GREEN SCENE The works of Tom Green, a local artist who mixes images with words, take over Katzen. SCENE page 7
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the EAGLE WWW.THEEAGLEONLINE.COM
NEWS SPRING BREAK SAFE
Snow days will not affect academic schedule, provost says page 6
EDITORIAL
PAPER OR PLASTIC? Columnist Ian Hosking joins the protest against the D.C. bag tax page 5
SCENE ONE WORLD ‘We are the World’ remake premieres at the 2010 Winter Olympics page 7
SPORTS SLIDING AWAY AU men’s basketball extends their losing streak to three in a row page 10
HIGH HOPES Team USA may be surprise team in Olympic hockey tournament page 10
TODAY’S WEATHER
HI 36° LO 26° Less than one inch of snow. TUESDAY HI 37° n LO 22°
HI 39° n LO 22°
the EAGLE 252 Mary Graydon Center 4400 Massachusetts Ave. N.W. Washington, D.C. 20016 Newsroom: 202-885-1402 Advertising: 202-885-1414, x3 Fax: 202-885-1428 E-mail: editor@theeagleonline.com Classifieds: adbox@theeagleonline.com
VOLUME 84 ISSUE 34 n
Snow collapses MGC canopy By ETHAN KLAPPER Eagle Staff Writer Part of the canopy covering the bridge between Mary Graydon Center, Battelle-Tompkins and Butler Pavilion collapsed during Wednesday’s snowstorm. The largest portion of the structure collapsed, which was closest to the main quad. What was left standing was closest to Butler Pavilion. No one was injured. Student Union Board Director Clay Pencek, who was working the information desk in MGC and was near the canopy when it collapsed, said the structure came down around 11:40 a.m. “I was minding my own business — it was a slow day, and all of a sudden there is this thunderous crash — it shook the whole Mary Graydon Center,” Pencek said. “I had a suspicion that it was a canopy that collapsed. I ran around the corner, checked it out and indeed it was.” Few people were in MGC at the time, but Pencek described the mood amongst those who were as “shock.” Pencek then made sure no one was underneath the debris, he said. His co-worker contacted the Department of Public Safety, and officers were on the scene within minutes, Pencek said. AU contacted the builder of the canopy, and the university is developing plans for a repair or replacement of the structure, University Architect Jerry Gager said in an email Wednesday. “We will be looking into the situation and reviewing the design and construction of the canopy,” Gager wrote. A combination of the weight of the snow and high winds caused the canopy to collapse, said Jorge Abud, AU’s assistant vice president of facilities and administrative services. Most structures on campus are designed to hold about 30 inches of snow on their roofs, Abud said. The canopy “pretty much” col-
NICOLE GLASS / THE EAGLE
UNDER PRESSURE — The recently-built canopy between Mary Graydon Center and the Battelle-Tompkins building collapsed Wednesday under the weight of last week’s two snowstorms. No injuries were reported. lapsed within its structural limitations, Abud said. “We’ll have to investigate more closely once we’ll be able to get access to it,” he said. The canopy is about a year old, opening around this time last year, The Eagle previously reported. Student Government President Andy MacCracken, whose office on the second floor of MGC overlooks the canopy, said the situation con-
cerns him. “It presents a danger,” he said. “They should take a look at any other places that might not be up to par.” Replacement of the canopy will be covered by insurance, Abud said. “Financially, this won’t be a particular issue to deal with,” he said. The bridge will probably reopen within a week, he said. Shortly af-
ter the collapse, chain-link fences blocked access to both sides of the bridge. “As soon as the weather breaks, we can start on that,” he said. As for replacing the canopy, it will take a minimum of “several weeks” to reorder parts, Abud said. AU will look at other designs for the replacement structure, he said. MacCracken said the AU administration should use this as an
opportunity to listen to student input as they design a replacement structure. “I’ve always been a fan of student input,” he said. Staff writer Nicole Glass contributed to this report. You can reach this staff writer at eklapper@theeagleonline.com.
Founders’ Day Ball SG execs earn postponed for now thousands, but By CHARLIE SZOLD and TAMAR HALLERMAN Eagle Staff Writers The Founders’ Day Ball, originally scheduled for Feb. 20, was postponed indefinitely due to complications resulting from last week’s historic snowfall, according to Student Government Vice President Alex Prescott. The SG was in negotiations to have the ball in the Old Post Office Pavilion when last week’s snowstorms forced both the university and the Pavilion to close for nearly all of last week, delay-
ing contractual negotiations. Negotiations were behind schedule due to a past occurrence in the Pavilion during a George Washington University dance, Prescott said. During the dance, a student was stabbed, prompting the venue to insist on more stringent security measures for the Founders’ Day Ball. Furthermore, orders of flowers, food and other merchandise associated with the ball were unable to be delivered on time, according to Prescott. Orders for more merchandise were also unable to be made because
they had to go through Student Activities, which was closed for most of this week, he said. Prescott, who consented only to an e-mail interview for follow-up information, would not comment as to why the SG chose the Pavilion for its venue. Class of 2010 Senator Steve Dalton said he was annoyed that the Senate, along with campus media outlets, found out about the postponement from an SG press release sent Friday. n
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Students test AU IDSmarTrip combo card By JULIA RYAN Eagle Staff Writer
WEDNESDAY
FEBRUARY 15, 2010
A select group of AU students will be testing SmarTrip-compatible AU ID cards in the weeks leading up to spring break to see if the ID cards can be offered to the AU community in the near future. Student Government President Andy MacCracken recruited 12 AU students, including some members of the SG, for the pilot program to test the functionality of these new ID cards. MacCracken said the students chosen for the pilot program are ideal participants because most of them live on campus, frequently use their meal
plans and use the Metro on a regular basis. If the current pilot program is successful, the SG will begin a wider test run program with several hundred students after spring break. The SG does not have a definite date when the SmarTrip-compatible AU ID cards would be available to the wider AU community. MacCracken said he understands that AU students would like to see these cards as soon as possible. “I imagine students would like to see the new cards integrated in the coming academic year, which is what I’d push for if the pilot programs are successful,” he said. He also said he hopes the partici-
pating students will be able to give him feedback about how the cards work in everyday use. “The idea is to find the people who will use the card the most in diverse ways to gauge the functionality of the cards,” MacCracken said. “We want to make sure that the day-to-day logistics of having such a card are well known before the integrated card is offered to a broader AU population.” The idea for SmarTrip-compatible AU ID cards developed over the summer as MacCracken talked to members of the AU administration about the possibility of a Metro discount for students. Penny Pagano, AU’s director of n
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less than before By JULIA RYAN Eagle Staff Writer Clay Pencek is working a fulltime AU job in addition to being a full-time student. As director of the Student Union Board, Pencek is always on call for bookings and concert arrangements as he goes about his day at school. “Constant are the e-mails from agents, middle agents, managers, student groups, advisors and artists,” Pencek said. “On days that we have shows, I could be working for nearly 16 hours in a single day.” Pencek’s workload is not unusual for most Student Government executives. Some of SG’s most prominent members are working around the clock on SG matters — and most are making salaries for their efforts. SG’s highest-ranking members, including the president, vice president, secretary and comptroller, make $3,500 per academic year and $5,000 over the summer, according to the SG’s bylaws. SG executives must work 18 hours a week during the school year and 20 hours a week during the summer, except for three weeks of vacation. The directors of SG’s various departments including the Kennedy Political Union, Student Union Board and Women’s Initiative make $2,500 per academic year and $3,500 over the summer.
These SG directors are required to work 15 hours a week for both the school year and the summer. They are given three weeks of vacation as well. SG President Andy MacCracken said that compensation for SG executives is essential because the executives treat their work very seriously. “The Student Government executives are paid because the positions they hold need to be treated like real jobs,” MacCracken said. “It would be impossible for me to do this and another job. And that simply wouldn’t be fair to the students.” MacCracken and other executives typically earn more than their counterparts in other D.C. schools. Calen Angert, the president of Georgetown University’s Student Association, makes $1,000 per academic year. While he does not get paid for the summer, he is guaranteed free housing if he chooses to stay at Georgetown over the summer to work on student association initiatives. Chris Pierno, the speaker of Catholic University’s Student Association General Assembly, said that he and the other members of the Student Association do not receive a salary. There are no measures pending for the near future to try to give Student Association n
see PAYCHECKS on page 4
the EAGLE
FEBRUARY 15, 2010
MON 15
TUES 16
WED 17
Art Collection from a Nazi Ghetto 9 a.m. - 11 p.m. WHERE: Bender Library INFO: Art collected from Theresienstadt, a former Jewish ghetto in the Czech Republic, shows how prisoners passed their time before being sent to concentration camps by the Nazis. CONTACT: For more information, call Diana Vogelsong at 202-8853236.
Make a Masquerade Mask 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. WHERE: The Tavern INFO: All supplies are provided for you to make your very own masquerade mask. CONTACT: For more information, email eaglenights@ausg.org.
Founder of Doctors Without Borders Canada 8 p.m. - 11 p.m. WHERE: Ward 1 INFO: The Kennedy Political Union presents Dr. Richard Heinzl, founder of Doctors Without Borders Canada and named one of the “Hundred People Who Make a Difference in Canada.” CONTACT: For more information, e-mail Will Hubbard at kpu@ausg. org.
news 2
COURTESY OF ALLIE MOONEY
THURS 18
FRI 19
SAT 20
“You Are Beautiful” 8 p.m. - 10 p.m. WHERE: Ward 2 INFO: Performance of “Beautiful,” a play about women, body, love, size and life. Part of “Body Image Awareness Week.” CONTACT: For more information, call Alan Duffy at 202-885-3275.
Accident and Intent 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. WHERE: Katzen Museum Second Floor Exhibition INFO: Artist Tom Green, a legendary figure in D.C., displays his paintings. CONTACT: For more information, call 202-885-1300.
Robert Devers Gallery Talk 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. WHERE: Katzen AU Museum INFO: Join Devers as he speaks about his experience as an artist working in Mexico and Italy to create his exhibition “Cult of the Hand.” CONTACT: For more information, call 202-885-1300.
Today’s top rant: I was nearly hit by a car on my way to school on Friday. Neither of the buses I take to campus were running and the sidewalks were un-shoveled, so I had to walk three miles in the right lane of Nebraska Avenue. One car slid on an ice patch and I was only able to dodge it by jumping into the five-foot snow bank on my right. I arrived to school shivering, soaking wet and livid. So thanks for opening on Friday, AU! Conditions were certainly safe for students to commute!
venue like the OPOP. SG Fail.
‘cajones’ to do it.
My roommate has the. worst. timing. ever.
I was overjoyed to hear that the awning collapsed. That thing was always one of the most egregious examples of how American University spends money on completely useless shit. I hope the mounted plasma TVs in MGC are next.
EAGLE RANTS *@#!3*%!
OK, CLEARLY SG is just using the snow as an excuse for Founder’s Day being postponed. We didn’t hear anything about it until AFTER the storm, and if they actually had their shit together, we would have known about a Feb. 20 date well beforehand. Especially if it was at an awesome
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community and local government relations, and Chad LaDue, the associate director of budget and administration for Housing and Dining Programs, have been working closely with the SG to figure out the logistics of how the SmarTrip-compatible AU IDs would work. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has also kept in close contact with the SG to ensure that the cards would work on the Metro, according to MacCracken. MacCracken said he hopes the program will help the SG determine whether or not the cards would be useful to AU students. “It has yet to be seen whether the program or the card will be successful at AU, but the pilot programs are designed to help us make the best system possible,” he said. Tammy Zeng, a sophomore in the School of International Service, said she would be willing to use a SmarT-
To the girl dry humping her boyfriend near the Eagle Express ... everyone saw your butt crack I hate friends of convenience. If you don’t want to spend time with me, let me know. I’ll be much less offended and quit wasting my time on someone who doesn’t seem to care one way or another. I wonder if pretending to be less crazy, make me more crazy or less crazy?? I wish the boys I knew had more balls, they could get most of the girls they want but they just don’t have the
rip-compatible AU ID card because traveling on the Metro with one card would be easier than having to use multiple Metro cards and fare cards. Zeng also noted that a SmarTripcompatible AU ID card would be easier to recover if she lost it. “The card would have my name and my school on it, so if I lost it someone could return it to AU — unlike a Metro card, which I would have no way of finding again,” Zeng said. Kate Drake, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, said she does not see the advantage of a SmarTripcompatible AU ID unless the card comes with a Metro discount for AU students. “It’s not really something I would prefer over a regular AU ID unless AU was giving us the Metro discount that they have been talking about and promising us for so long,” Drake said. You can reach this staff writer at jryan@theeagleonline.com.
CAMPUS BRIEF SENATE PASSES NEW CERF BILL The Undergraduate Senate passed new Clean Energy Revolving Fund legislation yesterday by a vote of 16-4. The bill, sponsored by Class of 2010 Senator Steve Dalton, bans student activity fees from being used to fund CERF. The Student Government must now rely on fundraising for the program. In a recent interview with The Eagle, Student Government President Andy MacCracken said he would not veto this version of the bill, which was written as compromise legislation between him and Dalton. Before it passed, senators struck out a clause that stated the SG did not support levying a mandatory or opt-out fee to students to fund the program. CERF is a fund to buy renewable energy generators for AU in an effort to make the university carbon neutral, The Eagle previously reported. -TAMAR HALLERMAN
Megabytes Café Now Introducing….!!
Falafel sandwich Comes With: Tzatziki Sauce, Onion, Tomato, Parsley
Next to Chevy Chase Bank (In the Tunnel)
I keep thinking I’m over you, but then I see you again and it all comes rushing back. Can we please end this? I need to concentrate on something other than you DOES ANYONE REALIZE THAT SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN CRUSHED BY THAT CANOPY?! WAKE UP SHEEPLE! MORE RANTS ONLINE!
“sNOw PANTS DAY — Oh to be young again! Freshmen on the third floor of Letts Hall went pants-less to keep things interesting during the long week off from class. From left to right: Mack Harris, CAS; José Morales, SPA; Clay Styer, CAS; Sarah McIntosh, SPA; Julia Lassarat, Kogod and Adam Klionsky, CAS.
THE QUICK TAKE District residents unaccustomed to snow spent last week exploring, sledding, flinging snowballs at each other and drinking. Supermarkets ran out of produce, wabooze.. ter, orange juice, milk and booze Call it a survival instinct, when it snows, people drink. During the first of the eventual two storms, some ventured out into the wilds of the city, walking un-harassed down D.C.’s avenues of power. Flash-snowball fights erupted at the National Mall and Dupont Circle. The only stores definitely open during Snowmageddon/ Snowpocalypse were liquor stores. During round two, gusts of wind nearing 50 mph kept most indoors. The only people brave/ stupid enough to venture out were reporters from this newspaper and a new competitor checking out the canopy collapse. Neither snow, nor rain, nor collapsing infrastructure will keep The Eagle from putting its junior reporters in danger. Disconnected from their usual avenues of pleasure, college students resorted to extraordinary measures to stay entertained. After nearly a week spent all but locked indoors, illicit liquids ran dry, cable went out (except for ATV!)
and every “Apples to Apples” card was used up. So, students did the only thing they could think of — they stripped down to their underwear, threw on some extra long T-shirts and walked around like normal. According to people of all sexual persuasions, “sNOw Pants Day” was a huge success for all good-looking people. After the initial thrill of approximately 13 feet of snow (just enough to collapse nearly every roof on campus), cabin fever set in hard at AU. According to Resident Assistant Kristen “Wallie” Walling — this writer’s ex-RA and the greatest RA ever — students were going crazy as early as Monday night. In an e-mail, she said that frustrated students took out their ennui on the snack machines. “I was working the package room in Anderson for two hours and saw lots of people come down to the vending machines to buy snacks,” she wrote. “Nearly every person that came down started shaking the machines and screaming!! I have no idea why, since they had all JUST been restocked.” Board games — originally sent by hopeful, if a bit naïve, mothers — were actually unwrapped
and used for the first time. “Risk,” for SIS majors; “Monopoly,” for Kogod; “Apples to Apples,” for CAS and “Chutes and Ladders,” or “Hungry Hungry Hippos,” for SOC majors all made appearances in dorm lounges throughout the university. Others participated in a week-long “Tweet-athons” in which tech-savvy students attempted to tweet out Metro closings, Fed closings, everything closings, snowfall totals and so on. When students were brave enough to venture outside, many partook in all the typical snowstorm events. Snowball fights, “tackle your friends into snow banks,” and “spot the next collapsing university structure,” were all favorites last week. Also a favorite — “avoid collapsing university structures originally designed to protect students from the elements.” It’s back to real life today (unless the snow-hiccup forecasted turns into another monster) and most students — those without Valentines that is — are ready to go back. Good luck to all as you try to get back to speed for the looming midterms. -CHARLIE SZOLD
the EAGLE
FEBRUARY 15, 2010
advertisement 3
3.1.10
FAFSA Deadline Before you take your spring break. . . file your FAFSA! To be considered for AU grant funding, your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be received by the federal processor by MARCH 1. Complete the FAFSA online: www.fafsa.ed.gov. Remember to include AU’s federal school code: 001434. Questions? Call 202-885-6100 or 1-800-4-FED-AID
FAFSA Workshops Meet with a financial aid counselor to assist you with the FAFSA. Bring the following with you (if available): ♦
2009 Federal Tax Returns, including all Schedules and W-2’s (yours and your parents’)
♦
Untaxed Income (social security, disability statements)
♦
Your FAFSA personal identification number (PIN). To get your PIN, visit www.pin.ed.gov
Anderson Computer Complex, Room B-11
Questions?
February 16
9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Call 202-885-6100
February 18 February 22 February 24
1 p.m.–4 p.m. 10 a.m.–Noon Noon–2 p.m.
or write financialaid@american.edu
February 26
2 p.m.–4 p.m.
www.american.edu/financialaid
the EAGLE
FEBRUARY 15, 2010
Eagle Scouts discuss 100-year anniversary By MEG FOWLER Eagle Staff Writer
KATHRYN NAYLOR / THE EAGLE
FRESH FROM THE FARM — Allan Balliett delivers organic produce to AU students and faculty once a week through the Community Supported Agriculture program. The program saw a drop in membership this year.
W.Va. farmer delivers food to student investors By ANGELA MODANY Eagle Contributing Writer The AU base of the Community Supported Agriculture program has shown a drop in membership this year from last year’s total of 16 participants. Allan Balliett, a farmer from West Virginia, runs the program at AU and said 16 is a little less than half of the number of participants he would like to have in order to continue CSA at AU. The program is part of the national Community Supported Agriculture program. The United States Department of Agriculture and the Alternative Farming Systems Information Center promote the program to support sustainable farming. EcoSense teamed up with Balliett to promote the CSA program, which allows students to buy a share in Balliett’s farm and in return receive a bag of food every week from his crop. Balliett thinks participation is low because people at AU do not realize the program exists, he said. However, Balliett still believes there will be enough sign-ups for the CSA at AU for him to continue delivering food here. EcoSense President Jennifer Jones said the club will advertise the program in their listserv and at meetings for the next several weeks. The program started at AU five years ago when students requested more environmentally-friendly grown
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members any kind of salary, he said. Despite this pay gap between MacCracken’s salary and the salaries of his peers in other D.C. schools, MacCracken and his fellow SG members are earning less than their predecessors. In 1999, executive members of the Student Confederation were guaranteed summer housing and received tuition reimbursements of 7-15 percent based on their position, according to a copy of the SC’s bylaws provided by MacCracken. An SC member during the 19981999 school year would have received a $2,876 tuition remission, and an SC member during the 2000-2001 school year would have received a remission of $3,171. Tuition reimbursements were done away with when the federal government changed the way it allowed universities to give reimbursements, according to the Director of Student Activities Karen Gerlach. Under current federal guidelines, tuition reimbursements can only be given if a student’s work is directly related to their academic programs. Student government positions do not fall into this category, Gerlach said. SG executive salaries were further cut during the 2008-2009 school year when the second undergraduate senate voted to cut academic year salaries for upper-level SG executives from $5,000 to $3,500. This cut was made to put more money into SG’s budget. The directors of SG’s departments had varied opinions about the financial worth of their jobs. Will Hubbard, the director of KPU, n
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“We just want to know what’s going on if there’s a problem with the timeline,” he said. “Hearing about it from a press release annoyed me more than the fact I had heard about it a week before [the ball].” As vice president, Prescott is charged with coordinating events for the student body, including Founders’ Day and Artemas Ward Week. Prescott appointed Jacque Martin to exclusively coordinate the Founders’ Day Ball. Martin did not respond to requests to comment for this article. Last semester, there was contro-
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food. EcoSense partnered with Balliett to bring speakers on campus to discuss the relationship between good farming and environmental quality, according to Balliett. On the CSA Web site, students can buy a share in Balliett’s farm, located in Shepherdstown, W.Va., and receive food dropped off on campus every week from June to October. Students receive a full grocery store shopping bag of produce, ranging from seven to 10 items, according to Balliett. The produce delivered each week varies with the season, he said. Balliett said he grows a huge array of traditional kitchen vegetable crops, like corn, peppers, sweet potatoes, parsnips and basil. Students can choose from different shares: a nine-week share that starts with classes in September and costs $225, a one-person, 18-week share that starts in June for $425, or a standard full share that starts in June for $600. Balliett’s produce includes fewer toxins, more nutrition, no growth hormones and no antibiotics, he said. Buying a share supports local agriculture by maintaining a nearby, environmentally-friendly farm, according to Balliett. “We all have to eat,” Balliett said. “Our health comes from eating the best food possible.” The CSA helps farmers set themselves apart from the economic principles that cause them to become more oriented to money and product,
which causes the creativity in farming to be lost, he said. “Essentially, farming is an art,” Baillett said. “It works from inspiration that things should only be done at the right time.” Julie Munro, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences and EcoSense sustainable agriculture specialist, said she thinks the program is beneficial because it shows people where their food originates. “We’ve all become so disconnected from our food sources, and being on a first-name basis with your farmer is a real departure from that ... one that I think everyone should experience,” Munro said. She also emphasized that CSA has less of an environmental impact because the food is traveling a shorter distance, so less carbon is emitted into the atmosphere. CAS senior Alex Mensing formerly participated in CSA and said the only drawback to the program is that you cannot predict what produce you are going to get each week. “There is certainly an element of surprise,” he said. The best thing he made with his CSA produce? “Thai curry with bell peppers, hot peppers, eggplant and basil from the CSA. That was delicious!”
said he enjoys his job regardless of the pay. “Quite honestly, I’d serve as director of KPU whether it was a paid position or not,” he said. “I take a lot of value and pride in the success of the institution.” However, Hubbard also said that he is slightly concerned about the salary differences between SG’s executives and its department directors. “The discrepancy between executive salaries and other departments is debatable,” Hubbard said. “While the executives have their purpose, it’s my personal estimation that the opinion of students is that [Women’s Initiative, the Student Advocacy Center, KPU and the SUB] hold some of the most valuable programming that the SG can claim credit for.” But for Pencek, that salary was one of his driving motivations to become director of SUB, he said. The long working hours and multifaceted nature of his job were a few of the reasons why he deserves a salary, he said. “Being paid gives a higher sense of duty to our jobs, he said. “Since we have to spend as much time as we do in the office, we don’t really have time for another job.” Pencek said he would like a higher salary given the amount of time and effort he puts into his job. “As far as SUB goes, being the director is a 24/7 job,” Pencek said. “When I get home at 2 a.m. on a Saturday or Sunday morning, it seems to me that there needs to be a bit of a higher pay. Overall I’m content with the amount I was paid this year, though with rising AU tuition prices along with everything else in the world I would hope
that there is a matching pay raise.” AU students varied in their opinions on SG executives’ salaries. Anabel Lee Genevitz, a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences, said she felt that SG executives should be working for the personal rewards of their jobs rather than the financial rewards. “To be honest, I haven’t seen a huge effort on their part,” Genevitz said. “They should be working as a service to their fellow students, not working and getting paid.” Sandra Shinberg, a senior in CAS, said SG executives are worth every dollar of their paychecks. “I’d say that they deserve a salary, considering all the work they put in and all the things they do for the students and the school,” Shinberg said. “They have tough jobs ... they definitely deserve to get paid.” MacCracken said he knows that many students are surprised or even concerned with the fact that the SG pays some of its members. Salaries are an incentive for SG executives to keep their jobs and to keep on working tirelessly for AU students, he said. “In the best of all worlds, we’d be able to do this out of the spirit of service,” MacCracken said. “Unfortunately, many students at AU feel the strain of financing the high cost of living and studying at AU, especially given the economic climate. I know for me, I wouldn’t be able to do this job, or at least give it the attention and time it deserves, unless I received a stipend, as limited as it is.”
versy regarding Prescott’s handling of Artemas Ward Week. Some students, including former SG Treasurer Matt Handverger, complained that there was a lack of programming. One event during Artemas Ward Week was canceled due to conflicts with Bon Appétit, and another event was moved to another day after a date on a contract was wrong. The caterers arrived on the day specified in the contract, but the event was scheduled for the next day. Planners of last year’s ball also encountered several setbacks. Problems with the cost of the venue, the Mellon
Auditorium, and a shortage of tickets compared to demand caused the SG to later issue more tickets to the event. Dalton said Founders’ Day is the signature SG event. “This is the one thing that students know Student Government does,” he said. “So I think the vice president needs to spend some extra time in the office, some extra time on the phone, some extra time with his director and say ‘let’s get this done because it’s important.’”
You can reach this writer atnews@theeagleonline.com.
During a week of canoeing in an area between Minnesota and Canada known as the Northern Tier High Adventure location, a senior in the School of Public Affairs Ryan Korn barely slept. He woke in the middle of the night to the sound of howling wolves; he only had purified lake water to drink and ate moldy spaghetti accidentally dowsed in a stream. He was eaten through his multiple sweaters by mosquitoes in 80 degree weather, came down with a fever on the third day and “definitely almost got struck by lightning. Twice.” “I wanted to die afterwards,” Korn said. “Now I can do anything because I went through two weeks of hell,” Korn said. “It’s made me a lot stronger in so many ways.” While every High Adventure Trek may not be as difficult, boys from across America have taken part in similar experiences for the past century as members of the Boy Scouts of America, according to Korn. The Boy Scouts of America celebrated its 100th anniversary Monday, Feb. 8 this year, marking a century of service during which 112 million boys have become Eagle Scouts, according to the organization. Among those 112 million are several AU students who took part in scouting as they grew up. At least 14 current AU students earned Eagle Scout status in high school after lifelong participation in the Scouts. Alpha Phi Omega, the co-ed community service fraternity with a chapter at AU, was founded by a Boy Scout named Frank Reed Horton, who instilled the principles of the Scout Oath and Law into APO upon its founding in December 1925, according to the
national APO Web site. Junior in the College of Arts and Sciences Andy Sides is APO’s current membership vice president and is an Eagle Scout who continues to enjoy volunteering, as he did in the Scouts, he said. “I loved the community service aspect of Scouting ... and so I thought that [APO] would be a really good continuation of that,” Sides said. However, AU’s chapter of APO has not worked directly with the Scouts for some time because it does not agree with some policies of the Scouts, according to Sides. Boy Scouts troops across the country do not allow open homosexuality in troops, Sides said. This policy includes gay parents who participate in troops in which their son may be a member, according to Sides. “If there’s a gay couple, and they want their son to partake, they won’t allow their dads or moms to go out on camping trips or be active in the troop,” Sides said. “I personally do disagree with their policy on homosexuality.” APO chapters usually work with local Scout troops, but AU’s chapter does not work with the closest troop to AU, Troop 666 at the Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church across the street, because of that decision, according to Sides. “We really don’t affiliate with any local troop because of their stance on homosexuality,” Sides said. Korn disagrees with the Boy Scouts’ policy concerning homosexuality, he said. He joined East Brunswick, N. J., Scout Troop 252 in the sixth grade and went on to become an Eagle Scout in high school, he said. While he dislikes the Boy Scouts’ controversial policy, Korn simultane-
ously believes the Boy Scouts is one of the best programs for boys to grow up with, he said. “I know several gay scouts,” Korn said. “I don’t personally agree with the decision ... [but] it’s a mixed bag, really. I also support the program, so it’s hard to negotiate the two.” Participating in the Boy Scouts influenced Korn’s decisions in college concerning his major and career path, he said. He wants to go to law school and is majoring in Communication, Legal Institutions, Economics and Government and political science because he is “very interested in public service” because of the Scouts, Korn said. But the Scouts also taught him to branch out in other activities. Korn is now a member of the “AU Rude Mechanicals,” which puts on Shakespearean plays for the AU community. “I didn’t even earn the theatre merit badge,” Korn said. Scouting has lasted for a century now because of the direct involvement of families and parents in continuing the tradition and because of the positive impact it has on many boys’ lives, according to Korn. “I really believe this deeply: it’s one of the best programs for boys to grow up in ... [Even though] it hasn’t always had a golden, shining reputation,” Korn said. Nevertheless, Korn and Sides said the Boy Scouts made them realize the value of service. On his way to talk to The Eagle after last week’s blizzard, Korn texted to say he would be late for the interview. “I’m ... helping a guy dig out his stuck car [in the snow],” Korn wrote. You can reach this staff writer at mfowler@theeagleonline.com.
AU Campus Plan raises neighbors’ concerns By MITCH ELLMAUER Eagle Contributing Writer Residents of Westover Place, the townhouse complex next to the Nebraska Parking Lot, called for a review of traffic conditions along Nebraska Avenue and around Ward Circle at an Advisory Neighborhood Committee meeting on Feb. 3. The community is worried that development along Nebraska Avenue will aggravate existing traffic and parking problems around Ward Circle, according to David Fehrmann, the Westover Place residents’ representative at the meeting. AU, Sibley Hospital and the Department of Homeland Security are planning major development projects along the Nebraska Avenue corridor. This is expected to bring more traffic to the area and the construction projects will worsen already “dangerous” traffic conditions, Fehrmann said. At the meeting, the residents spoke of their concern with development related to AU’s Campus Plan. “We’re concerned that AU is going to want to grow the campus dramatically,” Fehrmann said, speaking to the commissioners. AU is in the preliminary stages of releasing its 10-year Campus Plan, which calls for the construction of a
number of buildings in what is now the Nebraska Parking Lot. These development plans would eliminate 900 parking spots, Fehrmann said. However, the Campus Plan also calls for the construction of an underground parking garage. At the meeting, residents asked the ANC to petition the District Department of Transportation to review local traffic conditions, the second time in a year that ANC 3D has asked the DDOT to do so. A letter sent to the DDOT associate director, dated May 30, 2009, said a study of projected traffic and parking conditions would be “instrumental in helping the community … to assess the impact … of any future growth projected by the University,” the letter said. The DDOT rejected that request for a study. In an e-mail sent to ANC Commissioner Tom Smith, the DDOT said that AU was responsible for conducting the traffic study. In July 2009, AU released a traffic study entitled, “Transportation Existing Conditions.” The study concluded that traffic conditions around AU are better than they were 10 years ago. Fehrmann and some commissioners were suspicious of the accuracy of the study. “Anyone who’s lived here would
know that traffic conditions around Ward Circle have deteriorated,” Smith said. Westover Place’s residents call for a traffic study only addresses a small part of Nebraska Avenue and Ward Circle’s traffic problems, according to Smith. He is particularly concerned with pedestrian traffic across Ward Circle, he said. There is a problem with traffic crossings without stoplights, according to Smith. In the past year, there have been at least two accidents at Ward Circle involving pedestrians, he said. A student crossing Massachusetts Avenue was struck by a car in October, The Eagle previously reported. Besides petitioning the DDOT, the ANC has considered conducting its own traffic study or hiring an outside consultant to review AU’s study, according to Smith. Traffic “is not just a university issue,” Smith said. The release of a new traffic study conducted by AU is expected sometime this summer, according to Community and Local Government Relations Director Penny Pagano. You can reach this writer at news@theeagleonline.com.
FORMER CEO TALKS TELEPHONES
You can reach this staff writer at jryan@theeagleonline.com.
You can reach these staff writers at news@theeagleonline.com.
JONATHAN WHITEHEAD / THE EAGLE
Chuck Levine, former CEO of Sprint PCS, delivered a talk in Ward 1 to AU students. Levine spoke about his past experiences as a top executive at a Fortune 500 company.
EDITORIAL
FEBRUARY 15, 2010
JOE WENNER n Editorial Page Editor EdPage@TheEagleOnline.com
JEN CALANTONE n Editor in Chief Editor@TheEagleOnline.com
Protesting D.C. government, one bag at a time THE IMPORTANCE OF IGNORANCE
IAN HOSKING Bananas wedged under my arm and a box of Cheerios clenched between my teeth, I stumbled out of Safeway draped with food. Intent to avoid paying the five cent tax on shopping bags, I opted for an armload at the price of my comfort. My grocery shopping has become an exercise in tax dodging, and if the woman next to me on the shuttle holding 4 gallons of orange juice in her hands was any indication, I am not alone. Since the D.C. bag tax was implemented last month, the popular reaction has been evasion. In this city plagued by poor governance, we should all be more defiant, and not just when it comes to silly new taxes. And the bag tax truly is foolish. San Francisco and Seattle have shown conclusively that laws against shopping bags do not reduce litter, and D.C. is no different. Worse still is that the extra cost of shopping bags punishes the poor disproportionately — a regressive tax on those shoppers least able to afford it. To compensate, D.C. has promised to provide reusable shopping bags to the poor. As if this weren’t already ludicrous enough, the money to pay for these subsidized bags comes directly out of the Anacostia River Protection Fund. Instead of raising money to clean up the environment, D.C. is actually taxing shopping bags to pay for more shopping bags. Responding to this self-defeating law, shoppers and sellers alike have gone to extraordinary lengths to thwart the tax man. Stubborn customers are carrying groceries by the armful, all for the sake of five little cents. A nickel should be a small price to pay for the convenience of bags, but the people of Washington have decided that it is worth more to protest. This can stop at shopping
bags or it can continue to grow. The bag tax is hardly the first piece of ill-conceived legislation in this town, and it is very far from the worst. Of the many instances of government failure, the D.C. public school system is perhaps the most tragic. Despite spending the most money per pupil in the nation ($21,450), the District’s students have consistently been among the worst performers on standardized tests. This is a classic example of what happens when the costs of a bad law are spread out across a population, while the benefits of that same law are concentrated on a special group. The laws that have hurt the school system have been passed because they help a few teachers enormously while the societal cost is diffused throughout the District’s population. It makes little sense that schools are unable to fire incompetent teachers. Yet because this law helps teachers, they have an enormous incentive to work for its passage. The average citizen does not have the same motivation, so the effort to oppose is not commensurate with the harm. The answer to this problem of special interests corrupting city affairs is precisely what we have seen in response to the bag tax: overreaction and defiance. People have been protesting a nonsensical law with effort disproportionate to the cost to themselves. Five cents, like the individual cost of a damaging education law, is barely anything and yet it has driven collective dissent. If this willingness to devote great energy to oppose a harmful law can be applied to the great problems of D.C., perhaps some good will actually come from the bag tax. The Anacostia River will not be getting any cleaner, but the government just might. Ian Hosking is a sophomore in the School of Public Affairs the College of Arts and Sciences and an ignorant columnist for The Eagle. You can reach him at edpage@ theeagleonline.com.
Working toward understanding, not a solution KALEIDOSCOPE
PARVEZ KHAN When I was 16 years old and at summer camp, I bunked with an Israeli Jew named Shimœn. We spent three weeks with about eighty other youth in southern Virginia. I was surprised to learn how westernized he was, listening to my genre of music, wearing jeans and T-shirts, speaking English with only a slight accent. Now, years later, I can only wonder where Shimœn is. My thoughts run to the possibilities: Is he in the Israeli army? Has he killed with an M-16? Was he killed by a bomb? Is he still the openminded and energetic young Jewish man I once knew? I wonder if I found him, could we still laugh the way we did? Surely life would have changed him, as it has me. But need that be in a pejorative manner? Why couldn’t we have lunch together in Tel Aviv, looking out to the Mediterranean and reminiscing? Obviously, I can’t very easily travel to Tel Aviv. The conflict between Israelis who want a homeland for the Jewish people and the Palestinians (and the Christians and Druze caught in between) who have lived there for generations ebbs and flows, as it has for the past century. I understand that emotions run extraordinarily deep about this conflict, and that a permanent solution is as likely as oil and water mixing. Still, that should not deter open-minded and balanced individuals from different ethnicities and religious traditions, including college students, from conversing and learning. In the microcosmic world of AU, Jews and Muslims, regardless of their ethnic background, must continue to dialogue as they have in past years. Outside of Friedheim Quad, however, both sides have vilified one another
disgracefully. Some Muslim circles call Jews a “tribe of pigs,” untrustworthy and stingy. The arguments of some elder Jews is that the Palestinians don’t have any right to this land; they are Bedouin wanderers who have no culture and have created no infrastructure. At the University of California Irvine, just days ago, 11 protestors from the Muslim Student Union were arrested for repeatedly interrupting a speech by Michael Oren, Israel’s ambassador to the United States. And one should not need to be reminded of the inhumane collective punishment enforced by Israel in Gaza just over a year ago — just read the Goldstone Report. What should matter to AU students is that we work towards understanding one another. We needn’t solve the world’s problems — if we can overcome “otherizing” each other, we will have made progress in the path towards peace. The new Middle East Studies program has hinted at this dialogue since last fall, inviting various AU professors to present on hot topics. If we can’t talk about it, regardless of how out-of-reach a permanent solution might seem, how shall we progress at all? I exhort the AU Muslim Students Association and Jewish Students Association to dialogue together, peacefully and respectfully. Let us enjoy Seder and Shabbat together and enjoy the Thursday evening halaqah together. Let us make an effort to involve those of the Jewish faith and those of the Muslim faith in service projects both on and off campus. We have all been hurt by the machines of hate fueled by the conflict in the Holy Land; let us continue to find common ground on which to stand so that our children do not perpetuate a legacy of hate. 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
JOE CORCORAN / THE EAGLE
Falling snow, collapsing canopy
While AU’s handling of the recent snow storm was impressive overall, the same can not be said concerning the canopy collapse. A more vigorous and effective response is needed. Snowmageddon took more than school days from AU. Late Wednesday morning, the high winds and heavy snow brought down a part of the walkway canopy adjacent to Mary Graydon Center. The collapse of the year-old awning left a pile of twisted metal and broken glass strewn across a section of campus that typically sees a high volume of student traffic. Although there were no injuries, one would hope that AU’s administration will do what it takes to treat this as a lesson and take measures to avoid a similar disaster in the future. For the most part, minimal blame can be attributed to the university for the incident itself. Weather is uncontrollable, and regardless, the canopy fell during conditions that were within its structural limits. As a result, insurance will cover
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Bag the D.C. bag tax The undoubtedly well-intentioned supporters of the 5-cent tax on plastic bags should consider what segment of society the tax harms most small businesses and the poor. An affluent doctor living in Georgetown will probably just pay the nickel and remain essentially unaffected whereas a poverty stricken resident of Anacostia is more likely to alter his or her behavior as a result. Similarly, compliance costs are a weightier burden on struggling small businesses owners than they are on large chains. It would be hard for the most ruthless Corporatist to
damage to the campus and finance a replacement structure. Unfortunately, the AU administration has allowed its minimal culpability to muddle its response to the incident. President Neil Kerwin’s e-mail to the AU community seemed to downplay the seriousness of the structural collapse, limiting discussion to a one-line reference. In addition, one would be hard-pressed to find a mention of the incident on the AU Web site. It is disheartening to see such insincere spin applied to an incident that narrowly escaped disaster. Regardless of the weather, it is pure luck that a student was not exiting MGC at the time of the collapse. All that separated this eye-roll of a structural failure from being a tragedy: sheer chance. Some may brush this notion off as a mere what if. Nevertheless, it would not hurt AU to express
a little more regret over the dangerous collapse of a project that consumed quite a bit of time and money. One would hope that the university would attempt to speed its cleanup process. Five days after the cave in, the deformed and shattered canopy remains in full view of the quad. With each prospective student tour that walks by MGC, AU’s reputation as an efficient school that makes safe and responsible decisions with its students’ money takes a bit of a dive. What parent would want to send their child to a school where structures on the main quad collapse? While this perception of our school may not be accurate, it is hard to refute as long as the wreckage remains undisturbed. It would be a shame if the response to the canopy failure ultimately overshadows AU’s otherwise impressive handling
design a more flagrantly regressive tax. Additionally, it seems as though the city council never examined the experiences of other cities that have implemented similar taxes. Hong Kong for example has a 6-cent bag tax. As a result, grocery store lines have grown progressively longer at peak hours as clerks and customers struggle to jam as many items as possible into the reusable bags. The purpose of free plastic bags is to alleviate this inconvenience. Even if one accepts the environmentalist premise behind the tax, it is still senseless. I am a vegetarian, I don’t own a car and I recycle. Why should I pay the same 5-cent penalty as a burgermunching, SUV-driving, trash
hog? Most importantly, the tax is a fundamental violation of our liberty. Businesses must foist this tax upon us (they are legally barred from paying the tax on our behalf ) or face state coercion. Ultimately, if a business owner does not comply, a policeman with a gun on his hip will eventually show up and force him or her to comply. Whenever one advocates a tax, one must not forget that they are also advocating the use of force against anyone who dare resist.
of Snowmageddon. Both TDR and the Eagle’s Nest were kept open thanks to the dedication of Bon Appétit workers. The Eagle extends the deepest gratitude to all of the workers who stayed in hotels, separated from their families throughout the storm. Thanks to their commitment and the competence of AU officials, our university ran relatively smoothly. Still, if the school wants to claim to be completely effective, its response to the MGC canopy collapse needs to noticeably improve. Besides clearing out the debris, AU must invest in a stronger structure for the future canopy, replacing not only the collapsed section, but also the entire structure. If not, officials will continue to be playing a risky game of chance. And while luck may have favored AU last week, fortune is infamously fickle.
CORRECTIONS In “To AU Senate: Pass CERF,” published Feb. 4, the staff editorial inaccurately implied that the legislation regarding the Clean Energy Revolving Fund was to create the fund, as opposed to simply clarify the rules regarding its funding. Due to the nature of this error, an updated version of the editorial can be found on our Web site, www.theeagleonline.com.
Nicholas O’Connell Sophomore, SIS E-Board member of Free Market Society and Students for Liberty
In “Drag queens storm MGC with style,” published Feb. 4, Athena Ducockis is misidentified as an AU alumna. Ducockis is currently AU student.
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the EAGLE
FEBRUARY 15, 2010
news 6
‘Snowmageddon’ bombards AU By NICOLE GLASS and CHARLIE SZOLD Eagle Staff Writers The record-breaking, twopunch snowfall that blanketed campus last week forced AU to house staff nearby or on campus. Classes after noon on Friday, Feb. 5 were canceled as were classes from Monday to Thursday, though the university was open Friday. “Life-threatening blizzard conditions” developed in the D.C. area Wednesday morning for the second time in a week,” The Washington Post reported. The federal government was closed for four straight days, though it did open Friday. Snowfall had turned many two-lane streets into one-lane roads and large avenues were similarly pinched, leading to what some commuters deemed the “commute from hell.” On average, D.C. gets about 16 inches of snowfall a year, but the last two storms surpassed that, helping make this winter the snowiest since records of snowfall were accurately kept, the Post reported. Snow accumulations were high enough to topple part of the recently-installed canopy on the bridge between the Mary Graydon Center and the Butler Pavilion. Some trees on campus, weighed down by the snow, fell down or had their branches snapped off. This was especially evident in the Letts-Anderson Quad, where approximately half the trees sustained damage. Most of the public transportation system was shut down for much of the week. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority buses stopped running the day immediately after the first storm and the Metrorail was running along underground routes only, according to WMATA. The Metro also closed at midnight during the weekend, as opposed to 3 a.m. like normal, a boon to cab drivers but a bane to barbound students hoping to avoid a cab fare. The Metrorail system can operate in snowfall of less than eight inches, according to WMATA. If the snow exceeds eight inches, it covers the electrified third rail which provides the necessary power to move the trains.
AARON BERKOVICH / THE EAGLE
WINTER WONDERLAND — The several feet of snow that blanketed the D.C. region last week were not able to stop some Washingtonians from frolicking outdoors. More snow is expected Monday afternoon. The AU shuttle did not operate while the snowfall was at its heaviest. Shuttle buses operated on Monday and Tuesday on a limited schedule between the Tenley and Main Campuses only. On Wednesday, the shuttle stopped operating once again with the new snowfall. Some AU staff was housed on Tenley Campus, others in the Holiday Inn on Wisconsin Avenue, according to Chief Michael McNair, director of Public Safety. Public Safety officers and dispatchers were housed on Tenley Campus, McNair said. Public Safety found alternative methods to patrol campus, since their T-3 motion vehicles do not function in the snow.
“Public Safety has two vehicles capable of operating in the snow,” McNair said. “And most of the buildings were patrolled on foot as the entrances were cleared.” Zachary Knowles, a junior in the School of International Service, said D.C. reacts poorly to snow and does a terrible job of dealing with it. “D.C. should be ashamed at their lack of preparedness for situations like this,” he said. “I just spent three months in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, the poorest country in the former Soviet Union, and they were able to better deal with snow than Washington, D.C.” While roads are mostly clear, the snow-lined streets still present a problem for pedestrians and
motorists. Some have questioned Mayor Adrian Fenty’s response to the snowstorm and the speed of the District’s response. MSNBC’s Chris Matthews, host of “Hardball,” said the city’s handling of the crisis was subpar. “I keep thinking, snow is predictable. We know it’s coming,” he said on his program Feb. 10. “It came last week. It came this week ... You see no planning; I see no planning.”
His sentiments were echoed by others, but some defended the city’s response, including Mike “Loose Lips” DeBonis, the D.C. administration columnist for the Washington City Paper. “Listen, Chris. You’re going to slam our local leadership for failing to clear the streets from the biggest snowstorm in 88 years within 48 hours. Fine,” he wrote. “Then [Loose Lips] would like to see you and your Montgomery
County neighbors start to pay tax on the income you’re earning here in the District. Then you get to bitch all you want. ‘Cause that money would buy some serious snowplows.” More snow is expected this afternoon, but forecasts predict three inches or less, according to the Capital Weather Gang. You can reach these writers at news@theeagleonline.com.
Snow will not affect schedule By TAMAR HALLERMAN Eagle Staff Writer
AARON BERKOVICH / THE EAGLE
SNO’ LAUGHING MATTER — The National Weather Service reported that last week’s snowfall contributed to a total of 55.9 inches of snowfall this season. Some point to this record-breaking number as evidence of climate change. Only 57 percent of people believe in global warming, according to a Yale University poll.
Storms spark climate change debate By NICOLE GLASS Eagle Staff Writer This winter’s unusually heavy snowfall and low temperatures in D.C. are evidence of climate change, according to the National Wildlife Federation. This season’s snowfall has reached 55.9 inches, breaking the previous seasonal snowfall record for Washington D.C. of 54.4 inches set in the winter of 1898-99, according to the National Weather Service. Despite the numbers from the NWS, polls show that Americans are increasingly skeptical of climate change. Some AU students are among those doubting the reality of climate change, but others remain very concerned about the issue. Last year was the second-warmest year on record, and heavier precipitation is a sign of climate change, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
When temperatures are warmer, lakes do not freeze, more water evaporates, and more snowfall occurs, like the December and February snowstorms in D.C., according to the NWS. 57 percent of people believe global warming is happening, according to a Yale University poll from Jan. 27. This number is down from 71 percent in October 2008. The poll also found that only 50 percent of people are “somewhat” or “very worried” about climate change, which is down from 63 percent. Forty-seven percent of respondents said human activity is the main cause of climate change. This skepticism is occurring at a time when the Obama administration is trying to pass legislation aimed at cutting down on greenhouse gases, according to The Washington Post. The American Clean Energy and Security Act was passed in the House of Representatives last summer and is currently in the Senate. This bill would create a cap-and-trade plan to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, according to the House of Representatives Web site. Some AU students believe in climate change, but some are not convinced by the scientific arguments that are made to prove it. Jennifer Jones, president of EcoSense, said climate change is a very important issue that will affect the environment, health, the economy and the government. “Climate change is an issue that permeates all other issues,” she said. “Climate change will also affect human health, economic growth and government stability.” Drew Veysey, environmental policy adviser to Student Government President Andy MacCracken, said science has proven the existence of climate change. “It is not an article of faith, so ‘belief’ has nothing to do with it,” Veysey said. “We see enormous amounts of evidence and from that evidence draw
a scientific conclusion.” Elena Leo, a freshman in the School of Public Affairs, is not convinced that the problem of climate change exists, because the earth has already been changing for millions of years, she said. “I would like to see more evidence that proves there is a connection between the rising temperature of the Earth and the rising concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere,” she said. “I think we have reason to believe that scientists are promoting the idea of global warming in order to receive government funding for their research.” The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press recently released a poll in which participants ranked the issues that were most important to them. Climate change came in last, the center reported. You can reach this staff writer at nglass@theeagleonline.com.
Despite students missing a week of classes, Provost Scott Bass assured the campus community in an e-mail Wednesday that no changes to the academic calendar will be made at this time. For now, this means students should not expect changes to spring break, midterm and final exams or the end of the semester. Instead, Bass urged faculty members to use online communication to make up for lost class time. Special Assistant to Bass, Denise Wilkerson, said most professors are already trained in using Blackboard and e-mail methods of communication in case of an emergency. “[We asked] faculty to be as creative as they possibly can to continue coursework and keep students on track when it comes to their academic assignments and whatnot,” she said. Wilkerson said the academic schedule has no built-in padding days in case of a weather or pandemic emergency like H1N1. She said she does not know how many more snow days it will take to change the academic schedule. To determine the operating status of the university, the provost confers with the university’s Vice President of Finance and Treasurer Donald Myers based on a recommendation from Jorge Abud, the assistant vice president of facilities and administrative services, Abud said in an e-mail.
Many factors contribute to the decision of whether to close the university, such as the forecast, road and public transportation conditions and the conditions on- and off-campus, according to the AU weather emergency operating policy. The last time AU was closed this long was in January 1999 when the university was forced to close for five consecutive weekdays due to a combination of cold temperatures, ice storms
“This is an unprecedented weather situation,” -Denise Wilkerson, Special Assistant to the Provost
and power problems, according to Abud. “This is an unprecedented weather situation,” Wilkerson said. “We’re doing our best to make sure campus is safe and that our community is safe and that we can get up-and-running as soon as we can.” You can reach this staff writer at thallerman@theeagleonline.com.
FEBRUARY 15, 2010
THE EAGLE'S ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT SECTION
Katzen goes Green with reused words By ALEXANDRA LANGTON Eagle Contributing Writer In his exhibit “Accident and Intent,” Tom Green gives new meaning to the typically fatalistic adage that “the writing is on the wall.” Instead, Green writes the messages of the human condition and the artistic experience on the walls of the Katzen Museum. Green composes a synthesis of seemingly accidental themes and structured form through a chronicle of art representing four decades of work coupled with a variety of quotes literally written on the wall. In one of these, Green explains the purpose of the exhibit’s title: “I’ve worked with these polar opposites, what I think of as accident and incident. I see all these as two primary divisions in behavior, and it resonates all through our existence.” By pairing these two seemingly contradictory elements, Green creates artistic form applicable to human thought and experience. Selections of doodles from his sketch journals partially inspire the shapes and implications in his art. In fact, several of these journals are displayed in a glass compartment in the exhibit, showing Green’s artistic process. Using mod imagery and installation sculpture, Green presents an original representation of the artistic process and the unplanned. “Green’s work represents the
rejection of tradition that only in the past century have been defied,” said Claire Callahan, an AU freshman studying modern art history. “There is real thought in the work, but it’s presented abstractly. That’s what makes it interesting ... you can see the process from the journals to the canvas. His work is truly original.” However, Green’s accomplishments surpass the current display at American University. Green received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland and chaired the Fine Arts Department of the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D.C. He has been in additional exhibits including the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, and the National Museum of American Art and Corcoran Gallery of Art, both in D.C. The nearly 40 years of work represented in the exhibit show the success and influence that Green’s work has on modern art. While his style and choice of subject differ from the classics of DaVinci and Rafael, the message in his work reminds the viewer of the universal lessons of where one can find art. Green’s exhibit will be open until March 14 on the third floor of the Katzen Museum. To ignore this opportunity will surely write destruction on the artistic palette of any Washingtonian. KELSEY DICKEY / THE EAGLE
You can reach this writer at thescene@theeagleonline.com.
WRITING ON THE WALL — In its latest exhibit, the Katzen Arts Center is hosting the works of local D.C. artist Tom Green. In his art, Green brings words to life by writing famous quotes over abstract art. Entitled “Accident and Intent,” the exhibit will be open until March 14.
‘World’ comes together as Olympics open By YOHANA DESTA Eagle Staff Writer Never has there been a moment where music and charity have come together quite like in 1985 when Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson joined forces to write the song “We Are the World.” Originally created to help raise money for famine relief in Africa, the Grammy award-win-
ning song has become one of history’s legendary singles. Now, with the catastrophe that has occurred in Haiti, music icons and young singers have rallied together to remake “We Are the World.” Conducted by Quincy Jones, this year’s version premiered at the beginning of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. It featured over 36 soloists and a chorus of 80 — some not
even professional singers, such as contributor Hayden Panettiere. In comparison to the classic, the new song is more avant-garde and has a more pop feel to it. The original cast of soloists included the likes of Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, Diana Ross, Ray Charles and Billy Joel, as well as 17 other amazing singers. The song was seven minutes in length and in-
credibly moving. Released in a fulllength album with a title of the same name and songs by Bruce Springsteen, Prince and Steve Perry of the band Journey, the song itself stayed number one on the Billboard charts for a whole month and raised $63 million. The new single has potential to do the same, considering how hard the Haiti disaster struck everyone.
When watching the music video, however, it’s clear how much the norms of music have changed. The song is opened by teen sensation Justin Bieber, taking the original place of Lionel Richie. Finishing are Nicole Scherzinger (Pussycat Dolls), Josh Groban and Jennifer Hudson, whose powerful vibrato stands out the most among all other voices.
Some singers went straight for imitation, such as Jaime Foxx, who attempted Ray Charles’ sound. Without intending to, Miley Cyrus is reminiscent of a young Cyndi Lauper on the original track and R&B sensation Usher follows the part that was originally sung by Michael Jackson, whose voice is heard in many parts throughout the song. n
see WORLD on page 8
Music vets emerge from shadows Plaid’s history By MAGGIE HOLLANDER Eagle Staff Writer The Silversun Pickups have achieved more than most rock bands, let alone alternative-rock bands, can even hope for. Not only have the Southern California-based band been featured on popular television shows, movies and even video games, they have also released two extremely well received full-length albums. They were also nominated for the Best New Artist Grammy this past year. All in all, they’ve accomplished a lot as a band. Yet this group isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. In an interview with The Eagle, keyboardist Joe Lester talked about the nomination experience, the blessing and curse of social networking, and the band’s love of playing live. For a band as down-to-earth as the Silversun Pickups, a Grammy nomination was a bit “surreal.” “It was one of those things that was just not even remotely on our radar I guess,” Lester said. “When it came up, we were all in Europe on tour at the time. Everyone was asleep, it was like four o’clock in the morning and we all kind of woke up and heard everybody else’s phones vibrating in their bunk, but nobody answered it. And so then we all woke up, like five hours later, and were like ‘Oh shit, we got nominated for a Grammy, that’s good.’” What was surprising to the band wasn’t just the fact that they were nominated, but rather the timing of it all. “It’s kinda strange to be nominated for Best New Artist when you’ve been around as a band for, you know, eight years, but we kind of understand that it’s not like actual new artists,” Lester said. “It’s not like the Grammy nominating committee is like hanging out at, like, the 9:30 club. So, I don’t know, it’s cool; the whole actual ceremony was just a blur of weirdness and the whole red carpet thing is sort of baffling to me, but it was entertaining.” Over those eight years, each member of the band has evolved, maturing musically. “I think we’ve all definitely gotten better as musicians,” Lester said. “I think we’re sharper critics of ourselves and we sort of had an overarching concept for the new record. We were
much better at getting to the heart of that rather than dancing around it and throwing too much stuff at it.” “Swoon,” the band’s second fulllength album released in April 2009, exemplifies their newfound editing skills while still leaving room for creativity. “Strangely, we knew better, but in a much more sort of wide-open sense, what we wanted to do,” Lester explained. “And so I think the albums have gotten more focused. I don’t know, man, I think we’re all really happy with that; we feel like they’re all a growth from the last one.” “Swoon” has a dark, mellow and distinct sound that is the band’s own. From tracks that are soft yet powerful to the louder, faster-paced numbers, the album shows great range while sounding strikingly unified from song to song. “Substitution” is one of the catchiest and easiest to access songs on the CD, but the upbeat nature of many of the songs is eclipsed by the melodic vocals that seem to slow everything down. The first single off the album “Panic Switch,” is almost six minutes of guitar-distortion and the most excitement found on the album. To Lester, “Growing Old Is Getting Old” best defines the Silversun Pickups’ sound. “It sort of encompasses a little of everything,” he said. “It’s quiet, pretty, and mellow at the beginning and then it just sort of gets loud and freaks out at the end — it’s got a little bit of all of the stuff that we like in it. And that’s a really fun song to play.” What makes “Swoon” and all of Silversun Pickup’s music so fascinating is the collaboration and effort behind it. “One of the things that makes us who we are is the fact that we really are a band,” Lester said. “All of those songs are the collective output of four people. It’s not like one person writes everything and then everybody else just comes in and plays it. It’s really all four of us, it’s everyone’s input; it’s not done until everyone’s happy with the results.” But while other bands and singers have fully embraced social networking, the Silversun Pickups are a little wary when it comes to the World Wide Web. “Honestly, I don’t know anything about Facebook - that Web site scares
shows rebellion woven in fabric PUMPIN’ IRONY
KATRINA CASINO
Photo by STEVE GULLICK
‘SILVERSUN’ PICK-ME-UPS — Despite being in the music business for years, the California-based band Silversun Pickups are finally gaining nation-wide recognition after being nominated for a Grammy award.
the crap out of me,” Lester said. “But the Twitter thing is more fun. We were all sort of skeptical about that even in the beginning until we realized you could post pictures and stuff. So then it became more like a postcard, and we kinda all got really into that idea. Especially when we’re on tour, it’s just taking a picture of something that interests you, wherever you are, and you can send that out and the people that care, are following you or whatever, can see what you’re doing.” There is, however, a fine line when it comes to sharing information on the Internet, one the band is careful not to cross. “It’s just a different world now, you know. There’s not a lot of mystery left when it comes to bands or fucking anything really. Everything is sort of documented down to like an infinitesimal level. There are definitely the tools to share way too much fucking information. There’s a blurry line when it comes to the delineation of what’s fair game and what’s your own private life. But I think we’re pretty happy with where it is right now. We do share
stuff, but it’s not like you know what I’m having for dinner every night, ‘cause like who cares anyway?” After two months on break, “everybody’s batteries are recharged,” and the band are heading out on tour again, leaving later this month to open for Muse. Being an opening act has definite advantages, according to Lester. “For me it’s sort of fun ‘cause there’s not as much pressure on you ‘cause it’s not really your show,” he said. “You’re kind of starting from a zero point and if you win over a few people, awesome. I’m personally excited just to see Muse. It’s always interesting to see what bands that are like way bigger than you, how they do stuff and whatever and all the sort of technical aspects of it.” Catch the Silversun Pickups opening for Muse March 1 at GMU’s Patriot Center, or March 3 at the 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore. You can reach this writer at thescene@theeagleonline.com.
Plaid: it’s what hipsters and Steve Urkel have in common. The similarities probably don’t stop there (he seems to be a fan of ankle-grazing skinny jeans), but the plaid shirt is what brings these trendier-thanthou kids together with the nerdierthan-anyone TV icon. Oh, and it also includes Scots. Plaid has its origin as far back as 100 B.C., when it was created by ancient Celtic populations. This makes plaid older than Jesus, but younger than dinosaurs, and we hipsters all love things that are vintage but not too passé. Although the print had been around for centuries, it didn’t take off as an icon until the late 17th century as the signature apparel of Scotland. Although their plaid came in the form of kilts and not trendy button-downs, plaid became a sign of rebellion against the English so much so that authorities banned it after the Scottish rebellion of 1746. Although less a rebellion against English tyranny and more a rebellion against general society, plaid has also become a signature piece of the lesbian community. By the 1960s, plaid had already made its way from skirt to shirt and was associated most closely with men in the physical labor force. As the women’s liberation movement was taking off, women — especially lesbians — reclaimed the plaid shirt as a statement against the arbitrary assignment of certain articles of clothing to the masculinity. Plaid, they said, was not just for lumberjacks, but also for women, and especially for women who like women, so take that, patriarchy!
Gender barriers were broken down farther in the 1990s, when plaid was not just for Scots, but also for anyone participating in the grunge scene. Dissatisfied men and women of America wore oversized flannel shirts over what was probably that Nirvana smile face tee. Just like skinny jeans in punk culture, grunge produced a style that rebelled against what The Man thought to be uncool and cool-ified the plaid shirt all over again while tearing down the establishment, just like their predecessors. In the early 2000s, plaid made an emergence on a different kind of music scene. And when I say scene, I mean scene. Thanks to a certain Mr. Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes fame, plaid was the choice uniform of all three-chord-strumming, plastic-framed-glasses-wearing sensitive kids with the emo bangs sidesweep (also born at this time: the hipster asymmetrical haircut). If you think I’m being a bit too harsh, I’ll be the first to admit right now that in eighth grade, I bought my very first plaid shirt as a tribute to the great Conor Oberst. The fact that my asymmetrical haircut appeared for the first time has nothing to do with it though. So here we have another hipster trend that has emerged from a culture of rebellion. Sure, emo culture isn’t the kind of rock ‘n’ roll, “fight The Man” rebellion that we hipsters would all like to associate ourselves with, but no one can argue against the fact that it is indeed a dissent from the mainstream culture. So are we hipsters the badass face-painted Mel Gibson-like (before he became offensive) freedom fighters of the mid-1700s? Not exactly. But in flannel, we are warriors against winter chill, and in wearing plaid we bravely fight against anyone who may mistake our trendiness for nerdiness. You can reach this columnist at kcasino@theeagleonline.com.
the EAGLE
FEBRUARY 15, 2010
the scene 8
Peace can be complicated FICTION DICTION
ERIN CRANDELL I finished “Macedonia” by Harvey Pekar and am now thoroughly confused about the current state of the Balkan nations. Before reading this book, I only thought of Macedonia as “that country over Greece” or the birthplace of Alexander the Great. But I now realize that Macedonia has many of the same issues as countries such as Bosnia and Ukraine. Ethnic violence and power struggles are still major issues in Macedonia, though they have never erupted into civil wars. Harvey Pekar (creator of the critically celebrated “American Splendor”) investigates this political anomaly through the media of a graphic novel. I first picked up this book because, as an International Relations major, the whole premise of investigating a peaceful country interested me. Also, the idea of having a book on peace
and conflict studies in the form of a graphic novel was intriguing. I have enjoyed the few serious graphic novels that I have read — “Maus” and “Maus II” by Art Spiegelman are the first two that come to mind. I was always amazed at how graphic novels are able to transition a story into pictures. Remember, though, this is not a graphic novel on the same level as “Watchmen” or something similar — genius, but largely metaphorical. “Macedonia” was more biographical and political. In this book, Harvey Pekar follows Heather Roberson (a student in Peace and Conflict Studies from UC-Berkley) through her investigation of the political situation in Macedonia. Shown with illustrations by Ed Piskor, the graphic novel has an ambitious goal, but in the end it fails to completely explain the political situation. As a result, I left the book feeling more confused than I was at the start, mostly because of the very long sections of the book devoted entirely to summarizing the modern history of Macedonia. They were dry, hard to read and confusing. In fact, pages seven through 19 are Heather Roberson lecturing her boyfriend
on Macedonian politics. It came to the point where I was sympathizing with the boyfriend as she rambled on and on. I did find the general idea of Heather Roberson’s trip to Macedonia very interesting. The story follows Heather as she encounters the trials and tribulations of traveling overseas. There are the difficulties of miscommunication, getting ripped off as an American and getting lost in cabs (all of which I have experienced as a frequent traveler). All in all, this was not the most interesting book I have ever read. However, I expect that if I had known more about Macedonia before I read this book I would have been less confused. My favorite part was the debate over the inevitability of war, which ran throughout the book. So much of our energy today is put into “peacekeeping” in zones of conflict, but does our presence ultimately create more conflict in these areas? So far there has been no conflict on the scale of Kosovo in Macedonia, which everyone is thankful for. But there are no guarantees that it has been put off indefinitely. And get this ridiculous coincidence: the other day I went on a tour of Voice of America stu-
dios, and while I was waiting for the tour guide I wandered into a conference room where there was a TV interview of two men in very snazzy suits. As I sat awkwardly in the back, listening to this TV interview, which was obviously in a very foreign, possibly eastern European language, I contemplated the various advantages of working in a place where this happened on a daily basis. Finally the tour guide retrieved me and informed me that the men were the Vice President of Macedonia and his entourage. Heather walked into Macedonia with a secure her belief that Macedonia was a success story, a NATO and UN joint task force project that did not blow up in their faces. In the end, though, Heather learned that everything is more complicated than it seems on the news, and the news often neglects to cover something as benign as peace. In a follow up to reading this book, I am looking into reading one of Joe Sacco’s graphic novels about Sarajevo, probably equally confusing and dark.
PIERRE VINET / NEW LINE PRODUCTIONS
You can reach this columnist at thescene@theeagleonline.com.
D.C. remembers black history Courtesy of WARNER BROS. PICTURES
Movement honored by local venues By OLIVIA STITILIS Eagle Staff Writer People tend to have a love/ hate relationship with the month of February. They cringe at the hearts, flowers and pink that take over the stores for Valentine’s Day, yet shamelessly enjoy the chocolate boxes. People love the pounds of snow the month seems to bring while hoping spring would hurry up and melt it all away. Whatever one’s feelings about February, one thing is for sure: the month presents an incredible opportunity to take in some culture while celebrating Black History Month. Though we might have been taken aback by the amounts of snow the District has delivered, it is no surprise that Washington, D.C. offers an abundance and variety of events in honor of the month. Be sure to visit the National Archives, as the museum has dedicated its February exhibits and events to celebrating Black History Month. There will be free events, screenings, discussions and special exhibits all month long. On Wednesday, Feb. 17, the National Archives, National Museum of African American History and Culture and Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. will come together to present “A Salute to the Tuskegee Airmen,” honoring America’s first African American military airmen. In addition to a panel discussion, the event will feature a screening of “Wings for This Man,” a short film made in 1944 by the Army Air Forces narrated by Ronald Reagan, the National Archives Web site says. The event will take place in the William G. McGowan Theater at 7 p.m. The Library of Congress is also offering an impressive array of exhibits and events for Black History Month, all encompassing this year’s theme of the History of Black Economic Empowerment. On Feb. 26, the Library of Congress will put on the symposium “The NAACP: Reflections of the First 100 Years.” Last year marked the hundredth anniversary of the NAACP, and the event will be dedicated to looking at the remarkable progress the organiza-
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from WORLD on page 7
In the music video, Janet Jackson’s part of the performance is placed next to a video of the original performance of Michael Jackson. That part, aside from images of Haiti, is perhaps the most startling and heartwarming. In a surprising move, classic performers were included in the single, such as Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand and Tony Bennett. Dion was by far the best of the three, her voice combining surprisingly
JAAP BUITENDIJK / WARNER BROS. PICTURES
NO SNOW DAYS AT HOGWARTS — Even when you’re snowed in for a week with the same people, you can ditch your roommates for the cast of a movie any time. Some snow day saviors include the hours of entertainment offered by the ‘Harry Potter’ series and ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy.
Photo by WILFRED MORGAN
tion has made as well as what the future will hold in store for it. However, if you are looking for something a bit more off the beaten path, head to Madame Tussaud’s “Black History Discovery Trail & Scavenger Hunt.” According to the wax museum’s Web site, the exhibit “takes visitors on an educational and entertaining scavenger hunt, featuring more than a dozen wax figures of prominent African American icons.” Just a few among the many wax figures include Oprah Winfrey, Barack Obama and Muhammad Ali. The exhibit made its debut Feb. 2 and will run through the end of the month. Especially noteworthy about the exhibit is that, unlike the others at Madame Tussaud’s, “Scavenger Hunt” is free. If you don’t feel like venturing off campus, don’t worry. AU has prepared a month of special Black History events sponsored by a range of clubs and organizations, including the Black Student Alliance, Multicultural Affairs, NAACP and the Student Union Board. Though there are over 10 events scheduled, there are definitely a few you can’t afford to miss. On Feb. 20, Experience DC, International Student and Scholar Services and Multicultural Affairs will sponsor “Road Trip USA
— Exploring ‘Black Broadway,’” a daytrip where participants experience a guided tour of U Street, lunch at Ben’s Chili Bowl and a visit to the Smithsonian Anacostia. The trip is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and those interested in registering should e-mail roadtripusa@american.edu. The evening of Feb. 24 offers many great opportunities to take in some culture. One can head to the Tavern for “Jazz Café,” an
evening of jazz by AU students and local D.C. musicians. If you are looking for something more academic, don’t miss the lecture “Things Fall Together.” The event is sure to be interesting and eye opening as Professor Keith Gottschalk and the African National Congress lecture on anti-Apartheid activists in South Africa.
well with Fergie’s. Equally surprising is how three of today’s biggest female names in pop music were missing: Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift. While the song is still full of icons and talented performers, it seemed odd that none of those three were included in this star-studded remake. Also missing from the performance is songstress Alicia Keys, who is known for her dedication to charity work and seemed like an obvious choice for the single. Despite its flaws, the song
is still a fresh and new spin on the classic. While Cyndi Lauper might have seemed like the wild card in the ‘80s version, the new single includes T-Pain and Lil Wayne, both singing with AutoTune, while Carlos Santana plays a guitar solo in the background. L.L. Cool J, Will.I.Am, Swizz Beats, Snoop Dogg and Kanye West interject to rap a brand new verse and inject a little bit of hip hop to the charity ballad. In a fitting performance, Wyclef Jean, a native of Haiti, sings in Haitian
Creole throughout the song. It reminds the listener of the new objective for this version, to help those in Haiti. If the original song is any indicator of its success, this new take on the classic is a surefire way to raise much-needed money for a country struck by catastrophe. And it’s certain that raising awareness never sounded so good.
Bring down cabin fever with Hollywood hits By CAITLIN E. MOORE Eagle Staff Writer With the surplus of snow days and a current rise in cabin fever, most of us are busting at the seams, slowly crossing off items on our to do lists and running out of activities to pursue. It’s inevitable that at some point or another we’ve all wound up in front of our respective televisions, perusing our catalogue of DVDs, attempting to figure out what might numbly entertain us for the next twelve hours or so. Here are a few of our picks for the best movies to watch while snowed in.
Courtesy of NAACP
A MOVEMENT TO REMEMBER — During the month of February, events and exhibits throughout the District are honoring Black History Month.
You can reach this staff writer at ostitilis@theeagleonline.com.
You can reach this staff writer at ydesta@theeagleonline.com.
Read The Scene blog online at theeagleonline.com.
“The Lord of the Rings” and/or “Harry Potter” Series Despite the fact that they are wildly entertaining, “The Lord of the Rings” and “Harry Potter” series are the ideal snow day picks because they are at least nine hours of entertainment. While the outside world looks like Narnia, it’s easy to get lost in the whimsical world of hobbits and wizards, pretending that the snow outside your dorm window is actually the beautiful winter scene from Hogwarts — minus the whole “Death eater” thing. “Garden State” When locked inside for over four days, one starts to contemplate life and overanalyze even more than usual. “Garden State” is the ideal film to get lost in. This unique, though clichéd, coming-of-age “you can never go home again” tale is a perfect accompaniment to the most boring of days. At the very least, the Grammy-winning soundtrack is a classic musical companion for a day spent lying in bed putting off homework. “Love Actually” Despite the fact that the best of the winter holidays are long past, there’s something about watching a Christmas-themed movie in the snow, even in February, that just feels calm and cozy. The interwoven stories of several different couples attempting to both get together and break apart during the holiday
season is oddly realistic and always heartwarming. “Love Actually” is one of the few romantic comedies that everyone seems to like, and a perfect film to huddle around for a few hours of your long day. “Fight Club” If chick flicks aren’t up your alley, “Fight Club” is the perfect actionfilled (and long) movie for sticking in the DVD player. After a few too many hours eating up your almostdepleted grocery supply and exercising all the homework discipline you can muster, sometimes it’s best to watch those on screen act out the extravagant fantasies you yourself cannot attempt. Watching this film is also the safer way to spend your boredom, as watching others inadvertently go stir crazy may distract you from acting out on our own after a bit too much time in the same small room. “The Hangover”/”Forgetting Sarah Marshall”/any Judd Apatow movie Sometimes being stuck with the same people for a few hours can drive you insane, so the best way to deter those feelings is to spend time with people who are funnier than you could ever be. Watching the nearly-slapstick films of the years past is an instant cheer-up if you’re feeling a tad gloomy from snow blindness. Armageddon It’s only fitting that one should watch the film that inspired the apocalyptically named blizzard of 2010, “Snowmageddon.” Plus, who doesn’t like a movie about a meteor in which nearly all of your favorite film characters die but Ben Affleck is still in his “hot leading man” phase? So stay warm, plop down in front of your television and watch the movies that’ll make the long snow days go a little faster — after you’ve finished your homework, of course. You can reach this staff writer at cmoore@theeagleonline.com.
the EAGLE
FEBRUARY 15, 2010
the scene 9
Privacy undervalued in U.S. Promise falls CROSS-CULTURAL DISPATCH
ANKARA, TURKEY By WILLIAM F. ZEMAN While studying in Ankara last summer, I lived with a Turkish family named the Özkurts. They welcomed me with incredible kindness. Before the weekend’s conclusion (I arrived on a Saturday afternoon) I had been taken to meet the family matriarch, introduced to the extended Özkurt clan, and my host mother called me canım (“dear”). She said she considered me her newest son. I was flattered, if a bit skeptical and disbelieving. However, I had not realized the peculiarities which come with being the Özkurt family’s temporary son. I returned from my first day of language classes to discover my room had been
cleaned and my bed made. “How sweet,” I thought, my college student mind still used to messy kitchens and unkempt bedrooms. “She made my bed.” Then I looked around the room, and a feeling of great discomfort came over me. I had come to Turkey with a loaded rucksack and had been far too lazy to unpack it. Now Zeynep, as my new mother, had unpacked it for me. She had folded my pants and shirts, placing them on shelves. My underwear, knick-knacks and other accoutrements were arranged in drawers. The newly-made bed had warmed my heart. But this — my entire body was gripped with profound unease. My privacy had been violated. This troubled my American mind. That was in June 2009. Since then, I have moved on. I’ve lived in a lovely apartment with Spanish Erasmus students. I’ve lived in a cramped Istanbul room, slept on a variety of couches and become aware of the luxury of freshly-washed hair. In that time, I’ve interacted with many nationalities: Spaniards, Dutch, Germans, Turks, and even an Albanian. Every interaction has challenged my American cultural mindset and values, just as that first weekend with Zeynep Özkurt did. I have tried jettisoning some of
these values, with varying success (my current projects: stop remembering who owes whom how much money). However, just as I have attempted to live apart from some of ingrained Americana, I have come to cherish a few beliefs more passionately. Patriotism and freedom of speech sit high on my list. But highest of all stands preservation of privacy — the notion that one’s home and possessions are his own, that they cannot be searched except under a lawfully given warrant — and only then pursuant to carefully-prescribed parameters. I mention this because a fellow student in Cairo had his privacy violated. It is not my prerogative to go into specifics. (Indeed, I refer to him in the masculine only for ease of writing, not because “he” necessarily is a he). I will merely say his apartment was searched by our program’s operators. Without his presence, permission or awareness they rifled through his possessions, and found something illegal under U.S. and Egyptian law. Then they kicked him out of the program. I am not wise in these matters. I do not pretend to be experienced enough to discern the right decision from the wrong. Time may show the administrator’s decision to be correct. I do know they legally were in the right. The program in Cairo, called
AMIDEAST, signed the apartment’s lease though my friend paid for the whole of it himself. Leaseholders hold far greater privilege in Egypt than they do in the US. I mention this partially because AU Abroad partners with AMIDEAST, though I assign absolutely no blame whatsoever to AU Abroad. Inquiring students have the right to know administrators take it upon themselves to search a student’s possessions without his knowledge, presence or consent. Mostly though, I mention this because I feel the same emotion which welled up inside me when I discovered my empty rucksack. That time, I moved on, chalking up Zeynep’s privacy invasion to cultural differences. But this time, it is my countrymen who have forgotten the values of the nation they promote. They no longer seem to believe in America’s basic values — individual dignity, individual privacy and the due process of judgement. Instead, aiming for expediency, they have, in my mind, shamed the nation whose flag they honor. Once again, I am gripped with profound unease. You can reach this columnist at thescene@theeagleonline.com.
Eagle staffers lost without lovers W4TS - Baby Just Say Yes Self-aware hipster girl seeks hipster girl who doesn’t upstage my hipsterness, not that you can. Must (ironically) enjoy Taylor Swift and R&B mash-ups. Must be able to see boyshorts through torn skinny jeans, which will end up on my floor anyway. M4W - Back from Abroad, Lookin’ for a Broad Brimming with sardonic wit and is looking for a lady who doesn’t mind that my skinny tie and vest match better than your purse and shoes. Likes arts and crafts, and by crafts I mean rolling my own cigarettes. W4M - For Your Entertainment Can sing, dance and give unsolicited sensual massages when you least expect it. Suitors must not like Coco Puffs, Coco Chanel or hot coco, as I am still lamenting the loss of The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien. W4M - Something Up My Sleeve Decorated grammar veteran looking for a hell-vetica of a lover. Must enjoy China and coffee, but not necessarily at the same time. M4HW - Looking for My Punk Rock Princess Don’t let the Detroit Tiger’s cap fool you. I may be a sports man by day, but I can rock out all night to the sounds of Fall Out Boy and Paramore. Anyone who is not Hayley Williams need not apply. K4J - Seasons of Love Looking for someone to get LOST with on Tuesday nights. Must enjoy Christmas, sweaters and Christmas sweaters any month of the year. Cold hands looking for a warm heart. W4M - Make Your Bed Alterna-Rock Looking for a physics boy so I can say that We Are Scientists. Hates the cold but loves the Arctic...Monkeys. Does not like meat or Taylor Swift.
W4M - Popping the Culture A fan of cute dresses — on me, not on you. Looking for a coffee mate, Blackberry required. Hates dropping g’s, unless that’s what the date costs. Does not dip pen in company ink. M4AP - Masters More Than the Web Journalism fanboy who enjoys brisk walks around the second floor of Mary Graydon Center. Will do anything for a good story, unless I’m eating dinner — then hold on a second. Will insert my HTML in your page, if you know what I mean. M4W - Looks Somewhat Like the Man of Your Dreams Bass seeking soprano. Enjoys themed T-shirts that speak to my personality and general interests. Seeking the female Bret to my smooth Jemaine or Fly to my Jeff Goldblum.
W4M - Wants to Be Respectful Sexy bitch seeking David Guetta. Enjoys dirty dancing in inappropriate places and harassing officials via e-mail. W4LOL - Can haz u? Shorty can haz LOLcats luv this valuntinez day? Must have shawt klawz and enjoi teh ceiling. Om nom nom. M4W - I Want To Be Moderately Amused By Your Intelligence Looking for extremely smart girl. But not, like, in your face smart. More like, laid back, ‘I understand complicated issues’ smart. You know, but not too opinionated. 4.0 GPA mandatory. Must be bangin’ attractive and like to do weird things.
hear I got swagger / But I kick ‘em to the curb unless they look like Mick Jagger / Boys blowing up my phones, phones / Especially in my place of work ... weird (sung to the tune of “Sous Le Dome Epais”). M4W- Tear down this wall! ... Between you and me Looking for a place to put my bratwurst. Not-really German stud, looking for a fine looking lady to drink Heineken until her dirndl falls off. Non-communists need not apply.
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W4M - Francophile Your Way In My Heart Pixie-haired sweetheart seeks dominatrix-style love. Must enjoy modern art and spanks. Worldly knowledge of literature recommended, but literacy is not important. Must like both France and America, if such a person still exists.
W4M - Immer mit der Ruhe Sexy sorority girl looking to settle down now that I’ve got a job on the steady. Must be in a fraternity and speak fluent German. Am available for dating anytime but Wednesdays and Sundays. Must agree to be quoted in my stories.
W4M - BREAKING: I’m single and waiting for you. Looking for a solid journalist to hold me during journalism. Non-SOC students need not apply, you make me ill. Physical attributes no worry, only concise, opinion-free writing.
W4M - SNOOKIN’ FOR LOVE LOVES NEWSPAPERS AND GETTING SH*T DONE. LIKES TO PARTY AND WHEN WE PARTY WE WILL PARTY HARD. THINKS NEW JERSEY IS WHERE AWESOME IS BORN. Excellent grammar skills are also appreciated.
W4M - Belle of the Ball Southern belle looking for wellmannered Yankee. Likes to kick balls around; big fan of soccer. Seeks man
M4W - The Price Could Be Right Willing to date anyone with a pulse, French perfume, multiple houses, boats and a Swiss bank account. Houses must be a combined 6,000 square feet. One must be on a large body of water, preferably an ocean. W4M - I will design an epic punishment for you Looking for enigmatic boytoy who will allow me to completely and utterly dominate him in every aspect of our relationship. Must be comfortable with sitting for long periods of time without any speaking. Fully-stocked leather wardrobe preferred. W4M - Dial K for Love The dudes are lining up cause they
W4K - Must make me purr Long-legged blonde who loves kittens. Tough exterior but soft at heart, like my cats’ fur. Must be smoking hot, and also a smoker. M4Ws - BAM BAM I WANT YOU IN MY ROOM Recent birthday means it is legal for me to go to clubs with fine ladies. I am not very interested in what you are saying, only that you say it while naked in my bed. Don’t fight it ... it’s only science.
M4W - Make your heart shutter Lover of aperture, f-stops and secure digital flash cards. The bigger the lens the better. Looking for someone who will look good on 35mm film.
STUDENT N I G H T CHARACTER
WEEKLY BOOB TUBE
MAISIE HOOPER We have all been victims to attaching ourselves to a show only to find out a season later that it has been canceled. It is frustrating to see shows like “Jersey Shore” and “Dancing with the Stars” survive when series with actual plots, like “Alias” and “Freaks and Geeks,” are given the axe for faulty ratings. If anything, the track record of brilliant but canceled shows demonstrates the short attention span of the American viewer. Everyone knows that ADD is over-diagnosed, so networks like FOX and ABC should not be surprised when our attention spans take us from channel to channel. As television viewers, we return to what we are comfortable with watching. We return to shows that thrill us, entertain us or sadden us. So yes, ratings at the beginning of a show’s life will be low, but eventually that show will create a supportive following. If NBC had faith in “Freaks and Geeks,” people like Seth Rogen, James Franco and Judd Apatow would have been famous much sooner. “Freaks and Geeks,” the beautiful brainchild of Paul Feig and Judd Apatow, was born in the fall of 1999 and died in the spring of 2000. The Emmynominated comedy, which aired on NBC, followed two groups of teenagers in 1980s Michigan. The series, whose tagline was “it’s 1980 and this is what high school was like for the rest of us,” brought back bands like Rush and Cream and the painful reminders of high school like drugs, boyfriends and embarrassing parents. Many actors from the show, like Jason Segel, Seth Rogen, James Franco and Martin Starr, have since graduated to Apatow productions. Jason Segel and Seth Rogen showed up again in Apatow’s “Undeclared,” a comedy about college freshman Steve Karp beginning the most exciting time of his life, until his recently divorced dad shows up looking for a co-ed fun time. The show was hilarious but was canceled by FOX in 2002, after one season. Also killed by FOX was the much-loved comedy series “Arrested Development.” The show about the barely-functioning Bluth family ran for three seasons and struggled with ratings. However, those who stuck with it were treated with awkward
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M4AH - The Cat’s Meow Editor looking for pussy... cats. Must enjoy feline company and the Federalist papers. Must not like Mexican food; I am not welcome in Guapo’s. Females only, unless Alexander Hamilton is still alive and interested.
W4G - Sex on Fire Fiery ginger does not seek the same. Must have New York sensibilities and love being gangster. Has a way with words. Sometimes. Answers openended questions in a timely fashion.
with personality as big as my hair.
to profits on prime time TV
COMMITMENT
CONNECTION
catchphrases and enduring quotes like, “OK, Lindsay, are you forgetting that I was a professional twice over — an analyst and a therapist. The world’s first analrapist.” The show, narrated by Ron Howard, featured the brilliant cast of Jason Bateman, Jeffrey Tambor, Jessica Walter, Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Portia de Rossi and, of course, David Cross as Dr. Tobias Fünke. Only one show could give us hair plugs, hot bonds and magic tricks in one episode, and fans are expecting a movie in the works. My only words for creator Mitchell Hurwitz are “thank you.” Another casualty on FOX’s death list was cult favorite “Andy Richter Controls the Universe.” Andy, a short story writer, could only find a job writing technical manuals for a company in Chicago. His co-workers were Jessica, the sarcastic supervisor; Byron, the timid weirdo; Wendy, the cute secretary and Keith, who was “so good looking” that Andy developed “a prejudice against the ‘attractive,’ who seem to get everything they want, unlike ordinary humans,” as described in the show. Andy narrated the show from inside his overactive imagination. The show was cut after only two seasons. Then there was the disturbing yet satisfying series “Strangers With Candy” on Comedy Central. The always-funny Amy Sedaris played Jerry Blank, a 46-year-old drug addict who picked her life up from where she left off at Flatpoint High school. The comedy was smartly written and filled with characters that you wish you knew. Jerry’s art teacher, played by Paul Dinello, and history teacher, played by Stephen Colbert, were secret lovers and seemed as uneducated as Jerry. The show lasted three seasons and inspired a movie version with much of the original cast. These shows were all canceled because of low ratings and then became cult hits. When the life spans of these shows are cut short, I am left in a state of wonder. I wonder if the Bluths are still arguing at the penthouse in Orange County, or if George Michael still loves his cousin. And did Jerry ever graduate from high school? There’s a beauty left in the open-endedness of a fallen show, but you also feel a sense of despair knowing that your show did not live up to its full potential. If you have a favorite show, and it’s on FOX, love it now while you still can. You can reach this columnist at thescene@theeagleonline.com.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS VS. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES WED., FEB. 17TH AT 7PM Every Wednesday home game is Student Night! $10 Upper Level ticket with valid student ID. To purchase your Student Night ticket, visit Verizon Center box ofce or a local Ticketmaster outlet on Wed., Feb. 17th. 1 ticket per ID. Offer good while supplies last.
Text “student” to 71855 to receive reminders about upcoming Student Nights.
F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t W W W. WA S H I N G T O N W I Z A R D S . C O M
10
SPORTS
FEBRUARY 15, 2010
ANDREW TOMLINSON n Sports Editor 202.885.1404
AU losing streak System to blame moves to three for poor season HARDWOOD THOUGHTS
Colgate drops AU 75-74 in 2OT
TOM SCHAD
By ANDREW TOMLINSON Eagle Staff Writer The AU men’s basketball team extended their losing streak to three games with a 75-74 doubleovertime loss to Colgate University on Saturday and a 73-59 loss to Bucknell University on Thursday. A layup by Colgate’s senior forward Ben Jonson with 34 seconds left in the second-half evened the score at 56 and sent Saturday’s game to overtime. Foul trouble affected both teams early in the first extra frame as they traded free throws. Neither team would allow the other one to build a significant lead until AU’s Vlad Moldoveanu hit a layup to make the score 64-60. Eagles forward Daniel Munoz followed up Moldoveanu’s points with two free throws, to build a six-point lead. Despite the six point lead with only 36 seconds left, Colgate fought back and hit two threes that sandwiched Moldoveanu free throws. AU held a two-point lead with less than 10 seconds to go in OT when Moldoveanu turned the ball over and Colgate hit a jumper with no time on the clock to send it to double overtime. Unlike the first overtime period, the Eagles were unable to gain a lead over the Raiders. After keeping the score close for the first four minutes, two free throws from Colgate sophomore Nick Pascale would give the Raiders a lead they would never relinquish. AU was able to pull within one with 16 seconds left, but a missed free throw by Nick Hendra kept the Raiders ahead by one. The Eagles had a shot at the win with five seconds left, but Moldoveanu’s shot rattled off the rim. Even though Moldoveanu missed the potential game winner, he was still AU’s best player. With 47 minutes of play-time, he totaled a double double with 30 points and 10 rebounds. AU sophomore Stephen Lumpkins also totaled a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. The Eagles yet again fell victim to a poor shooting percentage. As a team, they shot just over 40 percent from the field, but went 3-9 in overtime. Despite poor shooting from the floor, AU made 75 percent of their free throws including 12-13 in OT. Saturday’s effort was very dif-
PHILLIP OCHS / THE EAGLE
LAYING IT IN — Matthew Wilson drives the rim during AU’s loss to Bucknell at home last week. The Eagles have fallen into a tie for second to last place with Colgate and Holy Cross. They are now 4-6 in league play this year. ferent than the one AU put on the floor last Thursday in Bender Arena. Fouls and missed shots allowed Bucknell to jump out to a quick 11-0 lead. Strong play in the paint and from players off the bench allowed the Eagles to climb back into the game. Bucknell’s lead was cut to just three when the two teams headed to halftime. Even though AU had late life in the first half, the beginning of the second half was much like the beginning of the first. Four missed shots, two turnovers and two fouls allowed Bucknell to build a 10-point lead and pushed the score to 37-27. AU would not decrease the Bison lead to less than four for the rest of the game. Four Bison would put up double-digit points, including Joe Willman who had 15, Bryson Johnson and Mike Muscala who both had 14 and Patrick Behan who had 13. For the game, Bucknell did not have a very good shooting percentage, hitting less than half of their shots. The Eagles essentially handed Bucknell points by giving them 32 free
throw attempts, of which Bucknell hit 26. AU’s best player was Hendra who scored 19 points in his first game back from suspension. Five of his six total baskets were three pointers, the best mark on the team. A major key to Colgate’s double-digit victory was their ability to limit Moldoveanu. In 25 minutes of playtime, Moldoveanu scored just two points on 1-7 shooting. Moldoveanu has been AU’s best player since he joined the team. The two losses drop AU to 46 in Patriot League play and 7-18 overall. It was the team’s third straight loss after jumping out to a 4-3 start in the league play. After being in contention for the top spot in the league just two weeks ago, AU is now tied for second to last. They will play their next game Wednesday against Army in Bender Arena. You can reach this staff writer at atomlinson@theeagleonline.com.
Leer leads the Eagles to win over Colgate By TYLER TOMEA Eagle Contributing Writer The AU women’s basketball team had no trouble defeating the Colgate University Raiders for the second time this season as they coasted to an 82-47 victory on Saturday at the annual Phil Bender event. Liz Leer led the Eagles with a career-high 27 points to go along with eight rebounds, while Michelle Kirk and Lisa Strack contributed 14 points apiece. Krista Moser was the only Colgate player in double figures as she led the Raiders with 15 points. “She took good shots and she knocked down the open shots that she had,” AU Head Coach Matt Corkery said of Leer’s performance. “I’m very proud of the way [Leer] played but also proud of our team as far as how they got her the ball.” By scoring 82 points, AU registered its highest point total of the season. The previous high came against these same Raiders, when the Eagles totaled 80 points in a January victory. “I think that the key today was our chemistry,” Leer said. “All of our shots were in rhythm and none of them were forced.” Saturday’s game set a new wom-
en’s basketball attendance record as 1,291 fans attended the contest. The previous record was 1,177 set during a 2009 home game against Lehigh. “I thought it was a great atmosphere,” Corkery said. “I thought the crowd brought a lot of energy and we really fed off of that.”
Women’s Basketball AU: Colgate:
82 47
Washington, D.C. Ohemaa Nyanin scored the first four points of the contest to give the Eagles a lead they would never relinquish. With AU leading 10-7, Leer hit two of her career-high four triples to extend the lead to nine with 14:28 remaining in the first half. Colgate cut the AU lead to 1913 before the Eagles went on an 8-0 run, capped by a Raven Harris steal and layup. With her team leading 36-25 at the end of the first half, Leer hit two free throws to expand the AU advantage to 13 and give her 18 first-half points. The Eagles held a 38-26 lead at halftime.
Coming out of the locker room, AU went on a 15-5 run to take full control of the game and push the lead to 22. A Nyanin jumper with less than four minutes to play put the Eagles up 70-40 and Stephanie Anya tallied the final two points in the 82-47 victory. The 35-point margin of victory is the largest of the season for the Eagles. For the game, AU shot a sizzling 51 percent from the field and 47 percent from three-point range. The Eagles also capitalized at the free throw line, hitting 20 of their 23 attempts. AU was just as strong on the defensive end, forcing 20 turnovers in the game. Ebony Edwards had a game-high five steals, while Harris had four. Colgate shot 28 percent from the field and under 60 percent from the free-throw line. With the win, the Eagles improved to 16-8 on the year and 9-1 in the conference, having now won 10 of their last 11 contests. The loss dropped Colgate to 9-15 overall and 4-6 in the league. AU’s next game will be on the road against the Army Lady Knights on Wednesday, Feb. 17. You can reach this writer at sports@theeagleonline.com.
As Brian Gilmore drained a three-pointer late in the first half of last season’s NCAA Tournament game, an upset seemed imminent. The Eagles went into halftime up by double-digits against Villanova, the thirdranked team in the bracket essentially playing a home game at the Wachovia Center. The AU men’s basketball program was on top of the world, but since then the mighty have certainly fallen. Nova outscored AU 49-26 in the second half and watched a double-digit lead transform into a double-digit loss. The program has looked like a mere shadow of its former self ever since. With three straight losses, including a soul-crushing double overtime loss at Colgate University on Saturday, a simple question has surfaced: why are they so bad? Obviously the loss of seven seniors has hurt this year’s team. The likes of Gilmore, Garrison Carr and Derrick Mercer were without a doubt some of the greatest players AU has ever had. This year’s squad has had to deal not only with losing their talent, but also their lack of experience. AU started the season as the fifth youngest team in the NCAA. The two returning players who had any role on last year’s team, Stephen Lumpkins and Nick Hendra, averaged 3.4 and 6.3 points per game respectively. As a whole, the Eagles lost 81 percent of their minutes and 84 percent of their scoring from last year. Anyone with half a brain, including Head Coach Jeff Jones, knew that this year was going to be tough. Freshmen and sophomores were going to have to step up and some of them have. At
this point in the season however, there is no excuse for how poorly they have played. Much of this burden falls on the players because, after all, they’re the ones playing the game. Yet it feels like it hasn’t been completely their fault. Vlad Moldoveanu, the polished Romanian star, has averaged 19.9 points as well as 6.4 rebounds this season and is in the running for Patriot League Player of the Year honors. Lumpkins and Hendra have both doubled their production from last year and younger players like Simon McCormack and Daniel Munoz have evolved into solid contributors as well. It leads one to believe that it’s not a lack of talent that AU posses, but rather a misuse of what the team has. Unfortunately, this falls squarely on the shoulders of Jones and his staff. Of course none of these guys, with the possible exception of Moldoveanu, can compare to the seniors who were lost, but it’s not like Jones has nothing to work with. AU’s roster went from spectacular last year to very good this year. This slight dip in talent doesn’t explain the huge gap in record. One key problem for Jones has been his inability to adapt the system to fit the players. AU shoots a three-point attempt once every four possessions, which comes out to roughly 18 threes per game. This would be a great strategy if the likes of Mercer, Carr and Gilmore were draining them 40 percent of the time like they did last year. Unfortunately for Jones, Joe Hill is no Garrison Carr. Logically, this would prompt Jones to alter his offensive strategy a bit in order to get more layups and less threes. He is most likely trying to do this, but it’s just not working. The ball enters the low post to Lumpkins or
Moldoveanu, the opposing defense collapses around him and it’s another three-point attempt. The Eagles have become incredibly one-dimensional and teams are finally discovering that if you can stop Moldoveanu, you can stop AU. Instead of living and dying by the three, Jones should be adapting his system to promote a more aggressive style of play. The Eagles like to gently prod the opposing defense and make a few space-creating cuts, but they rarely attack the rim. A poor jump-shooting team like AU should work harder to create easy layups and Jones’ current system is not conducive to this goal. Jones has always stressed the large role that energy plays in his team’s success or failure, yet this is another issue that is partially his fault. One of the head coach’s key jobs is to motivate and inspire his players, but Jones’ outbursts seem to have lost their effectiveness as the season has progressed. He’s also failed to address this issue by maintaining a strict rotation of players, allowing the starters and key role players to be overly carefree on the court. Giving second chances to fresh faces like Blake Jolivette and Mike Bersch may provide the spark that a young team like AU craves. Looking at the AU men’s basketball team on paper, the squad should not be 7-18 at this point in the season. Certainly the team itself could be playing better, but the blame cannot all be placed on quality basketball players like Moldoveanu, Lumpkins and Hendra. For these reasons, a majority of blame must fall on Jones and his staff. You can reach this writer at sports@theeagleonline.com.
Team USA hockey features young stars CAPITAL SPOTLIGHT
ANDREW TOMLINSON With the NHL breaking for the Olympics, there is only one thing to focus on: Team USA’s underdog bid for the gold medal in Vancouver at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Many say there is no reason for anyone to get really thrilled about the United States’ chances at first place, but they are mistaken. Of course Team Canada, Team Russia and Team Sweden are the favorites to win the gold medal, but the red, white and blue have put together a very young, very fast and highlyskilled team. The strength of this team is clearly in the net. In fact, they have one of the best goalie tandems in the Olympics and it begs the question: can a team play three goalies on the ice at the same time? Of course the answer is no, but with Ryan Miller, Tim Thomas and Jonathan Quick on the roster it is worth a try. A current Buffalo Sabre, Miller is the clear-cut best goalie on the roster. Quick may have more wins in the NHL this year, but Miller has a pristine .930 save percentage, tied for first in the league. At first, last year’s Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas looked like he may take the starting spot, but he has had a less than stellar regular season. Thomas only has 13 wins on the season and has a .915 save percentage. They are not poor numbers by any stretch, but they just are not as good as Millers. As for Quick, he is really just along for the ride as an emergency goalie. At 24 years old he certainly has time to blossom into an Olympic starter of the future. Looking past the goaltenders,
one of the biggest positives of the team is its average age. Unlike 2006’s team, the average age of the team is 26.5 years. The oldest player on the team is defender Brian Rafalski at 36 years old, while the youngest is perhaps USA’s best player Patrick Kane at 21 years old. Their youth is what gives them the speed that is often required to have a long run in international competition. While this team is not trying to repeat the “Miracle on Ice,” the two teams are both similar in the idea that they are young and have the ability to play a full 60 minutes of hockey. If scoring is something Americans are worried about, they need to look at just five of the forwards to calm their nerves. Joe Pavelski, Kane, Ryan Kesler, Dustin Brown and Bobby Ryan have a combined total of 241 points this NHL season. Scoring will not be a problem, but the United States’ team must play its game. Sure, 241 points is a lot, but Team USA is not necessarily a finesse team. Skilled passes and shots will win games for them not fancy moves and trick shots, like the Russians specialize in. Perhaps the weakest part of the team is on the blue line. The defense is a compilation of young and old, champions and new comers. Look for Ryan Whitney and Tim Gleason to anchor the back check and often lead the rush up ice. Success often hinges on a team’s ability to move the puck up the ice and they have the talent to do that, but whether they will be able to do that is another story. Among the blue liners are Rafalski and Brooks Orpik. The two of them are no strangers to pressure situations and championship play. Both of them have played in the last two Stanley Cup Finals, each winning the cup once. Their age brings concern of whether or not their legs will be able to last the long Olympic tournament. If they can
withstand the demanding play, they will certainly be assets for Team USA. Jamie Langenbrunner may be captain, but David Backes and his recent antics cannot be overlooked. While Backes didn’t earn an assistant captaincy, he has already shown that he is not afraid to step up for his country or his teammates. In the weeks after he was named to Team USA, Backes proceeded to inflict some preOlympic pain on some of Team Canada’s stars. His actions were compared to those of Brad Pitt’s character in the movie “Inglourious Basterds” by the hockey blog PuckDaddy.com. The Web site dubbed what he was doing as “Inglourious Backes.” This all because Backes went after “officers of the Team Canada army” by fighting Jonathan Toews, Corey Perry and Rick Nash when his NHL team, the St. Louis Blues, played them. While Backes claimed it all as coincidence, it is good to know there is a guy on the team who is not afraid to get down and dirty and engage in some cold warfare. Win or lose, the United States has something to look forward to when their team hits the ice rink. They may not be the favorite, but they certainly have the ability to contend. With story lines like “Inglorious Backes,” Kane’s blazing speed and Miller’s skills in net, America will not be without entertainment in the hockey tournament. So put on your best red, white and blue apparel, turn on MSNBC, or whatever network NBC shoved hockey on, and cheer on the old faithful for the “Home of the Brave,” because Olympic Hockey is here. You can reach this staff writer at atomlinson@theeagleonline.com.