The Eagle October 25, 2012

American University’s student voice since 1925

October 25, 2012 Volume 87 – Issue 9

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HOW WILL YOU PAY FOR AU? PAGE 3, 4

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2 | OCTOBER 25, 2012 theEAGLE

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Events OCT. 25

JSA DIRT CUP

9 to 11 p.m / Join the Jewish Student Association and make Halloween treats and play board games. / Kay Lounge / Scott Lorsch / scott.lorsch@american. edu

OCT. 26

CASJ POTLUCK

6 to 8 p.m. / Bring a dish and a story to share how you got involved in activism or what makes you passionate about social justice on and off campus. / Anderson Hall Third Floor Common Space / Community Action and Social Justice Coalition / Rachel Mandelbaum at rm2390a@ american.edu

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OCT. 29

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Noon to 8 p.m. / Participate in a pumpkin car ving contest. / Quad / Student Government / Julia Reinstein at julia. reinstein@ausg.org

5:30 to 7:30 p.m. / Graduating seniors are invited to meet with admissions representatives from around the US. / Union Station. / CQ Roll Call / http:// cqrcfallgradfair.eventbrite.com

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Corrections An Oct. 18 article titled, “AU students win $5,000 scholarship to study in Canada next semester” did not include Christal Jerez, who is abroad now on the scholarship along with Alex Olson. The article also incorrectly identified the Killam Fellowship as “Killiam.” Also, José Ramirez-Rívera is a junior, not a senior.

A photo on page 4 of the Oct. 18 edition The Eagle was inaccurately credited to Sarah Blahovec. The photo was taken by Sarah Jacques.

A photo on the front page of our Parents’ Weekend edition on Oct. 18 should be credited to Savanna Rovira.

NEWS 35%

NEED65% BASED MERITAID BASED AID

Students to vote on new SG constitution 5 | “Fifty Shades of Grey” class to be offered 6

55% 45%

MERITBASED AID

2009

NEEDBASED AID NICOLE BRUNET / THE EAGLE

2012 SOURCE: AU WEBSITE

AU reallocates amount of need-based aid in budget

By ANDY LIN EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The University has been shifting its financial aid budget from meritbased scholarships to need-based aid over the past few years.

This shift is part of AU’s initiative to accommodate prospective students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, according to Brian Lee Sang, director of AU’s financial aid office.

AU will continue to reward academic talent despite this shift, according to Sharon Alston, vice provost of undergraduate enrollment.

“We look at how we can use our resources to help create access for students in the current economy,” she said.

AU spent nearly $71 million on financial aid packages in 2011 and

met the needs of 98 percent of freshmen, according to AU’s website. Approximately 44 percent of graduating seniors were left debtless, the website said.

Students who receive need-based aid have their packages reassessed each year, and their rewards are configured based off their economic situation at the time, according to Lee Sang.

“Everything we do is based off a wider national context,” Alston said.

AU was one of the first colleges to send a letter to over 60,000 families asking about their concerns regarding tuition affordability, Alston said.

School of International Service freshman Larry Li said his merit scholarship was one of the reasons he decided to attend AU. However, Li said he is

concerned this shift will lead to fewer enrollments by prospective students with strong high school resumes.

Kogod School of Business freshman Faith Kim, who is a Pell Grant recipient, said need-based aid is crucial for some students.

“Need-based aid ensures that everyone has an equal opportunity to pursue the education that they want,” she said.

A Pell Grant is a grant from the federal government given to students who display exceptional financial need, according to the U.S. Department of Education website.

Charlotte Zhao, a prospective AU student, said she agreed with the University’s decision.

“It’s one of the reasons that I became interested in AU in the first place,” she said.

NEWS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

CAUS members protest tuition hikes during All-American Weekend

By JARED ANGLE EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Roughly 40 members of the Coalition of American University Students (CAUS) called for a tuition freeze on Oct. 20, handdelivering a letter of grievances to AU President Neil Kerwin during his welcome speech at All-American Weekend.

CAUS plans to hold a second rally on Oct. 26 at 1 p.m. if the organization does not receive a response from Kerwin by Oct. 25, according to Steve Demarest, a senior in the School of Public Affairs and a member of CAUS. Kerwin passed the group at the beginning of the rally to meet with the parents of AU students in the Ward Circle Building as a few members of the rally sang “Imperial March” from “Star Wars.”

Kerwin briefly observed the demonstration as he approached the building but did not stop to speak with the students.

The rally, organized by SPA senior Chris Litch-

field, included two marches around the Quad and a gathering where members shared their personal stories of financial hardship and student debt.

Jenna Nichols, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, told the group about her experience of raising a toddler while she and her partner balance student loans, child care and housing costs in the D.C. area.

Nichols said she wanted to avoid the high cost of childcare and housing in D.C., so she bought a home in Manassas, Va. However, this meant driving to campus and paying about $1,200 for a parking permit.

However, she said she received a grant and a lowinterest federal loan but still had to get a $10,000 private loan with an 8.25 percent interest rate.

Valerie Kiebala, a sophomore in the School of International Service, said her friend’s family could no longer afford the cost of tuition, so her friend had to leave AU and attend a community college in her home

state.

“We were sitting in the Quad one day, talking about what our plans for classes and majors were, and she said, ‘Yeah, I’m not going to be here in a couple of weeks,’” Kiebala said.

Kiebala’s brother attended Northwestern University in Illinois and accumulated around $80,000 in debt.

“Education should be free,” Kiebala said.

Niusha Nawab, a sophomore in CAS, said he does not receive any financial aid and instead relies completely on loans to pay his tuition.

Nawab’s family looks wealthier on paper than they actually are, he said.

Nawab, who joined CAUS in May, said his younger brother wants to attend George Washington University, but that it will be difficult unless his brother earns a scholarship.

“It’s a really heavy burden,” Nawab said.

Staff Writer Zach C. Cohen contributed to this report.

NEWS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

4 | OCTOBER 25, 2012 NEWS theEAGLE

VETERANS ON CAMPUS SOURCE: AU VETERANS SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR VALERIE VERRA

204 218

165 ANA SANTOS / THE EAGLE

119

Students accuse Public Safety of hiding laptops the make and model of the devices, according to Fontaine. The officers then Four AU transfer stuwrote down the informadents said Public Safety tion and proceeded to ask officers hid their laptops why the students left their during an Oct. 4 fire drill in laptops, Fontaine said.

Leonard Hall.

Sarah Glassman, the The sturesident didents said they rector for left their lapLeonard tops in their I asked, ‘Is this some kind of joke to teach us a lesson?’ Hall, was floor lounge at the desk during the fire during the drill and retime of the turned to find incident. She them gone. They said they kind of joke to teach us a tant to give them back be- directed all questions to approached four or five lesson?’ Cotter said. “And fore we had answered all Public Safety.

Public Safety officers to then nobody answered.” of their [the officers’] quesChris Moody, direcaddress their missing comThe officers initially did tions about why we would tor of housing and dining, puters, according to School not respond, Cotter said. leave them there,” she said. explained that his departof Communication sopho- However, when she reA Leonard Hall resident ment did not make any more Madison Sirulnik, peated the question, they assistant gave back the decisions in concern to the one of the four students. answered “yeah,” she said. laptops that were hidden incident.

Phillip Morse, senior di“All of us were like under the front desk, ac“What I was told was rector of Public Safety, did ‘That’s not funny, that’s like cording to Fontaine. that the hall staff were not not respond to multiple re- [a] thousand dollars worth The students said an of- involved in the decision quests for comment. of merchandise you just ficer first asked them for to remove laptops from public areas nor did they remove the laptops from Activist public areas,” he said in an JOBS TO RE-ELECT OBAMA & ELECT TIM KAINE TO U.S. SENATE email. with Cotter and the other ENVIRONMENT VIRGINIA students said they are still $11-$13/Hour upset by the incident and emailed a complaint to -Work to re-elect Obama and elect Tim Kaine!

Public Safety. They have -Work with great people! not received a response as of Oct. 23.

Falls Church, VA “We just wanted to get www.EnvironmentVirginia.org/jobs Call Kelly 703-798-4964 our work done and get our Paid for by Environment America Action Fund. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's computers back,” Cotter committee. said.

By ALEX GRECO

EAGLE STAFF WRITER

College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Meghan Cotter, whose laptop also was missing, claimed the officers proceeded to laugh and admit they hid the devices.

“I asked, ‘Is this some

“

took from us,’” she said.

School of International Service sophomore Molly Fontaine, another affected student, said the officers did not immediately return the laptops.

“They were very hesi-

” -CAS sophomore Meghan Cotter

NEWS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

2008

2009

2011

2012

AU vets struggle to make ends meet without GI Bill funds

By AMBER COHEN EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Veterans at AU are experiencing delayed GI Bill payments due to a surge of returning soldiers from Afghanistan and Iraq.

This has been a problem since the Post-9/11 GI Bill was implemented in 2009, said veteran John Kamin, School of Public Affairs ‘12. The GI Bill gives veterans the financial resources to pay for college, according to the GI Bill website.

“It’s not specifically a problem at AU; it’s at every school, profit or nonprofit,” Kamin said.

These payments are crucial to AU veterans because the cost of living in D.C. is higher than most cities, Kamin said. In ad-

dition, many veterans live off campus and have families they care for, he said.

“I have received numerous complaints from veterans about not having received their benefits,” AU Vets President Andrew Reef, a graduate student in SPA, said. “The issue is that over the next few years, as soldiers are returning home from Afghanistan and the military has trimmed its forces, there will be an even greater influx of veterans on campuses nationwide.”

Since 2004, more veterans have returned home and used educational benefits, with 800,000 beneficiaries in 2010, according to the National Center for Veterans Analysis and

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 ≥

theEAGLE NEWS OCTOBER 25, 2012 | 5

AU student puts a face to undocumented immigrants

Student apathy could slow new SG constitution ratification

By SAMANTHA RAPHELSON

By SUZANNE GABER EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

School of International Service senior Daniel Leon spoke about his hardships as an undocumented immigrant and his struggle to gain residency at a panel on Oct. 22.

The panel addressed the problems faced by those with undocumented status. It was co-hosted by on-campus group American Dream AU and the national group United We Dream. Both groups advocate for Congress to pass the DREAM Act. The DREAM Act is a policy that would allow people who had entered the country before turning 15 and had lived in the United States for at least five years to apply for residency under certain conditions, according to the DREAM Act website.

Leon is one of at least two undocumented students on campus, according to American Dream AU members Andrea Gonzalez and Andrew Menefee. The other student does not wish be identified, Menefee said.

going to happen tomorrow,” she said.

Ramirez was undocumented until she received permanent residency status in December 2009. She moved to the U.S. from Mexico City at the age of 8.

Ramirez became an

birth, moved with his mother to the U.S. at the age of five.

He applied to five schools and was granted admission with full scholarship to all. However, his dream school in New York repealed his merit-based aid when he JARED ANGLE / THE EAGLE could not complete Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms.

It was then Leon realized he would be unable to attend any of the schools for financial reasons.

Leon ended up attending community college in Florida until he transferred to AU following his sophomore year.

The panelists discussed issues faced by undocumented immigrants every day, including educaadvocate for the DREAM tion and employment.

Act because of her status.

“Most of you get fake She watched from the Sen- [IDs] to be able to drink,” ate Gallery in 2010 as the Leon said. “I got a fake to Senate voted down the be able to drive.”

DREAM Act by five votes.

Ramirez said many peoHowever, the ‘dreamers’ ple do not see undocumentwere not discouraged, she ed immigrants as people, said. but as statistics.

“We were undocumentLeon said he uses himed and unafraid . . . we were self as a way to introduce empowered,” she said. skeptics to the issue on a more human level, waiting UNKNOWN UNDOCUMENTED until they get to know him better to reveal his status.

STATUS Leon said he did not “I’ve had friends who know he was an undocu- are against immigration, mented immigrant until he but then they realize I’m began applying for college. undocumented,” he said.

Leon, Venezuelan by NEWS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

“Most of you get fake [IDs] to be able to drink. I got a fake to be able to drive.”

-Daniel Leon, an undocumented student

LIVING AS A ‘DREAMER’

Vicky Ramirez, a senior in SIS, lived with the fear of coming home to an empty house for almost 10 years. “[I was] living under the uncertainty of what [was]

EAGLE STAFF WRITER

The Student Government Judicial Board ruled on Oct. 21 that a special election must be held to ratify the new constitution.

The new governing body, the AU Student Association, would replace SG if students approve its constitution.

One-third of the undergraduate student body must vote for the election to be valid, according to Judicial Board Chair James

DeLucia. Of those voting students, two-thirds must vote in favor of a new constitution to ratify it.

Almost 2,000 students, roughly 28 percent of the student body, voted in the spring 2012 elections, the board’s decision said.

SG plans to hold the special election sometime between late January and early February, SG Comptroller Joe Ste.Marie said.

SG wants to ensure students have time to understand the new constitution and provide their input.

But Sen. Eric Reath, representing the class of 2013, said one-third of the student body has never voted in a SG election.

“It’ll be infinitely more difficult for [students] to have a say in trying to change the governing documents, so it becomes impossible for any student to make real change,” said Reath, who stepped down as SG comptroller Sept. 2.

“Every student reserves the right to change how we operate.”

SRAPHELSON@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

6 | OCTOBER 25, 2012 NEWS theEAGLE

Dept. of Homeland Security relocates

By ALEX CHAVERS EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

SARAH JACQUES / THE EAGLE

A model poses with the best-selling novel.

The Department of Homeland Security will move its headquarters to the St. Elizabeths campus in Congress Heights due to parking controversies.

The department currently resides across from Nebraska Hall on the corner of Massachusetts and Nebraska Avenue.

Construction on the department’s headquarters forced outside con-

tractors to park in the surrounding neighborhood, said Dawud AbdurRahman, director of planning and management

Construction on the DHS Nebraska Avenue complex will continue until all current projects are finished. It is expected to be completed in November, according to General There won’t be any noticeable difference to the public Ser vices Adminison how the campus is used tration Director of the Office of Infrastructure and Campus Development Shapour Ebadi.

“There won’t be for the General Ser vices The department’s any noticeable difference Administration. The de- current building will to the public on how the partment currently has continue to be used by campus is used,” Abduronly enough parking Homeland Security, Ab- Rahman said. spots for its employees, dur-Rahman said.

NEWS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

“

” -Dawud Abdur-Rahman, GSA director of planning and management

Spring class to explore “Fifty Shades of Grey” trilogy Two apprehended outside SIS building

By CHLOE JOHNSON

EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A new class based on the “50 Shades of Grey” trilogy will be offered to undergraduates this spring.

The class will be in the American Studies program of the College of Arts and Sciences (AMST330-005). It will focus on the trilogy’s impact in many areas of society as well as the reasons behind its popularity, according to its course description.

Professor Stef Woods, who runs the D.C.-based blog titled “City Girl,” will teach the class. She currently teaches a course on health and activism.

Woods thought the books were appropriate to use in class because of their impact on pop culture, with more than 20 million copies sold in four months, she said.

“The trilogy has impacted the fields of public

relations, writing, social media marketing, health and sexuality,” she said.

“It has also opened up dialogue about previously uncomfortable topics.”

Woods said the course attracted interest in the student body, but some students did not think the trilogy merited a course.

“It’s not an accurate representation of American sexual culture,” School of Communication freshman Sarah Voelker said. “It does not present these things in a way that is safe and positive. It’s basically S&M porn.”

Despite the appropriateness of the books, Woods said the trilogy presented a uniquely powerful perspective on American culture.

“No other contemporary text on sexuality has transformed American culture the way that this series has,” she said.

NEWS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

By HEATHER MONGILIO EAGLE STAFF WRITER

Two people were apprehended this morning outside of the School of International Service building.

On a routine patrol, the Department of Public Safety found two people attempting to take items from a closet of food in the building. They were not AU students, according to Maralee Csellar, associate director of University communications.

Public Safety and Metropolitan Police Department are currently working to issue an arrest warrant, she said.

The two people were handcuffed outside SIS while MPD officers

Abdur-Rahman said.

“Our desire is to be good neighbors in ever y neighborhood where we operate,” he said.

searched through a dozen or more grocery bags, according to eyewitness Jack Szeltner, a junior in the School of Public Affairs.

Szeltner walked home from the library between 1:30 and 1:40 a.m. when he saw three police cruisers and a van between the School of International Service and the East Quad Building, he said.

There were more police cars around the intersection between Nebraska and New Mexico Avenues, Szeltner said. He did not see any Public Safety officers.

Csellar could not comment about the identities of the suspects since they are part of an ongoing investigation.

HMONGILIO@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

Veteran Liaison Network seeks to fix late GI Bill payments ≤ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

Statistics’ website.

The University is working with U.S. Veterans Affairs to get AU students their G.I. Bill payments, according to AU Veterans Service Administrator Valerie Verra.

“The mid-Atlantic region has the greatest number of colleges and universities and therefore has the biggest burden when it comes to processing these certifications,” she said in an email.

AU created the Veteran Liaison Network in

2011 to discuss policies to prepare for the influx of veteran attendance, The Eagle previously reported. This network contains members of AU Vets as well as members of AU’s faculty and administration.

Some states such as Minnesota and Arizona allow veterans to defer or extend the deadline of tuition payments if the VA system misses a payment, Reef said.

“It’s our hope that we can adjust policies now to best prepare for the future,” Reef said.

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Get to campus the quick and easy way. Just take a car2go when you need it, and leave it when you’re done. No mandatory reservations, no late fees. For a limited time, students get free registration and 30 minutes free at dc.car2go.com (promo code: COLLEGE).

Must be 18 years or older and have a valid U.S. driver’s license to register. Free minutes of driving time are valid for 60 days after credited to an account, unless otherwise noted.

SCENE

Free art exhibits to check out in D.C. this week 10 | TV Pick of the Week: “Supernatural” 12

D.C. CHILLIN’

There’s An App For That: Apps You Need in D.C.

By CHELSEA CLAYS / EAGLE COLUMNIST

With the surge in smartphone usage over the past few years, there’s also been a subsequent surge of apps for everything under the sun. D.C. Chillin’ brings you a list of apps to enhance your smartphone usage in the District, from trying to navigate throughout the city to finding the best eats.

CCLAYS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

NEXT TRAIN DC METRO AR Washingtonians have made this app the No. 1 downloaded D.C. Metro app, and for good reason. Find out the train times for any station in the D.C. Metro. This app gives accurate, upto-date reports on train times for stations closest to your location or sorted alphabetically in a list. With this app, unnecessary running or waiting is a thing of the past.

Available for $0.99 in the App Store

NEXTBUS DC LITE Buses in D.C. can do a great job of dropping you off in places between stops. But knowing the bus routes can be daunting, especially when the bus schedule can be far from accurate. But not with this app! This app provides real time GPS tracked transit arrival predictions to know when the bus is really coming to whisk you away to your destination.

Available for free in the App Store

SMITHSONIAN Get to know the Smithsonian Institute’s 17 D.C.-based collections on the National Mall.

From the Portrait Gallery to the National Museum of Natural History, search the collections for connections between museums, history, art and science. You can also see upcoming exhibitions and have all the basic info about the museums, including hours of operation.

Available for free in the App Store and Google Play

FOOD TRUCK FIESTA

D.C. has a phenomenal food truck culture, with everything from Koreaninspired tacos to creations by famous chefs like José Andrés. Food Truck Fiesta compiles all the tweets telling you where your favorite food trucks are and puts the trucks on a map. Not sure which one to try? Tap the icon and it will link you to the trucks’ website where you can check out their menus. Food Truck Friday, anyone?

Available for $0.99 in the App Store

EXPLORE D.C.

The ultimate D.C. tour guide app, Explore D.C. was created by The Washington Post to give you the 411 on all things D.C. compiled in handy lists. From visiting the restaurants of famous D.C. chefs to museums with the best art, knock out these lists with any out-of-town guests for a very memorable weekend.

Available for free in the App Store

KOGOD GRADUATE OPEN PROGRAMS HOUSE NOVEMBER 3, 2012 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY KOGOD SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

American University's Kogod School of Business invites you to visit campus for our Fall 2012 Graduate Programs Open House. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about Kogod’s graduate degree programs and will include an admissions overview along with academic overviews for the Full-time MBA, Professional MBA and MS programs.

HIGHLIGHTS - Meet with members of the Graduate Admissions staff - Overview of the Admissions process - Academic Sessions for the MBA & MS programs in Accounting, Finance, Sustainability Management, Real Estate and Taxation - Lunch with members of the Kogod community Ambassador - Optional Campus Tours led by Kogod Graduate AmbassadorT

REGISTER

kogod.american.edu/openhouse

QUESTIONS?

Kogod Graduate Admissions KogodGrad@american.edu 202.885.1913

LOOK OF THE WEEK

WANDERLUST MADELINE BEARD — FASHION It seems as if every other day, another person I know is preparing to go abroad.

Once October hits, the acceptance letters come streaming into inboxes and Facebook statuses are immediately updated in celebration.

Most people will tell you that the experience will broaden your perspective and strengthen your worldview, but can going abroad shape your style as well?

Katty Hargrave-Kerns, a senior in the School of International Service, went abroad to Kenya during the fall and spring semesters of her junior year. During her time there, she developed a love for the Kenyan culture, which she said she now conveys through her clothing. “Going abroad to Kenya, we had a certain dress code deemed appropriate for the culture,â€? Hargrave-Kerns said. “Living WKHUH IRU PRQWKV GHĂ€QLWHO\ KDG DQ LQĂ XHQFH RQ P\ VW\OH , EHJDQ ZHDULQJ Ă RZ\ harem-style pants and a lot more long skirts, and that laid-back look has stuck with me since.â€?

While Hargrave-Kerns found many VW\OH LQĂ XHQFHV DEURDG KHU PRVW UDGLFDO change did not happen within her wardrobe, but instead in her hairstyle. Following months of persuasion from her local friends, she decided to get dreadlocks. “After years of growing it out and it constantly knotting, my hairdresser actually suggested it to me,â€? Hargrave-Kerns said. “I had always wanted to dread my hair but I never had the guts . . . Little did I know, it took a ton of effort and almost six months before my hair actually started to lock. But now I love my dreads dearly because their upkeep is so easy.â€?

Along with her unconventional locks, the assortment of bracelets HargraveKerns wears serve as a daily reminder of the friends she made during her time in Kenya. Paired with playful Silly Bandz inspired by the kids she babysits, her “arm partyâ€? represents a union of the two cultures. “The friends I made abroad all typicalO\ LGHQWLĂ€HG DV ÂśUDVWDV ¡¾ +DUJUDYH .HUQV said. “They consistently made or brought home jewelry with the trademark rasta colors: red, yellow and green. My wrists

are covered in those gifts as constant reminders of my time away and my friends.�

Hargrave-Kerns developed close friendships while in Kenya and got involved with several youth advocacy groups. After graduation, she plans to return to continue work for these organizations, but in the meantime, she promotes awareness for these causes on campus. “I am currently selling a lot of handPDGH MHZHOU\ WR SURĂ€W D \RXWK JURXS orphanage I worked for called Fruitful Kibera,â€? Hargrave-Kerns said. “The proceeds go directly to the orphanage, and the money is typically put towards feeding the 20 orphans they house.â€?

Although her abroad experience had a VLJQLĂ€FDQW LPSDFW RQ KHU SHUVRQDO VW\OH +DUJUDYH .HUQV¡ EHOLHIV RQ IDVKLRQ KDYH remained consistent through her time at school and her travels. “Comfort is key,â€? Hargrave-Kerns VDLG ´, GRQ¡W MXVW PHDQ FRPIRUWDEOH FORWKing, but if you personally feel comfortable DQG FRQĂ€GHQW LQ ZKDW \RX DUH ZHDULQJ WKDW will shine through. I have never really paid that much attention to fashion, except my RZQ EXW ZKHQ , IHHO FRQĂ€GHQW LQ ZKDW ,¡P wearing is when I think I look my best.â€?

MBEARD@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

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LET @THEEAGLEONLINE KNOW WHAT YOU’RE ROCKING THIS FALL.

10 | OCTOBER 25, 2012 SCENE theEAGLE

STARS IN UNEXPECTED PLACES MARK LIEBERMAN — TAKE 5 Pop culture’s latest headlines are dominated by head-scratching news like political satirist Stephen Colbert making a cameo appearance in “The Hobbit” to the star-studded adaptation of “Cloud Atlas.”

Ai-Wen Wu Kratz responds to “Waiting for Godot.”

COURTESY OF TOUCHSTONE GALLERY

D.C.’s art exhibits feature drag queens, election losers, commercial signs SEAN MEEHAN — FINE ART FOR FREE Living in a big city can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Every week there’s somebody willing to feed, entertain, occupy, educate or annoy you for free. “Free in D.C.” rounds up the best free events in the coming week to help you stretch that paycheck just a little bit further.

WHAT’S NEW “THE DRAG ILLUSION PHOTOGRAPHS” BY MICHAEL LANG | TOUCHSTONE GALLERY | OCT. 31-NOV. 25 | OPENING RECEPTION NOV. 2 6-8:30 P.M. If the new season of RuPaul’s All Stars Drag Race leaves you craving more, or if you’ve ever gone to a drag show and wondered “How do they do it?,” this exhibit is for you. Touchstone Gallery will be displaying a photo essay about drag queens by Michael Lang. Lang emphasizes the transformation of drag by shooting backstage pictures in black and white and performances in color, giving an inside-and-outside look into the performance art of drag transformation.

LAST CALL “TO PLANT FLOWERS WHILE WAITING” BY AI-WEN WU KRATZ / ANYTHING BUT STRAIGHT LINES BY RHONA LK

SCHONWALD | TOUCHSTONE GALLERY | CLOSES OCT. 28

WASHINGTON POST WINDOWS | CLOSES NOV. 9

Ai-Wen Wu Kratz’s exhibition of paintings, drawings and photography currently on display at Touchstone Gallery is a relentlessly optimistic response to Samuel Beckett’s play “Waiting for Godot.” Rejecting Beckett’s portrayal of nothing-matters apathy and stagnancy, Wu Kratz advocated finding and creating beauty even if you know it’s pointless.

Wu Kratz participates in this process in her whimsical and beautiful works all centered around flowers.

Rhona LK Schonwald’s concurrent exhibit, “Anything but Straight Lines,” celebrates fluidity with paintings that flow and bright colors that collide and interact with each other.

Schonwald uses her paintings to reject the rigid structure that often dominates our lives and reconnect with the fluidity that she sees as essential to human nature. Schonwald’s paintings appear to capture the moment of contact between several beautiful colors, freezing their interaction with each other before they merge into one color.

If this election has you longing for the glory days, whenever they might have been, stop by Nina Katchadourian’s “Monument to the Unelected.”

The display in the ground-floor windows of the Washington Post is a series of fake election posters for the eventual losers, all painted by Katchadourian.

The streetfront exhibit isn’t enough to plan a day around, but if you’re in the Farrugut area, it is a great and beautiful place to think about what could have been.

“MONUMENT TO THE UNELECTED” BY NINA KATCHADOURIAN | THE

“SYNTAX” BY CHERYL WASSENAAR | LONG VIEW GALLERY | CLOSES OCT. 28

In her exhibit “Syntax” Cheryl Wassenaar uses found materials from commercial signs to create work that combines painting, sculpture and graphic design to create works with recognizable but heavily distorted letters. The repurposing of the text creates tension in the viewer as they try and ultimately fail to read through her distortions. Wassenaar creates beautiful pieces that seem recognizable and entirely unique at the same time.

SMEEHAN@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

“CLOUD” NINE? UNDERSTATEMENT:

The rules of conventional filmmaking and storytelling seem to be above directors Andy and Lana Wachowski and Tom Tykwer, if their extravagant new film “Cloud Atlas” is any indication.

Loosely based on a popular novel of the same name, this film is best known thus far for its plethora of eccentricities: Tom Hanks and Halle Berry play multiple characters, the storylines interlock in surprising ways and science-fiction and fantasy images are liberally sprinkled into a story loaded with symbolic meaning.

This film is being released on Oct. 26 and will likely be one of the most polarizing of the year.

THE COUNTRY UNITES:

ABC will broadcast the 46th Annual CMA Awards on Nov. 1. with Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood serving as hosts for the fifth consecutive year.

The usual suspects like Taylor Swift, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, The Band Perry and Miranda Lambert will take the stage, as well as unlikely Female Vocalist of the Year nominee Kelly Clarkson and rising star Brantley Gilbert.

A special tribute to legendary singer-songwriter Willie Nelson will feature Tim McGraw and Faith Hill in a rare duet.

X MARKS THE HOSTS:

After ousting the exceptionally stiff host Steve Jones after the first American season of the “The X Factor,” Simon Cowell spent

the summer searching for suitable replacements, dodging rumors about prospects like Darren Criss, Kevin McHale (both from “Glee”) and Kelly Osbourne.

Reality TV stars Mario Lopez and Khloe Kardashian will host their first live competition show on Nov. 1. Since neither of these hosts has much experience or credibility, their role will likely be heavily scrutinized by the show’s nearly 10 million viewers.

LET’S GO, CALVIN!:

After months of dominating the pop airwaves, the Scottish DJ Calvin Harris is set to release his debut album “18 Months” on Oct. 29.

While casual music fans might not recognize Harris’ music, they will likely be familiar with his output. He is best known for producing Rihanna’s smash hit “We Found Love,” as well as dance highlight “Let’s Go,” featuring Ne-Yo. The new album also features collaborations with Florence & the Machine, Ellie Goulding and British rapper Tinie Tempah.

FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF “WAIT, WHAT?”:

Comedy Central late-night host Stephen Colbert will make a cameo appearance during Peter Jackson’s upcoming trilogy adaptation of “The Hobbit.”

Colbert, during an interview with Playboy Magazine, mentioned that he had visited the New Zealand set but refused to discuss his appearance. Warner Brothers later confirmed that Colbert will be featured in a later “Hobbit” installment.

The long-awaited prequel series to the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy will also feature cameos from former franchise stars Elijah Wood and Orlando Bloom.

MLIEBERMAN@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

theEAGLE SCENE OCTOBER 25, 2012 | 11

UPSTART HIP-HOP AND HYPER-ENERGETIC POP JANE MORICE — Five Songs This week’s list is hip-hop centric — minus Matt & Kim — but that doesn’t mean it is without substance. Take a listen: you’ll never know if you’d like it until you give it a try!

1. “WRESTLING IS FAKE”—ASHER ROTH:

When Roth’s breakout song “I Love College” was released in 2008, it was the anthem for college students themselves and the kids in high school (like myself) who were picturing the rowdy times they would soon be having.

Since this song, however, Roth has become a much more serious rapper. Earlier this summer, Asher Roth released “Good Morning View,” a groovy tune that emphasizes staying happy, no matter what. “Wrestling is Fake” is Roth’s newest release and a song that could possibly land on his newest album.

This newest track is not Roth’s typical sound. The slight rock undertones confused me upon first listen. But the bass line carries the song, draws you in and makes you want to listen over and over and over again...

2. “THE HEART PT. 3” FEATURING AB-SOUL AND JAY ROCK—KENDRICK LAMAR:

There is some good news and some bad news with this song.

Bad news is that, unfortunately, this track is not on Kendrick Lamar’s debut record, “good kid, m.A.A.d city,” released on Oct. 22.

Good news is that it doesn’t even matter where this song lands on his anthology because it is so good. Lamar’s fanbase has been steadily growing over the past year, partially due to songs like mainstream hit “The Recipe” featuring hip-hop legend Dr. Dre and the favorite “Rigamortus,” off of his 2011 mixtape “Section.80.”

“The Heart Pt. 3” is a sequel to songs with sequential titles that were released on previous mixtapes, but this song will likely have the most buzz of all three. If you like Kendrick’s style, give it a listen, especially since Ab-Soul and Jay Rock complement the

song well.

If you’re curious about Lamar, this song will give you a solid foundation.

3. “PO UP”—THE STARTING SIX:

Speaking of Kendrick Lamar; he also recently released an immensely popular song entitled “Swimming Pools (Drank).” This song’s hook is catchy and has been sampled by several rappers making covers or remixes.

Enter The Starting Six. This hip-hop group from the Bay Area is ridiculously silly. They cater to the party crowd. I can’t say I’ve ever heard a serious song from them. Anyhow, “Po Up” will certainly be a hit at your next pregame.

You can find it via The Kollection or the group’s Soundcloud account.

4. “QUICKTIME”—IGGY AZALEA:

Iggy Azalea has to be one of my favorite personalities. She is a strong, independent woman who isn’t afraid to say what she wants.

Iggy, a rapper from Australia, recently became the first female member of T.I.’s Hustle Gang label, a huge accomplishment.

Azalea released her mixtape “Trapgold” on Oct. 11. While I am fond of all the songs on the record because of their excellent production value (Diplo is frequently the lead producer), “Quicktime” is a personal favorite and a perfect example of a typical Iggy song: funky and raunchy.

5. “IT’S ALRIGHT”—MATT & KIM:

I swear I don’t only listen to hiphop! I am a huge fan of Matt & Kim’s latest album “Lightning,” even though its sound is different from previous records like “Grand” and “Sidewalks.”

“Lightning” has more hip-hop and electro influences, and the songs are as fun and upbeat as ever.

“It’s Alright” has been stuck in my head (in a good way!) for the past week, so I suggest giving it a listen if you want something to put a spring in your step for those days that seem to drag.

JMORICE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

AUDIOPHILE

Looking for new music? DJs at WVAU share their thoughts on a range of recent releases.

TITUS ANDRONICUS LOCAL BUSINESS New Jersey indie punks get personal.

Titus Andronicus didn’t try to remake “The Monitor” with their latest release, “Local Business.” There are more pop flavors here, most notably in the vein of Bruce Springsteen and rock ‘n’ roll pioneers. The band plays with more mid-tempos and allows their punk side to accentuate bursts of energy.

The album feels very personal, almost written like a diary. Lead singer Patrick Stickles writes about his struggles with food, smoking, anxiety and self-loathing.

Titus Andronicus skillfully juxtaposes

A.C. NEWMAN

SHUT DOWN THE STREETS Pulling from the best of his previous musical experience, Newman creates an introspective and deceptively simple sound.

For his third solo album, Newman comes into his own, with songs circling around life-changing moments, such as the birth of his son and the death of his mother.

The singer-songwriter has a prolific musical resume and seems to have taken

TY SEGALL TWINS A fun record with heavy yet melodic hooks.

While less heavy and psychedelic than “Slaughterhouse,” Segall still demonstrates in “Twins” that he can masterfully combine the heaviest sounding guitars and rhythm section with a catchy melody.

Segall’s singing is more refined on this album, with no full force screaming. Sure, he belts it out on some tracks, like the

these serious themes with a lighthearted silliness heard in tracks like “Food Fight!” and lyrics like “Look at this youngish man / Already halfway off with his pants / He’s doing something weird with his hands.”

The album’s thesis is “My Eating Disorder,” an eight-minute grandiose rock anthem that contains one of the album’s most memorable sections as Stickles groans “Spit it out” over and over until it turns into a frustrated scream.

While some may be taken aback by the band’s change in sound, all of the fun and rambunctiousness of a Titus Andronicus album are present.

Recommended If You Like: Japandroids, Bruce Springsteen, Ty Segall Band

By CAMERON STEWART, “SULTRY RED FEEDBACK” — SATURDAYS, 3 TO 4 A.M.

the best of this experience and applied it to this release. The songs themselves are simple and fall toward an older, soft folk pop sound and the harmonies are rich, with vocal support being given by New Pornographers’ bandmate Neko Case.

“Shut Down the Streets” is a look into Newman’s life that’s sometimes amusing (“There’s Money in New Wave”) and intimate (“You Could Get Lost Out Here”).

As a whole, this release is reflective, wistful and an example of a solo project that’s reached its potential.

RIYL: Elvis Costello, Thao & Mirah, The Pastels

By LEIGH HOPKINS “AMBIENT BLOOM” - MONDAYS, 4 TO 6 P.M.

rocker “You’re the Doctor,” but it is nothing out of control.

In “The Hill,” Segall combines beautiful vocal harmonies with fuzzy, distorted guitars. We also get to hear a gentle acoustic song (“Gold On the Shore”) comprised of just guitar, bass and vocals. On the rest of the tracks, the fuzzy guitars couldn’t sound dirtier and vocals are melodious, making for a solid album with a nice flow.

RIYL: Thee Oh Sees, Black Lips, Jeff the Brotherhood

By DREW SHER “FUR SHER” - THURSDAYS, 3 TO 4 P.M.

12 | OCTOBER 25, 2012 SCENE theEAGLE

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

TV PICK: “Supernatural”

By ERIN VAIL EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

“Supernatural” has a simple premise: brothers Sam (Jared Padalecki, “Friday the 13th”) and Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles, “My Bloody Valentine”) drive across the country in a 1967 Chevy Impala to hunt evil creatures that lurk in the shadows.

However, over the past seven seasons, the Winchesters have tackled heavy issues such as family drama, demon deals,

Eagle Rants I really don’t find biddies attractive but keep wearing those yoga pants ladies. It’s good stuff.

To whoever said wegmans is better than wawa: NO. Sit down and shut up, bro.

I AM AWESOME. Changed my desktop background to Homer Simpson saying “It’s the worst day of your life SO FAR.” IDK, I just find that oddly comforting.

double-crossing, visits to both heaven and hell and the apocalypse itself.

“Supernatural” offers a surprising amount of thematic substance for viewers. The two leads, Ackles and Padalecki, bring incredible talent to the characters of Dean and Sam. As a character-driven show, their dynamic performances keep the viewer engaged and wanting more.

Much to the fans’ relief, Jeremy Carver (“Being Human”),

a former “Supernatural” writer, has returned to the staff as showrunner, as the previous two seasons without Carver were lacking in coherence compared to earlier seasons. Carver’s concept of a season-long quest will hopefully recreate the structure that made the first five seasons great.

THESCENE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

“SUPERNATURAL” AIRS WEDNESDAYS AT 9 P.M. ON CW.

Go ahead, speak your mind. We’ll probably print it.

My boyfriend (i’m a girl btw) is now taking ballet class. Not as a class for academic credit. Just for fun at a local studio. Turn on or turn off? haven’t decided yet. On the plus side, his butt will look so cute in tights.

Parents Weekend - that special time of the year where you see where every annoying person you know got their habits from

I’m gonna get wasted, I’m so gonna get wasted. Because its friday and that’s what my job is as a biddy. #sarcasm

I have a crush on my sociology professor.

I’m tempted to knock on my neighbor’s door and ask him to have sex with me.

@US government factors in your promiscuity… Seems like Bill Clinton slipped through the cracks…

That moment when your professor references a rant in class…..

@”I will literally let any girl who makes me a home cooked meal use my body for whatever she wants for an hour”: how do you feel about something involving stuffed buffalo heads and ice cubes

Yeah so after being abroad for a semester… Cherish everyday you live in the US, and if you still have an issue well then go to Canada. I hear the trees are lovely this time of year.

@ROTC guy: armed forces men are the biggest turn on…

To girl who ALREADY HAS a boyfriend: stop trying to undress me!

My room is always way colder than it is outside… I want heat!!!!!

We partied embarrassingly hard Thursday night. Thursday. Night.

Guys, we can never show our faces in Eagle’s Nest again.

Tim Pawlenty is literally the most boring human being on the face of the Earth.

ACROSS 1 Capt. Kirk·s Asian lieutenant 7 Big name in elevators 11 Eng. majors· degrees 14 Aid from a road travel org.

15 Calamine mineral 16 Make a decision 17 Versatile, as clothes outfits 19 N.Y. engineering sch.

20 Stein filler 21 Hawkeye State 22 Tom of “The Seven Year Itch” 24 Auto title data 27 Represent as identical 30 Wine: Pref.

31 Actress Rene 32 Way in or out 35 Iraq War concern: Abbr.

38 Toon mouse couple 42 __ dye: chemical colorant 43 High-pitched woodwind 44 Breakfast corners 45 Old OTC watchdog 48 Borneo sultanate 49 All one·s strength 54 Skylit rooms 55 Wedding cake layer 56 Dean·s list no.

59 Highland refusal 60 Gentle 64 Chicago transports 65 End of a threat 66 Like many rumors 67 Baseball·s Cobb et al.

68 Small complaints that are “picked” 69 Colorful candy purchase, or what 17-, 24-, 38-, 49and 60-Across all are DOWN 1 Papa·s mate 2 Skateboard park fixture 3 __-Coburg: former German duchy

By David Steinberg

4 Actress Thurman 5 PC-to-PC system 6 “Rabbit at Rest” author 7 Conductor Seiji 8 Giant 9 Business name abbr.

10 Connive 11 Approached rapidly 12 iLife producer 13 Not moving a muscle 18 “The Simpsons” bartender 23 Came out ahead 24 Face hider 25 Stub __ 26 College housing 27 Humorist Bombeck 28 Quick classroom test 29 Amer. lawmaking group 32 Gently applied amount 33 Yoko from Tokyo 34 Dedicatory poem 36 Voice amplifier 37 Arnaz who played Ricky 39 Luke Skywalker·s mentor

SOLUTION TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE

(c)2012 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

40 Cross inscription 41 Subject of a sentence, typically 46 Yellowfin tuna 47 Pollen-producing flower part 48 Showman who teamed with Bailey 49 Painter Édouard 50 Peninsular Mediterranean country

51 H-bomb trial, e.g.

52 Flood stoppers 53 __ culpa 56 Encircle 57 Prune, before drying 58 Fruity beverages 61 New Haven Ivy Leaguer 62 Genetic material 63 Rainier, e.g.: Abbr.

Level: 1

2

3

4

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudoku.org.uk

SOLUTION TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE

SOLUTION TO WEDNESDA<·S PUZZLE

© 2012 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.

OPINION

STAFF EDITORIAL

Financial aid switch could deter prospective students

AU is about to lose its middle class.

The administration is switching 10 percent of its financial aid distribution from merit-based to needbased. The administration believes AU should focus on attracting a more diverse socioeconomic student body and decrease the amount of merit scholarships.

However, merit-based aid is often what brings students to AU in the first place.

AU has been terrific at awarding merit scholarships. They have prided themselves on giving money to those who worked hard academically. These merit scholarships are

more than gifts: They are why students come to AU as opposed to similar universities. If a student qualifies for need-based aid, it is likely that they will qualify for need-based aid at many universities. It are the merit scholarships that set AU apart.

The administration justifies the switch because of AU’s improving reputation. AU is moving away from being the safety school for George Washington University.

Each year AU sees more applicants who excelled in high school. With an in-

When science enters food, labels are crucial A quick rundown

SAM MENDELSON | SPORK In 1987, science fiction became reality. In this reality, what exactly constituted “food” changed, and consumers have since been left in the dark about what they eat.

As the world watches and waits for the results of the 2012 presidential election, Proposition 37 in California, which would mandate the labeling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), has been largely ignored.

of statistics is startling: 88 percent of U.S. corn, 90 percent of canola, 90 percent of cotton and 94 percent of soy are genetically modified. This results in a supermarket where over 70 percent of the products contain GMOs. That statistic is worth repeating: more than 70 percent of foods in the United States are genetically modified. The future has arrived, and it is

crease in reputation, middle-income students may apply and attend AU without the merit-based aid as an incentive.

However, AU’s reputation is not increasing as fast as the administration

no one can afford higher education, rich or poor.

Tuition rates keep rising without a foreseen endpoint. Everyone is struggling to finance their higher education, but this change will significantly

believes. The decision to shift the distribution of aid money could harm prospective middle-income students.

College is expensive.

In today’s world, almost

affect the middle class.

Middle class students depend on merit-based financial aid. Many of these students do not qualify for need-based aid, but also cannot pay the tuition

upfront. By making this change, AU will create a wealth gap. The majority of students attending will be the rich who can pay the tuition, and the poor who are given the tuition.

There is a perception that merit scholarships are extra cash allotted to the upper-middle class who were privileged enough to attend great schools, get good grades and still had time to be the captain of the soccer team. But, due to college tuition rates, merit-based aid has become the new need-based aid for some.

all around us.

The science fiction began at Calgene, a biotech firm now owned by Monsanto, whose scientists opened the door to a new food and agricultural revolution. The Green Revolution of the 1950s and 1960s increased crop yields and expanded the industrialized the food system, fundamentally changing food at the molecular level.

Calgene created the Flavr Savr tomato, the first commercial GMO. This tomato unleashed a wave of genetic modification that has resulted in a food system dominated

by GMOs. GMOs have been designed to resist pesti-

cides sprayed on fields, ironically allowing more to be sprayed, have longer shelf lives, be more tolerant to stress and even contain pesticides within the plant itself.

The benefits have been unparalleled food production in the U.S. The costs are an uncertain future of food and unintended consequences for both humans and the environment.

While there must be a separate argument about the effects of GMOs in relation to intellectual property, seed prices, health and the potential to form super weeds (which has already occurred), the discussion facing voters is far simpler.

If we understand food as a fundamental right to all people, the right to know what is in our food must also be accepted.

Fifty countries around the world, including Japan, India and China, already require the labeling of GMOs, and many of these countries restrict their use. The development of GMOs has the potential to be one of the greatest technological advances in food and agriculture in the 21st centur y.

However, the greatest problem regarding GMOs has been transparency. Monsanto and other large companies conduct their own studies on GMOs, limit the

Merit-based aid is often what brings students to AU in the first place.

Students in high school work hard to receive these scholarships and many middle-income students would not be able to attend without them. Students are now paying for college through merit-based aid and student loans.

The administration has a point; More need-based aid should be given out.

There may even be benefits to switching aid towards more need-based over time. However, in one cut, a 10 percent decrease is huge. Prospective students who may depend on merit aid will be shocked.

Before making any decisions, AU should consider all of its students. ≠ E distribution of their data and results (because it is “proprietar y”) and are ultimately left to regulate themselves. Large companies such as Monsanto, DuPont, Dow AgroSciences, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Kellogg and General Mills have combined to raise $47 million to fight Proposition 37.

The adage “you are what you eat” has taken on an entirely new meaning in the age of GMOs, and it is essential that products be labeled so that consumers know what exactly is in them.

It is their right.

Sam Mendelson is a sophomore in the School of International Service.

EDPAGE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

EDPAGE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

14 | OCTOBER 25, 2012 OPINION theEAGLE

OP-ED

Tuition freeze starts fight for affordable education

In 15 years, at the current 3.8 percent increase, AU’s tuition will be $65,709 annually, not including room and board.

Colleges across the country are increasing at about the same rate. To many of us, the high and rising costs of tuition seem normal. My own acceptance of high prices and loans stopped me from looking critically at the bigger picture. When the student debt bubble reached $1 trillion, I began to do some research.

I came to a simple conclusion: the current system of financial aid and student loans is not sufficient.

Students who are unable to pay $50,000 out of pocket and do not receive adequate aid or scholarships are forced to take out massive loans with high interest rates. Instead of helping students invest in their future, loans leave us tainted by debt and bad credit.

Altering the loan and financial aid system could be a solution to the debt crisis.

However, there is another route. The Coalition of AU Students started a campaign asking for a tuition freeze at AU. This means that the hikes in our tuition would cease to exist in the budgetary cycle over the next two academic years.

A freeze may sound like it won’t change much, but

QUICK TAKE

this initial push against tuition is vital.

Students are the consumers of our commoditized education, yet we are not informed exactly where our money is spent. At this “nonprofit” university, our increasing tuition should go toward improving education. With the cuts in some degree programs, such as humanities courses which are valued by many students, I get the feeling

aid doesn’t have the time or money to catch up. Right now, about half of the student body does not receive any form of financial aid, and 60 percent graduate in debt, according to collegedata.com. This means that 40 percent of the students can easily access an AU education and 60 percent need more money than financial aid can provide. Education is supposed to be a right for everyone, yet it is already extremely inaccessible.

By passively accepting the constant increases, higher education will soon only be available to the most privileged class.

It is hard to break away from the beliefs that high and rising tuition is normal and cannot change. Most of us live in the bubble our expensive college has provided. We must break that bubble and realize that everything is not OK. We cannot continue to ignore these problems just because the solutions seem out of our reach.

Right now, there is something we can do about the tuition hikes. This is our university, our money and our education. Together we can reclaim it, but we need your help.

Sophia Miyoshi is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Tuition is rising, and financial aid doesn’t have the time or money to catch up.

that AU’s prestige is a priority over our actual education. Our money is being spent on expensive building projects and advertising campaigns, all while adjuncts’ salaries suffer and our intellectual needs are ignored. The administration can argue all it wants, but students still have no power to check the administration’s decisions. If the administration refuses to tell us exactly where the $260 million of our tuition money goes, why should we continue to pay it?

An even more urgent reason for a tuition freeze is the increasing inaccessibility to higher education. Tuition is rising and financial

EDPAGE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

With disabilities, students need to redefine normal DEREK SIEGEL | ETHICS WITH A SIDE OF TOAST Our campus discourse around disability shifts between uncertainty — “What should I say to her?”, “Does he need any help?”

— and pity. We assume that living with a disability is inherently difficult, and this automatic association defines disabilities as undesirable and abnormal, a sign that a body isn’t functioning properly.

Certainly it’s more difficult to cross an intersection while blind or to operate a vehicle from within a wheelchair. However, the problem is that we look at these facts and conclude that having a disability means struggling to complete daily tasks. Because people with disabilities may need “extra assistance” in order to complete these tasks, we perceive this assistance as compensating for the lack of something: a lack of muscle control, a lack of sensory perception or a lack of mobility.

Our culture portrays people with disabilities as deficient and fundamentally lacking in their capacity to perform. When we appeal to this flawed logic, we imply that a disability itself causes adversity and generates obstacles. In other words, we blame people with disabilities for their own struggles, absolving ourselves of responsibility.

According to Rosemarie Thomson, a professor of women’s studies at Emory University, “disability arises

from the interaction of embodied differences with an unaccommodating physical and social environment.”

Thomson shifts our attention from the individual to society. She challenges discourse that stigmatizes disability, suggesting that people aren’t lacking, but rather their environments.

An understanding of people with disabilities as incomplete relies on the assumption that being disabled prohibits you from fully engaging an environment. What if we were to make our society more accommodating? Imagine, for instance, if every staircase were accompanied by a ramp. With this, having a wheelchair would no longer be a disadvantage.

Bodies are simply ways that we navigate our world.

Some people see with their eyes and others perceive with their hands. Some people walk with their legs and others move using a wheelchair. They’re achieving the same goals, but even our language implies that only certain ways we use our bodies are “normal.”

It’s deeply problematic when we begin to assign values to our bodies. For example, condemning homosexuality, some would argue that heterosexual intercourse is appropriate while homosexual intercourse thwarts the body’s original design.

It’s ridiculous, don’t you see? Bodies are bodies.

They come in all shapes and sizes, and some function differently than others.

However, nobody has the right to push moral judgment onto a body, to dictate what is normal or abnormal, desirable or undesirable.

On one hand, I want to leave you with the message that disability is normal. I want to challenge you to understand people with disabilities as normal people with normal bodies.

On the other hand, I want you to deconstruct what it means to be normal. Few things in life are monolithic.

For example, people might say that walking is normal, but what does it mean to walk? Some people take big steps, and others take small ones. We skip, we sashay, we point our toes inward and drag our heels.

All bodies work differently and express a wide range of abilities. Using the word “normal” devalues this diversity, initiating the construction of a false binary between able-bodied and disabled.

Don’t pity people with disabilities. Instead, recognize their bodies as legitimate and complete. We must work toward creating spaces that accommodate, rather than exclude and stigmatize, people of all abilities and backgrounds.

Derek Siegel is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences.

EDPAGE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

Every week on theeagleonline.com, the Quick Take offers concise views on an issue of significance to American University. This week, the Quick Take columnists discuss why the presidential candidates are not held more accountable for saying incorrect information. Read more at theeagleonline.com/opinion

SPORTS SAM ON THE SIDELINES

Armstrong is a needle in a haystack of steroid users

By SAMANTHA RAPHELSON EAGLE STAFF WRITER

Most of the time, we view pro athletes as if they are gods.

Their divine talent blinds us and makes us forget that athletes are humans, too.

But when our idols are caught taking performance-enhancing drugs, we feel disappointed and sometimes make excuses for the person, blaming the culture of the sport. For others, cheating is irreparable.

Lance Armstrong is the lat-

est athlete scrutinized for using PEDs, as he was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned by the International Cycling Union. This comes after Armstrong faced years of allegations and won multiple appeals.

The use of PEDs has run rampant in several other major sports, tainting the records and reputations of numerous athletes.

BASEBALL

Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens — the list of baseball players accused

Field hockey defeats Colgate, falls at Maryland

By GENNARO FARONE EAGLE STAFF WRITER

The Eagles earned another bid to the Patriot League Tournament, thanks to a strong performance from PL Goalkeeper of the Week Ashley Dalisera Oct. 20 at Colgate.

Dalisera saved 11 of 12 shots against the Raiders, helping power the Eagles past Colgate, 4-1.

It’s the second time this season that Dalisera was named Goalkeeper of the Week.

AU (8-9, 3-1 PL) was on the attack throughout the game, with Kati Rothenhoefer scoring in the first minute and a half. Shelly Montgomery scored shortly after, putting the Eagles up 2-0 before four minutes had been played.

AU tacked on two more goals late in the second half, including a second score from Montgomery and one from Jaclyn Anspach.

Alex McMackin also had a strong game for the Eagles with two assists for the match.

Performances like Dalisera’s and Montgomery’s have helped put the Eagles in a familiar place, the Patriot League Tournament.

The Eagles won eight straight tournament championships from 2003 to 2010.

The Eagles had little time to dwell on their accomplishment against Colgate, as they traveled to play the defending national champion Maryland Terrapins Oct. 22 in College Park, Md. The Eagles could not muster much offense in the 3-0 loss, but held the No. 6 Terps off the score-

of using PEDs goes on and on.

Bonds’ home run record of 762 remains tainted, but not redacted, after he was convicted of obstruction of justice for lying to a grand jury about his use of steroids, according to an ESPN article from April 14, 2011.

Though the program implemented stricter testing for banned substances, most of the time the best players are caught using.

Last year, NL MVP Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers tested positive for PEDs but won his appeal. This year, Melky Cabrera of the San Francisco Giants tried to cover up his doping through a fake website.

FOOTBALL

When it comes to doping, football and baseball play by different rules. Doping goes unnoticed in football because a bulked-up footboard and headed to halftime tied 0-0.

Maryland (13-4) opened the floodgates with 25 minutes left in the game, scoring three goals in 13 minutes off penalty corners to earn the shutout victory.

Maryland held an edge in both shots (20-5) and penalty corners (11-3). Montgomery didn’t have a single shot against the Terps, after coming into the match with 23 shots and eight goals in her last five games.

AU’s next game is its regularseason finale. The Eagles will finish the season at home against Bucknell Oct. 27, but it won’t be the last clash with the Bison this season.

The two will face each other in the Patriot League Tournament six days later, with the winner from their regular-season meeting earning the second seed and the loser the third seed. The Eagles hold a 17-5 advantage in the all-time series against the Bison.

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ball player isn’t an unusual sight.

Players must take massive doses of painkillers and bodybuilding drugs in order to survive hundreds of 300-pound hits each season. Linebackers seem to be caught the most. In 2010, Brian Cushing of the Houston Texans faced a four-game suspension for testing positive for a non-steroidal banned substance, according to a May 10 ESPN article.

BASKETBALL

The World Anti-Doping Agency just blasted the NBA’s anti-doping policy, saying it needs improvements, according to an Oct. 19 ESPN article. NBA commissioner David Stern has claimed that PEDs would not be effective in basketball. Not many players are nabbed for violating the drug policy, and those caught face a minimum suspension of 10 games.

CYCLING

Professional cycling is different than other pro sports, which have their own anti-doping policies, as cycling and other Olympic sports are governed by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. Officials saw Armstrong as the influencer of doping culture in cycling, pressuring his peers to try the drugs, according to an Oct. 10 New York Times article.

Armstrong was likely using these drugs for several years, but his use wasn’t visible because the drugs have advanced so much.

Armstrong’s story really is that of a fallen legend, after many were captivated by his cancer story and his power on two wheels.

Now, the fact that he was using drugs the whole time brings a whole new meaning to the word “LIVESTRONG.” SRAPHELSON@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

16 | OCTOBER 25, 2012 SPORTS theEAGLE

Eagles earn comeback victory over Navy

EMMA KNIGHT / THE EAGLE

Colin Seigfreid finished with one goal and two assists to help AU defeat Navy, 3-2, Oct. 20 at Reeves Field.

By MICHAEL GARDNER EAGLE STAFF WRITER

Alassane Kane had not scored a goal since Aug. 30, but delivered twice when it mattered most

against Navy.

The senior forward scored in the 83rd minute, then again in the 92nd minute to lead the AU men’s soccer team past the Midshipmen, 3-2, Oct. 20

at Reeves Field.

“It was huge because as a striker, you always want to score,” Kane said.

“When you go through droughts, you always have to keep yourself motivated and positive, so hopefully when that chance comes you can take it.”

With the game tied 2-2, the Eagles took the ball off Dave Arnold’s foot in the midfield. AU’s Seth Goldman then sent the ball wide to Colin Seigfreid, who carried it 20 yards down the right side of the field.

Seigfreid’s service into the box found Kane, who notched the golden goal just over a minute into overtime to keep AU in first place in the Patriot League.

“It’s an exciting win and I’m thrilled for the guys,” AU Head Coach Todd West said. “We played against a very good team and it keeps us on top, so I’m relieved but

Volleyball moves into third place in Patriot League

By JOSH PAUNIL EAGLE STAFF WRITER

After a pair of Patriot League road victories against Holy Cross and Army Oct. 19 and Oct. 20, the AU volleyball team moved into third place in the conference standings.

The Eagles (15-9, 6-3 PL) defeated the Crusaders (1-23, 1-8 PL) in a fiveset thriller after falling behind 2-1. After a midmatch lineup change, AU won the last two sets and hit a teambest .348 in the final game.

“We got a nice contribution from Sarah Katz on the right side,” AU Head Coach Barry Goldberg said. “She came in off the bench and played pretty well. We changed the serving rotation and went more with Kristyna Lindovska, Jessica Warner and Sarah Katz; all of them have floating serves. Jessica Warner was tremendous … she took them out of their offense.”

The Eagles played their second pair of games without junior setter Kylann

Scheidt (concussion), but Kelly McCaddin and Teodora Peric had 32 and 18 assists, respectively.

“Kelly and Teodora ended up setting together a really fine job,” Goldberg said. “When you have two setters, it gives some relief to one another. When you have one setter, she is in control of the entire tempo of the match. With two, the setters have to be in control of their little segment of the match.”

Sara Rishell posted a match-high 18 kills, while

I’m also excited for everyone. You’ll take any goal to win it, but I think it’s a great goal that won it.”

Navy (6-5-3, 1-2-2 PL) struck early off its first corner. AU goalkeeper Billy Knutsen punched out Grant Valenstein’s cross, but the ball fell to the feet of Nick Dubee, who put the Midshipmen in front 1-0.

The Eagles (8-5-2, 3-0-2 PL) answered for the first time in the 18th minute, when Seigfreid sent a ball to Dale McDonald. Before McDonald could get a clean shot off, Dubee’s clearance forced Navy goalkeeper Gavin Snyder to dive for the deflection, and Seigfreid was there to slip it in.

After both teams went into the locker room knotted at 1-1, Alex Wilson teed off from 20 yards out to make it 2-1 Navy when the Eagles failed to clear the ball out of their end on numerous occasions.

Kane broke his 11-

game scoreless drought in the 83rd minute, when Seigfreid’s corner kick went over everyone except Kane, who headed the ball in from the opposite post.

Knutsen matched a career-high with eight saves, proving to be key in the game’s final minutes.

“I just got to do what I can do to keep the team in it,” Knutsen said. “Can’t really score too many goals, so I got to do my part, and our defense helped out a lot today, so it was good.

This team shows that we’ve got a lot of heart.”

AU will look to take another step towards hosting the PL Tournament when it plays at Lehigh Oct. 27.

“The guys have been resilient,” West said.

“We’ve played five conference games, four have been in overtime and we’re undefeated in those games,” West said. “These guys are going to fight.”

Morgan Hendrix contributed a .435 hitting percentage and 13 kills.

When the Eagles took on Army (15-7, 7-2 PL), they swept the Black Knights in set scores of 2523, 25-12 and 25-19. Crum led the AU attack and contributed defensively, tallying a match-high 11 kills and 13 digs.

“It’s not so much the double-double; it’s really just Julie being Julie,” Goldberg said. “When she’s herself and she’s got her groove on we’re good, no doubt about it.”

Rishell had 10 kills and finished the weekend with a team-best 28.

“I thought Sara Rishell

also had a good week in putting up some good numbers attacking,” Goldberg said. “She made some good blocks, she stayed patient. I think those are important aspects to us being successful, when Sara and Julie just remain patient and rip away when it’s there and recognize when the opportunities aren’t as good.”

Riding a three-match PL winning streak, the Eagles travel to Navy Oct. 26, hoping to create some separation in the standings. With a win, AU will keep its Patriot League Tournament hopes alive and have a shot at a one or two seed.

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SCHEDULE OCT. 25 No games scheduled

OCT. 26

Volleyball @ Navy at 7 p.m.

OCT. 27

Swimming and diving vs.

Howard at 10:30 a.m.

Field hockey vs. Bucknell at noon Cross-country Patriot League Championships @ Colgate at noon Women’s soccer vs. Colgate at 1 p.m.

Men’s soccer @ Lehigh at 7 p.m.

OCT. 28

No games scheduled

OCT. 29

No games scheduled

OCT. 30

Men’s soccer vs. Princeton at 3 p.m.

OCT. 31

Men’s basketball vs. Mary Washington at 7:30 p.m.

(Exhibition)

PATRIOT LEAGUE STANDINGS FIELD HOCKEY Lafayette 13-1, 4-0 PL Bucknell 9-8, 3-1 PL

≥ American 8-9, 3-1 PL Colgate 3-12, 1-3 PL Holy Cross 2-12, 1-3 PL Lehigh 3-13, 0-4 PL

MEN’S SOCCER ≥ American 8-5-2, 3-0-2 PL Colgate 4-6-6, 2-0-3 PL Lafayette 6-7-3, 2-1-2 PL Lehigh 4-11, 2-3 PL Navy 6-5-3, 1-2-2 PL Bucknell 6-6-4, 1-2-2 PL Holy Cross 3-8-2, 1-2-2 PL Army 4-9-1, 1-3-1 PL

WOMEN’S SOCCER Navy 17-1-1, 5-0-1 PL Colgate 9-5-3, 4-1-1 PL

≥ American 6-9-2, 4-2 PL Bucknell 10-8, 3-3 PL Lehigh 4-12, 2-4 PL Army 7-10, 2-4 PL Holy Cross 6-10-1, 2-4 PL Lafayette 4-11-2, 1-5 PL

VOLLEYBALL Colgate 11-12, 8-1 PL Army 15-7, 7-2 PL

≥ American 15-9, 6-3 PL Navy 9-12, 5-4 PL Lehigh 9-11, 5-4 PL Lafayette 9-12, 2-7 PL Bucknell 8-16, 2-7 PL Holy Cross 1-23, 1-8 PL