August 23, 2012

American University’s student voice since 1925

theEAGLE THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

WELCOME BACK

@THEEAGLEONLINE

August 23, 2012 Volume 87 – Issue 1

2 | AUGUST 23, 2012 theEAGLE

theEAGLE

American University’s student voice since 1925

POLICIES

MISSION

Interested in joining theEAGLE? Come to our general interest meeting Wednesday, August 29

The Eagle, a student-run newspaper at

The Eagle has a commitment to accuracy

The Eagle. Unsigned letters will not be pub-

the American University, serves the commu-

and clarity and will print corrections or clari-

lished. The Eagle reserves the right to edit

nity by reporting news involving the campus

fications. To report a mistake, call the editor

letters and guest columns for length and clar-

community and surrounding areas. The Ea-

in chief at (202) 885-1402 or email editor@

ity. Letters and columns may be published in

gle strives to be impartial in its reporting and

theeagleonline.com.

print or online. Letters and columns are the

believes firmly in its First Amendment rights.

All submissions become the property of

CONTACT US

opinion of the writer and not the newspaper.

EDITORIAL STAFF MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

EDITOR IN CHIEF — (202) 885-1402

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

editor@theeagleonline.com

Zach C. Cohen

Willa Hine

NEWS

MANAGING EDITOR FOR WEB

EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR

news@theeagleonline.com

Sean Meehan

Rachel Lomot

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

MANAGING EDITOR FOR NEWS

SPORTS EDITOR

thescene@theeagleonline.com

Paige Jones

Tyler Tomea

SPORTS

MANAGING EDITOR FOR THE SCENE

SPORTS ASSISTANTS

sports@theeagleonline.com

Yohana Desta

Eric Saltzman

EDITORIAL + OPINION

DESIGN EDITOR

Samantha Raphelson

edpage@theeagleonline.com

Allie Powell

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Lounge. Food will be provided.

PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO EDITOR

Hoai-Tran Bui

photos@theeagleonline.com

Ana Santos

MUSIC EDITOR

Please RSVP on Facebook.

DESIGN

STUDENT LIFE EDITOR

Maeve McDermott

design@theeagleonline.com

Rebecca Zisser

ASSISTANT SCENE EDITOR

WEB

ADMINISTRATION & LOCAL

Kendall Breitman

webeditor@theeagleonline.com

NEWS EDITOR

COPY EDITORS

Alex Greco

Gabbrielle Joseph

at 4 p.m. in McDowell Formal

We are looking for - writers - photographers - design assitsants - web assistants - and more!

For questions, please contact Zach Cohen at

BUSINESS — (202) 885-3593

NEWS ASSISTANTS

Jackie Toth

business@theeagleonline.com

Heather Mongilio

Marissa Cetin

CLASSIFIEDS

Samantha Hogan

BUSINESS MANAGER Jake Kelderman

adbox@theeagleonline.com

Events AUGUST 23

AUGUST 24 SUB CONCERT: HOWIE DAY

AUGUST 26 CAPITOL STEPS

9:30 p.m. / Grab some friends and a blanket to watch a movie on the big screen in the Amphitheater, a Welcome Week tradition. / Contact gerlach@ american.edu

9 p.m. / Come rock out with Howie Day at the Student Union Board’s first concert of the year. / Contact gerlach@american. edu

7 p.m. / Laugh as the famed satirical political group pokes fun at life in the District. / Contact gerlach@american.edu

PICK YOUR FLICK

editor@theeagleonline.com YOUR ADVERTISEMENT COULD BE HERE CONTACT BUSINESS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM COVER PHOTO BY ANA SANTOS / THE EAGLE

NEWS

AU named “most politically active” school 4 | Get to know your administrators 5

Lounges turned into dorms for freshmen

By RYAN MIGEED EAGLE STAFF WRITER

Some freshmen moving to AU this fall may have been surprised to learn they would not be moving into traditional dorm rooms.

A dozen students, as of August 23, are living in “temporary housing locations” in the Letts Sky Lounge and Anderson 2U, according to Sasha Gamburg, assistant director of operations for Housing and Dining. Originally, 30 students were in temporary housing at the start of move-in, as AU identified empty spaces in the residence halls.

“Each student in the floor lounges will have individual bed, desk, desk chair, and access to a shared clothing storage space,” Gamburg said in an email.

Housing and Dining had to find these temporary housing options because AU’s freshmen class was larger than anticipated, Gamburg said. Students were placed in these floor

lounges based on their enrollment and housing deposit dates, so those who applied after May 1 were offered the temporary housing assignments in Letts and Anderson.

“They loved it because there was a lot of space,” Maggie Cassion, resident assistant on Letts 6 North, said of the girls who were

and 310 transfer students, according to AU’s website.

Students living in these temporary housing assignments will be paying the rate of a triple room a credit of $11 per night for each night they live in a floor lounge, according to Gamburg. That credit can then be used to pay the students’ housing bill.

Housing and Dining hopes that every first-year student in permanent housing within the first few weeks of school.

In addition, Housing and Dining had to place temporarily residents in 182 triples.

The Housing and Dining assignments team will work to detriple these rooms once the students living in lounges have been given permanent housing arrangements, according to Gamburg.

“They loved it because there was a lot of space. If you see it, it’s like a huge slumber party.”

-Maggie Cassion, Letts RA temporarily housed in the Letts sky lounge. “If you see it, it’s like a big slumber party.”

Housing and Dining made the decision to temporarily house freshmen in lounges two to three weeks ago, and students were informed a day or two later via email, Gamburg said.

The incoming class includes 1,550 new freshmen

Staff writers Heather Mongilio and Samantha Hogan contributed to this report.

RMIGEED@THEAGLEONLINE.COM

New parking law targets AU students

By ALEX GRECO EAGLE STAFF WRITER

D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray passed the Residential Parking Protection Act on August 2.

The act, proposed in April by Ward 3 Councilwoman Mary Cheh, requires students to register their vehicles in D.C. in order to park in certain residential zones, The Eagle previously reported.

Before this legislation, students were able to apply for reciprocity permits, which allowed them to legally park in residential neighborhoods without changing their state driver’s registration.

A June 2012 report from the Committee on the Environment, Public Works and Transportation said the law is designed to resolve the problem of student-owned car congestion blocking residents from parking.

While this law affects the entire D.C. community, it has specific significance for AU. “This bill would address this problem [of student parking] by expanding the prohibition on issuing Reciprocity Permits to students to include the neighborhoods surrounding American University,” the report said.

These permits were banned for Georgetown University and

George Washington University students in 1996, according to the Georgetown Voice.

FINANCING THE CHANGE

The new law will cost the District $261,500 in “lost permit revenue” between the fiscal years 2012 and 2016, according to a June 2012 memo from D.C. Chief Financial Officer Natwar M. Gandhi. Students previously paid $338 for a reciprocity permit but will no longer pay this fee, according to Natalie Wilson, a representative from Gandhi’s office.

Registering a vehicle in D.C. can cost anywhere from $30 to $70 per year, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles’ website.

While registering a vehicle in D.C. may be cheaper than paying for a reciprocity permit, Policy Director of D.C. Students Speak and School of Public Affairs junior Evan Brown said the law will create other costs.

“It is important to remember the hundreds of extra dollars that students will have to pay insurance companies, as well as the time and hassle it will take to obtain a license, tags, and register an individual or family car here,” he said in an email.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 ≥

4 | AUGUST 23, 2012 NEWS theEAGLE

AU community debates if law is discriminatory ≤ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

D.C. Students Speak, a city-wide coalition that promotes student rights, said it disagreed with the law.

“The bill’s passage was another sign that needs of students are being ignored in the political process,” its July 11 press release said.

Brown said this is an issue because the law directly attacks students. “[It] is another clear sign that the D.C. Council is continuing to target college students, and specifically those at American University, instead of focusing on sound transpor tation policy,” he said.

ANC 3D07 Commissioner and SPA junior Deon Jones, who represents part of the AU campus also opposes the law.

Jones said he would like to see a permit-based parking system that allows temporary residents, such as students, to park residentially without registering their licenses with the city, similar to reciprocity permits. He also wanted to ensure that neighbors’ parking rights were not harmed in the process.

“I don’t think it’s discriminatory [against students],” Jones said. “I just think that it heavily affects students.”

Cheh, who represents the AU area, and ANC 3D Commissioners Tom Smith and Kent Slowinski, who also represent parts of AU, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Frumin, who represents the Tenleytown area, said the act deters car use and removes students’ “special benefit” to obtain a parking permit without registering their vehicle.

“I support the act because I do think that the rationale of discouraging students from bringing cars and addressing the potential burden on the nearby streets is legitimate,” he said.

Frumin doesn’t feel the law is discriminatory against students but also made clear that he enjoys the University’s presence in the area.

He said that in order to help students’ travel in the District, he would work on enhancing public transportation. Frumin also feels that if students do wish to have parking options, they should pay for them through the University.

“I don’t think it’s discriminatory [against students].”

-ANC Commissioner and SPA junior Deon Jones

PROMOTING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

ANC 3E02 Commissioner Matt

YU CONCERNED ABOUT LEGISLATION

AU Student Government President and SPA senior Emily Yu said she is worried about the new law because it can be confusing for students.

Yu is working with D.C. Students Speak to create a factsheet to educate the University population on the new policy by the time classes start.

She believes that this kind of legislation was not the best way to address student parking problems.

“I’m not sure if it’s a shunning from the neighbors towards students; I’m not sure if it’s ill-intentioned,” Yu said.

“But, I guess, from the wording and the very specific areas that this bill does affect, it would seem that it’s not an act of good will towards students.”

AGRECO@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

Health insurance plan incorporates ACA

By RACHEL KARAS EAGLE STAFF WRITER

The AU Student Health Insurance Plan has changed to reflect new standards required by the Affordable Care Act. AU already offers free women’s health services, such as birth control, as mandated by ACA. In order to comply with the law, the Center now provides the following free of charge to those who enroll in the plan, according to Center Director Dan Bruey: • covering wellness and immunizations for children under 18; • eliminating limits on inpatient mental health, substance abuse and detoxification services; and • increasing the prescription maximum from $4,000 to $100,000.

Four non-ACA benefits are now included in the plan at no extra cost.

These services were chosen based on feedback from those currently enrolled. They include: • smoking cessation medication and counseling; • allergy testing and shots; • non-cosmetic cystic acne treatment; and • sexually transmitted infection tests.

The AU Student Health Insurance Plan accepts those with pre-existing conditions, according to the Center, as insurance provider GM-Southwest, Inc. eliminated the exclusion last year.

Costs within the plan have changed to offset the price of providing ACAmandated services. Many are changes

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 ≥

AU reclaims top spot for most politically active

By ALEX GRECO EAGLE STAFF WRITER

The Princeton Review has ranked AU as having the “Most Politically Active Students” in the country.

The title, which the University lost last year to George Washington University, is a major selling point for the school. AU was ranked fi fth in this category last year.

Other Beltway schools also did well in the rankings, with Georgetown coming in second and GWU coming in third.

“I was happy to hear that we were number one, again,” said Student Government President Emily Yu.

The political events that were put on last year may have been a factor in the new ranking, she said. Yu also felt that the upcoming election year will also help the school maintain the rating.

The rating is compiled from a survey that polled 122,000 students, according to the Princeton Review’s website.

AU was also placed on the Princeton Review’s Green Honor Roll, which acknowledged the University’s recent sustainability efforts.

Staff Writer Samantha Hogan contributed to this report.

AGRECO@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

theEAGLE NEWS AUGUST 23, 2012 | 5

Coffee chat with your AU administrators

By ALEX GRECO EAGLE STAFF WRITER

The Eagle sits down with AU’s top administrators to discover their favorite caffeine fix and movie picks.

ROB HRADSKY DEAN OF STUDENTS

Originally from the Baltimore area, Dr. Hradsky started at AU in 2008. He previously worked at the University of Baltimore as the vice provost for enrollment management and student affairs from 2005 to 2008. At the Dav, the Dean of Students prefers to keeps things simple.

“I kind of go for plain. So for me, rather than getting something more elaborate, I just go for the plain old coffee, but I like it strong,” he said.

The Eagle Scout has four children and is a fan of science fiction and “pop-psychology” genres.

Hradsky is reading two books this summer: “Ender’s Game” by Orson Scott Card and “Letting Go: A Parent’s Guide to Understanding the College Years”

by Karen Levin Coburn and Madge Lawrence Treeger.

While he doesn’t watch much television, Hradsky enjoys the show “Modern Family.”

GAIL HANSON VP OF CAMPUS LIFE

Dr. Hanson is a native of

Waukegan, Ill. “It’s not exactly a suburb of Chicago, but north of Chicago,” she said.

Hanson left the U.S. Department of Education in 1997, where she researched the distribution of federal financial aid, to take on her position as vice president.

A chai latte with skim milk is Hanson’s go-to drink at the Dav. She’s walked the Great Wall of China -- a certificate proving so sits on her office wall -- and can never turn down coffee ice cream.

Hanson is also reading two books: “The Art of Fielding” by Chad Harbach and this year’s required reading for freshmen, “The End of Country” by Seamus McGraw.

NEIL KERWIN PRESIDENT

President Kerwin calls Waterbury, Conn. his hometown. He spent his undergraduate career at the University and rejoined the AU community as a faculty member in 1975.

While the president has made a name for himself in the world of academia, he also spent time working as a forklift driver, crane operator and machine operator as a student during his summers off from AU. Decaf coffee is Dr. Kerwin’s beverage of

choice at the Dav and broccoli is a food he can’t resist. He has just completed reading two books – “A World on Fire”

by Amanda Foreman and “The Sense of an Ending”

by Julian Barnes -- and is still working on several more.

SCOTT BASS PROVOST

Dr. Bass is from Detroit, Mich. and began his career at AU in 2008 as Provost.

Not one for television, Bass is currently reading the Steve Jobs biography by Walter Isaacson.

Breaking from the University tradition of mass coffee consumption, Bass only drinks water -- a favorite Dav drink is out of the question. Chocolate, fine bread and pastries are all treats that the Provost finds difficult to resist.

When asked about a fact that students wouldn’t know about him, Bass simply replied with the duties of his job, saying that many students don’t understand what his position entails.

Staff Writer Zach C. Cohen contributed to this report.

AGRECO@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

Student health plan increase some costs ≤ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

in deductibles, the amount a patient pays before their health insurance begins coverage. Differences include: • Decreasing the academic year maximum of total coverage from $250,000 to $100,000, • The option to pay to raise the maximum coverage to $400,000 per injury or illness, • Increasing the deductible for in-network care from $150 to $250, • Increasing the deductible for out-of-network care from $250 to $350, • Increasing the maximum total cost of prescriptions from $4,000 to $100,000, • Creating a system for prescription co-payments and reimbursement, • Increasing the out-ofpocket cost of an ER visit from $50 to $150, and • Eliminating the $4,000 out-of-pocket maximum for payments.

The Student Health Insurance Plan costs students $1,680 for the full year, $40 less than last school year. Purchasing the plan for the spring and summer costs $1,070 or $465 for summer only.

Approximately 3,000 students enroll in AU’s plan each year, Bruey said.

“We have had mixed reactions,” Bruey said in an email.

“Some students have expressed

theEAGLE

satisfaction with the low premium and additions to the plan and some have expressed dissatisfaction with the changes.”

Plan costs are negotiated between AU and GM-Southwest each year, deciding on the best benefits at an affordable price based on the dollar amount of claims made during the previous year. The student health insurance plan had very few expensive claims last year, Center officials said, allowing the University to avoid raising the cost.

Bruey said AU’s health insurance will be as effective as in past years despite the ACA changes. The plan has exceeded American College Health Association guidelines for minimum levels of coverage and benefits for many years and already follows many of the new recommendations in the ACA, he said.

“As the AU Student Health Insurance Plan has met many of the standards for coverage included in health care reform, very few changes needed to be made to our plan this year,” Bruey said.

The Health Center will further change the plan next year to fully comply with the law; the annual maximum must be no less than $500,000 and there will be no limits on “essential health benefits” as defined by the ACA. RKARAS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

is looking for web assistants.

Contact editor@theeagleonline.com for more info.

6 | AUGUST 23, 2012 NEWS theEAGLE

2011-2012: AUYear in Review

By Rebecca Zisser / Eagle Staff Writer

Students advocate for themselves

AU has highest student debt in D.C. The Project on Student Debt found AU students had the highest average debt among D.C. universities in November 2011. The average debt for 2010 AU graduates who took out loans was $36, 206 while the average debt for 2010 graduates from all D.C. universities was $21, 191.

Earthquake Hit D.C. A 5.8 magnitude earthquake shook the eastern U.S. at the beginning of Welcome Week last year. The quake was 160 times bigger and almost 2,000 times more powerful than the last quake that hit D.C. in July 2010, according to The Washington Post.

Students joined last fall together to form two groups: Occupy AU and A New AU. A New AU focuses on campus issues such as the University’s corporate responsibility while Occupy AU focuses on issues such as student debt and employment.

AU offers genderneutral housing Housing and Dining approved the addition of a genderneutral housing option to Centennial and Roper Halls for this school year last January. This was an effort to allow GLBTA students and those who do not consider themselves traditionally male or female to live together.

Bill Clinton speaks at AU Bill Clinton spoke at AU in January and received the first ever “WONK of the Year” award. KPU sponsored the event and created the award, but the abundance of WONK campaign materials at the event caused some to think that the University was using the event as a marketing tool as well.

RACHEL DEVOR / THE EAGLE

theEAGLE NEWS AUGUST 23, 2012 | 7

Founders’ Day

Campus Plan approved

AU celebrated Founders’ Day at The Library of Congress last February. The 575 tickets available to undergraduates for the ball sold out in less than 90 seconds. Student Government later added more tickets.

The D.C. Zoning Commission approved AU’s Campus Plan in March after nine months of negotiations and nearly three years of discussions. The plan includes creating spaces for over 1,000 more beds as well as additions to Mary Graydon Center and the relocation of Washington College of Law to Tenley campus.

RACHEL DEVOR / THE EAGLE

Adjuncts unionize The adjunct professors at AU voted to join the Service Employees International Union Local 500 last February. AU and the union are still in negotiations for their first contract, which will address issues such as job security and pay raise.

Students protest Gov. Jan Brewer Students interrupted Gov. Jan Brewer’s, R-Ariz., speech at AU in February, chanting against the governor’s immigration policies. The students involved in the protest were later notified that their actions had violated the Student Conduct Code.

AU to ban smoking on campus The University administration plans to ban smoking on campus. This would be a change to the previous rule that banned smoking within 15 feet of on campus buildings. The University has yet to officially instate the ban, but a Student Government poll taken in March found that 47 percent of students polled were in favor of a smoke-free campus.

ANA SANTOS / THE EAGLE

SCENE

AUDIOPHILE

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

ARIEL PINK’S HAUNTED GRAFFITI MATURE THEMES Indie’s class clown returns with his signature mix of pop jingles and bizarre oddities.

Ariel Pink is perhaps one of the last people you would look toward for maturity, so luckily his first album since the 2010 breakthrough “Before Today” is only ironically titled. Unsurprisingly, there is a large supply of immaturity and weirdness throughout, including lyrics about

BLOC PARTY FOUR With their first album in four years, Bloc Party struggles to reconnect with their sonic inspirations both past and present.

For a band with such a promising debut record, Bloc Party’s continuous redefinition is somewhat disappointing. Between “A Weekend In The City”’s naive grandiosity and “Intimacy”’s fumbling electronica, the band has struggled to recapture “Silent Alarm”’s ambitious,

“testicle bombs,” schnitzels and the declaration: “My name is Ariel, and I’m a nympho.” Still, Pink balances these head-scratching indulgences with his love of classic ‘60s pop, showcased in the jangly guitars and warm harmonies of “Only In My Dreams” and in the title track. A Los Angeles native, Pink seems to capture the feel of his hometown in his music; it’s druggy, forward-thinking and really hip. While it is certainly not for everyone and lacks any material on the level of “Round and Round,” “Mature Themes” is an excellent showcase of what makes Pink one of the most influential and truly unique figures in music today.

Recommended If You Like: John Maus, R. Stevie Moore, Los Angeles

By CAMERON MEINDL

hook-ridden guitar pop. At its best, “Four” attempts another go-around at the melodic post-punk that made the group famous, with guitarists Kele Okereke and Russell Lissack again trading jittery, staccato riffs over pulsing snares on standouts “Valis” and “Octopus.” However, the record stumbles with headbang-inducing clunkers like opener “So He Begins To Lie,” with interplay between heavy power chords and wailing vocals that rudely disrupt the album’s otherwise sensible arrangement of riffy indie rock and 80’s-inspired ballads.

RIYL: Hot Hot Heat, Franz Ferdinand, Paramore

By MAXWELL TANI

Eat at the best spots with the locals 10 | A guide to D.C. living 11 FOR RELEASE AUGUST 21, 2012

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

ACROSS 1 Like a visit from Benedict XVI 6 Ginormous 10 Currier’s partner 14 Sans chaperon 15 Mystery writer __ Stanley Gardner 16 Maryland athlete, briefly 17 Former kids’ show title character named for the large pockets in his coat 20 U.K. record label 21 Egg container 22 Popular name for a tree-lined rd.

23 Any of the “Be My Baby” singers 26 Scott of “Happy Days” 27 Fuse blower 32 Like the first stage of a car wash 35 Really riles 36 TV Guide’s “We don’t know yet” 37 Pseudosophisticated 38 Chopper blade 40 “__ Harry Met Sally...”

41 Understand 42 Mrs. Dithers of “Blondie” 43 Nuisances 44 Apollo Theater tryout for nonpros 48 Morse creation 49 Yellow-disked flowers 53 Puppet pal of Fran and Ollie 55 Pants part 57 Teachers’ lobbying org.

58 Judge’s demand, and a hint to this puzzle’s theme words, which end 17-, 27- and 44Across 62 Hymn starter 63 Brussels-based defense gp.

64 Where eagles dwell 65 Toy with theme parks 66 No.-crunching pros 67 Kennel club classification

8/21/12

By David W. Cromer

DOWN 1 Harness race horse 2 Texas mission 3 Show up unannounced 4 Tiny soldier 5 Where the herd grazes 6 Plywood layer 7 Boats like Noah’s 8 Blind component 9 Perfect score 10 Slanty, typewise 11 Martini ingredients 12 Love personified 13 Notice 18 Division word 19 Shifted car parts 24 Notice 25 Biblical possessive 26 Oktoberfest draft 28 One of a powerful race of gods 29 __-Magnon 30 “As if!”

31 Beachgoers’ hues 32 Epic story 33 Utah city 34 Junkyard guard

Monday’s Puzzle Solved

(c)2012 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

38 Casanova 39 Bruins Hall of Famer Bobby 40 Makes moist 42 Fragrant wood 43 __ Beta Kappa 45 City west of Cleveland 46 Gem State potatoes 47 Scandal suffix 50 Accustom (to) 51 Paranormal, say

8/21/12

52 Filled completely 53 __ & the Gang: “Celebration” group 54 Yen 55 Go past one’s breaking point 56 Jazzy James 59 Ltd. counterpart, in the States 60 Airport queue vehicle 61 Above, in verse

theEAGLE SCENE AUGUST 23, 2012 | 9

Consumer Report: The Scene’s guide to the best AU has to offer The Scene gives you a helping hand in finding the campus’ best spots.

By MAEVE MCDERMOTT EAGLE STAFF WRITER

BEST PLACE TO STUDY — SECOND FLOOR OF BENDER LIBRARY

Don’t let the golden haze of Welcome Week fool you. Soon enough, it’ll be midterms season and all of campus will be bogged down with papers and presentations. During these trying times, there’s no matching the library’s second floor as the best place for heavy-duty studying.

The second floor of the library is completely silent, perfect for completing some dense reading or studying for that big exam in the morning.

Be warned: there’s no compromising the quiet of the second floor.

Wrap up your conversation with your study buddy before you enter and turn off your ringtone, as no phone calls, blaring headphones or heavy breathing will be tolerated by the floor’s other highly stressed occupants. But if you’re in need of an extreme study session in an equally intense environment, the silent floor is your friend.

HONORABLE MENTION — BATTELLE ATRIUM

If you’ve only been in Battelle to visit a professor’s office, you’re doing it wrong. The Battelle Atrium meets all the requirements for a perfect study space: bright, quiet and full of expansive tables with precious few

people occupying them. When you need a break, visit the Lit Lounge on Battelle’s second floor, which offers tea, coffee and a bunch of cushy couches.

BEST CAFFEINE FIX — THE DAV

Of all the places on campus to buy a cup of coffee, none can compete with AU’s espresso mecca, the Davenport Coffee Lounge. Located on the first floor of the School of International Service, the Dav brews fair-trade organic coffee and offers an extensive menu of espresso drinks, chai, hot and iced teas, Italian soda and more, with a tempting pastry display perfect for a snack between classes.

The Dav’s renovations over the summer provide visitors with spacious seating and new drink options.

But don’t worry: other than a fresh paint job, the Dav’s cozy look hasn’t changed. Whether you’re craving your signature nonfat soy caramel concoction or need a place for some social studying, the Dav is sure to become your destination of choice.

HONORABLE MENTION — THE MUDBOX/MEGABYTES/EINSTEIN’S

While the Dav has the title of AU’s best coffee on lock, there are plenty of other options for satisfying your caffeine cravings. The Mudbox is the library’s coffee shop, and its selection of Starbucks coffee drinks, basement location and late hours (it’s open until 3 a.m.) are prime for procrastinating. Located under the bridge across from Eagle’s Nest is Megabytes, which offers Starbucks coffee and a sizable menu of

theEAGLE

breakfast options and sandwiches. If you’re heading to morning classes in MGC, stop by Einstein’s in the corner of the first floor. While the line can get lengthy before classes, Einstein’s offers hot breakfast choices and customizable bagels.

BEST PLACE TO GET HIRED — AUSG JOBS BOARD

The Student Government’s popular job board briefly went offline last semester after problems with spammers, but the site is back and redesigned to help connect local businesses and employers to students seeking jobs. New to the site are categorized breakdowns of the different positions, not all of which are equally represented on the site.

Students with babysitting experience: the Jobs Board is the place for you. The babysitting section of the site offers over 100 employers searching for everything from onetime gigs to live-in help. Outside of childcare, the majority of jobs offered on the site are administrative and tutoring positions. If you’re seeking a plumb restaurant job, Craigslist may be a better bet.

HONORABLE MENTION — CAREERWEB

While the Jobs Board is stacked with employers reaching out for babysitting or administrative help, the site’s internship section is sparse.

Luckily for AU’s internship-hungry student body, the Career Center’s CareerWeb service provides listings for hundreds of internships and professional jobs. Though almost every job discipline is represented on CareerWeb, students seeking politics-related or communication internships have myriad choices while other jobs are more difficult to find.

MMCDERMOTT@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

is looking for design assistants.

Email editor@theeagleonline.com for more information.

Exploring D.C. on a studentfriendly budget

By HOAI-TRAN BUI EAGLE STAFF WRITER

There’s something innately romantic about living in the city. The bustling crowds, the “hip” neighborhoods, the freedom to enjoy your youth without the constraints of parental authority.

But then you realize: city life is expensive. How are you supposed to do anything fun without paying an arm and a leg? Luckily, D.C. is the perfect city for a student on a budget. The Scene is here to provide you with a guide for all things free in D.C.

SMITHSONIAN MUSEUMS AND NATIONAL ZOO One of the best parts of D.C. is the multitude of free museums offered by the Smithsonian. While a bit on the tourist-y side, visiting a Smithsonian museum is one of the best ways to spend a day in the city without spending a dime.

If you want to go to one of the less stuffy museums, try the American History Museum to see exhibits ranging from George Washington’s uniform to Dorothy’s ruby slippers from “The Wizard of Oz.” Or, if you are feeling particularly bourgeois, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden offers a fair share of modern art.

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART FILM SCREENINGS Head to the National Gallery

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11 ≥

10 | AUGUST 23, 2012 SCENE theEAGLE

D.C. FOOD

By KENDALL BREITMAN / EAGLE STAFF WRITER

Ready to dig into D.C. culture? Skip the museums and acquire a taste for the city by hitting the restaurants. With so many cultures in the District, D.C. offers a diversity of dining that satisfies everyone from the most picky to the most adventurous eaters. Whether you are new to D.C. or just looking for new places to explore, The Scene is here to help with the five restaurants that will make you a D.C. foodie.

KBREITMAN@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

JARED ANGLE / THE EAGLE

Taqueria Discrito Federal Mexican

Referred to as the Taqueria for short, it is a little bit of a walk from the Metro, but this hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant is well worth the travel. The Taqueria is all about quality, not quantity, as the menu is nothing extensive, serving just the authentic traditional essentials. Offering 11 choices of taco meat and four choices of salsa, Columbia there’s something for everyHeights 3463 one and something 14th St., NW new if you are a returning customer. Try the $3 tacos Metro stop: Columbia with some chips and guaHeights (Green and camole to make the most of yellow line) your Taqueria experience.

Medium Rare French

3500

2425 18th St., NW

Amsterdam Falafelshop Middle Eastern

Get acquainted to one of the best late night bites that D.C. has to offer at Amsterdam Falafelshop. Amsterdam Falafelshop, in Adams Morgan, hosts some of the best chickpeas with a no-frills recipe. Do not be fooled, this

Rocklands BBQ American Rocklands is not located near a Metro stop, but it is easy to find if you follow the smell of barbecue. The restaurant has perfected every type of barbecue, from simple pulled pork sandwiches to ribs the size of your head. To expe-

restaurant is anything Metro stop: Adams but simple. The extenMorgan (Red line) sive “fixin’s bar” provides hundreds of toppings and fillings to pile your falafel high.

The best part about Amsterdam Falafelshop is that it is cheap. For the past two years, the shop has won first prize in ZAGAT’s Bang for the Buck department.

2418

rience real D.C. barbeWisconsin cue, order some of their Ave., NW famous sides. Choices Metro: 31, 32 or 36 bus include classics such as potato salad, macaroni to Calvert St. and cheese, corn bread and baked beans. Every visit to Rocklands is sure to satisfy all your barbecue cravings and leave you full for days.

Connecticut Ave., NW Metro stop: Cleveland Park (Red line)

Indecisive and ready to treat yourself? Try Medium Rare. With a fixed menu, you can skip scanning through dozens of options and get right to starting a three-course meal.

At Medium Rare, $20 gets you delicious French bread, a simple salad and the classic French steak-frites in Medium Rare’s signature sauce. Still have room for more?

Do not worry, they serve seconds.

Pho 75

Vietnamese From the look of Pho 75, you would not think of it as anything special. The set up is very minimalistic, with rows of tables and chairs in a cafeteria-type set up. It is not until you pick from the 20 different types of pho and try your first taste that you will realize what makes this place special. Bowls of pho are filled with dif-

ferent meats, noodles and one of the best tasting broths in D.C. Averaging about $7 a bowl, the soup may make you break a sweat, but it won’t break 1721 Wilson your wallet. Order your Blvd., Arlington, Va. favorite pho with a Vietnamese iced coffee to Metro stop: Rosslyn (Blue and orange line) create the most perfect combination Pho 75 has to offer.

theEAGLE SCENE AUGUST 23, 2012 | 11

D.C. CHILLIN’

A guide on how to be a real District native by acting like a tourist first

By CHELSEA CLAYS EAGLE COLUMNIST

You are finally here. You made it to one the best cities in the U.S., the seat of power where change-makers meet and policy battles unfold.

This city will be your home for the next nine months, so make the most of your time here before it’s gone.

The Scene is here to provide you with tips and tricks to help you blend in with the locals (even in a city where everyone is from somewhere else).

GET A SMARTRIP. IMMEDIATELY.

Ditch those farecards (the ultimate sign of a tourist) and march to CVS, the campus bookstore or one of the dozens of SmarTrip vending machines to be installed in the coming months to pick one up.

This $5 card will pay for itself with the discounts on Metro fare, won’t get demagnetized like paper cards and usually does not have to be removed from your wallet as it glides over the reader.

Also, when you plan to familiarize yourself with the bus system (which you should definitely do), it is much easier to use your SmarTrip than to pay with change on a moving bus (it

is dangerous, trust me - my twisted ankle is proof). Once you get a SmarTrip, make sure to register it online in case you lose it (it happens to everyone) so that all your hard-earned fare money is not lost forever.

DON’T ESCA-LEFT

Esca-lefting (verb): to stand on the left side of the escalator reserved for people in a hurry to pass; the ultimate sin (in my opinion) for a Metro-rider. Common courtesy on the Metro is to stand on the right and walk (usually run if in a hurry) down the left. If you escaleft, be prepared for glares and barks of “Move!”

DO TOURIST THINGS LIKE A LOCAL

As a new D.C. resident, you are obligated to get your picture taken in front of your home state at the WWII memorial, a picture next to the Washington Monument that makes you look like you are pushing it over and go up and down the Mall into every Smithsonian museum. But having tourists photo-bomb every picture or press their noses up against the glass case of the Hope Diamond can certainly be annoying, so be smart about going to these sights.

Going to the monuments

at night means no sunburn, a cool evening breeze and a spectacular (and very romantic) view of the monuments. Weekday afternoons at the Smithsonian museums are often less crowded than the weekend and not as bombarded by local school field trips.

EXPLORE (BECAUSE THERE IS MORE TO D.C. THAN THE MONUMENTS)

From Little Ethiopia to the Spanish Steps in Kalorama, this city is filled with gems that you cannot see in the typical panorama pictures of the D.C. skyline.

Use your weekends to walk around and a get a feel for your new home.

One of the best ways to explore? Volunteering either at a community garden, tutoring at a public elementary school or serving D.C.’s homeless at a soup kitchen. Through volunteering you can learn about the critical issues in D.C., including the AIDs crisis, the suffering public school system and “food deserts” with their connection to the severe income disparity between D.C. residents. The more you learn about your city, the more you can use your ambition to help.

THESCENE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

D.C. offers cheap options for culture, theater lovers ≤ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

of Art for free screenings of art house films and classic cinema in the East Building Auditorium. Seating is free but is on a first-come basis, so try to show up when doors first open 30 minutes before each show.

Catch the latter half of the summer film schedule, as they wrap up this free cinema series with films like the silent movie “Erotikon” on Sept. 15 or the director’s cut of “Amadeus” on Sept. 30.

EASTERN MARKET

Even though it is technically a bona fide farmer’s market, you really do not need to buy anything to have a good time. Eastern Market, located at the Eastern Market Metro stop, is one of the oldest fresh food markets and cultural hubs in D.C. The surrounding neighborhoods are teeming with unique art galleries, restaurants and shops, and the art vendors at the market have some of the most richly gratifying pieces.

Eastern Market also holds a local flea market every Sunday a block away, which hosts stalls for antiques, art, food and more. The flea market at Eastern Market is on the verge of losing its space, so try visiting it one Sunday to give your support to the rich local culture of D.C.

KENNEDY CENTER’S MILLENNIUM STAGE If you are a live theater buff, you probably know that going to performances is expensive. Fortunately, as part of its “Free Arts for Everyone” initiative, the Kennedy Center offers free performances every day at 6 p.m. without any need for tickets.

However, seating is limited to first-come, first-serve, so make sure to come early to the Grand Foyer where the performances usually take place.

Upcoming performances include Dance Asia 2012: Asia in Maskquerade on Aug. 25 and Annie and the Beekeepers on Aug. 31.

SHAKESPEARE THEATRE COMPANY’S FREE FOR ALL

For the avid Shakespeare fan, you are in luck. The Shakespeare Theatre Company’s annual Free for All is a summer staple, running from Aug. 23 to Sept. 5. This year’s Free for All is Shakespeare’s beloved comedy “All’s Well That Ends Well,” directed by Jenny Lord.

The free productions have been taking place to great acclaim every year since 1991.

So if you are a Shakespeare enthusiast and cannot afford the big bucks a play would usually demand, the Free for All is the perfect outing for you.

HBUI@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

OPINION

STAFF EDITORIAL

PARKING LAW PASSED WITHOUT STUDENT INPUT HARMS AU AU commuters beware: street parking near campus is now significantly more complicated.

Despite student protests, the Residential Parking Protection Act (RPPA) was passed on Aug. 2. The law, geared specifically at AU, requires students to register their cars in D.C. to park in certain residential zones. Reciprocity permits are a thing of the past; AU students now have to claim a D.C. permanent address and endure the chaos of the D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles if they wish to park on the street.

The Eagle’s main concern is the quiet manner in which D.C. council enacted the law. RPPA passed enmasse with other pieces of legisla-

tion, almost as if it was snuck in to avoid controversy. Minimal attention was given to the publicity of RPPA in the AU community. Also, Aug. 2 coincides with summer break, when most AU students are outside of the district. Students won’t know to change their plates until they get slammed with expensive parking tickets just as they’re returning to school.

On top of the silence, the law itself is confusing. Although signs will be posted on the streets the RPPA law applies to, students are entering this school year blind because no maps or outside communication have been made so far to warn students.

Residents of the AU area want to discourage AU students from park-

ing on the streets. The Eagle acknowledges that local street parking is a problem. AU student cars take up space. But since students have every right to park on those streets, how is it right to instate a solution without considering their previously voiced opinions?

The logistics for students to get to the DMV and to change over to D.C. residency seems annoying enough without all of the complications. But, with this, many students go home during the summer months and need to legally park in their state. Also, students use their home as their permanent address so bills or other important documents can be sent there.

This law could take that necessity

Breaking the political bubble RACHEL LOMOT | A FEW THOUGHTS AU students are loud.

When we have a problem with the administration, politics downtown or something across the country, our voices are out there. Protests happen so often on our campus that they almost begin to feel dull.

Our school recently took back its “Most Politically Active Students” title according to Princeton Review. This secures our confidence, but the trick is to do more with

our ranking than simply bask in its glory.

One would think that in the midst of this political election all college students would be in the forefront of the debate. Many campaign issues affect us directly. We are a demographic that candidates reach out to.

However, we often fail to reach back.

After speaking with college students outside of the “AU bubble,” I noticed that

our generation isn’t loud.

Friends told me they were going to blindly vote like their parents. Most said they would not vote at all.

As politically active students, we have to take charge and inspire others to become informed and involved. Although many feel like politics are hopeless, students can show they care through voting and writing letters to senators.

The “most politically active

away.

A positive side to the law is making parking on its face more affordable to students. The reciprocity permits cost $338 per year and parking as a D.C. resident is much cheaper.

However, the process is where the problem lies. Many steps have to be taken to switch one’s license plate.

Although campus parking is available, spots run out and the cost is higher than the previously allowed permits.

This law is not a solution. Something needs to be done, but the resolution should consider the demographic this law impacts most: the students.

students” shouldn’t be okay with apathy.

Staying active can be hard. Most undergraduates experience the “bubble effect.” Between school, work and our social lives it can be hard to reserve extra energy to talk about the controversial issues that directly affect us.

But let’s face it: AU undergrads are not average. Even in our “bubble,” we are still connected to the world. We are debate-starting political animals who love to have an opinion. All of this passion will be wasted if left to sit inside the “bubble;” it needs to

EDPAGE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

be shared.

During this political season, AU students are going to feel like this election is the only thing that matters. But, we have to remember our friends back home are not living in the center of the political universe. They too will be affected by what happens this November.

AU students love to make a difference. This political season, let’s try to do so not by making our voices louder, but by raising voices across the country.

Rachel Lomot is editorial page editor of The Eagle.

RLOMOT@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

theEAGLE OPINION AUGUST 23, 2012 | 13

A NOTE FROM THE DESK OF THE EDITOR

BY ZACH C. COHEN You’ll notice that the newspaper you hold in your hands is different than what you may remember from last year.

You’ll also notice that it came out on a different day than you were expecting.

We are excited to announce this year to change our release date each week to Thursdays.

This will allow us to improve the final product we give you.

Having a Thursday print date helps us enhance our newsgathering and offer more options to our advertisers.

In the process of changing to a Thursday printing, we have also changed the shape of the pages, giving you a tabloid format similar some of the daily newspapers you’ll find at Metro stops around the city. This new layout gives us a chance to use space more economically and give you more information as a reader.

Using a smaller paper size will give us the opportunity to invest more in our technology and our staff so we may help you better understand the AU community and D.C. But while the format is changing, the content is the same. Our first priority is delivering the best stories to you each week.

For that, we need you.

We need people with ex-

theEAGLE

pertise in writing, editing, photography, video, design, web management, advertisement sales and much more.

However, there are plenty of spots for people who may have never touched a newspaper but have a budding passion for storytelling and journalism. Don’t be afraid; many of the people who made the paper you’re holding did not work extensively on their high school newspaper before joining here. Opportunities exist here for everybody, and we’ll help you every step of the way and be there to guide you whenever you are unsure of what to do next.

D.C. is a great town for developing a career in journalism through internships and part-time jobs. But The Eagle is a place where you’ll be claim real ownership of news that makes a real difference in your community.

It is always our goal to deliver the latest news, insight and analysis about the issues that affect you as a member of the AU community. I look forward to an exciting year ahead, and I sincerely hope you enjoy each week’s paper, written just for you.

Zach C. Cohen is editor-inchief of The Eagle.

Eagle Rants @”The guy who looks at his toes and sees pigs.”

Quite frankly, my dear, I don’t give a ham. @ “I am obsessed with myself. That’s why I tan in a bikini on the quad. I want all the shirtless frat guys to look at me. They are SO HAWT. Also, I love when the guys wear Vineyard Vines... it reminds me of Martha’s Vineyard. I love my little!! “ I sense a troll among us, trying to spur on debate... my roommate has stopped doing laundry, she is just spraying her shirts with a perfume mixture now.

Woah, woah, woah. Someone is dating their big???

WTF??? That is the worst greek incest.

You’re the Cory to my Topanga.

“I wish I was better with words so I could tell you how much you honestly mean to me.”

Have you tried Klingon?

Heghlu’meH QaQ jajvam.

WONK needs to die a slow, terrible, painful death. I swear, when I graduate in 2013, I’m going to boo loudly anytime “WONK” is mentioned during the commencement ceremony.

EDITOR@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

is looking for an assistant editorial pages editor.

Contact edpage@theeagleonline.com for more information.

LET US PROCLAIM THE MYSTERY OF FAITH. I’m gonna cultivate a bam-

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

boo farm in the fat rolls of my stomach this year.

How can I qualify for government grants? S-I-M-P, Squirrels in my pants!

Don’t tell anyone but I love America Did my rant about explosive diarrhea get censored?

Fine. Whatever. Be that way.

To the girl whose boyfriend bought her a scale: dump him, he’s a real jerk.

I see Mock Trial is getting their Today@AU ads in early. Nothing like planning in June to attend info sessions in late-August. And apparently they’re recruiting parents as well? #todayatausucks Sometimes I read certain Eagle Rants, and I can’t help but wonder if they’re about me.

How many calories are in the Whole Foods Sm Berry Mix? MyFitnessPal is useless. Maooooooooow!

Strong women are beautiful.

The Eagle’s Nest should have a slurpee machine.

The only Reagan I ever liked was Faye Reagan.

Dear Anderson summer front desk people, if I had a valid, working I.D,

I would have swiped myself in.

Sincerely, person annoyed by your ignorance.

Whose idea was it to house interns from West Point with AU summer students?

Because I love it.

I love watching the incoming freshmen fight with each other on the 2016 Facebook page. Truly hysterical.

Some days I work. Some days I sit around in my pajamas all day watching TV and eating. My life is sad.

The members of the Class of 2016 aren’t “demanding” to be called first-years… An upperclassmen OL suggested that term be used. Cool your jets.

PHONATHON IS STILL DOWN HERE YOU GUYS. Please spice up your rants for our entertainment.

Are any other AU girls interested in starting a Disney Princess appreciation club?

If I were an olympian I would so want to compete on trampoline.

I think my roommate already hates me, and she hasn’t even moved in yet.

Boo ya, daily rants are back!

My life is now complete.

SPORTS Nationals’ ace could sit before season’s end, miss playoffs

By GENNARO FARONE EAGLE STAFF WRITER

The best player on the best team on the best pitching staff could become a spectator down the stretch.

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg is creeping closer to his team-imposed limit of between 160 and 180 innings pitched in 2012.

The 24-yearold flamethrower is averaging a little over 30 innings per month this year. So the question is: Do you sit your AllStar pitcher with his future health in mind, or do you send Strasburg out every fifth day and try to win it all this season?

The Nationals need to keep Strasburg on the mound. Washington doesn’t have a good shot at a World Series title; they have a great shot. With Strasburg at the front of the rotation, they’re the favorites in the National League.

Washington’s rotation is tops in the NL, and it’s not even close. The staff ranks

among the best in the league in wins, earned run average, innings pitched, quality starts and opponents’ batting average.

The playoffs are all about starting pitching and the Nationals have it in spades, or more likely aces.

Gio Gonzalez or Strasburg would be the ace on most

Rizzo implemented the innings limit to protect Strasburg, who underwent Tommy John surgery in September 2010. The Nats used a similar strategy with Zimmermann last season, with a key difference: Washington didn’t have one of the best records in baseball.

You can’t blame the Nationals for trying to protect their young star, but the truth is Strasburg’s health and the Nats’ title shot may never be better than they are right now. Strasburg’s violent mechanics will continue to put his health at risk every time he throws a pitch.

The Nationals could still be in a good position, even with Strasburg potentially becoming a spectator. Edwin Jackson, Ross Detwiler and John Lannan will each move up in the rotation.

But neither of those three is a flame-throwing All-Star with a Bugs Bunny changeup. World Series titles and 24-year-old pitching stars are hard to come by; the Nats will have to decide what they value more.

Washington doesn’t have a good shot at a World Series title; they have a great shot. teams, and the Nats march both out to the mound and have a very good third starter in Jordan Zimmermann. It’s an excellent formula for a championship.

Obviously, an outstanding pitching staff doesn’t guarantee a team a spot in the World Series, but shutting down a pitcher doesn’t guarantee a longer career.

If a pitcher possesses poor mechanics, which Strasburg does, the rest might only be postponing an inevitable injury.

General Manager Mike

SPORTS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

A review of AU’s top athletes 16

Thousands anticipated for Bender Blue Out

By JOSH PAUNIL EAGLE STAFF WRITER

Over 2,000 fans are expected to fill Bender Arena Aug. 24 for the sixth annual Bender Blue Out, as the AU women’s volleyball team kicks off the 2012 season against crosstown rival Georgetown University at 7 p.m.

The Bender Blue Out, which has broken the attendance record for Washington, D.C. collegiate volleyball matches four out of the last five years, is the opening match in this year’s D.C. Volleyball Challenge.

AU will host George Mason Saturday at 7 p.m. in Bender Arena on the second day of the Challenge.

“The Blue Out is unlike anything else, because you walk out there and it’s almost like you’re playing in a professional football stadium,” 2011 Patriot League Player of the Year Sara Rishell said. “It’s a great experience to be a part of and to perform in front of everyone there.”

The Eagles will take on a Georgetown squad that finished 14-13 last season, including a 6-8 record in Big East play. The Hoyas return with their leaders in kills, blocks and points, but also without three 2012 seniors.

“Georgetown has typically

been a tough team in the past,” 2011 All-Patriot League First Team selection Juliana Crum said. “Last year, Georgetown’s strength was in that they had a lot of seniors, and a lot of returning girls who had been playing with each other for a few years. This year, we’re returning almost everyone except for our setter, so that will be a big advantage in that we’ve been playing with each other and we know our strengths and weaknesses better than last year.”

AU will try to build off last season’s success to help them not only in the Blue Out, but in the rest of the season as well.

The Eagles finished 23-11 (131 Patriot League), won both the regular season and conference tournament championships and earned an NCAA Tournament berth in 2011.

“The great thing about the team this year is that as great as everyone was as freshmen last year, they’re even better this year now that they have that year of experience under their belt,” 2011 Patriot League Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year Rebecca Heath said.

“Over the course of last season, we grew a lot from the beginning to the end, and I think that growth will carry over into this season. That’s something we’re really excited about.”

SPORTS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

theEAGLE SPORTS AUGUST 23, 2012 | 15

Adding QB Griffin signals A preview of the new era for Redskins Eagles this fall

By ERIC SALTZMAN EAGLE STAFF WRITER

On Sept. 9, a new era in Washington Redskins football will begin: The RG III era.

If you are a Redskins fan, or just a football fan for that matter, you have a lot to look forward to. At last, the second pick in the 2012 draft will play his first real game as a starting quarterback in the National Football League.

Robert Griffin III won the Heisman Trophy a year ago and put up crazy passing and rushing numbers during his decorated collegiate career at Baylor. He has both a great arm to make all the NFL throws and great speed to make him a rare dual-threat quarterback at the NFL level.

Some could expect Griffin to replicate the numbers Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton posted last season. Like Newton, Griffin has a good arm and good mobility.

But perhaps one of the more overlooked elements in determining Griffin’s short-term success is what’s around him.

It is often said that a

quarterback’s best friend is a defense and a running game. The Redskins have both.

Linebackers Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan lead a defense that jumped from 31st in yards allowed in 2010 to 13th in 2011. Griffin will also benefit from the Redskins rushing attack, which should feature talented second-year back Roy Helu.

In 2009, Mark Sanchez entered a similar situation in his rookie season with the New York Jets, and Sanchez led the Jets to the AFC Championship Game.

This does not mean that RG III is going to lead the Redskins to a game from the Super Bowl, but history sometimes repeats itself.

In the end, the success or failure of Griffin will come down to Griffin himself.

Despite all of his physical tools and collegiate accolades, Griffin will now be playing at the highest level.

As all football fans know, there have been plenty of highly successful collegiate athletes with tons of physical tools who have crumbled in the NFL. Being a quarterback is a very unique position. No po-

theEAGLE

sition in any sport is more valuable, and quarterbacks have the ability to make everyone around them much better.

Never was this more prevalent than last year, when Peyton Manning’s neck injury transformed the Colts from a playoff contender to the worst team in the league sporting a 2-14 record, their worst outing since before Indianapolis selected Manning first overall in the 1998 draft.

The amount of pressure Griffin has on him is unlike any other player: he has the responsibility of leading the revival of one of the NFL’s most iconic teams. He must do this while being scrutinized by media and fans that have been waiting to see the Redskins return to dominance for decades.

Throughout his collegiate career, Griffin has shown a remarkable amount of resiliency both on and off the field. The Redskins are putting the pieces in place; now it’s up to Griffin to put them all together and make Washington a championship team. If there is anyone who can fix the Redskins, it is Robert Griffin III. SPORTS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

is looking for a design assistant.

Contact apowell@theeagleonline.com for more information.

By TYLER TOMEA EAGLE STAFF WRITER

After three Patriot League regular season championships and one tournament title in 2011, here’s a look at how AU’s fall sports teams shape up in 2012.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Last season: 6-11-2 (2-4-1 Patriot League). The Eagles missed the conference tournament for the second consecutive year after reaching the PL Championship in 2009. The team dropped its first three conference games by one goal each, putting itself in a hole too deep to climb out of.

Key losses: Kimberly Kroll and Jenna Stasiewicz each started all 19 games on AU’s back line a season ago, and both logged 90 or more minutes in over half of the team’s matches.

Top returners: The good news is that each player who tallied at least one goal in 2011 is back in 2012, including senior midfielder Michelle Montilio, who was named to the All-Patriot League First Team last season.

MEN’S SOCCER

Last season: 7-12-2 (5-2 PL).

It was another heartbreaking end to the season for men’s soccer, with the team falling in the finals of the PL Tournament for the third straight year. The Eagles entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed but lost 2-0 to Colgate in the

championship.

Key losses: Matt Makowski was a fixture in goal the past few years, as was Alex Tilatti on the back line. Jack Scott, who tallied three goals (two game winners), was also lost to graduation.

Top returners: Adem Gokturk, Seth Goldman, Alassane Kane, Ryan Morales and Colin Seigfreid are all back, as the Eagles look to make another run at the league championship.

VOLLEYBALL

Last season: 23-11 (13-1 PL).

It was another dominant season for AU volleyball, as the team won both the PL Tournament and regular season crown for the 10th time in the past 11 years. After dropping only two sets in the conference tournament, the Eagles saw their season end against Delaware in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Key losses: Alexandra Hammer helped pace the offensive attack, finishing with 623 assists in 2011.

Top returners: The Eagles are loaded entering the fall, led by sophomore Sara Rishell and junior Juliana Crum. Rishell was named Patriot League Player of the Year as a freshman, while Crum earned a spot on the All-Patriot League First Team.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16 ≥

16 | AUGUST 23, 2012 SPORTS theEAGLE

Lumpkins, Rishell among athletes to keep an eye on

≤ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

By SAMANTHA RAPHELSON EAGLE STAFF WRITER

As AU sports teams come off another successful year, let’s take a look at some of the top athletes to watch heading into the 2012-2013 seasons.

STEPHEN LUMPKINS, SENIOR FORWARD, MEN’S BASKETBALL

Lumpkins returns to AU after being drafted as a pitcher by the Kansas City Royals in 2011 and briefly pursuing a baseball career.

During his three seasons at AU, Lumpkins averaged 9.9 points and 6.4 rebounds while ranking fourth in the record books with 107 blocked shots and seventh with a career field goal percentage of 54 percent.

Lumpkins has been a consistent player since his freshman year and, pending Patriot League approval, will be back on the court at Bender Arena.

ALEXIS DOBBS, JUNIOR GUARD, WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

After the women’s basketball team went 14-0 in the Patriot League last year, they were knocked off in the tournament semifinals when then-senior Lisa Strack had trouble dealing with a shoulder injury. Strack was a crucial part of last year’s team, and her graduation means the rest of the team must

Eagles contend with key player losses

step up immensely.

As Dobbs enters her third season as an Eagle, she has proved she can do it all: play point guard, steal the ball and score 3-pointers. Last year, the All-Patriot League First Team selection scored 11 points per game, recorded 59 steals and made 3-pointers 36 percent of the time, which was the fourth-highest average in the league.

DANIEL MITCHELL, SENIOR, 197 POUNDS, WRESTLING

With Ryan Flores and Matt Mariacher graduating, the wrestling team lost two of its best athletes in separate weight classes. With their success Mitchell flew a bit under the radar after going 21-12 overall. With a 5421 record the past two seasons, he can help fill the void left by his teammates.

Mitchell, who won the NCAA’s Elite 89 Award for the highest GPA of any student-athlete competing at the Division I Wrestling Championships, finished sixth at the EIWA Championships and fourth at the Midland Championships last season.

ALASSANE KANE, SENIOR FORWARD, MEN’S SOCCER

Since transferring from Vermont, all Alassane Kane has done in an AU jersey is score goals. Lots of them. In his first year with the team in 2010, Kane made an im-

mediate impact when he led the conference in both goals (seven) and points (16).

The forward followed that up with team-highs in goals (six) and points (15) last season to emerge as one of the most dangerous threats in the Patriot League.

SARA RISHELL, SOPHOMORE OUTSIDE HITTER/MIDDLE BLOCKER, VOLLEYBALL

Rishell stuck out among seven other freshmen on last year’s squad, as she led the team in both kills and blocks.

The Patriot League Tournament MVP, Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year totaled 106 block assists, good for third all time at AU in a single season and set a Patriot League Tournament record with 19 blocks.

Her plethora of skills, combined with those of 2011 All-Patriot League First Team selection Juliana Crum, are likely to lead AU to another championship.

ALEX MCMACKIN, JUNIOR FORWARD, FIELD HOCKEY

FIELD HOCKEY Last season: 9-8 (4-1 PL).

Bucknell’s 3-2 upset victory over top-seeded AU in the Patriot League Semifinals broke a string of eight consecutive seasons in which the field hockey team won both the regular season and tournament titles.

Key losses: Tatum Dyer wrapped up her strong career by earning 2011 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Meanwhile, Melissa Casale tallied four goals and was an All-Patriot League Second Team selection.

Top returners: Jenn Bradley and Gina Hofmann form a solid duo with plenty of experience.

Following a strong sophomore campaign (eight goals, 18 points), Alex McMackin will be another player to watch on a squad that is ranked 25th nationally in the NFHCA pre-

season poll.

CROSS-COUNTRY

Last season: The men’s and women’s teams jumped out to a great start by sweeping the Mount St. Mary’s 5K Duals. At the Patriot League Championships, the men recorded a second-place finish and the women came in sixth.

Key losses: Josh Olsen and Ryan Williams both earned All-Patriot League First Team honors in 2011. Octavia Rinehardt became the third woman in program history to compete in the NCAA National Cross Country Championships her junior year and was an All-Patriot League Second Team selection as a senior.

Top returners: Mark Allen enters the year as the top runner for the men’s team, while Carly Birkhold, Julia Sullivan and Alexandra Tyburski will be looking to post breakout performances on the women’s side.

TTOMEA@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

McMackin will certainly help fill the shoes of Tatum Dyer, who graduated last year. The then-sophomore netted a team-high eight goals and recorded two assists a season ago, and she should continue to shine this season as the offense develops.

SRAPHELSON@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

COURTESY OF AU ATHLETICS