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Indiana’s Oldest College Newspaper
VOL. 163, ISSUE 29
Obama leads town hall in Indianapolis, discusses 'Middle Class Economics for the 21st Century' While the cheering that followed this statement from those assembled at Ivy Tech on Friday seemed to signify their agreement, not all are happy with the President’s proposal. Later that same day, Indiana Republican Party Chairman issued a statement in which he said, “The president’s recent budget proposal is a $4 trillion spending plan with no focus on the nation’s debt and no regard for the heavy burden it would place on generation of taxpayers.” Taking into account the opposition that this plan is sure to be met within the Republican-led House and Senate, professor of political science Bruce Stinebrickner sees no possibility for it to pass—at least in its current form.
BY NETTIE FINN news@thedepauw.com
When Air Force One touched down in Indianapolis last Friday President Obama spread lofty goals and hefty budget increases. The President officially pitched his message of middle class economics in the state of Indiana. Obama spoke in a town hall setting at Ivy Tech community college, with about 20 minutes of his time devoted to outlining the basics of his new budget proposal, “Middle Class Economics for the 21st Century,” and another 40 he
spent answering a variety of questions from the crowd. After being introduced to the audience by Indianapolis Mayor, Greg Ballard, who ribbed the President about his NBA team preference, Obama took to the stage and responded in kind. “It is a great pleasure to be back in Indiana—I respect the Pacers, but yes, I am a Bulls fan,” he said. “I make no apologies.” Obama then moved into a discussion of more serious matters—namely, the current state of America’s middle class. “Are we going to be a country where a few do incredibly well, or are we going
to be a country where everyone has opportunities and everyone can succeed?” Obama asked the crowd. The tenants of this budget proposal are childcare, education, healthcare, homes and retirement. Perhaps the most eye-catching part of the plan is Obama’s assertion that two years of community college should be free for all American citizens—provided they maintain a 2.5 GPA and uphold as-yet unspecified “attendance requirements.” “Everyone should be able to have that opportunity, and you shouldn’t have 100,000 dollars of debt when you leave,” Obama said.
“Congress receives the budget, and then Congress does what it wants. Does the term ‘dead on arrival’ mean anything to you?” According to Stinebrickner, the president’s budget proposal “is mostly unconnected to whatever bills get passed.” “In the case of this particular president in this particular year with Republicans in both houses, it was probably dead even before it arrived,” he added. With that in mind, Stinebrickner speculated that the real purpose of “Middle Class Economics for the 21st Century” is to “set some markers for the
Obama | cont’d on page 3
President Obama adresses his plan for the national budget at Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis. Obama also touted his proposal for free community college for some students. PHOTOS COURTESY OF SARAH BURTENSHAW
the depauw|news
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015
DSG pushes for extra stop sign installment at Locust and Anderson BY EMILY MCCARTER news@thedepauw.com
Features Editor Opinions Editor Sports Editor Photo Editor Design Editor Multimedia Editor Web Editor Social Media Editor Assistant Social Media Editor Business Manager Advertising Managers
Nettie Finn Alex Weilhammer Kevin Killeen Ali Baker Lexy Burton Brock Turner Austin Candor Jackson Mote Jacob Lynn Sam Caravana Meg Morrow Erin O’Brien Leann Burke C Thambundit Christa Schroedel Meghan Burke Nathan Basham Elizabeth St. John
@thedepauw / thedepauw THE DEPAUW: (USPS 150-120) is a tabloid published most Tuesdays and Fridays of the school year by the DePauw University Board of Control of Student Publications. The DePauw is delivered free of charge around campus. Paid circulation is limited to mailed copies of the newspaper. THE HISTORY: In its 163rd year, The DePauw is Indiana’s oldest college newspaper, founded in 1852 under the name Asbury Notes. The DePauw is an independent, not-for-profit organization and is fully staffed by students. THE BUSINESS: The DePauw reserves the right to edit, alter or reject any advertising. No specific positions in the newspaper are sold, but every effort will be made to accommodate advertisers. For the Tuesday edition, advertising copy must be in the hands of The DePauw by 5 p.m. the preceding Sunday; for the Friday edition, the copy deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday.
The DePauw Pulliam Center for Contemporary Media 609 S. Locust St., Greencastle, IN 46135 Editor-in-Chief: editor@thedepauw.com Subscriptions: business@thedepauw.com Advertising: advertising@thedepauw.com
[the Anderson and Locust street crossing] isn’t a truck route,” Halffield said. “You’re not going to see trucks going down the street, it’s more about the speed that the cars are going, and the stop sign [would be] a reminder for the cars to slow down, take a minute, look both ways to make sure no one is coming, whether it be a car or pedestrian.” The issue of safety at the intersection of Anderson and Locust Street has proved to be not only a DePauw, but also a Greencastle community issue, which has been exhibited by the recent car accident involving a Greencastle community resident and a DePauw student and her mother.
“I think the recent accident will allow for an increase in awareness pertaining to the need for cars to drive slower on Locust Street, particularly when DePauw is in session,” Watson said. DSG plans to soon send a letter to Mayor Sue Murray’s office inviting the city to revisit the issue of installing a three-way stop at the intersection of Anderson and Locust Street. To view the stop sign white paper online, visit www.depauw.edu/orgs/dsg/updates/ under “White Papers.”
greencastle WEATHER REPORT
HIGH: 32° F
Weather courtesy of www.weather.com my Tinder gets all the swipes
DSG’s white paper plans to add two more stop signs to the Anderson-Locust intersection. SAM CARAVANA / THE DEPAUW
LOW: 24° F
HIGH: 28° F
LOW: 4° F
HIGH: 20° F
LOW: 9° F
HIGH: 29° F
LOW: 21° F
the depauw | news
Dolores Huerta brings awareness to several social justice issues tice issues. “They say you grow here a little at DePauw,” said Huerta. Huerta is greatly celebrated and recognized as a major figure within the Latina Community in the U.S. She is also a two time United States Presidential Award Recipient. She is responsible for co-founding the United Farm Workers (UFW) with Cesar Chavez and was an activist during the American Civil Rights Movement. “I really liked how she wasn’t afraid to address controversial issues in a really frank way,” said sophomore Lois Miller. “I thought she was really inspiring.” Huerta has been an advocate for social justice, women’s rights, reproductive freedom and LBGTQ civil rights. She continues working to develop community leaders to advocate for the working poor, immigrants, women and youth. “I really appreciated her view on feminism because she made it Activist Dolores Huerta speaks about controverclear that even if you are a man sial issues such as LGBTQ rights and gender you can still be a feminist beequality during her Compton Lecture Thursday cause really all it is, is that you beevening. Huerta is renowned for her work as an lieve in the equality of the sexes,” adovate and supporter of social justice. SAM said sophomore Ellen Tinder. CARAVANA/THE DEPAUW The first Russell J. Compton lecture series occurred in the fall BY LEXY BURTON of 2011. Karen Koning Abu Zayd presented news@thedepauw.com the first Johnson-Write Lecture in conflict studies to honor Russell J. Compton. After Professor Brett O’Bannan gave In order to remember the legacy of a warm welcome to Dolores Huerta, she Compton, the Conflict Studies Department stepped up to the podium and asked for a intends to develop a dialogue on campus step stool so she could see the audience bet- promoting Compton’s principles of justice ter before beginning her lecture. The speech and equality. that followed tackled a gamut of social jusCompton was a religions and philosophy
Obama | cont’d from page 1
MONDAY
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Chief Copy Editor Assistant Copy Editor News Editors
SUNDAY
VOL. 163, ISSUE 29
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015
Due to the difficulty of Crossing Anderson and Locusts streets, and a recent car accident on Sunday Feb. 8, DePauw University Student Government (DSG) and Administration has been working with the City of Greencastle to get a three-way stop installed at the intersection in front of East College, although there has been little progress on the side of the City of Greencastle. “I think it’s hard for people, especially in the city [of Greencastle] to understand how important having a stop sign there is, just because one; I’m sure they’re not going down that street all the time, two; they’re probably not pedestrians there, and three; it’s a small town so how often does a car crash happen?” said Claire Halffield, sophomore DSG Parliamentarian. Last semester, Halffield, Charlie Douglas and other DSG executive members wrote a white paper about getting a stop sign installed at the Anderson and Locust Street intersection. Student Body President Cody Watson explains that a white paper can be written by any DePauw student when they have a campus issue that they would like to have solved. The white paper is then turned in to the DSG Executive Board, looked over, edited and presented in a joint meeting between the Senate and Representative chambers. If the white paper is passed, it goes into act and the Student Body President and Vice President take it to the administration.
FRIDAY
www.thedepauw.com
“The current progress of the white paper on the stop sign is that it was taken to the administration and they determined it was a city issue. Therefore, the writers of the paper are working to take it to a city council meeting. In addition, the university worked with DSG to put in additional ‘no parking’ signs next to the arch on Locust Street to increase the ability to see when crossing Locust Street from East College to Anderson Street,” Watson said. This white paper is a bigger issue than for just DePauw students. The safety of anyone crossing or driving through this intersection has a greater chance of an accident due to the low visibility. “Originally our white paper was about pedestrian safety and making sure students could walk across the street and not have to worry about a car running them over, but now that there’s been a car crash, it would be even more valuable to have a threeway stop at Anderson and Locust Street just so people are safe no matter what vehicle transportation they’re taking,” Halffield said. There have been similar problems in the past with student pedestrian safety at the intersection of Jackson and Hanna Street. Now, there is a yield to pedestrian sign that allows for people to cross easier and safer. “There were problems, from what I’ve heard, trying to get a yield to pedestrian sign put in over by the cemetery, if you’re walking to Blackstock, so it was really hard even to get that just because that’s a truck route, but
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015
Presidential election next year.” “This is ceremonial hoopla,” he said. Obama, though, spoke positively about the possibility of passing some version of his 2016 budget proposal, appealing to the ideals of bi-partisanship. “Let’s roll up our sleeves and get some work done,” he said. “That’s what you elected us to do. Not to have a Washington food fight.” Funding for this proposal would come largely from closing taxloopholes on the top one percent of Americans, specifically what Obama called the “trust fund loophole,” which allows this top percentage to avoid paying taxes on unearned income. “I don’t know why the folks who are most able to pay [taxes]
professor at DePauw from 1951 to 1974. He stayed an active member of the DePauw community until he passed in 2007. Huerta thanked the Compton Lecture Series as well as the faculty and students for DePauw’s wonderful hospitality even though Indiana’s cold weather did not agree with her voice. “I think this [DePauw] is a little oasis in the Midwest to improve political climate in the U.S,” said Huerta. Huerta asked questions and asked the audience to participate in several chants. Huerta not only talked about her experiences but addressed a lot of recent social justice issues and concerns in the U.S. These subjects of discussion included women’s rights, education, illegal immigration and LGBTQ rights. “I thought she was very personable and brought together a lot of points that are important on this campus and that will help educate all of our peers,” said junior Jessica Keister. Not only did Huerta use her wit to relate to the audience, but she also used humor to appropriately address sensitive social issues. She brought up the importance of education by acknowledging the active faculty and staff. While speaking about education, Huerta shared her opinion about the need to educate students about ethnic and women’s studies before attending undergraduate school. Huerta took a moment during her lecture to congratulate the recent activism that has taken place on DePauw’s campus. “I appreciate the fact that Dolores understands and acknowledges the multi-faceted issues in our national and global context,” said junior Michael Chavez. “She gave us perspectives and examples that helped me understand that these issues are not only interconnected but are happening in real life.”
don’t have to,” Obama said. It is this part of the proposal, Stinebrickner stated, that might have the most effect on DePauw students and families. With its high tuition costs, DePauw draws many students from top-earning income brackets. “This could end up basically shifting money from DePauw families to kids who would go to community college,” Stinebrickner said. However, he does not foresee two years of free community college affecting incoming class sizes. “DePauw students are not people who are debating between going to community college and going to DePauw. I don’t think there’s much overlap there,” he said. Whether or not the proposal passes, Obama maintained that his budget proposal is what the country needs, not a political gimmick. “I’m not pushing these ideas for my sake, I’m pushing them because this is where I think America needs to go.”
PAGE 3 DePauw
Tiger Tweets Maeve McDonough, ‘15 @MaeveMcDonough
5:56 p.m.- 12 February 2015
Wow what a day at the liberal arts. My homework is to practice roundhouse kicks and I got to pull a fire alarm.
Jun Pera
2:05 a.m. - 8 February 2015
A nerd’s guide to making friends: the squadratic formula.
Susie Schmank @schmankdatank
1:39 p.m. - 9 February 2015
Yik Yak at DePauw: A post about being sexually frustrated A sexist post w/ up-votes A racist post w/ down-votes Campus squirrels
INSTAGRAM PHOTO OF THE ISSUE
the depauw|news
PAGE 4
Q and A with Miss Collegiate South and DePauw University senior Erin O'Brien to model a swimsuit or sing a song in front of a bunch of people. I’ve gained interview skills and the ability to express myself. I’ve just become more well rounded as a person. TDP: How do you prepare for a pageant? EO: There are different phases to the competition. There is an interview portion, so I make sure to stay up dated on current events. There’s, of course, the swimsuit portion, so I spend a lot of time taking care of myself. I make it more of a lifestyle, I workout every day, make sure that I eat healthy and make sure I feel confident on stage modeling a swimsuit. There’s a talent portion, so I try to practice my song at least once a week. There’s the evening gown portion, which as embarrassing as it is to admit it, I do practice walking very gracefully in heals. Then there’s the on-stage Senior Erin O’Brien poses after becoming Miss Collegiate question which always gets a lot South. She will be competing in the Miss Indiana pageant of negative press coverage. You this summer. PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIN O’BRIEN always hear about the girls screwing up their answers, but you’ll be asked a question on stage and you BY BROCK TURNER have thirty seconds to answer it. I just try to spend news@thedepauw.com a little bit of time each day focusing on some part The DePauw: How did you get invited to the of the competition and in some way bettering myself. There’s a lot more that goes into it than what Miss Indiana Pageant? Erin O'Brien: Last Sunday, I competed in the a lot of people realize. Miss Collegiate South Pageant. It was open to any TDP: What’s your favorite and least favorite woman who attends a southern Indiana college. In addition to winning a scholarship, I also get part of each competition? EO: My favorite part is the interview. Even to compete at Miss Indiana this summer. It is the third week of June in Zionsville, Ind. The winner though the audience doesn’t get to see the interof Miss Indiana, of course, then gets to go to Miss view, I love talking about my accomplishments and sharing with the judges why I’m so interested America. in pageants. I don’t really have a least favorite. If TDP: How long have you been competing in there was a part of the competition I didn’t like, I wouldn’t compete. There’s something I like pageants? EO: I did a few pageants in high school, but about it all. When I first started, I hated the swimI didn’t get really serious about it until college. I suit portion. But, I like it now, because doing that realized it really helped me grow as a person. It’s has taught me a lot about health and fitness and I more than about walking around in high heels, never thought I would say that. you really grow and mature a lot as a person, regardless of whether you win every pageant, you Editor’s note: Erin O'Brien is the multimedia editor walk away gaining something.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015
CAMPUSCRIME February 10 • Suspicious Activity/Check Fraud • Under Investigation | Time: unknown | Place: Campus • Fire Alarm • Due to Power Outage/ Alarm Reset | Time: 1:30 p.m. | Place: GCPA • Nature Park Rule Violation/ Battery-Subjects Throwing Rocks at Visitors • Pending | Time: 6:14 p.m. | Place: Nature Park
Community Standards Committee | Time: 1:22 p.m. | Place: Warne February 12 • Public Intoxication/Disorderly Conduct • Transported to Hospital/ Arrested: Pui Yee Yiu | Time: 1:26 a.m. | Place: February 8 SOURCE: PUBLIC SAFETY WWW.DEPAUW.EDU/STUDENTLIFE/CAMPUSSAFETY/PUBLICSAFETY/ACTIVITY-REPORT/ YEAR/2015/
February 11 • Assist Campus Living-Possession of Marijuana/Possession of Paraphernalia • Forwarded to
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015
the depauw |FEATURES
Uncharted: the truth behind homelessness BY SAM CARAVANA features@thedepauw.com
“Uncharted: The Truth Behind Homelessness” puts up no facades. The documentary successfully portrays the issue of homelessness in the city of Indianapolis does not pretend be objective, making its mission clear throughout. Though homelessness is a national issue, directors Adam Oppenheim and Sam Mirpoorian limit the movie’s focus to Indianapolis, the only city in the top 15 largest cities in America that spends none of its budget on assisting the homeless. The film, though a documentary, takes a subjective approach as it winds its way around the streets of Indianapolis, interviewing everyone from Maurice, the leader of a homeless camp, to members of Mayor Greg Ballard’s office. Oppenheim and Mirpoorian explore the issue of homelessness, diving into its causes as well as evaluating the solutions currently in place, including Indianapolis’s attempt to brush the homeless out of the streets while offering no alternative. Though the filmmakers interview members of opposing sides they make no attempt to hide their opinions at multiple points, directly voicing their thoughts at the camera. Speaking of camera the films cinematography is what one would expect from first time documentarians such as Oppenheim and Mirpoorian. At multiple points, the footage was so shaky that I found
myself getting dizzy. In addition, the camera’s focusing and re-focusing on screen distracted from the content. This lack of polish is the result of the films sparse funding, with only one major donor who offered up $10,000. “A lot was self-funded,” said Don Sawyer, a member of the filmmaking team. Throughout the film these small mistakes pick away at the beauty of the film, but not its message. Mirpoorian, whose film background is in music videos, adds some stylistic touches that make the film stand out from its genre. At multiple points the plot is slowed by black and white footage of Indianapolis that make the viewer feel as though he or she is flying through the city. As the end of the film grows near and the homeless camp is demolished, Oppenheim and Mirpoorian end the scene with Sawyer playing a keyboard on an elevated parking lot. “We tried to make it more cinematic than your average documentary,” said Mirpoorian, citing the artistic flourishes. Though the film has been released and has multiple screening the films production is an ongoing process. Currently, footage is being recut by Emmy-winner Stephen Talbot in a new rendition. Despite the technical shortcomings of “Uncharted,” the documentary thoroughly informs the viewer on the state of homelessness in an unorthodox manner.
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TDP: What have you gained from competing? EO: I’ve definitely gained more confidence in myself. It’s definitely not easy to get up on stage
Don Sawyer (left) and Sam Mirpoorian (center) talk about the ideas and the filmmaking process behind the film "Uncharted: The Truth Behind Homelessness." The documentary was screened at Ashley Square Cinema and a dialogue with Sawyer and Mirpoorian followed afterwards. SAM CARAVANA/THE DEPAUW
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Progressive bluegrass outfit continues to push the envelope BEN GORMAN
features@thedepauw.com
From the release of their first single “I Blew it Off” and the announcement that T. Bone Burnett (Oh Brother Where Art Thou, Inside Llewyn Davis) would be producing the album, it was apparent that the Punch Brothers would be releasing something different. For the first time in the band’s history, they introduced drums and electric guitar while leaving out frontman Chris Thile’s adept mandolin playing. Some fans were aghast, claiming that the Punch Brothers sold out. Then the album dropped and proved the naysayers wrong. The album opens with “Familiarity” a 10-minute epic about losing touch with reality due to our society’s self absorption reflected by online personalities and smartphone use. Featuring chamber-like harmonies and classical instrumentation, the song is reminiscent of the group’s first album, Punch, while continuing to push their sound forward. It provides the soundscape and a general theme for the 11-song collection. While the lyrics in “Familiarity” tend to be a little cryptic with its staccato line breaks, they are very blunt about the album’s message in “My Oh My,” a song about the absurdity of ignoring the beauty of the world around us and escaping into something pointless shared by others. With lyrics like “How long, Oh Lord, can you keep the whole world spinning under our thumbs,” Thile expresses his fear for humanity if this trend continues. Although the band never pretended to be a traditional bluegrass outfit, they tend to include at least one traditional-sounding bluegrass song on each album; thankfully The Phosphorescent Blues is no exception. With the combination of Gabe Witcher’s raucous fiddle and Noam Pikelny’s frenetic banjo playing, “Boll Weevil” is perfect for any foot stomping, whiskey-drinking occasion. The Phosphorescent Blues is musically and lyrically stunning, but perhaps the most impressive part of the album is that the band found the time to make it. While the album’s predecessor Who’s Feeling Young Now was released in 2012, everyone in the group released countless side projects during their time off. Thile alone released an album of Bach covers, a new Nickel Creek album and an album with Edgar Meyer, all in 2014. The group also contributed a couple songs to the Cohen Brothers’ Inside Lywyn Davis soundtrack. With this kind of productivity, it is clear that the Punch Brothers practice what they preach and use their smart phones as a tool rather than a distraction. Essential Tracks: “Familiarity”, “My Oh My”, “I Blew it Off”, “Magnet”
k c i t S e l z z i Sw
the depauw | features
PAGE 6 & 7
Live entertainment from students and community members
BY TYLER MURPHY
features@thedepauw.com
Since its opening in 2008, The Swizzle Stick has become a place for bands and artists from the Greencastle community and surrounding areas to share their talents with others. Aside from the bands they secure for certain dates and holidays, the bar also has an open-mic night every Thursday beginning at 8:30 p.m. Senior Andre Williams bartends at The Swizzle Stick on Thursday nights and thinks the night is a good opportunity for the Greencastle and DePauw communities. “I think it’s cool in that it gives people in the community an opportunity to express their art,” said Williams. “It’s open to anyone and anybody and I think people definitely have a good time both performing [and] just sitting along for the ride.” Gail Smith, owner of The Swizzle Stick, loves seeing community involvement in her establishment. “This county is very fortunate to have so many talented musicians,” said Smith. “I am a huge supporter of live entertainment and community involvement, both from town and from DePauw.” Over January, some members of professor Ron Dye’s Songwriting Bootcamp Winter Term course got a chance to perform their tunes at the bar, including junior Cassidy Richison. Richison hopes to go into music after college and thought the class, as well as the opportunity at The Swizzle Stick, brought her one step closer to those dreams. “Participating in the class was an absolute cathartic relief. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was working towards what I want to do
The Swizzle Stick offers no stage; instead, musicians play from the front of the building. TYLER MURPHY/ THE DEPAUW
after I graduate,” said Richison. “Performing, for a lack of better terms, was awesome. Istvan CsicseryRonay and Alex Puga (DePauw professors), due to their musical brilliance, conjured up instrumentals within minutes for a blues song I wrote.” The class mainly focused on how to create music, both vocally and instrumentally. Richison got a chance to showcase her voice at the bar. “Standing behind a microphone is one of my favorite places in the world, but at the same time it's the place I feel most vulnerable,” said Richison. “I get really uncomfortable sharing my work with other people, so this really pushed me out of my comfort zone and it was absolutely worth every second.” In order to further student involvement, Almost Home Restaurant, which founded and runs The Swizzle Stick right next door, features a student or group from DePauw’s School of Music every Wednesday night at 6 p.m. Smith wants students to know also that they don’t have to be 21 to perform at open-mic nights. “Students younger than 21 can always perform in the front,” said Smith. This coming weekend, to celebrate Valentine’s Day, The Swizzle Stick will be bringing in two artists, John Stevens from Crawfordsville and Bro Slaw from Indianapolis. They will be performing on Friday and Saturday at 8:30 p.m.. Stevens has recently gained popularity for a parody he wrote about the Patriot’s deflated footballs. The Bro Slaw duo describes their songs as “ridiculous parodies and cleverly idiotic original acoustic tunes.” It is comprised of Rich Dowell and Greg Curtis who are brothers-in-law, hence the name, Bro Slaw.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015
The facade of The Swizzle Stick that faces the downtown sqaure. TYLER MURPHY/ THE DEPAUW
Musicians and patrons are surrounded by Cubs memorabilia which decorates the walls. TYLER MURPHY/THE DEPAUW
the depauw | opinion
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THE DEPAUW | Editorial Board
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015
CARTOON
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015
Automation: a blessing and a curse of the future
Nettie Finn | Editor-in-Chief Alex Weilhammer | Managing Editor Kevin Killeen | Chief Copy Editor
AMY BROWN
Jon Stewart’s impact on news satire and what’s next for The Daily Show “This is ‘The Daily Show’…without Jon Stewart.” While that may not be the precise voiceover that Comedy Central decides on as the new introduction for “The Daily Show,” it’s what millions of viewers across the nation will be thinking when Stewart’s as yet unannounced replacement takes the helm. Stewart has been sitting behind his desk at “Comedy Central’s World News Headquarters” for over 16 years. For almost the entirety of the time most DePauw students have been alive Stewart has graced television—poking some much-needed fun at the political system and the media who report on it. More than just a comedic take on the news, for many millennials Stewart was the news. He, combined with his protégé and friend Stephen Colbert of “The Colbert Report,” provided a refreshing look at politics and the media. For Americans who were disenchanted with the political system, Stewart offered perspective. He laughed at what was laughable and used his considerable influence to help Americans distinguish which mistakes were dismissible and which were disgusting. But his abilities as a performer and comedian did not mask the sadness and indignation he sometimes felt. Perhaps one of his most beloved moments did not even occur on the Daily Show, but on CNN’s show “Crossfire,” in which he lambasted hosts Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson for making a mockery of the news. The show was cancelled shortly thereafter. Stewart was not afraid to step out from behind the mask of comedy and speak simple truth. So what’s next? Rumors are flying about who has been pegged as the next host of “The Daily Show,” with prospects ranging from Amy Schumer to Tina Fey to Chris Rock. But no matter who is eventually chosen they will have big shoes to fill. Jon Stewart’s legacy, in many ways, was that he created a demand for news satire. More than that, he turned news satire into legitimate news for millions. His piercing observations and political jabs have become a necessary part of the news media. Soon, we will not have Stewart, but we need someone like him.
T
KEVIN KILLEEN / THE DEPAUW
Being bossy: a double standard for women VICTORIA HOUGHTALEN
T email us at edboard@thedepauw.com
EDITORIAL POLICY The DePauw is an independently managed and financed student newspaper. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of DePauw University or the Student Publications Board. Editorials are the responsibility of The DePauw editorial board (names above). The opinions expressed by cartoonists, columnists and in letters to the editor are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editorial staff of The DePauw. The DePauw welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be signed and accompanied by the author’s name
and phone number and sent in by 4 p.m. either the Monday or Thursday before print dates. Letters cannot be retracted after 5 p.m. the same day of submission. Letters have a 350-word limit and are subject to editing for style and length. The DePauw reserves the right to reject letters that are libelous or sent for promotional or advertising purposes. Deliver letters to the Pulliam Center for Contemporary Media, email the editor-in-chief at editor@thedepauw. com or write The DePauw at 609 S. Locust St., Greencastle, Ind. 46135.
he Howard/Heidi study of Stanford University hit home the first time I read it. In short, the study uses two control groups to read the resume of an individual. The resume is the same, the only difference is the indicated sex. One of the resumes says Howard, implying a male applicant. The other says Heidi, implying a female. The results were astounding: the group with the male applicant said they would hire him to their imaginary company. But the group with the female applicant said that she was too bossy, forward and felt as if she wouldn’t get along with their employees. They gathered all of this from a resume. I think that for the most part, women have equal rights within our society. But what is masked and hidden, often undetected, is the implicit social sexism against them. The study proves that in the mind of the everyday person, a woman is not supposed to hold a position of higher authority than a male. If they do, that woman is instantly perceived as too forward or bossy instead of respected and decisive. I have felt this interpretation cast upon me many times in my leadership roles. The ethical issue comes in at this: how long can we, as
a society, ignore the underlying sexism in our common actions and personal interpretations until it becomes an institutional problem? Many opponents of “feminists” say that politically and economically, women have social rights. The sexism has gotten so hard to detect because there is no longer a legislative figure to point at. But just as DePauw has studied and responded to microaggressions in race and nationality, we must also see the sly comments made to females. Women have to handle the pressures of being successful, going to college, getting a good job and being an independent woman all while also battling the double standard of being “bossy.” Now that we have political rights, it is strange that only 18 percent of the 114th Congress is female when 51 percent of our population is. This Congress, and the ones before it, are a direct representation of how Americans do not like women in positions of authority. To fix this, we have to stop dismissing it as a problem of the 20th century. We have to understand that just like racism, sexism has become a social problem rooted deep in the subconscious of women and men alike. To stop this, let’s stop using buzz words such as “bossy” and “up-tight” but rather appreciate the individual in their capacity to lead, no matter the gender. -Houghtalen is a first-year intended political science major from Noblesville, IN.
the depauw | opinion
ime is crucial when it comes to the news; every news agency wants to be the first to break a large story. To save time for journalists to focus on the big stories, template stories have been used for a basis for smaller stories. Journalists can type in the specific facts and then be on their way. But something further has been emerging in the field of journalism – robots. For example, the L.A. Times uses an algorithm called QuakeBot to report each earthquake that happens, and the story appears online in three minutes, according to CNN. A company named Narrative Science has been marketing their software Quill, which works through data to create reports. In theory, this saves time for human journalists who can spend their time on analysis rather than wading through piles of data. However, the software company believes that
the software will soon develop to the point where it can provide analysis; the company’s chief scientists believe that writing software could even win the Pulitzer Prize within five years. While I find nothing wrong with saving journalists time in reporting earthquakes or crunching raw data, is passing off journalism to computer algorithms really right? While the typing of words can be programmed into computer software, can the code handle the sensitivity required in reporting stories that have affected many people, or know which facts might not be verified enough to report? If information is reported incorrectly – say, in the case of a libel lawsuit – is the computer algorithm responsible for that? You can’t prosecute software. Additionally, allowing software to write stories is also denying news consumers the human perspective on the issue. While stories written by software give us the raw facts, do we get the same level of analysis as a human can offer? Are the same potential solutions proposed? Can a computer write an op-ed? In a time when robots and computers are replacing individuals in certain industries and threatening to eliminate the jobs in others
(Google’s self-driving cars replacing taxi drivers, for example), one would think the job of a journalist would be relatively secure since society will always need news. Even if print media is in jeopardy, online media outlets still need content. Yet computer software can threaten the jobs of journalists worldwide. While it seems unlikely to me that human journalists will have their jobs eliminated in the near future, the thought of our news media being run by computers is disconcerting. Journalists bring the news from a human perspective that I’m not sure can be programmed, in addition to acting in a surrogate role for the rest of the community who cannot be present for every breaking news event. While a computer can relay back facts, most people go to news for analysis and how it affects their lives rather than plain facts and details. Can computers truly adopt that role? -Brown is a junior intern at the Janet Prindle Institue for Ethics. Originally published on the Prindle Post opinions@thedepauw.com
Is the paper is better than plastic grocery bag argument a myth? ANNA DIXON
I
n almost any Google search about how the average person can be more sustainable, there will be the repeated instruction to choose paper over plastic when the cashier asks his/her preference at the grocery store. This is a widely accepted piece of knowledge about environmental sustainability, but unfortunately, this could be myth. There are benefits and costs of each type of disposable bag. The bottom line is neither is sustainable. The biggest reason the consumer could choose paper instead of plastic is because plastic is not biodegradable. The synthesized material takes hundreds of years to decompose. Also, plastic bags are one of the biggest contributors
to The Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The Patch is, in essence, a giant, floating mass of plastic in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It spans miles and consists of all different types of plastic. The Patch floats thanks to all of the plastic bags and bottles that intertwine in ways more convoluted than a Burn Notice plot. This patch is mobile and deadly. It impedes commercial boat traffic, wildlife, and fishing. Though some consumers reuse plastic bags for trash that is where they still end up—in the trash. Though the above paragraph may make readers want to immediately pick paper over plastic, there are substantial reasons to be wary of this choice. Paper bags can end up in the trash just as easily as plastic bags. Despite the fact that they are biodegradable, which is the main reason people tend to choose paper, they cannot decompose because of the aerobic (devoid of oxygen) conditions. The lack of oxygen prevents bacteria from breaking down biodegradable material like newspapers or paper grocery bags. Some newspapers are still legible even after they have spent decades in landfills. In addition to the paper bags’ equal chance at ending up in a landfill, the process of companies’ producing paper bags
requires resources that are already disappearing at an unsustainable rate. These include water and tree pulp. Water is exponentially becoming “liquid gold” for more people than just desert dwellers. Also, humans are deforesting land for all types of purposes like cropland and housing. Paper bags only contribute to the destruction of natural habitat. Therefore, paper may not be the best choice. Even though paper still may seem appealing to consumers, the supreme choice is a reusable tote bag. Stores ranging from Walmart to The Fresh Market sell totes that even sometimes offer discounts in the store for customers’ using them instead of disposable bags. Though it can be difficult to remember to bring the tote in, once it becomes a habit, it will become second nature. -Dixon is a first-year Environmental Fellow from Evansville, IN.
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PHOTOPINION
“What do you think of Obama’s proposal for two years of free community college? “I haven’t read up enough about it but it seems like a good idea. Especially since it’s providing education to people who might not otherwise have the opportunity.” DORON KANTOR, SENIOR “A lot of jobs are becoming more specialized so it’s important that people who don’t necessarily have the funds to go to college are provided with the opportunity to.” CLAIRE HALFFIELD, SOPHOMORE “I think it’s pretty rad.”
JACKSON BAILEY, FIRST-YEAR “I support the program because I have friends who were in a similar program in my hometown.”
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ALEC BARKER, FIRST-YEAR JACKSON MOTE / THE DEPAUW
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the depauw | sports
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015
Poor shooting dooms Tigers against Wittenberg
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015
Winter weather does Tigers no good
BY DAVID KOBE sports@thedepauw.com
Wittenberg University just narrowly snapped the DePauw Tigers four-game winning streak on Wednesday night. The Tigers fell to the visitors by a final score of 54-53 at Neal Fieldhouse. The Tigers dropped to 15-7 on the season while Wittenberg improved to 9-13. In addition to the drop in overall record, the Tigers standing within the North Coast Athletic Conference also took a hit. DePauw fell to 8-7 in conference play while the Tigers of Wittenberg improved to 7-8 on the season. This puts Wittenberg just one game behind DePauw for the fourth and final spot in the NCAC tournament coming up at the end of the regular season. Both team struggled to gain offensive momentum early in the game. The Tigers only shot 36.7 percent from the floor while Wittenberg committed 12 turnovers. DePauw had an offensive spark with a 7-0 lead beginning at a the 13:39 mark in first half. Wittenberg was able to fight through offensive adversity and was able to tie the score at 25 before junior Bradley Fey scored the final five points of the first half. The Tigers ended the half up 32-27, while shooting 11-30 from the floor, and 3-8 from three. The Tigers started the second half with a 15-4 run. From 11:58 to 6:14, both teams struggled offensively once again and failed to score any points. Wittenberg’s Cody Phillippi was fouled and hit both free throws with 51 seconds left. After missing two threes in the final moments of the game Patton nailed a long three pointer with 6.5 seconds left. The Tigers trailed by
The men's basketball team huddles up before practice after a crushing 54-53 defeat to Wittenberg. DePauw is 8-7 in the NCAC heading in to their away match up against conference rival Kenyon College on Saturday. SAM CARAVANA/THE DEPAUW
Men’s basketball | cont’d on page 11
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JACOB LYNN
For athletic teams like track and field, tennis and basketball, the indoor facilities on DePauw’s campus makes the winter weather no big deal. While they get to make the most of the dry conditions inside, teams like softball and baseball are forced to adjust to the elements as they prepare for their upcoming spring seasons. And the results of those adjustments cause their early season records to suffer. For the softball team, this is the second straight season that they’ve opened their schedule with a mid-February trip to Memphis, Tenn. for a tournament at Rhodes College. Once those weekend games wrap up, the Tigers don’t play again until the beginning of March. After amping up practice to prepare for the tournament, the Tigers are then forced to go dormant for a few weeks before seeing live action again. In a pitched sport like softball finding a rhythm can play a big role in a players’ performance and the significant amount of time off certainly doesn’t help. Whether the cold weather played a role or not, the Tigers came out of the gate with a less than stellar 3-5 record, although they recovered to win a North Coast Athletic Conference title and competed in the NCAA regionals at the end of the season. The harsh winter that hit Greencastle last winter also plagued DePauw’s baseball team. Head coach Jay Martin was forced to change venues for
Men’s basketball | cont’d from page 10 one possession but it was Phillippi again making final free throws to close out the game. Patton hit a three pointer at the closing seconds as time expired. The Tigers fell 54-53, shooting a dreadful 25.8 percent from the field in the second half as they saw their lead evaporate. “When the shots don’t fall, that isn’t even enough,” sophomore Clint Cunningham said to sum up DePauw’s evening. The Tigers did get senior forward Tommy Fernitz back in the lineup since Jan. 24. Fernitz showed a little rust as head coach Bill Fenlon worked him back into the lineup. In only 16 mintues on the floor, Fernitz scored five points on
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the depauw | sports
the team’s first few games of the season. The Tigers were supposed to host Hanover College in a weekend doubleheader on Saturday Mar. 15. The two teams still got together but the game was moved to a field in Westfield, Ind. The Tigers lost both of those games by a combined score of 17-3 and committed nine total errors on the day. Those losses were part of a four game losing streak that the Tigers opened the season on. The baseball team is also forced to move practices indoors to the indoor track facility. Inside, there are batting cages and a pitching mound is set up. The ceiling is tall enough to allow for some outfield practice and the space is long enough for long toss. However, the ground surface isn’t an ideal replacement for grass on ground balls and it’s hard for hitters to see live pitching. What can be done about it? There’s really nothing that can solve the problems. Maybe teams can be better about making adjustments to adverse conditions but that can be hard to do when trying to practice in 20 degree weather. So as things start to get ramped up for all of the Spring sports, the conditions outside could play a big role in teams’ early season success. After going 4-0 at the tournament in Memphis, the softball team is off until the weekend of Mar. 7 when they play games down south in Georgia. Their first home game in Greencastle isn’t until Mar. 14. For the baseball team, they begin their season on Feb. 28. Their first eight games of the year are all technically “home” games but will be played once again in Westfield. The Tigers won’t actually play a game at Walker Field until April. Let’s hope for an early spring.
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just 2-of-7 shooting and pulled in four rebounds. Junior Mark Johnson spoke about how important it will be for the Tiger to bouncing back from the loss. “It is just imperative over the next couple of weeks that we work hard in practice to once again learn how to mesh as a unit,” Johnson said. Sophmore Luke Latner shared similar sentiments. “We just have to keep pushing forward,” Lattner said looking forward. “We have to keep playing defense and rebounding the basketball. We weren’t good on the boards last night to win so we have to make sure that travels with us to Kenyon and Wabash.” DePauw travels to Kenyon College, Saturday Feb. 14. DePauw currently sits fourth in a tight conference race.
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Tiger OF THE Week: JOSH EBIKWO TRACK AND FIELD EVENT: SPRINTER YEAR: FIRST-YEAR
In his first collegiate track meet last weekend, Josh Ebikwo ran the 60-meter dash in 7.09 seconds, breaking the previous DePauw record. For that performance, we’re naming Josh our Tiger of the Week. Ebikwo is one of 18 first-year runners on the men’s track and field team this spring and should play a vital role in the rejuvenation of the program. The Tigers would like to see his performance from the Tiger Small College Invitational continue as DePauw will play host once again this weekend to the DePauw Invitational. The DePauw (TDP): What does it mean to you to break a DePauw record in your first meet at the school? Josh Ebikwo (JE): Breaking a school record is always a great accomplishment, the credit for which has to go to our coaches Megan Daw, Kori Stoffregen, Peter Crary, Jon Stover and Tim Hreha. They’ve done a phenomenal job of putting us athletes in a position to succeed. For me, though, it’s something of a challenge to myself, current teammates and future Tigers. I’m glad I could play my part in raising a bar and helping our program improve as a whole. TDP: Do you feel like there’s any difference when competing in the indoor meets in the early season? JE: There is a big difference between competing in outdoor meets as opposed to indoor ones. Running performances are generally better on an outdoor track, and indoor competitions tend to have better spectator environments. Both
outdoor meets and indoor meets are very competitive, however, and as a DePauw athlete I compete to the best of my ability regardless of the facility. TDP: What should we expect from DePauw track and field this season? JE: I expect good things from the track team. We have good energy, commitment and momentum, and none of that is going to change. In addition to a top-of-the line coaching staff, we have exceptional senior leadership, which is a vital component of any solid program. TDP: How do you prepare for each meet? JE: To prepare for a track meet, I focus on my meet schedule, stay relaxed and warm up very well. I briefly review coaching points that I picked up the week before, then I make sure that my spikes and uniform are all in order. After that, it’s time to execute and leave it all on the track.
the depauw | sports
PAGE 12
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015
Overtime win gives women's basketball fourth conference title in four years BY JACOB LYNN sports@thedepauw.com
The last time DePauw University's women’s basketball team played an overtime game at Neal Fieldhouse Facebook hadn’t been invented, we didn’t have the iPhone and Brian Casey was eight years away from being named president of the university. On Wednesday night, however, Wittenberg University became the first team to take the Tigers into overtime in 15 years, falling to the host Tigers 62-58. Not to be overshadowed by the rare overtime occurrence, the victory gives DePauw its fourth straight North Coast Athletic Conference regular season title, something that means a lot to this group of seniors. “Having four NCAC titles is an amazing feeling,” senior Emma Ondik said. “It’s an honor to win the conference and to have done it every year that I have been here is extremely special.” “They’ve meant so much to the program and and as well to us younger players,” sophomore Lex Gaumer said. “Basically all we can do right now is try to learn from them with our time left and we’re just going to try and extend the season for as long as we can for them.”
when senior Hannah Douglas converted on a basket and drew a foul. The resulting three-point-play gave the Tigers a lead that they would not relinquish. Douglas led all scorers, setting a new personal career-high at DePauw with 28 points, seven of which came in the overtime period. She had scored 31 points in a game earlier in her career when she attended Butler University. Douglas went 12-of-18 from the floor and 4-of-5 from the free throw stripe. She even pitched in on the defensive end with three blocks. Ondik also played a big role for the Tigers, contributing 11 points and leading the team with three assists. All of this helped pick up Trees who, despite the game-tying basket, had an off night. DePauw’s leading scorer coming into the game against Wittenberg only shot 25 percent from the floor and her 10
points were almost six points lower than her average per game. Even though the Tigers have locked up the title, players aren’t expecting Huffman to let them rest with two games left on the schedule against Kenyon College and Ohio Wesleyan University. “I think we’re pedal to the metal,” Gaumer said. “We want to make sure that everybody knows that we’re here to play, make sure the nation knows that we’re here to play and that we’re ready to go for the tournament and hopefully farther into march.” That ideology will surely please Ondik. “I’m really just trying to enjoy every second of my last season ever,” Ondik said. “We really want to win the conference tournament, and ultimately we would love to win another national championship.” Next up for the Tigers is a road test at Kenyon on Saturday afternoon with tipoff scheduled for 1 p.m..
“I think we’re pedal to the metal. We want to make sure that everybody knows that we’re here to play, make sure the nation knows that we’re here to play and that we’re ready to go for the tournament and hopefully farther into march.” -Lex Gauner, sophomore
For the Tigers, the victory didn’t come easy, as Wittenberg came out firing and jumped out to an early lead thanks to a 6-of-7 shooting start. The Tigers quickly got to work erasing the deficit going on a 16-0 run that helped DePauw establish a comfortable nine point lead at halftime. The visiting Tigers kept the margin fairly close for the majority of the second half, but didn’t really make their move until late in the game. Wittenberg’s Riley McDonald gave her team its first lead of the second half with just less than a minute and a half remaining with a layup to make the score 52-50. Senior Savannah Trees responded for the Tigers, tying the game with the last basket of regulation with just over a minute left to play. The Tigers got one final chance to win the game in regulation but Trees’ shot with only seconds remaining was off the mark. “Yeah, the last two minutes of regulation were very nerve wracking,” junior Morgan Skordos said. The overtime period belonged to the Tigers, however as they held Wittenberg to just 2-of-7 shooting in the period and shot 75 percent for themselves. The big swing came with just under two and half minutes to play
Senior Hannah Douglas blows past defenders as DePauw squeaked past Wittenberg 62-58. The women's basketball team plays again on Valentine’s day at Kenyon College. SAM CARAVANA / THE DEPAUW