The Eagle — Nov. 19, 2009

COLLEGE HUMOR NBC’s ‘Community’ gives viewers a chance to sit at the cool kids’ table.

SCENE page 5

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NEWS SPECTER COVERAGE News and Political Scoop on Pa. senator’s campus visit pages 2 and 4

EDITORIAL

ON THE ROAD Quick tour of downtrodden D.C. should compel Obama to action

SCENE TWILIGHT NIGHT ‘New Moon’ stars tell what it’s like to become an overnight-celebrity page 7

SPORTS JUST SHORT AU loses home opener by one point in nail biter page 8

ON THE RISE Caps claim first in conference despite rash of injuries page 8

TODAY’S WEATHER

HI 60° LO 49° Afternoon showers, evening t-storms FRIDAY HI 62° n LO 43°

SATURDAY HI 60° n LO 42°

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VOLUME 84 n ISSUE 25

AU sticks to D.C. parking law Other District universities more lenient

By MARISA KENDALL Eagle Staff Writer While AU, Georgetown and George Washington Universities have all experienced conflicts with neighbors regarding off-campus student parking, AU is the only school that has chosen to ticket its students for parking on residential streets.

The Department of Public Safety gives $75 tickets to all AU community members who park on residential streets around campus, The Eagle reported Nov. 16. AU’s parking policy states that students, faculty and guests

must park on campus for campus-related business.

A 2001 D.C. Zoning Commission order first instated off-campus parking regulations requiring AU students, faculty and staff to park on campus as conditions for the approval of the university’s campus plan.

According to Carol Mitten, who was D.C. Zoning Commission chair when the commission passed AU’s campus plan, the order does not impose specific requirements as to how the university deals with residential parking.

“There’s no explicit requirement to ticket people who park off campus,” she said. “That’s the manner in which the university chooses to enforce it.”

The parking conditions of AU’s zoning order mirror almost exactly the parking conditions imposed on GW’s Mount Vernon campus, located on Foxhall Road, as part of the school’s

1999 plan, Mitten said.

“Most places, most schools have restrictions just so they can peacefully coexist in the particular neighborhood that they’re in,” Public Safety Chief Michael McNair said.

However, GW does not ticket off campus, according to Executive Director of Media Relations Candace Smith.

GW’s parking policy, as listed on its Web site, states that students who park on residential streets surrounding the Foggy Bottom campus are subject to “disciplinary action.”

Street parking is also prohibited near the Foggy Bottom campus. According to the GW Parking Services Web site, “students are encouraged to park in the university parking facilities.”

Universities enforce parking rules that the schools think are important for neighborhood relations,

Mitten said.

Mount Vernon may not need to ticket cars off campus because the density of people on the campus is fairly low. She said she thinks AU is taking its responsibility seriously by creating a plan of parking enforcement.

“They’re pretty creative about it, apparently,” Mitten said.

Georgetown has no control over off-campus parking, according to Rettea Getu, traffic controller of the university’s Department of Transportation.

The Georgetown Web site reminds students parking spaces in the area are scarce and requests students not monopolize spaces with multiple cars from one household. It also refers students to the Department of Motor Vehicles Web site in order to obtain a residential parking permit.

While AU students who prove area residency and enrollment in a D.C.

university can obtain a Student Reciprocity Parking Permit for the Zone 3 area, this option is not available for Georgetown or GW students.

Student living in Advisory Neighborhood Commission areas 2A (GW Foggy Bottom and Mount Vernon areas), 2E, 3D06 and 3D09 (the areas around Georgetown) must register their cars with the district in order to park legally in the ward, according to the DVM Web site.

A representative from the DMV was not available to comment on these parking permit restrictions.

core of downtown, streetcar is moving people throughout the city into emerging commercial and retail quarters. This is especially important for the proposed line running along the waterfront in Anacostia.”

The streetcar lines would offer a broader range of transit options for residents.

“For the people using cars, they can see it as an easier way to get around,” Lisle said. “The system is easier to understand than bus routes. There is a fixed route and clear system map. This will encourage people to use public transit more and leave their cars at home.”

Lisle also said that streetcars would serve as solutions to some other problems with the current Metro system, which include some Metrobus lines operating over 100 percent capacity and congestion on the Metrorail.

“We are predicting a 32 percent increase in the number of transportation riders by 2030,” said Cathy Asato, information specialist at WMATA. “This is the size of what we had during the Obama Inauguration.”

Other proposed branches of the streetcar line, such as the K Street corridor, are in dire need of reduced congestion, according to the DDOT Web site.

“Many bus lines compete with traffic in these dense areas,” Lisle said. “This could be made easier by placing streetcar tracks down the center of the road while cars may pass on either side.”

The new project does not come without some questions from the

community, including bloggers like Alpert. Funding has been an issue for the city even in the best of times, he said.

“There have been some budgeting problems within Metro services,” Alpert said. “The cost of the streetcar network is definitely the biggest downside.”

But funding is not necessarily the issue, according to the DDOT. The department will not have to secure funding for the entire network for seven years.

“Yeah, funding is something that needs to be worked out and there are some budget problems,” Lisle said.

“Yet, capital investment is several years in the future and the economy is likely to be recovered by then. We are expecting the District to bring in more tax revenue to help out.”

Several AU students said they thought streetcars were a good idea.

“It would help neighborhoods previously inaccessible to students in the Northwest [become] accessible,” said Marc Tomik, a graduate student in the School of Public Affairs. “For me, it makes a journey to Columbia Heights a lot easier.

I wouldn’t have to transfer lines downtown.”

Carla Trippe, a graduate student in the School of International Service, said streetcars are the main form of transportation in her hometown of Düsseldorf, Germany.

“It’s an easy and efficient way to get around,” she said. “I just think it will be difficult for the average D.C.

KELSEY DICKEY / THE EAGLE

see STREETCARS on page 4

D.C.’S STREETCAR DESIRE — The District Department of Transportation plans to bring streetcars to Adams Morgan, Anacostia and Georgetown.

AU Parking and Sustainability While AU requires students, faculty and guests to park on campus lots when going to campus, the school is also trying to increase its sustainability n

see PARKING on page 4

Streetcar plan rolls into D.C. area

By ALEXANDER GRABOWSKI Eagle Contributing Writer

page 3

NOVEMBER 19, 2009

The District Department of Transportation recently unveiled plans for a new streetcar transportation system that would connect neighborhoods underserved

by Metro, including Anacostia, Georgetown and Adams Morgan.

Streetcar tracks are being constructed in Anacostia and on H Street and Benning Road in Northeast D.C., according to the DDOT Web site. The DDOT hopes to have both lines running by 2012 and expects to build a network with 37 miles of streetcar tracks It has been almost 50 years since streetcars last operated in the District, according to the DDOT Web site.

Though buses could easily get people around new routes, the streetcars offer distinct advantages, according to DDOT spokesperson John Lisle.

“Streetcars provide economic development in communities,” Lisle said. “Unlike bus routes, which serve already-developed areas, streetcar tracks indicate a city’s investment in a developing area and better housing options along the corridors.”

For some D.C. bloggers, the network is a positive direction in improving some neighborhoods.

“There is research from around the world that shows streetcars being big catalysts for development,” said David Alpert, creator of the Greater Greater Washington-area blog. “While Metro is focused on getting people into and out of the

n

H1N1 vaccine Bike-lending program to arrive at AU takes off on campus Friday morning

By JULIA RYAN Eagle Staff Writer

By MEG FOWLER Eagle Staff Writer Doses of AU’s first shipment of H1N1 vaccine will be available at a vaccination clinic this Friday, Oct. 20 at 9 a.m. on the first floor of the Mary Graydon Center.

The shipment includes 1,000 doses allocated to AU by the District of Columbia Department of Health that will be administered on a first-come-firstserve basis to priority groups, including people six-months-old to 24-years-old, according to a memorandum distributed campus-wide Wednesday night.

This group is at risk because those who are six months through 18 years old tend to be in close contact with each other at schools, where disease spreads easily, according to the Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention. Also, people who are 19to 24-years-old are at risk for H1N1 despite being an otherwise healthy population because they are a particularly mobile group of people who live, work and study in close proximity, according to the CDC. AU is unsure how long the supply of vaccine will last.

“We can’t predict how quickly we’ll go through it,” said AU Spokesperson Camille Lepre.

“We’re expecting to receive more shipments, but we don’t have any details on that yet.”

AU had originally hoped to receive the vaccine earlier in the semester, but unforeseen delays pushed back the date of arrival.

“It is later than expected,” Lepre said. n

see VACCINE on page 2

The Student Government is going green and keeping AU students healthy with a new bike-lending program on campus, according to BikeLending Director Carol Foster.

The bike-lending program currently consists of six bikes located in lockers near the South side shuttle stop under the Anderson bridge, according to Foster. Bike rentals are free for AU students and include a saddlebag, a helmet, a lock and a light.

Students can rent a bike by signing up on the AUTO Web site at au.agilefleet. com and filling out a liability waiver.

Students can take the bikes anywhere they want as long as the bike is returned in six hours.

Foster said if students break or damage a bike, they will have to pay a fine and will be barred from future use of the bikes until they pay the fine. If the bike breaks in a way that is not directly the fault of the student — if the bike gets a flat tire, for instance — the

student would not have to pay a fine and the program would pay for the damages, according to Foster.

Students would, however, have to pay a fine if their bike gets stolen.

“I bought the strongest locks possible for the bikes — it would be highly unlikely for someone to be able to cut the lock in the six-hour time frame given to renters,” Foster said. “So if a bike gets stolen, we would assume that the student never used the lock in the first place.”

The bike-lending program was originally started by former Student Government President Seth Cutter as a project for his School of Public Affairs Leadership Program when he was a freshman. Cutter worked with other students in the program over the course of the 2006-2007 school year. In spring 2007, they had a trial run of the bike-lending program. The bike-lending program got a positive reception from students and the program was adopted into the AUTO division last year.

Over 200 students have participat-

ed in the bike-lending program this semester, and 40 students are in the process of signing up for a bike-lending account.

Foster said that it took a while for the bike-lending program to get to where it is today because there was some confusion about who would be in charge of the program.

“It originally started out as a project for a class, so once the students were finished with the class it became a matter of who would take over this great idea,” Foster said. “Someone had to come in and keep it going, and it got picked up by the Student Government last year.”

Foster is working with Comptroller Alan Chang and the rest of the AUTO division to expand the bikelending program in the near future.

Foster is trying to get two more bikes for the program, to bring the total up to eight rentable bikes, by the end of the 2009-2010 school year. Foster is also working to get bikes for the North side of campus, though she does not n

see BIKES on page 2

the EAGLE

NOVEMBER 19, 2009

news 2

THURS 19

FRI 20 THU 27

SAT 21

SUN 22

MON 23

TUES 24

Play: “Angels in America, Part II” 8 p.m.

WHERE: Round House Theatre, 8641 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, Md. METRO: Silver Spring (red line) INFO: The Round House Theatre performs the second part of Tony Kushner’s drama about the AIDS crisis in New York City in the 1980s.

COST: $25 CONTACT: For more information, call 240-644-1100.

Exhibit: What’s It All Mean: William T. Wiley in Retrospect 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and F Streets N.W. METRO: Gallery Place-Chinatown (red, yellow and green line) INFO: Wiley’s artwork creatively addresses important issues in America today such as politics, war and global warming.

COST: Free CONTACT: For more information, call 202-232-3464.

Montgomery County Thanksgiving Day Parade 9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

WHERE: Georgia Avenue and Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring, Md. METRO: Silver Spring (red line) INFO: The parade will include character balloons, the Redskins marching band and a performance from the Maryland Youth Ballet.

COST: Free CONTACT: For more information, call 301-565-7300.

Documentary Screening: “Between the Folds” 5 p.m.

WHERE: Busboys and Poets, 2021 14th St. N.W. METRO: U Street/African-American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo (yellow and green lines) INFO: “Between the Folds” chronicles the stories of 10 artists and scientists who have abandoned careers and graduate degrees to forge unconventional lives as modern day paper folders.

COST: Free CONTACT: For more information, call 202-939-0794.

Exhibit: Keeping History - Plains Indian Ledger Drawings 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: National Museum of American History, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue METRO: Federal Triangle (blue and orange lines) INFO: This collection displays 19th century drawings from the Native Americans living in the Northern and Southern Plains, some of whom were imprisoned after fighting for freedom.

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

Pennsylvania Ballet: “The Nutcracker” 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F St. N.W. METRO: Foggy Bottom-GWU (orange and blue lines) INFO: The Kennedy Center presents the classic ballet about a young girl and her magic nutcracker doll.

COST: $47 CONTACT: For more information, call 202-467-4600.

Specter: political affiliation categories are ‘like bikinis’ THE POLITCAL SCOOP

By GRAHAM VYSE Eagle Staff Writer Many Pennsylvania Democrats I know have mixed feelings about Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa. On the one hand, he used to be the kind of Republican they liked — moderate, independent, with a wicked sense of humor. He agrees with them on abortion rights, environmental issues and illegal immigration. For years, they have helped him win re-election to the U.S. Senate by crossing over and supporting him in general elections.

But that was then.

Today, Specter is Democrat. He switched parties this year in anticipation of an impossible Republican primary fight against Pat Toomey, a former U.S. representative and the president of the conservative Club For Growth. Critics call him a political opportunist, but Specter has said he was forced out a party that has no tolerance for centrism or independent thinking. Specter will face Rep. Joe Sestak, D-Pa., a retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral and genuine liberal, in a primary this spring.

So what’s a Democrat to do? That was the big question Monday night when Specter showed up to speak to the AU College Democrats at the Unin

is currently courting the Air-America wing of the Democratic Party, so I began by asking, “Is Joe Sestak too liberal for Pennsylvania?”

Specter was silent for about five seconds and then said, “I wouldn’t criticize him for where he is on the political spectrum.”

It was a dodge, and it might have been a lame answer, but true to form, Specter saved it with wit.

“I think these categories of liberal, moderate and conservative are like bikinis - they conceal more than they reveal,” he said with a wink.

Still, Specter must see Sestak as a threat from the left, because he went on to hit him from the left on Afghanistan.

“I think his position on Afghanistan is not a liberal position. I’m not for increasing troops in Afghanistan and he is. He calls it ‘measured.’ I’m not in favor of that,” Specter said.

I asked him about a moment in his talk when he said he switched to the Democratic Party because he “felt comfortable” with President Barack Obama at the helm. I asked him why he had stayed a Republican during the election and voted for McCain.

“I never spoke out against Obama — not one time. I think McCain is a good man and I was trying to bring some moderation back to the Republican Party;” (earlier in the evening, Specter said the greatest failure of his career was failing to bring the GOP a bit more towards the political center).

For my last question, I asked him about conservative groups like the Club For Growth that fund primary challengers to centrist Republicans. I told Specter I was from Rhode Island and asked about Lincoln Chafee, the former GOP senator from my state who lost his seat in 2006 largely because he was weakened by a Club For Growth primary challenger.

“Chafee was beaten by Toomey and the Club For Growth,” Specter said. “They spent all this money in the primary — they primaried him.

The Club For Growth has run conservative candidates who have won [primaries] with some frequency and elected Democrats in the fall ...

They’re trying to beat [Gov. Charlie Christ] in [the Florida Senate race].

They will not tolerate deviation. [Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C.] said he’d rather have 30 people who are pure than have a majority. Well, that’s not the way you win elections and that’s not the way you govern.”

But none of this is his problem anymore. As his staff was tugging him away, he joked, “Well, I think it’s a good strategy. I think that strategy will enable Democrats to win.”

It was another good line, and he must have been pleased with it, because with that, Arlen Specter slapped my arm, turned on his heel and left.

makes one big solution for all these problems,” Foster said. “Sustainable initiatives ensure a cleaner, healthier and less oil dependent future for humanity.”

Foster hopes the bike-lending program can expand and become one of the leading green initiatives on campus.

“I hope that the AU program

serves as a model for Americans around the country to adopt sustainable habits,” Foster said.

Student Government president Andy MacCracken said that he supports the bike-lending program and is confident in Foster’s efforts for the bike-lending program.

Carol Foster, our current BikeLending Director, has done a fan-

tastic job so far,” MacCracken said.

“She spends countless hours every week, filling in holes in the program so it can support student demand. I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes.”

the Student Health Center was prescribing Tamiflu to “people who need it most,” Bruey told The Eagle.

The memo lists priority groups other than young, college-aged people for the vaccine, including pregnant women,

caregivers for children younger than six-months-old, health care and emergency medical services providers and people from 25years to 64-years-old who have health conditions.

The memo also asked “those aged 25-64 years with no un-

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

from BIKES on page 1

have specifics yet regarding when this would happen.

Foster said that she thinks the program is a great asset to AU because it helps AU students be environmentally friendly and healthy. “[The bike-lending program] takes on a bunch of important issues, like the environment, dependence on oil and our health — and

n

versity Club in Mary Graydon Center.

Wearing a rainbow-colored tie he called “festive,” Specter stood at the front of the room and made his case on just about every issue imaginable.

His core argument was that he has always voted with Democrats much of the time and he now feels more comfortable as one of them.

Specter said he supports increasing funding for student loans, cap and trade legislation and raising the minimum wage. He also reminded the Democrats that he voted for the stimulus package — as a Republican.

“I knew that if I voted for it, I would be severing my ties with the Republican Party,” he said.

Specter said Congress will pass a comprehensive health care reform bill.

“I think we’re going to get a public option,” he said.

Several times during the event, the crowd applauded Specter and laughed at his jokes. Honestly, I laughed at his jokes, too. He’s hilarious. There is something striking and disarming about a 79-year-old United States senator who quips about being a sex symbol and explains his opposition to legalizing marijuana by telling a story about pot smokers in Nepal. Specter had people doubling over when he said Sarah Palin was “running for queen.”

When the talk was over, I got five minutes with Specter outside MGC. I had been thinking about how Sestak

from VACCINE on page 1

Bruey said D.C. was “in the second shipment from the CDC to state health departments,” The Eagle reported.

At that time, the vaccine for the regular flu had already been administered on campus, and

POLICE

BLOTTER

Nov. 11 A light bulb was discovered shattered in the elevator lobby stairwell in Anderson Hall.

The Department of Public Safety responded to a report of an injured person in The Eagle’s Nest. The individual signed a medical refusal form.

The D.C. Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services transported an injured person from the Butler Pavilion Career Center to a hospital. The injury occurred at the 4400 block of Yuma Street.

As an AU vehicle was turning north onto Nebraska Avenue from Rockwood Parkway, a student who was walking was unintentionally struck and broke the driver’s side mirror with his right arm. No injuries were reported.

Nov. 12 DPS discovered graffiti on a mechanical room door on the exterior of the Terrace Dining Room. Aramark was notified.

Two students were injured at the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue. They reported the incident to DPS at the Mary Graydon Center. A cab voucher was provided to take them to a hospital.

DPS responded to a report of a sick person in the Katzen Art Center.

A student indicated she would transport the sick person to a hospital.

Nov. 13 A student lost his temper, yelled at and spit on an employee’s face in McCabe Hall. The Metropolitan Police Department was contacted. The student was arrested, transported for processing and later released pending a court appearance.

Smoke from overcooked food in the Kay Spiritual Center activated a fire alarm. Smoke was cleared from the area and the alarm reset.

An employee reported a student acting disorderly and smoking on a shuttle bus. DPS responded and escorted the student to Anderson Hall.

A door to a storage room in Anderson Hall was discovered ajar. The room is used to store mattresses. Ap-

proximately eight ceiling tiles inside were damaged. The door would not secure properly without forcing it closed. Aramark, 2FIX, and the Lock Shop were notified. No property was reported missing.

Nov. 14 DPS found a heavily intoxicated student lying on the ground outside the Kogod School of Business. His clothes were soaked. He could not walk under his own control. While being questioned, the student vomited in bushes nearby. DCFD transported him to a hospital.

A resident assistant found a small bag of what was suspected to be marijuana in a Letts Hall elevator. DPS took possession of the property. A field test produced a positive result for marijuana.

An unknown suspect entered an occupied, unlocked residence hall room in Anderson Hall and discharged a fire extinguisher in the room. The two occupants in the room were sleeping when entry was made. A discharged fire extinguisher was located in a lounge nearby. Damaged ceiling tiles were located in a nearby hallway and a nearby men’s restroom. Aramark was notified.

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

derlying health conditions understand our need to service the above priority group first.”

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

DPS responded to a report of an intoxicated individual in need of assistance in Anderson. Upon arrival, the individual was conscious and alert. DCFD responded. The individual signed medical refusal forms.

DPS escorted the individual to the Berkshire Apartments.

Nov. 15 DPS and MPD responded to two noise complaints at a residence reportedly occupied by AU students.

No disturbances were found.

DCFD transported an injured student in Congressional Hall to a hospital.

Two individuals were inside Capital Hall selling magazines. They were escorted off campus and advised not to return without authorization.

Nov. 16 An iPhone was taken from a backpack in Mary Graydon Center that was left unattended on a chair.

A bicycle was taken from a bike rack in the Letts/Anderson Quad.

The bike had been secured with a cable and combination lock.

THE QUICK TAKE News that you could have found somewhere else condensed into paragraph form and stripped of all its importance.

The D.C. LGBT community lost an old friend Monday after the Washington Blade, a 40-year-old weekly newspaper that served the gay community, unexpectedly went belly up. The Blade, which started as a one page, mimeographed sheet of paper, shut down after its parent company filed for bankruptcy. The paper had been turning a small profit according to The Washington Post and may try to reorganize and re-launch as a Web site.

It hasn’t been all bad news for the LGBT community, however. On Tuesday, Nov. 18, the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics rejected a petition that could have put gay marriage in D.C. on a city-wide referendum. As every single referendum on gay marriage has been rejected by voters, D.C. citizens can rest easier knowing that if the D.C. Council and Congress allow gay marriage in the District, it will likely stay that way. The board said such a referendum would have authorized discrimination that is prohibited under the Human Rights Act. Over in Georgetown, the storied university could be grappling with a devastating closing of its own. Philly Pizza and Grill, a favorite hang out of drunk students looking for mediocre pizza with Ranch dressing, could be closing after the D.C. Board of Zoning revoked their license. According to nearby residents, the “sit-down” restaurant is really a fast food joint, violating zoning rules and keeping neighbors awake late at night. As of now, Georgetown University still has the neighborhood of Georgetown to keep them entertained and fed.

Nearby Fairfax County has decided to forgo the extremely inefficient way of killing deer by waiting for them to leap into the National Zoo’s lion’s den, and is instead letting hunters have a go at them the ole’ fashioned way — with bows and arrows. The county has an average of 100 deer per acre; having 80 deer more than the ecosystem is meant to support, their presence negatively affects vegetation and other animals. In an attempt to curb the deer population, the county is letting a non-profit hunting group — because apparently such things exist — hunt deer in two county parks until mid-January. Animal rights activists are protesting what they deem to be an inhumane death by arrow.

When The Washington Post asked the president of the non-profit deer hunters if he thought it was inhumane to kill deer with arrows he responded, “It’s

not inhumane. It’s not cruel ... when you hit a deer point-blank with a razor-sharp rod head, it’s pretty quick and painless.” Exactly what “painless” means in this case is unclear.

Down in Foggy Bottom, George Washington University hosted the Broken Lizard Comedy Troupe, the comic team behind trendy college-kid classics like “SuperTroopers” and “Beerfest.” If you remember back in August, AU’s SUB hosted the same guys earlier on in the year, proving yet again that AU is better than GW. And in some major props to SUB Director Clay Pencek, GW’s show cost nearly $30 a ticket, while ours was free for students! SUB is hosting Grammy-award-winning rap group Three Six Mafia this Saturday starting at 8 p.m. in the Tavern.

WHAT HAVE THEY DONE FOR ME LATELY? A rundown of what clubs, greek and other organizations are up to at AU. Colleges Against Cancer, the Wellness Center and A Healthy U are celebrating the “Great American Smokeout” where the AU community is invited to take some “cold turkey” sandwiches, quit kits, C02 testing and other information to learn how to quit smoking.

Tabling will take place in MGC and Constitution Hall from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the Ward Lobby from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and in the WCL lobby from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

The AU Bhangra dance team snagged a third-place finish last weekend at Muqabla, an Indian dance competition hosted by the University of Buffalo. This was the Bhangra team’s second competition and the first time they have ever placed in competition. For their efforts, they took home a trophy and $500, most of which will go to new costumes for next year. Contact bhangra.au@ gmail.com for more information.

The AU Rationalists and Atheists had a successful “Flying Spaghetti Dinner” Tuesday night. Over 120 students showed up to feast on free spaghetti from Maggiano’s. As an encore performance, AURA is hosting Blasphemy Day this Friday from 12 a.m. to 6 p.m. The event is a celebration of free speech and the AU community. It invites students to utilize a public address system AURA has rented for the event to say anything they like about anything.

If you would like to submit something your club has done to The Eagle, send an e-mail to news@theeagleonline. com with “ORGANIZATION BLURB” in the subject line.

-CHARLIE SZOLD

EDITORIAL

NOVEMBER 19, 2009

GRAHAM VYSE n Editorial Page Editor EdPage@TheEagleOnline.com

JEN CALANTONE n Editor in Chief Editor@TheEagleOnline.com

Pendulum swings back in GOP’s favor MIDDLE OF THE ROAD

JOE WENNER In 2001, Republicans were on an electoral high. After crafting a shrewd GOP victory in both the presidential and legislative elections, Karl Rove made the now infamous promise of delivering a permanent Republican majority. Had someone reminded Rove of Albert Einstein’s description of politics as a swinging pendulum, he might have tempered his guarantee.

Sure enough, a mere five years later, Democrats overtook both the House and the Senate.

Today, the pendulum continues to swing. Despite winning back the White House and increasing their margins in the legislative branch in 2008, Democrats may soon see the public move away from their own “political mandate.”

Recent developments are cause for President Barack Obama’s concern.

This summer, Gallup released a poll that indicates four of every 10 Americans have shifted to the right in their politics since January.

When coupled with Obama’s precipitous 10-point rise in disapproval ratings between March and June alone, his November mandate seems more like a half-hearted suggestion.

What’s more is that polling numbers on specific issues carry ominous tones for the administration. For the fist time since 2007, polls indicate that a majority of Americans feel the War in Afghanistan has not been worth fighting. Even on his hallmark health care legislation, Obama faces a mixed political climate at best. The latest Washington Post survey indicates voters are split on the health care bill which passed the house, with 48 percent in favor and 49 against.

Equally concerning for Democrats is the growing popularity of conservative media.

Granted, conservative media has always earned a dedicated following.

But right-leaning television programs have not only kept their lead over competitors, they have widened their gap. Fox News Channel — whose prime-time lineup features conservative pundits Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck — has experienced a 30 percent increase in viewers since May 2008.

Meanwhile, CNN’s numbers have plummeted by nearly 40 percent.

When these polls and ratings are examined collectively, it is clear that on a grassroots level there is more than enough potential for an approaching Republican surge.

Still, while the numbers on the ground may keep David Plouffe up at night, a swing in Republican electoral momentum is far from certain.

Why? A look at GOP leadership — or lack there of — provides a quick answer.

Political movements are identified by their elected leaders, and if the GOP doesn’t find one in the coming months, its movement will be nonexistent. Let’s examine a few potentials.

In February, Gov. Bobby Jindal’s televised response to Obama’s address to Congress was underwhelming and awkward. Equally lackluster was Gov. Mark Sanford’s rejection of stimulus money, which was eventually sheepishly withdrawn. And no matter how popular her book tour is, Sarah Palin’s attempts at raising her national profile were apparently too much to balance with her elected position.

Without an identifiable leader, the potential for a Republican resurgence remains just that — potential. Until then, the Obama administration faces a window of opportunity to produce military, economic and political successes to woo the public. The clock is ticking, Obama. Or more appropriately, the pendulum is swinging.

Joe Wenner is a sophomore in the School of International Service and the College of Arts and Sciences and a moderate columnist for The Eagle.

You can reach him at edpage@theeagleonline.com.

Run-away poverty needs Obama boost GIVE ME LIBERTY

MICHAEL STUBEL Over the last year, my roommate and I have embarked on a crusade to run to the farthest reaches of the metro area. We began with modest adventures of four to five miles. With Forrest Gump-like zeal, we decided to run some more — and more, and more, and more. Last Monday night, we journeyed east through the city and into other parts of Maryland.

Our destination was FedEx Field in Landover, nearly 14 miles from campus. Along those many miles, I was reminded of the depth of this city’s poverty and urban decay. While the discouraging sights of that run will remain with me for a long time, there’s hope for a better future.

Sixteenth Street runs north to south between the District’s northernmost corner and the White House. It also cuts a figurative divide between those living in relative comfort and others struggling to stay afloat. Our route to Landover took us down Florida Avenue past Gallaudet University, across the Anacostia River and up Minnesota Avenue in the Northeast sector of the city. I wish I was kidding when I say we saw more liquor stores than food markets. Fast food chains outnumbered library branches and school buildings combined. Park space was overgrown, the equipment outdated and the basketball hoops rusting away. Streets were noticeably darker and abandoned lots multiplied as we progressed deeper into the city. Traffic was thin and signs of vitality were rare.

For the first time in American history, a man with a truly urban background resides in the White House.

Barack Obama is well aware of the environment that surrounds him, having sharpened his political teeth on the streets of Chicago. Nonetheless, I question the ability of his major domestic initiative, health care reform, to bring about tangible change in America’s inner cities. Expensive national programs will not reinvigorate communities desperately in need of policies tailored to their specific problems. Federal aid would be better suited for public housing projects, infrastructure improvements and small business development.

Don’t underestimate the power of new streetlamps or refurbished playgrounds.

If Obama really wants to make a difference with federal dollars, he should create the modern equivalent of the Civilian Conservation Corps that existed under Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal. The CCC was a work relief program that employed workers to develop and protect public land. The Urban Renewal Corps would reward members of inner cities who work to improve their own community. The immeasurable qualities of self-esteem and neighborhood identity would gain an instant boost through tasks as simple as removing graffiti, collecting trash, planting gardens and clearing vacant lots.

As a former community organizer, Obama understands the importance of the bottom-up dynamic. Dictating health care plans to an uneasy nation is the essence of the top-down model of governance. Obama can return to the grassroots nature of his political upbringing by helping inner cities help themselves, for there’s nothing more influential than personal empowerment.

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.

JOE CORCORAN / THE EAGLE

SG delivers on bike promise

Bike lending program gives students a chance to stretch their legs around D.C. and proves that the Student Government is more than personal vendettas and internal squabbling.

By now, you may have seen or heard of people taking advantage of the Student Government’s bike lending program. The program allows any student a free, six-hour bike rental, complete with all the needed gear. A helmet, lock and saddlebag are included with the rental.

This program represents tremendous progress for the SG and is a valuable service to students. Anecdotally, most people know someone who either bikes to class from an off-campus apartment or uses her bike to access Tenleytown or downtown D.C. more easily. Some students, however, have been unable to realize these benefits for a variety of reasons. Getting a bike onto campus can be both expensive and difficult, especially

if students don’t live in D.C. during the summer. The SG bike-lending program opens the city to these under-served students.

While the bike-lending program is money well spent and is an especially tangible example of tuition dollars working for the benefit of students, the launch of the program also represents a great victory for the SG. The program has been in the pipeline for a long time.

Originally piloted in the spring of 2007, the project initially received a quiet reception and was moderately successful.

Given that the program just began officially this semester, the program’s launch speaks highly to the efforts given by the different SG executive

boards involved to maintain continuity of communication throughout the project’s development. Given the interruptions and distractions posed by incidents with the comptroller and AUTO commissioner earlier this year, the SG should be commended for overcoming adversity and pulling through with a program that will benefit students.

The benefits of the program will also have positive spillover effects on the campus community in general. The six bikes available for free rental may encourage those who use their own bikes infrequently to leave them home, freeing up overcrowding on the campus’s bike racks.

Strides in sustainability are significant too — if students

have free green transportation options available to them, chances are they’ll use them in lieu of less environmentallyfriendly options — at least to some extent.

Now, the SG should focus on active promotion of the program, and to this point, it has been doing a good job.

Campus-wide e-mails in SG notifications, a Web site and good visibility all help to show students that the program is up and running.

Given the relatively streamlined application and release process, it seems that bikelending at AU is finally ready for the prime time.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

redundant. WI is not a WRC. For example, one of the WRC’s key purposes is the decentralization and mainstreaming of sexual assault resources. This will make the process of reporting and receiving support for rape and sexual assault easier, less emotionally volatile, and more efficient. These resources, although created for a problem that affects women disproportionately, will help all students at AU and create a much safer campus climate.

Similarly, the WRC will offer programming and guidance on other issues of interest to women and that disproportionately affect womeneconomic problems stemming from institutional sexism, disordered eating and relationship violence, to name a few. The WRC will also offer resources for women hired by AU itself, making it easier for them to navigate professional situations in the male-centered world of academia. Most importantly, the WRC will institutionalize and further expand on progress made by WI, shifting what is now a student-run effort to include women in the decisions of our campus leaders to a professional, faculty-led movement

to make sure women on campus are respected, heard, and represented fairly.

The WRC is not a bastion of manhate, nor is it a dig at all the guys at AU. It is a safe space, with literature concerning women, issues affecting women disproportionately, and women of import; with trained faculty to counsel students on issues from academics to date-rape; with guidance and resources available for students and faculty alike on how to succeed - in the AUniverse and the larger world - despite the obstacles of institutionalized sexism and pervasive discriminatory practices in our culture.

A Women’s Resource Center is much less about feminism and women than it is about equality and all people on campus. It is a muchneeded step toward creating a truly student-friendly campus climate, and no amount of argument about the number of women on campus or the “mythical pay gap” will not only fail to conceal its necessity, but will rather exacerbate it.

SEE MORE LETTERS ONLINE!

Women’s Resource Center Worth Discussing — From All Sides I am a woman. I am active in Queers and Allies, I am active in Women’s Initiative, and I work at the Women & Politics Institute.

I’ve interned for the Feminist Majority Foundation and THE LINE, a groundbreaking campaign to end rape. I am the brains behind (con)sensual, the localized campus campaign for consent. I am hoping to pursue a career in advocacy.

I am seeking a major in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and a certificate in Women, Public Policy and Leadership.

But that is not why I support the Women’s Resource Center.

I support the WRC because I think it is key to achieving our university’s goal of being an institution of pride, inclusion, and studentcentered policy, and I think that the WRC’s outspoken critics have often been misinformed, abrasive, and incorrect.

The WRC is neither useless nor

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NOVEMBER 19, 2009

news 4

Sen. Specter explains party swap Senator fields AU students’ questions

By RACHEL KARAS Eagle Contributing Writer Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., has no apologies for the way he has led his career and his lifetime in public service, he said at an AU College Democrats event held Nov. 16.

Although Specter has worked in Congress since 1980, serves on 13 Senate committees and is running for re-election in 2010, the 79-year-old shows no sign of slowing down as he prepares to fend off a Senate primary challenge from Rep. Joe Sestak, D-Pa. In fact, Specter rushed from a vote on the Senate floor to the Mary Graydon Center when the AU Democrats brought him to campus Monday night. He met briefly with Pennsylvanian students and spoke to a full University Club about partisan bickering on Capitol Hill, personal legislative accomplishments and the direction of the Democratic Party. A sometimes heated, often humorous questionand-answer session followed the nine-minute address. His switch from Republican to Democratic

n

from PARKING on page 1

by controlling the amount of cars on campus.

According to a transportation study conducted in July 2009 as part of the school’s upcoming 2011 campus plan, the goals of AU’s sustainability transportation initiatives include improving accessibility and mobility, conserving environmental resources and enhancing social equity and economic vitality.

The study suggested several measures to improve AU’s sustainability, including reducing the amount of land used for parking lots, increasing parking fees and implementing incentives that encourage alternatives to driving.

AU has not raised parking fees specifically to regulate on-campus parking, according to McNair.

“We’ve tried to manage it in a different way,” he said.

One of AU’s other parkingmanagement strategies include encouraging carpooling by allowing students to purchase group parking permits, for which they divide up the cost and share among several cars, McNair said.

In fall 2008, parking lots at AU were on average only 65 percent full during peak hours between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., according to the 2009 transportation survey.

McNair said this could be a reason why students should never have to park off campus.

“We have plenty of parking on campus,” McNair said. “We actually have more space than they need.

n

affiliation was a frequent topic.

“I think partisanship and polarization is at an all-time high,” Specter said. “I tried to bring moderation to the Republican Party, but there is no moderation. No one would talk to the Democrats.”

Specter viewed the $787 billion stimulus package as a necessity on the scale of the Great Depression and said he was “prepared to help President Obama” regardless of the repercussions from the GOP. “I cast the key vote for the stimulus package,” he said. “I knew that it would be the death knell of my relationship with the Republican Party ... A change of registration is not an unusual thing, especially when the change was caused by the stimulus package ... It’s not an easy decision to make, but I think it was the right decision.”

As the Senate prepares to debate and vote on its version of the House of Representatives’ Affordable Health Care for America Act, Specter counts himself as one of the Senators needed to pass the bill.

“I think we will get the 60 votes to proceed [with the public option],” Specter said.

Elizabeth Rademacher, a freshman in the School of Public Affairs and a resident of Newtown, Pa., believes that despite his age, Specter managed to connect with the college audience.

“I agree with many of Sen. Specter’s political views, but more

from STREETCARS on page 1

driver to adjust. It wouldn’t take too long for people to notice the benefits though.”

Some students, however, do not think streetcars are necessary.

Shane Carley, a junior in SPA, said WMATA should focus on

So I’m really not sure why — other than not wanting to pay for parking — why there’s a need to park off campus.”

However, not wanting to pay is precisely why some students park on the street.

Laura Uttley, a senior in the School of Public Affairs, has not purchased a campus parking permit.

“Oh, they’re ridiculously expensive,” she said. “I couldn’t afford that even if I wanted to.”

Tom Smith, commissioner for ANC 3D02, the AU area, said many residents have expressed the opinion that high parking fees may be the reason campus lots are underutilized.

“What will it take to move those cars from the street to those parking lots that are empty?” he said. “And one has to believe that whatever the regulations and fees are that are imposed by the university must be excessive if it’s discouraging students from using more accessible parking.”

According to McNair, most students do follow the rules and buy campus parking permits instead of parking on the street.

He also said the only area parking cheaper than AU’s is available at city meters.

“I don’t know how you could get much cheaper, though,” McNair said. “We’re about half the cost of the other places.”

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

fixing its existing systems before starting new, unnecessary ones.

“Also, streets in D.C. are some of the narrowest streets,” he said.

“I don’t see streetcars being that much better than buses.”

According to the DDOT Web site, the new streetcars are not as wide as the eight-foot wide Metro buses.

importantly, I agree with him that we need less polarization and partisanship in politics today,” Rademacher said. “Like Specter, I consider myself a political moderate ... What I think is important is that he ... doesn’t see purely in blue or red.”

Chad Reichard, a freshman in SPA from Franklin County, Pa., referred to the senator as “Specter the Defector” and said he “never aligned with Specter, regardless of his party.” However, he enjoyed the senator’s overall presentation.

“It was good that [Specter] was able to step off his high horse and visit some college students,” Reichard said. “He was a good speaker, and I enjoyed listening to him, and I have the utmost respect for the man himself. I was happy to see him keep his composure.”

During the question-and-answer session, Specter fielded questions from a long line of students on topics including torture, capand-trade legislation, the Stupak amendment to the health care bill, LGBT equality, legalization of marijuana and U.S. military policy in the Middle East.

When responding to one student, Specter said he felt his greatest accomplishment in office has been his leadership and success in fundraising for the National Institutes of Health.

Specter also often mentioned his policy points and his 2010 campaign against primary chal-

Eagle Staff Writer The Board of Regents at the University of Maryland voted last week to defy a legislative order from the state of Maryland by refusing to adopt a new university policy regarding the screening of pornographic films on campus.

The board voted down the policy, saying it would be difficult to enforce and contradictory to the First Amendment right to free speech.

UMD faculty and students have been debating this topic since April when Sen. Andrew Harris, R-Baltimore and Harford counties, threatened to pull UMD funding when the student union attempted to screen the porn film “Pirates II: Stagnetti’s Revenge” on campus, The Eagle previously reported.

The state legislature had given UMD and Maryland’s 11 other public colleges and universities until Dec. 1 to come up with policies restricting porn screening on campus, The Eagle previously reported.

Students see the Regents’ decision

as a victory, according to UMD’s Student Government Association President, Steve Glickman. He told UMD’s student paper The Diamondback that a film regulation policy would affect the larger issue of students’ right to screen films for entertainment without needing the administration’s approval.

No other public university in the country has a policy regulating the screening of pornography or any film on campus, according to Robert O’Neil, the founding director of The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression and former president of the University of Virginia.

O’Neil said the University System of Maryland asked him to offer guidance for UMD’s response to the Maryland legislative mandate.

While UMD would be the first university to adopt this policy, “a responsive policy could have been framed that would have avoided major First Amendment problems,” O’Neil said in an e-mail. “The Regents seem to have concluded that such action will not be

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

PHILLIP OCHS / THE EAGLE

SWITCHING SIDES — Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., spoke about becoming a Democrat, health care and the economic stimulus package Nov. 16 in MGC. Specter is 79-years-old and has worked in Congress since 1980.

Speakers talk orgasms Duo presents on women’s sexuality

By SARAH PARNASS Eagle Staff Writer Two sex educators helped make AU students life a little more pleasurable Monday night with an interactive lecture on the clitoris, multiple orgasms and so much more.

A diverse group of women and men from the AU community filled the seats of Ward 1 Nov. 16 for a presentation called “I Heart Female Orgasm.”

Dorian Solot and Marshall Miller — co-authors of a book named after the presentation — led the evening with a combination of discussion, sharing, laughter and education about a taboo topic: women’s physical pleasure. Solot said she and Miller are a couple, allowing them to have “both professional and also personal experience” with the subject.

Miller and Solot kicked off the event with some humor from the movie, “When Harry Met Sally.”

The exact timeline for the system is dependent on funding from the federal government, the D.C. council and private investments.

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

UMD refuses to submit porn policy to state govt

By MEG FOWLER

lenger Sestak.

“I know that a lot of people say that they hope he doesn’t get reelected now that he’s switched parties, but I think that the issues that he supports should be more important than the party he identifies with,” Rademacher said.

Reichard said that if Specter does become the Democratic candidate, his chances of winning over Republican candidate Pat Toomey are comparable to “a snowball in the inner depths of the Earth’s core.”

Rademacher is not sure whether or not she will support Specter in 2010.

“I definitely haven’t ruled out the possibility of voting for him just because he changed parties,” she said. “I hope that in the coming elections people don’t just think about the controversy. He’s definitely had the experience to prove that he knows how to do his job.”

Specter, who said he believes he has a better chance against Toomey than Sestak does, remains optimistic about his bid to remain the longest-serving Pennsylvanian senator regardless of Sestak’s growing popularity.

“Sestak has a well-earned reputation for working hard, but no one works as hard as Arlen Specter,” he said.

necessary.”

If a policy was approved, it would most likely need a panel to review every film to be shown on campus, which the university deemed infeasible, according to The Washington Post.

AU does not have a policy in place concerning the screening of pornography, which has been shown on campus before — most recently, eight years ago, The Eagle previously reported.

However, should AU create such a policy, it would not necessarily be legally constrained by the First Amendment, according to O’Neil.

“AU’s ... independent status would avoid First Amendment concerns... only government is bound by such constraints,” O’Neil said in the e-mail.

Despite their relative autonomy, “major private universities pride themselves on voluntarily observing standards in regard to speech and press that their public counterparts are compelled to observe,” O’Neil said.

You can reach this staff writer at

They showed the clip in which actress Meg Ryan demonstrates a fake orgasm in the middle of a diner. The audience responded with applause and laughter.

“This is a really funny subject,” Solot said to follow up the clip.

“And tonight we are actually going to have a chance to laugh and to talk about a subject people don’t get to spend very much time talking about: women’s sexuality and female orgasm.”

This was Miller and Solot’s second year presenting at AU. Miller said the pair gives sexuality presentations at about 50-75 colleges and universities per year. This particular event used to be open only to women, but they decided to open it to people of all genders based on persistent attempts by men to sneak in to the event, according to Solot.

Mark Lyubovitsky, a senior in the School of International Science, said he came to the event with his long-term girlfriend last spring and noticed more men were present this year.

“I think there’s a greater awareness of women’s sexuality,” Lyubovitsky said. “It’s not all about the guys.”

He also recommended more men attend in the future.

In addition to the silly side of orgasms, Solot demonstrated the

seriousness of women’s sexuality.

She told the story of discovering a cancerous lump in her breast at the age of 26. Solot said familiarity with her own body might have saved her life.

“I am so thankful that I wasn’t one of those women who would have internalized all those messages that it’s bad or dirty or shameful to touch your own body,” Solot said. “Because if I hadn’t absentmindedly run my hand across my breast that day - and obviously I’d absent-mindedly done exactly the same thing enough times before that I noticed this small lump - who knows how many weeks or months or years would have gone by before somebody noticed I had cancer in my breast.”

The duo also led an interactive discussion about what members of the audience had previously heard about female orgasms, which dispelled rumors and illuminated the concept of “thinking off,” in which a woman climaxes merely through mental fantasy.

Solot criticized some current sexual education programs for focusing only on how to abstain from sex.

“That’s important, absolutely, boys and girls need to know how to say ‘no’ to sex, but if that’s the only thing people ever teach you in your

life ... a lot of the women are like, ‘I don’t even know how to think about saying yes to sex in a positive, healthy, responsible way,” Solot said.

In the middle of the event, Miller and Solot split the crowd to have a more private discussion about topics relevant to each gender and to those who chose not to identify as male or female.

After returning from the groups, Miller and Solot wrapped up by explaining the “G-spot,” the scientific arousal cycle, Kegel exercises, multiple orgasms for both males and females, tips on having a first orgasm and an unexpected use for Mattel’s Harry Potter Nimbus 2000 vibrating broomstick.

Though Miller and Solot have not made definite plans to appear at AU again, Miller said he enjoyed working with Women’s Initiative and that he would like to see it become an annual event.

The event was co-sponsored by Women’s Initiative, Queers and Allies, AU Students for Choice, the Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Department, the Wellness Center and the GLBTA Resource Center.

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

NOVEMBER 19, 2009

THE EAGLE'S ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT SECTION

Cast build sense of ‘Community’

By YOHANA DESTA Eagle Staff Writer There’s screwball comedy, there’s good, clean comedy, there’s dirty comedy and there’s NBC’s “Community.” The funny show follows the story of Jeff Winger (Joel McHale), an unlucky lawyer whose college degree was deemed invalid by a bar examination. The show follows his return to community college and the eccentric people he meets while there.

Some of the fellow characters include Pierce Hawthorne (Chevy Chase), an older man trying to get his degree, Britta (Gillian Jacobs), a mean blonde girl whom Winger befriends and Señor Chang (Ken Jeong), a Chinese man who teaches Spanish at the community college.

Some episodes from the first season have covered the topic of hypnosis, debates and psychic reality shows.

But the humor found in the show is not the typical in-your-face comedy.

It’s subtle, sarcastic and sometimes downright mean, but one can’t help but laugh.

Joel McHale as Jeff Winger is bored, sarcastic and rude — mainly because he thinks he’s better than the other students, even though at one point he has lived out of his car. McHale plays the part perfectly, likely because it’s not too far from his television persona as host of E! Network’s “The Soup.”

“My character in real life would be likeable, he’d turn up the charm,” McHale said in an interview with The Eagle. “In the show, he’s slowly — I mean, glacially — coming to grow and working on things. But if he suddenly had an epiphany, there’d be no show.”

The show’s focal point is the meanness and superiority complex of McHale’s character reflected off the niceness of everyone else. “[Actually] I’m the only likeable character on the show,” Jeong said in the interview.

“Your character berates people,” McHale retorted. “You’re inappropriately touching the women, and you’re insulting the men’s weakness!”

“Well, in addressing the women,

POPPING CULTURE

KATRINA CASINO

Courtesy of CHRIS HASTON

TABLE TALK — “Community,” the sarcastic comedy focused on a failed lawyer who is sent to community college, stars a motley cast including Joel McHale, Ken Jeong, Gillian Jacobs and a silver-haired Chevy Chase. The show airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on NBC. that’s just affectionate,” Jeong said.

For those who may not recognize him by his name, Jeong may be remembered as the tiny gangster Mr. Chow in the summer comedy, “The Hangover.” He’s also done work in “Step Brothers,” “Role Models” and “Knocked Up.” However, the world may never have known his comedic talents, as he used to be a doctor.

After working at Kaiser Permanente for 12 years, Jeong moved on to fulfill his destiny as a comedian. On “Community,” he plays Señor Chang, a Chinese-born Spanish teacher at the college who uses his position to abuse and insult the intelligence of his students, much to the humor of the audience.

Woodie Awards celebrate college student lifestyle

By KATRINA CASINO Eagle Staff Writer Asher Roth said what everyone was thinking best when he said it simply in his breakout single: “Man, I love college.” This intersection of care-free sentiment and popular music is the notion on which the mtvU Woodie Awards are based.

First airing in 2004, the Woodie Awards are a celebration of music that is popular on college campuses. Part awards show, part concert and all party, the Woodies will take place in New York’s Roseland Ballroom and will air on Friday, Dec. 10.

“A lot of award shows focus on giving out accolades to artists that may have gone gold or platinum,” said executive producer Eric Conte in an interview with The Eagle, regarding mtvU’s decision to focus on less mainstream artists. “But the Woodie Awards celebrate artists who have gone wood — meaning you don’t just have to sell a ton of records to make good music.”

With categories like “Breaking Woodie” (best new artist), “Good Woodie” (artist whose music promotes social change) and “College Radio Woodie,” the annual awards ceremony not only commemorates, but also reflects, culture on a college campus.

“We’ve always looked at the college audience as a crystal ball as far as music prediction,” Conte said. “Artists tend to break in college campuses first and pull up bigger and bigger from there.”

Placing their faith in the audience itself, the Woodies are voted on by college students online at mtv.com.

As in the past five years, the Woodies promise to be a non-stop music-fest from beginning to end.

Today’s culture yet to be defined

This year’s ceremony will feature several live performances from bands including the Dead Weather, Death Cab for Cutie, Matt and Kim and a few additional surprise acts.

Despite not being slated to play the event, Colorado-based pop/electronica group 3OH!3 were nominated in the best performance category, “Performing Woodie.”

In an interview with The Eagle, band member Nathaniel Motte explained what he felt was the appeal of the band’s live shows.

“A lot of our music is kind of party-oriented and pretty overtly fun and crazy, and that atmosphere for some reason seems to be pretty pervasive in a lot of colleges,” he said.

Unsurprisingly, Asher Roth, who is nominated for “Woodie of the Year,” agreed.

“I think we kind of just, you know, love college,” Roth told The Eagle. “It’s really the most innocent [time. You’re] finding yourself; you’re really clueless ... that kind of irresponsibility and innocence in life is really something to enjoy.”

More than just an event for pop music, the Woodies have been turning more and more of their attention to indie bands this year, nominating performers Death Cab for Cutie and Matt and Kim for “Best Video Woodie.” These nominations are a celebration of the unconventional, as Death Cab’s clip for “Grapevine Fires” is a fully-animated clip featuring a brief cameo of the band members, and Matt and Kim’s “Lessons Learned” features the duo running naked through New York’s Times Square.

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

“There are some times when I think my character thinks he’s Latino-American,” Jeong said. “But I also just do so many British references, like I think I’m Ron Weasley.”

Jeong, although seen much less than McHale’s character, is quite a scene-stealer. While not all of the show is laugh out loud funny, every moment with Jeong is hysterical. In the upcoming episodes, Jeong and McHale’s characters get to know each other and become closer. It’s an episode that the fans and newcomers should watch, if only to see how McHale and Jeong bounce off each other. However, they are not the only fantastic comedians on the show — Chevy Chase once again brings his

fine-tuned comedic sensibilities to the small screen since he burst onto the scene with “Saturday Night Live” back in 1975.

“It’s like working with Nolan Ryan,” McHale said of Chase. “He’s older, got better stories and still throws it harder. It’s still hard walking around with this icon.”

Chase’s star power was not lost on Jeong either.

“It’s surreal working with him on set,” he said. “He’s got trademark timing that he’s perfected over the years; this is a high point in my career.”

In addition to working with a comedic legend, both McHale and Jeong love most everything about the show, claiming that the script,

the cinematography and the connections between each of the actors makes for an amazing experience.

“In all seriousness, the scripts for the show are the strongest on television,” McHale said. “We love improv, so it’s really the best of both worlds.”

For those who haven’t tuned in yet, it might be time to check it out. “Community” is a fresh change from other comedies on television, one with real characters and a sicker sense of humor.

“Community” airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on NBC. You can reach this staff writer at ydesta@theeagleonline.com.

Vampires join tales

By LAUREN LINHARD Eagle Contributing Writer THE VAMPIRE ARCHIVES

A-

The age of the vampire has arrived. But this time, they look a little different; they’re normal and mortal — all the better to suck your blood with, my dear.

The time of the flowing capes, non-retractable fangs, Transylvanian accents and Gothic castles has passed. However, the strange fascination evoked by vampires is still very much alive today — pun intended. Anticipating this vampire hype, Otto Penzler, owner of the Mysterious Bookshop in New York City, managed to capture over 60 vampire tales in his new book, “The Vampire Archives: The Most Complete Volume of Vampire Tales Ever Published.”

“I’ve read a great number of vampire stories over the course of a long reading life,” Penzler said in a press release. “[I] knew there was a deliciously large trove of first-rate stories from which to choose.”

This boastfully titled collection draws in readers by featuring famous horror and vampire writers Anne Rice, Stephen King, H.P. Lovecraft and Harlan Ellison. Any vampire fan worth his or her blood will pick up this rather large book in anticipation of such writers. The haunting volume continually impresses, also including less familiar authors like Roger Zelazny and M.R. James.

However, don’t open this phone book-sized volume expecting to see the longer works of such authors. No, Rice’s famous “Vampire Chronicles” cannot be found; instead there is one of her lesser-known short stories. The same can be said for the talented King. None of his horror novels are featured in the book. Fans looking for a

Courtesy of CAROLYN HARTMAN

FANG MAN — Playing on the recent trend, Otto Penzler (above) recently compiled a collection of vampire stories entitled “The Vampire Archives: The Most Complete Volume of Vampire Tales Ever Published.” cheap way to gather such works are out of luck. While disappointing, look at this as a way to expand your knowledge of all that is lurking in the night.

“The Vampire Archives” shows readers how the image of the vampire has changed since the first legends were written.

“The image of the vampire underwent a major shift with Anne Rice, and a still greater image makeover with the ‘Twilight’ books,” Penzler said in the press release. “Vampires are seen, more than ever, as handsome, romantic and loving.”

Readers will find the anthology explores a wide range of genres, including the Gothic vampire tale, the amusing vampire story and the hunt for immortal love. There is even a section for “true” stories, as well as a poetic section.

The most notable aspect of “The Vampire Archives” is the 110-page bibliography compiled

by Daniel Seitler. While it does

not include things like comics, games, movies, plays or television involving vampires, it is a very impressive list of vampire novels and short stories.

If you have an interest in the original vampire lore, take a look at Penzler’s introduction. While slightly repetitive, he provides background on the original vampire legends told by the Egyptians, the Indians and other cultures. There is also a fascinating section discussing various “humans” whose blood loving behavior furthered the vampire legend.

Whether you are a dark, cape-wearing, fang-bearing fan of Dracula or crushing on the sparkly Edward Cullen, “The Vampire Archives” is a book you can really sink your teeth into.

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

It is remarkably easy to believe that we live in a culture of trash. Every day we are inundated with poorly-recycled styles, bland and unoriginal pop music and advertisement after advertisement featuring some overzealous spokesman convincing us of something we don’t need. It’s discouraging — without a voice or a cause for our generation, and without proper regard to the tribulations we face, popular culture is losing its meaning.

The way we live now, there are two ways to react to pop culture: consume it or scorn it. Consumers are traditionally regarded as low-brow, mindless zombies who follow trends without question, allowing the synthesized rhythms of Top 40 music to flow through their iPods, which are probably contained in varying forms of tacky cases. The scorners hold themselves above this, criticizing or ignoring the mainstream and mourning the loss of quality entertainment.

But in these reactions, there is a third option missing: the academic response. See, pop culture is more than just a money-making machine — although it certainly is that as well. It is the formation of culture around us, and whether or not the result is lowquality trash, what we’re observing is living anthropology. We are more than just consumers subject to advertisement, we’re the subjects of developing culture, and the interesting part is figuring out just what that means.

In a recent media studies class, when discussing the current state of the music industry, my professor asked the class if we believed Britney Spears is the death of democracy. Although the notion seemed absurd at first (wrapping oneself in a snake doesn’t traditionally make for a radical deconstruction of the two-party system), it became clear that my professor had a point: Spears is more than just a pop star, she is a symbol. And more than just a symbol of what our modern culture is, she is representative of everything that previous generations were not.

Sure, people may criticize the state of music, but is that really due to a lack of talented musicians or a lack of true alternative voices? Or is it due to industry control of what can and cannot be released, what will or will not make record companies money? Critics can complain that there is no quality music being made right now, nothing with a message, but this isn’t true. That kind of music is being made, but companies are not picking it up. And why should it be? Why should record companies, which are essentially giant corporations, encourage voices of dissent?

So yes, in this way, Britney Spears kind of is the death of democracy. Not because she’s promoting promiscuity in young girls or because she sexualizes herself as an object. Not even simply because she puts out bad music. It’s because said bad music is a straw man for the actual problems within the music industry. Yeah, we’ll complain about low quality, but eventually we’ll either absorb it or write it off, and, in the end, enough of us will consume it so that the industry can keep chugging. And churning out meaningless pop music is a lot more lucrative and a LOT safer than taking on an artist who’s going to question this system.

Instead of criticizing the immediate result of popular trends, we have to consider the societal factors that lead up to their creation. Our generation has depth; our struggles, but our ideas aren’t being adequately reflected by our culture because our culture is based on revenue.

But we can’t blame it all on “the man” or “the machine.” As a generation, we’ve become complacent, and we’ve come to expect less. Because the creators of our culture are industries, their policies are built off of supply and demand. The creation of culture is in our hands, and we just need to realize it and create it for ourselves. We are a generation that deserves a higher quality of legacy, but we need to demand it first.

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

the EAGLE

NOVEMBER 19, 2009

the scene 6

Big dreams come true with small steps

By CAITLIN E. MOORE Eagle Staff Writer For as long as I can remember, I have been obsessed with pop culture.

My dad always had a voracious appetite for music and movies, which he passed along to me before I could even read the CD and VHS covers. I knew from a young age that my fascination with celebrities was different than my peers; their fleeting interest was my fervent passion. This helped me choose my career path — entertainment journalism. However, growing up in Delaware didn’t exactly make for a hot bed for Hollywood’s elite. I watched interviews and red carpet shows, waiting for the day that I’d be able to interview celebrities myself.

It wasn’t until my sophomore year that I realized AU had its own entertainment outlet, and I began to write for The Scene. Advance movie screenings, CD reviews, phone interviews — I was in my own personal heaven.

One month into my writing adventures, I was able to interview part of the cast of “The Secret Life of Bees” in person. I sat next to Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning and Jennifer Hudson, feeling like I was on my very own E! special.

That began an onslaught of celebrity interviews, both on the phone and in person. I name-dropped as I described my latest adventures to relatives at home. I had a nervous stomach before all the interviews took place, but became calm whenever I began to speak, remembering that these celebrities were just normal people in a unique line of work. (I may have had a repeat of my breakfast on the morning I interviewed Queen Latifah, but still maintain I was getting over a stomach bug.) It was surreal to see my dreams coming true in front of my eyes. It felt strange to interview people on TV, yet I maintained some sense of dignity — until three weeks ago.

As the arts and entertainment editor for The Eagle, I get many e-mails about reviews and interviews. In late October, I got a message about a screening of “Me and Orson Welles.”

Despite the fact that I am 20 years old and a somewhat normal junior in college, I am an enormous Zac Efron fan.

(My mom doesn’t let me forget it — a “High School Musical” poster, pillow and Christmas ornament, all joking but well-received gifts from her, decorate my room). I was already excited, but I kept reading.

“Actors Zac Efron, Claire Danes

and director Richard Linklater will be in Washington, D.C. on November 10 for press interviews.”

What followed can only be referred to as a complete breakdown of sanity.

I literally leapt out of my seat, screaming and shaking.

Reality set in and I realized that, despite my calmness in the past, I wasn’t sure if I could maintain my composure around a man I have so fervently obsessed over. It soon went from excitement to dread. My friends joked that I should be careful not to vomit on him; I laughed, but I honestly didn’t know how I’d get through it without upchucking on his shoes.

The day arrived, and I couldn’t eat.

I sat, waiting to be escorted upstairs, when I saw him — a laughing, chatting Efron. As he passed me on his way upstairs to the interview suite where I would soon join him, I realized I was staring — and those bright, blue eyes and a smile were meeting me back.

“Hello!” Efron greeted me as he passed, not knowing I was about to interview him, but just that I was a young woman sitting, staring and beaming.

Twenty minutes after that, the interview began. The usual calm came over me as I began the interview, but

Mayer takes ‘crooked’ music path with ‘Battle’

Jaguar Love “Up All Night” (single) (Fat Possum)

John Mayer “Battle Studies” (Columbia Records) BATTLE STUDIES

C+

UP ALL NIGHT

Them Crooked Vultures “New Fang” (single) (DGC/Interscope)

B-

NEW FANG

A-

Sounds like: An overproduced, moody James Taylor

Sounds like: Glow-in-the-dark neon rock

Sounds like: Smoking in the bathroom

Beginning with “Heartbreak Warfare,” John Mayer’s latest record has a slow, dark sound that defines most of the album. As a whole, the songs are covered in more background sound than John Mayer fans may be used to; the time and energy it took to make each song are evident, but it takes away almost any catchy quality they might have had.

“All We Ever Do Is Say Goodbye” reminds the listener of Mayer’s “Continuum” — a man and his guitar — but the fuller quality of the music creeps back in during the chorus — the backup vocals are reminiscent of those on Jason Mraz’s latest, “We Sing. We Dance.

We Steal Things.”

“Half Of My Heart” features the same underlying tones as the previous tracks, but with a secret weapon: Taylor Swift. Swift’s vocals, however, are barely audible, hidden under Mayer’s deeper voice during the chorus and only soloing briefly towards the end of the track.

His single, “Who Says,” features the line “Who says I can’t get stoned?” and sounds as though Mayer was stoned while writing; it sits on the cusp of saying something while never actually doing so. Mayer returns to his strengths on “Perfectly Lonely” — a more optimistic song that highlights his vocal range and guitar playing skills. “Assassin” sounds very similar to some of John Legend’s newest CD, “Evolver,” with a chorus leaning closer towards traditional rock ‘n’ roll than most of the album.

On the other hand, Mayer seems to channel the blues on “Crossroads” (a Robert Johnson cover). Despite its content, “War Of My Life” actually has a lighter sound than most of the album. It is more pure and not weighed down with layers and layers of instrumentals.

The moodiness continues with “Edge of Desire,” with John Mayer declaring, “I’m about to set fire to everything I see.” First-time listeners, please, start with this song.

Slowing things down even more, “Do You Know Me” is just sort of blah, which makes the final track “Friends, Lovers Or Nothing” so much more startling.

The last song is befitting: it mixes the old John Mayer with the new, and it has just the right end-ofan-album sound. A smart ending, however, does not make up for the fact that this CD is less than an hour of uninspiring, depressing music. Someone get this guy a puppy, STAT!

“Up All Night” is the kind of song that one might love if it were performed by an electroclashy, riot grrrl punk band, which is something that listeners may be tricked into thinking after listening to the first minute of the song.

Soon after that, though, it is revealed that Jaguar Love is mostly just one of those scream-y, lo-fi, two-boy bands from Colorado, a la 3OH!3. It’s not bad, though, if you’re into that kind of thing.

None of this is to say that the band’s sound isn’t interesting. In fact, the song’s opening consists of a buildup of sounds, layering slowly — though not subtly featuring cowbells, synths and what appears to be some sort of animal call. Despite the fact that the song drags on a little longer than any sort of high-powered electronica single should (four minutes 11 seconds), one has to give the boys (Johnny Whitney and Coldy Votolato) credit for their DIY indie style.

The video for the single was made for them compliments of a friend at Nylon Magazine. The clip reflects the absolute absurdity of the song, with various animated neon objects falling through a paper collage sky onto the blackand-white heads of Whitney and Votolato.

Jaguar Love may not be terribly original, but anyone looking for a scream-along party song won’t have to look that much farther than “Up All Night.”

Leave it to a supergroup to bring back good old rock ‘n’ roll. Them Crooked Vultures are more than just another Velvet Revolver, with each member competing for attention or trying to restore his former glory. Consisting of Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age) and John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin — that’s right, Led Zeppelin), Them Crooked Vultures are a band that acknowledge and celebrate the awesome talent of each individual member while remaining a cohesive group, mixing the sounds of the old and the new.

“New Fang” is the single off their self-titled debut album, and, while it certainly has that signature QOTSA bounce, the track is more than just a Josh Homme solo project. Grohl’s return to drumming allows him the strut, flare and ultimate abandon only accessible to a percussionist, but surprisingly, it is Jones who seems to fade into the background.

In true rock ‘n’ roll fashion, the song’s vibe is sexy and ostentatious, with fuzzy rhythm guitars comfortably clashing with Queen-like riffs in the background. With Homme venturing into his falsetto every once in a while (which is also featured on the album’s “Scumbag Blues”), the vocals on the track remain gritty without getting boring. “New Fang” doesn’t claim to be artful or complicated or deep. It knows what it is — a swaggering, smirking collaboration between three monster talents. All at once homage and invention, “New Fang” is reminiscent of oldschool, rowdy boys-will-be-boys fun — it’s a little dirty, but it’s irresistible.

— KATRINA CASINO

— K.C.

my excitement never left. This was the type of interview I had been waiting my whole life to do. Though the celebrities I’ve interviewed in the past have been amazing and admirable, it is a different beast to interview someone you flat-out adore. I maintained normality, though couldn’t help but confess the fact that I was a huge fan and snagged a picture at the end.

But this story is not an opportunity for me to brag. It is a chance to show that, even for a media junkie from Delaware, anything is possible. I never

thought I would meet a celebrity to interview, let alone one whose image adorned my wall.

If there’s a lesson I learned in my Efron adventure, it’s that you should send that extra e-mail, join that other club, ignore the naysayers and let your work be your passion. As my friend from home posted on my Facebook a day after the event, “I’m going to get your profile pic blown up and made into a poster with ‘dreams do come true.’ You know, my version of the ‘hang in there’ kitty poster.”

Though my career choice once seemed impractical to people, they now know that I’m already doing what I dreamed of for so long. That a girl like me can interview Zac Efron is proof that you really can do anything you set your mind to. (And yes — he is actually that beautiful in person).

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

Live the green life at The Reef’s ‘Big Bash’

By OLIVIA STITILIS Eagle Staff Writer Concerned about the environment, but tired of the usual ecofriendly initiatives? Not into lobbying or letter writing campaigns?

Try something a little more hip and spend next Thursday evening dancing, socializing and eating organic food — all for the environment.

Located at The Reef, a restaurant in downtown Adams Morgan, the Big Green Bash is co-sponsored by The Reef and Live Green, a Washington, D.C., company that strives to promote eco-friendly lifestyles and businesses.

Live Green’s Big Green Bash will be held Nov. 19 to celebrate Live Green’s fall membership campaign, the Big Green Boost. The evening is also dedicated to the launch of Live Green Chicago, the Midwest version of D.C.’s branch, according to Live Green’s Web site.

The event will feature a brand new dance floor, deejay booth and a heated roof deck.

“We will also have delicious food, drink specials all night, and a free drink for the first 200 tickets sold!” according to the event’s press release.

The idea for the Live Green organization came together over a meal at Java Green, another local eatery

dedicated to healthy living and the environment. The founders of Live Green thought there needed to be an organization to connect consumers and businesses sharing the goal of living green.

Live Green partners with local businesses such as Sticky Fingers, a vegan bakery in Columbia Heights, and Flow Yoga on P Street, to offer members discounts and special coupons to these and other local businesses. Membership to Live Green is only $13 a year.

“We’re dedicated to providing our members with simple, straightforward tips on living green, helping new green businesses flourish and investing in sustainable development projects,” according to the group’s Web site.

Live Green has added innovative D.C. spots to their list of sponsors and created incentives to attract new members. After recruiting three new members, current members are awarded a $20 gift certificate to either Sticky Fingers or Java Green.

The possible prizes don’t end there. For recruiting new members, one is automatically entered into a raffle to win other prizes, from a 90minute Swedish massage from Tranquil Space or a flight anywhere in the continental United States from Green Earth Travel, according to the Web site.

The Reef, host of the Big Green Bash, is one of the most eco-friendly restaurants in the District. It only serves organic fruits and vegetables, fair-catch seafood and free-range meats and poultry, part of the reason it is part of the event, according to Live Green’s Web site.

“With their rotating menu, The Reef showcases vegetables and fruits of the season, grown without toxic pesticides and fertilizers,” it says.

“Thursday night is going to be great,” said Trish Ward, a sophomore in the School of International Service and member of Live Green. “I think Live Green does an amazing job shining light on new and interesting eco-friendly spots around D.C. I am looking forward to celebrating with them.”

Don’t miss out on getting tickets to the Big Green Bash this coming Thursday at The Reef in Adams Morgan. The event will start at 6 p.m. and run until 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $9 for Live Green members and $13 for non-members. However, if you become a Live Green member beforehand, your ticket is free.

For more information on the Big Green Bash, as well as Live Green in general, visit their Web site at www. livegreen.net.

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

GET CASH BOOKS Buyback Hours

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Friday, December 11 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Saturday – Sunday December 12 – 13 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Monday, December 14 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

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NOVEMBER 19, 2009

7

CLASSIFIEDS KUSHAN DOSHI n Business Manager 202.885.3593

The Week in Fun: Know Your City

Courtesy of KIMBERLEY FRENCH

BLOODSUCKER — Fans of the “Twilight” saga are already clamoring for tickets for the Nov. 20 release of the second film in the series, “New Moon.” This installment has many new characters, including actors Jamie Campbell Bower, Michael Sheen and Dakota Fanning playing members of the vampire elite.

Fans take a bite out of ‘New Moon’

By ROCIO GONZALEZ Eagle Staff Writer Chances are, if you are a woman — no matter how old — you know what “Twilight” is, or have at least heard of it.

The franchise has been so successful that the films’ stars — mainly Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner — have found themselves catapulted into stardom and wherever they go, they are adored by fans.

With the second film in the series, “The Twilight Saga: New Moon,” coming to theaters on Friday, cast members admit they did not see themselves in this position when they signed up. It was not until the cast’s first appearance to promote “Twilight” at San Diego’s Comic-Con that they began to grasp what they had gotten into.

“I didn’t even really know how big it was at all back then,” cast member Edi Gathegi said in an interview with The Eagle. “At Comic-Con — that was the first time that I understood just how major this could be.”

Gathegi, who plays the vampire Laurent, just finished a fivecity Hot Topic tour alongside co-star Jamie Campbell Bower to promote “New Moon.”

“My brain does not allow me to process that it’s actually happening to me,” Gathegi said.

The “Twilight” franchise is a well-oiled machine by now, a year after the first book in Stephenie Meyer’s popular vampire series was adapted to film. The four books in Meyer’s beloved series — “Twilight,” “New Moon,” “Eclipse” and “Breaking Dawn” — remain bestsellers four years after the first book was released.

“Twilight” broke records on its first weekend in theaters, grossing $69 million and giving director Catherine Hardwicke the biggest opening weekend a female director has ever had. “The Twilight

Saga: New Moon” has broken records as well, even if it is not in theaters yet: Fandango reports that “New Moon’s” advance ticket sales are the highest ever for any movie.

After “Twilight,” controversy was sparked when Hardwicke was replaced with director Chris Weitz (“The Golden Compass”).

Gathegi considers the tone of the films the biggest difference between Hardwicke and Weitz.

“Catherine had a very wonderful, childlike attitude about things,” he said. “She was very excited and ... in your face and she had that kind of energy ... and Chris was very reserved and intellectual. Both [are] very valid approaches; they’re different people.”

Many fans were worried about having a man direct “New Moon,” since the story is told from 18year-old Bella Swan’s point of view, but Gathegi maintains Weitz has done a good job.

“I think the film is gonna be fantastic,” Gathegi said. “I’ve seen a version of it that I loved, and apparently it’s a million times better.”

Gathegi also spoke about the way his character has changed since the audience first saw him in “Twilight.”

“In the first movie, certain things are going on in [Laurent’s] world and then [by] the second movie different things have happened,” he said. “I think the difference is, he was intrigued by the Cullens’ vegetarian lifestyle; he’s gone to Alaska and tried it, fallen in love with Irina, comes back to Forks and he’s hungry. And he’s not really gonna apologize for it.”

Even though — spoiler alert — Laurent doesn’t survive “New Moon,” Bower is ready to leave Gathegi behind and seems excited to embody his character, Caius, again in “Breaking Dawn” once the film is green-lit.

“I’m really excited about being able to ‘sink my teeth’ into something a little more meaty,” Bower said. “What’s great about ‘New Moon’ is that all these characters are introduced and in ‘Breaking Dawn’ we actually get to go around and show what we’re made of, which is great.”

Gathegi has had a year to get used to the “Twilight” madness, but this is Bower’s first experience dealing with “Twilight” fans. For their first stop on the tour, about 1,000 fans showed up to see them, Bower said.

“Someone threw [a thong] at me yesterday,” he said. “That was pretty cool.”

“Twilight” fans range from the average “Twilighter” to the hardcore “Twihard,” who are famous for their fanaticism. When Pattinson went to San Francisco for last year’s Hot Topic “Twilight” tour, people were trampled, a girl broke her nose and the police intervened.

“I think it’s pretty standard for what happens when you put a lot of 14-year-olds in a room with anything that’s ‘Twilight,’” Gathegi said. “It just will get crazy.”

“It’s nice that people have so much dedication to something,” Bower said. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a dedication to a specific thing in my life like the fans of ‘Twilight’ have, so it’s great.”

Gathegi has a theory on why fans are so passionate about the books and the films.

“It’s their love for each other that people attach to,” he said.

“This character, Edward Cullen, who has waited his entire life to meet someone worth falling in love with, and he’s met her, and he doesn’t want to live without her; he’d, quite literally, kill himself without her. And that’s just as romantic as you can get.”

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

GREAT BALLS OF FIRE

AARON BERKOVICH/ THE EAGLE

Washington, D.C., experienced the Leonid meteor shower on Monday, Nov. 16. Students were up and out until 4 a.m., when the shower peaked, illuminating the sky as the meteors burned.

THURS 19

FRI 20 THU 27

SAT 21

When Art Worked 7 p.m.

WHERE: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and F Streets N.W. METRO: Gallery Place-Chinatown (red, yellow and green lines) INFO: Historian Roger Kennedy discusses the New Deal’s impact on the arts in conjunction with the museum’s exhibition, “1934: A New Deal for Artists.”

COST: Free CONTACT: For more information, call the Smithsonian at 202-6331000.

Ballroom With a Twist 8 p.m.

WHERE: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Ln., North Bethesda, Md. METRO: Grovesnor-Strathmore (red line) INFO: “Dancing With the Stars” champion Louis van Amstel directs and choreographs this showcase of unconventional ballroom dancing.

COST: $35 CONTACT: For more information, call the Music Center at 301-5815100.

Stand-Up Comedy: Chris Hardwick 8 p.m.

WHERE: Sixth and I Historic Synagogue, 600 I St. N.W. METRO: Gallery Place-Chinatown (red, yellow and green lines) INFO: Chris Hardwick, the host of the TV show “Web Soup,” is going on his first solo tour after opening for “The Soup” host, Joel McHale.

COST: $23 CONTACT: For more information, call the Sixth and I Historic Synagogue at 202-397-7328.

SUN 22

MON 23

TUES 24

Music: Aventura 7 p.m.

WHERE: George Mason University Patriot Center, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax, Va. METRO: Vienna/Fairfax-GMU (orange line) INFO: Aventura performs a blend of traditional Latin music with modern hip-hop and R&B influences.

COST: $58 CONTACT: For more information, call the Patriot Center box office at 202-397-7328.

Exhibit: Coup D’espace 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

WHERE: Washington Project for the Arts, 2023 Massachusetts Ave. N.W. METRO: Dupont Circle (red line) INFO: The fifth installment of this Washington Project for the Arts exhibition shows how two artists that share a studio — Minna Nathanson and Joan Belmar — unwittingly influence one another’s artwork.

COST: Free CONTACT: For more information, call the Washington Project for the Arts, 202-234-7103.

Open Mic Poetry 9 p.m.

WHERE: Busboys and Poets, 2021 14th St. N.W. METRO: U Street/African-American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo (yellow and green lines) INFO: Audiences can expect a diverse chorus of voices and a vast array of professional spoken word performers, open mic rookies and musicians from across the D.C. area.

COST: $4 CONTACT: For more information, call Busboys and Poets at 202-3877638.

Courtesy of PAMELA LITTKY

FILED DOWN — Three-piece rock act Single File are now touring to promote their first release, “Common Struggles.” The Colorado natives seek to develop a new style of alternative rock, producing pop/rock music with an indie twist. They are now touring the nation and will be performing at Jammin’ Java on Nov. 24.

Jammin’ Java ready to whistle as ‘File’ work

By MAGGIE HOLLANDER Eagle Contributing Writer Single File, a pop/rock band from Colorado, are just beginning to make a name for themselves.

They’ve performed on Warped Tour and opened for big name acts, and, earlier this year, they debuted their first full-length album, “Common Struggles.” But the band has yet to make much of an impression nationally.

In an interview with The Eagle, bassist/guitarist/pianist/back-up singer Joe Ginsberg talked about the album, breakfast and why audiences should listen.

What sets Single File apart from other bands, according to Ginsberg, is their refusal to give in to fads.

“We’re just kinda doing our own thing,” Ginsberg said. “We wanted to write music that we wanted to listen to and not really pay attention to the trends and sounds of the moment that just come in and come out. It’s fun pop music that you can kinda just jam out to, but there’s a lot to say in the lyrics; it’s not just light shows and tight neon pants, you know?”

Single File has a unique indie vibe despite their mainstream appeal. Their first single off of “Common Struggles,” “Girlfriends,” begins with the guys whistling the tune and ends the same way, with back-up vocals that add a nice dimension to the song.

Despite traditional “downer” content, the songs have a more upbeat and hopeful sound than their

current competition on the airwaves and come off as less whiny than most bands of the same genre.

Perhaps their greatest strength is their amateur status: the CD has no hint of overproduction and simply presents the band as exactly what they claim to be. Their harmonies are pure, and the instrumental music does not overpower the listener.

The best way to describe their sound is peppy and full of a fresh, youthful quality evidenced by song titles such as “Miss Cherry Lipgloss” and “Zombies Ate My Neighbors” and, despite the typical angst-ridden lyrics, many of the album’s songs are a welcome change from most alternative rock out there right now. The songs have an unexpected depth to them regardless of their immature titles, and on the whole the album is quite catchy.

If listeners are looking for one song off the CD that really sums up the band, there isn’t one.

“Our sound has always been a lot of different places because we have a lot of different influences, and that’s always been part of our band,” Ginsberg explained. “Part of this record was we want it to sound cohesive ‘cause our song writing is kinda everywhere; I mean, it’s our style, but it kinda bridges a lot of gaps.”

In describing the album as a thematic whole, Ginsberg picked “Mannequin Loveseat,” saying it sets the tone of the record.

To get the attention of new fans,

the band uses popular sites such as Twitter and Facebook, although Ginsberg misses Myspace’s popularity.

“It’s kind of a bummer that Myspace isn’t as big anymore because it’s just such a great place for music and that’s what we used forever,” he said.

They also offer more online content, including webisodes on Kite and a breakfast blog, something the bandmembers enjoy.

“Well, I like breakfast, and J.D. Perry [guitarist for the band Valencia] did a toothbrush blog last year... I thought it was kinda cool,” Ginsberg said. “I thought ‘I wanna do a blog everyday, but I need a reason to.’ And so I came up with breakfast blog. You gotta eat breakfast; it’s good for you.”

Although they’ve opened for big names such as the Fray, Single File really want to play with Weezer.

“We love their band,” gushed Ginsberg, “And I think that out there right now it’s the closest thing to what we’re trying to do — as far as pop music that’s a little snotty and still is saying a whole lot.”

Single File will be in town performing at Jammin’ Java on Nov. 24. And for those wondering if they whistle when they play “Girlfriends,” have no fear.

“You’re damn right we do,” Ginsberg said. “We’ve gotten pretty good at whistling. It’s not easy — we’ve had a lot of practice.”

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

8

SPORTS

NOVEMBER 19, 2009

ANDREW TOMLINSON n Sports Editor 202.885.1404

Washington Caps continue winning ways CAPITALS SPOTLIGHT

ANDREW TOMLINSON It is one thing to hold sole position of first place in the NHL’s Eastern Conference. It is another to have earned it by beating one of the conference’s hottest teams with some of your best players out of the lineup.

The Washington Capitals did just that Monday night with a 4-2 victory over the New York Rangers.

Washington is clearly on a mission to win the Stanley Cup. They have lost only one game in regulation at home and only four total. Not only have they vaulted into first place, but they have done it with what many would consider a somewhat mobile M*A*S*H unity.

As of Tuesday, the Caps had six of their players on the injury report.

Wingers Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin and goalie Jose Theodore are just three of those listed day-to-day.

While it is not as serious as being placed on the injured reserve, a dayto-day listing generally means the player has a fifty percent chance of playing. Six of the players from the team’s minor league franchise, the Hershey Bears, were called up.

Jay Beagle, Mathieu Perreault and Michal Neuvirth have been added to the team’s roster. While Beagle and Neuvirth are just stopgaps, Perreault has quickly made a name for himself in this new hockey town.

The 21-year-old Quebec native has five points in just seven games.

He notched two goals and three assists, including a game winning assist on a pretty pass to Brian Pothier for the game winner against the Minnesota Wild. The production has been consistent as well, with the young center having only two pointless games.

Support for this superstar-inwaiting exploded inside the Verizon Center. Screams from the upper deck, cheering on the call-up, could be heard on his first shift of the night against the Wild. Those screams even turned to boos when Perreault was hooked and no penalty was called.

He was originally called to replace an injured Ovechkin, with the idea that he would return to Hershey when he was no longer needed.

That plan was quickly averted after Perreault’s stellar performance and another rash of injuries. No team likes injuries, but in this case it

helps Washington because they do not need to make a tough decision on whom to send down to the minor leagues.

While the injuries allow the Caps to keep Perreault, it is too bad a few of their best players had to go down for him to stay. The oft-injured Semin is yet again struggling with a wrist ailment, which is a shame because the Russian star was just starting to heat up and get back into his groove offensively. Mike Knuble also joins Semin on the sidelines, as he will be out several weeks with a broken finger.

Knuble’s injury hurts the Caps the most because of his play on the man advantage with Ovechkin. He was added in the offseason because of his knack for standing in the net and he has not disappointed. He has five goals and 10 assists so far this season – many of them coming on the same line as Ovie. Knuble’s ability to score at will took a pedestrian first line that was unable to get any chemistry going and transformed it into a scoring threat.

Head Coach Bruce Boudreau had to do some quick thinking before his team’s game against the Rangers.

With three of his top forwards out of the lineup, Boudreau had to do some line shuffling. Captain Chris Clark ended up being placed on the top line to fill in for Knuble.

It will be the captain’s first action on the top line since he played with Ovechkin three seasons ago.

His next two years were filled with injuries, and the leader was moved to the third line and into obscurity.

That ended at the beginning of November, when Clark went on a fourgame points streak in which the team went 3-1. The journeyman’s return was completed when he scored in the 11th round of a shootout against the New York Islanders to secure the victory.

The Washington Capitals have continued to win despite losing some of their best players. Home games at the Verizon Center have continued to sell out, and the Caps have continued to dominate on their own ice. If this is what the team looks like with a sub-par lineup filled with rookie call-ups and rejuvenated veterans, one can only imagine what happens when Semin, Knuble and their other injured regulars return to the lineup.

Times like these are when teams learn what they are made of. If they can grind through injuries, then they are a championship-caliber team. Washington has clearly made a statement that they are that kind of hockey club.

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

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Eagles fall to Albany

By ELLIOT JEFFORDS Eagle Contributing Writer Only two games into the season, it looks like this year’s version of the AU men’s basketball team is in for a season of nail-bitters, as they lost their second straight game 5150 to State University of New York at Albany.

Men’s Basketball Albany: AU:

51 50

Washington, D.C.

On Monday night, AU returned to Bender Area for their first home game of the season against the Great Danes. The Eagles took the opening tip and opened up the scoring quickly, sinking a shot from behind the ark. Albany came back quickly with a three-pointer of their own, before either team could settle into any type of game pace.

Albany revealed their strategy for the night as they opened up with a three-quarter court press to capitalize on AU’s youth.

“They [Albany] were trying to confuse our young players,” said Head Coach Jeff Jones. “We, however, got out in transition and were opportunistic, especially at the end of the first half.”

Albany continued the strong defense as they forced AU into some bad shots and pushed the ball forward. Senior captain Will Harris was able to knock down a three from atop the arc to lead Albany to a six-point lead.

AU got back into it quickly as

sixth man Simon McCormack came back with two straight buckets to pull AU within four. Nick Hendra then lent his hand to the comeback as he dropped home a three from the corner and pulled AU within one. Mike Bersch finished off the run for AU when he was found wide open under the hoop for an easy layup and one point AU lead.

Albany wasn’t going roll over that easily, as they clamped down on the defensive end for the final three minutes and finished trailing 33-27 at halftime.

Coming out of halftime, neither defense was able to get much going, as both teams continued to battle back and forth. Five minutes into the second half, AU continued to lead and leapt 41-34 into the first timeout of the half.

Following the timeout, the tide switched, as Albany came out with a hot hand and went on a 13-2 run.

The scoring gave them a four-point lead with six minutes left in the game.

The defenses continued to step up down the stretch, as the teams combined for a total of six points over the next four minutes. Following the final timeout on the floor, AU was able to force an Albany turnover with the shot clock running out. Munoz took the ball down the court for a three-point play.

Albany answered quickly with a layup of its own, taking the one point lead. AU then took the ball and worked the clock trying to find the open shot, but was unsuccessful. With time running out, they were forced to shoot a long floater that failed to go in.

AU’s defense stepped up once again, forcing another turnover that the offense quickly gave back to Albany on the other end of the

court. AU would not get another shot to win the game as Albany went on to win.

“I’m disappointed, but at the same time proud of the effort we gave,” Jones said. “If we can scrap like that every game we will win our share of games this year.”

Stephen Lumpkins led the way for AU with 12 points and seven re-

bounds. McCormack came off the bench to add ten points of his own.

The Eagles will play Florida Atlantic University on Saturday in Bender Arena for their third home game of the season.

ever, the Eagles fell quickly into Princeton’s rhythm and were unable to regain the lead for the rest of the game.

AU turned the ball over throughout the first half, allowing the Tigers to answer Ryan’s threes with an 18-0 run. Guards Niveen Rasheed and Addie Micir led the scoring. Both players finished the night with double-digit points, as did teammates Krytsal Hill and Devona Allgood.

With 10 minutes left to play in the first half, AU was finally able to trade baskets with Princeton.

AU junior Liz Leer led the rally, sinking a jumper and a layup off a pass from teammate Michelle Kirk. AU’s surge cut the Tigers’ lead to 17 points by the end of the half. Princeton led the Eagle’s 34-17 at halftime. Princeton outshot the Eagles in the first half, shooting 42.9 percent from the floor, compared to AU’s 27.3 percent.

AU came out aggressively in the second half with junior forward Michelle Kirk sinking an

early bucket from behind the arc.

Kirk continued to drive at the boards, slowing chipping away the Tiger lead.

Much like the first half, Princeton challenged AU’s spurt of energy with 16 unanswered points.

The shooting streak increased the Eagles’ deficit, bringing the score to 55-24 with 14 minutes left in the half.

Ryan ended AU’s dry spell in the 12th minute, with a threepointer and a jumper. Ryan led AU with her strong offense, scoring 16 points for the night, including four-of-six behind the arc.

The ball changed hands often as the final 10 minutes ticked off the clock, featuring an unsuccessful attempt by AU to cut Princeton’s lead to less than 30 points.

Eagles guard Nicole Ryan sunk her final three-pointer with 25 seconds left on the clock. Her solid effort throughout the night was ineffective in generating substantial scoring opportuni-

ties for her team.

Princeton outplayed AU in all aspects of the game. Princeton shot 50.8 percent from the floor compared to the Eagles’ 40 percent overall. Key to the Tigers’ win was the team’s strong defense, which generated 25 Eagle turnovers and eight steals. At the free-throw line, Princeton went 5-6 on the night, while the AU was only 2-6. Although the two teams were neck and neck rebounding, Princeton was able to connect and use their offensive rebounds better than AU. AU women’s basketball is now 1-1 on the season and has yet to begin conference play.

The final stop on the Eagles’ season-opening road trip is Brown University, where the team will look to capture their second win of the season on Wednesday.

PHILLIP OCHS / THE EAGLE

DRIVING THE LANE — Sophomore guard Simon McCormack powers through the paint during AU’s 51-50 loss to Albany. It’s The Eagles’ second straight loss of the year, dropping them to 0-2 on the season. Despite having a 33-27 halftime lead, AU was unable to hold on for the victory.

You can reach this writer at sports@theeagleonline.com

Princeton schools AU

By KATE GREUBEL

Eagle Contributing Writer The AU women’s basketball team could not escape Jadwin Gym, home of the Princeton University Tigers, without wounds in their 77-45 loss to the home team on Monday night.

Women’s Basketball Princeton: AU:

77 45

Princeton, N.J. Monday’s game marked the third-ever matchup between AU and Princeton. The Eagles were unable to grasp the win this time, as Princeton broke AU’s 2-0 alltime streak against the team.

Things looked good in the opening minutes of game as AU senior Nicole Ryan knocked down back-to-back threes. How-

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

Weis’ days numbered at ND SIDELINE SCHOLAR TYLER TOMEA When Notre Dame University graduate Charlie Weis was hired as its football coach, it seemed like a perfect fit, but his unsuccessful attempts at bringing the Fighting Irish back to national prominence may cost him his job.

Weis accepted the position with an unmistakable confidence bordering on arrogance. Everyone remembers reports of him telling his players that they will have a “decided schematic advantage” in every game they play. At a press conference announcing his first recruiting class, he exuded confidence in his ability to out-coach his peers.

“They’ve had their advantage, because I came into recruiting late,” Weis said during one of his initial press conferences. “But now it’s X’s and O’s time. Let’s see who has the advantage now.”

In Weis’ first game as coach, he led his unranked Irish against the No. 25 Pittsburgh Panthers. The Notre Dame offense put on a show, torching the Panthers defense for 42 points in their 42-21 victories.

It was an important victory, but perhaps the biggest moment in Weis’ coaching tenure came on Oct. 15, 2005. On that Saturday, Pete Carroll led his top ranked USC Trojans into Notre Dame Stadium for a game with No. 9 Notre Dame. The game had as much hype as any in recent mem-

ory, as ESPNews even televised the Friday night pep rally. The Trojans won by three, thanks to the “Bush Push,” in which star tailback Reggie Bush pushed quarterback Matt Leinart into the end zone for the winning touchdown.

Shortly after the game, Notre Dame pushed all their chips into the middle of the table. Using only a sample size of seven games, Charlie Weis signed a new 10-year deal. As ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported, the deal made him the highest paid coach in college football at the time and is under contract through the 2015 season.

Irish brass felt this move was needed, fearful that Weis’ early success could cause him to be coveted by the NFL. Fast-forward to 2009 and the honeymoon is over between Weis and Notre Dame fans. The stats have been repeated endlessly. His record stands at 35-25, the same record former coach Bob Davie had when he was fired. His .583 winning percentage is the same as Willingham’s when he was canned.

Last season, ND lost a November home game to a 2-8 Syracuse Orange team after leading by 10 at the start of the fourth quarter.

This year, they lost to Navy for the second consecutive time in South Bend. Prior to those two recent losses, Golden Domers had been able to pencil the Midshipmen in as an annual win as they had beaten them 43 consecutive times.

Weis has a 1-8 record against

top 10 teams and a 4-12 record against teams ranked in the top 25. Against USC, the toughest team on Notre Dame’s schedule every year, he has three losses and two moral victories.

When he took the job, Weis’ perceived strength was his coaching and many felt he would need to learn how to recruit. In fact, the opposite has been true during these last few years.

Despite posting a 3-9 record in 2007, the worst in school history, Weis was able to land the No. 2 recruiting class according to Rivals. com. After a 7-6 season last year, the recruiting class came in at No. 21.

Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick will be faced with a tough decision when the season ends. Will he buyout the remainder of Weis’ contract in favor of a new head coach? Matt Hayes of the Sporting News reported that the buyout is worth $18 million. This means that it could cost between $25 million and $30 million to bring in a whole new coaching staff.

If any program can afford do this, it’s Notre Dame. They are the only school that has its home games broadcast nationally on network television. They clearly have the resources to orchestrate a buyout in hopes of returning the program to the top 10. When asked about the issue, Swarbrick has said that the amount of money is “not a factor.”

This past Saturday, the Fighting Irish traveled to Heinz Field

as Weis’ coaching career came full-circle when the Irish yet again faced the Panthers. His coaching performance was exceptional in that 2005 opener against Pittsburgh, leading ESPN’s Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit to praise his offensive game plan. Just like in 2005, this year’s game was broadcast nationally by ABC and featured a ranked Pittsburgh team against the unranked Irish.

It was much different this time though, as Notre Dame fell 27-22.

The media descended on Pittsburgh this time to report the downfall — not the debut — of a coach. There are two games left for the Irish: a home game against the Connecticut Huskies this Saturday, followed by a road trip to Palo Alto, Calif., to take on the suddenly surging Stanford Cardinals on Nov. 28.

In a press conference on Nov. 17, Weis commented on his job status.

“Oh no, I don’t think that any decision’s been made because I probably would know, and I don’t know,” Weis said.

Swarbrick should have a decision in mind by now. Weis has coached 60 games, so a decision should not be based on how he performs in the final two. At the start of December, we will see if Weis will get one more year to return the Irish to glory.

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