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NEWS FUND FINDS FAVOR Majority of students vote yes for Clean Energy Revolving Fund
Bronstein takes the SG presidency
MARCH 25, 2010 VOLUME 84 n ISSUE 42
AU neighbors vie for stricter conduct code
page 2 By CHARLIE SZOLD Eagle Staff Writer
EDITORIAL
AN UNCIVIL DEBATE Michael Stubel laments the lack of civility in the health care debate page 3
SPORTS JONES LOOKS BACK Men’s basketball coach breaks down a disappointing season page 8
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TAKING THE REINS — After an eventful campaign, Nate Bronstein wins the Student Government presidency. With a turnout of 1,914 student votes, this election showed an increase of nearly 500 participants from last year. Bronstein said he was ‘absolutely ecstatic’ about his victory, and he looks forward to starting his administration.
By JULIA RYAN Eagle Staff Writer Nate Bronstein won the Student Government presidential race on Wednesday night with 619 votes and 35.1 percent of the vote. Bronstein said he is overjoyed about his win. “I’m absolutely ecstatic,” Bronstein said. “I have the weight of the world on my shoulders right now, but I am on cloud nine.” Bronstein added that he hopes the election results will not cause too much conflict between the presidential candidates. He said that while it was a hard race to win, he hopes all of the candidates can still be on friendly terms after the elections. Anthony Dunham came in second place with 448 votes and 25.4 percent of the vote. The Senate must validate the election’s results this Sunday. A two-thirds vote can throw out all
results, and a three-quarters majority can invalidate the results of an office, such as the presidency and vice presidency. Nirvana Habash, who ran a write-in campaign, said she is not really surprised about her loss. Habash also said she will make a decision about an appeal in the next few days, but for right now she does not want to take anything away from the post-election celebrations. “For right now, I want everyone to be able to celebrate and just be really proud of what they did,” Habash said. “I think that in the days to come we’ll probably have a lot more to say about exactly what happened tonight. But everyone did a really good job, and I’m really proud.” Habash came in third with 418 votes and 23 percent of the vote. Dustin Baker, a write-in candidate, came in fourth with 148 votes and 8 percent of the vote. Seth Rosenstein came in fifth with 94 votes and 5.33
percent of the vote. According to Board of Elections Chair Bikram Kohli, 1,914 students voted in this election. Other newly elected SG executives include Vice President-elect Maia Tagami with 425 votes, Secretary-elect Kent Hiebel 783 votes and Comptroller-elect Ed Levandoski, who was the only candidate running in his category. The class president-elects are Amanda Krause for the Class of 2011, Lauren Marolda for Class of 2012, and Jack Acland for Class of 2013. Current SG president Andy MacCracken, who endorsed Bronstein, is excited for next year. “We’re going to build a very solid foundation together for next year,” he said. “There are definitely a lot of things that I’ll have to teach him, so I’ll be working very closely with him.” Dunham said that while he is n
see ELECTION on page 4
For nearly seven months, Jim and Rachel Fenton have dealt with neighbors they deem unruly. Constant streams of AU students — many drunk, many loud — disturb what could otherwise be a peaceful existence in their upper Northwest home, according to statements they have made at Advisory Neighborhood Commission meetings. In October, the Fentons contacted AU, hoping the university would help to stop the disruptions. Since then, parties have continued despite efforts by many different departments of the AU administration. The Department of Public Safety, Campus Life, Student Activities and other officials have all been unable to fully address the Fenton’s concerns. The Fentons — residents in a neighborhood where houses often sell for over $1 million — live next door to a house rented to at least four college students, some of them members of the unofficial fraternity EI. Now, as AU tries to garner support for its proposed campus plan, which outlines proposals for large-scale construction in the Nebraska Parking Lot and the Tenley Campus, the university is making adjustments to Student Conduct Code regulations, greek life oversight and attempting to more accurately account for the whereabouts of students living off campus. This article is the first in an ongoing series that will examine proposed changes and reactions from both students and community members. EXPANDING REACH AU officials announced that it might revise the Student Conduct Code next fall, making it easier to punish students for offcampus indiscretions at a March 18 meeting of ANC 3E. Currently, AU can only pun-
ish students who have been given a citation by police or if their behavior is clearly endangering or threatening AU staff, administrators or students. Since the code lists all violations of local, state and federal laws as violations of the code as well, students can be punished for their off-campus behavior. If the proposed changes are made, the university will now be able to punish students for more off-campus actions, even if police have not issued the student a citation. The move is partly in response to the neighboring community’s growing concern over the increasing number of AU students moving off campus. There are 3,500 undergraduate students living off campus now out of approximately 6,800 overall, according to Vice President of Campus Life Gail Hanson. “There’s a limit to our jurisdiction, and we are going to expand it,” Hanson said at the ANC meeting. “We are actively talking about the language to expand it.” Hanson said that while the university is able to punish students for crimes like drug dealing, violent crime, etc., AU is unable to stop smaller nuisances that disturb neighbors. “What neighbors are saying to us is that … you need to have the authority to impose your code where [there are] violations,” Hanson said in an interview with The Eagle. The university will try to satisfy community requests without violating students’ rights. “This affords administrators … a level of discretion in what we can pursue off campus,” she said. “How can we implement language that will be helpful in that regard but be fair about it.” While the vast majority of students do not cause problems for their neighbors, the few houses that do can give the university a “black eye,” according to Penny n
see CONDUCT on page 2
University announces commencement speakers for 2010 Over 2,000 students will participate in graduation ceremonies May 8 and 9. It is a long-standing tradition for AU to hold the commencement addresses on Mother’s Day, according to University Communications. Two weeks later, 500 Washington College of Law students will hold their commencement ceremonies. All will occur in Bender Arena. Thanks to University Communications for providing this information to The Eagle.
Eric H. Holder Jr. Attorney General of the United States Doctor of Laws Speaker, Washington College of Law
Janet Napolitano Secretary of Homeland Security Doctor of Public Service Speaker, College of Arts and Sciences
Eric H. Holder Jr., is the 82nd attorney general of the United States and first black man to serve in the post. Nominated by President Barack Obama on Dec. 1, 2008, he was sworn in on Feb. 3, 2009 by Vice President Joe Biden. In 1997, President Bill Clinton appointed Holder as the deputy attorney general, making him the first black man to hold that position as well. Previous to these positions, he served as U.S. attorney for D.C., and in 1988 he was nominated by President Ronald Reagan to become an associate judge of the Superior Court of D.C. Holder graduated from Columbia College in 1973 and then earned his Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School.
Janet Napolitano is the current secretary of Homeland Security under President Barack Obama. Napolitano was governor of Arizona from 2003 to 2009. Before serving as governor, Napolitano was attorney general for Arizona from 1999 to 2002. Napolitano is the third secretary of Homeland Security and the first woman to hold the position. Napolitano was born in New York City and grew up in Pennsylvania and New Mexico. She graduated from Santa Clara University and received her Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law. Napolitano also served as a clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and practiced law in Phoenix at the firm of Lewis and Roca before entering politics.
Michelle Bachelet First female president of Chile Doctor of International Affairs Speaker, School of International Service Michelle Bachelet, a University of Chile alumna, was the first female president of Chile and served in office from March 11, 2006 through March 11, 2010. Bachelet has received several notable honors. In 2008, Bachelet was ranked 15th of the world’s 100 most influential people by TIME magazine and in 2009 as number 22 on the world’s 100 most powerful women by Forbes magazine. Before her presidential term, Bachelet served as health minister and defense minister under Chiléan president Ricardo Lagos. She is a socialist and she speaks five languages — Spanish, English, German, Portuguese and French. She lived in Bethesda as a child before moving to Chile.
Donna E. Shalala President of the University of Miami Doctor of Public Service Speaker, School of Public Affairs Donna E. Shalala is president of the University of Miami. Shalala served for eight years as Secretary of Health and Human Services from 1993 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton. Shalala graduated from West Tech High School and got her bachelor’s degree from Western College for Women in 1962. Shalala joined the Peace Corps right after graduation and was stationed in Iran until 1964. When Shalala returned to the United States, she received a master’s and doctoral degree from Syracuse University. In 2007 Shalala was appointed by President George W. Bush to co-head the “President’s Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors” with Bob Dole. President George W. Bush gave her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in June 2008.
Seth Goldman Cofounder, President and TeaEO of Honest Tea Doctor of Laws Speaker, Kogod School of Business The president and self-proclaimed TeaEO of Honest Tea, Seth Goldman has come a long way from the lemonade stands of his childhood. In 1998, he and a professor from Yale’s School of Management co-founded his environmentally-friendly beverage company in his kitchen. In 2008, CocaCola bought a minority interest. Before launching Honest Tea, Goldman’s career took him from managing a corporate initiative to counter child labor for the Calvert Foundation to working as Senator Lloyd Bentsen’s Deputy Press Secretary and even stints in Beijing and Moscow. Goldman is a Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and was named Ernst & Young’s 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year for the Mid-Atlantic region.
Barbara Kopple Academy Award-winning filmmaker Doctor of Humane Letters Speaker, School of Communication Academy Award-winning film director Barbara Kopple, a Northeastern University alumna, is known for her documentaries but has also produced feature films and directed episodes of some television series. She directed documentaries about Gregory Peck, Mike Tyson and Woody Allen and directed “Bearing Witness,” a 2005 film about five female reporters and their experiences working in Iraq during the war. She won the “Best Documentary” Oscar for her 1990 documentary, “American Dream.” She also won the “Best Documentary” Oscar for her 1976 documentary, “Harlan County, U.S.A.” Kopple has also directed a feature film — “Havoc” — starring Anne Hathaway and Bijou Phillips. She currently directs documentarystyle advertisements for Target.
the EAGLE
MARCH 25, 2010
news 2
Tensions erupt over CERF, SG election Debate spills off campus into Tenleytown By JULIA RYAN Eagle Staff Writer Steve Dalton was out to dinner at Chipotle in Tenleytown on Sunday night with some friends when he overheard a group of customers discussing a highly controversial issue at AU. “I was filling up my drink when I overheard a group of five people talking about the [Clean Energy Revolving Fund] referendum,” Dalton said. “I thought that was kind of weird. I didn’t expect to hear anything about CERF in Chipotle.” CERF is a fund created by the Student Government that will purchase solar panels, wind turbines and other sources of renewable energy for AU. The money saved by the renewable energy will then be put back into the fund, enabling the purchase of more renewable energy generators. There was a referendum on the issue on this year’s SG ballot asking if students supported mandatory $10 fees to the fund. Dalton, an undergraduate senator for the class of 2010 — who did not support the referendum — returned to his table, where he sat with SG Secretary Colin Meiselman, School of Public Affairs Senator Eric Reath and Taylor Yeates, the billing director for AUTO. Dalton and his friends were suddenly approached by the people Dalton had overheard talking about CERF earlier. “They were clearly angry about my opposition to the CERF referendum,” Dalton said. “They called me different names and said that ‘my day would come.’ They told the other people that I was with that their day would come too, only sooner because I would eat them. They continued to go back and forth with some of my friends but I did not engage with [the students].” The group of students then left. Dalton said he and his companions were not able to identify any of the people who had approached their group. “I didn’t know who they were but they certainly knew who I was,” he said. Dalton said he is dismayed that the recent controversies surrounding the SG elections and the CERF referendum have boiled over to create such severe personal conflicts. “I wish we could just disagree without being enemies,” Dalton said. “Other SG members have different opinions than myself, but we can all talk about it with some civility. We are all students first and should not take things like this to such an extreme level where people are being approached while they are out to dinner with friends.” Meiselman, who was with Dalton at the time of the incident, echoed Dalton’s sentiments in saying this incident was totally unexpected and out of line. He said he hopes that AU students can find more constructive ways of voicing their opinions for and against the CERF referendum. “I understand both sides of the issue, but it’s ridiculous that someone would say those things about someone who had a different point of view,” Meiselman said. “Students have the right to say what they
want to say but that’s not the way to go about it.” Jennifer Jones, the president of EcoSense, which supports the referendum on CERF, said she heard about the incident through a friend and was shocked. “I find it appalling,” Jones said. “We [at EcoSense] really respect Steve Dalton and everything he has done for our school. I would never do anything like this and I hope that no one else would.” Jones added that she sent out an e-mail Tuesday night to the EcoSense listserv about the incident. “Supporting clean energy should not involve antagonizing people,” Jones wrote. “It is about promoting environmentalism — it is not about individuals and it is not about being partisan.” Dalton said this incident reflects many of the larger conflicts that have flared up throughout this election. Dalton feels that there may be some lingering feelings of anger between supporters of presidential candidate Nirvana Habash and SG President-elect Nate Bronstein over the controversies surrounding both of their campaigns. The Eagle previously reported that Nate Bronstein allegedly sent out a mass e-mail to a random assortment of AU e-mail addresses and listservs, including SPA freshman and sophomores, AUSG executives, the cabinet and the Undergraduate Senate. Bronstein has said he did not send the e-mail and he filed a formal complaint with the Board of Elections. There was allegedly another e-mail sent over Delta Gamma’s listserv in support of Bronstein. This complaint was never formally filed or verified. The Board of Elections disqualified Habash from the elections for violating election rules. Two of Habash’s friends sent out an e-mail over SPA’s Leadership Program’s listserv in support of her presidential campaign. Habash appealed the decision and was eventually allowed to run as a write-in candidate. Habash is confident that the conflicts of the SG elections will quiet down after the election is finished, she said in an e-mail before the final results were known. “I have faith that once the elections are over, we will all have time to work things out,” Habash said. “When you have two people who have an overload of mutual friends running against each other for such a demanding position, individuals are bound to take sides.” Habash added that it is too soon to predict how the presidential candidates will interact with each other after the elections. “We have been so busy working to get my name on the ballot, and [Bronstein] has been working so hard on his campaign, that I think we just need this to be over before figuring out where we go from here.” E-mails to Nate Bronstein were not answered by press time. Meiselman said he did not anticipate that this election would turn out to be so fraught with problems and controversies and he is disappointed with how the elections have become more negative as time goes on, he said. “All the candidates know each other pretty well and tensions have flared,” Meiselman said. “I think this incident [with Dalton] is just icing on the cake to show just how ridiculous this election has been. I don’t understand why this election has turned out the way it did.” You can reach this staff writer at jryan@theeagleonline.com.
ALLIE MOONEY / THE EAGLE
ROAD TO CERFDOM? — Drew Veysey (left, in sunglasses) and SG President-elect Nate Bronstein (left, in hardhat and jacket) listen to Stephen Bronskill of EcoSense. Students gathered around campus Monday to promote CERF. The referendum passed with 66.9 percent of the vote.
CERF referendum passes by hefty margin, will be referred to Board of Trustees By ALLIE MOONEY Eagle Contributing Writer With 1,204 votes, the Clean Energy Revolving Fund referendum found 66.9 percent of students in favor of raising Student Activity fees by $10 in support of clean energy. Thirty-three percent of students voted against the referendum. Now, the results will be handed over to the Board of Trustees. They will decide if the administration will increase the fee. Steve Dalton, an advocate for the “Vote NO” campaign, doubts whether the referendum will change anything. “I’m not sure if the vote will change anything,” he said. “This was just a poll to ask students whether they would support the idea.” In reference to the referendum taken in 2006, where students were asked whether they were willing to raise fees to pay for clean energy, Dalton pointed out that 71 percent voted to raise fees compared to this year’s 66.9 percent. “I think its important to note that the percentage dropped in the four years since the last poll was taken concerning this issue, and I think the Board of Trustees will make a decision,” he said. “I personally would hope it would be an opt-in option.” Supporters of the CERF referendum were also present to witness the results of their efforts. Sam Hagedorn, a sophomore in the School of Communication and contributor to the development of CERF, spoke for the potential benefits of the fund once in effect. “CERF can transform this campus. Nothing will look better to an incoming student than to see our buildings with solar panels and our skies with wind turbines,” he said. “With this powerful measure now we can really take [AU] to the 21st century.” Activism on both fronts of the referendum dominated Facebook pages and even the main quad in the week
leading up to the vote. Supporters of the successful CERF referendum took to the quad Monday afternoon to spread awareness about the referendum and to answer questions about how the potential $10 CERF fee would affect students. Sara Schwartz, a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences, was at the rally to encourage fellow students to think about the big picture when it comes to clean energy. “Clean energy is really important not just for the community but for the entire world,” Schwartz said. “I just want people to really think about the impact they could have by donating $10. It’s bigger than the $10 — with that money we can help create a more sustainable society.” Supporters of CERF are especially eager for the fund due to its ability to make AU a greater leader in sustainable energy. “We don’t just have an opportunity to support clean energy,” EcoSense President Jennifer Jones said at the beginning of the rally. “We have the responsibility, too.” The rally was held in multiple locations, from the middle of the quad to the front of Mary Graydon Center to the Letts-Anderson quad. Participants donned green hard hats, carried homemade wind turbines, and some dressed as environmental elements to show their support for the referendum. The referendum, which was included in the SG election ballot, was administered Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. The referendum passed, meaning students could be subject to an additional $10 on their Student Activity fee. The results of the referendum will be forwarded to the Board of Trustees. You can reach this writer at news@theeagleonline.com.
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Pagano, director of Community and Pagano, director of Community and Local Government Relations. “It reverberates back on AU, and people can, for better or worse, reflect that back on AU students,” she said. “Sometimes these incidents can generate a lot of publicity and ill will.” Out of the numerous houses rented by AU students in the neighborhood, only three cause serious and recurring problems, according to Hanson. A house on Ellicott Street has given the university a particularly difficult time. According to accounts given by the Fentons at various ANC meetings, the house often throws parties that last late into the night and usually involve drunken students, loud music, dangerous driving, public urination and occasional “nude dancers.” Two members of EI, one a former resident of the house, have flatly rejected these allegations. According to the two members of the fraternity — who requested anonymity — there has not been a party at the house since the beginning of the semester. Furthermore, members of the house have tried to speak with the Fentons to establish an understanding with them. The Fentons were not interested and re-
fused to speak, they said. The house keeps parties on “lockdown,” and no alcohol is ever allowed outside, they said. In addition, the sources refused to say
“If [students] do not answer the door, we cannot force entry. We cannot just kick the door down.” – MPD Lt. Alan Hill
that the house was the “EI house,” although they do acknowledge that some of the residents are members of the fraternity. The Fentons refused to comment for this story. Student Conduct charges have been filed against some members of the house, according to Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students Rob Hradsky. He did not elaborate on the nature of the charges due to privacy laws. One of the EI members said that they were threatened with suspension.
While the Student Conduct Code makes illegal activity an explicit violation, there is latitude given to the university to file charges against students who are deemed to threaten “the safety and well-being of the campus community.” Typically, this designation has only applied to people directly associated with the university — such as students, staff and officials — and not the neighboring community. This interpretation keeps the university from actively pursuing most cases of off-campus misconduct unless police have issued a citation. However, the Metropolitan Police Department often has other things to deal with, according to Hradsky. “If a neighbor calls MPD directly, it will take a very long time to respond, if they respond at all, and its almost guaranteed that they will never write a citation,” he said. “If we expand code, primarily we would be expanding the language so that we wouldn’t have to have a citation to pursue a complaint.” The university usually calls students in for a meeting to hear both sides of a story before pursuing punishment, Hradsky said. However, sometimes students continue with their behavior. “Recognizing that sometimes student behavior is egregious, it is important that students understand
that they do have responsibilities in the neighborhood,” he said. “In cases where we don’t, we feel like we need more authority to hold them accountable.” Even if MPD does respond to calls from disgruntled neighbors, often they are as powerless as AU. Rules prohibit police officers from entering houses unless there are clearly dangerous criminal acts occurring, according to MPD Lieutenant Alan Hill, who directs operations in AU’s district. “If [students] do not answer the door, we cannot force entry,” Hill said at the ANC meeting. “We cannot just go kick the door down.” MPD recently purchased decibel meters to monitor parties. If parties become too loud, officers can cite the owner of the house for noise violations. However, the meters are expensive and MPD in AU’s district must share the meter. At last Thursday’s ANC meeting, Hanson said that the university was actively looking into changing the code by next fall semester. Minor changes to the code can be changed with the approval of Hanson. President Neil Kerwin must approve changes to the “nature or scope” of the code. You can reach this staff writer at cszold@theeagleonline.com.
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EDITORIAL
MARCH 25, 2010
JOE WENNER n Editorial Page Editor EdPage@TheEagleOnline.com
JEN CALANTONE n Editor in Chief Editor@TheEagleOnline.com
Congress says farewell to civility GIVE ME LIBERTY
MICHAEL STUBEL The scene on Capitol Hill Saturday afternoon was fit for the plot of a surreal and twisted comedy. With most congressional offices open for the weekend in advance of Sunday’s greatly anticipated final vote on health care legislation, staffers hunkered down to answer an endless stream of phone calls from constituents hoping to make their voices heard. Meanwhile, thousands of conservative “Tea Party” activists patrolled the corridors, chanting “kill the bill!” and paying visits to less-thanthrilled member offices that support the Democratic plan. Of course, I couldn’t pass up a chance to witness such theater, so there I was with pen and paper in hand, normally a Tuesday and Friday intern, recording the opinions of John and Jane Doe from Pleasantville, USA. No one, including President Obama, can deny that these are polarizing times in Washington. Addressing health care on the national level was a goal of countless presidents throughout the 20th century. When the pending legislation did survive a climactic endgame on Sunday, Obama and the Democrats achieved a historic accomplishment. Republicans, on the other hand, urged their opponents to abstain from taking a vote they will regret. Senator Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., called the potential passage a “historic mistake” and House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, warned that the bill would “ruin” America. With rhetoric from both sides escalating in recent weeks, it is no surprise that public unrest continues to boil unabated. People are angry, frustrated and upset because health care involves questions of choice and life. Some are appalled that Republicans offer no immediate solutions for the nation’s uninsured. Others sense the encroaching power of Democratic majorities able to pass monumental legislation over their unified foes. Then there is the Tea Party Movement. They have been referred to as
everything from fringe populists to Glen Beck enthusiasts. Something tells me ol’ Alfred Landon would have appreciated the movement’s support in the 1936 presidential election, when he was trounced by Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal wave. A reactionary product of the auto and bank bailouts, the group intensified their show of force during the health care debate and typically oppose expansion of the federal government. Regardless, I’ve withheld my judgment to this point because I hadn’t encountered their ilk in person. Now I have. Like all other political entities out there, it’s a mixed bag. Sure, who doesn’t like a protest now and again? This is America, after all, and though I am not one for sign-making or incessant chanting, I fully support every citizen’s right to do so. It should be known that the majority of these people I conversed with on Health Care Eve were courteous and reasonable. Most seemed genuinely committed to their cause to defeat the bill. However, I was deeply disturbed to read reports of racism and homophobia from the crowds gathered outside. According to the Washington Post, Congressional Black Caucus members “said that racial epithets were hurled at them” and gay Congressman Barney Frank, D-Mass., was greeted with anti-gay diatribes. Another AfricanAmerican Democrat was apparently spit upon as he made his way to the Capitol for a vote. Words that come to mind after hearing such stories range from repulsive to saddening. No Tea Party member acting in such a manner should ever be welcomed into the Republican Party. In fact, I implore all Republican leaders to denounce bigotry and extremism in hopes of separating the respectful opposition forces from those who cling to hate better suited for the American South circa 1960. This goes beyond calling Obama a communist or a non-citizen — it is at the root of our society’s ability to have a vigorous policy debate without devolving into a gross spectacle.
Michael Stubel is a junior in the School of Public Affairs and the School of Communication and a moderate Republican columnist for The Eagle. You can reach him at edpage@theeagleonline.com.
A lesson from our religious elders KALEIDOSCOPE
PARVEZ KHAN Recently, I had found myself avoiding participating in and even attending interfaith events. The usual dance with the same crowd speaking the same rhetoric had dulled me to a point that I no longer found great benefit in their pursuit. Enter the National Cathedral and its historic Christian-Muslim Summit held there earlier this month. The Cathedral’s own Reverend Canon John Peterson worked for nearly two years on this project to bring together the world’s top Muslim and Christian leaders as part of a larger directive of the Center for Global Justice and Reconciliation. Christendom’s and Islamia’s top clergy worked together for three days in promoting understanding and reconciliation between Islam and the West. But it’s not just that — these leaders are now using their influence within their respective governments and spiritual hierarchies to promote and positively impact peace and reconciliation efforts worldwide. The resultant “Plan of Action” achieves specific steps towards building peace and reconciliation efforts before the parties reconvene next year. This is a sustained effort at rapprochement from all sides-Catholics, Protestants and all forms of Muslims. The four principals of the Summit are respectable and high-powered in their religious arenas: His Eminence Jean-Louis Cardinal Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, who resides in the Vatican; the Right Reverend John Bryson Chane, the Episcopal eighth Bishop of the Diocese of Washington, D.C.; the Ayatollah Dr. Seyed Mostafa Mohaghegh Damad Ahmadabadi, an astute and broadly educated Irani representing Shi’a Islam; and Professor Dr. Ahmad Mohamed El Tayeb, President of Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Sunni Islam’s largest academic institution. Make no mistake, these are reli-
gion’s heavy hitters and their initiative is most welcome, especially considering President Obama’s willingness to engage with the Muslim world with words as opposed to WMDs. So what is the tangible, positive change this Summit has brought us from the proverbial Mount of Horeb? Recognized leaders of approximately three and a half billion people have realized that dialogue necessitates and behooves education, both intraand inter-community. As they were in the Summit, previously proscribed topics must now be challenged including: non-reconciliation from the Crusades lingering and hindering peace, extremists among secularists, issues concerning women’s rights and identities and ignorance from within the communities. The Summit concluded, appropriately, on the concept of the forgiveness of sin. Reverend Chane turned to his fellow principals and asked, “Is it possible for us to forgive one another?” Quite contrastingly, we at AU witness students tearing down organizations’ posters of meetings and initiatives. We tolerate, in the comments online at The Eagle’s Web site and around campus, blatantly disrespectful statements dismissing entire races and nationalities of people. Infantile, unproductive and downright asinine behavior is condoned with the silence of the majority. In a time when scandal and religion coincide all too often, we can learn from the audacious example of the principles of the Christian-Muslim Summit and we must emulate their efforts. Remember these words of Summit Delegate Imam Sayid Hassan Al-Qazwini when you next encounter intolerance on the AU campus: “Listen to the people of hate and go to war, or listen to the people of faith and go to peace.” When you graduate and leave for the “real” world, the consequences of intolerance will be far more dire than torn posters and hurtful words.
Parevez Khan is a graduate student in the School of Public Affairs and the religion and international affairs columnist for The Eagle. You can reach him at edpage@ theeagleonline.com.
Courtesy of MCT CAMPUS
Will AU fold to ANC demands?
Numerous complaints about off-campus parties have led AU officials to seriously consider expanding the jurisdiction of the Conduct Code. The Eagle implores them to reassess. Every spring semester, hundreds of students make detailed preparations to move off campus. Almost a rite of passage, this exodus from the residence halls has often been described as a liberating experience. Yet the amount of separation from AU gained from a move off campus might soon contract. Due to recent pressure from neighborhood residents, AU officials are pursuing adjustments to the Student Conduct Code that increase its application to students living off campus. If they wish not to provoke student outrage, university administrators should proceed with extreme caution before they institute this arguably unnecessary expansion of rules. The Eagle acknowledges the inordinate amount of criticism AU officials have received from residents at recent Advisory Neighborhood Commission meetings.
Neighbors claim that AU officials have demonstrated an apathetic attitude in regards to ensuring that off-campus partying does not disturb residents. Current avenues available to residents to enforce community rules — the Metropolitan Police, official complaints — have not produced satisfactory results in their minds. Coupled with AU’s controversial proposal for additional dorms in the Nebraska Parking Lot, these disturbances have soured neighborhood-university relations as of late. No university wants to be known as a disruption to its surrounding community. With the AU’s new campus plan soon to be proposed to the D.C. Zoning Commission, the university would like to point to neighborhood support as part of the proposal’s merits. It seems AU’s administration will cave to these demands and
expanding the Student Conduct Code’s jurisdiction is likely. Serious doubts can be raised as to how widespread these neighborhood complaints really are. Of the 3,500 AU students that live offcampus, three houses have been identified as consistent problems by the university. Even AU officials can understand how unreasonable it is that the behavior of a mere three houses be used to change the policy for 3,500 students. We would hope that AU administrators would be able to put this in perspective for over-reactive residents at ANC meetings. Officials may point to the pending approval of AU’s campus plan and say their hands are tied — the ANC must be appeased. Yet this is not entirely true. While we understand the importance of getting favorable community reviews, the fact of the matter is that the en-
dorsement of the ANC has limited impact on the D.C. Zoning Commission. For AU’s last campus plan, ANC voted 4 to 1 to reject the proposal. Nevertheless, the plan made it through the Zoning Commission and was approved. The ANC holds no iron-grip on AU’s fate. The Eagle finds it ironic that the ANC has chosen to hold the campus plan hostage over complaints of student disrupting the community. The plan’s aim is to increase living space on campus, likely decreasing the number of off-campus complaints. Nevertheless, while neighbors have chosen to act irrationally, AU can proceed otherwise. We urge AU officials to examine all of their options before assuming an expansion of the Student Conduct Code is their only option. The majority of students has acted responsibly and deserve their off-campus independence.
An open letter to the Class of 2014 THAT AMERICAN LIFE
ERIN CADY Accepted students for the class of 2014: congratulations! You’ve finally completed your college application process and are now faced with the equally daunting prospect of making your choice. I think it is important to remind our readers, especially any prospective students out there, that there is a reason why we are all here and write such passionate columns: we all love American. By no means am I an official university-approved AU ambassador, but over the last few months I’ve come to love this university and the opportunities it offers students. Here are my
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reasons to join the class of 2014. The quad: Most of the academic buildings on campus, as well as the Mary Graydon Center, the home of the Terrace Dining Room, are located on the quad. AU is a small campus, with the quad at the very heart. When the weather is warm, AU students like to eat lunch in the shade, play a pickup game of Frisbee or serenade the passersby with their guitars. Internships: Unsurprisingly, D.C.’s many governmental organizations, non-profits and local businesses offer internships to suit any and every interest. AU’s Career Center is always available to assist you with the process, as are seasoned upperclassmen that have been through the process themselves. It is even possible to get academic credit or find a paid internship. Community: Whether you get involved in a club, greek life or an academic program, such as the SPA Leadership Program, you are sure to
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MARCH 25, 2010
news 4
An Army veteran and an anarchist Curiosity leads to vet’s night in jail
Arrest all in a day’s work for activist
By ASHLEY DEJEAN
Michael Dranove is a self-described anarchist. “It has nothing to do with chaos — that was some Wilson Red Scare propaganda that seems to have stuck to this day for some reason,” said the freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences who was arrested at the recent “Funk the War: Bad Romance” protest. “[Anarchism] advocates workers’ control over the means of production. [It’s] all about organization and community.” It was last year, while taking time off after high school in Athens, Ga., when Dranove first started reading work by Noam Chomsky, a noted anarchist and political activist. “After I read Noam Chomsky, my whole world opened up,” he said. “I read these books about activism, anarchism, war. I just learned so much and kept reading [and] listening to speeches.” At “Funk the War” this past Friday, Dranove was arrested for allegedly vandalizing the Armed Forces Recruiting Center with yellow paint. When asked whether he would still have gone to the protest if he had known the outcome, he responded without hesitation. “It’s never going to deter me,” he said. “It’s not like [we’re in] Palestine where you get shot for protesting. You get charged with a misdemeanor. We live in the freest country in the world. The consequences are minimal to say the least [and] if you’re scared by the consequences, this isn’t the business for you.” During the protest Dranove started chants like “No justice, no peace, U.S. out of the Middle East.” “[Dancing in the street without a set route] is like casting off those imaginary bonds which the government and the system puts on us,” he said. “For that one day, for that march you’re just free to do what you want.” AU graduate Mike Madden will be Dranove’s lawyer if his case goes to trial. The charge was never a felony and was always a misdemeanor, according to Dranove. He said the
By ASHLEY DEJEAN
Eagle Contributing Writer Matthew Halbe, a veteran of the Iraq War, woke up last Friday with no intention of going to jail. By that night he found himself in a concrete cell hoping that he wouldn’t have to spend the night. “The bed was like an elevated concrete platform,” he said. Arrested for crossing a police line at the “Funk the War: Bad Romance Street Party,” Halbe entered a starkly different environment upon release. “My girlfriend and a couple of the other protesters were there to greet me when I got out,” he said. “It was really nice. One second I’m in a cold concrete cell, and the next I’m with cheering fans.” Halbe, a junior in the School of International Service, joined the army in October of his senior year of high school because he wanted the discipline he thought the Army could give him. “Another reason was a more romantic ideal,” Halbe said. “My grandfather served in the military, and I wanted experience that was associated with that. I wanted that pride, and I wanted to make him proud of me.” While in Iraq, he worked in signal intelligence, where he analyzed and produced intelligence reports relating to capturing insurgents or forming an understanding of their operations. It was then that he started becoming disillusioned with the process, he said. “There’s almost a hunger to produce the intelligence, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be good intelligence,” Halbe said. “The decision to go into a town and capture insurgents usually has more to do with the political situation or [is] as a reaction to something bad that’s happened more than [it is] based on information we collect.” At the end of his first deployment, Halbe wrote in his journal that the United States, though
police were trying to scare him with the felony charge. He expects the case will not go to trial. “[Madden] said that if at my arraignment they don’t give me a deal for community service, he’ll be my lawyer,” Dranove said. “He’s a lawyer for activists, so he said that instead of pro bono, you do activism as your payment ... which was the coolest thing ever to hear because he was like, don’t give me money, just do your thing.” In high school, Dranove was arrested for smoking marijuana, but prior to Friday’s events, he had never been to jail, he said. The jail time was easy because he only stayed for a few hours, Dranove said, but he would not want to stay for an extended period of time. “Just the thought of being in there the whole weekend scared me enough to never want to do it again,” he said. “Although, if you’re involved in this stuff and you’re not ready for the consequences then I think you’re doing the wrong thing.” Dranove was one of the students who helped plan the street party, trudging through the snow at the beginning of February’s blizzards to make it to a meeting at Howard University. A lot of activism is less exciting than “Funk the War,” Dranove said. “Most of activism is not ‘Funk the War,’” he said. “Some professor comes to AU, you hand out pamphlets at the event, and then you go spend the next two weeks preparing another event. It takes a lot of time and energy. It’s rewarding, but it’s not fun.” Nevertheless, Dranove finds being an activist fulfilling. “Not only is [activism] great because you meet friends and ... because you’re actually changing the world,” he said. “You know that there’s something worth fighting for in life.”
Eagle Contributing Writer
COURTESY OF MATTHEW HALBE
DIFFERENT WORLD — Matthew Halbe stands with Timothy, a friend of his from Uganda, in Camp Ramadi while he was serving in Iraq in late 2007. Halbe went to the “Funk the War: Bad Romance Street Party” partly out of curiosity but found the experience to be liberating. imperfect, was doing good things and trying to make a difference. When he got back home though, he learned that through stop-loss the Army would be redeploying him the following year. Stop-loss is a part of the enlistment contract that allows the military to extend a soldier’s active duty service involuntarily. “On my second deployment, I was completely useless as far as my job title,” Halbe said. “I ended up just doing guard duty for an entire year, so I had a lot of time to just sit in the guard tower and think. I drafted my application for AU in [that] guard tower.” Some of Halbe’s shifts in the guard tower lasted as long as 12 hours, giving him time to read, follow the 2008 elections and realize how he felt about the war. “I think the most conviction I feel about any one issue is about the contracting and moneymaking that happens in Iraq and the waste,” Halbe said. “It doesn’t have as much to do with the ideological questions about why we’re there and why we’re not there. It has
more to do with how we go about it.” Even though he talks about the bad parts of the military, Halbe said he does not want people to overlook the great parts. Halbe attended the protest out of curiosity and to support his friends, despite being uncomfortable with some of the message. He had no intention of getting arrested beforehand. When he got arrested, he was standing on the sidewalk 20 feet from the U.S. Treasury building, lingering behind the protest, Halbe said. Two other protestors had just been arrested after climbing onto the second story ledge of the building with a banner that read, “End the Wars/Fund our Future.” “A cop comes up to me and he says, ‘You have two choices,’” Halbe said. “’You can either go back towards the protest or you can get off the sidewalk.’ I kind of stood there and looked at him, and he said, ‘You can either do what I say or you can get arrested.’ And I said ‘I’ll get arrested.’” Getting caught up in the envi-
ronment of the protest, Halbe felt empowered from dancing in the streets when he made his decision. “You see 200 cops, and you see probably a smaller number of protesters, and you feel this conflict, like it’s us versus them,” he said in a previous interview. Halbe’s court date is set for April 7. Unless he gets a lawyer for free, he plans to go without representation and accept the penalty he is given, he said. While Halbe may not agree with everything the United States is doing, he harbors a deep pride for this country. “I don’t hate America — in fact, I love America,” Halbe said. “I have a lot of pride for my country. I think that it’s important that all students have that whether they disagree with policy [or] what our country does. I think it’s important to have a love for the people of our country and love our own personal histories.” You can reach this writer at news@theeagleonline.com.
You can reach this writer at news@theeagleonline.com.
Lack of public field space sparks discussion By JEREMY WALSH Eagle Contributing Writer The availability of sports facilities on campus has developed into a contentious issue for AU students, causing some to question whether the Department of Athletics favors varsity athletes over other students. The perceived lack of places for students to play sports has led some to encourage the administration to make more spaces available. The available athletic spaces on campus for student use include six outdoor tennis courts, two outdoor basketball courts, two indoor basketball courts available during open gym hours in Bender Arena, the indoor pool, the turf field and softball diamond at the Jacobs Recreational Complex and the track around Reeves Field. Varsity students have prior-
ity to use the turf field, making it difficult for other students to use it. “I think it’s just frustrating to use like the turf field at times because you know you’re going to get kicked off,” said Alex LaBant, a junior in the School of International Service. The turf field is available for the AU community’s use when the varsity lacrosse and field hockey teams, club sports teams or intramural competitions do not have the space reserved, according to Jordan Tobin, director of facilities and operations for the Department of Athletics. Open gym hours have been another area which some students have expressed displeasure. “There are not enough open gym hours,” Max Rappaport, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, said. “I think it’s just
due to the lack of space and the fact that ... a lot of the teams, have to practice there as well.” Currently, the AU Athletics allows members of the Jacobs Fitness Center to use the basketball courts inside Bender Arena during times that the facility would otherwise be empty — when athletic practices, competitions or other school events are not occurring. “Every effort is made to offer at least some open gym hours on a daily basis to the AU community, and once open gym hours are set for a particular month and are published online, they are not altered or removed (unless more time is added) except on a rare basis,” Tobin said in an e-mail. On the Jacobs Fitness Center Web site, there were 194 open gym hours posted for March 2010, an average of just over six hours a
day. This total is an increase over last month, which had a total of 85.25 hours, an average of just over three hours per day. The number of open gym hours offered to the AU community is lower during winter months in part because varsity wrestling and men’s and women’s basketball compete and practice most during those months. Still, Rappaport said that personal experience makes him think that more hours could be added to open gym. “I’ve gone in [Bender Arena] like two hours before open gym is supposed to start and there’s nothing going on,” he said. “Those are times when people could be playing on the courts but open gym hours aren’t posted.” Joseph Muscarella, an undergraduate senator for the class of 2011, said he recognized an issue
with the posting of times students could use available spaces. He also noticed the varsity weight room is open to students when athletes are not using it. This observation led him to write a bill on the issue that the Undergraduate Senate passed last November. Muscarella’s legislation called for the executive branch of the AU Student Government to lobby the administration to post all available hours that non-varsity students can use recreational athletic facilities on their Web site. Currently, AU Athletics posts the hours students can use the Jacobs Fitness Center, open gym and recreational swim. Varsity weight room hours continue to be posted solely on the room’s door, which also indicates that the available hours are “subject to change without prior notice.” Though the Senate passed the
bill last semester, the executive branch of SG might not be pushing strongly to see the issue resolved, Muscarella said. Zack Solomon, director of Student Athletics and Recreation for the SG, said he was not aware of Muscarella’s bill passing last semester. He also added that he has not received any student input regarding the availability of recreational facilities, Muscarella said he intends to write a new bill to address the amount of hours offered. You can reach this writer at news@theeagleonline.com.
SG ELECTION RESULTS n
from ELECTION on page 1
upset about his loss, he feels that his campaign was run effectively. “I feel good that I was able to run a completely clean campaign — no drama, no violations, none of the ‘achy-ness’ that weighed the other campaigns down. So I can hold my head up high about the job that I have done.” Vice President-elect Maia Tagami said she is looking forward to her new role as SG vice president. “I’m really excited and honored to be elected,” Tagami said. “I’m looking forward to working with the SG and I’m excited to get started with new projects.” Vice presidential candidate Jeremiah Headon said he is dismayed about his loss. “All I can say is, ‘darn,’” Headen said. “It was a close race all around. But I look forward to seeing what [Tagami] does as vice president.” Check theeagleonline.com for the full list of winners from this week’s elections. Staff writers Meg Fowler and Nicole Glass also contributed to this report. You can reach this staff writer at jryan@theeagleonline.com.
SG President
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Maia Tagami
Anthony Dunham
Jenny Kim
Nirvana Habash Jeremiah Headen
Dustin Baker Amy Chin
Seth Rosenstein
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Kent Hiebel other
Jake Paul Ed Levandoski
Ashley Kongs
MARCH 25, 2010
THE EAGLE'S ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT SECTION
Eating locally improves health, aids environment WHOLISTIC HEALTH
KELLY BARRETT In my last column, I took a hard look at how our food system is failing our children, and how this is contributing to our problem with childhood obesity in America. Tomorrow night, ABC will premiere chef Jamie Oliver’s new television series “Food Revolution.” Oliver will work to combat this issue using food and cooking education in the town of Huntington, W.Va., which was recently named the unhealthiest city in America. This semester, I am interning at Food and Water Watch, a consumer advocacy non-profit that works for more wholesome and sustainable food. I recently spoke with our chef/restaurant liaison at Food and Water Watch, Rocky Barnette, about what people our age can do, to work for better food in America. Rocky believes in the power of “voting with your fork,” but doesn’t think that’s always enough. He is working to build awareness of food issues and motivate consumers to take action by taking steps like subscribing to our action alerts and signing our online petitions. “When you’re in college ... you start to form your integrity about the food that you eat,” Rocky said. “It’s when you should start to be more conscious of the food that you’re putting into your body.” When I think about the work these individuals and organizations are doing, my heart lights up. But I realize not everyone feels as passionately about fair, slow, safe food. Many of us aren’t going
to write letters to our congressman about breaking up food monopolies and stopping factory fish farms. There isn’t enough time in the day and, if you go to AU, there’s probably some other issue you’re already busy advocating for. So what are some things we can do if we “care” about changing our food system, but we don’t have time to start a blog about it and make it our personal crusade in life? As AU students, here are some opportunities we can take advantage of: —Shop at the Wednesday farmers’ market on campus that EcoSense brought us. If you don’t live on campus or want more of a selection, you can go to localharvest.org to see what else is available. I actually literally live closer to a Saturday morning farmers’ market than I do to a grocery store. —Choose Bon Appétit-run TDR or other sustainably-sourced dining locations when you are off campus to eat instead of fast food chains. The Web site Greenopia. com offers excellent ideas for restaurants that feature organic, seasonal, local ingredients, many offering grass-fed beef and sustainable seafood as well. —Cook at home more often. If you feel overwhelmed at the prospect of cooking with leeks and radishes and strange vegetables you have never heard of, ask the farmers for ideas about what to cook. They will be more than happy to offer suggestions (try that exercise out at your local supermarket and check out the strange looks you get). I had never cooked or eaten a beet in my life until this past winter. I had no idea how much I love beets. —When you are at the supermarket, read nutrition labels to n
see HEALTH on page 6
Courtesy of DREAMWORKS ANIMATION LLC
DRAGONHEART — Dreamworks’ new film “How To Train Your Dragon” raises the bar not only for Dreamworks’ own films but also animated films in general. The combination of excellent 3-D effects and an innovative plot produced a film that has elements that will provide fun for both children and their parents.
‘Dragon’ appeals to inner child By STEPHAN CHO Eagle Contributing Writer HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
A
Still think you’re too cool to see an animated movie about dragons? Think again. Based on the children’s novel by Cressida Cowell, “How To Train Your Dragon” is the newest film by the wizards of DreamWorks Animation. Don’t be dissuaded by the all-inclusive PG rating — there’s enough enjoyment that goes beyond the trappings of the kiddie genre it inhabits. The film raises the bar on imagination even for DreamWorks as one of their most ambitious productions yet. And with the I-Max 3D enhancement, it is sure to become a classic. Set in an alternate world, the movie follows a small, sequestered town of Vikings ruled by Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler). For these bellicose loudmouths, with their meaty arms, scruffy beards and crude wool
clothing, war is not just a sport — it’s a livelihood. Men, women, youngsters — it seems like nobody is too chaste to utter the words “kill” and “die.” Their enemies: hordes of malicious dragons that plunder food and livestock. These winged monsters come in all sizes and colors, with nuances as detailed as individual capabilities, fears and functions. Stoick has the robustness and bravery to take even the largest of these beasts head-on. However, his son Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) — a puny name that was given to him in hopes that he would prove himself otherwise — can barely even load a cannon without making things worse. A constant disgrace to his father, Hiccup is the only member of the village who is not allowed to fight. It isn’t until he secretly finds and befriends a powerful dragon that he starts to turn heads and make friends, a decision that is later met with backlash. As is tradition with DreamWorks movies, there is the lovably eccentric cast with their equally eccentric tendency to go beyond the mold of bland characterization.
Hiccup is downright tiny both in body and spirit when he’s standing amid the townsfolk, but his constant bickering against his agitated peers shows a nobleness that makes him the voice of reason. When his father and friends are wielding axes and blunt hammers readying themselves for the slaughter, Hiccup is gathering fish for his dragon friend. Perhaps to counter the diverse characters of the Viking tribe, the dragons actually get enough screen time to make them considerable major characters as well. It’s shown in the film that there is an entire lore built around the documentation and treatment of the different kinds of dragons. Instead of subverting this fact by only showing a few in passing, the film goes through many of them in actual combat, as if to say the viewer is learning about the dragons along with Hiccup. When it comes to 3-D effects, the film has a visual splendor that is simply unrivaled in the world of animation. When the going gets good, there’s just so much happening all at
once onscreen that it reaches levels of sensory overload. This is especially rewarding in overhead-flying shots and fight scenes, which this film delivers by the numbers. But the most important aspect of the film is how not a single scene is wasted. Every moment from start to finish grips the audience with delight either from the eye-popping scenery or the quirkiness of the characters. And you’ll be surprised at just how engrossing all of it is. With so much talk of death and dragon genocide, DreamWorks seems to have overstepped their bounds in assuming their target demographic. There’s an illuminating moment in the film’s ending that shows a not-too-picturesque outcome when Hiccup is forced to fight, and his quest for acceptance from his father comes with a sacrifice that is heartwrenching and appropriate. If nothing else, it’s a step in the right direction for the future of DreamWorks movies. You can reach this writer at thescene@theeagleonline.com.
‘70s film screening captures modern journalism failures By LINDA BARNHART Eagle Contributing Writer
RICK WOOD / MCT CAMPUS
PIANO MAN — Ben Folds has intertwined the serious and the humorous in all of his music, but not as deftly as his improvised ballads performed over Chatroulette. The singer composed songs live in concert for random correspondents over the chat interface, projecting it onscreen for his fans to enjoy.
Sense of humor defines Folds’ sounds By MAGGIE HOLLANDER Eagle Staff Writer Ben Folds has his own way of doing things. A veteran of the music industry, he has not only been in bands, but also had a solo career and even took a stint as a judge on NBC’s a capella competition “The Sing Off.” But what’s great about Folds is his attitude towards the music business. He always has a smile and a joke at the ready. One of his latest antics is now an Internet sensation. The idea came from a man on YouTube. “Merton,” a short guy at a piano with glasses and his hood up, created a video of himself on Chatroulette, improvising songs about the people he chatted with. For a while, viewers suspected Folds to be the real “Merton,” but this was not the case. But in honor of the comparison, Folds decided to spend
part of a recent show in Chatroulette, hood up, doing exactly what Merton did. The edited YouTube video features classic lines such as “Hey bam, on the can,” a part of a greater ode to one user who happened to be on the toilet. Folds’ video already has over one million hits in just two days. But of course, this wasn’t Folds’ first time in the world of musical comedy. When it looked like his latest album, “Way to Normal,” was going to be leaked on the Internet, Folds took matters into his own hands. In an overnight recording session in Dublin, Folds and his band created fake versions of several of the songs on his real CD. “Bitch Went Nutz” (not to be confused with the album’s “Bitch Went Nuts”) is about a young Republican who takes a drugged up date with hairy armpits to an office party; needless to say, it does not go over well. The song is an even bigger hit
than the real version. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Folds said the new song was “one of my favorite songs I’ve written, lyrically and everything.” “This is what the fake lyrics allowed me to do,” he continued. “Completely write earnestly from the point of view of a Republican ex-fratboy guy who’s trying to make it at his law firm and is horrified ‘cause his girlfriend has left, liberal views and it’s fun.” “Way to Normal” continues Folds’ odd sense of humor, such as the ballad “Cologne.” The track features moving piano, yet references the astronaut who wore a diaper while driving off to kill her boyfriend. The first single off the album, “You Don’t Know Me,” is a duet featuring Regina Spektor. The quirky track adds Spektor’s usual flair to Folds’ style. Folds told Rolling Stone he was blown away by Spektor’s talent.
“When she works it’s scary good,” he said. “She’s just all talent.” But of course, not all of Ben Folds’ work is fun and games. Called his “signature” by MTV, the Ben Folds Five classic “Brick” is based on Folds’ experience in high school when his girlfriend had an abortion. Maybe that’s what’s so great about Ben Folds’ music: he has the uncanny ability to be completely serious one moment and the next it’s back to jokes. No matter which way he decides to be from one album to the next, Folds’ fans will continue to listen. Ben Folds will be playing at the 9:30 club this Friday, March 26, with opening act Zach Williams. And hey, if you can’t go, you can always hang out on Chatroulette and hope to be serenaded by the man himself! You can reach this writer at thescene@theeagleonline.com.
The latest screening in the “Reel Journalism with Nick Clooney” series, co-sponsored by the School of Communication and the Newseum, featured a screening of the satirical film “Network.” The film follows network television and its sacrifice of integrity in the name of sensationalism and profits. While the subjects and trends discussed in “Network” seem all too familiar in this day and age, the film was released back in 1976. Even 34 years later, it’s eerie how relevant this satire is to the current state of the news media. Distinguished Journalist in Residence Nick Clooney hosted the screening of the film Monday night and was joined by Gordon Peterson and Arch Campbell, both respected journalists working for ABC7/WLJA-TV. The two “deans of their field” shared their opinions on the state of today’s media and the continuing relevance of “Network” in the ever-changing media world. The three journalism veterans have seen its evolution from the reigning days of print and the emergence of broadcast to the convergence of media platforms. The juxtaposition of their careers with the film is striking. Their experience provided the audience with a better understanding of the function of today’s media and how it hasn’t changed all that much in recent years. “Network” tells the story of Howard Beale, whose slow descent into madness resurrects his dying career and is exploited by network executives at UBS as his ranting and raving causes profits to skyrocket. Peter Finch and Faye Dunaway received Academy Awards for their turns as the notorious Beale and programming executive Diana Christensen, who uses Beale’s explosion on the nightly news to revise the news programming into a high-ratings spectacle. Clooney asked Petersen and Campbell if characters such as Christensen and Max Schumacher
(played by William Holden) still existed in the newsroom today. While Peterson and Campbell said they have never worked for someone like Christensen, they have worked with people similar to her because “she’s every person.” Campbell said that her character represents the next generation of the media rather than the rising sensationalist network executives, and now, the bloggers of today. Although those like Schumacher who stood up for the integrity of the news and attempted to prevent the UBS madness from happening now seem few and far between, both Petersen and Campbell state that they are still around. “People still exist that want to play it straight,” Petersen said. Despite the hope that Clooney, Petersen and Campbell hold for the next generation of our media, the criticisms of “Network” still ring true into the modern media world. In the film, Beale rants, “Television is not the truth. Television is a goddamn amusement park.” Television today is even more spectacular and sensational than in the time of “Network,” with news networks featuring more commentary than news programs, and news programs focusing more on celebrity fluff than hard news as per the public’s demands. “I saw the film again three months ago, and was surprised how well it holds up,” Campbell said. “As long as you don’t impact profits, you can do whatever. If it costs the network money, drastic steps will be taken.” “Network” also discusses the future of the media generations. Dunaway’s Christensen embodies today’s television, constantly trying to fit life into dramatic plots and always looking for the next big hit. As Christensen was “television incarnate,” so are today’s bloggers and backpack journalists the “Internet incarnates” of our age, firing off stories instantly and more condensed than ever. Campbell believes that although they are faster, many of today’s journalists are “not as accurate, not as thoughtful,” sacrificing details in the interest n
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the EAGLE
MARCH 25, 2010
the scene 6
Twitter brings musicians closer to Internet fans SCENE SPOTLIGHT
MAGGIE HOLLANDER
ROB MCEWAN / METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER STUDIOS INC.
HOT IN HERE — “Hot Tub Time Machine” is the unapologetically goofy latest release from director Steve Pink. Starring Chevy Chase, John Cusack and Lizzy Caplan, the film embraces the ridiculousness of the premise that a charmed hot tub transports four old friends back to their heyday in the ‘80s.
Caplan, Cusack save ‘Hot Tub’ By BEN SCHWARTZ Eagle Contributing Writer
HOT TUB TIME MACHINE
B
The defining moment of “Hot Tub Time Machine,” the new comedy directed by Steve Pink, comes right after the title apparatus has done its work, sending the four protagonists back in time (duh) to 1986. What follows is the obligatory leg of any time-travel movie where the characters have to discover that they have, yes, really traveled through time. As the realization sinks in and the four leads (John Cusack, Craig Robinson, Rob Corddry and Clark Duke) fly into a tizzy trying to figure out what sort of supernatural force could have done this, Robinson turns solemn-
ly to the camera and says, “Must be some sort of (dramatic pause) ... hot tub time machine.” This is a movie that asks the audience to play along with its own goofiness. By acknowledging the ridiculousness of the premise time and again, it frees itself to be as silly as it likes — which turns out to be quite silly. The twists are easy to spot, many parts are vague and unexplained, and some jokes fall flat. In fact, some whole story lines do too — there’s a squirrel that somehow gets involved and far overstays its welcome; Chevy Chase’s character seems like a completely useless mash-up of Don Knotts from “Pleasantville” and Christopher Lloyd from “Back to the Future.” But the enthusiasm, glee and selfdeprecating charm of the ensemble make up for it. Probably the weirdest moment of this entire bizarre film is the mo-
ment where the audience realizes that it has become emotionally invested in “Hot Tub Time Machine.” That’s right, you read that correctly. The moment is more surreal than the man in a bear costume fellating Robinson in the hot tub or that blasted squirrel ruining Denver’s famous comeback in the AFC Championship Game against the Browns (that’s “The Drive” to those of you who are uninitiated). Adam (Cusack, the only actor in the film capable of carrying a love story) has become self-absorbed and lonely in the present. At least, that’s what the characters keep telling us; during the scant sequence set in the corporeal 2010 world before the fun starts, we see no evidence for any real life/character, just a mopey montage. But when catapulted back to his youth, Cusack finds in the past a woman who he missed the first time: April, played by Lizzy
Caplan (whose drollness has previously been showcased in her turn as Janis Ian in “Mean Girls”). Playing it straight in the midst of all the male-fantasy wackiness, she manages to stand out by adding a different kind of humor: dry wit instead of blowjob jokes and pop culture references. While oral sex and Michael Jackson jokes can carry a movie pretty far, without Caplan and Cusack “Hot Tub” would have faltered on the finish line. Anyone who is even considering going to see a movie called “Hot Tub Time Machine” knows what is about to happen. It’s an entertaining frolic through the ‘80s and a fun take on the buddy/time travel genre. If you go in prepared to play along and take it for what it is, you’ll have a good time. You can reach this writer at thescene@theeagleonline.com.
Thousands of bands have them. Even more have one for each member of a band. Whether backstage at a show or on the bus headed to a new city, musicians across the country are tweeting. Purevolume was the perfect way for bands to put their music out there and be discovered. Myspace was a to way to stream music, blog and post tour dates. Facebook was the new Myspace. But Twitter? What exactly does Twitter have to offer the music world? Twitter is an interesting concept. It gives bored people a way to feel more connected to the world by sending and reading statements of 140 characters or fewer. It combines the smart-phone craze with the obsession of social networking — all while keeping the short attention span of our generation in mind. For bands, it’s a way to connect to more fans than even seemed possible. John Mayer, for example, has over 3 million followers. The “Recording/Sandwich artist” (according to his Twitter bio) made headlines recently for some rather risqué comments he had made in an interview, but rather than wait for another interview to clear things up, he just tweeted his apology mere hours after the fact. Pop/country princess Taylor Swift comes in just behind her friend John with more than 2.7 million followers. Armed with this tool of mass connection, Swift shares important pieces of information with her fans. For example, on Feb. 18 she tweeted, “I just used a Sharpie as eye liner in the airplane bathroom.” But while these artists are some of the most talked about Twitter-
ers, they do not, in fact, have the most followers. Comeback queen Britney Spears tops them both with just under 5 million followers, making her one of the most followed people on Twitter to date. But what is Twitter really good for when it comes to the music industry? Clearly, as evidenced by John Mayer, it can be a great public relations tool — or a PR disaster. Some, like Pete Wentz (formally of Fall Out Boy) or Martin Johnson (Boys Like Girls), have used it to share photos of their faces just after being beaten up. Other bands, however, have found more creative uses for the Web site. Take Jack Barakat of All Time Low, for example. The guitarist was said by the MTV Buzzworthy Blog to have “one of the greatest celebrity tweets of all time” back in December. The tweet went as follows: “Some people may want to ask me ‘Jack, due to your crazy lifestyle do you get a lot of diarrhea?’ The answer is Yes I do.” Twitter can be a great tool to connect bands to fans. It allows them to warn of presales, announce new tour dates and just generally share pertinent information with those who would most like to know it. However, it is arguable that bands go too far when they start to Tweet about bodily functions. No one could have predicted Twitter would become such a fad or that it would have lasted as long as it has. But with new social media being created every day (ChatRoulette, anyone?), it’s difficult to know if it has the staying power it needs to become a real staple in the music industry. Then again, without Twitter, how would we know exactly what the musicians we idolize are doing at every hour of the day? What a sad world that would be. You can reach this writer at thescene@theeagleonline.com.
Burton’s latest films fail to live up to past achievements THROUGH THE LENS
DONNY T. SHELDON I was standing in line to see his latest film at a huge multiplex theater behind two young girls dressed up in blue jumpers when I decided that I was in a huge fight with Tim Burton. I realized that I’m no longer a part of his target audience. Growing up, my VHS copies of “Edward Scissorhands” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas” went through brutal repeated viewing.
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make sure your food doesn’t have a million ingredients and pay attention to country of origin. It says right on the front. Should we really be nibbling on grapes from Chile? Have you read up on what pineapple in Costa Rica is doing to local communities? A few months back, I stopped buying fruits from far away countries (goodbye ba-
A candyland sedar? Our ancestors were oppressed by Pharaoh and Gd delivered us and you’re making a joke out of it? Where is ADL when you need them? I pay to go to AU. Why do I need to share my locker room with a bunch of rugrats? If so-and-so is elected SG president, I’m transferring to Canadian University.
As a result, I bet the images on both tapes would resemble the distorted sea of colors, bizarre noises and thrusting lines one would encounter after accidentally stumbling upon late-night Cinemax. It’s been a rollercoaster of a past decade being a Burton fan — if I can even really consider myself one anymore. Burton first proved his difficulties adapting with 2001’s atrocious, unintentionally campy “Planet of the Apes.” The only thing more painful than the film itself was seeing brilliant actress Helena Bonham Carter in primate makeup prosthetics. Although nauseatingly sentimental, Burton’s 2003 fantasy “Big Fish” definitely redeemed his reputation. The only direction in which
he could go following “Apes” was up, after all. Next, with “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” Burton dove head first into a new audience demographic: young’uns. It did well financially, but for me, watching the film was tantamount to being trapped in a Chuck E. Cheese ball pit surrounded by the sounds of a marching band that just dropped LSD — and not in a good way. Burton traditionalists were thrilled to see his return to claymation with 2005’s woefully underrated “Corpse Bride.” Then the goth, Hot Topic kids decided to knight “Nightmare’s” Jack the Skeleton King their savior and poster boy for the “Waahhh, I have feelings and wear lots of bracelets” movement. It’s enough to crush
the spirit of anyone, especially a true Burton fan. Over winter break, I went to Burton’s exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It was a fantastic show that illuminated Burton’s dark and wicked early animation. It was reassuring following his aforementioned missteps, yet I almost felt tricked after seeing Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland.” I think “Alice” belongs down in the Burton archive in “Apes” territory. Like “Charlie,” the film has delivered a knockout punch at the box office, especially after riding the tidal wave of 3-D craze generated by “Avatar” months prior. Like “Avatar,” I felt that the visual effects, while rapturous or whatever, are compensating for something. Here,
it is characterization, as these characters are about as dimensional as a light switch. Next to “Apes,” this is the director’s least “Tim Burton” and least alive film. It’d be damn near catatonic if the visual effects team didn’t go as batshit crazy as they did. I should clarify here that I’m not against film revision. There’s nothing wrong with modernizing a classic, but when the director extracts every ounce of the original story’s clever, whimsy and charming chaos and replaces it with formulaic convention, there’s something wrong. Burton’s “Alice” is calculated, plotted and predictable. Everything it shouldn’t be. What Burton needs to do is consider his older “Edward,” “Batman,”
“Vincent,” “Corpse,” and “Nightmare” audience. We’re all still here and we’re all still waiting for something from him that doesn’t feel like a sugar rush — one that doesn’t embarrass us to buy tickets for at theaters. “Same movie as the 8-yearolds in Alice costumes for me!” I propose that Burton takes the heap of cash he’ll acquire with “Alice” and make the dark, creepy and most importantly, R-rated masterpiece he’s got lurking inside his twisted mind somewhere. Forget the kids. They’re going to have robots designed to entertain them soon enough.
nanas and melon), because I just don’t feel right about it. Choose something to stand up for, and don’t waver.
most radical political act there is, is to believe that if I change, other people will follow suit.” I know this sounds so lofty and poetic. And many people think the local food movement is a lofty and poetic cause meant for selfrighteous environmentalists and food-snobbish yuppies. Many people don’t think small farms can feed us all. But once upon a time,
didn’t “health care for all” sound like a lofty and poetic goal for this country? I won’t get into my political views on the health care debate, but what I will say is that last year, 10 percent of the health care costs in this country were tied to obesity-related illness, including treatment of heart disease and diabetes. I believe that inadequate
nutrition from the industrial food people eat has caused more health problems than just this 10 percent, contributing to illnesses we don’t necessarily see as food-related, such as attention deficit hyperactive disorder, certain cancers and even lung disease - not to mention the risks posed by contaminants like Salmonella and E. Coli. With proper nutrition, more than $147
billion dollars could have been saved, and channeled toward rebuilding our food system-preventative care over treatment.
In the film “No Impact Man,” the story of a man and his family who set out to not create waste for an entire year, Colin Beaven says, “The most radical political act there is to be an optimist. The
doesn’t know the difference.
EAGLE RANTS *@#!3*%!
Can we limit the amount of times that Alex can post on articles on the E-Eagle? I know he is the smartest one on staff, but he gets boring. Could we also have like a forum on the eagle? Could we also have someone to moderate these comments?
Charles: For the life of me when I look at the Eagle Web site I can’t seem to find your little video where you recap all of the news in the eagle. Can you make the link to that more obvious? Clearly, I’m not that smart because I actually read Le Eagle. Yours, Dear Reader. EDITOR’S NOTE: The “Quicktake” that you are referring to has been temporarily suspended. It might come back one day. No promises.
Why can’t Eagle Rants “threaten” any person, but The Eagle can print anti-gay diatribes?
What’s the difference between Joseph Goebbels and the staff of the Eagle? Goebbels *knew* he was doing anti-gay propaganda. The Eagle
F*** everyone in class who doesn’t do the reading. Why are you even in class? Why are you even in school?
Selling girl-scout cookies on the quad may be the smartest thing ever. To the girls in my class who think they’re so much better than everyone else: shut up. You’re a joke. IF I HAVE TO TAKE ONE MORE SCIENCE CLASS I WILL KILL MYSELF!
Where the F*** is my Monique nique nique nique nique in the afternoon??? too little sleep. must stay up and pass classes Dear Roommate, Please stop slamming the door whenever you leave the room. It’s loud and obnoxious, and it makes me want to poke badgers with spoons. Find another outlet for your aggression. I wish you felt the same way about me as I feel about you. Why are there never Facebook events for the different events on campus? Especially the Katzen ones. Note to club leaders: If your club is having an event, MAKE A FACEBOOK GROUP FOR IT. It’s really not that hard.
I’m starting to regret living in Hughes next year. It’ll probably be loud with the guy who gives blowjobs in the amphitheatre. Endorsing Jeremiah Headen screams, “We hate gays!” Thanks Eagle. EDITOR’S NOTE: No, we don’t. But we do understand why you people who don’t read what was written would say that. I second all the rants Monday about trash on the quad... they had to bring extra trash cans out to give you the hints you lazy bums. Be responsible! Soooo is there any good reason why computers have super high default sound levels? They are set so sound only works with headphones, so shouldn’t that be lower? --Busted Ears.
Someone puhlease tell me that a guy who has slept around (and is like, 21 or something) will probably eventually stop being promiscuous. I can’t get over my attraction. Reading the opinion section on this site makes me feel much less whiny. Highly-visible students at this school are defensive little bitches. Last year I sent an e-mail to today@au (which was clearly NOT forwarded on those worthlessmotherf****ers) wherein I suggested the renaming of today@au to TodayU (like, TodayU will do these dumb things) and The Eagle to Theagle. These shorter names are more efficient and green, which I do believe is our motto or something. As much as I love college there is one creature-comfort from home that I struggle to do without: I’m lowerend-of-average height, but everyone in my family is substantially shorter than me. What I’m getting at is, I’ve seen a lot of short people on campus
You can reach this columnist at thescene@theeagleonline.com.
You can reach this columnist at kbarrett@theeagleonline.com.
here, and I’m wondering if they’d like to be my (paid) friends so I can feel tall like I do at home. I want a boy from On a Sensual Note to follow me around campus singing Michael Buble’s everything. Let’s get that going kthnx. I am still a virgin and even though I know I will regret it, I kind of want to just get it over with. I’m worried about the awkward first few times, because chances are the guy I sleep with first will have experience and be disappointed by the fact that I have no idea what the hell I am doing. AHHH-H-H-H-H Listening to Kogod students work makes me really happy I’m not a business student. People in the library: When you say you’ll watch my stuff, that doesn’t mean “get up and leave.” It means, “stay till I get back.” Eagle rants, you have been lame lately. I am supremely disappointed. EDITOR’S NOTE: Blame the players, not the game.
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CLASSIFIEDS
MARCH 25, 2010
KUSHAN DOSHI n Business Manager 202.885.3593
‘Benjy’ adds ‘soul’ to old formula
CLASSIFIED HELP WANTED In garden once a week at $15/hr. Call 202-363-5229 for more info.
Journalism greats share experiences, fear for cable news n
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of shorter length and quicker turnaround. Though some feel this new world of reality television and celebrity inundation gives little hope for the future of our news media, Petersen and Campbell profess that, although it is very different, it is not all bad. The increase in competition and pace has created a new kind of journalism, one in which there are more voices and stories than ever before. “This is an extraordinary time we live in,” Petersen said. “The young people we work with are spectacular.” Despite its age, “Network”
stands the test of time with its relevance to media then and now. Though hope still remains for the future of our news media, the discussion made it clear that the media will cater to the whims of the public no matter what, giving them the sensation they crave rather than the straight information they need. A “visionary movie” according to Clooney, “Network” exposes an essential truth of the media in one of Beale’s raving soliloquies — “We’ll tell you anything you want to hear.” You can reach this writer at thescene@theeagleonline.com.
Benjy Davis Project “Lost Souls Like Us” Rock Ridge Music LOST SOULS LIKE US
B+
Sounds like: A cajun Jack Johnson Some bands get flack for trying so hard to stay true to a certain style that it actually ends up constraining the production, making it sound flat and lifeless. The Louisiana-based Benjy Davis Project are not one of those bands. If anything, it’s that very idea that makes their new album all the more enjoyable. With a delightful blend of Southern rock and acoustic pop, the 12 tracks
may be lacking in originality, but the band make up for it in a rapturous liveliness. And with each new chord, you are sure to find yourself willfully singing along. There’s a certain consistency to the songs in both pacing and tone. Starting with “Mississippi,” listeners are treated to a jubilant ballad about the whimsy of finding love. It blends together a rustic country twang with the lively, off-beat vocals of Benjy Davis. His singular voice somehow manages to work on all kinds of levels to match the fluctuating moods of the songs, from the dreamy “Send Your Love Down” to the jolting “Give it a Week’s Time.” Sure, there isn’t much variation from song to song, but the pithy moments of pure bliss contained in each are just plain uplifting. While the album is completely lackadaisical in approach, it’ll make you feel that nostalgic enchantment of home in the sunbaked South. Davis is able to bring these memories to the surface with such a clarity that it will have you pressing the replay button on instinct. In essence, it’s a very spiritual album through and through. -STEPHAN CHO
It’s not that Alkaline Trio’s new album sounds particularly bad or faces any mishaps in quality. In fact, taking apart its components — from the frantic riffs to the strong-worded verbal delivery — you’d think that this was a solid album worthy enough to satisfy even casual fans of the band. But compared to previous releases, “This Addiction” just sounds like
the band didn’t put in the right amount of effort, with some tracks that seem like nothing more than rehashes of others. One of the more noticeable drawbacks with the album is its relative brevity. And while that’s usually a moot point in the world of alternative-punk rock, it is no exaggeration to say that these songs genuinely would have fared better if they had more wiggle room to further develop. Without that, the album is nothing but fluff, and everything sounds unfinished. We get tracks like “Draculina” and “Dorothy” that are just empty shells, searching for a high point only to flop. There’s a change of pace with more personal songs like “Piss and Vinegar” and “The American Scream” that are admittedly more impassioned and catchy, but they’re soured by a very humdrum repetition. If anything, the album plays to established fans who are already predisposed to adding this new album to their collection. But it is likely to go over the heads of the minority of people who are hoping to get into the band for the first time. Just give it a listen, but don’t think of it as a benchmark for the band’s work. -S.C.
Alkaline Trio “This Addiction” Epitaph THIS ADDICTION
C-
Sounds like: Reggie & The Full Effect imitating Rufio
The Week in Fun: Know Your City THURS 25
FRI 26 THU 27
SAT 27
SUN 28
MON 29
TUES 30
Zoo Story 7:30 p.m. WHERE: District of Columbia Arts Center, 2438 18th St. N.W. METRO: Dupont Circle (red line) INFO: Edward Albee’s first play “The Zoo” established him as a controversial artist, but also one whose comic sensibilities had a way of subverting our darkest fears and playing off them on an absurd scale. This play is an excellent introduction into the playwright’s canon. COST: $15/$20 CONTACT: For more information, call the District of Columbia Arts Center at 202-462-7833
Toro Y Moi 9 p.m. WHERE: Black Cat, 1811 14th St. N.W. METRO: U Street/African-American War Memorial/Cardozo (green and yellow lines) INFO: Toro Y Moi consists of one man and his electronic keyboard, but no one can create richer textures through the use of a few buttons and a healthy dose of reverb. Toro Y Moi is opening for the Ruby Suns - two acts that are very different on the surface but complement each other nicely. COST: $10 CONTACT: For more information, call the Black Cat at 202-667-7960.
Chelsea Handler 3 p.m. WHERE: Borders, 1801 K St. N.W. METRO: Farragut North (red line) INFO: In case you weren’t able to get tickets for her comedy show at D.A.R. Constitutional Hall, Handler will be signing copies of her book of comedic essays. Fans can get a souvenir before even seeing her perform. COST: Free CONTACT: For more information, visit Borders’ Web site at www.borders.com.
Whiz Khalifa 8 p.m. WHERE: 9:30 club, 815 V St. N.W. METRO: U Street/African-American War Memorial/Cardozo (green and yellow lines) INFO: Pittsburgh-based MC Whiz Khalifa stepped away from his major label deal at Warner Brothers in favor of a local production company. This sense of independence can be felt in his music, which defies labels in its search to make hip-hop appeal to a whole new crowd. COST: $15 CONTACT: For more information, visit the 9:30 club’s Web site at www.930.com.
Steve James 7 p.m. WHERE: AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring, Md. METRO: Silver Spring (red line) INFO: Steve James, the director of the important basketball documentary “Hoop Dreams,” has turned his lens on the sport again for ESPN’s “No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson.” The film covers his arrest and conviction for assault, and how it’s colored his reputation since. COST: $6-10 CONTACT: For more information, call the AFI Silver Theatre at 301495-6720.
Helene Jorgensen 7 p.m. WHERE: Politics and Prose, 5015 Connecticut Ave. N.W. INFO: In the wake of the new health care bill this week, hear Jorgensen discuss her book “Sick and Tired: How America’s Health Care System Fails its Patients.” The book is part memoir about the author’s own health troubles and part economic deconstruction of the flaws of our current system. COST: Free CONTACT: For more information, visit Politics and Prose’s Web site at www.politics-prose.com.
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SPORTS
MARCH 25, 2010
ANDREW TOMLINSON n Sports Editor 202.885.1404
Jones reflects on off year
PHILLIP OCHS / THE EAGLE
LEADING THE WAY — Head Coach Jeff Jones draws up a play during a timeout . This year’s men’s basketball squad finished with an overall record of 11-20 and a Patriot League record of 7-7 after losing key seniors after last season.
By TOM SCHAD Eagle Contributing Writer Quietly sipping from a Big Gulp and reading the Monday newspaper, Head Coach Jeff Jones looked anything but the fiery leader of the AU men’s basketball program. His usually furrowed brow was relaxed; the intensity of his eyes was hidden by a pair of reading glasses and the yelling was replaced by reflective thoughts. Though the previous season was disappointing for his squad, Jones was still able to take away many positives. “When you look at our season, the bottom line is that we were 11-20, and there’s no way that we’re happy with 11-20,” Jones said. “But at the end of the season, I think you really could see signs of progress and throughout the course of the year, I think we did improve.” While Jones said some losses were inexcusable, AU’s youth this past year is something that cannot be easily forgotten. The Eagles began the season as the fifth youngest team in all of Division I men’s basketball. As a whole, the program lost 81 percent of its minutes from last year and 84 percent of its scoring. Stephen Lumpkins and Nick Hendra were the only two returning players who played any role on last year’s team. “We had guys that, prior to this season, really had not played at the
collegiate level — even the sophomores,” Jones said. This was one of the reasons that AU struggled early in the season. After capturing back-to-back Patriot League titles in the past two years, the program had enormous expectations thrust upon it. AU went 0-7 to begin the season before beating Howard University, another team without a win at the time. “We just weren’t very good at the beginning of the year,” Jones said. “We had guys that didn’t know what college basketball was about, and we had guys that were playing positions that they’d never played before, so we were very much just feeling our way.” Even with the addition of FirstTeam All-Patriot League player Vlad Moldoveanu in December, AU was unable to escape its non-conference slump. The Romanian star led AU to an upset over Big East opponent DePaul University, but the Eagles still limped to a 4-13 finish in non-conference play. Losses to the likes of University of Maryland-Baltimore County (426) and Albany (7-25) were certainly disappointing to a fan base so accustomed to success, but many of the losses were not as bad as they may appear. Nearly half of AU’s non-conference losses were by seven points or less and four more were what Jones called “guarantee games” — games where AU travels to a major school
like University of Florida and is expected to lose. “If we wanted to, we could schedule a 20-win season here,” Jones said. “But that’s not going to do you any good. It might look good, but when it comes to tournament time you’re not going to be tested. It’s just kind of a façade.” Luckily for the Eagles, the team put their non-conference woes behind them and experienced a bit more success in the Patriot League. AU finished 7-7 in the conference and swept two of the top five teams in the league. According to Jones, something clicked. “At some point in the middle of the Patriot League season, I thought we finally figured out, ‘Hey, if we play this way, we can give ourselves a chance,’” he said. “The game at Navy was big because that was the first time all year that we won a game when we didn’t play really well. We were able to overcome things that went against us, and that was a sign that we had learned and become a better basketball team.” The double-overtime victory Jones cited marked the beginning of a threegame win streak that would extend into the Patriot League tournament. A third win over the Midshipmen pushed AU into the Patriot League Semifinals, where the Eagles fell to the eventual Patriot League Champion Lehigh University. “Lehigh clearly was the best and
most talented team in the Patriot League,” Jones said. “But the way we lost to them was disappointing because I don’t think we competed the way we were capable of competing.” This past season marked the worst season for AU men’s basketball since Jones became head coach in 2000. Even so, he remains optimistic about the program and the heights to which it will soar. “This was clearly our worst year,” Jones said. “But we were still able to finish in the top four and win a Patriot League game. I think that really says something about where we are as a program.” Jones was very careful to define his program as a constant work in progress, ensuring that AU is competitive every year. He used four former AU stars as an example of how a work in progress can turn into success. “When Derrick Mercer, Garrison Carr, Brian Gilmore and Jordan Nichols were freshmen, we had a losing season overall,” Jones said. “But those guys gained an awful lot of experience. It doesn’t happen overnight, but if you continue working at it then you’ve got a chance. I think that’s exactly where we are.” There is a real chance for the team to win next year, Jones said. However, there is no success without hard work behind it. For this reason, Jones expects the upcoming offseason to be the most difficult he has faced as a coach. “It’s going to be the hardest [offseason] because we need it,” Jones said. “The players understand that, and they’re anxious to improve. In order for us to be a championship-caliber team, we need to take a big step.” But no matter what the upcoming season may bring, Jones is able to find fulfillment in something other than results. “It’s always the process,” Jones said. “Winning is fun, but for me it’s always more of a relief. What’s really fun for me as a coach is watching it all happen.” While Jones has shown his more reflective side since the loss to Lehigh, expect the same old fiery coach to come out of hibernation next winter. Until then, he’s keeping busy as a guest analyst on CBS College Sports during the NCAA Tournament. He believes that the University of Kentucky will go all the way, though he was careful to reiterate he doesn’t like it. “I would not say that I like Kentucky because I grew up in the state of Kentucky,” Jones said. “But I do think the odds are overwhelmingly in their favor.” You can reach this writer at sports@theeagleonline.com.
Cannon defies expectations with All-American title By BEN LASKY Eagle Contributing Writer When Mike Cannon began his wrestling career at AU, he was not expected to be much more than an average wrestler. As a redshirt senior and the team’s captain, Cannon leaves as one of the most successful wrestlers in school history. Cannon credits the AU coaching staff for his success at AU and allowing him to realize his full potential. “I wasn’t highly recruited,” Cannon said. “Coming in, I didn’t know what to expect.” On March 7, Cannon won his second-straight 184 pounds Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Championship. With the win, Cannon joins former Eagle and national champion Josh Glenn as the only two wrestlers in AU history to make four NCAA Tournament appearances. He joined four other Eagles at the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Omaha, Neb., which began last Thursday, March 18. He advanced to the second round after scoring a second-period fall. His contributions helped the team end its season as the No. 14 team in the country. When Cannon arrived on AU’s campus, the wrestling team was one of the worst in the country. Just three years before his arrival, the university eliminated the wrestling program. However, boosters raised money to get the program going again. “This year has been memorable,” Cannon said. “I’ve seen the program grow from being a nobody-team that no one really knew... to now being kind of a powerhouse team.” There is no doubt that the Eagles will struggle to replace Cannon’s presence when he graduates at the end of the year, according to AU Wrestling Coach Mark Cody. “It’ll be very tough to fill his shoes,” he said. “Losing [Cannon] is tough because you can always rely on these guys to score points for you every time. We brought in two very solid recruits at [Cannon’s] weight that we think are going to be consistent winners, but it’ll take a year or two to get to that level.” His first season on the AU wrestling team, Cannon sat out the first season as a redshirt. During this time, he worked out with then-Assistant Coach Pat Popolizio, who is now the wrestling coach at Bing-
hamton University. His training helped raise his confidence level as a wrestler. “I trained with him all year and all summer,” Cannon said. “Just wrestling him really gave me that confidence because he was a really good wrestler in college. He would kick my butt and kick my butt, and one day something clicked. I was like, ‘I’m not going take this from him anymore.’ I went in there and started fighting. I was borderline throwing punches.” By the time Popolizio took the Binghamton job, the two were “neck and neck,” he said. The experience allowed Cannon to reach unexpected levels. The athlete, who was recruited essentially to take up a roster spot, was now one of the best wrestlers on the team. Production is not the only thing that will be lost when Cannon graduates. With 12 freshmen on this year’s team, upperclassman like Cannon have had to play a leadership role for the younger, less experienced wrestlers like Kenneth Clessas. “Wrestling with All-Americans is the best thing you can do to get better at wrestling,” Clessas said. “[Cannon] definitely is a leader on the team. If you’re not used to the tough practices, [the upperclassmen are] there to pick you up and put you back on your feet and get you moving.” The wrestling circle is not the only place that Cannon is an AllAmerican. He has also been an NCWA Academic All-American four years in a row. “The biggest thing in our sport is that there is no professional level,” Cannon said. “Division I is the professional level in wrestling. So when you leave here, you need a degree. You need something to fall back on.” After graduation, Cannon, an accounting major, will work for an accounting firm in Tysons Corner, Va. Cannon leaves the Eagles with the team in much better shape than when he arrived. He believes AU will be a powerhouse for years to come. “Everybody knows AU,” Cannon said. “They know our name. They know where we’re from. It’s been awesome to be a part of it.” You can reach this writer at sports@theeagleonline.com.
Theodore provides stable Los Angeles remains at top of goaltending for Capitals pack with Bryant taking lead CAPITALS SPOTLIGHT
ANDREW TOMLINSON With only nine games left in the season, the Washington Capitals have already found their playoff goalie — and it is not Semyon Varlamov. Varlamov had a stellar 2009 playoff run and a great start to the 2009-2010 season. An injury early in the season put him on the sidelines, and he hasn’t looked the same since. The once brick wall constantly allows soft goals and looks out of sorts in the crease. Meanwhile, Jose Theodore has done nothing but silence his critics. Before Wednesday night’s matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins, he was 26-7-6 on the year. More important than his overall record is the fact that he has only lost two games — both of which were in overtime — since Jan. 13. When the season began, he looked like a shell of the former Vezina Trophy-winning goalie. Now, he looks head and shoulders better than he ever did. Some may be quick to point out that Theodore doesn’t exactly have a pristine goals against average or save percentage, but his numbers are deceiving. There are two things to know about the Washington Capitals: they score a lot of goals and they give up a lot of goals. The style the team plays with does not lend itself to low-scoring affairs. Winger Eric Belanger described Washington’s play style best when he said the team plays “free-wheeling” hockey. In short, the Caps don’t play the best defense, and that cannot
be Theodore’s fault. It would be a lie to say that he didn’t give up soft goals; you would be hard pressed to find a goalie that didn’t. What is important to know about Theo is that he consistently comes up with the big saves when the Caps need it. The short and sweet of the situation is that Theodore gives Washington its best chance to win in the playoffs. A major difference between last season and this season is that there was a debate about Theodore’s ability at the end of last season. Down the stretch, he did not play anything remotely close to the hockey he
The short and sweet of the situation is that Theo gives Washington its best chance to win ... is playing this year. He lost seven games in March and April last season, including a 7-4 loss to the Florida Panthers in the final game of the regular season. There is no concrete explanation for the change in his play, but his mindset may have something to do with it. Theodore’s demeanor on the ice now, opposed to earlier in the season is much different. He looks like he is simply having fun playing the game he loves. It is no secret that athletes often play their best when they let loose during games. Caps fans have seen Theo consistently throw down the double pad stack like he is Ed Belfour and, in reality, who wouldn’t have fun doing that?
Head Coach Bruce Boudreau must stick with Theodore in the first round, no matter what. If he has an awful couple of games in the first round, there will be calls to switch him with Varly like they did last year. This year’s circumstances are different than last’s, though; the netminder has shown he is tougher mentally than he was last year. In August of this year, Theodore’s two-month-old son died, but he was still able to turn in a stellar season. Some people are not able to recover from something like that in a decade — let alone seven months. If that doesn’t show he is mentally tough nothing will. Obviously anything can happen in the stretch run of the season. If Theo is thrown off his game then the Caps will have to reassess the situation in net. As it stands right now, there is no reason not to have faith in Theodore. This is not an attack on Varly; he will be a stellar goalie, but he needs to straighten himself out before he can take on the starting role again. This year’s Washington team is a special one and has a serious chance to win the Eastern Conference and the Stanley Cup. Unlike last season, this is a complete team with a defense that can move the puck, an offense that can function without stars Alexander Semin and Alex Ovechkin and a rock between the pipes. Theodore’s wins are not always pretty and he is not someone who will shutout the opponent, but he gets the job done. If Washington wins it all, he certainly won’t be the reason why. At the same time, if he keeps playing like he has in the second half of the season, he won’t lose it for the Caps either. You can reach this staff writer at atomlinson@theeagleonline.com.
SIDELINE SCHOLAR
TYLER TOMEA The NBA Playoffs start in less than a month, and it looks like the Los Angeles Lakers will enter as the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference for the third consecutive year. Although teams from the loaded Western Conference will challenge them, the consensus is that the Lakers will reach the NBA Finals. If Los Angeles wins another title, how will the legacies of Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson and the Lakers franchise be affected? When Bryant was traded to the Lakers from the Charlotte Hornets after the 1996 NBA Draft, he joined a team filled with established players such as Shaquille O’Neal, Eddie Jones, Nick Van Exel and Elden Campbell. Though he did not see full playing time in his first two seasons, Bryant became entrenched as a starter and star during his third season in the NBA. In Bryant’s fourth season, he and O’Neal headlined the first NBA dynasty of the 21st century. The Lakers captured three titles from 2000-2002 as Bryant transformed himself into one of the league’s premier players. During that three-title run, he never averaged less than 20 points per game — in either the regular season or the playoffs — and became the youngest player to garner three NBA Championships at age 23. After Los Angeles lost to the Detroit Pistons in the 2004 NBA Finals, O’Neal demanded a trade, as he felt the franchise preferred Bryant to him. Immediately after O’Neal was sent to the Miami Heat, Bryant, who was a free agent
at the time, opted to re-sign with the Lakers. With O’Neal in Florida, Bryant became the main attraction in Los Angeles, giving him the spotlight he always craved. The Lakers became a one-man show and a weak supporting cast resulted in disappointing seasons from 2004-2007. Over the three-year span, Bryant became frustrated, as the Lakers never got past the first round of the playoffs. The Los Angeles front office responded by pulling off a tremendously one-sided trade for productive big man Pau Gasol. After losing to the Boston Celtics in the 2008 NBA Finals, the Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic in 2009 for their fourth title in the last 10 years. Bryant savored this championship, as it proved he could win a title without O’Neal controlling the paint. So, where does a possible fifth title rank Bryant? In terms of personal statistics, Bryant ranks 16th in total points scored. Depending on how long he plays, he has a chance to break Kareem AbdulJabbar’s scoring record. Bryant knows this, and everyone knows he wants this record. The thing to remember with Bryant is that he is 31 years old and could play at least six more years barring injury. With four championships in six Finals appearances, Bryant has the ability to have six titles, the same number as Michael Jordan’s. Bryant needs to take advantage of every opportunity to win a championship because every title continues his ascension up the list of all-time greats. Roaming the sidelines during most of Bryant’s career has been Jackson. When Jackson won his 10th championship as head coach of the Lakers last season, he became the only coach in NBA history with 10. But is Jackson solely the beneficiary of great players?
To put it simply, no. Jackson has taken three different teams to the NBA Finals and won with all three of them. First, it was the Jordan and Scottie Pippen led Bulls teams of the 1990s. Then, it was the Lakers team of the early 2000s that featured Bryant and O’Neal. Now, it is a Los Angeles team headlined by Bryant and filled with an exceptional supporting cast. Jackson is judged differently than someone like Red Auerbach because he managed possibly the best player in history and two of the best players of the 2000s. That said, a potential 11th championship is a special achievement in sports and cements his inclusion in the discussion of the best professional coaches of all-time. When discussing who has been the NBA’s most successful franchise in league history, it’s a tossup between the Celtics and Lakers. The Celtics did the most damage early in their history, as they have taken only one title since 1986. Meanwhile, the Lakers have four titles since 1988 with a possible fifth this summer. A Los Angeles championship this summer would make the scoreboard as follows: Boston: 17 Minneapolis/Los Angeles: 16. The rivalry between the two teams is intense and one more title brings the Lakers that much closer to being called the most successful franchise in league history. Bryant, Jackson and the Lakers franchise have a chance to continue adding to their sparkling resumes this summer. Of course, everyone in the NBA — including a certain king in Cleveland — will try to stop them. Regardless if they win it all or win nothing at all, it is hard to look at the Lakers and not see one of the greatest franchises of the modern era. You can reach this writer at sports@theeagleonline.com.