VOL. CLXXII NO. 30
SUNNY HIGH 12 LOW -7
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2015
HANOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE
Town adds electric car stations
Al-Nur holds vigil remembering slain Muslim students
B y ERIN LEE
The Dartmouth Staff
SPORTS
BASKETBALL ENDS LOSING STREAK PAGE SW2
OPINION
SMITH: SHARING THE BURDEN PAGE 4
ARTS
ACADEMY AWARD PREDICTIONS PAGE 8
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Hanover added stations to charge electric cars for people commuting in and out of the town.
B y sara mcgahan The Dartmouth Staff
The Town of Hanover installed two ChargePoint electric car charging stations in the Hanover parking garage on 7 Lebanon St. this past month in an effort to make the town more environmentally conscious, Hanover parking division supervisor Patrick O’Neill
said. People who commute to work in Hanover and individuals travelling through Hanover are two groups who have been asking for a place to charge their cars in town, O’Neill said. “We really had no option for them,” he added, saying that the charging stations were implemented to satisfy these requests.
The two ChargePoint stations cost $18,000 total and were funded by the Hanover parking fund, O’Neill said. This money was allocated towards the charging stations about 18 months ago. Each station can charge two cars at once. Charging costs $1 per hour, which is a rate fixed SEE CARS PAGE 3
Proposed state legislation would raise College’s taxes B y KELSEY FLOWER The Dartmouth Staff
On Feb. 6, New Hampshire House of Representatives Rep. David Hess, R-Merrimack, proposed new legislation that would expand the state’s Business Enterprise Tax to include large charity organizations, such as hospitals and institutions of higher education including Dartmouth, and lower the tax rate. College spokesperson Diana Lawrence wrote in an email that a
A group of over 50 people, composed primarily of students, attended Sunday night’s vigil honoring the three victims of the recent shooting in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The event was organized by AlNur, Dartmouth’s Muslim Students’ Association, in collaboration with Hillel Rabbi Edward Boraz, student leaders from Hillel and other religious groups on campus. On Feb. 10, Deah Shaddy Barakat, Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha and Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, three Muslim students, were killed in their Chapel Hill home. The funeral for the victims drew more than 5,000 people. At the vigil, which took place in the Top of the Hop, attendees gathered in a circle around three lit candles. Director of
religious and spiritual life Rev. Nancy Vogele said that students practicing many faiths — including Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and Quakerism — attended the event. Nonreligious “people of goodwill” were also present, she said. Al-Nur president Iman Hammad ’17 said that the event was meant to serve as a remembrance for the victims and a way to spread awareness. She said that community events allow people to come together for a common cause and to spread peace. “Rather than focusing on differences, we focus on similarities,” she said. Vogele said the importance of vigils comes in the act of remembering victims by name. She said she was happy with the turnout at the event and appreciated that community members SEE VIGIL PAGE 5
I KNEW YOU WERE TREBLE
business enterprise tax would have an impact on both College services and charitable giving, and wrote that such a proposal “deserves careful study.” Currently, the BET is a 0.75 percent tax on businesses’ interest, dividends and wages, according to the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration . Groups classified as 501(c)3 charitable organizations, including the College, SEE TAX PAGE 2
WEIJIA TANG/THE DARTMOUTH STAFF
The College Marching Band performed “Bandygrams” for Valentine’s Day.
THE DARTMOUTH NEWS
PAGE 2
DAily debriefing The State Senate passed a bill yesterday that permits people to carry concealed weapons without any further restrictions if they can legally own a gun in the state of New Hampshire, The Concord Monitor reported. This removes the need to have a locally issued license. As the law currently stands, people are permitted to carry firearms without a license in clear view, but concealing the weapon can carry a criminal offense. Senator David Pierce, D-Lebanon, opposes this bill as unnecessary and dangerous, claiming that almost everyone who applies for a license receives one, excluding people with criminal records or mental illnesses. Other states, including Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Wyoming and Vermont, all have similar laws to this one. Each of these states, aside from Vermont, have stricter regulations than are being proposed in New Hampshire. New Hampshire was expecting to reach record levels of snowfall this past weekend, the Concord Monitor reported. In addition to the 65 inches that the state has already received, between 10 and 14 inches of snow were expected over the weekend. Last winter, 70 inches of snow fell in total. Bob Marine, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said that there is more snow this year than usual due to the fact that no melting is occurring at the time of the year when it usually does. To beat the record levels of snow achieved in 2007-08, however, over 100 inches of snow would have to fall. Travel is being discouraged due to the weather conditions, and the state Department of Safety is currently evaluating the estimated cost of the response to recent storms. The “Blizzard of 2015” on January 27 cost approximately two million dollars. Senator Anthony Pollina, D/P-Washington has introduced a bill proposing that Vermont hold its presidential primary the same day as New Hampshire, the VT Digger reported. He claims that this would give the state an “economic shot in the arm” as well as providing the people of Vermont with a larger role in electing the president. He argues that it is important to have more “liberal and progressive voices heard.” It is not likely that the bill will garner support in New Hampshire, where people are proud of the early primary, and the law in New Hampshire permits the Secretary of State to move the primary to come before any state that tries to precede it. The logistics of the proposal have not yet been considered. The bill is currently being considered by the Senate Government Operations Committee, but it is not clear when a hearing will be held. — COMPILED BY KATIE RAFTER
Corrections We welcome corrections. If you believe there is a factual error in a story, please email editor@thedartmouth.com.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2015
Non-profits may need to pay more taxes FROM TAX PAGE 1
are exempt from paying the tax but would no longer be excused if the proposed legislation passes. The BET is one of the highest-grossing taxes in New Hampshire, having brought in $219.5 million in 2014, according to multiple news outlets. The legislation aims to yield a “revenue neutral” result, offsetting a decreased tax rate with revenue from large charitable organizations, according to the bill. By expanding the tax base to include these organizations, New Hampshire will be able to lower the BET rate from .75 percent to .65 percent, according to the bill. Lowering the rate will have the beneficial result of reduced taxes on businesses, according to Rep. Neal Kurk, R-Hillsborough, who is co-sponsoring the bill. Kurk said that he would like to see the tax rate reduced to bring more businesses to the New Hampshire area. While the state’s overall tax burden is low, Kurk said, the burden on businesses is currently excessive. The state needs to take action to resolve this issue and make New Hampshire more attractive to businesses, he said, “Or else Dartmouth graduates won’t have any job options in
New Hampshire.” Rep. Robert Backus, D-Hillsborough, who is also co-sponsoring the bill, said he believes Dartmouth will likely be one of the institutions no longer exempt from paying the Business Enterprise Tax. Kurk also said that if the bill passes, Dartmouth will be responsible for paying the Business Enterprise Tax. In the past, Dartmouth has failed to contribute to the state because it has been excused from paying a number of taxes, he said. “Dartmouth has been getting a free ride for generations,” Kurk said. Lawrence responded that the College pays millions of dollars in property taxes to Hanover each year and acts as the town’s largest taxpayer. She added that the College paid $5,481,661 in taxes to the town in 2012, as well as taxes to other municipalities in New Hampshire and several other states. Kurk said he thinks that Dartmouth will either raise student tuition or lower College expenditures to raise money to offset the cost of the tax, but said he was not an expert on all of the details of the bill. Backus said he believes Dart-
mouth should pay the tax because it falls under the type of non-profit that can be seen as “acting like a business in every type of way,” such as by raising revenue and paying salaries. “It seemed appropriate to take a look at whether certain charities are entitled to be totally exempt from all contributions to revenues for the state of New Hampshire,” Backus said. Backus said the bill will also target large hospitals, which have recently been absorbing a large number of private medical practices. As a result, tax revenue has decreased because hospitals, unlike private practices, are currently exempt from paying the BET. Rep. Robert Walsh, D-Hillsborough, another co-sponsor, said that the legislation is a way to increase tax revenues for the state. “A great many individuals that used to pay the BET are now being employed by corporations that are 501(c)3s, and New Hampshire is trying to recover some of the lost revenues from that,” Walsh said. Hess proposed a similar bill last year, which narrowly failed a House vote, The Valley News reported. Hess was unable to be reached by press time.
Center for Leadership Tuck School of Business PAGANUCCI FELLOWS INFORMATION SESSION Ask questions about the fellows program, application process, international travel, etc. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 3-4PM Kemeny 108
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Paid summer internships at Tuck Global experiential learning program For more information visit:
http://leadership.tuck.dartmouth.edu/about/paganucci-fellows-program
THE DARTMOUTH NEWS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2015
PAGE 3
Electric car charging stations are part of sustainability efforts FROM CARS PAGE 1
by the Hanover parking division. This price is in addition to the cost of the Hanover parking garage fees. The parking division could change this rate in the future with approval from the Hanover Board of Selectmen, O’Neill added. ChargePoint is a company that sells and provides a network for electric vehicle charging stations in the U.S. and Canada. The price and accessibility of the charging stations are determined by each individual buyer, communications director of ChargePoint Erin Mellon said. Over 60 percent of ChargePoint stations are free of charge, she added, but if money is collected, it goes back to the community that provides the service. Mellon said that one hour of charge at a level two station —
the type of station Hanover has installed — will provide about 25 miles of distance. ChargePoint has installed 130 DC fast chargers around the U.S., which provide 80 miles per 20 to 30 minutes of charging, Mellon added. These types of chargers are found along major highways or high frequency routes of travel. While other electric charging station providers were considered, the parking division ultimately chose ChargePoint because of its national accessibility and service. ChargePoint has installed over 20,000 electric stations to date and provides information on whether or not a station is occupied on its website. These features make the company stand out from others, O’Neill said. The King Arthur Flour flagship store in Norwich has a Charge-
Point station, which is provided free of charge to their customers. Carey Underwood, the chief of staff at King Arthur Flour, said that the charging stations at their store have been popular. In 2014 — the first full year KAF had the
“Our goal was really more from a sustainability standpoint.” - CAREY UNDERWOOD, CHIEF OF STAFF AT KING ARTHUR FLOWER, ON THE MOTIVATION FOR KAF TO ADD ELECTRIC CAR CHARGING STATIONS charging stations — the store saw 250 plug-ins, Underwood said. She added that usually there would be a car plugged in for three-quarters of every day. Along with providing a customer service, KAF decided to invest in electric energy because of its environmental benefits.
TECH@TUCK: The $haring Economy Tuesday, Feb 17, 2015 @ Tuck 11:30-1:30 Tech Demos @ Conway Foyer 4:45 Panel Discussion @ Frantz II
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“Our goal was really more from a sustainability standpoint,” Underwood said. O’Neill said the effort to make Hanover more environmentally friendly was a factor in the town’s installation of electric energy stations as well. He added that while the Hanover parking division was aware of KAF’s stations, they did not look at the amount they are used. The stations serve different communities, O’Neill said. Those charging in Hanover would not necessarily overlap with those charging at KAF. The Hanover Inn also has electric charging stations, but they are only available to their customers, O’Neill said. ChargePoint does not manufacture these charging stations. In his 2011 State of the Union address, President Barack Obama said he wanted the United States to put one million electric cars on the road by 2015. About 300,000 electric cars are on U.S. roads today, Mellon said, which is a dramatic increase from the 200,000 electric cars on the road at the end of 2013. “We are seeing record sales quarter after quarter on electric cars,” Mellon said.
The benefits of using electric cars are numerous, Plug-In America — an advocacy group aiming to increase the amount of clean and sustainable vehicles on the road — co-founder Paul Scott said. Electric cars are quieter compared to cars using gasoline and release significantly less amounts of greenhouse gas, he said. There are health benefits from using electric energy instead of gasoline as well. Chemicals emitted by gasoline combustion can cause heart disease, cancer and other illnesses, Scott said. Using electric energy is cheaper than buying gasoline, Scott added. Instead of spending money on gas, people will spend on local goods and services, he said. According to a press release by ChargePoint, college campuses have seen a 35 percent increase in charging stations from this past year. While Hanover’s stations are not on Dartmouth’s campus, the stations are available for Dartmouth students to use. The three universities with the most ChargePoint stations are the University of California at Davis with 38, Towson University with 36 and Santa Clara University with 26.
THE DARTMOUTH OPINION
PAGE 4
Staff Columnist ANDRES SMITH ’17
CONTRIBUTING Columnist KEVIN XIE ’15
Sharing the Burden
A House Divided
Greek houses should use other houses’ members instead of third-party bartenders. While much ink has been spilled over the College President Phil Hanlon’s “Moving Dartmouth Forward” plan — primarily about the hard alcohol ban — some changes to the Greek system have been largely glossed over. The new rules concerning third-party bartenders and security at events are going change the Dartmouth social scene — and it may not be a change for the better. According to President Hanlon’s plan, the school “will require third-party security and bartenders for social events.” Given current College policies regarding registered events, it is likely that Hanlon’s proposition, as far as Greek houses are concerned, will apply primarily to any gathering in which more than 50 people are in attendance and at least one of those is a non-member. This doesn’t sound like a bad idea, especially where Greek social events are concerned — a third- party individual would be more likely to remain levelheaded when a difficult situation arose at a party because they have no house loyalty, enabling them to prioritize safety over reputation. This measure, however, will likely increase exclusivity on campus, particularly within the Greek system — in direct opposition to the well-intentioned goals of “Moving Dartmouth Forward.” Right now, our undergraduate social life is largely dominated by the Greek system. New policies that seek to change this may be successful, but it will take years before their full effects are seen. Inclusivity has always been a contentious issue — unaffiliated students should be able to enjoy the social scene just as much as their affiliated classmates. If this balance is already skewed in favor of the affiliated, it seems the third-party bouncer and bartender policy will only shift this imbalance further. The financial burden that this policy demands will likely cause houses to become more closed off to the general student body — and unaffiliated students are going to suffer. Throwing a large social event is already expensive, and many Greek houses are on relatively tight budgets. Requiring them to spend more money to hire these third-party bartenders will add another hurdle to organizing social events. If it becomes more difficult or cumbersome to prepare for hosting guests, the number of large
events — which are the ones that are the most open to campus — will presumably shrink. Instead, houses will likely opt for smaller gatherings of just members and their close friends. Parties require formal registration — members and their friends playing pong in the basement does not. New regulations for hiring additional help will only make it more difficult, or at least time-consuming, for houses to organize registered events. Hosting parties, for some houses, may soon reach a point where it no longer seems worth the trouble. I understand the appeal of third-party bouncers and bartenders. We as a community must do all we can to ensure that our social space is, above all, safe. Therefore, I propose an alternative: establishing a system where each house “lends” bouncers and bartenders for other houses’ registered events. If a house wants to register an event, they must be willing to commit a certain number of members to work another house’s registered event later in the term. In exchange, they get members of another house to work as bouncers and bartenders. Since non-members have more freedom to monitor an event without considering or privileging possible negative effects on the hosting organization, more of the impartiality that would come with the third-party bouncers and bartenders is preserved without any of the monetary cost. Houses could surely convince a few members to sacrifice some of their time if it meant that they then did not have to worry about security and alcohol service during their own events. This support system among houses would increase security and keep costs low, but it would also expand cooperation among houses and forge inter-house relationships that may not have existed otherwise — and create a sense that students are accountable to one another. We have to do everything we can to keep our social scene safe, but that does not have to come at the cost of inclusivity. These new rules will likely to dissuade Greek houses from having registered events, which will, in turn, further exclude non-members from the Greek system. A cooperative and interdependent system of bouncers and bartenders, however, will make it easier for houses to hold large, open events.
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2015
BUSINESS DIRECTORS piotr dormus, Finance & Strategy Director Ashneil Jain, Finance & Strategy Director hayden karp-hecker, Advertising Director Addison Lee, Advertising Director Rachel Dechiara, Advertising Director Carla larin, Operations & Marketing Director kate healy, Design Director alison guh, Design Director Robert Neuhaus, Technology Director
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Students should shy away from stereotyping Greek houses. When students reference the Greek system, it includes more than two dozen organizations compromised of both fraternities and sororities. Yet, while Greek organizations encompass an array of students and interests, references to the “Greek system” often regard the system itself as a singular entity. This seems only fair since, for better or for worse, credit and blame for the actions of various houses are often attributed to all Greek houses, regardless of who is responsible. This essentialist view of the variety of Greek organizations as one body, however, is also the Achilles’ heel of the system. Sharing the blame for the actions of others can drive wedges between houses and aggravate tensions between those with existing disagreements or organizations that do not necessarily like each other. Now, more than ever never before, it could be the greatest undoing for affiliated students. Our social scene is largely dominated by Greek houses, and within the system exists an undeniable set of hierarchies. Part of it seems natural — as Ivy League students we strive for excellence in all regards, and ranking things is almost second nature to many of us. When it comes to the Greek system, however, it goes beyond a simple system of ranking. For a Greek system some tout as inclusive, there are many preconceived notions from house to house — some good, some not so much. Those are reinforced further — often negatively — once part of a house. It’s a sort of groupthink, really. This fraternity is lame and second tier, that sorority is snobby and thinks the world revolves around them, the list goes on and on. While it is one thing to have likes and dislikes, too often people buy into stereotypes surrounding houses without grounding those opinions in any actual experience or interaction with the many people in them. And that’s the key word here — people. As individuals, the majority of Dartmouth students seem perfectly charismatic and caring. But as a house, group mentality can start influencing the thoughts and actions of students toward various Greek organizations — acts ranging from endless house rankings on Bored at Baker to
petty theft, graffiti and breaking and entering. Baseless behavior that one would likely never consider doing as an individual often becomes more acceptable and even encouraged when in a group. This kind of behavior can be subtle and judgmental or at times become physical and violent. Social constructs, like fraternity wars between houses, are very real — even if no one wants to openly admit to being influenced by what campus is saying. There is an inherent divide between the perception of a homogenous house and their unique members, and the line of distinction is only a few simple letters. To the people that intentionally reinforce this divide, it is time to grow up. To the Greek system at large, this is a particularly dangerous issue given recent news from administrators. Already, significant changes are being made to the current social climate with College President Phil Hanlon’s “Moving Dartmouth Forward” plan, including a ban on all hard alcohol and mandatory third-party bartenders and bouncers for social events. Regardless of where you might stand on these proposals, it seems clear that the College has one objective in mind — protecting its public image. To that end, us affiliated students are a tremendous liability. Immunity is not guaranteed just because of entrenched traditions or wealthy alumni. One look at the sheer size of the College’s endowment will show that Dartmouth lacks neither the money nor the logistics to pull off complete abolition. It will be certainly be difficult, but why shoot ourselves in the foot? Stereotypes about fraternities lead to petty theft, disrespect and sometimes even violence. We do ourselves and our image no favors when it comes to destructive behavior aimed at each other. It is absolutely ridiculous that for the brightest of our generation, we can be so malicious and shallow. Think next time, not based on the letters on your chest or your house pride, but rather as students and individuals — take a stand against pettiness and stereotypes. If the target is on our backs as Greek students, then we should stand as a truly united entity or pay the price and fade away.
THE DARTMOUTH NEWS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2015
Vigil brings together different religious groups FROM VIGIL PAGE 1
attended to show their support for the Muslim community. “That many people came out on a cold Sunday night was very heartening,” she said. In her opening remarks, Vogele spoke of honoring the three young adults killed last week and supporting Dartmouth’s Muslim community members. She led a prayer and held a moment of silence for the victims. Hammad spoke about the lives of the three victims and the repercussions of the crime for the Muslim community at the College as a whole. The events in Chapel Hill serve as a reminder of existing prejudices, she said. Afterward, Boraz led a recitation of the Kaddish, a prayer of praises to God. First-year comparative literature graduate student Ibrahim Khan recited a verse from the Quran that discusses the continuation of legacy even after death. “If someone is killed in the path of God, meaning an unnatural death, as these young people were, what the verses in the Quran say is to not consider these people to be dead, but indeed they are alive,” Khan said after the event. “These ideas, I think, are very powerful, and among the Muslim community whenever someone dies through violence, these verses are brought up and discussed. I think it gives people hope.” Several students and members of the community also spoke briefly about their reactions to the tragedy and its impact on the Muslim community. Al-Nur’s graduate student representative Saaid Arshad ’14Th’18
said that the idea for the event came from a former Al-Nur member who worked at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and has since moved to Connecticut. She contacted AlNur to suggest that the organization coordinate a vigil in accordance with the many other vigils occurring nationwide. Arshad said that the message came last Thursday, and Al-Nur met with Boraz and Hillel student leaders on Friday to organize the event. Arshad said he was pleased that many people from different communities came to stand in solidarity. “That’s all I really wanted — just some acknowledgement of the tragedy that happened,” he said. Khan said that it is important to establish safe, inclusive spaces where people can leave the violence generated by society. “In a way, we’re escaping the violence by creating an atmosphere,” he said. “Minority groups, majority groups, everyone’s here so it’s not like there’s one dominant group. Everyone should ideally, hopefully, feel safe.” Arshad said that this event was particularly important for raising awareness about the Muslim community. “It’s also important to bring the issue to light, especially these days, with a lot of Islamophobia rampant in the media and the general public,” he said. “To be able to just fight back against this information by showing who we are — we’re just normal people like everyone else and we have our faith.” Vogele said that awareness about Islam has always been important, but is all the more important in the current environment.
Join us for lunch at the
Sustainability Minor Meet & Greet Tuesday, February 17 12:00 – 2:00 (drop in anytime) Collis One Wheelock Interested in connecting your academic work to realworld solutions to contemporary social, economic, and environmental issues? Come learn about the sustainability minor before signing up for spring term classes! Talk with faculty from departments across campus who teach sustainability-related courses, and with current students minoring in sustainability. Students of all majors and interests are welcome.
Link your major to real-world solutions. Be a Sustainability Minor.
PAGE 5
SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW
KATELYN JONES/THE DARTMOUTH STAFF
Collis After Dark invited students to participate in “The Newlywed Game” in celebration of Valentine’s Day.
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DARTMOUTH EVENTS
THE DARTMOUTH COMICS
“Politics As Usual”
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2015
Matthew Goldstein ’18
TODAY 6:30 p.m. “Sabra” (2015), documentary film, Black Family Visual Arts Center, Loew Auditorium
7:00 p.m. “The Walkabout” (1972), film screening, Black Family Visual Arts Center, Screening Room 001
7:30 p.m. “Ladri di biciclette” (1948), film screening, Goldstein Hall, Occom Commons
TOMORROW 4:15 p.m. “Fears, Fallacies and Failures: How AIDS Became an Epidemic,” Rockefeller Center, Room 002
5:00 p.m. “Locked Up, Locked Out,” dinner discussion, Collis Center, Commonground
7:00 p.m. “The Vagina Monologues,” student performance, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Spaulding Auditorium
ADVERTISING For advertising information, please call (603) 646-2600 or email info@thedartmouth. com. The advertising deadline is noon, two days before publication. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement. Opinions expressed in advertisements do not necessarily reflect those of The Dartmouth, Inc. or its officers, employees and agents. The Dartmouth, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation chartered in the state of New Hampshire. USPS 148-540 ISSN 01999931
THE DARTMOUTH ARTS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2015
“Birdman,” “Boyhood” lead predictions FROM OSCARS PAGE 8
“Wild Tales” (2014), “Leviathan,” “Timbuktu” (2014) and “Tangerines” (2013) is proof of the futility of rankings in film. “Ida” was the best film I saw this year, but “Wild Tales” is made up of the six best short films of the year. Then there’s “Leviathan,” which has raked in all the major foreign awards up to now. So I’ll play the game and pick “Leviathan,” but know that this is complete bull. Animated Feature Film: “How to Train Your Dragon 2” (2014) This category deserves an asterisk and serves as a testament to why we shouldn’t view the Oscars as the barometer of cinematic excellence. This year’s winner will be the second best animated feature film, as “The Lego Movie” (2014) blows them all away. Why did it get snubbed? Classical forms and modes of storytelling or handmade, avant-garde animations typically get nominated. “Lego” chose neither and suffered the consequences. But groundbreaking films like “Citizen Kane” (1941) were overlooked in their day only to be canonized later. “Lego” could share their fate. So I’ll pick “How to Train Your Dragon 2.” Whatever. Documentary Feature: “Citizenfour” (2014) The film chronicles the relationship between filmmaker Laura Poitras and Edward Snowden, who in 2013 leaked classified information about the National Security Agency’s monitoring to the general public. Already the winner of the International Documentary Association and BAFTA awards for best documentary, this is a sure bet for the Oscar. “Finding Vivian Maier” (2013) still gets my vote as best documentary, however. Live Action Short Film: “Boogaloo and Graham” (2014) The story of two young brothers growing up in rural Ireland raising their pet chickens in a war-torn neighborhood. Adorable, hilarious and refreshing, it’s sure to conquer the more somber tones of its competitors. The live action shorts are known for creating wild scenarios that are not sustainable for a feature film, but perfect for a half hour, thrusting the unlikeliest of people together and watching the sparks fly. Animated Short Film: “The Bigger Picture” (2014) Always one of the most competitive, whimsical and creative categories, the animated short films once again fail to disappoint. I’m putting my money on “The Bigger Picture,” which focuses on two brothers caring for their ailing mother. “Feast” (2014), Disney’s entry, could also steal the Oscar, as it follows
in the footsteps of their “Paperman” (2012), which won the Oscar for the category in 2013. Cinematography: “Birdman” Brutal choice. Between “Birdman,” which Emmanuel Lubeski shot to look like one continuous image, “Ida,” whose spare, stark black and white photography belongs in a museum and “Mr. Turner” (2014), which Dick Pope transformed into filmic painting, how is one to decide. Again, fairly arbitrary and meaningless in the end; all are uniquely great, and the comparison is just apples and oranges. Foreign films rarely win this one, so I’ll play it safe and pick “Birdman,” although “Ida” was easily my favorite. Visual Effects: “Interstellar” (2014) The technological advances of this century have turned this category into a bloodbath. The winner was usually just the film with the most money to burn on the visual bells and whistles. Now mega-studios can pump out explosive, hyper-realist superhero and action thrillers on their computers, making it closer and closer each year. But “Interstellar” still sets itself apart, with space sequences rivaling those from Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968). High praise.
PAGE 7
Fifteenth Annual Stonewall Lecture
Fears, Fallacies, and Failures: How AIDS Became an Epidemic Denise McWilliams is Executive Director of the New England Innocence Project. She was director of the Boston AIDS Consortium and the General Counsel for New England’s largest and oldest AIDS service organization. In 1997, McWilliams oversaw and co-authored “Until There’s A Cure,” the first comprehensive plan for delivering services to people living with HIV in New England.
February 17 • 4:15 PM • Rockefeller 2 Rescheduled! • Free and Open to the Public Sponsored by the Women’s and Gender Studies Program
Costume Design: “The Grand Budapest Hotel” (2014) Like Tim Burton, producer and director Wes Anderson consistently creates eccentrically auteurist films in the realm of magical realism or fantasy. To achieve this idiom, their costumes, music, production design, makeup and hairstyling must be wildly creative, lurid and, of course, become Oscar-worthy. A master at colorscapes and lurid, saturated images, Wes Anderson and costume designer Milena Canonero have this category locked up. Makeup and Hairstyling: “The Grand Budapest Hotel” With its bizarre coterie of characters, including a wizened Tilda Swinton decaying from old age, Harvey Keitel as a tattoo mottled prisoner and Adrien Brody looking like Death with a mustache, “The Grand Budapest Hotel” will trump “Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014) with its sheer diversity and range. Original Score: “The Grand Budapest Hotel” Playful and delightfully plucky, Alexandre Desplat’s — who’s nominated twice in this category, also for “The Imitation Game” (2014) — score, I think, will edge out Hans Zimmer’s in “Interstellar.” Again, the Academy likes the classics, and Zimmer’s pulsating, visceral music is not likely to win favor of these old staunches.
President Phil Hanlon ’77 cordially invites you to the Twenty-seventh Presidential Faculty Lecture given by
Nina Pavcnik
Niehaus Family Professor of International Studies and Professor of Economics
The Tradeoffs of Trade: Lessons from 30 years of policy reforms in developing countries Wednesday, February 25, 2015 • 4-5 pm, Hood Auditorium with reception following in the Kim Gallery
THE DARTMOUTH ARTS
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ARTS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2015
Means ’03 discusses work with Tina Fey, Jon Stewart
B y amelia rosch
The Dartmouth Senior Staff
Since graduating from the College, Sam Means ’03 has won three Emmys for his work on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”and has written or produced for television comedies “30 Rock” and “Parks and Recreation.” He is currently a writer for the show “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” which will premiere on Netflix on March 6. What was your time at the College like? SM: I enjoyed my time at Dartmouth. I wasn’t always a fan of the Greekcentric lifestyle — I certainly never joined a fraternity — but I loved being up in the mountains, and I spent a lot of very rewarding time working at the AM radio station — where I was the music director — the newspaper and other on-campus publications. I did cartoons for The [Dartmouth], the Free Press and the Jack O’ Lantern, and for a while I had a weekly humor column in the [Dartmouth]. I also had a fantastic experience studying in the philosophy department, so much so that I went on to study philosophy in grad school. How did you get involved in
comedy writing? SM: Comedy writing is something I’d always done for fun, and I really started getting into it at Dartmouth when I got sick of how time-consuming drawing cartoons was. I certainly never considered any of it a career path, though. I only fell into comedy as a job the summer after I got my masters when I was living with friends in New York, and I submitted some cartoons to The New Yorker as a lark. [Cartoon editor of The New Yorker] Bob Mankoff ended up buying one out of my sketchbook, and that was a big moment for me. I also got hooked up with The Onion that summer, and when they hired me as a contributor, it was a little bit, like, “Oh, I can get paid to do this? This is way more fun than being a professor or whatever!” So I never ended up going back for my Ph.D. — I just stayed in New York and decided to give comedy a shot.
What was the transition from drawing cartoons to written comedy like? SM: Cartooning was a lot of fun, but the part I enjoyed the least was actually drawing the damn things. I liked coming up with the jokes, but then it was like the fun part was over. So focusing on the writing side of things felt like a natural transition.
A few years ago my friend [comic artist] Kate Beaton and I teamed up for a while, where I would write the gags and she would draw them, which was great. We sold a few cartoons to The New Yorker that way as well, but I don’t really do much cartooning anymore myself.
What was writing for “The Daily Show” like? What are the challenges in writing satirical news? Which piece for “The Daily Show” are you the proudest of writing? SM: Writing at “The Daily Show” was incredibly rewarding, getting to work with that amazingly talented staff and writing for a brilliant comedic mind like Jon [Stewart]. I spent almost six years there, and it was an intense job, but in a wonderful way, where you’d get in at nine, get your assignment, and spend a couple hours just cranking out your script, and then you’d do rewrites and put it all together and then it’d be on television that night. Some of my best friends — and my wife — are people I met in that particular salt mine. It’s hard to remember specific pieces after all this time, but I was pretty proud of the [President] Barack Obama biographical film I wrote for the 2008 convention in Denver, [Colorado], that was cool to
get to work on. I always loved writing for [The Daily Show correspondent John] Hodgman, too.
How is writing for a comedy like “30 Rock” or “Parks and Recreation” different than writing for “The Daily Show?” What was that transition like? SM: It’s a very different creative muscle to be dealing with narrative and character in that way, which was kind of scary after being in late night for so long. I definitely had to learn the ropes all over again, but I really love working in scripted, especially now getting to help build a new show in its first season on “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.” You’re a writer for Tina Fey’s new show, “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” — how is writing for an online-only show different than writing a show that’s on television? SM: We’re very excited to be premiering the whole 13-episode first season worldwide on Netflix on March 6th. It was actually kind of crazy, because the show was picked up by NBC, but then at the very end of production we worked out a deal to move it to Netflix and get a second season pickup, which was amazing. So the first
season of the show was produced for network, but next season it’ll be interesting to see what changes. I assume a lot more dongs.
Beyond the shows you’ve worked on, what are your favorite television shows (comedy or otherwise)? SM: I always have a lot of trouble with these questions, because as soon as I answer, I’m like “Oh crap, I forgot about (blank)!” or “Do I really like that show or was I just trying to sound smart?” But in terms of what I’m watching right now, I know everyone is all about cable these days, but I’ve really been enjoying “Brooklyn NineNine” and “Bob’s Burgers” on Fox. I’ve also been super impressed with John Oliver’s new show on HBO. Those guys are doing something really special over there. And of course “Bar Rescue.” What advice would you give to students at the College who want to go into writing comedy? SM: Write comedy. A lot. Not to be blithe about it, but the most important thing really is to write as much you can, put it out there and get as much feedback as you can. This interview has been edited and condensed.
Predictions for the 2015 Oscars: “Boyhood” for Best Picture
B y andrew kinsley The Dartmouth Staff
We are just six days away from the 87th Academy Awards on Feb. 22, 2015. They will be hosted by none other than Neil Patrick Harris, who has hosted numerous Tony and Emmy Award ceremonies. Here are my predictions of the major award winners for this year. Note: these are not my opinions of the ones that are most deserving. I’m just playing the Oscar game, which is as peculiar and unpredictable as the films themselves. Best Picture: Boyhood (2014) It’s between “Boyhood” and “Birdman” (2014) here, as it has been this whole awards season. Both are idiosyncratic and experimental, so it’s just a question of which one is crazier and innovates the art of cinema more. I’d say “Boyhood.” While not a particularly captivating film in itself, as
an experiment it’s nearly unmatched in the history of film. To capture the actual growth of people over 12 years is laudable. But I’ll personally still contend that “Whiplash” (2014) is the best film of the year.
Directing: Alejandro González Iñárritu The past two years, the best picture and best director awards have split. In 2013, “Argo” (2012) took best picture while Ang Lee won best director for “Life of Pi” (2012). Last year, “12 Years a Slave” (2013) won best picture, while Alfonso Cuarón won Best Director for “Gravity” (2013). Now I’m not one to believe in trends, but with such a toss up like this between Iñárritu for “Birdman” and Richard Linklater for “Boyhood,” I’ll take whatever superstition I can get. Actor in a Leading Role: Eddie Redmayne
To nail the degenerative effects of ALS, Redmayne visited a motor neuron clinic for six months leading up to filming to understand every step of the disease to properly portray Stephen Hawking in “The Theory of Everything” (2014). Hawking himself enjoyed the film and Redmayne’s impersonation. Michael Keaton of “Birdman” could steal the Oscar, especially given the mimetic nature of the role.
Actress in a Leading Role: Julianne Moore While I haven’t seen “Still Alice” (2014), I’ve been told that her portrayal of a woman succumbing to the withering forces of Alzheimer’s is empowering and masterful and spot-on. Since she’s won the BAFTA, Screen Actor’s Guild and Golden Globe, this is her award to lose. Rosamund Pike’s performance in “Gone Girl” (2014), however, is still the best of the year in
my opinion, right up there with J. K. Simmons’s in “Whiplash” (2014). As the unassumingly vampiric “Amazing Amy,” Pike was unmatched this year.
Actor in a Supporting Role: J. K. Simmons His ferocious, unrelenting portrayal of jazz instructor Terence Fletcher in “Whiplash” blows away the competition. Like something out of “Alien” (1979), you almost expect the Chestburster to come out and eat one of his students during one of his rampages. He even looks a bit like the Xenomorph. Bald, bulky and vascular, Fletcher will prove to be Simmons’ magnum opus. Actress in a Supporting Role: Patricia Arquette To be honest, this is one of the weakest fields in recent years. None of these performances stood out to me as particularly memorable. In “Boyhood,” I
wanted to see less of Patricia Arquette, as her consistent presence almost made the film into “Motherhood.” But having raked in the BAFTA and Golden Globe in this category, she’s a shoe-in for the Oscar. Original Screenplay: “Birdman” A film plunging deeply into the dark psychology of fading stardom and the torment of dimming limelight, “Birdman” is “Sunset Boulevard” (1950) mixed with a superhero movie. Funny and hallucinatory with moments of telekinesis — and the winner of the Golden Globe — “Birdman” has this one wrapped up. Foreign Language Film: “Leviathan” (2014) This category should be called “Best Picture.” It’s a crime to condense the best of world cinema into one list. To choose from “Ida” (2013), SEE OSCARS PAGE 7