November 15, 2011 by The Eagle

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November 15, 2011 Volume 86 – Issue 11

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

Students push for disability rights on campus AU discusses increased accessibility By REBECCA ZISSER EAGLE STAFF WRITER

The Disability Rights Coalition and the Student Government are working to make sure students with mental and physical disabilities are included in campus issues and are able to access all of AU’s campus facilities. Although every student has a different experience, the biggest problem facing students with disabilities is equal access to and within classrooms, including entry to buildings or learning accommodations, according to Disability Rights Coalition President Allie Cannington, a sophomore in the School of Public Affairs. East Quad Building, McKinley and Hurst are virtually inaccessible to students with physical disabilities. Of the many challenges still facing students with disabilities, the biggest challenge is access to Hurst Hall, according to SG Director of Disability Support Terhas Clark, SG’s new point person to improve services and accessibility for AU students with disabilities. Clark feels the school is essentially depriving students of their academic choices by not improving Hurst’s accessibility, as the entire Biology major is located in Hurst. According to the Biology department, all biology professors’ offices are located in Hurst, as are most of their classes. Lecture classes may be moved to Ward if a student with a disability registers for the class. All lab classes are on the first floor Hurst, which is accessible from an outside lift, and cannot be moved. Cannington said campus accessibility could be fixed by placing more of an emphasis on making sure buildings are in line with the guidelines set by the Americans with Disabilities Act. “It’s not that hard to build a

ramp,” said Ki’tay Davidson, a sophomore in SPA and the director of ableism awareness and community outreach for the Disability Rights Coalition. Clark has collaborated with SG President Tim McBride and campus staff to improve the accessibility of the elevators in Jacobs Fitness Center. Before, students needed assistance to use the elevators, she said.

firsthand, both here and at Bard College in New York. She had to transfer to AU because Bard’s campus was completely handicap-inaccessible. “Coming to AU was like paradise,” she said. Davidson also expressed the need to change the way disability rights are addressed. She said the stigma associated with disabilities is one of the greatest

Accessibility at American Most AU buildings have at least one point of entry for students with physical disabilities. But the East Quad Building, McKinley Hall and Hurst Hall are almost completely inaccessible to students with disabilities.

vices and the Academic Support Center have taken various measures to make the campus easier to navigate for students with disabilities. Some of these measures include changing class locations for classes that are assigned to inaccessible buildings and providing interpreters and note-takers for students who need them, according to Disability

students on the autism spectrum; collaborating with the Counseling Center to create a parent resource page; and working with AU Abroad to ensure that students with disabilities can fully participate in study abroad programs by making sure that proper accommodations are provided to students with disabilities.

Tenley Campus

Map Key Barrier Free Accessible with some assistance Not accessible Entry level is accessible Lift Curbcut

SOURCE: AMERICAN UNIVERSITY

Accessible parking spaces Assistive Listening Device Loop Telecommunication device Accessible entrance

Main Campus

Clark is advocating for Resident Directors to sit down with students with disabilities at the beginning of each semester to discuss escape measures in the case of fires, she said. For Clark, who is in a wheelchair, the problems caused by inaccessible campus facilities are ones she has experienced

causes of problems for students. “We’re trying to make people aware of the stigma and tell people that there are no differences,” Davidson said. AU offices’ initiatives aim to support students with disabilities AU’s Disability Support Ser-

Support Services. The office staff is working on a number of new initiatives this year to improve the quality of their services, Disability Support Services Director Joanne Benica said in an email. Some projects include conducting surveys to come up with new ways to support first-year

Disability Rights Coalition advocates for equality AU’s Disability Rights Coalition has been inactive for the past three years. Now, the coalition has 10 regular members and has just established its executive board. Cannington said that, with the help of her vice president, Georgia Ottoni, she had to build a brand new organization. “The goal of Disability Rights Coalition is based on celebrating disability as another part of human diversity,” Cannington said. “We want to create further inclusion and bring people with and without disabilities together.” She emphasized that the organization looks at disabilities not as a medical issue, but as a human rights and equality issue. “I think if it’s seen in that light, hopefully more people will be inclined to join the cause,” she said. RZISSER@THEEAGLONLINE.COM

theEAGLE NEWS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

American University has highest student debt among D.C. universities By LOIS NAM EAGLE STAFF WRITER

Newly formed student movements such as A New AU and Occupy AU are calling for more accountability from AU administrators, and student debt is high on their list of grievances. AU has the highest student debt average of all D.C. colleges and universities at $36,206 among 2010 graduates who took out loans, according to the latest report by The Project on Student Debt. The average student debt of 2010 graduates for all public and private D.C. universities was $24,191. Corcoran College of Art and Design graduates averaged $35,562 in debt, while George Washington and Georgetown University students graduated with $32,547 and $25,315 in debt. Student Government President Tim McBride said SG recognizes the high debts AU students bear. “It is unacceptable,” McBride said. “It is a major priority for us.” Administration asserts honest and inclusive debt reporting AU’s debt average is relatively high because the University reports every loan students take out, no matter the type of loan, said Director of Financial Aid Brian Lee Sang. Lee Sang said that organizations that collect and publish student debt and financial aid statistics, such as Project on Student Debt and The College Board, ask general questions that leave a lot of room for interpretation. Lee Sang said he knew for a fact that other schools choose not to include certain information, such as federal Parent PLUS loans, private loans or other alternative loans, in their student debt reporting, which in many cases could make their average indebtedness higher than AU’s. “At AU, we report everything,” Lee Sang said. “We’re trying to be as straightforward as possible.” AU is unique in its compre-

hensive reporting of student debt, according to Lee Sang. “Other colleges are definitely underreporting,” Lee Sang said. “It certainly makes

they gave me such a good financial aid package,” said School of International Service junior Sabreen El Shrafi. But El Shrafi noted that the

Visualizing Debt American University AVERAGE STUDENT DEBT had the highest PERCENT OF STUDENTS WITH DEBT student debt in 2010 at $36,206. Over 60 percent $32,547 of AU students graduate with some $25,315 level of student debt. Corcoran College of Arts and Design came in second with an average student $14,066 debt of $35,562.

$35,562

79%

$36,206

60%

47%

39%

SOURCE: THE PROJECT ON STUDENT DEBT

62%

$9,863

63%

N/A

96% UDC

Howard Gallaudet Georgetown

them look good, but I’m not sure if it’s completely accurate.” For confidentiality purposes, Lee Sang did not want to disclose the names of those underreporting universities. Students call for more transparency amid tuition hikes Shirleyne McDonald, associate director of Financial Aid, said the University is aware of the economic impact debt has on students and families and encourages students to come talk to the Financial Aid office early in their academic years if they have concerns. She said 98 percent of allincoming freshmen that demonstrated financial need had their needs fully met in the 2011-12 academic year. According to University officials, 18 percent of the University budget has gone towards providing financial aid for the 2011-12 academic year, and tuition and fees comprise 95 percent of the University’s overall budget. “One of the reasons why I came to American is because

Corcoran

amount of aid she received had decreased each year since her freshman year. “They’re increasing tuition each year, too,” she said. Cody Steele, a senior in SIS who leads the newly formed Occupy AU group, said he believes the administration did not give proper justification for a tuition hike the past few years. “We want more transparency,” Steele said. “We want to know why tuition went up 12.7 percent over the course of my four years and where that money is going, because I’ve taken out substantial loans to be here.” Tuition rose by 3.8 percent for the 2011-12 academic year and will rise another 3.8 percent for the 2012-13, according to the February 2011 AU budget report. McDonald acknowledged that, while AU’s tuition rose last year, it was still below the national average 4.6 percent increase. Ethan Miller, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences and a member of A New AU, doesn’t think a relatively lower

rate of tuition increase is good justification for a rise in tuition. “Just because other schools are raising tuition doesn’t mean we have to,” Miller said. “American could be a sort of revolutionary force in changing the system.” Miller said that, by not increasing tuition, the University could create an appealing image of a school that is socially conscious of the needs of students in a downturned economy. SG replies to debt concerns Brett Atanasio, SG’s speaker of the Undergraduate Senate, said that issues of tuition and student debt are hard to address, especially in a weak economy. “Lowering tuition is nice, but it’s not entirely feasible because the University needs to make sure it’s financially stable,” Atanasio said. McBride mentioned some ways SG is working to help alleviate student debt, including creating a need-based civic engagement scholarship that offers $2,000 for students involved in community service at AU or in the D.C. community. SG has also formed a committee to review University spending. The committee is composed of eight students and is in a fact-finding stage right now, McBride said. When asked if he believes the AU administration is making an active effort to address student debt, McBride stated the administration is making progress on the issue. “I think there’s more they can do,” McBride said. “There’s always more they can do.” Atanasio pointed out that the cost of attending colleges has risen everywhere, making student debt an issue not endemic to AU. “I think the high costs are something that frustrate everyone, no matter what your socioeconomic status is,” Atanasio said. LNAM@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

Sexual assault victim advocates provide confidentiality By PATRICK BURNETT EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

AU named Daniel Rappaport, AU’s sexual assault prevention coordinator, and Courtney Brooks, coordinator of the Women’s Resource Center, as victim advocates. Now, Rappaport and Brooks will be available to discuss sexual assault cases in confidentiality and will not be required to report cases to authorities. Rappaport will also be able to help students decide whether or not to file charges against a perpetrator of sexual assault. Rappaport said having two victim advocates at AU will allow students to have an additional confidential resource to discuss anything relating to stalking, dating violence or sexual assault. “That means, if someone was unsure about something that happened to them or something that is happening to them, in terms of dating violence and stalking, they can come to me and we can talk about it without moving anything forward at all,” he said. AU is held to the 1989 Clery Act, which stipulates that only certain university officials can keep reports of sexual assault confidential. The act requires non-confidential school officials, such as professors and academic advisors, to report any testimonials about sexual assault or threats to local police departments, according to Brooks and Rappaport. Rappaport said he would be taking on the lead advocate role, while Brooks will be serving as a support advocate. As lead advocate, Rappaport can help the victim get in contact with Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution Services, assist with filing charges and helping the victim work with off-campus resources and organizations. Lorraine Carleo, a psychiatric nurse practitioner in the Student Health Center, will be serving as supervisor to Brooks and Rappaport. Carleo will meet with the advocates monthly and on an as-needed basis to review any issues that arise, according to Rappaport. “It doesn’t mean that when we talk to each other, we’re going to be telling names,” Brooks said. “It’s just a way to kind of take temperature with each other and also to kind of check in [with each other].” In order for Brooks and Rappaport to be certified as victim advocates, they were required to complete 40 hours of training and 100-200 hours of practice for certification. Continued on Page 5

theEAGLE NEWS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

Women’s Intiative applauds advocate certification

CNN’s John King discusses GOP ‘civil war’ primaries

Continued from Page 4

The Nov. 1 appointment comes in response to Women’s Initiative’s advocacy for the creation of this position. Women’s Initiative director Carmen Rios said bringing certified victim advocates to AU had been a goal of the organization since last year as part of its initiative to lower sexual assault rates on campus and raise awareness. “We worked really hard to push it, basically just advocated for it with the

“[Brooks and Rappaport] are people that can give [victims] a better overall view of everything that’s available to them and help them through the process.” —Women’s Intiative Director Carmen Rios

ANA SANTOS / THE EAGLE

CNN anchor John King discussed the 2012 election and the Republican primaries at a KPU-sponsored event Nov. 9 in Ward 2. He called the Republican primaries a “tug of war” between candidates for control of the party but was hesitant to make a solid prediction for the Republican nomination.

Anchor likens Obama to George H.W. Bush By LOIS NAM

EAGLE STAFF WRITER

administrators,” Rios said. “We told them that this was something that students wanted and that it’s something that students would widely benefit from across campus.” Rios said that, despite the fact that AU has other confidential resources on campus, such as the counseling center, the school’s religious leaders and the Student Health Center, there are many benefits to having Brooks and Rappaport as victim advocates. “[Brooks and Rappaport] are people that can give [victims] a better overall view of everything that’s available to them and help them through the process,” Rios said. PBURNETT@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

CNN anchor John King likened the current Republican primary campaign to a civil war and drew parallels between President Barack Obama’s re-election bid and former President George H.W. Bush’s failed bid in 1992 during his talk Nov. 9 in Ward 2. “By every statistical, historical model, Barack Obama loses,” King said. “You cannot find a historical, statistical model that says he wins. But that doesn’t mean he’s not going to win.” King, now covering his seventh consecutive U.S. presidential campaign, illustrated an electoral landscape full of nuances and unpredictability. He warned students not to trust the traditional methods people use to predict elections. King also spoke candidly about the shortcomings of certain media networks, including his own, and urged students to get their news from outside of the main

Washington, D.C. media outlets to broaden their horizons. Reflecting on the Republican primaries King outlined the framework of the Republican campaign as a tug a war for control of the heart and soul of the Republican Party. “The easiest way to sum it up right now is Romney versus the rest,” King said. “On paper, Romney will be the Republican nominee.” King said Romney is taking advantage of the “crowded field” to split the votes to his right. “The last thing he wants is a one-on-one,” King said. The only other candidate who is equal to Romney in electability on paper is Texas Governor Rick Perry, but he has to step up his campaign to remain competitive and be a leading contender, according to King. “You don’t win Texas if you’re a dope,” King said. King’s remarks proved to be true. Perry has been widely criticized and quickly discredited in the media for his bumbling gaffe in the Nov. 9 Republican debate when he couldn’t name the third

federal agency he would cut. King also addressed the peculiar aspects of primary elections, taking note that “lily-white” states like Iowa and New Hampshire play an influential role in weeding out candidates because they are the first two states to hold primaries. And with the added eccentricity of independents now allowed to vote in the New Hampshire primaries, King hypothesized, “If the vote is really close, mischief could decide the race in New Hampshire.” 2012 election repeat of 1992 election? King said Obama in the 2012 election reminds him of George H.W. Bush in the 1992 election, without going so far as to say the outcome will be the same. Despite coming off of foreign policy victories, Bush faced a faltering economy and disenchanted voters, and Bush ultimately lost the race. “George H.W. Bush was one of the most respected presidents in my lifetime,” King said. “And the American people said, ‘Thanks for trying. See you later.’ That could

well happen to [Obama].” King also laid out the central attack Republicans would launch at Obama: the promise of hope and change that never came. The Republicans will emphasize high unemployment and home foreclosure rates and what seems to be the apex of gridlock in Washington when Obama promised post-partisanship as main arguments, according to King. Obama faces other challenges as well. King said part of Obama’s appeal during his first presidential bid was that he was "new." Now that Obama’s novelty has worn off, King predicts an uphill climb. “He’s a used car now,” King said. “So it’s a tougher sell for him this time.” Although he listed all the factors that would hurt Obama’s chances, King called Obama a “pretty damn good politician” and left the outcome of the presidential race wide open. “Remember the arithmetic,” King said. “We’re all equal — one vote. So whoever organizes the best wins.” LNAM@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

theEAGLE NEWS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

Rao talks India’s strengths, weaknesses

Students invest in stocks for AU By LEIGH GIANGRECO EAGLE STAFF WRITER

By RHYS HEYDEN EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Nirupama Rao, the Indian ambassador to the United States, discussed the uniqueness of her nation and how that singularity allows India to attack the world’s problems in a speech Nov. 9. “India today represents a unique model of development in the world,” Rao said in the School of International Service building. “Nowhere else can you find a country of India’s diversity or complexity.” Rao’s speech ran the gamut, as she delved into economics, energy independence, agriculture, health care, nuclear non-proliferation and even Somalia piracy as it relates to India, a nation of over 1.2 billion people. Rao talked about how India is heavily involved in reversing global climate change and becoming energy independent, a stance she encouraged other more reticent nations to adopt.

SAVANNA ROVIRA / THE EAGLE

Nirupama Rao, the Indian ambassador to the United States, gave an in-depth lecture about her country’s role in the global community on Nov. 9. “In addressing the shortfall in meeting our energy requirements, we do not intend to follow the ‘business as usual’ approach or the conspicuous consumption pattern that exists in some parts of the developed world,” Rao said. Another area where India has taken the lead is in the economic sphere, even during the global financial crisis, Rao said. “While we have been able to sustain our economic growth, we do remain aware of and vulnerable to the international financial and economic crisis,” Rao said. Although Rao talked about

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many of India’s strengths, she did not shy away from discussing its weaknesses. Rao said India has net yet fully resolved several issues, including terrorism, income inequality, corruption and lingering disputes with bordering states. “India lives in a complex neighborhood,” Rao said. “Our relationship with China and Pakistan is marked by issues left over from history.” However, Rao remained hopeful that continued work and cooperation with nations like the United States could help to attack these problems. “India has advocated and will continue to advocate for the development of an inclusive world order where all major stakeholders can work together to strengthen our overall security and well-being,” Rao said. She concluded her speech by encouraging AU students to study India. The India-United States relationship is one that will dominate foreign affairs for some time to come, she said. “I’m particularly inspired by the fact that American University has sought, in a very focused manner, to intensify its engagement with India,” Rao said. “I think now is the time to pick it.” Rao became India’s American ambassador in August 2011 after previously serving as India’s foreign secretary from 2009 to 2011. She is also a published poet. After Rao’s speech ended, the crowd lined up for Indian delicacies, including samosas, mango lassi and chai tea, provided by the Kennedy Political Union, the South Asian Student Association and the American University Club Council, who cosponsored the event. NEWS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

Kogod School of Business is giving students the opportunity to invest University money in stocks with its Student Managed Investment Fund. Launched last fall semester, this 500-level class has invested in stocks ranging from corporate moguls to mid-cap companies, including Tiffany & Co., Coca-Cola, Dell, Diana Shipping, Goldman Sachs, Bemis Company Inc., Petrobras, Ford Motor Co., Peabody Energy Corp., McGraw Hill and WW Grainger Inc. Kogod Assistant Professor Phil English previously taught at Texas Tech University and Virginia Tech, whose SMIFs run at about $5 million and $6 million respectively. When English arrived at AU, there was an undergraduate and graduate student finance club. While the undergraduate club managed $20,000 and the graduate club managed $60,000, the individual amounts were not nearly enough to create a fund. “To be able to do a lot of really interesting things, you’ve got to be at about a million bucks,” English said. When former Kogod Dean Richard Durand carved out the original $200,000 for SMIF from Kogod’s operating budget, managing the fund become a class. SMIF’s assets have since grown to $300,000 with help from alumni donors. For most SMIFs, money comes from the endowment, donors or both, according to English. Any returns from stocks are invested back into the fund for more stock purchases. Since Kogod SMIF’s money comes from the University, students are restricted as to what stocks they can buy. Students can

only invest in stocks listed in the United States that have prices listed at more than $5 a share, and they must be careful not to invest in stocks that are too risky, such as currencies or commodities. “They can’t go crazy and buy high-flying Chinese tech stocks,” English said. However, students have free reign to invest in what are known as “sin stocks,” which include tobacco, firearms and alcohol. Mark Kruzel, a senior in Kogod who is the SMIF fund manager, pitched stock investment in Altria Group, the parent company of the tobacco division Phillip Morris USA. Kruzel and other students agreed that the stock was stable and would provide great returns on investment. “With the recession, unfortunately, people still smoke,” Kruzel said. “If a global downturn hits Europe, American cigarettes are not going to be affected.” Kruzel said he does not worry about the stock tarnishing Kogod’s image since it only represents three percent of the funds in the SMIF. “We’re not saying that cigarettes are good; we’re not endorsing it by any means,” he said. “We’re just saying right now as a financial instrument it makes sense for our return.” In the future, both English and Kruzel said that they would like to see investments in a diversity of stocks, including socially responsible ones and Sharia-compliant stocks, which adhere to Muslim laws. “Obviously given AU’s bent, a socially responsible one fits,” English said. “It’s also the case given our historic benefactors; a Sharia compliant one would fit.” LGIANGRECO@THEEAGLEONLINE. COM

theEAGLE NEWS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

Students bring cheer to holiday video card By KIERSTYN SCHNECK EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

AU’s Communications and Marketing office hopes to start an annual tradition with AU’s second holiday video card to be aired in mid-December. The filming of the video will occur during the “AU Wishes” holiday event Thursday, Nov. 17 on the Quad from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Throughout the day, an AU film crew will record students talking about their holiday wishes. “Our community is such an activist community and such an engaged community, so they all have different things that they would wish for the world, so it gives an opportunity to not just wish people a happy holidays but wish for things that are important

Csellar said. University Communications and Marketing is collaborating with various offices such as Alumni Relations and the athletic department to prepare for the holiday card. “We’re doing everything in house,” Wiltrout said.

u n til p os tp on ed N o v. 17 Thu rsday,

COURTESY OF AMERICAN UNIVERSITY

AU’s Communications and Marketing office invites students to participate in the second-annual holiday video card on the Quad Nov. 18. to them,” Assistant Vice President for Marketing Deborah Wiltrout said. The AU Choir may sing during filming to create a more festive mood, Wiltrout said. The event organizers will also serve hot chocolate and cookies, while students sign the approximately 20-by-8foot AU Wishes card and share their holiday wishes on camera. The department will also give away 250 limited-edition AU Holiday Wishes T-shirts at 3 p.m. during the group holiday photograph with AU President Neil Kerwin, Ann Kerwin and AU’s mascot Clawed Z Eagle. “Our hope is to get the AU community together in one big group shot for the end shot as a way to build community spirit and togetherness,” Associate Director of Media Relations Maralee

Residence Hall Association votes Zhang in as new president Former RHA president Peter Reifsnyder steps down By SAMANTHA HOGAN

2010 holiday card viewed 15,000 times Wiltrout and her department decided to create another holiday video after last year’s success. “[Last year’s video] really went viral,” Wiltrout said. The Web page received more than 15,000 views from 100 different countries. The video card was also named one of the Top Higher Ed Holiday Cards of 2010 by col-

legewebeditor.com, a site about online marketing and public relations in higher education. The marketing department came up with the idea to create a video card last year based on President Neil Kerwin’s traditional holiday card video. “We thought that a video holiday card would enable us to expand the reach of his holiday card, so we’re able to send it out to everybody in our AU community: students, faculty, staff, alumni, prospective students and parents,” Wiltrout said. This year, AU’s message is more than “Happy Holidays.” “We want out AU community to have sense of pride about the institution,” Csellar said. “It allows people who don’t know AU to get a sense of who we are.” NEWS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Students living on campus elected Cindy Zhang as president of the Residence Hall Association Nov. 3 after former RHA President Peter Reifsnyder resigned Oct. 27. Zhang, a sophomore in the School of International Service and the Kogod School of Business, said she is focused on bringing increased advocacy and security to the student body. She also wants RHA to develop a closer working relationship with Student Government to better meet the needs of all AU students. Zhang took her oath of office

Nov. 10. At the beginning of the semester, Zhang was the RHA vice president of finance. Upon Reifsnyder’s resignation, Zhang assumed the responsibilities of president. RHA executive board’s major project this year is passing bills on gender-neutral on-campus housing with SG executives. The Undergraduate Senate passed a resolution advocating for gender-netural housing Oct. 30, but RHA is still trying to get its bill through their RHA General Assembly, Zhang said. Katie Modic, RHA vice president of advocacy, is currently speaking with Housing and Dining Executive Director Chris Moody about the proposal for gender-neutral housing. “I am hoping that this year SG and RHA will come together more, and work together to better represent the students because we are more powerful when our voices are aligned,”

Zhang said. SG President Tim McBride said the collaboration between SG and RHA has been unprecedented this school year. He has been working with the RHA Executive Board on obtaining gender-neutral housing since the summer and hopes to continue to improve the working relationship between the two organizations. “SG executive board and RHA executive board both believe that our two organizations have a common purpose of uniting our campus,” McBride said. Both organizations have come together many times this year to work on events together, including RHA’s Diversival and SG’s Founder’s Day Ball. Reifsnyder declined to comment on his resignation. NEWS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

theEAGLE NEWS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

More alumni Occupy D.C. barricades convention center turn to AU Career Center By ZACH C. COHEN

EAGLE STAFF WRITER

Alumni requests on a steady rise By MENG SHI EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Career Center has seen an increase in appointments from AU Class of 2010 alumni because of the economy and the slumping job market, according to Career Center Director Katherine Stahl. Over 856 alumni used the Career Center during the 2010-2011 school year, up from 777 alumni during the 2009-2010 academic year and 624 alumni during the 2008-2009 year. More than 444 of the 6,000 individual appointments made in 2010 were from recent alumni, over 14 percent of all advising appointments. Stahl said 412 of the 444 alumni appointments were with alumni more than one year out of school. These alumni have seen their companies downsizing and are thinking about changing their jobs. Stahl said alumni are seeking help from the Career Center due to the current state of the economy. Many American companies are not hiring additional employees because of the high costs of hiring new employees during an economic recession. Thus, greater competition for jobs has emerged in recent years, she said. The Career Center and the Alumni Office have dealt with the increase by trying to provide employment opportunities for both alumni and students through online services, in-person interviews and information sessions. “Our work for alumni can never hurt students because it doesn’t take anything away from the work we do for students,” Stahl said. The Career Center’s nine full-time advisors take appointments with alumni less than a year out of school, as well as with undergraduate students. A part-time Career Center adviser financed by Alumni Relations works with older alumni. Stahl said the Career Center encourages employers to consider both alumni and students for open positions when the employers ask for recommendations on who to hire. Stahl said she believes students graduating this year will have to compete with alumni who have been out of school less than a year and are looking for a new job. Students graduating in May should “get started early” in seeking employment, Stahl said. NEWS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

A wheelchair-bound attendee of a conservative conference downtown has accused a group of Occupy D.C. protesters, including AU students, of blocking her from leaving the Walter E. Washington Convention Center Nov. 4. Melissa Ortiz said the protesters allegedly blocked numerous conservative attendees of the “Defending the American Dream Summit” from leaving the south building where the conference was held. Political communications specialist Ed Frank posted a video of the incident on YouTube Nov. 4, which was later picked up by the Daily Caller and was posted by AU students on Facebook and Reddit. The video has over 38,000 views and depicts Ortiz as unable to leave the center due to large amounts of protesters blocking the doors. Chris Litchfield, the president of AU College Democrats, was present at the incident and was featured prominently in the video. He said Occupy D.C. protesters wanted to confront main speakers at the conference sponsored by Americans for Prosperity, a conservative political advocacy group. Protesters gathered en masse at various side entrances of the building and across the street from the main entrance to force people out through the front entrance. They wanted to confront conservative notables such as former Mass. Governor Mitt Romney and businessmen Herman Cain and David Koch, Litchfield said. “The purpose was to create a dialogue between the two groups, force conversation,” he said. However, all did not go according to plan. As the night went on, some Occupy D.C. protesters crossed the street to the main entrance and started pounding on the glass doors and chanting. Gerald Wilson, director of public safety at the D.C. Convention Center, confirmed that

Occupy D.C. protestors blocked doors at the D.C. Convention Center Nov. 4 at the “Defending the American Dream Summit.”

COURTESY OF WALTER E. WASHINGTON CONVENTION CENTER

all of the doors in the south building were blocked at one time or another. “No one in this country has the right to dictate how someone leaves a building,” Wilson said. “My knowledge of District law is that is something that is prohibited.” Wilson said Ortiz, a volunteer at AFP and founder of Able Americans, tried to leave the building through a side entrance with her service dog, Lucy. As she went through the doors, the protesters grabbed at her dog and she retreated back into the building. “I wasn’t scared because I don’t scare easily,” Ortiz said. “But it was unnerving.” Ortiz said she needed to use either the side entrance featured in the video or the main entrance to leave the building, but protesters blocked both doors, she said. Wilson said every street level door in the building is handicap accessible. Litchfield said he was not aware the front door was blocked at the time of the filming. Litchfield and Jack Kiraly, a freshman in the School of Public Affairs who was also present at the protest, both said they believe they saw Ortiz and Frank stage the incident. In the video, Ortiz does not approach the door. Frank only approaches the door to talk to the protesters, who cannot hear him over the chanting of

the crowd. “That woman had not been there two minutes prior,” Kiraly said. “They had brought her up in the elevator and just parked her near the doors and filmed and then filmed and then left.” Frank did not respond to requests for an interview in time for press. Ortiz says that is not the case. She said she had been trying to get out of the building through that exit and that

Frank was trying to help her before they began to film. Ortiz said the protesters also followed her to her hotel while yelling obscenities at her. “I was legitimately trying to get out of the building,” Ortiz said. Litchfield was not part of that particular crowd, nor did he see the crowd pursue Ortiz. ZCOHEN@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

theEAGLE NEWS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

SG Senate supports tiered university parking, increased outreach

Photo of the Week

Senators approve SG scholarship By ZOE CRAIN EAGLE STAFF WRITER

LAURA BECK / THE EAGLE

The AU volleyball team won both games to clinch the top seed in the PL Tournament. The Eagles will be looking to follow up its regular season title with a tournament crown this weekend at Bender Arena.

Use your feet to lend a hand JOIN US FOR THE HELP THE HOMELESS WALKATHON Saturday, November 19, 2011 on the National Mall Register online at helpthehomelessdc.org or text “HOME” to 69866*

The Undergraduate Senate passed a resolution supporting a tiered parking system in an effort to make parking at AU less of a financial stress for all University workers, including faculty, staff and Aramark workers. The resolution, passed during the Nov. 13 meeting, addresses the cost of parking at AU and the financial burden placed on University workers and their families. Replacing the current flat rate system with a tiered system would determine each worker’s parking rate based on his or her salary. Ethan Miller, director of the StudentWorker Alliance, spoke before the Senate advocating for the resolution, saying it would support the workers. Miller acknowledged the University’s environmental concerns about the effects of a tiered system. By reducing the cost of parking, some say more workers will be encouraged to drive, therefore increasing the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere. “This is an issue on the forefront of the students’ minds, and if we have the opportunity to help the workers at this university, we have a responsibility to do

so,” said School of International Service Sen. Rory Slatko, the sponsor of the resolution. Slatko plans to work with University officials as well as environmental groups on campus to address and account for these concerns. Senators to table on Quad The Senate also passed a bill to improve constituent relations, requiring all senators to hold two-hour tabling sessions at least once a semester. As opposed to weekly office hours, which are held in the Undergraduate Senate office in Mary Graydon Center, these sessions would be held in the MGC lobby or on the Quad. Senators can use these tabling sessions in place of regular office hours, according to the bill. Class of 2012 Sen. Barton Thompson, the sponsor of the bill, said the bill represents another effort by the Senate to be more accessible to constituents. He said giving the students more opportunities to speak with senators should help bring fresh ideas and legislation to the floor. Senate complies with McBride’s demands The Senate also advocated for SG to increase the amount

of money granted to each Civic Engagement Scholarship recipient. When the legislation was originally passed by the Senate, each recipient would receive $1,000 starting in this year’s spring semester. SG President Tim McBride vetoed that bill, citing the large amount of money still left in the scholarship fund. This new legislation, passed in response to McBride’s veto, would increase the amount to $2,000 granted this spring to each recipient. Recipients in future years will receive $2,000 per academic year. In his report, SG Secretary Kevin Sutherland said three recipients have been finalized with a twoperson waiting list. Director of events appointed The Senate also confirmed Vice President Liz Richard’s appointment of Alex Leiro to serve as director of events. Leiro stepped down from his sixmonth run as AUTO commissioner to apply for the position. The Comptroller’s office is in the process of interviewing applicants for the now vacant AUTO commissioner position. ZCRAIN@THEEAGLEONLINE. COM

theSCENE

November 15, 2011

SILVER SCREEN

Courtesy of RELATIVITY MEDIA

IMMORTALS

GRADE: A — 110 MINUTES By MEGHAN BOUSQUET EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Courtesy of WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT

J. EDGAR

GRADE: B- — 137 MINUTES By MATT SUTTON EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

When you’re the first of your kind, there’s bound to be drama. Such was the case for J. Edgar Hoover, the first Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. And now, mainstream audiences will get to see Hoover in a new light thanks to the Clint Eastwood directed biopic “J. Edgar” now in theaters everywhere. Eastwood’s “J. Edgar” is a vivid tale that explores the private life of J. Edgar Hoover (Leonardo DiCaprio, “Inception”) between two timelines following his last days at the FBI in the early 1970s and 50 years prior, both retold as he dictates his memoir to be typed. The 1920s timeline revolves around a few cases -- primarily the infamous Lindbergh kidnapping case which in kidnapping beening roled as a federal

offense. The more recent timeline focuses on the social and political struggles of the 1960s, like the election of President Nixon and his eventual retirement, the assassination of John F. Kennedy and Hoover’s desire to stop Martin Luther King Jr. However, the film mostly focuses on his private relationships and internal struggles presented through the most notable claim that Hoover was gay. Eastwood’s rendition of Hoover’s life illustrates his most intimate relationships with that of the Bureau; his mother (Dame Judi Dench, “Quantum of Solace”); life long personal secretary, Helen Gandy (Naomi Watts, “King Kong”); and his protégé/second-in-command, Clyde Tolson (Armie Hammer, “The Social Network”), who some believed was Hoover’s lover.

SECRET AGENT MAN In his latest flick, Leonardo DiCaprio stars as J. Edgar Hoover, the controversial first-ever director of the FBI. But it was confusing as to whether Hoover was intended to be a character to sympathize with or disapprove of. DiCaprio only slightly varies from the tormented character he’s crafted so well, as seen in recent films like “Shutter Island,” “Revolutionary Road” and “Inception”. However, he shines most in the end of the film as his character’s true internal struggle is revealed. Dench and Watts both play characters on opposing sides of Hoover’s dilemma, but besides the climax, they both fall behind as only secondary characters. Although Watts is introduced very early on, she isn’t given much screen time and, despite being such a vital character in the end, her story is almost stopped midway. It was Hammer who brought the best performance as Hoover’s alleged

lover. He delivers emotion and passion, which is a good contrast to DiCaprio’s limited emotional capacity. The filmmaking and plot were well done. The transitions between the two timelines were seamlessly executed and played off of each other well. The complex storyline was captivating, but it is important to keep in mind that the story is purely based on rumors and speculation. U.S. history buffs will enjoy the occasional humorous references and the historical drama of the time period, but they may also be annoyed by the creative liberties that Eastwood took. However, Eastwood delivers a film that gives an intriguing and amusing look into the often dark, complex personal life of J. Edgar Hoover. THESCENE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

“Immortals” holds another title for audiences: redemption. Over the past couple years, 3D has had plenty of flack to deal with, and mostly for good reason. It was cheesy, it looked bad or it looked out of place. But finally, a film has come out that does 3D justice. “Immortals” is what 3D and ancient Greek period pieces are supposed to look like. The movie follows a peasant and demi-god, Theseus (Henry Cavill, “The Tudors”), who must leave his village to escape King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke, “Iron Man 2”). Hyperion has waged a war against humanity and the gods. He is marching throughout Greece to overturn shrines in his search for the Epirus bow, a powerful weapon of the immortals that will allow him to release the Titans from Mount Tartaros. Theseus journeys with the virgin oracle Phaedra (Freida Pinto, “Slumdog Millionaire) and a witty thief, Stavros (Stephen Dorff, “Somewhere”), to stop Hyperion from releasing the Titans. “Immortals” does not hold back on the torture and violence that accompanied ancient Grecian warfare.

At certain points, the torture feels like it has overstepped its boundaries, but it is not without purpose. “Immortals” may feel excessively violent to some, but it creates a final struggle that is not just full of action, but also emotion. Theseus delivers a speech to his outnumbered army reminiscent of moving prebattle speeches such as William Wallace’s speech in “Braveheart.” “Immortals” avoids the pitfalls of the recent ancient Greek period films such as over-stylized images and easy-to-parody lines like “This is Sparta!” Instead of filling the film with stars, as “Troy” and “Clash of the Titans” did, “Immortals” uses a few familiar faces that are on the rise; stardom does not mask a mediocre plot. The actors and the plot are equally impressive, so neither is forced to carry the other. “Immortals” is the 3D gold moviegoers have been searching for at the end of an allusive rainbow of cheap 3D tricks. It is made for 3D, but it is not full of pointless moments where random objects fly out at the audience’s face. Since James Cameron’s “Avatar” hit theaters, 3D has lost a lot of its luster, but “Immortals” embodies the return to the original allure. THESCENE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

theEAGLE SCENE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

ON CANVAS ‘Antico’ displays bronzes of famed Italian sculptor By CASEY BRAND EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The National Gallery of Art’s “Antico: The Golden Age of Renaissance Bronzes” is a testament to the durability of bronze. The exhibit, which opened Nov. 6, showcases the medals, reliefs, busts and statuettes of the famed sculptor Antico, who lived and worked during the Renaissance period. Born Pier Jacopo Alari Bonacolsi, the Italian sculptor earned the name “Antico,” which means “the ancient one,” for his imitations of ancient masterpieces. He was not renowned for his creativity, but instead for his accurate reproductions and unique methods. The exhibit, located in the East Building of the National Gallery of Art, is housed within two rooms. However, these two small rooms display nearly 40 pieces by Antico and two of his fellow court artists. The works are grouped by subject matter and form, making the exhibit easy to navigate. Busts and urns sit on intricate tables and pedestals, while statuettes are contained in well-lit glass cases. The exhibit effectively explains Antico’s inspirations and methods. Descriptions next to each work provide historical background and theories on the origins of the work. The exhibit features prints that Antico may have used as models for his works and showcases two of the original works that he used to create his imitations.

Courtesy of NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART

BRONZED BEAUTY ‘Antico’ runs through April 8, 2012. The side-by-side comparison of the original and Antico’s imitation allows the viewer to understand the sculptor’s unique genius. The original marble bust that provided inspiration for Antico’s “Young Man” is worn and softened by age. In contrast, Antico’s bronze bust is crisp, clean and defined, despite centuries of wear. The curls that adorn the head of his bust seem to move. Its feathery mustache and pair of sideburns look oddly out of place, but also provide an example of the small details that make Antico’s imitations unique. His bust is also enhanced by his trademark silvered eyes, which are simultaneously impressive and alarming. Antico’s works have ensured that the artistic masterpieces of ancient civilizations will not be forgotten. While these original marble masterpieces may become worn or broken, Antico’s works of bronze will live on. THESCENE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

Courtesy of NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART

Mel Bochner paints colorful vocabulary By JANE MORICE EAGLE STAFF WRITER

Conceptual artist Mel Bochner’s main tool, when creating art, is Roget’s Thesaurus. Unlike other artists, Mel Bochner incorporates language into his art, the words and phrases we use today in the street and texting with our cellphones. His pieces are on display in the exhibit “Mel Bochner: Colorful Language” at the National Gallery of Art through April 8, 2012. Bochner uses the thesaurus to play

Courtesy of NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART

EXCLAMATION POINTS “Amazing” shows Bochner’s quirky humor.

WORD UP Mel Bochner’s exhibit uses collections of synonyms and slang against vibrant colors. with the simultaneous relationship between reading and seeing in his works to blur, “the distinction between modes of cognition. Since the mid 1960s, Bochner [has] made drawings and paintings that force us to look at and think about the words we use,” according to The National Gallery of Art’s modern and contemporary department’s brochure. Curator James Meyer opened the exhibit with a lecture on Bochner’s works, describing the different pieces and their rapport between words and color. Most of his paintings contain the synonyms of their title. For example, a piece called “Money” has the words “money, moola, gelt, skins, simoleons, shekels, wampum, bread, dough” on different lines and in different colors continuing down the canvas. “Amazing” (2011) begins with a background of dark watermelon pink, while each word is a different color, blending in and popping out of the background in different places. The words seem to “go downhill” in respectability from “Amazing!” and “Breathtaking” to “Bitchin’!” and “OMG!” Bochner’s pieces are humorous in word choice but portray a deeper meaning of how our language has evolved and its path of development. Bochner introduces realism to conceptualism in his art through the power of words and how we use them today. When looking at Bochner’s work, we may feel guilty at the realization of how we speak with slang and unintelligentsounding words. Or, we may feel enlightened by the stark portrayal of a word and its development over time (apparent in most every painting). THESCENE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

theEAGLE SCENE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

TRENDING

OLUSEYI SEGUN / THE EAGLE

Secondhand Style: Martha’s Outfitters in U Street Corridor BY JANE MORICE

After my initial secondhand shopping experience here in D.C., I admit I was skeptical to continue going. Would all the stores be as expensive as Annie Creamcheese? What happened to cute, quirky and cheap secondhand clothing? Well, I was not disappointed by my recent trip to Martha’s Outfitters, located on 2114 14th St. NW in the U Street Corridor. This small store is donation-based, with the money going towards its parent organization, Martha’s Table, which tries to combat poverty and hunger by providing clothing, food and educational resources for children and families in the DMV area. The small store, located two doors down from Martha’s Table, was everything I could have expected. No, it was not the cleanest, most brightly lit store I’ve ever shopped in, but that didn’t matter. The store had everything that I was looking for and more. When I first walked through the door, there were numerous racks of men’s sweaters, which was exactly what I had come to the store to find. There was also a large selection of skirts, dresses, men and women’s business apparel, outerwear and children’s clothing. This store has a wide variety of clothing and housewares that struggling families in the neighborhood could purchase with ease. Not surprisingly, the prices for everything were very low. This was a legitimate thrift store, not just a secondhand shop or a consignment shop. I was able

A BETTER SWEATER Among the finds at Martha’s ha’s Outfitters are plenty of oversized vintage sweaters ters perfect for your ugly Christmas mas sweater party.

to find a high-quality, quirky Lacoste sweater, probably from the 1980s or ’90s, for $3. I found another Bill Cosby-esque sweater, something I had been waiting to find, for the same price. Two fall essentials for less than $10; what could be better? Martha’s Outfitters caters to all different types of people from various walks of life; the people at the register could easily transition between speaking Spanish and English, depending upon the customer. This small establishment is perfect for a college student’s budget, if you want to go to a true thrift store. You will find great, cheap clothing (and housewares if you’d like!) and the money goes to a great organization. That’s the definition of a feel-good shopping trip, if you ask me.

TREND ALERT: KNITS

Knits best bet for fall By OLUSEYI SEGUN

THESCENE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

SEASON ’S GREETINGS Martha’s Outfitters looks like your typical thrift store with a variety of men and women’s fashion. But the quality of the items featured in Martha’s is exceptional for its inexpensive prices.

JANE MORICE / THE EAGLE

With the crazy weather that Washington, D.C., has ushered in, it is hard to know what season it is. One day, you are wearing winter clothes to school; the next day, you have a summer dress on. The fluctuating temperature makes it difficult to discern the season. But fashion items that can be a go-to piece for guys and girls regardless of the weather are knits in all styles. Rachel Trello, a sophomore in the School of Public Affairs, effortlessly illustrates what knits are all about and the versatility of this trend. “I like knits because they are comfortable, warm, really easy go-to pieces, and they are really versatile,” Trello said. Whether it is 70 degrees outside or 50 degrees, knits are a great way to stay warm while looking your best. And best of all, knits, depending on the thickness of the item, do not require too much layering. “Knits are no longer your grandmother’s sweater,”

Trello said. “It’s not the pumpkin print, cable cord sweater anymore; it can be chic.” Trello also acknowledged the versatility of knits. “With my dress, for example, I could theoretically take the jeans off and wear it with leggings, or swap the boots out for heels and go to work,” Trello said. If it is hot outside, you can choose to wear the knit individually. Just as when it is cold, all you really have to do is throw on your jacket and the rest of your cold weather gear and head out the door. “I try not to do fashion inspiration because I don’t really model myself after anyone; I just pick what I like,” Trello said. Just as effortless as Trello’s sense of style, so are knits as a trend. Knits will be around for many seasons and can work for anyone. They can be worn throughout the year, if desired; guys and girls can wear knits, and it can work for all body types due to the diverse styles that are available. THESCENE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

theEAGLE SCENE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

LOOK OF THE WEEK Going Global

MADELINE BEARD — FASHION Excuse me for sounding like your Gen Ed Anthropology class, but globalization is all around us. The fashion savvy across the world are now able to find inspiration in one centralized place, resulting in a convergence of trends. This phenomenon can be observed on campus, as students diverse cultures bring their own personal styles into the fold. Dana Al Ghusain, a sophomore studying Public Communication, grew up in Kuwait before coming to AU. As an international student, she notes the differences in fashion between the two countries. “Dressing back home is a lot more conservative,” Al Ghusain said. “At the same time, I feel like people dress up more at home than they do here. They are just as fashion forward.” Al Ghusain first began taking fashion risks in high school, although her options were more limited in Kuwait. “In high school, I had a uniform,” Al Ghusain said. “It was a really strict dress code, but I felt like I could push the envelope. I was the first one in my school to wear Wayfarers. I could wear whatever shoes and accessories I wanted.” While Al Ghusain has greater freedom to experiment in what she wears here, she misses the warm weather Kuwait had to offer. To combat the D.C. cold, she turns to a few staples in her closet. “I wear winter leggings and big chunky sweaters because they look good and they’re comfortable but can still keep you warm,” Al Ghusain said. “I also wear tons of layers. I always make sure I’m comfortable in the cold.” Al Ghusain pairs these staples with stand-out pieces to create her own “comfy chic” look for the winter season. Currently, she loves the fur vest

trend. “I feel like the fur vest dresses up an outfit,” Al Ghusain said. “You can wear something casual, but when you wear it with the vest I feel like it elevates the look.” Al Ghusain also likes the vintageinspired trends for fall including high-waisted pants and retro sunglasses. “My mom will always say ‘Why are you buying all of these things? I used to have these when I was your age!’” Al Ghusain said. “I like that we’re drawing influences from the past into today’s trends.” Whether at home or abroad, one thing remains consistent in Al Ghusain’s wardrobe: her shoe obsession. She stays up to date on some of her favorite shoe trends for fall. “I’m really excited to wear oxfords and lots of leopard print,” Al Ghusain said. “I like combat boots and ankle boots, too.” And, like most shoe fanatics, Al Ghusain has a particular weakness for anything with a heel. “I dream of owning my first pair of Christian Louboutins,” Al Ghusain said. “Even though I don’t wear heels often because I’m more casual, they’re just so nice to look at.” Though Al Ghusain regularly reads fashion sources like Teen Vogue and Glamour, she mainly looks to her community and environment for inspiration. “A lot of trends I get from what other people are wearing,” Al Ghusain said. “I get really inspired by the people I see around me.”

Head to toe SHIRT

Mango

FUR VEST

Scoop

JEANS

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

Rag & Bone

LOAFERS

Steve Madden

GLASSES

Oliver Peoples

MADELINE BEARD / THE EAGLE

theEAGLE SCENE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

ON THE STAGE

Courtesy of JOAN MARCUS / NATIONAL THEATRE

‘Jersey Boys’ brings story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons to National Theatre By JANE MORICE EAGLE STAFF WRITER

Since opening on Broadway in 2005, “Jersey Boys” has been a hit no matter where it is showing. It even won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2006. Now “Jersey Boys” has hit the road and is currently settled at the National Theatre here in D.C., with a performance as superb as ever. This documentary-style musical chronicles the lives of the members of the hugely successful ’60s rock band The Four Seasons, headed by Frankie Valli. The National Theatre’s intimacy and old-time beauty is the perfect locale for this show. Even with its classic setting, the intriguing aspect of the show is the utilization of technology. There were three large display screens above the set on stage that flashed graphics in the style of the era, complimenting what was occurring onstage. Even during segments of the show where the band was playing before a video camera, the camera was actually filming and projecting what was hap-

pening below as if it were on a TV set from the ’60s. The incorporation of technology in this show was great because it tied the older subject matter with the 21st century. The first act of the show was narrated by two members of the group, Tommy DeVito and Bob Gaudio, who told their sides of the story of the group’s rise to fame. The change in perspective was not at all distracting. In fact, the different and developing personalities of the characters who narrated the show throughout made it funnier and kept the audience interested in what was going on. The fun first act was filled with some of The Four Seasons’ more popular hits, including “Sherry,” “Walk Like a Man” and “December 1963” (better known by the lyrics, “Oh what a night!”). The show did take a more sentimental and negative turn in the second act, narrated by the other two group members, Nick Massi and Frankie Valli. However, the more somber tone to this act brought a more human and relatable façade to the

show. It was not as if the show ended on a bad note. The audience at “Jersey Boys” was mostly older people who were fans of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons when the group was in its heyday, but that does not mean it is unpleasant for other demographics. One does not need to be a musical theater fiend to find this musical entertaining, mostly because the songs were once recognizable tunes played on the radio, not songs written specifically for this show. The familiarity of the music gives this show a broad appeal. Additionally, there was quite a bit of vulgar language used throughout, but it is not just used for kicks. It adds to the local color of these boys from “old neighborhood” back in New Jersey. THESCENE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

“Jersey Boys” will be shown at the National Theatre in D.C. through Jan. 7. Ticket prices starting at $37. For more information, visit www. nationaltheatre. org.

Courtesy of JOAN MARCUS / NATIONAL THEATRE

theEAGLE SCENE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

IN CONCERT

THE KOOKS

The Kooks have made it their mission to prove that Britpop isn’t dead. Named after a David Bowie song, the London quartet have attempted to bring the same snappy sheen to their rehashing of guitar-rock. Their 2006 debut album “Inside In/Inside Out,” released at Britpop’s saturation point, shot the band to mainstream attention with singles like “Naïve” and “She Moves in Her Own Way.” While many of the Kooks’ contemporaries either have grown into a more mature sound (see: Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand) or faded away into late-2000s obscurity (see: Caesars, the Fratellis, Jet) the Kooks have maintained a modest level of success, and are currently on tour to support their September release, “Junk of the Heart.”

NOV. 20

By MAEVE McDERMOTT / EAGLE STAFF WRITER

D.C.’s own 9:30 club was just named America’s Top Club by Billboard. Catch one of these end-of-the-year shows at 9:30, and stay tuned for the Eagle’s reviews.

STATE RADIO

Last year, in between hosting B.O.B, Super Mash Bros and Cee Lo Green, AU also brought to campus State Radio, a Massachusetts-based band with a small but fanatical following. The hard-working alt-rockers have been touring consistently since the release of their 2009 album “Let It Go,” and are headlining a string of East Coast dates this fall, including a show at the 9:30 club in December. Led by the former singer of Dispatch, Charles Urmston, considered to be royalty among New England rock fans, State Radio adds a NOV. 25 roots-reggae spin and socially conscious lyrics on traditional alternative rock.

CITY AND COLOUR

DEC. 10

MARKÉTA IRGLOVÁ

The solo project of Dallas Green, the former singer of the Canadian post-hardcore band Alexisonfire, City and Colour’s acoustic melodies are a far cry from Green’s former project. Seeing a heavily tattooed former metal singer playing minimalist acoustic folk on NPR can seem puzzling, but with “Little Hell,” City and Colour’s latest release, Greene has completed his transition into a sensitive indie rock dude. Even City and Colour’s name is a quirky spinoff of his own name, with the “city” referring to Dallas’s first name and the “color” symbolizing, well, you know. For a night of emotional, uplifting acoustic melodies, don’t miss City and Colour and his bornagain indie folk.

Youth Lagoon makes waves at Red Palace By MICHELLE TULLO EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A mile east of Union Station, through an unmarked door, behind a bar, up a set of stairs and through a red curtain, is the somewhat obscure music venue the Red Palace. The small brick space allows for intimate connections with young, newer bands like Youth Lagoon, who played Sunday night, Nov. 13. Youth Lagoon is composed of Trevor Powers, a skinny 22-year-old who looks like he just walked

out of Urban Outfitters, probably because he did. After record company Fat Possum offered the basement artist a two-record deal, the small-town Literature major at Boise State abandoned his studies and job at Urban Outfitters to tour the country with long time friend and guitarist Logan Hyde. In September, they released “The Year of Hibernation,” which music publication Pitchfork rated 8.4 out of 10. The crowd — young 20-year-olds wearing black

Can’t pinpoint where exactly you’ve heard the name Markéta Irglová? Think back to 2007, when the Irish musical drama “Once” won the Oscar for Best Song for the hauntingly beautiful “Falling Slowly.” The history behind the movie proved to be even more transfixing than the song itself: Glen Hansard and Irglová, two musicians with no acting experience, starred in the indie drama made on a shoestring budget and then became a real-life couple. Hansard, singer for Irish band the Frames, and Irglová, an 18-year-old Czech musician, were catapulted to stardom after the poignant film and its soundtrack received rave reviews. Following the movie’s release and Oscar win, Hansard and Irglová began recording and touring under the moniker the Swell Season. Hansard and Irglová have since stopped dating, as the Swell Season has released two albums and become the subject of a new documentary. Irglová has come a long way from the girl Jon Stewart called back onto the Oscar stage to finish her acceptance speech, and is touring in support of her debut solo album “Anar.”

NOV. 28

rimmed glasses and flannel — quickly hushed to respect the intimate, incense-lit mood created by the opener Young Magic. The Australian trio, one female guitarist, an adorable keyboardist and typically animal like drummer, looped synth layers with eerie vocals and syncopated percussion. The mixture of tingling guitar, guttural vocals and tribal drums beats created an almost Middle Eastern sound, especially in songs like “Sparkly.” Soon after, the wiry Powers walked on stage in trademark trucker hat and cuffed jeans. Hunched over his keyboard, synth and foot pedals, he produced an expansive sound.

as his frail but raw voice swept through the venue. Youth Lagoon played mostly songs from his September album “The Year of Hibernation.” The set opened with “Posters,” in which the narrator compares who he dreamt of being at age 9 and who he is now. This theme, a more mature coming-ofage reflection on small hometown memories, thematically ties together an album that already has a coherent sound. “Seventeen,” which the otherwise chill crowd greeted with enthusiastic cheers, exemplifies the typical Youth Lagoon style: delicate, woodsy synths paired specific narrative lyrics that build to a melod-

ic chorus and passionate but controlled guitar. Another crowd favorite was “Montana,” popularized by a recent music video directed by Tyler T. Williams. Powers suffered from severe anxiety, and many of his lyrics reflect times when his anxiety affected his relationships. “Montana” describes having to end a relationship with a girl in his bed in black tights and a Montana sweatshirt. He sings, “I’ve never seen your face so white / Your honesty is killing me / the monsters in the room were all dancing to the music all around us.” In “The Hunt,” Powers sings of being plagued by

“a sickness in my head that wouldn’t go away.” Other songs like “Cannons,” “Daydream” and “July” were set on a college campus, in the woods or on the Fourth of July, but still describe his haunting thoughts. In a live setting, Youth Lagoon maintained his delicate sound that recalls a scratchy VHS in soft focus. Even if you missed the live show, download some tracks to accompany an autumn walk. Begin with “Seventeen” and recall high school, hometown, and heartbreaks; then, as the chorus builds, return to the present with heightened ambition and more determined dreams. THESCENE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

theEAGLE SCENE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

AUDIOPHILE Looking for new music? DJs at student-run radio station, WVAU, share their thoughts on a range of recent releases.

CASS MCCOMBS HUMOR RISK For his second album of the year, Cass McCombs moves away from the grim minimalism of Wit’s End and delivers a set that’s a bit easier to digest, even if it’s less cohesive. Right from the beginning, “Love Thine Enemy” is livelier and catchier than anything on its predecessor. Like any prolific singer-songwriter

HIGH HIGHS HIGH HIGHS EP

Modern folk faces a difficult dilemma. After a host of youngsters stormed into the mainstream in the early years of the last decade (remember the “Garden State” soundtrack or “I’m Wide Awake and It’s Morning”?), many revivalist folksters have either doomed themselves to releasing the same record over and over (see: Deer Tick) or attempted to reinvent their sound (see: Bright Eyes and the People’s Key). High Highs skillfully dodges these is-

CHILDISH GAMBINO CAMP EP Childish Gambino started as a side project by actor Donald Glover, who released a series of free, indie sample-heavy mixtapes online. His latest EP, titled EP, finally put Gambino on the radar back in the spring, netting Glover a record deal. “Camp” is a deviation from his earlier work. He’s not rapping as much about hipsters, getting laid and having a TV show

SMALL BLACK MOON KILLER

Small Black, with this “mixtape,” seems to be flirting with hiphop, given the album’s featuring of Nicki Minaj and Das Racist free-associator Heems or the fact that “Sunday Son” rides a prominent sample from Nas’ classic “Life’s A Bitch.” However, the hip-hop connection becomes more of a philosophical aspect of the mixtape. The beats here are meant to be prominent, not simply background.

worth listening to, McCombs’ material is strong regardless of whether he decides to plug his guitar in or not. The electric, lengthy “Mystery Mail” rides a basic riff to full effect, while the gorgeous acoustic ballad “Robin Egg Blue” proves to be the album’s highlight. McCombs proves that he is far from settling into conformity and gives listeners yet another fantastic album in less than seven months. Recommended if you like: Girls, Chad VanGaalen BY CAMERON MEINDL

sues on their debut self-titled EP, fastening ethereal, playful melodies over amplified acoustic guitar in a unique style that feels uniquely modern. Heavy yet not overwhelming reverb and airily layered vocals that lend a unique atmospheric element to the genre’s trademark intimacy, a balance that almost lends itself more easily to dream pop than folk. While nothing on the EP truly stuns, High Highs’s artful use of minimal instrumentation and soft hooks definitely warrants interest. RIYL: Asobi Seksu, Gem Club, Grizzly Bear’s Olympic Studios Session By MAXWELL TANI

— don’t worry, they’re not completely gone — and instead covering heavier topics like growing up poor, his changing relationship with his parents and whether he “abandoned” his community by going to college and working in TV. After the first few tracks, he drifts back to the familiar territory of clothes, swag and his fondness for Asian women, but the themes of race and class are present throughout. RIYL: Kanye West, Community BY RYAN GAFFNEY

Numerous references are made to New York, serving as the first time physical geography has played into chillwave, with a shared locale of only the Internet. Even the use of a mixtape medium to put out new music, rather than free online downloads via Bandcamp, is an indication that perhaps Small Black is heading for the street in order to differentiate from their suburban peers. RIYL: Neon Indian, Pictureplane, Washed Out By JESSE PALLER

Fitz and the Tantrums sling soul at 9:30 club By DANA GOOLEY EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Fitz and the Tantrums brought down the sold-out house at the 9:30 club Nov. 13 with a unique blend of pop, rock, funk and soul. The soulful sextet hailing from Los Angeles came onstage to screams from the crowd and launched straight into the opening power chords of “Don’t Gotta Work It Out.” The saxophone, drums, bass, tambourine and irreplaceable organ built a wall of sound that shook the actual walls of the club. The infectious soul sound was inescapable, but, then again, no one was running away. Frontman Michael Fitzpatrick had charisma to spare, and he certainly knew how to work the room with his presence filling the small club. On hits like “Pickin’ Up The Pieces” and “Rich Girls,” Fitzpatrick launched from one side of the stage to another in seconds, dancing the whole way. The best dancer on stage was vocalist Noelle Scaggs, the lone girl in the band. She clapped, snapped, jumped and twisted throughout each song, all while singing and shaking a tambourine, setting herself apart. Scaggs and Fitzgerald were stationed on separate sides of the stage, but managed to meet in the middle each time, flirtatiously dancing together to the loud approval of the audience. Their voices were made for each other, simultaneously sultry and powerful. The band frequently took time in between songs to thank the audience, reminding them that D.C. was directly responsible

for their recent popularity. Scaggs got emotional at one point, tearing up as she thanked everyone for giving Fitz and The Tantrums the ability to experience as much as they had. Fitzpatrick and Scaggs, as well as the four backing band members, have created a sound that is both authentic and original. Each song could have been recorded in 1969 or 2009. Even the instruments were vintage. When they performed “Dear Mr. President,” a defiant anthem of the working class, the commanding beat and indignant lyrics encouraged comparisons to the protest songs of the 1960s. The club was filled to capacity with Fitz fans, so each song was greeted with deafening cheers. Fitzpatrick took advantage of the crowd’s obvious familiarity with the band’s catalogue by introducing call and response sections and sing-alongs into some of their hit songs. “L.O.V.” and “Breakin’ the Chains of Love” got the whole room dancing, clapping

and singing along. The band played a couple of interesting covers, namely The Raconteurs’ “Steady As She Goes” and Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams,” both of which fit the band’s signature soul groove perfectly. “Lovesick Man,” the newest song from Fitz and The Tantrums, went over in a big way with the sea of people packed into the venue. It’s currently unavailable as a studio recording, but is gaining popularity as the band works it into their live shows. It seemed as if the group finished the night with “News 4 U”, an inyour-face declaration of independence, but after about five straight minutes of applause, along with a solid chant of “Fitz! Fitz! Fitz!” the band returned for an energetic encore. Their biggest hit, “MoneyGrabber,” had been conspicuously absent from the performance, but as the final song of the night, they put everything they had into the retro jam. THESCENE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

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theEAGLE SCENE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

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

INTO THE ABYSS

GRADE: A — 107 MINUTES By ANTOANETA TILEVA EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

German documentary filmmaker Werner Herzog (“Grizzly Man,” “The Cave Of Forgotten Dreams”) takes on a macabre American Gothic tale of death and life with “Into the Abyss.” The documentary is equal parts Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood” and an exposé on the no-less-grisly underside of capital punishment. A particularly timely movie in light of the recent Troy Anthony Davis execution in Georgia, “Into The Abyss” turns the lens on a triple homicide case in Conroe, Texas. Teenagers at the time of the crime, the movie centers on Michael Perry and Jason Burkett ten years later. Burkett is sentenced to life in prison and Perry is facing execution. While most documentaries present an inherently “biased” position, Herzog’s approach is fresh and interesting. The focus is not on the issue of guilt or innocence. As such, it is not a who-done-it crime procedural. There is no confusion on Herzog’s personal opposition to the death penalty, but as an interviewer, he has an uncanny way of educing visceral, evocative and unexpectedly eloquent responses from his

subjects. For example, when he asks how “something feels,” rather than drawing bafflement, he elicits trenchant answers, such as when he asks Burkett’s wife to describe what his hand feels like over hers or how it felt for Burkett’s father to be chained next to his son. His interviewing style, at worst is a bit unsettling, but for the most part, is surprisingly disarming. “Into The Abyss” makes copious use of police video of the crime scene, as well as footage of the execution room, grimly named “The Death House.” The interviews with the surrounding characters are what really offer some truly unique perspectives and pack an emotional punch. The segment with Burkett’s father, who himself is serving a prison sentence, is especially poignant. His plea to the court at the sentencing to “please, do not kill my son” is a stark and haiku-like encapsulation of just what capital punishment means at its most uncomplicated: taking away a human life. The segment with Fred Allen, a captain in the Death House unit who, after unstrapping his 125th prisoner from the gurney, could not bring himself to do it one more time, is especially pow-

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS Herzog is known for his dark, complex documentaries. erful in its insider perspective on the “process.” His conviction that, “No one has a right to take a human life,” is cogent in the context of seeing the damage his work did to him. “Into The Abyss” does an excellent job of portraying the milieu of violence that haunts the small Texas town, appropriately nicknamed the “dark side of Conroe.” As such, it also reminds the audience that capital punishment is meted out to people of different backgrounds. It’s a bleak reality: generations of families in prison, rampant violence, struggling working class and gated communities. The film’s pacing seems reflective of the complexity of the thorny issue of crime and punishment, yet steers clear of dogmatic asides, opting to simply present things as they are. The daughter of the one of the victims describes that she was shocked to see that Perry was “just a boy” and not the monster she had imagined him to be. Yet, she felt like a weight was lifted off her shoulders when he was executed. Her words are a small example of just how slippery the idea of retribution and, even more so, justice is. THESCENE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

ACROSS 1 Nice forecast 5 Blatant promotion 9 Entertain 14 Shoppe modifier 15 Hoosier city 16 Kitchen gadget 17 Sachs 20 Texas longhorn, for one 21 Shocked reaction 22 45-Down et al. 23 Hai or oui 25 Atop 27 Sacks 35 Detours, e.g.: Abbr. 36 Kitty 37 “Awakenings” actress 38 Start to sing? 39 Fawned over, with “on” 42 Uncertain word 43 Warren Buffett’s city 46 JFK listing 47 Matchmaker.com connection 48 Saks 52 __ bargain 53 Crunch targets 54 Uffizi offering 57 Couples with clubs 60 Comic pianist Victor 64 Sax 67 Audibly 68 Taj Mahal site 69 “Yikes!” 70 Sounds from pounds 71 Maintain 72 Conifers with elastic wood DOWN 1 Turns opaque, with “up” 2 Loads 3 Run in place 4 Late-night flights 5 Couples’s org.

6 Clubber __, nemesis in “Rocky III” 7 Bear in the sky 8 Plaster of Paris component 9 Financing letters 10 Daytime fare 11 Coffee hour sights 12 Ooze 13 Misses the mark 18 GI rations 19 Date with an MD 24 Dirty Harry’s org. 26 Resistance unit 27 Refrigerant gas 28 Announcement at the door 29 Took in again 30 Pal of Tigger 31 Playful aquatic critter 32 Actor Malcolm__ Warner 33 Speak with style 34 Tylenol alternative 40 Summer on the Seine 41 Computer fodder

44 Really enthused 45 Buddy List co. 47 Act rebelliously 49 Homeowner’s option, in brief 50 Ancient Egyptian temple complex 51 “Fernando” quartet 54 Sports schedule column

55 Audition aim 56 Word with box or belt 58 On __: nervous 59 Calamitous 61 Storm 62 Eat away 63 Actor Byrnes and announcer Hall 65 OED entries 66 Suede feature

Level: 1

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

Opinion

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

STAFF EDITORIAL

UNIVERSAL ACCESS A RIGHT FOR ALL Students with disabilities, whether mental, physical, learning or invisible, are entitled to the AU experience.

There are nearly 500 students that utilize campus disability services every year. In an effort to advocate for this five percent of AU, a number of students — both with and without disabilities — have revived AU’s Disability Rights Coalition. While disability awareness might not seem to be the most visible problem on campus, the fight for equality is always a legitimate one. AU’s services for students with disabilities are already above average. We hope that this new focus will help advance them to excellence. In pursuit of this goal, we encourage the University to incorporate physical additions that improve campus accessibility as an official effort within the Campus Plan. If the University embarked on such

a targeted program, the needed improvements could be constructed together, all at once. And such improvements certainly need to be made. The East Quad Building has time and time again been listed as trouble spot, with no elevator or even a ramp along the stairs. Other buildings like Hurst and McKinley are only slightly less in need of further accessibility, with whole floors accessible only via stairs. The possible improvements extend beyond academic buildings. There is currently a proposal to reconfigure the elevator access system in Jacobs Fitness Center to allow handicapped users to operate it alone, rather than request an escort — as is the case now. AU’s expansive Campus Plan offers the perfect opportunity for the administration to take inventory of problem areas and apply the funding and resources needed to solve them. It seems silly that the administration can plan to break ground on whole additional campuses without add-

ing a simple ramp in the EQB. To be sure, our University outperforms most of its counterparts when it comes to disability rights. Terhas Clark, the current director of disability services for the SG was forced to transfer from Bard College because its facilities were so untenable. In comparison, she calls AU “paradise.” Clark’s own position was recently created as a concerted effort to ensure that AU’s inclusivity transcends the physical limitations of individuals. She works in tandem with AU’s Disability Support Services to provide AU students with disabilities with equal access to University programs and services. Clearly, AU takes disability rights more seriously than most. Nevertheless, not being the worst is hardly a rallying cry for disability awareness. Indeed, the preceding paragraphs show that there is significant room for improvement. Each room that is inaccessible to the students with disabilities increases the likelihood that those students

Who run the world? Right now, not girls JULIA GREENWALD | RANTING WITH MYSELF No matter how much Beyonce insists, girls don’t truly run the world. According to the U.N., education is still unattainable for girls in various regions of the world, including those in extreme poverty. Women are subject to lower-level jobs, with a lack of benefits and, often times, a salary. And even in developed countries like our own, the number of female leaders in business and politics is lacking. Is there an underlying factor that keeps female power so close, yet so far? On Nov. 10, the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation in partnership with the Women and Politics Institute at American University hosted a screening of “Miss Representation.” The documentary, written and directed by Jennifer Siebel, “explores how the media’s misrepresentation of women has led to the under-representation

of women in positions of power and influence.” It particularly focuses on the ways media affects women and girls’ ability to both see themselves as leaders and be seen as leaders in society. I was fortunate enough to watch a screening of the film and was shocked by the blatantly obvious media distortion of women that never before bothered me. However, what was more horrifying is how deeply ingrained this “acceptance” of women in the media is present in young girls. At Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in Anacostia, where I tutor for D.C. Reads, the resident hero among the sevenyear-old girls is Nicki Minaj, a female rapper who consistently references to her “thick ass” and

sexuality in her lyrics. Her songs are constantly hummed and sung along to like a mantra at the playground. Nowhere in their curriculum are they taught about strong, influ-

still places 90th in the world for the number of women in national legislatures, according to the documentary. Moreover, women hold only three percent of management positions in mainstream media, and 65 percent of women and girls have disordered eating behaviors, according to the film. Outside the developed world, the effects of gender inequality is reason enough for the U.N. to dedicate one of its eight Millennium Development Goals to fixing it. As MDG number three, gender inequality can be considered one of the most important goals that the U.N. and the world should achieve by 2015. This is what brings us back to Beyonce. While her “girl power” anthem may seem like feminist mumbo jumbo to most, I can’t help but applaud her. Sure, her facts aren’t completely straight, but she is providing women with the confidence to overcome gender inequality in a world where women who are given the op-

The United States still places 90th in the world for the number of women in national legislatures. ential women like Condoleezza Rice and Gloria Steinem, nor are they ever exposed to it in the average 11-hours-worth of media they consume a day, according to the nonprofit Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. While in America women have made great strides in leadership over the years and have much to be proud of, the United States

may be excluded from a club event or class. Or, in the case of Hurst, basically the entire biology program. The Disability Rights Coalition is correct to view disability access and inclusion not as a medical issue but as a human rights issue. No attribute or lack thereof should prevent an individual from attending an event or enrolling in a class. Students with disabilities — mental, physical, learning or invisible — are entitled to the AU experience, not some distorted version of it. And AU officials must work to ensure this. Without exception. We do not mean to take away from the great work that the administration has already done to ensure that those with disabilities are not excluded from day-today activities. Rather, we encourage AU to strive for excellence. For more than simply basic access. For true equality of opportunity. ≠ E EDPAGE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

portunity to shine are doing just that and more, despite how the media portrays them. As a nation, we can serve as an example for less developed countries. However, we stifle this potential when our most persuasive form of culture relays to girls and boys that a woman’s value and power lie in her youth, beauty and sexuality, rather than in her capacity as a leader. Other countries like Brazil and Argentina are catching on, and even surpassing the United States in female power, electing female presidents and, not only growing as potential powers, but opponents to the United States. So sure, call us feminists, tell us we’re bad at sports, that a woman could never be president and that we should be in the kitchen. And then watch us prove you wrong. Girls may not run the world, but we will catch up, tackling the mainstream media as our first opponent. Julia Greenwald is a freshman in the School of Communication. EDPAGE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

theEAGLE OPINION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

Varying degrees of practicality: the case for SOC ADAM GALLAGHER | NO HUMOR IN HEAVEN

Ignore the critics, SOC majors are worthwhile (and employable). An anti-SOC bias permeates this campus, which is just silly really, seeing as we are the information gatekeepers. (I’m bolding important words so you can rightfully claim a communication minor after reading this column.) But that plays into the stereotype that public communication is an easy, useless major. A stereotype that I have accepted for too long, but no longer. Around this time, freshmen will be fleeing the SIS majors that drew them

here, realizing that choosing their life-course at the age of 18 doesn’t always work out, nor does it have to. AU, a liberal arts school, offers a plentitude of options, but one worth considering is public communication. These lost souls should not be deterred from joining SOC by what the detractors say, even if said detractors engage in word play. And they will engage in word play. “I think they should rename public communi-

cation to public common sense,” quipped my frenemy Erik Jacobsen, senior, barely audible over all the employers knocking his door down for that sociology degree of his. “Why don’t you use your ultra social media skills to Tweet that one?” Hurtful words, but as a communication major you develop thick skin. (Just kidding, please don’t leave mean comments!) I assume Jacobsen’s comment referred to the notion that SOC only teaches writing, speaking and blogging, skills that we should have absorbed in either the first few grades of elementary school or through general life experience. In terms of learning to

write earlier than college, I will agree that we learned how to string letters together long ago, even if T9 and spell-check later robbed us of that ability. However, in terms of effective writing, by which I mean writing with a strategy for an end goal, I really only learned that in college. William Strunk Jr. writes in the introduction of his book “The Elements of Style,” “once past the essentials, students profit most by individual instruction based on problems of their own work.” Strunk excuses the brevity of his book by explaining that you can’t learn writing from a book, it takes practice and spe-

19 cialized instruction. That his book has sold so well only speaks to the lack of fundamentals with which students come to college. Only by majoring in public communication will you get enough practice writing concisely. My public communication classmates and I often complain every class emphasizes the same skills, but writing is a skill that takes time, even multiple classes, to get good at. Why does writing well matter? Just go through AU’s CareerWeb and you’ll notice how many job advertisements, regardless of the industry, emphasize the necessity of writing well. When I checked, 16 of the most recent 20 advertisements emphasized strong writing skills as a qualification for the job. It seems strong communication skills set you up to do well in most jobs that don’t involve entering numbers

Occupy AU is our answer MANA ALIABADI | THE EXAMINED LIFE On Nov. 10, University President Neil Kerwin issued a statement to the entire campus community declaring the University’s intentions to require social responsibility when working with businesses. Likewise, on the same day, Student Government President Tim McBride issued a statement with the subject line: “Giving AU a Makeover.” In his statement, McBride essentially professed SG’s dedication to addressing student concerns while outlining a plan of action to increase the University’s financial transparency. I must admit, I was pretty surprised at seeing both presidents’ concerted efforts to acknowledge some of our student demands and grievances. I was particularly impressed by both of the statements’ plans to create groups comprised of representatives from various student organizations in order to implement this greater responsibility and transparency. While Kerwin proposed the creation of a “working group” of students to advise and oversee the process of holding the University’s business partners more accountable, McBride declared SG’s creation of “the Committee to Review University Spending,” a committee of ten students who will research and pub-

lish their findings about the University’s spending of our tuition money. Although these working groups and review committees are a step forward, they are still insufficient given the broad complexities and urgency of the issues we have put forth. Thus, it seems to me that Kerwin and McBride’s statements are more of a verbal acknowledgment of some of our declared grievances than anything else. Without a clear, specific plan of action and further evidence of it being carried out, we cannot be satisfied. Although we all expect to be part of the administration and SG’s decision-making processes, there is only so much that can be done when we limit ourselves to working within existing frameworks. While they may help us in the process of meeting our goals, these existing frameworks are often far too shortsighted and generally anchored in maintaining the status quo. In advocating for a return to it, this mindset affirms the status quo and, thus, limits the possibilities for

achieving fundamental change. I believe that if we hope to have our demands met for accountability and transparency (among many others), our primary focus must be on mobilizing the student body and further uniting all of our voices as they represent various student interests both on and off campus. I am convinced that the best way to do this is to build upon the momentum of an already-established and growing movement dedicated to radical change. In this sense, I am advocating for building up our Occupy AU movement. This past Wednesday, we held our first successful general assembly meeting, Occupy DC-style, in the middle of the quad. Within the past few weeks, we have held information sessions for anyone interested in the Occupy movement, particularly as it relates to student issues (increasing loans, post-graduate unemployment, etc.). Thus far, we have formed committees to take on particular responsibilities, in-

We must build up the movement.

into a database. The trends of employment in American University’s 2010 graduation class reflect this. The Career Center lists the employment data of graduates from SOC, CAS, SIS and SPA. Among these schools, SOC graduates are more likely to be employed. However, Business Week reports 76 percent of Kogod’s 2010 class now holds a job, one percent less than SOC graduates. From the numbers, SOC degrees, including public communication, do not appear to be as useless as sociology majors suggest. To an extent, Jacobsen is right. Given the importance of writing well and the benefits of doing so, deciding to major in public communication is just common sense. Adam Gallagher is a senior in SOC. EDPAGE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

cluding building our relationship with Occupy DC, planning student actions and doing research on the issues in order to use knowledge as our ammo. The skeptics among us may scoff: What are you occupying? I would answer that an occupation signifies a constant, unrelenting presence. Whether or not we choose to physically occupy public spaces in our campus has yet to be determined. However, our occupation, in the sense of a vocal, demanding presence in both Kerwin’s and the Obama administration’s field of vision, is well underway. As for myself, the central issue is student debt and the struggle to find a means to fund my education. For others, there are varying issues that are at their centers of gravity for joining the Occupy Campus movement. Ultimately, we wish to affirm the higher standards of accountability, social responsibility and political engagement that universities, as institutions of higher learning, should primarily aim to uphold. Besides, for what then do universities and its underlying principles of education exist, if not to foster critical resistance to anything that undermines societal progress? Mana Aliabadi is a freshman in SPA. EDPAGE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

theEAGLE OPINION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

‘A New AU’ responds to Statement of Social Responsibility This past Thursday, President Kerwin sent a memo to the entire campus community. The “Statement of Social Responsibility Principles for AU Business Partners,” as it was titled, outlines the University’s principles of how businesses with which we contract should act. We applaud the University’s newfound commitment to social justice, and we wait with hope for actions to be taken that will implement these principles. However, this is only a

ment, in the form of University pressure, has been proven again and again to be one of the only effective means for enforcing codes of conduct. We hope that the administration will take the most important step and be proactive in the enforcement of this code. We want to make sure that students become a critical part of the institutions of social responsibility here at AU. We call upon the administration to make a significant commitment to student input and decision-

Only with student participation in all levels of University administration will we truly create the “New AU” that we all deserve.

first step. We recognize that many of the points in the statement are very important in furthering the creation of a truly socially responsible university. In the past, there has been a profound lack of commitment from the University administration toward providing real structures that ensure accountability from our outside business partners. In the verification section of the statement, the administration calls on these business partners to “use [their] best efforts to comply” with the principles. Self-monitoring of businesses has been proven to never actually ensure that ethical standards are upheld. Outside enforce-

making as this process moves forward. We also want to re-affirm our position in calling for more transparency on the part of the University administration on issues concerning the University budget and investments. Only with student participation in all levels of University administration will we truly create the “New AU” that we all deserve. Dakota David, Mitch Ellmauer, Chris Litchfield, Rachel Mandelbaum, Carmen Mason, Ethan Miller and Tom O’Connor are the organizing collective of the Community Action and Social Justice Coalition. They can be reached at casj@ american.edu

Tenure denied, no transparency better, why does the AU administration seem inclined to represent their narrow point of view? Dr. Prince may not represent a widely accepted point of view but she is intelligent, understanding and inclusive of each and every one of American University is an institu- her persistence in raising awareness her students. tion committed to higher learning, to structural inequality in society I have to wonder if Provost Bass diversity and creating change in our and academics to undergrads? and President Kerwin ever considD.C. community and the world alike. Dr. Prince is a proven contribu- ered the detrimental affects their Like many AU students and alumni, I tor to our community, to AU and to decision would have on Dr. Prince’s am proud of the work we do as com- her students. Yet our administration students and our university as a munity. We are a group of commit- turned their back on her and on us. whole. Or were they just looking ted, intelligent and compassionate Accountability and transparency out for the University’s bottom line, individuals, from students to faculty are two of the most important traits whatever that may be? to staff, who strive for more each and when considering the inclusivity, While the facts of Dr. Prince’s deevery day. impact and depth of a university. So nied tenure may not be privy to anyWhile I realize and apone besides our provost preciate the efforts of our and president, our Univeruniversity administration, sity administration should I cannot help but wonbe held accountable for der why there seems to the decisions it makes be such a disconnect bethat ultimately impact stutween students and the dents. administration. This isn’t about money, Students, faculty and this isn’t about politics; staff are what give this unithis is about what is right. versity life. Yet, the Board What I know is that of Trustees, the provost Dr. Prince had a positive and the president have impact on my life, on our disproportionate power community and on her acand influence. ademic field. For our UniWhile I certainly acversity administration to knowledge the impornot recognize Dr. Prince’s tance of these entities, I tireless efforts for this Unifind it troubling that there versity and its students is is such a disparity of influnot right. For our Univerence between students sity administration to not and the administration, eswork to diversify our facpecially in the tenure proulty is not right. cess and here is why. If the administration Recently, Provost Bass cannot reveal to its studenied tenure to Dr. Sadents its rationale in the COURTESY OF AMERICAN UNIVERSITY biyha Prince, an African- Dr. Sabiyaha Prince is an Assistant Professor in AU’s Detenure process, then they American cultural anthro- partment of Anthropolgy. AU recently denied her tenure. should be conducting fopologist, and President rums on diversity and what Kerwin denied her subseis being done to diversify quent appeal. why is it that AU seems to have nei- our faculty, from race to sex to genIn spite of over 12 years at AU, ther? der to academic fields and points of high student evaluation scores and In many ways, universities are mi- view, to ensure that AU is an instituthe recommendation of the anthro- crocosms of our society as a whole; tion committed towards adapting to pology department, Provost Bas, they represent a wide range of back- an ever changing world. along with President Kerwin, single grounds, experiences, individuals, What I know is right—and what handedly dealt a blow to our univer- values, opinions and socioeconomic we must demand as the students sity by failing to retain one of the statuses, to name a few. who make this University—is acbest professors at AU. While I applaud AU on creating countability and transparency from What’s more is that this was an an engaged, active and accepting our University administration on the opportunity to diversify our faculty community, more needs to be done. decisions that directly impact our by ensuring that Dr. Prince would be The lack of diversity in our faculty lives. retained for years to come. Instead, is appalling. According to University We must desire more as a student if she decides to leave, which I would statistics, it is comprised of nearly 80 body, and it starts with us. Dr. Prince completely understand, a void will percent (588 out of 750) white pro- deserves better—we all deserve betbe left. fessors. ter—in making this University the Who will continue to mentor her This is simply unacceptable for an best it can be. countless graduate students seeking institution that lauds itself on divertheir doctoral degrees? Who will rep- sity. And when given the opportunity Shea Baker, Class of 2012, SPA resent her unique point of view and to make meaningful changes for the

The denial of tenure to Dr. Sabiyaha Prince raises questions about AU’s commitment to diversity.

theEAGLE OPINION TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Social responsibility principles should extend beyond business partners