January 24, 2013

Page 1

American University’s student voice since 1925

January 24, 2013 Volume 87 – Issue 14

THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

!"#$%&#'$()$ *$+&)#!&,# -*.#$/

0*1*"$,231&4#$ 3*25$*!$*6

,(%&#0$!($ 0##$&8$9:;/

2"*8.#0$*!$ !"#$#*.+#

-*.#$7

-*.#$<=$>

-*.#$;9

@THEEAGLEONLINE


2 | JANUARY 24, 2013 theEAGLE

Photo of the Week Subikran Pandey, a senior in CAS, rakes the yard of a home in Northeast D.C. during Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. RACHEL LOMOT / THE EAGLE

Events JAN. 24

FINDING PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT

Can’t get that class? Enroll anyway. Graduate on time from your own school with our courses. Learn how at

phoenix.edu/transfercredit

JAN. 30

THE PRACTICE AND PATIENCE OF A SCREENWRITER

7 to 8:30 p.m. / John Weiskopf speaks about his 30-year career as a documentary screenwriter for PBS and ABC. / Wechsler Theater / Literature Department / Chet’la Sebree / sebree@american.edu

2:30 to 3:30 p.m. / Learn about part-time employment opportunities on and off campus or how to use your Federal Work Study award. / MGC 200 / Career Center and Human WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF PRESIResources / Jessica Beasley / DENTIAL CORRESPONDENCE INbeasley@american.edu / 202- FORMATION SESSION 885-6007 COVER PHOTOS (CLOCKWISE 4 to 5 p.m. / Summer internSTARTING AT TOP) BY: DIANA ship at the White House with JAN. 25 ALVARENGA / THE EAGLE, the ANA Correspondence Associate SANTOS / THE EAGLE, SHAKE IT WITH DSA & AUCOURTESY SALSA OFVolunteer Program that helps ALYONA 6 to 8 p.m. / Put your danc-VOGELMANN, the Office of Presidential Coring shoes on and learn the/ THE EMMA KNIGHT EAGLE respondence draft message and basic steps of the merengue, greetings for President Barack bachata and salsa! RSVP re- Obama. / RSVP through AU quired. / Anderson Hall 2U / CareerWeb / Application deadCost $3 / Dominican Student line: Feb. 8 / MGC 245 / CaAssociation / Cassandra Henry reer Center / Jessie Carter / / dsa@american.edu / 347-884- jessicac@american.edu / 4844 COVER PHOTO BY: ALEJANDRO ALVAREZ / THE EAGLE


NEWS Students experience inauguration first-hand By LEIGH GIANGRECO AND SYDNEY KASHIWAGI EAGLE STAFF AND CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Office Pavilion. But to the chagrin of the audience near 14th Street, the president remained inside his limo.

SIBLINGS MARCH IN INAUGURAL PARADE

Savanna Rafto, Kelly Zahn and Brittany Traeger waited for hours in the cold inaugural morning not only to see the president, but to support their siblings. The three AU students bundled up for the first, and probably last, time for a chance to experience a moment in history. While Rafto and Traeger saw their brother and sisters perform in the parade, they caught only a glimpse of President Barack Obama in his limo. “I woke up earlier this morning so excited and thought, ‘In four years, I get to do this all over again!’” Traeger, a College of Arts and Sciences junior, said. “I’m glad I did it once without knowing how awful it would be.” Savanna’s brother, Sheaffer, is a freshman tuba player for Punahou School, a college preparatory school near Honolulu and Obama’s alma mater. The band played at the 2009 inauguration and Obama has made several visits to play basketball at the school during his presidency. Sheaffer waited with his band and many others in a heated tent near the Capitol before the parade. Traeger’s sisters, Stefanie and Nicole, joined Sheaffer there. The parade began at the Capitol, but stalled on its way to the White House. The president and First Lady walked down Pennsylvania Avenue near the Old Post

!"#$!%&'()#*+!,'&!-.!5 | /0123#+!4'!5'6&!.78!6

completed her goal for the day. “It was cold but worth seeing,” Rafto said. “I successfully embarrassed my brother.” Traeger spotted her sister, Nicole, wielding her flag at the back row of the Jackson Memorial colorguard. White feathers blew across Jackson’s Cavalier style hats, while Nicole and Stefanie

D.C. to celebrate the inauguration. As a Hawaii native, Rafto attended a gala that recognized Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. “Hawaii is such an isolated place that a lot of the only politics that affect us the most are state races and presidential races, so

Student Savanna Rafto reads to pass the time.

PHOTOS: ANA SANTOS / THE EAGLE (ABOVE), JARED ANGLE / THE EAGLE (TOP), ALEJANDRO ALVAREZ / THE EAGLE (LEFT)

“He [Obama] knocked on the window and smiled right at me,” Zahn, a sophomore in Kogod School of Business said. Not far behind, Punahou made its appearance. In a row of seven tubas, one towered in the middle. Sheaffer tried to remain stoic while his sister called to him. He let slip a small smirk and a glance before placing his lips on the tuba to play the school fight song, “Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight.” Rafto, a freshman in Kogod,

marched in red and black tracksuits. After capturing some photos, the girls took what energy they had left and headed to G Street in search of warmth and a place to eat.

A NIGHT AT THE BALL

Rafto also attended the Presidential Pearl Inaugural Gala on Jan. 20 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, which was one of about 50 unofficial black tie events held in

there’s a big difference when you are actually in the same city as politicians and their actions directly influence you,” Rafto said. Rafto had no desire to be involved with politics before coming to AU, she said. However, she was excited for the inaugural events on Jan. 20 and Jan. 21 because Obama is an alumnus of her school, Rafto said. “It’s definitely been a big change just coming to AU because I’ve gotten so much more

involved in politics,” Rafto said. “I’ve become so much more open-minded and open to politics, and I guess I understand more about politics now that I’ve come here.”

SENATE INTERN GETS TICKET TO INAUGURATION

In the crowd of over 700,000 people gathered on the National Mall on Jan. 21 stood School of Public Affairs senior Seth Coppe to welcome Obama back for another four years in the Oval Office. “Four years ago, I had no political involvement and never would I have imagined that I would be there at the center of it all,” Coppe said. Now, he is an intern for Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W. Va., and part of the AU College Democrats. Coppe started his morning off on Jan. 21 by having breakfast with Manchin in his office and then took off to his front row seat in the ticket-only seated section at the Inauguration. While thousands poured into the Inauguration, Coppe did not just have a close-up view of the speakers and special guests, but he could also feel the enthusiasm of the crowd. As Coppe went from watching the Inauguration on his television screen to in person, what stood out to him the most was the possibility of political unity when he saw Sen. Lamar Alexander’s, R-Tenn., speech that set aside partisan differences. “I saw such enthusiasm,” Coppe said. “You know people were just so happy to be there, because more than likely these people worked really hard to get the president elected. You know this was their celebration so it wasn’t just his celebration, but theirs also.” NEWS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM


4 | JANUARY 24, 2013 NEWS theEAGLE

Sarah’s back:

Out of office but still in the spotlight By LEIGH GIANGRECO EAGLE STAFF WRITER

Sarah McBride is returning to AU after a seven-month gap period. She interned at the Victory Fund Institute, which helps elect LGBT leaders, worked at the White House Office of Public Engagement and even met Vice President Joe Biden. But the biggest change for Sarah on her resume is at the very top, which before last spring read “Tim McBride.” In an op-ed published in The Eagle in May, McBride announced that she had been struggling with her gender identity throughout her life. She came out to her parents, who at first felt like they were losing their kid. “You’re not losing Tim, you’re keeping Tim and gaining Sarah,”

centrate more in her classes this semester, which include “Women in Political Leadership” taught by Professor Jennifer Lawless and “Introduction to Queer Studies.” “For the first time in my life, my mind’s at ease,” McBride said. “I’m so much more productive now, more focused than before.” Before transitioning, McBride said she thought every hour about her life as a girl. Her internal battle finally came to a head during her tenure as SG president. Tim was discussing the possibility of gender-neutral housing with Assistant Vice President of Housing and Dining Chris Moody, when Moody asked what Tim’s stake was in the issue. “I gave him an answer that was true, but it was only half-

as a role model for other trans people. Rather, she admires her family and friends at AU who supported her. “If America were a little more like American, I feel like people would be a lot more comfortable coming out and it would be a much better world,” McBride said. Leaving the AU bubble one day will also mean facing less progressive social circles and encountering more sexism. In her time away from AU, Sarah has already experienced some. “There are things we don’t even realize that we do that are so disempowering toward women,” McBride said.

“It is an unfortunately privileged thing to say that I was able to come out, relatively drama-free. That shouldn’t be a privilege, it should be a right for all.” -Sarah McBride she told her mom. “My personality is the same, I have the same interests, I just look a little different and I’m happier.” McBride’s gaze still has the same intense focus and exuberance it did as Student Government president, only now it is framed by silver and creamcolored eye shadow. Sitting in a pair of skinny jeans and caramel riding boots in an SG office, she’s settling back into her element. “I’m just excited to be a student again and dive into my classes in a way that I wasn’t able to last semester. I’m excited to finally be me and be here,” McBride said. McBride is now leading from behind as a senator, a lesson she learned at the White House. With the stress of the SG presidency and coming out gone, McBride said she’ll be able to con-

true,” McBride said. “My heart was sinking because I knew that answer was so incomplete and that incompleteness reflected my incompleteness.” Some trans people have friended McBride on Facebook and confided in her that they have not confessed their identity to spouses or children. “Their only avenue of being who they are is this pictureless Facebook,” McBride said. McBride received strong support from the AU community following her coming out, which she credits in part to her position as SG president. “It is an unfortunately privileged thing to say that I was able to come out, relatively dramafree. That shouldn’t be a privilege, it should be a right for all.” McBride doesn’t see herself

“Things that we classify as compliments that infringe on our most basic right, which is our free space. Those types of things that I never thought about because I was shielded [by] my male privilege.” There are also bureaucratic barriers for trans students. While McBride changed her student ID at AU, she was only able to do so through AU Central because she had already changed it legally in Delaware. “Right now the process is you just have to ask them to change your name and you’re at the whim of the registrar,” McBride said. “We have a friendly registrar now, but we need to institutionalize that in the event that we don’t have someone who’s friendly.”

JARED ANGLE / THE EAGLE


theEAGLE NEWS JANUARY 24, 2013 | 5

New semester brings challenges for SG By KIERSTYN SCHNECK EAGLE STAFF WRITER

As the spring semester begins, Student Government faces a host of new issues. The constitutional reform referendum was officially passed on Jan. 20 by the Senate, Speaker Joe Wisniewski unexpectedly resigned and the organization’s website crashed over break.

REFERENDUM TO BE PUT TO A VOTE

The proposed constitutional reform shifts SG’s focus from governing to advocacy under the new banner of Student Association, according to Class of 2016 Sen. Glenn Holmes. SG will no longer have the Judicial Board or Board of Elections if the student body votes in favor of the referendum. The student vote will take place between Feb. 5 and 6, and a two-

thirds vote in favor of the referendum is needed to pass the referendum, according to the new SG Speaker Alex Iannacio. The Senate voted in favor of holding reform referendum this semester, 16 to 1. “The new [proposed] organization isn’t designed to be a government because we don’t need a government,” Holmes, who also acted as speaker during the referendum vote, said. “We need an organization that provides advocacy and programming, and that’s what the Student Association will provide.” Alex Hoffman, class of 2015 senator for the campus at large, was the only senator to vote against the referendum. Hoffman believes the reform became a pet project for the senior SG members, he said. A small committee of SG members wrote the referen-

BIGLE SA

33%* OFF

dum, Hoffman said. “They decided they were going to do this [pet project] in a back room, behind closed doors, make it all political and turn it into, basically, their own project,” Hoffman said. “When really, in my opinion, it should have been made public.”

SG SPEAKER RESIGNS

Wisniewski resigned as speaker of the Undergraduate Senate on Jan. 4 because he is working to start a non-profit organization called Generation Next, he said. The organization seeks to increase colleges’ political activism on a national level called, Wisniewski said. “It was getting to the point where there was no way I could possibly give the speakership the time it deserves,” Wisniewski, who is also the Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner representing the Berkshire and Avalon apartments and the Greenbriar Condominiums. “So really, it was a matter of me trying to make sure

I could balance everything and I knew someone else could do a better job than me.” Former Effective Chief of Staff Alex Iannacio was nominated and voted in as the new SG speaker on Jan. 20. According to Iannacio, it was a very close election for the position. He was voted in as speaker by an 8-7 vote.

SG’S WEBSITE CRASHES

The server hosting the SG website crashed on Dec. 19 and will be inaccessible until Jan. 26, Almas Kebekbayev, SG’s information technology director, said by email. With the website crash, the abrupt change in speaker and the constitutional reform still awaiting the student body vote, Wisniewski believes SG needs to rebrand itself this semester. “Overall, what we’re hoping to do is to truly use this moment to be an actual fresh start,” Wisniewski said.

theEAGLE is looking for - web assistants - design assistants contact editor@theeagleonline.com

NEWS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

THOUSANDS OF USED BOOKS ON SALE NOW

$300 MILLION

SAVED & COUNTING

NATIONWIDE

SAVE UP TO 60% COMPARED TO NEW PRINT

AU CAMPUS STORE | Butler Pavilion 4/C

WWW.AMERICAN.BKSTR.COM | Black & White

/AUCampusStore

For Black background, there is a white border around it.

*Discount taken at register. Select titles only. Savings based on total North American textbook rental savings vs new book price. Individual store savings vary by location. See store for details.


6 | JANUARY 24, 2013 NEWS theEAGLE

New public health major only requires three years to graduate Program because of the time gained by completing her undergraduate degree in three years. After graduating, she plans to pursue other goals before applying to medical school. “The three-year aspect at-

junior in the School of Public Affairs, who serves as the program assistant for the current AU introduced the Public freshman class. Health Scholars Program, a “The University has made a new bachelor’s degree major, plan that we are going to have this year for the College of a three-year program in each Arts and Sciences. The school,” Brincka said. “Last program is the latest exyear, global scholars was pansion of the three-year the [School of International major offerings by the Service] three-year proUniversity. gram. This year, it was the The program aims to public health for the CAS, allow students to comnext year there is goThe program had a rough start in and plete the coursework ing to be a government and the beginning public policy program for of the four-year undergraduate program in the [School of Public Afthree years and still have fairs].” the opportunity to study The heads of the proabroad, according to Magram could not be reached hali Schenkelberg, a CAS for comment. freshman in the Public “The program had a Health Scholars Program rough start in the beginthis year. ning,” Brincka said, citing “Public health is a student confusion over exvery broad major regardpectations for the material ing the overall health of the tracted my interest because I covered in the program. population instead of just the want to go to medical school,” “I anticipate some minor rehealth of an individual,” Schen- Schenkelberg said. visions and general changes kelberg said. The program admitted 15 amending and continuing to imSchenkelberg was attracted students for its first year, ac- prove the program next year.” to the Public Health Scholars cording to Emily Brincka, a NEWS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM By DAVID LIM

EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

” -Emily Brincka, program assistant for the Public Health Scholars Program

Alumni discuss politics at inauguration party By AMBER COHEN EAGLE STAFF WRITER

An inauguration celebration brought alumni, faculty and students to the Katzen Art Center on Jan. 19 in an event hosted by the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, the Office of Student Activities and the University Librar y. A keynote panel called “Gridlock on the Hill: How Congress Will Work with the President,” moderated by School of Public Affairs distinguished professor Jim Thurber, featured AU President Neil Ker win and former

congresswoman and ambassador Connie Morella discussed how President Barack Obama will work with Congress in his second term. Three panels, featuring alumni, were titled “The Future of Obamacare,” “The Challenge of Tax Reform” and “The Future of Foreign Policy,” according to the AU Alumni website. An estimated 200 people attended the event, according to Director of Alumni Programs Tara Lang. The event hosted five panels focusing on Obama’s first term

and expectations for his second term. A student-led panel, run by ATV, featured speakers from College Republicans, College Democrats and Student Government. The celebration ended around 7 p.m. with a cocktail reception, according to the alumni website. “We were thrilled with the event overall,” Lang said in an email. “The panel topics were compelling, and our moderators and panelists were true experts in their fields.” ACOHEN@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

LETTER GRADE

BEFORE FALL 2012

A AB+ B BC+ C CD F

4.0 3.7 3.3 3.0 2.7 2.3 2.0 1.7 1.0 0

AS OF FALL 2012

4.0O 3.67 3.33 3.00 2.67 2.33 2.00 1.67 1.00 0.00

This chart shows the difference in how GPA is calcuated after revisions to the AU undergraduate regulations.

New GPA system changes student grades By DEVIN MITCHELL EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Grades earned in A/F classes that are “pluses” and “minuses” will now be factored into grade-point average calculations differently, according to the Office of the Registrar. AU first implemented the change in the fall 2012 semester. Grade point equivalents of letter grades will now include two digits after the decimal, whereas since 1978, they had included just one. For example, an A- goes from being the equivalent of a 3.7 to that of a 3.67 and a B- changes from a 3.3 to a 3.33. The GPA change was one of the revisions to academic regulations that the Faculty Senate discussed during the 2010-11 and 2011-12 academic years and put into place last fall. “The objective for rewriting the academic regulations was to streamline processes, clari-

fy expectations, and raise academic standards for students at AU,” Interim Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies Virginia Stallings said in an email. Other changes include limiting the number of pass/ fail classes students may take each semester to one and mandating registration stops be put on students who do not satisfy the College Writing and University Math requirements in the first 30 credits they accumulate. Students have not taken issue with the changes, Stallings said, citing the grandfather policies allowing grades earned before last semester to be calculated under the old system. “Most of them relate to the grandfather policies,” Stallings said. “The new regulations are much more clear and easy for students to understand.” NEWS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM


theEAGLE NEWS JANUARY 24, 2013 | 7 FOR RELEASE JANUARY 22, 2013

Eagle Rants

Go ahead, speak your mind. We’ll probably print it.

I’m so lonely I buy chocolates that say nice things to me inside the wrapper so that I feel like someone cares.

donate to the university, I’d insist on a new building with the sole purpose of housing the phonathon.And it would have windows.

If I had $3 million dollars to

WirelessSetupAU? Serious-

ly? American University truly is like America. When something is broken, we change its name. Screw greek life, I’m rushing Tau Delta Rho (TDR)

!"#$%&'()*(%+#$,% -.) )

/0012'"34,)

564,%(7)8'%$)

!"#$%"&$'%!"#$%())% *(&+%,-./%0-1,% ɩŞɭ

Š ř ř ɭ ř Ş ɫ ř Ŝ ɒ ś ŵ Ŝ Ŝ

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

ACROSS 1 Manila envelope feature 6 Baseball SS’s stats 9 Web money 14 Old Turkish bigwig 15 Dwarf with glasses 16 2009 Panasonic acquisition 17 “Something to Talk About” singer Bonnie 18 *Coffee drinker’s complaint 20 Poet’s before 22 Contest for lumberjacks 23 Nova __ 26 *Direct path 30 *Rowboat attachments 33 Key of Mozart’s Requiem Mass 34 Juneau-toKetchikan dir. 35 Some sorority women 37 D.C. baseball team 38 Frittata base 40 Convent dweller 41 Painted Desert formation 42 Controversial apple spray 43 Mexican state bordering Arizona 45 “Reading Rainbow” network 47 Country with six time zones 49 *Flaw in a fence 51 *Quarter 53 Kitchen gadget 54 Volleyball venue 56 Street shader 57 *“The Golden Girls” co-star 61 Crème de la crème 65 Big name in bars 66 “Do __ favor ...” 67 Lucky roll, usually 68 Teacher’s group 69 Like a single shoe 70 Flair DOWN 1 EMT’s skill 2 Anaheim team, on scoreboards 3 “Take me __ am”

1/22/13

By Jeff Stillman

4 “Fiddler on the Roof” village 5 Hale and Revere, notably 6 EPA-banned pesticide 7 Not up to snuff 8 Shaggy’s dog, to Shaggy 9 Regard 10 “Sweet” woman in a Neil Diamond title 11 Yucatán year 12 Thesaurus entry: Abbr. 13 Sty dweller 19 Winter transports 21 Individually 23 Urgent call at sea 24 Source of legal precedents 25 Tomato sauce herb 27 Up the creek 28 Distinguished 29 Stalling-for-time syllables 31 Numbers game with 80 balls 32 Was so not worth seeing, as a movie 36 Like many quotes: Abbr. 39 Safety rods in shower stalls

Monday’s Puzzle Solved SOLUTION TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE

(c)2013 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

41 Without a partner 42 Comic’s routine 43 Occupied, as a desk 44 Harry Potter costume 46 Sun. delivery 48 Country music star __ Bentley 50 Speaker of the first syllables of the answers to starred clues

1/22/13

52 Chowderhead 55 Shaded 57 Secretly keep in the email loop, briefly 58 Pipe bend 59 Battery type 60 “Far out!” 62 Columbia, for one 63 Bus. card letters 64 Acetyl ending

SOLUTION TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE


SCENE

MOVIES TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2013

WARM BODIES FEB. 1

Although the words “based on a young adult novel” have now become an automatic turn-off to many a filmgoer, “Warm Bodies” appears to be a funny, heartwarming riff on the popularity of both zombie movies and angsty teen romance. Starring British up-and-comer Nicholas Hoult (“Skins”) and quirky veterans like the illustrious John Malkovich (“Secretariat”), “Warm Bodies” has the most potential to be a sleeper hit in the chilly February movie season.

MAN OF STEEL JUNE 14

Whatever qualms you may have about Zack Snyder’s direction, you can’t deny that “Man of Steel” looks like it will be loads better than the messy “Superman Returns.” Superman gets yet another origin story in this Snyderdirected, Christopher Nolan-produced blockbuster. The film seems to be reaching for a darker take on the big blue boy scout, featuring him wrestling with his outsider status. Played by the fairly untested British hunk Henry Cavill (“The Immortals”), Superman may finally be getting a makeover for this new generation. Also, he has a beard.

By HOAI-TRAN BUI EAGLE STAFF WRITE

WITH JANUARY COMING TO A CLOSE AND OSCAR SEASON NEARING THE FINISH LINE, IT’S TIME TO BUST OUT THE MOVIE LISTS FOR MOST ANTICIPATED MOVIES OF 2013.

ELYSIUM AUG. 9 Fans of the stunning sci-fi film “District 9” have been

eagerly awaiting director Neill Blomkamp’s followup film, “Elysium.” Starring Matt Damon (“Promised Land”), Jodie Foster (“Carnage”) and Sharlto Copley (“The A-Team”), “Elysium” is set in the distant future where the wealthy live in man-made space stations and the poor live in a ravaged and polluted Earth. The film, like Blomkamp’s previous film, takes on political themes, as a man (Damon) attempts to bring equality to both worlds.

THE GREAT GATSBY MAY 10

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING JUNE 7

Baz Luhrmann’s glitzy take on the literary classic was probably one of the most eagerly anticipated films of 2012. Now it’s one of the most eagerly anticipated films of 2013. “The Great Gatsby,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio (“Django Unchained”), Carey Mulligan (“Drive”) and Tobey Maguire (“Brothers”), had its release date pushed back from Christmas 2012 to May 2013. Regardless of studio conflicts, the film’s flamboyant style or the fact that it’s being released in 3D, “The Great Gatsby” is probably one of the most exciting releases this year.

Two words: Joss Whedon. The always underappreciated geek god and film director Whedon had a stunning year in 2012, with his film “The Avengers” grossing over $1 billion and his cult horror film “The Cabin in the Woods” gaining critical acclaim. Now he can indulge in his pet project “Much Ado About Nothing,” a modernday adaptation of the Shakespeare play filmed in black and white in merely 12 days at Whedon’s house in Santa Monica, Calif. The film premiered at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival, but finally gets its wide release in June.


FROZEN NOV. 29 Disney Animations has returned to form after the critical and commercial success of “Tangled” and the surprise hit “Wreck-It-Ralph.” Now they’re giving their take on the Hans Christian fairy tale “The Snow Queen,” the story of a young girl’s attempt to rescue an enchanted boy from the clutches of the malevolent Snow Queen. Disney’s reinterpretation includes a girl named Anna (Kristen Bell, “Scream 4”) as she tries to find the Snow Queen to rescue her kingdom from a perpetual winter. Not much has been released of this film. But if it follows the steps of the charming “Tangled,” it could be one of the best animated films of the year.

ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND CONTINUES DEC. 20 The cult comedy “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” has proved to be so successful and universally loved that this sequel is being released nine years later. Comedy sequels are always hit or miss, but the comedic genius of writer and star Will Ferrell (“The Campaign”) should hopefully break that stigma. Count on many more classic witticisms and humor courtesy of San PHOTOS (CLOCKWISE, STARTING TOP LEFT) COURTESY OF: JONATHAN WENK, CLAY ENOS, WALT DISNEY ANIMATIONS, ANCHORMAN, LIONSGATE, WARNER BROS PICTURES, SONY PICTURES

AU theater groups prepare for new season By DAVID KAHEN-KASHI EAGLE STAFF WRITER

It’s the beginning of a new semester, which means AU’s theater troupes have started gearing up for a busy season of plays, musicals and melodramas that will keep theater enthusiasts busy throughout the year. The AU Players, the dramatic society of student actors, will be staging conventional and modern plays ranging from Pulitzer Prize winners Edward Albee and Hunter Bell to new works by AU students. Premiering on Feb. 7, the first show is a one-act called “Zoo Story” by Albee, about two men who meet in New York’s

Central Park one dreary night. Following the series of plays will be an original work by Erin Hannigan called “Everybody Does It.” Rounding out the season will be “[Title of Show],” a musical by Bell with music by Jeff Bowen. This show is a madcap scenario about two friends who have to conceive of a play in time to submit it to a large festival while facing the usual pratfalls of creative types like writer’s block and entanglements with friends. The Shakespearean theater troupe AU Rude Mechanicals will be performing Shakespeare’s famous romantic comedy “A Midsummer Nights Dream” for its first produc-

tion of the season. Premiering March 21-23, this iteration of the play will be transported from the original setting of mystical forests populated with fairies to the Middle East and East Asia. “This production utilizes the opulent vision of art nouveau and Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Moulin Rouge’ with Bollywood dance style and traditional Indian dress,” said Jonelle Walker, executive director of the AU Rude Mechanicals and a College of Arts and Sciences senior. Later in the semester, the Mechanicals will also premiere Shakespeare’s most gratifyingly humorous comedy “The Taming of the

You need a class to graduate on time. Chances are we have it. Graduate from your own school with courses from ours. Learn how at

phoenix.edu/graduate

Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm whether or not credits earned at University of Phoenix will be accepted by another institution of the student’s choice. University of Phoenix is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association (ncahlc.org). College credit granted by University of Phoenix. For information about University of Phoenix accreditations and licensures, please visit our website. While widely available, not all courses and programs are available in all locations or in both online and on-campus formats. Please check with a University Enrollment Advisor. © 2013 University of Phoenix, Inc. All rights reserved. | CONED-01963


10 | JANUARY 24, 2013 SCENE theEAGLE

TOP TV PICKS FOR 2013 Having trouble finding what to watch during your downtime between classes? Let the Scene staff guide you in picking some of the most titillating shows currently on TV and the Web and give you the scoop on the seasons that are coming soon.

Duck Dynasty

A&E, 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays Currently on hiatus until March, A&E’s reality series “Duck Dynasty” is one of TV’s best ways to waste an afternoon. “Duck Dynasty” follows the adventures of the Robertsons, owners of the multimillion dollar Duck Commander duck call and hunting gear business. The show chronicles the family famous for their long beards and “redneck” antics, as they fight and work with each other. Much like “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo,” “Duck Dynasty” seems to be about laughing at the Robertsons, but quickly turns into laughing with them. By the time the episode ends with a big family dinner, you’re wishing you were part of the family, too. -SEAN MEEHAN

Girls

Game of Thrones

Writer, director, producer and actress Lena Dunham (“Tiny Furniture”) is a force to be reckoned with. The HBO series, which has already scooped up two Golden Globes and an Emmy, takes a look at four girls living their notso-dream life in Brooklyn. The show has been a bit polarizing due to its serious lack of diversity and the fact that its core cast is made up of the children of famous people (Dunham is the daughter of famous artists Carroll Dunham and Laurie Simmons). And yet, it finds a way to be relatable and entertain the viewer. Dunham shines as a young girl with a refreshingly odd sense of humor. She might not be the voice of this generation, but she certainly has a voice.

After nearly nine months off the air, “Game of Thrones” returns to televisions this March. Season 3 of the epic fantasy series, based on the first half of George R.R. Martin’s masterful book, “A Storm of Swords,” is sure to be the most shocking and glorious season of “Game of Thrones” yet. Along with old favorites, we see a whole cast of new characters, such as the infamous wildling king Mance Rayder (Ciaran Hinds) and the leader of the Brotherhood Without Banners Beric Dondarrion (Richard Dormer). But don’t worry about the cast getting too overloaded. Considering the show’s tendency toward death and violence, most of them probably won’t last through the season finale.

9 p.m. on Sundays on HBO

-YOHANA DESTA

COURTESY OF HBO

Premieres March 31 at 10 p.m. on HBO.

COURTESY OF THEMOSTPOPULARGIRL

The Most Popular Girls In School YouTube channel TheMostPopularGirls.

“The Most Popular Girls In School” is a miniseries on YouTube that’s so ridiculously funny, it’s become an online sensation. Each episode is about 10-15 minutes long, with season 2 currently in preproduction. In this stop-motion series, creators Carlo Moss and Mark Cope create a teen drama where the main characters are all played by different Barbie dolls. The series follows new student Deandra as she is caught in the middle of a never-ending dispute between the elite Van Buren sisters and the most popular cheerleaders at Overland Park High School. It’s the shock of seeing animated childhood dolls spewing obscenities that’s made this web series so popular. -SYDNEY GORE

-HOAI-TRAN BUI

COURTESY OF HBO

Rude Mechanicals, AU Players Pop icons release comeback select spring season’s shows singles within same week ≤ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

politics between men and women. It is a stunningly fast-paced play in terms of verbiage and movement. “Seth Rose is taking Shakespeare’s famously politically incorrect play and turning it on its head,” Walker said of Rose, the show’s director and a senior in the School of Communication. “For this production, the tumultuous relationship between hard-

headed Katherina and arrogant Petruchio is an even-handed battle of the wits—a recovery of the brilliant repartee of the leads, important in this fraught period in gender equality.” With the vast amount of interesting projects these troupes are taking on, this season’s productions are turning out to be fairly promising, with a great amount of entertainment and escapism to enjoy throughout the year. DKAHENKASHI@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

By SEAN MEEHAN EAGLE STAFF WRITER

Pop is so much more than a genre of music. It’s a measure of the times and, whether we like it or not, it’s the soundtrack of our lives. Pop music, arguably more than anything else, reflects the thoughts, tastes and realities of our time. Pop life is about embracing this music, good and bad, and discovering what it means to be alive right now.

January is usually a pretty dark month for music. The flood of albums released in time for Christmas tends to result in a drought the following month, and this year is no different: the albums topping the charts this month include the sterile Christian rock of Chris Tomlin and the dreadful masked rap-rock group Hollywood Undead’s latest album. However, the second week in January proved to be a some-

COURTESY OF BET

The Real Husbands of Hollywood Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on BET

Watching Kevin Hart (“Think like a Man”) act can be exhausting merely because he can speak with such a sustained burst of scatological phrases. But is acting style is never tiring in the show “The Real Husbands of Hollywood,” which also stars J.B. Smoove (“We Bought a Zoo”), Robin Thicke (“Growing Pains” actor Alan Thicke’s son), Nick Cannon (“Drumline”), Boris Kodjoe (“Resident Evil” series) and Duane Martin (“Any Given Sunday”) as they squabble and riff off of each other. Hart’s success is due to his effervescent brand of self-deprecating humor and constant digressions about his Napoleon complex. The first episode that aired was consistently enjoyable and shows promise. -DAVID KAHEN-KASHI

what unexpected oasis, with three legendary artists — David Bowie, Destiny’s Child and Justin Timberlake — releasing new singles, previewing three of the most highly-anticipated albums of the year. Although comeback songs were expected from Destiny’s Child and Timberlake, the string of throwbacks started with a surprise release by Bowie on Jan. 8. The single “Where Are We Now” comes off of his new album “The Next Day,” which was kept totally secret until Jan. 8. The song isn’t the

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11 ≥


theEAGLE SCENE JANUARY 24, 2013 | 11

AUDIOPHILE

Looking for new music? DJs at WVAU share their thoughts on a range of recent releases.

TORO Y MOI ANYTHING IN RETURN Chaz Bundick is back and ready to party.

Chaz Bundick, who performs under the stage name “Toro Y Moi,” covers all the types of vibes you would want to hear at a party in his newest album, “Anything in Return.” There are also some nice chill wave tracks — which is what Toro Y Moi is known for — like “Touch” and

YO LA TENGO

FADE (MATADOR) It’s all in the details.

With their newest release, Yo La Tengo explores a musical style that takes them far away from their normal sound. As opposed to their comparatively up-tempo albums, there is a pronounced presence of at-

“High Living.” There are some great pop tracks, like his singles “Say That” and “So Many Details,” but Bundick spreads his horizons with some really solid dance tracks like “Cake” and “Never Matter.” Vocally, this is some of the best work that Bundick has released. This album is mospheric accompaniment and mellow vocalization on “Fade.” While this subdued trait is done well on most of the album, there are times where it is overdone, like on “Well You Better” where the vocals are mixed uncomfortably low, leading to a muddled effect. Outside of these rare instances, the low-key vocalization allows for the detail in the instrumentation to come forward. Horns and high end percussion weave together on tracks like

A$AP ROCKY

LONGLIVEA$AP (RCA) The iconoclastic New York swag The opening pair of title track rapper’s major label debut mixes and “Goldie” combine extremely brains with the cheapest of thrills. infectious, bombastic beats with While “LongLiveA$AP” isn’t as consistent as “LiveLoveA$AP,” the 2011 mixtape that introduced the narcissistic talent of A$AP Rocky to the music-consuming public (and earned him the major label deal), it still boasts its share of standout bangers.

Rocky’s signature, easy-riding flow. Later, as Rocky begins to sound same-y, a staggering number of guests come in to help him out, including Schoolboy Q (“PMW”), Santigold (“Hell”), Kendrick Lamar and Drake (“Thank Me Later”), Skrillex

much more confident, lyrically centered and just easier to sing along to than his earlier work. Musically, this album is beatdriven and bass-heavy, creating a foundation for Bundick to go off of but then return back to, instead of drifting around freely. The pop-driven track-ins in “Anything In Return” makes it the most accessible album Toro Y Moi has released to date. Recommended If You Like: Washed Out, Small Black, Neon Indian By DREW SHER FUR SHER, SATURDAYS 4-6 P.M.

opener “Ohm” and “Cornelia and Jane” that complement the emotive lyrics. Subtle growth is seen on tracks like “Is That Enough” that is easily overlooked. As a whole, “Fade” shows another side to this eclectic group and displays their ability to create subtle yet intricate detail. RIYL: Sparklehorse, Pavement, Spiritualized By LEIGH HOPKINS AMBIENT BLOOM, WEDNESDAYS MIDNIGHT-2 A.M.

(”Wild for the Night”), and a horde of the game’s hottest young MCs on the mighty posse cut “1 Train.” The album closes with another strong pair of tracks, the Danger Mouse-produced “Phoenix” and the soulful “Suddenly,” on which Rocky introduces levels of personality and sensitivity hinting at new directions for the victory-lapping rapper. RIYL: Kanye West, Schoolboy Q, Kendrick Lamar, Joey Bada$$, Skrillex By JESSE PALLER DESOLATION ROW, THURSDAYS 10 P.M. - MIDNIGHT

New pop tracks from Destiny’s Child, Justin Timberlake, David Bowie ≤ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

kind of decadent catchy single for which Bowie is best known but instead a melancholy dreamscape on top of which Bowie reminisces about Berlin, the location of his greatest period of creative achievement. “Where Are We Now” features Bowie at his most vulnerable, a “man lost in time,” yearning for the magic of a lost time. In typical Bowie fashion, however, the song ends on a hopeful note, with Bowie ending with “As long as there’s me / as long as there’s you,” hinting at the potential to regain whatever’s lost. Although the song returns to Berlin in subject matter, it unfortunately doesn’t include the intricate soundscapes that characterized Bowie’s time in Berlin in the 70s, featuring instead a slow, ambient, simple quilt of synth, strings, guitar and plotting drums. The music fits the introspective and dreamlike qualities of the lyrics, but admittedly doesn’t have the same excitement of Bowie’s classic Berlin singles like “Heroes” or “Sound and Vision.” Bowie’s surprise release did nothing, however, to overshadow the much more hyped and anticipated new tracks released later in the week. Destiny’s Child struck first, releasing “Nuclear” on the Jan. 11, the first new song the group has released since 2005. Understandably, expectations for this single were very high. Unfortunately, the single didn’t live up to the expectations. The song is much more restrained than the group’s past hits: what used to be a collision of three extremely powerful voices is in “Nuclear” more of

a traditional harmony. The harmonies are beautiful, but they don’t have the element of power that characterized so many of Destiny’s Child’s best hits. Part of the blame for the song’s lackluster feel rests on producer Pharrell Williams, whose busy beat didn’t leave enough room for Beyoncé, Kelly and Michelle to shine and made the song very difficult to dance to. Dancers disappointed by “Nuclear” got some relief on Jan. 14 when Timberlake released “Suit and Tie,” the lead single off his first album since his 2006 masterpiece “FutureSex/LoveSounds.” Although firmly below the ver y high bar set by “FutureSex,” “Suit and Tie” does above all else show that JT still has the voice that made him famous. His smooth falsetto throughout “Suit and Tie” borrows heavily from the Robin Thicke school of seduction, but doesn’t leave room for the kind of pop inventiveness that made “FutureSex” so good. Instead, “Suit and Tie” sounds like a more straightforward R&B song, backed by a classic, if somewhat restrained, Timbaland beat. Jay-Z’s verse breathes life into the song by acting as a counter to JT’s “everything is perfect” seduction, offering a glimpse behind the high-society facade with lines like “Years of distress, tears on the dress / Try to hide her face with some makeup sex.” Although “Suit and Tie” will likely not end up in the pantheon of great JT hits, it shows that he still has the raw talent to make his upcoming release “The 20/20 Experience” one of 2013’s best albums. SMEEHAN@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM


OPINION STAFF EDITORIAL If your GPA was lower than expected last semester, there is a reason for it. AU just neglected to tell us. As of last semester, the way our grade point average is calculated for grades with “pluses” or “minuses” has changed. They will now include two digits after the decimal, making the grading system more precise than before. An A- now correlates to a 3.67 instead of a 3.7, and so on. This change is one of the many new regulations aimed to raise AU’s academic standards, according to the Faculty Senate.

AU fails to communicate GPA changes By being more specific about the worth of each letter grade, an A- will be harder to get, and this will create a more competitive environment for awards such as the Dean’s List. S t u d e n t s want AU to be a more prestigious school. We want our diplomas to mean something more than spending four years in the college bubble. However, because AU did not inform students about the new GPA system, the change cre-

ated confusion for many when grades came out a month ago. Although the grades calcu-

cations, merit scholarships and other opportunities that may have GPA requirements. It was unfair for AU to do this without any communication. In the long run, this system may more accurately reflect each student’s grade. But it is still unclear exactly how a .03 difference in GPA will make our school more prestigious. This is not the first time AU faculty has failed to communicate to the students, and this time the lack of communication hurts students more than it strengthens AU’s prestige.≠ E

We are only one of the many journalism organizations moving towards more online publishing. From Newsweek to The Times-Picayune in New Orleans, journalists are cutting their print product entirely or in part. Across the country, more college newspapers are relying on student activity fees (53 percent, according to a study in the College Media Review by Florida International University’s Lillian Kopenhaver), and only 7 percent of college newspapers, ourselves included, rely solely on advertising revenue. Now, we will look to diversify our revenue so we can continue to be a strong force for investigative journalism and breaking news that this campus deserves. We’ll be requesting to join the Student Media Board, an organization that allots 14 percent of your student activity fees to all of the student media outlets on campus. We’ll also continue our fundraising drive to create an endow-

ment through the University. So far, the hard work of our Board of Directors has raised over $11,000, well on our way to our $50,000 goal. Once that goal is reached, The Eagle will have secured another steady source of revenue that student journalists can rely on for years to come for technological innovation. The Eagle is going to begin focusing on using multiple platforms, including desktop, mobile, social and, at least for this semester, print. We have the extraordinary opportunity to be both students and journalists, and we aim to turn The Eagle into a learning laboratory for digital journalism so we graduate with the skills we, and the journalism industry, so desperately need to continue to bring the news of the day straight to you. Change in journalism does not mean its end. We’re just getting started.

This could affect interviews, applications, merit scholarships and other opportunities that may have GPA requirements. lated prior to this change will not be affected, it did alter the GPA calculation for last semester. Students needed warning of the change to avoid being caught off guard in an interview

THE NEXT CHAPTER ZACH C. COHEN | FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK We’ve all seen the headlines. Cutbacks at newspapers and TV stations. Magazines going digital only. Daily newspapers reduced to weeklies and shifting their focus to digital journalism, where audiences are growing. It should come as no surprise that The Eagle, AU’s oldest student publication, which for so long has thrived on its own revenue and profits, is susceptible to all the same pressures. In the fall of 2013, it is possible that The Eagle will no longer appear in print. Following many years of declining ad sales, the increase in free advertising options elsewhere and the crunch on small businesses in the recession, printing The Eagle every week has become a burdensome cost, leaving our writers to increas-

for a job or internship when their transcript did not match their self-calculated GPA. Juniors and seniors face the worse consequences. They have been operating under the old system for three or four years now. Suppose someone got a 3.7 for their entire career at AU and then suddenly it drops without warning, even if they received the same grades as previous semesters. This could affect interviews, appli-

ingly work with fewer resources. Eventually, a large reserve of profit was depleted. We cut production from twice a week to weekly in 2009, accompanied with major budget cuts and financial advisement from Student Activities. In the past two years, our business manager was an employee of Student Activities, charged with making The Eagle profitable. As we move forward with more focus on digital journalism, the future of The Eagle in print is unclear. If it does disappear, this does not mean The Eagle is abandoning print forever. We may be able to raise the money necessary to bring back a print edition in a different form, perhaps once a month or even weekly again. No matter what, editorial in-

dependence is still safe. The Eagle staff has the final decision whether or not to publish the news you see every day. The future is bright. Over this semester, The Eagle will be boosting its online presence both on our newly redesigned website and on social media. We’ll be improving our work in video and continue to bring the news to you as it happens on live-blogs, Twitter and Facebook. Rather than you going to the news racks to pick up a copy of the paper, you’ll get more of the news from your laptop, tablet and smartphone. This transition will serve you, the reader, and make it easier for you to connect to your campus. There is such tremendous space for growth online, and the possibilities are endless.

EDPAGE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

EDITOR@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM


theEAGLE OPINION JANUARY 24, 2013 | 13

Is Gov. Chris Christie too fat to be president? RYAN MIGEED | THIS SIDE OF RIGHT The American people have just finally exhaled after enduring a long and tiring presidential campaign, and already the talk has turned to 2016. (“Talk” here meaning the blathering of TV’s “talking heads.”) In my first “PR Presidency” class, we addressed this talk with a talk of our own. First, we talked about the many names rumored to be 2016 contenders, and then about just one of those names: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. My professor gingerly brought up the subject of Christie’s girth and then, as politely as possible, asked us, “Is Chris Christie too…fat…to be president?” But, forgive me, this is my maiden editorial column in The Eagle, and I have neglected to introduce myself. My name is Ryan Migeed, I am a sophomore and I do not believe that Christie is too fat to be presi-

dent. The problem with the “Christie is too fat” arguments is that they are all preconceived. He

tirely possible. (Granted, that bill of health would include a scribbled note from the doctor saying, “Lose weight,” but let’s

one. His opponents won’t bring it up out of courtesy, and only reporters and town hall-goers will dare to broach the subject. To be sure, Christie will be asked about his weight. But if he has a ready-made answer that displays enough humor (without getting angry at the premise of the question or the questioner’s right to ask it), he can effectively turn his weight into a non-issue.

I argue that Christie can be a contender - and quite possibly win - without ever dropping a pound from now until Election Day.

and his team of savvy politicos can anticipate any claim and prepare for it. “Heart disease” is countered with “no history in the family.” “High blood pressure” is refuted with “What presidential candidate doesn’t have high blood pressure in such a fast-paced campaign?” And the surest answer to any query is a clean bill of health from his doctor, which is en-

ignore that for a moment.) The kicker, of course, would be an exercise regimen, and many argue that if Christie starts to lose weight, he is definitely running in 2016. But I argue that Christie can be a contender - and quite possibly win - without ever dropping a pound from now until Election Day 2016. His weight will be an issue, but only a subconscious

American University’s student voice since 1925

theEAGLE

Remember Ronald Reagan’s famous 1984 one-liner? When asked a question about his age -- he would become the oldest president elected -- Reagan coolly responded, “I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.” If Christie can have a similar “Reagan moment” (and he can), he will beat the “Christie is too fat” ar-

editor@theeagleonline.com NEWS

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ADMINISTRATION & LOCAL

SPORTS EDITOR

news@theeagleonline.com

Zach C. Cohen

NEWS EDITOR

Eric Saltzman

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

MANAGING EDITOR FOR NEWS

Heather Mongilio

SPORTS ASSISTANT

thescene@theeagleonline.com

Alex Greco

NEWS ASSISTANTS

MANAGING EDITOR FOR THE SCENE

Josh Paunil

SPORTS

Amber Cohen

Yohana Desta

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

sports@theeagleonline.com

Tori Dalcourt

Hoai-Tran Bui

Suzanne Gaber

EDITORIAL + OPINION

MUSIC EDITOR

edpage@theeagleonline.com

Sean Meehan

PHOTOGRAPHY

ASSISTANT SCENE EDITOR

photos@theeagleonline.com

David Kahen-Kashi

DESIGN

Sydney Gore

design@theeagleonline.com

DESIGN EDITOR Allie Powell ASSISTANT DESIGN EDITOR Heather Mongilio PHOTO EDITOR Jared Angle ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Emma Knight Nicole Brunet STUDENT LIFE EDITOR Samantha Hogan

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Willa Hine EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR Rachel Lomot ASSISTANT EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR

COPY EDITORS

WEB

Rachel Karas

webeditor@theeagleonline.com

Marissa Cetin

BUSINESS — (202) 885-3593

ASSISTANT WEB EDITOR

BUSINESS MANAGER

business@theeagleonline.com

Maya Kosover

Jake Kelderman

CLASSIFIEDS

Ethan McLeod MANAGING EDITOR FOR WEB Sean Meehan

EDPAGE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

MISSION

CONTACT US EDITOR IN CHIEF — (202) 885-1402

EDITORIAL STAFF

gument. Not to mention, Christie’s weight simply plays into his devil-may-care attitude. It is as much a part of his character as his aggressive press conferences. And characters do well on national television. What is most interesting about this whole “Is Christie too large?” debate is that it seems to be divided on generational lines. In my class, many, if not most, students dismissed Christie’s weight as an unimportant factor. Meanwhile, our professor (who is about our parents’ age), could not accept the idea that the American people would ignore such an obvious trait. Perhaps the youngest voting generation is more willing to overlook physical differences in light of policy differences. After all, we were the ones who helped propel the first AfricanAmerican into the presidency. Perhaps we’ll do it again with the first modern president who happens to be...big-boned. Ryan Migeed is a sophomore in the School of Public Af fairs and the School of Communication and the vice president of AU College Democrats.

adbox@theeagleonline.com

The Eagle, a student-run newspaper at the American University, serves the community by reporting news involving the campus community and surrounding areas. The Eagle strives to be impartial in its reporting and believes firmly in its First Amendment rights.

POLICIES The Eagle has a commitment to accuracy and clarity and will print corrections or clarifications. To report a mistake, call the editor in chief at (202) 885-1402 or email editor@theeagleonline.com. All submissions become the property of The Eagle. Unsigned letters will not be published. The Eagle reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for length and clarity. Letters and columns may be published in print or online. Letters and columns are the opinion of the writer and not the newspaper.


SPORTS

Men’s basketball falls to Holy Cross By JOSH PAUNIL EAGLE STAFF WRITER

Senior forward Stephen Lumpkins’ second straight double-double and his sixth on the season wasn’t enough for the AU men’s basketball team as they lost to Holy Cross, 79-60, Jan. 19 in Worcester, Mass. The Eagles (6-12, 1-2 PL) got off to a slow start as they found themselves down more than 10 points seven minutes into the first half and faced a 45-27 deficit heading into the half. Despite an improved second-half performance, AU was unable to mount a comeback against Holy Cross (10-8, 2-1 PL), losing its first road

conference game of the season. “If it was a boxing match it would’ve been a TKO. They hit us in the face and we didn’t respond,” AU Head Coach Jeff Jones said.

“If it was a boxing match it would’ve been a TKO. They hit us in the face and we didn’t respond.” -AU men’s basketball head coach Jeff Jones “You can’t go into a college basketball game and not be ready to play with the kind of energy and the intensity that it takes, particularly on the road, particularly against a team that prides itself on playing hard.” Lumpkins posted a team-

Kiely keeps women’s basketball PL record perfect By MICHAEL GARDNER EAGLE STAFF WRITER

Sarah Kiely’s go-ahead bucket with 17 seconds left was just enough to push a balanced AU attack past Holy Cross Jan. 19, 67-62, to keep the Eagles undefeated in Patriot League play. “We focus on being consistent in how we prepare and if we can do that, it gives us a good chance every time we show up,” AU Head Coach Matt Corkery said. “We’ve been in a hole every conference game and I feel like we haven’t executed as well as we need to in the first half of games. It feels good to have some resiliency and we can learn from today’s game.” Holy Cross (8-10, 0-3 PL) entered the game with the league’s leading scorer in Alex Smith

high 17 points and game-high 11 rebounds. However, he shot just 5-for-12 from the field and 7-for-11 from the free throw line. Freshman guard Jesse Reed also

and an offense aiming to play up tempo. They did just that as the Crusaders opened the game on a 13-4 run. Four subs combined to shoot a perfect 6-6 as AU closed the deficit to one, 37-36 late in the half, before Holy Cross’ Brisje Malone beat the buzzer to put them on top 39-36 at halftime. All too familiar for AU. “It was vital to change our game plan. We didn’t really start off with a lot of energy,” Kiely said. “We really needed our starters, our bench players to step up and give a lot of energy. That was the main focal point at halftime, just keep going on that run. I think we did that.” Trailing by six early in the second half, Ti’Asia McGeorge

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15 ≥

chipped in a career-high 12 points on 4-for-6 shooting, including a 2-for-4 mark from beyond the arc. After a dismal first half in which the Eagles allowed the Crusaders to shoot over 64 percent from the field and over 72 percent from beyond the arc, AU

clawed back into the game after cutting a 24-point deficit to just 11 points off of a steal and dunk by Reed. However, it was to no avail as Holy Cross went on a small 10-4 run to expand their lead. “We played with a little bit more energy in the second half but [we were] not playing smart,” Jones said. “To really make a difference, you gotta bring that energy and play smart.” Throughout the whole game, AU struggled with shooting the ball from the floor as they knocked down just 38 percent of their attempts from the field and less than 32 percent from beyond the 3-point line. The Eagles were also out-rebounded, turned the ball over more and dished out far fewer assists than Holy Cross.

“We did not come out with the energy we needed to match up with an aggressive team like Holy Cross,” Jones said. “Holy Cross was the aggressor and had that energy all game long and knocked down shots. We need to execute on the defensive end to limit open looks for opponents.” Sophomore guard John Schoof chipped in eight points and a team-high three assists in the loss, shooting 2-for-5 from beyond the arc. Forward Kyle Kager pulled down a career-high five rebounds in eight minutes of play. The Eagles will make a weekend trip to West Point to play Army before coming back to D.C. for a game against Bucknell Jan 30. SPORTS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

So you didn’t get into Medical School.

Now what?

“10 Tips for Getting into Medical School” by Dr. Scott Cunningham will help you refocus your effort.

Monday February 4th, 7:00pm at the Marriott Wardman Park 2660 Woodley Road NW Woodley Park-Zoo Metro stop Call toll free 877-463-6686.

OCEANIA UNIVERSITY www.oum.edu.ws OF MEDICINE


theEAGLE SPORTS JANUARY 24, 2013 | 15

Strong play from bench in victory ≤ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

LOSS TO LEHIGH

was fouled on a 3-pointer and hit a foul shot to convert the 4-point play, bringing the Eagles within one. That play sparked a 13-2 run for AU as it took a 51-45 lead with 14:23 to play. Smith eventually tied the game on one of her four 3-pointers, but Jen Dumiak scored the Eagles next six points to counter back-toback treys by Smith to put Holy Cross up 63-62. On the next possession, Kiely’s missed hook shot was tipped in by Dumiak to give the Eagles the 65-62 advantage. After a Malone turnover, Kiely was able to convert the gamewinning layup to seal the 67-62 victory. Along with Kiely and George’s

Tony Wroblicky tips off against Lehigh Jan. 16. The Eagles eventually fell 63-57. Full story at theeagleonline.com/sports RACHEL DEVOR / THE EAGLE

double-figures, Dumiak led all AU scorers with 13 points and Alexis Dobbs had seven points, six rebounds and eight assists. Despite Smith and Lepley scoring 18 and 16 respectively, AU’s defense held the Crusaders to 32 percent shooting in the second half while the AU bench outscored Holy Cross’ 29-7. “It means a lot, we put a lot of pride into it when we go into practice,” junior Geleisa George said. “It’s not just the starting five that makes the team run, it’s everyone, and so everyone needs to contribute in a special way. That statistic is a proof of that.” AU travels to Annapolis to face Navy, the conference’s preseason number one, Jan.23 at 7 p.m. SPORTS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

Parker earns swimming and diving’s lone victory Allen leads five Eagles to top 10 finishes at College Park By TYLER TOMEA EAGLE STAFF WRITER

Mark Allen has been one of the top runners for the Eagles all season, and that continued at the Terrapin Invitational Jan. 19 in College Park, Md. Allen raced to a secondplace finish in the 3,000-meter run, finishing just over six seconds behind first place. Allen earned his second consecutive All-Patriot League First Team honor during the fall’s cross-country season and has continued that success into the winter’s track campaign. Mark Leininger led a group of three AU runners who earned top 10 finishes in the mile run as the senior finished fifth out of 33 runners after posting a time of

4:20.30. Constantine Matsakis and John Pope followed Leininger by placing seventh and 10th, respectively, in the event.

side, recording a sixth-place result in the mile run that saw 24 runners compete. Teammate Krystal Foster finished ninth in the event, which gave the Eagles a combined five top 10 finishes in the men’s and women’s mile run. Despite recording a 35th-place finish, Juliana Crum registered the 10th-fastest time in program history with her time of 8.71 in the 60-meter dash. No team scores were recorded at the event. The Eagles will next travel to George Mason to compete in the George Mason Patriot Games Jan. 26 in Fairfax, Va. Leininger and Matsakis each notched top 10 finishes in last year’s event, as the duo came in eighth and 10th, respectively, in the mile run. Sullivan also had success at the 2011 Patriot Games, running to the eighth-best time in AU history in the 1,000-meter run.

Despite recording a 35th-place finish, Juliana Crum registered the 10th-fastest time in program history with her time of 8.71 in the 60-meter dash. Another notable result for the Eagles came in the 600-meter run, where David Hamilton came in eighth place in a field of 19 competitors. Just a freshman, Hamilton will be one runner to keep an eye on in the future. Julia Sullivan earned top finisher honors on the AU women’s

TTOMEA@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

By ERIC SALTZMAN EAGLE STAFF WRITER

Both the AU men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams had a tough outing Jan. 19 at the Jim McKay Natatorium, falling to George Mason and Army. The men’s squad lost 230-70 to the Patriots and 234-66 to the Knights, while the women fell to George Mason 235-47 and to Army 240-47. Despite the bad team performance, Matt Wurm had a strong meet. He posted second place in the 100 backstroke with a time of 52.56, missing out on first place by half a second. The event also saw the Eagles’ Tyler Pham take fourth while Harrison Volaski and Ross Honig took ninth and 11th, respectively. Wurm missed out second in the 200 back by 0.6 seconds, finishing with a time of 1:53.17. The Eagles swam to a third place finish in the 400 medley relay. The team of Wurm, Pham,

Bobby Ballance and Charlie Taffet finished with a time of 1:52.08. Freshman Hunter Lussi edged out Army’s Casey Woudenberg by 0.03 to take second in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:44.42. Lussi also placed fourth out of eight swimmers in the 1,000 yard freestyle, finishing in 9:43.08. Dylan Rasnick finished sixth out of 13 swimmers in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:46.19. Rasnick also placed fifth out of 13 swimmers in the 400 IM. The race also saw Sean Cudahy place eighth, Honig 10th and Kevin Bond 12th. Melissa Parker took home the lone Eagle victory of the afternoon, winning the 1-meter dive with a score of 232.15. Parker also took home second place in the 3-meter dive scoring a 231.80. The Eagles will be in action Feb. 2 when the team travels to Lewisburg, Penn. to participate in the Bison Invitational. SPORTS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM


16 | JANUARY 24, 2013 SPORTS theEAGLE

SCHEDULE JAN. 25

Wrestling @ Hofstra 7 p.m.

JAN. 26

Wrestling @ Columbia 12 p.m. Track and Field @ George Mason Patriot Games Women’s Basketball vs. Army 2 p.m. Men’s Basketball @ Army 3 p.m.

JAN. 30

Women’s Basketball @ Bucknell 7 p.m. Men’s Basketball vs. Bucknell 7:30 p.m.

JAN. 24, 27, 28, 29 No games scheduled

PATRIOT LEAGUE STANDINGS MEN’S BASKETBALL

Lehigh 14-4. 4-0 PL Bucknell 16-4, 3-1 PL Holy Cross 10-9, 2-2 PL Lafayette 9-12, 2-2 PL ≥ American 7-12, 2-2 PL Army 8-11, 1-3 PL Navy 7-13, 1-2 PL Colgate 7-13, 1-3 PL

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Army 15-4, 4-0 PL Bucknell 12-7, 3-1 PL ≥ American 10-8, 3-1 PL Navy 10-9, 3-1 PL Lehigh 10-9, 2-2 PL Holy Cross 9-10, 1-3 PL Lafayette 7-12, 0-4 PL Colgate 6-12, 0-4 PL

Wrestling takes three of four, gains momentum By TYLER TOMEA EAGLE STAFF WRITER

Coming off of three wins in its last four dual meets, the AU wrestling team will look to carry that momentum into this weekend when they square off against Hofstra Jan. 25 and Columbia Jan. 26. In the span of a week, the Eagles defeated Harvard (2119), Stanford (24-14) and North Carolina State (24-16). AU suffered its only setback during that time against Lehigh, falling 30-12 against the No. 14-ranked Mountain Hawks. “We wrestled like a team tonight, winning came down to heart and not giving up,” AU Head Coach Teague Moore told AU Athletics following the win over North Carolina State. “Kevin Tao overturned a loss from earlier this season and Devon Bradley earned his first victory. It was an exciting night.” Leading the way for the Eagles recently has been heavyweight Blake Herrin. He won all four of his individual matches to improve his record to 17-5 with a team-best .773 win percentage. The redshirt junior has done a nice job filling in for Ryan Flores, who graduated last year as one of the most decorated grapplers in AU history. Meanwhile, David Terao has burst on the scene for the Eagles, as the redshirt fresh-

man has also won all four of his most recent matches in the 125-pound weight class. Terao earned pinfall victories over two of his four opponents, including defeating Lehigh’s Alex Abreu in 54 seconds. He tallied a 22-6 mark during his redshirt season and is now helping the Eagles to dual meet victories in 2013. Tao has been another bright spot for AU, going 3-1 over the four-meet stretch. Tao earned two pinfall victories and picked up a 7-3 decision over North Carolina State’s Thomas Gantt. His only loss came against Lehigh’s Shane Welsh, who entered the match ranked 20th in the country at 149 pounds. The Eagles will sport a 4-3 record in dual meets when they travel to take on Hofstra and Columbia on back-to-back days. Hofstra is coming off a 2-1 showing in the Colonial Athletic Association Duals at George Mason, in which the Pride picked up victories over Boston University (20-19) and George Mason (32-8) but dropped a 1912 decision to Old Dominion. After going 2-1 at the Mustang Duals in San Luis Obispo, Calif., Columbia lost its last dual to Bucknell. Lions captains Jake O’Hara and Stephen West, who are 13-3 and 15-4 on the season, respectively, lead Columbia. TTOMEA@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

MEN’S BASKETBALL SINKS NAVY Stephen Lumpkins (center) and John Schoof score in double figures as the Eagles blow past Navy 72-49 Jan. 23 in Bender Arena. Meanwhile, women’s basketball loses 61-42 at Annapolis, Md. Look online at theeagleonline.com/sports for the full story. JARED ANGLE / THE EAGLE


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.