The Eagle -- Feb. 25, 2010

SUPERNATURAL Despite his recent controversy, director Roman Polanski proves he’s still got amazing talent.

SCENE page 5

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NEWS NO PARKING There are no plans to change off-campus parking policy page 4

EDITORIAL

TO RATE OR TO RANK? Erin Cady analyzes and critiques CourseRank and RateMyProfessor page 3

SPORTS EAGLES SOAR AU women’s basketball defeats Navy at home in Bender Arena page 8

AU student seeks ANC seat

By CHARLIE SZOLD Eagle Staff Writer It’s not that Sami Green cares strongly about deer safety. But just the same, she soon hopes to have a say in how the local neighborhood commission deals with deer overpopulation.

Green, a sophomore in the School of Public Affairs, wants to represent AU students and the community as a member of the Advisory Neighborhood Commission.

Since her freshman year, she has tried several times to fill the singlemember district 3D07’s empty seat.

The district, created 10 years ago in conjunction with the last census, encompasses the South side dorms and a few residential blocks west of campus. Since the redistricting, the seat has remained empty, despite repeated attempts by students and residents to fill it.

ANCs deal with both important and mundane issues in the community. Liquor licenses, zoning laws and traffic issues come before the commission often. In ANC3D, complaints about AU student behavior in the community can also be an issue. With housing on campus at a premium and the ongoing debate over the proposed Campus Plan — which calls for the construction of dorms in the Nebraska Parking Lot — Green will face difficult and contentious issues if she

Track and field has a strong showing at Patriot League Championships page 8

SCENE TRUE BEAUTY Image Awareness Week helps AU students feel better about themselves page 5

TODAY’S WEATHER

HI 36° LO 27° One to three inches of accumulation likely FRIDAY HI 38° n LO 28°

SATURDAY HI 44° n LO 28°

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 37 n

Haiti program looks to rebuild

By NICOLE GLASS Eagle Staff Writer

PHILLIP OCHS / THE EAGLE

POLITICKING — SPA student Sami Green is in the process of petitioning to fill a vacant seat for ANC district 3D07’s commissioner. Here, Green talks with SIS sophomore Julian Asbury. gets the seat.

After three attempts in the last two years, Green is giving it another go.

“It’s been very trying,” she said.

“There have been times when I just

want to pull my hair out. It’s been touch and go.”

The main problem with filling the seat is a simple one. The entire single-member district has only approximately 27 commu-

nity members registered to vote, according to Penny Pagano, AU’s director of Community and Local Government Relations. Petitions to n

One student in the School of Public Affairs’ Public Financial Management program on Haiti died in last month’s earthquake.

The other 19 are safe, though many suffered personal losses.

The student, Bernard Claude Alcinor, is confirmed to have died, according to William LeoGrande, dean of SPA. A number of other students lost family members and their homes.

The program is expected to resume, possibly in another location, according to LeoGrande.

The part of the Haitian Central Bank where the program was based was destroyed in the earthquake. The bank lost staff and family members, LeoGrande said.

Still, AU plans to complete the program, even if it will be moved to another location.

“We have expressed AU’s condolences to the bank’s leadership

see ANC on page 4

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see HAITI on page 2

Frequency of locker Vandals set off dorm sprinklers thefts in fitness center rise, cause concern

By JULIA RYAN AND STEFANIE DAZIO Eagle Staff Writers

By STEFANIE DAZIO

targeted are in the men’s locker room. They cost $65 per semester to rent and have built-in locks.

A sign on the back of the door The 8-year-old locks will be rein the Jacobs Fitness Center men’s placed over spring break at a cost locker room reads, “Like your of approximately $1,600, accordstuff? Lock your locker.” But re- ing to Hill. cently, even the locks have not “We bought those with the stopped break-ins. mindset that it’s very difficult to In the past few months, Jacobs get into these just because of their Fitness Center has had a string design,” Hill said. of thefts from the rented lockers The fitness center has three on the lower types of lockers: level of the gym. mini-lockers Employees of with four-digit “The problem is, the gym have combinations not been able similar to those we’re not exactly to conclusively in hotel safes, find out how bring-yoursure how people are stealown-lock day ing from the lockers and the they’re doing it.” rented lockers. $65 per semes“The probter ones. lem is, we’re not “In my eyes, – Jocelyn Hill exactly sure how I just was buyDirector of Recreational they’re doing ing security so Sports and Fitness it,” said Jocelyn I didn’t have Hill, the director to worry about of Recreational it ever,” said Sports and FitBrian Galm, ness. “What we’ve seen has been a junior in the Kogod School of pretty rare and the frequency has Business, whose rented locker kind of jumped up a little bit.” was broken into.

Megan Miraglia, who works Galm’s credit and debit cards at the front desk of the gym, said were stolen out of his wallet Feb. that someone is figuring out how 15 and nearly $900 was frauduto tamper with the locks. lently charged to his account, There is no visible damage including a $300 purchase to the to the tampered lockers, and Best Buy in Tenleytown. He did one possible explanation is that not notice anything was missing people are not closing the doors until he coincidentally checked properly and someone is prying his bank account online. them open.

Galm left his locker at approxi“We look at the locker, we can’t mately 2:15 p.m. and the Best Buy really tell if anyone is trying to use purchase was made at 2:45 p.m. a crowbar of some sort, because Miraglia said there’s a pattern they would damage the locker,” to the thefts.

Hill said.

The thief “doesn’t take the enHowever, another scenario tire wallet, only takes one or two suggests that the thief is in pos- credit cards,” she said. “It seems session of a master key, Hill said. like it’s definitely the same per“Whoever this person is, son.” they’re very clever. Because they The fitness center sent out an wait for that person — you have e-mail to locker renters offering to know that this individual has “a friendly reminder in terms of put stuff in that locker — because locker use to insure the safety of we’ve got a hundred and some your belongings.” lockers in there,” she said. “And Suggestions made to renters if you had a key, to take the time were to always lock their lockto go through each and every one ers, shut their locker doors firmly until you found the jackpot — and to turn the lock a few times hopefully someone would notice to ensure the locker is completely that you were doing something secured. like that.”

The e-mail was not sent to the The lockers most recently n see LOCKERS on page 2 Eagle Staff Writer

RUNNING AWAY

FEBRUARY 25, 2010

The unexpected sprinkler activation early Tuesday morning on the Anderson fifth floor North bridge was an act of vandalism, according to officials from Housing and Dining Programs and the Department of Public Safety.

Public Safety is conducting an ongoing investigation to find the resident responsible for the sprinkler activation and ensuing flood.

The sprinklers were activated at 12:04 a.m., which then triggered the fire alarm system, according to Erin Genide, the resident director of Anderson Hall. Staff members from Housing and Dining, Facilities Maintenance and Public Safety determined upon inspection that vandalism caused the unexpected activation of the sprinklers.

Public Safety Lieutenant Dale Booth said a student reported that he had seen two subjects fleeing the scene at the time of the sprinkler activation.

While the sprinkler activated on the fifth floor, water also leaked down to some of the fourth-floor bridge

rooms. Dehumidifiers were placed throughout the fourth- and fifthfloor bridge on Tuesday to dry out the flooding.

“I heard a bang in the hallway, and immediately after that I heard a lot of people running.”

– Dillon Sawyer Freshman in SIS

Dillon Sawyer, a freshman in the School of International Service, was in his room on Anderson 5 when the sprinkler was activated.

“I heard a bang in the hallway, and immediately after that I heard a lot of people running and I heard my [resident assistant] screaming,” Sawyer said. “I looked out into the hallway and saw massive amounts of

water pouring out of the ceiling. The carpet was soaked and the entire floor smelled very strongly of chemicals. I thought it was a gas leakage.”

Students in Letts and Anderson Halls evacuated the residence halls once the fire alarm was activated.

When the residents of the Anderson 5 North bridge returned to their floor, they were not allowed to enter the hallway; instead, they were told to stay in the Anderson 5 North lounge.

An Anderson RA, who declined to give her name, told the residents that she and her fellow RAs had gone through the rooms with Metropolitan Police Department officers, who had just arrived on the scene, to unplug all electronic devices. They had also moved large objects like guitars off the residents’ floors.

Residents of the Anderson 5 North bridge were advised to make other sleeping arrangements for the night — they could either sleep in a friend’s room or take one of the temporary unoccupied rooms being provided by the university. No students took up the offer for a university-provided room, according to Genide.

While some students were allowed back in their rooms by 2 a.m. day n

see FLOOD on page 2

KATZ IN HAITI

COURTESY OF ROBERT KATZ

Junior in the School of International Service Ari Katz spent 10 days in Haiti performing medical care, completing reconnaissance missions and evaluating sites for future volunteers to congregate.

the EAGLE

FEBRUARY 25, 2010

POLICE

BLOTTER FEB 17 The Department of Public Safety responded to a report of a sick person in Leonard Hall. The individual signed a medical refusal form.

DPS responded to a report of a sick person inside a Hughes Hall fifth floor men’s bathroom. The individual signed a medical refusal form.

DPS witnessed a child injure himself in the Hamilton Parking Lot. His mother signed a medical refusal form.

D.C. Fire Department, DPS and the elevator company Warfield & Sanford responded to a sick person stuck in an elevator on the Terrace Dining Room kitchen level. Emergency technicians freed the individual. Medical refusal forms were signed.

A student left her laptop in her room in Nebraska Hall with the door unlocked. It was gone when she returned. No personal information was stored on the computer.

FEB 18 A student discovered her debit card missing and later learned the card was used fraudulently for a pizza delivery to Anderson Hall.

DPS responded to a report of an injured person located in McDowell Hall. The injury occurred in Bender Arena. A medical refusal form was signed.

FEB 19

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for the losses they have sustained among staff and families,” LeoGrande said. “And we have reiterated our determination to bring the program to a successful conclusion as soon as conditions permit.”

Rubens Lacerd, a student in the program, said he is upset about the impact the earthquake had on the program.

“I must say that the earthquake has put an end to one of the most extraordinary and rewarding experiences of my life,” he said. “The hardest thing is that I know nothing about [the program’s] future.”

Lacerd said at least eight other students in the program have expressed determination to finish it.

“One of them, who lost his wife, told me that his pain will give him more determination,” Lacerd said.

“He said the program is a way to

The Metropolitan Police Department, DCFD and DPS responded to a report of a sick person inside the Sports Center. The individual was transported to a local hospital.

DPS responded to a report of an injured person in Hughes. The individual signed a medical refusal form.

FEB 20 DPS found an individual sleeping in Federal Hall lounge near a computer lab. The individual told DPS he was an AU student. Upon further inquiry, it was determined the individual was a visitor, not an AU student. The individual was attending a convention and he, along with two other individuals, was a guest of an AU student.

Reportedly, since there was no room for the visitor to sleep in the student’s room, he was told to sleep in the lounge. He was advised to claim to be a student if asked by DPS with the notion DPS would not check his student status.

The visitor was allowed to stay in Capital Hall with the student. The student was advised of AU policy in reference to use of these areas.

A resident assistant was advised of the incident.

Bank cards were discovered missing from a wallet in the Jacob’s Fitness Center. The cards may have been taken while the victim was working out. Fraudulent charges were made on one of the cards.

A camera was taken from a purse left on a chair in the Tavern.

A cell phone was taken from a jacket left unattended on a table in TDR. FEB 21 DPS responded to a report of an injured person in Leonard. The individual signed a medical refusal

rebuild Haiti and consequently to provide a better future for his daughter who is, for him, the living memory of his beloved wife.”

Jerry Rosarion, another student in the program, said he thinks all enrolled students would like to finish it, regardless of the earthquake’s destruction.

“I will really like to continue the program,” he said. “I think that almost every student enrolled in it has the same feeling.”

Rosarion hopes not only to finish the program, but to also acquire a master’s degree. He is willing to travel to wherever the program may be located to finish it because he finds the program’s education to be important in the development of Haiti.

“The SPA program is really important for the Haitian government since well-established policies are definitely a key element in the de-

news 2

form and was issued a voucher for cab transport to a local hospital.

A fire alarm was pulled in Anderson at approximately 1:30 a.m. The building was evacuated.

No evidence of smoke or fire was found.

DPS responded to a request for assistance in Anderson with a disruptive individual who was a guest of a resident student. The individual was barred from all AU property.

DPS responded to a report of a sick individual in Anderson. The individual signed a medical refusal form. She was issued a cab voucher and was transported to a local hospital via cab.

DPS, MPD and DCFD responded to a report of a sick person in Anderson. DCFD transported the individual to a local hospital.

DPS responded to a report of a sick individual in McDowell. A resident director was on the scene.

The individual signed a medical refusal form.

FEB 22 DPS responded to an unauthorized entry report of an individual having climbed the Katzen Pedestrian Gate. A student found in the area claimed she had a proxy card but left it in her room and thus climbed the gate. DPS determined the student did not have a proxy card.

FEB 23 An activated sprinkler system flooded several rooms on the fifth and fourth floors of Anderson. Facilities Management was notified.

A student discovered her AUID missing from Anderson. EagleBucks were fraudulently charged on her card.

velopment of a country,” he said.

“I also think that this program is well-oriented, and I have mastered various skills that I could definitely use as the country is facing a new start.”

Bernard Racine, a student in the program, believes continued education is more important to Haiti now than ever before. Racine is willing to travel anywhere to complete the program.

“Above all, the way Haiti is running now, it does needs new public policies,” he said. “You can understand how motivated we become to finish with the program.”

Lacerd said he feels similarly.

“I want you to know that I will do my best to affix my signature on the attendance sheet,” Lacerd said.

You can reach this staff writer at nglass@theeagleonline.com.

THURS 25

FRI 26 THU 27

SAT 27

Opera - “Porgy and Bess” 7 p.m.

WHERE: National Museum of American History METRO: Federal Triangle (blue and orange lines) INFO: The Washington National Opera presents a sneak preview and discussion of George Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess.”

COST: Free CONTACT: For more information, call 202-633-1000.

Author Event - Shankar Vendatam 7 p.m.

WHERE: Politics and Prose, 5015 Connecticut Ave N.W. METRO: L1 or L2 bus from Van Ness (red line) INFO: Vendatam, a Washington Post writer, discusses and signs his new book, “The Hidden Brain: How Our Unconscious Minds Elect Presidents, Control Markets, Wage Wars and Save Our Lives.”

COST: Free CONTACT: For more information, call 202-364-1919.

Variety Show - “Once Upon a Time” 9 p.m.

WHERE: Town Danceboutique, 2009 Eighth St. N.W. METRO: Shaw-Howard University (green and yellow lines) INFO: This drag queen variety show features audience participation, video, live music and dancing.

COST: $10 CONTACT: For more information, call 202-234-8696.

SUN 28

MON 1

TUES 2

Exhibition - “The Sacred Made Real: The Making of an Exhibition” 2 p.m.

WHERE: National Gallery of Art, 4th Street and Constitution Ave. N.W. METRO: Archives-Navy Memorial (green and yellow lines) INFO: Xavier Bray, the assistant curator of 17th and 18th-Century Painting at the National Gallery in London, discusses the work behindthe-scenes of exhibitions.

COST: Free CONTACT: For more information, call 202-737-4215.

Exhibit - “Since Darwin: The Evolution of Evolution” 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. daily WHERE: National Museum of Natural History METRO: Smithsonian (blue and orange line) INFO: The museum celebrates Darwin’s 200th birthday and the 150th anniversary of the publication of “The Origin of Species.”

COST: Free CONTACT: For more information, call 202-633-1000.

Music - La Mezcla 9 p.m. - 1 a.m.

WHERE: Masa 14, 1825 14th St. N.W. METRO: U Street/African-American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo (green and yellow lines) INFO: DJ 2-Tone Jones spins in this after-dinner lounge.

COST: Free CONTACT: For more information, call 202-328-1414.

lives on the Anderson 5 North bridge almost directly next to where the sprinkler was broken.

Pegher said her room was one of the most severely water damaged rooms on the floor, and that she strongly disagrees with Housing and Dining’s policy about room and floor damage.

“I’m mostly just shocked by the lack of responsibility that Housing and Dining is taking right now for this,” Pegher said. “I understand that their statement says that they can’t do anything about it, but it seems obnoxious that simply because my room is [near where the sprinkler vandalism occurred] I should have to incur the costs of all this damage.”

Housing and Dining provided Pegher with a dehumidifier on Tuesday to dry out her room.

Pegher estimates that over $200 worth of damage was done to her personal items, including her laptop charger and four out of the five notebooks that she uses for her classes.

Pegher also noted that anything that was on her floor at the time of the flooding, including

her clothes, were thrown out into the hallway when the RAs went to the rooms to remove residents’ personal items from their floors.

As a result much of her clothing was stained and dirty or, in some cases, completely ruined.

Pegher said she will be spending the next few days cleaning her room and trying to recover from the effects of the sprinkler incident.

“Everything is just completely soaked — it’s horrendous,” Pegher said. “I’ve been in contact with my family, but I really don’t know what I’m supposed to do at this point.”

Public Safety is asking students to come forward with any information that they may have relating to who is responsible for tampering with the sprinklers.

Students can contact Public Safety by e-mailing dps@american. edu or calling the Public Safety office at 202-885-2527.

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from FLOOD on page 1

Tuesday morning, other students in the most severely water-damaged rooms were not allowed back into their rooms until 7 a.m., according to students living on the Anderson 5 North bridge.

Genide said that while Housing and Dining is sensitive to the costs already incurred by the damages to students’ personal belongings, students must pay for the damages to their floor and their personal belongings. “[According to the Housing Agreement] the university is not responsible for the loss or damage to personal property in the event of this type of situation,” Genide said in an e-mail. “We always encourage residents to insure personal belongings through either their parents’ or guardians’ homeowner’s insurance or through renter’s insurance. This is standard with almost any lease, on campus or off, and we encourage all students to look into these options.”

Kelcie Pegher, a sophomore in the School of Communication,

You can reach these staff writer at news@theeagleonline.com.

Spring break trips still popular despite recession

By KIEN BUI Eagle Contributing Writer Despite lingering effects of the recession, many students are still planning on taking trips throughout the United States and abroad for spring break.

Jennifer Azar, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, said finances will keep her from returning home to Belgium, where she has previously spent her spring breaks.

“I used to travel back to Europe,

but I can no longer afford that right now,” she said in an e-mail.

Azar will still be traveling over spring break, she said. Her trip is shorter and closer this year because of the recession. Instead of going to Europe, she will go to Miami for the beach and sun, she said.

Honors Program Director Michael Mass said he has been worried about the Honors spring break trips in the last two years because of the recession.

“Some students just cannot af-

ford [the Honors] trip because it is too expensive,” Mass said.

This year’s 10-day Honors trip to Vietnam and Cambodia will cost $2,200 for one week, plus visa fees, according to Mass.

But this year, the fees and the recession did not stop students from applying to go.

“We had to turn some students away,” Mass said. “Many students have applied for the trip.”

Eighteen undergraduates and two graduates will participate in community service and cul-

tural activities on the trip, which coincides with Professor Peter Kuznick’s Honors colloquium course, “America’s Killing Fields — Vietnam and Cambodia: History, Film and Action,” according to Mass.

Marcy Campos, director of the Community Service Center, said that the Center’s seven alternative spring break trips had not been affected by the recession, even though fees ranged from $900 for domestic trips to $3,000 for overseas. All spring break trips are full,

Campos said.

The Center’s spring break trips this year include four overseas trips to Bangladesh, Kenya, Columbia and Ireland/Northern Ireland, and three domestic trips to New Orleans and New Mexico with 10 to 15 students per trip, according to Campos.

Students would have opportunities to participate extensively in community development activities on those trips, Campos said.

While group international spring break trips will continue

this year, some individuals will stay in D.C. Students like Huong Nguyen, a first-year graduate student in the School of International Service, have decided to stay in D.C. for spring break because money is tight.

“I don’t have enough money [to travel] this year,” she said. Instead, Nguyen will spend time exploring D.C. with her friends.

You can reach this writer at news@theeagleonline.com.

University gages student experience through survey

By ANNA SCALAMOGNA Eagle Contributing Writer AU is administering the 2010 National Survey for Student Engagement to freshmen and second semester seniors.

AU did not participate in the 2008 survey, though it has used the NSSE before, The Eagle previously reported.

The NSSE — a measure of undergraduate students’ participation and learning experiences — is being used by universities and colleges in response to traditional rankings such as the U.S. News and World Report, according to The Washington Post.

Administered every two years, the survey aims to give universities an idea of how undergraduates are spending their time in-

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student body at large and doesn’t mention any thefts.

Galm does not remember receiving the e-mail, but he admits he could have deleted it.

“A lot of people ignore emails,” he said.

side and outside the classroom, according to the NSSE Web site.

The survey also attempts to measure how rewarding the classroom experience is for students.

The survey does not provide colleges with a numeral ranking, but instead allows schools to compare their results with benchmarks from schools of similar categories, according to Karen Froslid-Jones, director of AU’s Office of Institutional Research and Assessment.

Froslid-Jones said AU has garnered positive results from the survey in the past, especially in categories such as AU’s level of academic challenge and faculty-student interaction. Other benchmarks include active and collaborative learning, enriching educational experiences and supportive campus environment.

In addition to the e-mail, Hill said signs were placed in the locker room reminding people to lock their belongings. The signage does not mention thefts either.

“It’s not going to say, ‘Hey, we’ve been getting a lot of thefts,’ but it’ll be more positive,” she

In the past, AU has utilized the information gathered by NSSE and actively applied its results.

“The results do not just sit on the shelf,” Froslid-Jones said.

The survey’s results were valuable in forming AU’s Strategic Plan last year, Froslid-Jones said. It has also been used to make improvements to a number of programs such as the Honors Program, the Washington Mentorship Program and the University College, The Eagle previously reported.

The survey gives many opportunities for students to reflect upon their insights and participation and has very specific questions, Froslid-Jones said. For example, questions ask, “How often do you raise your hand in class?” and “How many 20-page papers have you written?”

The 82-question survey uses said.

Miraglia added that people aren’t being warned.

“It doesn’t seem like a whole lot of action has been taken,” she said. “I can’t say that anything out of the ordinary has been done.”

Hill is looking to install security cameras around the fitness

questions like these to assess student engagement instead of statistical data such as standardized tests. Research has shown that the more students participate in their education, the more they will learn, according to USA Today.

“It really talks about the experiences students are having at their universities versus the input measures, such as SAT scores, other rankings use,” Froslid-Jones said.

However, without participation the survey becomes less valuable, she said. AU’s response rate, which indicates the number of students who take the survey, has been better than average in the past, according to FroslidJones The survey was first sent to students through e-mail on Feb. 4. The next reminder will be ecenter, but that won’t happen for a few months.

“People are getting even more sophisticated,” Hill said. “I don’t know what else is out there to try.”

You can reach this staff writer at sdazio@theeagleonline.com.

mailed to students on March 2.

AU’s NSSE rankings have not been made public yet, FroslidJones said. A full report of the 2010 results will be available in September, she said.

Greg Grauman, director of AU’s Office of Admissions, said he believes surveys and rankings only provide a snapshot of a university’s strengths.

“I believe the academic reputation and the success of a univer-

sity’s graduates, along with institutional fit, are more persuasive than any single ranking,” Grauman said. “A prospective student gets a much better understanding of an institution by visiting and discovering the strengths first hand.”

You can reach this writer at news@theeagleonline.com.

Megabytes Café Now Introducing….!!

Falafel sandwich Comes With: Tzatziki Sauce, Onion, Tomato, Parsley

Next to Chevy Chase Bank (In the Tunnel)

EDITORIAL

FEBRUARY 25, 2010

JOE WENNER n Editorial Page Editor EdPage@TheEagleOnline.com

JEN CALANTONE n Editor in Chief Editor@TheEagleOnline.com

Individualism in an uncertain world GIVE ME LIBERTY

MICHAEL STUBEL The future — that vast expanse of hopes and dreams — was once reserved for restless Americans out to improve their lot. There were going to be bigger houses, faster cars and better paying jobs in a peaceful world. The fall of the Berlin Wall gave rise to the prospect of widespread prosperity well into the 21st century.

The realities of the last decade, however, spoiled the promise of tomorrow. There was Enron and Iraq, suffocating debt and partisan gridlock. Government and the market, the two prevailing institutions driving America, experienced monumental declines in their reputations. In drawing conclusions from increasing electoral polarization and the ongoing recession, levels of public trust in the powers that be point to a rocky road ahead.

A recent CNN poll found that 86 percent of Americans believe that government is broken. Tucked away in the findings was a more revealing statistic: 81 percent of those who say government is broken also insist that it can be restored. But after years of incompetence, how can two battered pillars of our society, Washington and Wall Street, regain our faith in their abilities?

Since the Great Depression, the electorate has shifted between its acceptance of greater social programs and an affinity for accelerated investment in the private sector. Of course, this trend can be partially explained by the actions of ruling coalitions; staples like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid were introduced and refined under Franklin Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson. Conversely, the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged in the age of deregulation ushered in

by Ronald Reagan and continued under Bill Clinton. Nevertheless, there has been a consistent pattern of placing our fortunes in the hands of others, whether bankers, bureaucrats or stock traders. The trouble

is that the demand for more safety nets and sound investments now exceeds our supply capabilities.

Individual empowerment is often dismissed as the impossible goal of libertarian knuckleheads and Tea Party enthusiasts. Voices on both sides of the political spectrum deride decentralization as a crackpot scheme to abolish government and disrupt the modern way of life. In fact, I want nothing of the kind. Government, like the private sector, should maintain an integral role in the daily lives of Americans. Until life’s opportunities are open for all, our country will always need referees to act as mediators and social advocates.

Then again, government cannot be fixed or work efficiently again until individuals, the very people who elect representatives to serve their interests, dramatically alter their needs and behavior.

Sacrifice and self-restraint, embedded in generations tested by economic hardship and world war, are foreign ideals to most of us born after the end of the Vietnam War. Materialism and short-term gratification have replaced modest living and a long-term outlook.

Government spending and reckless practices on Wall Street occurred because the public acted in a similar manner, albeit on a smaller scale. We bought things we could not afford and demanded better returns without paying higher taxes.

Our desire for freedom at one moment and dependence at the next were bound to collide.

Living within our means is the key to repairing trust in public institutions. Political and financial leaders will only change their ways if we change ours. So make prudent decisions, plan for the years ahead and lead a healthy lifestyle. Be realistic about what government and the market can and cannot accomplish. If nothing else, we should know that life grants no certainties, expect for the right of individuals to persevere in the face of great unknowns.

Michael Stubel is a junior in the School of Public Affairs and the School of Communication and a moderate libertarian columnist for The Eagle. You can reach him at edpage@theeagleonline.com.

CourseRank: A critique THAT AMERICAN LIFE

ERIN CADY Choosing classes can be an extremely tedious and frustrating experience. Trying to find the perfect class, professor or both can lead to hours of study-meetings with your academic adviser, getting recommendations from classmates and spending some quality time with the course catalog.

Students across the nation have used ratemyprofessor.com as a means to narrow down class choices, but this helpful site leaves something to be desired, since most reviews tend to be overly positive or overly negative. AU students have access to the Student Evaluations of Teaching completed at the end of every semester, but even this more AU-tailored resource is still difficult to use — the questions are more tailored to assist the professor than future students.

There are a few reasons why wordof-mouth is still widely used as a course/professor finding resource: it is easily accessible, you can ask questions and it is generally reliable.

All of these qualities are reflected in CourseRank, a new course-finding application brought to AU by Student Government President Andy MacCracken with the help of Andrew Smolik. The SG has been helping to publicize the application through a Facebook group. CourseRank matches student rankings with AU’s course catalogue to help students literally build their schedules. Reviews, class demographics, questions and answers are all easily accessible from this free and easy-to-use site.

Since students compile all information, SG has created an added incentive for the AU community to participate: for every class that you review before March 1, you will be entered into a raffle for two $50 Amazon gift cards.

Is this too good to be true? Per-

haps. Although CourseRank is a valuable resource now, SG is working hard to make it even better. While the system itself is easy to use, it is currently lacking a few basic essentials.

First, the ratings are based on a five-star system, similar to ratemyprofessor.com’s five-point system, except the rating is a general one instead of separated into clarity, easiness, helpfulness and overall quality.

The point system is probably a better resource for students, since it is difficult to show a graphic of a quartered star but simple to write it out in numerals. Additionally, the instructions never specify what exactly a star really stands for. Obviously, one student’s conception of a three-star class is going to be drastically different than another’s, making the resource more subjective than it could, and perhaps should be.

CourseRank also emphasizes the class over the professor, focusing on a general opinion of the course and grade received instead of material learned and quality of the professor.

SG is currently working to enable students to rate professors as well as classes, to better serve the expressed needs of the AU community. Since classes at AU vary greatly by professor, size, section and honors/nonhonors, more detail is needed in the program to help students pinpoint the right course, professor and section for them. Regardless, these reviews are helpful. If the reviewer has ranked the course, you can see his or her grade next to the response.

As with all course-ranking tools, CourseRank reviews must be taken with a grain of salt. Although the site is not perfect, SG is working hard to tailor it more to the needs of AU students. CourseRank will only be successful if everyone shares his or her class experiences, so get out there and start ranking.

Erin Cady is a freshman in the School of Public Affairs and an AU affairs columnist for the The Eagle.

You can reach her at edpage@ theeagleonline.com.

Courtesy of MCT CAMPUS

After vandals, the deluge

An act of vandalism left Anderson residences flooded and students won’t be reimbursed. Active encouragement to purchase renter’s insurance might have prevented the losses.

On Tuesday, students living on the fifth floor of the Anderson north bridge were thrown into a chaotic mess after vandalism set off the floor’s sprinkler system.

Residents must now not only replace their personal belongings, but also pay to repair the extensive damages to the floor itself.

While many point to this as another example of AU not taking responsibility for its students, it remains unrealistic to expect the university to reimburse every student for an act of vandalism — no matter how destructive.

These residents deserve every ounce of our sympathy, but still the facts remain. On-campus residents all signed the Housing Agreement, releasing the university of responsibility for personal belongings damaged in such events. And though this agreement may seem a tad dra-

LETTER TO THE EDITOR An Outsider’s inside view on Founders’ Day Although I transferred out of AU, I have been bombarded with news and updates about SG. While many students at AU don’t highly regard SG, I spent all three of my semesters proudly serving in the senate. Lately, plenty of my friends down in D.C. are upset to hear that the Founders’ Day Ball has been postponed indefinitely.

While the postponement of AU’s one great tradition is rather regrettable, it inevitably comes to the point where we begin to ask ourselves why this happened.

Is this at the fault of Alex Prescott, the vice president of the SG, for lack of oversight? Is it Founders’ Day Director Jacque Martin’s fault for not signing the contracts so close to the event?

Is it planet Earth’s fault for giving the nation’s capital its biggest snowstorm in over two centuries?

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conian to some, it is no different than lease agreements we will all sign once we move off campus.

Landlords are not responsible for personal belongings, pure and simple. It’s a hard lesson to learn for those on Anderson’s fifth floor, but an important one nonetheless.

But before anyone deems these thoughts insensitive to the plights of AU students, there is still more that should be said.

Housing and Dining is hardly free of culpability in this incident.

While students may need to pay for repairs themselves, Housing and Dining should have taken a larger role in reminding residents of this fact and insisting that they purchase renter’s insurance.

In an e-mail to The Eagle, Anderson Hall Resident Director Erin Genide stressed that Housing and Dining has always en-

couraged on-campus residents to insure their belongings through either their parents’ homeowner’s insurance or renter’s insurance.

Yet an exploration of AU’s Housing and Dining Web site reveals no such encouragement. There is no document or Web page that explicitly promotes renter’s insurance for on-campus residents or provides resources easing its purchase.

Compare this to the Residence Life Web site of Villanova University. It explicitly states that students must have their own insurance if their personal property is to be covered. Not only that, but the site also provides links to over five separate agencies that offer the appropriate insurance. Villanova is not alone is offering such helpful material.

Harvard, Princeton, Butler University, Elon University and even

Or is it the fault of the Senate, who not only has the ability to ask any SG official to come into the illustrious chamber of Kogod 118 for questioning regarding their duties at any point during the semester, but also gave Martin an extra $10,000 of extra SG funds with no questions asked?

Or, we can focus on what to do now instead of dwelling on the past. Mistakes have obviously been made, but calls for questioning and the feelings of anger ex post facto do not and will not help. This is a lesson I believe most of us learned after the impeachment early in the fall semester. The students of AU have the right to be upset, but this will not turn back time and allow the Founders’ Day Ball to happen on its scheduled day. I’m pretty sure if we could all turn back time at any point of our choosing, none of us would prioritize on making sure the 2010 Founders’ Day Ball happens at what most students would think is a reasonable date.

Yes, there is and was some

disorganization, and yes, people in the SG have made mistakes.

What we should not be doing is forming a witchhunt in order to get answers that will not change the past. This will waste the time of Prescott and Martin, who are as of now in the process of making sure AU will throw yet another successful Founders’ Day Ball, albeit a bit late. If the students of AU would still like to see Prescott, Martin and/or the Undergraduate Senate face questions after the Founders’ Day Ball is over, accommodations should be made to allow questioning to happen.

Maybe the student body should try to focus on the silver lining. A later Founders’ Day Ball means closer to, if not during, spring. Instead of freezing outside of Bender Arena like every other year, perhaps the attendees can take a moment and smell the roses.

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George Washington University provide similar resources to their students.

It may be true that Housing and Dining recommends renter’s insurance at New Student Orientation. Still, it is unrealistic to expect a large number of students to fully embrace information that at the time seems so inconsequential. Students need to be repeatedly reminded of its importance.

Had Housing and Dining done this, perhaps more residents on Anderson’s fifth floor would have insured their personal belongings.

As it is, dozens of AU students must now attempt replace their laptops, clothes and furniture, while at the same time studying for midterms. Let this be a warning, AU residents. Buy insurance, protect your belongings.

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FEBRUARY 25, 2010

news 4

Neighbor-student relations top Green’s priorities n

from ANC on page 1

seat are required to have at least 25 signatures — a tough task when Green is battling pushback from some residents who oppose student representation.

Difficulties in tracking down enough residents during the two-week time frame Green has to collect signatures also prove daunting.

“It’s almost an impossible task,” Pagano said. “There are very few districts like this.”

While accounts differ on whether the district was specifically drawn to make it nearly impossible for a student to get a seat on the council, or whether it was made specifically to guarantee a student representative, the fact is that no student has sat on ANC3D’s commission for nearly a decade.

But now, after waiting five months for the Board of Elections and Ethics to clear up registration problems that made it impossible to differentiate between North side students — who are part of a different single-member district — and 3D07 residents, this attempt may be successful. Green picked up her fourth petition Monday and is in the process of rounding up the 25 signatures she needs to be seated as a commissioner.

Unexpected difficulties In fall 2008, Seth Cutter, then-president of the Student Government, asked Green if she might be interested in filling the vacant seat. Green has always been interested in community politics and began attending community meetings to see if it was something she would be interested in, she said. After meeting with neighbors and listening to their concerns about the university and students, Green decided to take the first step and switch her voter registration from California to the District.

However, Green did not anticipate the difficulties that would ensue.

“The way the district was drawn, the current people sitting on the ANC, the rules that the Board of Elections has, the actual numbers of people living in the district — these are all hindrances,” she said. “The regulations have been more a hindrance than any one specific office or person.”

The decision to load the district with students left Green unable to fill the petition, convincing her that if she was ever going to get onto the commission, she would need to register South side students as D.C. voters.

But convincing AU students to register to vote in D.C. can be difficult, according to Professor David Lublin, a political scientist who teaches for the School of Public Affairs.

“Students are only in college a short time, and they may feel they know their towns better, so they prefer to register there,” he said. “Particularly in D.C., where you can’t even elect a congressman or senator — students may prefer

“I welcome the criticism and the apprehension because those [could be] my constituents.”

– Sami Green

to keep their registration at home.”

Furthermore, D.C.’s lopsided Democratic majority — nearly 93 percent voted for President Barack Obama in 2008 — encourages some students to stay registered where their vote has a greater chance of impacting the election.

Aaron Golds, a Georgetown University student who serves as a representative for ANC2E04, dealt with the same issue when he started petitioning for Georgetown’s local commission, despite 15 to 17 Georgetown Jesuits and chaplains living in his district.

“The hardest part was getting the 25 signatures,” he said. “It certainly was a challenge tracking some of the people down.”

Despite difficulties faced in convincing students to register in D.C., Green managed to register 23 AU students by setting up a table on the quad and using contacts she had developed with freshmen.

With the extra student voters able to sign her petition, Green went back to the Board of Elections and Ethics for her third petition, only to be told that because her voter registration address was 4400 Massachusetts Avenue — which is in a different ANC — she was unable to receive a petition.

Working with Pagano, Green lobbied the Board of Elections to determine a way to differentiate between

South and North side dorms. The Board of Elections was able to create such a system early this week, according to Alysoun McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Board of Elections.

Challenges Green harbors no illusions that her job as ANC commissioner will be easy.

“I have a lot going against me. I have to prove myself to a lot of people ... that are hesitant to have a student representative,” she said. “But I welcome the criticism and the apprehension because those [could be] my constituents.”

Green stresses that she will not act as a representative blindly supporting the university or students, but will instead do her best to represent all of ANC3D07’s residents.

“If I have to make a decision, and it’s either support the university policy or support the neighborhood, my allegiance will be to the neighborhood,” she said. “My job as an ANC commissioner is not to be a Student Government representative; it is to be an ANC commissioner.”

Commissioner Tom Smith, who represents ANC3D02, which encompasses the North side dorms, said he thinks having student representation could be beneficial for the neighborhood.

However, there could be pushback from other ANC representatives who think that student representation could have negative repercussions.

“I think ultimately it is up to the student and how they handle themselves,” he said. “I don’t know how the others will feel about it.”

Smith said that there have been issues between AU and the community, some institutional and some studentrelated. Student parking, conduct complaints — litter, noise, vandalism — and the ongoing debate over the proposed Campus Plan, are all difficult issues the ANC — and possibly Green — will be faced with, he said.

AU’s Campus Plan, in particular, is a difficult issue for any commissioner to deal with, Smith said.

“It’s a huge process,” he said. “It’s a daunting task for anybody.”

Green said she has been working hard over the last year to learn the intricacies of the issues facing the community.

“I have files upon files upon files about past ANC issues,” she said. “Go-

ANC3D07

Anderson Letts

SYLVIA CARIGNAN / PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

A DISTRICT TOO SMALL — After the last census, boundaries in ANC3D were redrawn. South side’s dorms were coupled with only a few residential houses, making it difficult to get the necessary 25 signatures from voters registered in the District.

Sami Green, an AU student, has tried three previous times to fill ANC3D07’s vacant seat. Original map courtesy of ANC3D.

ing into this position, I’m going to need a lot of assistance with people who have this experience.”

Green also acknowledged that as a student on the ANC, she will become the de facto representative for all students — charged with representing student problems and responding to community complaints. When she first started meeting with neighbors, Green said people were open and accepting of her. However, as controversy over the Campus Plan increased and larger numbers of students moved off campus, new tensions formed.

“There was a different tone this year,” she said. “I thought it was imperative now, more than ever, to try and rectify some of the impressions

community members have about AU students because a lot of them are just not true.”

Pagano said that Green will offer the commission some needed context about students’ needs on campus and how the Campus Plan could impact them.

“She can bring some perspective on student life on campus,” she said.

“When we talk about [the university’s] housing needs ... she can give a pretty good viewpoint.”

Green hopes that by increasing dialogue between students and community members, tensions can ebb and cooperation can increase.

“I think it starts with us on campus,” she said. “Both sides need to give

and take a little bit. There are ways that both can work together more functionally.”

Spring break Green is working to complete her petition before AU’s spring break begins March 6.

“It is not an easy challenge but has become par for the course with this process,” Green wrote in an e-mail. “I will do my best to make it happen and appreciate any university support in getting this done in time.”

You can reach this staff writer at cszold@theeagleonline.com.

Army Corps of Engineers unearths five more bottlenecks near AU

By CHRISTOPHER COTTRELL Eagle Staff Writer The Army Corps of Engineers recovered five more broken glass bottlenecks at its 4825 Glenbrook Rd. investigation, bringing the total to eight bottlenecks found in the last month, according to the Corps’ Spring Valley project manager Dan Noble.

It still remains unclear whether the bottlenecks indicate the nearby presence of a larger munitions cache known as the “Sgt. Maurer burial pit.”

On Jan. 25, the discovery of three broken glass bottlenecks at the property adjacent to the

AU president’s residence sparked speculation among community members and in the Northwest Current that the long sought-after cache had finally been located.

In response to the speculation, Noble released a memo on Feb. 2 stating that the Corps is never going to know whether they have located the “Maurer pit.”

“At this time, the only way I would feel comfortable calling any pit the ‘Maurer pit’ is if we find Sgt. Maurer’s dog tags in the pit,” the memo stated. “What we don’t know — and no one will ever be able to know — is whether these containers are absolutely the ones seen in the photo ... We

have NOT, at this time, located another disposal pit.”

But at Feb. 16 Restoration Advisory Board meeting, Noble said the bottlenecks recovered looked “remarkably similar” to the bottles depicted in a 1918 photo with Army Sergeant C. W. Maurer standing amid approximately 30 glass jugs.

The photo also showed what appeared to be metal drums and a pile of white powder, according to Noble.

The Corps has recovered metal drums at its “Pit 3” investigation in the past. Also at the RAB meeting, the Corps showed photos of the current investigation, which

Off-campus parking policy sticks despite SG Senator’s concerns Dalton says lack of clarity causes student confusion

By JULIA RYAN Eagle Staff Writer The AU administration has no plans for the near future to change the off-campus parking policy, according to President Neil Kerwin’s Chief of Staff David Taylor.

Any member of the AU community who parks on the residential streets surrounding campus can get a $75 ticket, The Eagle previously reported.

Undergraduate Senator Steve Dalton brought a bill to the Senate in January that calls on the university and the Department of Public Safety to more clearly define where students can and cannot park off campus.

Dalton does not think the university is sufficiently communicating with students about the current parking policy.

“Students don’t know where they can park and where they cannot,” Dalton said. “[Department of Public Safety Chief] Michael McNair said at first that the parking limits were within walking distance of campus, then he said that students cannot park anywhere near campus.”

Dalton also said that AU’s offcampus parking problem is “a selfmade problem.” High on-campus parking prices are driving students to find alternative places to park, Dalton said.

Student commuters and residents had to pay $936 to park oncampus for this academic school year, according to Public Safety’s Web site.

Dalton had a suggestion for how the university should make their parking policy clearer.

“They should come out with a map and say ‘in these highlighted regions, we will have [Public Safety] officers patrolling at these times, and if you are a student parking

“Students don’t know where they can park and where they cannot.”

– Steve Dalton Class of 2010 Senator

there we will ticket you.’ That’s the bare minimum.”

McNair said that the parking policy is clear as it is now.

“All members of the university community — including students, faculty, staff, visitors and guests — are required to park on campus and obtain a parking permit, purchase hourly/daily parking using the Pay-As-You-Go machines or to use public transportation,” he said in an e-mail. “Since the requirement is to park on campus at all times, it is does not make sense to define an

area off campus where students can park and avoid being ticketed.”

He stressed that the off-campus parking policy is not a Public Safety policy but an AU administration policy.

Taylor said that the parking policy is not something the AU administration developed themselves. They made the policy based on a mandate from the D.C. Zoning Commission when the administration drafted the Campus Plan in 2001.

The Zoning Commission had been receiving numerous complaints from residents living near campus about students parking in front of the residents’ houses or in their parking spots.

Taylor added that any Public Safety procedures for ticketing cars are “nuances” that would be in keeping with the university’s off-campus parking policy.

The off-campus policy will be reinstituted as it is in the new campus plan coming out next year, Taylor said.

On-campus parking prices will rise from $936 to $964 effective May 1, according to the Public Safety’s Web site.

Taylor said that students should buy an on-campus parking permit if they want to continue driving to campus without getting parking tickets.

“If you drive a car to come to campus, use campus parking — it’s simple,” Taylor said.

You can reach this staff writer at jryan@theeagleonline.com.

“The only way I would feel comfortable calling any pit the ‘Maurer’ pit is if we find [his] dog tags in the pit.”

– Dan Noble Army Corps Spring Valley project manager

revealed a white substance in the soil where workers found the bro-

ken bottlenecks.

“This is consistent with what you see in that photo,” Noble said.

“We see the white powder in the photo, and we see white powder here in the ground.”

Kent Slowinski, a former RAB member and Spring Valley resident, said the Corps needs to contact the workers who built the house where the bottlenecks were found.

While the house was still under construction, workers uncovered laboratory glassware related to the AU Experimental Station but reburied it in an undisclosed location on the property.

“The Corps has admitted

that the burial pit was disturbed when they built the house,” Slowinski said. “The Corps realized that when the workers built the house, they scattered AUES items around the site.”

In 1917, AU offered its grounds and buildings to the military for use as a large-scale chemical warfare research center. The land used included 90 acres of university property and 500 acres of privately owned farmland adjacent to AU, The Eagle previously reported.

You can reach this staff writer at ccottrell@theeagleonline.com.

FEBRUARY 25, 2010

THE EAGLE'S ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT SECTION

Artistic blogs create online book world FICTION DICTION

ERIN CRANDELL

GUY FERRANDIS / SUMMIT ENT.

PHANTOM MENACE — Roman Polanksi’s latest film, “Ghost Writer,” isn’t the most energetic of films, but the writing is so clever that viewers never feel like the film is moving slowly. The film’s strong points are even further amplified by the excellent acting of Ewan McGregor.

McGregor earns ‘Ghost’ praise

By BRYAN KOENIG Eagle Staff Writer

THE GHOST WRITER

A

If good movies were enough to give leniency at sentencing, then director Roman Polanski deserves a full pardon for “The Ghost Writer.” Self-conscious but never too serious, the expertly paced thriller is as clever as they come.

Ewan McGregor gives a finely tuned and excellently understated performance as the ghost writer brought in to complete the memoir of former Prime Minister Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan). Known only as the ghost, McGregor’s character is quickly and inexorably pulled into Lang’s orbit of intrigue and mystery when Lang is accused of war crimes. The ensuing plot is humorous even as it is deadly serious, expertly underplaying

itself. It is a story rooted in deception but self-aware enough to maintain a fascinating sense of humor throughout the length of the two-hour run time.

The film knows exactly how to reveal itself piece by achingly-paced piece to a puzzle that doesn’t discern itself until the final minutes. It’s a pace beautifully complemented by McGregor’s acting as a talented writer who is nevertheless completely out of his depth. He is a man as baffled by what’s happening as we are, yet McGregor never overdoes it. His character is not afraid of his own shadow, but he certainly has every reason to look over his shoulder and stumble around in the dark. He is a fairly ordinary man in an extraordinary situation, completely unsure of himself and his surroundings as events far above the pay grade of a ghost writer unfold around him.

McGregor is by far the strongest part of the movie. Brosnan is strong but perhaps too strong,

never really believable as a former leader of the United Kingdom. He has the mannerisms and the attitude of a man out of touch with a world he was once king of, but never fully settles into the role. Equally jarring is his chief of staff Amelia Bly, played by Kim Cattrall of “Sex in the City” fame. Cattrall adopts an accent for the role that sounds entirely unnatural despite the fact that she was born in England. The rest of the cast is excellent even as Brosnan and Cattrall give good, but not great, performances. Olivia Williams, Timothy Hutton, Tom Wilkinson and even a surprising turn by James Belushi are all thoroughly fascinating on screen.

Taking place over the course of only a matter of days, the film expertly comes back on itself.

It takes great pleasure in toying with the audience, building great suspense with minimal action, instead taking its time in descending down the rabbit hole.

Even as we fall, the audience is

continually perplexed and fascinated as events unfold. The film goes from hints to revelations and back again with ease, seemingly revealing all its cards only to continually blitz the audience with ever more daring reveals until the last moments of the movie.

The result is a finely tuned mystery and thriller that manages to make amusing but incredibly serious cracks about everything and everyone.

“The Ghost Writer” is not an energetic movie. It bides its time, holding the audience’s attention with excellent but understated acting from its lead players as it builds on the suspense and the mystery, never failing to satisfy in the reveals or the tension. It is a mystery that intrigues and engages the audience from the first image to the final credits.

You can reach this staff writer at bkoenig@theeagleonline.com.

OK. This is where I fess up my own vanity: I have a blog. I do write on it. Not daily, but often. Yes, you can search for it if you want to. The topics are sporadic — there is very little theme other than life itself. Welcome to the next new style of writing: the Artistic Blogger. The Artistic Blogger comments on life as it arrives. She has her own voice, and augments it with illustrations, links, music and photos.

Maira Kalman is an Artistic Blogger.

“The Principles of Uncertainty” by Maira Kalman is a blog in book form.

This book suited my own fanciful sensibilities. It illustrates and illuminates the world through the eyes of a middle-aged Jewish woman living in New York. It is a picture book for adults, juxtaposing adult themes and colorful drawings. This book makes me want to discover everything that she sees (through frantic Googling of course) and make my own opinions.

The whole concept of this book is to shock the reader and make them visualize the themes. This reminded me of the poetry of Emily Dickenson, who took harsh themes and juxtaposed them with a very simple poetic structure. Indeed, most of the pages in this book have fewer than three sentences on them, and use language that any self-respecting fifth grader would be able to understand.

She documents her own trip to Israel and without mentioning any of the politics directly is able to give the situation a uniquely personal viewpoint. She also explores her own city and meets people that have influenced her in some way or another.

Some names I knew (Louise Bourgeois) and some I learned for the first time.

Then, because this is what our generation does, I decided to Google her. It turns out that she has also written another blog recently, in the same style as “The Principles of Uncertainty.” This new blog, called “The Pursuit of Happiness,” attempts to record Kalman’s journey across America to discover the eternal essence of this

country that we live in. Why do we eat so much? Who was Benjamin Franklin? What is the democratic system?

It is her personal journey, however, that gives its own unique light on the trials and tribulations of living in this great democracy of ours.

I try not to claim that I know too much about our political system, and the great thing is that neither does she. Neither do most of us for that matter. Of course we should educate ourselves on this matter; however, we all have limited amounts of time. In this blog, Kalman takes a look at our current society in light of the inauguration of President Barack Obama and, whatever your politics are, you cannot argue with her verdict that hope was definitely in the air. So why didn’t it work out as well as we thought it could?

It’s really interesting to read the material in its original format. Some of us in this generation like scrolling on a computer screen, but I much prefer the feeling of having a book in my hands. The pictures and colors in “The Principles of Uncertainty” were much clearer and sharper than they were on my computer screen. Plus after a while, all that brightness gives you a headache.

One of the definite pluses of the blog is being able to read comments. It is refreshing to see how many people agree with the principles set down; at the same time there are some incredible debates. This is published on the New York Times, mind you; these are not unintelligent people commenting. It’s like a book club, but a blog club with people you don’t know.

Do I think my blog will get turned into a book that is this much of a sensation? Probably not. Am I writing it for that purpose? Not really. And I think that is why Kalman wrote her blog as well. Of course she knew that people would read it, but blogs are very introspective. You don’t usually have characters in a blog story. You simply have yourself and your own artistic voice. That is why I liked both “The Principles of Uncertainty” and “The Pursuit of Happiness.” These book/blogs give you the sense that you are inside Kalman’s head. We may not agree with what her voice is saying, but the beauty of Internet publishing is that we don’t need to.

You can reach this columnist at thescene@theeagleonline.com.

AU’s Image Awareness Week redefines beauty

By LAUREN LINHARD Eagle Contributing Writer The January cover of Elle reads “21 Days to a Sexier Look, Sweeter Love Life, and Hot Bod.” The February cover of Marie Claire reads, “Winter Workout, Get a Gold Medal Bod.” The March cover of Cosmo reads “Curb Your Cravings without Feeding Your Face.”

Notice the similarities? It seems no matter the season, dieting is in and eating is out. The media have created a pressure to retain a single-digit waist size and society continues pushing it. Many people wonder if beauty should be defined as something other than a shirt or pant size.

This obsession with dieting and a thin figure has led more open and more prevalent discussions about eating disorders and negative body image. In an effort to make AU’s campus more aware of these issues, the Wellness Center has organized the Body Image Awareness Week.

“We have been led to believe that there is one cookie cutter look that defines beauty,” said Alan Duffy, a health educator at the Wellness Center and coordinator of Body Image Awareness Week. “This week is about bringing issues to the front and encouraging a positive self-image.”

The week began last Friday with “Beautiful,” a play written by Gina Evers, an AU grad student.

The play focused on five women and their daily struggle with being overweight. The performance gave a painfully real look into the unspoken insecurities of heavier women.

“This project confronts issues that are incredibly important because they are something we avoid,” Evers said at a post-show question and answer session. “People have told me that my characters say, out loud, what they have always felt but never been able to say.”

According to the Alliance for Eating Disorders Web site, eating disorders affect up to 24 million Americans and 70 million individuals worldwide. Of those diagnosed, 5 to 10 percent die within 10

“Many people wonder if beauty should be defined as something other than a shirt or pant size.” years of onset and 18 to 20 percent die within 20 years of onset. Only 50 percent report ever being cured.

This statistic does not include those that suffer alone, or are too ashamed or scared to ask for help.

On Sunday, Feb. 21, AU hosted the Eating Disorders Awareness Walk. Starting on campus and continuing 3.6 miles around Northwest D.C., participants chanted their message of awareness and held signs in support.

“After last year’s Body Image Awareness Week, I had three or

four girls come to me asking for help,” Duffy said. “It was amazing to see some of them at the walk.

These events really make a difference.”

Duffy, also a specialist on eating disorders and body awareness, led the walk with Kathleen MacDonald, the outreach coordinator of the FREED Foundation. “Don’t let the walk just be for today,” she told fellow walkers. “Go home after this and feel the hope that we have created here.”

Elizabeth Gordon, Jacqui Kemp, Sarah Moss and Sarah Garby walked together in support of the cause.

“The reason we need to walk is because people shouldn’t be ashamed to ask for help,” Moss said.

Another walker — Lauren Gentile, a sophomore in the School of Communication — was at the event to support a friend.

“A friend of mine suffered from anorexia and she asked me to participate,” she said. “This is a very important issue for college students to be aware of.”

The week continued with the screening of the award-winning documentary “America the Beautiful.” Directed by Darryl Roberts, the film examines America’s obsession with beauty. Roberts shows how unattainable media images contribute to the rise in low selfesteem, body dysmorphia and eating disorders in young women and girls. Coincidentally, they are also the beauty industry’s strongest consumer.

According to the National n

see BODY IMAGE on page 6

MAGGIE HOLLANDER / THE EAGLE

‘MY STUPID MOUTH’ — Starting off his concert at the Verizon Center with “Heartbreak Warfare,” a song off his latest album, John Mayer set the scene for a concert celebrating the heartbroken. The crowd consisted of everyone from grandmothers to mothers and daughters, all enjoying his night of song and banter.

Mayer packs Verizon Center; proves he’s got something for all

By MAGGIE HOLLANDER Eagle Staff Writer It’s hard to tell who John Mayer really is or who he wants you to think he is. Everything seems layered, every response immediately analyzed for content and tone. To magazines, he’s a playboy; to the protestors, he’s a racist; to those

who knew him a decade ago, he’s just some kid from Connecticut who plays the guitar. But whatever or whoever he is, thousands of fans love him and will continue to support him no matter what.

This was proven by the turnout at his concert at the Verizon Center Saturday night. The venue was full with an audience spanning older

couples to college kids looking for a fun night out to tweens with their parents in tow.

Mayer began the night by playing “Heartbreak Warfare,” a track off of his latest full-length album, “Battle Studies.” This set the tone for the night: one of heartbreak and the celebration of it. “Perfectly n

see JOHN MAYER on page 7

the EAGLE

FEBRUARY 25, 2010

the scene 6

Courtesy of BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART

Courtesy of BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART

BALTIMORE FOR LESS — Baltimore is a nearby destination full of art and culture, but often overlooked by D.C. students. The city features standards such as the National Aquarium and the Inner Harbor in addition to a handful of museums. Fans of impressionism should head to the Baltimore Museum of Art, which holds the world’s largest collection of works by Henri Matisse.

Baltimore arts offer close cultural getaway

By OLIVIA STITILIS Eagle Staff Writer As spring break rolls around and weekends slowly become sunnier and warmer, the inner explorer in us all slowly emerges from its winter hibernation, looking for new and exciting weekend options. Look no further than Baltimore.

Whether you are staying in D.C. over spring break and looking for a small getaway or perhaps just a spring weekend day trip, Baltimore is only a short (and cheap) train ride away. Though often overshadowed by other East Coast cities and likely referenced more in the context of “The Wire” or “Hairspray” rather than as a travel destination,

Baltimore is certainly buzzing with enough culture, music and diversity that there is without a doubt something for everyone.

Matt Gohn, a sophomore in the School of Communication as well as a native Baltimorean, said that Baltimore is a viable option for college students looking to do something different one weekend outside of the District.

“I definitely think Baltimore is underrated,” Gohn said. “People don’t realize how many awesome restaurants, neighborhoods and museums the city has. Plus, it’s really easy to get to. My girlfriend and I go back and forth a lot.”

In addition to Baltimore staples such as the National Aquarium, the

Inner Harbor, Harborplace Mall and the Lexington Market, there is currently an array of noteworthy art exhibits worth checking out.

A trip to Baltimore is not complete without stopping at the Baltimore Museum of Art. “The BMA has the largest collection of works by Henri Matisse in the world and one of the largest collections of late works by Andy Warhol,” said Anne Elliott Mannix, director of communications for the museum. “Our gorgeous Sculpture Garden has 34 modern and contemporary works of art set in a 2.7acre oasis in the city.”

On display now through March 23 is “Cezanne and American Modernism,” showcasing not only 16 of

Cezanne’s watercolors and paintings, but also over 80 works from other artists he impacted.

“The exhibition also demonstrates Cezanne’s influence on early 20th century American photography with examples by [Alfred] Stieglitz, Edward Steichen and Paul Strand as well as a generation of younger artists such as Arshile Gorky and William H. Johnson who discovered Cezanne during the 1920s,” according to the BMA’s Web site. For more information about this exhibit and the BMA in general, visit artbma. org.

Don’t let your quest for great art in Baltimore stop there, though.

When visiting, any avid art fan must stop at the Walters Art Museum.

“With free admission, the Walters offers a wide variety of experiences and activities for visitors of all ages,” said Nancy Zinn, associate director for collections and exhibitions for the museum. “Offerings include a lively schedule of changing exhibitions, fantastic permanent collection galleries, gallery tours, lectures, hands-on art activities and programs for children and families in the Family Art Center.”

The Walters Museum has many great options for visitors at the moment. On display through April 11 and without a doubt a must-see is “Beauty and the Brain: A Neural Approach to Aesthetics.” “’Beauty and the Brain’ is both an exhibition and an experiment,”

the Walters Web site says. “Visitors will be invited to explore aesthetic spaces created by digitally morphing original works of art. The results will form the basis for experiments measuring aesthetic responses in the human brain with functional magnetic resonance imaging.”

If you are not much of an experimental art fan, don’t despair. Showing through June 13 is “Japanese Cloisonne Enamels from the Stephen W. Fisher Collection,” which features impressive and beautiful cloisonné enamels from Japan. For information about this exhibit, visit thewalters.org.

You can reach this staff writer at ostitilis@theeagleonline.com.

Hanky code gives new meaning to old neckwear PUMPIN’ IRONY

KATRINA CASINO You know that something has reached official hipster accessory status when queer electroclash crazy person/former elementary school teacher Peaches has a song about it. Such is the case with the bandana and her song “Hanky Code” about them.

Taking no precautions against profanity or sexual explicitness (she wouldn’t be Peaches without it), she cautions hipsters against fashion statements they may not be aware of: “Better know your hanky code/Before you go and shoot your load/Excuse me what’s that hanging out of your pocket?/Do you actually know what that means?”

Peaches is referring to the BDSM community and the bandana code that they use to flag fetishes and sexual preferences.

But the bandana/handkerchief has a much longer history than that.

The bandana takes its name from the Hindi word “bandhana,” which means “to tie.” In a similar fashion, paisley — the droplet-shaped motif most commonly featured on bandanas — is Persian and Indian in origin.

Making its way west through means of the East India Company in the early 17th century, paisley — and subsequently,

bandanas — gained popularity in the Baltic states, where they were believed to be charms that held the power to ward off evil demons. And while the teachings of Peaches would tell us that the greatest evil demons we face are those that bring vanilla sex, it would still be quite some time before the bandana made it into the pockets of gay men and BDSM-ers (and eventually hipsters) alike.

As the bandana made its way farther and farther west, the bandana became practical for pirates (awesome!), farmers and laborers who needed to wipe the sweat from their faces. They were popularized by cowboys enduring long cattle drives or simply spending long amounts of time on the dusty plain. To keep dust and dried grass out of their noses, mouths and throats, cowboys tied bandanas around their faces. This trend soon took up with the bad guys as well, as bandits robbing banks, trains and saloons tied the fabric around their mouths to mask their identities.

The bandana as a mask is a trend that still persists today as a part of rebel/outlaw culture.

Protestors often wear bananas not only to signify their cause through color but also to protect themselves from tear gas.

Contrary to the idea of masking, the banana has also become a symbol of identity.

Different color bandanas are used to symbolize gang affiliation, most notably red for the Bloods and blue for the Crips.

In this context, bandanas are

often referred to as “flags,” an idea Snoop Dogg is obviously familiar with as seen in “Drop It Like It’s Hot”: “I keep a blue flag hanging out my backside/ But only on the left side, yeah that’s the Crip side.”

In the 1970s, the left side was less a symbol of Crips and more a symbol of ... tops. Gay men used the bandana as a secret code to signify fetish preference based on color. Practitioners had to be very aware of their flags, as it wasn’t just about the color but the placement. Worn on the left side of one’s body, a bandana on the left signified a sexual top, while wearing on the right meant bottom. The colors got even more confusing, as gray signified a fetish for bondage while charcoal signified a latex fetish.

Despite the more recent popularization of the bandana in the mainstream, wearers of the bandana should be aware of their surroundings, as this fashion item can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Take it from someone who may or may not have accidentally walked into a schoolsponsored S&M workshop (how very AU of me) flagging more than just “hipster.”

So careful, hipsters, the next time you’re tying that bandana around your wrist — you might be wearing just a little more than your heart on your sleeve.

You can reach this columnist at kcasino@theeagleonline.com.

AU groups help you feel pretty n

from BODY IMAGE on page 5

Eating Disorders Association, “the average woman is 5’4” and weighs 140 pounds. The average model is 5’11” and weighs 117 pounds. Most fashion models are thinner than 98 percent of American women.”

To show that beauty is found in all sizes, looks and body types, the Wellness Center hosted a Positive Body Image Fashion show on Tuesday. The models came dressed in whatever made them feel most beautiful. Participants included both men and women decked out in their fashion of choice.

Some participants wore T-shirts and jeans; some wore clubbing clothes. One brave model wore

a fabulous taco costume. Even Athena Ducockis, who previously appeared in the AU Drag Show, came out to emcee the event.

“It’s a positive image week,” Duffy said. “And our events are geared towards that. It’s about feeling confident in yourself.”

The week comes to an end with a talk by Chevese Turner, the founder and CEO of Binge Eating Disorders Association. Turner will share her personal struggle and talk about binge eating disorders. The discussion will be held Thursday, Feb. 26 in Butler Board Room at 8:15 p.m.

According to Duffy, even though the week is over, efforts

will still be made and resources provided. With the Wellness Center, Duffy has developed the Reflections: Body Image Program which reaches out to campus sororities and fraternities. He has also brought the Body Project to campus which applies to the wider campus body.

“AU is doing great work at the moment,” he said. “In the future, we hope to reach more people who need help and to continue spreading awareness about eating disorders.”

You can reach this writer at thescene@theeagleonline.com.

NICOLE RIVELLI / NBC

FAMILY FRIENDS — Looking to bring both quality and depth to today’s television repertoire, Dan Bucatinsky and Lisa Kudrow have teamed up to create “Who Do You Think You Are?” The documentary-style reality show will follow seven celebrities as they discover something about their history and themselves.

Famous faces discover family histories on NBC

By NICOLE FEDERICA Eagle Contributing Writer When asked to define yourself, how do you answer? Lisa Kudrow could list achievements in her roles as an actress or her behind the scenes work as a producer, but she is also a person with a deeply-rooted European family history. Most often, when asked to answer who we are, we look to our past.

“Family history defines you and that history lesson is riveting,” Kudrow said in an interview with The Eagle. Alongside Dan Bucatinsky, Kudrow took the role of executive producer for the newest documentary-style reality show for NBC, “Who Do You Think You Are?” Premiering March 6, the episodes follow a cast of seven celebrities as they explore their families’ ancestries and discover something about themselves. The series includes Sarah Jessica Parker, Spike Lee, Susan Sarandon and Matthew Broderick, to name a few.

“When people watch the show, it becomes so much more than watching your favorite celebrity’s personal history,” Kudrow said. “You inadvertently get sucked into the story about something so much bigger than you or anyone could imagine.”

Bucatinsky agreed. “[Kudrow] approached the idea with an enormous amount of energy; feeling like you discovered something so special, it was an experience that happened to her that she was sharing and it is hard to find something that

infectious.”

In a very atypical history lesson, viewers will witness stories of survival. Kudrow and Bucatinsky credit this as their standout factor compared to other reality shows.

“The stories are so inspirational — how people move through atrocities and come out the other end,” Kudrow said.

With an overwhelming passion, both executive producers expressed America’s need for high-quality television that is entertaining as well as enriching.

“This does both,” Kudrow said.

“Because it is not dry history that happened to strangers, it makes you want to study it, learn from it. [“Who Do You Think You Are”] hopefully makes it all worth knowing.”

Kudrow was the first to shoot her installment and describes the show as exploring intimate details with a very personalized aspect to what we’ve all read about in textbooks — proving history can have the impact it is supposed to. She believes our pasts should be intriguing and inviting. “Who Do You Think You Are?” will hopefully illustrate that to viewers and fill them with the enthusiasm that inspired the show.

Kudrow originally saw the show while in Ireland and “wanted to know why the United States was missing out.” She is no novice to past exploration and the chilling excitement involved, describing her father’s love for it as well.

“He did a huge 46-page family tree, so that part I’ve always known, but believe me, the show definitely

investigates beyond that,” she said.

Inspired by the BBC version, Bucatinsky said the selection process for the show narrowed roughly 75 people to the chosen seven.

“We drew big names from the sports, entertainment and music industries — high-caliber people with many fans in a lot of different areas,” Bucatinsky said. “Yet this only scratches the surface of the person you believe you know. The more we go back in time into something we are all a part of, the more we tap into different disciplines.”

NBC is partnered with ancestry. com, an online resource for genealogy, which has documented over 4 billion family records for the past 12 years, crediting themselves as housing over 1.25 billion profiles specific to nine countries.

Kudrow and Bucatinsky hope to have a range of celebrities on their show. They have considered including those less famous and using everyday Americans on their show.

“It was definitely something [we] have talked about,” Kudrow said.

“Over time I’d love to dip into the public. The backgrounds are so married.”

Kudrow agreed with cast mate Spike Lee about the central theme of the show. “It is not that I know myself better after the journey; now I simply know more.”

“Who Do You Think You Are?” premieres March 6 at 8 p.m. on NBC. You can reach this writer at thescene@theeagleonline.com.

7

CLASSIFIEDS

FEBRUARY 25, 2010

KUSHAN DOSHI n Business Manager 202.885.3593

Hayden leads band of brothers in Henry V

By AMRTIA KHALID Eagle Contributing Writer The Shakespeare Theatre Company is notorious for always putting a certain spin on classics.

From driving a car on stage in the middle of “King Lear” to keeping it old school with an all-male cast in “Romeo and Juliet,” this incredible playhouse never fears straying too far from convention.

The company’s production of “Henry V” is no different. Directed by David Muse, “Henry V” is paired along with “Richard II” as part of the company’s Leadership Repertory. The play features Michael Hayden as a nearly perfect King Henry. Hayden is also concurrently playing the lead in “Richard II.” Other notable performances include Philip Goodwin as the King of France, Rachael Holmes as spunky Princess Katharine and Floyd King as a hilarious Bardolph.

For those of us who didn’t pay attention in AP English, the story of “Henry V” is complex and violent. Henry V is King Henry IV’s slacker son and nobody takes him seriously. Even his own father casually refers to him as “a plague” that hangs over the kingdom.

Henry IV dies and Henry V becomes the King of England. The church and his court start bugging him to claim the throne of France, as is his right, but Henry V doesn’t want to before asking the Archbishop.

After asking the Archbishop (whose answer can basically be summed up as, “Um, yeah. Of course,”) Henry V tells France that he has the rightful claim to the throne. The French find this hilarious, because everyone thinks Henry V is a fool. They respond by sending a huge wooden head which Henry V opens without being remotely suspicious. A large pile of tennis balls spills out from the head, much to the bemusement of King Henry’s court and the audience. Henry V freaks out and declares war against France.

Courtesy of MCT CAMPUS

A DEPP STARE — Known to go for more eccentric roles that display his acting prowess, Johnny Depp’s latest film role is as the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton’s new take on the classic children’s tale, “Alice in Wonderland.” In the upcoming years, Depp will be acting in the new Pirates of the Caribbean film, as well as “Sin City 3.”

Nothing shallow about Depp casting choices

By YOHANA DESTA Eagle Staff Writer Johnny Depp is one of those actors that seems to always get it right. Whether he’s playing a boy with scissors for hands or a Keith Richards-inspired pirate, he’s found a place among other character actors where he’s neither under nor overrated. Twenty-six years and nearly 50 films later, Depp is out to prove that he has nothing to prove — he’s fearless and eccentric, just the way we like him.

In one of his most anticipated films to date, Depp is playing the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton’s film adaptation of “Alice in Wonderland.” The film takes place 10 years later when Alice is 19 years old and once again falls through the rabbit hole to find herself in Wonderland. Australian newcomer Mia Wasikowska plays Alice.

But aside from Depp, the film features many other big name actors such as Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen, Anne Hathaway as the White Queen and Alan Rickman as the Caterpillar. The film is a mixture of live action and animation in true Tim Burton fashion.

This film is not the first collaboration between Depp and Burton. After breaking into the business with the film “A Nightmare on Elm Street” and hit series

“21 Jump Street,” Depp sought to try his hand at more challenging roles. The first script to catch his eye was the bizarre “Edward Scissorhands.” The year was 1990 and Burton was already an established director and producer looking for a big name to attach to the titular character. Tom Cruise, Robert Downey, Jr. and Michael Jackson were big name contenders for the role, but all turned it down in favor of prior commitments. Depp got the role and scored a slew of accolades and recognition for not just being a glossy teen idol. The film has since become a cult hit and sent Depp and Burton on a filmmaking journey together.

The duo have collaborated on seven films together since then including “Ed Wood,” “Sleepy Hollow” and the revamped “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” The 2008 film “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” earned Depp his third Oscar nomination.

“Alice In Wonderland” marks the tenth year the actor and director have collaborated — and what a glorious decade it has been.

The upcoming years see Depp playing a number of high-profile roles. Depp will be rounding out the year with the film “The Rum Diary,” a drama about freelance journalist Paul Kemp who moves to write for a newspaper in Puerto Rico, but then becomes obsessed with the rum and women. But

2011 is the year that Depp will be in surefire blockbusters.

His first film of that year is the much-talked about “The Tourist,” which also stars Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie. The film is a spy thriller that focuses on Jolie as a tourist who is used by an Interpol agent (Depp) in order to catch a criminal. Depp’s next film role is in the fourth installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean films, “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.” Depp reprises his role as the dread-headed and free-spirited Jack Sparrow. Geoffrey Rush is expected to reprise his role as Captain Barbosa and it is rumored that Penelope Cruz is also getting a role in the new “Pirates.” Depp’s third upcoming mainstream role is in “Sin City 3” as Wallace, a good guy who is a newcomer in the twisted world of the Frank Miller comics.

It is amazing to think that critically-acclaimed Depp almost passed up movie roles in exchange for rock stardom. The 46-year-old actor has had one of the most illustrious careers in Hollywood history and is showing no signs of stopping. Depp manages to be both enigmatic and more famous than ever, which — aside from his talent — might just be why we all love him so much.

SCOTT SUCHMAN / SHAKESPEARE THEATRE CO.

KINGS IN COURT — Michael Hayden plays the titular king in David Muse’s production of Henry V for the Shakespeare Theatre Company. Hayden’s energetic performance gives the complex and intriguing plotline of the Bard’s tale a significant human element, aided by Muse’s expert stagecraft.

The French bribe three noblemen to murder Henry, but he finds out and has them executed.

Consequently, people start taking him more seriously. Henry then leads a massive assault against France, with the final number of casualties being incredibly disproportionate — England with 29 and France with 10,000.

Henry V becomes the successor to the French throne. And, as if this wasn’t enough revenge for a bunch of tennis balls, Henry V runs off with the French princess Katharine as well, who finds him simply charming even though she can only understand every fifth word he says.

David Muse’s direction of “Henry V” is tight, controlled

and strongly disciplined. Funny scenes blend effortlessly with serious ones. Scenes that encompass fighting are loud, incredibly choreographed and, even within a tight space — very absorbing.

Rather funny modern touches such as having a member of the chorus use a laser pointer to point out England on a map, gives this production an offbeat touch that’s pretty endearing.

Shakespeare Theatre Company’s version of “Henry V” is not to be missed. The play is running from now until April 10 at Sidney Harman Hall.

You can reach this writer at thescene@theeagleonline.com.

You can reach this staff writer at ydesta@theeagleonline.com.

The Week in Fun: Know Your City THURS 25

THU 27 FRI 26

SAT 27

Pablo Francisco 8:30 p.m.

WHERE: D.C. Improv, 1140 Connecticut Ave. N.W. METRO: Farragut North (red line) INFO: Francisco has made a name for himself with his amazing ability to pepper his already well-crafted jokes and stories with sound effects and impressions that bounce from the melodrama of a telenovela to the explosions and over-the-top dialogue of an action movie.

COST: $28 CONTACT: For more information, visit D.C. Improv’s Web site at www. dcimprov.com.

“Terribly Happy” opening Showtimes vary WHERE: E Street Cinema, 555 11th St. N.W. METRO: Metro Center (red, orange and blue lines) INFO: Attend the first night of this Danish film about a Copenhagen police officer who gets tangled up with a married femme fatale at the E Street Cinema.

COST: $8.50 with valid student identification CONTACT: For more information, visit the E Street Cinema Web site at www.landmarktheatres.com.

Wild Beasts 9 p.m.

WHERE: Black Cat, 1811 14th St. N.W. METRO: U Street/African-American War Memorial/Cardozo (green and yellow lines) INFO: Wild Beasts are hard to explain: shimmering pianos and dainty, whispering voices bloom into dense, picaresque songs that blend dance-ability with a mournful somberness. Check them out at Black Cat on Saturday.

COST: $13 CONTACT: For more information, call the Black Cat at 202-667-7960.

SUN 28

MON 1

TUES 2

Rodrigo y Gabriela 8 p.m.

WHERE: 9:30 club, 815 V St. N.W. METRO: U Street/African-American War Memorial/Cardozo (green and yellow lines) INFO: These Mexican siblings, after living as buskers on the streets of Dublin, hit it big with their first album which was centered around a blistering cover of “Stairway to Heaven” that improves upon the original. Their amazingly fast Spanish guitar is on display at the 9:30 club.

COST: $40 CONTACT: For more information, visit the 9:30 club’s Web site at www.930.com.

Ray Davies 8 p.m.

WHERE: Birchmere Music Hall, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, Va. INFO: As front man for The Kinks, Davies helped refine the sound of the famous British Invasion, giving it a rawer sense of power mixed with the gender-bending lyrics that would vault the band into popularity.

COST: $49.50 CONTACT: For more information, visit the Birchmere’s Web site at www.birchmere.com.

Ani DiFranco 8 p.m.

WHERE: 9:30 club, 815 V St. N.W. METRO: U Street/African-American War Memorial/Cardozo (green and yellow lines) INFO: The prolific songwriter and feminist hero has released 18 albums, not to mention three live albums and a handful of EPs. With such a deep library to choose from, DiFranco’s live shows have a reputation as a life-changing experience.

COST: $40 CONTACT: For more information, visit the 9:30 club’s Web site at www.930.com.

MAGGIE HOLLANDER / THE EAGLE

CLARITY — On Feb. 20, John Mayer performed in front of a packed audience at the Verizon Center. He performed a medley of classics from his past albums, but often went off into his own world, finishing the songs with wailing guitar solos. Mayer kept on the quiet side during the performance, focusing instead on the quality of each song. n

from JOHN MAYER on page 5

Lonely” exemplified this feeling, as Mayer asked the room “How many people here consider themselves perfectly lonely?”

In one of the few moments where Mayer showed his true self on stage, he commented on a girl whose poster had been upside-down for the entire evening. After making a joke or two, he lost himself and then his place. The innocence of embarrassment was perhaps the most real and spontaneous he was for the entire concert.

The rock ‘n’ roll was divided by an acoustic set, a “crazy” idea he had, Mayer said. The medley consisted of several older songs, none of which were played in their entirety. It included “Your Body Is a Wonderland,” as well as other favorites. The theme of the medley, Mayer said, was that he “kept going lower,” but no matter how much he fiddled with the guitar, it remained slightly out of tune for the entire performance.

For a set approximately two hours in length, however, surprisingly few songs were played. The focus was on guitar solos instead.

Mayer’s skill in this area is uncontested, but it seemed ridiculous to “wail” as long as he did and as many times as he did with the huge repertoire of songs he has to choose from.

It was as though the guitar was there to make sure he didn’t talk. This did not seem to upset fans, as one woman behind me gushed “Oh my God he’s so good” more times than could be counted.

Mayer, also known for his occasional attempts at stand-up comedy, did a bit on how where people sat told him a lot about whom they were. “I’m being weird,” Mayer admitted after the rant lost its way.

Opening act Michael Franti was invited back on stage to help put his own spin on “Waiting on the World to Change.” After several somber numbers, Mayer switched to “Half of My Heart,” another song with content that matched the tone with which is it sung. But when the crowd wasn’t behaving the way he thought it should, Mayer turned to Broadway-inspired moves and vocals to get people on their feet and uncross their arms.

After what John Mayer called the “authoritative wrong note” and even more guitar play, the singer finally

admitted that it was time to move on from instrumentals. “We are wasting time,” he said. “Let’s go to the next song.”

Mayer loosened up as the show went on, enjoying himself more all the way up until the end of the main part of the set, when he went through his thank yous. After a short speech about his problems with sincerity and insincerity — essentially his response to recent comments he’d made in various interviews — Mayer talked about how he was no longer in it for the money. He went off track for a bit while marveling at his on-the-spot idea for a heliboat (the slogan for which would be “that’s a hella boat!” he said, laughing), but eventually returned to the matter at hand and thanked the audience again “from the bottom of my somewhat delirious heart.”

After a short encore of the singles “Who Says” and “Gravity” and a cover, the night was over and fans went home satisfied. John Mayer went back to his tour bus, presumably to begin patenting his new heliboat idea.

You can reach this staff writer at mhollander@theeagleonline.com.

8

SPORTS

FEBRUARY 25, 2010

ANDREW TOMLINSON n Sports Editor 202.885.1404

AU downs Navy at home Teamwork

key in USA hockey win

By TYLER TOMEA Eagle Contributing Writer Led by the combination of Michelle Kirk and Liz Leer, the AU women’s basketball team defeated the Navy Midshipmen 66-38 on senior night at Bender Arena to become the first team in program history to record 12 conference wins.

“I think it’s a great accomplishment,” AU Head Coach Matt Corkery said. “It’s something that we hope to extend on Saturday with one more win.”

CAPITALS SPOTLIGHT

Women’s Basketball AU: Navy:

ANDREW TOMLINSON 66 38

Monday was the 30-year anniversary of the “Miracle on Ice,” and the United States was treated to its own modern-day miracle when the men’s Olympic hockey team beat Team Canada on Sunday. But in reality, Sunday’s miracle may be bigger than the one 30 years ago.

Sunday’s win had no outside tension, such as the Cold War and strained U.S.-Russian relations. Unlike the matchup in the 1980s, the United States was given almost no shot at beating the Canadians. What many forget is that there was discussion of whether the Americans could beat the mighty U.S.S.R. But this year, the Americans were just supposed to be a bump in the road on Canada’s way to the gold medal.

What a shock the Maple Leaf faithful and sports world got on Sunday.

There is no debate that Canada outplayed the Americans. Canada outshot the USA, had better special teams and controlled the puck much more than USA did.

But still, the Americans deserve

Washington, D.C. Kirk totaled 21 points and eight rebounds, while Leer added 14 points and nine rebounds. The duo combined for 53 percent of the team’s offense. Junior center Cassie Consedine paced Navy with nine points.

“We both did play really well,” Leer said. “[Kirk] hit some really nice shots and had some nice assists. [Kirk] and I have been playing together for three years now and I think that’s been a key factor.”

Navy scored the first four points of the game and led 7-5 on an early K.C. Gordon three-pointer. The Eagles would then go on a 14-0 run to take a 19-7 lead halfway through the first half. Kirk had eight points during the early run and Leer added five.

AU’s lead was 21-10 with 5:57 to play in the first half before Navy used an 8-2 run to cut the margin to five.

With the Eagles holding a six-point lead, Ashley Yencho nailed a triple to give AU a 29-20 halftime lead.

Within the first five minutes of the second half, AU raced to a 44-26 lead to take full control of the contest. A Lisa Strack layup followed by Kirk’s fourth and final three-pointer of the night capped the run.

The Eagles extended their lead to 25 points twice in the second half — first when they led 55-30 with 7:24 remaining, and again when they were up 61-36 with 2:24 to play. The final margin of victory was 28 points as an Ebony Edwards layup capped a second half in which AU outscored Navy 37-18.

For the game, AU shot 45 percent from the field and 42 percent from beyond the arc. The Eagles also outrebounded the Midshipmen 39-24.

Navy shot 32 percent from the field

PHILLIP OCHS / THE EAGLE

PUSHING FORWARD — AU junior Raven Harris pushes past a Navy defender during their 66-38 win last night. Michelle Kirk and Liz Leer carried the team and accounted for 53 percent of the Eagles’ offense. and 28 percent from the three-point line.

Seniors Ohemaa Nyanin and Nicole Ryan were honored in a ceremony prior to the game. Nyanin has started all but one game this season and is second on the team with 5.9 rebounds per game. Ryan, who is third all-time in career three-pointers made, has not played since Dec. 2 at Drexel.

The win improves the Eagles to 19-8 on the season and 12-1 in Patriot League play. With both AU and Lehigh University notching victories on Wednesday night, the two teams remain tied atop the PL with one conference game remaining for both squads. The loss drops the Midshipmen to 15-13 on the year and 7-6 in conference play.

AU will wrap up the regular season with a trip to Easton, Pa., to take on the Lafayette Leopards on Saturday, Feb. 27. In the first contest between the two teams, the Eagles defeated the Leopards 53-31.

You can reach this writer at sports@theeagleonline.com.

Koch takes 1000-meter title

By ANDREW TOMLINSON Eagle Staff Writer The AU men’s track and field team finished fifth overall and the women placed eighth at the Patriot League Indoor Track and Field Championships.

The school also captured the women’s 1000-meter title, and junior Colin Eustis finished in second for the men’s 5000-meter event.

On the second day of competition, Eustis placed second in the men’s 5000-meter event. He finished with a time of 14:33.72. Eustis’ time was fourth-fastest in school history and was faster than the Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America qualifying time. Meanwhile, senior Rachel Forcino took fourth place for the women. She crossed the line with a time of 17:58.19 and picked up four points for the team.

Forcino and Eustis were not the only ones to earn points for AU. Josh

Olsen and Ryan Williams finished the 5000-meter in fourth and sixth place, respectively. The men’s 4x800meter relay team of Morgan Block, James Cannon, Dan King and Conor Sullivan finished in sixth place with a combined time of 7:49.61. The women’s team consisting of Tina Thomas, Natalie Omundson, Katherine Hekker and Erin Koch posted a time of 9:57.45 in their version of the event and also placed sixth.

Sophomore Zach Wright placed eighth in the men’s high jump with a final jump height of 1.94 meters.

After day two of the championships, the AU men sat in fourth place with 14 points and the women were in eighth place with five points.

On the last day of competition, Koch took the women’s 1000-meter title with a time of 2:57.37. She beat the College of Holy Cross’ Katelyn Harnett by .11 seconds. Koch’s time is the fourth fastest in school history. She

captured AU’s only individual title of the meet.

“I can’t say enough about [Koch’s] competitive nature,” Head Coach Matt Centrowitz told AU Athletics. “[Koch] has continued to improve each week, and we are looking forward to what she will do during the outdoor season.”

Sullivan placed second in men’s 1000-meter for AU. His time was .05 seconds behind the first place time of Navy’s Cody Rome. Sullivan finished with a final time of 2:28.90.

Eustis had another strong showing on the last day of the championships.

He placed second in the men’s 3000meter event with a time of 8:25.85.

The day’s other top finishers included junior Jeff Brannigan who finished third in the mile run. The men’s distance medley relay team was able to finish in the top tier of the competition. AU’s team consisted of Sullivan, Chris Tonn, Morgan Block and Dan

King. They finished fifth with a combined time of 10:17.92.

Forcino followed up her fourthplace finish on the prior day with an eighth place effort in the women’s 3000-meter. She posted a time of 10:31.76.

After three days of competition, the first of which AU didn’t compete, the men finished in fifth place overall, and the women finished in eighth place. The men totaled 42 points, while the women totaled 15. There were eight teams that competed in the championships.

Bucknell University finished in first on the women’s side of things with 168 points and the Army Black Knights totaled 165 points to finish first in the men’s competition.

You can reach this staff writer at atomlinson@theeagleonline.com.

“No one thought the stars and stripes would even be in the game against Canada ...” all the credit for the win. It is not a question of whether Canada choked, but whether the Americans did what was required better than the Canadians did.

A very misleading stat in hockey is shots on goal. A team may fire off a 100 shots, but if only 10 of them are good shots, then are they really outplaying their opponent? The question needs to be addressed when talking Sunday’s game. Canada had 45 shots and the USA had 23. On paper, it looks as if Canada had complete control of the game, yet they still lost 5-3.

Much of the hockey world has said Team USA would not have won if it were not for Ryan Miller. That may be true, but isn’t Miller part of the team? And as a result, isn’t it still the team’s win if he played well, and others contributed?

The stats from the 1980 game against Russia are eerily similar to those of Sunday’s game. The only one that matters right now is shots on goal, which were 3916 in favor of the U.S.S.R. There are not many people who would say the only reason the “Miracle on Ice” happened was because

of the USA netminder Jimmy Craig. Yet, Miller had almost the same stats, and they are saying he is the only reason Team USA won. Is there really a difference between the two games?

For the upset of Sunday’s magnitude to happen, there had to be a complete team effort. Of course, Miller and Brian Rafalski were the main forces behind the win, but several other athletes directly led to the victory.

Chris Drury and Ryan Callahan are just two of the members of Team USA who may have saved the game for the team. With time ticking away in the final three minutes, Callahan and Drury — members of the NHL’s New York Rangers, and two players many thought shouldn’t be on the team — literally sacrificed their bodies for the win. They must have blocked at least four of five shots in the last three minutes. Not only did Drury throw himself blindly in front of the puck, but he also scored the goal that would give Team USA a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Sunday was the game Captain Jamie Langenbrunner had been waiting for. He had put together solid efforts in the two previous wins, but finally showed up on the score sheet Sunday. On a power-play just under halfway into the third period, Rafalski fired a shot from the point. It looked as if he had scored his third goal of the night. Langenbrunner actually redirected the puck and took what would have been an easy save away from Martin Brodeur and scored the eventual game winner.

No one thought the stars and stripes would even be in the game against Team Canada, let alone score five goals against them.

Canada was the juggernaut and the U.S. team didn’t have players with the same talent level as Canada, but no one questioned whether Canada could play together as a team. From some of their games this tournament, it doesn’t always seem like they can.

A lot of their scoring comes from a few players, and the defense does not always seem in sync. Sure, Rafalski has scored a lot of goals for Team USA, but Backes, Drury and Kesler have also scored goals to make it a solid team effort.

Looking ahead, Team USA is going to have to play a nearperfect game if they want to win the gold medal. There is a reason that hockey is a team sport, and that is because it takes a team to win it. We saw just how important playing as a team was on Sunday.

It sounds so cliché, but with teamwork anything can be accomplished. It showed in 1980 with the Miracle on Ice, and if Team USA can keep up the team effort, we may see it again this year if the American flag is raised after the gold medal game.

You can reach this columnist at atomlinson@theeagleonline.com.

Kansas to have strong showing in NCAA tournament SIDELINE SCHOLAR

ELLIOT JEFFORDS What has already been an intriguing, surprising and eventful college basketball season has two weeks left before the intensity heats up and the country turns its head towards the NCAA Tournament.

This year, unlike last year, there will be much more debate about who deserves a number one or two seed for the big dance.

On top of that, there will be even more debate about who will make the exclusive Final Four.

Despite all the arguing that will take place, there will be one conference that reigns supreme. For

the first time in a long time, the Big East Conference will not have a frontrunner for the National Championship. This year, the Big 12 is the undisputed top conference and will provide some of the most intriguing frontrunners and bracket busters in this year’s tournament.

Kansas, after briefly losing the No. 1 rank, has been the most consistent and powerful team in the nation. Its only loss was against Tennessee University in Knoxville, Tenn. Other than that one blemish, they have gone unscathed and have clinched a share of the Big 12 regular season title.

Going undefeated since then is impressive, considering the league boasts the nation’s highest rating percentage index.

Sherron Collins has been one of Kansas’ best players, averaging 15 points per game. He leads the deepest bench in the nation and is one of the most experienced

players, especially since he was the sixth man off the bench for the 2008 National Champion-

This year, unlike last year, there will be more debate about who deserves the No. 1 seed. ship team. Alongside Collins is Xavier Henery, who is averaging 14 points per game. He is a candidate for Freshman of the Year, but has tough competition since he is going up against John Wall

of the University of Kentucky and his outstanding play.

Even teams weaker then Kansas are still strong competitors.

The school’s neighbors and rivals to the west have put together one of the most surprising seasons of the year. Kansas State University has dropped only four games this season and has climbed its way to sixth in the nation. They could easily improve on their current ranking with quality wins in the final four games of the season and the conference tournament.

The Wildcats can attribute most of their success this season to the impressive play of its backcourt tandem of Dennis Clemente and Jacob Pullen. Both players are averaging over 16 points per game and have been around long enough to weather any storm they may face in the tournament.

Following the teams from the Sunflower State is a slew of possible contenders. Texas University,

who, at one point in the season, was ranked top in the nation after winning 15 in a row, has slipped as of late. That said, they still have the potential and capability to beat any team in the country.

Other teams from Texas that could make a run deep into March include Texas A&M and Baylor, who both will more than likely finish with more than 20 wins on the season.

The biggest surprise from the Big 12 could be the same team that made a remarkable run to the Elite Eight last year. The Missouri University Tigers return with the same stifling defense and intensity that caused so many teams problems last year in the tournament. With only two seniors on the team who struggle to contribute, the team might face trouble with experience the deeper it goes in the tournament.

Despite all of the success from these teams, Kansas still remains

the most viable title contender.

The team has just too much going for them. They have a good mix of young and old players, a head coach who has been there before and knows how to win a title, a brutal conference schedule that has prepared them well for any challenge and a large fan base that can make any game hard for an opponent.

Yes, there will be surprises in the tournament, as there always are. And yes, normal power conferences will have teams ready to try running the gauntlet that is March madness. Don’t be surprised though when “Rock Chalk Jayhawk” rings out from the Kansas student section on April 5 in Lucas Oil Stadium.

You can reach this writer at sports@theeagleonline.com.