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IN MEMORIAM: PROFESSOR SUE MARCUM $%#&'()*+,*'-#&.'!/0. .!12#*!+-3'(#+.'*(#+4567
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MEG FOWLER / THE EAGLE
TRAGEDY HITS HOME — Police officers confer outside the Bethesda, Md., home of Professor Sue Marcum during their investigation Monday.
AU mourns loss of professor Signs of struggle lead police to treat death as homicide By MEG FOWLER Eagle Staff Writer
Sue Marcum, 52, an executive in residence and an accounting and taxation professor in the Kogod School of Business, was found dead in her home Monday morning.
There were signs of forced entry into Marcum’s home and signs of a struggle inside, leading Montgomery County Police to treat her death as a potential homicide, according to Daniel Friz, a public information officer. A friend found Marcum
Courtesy of AMERICAN UNIVERSITY
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on the lower level of her home and contacted police, according to Montgomery County Police. The police responded at approximately 10:52 a.m. and found Marcum dead inside. Marcum’s 1999 tan Jeep Cherokee, with the Virginia license plate YXE-1456, was driven off from the house before 10 a.m. Friz said AU students should call 911 if they see the vehicle. Tearful students left Marcum’s 2:10 p.m. Principles of
Financial Accounting class Monday after an AU official announced the class was canceled. Marcum was beloved by many of her students. As he left the Kogod classroom where Accounting 240 was supposed to be held, student José Ferreiro said Marcum was the most helpful professor he ever had. “She was always available to answer e-mails and had helpful office hours,” !
see MARCUM on page 4
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IN THIS ISSUE &
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NOV. 2
TUESDAY 26
WEDNESDAY 27
THURSDAY 28
FRIDAY 29
Documentary Screening: “CBS Reports: The Homosexuals” 6 - 8 p.m. WHERE: East Quad Building Lounge WHAT: In 1967, CBS aired “The Homosexuals,” the first network-televised documentary on homosexuality. Adjunct Professor Robert Connelly screens part of this groundbreaking film and discusses the turmoil surrounding its creation. CONTACT: Matthew Bruno at glbta@american.edu.
Religious Freedom in Islamic International Law 12:45 - 2 p.m. WHAT: Professor Kristine Kalanges of the Department of Justice, Law & Society will deliver a lecture about the compatibility of Islam and human rights, among other political considerations. CONTACT: Diane Singerman at dsinger@american. edu.
Human Rights Film Series: “The Oath” 5:30 - 8 p.m. WHERE: Abramson Family Recital Hall, Katzen Arts Center WHAT: A fateful meeting leads two men on a path to Osama bin Laden, 9/11, Guantanamo and the Supreme Court. Law, faith, and war collide in this documentary. CONTACT: Angelica Das at das@american.edu.
The Art of Sound, The Sound of Art: Are You Blue 2? 8 - 10 p.m. WHERE: Abramson Family Recital Hall, Katzen Arts Center WHAT: Award-winning musician Jerzy Sapieyevski combines his expressive piano virtuosity with the harmony of colors and rhythms at this musical performance. CONTACT: Katzen Box Office at auarts@american. edu.
SATURDAY 30 Men’s soccer vs. The College of the Holy Cross 1 - 3 p.m. WHERE: Reeves Field WHAT: Come out and cheer for the men’s soccer team as they take on Holy Cross. CONTACT: Kathryn Tortorici at tortorici@american.edu.
SUNDAY 31 Alternative Break: South Africa Trip Team Meetings 5 - 6:30 p.m. WHERE: Mary Graydon Center 245 WHAT: Team meetings for students going on Alternative Break, South Africa: The Rights of HIV+ and At-Risk Populations. CONTACT: Shoshanna Sumka at sumka@american. edu.
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EAGLE RANTS Want an answer to your rant? E-mail your queries to our advice bloggers at compass@theeagleonline.com. ! Can we please get the vending machines to work? I’m sick of having to carry around singles for the machines.
Dear Tavern employees: WHEN I ORDER A BLACK BEAN QUESADILLA. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE REMEMBER TO ACTUALLY PUT IT ON THE GRILL. INSTEAD, I STAND THERE EVERY DAY, WAITING FOR A QUESADILLA THAT DOESN’T EXIST, UNTIL I EVENTUALLY GET FRUSTRATED AND ORDER TENDERS THAT IMMEDIATELY MAKE ME GAIN SEVEN POUNDS. !
To rant or not to rant, that is the question. Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous college fortune, or to take arms against the sling of troubles, and by ranting, end them. To die, to rant, no more. And by a rant to say we end the heartache and the thousand natural shocks that freshman are heir to, ‘tis a consumation devoutly to be wished. To rant, to sleep, to rant perchance to dream. Aye, there’s the rant. !
do work in peace and quiet? I get that I’m not on the quiet floor, but you sorority biddies and broseph frat brothers could get some common sense and not scream and squeal bro out all the time. ! To the person usually sitting next to me at Phonathon: I think you’re pretty cool, can we hang out sometime? And everyone should know that if you want something, go for it without hesitation. ! Dictionary.com offers the following definition of the word “Wonk”: a student who spends much time studying and has little or no social life.” Yup sounds like AU!
Why is it so hard for people to just be honest? Say what you mean.
EDITOR’S NOTE: PHONATHONERS! this ranter have it!
Let
To all the boys at AU whom I have come to now, If you like a girl, let her know. Honestly, knowing a guy likes you can be a huge turn on. At least, you know she’ll be giving you the same thought. Oh and we enjoy random visits and when you say our names. Or at least I really do. Youre welcome, XXXXX !
! I swear to God, whoever is stomping down the hallway at 2 a.m. like a pregnant rhino is about to get fed to the rats.
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! YOUR MOM IS A RANT WONK! ! I always see people ranting about cute people they have crushes on in their classes. I have zero interest in anyone in my 5 classes. Where are these supposed cute people?
! Why doesn’t anyone understand that people in the library would actually like to
Dear AU-Phoneathoners, From an alumni who thinks that AU’s obnoxious calls need to end. I have only been gone two years, and because you are depreciating my diploma I am not making enough money to give back, and if I did I would not give to you because I do not want to fund the phoneathon or wonk. Go get a better work-study job!
MONDAY 1
TUESDAY 2
American Indian Heritage Month Kickoff 4 - 6 p.m. WHERE: Mary Graydon Center 200 WHAT: Join Multicultural Affairs in celebrating American Indian Heritage Month. CONTACT: Multicultural Affairs at ma@american. edu.
Mock Burma Election 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. WHERE: Main quad WHAT: The Student Campaign for Burma will host a mock election on the quad based on the election style of the Burmese government. Come by and learn about the upcoming Burmese elections. CONTACT: Anne Lynch at al3281@american.edu.
! ANOTHER YES VOTE FOR NUDITY!
POLICE BLOTTER
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! I get it, you’re not in a sorority yet, so you feel insecure and always need to have people around you. On top of that you need to exclude people, because what’s life without putting others down and making them feel bad about themselves? But seriously, you’re not that cool. ! THE RAYS ARE WINNING THE WORLD SERIES!!
Oct. 15 Library staff reported finding an Eagle newspaper inside Bender Library open to a photo of an Aramark employee. Using a pen, someone had drawn black markings over the face in the photo (marking around the eyes and eyebrows, a moustache, goatee and blackened teeth). The reporting person notified the employee’s supervisor. A resident returned to her unsecured room in Leonard Hall and found an unidentified suspect inside. The suspect apologized for being in the wrong room, exited quickly, and headed toward the McDowell bridge area in the hall. The resident and her roommate discovered cash and debit cards missing from the room. Oct. 16 A student reported his bicycle was stolen from his front yard at Arizona Avenue NW. An acquaintance advised him the bicycle was secured to a Letts/Anderson bike rack. Public Safety found the bike at the rack. Later, the owner recovered it. A student left her purse in
a women’s bathroom at 18th Street NW. It was gone when she went to retrieve it. Club management stated it had not been given to them. Oct. 17 Public Safety observed a group of five individuals overturn a trash can and a flower pot in front of the Kay Spiritual Center. The group ran as Public Safety approached. Public Safety was able to detain one individual and barred him from AU property. He would not name the other individuals involved in the incident. The can and pot were not damaged. Oct. 18 DCFD transported a sick/ injured person from McDowell Hall to Sibley Hospital. Public Safety responded to a report of an injured person inside Hughes Hall. A medical refusal form was signed.
person from Capital Hall to Sibley Hospital. Oct. 20 DCFD and the Department of Public Safety responded to a report of an injured person inside Hurst Hall. A medical refusal form was signed. Public Safety responded to a report of suspicious activity outside the president’s office and discovered a student sitting on the ground holding a water pipe and lighter. A strong odor of marijuana was present. The individual indicated he was smoking marijuana. The contraband was confiscated and later tested positive for marijuana. Public Safety and Facilities Management responded to a fire alarm in the McKinley Building. The building was evacuated. No signs of smoke or fire were detected. A pull station in the basement near the main stairs had been activated. The alarm was reset.
Oct. 19 A student reported her iPod Touch was taken from her bag between 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Oct. 7 in the Terrace Dining Room. DCFD transported a sick
READ MORE POLICE BLOTTER ONLINE.
! WTF is with the kids, 12yo, who use the shuttle. Does AU regulate this?
READ MORE EAGLE RANTS ONLINE.
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ANA SANTOS / THE EAGLE
GOODBYE FOR NOW — After serving as dean of the School of International Service for 24 years, Louis Goodman announced he will leave his position at the end of summer 2011.
Dean of SIS to step down, will return to teach By MEG FOWLER Eagle Staff Writer
Louis Goodman will step down as the dean of the School of International Service after the end of this academic year, he announced Oct. 13. Goodman has served as the dean of SIS since 1986. In talks with Provost Scott Bass, Goodman agreed that he would go on a year-long sabbatical. He plans to then return to teach as a professor in SIS, Goodman said. “I miss doing that,” Goodman said. “The contact with students is a little different as a professor.” Goodman’s areas of research and interest include international development, Latin America area studies and social science methodology.
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In the SIS faculty meeting that day, Goodman told professors and staff about his decision to resign and that evening circulated an e-mail to SIS students. In the letter, Goodman wrote that he will continue to serve as dean through the summer of 2011. “I suspect that those of you who have been close to me over the years are fully aware that this service has given me enormous pleasure and satisfaction,” he wrote. In his letter, Goodman said he understood if people were surprised at his resignation a month after the completion of the new SIS building. Goodman said he wanted the dedication of the SIS building to be a “simple celebration” without any distractions. Goodman wrote in the let-
ter that he wanted to allow Bass enough time for a thorough search for a new dean for the 2011-2012 academic year. Goodman said he wanted his successor to be someone who has an intellectual track record, a lot of energy, an ability to engage with scholars and policymakers and an enjoyment for fundraising. He said he was satisfied with the school’s progress in the past 24 years. In 1986, SIS had 12 faculty members. It now has close to 100, according to Goodman. He is also very happy with the completion of the new building. Whereas the faculty was spread over 10 different campus buildings last year, they are now housed together. The new building brings the entire community together, he said. “The school is in a really strong position for a new dean,” Goodman said. Philip Brenner, a professor in SIS, said he has been at the school for about 30 years. At the faculty meeting where Goodman announced his resignation, Brenner said he spoke up to express the range of emotions that he and other staff members felt. “Many people thought, ‘How are we going to survive without Dean Goodman?’” Brenner said. “Almost no one knows another dean. People are very grateful for everything he has done.” Brenner compared Goodman’s resignation to the feeling in Cuba when Fidel Castro became sick. “People think of [Castro] as a terrible dictator, but there’s an extraordinary sense of his being the big daddy because now they’re going to have to grow up,” Brenner said. Jeremy Cohen, the president of the SIS Undergraduate Council, said Goodman’s successor will have large shoes to fill. “He was in large part the face of the school,” Cohen said. “His strongest point as dean is he always worked tirelessly for the school, and I think that’s something that his successor will have to do as well.” mfowler@theeagleonline. com
MEG FOWLER / THE EAGLE
INVESTIGATION — Police inspect the home of Sue Marcum, who taught in the Kogod School of Business.
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from MARCUM on page 1
Ferreiro said. Provost Scott Bass and Richard M. Durand, dean of Kogod, sent an e-mail to the campus community to announce her death. “Professor Marcum was a beloved member of the Kogod community and her sudden death is a tremendous loss to her students and colleagues,” the e-mail said. Arielle Sodowick, a sophomore in Kogod, said she was in shock as she left the classroom.
“She was an amazing professor,” Sodowick said. Marcum graduated from Kogod with an undergraduate degree in Accounting and a Master of Science in Taxation. She received a BSBA in Professional Accounting, also from Kogod. After working nine years in public accounting, Marcum spent seven years working for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey as tax director, which involved managing the company’s taxes and supervising eight staff, according to the AU website.
She returned to teach at AU in 1999. She served as president of Kogod’s Alumni Chapter and was the faculty adviser to the Kogod Accounting Club and a faculty brother of Alpha Kappa Psi, according to the AU website. Anyone with information about Marcum’s death is encouraged to call the Montgomery County Police Major Crimes Division at 240-773-5070. mfowler@theeagleonline. com
CONTACT INFORMATION To report information about Marcum’s death: Major Crimes Division: 240-773-5070 AU Public Safety: 202-885-3636 If you are in need of counseling services: AU Counseling Center: 202-885-3500
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Clubs frustrated with SG dept. crafting ‘Disabled AU’s 501(c)(3) limitations Student Bill of Rights’
Student leaders from groups such as College Democrats and College Republicans said they are frustrated with AU’s guidelines for political student groups, but they understand why the rules are in place. The students met with various members of the AU administration last Wednesday to address recent concerns with AU’s guidelines for student political groups, which they say have significantly limited the actions of their groups. Student leaders from groups including the Student Government, Students for Choice, AU College Republicans and AU College Democrats attended the meeting. Representatives from Student Activities, the University Center, AU’s General Counsel and Vice President of Campus Life Gail Hanson were also present at the meeting. The meeting was coordinated in response to an incident on Oct. 5, when Student Activities Coordinator of Governance and Leadership Andrew Toczydlowski contacted the president of the AU Public Affairs Committee on Israel, AUPAC, Jackie Grill. Toczydlowski wanted to know whether the group was lobbying members of Congress as a Student Activities-recognized AU group. He said AUPAC could not lobby Congress as an AU group because the Internal Revenue Service classifies AU as a nonprofit organization. AU and its affiliated student organizations cannot act or campaign on behalf of any specific political candidate or piece of legislation because of AU’s tax status as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, according to Student Activities’ political guidelines. The presidents of AU College Democrats and AU College Republicans said that while the roundtable discussion was helpful in clarifying their guidelines, they are
frustrated that they are limited in what they can do as political groups. College Democrats has violated the guidelines for political student groups twice in the past three years, according to Toczydlowski. They violated the rule last year when members participated in a phone bank for the Human Rights Campaign to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell,” according to Bo Hammond, the group’s president. The AU legal team discovered this event through a photo on Facebook and told group members to cease and desist. College Democrats violated the rule again earlier this year at the Gloria Steinem speaking event, according to Toczydlowski. Junior in the School of Public Affairs Helen Boyer, the club’s secretary, said students could contact her to have an all-expense paid trip to help campaign for a candidate running for office in Ohio. Toczydlowski said student organizations can present campaign opportunities to their members, but they should make it clear that those opportunities are not official events sponsored by the student group. Clubs also cannot collect information for candidates and campaigns as an organization. This means that AU student groups cannot use University funding or resources to campaign for or against a political candidate or legislative bill. Student leaders were previously aware of this rule but said this meeting was helpful as a refresher on its specifics. Toczydlowski said student groups like A Voice 4 U could coordinate voter registration drives, but they cannot endorse a specific candidate. AU College Republicans President Stephen Laudone said it is sometimes difficult to work within the political group guidelines when it comes to planning group outings and other local events. Laudone said students rely on College Democrats and
College Republicans to provide them with information about how to campaign. But the political group guidelines prohibit him from specifically stating that members of College Republicans will be attending events like campaign rallies. “The fact I can’t even send an e-mail over the listserv or in Facebook format is extremely difficult,” Laudone said. Hammond also feels his group is limited by the political group guidelines. “It’s aggravating that the most politically active campus in the country doesn’t allow its students to be politically active,” Hammond said. Laudone believes the meeting on Wednesday was productive and that clubs should meet annually, rather than as a “reactionary measure,” he said. Hammond said Student Activities cannot be held responsible for this rule. “[Toczydlowski] from Student Activities has been extremely helpful in the past,” Hammond said. “It’s his job to make sure we don’t get in trouble and that the University doesn’t violate the tax status. But it is incredibly frustrating that we can’t campaign.” Toczydlowski stressed that student groups are not prohibited from advocating for certain causes. “It’s okay to attend a rally for LGBT rights, but it’s not ok to support a rally against ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’ because that is a specific piece of legislation,” Toczydlowski said. “But LGBT rights is a cause.” He hopes the groups that participated in the roundtable discussion now have a clearer understanding of their rights and abilities as political student groups. “I hope they got a better understanding of what they can and can’t do,” he said. “My observation was that they could do a lot more than they thought they could. I think that was something positive that came out of this.” jryan@theeagleonline.com
By LEIGH GIANGRECO Eagle Staff Writer
The Student Government Department of Disability Advocacy is currently in the process of crafting a document aimed at improving the lives of disabled students on campus. The Disabled Student Bill of Rights is meant to improve the holistic experience for disabled students at AU. The document will include a more in-depth look at resident life for disabled students, resident education, car services, technology and library services. Once the Disability Student Bill of Rights is finalized, it will be brought to the Disability Support Services office for review. The DSS office typically serves about 450 students a year, according to DSS Director Joanne Benica. SG Director of Disability Advocacy Jenny Leland said that the bill will not necessarily make big changes but will emphasize the resources already on campus. “Our idea is less to change the services because AU already has phenomenal disability services,” Leland said. “It is to advocate for what we already have and make sure students understand what they are entitled
to and that they are able to get that.” Leland also said that Student “Bill” of Rights is a misnomer, as it is not a student Senate bill in the literal term. However, it is currently the working title and will soon be an official SG document. Also the Disabled Student Bill of Rights is an original document, not based on an existing Student Bill of Rights or an existing code. Leland said disabilities still have many stigmas attached to them and are an uncomfortable topic to deal with. “Whether a student has a learning disability or whatever it is, we want to make sure they feel comfortable and don’t feel like they have to hide their disability,” she said. “In a lot of college campuses, including our own, it’s kind of a taboo topic, not always something people embrace.” The Office of Campus Life now requires all student clubs to include on their posters for events contact information regarding accommodations for disabled students. “For example, if an event is going to be in the old SIS lounge, which is physically inaccessible [for disabled students], [the group]
would have to accommodate,” Leland said. Leland could not comment on whether or not the Disabled Student Bill of Rights would include any changes needed for buildings on campus that are currently inaccessible for disabled students. SG President Nate Bronstein said he looks forward to working with Leland on support for disabled students. “A more inclusive student bill of rights is just our first initiative to swiftly affect meaningful change on campus.” In addition to her role as SG Director of Disability Advocacy, Leland is also the president of the student group, Disability Alliance. She has been working on disability reform on campus with the SG since her freshman year. Leland hopes the SG and the Disability Alliance can continue to work on making AU’s campus more inclusive. “Don’t feel discouraged because you see a boundary, let’s work through them,” she said. “We’re focusing on the ability part of disability.” lgiangreco@theeagleonline. com
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Public library in Tenley scheduled to open in Jan. By KAY DAKIN
Eagle Staff Writer The Tenley-Friendship Library on Wisconsin Avenue is scheduled to reopen in January, six years after it stopped serving the public at the site opposite the Tenleytown-AU Metro station. The District spent $112
million to upgrade area libraries, according to library spokesman George Williams. The TenleyFriendship Library cost $10 million, according to the library’s architect, the Freelon Group. An interim library opened in 2006 at 4200 Wisconsin Ave. The library in Tenleytown was razed in Octo-
AU releases its rst re report By STEFANIE DAZIO Eagle Staff Writer
The South side residence halls accumulated $1,394.00 in fire-related damages, and North side dorms incurred $180.19 worth of damages in 2009, according to a recently release fire safety report. Tenley Campus had $2 worth for a garbage can replacement. AU released the Fire Safety Report for the first time in early October in accordance with amendments to the Higher Education Opportunity Act, which now mandate that schools’ fire safety reports be released along with security reports. The report only details fire and smoke-related incidents in the residence halls. “There’s almost no property damage on any given year,” said Anthony Newman, AU’s director of risk management and environmental health and safety. “We have serious-minded students who come here to learn, not to start fires.” The report said food preparation was the cause of 36 percent of fire or smoke incidents. Glynnis Bowman, AU’s environmental health and safety project manager, said more incidents involve smoke on the stove. “If we eliminated these
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kitchen fires, we’d have nothing but fluke and arson,” Newman said. Flukes include the 16 percent of incidents that do not have a clear cause, Bowman said. The report lists their causes as “other.” There were two instances of arson in 2009, both involving elevators in Anderson Hall. Public Safety Chief Michael McNair said similar incidents have not been seen in 2010 and believes the individual or individuals involved may have graduated. “The fire report does not take false alarms and pranks into account,” Bowman said. There were three false fire alarms in 2009 and four in 2008, according to Adam Cooper, Public Safety’s logistics and compliance coordinator. McNair defined false fire alarms as when an individual pulls the alarm knowing that there’s no fire. If an individual pulls the fire alarm believing there is a fire, but there actually isn’t one, that is not considered a false fire alarm. Bowman predicted that 2010 will see between onethird and one-half fewer smoke and fire incidents than 2009. sdazio@theeagleonline. com
ber 2007, according to The Washington Post. The city planned to use the site for a mixed-use project that may have included residential and retail space in addition to the library, said Matthew Troy IV, the project manager for the D.C. Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development.
The economic crisis ultimately postponed expansion indefinitely, Troy said. The city finally allowed construction to begin in September 2009 at the urging of the community, Troy said, but the city intends to pursue further development on the site that will increase sustainable development and reduce the community’s reliance on cars. The 22,000 square foot library is designed to encourage people to explore the inside, Williams said. The building will include a vegetative green roof,
solar panels and other energy efficient features that could help the library earn LEED certification, according to the Freelon Group website. Large and small meeting rooms, wireless Internet access and spaces specific to adults, adolescents and children will also be provided. Structural supports built into the back third of the two-story building will enable future construction on top. “We wanted to take advantage of a transit-oriented development on top of a Metro station,” Troy
said. University Librarian Bill Mayer is looking forward to discussing opportunities for partnership between the Tenley-Friendship Library and AU, according to the library’s Director of Public and University Relations Diana Vogelsong. She added that the two could share programs, instruction or speakers, and the public library’s communitybased collection may be beneficial to AU students. kdakin@theeagleonline. com
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Vendors negotiating to ll open Balducci’s space By PAIGE JONES Eagle Staff Writer
AU officials are in negotiations with three or four new vendors to share the vacant store space on New Mexico Avenue, as part of the search for a new tenant. The space is in an AUowned, commercially zoned property where the upscale grocery store Balducci’s was previously located. It also includes AU administration offices and the Chef Geoff ’s restaurant. Jorge Abud, AU’s assistant vice president for facilities, development and real estate, said they are still keeping an open search for new tenants to fill the vacant store. The search for new vendors began in October 2008 when Balducci’s declared it would leave at the end of the store’s lease on June 30, 2009. Abud said the popular grocery store’s new management played a role in Balducci’s decision to leave.
AU students graduate with more avg. debt than Georgetown, GW By LEIGH GIANGRECO Eagle Staff Writer
D.C. graduated college students with the highest average debt in the country in 2009, and AU graduates have one of the highest student debt averages among D.C. schools. The average debt of all public and private D.C. colleges was $30,033, while the average debt of private colleges was $31,608, according to a report released Thursday by the Project on Student Debt. Among D.C. colleges, AU ranked second in debt, with an average of $40,966 in student debt, more than the average debt for Georgetown University and George Washington University students.
Students at Corcoran College of Arts and Design accumulated the most student debt in D.C. in 2009, with an average of $42,355. GWU’s students had the third-highest average debt with $31,299, and Georgetown’s students had an average of $25,085. The report also indicated that high tuition does not necessarily result in high debt. Harvard, Princeton and Yale were among 32 colleges with tuition over $20,000 that had an average student debt lower than $15,000 in 2009. According to the Project on Student Debt, factors that may contribute to high debt include: - how and when financial aid options are communicated to students
- the availability to commute to parents’ home - discounts or “institutional aid” offered by colleges - the degree to which that aid is targeted to students with financial need - cost of living College debt has increased by six percent from 2008 to 2009, and unemployment among college graduates has increased by 2.9 percent, according to The Project on Student Debt. The six percent increase is similar to the average annual increase over the past four years and did not only spike during the economic crisis of 2008, according to the report.
“It was related to the fact that the company was sold to a new owner, and the new owner decided to close four of their stores in the Washington area,” Abud said.
“It’s going to take a minimum of six to nine months just to get it started.” — Jorge Abud, AU VP of Facilities
For over a year, the hunt for a new tenant to fill the space has preoccupied AU. “Our initial desire, having seen a fairly successful operation of Balducci’s over the years, was to look for
a similar tenant that was a small market with some prepared food components,” Abud said. “Unfortunately [we] were not successful in finding a tenant like that and have since looked at smaller individual tenants that would provide some prepared food options for the area.” Abud said AU offered deals to vendors like Panera and Corner Bakery, but many declined due to the low customer traffic. However, AU hopes to solidify the new vendors soon. “Even if the vendors we are currently talking to agree to the lease, it’s going to take a minimum of six to nine months just to get it started,” Abud said. news@theeagleonline.com
Average debt for D.C. students from the class of 2009
Corcoran College of Arts and Design $42,355 AU $40,966 GWU $31,299 Georgetown $25,085 UDC $17,547 Gallaudet University $13,484
lgiangreco@theeagleonline. com Source: Project on Student Debt
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Count on these predictions for this year’s World Series SIDELINE SCHOLAR
BEN LASKY Over the next week the Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants will square off to see who becomes the 2010 World Series Champions. Though it’s impossible to know who will ultimately come out on top, there are a few things that can be counted on.
MARK NATALE / THE EAGLE
ONE STEP AHEAD — Freshman Constanza Palma runs by a Bucknell University defender during the Eagles’ 6-0 route in the Patriot League match. AU takes on conference opponent Lafayette College Saturday in their final game of the regular season.
Field hockey wins big By MARK NATALE
Eagle Contributing Writer The AU field hockey team, currently ranked seventh in the nation, bounced back after a tough 3-0 loss to the University of Maryland Terrapins with a 6-0 home win over the Bucknell University Bison Oct. 23 The Terrapins had just ended the Eagles’ 12-game win streak after being shut out by UMD and needed a win in Patriot League play to stay ahead of Lafayette in the standings. “It was very important for us to get back on track,” Head Coach Steve Jennings said. AU dominated play in the first half, taking nine shots to Bucknell’s one, but struggled to capitalize, finding the back of the net just once off a flick from freshman Lotte van de Mierop 25 minutes into the game. “[We struggled with] the finishing because we had a few [shots] hit the post,” van de Mierop said. Although they had plenty of opportunities, the Eagles were unable to finish, missing towards the near post
several times giving Bucknell goalie, Sarah Zargarpour, a break. The Bucknell defense was solid throughout the first, shutting down AU chances and Zargarpour was solid in net, saving three shots, while watching five go wide. The Eagles failed to capitalize on four penalty corners, letting the ball get cleared out immediately three out of four times. “We were pretty careless with some of our shooting chances,” Jennings said. “We were just really sloppy overall, even though we generated a lot of pressure.” AU continued to struggle until 16 minutes into the second half, when freshman Shelly Montgomery was able to drive down the left baseline and score at the far post. After that, the floodgates opened and the Eagles pounded shot after shot at Zargarpour, scoring five times in 15 minutes. “Every time we get a goal it boosts the confidence and everyone gets a little more energetic,” Montgomery said. Sophomore Gina Hoffmann followed Montgomery’s shot just four minutes later, sweeping a goal to the left post off
a penalty corner, assisted by senior Kirstin Gebhart and junior Natalie Ellenberger. It was Gebhart’s 12th assist on the season. Just a minute later, senior Anne van Erp deflected a shot from Constanza Palma into the top of the net, bringing the score to 4-0. Sophomore Jenn Bradley took off on a breakaway down the field and collected her own rebound off the post, poking the ball into the open net. Bucknell’s Rachel Misko was given a yellow card in the 62nd minute and Montgomery put the finishing touches on the win a minute later, gobbling up a rebound and putting the ball past the keeper to the left post. AU’s defense showed its continued dominance in the game, shutting down Bucknell’s attack, giving up just two shots the entire game. The Eagles’ goalkeeper, senior Hannah Weitzman faced nothing in her area and earned her fifth shutout of the year. “We want shutouts,” Jennings said. “We want shutouts against everybody we play. We want to make it incredibly hard for them to get any scor-
ing chances.” The Eagles ended the game with 16 shots to Bucknell’s two, and eight penalty corners to the Bison’s one. AU will wrap up its regular season on Saturday Oct. 30 against Lafayette College in a game that will decide the Patriot League regular season champion. The winner will earn home field advantage for the Patriot League playoffs. Sports@theeagleonline.com
FIELD HOCKEY AU: 6 (14-3, 4-0) Bucknell: 0 (6-10, 2-2) WASHINGTON, D.C.
Fox is pissed If you asked Fox executives before both League Championship Series who they wanted to make it to the World Series, they would not have said the two teams that made it. Not surprisingly, the only World Series to get a game with more than 20 million viewers has featured the Yankees or the Red Sox. According to Sports Media Watch, 22.8 million viewers tuned in to watch game four of the 2009 World Series between the Yankees and the Phillies. The last World Series with that many viewers was 2004 between who? Shocker. The St. Louis Cardinals and the Boston Red Sox. This World Series will be entertaining, but ratings will go down from last year. Lack of replay matters There has been one missed call after another in the playoffs. Whether it was an out that was called a hit or a ball that obviously hit a batter and was called a wild pitch that scored a run, the umpires have and will continue to have problems making the correct calls. It’s not their fault. Plays happen so quickly that it’s impossible for them to make the correct call every time with no help. Every other sport has some sort of replay system, and it’s time for baseball to catch up. Something can and will go wrong. Hopefully it won’t cost the Rangers or Giants a ring. You won’t hear good TV announcing If you’ve ever listened to Joe
Buck and Tim McCarver do a baseball game before, you know what I’m talking about. They’re terrible. Buck talks to the audience like they’ve never seen a baseball game before. As for McCarver, the man says “In my opinion” before he says anything every time, without fail. Tim, we know it’s your opinion, you’re the color commentator. That’s your job. That’s like me saying that this column is my opinion. Though, if Joe Buck or Tim McCarver somehow read this, I want them to know that this column is made up of the opinion of Eagle sports editor, Sam Lindauer. Viewers on the East Coast will go to bed at a reasonable hour The good thing about having two West Coast (sort of West Coast for the Rangers) teams in the World Series is that viewers on the East can go to bed before 1 a.m. With the long TV timeouts and God Bless America, by the time the games were over in the LCS series, the only other show competing with it was an infomercial for Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts. It will never happen, but these games should start a little earlier. People can afford to miss Seinfeld reruns if that means starting games at 7 p.m. instead of close to 9 p.m. The winner: Anyone’s guess This series is a complete tossup. Anything can happen in the playoffs. The Giants weren’t supposed to beat the Phillies. The Rangers weren’t supposed to beat the Rays or the Yankees. Any team that gets hot at the right time can win the World Series. It’s not about playoff experience or being clutch. It’s about playing great baseball at the right time. Both teams are playing well, but that could come to an end at any time. Teams go through stretches where everything goes right, and both teams are going through one of those stretches right now. Whoever can keep that up for another week will be holding a parade. blasky@theeagleonline.com
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Volleyball spikes Bucknell with 3-0 win By MARK NATALE
Eagle Contributing Writer The AU volleyball team swept its weekend series in Bender Arena, improving their record to 22-2 (9-0). AU defeated Colgate University 3-0 on Friday and Bucknell University 3-0 on Senior Day last Saturday. AU dominated the floor in both games, taking commanding victories over its two Patriot League opponents. “It’s amazing when we have a lot of people here,” senior Magdalena Tekiel said. “To perform in front of all the fans is amazing and it helps a lot.” The Eagles took on the Colgate Raiders on Friday night, and Tekiel continued to dominate, snatching 11 of the team’s 48 kills in the match. Junior Alexandra Hammer and sophomore Krysta Cicala served up 22 assists and 21 assists, respectively. Senior Angelina Waterman appeared to struggle on the attack, with nine kills among 24 attempts and four errors. Senior libero Deborah Frantz had 17 kills in the match, launching her team to its 3-0 victory. The game scores were 25-14, 25-17 and 25-19. Bucknell Before Saturday’s game, the five seniors on the squad, Katerina Cinkova, Frantz, Cassandra Ricketts, Tekiel and Waterman, were honored
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for their contributions to the team over their tenure at AU. The team started off strong, rushing out to a 13-3 start off of Tekiel’s performance. AU let up on the pressure for a brief period, letting Bucknell close in, before taking the set, 25-11. The Eagles again took a 133 lead in the second set, this time continuing to pressure Bucknell and shutting down its attack en route to the 25-7 win for the set. Ricketts was a force to be reckoned with during the entire match, launching eight kills and grabbing seven digs. Going into the third set, Bucknell snagged a small lead, 15-14, as American lost several points in a row. “We missed a couple hits in a row and probably got frazzled by it,” Ricketts said. “We could have stayed a little more steady. It was a couple errors that caught us off guard.” After scoring three straight points, the Eagles were able to tip the tables back in their direction and ended the match with a 25-20 game. “[The win] was the culmination of all of our four years — working hard together, the fun times together,” Ricketts said. “It was an awesome experience.” Hammer was again a major force during the match, serving up 31 assists on the way to the Eagles’ victory. Frantz led the team again with digs, pulling up 11 in the game. AU was dominant on the serve, sending nine service
aces in the Bison’s direction, while receiving nine from their opponents and scored a .356 hitting percentage. The Eagles will now finish off their season on the road, playing five consecutive games away from Bender Arena, before the Patriot League playoffs. The team hopes to return home for the playoffs — a win over rival Army will secure home court advantage for the weekend series. “[We need to] get ready to adapt to different environments and still try to be a better team just by playing the game on the court,” Head Coach Barry Goldberg said. sports@theeagleonline.com
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL Set 1 AU: 25 Bucknell: 11 Set 2 AU: 25 Bucknell: 7 Set 3 AU: 25 Bucknell: 20
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Eagles eliminated from PL postseason Friederike Engel ejected in 1-1 double OT tie versus Lehigh By KATE GREUBEL Eagle Staff Writer
The AU women’s soccer team was eliminated from postseason play on Sunday after an exhausting 1-1 double overtime tie against the Lehigh University Mountain Hawks. Senior Friederike Engel was ejected from the game early in the first half, forcing AU to play down a player the rest of the match. Seniors Brooke Sheppard, Lindsey Farthing and Engel were recognized before the team’s final home game of the 2010 season. The three student athletes served as captains for the Eagles this season and Head Coach Dave Bucciero credits them with turning the team’s losing season around. “We will benefit from their leadership in the future for the way they led as captains,” Bucciero said. “When we were losing earlier on … they were able to turn around the season because of their attitude and ability to continue to believe and not stop fighting.” The Eagles controlled possession and had several looks on goal early on in the first half. In the 20th minute, sophomore Kendra Jones capitalized on a long pass from sophomore Gabrielle Barbato, sliding the ball past the Lehigh goalie to put AU on the board. The forward’s goal was AU’s lone score of the game. Ten minutes later. the Eagles’ fate changed when senior Engel was ejected from the game.
“[The referee] said that Engel retaliated against a Lehigh player,” Bucciero explained. “I think a yellow card would have been more appropriate if that happened. That changed the game unfortunately.” As a result of the red card, Engel will sit out next Friday during her team’s final game of the season at Navy. The Eagles responded to Engel’s ejection by increasing their defensive pressure, and finished out the half without allowing a Lehigh goal. “They could have packed it in, they could have given up, the score could have ended up with us losing in regulation,” Bucciero said. “But they did not give up. They did not use it as an excuse and they kept playing hard, which was fantastic.” After halftime, AU’s 10 players returned to the field with new aggression. However, Lehigh was able to capitalize on their oneman advantage. Seventeen minutes into the half a yellow card against Lehigh gave sophomore Stephanie Glover a free kick that was eventually headed away from the goal by a Mountain Hawk defensemen. With less than 20 minutes left in regulation play, Glover fouled Lehigh’s Lena Cannon in the AU box in an attempt to stop a potential goal. The resulting penalty shot, taken by Lehigh’s Liz Carlos, tied the game at 1-1. Momentum continued to shift in Lehigh’s favor throughout the second-
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half. AU had two looks on goal in the last few minutes of regulation play but the team was unable to put away the game-winning goal, forcing the game into overtime. The Eagles dominated play in the first overtime. The team took possession of the ball, with shots from sophomore Mikaila Weaver and Sheppard deflecting off Lehigh defense. Jones also generated a number of looks on goal. With three minutes left in the first overtime, Jones missed a pass from Sheppard in front of the goal, and the ball skimmed wide of the Lehigh net. AU had an opportunity to take the game with just under seven minutes left to play, however, Lehigh headed a corner by Sheppard away from the goal. Freshman Brenna Smith collected the rebound, but her shot was knocked down by the Mountain Hawks’ defense. The opposition also had an opportunity off a break away, but a pass to an offsides teammate stopped the play short. The clock ran out with the ball in Lehigh territory, after a last ditch attempt by freshman defender MacKenzie Kerrigan sailed wide of the goal. Because of the tie, coupled with results from other games around the PL, the Eagles are eliminated from postseason competition. AU will conclude its 2010 season Friday at Navy. kgreubel@theeagleonline. com
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AU liquor, drug referrals up in ‘09 By STEFANIE DAZIO Eagle Staff Writer
ANA SANTOS/THE EAGLE
NEW YORK, NEW YORK — Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani spoke in Bender Arena Saturday night. The event was sponsored by the Kennedy Political Union.
Giuliani talks elections, Obama By JULIA RYAN Eagle Staff Writer
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani stood by his views on military spending and the Iraq War at a speaking event Saturday night in Bender Arena. At the event, sponsored by the Kennedy Political Union, Giuliani spoke about issues including the U.S.’s response to Islamic extremist terrorism, health care legislation, the stimulus package and the 2010 midterm elections. He spoke to a packed Bender Arena as a featured event of Parents and Alumni Weekend. Giuliani was interrupted by three audience members as he answered a question about military spending. A student had asked Giuliani how the U.S. could get out of its economic deficit if it continues to spend significant amounts of money on the military. Giuliani said “military spending is never a problem,” and that wars often lift countries out of economic depression by
putting people to work, such as during World War II. Jim and Ann Toole, parents of Kerry Toole, a senior in the School of Communication, booed and said, “People died!” in response to Giuliani’s answer and walked out of the event. Jim Toole said the main reason he walked out is because he strongly disagreed with Giuliani’s belief that the Iraq War is good for the economy. “He said nothing about the trickle-down economics that Bush started with his taxes, and he started us on this road to economic disaster,” he said. Giuliani criticized President Barack Obama’s handling of recent terrorist activities and attempted terrorist attacks, such as the attempted bombing of a Northwest Airlines flight by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab on Dec. 25, 2009. Obama should not have continued his vacation for the 11 days immediately following the bombing attempt, he said. “If I had taken an !
see GIULIANI on page 12
Numbers from the Annual Security Report, released this month, indicate that from 2008 to 2009 there was an increase in judicial referrals from alleged drug law violations, alleged liquor law violations and forcible sex offenses on main campus, but there was a decrease in campus burglary. In accordance with the Clery Act, the federal law requiring all colleges receiving federal financial aid to report their crime statistics, the Department of Public Safety released its Annual Security Report in early October. The report details incidents from Jan. 1, 2009 to Dec. 31, 2009. Drug violations Judicial referrals from alleged drug law violations on main campus increased from five reports in 2008 to 58 reports in 2009, according to AU’s Annual Security Report. Rosie McSweeney, director of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution Services thinks there is no specific reason for the increase in alleged drug violations. “Every year, there’s sort of an ebb and flow of what people decide to do,” she said. “There’s not like one thing where I can say, ‘ah-ha,’ here’s what accounts for this.” These numbers reflect reports of alleged violations, not necessarily the total misconduct incidents for which individuals have been found responsible. “Anytime someone is alleged to have violated the drug policy or the alcohol policy, we have to report those numbers to Public Safety [for the Annual Security Report], regardless of the outcome,” McSweeney said. However, in the 2007-2008 academic year, the standard of proof to find individuals responsible or not responsible for alleged misconduct was lowered. The previous standard of proof, “clear and convincing,” required a 75 percent likelihood of responsibility. But the new standard, “preponderance of the evidence” needs a 51 percent likelihood, or “more likely than not,” accord-
ing to McSweeney. She said this could have contributed to a change in the numbers. “When a complaint is filed with our office, the complainant does have to believe that there’s enough information for a finding of responsibility,” McSweeney said. “That doesn’t mean there always will be enough information for a finding of responsibility, but even for a complaint to be filed, there has to be enough to go forward.” Rick Treter, director of Residence Life, said that resident assistants document incident reports and file them with the resident directors, who then
what they see, as opposed to making judgments about potential outcomes,” he said. Public Safety arrested one individual in 2009 on main campus for a drug law violation, down from two arrests in 2008. Public Safety usually deals with drug law violations internally if there are minor amounts involved, according to Public Safety Chief Michael McNair. “There’s no law that says we can’t do the external process, but it’s just more effective for us to do that [internally],” McNair said. However, Public Safety will usually make an arrest if there
forcible sex offenses on main campus were reported. McNair said while sexual assault is one of the most underreported crimes at AU, there is not much Public Safety can do about it. “I don’t know that there’s much we’re going to be able to do about it, as long as human nature is what it is,” he said. These statistics reflect the number of reported offenses, not the number of ones that actually occurred. “Could there be 50 women out there that were assaulted? Sure,” McNair said. “Could there only be the ones that reported it? Yup, but I kind of doubt it.”
Burglary Burglary was down in 2009, with 31 incidents reported on AU main campus — 21 of which (6,648 3 31 58 340 occurred in a residential facilundergrads) ity. In 2008, 43 incidents were reported. Georgetown 9 27 49 334 McNair said these numbers (7,433) are very low in comparison to GWU the campus population. 9 103 167 253 (10,558) “You probably have a better chance of getting hit by a car Howard 4 36 6 2 than you do getting burglar(7,029) ized with those kinds of numUDC bers,” he said. 1 1 0 0 (4,918) Cooper said the majority of burglaries were not forcible These numbers reflect on-campus statistics for the main campuses entries. Th ey mostly occurred of these D.C. colleges in 2009. The Clery Act categories are forcible sex offenses, burglary, judicial referrals for drug law violations and because doors were left open. “We don’t see a lot of people judicial referrals for liquor law violations. kicking in doors or picking decide whether a case needs is a major amount that looks locks,” he said. to be filed with Student Con- like it is enough to distribute. Lt. Eric Hayes, a Metropoliduct and Conflict Resolution Judicial referrals from al- tan Police Department in the Services. leged liquor law violations Second District, said thefts “Obviously that’s going to increased from 244 reports in mostly bring police onto camcause us to then have a lower 2008 to 340 reports in 2009 pus but said there has not been standard for which we then on main campus. Another 42 much of a problem lately. would file a case, which would reports occurred in a nonThe new locks that use electhen cause our numbers to campus building or property tronic chips in AU ID cards go up. Because if I’m reading — up from zero reports in should decrease burglary in something and I feel like I that category in 2008. the residence halls, according needed to reach a legal standTreter and Hradsky also said to McNair. He said the majorard of 75 percent, that’s very they have informally noticed ity of thefts are because people difficult when you have drug an increase in drug-related in- forgot to lock their doors. suspicion — 51 percent’s not,” cidents so far in this academic These new electronic locks Treter said. “If your window’s year. automatically lock the door open, there’s a fan blowing as soon as it is closed, so there out and you’ve got something Sex offenses is no room for human error. covered and there is a smell, Reports of forcible sex of- These locks are currently used you’ve got enough to at least fenses increased from zero in in Roper and Clark Halls, as file.” 2008 to three in 2009 on main well as in rooms in the Mary However, Dean of Students campus, but this is one of the Graydon Center, the Sports Rob Hradsky said the stand- most underreported crimes Center, the Beeghley building ard of proof should not have on campus, according to Mc- and Hurst Hall, The Eagle preany bearing on allegations of Nair. viously reported. misconduct, only outcomes. Three reports of forcible sex “We do have a big jump in “I would hope that would not offenses were taken in 2009 on lock outs, but I’m willing to be the case, because really the main campus, one of these in a ! see SECURITY on page 12 role of the hall staff is to report residential facility. In 2008, no Sex Offense
Burglary
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ANC commissioner les two complaints against AV4U By STEFANIE DAZIO Eagle Staff Writer
Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner 3D 02 Tom Smith filed two formal complaints Friday with the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics against write-in candidate Tyler Sadonis, the A Voice 4 U campaign and its public relations firm, Eagle Communications. In the complaints it is alleged that they violated multiple campaign finance laws and that Sadonis is ineligible for election. BOEE Public Affairs Manager Alysoun McLaughlin said the Office of General Counsel is currently looking into the complaints. She does not know when there will be a response. AV4U Finance Director Ed Levandoski said the campaign has not been contacted by Smith, the BOEE or the D.C. Office of Campaign Finance about these two complaints. AV4U campaign staff said they are not going to be distracted by these “inaccurate” allegations with just a week to go before Election Day, according to Field Director Stephen Bronskill. “I think it really says more about my opponent than it does anything else,” Sadonis said. Candidate residency requirements Smith alleges in his complaint that Sadonis is ineligible because of candidate residency requirements. D.C. Official Code states that candidates for the delegate, mayor, chairman, council and board of education races must be “qualified electors” and “bona fide” D.C. residents for a continuous 90-day period, ending on Election Day. ANC regulations say candidates must be residents in their Single Member Districts for 60 days before the election and 60 days before filing a petition for their name to appear on the ballot. There are no specific rules, however, for ANC write-in candidates. “There’s certainly a question mark on what the standard is there. It’s not a clear-cut ques-
tion,” McLaughlin said. The Office of General Counsel is currently looking into the complaint, as they have never had a similar situation before, she said. In the petition, Smith said this “significant ambiguity” leaves the BOEE “a fair degree of latitude.” Smith, who sought his nomination by petition, had to reside in SMD 3D 02 for 60 days before he could file his nominating petition. He then had to file the petition, signed by at least 25 registered voters of SMD 3D 02, at least 60 days before Election Day. However, since Sadonis is running as a write-in candidate, he did not have to file a petition. The deadline to register for write-in candidacy with the BOEE is 4:45 p.m. on Nov. 9, according to BOEE regulations. Sadonis filed as a write-in candidate on Oct. 6, he said. Smith said it is unclear whether the 60 days kick in for write-in candidates at the petition-filing deadline or on Election Day. This highlights one of the ambiguities of election law, Smith said. If Sadonis must be a resident by the Sept. 3 petition-filing deadline, he would have had to be a “bona fide” SMD 3D 02 resident and “qualified elector” by July 4. If the deadline is Election Day, he had to be a resident by Sept. 3. If the 90-day rules are in effect, then the deadline was Aug. 5. Sadonis moved into McDowell Hall Aug. 14. Deon Jones, the ANC 3D 07 write-in candidate, moved into South side dorms June 21. He said he filed as a writein candidate with the BOEE about two weeks ago. Campaign finances In a complaint filed with the BOEE’s Office of Campaign Finance, Smith alleges that Sadonis, AV4U and Eagle Communications violated campaign finance laws concerning a $25 limit on individual contributions to ANC candidates. Levandoski said there have not been any violations, and all contributions have been made specifically in the
names of either Sadonis or Jones, so as not to confuse the two campaigns. There are no limits to what candidates themselves can contribute to their own campaigns, but Levandoski said almost all of the budgets are comprised of outside donations. Sadonis and Jones are running up large debts, Levandoski said. The complaint also states that Sadonis has accepted excessive in-kind contributions from AV4U and Eagle Communications. An in-kind contribution is defined as “a contribution of goods, services or property offered free or at less than the usual and normal charge, or payments by a third party for goods and services,” by the Office of Campaign Finance. In-kind contributions must be valued at the currently local fair market value at the time of the contribution, according to OCF guidelines. The complaint says AV4U’s event organizing expenses, flyer production and consulting firm services clearly exceed the $25 limit. It also says Eagle Communications’ services are worth more than the agreed fee of $500. Commercial marketplace charges would be higher, the complaint states. Levandoski said $500 was the negotiated price, which involved $250 up front and $250 after the campaign. The first $250 has been paid, according to Morgan Gress of Eagle Communications. The number is lower than what professional public relations firms would normally be paid because of the students’ experience levels, Levandoski said. Sadonis and Jones must file ANC Summary Financial Statements no later than 30 days after Election Day. Levandoski said he met with OCF officials to go over campaign finance rules. “I’m following all the regulations I’ve been told to follow,” he said. Previous petition Smith, with six other ANC 3D 02 residents, filed !"
see ANC on page 16
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from GIULIANI on page 10 11-day vacation right after September 11th, I would have been in big trouble,” Giuliani said. He is also disappointed with Obama’s decision to have Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, one of the masterminds of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, tried in a civil court in New York rather than in a military tribunal at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. Mohammed should not be tried in an American court because he is not an American citizen and he is not entitled to the same fair trial rights as an American citizen, Giuliani said. He believes the terrorist attacks on 9/11 occurred because of a “history of weakness” from past presidents when dealing with potential domestic threats. The U.S. needs to take a more pro-active approach when dealing with terrorists and other aggressors, he said. Giuliani is optimistic that Republicans can gain control of the House of Representatives in the Nov. 2 election. He believes Republicans will take 50 to 55 seats in Congress, and the Republicans could have a good turnout in the Senate races as well. In an interview with The Eagle, Giuliani said Obama has alienated many of the young voters and the progressive voters who helped elect him in 2008. Giuliani also reflected on his past as mayor of New York City and his plans for the future. He is pleased with the progress that his successor, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, has made since he took office in 2002. “Bloomberg has carried on a lot of things I started and improved on them,” he said. “We don’t agree on everything, but he has done a good job and has kept the city safe.” Giuliani said he would not rule out running for public office again sometime in the future, but he does not know for which office he would run or when he would run. “I don’t know what I’ll be doing for the next five !
Courtesy of THE EISENHOWER PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
I LIKE IKE — Karl Weissenbach, a 1976 School of Public Affairs graduate, is the director of the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum. The library is working with SIS Dean Louis Goodman and University Librarian Bill Mayer to develop a research partnership.
Prole: SPA alumnus runs Eisenhower library By RACHEL KARAS Eagle Staff Writer
Karl Weissenbach made a career by combining political science with library science. Weissenbach, a 1976 graduate of the School of Public Affairs, serves as the director of the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum in Abilene, Kan., which holds more than 28 million pages of original “Ike” documents — 500,000 photographs, 78,000 pieces of museum art, miles of film and more. The Eisenhower Library is working with School of International Service Dean Louis Goodman and University Librarian Bill Mayer to develop a research partnership, which would involve digitalizing the Kansas library’s materials, according to Weissenbach. The archive digitization process will give AU students access to new information and will provide internship opportunities with the libraries, according to Mayer. Weissenbach looks forward to working with students. “It’s my hope that AU students will come to do original research in Abilene,” Weissenbach said. “As a student, there’s nothing better than working with original sources.” For Weissenbach, the most
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fulfilling part of his work is that he runs a “world-class research institution” and gets to meet the researchers and students who travel to Kansas. He said about one-third of the library’s visitors are international scholars. “Eisenhower was an internationalist … his military and presidential career are greatly admired outside the United States,” Weissenbach said. “[He] was a unique president who … forged effective coalitions with dominant personalities at a time when it really made a difference.” The presidential archivist was not always destined for the library. A Georgia native, Weissenbach earned his associate’s degree from Reinhardt College with aspirations to become a veterinarian. After someone asked him if he would consider a university outside of Georgia for further education, he realized attending AU as an undergraduate would allow him to explore the federal government. “I was very much interested in politics, and [AU] gave me a great opportunity to further my career,” he said. “I came for the international melting pot … it gave me a new perspective on politics and government.” Weissenbach, who said his
dorm life is one of the most memorable parts of college, feels his decision to attend AU was “one of the best things that’s ever happened” and that he still harbors a “deep fondness for AU.” “Alumni should be proud of our university,” he said. “AU has changed … People have a great AU spirit. Students want to change the world, and I think they will change the world … They will make a great difference in their communities.” rkaras@theeagleonline.com
FIVE FACTS ! Karl Weissenbach has eaten barbeque rattlesnake. ! Weissenbach’s hobbies include horsemanship, especially competitive trail riding and barrel racing. ! He is bilingual — fluent in German and English. ! Logan Circle is his favorite part of D.C. ! If he could be any animal, Weissenbach would be an eagle — an AU Eagle!
years,” he said. “I just have plans for the next two weeks. We’ll see from there.” Eagle staff writer Meg Fowler contributed to this report. jryan@theeagleonline.com
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from SECURITY on page 10
deal with that,” he said. “It takes much less time to issue a student a temporary ID card to let themselves in than it does to take a police report on their stuff being stolen. It’s much less trauma to the student.” Other categories In 2009, there were six hate crime offenses reported — up from three reports in 2008. However, the Clery Act expanded its categories of hate crime offenses just before reporting year 2009. The Annual Security Report also includes numbers from other categories, including robbery, aggravated assault and motor vehicle theft. Number for these and more categories changed by one or two reports. The entire Annual Security Report can be viewed online at the website for the Department of Public Safety. Adam Cooper, Public Safety’s logistics and compliance coordinator, who compiles the Annual Security Report, said it is important to look past the numbers. “When the numbers are so small, all you need is a small deviation, and the percentages increase greatly,” he said. McNair said AU has a low number of offenses and that students here are very responsible. “[The Clery Act] was put out there to provide the individual student and their parents with some idea of the kind of crime that is going to go on at a school,” McNair said. “I agree with it in concept. I think, though, the natural tendency everybody’s going to have when they look at it is to try to compare numbers.” AU-related crime is going down from the perspective of MPD, according to Hayes. “That’s a good thing for everybody concerned,” Hayes said. Other Public Safety changes The Annual Security Report
also indicated that further security measures were installed across campus last year. Last year, 20 AlertUs beacons were installed through a federal grant. Most schools received only one or two beacons. The beacons are yellow boxes that basically act as beepers mounted on the wall, Cooper said. If there is an emergency, Public Safety is able to set off the alarm via a text message. The alarm will start making a loud noise, with blinking lights and a scrolling message with instructions for people in each building. The messages can be personalized for different buildings, should only one building need to be evacuated in an emergency, Cooper said. These alarms are designed so that people do not automatically run out of a building. The beacons are connected through Ethernet jacks and an FM radio signal. They will work even if the AU network is not functional, according to McNair. McNair said that there are three layers of contacting people in an emergency: the personal layer, via RAVE text messages or e-mails; the building layer, using these beacons; and the outdoor layer. Cooper said enhancing the outdoor layer is a goal for next year, to get funding for outdoor loudspeakers. The report also said 40 new cameras were installed in the library to increase security and help people feel safer. Over the past 18 months, AU has received about $400,000 in federal grants for security purposes, thanks to Cooper’s work to apply for federal grants, McNair said. In November 2009, Public Safety implemented a new work schedule, where officers work four days a week for 10 hours a day. The previous schedule used a five-day workweek, with an eight-hour day. Because two patrol shifts are working during certain hours, presence is doubled during peak hours — 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. — without paying overtime rates. “Having that overlap makes a big difference,” McNair said. Rebecca Oriente contributed to this report. sdazio@theeagleonline.com
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Courtesy of SCOTT GRIES
CAPE FEAR — Satirical political commentator Stephen Colbert has been hyping his March to Keep Fear Alive, framed as a resistance to “the forces of sanity” such as his rival Jon Stewart’s Rally to Restore Sanity. The two Saturday rallies have now been combined.
Colbert stands against sanity with ‘Fear’ rally By HAELY JARDAS
Eagle Contributing Writer The house is dark. You are alone. You hear a noise! Never mind, it was nothing. You turn on the television and you see the most fear inspiring, jaw-droppingly terrifying person. It’s Stephen Colbert. In a recent airing of his late time Comedy Central show “The Colbert Report,” Stephen Colbert (or as he is properly titled, The Rev. Sir Dr. Stephen T. Colbert, D.F.A.) announced his March To Keep Fear Alive, his satirical take on the spat of recent rallies at the National Mall, most notably Glenn Beck’s latest performance. Colbert claimed it was a necessary action against “forces with salt and pepper hair and way more Emmys than
they need,” — namely Jon Stewart and his competing Rally to Restore Sanity — who are trying to take away our God-given right to fear. Colbert has received a massive amount of Internet support for the march, particularly from college audiences. In an interview with The Eagle, Colbert discussed what he wanted audiences to take away from the rally. “I just want them to be feeling,” Colbert said. “They can feel what they want but I want them to be acting out of emotion and not out of reason because rationality gets you things like the atomic bomb. OK? That’s what rationality will get you. Fear of the atomic bomb is what kept us safe in the Cold War.” He declined to divulge
who his guest speakers would be at the march, but rest assured, they will be some fear-inspiring individuals. Colbert also denied that his march is in any way like Glenn Beck’s rally that took place this August. “Glenn Beck’s rally was a religious festival. He preached and held the Bible. This is not going to be a religious event because I find God to be too soothing and calming,” Colbert said. Colbert is also encouraging everyone who attends the march to come dressed as the thing that causes him or her the most fear, whatever that may be. It’s no secret what Colbert’s greatest fear is. “Bears. They’re Godless killing machines. Immigrant bears maybe? Gay
immigrant bears? Canadian bears, I guess, would be the short way of saying that.” And what about his responses to his rival, Jon Stewart, Emmy winner and host of “The Daily Show”? Colbert says we can encourage people to be afraid of Jon Stewart by saying things like “Man, he’s really going gray young, you think he’s okay?” But why go to a rally for sanity when you can get pumped about being terrified? “Are you gonna get extremely moderate?” Colbert asked. “No, you gotta get jacked up about something. Which is why I’m offering fear.” But in the event that something does go wrong with the recently combined event, Colbert is prepared.
He warns that Stewart’s supporters may get dangerously reasonable on us and that he will be bringing guards. And should those plans fail Colbert has a solid course of action. “Bursting into tears and curling up in the fetal position ranks high on my list of backup plans,” Colbert said. While this march might seem like it’s all fun and fear, Colbert isn’t causing a ruckus for nothing. He encourages everyone who can to visit www.donorschoose.org/truthiness and donate in the name of the March To Keep Fear Alive. Donors Choose is a website where the donor can click on a specific project to donate money towards, whether that’s a new set of calculators for a class of underprivileged children
or new books for a school that is really in need. So far Colbert has raised $417,373 from donations from 8,844 people; as a result they have reached 146,645 students in need and is the website’s leading fundraiser. If you’re planning on attending this history making event, Colbert urges people to visit the website and donate what they can. The march is set to begin at 12 p.m. on the Saturday of Oct. 30, come hell or high water, on the National Mall right here in the District of Columbia and it is free to attend. For more information, fearful participants are encouraged to visit www.keepfearalive. com. thescene@theeagleonline. com
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Internet entertainer creates new persona with ‘Words’ Bo Burnham takes creative route to top of comedy By HOAI-TRAN BUI
Eagle Contributing Writer Bo hates catchy choruses and he’s a hungry, hungry hypocrite. So says comedy/ rapping sensation Bo Burnham in his newest song “Words, Words, Words.” This new song is the centerpiece of Bo Burnham’s similarly titled Comedy Central special which premiered Oct. 16. This is Burnham’s first headlining comedy special. “For this show, I got to talk to directors, choose the set, and I had more control over the presentation,” Burnham said in an interview with The Eagle. “I’m really excited but it’s really intimidating.” In 2006, Burnham started posting videos of himself playing his original songs on YouTube. Burnham’s overnight success eventually garnered the attention of Comedy Central, which landed him a recording contract and helped launch his career. Today his career has exploded. Burnham has an upcoming October tour, a possible movie collaboration with Judd Apatow, and more than 60,000,000 views on his YouTube channel. Having made such an unusual and quick ascension to success, Burnham has received some criticism. Some came from a few traditional stand-up comics, who claimed that he achieved his fame illegitimately. “That [reaction]’s fair because it’s kind of the end
of that world, and comics are kind of panicking,” Burnham said. “They’re not so much worried about my success rather than the fact that I haven’t put in the hours and the grime. I became famous relatively overnight. I am conscious of that, and I’m working hard now.” On the opposite end of the spectrum, Burnham also addressed possible criticisms from his fans in his new music video for “Words, Words, Words” in which he pokes fun at himself “selling out.” “I’m not worried about selling out. I think that selling out is doing something for money rather than doing something you enjoy,” Burnham said. “The worse thing I could do is go back to making videos in my bedroom for 16-year-old kids.” Much as any other artist or musician, Burnham wants to mature beyond the image he has made for himself. He describes different stage “personas” or characters he adopts as he performs and sings his songs. Born in 1990, Burnham says he has time to grow and change. “I would be fake if I’m trying to adopt a persona I don’t relate to anymore,” Burnham said. “I definitely want to change personas. That’s the benefit of being so young: I haven’t found my voice yet and can experiment.”
The first step towards this artistic maturation is in Bo’s new album “Words, Words, Words” which was released Oct. 19 and contains two new studio tracks apart from those recorded at the live comedy special. “A lot of people who liked me as a young kid singing dirty songs may be disappointed,” Burnham said. “This album’s definitely offensive, but it’s well-crafted.” However which way Burnham changes his music or his image, at least he has his priorities set. “I’m a comedian first, and a musician fifth. I just kind of got sucked into the whole musical comedian thing.” As for the future, Burnham is less sure in which direction he wants to go. “I don’t have a five year plan. I don’t see comedy as a stepping stone, I’m just trying to do what I like, and right now I like comedy.” Burnham has several possible career paths that he has already dabbled in. He is writing a script for a possible Judd Apatow movie, which he describes as his first collaborative experience in a long time. He also appeared briefly in the movie “Funny People.” “It’d be cool to be in a movie, or to write,” he said. “Right now I just feel very lucky, that if I write the best material, I’d have the best shot at whatever.” thescene@theeagleonline. com
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TROUBLE IN LONDON — European abroad experiences are considered ‘soft’ by some.
Life in England is great but ... where can I nd the Saltines? CROSS-CULTURAL DISPATCH
LONDON, ENGLAND By OLIVIA STITILIS When considering the world at large, certain places definitely have a more “intense” reputation than others. Populations in some Third World countries struggle on a daily basis just to find clean water and accessible food. In other areas, there are extreme language barriers for native English speakers. These stereotypes are often mentioned when it comes to study abroad. It has been said that if you want a “soft” abroad experience, go to Europe, especially Western Europe. Want an “actual” or “intense” experience? Trek to rural China, the Middle East or a South American jungle. I have now spent two weeks in London, a city considered to be a “soft” abroad choice by some. English is the native language here and traveling to the United Kingdom doesn’t require any vaccinations. Regardless, I can confidently debunk those preconceived notions that living in some foreign countries are “easy.” I am by no means belittling the experiences of those who choose to study in countries
with more day-to-day danger or more primitive living conditions. However, no matter where you relocate yourself to — Asia, Africa, Europe, South America or even somewhere else in North America — adjustment takes time, a neverending amount of patience and a good sense of humor. There are challenges and frustrations wherever you chose to study abroad. Moving to a new country is hard. Every day while abroad I think of more and more things I take for granted at home. The United States is big on convenience. Europe is not. Take getting to my room, for instance. First I have to go through another building, walk up two flights of stairs, go outside and then walk up five more flights of stairs. This was particularly enjoyable while lugging my two fifty pound suitcases when I moved in. Soon after I arrived I needed a plug adapter in order to charge my laptop. It was an early Sunday evening and every single store was closed. Since my computer had run out of battery previously, there was no way to try to set up the Internet and check to see other store locations. Alas, in an attempt to disconnect from the world while abroad, I had left my Blackberry in the states. When I had food poisoning (another frequent fun perk of living abroad) all I wanted were Saltines. In the
states I could walk into any drug store, some even open 24 hours a day, and without a doubt find Saltines. In London, no such luck. Though I definitely have moments where I would love to hop in my car and know exactly where I am going, walk into a Target or eat American Halloween candy, at the same time I am realizing how much convenience actually hinders us. I am glad that moving to London has not been easy. Every day I make mistakes, get frustrated and then usually laugh about it. Every day I also learn more and more about my new city, a new culture and myself. I am coming to understand that things in the States can be too easy sometimes. Moreover, many of us are so privileged in our lives at home in America that if we want something, we can not only get it but get it quickly. Living abroad in a “soft” country or not, takes you out of your comfort zone. It teaches you lessons you could never learn in a classroom in D.C. While some everyday struggles are as simple as finding an open grocery store, for others abroad it can be as complicated as speaking Arabic. In either case, the decision to move abroad and away from the familiar is one of the greatest learning experiences imaginable. thescene@theeagleonline. com
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Teen LGBTQ suicides highlight increased need for support THE SEX WONKS
RYAN CARTER AND TARA CULP-RESSLER At least four gay youth ended their lives this September. Each of their stories is unique, but all had a basis in some antihomosexual sentiment. These deaths received significant media attention and inspired celebrities to speak out about LGBTQ affirmation. However, these events are not isolated incidents. Lesbian, gay and bisexual youth are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers, according to the 2007 Massachusetts Youth Risk Survey. And according to “Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior 2007,” nearly half of young transgender people have seriously contemplated taking their lives and 25 percent report having made a suicide attempt. While no one can be blamed for a suicide, everyone should be responsible for stopping this loss of life. Where does that leave our campus? In this column, we’re dedicated to affirming all types of sexual experiences, identities and orientations. In general, we’re proud of the work that AU’s campus does to create a similarly welcoming environment. “When it comes to acceptance, I think that comparatively speaking ... American is leaps and bounds above [other schools],” said Carter Gibson, a junior in the Kogod School of Business and the executive vice president of AU’s InterFraternity Council. Certainly, AU’s response to the recent tragedies has been admirable. When sex columnist Dan Savage started an online video campaign to tell gay young people that “It Gets Better,” AU’s School of Communication decided to produce a similar video in a “show of solidarity against bigotry against our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered friends and neighbors.” SOC wants to expand upon Savage’s message
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to proclaim: It won’t get better until we are better. Because of AU’s positive actions to create such an affirming environment, some members of this community might wonder why coming out would be an issue at all. Since the campus presents itself as a largely welcoming place, why would anyone still be in the closet here? “When someone does come out in the greek community, the whole greek community is there to support them,” Gibson said. “Some brothers may feel betrayed — but not because of the fact that they’re gay — more so because of the fact that they didn’t know before. They’re like, ‘we wish you would have told us.’” In the closet at AU However, even in a liberal city like D.C. or an accepting community like AU, coming out of
the closet is still a difficult and personal process. “I know people who haven’t come out until sophomore year or junior year of college, if at all,” said Ashley Dejean, a sophomore in the School of International Service and the communications director of AU Queers and Allies. It’s possible that AU’s reputation for being so gay-friendly may hold some people back from feeling fully comfortable embracing their own sexuality. Even though AU’s active chapter of Queers and Allies sponsors activities such as National Coming Out Day on the quad, that may not be the right situation for absolutely everyone to express their sexuality. “Especially for people questioning their sexuality...they don’t come out because they think...they can’t come over here with the rainbow flag and !"see LGBTQ on page 16
Suicide is an important issue that our campus cares about. If you or someone you know is depressed, feeling suicidal or just need to talk to someone get help by calling: National Hopeline Network 1-800-273-TALK You can get help on campus by going to the Counseling Center or GLBTA Resource Center during business hours.
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Local Natives will rock 9:30 club Thursday By MAEVE MCDERMOTT Eagle Contributing Writer
Isn’t it every burgeoning musician’s dream to move into a house with their high school friends, record an album, play the biggest music festivals in the world and launch into the upper stratosphere of indie rock? That’s the approximate trajectory of Los Angeles band Local Natives. The band’s debut album “Gorilla Manor” was released in 2008 and was quickly embraced by critics and indie fans alike. Over the past two years, the critical buzz surrounding Manor, coupled with the band’s almost constant touring schedule and wellreceived sets at festivals, including Coachella, Bonnaroo and SXSW, have led to Local Natives’ rapid ascent into acclaim in the indie community. The album utilizes traditional elements of modern indie rock to craft a distinctive sound, characterized by the band’s yearning three-part harmonies underscored by intricate orchestrations and anxious, rolling percussion. In an interview with The Eagle, guitarist/vocalist Ryan Hahn talked about the band’s collaborative approach to songwriting and recording. “Gorilla Manor,” after all, was named after the house in Silver Lake, L.A., where the bandmates all lived and recorded their album. “Everyone writes for the band, so everyone has their own stuff that they’ve been brewing,” Hahn said. “If any one of us have a chord progression or a melody or riff on the guitar that they really like, that person gets with another person and shows them what they like, and they work together on it. It always starts off differently, but it always ends the
same — when we’re all in a room arguing over different parts and where things should be and what should change, and playing it over and over again until everyone gets to the point where we all go ‘It’s awesome and it works.’” Local Natives’ collaborative style manifests itself in a chemistry that radiates throughout the record, giving Manor a rare warmth. Among the most exhilarating moments of the record are the crescendos where the tension that underlies Manor is released, crashing down in waves of soaring vocals and clattering drums. Hahn cites the Beatles and Broken Social Scene as two of his main influences, both of which can be seen in Manor’s delicate constructions and lush arrangements. Even at its calmest, in the subdued strings in “Stranger Things” and wistful vocals in “Cubism Dream,” the record’s sound seems to be teetering on edge, prone to plunge into a pounding rush at any moment. And Manor’s rowdier moments — when “Sun Hands” breaks down into a stomping ruckus, the orchestral whirlwind of “Who Knows Who Cares” — are breathtaking. To use Hahn’s words, Gorilla Manor is awesome, and it works. Local Natives wrap up their tour next week, stopping in D.C. next Thursday for a sold-out set at the 9:30 club, before traveling to Europe for a string of shows. Try your best to get some tickets to Local Natives’ show next Thursday, Oct. 28, at the 9:30 club. thescene@theeagleonline. com
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SCENE CALENDAR
MOVIE REVIEW
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TUESDAY 26
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TUESDAY 26
WEDNESDAY 27
WEDNESDAY 27
THURSDAY 28
THURSDAY 28
North-Side Halloween Party 9 p.m. WHERE: Hughes Hall Formal Lounge WHAT: Hosted by the Residence Hall Association, the annual North-side Halloween Party will feature music, contests and edible treats. Hughes Formal will be transformed into a haunted house and McDowell Formal will become a dance floor. Be sure to show up in your best costume and compete in the contests for prizes. COST: Free CONTACT: Jason Autry at autry@american.edu
Die Antwoord 7 p.m. WHERE: The 9:30 club, 815 V St. NW METRO: U Street/AfricanAmerican War Memorial/ Cardozo (green and yellow lines) WHAT: This relatively new hip-hop trio hailing all the way from Cape Town, South Africa is joined by Rye Rye in their U.S. tour to play hits off their album, SOS. Mixing rave with new-age hip-hop, Die Antwoord pushes all the right buttons to keep you moving. COST: $20 CONTACT: www.930.com
Phantogram 8 p.m. WHERE: Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW METRO: U Street/AfricanAmerican War Memorial/ Cardozo (green and yellow lines) WHAT: Phantogram is joined by Josiah Wolf and Dubpixel for a night of electronica, shoegaze and hiphop jive. With their humble origins in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., the band produces astonishingly vivacious music that doesn’t miss a beat. COST: $14 CONTACT: www.blackcatdc.com
FRIDAY 29
FRIDAY 29
SATURDAY 30
SATURDAY 30
SUNDAY 31
Norm MacDonald 8 p.m WHERE: DC Improv, 1140 Connecticut Ave. NW METRO: Farragut North (red line) WHAT: As a comic, MacDonald has a reputation that is unmistakable. He’s best known as a recurring character in the “fake news” skit in Saturday Night Live and for his sarcastic, biting wit. MacDonald will be at DC Improv for three days to share his idiosyncratic sense of humor. COST: $25 CONTACT: www.dcimprov. com
Nine 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. WHERE: Greenberg Theatre, 4200 Wisconsin Ave. NW WHAT: Based on the musical written by Arthur Kopit, this work is from the creative mind of Maury Yeston. When an Italian filmmaker struggles to come up with ideas, he embarks on a getaway with his wife only to be followed by unwanted company. COST: $10-$15 CONTACT: www.american. edu/cas/greenberg
Yeah Gates Halloween Spooktacular 8:30 p.m. WHERE: Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW METRO: U Street/AfricanAmerican War Memorial/ Cardozo (green and yellow lines) WHAT: Arlington-based record label Yeah Gates is celebrating Halloween at the Black Cat with a record release party. With featured pop artists like America Hearts, The Cheniers and Foul Swoops. this is sure to be a night to remember. COST: $8 CONTACT: www.blackcatdc.com
SUNDAY 31
MONDAY 1
Jackass Grade: B+ Scene Says: 3D enhances the classic pranks a generation associates with “Jackass” By NISA SANDERS
Eagle Contributing Writer The “Jackass” boys are back on the big screen for a third time with more outrageous gross-out jokes, pranks and stunts. The best part is that this time, it’s in 3D. Johnny Knoxville and his crazy crew — Steve-O, Bam Margera and Jason Acuña aka “Wee-Man” to name a few — started off on “Jackass” the TV show, which aired on MTV from 2000 to 2002, and now they may have gotten together for the last time. “Jackass 3D” takes you on a familiar adventure with a lot of new twists and turns. However, Jeff Termaine, the director of the film, manages to utilize 3D in a unique way — every hit is in your face — you see it coming and feel the pain. For example, when a bull hits Knoxville and his body flips in the air, you cringe. When Steve-O is launched in the air in a porta-potty full of feces, you want to puke. And when Bam pulls a “Rocky” by sneaking up behind a cast-mate and splashing a cup of water on one side of their face and
punching them with a boxing glove on the other, you die laughing. The film also has some very cool cameos from Spike Jonze, the Oscarnominated director and co-creator of “Jackass,” jumping over speeding Lamborghinis. In addition, Jared Allen, the Minnesota Vikings defensive end, makes an appearance and repeatedly blindsides Knoxville to the ground throughout the film. “Jackass” is by no means a cinematic achievement, but it definitely achieves what it sets out to do — entertain its audience. The downside of the film is that true fans can tell that the gang has lost some of their authenticity. The earlier “Jackass” films have always been about doing the dumbest crap to get a laugh, rather than to make money. “Jackass 3D” has this semi-Hollywood polish that the first two movies did not have, which could mean that “Jackass” has reached the end of the road. Our generation grew up with Knoxville and the boys terrorizing each other, and loved every minute of it. In “Jackass 3D,” the film
reveals that maybe the gang is tired of doing this to themselves. In one scene, Steve-O even states, “Why do I have to be Steve-O?” before reluctantly getting hit in the crotch by Ryan Dunn in a gag entitled “Tee Ball.” Nonetheless, the film is a good comedy and will keep you laughing from beginning to end. There are great one-liners, pranks and fun, dangerous stunts that keep you on edge of your seat. There’s also an abundance of gross gags that will make your stomach turn and that are even more shocking because of the third dimension. The film is not for the faint of heart. If you are a fan of the “Jackass” crew, you know what to expect. If you’re unfamiliar, watch a few episodes of the show so you know what you’re getting yourself into. The bottom line: If you want to laugh with and at Knoxville and the boys for maybe the last time, just go see it. You will enjoy yourself and likely become ready to let them go.
some time, and new connections with other LGBTQ students at AU, to allow him to “realize how ... to be confident and out and being myself.”
the closet. Understand that sexuality can be very private, sometimes confusing and often a process. “I’m not into interventionist policy, especially with sexuality,” Ramón said. “Don’t be forcible. Don’t make assumptions.” Be educated. Be welcoming. Be empowered. And, as always, e-mail Tara and Ryan with any questions, comments, or concerns.
thescene@theeagleonline. com
MONDAY 1 Frightened Rabbit 7 pm WHERE: The 9:30 club. 815 V St. NW METRO: U Street/African-American War Memorial/Cardozo (green and yellow lines) WHAT: This Glasgow indie band is joined by Plants and Animals and The Phantom Band for their U.S. tour. They’re making a stop in D.C. to play hits off their latest album, “The Winter of Mixed Drinks.” COST: $20 CONTACT: www.930.com
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a petition, not a formal complaint, Oct. 15 with the D.C. BOEE alleging misconduct and asking the agency to issue a “declaratory statement” to the student groups, The Eagle previously reported. The petitioners alleged that AU student groups have is-
sued misleading voter registration information to students about their ability to register to vote in D.C. and then change their registration back to their home states. The BOEE released a statement Oct. 23 detailing voter registration qualifications and same-day registration procedures. No further ac-
tion regarding the petition is planned, although an Oct. 18 letter to Smith from the Board said many members of the Board share his concerns about incorrect or incomplete voter registration being given to university students across the country. sdazio@theeagleonline.com
from LGBTQ on page 15 scream gay things,” Lauren Ramón, a sophomore in the School of Public Affairs and the deputy director of Queers and Allies, pointed out. Ted Crane, a senior in the Kogod School of Business, came out as gay when he was a junior at AU. Crane thought about coming out in his earlier years at AU, but something always held him back. He wanted to attend a Queers and Allies meeting, but felt like current members would not want to return to the topic of coming out. “Who wants to waste their time dealing with someone who is so far behind?” Crane said. Crane explained that it took
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Be affirming at every stage of sexuality AU prides itself on being a community that’s proactive about creating a safe and affirming environment for all types of sexual experiences and orientations. That means we need to be understanding of people who come out of the closet as well as people who choose not to come out right away. Be supportive of friends who might be questioning their sexuality, but don’t expect to be able to drag them out of
sexwonks@theeagleonline. com
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Remembering Professor Sue Marcum It’s always tragic when a member of our community is taken from us. The circumstances surrounding the death of Kogod School of Business Professor Sue Marcum, however, make the loss of such a beloved member of our community even harder to understand. As we continue to learn more about this devastating situation, we will remember the peer, teacher and adviser who made such a difference in the lives of AU students. Marcum was many things to the Kogod community: Professor,
mentor, president of the alumni chapter, faculty adviser to the Kogod Accounting Club and Faculty Brother of Alpha Kappa Psi. The announcements of her loss will be keenly felt by one and all, from students in her classes to her peers in the department. While many in the AU community are still learning about Marcum’s life, those who we have spoken with have had nothing but kind words to say about the professor. Some students — hearing rumors of Marcum’s untimely passing after
Although many of us outside the immediate Kogod community were unfortunate to have not known Marcum, we will all feel the impact of her legacy here at AU.
her class was canceled — left in tears. We look forward to learning more about Marcum’s life and impact in the coming days. The circumstances surrounding Marcum’s death are mysterious, and the Montgomery County Police are currently treating her death as a homicide investigation. We hope to learn more in the coming days about exactly what happened at her home on Massachusetts Avenue. Although many of us outside the immediate Kogod community were unfortunate to have not
known Marcum, we will all feel the impact of her legacy here at AU. In the days to come, keep in mind our fellow students who may be grieving the loss of a person who truly made a difference in the lives of many of our peers. In times such as this, we need to remember that we are all part of one larger community. For those who feel the loss most acutely, we encourage you to use resources provided by the University. Professor Marcum, may you rest in peace.
IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE, CONTACT THE COUNSELING CENTER AT (202) 885-3500
Smith’s complaints distract from real issues The ongoing saga between Tom Smith and A Voice 4 U further spoils AU-neighborhood relations We’ve hit the T-minus seven-day mark until Election Day 2010. In just one week, we will have the answers to all our burning questions: Can Democrats keep control of Congress? Will President Barack Obama be able to handle a divided Congress if Republicans win control? Are the people of Delaware really going to elect Christine O’Donnell? Hopefully, we will also be able to put to rest the ongoing Advisory Neighborhood Commission soap opera involving A Voice 4 U and ANC 3D 02 Commissioner Tom Smith. What was a serious
matter has now become a tumultuous affair, with complaints filed, accusations hurled and themes of a bad daytime drama rising from the fracas. Smith originally voiced support for AV4U’s initiatives to get students on the ANC, but is now seeking to undermine their campaign through multiple complaints to the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics. While the complaints may or may not turn out to be consequential, they do seem to suggest that Smith is a bit scared of the threat AV4U might pose. While AV4U should have been more upfront about
their true intentions towards Smith, the fact that he is now scrambling to find a way to take down their campaign through technicalities as opposed to hard politics is disappointing and counterproductive to AU-neighborhood relations. The actions of AV4U have not necessarily helped the cause either. AV4U is a student organization, which allows for some mistakes to be made. We’re students. We’re attending college to (hopefully) gain some knowledge, and we admittedly don’t have the same experience as our elders in the community.
However, some tactical blunders have been made and could undermine the campaign. Some of the questions that have arisen from the petition and two formal complaints filed deal with the legality of the campaign and their tactics. We can’t yet say for sure whether some of the allegations made are true, but we do know that AV4U has not been forthright with information about their legal counsel. This information could help The Eagle – and the whole community – better answer questions raised by these complaints. We hope that the student
candidates will continue to speak for themselves over the coming week. While AV4U has done a good job in finding and supporting the candidates, now is time for the candidates to show the AU community and the neighborhood that they are to be taken seriously. Furthermore, we implore all students interested in the issues concerning the ANCs to actually attend meetings. If AU students claim to be interested in issues concerning the ANC, they must show it by sitting through the bureaucratic details like any other concerned community
member. While we can only hope that, like all popular daytime soaps, the drama will conclude as soon as possible, we cannot hold our breath until Nov. 2 lest we wish to go blue in the face. What we can hope for is a return to the real reasons for this election, which is to determine who will better serve the community as a whole - not who can make the most noise in the preceding days.
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Young voters can still influence Nov. 2, should cast ballots for President Obama LEFT TURN HERE
NICK FIELD It’s election time again, and it’s unclear where we’re heading. According to the polls and the pundits, Nov. 2 could bring anything from a historic Republican landslide to a come-frombehind retention of the Democratic Congress. Throughout this election season, much has been made of the enthusiasm gap between Democrats and Republicans: How big is it, how important is it, is it shrinking? Just as important to this election, though, is the age enthusiasm gap. In 2008, some of Presi-
dent Barack Obama’s strongest supporters were 18 to 30 year olds. Today, 85 percent of those voters still approve of the President’s performance, yet only 44 percent say they will definitely be voting this year, according to a CBS poll. This should be a frightening statistic for any Democratic candidate this year, who will need all the help they can get. It’s also depressing because recent elections have seen increased youth voter turnout and it would be a tragedy to see that trend fade away. In reality, though youth voters may disagree with Obama on some issues, overall it’s crystal clear that his presidency has been, especially for us, a success. Take for example the little-noticed, yet highlyimportant, student loan
Dumber than I once was, but better for it SMARTER THAN I LOOK
CONOR SHAPIRO You wouldn’t believe how smart I used to be. I once had a professor who at the beginning of each class would ask rhetorically, “What is the meaning of life?” And I’d answer him. Confidently. He probably ap-
preciated the humor, but he mistook my response for sarcasm. It wasn’t. My brash arrogance made Kanye West look like the bald version of Andre Aggasi. I was the kid in class who never met an argument I couldn’t win. You know who I’m referring to. Maybe it’s you, or maybe you’re the one doodling in class pleading for a meteor to rip through the ceiling and squash him/her. But I’m a changed man now. Not entirely, although I’ve mollified my abrasiveness and even completely
reform passed earlier this year. Previously, private lenders would act as middlemen on our loans. Now, the Department of Education will directly issue the loans. This will save $61 billion, money that will now be used to improve Pell Grants, according to the Washington Post. It also lowered the percentage of monthly income that could be allocated to loan repayment from 15 percent to 10 percent. There was also the health care reform bill, which in addition to prohibiting the practice of dropping patients for pre-existing conditions, allows us to stay on our parents’ plans until the age of 26. Thanks to the president’s initiatives, we’ll be better able to get our financial feet on the ground after we leave AU.
There are many people who assert that divided government won’t be so bad, that it might even be more effective. A September poll from Rock the Vote, for instance, showed that 36 percent of young voters feel that it doesn’t matter who controls Congress. Divided government, however, is far from ideal. The last time we had a Democratic President and a Republican Congress, we spent an entire year on an intern named Monica Lewinsky when we could have been focused on health care, social security and the rise in foreign terrorist attacks. Those who feel our politics have become nothing but a screaming match will find no resolution — in fact quite the opposite — in a divided government. I know the last few years have been frustrating and
disappointing, and that it seems like our Democratic Congress is so ineffective that it doesn’t matter whether they survive. Despite all the difficulty, however, the president and the Democrats in Congress have still avoided a depression, ended the war in Iraq, saved the auto industry, recovered most of the TARP money, and made huge investments in green energy and education in the stimulus bill. On Nov. 2, we should all go to the voting booth and ask ourselves: Aren’t we better off than we were two years ago?
altered my previously unyielding opinions on certain issues. For example, after studying the UN’s successes, I no longer flippantly discount its utility. I was once an apologist for the war in Iraq, now I’m a vocal critic. I used to righteously decry all drug usage, now I’m pro-decriminalization. I used to ridicule religious republicans, now I let them do it themselves. People change, and we should anticipate and appreciate these changes. Especially for those (like me) who needed the makeover. And while it can be a humiliating process to admit previous wrongs, it’s more challenging to convince others you’re new direction is sincere. It’s like we carry a picture in our pockets of the way people were, unwilling to acknowledge who they’ve become. My brother never lives down his chubby label
(even as he’s thinned out). A friend of mine complains he’s labeled the class clown and not taken seriously because of a few jokes early in the semester. We become caricatures. And for those who’ve made dramatic changes, escaping a cloudy past is almost impossible. One of the most influential classes I’ve taken is taught by AU professor Colman McCarthy. McCarthy invites former criminals to address the class, attesting to their rehabilitation. I wasn’t immediately sold. I was taught from an early age that a leopard never changes its spots. The first few guests in our class I welcomed as warmly as a pop quiz. They were despicable people I judged, convicted of heinous crimes. Their fledgling dedication to peace and mentorship didn’t excuse their prior offenses. Enough said. But as class progressed, my shield weakened. In-
stead of immediately scoffing at these folks, I lauded their attempt for reconciliation. They had changed. They wanted a second chance. And the amount of effort expunged to prevent youth from replicating the mistakes they made demonstrated they deserved one. Admittedly, some feign change for expediency sake, others change for good. Perhaps I’m optimistic, but I believe Michael Vick’s apology is earnest, and he’ll no longer abuse dogs. I believe Alex Rodriguez will hereafter abstain from using performance-enhancing drugs. I even believe Christine O’Donnell isn’t a witch anymore (although I remain unconvinced she’s still not an idiot). And I believe my previous desire to assert dominance has dwindled. Life experience and graduate school
Nick Field is a junior in the School of Public Affairs and a liberal columnist. edpage@theeagleonline. com.
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TRENDING TOPICS to parents coming to visit, and for taking us out to nice restaurants for great meals that we could never afford.
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to people that give out assorted healthy items, such as apples and toothbrushes, on Halloween. This is not a treat, just a mean trick.
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to Halloween weekend and the epicness that will ensue between the holiday and the Jon Stewart/ Stephen Colbert rallies. Higher powers have smiled down on us for this coming weekend.
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to pumpkin smashing. to the Smashing Pumpkins.
humbled me. I’m no longer the brightest in the class and instead of anxiously awaiting my soapbox to proselytize, I listen to my colleagues who offer valuable insights. I doubt my undergraduate buddies would recognize the insouciant demeanor I presently exude. They remember me foaming at the mouth. Now, I witness those who act like I once did, eagerly repudiating their ignorant classmates, and remember how smart they feel sans humility. Bob Dylan put it more poignantly, “Ah, but I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now.” Amen. Conor Shapiro is a graduate student in the School of International Service and a liberal columnist. edpage@theeagleonline. com
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Letter to the editor: Finding human rights violators in academia
JOSEPH CORCORAN / THE EAGLE
Letter to the editor: Change in ANC leadership good for community To Whom it Concerns: This year, the American University community is more engaged in the ANC elections than ever before, thanks in large part to the “A Voice 4 U” campaign and our Campus Plan process. The incumbent Commissioner of ANC 3D 02, Tom Smith, has received attention from campus media and other outlets, in which he describes his efforts to reach out to the nearly one thousand students he represents on AU’s North-side of campus. We would like to share another perspective regarding these reports and briefly address the challenges facing the community. In The Eagle, Smith asserts, “In my four years as an ANC Commissioner, I have reached out to the whole student community through the AU Student Government President to discuss issues of concern to students and to seek opportunities to meet routinely with students.” As former Student
Government presidents, we do not find this statement an accurate representation of the facts. We believe Smith has interest in those he represents, but he has never made a concerted effort to understand his AU constituents. He never directly contacted any member of the Student Government during either of our tenures. There is no need to arrange meetings through “AU administrators at my request,” as he said. Direct contact information for the SG leadership is publicly available on a variety of easyaccessible online media. More importantly, contacting students’ elected leadership is not the only way to understand student concerns: Students are accessible and on-campus all day, every day of the week during the academic year. During our terms representing and advocating student concerns, we regularly met with our constituents, held town hall meetings and em-
powered our fellow students to speak for themselves. While our efforts were not perfectly executed or absolutely exhaustive, they were genuine efforts. A representative’s failure to connect directly with their constituents is solely that representative’s responsibility. On a consequential matter at hand, the Campus Plan process, building new student housing on the Nebraska Avenue parking lot is students’ top priority. Smith opposes that view, even though the only members of his constituency affected by such development are the students who would have the opportunity to live there. Moreover, we strongly feel that the recent petition filed challenging the conduct of the A Voice 4 U campaign represents the need for new leadership in ANC 3D 02. We support clean elections, but the accusations serve as a political tool to shut students out of the Spring Valley commu-
nity when they simply want to engage it. Tyler Sadonis is the only candidate in the race for ANC 3D 02 who has actively engaged both the student and non-AU constituents. He has consistently reached out beyond campus, knocking on every door in 3D 02 to hear community concerns. This is the type of leadership needed to bring our community forward as a whole. We hope that a clear and accurate statement of facts is presented in the future. AU students are part of and invested in their community. We ask for genuine opportunities to share perspectives and information as equally competent and committed neighbors. Sincerely, Andy MacCracken, SG President 2009-10 Seth Cutter, SG President 2008-09
Is our university being used to legitimize human rights violators? The common conception is that universities are liberal institutions where academics espouse theories from their ivory tower. Yet, if we look past stereotypes at the individuals actually teaching in our universities we realize this is far from the truth. This semester Georgetown University has gotten some attention for their controversial choice to allow the former president of Colombia, Alvaro Uribe, to teach at the university as a visiting scholar. It is not unusual for former diplomats to be appointed to a position like this but one would like to think it is unusual to allow someone with such a public history of human rights abuses to teach diplomacy to future leaders of our country. The most prominent blemish on Uribe’s Curriculum Vitae is the false-positive scandal. Bottom line: Uribe should be in front of an international criminal court, not a university classroom. How does this apply to AU? We have our own history of giving diplomats with questionable human rights records a platform to legitimate their past actions. After the coup in Honduras we welcomed Roberto Flores Bermúdez, spokesman for the leader of the coup Roberto Micheletti, to our campus as a Diplomat in Residence. We also extended a similar invitation
to Paul Bremer, who is considered by many to be a war criminal. It is not just visiting human rights violators we should be questioning though. A look at the CV of the dean of the School of International Service is pretty shocking. Dean Louis Goodman served on the Board of Visitors for the School of the Americas (now known as the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation), a U.S. Army training school that teaches Latin American soldiers counterinsurgency and torture techniques, which they then use against their own people, according to the advocacy organization SOA Watch. As a board member, Goodman essentially sought to improve the image of this infamous institution. Today, Goodman continues to use the cover of academia to further United States imperialistic and military initiatives in Latin America. These connections should spur a broader questioning of the connections between private universities and United States policies and military interventions. As a student body we need to evaluate how our tuition money is being used to legitimize imperial militarism. Emma Boorboor Junior, College of Arts and Sciences and School of International Service
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