Avenue could be closed completely.

“We were led to believe that we could close Hanna Avenue and reroute traffic along National,” Wantz said. “Unfortu-

nately, we didn’t talk to the neighborhood before holding a public hearing, and about 500 neighbors showed up at the meeting to yell at us. It was the worst night of my professional life to watch that happen.

Here was this university that prides itself on being a school for every man that was seen as arrogant and not caring about its neighbors. We had to work very hard to overcome that.”

Because of the dispute between the neighborhood and the university, the project was delayed. Neighbors remained adamant that Hanna Avenue should stay open and also opposed the idea of restricting traffic to only two lanes. The four-lane

boulevard proposal satisfied both the university’s needs and the neighborhood’s demands. Public hearings on the issue were conducted in early 2004, and the city approved the project.

The project will begin whenever the city’s paperwork is complete, Piepenbrink said. A definite schedule has not yet been approved, but the project will last at least a year.

Wantz said that while construction may be a nuisance, it will be worth while.

“The students will have to bear with the construction,” Wantz said. “It is going to be really disruptive, but when it’s done, it will be magnificent.”

■ TORNADO

Rare fall weather hits Southern, Central Indiana The tornado that hit Southern Indiana on Sunday, Nov. 6, killed 22 people and left hundreds injured. Severe weather swept across Indiana again on Tuesday, Nov. 15.

At Right: The counties with tornado symbols are where separate tornadoes were confirmed.

Counties of the same color represent the tornadoes’ paths.

Vanderburgh and Warrick Counties are shown in red, where an F3 tornado touched down on Nov. 6.

On Nov. 15, tornadoes also touched down in Daviess and Martin Counties, shown in yellow, and Bartholomew and Shelby Counties, shown in orange. Those tornadoes were also measured as F3 tornadoes, with winds of 158 to 206 mph. An F1 tornado also touched down in Grant County, shown in blue, with winds of 73 to 112 mph.

Tonya Maxwell and Josh Noel Knight Ridder Tribune

Graphic by Valerie Miller

EVANSVILLE, Ind.--Hearing the winds whip outside his mobile home and the sound of breaking glass, Dustin Watts ordered his wife to get in the bathtub and then went to get his sons, ages 5 and 2.

Watts, 28, doesn’t know what happened next. But he thinks the tornado that killed at least 22 people when it struck northern Kentucky and southern Indiana early Sunday, Nov. 6 tossed his home into the air.

“I don’t know if it flipped over but it felt like it did,” Watts said as he sat on concrete steps that used to lead to his trailer but on that Sunday afternoon connected to nothing. The frame of his trailer sat about 20 feet away in Eastbrook Mobile Home Park outside Evansville, Ind. Though one of his boys suffered head injuries and was hospitalized, Watts and the rest of his family were relatively lucky compared to their neighbors in the trailer park, the site of the most fatalities from the tornado. By evening, Vanderburgh County officials estimated that at least 17 people had been killed in the trailer park, where 144 of the 350 mobile homes were either obliterated or left uninhabitable.

Five other people died in nearby Warrick County, Ind. “If we’re lucky that’s going to be it, but I’ve got a feeling it’s going to go up,” said Don Erk, Vanderburgh County coroner, who said three children were among the dead found so far.

The death toll from the tornado, which struck around 2 a.m., was Indiana’s worst since 1974, when a string of twisters hit 13 states and southern Canada, killing 351 people, including 47 in Indiana, according to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.

The tornado more than tripled the U.S.

tornado death toll for the year. Until then, only 10 people had been killed in tornadoes this year, according to the National Weather Service.

St. Mary’s Medical Center in Evansville and its sister hospital in Warrick County treated about 180 people for injuries from blunt head and chest trauma to broken bones and cuts. Thirty-two were admitted, including 14 in critical condition, a spokesman said.

Deaconess Hospital in Evansville treated 46 people, admitting 31, including six in critical condition.

Emergency rescue officials blamed the timing of the tornado for the number of injuries and fatalities.

“If people are at work, they wouldn’t have been in their residences and there probably would have been more communication,” said Maj. Stephen Woodall of the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office.

“At that time of the morning, most people are asleep.”

Authorities said sirens blared in many of the communities, and the emergency broadcast system was activated to alert people to the coming storm. But officials believe many people slept through the warnings or could not hear the sirens because of the winds.

While crews picked through debris looking for people, firefighters in Warrick County hopped on all-terrain vehicles, searching farm fields for storm victims, said Matt Timmel, assistant chief of the Newburgh Volunteer Fire Department. A man and wife were found dead in a bean field that was located about a quarter of a mile from their trailer, he added.

In another incident, people were blown from their beds, waking up outside with cuts and bruises, said Sgt. Scott Whitlow of the Warrick County Sheriff’s Office.

Tornado continued on p. 3

News at a Glance OBSERVATORY Sara Roberts Staff Writer The Noblitt Observatory in Lilly Science Hall was opened on Nov. 11 and 12 to give people a chance to see Mars. The observatory was opened because Mars was supposed to be closer to the earth than it has been for nearly 20 years.

Tim Duman, assistant professor of physics and earth space sciences, said the observatory is usually only opened for viewings and special occasions.

“The problem in Indiana to view the stars is it’s kind of hard to see through the clouds,” he said.

“If you schedule a viewing you have to wait for the clouds to dissipate. It’s hit or miss.”

On Friday Nov. 11 approximately 30-40 people attended the observation. Junior meteorology ma-

jor Mary Riedeman said she was interested in the chance to see Mars because she enjoys science.

“I’ve always had an interest in astronomy. I’m interested in meteorology,” Riedeman said. “If it’s science, and I get a chance to experience it firsthand, I’m all for it.”

Riedeman said it was hard to view Mars.

“I really was hoping to see the color of Mars and maybe some features,” she said. “When I looked into the telescope, it was actually more like a white dot.”

Duman said Mars and others planets are a little harder to view than stars and the earth’s moon; however most planets are viewable through the telescope. Some things he said were easily viewed included Jupiter and its Galilean moons, Saturn and its rings and solar eclipses.

MIX IT UP AT LUNCH Crystle Collins News Editor The University of Indianapolis participated along with schools across the country taking part in a national program to break down cultural barriers. The program called ‘Mix it up at Lunch Day,” encouraged students to sit with people outside of their cultural group. PRIDE instituted the program in order to get students to move outside their comfortable friend settings and meet new people.

The program was started by the Southern Poverty Law Center’s of Birmingham, Ala. The center was originally founded in 1971 as a civil rights law firm. It is internationally known for tolerance education programs, including www.

Tolerance.org.

“Essentially, the program was selected in response to a discussion organized by PRIDE earlier this semester in which the students expressed a serious concern about the cultural borders that are reinforced and refined on campus,” said Terrence Harewood, Assistant Professor of Education.

The program is designed, according to Harewood, to promote cross-cultural contact on campus as a catalyst for deeper intercultural relationship and communication among all the various cultural groups.

“The program was a great start but should be implemented more often, perhaps once a month to have a significant impact,” Harewood said.

“Mix it up” took place in middle schools, high schools and universities all across the nation.

NEWS

NOVEMBER 22, 2005

THE REFLECTOR PAGE 3

■ WENDELL BERRY

Author Wendell Berry speaks on his philosophies Amy Remsburg Feature Editor As part of the Spirit and Place Festival, notable writer and essayist Wendell Berry spent a few hours at the University of Indianapolis on Nov. 7. As part of a program entitled “Working Our Way Home: An Evening with Wendell Berry and Friends,” Berry read one of his essays in Ransburg Auditorium, attended a dinner and six dialogue sessions in Schwitzer Student Center and finished with a discussion in Ransburg Auditorium. The program was co-sponsored by the Hoosier Environmental Council and the Indianapolis Peace House.

Berry, who has produced a large body of work consisting of fiction, poetry and essays, is well known for his views on the environment, economics and technology.

A native of Kentucky, Berry grew up loving the outdoors and farm life. He has been an English professor at New York University and also the University of Kentucky. Along with teaching and writing, Berry is a farmer in Kentucky.

Berry has received many prestigious accolades for his writing such as Guggenheim and Rockefeller fellowships, a T.S. Eliot award, and

a Thomas Merton award among others.

Berry published two books earlier this year, a collection of essays entitled “The Way of Ignorance” and a collection of Jesus’teachings entitled “Blessed Are the Peacemakers: Christ’s Teachings of Love, Compassion, and Forgiveness.”

“The Way of Ignorance” is a diverse collection concentrating on issues such as security, freedom and community. “Blessed Are the Peacemakers” is introduced by a new essay by Berry, while the rest of the book is arranged by Berry.

A large crowd arrived at Ransburg Auditorium to hear Berry read an essay entitled “The Purpose of a Coherent Community” from his new book “The Way of Ignorance.” His essay focused on urging the American public to see that economic development is destroying the earth and irreplaceable resources.

Berry believes that everyone is responsible for taking care of the earth because “we have to preserve our habitat to preserve our species.”

He feels that one of the best ways to preserve natural resources is to return to community-based living.

After reading his essay, Berry took questions from the audience about the essay and his general philosophies. Many in the audience wanted to know how he would change American ideas about food supply. Berry insists that Americans

need to return to relying on local food suppliers, instead of mass distribution, so they know where their food is coming from.

“If you have a flower pot and enough dirt to fill it, plant something you can eat!” Berry said.

Berry also amused the audience with his staunch views against technology and computers in particular. “I don’t shun people who use computers. I just don’t happen to need one myself,” Berry said. “I just don’t like seeing society taken over by commercial products.”

Following the question-and-answer session, people who registered for the event attended one of six dinner and dialogue sessions with Berry.

During the different sessions, Berry was able to elaborate on specifics topics with his guests.

The topics discussed were Food, Higher Education, Local Economy, Technology, Vocation and War and Peace, all of which Berry has covered various essays throughout his career.

Those unable to attend the dialogue sessions were invited to “Neighborhood at the Crossroads” at the Wheeler Arts Center. A documentary about the revitalization of the Fountain Square area was shown.

After the dialogue sessions and documentary, guests were invited back to Ransburg Auditorium for a discussion with Berry.

Photo provided by the Ecumenical and Interfaith Office

World renowned Author Wendell Berry

■ WORLD NEWS

French residents riot against immigrants Todd Roberson Knight Ridder Tribune

PARIS - Fed up with television images of her country in flames, Paris hairdresser Vesna Djoric said it is time for the French to stop being so tolerant of immigrant troublemakers and consider replacing compassion with toughness.

“It’s about time somebody said what we’re all thinking,” Djoric commented, adding that she fully supported a recent call by the hard-line interior minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, for France to “pump out” its rioting “scum.”

After nearly two weeks of nightly riots across the country, France shows growing signs of an anti-immigrant backlash as horrified citizens demand a harsher crackdown on troublemakers. Some French are warning that the country’s current mood could damage relations with its Muslim community and bolster support for a right-wing extremist party.

Police said violence around the country, occurring mainly in North African immigrant communities that ring major urban centers, diminished considerably after a new curfew went into effect on Nov. 8, enforced by more than 11,000 officers.

Sarkozy warned that any foreigners, whether here legally or illegally, who are convicted of violating the curfew would be expelled from the country “without delay.”

Sarkozy is expected to challenge his rival, Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, in presidential elections in

2007. In contrast to Sarkozy, the prime minister has called for measures to create jobs, reduce discrimination and address concerns among immigrants that they are being neglected. Some French criticize De Villepin as being too conciliatory.

In well-to-do neighborhoods of central Paris, shopkeepers and residents offered high praise for the combative interior minister.

“He’s right to speak out. Sarkozy says what everyone else feels but is too afraid to say,” Djoric said. “It’s time to get tough, but I’m afraid that a bigger explosion might be coming. These people are like mad dogs. Sometimes a little poke can make them attack.”

In a poll published by the newspaper Le Parisien, 73 percent of respondents backed the government’s new get-tough measures to halt firebomb attacks by rioting gangs of youths. The French Riviera city of Nice joined a growing number of urban and suburban centers imposing emergency measures.

“The government needs to take stronger action. These are delinquents and drug dealers, and Sarkozy is right to say it.

You have to call a cat a cat,” said a Paris pharmacist, who would identify himself only as Parienti. “Their problem is they don’t want to integrate into our society.

They think they can live here and maintain their own culture apart from ours.”

Even though central Paris has largely been spared from attack over the past two weeks, residents said they are still taking precautions.

“We wanted to decorate our store with big, gift-wrapped boxes for the Christmas season, but we don’t dare. They might set fire to them,” said Nathalie Normand, a clerk at an eastern Paris toy store.

“After 5 or 6 at night, most women

Photo by Mousse/Abaca Press/KRT

French firefighters look on as a car burns in a parking lot in Argenteuil, France, which is west of Paris. This was one of more than 1,300 vehicles destroyed, along with warehouses and a nursery school, on a ninth night of violence and rioting in France. won’t go out on the streets,” she added. “I won’t drive my car to work now because I’m afraid they’ll burn it when I drive home.”

Normand disagreed with Sarkozy’s use of the word “scum” to describe the rioters but said she approved of his overall response, especially concerning measures that would reduce the immigrant population and help cut the nation’s double-digit unemployment rate.

“French fathers and mothers are going jobless while employers give jobs to

■ TORNADO

Tornado continued from p.1 The tornado touched down in Henderson County, Ky., before moving to the northeast into Indiana.

In 10 to 15 minutes, it left a 15- to 20-mile path of flattened homes, overturned cars, trees wrapped with siding and cornfields strewn with mattresses, officials said.

In Henderson County, the twister ripped roofs off horse barns at Ellis Park racetrack, killing at least three horses and injuring some workers, according to the racetrack’s Web site.

As it moved to the northeast, the

tornado built strength.

It whipped through Eastbrook Mobile Home Park, lifting trailers from their frames, destroying others, and sending siding into nearby trees.

“In some areas, there are four trailers laying on top of each other,” said Vanderburgh County Sheriff Brad Ellsworth.

But in other cases, trailers remained standing next to piles of rubble, according to Tom Fritz, a volunteer firefighter with the Scott Township Fire Department.“You could follow the path

Photo by Rob Goebel/KRT

Only rubble and debris were left after the strongest tornado to hit the state in 30 years struck Southern Indiana on Sunday, Nov. 6. The tornado was the nation’s deadliest tornado since 1999.

Pictured is an aerial view of Eastbrook Mobile Home park, outside of Evansville, Ind.

of how the thing moved through there,” he said. “It was so weird.”

The Knight Township Volunteer Fire Department, which covers the parts of Vanderburgh County outside Evansville, was the first to arrive at the trailer park, where they found “the walking wounded coming out,” said Assistant Chief Dale Naylor.

“We were digging people out by hand,” Naylor said. “We tried to rescue anyone we could.”

(c) 2005, Chicago Tribune/Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services

■ TORNADOES

Severe weather hits campus Severe weather swept across the Midwest on Tuesday, Nov. 15, destroying homes and killing one.

The storms moved across Central Indiana at 40 to 60 mph causing severe flooding across the state. One 17-yearold girl was killed in Hancock County when her car flipped over when she drove through a flooded road.

The unusual weather was caused by a cold front that headed south from the Great Lakes area and combined with a warm front rising to the north. The collision of the two weather fronts provided prime conditions for spring like storms.

The storms reportedly destroyed at least seven homes in southern Indiana and injured one person. Power outages, flooding, severe damage to property, large golf ball sized hail and several downed trees were left after the storms passed through.

Warning sirens heard throughout the evening hours across campus, sent students, faculty and staff to seek shelter in the basements of Schwitzer Student Center during the annual Thanksgiving dinner celebration and in other buildings during night classes.

Residents on campus also were forced to react quickly to the sirens and move to the lowest floors of the residence halls.

the immigrants. We need a French-first policy when it comes to jobs,” she said.

“I think Europe in general has been far too liberal in opening its borders. They need to make a rule: If you don’t have a work agreement with a specific company, you can’t come in.”

But Marie Sirra, a janitor who lives in a northwestern suburb afflicted by the violence, expressed horror at such sentiments. “My biggest fear is that all of this is going to give more power to the right wing,” she said, referring to the National

Front, a whites-only party that advocates expulsion of foreigners.

“I’m afraid we’ve reached the point of no return. This could be like a civil war if we keep going in this direction,” Sirra added.

Writing in the French daily Le Figaro, international affairs specialist Andre Grjebine warned that Islamist gangs are using the violence to recruit members in the suburbs, while mainstream French citizens appear to be losing patience with what they see as a threat to their way of life.

“Intolerance and aggression toward immigrants could grow, as will voter support for the extreme right-wing party in the next election,” Grjebine wrote.

Members of the National Front staged a small demonstration in Paris Wednesday, unveiling a new campaign with Tshirts declaring, “France: Love it or leave it.” The party shocked the French political establishment when its leader, Jean-Marie Le Pen, won 17 percent of votes in the first round of presidential elections in 2002, only 3 percentage points behind incumbent President Jacques Chirac.

But the backlash was not limited to white French Christians. In the suburban town of Aulnay-Sous-Bois north of Paris, a Turkish Kurd restaurant owner, who would identify himself only as Ali, said he agrees with Sarkozy’s tough language.

“I work for a living. When I see these immigrant kids outside smoking marijuana late at night, I can’t help but wonder: Where are their parents, and why aren’t these boys at home?” he said. “We’re living in fear because they think it’s their right to roam the streets. In a democracy, it’s not supposed to be like this.” (c) 2005, The Dallas Morning News.Distributed

by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.

OPINION

PAGE 2 THE REFLECTOR

NOVEMBER 22, 2005

■ EDITORIAL

Clinton’s popularity soars while Bush’s approval ratings drop Amy Remsburg Feature Editor With the recent release of People magazine’s 2005 list of “Sexiest Men Alive,” the ladies of the show “The View” had a lot to talk about. While gabbing about the men, Barbara Walters accidentally leaked that Bill Clinton will be named “The Most Influential Man in the World” in an upcoming list by Esquire magazine.

I find it very interesting that our current president, George W. Bush, who seems to influence people and events all over the world, was not considered “The Most Influential Man in the World.” This upcoming list makes it seem that viewing the Commander-in-Chief as the most powerful person in the world is waning, at least in Bush’s case. With Bush’s approval rating at 39 percent, one of the lowest in history, Americans are losing confidence in his abilities.

I guess it is natural that if we lose confidence in our current leader, we revert back to our last leader.

Clinton, whose presidential popularity dipped during the Monica

Lewinsky scandal, seems to be back on top of the world. Clinton’s memoir, My Life, published last year, was a huge success. Bush asked Clinton to lead the massive relief efforts for victims of the tsunami and hurricanes. Clinton also has been immensely popular as a speaker and lecturer, addressing packed crowds at every venue he attends, and now is named the most influential man in the world.

Forgive my skepticism, but I’m not sure that Clinton is entirely worthy of all this praise. Clinton is being touted as a great leader now because Bush is crashing faster than a fighter jet. By hailing Clinton and renouncing Bush, are we doing anything productive that’s going to fix our country’s problems?

I don’t think so.

I’m happy that Clinton is in the popular crowd right now, but he’s not in office anymore. He can use his clout to make good things happen throughout the world, but politically speaking, he can’t help us. Bush is the president, regardless of how much people dislike him and his policies. If people want to see changes, glorifying our former president is not a good way to go. We, as a country, need to stop complaining about Bush and act.

Right now everyone is having a

great time jumping on the anti-Bush bandwagon, but think back to a few years ago. During the Sept. 11 disaster, no one would have dared to say anything against Bush. He was our powerful, confident and heroic leader.

During his first term, Bush was a man of action and we praised him for it.

Now, Bush is still a man of action, and we hate him for it. It’s interesting how time changes everything.

This scenario seems awfully familiar when compared to what happened to Clinton. People loved him until he screwed up. Now that he’s out of the political limelight, he is hailed again as a great man.

For those of you counting the days until the end of Bush’s presidency, think about who could potentially follow him: Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Now that we love Bill Clinton so much, does that mean that we want another Clinton to take over the reins?

The love-fest surrounding Bill Clinton could easily push Hillary Clinton’s nominee buzz to a nomination.

After Bush is out of office, what will we think about him? Will we remember his first term and call him a hero, or focus on all the problems that have beset his second term and call him a buffoon?

Job approval ratings: Career lows compared** Nixon Carter G.H.W. Bush Johnson Ford G.W. Bush* Reagan Clinton Eisenhower Kennedy

23% 28% 33% 35% 37% 37% 42% 43% 48% 56%

*as of Nov. 14, 2005 **Sources: USAToday.com, ABCNews.go.com

■ MIX IT UP AT LUNCH DAY

Student wants others to ‘mix it up’ “like her” would ever hang out with someone “like me.”

The girl that came to my table earlier this semester looked pretty “cool,” I saw an intranet post promoting a so I hesitated. I also probably looked Nov. 15 event called “National Mix It at her like as if she were insane. I seriUp at Lunch Day.” My curiosity about ously thought she was joking. the event led me to type the phrase But she eventually convinced me to “National Mix It Up at Lunch Day” join her, and it ended up being a really into Google, and I found an entire Web wonderful experience. Not only did I site dedicated to the cause at www. get to meet her and everyone she was mixitup.org. sharing a table with that day, I also still According to the Web site, the spon- see this girl around campus and I have soring organizations (the Southern Pov- gotten to meet more of her friends since erty Law Center’s tolerance programs that mealtime.This experience did not and the Study Circles Resource Center) cost either of us anything but a little bit wanted to encourage young people to of time and a little nervousness, which step outside of their comfort zones and we quickly got over after we talked and meet people who are different. found out we had things in common.

The organizations believe in this Looking back on that day, I am idea so much that they provide resourc- saddened that I was so hesitant in the es like posters, stickers, how-to kits, first place. Really, the worst thing that success stories of participants and even could have happened had I enthusiastigrant money through their Web site to cally accepted her dining offer is that ensure each school’s successful Mix It I would have been laughed at, and it Up day. would have been nothing new.

So, once my curiosity was satisfied I could have gone back to my meal, about the intranet post, I wondered cursing once again the “cool” people about something else: why do we need who have nothing better to do and a national event to do what we should dreaming about how I could grow up be doing every day anyway? and become the next Oprah and take Earlier this semester, I was sitting in my revenge. The “cool” people would the cafeteria eating by myself when a never get cars or gift bags from me. girl I had never seen before came to my That would show them. table and invited me to sit by her and Of course, my mealtime experience her friends. had the best possible outcome, and it I instantly flashed back to high helped me realize what an important school where the “cool” girl would ask part one person’s asking another to “nerdy” little me to the “cool” table and share a meal can play in the greater colthen laugh loudly if I thought someone lege experience.

Deirdre Baskin Staff Writer

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The cafeteria is the one place where people from every residence hall, country, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion and student organization have the opportunity to interact as much as they will allow themselves to interact.

I do not want to say that every person on campus will become best friends with everyone else on campus simply by throwing a bunch of folks into a room together for chatting and cheese fries. Still, dedicating 20 to 30 minutes in the dining hall to social opportunities cannot hurt. To say the least, spending time with someone a little different could lead to interesting conversation and learning something new.

There also is the chance that those people who seemed so scary will turn out to be people who are quite nice.

Plus, the small campus size and the opportunity to see familiar faces and get to know people is part of the reason a lot of students chose U of I over other colleges. So students who do not take advantage of opportunities to “mix it up” and meet new people are not getting their money’s worth.

I would think that learning new things, having interesting conversations, meeting nice people, and not wasting money are all good reasons to meet and mingle with others without someone creating a national event for it.

But sometimes, people need reminders. Hopefully, the Nov. 15 “National Mix It Up at Lunch Day” was that reminder and inspire U of I students to mix it up every day in the cafeteria.

You do not have to be a Communication major to be a member of the newspaper.

■ CORRECTIONS The Reflector acknowledges its mistakes. Each issue, we will print corrections on the Opinion Page. If we omit anything, please contact us at grimesse@uindy.edu.

On Page 1, there was a factual error regarding the “Kick it or ticket” story. The promotion was developed and implemented by a group of sport management students in the Kinesiology Department under the direction of Jennifer VanSickle and with cooperation from U of I Athletics.

These students are: Michael Cebada, Nick Johnson, Jackie Kindig, Adam Martin, Colleen Roach, Travis Taylor and Joel Zawacki.

Artwork by Emily Scott

THE

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Editor-in-Chief....................................Valerie Miller Managing Editor.....................................Katy Yeiser News Editor.......................................Crystle Collins Sports Editor............................................Katy Yeiser Photo Editor.........................................Valerie Miller Opinion Editor.....................................Shelly Grimes Feature Editor....................................Amy Remsburg Entertainment Editor.............................Elyse Kaiser Online Editor..............................................Ben Reed Business Manager...................................Emily Scott Distribution Manager.........................Lauren Howey Adviser.............................................Jeanne Criswell Staff...........................................................................

Abby Adragna Matthew Kogan Christina Shedrick Deirdre Baskin Tony Puckett Ruth Shirley Anna Kimble-Roberson Sara Roberts Amanda Wade

SPORTS

NOVEMBER 22, 2005

THE REFLECTOR PAGE 4

■ WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Women’s basketball team wins season opener against Wayne State Shelly Grimes Opinion Editor

The ‘Hounds women’s basketball team opened its season with a win against Wayne State at home on Nov. 15.

The ‘Hounds got off to a slow start in the first half of the game, letting Wayne State take the lead by as many as 10 points. However, the ‘Hounds rallied and by halftime were only trailing by one point.

In the second half, the ‘Hounds gained control and outscored Wayne State 46-29. Junior Amanda Norris had 16 of the second-half points. Despite the ‘Hounds’ 26 turnovers, they managed to defeat Wayne State 74-58.

“It wasn’t a pretty win, but it still goes in the ‘W’ column,” said Teri Moren, who is in her sixth season as the ‘Hounds’ head coach. “In a home opener, you can expect the players to have some butterflies that they need to work through.”

The ‘Hounds will have to overcome a lack of depth on the roster this year, with only nine players and no seniors.

The ‘Hounds lost four players to graduation, which has been an adjustment for this year’s team, Moren said.

Photo by Shelly Grimes

Mandy Geryak, right, averages 19 points for the ‘Hounds.

“We lost a lot of our scoring as well as a lot of our experience,” Moren said.

“We are basically starting anew this

year, with new players on the perimeter. Our guards have changed completely.”

Moren said that this year she expects leadership to come from junior Xavier transfer Mandy Geryak and junior Kaysee Ellrich. Norris, who had the teamhigh 18 points against Wayne State, and sophomore Deanna Thompson, who had nine rebounds, also helped to lead the ‘Hounds to victory.

“The win Tuesday night wasn’t the prettiest, but it gave us a starting point,” Norris said. “We also showed that we work really well as a team. It took all nine of us to crawl our way back into the game.”

The ‘Hounds followed the Wayne State win with two wins in the Great Lakes Valley Conference/ Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Challenge on Nov. 18 and 19.

In the first game of the challenge, the ‘Hounds beat Ashland, 84-74.

Norris and Geryak each tallied a double-double in the win. Norris led the ‘Hounds with 21 points and 10 rebounds and Geryak followed with 19 points and 10 assists. Junior center Eileen Patton and sophomore forward, and Morehead State transfer, Vanessa Jackson were also close to recording double-doubles. Patton recorded 11 points and nine rebounds while Jackson scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

The following day the ‘Hounds easily beat Gannon 78-64. Moren’s squad

used a dominating 40-16 rebounding advantage and an 23-point lead early in the second half to put away Gannon. The ‘Hounds totalled 18 offensive rebounds and 20 second-chance points in the win.

Norris once again led her squad with another double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds against Gannon. Geryak tallied her third double digit scoring effort of the season with 21 points. She also dished out six assists.

Last season, the ‘Hounds had an impressive 22-10 record and went to the NCAA Division II tournament for the third consecutive year, falling to Grand Valley State in the second round of the tourney.

“There’s always pressure to be more successful than last year, but I think we’re just taking it one day at a time,” Norris said.

Moren said she expects her team to work hard this season and once again advance to the tournament.

“When you’ve had the success that this program has, especially the last few seasons, then you expect to succeed,” Moren said. “Anything less than what we did last year would be unacceptable. We expect to go further in the tournament each and every year.”

The ‘Hounds will look to improve their record to 4-0 against Oakland City on Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. in Nicoson Hall.

■ COLTS EDITORIAL

Colts fans need to enjoy success while it lasts Tony Puckett Staff Writer

At this point in the NFL season, 10 years ago, the Indianapolis Colts were a 5-6 football team. With Coach Ted Marchibroda and quarterback Jim Harbaugh at the helm, the Colts went on to win four straight games to find themselves at the AFC Championship in Pittsburgh. They lost 20-16 after wide receiver Aaron Bailey dropped a touchdown pass in the end zone.

Of course this year, after a franchise record 9-0 start (possibly 10-0 by the time this issue is published), the Indianapolis community is abuzz with Colts pride. ESPN commentators are almost unanimous in picking the Colts as the champions of Super Bowl XL, and we are barely halfway through the season.

Peyton Manning is following up the best season of his career with another brilliant season, although anything pales in comparison to 49 touchdown passes.

Edgerrin James, in what could be his final season as a Colt, is on-pace for over 1800 yards, a personal best for the back.

Tony Dungy has finally put his Tampa Bay championship stamp on a team of undersized yet speedy defensive players.

And not long ago, we witnessed Peyton Manning’s exorcism of his own personal demons in finally beating the New England Patriots.

It’s easy to be a fan right now. It’s easy to root for a team when everything seems to be going their way.

But something has to go wrong at some time. The Colts aren’t going to go undefeated for the next 10 years.

At some point, things are going to go awry.

That’s exactly why we need to savor this while we can.

I’ve heard the complaints before, and I am sure I will hear them again in the future: “Manning can’t win the big games.”

“The Colts offense can’t play outdoors.”

“They’ve only played [maybe] one good team.”

And my personal favorite: “Why do I have to pay for a new stadium with my taxes?”

Well, allow me to address all those concerns. Listen carefully.

I don’t care.

Whatever issues we can raise against this team, we need to realize that things could be worse.

Much worse.

Just take a look around the league, and you’ll see nearly 31 teams with bigger problems than the Colts have.

In Philadelphia, Terrell Owens turned the first half of the football season into a much publicized episode of “As the Football Turns.”

In New England, there are more people going down injured in the secondary than in the opening scene of “Saving Private Ryan.”

The Pittsburgh Steelers are on their third quarterback and are one hit away from putting in wide receiver and former IU quarterback Antwaan Randle-El at QB. And the 1-8 Houston Texans have become the league’s very own redheaded stepchild and face the very real possibility of not winning another game. (Let’s face it, David Carr has been sacked so many times he looks more like an expensive piñata than a first-round draft pick.)

As for the new stadium, if you’re not a fan, then you should at least be excited about the idea of Indianapolis hosting a Super Bowl sometime in the next decade. Given that Indy will most likely never host the Olympics, this new stadium could be the source of the single biggest sporting event in the history of this city, aside from the Indianapolis 500. If I could find the investors, I would be planning a new hotel right beside that new stadium myself.

And if you are a fan, then you can’t be unhappy with the new lease the city just forced on its team, guaranteeing Indianapolis residents 30 more years of Colts football.

So long as professional sports exist, there will be critics. And unlike this year so far, their accusations won’t always be baseless. Unrestricted free agency, salary caps and the NFL draft all exist so that everybody gets a chance at the big show, and nobody stays on top for long.

All we can do is enjoy the ride this year and hope it lasts as long as it can.

Photo by Robert Scheer/ KRT

Quarterback Peyton Manning has led is Colts to a 9-0 record as of The Reflector press time.

SPORTS

PAGE 5 THE REFLECTOR

NOVEMBER 22, 2005

■ MEN’S AND WOMEN’S SWIMMING

‘Hounds dominate Ashland, men squeak out Wayne State win Valerie Miller Editor-in-Chief The University of Indianapolis men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams won their first two dual meets of the season against Ashland on Nov. 4 and Wayne State on Nov. 12.

“The season has gone very well so far,” said head coach Gary Kinkead. “[The teams] have maintained their focus in competitions, which is sometimes the most difficult thing to do.”

The men defeated Ashland 124-68 and then pulled off a close victory against Wayne St. 121-116.

At Ashland, freshman Marios Panagi won both the 50 freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke. Panagi set an Ashland pool record in the backstroke with a time of 53.00. Other first-place finishers for the men were sophomore Hanno Ahonen in the 500 and 1,000 freestyle, junior Jeremy Lindauer in the 200 freestyle, senior Drew Hastings in the 400-yard individual medley and the 100 freestyle and junior James Landis in the 100 butterfly and the 200-yard medley relay team.

The ‘Hounds squeaked past Wayne St. in a tough match, winning by just five points.

“Beating Wayne State is something we haven’t accomplished since I’ve been here, and it was truly a team effort,” Lindauer said. “No single swimmer won that meet for us. Every race counted, and it actually came down to our ‘B’ relay being able to beat their ‘A’ relay at the end.”

First place swimmers included Hastings in the 200 IM and 200 backstroke, Pagani in the 50 freestyle and Ahonen in the 200 freestyle. The 400 freestyle relay team also came in first place.

In the 200 IM, Hastings posted a “B” cut national qualifying time of 1:56.68. (A “B” cut national qualifying time is barely under the time needed to qualify for the national meet. Those times are considered “A” cut times).

Freshman diver Randy Weiss helped in the victory by placing second in both the one and three meter boards.

The women’s team also came away with victories at both Ashland and Wayne St, defeating Ashland 118-82 and Wayne St. 157-84.

Six swimmers finished in first place at Ashland, including sophomore Ellie Miller in the 1,000 freestyle and 500 freestyle, senior Kristen Lund in the 400 IM, junior Alison Smith in the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke, junior Holly Spohr in the 50 freestyle and 100

Photo by Crystle Collins

Sophomore Laura Folsom works on her backstroke in a recent practice. freestyle and senior Meghan DuHadway in the 400 IM. The 200 medley relay team also finished in first place.

Miller set an Ashland pool record and posted a “B” cut national qualifying time in the 1,000 freestyle with a

time of 10:39.65. Lund also set a pool record in the 400 IM with a time of 4:44.27.

At the following meet against Wayne St., first place finishers included Miller in the 1,650 freestyle and 500

freestyle, Lund in the 200 butterfly, Smith in the 200 backstroke and 200 freestyle, junior Nikki Stevens in the 200 breaststroke, Spohr in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle and freshman Katie Murray in the 200 IM. Miller had an “A” cut national qualifying time in the 1,650 freestyle with a time of 17:30.59. Her performances at the two meets helped her earn “Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Swimmer of the Week” for Nov. 15.

Lund had a “B” cut time in the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:10.96. Smith posted a “B” cut time in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:09.07. Stevens also earned a “B” cut time in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:26.62.

The ‘Hounds finished first, second and third in both the 50 freestyle and 200 butterfly. The top three finishers in the 50 freestyle were Spohr, sophomore Valerie Crosby and DuHadway. Lund, Duhadway and junior Mary Secoges were the top three in the 200 butterfly.

The men and women teams swept the competition at the Wabash Invitational on Nov. 19. Both teams won the Invitational in convincing fashion. In 28 events of the total 37 events swam, a U of I swimmer or relay team finished in first place.

■ VOLLEYBALL

■ WRESTLING

Wrestling team opens season with easy ‘Hounds lose GLVC championship match, win over Indiana Wesleyan chance for NCAA bid Abby Adragna Staff Writer

The men’s wrestling team had a powerful open to its season with a 46-3 victory over Indiana Wesleyan on Nov. 12.

Wins were turned in by six of the seven competing wrestlers, Jimmy Nichols and John Kolb, junior Jose Navarro, and seniors Wes Hall, David Burns and Zane Andrews.

According to sophomore Shane

Perkey, the hard work in practice paid off in the meet.

“We had some good matches where our work ethic in practice prevailed over their [Indiana Wesleyan’s] work ethic,” Perkey said. “We weren’t as tired as they were, and that’s why we came out on top.”

Top performances were turned in

by Navarro, who pinned his opponent in 52 seconds, and Nichols and Burns, who both won by technical fall. Other notable performances included victories by Hall and Andrews, who won

Photo by Katy Yeiser

Zane Andrews attempts to knock David Burns to the mat.

their weight classes 9-3 and 4-2, respectively.

Although Indiana Wesleyan is not sanctioned by the NCAA, but only a club team, head coach Jay Yates felt that did not change the ‘Hounds approach to the meet.

“When you step out there on the mat, no matter who you are up against, it’s going to be a dog fight,” Yates said.

Yates believes that this meet showed definite indications of great things to come for this season.

“The team unity for the meet was great, and that is very important to us. The wrestling team works extremely hard and did a good job of supporting each other,” Yates said.

“I think as the season progresses, the team unity is critical, because you need that support when you go into big matches. It helps to know you have a large support group backing you up.”

During the meet, Yates was able to give several of his wrestlers early season experience.

“There was a good mix of freshman and seniors that could benefit from getting a match in early in the season,” Yates said.

This meet was the ‘Hounds’ first home meet, and they used it to honor their three seniors for Senior Day. Yates was proud to honor the three seniors, especially because of the heart that they showed during their matches that day.

“All three seniors did a great job of working through adversity. They had all been battling a sickness over the past week and stuck through it and wrestled with everything they had,” he said.

Results from the Ashland Open on Nov. 19 were not available as of The Reflector press time.

Katy Yeiser Managing Editor

The U of I volleyball team ran out of steam in the Great Lakes Valley Conference championship match against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville on Nov. 12, after previously upsetting the No. 1 and 4 seeded teams.

In the opening round on Nov. 10, the ‘Hounds avenged their regular season loss against Southern Indiana on Nov. 5.

“We weren’t too worried [about USI] because we had pretty much set a precedent that it’s pretty hard to beat us twice,” said senior outside hitter Whitney Boling. “So we were pretty confident.”

Head coach Jody Butera’s squad upset the No. 4 seeded USI 3-1. The win over USI advanced the ‘Hounds to the semifinal round, where they met No. 1 seed Rockhurst. Rockhurst beat the ‘Hounds earlier in the season 3-2. U of I returned the favor in a five game upset of the conference’s top team, winning with a game score of 25-30, 30-22, 24-30, 30-28, 15-8.

“The mind-set was that we had nothing to lose [against Rockhurst],” Boling said. “Nobody expected us to win, including Rockhurst. We pulled off an incredible win.”

Fourteen hours after the Rockhurst win, the ‘Hounds lost in four games to SIUEdwardsville in the championship match. Butera felt that the emotional upset of Rockhurst played a factor.

“You could tell that both teams were tired and spent both mentally and physically,” Butera said. “You could definitely tell my team didn’t have the pop that they usually have due to the draining of the prior two days.”

Despite a runners-up finish at the GLVC tournament, a win over the Great Lakes Region’s best team, Rockhurst, and a record of 16 wins in their last 21 regular season matches, the ‘Hounds did not receive an at large bid to the Division II national tournament.

Butera is on the NCAA Regional Advisory Committee, which decides who receives at-large bids, and knew that the ‘Hounds needed to win the GLVC tournament to compete in the NCAA tournament.

“However, everyone was praying that we would get an at-large bid just because we beat Rockhurst in the second round,” Butera said. “If we did do a little bit better in the earlier regional matches in the season we could have [had a bid].”

Butera also believes that some of their early losses against tough out-of-conference competition weighed heavily against their making it to nationals.

“Each year, I try to go in and play a lot of top competition, because I know it will prepare them better mentally and physically for November, because to be the best, you have play the best. But sometimes, I think it nips us in the bud,” Butera said. “I need to find a happy balance next year with scheduling.”

The ‘Hounds end their season with a 24-14 overall record and a 11-5 conference record.

■ MEN’S BASKETBALL

Sturgeon’s squad struggles with offense against IU, Indiana State Tony Puckett Staff Writer After finishing the exhibition season with a 96-49 loss to the Indiana University Hoosiers, the U of I men’s basketball team now looks ahead to the regular season. The team lost its first two exhibition games by a combined score of 175-94 this year, playing both Indiana and the Indiana State Sycamores.

“Obviously this exposed several things that we need to improve upon,” said Head Coach Todd Sturgeon. “We were disappointed in how we played in both games.”

Sturgeon believes that playing teams capable of competing on a national level has helped the ‘Hounds prepare to face teams in their own divi-

sion.

“I think at the end of the year, we’ll look back and see that Indiana was a top-10 team in Division 1. They will have several wins of 20 points [or more] against Division 1 teams.”

The team hopes to rest up after the taxing losses and learn from the experience of playing in big-time arenas such as IU’s Assembly Hall.

U of I had difficulties scoring in both exhibition games, shooting only 29 percent against ISU and roughly 19 percent in the first half against IU. By comparison, the Hoosiers sank 67.6 percent of their shots in the first half.

“I think we have a situation where we have a new offense, where guys aren’t entirely comfortable where they’re getting their shots. We’re playing good defensive teams with athletic players,” Sturgeon said. “When we

get a wide open shot, there was that uneasiness of being behind and having to make a shot.”

With the loss of last year’s offensive leader David Logan, the ‘Hounds experienced a major drop in scoring. Logan was the GLVC Player of the Year, as well as NCAA Division II player of the year. He averaged an NCAA-high 29 points per game.

“Without that scoring punch from Lawrence or David, the defense is the key this year,” said senior center Jon LaBad. “Each possession is going to be a crucial possession this year.”

Sturgeon also feels his team needs to be defense oriented.

“A year ago we had a team that could give up 80 points and win,” Sturgeon said. “We don’t have that team this year.”

While last year featured a returning

core of seniors who had been playing together since their freshman year, this year’s team consists of only two seniors and one returning player who has earned a letter in two seasons.

The ‘Hounds hope to get a good sense of what kind of team they have during the opening six road games, then define team goals sometime during winter break.

The ‘Hounds lost their first road game of the season to Illinois State, 5450, on Nov. 19. Freshman guard Daniel Cox scored a team high ten points in the loss.

Despite the uncertainties and the pressure, Sturgeon still has confidence in his team.

“There are people around the league that aren’t expecting us to be very good, and we would like to surprise some people.”

GRADUATED OFFENSE 2004-2005 seniors David Logan 829 total points 28.6 points per game + Lawrence Barnes 493 total points 18.3 points per game + Mickey McGill 254 total points 8.8 points per game + Cory Bennett 162 total points 6.0 points per game = 73% of last year’s offense

The Bottom Line ‘Hounds in ESPN The Magazine Senior football co-captain Bruce Renner and senior volleyball player Whitney Boling were named to the 2005 ESPN The Magazine’s Academic All-District College Division Second Team, on Nov. 10. Athletes on the all-district team were nominated by the College Sports Information Directors of America. The district is comprised of Division II, III and NAIA schools in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Renner had 103 tackles on the year, while Boling had 1,417 career kills.

Sports in the weird

All-conference teams announced

According to the Associated Press, a Dutch TV show claimed to set a new Guinness World Record for knocking down a chain of 4.1 million dominoes.

However, the event was overshadowed by a sparrow who knocked down 23,000 dominoes and was shot and killed by a guard in result. More than 5,000 people signed a condolence to honor the bird.

With the end of fall sports seasons comes the announcement of All-GLVC honors. Cross country’s Brad Robinson, Karen Bower and Rachel Kriese each earned spots, along with soccer’s Ashley Hinton, Dusty Shannon and Erik Nance. Volleyball’s Whitney Boling, Alyssa Carlotta and Lynne Ross and tennis’ Lindsey Fischer and Ashley Liles were named as well. Football’s Carl Lile, Bruce Renner, Jimmy Fleshman, Andy Moore and Nick Parker were named to the All-GLIAC team.

FEATURE

NOVEMBER 22, 2005

THE REFLECTOR PAGE 6

■ FIREFIGHTER RESEARCH

Professor leads cutting edge study to help firefighters Abby Adragna Staff Writer

About 100 firefighters die while on duty each year in the United States.

Although firefighters are typically healthy and fit, nearly 50 percent of these deaths are caused by heart attacks suffered during fires. The technology has not been available to test the exact causes of these heart attacks, until now.

Dr. Jim Brown, assistant professor of kinesiology and director of the Human Performance Lab, is currently researching firefighter physiology. His goal is to find what the physiological requirements are for firefighters to be able to successfully handle strenuous work conditions.

Brown has been working closely with a company called VivoMetrics Government Services.

VivoMetrics is the producer of the LifeShirt, a device that for the first time has made it possible to monitor what firefighters’ bodies go through while they are in burning buildings. The LifeShirt is a vest with embedded sensors that measure several things including cardiovascular functions, respiratory functions and body temperature.

Brown first heard about the device while working at Indiana University four years ago. He brought it with him when he came to the University of Indianapolis. He believes the device is a huge step forward in firefighter physiology research.

“There’s only so much that we can do in a laboratory setting,” Brown said. “We can test all sorts of things in the laboratory, but that doesn’t tell us anything about their [firefighters’] performance in a fire.”

Last spring, Brown asked students in some of his classes whether they would like to assist him with his firefighter

Photo courtesy of Dr. Brown

U of I senior Ashley Hinton (left) and Dr. Jim Brown (center) assist a fire-fighter (right) with a LifeShirt.

research. Seniors Ashley Hinton, Emily Petitt, Laura Schwade and Adam Miner volunteered to help. Greg Weatherholt, a 2005 graduate of the University of Indianapolis, also volunteered.

According to Brown, the hands-on research in which the students have been participating is a pilot study.

Hinton realizes the importance of the information that she is gathering for this study.

“Right now, they [researchers] are kind of just testing the vests,” she said. “Eventually, they want to get to where they can put these vests on people and monitor them while they’re in a fire, so that if something is physiologically going wrong with them, they can be pulled out and saved.”

Firefighters get used to wearing the Last April, Brown and his student volunteers had the instructions for their next drill. opportunity to study the firethe drill is the closest thing to a fire that fighters who attended the Fire firefighters can experience before they Department Instructor’s Conference in Indianapolis, the largest annual interna- encounter a real building fire.

When the fire lit in the upper story tional fire fighting conference. of the building reaches a certain point, According to Hinton, Brown was it flashes over the top of the bottom there to supervise the volunteers, but story. The temperature in the upper he basically turned the research over story is not survivable. “The temperato them. “We put the vests on [the ture was about 450 degrees at our heads firefighters], gathered information, and 1800 to 2000 degrees at the top and then got to go back to the lab and of the cannister,” Hinton said. “It was analyze the data,” she said. pretty intense.”

In order to get a better understandBrown was recently contracted by ing of exactly what firefighters go VivoMetrics to go to Washington, D.C., through on a daily basis, the students and use the LifeShirt to study firefighteach wore the standard fire fighting ers. The tests that there were conducted gear and monitored any changes their bodies experienced. Brown and the vol- in controlled environments such as training simulations. unteers also participated in some trainHe believes the next step is to have ing simulations with the firefighters. firefighters wear the device while they The students participated in an are in burning buildings and test them extreme simulation that is known as extensively. a flashover drill. During this drill, In order to reach this next step, firefighters lie in the lower story of a Brown put in a request for a $2 million two-story building, and a fire is lit in grant from the Office of Homeland the upper story. According to Hinton,

Photo courtesy of Dr. Brown

LifeShirts while listening to Security to be able to study firefighters over the next couple of years in Indianapolis.

“Hopefully, we’ll get our grant funded and be able to spend a lot of time studying firefighters, to get an idea of exactly what they do from a physical standpoint during a fire,” Brown said The research and hands-on activities with which Brown and his volunteers have been involved in over the past several weeks have given Brown a new perspective on fire fighting.

“I’ve gained a whole new respect for firefighters,” he said. “I cannot imagine going into those kinds of unknown situations that they work in on a regular basis. It’s just amazing that they do those kinds of things.”

Brown is still waiting to find out whether his grant request is going to be accepted, but he is hopeful. He believes that further research into physiology is important because the technology is now available to potentially save lives.

■ THANKSGIVING BREAK PLANS

What can international students do during Thanksgiving break?

Tony Puckett Staff Writer Many students take for granted that they can simply drive a couple of hours and enjoy holidays such as Thanksgiving with friends and families. However, for U of I students who hail from other countries, things are not so easy. In fact, most International students don’t go home for Thanksgiving at all.

Whereas the winter break between semesters is often a month or longer and offers students the opportunity to fly to whatever nation they may call home, Thanksgiving is an American holiday and much too short for such lengthy trips.

While many Americans celebrate home and family on Thanksgiving, international students may will be celebrate in different ways, such as spending the holiday with friends or professors, entertaining guests, or simply staying in the residence halls and working.

Here’s a look at three international students’ plans for Thanksgiving break:

Photo by Tony Puckett

Junior communication major Chun Him Tung (above), from Hong Kong, plans to spend the holiday

break at his local apartment feasting on a frozen turkey. Tung’s fiancee, Suki (left), flew in to celebrate the holiday with Tung.

Freshman Shela Viswanathan (right) is Indian, but was born in Zambia.

She is a visual communication design major.

She has received multiple invitations for Thanksgiving dinner, from

Photo by Tony Puckett Photo by Tony Puckett

professors as well as her roommate. She is also expecting a visit from a friend from England over the holiday.

Chariklia Sofianou (above) is a sophomore medical technology major at U of I. Sofianou is from Cyprus and is planning on spending the holiday studying in the dorms.

■ PROFESSOR PROFILE

Spanish prof thrilled to be at U of I Valerie Miller Editor-in-Chief

The University of Indianapolis boasts a number of international students, but faculty and staff members also call other countries home. Jose Diaz Perez is one of those people.

Diaz Perez is an associate adjunct faculty member in modern languages who teaches Spanish. This is his first year teaching at U of I. Originally from Huelva, Spain, Diaz Perez came to the United States four years ago to teach high school.

“I came for only one year, but I met my wife, so I stayed,” he said.

Diaz Perez no longer teaches high school; now he teaches at both U of I and at IUPUI. “I had been teaching high school for four years, and I liked it…but I wanted a change,” he said. “I always want to move.”

Diaz Perez noted that one big difference between teaching at the high school level and at the college level is the students’ motivation.

“College is a voluntary thing…most [students] are very motivated to learn, and I like that,” he said.

Shay Hyland, a junior math major in one of Diaz Perez’s courses, agreed. “I think he’s a really fun, good teacher,” she said. “I usually just worry about my grade, but in [his] class I’m more concerned about learning the material.”

When he’s not teaching, Diaz Perez enjoys many hobbies and activities, such as sports, running, playing guitar and piano, reading, cooking and traveling.

Come and check out The Reflector Online at: www.reflector@uindy.edu

Photo by Katy Yeiser

Professor Jose Diaz Perez tries to think of an answer for a question posed by a student during a discussion in his Spanish 101 class.

Although he has traveled to many places, such as France, Italy, Portugal, Mexico and the Caribbean, Diaz Perez still likes Spain the best.

“Every time I travel, I realize that the best place to live and to be is Spain,” he said. “I love seeing different things and going different places, but I would recommend that everyone go to Spain. It’s really fun, interesting and beautiful,” Diaz Perez said.

A soccer fan, Diaz Perez hopes to go to Germany in the summer for the FIFA World Cup. Diaz Perez is also a musician who composes his own music and has been working on recording a CD with a friend.

Diaz Perez is enjoying his time at U of I. “I like the familiar atmosphere,” he said. “IUPUI is more cold. Here is

more like a family place.”

In his classes, Diaz Perez likes to challenge his students so they will learn more. “I try to always make the students think,” he said He also tries to teach them culture and real-world applications.

For example, in his classes, everyone goes by a Spanish name. He also likes to show his classes personal videotapes of his hometown that feature Spanish culture and holidays.

“I like to tell my life stories when I’m teaching because teaching isn’t only the information you try to give them [students]. Teaching is also to show them that there’s something out of here [college],” he said. “People don’t see how practical things can be when you get out of college and I try to show them.”

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ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE 7 THE REFLECTOR

NOVEMBER 22, 2005

■ HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

■ 7 LIST

Thanksgiving traditions Holiday celebrations in Indianapolis we could do without Anna Kimble-Roberson Staff Writer

Elyse Kaiser Entertainment Editor

Most people love the holiday season—that’s a given. It begins with Thanksgiving, a holiday celebrated by seeing how many pounds of food one can eat in a sitting. However, not everything about Thanksgiving is great.

Here are a few things we could do without during the holiday season.

7. Instant food. Thanksgiving is the one day of the year that nothing should be store bought. A thanksgiving meal should not include instant mashed potatoes or that disgusting “cranberry sauce” that keeps the form of the can when you put it on the plate.

6. Uninvited house guests. This specifically includes pets. When multiple relatives bring multiple pets to your house, you inevitably end up being the one cleaning up after those pets. Also, pets do not have table manners.

Nothing is more annoying then trying to eat dinner and having multiple dogs whining and begging for scraps.

5. Musical numbers at the Macy’s Day Parade. The parade is a great tradition before the football games. Celebrities always appear in the parade, and there are always “live” performances throughout the morning. Watching marching bands and the Rockettes perform can be quite entertaining, but watching musical artists mouth the words to their most recent hit borders on ridiculous. Last time I checked lip syncing didn’t require any talent.

4. Day-after traffic. The day after Thanksgiving sales do allow us to save a bundle on Christmas gifts, but the traffic can sometimes make you wonder whether it is really worthwhile. Even if you aren’t headed to the mall, getting anywhere on the biggest shopping day of the year can be impossible.

3. The kids’ table. We are in college, most of us in our twenties. We have our drivers licenses, our own places and succeeded in graduating from high school. Still, the only thing harder than figuring out where to keep all the leftover turkey is figuring out how to graduate from the kids’ table.

2. Balloon commentary. Katie Couric needs to find something more interesting to talk about then how the balloons look coming down the street.

1. The infamous elderly relative interrogation. This one explains itself.

However, in case you have yet to be the victim of one, here are a few sample questions to prepare you for the inevitable: “Are you still in college?” “When are you going to get married?” “Who are you dating?” (If single—“Why?”) “How old are you again?”

The holiday season is here. Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and many other special holidays are around the corner. If you are looking for ways and places to celebrate the holidays in the city, here is a list of a few events in the Indianapolis area for the months of November and December.

Celebration Crossing at Indiana State Museum The “Santaland Express” train will be calling visitors “all aboard” during this holiday celebration. This event features a host of moving figurines in L.S. Ayres store windows along with many more displays. Visitors are invited to watch Santa Claus arrive by helicopter at noon on the opening day.

Children of all ages will be allowed to take pictures with Santa and participate in much more activities. In union with this experience, the IMAX Theater at the Indiana State Museum will have showings of the movie, “The Polar Express.” This event runs Nov.19-Jan.1, 2006. For more information, visit http://www.in.gov.

Circle of Lights at Monument Circle The Circle of Lights celebration officially kicks-off the holiday season downtown. Giant peppermint candy canes and toy soldiers will be at attention when more than 5,000 lights are lit. Presented by the Contractors

of Quality Connection and Electrical Workers of IBEW 481, the 43rd annual lighting of the Indiana Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument will take place Nov. 25. Beginning at 6 p.m., people in downtown Indy can expect to be entertained by festive performers from around the state. Santa Claus also will make a special appearance. The lights will be switched on at 7:45 p.m. with fireworks following. In addition, downtown visitors will be able to view a display of festive banners, garlands and other decorations. The lights will continue to shine throughout the downtown area until Jan. 7, 2006. This event is free. For more information, visit http://www.qc-indy.com.

Yuletide Celebration at Hilbert Circle Theatre The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra will present a number of classical and traditional holiday songs.

The carols and orchestra arrangements will be conducted by Jack Everly.

During this celebration, dance numbers and the visual creativity of “The Piano Juggler,” Dan Menendez, will appear in the show. Grammy award-winning gospel singer Sandi Patty will host the event sponsored by First Indiana Bank. The performance is scheduled to run Dec. 2-23 at various times at the Hilbert Circle Theatre. For more information, go to http://www.indianapolissymphony.org.

Jolly Days Winter Wonderland at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis This wonderland offers visitors insight into the holidays and celebrations Children of all ages are welcomed to browse the many exhibits and displays of the holiday season. This event runs Nov. 25 to Jan. 8, 2006. For more information, visit http://www.childrensmuseum.org.

Christmas at the Zoo at Indianapolis Zoo During the month of December, evening visitors will find well-lit and decorated grounds. At the 37th annual event this year, presented by Krogers, viewers will enjoy a number of new additions. Light sculptures of animals and holiday scenes are displayed throughout the zoo. Candy canes, reindeer and snowflakes are a few of the more than 100 oversized images that will be on display. Santa Claus will available for pictures.

This event is presented in conjunction with the Indiana Railroad Company’s Holiday Trainland. Guests will have the opportunity to ride the train along the White State River and to view festive train exhibits as well.

This event runs Dec.2-30, seven days a week, 5-9 p.m. Members of the Indianapolis Zoo are admitted free. Tickets are $8 per adult and $6 per seniors or youth. For more information, go to http://www.indyzoo.com.

The Nutcracker at Pike Performing Arts Center This “fairy tale for the modern world” will be presented by the Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre. Dancing toy soldiers, mice and fairies all appear in this traditional, holiday performance.

The student production will include more than 100 dancers. Performances will take place Dec. 2-4. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens. For more information, go to http://www.gregoryhancockdancetheatre.org.

■ THEATRE PROFILES

Senior theatre students take on directing roles for upcoming plays Ruth Shirley Staff Writer

Three students where chosen by the theatre department to direct one-act plays or short scenes to be performed in the University of Indianapolis studio theatre Dec. 2-4 and 8-10.

Usually, the department selects two seniors to direct full-length shows, but the number of applications this semester prompted the department to allow more students to direct shorter plays, according to student director Mary Ferguson.

The student directors are Ferguson, directing “The Family Continues;” Amanda Gwin, directing “Ladies of the Mop;” and Delia Neylon, directing “A Case of Belonging.”

Mary Ferguson “A Case of Belonging” Mary Ferguson’s play is about the life of an everyman character named Steve. “[The play] runs through [Steve’s] birth, growing up, getting married, having Steve Jr., living through Steve Jr.’s life and [Steve] dying,” Ferguson said. “So it goes all the way from his birth to his death in about 25 minutes. It’s a quick life.”

Ferguson said she chose this play because of its strong connections with life. “Much goes on in our world that gets us frustrated or gets us out of our element, but in the end, life still goes on, and life still moves. I thought this play was a very good example of how fast life can go.”

A double-major in theater and psychology, Ferguson is also president of the U of I Women’s Chorus, treasurer of Alpha Psi Omega—the theatre department’s honor society, a member of the Out of Context drama troupe, a member of Calvary Tabernacle church and employee of New York and Co. at Greenwood Park Mall.

Theatre was a part of Ferguson’s life throughout high school, but she didn’t decide to make it a life goal until she assistant directed the play “Steel Magnolias” during her senior year.

According to Ferguson, the play turned out terrible, with the actors still calling for their lines two days before opening night. “Yet through the worst show I’ve ever done, I had the most amazing time ever. I realized that if I could love something that was that bad, I could do it.”

Throughout college, Ferguson has participated in shows by holding a variety of positions. Her most recent positions include stage manager of the U of I production of, “Trojan Women,” stage manager of the Theatre Non Nobis production “Keely and Du,” sound designer for U of I’s “Black Comedy,” stage manager for U of I’s “Endgame” and assistant hair designer for “Pippin.”

Ferguson said she enjoys stage managing and directing.

“I love running the show, but I also love being able to work with the actors, to able to be that person that the actors can depend on. I love fixing the problems.”

Ferguson also enjoys acting. “In my heart, I love acting so much more.

There hasn’t been anything, really, that I’ve felt drawn to audition for so, when in doubt, I fall to stage managing, which I also love so much.”

Next semester, Ferguson will direct an independent production of “Burn This” in the studio theater.

After she graduates, she plans to move to St. Louis and become highly involved in church ministry, as well as the in theater. Eventually, she plans to use her psychology degree to become a counselor in a high school or university.

Amanda Gwin “Ladies of the Mop” In contrast with Ferguson’s serious play, Amanda Gwin is directing a comedy.

In “Ladies of the Mop,” four ladies work as a cleanup crew for a theater company who discuss their aspirations

Photo by Ruth Shirley

Mary Ferguson talks with Ryan O’Shea about a scene in “The Family Continues.”

Photo by Ruth Shirley

Student director Delia Neylon, right, and stage manager Emily Gerber watch actors rehearse “A Case of Belonging” which will be one of the three student directed plays presented in the studio theater in Esch Hall in December. to become a singer, a dancer, an actor and a piano player. In this production however, Gwin has made one of the ladies a gay man. In the end they are complacent. “These four ‘ladies’ are happy being mop ladies. Yes they have their dreams and they have their talents but they’re happy. Sometimes [we] don’t just step out and take that leap because we’re just happy where we are,” Gwin said.

In the play, each character displays their talent with comedic results. Gwin originally chose to direct a musical, but chose this play which still retains some musical-type elements.

“I love musicals,” Gwin said, “Because I couldn’t direct a musical, [this play] still has the dancing and singing in it, and everything in it that I love.”

She felt everyone would recognize it as a type of show she would direct.

“There’s really no story line. It’s just a bunch of craziness. It’s a lot of fun. It’s an Amanda show.”

Gwin’s love for theatre came from her lifelong involvement in community theatre, with the support of her mother.

“I’ve done theatre my whole life. My first show was when I was five. My mom raised me in community theatre. I grew to love it through those people.”

She continued through middle and high school and is now a senior theater major. Her positions with U of I plays include prop designer for “Trojan Women” and stage manager for both “Pippin” and “Black Comedy.”

Gwin enjoys directing theatre most, which is why she applied to direct a show this semester and has applied to stage manage previous shows, she said.

“A better approach to directing is to meet people. That way people know how well you work.” She hopes stage managing will “clear the path” toward further directing.

The summer of 2004, Gwin participated in professional theatre at the Shawnee Theatre in Bloomfield, Ind., acting in two shows. She has taught

theatre at Wheeler Arts Community Center for two years, and for the past six years, also has been a YMCA drama camp counselor, directing musicals with kids.

Gwin has not yet worked a job outside of theatre.

“Hopefully I won’t have to,” she said. Over the summer, she plans to start a theatre company with a YMCA associate that will be similar to the drama camps they both worked in.

They hope someday to open their own studio to be able to do youth drama year round.

Eventually, she hopes to continue in school for her master of arts in theatre education. She said she’d also “love to direct on Broadway someday. You never know. That’s the ultimate goal.”

Delia Neylon “A Case of Belonging” “A Case of Belonging” also is a comedy. Delia Neylon is directing it using a unique approach—meshing live action with cartoon.

“I’m such a kid, I love cartoons, and I’ve had this idea for awhile of bringing cartoon to real-life on the stage,” Neylon said. “When I heard about this script, I knew it was a very possible feeling for the show.”

The play is a satirical battle of wits between an angel and a devil over the soul of a woman who dies on stage in the opening of the play. Whoever wins her soul gets points with the head guy they’re under.

“The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger,” Neylon said. “But [the audience] will be surprised at who wins the prize. If you like to laugh come see the show.”

Neylon said she chose this play because “my favorite thing in the world is to laugh, and more even than that, is to make other people laugh. It just makes me feel good.”

Now a senior theatre major with a directing concentration, Neylon’s

first experience with drama was in a community theatre production of “The Wizard of Oz” when she was in the sixth grade. “It was just so much fun that once I got to high school and we had a drama club, I immersed myself in it completely,” Neylon said.

Her parents have always been a support, though at first they were wary of her career choice. “They wanted me for a long time to get an education degree as well, because they were afraid that I wouldn’t be able to make it,” Neylon said. “But they’ve kind of given up on that, realizing that I’m going to do this whether I’m living in a box or in a mansion.”

Now, her parents drive two and a half hours from Merrillville, Ind., to watch each of her shows. “They’ve been amazing,” she said.

Neylon’s theatre involvement includes stage manager of “Vanities”, actress in “Black Comedy,” and assistant director of “Endgame,” which went to the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival.

Also, she has served as an assistant stage manager with the theater company Shadowape, which is a local group of professional performers from Indianapolis Repertory Theatre.

Neylon is a violist of over ten years and plays in the U of I Chamber Orchestra.

Neylon said she is currently stage managing three shows with the professional contemporary dance company Dance Kaleidoscope this season. Next fall, she plans to work at IRT as a stage managing assistant, hoping to progress to stage managing.

She said she eventually may return to school for a master’s degree in directing.

All three plays will run every Thurs., Fri., Sat. and Sun. from Dec. 2-4 and Dec. 8-10 at p.m. in the studio theatre. To reserve tickets, call the box office at (317)788-3251, Monday through Friday noon to 5 p.m.

BACK PAGE

NOVEMBER 22, 2005

THE REFLECTOR PAGE 8

■ CAMPUS ACTIVITIES

Salsa, fashion, Vegas and Diwali bring festive aura to U of I

Photo by Valerie Miller

(Above) Group of African students perform African at the Fashion Show. Many students showed off their national dress and cultural dances.

(Below) The Estrella de Norte group performs a native dance at the International Fashion Show which took place in the Schwitzer Center Atrium on Nov. 16

Photo by Katy Yeiser

Photo by Deirdre Baskin

(Above) The salsa dancing event held in the Atrium had a high student attendance.

(Above) Students play roulette at the Las Vegas Nite sponsored by CPB that took place on Nov. 11.

(Left) The Indian Student Association celebrated Diwali night in the Atrium on Nov. 17. This annual event attracted large groups of students once more.

Photo by Valerie Miller

■ MOVIE REVIEW

Photo by Sara Roberts

Jake Gyllenhall gets ‘oo-rah’ for role in new drama ‘Jarhead’

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award-winning cast is the award-winning crew, which includes Academy Award-winning director Sam Mendes (“American Beauty”), screenwriter William Broyles (“Apollo 13” and a Vietnam veteran), director of photography Roger Deakins (“The Shawshank Redemption”) and producers Douglas Wick (“Spy Games” and “Gladiator”) and Sam Mercer (“The Sixth Sense”).

“Jarhead” is purposely left free of any political wavering toward the

current war in Iraq. It is not a pro-war or an anti-war movie. Viewers who support the current war will not be offended, nor will those who are against it. In fact, politics is only brought up once in the entire movie, when a Marine complains that the war is being fought for oil but is quickly silenced by Sykes and other members of his unit.

The Vietnam War, however, is often referenced. For example, a U.S. Air Force helicopter flies overhead blaring

music by The Doors, and one member of the unit yells, “That’s Vietnam music! Can’t we get our own music?”

“Jarhead” is a unique war movie. If you are expecting “Full Metal Jacket” or “Apocalypse Now,” you may be disappointed. However, if you are looking for a movie that tells of one man’s struggles through a war to which most pay little attention, “Jarhead” will leave you satisfied and coming out of the theater chanting, “Oo-rah!”

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Student Housing Crunch Eases A Little New Housing For 150 Students Have you visited Carson at the Crossing, just blocks from the U of I campus? The Model is open daily noon till 6.

Charter Homes is building 46 new Townhouses designed with the student in mind. 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, attached garages, and a great party park under construction. The Private Park will have lighted basketball, and sand volleyball courts with a shelter house containing a fireplace. " We are making Carson at the Crossing a fun/safe place to Live and Play", said Larry Jaquess the onsite leasing agent.

"With our onsite security guard from dusk till dawn we will try to make sure people leave our students alone, and the bad guys stay away."

Currently Charter Homes has 3 units available for immediate occupancy. 9 units available in December, and 6 units available in January. But the Best News is because it is new construction you can also "Reserve a Unit" for next year.

Charter is Hosting a new website, for forming U of I Roomate Groups! www.charterhomesindiana.com Here is your chance to be part of our best student housing community around.

Visit Larry online, at the Carson avenue model, or call 445-2343.

Rent is reasonable too. Carson at the Crossing has new units for: * 4 Student Group at $300/ month * 3 Student Group at $400/ month * 2 Student Group at $500/ month

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Most war movies have a set formula: Everyday soldiers become heroes by attacking and killing all the enemies in gruesome, bloody fight scenes and then going on their merry ways without any remorse for their actions. “Jarhead,” however, is not a typical war movie. It is a war movie without the war.

The movie is based on the 2003 bestselling memoir, entitled “Jarhead”

by Marine Tony Swofford.

As the audience is told, a “jarhead” is a slang term used to describe a Marine. This slang term refers to one of two things: to the haircut Marines must get or the idea that a Marine’s head must be emptied and then refilled with new thoughts imposed upon him or her by superiors.

Swofford, a.k.a. “Swoff,” is played

by Jake Gyllenhall, perhaps best known, unfortunately, for his role in the substandard 2004 film “The Day After Tomorrow.” “Jarhead” follows his enlistment in the Marine Corps in 1989 through his experiences in the first Gulf War. Swoff is a third-generation enlistee, who joins only because he “got lost on the way to college.”

While at boot camp, Swoff meets hard-nosed Staff Sgt. Sykes, played

by Jamie Foxx (Oscar winner for best actor in last year’s “Ray”). Sykes recruits Swoff to be a marine sniper, promising him that he will have the best job in the corps. Swoff is selected to be a shooter and is partnered with Troy (Peter Sarsgaard, “Garden State”), his spotter and soon-to-be best friend.

Troy is the stereotypical Marine: eager to please his superiors, eager to serve his country, ready to give everything to defend America.

When Kuwait is invaded by Saddam Hussein (or “Saddam Insane,” as Sykes calls him), Swoff’s unit is among the first sent over to join Operation Desert Shield, the six-month buildup of troops in the Gulf Coast region in 1990. The unit has been trained into a frenzy.

The soldiers are told that Hussein has declared that “the mother of all wars is upon us” and they are ready to fight for their country. They are disappointed when they learn that they are not going into combat right away but are instead to guard oil fields in Saudi Arabia.

While guarding the oil fields, the Marines face their biggest challenge yet: themselves. They are stuck in the middle of nowhere, with nothing to entertain them and no real threats to fight off. This is the real story of “Jarhead”: the only thing worse than fighting in a war is waiting to fight in one.

The men become restless in the 112 degree heat and have little to do but fight with each other and obsess about their less-than-faithful wives and girlfriends back home. These Marines are not portrayed as invincible men eager to serve their country. They seem more like frat boys; they are bored out of their minds, obsessed with sex, and eager to get into trouble (only to be disciplined by Sykes). Swoff is perhaps

the best at getting into trouble. One scene involving a Santa hat, explosives and a couple of gallons of an “unapproved beverage” offers a glimpse into just how bad Swoff can screw things up.

After the monotonous (and for these Marines, torturous) build-up of troops, Operation Desert Storm is declared, sending them into the “front lines” of the war. The tone of the movie changes dramatically at this point; the Marines are now in their element and overly eager to use their training. The audience sees only what Swoff sees: potential danger over every hill. Ironically, most of the danger comes from friendly fire and not Iraqi forces. These Marines are always a step behind the action in a war that is fought almost exclusively by the U.S. Air Force.

During the war, some of the most compelling scenes of the movie take place. Swoff must march through burning oil fields. He sees charred bodies of people who were trying to escape but were killed by U.S. air attacks.

Perhaps most compelling is a scene in which Swoff and Troy are ordered to perform a sniper mission. As they sit in their lookout post, Swoff notes the differences between the two men: Swoff wants only to go home; Troy wants only to be a Marine. The war ends when Hussein surrenders after only four days, four hours and one minute. The Marines are victorious, but confused about whether they played an important role in the war at all.

“Jarhead” explores war through one man’s eyes. He is scared he wants to go home and he wants to see his girlfriend.

But instead he is stuck in the middle of the desert, regretting that he ever signed the contract to join the corps.

Gyllenhall’s acting is amazing in this movie. We see the fear in his eyes and the conflict of being a 20-year-old who doesn’t know what he wants to do with his life. It is no stretch to imagine him a soldier or as someone with whom you attended high school. He is able to connect with the audience, and the audience wants to see him home safe rather than in danger. Swoff is not the standard “war hero” standard to most other war movies, yet the audience is somehow convinced that he is, in fact, a hero.

Gyllenhall is not the only scenestealer in this movie. All the actors are amazing. Foxx’s portrayal of Sykes is some of his finest acting yet.

Every member of the unit seems to be a real person, from the sociopath to the naïve kid to the ones that are fulfilling their life-long dreams.

This movie has been criticized because it offers little character development. But, I found this to be one of the most enticing aspects of the movie. We do not know these characters’ pasts or futures. All we see is their present. We see how they behaved in one moment in time under certain conditions. The Marines did not know each other before, and as we see, they do not reunite regularly after their experience. I find this to be brilliant, and the actors did phenomenal jobs of sticking to their characters.

Even more amazing than the

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Shelly Grimes Opinion Editor