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ANC 3D ELECTION
DO YOU KNOW TO VOTE: DO YOU CARE? WHO TOM SMITH IS? ! YES ! NO 1. GIVE UP YOUR VOTE FOR CONGRESS AND ALL HOMETOWN ELECTIONS
2. REGISTER TO VOTE IN ONE OF THE MOST LIBERAL CITIES IN AMERICA 3. CHECK PREFERRED BOX
! YES ! NO
4. DITCH YOUR D.C. REGISTRATION IN TIME FOR THE 2012 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION -%&!!"#$!'($)(!
COVER STORY
PAGE 12
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7/($-75 ISSUE
MISSION
NEWS
Police blotter (4), Van Jones (6), Artemas Ward Week (8)
OPINION
Editorial (9), Five questions for Tom Smith (10), Columns (11)
COVER
6 < 45
A Voice 4 U campaign
SCENE
Miss Chinese American (14), Go-go must haves (18)
SPORTS
Men’s soccer (24), Cross country (23)
47 57
$=#"!"#$%&! since SEPT. 13
CORRECTIONS FOR SEPT. 14, 2010 In “SG works to make more AU buildings accessible to students with disabilities,” it was stated that Disability Support Services “will try” to move classes from inaccessible spaces and make accommodations. The article should have stated that DSS “would” move classes from inaccessible spaces and make accommodations. In “Conduct code extends off campus,” it was stated that the Student Conduct Code was “expanded to include University housing relocation as a possible consequence for a conduct code violation.” The article should have said relocation of housing is not a new sanction but was added to the list of possible sanctions in the code in order to provide more specific information. The article also stated “Relocation is now listed as the step taken before a student is completely removed from University housing.” But relocation within University housing does not always occur before removal from housing. Removal from housing can be a first option in certain circumstances. In “Changes will not affect most students, administrators say,” it was implied that the standard of proof was recently changed from the “clear and convincing” to a “preponderance.” This has been the case for at least two years. The article also described “preponderance of evidence” as “51 percent, which is the lowest standard of proof.” “Preponderance of evidence” is usually described as “more likely than not.”
The Eagle, a student-run newspaper at the American University, serves the community by reporting news involving the campus community and surrounding areas. The Eagle strives to be impartial in its reporting and believes firmly in its First Amendment rights. SUBMISSION AND EDITORIAL POLICIES
All submissions become the property of The Eagle. Unsigned letters will not be published. The Eagle reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for length and clarity. Letters and columns may be published in print or online. Letters and columns are the opinion of the writer and not the newspaper. !"
The Eagle has a commitment to accuracy and clarity and will print any corrections or clarifications. To report a mistake, call the editor in chief at (202) 8851402 or e-mail editor@theeagleonline.com.
!"
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Editor in Chief Editor@theeagleonline.com News
2. AU’s glow fades after closer inspection 3. Conduct code expanded for neighbor relations, AU says 4. University expands jurisdiction in Conduct Code revisions
In “Student leaders worry about code’s reach,” it was said that the new record retention policy, “excludes charges of suspension, expulsion and removal from housing.” The article should have stated that records of removal from housing are not kept permanently. Additionally, the article stated, “Students now have the option of appealing misconduct charges through a conference instead of a hearing.” The article should have said that students can only formally appeal the sanctions of removal from housing, suspension and dismissal.
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1. Eagle rants (Sept. 11)
EDITORIAL STAFF
Ad Reps Jonathon Gaynes
SEPT. 28
TUESDAY 21
WEDNESDAY22
THURSDAY23
FRIDAY24
SATURDAY 25
SUNDAY 26
TBD Launch Party 5 - 9 p.m. WHERE: Abramson Family Recital Hall WHAT: Join the School of Communication as it celebrates the launch of TBD. com, a hyper-local news website led by SOC alumni and adjunct professor Jim Brady ‘89. Brady will host a live tour of the website followed by a panel of TBD bloggers and a reception. CONTACT: Adell Crowe at crowe@american.edu.
Critical Language Scholarship Program Info Session 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. WHERE: Mary Graydon Center 247 WHAT: Come to this information session to learn how to apply for one of approximately 525 scholarships for intensive summer language institutes overseas in 13 critical-need foreign languages. CONTACT: The Office of Merit Award at meritawards@american.edu.
School of Public Affairs Alumni Career Network: Speed Networking 6:30 - 8 p.m. WHERE: Mary Graydon Center 3 WHAT: Directly connect with alumni experts in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. Professionals from the following five career paths will be present: federal, congressional, government relations, non-profit and legal. CONTACT: Cassandra Szczechowicz at sczecho@ american.edu.
Women’s Volleyball vs. Bucknell University 7 - 9 p.m. WHERE: Bender Arena WHAT: Come out and cheer for the women’s volleyball team as they take on Bucknell University. CONTACT: Kathryn Tortorici at tortorici@american.edu.
New Student Showcase: “Almost Me and Outta Here” 8 - 10 p.m. WHERE: Greenberg Theater WHAT: In a brand-new piece by playwright Caleen Sinnette Jennings and director Javier Rivera, experience the “drama” that happens on and off stage as a group of freshmen get acclimated to their new surroundings. CONTACT: Greenberg Box Office at auarts@american. edu.
NFL Sundays in the Tavern 12 - 11 p.m. WHERE: Mary Graydon Center Tavern WHAT: Come watch the NFL games of the week in the Tavern. Game times are at 1 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. CONTACT: Patrick Ledesma at ledesma@american. edu.
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Army Corps nds toxin level Former WCL employee to be sentenced for theft Wednesday in soil under Public Safety building is safe The two sides of federal court case United States of America v. Martine Tavakoli filed sentencing memorandums Sept. 10 that proposed different punishments for the theft of money from the Washington College of Law. Tavakoli, a former WCL employee, pleaded guilty May 20 to stealing nearly $400,000-worth of checks made out to AU law journals over a period of six years. Tavakoli will be sentenced in a public hearing on Sept. 22 with U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Tavakoli faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The prosecution recommended Tavakoli be jailed for 18 to 24 months, with restitution of the stolen money. The defense, however, asked the judge to consider Tavakoli’s 16-year-old daughter and sentence Tavakoli to house arrest with electronic monitoring in the defense’s memorandum. The memorandum from the defense did not detail how long Tavakoli should be kept under house arrest but did say she agreed to pay back the stolen money. The defense’s memorandum went on to detail
Tavakoli’s life and the context of her theft. Tavakoli, now 50, began working at the AU Law Review, a student-run legal journal, in 1981, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. She was married to an abusive Iranian national, whom Tavakoli has not seen since 2006, when she thinks he returned to Iran. In 1998, the year she was promoted to the position of coordinator of the law journals, she brought home checks that were mainly subscription fees and royalty checks. Her husband saw the checks and suggested she take them for their use, according to the sentencing memorandum. In September of that year, she opened a new bank account under the joint name “AULR c/o Martine Tavakoli.” She used the AU taxpayer identification number and her own home address at a branch of SunTrust Bank in McLean, Va., The Eagle previously reported. Tavakoli then started depositing checks from the law journals into that bank account for her own personal access and use. The theft continued until 2009, three years after her husband left. The memorandum said Tavakoli cannot fully explain why she continued, but she was still
MONDAY 27
TUESDAY 28
Extrajudicial Killings in Colombia and Their Impact on Colombian Mothers 12 - 1:30 p.m. WHERE: Kay Lounge A WHAT: Come hear a talk about Colombian families who have fallen victim to extra-judicial killings, the impunity surrounding the judicial cases and the neglect on the part of the Colombian government. Pizza and beverages will be provided. CONTACT: Christine Gettings at kslc@american.edu.
CIA Information Session 5 - 7 p.m. WHERE: Butler Board Room WHAT: CIA agents will speak to graduate and undergraduate students interested in learning more about current and upcoming opportunities within the CIA. CONTACT: Blair Ufer at ufer@american.edu.
By STEFANIE DAZIO Eagle Staff Writer
trying to support her two daughters and pay rent on a house in McLean, that she could not afford on her salary alone. She is currently working for Beta Court Reporting as a production assistant, a job from home that makes $12 an hour. Tavakoli says she suffers from depression and is currently taking anxiety medication, but she cannot afford prescribed antidepressants. U.S. District Judge Friedman will decide Tavakoli’s sentence this Wednesday. sdazio@theeagleonline.com
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By MITCH ELLMAUER Eagle Staff Writer
The Army Corps of Engineers announced there are not significant levels of toxins in the soil beneath the Public Safety building to warrant cleanup of the site, according to results from its August testing. The Corps tested for a number of toxic chemicals that had previously been found in the area around the building, especially arsenic and mercury, it announced at last week’s Resident Advisory Board
meeting. Arsenic and mercury levels beneath the building do not exceed the arsenic and mercury levels normally found in the area, according to the tests. The Public Safety building has been the site of an Army Corps of Engineers investigation since debris from a World War I-era chemical weapons program was discovered near the building in 2007, The Eagle previously reported. The latest round of testing was prompted by the discovery of a 75mm artil-
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lery shell near the entrance of the building in January, The Eagle previously reported. The Army Corps of Engineers has declared the site “restored,” meaning that the Corps believes the site to be safe. The Corps will no longer be conducting investigations at the Public Safety building, according to a Corps’ press release. mellmauer@theeagleonline. com
WIN GREAT PRIZES! SAVE YOUNG LIVES! FIGHT CHILDHOOD CANCER! SUPPORT ST. JUDE!
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Sept. 11 A student discovered speakers missing from his residence hall room in Letts Hall. They were recovered later. An injured person and a friend came to the Department of Public Safety and reported an injury. The injury had occurred Sept. 10 on Jacobs Field. The injured person signed a medical refusal form. A student reported a laptop computer missing from her secured room in Anderson Hall. The computer contained no personal information. The Metropolitan Police Department initiated a report. DPS responded to an injured person on Reeves Field. The individual signed a medical refusal form. DPS responded to Nebraska Avenue for a report of two individuals carrying a construction sign. DPS found two students carrying a construction sign on the 4100 block of Nebraska Avenue. Student #2 initially stated he was not a student at AU. Both students stated they found the sign on the street, not near a construction site, and attempted to board an AU shuttle bus with it. The shuttle driver indicated he was told a construction worker gave the sign to the students to keep. The students were instructed to take the sign back to a construction site at Wilson High School. DPS responded to a report of a medical emergency in McDowell Hall. A student was in and out of consciousness. A resident assistant reported the student began drinking at 9:30 p.m., drank three shots of alcohol prior to leaving campus, attended a party off campus and consumed 2 1/2 cups of “Jungle Juice.” The D.C. Fire Department transported the student to the hospital. DPS responded to a report of an unconscious student in the third-floor restroom of Congressional Hall. Upon arrival, the student
was covered in vomit. The student was able to answer questions. The student indicated he drank six shots of vodka between 1 a.m. and his return to the residence hall. A witness discovered him in the restroom and reported it to the resident assistants. A resident director responded and determined the individual was capable of staying in the residence hall. An employee reported discovering an AU vehicle vandalized while it was parked near his residence in Northwest D.C. A driver’s window was shattered. Rocks were found inside the vehicle. He was advised to file a report with MPD. Sept. 12 DPS and Recreational Sports & Fitness staff responded to a report of an injured person in the Sports Center. The individual refused a DCFD evaluation and transport. A bicycle was taken from a bike rack in the tunnel. The bicycle was reported to have been secured to the bike rack with a U-shaped lock. Sept. 14 DPS responded to a report of burning mulch outside of Anderson Hall. It appeared to have been caused by a cigarette. DPS extinguished it with water. Grounds was notified.
DPS responded to a report of an intoxicated person in Letts Hall. Reportedly, the individual was found in a men’s restroom vomiting. The individual stated he had been drinking vodka in his room since 11:30 p.m. DCFD transported him to the hospital. Sept. 15 DCFD transported a sick individual from the Letts/ Anderson Quad to the hospital. An unattended and unsecured laptop computer and books were taken from the third-floor lounge of Anderson Hall. DPS responded to a report of a sick person in the Sports Center. The individual signed a medical refusal form. The driver of a vehicle yelled and used profanity when DPS advised him he could not drive past bollards to enter the north side of the Letts/Anderson Quad. Then he initially did not comply with requests to provide identification. He was barred from AU property and escorted off campus.
A latch to a door lockset was discovered missing in Katzen Arts Center. Nothing was missing from inside the room. DPS responded to a report of a stuck elevator in the School of International Service building. DCFD and Facilities Management were notified. The door to the elevator opened on its own, allowing the individuals to exit. No injuries were reported. DPS and DCFD responded to a report of an injured person outside of MGC. The individual signed a medical refusal form.
Find previous
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PHILLIP OCHS / THE EAGLE
GLOBE TROTTER – Senior Katie Gale was recently appointed SG Director of Military Affairs. She also serves on the Alternative Breaks advisory board where she reviews and approves trip applications.
Student Prole: Katie Gale, leader on campus and abroad Advises on SG military affairs and Alt. Break trips By JULIA RYAN and ALLIE MOONEY Eagle Staff Writers
The newly appointed Student Government Director of Military Affairs hopes to make a difference here on campus as well as in a country halfway across the world. Katie Gale, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, participated in forming the group AU Vets and in advocating for military affairs in the SG. In years past, she has gone on the two Alternative Break trips to Nepal. She hopes to continue her work in Nepal after graduation. But while still here, she hopes to help veterans on campus. Gale was the Service/Civilian Chair when AU Vets was founded and is now the vice president. Gale’s friend Brandon Krapf, the founder of AU Vets, was the first to encourage Katie to get involved in the organization. “I originally got involved in military affairs because my uncle is a Vietnam veteran,” Gale said. “Brandon Krapf pulled me into Veteran Students of America. I was really interested in what they were doing, and the group was just starting, so I helped them get started. I’ve been involved ever since.” The SG Director of Military Affairs position will help address the unique needs of veterans at AU and facilitate
benefits for those involved in the military, Gale said. One of the main goals of the SG and AU Vets this year is to get Reserve Officers’ Training Corps recognition on campus. Without University recognition, cadets are not able to use AU facilities or benefits that they would have if they were recognized, Gale said. This is not her first time fighting to get recognition for a social group. Gale’s first Alternative Breaks trip to Nepal focused on gender stratification, discrimination and the caste system. Even though Nepal no longer officially has a caste system, the prejudices from that system remain, especially in the mistreatment of the lowest class, Dalits, according to Gale. She went on two Alternative Breaks trips to Nepal, one during summer 2009 and one during summer 2010. The Nepal Alternative Break group’s service project was to teach the women of a village in the Terai region how to use a sewing machine. When the group first met the women of the village in Nepal, they were “uneducated, unemployed, illiterate and at a high risk for human trafficking and for diseases,” Gale said. But when she returned to Nepal on another Alternative Breaks trip the next summer, she was surprised and glad to find the women were using !
see GALE on page 8
3(4"%!"#$% Gale is originally from Greenwich, Conn. “I miss my dog and my dance studio the most,” she said. In high school, she volunteered for the American Red Cross. She led a team of “Safe Rides,” a program that provided free rides home to area high schoolers. She also volunteered at her dance studio to teach children from ages three to seven. “The most interesting thing [about this job] was definitely the completely non-PC things the 3-year-olds would say,” she said. Gale is a “die-hard Yankees fan” who hopes her team can make the MLB playoffs in October. Gale likes that her literature major has exposed her to different styles of writing and has made her think more critically. She said this will be a good skill to have when she eventually pursues a master’s degree in international relations.
!"#$"%&"'()*+(),*, "234" RANTS My texts always get ignored and my attempts to initiate social contact with people who I’d like to hang out with are hideously transparent. !
! Dear girl sitting next to me, I am indeed, as you guessed, too hot to be straight. It’s actually BECAUSE I’m so hot that I made the decision to be gay — to pursue physiques more like my own. Nevertheless, you are very flattering and don’t be surprised if I compliment your hair or shoes next time you look fashionable. I’m sure you’ll find that I’ll make a great classmate and an even better friend if you’d consider such a relationship. Love, The hot guy in your Philosophy class (P.S.: If you have any other tragically adorable gay guy friends, hook me up! :D) ! The Asbury building is a completely ugly and the blight of the campus. Can we please rebuild a new building in its place? First arts students got a new building, then the business students, then the SIS students, then the SOC students: When will the psych students get some love? Psych is one of the most popular majors at AU. Stop ignoring us!
Student Union Board: If you are going to organize events and give out free food, you need to do it in an organized manner (like by giving out slips with numbers on them to people as they walk in the door). That way people who were there before other people, don’t get screwed over. Either get organized or stop wasting my tuition money buying hundreds of burritos.
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ing a cute card with magazine cutouts, writing him a poem, etc.) But she didn’t like any of my ideas. I don’t know what else to tell her. What are some good ideas for birthday presents for college guys that don’t cost any money? ! I’m straight, but before I met my current boyfriend, I had sex with a lesbian girl just to try it out. It was nice and everything, but I prefer being with a guy. Now she won’t leave me alone. She is extremely jealous of my boyfriend and constantly calls me, texts me, e-mails me, and is creeping me out. How can I get her to back off without hurting her feelings (or inciting revenge)? ! Has anyone else noticed that now that the Eagle changed their commenting platform to no longer let people comment without registering, there are significantly fewer comments on all the stories? Comments were the best part. I miss the witty comebacks! Dislike. ! I consider myself a fierce, intelligent, a carefree gal. I guess I can’t have a guy that’s on the same level as I am mentally. Darn.
Being off campus has lead me to attend less and less organization meetings.
Clark Hall opens to freshmen
Newly-renovated residence hall now home to de-tripled students; rooms are slightly larger than average AU dorms By ADITI HARSH
Eagle Contributing Writer A group of students, mostly de-tripled freshmen, moved into the renovated Clark Hall on Sept. 7, according to Executive Director of Housing and Dining Programs Chris Moody. Moody did not release information about the number of students currently living in Clark for security reasons, but the residence hall has 57 beds and 29 rooms, which will continue to be filled throughout the semester. As of now, approximately 20 roommate groups per week are being de-tripled. The hall has two floors, both containing communal male and female bath-
rooms. The first floor also has an additional private, handicap-accessible bathroom and a kitchen facility. The rooms in Clark are a little larger than average dorms on campus, according to the AU Housing and Dining website. Ari Basen, a freshman in the School of International Service, said the layout of Clark involves separate closets instead of wall units for closets and wardrobes. The main purpose of this new residence hall right now is “to offer students in temporary triples an opportunity to de-triple sooner than scheduled,” Moody said. Both resident assistants for Clark moved in just a
few weeks prior to the official opening Sept. 7. Moody also said the renovation of the new residence hall was completed weeks ahead of the expected date. Originally, Clark was not expected to become available until Oct. 1 because a number of faculty offices had to be relocated and some adjustments had to be made to the building. Moody said he was glad the Office of the University Architect was able to work with the project contractors in order to efficiently get Clark up and running as soon as possible. Basen said he enjoys the rooms’ easy, unique ID access system. Clark and Roper Halls recently installed electronic locks on
dorm room doors, The Eagle previously reported. Many of his fellow Clark Hall residents are now much happier with their change of rooms after being de-tripled, Basen said. “Most of the new residents I have met in Clark Hall are people who were uncomfortable with triples, like myself,” he said. “But things are looking up now because everyone is much happier, and the new space is wonderful.” news@theeagleonline.com
(www.mei.edu)
!
New Language Prociency Courses
!
! My best friend is thinking of breaking up with her boyfriend because she can’t afford to buy him a nice birthday present for his upcoming birthday and doesn’t want him to know that. I told her this beyond ridiculous and there are plenty of things she could give him for his birthday that don’t cost money (like a massage, baking some cookies, mak-
! I most ardently believe that most life crises can be cured with ice cream, a Snuggie, a beer or a big ole’ fashion hug ... combine all of these in no particular order and you’ve got what I secretly call ... “the cheapest therapy ever.” ! Spooning should be an Olympic sport. Everything all PG, nothing too high profile. It’s just affection and it rocks.
(All Language Skills / Speaking Only) The Middle East Institute is excited to announce the launch of its accelerated language prociency courses for professionals in Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Hebrew, Dari and Pashto. These classes are targeted at military and civilian professionals in the Middle East eld and focus on improving language prociency in general while enhancing technical vocabulary in order to meet your professional needs. At the beginning and at the end of each course, students will be tested by ACTFL Certied Testers based on ILR and ACTFL scales. Evening and weekend classes will be offered at the Institute. Private Tutoring and Off-site morning classes are also available upon request.
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REGISTER TODAY! Located in Dupont Circle 1761 N St. NW, Washington, DC For more information: http://mei.edu/Languages.aspx 202-785-2710 Mel-nady@mei.edu
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Van Jones talks environment, news smear campaign By GABE MENDE-FRIDKIS Eagle Contributing Writer
AARON BERKOVICH / THE EAGLE
NOT EASY BEING GREEN - Environmental activist Van Jones speaks about his experiences in the green movement on Wednesday night in the Mary Graydon Center.
Some people will like that their club automatically gets $100. Some people will like that they’re no longer required to fundraise. Some people will like that they can apply for funds monthly. But pretty much everyone will like the possibility all this creates for bigger and crazier events on campus.
The all new AUCC Budget Allocation process. Enabling clubs to do bigger and better things every month, not every semester. For more information, please visit our website at www.auclubcouncil.org or email us at aucc@american.edu.
Environmental and civil rights advocate Van Jones addressed the importance of making new “green jobs” to save both the environment and the economy at a Kennedy Political Union event last Wednesday night in the Mary Graydon Center. “Put America to work to pull America back together,” Jones said. Jones is the founder of three organizations: the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, a Californiabased non-governmental organization that focuses on violence prevention in the inner city; the Color of Change, an African-American advocacy group; and Green For All, a national NGO that aims to create “green jobs.” Jones is also the author of the New York Times bestseller, “The Green Collar Economy,” and was named a “Hero of the Environment” by Time Magazine in 2008. In 2009, Jones was appointed to the new position of adviser for green jobs in the Obama administration. Jones was forced to resign on Sept. 6, 2009 after six months at his job. Rightwing media, including TV personality Glenn Beck and “opponents of reform,” had launched a “vicious smear campaign” against him, Jones said. Fox News once called him “the Green Jobs Czar” for his job at the White House, a title which Jones thought painted the wrong picture of his job. “I was more like the green jobs handyman,” he said. “I was really in there trying to make sure that the $80 billion from the recovery package was spent as well as possible. I was a mid-level White House staffer.” In an interview with The Eagle, Jones said this smear campaign started when
details emerged about his previous involvement with STORM, a left-wing group of protesters who followed the ideology of Mao Zedong, and other Marxist organizations. Jones also said in the interview that at one point there was an untrue rumor going around the media that his name was on a petition calling 9/11 a government conspiracy. He now teaches at Princeton University and retains his involvement in the organizations he founded years ago. Jones said the environmental and economic crises currently plaguing the U.S. are inextricably linked; to solve one crisis could be to solve both. “Solar panels don’t put themselves up; wind turbines don’t manufacture themselves. Workers have to get up in the morning, get their lunch bucket and hard hat and go do all that work,” he said. In his speech, Jones said it is the responsibility of this generation to solve the problems made by the last one, which include the neglect of ecological and economic sustainability. “The problem of the last century was whether we should [be] a capitalist society. That’s what the Cold War was about,” Jones said. “In the new century that question has been answered — we are going to have a capitalist society. The question now is what kind of capitalist society.” Jones said the creation of new green energy jobs would empower the country and boost the economy. “The only way to get America to re-power itself is to create a million or more new jobs in the clean energy sector, so we can fight global warming and the global recession at the same time,” he said. news@theeagleonline.com
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Alumnus dies in tractor trailer accident A 2009 graduate was killed in Canada Thursday on a cycling trip when he was struck by a tractor trailer. Andrew Wolf, 23, of New Jersey, was riding for the Otesha Project, a Canadian charity that promotes sustainable consumption and lifestyle choices through theater, experimental activities and storytelling, according to the project’s website. Wolf was a member of the project’s Highlands and Islands Tour, a team that cycles across Eastern Canada’s Maritime province to encourage youth environmental education, according to the project’s website. Two other cyclists traveling with Wolf along a four-lane highway sustained minor injuries, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s website. Wolf graduated from AU Magna Cum Laude, NorthJersey.com reported. Wolf was a chef and educator at “Brainfood” in D.C. — a non-profit organization that reaches teens through food. He also worked in New York for the Children’s Aid Society as a food educator. Wolf went to Chile in 2008 and wrote his thesis on student social justice in Chile. —STEFANIE DAZIO AU students prepare for October AIDS Walk AU student groups are aiming to meet or exceed last year’s turnout of 400 students for the 24th annual Whitman-Walker Clinic AIDS Walk Washington this year on Oct. 2, according to Liz Bayer, the director of Women’s Initiative’s HIV/AIDS Taskforce. The “AU Fights AIDS” team has been the largest university team in the walk for four consecutive years running, and last year’s participants raised nearly $15,000, according to Bayer. Though AU’s campus-wide team is organized by Women’s Initiative, various AU clubs are planning to co-sponsor the team. The Student Government, the GLBTA Resource Center, Queers and Allies and the Peace and Empowerment Project are a few of the student groups that plan to take part in the event. SG Secretary Kent Hiebel participated in last year’s AIDS Walk and is eager to take part in the event this year as well. “It is really great to see the entire AU community joining together and rallying for this cause,” he said. “American is the most politically active campus in D.C., but this walk shows American’s involvement in community service as well.” According to the Whitman-Walker website, the money raised through the walk funds “primary medical and dental care; mental health and addictions counseling and treatment; HIV education, prevention and testing; legal services; and medical adherence case management” through two different sites in the D.C. area. The clinic also focuses on supporting the needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community members who suffer with AIDS. Students wishing to sign up for the AU AIDS walk team should visit www.aidswalkwashington.org. —MEAGAN LYLE Panelists for American Forum announced, will discuss youth vote Two high-level political strategists will discuss the youth vote and the upcoming midterm elections in this semester’s American Forum, according to organizer and School of Communication Professor Jane Hall. Hall said the goal is to gauge politicians’ efforts to court the 18-to-24-year-old vote in an election expected to have low voter turnout, especially among that age bracket. The panelists will also discuss youth support for the Tea Party movement. One of the panelists, Karen Finney, worked as communications director for the Democratic National Committee and as deputy press secretary for Hillary Clinton, then first lady. She is currently a political analyst for MSNBC. Representing the GOP is Kevin Madden, a Republican strategist and former communications director for Gov. Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign. He also worked as a press secretary for House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio. Several SOC professors and their classes are set to contribute data and background information for the event. The event is co-sponsored by the Kennedy Political Union and is scheduled for Wednesday Oct. 6 from 6:30 - 8 p.m. in the Katzen Arts Center. -TAMAR HALLERMAN
$-"!"#$! is looking for writers. news@theeagleonline.com
SOC professors launch new political discussion website By PAIGE JONES
Eagle Contributing Writer The recent creation of PunditWire by two School of Communication professors allows politicos to sound off on newsworthy topics on an online forum. Professors Lenny Steinhorn and Bob Lehrman launched the website Sept. 13 to allow speechwriters across the nation to be heard. “You have this group of talent that’s had no way to get into the national conversation unless they sort of beg and plead to get in the op-ed pages of a major newspaper,” Steinhorn said. Initially, Steinhorn came up with the idea of starting an online forum for political speechwriters and then approached his colleague, Lehrman, and asked for his help and partnership. “His rationale was there are plenty of reporters who write well, and there are plenty of political staffers that have had inside political experience, so here are people who write well and have been on the inside,” Lehrman said. Since nearly all the contributing writers on PunditWire are former or current speechwriters, PunditWire is not just a blog but also an educated commentary, accord-
ing to Steinhorn. “Speechwriters are people who, by the very nature of their craft, have had to marry opinion, argument and knowledge,” Steinhorn said. The creation of PunditWire was just an idea a year ago, but Steinhorn’s idea has transformed into reality with the help of contributing writers. Currently, there is a total of 10 writers contributing to the site, such as former President George H.W. Bush’s Director of Speech Writing Chriss Winston and Paul Liben, director of speechwriting for former U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, according to PunditWire. Steinhorn and Lehrman believe the number of contributing writers will increase, so they hired someone to manage the website. They decided to let students apply for this position, offering them both experience and a one-year fellowship. After looking through applications, Steinhorn and Lehrman chose SOC graduate student Mary Robbins as Web manager and editor. “I knew they needed somebody to help get it launched to build readership, and it sounded like fun,” Robbins said. “I follow politics, and so it just seemed like a conver-
gence of things that I would be interested in doing.” Robbins was chosen for this position due to her experience with online writing, as well as managing content. Since PunditWire just launched, her tasks include monitoring comments and posts and general upkeep of the site. By offering Robbins this graduate fellowship, Steinhorn and Lehrman were able to have AU sponsor PunditWire, allowing the professors to access school technology and assistance for the blog. AU pays for the website, so the University can now promote the AU name to a bigger audience on the blog. “For every time someone clicks on the site, they’re going to see AU [logo],” Steinhorn said. “That’s great from a reputation-building perspective as well.” As this new website becomes more well known, Steinhorn hopes it gains a national name. “I’m hoping it becomes looked at in some ways as the nation’s op-ed page, as a go-to place for people who seek out smart and interesting ideas to help them make sense of our political world,” Steinhorn said. news@theeagleonline.com
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TUESDAY 21
WEDNESDAY 22
THURSDAY 23
FRIDAY 24
SATURDAY 25
Dive-In Movie 9 - 11:30 p.m. WHERE: Bender Arena pool WHAT: The movie “Jaws” will be screened, complete with floaties and inflatable sharks. A swimsuit is highly recommended.
Ready, Set, Soak! 3:30 p.m. WHERE: Main quad WHAT: A water war will have water guns and 1,000 biodegradable water balloons. Sign up on the “Artemas Ward Week: Revolutionize the Battle” event page on Facebook to stake your claim on the red or blue team.
Ultimate Frisbee Game and Mission Improvable Performance 3:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. WHERE: Main quad and Tavern WHAT: A game of Ultimate Frisbee will be played during the day. Later, AU’s comedic improv group, Mission Improvable, will perform.
Dance Crusade 10:30 p.m. WHERE: Tavern WHAT: Dance the night away with a collection of AU’s dance and music groups.
State Radio Performance 10:30 p.m. WHERE: Tavern WHAT: Ward Week ends with a performance from State Radio. You must have an AU ID to get into the event.
Ward Week to bring ‘revolutionary’ programming to AU Dive-in Movie and other events planned for the week By ALLIE MOONEY Eagle Staff Writer
The theme of this year’s Artemas Ward Week, “Revolutionize the Battle,” is meant to revive the tradition of friendly competition in the AU community, according to Student Government Vice President Maia Tagami. Tagami said Ward Week, which started Monday and will continue until Saturday, is a way to bring the whole campus community together. Co-sponsors for Ward Week include the Residence Hall Association, the Inter-fraternity Council and Alpha Phi Omega, the community service fraternity on campus. “This week is centered around this concept of ‘revolutionize the battle’ — changing the whole concept of what a battle is into friendly competitions that are going to inspire more campus unity and bring people together,” Tagami said. “We’re doing a lot of revolutionary programming,” she said. “We’re really breaking from some of the programming that has
been done in the past.” Tagami is most excited for the Dive-In Movie event on Tuesday. The event coordinators will have inflatable sharks and floaties in the pool as students watch the movie. “I would make sure to attend the dive-in movie, just because it’s something that we’ve never done on our campus before,” Tagami said, “It’s going to be a lot of fun and can bring everyone together with a classic movie.” Overall, the week will be an exciting affair that focuses on the values of friendly competition and school spirit, Tagami said. “The whole week is a really great week,” Tagami said. “I’m excited to see the diversity in programming and the fact that it’s different from things that we’ve done in the past.” amooney@theeagleonline. com
‘Green Eagles’ program promotes sustainability in residence halls, prepares for ‘Recyclemania’ By ANNA SCALAMOGNA Eagle Staff Writer
A new program this semester employs students for part-time jobs to promote sustainability within the residence halls as part of AU’s latest efforts to promote sustainability. The Green Eagles program, coordinated by the Office of Sustainability, has currently hired 13 students to implement projects that educate other students about sustainability, according to Chris O’Brien, AU’s director of sustainability. Each student employee is assigned to the residence hall where he or she lives. Larger halls, such as Letts and Anderson, receive two Green Eagle representatives, according to O’Brien. The Green Eagles complete weekly assignments designed to encourage participation in sustainability from residence hall residents. Past assignments for the Green Eagles have included distributing a sustainability literacy survey via e-mail to every resident in their respective halls. This survey will be distributed again at the end of the year to see if students have become more knowledgeable about sustainability, O’Brien said. Another past assignment for the Green Eagles was to encourage students to
register for the Zimride, a carpooling program that allows students to share rides. Lindsey Breeding, a junior in the School of International Service, is the Green Eagle for Hughes Hall. Part of being a Green Eagle is setting an example for other students, Breeding said. All the Green Eagles met earlier this year to discuss ways they could “green themselves,” according to Breeding. These included simple things such as turning off lights, taking quick showers and shopping at farmers’ markets. “It’s like a peer-to-peer thing,” Breeding said. “It’s not like an authority figure telling students what to do. It’s someone on their level.” In the next few weeks, the Green Eagles will work on AU’s first waste audit, according to O’Brien. During this project, the Eagles will sort through trash from the residence halls and assess what is being wasted the most. Then they will determine how this waste can be reduced and ways to change this waste into something useful. O’Brien said this project will help AU achieve its goal of zero waste. “In order to achieve this, we need to understand where [the waste] comes from and who produces it,” he said.
The date of this waste audit has not yet been confirmed, according to O’Brien. The Green Eagles will also promote the Campus Conservation Nationals in November. This is the first time AU has participated in the nationwide contest to encourage students to conserve energy. The Campus Conservation Nationals is a threeweek competition during which universities compete to see which can reduce electricity and water use the most, according to the Campus Conservation Nationals website. During the contest, the Office of Sustainability will display energy consumption on screens in the lobby of each building to show students exactly how much energy each building consumes. The Green Eagles will also work to promote Recyclemania in the spring. Last year, AU ranked third out of 600 schools participating in the competition, according to O’Brien. He would like to see AU place first this year. “We now have one or two people in each hall whose job is to recruit participation,” O’Brien said. “Our expectation is that they are out there promoting sustainability.” ascalamogna@ theeagleonline.com
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the sewing machines to make clothing to sell. The women had more power at home with their husbands and fathers because of this new source of income. Gale currently serves on the Alternative Breaks advisory board. In this position, she reviews trip proposals, weighs the pros and cons of each trip and helps decide whether or not the trip will be held the following year. She said she now views her life in two stages: before Nepal and after Nepal. In the future, she hopes to work with national development and international relations as a career. Gale said she wants students participating in the Alternative Breaks program this year to enjoy their experiences and be inspired to do more good for others. “I hope it empowers them to keep reaching out, pushing across those lines, taking chances and realizing that there is room to make a change for people who want it,” she said. She has found that dealing with veterans and dealing with Alternative Break participants has sometimes been similar. “Both groups are passionate about what they do, and I hope to work with both groups to channel their passions into something constructive,” she said. news@theeagleonline.com
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Taking political action in our own backyard The importance of registering to vote in D.C. As AU students, we pride ourselves on being the most politically active campus in the nation. We have demonstrated that we are actively engaged with national politics, but now we need to switch our focus to another vital political scene — the world of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions. The importance of the ANC to the AU community has been undervalued in the past. Now is the time to change that. As members of Northwest D.C. community, it is important that AU students — especially those still on campus — act to represent their interests within the neighborhood by registering to vote in D.C.
Although we say we’re from New Jersey, California, or any other place from across the U.S., most of us have come to call AU and D.C. home during our years here. As such, the issues and debates ongoing in D.C. have a larger impact on our daily lives than the day-to-day issues back home. Confining our political activities to our home districts not only limits our say in the community we engage with now but also allows for those representing these districts to ignore our concerns. Of the two singlemember districts that cover AU, only one has had a representative for several years now. District 3D 02, which covers North side, is repre-
Calling foul on maintaining the status quo SMARTER THAN I LOOK
CONOR SHAPIRO
There are numerous examples of ‘conservative’ intransigence stymieing the inevitable progress of the future. Gay marriage and stem cell research are two quick examples, and while I’m not trying to equate those contentious issues to instant replay in sports, they do share a common similarity. Thomas Jefferson summa-
rized it best, “I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times.” Hesitance to change isn’t always imprudent, although more than enough debate has elapsed for these three issues
sented by Tom Smith, whereas the seat for district 3D 07, which covers most of South side, is vacant. Despite the relative anonymity of the ANC to the student body, the effect they have on AU’s current and future campus plans is immense and cannot continue to be ignored. We encourage the “A Voice 4 U” movement on campus to continue organizing voter registration drives to get a student representative for 3D 07. While some question the success of convincing enough students to change their voter registration, especially in light of the upcoming midterm elections, we believe that such a switch is impor-
tant and will help the AU community better engage with our community. As residents of the community, we have the right and responsibility to hold our local politicians accountable to our needs. Our inability to participate in local politics means that our needs and concerns are easily ignored. The vacant 3D 07 seat presents the perfect opportunity for the student body to have an active voice within the ANC. Even just having one voice within the commission will make a serious difference. Just the message that AU students will send by casting write-in votes will signify that we are taking note and are ready and
willing to take action for our interests in the neighborhood. We realize that this year is a significant one in national politics. With the midterm elections drawing closer, and with several races heating up, this is the year when many of our votes will count. Many of us question why we should switch our voter registration to D.C. during such an important congressional election season, but the opportunity to make a difference right here is reason enough to make the change. Although none of us can say for sure where we will end up in our post-AU years, switching voter registrations to D.C. can make a dif-
ference in our lives now, especially freshmen and sophomores who currently live in these districts. As AU attempts to improve the campus for our benefit, we can help by making our concerns as AU students known to the greater community through the local channels of government. Yes, we are the most politically active campus in the U.S., now lets make a difference right here in our own backyard.
and the solutions have become glaringly obvious. Let’s begin with America’s pastime. Managers go berserk. Fans scream at the TV. Owners shake their heads in disgust. I’m not describing a potential lock out or a bench-clearing brawl, I’m talking about a botched call. A fair ball called foul, a (sliding safely) base runner thrown out, or a nohitter derailed by an unintentional blunder. Technology is readily accessible to remedy these mistakes, but it remains dusty like the cleats of a shortstop. Instead, a debate ensues each time a controversial call occurs. Pundits weigh in deriding the inaction of the commissioner and governing bodies for refusing to implement a reviewing process. In a night or two it’s forgotten like a mosquito bite, until the next avoidable mishap. Repeat. Tennis, football and basketball are all incrementally incorporating instant replay
to mitigate error and to ensure fairness of the sport. Poor officiating shouldn’t be part of a sport any more than a streaker is (although a streaker is unquestionably more entertaining). A streaker causes a minor distraction, he/she’s removed, and the game continues. The same can be achieved with the use of instant replay without as much fanfare. For those who feel threatened by the advent of instant replay blemishing a sport, I ask, is there anything that can taint a sport worse than robbing a team of victory? Some folks speak of the ‘purity of the game,’ but there’s nothing pure in permitting fixable mistakes to alter the decision of a game. Masked cheating has become prevalent and practically undetectable in many sports — the least we should demand is fairness on the field before our eyes. Switching to the political, the more citizens realize the integrity of ‘traditional marriage’ is a laughable con-
cept and homosexuals don’t threaten heterosexual marriages (with the exception of many Republican politicians), the more momentum pro-gay marriage receives. After a bunch of religious, intolerant arguments cloaked as intellectual debate, civil rights will triumph and life will go on, much to conservatives chagrin. The resistant-to-change conservative fear may remain, but human rights will prevail. Similarly, stem cell research opponents rally mightily to prevent the funding for embryo development. They concoct absurd (primarily religious) arguments against this promising field while millions of diseased citizens suffer and die. President Barack Obama’s executive order supporting the research was thwarted by Judge Royce Lamberth last month. This obstruction will likely be overruled, however here’s another example of bureaucracy delaying progress. It’s no longer a question of if; it’s a question of when.
My intent is not to trivialize stem cell research or gay marriage rights, but to show the comparison in how preserving the status quo is often done to our detriment. Many folks fear progress. As future leaders, it is our responsibility to remain malleable like Jefferson said, and promote fairness whenever possible. How many more games will be tarnished by egregious officiating errors? How many more years will pass before gay people are permitted to wed nationwide? How many more lives will Parkinson’s and other degenerative diseases claim before we start adequately funding stem cell research? Hopefully not many, because I’m getting impatient. Conor Shapiro is a graduate student in the School of International Service and a liberal columnist. edpage@theeagleonline.com.
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Five questions with Tom Smith Five questions for Tom Smith, ANC commissioner 3D 02 Single Member District 02. What have you done during your time as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (ANC) for Single Member District (SMD) 02 to advocate for the student residents of the north side of AU’s campus, who you represent? 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. By working voluntarily with many individual students on several academic projects over the years, I also have sought to build an ongoing dialogue with the student community independent of the AU Student Government. I also have been supportive of student-led efforts to seat a student as the ANC Commissioner representing SMD 07 which consists almost exclusively of students living in the south dorms — even lobbying the D.C. Council for changes to existing local
election law to make it easier for a student to secure the slot. Over the last four years, I also have encouraged AU administrators to consider building new student housing to reduce the need for triples in on-campus housing facilities. I have worked vigorously with the D.C. Department of Transportation and the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department to address public safety concerns near the campus, especially dangerous conditions for pedestrians in the Ward Circle area. I also worked aggressively with MPD to alert the community when AU women students were being targeted by an assailant(s), so that the community, as a whole, could join together in a neighborhood watch-like effort to ensure everybody’s safety. I also have worked closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the D.C. Department of the Environment, and the D.C. Department of Homeland Security to ensure that students’ safety is paramount as the clean up of World War I chemical munitions continues on the AU campus and in the community. Do AU students and AU
Reality is real: Objectivism at AU THE REAL DEAL
CHRISTIAN CAVENDER Ask yourself, “Who am I?” This question of identity is fundamental. One’s identity encompasses a vast range of concepts, ranging from age, gender, race, name, title, philosophy, religion, nationality, etc. All of these fields compose an individual’s identity. When asking yourself this question attempt to fill all the facets of what makes your identity with discrete terms, for every word
has a definite value and meaning. Language is not subjective, the meaning of a concept or word does not change simply because you choose not to recognize its meaning and attempt to give it another. This principle extends to all of reality. For instance, suppose a group of individuals are isolated into a single room, cut off from all outer stimuli — they decide collectivity that gravity does not exist, and instead they choose to believe that it is the mighty hand of a god, that they collectively recognize, is holding them down to the face of the earth. Does this unanimous decision make gravity cease to exist? No, it does not. Instead, despite their
administrators make good neighbors? Yes. This community is enriched by the presence of American University, especially its students. Many long-time residents of the area, like me, view AU as a cultural amenity. We make a choice to live in a community adjacent to a universitysetting. Likewise, AU benefits greatly from its presence in this community and the community’s reputation for safety, the suburban-like setting, and good quality of life. Nevertheless, like in any co-dependent relationship, there may be disagreements. The challenge is keeping an open line of communication so that disagreements or problems, when they occur, are addressed with reason and with respect for one another — as has been the custom over the generations. Do you feel that an AU student should sit on the ANC as a representative for SMD 07? Yes. As a long-time D.C. community activist, I helped draw the ANC boundaries in the last two rounds of U.S. census-related redistricting in DC that created SMD 07. passionate belief in their social decision, they have collectively decided to become ignorant of gravity and reality itself. Reality is objective. No individual, society, government, or ideal can change this fact. Only the real world can alter its being. That is, only through a legitimate natural change, like a shift in the magnetic poles of the earth or a dramatic alteration in the physical universe, can reality be changed — a change of nature by nature is the only means by which nature can be altered. It can never be changed because someone chooses to perceive differently than how it truly is. This holds true for individual identity. Only you, the object controlling the identity in question, can alter it. To discover the true identity, you must rationally examine it and determine what it is. This is the purpose of my message to you in this snap-
I advocated for the establishment of this SMD as a student-district at the D.C. City Council which has ultimate authority over D.C.’s redistricting of ANCs. I have always felt passionately that students should have the opportunity to participate and volunteer to serve as a member of the ANC, and I have worked vigorously — long before becoming an ANC Commissioner — to make this possible. The ANC, and D.C. government as a whole, is enriched and better informed by student participation and representation. What issues related to the University’s presence in the neighborhood are you most concerned about? AU administrators have indicated that the University is actively seeking to purchase any available commercial property in the community. The neighborhood has lost many neighborhood-serving retail businesses over the last ten years after AU has purchased the commercial property that housed these businesses. Losing neighborhood amenities in exchange for expansion of AU’s commercial footprint is a conshot of my thoughts, to help you understand who and what I am. The previous paragraph should give a rough idea of my philosophy in regards to the world and how I view my environment. My thought is objective — that is, pragmatic and realistic. I seek to discover real issues and their possible rational solutions. The topics that I will address in the future are issues that I deem to be relevant to me, and I will present a rational analysis and possible solutions. This will give you an objective perspective on political issues. I am Christian T. R. Cavender, president and founder of the Objectivist Party of the District of Columbia, an affiliate branch of the Objectivist Party, USA. I was born in Nashville, Tenn., but have lived the span of my eighteenyearsinMurfreesboro, !"
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cern that extends beyond ANC 3D and is an issue that concerns other communities in the city where universities are located, including the Georgetown (Georgetown University) and Foggy Bottom (George Washington University) communities. What will you do to represent the AU community in the future? I will continue to reach out to AU Student Government leaders to seek more structured opportunities to meet with students and discuss ways that I can be helpful on issues related to the D.C. government and D.C. agencies. I also will ask The Eagle to consider making space available for a column periodically to communicate directly with students. I will continue to advocate with D.C. agencies for a comprehensive review of public safety concerns on city streets near the campus, especially in the Ward Circle area. As I have over the last four years, I will continue to reach out also to AU administrators and encourage open dialogue with the community on issues that fall within the jurisdiction of D.C. agencies. I will closely
monitor the World War chemical munitions cleanup at AU and in the surrounding area and work to ensure that students are fully informed of any new information or potential dangers or hazards associated with the clean up on or near campus. And I will continue to make myself available to students to assist on any academic-related projects, as I have done routinely over the last four years. “Five Questions with Tom Smith” is part of our “Five questions with...” series, where The Eagle will be asking various members of the AU community five questions about hot issues.
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wants you to send your thoughts to edpage@theeagleonline.com
Polarization as the political norm harms U.S. GIVE ME LIBERTY
MICHAEL STUBEL Imagine two mountains straddling a desolate valley far below. The mountaintops are crowded with loud voices only growing louder. The valley’s population is waning, its power neutralized long ago. This vignette is akin to America’s political landscape today. One mountain represents the
Left, disappointed in President Barack Obama and confused as to why everything has gone so wrong, so fast. Another peak shelters the splintered, yet resurgent Right, comprised of an odd assembly of small government reformers and Tea Party enthusiasts. Far above the scene, a jubilant media caters to the partisan mess with shouting heads and dubious “no spin zones.” Then there is the valley, otherwise known as the vanishing consciousness of the country’s ideological center.
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!"#$"%&"'()*+(),*, from IDENTITY on page 10 the geographical center of my wonderful home state and former capital. I am a politically active citizen, being a former candidate for county commissioner for, and a former campaign coordinating assistant for the Republican Party. It is my goal to help further the already heavy political awareness of the American University campus and student body, and perhaps give an alternative viewpoint that is not commonly represented in the AU community. In short, welcome to my column. !"
Christian Cavender is a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences and a conservative columnist for The Eagle. edpage@theeagleonline.com
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$-"!"#$! from NORM on page 10 That’s where you’ll find me. If I could make a career of calling people down from those mountains, I’d start today. While most of the political class paints in black and white, I articulate the shades of gray. Messaging ploys like hope and change and “Country First” might work well on the mountain audiences, but valley dwellers respond to detail and substance. We value those brave enough to work across the aisle and counter extremists in their own parties. I won’t tell you that Republicans deserve to recapture a congressional majority (their lack of policy specifics is troubling) or that the Democrats’ legislative achievements are underappreciated (I just can’t endorse that much spending). I will tell you that America is
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worse off everyday politics are put before policy. From health care to financial reform to the controversy surrounding the Islamic cultural center in Manhattan, every unfolding development is framed for maximum media exposure and partisan dissection. The accompanying questions have grown predictable: Is Obama wasting his political capital on health care legislation? Will voters punish Republicans who defend Wall Street? How will the mixed response among Democrats on the cultural center affect the midterm elections? Turn on the television and you’ll see media outlets trot out supposed experts to answer such questions. However, a fundamental problem remains. Where are the questions on preventive care or medical
malpractice or religious freedom or property rights or … you know, the important questions. Instead, we are treated to coverage of death panels and horserace projections and the president’s apparent Islamization (really, people?). As the public becomes accustomed to digesting its news in a strict political context, the risk of increased partisanship grows. The debate over the impending expiration of the Bush-era tax cuts crystallizes the nation’s trouble with reality. Allowing all of the cuts to expire would revert rates to where they were in the 1990s. New revenue sources — ending high-income cuts would bring in $700 billion over the next decade alone — are pivotal in tackling both short-term deficits and the long-term national debt. Here’s where politics get
in the way. Obama’s popularity is slipping and his party is headed for imminent danger. Of course, taking money from the struggling middle class won’t make him any friends. Republicans want tax cuts for everyone. Democrats ask the rich to take on a larger share, but can’t muster the courage to tell that to the other 98 percent of taxpayers. No one budges. A solution lies somewhere in the middle. Let the cuts to upperincome earners expire permanently. Extend the tax cuts to individuals earning less than $250,000 a year for a short period while the economy finds its footing. When families are on sounder financial ground in 2012 or 2013, allow the remaining cuts to expire. The ideological segregation of America is a deepening crisis. One can look at the 2008
presidential election as a decisive victory for Obama. He won 53 percent of the popular vote, after all. Look closer and you see that the traditionally Democratic states took on a deeper blue shade at the same time the reliably Republican strongholds became crimson red. People are congregating with likeminded neighbors. The political environment is one of entrenchment and scripted sound bites. Anyone who dares to venture off their mountain is scorned and disowned. The consequences of these trends to constructive public policy are horrifying. Michael Stubel is a junior in the School of Public Affairs and the School of Communication and a moderate Republican columnist for The Eagle. edpage@theeagleonline.com
LEIGH GIANGRECO / THE EAGLE
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Students organize to elect one of their own to local ANC Campaign aims to register campus residents as D.C. voters By MEG FOWLER, ANNA SCALAMOGNA and STEFANIE DAZIO Eagle Staff Writers
An AU student aspiring to serve in public office may be in luck — members of the AU student body have put together a fill-in-the-candidate campaign, complete with manager, campaign finance director and a public relations department. Now all they need is a candidate. Student members of groups from across campus — from the College Democrats to the College Republicans, from the Inter-Fraternity Council to the Panhellenic Association and from the Residence Hall Association to the Student Government — have pulled together to create the “A Voice 4 U” campaign. They want to obtain representation for AU students on the local Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3D, a body that represents AU’s neighborhood within Ward 3. AU students have not had representation recently on the ANC in which AU lies, and a band of students working in and with A Voice 4 U have decided to find a person to fill this role. The goal is to get two students on ANC 3D, according to SG President Nate Bronstein and the SG Director of Community Relations Sami Green, who presented the idea for the campaign to student groups Sept. 3, The Eagle previously reported. Two students could be commissioners on the ANC because the borders of two single member districts within
ANC 3D split AU’s campus — SMD 02 and SMD 07. The commissioner’s seat for SMD 07 has been vacant for years, but residents of SMD 02 have been represented for the past four years by local resident Tom Smith. AU students are looking to both fill the vacant seat and replace Smith with an AU student from the North side of campus. Green said Smith has never reached out to students to hear from them. But 75 percent of the people he represents are students, according to Green. However, Smith said that he has represented students well as ANC commissioner. Smith has reached out to both SG President Nate Bronstein and former SG President Andy MacCracken to ask for an opportunity to hear from students, he said. “Unlike anyone who held this seat previously, I have reached out to the student community,” Smith said. “I have initiated conversations with the Student Government president.” But in order to vote in the election and secure a representative on the ANC, enough students residing in ANC 3D’s single member districts 02 and 07 must file voter registration in D.C. Once students have registered to vote locally, A Voice 4 U will campaign for the two student candidates to be elected as write-ins on Election Day, Nov. 2. Step 1: Get out the registration Students ran a voter registration drive Sunday on the North side of AU’s main campus in order to persuade
PHILLIP OCHS / THE EAGLE
WHO’S VOICE IS IT ANYWAY? — Students affiliated with the A Voice 4 U campaign want to persuade at least 500 students to register to vote in D.C. instead of their home towns. They have distributed about 1,500 voter registration forms so far. dorm residents to register to vote in D.C. or change their registration from their hometown to D.C. Since the start of the campaign over 1,500 voter registration forms have been distributed and over 100 have been completed, according to the A Voice 4 U Campaign Manager Bharat Krishnan There will be at least two more drives before the Nov. 2 elections, according to Bronstein. The last day for voters to change their registration from their home state to D.C. is Oct. 2. However, new voters can register until Nov. 2. Both Green and Bronstein would like to see 500 students registered to vote in D.C. in the next few months. Bronstein’s personal goal is to have 200 students registered from North side and 100 from South side. Bronstein said there are also plans to go door to door in the neighborhoods surrounding campus to encourage residents to write in AU student candidates as well. More registered voters are needed from North side because the current SMD 02 Commissioner, Smith, will
run for re-election in November. The race for the SMD 07 seat covering South side will most likely be unopposed, and AU students make up most of the residents in that district. In the past, students have been reluctant to change their registration to D.C. because D.C. does not have representation in Congress. Bronstein said that this time, students may be willing to switch their voter registration to D.C. because this year there is a mayoral race in the general election. In order to claim voter registration in D.C., students must maintain residency here for 30 days prior to the election on Nov. 2, according to Alysoun McLaughlin, public affairs manager for the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics. “For voting purposes ... your residence is wherever you claim your residence to be,” she said. Students cannot claim multiple residences, however, and must revoke their registration in their home state. There is no limit to the number of times a person can switch their registration
into and out of D.C. But registration requirements vary from state to state, and D.C. regulations for switching registration may not necessarily be true in other states. Carter Gibson, a director of the Greek Life Engagement section of the A Voice 4 U campaign, said that the group will work to help students change their registration back to their home states after the campaign. Gibson is also a Delta Tau Delta brother and vice president of the Inter-fraternity Council. Step 2: Find the candidates The campaign staff of A Voice 4 U plans to select the two candidates that it will then encourage students to write in the ballot in November. Students have already approached the campaign staff with interest in running for the positions, but A Voice 4 U will not release names at this time. Bronstein said he thinks that the right students are people who can clearly understand local issues and hear both AU’s side and the community’s side of things. The students to represent
AU in the capacity of this public office will not be decided by an intra-campus election, according to Krishnan. The candidates that A Voice 4 U will campaign for will be decided by a group of individuals who have been working closely with A Voice 4 U before and during the process of encouraging voter registration, Krishnan said. Green and Bronstein have reached out to student groups, and representatives of the A Voice 4 U campaign made presentations to 16 greek chapters Sunday to try and rally the affiliated community. Gibson said he has never seen the student body so mobilized in his nearly three years on campus. “AU students want a voice,” he said. “There’s no reason to be quiet the moment you get it.” Step 3: Get out the vote The A Voice 4 U campaign plans to campaign both on AU’s campus and in the neighborhood to elect the student candidates as writeins. The campaign will be
September 21, 2010
Cover Story 13
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3D02
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MAP OF ANC 3D — D.C. is divided into eight wards. Ward 3 is comprised of six Advisory Neighborhood Commissions. AU’s campus is split by two of ANC 3D’s nine single member districts. funded based solely on donations from AU students and alumni, according to Ed Levandoski, the finance director of the campaign and treasurer for the Student Government. The fundraising goal for the campaign for both of the student commissioners is $4,000, Levandoski said. Funds will go towards signs, water bottles, flyers and other paraphernalia related to promoting the candidates, according to Krishnan. At least $500 of the campaign’s budget must be allocated to the Public Relations firm A Voice 4 U has hired for the campaign. The firm, called Eagle Communications, is a student-run firm comprised of members of AU’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America. A Voice 4 U and Eagle Communications have an agreement of a $250 payment up front and a $250 payment after the campaign. The two groups are still in the process of agreeing on contracts. Levandoski said that the fundraising strategy includes a link to a PayPal account on the A Voice 4 U website and
Source: Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions Facebook page. Also, Eagle Communications will draft fundraising letters to send to alumni and students. AU students cannot campaign for A Voice 4 U in the capacity of their roles in campus organizations, nor can they use campus resources to help with the campaign. As a 501 (c)(3) organization, AU cannot endorse or campaign for a political candidate, and violations of that rule could threaten AU’s taxexempt status, according to a “Political Activities FAQs” document provided by AU. The University “may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates,” according to the Internal Revenue Code. All students involved in the campaign, including Green, Bronstein and Levandoski cannot use any facilities or resources they use as SG officers to help this campaign. Past difficulties: SMD 07 Green said she has tried to get on the ballot for election to the ANC eight times in the past two years.
In the past, she has run into problems of not being able to gain enough signatures on a petition to get her name on the ballot. Also, the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics has rejected her petition on the basis of various technical grounds, The Eagle previously reported. Smith said he has tried to help Green gain a seat on ANC 3D in the past. “I’ve always been very supportive and actually very helpful to Sami in the past when she has expressed interest in running for that seat,” Smith said. “We’ve worked with the D.C. government to try to streamline the process. I’ve even lobbied Mary Cheh [councilwoman for Ward 3] to change the law ... to make it even easier.” However, Green said that Smith confronted her during her efforts to get on the ballot for ANC 3D, saying that the district was purposely gerrymandered to make the election process less accessible for students. Smith said this is not true. “I have been on the record for more than enough times saying that having that seat filled will be incredibly help-
ful to our ANC and to ensure that there is a student perspective — not from the AU administrators but a student perspective,” Smith said. “So I think [the campaign] is a great thing.” Smith was involved the last time the district lines were drawn. The specific purpose of SMD 07 is allowing for student representation on the ANC, and the district exists as a result of his efforts, he said. Previously, representation of the area of AU’s campus was divided between six or seven commissioners from other districts, according to Smith. Green said she hopes that this year’s campaign can circumvent the obstacles she has faced in the past. While she can no longer try for the commissioner position because she plans to study abroad in the spring, she has taken an active role in trying to find the AU students to take the positions. Because this year’s campaign is during the main, two-year election cycle and because the candidate will be a write-in candidate, Green said she hopes that the tech-
nical difficulties posed by the petitioning process will not be hurdles. The campaign is also different this year because it is a more grass-roots effort, and more student groups have come together in support of the common goal, she said. SMD 02 Smith, the current commissioner for SMD 02, said that he has always thought an AU student should have a seat on ANC 3D, but he is more concerned about having a student on the ANC that doesn’t know the processes of addressing local issues. “I think that would be helpful for someone who’s interested to actually understand what they’re signing up for,” Smith said. Though a student should hold the seat for ANC 3D07, Smith said he has worked hard for students as ANC3D 02 commissioner. Smith reiterated that he has represented students well by reaching out to Student Government presidents. Bronstein said that he and Smith met for lunch in July, and at that time Smith told Bronstein that he was invest-
ed in maintaining communication between them. Smith also said he was concerned that a student would not understand the local issues that an ANC addresses. Penny Pagano, AU’s director of community and local relations, said she thinks students will be able to handle the responsibilities of being a commissioner on the ANC. “I think students are bright enough to figure out city regulations,” Pagano said. “And if not, they will know where to go for help.” While Pagano is not directly involved with this campaign, she is proud of the students for taking this initiative. “I don’t plan to be directly involved. This is for the students. It’s their race,” she said. news@theeagleonline.com
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YOHANA DESTA / THE EAGLE
HERE SHE IS — AU graduate student Serena Lin (second from left) was the first runner up in the Miss Chinese American pageant. Lin competed against over a dozen other young women for the crown. The competition featured the traditional pageant categories — swimsuit, talent, evening gown and Q&A — but focused on the unique experiences Chinese Americans face in this country.
AU graduate student takes second place in Miss Chinese American By YOHANA DESTA Eagle Staff Writer
Serena Lin was born to be a pageant queen. She’s involved in countless charities (Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Smithsonian Young Benefactor’s Society, etc.), has perfect hair and speaks multiple languages (Chinese Mandarin, Cantonese, Taiwanese). And yet, she competed in her first pageant last Friday, in Miss Chinese American in Bethesda. The 23-year-old graduate student at AU, born and raised in Xiamen, China, is majoring in public communications and has big dreams for that major. “I want to have a strategic communications consulting firm that handles marketing and PR for international organizations and non-profits,” said Lin in an interview with The Eagle. Lin credits this interest in international affairs to her halfFrench, half-Chinese grandfather, a former diplomat, and her grandmother, a former schoolteacher. Lin said that
her grandparents raised her and that her grandmother had a great influence on her. “By age 6 or 7, she taught me how to correctly wear perfume and dress well everyday. She influenced me more than she knew and she always taught me that education was important,” said Lin. As a result, Lin is well-traveled, having lived in the UK for a year and coming to AU to continue pursuing a communications career. “I come from a journalism background and AU seemed to have the best communications school,” said Lin. Since coming to AU, Lin has joined the AU Chinese Scholars and Students Association (AUCSSA), a Chinese organization on campus, and became an intern for the US Chamber of Commerce. As part of the AUCSSA, Lin has been able to host many traditional Chinese events, such as New Year’s and Mid Autumn festival. In addition, Lin performed at the Chinese Embassy, doing a song and dance in a traditional “qipao” dress. But that performance is nothing for Lin, who has been
dancing and modeling for years now. “I’ve modeled for countless charity events,” said Lin, among them, runway shows for Fashion for Passion, to end human trafficking, Green and Gorgeous Fashion Show, to raise breast cancer awareness, and 2010’s Apparatus Fashion Show, which promotes HIV/ AIDS awareness. Because of this, Lin felt confident about competing in a pageant. She looked forward to the talent and question section the most. But for the multi-talented student, it wasn’t easy to convince others that a pageant was a worthwhile event. “My friends asked, ‘why?’ They think pageants are superficial and for shallow girls. But I think it’s an opportunity to be a role model — I want to promote cultural change, not just my looks,” said Lin. “I feel that many times the role of Chinese American women isn’t fully recognized. I want to help give women a more powerful yet feminine exposure,” said Lin. Though this is Lin’s first
pageant, she isn’t opposed to doing more. She says that she could see herself competing in Miss International or perhaps Miss America. And though she’s been training for the pageant for the past two months, she believes that the only important thing to remember in a pageant is to be yourself and have positive energy. “I love the saying that if you can’t control others, control yourself. You just have to do your best,” said Lin, in reference to the pageant results. As the competition was underway last Friday at the Strathmore Music Center, Lin and the 14 other competitors were dizzy from six-hour dress rehearsals and nonstop talent practice. Backstage, the dressing rooms were covered in makeup, hairspray bottles and suitcases filled with clothes. Girls were scrambling to achieve perfection, applying copious amounts of mascara, tanning spray and body shimmer on every part of their bodies. The pageant opened with the girls performing a group
number set to a remixed version of “What U Waiting For?” by Gwen Stefani. Wearing identical white bubble dresses, each girl spun in circles and blew choreographed kisses to the audience. The girls, ranging in age from 17 to 24, each had their turn at the mic, introducing themselves in English and Chinese to the largely Asian audience. Afterwards came the talent competition. Some sang songs, others played instruments, such as the flute and traditional guzheng, while others, like Serena, opted to do a dance routine. Lin performed a samba/jazz fusion in a pink flapper dress, with a permanent smile affixed to her face. After the talent came the swimsuit and evening wear. The girls all wore identical blue bikinis and extravagant hairstyles. The evening gowns ranged from dramatic red and black gowns, to flowery, strapless pieces. Lin stood out in a pale blue gown and silver heels. The competition was incredibly long, lasting for about
two-and-a-half hours, but around 10 p.m. it was time to announce the winners. There were special prizes, such as “Best Dressed” and “Best Posture,” and then it was time to make the big announcements. There were to be four runner ups, with only the top two receiving crowns, sashes and trophies. As each name was announced, each of the girls kept her composure, smiling and clapping graciously for each girl. In the end, Serena Lin was crowned first runner-up, while the winner was Patty Yao. Lin received a crown along with two bouquets of flowers. Once backstage, the first thing Lin did was hug her makeup artist/hair stylist Ji Cha, and call her parents in China. Lin was completely surprised by the win, but says she was proud of herself and her success in her very first pageant. Maybe Miss America isn’t too far of a reach after all. ydesta@theeagleonline.com
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YOU’RE HIRED — Kelly Beaty competed on the new season of NBC’s “The Apprentice.” After losing her job in public relations due to the recession, Beaty managed to climb back to the top.
AU alum brings new energy to recession-focused ‘Apprentice’ New season is rst in three years to not focus on celebrities; Contestant Kelly Beaty talks to The Eagle about experience By IAN NYANIN
Eagle Contributing Writer Kelly Smith Beaty has had a rollercoaster of a year. From a job at the top of her industry, to unemployment and finally to primetime television on “The Apprentice,” the AU alumna is on a career path that shows no signs of stopping. This current season of “The Apprentice,” the 10th in the series, is the first non-celebrity version in three years. Besides returning to its original formula, the show has added a special twist, as all of its contestants have been directly impacted by the recession.
Smith Beaty, as an impacted American, will be one of 16 contestants competing for a job in Donald Trump’s empire. “I can assure you, you have never seen an ‘Apprentice’ like this before,” Smith Beaty said. “It’s crazy from the very first episode and it’s not going to stop until the very end. These [contestants] are people who are fighting for their lives, fighting for their dreams and fighting for their families.” Given the high stakes of the show, the pressure was on for Smith Beaty. “When you put 16 people in a room and say ‘There’s one job. Go,’ what you have is a
wild ride and an exhibition of some of America’s brightest, most creative, innovative and strategic minds,” she said. “From a business standpoint, from an entertainment standpoint, you will not go wrong with this season of the Apprentice.” The contestants on the show are made to live together, filmed during nearly all of their waking hours and are given high-stress challenges to complete as groups. On top of all of this they meet the man, the myth — Donald Trump himself. Fortunately for Smith Beaty, her background in public relations had prepared her well.
“As amazing as it was being before someone as important and iconic as Mr. Trump, it wasn’t as intimidating for me as it was for some of the others,” she said. Highlights of her illustrious résumé include working for both boutique and international public relations firms, counseling CEOs of Fortune 500 Companies, working in celebrity PR and meeting with leaders of various African countries. “The time restraints were incredible, but working in public relations, the media cycle is 24 hours, and so careers in PR are 24 hours, too,” Smith Beaty said. “I’m used to the long nights and early mornings.” Despite the show’s focus on the business world, it is still reality television, meaning that there will be no shortage of drama. One of the most difficult things for Smith Beaty to handle on the show was “really trying to adjust to the different personality types and people who are truly will-
ing to fight tooth and nail because their lives are on the line,” she said. In the face of so many stresses and obstacles, Smith Beaty said she was still able to retain composure and to keep her eye on the ultimate goal for the duration of shooting. “As long as you remember who you are and why you’re there, some of the other distractions become less important,” she said. “That’s not to say I won’t have moments that I’ll probably have to close my eyes for when they come onto the screen. But I think overall I tried to maintain my professionalism.” The debut of the show marks another accomplishment for Smith Beaty who received her master’s degree from AU’s School of Communication in 2005. A quick ascent in the PR field followed and took her from D.C. to New York and back to her home state of Georgia. Five years later, she found herself at the Atlanta office of a top international firm and named as one of the city’s
“Power 30 Under 30.” Despite all her success, Smith Beaty felt something was missing. “I was in a position I was very unfulfilled in,” she said. “There I was, working literally around the clock, on the weekends, having to commit my entire life to my career. When you spend that much time doing something that you don’t really love, it really takes a toll on you.” Looking back, Smith Beaty has been able to take away important lessons she hopes to apply to her life in the future. “I think the biggest lesson that I have learned going through this so early in my career, and if anything I would want to impart to other students — don’t chase money, chase your happiness,” she said. “Going forward I will never again chase the salary or the lifestyle. I’m going to go after what makes me happy, a career that makes me happy.” thescene@theeagleonline. com
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Communication, friends key to avoiding high-risk behavior THE SEX WONKS
TARA CULP-RESSLER and RYAN CARTER Maybe it takes more than two to tango Jane goes to a party with you on a Saturday night. As the evening wears on, Jane meets up with a guy she’s had her eye on for quite some time. The two of them have a couple drinks together and things are getting pretty hot. The new acquaintance invites Jane over to his place. As her friend, what would you do? When it comes to sexuality on college campuses, there’s perhaps nothing more controversial than what’s known as the “hook-up culture.” Sexual experiences outside of romantic relationships, casual encounters facilitated by alcohol and the blurred line around consent all inspire a range of attitudes and opinions. However, the very nature of the controversy means that we definitely shouldn’t stop talking about it. Casual hook-ups — whether drunk or sober — are a very real aspect of many college students’ sexual experiences, and the conversation about them needs to be ongoing. Although this column isn’t enough space to address all of the issues surrounding college hook-ups, we’re interested in continuing to explore what is most relevant to the AU student body. Studying “high-risk” sexual behavior in college When you think of the hook-up culture, you might picture students gathering at an off-campus party, drinking and potentially going home with casual acquaintances at the end of the night. However, a study recently published in the National Communication Association Journal finds this scenario is less prevalent than people may think. According to the study, college students
often aren’t given enough credit for taking care of their friends in high-risk sexual situations. The study focused on a simulation program called “Let’s Talk About It,” in which a facilitator presented students with different alcohol-related scenarios and asked them to select the way they would respond from a list of options. The options included choices that the researchers classified as lowrisk, medium-risk and highrisk. Just to be clear — a “highrisk” option is an individual choice to engage in sexual behavior that may lead to adverse health consequences. This could include actions under the influence of alcohol that have a greater risk for pregnancy, physical
The high-risk option in this scenario is simply to “wish Jane a fun time.” However, over three-quarters of participants chose the low-risk or moderate-risk options to “make sure Jane gets home safely” or “try to persuade her not to go by reminding her she may regret it.” This suggests that, despite the potential perceptions of the “dangerous” and “widespread” hook-up culture on college campuses, students are actually likely to encourage their friends to make safer sexual choices. So before this hypothetical situation possibly becomes your reality next weekend, have a conversation with your friends and set some boundaries. Everyone on AU’s campus should take steps to ensure safer sex —
...there’s perhaps nothing more controversial than what’s known as “hook-up culture” harm, contracting STIs or feeling any kind of regret in the morning. Alcohol creates a gray area regarding our decision-making ability, but we’re talking about choices made while you still feel in control of your own body. However, we want to emphasize that high-risk choices do not refer to rape. Obviously, being a victim of sexual assault is never a choice, whether or not alcohol is involved. Friends don’t let friends hook up drunk In order to better understand college students’ decision-making process in situations involving both alcohol and sex, the LTAI facilitator asked students what they would do in a situation involving a friend’s hypothetical hook-up — the same question we posed at the beginning of this column.
even if it’s not your own sex. Before you get to the party and before a drop of alcohol touches your lips, make sure you and your friends are all on the same page. What is your plan for the night? Are you intending to hook up with someone? Do you have specific people in mind, or are you open to experiences with a stranger? And are you allowed to change your mind about any of these things throughout the night, after you’ve started drinking? Hold each other accountable for the lines you’ve drawn while sober. As always, e-mail questions/comments/concerns to Tara and Ryan and make empowered, sexy choices! sexwonks@theeagleonline. com
MICHAEL W. RICHARDSON / THE EAGLE
LONDON CALLING — Studying abroad can offer college vets the chance to be a freshman again.
Abroad opportunities offer fresh start for freshman experiences CROSS-CULTURAL DISPATCH
LONDON, ENGLAND By OLIVIA STITILIS Eagle Staff Writer
The word “freshman” has much more emotional weight than its definition would suggest. Often associated with angst, new beginnings and even bullying, everyone has distinct memories conjured up by that year (whether they like those memories or not). So far I have had two freshman years — high school and college. Though I am likely in the minority, I love the feeling of being a freshman. Sure, it’s reassuring to know where to go, have a set group of friends and be aware of what professors, peers or food to avoid, but for me, being comfortable is boring. The excitement of everything being new, wanting to make friends and that feeling of accomplishment that comes even when you’ve mastered the smallest of things (I was thrilled I only got lost twice freshman year of high school) is exhilarating. Luckily for me, I am about to begin another freshman year. I am about to start a new
school, in a new country, with completely new people from all over the world. I will be one of the 300 students from around the world spending a year at the London School of Economics as part of a one-year program called The General Course. One of my main motivations for going abroad was to broaden my international horizons. Apparently, many other American students should follow suit. Current statistics have shown that the majority of American high school seniors cannot find Afghanistan, Israel or Iran on a world map, according to a recent study by National Geographic and Asia Society. Even more startling, American students rank almost dead last as compared to their international peers at knowledge of current events and geography according to the same study. This is worrisome. How can the youth of today — the future of our country — tackle some of the most daunting tasks and problems to ever face our nation if they don’t even know where Afghanistan is? Though study abroad is certainly not a panacea to this problem, it is a step in the right direction. In order to understand the world, I firmly believe we need to get out and see it in whatever capacity possible. Recently the results of the first ever survey about the benefits of study abroad
were released. The study, conducted by the Institute of International Education for Students, says that “when asked about personal growth, 97 percent [of students] said studying abroad served as a catalyst for increased maturity, 96 percent reported increased self-confidence, 89 percent said that it enabled them to tolerate ambiguity and 95 percent stated that it has had a lasting impact on their world view.” Over the summer I had a conversation with two friends — one had just returned from a semester abroad feeling that without a doubt the experience had changed her life for the better and one had chosen to stay in the United States. My friend who didn’t study abroad said he had thought about it, but was so happy and comfortable at school he figured, why take himself away from everything he knew and loved? Why take a chance and go somewhere completely new and risk missing out? As he begins his senior year in college, he does confess that at times he regretted choosing not to study overseas. Even though I am not technically abroad yet, I would only encourage my peers to embrace the opportunity to be a freshman again (bad memories aside) and step outside that comfort zone which can so often only hold !"
see ABROAD on page 21
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Courtesy of ART STREIBER / NBC
DEEP ‘UNDERCOVER’ — This fall, ABC, FOX and NBC premiere four new shows that promise to have viewers glued to their tubes. Among them is ‘Undercovers,’ the latest from ‘Lost’ creator J.J. Abrams. ‘Undercovers’ follows Steven and Samantha Bloom, former spies who come out of retirement to find a friend who has gone missing.
Sneak peek at networks’ fall TV lineups By MELISSA CHAVEZ
Eagle Contributing Writer Fall TV is finally back with some intriguing new pilots in the line-up. After viewing some “for final review” pilots — versions of the pilot that are not quite finished for broadcast, but offer the raw impressions of the show in question — it’s safe to say that the upcoming TV season has a lot of promise, and these are some of the shows that will have thumbs on the remotes and the TiVos fired up. “Lone Star” (FOX) If you missed the premiere of “Lone Star” this week, go back and give it a chance. This is definitely a “don’t judge a book by its cover” show. Since Bob Allen (James Wolk) was a small child, he has been involved in his father John’s (David Keith) schemes and taught all the skills to be the perfect con man. As an adult, he is married to Cat (Adrianne Palicki) and working at his father-in-law’s oil company in Houston, with the intent to “clean it out,” as John
puts it. However, 400 miles away, Bob is leading another life with girlfriend Lindsey (Eloise Mumford), under the alias Robert. But as Bob begins to yearn for a normal life, he finds himself at a crossroads, in love with two women who have no idea about each other and trying to placate a father he desperately wants to please. The description might keep some viewers away — an adulterous con man? — but this show should soon become a number one priority. Bob is not a one-dimensional character; he has flaws and inner demons. Wolk, a newcomer, is outstanding as a torn man who wants nothing more than to get out of this deceitful life but does not know how. His leading ladies both play their respective roles amazingly well. Mumford is particularly impressive as she tackles Lindsey’s innocence and playfulness without coming off as immature and annoying. Jon Voight’s acting is unsurprisingly good as Bob’s father-in-law Clint, an oil tycoon protective of
his children, but unknowingly trusting of his daughter’s husband. “Lone Star” is compelling with good character depth, and all the actors — main and supporting — are simply mind-blowing. This show should definitely top many “must watch” lists this fall. Premiere date: Sept. 20 at 9
Bloom (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), two retired CIA agents who left the world of butt-kicking for a domestic, “normal” life running a catering company together. Despite a happy marriage, the two know something is missing in their idyllic lives. Enter Carlton Shaw (Gerald McRaney), a CIA operative who lures
These are some of the shows that will have thumbs on the remotes and TiVos fired up p.m. “Undercovers” (NBC) J.J. Abrams is the god who brought the world “Lost,” and now he’s back with his newest project. Meet Steven (Boris Kodjoe) and Samantha
them back to their previous lives to find their old friend, missing agent Leo Nash (Carter MacIntyre). From crashing high-society parties to travelling the world, the Blooms are able to find that spark to reignite the passion
in their lives. “Undercovers” is a fun, breezy ride as the audience follows Steven and Samantha reliving the thrill of espionage together. The two leads have fantastic chemistry, especially out on the field, and play the happily married couple in need of excitement well. They are supported by a solid cast, including MacIntyre’s cocky Nash, who has the best one-liners, and Ben Schwartz as Bill Hoyt, the couple’s sidekick and Steven’s biggest fan. The show is unexpectedly very light-hearted. It is not necessarily a bad thing, but it would be nice if the danger scenes had more of a risk element so you can at least feel like the Blooms are in actual danger. All in all, it seems Abrams has another hit on his hands. Premiere date: Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. “My Generation” (ABC) Viewers will be hit with a bout of nostalgia as “My Generation” transports them back a decade to the beginning of the millennium. The
show follows a group of high school students during their senior year as part of a documentary, and then “returns” 10 years later to catch up. The major stereotypes are all there: the jock, the rich kid, the brain, the beauty queen, the nerd, the punk, the rebel, the overachiever and the wallflower. After high school, they (for the most part) go their separate ways to fulfill their dreams. But as the fictional camera crew documents a decade later, life does not always turn out as planned. Friendships are torn apart, couples broken up, but in the end, the question remains — can you ever escape your past? “My Generation” may seem as though it would basically be a “Gossip Girl” meets “One Tree Hill” mash-up with lots of soap opera drama, but never fear. While it is a bit excessive how the show uses almost every major event since 2000 to influence characters’ decisions, “My Generation” has serious potential. !"
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Dave Eggers’ 826 project opens operation in District By MICHAEL W. RICHARDSON Eagle Staff Writer
Here in D.C., there are no shortages of volunteer opportunities. You can’t throw a stone without hitting a cause to support or a group in need of help. That doesn’t mean new non-profits aren’t welcome in a city full of them, especially one that may bring an outlet for pirate supplies. Dave Eggers’ 826 project, which focuses on giving young children the opportunities to improve their reading comprehension and writing skills, combines a healthy sense of whimsy with the one-on-one attentions that produce great students. And now they have proper showing right here in the District with the new 826DC. 826DC is the latest iteration of 826 National, a charity founded by author Dave Eggers and educator Ninive Calegari as a means to reach out to neighborhood school children and improve their writing abilities. It began in Egger’s home city of San
Francisco at the now famous 826 Valencia. Here, local writers and volunteers offered one-on-one tutoring sessions with children who came into the center after school. The charity was built around the flexible hours of its volunteers — if one could come in for just a couple of hours, it was still doing a world of good for some children. 826DC is the new name of what used to be the Capitol Letters Writing Center. The Writing Center was founded three years ago by a group of D.C. residents who, inspired by the 826 Valencia program and its offshoots across the country, decided to form a similar program in the interests of the local student body. The organization pulled volunteers who were willing to work with children on their writing abilities into their Columbia Heights center, and then reached out to local schools to gauge interest. The group worked outside of the school system, supplementing classes with their own unique brand of teaching, hoping to pull not
only the best students — those who they would like to see published in the future — but also those students in trouble with their grades or their home lives. Drawing on recently in-vogue education theories, the personalized help is thought to be one of the biggest boosts to a student’s academic ability. Of course, they had to get children excited about coming to read, which is where the most famous aspect of the 826 project comes in. In the original 826 Valencia, the writing center’s property was zoned as a commercial business, so to avoid legal hassle, the center opened up a storefront where they began to sell pirate supplies. Contracting out local builders, the store’s insides were transformed into the wooden aesthetic of a ship’s hull and stocked with fake peg legs and eye patches in an assortment of colors. Behind the shop itself was the writing center, with all of the classroom accoutrements one would expect from an academic learning space. It was just hidden behind this façade, one where children
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would be eager to explore and patronize. Miraculously enough, it made a profit — enough to make the writing center a self-sustaining organization. This business model was adopted when the organization was exported to other cities. In New York, 826 opened a Superhero supply store — a fitting shop for Gotham — and Los Angeles had a Time Travelers’ Mart. The new 826DC is being redesigned as “The Museum of Unnatural History,” which will sell, among other things, “Hopeless Diamonds” and other necessary items for little explorers. The storefront’s goal is to inject some whimsy into the learning process, wrapping the sour pill of education in a candy shell. For those who are somewhat disillusioned by nonprofit groups trying to help a school system that many people are quick to disparage, 826DC offers a model for the kind of supplementary education experience that seems to connect with kids — even the most hard to reach, in school systems that seem to struggle. The 826 program even has physical proof of their efforts. Anthologies of writing samples from their kids are published out of each city, providing evidence of their efforts in the funny, sad and enlightening views of the members of society we sometimes ignore. Students interested in volunteering at the new center in D.C. are encouraged to sign up for orientations. Spots are filling up fast, and the next few months have been completely booked already. As part of the launch of the new project, the writing center will hold a preview event featuring Dave Eggers himself. It won’t be for cheap — admission runs a cool $250. The event is aimed at showing people in the city what other cities have already produced, and how this volunteer project might just be a jolt in the arm for a city that sometimes feels overrun with non-profits. But then again, those nonprofits probably won’t sell whimsically branded adventure gear to the people they are helping. mrichardson@ theeagleonline.com
Five must-have albums for new go-go listeners By STEPHAN CHO Eagle Staff Writer
It’s a sad fact that even for D.C. natives, the genre of go-go is still very much a well-kept secret in the 40 years of its musical history. The vibrant blend of percussion-heavy funk and R&B as epitomized in local legends such as Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers commands a large following in popular clubs. While it may not enjoy the commercial success of the many subgenres it would later influence, go-go can still be enjoyed by party-goers and busybodies alike. As part of The Eagle’s ongoing coverage of one of D.C.’s most important cultural contributions, here’s a list of some of the greatest go-go albums from the District’s finest. Any Other Way To Go? by Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers An unequivocal classic and necessity for go-go newbies. Released in the late ‘80s during the peak of go-go’s popularity, this album captured all the jive and energy that made the D.C. club scene great. What better way to dabble in a new genre than to start with one of its pioneers, Chuck Brown, affectionately named the “godfather of go-go” by fans. Brown wanted to create a sound that got the whole club moving and dancing to the beat, and if this album is proof, saying he was able to achieve that throughout his musical career is a vast understatement. “Family Affair” and “Midnight Sun” are fan favorites, demonstrating go-go’s hallmark crowd participation, a technique known as calland-response. While the sounds would later evolve, the songs remain timeless, and Brown still has the capacity to energize a crowd at shows in his old age.
Drop The Bomb by Trouble Funk While they were able to pull off nationwide tours in the late ‘80s, Trouble Funk, as it went for most go-go bands, remained largely popular solely in the D.C.metro area. Popular songs include “Pump Me Up” and “Hey Fellas,” both of which invigorate listeners. They were able to elevate the gogo sound by making it like a workout, and the sheer intensity of their performances is palpable through their tracks. Much to the delight of go-go fans, Trouble Funk still plays regular shows in the Virginia area. We Go On and On by Rare Essence The 12-member band started off as an after-school group activity between four childhood friends, first covering popular funk acts and then moving on to develop their own go-go sound in the ‘70s. Much like Trouble Funk, they do their best to stay active in the music scene, playing almost every night of the week at a number of venues. The unadulterated tribal sound of early go-go is most evident in tracks like “Overnight Scenario” and “Freaks.” Just try and ignore the addictive percussion as it beckons you to move to the beat. The Recipe by Mambo Sauce This newer generation gogo band is already making strides since their formation in 2007. To bolster their animated go-go beats and make their music more flavorful, Mambo Sauce takes the genre in a new direction by throwing in elements of hip-hop and soul. As arguably one of the only existing go-go bands to form within the last few years, Mambo Sauce appeals to our generation not only because the sound itself is more fine-tuned to match !"
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Georgetown fashion event draws large crowds, boosts business for local retailers By IAN NYANIN
Eagle Contributing Writer
Courtesy of NINA SUBIN
BOOKWORMS – Professor Danielle Evans is releasing her first collection of short stories called “Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self.” Her new book is just one of many new offerings this fall.
Fall book releases offer diverse foodfor-thought across literary genres By KELLY HOLLIDAY Eagle Staff Writer
Every year autumn promises to bring crisp weather, pumpkin spice lattes at Starbucks and a stack of enjoyable reads to curl up in a wool blanket with. This fall, expect to find science fiction, politics, fantasy, crime and suspense hit the bookshelves in several highly anticipated novels of 2010. “Moonlight Mile” by Dennis Lehane Written by acclaimed crime novelist Dennis Lehane, “Moonlight Mile” is a fastpaced follow-up to 1999’s “Gone Baby Gone” and picks up where the novel left off. When private detectives Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro are asked to investigate the second disappearance of Amanda McCready, the same girl they found and returned to a neglectful mother 12 years earlier, the pair must visit the past and their most troubling case once again. “Before You Suffocate Your
Own Fool Self” by Danielle Evans Danielle Evans’ debut is fresh and electric in “Before Your Suffocate Your Own Fool Self,” a collection of short stories about young African-American girls. Each vignette tells a different story — some of virginity, familial problems, peer pressure, broken hearts and bad decisions — but Evans effortlessly writes all with humility, grace, truth and humor. Evans is a professor of creative writing at AU, giving bookworms here even more reason to pick up her new collection. “Freedom: A Novel” by Jonathan Franzen “Freedom: A Novel” is one of the most anticipated novels of 2010, beaten only by Steig Larsson’s final novel in the Millennium Series. Jonathan Franzen’s book tells the story of a crumbling marriage between Walter and Peggy Berglund. It also delves into the story of their sex-crazed son Joey, and Walter’s best friend and former rock star whom
Peggy is insanely attracted to. “Freedom: A Novel” is brilliant in its portrait of ordinary people and the relatable details of everyday life. “I Am Number 4” by Pittacus Lore “I Am Number Four,” the first of six novels in the “Lorien Legacies” series, may seem at face value like a ripoff of the 1956 film “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” or WB cult-classic “Roswell,” but it is quite the antithesis of most young adult novels on bookshelves today (ahem, “Twilight”). A fastpaced story about nine alien children who have fled their ravaged home planet and are now seeking refuge on Earth, “I Am Number Four” is a rich blend of science fiction, fantasy, romance and adventure that will please any sci-fi fan. “Obama’s Wars” by Bob Woodward As one of Washington’s most acclaimed investigative writers, Bob Woodward has written a sweeping account of President Barack Obama’s
decisions on the War on Terror in Afghanistan and Pakistan in his new book, “Obama’s Wars.” Though writing little about the Iraq War, Woodward draws upon classified documents and indepth interviews with top political figures to give a riveting account of the administration’s foreign policy. “Room” by Emma Donaghue Emma Donaghue’s “Room” is an imaginative masterpiece told through the voice of a five-year-old boy named Jack. At first glance, Jack is a normal child who enjoys coloring and playing games, but his life is extraordinary — he has lived all of it in a single room. His “Ma,” who has shared the 11-by-11 cell with him since his birth, views what Jack knows as home as a prison. Donaghue manages to take the difficult task of writing all of “Room” in Jack’s perspective and create a wonderful story of hope, survival, resilience and life. kholliday@theeagleonline. com
Fashion’s Night Out, the international event created to celebrate the joys of fashion, made a big splash in D.C. Friday, Sept. 10, as the cobblestone streets of Georgetown were full of people in search of good deals and a good time. Over 80 stores, restaurants and salons kept their doors open to shoppers until 11 p.m. More than just merchandise could be found inside these businesses. Many offered complimentary food, drinks and entertainment. Each venue created an experience that tied into their overall values and products. The ever-hip purveyor of vintage clothing, Annie Creamcheese, blasted dance music and offered 20 percent off all of the stores merchandise, Betsey Johnson held a garden party on their back patio as well as a wine tasting, and True Religion offered a tantalizing array of appetizers and denim. Chic clothier Intermix provided cocktails and sushi, Juicy Couture offered the service of male model/waiter hybrids “Juicy Boys.” Preppy clothing purveyor Vineyard Vines had an open bar and gave out novelty pink foam whale hats. Many of Georgetown’s best eateries offered dining specials, though with all the available finger food and drinks it was just as easy to be full while still on the go. The Vitamin Water Zero Hydration Lounge held outside of Dean and Deluca provided a great example of what the night was all about. Patrons were able to enjoy a beautiful night under the stars while enjoying club-worthy music from an in-house DJ, mingling with friends and other fashionminded shoppers, and reaping the benefits of a largescale marketing campaign. While shopping was a major aspect of the night, an overall appreciation for the fashion industry was what the entire event was anchored upon. There were several trunk shows like
Halston Heritage at Urban Chic, and style consultations including the Erwin Gomez Salon & Spa at Intermix and makeup artists from Bobbi Brown at Bluemercury. The event drew a large crowd of all ages, there for various reasons. From college kids out for a good time, families spending an evening together and fashionistas on a mission, there was a wide array of activities to keep them entertained. Among the masses also happened to be a celebrity or two. At Intermix, president of local modeling agency Lynda Erkiletian, a “Real Housewife of D.C.,” signed autographs and took pictures with fans. Alongside her was boyfriend Ebong Eka and stylist Paul Wharton, both of whom audiences might recognize from the show. “It was amazing to see Georgetown come to life that way,” said Victoria Alvarez, a sophomore in AU’s School of Communication. “It was so colorful; there were so many people dressed fabulously. To think that in D.C., a city that’s known to be about politics, so many people care about fashion, about clothes and shoes and dressing well, is fantastic.” School of International Service sophomore Hanna Park echoed the same thoughts. “I am so glad I went,” Park said. “It was a great event, especially considering that it was the first year they’ve held it. I hope it becomes a tradition, and I’m sure that I will be back again next year.” This was D.C.’s first year participating in the Fashion’s Night Out program, currently in its second year. The Council of Fashion Designers of America and Vogue Magazine originally created the event to stimulate the fashion economy by encouraging New York City patrons to shop. This year, more than 16 countries will participate, including France, Britain, Korea, Australia, Italy and China. Many cities in the !"
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‘90s alt-rock band sheds sound, style Jimmy Eat World adopts more adult tone with new album; tour includes Virgin Mobile FreeFest in Maryland By MAGGIE HOLLANDER Eagle Staff Writer
Jimmy Eat World is not new to the music business. With more studio albums than can be counted on one hand composed over a decade, they have established themselves as a notable name in the alternative rock world and are named as influences by many bands out today. As they embark on another headlining tour around the country and prepare for the Sept. 28 release of their latest work, “Invented,” it seems as though Jimmy Eat World is just hitting its stride. In an interview with The Eagle, bassist Rick Burch discussed the band’s new album and how the band has evolved since forming in the mid ‘90s. Burch explained that, in many ways, “Invented” is both a departure from the band’s old process and a return to the past. “I think when you hear the songs, it’s definitely Jimmy Eat World, but I don’t know,” Burch said. “To say ‘yeah, we’re more mature now,’ is kind of like cliché or whatever, but I think we are, and we kind of knew what we wanted going into it.” One of the advantages of being such an established band was that they were able to choose where they wanted to record. For Jimmy Eat World, that meant staying in their home state of Arizona. “We made ‘Invented’ in our studio that we built up in Arizona here and it was just the four of us guys in the studio, writing and recording,” Burch said. Re-recruited for the album was producer Mike Trombino, who worked with the band on some of their earlier albums including “Clarity” and “Bleed American.” Staying in town rather than
flying off to Los Angeles to record allowed for more than just home cooking — it created a new dynamic as the band began to put together music. “Since we did everything in our studio here, we recorded as we were writing,” Burch explained. “It’s funny, some of the very first takes of a guitar or a bass are the ones that ended up in the final mix of the song. So, it’s kind of like, we would change things that needed to be changed, and the song would evolve that way.” Inspiration can be difficult to find after so many albums, so frontman Jim Adkins turned to photographs. “Essentially he looked at a group of photographs and kind of drew inspiration from those, kind of built a story around the photograph,” Burch said. “And a lot of the photographs were of a female subject, so a lot of the songs are written from a female perspective, which I’m sure was fun and interesting to do.” “Invented,” although distinctly Jimmy Eat World, has a more adult sound. It’s darker and slower than the band’s early work, and impeccably put together. It begins with “Heart is Hard to Find,” catchy and beautifully harmonized. In contrast, the first single, “My Best Theory,” is upbeat but definitely not uplifting, and sounds similar to a Linkin Park single (minus the screaming). The title track, “Invented,” offers a softer, almost folksounding, stripped-down version of Jimmy Eat World. For Burch, this song is a favorite. “Listening to that one song, it gives you a good idea of what the entire album holds in store,” he said. “It’s a good synopsis of the album as a whole.”
As for the tour, the band is particularly excited for their stop in the D.C. area as a part of Virgin Mobile FreeFest. “We get to play in front of a lot of people that normally might not come to our own show,” Burch said. “But also, a kinda selfish aspect of it is that we get to see other bands. Because when we’re playing our own shows, it’s us and whatever band we’re touring with, and that’s all we get to see for a month. But with the festivals, there’s tons of different bands. So it’s a good time.” Fans can look forward to a new addition at the live shows as well. Courtney Marie Andrews will be the fifth musician on stage during the band’s performances, and according to Burch, she fits right in. “I think it really fills out our sounds and helps us be more true to the recordings,” he said. “She’s even gonna join us for some of the older songs as well, covering harmonies that we couldn’t cover before because they were so high or stuff like that, and keyboard sounds and piano lines. The rehearsals have been going really good and I’m looking forward to having her on stage with us.” In the end, like every musician, the members of Jimmy Eat World just want you to enjoy what they’ve created as much as they have. “We’re really proud of [“Invented”], and I’m hoping that people like it as much as we do,” Burch said. Jimmy Eat World will be performing at Virgin Mobile FreeFest at the Merriweather Post Pavilion on Saturday, Sept. 25. “Invented” hits stores the following Tuesday, Sept. 28. mhollander@ theeagleonline.com
MEET US AT THE
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3-DAY MUSIC & OUTDOOR FESTIVAL SEPT 24-26, 2010 / LOON MNTN / LINCOLN NH The Gaslight Anthem
Dr. Dog, !!! [Chk Chk Chk], Javelin, The Walkmen, Eli “Paperboy” Reed and the True Loves, and more! Unified Bouldering Championships Pro Tour Finals UCI-Sanctioned Cyclocross Race Event schedule subject to change. Tickets can be purchased at noreaster.ems.com or in-store.
COLLEGE STUDENTS 20% OFF WEEKEND PASSES
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WEDNESDAY 22
THURSDAY 23
Opening Night at the Latin American Film Festival 8 p.m. WHERE: AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring, Md. METRO: Silver Spring (red line) WHAT: For 21 years, the Latin American Film Festival has shined its light on the best directors from both Latin American countries and Spain and Portugal. Opening this year’s festival is “Revolution,” a collection of 10 short films from Mexico’s most prominent directors celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution. COST: $10 CONTACT: AFI Silver Theatre at 301-495-6720.
!!! 8 p.m. WHERE: Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW METRO: U Street/AfricanAmerican War Memorial/ Cardozo (green and yellow lines) WHAT: !!! (pronounced “chk chk chk”) may be the most famous band to eschew letters for their own band name, but it hasn’t prevented them from pulling together a devoted following, crafting catchy dance-punk anthems for the hipster set. COST: $18 CONTACT: Black Cat at www.blackcatdc.com.
Joe Sample 8 and 10 p.m. WHERE: Blues Alley, 1077 Wisconsin Ave. NW WHAT: Pianist and composer Joe Sample has been innovating the world of jazz for the last 40 years. He toured with all the greats of his time, including Marvin Gaye, B.B. King and Eric Clapton. He’ll perform solo at Blues Alley. COST: $43 CONTACT: Blues Alley at www.bluesalley.com.
FRIDAY 24
SATURDAY 25
SUNDAY 26
Anjelah Johnson 7:30 and 9:45 p.m WHERE: Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington, Va. WHAT: As part of the Arlington Drafthouse’s 25th anniversary celebrations, the venue is hosting Anjelah Johnson, one of the stars of “MadTV” and the woman responsible for the viral sensation “Bon Qui Qui.” COST: $25 CONTACT: Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse at www. arlingtondrafthouse.com.
Annie Hall 8:30 p.m. WHERE: American City Diner, 5532 Connecticut Ave. NW METRO: Friendship Heights (red line) WHAT: Widely considered Woody Allen’s best film, “Annie Hall” is the progenitor of the modern romantic comedy. Of course, the original escapes the clichés of the modern rom-com, putting forth a story about the complex, roundabout nature of early love. COST: Free CONTACT: American City Diner at www.americancitydiner.com.
Emerson String Quartet 6 p.m. WHERE: Baird Auditorium, Museum of Natural History, 10th & Constitution Ave. NW METRO: Smithsonian (blue and orange lines) WHAT: The Emerson String Quartet has too many accomplishments to list — over 30 albums, eight Grammys and a touring schedule that brings them to the great classical music cities in the world. If you want to see good classical music, this is the place to start. COST: $63 CONTACT: Smithsonian Resident Assistant Program at www.residentassociates. org.
MONDAY 27 Ted Rall 6:30 pm WHERE: Busboys & Poets METRO: U Street/African-American War Memorial/Cardozo (green and yellow lines) WHAT: Ted Rall’s leftist cartoons have provided some of the most consistent critiques of the Bush and Obama administrations, and his new book “The Anti-American Manifesto,” is aimed at those same people who are weary of the current American system. He will discuss and sign his new book at Busboys & Poets. COST: Free CONTACT: Busboys and Poets at busboysandpoets.com.
Livin’ Large by E.U. Formally known as Experience Unlimited, this group proved to be successful enough to secure a record deal with Virgin Records and go touring in countries like Germany and Japan. Their story, by now, is not an uncommon one; they rose to fame in the 1980s as hiphop became the voice of the generation. With frontman and rapper Sugar Bear at the helm, the group blew up with the release of “Livin’ Large.” Among many other songs, “Taste of Your Love” was what put them on the map as well as “Shake Your Thang,” a collaboration with Saltn-Pepa. E.U. was one of the early go-go bands to incorporate hip-hop and R&B, a facet of the genre that would stick for years to come.
from ABROAD on page 16 you back. Of course I will miss my family, friends and America while I am away. However, I know that in order to be the best person I possibly can be, I want to see as much of the world as I can. Having a global understanding and appreciation for how the world acts, sees and handles all sorts of issues differently is essential to being an informed, intelligent and open-minded young adult.
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United States will also hold their own events in addition to D.C., including Boston, Miami, Las Vegas and several cities in California. The event was coordinated by the Georgetown Business Improvement District and hosted a wide array of D.C. elite involved with organizations including the Washington Post, Labels for Love, WUSA-9 TV and the Capitol Fashionista.
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from PILOTS on page 17
It definitely has an appeal factor for college students who are still figuring out their lives and maybe are not the person they were in high school. The cast handles their roles reasonably well, with the strongest being Daniella Alonso as Brenda (the brain), Kelli Garner as Dawn (the punk) and Julian Morris as Anders (the rich kid). Overall, the pilot nicely sets up some dilemmas that should have audiences tuning in to see how it all works out. Premiere date: Sept. 23 at 8 p.m. “Running Wilde” (FOX) Steve Wilde (Will Arnett) is a filthy rich playboy who has not worked a day in his life. But despite all his wealth, he has not forgotten his childhood sweetheart, Emmy (Keri Russell), the daughter
of the Wilde’s former housekeeper and a selfless humanitarian who wants to save the world. While Emmy loves doing good for mankind, her daughter, Puddle, would rather have a normal life outside of the jungle. Emmy’s current project — saving a tribe from Wilde Oil’s expansion into the rainforest — reunites her with Steve when she comes to beg him to talk to his oil tycoon father. But as Steve does not want to jeopardize his trust fund, he goes about another way to help Emmy, giving him another attempt to win Emmy’s heart. “Running Wilde” reunites creator Mitch Hurwitz and actor Will Arnett, both from the critically acclaimed “Arrested Development.” With that in mind, one would think they’d need to be prepared to clutch their sides laughing the entire time. However, despite
the pilot being funny, it was not as fantastic as expected. It was just missing some kick and smart wit that flourished in “Arrested Development.” But the good news is that the pilot is being re-shot, including the casting of David Cross (Tobias from “Arrested Development”). If you missed the premiere on Monday, the changes might be worth checking out. This may turn out to be a hidden gem and as long as FOX doesn’t cancel it like it tends to do to amazing shows (R.I.P. “Firefly”). Premiere date: Sept. 21 at 9:30 p.m. thescene@theeagleonline. com
!"#$"%&"'()*+(),*, from NAVY on page 23 well traveled courses on the East coast and tactics play a big part in your success. We did very well with a young team and I believe that our future looks bright as we prepare for the Patriot League Championships.” Navy, who is ranked No. 4 in the Mid-Atlantic Region won the men’s title, while No. 6 Maryland won the women’s race. The men’s field included schools such as Malone, University of Maryland — Baltimore County, Elizabethtown College, George Washington University, Mount St. Mary’s, Johns Hopkins University and University of Louisville. The woman also faced schools such as Malone University, Navy, Johns Hopkins, Louisville, UMBC, GWU and Mount St. Mary’s. The men’s next race is the Notre Dame Invitational in Notre Dame, Ind., on Oct. 1. The women’s team’s next race is on Oct. 2, in Manassas, Va. for the George Mason Invitational. !
You can reach this writer at blasky@theeagleonline.com
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Cut from HS basketball, fan nds his voice THE FANATIC
MICHAEL GARDNER Coming from Dallas to D.C., I knew the transition to college-life would be difficult. But being in the nation’s capital for more than a month now, I surprisingly have found my comfort zone in journalism of all things, to help balance the stress of college. To this day, I still wonder how I got into this situation: how my dreams of playing basketball were dashed in high school, how by hitting rock bottom I ended up finding and currently forging my path at AU. Growing up I aspired to be many things: a basketball player, engineer,
advertising man. Journalist did not make the cut. However, I will admit I always had some Walter Cronkite inside of me. I was the one to walk around my house with a turkey baster, pretending it was a microphone, interviewing my family every time some special sporting event was on television, but I never fathomed that I would upgrade from kitchen utensils to actual broadcasting equipment. Sophomore year of high school things really changed in my life. Other than being cut from the basketball team, sophomore year was also when I began my tenure of dedicated community service at the Boys and Girls Club of East Dallas, brought my grades up to improve on a disastrous freshman year, joined the school newspaper and got my first gig at commentating basketball games.
I was never acclaimed for my writing, always getting papers back bleeding with red ink and comments like ‘poor diction, not clear, don’t understand, etc …,’ so for me to dive into the world of newspaper writing was a horse of a different color. People wiser than me always said that making a good first impression is the key to success, and that is what I did with my first newspaper article about my high school’s boy’s lacrosse team and their nationwide schedule of nationally ranked opponents. The article was well received and to this day it is still tacked on the bulletin board in the Bagpipe’s newsroom. After that I rose up the newspaper ladder going from humble reporter to sports editor. Senior year I wrote my own column under a cheesy nickname — The Fanatic. To this day I keep the name as my
sports journalism “alter ego.” My mom used to say that I mumbled when I talked. The majority of my teachers had to ask me to repeat myself because they could not hear my answer to a question. Who would have guessed that “the one who mumbles” would want to get into calling sports? I became interested in broadcasting in high school after making connections to people in that field. Noah Donnenfield was my connection, and two months later after getting cut from the basketball team, he pulled some strings and helped me obtain a job working for Garner Vision Productions commentating on basketball games. I held the job all the way through the last hoops game of my senior year. Now I am a freshman in college, past the phase of mumbling and on to
achieving my new goal of becoming a sports journalist. It is a benefit to work with people that actually know what they are doing and share my passion for sports. After little more than a month in college, I have already made crucial connections and great friendships. I await the future and what college has in store, and the best part about it is that I found my niche and picked up from where I left off; the only difference is that I am 1,300 miles away. But that’s not going to stop me from living my dream. You can reach this writer at sports@theeagleonline.com
Peace Corps & AU Last year over 50 American University graduates began the experience of a lifetime by becoming Peace Corps Volunteers. Life is calling. How far will you go? 800.424.8580 www.peacecorps.gov Contact Janet Schuhl at 202-692-1053 or jschuhl@ peacecorps.gov for more information.
Today’s Peace Corps is growing and has thousands of new volunteer jobs available for 2011! Apply now for programs departing next year. Change lives and your own!
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Women’s soccer notches second straight win Brooke Sheppard scores game winner in first half By JIMMY HASCUP
Eagle Contributing Writer
PHILLIP OCHS / THE EAGLE
ON THE ATTACK — Sophomore midfielder Kendra Jones goes head to head with a UMBC defender in the Eagles 1-0 victory. The win marked the second straight victory for AU, improving their overall record to 2-8 on the season.
Brannigan, Brown impress at Navy By BEN LASKY
Eagle Staff Writer The AU men’s cross country team came in third place at the Navy Invitational, while the women’s team came in sixth at the Navy Salty Dog Invitational at Annapolis, Md. on Saturday. The men’s team is currently ranked No. 5 in the
U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association rankings. AU’s Jeff Brannigan came in fifth in Saturday’s race, while his teammate Craig Brown came in behind him in sixth. Both set personal best times with Brannigan finishing with an 8K time of 24:14.70, and Brown putting up a time of 24:36.90. Brown won the
Mount St. Mary’s 5K Duals on Sept. 3. Colin Eustis came in 15th place with a time of 25:11.66. Ryan Williams came in right behind him in 16th with a time of 25:16.31. Josh Olsen came in 22nd with a time of 25:24.13. As for the women’s team, Octavia Rinehardt was the top finisher for the Eagles in the 6K race, with a time of 22:15.20. This is second time Rinehardt has finished in the top-three this season. She came in second at the Mount St. Mary’s 5K Duals. Erin Koch also finished in
the top 10 on Saturday, with a time of 22:44.20. Also placing well in the 6K, the Eagles got points from freshman Carly Birkhold, who finished in 24th place with a time of 23:52.00, Ali Tyburski, who finished in 32nd with a time of 24:17.90, and Leah Haake, who came in 54th with a time of 26:33.70. “This is our first real cross country race of the season against regionally ranked teams,” Head Coach Matt Centrowitz told AU Athletics. “This is one of the most ! see NAVY on page 23
It took the women’s soccer team nine games to earn their first victory of the season. After Sunday’s 1-0 win at home against the University of Maryland-Baltimore County Retrievers, it has now taken the Eagles just one more game to rattle off their second. “It’s easy to look at American and say ‘they were an 0-8 and they are not a good team,’ but the reality of it is that we were facing some very good opponents,” Head Coach David Bucciero said. “We felt like we were playing better and getting close to the win — and I think in the last two games it fell for us.” Despite the thrilling double-overtime victory against Radford on Friday, AU (2-8) came out of the gates a bit sluggish and disorganized early in the first half, unable to fully ride the momentum of the season’s first victory. Only a booming shot at the 19 minute mark from 30 yards out by midfielder Brooke Sheppard could calm the nerves of both the AU players and fans who had become all too familiar with a struggling offense. The AU offense has scored only three goals in all previous matches. All UMBC (1-6-1) goalie Lauren Kadet could do was get a piece of the shot with her hand before it bounced over her head and into the net. “We’ve had a little trouble in our attacking final third just because we get a little frantic — we try to score so badly that we tend to rush the pass a little bit,” said Sheppard, who also scored the gamewinner against Radford. “It’s something that sometimes takes us a few minutes to get settled in and really start to work it around.” From that point onward, AU dictated the pace of the
game and dominated the possession of the ball. The first half finished with an 11-7 AU shot advantage, but more importantly, the team spread the field and sustained the pressure in the UMBC zone, narrowly missing the net on several occasions. The Eagles began the second half just as aggressively as the first half finished — and the offense remained in attack mode, with several speed rushes upfield stunted because of offside calls. AU was also unable to capitalize on an early corner kick and a beautifully set-up free kick 10 minutes in from MacKenzie Kerrigan to Friederike Engel, which sailed wide right. The Eagles finished the half with 16 shots. Two rare offensive chances from UMBC in the second half nearly nullified all of AU’s hard work. About 15 minutes in, UMBC’s Aly Gazarek found free space in the Eagles’ defense and fired a shot that ricocheted off the cross bar. Later in the half, AU goalie Lindsey Farthing made a key save on a wellstruck shot from just outside the box to preserve the lead. The defensive lapses were rare and the Eagles were particularly adept at limiting offensive space for UMBC. As AU’s first Patriot League game looms — with just one game against Vermont in the way — it’s crucial that the Eagles build on their winning ways. “It was absolutely vital that we broke the [losing] streak,” Bucciero said. “From a confidence standpoint it’s huge because you can do all the talking you want, but until you get the result [you want], it doesn’t matter. sports@theeagleonline.com
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Volleyball extends their win streak to four straight Waterman leads team to victory over Stony Brook with 15 kills By ERIC SALTZMAN
Eagle Contributing Writer
PHILLIP OCHS / THE EAGLE
DRIBBLING AROUND — Junior forward Jack Scott tries to work around a Syracuse Orange defender in the Eagles 2-1 victory.
Eagles take down Syracuse Orange 2-1 By CODY SNELL
Eagle Contributing Writer For the first 45 minutes of the game it appeared the AU men’s soccer team was going to cruise to a win against a young Syracuse University team that finished 3-15 last season. Then, the second half started. The Eagles (3-2) held off the Orange 2-1 at Reeves Field on Saturday, but it was not easy after a much scrappier Syracuse team emerged from the locker room and scored on an opening minute penalty kick to start the second half. Eagles head coach Todd West said that he was satisfied with the win, but told his team after the game that they can do much better. “I asked them whether I should high five them for winning a Division I college soccer game or if I should put my shoe up their backsides for making it so difficult.” The first half featured
an aggressive Eagles team that played long ball after long ball towards the goal, putting all the pressure on Syracuse’s defenders. This strategy led to an inside centering pass by midfielder Eli Dennis that senior forward Mike Worden chipped into the back of the net from point-blank range, giving the Eagles a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute. “We got a couple of passes on the ground back and forth, I just got freed up at the top of the box, took a touch and finished it,” said Worden. In the 16th minute, a precise corner by midfielder Jamie Davin was beautifully headed to Alassane Kane by Dennis, allowing Kane to easily roll one pass Syracuse’s keeper, giving the Eagles a 2-0 lead going into the half. “I was just in the right place at the right time and knocked it in,” Kane said. Forty-five seconds into the second half, sophomore Seth Goldman fouled Syra-
cuse midfielder Nick Roydhouse in AU’s box, which led to a converted penalty kick and some nervous expressions in the stands from Eagle fans. “It was a little disheartening,” Worden said. “After halftime, we were expecting to come through and maybe put three or four on them. That early penalty kick call was kind of a downer.” The early goal injected life into Syracuse and they would match AU’s play for the rest of the game with precision passing and three excellent shots on goal that Eagles goalie Matt Makowski handled well. “I thought the first 30 minutes arguably was as good of soccer as we’ve played this season,” West said. “Then, whether it was youth or Syracuse not giving in, I think we took our foot off the pedal a little bit, so I’m frustrated with that.” Worden acknowledged that the early goal changed the energy of the game. “That [goal] kind of threw
us off,” he said. “Once they got that goal, they got a little bit of momentum. We were on our heels, but at least we were able to come through with the win.” The Eagles can’t have a second half letdown on Tuesday against University of Virginia if they are going to pull off a major upset against the defending national champions and No. 2 team in the country. “It’s a young team, so it comes down to learning how to win games,” West said. “I’ve had teams in the past who might have figured out how to lose that game, so the good news about this group is we still figured out how to win the game.” After traveling to Virginia, the Eagles will return home on Saturday the 25th to face Bucknell University for their first conference game of the season. sports@theeagleonline.com
The AU volleyball team expanded its win streak to four straight matches after defeating the Stony Brook University Seawolves in straight sets Sunday. AU won the sets 25-22, 25-13 and 25-23. “We came into this match thinking about all the goals we wanted to do and this game was a chance to prepare for our conference matches coming up in the next weeks,” senior outside hitter Angelina Waterman said. “So definitely my motivation was to just prepare myself for those games.” The victory against Stony Brook was a little more special for Waterman, who grew up in Queens, N.Y., just a short drive away from Stony Brook. “It’s always interesting and fun, playing a New York team,” Waterman said. “Being from New York, I always want to show off my skills against a team which is close to my home.” Waterman led the Eagles with 15 kills in 30 total attempts. The Eagles also had 13 kills from senior outside hitter Magdalena Tekiel, five kills from sophomore middle blocker Bianca Richardson and senior right side hitter Cassandra Ricketts. Waterman also led the team with 15 digs, while senior defensive specialist Debora Frantz contributed 14 digs. The Eagles controlled each set of the game. Early on, the first set was fairly balanced with both teams exchanging points. The Eagles went on a five point run which gave them breathing room for the rest of the match. Stony Brook had a couple of small runs but not enough
to catch up with the Eagles. In the second set, AU took over with runs of four and five points. Stony Brook was unable to catch up and AU won the set by 12 points. “Our outsides were on fire we were able to run the middle, the passing was up, we kept the tempo up and everything was on fire,” senior Alexandra Hammer said. “When our momentum is up, everyone is positive and it shows in our play.” The third set was the closest of all the sets. The set began with both sides trading points. AU began to separate from Stony Brook and at one point the Eagles had a 20-13 lead against the Seawolves. Stony Brook made a late run to cut the deficit to one point, but the Eagles put the match away. The win improves AU to 10-2. The Eagles are currently on a four game winning streak. By beating Stony Brook in three straight sets, it marks the eighth time this season that the Eagles have won in straight sets. AU plays their next game at home against Loyola University-Maryland before they open their conference schedule with away games at Bucknell University and Colgate University. sports@theeagleonline.com
Volleyball SET 1 AU: Stony Brook:
25 22
SET 2 AU: Stony Brook:
25 13
SET 3 AU: Stony Brook:
25 23
Washington, D.C.