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theEAGLE THEEAGLEONLINE.COM – @THEEAGLEONLINE
ARE YOU A WONK? COVERAGE 6 , 7 , 9 , 10
August 30, 2010 Volume 85 – Issue 2
August 30, 2010
News 2
theEAGLE American University’s Student Voice
in this ISSUE
MISSION
NEWS
AU Central, Glenn Beck (3) / Features (4)
COVER STORY OPINION
Editorial (9) / Five questions for Terry Flannery (10) / Professor Chris Palmer (11)
SCENE
TeenNick HALO Awards (15) / Sex Wonks (16)
SPORTS
3 6 9 14 24
Field hockey coverage (22)
The Eagle, a student-run newspaper at the American University, serves the community by reporting news involving the campus community and surrounding areas. The Eagle strives to be impartial in its reporting and believes firmly in its First Amendment rights. SUBMISSION AND EDITORIAL POLICIES
Watch students react to the wonk campaign at
www.theeagleonline.com
top TWEETS “I technically graduated from AU, and I’m glad I haven’t sent them any more money.” @MrDanZak, Aug. 25, in reference to the WONK campaign.
All submissions become the property of The Eagle. Unsigned letters will not be published. The Eagle reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for length and clarity. Letters and columns may be published in print or online. Letters and columns are the opinion of the writer and not the newspaper. The Eagle has a commitment to accuracy and clarity and will print any corrections or clarifications. To report a mistake, call the editor in chief at (202) 8851402 or e-mail editor@theeagleonline.com. Editor in Chief
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top STORIES since AUG. 16
News@theeagleonline.com
2. Letter to the editor: AU official responds to ‘wonk’ campaign criticism 3. Eagle rants 4. Letter from the editor about The Eagle’s changes this year 5. Women’s Resource Center coordinator hired, plans to open Monday campus CALENDAR
“whyyyyyyy does the @AmericanU gym open at 10:30 on Sunday mornings? What’s the point of an early morning workout? It’s practically midday!” @ericwilkens, Aug. 29.
TheScene@theeagleonline.com
“On one of the new @AmericanU shuttles. Quite impressive!” @ayeemzee, Aug. 25.
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Managing Editor for The Scene Caitlin Moore Managing Editor for Web Ethan Klapper Design Editor Chris Droukas Photo Editor Phillip Ochs Student Life Editor Julia Ryan Administration and Local News Editor Stefanie Dazio News Assistants Anna Scalamogna Allie Mooney Sports Editor Sam Lindauer Sports Assistants Kate Greubel Tyler Tomea Editorial Page Editor Linda Barnhart Editorial Assistant David Menasche
Scene Assistants Stephan Cho Maggie Hollander Kelly Holliday
Sports Editorial & Opinion
Web Content Editor Sarah Parnass
EdPage@theeagleonline.com
Photography Photos@theeagleonline.com
Multimedia Editor Kira Kalush
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“I’m glad that my tuition money for @AmericanU is being spent on segways so campus security doesn’t have to walk across the quad.” @JeffMindell, Aug. 25.
Managing Editor for News Meg Fowler
Music Editor Michael Richardson
Arts & Entertainment
Sports@theeagleonline.com
1. AU debuts new branding effort, but will ‘wonk’ work?
Editor in Chief Charlie Szold
Arts and Entertainment Editor Yohana Desta
Editor@theeagleonline.com News
“American University’s new brand...the WONK... does a brand work if no one knows what it means?” @Melanieb2422o, Aug. 26.
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BUSINESS STAFF Business Manager Sam Yolen Finance Manager Bobby Jones Sales Director Alexander Robinson Public Relations Coordinator Kasturi Puntambekar Ad Reps Jonathon Gaynes
MONDAY 30
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THURSDAY 2
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AU Gymnastics Information Session 8 - 9 p.m. WHERE: Hughes Formal Lounge WHAT: Check out the club gymnastics here at AU. If you cannot make this session, there is an additional meeting Aug. 31 in MGC 203 from 8 to 9 p.m. CONTACT: For more information, contact the Club Sports office at aurecsports@ american.edu.
Nuts & Bolts of Academic Success Workshop 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. WHERE: MGC 245 WHAT: Brush up on strategies to help you perform your best this year. This workshop is targeted especially for freshmen. CONTACT: For more information, contact the Academic Support Center at 202-885-3360.
Federal Work-Study Job Fair 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. WHERE: MGC 2 - 6 WHAT: Hiring managers from more than 50 university departments, local nonprofit organizations and government agencies will be attending this job fair. Dress professionally and bring copies of your resume. CONTACT: For more information, visit www. american.edu/studentjobs.
AU Abroad Latin America Information Session 12 - 1:30 p.m. WHERE: MGC 203 WHAT: Find out more about opportunities to travel abroad in Latin America. CONTACT: For more information, contact the AU Abroad office at 202-8851370.
A Cappella Recruitment 9 p.m. WHERE: Kay Spiritual Life Center WHAT: AU’s three a cappella groups (Dime a Dozen, Treble in Paradise and On a Sensual Note) are having a preview concert. Come check out the vocal talent on campus and get info on auditioning for all three groups. Entry is free. CONTACT: For more information, contact On a Sensual Note at onasensualnote@gmail.com.
AU Catholic Community Outdoor Games and Social 3 - 7 p.m. WHERE: Main Quad WHAT: Check out the Catholic Community at AU while enjoying the weather with some outdoor fun and games. CONTACT: For more information, contact the AU Catholic Chaplain at 202-885-3327.
August 30, 2010
News 3
theEAGLE
AU political groups flock to the Mall for ‘Restoring Honor’ rally By STEFANIE DAZIO For the AU College Republicans, Saturday’s Glenn Beck rally was a break from politics. In speeches that were equal parts patriotism and prayer, Beck’s “Restoring Honor” rally on the National Mall was meant to evoke civility and honor, rather than parties and politics. “The message was to see each other as all Americans,” said Dan Roberts, the AUCR community service chair and a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences. “It was a great message, applicable to everyone.” About 25 members of the AUCR traveled to the Mall, most standing right near the Reflecting Pool, about halfway between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. “No one party gets to dominate compassion,” said Stephen Laudone, the AUCR president and a senior in the School of Public Affairs and the School of Communication. Beck, a Fox News commentator known for his conservative politics, asked his audience to unite the country on core values and principles, punctuating his words with scripture. “It has nothing to do with politics, it has everything to do with God,” he said. People packed the Mall from the Lincoln Memorial to past the World War II Memorial, many toting lawn
chairs and Gadsden “Don’t Tread On Me” flags in each hand. There are no official numbers for the size of the audience, but Beck said at one point he’d heard there were between 300,000 and 500,000 people in attendance. The rally focused on three tenets: hope, faith and charity. Beck intertwined these into honoring the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, an organization that provides money for college to the children of fallen Special Operations soldiers. Beck said over $5.5 million was raised for SOWF by the end of the rally and donations were still coming in. The rally honored veterans for their service and sacrifice, and included a speech by Sarah Palin — former Republican vice presidential candidate and the mother of a U.S. Army soldier. “Say what you want to say about me, but I raised a combat vet,” she said. Other speakers included Pastor C. L. Jackson, who was present at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech exactly 47 years ago in nearly the same spot. King’s niece, Dr. Alveda King, also spoke. If King were here today, “he would surely commend us for giving honor where honor is due,” Alveda King said. Bobby Trivett, the AUCR secretary and a senior in SPA and the Kogod School of Business, said he found
SUNDAY 5
MONDAY 6
Pi Kappa Alpha’s September Shootout 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. WHERE: Sports Center outdoor basketball courts WHAT: Pike’s September Shootout will be a one-day, three-on-three basketball match. Each team will pay a $30 entrance fee ($10 per player) and will be supplied beverages and an event TShirt. All proceeds will be donated to charity. CONTACT: For more information, contact Student Activities at 202-885-3390.
Women’s Initiative Fall General Interest Meeting 9 p.m. WHERE: MGC 200 WHAT: The directors of Women’s Initiative will tell students how to get involved with planning this year’s biggest events, like the Breastival and Take Back the Night. CONTACT: For more information, contact Women’s Initiative at wi@ausg.org.
Eagle Staff Writer
the rally to be an informational, anecdotal and peaceful demonstration that was more about individualism and personal responsibility than politics. Jim Banks, the AUCR’s newsletter editor and a sophomore in SPA, said the religious tones tied today back to the founding of the United States — people fleeing religious persecution and oppression. Roberts said the idea of charity resonated with him, as the AUCR community service chair. Helping others should be a measure of your character, he said, rather than a compulsory service. About 10 AU College Democrats also went to Glenn Beck’s rally yesterday out of “curiosity,” according to Quinn Hurdle, the College Democrats’ alumni director and liasion. “I didn’t hear one substantive thing from Glenn Beck. I heard a lot of slogans, and I heard a lot of promises, but it was hard to know what they were actually advocating for,” said Hurdle, a graduate student in SPA. Hurdle said the rally’s theme of “Restoring Honor” was problematic, as it made it seem that the Democrats and President Barack Obama have somehow taken honor away. He also said he thought the rally was actually political and not simply religious and patriotic. see BECK on page 8
PHILLIP OCHS / THE EAGLE
BECKONING THOUSANDS — An American flag emblazoned with an eagle waves over a crowd gathered to hear Glenn Beck speak Aug. 28 at the Lincoln Memorial.
New AU Central office adjusts to large numbers of student inquiries By HELEN KILLEEN Eagle Contributing Writer The AU Central office has been dealing with a higherthan-expected volume of student calls and e-mails since it opened its doors this July, according to Jonnel Clothier, director of AU Central. The day after the office opened this summer, AU Central’s eight counseling staff members were bombarded with nearly 1,000 phone calls, according to their records for that day. Phone call and e-mail volumes like this have had some students worried about the quality of services provided. “When I first heard about AU Central I was a little skeptical,” said Jeff Leicy, a junior in the School of Communication. “I was worried
that the single location for three offices would lead to mass confusion, as well as an overlap of responsibilities.” The opening of the office suite marks the first time the AU community can access Financial Aid, the Office of the Registrar and Student Accounts all in one place. Clothier referred to it as a “one-stop-shop” that keeps students from having to run from one office to the next to get answers to their questions. Clothier was aware of students’ concerns about the office. “Demand for service has been very high,” Clothier said. “Right now we are not operating as efficiently as we would like.” AU Central has encountered some processing problems that have lengthened
the wait time for callers and walk-ins, but Clothier attributes these problems to the time of year rather than office operational problems. “Just before the semester began we were really busy, and wait times were far longer than we hoped for, but when I saw the huge lines over at UPS and McDonalds, I was reminded that it’s just that time of the semester,” Clothier said. One in every 10 students at AU Central is asked to fill out a service survey to track general opinion about the office and discover areas for improvement. Clothier said that since the office opened in July, approximately 72 percent of callers and visitors reported a positive experience. see CENTRAL on page 8
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August 30, 2010
Features 4
theEAGLE police BLOTTER
AUG 20 The Department of Public Safety discovered an intoxicated student in the Child Development Center parking lot. The student was vomiting and barely responsive. D.C. Fire Department transported the sick student the hospital. DPS found a student in the picnic area adjacent to Reeves Field where there was a heavy odor of marijuana in the air. DPS recovered two marijuana cigarettes from the student. They tested positive for marijuana. The student will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. A threatening voicemail message was left on the victim’s phone in Katzen Art Center. DPS will continue to investigate. DPS responded to a fire alarm in the Child Development Center. The building was evacuated. No sign of smoke or fire was present. Facilities Management advised the activation was caused by a malfunction within the system. The victim left a laptop computer and phone charger unattended and unsecured in Bender Library. They were gone upon his return. A student responded to a Personal Assistant position on an AU Job Corps website (www.jobs.ausg.org). After receiving her first assignment to purchase items on her credit card and then be reimbursed by money order, she believed the position was a front for fraudulent activity. The student and the suspect were only in contact via e-mail. AUG 21 Three laptop computers and other property which had been left secured were discovered missing from a residence hall room in Capital Hall. DPS and the Metropolitan Police Department responded. A student discovered her laptop computer taken from her room in Capital Hall while the room was vacant. The door was secured when
she left the room. There was personal information on the computer. AUG 22 DPS responded to a report of a sick person in Letts Hall and found the individual semi-conscious, incoherent and experiencing convulsions. Two witnesses indicated the sick individual consumed alcohol at party off campus. DCFD transported her to the hospital. DPS responded to a report of a sick person in Anderson Hall and found the individual sitting on the floor of the fourth floor women’s restroom. She was conscious, coherent and vomiting. A witness said the sick person had been drinking. The sick person wanted her emergency contact notified. A medical refusal form was signed. The emergency contact took the sick person to a private residence. DPS discovered damage to an interior wall (18 inch vertical break in the interior drywall) in the in the Butler Pavilion. Facilities Management was notified. A cab transported a sick student from Leonard Hall to the hospital. A student’s parent contacted DPS when the parent saw a disturbing post on the student’s Facebook page. DPS contacted a resident director and resident assistant for assistance in locating the student. The student was located. The student indicated someone hacked into her Facebook account and posted the erroneous information. AUG 23 An elevator technician freed an individual from a stuck elevator in Letts Hall. No injuries were reported. A fire panel indicated a fire alarm was activated by an ionized smoke detector in the basement of the Mary Graydon Center. DPS responded. The building was evacuated. No smoke or fire was present. Facilities Management determined there was a malfunction in the
system. DPS responded to a report of a sick person in the men’s bathroom of the Dunblane House. The individual signed a medical refusal form. A laptop computer and other property were taken from a residence hall room in Leonard Hall. Reportedly, the bottom lock of the door was secured when the residents left the room. A witness reported seeing an unidentified male leaving the room carrying a laptop and other property. Graffiti of a sexual nature was discovered on a dry erase board in a study lounge in Anderson Hall. The board was erased. Graffiti was discovered on a hallway wall in Anderson Hall. Aramark was contacted. AUG 24 DPS responded to a report of a sick person inside Letts Hall. The individual signed a medical refusal form. A laptop computer was discovered missing from a room in Hughes Hall. The room was periodically left unattended and unsecured. AUG 25 DPS responded to a report of an intoxicated person in McDowell Hall. The individual advised he had been drinking at an off campus location. The individual was unable to stand on his own. DCFD transported the individual to Sibley Hospital. DPS observed an individual urinating at the corner of Congressional Hall by Nebraska Avenue. The individual fled as the officer approached. DCFD responded and freed an individual from a stuck elevator in the SIS building. No injuries were reported.
Read more
police BLOTTER online.
PHILLIP OCHS / THE EAGLE
ALWAYS AN EAGLE — School of Communication Professor Pallavi Kumar attended AU in the 1990s and decided to return after a stint as a public relations professional.
Professor Profile: Good times keep rolling for alumna, prof. Public relations guru returns to alma mater, brings real-world experience to next generation By STEFANIE DAZIO Eagle Staff Writer For Pallavi Damani Kumar, an assistant professor in the School of Communication, some things never change. Like the food in the Terrace Dining Room. The 1994 AU alumna came back to teach here in 2002 as an adjunct Public Communication professor. But only last year did she venture down those cafeteria steps for the first time since her undergraduate days. “I was scarred,” she said. Many things at AU still seen the same for Kumar, who teaches in the very program from which she got her Communications, Law, Economics and Government and Public Communication degree 16 years ago. “Some of the classes that I’m teaching, I’m teaching them in the same classrooms that I took them in,” she said. She also teaches with the same books she once took notes from – the only textbooks in college she read front to back. Kumar read the “Public Relations Strategies and Tactics” book by Dennis Wilcox for her Public Relations class with Professor Diggs-Brown. Kumar is also now working alongside faculty whose lectures she once attended – she took two of SOC Pro-
fessor Rodger Streitmatter’s classes as a student here. “I’d always wanted to teach at American,” she said. “Even while I was a student.” But between her graduation in 1994 and returning to AU as a professor in 2002, Kumar worked as a public relations professional in D.C., New York and Philadelphia. She worked on projects that involved the environment, travel, health care, social marketing and international relations. “I love the 24/7, fast-paced, traveling around the world, having huge budgets, doing amazing things, seeing your work in the New York Times or Reader’s Digest aspects of PR,” she said. “But then you get married and have children and things change.” Teaching PR here allows her to be completely updated in her field while having a family, she said. But her time in the field lets her bring real-life experience to the classroom, where she incorporates current events activities, crisis simulations, guest speakers and media training into her syllabus. “I think that someone listening to me lecturing for two and a half hours would be the most boring thing,” she said laughing. sdazio@theeagleonline.com
five FACTS She lived on the third floor of Hughes Hall for three years. Her best friend to this day lived across the hall. “She and I have been friends for a very long time,” Kumar said. She was the Publicity Director for AU’s Centennial Celebration in 1993, where she had a front-row seat to former President Bill Clinton’s speech here. She also met Clinton, and he put his hand on her shoulder – “pre-Monica Lewinsky,” she added. She worked on an independent study with Dr. Neil Kerwin when she was a student and he was still dean of the School of Public Affairs, because she couldn’t fit a special seminar into her schedule. “He’s the best person that could ever do this job [of University president],” she said. Her least favorite class was “The Case for Evolution,” a second-level Biology general education class. “I would literally sit in the Hughes Hall dorm until 2 a.m. just re-copying my notes,” she said. She knew she wanted to attend AU as soon as she walked onto the quad, which remains her favorite place on campus. “When you teach where you went to school, you’re constantly confronted with memories,” she said.
August 30, 2010
Consumer Report: Textbook prices vary by condition, seller and timing By MEG FOWLER Eagle Staff Writer After somehow footing the bill for $36,180 of tuition, $8,630 for average room and $4,800 for average board this year, most AU students could stand to save a buck here or there. The Eagle is here to help. Each issue, on page five, there will be a consumer report for those at AU to consult for advice on purchases made in and around campus. Buying textbooks for class can sometimes feel like adding insult to injury to students and families already spending thousands. The average first-time student at a four-year university paid up to $898 solely on textbooks for the 2003-2004 academic year, according to a July 2005 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office. That same report revealed that over the previous two decades, prices for college textbooks increased by twice the rate of inflation. But this year, several things are on AU students’ side when they pay for college textbooks: the AU bookstore’s new rent-a-text program, the option of buying used instead of new, Amazon.com for students and the Higher Education Opportunity Act. Rental and used textbooks For the first time, the American University Campus Store is offering students the option of renting their textbooks for the semester. There are advantages and disadvantages to doing this as opposed to buying used. One advantage: It affords greater up-front savings. The rental price of a textbook generally tends to be about half the price of buying new, according to Helen Ricotta, assistant manager at the American University Campus Store. The price of a used book can be around 30 percent less than that of a new, according to Ricotta. Renting guarantees those savings. When a student buys a used textbook, the
Features 5
theEAGLE
price may only be 30 percent off a new book, but if they sell it back to the bookstore, they can receive half of what they paid for it originally. Let’s say you have to buy a textbook that is worth $100 new. Should you rent or buy used? Depends. If you rent, you will only pay about $50. If you buy used, you pay $70 upfront. But if you sell the book back at the end of the year you could get up to $35 back, giving you a total savings of $65 from buying it new. Renting gives you the advantage of up-front savings, but in buying used, there is no guarantee that you will be able to sell the book back at the end of the semester, according to Ricotta. The bookstore only buys back what it will need, which it does not know until professors put in their orders for the next semester, she said. In addition, a used book is not always available for sale at the bookstore, in which case the rental option becomes the only way to save. “If the new book is all we have, renting is absolutely the best bet,” Ricotta said. “We’re really excited about rental because it really is a savings.” Amazon Student Amazon.com touts 30 percent savings on new textbooks and 90 percent savings on used textbooks offered for sale through the website, but this year many have joined Amazon Student to take advantage of free two-day shipping for a year as well as other advantages. Amazon Student is “a free membership program created especially for college students,” who can sign up using their school e-mail address, according to the website. In addition, members of the program receive exclusive discounts on Amazon products for which they receive notifications on their student e-mail. Many have found real savings using websites like Amazon, as well as on the site Half.com (an eBay com-
pany) and other sites. Plus, you never know what may be for sale on Craigslist. Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) The textbook provision of the Higher Education Opportunity Act went into effect July 1 for the purposes of “decreasing costs to students and enhancing transparency and disclosure with respect to the selection, purchase, sale and use of course materials,” the law reads. One key provision prohibits publishers from bundling supplemental materials like CDs with textbooks. Supplemental materials often drive costs higher. The HEOA also establishes that publishers must release to the faculty who choose course materials certain information. This includes the price at which publishers will sell books at campus stores, descriptions of content revisions from previous editions and other forms in which the textbook may be available (such as paperback, unbound etc.). Ricotta said she does not often see a change in the book’s edition required by AU professors. They do not change the edition required for the class if the changes in the book are minor. Furthermore, among several other provisions, the HEOA amendment says that a link to the campus bookstore or the ISBN number of course materials must be listed alongside online course registration so that students will know the exact books they will be required to access for the class. Another report from the GAO, to come out by July 1, 2013, is also required under the HEOA provision, with information on the availability of college textbook information and the availability of pricing information to faculty from publishers. Staff writer Tamar Hallerman contributed to this report. mfowler@theeagleonline. com
price CHECK Example: the cost of a General Education, Area 1, first level textbook “Biological Science” Author: Scott Freeman Edition: 4th ISBN: 9780321598202 American University Campus Store: New: $197.00 Used: $147.75 Rent: $88.65 (Return date 12/18/2010) Amazon: New: $176.50 Used: $174.90 Half.com: New: $179.95 Like New: $180.00 Good: $179.99 Example: the cost of a General Education, Area 3, first level textbook “International Relations” Author: Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse Edition: 9th ISBN: 9780205780211 American University Campus Store: New: $124.25 Used: $93.25 Rent: $55.91 (Return date 12/18/2010) Amazon: New: $111.97 Used: $111.98 Half.com: New: $106.75 Like New: $106.75 Good: $111.98 Example: the cost of a General Education, Area 4, first level textbook “Macroeconomics” Author: David C. Colander Edition: 8th ISBN: 9780077247171 American University Campus Store: New: $159.25 Used: $119.50 Amazon: New: $98.24 Used: $85.00 Half.com: New: $102.45 Like New: $100.00 Good: $99.99
Example: the cost of a mathematics requirement textbook “Intro to Practice of Statistics” (with CD) Author: David Moore, George P. McCabe and Bruce Craig Edition: 6th ISBN: 9781429216227 American University Campus Store: New: $159.00 Used: $119.25 (no more copies available for this semester) Amazon (prices listed were lowest offered by press time): New: $78.94 Used: $75.00 Half.com: New: $75.00 Like New: $74.90 Good: $75.00 (All prices checked Aug. 29) Staff writer Stefanie Dazio contributed to this report.
eagle RANTS Q I sign up to get junk mail catalogs so that I can actually have mail in my mailbox. Q Going this whole summer without Eagle Rants was TORTURE! I was starting to twitch and have cravings. Q Am I the only one taking the LSAT who isn’t paying thousands of dollars to take a prep class? It seems like a waste of money to me. Q I love AU, but I miss my LDR boyfriend. Why did he have to be smarter than me and get into an Ivy League school? :( Q Ditched my group of friends last year, resorted to Eagle Rants to try and find new friends. I’m pathetic. Q I’m still into the same guy as I was last year. Question is: why? Q To whoever found my wallet on the bus and actually turned it in without stealing my cash, I love you. Q This AU Wonk thing is the STUPIDEST thing I have ever seen in my life. Why has this university taken to sucking so much recently? It’s trying too hard. Q Who really needs a fourhour class? Am I seriously expected to stay awake for that? Q “Wonk” is British slang for the drug ketamine. THE MORE YOU KNOW. :) Q Ok, I get adding new things to the Tavern menu but why take away some of the more popular items? There are no more chicken quesadillas, bacon cheese burgers, or southwest sauce. SHAME AU. SHAME. Q I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: The AU Student Health Center needs a north side outpost. Not a full blown health center but a place where you can get medicine and a note saying that you are, in fact, sick. I know from experience that it is hell walking all the way to south side with the stomach flu. If my high school could
do it, AU surely can. Q AU Threesome needs to come back ASAP. The freshmen need to experience their wit. Q The term “wonk” reminds me of Willy Wonka. Is AU trying to attract young politically oriented Oompa Loompas? Q What. The. Hell. The Tavern no longer has cheese quesadillas! NOT ACCEPTABLE. Whose bright idea was it to get rid of one of the most popular food items? They have the cheese, they have the wrap... but now all they’ll put in them is beans or veggies. GOSH DARN IT. Stop trying to make me skinny. All I want is my cheese quesadilla! Q Could we please have more places that accept meal swipes? Also, I wouldn’t mind having an Italian or Chinese place to eat on campus that took meal swipes. I dislike the greasy and new menu at the Tavern. The service is SO slow, and why get rid of cheese quesadillas? Q I’m a sophomore in a dorm, and I never thought that I would be so excited to get to know the freshmen on my floor! I never thought they would be so awesome. :) Q Dear new (and possibly returning) students on the AU shuttle: If you are standing on the bus, and there is lots of room around you, and you happen to notice A WHOLE CROWD OF PEOPLE hanging off the front of the bus, here’s a hint: MOVE FARTHER BACK! Seriously, people. No one cares about the conversation you’re having that’s making you hog the aisle. Sincerely, A Disgruntled Senior. Q The Gathering is full of really nice people! As a freshman, it’s nice to be able to make friends without being drunk, just saying. Q WHERE IS THE 2-FIX BUTTON!?!?!
August 30, 2010
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KNOW/WONK Costs and causes: Dollars and sense behind AU’s new brand By MEG FOWLER Eagle Staff Writer AU added $1.27 million to the University Communications and Marketing department’s operating budget for the two fiscal years of 2010 and 2011 to go towards marketing initiatives that eventually became the wonk campaign. This brought the total twoyear budget for University Communications and Marketing up to $7.031 million, with $3.726 million allotted for FY 2010 and $3.305 million for FY 2011. The additional funds went toward AU’s first comprehensive branding campaign that it has undertaken, according to Teresa Flannery, executive director of University Communications and Marketing. AU’s total operating budget for the two years are $456.7 million and $479.2 million, amounting to a total twoyear budget of $935.9 million. The Marketing department’s budget represents 0.8 percent and 0.7 percent of the University’s total operating budgets, respectively, for those years. “To put that in context, if you look at a corporation,
what they would spend on marketing is 3 to 5 percent,” Flannery said. “We would never spend that much in a higher education environment.” The purpose of the extra funds for the two years is to create the branding campaign, promote it and integrate it among AU constituents and to revamp its web presence, according to the American University Budget. The University budget is created based on the priorities indicated in the University’s Strategic Plan, which was approved in November of 2008, according to Flannery. Some of the campaign budget came from funds going toward specific Strategic Plan goals. The branding campaign fell under goal 10, “Win Recognition and Distinction,” which was allocated a total of $1.328 million for FY 2010 and $908 thousand for FY 2011. A part of these Strategic Plan totals were spent towards the wonk campaign. “The institution, through its community, its leadership and its board decided that this was a priority and that it should be funded and that
it was important to do that so that we could be more successful in meeting our goals,” Flannery said. “The University could see that it wasn’t effectively integrating all the things that we were doing from the marketing communications fund.” Flannery cited enrollment and alumni outreach trends that indicated the need for a branding campaign at AU.
the institution and the perceptions that are out there,” Flannery said. “That means you have to spend more on all those people who are not coming to get the one you do get to come, and that’s not cost-efficient.” The same is true for alumni relations. “What we have to do to raise a dollar of scholarship money from a donor is twice
“The institution ... decided that this was a priority and that it should be funded.” -Teresa Flannery
Currently, AU tends to enroll an average of one freshman for every five to which it reaches out to during the recruitment process, according to Flannery. Schools with the strongest brands, such as Harvard, probably retain about four out of five for enrollment, she said. The numbers are caused by “discrepancies between what [AU] thinks is the quality of
what it is at other institutions,” Flannery said. “The brand isn’t doing enough of the heavy lifting.” The rankings on the U.S. News and World Report exemplify this problem. This year, AU was ranked 79th overall out of universities in the nation. While this was an increase from the previous ranking of 84, Flannery said it could be even better.
Twenty-five percent of the U.S. News and World Report ranking is determined by surveys of school administrators’ perceptions of other institutions. But Flannery pointed out that in the component of the ranking that surveys high school guidance counselors, AU came in 47th, a place in the top 50 instead of the top 100, as in the peer-assessment component. “Guidance counselors ... [talk] to current students ... have more direct knowledge,” Flannery said. “I know what a good university we are. We should be in the top half of that list, but our reputation is lagging behind the actual quality ... That’s why we invest in branding.” This is not the first branding campaign that Flannery has headed. In 1997, she was asked to be the first marketing director at the University of Maryland. For the next 11 years, she headed two separate campaigns at UMD themed around the mascot of the diamond back terrapin turtle named Testudo. That species grows only a matter of inches. The first campaign was based around the word “zoom,” a tongue-in-cheek
reference to an image of a fierce, determined underdog turtle, as in the tortoise and the hare fable, according to Flannery. The second campaign was for “Fear the turtle,” an idea that came from a cheer that UMD students would chant at basketball games. From 1997 to 2008, UMD went from 30 to 18 on the U.S. News and World Report ranking for public universities. Its research funding more than doubled, and alumni donors tripled, according to Flannery. “Same thing, you took a campaign that sounded very unusual for an academic institution,” she said. “It was organic, same as ‘wonk,’ coming from Nate [Beeler]. You start with something from within ... that represents the tone of the institution and gives you the opportunity to convey its strengths.” Beeler, a 2002 AU alumnus, drew a cartoon that became the inspiration of the wonk campaign, The Eagle previously reported. Higher education branding is a relatively new market that was only just brought into use in the 1990s, Q
see WONK on page 7
marketing goals for AU BRAND STRATEGY
what is a WONK?
1. Strengthen academic and research reputation 2. Enhance quality and diversity of undergraduate enrollment 3. Increase graduate enrollment 4. Increase involvement, support and advocacy among alumni 5. Grow partnerships with pinnacle organizations 6. Diversify and broaden revenue streams 7. Maintain strong public and community relations
1. A hard-working, intellectually curious person; expert in a field: physics wonk 2. A knowledgeable Washington insider: policy wonk 3. Someone focused on an issue and passionate about creating meaningful change in the world: financial reform wonk, human rights wonk, sustainability wonk
Source: American University BrandPrintTM, SimpsonScarborough Source: americanwonks.com
August 30, 2010 Q
from WONK on page 6
according to Elizabeth Scarborough, CEO of Simpson Scarborough, the market research firm hired in early 2009 to conduct surveys about how AU community members viewed the identity of the school. “For a long time, colleges and universities didn’t market themselves at all,” Scarborough said. “Fifteen or 20 years ago, when I started in this business, I actually was kicked out of a college president’s office for using the word ‘marketing.’” However, it is extremely common now for colleges to invest in marketing and branding, according to Scarborough. But squeamishness about using commercial marketing terms to refer to promotion of higher education still persists, including at AU, Scarborough said. “It just makes people so uncomfortable,” Scarborough said. “And I understand that. Marketing higher education is different than marketing soap ... That’s your professors sort of adhering to their morals and wanting to protect what they hold so dear about the purpose of higher education, in general. They don’t want it to be commercialized.” But the goals that AU pursued with the wonk campaign are important, Scarborough said. “It’s had its fair share of image challenges in the last 15 years,” she said. “We were told by the president, by the provost ... by all of the leadership of the institution, ‘This is a great university, and not enough people know about it.’” mfowler@theeagleonline. com
What the wonk? New branding campaign creates mixed reactions among students, but admins hope it will bring AU more recognition By ANNA SCALAMOGNA and MEG FOWLER Eagle Staff Writers From dirty jokes to Willy Wonka references, AU student reactions to the “wonk” campaign have varied. In general, students feel unsure about the word “wonk” itself, but seem to support its definition as defined by AU — an intellectually curious person or an expert in a field. Eric Fleddermann, a sophomore in the School of International Service, said he initially laughed when he saw his roommate wearing one of the wonk T-shirts, but after learning about the campaign he changed his opinion. He defined a wonk as someone “working hard to learn as much as you can about your field and making an impact and a significant change.” Fleddermann said he did not think wearing a wonk shirt will get you much respect outside of AU right now. However, he was excited to see an AU student wearing a wonk shirt make an appearance on the Jumbotron at a Nationals games this week. Patrice Noel, a sophomore in the School of Public Affairs, said she first heard that a wonk was a gay man
in Australia. After learning its intended meaning at AU, she said she supports going to school “wonkified” and feels students are embracing the campaign. “There hasn’t been a class where someone has not been wearing [a wonk T-shirt],” Noel said. Concerns about the old Australian meaning were brought up early in the creative process of evaluating wonk, according to Teresa Flannery, executive director
-Jeff Della Serra of University Communications and Marketing. A definition on UrbanDictionary.com brings up the meaning for “wonk” used in Australia during World War I, which was to describe an effeminate man, denoting a gay male. Aboriginal natives of Australia also once used it to refer to a white person. To address these concerns, the University Communications and Marketing team hired the company TransPerfect to conduct a linguistics
What AU has spent on the wonk campaign Eagle Staff Writer $225,000: Phase I - Research and Strategy Baseline study by SimpsonScarborough market research company with 12 different audiences to set baseline and identify positioning (survey to be repeated three to five
years from now among the same audiences) $100,000: Creative Development: Design, testing, protection, production and campus introduction Creative work not done by AU employees and students: An additional copywriter Nate Beeler commissioned for drawing car-
study on the word. They attempted to find uses in other languages that might change the intended meaning of “wonk.” The team also met with Sara Bendoraitis and Matthew Bruno from the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Ally Resource Center to discuss whether they would find the widespread use of “wonk” on AU’s campus offensive or inappropriate. Bendoraitis and Bruno both embraced the term, ac-
“It’s kind of a funky word. But it catches your eye and ear.”
So what does it really cost? By MEG FOWLER
Cover Story 7
theEAGLE
toons related to the campaign and will continue to draw a comic strip for each American Magazine issue for the remaining year. Testing, risk management and legal protection Creative testing of concept by Bethesda-based company, Shugoll Research Linguistics study by the
cording to Flannery, and the rainbow wonk T-shirts were one of the most popular of the shirts given away at Celebrate AU. Jeff Della Serra, a freshman in the School of Communication, said he likes the campaign, while proudly wearing a red communications wonk shirt. “It’s kind of a funky word,” Della Serra said. “But it catches your eye and ear.” Other students were not as supportive and some were company TransPerfect, to examine the term or words that sound like “wonk” in other languages 35 trademark applications for variations of wonks in selected categories (printed materials, educational services, etc.) URLs in various forms Implementation, production and campus launch: Grassroots, viral, digital and social media activities by student teams during the summer Presentations and events during the summer (including costs for food and equipment for student
confused. Tyler Brennan, a sophomore in SPA, said he does not understand what it means to be a wonk or why students are wearing the shirts. “I don’t want to be known as a wonk,” Brennan said. “It’s not a pleasant-sounding word.” The AU Undergraduate Senate passed a bill Sunday entitled “A Bill to Gauge Student Opinion on ‘WONK,’” sponsored by Brett Atanasio, sophomore in the School of International Service and Student Government senator for the Class of 2013. The bill reinforced the neutral stance that the SG had publicly taken and enacted that the Department of Outreach and Recruitment to hold at least one town hall meeting, distribute e-mail surveys and create an online forum to discern student reaction to “wonk” and act as a sounding board for any concerns or opinions. Dan Bakst, a senior in Kogod, said he believes the campaign is a lame, contrived marketing attempt with no real value. “I can’t imagine being impressed by that [when applying to college,]” Bakst said. Bakst also said he does not believe AU should highlight being an expert in a specific field in order to attract prospective students. presentations, luncheons, teas and Celebrate AU) T-shirts Bookmarks Luggage tags Total expenses so far: $325,000 Estimated expenses to come later this fiscal year: $200,000: Create the 2011 Welcome Center and Experience that integrates the brand messages in the video, presentation, tour and design of the space. $150,000: Estimated cost
“You can learn anything at the library,” Bakst said. Flannery pointed out that people often warm to the term after spending time getting used to it. “We would never choose something that had a negative connotation for students,” Flannery said. University Communications and Marketing is considering holding a town hall meeting to field comments and questions from the AU community some time before Labor Day and Rosh Hashana, according to Flannery. ascalamogna@ theeagleonline.com mfowler@theeagleonline. com
Learn more about wonks online.
theEAGLE www.theeagleonline.com
for KNOW/WONK in fall graduate student recruitment advertising * Source: E-mail from Teresa Flannery, executive director of University Marketing and Communications. * Ads came out in the August 26 issue of the Washington City Paper. mfowler@theeagleonline.com
August 30, 2010
News 8
theEAGLE
Public Safety tests electronic locks in new residence halls as measure to combat theft
AU ranks high on two magazine lists
By STEFANIE DAZIO
By STEFANIE DAZIO
Eagle Staff Writer As part of a test program to decrease theft in the residence halls, Clark and Roper Halls have electronic locks on dorm room doors, according to Department of Public Safety Chief Michael McNair. McNair said most thefts occur because students leave their dorm doors unlocked. These new electronic locks automatically lock the door as soon as it is closed, so there is no room for human error. With these new locks, Public Safety can tell who enters a room at what time. Every time a student’s AU ID card is swiped — for residence hall access and meal plans as well — Public Safety is able to track it. McNair said this monitoring should help the department solve more thefts and said confidentiality is not an issue because it is for security purposes. Student Advocacy Center Assistant Director Matt Kabak, a junior in the School of Public Affairs, said he had not heard about these locks but the SAC plans on looking into it. AU ID cards for residents
from BECK on page 3 “The nature of bringing political leaders into the rally — I think that makes it inherently political,” he said. Rev. Al Sharpton also organized a five-mile march Aug. 28 to honor the 47th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. The march began at Dunbar High School in Northwest D.C. and ended at the southeast side of the National Mall, where the King memorial is currently under construction. sdazio@theeagleonline.com
of these dorms are encrypted with smart chips that give access to the bearer of the resident’s card. This replaces the standard locks and keys found in the other dorms. Now, if a student loses their key, they won’t have to pay to replace their key, their roommate’s key and the lock itself – which costs $90 overall, according to Chris Moody, the executive director of Housing and Dining Programs. With these locks, only the AU ID will need to be replaced, costing $20. McNair said if the electronic locks work well in Clark and Roper, the University will look into using them in other dorms. Clark and Roper were chosen for the test because they have recently been renovated into dorms, so no old locks had to be replaced. Several other places have these electronic locks, including rooms in Mary Graydon Center, the Sports Center, the Beeghley building and Hurst Hall. Individually, the electronic locks cost about $650 each, which is the same as the standard lock. The back-end software, which includes the network and hotspots, has a one-time cost of $15,000. sdazio@theeagleonline.com
from CENTRAL on page 3 “This is a much better idea than what we had last year,” said Courtney Scantling, a junior in the School of Public Affairs, of her first visit to AU Central. “It’s really nice not to have to go all over the place and hunt down which office you need.” The idea of the “one-stopshop” remains popular despite the obstacles the office has had to overcome, Clothier said. “For a brand new office, that’s pretty good,” Clothier said. AU Central’s staff will continue to make improvements to the office and the services it provides to increase customer satisfaction. AU Central will be looking
Eagle Staff Writer Two publications ranked AU on their lists of top schools — one of national universities and one for great internship opportunities. Washington Monthly ranked AU No. 86 in its list of the top 258 national universities with a score of 47 out of 100. Schools were ranked in three categories: research and service, social mobility and recruiting and graduating low-income students. The Washington Monthly says its list is supposed to “upend the traditional notion of a college guide,” as it ranks what colleges are doing for the country rather than the individual student. The editors of the Washington Monthly said that D.C.-area schools did not rank very high in the social mobility category — AU ranked No. 139 — because of low rates of offering Pell Grants. AU’s rate is 10 percent, according to Washington Monthly. Georgetown University placed No. 19 overall, Howard was at No. 70, George Washington University came in at No. 71 and Catholic ranked No. 101.
to hire two to three student employees at the federal work-study fair next week, and the office is currently in the process of hiring more full-time counselors to handle the overflow of office traffic. The online portal is set to launch sometime in the coming year and will provide information to students wishing to avoid the trip into the office. “Our long-term goal is to enhance our virtual presence so that students can manage their transactions on their own time at their convenience,” Clothier said. “A lot of great information is out there, and more will be coming.” news@theeagleonline.com
AU was also ranked as one of 21 schools listed in Parade’s “College A-List for Great Internship Opportunities.” The schools, including George Washington University, were chosen based on recommendations of 43 high school guidance counselors nation-wide, according to Parade Magazine.
theEAGLE is looking for a cartoonist. edpage@theeagleonline.com
sdazio@theeagleonline.com
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N100013-2BBS
9
OPINION
August 30, 2010
Getting to KNOW/WONK ‘Wonk’ certainly is an interesting — and bold — choice for a University branding campaign. With a few changes and a little time, just maybe it will work. By now, we’ve all seen the invasion of “wonk” on campus. From “Service wonks” and “Welcome wonks” to Peace and Global wonk Tshirts, wonk has infiltrated campus life — but not without some controversy. We here at The Eagle applaud AU’s efforts to rebrand itself, but we have ourselves wondering: Is wonk the right fit for AU, or is the concept just too “wonky” to work? One of the first questions asked is why did AU need to rebrand? While the effort may seem corporate and unnecessary, rebranding is an important effort that we support. Many students can agree that when telling our friends where we were accepted back in those tension-
fraught college application days, most had no idea where AU was located, let alone what defined the school. While we run into this issue less frequently as we enter the job arena, AU needs to build its reputation amongst potential applicants if we hope to achieve further growth in the coming years. The overall question remains, why “wonk?” As Flannery points out in her letter, it is “a distinctly Washington word.” The “know/ wonk” campaign intends to promote an image of a university full of students knowledgeable and passionate about their work. However, is “wonk” the best word to convey that image to the world? Maybe it’s just us. It could be a simple case
‘Citizen of the world’ enters The Eagle’s nest SMARTER THAN I LOOK
CONOR SHAPIRO It strikes me as a tad ironic to have matriculated to AU. I consider myself a citizen of the world before a citizen of the United States. I shun patriotic pride and claim no honor in anything without the prerequisite of
merit. Blind patriotism is analogous with white pride, black pride, gay pride or straight pride. Seems to me I had no choice in the matter, and if I did, I would’ve preferred to resemble Denzel Washington instead of a collision between Kramer and Andy Roddick. I grew up in Phoenix and graduated in 2007 from San Diego State University with a B.A. in Political Science. It’s amazing how eventful
of us just not liking change — similar to every time we cry foul over some change on Facebook. Maybe we just need some time to get adjusted to our new profile page. But there are some deeper issues with the campaign that
Although there was some student involvement in the formation process, there seems to be a general feeling of disconnect to the cause. Many other changes to the University have been heralded far in advance of their debut, so
... only time will tell whether or not “wonk” is the best solution to redefining ourselves. need to be addressed by the administration if they wish us to fully accept the era of “wonk.” Much of the campus outcry comes from the sudden introduction of “wonk” upon our return from summer vacation.
why not try and recruit us to “wonk” earlier on? Wouldn’t it have made more sense to try and use students to promote “wonk” to the incoming freshmen, rather than have us railing against it as they walk in the
life sounds when you summarize 22 years in one brief sentence. I play tennis and basketball and enjoy running and endurance sports. I practice the violin recreationally and I’m the curator of a blog titled “ConArtist,” which is my ‘liberal elitist’ imitation of Facebook. I compose riddles, poetry and criticize random things because it’s one of my few talents. This fall is my first semester as a graduate student in the School of International Service where my present specification is in International Peace and Conflict Resolution. My interests are reforming education curriculum to incorporate peace education, and finding ways to make peace profitable. I’m no expert on economics, but incentives are generally successful, as in — here’s
$10,000,000. Now instead of that uranium enrichment project you’ve always wanted for energy independence (or to blow up, you know, everybody), how about building a wind farm, or even a spaceship? We’ve got agriculture subsidies; can’t we do the same to control weaponry? I’m more inclined to cite sources and find inspiration from social commentary in Playboy (yes, I actually do read the articles … and captions), Rolling Stone and The New York Times than CNN or MSNBC. If you just asked “What about Fox,” I answer: What about it? I’m a feminist. I’m liberal. I’m not moderate. Last I checked, there’s no such thing as moderately perfect, and therefore you won’t read any apologetic sentences like, “Though I may be so-
door? In addition, the word “wonk” refers primarily to “policy wonks,” a connotation that fits many AU students — but not all. Politics is just one aspect of life at AU — to exclude so many of our unique qualities from our official brand fails to aid the cause. What about the fact that we have the largest international studies undergraduate program in the United States? Or that 59 percent of our students study abroad? Or that the Kogod School of Business was ranked 20th in the nation? There are so many positive attributes that we showcase on our website, and to narrow the scope of our branding fails to paint a complete portrait of what AU really is. AU has declared this the age of “wonk.” How-
ever, only time will tell whether or not “wonk” is the best solution to redefining ourselves. In the meantime, we can only suggest a compromise. Students: give wonk a chance. Yes, it may be a weird word, but maybe it’s the right word for us. To the University: Give us more reasons as to why “wonk” works. Judging success by handing out free shirts is not a valid indicator (we’re poor college students — of course we’ll take a free shirt). Instead, show us how “wonk” can include all the unique attributes of this University. Until time reveals the true success of “wonk,” let’s work together on trying to reach a successful common ground.
cially liberal, I’m fiscally conservative.” Fiscal conservatism is every bit as cancerous as social conservatism. My views are iconoclastic, clashing with mainstream Republicans as well as Democrats. I don’t believe in God, though I prefer to be labeled agnostic over atheist. My favorite bumper sticker reads, “I’m already against the next war.” I believe the term ‘military heroism’ is primarily oxymoronic and the bravest thing one can do is speak out against the military industrial complex. Although I’m right 100 percent of the time, I’m open to alternatives and suggestions (under the precondition they’re flagrantly wrong). My column will tackle serious subjects, but I don’t take myself too seriously and will do my best to include
jokes that will, at minimum, be attempts at humor. The measure of success of my column entails ruffling a few feathers, challenging canonical dogma, generating debate and eliciting a chuckle every now and then. You’ll likely bump into me at Jacobs Fitness Center sporting high black socks and mismatched clothes, complaining to no one in particular about broken lockers or machines left drenched from an oblivious frat boy. Don’t be a stranger. I look forward to joining The Eagle staff and the greater AU community. Conor Shapiro is a graduate student in the School of International Service and a liberal columnist.
August 30, 2010
Opinion 10
theEAGLE
Five questions with Teresa Flannery Five questions about AU’s branding campaign for Teresa Flannery, director of Communications and Marketing Are you surprised about some students’ negative reaction to the introduction of the word “wonk” to campus? No. It mirrors the range of reactions we saw when we tested the concept and what we heard when our student teams started working with it. Most of you have never heard the word. It sounds odd. Some of the things you first associate with it are pretty funny. Most of the definitions you search are pretty dated or incomplete. But it gets your attention. When you hear it’s “know” spelled backwards, it seems reasonable. Given a current definition or some context — illustrations or examples of people described as different kinds of wonks in the media — you often like it and see how it fits people at AU. Some of you have seen the website, videos and ads, the confident tone, and you think it’s cool. You’re proud. You not only took a shirt, you’re wearing it. Some of you don’t like it because you don’t want to be labeled. That’s fine. We’re using the term to tell the rest of the world what makes AU
distinctive: Smart, engaged people who are focused and passionate about creating change. Students learn from connected and influential leaders, and Washington is a powerful lab for learning. Those are the messages that the campaign materials deliver effectively, which is why the concept was chosen. So if you think this word describes you, sure, embrace it as you get to know it. If you don’t, all we ask is that you understand what it was designed to do. Do you think enough students were informed or consulted enough in the creative process of conceiving of “wonk”? Consulted enough? Yes, extensively and repeatedly. Informed enough? Well apparently not enough at the last stage of the process. It’s important to make a distinction between deciding on the creative concept and having input, representation and information. The group recommending the concept was diverse and represented many constituencies. The University Marketing Task Force, which included students, fully understood the strategy and developed the research on which it was based. That required a serious time commitment and focus. They spent almost two years
— with monthly meetings, and tasks in between — to reach the point of making a judgment on the concept. We solicited input and participation to reach this decision. We interviewed dozens and surveyed all students (and lots of others) to develop the strategy. We presented the findings in campus presentations. We interviewed hundreds to prove the positioning, tested the concept with groups to refine it, and involved student teams to shape implementation. We met elected leaders at each stage and asked for their input. We are confident that with this much input, it is built to succeed. The concept itself was the last stage of the process and was recommended in April. It was presented to leadership (including student leaders) in May and to many on campus over the summer, even as we were still testing and refining it. When we introduced it during Welcome Week and at Celebrate AU, it was our first chance to present it widely to the community and to encourage your reactions and feedback. But I understand that it felt abrupt. So, we did a good job of soliciting input and maintaining representation, but I understand that you would have liked to be informed sooner about the
final stage. What is the University trying to accomplish with the campaign? Branding is a process designed to increase awareness, engagement and loyalty among audiences whose support is critical to meeting the University’s strategic goals. The campaign is part of that process. Awareness of AU is lower than it should be outside Greater Washington. Our reputation lags well behind our quality. We have to recruit, admit and cultivate five prospective students to enroll just one. Competitors with stronger reputations or brands enroll two or three for every five they admit. So we spend more and work harder to get the same results. The same is true in fundraising. We have to spend more to raise a dollar of scholarship aid than peers. Our sponsored research dollars are lower than peers. Higher education leaders rate our quality far lower than guidance counselors do, which affects faculty and graduate student recruitment. We’re not investing in this to look pretty, though the creative work has been called sophisticated. This campaign is funded as a strategic plan
Letter to the editor AU alumnus says new ‘wonk’ campaign makes it seem like he graduated from a ‘clown college’ Dear President Kerwin, I write to you as a very concerned alumnus. Little did I realize, when I innocently opened an e-mail from The Eagle that today would mark the day that I was completely humiliated by my university. The lead story on the “Wonk” campaign filled me with repulsion and dread. Please, as a concerned alumni, let me explain why I am so horrified by this public relations move. Despite the song and dance in The Eagle, most of your students and alumni are embarrassed. They think the campaign is ridic-
ulous. Frankly, the fact that AU thinks that any student wants to identify themselves as “Wonk” demonstrates how completely out of touch most of this university is with its students. This is a textbook example of a corporation and a “director of PR” sitting down and discussing, “what the kids like these days ... you know, with their iPods and their Playboxes?” The “Wonk” campaign is not only out-of-touch but patronizing and useless. Are we now meant to change our name to the “AU Wonks”? Will this be the name of our sports teams?
initiative because a strong brand does makes other efforts more successful and less expensive. What do you see as the role of the wonk campaign in five years? KNOW/WONK will have raised awareness, improved engagement and pride, and enhanced outcomes from recruitment and research support to employer perception and fundraising. By then, we might be looking for the next concept to tell our story. Our brand — active citizens, learning from leaders, Washington as a powerful lab — shouldn’t change much. It’s who we are. But the campaign is just a handle, and those often run their course. The time comes to look for something fresh to do the job. You’ll be alums by then, reminiscing about wonks you used to know. Where are you trying to position AU in relation to other area schools? Some local institutions tout their student’s ambition or reference their ties to power. What is distinctive about AU is the passion we have to use our knowledge for good. I was not surprised that the first wonk T-shirts to run out were Green, Global
If it isn’t, what exactly is the point. Let me be very clear: as a prospective student, if a university sent me a pamphlet that had “AU Wonk!” emblazoned on the cover, I would immediately throw it away and eliminate it from consideration. Mr. Kerwin, let me ask you honestly, man-to-man, if you would ever willingly wear a shirt that said “AU Wonk!” and not feel like a total idiot. I suspect the answer is a resounding “no” as it should be, because you seem like a rational human being. Let me explain very clearly why I am so angry. This campaign makes my degree seem like I graduated from clown college. If an employer asks me, “hey, aren’t you
and Peace. AU was founded to build the nation and we are the most politically active campus in the nation. Whether it is in corporate, non-profit, government or academic environments, we use that activism and engagement for a purpose greater than self-interest. We focus our knowledge and passion to effect change on the issues and ideas that matter in the world. Our position has to distinguish us nationally and globally, too. The opportunities you have in one week to learn from leaders, whether they are tenured faculty, adjuncts, national leaders or world figures, could not be replicated at most colleges in a whole year. And last, Washington is a wonderful place to experiment and apply what you are learning. You’re off into the city as soon almost as you get here, benefiting from the rich opportunities to learn and serve. “Five questions with Teresa Flannery” is the first of our new “Five questions with ...” series, where The Eagle will be asking various members of the AU community five questions about hot issues.
guys called the wonks or something?” how am I possibly supposed to look them in the eye ever again? I highly encourage you to cut your losses and end this campaign before it’s too late. It is not “hip.” It is not “viral.” It is only baffling. Please rectify this mistake, before we are truly ashamed to say we graduated from AU — Home of the Wonks! Yours, David Conison Director, La Rinascita
This letter was sent to The Eagle as well as to president@american.edu, ucm@ american.edu and aumedia@ american.edu.
August 30, 2010
Opinion 11
theEAGLE
Conservatives resort Filmmakers have moral duty to ‘wedge issues’ in to accurately depict the wild attempt to win House GUEST COLUMN
LEFT TURN HERE
NICK FIELD In this column I hope to address the issues of government and society at large from my perspective as a political science major and as a progressive, and the latest big news story provides me with a great opportunity to do just that. It seems that with the 2010 midterm elections only a few months away, Republicans have deployed a strategy to use wedge issues, rather than any new ideas, to try to win back the House of Representatives. Case in point is the controversy over the building of an Islamic community center, which will include a mosque, in downtown Manhattan two blocks from the former site of the World Trade Center. Many major Republicans and several spineless Democrats have attacked this project and President Barack Obama for supporting it. In fact, even the President hedged his support, saying that the group had the constitutional right to build there but that he would not comment on the wisdom of such an action. Altogether this argument is just a thinly veiled method for the Republicans to attack Obama and the Democrats in view of the 2010 and 2012 elections. Even though the plans for this building were publicly know for months, it wasn’t until recently that the project became such a focal point for the media. While Justin Elliot of Salon.com tracked the emergence of the uproar to a right-wing
blogger and the New York Post, what really brought the issue to center stage were the comments of Sarah Palin. Last month, Palin tweeted that the “ground zero mosque” stabbed the hearts of those “throughout the heartland.” The fact that Palin holds the concerns of “the heartland” over those living in New York, shows that she is just playing to what she perceives to be her base — the place she once called “real America.” She is seeking to portray herself as standing up for “real” Americans while the president defends “radical” Muslims. Lately the media focus has been on how important this issue will be in the midterm as Republicans have indicated they plan to use the issue in their campaigns. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, for instance, argued that the issue should be brought up in campaigns because it highlights a supposed disconnect between D.C. and “mainstream America.” The issue has also become a factor in the slowly reemerging 2012 Republican presidential race. Potential candidate Newt Gingrich has sought to one-up Palin on the issue by comparing the building of the mosque near ground zero to Nazis putting up a sign next to the Holocaust museum. In reality, banning the mosque would be more analogous to prohibiting a sauerkraut cart on the National Mall. The mosque isn’t the only example of the Republicans trying to scare and divide the
American people, however. Just remember the big story of the previous news cycle, which concerned some Republicans who wanted to change the natural-born citizenship provision in the 14th Amendment. The theory was that immigrants were having babies over the border just to suck this country dry, or worse, to train American-born terrorists. When Anderson Cooper pointed out that Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, that no evidence existed supporting such a claim, Gohmert’s ridiculous reasoning was that we wouldn’t see the results of these “terror babies” for “10 or 15 or 20 years.” Overall, it’s clear what the Republicans’ motives are. They feel that they have a shot at the House this November, but they don’t have any plans to fix the economy to campaign on (besides extending the budget-busting Bush tax cuts.) So, the Republicans target distressed middle-class, white voters by painting Democrats as radical defenders of Muslims and immigrants who are trying to desecrate 9/11 and destroy America. I never thought the party that represents the “real America” would ever use the First and 14th Amendments as wedge issues. It looks like not even the Constitution is sacred to divisive, partisan attacks anymore. Nick Field is a junior in the School of Public Affairs and a liberal columnist.
theEAGLE is looking for a cartoonist. edpage@theeagleonline.com
CHRIS PALMER Sharks in a bloody feeding frenzy, thrashing in the water and devouring their prey. Bears tearing and clawing away at whatever unfortunate creature comes within their grasp. These scenes have become commonplace in recent years as part of the larger explosion in nature and wildlife programming on television and in theaters. But how much do we know about how these films are made? Who are these people who go into the wild with cameras and how do they do it? And most importantly, what impact do these films have on society and the environment? In my new book, “Shooting in the Wild: An Insider’s Account of Making Movies in the Animal Kingdom,” I call on my 25 years of experience producing film and television programs to shed light on the nature film industry. Producing films about wildlife is not for the faint of heart. I have learned the hard way that filmmakers must be ready for anything: from having to revive a dying elephant, being overrun by a caribou migration, or dangling from cliffs to film condors. However, there are few experiences more rewarding than being able to travel to the most remote locations on earth and see wild animals in their natural habitat. Unfortunately, in my career I have also seen the dark side of the wildlife film industry. Since the very first nature documentaries, some filmmakers have used unethical means to create their films or have misled viewers and misrepresented the animals they depict. With the enormous success of nature programming in recent years, however, there are even more examples of unethical
behavior in the industry. Some filmmakers will resort to abusing animals in order to get the shots they want. When I first got into filmmaking in the early 1980s, I heard that a cameraman put stinging Bengay on the anus of a beaver so it would be active for his camera. In the old days, if a filmmaker wanted to capture a hunting scene of a bobcat chasing a rabbit, it was standard practice to get the shot by the use of invisible filament around the rabbit’s neck or leg to artificially slow it down. Luckily such overt abuse is now uncommon.
“Since the very first nature documentaries, some filmmakers have used unethical means to create their films or have misled viewers and misrepresented the animals they depict.” and harass animals in order to create entertainment. Another major problem in the wildlife film industry is the way far too many filmmakers mislead the audience by giving inaccurate depictions of animals. Programs like “Untamed and Uncut,” “When Animals Attack” and “Shark Week” depict animals as dangerous, man-eating killers. These shows center around graphic footage of blood and carnage, and imply that the animals shown should be hated and feared. In reality, even sharks, lions and other predators spend most of their time resting or looking for food. That doesn’t make for interesting television,
However, many on-camera hosts like Jeff Corwin or the late Steve Irwin still grab though, and thus the viewers only see the most sensational moments of the animals’ lives. The real danger of misrepresenting animals is that it discourages conservation. When filmmakers depict wild animals as murderous and evil, they make it all the more difficult to convince the public of the need for protecting these animals. Sharks, for example, face dire threats from the pollution of their habitat and the disgusting practice of shark finning. If viewers think of sharks only as killers, they are much less likely to act to protect and conserve them. Filmmakers need to realize the impact their films can have on the very survival of the wild animals they depict. I am proud to teach at an institution like American University where open discourse about such controversial topics is possible. Films have an enormous influence on how we relate to wildlife and to the environment in general and it is essential that filmmakers make more ethical and conservation-minded films. However, if we want to see improvements, we as viewers must also take responsibility for the programs we watch. Chris Palmer is an environmental and wildlife film producer who in 2009 received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Media at the International Wildlife Film Festival. His book, “Shooting in the Wild: An Insider’s Account of Making Movies in the Animal Kingdom,” was published in May by Sierra Club Books. He is president of the MacGillivray Freeman Films Educational Foundation, which produces and funds IMAX films, and he is also a professor on the full-time faculty at AU, where he founded and directs the Center for Environmental Filmmaking in the School of Communication.
August 30, 2010
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FASHION FORWARD — Despite the beginning of a new school year, some students refuse to sacrifice their fashion sensibilities for comfort on busy days. Zeina Boustani, Dom Ferguson, Raven Jones, Jessie Golaszewski and Perri Haynes are a few of the students who put their best foot forward everyday, no matter what’s on their agenda.
AU students choose to buck trends, bring fashion and style back to school By FAITH SAGAILLE Eagle Contributing Writer In the midst of a brand new school year, there are a few AU students who refuse to sacrifice fashion for schoolwork. They prefer to do both by allowing their personalities to shine through their signature styles, all while stylishly toting their overpriced textbooks. The Eagle took to AU’s campus to find five of the most stylish students who managed to rise above the collegiate uniform of sweatpants and a stained T-shirt. These students shared their thoughts about campus fashion and how to stay chic. Raven Jones, a junior in the School of Communication, resident assistant on Tenley Campus and a member of Delta Sigma Theta, said fashion is a way to express yourself.
“We are all different people from different places and it’s a great way to express where you’re from and the different influences you have in your life,” she said. While the most politically active school in the country has highly ambitious students who manage internships, outstanding GPAs and social activities, many feel that AU students need to make a conscientious effort to occasionally get dressed for school. “When you go to class in a sweatpants and T-shirt, you don’t look presentable or ready to work,” said Dom Ferguson, a junior in the Kogod School of Business. “If you look like you’re ready for work, you will be ready to work.” Jessie Golaszewski, a junior in Kogod, shared a similar thought. “Everyone should always feel comfortable about the clothes they’re
wearing, but at the same time they should look presentable,” he said. “It gives you confidence. If I come to class looking nice, I feel better and it makes my day run smoother.” The AU students who have achieved their signature
ity. “I don’t believe in fashion. I believe in style,” Golaszewski said. “Style is timeless. It is important to find what works with you. Go for something that is classic. Don’t give in to what is fashionable because what is in
“I don’t believe in fashion. I believe in style.” -Jessie Golaszewski
style believe that following trends does not make an individual stylish. “Being fashionable doesn’t mean spending a bundle of money or spending hours in the mirror,” said Perri Haynes, a sophomore in SOC. “Style and taste is innate.” All of the students felt that style should be a reflection of an individual’s personal-
now will be out tomorrow.” Another student said that her inspiration comes from the places she has been. “I really love to travel,” said Zeina Boustani, a senior in the School of International Service. “I take a bit of everywhere I go and I incorporate the local culture and the local style. Stay away from trendy things and stay true
to yourself.” Ferguson feels that not all trends are bad to follow but it is important to put a personal take on it. “People should go on fashion blogs, but not to copy them,” he said. “Look for patterns, colors and outfits that you would like and fits you best.” A general consensus among some students is that fashion should be experimental and fun. “When I was 11, I used to use scissors to cut out my shirts,” Haynes said. “People should just go with how they feel, and when you look good, you feel good.” All five students share similar and different takes on style and fashion. Most of them share a taste in high and low style. This is a concept where shoppers incorporate mixing high-end designer items with cheaper pieces.
“I love Marc Jacobs, Jeremy Scott and Chanel, and I love Urban Outfitters,” Jones said. “One day I wear preppy outfits, and the next I am wearing bright colors. My style changes with my mood.” Golaszewski said his German heritage influences his style. “I like the European style and classic Americana,” he said. Ferguson referred to his style as presentable street chic. “My fall essentials are a blazer, thin ties and ankle suede boots, and black and white colors are timeless,” he said. For these five students, fashion is here to stay and they are ready to shake up the campus with their bold and unique style. thescene@theeagleonline. com
August 30, 2010
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TeenNick HALO Awards honors AU freshman Leah Stoltz starts own scoliosis support group, ‘The Curvy Girls of Long Island’ By STEPHANIE JAAR Eagle Contributing Writer When AU freshman Leah Stoltz was diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of 11, she says she felt isolated from those around her. “The statistic is one in every 40 people having the chance of being diagnosed with scoliosis and I knew that it wasn’t a rare disease,” Leah said. “There had to be other people.” So Leah decided to do something about it. Leah was a senior at Smithtown High School West when she became one of the first four winners of the inaugural TeenNick HALO Awards, for her role as the founder of a girl’s scoliosis support group in her hometown of Smithtown, N.Y. In hopes of fixing the curve in her spine, Leah was required to wear a plastic brace around her torso for two and a half years. When the brace did not fully correct Leah’s spine, she underwent surgery the summer before 10th grade.
After attending a scoliosis support group filled with adults whom she had nothing in common with apart from the disease, Leah decided to take action and form a group of her own. Leah started “The Curvy Girls of Long Island” when she was 13. The support group was for young girls and would meet once a month at Leah’s home. There, young girls can let out their fears and frustrations and plan fundraisers to benefit the Scoliosis Association of Long Island. Producers of the HALO Awards — created by TeenNick chairman Nick Cannon as a way to recognize real teens that make a difference in their communities — interviewed Leah, and after several meetings, it became clear she was a serious contender for an award. Leah’s actual win, however, came as a complete surprise. “[Nickelodeon] told me they were doing a pitch; they wanted to follow me around my school with a camera and at my pep rally just to show that I was a relatable
teenage girl living in suburbia,” she said. At the end of the pep rally, Cannon came out and announced that he was there to surprise Leah. She was presented with a $10,000 scholarship, $10,000 fund for the Curvy Girls and a trip to Las Vegas to hang out with Justin Timberlake. Since the show, many girls with scoliosis have reached out to Leah. Other branches of the Curvy Girls are now popping up across the country and the original Long Island group now boasts about 20 members at each meeting. Being away at college hasn’t changed Leah’s dedication to the Curvy Girls. Meetings are still held at Leah’s home with two longtime members taking on leadership roles. She also hopes to continue raising awareness about scoliosis in D.C., and eventually form a branch of the Curvy Girls here. But for now, Leah is enjoying life as an AU student (“My college writing teacher’s pretty cool!” she says) and taking
in everything D.C. has to offer. She’s a student in the Kogod School of Business and hopes to graduate with a degree in International Business. TeenNick is airing a twominute update on Leah until Sept. 26 during their commercial breaks as a follow up to her HALO Award win. One of the moments captured on this update was the annual walk the Scoliosis Association and the Curvy Girls of Long Island team up for. Leading the way with her fellow curvy girls, Leah was gob-smacked when she got up on a podium to give a speech and saw the enormous group that had turned up. “People tell me how I’ve influenced their life, but truly seeing that — all the girls, all their families and a bunch of their friends … it was one of the most incredible moments of my life,” she said. thescene@theeagleonline. com
Courtesy of WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP — Eastern Market, located on the Metro’s blue line, is one of D.C.’s best places to shop. Vendors from near and far come to sell local goods like fruits and vegetables, in addition to things like furniture and jewelry.
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Eastern Market offers up foreign, domestic fancies By JORDAN D’ERI Eagle Contributing Writer If you were to ask almost anyone in the United States what they think of when they think of D.C., you’ll probably get answers like “corrupt politicians,” “monuments” or “my eighth grade fieldtrip.” However, many of us forget that this place is also home to many cultures from all over the world — for proof, just take a stroll down Embassy Row. But who has the time to go visit all of those embassies when you have so much homework to do? Instead, take a short Metro ride to Capitol Hill where the cultural wonderland of Eastern Market awaits. At first glance, Eastern Market doesn’t look like much. In fact, it’s essentially a less elaborate version of Boston’s Quincy Market — just a large brick building with scattered tents and vendors surrounding it. A closer look, however, reveals the many cultural and local wonders that make up the fabric of our city. Through the double wooden doors lie different locally farmed meat and fish, along with homemade pastries and sweets delicious enough to line up for. Most fruit and meat vendors are local farmers and in some cases, fruit vendors will even allow you to sample some of their most delicious foods. But these aren’t
your usual strawberries, blueberries or occasional banana. We’re talking about entire stands devoted to certain foods. One vendor showcased white peaches, and another melon stand offered three different melons to taste. In addition, hummus and salsa stands offered free samples. Step outside of the market through one of the side doors and you’ll see dozens of tents showcasing all sorts of wares, from books to psychic readings, plate sets to place settings and jewelry to bedside tables. Almost anything can be found in this wonderland and for a good price. If you make the trip on Sunday, a small fencedin lot is used to sell furniture and large room decorations, convenient for finding that perfect piece for a new apartment or dorm. (This author made away with a bookshelf for a dorm for $25 and a handmade wall hanging for $30). In addition to a variety of items, the Eastern Market has a large array of vendors. There are influences from all over the world — South America, Africa, Asia, Europe and our very own D.C. So whether it’s raining or the sun is shining, the Eastern Market is always a tempting place to spend a Saturday afternoon. thescene@theeagleonline. com
August 30, 2010
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Communication, awareness key to safer sex practices THE SEX WONKS
TARA CULP-RESSLER and RYAN CARTER Let’s talk about sex, baby. We’re Tara and Ryan, and we want to take The Eagle’s sex column in a new direction this year. That’s why we’re offering a semester’s worth of relationship advice from straight, queer-friendly, Christian-conservative, über-liberal feminist and humble perspectives. We’re two people who admit we don’t know everything and want to own up to our biases and limited experience. So while we’re being honest, let’s give up our number one pet peeve: lack of communication. If you aren’t happy with your relationship, you should do something about it. If your partner doesn’t pleasure you quite like you can alone, you should say something if you expect change. People can’t read minds or exude their inner sex god(dess) without practice. Too many collegeage students dedicate time and effort to relationships that lack healthy communication. If you can’t talk about your sexual needs, what else can’t you talk about? We consider communication the starting point for practising safer sex. And this column is how we want to start communicating with the AU student body. Practicing “safer sex” How are we supposed to have sex, and enjoy it, if we’re also trying to have “safer” sex? Let’s change the mindset that safer sex makes shagging any less fun. You might have heard it: Condoms take away any feeling. Asking about his sexual history is too much of a mood killer. Cures exist for chlamydia and gonorrhea, so it’s OK to risk it just this once. Hopefully you can break down each of these statements and see how they
detract from safer sex. (In case you want a little help: Condoms are made to enhance sexual stimulation, not reduce it. If you “think” anything about your sexual partner’s past, communicate with them so you can “know” for sure. Sexual activity involves risk beyond just chlamydia and gonorrhea.) No matter what, the security created by safer sex should make sex more enjoyable. As people better understand their bodily needs and desires, their comfort may allow them to get downright kinky or, at the very least, more confident. What ISN’T safer sex? “Practice safe sex” is probably familiar advice, especially if you’ve ever taken a sex
... it’s important to separate the facts from the fiction. ed class, gotten “The Talk” from a parent or simply tuned into MTV. We’re surrounded by cautions to “be safe,” which can definitely be a positive message in terms of encouraging healthy sexual experiences. But it’s an ambiguous message. What does being “safe” mean as a young, sexually active adult? How can you be sure that you’re really practising safe sex? First of all, we’re using the term “safer” sex in this column, because 100 percent “safe” sex just doesn’t exist. Risk varies depending on each sexual partner’s behavior and personal history. Because everyone tolerates risk differently and takes on the amount of risk that is appropriate for them, we insist that people need to learn how to evaluate sexual risk and identify different considerations in the deci-
sion-making process. Everyone has the right to make their own decisions about their sexual experiences, but those decisions should be informed. Especially during our college years, which can be a time of sexual empowerment and experimentation, it’s important to separate the facts from the fiction. So with the help of Scarleteen. com, we’ve compiled a list of what does not constitute safer sex. Although the following things may help you feel secure within the parameters of society’s vague concept of “safe sex,” they don’t actually guarantee the protection of your health. Safer sex is not…. Putting on a condom before ejaculation, but after genital contact. Avoiding intercourse while having unprotected oral sex. Being “virgins,” especially if you and your partner have had previous partners for other sexual experiences, like oral sex. Using condoms after their expiration date. Being in love, since an emotional connection alone can’t protect against sexually transmitted infections or pregnancy. Being a certain age (“old enough”). Looking at your genitals or your partner’s genitals and not seeing anything unusual. For more information on having safer sex, try the following: Attend Women’s Initiative’s consent workshop called “From Hookups to Relationships” on Wednesday, September 8, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. in McDowell Formal Lounge. Check out the online resources at www.scarleteen. com which includes a more comprehensive list on what falls outside of truly safer sex. Make empowered, sexy choices! sexwonks@theeagleonline. com
Courtesy of DAVID ILLIFF / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
EYE ON IMMIGRATION — Even visas to the United Kingdom can get mired in logistical errors.
Visa woes highlight hidden hurdles for abroad students CROSS-CULTURAL DISPATCH
LONDON, ENGLAND LONDON By OLIVIA STITILIS Eagle Staff Writer The phrase “four-letter word” should be pretty basic: a word with four letters. However, most often we associate the phrase with words lacking positive connotations. Well, here is another four-letter word — not usually on that understood list — but one which I can confidently say I would be happy to never hear or speak of again: V-I-S-A. Prior to this summer, I thought visa complications were only for people traveling to developing countries like Angola or countries like North Korea that don’t have the best relationship with the United States. Recently, I even learned that to travel to Russia from the United States, you must first receive a written letter of invitation (in Russian, no less). Never would I have put the United Kingdom in that difficult visa category. And for those staying in the U.K. for six months or less, you don’t even need a visa. However, for others, myself included, who want to stay in the U.K.
for a bit longer, getting in and out of North Korea just might be easier. My year at the London School of Economics spans from September to June, so I needed a visa. However, my advisors said the process would be pretty simple. That blissful ignorance quickly ended when two weeks later I listened to a friend vent endlessly about her visa and question why I seemed so calm. Home to my computer I went and frantically searched the soon to be most visited (and most hated) of my bookmarked websites, the U.K. Border Agency. Words like “biometric data,” “proof of funds” and “CAS statement” flooded the screen. Hours later, I thought I understood the process, paid the $318 fee to start a visa application, made an appointment to get my fingerprints done and marked my calendar for June 25. June 25 was exactly 90 days before I flew to London. According to visa regulations, you cannot submit your application until 90 days before. Who knew submit could be such a tricky word? As it turns out, to the U.K. consulate, submit is synonymous with start. This meant I had started my application too early; I should not have even applied until June 25. It meant that I would have to cancel my application, apply for a refund (hope I got my refund), and yet the most complicated part was that I
was leaving for my summer internship in Los Angeles. How would I be able to send in my application with my millions of forms and complete my finger print scan in Connecticut if I was across the country? Two phone calls to the U.K. Consulate in New York City and $24 later (insert “London is not cheap” sentiment), I was somewhat relieved that I could get my money back and apply again online on June 25. Then I could pay another $100 (again, London is not cheap) to expedite the process and get my visa on the spot. Last week, as I left my house in Connecticut, I went over for what I hoped (prayed, actually) would be the last time I reviewed everything required for my visa. Every form needed to be filled out correctly. Every bank statement could only be from certain dates. Every passport photo had to be of the correct pixels. Bu you can relax — this story has a happy ending. I did finally hear the words, “OK, you are all set.” Then when I got my passport back, with a page now for my visa, I questioned if it was sane how happy a little piece of paper could make someone. Probably not. Close to $500 and what feels like 500 hours of stress later, I had my visa. Though I have not officially begun my adventure of a year abroad, there is something see VISA on page 20
August 30, 2010
Top 9 off-beat depictions of D.C. show city’s other side Eagle Staff Writer Most media about D.C. focuses on Congress or the President, for the simple reason that those are the things that most people think about when they think of D.C. And admittedly, that is a lot of it. But some movies, TV shows and songs try to find their own angle, for better or for worse. Here are nine of the most notable depictions of Washington, D.C.
9. St. Elmo’s Fire To clarify: “St Elmo’s Fire” is not a particularly good movie. It’s on the lower end of the Brat Pack-movie spectrum, featuring the same stereotypes and melodrama of “The Breakfast Club” without much of the charm. But it’s notable for D.C. residents for the way it depicts the way students and young adults commiserate at whatever District watering hole is convenient. In the movie’s case, it’s St. Elmo’s Bar, which is in turn based on the famous Georgetown establishment The Tombs. The attention to detail is enough to convince us that the producers of this film did enough drinking in this town to know better.
8. Bones Bones deserves a shout out for a number of reasons. It is not only a solidly-built crime procedural centering on a group of engaging characters rather than simply the next amusingly absurd murder (like another city-ranging crime-sceneinvestigation program we could mention). Its executive producer is AU alumnus Barry Josephson, class of 1978, who partially based the series on books written by novelist and AU alumna Kathy Reichs, who graduated in 1971. The small references to AU — in the first episode the characters meet in a lecture hall that looks suspiciously like one we’ve all taken classes in — adds a little enjoyment for AU students.
7. Smart Guy Seriously, if schools in D.C. were this good, Michelle Rhee really shouldn’t have that hard of a job. In this WB series from the late ‘90s, the titular smart guy, TJ, skips from the fourth grade to the tenth grade with gross indifference to his social maladjustment. TJ and his siblings deal with serious problems (homework is pretty hard) while still managing to get a quality education out of a D.C. public school. We’ll assume the metal detectors and armed officers were too expensive for the WB to add to the set designer’s budget.
6. Get Smart From 1965 to 1970, Get Smart nicely parodied the entire spy genre, taking the zeitgeist of the Cold War and squeezing gags out of the normally overwrought and patently ridiculous scenarios of some spy thrillers. Creator Mel Brooks mined the self-serious topic for laughs, using a cartoonish version of D.C. as his chief backdrop, though the bumbling heroes may have been closer to reality than we might be comfortable with.
5. National Treasure Though it only spends its first third in D.C. before moving on to other areas of historical interest, “National Treasure” manages to make the National Archives interesting and the Declaration of Independence more than that scrap of paper you had to memorize in the fifth grade. American history becomes truly engaging when brought to you by our host Nicolas Cage, but the biggest draw is still the small hope that our knowledge of Benjamin Franklin’s bifocals and the undiscovered crannies of D.C. will make us fabulously wealthy one day.
4. Thank You For Smoking In this insider view of the amoral world of lobbyists, Aaron Eckhart plays Nick Naylor, whose job is to sweet talk politicians to end restrictions on the sale of tobacco. Naylor may be the
IRRESISTIBLE!
“
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A FRESH, SMART ROMANTIC COMEDY.”
quintessential Washington insider — smooth-talking, though rarely saying anything of substance — but he is humanized by both his crusade for individualism and his own family troubles. This anti-hero shows us what much of Washington life is too-often like — an act of selfishness fixed up with a veneer of public service.
3. The Simpsons - Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington “Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington” is a fairly straight parody of the classic “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” but it has that Simpsons’ streak of cynicism that translated the original’s idealism for Generation X sensibilities. Among the classic bits of D.C. touristry: a come-alive Thomas Jefferson memorial complains to Lisa that everyone goes to Lincoln to get advice and never to him and an oil lobbyist tries to get the drilling rights to Teddy Roosevelt’s head on Mt. Rushmore.
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Bad Brains – Banned in D.C. For those with an interest in the native music of Washington, Bad Brain’s “Banned in D.C.” is a perfect introduction to hardcore punk. From their second album “Rock for Light,” it’s a fast, thrashing song that never slows down, not even enough to understand the lyrics. D.C. served as an incubator for the surprisingly influential genre.
1.
Schoolhouse Rock – I’m Just A Bill In this short film, a manicdepressive, anthropomorphic piece of paper rests like a vagrant on the steps of the Capitol, hoping to lure in impressionable and unaccompanied children with a ditty about his hopes and dreams of becoming a real bill. It is still profoundly unnerving. It is notable for pandering to the powerful “School busses should stop at train crossings” lobby. mrichardson@ theeagleonline.com
© ENID ROMANEK
By MICHAEL W. RICHARDSON
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NERD ALERT – Some of the most notable rock and hip-hop acts today were never music majors. From the bookish Vampire Weekend to the politically aware Kidz in the Hall, textbooks have served instead of lyric sheets in the education for many hitmakers.
Is there a rock star in your class? By MAGGIE HOLLANDER Eagle Staff Writer Sitting in class here at AU, it’s not hard to imagine that some of your fellow students will one day be famous. From a major news network anchor to the next President of the United States, the AU “wonks” will one day take over various aspects of life. Years from now, you’ll turn on the TV and suddenly have a “Hey, I know that kid!” moment. Politicians, news personalities, do-gooders, sure — but rock stars? Rock stars love sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll, not sitting in class, right? Not necessarily. That kid sitting next to you in class, regardless of whether he or she is majoring in music, may one day be a famous musician. In fact, some of the great musicians of contemporary rock and hip-hop were true wonks — nerds first and foremost, with a bent for great music. Jim Morrison, The Doors When looking through
rock history for examples of wonkery, it would be a shame to leave out the great Jim Morrison. The Doors’ front man graduated UCLA in 1965, the same year The Doors were officially formed. The future rock star focused on film and theater in school before going on to become a member of one of the most influential rock bands in history. A self-styled poet, Morrison crafted lyrics that stuck in the mind, even if they weren’t always understandable. It just goes to show, you don’t always enter the field you majored in while in college. Rivers Cuomo, Weezer Rivers Cuomo, lead singer of Weezer, is one of the most prominent examples of an educated musician. The man wears his nerd-cred like a badge, and it works for him — who can forget his ode to girls who “shred the cello?” Cuomo graduated Harvard Phi Beta Kappa before going on to form Weezer in 1992. The band has had a slew of hit records and singles, and
has a new album dropping in September. The new LP, named “Hurley” after the “Lost” character, is sure to be another victory for geeks everywhere — even if fans may debate its place in the canon of Weezer’s greatest works. Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend is a case study of what happens when a whole bunch of smarties get bored between classes and form a band that somehow, despite the odds, takes off. Ezra Koenig, Rostam Batmanglij, Chris Tomson and Chris Baio formed Vampire Weekend in the mid2000s while all the members of the quartet were attending Columbia University. Two hit albums later, these guys still seem as nerdy as ever. Their music videos are often off the beaten path, whether it be for “Oxford Comma,” which is one long pan across a number of dramatic scenes for the entire length of the song, or “Giving up the Gun,” a film that features odd cameos from
Jake Gyllenhaal and Lil’ Jon on a white tennis court. Chester French Like Vampire Weekend, D.A. Wallach and Maxwell Drummey, the members of Chester French, met while attending college (in their case, Harvard). Even the band’s name is enough to convince listeners of their intelligence (it takes its title from Daniel Chester French, a sculptor responsible for the Lincoln Memorial, among other famous works). But these nerds are down with Diddy and are slowly but surely making a name for themselves in the indie-rock alternative-hip-hop scene. Although no date has been set, the two are currently working on their second album. Kidz in the Hall Another educated duo dabbling in the world of hip-hop is Kidz in the Hall, made up of Naledge (pronounced “knowledge,” of see EDUCATED on page 20
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Scene 19
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Go-go represents District’s local musical flavor, style By STEPHAN CHO Eagle Staff Writer
Courtesy of JAMES HILSDON
GODFATHER OF GO-GO - Chuck Brown is often credited as being the founder of go-go. The musical style is one of D.C.’s most notable cultural exports, representing a blend of funk, blues, R&B and hip-hop. The genre is still popular in the D.C.-metro area.
At times, music captures the heartbeat of a generation, and it becomes difficult to tell which was birthed from which. In Washington D.C., that music is go-go, and its adherents believe in it with a religious fervor. Go-go is an offshoot of funk that has been a cultural mainstay in the District since the late ‘70s. The genre is a unique off-shoot of funk — in today’s context, you can hear hints of the upcoming hip-hop craze, while maintaining the classic rhythms of R&B and danceable beats of ‘50’s pop. And in D.C., its value is sacrosanct. Go-go is the most notable music that originated solely in D.C., making it a point of local pride for any musician who calls this city home. Much of the enjoyment in go-go is in its sweeping emphasis on percussion and call-and-response crowd interaction. It blends and matches the energy of the music with that of the dance floor in a sort of communion that is unseen in most other musical sub-genres. The band invites the crowd to chime in on cue, conjuring the trademark go-go enthusiasm. It is here that music borders on spiritual as the crowd dances in rhythm to the effervescent groovefunk sound and ever-beating assortment of drums. The origin of go-go, while still a matter of debate, can be traced back to the mid70s with the success and popularity of “Bustin’ Loose” by Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers. Although it was still a stretch to be considered a flagship go-go song for its time, its jiving, headbobbing groove and festive group chanting would become hallmarks in Brown’s musical career. As Brown and his friends garnered a following in the D.C. club scene, other bands emerged and worked to perfect the illusory go-go sound.
Despite its urban trappings and influences, many purists cry foul at modern go-go bands and their tendencies to conform more toward hip-hop inclinations. This has resulted in a revival in old-school go-go, a recent wave that is due in part to Chuck Brown’s continuous participation in the scene. Now, almost 50 years
“Go-go is ... a point of local pride for any musician who calls this city home.” since the start of his career, Brown has played alongside fellow go-go legends such as Rare Essence and James Funk. With a weening following of old-school go-go outside of D.C. and neighboring Maryland, the revival only serves to underscore the importance of keeping this style of music alive for generations to come. Here are some artists that can help the unacquainted get familiar with old- and new-school go-go. Chuck Brown It would be blasphemous to not talk about the paramount importance of Chuck Brown when considering the scope of his impact on the go-go genre. Now known as the “godfather of go-go” to fans, Brown has become a D.C. icon. And he continues to make strides not only for go-go, but for the world of urban music. As the rightful ancestor and possible founder of gogo music, Brown would influence coming generations of artists from a variety of sub-genres within hip-hop, funk and blues. Recent songs like “Block Party” and the accompanying mu-
sic videos show that Brown is still flourishing in his old age. Rare Essence What started with a daily childhood four-member jam session ballooned into a 12-member band complete with congas and timbales. Drawing from a variety of funk influences such as Confunkshun and Parliament-Funkadelic, they were instrumental in pioneering go-go by experimenting with an assortment of diverse percussion. One of the most recognized go-go bands, Rare Essence is currently said to play up to six nights a week. A growth of interest in go-go music is said to have struck in the ‘90s, as Rare Essence was able to break the lower ends of the R&B charts with some of their more notable tracks. Songs like “Body Moves” have the flavor and panache of the 80s while “Body Snatchers,” a more recent track, is a return to the early go-go sounds of the late 70s with its emphatic vocals and heavy instrumentation. Mambo Sauce Named after a condiment that can only be found in D.C. Chinese take-out restaurants, this relatively new band isn’t afraid to dabble in experimentation. Their influences are as wide as the usual cast of Chuck Brown and Rare Essence to some newer artists such as No Doubt and N.E.R.D. In 2007, they released the song “Welcome to D.C.,” which reached the hip-hop charts and got fairly consistent airplay on local radio. Their sound may be a breath of fresh air to those who find older go-go music too stodgy and unchanging; they’re certainly a lot more digestible to a younger crowd. But as mentioned earlier, the use of the term go-go may stir diehards. scho@theeagleonline.com
August 30, 2010 from VISA on page 16 to be said for the preparation. Preparing for something completely new is an adventure in itself. Some things, like the visa, do have to get done in an exact and time-sensitive way but often even the most planned endeavors can go awry. As I spend my last weeks at home, I am tempted to be as prepared as possible, but at the same time I know that the best adventures happen when I just go wherever the adventure takes me (prepared or not). thescene@theeagleonline. com from EDUCATED on page 18 course) and Double-0. The University of Pennsylvania grads met during a talent show back in 2000 and began their collaboration. Three studio albums later, the Chicago-based rappers have done everything from performing at Lollapalooza to campaigning for President Barack Obama. So come on, fellow AU students; we’re smart, let’s get a band up in here! It’d be nice to have some new, fresh talent on campus, and who knows, maybe it’s in you (name it “The Wonk” ... or not). And hey, new students, make sure to say hi to your neighbors in the dorms and classes: who knows? Maybe they’ll be the next big thing. mhollander@ theeagleonline.com
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AU Farmers Market brings fresh, eco-friendly foods straight to hungry students Vendors offer pesticide-free, dairy-free, fat-free options By KELLY HOLLIDAY Eagle Staff Writer Carl Paladino really wants you to try his sorbet. When AU students are hurrying to make their next class on Wednesday afternoons, Paladino, vice president of distribution at Micha’s Sorbet, calls out to anyone and everyone to try a free sample. To a texting passerby, Paladino exclaims, “You know what would go good with that phone? A free sample! Come and get your free sample of sorbet!” Micha’s Sorbet is one of three vendors who participate in the weekly AU Farmers Market. Located on the quad in front of the Ward Circle building, the small but bountiful farmers market sets up stands of freshlybaked breads from Upper Crust Bakery, sweet sorbet from Micha’s and just-beenpicked fruits and vegetables from Agora Farms every Wednesday. Eco-Sense initiated the farmers market in March 2009, according to Amy Farr, health promotion manager of AU’s Office of Human Resources. When Eco-Sense found out that AU’s faculty and staff wellness program, A Healthy U, was interested in getting involved, the two programs joined forces. “The first session [of the market] offered was a trial session,” Farr said. “The entire community was all very supportive to have fresh and local produce so easily accessible.” The farmers market was made a permanent fixture in May 2009, and A Healthy U has since become the primary organizer. “Since Eco-Sense is a student organization, not many members were around that summer,” Farr said. “So we took the farmers market under our wings.” Eco-Sense chose the initial vendors for the trial session in March, and since then,
the farmers market has hosted two primary vendors — Agora Farms and Upper Crust Bakery. A third vendor, Micha’s Sorbet, was added at the end of this summer to add a sweet treat to the mix. “[We] thought it might be nice to have a healthier dessert option during the warmer months,” Farr said. Based in Baltimore, Micha’s Sorbet offers over 80 flavors of fat-free, dairy-free sorbet. “It’s also got a lot of love in it,” Paladino said with a smile. At the farmers market, only several of the delicious flavors are sampled, including mango, lemon, blackberry and mixed berry blast. Along with free samples, one has the choice of three sizes: live for $4, laugh for $6 and love for $12. Paladino said that more flavors would be introduced to the stand at AU in the coming months, such as “beet down” (beet and banana), strawberry jalapeño, and sweet potato around Thanksgiving. The sorbet stand also vends at other farmers markets in Reston and Gainesville, Va., in Annapolis, Md. and at Eastern Market on Capitol Hill. Come fall, Micha’s Sorbet will set up a stand at University of Maryland and George Mason University’s own campus farmers markets. Almost all of the produce sold at the other two stands is pesticide free or pesticide reduced, according to Dan Donahue of Agora Farms, one of the market’s coordinators. Spraying pesticides is not so much a health or “green” concern as it is an economic issue among farmers today, Donahue added. “No one wants to spray [pesticides],” he said. “It’s too expensive.” Agora Farms offers an abundant supply of Amish, Mennonite and English see FARMERS on page 21
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SCENE SAYS ... EAT HERE
Courtesy of YUUKI MATSUMOTO Ollie’s Trolley Nearest Metro: Metro Center (Blue, Orange and Red lines) Price: $ out of $$$ Much like the tourists that sightsee downtown, Ollie’s Trolley sticks out like a sore thumb. The bright red and yellow circus-like exterior screams “burger joint.” Though located in a prime tourist area, Ollie’s offers one of D.C.’s best burger and fries combos. Most recommended is the Ollie burger, smothered in veggies and Ollie’s special sauce, and “Olliesfries,” which are covered in sesame seeds, Old Bay and Ollie’s secret seasoning.
August 30, 2010
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theEAGLE scene CALENDAR
TUESDAY 31
WEDNESDAY 1
THURSDAY 2
“Young Frankenstein” 8:30 p.m. WHERE: American City Diner, 5532 Connecticut Ave. NW METRO: Friendship Heights (red line) WHAT: “Young Frankenstein” may be Mel Brooks most accomplished film — broader than “Space Balls,” sharper than “The Producers” and containing comic performances on par with “Blazing Saddles.” See for yourself at the American City Diner on Tuesday. COST: Free For more information, visit the American City Diner’s website at www.americancitydiner.com.
Lahla Hadiya 8 and 10 p.m. WHERE: Blues Alley, 1069 Wisconsin Ave. NW WHAT: D.C.-native Lahla Hadiya paints with broad strokes in her distinctive blend of neo-soul and jazz: it is emotional and intellectual, messy and pointed. COST: $18 For more information, visit the Blues Alley’s website at www.bluesalley.com.
Kele of Bloc Party 6:30 p.m. WHERE: 9:30 club, 815 V St. NW METRO: U Street/AfricanAmerican Civil War Memorial/Cardozo (green and yellow lines) WHAT: Though you may know the London-born Kele Okereke as the frontman for the band Bloc Party, he brings his same distinctive delivery and song-writing skills to his solo shows. COST: $20 For more information, visit 9:30 club’s website at www.930.com.
FRIDAY 3
SATURDAY 4
SUNDAY 5
RE-Vision: American University Alumni 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. WHERE: Katzen Arts Center WHAT: This second annual showcase exhibits some of the best artwork of various AU alumni as selected by the art department faculty and Museum Curator Jack Rasmussen. COST: Free For more information, visit the AU Museum’s website at www.american.edu/museum.
Black Cat Birthday Celebration 8 p.m. WHERE: Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW METRO: U Street/AfricanAmerican Civil War Memorial/Cardozo (green and yellow lines) WHAT: The Black Cat is celebrating 17 years of upcoming artists, heavy drinking and general rocking. The club is bringing in a cornucopia of local DJs and bands to make this seemingly insignificant milestone one to remember. COST: $5 For more information, visit the Black Cat’s website at www.blackcatdc.com.
Twelfth Night 2 and 7:30 pm WHERE: Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW METRO: Gallery PlaceChinatown (red, green and yellow lines) WHAT: Twelfth Night is one of William Shakespeare’s most enjoyable comedies, though some may know it as the inspiration for the formerly retired Amanda Bynes’ “She’s the Man.” As always, the original is better than the remake. COST: Tickets are chosen by a lottery system, accessible on the day of the performance. For more information, visit the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s website at www. shakespearethreatre.org.
MONDAY 6 Richard Toliver 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. WHERE: Air and Space Museum METRO: Smithsonian (blue and orange lines) WHAT: Author of “An Uncaged Eagle” will be available to sign books and meet the public. You can also buy a copy of the book in the museum store. They make great gifts. COST: Free For More information, visit the Smithsonian’s website at www.smithsonian.com.
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Global fashion show focuses on Georgetown boutiques, salons By IAN NYANIN Eagle Contributing Writer For many, the simple act of shopping is an event, but for those in search of style need not look any further than Fashion’s Night Out in Georgetown. For one night only, the district’s fashion hub will be host to a global event meant to celebrate the joys of fashion. From 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 10, over 60 of Georgetown’s eateries, salons and boutiques will participate, opening their doors and taking to the streets to bring District residents the best the city has to offer in entertainment and fashion. The event will be hosted by a panel chaired by a wide array of D.C. elite involved with organizations including The Washington Post, Labels for Love, WUSA-9 TV and the Capitol Fashionista. With free Blue Bus and pedicab rides, getting to and around the neighborhood should be cheap and easy. from FARMERS on page 20 products, like fresh peaches, Honeycrisp apples, farm-fresh eggs, butter, cheese, corn, melon, onions, four types of squash and six kinds of potatoes. Agora also sells Fresh Off The Roast coffee via the Qualia Coffee shop in Petworth. Upper Crust Bakery, based in Silver Spring, sells a variety of freshly baked breads including challah, baguettes and various sourdoughs and focaccias. Numerous jams and cookies are also big sellers. Farr also said that A Healthy U had discussions with the vendors about allowing the use of EagleBucks, but no conclusions have been reached at this point. The AU Farmers Market is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Wednesday on campus until November. kholliday@theeagleonline. com
In addition to the promotions and deals offered by various businesses, there will be more than enough events to keep any fashionista occupied. The Cirque du Soliel Bug Dance Squad will be performing through the fashion hub that night, offering patrons the opportunity to win tickets to their upcoming show. Thirsty shoppers will be able to replenish themselves at the Vitamin Water Zero Hydration Lounge held at Dean & Deluca. Lacoste will be holding a Wii tournament, as “Juicy Boys” greet Juicy Couture customers and Urban Chic holds a Halston Heritage trunk show. Other events include special guest speakers Jennfer Barger and Katherine Boyle of The Washington Post and the “Art of Fashion” exhibit at Susan Calloway Fine Arts. A number of special guests can be expected, including a Real Housewife of D.C. or two. This September will mark
the event’s second year, and its first on an international scale. It originally started as an enterprise between the Council of Fashion Designers of America and Vogue magazine to encourage New York City patrons to stimulate the fashion industry through shopping during rough economic times. This year, the event has been expanded to 16 countries including France, Britain, Korea, Australia, Italy and China. As the nation’s capital, D.C. serves as a unique environment for fashion, with Georgetown at the center. More than just a typical consumer experience, Fashion’s Night Out promises to be a truly entertaining and can’t-miss experience for any District resident in the know when it comes to fashion or the sizzling social scene. thescene@theeagleonline. com
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August 30, 2010
Sports 22
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AU field hockey suffers first loss of season to Old Dominion University
HAPPIER TIMES
by KATE GREUBEL Eagle Staff Writer
PHILLIP OCHS / THE EAGLE
Sophomore defender Gina Hofmann celebrates a goal in their Aug. 27 win against University of Richmond. The Eagles won that game 5-1. On Sunday, the Eagles dropped their first game of the season to Old Dominion University with a 2-1 loss. Q
Intense August heat and the Old Dominion University Monarchs got the best of AU’s Field Hockey team early Sunday afternoon, causing the Eagles to fall 2-1 for their first season loss. The No. 16 Monarchs out played No. 15 AU in the first half and generated two goals that proved enough to pick up the win. AU rallied in the second half, returning to the field with new aggression and determination, but was unable to capitalize on a number of occasions. The first 35 minutes of play kicked off with balanced ball possession and collapsing defense from both teams. Led by senior forward Christine Fingerhuth, the Eagles offense crossed the ball in front of the ODU cage repeatedly without contact from a teammate. On the other end of the field, AU goalie Hannah Weitzman and the defense knocked down back-to-back ODU penalty corners six minutes into the match Four minutes later, ODU was on the boards after a penalty stroke resulted in a goal. The momentum boost led to a second goal by the Monarchs off a drive and dish, strengthening its lead to 2-0. AU players dug their heels into the turf and responded with two solid shots on goal, the second of which was saved by an ODU defender. The team hammered off
three penalty corners before the end of the first 35 minutes of play, but could not land the ball in the back of the cage. AU controlled possession from one end of the field to the other. The team held the Monarchs to just two penalty corners in the second half, and allowed no shots on goal. The Eagles exhausted their opponent’s defensive, continuously charging into the circle and picking up good looks on goal. The team’s perseverance paid off in the 62nd minute of play when AU was finally able to score as junior forward Melissa Casale scored a goal off a pass from Fingerhuth. “We had a lot of momentum in the second half and I think as a team we were thinking about getting results,” Casale said. “I was just pounding the circle, getting in scoring position and Christine has a great cross and I was just on the post, so I was ready to tap it in.” With less than six minutes to play, AU desperately searched for the tying goal, drawing fouls and smashing long hits down the field. It was not enough in the end, as ODU successfully stalled play until the final seconds ticked off the clock. The Eagles have a week until they travel to James Mason University, where they will face No. 3 LSU. kgreubel@theeagleonline. com
from BENDER on page 24
“That is such an encouragement to see our school get behind us,” said AU Head Coach Barry Goldberg about the attendance record. “It’s great to play in front of so many students and fans from the community.” “The crowd was amazing and it gives us so much power,” said Senior Outside Hitter Magdalena Tekiel. “It’s great when we know we have so much support from the whole school.” Tekiel registered a gamehigh 18 kills for the Eagles
and added 11 digs on the defensive end. Sophomore Krysta Cicala paced the offense with 18 assists, while Deborah Frantz led the defense with 13 digs. Noelle Fanella was the main offensive threat for the Patriots with 15 kills, while Fernanda Bartels orchestrated the offense with 26 assists. “Magdalena hit the ball well,” Goldberg said. “And we were fortunate that [Alexandra Hammer] gave her a couple of really nice balls to set her through.” After exchanging the first
12 points of the opening set, AU built a small 8-6 advantage after scoring two consecutive points. However, the Patriots responded by scoring seven of the next nine points to pull in front 13-10. After knotting the set at 14 apiece the Eagles, on the strength of Freshman Juliana Crum’s serving, took a 19-16 lead. AU coasted from there, taking the first set by a score of 25-18. The second set proved to be the turning point of the match. After dropping the first set, the Patriots
needed a win to get back into the match. After AU led very early on in the set, George Mason took an 11-8 lead. The lead ballooned to 21-14 for the Patriots and they looked well on their way to leveling the match at one apiece. However, the Eagles staged a dramatic comeback. Spearheaded by a couple of Tekiel kills, AU scored 11 of the next 12 points for a 25-22 set victory and effectively took control of the match. Despite trailing by two sets, the Patriots played competitively in the third
and final set. After being tied 13-13, George Mason scored eight of the next 13 points to grab a 21-18 advantage. However, a main theme of the night was the Patriots’ inability to close out sets, and the Eagles came roaring back for a 25-23 third set victory to clinch the match. The next day the Eagles went to George Mason to compete against other D.C. schools in the D.C. Volleyball Challenge. With a straight sets win over George Washington University, the Eagles
clinched a tournament victory—their third title in four years. The Eagles had previously won in 2007 and 2008. After clinching the tournament victory, the Eagles fell to Georgetown 3-0. But at that point the tournament victory already belonged to AU. The Eagles will return home Wednesday, September 1st to take on the Coppin State University Eagles in Bender arena. ttomea@theeagleonline. com
August 30, 2010
Sports 23
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Eagles shut out Richmond in exhibition By MICHAEL GARDNER Eagle Contributing Writer In the last exhibition game before the start of the regular season, the AU Eagles defeated the Richmond Spiders 2-0 Saturday at Reeves Field. While the victory won’t count, Head Coach Todd West found value in the game, as it displayed a pos-
Men’s Soccer AU: Richmond:
2 0
Washington, D.C. sible improvement in the Eagles defensive game. “I think it’s a good way to end preseason with a clean sheet, so we’re happy with our team defending — that always gives you a chance,” West said. “We’re still trying to find a group of guys that will step our defensive line out and defend closer to the other team’s goal, but it’s a work in progress so today was a step in the right direction.” Both teams looked evenly matched in the first half, despite AU sophomore Ryan Morales receiving a yellow card for a slide tackle in the 13th minute, as fouls, total shots and saves were nearly identical. After sophomore Alassane Kane’s shot inside the eight-yard box was denied by the Richmond goalkeeper Alex Williams, AU received two straight corners inside a minute left in the first half. The team couldn’t capitalize and the score sheet remained clean, 0-0, at the end of 45 minutes. Junior Mike Marino helped spark the attack for
Q
from NATIONALS on page 24
becomes much worse. Where the Nationals will really miss Strasburg is in the business department. With no Strasburg in 2011, season ticket sales for the Nats are sure to go down. Way down. Anyone who was in D.C. when Strasburg made his
AU in the 48th minute, as he was on the receiving end of freshman Colin Seigfreid’s left footed cross. Making a run from the top of the 18-yard box, Marino headed in American’s first goal to put the Eagles on top 1-0. “It was right in the first 10 minutes of the second half. Seigfreid got a ball on the left side and I got into the box,” Marino said. “He put it right between the goalie and the center-back, right for me to just dive in there and I got a head on it.” Eleven minutes later, Marino helped capitalize another AU counterattack. He redirected a chest trap on a quick throw-in to senior Jamie Davin. He dribbled through two Richmond defenders and fired a 19yard strike that hit off the left post and went in to give American its second goal of the half and a 2-0 lead. Despite two yellow cards in the 76th and 77th minute, the Eagles possessed the ball well and played a clean half to seal the win. The team’s urgency was better in the second half, according to West. Marino hopes to take this win into the regular season, where they will face Howard Sept. 1 and try to defend their D.C. Cup title as they play George Mason Sept. 4. “What we got to do is just take this little game, this game right here two-nothing win, and take it into the D.C. Cup on Wednesday and Saturday,” Marino said. “It’s big to get this exhibition game and the D.C. Cup. It’s huge. We won it last year so are really trying to get it back.” PHILLIP OCHS / THE EAGLE
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HEADS UP — Freshman midfielder Eli Dennis goes up for the header against Richmond in the Eagles’ 2-0 win. The game on Saturday was the final exhibition game before they take on Howard University in the D.C. College Cup. debut on June 8, where he struck out 14 Pittsburgh Pirate hitters, knows the buzz this guy created from the beginning. He packed stadiums for every game he pitched. On non-Strasburg days, the stadium has appeared nearly half empty. Unfortunately, that’s what it will probably look
like for the majority of the 2011 season. The Nats will most likely be a subpar team with no real excitement to attract fans to the ballpark. However, when it comes to Strasburg’s long-term future, he should be fine. There was a time when Tommy John surgery was seen as a risky procedure.
Those days are gone. The surgery is performed on players every year, and more often than not, the player returns to his previous level of play. Is it possible that Strasburg will never be the same pitcher again? Of course. There is never a guarantee with any injury that the player will come
back and be as good as before he got hurt. However, if all goes according to plan, Strasmas, or Strasover, or Strasmahanukwanzakah will be celebrated once again. sports@theeagleonline.com
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24
SPORTS
August 30, 2010
Surgery not the end for Nats’ phenom SIDELINE SCHOLAR
BEN LASKY
PHILLIP OCHS / THE EAGLE
RISING UP — Senior Angelina Waterman goes up for a spike during AU’s 3-0 win over the George Mason University Patriots. Waterman finished the match with 10 kills. Only Senior Magdalena Tekiel had more kills for the Eagles with 18.
Eagles rock Blue Out By TYLER TOMEA Eagle Staff Writer The AU volleyball team defeated the George Mason Patriots in straight sets Friday night, winning by scores of 25-18, 25-22
and 25-23 in the annual Bender Blue Out match. Now in its fourth year, the Bender Blue Out match has broken attendance records for collegiate volleyball in D.C. Last year, the event set
a D.C. collegiate volleyball attendance record with a crowd of 1,813. Friday night, AU broke its own record with an announced attendance of 2,055. Q
see BENDER on page 22
Volleyball SET 1 AU: George Mason:
25 18
SET 2 AU: George Mason:
25 22
SET 3 AU: George Mason:
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Washington, D.C.
Josh Johnson, Tim Hudson, Chris Carpenter, C.J. Wilson and Francisco Liriano. What do all these guys have in common? All are starting pitchers with ERAs under 3.50 in 2010, and all have had Tommy John surgery. The news that Stephen Strasburg will most likely need the surgery isn’t good, but let’s not start calling him Mark Prior 2.0 quite yet. When Prior was drafted by the Chicago Cubs with the second overall pick in the 2001 MLB draft, he was viewed by many as a future ace. He showed why in 2003 when he posted an 18-6 record with a 2.43 ERA. However, the success didn’t last long as Prior suffered many injuries, mostly to his throwing shoulder. Because of the hype that accompanied both Prior and Strasburg as they made their way to the major leagues, many have compared the two. However, the two injuries are not the same: elbow injuries are obviously a bad thing, and in the case of Strasburg, his will keep him out for at least a year. But shoulder injuries, on the other hand, are much worse. More players return from elbow injuries than shoulder injuries, according to an article by Gina Brockenbrough in “Orthopedics Today.” Brockenbrough points to a study done by Dr. Steven B. Cohen in which he reported that out of 44 pitchers who were stud-
ied as they underwent either shoulder or elbow surgery, 17 percent more players undergoing elbow surgery returned to their previous level of performance. In baseball, Tommy John surgery is not even seen as risky as it once was. Every year several pitchers have this surgery. It is believed that close to 90 percent of Major League pitchers who have Tommy John surgery will make a full recovery. This is not to say that Strasburg will definitely come back and be the same pitcher he was prior to surgery, but the odds are in his favor. In a best case scenario, the surgery will allow Strasburg to improve his mechanics and help prevent future injuries. For the Nationals, the loss of Strasburg in 2011 is disappointing but not devastating. This team with Strasburg is still a few players away from competing for a playoff spot. Nyjer Morgan and Roger Bernadina manning center and right field are just not adequate for a playoff contender. This team has some holes to fill over the next few seasons, with or without Strasburg. The only impact outfielder on the free agent market this offseason will be Tampa Bay Rays left fielder, Carl Crawford, and he is not believed to be a part of the Nationals’ future, though the team has expressed interest. In terms of position players, the team should look pretty similar to the 2010 team, though Adam Dunn, their big-slugging first baseman, is a free agent. If he signs elsewhere, the team’s offense Q
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