Feb 2006 Issue by The Pearl

Out with the Old, in with the New After Much Debate, SUA-AV Adopts A New Academic Calendar Page 3

US Supreme Court Shifts Keep Moving Right; Implications for Forward Abortion, Privacy Rights A profile of the Analysis of the recently-passed confirmation of Samuel Coretta Scott King Alito and John Roberts Page 9

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Letter from the Editors Excerpt from The New Human Revolution, Vol. 15 DAISAKU IKEDA Out with the Old in with the New JESSICA BENNETT Many, Many Thanks DR. SARAH WIDER After Innocence: A Review LILI CASTILLA Apollo’s Ground Artist of the Month: Arie Galles Profile: Professor Arie Galles MICHAEL STRAND U.S. Supreme Court Shifts Right Implications for Abortion, Privacy Rights MICHAEL BIANCO Keep Moving Forward HOPE A. WHITE Bullshit: Animal Food Production JENNY OHRSTROM Fine and Dandy Like Sour Candy Digesting What You Eat ELIZABETH KURITA Gorgonzola Cheese Do It Yourself! CHESTER ONG rhombicosidodecahedron MONICA KAWAI

Station 2– Babi Yar

his month we are changing it up a bit. The following is a letter from the editors. For us The Pearl isn’t just another club, it is truly a way of life. And we all deeply appreciate the friendships and skills we have acquired from working on the newspaper. To express our appreciation for the paper, and all of our lovely readers, a few of us have written a smidgeon what it is like to live the life of a Pearlite. First, The Pearl’s own Strategic Planner Anna Ikeda writes… Once upon a time when WuLa Dawson (Class of ‘05) was The Pearl’s Editor-in-Chief, she used to bug me ceaselessly by asking me to join The Pearl team. Her recruitment continued for months, until it got to the point that the only way to stop her was to join. Looking back at those days, I really appreciate her for encouraging me to become part of this paper, and I feel proud to see myself as a part of The Pearl staff. The people I have met through this group, our printing and managing experiences and the constant struggle to reflect student voices, have all become a part of me.

The Pearl is the work of the blood, sweat, and tears of many Soka students. We overcome many obstacles with every issue. I can’t remember a single issue where we didn’t have to fight printers, articles, grammar, or staplers, to publish. These problems don’t make me feel sad, because I feel that we actively seek to put out a paper that has a unique perspective—a Soka student’s perspective—on our world and on the rest of the world out there. Fellow Co-head of Layout Giuliana Schroeder notes… Our group of Pearlites consists of a un poco loco crew, in the sense that we all contribute differently to the The Pearl and we disregard the fact that the Pearl is a baby, squirming as it begins to take its first baby steps. We substitute that with a grander vision of constantly improving it through quality writing, mission accomplishment, and presentation. For me personally, The Pearl has been an awesome opportunity to enhance my artistic abilities (layout) and serve as a stage for my fellow artists (Apollo’s). But in terms of production: senior editors and writers taking allnighters as they fine-tune the articles, masterful Andy putting everything in a cohesive layout… we all have to use some hocus pocus sometimes.

Business Manager Lili Castilla adds… What I like most about being at The Pearl is that we are always asking ourselves: in what way we can improve the paper? From committed writers and excellence in journalism, to super high-quality printers and world distribution, we have filled an entire office wall with our dreams for the future. As Business Manager, I just have to make sure Emily Frausto that there are enough supplies to get the paper out. Yet I feel so much reward when at least one person tells me they have enjoyed reading the paper. Then, I know that the paper has accomplished its mission, and I feel proud to have contributed.

Personally, as Managing Editor, I feel that this paper is one of the most important features of the Soka campus. It is the microphone of the students, and shoulders the immensely difficult task of analyzing our world, our campus, and ourselves from a journalistic perspective. As a paper we have struggled to get to where we are, and from here we plan to constantly improve with every issue. I feel deeply privileged to be a part of this publication and to list my name on the back of each issue with these hardworking and intelligent individuals. This is not the best of all possible worlds, and this truth is felt every step of the way as we create each new issue. But at the end of all things, I truly believe that as long as The Pearl newspaper is published each month, there will be a Soka Editor-in-Chief, Emily Frausto, reflects… As far as the journalism goes, I have just tried to keep up and do University of America. my best, but what really keeps me inspired is the committed and sincere staff. Classes, papers, finals, all come and go but The Cheers and thanks for reading. Anna Ikeda Pearl is a constant in my life. This year has definitely been the Lili Castilla most challenging but being present as the paper grows more Emily Frausto consistent with stronger writing is an experience that I will alAndy Reker ways treasure. Giuliana Schroeder Michael Strand■ Co-head of Layout Andy Reker shares a similar sentiment…

Excerpt from The New Human Revolution, Vol. 15 By Daisaku Ikeda

As pioneers who shared the same spirit as their school’s founder, the Newspaper Club members were determined to blaze a trail in the effort to build their university. Strongly aware that they embodied the university, they were resolved to be the protagonists of the story of the university’s birth and not shirk their responsibilities by sitting idly by. That was the spirit of the students of Soka University’s first class. And that is why they would not allow malicious criticism and slanders go unchallenged.

On the Founding of the Student Newspaper Other students formed the Newspaper Club, determined to make it an advocate for opening a new age and that it would transmit the voice of Soka University, the fortress of peace, to society. Without a room of their own to meet in, the group held their editorial meetings in a corner of the cafeteria. One of their main problems was how to publish a newspaper with almost no funds. Overcoming various obstacles, the first issue They started the paper as a monthly publication and sent each of the Soka University Journal was published at the end of Sep- issue to Shin’ichi Yamamoto. After reading it from cover to cover, Shin’ichi placed it before the Gohonzon and prayed tember. wholeheartedly that all the students would develop into strong, sound leaders for the future. Soka University 22 Filled with joy and pride, the Newspaper Club members handed out their paper to their fellow students on campus. In April of the following year, the name of the newspaper was The few mimeographed sheets, however, were not exactly well changed to Soka University Newspaper. Two years after the pubreceived. People said it looked like an elementary school pa- lication of the first issue, Shin’ichi encouraged representatives per run off on cheap newsprint. The Newspaper Club had of the paper, saying: “I’ve been reading your newspaper. Let’s mimeographed the paper because it was the cheapest method make it the best paper ever, one that is loved by everyone. of making copies, and they believed that the newspaper’s con- Please work hard and cultivate your ability so that you could even start your own newspaper company someday.” tent was more important than its appearance. In fact, the eight-page paper was filled with interesting articles. The newspaper’s editorial noted that newspapers had always played an important role in enlightening the public and promoting reform, and expressed a firm determination to create a new kind of paper that would encourage a peaceful social revolution. The first edition included a feature on the mission of Soka University, interviews with faculty, book reviews, and students’ voices. It also contained a student’s rebuttal to an article written by a religious scholar and published in a certain monthly magazine questioning whether academic freedom really existed at Soka University. The rigorously argued rebuttal examined such fundamental questions as the nature of religion and education, and it was filled with a youthful sense of justice and resolve to expose and refute groundless charges.

Soka University 23 Shin’ichi asked the Newspaper Club members if there were any problems at the paper. One replied, as if mustering his resolve: “We would like to print the newspaper in type, and so we could really use a typewriter.” After asking the cost of a typewriter, Shin’ichi said: “All right. Let me see what I can do.” A short while later, Shin’ichi sent the Newspaper Club some money. He was determined to do whatever he could to support the students. He also hoped they would become journalists who could discern between right and wrong and would speak out fearlessly for truth and justice. Editor’s note: The New Human Revolution, Vol. 15 is a novelized history of Soka University’s founding in Japan. Daisaku Ikeda represents himself as the character Shin’ichi Yamamoto.■

All are invited to this campus event to celebrate The Pearl’s fourth anniversary and to honor Daniel Pearl’s life.

Out with the Old, In with the New New Academic Calendar Adopted at SUA-AV By Jessica Bennett

n February 17, 2006, Soka University of America, Aliso Viejo (SUA-AV) President Daniel Habuki informed the SUA-AV community that, after much deliberation, a calendar change will be implemented for the 2006-2007 academic year. The new calendar retains Core I in the fall block, but alters the rest of the years to a semester-block-semester schedule (4-1-4). The Academic Program Committee (APC), made up of students, staff and the Faculty Executive Committee, believes that this Compromise Proposal better suits the needs of the Soka community.

Debate about this calendar change has been sweeping the campus. On January 10, 2006, many faculty, administration, and students attended an Academic Calendar Forum to discuss whether or not to adopt a new academic calendar at SUA-AV. At the forum, Dr. Phat Vu explained the benefits of a new calendar proposal (4-1-4), which would take out the fall block and instead consist of a fall semester, a winter block, and spring semester. Dr. Michael Golden outlined the benefits of maintaining the current calendar (1-4-4-1), which begins with a fall block, followed by two semesters, and ends with a spring block. However, as of January 26, 2006, Vu and other faculty members on the Curriculum Committee (CC) slightly amended the new calendar proposal to form a Compromise Proposal based on the overwhelming student response in favor of retaining the current schedule, especially in terms of keeping the Core I experience for freshmen. At its outset, SUA-AV’s academic calendar was a 1-3-1-3-1 schedule, with fall, winter, and spring blocks. However, in the first year of teaching at SUA-AV, the faculty decided to alter this system (the 1-3-1-3-1 calendar), and it was quickly changed to the current schedule (1-4-4-1) in time to implement the following year. Dr. Golden acknowledges two concerns with the current 2005-2006 system: the Modes of Inquiry course required for sophomores and the fall block for seniors. However, he emphasizes that the length of time in which the Modes class is taught is not the issue at hand; rather, the course material itself is unclear. Similarly, in the seniors’ fall block, he argues that it is not the block itself that is the problem, but rather that SUA-AV is understaffed and cannot offer a full range of courses for the seniors. Mostly, though, he is concerned about the fact that the Compromise Proposal would reduce the graduation requirements by counting two 1-credit courses towards the required 38. He says, “If we are trying to make our degree stronger and more effective in helping students' future careers and graduate school applications, this does the opposite and makes the degree weaker.” Golden believes that if we first tried hiring more full-time staff, offering senior-level seminars, and investing in a faculty development program to help teachers teach more effectively in blocks, a calendar change might not be necessary at all. Dr. Anthony Mazeroll concurs: “The cur-

rent calendar works for me; I see no need to change it. The Compromise Proposal makes the third Learning Rhea Bithar (Class of ’09) is in favor of the new calenCluster optional, which, in my opinion, takes away dar proposal because it would allow students to focus from the overall SUA experience.” on their first semester: “By the end of last semester, all of us were drained. I believe this is due to the fact that Masa Mochizuki (Class of ’09) feels strongly that the we went straight from a three-and-a-half week block “academic calendar should not be changed unless a into a semester.” She believes that an extra month of curriculum change precedes it or immediately accom- summer (except for the Core I freshmen) would make panies it.” Mochizuki feels that the problems we cur- people more energized to return to SUA-AV in the rently face are not merely calendar-based, but deal fall. more with curricular problems. Diana Wells (Class of ’08) adds that “this new calendar would not increase There is no conclusive research indicating that either student choice in terms of required classes.” She sug- calendar is better than the other. All of the faculty gests eliminating or improving some required classes members simply wanted to find the calendar that best before any calendar changes occur. Overall, these stu- fits the students, faculty and administration currently dents and faculty agree that, as Golden puts it, the on SUA-AV’s campus. Professor Jim Merod says that “potential of the current calendar is too great to throw he sympathizes with both sides of the debate because it out without giving it a fair test.” he sees how adjustments could be made to simultaneously improve and retain the current calendar, but also Dr. Phat Vu initially made the new calendar proposal recognizes that a complete calendar change might because he felt that he did not reach his potential work better for some. He says, “This is not a revolupedagogically in a block format. He says, “Despite the tion we’re talking about; it’s merely an adjustment, a fact that I received positive classroom evaluations modification that will not do great damage. The nature from the students I taught in blocks, I felt that I could of the SUA community is small and intimate—if any have been even more creative and effective as a changes occur and they do not work, we can always teacher had those blocks been semesters.” He created change again, as many other institutions have done the proposal as a mere suggestion, with the intention throughout their histories.” of seeing how many other faculty members felt or did not feel the same way as him about the block format. Because the proposal concerns the academic calendar For this reason, he and other members of the CC initi- and not the curriculum, the administration made the ated the 4-1-4 Proposal. Vu believes that the Compro- final decision to implement the new calendar. Presimise Proposal, which originated from the discussions dent Daniel Habuki writes: “After discussing the issue during and after the Academic Calendar Forum, best with our University Provost and Vice President for fits the needs of the SUA-AV community. Academic Affairs, Tomoko Takahashi, Vice President for Administrative Affairs and CFO, Arch Asawa, Vice Dr. Seiji Takaku advocates for the Compromise Pro- President for Administration, Arnold Kawasaki, Dean posal because he believes it would successfully and of Faculty, Edward Feasel, and Dean of Students, Jay effectively deal with the two main concerns, CORE I Heffron, I have made the decision to adopt the faculty and the faculty teaching load, expressed by the stucalendar proposal.” President Habuki thanks the SUAdents and the faculty, respectively. The CORE I issue AV community for participating in this discussion and is taken care of because the new compromise calendar expresses his confidence that “together we will conretains the fall block for the freshmen. The faculty tinue to improve our university and build on the acateaching load is also effectively taken care of because a demic excellence we have accomplished thus far.” majority of faculty members would not need to teach three courses per semester under this calendar system, President Habuki requests that any questions concernthough teaching three courses per semester is a normal ing the calendar change be directed toward Dean load in many other institutions. He also believes that Feasel, who will work out the details of the new 2006the proposal successfully addresses the issue of the 2007 academic calendar. ■ seniors’ fall block, saying “I have been in charge of organizing the seniors’ fall block for the last two years and in the block format it has consistently proven ineffective, not because of understaffing of the faculty or the faculty not knowing how to teach courses in Submit a blocks, but because not many ‘real’ courses can be Letter to the Editor! taught in three and a half weeks. Thus, beginning with a semester is beneficial both to seniors and to the facpearl@soka.edu ● PMB B-492 ulty members who work with them.”

Got Opinions?

But it was not simply the graduate who gave us a wonderful way of seeing. Sonal and Ana took a Coleridgean concept they had By Dr. Sarah Wider been discussing in GNED and brought it beautifully into play ("the willing suspension of disbelief"), helping us understand how Editor’s Note: The following is a letter written by Professor Sarah Wider we can truly listen to and learn from perspectives different from President of the Emerson Society, following her visit to Soka University Alour own. And there was Rekha starting us off with an absolutely iso Viejo as keynote speaker for the second Soka Education Conference held essential question about how we meet the invariable obstacles: on the 11th and 12th of February 2006. the present dominant world is not kind to the imagination, is not supportive to the arts or to those who begin from a place of comDear President Habuki, passion. As you can see by how easily and vividly I recall this disI wanted to write to convey my many thanks. And also my excussion, it was thought-full and we certainly could have kept gohilaration. My visit to SUA was marvelously inspiring for ing, as I could keep going now, because I haven't said the half of me. Your students are, in a word, wonderful (which, of course, I it. Dava bringing up the importance of each of us individually and know you well and truly know). It was such a pleasure having all of us collectively working together to understand what is dinner with you on Friday night, and talking with you about those meant by "spirituality" (hence taking us eventually to Gonzalo's students, hearing what it means to be president at your university, comment); Masa talking about the role of spirituality in theory what kinds of dialogue are possible, or perhaps it's better to say, and in practice; Michael telling us how we have to keep ourselves what kinds of dialogue are elemental and fundamental to SUA. honest to our own clearly defined ethical standards; Tommy reminding us that simply being in the presence of beauty (in this It was a thought-provoking pleasure and privilege to meet and case three works of art in the Louvre) can have powerful effect talk with the students. I really had the time of my life. People kept asking if I was tired, but in all honesty, I could have danced on individuals singly and together. And those of us a little further (or in this case talked) all night. The conversations were marvel- along the age line said a few things too, but I like to focus on the students because they really carried the thoughts forward. It was ous. I was so impressed by both the depth of the thought and impressive, exhilarating and inspiring. also by the way in which students supported each other in their thinking. I saw this particularly in the workshop where the stuAnd so again, my thanks to you, to the faculty and to the students so nicely built upon each other's thoughts, truly contribut- dents. The students who organized the conference worked suing to the discussion, truly connecting ideas. Gonzalo [Obelleiro, perbly to create something that will last. As I said in an e-mail I class of ’05] was part of that session and what wonderful things sent to them a little earlier this morning, there will be much good he had to say. In fact, his comments on the indefinable quality of that continues from these days. concepts like "spirit," "imagination," "love" were so apt and so compelling that I will draw upon them in my own teaching and in All my best, my own work with others. Sarah■

Many, Many Thanks

Land of the Free, Home of the Brave… and the Wrongfully Accused

After Innocence: A review By Lili Castilla

On April 24, 2006, learning clusters will rock the house, again. One of the strongest features in the Soka University of America, Aliso Viejo curriculum, the learning cluster program offers students and faculty the opportunity to work together in research or fieldwork projects that cover topics as varied as alternative education, jazz, sustainable development in Peru, water policies, comics, and many others. This year, a group of students have proposed a learning cluster on the death penalty and wrongful imprisonment in the United States. This learning cluster was inspired in part by a documentary about the lives of exonerated prisoners, called After Innocence.

Nicholas Yarris, from West Philadelphia, was sentenced to death by the state of Pennsylvania and spent 23 years in solitary confinement. He was the first death row inmate in the state to receive postconviction DNA testing. Wilton Dedge from Florida spent 22 years in prison before prosecutors would allow DNA evidence into his appeal proceedings. Calvin Willis also spent 22 years at the Louisiana State Penitentiary before walking free. Despite spending decades in prison for crimes they did not commit, these men’s lives remain powerful symbols of strength and resilience. When asked if he felt angry at the system, Willis said: “I’m not angry. Anger stagnates a person’s growth.”

Jacqueline Shiroma (Class of ‘05) says, “This film portrays a reality that is not widely known or that has very little attention from authorities and people in general. It makes the audience aware of it, showing that the death penalty is not always the right solution.” Also, Diana Yamamoto (Class of ‘08) says, “After Innocence made it possible for me to see After Innocence, directed by Academy Award nominee Jessica Sanders, what was happening with the lives of the exonerated people. It gives tells the compelling story of eight men who were wrongfully accused of you reason to care more about them.” capital crimes such as rape and murder, and were imprisoned for decades until DNA testing proved their innocence. Awarded with the One of the main reasons for proposing a learning cluster on the death Special Jury Prize in the 2005 Sundance film festival, After Innocence uses penalty is to examine the sources – political, economical, and religious a straightforward style to explore the journey back into society faced by – that maintain this system. Also, this learning cluster will produce a these exonerated men. The main issue in the film is the lack of com- visual documentary of the whole project, in order to create awareness pensation for prisoners after they have been exonerated. In compari- about this issue. If you have any questions about this learning cluster son to the parole system, in which parolees are offered several pro- proposal, feel free to contact Edward Lowe elowe@soka.edu, Masako grams of reinsertion to society, the exonerated receive no economical Delalieu mdelalieu@soka.edu, or Lili Castilla kcastillaroca@soka.edu benefits, housing, or therapy after they leave prison. They don’t even More information on After Innocence is available at www.afterinnocence.com.■ get a formal apology.

Artist of the Month: Arie Galles

time he was unsure what form the subject matter would take, he knew that this was a project which would become the focus of his life for the foreseeable future. Shares His Life Work with the Campus Community By Michael Strand Professor Arie Galles is an Galles didn’t want to draw piles of burned bodies, or billows of artist and the head of Creative smoke; to him such depictions were too painful, and drawings of Arts at Soka University of bodies would only further denigrate the victims of the Holocaust. America (SUA-AV). His most Rather, Galles chose to draw from the actual aerial photos of each ambitious and intense art concentration camp taken by American, British and German reconproject, “Fourteen Stations/ naissance aircraft. He spent years digging through thousands of Hey Yud Dalet”, will be show- photographic negatives in the captured German war documents at ing at the SUA-AV Art Gal- the National Archives in Washington, DC, Royal Air Force, US lery in Founders Hall from Army Air Corps Archives and other places to find each precious February 15, 2006, to April image. Then he used black charcoal and white Conté crayon, the 28, 2006. This immense work ashes of wood and chalk, to complete each image. is comprised of fifteen four by six foot drawings of some For Galles, the art project became a healing process, as he says: of the most notorious Nazi “The strokes of my own hand became a very personal prayer…my concentration camps of prayer for the victims of the Holocaust. I didn’t feel like a simple World War II. “Fourteen artist, I felt as if I were an archaeologist, taking off bit by bit the Stations” is the product of a rubble of history with Conté, charcoal and eraser.” Each of the lifetime of artistic skill and is large black and white images intensely communicates a wide range Galles’ personal prayer for of emotion. From thousands of feet in the air, the camps seem those who lost their lives in rather normal, each nestled in a field, town, forest, or next to the the Holocaust, some of Baltic Sea. This disquieting fact is a reminder that the Holocaust whom were members of his own family. In addition to the art exhi- was perpetrated by human beings, in normal places, not on some bition, there will be a lecture by Galles, a film screening, a poetry hellish alien planet, but on the world in which we live today. reading, a musical concert, and a debate symposium (see box for In all, “Fourteen Stadetails). tions” took Galles al14 Stations Exhibition Dates: Feb 15 – Apr 28, 2006 Founders Hall most ten years to com“Fourteen Stations/Hey plete, this is because Yud Dalet” is an art proEvents each drawing consumed ject that has been the Opening Reception: February 16, 6:00PM four to six months of focus of Galles’ artistic Artist’s Lecture: February 23, 7:00PM work and time, in addilife for over a decade. Poetry Reading by Jerome Rothenberg: March 9, 7:00PM tion to teaching, conThe name “Fourteen Film Screening of Fourteen Stations documentary: March 12, 5:00PM ducting research and Stations” refers to fourSymposium Thoughts Words and Images: Portrayals of Holocaust and Genocide: drawing preparatory teen Nazi concentration studies. This period of March 24, 7:00PM camps, with their railroad Galles’ life was marked Concert by Music Professor Michael Golden: April 7, 8:00PM stations, where European by great joy and strugJews were systematically gle. Currently, Galles is exterminated during World War II, as well as to the Stations of the working on publishing the journal which chronicles the ten years he Cross. The project’s second name, “Hey Yud Dalet”, is a Hebrew devoted to this superhuman art project. The first complete show acronym traditionally written on the graves of Jewish martyrs meanopened on August 20, 2001, at the Morris Museum in New Jersey. ing “God Avenge Their Blood”. When asked why he undertook an Since then, “Fourteen Stations” has traveled all over the United art project of this scale, Galles answered: “The Holocaust has always been a major part of my life, always ready to burst out. I States. Galles is showing his exhibition at the SUA-AV campus couldn’t even watch movies about World War II or the Holocaust, because he wants to share his craft and insight as an artist-scholar, it was just too painful.” His intention for taking on the project was and to further the awareness on campus, and in the community at to heal his grief, and recite in charcoal a Kaddish (Jewish prayer for large, about the Holocaust and other forms of genocide. the dead) for those who lost their lives in the Holocaust. Galles, who lost aunts, uncles, and other family members to the Nazi camp Galles clearly states that “Fourteen Stations” is an art project deBelzec, does not describe himself as a survivor of the Holocaust. voted to tribute, healing, education and dialogue; it is not about Yet the ghosts of that event haunted him as he grew up in post-war blame or ill-will. Galles ardently supports world peace and hopes Communist Poland and newly-formed Israel, before he and his that the images serve as a means of pulling people together long after he is gone. When asked why he chose the name “Hey Yud family moved to America in 1958. Dalet” Galles says, “My idea of revenge is living a good long life The inspiration for the project came when Galles was touring a filled with friends, family, joy, sharing and creativity. Despite the Holocaust memorial at his local New Jersey Jewish Community evil of the Holocaust I intend, as expressed in the “Tikkun Center. As he entered the exhibit, he was struck with a vision for a Olam” (“Repairing of the World”) concept in Judaism, to leave this future art project consisting of 15 massive 24 square-foot drawings world just a little better than I found it.” (See works on next page, of the most notorious Nazi concentration camps. Though at the in Apollo’s Ground).■

Profile:

Professor Arie Galles

U.S. Supreme Court Shifts Right; Implications for Abortion, Privacy Rights By Michael Bianco

fter a failed last-minute attempt at a filibuster by Democratic Senators John Kerry and Ted Kennedy, on January 31, 2006, the U.S. Senate confirmed U.S. Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito by a vote of 58-42. Yet speculation remains as to the implications a rightward shift in the Judicial Branch of the federal government would have on such current controversial issues as abortion and warrantless wiretapping. Alito, a federal judge of the 3rd Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals, enters the nation’s most powerful court on the heels of President George W. Bush’s successful nomination of John Roberts as replacement to Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, who died of thyroid cancer last year, and the failed nomination of Harriet Miers as a replacement to retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Conner. Miers, a lawyer but never a judge, on October 27, 2005, publicly requested her nomination be withdrawn in the face of criticism that she lacked judicial experience and was chosen only for her personal relationship with the President. Criticism also came from Republicans, particularly the Christian Right, that she lacked a sufficiently conservative record. Four days later, President Bush replaced Miers’ nomination with Alito’s and, responding to criticisms of Miers, emphasized Alito’s long experience as a federal judge. No one in the U.S. Senate denied Alito, who, before his 1990 confirmation as a federal justice, had served in the U.S. Department of Justice during the Reagan administration, lacked experience. But many Democratic Senators quickly expressed concerns regarding several of Alito’s controversial legal opinions, such as his dissenting opinion in the 1991 case Planned Parenthood v. Casey, in which he supported an overturned Pennsylvania law that required married women to first notify their husbands before seeking an abortion. Concern has been especially strong among Democrats, since while the nomination of Justice John Roberts replaced one conservative judge with another, Alito, in replacing Justice Sandra Day O’Conner, who as a moderate was known for often casting the crucial tie-breaking fifth vote on the nine judge court, would represent a clear ideological shift for the court.

Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion in 1973) and the December 16, 2005, expose by the New York Times revealing that the National Security Agency (NSA), under White House Executive Order, has conducted warrantless wiretapping upon Americans since 2002. The legal controversy revolves around the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which was passed by Congress in 1978 in the wake of revelations concerning domestic and foreign spying programs. Such programs included the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) COINTELPRO, which spied upon, intimidated, and blackmailed civil rights and antiVietnam War activists, and assassinations of foreign heads of state carried out by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). According to FISA, to conduct surveillance of a US citizen or resident who is believed to be an “agent of a foreign power,” the President must obtain a retroactive warrant from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) within 72 hours after eavesdropping, unless Congress specifically authorizes a President to conduct warrantless wiretapping or if Congress declares a state of war, whereupon after fifteen days the President must request an extension of this authority from Congress.

In 2002, President Bush signed a secret Executive Order for the NSA to conduct wiretaps without warrants or Congressional approval. Following the New York Times expose, the White House defended its conduct by invoking the Authorization to Use Military Force joint resolution used to commence military operations in Afghanistan on October 7, 2001, but nowhere did this resolution authorize warTwo important events roughly coincided with the U.S. rantless wiretapping. Bush-appointed U.S. Attorney GenSenate Judiciary Committee’s January confirmation hearing eral Alberto Gonzales has justified an interpretation of this of Alito: the January 22nd anniversary of Roe v Wade (the legislation as implicitly authorizing wiretapping by conflating an authorization to use military force with a formal declaration

of war. But as seen in FISA, even a formal declaration of war would only authorize wiretapping for days, not years. To maneuver around this legal hurdle, the White House points out it had consulted with several members of Congress, including Democrats, who sat on House and Senate Intelligence Committees, even as they kept the program’s existence secret from the majority of Congress. Many legal experts agree that the White House’s and Justice Department’s justification is precarious. As Congressional Democrats demand an independent investigation and some form a caucus dedicated to impeachment proceedings against President Bush, the battle may also reach the Supreme Court.

and, as the fetus is partially removed feet first, an incision is made at the base of the skull into which a catheter is placed for sucking out brain matter, collapsing the skull which, for hydrocephalus cases, enables complete removal of the fetus.

The 2003 Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act (or PBA Ban) calls for two years of prison for doctors conducting the procedure. Prochoice activists contend that, if the Supreme Court overturns the federal courts’ decisions and the PBA ban takes effect, the law could be abused to criminalize any abortion after the first trimester. On January 31, 2006, the same day as Alito’s Senate confirmation, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals concurred regarding the law’s potential abuse and also cited its lack of an Meanwhile, Republican state legislators in Georgia, Indiana, exception clause for women’s health in their ruling against the Ohio, South Dakota, and Tennessee have put forward bills for PBA Ban. statewide bans on abortion so as to precipitate a Supreme Court review, and possible overturning, of Roe v Wade as soon as this Senators asked Alito during his January confirmation hearing his year. Even sooner, the Supreme Court faces in several weeks a views regarding Presidential power, particularly Alito’s Unitary White House appeal regarding a 2003 federal ban on so-called Executive theory (his idea that the President has the right to “partial-birth” abortions, which was approved by Congress and interpret laws his own way), and the implicit constitutional right President Bush, but has not taken effect because federal courts to privacy, but, like other recent Supreme Court nominees, he have ruled it unconstitutional. “Partial-birth,” abortion is a rare was tightlipped when the questioner related these questions procedure (accounting for 0.2% of U.S. abortions) carried out specifically to wiretapping or abortion. In light of these two after the first trimester, usually if the fetus has hydrocephalus looming legal battles and the remaining mystery about Alito’s (an often untreatable and fatal swelling of the head to over twice views, the stakes are high, but only time will tell whether or not its normal size) or other deformities, but can be carried out even the recent Alito confirmation, for better or worse, will be rememif both the woman and fetus are healthy. The vagina is dilated bered as a landmark event in U.S. history.■

Keep Moving

Forward By Hope A. White

n January 30, 2006, Coretta Scott King, widow of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., died of heart failure at age 78. The dedicated civil and human rights activist has been battling poor health for several months. She reportedly died peacefully in her sleep. Prior to the death of her husband in 1968, Coretta was heavily involved in activist movements for racial and gender equality. However, the death of Rev. King put Coretta at the forefront of the civil rights movement. Although a sudden widow with four young children, Coretta did not hesitate to carry on with the mission her husband set out to accomplish. With grace, dignity, strength, and courage, Coretta displayed her unwillingness to abandon the mission to fight against inequality. Coretta has encouraged many African Americans to take leadership positions within their community and throughout the world.

joined a local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People chapter. She graduated from Antioch with a B.A. in music and education and won a scholarship to study concert singing at New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. While studying voice and violin at the Conservatory, she met and married the young Martin Luther King, Jr., who was studying theology in Boston at the time. After Coretta completed her studies at the Conservatory in 1954, she and Rev. King moved to Montgomery, Alabama, where he was offered a position as a pastor. The Kings quickly became involved in the modern day civil rights movement sparked by Rosa Park’s refusal to surrender her seat on the bus to a white person. Martin Luther King, Jr., led the civil rights movement that raged on by the efforts of community leaders, members, and Coretta. Through marches, rallies, and sermons, Coretta was right by her husband’s side despite loosing a husband and one of the nation’s most renowned leaders for justice, nonviolence, and racial equality, Coretta vowed to carry on the dreams and efforts of her husband. On one occasion she lamented, "[w]e have known great success, and we have known great sadness. All of it has brought progress to America and to the world. The movement brought us great joy and bottomless sorrow. But we knew from the beginning there would be a price to pay for progress. We knew the risks, and we were determined not to let violence or anything else turn us away from our goal of full equality. There's still a lot of work to be done. The path to progress is strewn with obstacles, but we have learned to overcome them. We will go forward.”

Coretta was born in Heiberger, Alabama, and raised on the farm of her parents, Bernice McMurry Scott and Obadiah Scott, in Perry County, Alabama. During elementary school, Coretta walked five miles to attend the one-room Crossroad School in Marion, Alabama, and watched on as the white students in her neighborhood rode buses to an all-white school closer by. Coretta excelled at her studies, particularly in music, and was valedictorian of her graduat- We too must keep moving forward and ensure that the life of Coring class at Lincoln High School in 1945. As an undergraduate, etta was not in vain by but utilizing her death as a means to couraCoretta became active in the nascent civil rights movement, and geously take responsibility for the rights of all humans.■

BULLSHIT: Animal Food Production By Jenny Ohrstrom

magine five tons of shit on your doorstep. That is the size of an average elephant. Look around at your neighbors’ doorsteps. Shit, shit, shit. Tons of it. One hundred and thirty times the amount of shit that you produce in one year. According to a report by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), this is how much, on average, animals in the US meat industry produce every year. But there’s more. World hunger, water wars, the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami, and inhumane and heinous living conditions for animals are issues that have reached the attention not only of environmental organizations like the Sierra Club, Greenpeace, and the Environmental Justice Foundation, but noted human rights organizations like the United Nations as well. Clearly, this is big shit. Let’s start with hunger. World hunger is not caused by a lack of food, but it is enhanced by reckless use of resources and unequal distribution of cropland. Citizens for Healthy Options in Children’s Education (CHOICE) states that one acre of fertile land can produce 50,000 pounds of tomatoes, 40,000 pounds of potatoes, or 30,000 pounds of carrots. And guess how many pounds of beef? A mere 250. In the US alone, a necessary 70% of all farmland is dedicated to the rearing and slaughter of animals, and 70-80% of US corn, oats, and soybeans are fed to livestock and other farmed animals (USDA). Because so much land is necessary for meat production (this includes the land dedicated to producing animal feed), in countries where there is little fertile soil the production of meat only exacerbates famine, poverty and environmental degradation. But environmentalists and human rights advocates are most concerned about the catastrophic effects that meat production will have on future generations. According to the United Nations Environmental Programme, in all African countries in which meat is being produced, the levels of production are seriously increasing desertification and ruining the soil for future use. In Kenya, for example, over 50% of the grazing lands are already badly eroded. This land, wasted on inefficient meat production, could be used to grow much more efficient legumes, nuts, and other vegetables, which many nutritionalists contend, are better sources of protein than meat. But why are these countries wasting and destroying so much of their land and resources to produce meat? According to the United Nations (UN), eating meat, which requires such an excess of resources and money, is considered a sign of wealth. And the example of people in rich nations like America helps perpetuate this stereotype. But, unbeknownst to the farmers in developing nations, the earth cannot support a meat-based diet. Indeed, even if every inch of inhabitable land on this planet were used for the production of meat, all humans would still not be able to eat a typical American meat-based diet, asserts Keith Akers, author of the Vegetarian Sourcebook. So farmers in desert-rich Africa spend their needed resources on meat production, while this production not only depletes these resources in the present, but, in effect, dooms Africa’s future by destroying the already scarce fertile cropland.

Water wars are becoming commonplace as fewer people have access to fresh drinking water. Less than 0.5% of all of the earth’s water is suitable for human consumption and use, and according to the United Nations, 70% of this water is dedicated to agriculture. But while it takes only 25 gallons of water to produce one pound of wheat, a single pound of meat requires 100 times that amount. The US is the largest consumer of fresh water, and we are also per capita the country with the highest intake and production of meat. And with every pound of meat consumed in the United States, enough water is used to satisfy all of the water needs of a typical household for an entire month (CHOICE). When the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami struck the shores of Southeast Asia in December of 2004, one of the natural forces that mitigated its damage would have been the abundance of protective mangrove trees. Unfortunately, in Indonesia alone, 30% of natural mangrove reserves have been destroyed due to shrimp farming. Currently, about a third of consumed shrimp are farmed, and this percentage is projected to double. Already, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization reports that over 69% of the earth’s marine stocks are being depleted and overexploited. But since the demand for shrimp and other marine animals continues to rise, fishers have been forced to develop shrimp farms. Shrimp farming, however, is reportedly worse for the environment than shrimp trawling because of the incredible amounts of land as well as water necessary for farms. In addition, because farmed shrimp and fish are fed fishmeal, it takes 2 kilograms of fishmeal (usually from wild fish) to produce only one kilogram of farmed shrimp or fish. When the tsunami hit, thousands of lives could have been saved with the presence of protective mangroves, officials in Indonesia and environmentalists agreed. But, largely because of the tremendous demand for shrimp and other fish, these protective natural resources were absent. Ironically, though 99% of shrimp and fish farmers are people in developing nations, almost all of the food they produce is exported to the world’s wealthiest nations. So how does all of this affect us? A better question would be: how can we affect all of this? Every two seconds, a person dies of starvation. In his book Diet for a New America, John Robbins adduced that if Americans cut back on our meat intake by only 10%, enough land, water and energy would be conserved to feed 100,000,000 people. As Soka students, and more importantly, as responsible human beings, it is the least we can do to cut through our own bullshit and consider the implications of our actions. Even if the action is something as seemingly innocuous as eating a hamburger. ■

Digesting What You Eat

you play your cards right, during your senior year you’ll only have to take two classes. You’ll have more time to work on your Capstone (cha! right!) assuming that ya’ll will even need to write one…. I’m a geek and I planned it out as such, but I decided to take advantage of the opportunities I have now. I’m taking FIVE classes. Who does that?

hour….” For me to be this universal person I need to excel in more than one field. For that to happen I’d need to be consistent. Within the details of a letter I recently wrote, I reminded myself of why I came to Soka. I attended boarding school half-way through my junior year of high school until I graduated my senior year. The first thing anyone said to me was (which looking back was very thoughtful of them), “Don’t trust anyone. Never say too much about yourself”. Pretty scary. I quickly learned what they meant. One girl thought enough of another young lady to collect her own feces and urine and saturate her victim’s clothing, bed, and Corn Pops in her own sample. If someone found you a threat, they would find a way to frame you, get you in trouble, and eventually kicked out.

My idea for this semester is that I try to be a Renaissance woman, a true polymath. I also decided to put myself in the most uncomfortable situations possible. That’s why I’m taking creative dance for the second time—imagine me doing ballet. I also joined Rhythimission. I figure it’s something I made fun of for so long (I’m sorry, but it’s true) that I can’t nock it ‘till I try it. But am I biting off more that I can chew? I got tired of always watching my back. I knew if I went to Soka there wouldn’t be anyone who would intentionally try to hurt me Speaking of which, what is up with the desert counter? One day (at least I hope that’s true)—plus it was mother approved. It’s that entire area blew up, and you’re like, are they trying to kill us? nice to let your guard down. What’s tough is learning to trust It’s hilarious to hear a person you’ve never spoken to mumbling people again. For all the self-assuredness that I may have proover the plethora of sugared goods: “Oh, I really shouldn’t…but jected, especially my freshman year, I am very susceptible to why not? I’m so bad!” There’s one thing I can’t stand is listen- other people’s opinion of me. My “I don’t give an F what you ing to women grumble over how yummy stuff is, make nasty think” attitude is actually “I care way too much about what you mmm noises, and then bitch about their chub. If you’re gonna think so I’m going to hurt you before you can hurt me”. So sad, eat it, eat it with abandon! It’s kind of endearing when you hear pathetic. guys talk about it though. Whatever, I love you desert man. So now that I don’t have anyone coming at me with a knife, I’m Even as I broaden my tastes for everything sweet, this idea of lazy, fat, with strudel leaking out my nose. A wise man recently the Homo Universalis is more restricting than you’d think. Appar- told me to Just get over yourself. The only way I can be this Renaisently I have a failure complex. I like—or have inadvertently sance woman (minus the fakey attitude á la Castiglione) is if I get chosen—to leave everything to the last minute, homework and over myself. So somehow my over-ambitiousness, tisk-worthy the like. So if I succeed, I can say, “AND I did it in an hour deserts, the enemy’s bowel movement, and my comfort-zone all before it was due”. But if I fail, I can say, “Well I only had an come together in the end. I don’t give an F what you think.■

Do it Yourself ! Other than dabbling in headphone fanaticism and tech geekery, I also have a passion for do-it-yourself (DIY) projects. For those of you who wished you could MacGyver your way out of any situation with a Swiss Army knife and a sock, there is still hope. In the past few years, DIY has been making a comeback with people who want to reuse or repurpose everyday household items with readily available materials from Radioshack, Home Depot, or Michaels. Skill prerequisites range from having no skill (other than the ability to glue and cut things together) to needing a CNC machine and an electrical engineering degree. With the mentality that anything can be tweaked or modified to be better, faster, and stronger, there is nothing stopping these modders. Here is a selection of different magazines and websites that have popped up recently, which cater to a new generation of DIY folk.

Make: Magazine

Make is a quarterly magazine that debuted last year and features a huge variety of illustrated projects ranging from repurposing your old VCR into an automatic cat feeder, to making your own mighty potato cannon. Each magazine is roughly 200 pages with enough content to tide you over until the next season’s issue. You can find Make: Magazine at your local bookstore, or subscribe online. For those looking for more Make projects, there is a Make: Blog that is updated several times a day by its editor Phillip Torrone: http://www.makezine.com/

ReadyMade Magazine

The term ‘readymade’ is a reference to found art: art from objects that would otherwise not be considered works of art such as daily household objects. ReadyMade is a bimonthly magazine which features lots of projects related to repurposing junk into furniture or decorations for a home or apartment. You can find ReadyMade at your local bookstore or Urban Outfitters.

ReadyMade How to Make (Almost) Everything

A Do-It-Yourself Primer Last year, the folks at ReadyMade published an excellent book chock full of projects, facts about plastics, metals, and wood, and even lifestyle tips.→

blog/

EMILY FRAUSTO (EDITOR IN CHIEF); MICHAEL STRAND (MANAGING EDITOR); ANDREW REKER, GIULIANA SCHROEDER (CO-HEADS OF LAYOUT); ING TANG (LAYOUT TEAM); JULIE YOSHIMACHI (GRAPHIC ARTIST); KAREN CASTILLA ROCA (BUSINESS MANAGER); MITSUKO IKEDA (STRATEGIC PLANNING COORDINATOR); KRISTI GOLDEN (STRATEGIC PLANNING ADVISOR); CHELSEA NAKABAYASHI (STAFF ADVISOR); ARMANDO DUBON, SAEED FAKHRI-RAVARI, SAM MORALES, DERRICK SPRINGER, PAMELA STOYKA, GEOFF WESTROPP (TECHNICAL SUPPORT)

The Pearl strives to emulate slain Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl’s efforts to bring out the human side of every story. Following his courageous model, The Pearl opens channels of communication in an endeavour to articulately and respectfully express differing opinions. The contributors to The Pearl report on issues of concern for the campus, the local community and the globe, aiming to unify the campus toward the realization of the mission of Soka University of America, Aliso Viejo.

Crafster.org This ain’t your momma’s craft site. Oh no, this is a crafty community started by Leah Kramer in 2003 in the form of a message board where people post interesting projects like knitted Super Mario scarves, crocheted iPod cozies, and there are even guides on how to make your own bizarre Uglydoll-esque felt creatures. Others add to each project with posts of their own tips, suggestions and interpretations. Instructables.com Intructables.com is a site where people share their projects ideas using a Flickr type photo set of step-by-step instructions and allows other people to comment on the projects. i-hacked.org Don’t let the word “hack” scare you. I-hacked offers a great deal of hardware hacks that might interest the more technically inclined DIYer. Some of the highlights are making a shiv out of a beer can to open any Masterkey Combination lock, converting your old wireless phone into a wireless Skype or MSN phone, or controlling your PC wirelessly from your toilet using a Playstation Portable. Etsy.com If you’re too lazy and unskilled to make these projects, then head on over to etsy.com. Etsy is an online marketplace where you can buy and sell anything handmade. Hopefully with some inspiration from these magazines and websites, you’ll be able to start making your own wonderful creations. Or you could just use all this information for evil by first stealing it from a neighbor’s wireless network using your wifi antenna made from a tin can, break into someone’s house using a lock pick that you made from an Oral B electric flosser, and then write-up a how-to on burglary on instuctables.com all the while selling everything else on etsy.com. Have a nice day!■