The Eagle — Sept. 14, 2010

SPECIAL ISSUE American University’s student voice since 1925

theEAGLE

September 14, 2010 Volume 85 – Issue 3

THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

STUDENT CONDUCT CODE CHANGES AND WHY THEY WERE MADE

@THEEAGLEONLINE

September 14, 2010

Index 2

theEAGLE American University’s Student Voice

in this ISSUE

MISSION

NEWS

SmarTrip changes, Accessibility (3) / Features (4)

COVER

Details of changes (6) / How code affects you (7) / Rationale (12)

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.

3 6

SUBMISSION AND EDITORIAL POLICIES

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 Unsigned letters will not be published.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. n

OPINION

Editorial (9) / Five questions for Rob Hradsky (10) / Columns, Letter to the Editor (11)

SCENE

AU a cappella (14) / Abroad column (16)

SPORTS

Field hockey coverage (23) / Fantasy football (24)

9 14 24

Vote on how you feel about the changes to the Student Conduct Code online.

top TWEETS “That’s not surprising. RT @jhaverly: Confirmed: @AmericanU Wonk shirts look just as nerdy in person as they did in the article pictures.” @RHLevitin, Sept. 12.

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.

n

Editor in Chief

202-885-1402

top STORIES since AUG. 29

News

1. Eagle rants (Aug. 29) 2. AU students buck trends, bring style back to school 3. Costs and causes; dollars and sense behind AU’s rebranding 4. Eagle rants (Sept. 4) 5. AU debuts new branding effort, but will ‘wonk’ work?

campus CALENDAR

“Giving back to our great nation on #911day by cleaning up community parks by #americanu with @AUCSC and @ AURooseveltInst” @aaronjgoldstein, Sept. 11.

TheScene@theeagleonline.com

next PAPER

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 Sports@theeagleonline.com

Web Content Editor Sarah Parnass

EdPage@theeagleonline.com

Photography Photos@theeagleonline.com

Multimedia Editor Kira Kalush

Design Design@theeagleonline.com

Web WebEditor@theeagleonline.com

Business

202-885-3593

Assistant Web Editor Rachel Karas Copy Editors Rocio Gonzalez Marisa Kendall

Business@theeagleonline.com

Classifieds

“I may be too pleased that @Maddow referred to #AmericanU research tonight, but really love that she didn’t say “the” American University.” @bettinasays, Sept. 8.

Managing Editor for News Meg Fowler

Music Editor Michael Richardson

Arts & Entertainment

Editorial & Opinion

“Campus bookstore, meet the free market, then get ready to act competitively or die. Hopefully die. @AmericanU” @kaydenh, Sept. 9

Editor in Chief Charlie Szold

Arts and Entertainment Editor Yohana Desta

Editor@theeagleonline.com News@theeagleonline.com

“Why is my alma mater @AmericanU bringing Van Jones to speak via KPU?!” @dcseth, Sept. 10.

EDITORIAL STAFF

202-885-1414 (x3)

AdBox@theeagleonline.com Public Relations

202-885-1410

PublicRelations@theeagleonline.com Fax Line

202-885-1428

Website

www.theeagleonline.com

Mailing Address

252 Mary Graydon Center 4400 Massachusetts Ave. N.W. Washington, D.C. 20016

SEPT. 21

BUSINESS STAFF Business Manager Sam Yolen Finance Manager Bobby Jones Sales Director Alexander Robinson Public Relations Coordinator Kasturi Puntambekar Ad Reps Jonathon Gaynes

TUESDAY 14

WEDNESDAY15

THURSDAY16

FRIDAY17

SATURDAY 18

SUNDAY 19

Alternative Breaks Information Session 5 - 7 p.m.

WHERE: MGC 200 WHAT: This is a general information session about all the Alternative Break trips throughout the 2010-2011 school year during the winter, spring and summer.

CONTACT: For more information, contact Shoshanna Sumka at sumka@american. edu.

Involvement Fair 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

WHERE: Main Quad WHAT: This annual event gives Student Activities-recognized clubs and organizations the opportunity to promote their group and its upcoming events.

CONTACT: For more information, contact Student Activities at activities@ american.edu.

Wellness Fair 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

WHERE: Main Quad WHAT: The 2010 Wellness Fair will feature a variety of on-campus, local and national organizations providing information about general health and wellness.

CONTACT: For more information, contact Alan Duffy at duffy@american. edu.

Women’s Volleyball vs.

Towson University 3 - 5 p.m.

WHERE: Bender Arena WHAT: Come out and cheer for the women’s volleyball team as they take on Towson University.

CONTACT: For more information, contact Kathryn Tortorici at tortorici@ american.edu.

Yom Kippur Reform Service 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

WHERE: McDowell Formal Lounge WHAT: Students, faculty, staff and community members will be joining together for a reform service to observe Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year.

CONTACT: For more information, contact Mindy Hirsch at hillel@american. edu.

Rape, Aggression and Defense Class for Women 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

WHERE: McDowell Formal Lounge WHAT: Public Safety hosts this series of self-defense classes for women.

CONTACT: For more information, contact Rima Sifri at sifri@american.edu.

September 14, 2010

AARON BERKOVICH/ THE EAGLE

IN THE RED – WMATA may continue to allow metrorail riders to exit the system with negative balances on their SmarTrip cards, despite last month’s announcement otherwise.

Metro reconsiders allowing negative SmarTrip balances

By ANNA SCALAMOGNA

News 3

theEAGLE or simply continuing to allow riders to go into any negative balance, according to the meeting minutes. Allowing riders to exit the system with negative balances would eliminate the costs of installing new exit fare machines.

WMATA is also considering several options to reduce the impact of another issue arising from the SmarTrip price drop.

The lower price could give riders more incentive to buy a card for $2.50, take a $6.00 ride and throw the card away, thus only paying $2.50 for the more expensive ride, according to Public Affairs Officer Reggie Woodruff.

The alternatives presented at board discussions include: requiring riders to have a minimum value on their SmarTrip card before entering the system, rewarding cardholders with a $2.50 rebate after they have purchased a $5 card and used it for two one-way trips or simply scrapping the $2.50 price drop, according to the minutes from WMATA’s Sept. 1 Riders’ Advisory Council meeting.

“We expect to have a plan in place this fall,” said Cathy Asato, WMATA information specialist.

The Riders’ Advisory Council will present these options to the board at a meeting next week.

“We want people to use SmarTrip cards and believe there are many benefits to doing so,” Woodruff said.

“We are making it more feasible.”

SG works to make more AU buildings accessible to students with disabilities

By ALISSA SCHELLER Eagle Contributing Writer Although the recently completed School of International Service building was constructed with accessibility in mind, older buildings on AU’s campus, such as Hurst Hall and the East Quad Building, remain inaccessible to students with disabilities.

“Buildings of that era didn’t have to adhere to the same kinds of regulations that those built now do and improving those limitations is something that we have been working on for years,” said Jenny Leland, the recently appointed director of Disability Advocacy in the Student Government’s Diversity Advocacy Department, in an e-mail.

Leland, who is also president of the Disability Alliance, an AU student group, said her goal is to make AU’s disabled community more comfortable on campus. SG President Nate Bronstein said he plans to work with the administration to include changes to currently handicapped-inaccessible buildings in the 2011 Campus Plan.

“The term ‘disability’ has frequently had a taboo connotation on a college campus, and I would love to change that and focus more on the capabilities of disabled people rather than the limitations,” Leland said. “Everyone has unique struggles, and people typi-

cally considered disabled just have different ones than most.”

While Leland’s position is not new to the SG, Bronstein said he questions how effective it has been in the past.

Disability Advocacy originally fell under the Student Advocacy Center and then became a part of SG’s Diversity Action Team.

It is now a department in the SG’s executive cabinet, and Bronstein is hoping to better integrate the director’s intended responsibilities, such as programming and communication with students, into the University.

“I think this repositioning will allow for greater effectiveness and empower greater change,” Leland said about the move.

Bronstein said he wants to make sure no students are unintentionally cut off from the AU community, which can easily happen when events are held in inaccessible spaces, he said.

“One big thing I want to do is put a ramp in the [East Quad] Building and also make sure there aren’t events held in the SIS lounge,” he said. “We have to be representative of the entire university.”

Disability Support Services encourages groups on campus to put an accessibility statement on their event fliers just in case students have questions about access to the event, according to Joanne Benica, the director of DSS.

Metro riders could still be allowed to exit the Metrorail system with a negative balance on their SmarTrip, despite an announcement made late last month by Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority that said negative balances would soon no longer be allowed.

WMATA recently approved the decision to reduce the cost of SmarTrip cards from $5 to $2.50, which will decrease WMATA’s overall revenue and force it to look at different options for offsetting this measure, according to a WMATA spokesperson.

Solutions presented at a Metro board meeting included allowing a maximum negative card value of $2.50

MONDAY 20

TUESDAY 21

CLASSIFIEDS

Panel: Careers in Campaigning 7 - 8:30 p.m.

WHERE: MGC 200 WHAT: AU students and alumni are invited to hear from a panel of campaign strategists, including Bob Blaemire, director of business development at Catalist LLC and Nancy Bocskor, founder and CEO of the Nancy Bocskor Company.

CONTACT: For more information, contact Chris Hughes at hughes@american.edu.

Film Screening: “A Slim Peace” 7 - 9:30 p.m.

WHERE: Ward 2 WHAT: The AU student group OneVoice@AU will be showing the film “A Slim Peace” and hosting a discussion with the filmmaker, Yael Luttwak.

CONTACT: For more information, contact OneVoice@AU at onevoice. au@gmail.com.

Sitters Wanted. $12 or more per hour.

Register free for jobs near campus or home. www.student-sitters.com

Eagle Staff Writer

ascalamogna@ theeagleonline.com

Benica said in an e-mail that building a new SIS building was part of the University’s commitment to making campus accessible for all students. “[DSS] will continue to provide programmatic access to the old SIS building,” she said, meaning that if an event or class is in an inaccessible space, DSS will try to identify “alternate methods of making the programs in those facilities accessible.”

For example, if a student with a disability has a class in the old SIS building, DSS tries to move the room assignment before the beginning of the semester, Benica said.

Chris Miller, a senior in the School of Public Affairs, said in an e-mail that although he uses a wheelchair because he has cerebral palsy, he has always found AU facilities accessible and usable, in part because of the services DSS provides.

“While it is true that the [East Quad Building] was inaccessible for most of my years here, this did not adversely affect me because of DSS’s steadfast commitment to ensuring that all of my classes were in accessible buildings,” Miller said.

Benica noted that students report campus accessibility is good overall.

“The DSS office is very excited with the opening of the new SIS building, as it provided increased access n see ACCESS on page 5

Student wanted to help in garden. Two Hours a week at $15 an hour.

Call 202-363-5229.

September 14, 2010

Features 4

theEAGLE police BLOTTER

Sept. 1 Graffiti was found on a wall in an Anderson Hall laundry room. Aramark was notified to remove it.

A wallet was reported missing from the Lost and Found in Bender Library. Upon reviewing video footage, the Department of Public Safety observed an individual removing the wallet from the Lost and Found and concealing it in a nearby drawer. The wallet was recovered.

Sept. 2 Public Safety responded to a fire alarm in the Brandywine Building. The building was evacuated. No sign of smoke or fire was found. A fire station was pulled on the fourth floor.

The alarm was reset.

In response to an anonymous call, Public Safety and a resident director checked on the welfare of a student in Anderson Hall. The student did not appear to be in need of any assistance.

The D.C. Fire Department transported an injured person from the Sports Center to the hospital.

Sept. 3 Public Safety responded to a report of an intoxicated individual in Letts Hall.

The individual was conscious, coherent and had vomited. A resident director responded to the scene and allowed the individual to remain in her room for the night. No medical transport was needed.

DCFD responded and released several individuals from a stuck elevator in Letts Hall. No injuries were reported.

Public Safety responded to a fire alarm initiated in McCabe Hall. Individuals exited the building. Public Safety found no sign of smoke or fire. The alarm was reset.

Public Safety responded to a report of an intoxicat-

ed individual in Anderson Hall. The individual was unable to give any clear information about himself. His roommate stated the sick person drank nine shots of vodka in their residence. DCFD transported him to the hospital.

Sept. 7 Public Safety responded to a fire alarm activated by a smoke detector in the first floor restroom of the Child Development Center. No sign of smoke or fire was found. The panel was reset.

Sept. 4 Public Safety discovered three letters (“W,” “I” and “D”) missing from a wall display on the first floor adjacent to elevators in the Mary Graydon Center. Facilities Management was notified.

As a shuttle bus was being refueled at a gas station in the 4800 block of Massachusetts Avenue, another vehicle entered the station and struck the rear bumper of the bus. There were no passengers on the bus.

No injuries were reported.

DCFD transported a sick person in Letts Hall to the hospital.

Public Safety responded to a fire alarm in McCabe Hall. The building was evacuated. Facilities Management observed dust clogging the smoke detector in the area and performed maintenance on it. The panel was reset.

Sept. 5 Public Safety responded to a report of an intoxicated student incoherent and vomiting on an AU shuttle bus outside Nebraska Hall.

DCFD transported the sick person to Sibley Hospital.

The bus was taken out of service to be cleaned by Aramark.

A resident assistant reported noticing a fire extinguisher had been discharged in two locations: the sixth floor stairwell and fourth floor of Anderson Hall. The extinguisher was not found. Aramark was notified.

A fire extinguisher was discharged in Letts Hall.

Aramark was contacted.

Cash was taken from a wallet stored in an unsecured locker in Bender Library.

Facilities Management said a buildup of grease caused a stove to smoke in the first floor lounge of Congressional Hall.

The stove was placed out of service until Aramark could clean it. DCFD was not contacted. A resident director was notified.

Sept. 6 A resident assistant discovered damaged ceiling tiles in the third floor of Letts Hall, adjacent to the south side elevators.

A resident assistant reported someone damaged the lock of his room door while he was on duty in Federal Hall. The damage prevented him from entering his room. Public Safety was able to gain entry into the room but was unable to repair the damage. The lock shop was notified.

Sept. 8 A resident burned popcorn, causing it to smoke, and used a fire extinguisher to extinguish it in Letts Hall. Facilities Management was notified to replace the extinguisher. No damage was reported.

Find previous

police BLOTTER online. www.theeagleonline.com

PHILLIP OCHS/THE EAGLE

HAIL TO THE CHIEF (OF STAFF) – David Taylor manages many areas of AU as Chief of Staff. His current projects include overseeing the Campus Plan, WAMU and the Office of Special Events.

Administrator Profile: Taylor, University’s chief of staff Soccer-playing Southerner fills many roles on campus

By STEFANIE DAZIO Eagle Staff Writer As the AU President’s Chief of Staff, David Taylor has the ability and experience to cover a lot of bases.

“I’m the administration’s utility infielder,” laughed the soccer player turned coach and Atlanta native.

He grew up in Atlanta, near Emory University and considers himself a true Southerner — he said he can cook “a mean shrimp and grits.”

“I can make one-syllable words three if I need to, and I say that with affection,” he said.

Taylor now oversees a variety of different projects for AU in his role as chief of staff.

“AU has been a very good place to work,” he said.

Taylor steps into whatever roles are empty, and these projects can last anywhere between a few weeks and a few years.

Taylor’s daily activities lately include responding to anywhere from 50 to 80 e-mails a day and working on the campus plan.

He assisted President Neil Kerwin in overseeing the Athletics Department before Athletics Director Keith Gill was hired in March 2007 for about a year. Taylor also temporarily oversaw the Communi-

cations and Media Department until Teresa Flannery was hired in 2008.

His biggest project is currently supervising the campus plan, in addition to managing WAMU and the Office of Special Events.

Taylor worked as WAMU’s interim General Manager for about a year and a half, from October 2003 to March 2005. Now he supervises the radio station and its current GM Caryn Mathes from a distance.

“I enjoy watching Caryn be successful,” he said.

But as the interim GM, he made it onto the air once to thank donors for their contributions to the station. “[This job] is constantly changing; it’s never dull,” he said. “That’s the thing that keeps me going — it’s the variety.”

Although he works in the president’s office, Taylor said his duties don’t revolve around Kerwin solely.

“I’m working for an individual, for a person, but I’m also working on behalf of the University,” he said. sdazio@theeagleonline.com

five FACTS Taylor majored in journalism at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill as an undergraduate and again as a graduate at the University of Georgia.

He said studying journalism “merged” his two passions of history and English.

He is an avid English soccer fan and follows it more closely than the NFL. He was glued to the TV during the World Cup this summer. “I was actually cheering for England the whole way through, even against the United States.”

He learned how to kick with his left foot during his high school soccer career and was later recruited to play soccer for UNCChapel Hill as an undergraduate.

“Probably ultimately how I got to college [soccer was that] I could kick with my left foot.”

Taylor’s day is not complete without a mocha from the Davenport Lounge and at least two bars of Hershey’s dark chocolate.

“I’m not saying it’s healthy, but it’s what I do,” he said.

To counteract the sugar, Taylor coaches his 9-year-old daughter’s soccer team. He also coached his 14-year-old son’s team until recently. His team’s practices center around three areas: individual skills, teamwork and game strategy. “All that adds up into a satisfying result, hopefully,” he said.

September 14, 2010 from ACCESS on page 3 to not only the classroom buildings but also the Davenport lounge,” Benica said.

Miller said AU had a greater commitment to accessibility than any other college he visited when deciding which school to attend and said he had virtually no complaints about AU’s accessibility.

However, Bronstein said more needs to be done to make the campus entirely wheelchair accessible.

“We’re planning on building an entire east campus,” he said, referring to the university plan to build more housing on Nebraska Avenue, “and yet we can’t put a ramp in the EQB.”

n

news@theeagleonline.com

GPS tracking will soon be available for shuttle fleet

By CHRISTOPHER SNYDER Eagle Contributing Writer Students will soon be able to access information about the location of the AU shuttle buses online and from their cell phones.

The nine shuttles received tracking devices over the summer, and Facilities Management is now testing the system and finalizing ways for students to access the data remotely. Administrators are not sure when the system will be ready for use.

“We want confidence that our customers will be well served by the system,” said Alef Worku, the manager of Transportation Operations and Maintenance for Facilities Management. “We are working hard to get it [available] as quickly as possible.”

The devices use GPS technology to display the real-time locations of each shuttle in operation. Initial plans include a website to display these loca-

tions on a map and text messaging for estimates of the wait time before the next shuttle.

Worku estimated that the technology cost $60,000 initially, with a recurring fee of approximately $1,000 a month.

For finding the next shuttle using a text message, each shuttle stop will be numbered, and a telephone number would be posted. Riders will be able to send a text message with the shuttle stop number and receive an estimate of when the next shuttle would arrive.

Facilities Management has been working on the tracking project since May of 2009, when it hired Solstice Transportation Group to advise the University on reorganization of the shuttle system. Three months ago, the University selected the tracking services of InSight USA’s StreetEagle GPS for the AU shuttles.

Former Student Government President Andy MacCracken worked on improving the AU shuttle system last year and

said a key advantage of the tracking tool for students is they will know how long they will have to wait for a bus.

“The perception of how long the shuttle takes is just as important as the actual timeliness,” he said. “Especially in winter, when it’s cold, five minutes could seem like 10 minutes; 10 minutes could seem like 20 minutes.”

In addition to the GPS technology, Facilities Management installed an automatic passenger count system, Worku said.

It enables him to track highridership and low-ridership periods in order to improve the bus schedule.

A long-term result of the GPS system will be the production of a schedule for bus arrival times at shuttle stops. The Facilities Management website gives estimated frequencies for each route, but exact times are not available.

“The ultimate goal is to create a schedule,” Worku said. news@theeagleonline.com

Gloria Steinem to speak at annual Breastival in October

By SARAH PARNASS Eagle Staff Writer

Me in D.C. Photo Contest As an American University student, Washington, D.C. is your classroom. We want to see the city through your eyes. We’ll announce the winners on Facebook & Twitter and highlight our favorites on the SOC Web site.

Post your entries at

soc.american.edu and win a $75 Metro Card!

News 5

theEAGLE

Gloria Steinem, former leader of the Women’s Liberation Movement and current feminist and social activist will speak on campus for this year’s Breastival, according to Women’s Initiative Director Quinn Pregliasco.

The Breastival is a yearly event held to raise awareness about breast cancer and other health issues. The event will take place from noon until 5 p.m. on the quad Oct. 5, according to Pregliasco.

Steinem will speak at 8:15 p.m. in Ward 1 following the outdoor festivities.

Pregliasco said Steinem’s role as a “poster child for feminism in the 70s” made her a great speaker for this event.

Steinem has been a figurehead in the media for years; she co-founded Ms. Magazine in the 1970s and

has written for such publications as Esquire and The New York Times Magazine, according to her website.

Among other accolades, she has received the National Gay Rights Advocates Award and the Bill of Rights Award from the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California.

Steinem is also a breast cancer survivor, which Pregliasco said helped to tie her in well with the event.

Pregliasco predicted that Steinem’s wit and charm would give her a universal appeal to the student body and that she would not alienate any segments of the population.

“She also really thinks that everyone’s futures depend upon each other, and so it’s really the support of both men and women that will bring us to equality,” Pregliasco said.

Steinem’s speech will be cosponsored by Kennedy Political Union and Women’s

Initiative, according to KPU Director Josh Levitt.

Levitt said the two organizations worked throughout the summer to bring Steinem to campus.

“As soon as I was confirmed into the position [of director], I reached out to Women’s Initiative, and I told them that I wanted to work with them on this event,” Levitt said. “It’s a cause that I believe strongly in, and I felt that it’s one that we can pull our resources together and get a really great event and a great speaker.”

Pregliasco said that the annual Breastival has grown over the past five years that it has been put on.

“Last year it incorporated about 2,000 students who walked through it throughout the day, so it’s about onethird of the undergraduate population,” she said. sparnass@theeagleonline. com

AU ROTC cadets score high marks in summer assessment course Students excelled in leadership, fitness and stress management tests that determine Army placement

By ALLIE MOONEY Eagle Staff Writer AU’s senior cadets in the Reserve Officer Training Corps will find out Oct. 20 what section of the Army they will join after graduation, after undergoing the Leadership Development Assessment Course this summer.

ROTC sends rising college seniors to the LDAC at Fort Lewis, Wash., every year to be evaluated in the physical and leadership skills they will need in their service to the Army.

The LDAC puts juniors in different stressful leadership and fitness situations, and cadets are assigned to leadership positions within a platoon. From there, army officers evaluate the cadets in their performance.

The ranking system consists of excellent, satisfactory and not satisfactory. These rankings will ultimately contribute to deciding where the cadets will be stationed after they graduate.

AU students’ performance at the LDAC stood out this year, according to Battalion Commander Andrew Kim, a senior in the School of Public Affairs. He is responsible for coordinating and leading the training of the 155 people in the Georgetown battalion.

AU, George Washington University, Catholic University of America and Georgetown University comprise the Georgetown battalion.

Ten juniors, who are now seniors, from each school attended the LDAC, according to Kim. “For the AU ROTC seniors, we rocked it,” Kim said. “The seniors from AU definitely did the best.”

The AU seniors received the most excellent rankings out of the whole battalion. ”About 25 percent of the AU seniors got E’s, which is great compared to the national

average of 15 percent,” said Chelsea Spiehs, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Kogod School of Business who completed the LDAC this summer.

LDACs are the equivalent of a placement exam in a subject in school, according to Spiehs.

“How you do [in LDACs] affects what you’ll be able to do afterwards,” she said.

“Every single junior in ROTC in every state has to go to [LDAC]. We don’t go through basic training like everyone else does when they enlist in the Army. It’s the experience together that ties all the officers together.”

There are 16 branches of the Army in which the ROTC cadets can potentially be stationed. From Medical Services to Infantry, each cadet has a branch they would prefer to be assigned to. How a cadet performs affects if they get into the section of the Army they prefer.

Each cadet ranks in order what branch they would like to serve in for the four to seven years they will be in the Army. However, GPA and performance in the LDACs are what ultimately determines whether they are awarded their top choice.

Kim dreams of going into Aviation and becoming a pilot. He and his fellow ROTC seniors must wait until next month to find out where they have been placed. After graduation, they will be placed into their station and any additional schooling and training they will need.

“My opportunity came about with ROTC,” Kim said. “I could make a difference, I could help my parents financially and I could achieve my dreams of flying.

Luckily, I did well in school and that will probably allow me to become a pilot.” amooney@theeagleonline. com

September 14, 2010

Cover Story 6

theEAGLE

Conduct code extends off campus

By JULIA RYAN Eagle Staff Writer AU students are subject to new rules and guidelines set down in the revised Student Conduct Code, effective June 15, including more stringent rules about off-campus incidents, more leniency in the University’s holding of their disciplinary records and an updated drug policy.

The University now has the authority to take action against students for any alleged misconduct that occurs off campus, regardless of whether or not the misconduct violates local, state or federal laws.

The University previously needed a police citation to discipline off-campus students, The Eagle previously reported.

This revision is “consistent with measures taken by other D.C. institutions at the insistence of their neighbors and Advisory Neighborhood Councils,” according to an announcement posted on the Office of Campus Life website on April 10 about the conduct code changes.

The Student Conduct Code also now includes a more comprehensive sexual assault policy. Revisions were made to previous definitions of rape, stalking and

from the CODE Revisions of the University’s jurisdiction expand AU’s authority, under specified conditions, to address alleged misconduct that occurs off campus. Public Safety now has the power to respond to off-campus incidents reported by residents of the surrounding community. “... the university may take disciplinary action for off-campus infractions of the Code when a student’s behavior threatens or endangers the safety and wellbeing of the campus community; when a student is the subject of a violation of local, state or federal law;

harassment, and the code now uses stronger language against sexual assault. For more information about the sexual assault policy changes, see the related report on page 7.

Over 3,175 undergraduate students are living off campus this year, according to numbers provided by Housing and Dining Programs

Resolution Services.

Last year, the Student Conduct office saw 712 cases of “alleged violations of prohibited conduct,” McSweeney said. Of those 712 cases, only 12 were resolved with disciplinary hearings.

McSweeney noted that disciplinary hearings are rare because a student could be removed from housing, sus-

sity housing relocation as a possible consequence for a conduct code violation. Relocation is now listed as the step taken before a student is completely removed from University housing.

Last year, five students were removed from housing, and one was suspended from the University, according to McSweeney.

The University now has the authority to take action against students for any alleged misconduct that occurs off campus. and the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment.

So far, there have been no reported incidents of students breaking the new conduct code rules on or off campus, according to Rosie McSweeney, director of Student Conduct and Conflict

pended or dismissed if they are found responsible for the alleged misconduct in the hearing.

Significant changes were also made to other parts of the code that deal with student misconduct.

The code has been expanded to include Univer-

The drug violation section of the conduct code was expanded to differentiate between disciplinary action for first-time drug sellers and first-time drug users.

First-time drug users could face a number of different disciplinary actions.

The sanctions include, but

or when, in the judgment of university officials, a student’s alleged misconduct has a negative effect on the university’s pursuit of its mission or on the well being of the greater community.”

— A. University Codes, Policies, and Guidelines: Codes, Student Conduct Code, III. Jurisdiction.

Page 50.

Code, XVI. Page 56.

until a student has graduated from the university, or as required by law.

Records for a student who is suspended, dismissed, or who withdraws with a disciplinary case pending are maintained indefinitely; release of these categories of disciplinary records to third parties is provided in accordance with FERPA.” — A. University Codes, Policies, and Guidelines: Codes, Student Conduct Code, XVIII. Disciplinary Records. Page 57.

The sanctions section was updated to include University housing relocation as a penalty that could be used for certain violations.

“E. Relocation in University Housing – administrative reassignment to a different residence hall and/or room.”

— A. University Codes, Policies, and Guidelines: Codes, Student Conduct

Sanctions.

Once a student graduates, the university cannot release their disciplinary record to third parties unless that student was suspended, dismissed or withdrew from the school in the middle of a disciplinary hearing. The previous version of the Student Conduct Code had stated that the University could release a student’s disciplinary record to third parties up to three years after the student graduates.

“Release of disciplinary records to third parties is provided in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, (FERPA)

The drug violations section was updated to make a clear distinction between disciplinary action to take against drug users and drug sellers.

“First time sale, distribu-

are not limited to, “disciplinary probation for a specified period, denial of visiting privileges in the residence halls, assignment to a drug education program, removal from the residence halls permanently or for a specified period, and suspension or dismissal from the University,” the code states.

But first-time drug sellers are subjected to stricter disciplinary action. They do not have the option of probation or any of the other lesser sanctions available to drug users. Their cases could result in removal from housing, suspension or dismissal from the University.

Another notable revision to the conduct code is the change in how long the University will hold a student’s disciplinary record. Previous guidelines stipulated that a student’s disciplinary record could be open to third parties for up to five years after the student graduates.

A student’s AU disciplinary record will now become inaccessible to third parties once they graduate from AU. A full list of the Student Conduct Code revisions can be found at theeagleonline. com/policies. jryan@theeagleonline.com

tion, or manufacture of illegal drugs and illegal drug paraphernalia may result in sanctions including, but not limited to, removal from housing, suspension, or dismissal from the university.

First time use or possession of illegal drugs or illegal drug paraphernalia may result in sanctions including, but not limited to, disciplinary probation for a specified period, denial of visiting privileges in the residence halls, assignment to a drug education program, removal from the residence halls permanently or for a specified period, and suspension or dismissal from the university.”

— University Codes, Policies and Guidelines: Alcohol and Other Drugs.

Drug Policy. Page 88.

Advertise in

theEAGLE business@theeagleonline.com

September 14, 2010

WI director praises sexual assault policy changes

By SARAH PARNASS Eagle Staff Writer The University amended its policy for dealing with sexual assault on campus by expanding definitions and using stronger language to discourage sexual assault.

The added or expanded definitions include the terms “consent,” “rape,” “sexual harassment,” “sexual assault” and “stalking.” The changes came as part of the University’s update to the Student Handbook, which went into effect in June.

The Sexual Assault Working Group, made up of representatives from the Counseling Center, Wellness Center, Washington College of Law and Women’s Initiative and others began discussing potential policy changes in January 2009.

The working group presented their proposal to Vice President of Campus Life Gail Hanson in March of 2010, The Eagle previously reported.

The policy branch of the working group met to assess what the campus lacked in terms of resources for dealing with sexual assault.

The previous version of the Student Conduct Code failed in some key areas, according to Women’s Initiative Director Quinn Pregliasco, who did not serve on the SAWG when they approved the changes but is on it now.

“One of the things [the code] was missing was that it didn’t discuss what sexual assault was, what the difference was in various things such as rape and stalking,” Pregliasco said.

The new definitions added are meant to cover that gap.

The new code defines “stalking” as “repeated, unwanted contact with any person, including by electronic means or by proxy, or the credible threat of repeated contact with the intent to place a reasonable person in fear for his or her safety or for the safety of his or her

Cover Story 7

theEAGLE

family or close acquaintances.”

The lack of clarity in the prior code and reported incidents of stalking on campus — where victims included undergraduates as well as law students and faculty — prompted the addition of this definition, according to Pregliasco.

Pregliasco praised the revised code’s use of stronger language in the discussion of sexual assault and misconduct but thinks things could still be improved.

“One of the discussions around [the code] was that a code of conduct is very neutral and should be very straightforward and very objective, and I know that [former Women’s Initiative Director] Sarah Brown felt very passionately that it needed to be blatant that these things are wrong and are not to be committed,” Pregliasco said.

One of the stronger statements appears in the opening of the Sexual Assault Procedures for Students section.

“The university does not tolerate sexual misconduct of any kind, in any context,” the statement reads. “Intimidating or forcing a person into sexual activity violates American University’s stated values and policies and is punishable with severe actions.”

The code identifies “harassment and stalking,” “rape,” “sexual harassment” and “sexual assault” as separate acts of prohibited conduct.

There is also a “things to think about” section in the code.

“Consent takes different forms in different relationships,” the section reads. It then includes a list of what some of those forms could be, saying that each is related because “they are grounded in an attitude of respect.”

Many focus on the idea that consent is not implicit and must be achieved for n

see POLICY on page 8

Definitions Definitions of rape, stalking, sexual assault and sexual harassment were added to the definitions section of the conduct code.

M. “Rape”—any act of sexual intercourse or sexual penetration of any orifice of the body with a body part or other object that takes place against a person’s will or without consent or that is accompanied by coercion or the threat of bodily harm.

P. “Sexual assault”—conduct of a sexual nature, including, but not limited to, sexual contact or physical exposure directed at another person without consent; Q. “Sexual harassment”— unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature…

R. “Stalking”—repeated, unwanted contact with any person, including contact by electronic means or by proxy, or the credible threat of repeated contact with the intent to place a reasonable person in fear for his or her safety or the safety of his or her family or close acquaintances.

— VII. University Codes, Policies, and Guidelines: Codes. Student Conduct Code, Section V. Definition. Page 51.

A five-page section about sexual assault and other sexual misconduct was added to the code. Sexual assault, harassment and rape were added to the section of the code listing prohibited conduct.

“Sexual misconduct includes, but is not limited to, rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment. It can occur by or against any person, regardless of their sex. Students who experience these crimes should not be blamed for the actions committed against them. Sexual assault and rape occur in a variety of situations; on a university campus most sexual assaults are between people who know each other, and they tend to involve the consumption of alcohol.

— B. University Codes, Policies and Guidelines, Sexual Assault Policy Procedures for Students. Page 77.

Changes will not affect most students, administrators say

By STEFANIE DAZIO Eagle Staff Writer WHAT THE CHANGES MEAN TO YOU Jurisdiction Dean of Students Rob Hradsky said there are no geographic restrictions to AU’s jurisdiction under the new code, meaning that any offense, committed anywhere can be grounds for disciplinary action.

Administrators said the majority of students behave appropriately in the community and will never feel the effects of these changes that were made to deal with persistent and egregious behavior.

“It’s more of a scare tactic than anything else,” said Department of Public Safety Chief Michael McNair said.

For most students, life will go on as usual, Vice President of Campus Life Gail Hanson said.

Department of Public Safety AU’s Department of Public Safety now has the power to investigate off-campus misconduct without a violation of the law or a formal police citation under the new version of the code.

Officers can now document problems and make referrals to administrators about offcampus student behavior, McNair said.

Previously, Public Safety needed the Metropolitan Police Department to issue a citation before they could further investigate off-campus misconduct, but Public Safety was always able to respond to scenes off-campus without MPD assistance.

Officers can respond to the house in question and knock on a student’s door if a neighbor calls the Public Safety hotline. However, the Public Safety officer must be invited inside. If students do not answer the door, Public Safety can call MPD to respond as well.

Public Safety generally takes the students’ names and information, which is

then referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution.

The majority of complaints involve excessive noise, which is why MPD is usually slow to respond to calls. Public Safety encourages neighbors to call them directly because the likelihood of MPD officers being available “right off the bat” is low, and Public Safety can respond fairly quickly, McNair said.

Sanctions Generally, if a neighbor complaint is filed, Hradsky will begin by speaking with the offending student.

“It’s more of a scare tactic than anything else.”

- Michael McNair, Chief of Public Safety

“Most complaints are resolved just through a conversation with students and don’t even result in charges.

And that’s our goal,” he said.

“A lot of times people just need a reminder about expectations.”

But for more persistent or egregious off-campus violations of the code students now can have Student Conduct charges filed against them, which can result in a disciplinary conference or hearing.

“Occasionally, we have situations where students don’t get the message, and we need to have better tools to hold them accountable,” Hradsky said.

Last year, 12 cases were referred to hearings. Of those 12, only three students elected to have a hearing. Two

withdrew from AU, and six students waived their hearing for a disciplinary conference instead, according to Hradsky.

In a disciplinary conference, a hearing officer listens to the case, rather than a panel of students, faculty and staff for a full hearing.

Most students prefer the conference, according to Hanson.

The hearing officer or panel makes sanction recommendations if they find the student responsible, and Hradsky makes the final decision.

The changes to the code also lowered the standard for finding students responsible. Before the changes, the panel or hearing officer used the “clear and convincing” standard of proof, where it is more likely than not the defendant is responsible for the alleged action.

But now, there only has to be a “preponderance of evidence,” or 51 percent, which is the lowest standard of proof, Hanson said.

Sanctions are tailored to the offense, Hanson added.

They can be anything from writing a paper, restitution, community service, writing an apology to the neighbor, removal from on-campus housing and suspension or dismissal from the University.

If students don’t fulfill their sanctions, a stop may be placed on their registration, Hanson said.

Under the old code, if students chose a conference over a hearing, they had to waive their right to appeal.

Under the new code, however, students still retain their right to an appeal if they choose a conference.

But appeals may only be brought on the basis of technical grounds and if the student was removed from housing, suspended or dismissed from the University.

An appeals board checks to make sure there is merit to the appeal, and Hanson makes the final decision. sdazio@theeagleonline.com

September 14, 2010 n from POLICY on page 7 every instance of sexual engagement.

Pregliasco said she thinks the misunderstanding of consent is still an issue that plagues the University and other institutions around the country.

“Everyone, before engaging in sexual activity, should understand what consent is,” Pregliasco said.

The University updates the Student Handbook annually and releases it each summer.

Staff writer Allie Mooney contributed to this report. sparnass@theeagleonline. com

Advertise in

theEAGLE business@theeagleonline.com

Cover Story 8

theEAGLE

Student leaders worry about code’s reach

By ANNA SCALAMOGNA, JULIA RYAN and ALLIE MOONEY Eagle Staff Writers As the administration implements the newly revised Student Conduct Code this year, student leaders have expressed mixed feelings about the fairness of the new code.

Student Advocacy Center Director Aleksandra Kocelko, Student Government President Nate Bronstein and Inter-Fraternity Council President Adam Tager said they are concerned about the expansive reach of the code’s new offcampus misconduct policy, and they wonder how it will be put into effect this year.

Student Advocacy Center Kocelko will serve on this year’s Student Conduct Advisory Board. The board is made up of students and staff members who determine what conduct code policy changes should be considered.

She feels that many of the new changes to the conduct code will benefit students, but the administration should work further on revisions such as the off-campus misconduct policy.

The changes that she feels will benefit students include the new record retention policy, which now states that student disciplinary records will not be released after graduation. The previous policy provided that the records be held available for third parties for up to five years.

This new record retention policy, however, excludes charges of suspension, expulsion and removal from housing.

Kocelko also said the updates to the disciplinary procedures were a good step. Students now have the option of appealing misconduct charges through a conference instead of a hearing.

A hearing involves a trial with faculty, staff and students and requires witnesses and statements. A confer-

ence is only between a student and a hearing officer.

“Students can [choose to] go with a less intimidating situation,” Kocelko said.

“But [they will] not lose the right to appeal.”

However, Kocelko was not as supportive of the new revision that allows students to be disciplined by the University for off-campus misconduct, regardless of whether or not the misconduct violates local, state or federal laws.

The SAC is concerned about the broadness of the conduct code revisions, Kocelko said. She feels this policy is one of the parts of the conduct code that students are most concerned with, especially those students who have moved off campus hoping to have more freedom.

Because this new off-campus misconduct policy is so general, SAC is not sure exactly how it will affect students.

“We can’t help students until we’ve seen how it will be handled,” she said.

Inter-Fraternity Council IFC President Adam Tager said his organization is disappointed that the administration did not consult the greek community before they made changes to the Conduct Code.

“We would have liked to have been part of the dialogue on conduct code changes before they implemented this [off-campus] policy,” Tager said.

He believes one of the driving forces behind the conduct code changes was complaints from neighbors who live near houses rented by AU students.

However, Tager said the IFC and the rest of the greek community look forward to talking with the administration about how the new conduct code changes will be implemented this school year.

The IFC will hold a conduct code town hall on Wednesday, Sept. 29 at 8:30 p.m. in Ward 1 with various AU offices including Student

Activities, Public Safety and Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution Services.

Tager hopes this town hall will send a message to the administration that students are willing to further discuss the conduct code changes.

“We’re going to keep advocating, and we’re going to keep asking to be part of the conversation,” he said.

Student Government Bronstein said he was enthusiastic about certain revisions to the Student Conduct Code and the way that the administration worked with students to make the revisions.

But he also noted that the administration will have to work to make sure students fully understand the offcampus misconduct policy.

Bronstein praised the administration for their approach to revising the code, which included a panel of students on the Student Conduct Advisory Board, of which Bronstein was a member.

“The administration was very receptive,” he said.

“They took our suggestions very seriously. When they implemented our suggestions, they still brought it back to us and talked about it further.”

Bronstein’s main concern for the revised conduct code also involves the definition of the jurisdiction AU has over students off campus and to what degree the administration can hold a student accountable for actions outside of campus.

Bronstein predicts some students will question whether AU has the right to have jurisdiction off campus. However, he does not believe the administration would use the new off-campus misconduct policy without a serious reason.

“I know that this [new rule] is going to be used only in situations where the problem outside of the University is significantly negatively affecting the entire University as a whole,” Bronstein said. news@theeagleonline.com

students REACT AU can now discipline students for off-campus misconduct that does not necessarily violate any law.

Pro: “You are still a representative of the school, but it does depend on the situation. I think if the authorities contact AU, they have every right [to discipline students].” — Jill Hyman, sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences Con: “On what grounds can they do that? When are we citizens, and when are we members of the University? Did I sign up for that?” — Alexandra Beresford, freshman in the School of International Service “If [the misconduct is] completely unrelated to the school, then it’s not fair.” — Ryan Verhey, sophomore in SIS New definitions for rape, stalking, sexual harassment and sexual assault are listed in the code, and there is more information about resources for sexual misconduct victims.

Pro: “I think it’s a good idea ... As a girl, it makes you feel safer.

A lot of people brush that stuff [sexual misconduct] off.”

— Sarah Back, senior in the School of Communication The code has a new record release policy that says students’ disciplinary records will not be released upon graduation, excluding expulsions, suspensions and removal from housing. Previously, records were held for up to five years after graduation.

Pro: “If I had anything on my record I didn’t want a potential employer to see, I’d be glad my record is being erased.” — Katherine Hekker, sophomore in the School of Public Affairs Con: “It shouldn’t be an umbrella erasing [of the records].

There are varying degrees of conduct and that should be reflected.” — Michael Thot, freshman in SOC

other UNIVERSITIES Excerpts from nearby universities’ conduct codes on stipulations for off-campus conduct: George Mason University Judicial System for Student Conduct “Proscribed actions performed off campus by students make the student subject to university discipline when such actions materially affect the learning environment or operation of the University.” www.theeagleonline.com/ gmucode The George Washington University Code of Student Conduct “Violence of any kind will not be tolerated on or off University premises or at University-sponsored activities ... Hazing is defined as any action taken or situation created, intentionally, with or without consent, whether on or off campus, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule.”

Under its list of sanctions for student misconduct, GWU’s code stipulates that definitions of “Suspension” and “Expulsion” could mean exclusion from “access to University premises or University-sponsored activities off campus.” www.theeagleonline.com/ gwucode Georgetown University “This Code of Student Conduct and the accompanying discipline system covers all Georgetown University undergraduate students (whether residing on or off campus or studying abroad), graduate students, and all students enrolled in the School of Continuing Studies ... When alleged violations of University regulations or local laws take place off campus and come to the University’s attention, the University reserves the right to take appropriate action when, in the judgment of University officials, the alleged conduct has a negative impact on the University community or the pursuit of its mission or the broader community in which we live.” www.theeagleonline.com/ gtcode

9

OPINION

September 14, 2010

Conduct code changes: ‘Best practice,’ or just babying?

Curtailing AU students’ responsibilities off campus could backfire for University Responsibility seems to be the name of the game these days. Between our parents trusting us to not screw up too badly as we left for college to the state giving us permission to vote and enlist in the military, we have been assuming more and more responsibility since we turned 18.

However, recent changes to the Student Conduct Code’s off-campus policies and procedures has us wondering whether AU thinks we need a babysitter.

We realize that the driving factor behind these changes is the need to improve University-neighbor relations. With more students being forced to

live off campus, the need to work with the surrounding community moves higher on the priority list. Say as much as you want about the passage of the campus plan, good neighbor relations go far beyond currying favor on one occasion. We do represent the University when we are off campus, even without “wonk” Tshirts or AU bumper stickers. It is important for students to act with this in mind.

Georgetown University and George Washington University already have similar policies in place, and these changes to the Student Conduct Code are actually bringing us more in line with these

Same problem, new university Broad conduct code can lead to unfair student treatment OP-ED I’ve seen it before in Wisconsin, and I’m seeing it in D.C. today. Back in 2008 and 2009, local communities, especially in Milwaukee, wanted the University of Wisconsin to crack down on students’ off-campus conduct. The police had more important things to do than show up to cite students for breaking a noise ordinance, and area residents wanted the universities to force their students to be good neighbors.

In 2009, I spoke before the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System to express several concerns about due process protections for students accused of off-campus misconduct. The result, after much discussion and negotiation among the Regents, student representatives and the communities involved, was a pretty reasonable definition of the kind of off-campus behavior that could lead to university discipline.

In Wisconsin, punishable student behavior has to involve “serious and re-

“best practice” standards. But that doesn’t make it right. AU students are known for utilizing the resources available to us in the city, and AU is known for promoting this culture. If this University wants to continue to market itself as a “lab for learning,” it should continue to treat its students as adults capable of independently exploring and living in this city.

When students move off our cloistered campus and into the District, they are charged with finding their own housing and figuring out their own meal plans. Living as adults in the community, AU

students lived under the same rules as our neighbors. Students were directly responsible for their actions. The Metropolitan Police Department acted as the final arbiter. Now, students’ ability to learn how to live among our neighbors is being curtailed.

AU says the new regulations will not affect most students, and we trust that to be true. However, we question the need to use such a broad new policy to squelch out the few troublemakers in the community. Last year there were only 27 complaints. Of those, 15 complaints came from the same neighbor. AU needs to continue doing what it already has

been doing: educating students about the responsibilities of living off campus and continuing to pressure those who are being nuisances to stop.

Most off-campus students are juniors and seniors. A few months down the road we will graduate and cease being AU students. However, many of us will continue to be D.C. residents. In the past, AU has encouraged students to be independent from the University. We’ve been encouraged to really embrace the District, explore faraway neighborhoods and exploit the city’s resources.

This policy — no matter how little it will actu-

ally affect students’ lives — sets this trend backwards. It indicates that the University trusts us less, not more. It shows we are more dependent, not less.

We are asking for a little faith and a little backbone from the University. Let students handle their own living situations and the pitfalls that come with them. Do not cave to those neighbors who will always believe, no matter what, that college students are trashthrowing, party-having hooligans. These changes to the conduct code might help relations in the short-term, but will harm AU students overall in the end.

peated off-campus violations of municipal law” or criminal law, whether or not the student is charged.

A single instance of being a neighborhood nuisance isn’t good enough; the conduct must demonstrate “a pattern of behavior that seriously impairs the university’s ability to fulfill its teaching, research, or public service missions.” Simply making the neighbors angry on weekends doesn’t count.

I work at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), where student conduct — as opposed to speech — is normally beyond our purview.

Yet, individual rights kick in as a matter of due process. Thus, one of the problems in Wisconsin that deserved FIRE’s attention was that the proposed rules gave university officials a huge amount of discretion to enforce vague rules, with the likely result that students in similar situa-

tions would not be treated equally. The language that was agreed upon after review made the policy much clearer, more objective, and more definite so that students had a much better idea ahead of time of what was allowed and not allowed off campus.

The problems regarding objectivity, discretion, and clarity look even worse at American University.

Not only have AU officials granted themselves great discretion, but they also have described the off-limits, off-campus conduct in extremely vague language.

AU, according to new rules this year, “may” take disciplinary action “when, in the judgment of university officials, a student’s alleged misconduct has a negative effect on the university’s pursuit of its mission or on the well being of the greater community.”

Can any AU student predict with any accuracy what some AU administrator will

judge as having “a negative effect” on “the well being of the greater community?” Will the complaints of a merely ornery or vindictive neighbor count as having such a “negative effect,” however slight? Does embarrassing the University by, for example, writing a negative op-ed count as having “a negative effect” on the University’s pursuit of its mission?

Wisconsin resolved such issues by clarifying that the alleged behavior must be “serious and repeated.”

Closer to home, George Washington University specifically exempts off-campus activism and requires that the alleged off-campus behavior “pose a serious and substantial danger to self or others” before GWU will intervene.

When AU defended its policy change this spring in a document describing the changes, it wrote, “The revision is consistent with measures taken by other

D.C. institutions at the insistence of their neighbors and Advisory Neighborhood Councils.” I would like to know which universities AU was referring to, since GWU gives students much stronger and clearer protections in this year’s student handbook than AU does.

Due process is not served at AU when students do not have clear, objective, definite rules to follow.

What students think might be innocent and none of AU’s business off campus, AU might choose, in its wide discretion, to punish.

Does AU care more about the neighbors than its own students? Wisconsin came to a good compromise, and I think AU has room for similar improvements.

Adam Kissel is Director of the Individual Rights Defense Program at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education in Philadelphia.

September 14, 2010

Opinion 10

theEAGLE

Five questions with Rob Hradsky Five question about AU’s changes to the Student Conduct Code for Rob Hradsky, dean of students.

What prompted these changes to the student conduct code for off-campus procedures?

The Student Conduct Code is substantially the same with respect to jurisdiction with the exception that offcampus misconduct may now be addressed through the Student Conduct Code irrespective of police involvement in the incident.

Previously, conduct charges would typically be filed in situations where a student was issued a citation for a violation of local, state or federal law. The elimination of this practice was prompted by a small number of off-campus incidents about which the university received numerous complaints but in which there was limited or no police involvement.

The revised language of the Student Conduct Code enables the filing of Conduct charges against students in such cases with the goal of achieving greater accountability among students who repeatedly conduct themselves in a manner that is disruptive

to their communities.

Will these changes ultimately help the passage of the campus plan, and if so, how?

Some of the university’s neighbors have complained to their Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) representatives about the misconduct of a small number of AU students residing in their neighborhoods. These neighbors claim that the University is not doing enough to address student misconduct in the surrounding neighborhoods and have asked that the University do more to stop disruptive behaviors in their communities. Some of these neighbors and their ANC representatives have indicated that they will not support the University’s campus plan when it comes before the Zoning Board, unless the University does more to address off-campus misconduct.

Modifying the language of the Student Conduct Code demonstrates to the University’s neighbors that the University is serious about addressing off-campus student misconduct that is disruptive to the surrounding communities.

The Student Advocacy Center breaks down changes to the Student Conduct Code OP-ED On June 15, 2010, certain changes to the Student Conduct Code (SCC) went into effect. Some of these policy updates will impact students more than others, and so we thought it would be best to provide some cursory information on the most significant modifications.

The expansion of the SCC’s jurisdiction is probably the most well known change. In addition to the previous rule stating that the University could take disciplinary action when “a student’s behavior threatens or endangers the

safety and well-being of the campus community,” the Student Conduct office may now also address complaints when “in the judgment of university officials, a student’s alleged misconduct has a negative effect on the University’s pursuit of its mission or on the well being of the greater community.” Obviously, these are very broad standards. In a forum sponsored by SAC last semester, University officials assured students that disciplinary action would only be taken against the most egregious repeat offenders. Still though, it may be prudent for off-campus students to recognize that their actions may be

What is considered a “negative effect on the university’s mission” and the “wellbeing of the community”?

The University’s mission is, in part, to provide a rich living/learning environment that promotes student learning both inside and outside of the classroom.

The inability of the university to build new residence halls and academic buildings because of neighbor opposition to the University’s campus plan resulting from student misconduct in the neighborhood is one example of a negative effect on the University’s mission.

Furthermore, the safety of our students, staff and faculty and the general wellbeing or our surrounding community is of utmost importance to the University. The Student Conduct Code must support the University’s efforts to address these priorities.

Do you think these changes will result in more students getting into trouble with the University?

The majority of AU students living off campus engage their neighborhoods in positive ways. Use of the Student Conduct Code to address off-campus mismore highly scrutinized under the new rule.

The prohibited conduct section of the SCC has also been updated for specificity. For instance, “conduct of sexual nature … without consent” has become three different offenses: sexual assault, sexual harassment and rape. The rule forbidding the “unauthorized possession, use, manufacture, distribution and/or sale of any controlled substance or illegal drug and illegal drug paraphernalia” has been divided into two. Now possession and use are one charge and manufacture, distribution and sale are another. This may benefit students, as future employers will see a more specific charge and won’t jump to conclusions upon viewing a student’s disciplinary record.

Some of the changes to the SCC have tremendous benefits for students. Previously, stu-

conduct will continue to be reserved for those cases that are egregious or where students exhibit a pattern of repeated misconduct. It is unlikely that there will be an increase in the number of students “getting into trouble with the University.”

What exactly is the jurisdiction of the University’s policy? How far off campus does this reach?

theEAGLE wants you to send your thoughts to edpage@theeagleonline.com

University policy does not place geographical boundaries on the jurisdiction of the Student Conduct Code.

Even before it was amended, the Code included the expectation that AU “students, wherever they are,... adhere to high standards of honor and good citizenship and... conduct themselves in a responsible manner that brings credit to themselves and the University.”

(VI. Prohibited Conduct) “Five Questions with Rob Hradsky” is part of our “Five questions with...” series, where The Eagle will be asking various members of the AU community five questions about hot issues.

JOSEPH CORCORAN / THE EAGLE

dents could only appeal a suspension, dismissal or removal from housing through a formal hearing. The new SCC allows for an appeal of these sanctions even if a student chooses to have a disciplinary conference. Many students find conferences less intimidating than hearings so extending appeals to cover conferences will allow students to choose the setting that suits their needs without giving up the opportunity to appeal the decision. Another positive change is a revision of the disciplinary records retention policy, in large part due research and proposals

by SAC. Instead of allowing potential employers and other third parties to access disciplinary records up to five years after an incident, records that do not chronicle a suspension, dismissal or removal from housing are no longer disclosed after graduation.

The University’s sexual assault procedure has gotten a major update as well. Students now have up to a year to report incidents of rape, sexual assault or stalking. Also, the Sexual Assault Policies and Procedures for Students section of the Student Handbook has been vastly improved.

This update is the product of a year long study by a myriad of on-campus groups including Women’s Initiative, the GLBTA Resource Center and members of SAC. Among the many additions to the section is a comprehensive definition of consent, accompanied by a list of things to think about when considering whether or not consent has been given.

This list includes reminders that consent must be given at each stage of sexual activity, that silence cannot be construed as consent and that consent cannot be given un-

der the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Moreover, the handbook contains a collection of resources for sexual assault survivors and an outline of the rights a victim has and the ways the university will provide support.

The Student Conduct Code can be confusing and is often frustrating. But it is important to remember that staying informed of ones rights is the key to exercising them. If you ever have any questions about the Student Conduct process, do not hesitate to contact the Student Advocacy Center by phone at 202-885-6413, by email at SAC@ausg.org or by stopping by our office in MGC 264. We offer confidential advice and no judgment. It’s college. Stuff happens. We get it.

Matt Kabak is the assistant director of the Student Advocacy Center.

September 14, 2010

Exploring AU’s claims of diversity DIVERSITY DISCUSSED

SARAH McHANEY

American University prides itself on diversity.

Ambassadors are constantly telling all prospective students about the wide range of nationalities, social/cultural backgrounds, and future aspirations that they will find on AU’s campus.

It is true that AU does have a higher average of international students than most schools, a larger gay/lesbian community, and at least some socioeconomic differences, but is this enough to claim “diversity?”

AU’s touted diversity is what initially attracted me here. I was born in Scotland, moved to Portugal when I was 8 years old and then onto Angola when I was 10.

I went to boarding school in Kenya for high school and have spent about a year and a half intermittently in Texas. I am a double major in International Relations and Philosophy, fulfilling a common AU stereotype and my nerdy side. I am an avid runner, member of Model United Nations, leading an Alternative Break this winter to South Africa, a work study at the International Admissions Office and a coffee addict. I love to travel and read. I strongly dislike people who chew with their mouths open and people who shuffle their feet while walking. But this column is not about my political opinions, frustrations about the media, or just about myself — it’s about all of us.

Having a university at least say they understand “global nomads” was refreshing and eventually led me to choose AU. Now three years into my degree, I am wondering if AU has fulfilled its promise of diversity. I do have an

Opinion 11

theEAGLE

eclectic group of friends, both internationally and domestically. I work in the International Admissions Office where I am in constant contact with the several hundred international students on campus and prospective students. My roommates alone hail from Colorado, Florida, and Tennessee. And this diversity doesn’t have geographical limits. My friends are gay, straight, liberal, conservative, atheists, devout Christians, pre-med majors and economists. Yet I am not sure if this circle of friends is a result of AU’s diversity or my own curiosity of different cultures and social opinions.

Every other week I will look at a different sub-group of the AU student body, such as internationals, global nomads, Panamanian business majors, GLBT activists, feminists, or Student Government members. I will also sometimes look at the sub-groups AU is missing and maybe why, such as football players and interior design majors. Ultimately I hope to answer this central question — “Is AU really a diverse campus or do we just have abnormal majorities?”

If AU really is just made up of abnormal majorities and not a wide range of minorities, then maybe we need to shift our advertising from diverse to unique.

I would love your help in this endeavor. Tell me what groups you consider yourself a part of and whether or not you think AU is diverse. I am looking forward to talking to you and learning more about who we are as AU students and who we are not.

Sarah McHaney is a junior in the School of International Service and an AU affairs columnist for The Eagle. You can reach this columnist at edpage@theeagleonline.com.

AU ignores strengths with ‘wonk’ for drinks after the meeting, missing out on the real business of power and influence.

American cannot easily rely on its geographic location to build a portrait worth projecting to the world. While American may call D.C. home it’s not the iconic D.C. that can sell statue figurines and spur on patriotism.

“It was at this very site twelve years ago that Best Buy first broke ground on what was destined to be the largest home electronic big box retailer within walking distance of the red line.”

We are somewhat on the periphery, recently preoccupied with constructing shinier facilities and “brand building.” Obviously worried that if we don’t shout loud enough, then the rest of D.C. may forget about us.

Even when not caricatured, this is a silly and ultimately counterproductive strategy.

The “Wonk” campaign is an attempt to carve out a niche within a field that is already crowded with established players. It’s an attempt to say that we are as much of part of the Washington machinery as the schools to our south.

I agree that American has often been undervalued as an institution and I am also glad to see that recent initiatives such as Renew AU have given the community a sense of resurgence. That energy is real and potent, but to waste it building an identity that depends either on an appreciation for the esoteric or a genuine desire to labor in obscurity (comforted only by the fact that you “know” your subject area backward and forwards) is ridiculous.

Ultimately, if American wants to create an enduring brand it should not look outward to the city at large, but inwards to a student body

that differentiates itself from its peers frankly through its lack of “wonkishness.” We are thankfully a good deal louder than the cadets at Starfleet Academy (Georgetown) and certainly more friendly than the students at the perpetual SAT prep course (George Washington). For those who question the value of some of our more loquacious tendencies I would point you toward the “First American” Benjamin Franklin, a man known both for his wit and good humor as well as his political mastery, who is known to have cautioned us that “Admiration is the daughter of ignorance.” It’s wisdom worth remembering as American searches for the image it wishes to project to the world.

AU’s glow fades after closer inspection

— to kick a man while he’s down ...

I’m still adjusting to AU culture, and although I have my complaints, lack of sauce isn’t one of them.

First, Jacobs Fitness Center is so crowded I get my cardio just by moving out of people’s way while waiting for a machine. It’s inadequate for the traffic and needs to be renovated and expanded.

Many sections of the gym close abruptly for varsity sports (who deserve their own facilities), thereby exacerbating the problem. There’s also no towel service, which is unhygienic and raises the risk of contracting disease.

The few rags accessible to clean machines are usually so drenched with sweat and disinfectant that I’d be cleaner spending a night with Snooki.

Speaking of antiquated, the jostle to secure a computer in Bender Library is maddening. Perhaps I’ve been spoiled in the past, but queuing to print a paper for class isn’t something I’m accustomed to. I’m starting to get the perception of a sardine in a can, and I’m vegetarian so that’s basically antithetical of my diet.

If AU is concerned about competing with the big dogs, it’s going to have to do better than ‘wonk.’ While the new

School of International Service building is a notable step in the right direction, we’ve got to improve other infrastructure to expand with the size of incoming students (not a fat joke). Instead of spending money frivolously on a marketing ploy that seems to have backfired at best, funds should’ve been apportioned for more pragmatic means.

By placating the desires of current students, AU does great marketing for future alumni donations while concomitantly enticing student recruitment efforts.

Besides the faculty, reputation, and location (amongst other factors), campus aesthetics and state-of-the-art buildings allure people to AU. While we’re unquestionably successful in the former, we’re falling behind in the latter. If the “wonk” campaign represents the direction of the future, we’re heading into misguided terrain. To say anger over “wonk” is exaggerated or dramatized is probably true, although perhaps it’s symptomatic of deeper student issues.

Like southwest sauce.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Geography can be helpful (or hindering) in building up the brand of a university.

Certainly the city of Boston imbues a certain heritage of debate and American investigation upon the Harvard Crimson. As if to say, it’s cold here so the privileged (Emerson, Holmes, Thoreau) prefer to stay inside and pontificate.

Similarly, Georgetown University is very close to D.C.’s centers of power yet geographically distinct enough to masquerade as a place the powerful go to seek council. Less fortunately, George Washington University is like the eager adviser that stands too close to the action, both outliving their usefulness and reminding everyone that although they are similar to the movers and shakers, they ultimately will not be invited

SMARTER THAN I LOOK

CONOR SHAPIRO

During a 15-minute hiatus in Wednesday’s late afternoon class, I hustled to The Tavern to grab a cold one and was instantly dejected, stuck deciding between juice and Coke (which blended together makes joke, which was somewhat fitting). When I hustled back to class and took my seat I nudged the girl next to me, “Did you know the Tavern doesn’t sell beer?”

“I know, it’s ridiculous, huh?” she said.

“Ridiculous? It’s outrageous. Practically illegal!” I exclaimed.

Unbeknownst to me, the professor, positioned directly behind my desk, interjected and asked if I was trying to procure beer in between his lecture.

“Ha, me? No. No. (long awkward pause) No.” “Perhaps there’s a legitimate explanation for your dilemma then,” he said flatly.

(Is it too late to transfer classes?)

On a similar note, those quesadillas and southwest sauce must’ve been bomb.

Since it’s my first semester at AU, I can’t fully mourn their departure like many of you (see bulk of Eagle Rants), but if you could resuscitate the magnanimous Ted Kennedy or reinstate cheese quesadillas, which one would you choose? (Don’t answer that.)

What’s more appalling is the glaring omission of a different cherished item on the menu at Tavern. Like alcohol!

Criticizing sauce while overlooking alcohol is akin to disparaging BP because of their commercials. Take a cursory glance at Eagle Rants, and you’ll see a litany of complaints about the sacred sauce, but not one devoted to beer. Wake up, student body.

What the wonk is wrong with you? It’s called “Tavern” for crying out loud! According to dictionary.com, a tavern is: “A place where liquors are sold to be consumed on the premises.” Seems like a pretty clear definition to me. And now they have the audacity to steal your southwest sauce

Samuel Bernstein is a junior in the School of Public Affairs.

Conor Shapiro is a graduate student in the School of International Service and a liberal columnist. You can reach this columnist at edpage@theeagleonline.com.

12

STUDENT CONDUCT CODE

September 14, 2010

COMPLAINT BY TYPE

WHERE DO STUDENTS LIVE?

2009-2010

Off-campus ZIP codes

VIOLATION OF LEASE: 1

DRUG USE: 1 DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY: 2

20017

30

POORLY MAINTAINED RESIDENCE: 3

20015

167

PARKING: 3 NOISE: 16

20008

670

DISORDERLY CONDUCT: 4

20016

1715

ALCOHOL: 5

25

COMPLAINTS

9

COMPLAINANTS

25%

of students who live off campus live in the 20016 ZIP code.

8 UNIQUE ADDRESSES

By STEFANIE DAZIO Eagle Staff Writer The recent expansion of the Student Conduct Code’s jurisdiction off campus stems from the University’s attempt to improve neighbor relations, pass the Campus Plan and prevent persistent off-campus misbehavior, according to AU officials.

As of June 15, AU can discipline students for off-campus misconduct that does not necessarily violate local, state or federal laws.

AU revised its conduct code to give the University the power to take disciplinary action, “when, in the judgment of University officials, a student’s alleged misconduct has a negative effect

on the university’s pursuit of its mission or on the well being of the greater community.”

Gail Hanson, vice president of Campus Life, said the code’s language is purposely broad to give administrators “discretion” to deal with misconduct.

However, she said the additional jurisdiction does not mean the University is looking to police student behavior off campus.

“We aren’t trying to instill fear in students,” said Rosie McSweeney, the director of Student Conflict and Conduct Resolution Services.

“We are trying to help them understand that we are a community and we do have expectations that our community members be respon-

sible citizens.”

The code is usually tweaked every year, Hanson said, but University staff worked on more changes to the code last year to give the University more jurisdiction to impose sanctions on students for off-campus misconduct.

Previously, AU could only sanction off-campus students if they were given a police citation, according to Rob Hradsky, the dean of students.

Administrators’ inability to sanction alleged off-campus offenders without such legal documentation often left AU officials at a loss for how to deal with frequent and egregious misconduct that did not necessarily violate any laws — like neighbors’ noise complaints.

“Because there was nothing that was available as a sanction, all we had really was moral persuasion,” Hanson said. “That had a terrible adverse effect on University neighbor relations.”

Campus Plan AU is doing more to improve community relations because of the planned presentation of the Campus Plan to the Zoning Commission later this fall.

The Campus Plan is a 10year plan detailing facilities changes AU wants to make, including the proposed addition of “East Campus” on what is currently the Nebraska parking lot. Administrators consider the adoption of the Campus Plan to be part of “the University’s

pursuit of its mission.”

Hanson said student misconduct has had an effect on neighbor relations, which can affect the Advisory Neighborhood Commissions’ endorsements of the Campus Plan.

“It’s our judgment that it begins to adversely affect us when we go to Advisory Neighborhood Commission meetings and the neighbors are describing our student conduct to us and saying that as a result of what they’ve experienced, they won’t support the University in doing this or that,” she said.

The Campus Plan must be approved by the District’s Zoning Commission, which gives “great weight” to Advisory Neighborhood Commission recommendations

and reports, according to Zoning Commission regulations.

AU’s campus falls within both ANC 3E and ANC 3D. AU’s Chief of Staff David Taylor said at the last Campus Plan presentation to the Zoning Commission 10 years ago, conditions for approval were imposed by the Commission as a result of ANC recommendations, including a mandate for AU to house two-thirds of its undergraduate students on campus.

However, local ANC commissioners say that although they have power on paper, it is not always true in practice.

“The ANCs like to believe that they carry significant weight with the Zoning

September 14, 2010

Cover Story 13

theEAGLE

COMPLAINT MANAGEMENT Off-campus student incident Neighbor calls AU AU Dean of Students Office identifies students AU Students

Student Athletes

Greek Organization

Dean of Students Office meets with students

Assistant Athletic Director contacts coach

Call to landlord or property manager, as appropriate

Coach meets with individuals and/or team

Possible Sanctions

Possible Sanctions

Possible Sanctions

Filing of conduct charges for repeated or egregious behaviors

In addition to sanctions for AU students:

In addition to sanctions for AU students:

Restitution

Suspension and/or dismissal from team

Subject to police involvement

Loss of scholarship

Eviction/termination of lease

Loss of privileges

Individual loss of privileges Risk management education Loss of membership Organizational probation Charter revoked

Follow-up with neighbor

Follow-up with neighbor

Follow-up with neighbor

Coordinator of Greek Life contacts: Students Chapter leadership Chapter adviser National organization

2009-10

8

2008-09

7

2007-08

8

NEIGHBORHOOD COMPLAINT DATA

2006-07

10

NUMBERS OF PROBLEM ADDRESSES

2005-06

10

2004-05

6

2003-04

6

2002-03

9

Source: American University Commission,” said ANC 3E Commissioner Matthew Frumin. “It’s not always the case.”

Frumin added that he does not think the changes to the code will make the difference in ANC opinion of the Campus Plan, but said it is one of the ways AU is trying to show that it is sensitive to the needs of the broader community.

ANC 3D Commissioner Tom Smith, however, said the University would like students to think that the community hates them, but that it is not true.

“The frustration hasn’t been with the students,” he said. “It’s been with the University and their inconsistent statements.”

Smith added that the issues

raised have not been about student conduct but concern about the University’s imminent expansion.

He said that for AU to claim the code was changed in order to shore up ANC support for the Campus Plan is “really disingenuous.”

Neighbor relations Smith also said that community members were surprised that the University did not have the authority to deal with off-campus behavior earlier.

Frumin said he did not even know the code was changed until he recently found the new version on AU’s website.

Hanson, however, said the neighbors had been notified of the changes through vari-

ous meetings over the summer.

When told that the ANC commissioners had not been aware of the changes, Hanson said that claim was “disingenuous.”

Taylor has been present at numerous Campus Plan meetings and said he thought the neighbors had been notified of the Conduct Code changes, but will follow up to check.

Frumin said last year there were complaints about student conduct off campus, but AU’s hands were tied under the old code.

Frumin added that he thought that misbehavior like noise complaints would not be tolerated on campus.

Because it occurred offcampus, however, there was less

the University could do.

Prior to these changes, the University was unable to “hold students accountable” for their off-campus actions that did not violate the law.

Bad behavior was starting to add up, according to Hradsky.

If similar behavior happened on campus, however, sanctions could be taken under the old code.

Last year, of the 27 total neighbor complaints, 15 were filed by the same residence, Hradsky said. The house at the source of the alleged misconduct has since been sold and the new owner will probably not rent it to students, Hradsky said.

The house had previously been rented by members of Epsilon Iota, the remnants

of a fraternity barred from AU due to misconduct. According to neighbor complaints, there were continuous instances of loud parties, public urination and trash.

Members of EI have refuted these claims.

Administrators tried to work with the students living in this house last year to improve their behavior to no avail, Hanson said.

The Metropolitan Police Department was unable to give citations because laws prevented them from entering the house unless there was clear evidence of dangerous activity going on, The Eagle previously reported.

But now, should similar behavior occur again, the University is able to take sanctions against students

who misbehave on and off campus — rather than just against students on campus.

“I think that’s a great example of where our former process didn’t work — that the restrictions that were placed on us by the former conduct code resulted in a situation that really tied our hands in terms of holding those students accountable,” Hradsky said. “Now that we’ve made these changes, I feel pretty confident that that won’t happen again in the future.”

Staff writer Allie Mooney contributed to this report. sdazio@theeagleonline.com

September 14, 2010

14

THE SCENE

MICHAEL W. RICHARDSON / THE EAGLE

ON A SENSUAL NOTE — AU’s all-male a cappella group, On A Sensual Note, was one of three vocals-only groups to take the stage in front of a packed audience at Kay Spiritual Center last Friday, Sept. 3. All-female group Treble in Paradise and co-ed singers Dime-A-Dozen also shared the stage, putting a unique spin on current pop hits and old standards.

AU a cappella groups prove old favorites still new draw for college students

By MICHAEL W. RICHARDSON Eagle Staff Writer Here’s an uncontroversial statement: A cappella is popular. Very popular. On university campuses all over the country it continues to be a draw long after the collegiate tradition began. And if you went to the A Cappella 2010 Preview concert last Friday, Sept. 3, it’s easy to see why.

All three of American University’s a cappella groups, On a Sensual Note, Treble in Paradise and Dime-A-Dozen performed a handful of songs for an eager audience, showcasing the year to come but also appealing to possi-

ble new members. Lean and full of energy, the show was light on banter and heavy on the music itself, packing more than 10 precise and honed songs into a finely tuned 45-minute show.

The performance showcased what each group does best. On a Sensual Note played up the showmanship, dancing and goading audience members into clapping along. Clearly playing to be the crowd favorite, they mixed and matched old doo-wop hits with a Lady Gaga medley for a unique tone. Dime-A-Dozen used their co-ed group to great effect, playing with complex harmonies on songs like “Change” and “Viva la Vida.”

And Treble in Paradise showed off some of the best solo singing of the night, with each lead providing a powerful voice.

of the show, the individuals went all out to connect with the crowd in other ways.

Sometimes the show could feel like a conversation, the

“Sometimes the show could feel like a conversation...”

A cappella’s focus is always on the voices, but one could see the effort the groups had put into their showmanship. Though actual crowd interaction was limited due to the short running time

effort of the performers enhanced by the enthusiasm of the crowd.

The audience was packed into the Kay Spiritual Center to see the show. Each pew seat was filled, and other

people ringed around the outside of the main room. In the reception room, people craned over one another to see in through the door or windows. Each group clearly had its section of fans; hardly three minutes could go by without someone shouting a name at the stage, and the performers reveled in it. It’s easy to see the appeal; it feels like less a performance and more of a back and forth where all parties are there to have a good time.

Of course, fun wasn’t the only reason for the show. All three groups are recruiting for the new year to replace graduates. The show was a way to put themselves out there, convincing the crowd

that it really is as much fun as it seems. The groups took advantage, directly recruiting people for tryouts for the coming week while their interest was piqued.

The process from there gets more difficult. Each group has dozens of people to audition for only a few spots apiece. The competition surely means that the groups will remain at the top of their game, but it may be intimidating for those would-be singers who are looking for a low-key outlet.

Still, the skill is there, and the groups have no problem attracting talent. mrichardson@ theeagleonline.com

September 14, 2010

Scene 15

theEAGLE

Busboys and Poets sponsors community efforts, remains popular District favorite The well-known D.C. restaurant, bookstore, stage and fair trade market uses its name to promote slam poetry teams and support green initiatives across the city

By LIDDY HERNANDEZ Eagle Contributing Writer Held in great esteem as one of the Washington Metropolitan area’s communityfriendly locations, Busboys and Poets usually gains the approval of all those that have the privilege of visiting.

Tucked away in one of D.C.’s art deco districts on 14 and V Streets, this restaurant, bookstore, stage and fair trade market is the perfect location for good food, outstanding talent and inspiring discussions. Their mission statement — which can be found on the back of their menus — credits the restaurant for “creating an environment where shared conversations over food and drink allow the progressive, artistic, and literary communities to dialogue, educate and interact.”

The restaurant was first opened in 2005 by owner Anas “Andy” Shallal, an

Iraqi-American artist and activist, according to Busboys and Poets website.

However, its praise and acceptance soon allowed for other locations in two distinctive neighborhoods in the Washington area on 5th and K Streets and in Arlington, Va. Known throughout the city and seen on numerous tourist “top things to do while in D.C.” lists, the name Busboys and Poets echoes in the ears of all those that visit the capital. When Shallal initially opened his establishment, however, his ideas for names ranged from Writer’s Block Café to the White Rabbit Café. But it was the current title that won the heart of the restaurateur, who was inspired by the American poet Langston Hughes, who worked during his youth in the 1930s as a busboy at the Wardman Park hotel.

Through the years, Busboys and Poets has worked endlessly to improve the com-

munity and lend a helpful, friendly hand to all those in need. The establishment sponsored trips to West Africa to celebrate the inauguration of the first AfricanAmerican president of the United States, hosted writers such as Alice Walker, publishes its own press with the work of known and unrecognized poets and sponsored the D.C. Slam Poetry Team.

Additionally, owner Andy Shallal has set up monthly open mic events, among numerous other events, where community talent can display their abilities.

While Busboys and Poets has established its commitment to the arts and education, it most definitely has not abandoned its ability to create mouth-watering dishes at an affordable price.

From pizzas and sandwiches to appetizers, entrées and desserts, Busboys and Poets has an array of options. In recent years, the restaurant has demonstrated its partic-

ipation in the green initiative by joining the Grayson Farm efforts by using freerange, all natural, hormonefree beef and by remodeling their locations so as to use 100 percent wind energy, according to their website.

It is no surprise that upon visiting Busboys and Poets, you immediately find yourself enchanted by its homey feeling. This small city gem has grown into a community-loved and supported effort. Whether you are on the search for some new talent or you want to visit a hip restaurant that offers both comfort food and fine cuisine, just ride the Metro down to U Street.

Once you are there, walk down the decorated streets, move to the beat of the different songs oozing through the cracks of the sidewalk, and stop at Busboys and Poets.

Advertise in

theEAGLE business@theeagleonline.com

thescene@theeagleonline. com

Put your business in

theEAGLE business@theeagleonline.com

September 14, 2010

Scene 16

theEAGLE

ABC brings new family of superheroes to the suburbs SMALL SCREEN

EMILY GUILFOIL

ANA SANTOS / THE EAGLE

C’EST LA VIE — Paris offers a unique view into not only French life, but also the thrills of abroad life.

Student feels more American than ever in the City of Lights CROSS-CULTURAL DISPATCH

PARIS, FRANCE

By YANIV NAHON “If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.”

-Ernest Hemingway If anyone reading this is even remotely considering going to Paris at any point in your lives, do it. Do it for as long as possible, and spend much of that trip simply walking the streets. I think the measure of a beautiful city is not what you can do inside of its buildings, but how you feel simply standing outside and looking at them. In that sense, the only word I can use to describe Paris is awe. The juxtaposition of a city this old and a city this alive still has not ceased to amaze me, and I hope it never will. Just walking through the streets and looking up is enough to make me thankful I missed Welcome Week.

Almost.

Though, to be frank, a city is nothing without the people

you visit it with. On that note, I have to thank AU — for once — for providing me with a great group of wingmen/women to aid me in my quest to make French women understand that I am trying to flirt with them. The quest is not going well — apparently I sound like Pepé Le Pew meets Rain Man. It seems fairly likely that this group will keep me sane throughout my stay in Paris, if only because they tend to commit the same faux pas I do. For example, in France, do not order 50 cl of wine. That is a pint, or half a liter. Whatever system of measurement you use, the fact of the matter is that they will bring you a small bottle, and you will look like an alcoholic. Now, if your friends Megan, Kelly and Wyatt each order one, not to worry. Just spread them out amongst the table of seven, and then watch every single other table in the cafe simultaneously think, “American.”

Also, do not approach your nights out the same way you would in the States. There is no French word for “Thirsty Thursday” or “pregame.” Trust me, I checked. That is, unless you go to an English bar — which, of course, I did. It was glorious. After days of healthy food and red wine, discovering a place with 50-cent wing Mondays and 5-euro pints was like manna from heaven.

I don’t think my arteries have

stopped crying yet. And there was so much hope ...

Now, in its infinite wisdom, AU has decided that when you send students to Paris, you should not house them in dorms. Instead, give them homestays, throwing them into French people’s apartments. This concerns me, especially because I consider myself too self-destructive for my own apartment. As of right now, I am living with a retired older woman whose children have grown up and moved out. I will let you, my loving and devoted readership, know as soon as I am evicted.

My apartment is also a fiveminute walk from the Eiffel Tower. This morning I woke up to the sound of church bells. If this city becomes any more stereotypically gorgeous, I am actually going to start getting angry.

So, in summation, if you want a quick mental image of Paris, think LA Quad. Double the cigarette smoke, subtract the transports, and make Centennial and Anderson about 300 years older and slept in by one of the Napoleons. How does that not sound like the greatest city of all time? Now I need to go back to sleep. I think I have a cold. Either that, or my mother was right, and I really am allergic to culture. thescene@theeagleonline. com

Every fall television season, there are a few new shows that look like the next big hit. Last year, ABC had “Modern Family,” one of the best new shows of the past few years. It somehow managed to make the stale, overused family sitcom format funny and, even more surprisingly, original. “FlashForward” also premiered on ABC last fall, which many people expected to be a huge hit and a worthy successor to “Lost.” Flash forward one year and it rests in a graveyard of canceled TV shows doomed to be forgotten.

This year, one of the most anticipated new shows is ABC’s “No Ordinary Family.” The basic premise is that an ordinary family (see what they did there?) goes on a trip to South America.

Things get interesting when their plane crashes into the Amazon River and each member of the family gains superpowers. It combines the family-centered premise of “Modern Family” and the science fiction twist in the vein of “FlashForward”.

Based on early previews, it seems to resemble a live-action version of “The Incredibles,” which, most people should agree, sounds awesome. It has the potential to reach a large audience.

Everyone from kids and parents to sci-fi nerds have a reason to watch this show.

Many critics are comparing it to “Heroes,” which was extremely good television until it went completely off the rails in season two.

“No Ordinary Family” also uses the “characters speaking to the camera” format of “Modern Family” and “The Office,” which could either help or hurt the series. It will most likely take a few episodes to decide if the conceit works in a show with such science fiction

context. Talking head interviews with characters were considered cutting edge a few years ago, but it just seems kind of stale and expected at this point.

Despite that potential setback, “No Ordinary Family” does have a great cast.

The leading man and patriarch of the Powell family is played by Michael Chiklis.

He is probably best known for is role in the (not spectacular) “Fantastic 4” films.

He has carved out quite an interesting niche of typecasting — apparently he is fantastic (see what I did there?) at playing regular people who gain superpowers after a freak accident.

Chiklis was also the lead in “The Shield” on FX, one of the better dramas of the last few years. Chiklis cer-

can now read minds after their accident. This plotline fits well with her age and could lead to some great character development.

High school kids can be vicious and hearing their thoughts sounds downright horrible. Panabaker is most well known for her hugely successful and critically acclaimed Disney Channel original movie and future classic, “Read It And Weep.”

Well… “hugely successful” might be a bit of an exaggeration, but her sister was in the superhero kids movie “Sky High!” (That must give her some kind of superhero cred, to someone, somewhere … maybe.)

The final member of the Powell family is the younger brother, JJ. He was always a poor student until the fami-

Everyone from kids and parents to sci-fi nerds have a reason to watch this show. tainly has the charisma to carry a show, but it will be interesting to see him play a softer character since his well-known roles have been much tougher than a suburban father of two.

Julie Benz plays Stephanie Powell, the mother of the family, whose power is super speed. Most of the audience will recognize Benz from the TV show “Dexter,” where she played the eponymous character’s love interest. A small, but very vocal, portion of the viewers will know her for her portrayal of Darla on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel.”

Between those two roles, she has really proved her acting abilities and has the potential to be an engaging female lead.

The Powell family has an older daughter, Daphne (played by Kay Panabaker), who is in high school and

ly’s accident in the Amazon.

His super power is less clear, but it seems like he has some kind of heightened intelligence. Jimmy Bennett plays JJ and the science fiction fans in the audience might recognize him as the young James T. Kirk from the most recent “Star Trek” movie. Other than that role, he is a fairly unknown child actor. It will be interesting to see how well he does on a major network show.

The real question will be if “No Ordinary Family” flounders like “FlashForward” or becomes a hit like “Modern Family.” Either way, the show appears to be an intriguing entry on the fall schedule. It is definitely worth tuning to ABC to watch at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 28. thescene@theeagleonline. com

September 15, 2010

Scene 17

theEAGLE

Courtesy of JUDY BUTTON (1) and PETER KRAMER (2) / NBC

WELCOME TO D.C. — When thinking about the District, most people picture Hill interns with clip-on ties rushing handfuls of paperwork from corner office to corner office. But the city has produced its fair share of stars across all forms of media, from Oscar winner Sandra Bullock to musical icons Ian MacKaye and Marvin Gaye. Their bodies of work are proof that more than just bills come out of Washington.

D.C. home to more than just politicans

By YOHANA DESTA Eagle Staff Writer

for now, fans everywhere wait with bated breath for the funnyman’s next move.

In the entertainment world, there are many celebrities who became famous because of where they’re from — “Jersey Shore,” anyone?

In other cases, there are celebrities who jump start their career based on where they’re from (“In West Philadelphia / born and raised,” as Will Smith would say.)

But as AU students, we only care about those that happen to represent D.C. Here are a few legends, celebrities and up-and-comers who are the pride of the nation’s capital.

Goldie Hawn The actress, singer and dancer is well known for her comedic films and golden tresses, but it’s a little-known fact that she was born and raised in D.C. However, it’s a well-known fact by AU students that Hawn attended our illustrious school before dropping out to pursue her career — and what an illustrious career it has been.

Hawn has won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and countless Emmy, Oscar and BAFTA nominations.

Dave Chappelle Of all the comedians of the new millennium, arguably none are more famous than Dave Chappelle. From his hilarious sketch-comedy show “Chappelle’s Show” to his famed HBO comedy special “Killin’ Them Softly” — filmed in D.C. — Chappelle represents the District in the best way possible.

While his career is on hiatus

Wale One of the most promising up and coming rappers of today — if you can still consider him up-and-coming — Wale is a D.C. native who mixes district style gogo music with modern day hip-hop. He continues to expand his sound, working with all different kinds of artists ranging from people like Mark Ronson, Amy

Winehouse and Lady Gaga to Gucci Mane and K’Naan.

Wale is a D.C. local on the fast track to worldwide success.

Sandra Bullock Right across the Potomac River is Arlington, Va., hometown of Oscar-winning actress Sandra Bullock.

mas like “The Blindside,” for which she won a Best Actress Oscar.

Marvin Gaye Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Gaye is an R&B legend, to put it mildly. After hundreds of hit singles (many of which he produced), 19 albums and

Here are a few legends, celebrities and up-andcomers who are the pride of the nation’s capital.

Although it’s not technically in D.C., it’s a safe bet that Bullock knows the nation’s capital like the back of her hand. Bullock is a chameleon, going from light, comedic films such as “Ms. Congeniality” and “The Proposal” to emotional dra-

a posthumous induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Gaye is an inimitable force in the R&B world. To this day, Gaye’s estate makes millions of dollars annually, and generations to come will still be able to instantly recognize the opening notes

to “Let’s Get It On.” Today, there are three films currently in the works to focus on Marvin Gaye’s life, with rumors of Common, Usher and Will Smith fighting for the lead role.

Taraji P. Henson After acting just short of a decade, Henson received critical acclaim when she was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress for 2009’s “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” Born and raised in Southeast D.C., Henson is a true District native, even attending and graduating from Howard University. Since kicking off her acting career, Henson has been in such notable films as “Four Brothers” and “Hustle and Flow,” for which she was nominated for a slew of awards, including a nod from the Screen Actors Guild. Henson’s next big project is “Larry Crowne,” a film directed by and starring Tom Hanks.

Ian MacKaye A punk rock legend in

his own right, MacKaye is most famous for founding the hardcore bands Minor Threat and Fugazi, as well as being a pioneer for the straight-edge movement. MacKaye grew up in Glover Park, the son of a Washington Post reporter and was close friends with another hardcore punk artist, Henry Rollins. Today, MacKaye is considered an influential artist for future hardcore punk artists. In 1980, MacKaye co-founded Dischord Records, an independent record label here in D.C. that has since seen a lot of success, releasing hundreds of albums.

Lissy Trullie Though the name might not ring a bell, Trullie is the next big thing in pop-rock.

Having already worked and toured with hipster fixtures like The Virgins and Anya Marina, Trullie is already quite an ingénue in the indie world. n

see FAMOUS on page 20

September 14, 2010

theEAGLE

Courtesy of NATHANIEL SHANNON

ESCAPE PLAN — The Dillinger Escape Plan is one of the most notable mathcore bands, combining an eclectic style that includes post-hardcore and experimental rock. The subgenre has its origins in the District and Virginia where its popularity still grows.

Math rock adds up to confusion

By STEPHAN CHO Eagle Staff Writer The math rock subgenre can be seen as the wilder identical twin of post-rock.

Whereas the latter uses a variety of instruments to conjure soothing melodies and wispy, neo-classical ballads, math rock uses the same method to create chaos with its irregular rhythm and highly unusual sound, like entropy through musical expression. Both subgenres stem from the underground rock scene of the 1980s when bands strived to make their individual sound more unique and fine-tuned. And although they both thrived on their experimental nature and made their indelible mark in coming decades with a wide range of influential bands, math rock arguably had more of an impact on the culture of rock music as a whole.

When you consider its history, math rock was a necessary step forward for rock music in the early ‘80s.

Progressive and psychedelic

acts generated considerable buzz in the mainstream circuit with the success of bands like Pink Floyd and Jethro Tull. Math rock rode the wave of these popular artists, employing their sounds while combining with it a fast-paced energy and an ever-changing shift in tempo. The vocalist was usually downplayed or foregone entirely and the drummer was given more musical emphasis for being able to lead the highly intricate pacing. Critics couldn’t agree on a coinage for what they were hearing and thought of the sound as very “mathematical.” In an interview with Pitchfork, Matt Sweeney, lead singer for math rock band Chavez, joked that the term “math rock” originally had a derogatory connotation. He said that his friend wouldn’t react to any of their songs and would instead “take out his calculator to figure out how good the song was.”

It is undeniable that math rock is something a lot of listeners simply won’t un-

derstand, but younger generations may already be familiar with its derivatives.

The brevity of the songs contributed to the creation of subgenres within heavy metal and hardcore music such as grindcore and screamo.

The brutality of the songs matched perfectly with the post-hardcore subgenre, as seen in the extremely popular “mathcore” band, The Dillinger Escape Plan. As generations unfolded, the math rock sound branched off and became more aggressive and frantic in order to appeal to the wider market of heavy metal.

If math rock ever had a community, most fans would be quick to tell you that it can be found within the Midwest, but there are a number of bands that pioneered the same style in D.C. and Virginia. If you’re enterprising enough to dabble in off-beat, “experimental” music, give these bands a try.

Breadwinner Finding a typical math rock

sound is as easy as listening to the now defunct Richmond, Va. band Breadwinner. When it comes to their 1994 album, “The Burner,” their influence is uncontested in the mere 20 minutes of playtime. Whereas most people find songs like “Tourette’s” and “Mac’s Oranges” too avant-garde and artsy for their taste, others may find it to be highly addictive. There are no vocals — just a crazy, flavorful instrumentation. Their songs match disorder with precision, and you’re almost able to visualize the whole band letting loose with each new track.

Honor Role Standing on the periphery of hardcore punk and math rock, this fellow Richmond trio also helped to stylize the trademark of the irregular tempo. For fans of the band both in and out of the Richmond area, their self-titled 1997 album is a well-kept secret. And with n see MATH on page 21

Scene 18

eagleRANTS are online. rants.theeagleonline.com

September 14, 2010

Scene 19

theEAGLE

‘Machete’ cuts out weekend competition with B-movie thrills, bloody vengeance

Old Town offers quaint getaway full of delicious desserts and dining

By GEOFFREY BEEBE

By KELLY HOLLIDAY

Eagle Contributing Writer Grade: B If you want to enjoy a deep, compelling movie that explores the depths of the human soul, then you should not go see “Machete.”

This is the B-movie of Bmovies, with a plethora of high-profile Hollywood actors excelling at making a movie that does not take itself seriously in any capacity. Robert DeNiro, Lindsay Lohan, Jeff Fahey (Captain Lapidus from “Lost”), Michelle Rodriguez, Steven Seagal and Jessica Alba are among the well-known actors and actresses who appear throughout the film.

Danny Trejo plays the title character, Machete, reprising the role introduced in the fake “Machete” trailer in the Quentin Tarantino movie “Grindhouse” back in 2007. (If you did not see the trailer, Trejo played a “rated M for Manly (and Machete),” who is described as “FBI, CIA., DEA; all rolled into one.”) In the new film, Machete is portrayed as a badass Federale with a strict moral code who is betrayed while trying to rescue a kidnapping victim from the super-mega-evil drug lord, Torrez (Seagal). Machete’s wife is murdered while he is wounded and left for dead.

The film then introduces Sheriff Von (“Miami Vice”), an anti-immigrant zealot that you will love to hate.

After shooting a pregnant woman, he justifies it with, “…otherwise Texas will become Mexico again.”

This also introduces Sen. McLaughlin (DeNiro), who rode along with the vigilantes in order to make himself look good. It is the first of many allusions to the reallife immigration debate — thoroughly mocked from beginning to end in the film.

Machete emerges later in the film as a day laborer in Texas. He is approached by spin doctor/local businessman Michael Benz (Fahey) who offers Machete $150,000 to kill Sen. McLaughlin.

Much in the same way

the fake “Machete” trailer played, Machete finds out he is double-crossed and that Benz is a false flag working with ulterior motives.

Lúz (Rodriguez), a revolutionary hiding as a taco vendor butts heads with Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agent Sartana (Jessica Alba) — the obligatory “good guy” cop.

Throughout “Machete,” Sartana expresses frustration with her current “low-man on the totem pole” position while displaying the subtle girl-next-door charm that Alba is known for. Sartana’s charm is the only thing that is subtle in the entire movie — everything else bluntly hits the audience over the head. These characters, like virtually all of the supporting cast, jump in and out of the film like the proper plot devices they are.

Sartana sees Machete among a group of day laborers and decides that he is worth investigating, and it is not long before she discovers the ex-cop’s past. The two spend a lot of time together trying to get to the bottom of Benz’ rabbit hole, and it’s soon very clear that every villain in “Machete” is connected in one way or another. Even Lohan does her job well, playing a diversion as April Benz, an Internet celebrity with a penchant for methamphetamines and lewd behavior.

“Machete” is filled with clichés: porno music at random intervals, Catholic priests (Cheech Marin) with guns, lines like “God has mercy — I don’t,” twin nurses in tight outfits (a shout out to “Grindhouse”), anti-heroes with one eye and amusing fourth-wall breaking. These very clichés are what make “Machete” a worthwhile film. Every scene is overglorified, gratuitous and cheesy, which is generally what people expected from this macho epic.

“Machete” is exceptionally gratuitous — it is bursting with smutty, gruesome, violent, cartoonish bloodshed n

see MACHETE on page 21

Eagle Staff Writer It’s hard to imagine that a town that offers great food, unique boutiques and an incredible waterfront is just several (OK, 15) Metro stops from AU, but Alexandria’s historic Old Town is just the place. Merely minutes away from the King Street blue line Metro stop, there is a bevy of quaint cafés and bakeries to satisfy the hungriest foodie and enough boutiques to fill the shopaholic’s fashion quota of the month. If you have a free Saturday before finals, be sure to check out these can’t-miss destinations in Old Town Alexandria: The Sugar Cube 210 North Lee St. This northern Virginia confectionary boasts some of the best sweets around town. Located several blocks from King Street, The Sugar Cube offers customers a wide variety of artisan truffles, classic buttercream and caramel chocolates, candycoated chocolate morsels in

every color imaginable and even a selection of nostalgic candies like pop rocks and candy cigarettes.

Faccia Luna Trattoria 823 S. Washington St. If you can’t afford a vacation to Italy, Faccia Luna Trattoria in Old Town may be the next best thing. Started in 1996 by two fraternity brothers at Penn State University, Faccia Luna offers customers a wide selection of wood-fired pizzas, pastas and salads that rival a true Italian trattoria. Don’t miss one of the 14 different options of pizza: from the Carclofl with artichoke hearts and roasted red peppers to the classic Margherita with tomato, basil and mozzarella, there’s something for everyone at Faccia Luna’s.

La Cuisine 323 Cameron St. Despite its small size, the La Cuisine shop has been Alexandria’s go-to resource for cookware for over 35 years. Any amateur or professional cook will find some culinary treasure in this tiny

store, with an amazing collection of copper cookware, cookbooks, unique pastas, French linens, and a wall full of sprinkles and cake toppings for the baker.

Alexandria Cupcake 1022 King St. Though it only opened in January 2010, Alexandria Cupcake in Old Town has already found its place in D.C.’s cupcake heart of hearts. Priding itself on using only the freshest ingredients like European sweet cream butter and organic eggs, Alexandria Cupcake offers daily flavors such as dark chocolate, vanilla bean and red velvet, and occasional special flavors like rosewater and mint chocolate.

Be prepared to pay Georgetown Cupcake prices, though — the going rate for a great cupcake in the D.C. metro area is still $3.

Bittersweet 823 King St. After feeding the greater Alexandria area for over 27 years, Bittersweet has become the go-to sandwich,

coffee and baked good café in Old Town. Offering a full bakery, café, hot buffet bar and now a catering service, Bittersweet specializes in toasted paninis, hearty sandwiches and an array of sweet treats. Don’t miss unique offerings like the heart-shaped sweet potato biscuits, Cranlemonade and “The Giant Cupcake” for a whopping $25.

Art Craft 132 King St. Looking to spruce up a new apartment or drab dorm room? Then head to Art Craft, perhaps the coolest source of home furnishings and handcrafted gifts in the D.C. metro area. Sampling work from over 500 artists from around the country, Art Craft offers unique ceramics and glasswork, jewelry, wall art, hand-painted furniture, and even green and recycled artwork. Prices can be stiff, but most pieces are one-of-a-kind and well worth the purchase — if you have the money. n

see OLD TOWN on page 20

September 14, 2010 n

from FAMOUS on page 17

Her appeal has also crossed over to the fashion realm — she’s the new face of Chloë Sevigny’s fashion line, as well as Max Azria’s. (This is probably due to her personal style resembling a modern cross between a punky Jean Seberg and La Roux). Trullie has released an EP titled “Self-Taught Learner,” and is already working on her anticipated debut album.

Honorable Mentions Ben Stein doesn’t exactly seem like your average actor, but rather your misplaced college professor.

Well, that’s exactly what he is. After graduating with honors from Columbia University and Yale Law School, Stein went on to become an adjunct professor of political and social mass culture at AU — yes, that’s right, American University. And even though his political career far outweighs his acting one, he’ll still always be remembered as the monotone professor from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off ” and a member of the D.C. community. ydesta@theeagleonline.com

from OLD TOWN on page 19

n

Bumblefish 631 King St. Dieters needn’t be wary: Bumblefish offers a different wkind of fast food.

It succeeds in its mission to provide the public with healthier and tastier neoAsian sushi on the go by abstaining from grills, deep fryers and heat lamps.

Each of the 50 menu options is prepared daily using only fresh ingredients and is low-calorie, low-carb or low-cholesterol. Color-coded and divided into three parts, the Bumblefish menu offers something for everyone: “Veggie,” for the obvious vegetable lover, “cooked,” for the “sushi virgin,” and “raw” for expert sushi eaters. kholliday@theeagleonline. com

Scene 20

theEAGLE

D.C. ticket vendors provide best tools to find local shows

By MAGGIE HOLLANDER Eagle Staff Writer Here in D.C., finding out when and where concerts are taking place can be harder than one would hope. Especially for those who are newer to the city (freshman, transfer students, recent coma patients), the District’s somewhat limited music scene can take time to figure out.

But never fear — The Scene is here to help guide you through this difficult time.

With a little Internet savvy and determination, you too can be spending your nights in a mosh pit instead of studying. What is procrastination if not an opportunity in disguise? Though in the past we’ve provided you with the best venues to check out, these are all the important ways to actually get the tickets you need — no more huddling outside of will call, hoping there are a couple left.

Let’s start with the obvious: Live Nation and Ticketmaster. The two ticket-selling giants merged last year despite shady business involving monopoly laws and other legalese. While they claimed to be lowering prices by joining forces rather than competing, the fees are as high as ever. Still, they may be your best bet for buying tickets to big shows and finding out where and when your favorite artists are coming to town.

Set your pages on both to the D.C. area, and get on the websites’ mailing lists. Most of the time it’ll just be junk, but every once in a while you can spot a gem you can tackle before the show sells out. Big venues, such as the Verizon Center in Gallery Place, rely on this corporate monster to sell tickets for their events.

The tricky piece about relying on the Live Nation/Ticketmaster connection is that many venues in D.C. do not run through the pair. One of the hottest concert joints in town, the 9:30 club, has

its own website for posting concert dates and uses a site called TicketFly to sell their spots. TicketFly hosts several of the venues in town including the more intimate Sixth & I Synagogue, as well as the larger outdoor Merriweather Post Pavilion. Not only can TicketFly cost significantly less than other websites, but it can also occasionally post concert dates before they’re even announced, making it a great source for discovering D.C. shows.

Other smaller venues such as Black Cat, Rock ‘n’ Roll Hotel and DC9 run through yet another website called TicketAlternative, another easy alternative to Live Nation/Ticketmaster for smallvenue shows. The benefits are obvious — because these are smaller shows, they often charge lower fees.

Sure, it can be fun to go off campus for music, but what if you could have a concert right in your backyard? Yes, AU’s Student Union Board (otherwise known as SUB) hosts more than just B.o.B. every year. Several shows are held in the Tavern every semester, and there is usually one big Bender Arena show each year. To find out about these shows, it’s best not to rely on spotting a poster the week of the show. Instead, check out their Facebook group to find out first.

Volunteer opportunities for every show run on a first-come first-serve basis, so it’s worth it to hop on them early: they give you behind the scenes and early access to the show, and even get you in free to not-free concerts — in exchange for a little hard labor, of course.

Finally, your best bet is to keep your ear to the ground and watch your favorite artists like hawks. Not only should band websites have all their touring info, but following band members on Twitter gets you ticket information right when the artist knows it’s confirmed. You may end up sorting through n

see TICKETS on page 21

“A SUPERB, POIGNANT FILM ABOUT EVERLASTING LOVE.” “CEREBRAL, BEAUTIFUL AND CAREFULLY CRAFTED.”

“THAT RARE THING: A PERFECT NOVEL-TO-MOVIE ADAPTATION.”

Be one of the first 25 people to download two (admit one) passes to an advance screening of

Screening will be held on Monday, September 20 at a DC-area theater.

To download passes go to www.Gofobo.com/rsvp and type in the code, AUEGLK9Z4.

Two passes per person. Each pass admits one. While supplies last.

No purchase necessary.

This film is rated R.

5

IN SELECT THEATERS SEPTEMBER 24

Find n WIN a ad!

P Apple i

friends!!

and form a TEAM to stay

Cost cont ume est!

Up ‘til Dawn!

Friday, October 8th WIN GREAT PRIZES! SAVE YOUNG LIVES! FIGHT CHILDHOOD CANCER! SUPPORT ST. JUDE! UpTilDawn.au@gmail.com

September 14, 2010 scene CALENDAR TUESDAY 14

Scene 21

theEAGLE

WEDNESDAY 15

THURSDAY 16

Chuck Brown revives go-go

By JILL WHEELER

Screaming Females 9 p.m.

WHERE: Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW METRO: U Street/AfricanAmerican War Memorial/ Cardozo (green and yellow lines) WHAT: New Jersey natives Screaming Females are a great power-trio, playing the kind of guitar rock that keeps bringing kids back to the heyday of the ‘60s and ‘70s with a veneer of punk enthusiasm.

COST: $17 For more information, visit the Black Cat’s website at www.blackcatdc.com.

Our Asymmetrical, Imperfect, and Gloriously Messy Universe 6:45 p.m.

WHERE: S. Dillon Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Dr. SW METRO: Smithsonian (blue and orange lines) WHAT: Anyone interested in the universe (and really, who isn’t?) should attend this lecture, where astrophysicist Marcello Gleiser presents his challenge to the fabled theory of everything, and whether it would actually solve our questions.

COST: Free For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s website at www.si.edu.

A Place in the Sun 8:30 p.m.

WHERE: American City Diner, 5532 Connecticut Ave. NW METRO: Friendship Heights (red line) WHAT: This classic story of romance among class conflict is a major achievement in American cinema. The film stars Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor, two of the actors that defined the Golden Age of Hollywood.

COST: Free For more information, visit the American City Diner’s website at www.americancitydiner.com.

FRIDAY 17

SATURDAY 18

SUNDAY 19

Superchunk 8 p.m.

WHERE: 9:30 club, 815 V St. NW METRO: U Street/AfricanAmerican Civil War Memorial/Cardozo (green and yellow lines) WHAT: If you’re making a list of the most important bands of the last 20 years, you’d be remiss not to mention Superchunk prominently. The rock icons will play at the 9:30 club this Saturday.

COST: $20 For more information, visit the 9:30 club’s website at www.930.com.

Eric Schwartz 9:45 p.m.

WHERE: Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington, Va. WHAT: Eric Schwartz has seen his popularity skyrocket over the last few years, becoming one of the Internet’s most downloaded comedians and showing up on comedy shows across the television world. Catch him at Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse.

COST: $12 For more information, visit the Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse’s website at www. arlingtondrafthouse.com.

An Evening with Robert Drew 6 p.m.

WHERE: AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring, Md. METRO: Silver Spring (red line) WHAT: 50 years ago Robert Drew released the first of a trilogy of documentaries about John F. Kennedy, including the seminal work “Crisis: Behind A Presidential Commitment.” The theater will play all three works, followed by a discussion with the director himself.

COST: $10 For more information, call the AFI Silver Theatre at 301-495-6720.

MONDAY 20 James Loewen 6:30 pm WHERE: Busboys & Poets METRO: U Street/African-American War Memorial/Cardozo (green and yellow lines) WHAT: Author James Loewen will hold a discussion about his new book “The Confederate and Neo-Confederate Reader: The Great Truth About the Lost Cause,” which aims at dispelling modern rumors about the Confederacy during the Civil War. COST: Free For more information, visit Busboys and Poets’ website at busboysandpoets.com.

Hosting an event at AU?

theEAGLE

mrichardson@theeagleonline.com

Eagle Contributing Writer When most people hear go-go, they think white knee-high boots and short dresses, but that’s not go-go at all. In the ‘60s and ‘70s, go-gos were clubs, and in the D.C. area, go-go became a musical genre and a way of life characterized as a fusion of funk, hip-hop, and R&B with a strong community following. For many years, groups tried to take it out of the D.C. area, but it never caught on anywhere like it had in its birthplace.

Of course, it’s still possible to find go-go with all of the same energy and verve.

For example, when you get an icon together with a few bands who call him the godfather, it could be a sign that the music still has some life in it. Chuck Brown’s show at the 9:30 club shows that there are still places left for the genre to go.

On Aug. 28, go-go and the 9:30 club celebrated the 74th birthday of the movement’s godfather, Chuck Brown.

He started playing guitar in the ‘60s in various bands, including the Earls of Rhythm, before essentially defining what go-go music would become. His hits include “Bustin’ Loose,” the song chosen as the National’s celfrom TICKETS on page 20 a bunch of boring or drunken 140-character tweets to find the good stuff, but isn’t that what Twitter is for?

In the end, it’s up to you to find the music you like live in D.C. We here at The Eagle just hope this gives you a little push in the right direction, and helps you sort through the maddening hoops you sometimes have to jump through just to have an opportunity to enjoy yourself.

n

mhollander@ theeagleonline.com

ebration anthem for years.

When your hometown Major League Baseball team recognizes your greatness, you know how much you belong to your town.

A number of bands came in to pay tribute, playing their own deviations of the music he started, mixing in a few covers of the classics.

It was as if an entire musical genre came full circle.

The first band, Lissen, contained all the elements of a good go-go band: electric guitar, the traditional drum kit, conga drums, saxophone, horns, bass, keyboard, tambourine, singers and a cowbell. It takes a lot of effort to get that many instruments on stage, and a lot of coordination to pull it off.

Lissen was able to do so with all the energy and charisma one expects from the genre.

Their songs ranged from their own poppy originals to classic old covers.

Next on stage was an allwoman group called Be’la Dona. Be’la Dona had all the rhythm and soul of the band before, as well as all the instruments. They brought the funk and were a little deeper than the band before, filling out their sound with lower notes and more bass.

At this point in the night, it was easy to get a feeling of what go-go was to the crowd. n

from MATH on page 18

their unbridled ferocity, they were one of the driving forces behind the popularity of “mathcore” bands in the following years.

Hoover Formed in 1992, this D.C. band might fall more on the emotional-hardcore side of the math rock spectrum, a point that’s only amplified by the fact that they have multiple vocalists in their songs. Their self-titled 1997 album is oftentimes seen as too mawkish for math rock standards, yet it contains the same hyper-fast segues of the genre. Whatever genre their music may be, Hoover predated the emotionalhardcore trend that would become all too prevalent in the new millennium. scho@theeagleonline.com

They possessed enough love for the music that it’s a wonder it never made it out of the D.C. area. Everyone danced and sang along with classic go-go songs, as well as the modern hits. Still, most were just waiting for the man of the night to take the stage.

When Chuck Brown finally stepped on stage, everyone adored him. To the crowd, this night was as much about nostalgia as having a good time. When he played, it was like going back to the clubs in which the music originated. It was about feeling the music. The people in the crowd danced as if they were back in the go-go era.

It’s fair to say go-go never died. In that large room, there were as many fans from back in the day as there were new ones. It’s like the Beatles; every generation manages to find them, no matter how many years pass and how far music progresses. And the youth of this city can always find Chuck Brown, whether it’s in the record collection of their grandparents or parents or aunts and uncles.

Go-go may not have been able to leave the District, but it doesn’t look like it wants to go anywhere anyway. thescene@theeagleonline. com n

from MACHETE on page 19

and nothing is sacred. Director Robert Rodriguez pulls few punches in making sure this film does not take itself too seriously; everything that is bad about this movie is done intentionally. For those squeamish or sensitive about religion, think twice before seeing this movie, but keep in mind that the scene of a man shooting a Gatling gun on a motorcycle over an explosion scene is still out there, and it is fantastic.

“Machete” is now open in theaters. thescene@theeagleonline. com

September 14, 2010

Advertisement 22

theEAGLE

Ĺ? Ĺ? ÄŒĹ? Ĺ?ĂĀČĹ?Ä‚Ä€Ä Ä€Ĺ?Ä‘Ĺ?Ä Ä‚Ä?ĀĀĢĆÄ?ĀĀĹ? $!Ĺ? !+.#!Ĺ? /$%*#0+*Ĺ? *%2!./%05ÄŒĹ? .2%*Ĺ? !*0!.ÄŒĹ?ă. Ĺ? (++.Ĺ?Ä‘Ĺ?Ä‰Ä€Ä Ĺ?Ä‚Ä /0Ĺ? 0ÄŒĹ? Ĺ?Ä‘Ĺ? /$%*#0+*ÄŒĹ? Ĺ?( 3/ $++(" %.Ä‚Ä€Ä Ä€ÄŽ#) %(Ä‹ +)Ĺ?Ä‘Ĺ?columbian.gwu.edu/lawfair2010

Ĺ? Ĺ? Ĺ? Ĺ? Ĺ? Ĺ? Ĺ? Ĺ? Ĺ? Ä‹ Meet admissions representatives from more than 130 of the nation’s most prestigious law schools

! .*Ĺ? +10Ĺ?,.+#. )Ĺ?+,,+.01*%0%!/Ĺ?and get your admissions questions answered 0 %*Ĺ? !0 %(! Ĺ?%*"+.) 0%+*Ĺ?that will help you evaluate schools

Ĺ?Ä‘Ĺ? Ĺ?Ä ÄƒÄ€Ĺ? Ĺ? Ĺ? Ĺ? Ĺ?Ä‘Ĺ? Ĺ? Ĺ?

Albany Law School American University Washington College of Law Appalachian School of Law Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law Boston College Law School Boston University School of Law Brooklyn Law School California Western School of Law Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law Capital University Law School Cardozo School of Law Case Western Reserve University School of Law Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law Chapman University School of Law Charleston School of Law Charlotte School of Law Chicago – Kent College of Law Cleveland – Marshall College of Law Columbia Law School Cornell Law School City University of New York School of Law DePaul University College of Law Duke University School of Law Duquesne Law School Earle Mack School of Law at Drexel University Elon University School of Law Emory Law Florida International University College of Law Fordham Law School Franklin Pierce Law Center

George Mason University School of Law George Washington University Law School Georgetown Law Georgia State University College of Law Golden Gate University School of Law Hamline University School of Law Hofstra University School of Law Howard University School of Law Indiana University Maurer School of Law John Marshall Law School Loyola Law School / Los Angeles Loyola University Chicago School of Law Loyola University New Orleans College of Law Louisiana State University Law Center Marquette University Law School Michigan State University College of Law New England Law / Boston New York Law School New York University School of Law North Carolina Central Univesity School of Law Northeastern University School of Law Northern Illinois University College of Law Northwestern Law Notre Dame Law School Ohio Northern University Ohio State University Moritz College of Law Pace Law School PaciďŹ c McGeorge School of Law Penn State Law Quinnipiac University School of Law Regent University School of Law Roger Williams University School of Law Rutgers University School of Law – Newark Rutgers School of Law – Camden

Saint Louis University School of Law Santa Clara Law Seattle University School of Law Seton Hall Law School Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law South Texas College of Law Southwestern Law School St. John’s University School of Law St. Mary’s University School of Law Stetson University College of Law Suffolk University Law School Syracuse University College of Law Temple University, Beasley School of Law Texas Wesleyan School of Lawz Touro Law Center Tulane Law School University of Akron School of Law University of Arizona University of Baltimore School of Law University at Buffalo Law School State University of New York University of California Los Angeles School of Law University of Cinncinnati College of Law University of Colorado Law School Univeristy of Connecticut University of Denver Strum College of Law University of District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law University of Florida Levin College of Law University of Georgia School of Law University of Idaho, College of Law University of Illinois College of Law University of Iowa College of Law University of Maryland School of Law

University of Miami School of Law University of Michigan Law School University of Minnesota Law School University of North Carolina School of Law University of Oregon School of Law University of Pennsylvania Law School University of Pittsburgh School of Law University of Richmond School of Law University of San Diego School of Law University of San Francisco School of Law University of South Carolina School of Law University of Southern California Gould School of Law University of St. Thomas School of Law University of Tennessee Law University of Texas School of Law University of Utah SJ Quinney College of Law University of Wisconsin Law School Vanderbilt Law School Vermont Law School Villanova University School of Law Wake Forest University School of Law Washington University in St. Louis Western New England College School of Law Whittier Law School Widener University School of Law William & Mary Law School William Mitchell College of Law Yale Law School ‌and more!

LSAT Prep Companies: Knewton LSAT Prep www.knewton.com Power Score Test Preparation www.powerscore.com

September 14, 2010

AU field hockey wins both weekend matches

By KATE GREUBEL Eagle Staff Writer The AU women’s field hockey team soared past Rutgers University and the University of New Hampshire over the weekend, picking up its first two wins of the season in College Park, Md. The team defeated the Rutgers’ Scarlet Knights 3-1 and the UNH Wildcats 5-2 at the Terrapin Invitational tournament.

Sound defense and aggressive on-the-ball pressure characterized the Eagle’s play in both matches, pulling AU’s overall record to 3-2 for the season.

Rutgers The Eagles held on to an early lead against Rutgers on Saturday, starting the weekend off with a 3-1 win.

“We wanted to jump on them from the beginning and get on the attack and we were able to convert some of our early chances to get the early lead,” Head Coach Steve Jennings told AU Athletics.

Three AU athletes found the back of the cage before the half.

Less than three minutes into the first half, AU sophomore Gina Hoffman converted on a penalty corner play orchestrated by teammates Natalie Ellenberger and Kristin Gebhart. The goal gave AU an early 1-0 advantage in the match and was Hoffman’s second goal of the season.

AU struck again in the 12th minute of play, leaving Rutgers no time to regain their footing after Hoffman’s one-timer.

Senior Christine Fingerhuth took matters into her own hands to extend AU’s lead to 2-0. Fingerhuth stole the ball from Rutgers at midfield and drove into the circle, where she slipped by two defensemen and planted the ball in the top left corner of the cage.

The final goal of the half was also in AU’s favor.

Sports 23

theEAGLE

Eagle midfielder Natalie Ellenberger recorded her first goal of the season off a pass from Hoffman. Ellenberger situated herself to the left of the cage and was able to deflect a wide shot from Hoffman past the Scarlet Knight goalkeeper.

The goal marked the end of a dominating half for the Eagles.

AU demonstrated sound defense throughout the second half. The Eagles held Rutgers to only one shot in the half, which connected with the back of the AU net to cut Rutgers’ deficit to 3-1.

The team’s corner margin in the match, 8-2, reflected much of the work the Eagles had put in during practice leading up to the invitational.

“We did a lot of work this week on [our corners] and I think the players got a sharper mindset,” Jennings told AU Athletics.

University of New Hampshire AU carried over its momentum from Saturday’s game into Sunday to win 5-1 against the New Hampshire Wildcats. The Eagles saw increased offensive pressure in Sunday’s match, but AU goalkeeper, senior Hannah Weitzman, knocked down the Wildcat’s with four saves.

The Eagles were again successful early in the match. Junior Melissa Casale opened the floodgates in the eighth minute of play when she deflected a pass from teammate Anne Van Erp into the right corner of the cage.

New Hampshire responded immediately with a goal of its own 43 seconds later to tie the match at 1-1.

The scoring frenzy died down for a short period as the two teams continued to battle.

AU came out on top 10 minutes before the end of the half when senior Kristin Gebhart connected with the back of the cage, lifting the score to 2-1. Gebhart recorded her first goal of

the year from the center of the circle, rocketing the ball into the cage off a penalty corner inserted by Natalie Ellenberger.

Despite outshooting the Eagles 7-4 in the half, the Wildcats entered the intermission with a 1-goal deficit.

Eagle play in the second half was a return to the aggressive defensive pressure the team exhibited on Saturday. AU held the Wildcats to two penalty corners and three shots on game in the final 35 minutes of play.

With the Wildcat’s tamed, the Eagles further flooded the scoreboard, knocking down three goals in 4 minutes and 43 seconds.

Freshman Constanza Palma started the rampage, converting AU’s second penalty corner of the match. One minute and 14 seconds later, Lotte van de Mierop deflected a pass from freshman Alex McMackin into the Wildcat’s cage to bring the score to 4-1. Jaclyn Anspach picked up the Eagle’s final goal of the game shortly after, slapping a pass from Christine Fingerhuth past the New Hampshire goalie.

The Wildcats tried to crawl their way back into the game with a goal late in the second half, cutting their deficit to 5-2.The weekend’s victories reflect the hard work AU has put into practice since early losses this season.

“It was nice to get two wins this weekend and see the application of themes from our past week of training,” Jennings said.

AU field hockey hopes to continue its two game winning streak this weekend, with two games at Jacobs Field. The Eagles will play host to the University of Massachusetts-Amherst Saturday, Sept 18 at noon, followed by a match against James Madison University on Sunday at 2 p.m. kgreubel@theeagleonline. com

n

24

from FANTASY on page

a knee and win the real game rather than take the clear path to the endzone for six (fantasy) points.

The moment after this happened my inbox was flooded with text messages from angry Westbrook owners. “Westbrook is a (expletive)!” and “Screw him” were the gist of the messages I received that night. A friend who owned Westbrook that season still gets ripped on to this day at the way his fan-

tasy season ended, and I’m not even sure he’s fully recovered yet.

After months of waiting the fantasy season is finally upon us, and all is right with the world. ttomea@theeagleonline. com

Advertise in

theEAGLE business@theeagleonline.com

Read more

SPORTS online.

Redskins, fans fed up with Haynesworth’s antics SIDELINE SCHOLAR

BEN LASKY If you’ve been paying attention to the Redskins this offseason, you might have heard about a guy named Albert Haynesworth.

You might have heard that he didn’t show up for voluntary workouts during the offseason because he had a problem with playing in a 3-4 defense.

You might have heard about the big guy not being able to complete a workout that ESPN’s Mike Golic completed, a former defensive tackle who last appeared in a game in 1993.

You might have heard that after a preseason game in which he did not start, that as a result of his not starting, he told reporters he would not be coming to voluntary workouts next year either.

Have you heard that he’s guaranteed $41 million?

He could almost feed Latrell Sprewell’s family three times with that kind of money.

The Redskins would love nothing more than to stop hearing about him soon.

The most mindboggling aspect of his behavior is that he isn’t upset over his contract, obviously. He’s upset that his style of play does not fit the new Redskins’ 3-4 defense. Usually

in a 3-4, the defensive tackle is about 400 lbs. and his job is to take up blockers in order for the defensive ends and linebackers to make plays.

This offseason, numerous players such as Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis and Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson missed some, and in Jackson’s case, all of training camp because they were unhappy with their contracts. In the past we saw T.O. throw a hissy fit and start doing situps in his driveway because he didn’t feel he was getting the money he deserved from the Eagles. But this is different.

Haynesworth is throwing a tantrum because there’s a chance his statistics will be negatively affected.

Haynesworth’s behavior would be at least tolerable to the Redskins if he had even a somewhat productive season in 2009. If he had put up the kind of numbers that won him the Defensive Player of the Year award for the Titans in 2008, the Redskins wouldn’t care if he showed up for offseason workouts or even training camp for that matter. Just look at Brett Favre.

Instead, in 2009 the Redskins got an out of shape, high priced defensive tackle who spent more time at the oxygen tank on the sideline then dominating opposing offensive linemen.

This wasn’t a surprising turn of events. What was Haynesworth’s motivation to be a dominant player?

He’s already guaranteed

tens of millions of dollars, so money isn’t a motivation. And his motivation certainly is not to help the team win the Super Bowl, because players who wish to win the Super Bowl do not sign with the Washington Redskins. They’re the football equivalent of the L.A. Clippers.

At this point it’s clear that he’s not going to change.

The Redskins would be better off to part ways with him any way they can. They need to just admit they made a mistake, eat the contract and move on. Not just because he’s a prima donna.

The Redskins should get rid of him because he doesn’t help the team.

An argument could be made to keep a talented player like Brandon Marshall or Chad Ochocinco on your team because with all the problems they create with their mouths, they produce. Albert Haynesworth is productive on a part-time basis and yet he talks like he’s still the best defensive player in the NFL. The Redskins are far from being a Super Bowl contender. Yet, as with every team, reaching the big game is the ultimate goal.

That goal cannot and will not be reached with Albert Haynesworth on the team.

If someone calls Redskins General Manager Bruce Allen and offers him a backup kicker for Haynesworth, he needs to make that deal. blasky@theeagleonline.com

24

SPORTS

September 14, 2010

AU volleyball takes down Siena in straight sets

A tough spot

Bianca Richardson dominates the Saints with nine kills and six aces

By TYLER TOMEA Eagle Staff Writer

PHILLIP OCHS / THE EAGLE

Jack Scott chases after the ball during AU’s 3-1 loss to No. 7 ranked Monmouth University. Full coverage at theeagleonline.com/sports

Fantasy football: The real NFL kickoff

By TYLER TOMEA Eagle Staff Writer As usual, I’m as excited as ever for the first NFL Sunday of the season. But instead of penning an NFL preview column, I decided to celebrate my 10-year relationship with fantasy football by listing the reasons why I’ll be forever hooked on the game.

The draft Some may argue this is the best part of the fantasy football season, even though it just kicks off the year. I like to think of the fantasy draft, usually held in August, as the unofficial start of the NFL season.

It also shows which owners have absolutely no idea what they’re doing.

This year, someone took the New York Jets defense in the third round.

Truly a draft day blunder for the ages. You should never take a defense that early in the draft — even

a defensive unit as good as the Jets. And there’s always that one person who takes the full 90 seconds to make their pick, immediately turning the league angrily against them on the first day. Fantasy fanatics should have a good idea of who they’re going to pick and remember this is not the real NFL draft — you should not take all day with your choice.

Being a general manager If Isiah Thomas and Matt Millen are the answers, the question is usually, “Who are the worst two general managers in recent history?” For years while Thomas was in charge of the Knicks and Millen ran the Lions, I would marvel at the new and innovative ways they ran their respective franchises into the ground. Like many others, I thought to myself, “How exactly did these guys get the keys to run a professional sports franchise?”

Now running a fantasy

football team is the very watered-down version of being a GM, but I still enjoy it. You can drop players who aren’t performing well, add free agents to boost your squad and, best of all, make sketchy trades throughout the season with your friends. In one league, someone traded Rashard Mendenhall, Derrick Mason and Mike Williams for Adrian Peterson and Lee Evans. Trades do not get more one-sided than that.

Every game matters While growing up as a kid in northern New Jersey, I would watch the New York Giants every Sunday. But after their game was over, I’d waste away the remaining slate of NFL games.

Fifteen contests would go by each weekend that had no real meaning to me.

However, this all changed with the creation of fantasy football. For example, the San Diego Chargers play the Kansas City Chiefs in

the second game of Monday’s doubleheader. I have the San Diego Chargers defense and my opponent has San Diego running back Ryan Matthews in our matchup. If it’s a close game between us, you can guarantee I’ll be forgoing my homework and staying up late Monday night to see who comes out victorious — in fantasy, of course.

Trash talking There’s nothing better than going into work or school on Tuesday morning and talking smack to your friends or co-workers, especially after a tough defeat. With the newly added “Smack Talk” option in the Yahoo! Sports fantasy game, nothing is off limits when it comes to taking shots at your opponents.

One year against the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook decided to take n see FANTASY on page 23

The AU volleyball team defeated Siena College on Saturday night, as the Eagles smoked the Saints in straight sets by scores of 25-14, 25-8 and 25-17.

Sophomore Bianca Richardson had a great allaround game for the Eagles, as she registered nine kills to go along with six service aces and six block assists.

Magdalena Tekiel added eight kills for AU, while Krysta Cicala ignited the offense with 33 assists and led the defense with seven digs.

In the loss, freshman Taylor Akana had a team-high eight kills for the Saints.

The Eagles scored seven of the first nine points in the opening set, thanks in part to two kills by Cassandra Ricketts. Siena fought back early, and an error by Angelina Waterman made the score 9-6 AU. But then the Eagles scored seven straight points to take a 16-6 lead and gain total control of the first set. Cicala registered two of her four service aces during the key spurt and Ricketts added another kill, as AU would cruise to a 2514 victory.

Ricketts, Richardson and Waterman would each record kills in the early portion of the second set as AU raced out to a 9-1 advantage. The lead ballooned to 16-3 in favor of the Eagles after outside hitter Katerina Cinkova notched a kill.

With the score at 21-6, Richardson came through with two consecutive kills before freshman Juliana Crum ended the set with a kill of her own. The Eagles ended up defeating the Saints 25-8 in a dominating second set

performance that saw no ties or lead changes.

The third set was more competitive than the first two, as the teams were tied at eight in the opening moments. However, AU would score the next four points as an attack error by Akana put the Eagles in front 128. Tekiel and Fitch notched kills for The Eagles during that run. Later in the set, the score was 18-14 in favor of AU when two more Siena errors gave the Eagles a comfortable six-point advantage. With the score at 23-17, Crum followed a kill with a service ace to give AU a three set victory.

With the win, the Eagles improved to 7-2 on the season and have now won five of their past six contests.

Meanwhile, the loss dropped Siena to 1-6.

AU will continue their road trip and take on the Howard University Bison (1-7) on Wednesday, Sept. 15. The Eagles come into the match as favorites as Howard is coming off back-to-back losses against UMBC and Towson.

AU returns to Bender Arena to play the Towson Tigers (10-3) who have lost three straight on Friday, Sept. 17. ttomea@theeagleonline. com Volleyball SET 1 AU: Siena:

25 14

SET 2 AU: Siena:

25 8

SET 3 AU: Siena:

25 17

Washington, D.C.