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The Gadfly
02 The student newspaper of St. John’s College
www.issuu.com/sjcgadfly www.facebook.com/sjcagadfly Founded in 1980, the Gadfly is the student newsmagazine distributed to over 600 students, faculty, and staff of the Annapolis campus. Opinions expressed within are the sole responsibility of the author(s). The Gadfly reserves the right to accept, reject, and edit submissions in any way necessary to publish a professional, informative, and thought-provoking newsmagazine. The Gadfly meets every Sunday at 7 PM in Room 109 on the first lower level of the BBC. Articles should be submitted by Friday at 11:59 PM to sjca.gadfly@gmail.com. Staff Nathan Goldman • Editor-in-Chief Ian Tuttle • Editor-in-Chief Hayden Pendergrass • Layout Editor Reza Djalal • Photographer Sasha Welm • Cartoonist Will Brown • Staff Andrew Kriehn • Staff Sarah Meggison • Staff Kevin Morris • Staff Charles Zug • Staff Jonathan Barone • Intern Contributors Montgomery Alcott Leslie Howard Gordon Greer Painter Bob Miles Steinert
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lease note that this week’s issue includes not only our usual supply of superior reflection and provocation, but also details about Homecoming 2012, which will take place this weekend, September 28-30. Mark for your calendars the career conversations with Mr. Jac Holzman and Mr. Michael Crawford, as well as the variety of other opportunities for students to participate in Homecoming festivities. We are excited to report that we will distribute a special Homecoming issue of the Gadfly this weekend. We hope you enjoy the special contributions. Afterward, we will be enjoying some well-deserved R&R. The next Gadfly will appear October 16. !
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o Whom It May Concern:
Hackett Publishing Group, I am judging your books by their covers. I’m not sorry. So last year, I was perusing the St. John’s College library in search of a copy of Sophocles’ Oedipus Cycle. I found one translated by Peter Meineck; I was familiar with this guy’s name because one year for Christmas, my parents gave me an audiobook lecture series by Meineck about Greek mythology. So I figured his translation of Sophocles would be an okay one to get. But then I took a look at the cover. Why oh why, might I ask, is there a picture of President John F. Kennedy on my Oedipus? Did JFK marry his mother and stab his eyes out? I’m pretty sure he didn’t. The only sort-of connection I could venture to draw is that of a family curse. But that is distasteful, Hackett Publishing Group, simply distasteful. And not a witty enough reference to merit JFK on the cover. Do you think you’re clever or something? But it’s not just the Oedipus plays to whom you’ve rendered this strange injustice. Look at this: • Sophocles, Four Tragedies (Ajax, Women of Trachis, Electra, Philoctetes): Korean War Memorial. • Aeschylus, Euripides, Sophocles, The Electra Plays: Frida Kahlo. • Aeschylus, Oresteia: Some sort of parade involving an American flag. • Euripides, Alcestis, Medea, Hippolytus: some bizarre picture called “Fires #1” by someone named Diana Michener involving CHILDREN ON FIRE. FIRE. • Euripides, Bacchae: ELVIS? The only cover I found that makes a slight bit of sense is the one for Oedipus Tyrannus (on its own, not part of the Cycle). It’s a picture of a baby on top of what looks like another picture of a shadow of a man. I mean, I guess it makes sense, but it’s such an awful PhotoShop sort of thing. I mean, at least whoever publishes the Grene and Lattimore translations chooses relevant cover pictures. The Oresteia? A painting of oh god AGAMEMNON. None of this parade nonsense. Also, the Meineck translation of Sophocles just isn’t that good. There are, at least, better ones out there. It’s not really helping me at all in my language class as I translate Antigone. However, I did appreciate the use of the word “fuck” in Oedipus Tyrannus (something along the lines of “your father fucked his mother”). But really, do you think either Oedipus or John F. Kennedy would appreciate what you’ve done with this? Did you think about that? HM? Sincerely and perplexedly, Sarah Meggison St. John’s College, Class of 2015
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60 College Avenue Annapolis, Maryland 21401 sjca.gadfly@gmail.com
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would like to give a shout-out and thank you to Louis Pisha, for his wonderful piano-playing during dinners. Nothing quite beats coming into dinner on Friday evenings and hearing the rapturous tones flow through the dining hall. It creates a truly wonderful and relaxing atmosphere, and I know that I do not just speak for myself in voicing my appreciation. !
The Gadfly
03
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Mr. Matthew Linck How did you come to be a tutor at St. John’s? The short answer is that I applied and was fortunate enough to be interviewed and appointed to the faculty. I was attracted to teaching at St. John’s for a number of reasons. The main focus of my work during my last few years of graduate school was on Plato, and I had come to have a great deal of regard for work on Plato that had come out of St. John’s—Jacob’s Klein’s book on the Meno, Eva Brann’s essay on the Republic, and the translations produced by Ms. Brann, Mr. Kalkavage, and Mr. Salem. I had also begun to study the relationships between philosophy and science in the 16th and 17th centuries and was excited about the possibility of working on difficult books like Newton’s Principia. Most especially, perhaps, I was attracted to being able to spend my time in small groups talking about books. What classes are you teaching this year? Sophomore language (for the first time), junior math, and junior seminar. I am leading a preceptorial on Kant’s Critique of Judgment. What was the biggest adventure you’ve ever had? Living in New York City for sixteen years. It felt like one long adventure. What is the single most important piece of advice you would like to give to freshmen (or upperclassmen)? I don’t know if this is advice, but I think all of us should walk into every class expecting—hoping—to encounter something new and interesting. What is your favorite seminar book and why? The judicious answer is that it depends on what I’m doing at the time, that favorites are fugitive. The simple answer is the Iliad. It is the deepest and most beautiful book I know. What is your least favorite seminar book and why? I had a hard time getting through Locke’s Second Treatise of Government when we read it in junior seminar two years ago. I’ll try to go at it with an open mind when reading it again this year. What is your favorite non-Program book and why? There are a bunch of philosophy books on the margins of the
program that are favorites: Plato’s Protagoras and Charmides, Kant’s Critique of Judgment, Hegel’s Science of Logic, and Heidegger’s Being and Time, to name a few. I have a taste for 20th century novelists: Kafka, Thomas Mann, Pynchon. Lately, I have been reading post-war American poetry and have developed a real interest in the poetry of John Ashbery. What is your biggest pet peeve (that students do) in class? Not listening to other students. (Although this rises above being just a peeve, I think.) What is your favorite St. John’s tradition and why? I don’t know that I’ve been around long enough to have a good answer for this, but if hanging around the Coffee Shop and talking to people about our work is a tradition, then I’ll say that. What is your favorite class to be a tutor for and why? The one where we get confused about something and then maybe figure it out. !
The Gadfly
04
!"#$"#%&'()&*+'),-'(.&/)#')0 Leslie Howard
I
A’15
’ve decided to write this in the fierceness of my displea- way back to your room and go onto the Student Health Portal, sure, rather than allow it time to settle into mild irritation. the College’s first feeble step into modernity. After filling in I would like to address the current state of the health system the proper search information, you find six appointment slots here—and not just the Health Center, although that is certain- open before the weekend—all of which conveniently coincide ly one of my major complaints. with your classes. You could go to back during the walk-in Imagine this scenario: You’re going through the day, mind- hours on a different day, unless you still can’t get in because ing your own business, when suddenly you notice a rash crawl- of all the other students waiting, like you, for a walk-in aping up your back. It’s horrible. Unbearable. Perhaps some kind pointment (and then you don’t get an appointment and you of bite or allergic reaction, but you really just don’t know. You miss lunch); or, of course, if it’s already Friday afternoon. In go to your dorm building to look for some hydrocortisone that case, you can look forward to enjoying a nice comfortable cream in the first aid box your RA has weekend scratching furrows into your graciously placed by the hall phone… back. Why not have one [nurse] cover or has she? Unsuccessful, you go to the You’re a college student. There’s a scheduled appointments, while next dorm building with the same end good chance that you’re too poor to in mind. This hall does have a first aid the other takes walk-ins, thereby run to the pharmacy or go to a real box. But what’s this? Condoms, and doctor, especially since it’s been alallowing those of us who don’t condoms alone (and maybe—just maymost two full weeks since your last plan our illnesses to have a fair be—a few packets of Ibuprofen). After work-study paycheck, and clearly noshot at getting medical attention? body on this campus is going to help investigating several other halls, the Switchboard office, and Public Safety you, except to deter you from having in search of relief, you decide the next best course of action unprotected sex. So, what do you do? is to go down to the Health Center, because, let’s face it, your Out of the many ways to rectify this situation, I thought I back itches a lot. You walk in, thrilled to see the waiting room should at least mention one possible solution. There are two empty. You peer into the hallway to find that all the nurses’ nurses who are more or less always on duty when the Health doors are shut, so you stand for a while…sit for a while...all the Center is open. Why not have one cover scheduled appointwhile listening to blaring instrumentals from the boombox ments, while the other takes walk-ins, thereby allowing those on the coffee table. Naturally supposing the nurses to be busy of us who don’t plan our illnesses to have a fair shot at getwith other students (although you haven’t heard a sound com- ting medical attention? Also, I’m not insinuating that we ing from any of the doors this whole time), you look around should have fewer condoms on campus—Lord knows we need the room to see if there’s a first aid kit open for Polity use; and, them—but perhaps the first aid kits could include some other lo and behold, another box of condoms. supplies useful to the poor college student, such as antibiotic Exasperated, you leave. As you close the Health Center door, cream, Benadryl, and maybe even some band-aids. you notice a sign on the glass with the walk-in hours. Perfect, Like I said, this was written with a hot temper. I’m sure evyou think, I’ll just come back then! But wait. It’s already after eryone is doing the best they can, and this is all just a big mis12:30. You’ll have to make an appointment. You scratch your understanding. !
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The Gadfly
05
A Reply to Mr. Malka’s “Jobs, Jobs, Jobs...” Gordon Greer
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A’13
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icking up last week’s Gadfly, I was pleasantly surprised and more lucrative areas. Perhaps the strongest example of to find Mr. Malka’s article on the economy and a concern this is the rapid expansion over the past thirty years of serover the effects of globalization. It is a topic not commonly vices as a share of the total nominal Consumer Price Index approached in the Johnnie bubble, though its effects on the (CPI). A more familiar example is in how the worker is viewed world are staggering. I would like to discuss some aspects of as representative of national labor throughout the history of the world marketplace from my perspective. the United States. By turns he is the agrarian farmer, the facThe transnational corporation (TNC) is indeed a curious tory wage laborer, the owner of a mom-and-pop shop, and creature. As Mr. Malka points out, it is a corporation more now, perhaps, the broker of information. Globalization has dislocated from a single location than perhaps any other in done nothing more than rapidly accelerate an already occurhistory. It has the ability to move its factories to areas where ring economic tendency; this necessitates that we elevate our conditions are most beneficial to its business model. For TNCs national edge from material goods into services at an even whose focus is based upon the extraction of natural resources faster pace. This agitated metamorphosis has not hindered job and raw manufacturing, this often leads them to less devel- creation. If anything, it has increased our employment numoped countries, as labor costs bers at a fantastic rate, though are cheaper there than in the the percentages may seem developed world. less impressive in relationship This often has beneficial to population growth. The consequences for the coungraph in the center of the page tries invested in. The glut of shows payroll data from the aggregated capital deposited beginning of 1992 to the most by these TNCs, as Mr. Malka recent available information. notes, creates a rise in wag(I have chosen to begin meaes, prices, and quality of livsuring this series from 1992 ing. Without this investment, because of its relationship to these countries often remain free trade, i.e., the fall of the !"#$% in stagnant positions. This rise Iron Curtain.) Recession from 2007Q3 – 2009Q2 in development consequently This does not mean that the Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics causes TNCs to reinvest their process of developing newer capital in even less developed comparative advantages is countries, in what may be considered a race to the bottom. Over painless. For the more traditional jobs discussed above, Steve the past twenty-five years or so, such development has raised Jobs is correct. “These jobs aren’t coming back.” These workthe economic standard of living across Less Developed Coun- ers scramble to find new jobs as their old ones become outtries (LDCs) as the stimulus of foreign investment has turned dated. But this has always been a process of capitalism. Inthem into the economic powerhouses of emerging markets novation requires new ideas to take root by displacing old (BRIC, the Asian tigers, etc.) All of these are facts resultant standards. of the world getting flatter. (But not completely flat, I think. I It can be tempting to put the economy on a leash. Someprefer Mr. Smick’s views to Thomas Friedman’s; cf. 2008’s The times such action is necessary. But to do so with respect to World Is Curved.) So much for the developing world. But what individual jobs, rather than the total number of jobs is to put of developed countries such as the United States? Does this single trees before the forest. It will do more harm than help cause us to lose our livelihoods against incomparable compe- in the bigger picture, whatever the intentions are. We all know tition? Are we the losers in a global zero-sum game? I fail to what the road to Hell is paved with. It is in the nature of the hold the pessimism Mr. Malka seems to feel. economy both to be dynamic and to bite back when threatLet me explain. The race to the bottom of the less developed ened. world involves traditional professions, such as agricultural poThis is especially true regarding threats of tariffs. Let me sitions and the trade of raw materials. The output of these jobs give an example. In the 1980s, fear of Japanese competition is the cornerstone of the world economy, upon which more led the US to place tariffs on Japanese exported goods. This highly processed durables and nondurables are produced. caused Japan to retaliate with its own restrictions, causing a Mining is such a profession, and according to the logic of glo- good deal of harm to both economies, as the demand side fell balization, Australian workers would indeed feel hard pressed off sharply to both countries’ supplies. to compete with African workers over time. Thanks to globalThe economy is not a fixed mechanism you can put a lever on ization, such countries have entire economies dedicated to and expect to have benefit everyone. Under capitalism, it is an their comparative advantage in this and other such sectors, in evolutionary entity, a dynamic environment where elements’ order to attract international capital. competitive struggles for existence allow for a diversity and Such jobs are not the only ones available, however. The rel- richness no organizing telos could ever provide. Government egation of such jobs to specific markets gives a comparative certainly has its place. It has an unquestionably important role advantage and allows for greater efficiency of production. It in education and security. In regards to business, however, it also allows countries such as the United States to move their is best for it to serve as the handmaiden to the transformative own comparative advantage from traditional jobs to newer power of the markets. !
The Gadfly
06
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Miles Steinert & Montgomery Alcott
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an you remember the last time you exchanged money Chain; and there were plenty of recent releases—The XX, Barfor art? Music is probably the most common art form we oness, Grizzly Bear—and a number of artists we didn’t recogbuy—except perhaps literature, especially around here—and nize. In the back of the store was a collection of used and rare nowadays the purchase often happens digitally. What are the records, ranging from jazz to blues to Sonic Youth. “terms and conditions” of this new exAfter much contemplation, we change? After a relatively quick look, brought our selected records to the Is the experience of art differyou will probably find that what you are counter: I walked in thinking I was ent for a person downloading buying is not the art itself—not a hard going to buy a Radiohead record, but it, particularly for free? When copy of that music—but, instead, the walked out with Daft Punk’s Discovery you no longer have to sacrifice and Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures. right to observe the art personally. to obtain the art, you will no That latter form is embodied by Monty picked up Grizzly Bear’s VeckaiTunes, and I think of that when I walk doubt appreciate its value less. timest and Vampire Weekend’s self-tiinto a record store. Undeniably, I was tled debut LP, each an indie rock classic pushed into the scene of buying records—that is, “old-fash- in its own right. At the counter we got to chatting with store ioned” vinyl—by the retro-pop-culture that has emerged over owner Matt Mona. the last decade. A record shop is exhilarating—and, of course, Reflecting on his childhood home filled with records, Mona tinged with heartache: I flip sleeve after sleeve that I recog- values the unique feel of vinyl in hand when one first opens a nize and would love to own, but the price tag is always more recently purchased record. Downloading music online creates than 99 cents a song. That is not something I am used to. I no tactile experience. He remembers the details of his personhave always been given music by my parents, or downloaded al record purchases, but not the details of zip files. In Decemit—yes, for free, online, illegally. But pardon that for a moment. ber 2010, having already started the business online, Mona Is the experience of art different for a person downloading opened up Ka-Chunk!! Records at 78 Maryland Avenue, with it, particularly for free? When you no longer have to sacrifice hopes of creating the same community around his own store to obtain the art, you will no doubt appreciate its value less. that he fondly recalls from previous employment at other reSure, you’ll download albums and songs cord stores. He hopes to bring some new with great artistry and musical skill, but ambience to Annapolis. There isn’t much in the way consider: How many iTunes songs do you “There are too many antique shops,” own that you don’t even particularly like? of a music scene in Annapo- he says, “and Baltimore and D.C. tend to They just fill digital space. lis, but Mona points out that attract most of the youth culture.” To realize the personal value of albums, There isn’t much in the way of a munational acts have recently one must simply walk into a record store. sic scene in Annapolis, but Mona points made their way to the Met- out that national acts have recently made This past Wednesday my roommate ropolitan on West Street. and I walked down Maryland Avenue to a their way to the Metropolitan on West record shop we had heard about via wordStreet. of-mouth: Ka-Chunk!! Records. I noticed immediately an Ka-Chunk!! is only a block-and-a-half away from the Colimpressive variety: post-rock artists, such as Godspeed You! lege. Stop by! Meet people, talk about music, network, and alBlack Emperor and Explosions in the Sky; ‘90s rock, such as low yourself to discover the value of vinyl. If you don’t have a the White Stripes; some punk, from classic Clash to recent al- record player, then ask someone who owns one why they like bums from the hardcore band Negative Approach; shoegaze (a it, get your own, and buy some records from Matt. Or just go to late-80s UK rock scene) and its derivatives were represented enjoy the atmosphere of the store, and watch Annapolis start by bands with names such as Yuck and The Jesus and Mary to get more interesting. !
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The Gadfly
07
Examining the Bible: A sophomore’s perspective on the Bible as a Great Book I
Wyatt Hope
A’15
, of course, can only speak from my experience in my own not reach any sort of truth from a book while actively avoiding seminar, but, after listening to my peers, I believe that there confrontation. We must challenge the book, whatever book it is a problem before us sophomores that spreads far beyond may be, face to face in dialectical examination if we are going one seminar, and something needs to be said. to understand it as best we can. Last Monday night we spent a great majority of our time disSo what is holding you back? Are you afraid of offending cussing Jonah, a famous story of a mere four chapters. Amos, your friends? They came here to have their faith shaken, as did which shows God as an emotional character in a way we we all, whether that faith be religious or not. Were you raised haven’t seen before, was steered away from—perhaps because to believe that this book is the true word of God? Put aside it shows God as more wrathful than ever before. Isaiah, which your faith for four hours a week, for conversation’s sake, and provides us substantial insight into what drives God, was have a reasonable discussion about this book as a book. avoided —probably due to the verses suggesting that God takes As Nathan Goldman remarked in his article “The Good responsibility for evil. Instead we flocked to the bedtime story, Book” in the first issue of the Gadfly this year, the Bible is unthe feel-good family adventure that is like any other book on the Program. Jonah. It is easy to talk about the time But that does not mean we should Rather than question [the God spared the Ninevites, but Amos’ treat it as such. The Bible is not on Bible], we rationalize it. Rather prophecy of destruction is thought too the Program because it gave rise to than criticize the parts that heavy a topic for seminar. the world’s largest religion; it is on the In freshman year we read Plato, Program despite that. To put it another don’t make sense to us at first, Sophocles, and Aristotle, and we hack way, the Bible is a Great Book for the we attempt to reconcile them them to pieces. We question every nosame reasons that people looked to it under the assumption that the tion and examine each word. We discuss, for guidance many years ago. But the argue, and speculate our way through so book must be wholly consistent. reasons to read this book are more funthat we may get to the heart of the book. damental than the influence of JudaDiscussing Homer’s works last year, we were quick to judge ism and Christianity. The point is that the Bible stands strong Zeus and Ares. But our approach to the Bible is far different. as a Great Book even when it is separated from its reputation Rather than question the book, we rationalize it. Rather than as the word of God. To let our preconceptions get in the way of criticize the parts that don’t make sense to us at first, we at- our examination of the Great Book, to refrain from questiontempt to reconcile them under the assumption that the book ing it for fear of offending someone, is to do a terrible dissermust be wholly consistent. We restrain ourselves from asking vice to our education and to the Book itself. the questions most immediately before us, and it makes for a Next month we come back to the Bible with the Gospel Matweak discussion. thew. I hope we all set aside our prejudices and talk about it This is not to say that a Bible-bashing seminar would get us the way Johnnies talk about books, because it is hard to find anywhere; in fact, that is the last thing I want. But one can- that anywhere else. !
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The Gadfly
08
Ian Tuttle
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nother day older and deeper in debt.” So goes a line shackled future generations, not just to the vexing question of from the song “Sixteen Tons,” first recorded by country how to diminish America’s debt, but to the consequences of singer Merle Travis in 1946 before becoming a number-one fiscal insolvency. hit when covered by Tennessee Ernie Ford nine years later. Europe’s economic woes are instructive. Do you have an Having had occasion recently to celebrate a birthday, I’m entrepreneurial idea in the Slough of Despond that is presentnot unfamiliar with the feeling. Don’t misunderstand me—I day Greece? Then the best thing you can do, as author Mark won’t demur from an opportunity for cake—but when it Steyn says, is get out of Greece. The country’s fiscal burdens, comes to debt, I’m not just deeper in it; I’m positively drown- combined with the unwillingness of its people and its leaders ing. to confront the problem in any substantive way, means that But, since it makes me feel better, I’ll add: So are you. It anyone with the ability to flee is exercising that option. The doesn’t matter if you pay taxes or are in the workforce or are older generations of Greeks pillaged future generations for of voting age. If you are alive in the United States, you owe their own welfare, and now those generations have no future. $51,093.64. That’s because the country’s That’s not just an economic problem; outstanding public debt is, as of this writthat’s a moral problem. It’s massive, unAmerica has the world’s ing, $16.02 trillion in debt. By the time you precedented intergenerational theft. worst case of oniomania: read this, that debt will have increased by The rose-colored fantasy of the modshopaholism. And a large ern welfare state was that the governanother $15.4 billion. portion of the country has ment could forever guarantee the health Worried yet? Cheer up. It gets worse. America’s $16 trillion-dollar debt is for a comorbid case of denial. and relative comfort of the aged, the poor, items already on its credit cards, and that and the sick. But forever turns out to have figure long ago surpassed the country’s Gross Domestic Prod- been, in our case, about 80 years—if you start with FDR; start uct (GDP), i.e., the United States now owes more money than with LBJ’s Great Society, and we barely made it 50. it makes in one year. But that is merely the debt we have alThe setup of the welfare state is such that its current benready accrued; it does not include the purchases the govern- eficiaries depend upon anticipated future generations. Which ment has promised to make. I’ve quoted before columnist is a swell system, until demographics and other circumstancKevin Williamson’s piece in the January 2012 issue of The es get in the way—as they are doing now, when there are not New Criterion, but it’s worth quoting again. Williamson cal- enough downy babes in the most recent generations to afford culates that we have between $130 and $140 trillion in “un- the high-hog living of the older generations, particularly the funded liabilities”—promises we’ve made but for which we Baby Boomers, who happen to be the largest generation in haven’t yet swiped our plastic—and his number is lowballing human history. The solution has been to take out the world’s it. Want to put that number in perspective? Williamson says: largest line of credit and pass the buck. Thus every new American is born into $51,000 of debt. That figure is, literally, more than all the money in the America has the world’s worst case of oniomania: shopaworld—more than every piece of currency in any denomi- holism. And a large portion of the country has a comorbid nation issued by any government, along with all of the mon- case of denial. ey in the world’s checking and savings accounts, certificates It’s not evident that November’s election will change that. of deposit, money-market funds, and other forms of ready We need a winch to tighten our belts enough to slow (let alone money. About twice that, in fact. It is more than twice the solve) this problem, and we have for so long been accustomed annual economic output of human civilization. to shopping till we drop that we may have lost altogether the required capacity for self-restraint. But we owe it to the comSoak that in. ing generations to try. It is not just about getting our financial The chief drivers of unfunded liabilities? Social Security, house in order. It is about ensuring that those who come after Medicare, and Medicaid. So in the spirit of bipartisanship, 29 us have as much of an opportunity as we have had to live free, Senate Democrats signed a letter last Friday vowing “that we prosperous lives. will oppose including Social Security cuts for future or current beneficiaries in any deficit reduction package,” i.e., We As noted in this week’s letter from the editors, the Gadfly can work on our debt problem—as long as we don’t mess with will be on hiatus until mid-October, which means that we the programs causing it. Good luck with that. will likely not print until much absentee voting is already unThe second part of the chorus of “16 Tons” goes “Saint der way, and many states’ voter registration deadlines have Peter don’t you call me ‘cause I can’t go / I owe my soul to passed. This year’s election, whichever side you favor, will be the company store.” Replace “company store” with “federal a defining moment for our country. I encourage you to visit government” and you have the situation of every American, http://www.stjohnscollege.edu/admin/AN/registrar_voting. especially the young. We frequently talk of having “saddled” shtml for information about how to register to vote and enfuture generations with debt—but that language is soft. We’ve sure that you can cast your ballot. !
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The Gadfly
09
The Restaurants of Annapolis An average Johnnie’s advice for eating in Downtown Annapolis Kevin Morris
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he Randall Dining Hall is always able to provide hot meals to hungry Johnnies, but even those of us on the 21-a-week meal plan like to eat off-campus every once in a while. For freshmen interested in some of the local restaurants, here are some Johnnie favorites:
ends, I have never been made to wait for a table in all the time I’ve been going there. They are open until ten o’clock at night Monday through Thursday and until eleven Friday and Saturday. The people working there are incredibly friendly, and the food is spectacular.
Chick and Ruth’s Delly 165 Main Street An essential part of the downtown Annapolis experience is a hot meal at Chick and Ruth’s Delly. Its bright orange exterior is nearly impossible to miss when walking down Main Street, and anyone who goes to school is this town should go in at least once. One will notice the menu on the wall, which has several sandwiches named after the politicians who have eaten there and ordered their signature subs. Martin O’Malley, Bob Ehrlich, Barbara Mikulski, Anthony Brown, Ben Cardin, E. J. Pipkin, and many other Maryland politicians have special sandwiches named after them. Along the walls, customers will notice enormous glasses, which are used to hold their famous “colossal milkshakes,” which are part of a challenge undertaken on the television show Man vs. Food. Another perk: they’re open late. Ordering a pastrami sandwich and a cookies ‘n cream malt is a great way to celebrate a successful seminar Monday and Thursday nights. I will point out that it can be quite crowded. It is not the ideal venue for those seeking a quiet meal, but it is a place to experience the Annapolis community, talk to friendly people, and eat good sandwiches. They’re open early, so you can grab a quick breakfast and say the Pledge of Allegiance (which they do every morning), and they’re open late if you in the mood for some late night snacking.
Sofi’s Crepes 1 Craig Street Leave campus and head down Prince George Street. Near the docks, there is a nice little restaurant called Sofi’s Crepes. As the name suggests, they specialize in making crepes, which they do at a good price. Sofi’s Crepes, unlike the previous two restaurants, is rather small and has seating outside. Customers order inside and can watch as their food is prepared. I found it amusing to see jars of Nutella, which I was happy to eat Friday night as part of my “nutty banana” crepe, stacked behind the counter. The price is fair (I paid about five dollars for the crepe I had), and they are able to serve crepes throughout the day. Eat at Sofi’s Crepes if you’re looking for a good breakfast or a light dinner at a low price.
Sakura Cafe 105 Main Street Further down on Main Street, closer to the docks, you will find a nice little Asian restaurant call Sakura Cafe. Since its opening in 2010, Sakura Cafe has been serving delicious Asian food to Johnnies, Middies, and townies at a reasonable price. Particularly noteworthy is their sushi, which is made behind the counter and served with a smile. I speak so highly of this restaurant, because it is, quite simply, my favorite restaurant in downtown Annapolis. My friend Brady, who has a particular fondness for sushi, can’t visit me in Annapolis without stopping by Sakura for a roll. Though I praise them for their sushi, they have a variety of foods from Japanese to Chinese to Thai to Mexican to American. Though it can be crowded around dinner time on week-
Moe’s Southwest Grill 122 Dock Street When I came to St. John’s, one of the things that I missed was eating frequently at Chipotle. I was pleasantly surprised to find a similar restaurant right here in downtown Annapolis called Moe’s Southwest Grill. It is part of a chain restaurant, so many of my fellow Johnnies may have one of their own back home, but I’ll have to venture a guess and say that many others have never been to one. You can walk in and have a burrito made the way you like and get a bag of chips. Located next to the Starbucks by the docks, Moe’s Southwest Grill is a good choice for lovers of Tex-Mex food. Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches 193 Main Street Another nice little chain restaurant in downtown Annapolis, Jimmy John’s is a place to get a fast sandwich without having to pay too much. They rightly claim to be able to make their sandwiches quickly, which is pleasing to anyone in a hurry or who simply hates having to wait. Anyone who walks in will be treated to some good rock music playing over the speakers and to some good sandwich making service. Like Moe’s or Sofi’s Crepes, Jimmy John’s is a good option for Johnnies interested in eating out without paying a lot of money. !
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!"#$%&'(!)*(+,)-. If there is any question of the value of a St. John’s education, Jac Holzman should alleviate concerns. Holzman never completed his degree, but as the founder of Elektra Records and a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, he is among St. John’s’ best-known alumni. He will host a conversation for students about entrepreneurialism during Homecoming Weekend 2012. Nathan Goldman & Ian Tuttle
T “I
was an indifferent student of the Program, but somehow I absorbed the aspects of the Program that I needed most. And St. John’s showed me what a college was all about, what a college was to do for me, which was to help me find a vocation in life to which I was emotionally committed, and around which I could build a life.”
“I
was coming back from a Board of Visitors and Governors meeting [for St. John’s] in 1965, and I had signed my first rock band, Love. And I’m driving around Baltimore somewhere, and I turn on the radio, and I hear my first single on the air. That was a big moment for me. I’d never heard an Elektra record on AM radio.”
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hose who managed to sit through not because of his thinking, but because The Social Network will recall that of his conspicuous absence from the Mark Zuckerberg started Facebook from classroom. his dorm room at Harvard College. But “My attendance in class was,” he adwhile Zuckerberg’s masterstroke earned mits, “ad hoc.” him an Academy Award-winning biopic Of course, Holzman had things other and has won him a spot among the na- than the Program on his mind. The vinyl tion’s wealthiest entrepreneurs, his star record had just been invented, and rock may quickly dim, according to the for- music had been born—“the Big Bang,” he tunes of the social networking bubble. calls it, that occurred between 1948 and Maybe. That’s how entrepreneurial- 1950. It was a big time for music and auism works. dio engineering, his twin passions. Out Enter Jac Holzman. He’s not St. of his dorm room in Pinkney, he had just John’s’ Zuckerberg; he’s more like St. founded Elektra Records, which would John’s’ Bill Gates. A student in the early become the American home of art‘50s, Holzman was the ists like Queen, Tom founder and CEO of Waits, The Eagles, Enter Jac Holzman. He’s and The Doors. Elektra Records and not St. John’s’ ZuckerNonesuch Records, “[Then-dean] Dr. and has been the seJacob Klein,” he says, berg; he’s more like St. nior vice president “quite rightly sugJohn’s’ Bill Gates. and chief technologist gested that it looked for Warner Communications, a board like my mind was someplace else, and I member for Atari, head of Panavision, should take a year off and then consider and more. In 2011 he was inducted into whether I wanted to come back and finthe Rock and Roll Hall of Fame—one of ish up my final year.” only 40 non-performers to earn a spot in Holzman took Klein’s advice. He Cleveland. Which, all in all, makes him never did come back, but St. John’s left something of a rock star. Those coveted its mark on him. “St. John’s freed up spots only go to those who have changed my thinking,” he says. “I never looked the face of rock and roll. Holzman’s star at things totally logically any more. I will not fade anytime soon. was able to jumble up the pieces in my At 81 years old, he is still a confident mind, see what was interesting, and expresence, a thoughtful speaker, and a tract that stuff.” The education “helped quick wit—and happy to admit that, de- [him] know how to look at things, how spite his love of the College, he was not to frame questions, and know to take a devoted student. In fact, he is probably nothing for granted.” St. John’s’ best-known dropout—which Holzman will be returning to his goes to show how little the essential almost-alma mater for its 2012 Homequalities of a St. John’s education have coming festivities, during which he will to do with the diploma. As Holzman host a conversation with current stutells it, he squeaked by the College’s en- dents about entrepreneurialism. Does it abling exams, then a component of the start with an idea? “It starts with a good enabling process administered at the idea,” he stresses. He notes that several end of the junior year. The Instruction Continued On Pg. 11 Committee was shocked by his success:
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entrepreneurs had similar ideas to his when he was tweaking his electronics in Pinkney—but at the end of the “marathon,” he managed to come out standing. The first few years were hardscrabble living, he says, but his dedication paid off: He mentions “[his] plane.” And he “wouldn’t trade [the difficult years] for anything,” because they trained him for the future jobs and opportunities—purchasing a small company called Atari, trying to launch a new thing called cable television. There were myriad failures along the way—the visionary’s life is one of guaranteed risk without guaranteed reward—but for Holzman, the Johnnie mindset was crucial. “Being an autodidact has saved me every time.” he says. “To have that level of curiosity so that you get the answer no matter what, so that you pursue it until you’re comfortable that you understand what you’re talking about.” Yet all the intellectual tools are insufficient if the will is divided. Commitment, he says, is imperative. Holzman lives by the words of Scottish explorer W.H. Murray, whose reflection on his 1951 Himalayan expedition Holzman set into a poem: “Regarding Commitment” Until one is committed There is hesitancy, The chance to draw back, Always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation) There is one elementary truth, The ignorance of which Kills countless ideas and splendid plans: That the moment one definitely commits oneself Then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one That would otherwise never have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, Which no man could have dreamt Would come his way. For Holzman, Providence moved in Pinkney Hall. Where next? ! Editor’s Note: The full text of the interview will be posted online at www.issuu.com/sjcgadfly after Homecoming.
To hear more from Mr. Holzman, join him at the Conversation on Entrepreneurship on Saturday, September 29, at 1:30 PM in the Hodson Room.
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Michael Crawford Senior Education Specialist, LCSHE The World Bank Michael F. Crawford is a Senior Education Specialist in the World Bank Latin America Human Development Department. He is currently responsible for management and oversight of World Bank projects and studies in the areas of tertiary education and promotion of science and technology capacity through the Latin America and the Caribbean region. He has led the development of World Bank investments in university and science and technology capacity most recently in Chile, Peru, Uganda and previously in Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Venezuela. He recently led a large scale analysis of student lending policies and Chile. He has helped shape World Bank policy for the promotion of science and technology capacity through global analytical and policy work, and co-authored the September 2003 paper, “Strategic Approaches to Science and Technology in Development,” presented to the Bank’s Board of Directors. From 2002-04, he was the Assistant to the Managing Director for Human Development. He has also led or contributed to World Bank investment and analytical work on higher education and science and technology in Tanzania, Romania, Thailand, Argentina, Guyana, and Colombia. Michael holds an MA in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and a BA in Philosophy and Mathematics from St. John’s College, Annapolis, MD. !
Mr. Crawford will host a career conversation for interested students at 3:45 PM on Friday, September 28, in the Conversation Room.
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!"#$%&"'()%&"*'+#,-&.' /01%201-&.'3%%4%&$ Friday - 9/28 Rock Party: Coffee Shop, 10:30 PM-2AM All-Star DJ Robert George (A’85) will be doing the tunes.
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Saturday - 9/29 Pain Perdue with the President: Alumni Office & Career Services Networking Breakfast Temple Iglehart, 8:45-10:15 AM Come see President Nelson serve french toast!
*Please Note: Students not on a Meal Plan will be treated Breakfast courtesty of the Alumni Office.
Conversation on Entrepreneurship: Hodson Room, 1:30-2:45 PM Meet Jac Holzman, Harold Hughes, and Domnic Crapuchettes and discuss how this education cultivates an entrepreneurial spirit and what the exciting, challenging path of entrepreneurship holds in store. 75th Anniversary of the New Program Panel Discussion and Qustion Period: FSK Auditorium, 3-5 PM Chris Nelson (SF’70), Eva Brann (HA’89), Michael Dink (A’75), Mary Goldstein (A’58), Tom Simpson (A’50), Charles Nelson (A’45) & Peter Weiss (A’46) discuss the original aims of Barr and Buchanan. Welcome Home Reception & Book Signing: FSK Lobby & Fishbowl, 3-5 PM Tutors Eva Brann, Eric Salem, and Peter Kalkavage will be signing their new translation of The Statesman by Plato. Tom Simpson (A’50) will be signing copies of his new books, Maxwell’s Mathematical Rhetoric: Rethinking the Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism and Newton, Maxwell, Marx: Spirit, Freedom, and the Scientific Vision.
*Please Note: The Welcome Reception will have a cash bar that will not be serving to students.
Waltz & Swing Parties: Grat Hall & Coffee Shop, resp., 10 PM-2 AM