STUDENT LIFE THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER OF WASHINGTON UNIVERSIT Y IN ST. LOUIS SINCE 1878 Inside Scene: Illustrator Rachel Harris sends us a Postcard from Abroad from Italy. Also, Rachel Tepper’s new ‘toon, Strip Club, debuts. Page 4.
The Lady Bears are on fire—they’ve just secured their ninth straight UAA title and their 17th straight NCAA bid. Page 7.
VOLUME 127, NO. 57
In today’s Forum, students take on the EnBeaver, hop across the pond to Scotland and debate the Sex Issue’s utility. Page 5.
Sports keeps tabs on the NBA, the Olympics and our own basketball Bears. See Page 10.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2006
WWW.STUDLIFE.COM
Students to protest ‘gay therapy’ group By Marla Friedman Associate Reporter Students from Washington University plan to take a stance against Exodus, an “ex-gay” group that is coming to St. Louis on Saturday to host a conference called “Love Won Out,” which promotes therapy as a cure for homosexuality. GLBT-rights (gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender rights) activists will host a teach-in on Saturday to inform students about the ex-gay movement’s harmful effects. Medical Professor Ken Haller, Associate Director
of Counseling Services Thomas Brounk and psychology Professor Jim Reid will be leading the discussion. They will provide background information on the ex-gay movement and the psychological harm they say results from its practices, and will open the floor for student questions. Brounk hopes to communicate to students the pressing need to avoid anti-gay therapy. “Conversion therapy is harmful, not only to the individuals that undergo this therapy, but it also affects the public’s view of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people,” said Brounk. “It’s not
only something that we need to confront because it damages individual people’s lives, but it also contributes to the homophobia in our society.” Brounk compared the specifics of anti-gay treatment used in the past to methods used today. Although different, both treatments lead to a life of pain and loneliness, said Brounk. “Ten to 15 years ago they used electric shock or drug therapy, and they would pair those treatments with some type of homosexual-related stimuli, such as pictures of two men holding hands or kissing one another,”
said Brounk. “Typically those people walked away unable to be in any kind of relationship.” The “talk therapy” utilized today is not physically painful but leads to the same detrimental psychological effects, said Brounk. “Many of these theories are grounded in the idea that there was some kind of abuse or trauma that happened to the individual early on in life, perhaps sexual abuse, and that somehow by developing healthier types of relationships with the therapist, these kinds of misdirected objects of affection can be redi-
rected,” said Brounk. “This can be done through prayer, through believing that some kind of religious higher power has the ability to take this away.” Subjects might leave the therapy with unexpected effects. “What oftentimes happens is that maybe there can be some change in the actual attraction, but the ability to actually engage in any kind of heterosexual relationship is far less likely,” said Brounk. “These people are committing themselves to lives of celibacy without really being told that by the people who use this technique.”
Professor Reid closely follows Brounk’s views and advocates a cure for the anti-gay movement. “I’d like to change the ex-gay movement around and let [students] know that there is a cure for bigotry and that those people, the ones that run Exodus and offer those ‘cures,’ could change if they really tried. There is a cure for bigotry,” said Reid. Brounk offered some final advice to students on coming to terms with their sexual orientation. “It is important to educate
See PROTEST, page 4
Jonathan Kozol speaks amid Alumnus Craig recent funding controversy follows in SNL By Jessie Rothstein Staff Reporter Despite the controversy still surrounding the funding for Wednesday’s Assembly Series, Jonathan Kozol, an authority on the American public school system, was brought to the University on Wednesday for the ArtSci Council’s Assembly Series lecture. “We thought he would be a great person to represent the College of Arts & Sciences, since education is at its core,” said Aaron Mertz, the president of the ArtSci Council. Although the ArtSci Council faced the option of canceling this lecture after Student Union denied funding for the event, they decided against doing so because, in the words of Barbara Rea, “people need to hear what he has to say.” According to Rea, director of major events and special programs, “He’s one of the most requested speakers in the 10 years that I’ve been doing this job.” Throughout his inspiring lecture, Kozol described the vast segregation that persists in the American public education system, which he deems as “post-modern and millennial apartheid.” Having visited 60 inner-city schools throughout the country over the past five years, including some in St. Louis, Kozol confidently declared that the percentage of people in segregated schools is at its highest rate since 1968. “We stand right now at one of
the most dangerous and reactionary moments in our nation’s history,” said Kozol. In his eyes, the apartheid that plagued the South prior to the Civil Rights movement is indistinguishable from the “socially and economically enforced apartheid” that he says is present in all of the nation’s big cities today. Responding to conservative politicians’ criticisms that he does not provide enough hard data, Kozol described a South Bronx neighborhood in which only 22 of the 11,000 students in the elementary and middle schools were white. Kozol emphasized the importance of finding out the reality of current circumstances by conducting first-hand research. Stating that one cannot get the truth by simply talking to administrators or looking at statistics, Kozol suggested that “every arrogant politician in our country, especially Bush, should be obliged to come into an inner-city school and teach for not just an hour, but a day, because it is all too easy to forget.” Kozol has done exactly this, and after living on both sides of the public education system and witnessing the disparities first-hand, he declared, “I know that we do not live in a genuine democracy, because the children of the poor do not have equal opportunities. At best we live in a hereditary meritocracy.” “In the eyes of America, because of the unjust, undemocratic, and archaic school system,
stars’ footsteps By Brad Nelson Contributing Editor
EITAN HOCHSTER | STUDENT LIFE
Author and political advocate Jonathan Kozol speaks in Graham
See KOZOL, page 8 Chapel on Wednesday.
Soulard gears up for beads and brews By Jeff Reul Contributing Reporter With Mardi Gras celebrations in St. Louis rumored to be second only to New Orleans, St. Louis might be called the “Second City of Mardi Gras.” Now with the Big Easy still recovering from Hurricane Katrina, the Gateway City has a shot to dethrone the No. 1 host with the 2006 Mardi Gras, Soulard’s 27th annual. Celebrations shift into full throttle this weekend, and over several hundred thousand people are expected to attend. Whether or not the Katrina disaster will affect the size of Mardi Gras in St. Louis this year remains to be seen. Yet the celebration has grown steadily over the years, a popularity that can be attributed to one main factor, according to Mack Bradley, spokesperson for St. Louis Mardi Gras. “Number one, it’s just a great party,” said Bradley. “It started in 1980 with 200 people, and this year we have two and a half times that number of police. This thing has grown. One thing that Soulard has demonstrated over and over is they love a great party…We don’t try to be New Orleans. We’ve got our own traditions and our own thing.” Some of these traditions include one of the world’s largest pet parades, the proceeds of which will be split with the Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter in New Orleans, said Bradley. Another unique aspect of the St. Louis Mardi Gras is the parade. In New Orleans, the organizations that put together the parade, known as krewes, produce the parade itself. Here, a non-for-profit organization, Mardi Gras Inc., produces the parade, leaving the krewes to concentrate on the floats, which can cost between $10,000-$30,000. This year’s parade will be the largest ever, with 115 floats, and is expected to raise more than $20,000 for the local economy, said Bradley. This weekend’s events begin at City Hall, where Mayor Francis Slay will host the “Mayor’s Mardi Gras Ball Masquerade 2006.” Tickets begin at $100 and
proceeds will support the city of St. Louis. The Grand Parade sets sail Saturday, Feb. 25 at 11 a.m. The route begins in downtown St. Louis and is scheduled to arrive in Soulard at 2 p.m. For Washington University students interested in attending the Grand Parade, the Campus Programming Council (CPC) is sponsoring two buses that
will run continuously from the Business School between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday. A one-way trip costs $3, and unlimited trips cost $5. “We had talked about [having buses] before,” said junior Shilpa Rupani, copresident of the CPC. “St. Louis has the second biggest Mardi Gras, and we want
See MARDI GRAS, page 8
DAVID BRODY | STUDENT LIFE
An unidentified man sells beads in Soulard on Sunday, Feb. 19. Mardi Gras festivities are set to take place downtown all day tomorrow, and Fat Tuesday will occur next week.
CHICAGO—After a show one recent Saturday night, Matthew Craig, an actor in the improvisational group Second City, was giving a visitor a tour around the group’s theatre when he was stopped by three attractive coeds in the lobby. “You were awesome tonight,” said one of them, a fashionable blonde. “You should [go] out drinking with us tonight.” “Come back for the improv set tonight at 1 a.m. and we’ll go get a drink,” he replied. The girls, who said they were sorority sisters from Miami of Ohio, were too plastered to notice he was joking around. They also probably didn’t notice his wedding ring. When the girls were out of earshot, the visitor asked, “Does this sort of thing happen often?” “I try not to hang out in the lobby too often—not that the temptation would tear me away— but those kind of women…” His voice trails off for a second. Then he continues. “There was this guy who used to work here named Andy. He claimed that if he played his cards right, he was [a] bit of a drinker, and he would go across the street to the bar every night and pick someone up. It got to the point he couldn’t go across the street anymore because he got a reputation.” “Those are fun moments,” he added. “Ridiculous. But fun.” Another pause. “It’s just nice to be recognized.” A little history lesson Let’s step back a moment. Before the drunken co-eds. Before Andy’s adventures chasing tail at the bar across the street. And way before Matthew Craig was working at Second City, let alone alive. Let’s go back to the 1950s. We’re at the University of Chicago. Some undergrads there run a campus theatre company. They perform a play called “The Typewriter.” It’s a big hit. A couple of them start talking about opening a theatre. In 1959, they open up Second City on the North Side of Chicago. Their brand of theatre is unconventional. Second City performs its comedy revues cabaret-style. It gets rid of the fourth wall and interacts with the audience. It still uses a script but gives performers leeway to ad-lib their lines. Crowds love it. As the years pass, a number of the cast members go on to stardom. Mike Nichols, Alan Alda, Robert Klein, Alan Arkin, Joan Rivers, Peter Boyle. Even one Washington University alumnus, Harold Ramis, who wrote “Animal House” and “Caddyshack” and directed “Ghostbusters” and “Stripes.” But Second City doesn’t become famous until Saturday Night Live debuts in 1975. Half of SNL’s first cast came from Second City. John Belushi, Gilda Radner,
Bill Murray. The tradition continues today. Tina Fey and Rachel Dratch are Second City alumni. So are Mike Meyers and Chris Farley. “It’s almost false to say that Second City is 45 years old,” said Craig, “because it’s been in the last 20 years that Second City has become the bastion of what it really is.” Meanwhile, improv continues to grow in popularity. Short-form improv, which is heavy in game playing, became popular after “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” came to television. (By the way, two of that show’s stars, Ryan Stiles and Colin Mochrie, performed at Second City.) And a number of improv clubs have opened up in Chicago and elsewhere. Even Second City expanded, and currently maintains stages in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York and other cities. “I think improvisation now is the same kind of heyday standup was in during the early ‘80s and ‘90s,” said Craig. From biology to comedy When Craig entered Washington University in 1991, he had no intention of getting involved in this improv business—not professionally, at least. Growing up in Dayton, Ohio, he had dabbled in community theatre and had been in a few plays in high school, but his real goal was to become a doctor. But the University’s pre-med program can be overwhelming. “It’s quite the tunnel when that’s what you’re studying,” said Craig. “So I needed to do something to step out of it.” He was already a resident advisor, a member of the all-male a cappella group The Pikers and the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. So he decided to return to acting. He auditioned for Mama’s Pot Roast, a new improv group on campus. He was accepted, and took the spot held by Peter Sarsgaard, who was graduating. Sarsgaard, who recently hosted Saturday Night Live, is best known for his role in the film “Jarhead.” After spending his junior and senior years in the group, Craig made another decision. “The fall of my senior year I decided I wanted to shake it up,” said Craig. “For no other reason, at least for now I knew I didn’t want to go to medical school. I was having some success with improv. So I struck a deal with my dad. I was going to take two years after I graduated from college to move to Chicago and study improvisation and see what I could make of it.” In the fall of 1995, Craig moved to the Windy City and trained in Second City’s conservatory program, which not only teaches students the Second City style of improv but also serves as a feeder into one of the group’s several casts performing around the country. He lucked out and also got a job as a head bartender at a trendy restaurant, which allowed him to live comfortably
See IMPROV, page 3
2 STUDENT LIFE | NEWS
STUDENT LIFE One Brookings Drive #1039 #42 Women’s Building Saint Louis, MO 63130-4899 News: (314) 935-5995 Advertising: (314) 935-6713 Fax: (314) 935-5938 email: editor@studlife.com www.studlife.com Copyright 2006 Editor in Chief: Margaret Bauer Associate Editor: Liz Neukirch Managing Editor: David Tabor Senior News Editors: Kristin McGrath, Liz Neukirch Senior Forum Editor: Molly Antos Senior Cadenza Editor: Laura Vilines Senior Scene Editor: Sarah Baicker Senior Sports Editor: Justin Davidson Senior Photo Editor: David Brody News Editors: Mandy Silver, Caroline Wekselbaum Forum Editors: Daniel Milstein, Jeff Stepp, Matt Shapiro, Joshua Trein Cadenza Editors: Adam Summerville, Jordan Deam, Robbie Gross Scene Editors: Sarah Klein, Erin Fults Sports Editor:Joe Ciolli Photo Editors: David Hartstein, Pam Buzzetta, Meghan Luecke Online Editor: Dan Daranciang Design Chief: Laura McLean Copy Editors: Allie McKay, Nina Perlman, Kelly Donahue, Erin Fults, Rebecca Emshwiller, hannah draper, Julian Beattie, Mallory Wilder, Paige Creo Designers: Ellen Lo, Anna Dinndorf, Jamie Reed, Andy Gavinski, Elizabeth Kaufman, Kate Ehrlich General Manager: Andrew O’Dell Advertising Manager: Sara Judd Copyright 2006 Washington University Student Media, Inc. (WUSMI). Student Life is the financially and editorially independent, student-run newspaper serving the Washington University community. First copy of each publication is free; all additional copies are 50 cents. Subscriptions may be purchased for $80.00 by calling (314) 935-6713. Student Life is a publication of WUSMI and does not necessarily represent, in whole or in part, the views of the Washington University administration, faculty or students. All Student Life articles, photos and graphics are the property of WUSMI and may not be reproduced or published without the express written consent of the General Manager. Pictures and graphics printed in Student Life are available for purchase; e-mail editor@ studlife.com for more information. Student Life reserves the right to edit all submissions for style, grammar, length and accuracy. The intent of submissions will not be altered. Student Life reserves the right not to publish all submissions. If you’d like to place an ad, please contact the Advertising Department at (314) 935-6713. If you wish to report an error or request a clarification, e-mail editor@studlife.com.
Senior News Editors / Kristin McGrath and Liz Neukirch / news@studlife.com
FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 24, 2006
Hilltop to become Students give Bon Appétit ‘Danforth Campus’ ‘food for thought’ at forum By Kristin McGrath Senior News Editor On Sept. 17, Washington University’s Hilltop Campus will undergo a name change and become known as the Danforth Campus in honor of the University’s 13th chancellor, William “Chan Dan” Danforth, as well as his family and the Danforth Foundation. “I think it’s an extremely kind thing for people to do,” said Danforth. “I’ve had the privilege of working with some exceptional people over the years. And I think I got a lot of credit for things other people did…I feel extremely lucky to have been a part of Washington University.” The Danforth Foundation, which was founded by William Danforth’s grandfather, has been a means of financial support to the University since 1970, when it made its first major contribution of $15 million. In 1997, its $100 million gift fueled the $1.55 billion initiative that ended in 2004. Although no set plans have been made yet, a celebration will mark the name change on Sept. 17. “We’ll have an afternoon program and try to engage as many in [the] community as we can,” said current Chancellor Mark Wrighton. “We feel that the
Danforths’ achievements are ones that allow us to focus on a higher purpose. And we want to focus the community on achieving a higher purpose.” In addition to shaping the University, Danforth helped Wrighton shape his career. “I came into this community not knowing anyone other than Dr. Danforth,” said Wrighton. “He has been a fabulous mentor…But he has also let me make my own mistakes while being extremely supportive of me and my wife. We’re very grateful that he remains a key component to the success of Washington University.” Danforth became involved with Washington University in 1951 as an instructor in the School of Medicine. After six years as vice chancellor for medical affairs, Danforth began his 24-year tenure as chancellor. “There have been a lot of memorable parts [of my involvement with Washington University],” said Danforth. “As chancellor, I got to interact with alumni, older alumni, the community, an extraordinarily bright and talented faculty, and the wonderful students. It’s the people that make the University. Of course I’ve enjoyed the beauty of the campus as well, but it’s the people that truly make this place.”
By Josh Hantz Associate Reporter Most students seemed to be at Bon Appétit’s Food Forum at Ursa’s last night for the free food. But many also voiced their concerns regarding everything from a lack of whole grain foods to dry sesame chicken in Mallinckrodt. It was all part of Dining Services’ initiative to get students more involved with their food options around campus. “We want to give students the opportunity to tell us what’s working and what’s not working,” said Marilyn Pollack, director of Dining Services. “We want them to get to know the managers and chefs face-to-face and for them to tell us anything they want.” The forum drew a crowd of around 30 students to a meal featuring Caesar salad, grilled chicken, Israeli couscous and ravioli. Pollack, after a brief introduction, opened the floor to a question-and-answer session where students could talk to her and many other campus authorities, including managers, chefs and the school nutritionist. Many students felt their questions were taken seriously but remained unsure as to how they will be handled. “They [did] a good job of having a good dialogue and an-
swering questions,” sophomore Kellen Hoxworth said. “I’m skeptical if they will change things though.” Others, like sophomore Amelia Einbender, feel more optimistic that their concerns will have an impact. “They have made changes in the past, so maybe they will again,” she said. Dining Services held a similar event last week in the Village, which drew a similar crowd. “There were a lot of good questions,” said Paul Schimmele of Dining Services. “Students also seemed to generally like the Asian concept [in Mallinckrodt].” A common concern raised by students is that many popular items are offered in one location but not another, though Pollack said that this division had been created intentionally. “We like every venue to have a different feel,” she said. “But trends change and attitudes change so we always look out for that. If something’s not popular, we’re not [going] keep it out there.” Schimmele added that the most recent significant change has been adding crepes and chocolate bars to the Ursa’s Café menu. Environmental concerns have been another focus of Dining
Services’ efforts. Recent reforms have sought an environmentally sustainable approach to the business of supplying food. Dining Services is considering a shift towards biodegradable options for disposable items. Pollack said that Dining Services is open to all student suggestions. “If you e-mail Dining Services, you will get a response,” Pollack said. “I don’t think we would be where we are right now without students’ input. If we hear a complaint, we take it to heart and we really appreciate honesty.” In order to solicit feedback from students, Dining Services plans on hosting a similar forum event every semester. One goal is to implement more frequent and intimate focus groups for constant feedback. “We can’t make everybody happy every day,” said Schimmele. “But most students have reasonable questions that we try to deal with.” Dining Services does not anticipate major changes in the future until the University Center opens, when it plans to open a bistro concept that also serves alcohol. Pollack says the feel of the place will be different than current on-campus options but will still feature Asian food, pizza and TexMex.
WU history lesson LeaderShape retreat open to all — The mighty Bears — By Candace Fletcher Lock and Chain Honorary Athletics caught on slowly at Washington University, beginning with baseball in 1867, which was followed closely by football in 1870. In the 1900s we saw the development of hockey, track and crew teams. In 1911, the women founded an athletic association. During this time, there was a football craze, and the Bears played top teams including Notre Dame, Duquesne, and the Army. Back then, people regularly attended the games. In 1933, 63,422 people attended Washington
University’s home games. Unfortunately, in 1946, Chancellor Arthur Compton decided to embrace amateur athletics, to the dismay of alumni fans who yearned for the excitement they once knew. Eventually, the school settled into its NCAA Division III status. Although a Division III school, the University is still the home of phenomenal athletics. The Bears have won 12 NCAA Championships, including eight for women’s volleyball, and four for women’s basketball. Furthermore, the Bears have earned 106 UAA titles, and have had over 100 NCAA tournament team appearances.
By Margy Levinson Contributing Reporter For the fi rst time, the LeaderShape program, a five to six day leadership skills retreat, is now open to all undergraduate Washington University students not graduating in 2006. Until this year, the program was available exclusively through the School of Engineering, but now it is being offered through the Office of Student Activities (OSA). “The reason that the Engineering School had it is because they were the ones who found out about it, wanted it, got the
grant for it, etc.,” said Marci Colb, who coordinates student involvement. “So there’s no real reason why it was in the Engineering School, which is why it’s been opened up.” Colb expects the application process to become more competitive because more students are expected to apply, but the number of spaces will remain at 60, half of which are reserved for engineering students. “In the past, I think the highest attendence rate was 42, and that was last year...So what that means, by opening it up, we have the ability to fi ll those extra 20 spots,” said Colb. “We’ve
done a lot more marketing and a lot more outreach than in the past…We have over 60 people who have started applications… so our assumption is that we’ll have more than 60.” The initial uncertainty surrounding the change occurred because the program is partially funded by the Watts Scholarship, which is given exclusively to engineering students. Since the switch to OSA, some engineers were confused about whether the scholarship would still apply to the $100 program fee.
See LEADERSHAPE, page 7
presents a guide to places of worship in the WU community
Religious Directory For advertising information, call (314) 935-6713 or email advertising@studlife.com
LLyWELyN’S PUB Tuesday Night, College ID Night Specials from 9 to close Wednesday Night, Karaoke in the Loft 10 to close
Let the Spirit move you
…to the Catholic Student Center’s new Mass location
During construction in the Catholic Student Center Chapel and Center (March thru December 2006) our 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. Sunday Masses will be held in the Chapel at Fontbonne University, across Wydown from the South 40.
After all, Mass should be a moving experience!
4747 McPherson Ave 361-3003
Ash Wednesday – March 1 7:30 a.m., Carlysle Center, St. Louis College of Pharmacy 12:15 p.m. Umrath Lounge, Hilltop campus 5:15 p.m., Fontbonne, Doerr Chapel in Ryan Hall, (visit www.washucsc.org for a map)
AFFIRMING HUMAN WORTH Catholic Student Center ...a “home away from home” to study, relax and pray... Everyone is welcome!
Sunday Mass: 11am & 9pm 6352 Forsyth • 935-9191 www.washucsc.org
Learning, Loving, Living in the Spirit of Christ
www.lcmstl.org Lutheran Campus Ministry
LCM
7019 Forsyth Blvd St. Louis, MO 63105 863.8140 lcm@restech.wustl.edu
The Ethical Society is a community of people united in the belief that an ethical life creates a more just, loving and sustainable world for all. Join us on Sunday mornings for the 9:45 Forum and 11:00 Platform Address. Children's Sunday School meets 10am-noon Ethical Society of St. Louis (1/4 mile west of the Galleria) 9001 Clayton Rd. (314) 991-0955 www.ethicalstl.org
Historic Church Living Mission Sunday Bible Study 9:30am Worship 10:40am Third Baptist Church 620 N. Grand Blvd. www.third-baptist.org (314) 369-3238 Call for transportation or info!
GRACE CHURCH UNITED METHODIST
Shabbat at Hillel
AND
Fridays, 5:45 p.m. - Services
WESLEY STUDENT CENTER
(Reform, Conservative & Orthodox)
Skinker at Waterman
Worship in Chapel, 8:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship, 9:30 Classes for all ages, 9:30 Coffee and Donuts, 10:30 Worship in Sanctuary, 11:00
Van service from Shepley Drive at the Clock Tower, 9:10 & 10:40 (314) 863 - 1992 www.graceumc-stl.org
6:45 p.m. - Kosher Dinner Cost: $9.75 points or cash $8.75 pts or cash on Kosher meal plan $11.75 pts or cash after deadline or for walk in RSVP Required by Noon each Wednesday to Bon Appetit at 314-935-7098 or at http://diningservices.wustl.edu/ mealplans_kosher.shtml 6300 Forsyth Blvd. (314) 935-9040 hillel@restech.wustl.edu www.stlouishillel.org
Senior News Editors / Kristin McGrath and Liz Neukirch / news@studlife.com
FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 24, 2006
SATURDAY, FEB. 25
Pulse Compiled by: Natalie Wolfson
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IMPROV v FROM PAGE 1
Mardra Thomas Tribute to Billie Holiday Jazz singer Mardra Thomas sings the music made famous by Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Peggy Lee, Nancy Wilson and Natalie Cole. An excellent opportunity to check out the Sheldon Concert Hall, touted as one of the best concert venues in St. Louis. Also, poke your head into the Sheldon’s art galleries, whose current exhibits include “Jazz Moves: Photography by Anthony Barboza” and “Fragments,” featuring a collection of foundobject works by St. Louis-based sculptor Paula Lincoln. The Sheldon Concert Hall 3648 Washington Boulevard 11 a.m., $8
FRIDAY, FEB. 24 Art in Bloom at the Saint Louis Art Museum Not only is the Saint Louis Art Museum open late (until 9 p.m.) and free today, as it is every (Ford Free) Friday, but it’s the opening of SLAM’s annual Art in Bloom. This “Festival of Art and Flowers” features flower arrangements inspired by works of art on display at the museum. Events include a Floral Arranging Demonstration by local floral designers (at 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.), docent-led tours, and lectures, in addition to other events that will be taking place all weekend. And if you’re stopping by after 5, head down to the Sculpture Hall for Art After 5, to enjoy cocktails and live music. The Saint Louis Art Museum Forest Park Through Sunday, Feb. 26 Free
Mardi Gras Grab some beads and head out to Soulard this Saturday for Mardi Gras! The parade is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Concerts include Mini Kiss (a Kiss cover band composed of little people) at Pontiac Stage (at 9th and Shenandoah) and Deep Six at GMC Stage (at 12th and Gravois) from 6:30-7:30 p.m. To avoid the hassle of parking downtown, take one of the buses sponsored by the Campus Programming Council (CPC). Buses will run continuously from the B-School between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday. $3 for a one-way ticket, $5 for unlimited rides. One guest is allowed per University ID. Or take the MetroLink from the Loop to the Civic Center Stop (14th and Spruce) at the Savvis Center. From there it’s an easy walk to the festivities (since it should be a nice day). You can also hop on the MetroBus Shuttle ($5) that will be running back and forth until midnight. Check out www.mardigrasinc.com for details.
SUNDAY, FEB. 26
The Vagina Monologues Come out and support Wash. U. students and a worthy cause at the annual performance of Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues. All profits benefit Lydia’s House, a St. Louis organization providing transitional housing to victims of domestic violence and their families. Graham Chapel Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets available through Edison Box Office $8 for students, $10 general admission Indie Rock Show: Of Montreal If you haven’t made it to any of the KWUR Week happenings, hit up its final event, an indie rock show featuring Of Montreal in the Gargoyle. Local band Maxtone Four will open. The Gargoyle Doors open at 8 p.m. $10. Free with University ID
STUDENT LIFE | NEWS
Boeing Space Station Experience “This is a self-guided tour through an almost-reallive space station” (The Riverfront Times) Almostreal-live? Who could pass that up? Saint Louis Science Center Planetarium 5050 Oakland Ave. Sundays at 11:45 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:15 p.m. $4 for students, $5 general admission Innocence Part of the Webster University Film Series, Lucile Hadzihalilovic’s “Innocence” (2004) “luxuriates in the fantastic worlds of children’s fiction, like a Henry Darger painting come to life.” Set in a subterranean boarding school, “Innocence” succeeds in portraying a child’s-eye view of real life through Hadzihalilovic’s moving allegory. In French, with English subtitles. 115 minutes. Call 314-968-7467, or visit www.webster.edu/ filmseries/current.html for more details. Moore Auditorium 470 E. Lockwood 7 p.m. $5 for students, $6 general admission
Look back. Look forward. Look out.
The countdown begins March 30.
COURTESY OF SECOND CITY
Matthew Craig, center, is a University alumnus and an improv comic who performs at Second City in Chicago. while many other aspiring Second City actors were struggling. After training and working in small shows, Craig came to a crossroads. “It was 1998, I was year past my deadline and I decided I had to figure out how to solely live off this,” Craig said. “I auditioned all over the world. I knew I had to shake it up if I wanted to make money.” Shake it up he did. Craig turned to the wonderful world of Disney—Disney Cruise Lines, to be specific. The company wanted to put on comedy revues on its ships. He performed six shows a night for six months. It was the break he needed. He joined the cast of the Brave New Workshop, a well-known improv group based in Minneapolis, where he worked for two years and wrote five shows. After a brief stint in a Second City touring company, Craig returned to the Brave New Workshop to write and perform in that troupe’s first two-person show since Al Franken and Tom Davis performed one in the 1970s. “That was a big coup,” said Craig. In December 2003, Craig began performing on the Second City e.t.c. stage, which does edgier comedy catered to hip crowds. Two years later, in April 2005, he was promoted to the main stage. Anatomy of a Second City show The cast members begin rehearsals for each revue eight to 10 weeks before opening, writing and practicing during the day while continuing to perform in the old show at night. In fact, the main stage never closes. Slowly, new material will begin to replace sketches from the old revue until there’s enough new material to debut another show. “The show that you’re going to see is very much an amalgam of us writing and contributing to the scenes. Some of the scenes we wrote together, some we wrote specifically for each other, some were improvised and morphed into something. It’s an interesting process,” said Craig. It’s also highly collaborative. “We all give each other jokes. Once you get here and write the show, we all the want the best possible product,” said Craig. “If you’re in a two-person scene with another person, I might say, ‘Try this line.’”
Before each show, Craig warms up by listening to two or three songs to get him in the right kind of mood, and then stretches. “You do run around a lot,” he said. “Even if you’re not on stage, you’re moving, maybe getting your guitar or setting up a prop.” On this night, the cast is performing “Iraqtile Dysfunction,” Second City’s 92nd revue and Craig’s second. The revue, which is performed on a bare-bones set, starts off with a musical number in which he plays a preacher who claims “the Lord is angry at the world.” “Can I get an ‘amen’?” he asks the crowd. “Amen.” “Now can I get an ‘amen’ backward with the ‘n’ changed to an ‘f’?” (In case you didn’t guess, that spells “FEMA.”) But Craig, who describes himself as “the white, male, heterosexual member” of the cast, often plays the straight man throughout many of the skits. In one, he plays a sportscaster interviewing a baseball player on steroids. (The ballplayer is such a prolific hitter that he can think a ball out of the park.) In another, he plays an applicant to a seminary who is interviewed to see if he’s gay. “Let’s play word association,” says the interviewer, a priest. “Answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to each word.” “Beach.” “Yes.” “Cake.” “Yes.” “Christmas.” “Yes.” “Banana” “No.” “I’ve been pigeonholed very much as the straight man at this theatre,” Craig said after the show. “What’s weird is that in Minneapolis I was the Chris Farley. I was the goofy guy. And I got hired here, I think, because of it. But a lot of it has to do with who you’re working with in the ensemble.” Still, he does have his goofy moments. While doing a President Bush impersonation, he tells Condoleezza Rice: “I need to know two things. One, can it be done? And two, is it feasible?” “I like wordplay. I like well-
constructed sentences,” he said. “I like catching people off guard. I strive to do slightly smarter, highbrow well-informed comedy. I went to Washington University, where I was lucky to get a great education and, I’d like to think, a slightly higher-brow perspective.” He added: “I like saying lines that 20 people in the crowd may laugh at. Not necessarily lines that all 350 people will laugh at.” Joe Montana’s coming It’s 10 p.m., and the show may be finished, but Craig’s night is far from over. He will have to perform another show at 11 p.m.—which typically features a rowdier crowd—and do a “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” style improv set at 1 a.m. Backstage, Craig’s fellow cast members, who are gracious and seem genuinely appreciative that someone is taking an interest in them, are relaxing. The backstage area is small, with little privacy, and each member has a little cubby. The Winter Olympics are playing on a small color television. At one end, Brian Gallivan, a handsome, lanky performer, is looking over some reading material. “I’m going over some scripts,” he says tongue-in-cheek, flipping over the page to reveal the cover of People. Second City’s main cast has performed in the same space since 1964, and as you walk around the theatre, an eerie sense comes over you as realize some of comedy’s greatest performers have stalked the same space you have. Craig makes his way to the e.t.c. stage, where his wife Rebecca performs. They have been married since September. “How did the show go?” he asks, kissing her on the cheek. “We got a standing ovation.” “We got half of one,” he says. He tells his wife that football great Joe Montana is attending the 11 p.m. show. One of the skits in “Iraqtile Dysfunction” involves a game of catch with a football. “I told Brian you can’t limpwrist the ball if Joe Montana is going to be in the audience,” he says.
The Alumni Association commemorates the “Final 50” days on campus of the Class of 2006! Beginning with “Class of 2006 Roast and Toast,” on March 30 (mark your calendar and watch for more details!) details!), we hope to make your last 50 days as undergrads, your best 50 days as undergrads. Too Busy To Count? Don’t worry, we’ll track every day from 50 down to 1. Nominate a friend for the honor of flipping the daily number on the huge “Countdown to Commencement” board in Bowles Plaza. Honor someone on their birthday or because they’ve been a great roommate, group leader, or friend...we’ll make it a memorable moment for you and them. NOTE: Nomination deadline is (midnight on) MARCH 4. Want to Look Back, Too? Add your favorite WashU photo to the countdown board or the online version at finalfifty.wustl.edu finalfifty.wustl.edu. And, won’t it be cool to have all of these to look back on one day in the future? Learn More! Visit finalfifty.wustl.edu to learn about the “Final 50” and alumni benefits you can use right now now.
Because this isn’t just a four year deal.
For more information please call the Army ROTC Department at 314-935-5521, 5537 or 5546. You may also visit our web-site at rotc.wustl.edu
4 STUDENT LIFE | SCENE
Senior Scene Editor / Sarah Baicker / scene@studlife.com
FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 24, 2006
SCENE STRIP CLUB
Postcard from Abroad: By Rachel Harris Writer at Large FLYING OUT: Coming to Florence was my first time ever being out of the country, so I was pretty excited for my first trans-Atlantic flight. Most of the passengers went to sleep, snoring through the duration of the flight, but I couldn’t sleep at all. Seeing the sun come up over the ocean was one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen thus far, and totally worth making an enemy of the flight attendant, who kept running back to scold me in Italian for opening my window. We landed first in Milan. The airport was actually an upscale shopping mall that had strategically disguised itself by building a runway next to the parking lot. I was wearing (as I often do, for travel, bedtime, and life in general) dinosaur pajama pants, and felt rather ridiculous walking past every famous designer label Italy has to offer. MOVING IN: Soon after, I had landed in Florence and took a taxi to my new home. I live with Vanna, a vivacious Italian woman (and chef-extraordinaire) in her mid-fifties who works in a beauty salon, and doesn’t speak a word of English.
There are three other students living in the house. My roommate, Francesca, is a student at a small women’s college in Raleigh. She is nice and very bouncy, always jumping in bed with a hop-kick combination she learned in synchronized swimming. The two other girls are from Brazil and Mexico, and speak English very well—but at dinner, everyone speaks Italian. CLASS: Wash. U. rents a studio a few minutes outside the center of the city, and sometimes we work or have lectures there—but much of the time is spent on-site, drawing in museums and churches, or learning art history in a Medici palace. The art and architecture here is unlike anything in the United States—maybe even most of the world. There is a condition in Florence named after some guy who collapsed after seeing the sculptures outside the Uffizi—he was so overcome by beauty. I didn’t collapse after seeing the piazza, but sadly, my umbrella did—a rather unfortunate death, as the weather here has been rather dismal. NIGHT LIFE: Suffice it to say, I was not prepared for my first European disco-
Ita l y
theque experience. Italians are aggressive to a sometimes terrifying and always hilarious degree. There are always tons of things going on every night—my personal favorite is the Odeon, a theater that plays films in English three times a week. The theater is over 500 years old—complete with a domed, painted ceiling, and two balcony levels. THE FOOD: The dinners are amazing— better than eating at most restaurants. The food in Italy is always fresh, and the fruits and vegetables are particularly amazing. Vanna doesn’t even own a microwave in her home. Dinners are tons of fun—especially when Vanna’s hilarious boyfriend, Fabrizio, comes over. Sometimes it is hard to understand what is being said, but even though humor is at times lost in translation, it is just as often intensified. Mostly we joke about Francesca’s three boyfriends, a non-existent trio formed when she accidentally said she had spent the previous night with il mio ragazzo (my boyfriend) instead of mie amiche (a group of girls). I laugh harder than anyone when Vanna jokes about her adventures with boys, because no one else knows about Francesca’s girlfriend at home.
PROTEST v FROM PAGE 1 take students to the conference. They plan to join with the larger St. Louis community and rally across the street from the church that is hosting the conference. Matt Adler, a sophomore involved in organizing the activities, explains what students will be doing at the rally. “It will be more along the lines of a vigil; it’s not going to be a shouting demonstration,” said Adler. “It’s a message of love. We’re not going to be yelling. We want to show what we stand for, and that ok, so my subs really aren't gourmet and we're not french either. my subs just taste we accept gays the way a little better, that's all! I wanted to they are.”
yourself, and that can happen in many different ways—through discussions with supportive friends and family, by doing reading written by experts and people that are backed by good kinds of research,” said Brounk. “Also, that’s one reason why Mental Health Services is on campus—to help students in a way that isn’t homophobic.” Following the teach-in, buses will be leaving from the clocktower to
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Adler reflected on what he and the other activists want to communicate through the teach-in and rally. “We want to inform people that gays have a right to be free from harassment,” said Adler. “We all deserve to be loved. What I’d like to do with the teach-in is to inform people what the ex-gay movement is, and with the rally, to give students the chance to take a stand for gay rights, for human rights, and to show that we’re not going to sit idly by while people are harming others.” The teach-in will take place from 33:45 p.m. at Ursa’s this Saturday, and buses for the rally will depart from the clocktower directly thereafter.
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Senior Forum Editor / Molly Antos / forum@studlife.com
FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 24, 2006
FORUM
STUDENT LIFE | FORUM
5
Our daily Forum editors: Monday: Jeff Stepp jsstepp@wustl.edu
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STAFF EDITORIAL
EnBeaver a favorable addition to campus statuary O
n Monday morning, Washington University students sleepily wandered onto main campus to discover something which may have caused some to question whether they had actually slept off their hangovers. Was that a beaver? Made of duct tape? Confronting the Bunny himself? Indeed it was, because this week is EnWeek, the annual holiday when engineers emerge from their hole on the northeast side
of campus and if they see their shadows, then there will be six more weeks of winter (or something like that). The engineers have held activities for the entire past week to mark this worldwide holiday—but the most notable activity by far has been the epic conflict brewing outside Mallinckrodt. The giant silver beaver, with a tattoo begging people to sign him, has not only served as a pleasant diversion on campus all week, but also a demonstration
of the lighter side of engineering (who knew?). As silly as it may sound, the beaver is something rare on campus: an original idea, executed well with a lack of controversy (editor Dan Milstein’s remarks about beavers in Wednesday’s Forum notwithstanding). The engineers deserve credit for doing something different and clever without being destructive or obnoxious—a surprisingly fine line for many people (especially college students) to walk. The original idea of encas-
Op-ed Submission
A
s I sat in the hospital waiting to begin my last bout of radiation treatment, I had no idea that this strange disease would someday connect me to an ever-growing chain of people around the world. I had no idea of the direction in which I was headed; years later I found a clue. I met Courtney in the final months of her two-year battle with leukemia, which involved a month-long, drug-induced coma, multiple organ failure, including her kidneys and liver, and a nearcomplete loss of motor skills. We immediately bonded, sharing stories of ways we had tried to sneak out of the hospital in the middle of the night, tricks we’d played on the nurses, and in general, how rotten it was to be stuck in the hospital for any extended period of time. Courtney once told me a story that I will never forget. One night in the hospital, she had a dream that God came to her and asked her a simple question—of all the places in this world, great or small, far or near, what was her single favorite place in the world? She paused for a while, but thought, how could she respond, being so young and having seen so little of the world? She was not ready to answer the question. When she awoke, she promised herself she would travel the world so she may one day feel sure of a response. Courtney’s struggle with cancer continued for many more months. Today she is in her fourth year of pediatric oncology nursing school, studying
abroad in Tanzania. Courtney is not the only survivor I’ve met in the hospital, but her story has always stuck with me. I’m so sorry that Courtney’s miracle is not a guarantee for all cancer patients. This winter my uncle was diagnosed with an inoperable, malignant brain tumor. He will share no part in Courtney’s miracle. It’s time for a cure. Cancer accounts for one of every four deaths in the United States—over 1,500 people each day. What may be even more shocking is that one in two men and one in three women will develop cancer within their lifetime (w w w. cancer.org); this means that we ALL are affected. There is good news though: new research has dramatically shifted survival rates, and for the first time since 1930, the number of deaths due to cancer in the U.S. has decreased (w w w.cnn.com). The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life is the largest non-profit fundraising event in the world, and our Washington University event is the No. 1 university Relay For Life in the country! Maybe we can’t be No. 1 for academics, sports, or price tag (though we’re close), but we’re certainly No. 1 for fighting cancer. Please join us on March 4 to Relay For Life. We all have a reason to Relay—whether it’s someone in your family, someone you know, or even someone you’ve heard about. I Relay for Courtney. I Relay for my uncle. For whom do you Relay?
“I’m so sorry that Courtney’s miracle is not a guarantee for all cancer patients. This winter my uncle was diagnosed with an inoperable, malignant brain tumor. He will share no part in Courtney’s miracle.”
Matt is a junior in Arts & Sciences and a co-chair for Relay for Life at Washington University. He can be reached via e-mail at mszinter@wustl.edu.
the past five years. As great as our anorexic bunny, our bronze statue of the University’s namesake too small for its base and our random cement shapes are, a duct-tape beaver is definitely more entertaining. So congratulations to those in charge of EnWeek for amusing the rest of campus and reminding us all that no matter what our U.S. News and World Report ranking is, we’re still No. 1 in the nation in the category that matters: ridiculous public sculptures.
JOHNNY CHANG | EDITORIAL CARTOON
Why I Relay By Matt Zinter
lair of everyone’s favorite pensive mammal to note the ongoing psychosexual drama; it’s well worth the walk. All this drama has gotten us thinking—perhaps the University should consider consulting the engineering school the next time they’re considering adding a new sculpture to campus. Even though a duct tape beaver may not be much, it’s certainly an improvement over any of the new sculptures the University has purchased or borrowed in
ing the Bunny itself inside the duct tape beaver was also clever, but the ongoing face-off that’s taken place all week has made for compelling campus viewing, fraught with more drama than “24” and more sexual tension than spring break in Cancun. Over the weekend, the Bunny will doubtless emerge victorious (as he always does), but the Beav can take solace in the quality of the fight he’s put up over the course of the week. If you haven’t seen it yet, make sure to stop by the
The problem with (too many) people
T
here are too many sleep under. people. This isn’t The Population Referjust my personal ence Bureau, an indepenrumination on how dent group that tabulates the lines are too long every population figures as well time I go to an amusement as other markers of human park, or about the crowd existence, reports that as that hits Bear’s Den every of 2005 there were 6.47 night during the billion human beings dinner rush. This spread across the is about there globe. Furthermore, being such a high world population is volume of people expected to rise to that we are liter7.95 billion by 2025. ally choking ourTo prevent the meanselves to death. ing of these numbers Across the from being lost, let world we see nupose a hypothetiJoshua Trein us merous instances cal: understanding of those trapped that the current in, what an understated human population is too observer might term, less large to provide for everythan optimal conditions. one alive, how many people Millions of people still would we be able to prostarve to death, and those vide with a relatively high that live get to deal with standard of living, providan environment polluted to ed we concentrated all our provide material comfort resources? David Pimental, to the richest nations. For an ecologist at Cornell Unitoo many, there are few opversity, researched this exportunities to have a meal act question back in 1994. every day and a roof to The estimate he came up
with? Less than 2 billion individuals spread across the entire world. This a obscenely low figure, considering we already have more than 4 billion on top of that and are continually adding to it. In terms of public policy, of course, this renders all discussion of population control moot. There is no way we will ever return to such a low population figure. But why is this the way it has to be? Everyone has a theory about why the world is in this state. I see that while we can support our population’s ability to expand, we cannot support the crushingly large volume of individuals that
this growth creates. The moral reasoning behind this idea is discussed at some length in Daniel Quinn’s “Ishmael.” In talking about how American culture explains away this problem, one character plays devil’s advocate and notes that “[o]nly one thing can save us. We have to increase our mastery of the world. All this damage has come about through our conquest of the world, but we have to go on conquering it until our rule is absolute. Then, when we’re in complete control, everything will be
“An unshakeable faith remains in the potential of science and a burgeoning moral sense to fix all the problems we create with the stopgap solutions we currently employ.”
See PEOPLE, page 6
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6 STUDENT LIFE | FORUM
Senior Forum Editor / Molly Antos / forum@studlife.com
FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 24, 2006
Look both ways before you cross the pond By Sarah Kliff Writer at Large
T
his column is for the sophomores, who, among the difficulties of declaring majors, finding roommates, apartment hunting and taking a test or two in between all of that, still have another important question on their mind—do I study abroad? There are plenty of good reasons to study abroad— make sure you have one before signing up. Taking five months out of your time at Washington University is a double-edged sword. While you gain a new perspective from spending a semester abroad, you also lose a semester spent in a place you now probably call home. Look through the rearview mirror at what you will leave behind. There is a whole wide world out there to explore while studying abroad; there’s an equally important world right on campus that you have spent the past two years shaping and building. Look both ways before you cross the pond. According to my training as a Wash. U. tour guide, about a quarter of students do decide to take the plunge. Why and where should you go? In the search for answers, you can spend hours surfing study abroad Web sites, make daily stops by the Sty x house to check
out brochures, and attend endless information sessions. You will hear students tell you they had the absolute time of their life studying abroad; in fact, it fundamentally shaped their college experience. You may hear from those who nostalgically recall their “semester-long study break,” a magical land that combines an over-18 drinking age and pass/fail classes. You probably will not hear from the students who characterize their semester as a downright miserable time. They tend not to frequent the information sessions. These things help; you will learn where you can study abroad through your major, how to go about getting a passport, and how to survive culture shock. But unfortunately, you will not find out whether or not you should be going abroad in the first place. I searched for this information one year ago, another intrepid sophomore on the fence, deciding between St. Louis or Scotland. I knew I had a five-month semester ahead of me, four roommates already set on their destinations and one big decision. I laid my cards on the table: this was a unique opportunity. I always love a new adventure. My entire class seemed to be fleeing the campus for new cultures. I decided to do the same. I did not know how much I would miss the culture I had left behind. I did not know how much I
loved my life at Wash. U. until I was somewhat stranded in Scotland, divided by one big ocean and one big time difference from the campus I would love to call home. I have friends who are having fabulous times abroad, enjoying an experience that they simply could not have had in St. Louis. I have other friends calling me crying at least once a week, complaining about an awful experience and counting down the days until they can return to St. Louis. I find myself somewhere in between the two, enjoying this unique chance to become integrated into European culture but also missing my life in St. Louis. Some days I call home enthralled with a weekend exploring the Scottish countryside; other times I cannot stand being 10,000 miles away from everything that I left. I gained a new perspective; I lost a solid foundation. There is a reason you are at Washington University, and hopefully it’s not because you were deferred from Harvard. Put aside the parents, SAT scores and the loads of flyers that Wash. U. uses to flood your mailbox. Out of the thousands of universities that you could have attended, you decided to spend four years of your life here. For two years you have been finding your group, pursuing your interests, and, most basically, making main campus home.
The Sex Issue has reached a new low By David Bauman Op-ed Submission
S
tudent Life’s Sex Issue shows that the editors and writers have hit a new low in “journalism.” I’m sure the idea of having four articles and a three-fourths page spread on how to perform oral sex must have made everyone giggle like 12-year-olds when it was discussed in the preliminary meetings. And just like 14-year-old boys drooling over a dirty magazine, the editors published it. I found the issue degrading, juvenile and uninformed about sex in 2006. Almost every page degraded male and female students who I hope are not just hormonedriven automatons, but rather people with dignity who want to be treated with respect. Most articles focused on genitals, which is what sex is to a silly kid. Some space should have been used to explain that sex is to be valued and enjoyed in a committed relationship that minimizes the dangers facing sexually active people today. With the “sex without responsibility” lifestyle promoted by Student Life, is it any wonder sexually transmitted diseases and their costs continue to climb? The University’s Sex Week and other attempts to preach “safe sex” don’t work when attitudes toward sex doesn’t change. Student Life and Sex Week may be contributing to a false security about sex. If condoms, dental dams, and information campaigns actually worked, the number of STD cases and the costs of treating them would be going down rather than up. But they aren’t. According to a 2004 Center for Disease Control report on STDs in the U.S., STD cases increased in the U.S. at a rate of 19 million new cases per year, with almost half of those infected between the ages of 15-19. Another surprising fact is that the cost of these diseases to the economy is estimated at $13 billion a year (we could use that money to build a lot of schools). Meanwhile, Student Life is showing how to make these numbers go higher. Here are some more estimates that Student Life didn’t report in the “sex” issue. It is estimated that 1.37 million abortions are performed each year in the U.S. (Minor details. Look at our centerfold!)
In 2004, 929,462 chlamydia infections were reported in the U.S., though the estimated number is 2.8 million. Forty percent of women with untreated chlamydia develop pelvic inflammatory disease, and 20 percent will become infertile. The impact on women is much more severe than its impact on men. (Let’s talk about the walk of shame!) Drug resistance is on the rise for gonorrhea, and the CDC has recommended some antibiotics not be used to treat it. People with gonorrhea are three to five times more likely to get HIV. (Who cares! Have more oral sex!) In a ranking of 25 U.S. cities, St. Louis ranked fi fth in the rate of reported syphilis cases. (Including Wash. U.?) From 2000 to 2003, males accounted for 72 percent of HIV/ AIDS cases, and overall cases increased in the 15-24 age group. (Whoops!) Cumulatively through 2003, 902,223 people in the U.S. have been reported as having AIDS—401,392 of these infections were transmitted male to male (excluding IV drug users), and 111,147 were transmitted heterosexually (including IV drug users). (Look at the cartoons!) The estimated number of U.S. deaths from HIV/AIDS through 2003 is 524,060. (Dental dam?) Student Life is doing the student body a disservice by promoting sex as a solely genital experience that requires little thinking, no relationship and no commitment. All you need to know is how to tie up your partner and where to lick. But the risks are too high. Having sex in 2006 should be practiced only in a committed and safe relationship, and if not, the numbers will most likely continue to climb. I’m sure the Sex Issue was fun to put together and the some of the staff felt giddy as it rolled off the presses, but it wasn’t worth it. If the Sex Issue is any indicator, Student Life is a poor representative for the students and faculty of Washington University. Whether the Student Life staff recognizes it or not, they represent all students, faculty and administration to the outside world. This is a wellrespected school and it deserves a well-respected newspaper.
“Most articles focused on genitals, which is what sex is to a silly kid. Some space should have been used to explain that sex is to be valued and enjoyed in a committed relationship that minimizes the dangers facing sexually active people today.”
David is a graduate student in philosophy. He can be reached via e-mail at dcbauman@wustl.edu.
TEMU BROWN | STUDENT LIFE
Do not leave that foundation without a quite compelling reason to do so. There is indeed an entire whole world to explore but also an entire lifetime to do it in. Want to start exploring after graduation?
Where there is a Wash. U. student and a will, there is most definitely a way. Study abroad is by no means your only chance to experience life in another culture. You have just one shot at Wash. U.
Sarah Kliff is a junior in Arts & Sciences, currently studying at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. She can be reached via e-mail at sarahkliff@wustl.edu.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
EnBeaver and engineers’ mythical tails explained Dear Editor: While I sadly lack a tail (though monkey tails would be far superior to beaver tails), I cannot respond as to the tailed or tail-less state of other engineers. However, there is a more clear explanation for the use of a beaver as the mascot of EnWeek this year (and honestly, it does make more sense than the flamingos). The beaver is a standard symbol of engineering, and also the mascot of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences publication EnSequitor (available for pickup in the CEC and near Lopata 324). Of course, Norman “The Burninator” Bernoulli does appreciate all of the attention received from StudLife, as EnCouncil appreciates the coverage that you’ve given EnWeek. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must go wash my webbed feet.
-Rachel Lee Class of 2008 EnCouncil Treasurer
Remember the EnBunny! Dear Daniel Milstein: You Wednesday humor column was pretty cute. But in case you really were wondering “why the @)(#%*@#()@)$ beaver!”, let me fill you in briefly. I guess the whole Google thing didn’t really work out for you—the engineering school’s mascot is a beaver. You can see him on their student newspaper’s Web site, www. ensequitor.com, and you can friend “Beavis the Beaver” on the Facebook. And now I realize you’re too young to remember the 2004 EnWeek. EnCouncil made a giant orange bunny (later dubbed the EnBunny) and strategically placed it in front of its cousin, the Mallinckrodt Bunny. This year they wanted to do something different, so they went with the duct taped beaver. Cause ya know, engineers + duct tape = duh. Also... engineers DO have tails, but they tuck them into their pants. P.S. That KWUR name drop was like too underground for me to handle. -Kara San Joaquin Class of 2007
WU scientists’ actions remind us not to confuse greatness with goodness Dear Editor: I read with interest in my recent Arts & Sciences newsletter about how Washington University enrolled 70 students fleeing from Hurricane Katrina; how a young math professor is working to improve scientific education in the schools and apply math and science to today’s urban problems; and how two students helped establish a camp for 16 Azeri teenagers in the former Soviet republic of Georgia. Then I read about Washington University’s recent recognition of six chemistry professors (four of whom had portraits painted) for their contributions to develop the atom bomb, which was used to destroy the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and was responsible for over 100,000 immediate deaths. It was a reminder that greatness and goodness must never be confused. -Mira Tanna Class of 1991
PEOPLE v FROM PAGE 5 fine.” It is not difficult to see the problem with this idealization. If we had even a smattering of control over our world community, why would so many groups believe that starvation is not a problem of too little food production, but of not getting that food to where it is most needed? We cannot even feed ourselves when we seemingly have the means, yet an unshakeable faith remains in the potential of science and a burgeoning moral sense to fix all the problems we create with the stopgap solutions we currently employ. This is not a philosophical problem, but, due to its scope, it seems be-
yond our ability to attack. The solutions to it are too drastic, unpalatable and impossible to enforce. I do not raise this point to end on some silly solution like mass population control or the like. I just wanted to point out that there is a problem—our cultural hunger for population expansion will eventually outstrip our ability to accommodate so many billions of people. Without noticing that the world from which we take our food, water, and excesses is diminishing in its ability to provide us with those very things, we will never figure out how to make sure that all the individuals alive at any one
time actually have a decent life. One might even say that this is not what we as a culture care about. We want our children, our fast food, and our iPods; we do not want to help others live a more humane existence at our own expense. It is sad to note that this selfishness reinforces my point that we are caught in a never-ending cycle of expansion. By benignly accepting the excesses of the lives we lead, we facilitate our current and future abuses of the planet. Joshua is a senior in Arts & Sciences and a Forum editor. He can be reached via e-mail at forum@studlife.com.
Senior Sports Editor / Justin Davidson / sports@studlife.com
FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 24, 2006
STUDENT LIFE | SPORTS
7
Lady Bears win ninth straight UAA title By Carrie Jarka Sports Reporter Although the women’s basketball team is ranked third in the nation, it was the fi rst team to clinch an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. With a win against Brandeis University last Friday, the Bears won their ninth straight University Athletic Association (UAA) title and received their 17th straight NCAA tournament bid. “Receiving the fi rst automatic bid was crucial,” said senior captain Katie Benson. “However, we have a great opportunity just like everyone else who will receive an automatic bid. We don’t consider ourselves special. We still play to win and put ourselves in the best possible position for tournament play.” Still, the success did not end at the hands of Brandeis. The Bears went on to defeat No. 20 New York University on Sunday—a feat that the team has not accomplished for several years—and move to 22-2 overall and 12-1 in the conference. On Friday, the Brandeis Judges gave the Bears a run for their mon-
ey, taking an early lead as the Bears missed 14 of their fi rst 17 shots. Still, the relentless Bears were able to rebound and take a 30-28 halftime lead before Brandeis battled back to tie the score 41-41 with 10 minutes remaining. But behind the leadership of senior captains Benson, Kelly Manning and Danielle Beehler, the Bears were able to pull ahead and take the victory 66-54. The team shot under 40 percent for the game, but Beehler led all scorers with 18 while Manning added 16 of her own. Freshman standout Shanna-Lei Dacanay, who has been coming on strong late in the season, added 11 points and four assists to the effort. “After the Brandeis game, we all went into the locker room like we had any other game,” said Beehler. “We all knew that we had won the conference, but there were still two teams yet to go. We really did not put that much emphasis on the Brandies game, but rather on closing out the conference play with three road wins. The championship was part of that goal, but we still need to fi nish strong heading into tournament play.”
With the win, the Bears snapped the Judges’ 16-game home winning streak. The Bears’ game against NYU, a perennial conference rival and the team’s main competition for a tournament bid, produced another bright moment this weekend. On Sunday, the Bears’ strong defense was able to hold the Violets to 27.4 percent shooting from the field. Led by Benson’s career-high 18 points and 10 rebounds, the Bears cruised to a 66-54 victory. “We wanted a little redemption from when they beat us on our home court,” said Beehler. “NYU really gets up for our games and we knew we needed to bring a higher level. People stepped up and we played really well together as a team.” The University lost to NYU on Jan. 20 in a close 63-61 battle. “This was the best team effort of the season,” said head coach Nancy Fahey. “So many different people stepped up for us today as we picked up a huge road win.” Beehler added 10 points and nine boards, while Dacanay added another 12 points. Junior Sarah Schell gathered fi ve assists to
move into sixth on the Bears’ alltime list with 297. “Beating NYU was a huge win for us,” said Benson, “It showed that we can win tough battles on the road at a crucial time in the season. It was a great way to get us prepared for the tournament, considering we may not have the chance to host.” The Bears will travel to Chicago this Saturday to wrap up the regular season. With bids still to be determined, the Bears are not resting on their accomplishments. “What is so special about this program is that you are taught what it takes to be successful when you are a freshman,” said Beehler, reflecting on her class’ four straight conference titles and tounament appearances. “You have people teaching you the Bear traditions. The successes come when you are playing your heart out for the girls standing next to you, when you risk everything not for a win, but so you know you gave everything you had for your teammates. Playing for each other is what makes a team great, and that is what the Wash. U. tradition is about. A banner is a bonus.”
No U.S. hockey miracles in Torino By Scott Kaufman-Ross Sports Reporter Feb. 22, 1980 is considered one of the most important dates in sports history. It was on that date that the world witnessed a true sports miracle. The United States Olympic hockey team, comprised of college students from Boston University and the University of Minnesota, stunned the heavily favored Soviets in Lake Placid and eventually won the gold medal. For America it was not just about hockey, but about so much more in a time when relations with the USSR were “on-ice” at best. Feb. 22, 2006. The United States Olympic hockey team, comprised of the best American professional hockey players around, lost in the fi rst round of the Quarterfi nals. The USA managed to compile a horrific 1-4-1 mark in the 2006 Olympic games, including a 33 tie to the high flying Latvia squad, and the sole win came against Kazakhstan, another perennial hockey power. Note the sarcasm in describing these teams as “high-flying” and “perennial.” They’re putrid.
Although no one thought a gold medal was possible from the Americans, some expectations of success still lingered after the team earned a silver medal in 2002. The team disappointed in a way no one could have imagined, leaving many Americans wondering how this could happen. The fi rst place to look is the American roster, and wonder if Atlanta Thrashers’ GM Don Waddell was really the right man to run Team USA. The next place to look is the goaltender. Team USA carried three goalies: Robert Esche, John Graham and Rick DiPietro. Using the goals against average (GAA) as the best barometer to measure goalies, these American goalies’ ranks in the NHL are 30, 14 and 35, respectively. Rick DiPietro ranks 35th in the NHL in GAA, and yet he is the starting guy between the pipes for the majority of the tournament? Before you look to grill Waddell, however, you have to ask yourself, “Who else is there?” The only American in the top 30 in GAA not on the roster is Ryan Miller of Buffalo, who has only played 29
games this season and 47 in his entire NHL career. Looking at offensive players, we can use points as the barometer to measure production. The highest American point scorer, Brian Rolston, ranks 16th in the NHL in total points. The next highest is Brian Gionta, who is tied for 28th overall in points scored. So perhaps the issue is not the poor selection of players, but rather poor American players. Is it possible that Americans, in general, are just not quality hockey players? As a nation with a rich and proud sports heritage, it is difficult to accept the fact that we might not excel at everything. Although Latino and Asian talent is rising, and is often superior, there is still a great crop of American baseball players. Americans still comprise most of the NFL and NBA, although foreign basketball players are becoming more commonplace. Americans have always enjoyed success in golf—see Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson—and in tennis, with play from Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras. That leaves hockey as the only
major sport played in America that truly lacks an American dominance. The failure of the U.S. hockey team may have pointed out the real reason NHL teams struggle to fi ll their arenas. Low attendance at NHL games in many cities caused a lot of teams to lose money in the past few years, prompting last year’s lockout. Perhaps the reason Americans don’t love hockey is because they just aren’t any good at hockey. Perhaps Americans cannot love a game in which they fail to excel and dominate other countries. Notwithstanding the deeper meaning behind hockey’s American popularity, the country will hope for the best when the 2010 Olympic games in Vancouver come around. Yet perhaps the expectations will be a bit lower that time around, as reality sets in concerning the quality of American hockey. This year’s poor team supports this theory, and makes the 2002 silver medal feat even more impressive. Furthermore, it confi rms that the 1980 victory over the red “CCCP” jerseys was, in fact, a miracle.
LEADERSHAPE v FROM PAGE 2 “I think there haven’t been problems, just a little bit of confusion about what’s been going on this year,” said senior Kelly O’Shea, an engineering student and past participant in the LeaderShape program. Colb elaborated on this, citing issues related to the scholarship. “There is a Watts Scholarship fund…we have 30 scholarships available for engineering students so these students don’t have to pay the $100 registration
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fee,” said Colb. Engineering students still have to submit a $100 security deposit, but it will be refunded after they participate in the program, so ultimately these students do not pay to attend the program. Since 1997, a group of Washington University students have participated in the LeaderShape program. “It was great. It was low stress where you got to go hang out with a whole bunch of engineers who
were all working [on a project],” said O’Shea. “I definitely got a lot of progress done on my project—and it was also just a great way to meet other people who were also interested in school activities.” O’Shea explained that every participant in LeaderShape has a project, whether it be working on engineering orientation or the Spark calendar (both past projects). Each day at the program has a theme, and that, along with the support
and help of others, helps students “take a vision and turn it into reality.” O’Shea explained that University students participated in a national program in 1996, but have been continuing with the current program since 1997. Applications for the retreat, which will be held May 1217 in Columbia, Ill., are due today by 5 p.m. -With additional reporting by Caroline Wekselbaum
JASON HUBERT | STUDENT LIFE
Senior Kelly Manning leaps for a shot as junior teammates Sarah Schell (left) and Rebecca Parker dash in for a rebound opportunity. Manning leads the women’s basketball team with an average of 17.9 points scored per game.
OLYMPICS v FROM PAGE 10 compete for judges is watching an entire team of beautiful Romanian gymnasts trying to out-do each other for the gold. 2. Athletes must get their daily exercise while competing. Look, I am U.S. curling skip Pete Fenson’s biggest fan. My suitemate gives me daily updates on the day’s happenings at TeamFenson. com’s forums. Curling is a strategic, exciting and complex game that requires a lot of skill. But let’s be serious here—it’s not an Olympic sport. Any sport in which “sweeping” is the most physically challenging aspect of the game is not worthy of its own medals. The same goes for sports with horse-riding and boats. An Olympic athlete shouldn’t rely on a horse in order to achieve greatness. I don’t want to hear about how changing wind conditions destroyed the chance for a gold medal. I want it to be abundantly clear that the best athletes in the world pushed their bodies to the limit for one chance at international glory. 3. Athletes cannot be over the age of 50. Anne Abernathy, better known as “Grandma Luge,” is an exceptional woman. At 52, when most women are pestering their kids about grandchildren (back off, Mom), she has the passion and drive to compete for an Olympic medal. The question is, should she be able to? If an athlete can compete so far past his or her physical peak, the sport clearly does not require enough athleticism from its athletes to be worthy of an Olympic medal. It’s a great story, but it’s not one that should be told in an Olympic setting. 4. The sport’s most elite player cannot have a nick-
name that couples an adjective with produce. Redheaded Shaun White is an amazing snowboarder. The guy wins events as frequently as the New York Knicks manage to make mind-boggling trades, and he is truly an athlete at the pinnacle of his sport. My problem, friends, is the nickname: “The Flying Tomato.” When I think about Olympic nicknames, I come up with “Flo-Jo” and “The Dream Team.” I’m sure Mr. White would have a lot to say to me regarding the merits of half-pipe snowboarding as an Olympic sport, but I won’t be able to hear him while I’m laughing at his name. 5. The sport cannot be an ill-conceived offspring of a drunken binge. If you’re going to sit there and try to tell me that the Skeleton, a sport in which participants travel faster than my grandmother on I-95 (she’s an old lady, but she can work her Nissan Altima) with only a helmet and a board protecting themselves from face-planting into solid ice, does not owe it’s humble beginnings to a group of regular pub-goers who should have a place in the Darwin Awards, then you must be crazy enough to actually do the Skeleton. With these rules in mind, the following sports should forever be banned from Olympic competitions: Summer Olympics Diving, synchronized swimming, equestrian/dressage, equestrian/eventing, artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and sailing. Winter Olympics Bobsleigh, skeleton, curling, luge, figure skating, ice dancing, freestyle skiing, ski jumping and snowboard/ halfpipe.
8 STUDENT LIFE | NEWS
Senior News Editors / Kristin McGrath and Liz Neukirch / news@studlife.com
FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 24, 2006
KOZOL v FROM PAGE 1 these children that I love come into the school system with a price tag,” he said. In more specific terms, Kozol repeatedly criticized the emphasis that the public education system places on testing. Jokingly referring to President Bush’s bill as “No Child Left Untested,” he shed light on the injustice of administering standardized tests to kindergarteners and first graders given the fact that children of affluent Americans receive several years of developmental pre-kindergarten education, while poor children receive none. Such premature highstakes testing is “part of what I call the Apartheid Agenda,” said Kozol. Likewise, Kozol emphasized the absurdity of the scripted curricula used in public schools, in which lessons are geared directly towards state exams, leaving
absolutely no room for critical and creative thinking. In one particularly telling anecdote concerning this so-called “utilitarian nightmare,” Kozol cited a classroom in Columbus, Ohio that displayed the message “the mission of our class is to prepare students for the global marketplace” written on a wall. In addition, Kozol devoted attention to the concept of the “smelly” atmosphere in the schools of low-income neighborhoods, demonstrating his unique familiarity with such circumstances. Vividly portraying the lunchrooms of these schools as “inner-city hellholes,” Kozol described how the vast inequalities in the aesthetics of public schools serves as “one of the ways that the school systems demarcates the two castes, the two races.”
In Kozol’s opinion, the only solution to this problem lies in money. “Yes, that’s the way, throw it!” he said. Kozol cited the irony that the people who ask the question “Can you really buy your way to a better education?” are the same ones who are spending up to $40,000 a year for a child of theirs to attend a New England prep school. Above all, Kozol emphasized the fact that we do not have a choice over whether or not to be involved in the problem of segregation that afflicts our nation’s education system. “All of our victories in life are going to be contaminated by the knowledge that we won them on a playing field where the rules were rigged from the start.” While Kozol’s points were well received by the audience on Wednesday morning, ArtSci Council is cur-
rently still in the process of finding the funds to pay for his lecture. Mertz explained that being denied the $12,500 that it requested from Student Union to put towards the $22,500 total cost of bringing Kozol to campus means that “we’re still exploring options within the College of Arts & Sciences and externally, but right now we have not secured everything.” While one possibility is to rearrange or cancel some of the later Assembly Series lecturers this semester, who do not yet have signed contracts, Mertz noted, “It’s our goal not to have that happen.” “It was very surprising and disappointing,” said Mertz of Student Union’s refusal to fund the Assembly Series, especially since ArtSci Council “had been in touch with Student Union in
the spring of 2005 telling them we would be holding this lecture.” Barbara Rea attributes the entire situation to miscommunication, as she was unaware that the Student Union Treasury had changed its methods to provide a certain amount of money for each month. “Had I known that, I could have come up with other options,” said Rea. In addition, the situation was complicated by the issue of contracting Kozol, which was unavoidable, according to Rea. “That’s how you secure the date…it’s not something that’s debatable, that’s how we have to operate,” she said. Nonetheless, Rea is not worried about finding the funding in the weeks ahead. “Aaron and I have faith that we will find a way,” she said.
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MARDI GRAS v FROM PAGE 1 to make it easier for people to be able to take advantage of that and to experience what the city has to offer.” The parade is not the only free show. This year, for the first time, spectators will have a choice of two stages for concerts. The Pontiac Stage in Pontiac Park (at 9th and Shenandoah), will feature the Wyld Stallyns at 3 p.m., and will be followed by Extremely Pointless at 4:45 p.m. and “Mini Kiss” at 6:30 p.m. The real show, however, may be in the streets of Soulard, where beads and brews are sure to be prevalent. While festivities abound, the combination of alcohol and a large crowd may lead some people to find themselves in trouble. St. Louis Police Major Larry O’Toole, Commander of the South Patrol Division, shared some tips to have a good time without regretting it. “I would recommend that people park downtown and shuttle to Soulard,” said O’Toole. “People coming in are not allowed to bring bottles, cans or coolers. People with backpacks may be turned away at the entrance checkpoints, too.” O’Toole noted that as with any big event, police will be “manpower intensive” at Mardi Gras. “There will be additional manpower throughout the city and the event,” said O’Toole. “Mardi Gras will have no impact on the patrol on the streets of St. Louis, and people who are driving home should know that DWI enforcement will be strong.” Mardi Gras produces “crimes of opportunity,” said O’Toole, who explained several ways to protect oneself from becoming a victim. “Most of the crimes at these types of events are avoidable,” he said. “Somebody leaves their bag or purse or cell phone, and someone takes it. Many cars get broken into. If you have things in your car, put them in your trunk. And keep an eye on any items you bring with you, or don’t bring anything with you at all.” One thing that never changes at Mardi Gras is the incidence of public urination. O’ Toole warns people to reconsider before relieving themselves somewhere inappropriate. “People need to be respectful and responsible to the neighborhood of Soulard. When you do something like that, remember that is someone’s yard or home. Don’t trespass. Act like it’s your own neighborhood.” O’ Toole said over 600 portable toilets will be available for use, and that Mardi Gras attendees should seek these out. “The penalty for violating this is up to the judge,” said O’Toole. It could be a $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail. It’s not worth it.” Bradley had some advice for college students planning to attend the celebration. “If you’re under 21, don’t plan to drink,” said Bradley. “As usual, in addition to 500 cops, there will be undercover liquor control agents from Jefferson City whose only task is looking for underage drinking. Also, do not try to park in the neighborhood. The technical term for that is ‘silly.’ We’ve got 20 different shuttles running to the neighborhood.” For more information, visit w w w.mardigrasinc.com. -With additional reporting by Kristin McGrath
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MAD SCIENCE INSTRUCTORS: Enthusiastic instructors needed to teach part-time (after school, 1 to 5 days per week), fun, hands-on science programs in elementary schools. Must have transportation. $25.00 - $27.50 per 1 hour class. Call 314- 991-8000.
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PART-TIME WORK $12 BASE/APPT. Flexible sched., customer sales/service, may continue in spring or secure summer work, all ages 18+, 314-997-7873. PLAY SPORTS! HAVE fun! Save money! Maine camp needs fun loving counselors to teach all land, adventure & water sports. Great summer! Call 888-844-8080, apply: www.campcedar.com WANT WEEKENDS AND EVENINGS off? Summer day camp located in Creve Coeur seeks counselors for the following activities: sports, outdoor recreation, arts & crafts, cheerleading, performing arts, first grade and kindergarten. Contact 314-878-1883 for more information.
3 BEDROOM 1.5 BATH APARTMENT. Half block from RED line shuttle. Many amenities! For more information please visit www.homeandapartmentrentals.com Tom 314.409.2733 6337 N. ROSEBURY, CLAYTON. Large 3+ bedroom apartment close to campus with central air, dishwasher, laundry, off-street parking, great neighborhood. Available June 1. $1480/month. 314-984-0258 or 860-7485419.
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10 STUDENT LIFE | SPORTS
Senior Sports Editor / Justin Davidson / sports@studlife.com
FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 24, 2006
SPORTS NBA at midseason: what’s up next By Joe Ciolli Sports Editor With Duke’s J.J. Redick and Gonzaga’s Adam Morrison lighting it up night after night, and U. Conn doing their best to live up to comparisons to last season’s North Carolina squad, it can sometimes be difficult to remember that the NBA is still going on. With all of the media attention surrounding college basketball, many people, even big sports fans, are overlooking one of the most intriguing NBA seasons in recent memory. After a hugely successful All-Star weekend, the NBA is back in full swing for the second half of the season as some teams are clawing for playoff positions, while others are trying to stay atop the standings. Trade talks are flowing as teams are trying to make that one move that could put them into serious contention. And some cellar dwellers (i.e. the Charlotte Bobcats and Atlanta Hawks) seem to be making a case for the top overall pick in the draft. With a great deal still to be decided for this season, three big questions loom. Below, these questions will be answered and bold predictions will be made: Can anybody stop the Detroit Pistons? In short, no. There is really no foreseeable way for any team currently in the NBA to stop a team that won the 2004 championship and came within one game of the 2005 title… using the exact same starting line-up. But come playoff time, depending on which teams are
hot, anything can happen. So which teams can put together the perfect seven-game series that could end the Pistons’ (43-9) dominant reign over the league? Let’s start with the obvious choice, the San Antonio Spurs. Last year’s champions always seem to turn it on come playoff time. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili are undoubtedly great talents that can play with anybody, but two-time league MVP Duncan has been battling injuries as of late. If Duncan is healthy, we’ll see the Spurs in the fi nals with the Pistons, and it’ll be an epic battle. If not, they’ll be lucky to make it to the conference fi nals. With Shaquille O’Neal and Dwayne Wade providing an incomparable inside-outside attack, the Miami Heat will be a team to watch come playoff time. Having split their two games against the Pistons this season, the Heat will be the stiffest competition in the Eastern Division for Detroit. Against the Pistons this season, Wade has averaged 35 points per game, which should be a major concern. With the team still struggling to fi nd adequate team chemistry, however, with off-season additions Antoine Walker, James Posey and Jason Williams, the Pistons should be able to come out on top in a seven-game series. On to a surprising pick for who could pose the biggest problem for the Pistons in the playoffs: the Phoenix Suns. Steve Nash and company are currently second place in the immensely competitive Western Conference, and that’s without Amare Stoudemire, one of the best young talents in the league and an absolutely dominant inside force. Stou-
Who’s the MVP?
VERNON BRYANT | KRT CAMPUS
Shawn Marion of the Phoenix Suns soars in for a slam dunk during the 2006 NBA All-Star game last Sunday. All-Star weekend marks the midpoint of the NBA regular season. demire is expected to return from the injury that has kept him out the entire season, and when he does, watch out. The combination of Stoudemire and all-star Shawn Marion down low could be too much for Detroit’s Rasheed Wallace and Tayshaun Prince to
handle. And with last season’s MVP Steve Nash running the point like only he knows how, the Pistons’ Chauncey Billups could struggle in the match-up he’s gladly avoided all season. But is it enough? NBA Finals Prediction: Detroit over Phoenix in seven games
Okay, the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant put up 81 points in a single game. But is he having an MVPquality season? The answer is yes, but the performance of his team will keep him from taking home the award. Sure, Kobe’s 34.9 points per game is absolutely incredible, but despite his incomparable number of shots taken on the season and his team’s position in the standings (eighth in the Western Conference), Kobe will need to get a little more unselfish and start winning more games before he will win the MVP award. Another excellent candidate is the best player on the league’s best team, Chauncey Billups. Billups is the catalyst for Detroit, averaging 18.9 points and 8.7 assists per game, good for third in the league. His assistto-turnover ratio is enough to make point guards around the league extremely jealous, and the leadership that he consistently provides his dominant Detroit team is like that of no other player in the league. When the votes are tabulated for MVP this season, however, look for Billups to come up painfully short. After all, he is still another great season away from being a household name, and voters like a visible character—which leads us to my prediction for NBA MVP. The Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James will take home the prize. LeBron has, quite simply, become the player he was always expected to be, just a few years earlier than most people anticipated. He makes the highlight reel every night with explosive offensive moves, yet gets his teammates involved and boasts a ridicu-
lous statistics line for the season (31.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.64 steals per game). His team currently has the third-best record in the Eastern Conference and sits fi rmly in the fourth spot in the playoff seedings. And he does it with a supporting cast that is equally as weak as Kobe’s. LeBron should take home one of what should be many NBA MVP awards. NBA MVP Prediction: LeBron James Which team has been the biggest disappointment this season? While I would love to spend a few paragraphs bashing the utterly despicable New York Knicks, the most truly disappointing team this season has to be the Houston Rockets. The fact that the Rockets have two players who were voted as all-star starters (thanks a lot, China, for your overwhelming number of ballots), Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, it is implausible that they would be 13th in the Western Conference out of 15 teams. The most likely cause, however, is poor guard play. A team can’t expect to win with David Wesley and streetball legend-turnedNBA guard Rafer Alston in the backcourt. The Rockets have received strong play off the bench from rookie Luther Head, who inexplicably starts only on rare occasions, but it hasn’t been enough to translate into wins. But no matter what, with Yao and McGrady on the floor, the Rockets should be able to hang with anybody. This team is disappointing in every sense of the word. Most Disappointing Team: Houston Rockets
Coach Edwards speaks out Let’s get rid of against UAA tournaments those pointless Olympic sports! v Bears men cross
fingers for success at Chicago and with selection committee
By Andrei Berman Sports Reporter When the Washington University men’s basketball team concludes its season this Saturday at the University of Chicago, its post-season fate will be almost entirely in the hands of the NCAA selection committee. If the Bears win and Carnegie Mellon is upset by Rochester, the University would win the University Athletic Association (UAA) title outright. If neither one of those outcomes occur, however, the men’s hoops squad fi nds itself in a tricky predicament. Because only one team in each conference gets an automatic bid to the big dance, the Bears would be forced to sit and wait while a committee determines whether or not Mark Edwards’ squad is worthy of an at-large bid. Since the UAA doesn’t have an end-of-season conference tournament like most leagues, the conference’s regular season winner is the one that gets the automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. Proponents of the current format offer a number of reasons why the lack of a tournament is both practical and a fundamentally better system to begin with. “Logistically, it [a conference tournament] would be hard to plan,” noted Edwards. The unusually long distances between member schools would make end-ofseason travel a “tremendous
ALWYN LOH | STUDENT LIFE
Senior Scott Stone drives to the basket past a UAA rival Case Western Reserve player. Currently, there is no UAA conference tournament to decide what team receives an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. expense,” according to Edwards, who added that the reason UAA teams are able to afford travel costs is a result of taking advantage of long-term planning, thereby securing cheaper airfare and hotel rates. Additionally, Edwards noted that a conference tournament would be taking student-athletes out of class right around the time of midterms. He also believes that because the UAA is a league that prides itself on inclusion, it would be uncomfort-
able limiting the number of teams eligible to qualify for such a tournament. Edwards’ personal belief is that a UAA conference tournament would detract from the importance of the regular-season schedule. He cited the theoretical example of a team struggling all season, then getting hot towards the very end of the year and winning the conference tournament, which would likely lead to a team with a greater overall body of work being left out of the D-III field of 58 teams.
Edwards believes that the system currently in place is correctly “built to the crescendo of the game with Chicago [or whomever the team plays in the fi nale of a given season].” Not only is Edwards opposed to a UAA tournament— the possibility of which was discussed four years ago—he also is opposed to the concept of conference tournaments in general. “[I] have no problem motivating the kids to play,” he said, noting that a post-season tournament takes away some of the incentive to perform well throughout regular season play. “A conference tournament would be a form of rewarding losing teams.” Edwards feels confident that regardless of how his team performs this weekend, it deserves a bid to this year’s NCAA tournament. If the Bears fail to win the league (an unfortunate probability due to Carnegie Mellon having beaten the team twice, and thus holding the tiebreaker), the team will surely be crossing its fi ngers come Sunday evening when a selection committee in Indianapolis assesses the team’s 17-7 overall record (9-4 in UAA play) and highly rated strength of schedule. And even if the team fails to qualify for the tournament—perhaps due in part to not having a conference tourney in which to prove they deserve the automatic bid—Edwards maintains that he’ll remain a believer in the current format. “[The current system] keeps kids interested in competing,” he said. Whatever happens, no one will ever know whether a UAA tournament would have helped decide the team’s postseason future.
By Alex Schwartz Sports Columnist When I was contacted a few days ago by Olympic officials, I was, to say the least, speechless. When I found out they wanted my input on which sports should and should not be in the Olympic Games, I quickly found my voice again. Below you will find a series of serious (or not so serious) rules that all sports must follow to maintain their Olympic status. I admit I am a harsh judge, and some of you might not like the rules I enforce, but this isn’t about right and wrong—it’s about bringing the fun back to the Olympic games. (Editor’s Note: This reporter sometimes suffers from delusions of grandeur and we have no reason to believe that he was actually contacted by Olympic officials.) 1. No Judges. I don’t care if we’re talking about figure skating or equestrian dressage (“Horses doing ballet?” Screw that!), no sport with a gold medal as its most coveted prize should be decided by uninvolved judges. A sport where deciding the winner is a matter of judgment immediately loses its credibility. Look what happened in 2002 with the case of the French judge who ruled ridiculously unfavorably against Canada in the figure skating medal round when they got top marks from every other country. In the case of judged sports, I propose a H-O-R-S-
E format. In essence, rather than performing a routine, figure skaters should compete against each other and try to out-do each other’s jumps and tricks. Picture Larry Bird and Michael Jordan in the Nike commercial circa 1995 as they take shots from all over the gym—now that’s worthy of the Olympic brand. On a separate note, can you imagine the bump in ratings that Women’s Gymnastics would receive? The only thing more fun than watching an entire team of beautiful Romanian gymnasts
See OLYMPICS, page 7
SUSAN WALSCH | AP
The Olympic Web site explains equestrian dressage as “the only Olympic sport where man and animal are established teammates, and one of the few where men and women compete on equal terms. It is often described as horses performing ballet.”