STUDENT LIFE
THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER OF WASHINGTON UNIVERSIT Y IN ST. LOUIS SINCE 1878 With two cartoons today, Dmitri Jackson provides commentary on tuition, the MetroLink, and student alcohol use on campus. Page 6.
In Scene’s first Friday Features section of the year, former senior News editor Sarah Kliff sends us a postcard from abroad. Page 5.
VOLUME 127, NO. 45
Debate rages about Ariel Sharon, Thomas Friedman, social norming, Student Life’s cultural event coverage, and more. Page 7.
Phi Delt’s community service program is a smash in the ring. See Sports’ back page for more details.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2006
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Wrighton tours Israel with Mayor Slay By Elizabeth Lewis Staff Reporter Chancellor Wrighton, accompanied by Mayor Francis Slay, Dean Edward Macias, and other University colleagues, recently traveled to Israel in an event hosted by the Jewish Federation. While there, they explored potential opportunities for further educational collaborations between Washington University and Israel. “Among the institutions we visited were Technion, Hebrew University, the Interdisciplinary Center, and the Weizmann Institute of Science,” said Wrighton. Wrighton also hosted a dinner that explained the recent progress of the University for the alumni and students who were studying abroad in Israel. Those representing Washington University in the delegation took the trip primarily because of the University’s interest in expanding its international ties. “Our University is interested in expanding its international impact in education, research, and service,” said Wrighton. “We have been very active in Asia and have developed new programs such as the Executive MBA
COURTESY OF THE OFFICE OF THE CHANCELLOR
Chancellor Wrighton (center) recently travelled to Israel with a delegation led by St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay (fifth from left). Wrighton toured the country and visited study abroad students and alumni. Program we offer jointly with Fudan University. Our new McDonnell International Scholars Academy has an initial focus in Asia.” Although the University
has made progress in Asia, no new definite plans have been made yet concerning the University’s collaboration with institutions in Israel, based on this trip.
“Our visit to Israel may lead to new opportunities for study abroad and collaborative education and research, but no decisions regarding these opportunities have
been made,” said Wrighton. Although the trip did not lead to any specific plans, the delegation was successful in laying the foundation for future ties with academ-
ic institutions in Israel, according to Wrighton. “The most important accomplishment was to have face-to-face meetings with academic leaders of key Israeli institutions and to learn directly from them about their strengths and areas of potential partnership,” said Wrighton. The University already has close ties with Israel—it has its largest study abroad program for undergraduates at Hebrew University and has a small collaborative partnership in social work there as well, explained Wrighton. Studying abroad has become an opportunity encouraged by President Bush. Wrighton recently attended a summit that was convened by Secretary of State Rice and Secretary of Education Spellings, entitled “International Higher Education in the National Interest” on Jan. 5-6. “The president himself addressed our meeting and encouraged universities to become more proactive in encouraging study abroad and in encouraging scholars to come to the United States for study,” said Wrighton. Several students have tak-
See ISRAEL, page 4
Diwali dance team Women ‘rush’ to Greek recruitment goes to Nationals By Ben Sales Staff Reporter
By Josh Hantz Associate Reporter The basement of Lopata Hall isn’t the grandest stage in the world, but it will do for the practices of Ashoka’s Garba team, going to its first national competition in February. Garba, a type of traditional Indian dance, has increased in popularity at Washington University over the past few years, as evidenced by its more important role in Diwali and the number of freshmen trying out. “I think increased interest in Diwali in general over the last few years, and the mindset that Garba is a selective dance, has been making it better and better,” said former choreographer Nivedita Kulkarni, currently studying in London. “It was a minor dance in the show before these past few years. Now it’s one of the main four dances.” Traditionally all-female in Diwali, the team recruited males to meet the requirements for the “Garba With Attitude” competition, hosted in Irvine, Calif. The male influence is something most girls seem to enjoy. “The guys are fun,” said sophomore Erendira Quintana Morales. “They change the dynamics of the group a little.” Junior Natasha Ho agrees. “With guys we get to do stunts and they also bring a new level of
energy,” she said. Rajat Jain, one of four choreographers, is one of the newly recruited males and said that he has enjoyed his time with Garba so far. “I’ve never choreographed before,” said Jain. “It’s a different experience. You’re around the same people and you get to know them really well and learn to trust them. It’s like being on a sports team. You trust others will pull off what they’re supposed to.” The dance originated in the state of Gujarat around Navratri— the Hindu celebration of worship and music. It has important differences compared to other dances like Raas that the team must also incorporate into its routine. “Garba is slightly slower and more graceful than Raas,” said senior and choreographer Erica Kane. “It doesn’t have dandiyas (batons) either.” The team’s success and hope for a strong competition has required much dedication and effort. Dancers and choreographers have been practicing almost every day since winter break for two to three hours at a time, sometimes past midnight. Constant improvement is key. “The hardest part is individually getting better,” said senior Noopur Garg, who only recently joined the team to replace a mem-
See GARBA, page 4
DAVID HARTSTEIN | STUDENT LIFE
Garba performs at Diwali last semester. The group will be attending the Garba with Attitude Competition in Irvine, Calif.
A record-breaking 339 Washington University women arrived one week before classes began this semester to participate in sorority recruitment (“rush”) activities. Of these, 298 women received bids for membership. “We’re really excited about it,” said Nicole Soussan, the former president of the Women’s Pan-Hellenic Association (PanHel), which organizes and facilitates recruitment week. “The freshmen and the women that rushed got a positive outlook on Greek life.” In addition to how smoothly the week ran, the jump in numbers also
pleased Soussan. She credits the rise in recruits to PanHel’s increased promotion efforts, which included flyers, emails, a spot on the underpass, and an additional information session. “[It was] the info sessions and the reaching out that PanHel did for them,” she said. “More women realized that they wanted to be part of the Greek community.” Although official documents for Greek organizations have increasingly begun to use the term “recruitment” to describe the selection process, due to concerns about the negative connotations of the word “rush,” the process itself has not changed at Wash. U., said Karin Johnes, the director of Greek Life.
“In the Greek world for the past several years, there’s been a push at the national level for a concept of recruitment rather than rush,” said Johnes. “There are a lot of big believers in the idea that language affects image. Our concern is that parents wouldn’t know what [recruitment] is. Fundamentally, though, it doesn’t change how our process works.” The five-day period began with four days of events during which the women got a taste of the University’s Greek life by attending parties facilitated by each sorority. The parties gave potential members a chance to meet current members and decide which sorority, if any, to join.
In addition to the events, potential members were assigned a Recruitment Counselor (Rho Chi). Rho Chi’s are current members of sororities who help women decide between the chapters. Although each Rho Chi is a member of a specific chapter, she distances herself from her own sorority to remain unbiased in her role 25 potential recruits. “You have a one-on-one relationship,” said Anna Braswell, one of this year’s Rho Chis. “It was great because I got to meet so many young girls.” Braswell also appreciated the opportunity that the Rho Chi groups afforded to the potential recruits.
See RUSH, page 4
Wash. U. soldiers’ stories, Part IV:
Stunned, satisfied and still serving Over the past few months, Student Life has corresponded with several Washington University graduates who have served or are serving in the military in Iraq. Some of these soldiers wrote first-hand accounts of their experiences in the Iraq War, as well as the transition from college to the military. These articles will run as a multi-part series over the course of the spring semester. Past articles can be found on our Web site at www.studlife.com. Today’s story is the fourth installment of the series and the third article by Jenny Pittam, class of 2002. Pittam said that out of all her Iraqi experiences, she is most proud of the confidence her platoon placed in her to lead them well. She was 23 at the time, while most of her platoon was significantly older. Pittam said that she had a fun time in Iraq with her platoon. “Life is easier when you are deployed,” she said. When asked how Iraq differs now from when she was there two and a half years ago, Pittam replied that the situation is much more dangerous today. Her unit then did not come in contact with the enemy and did not suffer any casualties. Pittam also said that the Army today is becoming “more nitpicky” with rules. During her deployment, she was given a lot of leeway to run her platoon as she wished. Now there are more rules and stricter regulations. But doing things by the book has the benefits of uniformity in a dangerous and chaotic place, she said. -David Brody
COURTESY OF JENNY PITTAM
Dan Davis and Jenny Pittam pose in front of their platoon leader’s tent at camp in Iraq. By Jenny Pittam Special to Student Life We delivered cargo to various camps and armies as they set up camps in Iraq. One international camp was just being cleared and built up when we delivered their unit equipment. I met with a Polish colonel who was the commander for the camp and with a Romanian lieutenant who was my point of contact. Our soldiers enjoyed Polish, Romanian, Ukrainian, and Filipino
food from their dining tents after the day’s mission was complete. We loved delivering to that particular camp since they would let us sleep in run-down, yet air-conditioned, rooms. AC was still a luxury at that point since our trucks had no hope at all for AC. We ran missions to Babylon; we would cross the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in the heart of ancient Mesopotamia; we drove by Abraham’s tomb daily. One sunny afternoon,
we had a long convoy rolling north toward Baghdad. I saw up ahead that there was a cluster of trucks in the road. We slowed down and came to a complete stop next to a soldier standing on the roadside, pulling guard and directing traffic. It was well over 120 degrees outside and scorching in the truck, and the last thing I wanted to do was stop our convoy on the side of the road. I leaned out the win-
See SOLDIER, page 3
2 STUDENT LIFE | NEWS
Senior News Editors / Kristin McGrath and Liz Neukirch / news@studlife.com
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Gene variant may create a taste for alcoholism By Jessie Rothstein
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 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.
Friday, Jan. 27 & Saturday, Jan. 28 Ring in the year of the dog with ribbon dancers and martial arts performers at Lunar New Year Festival, an annual cultural variety show that celebrates one of the oldest festivals in China. Tickets are still available for 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at Edison Theatre. Friday, Jan. 27 & Saturday, Jan. 28 Graham Chapel is the place to be for a cappella groupies this weekend, when co-ed a cappella group After Dark presents its yearly concert, A Light From the Darkness. The Amateurs (Fri.), the Mosaic Whispers (Sat.) and SLU’s Bare Naked Statues (both nights) will also perform. Friday, Jan. 27 through Sunday, Jan. 29 If you’ve got a hangover, going to see Blast! at the Fox Theatre might not be a good idea—it combines loud noises with flashing lights and bright colors. Thirty-seven percussion and visual performers take this stage for this Tony Award-winning show, which packs classical, jazz, rock, and techno music into under two hours. 527 N. Grand Blvd. (314) 534-1111 Friday, Jan. 27 Sexiled on Friday night? Grab a pillow and head to the Science Center for a sleep-over of Titanic proportions. Learn about the Titanic, investigate her ill-fated voyage, and experiment with boat construction at the Center’s “Titanic Camp-in.” 5050 Oakland Avenue (314) 289-4439
Saturday, Jan. 28 Make an appearance at the Baseline Gallery on Saturday for “Off Course,” a multidisciplinary art exhibit featuring work from Wash. U. graduate students. In addition to painting, sculpture, and photography, more nontraditional works like models of electrical coils from those representing the medical sciences. The exhibit will be there all week, but the grand opening, including the judging of these works of art will take place between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Saturday. 1110 Washington Avenue (314) 621-9188 Chill with master ice carvers at “Fete De Glace,” St. Charles’ annual ice sculpture competition. The audience judges as artists use chainsaws, chisels, knives, and hot irons to craft their frozen works. The event begins at 10 a.m., and the people’s choice award will be given at 4 p.m. 100-200 blocks of North Main Street St. Charles, Mo. Saturday, Jan. 28 & Sunday, Jan. 29 If you’re too classy for boxed wine, get wined and dined at the Fourth Annual St. Louis Food & Wine Experience at the Chase Park Plaza Hotel. You’ll enjoy fine foods prepared by renowned guest chefs and more than 400 wines at Sip & Learn wine seminars. All proceeds benefit the Repertory Theater’s education and community outreach programs. 212-232 N. Kingshighway Blvd. (877) 587-2427 $25 in advance, $30 at the door
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FRIDAY | JANUARY 27, 2006
Staff Reporter Researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine recently published their findings of an association between increased risk for alcoholism and certain taste buds. The research team’s report, which appeared in the January issue of the “American Journal of Human Genetics,” details the relationship between a gene variant for a bitter-taste receptor on the tongue and alcohol dependence. This project started in 1989 under the direction of Alison M. Goate, Ph.D., a professor of genetics in psychiatry at the University. Goate and her team began by collecting data from families all over the country, each of which had at least three different alcoholics. The first step in the study was to perform a genetic linkage study with the DNA samples from the 262 selected families in order to identify the regions of chromosomes that were susceptible genes for alcoholism. Since earlier work had demonstrated that chromosome 7 was a likely source of increased alcoholic tendencies, the researchers paid special attention to this area. “We looked in a region of chromosome 7, where there are hundreds of genes, and we noticed that there was a cluster of taste receptor genes in this region,” said Goate. By studying a large number of variant sequences in these taste receptor genes, Goate
and her colleagues were able to locate a particular polymorphism—an alteration of one amino acid in the protein sequence—which was strongly associated with alcoholism in their data set. “One particular allele of this polymorphism was being transmitted to alcoholics in these families,” said Goate. After collaborating with a group in Germany that studies the physiology of taste receptors, the research team eventually found that the less common gene variant was also less sensitive to bitter tastes. These findings did not match the research team’s original expectations; Goate said that originally “we all thought it was going to be related to chemicals in the brain rather than taste receptors on the tongue.” Since this less common variant was also correlated with an increased risk of alcoholism, the research team was able to demonstrate the association between taste buds and alcoholism in this specific instance. “Most people have a receptor that’s very sensitive to the bittertasting compound, but in people that have this variant form, they can tolerate higher concentrations of this bitter compound without it tasting nasty to them,” said Goate. The variant gene, which increases the risk of alcoholism, was very common in the AfricanAmerican population that the researchers studied, with a frequen-
cy of around 30 percent, but was extremely rare in Caucasians. This fact does not necessarily indicate that African Americans will have higher rates of alcoholism, however, since this particular gene is only one of many genetic and environmental factors that influence the risk for alcoholism. The research team is not yet certain of why this variant form increases the risk for alcoholism, but one possibility is that there are bitter compounds in the alcoholic drinks. In the future, the team plans on pursuing research on other taste receptors in order to see whether there are other variants, which may also be influencing the risk for alcoholism. One of the primary long-term goals of this research is to develop better treatments for alcoholism by learning more about the mechanisms that influence one’s risk of the disease. While the public health approach to preventing alcoholism is currently very broad and targets the entire population, the research team hopes that its work will eventually allow them to target a more specific population from an early age. “When we understand more about the genes and the environmental factors that influence someone’s risk, I think you will be better able to predict who is at highest risk and then target your prevention strategies at those high-risk individuals,” said Goate.
Washington University Spring Semester Student Photo Contest Entries due March 31, 2006. Up to 3 Prizes will be awarded: 1st Place : $500 2nd Place: $250 3rd Place: $100
1,200 ARE ACCEPTED.
Submit entries in these categories:
ONLY THE BEST SURVIVE.
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For more information and entry form see
WUPhotoContest.wustl.edu Sponsored by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Students.
OPENS JANUARY 27 AT THEATRES EVERYWHERE
Senior News Editors / Kristin McGrath and Liz Neukirch / news@studlife.com
FRIDAY | JANUARY 27, 2006
STUDENT LIFE | NEWS
3
SOLDIER v FROM PAGE 1 dow and asked the guy what had happened and if we could go around him. He responded that a 23-year-old soldier had just been killed in a truck accident 15 minutes before. I sat back in my seat stunned. As I stared the 100 feet up the road to the wrecked truck, I struggled to understand how a life had just been lost mere minutes before; how that soldier and I were the exact same age; how unfair it was that somebody’s son, brother, boyfriend, father or husband had just passed away and how his family had no idea what had just taken place. My driver and I were both quiet as we passed by the truck half an hour later. We pulled in behind the remainder of the convoy that had just suffered such a loss as they turned around to head back to the nearest camp. Friends and family often asked how I felt about the war and what I thought about being involved in the effort. Honestly, being on the ground in Iraq disconnected us from much of the surrounding political turmoil created by the war. We had no electricity and, therefore, no TV to keep up with the bigger picture around us. There was no satellite coverage in Iraq, so cell phones and radios were out of the question. We were on the road constantly, and the only updates we received were ones relevant to our mission. Regardless of the war and its battle for public support, our friends and family supported us unfailingly. People would put their own opinions aside to show their dedication for our company and our mission. My fellow art graduates and friends from home found it a little odd that I could be in art school one year and a war the next, but everyone was supportive with letters, care packages, and art tidbits and magazines. I would carry a journal with me on the road and draw when I had a chance. I spent time making postcards and writing letters to people. When I got stressed out or just needed a break, music became a great escape. Later, when we got back to Kuwait, they raised the ban on
Left: Pittam’s driver, Spc. Southern, in front of their truck column after coming back into Kuwait after their first mission. Right: Pfc. McNeill (L) and Staff Sgt. Laboy (R) tying down crates of ammunition on a 40foot trailer.
Bottom Left: Pittam and others goof off while playing spades on the back of their trailer. Bottom Right: Packing up camp while on a mission in Iraq. soldiers going to downtown Kuwait City. My commander appointed me the Morale, Welfare, & Recreation (MWR) officer, and it became my job to plan outings for the company. We took a few trips downtown, which helped everyone relax a little in the midst of deployment. A few months into the deployment, I wrote an email to a friend of mine in Germany
who was originally slated to deploy to Turkey until Turkey voted not to let troops launch a war against Iraq from their soil. It read: “It’s an amazing experience. I can’t imagine what life is going to be like in the rear now except for boring. They have us on the road all day everyday, and while we gripe about down days, we all can’t wait to get back out! It’s so
hot and dusty and the trucks are like the fi fth ring of hell when they get warmed up, but at least the windows are down, the air is moving, and the days are beautiful. I can’t imagine being anywhere else right now. I don’t want to do much after platoon time in the Army, but I say that over here because I have a job: convoy commander. Back in the rear, it’s tiresome bullshit day in
and day out.” We redeployed to our home station in Mannheim, Germany in Oct. 2003. Looking back, we were extremely lucky. At the beginning of the war, the insurgency hadn’t gathered enough strength to infl ict the damage they cause today. IEDs and small arms attacks were still a constant threat but weren’t as prevalent or sophisticated as they are pres-
ently. Now, I am serving as a rear detachment commander, which means that my unit is deployed in support of the global war on terror and that I am at home-station in order to support our families, soldiers, and forward-deployed company in any way. We are looking forward to our company returning soon as their year is almost up.
JAN 27-28 Program includes: MOZART Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor MOZART Symphony No. 41, “Jupiter”
FEB 3-5 Program includes: MOZART Requiem
FEB10 -11 Program includes: MOZART Symphony No. 39 MOZART Symphony No. 40 Student Tickets $10, subject to availability.
Call now for tickets: 314-534-1700 or purchase online at www.slso.org Powell Symphony Hall is located at 718 N. Grand Blvd. Lebrecht Music & Arts Photo Library www.lebrecht.co.uk. Contact pictures@lebrecht.co.uk for prints and posters.
4 STUDENT LIFE | NEWS
Senior News Editors / Kristin McGrath and Liz Neukirch / news@studlife.com
GARBA v FROM PAGE 1
RUSH v FROM PAGE 1
ber. “There’s a lot of catch-up. And we have to do the same moves, go at the same time, twirl at the same speed. But it’s so cool when it comes together.” As the routine comes closer together, so does the team. “We see each other a lot and have gotten to know each other,” said Morales. “One of the most important parts is getting to know each other and having a relationship.” Morales, like her teammates, can’t wait to get to California. “We’re going to have a lot of fun, do our best and bring back a lot of memories,” she said. “We don’t bring a lot of experience, but definitely a lot of spirit.” Six of the 16 members are returning from last year. The team qualified for nationals in 2004 but scheduling conflicts with finals and financial reasons prevented their attending.
“It was a great way for girls to meet others that are not necessarily going to be in their chapters,” she said. “Girls have a great time getting to know other girls.” The last day of the week was “Bid Day.” According to Soussan, bidding took place in a “mutual selection process,” in which recruits wrote down and submitted their preferred sororities. The sororities then decided which women to accept based on the submission. PanHel also facilitated several events during recruitment week designed to bring all of the potential members together. One of these was a night on the Loop where women raised money for social action at
various restaurants. The money went to families in University City, where PanHel runs social action programs. PanHel also organized a brunch for all the recruits on the final day of the week. Pamela Talley, a freshman who rushed and joined Delta Gamma, is excited to be a part of University Greek life. “My motivating factor for rushing was to meet more girls,” she said. “What drew me were the tangible bonds of sisterhood.” Rachel Herman, who joined Chi Omega, agrees with Talley and feels that she had a positive experience during recruitment week. “It was incredible,” she said. “I had lots of fun and met lots of people.” She added, “I didn’t sleep a whole lot.”
FRIDAY | JANUARY 27, 2006
ISRAEL v FROM PAGE 1 en trips to Israel and agree that it would be a great accomplishment to have more opportunities for collaboration with this important country. Rabbi Hershey Novack led a trip over winter break called Mayanot birthright Israel, a free trip for students who meet the eligibility requirements. Novack led four groups of students in this program. “They had the opportunity to experience Israel in the fullest manner,” said Novack. “There was jeepriding through a swamp in Golan Heights to camel-riding in the south in the Negev Desert. We went from visiting the Western Hotel to visiting Hebrew University in Jerusalem.”
Justin Wohlstadter, a freshman who was in one of the groups Novack hosted, said the trip made him want to return to Israel. “It was an amazing trip,” said Wohlstadter. “The most gratifying part was to see all of the places mentioned in the Bible. [The trip] definitely gave me enough of a taste to want to go back.” Another student who recently took a trip to Israel was junior Aaron Keyak who went as a representative of the Hillel-AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) Advanced Advocacy mission. “I talked to journalists, politicians, and figures who have been around Israel for a long time,” said Keyak.
Keyak remarked that the amount of history in Israel is astounding and said that “any amount of time spent there is not enough.” Rabbi Novack thought that the chancellor’s trip to Israel was beneficial. “It is nice to know that Washington University is seeking opportunities that benefit the University’s mission as well as towards the advancement of science in this important part of the world,” said Novack. Keyak agrees. “As one of the top research universities in the U.S., it is good that we see the value of going to Israel,” said Keyak. “With my humble appreciation, I applaud the chancellor.”
Student Life is now on AOL Instant Messenger! Now you can send us tips, story ideas, comments and more via AIM. Our new screenname is online 24/7 during the school year—just add “StudLife Editors” to your buddy list to instantly get in touch with us in the office.
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presents a guide to places of worship in the WU community
study art in florence june 06 non-art majors welcome Tuscan Photo Adventure Interpretations of Place (drawing emphasis) Drawing for Costume and Fashion Design Woodcut Printmaking
Religious Directory For advertising information, call (314) 935-6713 or email advertising@studlife.com
For more information: cpapageo@art.wustl.edu application deadline: february 17, 2006
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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
13586 NW INDUSTRIAL DR. ~ BRIDGETON ~ 314.209.0111 3674 FOREST PARK PKWY. ~ ST. LOUIS ~ 314.531.8500
6681 DELMAR BLVD. ~ UNIVERSITY CITY ~ 314.862.6565
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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 AND
WESLEY STUDENT CENTER 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
Shabbat at Hillel Fridays, 5:45 p.m. - Services (Reform, Conservative & Orthodox)
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 Scene Editor / Sarah Baicker / scene@studlife.com
FRIDAY | JANUARY 27, 2006
STUDENT LIFE | SCENE
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SCENE Postcard from Abroad: Scotland (almost) By Sarah Kliff Writer at Large 11:45 p.m. Seattle. Heav y rain and heav y tears. It was not the sequel to “Sleepless in Seattle”—it was my adamant declaration that I did not want to follow through with my plan to study abroad. Two short months ago, over Thanksgiving break, I had made the opposite decision. I announced with great excitement that I would be hopping the pond to attend the University of Edinburgh in Scotland for spring semester. What I knew about Scotland at the time was that my major had a program in the country, the men wear kilts and have ridiculously attractive accents, and an attempt to find the Loch Ness Monster could lead to an interesting thesis project should I switch my major to environmental/fake animals studies. The study abroad office had an offer that no college student could refuse: the chance to study at a prestigious university, the opportunity to immerse myself in a completely foreign culture while still graduating in four years, and an across-the-
board drinking age of 18. I went to the information sessions. I listened to the tips and tricks. I should carry my passport with me at all times, and perhaps consider purchasing a stylish yet discrete fanny pack for it. I shouldn’t pet stray animals—especially not stray monkeys. I shouldn’t drink the tap water. I shouldn’t swim while drunk. And, above all, the golden rule of study abroad: I shouldn’t get pregnant. There are many souvenirs you can pick up while abroad. A child is not one of them. This left me with no baby, no monkey-petting, and my entire room from my Millbrook apartment shoved into two suitcases and a few carry-ons. In Seattle, about to wave goodbye to the rain and say hello to…well, more rain…I started to rethink my decision. That panicky feeling that I got when I headed off to St. Louis as a freshman returned. Except now there were 27 hours of flying and a trip across the Atlantic Ocean involved in the matter. Upon arrival at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, I had absolutely no desire to step on the 11:45
p.m. first leg of the trip to Dallas. Instead, I had a very well thought-out plan B: between my last family dinner and arrival at the airport, I had regressed to my fiveyear-old self who had quite adamantly protested this thing called kindergarten. I decided to horridly embarrass my twin brother Stephen by breaking down in tears at the terminal and claiming that, perhaps this abroad thing wasn’t the best idea. I had reexamined my situation—I’m a vegetarian, I can’t eat the haggis, I don’t really like men in skirts, and, quite honestly, I couldn’t even find Scotland on a map. How was I going to find a classroom on my campus? My parents said they understood. They said they loved me, they would miss me, that they didn’t quite understand where I was going or what I was doing there, but nevertheless they were not about to lose the thousands of dollars that the University of Edinburgh had already converted into pounds. They sent me off with wishes for a good semester. With that, they went to the car. The meter was ticking and I had a plane to catch. So, there I was, walking through security with tears streaming down my face, wondering: what the hell am I doing? At the gate, I called my roommate, hoping she could explain what the hell I was
doing, or help me work out a contingency plan for the next five months. She had no contingency plan, but rather a helpful ear to hear out my concerns. And she had her concerns too. In three weeks, she was heading to Switzerland for the semester with just a year of French in tow. My other roommates are also scattered around the globe—two in Paris, one in Australia—five very nervous girls wondering who we will eat dinner with at night. What the hell my roommates and I were doing— alongside a quarter of the junior class—was leaving the university campus we had come to call home over the past two and a half years without a single clue as to whether the University of Edinburgh, a Semester at Sea, or even five months at the University of Monaco would be better or worse than Wash. U. We’re throwing ourselves into new situations, taking two bags and a carry-on, and seeing what the hell happens. Of course, take the proper medications, make sure you’re still going to graduate on time, and definitely don’t get knocked up. You hope that the “what the hell happens” part will work out for the best. You dread things will turn out the worse; you make a scene at the airport because you dread that you won’t make friends, you won’t understand the
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SARAH KLIFF | STUDENT LIFE
Though former senior News editor Sarah Kliff hasn’t had time to write us an update since she got to Scotland, she has had time to take pictures. She favored us with the above shot—we’re glad to see that she still knows how to have fun, even when lost in the Scottish mist. language, and perhaps have a downright dismal time. But if I knew what the hell was going to happen, this wouldn’t be much of a trip at all. Come hell or Loch Ness monster, I got on the plane to Dallas and now sit in the
Dallas Fort Worth airport, writing away a six-hour layover. I have two more stops—Toronto and London—before arriving at my final destination. Twenty more hours to wonder what the hell will happen in the next five months.
6 STUDENT LIFE | FORUM
Senior Forum Editor / Molly Antos / forum@studlife.com
FRIDAY | JANUARY 27, 2006
Our daily Forum editors:
FORUM
Monday: Jeff Stepp Wednesday: Daniel Milstein Friday: Joshua Trein jsstepp@wustl.edu daniel.milstein@wustl.edu jctrein@wustl.edu To ensure that we have time to fully evaluate your submissions, guest columns should be e-mailed to the next issue’s editor or forwarded to forum@studlife.com by no later than 5 p.m. two days before publication. Late pieces will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. We welcome your submissions, and thank you for your consideration.
FORUM FLASHBACK
‘On this day in 1999…’ Despite beliefs, pope remains icon
T
housands of young people will attend a rally tonight at the Kiel Center as part of Pope John Paul II’s two-day visit to St. Louis. Despite a widening gap between what the Catholic Church teaches and what many American Catholics practice, the pope remains a highly respected figurehead who brings unity, faith and coherence to the entire religion. John Paul II is one of the most paradoxical popes the Church has ever seen. He is at times extremely progressive—his harangue against capitalism in Mexico City on Saturday is one example—while at other
times his views are arcane. He, and therefore the church, are part of the opposition against several controversial issues. John Paul II and the Catholic Church are longstanding advocates against birth control. The pope has also demonstrated open contempt for homosexuality, urging gays and lesbians to get therapy for their “condition.” In addition, he has upheld a Church ban on women receiving priestly ordination, and he scorns divorced Catholics for the “moral disorder” their separation entails. This list of edicts that many practicing Catholics have or will violate goes on. But their non-doc-
Op-ed submission
A
riel Sharon’s recent illness and departure from the Israeli prime ministry raises many important questions not only for both Israelis and Palestinians, but also for world journalists and historians. Sharon has been a man of many titles throughout his career, including: colonel, defense minister, Likud Party head, Kadima Party founder, and even Israeli prime minister. But these lofty titles do little to define the man, his past, or his character. It would be more helpful to recall one of Sharon’s earlier titles to define his legacy. Sharon, defined by Bush as a “man of peace,” is better represented by his long-held nickname: The Bulldozer. Sharon was said to have acquired his beloved moniker because of his preference for clearing Palestinians off their land through house demolitions and the like. Through the course of his destructive path, Sharon has managed to accumulate one of the most extensive, brutal and heinous records of war crimes in history. All of this has been obscured by recent American cooperation with Sharon and his policies, and American journalism’s neglect of Sharon’s true history of character. The story of The Bulldozer centers quite ominously in 1982 with the massacres at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps. While Sharon’s sympathizers have done their best to hide his actions in the massacres, historical records are unequivocal in condemning him. Few now are inclined to remember the 400,000 Israelis who gathered in Tel Aviv to protest his actions or the more than 1,400 Palestinian refugees who were murdered when Sharon sent his Lebanese Christian Phalangist allies into the camp. A more detailed glimpse into Sharon’s actions reveals even greater horror. Israeli forces surrounded the camps as the Phalange, with Israeli weaponry, killed every man, woman and child they found. Two Israeli reporters detailed the Phalangists as committing such acts as “hanging live grenades around victims’ necks” and countless tales of rape, even of “pregnant women raped and then having their fetuses cut out afterwards.” And just two days later, Sharon’s IDF met with the Phalange officers knowing quite
views. Particularly at a school like Wash. U., most students do not embrace many of the pope’s views. During this exceptional period of newly-found freedom and experimentation, many choose to engage in acts the Church finds objectionable, including premarital sex and the use of birth control. So why is the pope able to create the biggest buzz in St. Louis since the 1904 World’s Fair? He is, after all, a man whose values many Catholics support. As much as he is looked to for his ecclesiastical guidance, the pope is also a symbol of universal unity in the Church. He evokes a
desire for discussion, reminds followers of the importance of faith, and tries to foster a sense of community. Over 600 WU students are expected to attend his rally at the Kiel Center because he helps create a forum that they and other young Catholics across the world have found to share their religious feelings. The pope, like no other authority figure in the world today, is revered simply because he embodies spirit and faith and emotion, aspects of the human condition that even today many young people remain eager and excited to share.
DMITRI JACKSON | EDITORIAL CARTOON
Ariel Sharon is a war criminal, not a hero By Trent Taylor
trinal practices do not make them bad or evil people and they should not, as John Paul II has suggested about divorcees, be barred from receiving Christ’s body at the communion rail, nor be denied a priest’s exoneration in the confessional. Rather, they should be recognized as willing participants in a society that has grown more tolerant of other-than-puritanical norms. Young Catholics in particular, of which the Washington University campus contains more than a few, are probably the biggest constituency within the Church that disagrees with some of the pope’s
well of the massacre. But the Bulldozer had been rolling for quite some time, and would continue even after his country forced him to resign as defense minister. In 1953, Sharon’s infamous Unit 101 descended on the Jordanian village of Qibya, killing 69 civilians. Time magazine reported that Sharon’s soldiers shot “every man, woman, and child they could find.” Following the 1967 war, Sharon was given the task of “pacifying Gaza.” In 1971, Sharon began a major campaign to uproot Palestinians from their homes in the Gaza strip. Accounts detailed soldiers throwing entire families and their belongings into the street, followed by bulldozers flattening houses, and soldiers with guns beating young kids. All in all, this “man of peace” in his campaign of
“Quite unfortunately, when Sharon passes he’ll die peacefully, without having ever been brought to justice for the numerous acts of terror he has perpetrated.” “pacification” destroyed 2,000 Palestinian homes and uprooted 16,000 people from their homes in the short span of a month. And The Bulldozer wasn’t finished. Over a span of two years (1980-’81), Sharon assisted Israeli forces in grabbing 31 percent of the West Bank and devoting it to 40 new and illegal Jewish settlements. And when the Intifada of 1987 began with a series of peaceful protests, one should recall Sharon’s advice for the said protesters: “Cut off their testicles.” Attempts by Sharon to frame himself as a reformer have also failed. Even his “disengagement plan” serves only to, in the words of top advisor Dov Weisglass, freeze the peace process by acting as “the formaldehyde” for the current situation. By pulling out of Gaza, and
still controlling borders, interstate commerce, transportation of goods and erecting a 15 meter wall out into the Mediterranean Sea, Sharon has kept Gaza what it always has been: an overcrowded jail of refugees with no hopes as a sustainable state. The only change is that Israel may deceivingly state that the Palestinians were given their own state and have been unable to function, regardless. The Bulldozer has taken even further steps toward crippling any hope of a peaceful solution. The construction of the apartheid wall has now left Palestinians to reside on only 11 percent of historic Palestine, usurping large pieces of the West Bank beyond the previously respected green line. Quite unfortunately, when Sharon passes he’ll die peacefully, without having ever been brought to justice for the numerous acts of terror he has perpetrated. The American government, the mainstream media and the Israeli public will quietly pad over his past with the same praise that we’ve heard before. Instead, we’ll be reminded of Sharon by accounts that he was a “charming raconteur and a gentleman farmer with a love for classical music,” as the New York Times so eloquently stated in an article published only a few years ago. Trent is a junior in Arts & Sciences. He can be reached via e-mail at ttaylor24@wustl.edu.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
SL: work on coverage Dear Editor: I also read your exchange with Jessica McLean, and wanted to take this opportunity to speak in solidarity with Rob Collins in reminding you of your power as the most-widely read student publication on campus. I feel that Wash. U. is already a very racially segregated school, and while Student Life could take steps to diminish this segregation, instead it furthers the divide by under-representing the Black population at Wash. U. Though I realize that you cannot erase the mistakes made in the past with regards to Black Anthology and the MLK commemoration, perhaps you could make
it your resolution for the New Year to care less about the gossip and socalled “newsworthy” incidents involving drunk students, and shed a positive light on Wash. U. through coverage of ALL the great cultural events that occur here. -Sarah Winter Class of 2007
Tucson is a great city; ‘Tuscon,’ not so much Dear Editor: Student Life has made a most egregious error in editing. I admit that it is an error that
is made with disturbing frequency, but an inexcusable error, nonetheless. This error is a misspelling of my hometown, Tucson, in Daniel Milstein’s “The Opening of the MetroLink.” Tucson, Arizona, is a wonderful place which has approximately 350 sunny days a year. When typed into Microsoft Word, “Tucson” is tagged as a place and “Tuscon” is immediately recognized as a nonword. The city of Tucson has a population greater than those of the largest cities in the majority of states. Admittedly, it is smaller than Mr. Milstein’s hometown, “Brooklin.” -Jonathan Lane Class of 2007
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FRIDAY | JANUARY 27, 2006
STUDENT LIFE | FORUM
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The world is flat and the sky is falling By Joshua Trein Forum Editor
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rowing up, many of us heard that bitter nugget of truth from our parents that we should eat everything on our plate, as children around the world were starving. Thomas Friedman, a New York Times columnist, now tells his children, “Finish your homework. People in India and China are starving for your job.” He is the author of an influential book on globalization, “The World Is Flat.” One of his basic assertions is that since human resources can be easily drawn from anywhere on the globe, the world is now fl at. In the new global economy, there is no longer a pyramid of human society of which Americans constitute the peak. I draw Friedman’s comments from an interview in Wired magazine, in which he also said that America is in a “quiet crisis” and “if we don’t change course now and buckle down in a fl at world, the kind of competition our kids will face will be intense and the social implications of not repairing things will be enormous.” To see his point, perhaps a brief examination of American life is in order. I believe the key difference between the average American and the average third-
worlder is purpose. How can you blame a child in American high-school for not trying when he or she already has the ingredients that emotionally and evolutionarily signal a successful life: a roof over his or her head, a belly full of food, plentiful entertainment options, and maybe even another high schooler to make out with? How can we honestly lecture American students about some dry topic like “global responsibility” or their effect upon America’s bottom line? Those not in America just want what they don’t have, like human beings are wont to do, and they have a lot less than we do. But here there is no doing better than your parents, and you already have everything you could want, anyway. There is no incentive to do better. An informal poll of undergraduates at Wash. U. provides only a smattering of reasons for attending college, most having to do with being forced by parents, a hope for a well-paying job, or just because there was little else to do after high school. This lack of drive shows up in how the United States may one day soon be producing advanced degree-holders at a lower rate than any number of other countries. But business doesn’t care where the intelligence, man-power,
and money comes from—do you honestly think being an American carries weight with anyone with a lick of fiduciary sense? As I write, the trickle-down effects of these problems are coming to a head. A literacy study recently released by the Pew Charitable Trusts (www.pewtrusts. com) indicates that college upperclassmen at both twoand four-year universities in the United States lack any number of common skills, as in, the kinds of things you drolly slur “duhhhhhh” at your friends for taking too much time to puzzle out. It may not surprise the pessimists among us, but 30 percent of those in two-year colleges and about 20 percent of those in four-year colleges can barely even fi gure out how much lunch would cost them by looking at a menu (understood as that scary concept known as “adding”). These are not the kind of people you want building your bridges or teaching at your schools. You may reply that we only allow the elite to lead, but this is only kind of true—the entire country supports the intelligentsia. But while those that test in the top quartile in America compare favorably with those in other countries, our back end looks quite laughable in comparison. The rest of
TEMU BROWN | STUDENT LIFE
the world is going to commit us to a slow death by slowly raising their back end, essentially. What does this leave us? Something needs to change in America. Whether it’s an overhaul of the education system, a better system for funneling the right kind of people into the right
DMITRI JACKSON | EDITORIAL CARTOON
kind of jobs, or some sort of incentive (that I cannot possibly even fathom) that would reinstill fi re into the belly of the complacent American youth, all I know is that change is necessary. Friedman simply says that “the entitlement we need to get rid of is our sense of entitlement.” America is not
Op-ed submission
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By Scott Abrahams Op-ed submission
W
hat is it about social norming that bothers us so much? Why does an ad campaign designed to better inform our decisions about drinking incur our publicly indignant wrath? None of our partying rights have been taken from us, nor have we lost the freedom to drink alcohol if and when we choose. Should we happen to go overboard when exercising that freedom, the safety net of EST remains a fistful of fives away. Still, we are irked, and administrators are puzzled as to why. What troubles us is the fear of losing our drunk stories. Our beloved tales of intoxicated bravery and inebriated folly send a clear signal to the world that we are fun, exciting people. The stories our friends tell bolster our hope that fun, exciting things might happen to us through our association with such fun, exciting people. If we were to stop
drinking to excess, there would be no more drunk stories, and, therefore, no more fun or excitement left in the world. Drunk stories are the pineapple, coconut milk, and rum to the piña coladas that are the mixed drink metaphors of our lives. Without them, we would be nothing but empty glasses. For example, going to Bear’s Den is an ordinary, ho-hum event, but going to Bear’s Den wasted is hilarious. Waking up next to a stranger is frightening. Waking up next to a stranger drunk is a badge of honor. A chore like walking to the Loop becomes a timeless classic when you embark upon it with two beers in your belly and a third hidden beneath your hooded sweatshirt. Naturally lifeless stories about watching cartoons, calling friends from home, and even walking down stairs become instant legends when you remind your listeners that you were with Jack Daniels at the time. In fact, if you were drunk
when you did it, traditionally frowned-upon behaviors such as tearing down student group flyers, stealing silverware, pulling the fire alarm, and peeing on the post office may invoke laughter, awe, and admira-
“Drunk stories are the pineapple, coconut milk, and rum to the piña coladas that are the mixed drink metaphors of our lives. Without them, we would be nothing but empty glasses.” tion in your peers. Drunk stories are the only thing standing between us and eternal dullness. They are the very fabric of our beer-stained shirts. Without them, we would be running
around campus conversationally naked. It is no wonder, then, that the very incoherent thought of social norming gets our Bloody Marys boiling. And yet, paradoxically, social norming just might turn out to be socially boosting. I, for one, am a staunch supporter of the Just the Facts campaign because it promises to ease the pressure of keeping up with other students. If everyone else reduces their high-risk drinking, that will leave more drunk stories for me. With fewer fun and exciting people to compete with, I will be perceived as more fun and exciting than ever before! Thanks to social norming, I might even get the chance to realize my lifelong ambition of becoming “that guy.” As the saying goes, when life gives you lemons, cut them into wedges and take a shot of tequila. Scott is a junior in Arts & Sciences. He can be reached via email at sdabraha@wustl.edu
Joshua is a senior in Arts & Sciences and a Forum editor. He can be reached via e-mail at forum@studlife.com.
Gospel Choir appropriate for MLK celebration By Ashley Smith, Michelle Hall, Lauren Grady, Michelle Mahan, and Brenda Bea
Increase your tolerance for the social norming campaign
infi nitely old, nor is it writ large somewhere sacred that America will always be on top. Take note, friends, as America is slowly, steadily, and certainly falling behind.
n an article published on Friday, Jan. 20, 2006, Zachary SteinertThrelkeld wrote that a performance by Visions Gospel Choir at the annual MLK celebration “left him, as a Jew, feeling alienated and unsettled.” He implied that the Gospel Choir did not have a place at the MLK celebration. Yet our intention was not to alienate anyone, but to honor Rev. Dr. King and celebrate the God that was at the center of his life. Mr. Threlkeld was correct in saying that God was central to the Civil Rights Movement, but we believe, as did Rev. Dr. King, that this was not a “general God.” This God of the Civil Rights Movement, the God of Rev. Dr. King, and the God we praise, is the God whose son is Jesus Christ. “Jesus, I want to be on your right or your left side [in heaven], not for any selfish reason. I want to be on your right or your left side, not in terms of some political kingdom or ambition. But I just want to be there in love and in justice and in truth and in commitment to others, so that we can make of this old world a new world” (Drum Major Instinct, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Feb. 4, 1968). The God he referred to in all his public addresses is the same God he preached about in the church and is the same God we sang praises to on Monday evening. Although it was perceived that the Gospel Choir’s performance undermined the celebration of diversity, at the March on Washington and before an audience of blacks, whites, Jews, Christians and others, Mahalia Jackson sang a gospel song just before Rev. Dr. King’s speech. Certainly, this did not undermine the strength of Rev. Dr. King’s
most famous address, nor do we believe that our singing detracted from the celebration of diversity Monday evening. Additionally, Mr. Threlkeld claimed that reference to Jesus excluded people of other religions. As Christians, we have the constitutional right to express our faith, as does everyone else, even if everyone present does not believe as we do. Not allowing expression of the Christian faith, especially at an event where it is so significant, would be the same as suppressing any other religious person in a celebration of his or her faith. For example, if we attended a celebration of Gandhi’s life, we would not be surprised or offended to hear songs celebrating Hinduism, as that was a key part of Gandhi’s life and work. Mr. Threlkeld stated that the University must embrace inclusiveness and tolerance, including the “awareness and celebration of religious diversity,” and the Gospel Choir’s performance was an excellent way to do that. Toward the end of his article, Mr. Threlkeld noted, “At some point in the bureaucracy, the decision was made to include the choir.” In fact, this decision was made in 1987 for the University’s First Annual MLK Commemoration, and Visions Gospel Choir has performed at each King celebration since. Visions Gospel Choir, which is a part of Harambee Christian Ministries, appreciates the tolerant atmosphere at Washington University, which allows us to passionately present this perspective of Rev. Dr. King. Ashley, Michelle Hall, and Lauren are juniors in Arts & Sciences. Michelle Mahan and Brenda are juniors in the Business School. All are members of the Harambee Servant Team, and can be reached via e-mail at ashley.smith@wustl.edu.
8 STUDENT LIFE | SPORTS
Senior Sports Editor / Justin Davidson / sports@studlife.com
FRIDAY | JANUARY 27, 2006
Bode, this Bud’s for you By Steven Hollander Contributing Reporter America’s best skier and one of the best in decades, Bode Miller, became the first American to win the World Cup overall title in 22 years in 2005. He is now headed to Turin, Italy, for the 2006 Winter Olympics to represent the United States, but most of the buzz surrounding him seems to have much less to do with gold and silver medals and more to do with Pabst Blue Ribbon and Jack Daniels. In a Jan. 8 interview on “60 Minutes,” Miller implied that he was “wasted” and recovering from a hangover when he skied the day after securing that overall World Cup title. This comment led to media frenzy and has left the U.S. ski team ruffled. Instead of talking about the strength of the U.S. ski team and its medal possibilities, the team’s staff and executives were left to answer countless questions about a story they wish would just go away. None of this bothers Miller. After all, those left to answer the media’s questions are the same people he affectionately called “unbelievable assholes. Rich, cocky, wicked, conceited, super-right-wing Republicans.” As the expression goes, hate is in fact love
wearing clothes just a size too small. To understand Miller, one must first understand his roots. He was raised in a family cabin in Franconia, N.H., where there was no electricity or running water and an outhouse in the backyard. The choice to live in a cabin was made by Miller’s hippie parents, Woody and Jo. Woody was a medical school dropout who had no desire to enter into professional life, while Jo worked at her father’s sports camp. Instead of watching television (remember—they had no electricity), Miller occupied his time wandering the woods outside his home alone. So far from civilization, Miller had to trek through the woods just to get to his bus stop, and that was only once he was enrolled in the local school. For many years, Miller was homeschooled by his parents, who could be described as the epitome of laid-back. At the age of three and a half, Miller lost his beloved uncle, Bubba, in a kayaking accident. Like Miller, Bubba was a thrill-seeker and a talented skier. In similar fashion, Miller had his own brush with death at age 13, when he was nearly killed in the full view of his entire family—he had been caught in an avalanche while trying to ski a
steep face of Mt. Washington. With all of this freedom and opportunity to contemplate life, Miller developed a personality that separated him from the pack. Unlike most athletes who give stock statements and look more like infomercial actors each day, Miller says whatever is on his mind. Expletives included. It seems that every so often, Miller puts himself into another sticky situation. Before the “60 Minutes” incident, Miller threatened not to compete in the Olympics because of its lack of purity and its emphasis on medals, rather than competition. During the summer, Miller made waves by calling for the legalization of most performance enhancing drugs, even though he doesn’t even use vitamins himself. (One look at his physique would end all such speculation). He defended his statement by citing the hypocrisies of the drug policy and suggested allowing performance enhancers to be used, but only if tests were administered to determine that the level of the enhancer in the body was at the pre-determined admissible level. It would be one thing if Miller was just making such statements to attract attention, but this is not the case. If anything, attention is
something Miller would desire less of. “Okay, you might think you know me, but I don’t know you, so don’t fucking come up and give me high fives and say ‘sign this,’” he responded to fans who idolize him. There is no doubt in my mind that this comment was the small-town boy talking. Now, some who come from the sticks embrace fame, but Miller is not everyone else. And he has the right to be so. All Miller wants to do is ski and he should be allowed to do so. Just because he is in the spotlight does not mean that he should have to be someone he is not. Throughout his life, from the strong influence of his background and parental upbringing, he has been taught to be himself and express himself and he is not prepared to change for the sake of stuck up ski executives or self-interested members of the media. In the public eye or not, Miller should be who he wants to be and not sacrifice his own integrity just to make other people happy. At the present contentious time of touchy subjects, political correctness, and culture wars—where it seems that more of what we are allowed to say is restricted—Miller is a breath of fresh air. Miller, bottoms up!
Are you an extreme sports enthusiast? An award-winning video gamer? A chess champion? Or something else entirely? Let us know! We’d love to report on your offbeat sports achievements. Send us your story at sports@studlife.com.
DEAN RUTZ | KRT CAMPUS
Skier Bode Miller competes in the World Championships in 2004. Miller recently admitted to skiing while drunk, creating a media frenzy for the Olympic ski team.
Are the Kobes and Artests of the world worth a damn? In light of Kobe Bryant’s 81 points Sunday night and Ron Artest showing his true colors on Tuesday by refusing a trade to Sacramento, I’m beginning to wonder if it’s all worth it. Never mind the fact that Artest finally did accept the trade on Wednesday, but the questions still loom large: does the poor character behind these players outweigh their incredible talent? Is it fair that millions and millions of dollars fall into the hands of these criminals, as I call them, each year? And do we, as the spectators and supporters of their franchises, still enjoy their performances, or has our disappointment in—and resentment of—them contaminated the game for us? Perhaps the negative response to Kobe scoring the second-highest number of points in NBA history was a result of the game falling on a day when just about every sports fan was focused solely on football and the NFC and AFC champion-
ship games. But I worth watching find it hard to behim play. lieve that the fact And then that he was acthere’s Ron Artcused of rape and est. As many of has proven on you know, he demany occasions manded a trade to be a self-cenfrom the Pacers tered prick didn’t a short while Allie play into it at all. ago. The Pacers, After hearing Wieczorek who owe him about it and watching absolutely nothing after the clips on SportsCen- supporting him the way ter, I thought, “Wow, this they did and welcoming guy is really incredible.” him back with open arms 28-of-46 from the floor after his suspension last and 18-of-20 at the foul season, respectfully conline? What an unbeliev- sented to his wishes. On able performance.” And Tuesday there was talk yet I couldn’t find it in of a trade with the Kings: my heart to feel happy Artest for Peja Stojakovic. for him. Sure, I was a The Pacers thought they little bitter about the fact were finally rid of a man that he had significantly who had done so much beaten Michael Jordan’s damage to their team. career high, but in gen- But not so fast. eral, I just couldn’t get Artest decided that he over my deep hatred for doesn’t want to play for the guy. Sacramento, declaring While I can’t say wheth- that he would rather ride er or not he is actually a the bench for Indiana sexual predator, I can say than play for Sacramenthat he’s not the greatest to. He finally did accept guy in the world and that the trade on Wednesday, many others deserve his but only after he had cretalent and success more ated a media circus and, than he does. His selfish- yet again, prolonged the ness and heartlessness process of getting himare not enough to make it self out of Indiana.
Once the Kings got a little taste of the true Ron Artest and heard the news that he would be unhappy with them, the deal fell through. Let me just say that the man has got a lot of nerve. Unfortunately, like Kobe, Artest too has immeasurable talent. Despite his temper, his anger, and his lack of respect for authority and sportsmanship, his outstanding defensive capabilities are certainly enticing. The question is who, if anyone, will give into temptation and wait to see what Artest would do next. The truth is that Kobe Bryant and Ron Artest are two of the most entertaining and enjoyable athletes of their time to watch. But the pit in my stomach when I’m watching them, even at their best, is impossible to ignore. I guess the best remedy is to try to forget about our true feelings about their poor judgment and unkindness and watch the games for what they’re really about: athletic excellence and entertainment value.
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By Michael Mepham Level: Diabolical Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudoku.org.uk.
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FRIDAY | JANUARY 27, 2006
SPORTS Phi Delta Theta fights poverty in the ring v Community
service program mentoring teens in North St. Louis By Derek Winters Sports Reporter St. Louis was recently named the third most dangerous city in the United States, according to w w w. msn.com. It even edged out cities like Gary, Ind., and New Orleans, La. However, when the whole St. Louis Metropolitan area is included, St. Louis doesn’t rank near the top twenty-five. Most crime in St. Louis has been concentrated in several areas which comprise North St. Louis. Reasons for this trend range from an inadequate city school system to poor economic performance. The city is trying to attract new business and had one of the biggest residential booms in 2005 due to the multiple loft projects. In addition, Washington University studentathletes are doing what they can to help improve the situation. Steve Yu, an alumnus of the University trains at The Panda Athletic Boxing Club, located near the North St. Louis Housing Projects. After seeing the conditions around him, Yu contacted senior Ben Schaub, a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and the community service chairman of the fraternity. (Schaub is also captain of Washington University’s varsity football team.) After talking to Yu about what could be done to
help the impoverished youth of the area, Schaub decided to jump on the unique opportunity. With the assistance of senior Jeff Bank and junior Brandon Kerne, they began coordinating more members of the fraternity to begin working with the gym on a weekly basis. Panda Athletic was founded in Nov. 2004 by Steve Smith, a St. Louis local, who opened the gym with the intention of teaching young teenagers discipline, work ethic and respect through boxing. The gym particularly focuses on giving young men an opportunity to escape the influence of drugs, gangs and prostitution prevalent in the surrounding neighborhoods. Smith, also an owner of The Royale, a popular south-side bar and restaurant, is very involved in the St. Louis Boxing community. When Smith first started his venture, he had some initial troubles that he had to get through, but managed to fix them with the help of the fraternity, which began working with Smith last September. “At first, the kids weren’t showing up at the gym because of transportation and motivational reasons. We came in and provided rides and mentoring services to the kids,” said Schaub. “The program has been going great, and the kids have already shown a vast improvement,” added Bank. Part of the work the Phi Delta Theta brothers do with the gym involves picking the teens up from their houses after school and taking them to the gym where they help them with homework for an
hour and answer various questions, ranging from academics to life experiences. The teens spend the remaining time training with their mentors, making sure there is still enough time to arrive home in time for dinner. On average, Bank estimates that there are at least three to five brothers at the gym per week. It’s a bit of a time commitment, but it’s something that Schaub and the rest of his fraternity brothers are willing to do. “We take around three hours out of our Mondays to help the kids and we plan to continue this project for years to come,” said Schaub. Schaub, Bank, Yu, and Smith have been trying to improve the program, not only through mentorship, but also financially. The four of them recently entered the gym into the Olin Cup (NonProfit) Competition, in which boxers from the team competed against other youths in their age group. The goal was to get more funding to provide this service for more days of the week with transportation and advertising, and to expand the gym itself. The experience for both parties has been both quantitative and qualitative. Last year, the boxers traveled to Kansas City, Mo., for the 2005 Ringside World Championships where they competed against over 1,800 amateur boxers from around the world. The boxers represented their city and gym with great pride. In addition, one boxer took home second place in the 14-year-old division and another won walked away with the gold in the 12year-old division.
COURTESY OF PANDA ATHLETIC BOXING CLUB
Two young boxers representing the Panda Athletic Boxing Club demonstrate their form at the 2005 Ringside World Championships in Kansas City, Mo. Members of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity have been working with these teens as mentors. “Personally, the experience is amazing,” exclaimed Schaub. “To see where these kids live and grow up, it’s an experience all in itself to just talk to them individually and feel that you have made some kind of positive impact on their life. Most of them really are good kids stuck in a bad situation and we are there to try to bring out that motivation and determination in them to succeed in life. And the kids have started to warm up to us. They are starting to bring
their homework more often and have gained more interest in what we have to share with them,” said Schaub. Phi Delta Theta has always shown concern for community service in the St. Louis area. “In past years, we helped out with other after school programs in efforts to give something back, especially to the young children who still have a chance to develop their own identities and make the right choices to succeed,” explained Schaub.
The program is trying to grow. Membership for adults is $35 a month and is used to fund free programs for the young fighters who cannot afford to pay monthly dues. Smith is looking to expand the programs for the boxers and volunteers are needed. If you would like to volunteer or are simply interested in joining the gym please contact Steven Yu at (314) 8087656 or via e-mail at ssy u@ alum.w ustl.edu.
World record-holder Jason Pagan wows, gives advice to weightlifters in Activity Center By David Kramer Sports Reporter Profile: Jason Pagan Weight: 190 Bench: 457.5 lbs Squat: 575 lbs Clean and Jerk: 310 lbs 4th year grad student Anyone who lifts consistently in the weight room at Washington University’s Athletic Complex knows that there is one presence in the room that everyone notices. He looks like a god among men, and his muscles and brute strength may make you feel extremely small and worthless. Simply put, he is “jacked.” For those people fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of this superman, but who were too afraid to ask him about himself, his name is Jason Pagan. There is a lot more to this man besides muscles and brawn. Originally from Orlando, Fla., Pagan graduated from Furman University and then decided to come to Washington University to pursue his Ph.D in clinical psychology. He is currently in his fourth year of graduate studies and is one of the TAs for Abnormal Psychology this semester. Not only has Pagan excelled in the classroom, but he has clearly found success in the weight room, as well as in lifting competitions. “In 2001 I set the record for the World Natural Power Lifting Federation (WNPLF), a world weight lifting organization that drug tests. It was in the 181-weight class and I benched 457 1/2 pounds natural and raw. This means that I didn’t have any equipment and I was drug tested. I set a record for the junior division as well as the world division,” Pagan explained. His record warranted him a paragraph clip in the 2001 December issue of Sports Illustrated’s “Faces
in the Crowd.” Besides holding a world record Pagan’s other lifts are not too shabby either. When he was 18 years old he clean and jerked 315 lbs. His lifetime max squat is 590 lbs. He also ran a 4.6 second 40-yard dash as a free safety in high school. After seeing Pagan’s physique, one can only assume that he had always been naturally strong and was maybe an offspring of two incredibly strong people. Varsity baseball player Arden Farhi suggested that Pagan was “the love child of Chyna and Chuck Norris.” This assumption is wrong, however. Pagan started lifting weights in high school. “I originally got into lifting through football in high school,” he said. “I found that I was good at it and enjoyed it. I enjoyed the challenge of trying to hit a new weight and getting bigger and
stronger. I have an identical twin brother and we really pushed each other. In Florida they actually have varsity weightlifting as a sport, so I competed for four years in high school. I really enjoyed the competition; it was just the weight and myself. When I went to college I got involved in the weight lifting team at Furman and just really loved it. I later became president of the power and fitness club at Furman.” Some Washington University students were so intrigued by his bulging muscles that they made an entire group to honor him on the facebook called “People in Awe of Super-Jacked Guy,” as he is lovingly called by fellow weightlifters that are impressed by his physique. One person on the site accused Pagan of using steroids. Pagan had mixed reactions about the accusations as well as the group, which makes it seem like he has attained almost
COURTESY OF JASON PAGAN
Fourth year graduate student Jason Pagan bench presses a world record 457.5 lbs in the 181-pound weight class at the 2001 World Natural Powerlifting Federation (WNPF) World Championship.
a super hero status among his weightlifting colleagues. “I get the steroid accusation a lot. I have never in my life tried steroids or any hormone enhancing substance, and I have been drug tested every time I lifted at the world level. At first I was offended when people starting asking me that, but now I take it as a compliment. Anyone can get big if you put the time and effort into it. As far as the [Facebook] group, overall I thought it was a little strange at first and I still think it’s a little strange, but I am very flattered by it. Sometimes I feel like it’s a little intimidating that I have to live up to something that isn’t necessarily true. I don’t think I deserve the “super-jacked guy” label. I mean, I do the best that I can in the gym, but I guess I am very flattered,” he said. For those who are afraid to approach Pagan in the weight room some things he mentioned may help those who are trying to get bigger. “One thing I notice is that too many people are lifting the same muscle groups too often,” he explained. “You can’t go in and bench press everyday, and they are trying to do weights that they are not ready for and many people end up hurting themselves. Also, eating, dieting and sleep are really important. When you are staying up late and eat crap you cannot expect to make good gains in your lifting. Protein is very important in your diet. At minimum you want at least one gram of protein per kilogram of your body weight in your diet.” Aside from lifting, Pagan has many other activities he enjoys doing during his free time, including running, occasionally going to a few bars and having a drink, and traveling to any place with a beach. Many people would look at Pagan and think that he is probably a chick magnet, but he was not so sure.
“I don’t think women flock to me any more than anyone else,” he said humbly. “At least I haven’t experienced that. If they did, I don’t know what I would do. I think there are certain groups of women that are intrigued and excited by muscular guys and then there are other women that are scared and turned off by that sort of thing.” After Pagan attains his Ph.D, he plans to go into practice as well as possibly continuing to research for a major university. As far as Pagan’s advice to those that want to find success in weight lifting, he is more than willing to offer his expertise. “The big thing is consistency— you can’t expect to work out for a month and then take a week or two off. Set a reasonable goal, get into the gym three or four times a week and do that every week. And don’t push it really hard and burn yourself out. You have to be patient with it. You can make significant gains over the course of a year. Have reasonable expectations; there is no reason that you should expect yourself to be huge in a year or cut in a year. Just look at it in the long term. When I am lifting I don’t mean to show off. I usually don’t even say anything to anyone. I have no intentions of making people look bad or feel bad. I have been doing this for a long time (12 years) and it has been an accumulation of knowledge,” he said. If you do happen to work out in the Athletic Complex in the future and find yourself confused about what lift to do feel free to ask him for help. “If anyone has a question that is not too broad I am more than happy to help. Someone taught me how to do everything that I do and I am more than happy to do the same for someone else. I love lifting and love working out, and it really positively benefits my life and I would love other people to benefit too.”