Summer 1 Issue 2 2013 A r l in gton Hei g h t s • B e ns e nv i l l e • C h i cag o • D u Pag e • E l g i n • La k e C o u n t y • O r la nd Par k • Peo r ia • Schaum bur g • Sp r ingf ield
RMU Investigating a big move to the NCAA pg. 3
Quick and cheap Trips for Summer Break pg. 9
He says/She says FEMen Topless Jihad Day pg. 12 ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY
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THE NEWS Student Handbook Rule is Finally Enforced On Monday, April 29th, the beginning of the Summer I Quarter, RMU began enforcing the ID policy that is written in the student handbook. Just seconds after entering the building, students were greeted by security personnel, who requested that each student have his or her student ID visible at all times. If the ID is not seen, security has the right to deny a student entry until the ID is shown. The rule in the handbook states the following, “students are required to wear their ID at all times while on campus… failure to wear your student ID or present your ID when requested by a University employee…is a violation of University regulations and subjects the student to disciplinary action.” Katie Langesen, an advisor at RMU since 2010, mentioned that the rule was in place when she became a faculty
member, and even before that. However, it was not a rule that was always followed or enforced. “It is not a concern of mine since I know RMU students by face and I can easily pick them out among a crowd. I do see it as just a safety precaution,” said Langesen. Safety precaution or not, why start enforcing a rule that has been in place for years but constantly ignored? “[The purpose of the ID stop is] to ensure that the people that are on the upper f loors of the college are supposed to be there, it increases security in the facility. Students are supposed to be wearing their ID at all times, visible,” said Tim Lang, security personnel. Langesen also stated that students who are not wearing their IDs throughout the building will be stopped by security personnel and will be requested to wear their IDs. v
Eagle Advisor
Content Team
Paul Gaszak PGaszak@robertmorris.edu
Dan Ciaglia [Editor] Stacy Zamskaya [Editor] Heather D. Alexander [Editor] Adrian Saucedo [Writer] Aaron Wilson [Writer] Myranda Cate [Writer] Kelsey Neville [Writer] Lawerance Chamberlain [Writer] Phylicia Fletcher [Writer] Jessica Fuchs [Writer] Jessi Bahena [Writer]
By Heather D. Alexander
Advisory Board David Pyle Mick McMahon
Campus Faculty David Belotti • Lake County DBelotti@robertmorris.edu Beth Gainer • Bensonville BGainer@robertmorris.edu Nicole Hager • Springfield NHager@robertmorris.edu Gerard Wozek • Dupage GWozek@robertmorris.edu Jane Wendorff-Craps • Peoria JWendorffCraps@robertmorris.edu
Design Team Blake Whitmore [Art Director] Tyson Bosco[Designer] Austin Huette [Designer] Robert McMorris [Designer] Matt Theodosopoulos [Designer] Kyle Ashley [Designer]
Public Relations Team Mason Riley [Social Media Manager] Mishel Chinbat [Event Coordinator]
Contributors Alyssa Brown
RMU Homecoming: No Tux Needed By Kelsey Neville When one thinks of homecoming, they usually picture a formal high school dance preceded by a week of dress-up contests and one extremely anticipated football game. No dance is planned for this year’s festivities, but there will be a week filled with RMU spirit and a football game. The Dean of Health Studies and Faculty Advisor of the homecoming committee, Laura Timmons, contacted a group of students to work on this project a few months ago. This group is now the first ever homecoming committee for our school and consists of some of RMU’s best: Kory Honel, Melissa Joyce, Nadejda Ivanova, and Gaby Loera. For those that do not know these girls, they are wonderful students and athletes at our Chicago campus. “We are all very excited about this week and we just really wanted to bring the big state school type homecoming atmosphere to this Robert Morris Homecoming week,” said Honel. As far as events go, the committee has already planned a multitude of events to take place officially on October 19th, but also for the week leading up to that day. Some of the events planned for homecoming week at
all campuses include dress-up themed days, competitions between campuses (penny wars, decorating contests, and picture contests), and a pep-rally in Grant Park. The day of homecoming, there will be a “tailgate” of sorts that will include free food, face painting, photo-booth pictures and some games. Not only will there be a football game featured but also a women’s volleyball game. October may seem far away, but it looks like our Robert Morris community is in for a treat this fall. As always…GO EAGLES! v
Mission
The Eagle is the student-centered news source of Robert Morris University (IL) and does not necessarily represent the views of Robert Morris University administrators, faculty, or students. The Eagle provides a venue for the exchange of ideas and information pertinent to the students of RMU. Like us! RMU Eagle News Follow us! @RMUEagle
Check out the publication page! http://www.robertmorris. edu/publications/eagle/
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RMU INVESTIGATING
JOINING THE NCAA Provost Mablene Krueger and Athletic Director Megan Smith talk about RMU’s possible switch from NAIA to NCAA and the future timeline. By Myranda Cate For a little over 5 years now, Robert Morris has been researching the probability of switching from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Of course, this is a long term goal and to make a change such as this is a 5 to 10 year process of gathering information, applying, and being accepted by not only the NCAA but as well as the President’s Council. The way we approach everything...is very student centered. That’s our mission; that’s what we do. -Mablene Krueger Provost Currently, RMU is researching what it would mean to be at the NCAA level. The university has formed a committee to gather fresh research and talk with external people, speak about the feasibility, and to form a proposal stating if, what, and when. At this point it is an opportunity stand point and no decisions have been made thus far. Provost Mablene Krueger and Athletic Director Megan Smith have asked staff and faculty of Robert Morris to be a part of this committee. The committee includes Mick McMahon, Gerard Dedera, Nancy SmithIrons, and Don Rey. They have recently finished up the final proposal but have not sent it to the President’s Council at this time. The group put together areas of impact and broke out into subcommittees to cover budgeting, staffing, recruiting, training, facilities, potential leagues, and the branding perspective from the university. Nothing is set in stone quite yet, but the final recommendation was that the university sees itself fitting into a Division 2 type model, because RMU’s competiveness, location, scholarships, and size are equivalent to the NCAA Division 2 level.
A few areas that the university has to keep in mind are where do we want to be, and how do we get there. An important aspect is finding a league RMU would shift into, and if or when that league is accepting new schools. Furthermore, a key element is the geography of the competing schools and the cost of travel. For example, the Great Lakes Valley region holds some schools from Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. Nothing has been committed or approved yet, but this would be an ideal conference that the committee would investigate. “One of the challenges is that you have to make the decision at least 5 years in advance because of that process and getting accepted by the NCAA,” says Provost Krueger. Some students may be concerned with why it is taking so long, but that is because NAIA and NCAA have been going through some major changes over the years, not to mention Robert Morris has rehabilitated itself as well. There are limitations, rules, and regulations that would need to be enforced not only on the coaches but as well as the student-athletes. There are three levels in the process of shifting over to the NCAA. First is the internal committee who is responsible for deciding if it is reasonable to investigate, which then they would decide yes. Next, a consultant firm would have to come in to evaluate academics, current teams, facilities, and financial prowess. If the consultants were to say yes then it would then go to the Board of Trustees to vote, and from then on decide what changes need to be made and come up with a timeline. “The way we approach everything in planning is very student centered. That’s our mission; that’s what we do,” says Krueger. “The very first question we ask ourselves is what the best thing is for our current students and for our potential students because if we do the best thing for them then the institution is served, and the institution flourishes.” A sport like Hockey has raised many questions seeing that RMU has seven different teams and only one would be allowed
JOINING THE NCAA CONT. to move into the NCAA. What would happen to the other teams? Can they stay in the ACHA league they are presently in? Questions like these are still in the process of being answered. Robert Morris wants to create the best opportunities for students and, if possible, have all sports across the board shift into the same division. Another concern would be Robert Morris’ branch campuses and how the change might affect those teams. The other campuses currently have USCA teams and if the Chicago campus were to move into NCAA this may or may not force other campuses to move into the NAIA level. “From the athletic perspective the coach-
es are aware that the committee does exist and that they are encouraged year to year to schedule games in the off season with NCAA teams for many reasons; to see how we match up with them, and compete at a higher level,” says Smith. The university’s location can play a big part in why the NCAA may want us and the quickest timetable possible would be 5 years to ensure everything is ready. Scholarship amounts would stay the same but the rules and regulations of students being accepted will consist of a few modifications. For example, incoming students will need both SAT and ACT scores in order to be accepted by the NCAA. NCAA is a large organization and there are plenty of areas to look into but keep in mind what is best for RMU. The students want to be a part of a program that is quality and when the time is right Robert Morris may be looking at an NCAA athletic program. v
The One and Only: University Center By Lawrence Chamberlain Robert Morris University is not a normal campus based college like the “typical” universities; however, there is one thing that they both have in common; dorms. Many people already know the University Center, across the street from Robert Morris University, is a college dorm for Robert Morris Students, but what many people did not know is that it is the only option for student housing. So, what makes the University Center so special? I had the opportunity to sit down with Janely Rivera, the housing coordinator for RMU. In our interview she explained why the UC (University Center) is the only option for students to dorm. “We feel the University Center is a good starting off point for freshmen, because a lot of students have never been to a large city like Chicago before, so the UC provides a safe and convenient place for new students.” Is the UC really a good place for students to live? I sat down with a few sophomores,
who just completed their freshman year while staying at the UC, they had mixed feelings towards the UC. “It’s very convenient being across the street from the school, it allows me to sleep in later and lower my travel time in between classes. One of the worst things about the UC would have to be the food in the cafeteria, by far one the worst things; it’s just sometimes it’s not even edible.” One of RMU’s athletes made a comment that it sucks that this is the only place for student housing since the football practice field is in Arlington Heights, he suggested maybe something in between the school and Arlington Heights for a better convenience for athletes. Rivera did mention a list of apartments and dorms that will be available to RMU students looking for housing outside of the UC. This list will be available no sooner than this upcoming fall. This will allow for a better opportunity for students to find something else in the area besides the UC. Rivera finished her interview stating “the UC will be the only option for student housing for the foreseeable future.” v
Image : Richie Diesterheft
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THE NEWS Student Advisory Council to Serve as a Voice for Students By Stacy Zamskaya Have you ever had a recommendation or suggestion that you wanted heard by school officials? Seeing as quite often students hear about new policies and events at RMU through the grapevine, certain individuals have stepped up to bridge the gap between the student body and RMU officials with the creation of a Student Advisory Council. Kory Honel created a plan for a student-led council as part of a BPS class project, which she presented at an Academic Council meeting. Honel decided to carry out her project by working together with the current Academic Council Vice President, Paul Gaszak, who is now acting as the Faculty Advisor for the Student Council. “A lot of our students want to be heard and to have their thoughts and ideas reflected in their collegiate atmosphere,” Honel explains. The Student Council has already put together its Executive Committee, with Honel acting as President and Larry Larys as the Vice President. Melissa Joyce acts as Secretary and Rachel Day is the current Treasurer. Mason Riley and Blake Whitmore are the current members and representatives for their fields of study, Graduate Studies and the College of Liberal Arts. There is also alumni representation with Rich Connolly, to help diversify the
student body represented within the council. The Student Council aims to have two student representatives from each college within the university. The council also plans to have at least one representative from each RMU campus. The council has already begun discussions about several topics. One of these relates to the creation of bulletin boards on the Chicago campus in the Student Center, as well as the second and third floors, which will allow students to share events and programs happening within the RMU community. As project ideas are starting to unfold, Joyce explains, “We have been trying to set up ways to see what students want to say and how to present it to upper management in a proper manner.” Students are encouraged to share ideas on any topics related to RMU, such as how to improve current processes and planning school-related events. “We want to have a voice and we want to see change, where students come up with ideas and upper management hears and implements these thoughts,” states Honel. If you are interested in joining the Student Council or learning more about it, contact Kory Honel or Paul Gaszak at studentcouncil@robertmorris.edu. v
WHAT IS ACADEMIC COUNCIL? •A collaboration between faculty, staff and administration, which focuses on all aspects of academic life within the university • The responsibilities of AC include approval and oversight of curriculum, managing student outcomes, and generating a discussion forum for academic issues • Recent discussions have included the preparation of the new Adult Evening Model, consistent athlete grade reporting to coaches, updates to faculty evaluations, and the creation of Student Advisory Council
studentcouncil@robertmorris.edu
Former Eagles Finding New Ways to Give Back Dr. Jean Norris speaking at the No Sugar Added event
By Dan Ciaglia As the Alumni Initiative continues to connect past, present, and even future Eagles, it is important to expand on the ways in which those connections are established. Elizabeth Wheeler, the leader of the Initiative, has been working hard on this expansion and has a lot of new great ways in order to help current and prospective students see firsthand the success stories that come from RMU alumni. One of the best ways for current students to witness these success stories is to have alumni come back and give presentations specific to their field of expertise. On May 9th, Dr. Jean Norris, a graduate of Robert Morris, came back to the University for an Event titled “No Sugar Added: Straight Talk about Type 1 Diabetes”. Dr. Norris and her son’s book titled, “No Sugar Added – Straight Talk from Those Living with Diabetes,” was the focal point of the event, which ended up being incredibly successful. The book, published in 2011, is a collection of inspirational stories from people success-
fully living with diabetes. All the proceeds from the book, as well as the No Sugar Added event held at RMU, are donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Dr. Norris attended Robert Morris in order to receive her degree in Medical Assisting. Today, she works as a Managing Partner for Norton Norris, Inc., a position she has held for the past 15 years. Aside from events for current students, if the goal of the Alumni Initiative is to motivate students through alumni success stories, then why not get to them before they even start classes? That’s what Wheeler is hoping to accomplish – she is bringing back alumni for incoming freshmen orientations this summer. The alumni will be giving presentations, joining the students on tours, and answering any questions the future Eagles may have. In all, the Alumni Initiative has been successfully expanding thanks to Wheeler and the generosity of the alumni willing to give back. Be on the lookout for more events coming up and you too can be a part of the success. v
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Get Involved! With RMU Performing Arts
By Alyssa Brown Calling all creative individuals! Here at RMU, in Performing Arts, we’re always looking for new talent, so this upcoming quarter we’re scoping out students who have a passion for performing. Whether it’s band, singing, or dancing, we’ve got it all right here for you. RMU offers jazz band, drum line, show choir and guard, so there are plenty of opportunities to join! Personally, I sang choir in high school, so when I found out there was a show choir here at RMU, I jumped at the chance to be involved. Those were my glory days in high school and I wanted to continue that in college. I love music and I love to sing, so if you’re like me, you should join show choir. We are called the State Street Singers – because we’re on State Street, of course – and we do it all: we sing and dance. We do current music like “The Pretender” by The Foo Fighters. We’re not like those other choirs that do all that outdated music. We have also done a revue of “Les Misérables”. There are also condensed groups of performers within our big group, which are called GoldTones and Mixed Variations. They do the most upbeat songs of the good ol’ days and now, like Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground” and FUN’s “Some Nights.”
The jazz band and drumline are also great. The drumline reminds me of my high school days, but better. They kill it at showcases, too. I only saw some of the members, but I know the drumline as a whole sounds even better. I know, for sure, that they are looking for some hot new talent as well to elevate their sound. The best part—besides doing what you love—is that you can get a scholarship! You can receive $2,000 for each quarter and you must be enrolled full-time to qualify. I enjoyed performing “Les Misérables” on stage; I enjoyed being on stage period. If you love it as much as I do, get involved in RMU Performing Arts! Whatever your talent(s); singing, dancing, or playing an instrument, come show us your skills in the RMU Performing Arts room on the first floor of the Chicago campus. v
ALUMNI PROFILE Derrick Hawthorne By Dan Ciaglia Chicago is generally seen as one of the more attractive cities for professionals in the business field. A common trend that has been developing is for students to do their undergraduate work elsewhere and then attend graduate school in the city in order to be closer to corporations and firms in hope of landing that dream job. Derrick Hawthorne’s path to success mirrored this plan. Hawthorne, originally from Lansing, Michigan, chose to stay in-state and close to home for his undergraduate studies at Michigan State University. After he received his Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Business, he came to Chicago to pursue an MBA in Accounting at Robert Morris University. For aspiring accountants, it is well known that in order to advance in the field, you must qualify and receive a certification to become a CPA, or Certified Public Accountant. That is what Hawthorne’s goal was – earn enough college credits at RMU to qualify for CPA examination. “Personally, going here helped me see that if you have the drive to pursue your education, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Being here and a part of a group of driven people inspire everyone to be your best because everyone you’re here with is going through the same thing,” explains Hawthorne.
As RMU began its Alumni Initiative a few months ago, Hawthorne was one of the first to be recognized as a Distinguished Alumni. Hawthorne received his MBA in Accounting in 2010 and currently works as an Asset Manager for The Habitat Company. On becoming a CPA and finding a career that he wanted and worked hard for, Hawthorne said, “Every large goal can be obtained by breaking it down into smaller points. With school, graduating is a big goal that can be broken down quarter by quarter. Attack what’s in front of you and each step you take is one closer toward achieving what you want.” v
Junior Achievement Experience By Adrian Saucedo Junior Achievement, also known as JA, is the world’s largest non-profit organization for the youth dedicated to educating and preparing students for the global economy. They do so by partnering with local businesses and organizations in teaching programs about entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and work readiness to students ranging from kindergarten to high school. With their experiential and hand-on programs, students learn and prepare themselves for the .....Continued on next page real world on how to make money and manage it properly. They learn to value and contribute to the community, especially to work collaboratively. Students are given the knowledge and skills that will make them successful economically. They are
also motivated to plan for their future and give thought to their academic and economic choices. The program is based on the help of volunteers. Junior Achievement in the US reaches more than four million students every year. To make all this possible, more than 178,000 volunteers teach in the classrooms. These volunteers come from different and varying backgrounds, some are business people others are college students. Parents and retirees , among others are also volunteers. Their work is highly appreciated as independent, third-party evaluators have recognized the leadership and success of the Junior Achievement programs. Here at RMU, some CMT classes require students to teach at least one Junior Achievement class to receive credit for the class. As Jessica, an RMU student points
out, the task of teaching young students for the first time in your life and lacking experience in the field can be a nerve-racking experience. In her own words, “Initially I was dreading this event, by the end I felt good about volunteering to teach them. I plan on volunteering again in the fall quarter.” In the end, the Junior Achievement program was a learning experience for the students as well as Jessica as she enjoyed the program so much so that she plans on continuing to volunteer. Jessica had the opportunity to teach fourth graders. Her initial fear was that the students would just stare at her and be disengaged or not understand what she had to say. However, she was pleasantly surprised at how engaged and inviting the students were that she not only ate lunch with the students, but also played with them during
recess. Although Jessica knew teaching a Junior Achievement class was a major requirement, she did not give much thought to the matter until a week before she had to give the class. At that time she was left with teaching fourth graders and given the teaching kits. She had a partner and together they had to deliver five lessons and had five hours to teach them. “No matter how many times I reviewed the teaching booklet, I was not fully prepared for this event,” Jessica says. In the end, everything worked in Jessica’s favor and to the benefit of her students. Not only was Jessica able to receive credit for her effort, but in the end received a valuable experience which has motivated her to do more volunteer work. v
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SPORTS & HEALTH Sports for All: Competing to be the Best By Myranda Cate
It’s time to get involved Robert Morris because there is no better way of making friends than by joining an intra collegiate sports team. The program offers a broad spectrum of sports for all students that are interested in getting involved and competing. The array of sports offered is indoor Vol-
leyball, Golf, slow-pitch Softball, Bowling, 5K running, Kickball, and flag Football. All teams are co-ed, and all are sponsored at the Chicago campus and most branch campuses each quarter. The intra collegiate program is open to all undergraduate students, graduates, and Alumni. The graduates and Alumni are more than welcome to coach either parttime or full-time to gain coaching experience. Intra collegiate sports are fun and stimulating, and they offer a great opportunity for students to meet new people and build relationships. Plus, there is no cost to participate. The University has done its best to tie each sport to the 10-week quarter but some sports may be slightly shorter, or run over the 10-week period. Students are allowed to participate in as many intra sports as they desire per academic year. “Inter-Collegiate” athletes are able to participate in intra collegiate sports as well but can only receive up to one intra scholarship award per year if they qualify. Though, inter-collegiate athletes may not compete in the same sport at the in-
When Nature Heals By Phylicia Fletcher
In a search to find what people really know about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), I was able to uncover the truth. In asking around the RMU campus, I discovered some interesting information, not only were people not familiar with the history of TCM. But, they did not even know what it is. TCM is an age old, yet still very much accurate medical practice. Rene Franklin, a student in Robert Morris’s Health and Science department, clearly defined TCM as “a medical practice using natural meth-
ods of healing.” Rene also shared that she has not experienced the techniques personally, but one of her classmates has had acupuncture. The history, techniques and purpose of Traditional Chinese Medicine is defined as a holistic approach to medicine. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) dates back 2,000 years and is believed to have been practiced all over the world. It consists of medicines made from the earth and techniques that promote the body’s natural ability to heal. The origins, trace back to three legendary rulers, Fu Xi, Shen Nong, and Huang Di. The ruler Fu Xi was
tra level. For example, the USBC bowlers cannot partake in intra bowling. Participants merit a $500 scholarship for each sport; however, are only eligible to earn a maximum of $1,500 intra scholarship awards per year. The scholarships awarded will be applied to the individual’s financial aid plan the quarter after he/she has participated. Athletic Director Megan Smith says, “Students are expected to commit to all intra related activities for their sport in order to receive their grant at the end of the quarter.” Undergrad students must be enrolled full-time and be able to keep a 2.0 cumulative GPA throughout the regular season. Students who participate must be able to commute to the scheduled intra collegiate events via carpool, public transportation, or their own vehicle. Although, when teams travel long distance (Springfield or Peoria) an RMU school van will be provided. Sign-ups are usually done the quarter proceeding the sports regular season. An email blast will be sent to all students at some point in the previous quarter to remind students
to sign up. Those interested can email intracollegiate@robertmorris.edu at any time to express their interest in any or all sports. “The short term goal is to increase student participation and campus spirit through extracurricular activities,” says Smith. “But the long term goal, for example, may be to send our flag football regular season champion to compete in the Collegiate Club sport championships.” All sports will receive team uniforms to keep, there will be an end of the season pizza party or lunch, and champions from each sport will have the opportunity to win RMU sweatshirts or jackets as awards at the end of the season. “Some campuses see a waiting list for intra collegiate participation each quarter, so don’t be shy, grab your friends and classmates, and sign up at intracollegiate@ robertmorris.edu today!” says Smith. v
said to have created the eight trigrams and nines needles, in other words, acupuncture. Although, there is no known record of this, Fu Xi’s legacy has been passed down orally from generation to generation. Sheng Nong, also known as “The Divine Creator,” is considered the father of herbal medicine. He is said to have tested, sampled, and analyzed thousands of herbs for their individual effects. Just like Fu Xi, there is no known record made. Finally, Huang Di of the Yellow Empire was the first to have practiced internal medicine and make documentation of his work. Huang Di created surgical text books that date back to 800 - 200 BC. Techniques in TCM take evidence in lifestyle changes and procedures. Some of the more mainstream procedures of Traditional Chinese Medicine may include acupuncture, herbal medicine, and cupping. For example, Acupuncture is the use of very fine needles to promote the body’s self-healing ability; it regulates the flow of Qi, or body energy. Herbal Medicine, on the other hand, uses plants, flowers, and minerals for healing the body. Herbs are classified as hot or cold, bitter or sweet, and are used to fit the patient’s individual needs. Then there is Cupping, a process of using glass, wood or stone containers to suction the skin. This procedure enhances circulation and relieves pain, by pulling out toxins from the body. Finally there is Qi-Gong, which is an exercise used to control breathing and generate a range of motion. Depending
on the patient’s needs, these techniques can help the body reach a stasis point. The purpose of TCM is to restore and maintain harmony in the body; this can easily be explained through Yin and Yang. Yin is the body’s passive energy and Yang the body’s positive energy. Balance is important in order for body to operate properly. Yin and Yang is present in the way an individual sleeps, eats, and acts. When using TCM, a doctor can determine the illness by the color or texture on the patient’s body. Similar to Western medicine, TCM can treat and prevent sickness in the body, yet unlike western medicine, TCM targets each symptom and cures the ailment while preventing adverse reactions to the treatment. Holistic practices like traditional Chinese Medicine are translated through its history, techniques, and purpose. It is the global, yet historical foundation of medicine. Even though its title is not known by most, individuals may unconsciously embody what Traditional Chinese Medicine is. For example, placing a wet towel on the neck or isolate themselves the when nurturing a headache they are using technique to enhance the bodies ability to recover. As stated in the Chinese Proverb “If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people.”v
For more on RMU Athletics visit www.rmueagles.com
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Ways to Stay In Shape
By Lawrence Chamberlain The hardest part about staying in shape is the level of self-discipline it takes to stay at a peak level, while still trying to enjoy yourself. Any person who masters these five key items will have a sure fire way of keeping their Sleep- Sleep is probably one of the body at a marquee level for any summer most important elements of staying in beach. shape. Sleep allows the body to relax after maintaining your muscle toned figure all day. The majority of Doctors suggests at least a minimum of eight hours of sleep, which is a perfect amount for your body to rest and rejuvenate itself for the next day. Not getting the right amount of sleep can cause a gain in weight as well as a loss in muscle.
Exercise-
Just as important as sleep, is exercise. Exercise is the corner stone behind keeping a beach body throughout the summer and maybe even into the winter. The level of exercise depends on how toned you want your body to be, as well as what areas you want toned. The vast majority of people want to keep their abs toned throughout the summer, in order to do that, a mixture of running and abdominal workouts will keep enhancing the level of toned abs making them perfect for any beach.
Stress free atmosphere-
Avoid stress. Stress makes your body weak and tired; not allowing you to burn off the hot dogs you had at lunch. Stress also makes your muscles tense, not allowing your body to relax. The muscles in your body need time to relax since you have a high amount of muscle and a low amount of body fat. If your muscles do not relax over a period of time, your body can become weak, which can cause a vast amount of muscle loss and a gain in body fat.
Stretching- Stretching takes your muscles to a different level of durability and flexibility compared to not stretching. Even the most simple of stretches can help you maintain your body. Stretching takes your muscles and expands them to make them leaner and tighter, this allows you to maintain a low amount of body fat, which is perfect for those beach bodies.
Eating right- Eating is by far the most important part of keeping your body fit. You can slack at everything else or be a master of them and still lose your muscle if you do not eat, and by eating I mean eating right. Eating right is staying away from empty calories such as; candy, soda, cake, muffins...etc.; however, you can not just live off water and carrots, you must maintain a healthy diet. The majority of edible foods are good for you in proportion.
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ARTS & CULTURE Album Review
James Blake: Overgrown
By Stacy Zamskaya The release of James Blake’s self-titled album in 2011 brought new standards to the modern R&B scene, as Blake abandoned his dubstep past, while still managing to portray electronica-infused heartfelt jams. “Limit to Your Love” became the hit which best exemplified Blake’s ability to blend classical piano with ambient synth and drum beats. The album spread like rapid fire among the music scene, as the mysterious 22 year old became one of the biggest influences on the modern sound of R&B. Two years later, Blake returns with an album which surpasses his previous self-titled success on several levels.
Overgrown expands Blake’s songwriting, showing the young musician’s confidence in his abilities. Overgrown combines hip-hop, post-dubstep, house, and R&B influence in order to create an escape into a euphoric world. The intro track mirrors “Unluck”, yet instantly shows Blake’s growth through the slow progression of melodic vocals and synth lines. It becomes clear that structure is of more importance to the singer-songwriter than pure hazy atmosphere. Dark hip-hop appears out of the trance-like state of Blake’s first tracks on ”Take a Fall for Me,” which features the expertly voice of RZA. “Retrograde” builds around a simple melody, as
Blake’s humming intro swells into a wave of heartfelt emotion in the synth-heavy chorus. Blake’s heart can truly be felt in this track, as he asks a stranger to “ignore everybody else, we’re alone now.” The album continues to swell with expertly mixed modern jazz and emotional lyrics to the final track, “Our Love Comes Back.” The conclusive song slows everything down, as the piano becomes a little bit crisper and Blake’s voice becomes more of a wordless melody. The album shows Blake’s maturing as a songwriter, as he takes on new risks with his experimental sound and masters his past techniques. The album title, based on an Emily Dickinson poem, explains the
feelings brought out by these songs. Blake talks about uncertainty and the fatal nature of life, as he questions our individual roles in society, as well as his position in life and the music industry. Overgrown is a defining moment in Blake’s career, showing that risks do not scare the artist, instead they inspire him to grow on every possible level. As artists like Tom Krell of How to Dress Well take on a similar approach to modern R&B, Blake stands out as a leader in the new music genre. Whether he is spinning dubstep heavy tracks, quiet piano melodies, or something in between, James Blake is an expert of modern emotion. v
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Special Report
Quick, Cheap Trips for Week 0 By Paul Gaszak RMU’s one week of summer vacation (the week of July 8) is rapidly approaching. That week, called Week 0, is not a lot of time for extravagant and long vacations before having to get back to school for the start of Summer 2 quarter. So, what interesting trips can you take locally that won’t take a lot of time or a lot of money? Here are some options:
Starved Rock State Park
Route 178 & Route 71, Utica, IL 61373 About 90 Miles southwest of the Chicago campus http://www.starvedrockstatepark.org/
Milwaukee: Cheese, Art, and Festivals About 90 Miles north of the Chicago campus
There are a lot of things to do in Milwaukee – Chicago’s neighbor to the north. Here are a few options during Week 0:
Starved Rock is a large state park along the banks of the Illinois River with miles of hiking trails to scenic views of the river, sandstone canyons, and waterfalls. In the area, there is also boating, horseback riding, and wineries to visit! For an extended stay, there is camping and – if camping isn’t your thing – there is a nice lodge (ie: hotel) right by the Visitor’s Center.
Other Places to Check Out: Prairie Aviation Museum, Bloomington, IL http://prairieaviationmuseum.org/ About 43 miles from the Peoria campus Wildlife Prairie State Park, Peoria, IL http://www.wildlifeprairiestatepark.org/ About 10 miles from the Peoria campus Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL http://www.alplm.org/ About 7 miles from the Springfield campus
Milwaukee’s Bastile Days (http://www.easttown.com/events/bastille-days) will be going from July 1114 during our break. It is one of the nation’s largest French-themed festivals and includes music, food, and street performers. While you’re in Milwaukee, visit the Milwaukee Art Museum (http://www.mam.org/) on the lakefront. On the way to or from Milwaukee, make sure to stop at the Mars Cheese Castle (http://www.marscheese.com) not far over the Illinois-Wisconsin border just off of I-94.
Warren Dunes State Park
About 80 miles east of the Chicago campus http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/details.aspx?id=504&type=SPRK
The Warren Dunes, which is straight east across the lake from Chicago, is a state park with sandy beaches, hiking trails, and a dune that rises more than 260 feet above the lake. Climbing the dune is quite a workout, but it is well worth it, as the views of the beach, forest, and lake from up there are gorgeous. While Chicago has its own beaches, the Warren Dunes are different and worth the trip. They are quieter, less crowded, and cleaner than the Chicago beaches. On the way back, you can also stop to shop at the Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets in Michigan City, Indiana (https://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=18).
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CUISINE
By Jessi Bahena
Chicago has a copious amount of restaurants; the only problem is making a decision on what exactly to eat. If you’re getting bored of the same old thing or just looking for a new place, I can help with that! If you find yourself in a hurry, and desire food that is fresh and delicious, Pret A Manger is the place. They have seven locations in the downtown area. I recommend that you look online on the website to see hours of operations; each location has their own schedule. The menu is simple, but have decent amount of food options. Pret A Manger offers a variety of breakfast baguettes, sandwiches, wraps, subs, salads, and soups. If you want to eat light, they also serve fresh fruit, yogurt, croissants, hot oatmeal, bagels, cookies and pastries. The beautiful part of this place is everything is made daily with natural fresh ingredients. Their motto is “Made today, gone today!” If Pret A Manger makes too much food, they offer the food to charities that work with the hungry. They tend to
Handmade Goodness at Paulina’s Restaurant in Waukegan By Jessica Fuchs Hands down, the BEST Mexican food I have ever tasted. An original transplant from Morales, Mexico, the heffa hand makes all the gordas, quesadillas, and taco shells by hand. House made menudo [weekends only] as well as cold horchata tea are also handmade. Completely skeptical at first, the outside is totally unassuming; the size is about as big as a postage stamp, quite honestly. 6 cars on a good day could fit into the parking lot, and there were only 6 tables in the restaurant. I was getting scared for a good minute because I don’t speak a lick of Spanish beyond ‘si’ and ‘no bueno,’ but I let my south of the border brothers/guides order for me, and what I got was a wonderful tasting menu guided through by my guys: current chefs in action.
We had chatted about food previously, and as a chef you tend to frequent certain places for certain things, such as Lou’s or Gino’s for pizza, Mee Jun Chop Suey in Highwood for Chinese food [the shrimp pea pods are to die for] and Paulina’s was the place to get some truly authentic, southern Mexican cooking. The best thing on the menu is the gorditas especially with chicharron, which is crispy fried pork skin (tastes like bacon) stuffed inside a hot delicious corn shell served alongside are some spicy pickled peppers, onions, and carrots. With spicy peppers, red and green salsas, as well as sour cream added inside our gorditas after they came to the table, it was pure gluttony, but it was worth it.
They do have carryout, which is fantastic. They know me there now; I came back 2 days after my initial experience and bought almost $50
in food to go so I could share the amazingness with my family. I frequent Paulina’s now; I have taken my children there. My oldest kid fell in love with the chicken tacos. Prices are completely reasonable as well - the gorditas and quesadillas are $2.55 each, and the tacos are $2 apiece. It’s a great deal for the deliciousness. I went there alone recently; it cost me $7 for two tacos, a chicharron gordita, and a small horchata. Best $7 I’ve spent. Paulina’s is located not too far off the Metra line and a short taxi ride away at 816 Belvidere Road in Waukegan, IL. It’s open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 7 A.M. to 7 P.M. They are CLOSED Tuesday; and Friday through Sunday they are open an extra hour until 8 P.M.v
be busy, but service is always quick and painless. The employees are very kind and helpful. If you’re on a budget, there’s no need to worry. Their price range depends on your order, but it will not put a hole in your wallet. A simple, light lunch can cost you under $10. Looking for a Chicago classic? How about a good old Chicago style hot dog? Jimmy’s Red Hots is the place to enjoy a good hot dog and delicious fries. They’re located at 4000 W Grand Ave. They serve polish sausages, hot dogs, tamales, and fries of course. The environment is very laid back, and the service is very quick. They are open 10 A.M. - 1 A.M. It’s a stand up diner, so you can quickly munch and go. This place is definitely the place to go if you’re very low on cash because a hot dog, fries, and a drink will cost no more than $6. Just remember that Jimmy’s serves Chicago style hot dogs, so do not ask for ketchup! They don’t believe their hot dogs and polish sausages require ketchup, and I would have to agree.v
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No Leftovers for You!
By Jessica Fuchs I sat down with the Dean of the Culinary Arts program here at Robert Morris University. Being a culinary student, we cook a lot of food. Only one hungry culinary student can eat so much at a time. What happens with the rest? The majority of the time, it gets tossed in the garbage. Not given away in a seemingly able to be controlled environment, like the Student Center, or on a cart for the homeless. Not even sent over to the “starving” students at the U.C. I needed to know why. It is actually a policy that Dean Nancy Rotunno that came up with when RMU started their culinary program 10 years ago. She repeatedly cites sanitation and safety issues as her primary concern among the students. She spoke with other culinary program leaders and came to the consensus that this was the correct action to take. “We use food as a tool- to taste and perfect technique- like other classes would use computers. Cook it yes, taste it yes, but don’t take it to your family members.” The consistency, or rather, inconsistency of our surplus product is an issue. There
is not enough for everyone. In the Dean’s eyes, it is easier to do larger culinary events for our students providing food, than small amounts we may or may not have while trying to figure out controllable sanitation and safety logistics to ensure the food is kept and held at the appropriate temperature. We are able to invite students in to taste, but generally it is at the chef ’s discretion and/or invitation. Another issue of doing random food on seven is that it might take away profits from the Student Center. Dean Rotunno feels “good about the basic education that the students receive, about what happens in the classroom,” in fact so much they are in the process, right now, of rewriting the curriculum. She still believes, as many in the industry do, in paying your dues. The future classes are going to break down even further the skills classes we are having. Apparently some former classmates displayed a poor showing during their stints at Eyrie restaurant. For a complete newbie, I suppose this is a great thing. For others, it feels like a whack to the shins or being sent to the back of the class. Yay for the students who want to spend more time in school!! Testing out of a class is not an
option either. “It would be too hard to maintain two or more tracks for students to follow, depending on their experience.” We have so many homeless, hungry people, and begging people from here to the train stations, to Michigan Avenue. What do we do? I witnessed a man, dressed amazing- great tan suit, designer shades, brown bag carrying his morning breakfast, walk up to this girl, the one I see frequently on the bridge. He said he did not have any spare change to give her but would she like something to eat? And he handed her the bag. Personal experience tells me we walk by them with a scowl on our faces, walking a wide path around them. Angry that they are out here, everyday, shaking their cup at you waiting for that ‘sixty- five cents’ or whatever you will give them to help them through the day, when you have absolutely nothing to give and are not too far off that same mark. It also tells me that sometimes, somewhere in the depth of our seemingly hardened hearts, we give them a roast beef sandwich that we smuggled out of school. Sorry Dean. Sometimes renegade random acts of kindness need to happen.v
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COMMENTARY
He Says // She Says
Topless Jihad Day
Adrian Saucedo
Stacy Zamskaya
Femen is a radical feminist group originating in Ukraine, which has received a significant amount of media attention lately due to their so-called “topless jihad” protests. On April 4th, Femen celebrates International Topless Jihad Day as a day of protest for what they believe is the oppression of Muslim women. The leader of Femen believes that the idea of a feminist Muslim is an oxymoron. With their protests, Femen expects to effect change in the Muslim community and that Muslim women will undress more and more as time progresses. They consider themselves activists by the sole fact that they have inspired Muslim women to speak out, even if it’s against Femen. The response of counterprotesters is that Femen’s actions are not only racist and ignorant, but also Islamophobic, noting that none of the protesters are even Muslim women. Muslim women all around the world have spoken out against Femen, citing that they view nothing liberating in nudity and that they need no saving. Some have even come together to celebrate Muslimah
Pride Day on April 4th, the same day as Topless Jihad Day. Here in the United States we value human rights, especially our freedom to pursuit happiness in whatever shape, size, or form that might be as long as it does not infringe in the rights or freedom of another person. It is difficult to discern what Femen’s intentions are, but what is clear is that they are not appropriately conveying the message. If they are arguing that Muslim women are not free because they don’t walk around naked or with little clothes on, then they are just being prejudiced based on their own beliefs and culture. Freedom is the power to choose. If you choose to cover your body, that does not imply that someone has ownership over your body or that you are not free. Independently of whether a woman is Muslim or not, women of other cultures, religions, or just out of their will or comfort choose to be conservative in their way of dress. Who are we to judge what makes people’s life a happy or satisfying life. It is clear that Femen should
not be fighting for Muslim women’s freedom is they are unfamiliar and insensitive to the culture and religion. They obviously need to speak to Muslim women to understand them at least a little and not include all women in the idea of oppression. Women all over the world are oppressed in one way or another, regardless of religion, culture, or beliefs. Not all women who are Muslim are oppressed, just as not all American women are free. The founding ideas of our government are centered on equality, yet many women in the United States are denied the resources and opportunities to succeed and be independent in life sometimes because of sexism, sometimes because of sexism and racism. How can topless women walking around with “Fuck your morals” painted on their bodies be a liberating experience for any oppressed woman, not just Muslim women. What is liberating about placing judgment in any kind of people, and not respecting the values or morals of others. v
In April, the Ukrainian feminist group, Femen, launched a series of controversial “topless jihad” protests across Europe. These protests stirred a mass media debate about the tactics used by the group, as many saw these actions to be too extreme. The feminist group has been called out by others to be anything from racist to Eurocentric, as well as naïve and foolish. Although much hatred has surfaced towards Femen, the overall idea of the group helps explain the extremist tactics of the new feminist movement. The main reason for Femen’s extremism in the “topless jihad” protests lies within why these protests were initiated. A Femen supporter from Tunisia, 19-year-old Amina Tyler, posted topless photos of herself on the Tunisian Femen Facebook page, with the Arabic for “My body belongs to me and is not the source of anyone’s honor” displayed on her chest. The gesture brought on massive
suffering for Tyler, even though the woman was expressing her universal rights. The victim was kidnapped by her family, held in captivity, drugged, forced to read the Quran, and taken to imams without her consent. The family even went as far as to call Tyler “mentally ill, psychopathic, and shameful.” Upon finding out that one of their supporters was held in captivity against her will, Femen pledged to free Tyler and began to stage the protests in her honor. The feminist group fought to protect one of their own as well as Tyler’s right to freedom of expression. Since the protests, Muslim communities have voiced various threats to both Tyler as well as the Femen leader, Inna Shevchenko. The vast majority of the general public and media has not voiced its concerns for Tyler, but instead has chosen to pummel the group defending an innocent woman with hatred and threats. Femen is a new vision of feminism, which
goes beyond rallies and quiet dissonance. In a society flooded with news stories, people are forced to take drastic action to be noticed. Using the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Femen exercises a recognizable right to defend those who are oppressed for the wrong reasons, using tactics that will instantly draw attention to the cause. The founders of Femen were raised away from Western ideals of political correctness, but they are the ones who have witnessed Soviet oppression firsthand. As the group moves west, it continues to break rules and bring forth the debate of religion’s role in our society, especially among women. The group’s tactics are creating a universal conversation, even if it comes at a price. Femen’s goal is to make issues be seen in a new light. Its slogan moves forth the global movement of feminist action: “The magic of the body gets you interested, the courage of the act make you want to riot.” v
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RMU Culture Shock By Phylicia Fletcher According to U.S News & World reports, Robert Morris University is ranked 70 in its region. This university is also featured on studentsreview.com, with an overall grade of “B.” RMU is no ordinary school, this private non-for-profit university, prides itself in giving student the best education in the speed of light. New students are not often mentally prepared for RMU’s fast quarters and hands-on learning. RMU uses a system of quarters that are broken down into five ten week quarters, making it an all year round university. Fall, winter, spring, summer I and summer II are the seasons that hold each class session. Because RMU is a career driven university the classes are set up to ensure success in
the shortest amount of time, often leaving only one day for vacations. This model often shocks students who are out of state and may want to return home between quarters. RMU is a three year university that guarantees an Associate’s degree in two years and Bachelor’s in three years, depending on the student and their major. Ten week quarters are structured in a way that students can stay busy and are able to sponge up the material, leaving no room for lazy procrastinators. Quarters go by so fast, that a final may be missed at a blink of an eye. RMU definitely wins the race in setting students up for success. This school gives students every opportunity to gain hands on experience in their field of study. RMU offers applied learning based class rooms for students in Culinary, Nursing and Health
Science, Graphic Design, Computer Science, and every other major. RMU knows how hard it is to network with the right people. The school organizes resources that help students make their dreams a reality. RMU is full of exceptional resources, and one of those is Student Support Services (SSS). Student Support Services is a U.S Department of Education federal funded grant program, that helps first generation and low-income students successfully graduate with a degree. SSS participants are offered tutoring, job offers, scholarship research and various connections. RMU has a place for everyone, whether an individual is an athlete, graphic designer or health guru, RMU has the connections and skills that will build character and make everyone achieve their potential.
RMU is a unique university with fast paced quarters and practical learning. New students may not know how great their school is, but in time, they will appreciate all that RMU has to offer. It is rare to find schools that work hard for the benefit of the students, especially in a failing economy. This accelerated, fast paced, overly resourced university deserves an “A” for performance, dedication, and support. This school teaches students that with perseverance and hard work they can achieve anything.v
The Chicago Walker The Fear of Missing Out
By TCW It’s the menial activities that produce the most brain activities, or so they say. That is why big wigs play golf in their offices and the best ideas to some occur to them in the shower. For me, walking is the gas that fuels the tireless machination, which is my mind. Insomnia does things to people; for me it makes me think. I realize things at two o’clock in the morning that I would never think about at any other time. Walking puts those thoughts into heavier perspective. It came to my conclusion that there are so many things we do on a daily basis for close to no reason at all. I go out to the bars and drink at least twice a weekend. If my experience in this department has any merit, every time I go out will be exactly like the last time; a pathetic amount of fun followed by a bill I can barely afford. But why do I do it? It’s not as though there is anything that I am miss-
ing. The reason I do it is because of the fear of missing out (FOMO). As humans, we have a constant fear of not being a part of things. It follows many points to the idea of being a castaway. No one wants to be left out; everyone wants to be included. The worst thought for any of us is the idea that something will happen when we are not around. And why not? It is the things that happen when we are not present that seclude us from conversations dealing with the subject. What is the point talking about a wedding all of your friends went to if you were the only one that was not present for it? The fear of missing out is basically that; it is this idea that everyone is having a great time, an even greater time without you, and unless you are there you become less connected to them. Everyone wants to be around for the good times. It is quite obvious that missing out on the funniest moment of a friendship can
really eat away at you. The fact is, though, that every moment you are not there is the equivalent to every moment you are there. We build ideas of this great and wonderful sequence only because we were not there to witness it. It grows from insecurity, jealousy, and fear. I have been around my friends for some of the most hilarious and memorial times, yet sometimes I hate myself for being busy when they have fun without me. It is not as though the times I had with them are worthless in comparison; it is just that because I was there to be a part of the fun, I remember it in a different way. It is always our prerogative to want the things we cannot have. Because of that, it is in our nature to think less highly of the things we do have. Remember this though, if you spend every opportunity chasing a dream, you will never enjoy the world in front of you. You will instead spend every moment wishing you could have been there. v
GO EAGLES!
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COMMENTARY The Flaneur's Turtle Posts
The Arc of History Bends Toward Atheism By Gerry Dedera, Humanities Faculty
Religion Without God, the last book of the late philosopher Ronald Dworkin, will be published later this year by Harvard University Press according to the April 4thedition of “The New York Review of Books.” This follows the flurry of recent bestselling books like The God Delusion by evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, God Is Not Great by the late essayist and editor Christopher Hitchens, and The End of Faith and Letter to a Christian Nation by neuroscientist Sam Harris, which heralded the entrance of what some have called “Radical Atheism.” Hitchens went so far as to identify himself as an “anti-theist” to make sure everyone understood just how poisonous he believed any form of religion to be. Search any of those names, along with others like philosopher Daniel Dennett and theoretical physicist Lawrence M. Krause, on You Tube to witness their titanic debates with a variety of religious scholars and leaders. The fact that Dworkin’s book seeks to identify some common ground between religion and atheism demonstrates the strides nonbelief has
made toward replacing religious belief as the norm in our society. And this is a microcosm of the much larger historical trend. The oldest human societies were tribal in nature, organized around families and patriarchs. One can gauge the development of a modern civilization by its distance from tribalism. Tribalism divides people in groups and seeks its own survival as the paramount good. Religions are tribes. Each holds its own beliefs in highest regard while claiming to know that the beliefs of all other tribes are ultimately and catastrophically wrong. There may be some lip service regarding tolerance and diversity, but when push comes to shove, there is no tolerance of diversity. Look no further than the histories of Northern Ireland for Catholic versus Protestant, or Jewish Israel versus Muslim Palestinians, or Hindu India versus Muslim Pakistan, or even Shiite Iran versus Sunni Iraq. Wherever human beings seek to live together in peace with one another, religion is not enshrined as a prominent feature of that society. Conversely, wherever religion is enshrined as a prominent feature, there is no peace among tribes. That must surely be why the Founders of our nation expressly
prohibited, through the First Amendment to the Constitution, enshrining any single religion as our national faith. Refusing to promote one deemphasizes all. The founding of the United States was the significant historical step away from tribalism by intentionally decoupling civil society from religious belief. There have been, and continue to be, efforts to reconnect religion and state, but they are in response to a bridge already crossed and must ultimately fade from our public discourse. Further evidence of the decline of religion can be seen within religions themselves. The Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam illustrate the point. The oldest of the three, Judaism, is the most secular. Whether being Jewish requires some degree of religious belief or ethnicity or cultural identity or Israeli citizenship or some combination of these to one degree or another is a topic of serious discussion among Jews. Simply put, many Jews, perhaps a majority, claim that their Jewish identity can be lived devoid of religious belief. The second oldest religion, Christianity, is on the same path. The number of people who identify themselves as Christian, but do not attend wor-
ship services or believe what their leaders tell them is essential to their faith continues to grow. There is no reason to think that this trend will reverse itself. Finally, Islam, the youngest of the three, may be currently the most militant, but not to a greater degree than Judaism or Christianity were at about the same age. Look no further than the Israelite invasion of Canaan or the Crusades or Inquisition for examples of barbarous militant exclusivism. It would be interesting to compare timelines of these three religions to see what each was up to at about the same age. But that’s for a later time. For now, it is clear that we live in a time when religious belief is necessarily waning because of increased interaction with people of backgrounds different from our own. Holding fast to the notion that my tribes’ beliefs ultimately represent the only accurate understanding of Truth inhibits efforts to interact with others as equals. The historical trajectory of the three Abrahamic religions offers further evidence. So, if the arc of history bends toward justice, as Martin Luther King claimed, it must also bend toward atheism. v
unusual practice for me. I speak to animals when I feel the urge to do so, usually when we are alone together, the animals and I. Like Coleridge’s Ancient Mariner, I “bless them” nearly unaware. I think about what the birds believe about humans. Maybe they go back to their nests and chatter amongst themselves about our peculiar behavior. Perhaps the bird I greeted will turn to his friend and say, “I saw the most amazing human the other day.” Birds must have their own words to name
and describe humans: heavy, lumbering, wingless creatures that we are. Are we the giants who populate their myths? I imagine scholarly birds studying the strange and wonderful migratory patterns of humans, deeming our movements bizarre and unfathomable. Could it be that our shrieks of delight, our playful entreaties, our amorous murmurs, are, to avian ears, as delightfully lovely as birdsong? v
Shoreline Muse By Tricia Lunt, English Faculty
I was at the Ocean recently (the Atlantic, to be specific). Listening to the waves is universally wonderful. While at the beach, I spent every possible moment within earshot of the waves. I rose early and bundled on a deck chair at dawn. All day, I kept opening the door to hear to the enchanting crash. At the earliest moment, I took a walk on the beach, toes in squishy sand and frothy sea. Although the air and water were cold,
I couldn’t resist the temptation; I waded in waist-deep and let the water pull me forth and back, the waves undulating, pressing me across the floor like an expert dancer. The ocean can move whatsoever it chooses: the shells, the algae, the fish, and the land. The oceanic rhythm compels us all. Natural things dominate the beach; humans are merely visitors. I encountered the familiar sea birds. I said, “Hello, birdie,” as I watched a sand piper walk briskly in and out of the waves. Greeting animals is not an
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Repetition Could be the New Mother of Invention By Peter Stern, Philosophy Faculty Why do I find myself watching a movie or reading a book for a second time? And a third time. And a fourth time. And…..you get the idea. Watching a movie over and over again-ditto a book-strikes me as odd, particularly in our day and age when fast, terse, concise, and straightforward serve as lodestar and watch words for writing, and communicating in general. Once again the adage—less is more—proves applicable. Whether talking, or writing, or dining, or even shopping, unlike buying—less is more. Just do it, be done with it, and move on rings in my ears. Watching a movie several times seems to violate today’s life style and/or world view. For a) you should have taken in the message
the first time; b) you shouldn’t be reading things where you can’t do this; c) no one should be writing material which takes several reads; and d) you’re wasting your time watching or reading the same thing several times because you prevent yourself from engaging in new combinations and permutations which are more current and thus more interesting. Nonetheless I find myself reading the same thing again and again. Can there a reasonable or actually several reasonable explanations for such behavior, I anxiously ask myself, late at night, after waking up in fear and trembling from a particularly bad dream? The theory of cognitive dissonance forces me to offer a few justifications even if initially I can’t think of any. Well, my first rationale is that whether right or wrong, I notice
I’m still finding new things in the movie (or book) that I had missed during an earlier viewing. Since I’m still able to learn from the movie, I conclude watching it makes sense. Also I’ll see again a scene I know by heart yet continue to enjoy its special attractions nonetheless. Another justification for watching a movie again is very simple, however unfortunate: increasingly I realize how easily and often I forget all kinds of things, including scenes from a movie or book. Remembering how frequently I forget even favorite parts of a movie I assume watching it once more may still hold plenty of charms. A final reason for watching a movie yet again lies in the notion practice makes perfect. This idea makes great sense to me because I’ve noticed enough instances where
doing something over and over allows me to get better at doing it. Computers provide many examples of this. When I was first learning how to email, I’d forget what I learned at my last learning session, and realized I had to start over, almost from scratch. However, after emailing for a month or more, I realized I had become a person who could email with aplomb and even a tad of alacrity. Amazing, methinks. Many other examples of practice making perfect come to mind. Indeed virtually any activity or effort I need to engage in from washing dishes to jogging on a treadmill proceeds more smoothly the more I do it. This certainly holds true for watching and interpreting and enjoying movies. v
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ODDS & ENDS
Sudoku
No Class by Tyson Bosco
“I really hate bums”
“Can I bum a pencil?”