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The Official Campus Newspaper of Swarthmore College Since 1881 VOL. 137, ISSUE 2

The Phoenix THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2013

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COURTESY OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE

Swarthmore Moves Ahead with Master Plan

Pictured above, a plan submitted by architects suggests the expansion of both sides of Willets that would add 75 beds and create a Willets courtyard.

By DAN BLOCK Assistant News Editor It does not require particularly close examination to notice that some spaces on campus are overcrowded. At the peak of lunch and dinner, navigating Sharples becomes chaotic. High housing lottery numbers can inspire nightmares. Some facilities are operating at overcapacity, and others are in need of renovation.

In response to the mounting need for improved facilities, the college is in the process of drafting a master plan that will expand and revamp a variety of student spaces. The plan, for example, calls for the addition of roughly 200 beds, a renovation of athletic spaces, and additional eating space in Sharples.

But how these changes should be executed is still being discussed.

“Things are very open at this stage,” said Randall Exon, an art professor and member of the master plan’s steering committee.

“There’s nothing written in stone.”

Stu Hain, the Vice-President for Facilities and Services and another member of the master plan’s steering committee, agreed.

“We’re still not finished,” he said.

As part of the process for determining how student spaces should be altered, the committee held a forum on January 24th in which a planning firm hired by the school

presented a variety of proposals. Sugges- what we hear from students,” he said. tions for expanding dorm space were parIn addition, attendees expressed worry ticularly diverse. They included expanding about the potential removal of Upper TarWillets, constructing a suite-style dorm be- ble from Clothier Hall, prompting commithind Mary Lyons, building new dorms by tee members to assure students that new Wharton, Sharples, and Palmer, Pittenger space for dancing and other activities would and Roberts, and connecting Dana and be included to account for that loss. “Some Hallowell with new housing where the trail- students have real concerns about that beers currently are. During the presentation, cause that serves a community need in a community members had the opportunity really specific way, so we will weigh that,” to comment and make suggestions.

Hain said.

“The very purpose of There was also the forum is to collect worry among student input on the various opThings are very open athletes that the plan tions,” said Paula Dale, did not go far enough the Executive Assistant for at this stage. Nothing in renovating athletic Facilities and Services and facilities. But Dale emis written in stone. the campus master plan phasized that sports Randall Exon project manager. were carefully considFew students and facered in the process.

Art Professor ulty attended, but those “The campus master who did were active in planning team has met making comments. Students, for example, with athletics on more than one occasion voiced concerns that adding onto Willets and gotten their wish list and their names,” would make an already very social dorm she said. more rowdy, or that building by Sharples Hain agreed, emphasizing that they would risk putting students too close to the would take their concerns into effect. “They fire horn. People also wondered why suite- raised important issues,” he said. style housing had to be so far from campus, However, because of limited attendance, which, according to Hain, may affect the it is difficult for the committee to determine committee’s decision to build there. “How if comments are representative of how the we carry that forward will be informed by campus feels. Indeed, sometimes, the comContinued on Page 3

By ALLI SHULTES Living & Arts Editor In 1999, a professor of art history at the college delivered an address titled “The Usefulness of Uselessness.” Her argument has since become the academic credo on campus; the idea that the pursuit of interests, no matter how disparate or “useless” they may appear to be, will somehow come in handy ten years down the line “The Usefulness of Uselessness” may no longer be suited to economic and political realities outside the bubble. Over $50,000 per year is a high price to pay for academic indulgence without hope of job security, and professors and students on campus are beginning to push against the standard rebuttal to questions of utility (“we’re teaching you how to think”).

For professor of history Timothy Burke, the issue of usefulness is a question of institutional concern before its application to individual departments.

“We have an official institutional ideology that there shouldn’t be — in the simple sense of the word — useful majors,” Burke said. “And that’s increasingly in tension with one part of the national dialogue where you’ve got one group of people saying college costs a lot and the cost is only justified if it trains young people to do something specific that has specific value.”

Burke is currently working on an essay discussing the value of a liberal arts college through the lens of obliquity, as described by economist John Kaye. According to Kaye, one’s goals are best achieved indirectly. Aiming directly for what one desires — as, for instance, with happiness — rarely brings the desired result.

The educational equivalent to Kaye’s principle is seen between liberal arts colleges and other forms of education — trade, technical and pre-professional schools — that cultivate a skill set specific to a certain career. In Burke’s opinion, the volatile nature of the modern marketplace leaves individuals with a limited toolbox at a disadvantage. Rapid change favors the flexible — theoretically, those that know how to think, as Swarthmore students are often told they are taught.

But is this logical rhetoric? Professor of psychology Barry Schwartz doesn’t buy it.

“The argument that a liberal arts education makes you flexible, that it prepares you for the modern world, is wishful thinking,” he said. “Smart people are adaptable.

Liberal arts schools [don’t teach that]... our students come in smart and curious, and we do our best not to knock it out of them.”

Intelligence and curiosity, however, only take you so far: majors matter. For students seeking employment right after college, certain positions require foundational knowledge that can only come from immersion in a particular area of study.

Schwartz sees this as being more true for Continued on Page 7

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

NEWS LSE COMMITTEE WORKS TO BOOK SOLANGE

LIVING & ARTS SEPTA TO SEX: PHILLY’S SEXIEST OFFERING

Two months after announcing that Macklemore would be performing at this spring’s LSE, the committee is hoping that Solange headline the performance instead. Page 3

Vianca Masucci reveals Philadelphia’s top resources for sex education, kink groups, LGBT nightlife and sexy literature. Page 7

OPINIONS STAFF EDITORIAL The Phoenix argues that students have a responsibility to be more engaged with the campus Master Plan, but the administration must also endeavor to better demonstrate its importance. Page 16

SPORTS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SUFFERS SETBACK The first place women’s basketball team falls to Gettysburg, but maintains their lead in the conference standings. Page 16

PAGE 2

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2013

The Phoenix STEVEN HAZEL Editor-in-Chief KOBY LEVIN Managing Editor PARKER MURRAY Managing Editor The News Section AMANDA EPSTEIN Editor DANIEL BLOCK Assistant Editor ANNA GONZALES Assistant Editor SARAH COE-ODESS Writer COLE GRAHAM Writer TIFFANY GRAHAM Writer TIFFANY KIM Writer TOBY LEVY Writer AIDAN PANTOJA Writer The Living & Arts Section ALLI SHULTES Editor GABRIELA CAMPOVERDE Assistant Editor TAYLOR HODGINS Assistant Editor COURTNEY DICKENS Writer MIREILLE GUY Writer AXEL KODAT Writer JEANETTE LEOPOLD Writer MAYRA TENORIO Writer JOSHUA ASANTE Writer VIANCA MASUCCI Writer SERA JEONG Writer IZZY KORNBLATT Columnist

Layout

CATHY PARK Columnist KIERAN REICHERT Columnist DAVID TOLAND Columnist PAIGE FAITH SPENCER WILLEY Columnist ZOE WRAY Columnist DINA ZINGARO Columnist YENNY CHEUNG Artist ELIZABETH KRAMER Artist RENU NADKARNI Artist PRESTON COOPER Puzzle Master The Opinions Section PRESTON COOPER Editor AARON KROEBER Assistant Editor TYLER BECKER Columnist SEAN BRYANT Columnist DANIELLE CHARETTE Columnist CRAIG EARLEY Columnist PATRICK HAN Columnist HARSHIL SAHAI Columnist The Sports Section DANIEL DUNCAN Editor SCOOP RUXIN Writer JAMES IVEY Columnist IBIDAYO FAYANJU Columnist

MARCUS MELLO Editor MENGHAN JIN Editor NYSANTEE ASHERMAN Assistant YENNY CHEUNG Assistant MIREILLE GUY Assistant JOSHUA ASANTE Assistant MAYRA TENORIO Assistant JOSH GREGORY Assistant CAMI RYDER Assistant JULIANA GUTIERREZ Assistant Photography JULIA CARLETON Editor RAISA REYES Editor JOSHUA ASANTE Photographer YENNY CHEUNG Photographer MARTIN FROGER-SILVA Photographer JULIANA GUTIERREZ Photographer AKSHAJ KUCHIBHOTLA Photographer KATY MONTOYA Photographer SADIE RITTMAN Photographer HOLLY SMITH Photographer JUSTIN TORAN-BURRELL Photographer ZHENGLONG ZHOU Photographer COURTNEY DICKENS Videographer Copy

AKSHAJ KUCHIBHOTLA Editor ALEC PILLSBURY Editor CAMI RYDER Editor Business HARSHIL SAHAI Director PAUL CHUNG Director ERIC SHERMAN Webmaster MARCUS MELLO Social Media Coordinator CAMI RYDER Publicity Coordinator ALLISON MCKINNNON Circulation Manager The Phoenix is located in Parrish Hall, Offices 470-472 500 College Ave Swarthmore, PA 19081 Tel 610.328.7362 Email editor@swarthmorephoenix.com Web swarthmorephoenix.com Please direct advertising requests to advertising@ swarthmorephoenix.com. The Phoenix reserves the right to refuse any advertising. Advertising rates subject to change. Mail subscriptions are available for $60 a year or $35 a semester. Please direct subscription requests to Marcus Mello.

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JOYCE WU Chief Copy Editor SARAH COE-ODESS Editor SOPHIE DIAMOND Editor JOSH GREGORY Editor ALICE KIM Editor

Week in Pictures | Page 4

News College Resists Mountain Justice Divestment Efforts Despite two years of persistent efforts by members of Mountain Justice, the administration and Board of Managers appear unwilling to compromise on divesting from fossil fuel companies. PAGE 4 Global Health Forum Honors Ravi Thackurdeen ’14 The Global Health Forum held its fifth variety show, featuring performances from a wide variety of campus groups and honoring a member who passed away while on study abroad last spring. PAGE 5 Rape Aggression Defense System Class Introduced for Females Public Safety employees will teach a self-defense course this semester to interested female students and community members as part of a campus-wide effort to prevent sexual assault, though the class is closed to male students and community members.

PAGE 5

Living & Arts Winter Break Wrap-Up How was your winter break? Paige Willey discusses the peaks and pits of returning home for a month.

PAGE 6 Pop Minimalism to the Max: The xx at the Electric Factory A retrospective on the trio’s recent work in light of their Philadelphia performance this past Sunday night. PAGE 6

SADIE RITTMAN/PHOENIX STAFF

Committment Conscious Cabaret

“You Are An Illegal” - Op-Ed

Paolo Debuque and Audrey Edelstein bring musical revue to campus this spring. PAGE 7

In an Op-Ed, Uriel Medina Espino of campus group Swatties for a DREAM urges dropping the word “illegal” from our vocabulary as a synonym for “undocumented.” PAGE 12

Lost in Translation Three Swatties share their experiences abroad and discuss different perceptions of education, horror stories, and engagement with local cultures. PAGE 8 J. Henry Fair Showcases Eco-Fouls at McCabe Photography exhibit on library’s first floor offers new perspective on enviornmental tragedy. PAGE 9 The Whole Truth and Nothing But the Truth Dina Zingaro premieres her column on issues of contemporary religion. PAGE 10 The Busboys: Marrakesh Swat’s foodie duo gives the dish on a South Street Favorite. PAGE 10

Hot Diggity Dog Meet the new lab Lab, Kaylee, and Assistant Professor Vince Formica. PAGE 10 SEPTA to Sex: Philly’s Sexiest Offering Vianca Masucci reveals Philadelphia top resources for sex education, kink groups, LGBT nightlife and sexy literature. PAGE 11

Opinions

Swarthmore Master Plan - Staff Editorial The Phoenix argues that students have a responsibility to be more engaged with the campus Master Plan, but the administration must also better endeavor to demonstrate its importance. PAGE 1

Exit Hillary Clinton Preston reflects on Hillary Clinton’s four-year tenure as Secretary of State and sums up her philosophy of how to approach America’s relationship with the world. PAGE 13 Some Good News on Immigration Danielle heralds the bipartisan immigration plan coming out of the Senate and urges conservatives to drop their nativist arguments against reform. PAGE 14 Reflections on a Family Divided by GEography and Language Opinions writer Patrick Han reflects on experiences with his grandparents at the start of the Chinese New Year. PAGE 14

Sports

Women’s Basketball Outrunning the Pack The women’s strong play continued over break as the Garnet went 7-2 in their winter games. Meanwhile, the men earned a hard-fought win over McDaniel. PAGE 18 The Difference Between the Fan and the Businessman Jamie Ivey tries to understand why Southampton fired their manager after he led them back to the Premier League. PAGE 19 Track Endures the Swarthmore Winter Track and field returned early to campus for intense training and two meets in New York City. PAGE 19

News

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2013

PAGE 3

The Phoenix

Following Macklemore Cancellation, Large Scale Event Committee Works to Book Solange

By NEHMAT KAUR News Writer

The Large Scale Event and Worthstock are two of the most anticipated events of the spring semester. In December of last year, Brennan Klein ’14, LSE Committee Chair, wrote an open letter to students through The Phoenix in which he announced that Macklemore would be the headliner at this year’s LSE. There was also talk of a “Welcome Back Show” on Jan. 26, 2013. As Swatties may have noticed, the show failed to materialize, and much else has gone awry since the letter was published.

Nearly two months after Macklemore’s performance was announced, Paury Flowers, coordinator of student activities, has confirmed that “Macklemore is not on the final list for LSE.” “We didn’t have a contract with Macklemore when I wrote the letter but we had sent him a ‘we’re about to send you a contract’ e-mail,” Klein said. “However someone else could pay more and Macklemore decided to go with that opportunity. When we first thought of Macklemore in May, he could be booked for $15,000 but since then it has gone up to about $50,000.”

After a mad scramble over winter break, the Committee has settled on Solange, also known as Beyonce’s sister, to replace Macklemore. Klein seemed excited at the prospect of having Solange perform. “This is the best opportunity we’ve had to actually book someone. It looks likely that we’ll be able to book her.” The contract that the college offered Solange was supposed to expire on Monday, but Solange has not responded as of Tuesday night. It remains unclear if Solange’s performance at LSE has been confirmed or not. Klein, though optimistic, had mentioned contractual concerns that Solange’s representatives had brought up about LSE. They do not want the performance to be advertised beyond Swarthmore College as it might negatively affect the value of her other Philadelphia performances.

Since Solange is not as well-known as Macklemore, Klein pointed out that she is relatively inexpensive, so booking her would allow the Committee to hire betterknown openers within a range of $5,000 to $10,000. Since Macklemore is not com-

ing, the student-selected acts that would have opened for Macklemore have also been cancelled. Over this weekend, the LSE Committee plans to repeat the process of student voting for opening acts that would better complement Solange’s type of music. They will set up a voting mechanism through Moodle, and Klein hopes to approach the selected acts by the following Monday.

The LSE Committee’s struggle to put together a successful event is not an unknown or unacknowledged issue at Swarthmore. It was with the hope of improving the process and providing more transparency that Klein wrote the open letter last semester.

However, in hindsight, he considers his decision to be ill-timed, “I was probably naïve about letting people know. The plans seemed more resolute than they actually were,” he said. He added that the letter prompted students to e–mail the Committee with questions, which were all dutifully answered.

The problems with booking artists and timely planning are not limited to the large events like LSE and Worthstock. As last week demonstrated, a small “Welcome Back Show” with a budget of $200 to $500 had to be cancelled at the last minute. Speaking about the failure to execute the show, Klein said, “We were counting on an act from Worthstock last year to be our headliner but he stopped communicating with us. Another DJ from Philadelphia wasn’t available and so we were just left with two young girls from New York City who were eager to come but not known. We didn’t think it would be much of a show with just two girls so we cancelled on them.”

While talking about the apparent problems with the Committee and its current situation, Klein said, “ We weren’t on our game for certain things.” Though he admittedly feels jaded about this process, he thinks the lack of budget for a school this size poses a constraint on the artists we can hire. “This isn’t for want of trying.

Other schools of this size can get big acts.

But creatively working within these guidelines and finding recognizable acts can be rewarding,” he said. Klein and Flowers also made the point that much of this process depends on the artists that they approach.

Even starting as early as May cannot ensure

COURTESY OF DIGITIZEDGRAFFITI.COM

Up-and-coming rap star, Macklemore, originally intended to be the headliner, is no longer an option for this year’s LSE.

a smooth planning process.

A former member of the LSE Committee, who wished to remain anonymous to avoid offending members of the administration, wrote that the Committee is poorly organized and that much can be done to improve the functioning of the group.

However, he noted that he has been uninvolved with the committee since quitting and circumstances may have changed since he left.

Discussing his time as a member of the Committee, he said, “I quickly became disillusioned with the committee, and the administration wasn’t doing great things either. They were just very disrespectful of people’s time. Meetings would be scheduled during class times, and the facilitator and administration people would arrive really late.” He thinks that the administration plays a role in the alleged inefficiency of the committee, specifically its disorganised nature and lack of support for students. He concluded by saying that several past members have expressed frustration with how the Committee is run.

Kyle Krainock ’13, who used to write a music blog for the Daily Gazette and has attended many concerts in Philadelphia during his time at Swarthmore, echoed the sentiment of exasperation, saying, “I

know friends who have quit the committee because it was too frustrating.” Speaking as a person with eclectic taste in music, Krainock commented on past LSEs, “I’ve never been excited for LSE in my time here.

At one point, maybe things were different, but during my time here, it has never worked out.” He drew attention to known bands that have performed at Swarthmore like Matt and Kim, Tokyo Police Club, The Roots, and Passion Pit, and expressed disappointment that acts of such quality have not been booked in the last four years.

Speaking as an ordinary student, Krainock gets the impression that the role of the administration ought to be reduced. He said, “The Committee is capable of booking acts without being overseen by the administration. Let the LSE Committee call all the shots.” He also recommended adopting Bryn Mawr’s system of hosting such events, which involves organising three to four big concerts over the course of a semester.

For the moment, however, these calls for structural changes to the committee are not being considered as it continues its effort to confirm Solange’s performance for the LSE. They are dealing with Solange’s vacillating agents by hosting another meeting on Tuesday night to select another artist from their shortlist that they can pursue.

‘Master Plan’, continued from page 1 they feel need improvement and explain why.

“People tend to be specific about what they want,” said Dale of the online forums.

For example, the committee received a request to construct a rock-climbing wall.

In addition, committee members said they often incorporate feedback they have heard in their conversations with faculty and students into the planning process. “I get a lot of direct feedback,” said Rachel Head, the assistant dean for residential life and a member of the master plan advisory committee, who added that her relationship to residential assistants made it particularly easy to get reactions.

Exon too said he received comments and that he would bring ideas he thought could be of use to the group as a whole.

“If I hear something from a colleague or from a student that I think could be

particularly useful for the committee to know, I’ll definitely bring it back to the committee,” he said.

One class, Contemporary Architecture, is giving students an unusual opportunity to affect the master plan. There, students are designing projects in the context of the master plan to help reform Sharples. If successful, some may be incorporated into the actual blueprint.

Julian Marin ‘14, who is taking the class, hoped that it would give students, who are intimately familiar with the facility, the opportunity to help address some of the issues the facilities have. “Sharples is a difficult place to figure out, especially for someone who doesn’t interact with and go to Sharples every day,” he said. At the end of the semester, the students will present their plans to the administration and put on an exhibition at the Kitao Gal-

lery.

Dale emphasized that feedback from the community would be vital to the process.

“We will meet and discuss all of the comments that were made at the three forums as well as the comments on the website and look at the various options that were presented and discuss how we should look at them going forward based on these comments,” she said.

Marin, who attended the forum, agreed that the comments appeared to be useful. “Student feedback seemed to be helpful,” he said.

“We definitely want to know what those disagreements are and the rationale behind them,” said Exon. “I think everyone on the committee is committed to coming up with solutions that will meet the need of the community.”

COURTESY OF SWARTHMORE COLLEGE

Above, a possible configuration of new dorm additions to campus.

News

PAGE 4

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2013

The Phoenix

Week In Pictures

College Resists Mountain Justice Divestment Efforts

By SARAH COE-ODESS News Writer

ZHENGLONG ZHOU/THE PHOENIX

Jeffrey Lott, former Editor of the Swarthmore Bulletin, poses with a bust of Benjamin Hallowell, one of the four “master builders of Swarthmore” whom he is writing about in his book about the history of the college.

Freshmen Paul Green and Laura Hyder have fun in the snow in Mertz Field.

The Swarthmore Quidditch team practices, despite the snow and cold weather.

ZHENGLONG ZHOU/THE PHOENIX

MARTIN FROGER-SILVA/THE PHOENIX

When The New York Times published an article on Dec. 4, 2012 about Swarthmore College students’ effort to make the college divest from fossil fuel companies, the entire campus learned about student group Mountain Justice’s goal to fight against pollution and climate change. What they did not know, however, is that the focus of the story has been a constant subject of discussion between Mountain Justice members and the Board of Managers for close to two years. Divestment would entail cutting back the endowment, specifically its holdings in fossil fuel companies. Swarthmore is among several schools with students who are trying to accomplish this.

“The campaign nationally took off last semester, especially after the New York Times article,” Mountain Justice member Dinah Dewald ’13 said. “So after that happened, we have sort of shifted our focus from being just focused on Swarthmore to thinking we’re part of a national movement.”

Dewald, along with fellow Mountain Justice member Marco Covarrubias ’15, feels that despite their persistent efforts and increased dialogue with the administration, Mountain Justice members are coming up short. As conversation with other schools across the country has increased since the article, Dewald and Covarrubias have discovered that Swarthmore’s administration is not unique and describe most other administrations as dismissive and reluctant to make similar changes.

“We’re focusing on Swarthmore’s endowment and think that Swarthmore has the potential [to lead the movement],” Dewald said. “People are looking to Swarthmore to be a leader” According to Vice President for Finance and Treasurer Suzanne Welsh, the administration is proud of Swarthmore students’ leadership on the issue of climate change and their desire to raise public awareness.

“The Board fully supports the urgency of working on climate change, and within the College we’re making additions to the academic program [with environmental studies],” she said.

“We’re doing a lot on campus to reduce our carbon footprint, and we’re pursuing shareholder activism.”

Still, the possible demands of this sustainability movement prevent the College from divesting. One potential issue, Welsh explained, is the reaction of alumni who have contributed substantially to the endowment. Many of them feel the endowment should be allocated according to economic necessity than than social initiatives, especially if they do not agree with them.

Dewald disagrees, however, noting that many alumni, as well as Swarthmore professors, have reached out to express their agreement with Mountain Justice’s goals. She added that she believes that an environmental article in the most recent Alumni Bulletin is a direct response to Mountain Justice’s actions.

Some potential logistical drawbacks, Welsh said, would be altering which firms the College would invest in, determining who would manage

and construct the list of permissible firms, and keeping track of how that list changed over time. Divestment could also cause a significant financial impact, which would lead to an entire restructuring of the endowment.

Swarthmore has only divested once, in 1986, because of apartheid in South Africa.

“General policy is that we, for a lot of reasons, think that the endowment should not be used as a tool for social purposes, except for extreme exceptions,” Welsh said.

Although Swarthmore’s administration has not seriously considered Mountain Justice’s suggestions thus far, the student group plans to keep persisting.

“We’re aware that people have been running campaigns for years and haven’t gotten the government to do anything about these methods that are really harming the community,” Covarrubias said. “We feel that we have a lot of power, given that we go to a school with a huge endowment, and we want to use that power to make a difference.”

Covarrubias and Dewald both expressed frustration with the lack of progress that has been made in the past couple years of discussion with Swarthmore’s Board of Social Responsibility.

“We understand that this is a politically charged issue, but it’s definitely a pattern that the administration will disguise a political motive in a logistical question, like the financial aid question,” Covarrubias said. “We want people to know we’re going to take action nonetheless.”

The question of financial aid involves a rumor that if divestment had a negative impact to returns, financial aid would be cut. Dewald and Covarrubias both think this rumor was inaccurate.

“When we divested from South Africa [over the span of six or seven years], we actually tallied the cost,” Welsh said. “That decision cost the college 2.2 million dollars … [The financial aid question] is a rumor, but if there were a cost, it would have to come out of something. We spend all the money that’s available to us, and if you constrict that money, you have to figure out where that financial cost is borne.”

Mountain Justice has continued to pursue the issue, regardless of the administration’s response. At the end of last semester, the group held a demonstration involving pushing dominoes down the stairs of Parrish Hall to show the domino effect of the climate change and investing in fossil fuels. They were surprised by the large turnout of the event.

In collaboration with 210 schools across the country, Mountain Justice has also planned a convergence for next month. The group expects 150– 170 students who are fighting for divestment at their respective colleges to show up.

The convergence will concern how to run a campaign strategically, how to connect to the national movement, and how to ensure support of frontline communities. The convergence will take place on Swarthmore’s campus from Feb. 22–24.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013

News

PAGE 5

The Phoenix

Global Health Forum Honors Ravi Thackurdeen ’14

By TIFFANY KIM News Writer From Grapevine to Rythm ’n Motion, an array of student clubs came together to fight malaria and entertain the student body in the fifth annual Global Health Variety Show. The show, held by the Global Health Forum (GHF) on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013 in the Lang Performing Arts Center, was dedicated to Ravi Thackurdeen ’14, who passed away while studying abroad in Costa Rica last spring. An active member of GHF with a keen interest in issues of global health, Thackurdeen had been working for the Organization of Tropical Studies, studying respiratory illness among the Ngobe people.

Entrance to the event was free, though audience members were encouraged to contribute an optional donation of $5. Through these donations, GHF raised about $300 for Against Malaria, an organization dedicated to preventing the spread of malaria. Operating in 143 different sites across the world, Against Malaria provides mosquito bed nets to populations at high risk for the disease. The $5 donation buys one bed net for a family.

The show began with an introduction of the night’s masters of ceremony, Christopher Capron ’15 and Randy Burson ’15. They were followed by performances by the Swarthmore mariachi band, Los Parangaricutirimicuaros, a capella groups Grapevine and Chaverim, Boy Meets Tractor, the student sketch comedy group, and members of the Swarthmore Tango Club. Capron and Burson emerged in between performances to introduce the next performers and exchange pre-scripted banter, which was met with appreciative laughter.

“We’re roommates,” said Burson on the dynamic he had with Capron. “It helps.”

A short intermission preceded a more somber second half, starting with emotionally charged spoken word performances from members of OASIS. Afterwards, Burson and Capron held a moment of silence for Thackurdeen, which was respectfully observed by all those in the theater.

Turning towards more light-hearted fare, a capella groups Mixed Company and Essence of Soul both offered renditions of popular songs, while comedy group Vertigo-go entertained the audience with improvised skits.

The night’s proceedings ended with performances by members of Rhythm n Motion and a reminder from the MCs about the cause for which the event was held.

A student-led organization, the Global Health Forum (GHF) focuses primarily on issues of public health and global health and has held the variety show every year since 2008. The group meets every Sunday at 9 p.m. in Trotter 215 to discuss ways to raise awareness for various causes, from malaria prevention and foreign medical aid to nations suffering from extreme poverty.

GHF sorely misses the presence of Thackurdeen, who was to become part of the group’s leadership this academic year, and hoped to honor him through the variety show.

The event organizer, Nina Kogekar ’13, said, “Since we heard the news last spring, we were all thinking that at some point this year, we’d like to do something in his memory, because he did make a lot of contributions towards our group.”

“I think that it’s a popular event because it brings together so many different performing groups — like maybe fans of dance groups don’t get to see a capella or comedy.” Kogekar added. “We’ve kept doing it because it’s been pretty successful and it seems like the student body enjoys it.”

Gabe Benjamin ’15 agreed that the range of performances offered at the variety show contributed to its appeal. “I really enjoyed the event because I thought it was a really awesome way to see all different types of groups on campus and get a little taste of every group.” Benjamin, who had a friend from home visiting that day, appreciated the opportunity to show off the diversity of talent among Swarthmore students.

Another audience member, Kathleen Escoto ’16, attended the show with friends and said afterwards, “I thought it was an interesting mix of events that really exhibited all the cool things that are offered at Swarthmore. I thought it was nice that at the same time they were raising money and commemorating Ravi. Although I’ve seen a lot of these things already, I think the cause was great.”

Cole Harbeck ’15, a member of Essence of Soul, said the group enjoyed participating. “I think it was for a good cause, a lot of good groups came out and performed — it was

SADIE RITTMAN/THE PHOENIX

Above, Los Parangaricutirimicuaros, the school mariachi band, plays. The band opened the show. Below, slam poet Sean Bryant ’13 performs.

fun,” he said.

“We’ve been a part of the show for the past couple years and they asked us if we’d like to participate again, so we agreed to give our time,” Harbeck added.

The variety show will not be the last event held in Thackurdeen’s memory. GHF has tentative plans to have another fundraising

event, this time with proceeds going to the Organization for Tropical Studies, the group that Thackurdeen worked with in Costa Rica.

Capron said, “We’re hoping we can honor Ravi further by supporting the organization that he was working with last spring. We weren’t able to do that this time but we’re optimistic of doing it in the future.”

Rape Aggression Defense System Class Introduced for Females

By TOBY LEVY News Writer Starting this semester, the college plans to teach the Rape Aggression Defense System, a comprehensive program offering realistic self-defense tactics, awareness training prevention techniques, risk reduction and avoidance methods. Each session lasts two hours, and the class meets weekly. The course is offered as a physical education credit to any interested female students and community members.

“I want as many girls as possible to take the course,” said Michael J. Hill, Director of Public Safety, “So I think making it a P.E. credit will convince large numbers of girls to sign up. And once you take the course, you can take it again free for life.” He and fellow Public Safety employee Joanna Gallagher, a 23-year veteran in the private security and public safety field, are the college’s two certified RAD instructors.

Even though the course appears purely physically based, in reality “it’s 20 percent physical and 80 percent prevention-based,” Hill said. “Most of the students will learn as much outside of the class as they will inside.

These are skill sets every woman should have.

Improving awareness and intuition are techniques that are immediate and effective.”

A section of the RAD mission statement, listed on its official website said, “The program provides educational opportunities for women, children, men and seniors to create a safer future for themselves.” Notably, however, the program will not be offered to men

at the college.

Alexander Noyes ’15, an Acquaintance Sexual Assault Prevention (ASAP) member, expressed some concern over the all-female nature of the program.

“I think the fact that these courses are female-only is operating on assumptions about gender that aren’t entirely true. I, as a man, am one example of a Swarthmore student who would be interested in taking these classes. I would also like to protect myself from sexual or nonsexual crimes […] For example, it hasn’t been too long since two male students were victims of a physical assault on campus,” he said.

Hill explained that there was no stereotyping in the decision to offer the course exclusively to girls. “Right now I’m only certified to teach the course to girls, but hopefully in the future I’ll be able to do the same with boys,” he said. Gallagher is also currently only licensed as a RAD instructor for girls. She said she hoped to be able to teach the course to boys at some point as well.

The course, although sometimes offered to men, is most often taught to girls and women.

“There are some benefits for men with this [type of] training,” said Lisa Sendrow, an ASAP and Sexual Misconduct Advisory Resource Team (SMART) member, “but 95 percent of the time it’s men attacking women.”

Sendrow said that the classes would provide a refreshing and useful balance to the goals of ASAP and SMART which provides a discussion-based safety net for survivors. “These techniques are not just aggressive, they allow girls to avoid dealing with certain situations,

to connect physical and mental strengths to- of assault. What we know, however, is that no gether.” one program is the ‘magic bullet’ for preventNot everyone is entirely satisfied with ing crimes of sexual abuse and violence. That the particulars of the program, however. is why the college is taking a wider approach.

Although Noyes certainly does not believe The idea is to broaden thinking about the underlying culture/ there is anything climate that can wrong with a perpetuate genclass that advoThe program provides der-based and cates physical educational opportunities for sexual violence.” defense methods, G e n e r a l l y, he also does not women, children, men and the program has think the R.A.D. seniors to create a safer future been met with program should positive responsbe the sole manfor themselves. es and welcomed ner in which the as another comcollege commuR.A.D. Mission Statement ponent of the nity addresses ascollege’s attempts sault.

“Obviously these classes cannot and to mitigate sexual assault stigma and provide should not be the only way our community safety.

Certainly, however, more work needs to addresses sexual assault,” he said. “ASAP programs need to continue. This year ASAP be done. RAD joins and ongoing campus efclasses were reduced in number, a trend I fort to eliminate sexual assault, and Kotarski hope does not continue. The administration stressed the importance of continuing this needs to constantly try to improve the ease kind of work at the community level.

“The idea is to broaden thinking about with which survivors can report and find rethe underlying culture that can perpetuate sources.”

For Beth Kotarski, Director of the Worth gender-based and sexual violence. To get any Health Center, programs like RAD coupled meaningful work done, we know that it has with ASAP and SMART are the keys to edu- to happen at the community level,” she said. cating, protecting, and providing advice to The RAD Basic Physical Defense Course will survivors and students alike surrounding is- be offered on Feb. 20 (6–9 p.m.) and Feb. 23 (8 a.m.–5 p.m.) and also on April 3 (6–9 p.m.) sues of sexual assault.

“The RAD is [just] one way to empower and April 6 (8 a.m.–5 p.m.). Female students folks,” she said. “For that reason, I am glad it interested in joining the program for a P.E. is an option if it helps to give a sense of con- credit should contact Joanna Gallagher at fidence and awareness to the physical nature jgallagher@swarthmore.edu.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2013

The Phoenix

Winter Break Wrap-Up: The Best and Worst of Breaking the Bubble If you had to guess, how many times in the past two weeks did someone ask you how your winter break was? Now, take a second guess: how many of those people do you think valued your response enough to fully retain it? Of that number, how many do you think cared enough to methodically compare your answer with that of others’, and subsequently synthesize all of these PAIGE responses for the purWILLEY pose of presenting this information in an easiSwobservations ly-digested list format?

Unless someone else is doing the exact same thing in secrecy for personal, likely nefarious reasons, instead of what I am doing it for (this Phoenix column, with the hope that it will bring some minimal amount of entertainment), then the answer to that last question is one, and it is I. Best things about going home 1. Guilt-free laziness. Rotting, vegetating, whatever you want to call the blissful relaxation that requires only the couch, a laptop and Instant Netflix that is rapidly becoming America’s pastime, is a treasured privilege for us diligent Swatties. Certainly this is familiar to us as a tool for procrastination (who hasn’t told himself or herself “just one more episode of Breaking Bad, and THEN I’ll write that lab report?”). The importance of doing this during break is that we can do it with a free conscience. The lack of work looming in the background, waiting to devour you whole when you resurface from finishing a complete season of your TV show du jour brings joy to

the hearts and peace to the minds of many Swatties in need of well-deserved unwinding.

2. Gaining a fresh perspective. Because Swarthmore is remarkably sympathetic toward students’ craving for active and engaging weekend social lives, it is easy to forget that our friends attending other fine institutions are less fortunate in the realm of recreation. At such places, an RA is a force of evil. Students must take precautions to dodge this stern authority. While our RAs are friendly facilitators of fun, others’ are, as one character put it in the Hollywood masterpiece Freaky Friday, “fun suckers,” those who menace their residents pining for a taste of freedom and inhibition. By engaging with acquaintances at other schools and hearing their complaints about unfriendly RAs who itch to put their residents on probation at first sight of a beer can, we gain profound perspective on the matter, and realize how lucky we are here at Swat, thanks to our patient, responsible, friendly RAs. 3. Feeling well-cared for, physically, mentally and spiritually. Coming home offers significant comforts for the weary college student: not having to strategically ration your meals over the course of the week, establishing sleep habits like a legitimately diurnal creature and interacting with adults other than professors. When asked, some Swatties swore by the soul-soothing magic of having parents cook them a meal or do a load of their laundry.

4. Reuniting with pets. For those without pets, my apologies for the ever-enlarging holes slowly expanding throughout your subconscious. Readers, that’s a joke,

but the comfort pets bring you is no laughing matter. The peaceful coexistence of species within a domicile is a welcome sign of life, in contrast to the somewhat utilitarian purposes of dormitory inhabitation.

5. When polled, an anonymous California freshman simply replied: “the drugs.” …It’s a life of simple pleasures.

Worst things about going home 1. Parents can’t help themselves; they’re brimming with suggestions and critiques.

As soon as you get back, you’re barraged with interrogatives ranging from the practical: “Did you meet with enough professors last semester?” and “Why don’t you spend less money?” to the personal: “Did you gain any weight?” and “Do you drink?” to the absurd: “Why don’t you try learning a fourth language?” and “Why do you want me to buy ice cream sandwiches?” (Maybe I’m the only one who was asked that last one.) Parents, you’re wonderful people and we’re happy to see you, but can’t we just fulfill our function as fiscal parasites without being subjected to an ongoing interrogation nightmare?

2. Ignorance of what Swarthmore is.

Saying it, then repeating it, then spelling it out to the unfamiliar ear is a tiresome chore. As soon as the inevitable “never heard of it!” spills from the lips of one’s conversation partner, one has to choose among several options, including but not limited to: mumbling “it’s a small liberal arts college outside of Philadelphia;” becoming very pretentious very quickly by tossing out the “14% acceptance rate” statistic; or just remaining silent, leaving the other with the impression that you attend a community

college whose name is plagued with an excess of consonants.

3. Services are less convenient. For most of us, the gym, the post office and the library are all a ten minute drive or more.

I feel like a counterproductive idiot when I drive to a gym, and the convenience of having one so nearby at school shouldn’t be taken for granted.

4. Becoming restless. Many of us experienced the highs of winter break for a few weeks before the inevitable crash, which manifested itself in the form of friends leaving town a week or two before we did, feeling stifled by spending so much time at home and the post-holiday activity lull.

Swarthmore peers reported general increasing boredom as one of the worst parts of break. Our minds, craving the excessive intellectual stimulation we’re subjected to during the academic semester, start revolting at early signs of disuse…

5. “Seeing all the jackasses from my high school.” – an anonymous, glowering freshman. I suppose we can’t ALL be endless perpetuators of sweetness and light…

It is worth noting that many students passed a significantly more productive four weeks than I. Some returned to jobs they held before entering college. Some set (and achieved) noble book-a-week goals, or participated in externships. Others returned to campus early for intensive sports schedules, and still others spent arduous hours training in Aruba for upcoming swim conferences. I hope winter break was rewarding in many ways for everyone. Happy Spring Semester!

Pop Minimalism to the Max: The xx Debut at The Electic Factory

By TAYLOR HODGES Living & Arts Assistant Editor

Early in The xx’s Sunday set at Philadelphia’s Electric Factory, Romy Madley Croft, the band’s guitarist and female vocalist paused between songs to say, “We finally made it.” She was referring to the cancelation of the band’s last Philadelphia performance during October’s Hurricane Sandy, but as the show continued, it was impossible not to see that the band had “made it” in another sense entirely.

Despite the fact that The xx produce the kind of music that works best in intimate settings, it was clear that they belonged on a much bigger stage. Throughout the night, the band’s expansive multi-rig light design felt cramped on the Electric Factory’s small stage. The sold-out crowd sang along with each chorus, cooed their favorite lyrics, and a man shouted “Again!” after the group played a tense, cathartic rendition of the debut album cut, “Intro.”

In 2010 the group won the Mercury Music Prize, essentially the UK’s Grammy Award for best album, and have since been booking stadiums across their home country.

At this point, it’s only a matter of time before they start doing the same in the US. Music critics first appraised The xx’s 2009 debut album as a muted collection of love songs that amounted to a testament to the continued relevance of indie rock, but the band’s appeal proved much wider-reaching. Their self-titled debut record was eventually embraced by a larger sphere fans who received their musical ed-

ucation not on the pages of Pitchfork, but his love for The xx’s percussionist, Jamie via FM frequencies. Despite the band’s all- xx, and Jamie produced Drake’s massively black dress, an aesthetic that might even successful Rihanna duet, “Take Care,” as serve to code their artistic aspirations as well as tracks for Rihanna and Alicia Keys.

Yet the focus of The xx’s Electric Facgoth-rock, it became clear that The xx weren’t indie producers of outsider art, but tory performance was their 2012 album, purveyors of preciously crafted pop songs. Coexist. Sure, the band played the obligatory tracks And since The from their dexx released that first but – “VCR,” album of stripped“ I s l a n d s ,” down, nocturnal “Since The xx released “Heart Skipped pop songs in 2009, a Beat” – but popular music’s sonic that first album of the focus was landscape has tilted stripped-down, nocturnal on their new in their favor. The material and band’s first release presented the group pop songs in 2009, popular it’s new musias a unique musical music’s sonic landscape cal direction.

The threevoice that sulked in skeletal arrangements, has shifted in their favor... piece often say Coexist articulating a musical It wasn’t long before this that was inspired grammar where less was made to stand for aesthetic broke through to by dance music and while more. Even on their the mainstream.” debut’s most multithe result may be disappointfaceted orchestraing to someone tions, the emotional expecting an heavy-lifting is releLP’s worth of gated to spare sections of pillow talk vocals cooed over the rever- 4/4 beats, Coexist is a predictable infuberating sonics of synthesizers and guitar sion of the current UK dance scene onto The xx’s usual song structure. Performed chords.

It wasn’t long before this aesthetic broke live, these songs didn’t ignite the dance through to the mainstream as Drake’s floor, but, like the rest of the band’s songs, gloomy love songs and the midnight mis- gave way to the nodding of heads and the sives of R&B act The Weeknd adopted this plucking of heart strings. Those who sonic palette for radio waves, bringing it to heard this material for the first time Sunthe masses. Drake has publicly professed day night may have been expecting more

of a departure, but weren’t necessarily disappointed. “It sounded like a lot of their other stuff, but I liked it,” said Mireille Guy, ’15. The xx aren’t an act seeking to redefine their raison d’être, but that’s the point. Their new songs don’t employ heavier rhythms in order to create danceable reworks of their old aesthetic, but add a rhythmic backbone that instead works as an unobtrusive addition to the band’s signature sound.

When playing these songs live, Jamie xx donned a pair of headphones and played the beats though a pair of digital turntables, mixing songs into sets by riding their propulsive rhythms from one song into the next. This impromptu DJing was most effective when Coexist’s bass-heavier tracks “Reunion” and “Sunset” were linked via Jamie’s solo dance track “Far Nearer, allowing the energy built during one song to continue to the next.

When played out, some of their older songs received a new rhythmic treatment.

Sparse and pleading “Shelter” was reimagined as a lyrical DJ tool before it melted away into piles of hushed vocals and strummed guitar strings.

Despite a lackluster encore, The xx delivered a concert that incited multiple make-out sessions, stole a few tears, and even compelled a few to dance. But then again, the band didn’t have to. When they walked out on stage to play their first song, the audience erupted with an energy reserved for first-rate rock stars and teen heartthrobs. They didn’t have to prove anything. They’d already arrived.

Living & Arts

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2013

‘Majors’, continued from page 1 careers in the natural and social sciences than in the humanities.

Despite pervasive advising to pursue interests without worrying how they all tie together, both Burke and Schwartz note increasing numbers of Swatties entering departments perceived to offer higher utility.

“We’ve had more students majoring in the last decade in biology, economics and computer science, which indicates, as economists would say, revealed preference,” History Professor Timothy Burke said. “There may be a gap between what we believe about majors and what students, either by themselves or under pressure from family, are choosing.”

In Burke’s opinion, the branding of different courses of study as “useless” taps into deep histories of anti-intellectualism in the US: the more intellectualized a major seems, the more attention it receives from the public for its perceived uselessness.

Areas of study that people may not understand or have clear knowledge of — quantum mechanics, Renaissance poetry, epistemology — often require lengthier explanations than majors like biology or computer science, where the link to realworld application is more commonly felt and understood.

The justifications demanded of students when they return home from campus necessarily vary. Class, education level and culture can come to a head when discussing the utility of a particular course of study with family, friends and community members.

“It’s easier for Swarthmore students who are children of academics to choose a seemingly academic course of study because they have ready access to narratives explaining why it’s a legitimate choice,”

The Phoenix

Burke said. “If you’re a first generation student…You’re going to have to engage in a really lengthy explanation of what you’re doing and why it makes sense. And it’s much harder because there’s nothing in the immediate family environment that gives you access to those explanations.”

Parker Murray ’15, a first generation student and a tentative special major in design, notices differences between his view on the liberal arts and the views of friends who come from different backgrounds.

His mother, who works as a hairdresser, initially expressed a desire to see her son developing a specific vocational skillset while at school; his father proposed a major in economics.

Even when thinking about the liberal arts as a whole, Murray isn’t convinced of their inherent value or utility. “Even the economics courses [I’ve taken here] are hyper theoretical,” he said. “I wish they had more courses in finance. I know a lot of other people feel the same way.”

Murray also noted that students majoring in areas he personally views as having less utility tend to come from wealthier backgrounds.

Although a divide may exist in student opinion on the value of utility, Burke doesn’t feel the gap is unbridgable. Exposing students to narratives that emphasize the value of following seemingly useless passions — through interactions with alumni, professors and deans — is one way Burke feels the college can improve current conversations on “the usefulness of uselessness” in terms of departmental study.

When it comes to choosing majors, Burke advises students to hone in on departments in which they are comfortable and already feel close to professors. In addition, projecting a vision of a future self

— a more mature version of “what-do-Iwant-to-be-when-I-grow-up?” – can help students develop a plan moving forward, — especially when spoken aloud.

“Those stories that you tell yourself in your head about what happens next – it’s worth telling those stories out loud, even if it feels embarrassing,” he said. “ Peers and professors who have different social capital... may tell you something about your story that didn’t know.”

Ignoring polls and studies on “best and worst majors” is also important, in Burke’s opinion – they’re often inaccurate and based on questionable statistical analysis.

Schwartz, whose first-year seminar “Happiness” is among the most sought-

Debuque and Edelstein Present A Musical Experience for Swatties On-The-Go

Do you want to be in a musical at Swarthmore, but just don’t have the time? Paolo Debuque ’15 and Audrey Edelstein ’15 bring you Cabaret Night: excellent musical theater with a low time commitment.

Life at Swat can be hectic. Between classes, extra-curriculars and trying to have a social life, many Swatties end up finishing readings at two in the morning, substituting an Essie Mae’s bag lunch over a sit-down meal, and starting their Saturday nights at ten P.M. Add 15 hours per week of rehearsal and a 50-hour tech week to this mess, and something’s gotta give.

“We realized being in a musical is a huge time commitment that a lot of people don’t want to take on,” said Debuque. “And I know a lot of people love musical theater but don’t do musicals because it’s ten hours a day on tech week. At the same time there’s this open mike kind of thing, like O.A.S.I.S., that happens on campus every so often, and a night of scenes that happens every semester, so we thought we could merge those two ideas. That was where cabaret night came from.”

Debuque and Edelstein’s vision is an evening of performances from a variety of musicals. They see an ensemble of ten to sixteen members, performing solos, duets or trios. They hope to have an ensemble number or two.

“It will be an intimate setting, like a night club with tables and chairs and refreshments, and actors using the

after at the college, sees one of the most important aspects of the liberal arts education as instilling students with values in lieu of skill sets, making “use” a somewhat mute point.

“I think one of the most important questions you can answer is what’s worth doing and why,” Schwartz said. “I think that’s what we should be doing here. A liberal arts education can answer those questions... [and] if you have a satisfactory answer, you will live a satisfying and fulfilling life. You will cultivate skills for things that are worth doing.”

And in terms of choosing a satisfying and fulfilling major? “Flip a coin,” Schwartz said with a smile.

Illustration by RENU NADKARNI

Committment-Conscious Cabaret

By JEANNETTE LEOPOLD Living & Arts Writer

PAGE 7

space completely,” Edelstein said. will rehearse on their own, making “Bond has tables, piano, ambiance,” their own hours and decisions. Then, Debuque added. “It’s gonna be awe- once a week they will check in with the some. Very classy. Very professional.” directors to make sure that they’re on Debuque, who starred in last se- the right track. Debuque and Edelstein mester’s “Merrily We Roll Along” and will also be available to vocal direct is in Mixed Company, and Edelstein, whenever it seems appropriate. In adwho has played in the pit and con- dition, there will be a workshop each ducted the orchestra for several mu- week. sicals over the past few years, make a Debuque explained: “The way I see great team. They bounce ideas off of it, it would be a way for each act to get each other and are very excited about up and try the performance, kind of a this project. Their aim is to facilitate dry run, get them used to it every week the creation of a space where the sing- and at the same time get feedback from ers can make their own decisions; they fellow cast members. [For instance,] hope that the group will help each oth- maybe you wanna be softer on this ener, and expect trance. Stuff the work to be like that.” collaborative.

Debuque We realized that being in “Just beand Kyle Carcause it’s ney ’16 will a musical is a huge time easier, we’re be accomcommitment that a lot of calling us dipanying the rectors,” said people don’t want to take on. singers on piPaolo Debuque ’15 Edelstein, ano. They are “But we’re looking for more group another piafaci lit ators. nist, and ask We’ll run round-table workshops, vo- interested students to contact them. cal direct specific numbers, and have Auditions are this coming Friday once-a-week check-ins.”

Frebruary 1st from 7:30 to 9:30 P.M. So, what will the rehearsal process and Saturday February 2nd from 3:00 look like? The directors will choose to 5:00 P.M. in Lang 415. their cast based off of talent. Then, The audition is simple. “Come said Debuque, “Our first rehearsal ready with a short vocal selection, like will be a brainstorming session where a verse and a chorus or a whole song. people will figure out what they want It’s not necessarily what they want to to do, and pair off or trio off and start do for their act, it’s just for us to hear generating ideas for possible acts. their voice,” said Edelstein. “We’re They’ll go off after and start rehears- mostly looking for voice and stage ing them.” The idea is that the singers presence.”

Directing Gun Control

Student Project Reacts

By ALLI SHULTES Living & Arts Editor Conversations on gun control have taken place in a variety of forums since the shootings at Sandy Hook this December, but Josh McLucas ’15 is hoping to bring the issue to a different stage.

As a project for his Directing II class in the theater department, McLucas plans to collaborate with students to produce a piece centered on issues of gun control. He envisions a piece that experiments with music and movement and incorporates input from all participants.

Despite the piece’s overtly political subject matter, McLucas doesn’t plan to deliver a definitive message on the subject. He hopes instead to use the project as a space for reaction. “[Professor of theater] Elizabeth [Swanson] said to me … that if you’re trying to make a message on stage, make a poster instead,” McLucas said. “It’s more effective.”

Although the piece is devised, McLucas isn’t starting from square one. He created a loose draft of a script over winter break that draws on an eclectic mix of material. The NRA’s “Meet the Press” interview on NBC and Samuel Beckett’s one-act play “Endgame” are only two sources that lend text to the incomplete draft.

McLucas is adamant that no experience is necessary to participate. More important to the project is a passionate interest in the conversations surrounding gun control.

“It doesn’t matter if you want to sing but not dance or act but not sing or dance but not sing or act,” he said. “I will train you in everything you need to do.”

The project requires six hours of rehearsal a week, which can be used for .5 credit in theater if participants have taken Acting I. Email Josh McLucas at jmcluca1 for more information.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2013

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The Phoenix

Lost in Translation Four Stories of International Life

By COURTNEY DICKENS Living & Arts Writer According to the most recent statistics compiled by the Off Campus Study Office, Swarthmore students are not shy to dive into a completely new culture; of the graduating class of 2012, 40 percent studied abroad. In the 2011 — 2012 academic year, 150 students, mainly in their junior year, attended 85 programs in over 44 countries.

While most students studied in Europe (59 percent), 17 percent went to Latin America, 7 percent lived in Asia, 6 percent explored Oceania, 4 percent chose Sub-Saharan Africa, and 3 percent the Middle East/North Africa. Whether traveling to meet a language requirement or simply to escape the Swarthmore bubble, Swatties are embracing international life. This choice comes, however, not without its challenges.

After studying in Madrid for four months, I am no stranger to the difficulties associated with being on one’s own miles from home. I couldn’t get a bagel for breakfast. I was sick of ham on everything.

I was itching to have a thought-provoking conversation in which I didn’t have to translate everything being said and stumble over my own responses.

The hugs from my friends, no matter how loving, were never my mom’s or sister’s.

Sometimes, I just wanted to walk into a store and know what kind of deodorant or shampoo to purchase. It didn’t help that on Facebook all my Swat friends were tagged in photos that convinced me they were having a swell time. The hardest part for me was having to be constantly be on, always performing and alert. Nevertheless, I am eternally grateful for the food of my host family, the silliness of the clubs, the beauty of the city. I also learned to thrive in discomfort, a lesson that is invaluable. Natalie Campen ’14, Rachel Fresques ’14, and Nicholas (Nicko) Burnett ’14 who, basking in discomfort, learned to live in linguistic and cultural abnormality and grew because of it.

“She’s such a lazy cunt”: Australia, the English-Speaking Non-American Country “They used words I would never use,” Natalie Campen giggled about the people she encountered while studying biology and ecology at James Cook University in Queensland, Australia. Their word of choice, cunt, had many compounds of meanings. “Bitch cunt, fuck cunt,” were the most common. This word was a “blanket swear word” for anyone and everyone.

Thinking she took the easy way out by not choosing the Spanish-speaking Costa Rica, Campen still had to adjust to common sentence construction variations and the Australian dollar conversions. Academically, Campen missed the Swat emphasis on “participation” and the way her professors encouraged her to learn “how to think” as opposed to simply memorize material. As she puts it, Australian professors “have a wealth of knowledge that they give you to soak up and spit back.”

Recounting a moment of culture shock, Campen laughed, “I went out with my friends one night…and our friend asked for an Australian friend to get chips, be-

cause they served guacamole and other spreads. He came back with fried potato wedges. We all laughed it off and snorted “lost in translation!”

Tango and Mistaken Identity: Dance as Universal Language in Buenos Aires Rachel Fresques, a participant of the Swarthmore in Buenos Aires program, chose Argentina because she wanted to “experience Latin American culture and improve my Spanish”. However, she soon found that Buenos Aires was no Brazil, Costa Rica, Mexico, or Bolivia: “I was taken aback by its Europeanness”.

The architecture, the people, the shops, all screamed modernity and European aesthetic. Expecting the small, village feel of the Bolivian pueblo she visited, she was instead confronted with a fast-paced city she likened to NYC,

“just people don’t drive in lanes and there is dog poop everywhere”.

On top of the disappointment about the city, she felt isolated. Her program, with only four Swat students, was closed to external students. Originally, she was attracted to the smallness of the program, which gave her the freedom to study what she was curious about: “you decide what you want to study and they find teachers for you”.

While she gave her academic experience a solid A, her social life suffered. “The Swat students were nice but it was frustrating to have such a small, set social group”.

Even when at home, she felt isolated. As she put it, “it was overwhelming to walk around the city alone, but I would return and sit in my room by myself.” In the city, she would often get mistaken for an Argentinian, adding to that anxiety. They would often “direct questions toward me” and she would “stumble through the interaction” until they, shocked, acknowledged she was not “one of them”.

Fresques found solace in her passion, dance. Taking ballet 2-3 times per week, Rachel was at first “concerned about not

being able to follow the class” in Spanish. “I knew the French” she chuckled, which allowed her to dance.

In addition to ballet, Fresques also tried her hand at tango. Tango allowed her to be dramatic and to engage in the Argentinian culture. An outcome not anticipated came out of her tapping into dance: she made Argentinian friends. “I would often hang out with friends made in tango class” and while it was “hard to convey my personality in a language I was not fluent in,” these relationships soothed her feelings of social isolation.

When Life Throws you Lemons, Duck: The value of positivity in Roma When Nicko Burnett chose to study abroad in Italy, I highly doubt he anticipated spending 6 nights in the hospital for a stab wound he would receive in a senseless act of violence. In fact, he chose to go to Italy because he had “never traveled outside of the country” and he wanted to get in touch with “Italian ancestry”.

After making the decision to study at the Temple University program in Rome over Prague, Nicko opened himself to Italian culture. Being abroad in Rome was ideal for Nicko: he didn’t have class on Fridays, was able to travel to Barcelona, Munich for Oktoberfest, Paris, Amsterdam and London, studied Roman art (a class that involved weekly site visits to museums

and other relics), and loved the food and nightlife. He thoroughly enjoyed his weeklong orientation, where he learned how to tip Italians (who don’t formally receive tip), cook basic Italian sauces, and to wait in line (without being skipped).

When asked about culture shock (or any form of adverse experience), he at first thought he hadn’t encountered any. Then, after some thought, he aloofly mentioned that he had to travel 45 minutes to class every day, had to cook for himself, felt Italians were a bit inconsiderate of personal space, and that his father died two weeks into leaving for abroad. This attitude of nonchalance extended to his recounting of a near death experience he had right before the end of the semester.

The night before Thanksgiving seemed like it would be a quiet night on the town.

While he and his friends normally went to an Italian bar, they chose to go to a nearby American one. As was custom, they split a pitcher of beer between them.

At some point that evening, they hear a noise and see a group of about 50 guys congregating outside of the bar, all with knives, clubs and masks. Suddenly, the group charges his table and in an attempt to escape, he rushes at the group. As he is running past one man, he swings what appears to be a bat at him, which he ducks. However, the man ends up hitting his back.

When he finally escaped, he strikes a conversation with an American girl. He casually touches his back only to realize his hand is covered in blood and he needs to get to the hospital, fast. With her, they hail a cab that will admit him despite his bleeding.

Upon arriving at the ER it was empty.

He yelled “emergency!” and showed a nurse who spoke little to no English his wound.

They proceed to clean the wound and stitch it up. The surgeon explains to him that the wound has exposed his lungs and that he has to stitch the muscle and the skin. Not until he is stitching the skin does he give Nicko any form of morphine. After 6 nights in the hospital, he is released to only one more week of the program.

Why was he targeted? Nicko infers that it was related to anti-Semitism and sports fanaticism: being in an English bar, it was assumed they were fans of the English rival soccer team. “I still have the scar, but I’m okay” he chuckles. When asked if he would do it all again, he said “Of course. I really enjoyed myself.”

What for some would be deal breakers — the extensive travel time, a loved one’s death, a senseless beating ­— Nicko took in perspective.

For him, exposure to a new culture was invaluable in that he gained at once an “appreciation for the culture of the U.S.” and an “appreciation of the Italian way of living, one where Italians make money to survive and know how to live, have a good time, and love family and friends.”

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2013

Living & Arts

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The Phoenix

text

© J Henry Fair 2013/JULIANA GUTIERREZ/THE PHOENIX

J. Henry Fair Showcases Eco-Fouls at McCabe

Beautiful Photographs Capture Ugly Environmental Practices How can disaster be beautiful? Dare to find out.

Currently on view in McCabe Library atrium until February 20, J. Henry Fair’s “Extraction and the American Dream” is both breathtaking and shocking.

The exhibit is comprised of a series of photographs of potentially environmentally harmful activities such as hydrofracking and coal mining and environmental disasters such as oil spills, but the artist has created incredibly beauDEBORAH tiful images of these activities and conditions. The colors and KRIEGER forms in the works are stunningly I On The Arts intricate, ranging from brightly saturated to muted and heavily delineated. The photographs, taken from above via airplane, are well composed with a true artist’s eye.

J. Henry Fair has been a longtime environmental activist and artist. Although his family was not involved in any type of environmental activism during his youth, he developed his own keen interest in the environment and began photographing areas around the Mississippi River. He soon found that an aerial

view of disaster sites provided amazing visual fodder and realized that he could spread his message about the destructive tendencies of our consumer society through creating visually arresting works.

And visually arresting they are indeed. These photographs are impossible to miss. Fair uses the strange, unearthly beauty of these disaster sites to draw in the viewers and to demonstrate the impact of such environmental catastrophes as the British Petroleum spill of 2010. Incredibly enough, Fair does not Photoshop or invent the colors in any of the photographs he takes of these often hard-to-find sites; aside from some playing with the contrast, the photographs reflect the truth of what he sees from the plane. Every work in this show is noticeable and often luminous.

My personal favorites in the show include “Untitled,” which depicts in rich blues and greens of a wetland next to an oil refinery in Mississippi; “Expectoration,” which depicts aluminum production waste disposal in Louisiana with a sort of eerie serpentine form emerging into a sea of rust red; and another “Untitled”, which depicts a rainbow of oil in the dark blue

waters of the Gulf of Mexico during the BP spill. Out of context, these photographs appear abstract and unrecognizable. It is only when we see the title card and blurb about each photograph that we understand the true nature of the works. These works are not by any means the only standouts.

While the atrium is a difficult space in which to hold a cohesive exhibit due to its fragmented and octagonal nature, placing these eye-catching works in a commonly used location where they will be seen by hundreds of people daily means they are sure to have an impact. Fair’s works not only stimulate our eyes but also challenge our minds and our ways of being.

If somehow my fellow Swatties have no plans to go to McCabe during his residency on campus, I recommend making the extra effort to go in and study these works of art. For those people in the area who want some activism with their art, I also recommend this show.

McCabe Library is open 8a.m.-2a.m. MondaysThursdays, 8a.m.-11p.m. Fridays, 10a.m.-8p.m. Saturdays, and 10a.m.-2a.m. Sundays.

PAGE 10

Living & Arts The Phoenix

The Whole Truth, and Nothing But the Truth

When I first proposed the idea of a column about religion to friends at Sharples and later, the acting Phoenix Editorial Board last semester, I quickly learned of the need to clarify exactly what purpose this bi-weekly feature would serve. So, if like them, you are feeling a bit dubious about reading some sort of religious sermon, it may be productive for me to dedicate a moment to clarify.

This column will not proselytize, spout religious doctrine or champion the Bible’s beatitudes or the Qur’an’s suras.

Though I was raised a Greek Orthodox Christian and still consider myself of that faith, this is not a platform for a particular religious tradition.

Rather, this column will seek to create a space to question and consider how religion seeps into our realities, perhaps in ways unexpected or unnoticed. Though it may not be news that religion fuels violent conflict, along with saturating the private lives of many, elements of religiosity and spirituality pattern contemporary perspectives on the economy — last year’s battle of biblical verses to discern whether Jesus would be on the side of the “99” or “1 percent,” and also on the environment — the ICLEI’s efforts (World Congress of the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives) to make green tenets a staple of religious life in America (check out Rio’s Christo Redentor going green as part of the effort!). So, to whatever degree you may or may not consider yourself “religious” (or “spiritual” — DINA more to come on this difference in word choice in a later installment), it ZINGARO seems pretty difficult to obliterate all Beyond Belief traces of religion thoroughly.

This past summer, I spent six weeks for research traveling to and living in three monastic communities: a Greek Orthodox female monastery (the Greek language does not linguistically distinguish between a monastery for males and females) outside Corinth, Greece; a Soto Zen Buddhist abbey for men and women (both referred to as monks) in Northern California; and a Theravadin Buddhist hermitage for nuns also in the area.

My experience, in some ways, shattered my romanticized conception of monastic life. Yes, monastic life is dominantly reserved for retreat and study; however, it’s hard work and not for the meek. On my first day at the Buddhist hermitage, I found myself armed with a lopper hacking away at redwood branches in the forest in order to find and clear a spot for my tent (Why? Theravadin nuns, adhering to a very orthodox interpretation of Buddhist doctrine, cannot kill a living thing).

This disciplined lifestyle of the ascetic actually holds significant relevance for life beyond any particular creed or doctrine; in fact, this relevance is considered worthy of in-depth study at UPenn. In the spirit of monastic life, along with waking up at 5 a.m. (without an alarm clock), a course on monasticism asks students to forego technology, coffee, physical human contact and certain foods at intervals of time during the semester.

For me, this syllabus calls to mind the bell chimes that called me to morning services at five in the morning at the Greek monastery. Though the monastery chores may not lead to the mental drain of hours in McCabe or a physical drain like a workout session in the Mullan Center, it does require a discipline of doing small things with great deliberation. It is this intensity in doing things just so (the Theravadin nuns have over 200 precepts!) with focus and intention that translates into an exceptional sense of community. I believe the professor of the UPenn course Justin McDaniel says it best: “It’s not about individual restric-

tion. It’s about building hyper awareness of yourself and others.”

However, this is certainly not to say that one must live in monastic communities to see religion’s relevance in 2013. Let’s fast forward from this summer to last week: January 21, 2013. For most on campus, we sighed in relief when we witnessed Obama taking the presidential oath.

The ceremony toted the typical program with the exception of one of its principal cast members: Abraham Lincoln’s bible.

Taking a break from Hulu during break to satisfy my curiosity after reading a New York Times article that anticipating the election, I quickly learned that the Bible used for Lincoln’s swearing in was resurrected from the Library of Congress upon the President’s request. Unlike most presidents who tend to choose family bibles (though new presidents are not required to swear in on a Bible), Obama’s choice extends upon his efforts to incorporate the 16th president into his own legacy (such as in his speech to Congress in May 2010). In his first swearing in, Obama used Lincoln’s bible, but last week paired this antique with MLK’s bible as well.

So, if using a book used by Lincoln or MLK connotes the particular moral credo of that individual, does the choice of the Bible itself similarly inscribe a particular belief system or does it merely function as a symbol of truth disassociated from religious belief? This oath is a declaration that the Bible, with Jesus as its salvific protagonist, is fact and the standard and paradigm of all truth. In other words, this seems like pretty heavy symbolism.

Most members of Congress use a Bible, the Hebrew Scriptures, the Constitution. and some choose an affirmation as opposed to swearing in. In what PBS’s Religion & Ethics characterizes as the most religiously diverse US Congress, even though 56 percent identify as Protestant, the class of the new 113th Congress has some interesting firsts: the first Hindu member of Congress, the first Buddhist senator and the first member of Congress to publicly describe her religion as “none.”

Even though Tulsi Gabbard’s recent swearing in with the Hindu Bhagavad Gita did not produce a great hubbub, Keith Ellison chose to use a Qur’an in 2007 that was owned by Thomas Jefferson in order to quell controversy about his choice. (Cool fact: Jefferson also had his own version of the bible, which was composed of verses he selected and then, literally cut and pasted together.)

In 2006, Obama addressed the tendency for religion to bleed into politics: “Secularists are wrong when they ask believers to leave their religion at the door before entering into the public square. Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, William Jennings Bryan, Dorothy Day, Martin Luther King — indeed, the majority of great reformers in American history — were not only motivated by faith but repeatedly used religious language to argue for their cause. To say that men and women should not inject their “personal morality” into public policy debates is a practical absurdity.

Undeniably, religious views inform political ones, but is there a distinction between discrete policy choices made over the course of one’s term and a declaration about truth required in public ceremony? Should religious preference be sifted out of the latter?

The Bible, Hebrew Scriptures, Bhagavad Gita or Qur’an — does it matter?

And then there is the blog commenter stubborn and convinced of some sort of conspiracy: “Actually it was probably the Koran with a bible cover.” Oh boy.

Hot Diggity Dog!

A LAB IN THE FAM: Kaylee was brought into the family from Burt’s Black Dog Rescue when she was just six months old. She was an angel from the first week home and was easy to train afterwards. Vince Formica had grown up with labrador retrievers and was always around dogs.

GABRIELA FUN PUP: CAMPOVERDE ThisTHE lab is energetic 24 hours a day, Hot Diggity Dog seven days a week.

When Vince sits down to grade papers, she will come up to him with a face that reads “I WANT TO PLAY!” and will start nipping at Vince’s leg.

OH, DEARY, KAYLEE: Although

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2013

Marrakesh: South Street Moroccan Angela Oh and Gaby Campoverde are second year Swatties determined to visit and critique as many college-friendly restaurants as possible. Angela will be focusing specifically on the restaurant space and ambience. Gaby will be focusing on the food.

Marrakesh is a chain of Moroccan restaurants scattered around the US. Last semester, we had a chance to stop by Marrakesh on South Street completely on a whim, and boy were we glad we did. The College’s Philly Shuttle drops you off right by South Street, and then it is a mere five minute walk to the restaurant. From the outside, the space is easily overlooked, so look carefully. For $25 dollars per person, we enjoyed seven courses of delicious finger food; no utensils are provided unless you specifically ask for them. Don’t worry, it’s sanitary. Before the eating begins, your waitress will pamper your hands with a rose water wash.

Let us begin by talking about ANGELA OH the food. We each gained five wonderful pounds of happiness. and We do not want to spill the bean GABRIELA on the whole experience, so we CAMPOVERDE will give you a preview of what to expect.

The Bus Boys Our favorite course was a phyllo dough dish with chicken, eggs and powdered sugar. We did not know what to expect. It was magical — a perfect combination for sweet and soft scrumptiousness. Another great dish involved lamb, honey and almonds. Again, it was unbelievable. The lamb was perfectly tender, and the honey added a pleasant twist. At the end, we got a bowl of beautifully ripe fruit that you could never find at Sharples. We knew we were full, but we could not resist the grapes, the oranges nor the strawberries. The portions seemed to be the same for two or up to five people. So, we technically ate for five.

If you’re lucky, you’ll be visited by an exotic belly dancer that will demand your full attention. This is just one aspect that provides for the unique Marrakesh ambience and individual experience. The décor, for example, transports you to a different place.

The lighting is just dim enough to give everything a softer edge while exposing the enclaves surrounded by ornate pillows and baskets. Although we just went in a group of two, Marrakesh is very suitable for larger groups as well. The only downside was the tight space. The restroom itself is very small, just enough space for the necessities. Getting there is also a little difficult as you have to carefully maneuver around closely placed groups of people and servers.

We definitely recommend this restaurant to be a priority if anyone is out visiting Philly’s South Street.

Not only is the transportation extremely accessible and food absolutely satisfying, the unique experience Marrakesh offers is well worth exploring.

After leaving this hidden treasure with food babies, instagram worthy photos of food, and smiles across our faces, there is no doubt we want to plan a trip back.

she behaves well most of the time, Kaylee, like any other pet, has her moments. One day she managed to get a hold of some papers from Vince’s desk and ripped them to shreds. She was having her fun.

It turns out that the papers belonged to a pile of homework assignments! Thankfully, the student was a good sport about it and told Vince that now she can say her professor’s dog ate her homework.

THE LAB LAB: Over the summer, Vince works at a field station in Blacksburg, Virginia. Faculty are welcomed to bring their dogs during what Vince calls a “science camp for adults.” Here, he spends time studying beetles. He hopes to train Kaylee to sniff out a particular type of fungi which often indicates that the particular type of beetle is closeby.

Living & Arts

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2013

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The Phoenix

SEPTA to Sex: Philly’s Sexiest Offerings 2013 — a new year with new reasons to fuck. As the ball dropped (a month ago or so), I found thoughts of my graduation along with New Year’s resolutions mingling in my mind. The result was my mind translating my biggest Swat regrets into resolutions that could mend them. And what was on the top of that list? Well, honestly, it was not getting a chance to make the beast with two backs more often, but some things you just cannot change. My second biggest regret, however, was not getting into Philly more often.

I know, I know, it’s just 20 minutes away, the train stops right on campus, everyone needs to escape the bubble, there are so many fun things to do, and so on. But, hey, if I couldn’t make more time Missing Parts to play hide the salami, I sure as hell couldn’t make more time for Philly. I have priorities.

This year, I’m taking my resolutions more seriously. So, I’ve coupled the incentive to go into Philly with my desire to get a little more touchy-feely. Apparently, there are a lot more sexy things to do in Philadelphia than one might think: Workshops Unlike most cities, Philadelphia does not have many educational resources when it comes to sex. However, Sexploratorium, despite the absurd name, is a great sex-positive resource in Philly. Located in Queen Village, Sexploratorium holds reliable sex workshops

VIANCA MASUCCI

at least once a week. Some of the upcoming classes range in subject matter from sensual stripping, to shopping for sex toys, to anal sex, to the art of sexual teasing, to negotiating non-monogamy, to spanking and so much more. Seminars are much more interesting when you’re talking about dick instead of dickite, trust me. Workshops are especially great for us visual learners (academic voyeurs?) who learn best through demonstration. Plus, since Sexploratorium offers student discounts (with student IDs), the cost of one of these workshops is only 15 bucks. A very reasonable price for us very broke students.

You can locate Sexploratorium’s calendar through a quick Google search. The next workshop is offered on Feb. 2nd.

Kink Philly TNG (an initialism for “The Next Generation”) is an active kink group organizing events for relatively young (18-35 yearold) kinksters. A big problem with the kink scene is the fact that usually everyone in it is ancient. Not that I believe sex is reserved for people of a certain age. Of course, sex is for everyone. I just don’t like the idea of getting offered a BJ from someone who probably voted for LBJ. Philly TNG stands alone in Philly in its efforts to gather youngin’s curious about or interested in pursuing alternative lifestyles. PTNG specifically focuses on the BDSM lifestyle, but the group is a great resource for meeting those who are generally kinky.

PTNG organizes and sponsors munches (low-pressure, meet and greet type-social

events) and play parties (gatherings for kinky, sexual play) all around Philadelphia.

Most of these parties are hosted at local clubs, bars, restaurants or rented spaces where you only have to pay for what you drink or eat (unless you’re lucky enough to eat off of someone else’s...plate). Best of all, most of PTNG’s events are scheduled on Saturdays.

That means that you have no excuse to avoid rewarding yourself with a bit of punishment. You can find their calendar at: http:// phillytng.org/calendar/.

Additionally, The Loft (LaStanza Restaurant) hosts a kinky play party every other Friday called Purgatory Play Party which is sponsored by the Black Phoenix, a gay BDSM organization in Philadelphia. The Arts Garage also hosts a play party every second Friday of the month sponsored by The Aviary, a kink organization associated with Sexploratorium. For more information on these groups and their schedules, join their Yahoo groups.

LGBT Though Philadelphia has limited resources for many events pertaining to sex, it is a very gay city. I just love Philly for that. So, I asked Watu Poe, ‘13 Swarthmore’s resident expert of gettin’ the fuck up outta here, for his advice on some happening LGBT hangout spots. Poe says, “My personal favorite for the youngin’s (under 21) is Woodys. It’s been renovated and the new setup is awesome.

Wednesday is 18-and-up night.” The cover charge for a Wednesday at Woody’s is 10 dollars, but Poe warns, “party doesn’t get poppin’ until around 11–11:30p.m.”

A Guide To Getting It In Since I am writing a sex and dating column, I feel like it’s appropriate that I start with an article about swag. I’m sure you all have heard “swag” used in different contexts; purple swag, swag me out, pretty boy swag, etc., etc. But what is swag? Why is it necessary in order to attract members of the other sex, especially if you’re a guy? (Ladies, this applies to you too, though) Well, that is because swag is simply confidence, and confidence is everything. It reflects how you feel about yourself, how you carry yourself and interact with people, and it is by far the most attractive trait in a person. (Though many of you guys may disagree, it is true.)

So now that you know that the first step in getting the sex you want is confidence, a.k.a. swag, you might be wondering, “How do I get such swag?” The odds are if you’re reading this, you are a Swarthmore student, and the odds are you don’t have swag in abundance.

These are my simple, but not quick or easy, steps to getting swag. Before I list them, you have to underSwag stand that you cannot just try these out for one party, though that may be where you start. Swag is a way of life; you must significantly change yourself to transform from someone without swag to someone with swag. Here they are: Step 1. Stop Caring What Other People Think This is very hard for most Swatties, seeing how small this school is and how intelligent everyone is. But I swear, this is ESSENTIAL. If you are thinking about what other people think, you are not present in the moment, you are not in tune with that special someone you want to get with, and you will come across as nervous. You should only care about what other people think to the extent that it stops you from walking out of the house naked and unbathed. Past that, its your life, live it how you want to, regardless of what people think or say.

Step 2. Relax You cannot come across as confident if you are tense. You just can’t. This is why most Swatties feel more comfortable approaching the opposite sex in a sexual way when they are intoxicated.

However, you must be able to do this when you are sober. You have to push those thoughts about your hair, your old sweater and your lack of ‘game’ and just relax. No one

JOSHUA ASANTE

has ‘game’ in the way it is described on TV. I don’t have game, but I get sex. You have to relax and be yourself. Those who you attract by being yourself will be the best ones for you.

Step 3. Be Positive I cannot stress this enough. If you are playing misery poker with the person you are trying to have sex with, you have already shot yourself in the foot. The point is to make them feel good around you so that they want you around (especially in their bed). This is also something that takes time to change if you’re a naturally negative person. I could write a whole article on positivity, and probably will, but that is for another time. If you are positive and optimistic, good things will come to you. That is just a fact. You will attract other positive people, who are more likely to have sex with you than negative people. Also, you will just enjoy life more, regardless of sex.

Just try it.

Step 4. Do What You Love This is another thing that I can’t stress enough. If you are doing something you hate (for example, pre-med if you’re not really a doctor in the making,) you can’t help but be negative and depressed. I know this can be linked to family pressures, but honestly, if you don’t do what you love you can’t become the person you want to be. If you do what you love, you will naturally build confidence in yourself. If you haven’t chosen your major yet, think long and hard about what you actually like to do, not what you think is important or what your parents want you to do or what you think other people would be impressed by. Do what you want. Do what you’ve been doing all along when you get the chance to really choose. Follow your passion, and it will lead you to happiness.

Step 5. Instead Of Asking “Why?” Ask “Why Not” This is a major shift in thinking. Stop being hesitant. Stop being afraid. Just ask why not, and if there isn’t a major reason why not (rejection and personal embarrassment don’t count, we all go through that,) then go for it. Dance with that girl or boy. Ask for their number. Why not? They can only tell you no, and then you’re back where you started, and you can just try with someone else. Put yourself out there and be straightforward about what you want. Why not? All you will do is attract people who have similar goals, and the ones who don’t, screw them. Have a clear vision in mind, and go for it. There is no reason not to.

For mixed company (under and over 21), Watu suggests ICandy. “ICandy has awesome drinks and cute guys and girls walking around half-naked with one dollar shots.

Does it get any better than that?” I don’t think it does, folks; I don’t think it does. For the ladies, Watu suggests Stimulus, which holds monthly parties for queer ladies. Sisters Night Club is also a pretty great spot for the ladies who love ladies.

Geeky and Sexy For those Swatties who have a penchant for things a bit more highbrow (read: bougie), there are sexy resources in Philly as well.

The Erotic Literary Salon is a Philadelphiabased organization that is the lubricant for the joining between literature and sex. The organization organizes workshops for writers (or aspiring writers), discussion groups for popular erotic literature, lectures from erotica artists, and sponsors many events that intersect at art and sex. You can find their calender on their website: http://theeroticsalon. com/. In addition to all of this loveliness, ELS organizes a monthly open mic where everyone from your average Joe Pervert (I use that word in the most sex-positive sense) to famous erotic authors (also perverts) share their work. These events takes place at TIME restaurant every third Tuesday of the month.

The cover is 8 dollars for students and the crowd is combination of pervy and nerdy. Go there to meet some great authors, perform, or just watch. Either way, you’ll be titillated.

So, y’all, make my New Year’s resolution your New Year’s resolution and get out there!

However, swivel before you swallow; I just

Life: Plan, But Plan in Pencil We can’t stay teenagers forever, believe me I have tried. We all wake up one day with kids and bills to pay and we say “How did I get here?”

When I was a teenager I had a part time job, no worries and no responsibilities. My biggest problems were: what I was doing on the weekend, who was having the party, or when we would be going to Philadelphia to drag race our cars or motorcycles.

I had such a great time when I was a teenager. My so called “Plan A” was to go through life without responsibilities, to be able to jump on my Harley Davidson and go wherever I wanted, any time I wanted.

When I think back on my teenage years, I wish I had put more effort into my school work. I would say that I took easy classes that were not very challenging. There were DAVID many days when TOLAND the weather was nice and my budCan You Dig It? dies and I would leave school by 11 o’clock to go ride our motorcycles.

I often wonder how my life would have turned out if I took harder classes and went to college right after high school. I clearly remember my graduation day from high school. Everyone was so happy, saying “we are finally getting out of here!” For me, it was one of the saddest days of my life. I was very depressed to be done with high school. I loved high school. My high school years were the time of my life.

However, that is not the path I took and my so-called “Plan B” went into effect. After high school, I enlisted in the Army. I was eighteen and thought I knew everything about life.

I figured I would serve 20 years in the Army and retire - sounds easy enough right? I was eighteen, I was fearless and I could take on the world with one hand tied behind my back. That

feeling continued for a few years. I was doing wild and crazy things because I had no fear and I only had to worry about me.

Then another new plan came along that would change my life - my first son was born. My fearless attitude went away real fast because it was not just me anymore. I had a child that I had to be there for, and I started thinking twice about the things I had done in the past. The next year, I had my second son, and eleven and a half months later, I had my daughter. I guess I can say this was my so-called “Plan C.” Three kids in three years. I felt like the luckiest man in the world.

I had three beautiful and healthy children. All of a sudden that was all that mattered to me. At this time, I was still in the Army and my so called “Plan B” of doing 20 years was out the window.

When my second enlistment was up in 2002, I chose to leave the military after 10 years.

I am happy to say that my so-called “Plan A” and “Plan B” fell through; however, I have no regrets about my life. I believe everything in life happens for a reason. Even if you don’t understand it at the time, there is a reason why things happen the way they do. “Plan C” is the best thing that ever happened to me, and I would not change one thing in my life. All three of my kids are in middle school now, although it seems like just yesterday that they were born. It amazes me that they are all practically teenagers and I still act like one. If you see me around campus, I still dress like a teenager with my Mohawk, earrings, and tattoos. I don’t think I will ever “act my age.” My advice to you is simple: plan, but plan in pencil. You never know what life is going to throw at you. I would like to end this article with a quote from the movie, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Ferris said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

Opinions

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2013

The Phoenix

Swarthmore Master Plan A Tangible Opportunity to Reform Campus STAFF EDITORIAL

“You Are an Illegal”

By Uriel Medina Espino

Wetback. Spic. Terrorist. Chink. Most at Swarthmore wouldn’t dare address an immigrant or person of color with one of these terms. Yet the language of the immigration debate commonly uses the term “illegal immigrant” or “illegal alien” to describe a resident of this country who does not have proper documentation. Moreover, these terms have even been shortened and turned into a noun to simply call someone an “illegal.”

Colorlines, a news site that concentrates on race matters, has spearheaded the “Drop the ‘I-word’” campaign which calls for the media and government to refrain from using the word illegal on the grounds that it takes away a person’s humanity and derails conversation about immigration and human rights. It’s racially charged, legally inaccurate, and morally wrong. We in Swatties for a DREAM are calling Swarthmore to drop the I-word in our daily vocabulary.

“Illegal” has a negative connotation, evoking criminality. By calling someone illegal, it reduces their personhood to being illegal. No human is illegal. This is an important distinction that needs to be made for the respect, dignity, and humanity of those who live and work hard in this country to make an honest living even if the government does not recognize them.

I lived in this country as an undocumented immigrant for many years and it made me feel vulnerable and weak.

When someone calls you illegal, even in the most well intentioned way, the word itself has a hurtful bite to it. It sounds like your existence is a lie, a crime, and you are a problem that must be dealt with. Now imagine when someone actually uses the word with malice by barking it insultingly--remember also the damage and hurt it causes. This is often the scenario for many undocumented residents of this country, from daily interactions, to media, to a politician’s heated rant on immigration.

It is frightful to hear how much a person can hate you without knowing you.

OP-ED

COURTESY OF SWARTHMORE.EDU

For months, our inboxes have been a chance to do just that. flooded with emails about Swarthmore’s That being said, the administration master plan. From surveys to announce- should be doing more to elicit student ments to open meetings, there has been no opinions on the master plan. There is simshortage of opportunities to participate in ply no centralized way that the administrathe process of forming the college’s future. tion can get a representative set of viewAnd yet these have been met by a general points, no matter how many prolonged dearth of interest among the student body meetings and web surveys are conducted, in the master plan. At most, a dozen or so nor would any single large-scale event instudents will show up at a meeting, while volving the entire student body be feasible. the data collected by the surveys is incom- Instead, we recommend that the adminisplete at best. If things proceed as they have, tration involve RAs so that students could the campus master plan will end up re- more easily learn about the plan and offer ceiving very little input their input. Hold a sort from the students. of training session for The current trend the RAs, give them all towards underrepThe administration the necessary informaresentation is untion about the master should fully commit to plan, and have them derstandable.

The meetings, while fairly involving students, but hold brief sessions on frequent, are long, the hall to communistudents must also get cate that information generally two hours each, and hardly scinand solicit opinions. involved themselves. tillating. Among all the Instead of asking stuthings one might do in dents to come and see a day at Swarthmore, the master plan, bring a master plan meeting seems easy to skip. the master plan to them.

Those who end up at the meetings tend The master planning process is critical to be blocs of students fiercely devoted to for Swarthmore; it will define the college is a single issue, and even these blocs only for years to come. There are few opportushow up sometimes, resulting in unrepre- nities to have such an impact on the college sentative and inconsistent information be- and the community as are being offered ing passed on to the committee. right now; it would be a shame for the stuIt is a sad state of affairs that the student dent body to pass this up, or for the adminbody has, on the whole, opted out of in- istration to allow for the student body to go volvement. It is easy to see the master plan so pitifully underrepresented. as a long-term plan that won’t even come The administration must be more efto fruition by the time any of us graduate, fective in involving the student body, by but it is not in Swarthmore’s culture to bringing the issues directly to them, by turn a blind eye to issues that will not affect making a greater effort to ensure that stuus directly. What Swarthmore will be in dents are adequately representing. This will the future should be important to us, as we only have any effect, however, if students are a part of the college, and the students actively want to have their voice heard, if who will come here years from now have they make a real effort to effect change on no voice to represent them but ours. It is the future of the college. The administrathe hallmark of a Swarthmore student that tion should fully commit to involving stuthey get riled up by important issues, that dents, but students must also get involved they wish to have their voice heard. Here is themselves.

The word “undocumented,” on the other hand, deals specifically with one aspect of a person: their immigration status.

Whether or not one’s residence in a country is properly documented can be dealt with on its own. I won’t address the politics of immigration in this op-ed as we can each have the right to our own view on immigration. This op-ed is about recognizing the people and the lives labeled as “illegal,” in the hope of establishing a framework for discourse that still holds respect and dignity for immigrants who don’t deserve to be called “illegal.”

It’s the 21st century, and undocumented Americans are stepping out of the shadows, proclaiming “Undocumented and Unafraid” to profess their immigration status openly without fear of the consequences. Simultaneously, they are also taking control of their representation in the media in hopes of comprehensive immigration reform. “UndocuQueer Art” is a unique movement that stemmed from this progress, in which undocumented students who identify as queer express themselves freely in various art forms as means to claim their existence in this nation as well.

Swatties often claim to have a keen sense of social conscience. Being part of this movement is only right for our campus. Although this isn’t an apparent issue on campus, it’s something to be aware of so we are more cautious with our words that can unknowingly affect someone on campus or anywhere else the topic of immigration is brought up.

As a group, we, the members of Swatties for a DREAM, advocate for an increase of awareness in undocumented issues from a national immigration reform like the DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minorities Act) to equitable admissions for undocumented students at Swarthmore.The framework established here by using the word “undocumented” helps us, as a student body, have a platform to respectfully discuss many topics on this matter.

Uriel Medina Espino ’16 is a member of Swatties for a DREAM.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2013

Opinions

PAGE 13

The Phoenix

Exit Hillary Clinton: The Secretary of State and Her Legacy

Hillary Clinton’s four years at the State Department have been marked by her emphases on diplomacy and empowerment of women.

Hillary Clinton is perhaps the most beloved politician in America. While Barack Obama’s presidency polarized the nation and suffered from low approval ratings throughout much of his first term, the Secretary of State has maintained sky-high favorability. Though only days have passed since the second inauguration of President Obama, Democrats are already keen to see Clinton run for the top job in 2016. Clinton’s established global profile, diplomatic skill and departure from the unpopular doctrines of President Bush have made it a no-brainer that the Obama Administration gets its highest marks on foreign policy.

Now that Clinton is leaving the Department of State, she will undoubtedly remain a recognized name for years to come. But the legacy she leaves behind is another question. While most Americans approve of her tenure as Secretary of State, the PRESTON “Clinton philosophy” -- the set of principles by which she handles America’s COOPER relationship with the world -- is more Inside difficult to determine. But in the tradiCapitol Hill tion of celebrated Secretaries of State like William Seward, Henry Kissinger and Madeleine Albright, Clinton has forged her own foreign policy dogma. Above all, it strikes a tone of balance.

During her 2009 confirmation hearing, Clinton endorsed the use of “smart power” in approaching foreign policy. The term, popularized by former Bill Clinton Administration official Joseph Nye, defines a balance between two competing visions for America’s role in the world: on one side, the use of military force and an emphasis on American influence in the world; on the other, stress on strong alliances and the use of international institutions to achieve peace. “There are three legs to the stool of American foreign policy,” Clinton said in 2009.

“Defense, diplomacy, and development.”

Clinton has arguably incorporated elements of mainstream conservative and much more liberal philosophies into her foreign policy, finding a balance that passes for center-left. She pledged to end the unpopular War in Iraq and reached out to heads of state around the world during the first months of her tenure, satisfying the anti-hawk sentiments of many Americans in 2009. “Diplomacy will be the vanguard of our foreign policy,” she declared at her confirmation hearing. But she also pledged to use all the tools available to the State Department, including military action if necessary.

Clinton maintains the importance of advancing American interests in all areas of the world, striking a contrast with the isolationist sympathies backed by more liberal members of her party such as Rep. Dennis Kucinich. Dur-

COURTESY OF BLOGS.REUTERS.COM

ing a maritime border dispute between China and Viet- in Egypt, she did rebuke President Hosni Mubarak for nam, Clinton ruffled some feathers in the Chinese gov- censoring social media during the Tahrir Square protests. ernment by declaring that the U.S. had a strong national (Social media would end up being instrumental in the interest in keeping the waters of the South China Sea free, success of the revolution in Egypt.) Once again, she reand that America would follow through to make sure all ceived backlash from the Chinese government when she countries in the region respected international law. criticized their heavy censorship of the internet. She also While in the Senate, Clinton was a strong proponent inspired strong words from Russian leader Vladimir Puof the U.S. War in Afghanistan. She not only recognized tin for questioning the integrity of elections in the counthe importance of eliminating the terrorists who attacked try.

America on 9/11, but also made an argument that reflectAs popular as Clinton has been, however, her State ed another important part of her foreign policy philoso- Department has had its share of controversies, most conphy: the empowerment of women. Afghan women lived cerning its policy in the Middle East. Liberals and conseroppressed lives under Taliban rule; Clinton emphasized vatives alike criticized the U.S. military intervention in improving their lives, and the lives of all Afghan citizens, Libya, arguing that there was no clear goal heading into as a primary purpose of military action in the country. the conflict and that it might just create another unstaWorldwide empowerment of women has been a con- ble situation, similar to Iraq. Many have also faulted the sistent goal for Clinton, during her terms in the Senate as Obama Administration’s foreign policy for its inconsiswell her tenure as Secretary of State. Early on in her role tencies, choosing to intervene in Libya but not in Syria, at the State Department, she introduced several programs where the civil war has claimed over 60,000 lives. Clinaimed at improving women’s lives abroad. These include ton’s critics have not ignored her role in these shortcomthe Global Hunger and Food Security Initiative, which ings. sought to help developing countries innovate to solve Perhaps the most visible blemish on Clinton’s State Detheir food security problems, with a special emphasis on partment career is the continuing controversy unfolding the role of women in food production. Another initiative from the attack on the U.S. embassy in Benghazi last year was the Women in Pubin which four Americans lic Service Project, which were killed. Prior to the atsought to elevate women tack, the State Department to positions of power in Clinton’s established global profile, did not respond to cables male-dominated governrequesting additional secudiplomtic skill and departure from ments. The State Departrity at the embassy. While ment partnered with sevthe unpopular doctrines of President she has defended her State eral women’s colleges, Department in regards to Bush have made it a no-brainer that the Benghazi controversy, including Bryn Mawr, to advance this initiative. many fault her for insufthe Obama Administration gets its Emphasis on women’s ficient oversight. At a Senhighest marks on foreign policy. empowerment has even ate hearing last week, Sen. worked its way into mainRand Paul declared that he stream foreign policy iswould have relieved Clinsues. In 2011, Clinton ton of her State Departpraised Middle Eastern revolutions in the Arab Spring ment post had he been president. for their potential to advance women’s rights. She also The new Secretary of State, Sen. John Kerry, was contied women’s rights abroad to American national security firmed on Tuesday to succeed her, so Clinton will soon interests. Countries which did not respect the rights of step down from the State Department. While Democrats their citizens are inherently more unstable, Clinton ar- remain enthusiastic about a Clinton presidential run in gued. “Where women are disempowered and dehuman- 2016, it is unlikely, since she has publicly denied her inized,” she said in 2011, “you are more likely to see not terest in a second campaign. Clinton will likely remain a just anti-democratic forces, but extremism that leads to public figure and a powerful influence, even as a private security challenges for us.” citizen. Her philosophy has undoubtedly shaped the way In promoting U.S. values overseas, Clinton has also America approaches foreign policy, and her State Departstressed the importance of free speech and open media. ment will continue to bear vestiges of her tenure long afWhile initially reluctant to support the political upheaval ter she has resigned.

Opinions

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2013

The Phoenix

Some Good News on Immigration Conservatives Show Movement Towards Sensible Reforms The GOP needs to stop hyperventilating about immigration. My most tangible frustration with today’s Republican Party is all the shouting about “illegals” and “amnesty” when we ought to be emphasizing how important newcomers are to a nation of immigrants. Knee-jerk nativism during the early Republican primaries prevented Mitt Romney from presenting any sensible immigration reform policies. That was a shame, considering that President Obama, with the exception of circumventing Congress on certain portions of the DREAM Act, built no resumé on immigration issues during his first term.

In last year’s State of the Union, President Obama bragged that “there are fewer illegal crossings than when I took office.” That’s technically true, in a tragic sort of way. The U.S. only has fewer people crossing the border because of a lousy economy that encourages potential immigrants to stay put. Net U.S. miDANIELLE gration is currently flat. It’s time for a conservative solution.

CHARETTE Hopefully, with Senator Marco The Nascent Rubio’s leadership on the bipartisan Neoliberal immigration Senate reform bill, conservatives’ cognitive dissonance over immigration is finally coming to end. And hopefully we’ll stop talking about the American Dream and deportation in the same breath.

The bill, revealed on Tuesday, works toward establishing earned-legal status for unauthorized immigrants and has the backing of four Democrats and four Republicans. Indeed, this is a rare showing of bipartisanship in our fragmented capital city and may provide the kind of political healing that President Obama’s leadership has so far lacked.

Under the proposal, those who are currently unauthorized must pay fines and back taxes and submit to a background check--a very reasonable trade-off for becoming citizens. So-called “DREAM-ers,” or children of undocumented parents who did not themselves willingly break U.S. immigration law, will not face these penalties. Legal status, of course, offers immigrants job flexibility, higher wages, and greater incentives to learn English and further skills.

Moreover, the bill increases the number of green cards available and ends the absurd quota system that has previously dissuaded so many Indian, Chinese, Mexican, and Filipino workers from even applying for a green card because of the seemingly endless wait times.

Alas, too many conservatives, repeating the same slogans that have hurt them with Hispanics voters since 2006, say that they support immigration, so long as its the legal kind.

What many on the Right don’t understand are the labyrinthine waiting lines that prevent all but the most highlyeducated immigrants from entering the country. They picture their own ancestors legally landing on Ellis Island without acknowledging that the immigration waves in the late 19th and early were far less regulated than they are today.

Those who care about hard work, close families, and upward mobility should also care about fixing our immigration system and transitioning those who are here illegally Despite the restrictionist Right’s reputation, I’m convinced that this is a malleable issue. Those who care about hard work, close families, and upward mobility should also care about fixing our immigration system and transitioning those who are here illegally to come out of the shadows and assimilate as welcome and productive citizens.

The fact that Mitt Romney earned just 27 percent of Hispanic support was pitiful. But, unlike many think tanks on the Left celebrating the growing U.S Hispanic population as means for securing a permanent progressive coalition, I don’t think demographics are destiny. Just because a person

is Hispanic does not make him a card-carrying Democrat.

Especially not if the GOP can bring its policies on immigration back in line in line with the rest of the Party’s ideals regarding liberty, risk, and the ladder of success. As Marco Rubio said in the Senate TV Studio earlier this week, first in English, then in Spanish, “We are dealing with 11 million human beings who are — who are — who are here undocumented, the vast and enormous majority of whom have come here in pursuit of what all of us would recognize as the American dream.”

Unfortunately, the bill recycles some bad ideas as well.

It makes use of federal employment verification system, EVerify, which, in states like Arizona, where the program has been in place since 2008, only encourages government invasion of the workplace and drives undocumented workers further into the black market. The bill also misguidedly calls for 100,000 new border patrol agents and does not do enough to establish a guest-worker program for lower-skilled immigrants to transfer across jobs and meet the needs of various adopting industries.

Perhaps the most salient conservative talking point against increased immigration is that immigrants are a drain to the Welfare State. Instead of citing this as reason to curb immigration, Republicans should use immigration reform as leverage for shrinking government. Demanding budget cuts in exchange for raising the debt ceiling has been a losing issue for Republicans. Why not instead force Democrats to rein in spending in return for much more open borders?

The economist Milton Friedman famously noted that no nation can sustain both open immigration and state largesse.

A large and adaptable workforce is an economic asset, but not if newcomers are consuming expensive government services. I suspect many individuals would even contract to forego welfare benefits in return for a legal visa. Passage of the 1996 welfare reform act shrank welfare rolls, even as legal and illegal immigration rates continued to rise.

Conservatives are at a turning-point when it comes to U.S. immigration policy. May they never again air those nativist 2012 primary ads. Liberalizing immigration, while conserving the American Dream, seems a better course.

孤独的过年 Reflections on a Family Divided by Geography and Language

By PATRICK HAN Opinions Writer

Just last week, with Chinese New Year right around the corner, I got a call from my grandparents. Through my broken Chinese, I learned that they were making their annual journey by train to my uncle’s home just outside Beijing a bit early this year, in part to avoid the frigid climate in our hometown of Harbin. Harbin is the capital of Heilongjiang, the northernmost province of China abutting the southern tip of Russia. Nicknamed the “Ice City,” it is known for its excruciatingly cold winters during which temperatures dip as low as -40 degrees. I often joke that residents use the Kelvin as the standard unit of measurement for temperature. Thankfully Beijing, on the other hand, averages a tolerable -4 degrees celcius (25 degrees farenheight) during January, just colder than the weather here at Swarthmore this time of year.

My grandmother is a bespectacled woman of 68 who loves to talk and joke and gossip about family relatives; I call her “Nainai,” Chinese for paternal grandma. A retired engineer of 72, “Yeye,” my grandfather is more austere and sober-minded, with a severe jawline and graying hair, thin from a past surgery. Both have always tried to inspire in me the same hardy, practical wisdom and resilience that were instilled in them by a lifetime of perseverance in the face of everyday hardship. Both are healthy but frail with age from years of hard work and struggle to eke out a living in a time and place where not having enough to eat, drink and wear was accepted, even expected, as part of everyday life. “Remember to take care of your health,” Yeye would always say. “Education is important but nothing is more important than your health. You don’t realize that until you’re my age.” It pained me to imagine the two of them making their way through the frozen, bone-chilling air and icy streets to the train station and traveling for 10 hours to my uncle’s home. I wanted to advise them against

making the long, arduous trip but I knew they would reply with the same reply they offered last year: Chinese New Year is a time when a family comes together to celebrate itself, to celebrate life, to celebrate the blessings of the past year and the one to come. Tradition dictates that this be done every New Year’s Eve no matter how widespread the family is geographically or how inconvenient the voyages required to reunite — and that was that. I knew hearing it repeated to me again this year from the other side of the planet would only serve to set me going on a different kind of trip: one of the guilt variety. I count myself blessed every time I hear their voices on the phone and yet voices are painfully unable to carry the warmth of a person across thousands of miles of distance to another human being.

Barriers of space and time I can deal with; it’s the linguistic one that I can’t seem to overcome. I can’t describe in any language how hard it is to listen to my grandmother tell me how much she misses me in a thousand different ways and to scramble to even find one good way to properly communicate how much she means to me. I listen to her go on and on telling me how my Yeye brags about how tall I am to all his poker buddies, how she looks through photographs of me every time she feels unhappy, how they are so proud of me for studying at a school like Swarthmore, how she worries night and day about silly things like whether or not I have long underwear for the winter, yet I can’t tell her in turn of my life and thoughts towards them. In my broken Chinese I try to explain to her what she means to me but my vocabulary betrays me and I end up tongue-tied and embarrassed and reciting some Chinese phrase telling them to take care of their health.

It’s hard to explain how hard it is to be unable to communicate well with your parents and grandparents, when the former knows only basic English and the latter knows none. My friends always tell me their parents and grandparents just don’t understand them and that it’s almost like they speak a different language; imagine how

challenging communication is when your family literally speaks a different language. My Chinese is improving, slowly but surely. I am taking Chinese for Advanced Beginners this semester (the equivalent of Second-Year Chinese in subject material) in a desperate attempt to maintain what I learned in my three months in Beijing during my gap year. That was the first time I had seen my grandparents since I immigrated to Los Angeles from Beijing more than 12 years ago. When I lived in China, they raised me when my parents were busy starting their business in Beijing and it killed me that I could barely remember what they looked like.

Barriers of space and time I can deal with; it’s the linguistic one that I can’t seem to overcome.

At the twilight of a wonderful year and the dawn of another, I am at once overwhelmed with gratitude for having all that I need and overwhelmed with longing for the only thing I want: to be with my parents and grandparents, to understand and to be understood by them in ways that I see only in TV and movies. In spite of all I have to be thankful for, it seems to me that to count one’s blessings is easy to say but not very easy to do. It kills me when my friends get to see their grandparents so often and fail to appreciate that extraordinary privilege. Next time you see your grandparents or spend a holiday with them, I implore you to give them a big, earnest hug. I try not to think about how long it will be before I will get to do that again.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2013

Sports

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The Phoenix

KATY MONTOYA/THE PHOENIX

From left: Dan Duncan, Maggie Regan, and Jess Siegel compete in the 1,000-yard freestyle. Duncan won the men’s race in 10:10.33, while Siegel won the women’s in 11:21.78.

Back from Aruba, Swimming Defeats Cabrini

By SCOOP RUXIN Sports Writer

fortitude necessary to overcome their fatigue and dominate the meet. The women won 119-74, improving their season record to 6-1, For most people, a 10-day trip to Aruba while the men’s 127-85 victory improved their in January means hot sunny days, white sand record to 5-1. beaches and a piña colada or two. “Swimming” On the women’s side, Davis’ three wins entails little more than a midday wade into the paced the Garnet to a sweep of all sixteen Atlantic to cool off from the sun. “Dry land”? events. Davis touched first in the 200 freeProbably a spot on the beach, soaking up the style, the 200 butterfly and the 200 IM, while sun.

Wiseman added victories in the 50 and 100 Swarthmore’s swimmers, however, are not yard freestyle events. Two other Garnet swimmost people, and their ten days in Aruba were mers, Jessica Seigel ’16 and Maggie Regan ’14, far from a vacation. “Being a training trip, it notched multiple victories as well, while Nikki was as much about getting back into shape as Miller ’16, Eva Winter ’16, Becky Teng ’14 and it was about the sunshine and beaches,” ex- Hannah Gotwals ’13 won individual events. plained Supriya Davis ’15. Instead of taking Another shining beacon of excellence for the occasional ten minute dip into the ocean, Swarthmore was the solid all-around perforSwarthmore practiced 15 times during their mance from Alice Wong ’13, who finished trip to the Caribbean, to go along with daily second in both the 100 freestyle, 500 freestyle dry-land workouts. and 400 IM. Davis singled out Wong for her The team uses its annual training trip to performance, lauding the senior for posting optimize its physical conditioning for the re- “season best times in the 500 freestyle as well mainder of the season, aiming to be prepared as the 400 IM, one of the hardest events.” to perform at peak level for the Centennial The men were nearly as dominant, winConference Championships, held annually ning eleven individual events and sweeping in late February. The the relay events. Setradeoff of such a nior Dan Duncan, strategy is that the who secured three inBasically everyone has team typically redividual victories, led turns from the trip the group. Perhaps achieved a season best or fatigued, making the the most impressive lifetime best since we have aspect of Duncan’s meets immediately following the trip victories was his sucreturned [from Aruba].” more challenging. cess in a variety of Coach Sue Davis Kate Wiseman ’15 events, as Duncan explained, “Ten days prevailed in the 1,000 of hard work means freestyle, the 200 that we are mentally and physically exhausted backstroke and the 400 IM. “I usually don’t when we get back, and then we are faced with swim the 1,000 or anything backstroke. Saturthe challenge of racing when we’re tired.” day was my career finale in [those two] events, Entering their meet against Cabrini last so I wanted to go out with a bang,” Duncan Saturday, Head Coach Sue Davis understood explained. Also winning races for Swarthmore that the team was swimming at less than full were David Ranshous ’16, Riley Collins ’16, strength. “Both [the men’s and women’s] Joshua Turek-Herman ’16, Max Krackow ’15, teams are swimming tired,” acknowledged the John Flaherty ’14, Roger Chin ’13, Josh Satre veteran coach. ’13 and Charlie Hepper ’13.

With their resounding victories on SaturThe depth of both Swarthmore swim day, both teams exhibited the skill and mental teams, and especially the success that multi-

ple swimmers had against Cabrini impressed coach Davis. “Basically everyone has achieved a season best or lifetime best since we have returned [from Aruba],” she said. While Swarthmore has enjoyed much success in the first part of the season, Davis knows that the competition “will be fierce” going forward, stressing the importance of “staying healthy.”

While Swarthmore has already defeated Centennial Conference opponents McDaniel, Franklin & Marshall and Ursinus (the women also were victorious against Bryn Mawr), both teams will have to perform at their best to remain undefeated in the Conference. Looming especially large is Saturday’s road meet at Gettysburg. Like Swarthmore, both Gettysburg teams are undefeated in Centennial competition. The meet figures to provide a

strong indication of whether Swarthmore has the potential to emerge from the Conference Championships victorious.

Wiseman is optimistic about the team’s chances. Even though she recognizes that team members have had “several lifetime bests in the last few meets,” Wiseman believes that Swarthmore has yet to reach its potential as a team. “Even if some of us are swimming fast right now, with a few more weeks of training plus taper, we’ll be ready for Conferences,” she predicted. If Swarthmore succeeds in its goal of winning the Conference Championships, team members will deserve a more conventional Caribbean vacation.

Dan Duncan is Sports Editor of The Phoenix. He had no role in the production of this article, depending on how you define “role.”

GARNET ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

ERIC VERHASSELT SR., TRACK, ROCHELLE PARK, NJ.

What He’s Done: Scored 2,067 points at the Ursinus Pentathlon, good for a top-10 finish at the meet.

Favorite Career Moment: After never doing 8 of the 10 events in the decathlon before coming to college, becoming Swarthmore’s #2 all time scorer as well as taking the record for the pentathlon and heptathlon.

Season Goals: To improve on my overall performance in the Decathlon and qualify in the conference in pole vault so I have the opportunity to score more points for the team in the conference championship.

DAN DUNCAN/THE PHOENIX

Favorite TV Show: Community.

Sports

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2013

The Phoenix

Women’s Basketball Suffers Setback to Bullets Fall in Rematch of Top Centennial Teams

By DAN DUNCAN Sports Editor When Swarthmore and Gettysburg last met in December, it was a low-scoring, defense-oriented affair that wasn’t decided until the final few seconds. In the season rematch on Saturday, it was more of the same as the top two teams in the Centennial Conference fought through a back-and-forth game marked by extremely close play.

This time, the Bullets came out on top, scoring with 7.8 seconds left in the game to escape Tarble Pavilion with a 55-54 victory.

The loss dropped the Garnet, who last week were receiving votes in the D3hoops.com national poll, to 15-3 and 11-2 in conference play.

Despite the loss, the Garnet still hold a one game lead in the Centennial standings, keeping them in the fight for not only a spot in the conference playoffs, but an all-important first round bye.

As Katie Lytle ’14 pointed out, this means that going into the last few games of the regular season the team is “fortunate to be in control of our own [playoff] destiny.” She added, “I think it’s most important for us to just take it one game at a time . . .We just need to continue to play as a team and finish the season strong.”

Entering the waning seconds of the game, the Garnet were in a strong position to win after Elle Larsen ’15 put the team up 54-53 with 26 seconds remaining. Even after the Bullets regained the lead, 7.8 seconds was plenty of time for one last play. Unfortunately, the final push of the game fell short of the basket.

Although Swarthmore came out on the wrong side of the game’s outcome, the team was led by some exceptional performances on both offense and defense. Larsen led all

scorers with a career high 23 points, while Lytle recorded her seventh consecutive double-double and twelfth this season with 12 points and 11 rebounds. She also forced several Gettysburg turnovers, coming away with five steals on the day.

For her efforts against Gettysburg and last week’s 69-44 win over Haverford (15 points and 16 rebounds in a strong all-around performance), Lytle was named the Centennial Conference Player of the Week. This is the second time she has been recognized by the conference this season.

The Garnet looked to rebound from their setback last night against Muhlenberg. Going into the game, Lytle said Swarthmore needed to “refocus on trying to do the little things that can make a big difference in games.” While she felt the game would be tough, she added, “I think losing to Gettysburg will give us extra motivation to play well and prove why we are first in the conference.”

In fact, the Garnet claimed a 68-66 victory last night against Muhlenberg with an exciting gameending three-pointer by Kayla Moritzky ’13. Lytle, Eliza Polli ’13 and Jessica Jowdy ’16 all achieved double-figures.

Players said that the team had two main goals coming out of winter break: to win 20 games on the season, and to win the conference title outright. Entering the last few games of the regular season, Lytle believed the team was “in a good position” to achieve those goals.

Accomplishing the team goals could come quite quickly in fact, as Swarthmore next embarks on a grueling stretch of four games in eight days, beginning with Saturday’s game at Johns Hopkins. The next home game is Monday, February 4, as the Garnet play host to McDaniel. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Guard Katie Lytle gets tangled up in the Gettysburg defense during the Garnet’s 55-54 loss to the Bullets.

JULIA CARLETON/THE PHOENIX

On The NFL And Concussions One week before the Superbowl, Ed Reed, the Ravens safety, claimed that with the move by the league to prevent injuries through introducing new rules and giving extra protection to offensive players that football will probably not exist in 30 years’ time. Though we do not know whether this prediction will come true, the disappearance of an entire sport seems unlikely. The biggest issue here is the debate that has surrounded Reed’s claim in the past week with political, sporting and cultural figures all making their own opinions known.

To me, the biggest figure to have become embroiled in this debate is not the current President of the United States (who claimed that while he loved the game he would be conflicted if it was his child playing) but the Cutler baby. Mini Cutler has really become a major figure in the NFL simply because his parents disagree publically JAMES on whether he would be allowed to play football. Big Cutler (most IVEY sacked man of the year for god Out of Left Field knows how long) claims that baby Cutler would be allowed to play football since he trusts the sport is safe enough.

He would know about how effective his protective gear was and how much protection it actually gives him, and despite getting a concussion last season he still sees his diabetes as the biggest threat to his future.

But if mother Kristin Kavallari has her way, the Cutler child won’t be playing — the sport will be deprived of another Cutler.

But is the issue here whether or not parents want their children to play? Obama and Cutler have weighed in recently, but last year, Kurt Warner said that he would not want his children to play, given what he knows about the sport. Ray Lewis on the other hand is determined to retire at the end of this year in order to watch his son play for the University of Miami and support him from the stands. Players and ex-players are probably the best indication as to whether or not the sport

will continue in its present format because they are the people who have made careers through their ability to play and put their bodies on the line for their teams.

Reed has plainly set up camp in the pro football section and recently claimed that Junior Seau, who committed suicide after suffering football related problems, knew what he was getting into when he played football. To Reed, Seau knew the risks. Even so, does that mean that football should stay the same? After all, nobody can ask Seau now what his opinion is on that matter. Those that survive are able to dictate policy. Reed may be a stalwart of the game and willing to give his life to the Ravens, but that does not mean everybody is so eager to sacrifice themselves. That counts double for the parents of players whether their children are playing football in school, college, professionally or at an amateur level. Maybe some parents are okay with it. Ray Lewis probably has few doubts about the safety of the sport; otherwise, he would not have let his son play at the college level, especially not at running back. As the risks of football and the actual sport become publicised, both the risk of more parents refusing their children to play and the talent pool decreases, as sports like soccer and baseball increase. In the end, the sport may just die like Reed predicts but, on the other hand, with a few tweaks the game may die in its current form or be reborn into a new format designed with the intention of helping the players survive past 50.

This season has tarred the reputation of the NFL with the concussion report coming out mid-season and the bounty scandal before the season even started. The discovery that the league had known the adverse effects of concussions on ex-players in conjunction with the bounty program in New Orleans not only purposely injures people, but also encourages the defensive players to work a little bit harder each snap. The fact of the matter is that the NFL has been brought into disrepute at times this season and work will need to be done to improve the image of both the league and the relationship between the players and Roger Goodell.