Volume 121 Issue 10 Thursday, November 20, 2014
page 4
Page 2 • NEWS
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Established in 1894 with the following editorial:
EXECUTIVE STAFF David Matteson Editor-in-Chief Ali Perry Managing Editor
Omaha, NE Ferguson, MO
Dabiq, Syria
CONTENT STAFF
Marcela Oliveira Head Content Editor Alexandra Mariano Head Copy Editor Lauren Waymire Content Advisor Stephanie Garcia Webmaster Kate Barnekow Daniel Udell Copy Editors Raquel Leon Section Editor Micah Bradley Nicholas D’Alessandro Ariana Simpson Staff Writers Matt Boggs Nolan Brewer Production Assistants
Chilpancingo, Mexico
DESIGN DEPARTMENT Kayla Powers Head Designer Ginna Vick Brooke Preston Designers
BUSINESS & FACULTY Greg Golden
Interim General Manager of Student Media
Dr. Emily Russell Associate Professor of English Taylor McCormack Business Manager
PUBLIC RELATIONS Diana Drpich Ben Smith Public Relations Interns John Berggren Multimedia Manager
ADVERTISING
Contact: advertising@thesandspur.
Cover Art Designed By: Kayla Powers ‘17
Compiled by Lauren Waymire Dabiq, Syria The extremist jihadist group known as ISIS, also known as IS or ISIL, has beheaded yet another humanitarian aid worker in the latest video intended to send a message to western nations. US Army veteran and aid worker Peter Kassig, who changed his name to Abdul-Rahman after converting to Islam, was shown deceased in a very graphic video along with a score of Syrian soldiers who met the same fate. The White House confirmed Kassig’s death, and President Obama remarked that this group of beheadings was “an act of pure evil.” Chilpancingo, Mexico Protests have erupted in the Mexican state of Guerrero after 43 students went missing at the hands of police and gunmen in September; they were on their
way to raise money to participate in a march that commemorates the Tlatelolco massacre in which student protestors were shot by government security forces. Parents and classmates have taken to the streets to march and even vandalize buildings, calling for answers about where the missing Raul Isidro Burgos Normal Rural School
thought to contain the bodies of the missing students but DNA tests prove otherwise. Ferguson, Missouri Missouri governor Jay Nixon has activated the state’s National Guard in anticipation of possible riots to follow the announcement of whether or not Officer Darren Wilson should be charged in the death of 18
The extremist jihadist group known as ISIS has beheaded yet another humanitarian aid worker in the latest video. students have gone and for more to be done by local and national authorities. A mass grave was discovered earlier and was
year old Michael Brown. Brown was shot by Wilson in August when an altercation ensued between the two in the majori-
ty-black town. Witnesses claim that Brown held his hands up in surrender before he was shot, a fact that Wilson refutes directly. The grand jury is expected to reach a decision before the end of the month. Omaha, Nebraska Surgeon Martin Salia, a native of Sierra Leone, died as a result of Ebola in contracted while working in his home country to stem the outbreak. A resident of Maryland, Salia originally tested negative for Ebola while in Sierra Leone yet when his symptoms returned a week later he was once more tested and found to be infected. He was flown to Omaha for treatment while in critical condition; the biocontainment unit at Nebraska Medical Center was unable to save him. His death marks the second in the United States.
Retraction from Volume 121, Issue 9: Samantha Hirsch was the writer for the article, “Embrace the beard, embrace the cause.”
Page 3 • OPINION
Thursday, November 20, 13, 2014
Walking the wire Columnist shares his views on having sex with a best friend. David Matteson
Editor-in-Chief
During a short-lived single period my freshman year, I committed the cardinal sin of friendship—I tried to sleep with one of my best friends. Ray and I knew each other for over two years, and from the second we met, we had a form of solidified bond that seemed infinite—a bond only found in a best friendship. He consoled me through break-ups, told me tales of his sexual escapades, and even let me crash in his bed on nights when I was disastrously drunk. Throughout the years there were brief moments of flirtation between us, but nothing ever came of it. Until Pride my freshman year, when I was out with Ray and his roommate—who I actually ended up dating. It was the sort of Four Loko fueled evening that pretty well encapsulates the entirety of my first semester at Rollins. As we prepared to leave the club, I decided to kiss Ray. We belligerently tried to hook
up, which eventually ended with me regretfully telling him that I loved him, and the rest of the night turned into an awkward affair of emotional and physical interplay. It didn’t end well. Not only did we end up not having sex, but also our friendship was now contaminated with my emotional admittance. I started dating Ray’s roommate a month later, and eventually the culmination of these events placed a wedge between us—our once solidified bond began to crumble. Three months later, our friendship ended with a hostile fight—the fallout of which not only destroyed our friendship, but also his friendship with his roommate, my boyfriend. The moral of this anecdote is pretty clear to me: under no circumstance should you attempt to sleep with your best friend. But then again, I have known people who have slept with their best friend, and it has ended in a powerful romance. A past co-worker, for example, ended up marrying her best friend of
almost twenty years. Navigating between friend and lover is like walking an emotional tightrope, but there is the possibility for success worth pursuing. In an attempt for clarity, here are a few tips for walking the wire. Sobriety is key: In hindsight, I should have never advanced Ray sexually while I was under the influence of alcohol. We all know how alcohol impairs cognitive function; in this case, alcohol operates as a lubricant on the friend/lover tightrope. I’m not saying you shouldn’t drink with your best friend—just be careful not to use alcohol as the catalyst for sex with him or her. Creating a contract: The top reason people avoid pursuing sex with a friend is fear of losing the friendship all together. In the case of Ray and I, the friendship was over the second I began to pursue him sexually. In order to mitigate this fear, it is necessary that a metaphorical contract be crafted between both parties. The people I know who have successfully converted their best
friend to a lover are those who create clear boundaries. Communicating your feelings for one another and seeking mutual agreement through this contract crafting is necessary for ensuring that no one gets hurt. Of course, feelings can change after sex is introduced in a formerly platonic relationship. You will need to continue to clearly communicate with one another throughout the entirety of your affair—in theory this should be easy, since friendship is initially formed through clear communication. Do not involve outside parties: Deciding to sleep with a best friend is one thing. Deciding to share the news of your newfound relationship with others is a completely different thing. Going public with a relationship is never easy, especially when it could affect your entire social group’s stability. Friends who become privy to your transitioning relationship generally react in a polarized manner: they either hate or love the idea. When it comes to shifting social structures, every-
one has an opinion on the matter because it affects them too. When best-friend-gone-lover relationships fail, they have the tendency to destroy not only the relationship between you and your best friend, but also your friends’ relationships with that person. So prior to going public, consider the ramifications and be prepared to accept responsibility for the possible changes in your social sphere by diving into a relationship with a friend. I wish there was a clear answer to the question, “Should you pursue a sexual relationship with your best friend?” Unfortunately, only you can answer that question clearly of your own pursuit. In the case of my relationship with Ray, I am filled with regret for destroying a friendship that once seemed so strong. We ended on a note of hostility, and to make things worse, he unexpectedly passed away over a year ago. I never had the chance to apologize for destroying our friendship, but our story serves as warning for those of you deciding to walk the wire.
Divine Nine provides home for minorities Peter Ruiz, Zakiya Brown, Ashley Williams
Writers
The group of nine historically Black Greek letter organizations that make up the National Panhellenic Council. They are built around the values of community, service, philanthropy and scholarship. Only one black sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho, calls Rollins home. The original intent of these organizations was to showcase the black elite at colleges, particularly at historically Black colleges and universities. At the time, Greek organizations that wouldn’t accept blacks, which led to the creation of blacks fraternities and sororities. The Divine Nine actively uplifts the community and works with empowering black youth in middle and high schools seeking to lead black youth to higher education. Rollins has an issue with recruitment and retention, particularly among students of color. Having organizations that empower black students will allow them to develop a sense of com-
munity based on shared cultural and social experiences. There is not a single black female professor at Rollins and there are only three black male professors. This sends the message that Rollins is not a friendly place for Black students. This seems like a bold statement until you realize that students of color make up less than 20% of the Rollins demographics. Zakiya Brown, Assistant Director at the Center for Inclusion and Campus Involvement and a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, reflected on her experiences with Black Greek Letter Organizations. What many do not know about Black Greek Letter Organizations is the history as to why they exist and how rewarding their existence has been. For example, out of the nine organizations, only three were founded at predominately White institutions. The other six were founded at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The establishment of these organizations came at a time when young educated black students were not welcomed into white ma-
jority social groups. Since their founding, chapters of each organization are present on almost every college campus, military base, and city throughout US. You see, BGLOs are well known in the Black community. Many young Black students were exposed to the idea of college by their teachers and administrators, members of their churches, or mentors within the communities. For my generation, I knew about BGLOs from watching A Different World, but for many others, it was those older individuals who influenced our decisions to go to college. BGLOs have a strong tie to community service, mentorship, and scholarship. Their principles indicate that we are here for the betterment of others and in the process we strive for excellence. And as many individuals who seek a community that fits their interests and passions, BLGOs tends to be that community. At Rollins, we have a great FSL community, but the community is comprised of individuals who look the same and isn’t too diverse. Unfortunately, those members may nev-
er understand the experiences of their black members, but having BGLOs on campus tends to give the idea that there are others who understand me, my challenges and successes, and celebrates me as so. The value of having them at Rollins is similar to the value of embracing and advocating for diversity within our community itself; it adds a different spin and finesse to the college experience. Ashley Williams ‘18 discusses her experience with the Divine Nine: “Being an African American woman and student coming from a predominantly African American high school. When I entered Rollins College campus I searched the campus seeking for the Divine Nine. While walking around campus one day I saw many fraternities and sororities houses but not one was a house of the Divine Nine. I lost all hope and decided to walk back to my dorm. While passing by, I spotted a Zeta Phi Beta Sorority doll in the window of an office in The Center of Inclusion and Campus Involvement. I quickly turned around and went into the building. I located in the office
The opinions on this page do not necessarily reflect those of The Sandspur, its staff or Rollins College.
a staff member named Zakiya Brown. She informed that there is only one Divine Nine at Rollins College. I was in shock when I heard this information. Having it on campus would definitely attract a demographic that Rollins needs assistance on. It will attract more African American students on campus” The Divine Nine is a valuable asset both in the collegiate community and in our world as a whole. They provide a sense of place for individuals and specifically the black community. The addition of more of the Divine Nine Greek organization will attract a wider net of candidates for Rollins. This will also help with retention of students of color, which Rollins doesn’t have. If students find a home on campus they are more likely to stick with the school. While the Greek organizations on campus can provide a home for many students, these organizations are primarily white. This is not a condemnation of current Greek organizations rather it is shedding a light on an area of improvement for the campus as a whole.
Page 4 • FEATURES
resumés Nothing screams “don’t hire me” like a resumé with ketchup stains or the verbal equivalent: misspelled or wrongly listed achievements. Before my internship search, my freshmen resumé existed alongside a barrage of Target receipts and term papers. I went to Career Services in November and reviewed my resumé. The Career Services staff helped me with the format and elimination of unnecessary information. Career Services is open Monday through Friday for appointments, and located next to Pita Pit on Fairbanks Avenue.
intern Jobs for Tars allows you to search internships based on your area of interests. Are you a writer? A biologist? A business major? It does not really matter. You can search for an internship opportunity based on your existing knowledge, skills, and experience. You can even search by your interest alone.
narrow down
your search
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Ali Perry
Managing Editor
An internship is the mystical college right of passage, marking a transition from child to adult. No two internships are really alike. Some are paid; some are not. Some provide housing; others you may be local. No matter what, most college students realize that future employers will regard college internships as a
marker of adapt sistence, proof t can operate in With this said, g ship is basically explore the work ting an internship itself. I underwen an internship a sadly, I was alre ball. Many of my ready dashed in
Page 5 • FEATURES
tability and perthat the student a work setting. getting an interny mandatory to k world. And getp is a task within
nt my search for as a junior, and eady late to the y friends had alnternships from
there to-do list, acquiring glorious positions during their sophomore and freshmen summers. I, in my typical belated fashion, did not think preemptively. I lacked connections that assured an immediate internship experience, nor did I know anyone in my intended ďŹ eld. But somehow, I landed an internship with a publishing company in Delray Beach. These were the steps I followed.
Thursday, November 20, 2014
the hunt Herein lies the challenge. Hunting for an internship is like trying to find the right spot in the library; it takes some time. As a Rollins student, you have access to Jobs for Tars, a local and international job database. Jobs for Tars can be logged into using your FoxLink password, and is found on the Career Services page on the Rollins website. Currently, Jobs for Tars has posted 551 paid and unpaid internships. That is a lot of opportunity that could replace a summer gracing your couch.
ships This is actually a great way to get personally connected with employers searching for interns. Career Services sends out campus-wide e-mails whenever recruiters come to campus. These recruiters target Rollins students because they see the value in a Rollins education. You can network and go to informational sessions, and all it takes is marking a date in your calendar.
watch your e-mail
Page 6 • ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
TALK
Chris Sarafian
Columnist
Kim Kardashian: style icon, reality star, mother, business woman. The Armenian-American bombshell has topped many a headline over the past few years with topics ranging from her love and family to real estate and favorite foods. However, one topic in particular seems to constantly reoccur: the booty, its physical validity, its shape in a bathing suit, its participation in yoga classes, etc. Its newest tabloid conquest involves Kardashian’s spread in Paper. This week’s issue features photos of Kardashian in various levels of undress. Not only does the famed booty receive its spotlight—the image of her shiny, oiled-up butt is already on its way to Internet memedom—the rest of her body is revealed, too. Almost instantly, the shoot walloped the web with voluptuous force, tossing the worlds of Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter into a tailspin of trending topics and heated discussions. Some view the spread as a
feminist mantra—a symbol of sexual freedom, self-expression, and body confidence. Others deem the photos grotesque, crass and inappropriate. Celebrities have chimed in, namely Glee’s Naya Rivera who tweeted (directly to Kardashian): “I normally don’t. But… you’re someone’s mother…” So, are these photos empowering or inappropriate? That is up for debate. See, the topic of nudity is difficult to argue, being approachable from various angles such as race or gender. However, perhaps it is important to examine nudity as a whole, of any gender or race, in addition to its motivation and connotation. Nudity seems to snag a free pass when it comes to film, art, or political statements. Although, the nudity’s motivation seems to influence its approval rating. A prime criticism of the shoot targets Kardashian’s purpose. In the spread’s accompanying article, “NO FILTER: An Afternoon with Kim Kardashian,” writer Amanda Fortini provides a fascinating character sketch of the starlet drawn from
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Crack heard around the world their time spent together. For the most part, they chat about Kim’s affection for Instagram and all things app. Sometimes Kardashian sheds some light on her family, describing a trip to a pumpkin patch with North West and Kanye. Fortini comments on this tidbit of information, “The next day, as I scroll through Instagram, I come across... two photos of North toddling around the pumpkin patch in a tiny fringed cape and Baby Vans. One of these pictures has more than a million likes,” says Fortini. Kim also references a book she is currently working on: a photo collection of her Instagram selfies. When asked if there would be a Kim Kardashian without social media, the reality show princess responds, “I don’t think so... I don’t think social media was that heavy when we started our show, but I think we really evolved with social media.” So, it is quite obvious that Kim Kardashian feeds on social media, a gateway to knowledge, interaction, attention—fame. While actors rely on movie tick-
ets sold, Kim relies on retweets. She matches the pop stars’ albums sales with her Instagram likes. Ben Affleck’s nude scene in Gone Girl has yet to stir up controversy, but a different reaction would surely ensure if the married father of three purposely plastered his penis all over the Internet. Affleck’s motivation was the art—the film, scene, and character. Eva Mendes posing for a PETA’s “I’d Rather Go Naked Then Wear Fur” campaign serves as a PSA that sends a message through the photography. According to Paper, Kim’s spread was born to “break the Internet.” She was, undoubtedly, successful in garnering this public attention. However, contrary to the saying, not all press is good press. Take Justin Bieber for example; his scandal-saturated career took an arrow to the chest after his various misdeeds went public. With all the bad press (and there was a lot of it), his album sales dropped, his second movie floundered at the box office, and he struggled to strike decent
spots on the Billboard charts. Bad press can potentially capsize a career if it manifests too frequently. After talk dies down, fascination and admiration follow suit. “What’s wrong with getting naked?” you ask. Nothing is wrong with getting naked. However, getting naked for attention is a topic with debatable morals. If somebody takes their clothes off for attention, for public gusto, then he or she becomes a Fame stripper, someone who relies on their naked body for celebrity. Taking that into consideration, it is a pretty effective tactic: Kim’s skin-sweater consumed pop culture this week. However, how long can someone perform in this manner before the smoke clears and the public loses interest? After a while, the masses may see past the nudity and acknowledge it as desperate plea for attention—a last ditch effort for relevance. This shoot’s press can inflate or deflate her celebrity, but only time will tell. Anyway, in other news, I hear we landed on a comet?
Interstellar impresses audience with its accuracy Nick D’Alessandro
Staff Writer
Film holds an element of “suspension of disbelief.” We easily believe things even though they may not be entirely accurate. For example, the summer blockbuster Lucy was constructed on the concept that humans only use 10% of our brains. Scientists have proven this to be false, yet it stills functions as a primary plot device in many films. Film bends laws of reality and science all the time. One modern filmmaker who knows how to bend these elements particularly well is English director Christopher No-
lan, known for the Dark Knight trilogy and Inception. On November 7, Nolan’s latest film, Interstellar, opened. It made over $50 million its first weekend. Nolan, a perfectionist, was aware of the anticipation for his film, which is why he wanted to make his new sci-fi film as scientifically accurate as possible. That is where famous physicist, Kip Thorne, comes in. He is best known for his work with black holes and wormholes. Dr. Christopher Fuse commented on the rare collaboration between scientists and filmmakers, he stated “That’s almost unheard of, to have such a major scientist brought on to consult a
major film like this”. Fuse is an astronomy and physics professor who will be teaching a class in the Mysteries and Marvels neighborhood called The Science of Superheroes here at Rollins. He received his PhD at Texas Christian University while studying x-rays and galaxies. He had a few things to say about the science of Hollywood’s latest big sci-fi film. Interstellar follows a team of earthlings that take a ship through a wormhole and wind up on the other side of the universe right next to a black hole. “There’s a whole lot of things that happen when we start talking about black holes,”
Dr. Fuse continued. “Let’s say I’m falling into a black hole and you’re on the outside. Eventually, from your perspective, I would just blink out of existence. I’d be gone. No matter or light can enter a black hole.” He says that what Thorne’s involvement in Interstellar did was allow for the designers to create a fully accurate black hole for the screen. “A wormhole is a whole other beast. Scientists basically believe that with enough energy we could poke a hole in the universe and ride it to the other end. However, the energy it would take to create that is far more than any modern civiliza-
tion could possibly generate.” Along with knowing plenty about quantum mechanics, Dr. Fuse is fully versed in the science of what makes a superhero work, similar to Mr. Nolan. “The Hulk quadruples in size and creates matter out of anything. Captain America’s shield can stop bullets in their tracks, and yet it can bounce effortlessly off of buildings. These things are just not possible in the real world, and I really want to discuss them.” Dr. Christopher Fuse’s Science of Superheroes class is being taught next fall. Interstellar is playing now in theaters everywhere.
Page 7 • ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Swift lashes out against piracy Staff writer Georyana Santos discusses Taylor Swift’s recent removal of her newest album 1989. Georyana Santos
Writer
She did it alright. Shortly after releasing her fourth album, 1989, Taylor Swift pulled her entire catalog off Spotify. This could be considered her most official breakup yet. In an interview with Yahoo Music, T-Swift was not afraid to bluntly state her perspective on illegally downloading and streaming music for free. “I’m not willing to contribute my life’s work to an experiment that I don’t feel fairly compensates the writers, producers, artists, and creators of this music.” She is not a firm believer in how she directly clarified, “perpetuating the perception that music has no value.” “We never wanted to embarrass a fan,” says Scott Borchetta, Swift’s longtime record label President. “If this fan went and purchased the record, CD, iTunes, wherever, and then their friends go, ‘why did you pay for it? It’s free on Spotify,’ we’re being completely disrespectful to that superfan.” Swift also mentioned how open-minded she was when it came to releasing her recent hit single “Shake It Off” on Spotify as well. Though sucked into peer pressure and suggestions, she went for it despite being very uncertain. “It didn’t feel right to me. I
felt like I was saying to my fans, ‘If you create music someday, if you create a painting someday, someone can just walk into a museum, take it off the wall, rip off a corner, and it’s theirs now and they don’t have to pay for it.’” Nevertheless, when Swift decided to pull her albums off of Spotify, she felt no mercy nor left hope to the company’s premium subscribers. Controversy arises when the topic of injustice is brought upon fanatics who actually pay to listen to their music. Spotify’s premium subscribers who do pay their monthly bill in order to get complete access to their favorite tunes were not happy with this particular decision either. I would say that rather than terminating her relationship with Spotify, Swift could have constructed other routes or approaches to this problem. She could have compromised with the company, bringing upon a decision that would only affect the users who stream for free— not those who pay to hold the Spotify premium power. Spotify founder Daniel Ek fired back at Taylor and her decision to remove the catalog by quoting Thriller producer Quincy Jones: “Spotify is not the enemy; piracy is the enemy.” “Piracy doesn’t pay artists a penny— nothing, zilch, zero,” Ek noted. “We’re working day and night to recover money for artists and the
music business that piracy was stealing away,” he added. It is evident enough to see: hardcopy album sales have substantially dropped in comparison to digital downloads. The music industry has been abducted by a mass media that fundamentally surrounds technology. As a generation, we are accustomed to acquiring what is new 24/7. In this day and age, physical copies are most likely consumed by hardcore fanatics or individuals who prefer having the tangible edition of an album versus the digital. But there is no use in fighting the fact that online downloads have dominated palpable records in sales. Last month analysts at Credit Suisse, a leading global financial services company, predicted that streaming subscriptions would dominate other sources of revenue in the near future and that by 2017 we will be looking at streaming holding a superior position in generating revenue growth. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, record sales have been collapsing this year not only due to digital retail, but also music catalogs being offered via multiple streaming platforms, including Youtube. Nielsen Soundscan also recorded album sales decreased by 14% while paid subscriptions vaulted to 57% specifically last year.
If streaming at no cost was the dilemma, then Swift might have just forgotten about Pandora as well. Both Pandora and Spotify are very similar yet distinctive ways of streaming music. Both services offer the consumer a choice in upgrading to its adfree premium version when they agree to pay $4.99 or $9.99 per month. So why does Swift allow Pandora to display her music but not Spotify? Perhaps there is just a fine line between “accessing all you want for free” (Spotify), and “accessing just a little bit for free” (Pandora). Swift might just give her preference to Pandora in order to reinforce the “if you’re a real fan, you’ll go buy the album” strategy. It is pretty clear: Swift only wants dedicated fans who are willing to pay full price for her album. Her catalog still remains on other services such as Rdio, Beats Music, and Rhapsody; the difference is that it is only available to paying subscribers. Quite frankly, I do not blame her. If you spent countless hours working on something that would be put out on display and to buy, it would not be fair to the artist if they did not get rewarded for their hard work. Although, on the contrary we have to recognize we are in an era where music is simply at our fingertips. We have the abil-
ity to illegally download music and turn an artist’s full album on Youtube into a collection of MP3s for our iPods, all at no cost. I am not saying this is the correct way of acquiring music, but we would be completely oblivious and naïve if we were to claim that there is a solution to this. Regardless of how you try and work around it, this is a never-ending cycle, and it has always been this way. Swift might have decided to start putting an end to this herself, but there is only so much a single person can do. As much as musicians try, they cannot protect their music from absolute piracy. There is always a way to consume music illegally. Regardless of what Swift amounts in royalties from Spotify, she is still getting paid. Whether she is getting paid the exact amount she has earned is still up for debate, but that is another subject matter. With or without Spotify, T-Swizzle continues to shatter records with every album she puts out. 1989 proves my statement right, bringing in 1.287 million sales only during its first week. So, is this a final break-up for Taylor and Spotify? Or might Swift reconsider the idea of letting the company back into her music’s life? I would say it is possible we might just even get another relationship song out of this controversial debate.
Play offers contemporary reading of Whitman Mad Cow Theatre Company’s performance of I and You by playwright Lauren Gunderson provides a unique perspective on love through Dec. 14. David Matteson
Editor-in-Chief
The bed is the first thing one will notice when he or she walks into the small, intimate black box theater. The bed continues to pull attention throughout the entirety of Mad Cow Theatre Company’s performance of I and You by contemporary playwright Lauren Gunderson. As the play’s two teenage characters dance and interact in the intimate setting of the expressive Caroline’s bedroom, it is the cluttered bed that serves as the central focus for its inherent interplay of two overar-
ching themes: sex and death. The play begins with Anthony’s excited entrance into Caroline’s bedroom. Partnered together on an English assignment, he is the intelligent overachiever, and she is the sickly pessimist. Caroline, who has a terminal illness and is in need of a liver transfer, is disengaged with her academics—rather, she finds excitement and beauty in common millennial pastimes like texting, tweeting, and iPhone photography. And while Caroline may seem like a contrived stereotype of the narcissist generation, Anthony’s character is even more
so one-dimensional: a Pop-Tart eating, basketball playing, popular high school student. And yet, these characters are people we know, or at least knew in high school, and, despite their initial shallowness, they become authentically recognizable. After the painfully awkward first 20 minutes of I and You, Caroline and Anthony finally begin to work on their assignment, a critical analysis of Walt Whitman’s use of pronouns in his epic poem “Song of Myself.” Caroline, disinterested at first, eventually warms to Anthony’s enthusiasm toward the poem. As they attempt to work on their
project’s disastrously designed poster, their conversation blends with thoughts on Whitman’s insight, the recognition of our own mortality, the joy of music, and even the hint of love. Like Whitman’s poem, I and You is a brilliantly self-aware piece of writing. It inherits the historic, patriotic writer’s themes with style and aptitude. The play is best understood as a collage of thoughts and perspectives on the American condition, just like “Song of Myself”—the metaphor of the collage is directly referenced as a self-descriptive term by Caroline in Act One. Both Karleigh Chase and Mike
Mitchell Jr. deliver an engaging performance, which is reinforced by their physical interactions and movements; watching them dance around the close, intimate set is a beautifully crafted piece of choreography from director Aradhana Tiwari (who guest-directed A Clean House at the Annie Russell Theatre last February). I and You runs through Dec. 14 in Mad Cow’s Zehngebot-Stonerock Theater. The play is truly an innovative and enchanting reading of Whitman’s original work, reminding us of his haunting last line that we are simply stopped somewhere waiting for you.
Page 8 • SPORTS
Thursday, November 20, 2014
ROLLINS Women’s soccer wins second straight championship Amy Martin Writer Last Sunday, the Rollins Women’s Soccer team became back-to-back champions in the Sunshine State Conference. With a dominant 6-0 win over Tampa, the championship is the third title in the program’s history. The 2014 SSC Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, Brenna McKee ‘15, led the Tars with 3 goals. Sinking all 3 in the first 16 minutes of the game, McKee ‘15 set an SSC Championship Tournament record for fastest “hat trick.” Paxton Sickler ’17 also
contributed two goals and an assist, while Mora Johnson ‘17 had a goal and an assist, and Emma Bloom ‘17 finished with two assists. Goalkeeper Mary Spring ‘15 led a strong defense against Tampa, allowing no goals. Spring ‘15 finished with 5 saves and Sally McGuren ‘17 with 1 save in the last ten minutes of the game. Following the win, Bloom ‘17, Azure Dorsey ’15, Johnson ‘17, Sickler ‘17, and McKee ‘15 were honored on the 2014 All-Tournament team, with Mckee ’15 named the Most Outstanding Player.
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After conquering the SSC, the Tars now have their sights set on their seventh-straight trip to the NCAA Division II Playoffs. Monday night, Rollins received word that they were awarded the No. 1 bid for the tournament and will host the first two rounds at Cahall Sandspur Stadium. With their third title in program history, second straight championship and a nine game winning streak since entering the NCAA Tournament, this is a monumental year for women’s soccer. Support your fellow Tars in these crucial upcoming games as they battle for a win.
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