January 24, 2012

American University ’s student voice since 1925

January 24, 2012 Volume 86 – Issue 14

THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

VOTING

ADJUNCT FACULTY CONSIDER UNIONIZING

YES?

PAGE 3

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News

Workers’ rights

Students fight for better shuttle driver working conditions 5 TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

Gender-neutral housing to be available in Centennial, Roper

Substance-Free Community

By PATRICK BURNETT

EAGLE STAFF WRITER

By PAIGE JONES EAGLE STAFF WRITER

Students will be able to live with members of the opposite sex in Centennial and Roper Halls next fall.

Housing and Dining’s decision to add gender neutral housing follows a joint effort between Student Government and the Residence Hall Association to lobby Housing and Dining for the change.

“This has been an issue on campus for almost a decade now, and this is the first and largest step in a long time,” Student Government President Tim McBride said in an email.

Gender-neutral housing is intended to allow gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students and students who do not consider themselves traditionally male or female to live in an environment where they feel most comfortable, according to RHA Resolution 11-12-009 passed Dec. 1.

While gender-neutral has existed in Nebraska Hall, the Berkshire Apartments and suites in McDowell Hall, many students have not taken advantage of these opportunities, said Chris Moody, assistant vice president for Housing and Dining.

AU adds drug, alcohol-free housing The Housing Options Task Force, created during the fall semester and consisting of staff and students, also provided Housing and Dining the recommendations for AU’s new living learning communities.

The Substance-Free Living Learning Community in Clark Hall will allow students to live in a guaranteed substancefree environment.

Students living in the Substance-Free Living Learning Community will agree to not be under the influence of alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs while present inside Clark Hall.

Clinton to talk at AU 5

3

Adjunct faculty to vote on unionization Professors deciding whether to join local union, University encourages all adjuncts to vote

Housing and Dining also adds

HAIL TO THE CHIEF

The vote will determine whether the faculty senate or Local 500 of the Service Employees International Union will represent the faculty in resolving any issues with AU administration.

The election will be held from Jan. 19 until Feb. 16, and the majority of votes will determine the outcome.

Ballots must be mailed to the National Labor Relations Board prior to Feb. 16 for the vote to count.

AU promoted the election by distributing and posting notices provided by the NLRB in each of the six schools, posting information on the AU website and sending an email to all eligible voters, according to Provost Scott Bass.

“We want them [adjunct faculty] to make an informed decision and encourage them to vote,” he said.

The NLRB mailed 1,700 secret ballots to all adjunct faculty members who are eligible to vote, which include those who: • Were appointed for a three-year term before or as of Dec. 2, 2011 • Taught a one-credit class in fall 2011 • Have taught a one-credit class two semesters since Jan. 1, 2010 Adjunct faculty members who cannot vote and would not be represented in the union include: • Lab, graduate, teaching and research assistants • Clinical and teaching fellows • Teaching administrators • AU students who are seeking a degree with an adjunct appointment • Full-time staff About 500 adjunct faculty members out of 1,700 possible adjuncts are teaching this semester, according to Bass.

Some choose not to teach every semester for personal and professional reasons.

Continued on page 4

Bass

Voting “No” said adjunct representation

through a union would transform the culture of AU. “It will change the whole way we do business,” he said, noting that the University is concerned about the consequences of the vote.

The Faculty Senate has been creating an ad hoc committee to review adjunct faculty member issues for the upcoming year, but must wait to continue until the vote on the union is over. The Senate is an elected body of faculty members that handles academic and professional issues.

“We’re the academic gatekeepers of the institution,” said Faculty Senate Chair Jim Girard.

Adjunct faculty members are not currently represented on the Faculty Senate.

“The challenge the Faculty Senate will have to address is that some are so busy they wouldn’t have the time or want to serve [on the Faculty Senate],” Girard said. “They barely have time to teach you [students].”

Bass and Girard did not openly state whether or not they support the union, instead encouraging adjunct faculty to vote on the issue.

If the majority of adjuncts chose to continue to be represented by the University, the Faculty Senate will finish electing the committee to address adjunct faculty members’ issues.

Girard said the Faculty Senate will work to offer the adjunct community more representation on campus.

“The Faculty Senate used to be all tenure faculty, which is the norm of major universities and colleges,” Girard said.

“Now seats at AU are open to term and tenure faculty members.”

Girard mentioned a 2011 Chronicle of Higher Education article by Peter Schmidt that applauded the AU’S progress with term faculty by allowing them more job security and representation.

Term faculty are fulltime faculty working under one year or multiyear contracts, which does not include adjuncts.

“In the years since, the University’s administration has taken a long list of steps intended to promote openness, decentralize governance, and leave faculty members feeling more empowered,” Schmidt wrote in the article.

Girard said the University is ahead of other universities across the nation in its handling of term faculty issues.

“I’ve met with leaders from other universities, and they think what we’re doing is really good,” Girard said.

Adjunct faculty members currently receive free parking and retirement benefits, according to Bass.

Not all adjunct faculty members said they believe choosing Local 500 SEIU as their representative is the right decision.

“I wish it was being done by a competition among unions,” School of Communication adjunct Professor Fernando Alessandri said. “Or by a group of lawyers because a union doesn’t have the understanding.”

Alessandri said he would be against forming a union since he expected low pay as an adjunct professor.

“I did it [teach] because I enjoyed it and it was more income,” he said. “I never thought I could live off of it.”

Voting “Yes” College of Arts and Sciences adjunct Professor Mark Plane lives off his wages of $2,900 per course or $19,700 a year.

“To be quite honest, I don’t make a living wage at American University,” he said.

Plane said he would have to teach 15 courses to earn the equivalent of a term faculty member in the anthropology department.

“I have a 21-year-old daughter who makes more than me as a retail manager,” he said.

With rising costs for standard of living, Plane said he is going into debt despite his earned degrees.

“If the union doesn’t prevail, I don’t know how long I can stay,” Plane said.

If adjuncts select the Local 500 as their representative, the union will request to bargain with AU, according to Anne McLeer, the director of research and strategic planning at the Local 500 of SEIU. “We will spend some time gathering information about what they [adjuncts] want to see change,” McLeer said.

The union will draw up a contract and begin negotiations once this information is collected. The amount of time it will take for the contract to go into effect will depend on the cooperation of the University, according to McLeer.

Adjunct faculty will approve the agreed contract before going into effect.

McLeer said adjunct faculty should vote to ensure their voice is heard.

“The adjunct faculty at American University face a historic opportunity to vote ‘yes’ and make a difference,” she said.

“This week they have that chance.”

PJONES@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

theEAGLE NEWS TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

4

AU adds SubstanceFree, Social Justice Learning Communities Continued from Page 3

Students will also refrain from bringing these substances into Clark Hall, Moody said.

“In formal and informal assessments, students share stories about how choices made by hallmates related to alcohol and other drugs have played a role in the quality of their sleep and study environments, even though these substances are not permitted in university housing,” he said in an email.

Social justice-themed housing added to Roper The Social Justice Living Learning Community, to be situated in Roper Hall, will be gender-neutral and will expose students interested in social justice issues to several opportunities to immerse them in the field, Moody said.

“Students will have the opportunity to engage in a wide variety of experiences on the topics of civil rights, women’s rights, GLBT rights and other social justice movements,” Moody wrote in the email.

Eagle Rants

This week’s best & worst of daily Eagle Rants

To “The awkward look guys give you when they find out your ring is a purity ring......” I know how you feel, but fortunately, so does my bf.

To my roommate who complains about being sick and tired all the time Maybe you should trying getting 8 hours of sleep, working out a couple times a week, and eating right? I’m no doctor but seriously, eating pizza at 2am (yes I do hear you opening my fridge and feeding your pie hole) and then staying up for another 2 hours is not the best idea -Common sense PS STOP EATING MY PIZZA Here are some of my predictions for this new year at AU: 1. Cocina Verde will continue making unknown foods that even vegetarians are afraid of.

2. My neighbor will continue slamming the door as if she was being chased by the blue dudes from Avatar 3. The world will NOT end

4.

5.

6.

That crazy guy will finally call me by my name I will remain single. Possibly forever.

The window curtains will get fixed

How can an institution called “The American University,” not have a McDonalds!? It’s an honest question! [Editor’s note: We’re wondering the same thing …]

Sometimes I wish I was pregnant so I would have a valid excuse to end all this stress and just watch movies and read leisurely all day.

You know you eat unhealthy food when you check the expiration date of a refrigerated food item and it doesn’t expire for 3 more years. Preservatives much?

Do you guys know that deputy of events chick? She’s always in MGC 262 and I’m so afraid to talk to her. SG girls are so0o0o0 intimidating... help!

Why can’t we be a bit more like the ancient Greeks? I would totally go to the gym if there were naked girls there.

Tim McBride uses the automatic door openers. Discuss.

One TDR hot dog led to a whole mess of problems. I will never eat a TDR hot dog again.

Snap back to reality. opp there goes gravity Dear biddies squealing on the LA quad, this isn’t a snow storm. There isn’t even an inch of snow. Please stop being annoying.

Hughes has turned into Biddy City! I can’t even get to my mailbox without getting a contact high from the body spray.

Is it true there’s a floor with a cat? I like cats...

“Retention rates ... have shown a trend of being higher for students who participate in a livinglearning community.”

—Chris Moody, assistant vice president for Housing and Dining.

Students in the program will listen to guest speakers, travel to social justice-related sites around D.C. and meet alumni who are working in the field, Moody said.

“National and American University data have shown for several years that students participating in a living learning communities express higher levels of satisfaction with their residence hall and university experience,” he said. “Additionally, retention rates at the University have shown a trend of being higher for students who participate in a living learning community versus those who do not.”

The Online Housing Application will be due Feb. 3 at 11:59 p.m. The Living Learning applications will be due Feb. 3 at 5 p.m.

Students will receive their lottery numbers in an email Feb. 10, according to the Room Selection Guide, which Housing and Dining sent to students Jan. 9.

PBURNETT@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

Tickets to the Founders Day Ball at the Library of Congress will be free since government buildings cannot host fundraisers.

COURTESY OF LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Founders Day Ball to be at Library of Congress

By HEATHER MONGILIO EAGLE STAFF WRITER

This year’s Founders Day Ball will be in the Library of Congress Jefferson Building Feb. 25 at 7 p.m.

Tickets will be free since government buildings, including the Library of Congress, cannot host fundraisers, according to Student Government Vice President Liz Richards.

AU undergraduate and graduate students, as well as staff and alumni, are invited, making the event more like a networking party than a dance.

“It’ll be less of just a social event,” Richards said. “It’ll have more depth to it.”

AU students and alumni will be able to reserve free tickets Feb.1 at eventbrite. com/founders2012.

Students must pick up their

tickets Feb. 6 - 10 in the MGC lobby, or they will be placed on a waiting list, regardless of whether they reserved their tickets.

Organizers have a budget of about $90,000 for Founders Day from Student Government, the Residence Hall Association and the Graduate Leadership Council.

Richards said the Library of Congress is one of the nicest venues in D.C. and is appro-

priate for an AU event since Congress chartered the University in 1893.

“The location has truly been bumped up,” Richards said in an email to The Eagle.

“The food is improved, and the mission of creating school community is now at the forefront.”

Staff writer Zach C. Cohen contributed to this report.

HMONGILIO@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

theEAGLE NEWS TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

Students advocate for shuttle drivers’ workplace rights

AU opens commuter lounges

By NICOLE ATALLAH and HANNAH PITTMAN

Seeking more breaks, contract equality

By NICOLE GLASS EAGLE STAFF WRITER

The Student Worker Alliance is fighting on behalf of AU’s shuttle drivers to get them 15-minute breaks and a defined disciplinary policy.

Shuttle drivers currently receive one 30-minute break during their 8.5-hour shifts, while other AU maintenance employees receive two additional 15-minute breaks during their 8.5-hour work shifts, said Hanaleah Hoberman, a member of the AU Student Worker Alliance.

“Not only is it an indicator of difference of treatment, but it’s not safe,” she said. “Everyone knows that if you’re driving for a really long time, you need a break.”

Although the drivers unionized in 2007, Hoberman said she feels the University has been preventing them from speaking up.

While the disciplinary policy for all other maintenance workers is a strict three-step procedure, the policy for the shuttle drivers states this procedure will “usually” be used for the drivers as well, giving the University the option to terminate their jobs without warning for previous infractions, Hoberman said.

Assistant Director of Facilities Management Mark Feist said, although there may be some leeway, AU abides by the drivers’ “progressive” discipline policy, which is modeled after the threestep procedure and takes gradual actions based on the number of violations committed. Unless drivers endanger others through willful safety violations, this policy will be used, Feist said. AU has a list of situations where such policy does not have to be followed, but Feist said he did not know the specifics.

“In AU’s policy there’s a list of situations where a first offence could be a violation,” he said.

However, shuttle drivers and the AU Student Alliance say they remain troubled by the “vagueness” of the policy, which leaves drivers uncertain about their job security.

“Workers can be fired for pretty much any reason with little justifi-

cation, and the traditional threestep procedure isn’t necessarily used,” said Ethan Miller, an AU Student Workers’ Alliance member. “Which is dangerous because it leaves open a lot of [room] for intimidation.”

One shuttle driver, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that during last summer’s contract negotiation, AU refused to provide the requested 15-minute breaks for the shuttle drivers’ 8.5-hour shifts, even though other maintenance employees receive them.

Feist said shuttle drivers received these breaks as long as they worked a total of nine hours. The shuttle driver, however, said he would like to receive these breaks for working the same amount of time – 8.5 hours – that other AU maintenance workers do.

Now that the new contract is in place, the driver said the shuttle staff has given up fighting.

“We have already signed the agreement, so there is nothing we can do,” he said. “I don’t want to get too involved in publishing newspaper articles and all that, because then management can do something. I’m afraid a little bit.”

While the AU Student Workers’ Alliance meets with the drivers regularly and hears their concerns about the disciplinary policy and lack of adequate breaks, Transportation Operations and Maintenance Manager Alef Worku said he has not received any complaints from drivers and that there is a good relationship between drivers and the management.

“I haven’t heard anything as far as wanting an additional break,” Worku said. “We have to abide by the contract. I sincerely speaking haven’t heard from them.”

But the shuttle driver said fear prevents the drivers from speaking to the management, which is why they have not been heard from since the negotiations.

“We are kind of discouraged and disheartened to fight for our rights,” the driver said. “There are only two or three people who want to fight, the others are scared. We just want to work and go home.”

AU currently employs 12 fulltime and five part-time shuttle drivers,Hoberman said.

5

EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

The Office of Campus Life opened a lounge in the East Quad Building and in the library near the Mudbox to build a sense of community among commuter and transfer students.

Christina Rodriguez, president of the Transfer Student Association, said commuting students at AU have long had a lack of resources designed exclusively to help with their unique plights.

Vice President of Campus Life Gail Hanson spoke at the opening ceremony of the AU Commuter Lounge on the first floor of EQB Jan. 18.

Hanson said the Transfer Student Association and AU Veterans had lobbied for the space that would create a sense of community for students who commuted to campus.

“The transfer students need a better sense of place here on campus,” she said at the ceremony. “Since that is not going to be in the dorm, they suggested a lounge that would allow a place to store their belongings during the day, socialize, study and meet each other would be

the ideal thing.”

Scott Jones, the director of operations of the University Center, was the project manager of the lounges. He was responsible for installing the furniture and decorations of the lounge as well as the assembly of the 72 lockers in EQB and 36 lockers in the library.

Jones explained that the lockers are open to commuter students to use during the day but become unavailable after

“The transfer students need a better sense of place here on campus.”

–Vice President of Campus Life Gail Hanson

the building closes in order to ensure that no student will monopolize a locker for multiple days at a time.

Jones and his crew also installed more electrical outlets for student use.

After the grand opening of the Commuter Lounge in EQB, the administrative staff visited the basement of the Bender Library where the Commuter Corner is located.

The enclave, previously a reserve desk in the library, is equipped with 36 day-lockers and intended to be used as a smaller space — and one that is also handicap-accessible — for graduate students and commuters to study and store material, said University Librarian Bill Mayer.

As most living space on campus is occupied by freshmen, sophomores and faculty, finding space for the lounge was difficult.

Hanson said the space in EQB has always been a haven for students and seemed the perfect fit for the lounge.

“This space was a little bit special because it had a tradition as the Davenport Lounge and it was built in a little different way,” Hanson said.

Administrators wanted to uphold the integrity of the space that, according to Hanson, was once the Davenport Chapel, and to keep the area an important part of AU students’ lives for years to come. Inside the lounge, students can still see the steps that once held the altar and the tapered ceiling that resemble the older use of the space.

NEWS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

NGLASS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

HYUNJIN PARK / THE EAGLE

Students study in the new Commuter Lounge in the East Quad Building.

theEAGLE NEWS TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

6

D.C. to help AU workers move closer to campus

President Bill Clinton to speak at AU on Friday

City launches pilot program with AU and Gallaudet

By KATIE FIEGENBAUM EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray is partnering with AU and Gallaudet University in a pilot grant program to encourage employees to live closer to their workplaces.

The program will give each institution between $3,000 and $6,000 per employee, for up to 10 employees.

These funds will help them move within two miles of their workplace, within a half-mile of a Metro station or within a quarter-mile of a bus station, according to a Dec. 20 Washington Business Journal article. Each institution will match the amount of money given from the D.C. government.

Linda Argo, AU’s Assistant Vice President of External Relations and Strategic Initiatives, has worked with the city on the project, called “Live Near Your Work.”

Argo said the project will launch in March at AU, and many details are still being worked out regarding the application process and the rules on the funds.

The project will create a stronger and more stable tax base, cause less pollution and less traffic, and create a reliable workforce, according to Gray’s speech about the project at Gallaudet University Dec. 20.

“Everybody needs to commute less and live more,” said Harriet Tregoning, D.C.’s planning director, in a Dec. 20 speech about the program.

The pilot project, which is hoped to be expanded to other institutions as early as this spring, will give the money in either a grant or a zero percent interest loan and is open to households of all income levels, according to the D.C. Office of Planning.

NEWS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

CROSSWORDS + SUDOKU PAGE 17

COURTESY OF THE WHITE HOUSE

Bill Clinton served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 until 2001. Clinton will be receiving the new “Wonk of the Year” award

By ZOE CRAIN EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Former President Bill Clinton will speak in Bender Area Jan. 27 at 7 p.m., where he will receive the inaugural “Ameri-

can University Wonk of the Year Award.”

The award, established by the Kennedy Political Union and AU this year, recognizes an individual’s implementation of ideas and policies designed

SIS ranks in top 10 for undergrad, masters programs

By MARIE ZOGLO EAGLE STAFF WRITER

Foreign Policy magazine ranked the School of International Service the 10th best international studies undergraduate program.

SIS’s masters program came in eighth on the best graduate programs list.

The results are based on the Teaching, Research and International Policy survey performed by the Institute for the Theory and Practice of International Relations at the College of William and Mary.

Foreign Policy is a prominent publication about international relations.

“It’s always great to be viewed to be in

to create change in the world, said Student Government Vice President Liz Richards.

Student tickets sold out for Clinton’s speech on Friday within hours of KPU’s Jan. 22 announcement of their Speaker of the Year.

SG staff are looking into options for expanding access to the speech, SG Vice President Liz Richards said. KPU staff will post additional tickets on kpu.eventbrite.com if they become available.

Clinton previously spoke at AU as president in 1993 and 1997.

In 2005, he founded the Clinton Global Initiative University event to address global issues such as poverty, education and healthcare, according to its website.

“Clinton is probably the best known wonk in the world,” Richards said. “Being a wonk is about creating ideas for the next generation, and I think it’s important to have him championing this case and these ideas.”

Richards was quick to give credit to KPU Director Alex Kreger, who is responsible for arranging Clinton’s visit and creating the award.

“KPU and I worked in tandem, but Alex is the one driving this through,” Richards

the top 10,” SIS Dean James Goldgeier said. “Since we have both master’s students and undergraduates to be considered to be in the top 10 in both categories, I think it is really a great achievement for us. But, of course, our goal is to work hard to make SIS the best school it could possibly be, so we will keep trying to work our way up.”

The top 10 lists also included schools such as Stanford, Yale and Harvard University. George Washington University came in ninth and Georgetown University came in fi fth for best undergraduate international relations programs.

“It’s great to be listed in that group,” Goldgeier said. “I’m delighted that the group that got this survey thought highly of us but there are all sorts of things that we do that don’t even get captured by this survey.”

Political scientists administered the survey, so it did not account for the interdisciplinary approach of SIS, Goldgeier said.

“We have an outstanding program in international development,” Goldgeier,

said. “Without her hard work, neither this event, nor this award would even be possible.”

KPU staff came up with the idea of the award by examining the school’s WONK campaign and identifying a person who embodied all the qualities expected from an AU wonk.

“President Clinton took policy and found a way to bring it to the people,” Richards said. “Policy should translate into people’s lives, and I think that’s what AU’s really about.”

Clinton’s speech is titled “Embracing Our Common Humanity.” Richards emphasized that the theme of the event is the use of policy to aid different groups of people.

Clinton will not take questions from the audience. Instead, AU students can send questions ahead of time via Facebook, Twitter or kpu@ ausg.org.

Clinton will hold the fi fth annual Clinton Global Initiative University event at George Washington University from March 1 to April 1, designed primarily for college students.

Staff writer Zach C. Cohen contributed to this report.

ZCRAIN@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

said. “We have a very unique program in international communication. We have a program in international peace and conflict resolution that the other schools don’t. We have a global environment program that’s very cutting edge. We have a U.S. foreign policy program, which Georgetown and GW don’t have.”

SIS’s doctorate program did not make the top 10 list.

“Our PhD program is an interdisciplinary program within a school of international affairs that’s very different than the standard PhD program in international relations which typically is in a political science department,” Goldgeier said.

Goldgeier said that, while SIS’s ranking was exciting, the goal is to continue to build on SIS’s interdisciplinary approach.

“In many respects, the goal isn’t to do things here to respond to that survey but just to continue to improve on what we do and to make sure that we have the highest quality research taking place and the highest quality teaching place,” Goldgeier said.

MZOGLO@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

theEAGLE NEWS TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

University implements paperless payment system Transition to finish by Feb. 29

By SAMANTHA HOGAN EAGLE STAFF WRITER

AU will transition to a paperless payment system for all employees in February, in its continued effort to become a more environmentally conscious and sustainable campus in February.

Direct deposit and TotalPay Cards will be the only payment methods utilized by the University.

AU employees were informed of the transition Nov. 9 in an official memo from Merenda Tate, assistant director of payroll. The memo outlined the two payment options that AU was offering and provided links to forms for both direct deposit and TotalPay Cards.

TotalPay Cards function the same as debit cards and are the default option for • all full- and part-time staff who do not change their payment method by Feb. 3, • part-time faculty and students by Feb. 17 • full-time faculty and staff and full-time students receiving stipends by Feb. 29.

Direct deposit is AU’s preferred option and has been used by a majority of employees since the announcement of the transition, said Nishtha Ram, the front desk secretary for the Office of Payroll and a junior in the Kogod School of Business.

Last year 15 percent of AU employees received paper paychecks. Since the initiative was announced, one-third of that group has opted to receive direct deposit payment, according to Ravi Raman, director of finance communications at AU. Only a very small amount of people have chosen to receive TotalPay Cards.

Approximately 12 percent of employees have taken no action, according to Raman.

AU’s goal is to reduce the amount of paper it consumes on a biweekly and monthly basis. Raman referred to the transition as a modernization of the University’s payment method to help AU become more green and sustainable.

“This will help us achieve our

institutional goal of sending zero waste to landfills, as well as our ambitious Carbon Neutrality target of 2020,” said Joshua Kaplan, sustainability outreach specialist in AU’s Office of Sustainability.

By switching to a purely electronic payment system, AU will reduce both its consumption of the resources that go into paper production as well as the emissions that result from shipping paychecks to employees, Kaplan said.

The Nov. 9 memo noted the three major benefits of switching to paperless checking included free access to funds 24/7, a new automatic depositing method that will prove security against lost and stolen and the system’s ecofriendly nature, which will help minimize environmental waste and pollutants.

“I highly support the University’s initiative,” said Josephine Chu, a first-year masters student, employee at the School of International Service and a Green Eagle. “I use direct deposit, and it is really convenient. Lower paper consumption and smaller environmental impact are goals I would see achievable this transition.”

Response to the transition has been positive thus far, according to Raman.

“Many staff members have expressed excitement that Payroll is launching this new initiative – for its increased convenience, efficiency and environmental friendliness,” Raman noted over email.

However, a few individuals said they are annoyed by the absence of paper records, Ram said.

Pay stubs can still be viewed online and printed out for personal records.

“The switch represents the larger idea of thinking outside of the box — changing the way that our systems of information delivery work, but achieving the same result with fewer resources used,” Kaplan said. “It’s more efficient, and is an example of the greater shifts that we’re going to have go through as a society to continue living on this planet with the same quality of life we currently enjoy.

That, in a nutshell, is what sustainability is all about.”

SHOGAN@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

Taskforce reviews AU alcohol policy

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In new book, professor alleges Nixon’s gay affair

By RYAN MIGEED EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

By PATRICK BURNETT EAGLE STAFF WRITER

The Office of the Dean of Students is expected to release its recommendations this spring about AU’s alcohol policies and education.

The Alcohol and Other Drug Task Force reconvened in spring 2011 following a several-year hiatus, according to Dean of Students Robert Hradsky, the task force co-chair. The Task Force consists of AU students, faculty and staff.

The Task Force will look at ways to encourage students to abstain from drinking or to drink in moderation, according to Hradsky and Kate Diemidio, Wellness Center health educator and task force cochair.

“Our hope is that, between the online education program and these other ways that we are reaching out to students, that they are making better choices about alcohol consumption if they choose to drink,” Hradsky said.

AU is currently pursuing several educational efforts to help students make choices about alcohol.

These efforts include requiring first-year students to complete AlcoholEDU, teaching students about the impacts of alcohol during the summer Eagle Summit and requiring resident assistants to speak to residents about alcohol consumption, according to Hradsky.

“The Task Force is looking at all of those issues and will be making recommendations pertaining to those areas and in regard to whether or not we need to change what we’re doing,” Hradsky said.

The recommendations will be passed on to Gail Hanson, the vice president of campus life, Hradsky said.

PBURNETT@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

Was President Richard M. Nixon the crook he’s made out to be?

According to former White House correspondent and AU Adjunct Professor Donald Fulsom, he was.

In his new book “Nixon’s Darkest Secrets,” Fulsom said Nixon sabotaged the 1968 Vietnam peace talks, was an abusive husband and may have had a gay love affair with a banker tied to the mob. Fulsom enlisted the help of his students to write the book, to be published Jan. 31.

Fulsom said Nixon was as a paranoid, troubled, depressed man who was “a menace to our democratic republic.”

“Nixon was our most complex and crookedest president, and I thought people should know about it so we don’t make that mistake again,” he said.

Fulsom’s research drew heavily from his own notes and those of some friends and former reporters who covered Nixon. He has reported for United Press International on the Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Reagan and Clinton administrations.

Fulsom said he also talked to Nixon administration officials, White House staff, Secret Service and household staff as he wrote the book.

His motivation to write the book came from the release of previously unheard tapes and records. He said he wanted to perform a public service by getting this information out. “[I want] to let people know that Richard Nixon was even worse as a president than we thought,” he said.

Four AU students helped Fulsom write the book, including one who helped to write an entire chapter.

Avi McClelland, a senior in the School of Public Affairs, took Fulsom’s class, “Watergate: Constitutional Crisis,” last fall. She said she agreed with Fulsom’s unsympathetic view of the 37th president.

“He had no business holding the highest office in the nation,” McClelland said in an email. “He was responsible for thousands of deaths of Americans, Vietnamese and Cambodians, not only during his time in office but even prior, as he intentionally and directly sabo-

COURTESY OF MACMILLAN PUBLISHING

In his new book, Professor Donald Fulsom discusses Nixon’s alleged mob connections and his “sabotage” of Vietnam peace talks. taged Johnson’s Paris peace talks by urging the South Vietnamese to refrain from making a deal.”

McClelland was the manager and coordinator of the class’ final project. The students developed a wiki page on Nixon’s grand jury testimony, based on extensive research of the newly released tapes. The project can be found at nixondetached.com.

McClelland called the project “one of the greatest things I’ve participated in over the course of my academic career.”

However, not everyone agreed with Fulsom’s take on Nixon.

Kirkus Reviews, a book review site, said some of his claims seemed sensationalistic.

“I wouldn’t go that far,” Fulsom said. “The possibility that he was having a homosexual affair is sensationalistic, but I don’t make that claim and I don’t come to a conclusion on it. He [Nixon] was a racist, he was a misogynist and he hated everybody.”

Having researched Nixon firsthand, McClelland defends Fulsom and his book.

“It is vital to keep in mind that the professor’s claims are all just that. He suggests certain possibilities and presents the evidence behind them, but has never been dogmatic as to the voracity of the claims,” McClelland said in an email. “He allows the evidence to speak for itself, and the readers to interpret.”

NEWS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

theEAGLE NEWS TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

8

Photo of the Week

ANA SANTOS / THE EAGLE

AU students spread out across D.C. Jan. 21 for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, organized by AU’s Center for Community Engagement and Service.

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Tuesday, Jan. 31st @ 7p.m. in the Abramson Family Founders Room (SIS)

The tenth annual Bruce Poynter Lecture presented by The Ofce of the University Chaplain

SILVER SCREEN

The Scene shares the most anticipated movies of 2012.

13 TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

D.C. CHILLIN’

Scene

AUDIOPHILE

Four exciting February shows and one AU singer-songwriter. 11

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DIANA BOWEN / THE EAGLE

This year marks the Year of the Dragon, according to the lunar calendar. In the Chinese zodiac, the Dragon is the mightiest of all signs. Celebrate the new year in Chinatown, with a variety of different activities throughout the week, ranging from lion and dragon-filled parades to live music and traditional Chinese calligraphy.

Ringing in the Year of the Dragon with parades, dances in Chinatown

By CHELSEA CLAYS EAGLE COLUMNIST

Jan. 23 officially rang in the lunar calendar’s Year of the Dragon, but the festivities go into full swing this Sunday in the heart of D.C.’s Chinatown.

The Eagle gives you a full guide to the downtown celebration from what to do, where to go and what to eat! Don’t forget to wear red (a color that supposedly wards off evil spirits), and you’ll ring in this New Year in a fun new way.

What to Do In order to beat the crowds that in past years have reached upwards of around 40,000 people, arrive early and head to Chinatown Coffee Co. for a morning pick-me-up. This coffee shop serves special brands of Direct Trade coffee and locally sourced dairy and pastries by world class baristas and was recently named

by The Washingtonian Magazine as the best of Penn Quarter.

For information on menu, hours and prices please visit

www.chinatowncoffee.com.

Before the big Chinese New Year Parade kicks off Jan. 29, head to D.C.’s Chinese Cultural Community Center at noon to learn more about the importance and traditions of the Chinese New Year. Live music and dance performances, traditional Chinese calligraphy, face painting, tai chi and kung fu demonstrations, lion dancing, film screenings, art and photo exhibits, raffle prizes, New Year souvenirs, free giveaways and much more will be hosted at the center. Best part? It’s free!

For more information on events and times, visit the Chinese Cultural Community Center’s website at www.ccccdc.org.

Where to Go D.C.’s Chinese New Year Parade kicks off at 2 p.m. Jan. 29, but be sure to arrive early (at least before 1:30 p.m.) to snag the best spot for photos and viewing the lion dancers. An elaborate display of costumed dancers and parade floats will wind along 7th and H Street, right through the heart of Chinatown. The biggest highlight of the parade will be the traditional Chinese Dragon Dance as well as the giant firecrackers set to go off in the middle of the event!

For more information on times and the parade route visit www.chineseparadedc.com.

What to Eat Chinatown is, of course, the obvious place to go for great Chinese food, but for an upscale twist on Chinese cuisine, try Ping Pong Dim Sum, which takes traditional dim sum and spices it up with new flavor combinations and a swanky environment. The chicken puffs are out of this world.

Also, through the 15 days of the Chinese New Year, they’re offering deluxe fixed-price menus as well as drink specials and raffles. For more information on specials and to make reservations, please visit www.pingpongdimsum.us.

THESCENE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

theEAGLE SCENE TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

AUDIOPHILE Freshman musician working on solo album CAS student Sarah Kapilow is an aspiring pop-rock artist

By CHRISTINE LY EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Most of us are probably just casual listeners when it comes to music, only going as far as to play the air guitar with our headphones on.

On the flipside, Sarah Kapilow, a CAS freshman majoring in audio technology, goes above and beyond to perform those glorious beats in front of a crowd of strangers. Ka-

pilow is an accomplished singer-songwriter.

“Music has been in my life since I was born, especially since my dad is a classic composer,” Kapilow said.

Beginning with guitar at age 10, Kapilow then took up the piano and bass guitar. At 14, she joined her first band. She then formed the band Leighton with a few of her friends back in her native New Jersey, playing various gigs and self-releasing songs.

In terms of genre, she considers her band’s music to be pop punk, while her current solo work is more acoustic indie rock.

Her musical inspirations include Ben Gibbard from Death Cab for Cutie,

This February, cheaper shows in smaller places

By MAEVE MCDERMOTT EAGLE STAFF WRITER

The 9:30 club and the Black Cat’s mainstages are far from the only stages in town worth your attention. Next month, venture out to one of D.C.’s other venues to see these smaller (and cheaper!) shows.

FEB. 8 — VERONICA FALLS @ BLACK CAT BACKSTAGE / $10

While the Black Cat’s main stage combines the big-name acts of the 9:30 club with the dark, intimate vibe of the city’s smaller stages, the Black Cat Backstage may as well be in a different building entirely. Tucked way in the back of the venue behind the Red Room Bar, the Backstage books lesser-known acts and puts them in a space the size of your living room.

Playing their first-ever D.C. show, British band Veronica Falls brings their earnest take on twee pop to the Backstage Feb. 8. Touring with fellow Slumberland labelmates, Brilliant Colors, Veronica Falls is a band you’ll enjoy being three feet away from in a darkened room.

FEB. 11 – STAR SLINGER @ DC9 / $15

Alexi Murdoch and Haley Williams from Paramore.

Kapilow performs both original songs and covers.

The latter is mostly a “fun way to figure out my own style [and to] spark ideas,” she said.

Kapilow has been approached by labels before but she said, “it’s better to be self-sustaining. You control your own ticket [sales] and the production [process].”

Kapilow has been working on a solo album, due out around June.

She’s not stranded without help though; she’s received guidance from her department professors “[who] have been supportive [in] helping me develop my writing and recording.”

You can often find her in the practice rooms at Katzen or performing at Open Mic Nights hosted

The DC9 stage has been more likely to host a punk or folk act than a DJ in the past, but for the club’s 8th anniversary party Feb. 11, DC9 hosts Star Slinger, the British DJ and producer Darren Williams. Williams is one of the precious few producers today who know how to wield a remi effectively and has infused his stuttering, J Dilla-style production with a bevy of songs by everyone from Blackbird Blackbird and How to Dress Well to Childish Gambino and Rihanna. Come to DC9 to hear (and watch) Williams fuse clips of radio bangers together and stay for his glowing, soulful original beats.

FEB. 16 – ZOLA JESUS @ U HALL / $15

If thinking about “D.C. clubs” brings to mind freshman year floor outings soundtracked by terrible house remixes, it’s time to visit U Street Music Hall. U Hall may be best known for hosting the District’s DJ royalty, but the U Hall’s recent partnership with the 9:30 club brings acts of a different flavor to the space, from Philly punk veterans like the Dead Milkmen to electro-pop chanteuse Class Actress.

On Feb. 16, U Hall hosts Zola Jesus, the stage name of Russian vocalist Nika Rosa Danilova. Think Florence the Machine, if Florence bleached her hair and dumped her bloated orchestral arrangements for sparse, metallic doom-wave.

Both women’s music has the same expansive sound, and U Hall’s killer sound Continued on Page 12

by WVAU. She likes the creative environment at Katzen and hopes that, “[my] degree will expand my name and incorporate into my dream of running my own studio.”

She wants to see her current project eventually develop into new band.

Fresh to D.C.’s music scene, she’s excited to visit the District’s concert venues.

Covers from Katy Perry to Mumford & Sons can be streamed on Kapilow’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/sarahkapilowmusic.

Stay tuned for more profiles of AU student musicians!

THESCENE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

CAS freshman Sarah Kapilow is a singer-songwriter.

COURTESY OF SARAH KAPILOW

11

theEAGLE SCENE TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

12

Upcoming shows from twee to goth-pop Veronica Falls, Zola Jesus, Star Slinger and Javelin for under $20 each Continued from Page 11

system is ideal for accommodating Danilova’s sweeping, operatic voice.

Zola Jesus is far from U Hall’s typical fare of DJ sets, but her gothic take on pop music is an essential for your week of antiValentine’s Day festivities.

FEB. 25 — JAVELIN @ RED PALACE / $12

By this point, the “Sh*t D.C. Says” video has reached ubiquity on our social networks, and one of the lines that rang truest in the parody video is when the wig-donning dude rebuffs his friend’s invite with the line, “Yeah, but H Street is so hard to get to!” True, it takes a special concert to warrant the cocktail of public transportation or the $20 cab ride needed to get to the venues on H Street, and Javelin at the Red Palace Feb. 25 is one such show.

WVAU brought the Providence electronic band to campus last year for the free Capital Punishment concert series, and Javelin turned the basement of Kay Spiritual Center into a gleefully sweaty dance party.

The prospective damage Javelin could inflict on the postcard-sized Red Palace makes for one of the most exciting shows this winter, so pick up one of the $12 tickets and prepare for an evening of tons of dancing and very little dignity.

MMCDERMOTT@THEEAGLEONLINE. COM

Porcelain Raft makes bedroom pop LP that’s far from fragile Mauro Remiddi delivers pitch-perfect debut album, “Strange Weekend,” as Porcelain Raft

By LEO ZAUSEN EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Right now, Mauro Remiddi is probably sitting alone in his Brooklyn flat, watching the tremendous amount of buzz pile up around “Strange Weekend,” his new LP under the moniker Porcelain Raft.

Remiddi has been creating music for a while now, but earlier examples of his work are nothing like the “Strange Weekend” of to-

day. It’s almost like at the start of 2011, he ditched everything he knew about music and started fresh, which was probably one of his better decisions in his career.

Remiddi’s complete perspective on music has transformed as his sound has completely developed from a simplistic guitarbased rhythm to a synthetic programmed style — and it works.

People are noticing this transformation.

Opening stints on recent tours with Yuck, Youth Lagoon and M83 aren’t the worst three gigs in the world, and whether or not “Strange Weekend” receives the same level of critical attention as Remiddi’s accomplished tourmates, it’s probable that this is the last year that Porcelain Raft will be opening for any band.

“Strange Weekend” opens with “Drifting In and Out” which has this steady thrill that creeps in from the corners and weaves in

and out of the entire song, accompanied by Remiddi’s fine-tuned vocals.

Everything is so methodological that it seems almost too practiced, but it’s a perfect combination of aesthetics and natural sound, something that artists have sought to perfect for years.

Two new songs that Remiddi debuted at his Daytrotter session, “Shapeless and Gone” and “Backwords,” are also some of the best on the album.

Such tunes amplify Remiddi’s ability to not only create upbeat ,danceable songs, but also to generate intimate, slower-paced music. They seemingly contrast each other in terms of style but still retain the same quality.

Toward the end of his album, the tracks just continue to grow stronger, concluding with a string of slow songs that are sure to be overlooked. The closer of the album, “The Way In,” is one of the effort’s better works.

But ultimately, the album’s lead single, “Put Me To Sleep”, proves to be Remiddi’s strongest effort on the album, whose euphoric

COURTESY OF PORCELAIN RAFT

Catch Porcelain Raft, the oneman recording project of Mauro Remiddi, opens for Smith Westerns at the Black Cat Feb. 1. Remiddi’s debut album, “Strange Weekend” is released today and features the single, “Put Me to Sleep.” Porcelain Raft has supported M83, Youth Lagoon and Yuck on recent tours. ambience, bounded by Remiddi’s simple, nostalgic lyrics, makes an early case for inclusion among the best songs of the year.

Bloggers should be sure to not dub this as “another bedroom pop project.”

This album provides an innovative and interesting take on a stale genre. At its best, “Strange Weekend” proves Remiddi’s ability to synthesize the natural into the unnatural and vice versa.

In his first attempt at an LP, Porcelain Raft exceeded all the expectations derived from his previous recordings and secured his spot among 2012’s best new artists.

THESCENE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

theEAGLE SCENE TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

SILVER SCREEN

High profile sequels, adaptations among 2012’s star-studded films The Scene staff picks their most anticipated spring and summer flicks.

COURTESY OF SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT

RED TAILS GRADE: A

By JANE MORICE EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Sitting in the theater before the screening of George Lucas’s new film “Red Tails,” one could have sworn the film was being shown in Hollywood, not the Chinatown neighborhood of D.C. Cameras flashed, taking shots of Miss D.C. Ashley Boalch, Miss D.C. Teen Imani Bentham and the numerous Tuskegee Airmen (whom the film was about) who were able to attend the screening.

The anticipation surrounding this movie was immense, with the backstory behind the production of the film being the center of the conversation. Lucas used his own money, in excess of $90 million, to fund the making of “Red Tails” when he could not find a film company willing to bankroll the film.

The Tuskegee Airmen were the very first air corps in the U.S. military comprised of all black men, formed during World War II. While the Airmen were initially stationed in Italy, they never saw combat.

But the confident head of the Airmen, Colonel Bullard (Terrence Howard, “Iron Man”) was able to convince his superiors that the Tuskegee Airmen are more than capable of flying during combat missions and assisting the United States in winning the war.

“Red Tails” was unbelievably entertaining from the very beginning, with the opening scene depicting a dogfight

between Germans and American enemy aircrafts.

Lucas’s extensive knowledge and talent in special effects made every flight scene realistic; never once did it feel like the effects were cheaply done.

While the battle scenes were lively and violent (as to be expected), they were not particularly gruesome and certainly wellshot. The additional settings in the movie, such as Italian villages and the air base, were wonderfully depicted.

The main characters of the film are relatively unknown actors, but that is not to say they played their roles poorly in the least.

Marty “Easy” Julian (Nate Parker, “The Secret Life of Bees”) and Joe “Lightning” Little (David Oyelowo, “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”) are great friends and talented leading pilots among the airmen, yet each has his own personal plotlines that add more dimensions to this film.

The depth of the film increased with the humor displayed by almost all of the actors, especially “Smoky” Adams (R&B star Ne-Yo) and “Ray Gun” Gannon (Tristan Wilds, “90210”).

One aspect of this film that could have been done differently is the poorly delivered and stereotypically racist dialogue of the white characters.

In addition, this film is one of those rare movies that would look even better in 3-D. 3-D effects would enhance the already exhilarating flight scenes.

THESCENE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

13

The Dark Knight Rises Of all the big-budget superhero blockbusters coming out this year, “The Dark Knight Rises” is probably one of the few that makes pseudointellectuals feel like they aren’t starved for watercooler fodder.

With critics watching director Christopher Nolan’s every move, the anticipation for the third installment in his Batman trilogy has never been higher. Not that they don’t have a reason. “The Dark Knight” (2008), the sequel to 2005’s “Batman Begins,” was released to critical acclaim and gave audiences Heath Ledger’s iconic, Oscar-winning performance as the Joker.

Now with the giant

shadow of “The Dark Knight” looming over “The Dark Knight Rises,” Nolan has assembled an all-star cast, including oldtimers Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman, and new additions Tom Hardy (as new villain Bane), Anne Hathaway (as Selina Kyle/Catwoman), Marion Cotillard and Joseph-Gordon Levitt.

Mystery still surrounds the film’s plot, but rumors abound among the geek and comic book circles, mostly pertaining to the infamous 1993 comic book storyline in “Knightfall” where Bane breaks Batman’s back.

It’s all speculation for now, but the one thing we know for sure is that “The Dark Knight Rises” will be an action-packed film for the ages.

-Hoai-Tran Bui

The Perks of Being a Wallflower Based on the novel of the same name by Stephen Chbosky, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” is destined to be one of the next great teen films.

Sure, it’s not quite in the epic vein of John Hughes films, but what sets it apart is its firm grip on reality. Jake Ryan isn’t miraculously sitting on a convertible outside of your home with birthday cake, some kid named Ferris isn’t out getting away with anything he wants and five kids aren’t sitting in detention, bonding over their eccentricities.

And yet, “The Perks” still manages to have a dreamlike quality about it because of the beautiful reality of its characters.

The film stars Logan Continued on Page 14

ENTER TO WIN For your chance to win a run of engagement pass good for two people to see the film, email your name and address to underworldeagle @gmail.com ONE ENTRY PER EMAIL ADDRESS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. RUN OF ENGAGEMENT PASS GOOD FOR TWO ADMISSIONS AT SPECIFIED THEATER. PASSES VALID MONDAY-THURSDAY, NO HOLIDAYS. TICKET HAS NO CASH VALUE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER FILM TITLE OR THEATER CHAIN. PASS HAS NO VALUE ONCE RUN OF ENGAGEMENT ENDS. CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS FOR SHOWTIMES AND THEATERS. ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL REGULATIONS APPLY. THE EAGLE, SCREEN GEMS AND THEIR AFFILIATES ACCEPT NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY IN CONNECTION WITH ANY LOSS OR ACCIDENT INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH USE OF A PRIZE. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. PARTICIPATING SPONSORS, THEIR EMPLOYEES AND FAMILY MEMBERS, AND THEIR AGENCIES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE.

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theEAGLE SCENE TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

14

TV PICK: Abrams’ promising ‘Alcatraz’ AFTER A WEAK SERIES PREMIERE, ‘ALCATRAZ’ COULD BE A HIT OR MISS

By HOAI-TRAN BUI EAGLE STAFF WRITER

COURTESY OF RON PHILLIPS

Prominent directors spearhead year’s films Continued from Page 13

Lerman (“Percy Jackson and the Olympians”) as Charlie, a troubled high school freshman who meets two upperclassmen who pull him out of his wallflower ways. Emma Watson (every “Harry Potter” film ever) and Ezra Miller (“We Need to Talk About Kevin”) play Sam and Patrick, the seniors determined to include Charlie in their fun, despite his crippling shyness and naiveté.

What ensues is a classic, yet fresh take on the coming-of-age tale (read: parties, drugs, sex and tears).

For fans of the book who worry the novel-to-film transition will be butchered: Relax.

Chbosky has heard your wishes and is writing and directing the film himself — how’s that for a teenage dream?

-Yohana Desta Moonrise Kingdom It’s been a little over two years since Wes Anderson last had a movie in theaters, and, with this spring’s “Moonrise Kingdom,” Anderson reunites with co-writer Roman Coppola, with whom he collaborated on his 2007 film “The Darjeeling Limited.”

“Kingdom” tells the story of two star-crossed teenagers who run away together and the adults of their small New England town search to find them.

Anderson’s last picture “Fan-

tastic Mr. Fox” was the director’s first attempt at an animated film, and “Kingdom” shows a return to form, featuring the same whimsical stylistic elements that Anderson fans have come to recognize and love.

In typical Anderson fashion, “Kingdom” also stars beloved collaborators Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman, with a cast rounded out by Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Frances McDormand and Tilda Swinton.

“Kingdom” is set in 1965, so the coupling of Anderson’s idiosyncratic vibe with 1960s style makes for one of the most anticipated films of the spring.

-Maeve McDermott The Great Gatsby Usually I’m not a big fan of remakes as far as movies go, but after sitting through the original 1974 “Great Gatsby” in my 12th grade English class, I’m excited to see a fresh take on the classic story.

Set to release on Christmas day this year, “The Great Gatsby” will star Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby, Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan and Tobey Maguire as Nick Carraway.

Based on the classic novel, the story follows Nick Carraway and his fascination with his new neighbor, Jay Gatsby, after Carraway moves from the Midwest to a rich area of Long Island. Soon Carraway finds that Gatsby’s money may not exactly buy him happiness, as he is faced with romance, drama and tragedy.

If this movie is anything like the book, I’m sure it will be the movie to see this year. If not, then the movie is two hours spent looking at Leo. -Kendall Breitman

When the premise for a new J.J. Abrams TV show involves a mysterious island, an enigmatic authority figure and vague science fiction elements, it’s easy to wonder if we’re stuck in some flashback to 2004.

It’s the premise for “Alcatraz,” a show based around the infamous federal prison that closed down in 1963.

Of course all is not as it seems for the prisoners, who were supposedly transferred when the facility closed down, had disappeared into thin air and are now popping up randomly in present day.

The show chooses not to delve into the inherent mysteries of the premise, instead opting for a monster-of-the-week formula, with Detective Rebecca Madsen (Sarah Jones) chasing after a new convict each episode with the help of Alcatraz expert Diego Soto (“Lost” alum Jorge Garcia) and mysterious FBI agent Emerson Hauser (Sam Neill).

With Jones blatantly channeling another Abrams heroine, Olivia Dunham from “Fringe,” and the first episode succumbing to tropes and clichés that Abrams is making an unfortunate pattern of overusing, “Alcatraz” borders on the generic.

Although it suffers heavily from its similarities to “Lost” and “Fringe,” it shows plenty of promise when given an intriguing villain (as in the second episode) and some oldfashioned character twists.

HBUI@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

Opinion

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

STAFF EDITORIAL

15

GENDER-NEUTRAL HOUSING IS A WELCOME OPTION AU is a school that prides itself on its diversity, its progressive attitudes and its commitment to fostering a welcoming environment for each one of its students.

In accordance with these ideals, our student body has developed a well-deserved LGBT-friendly reputation.

Early this month, Student Government President Tim McBride and the Residence Hall Association further cemented this reputation when Housing and Dining announced AU will offer additional gender-neutral housing next fall — the direct result of a joint RHA-SG campaign.

AU previously offered gender-neutral housing only to upperclassmen in Nebraska Hall and the AU-owned Berks.

Starting this fall, the University will offer gender-neutral housing in Roper and Centennial Halls, ensuring freshmen can live in a receptive environment of their choice.

By offering this option to all students, AU joins the more than 60 universities and colleges across the country that offer gender-neutral housing to all students regardless of academic year, a number that has more than tripled in the past six years.

Yale, Columbia, George Washington and Ohio University have adopted this policy within the last nine months alone.

To be sure, supporters of this trend have cultivated it nationwide. And a brief overview demonstrates just how convincing their arguments are.

Conventional gender-based housing is a relic from a past that simply ignores the existence of homosexuality and assumes

Prachniak, a sophomore at Georgetown University, says it well on the National Student Genderblind Campaign’s website: “Putting a man and a woman together doesn’t mean that they’ll have a sexual relationship, and putting men with men and women with women doesn’t mean

The Eagle applauds the SG and RHA for their successful campaign.

an absolute gender identity. The tradition of separating men and women is meant to prevent unmarried couples from living together. Clearly the reality of varying sexual orientations and gender identities make this an obsolete measure.

To those who are still hesitant about the idea of co-ed roommates, Corey

that they won’t.”

Sexual relationships aside, genderbased housing places those who identify with neither gender or are transitioning in an awkward bind, forcing them to conform to a restrictive gender duality. Unfortunately this increases the risk that they are forced to live with someone not

The importance of respectful discourse CONOR SHAPIRO | SMARTER THAN I LOOK

When arguments abound, don’t abandon kindness About a year ago, I participated in a filmed debate on-campus regarding ROTC. A couple of weeks prior, I wrote a column criticizing ROTC’s role at AU which spawned a slew of negative feedback. I was as popular as “wonk.” Actually, make that less popular.

Before the debate I took a deep breath, exhaled slowly and entered the AUTV studio.

I didn’t really know what to expect. Pissing off people in the military is a bit like antagonizing a Rottweiler. Or so I thought.

Once I opened the door, a knot of folks gathered by the couch warmly introduced themselves. Each one shook my hand with such politesse; it took me off guard. Don’t these people despise me? Maybe I anticipated cold shoulders and hasty nods (OK, that is what I anticipated).

How wrong I was.

Throughout the debate (which is archived online), the tone remained amicable and afterward we congratulated each other for offering provocative insights.

I remember walking out of Mary Graydon Center into the frosty winter air smiling. It wasn’t

a smile of righteousness, nor was it a smile of victory. I smiled because civility overcame contention; kindness triumphed over rigid opinion, respect over virtue.

In an ironic twist of fate, I presently work for the Department of Defense.

One of the highlights of my day is when the janitor, Michael, comes with his crew to vacuum and empty the trash on our floor.

It’s not a glamorous job, his forehead is damp by the time I see him at three in the afternoon.

These guys work determinedly and expediently, but always pause for a few minutes so we can chat about the lowly Wizards and Redskins.

Mike is an Army veteran. He has a son who enlisted. I have

understanding or respectful of their lifestyle. And as Rutgers freshmen Tyler Clementi’s heart-wrenching suicide demonstrated last fall, such situations can end in tragedy.

Admittedly, gender-neutral housing won’t supplant the standard housing arrangements anytime soon. Indeed, the National Student Genderblind Campaign estimates that, in universities that offer the option, between 1 to 3 percent of students choose to live in gender-neutral housing.

Nevertheless, focusing on these small percentages misses the point. It is the availability of the option itself that is important. For AU, that’s 60 to 180 more students who are able to live in the environment they find most welcoming.

The Eagle applauds the SG and RHA for their successful campaign, which exerted a constant pressure leading to this gradual change, and Housing and Dining for being attuned to students’ needs. Once the option was offered to upperclassmen in Nebraska Hall, the question was not if, but when AU would offer gender-neutral housing to all. We’re pleased we now have an answer. ≠ E

no idea how he would react if he knew I espoused viewpoints opposing war or the military.

We chat nonetheless. And moreover, even if he were privy to my views, it wouldn’t alter the way I treat him in the slightest. I doubt he’d modify his behavior either. We’ve become friends and exhibit mutual respect.

As spring semester approaches and seniors jostle for jobs like bridesmaids elbowing over a tossed bouquet, I offer a word of advice. Be kind. Perhaps the most important thing we can do on a daily basis is to treat others with dignity and kindness.

No doubt work ethic, ambition, professionalism, etc., are valuable tools that can augment our employment opportunities.

However, what’s lacking in the quotidian resume workshops and career center promotions is the reminder to be gracious in our interactions.

Let me put it this way, I wasn’t hired full-time because of my political views. My supervisor rec-

EDPAGE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

ommended me primarily because she was impressed by my attitude. I’m constantly fascinated by stories I hear when genuine amiability unlocked unlikely windows for my peers.

When I told my mom this column topic she was quick to chime in, “Remember the adage: Kindness is always in our power even when fondness is not.”

My viewpoints regarding war haven’t shifted, but it doesn’t mean I can’t maintain warm relationships with my colleagues.

It’s a simple lesson and one that we all forget or lapse on occasion. So don’t stifle your beliefs, stand up to injustices and institutions of power, be critical, but do it with an ounce (or pint) of respect and sincerity.

Your impact may be even greater than you expect.

Conor Shapiro is a graduate student in the School of International Service.

EDPAGE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

theEAGLE OPINION TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

16

Trending Topics Homework

The highs and lows of the week, curated by The Eagle

College friends

No crazed family

No home-cooked food Its time for the most anticipated televised event of the year at AU. Nope, not the Super Bowl. It’s the State of the Union!

Newt Gingrich wins South Carolina, and the student body exalts in the guaranteed months of future primary coverage. #thisiswhywe’rewonks

Francesca Morizio is double major in CAS and Kogod EDPAGE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

Continued on Page 18

Homework and no more homemade food. Yep, classes have begun.

Wait, Newt Gingrich is a serious candidate for president?

FRANCESCA MORIZIO | SPEAK MY LANGUAGE Cloud.

You hear it on your local news every night. And who doesn’t remember the difference between nimbus and cumulus from our earth science courses from middle school? Any type of clouds are far from simple, but this sometimes-overlooked word played an important role in 2011 in more ways than one.

Clouds, the type in the sky, besides being a part of the water cycle, also play a major role in keeping Earth warm.

Clouds emit infrared light from the sun that heats the planet, keeping its temperature at a life-sustaining level.

And that temperature is rising.

2011 was the ninth warmest year on record since 1880. (That record has been broken nine times in the 21st century.) The research is limited on how climate change affects clouds. We just know clouds are changing.

Of the several major climate change theories — none of them have good outcomes — most contend that increasing global temperatures will create more clouds which, in turn, release more infrared heat into the atmosphere, raising the temperature even more.

While the hard data backing up these hypothesizes is incomplete, the evidence that exists does lean toward clouds being the result and partial cause of global warming.

Then there is another definition of cloud that rose to prominence in 2011.

The cloud of the tech realm is that illusive Internet-based space that doesn’t physically exist on our machines. We can access anything and everything we want at any time from pretty much any place in the United States, even the world, for those of us lucky enough to have international data plans.

The Internet revolutionized

how we access information, but up until recently the idea of a completely integrated system where we can get anything from anywhere in the world fell into the realm of science fiction.

Now it seems all we want is the cloud. We want all our devices to be instantly able to join that system. It’s a way of streamlining business and government and keeping all your personal files in one place. The cloud makes life easier.

The idea of cloud computing has the tinge of an Orwell novel.

End users have no physical connection to their data; everything is off-site.

One of the great benefits of the cloud could also be viewed in this time of increased awareness of Internet and data security as a flaw.

You only rent the space that your data physically inhabits, you don’t own it. In an age where we are told to protect our data, online and off,

SOPA protests: a loselose for American citizens Unless you aren’t constantly logged in — and face it, who at AU isn’t? — you know by now that the English Wikipedia went black last Wednesday, Jan. 18, in protest of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) with many other internet powerhouses (Google, Facebook, etc.) discussing following suit.

SOPA is a bill that is working its way through Congress that would essentially erase websites that host material that infringes copyright laws.

In response, many Web giants (like the ones listed above) have been very vocal in speaking out and in extreme cases, blacking out.

This creates an interesting thought experiment.

What would happen if Google, Facebook, Yahoo, Flickr and every other website went dark to protest this bill? To say that society is dependent on these Web outlets would be a gross understatement. And while it would be fun to explore what direction society would travel in a world without Google, I’d like to explore a post-SOPA protest world.

The way I see it, there are two possible outcomes to these SOPA protests.

The first outcome is one where the protests fail and SOPA passes. We’ve read all about how SOPA would change the way the Web functions forever.

As stated above, SOPA would erase websites that host copyrighted material from the face of the Internet. This makes sense until you realize that

With a Patriots-Giants Super Bowl, 85 percent of AU students are in a good place.

2011’s Word of the Year: Cloud

OP-ED

what does it mean to keep data safe when you don’t even know where it is?

The similarities between the fluffy evaporated water and the even more abstract way of accessing information are striking.

Both types of clouds aren’t really anything physical. Clouds are made up of water vapor, something you can’t exactly hold in your hand, and the cloud isn’t something you can see or feel.

Clouds are abstractions, a placeholder for something we know is out there even if we can’t reach out and touch it.

But why is “cloud” my word of the year?

Clouds are always changing, whether they are in the sky or on our devices. It’s been around for a long time, but in the last year its definition has changed and evolved in a way that greatly enhances the word’s stature.

Cloud might be common in our language, but it’s not going anywhere soon.

theEAGLE OPINION TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

Rising Metro fees, collapsing Metro quality DOUGLAS BELL | WRITER OF OUR DISCONTENTS Practically every AU student uses the Metro to get around D.C., whether commuting to an internship or going out for a night on the town.

That’s why students, along with many locals across the city, ought to be concerned with a 5 percent fare increase that Metro General Manager Richard Sarles proposed earlier this month.

Under his proposal, SmarTrip users would see off-peak fares increase from $1.60-$2.75 to $1.70-$3.50, while the maximum peak fare would rise from $5 to $5.75.

Now I will admit that I am a nerd (or, dare I say it, a wonk) when it comes to public transportation. And I love the Metro system. Its stations are much cleaner and far more majestic than those in New York, and the service is much more convenient and affordable than the transit in San Francisco, near my hometown.

But doesn’t it seem that Metro service has gotten much worse as of late? You’re not imagining it.

WMATA (the agency that runs Metro) has planned to close down parts of the system during 18 weekends over the course of the first half of 2012.

Single-tracking — once confined to weekends — has now become a regular occurrence

on weekday middays and evenings.

This means the service is less frequent, trains are more crowded and the system is far more unreliable.

And that’s just when you consider the service interruptions that are planned.

Already twice in the past month, Metro has experienced unexpected delays for hours after a friction ring — a piece of the car’s braking mechanism — fell off of the bottom of a train onto the tracks.

The Metro system is literally falling apart, from the trains to the tracks to the escalators.

And while all of this construction and partial system closures are necessary to slowly bring the system into a state of good repair, it doesn’t change the fact that in the meantime commuters are being asked to pay more for worse service.

But what strikes me as the most ridiculous part of Sarles’ proposal is the “simplification” of fares.

Users of paper farecards would suddenly be switched to a flat-fare system: $6 fare during peak hours, $4 during off-peak hours, regardless of whether you’re riding for one stop or 20.

Suddenly, the 25 cent surcharge for paper farecards would become up to a $4 sur-

charge. That’s one heck of a tourist tax.

EvenifWMATAinstallsSmarTrip vending machines in every Metro station, plastic still has a $5 admission fee over paper.

And if this proposal goes through, then whenever students have friends or family members visit D.C., they’re going to also be facing these really steep flat fares. It’s a cheap shot at grabbing more money from casual riders, and I think it’s just going to cause those riders to avoid Metro altogether.

2012 holds a lot of changes in store for Metro.

This summer, WMATA will be rolling out new station names, and a major partial realignment of Blue Line service to ease congestion at Rosslyn — both excellent ideas.

But for a system facing as many challenges as Metro, a fare increase this regressive may well be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

WMATA needs to go back to the drawing board and figure out a fair fare proposal (no pun intended) that balances its needs with the needs of us students and the greater D.C. community.

Continued from Page 17

successful and SOPA doesn’t pass. Nothing changes and all is right in the world once again.

Until a new bill comes up that Mark Zuckerberg decides he doesn’t like and he shuts down Facebook in protest.

Internet giants protesting SOPA by going dark or shutting down creates a nasty precedent.

We all know that we are dependent on the Internet, but if these protests prove to be successful, it shows that we are at the mercy of these services. All of a sudden, they have unlimited power to further their political agendas.

If a bill comes up that a Web giant (or an advertiser that pays lots of money to the Internet giants) doesn’t like, the company

would only have to shut off its service for a couple of days “in protest” and the bill would die.

So it seems like our two options in a post-SOPA protest world are that A) the government controls the Internet or B) the Internet controls the government.

Frankly, I don’t know which one is more frightening.

It seems like the Internet has forever been changed by SOPA even if it doesn’t pass. And we’ll just have to hope that these web services are responsible enough with their newly discovered power and don’t abuse it.

our entire Internet experience is made up of user-posted content that we don’t own.

That video of you performing a cover of “Edge of Glory,” that funny picture you shared with your friend on Facebook and that Eagle article you put on your blog would all be reason enough for corporations to shut down whole websites and block them from showing up in search engines. In short, the government would control the Internet.

However, I find the alternative more fascinating, and just as terrifying.

The second outcome, of course, is that the protests are

Douglas Bell is a junior in the School of Communication.

EDPAGE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

Ian C. Urriola is a sophomore in CAS.

17

OP-ED

A message to adjunct colleagues about unionization The American University adjunct faculty have an important issue in front of them. The National Labor RelationsBoard(NLRB)hascalledfor an election to determine whether theServiceEmployeesInternational Union (SEIU) Local 500 for purposes of collective bargaining will represent adjunct faculty.

The decision to have a union represent adjunct faculty on all employment related matters is an important one that has implications for the entire faculty individually and collectively.

It is critical that all adjunct faculty exercise their right to vote, whether you support or oppose unionization. A simple majority of those who vote will determine the election and all adjunct faculty will be affected by the outcome, whether or not you vote.

Over the past two years the Faculty Senate has been rewriting the faculty manual, grappling with issues of shared governance and, at the same time, addressing issues that are important to all faculty.

The Chronicle of Higher Education published an article about the Senate’s work last June.

The Chronicle was impressed with our efforts and said, “What sets American University apart from many of the nations’ other colleges is how aggressively it is adapting its governance structure and policies to today’s academic workforce.”

In our review, the Faculty Senate found the section of the faculty manual that addressed term faculty — full-time faculty working under either one year or multiyear contracts — was especially in need of revision.

The Chronicle reported that, “As part of a broader overhaul of its governance, it [the Senate] has found ways to offer its term faculty members new career tracks, research opportunities and more say in university affairs.”

The manual now specifies that one of the Senate’s seats (of 24 total) must be held by a term faculty member, and it designates term faculty seats on Senate committees.

Term faculty may also be eligible to run for election to the other Senate seats as well.

The Chronicle also reported that, while the new revision of the manual created a mechanism for adjunct

faculty to challenge contract nonrenewal, AU also needed to devise new adjunct policies.

The Faculty Senate was planning on taking up issues of salary, both payment for an initial appointment and merit review, and reappointment for adjuncts during this year.

In the fall as Senate Chair I called for nominations for faculty to serve on a Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Adjunct Policies. I have been told that I now must put our work on hold until the results of the union election is known.

The Senate is prepared to take up issues of importance to adjuncts and will do so if they decide against union representation.

However if the majority of adjuncts vote for unionization, it represents a decision to leave the deliberative process of shared governance, which the Senate will respect, but we will no longer take up the issues related to adjunct faculty.

Instead, the process of negotiating salary and working conditions will become a matter of collective bargaining between union and university leaders. Rest assured, that unionized or not, we will continue to be colleagues and as I told the Chronicle, “I want our adjuncts to know that we respect and we value their work.”

It is critical that adjuncts vote. We all will be bound by the outcome of the election, and whether you vote or not, the outcome will be determined by a simple majority of those who vote.

Ballots were mailed by the NLRB Jan. 19 and must be returned prior to Feb. 16, when votes are counted.

You can reference the unionization website via the link on the University’s home page for more information.

I strongly urge you to vote and let your voice be heard.

James E. Girard, Chair, Faculty Senate; Professor of Chemistry; Chair, Department of Chemistry

theEAGLE SPORTS TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

18

At 33, Bryant still among NBA’s best

By MICHEAL MCELVEEN EAGLE STAFF WRITER

Lisa Strack nailed two free throws with less than a second remaining to give AU a crucial 40-39 victory at Army. The preseason conference favorites will next take on Bucknell at Bender Arena Jan. 25.

COURTESY OF AU EAGLES

AU women’s basketball now 5-0 in conference play Continued from Page 20

free throws to pull AU in front 40-39.

The Black Knights could not get a shot off on their ensuing possession, as their attempted full-court pass was knocked away.

Strack led the Eagles on the afternoon with 12 points, seven rebounds and three steals.

Geleisa George chipped in seven points, four rebounds and two steals in 16 minutes off the bench.

A key stretch for the Eagles came with 11:34 remaining, when Jen Dumiak’s jumper started a 7-0 run that saw AU take a 33-30 lead.

The two teams battled it out down the stretch, with Ti’Asia McGeorge’s 3-pointer giving the Eagles a 38-35 lead. Army scored the game’s next

four points and led 39-38 with 3:18 left, as neither team would score again until Strack’s heroics.

The Eagles’ defense (nine steals, 16 turnovers forced) made up for a lackluster shooting night that saw AU shoot 17-56 from the field and 2-16 from 3-point range.

The women’s squad will be at Bender Arena for their next three games, with the homestand starting Jan. 25 against Bucknell University.

SPORTS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

At 33-years-old with over 15 years of NBA mileage on his body, playing with countless injuries through more than 1,300 games and with the weight of Los Angeles on his shoulders, Kobe Bryant is still very much a part of “The Best Player in the NBA” conversation.

NBA analysts, bloggers and fans have been quick to write off Bryant. Even Lakers diehards have shown a strain in their pride and support.

Bryant’s local popularity has declined after the Los Angeles Clippers acquired perennial All-Star

There is no other star in the NBA that demonstrates

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the killer instinct that Bryant does. point guard Chris Paul in December. With the emergence of Blake Griffin, the second half of the duo that’s been dubbed “Lob City,” the Lakers have a competitor to the LA throne they’ve always owned.

But the Clippers haven’t won a title yet. Paul hasn’t won a MVP or a championship, and neither has Blake Griffin. So why has Bryant been pushed to the back of the crowd of the NBA’s elite?

It could be the maturation of LeBron James as a post player. Or it could be the infatuation with scoring machine Kevin Durant.

Maybe it’s the sheer greatness of Derrick Rose or the never-before-seen athletic prowess at the center position by Dwight Howard.

What I find hard to believe is the claim that

Bryant isn’t even in the top three anymore. Those spots have been said to belong to James, Rose and Durant.

Now, I’m not the biggest Bryant fan. I disagree with his playing style, and I often despise half the shots he takes.

But his leadership, whether it’s vocal or by example, his fiery passion, his drive and his arsenal of moves are something to be praised, not overlooked by age or the emergence of younger stars.

There is no other star in the NBA that demonstrates the killer instinct that Bryant does. We all wish LeBron had it, and we saw glimpses of it in Dwyane Wade before his injury-plagued season in 2006. We’ve seen flashes from Rose, and it will be exciting to see how he will be able to get over what will be his career-long obstacle: the Miami Heat.

Nevertheless, Bryant is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career. At 30.4 points per game, Bryant hasn’t averaged that total since 2006 when he tallied 31.6 ppg.

Kobe is finding open teammates with his 5.7 assists per game the highest since 2004. His rebounding is even up to 5.5 rebounds per game, his highest since 2007.

Statistically, Bryant has been excellent. He is outperforming his championship seasons from 20002002 and 2008-2010.

Bryant’s best overall season was at 24-years-old in 2003, when his stat line read 30.0 ppg, 5.9 apg and 6.9 rpg. Nine seasons later, Bryant is averaging 30.4 ppg, 5.7 apg, and 5.5 rpg.

How similar do those stats look?

It’s eerie to think a player can dominate at such a high level for so long and be that consistent.

SPORTS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

theEAGLE SPORTS TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

No. 9 wrestling drops second straight dual meet

By TYLER TOMEA EAGLE STAFF WRITER

The No. 9 AU wrestling team was looking to bounce back from its loss to Hofstra University Jan. 19 by beating North Carolina State Jan. 20, but the Wolfpack earned a 25-19 decision over the Eagles at Bender Arena.

“There’s some individuals that need to push a little bit further,” AU Head Coach Teague Moore said. “You’ve got to push your training to the next level.”

The Eagles won four of the 10 matches of the night, with the bright spot being an impressive victory by Ryan Flores, the top-ranked heavyweight in the country.

Flores recorded a victory over Josh Davis just 24 seconds into their match to remain undefeated in the season and improve to 8-0.

“Wrestling’s not a chess match,” Flores said, as he explained how he quickly attacked Davis.

The dual started at 157 pounds, where No. 4 Ganbayar Sanjaa picked up an 8-3 victory over N.C. State’s Colton Palmer to improve to 14-1 on the season. Along with Flores, Sanjaa is a returning All-American for the Eagles.

At 165 pounds, Tanner Shaffer opened up a 5-0 lead on Nijel Jones before Jones quickly recovered to earn a pin over the AU sophomore.

The Wolfpack controlled the 174-pound bout, as Quinton Godley improved to 24-9 on the season with a 22-8 major decision over Phillip Barreiro.

Barreiro’s brother Thomas didn’t fare better in his matchup at 184 pounds, as he dropped a 13-9 decision to Robert O’Neill.

With the Eagles trailing 13-3 follow-

ing three straight losses, No. 19 Daniel Mitchell and Flores put AU back in front.

Mitchell improved to 13-6 after his pin of KaRonne Jones at 197 pounds, while Flores followed with his victory. The two pins put AU ahead 15-13 with four matches remaining.

But N.C. State’s Coltin Fought controlled the 125-pound match against Thomas Williams, as Fought picked up his 21st triumph on the year with a decision of 7-0.

The 133-pound battle was competitive throughout, with AU’s Corey Borshoff earning a critical 7-3 victory over Ben Elliott to regain the lead for the Eagles at 18-16.

The dual’s lone matchup between ranked opponents took place at 141 pounds, with No. 12 Matt Mariacher taking on No. 13 Darrius Little. Mariacher fought back from a 5-1 deficit but was unable to overcome Little, falling 5-4.

“Matt Mariacher had a tough battle tonight; Little’s a good wrestler,” Moore said.

With the Wolfpack in front 19-18, the dual came down to the night’s final match at 149 pounds between AU’s Kevin Tao and Matt Nereim. Nereim was able to take control in the later stages of the match and earn a pin over Tao to secure the victory for the Wolfpack.

The Eagles went 3-2 in their five dual meets in January and will not return to the mat until February.

“It’s a really good opportunity to kick up the training,” Flores said.

The Eagles will next travel to Vestal, N.Y., to take on No. 22 Birmingham University Feb. 3.

19

Ballance shines at swim quad-meet

By ERIC SALTZMAN EAGLE STAFF WRITER

The men and women’s swimming and diving teams combined to go 0-6 when they traveled to West Point, N.Y. Jan. 21 for a quad-meet with Army, George Mason University and Old Dominion University.

Ballance strong point for men’s team Bobby Ballance posted two wins on the afternoon in the 100- and 200-yard backstroke with times of 52.45 and 1:52.23, respectively.

Matt Wurm also had a strong outing for the Eagles, finishing second in the 100-yard backstroke at 52.69 and third in the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:52.85.

Aside from Ballance and Wurm, Ming Ong recorded a top-three finish as his time of 58.87 was good for third in the 100-yard breaststroke.

Charlie Taffet finished 11th in the 200 breaststroke at 2:19.10, with Dan Francis finishing shortly after and posting a time of 2:19.22.

The team of Ballance, Ong, Wurm and Robert Feasely placed third in the 200-yard medley relay, while Sam Miller swapped for Ong in the 400 and the team finished fourth.

The men’s team fell to Army 222-70, George Mason 198-101 and Old Dominion 211-80 on the day. Army finished 3-0, ODU ended at 2-1 and GMU concluded the quad-meet at 1-2.

Breen and Parker victorious for women’s squad Leah Breen edged Army’s Alyssa Tran by six-tenths of a second to win the 50yard freestyle and become one of AU’s top performers at the meet.

Breen nearly won again in the 100 free, but finished third after posting a time of 53.24. Army’s Paige Brink took the race at 53.09, with Emma Forbes coming in second at 53.14.

Parker was victorious in the threemeter diving event with a score of 229.7, and finished sixth of 14 in the one-meter event.

Other individual results saw Grace Ibrahim placing fi fth in the 100 breaststroke, and Miriam Crispo finishing fi fth in the 100 and 200 butterfly and 400 IM. The team of Breen, Crispo, Ellie Shetter and Alex Ramdin completed the 400yard freestyle relay in 3:44.06, which placed them fi fth out of seven.

The women’s team suffered the same fate as the men, finishing 0-3 at the meet.

Army defeated the Eagles 219-74, George Mason prevailed 209-81 and Old Dominion triumphed 221-72. ODU finished the quad-meet at 3-0, while George Mason and Army both ended the day at 1-1-1.

The Eagles will head to the Navy Invitational Jan. 28, with the Patriot League Championships scheduled to get underway Feb. 16.

SPORTS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

TTOMEA@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

ZACH C. COHEN / THE EAGLE

In the night’s lone match between ranked opponents, No. 13 Darrius Little edged No. 12 Matt Mariacher 5-4. Mariacher and the Eagles will hit the mat Feb. 3 at Birmingham.

COURTESY OF AU EAGLES

Leah Breen took home the title in the 50-yard freestyle event to become one of AU’s top swimmers at a quad-meet against Army, Old Dominion and George Mason Jan. 21.

Women’s basketball

Strack’s free throws keep AU undefeated in PL 18 TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

Sports

AU improves to 9-0 at home Eagles remain unbeaten at Bender with 67-55 win

By MICHAEL GARDNER

Wrestling

No. 1 Ryan Flores records pin in 24 seconds 19

20 Strack leads Eagles basketball with heroics

By SAMANTHA RAPHELSON

EAGLE STAFF WRITER

EAGLE STAFF WRITER

A crowd of 2,184 was on hand for Phil Bender Day to see the Eagles defeat the Army Black Knights 67-55 Jan. 21.

Troy Brewer led the way by scoring 19 of his 22 points in the second half, as AU remained undefeated at Bender Arena.

“It’s hard to win games on the road, so for [Army] to come here, with the fans we have, it definitely created a tough atmosphere for them,” Brewer said. “Having the fans support us, it encouraged us and helps us, especially when we have different hot streaks during the game. It’s all about winning, and the fans here definitely helped us.”

While leading scorer Charles Hinkle was held to only eight points, the Eagles (13-7, 4-1 PL) were able to stay one step ahead of the Black Knights (9-11, 2-3 PL) thanks to Brewer and a career-high 12 points from sophomore Tony Wroblicky. “[With Wroblicky’s] size and the way they were playing defensively, we tried to do a couple things and he was able to convert some buckets around the rim,” AU Head Coach Jeff Jones said. “But then obviously Troy Brewer, his shooting gave us some breathing room and that’s certainly welcome.”

Neither team found its rhythm early on, as the Eagles led 9-8 with less than eight minutes remaining in the first half.

But AU hit its stride following the media timeout and never looked back.

Blake Jolivette (eight points) helped spark a 17-6 run for the Eagles that put them in front 26-14 at the half.

Army finished the first half shooting 5-27 from the floor.

With 0.9 seconds remaining and her team trailing by one, Lisa Strack nailed a pair of free throws to give AU a hardfought 40-39 victory over the Army Black Knights Jan. 21 in West Point, N.Y. The Eagles (13-6, 5-0 PL) remain perfect in Patriot League play and are an impressive 8-1 outside of Bender Arena.

The Saturday game included 11 ties and eight lead changes as the Black Knights (9-11, 3-2 PL) fell short of moving into first place in the conference.

“We showed great persistence and determination in today’s game, and it was a big day for the growth and ma-

“We had to play every last tick of the clock to get the win.”

—Matt Corkery, Head Coach

KAITLIN BROWN / THE EAGLE

Charles Hinkle contributed eight points and seven rebounds in AU’s 67-55 victory over Army Jan. 21 at Bender Arena. With the win, the Eagles remained in second in the Patriot League at 4-1.

“Early in the game may not have been a pretty thing for the people watching, but both teams were really getting after it,” Jones said.

The second half belonged to Brewer, who went 5-7 from 3-point range and ended the day shooting 72 percent from the floor.

In a four-minute span the senior, who has been hampered by injuries, made four consecutive 3-pointers that helped extend AU’s lead from 47-36 to 64-40.

The Eagles held the Black

Knights to 15 points below their season average on the afternoon. Although Army had three scorers in double figures, it only shot 35 percent for the game and went 1-10 from long range in the first half.

“It’s two games in a row with outstanding crowds, and this was about the only game we’ve had where students have been out in force,” Jones said. “So hopefully, they had a good time and come back to see this team. We’re going to need them.”

AU will return to the court Jan. 25 in Lewisburg, Pa., to take on Bucknell University, the defending Patriot League champions.

The Bison sit atop the conference with a 5-0 mark in PL play and are riding a 15-game winning streak against conference opponents.

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turity of our team,” Head Coach Matt Corkery told AU Athletics. “Army is an excellent squad, and I was proud of the way we stuck together and made big plays down the stretch. We had to play every last tick of the clock to get the win.”

With 40 seconds left and trailing 39-38 in a game that was competitive throughout, AU’s defense made a huge stop. The Eagles’ 30 seconds of tight defense led to Army’s Anna Simmers missing a 3-point attempt as the shot clock expired.

Alexis Dobbs rebounded the miss for the Eagles, and Corkery opted against calling a timeout with the clock under 10 seconds.

Dobbs dashed down the court needing to make something happen, and found Strack down the right side. Jen Hazlett fouled Strack as she tried to net the game-winning score, sending the AU senior to the line for two shots.

The senior captain was the right person for the job, as she drilled both Continued on Page 18