October 2010 by The Yeti

The

Yeti

01 2010

OCTOBER

RUSH:

One Manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Experience

Local News. Monster Coverage.

ON CAMPUS

New Union Plans in the Works You Know Those People Fighting With Foam Swords? We Have a Story About That

www.TheYetiOnline.com Issue 1, October 2010

The Yeti

The

Yeti Local News. Monster Coverage.

Yeti Editorial Staff EDITOR IN CHIEF MANAGING EDITOR NEWS EDITOR ARTS AND LIFE EDITOR VIEWS EDITOR ASSISTANT VIEWS EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR DESIGN EDITOR

Morgan Kayser Emily Ostermeyer Marcello Iaia Erika Sloop Phillip Garami Ian Thomas SuHawn Chung Jordan Staniscia

FACULTY ADVISOR COVER ART

Paul Rutkovsky Erika Sloop

The Yeti operates only with the help of a dedicated staff of volunteer writers. We thank them for their hard work and support. If you’d like to get involved with The Yeti, e-mail fsuyeti@gmail.com or visit our

Letter from the Editor The Yeti never stops surprising me. Every semester, someone new tries to limit us by telling us what we can’t do. Sometimes, we even limit ourselves. What can we do? We’re just a little newsmagazine. Well, it turns out we can do a hell of a lot. This year, we’re surprising the Tallahassee community with better coverage, better design and more involvement. We’re heading back to The Yeti ideal of in-depth, unique reporting representing the alternative side of campus. That’s why you’ll see a student profile that focuses on learning beyond the classroom, an undercover editorial on rushing fraternities, and an arts article about the latest in foam sword fighting. The Yeti is always evolving, creating new content like the stories in this issue and gaining new talent from all over campus. If you’ll let it, it might help you evolve too. We all know how the evolution chain really went: ape, Neanderthal, human, YETI. - Morgan Kayser

Mission The Yeti is a student-run, conversation-driven media outlet in Tallahassee that serves our readership by providing an alternative to corporately funded, commercial media. We publish in print twice a semester and online twice a week. We focus on providing new perspectives on current events and investigating under-represented and under-reported local issues. Our aim is to convey the voice of the community in hopes of sparking a dialogue between students and community members, and to create an educated exchange of information that will motivate our readership to be aware and active members of society.

website: www.theyetionline.com.

Want to advertise with The Yeti? We love supporting local businesses and Tallahassee events. Contact us

Campus Progress works to help young people — advocates, activists, journalists, artists — make their voices heard on issues that matter. Learn more at CampusProgress.org.

at fsuyeti@gmail.com for pricing and other information. The opinions expressed in the Views section are those of the writers, and do not necessarily represent the views of The Yeti itself.

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Table of Contents

News

Views

04 13 New Union in the 06 Works for FSU Students Blood, Sweat, & 14 Rush Week 07 We The People Partisan Parent16 ing: 08 Derek Jones Peering Into the 18 Philosophy of “Breathe Easy 09 Invincible Zones” 20 to Graduate Tetsuo: The Iron 10 Off School I Go? Man FSU Ghost 21 Stories FSU Researches 12 OilAftermath Spill FSU Hosts Iraqi Fulbright Scholars

Tales from Tampa, FL

Mysterious Postcards We Got in the Mail.

Proposed Amendments 5 & 6 Seek to End Gerrymandering

Focus on Yetifolk

Two houses, through the eyes of a rushee.

Politicians Campaign to Children

meet an earnest soundsmith.

An injury led Florida State line backer Vince Williams to reexamine his outlook.

Movies You Should Never See

Weighing Post-Graduate Options in the Wake of the Great Recession.

Creepy Tales from Around Campus

Seagulls Rejoice!

Arts & Life

22 23

Videotopia Unites Generations of Gamers Under One Exhibit College Students Take Pride: A Look at LGBTQ at Florida Colleges

Dagorhir More than Just Foam Swords

Libraries 26 FSU Promote Freedom of Expression

Fight the Brainwash How Reading Banned Books Protects Your Freedom.

28 29

FSU’s Newest A cappella Group Takes the Stage

Review: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Pepper A 30 Some Day Keeps the Doc Away

Issue 1, October 2010

The Yeti

FSU Hosts Iraqi Fulbright Scholars

the Kylyn Swann & Marcello Iaia scholars had been so productive, there have CONTRIBUTING NEWS EDITOR been requests for them WRITER to stay longer. Florida State “So many people now University hosted on campus are even five Iraqi scholars as more interested in Iraqi culture a part of the State Departbecause we heard about it from ment’s first “2010 Fulbright Visitthem and what it’s like there,” said ing Scholar Program for Iraq” this fall. Cynthia Green, director of the Center The program aimed to help establish for Global Engagement. “And it’s difan educational exchange between ferent from how the media portrayed higher education in the United States it.” and Iraq. Complying with the State Twenty-five scholars from Department’s precautionary requireIraqi institutions were divided among ment, FSU has agreed not to publish five different U.S. institutions, chosen the names or pictures of the scholars. among many universities that applied. Petroleum-engineering professor Dr. The scholars represented the Fikret Terzi, however, encouraged the fields of information technology, mipublication of his identity. crobiology, nuclear physics, commu “It is time now for people in nication engineering and petroleum Iraq, especially those working in uniengineering. They collaborated with versities, to get in touch with the level researchers, rubbed elbows with adthat the outside world has reached,” ministrators and participated in a prehe said. sentation on the state of Iraqi higher The connection between education. Iraq and the United States that the Faculty and staff at FSU said Fulbright program seeks to establish comes as President Obama is decreasing American military presence in the country. Only 50,000 U.S. troops currently remain in Iraq. Years of embargo and war with the United States and Iran have destroyed the infrastruc-

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ture of Iraq and led to looting and political instability. As a result, many of the nation’s university professors have lost their lives or been unemployed and scholarship has lost some importance. “We used to be the model for Fulbright scholars,” an information technology scholar said, referring to an Iraqi woman who became the first Fulbright scholar from the Arab world in 1950. This change, according to Terzi, is due to isolation. “People in Iraq were isolated for so many years,” said Terzi. “They didn’t have Internet, they didn’t have cell phones, they didn’t have satellite receivers.” Dean of the school of engineering at Kirkuk College of Technology, Terzi said he regards FSU as a model institution with a caliber of research and administration he admires. “I’ll take with me the modern style of developing faculty and staff,” Terzi said. “I’ll take and apply some workshops and lectures about how to improve the quality of people that are serving in universities.” One scholar presented two books about Iraqi history and culture to the Middle East Center after delivering a lecture on the same subject there. The scholars acknowledged that they are aware of the continuation of a relationship between the United State and Iraq. “We are not just coming here for two months,” said the scholar in information technology. She joked: “we are stuck with you.” Y

News

New Union in the Works for FSU Students Catalina Quintana

CONTRIBUTING WRITER Plans to expand Florida State University’s Oglesby Union are underway. The Union Board has tentative plans to expand the current 500,000 square foot union close to 700,000 square feet, not including the Student Services Building or Student Life Center. The board, which consists of twelve FSU students, two faculty, two staff and an alumnus, began talk of the Oglesby expansion about eight years ago, says Union Director Bill Clutter. Clutter, an alumnus, looks forward to revamping the new union now that the board is “moving from talk, onto action.” Currently the board is working on implementing space studies to analyze student needs and wants and how they can be accommodated based on the space each organization needs. Drafts of a Union Board pamphlet that details the purpose, function and activities of the student union are being finalized. These pamphlets will be distributed around campus and in residence halls so that interested students can volunteer to participate in focus groups. Student Chair of the Union Board, Uriah Ellis, stresses that plans for the union are all tentative and that a Long Range Committee needs to be organized before the development can begin. This committee will be organizing and dealing with the retail

space, programming and operations of facilities. Ellis emphasizes that the motto for the board and their sole purpose is to “create and form a more perfect union.” Ellis, serving his third term on the board, believes the three major issues that the board is facing are student involvement, funding and space. Since the project’s starting date is set for approximately five years from now, Ellis says student involvement is difficult to gather. However, organizations such as the Student Government Association (SGA) are excited about the new changes to come. SGA advisor Dr. Joyce Howard says SGA is absolutely supportive and looking forward to the new union. Currently, Howard says SGA office space is somewhat spread around, so SGA is “looking to coordinate and bring everyone together” by expanding the space. To address the funding issue, the Budget Committee, one of four committees of the board, has been working to prepare a budget of seven million dollars. About half of these funds are union-generated through venues such as Crenshaw Lanes and the FSU Circus. The other half is collected from the Activity and Service fee students are charged each semester. Ellis says there are two possible major funding options for the project. The Capital Improvement Trust Fund and Public Education Capital

Outlay are two sources that the board must make a request for and then await a decision made by the Board of Regents and the President based on the budgets allotted for the year. Ellis says that the plan is to draw from both of these sources without depleting either budget, as was done for the Doak Campbell Stadium. On campus there are more than 450 active student organizations, and the current Oglesby Union only has enough space to provide for 38 to 40 of them. Clutter says this space issue is one of the main reasons he believes the new union needs to be built. When the union was constructed in 1964, the student population peaked at about 20,000 compared to the current 40,000. “It just doesn’t meet the need of the student population anymore,” said Ellis. By Spring 2011, Clutter hopes to have a master plan for the union ready, although he recognizes there is still “a lot of groundwork to be done.” This includes the studies that Ellis encourages students to take an active part in. “It is a tool for students to come speak at the union board meetings, it makes their thoughts known and I encourage them to do that,” said Ellis. Regular board meetings are held the first of every month and open to everyone. Y For more information of times and locations and how to get involved with the union expansion, Ellis encourages students to visit www.union.fsu.edu.

Issue 1, October 2010

The Yeti

News

Kylyn Swann CONTRIBUTING WRITER On Nov. 2, Florida voters will vote on proposed constitutional amendments 5 and 6, which seek to end gerrymandering in Florida by drawing more compact districts and to establish minority-voting rights within the state. With each census, district lines are re-evaluated by state politicians and redrawn by their reapportionment committees. As a result, Florida is divided into twenty-five visually puzzling and geographically nonsensical congressional districts. Some districts are huge and expansive and others are amorphous. Ten thousand Leon County voters belong to congressional district 2, which extends to Jacksonville, while most Leon County voters are a part of congressional district 4. In such cases, district lines are determined by demography rather than geography. According to various supporters of the amend-

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ments, the image of the districted state of Florida is a reflection not of the interests of its voters, but instead its political parties and incumbents. “It is really against all the democratic principles of this country,” said Kelly Penton, a FairDistrictsFlorida.org representative. Florida voters reinforced those principles with 1.7 million signatures on the petition that became proposed amendments 5 and 6. The amendments have gained support and funds from advocacy groups including NAACP of Florida, Democracia-Ahora, and the League of Women Voters of Florida. “Protect Your Vote,” an organization headed by Republican Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart and Democratic Congresswoman Corrine Brown, oppose the “fair districts” amendments, claiming amendments 5 and 6 will endanger minority incumbents by wiping out most of Florida’s current minority districts. “This argument is provable to be absolutely false,” said Ion Sancho, Leon County Supervisor of Elections.

Language in both amendments explicitly spells out voting rights for minority groups. In fact, under the fair districts amendments, minority voters would be specifically protected by the Florida legislature for the first time. Only federal laws currently uphold minority-voting rights. Supporters of the amendments include former Republican comptroller of Florida Bob Milligan, Independent Governor Charlie Crist, and former governor and US senator Democrat Bob Graham. The amendment would not affect one political party exclusively, so it garners support across the board. In 1972, the Federal Court case Swann v. Adams forced Florida to fairly redistrict following eight years of attempting to avoid ‘one person, one vote,’ established in the 1964 twin legal cases Baker v. Carr and Reynolds v. Sims. This so-called Golden Age ushered in a host of new agencies, regulations and reforms, including the Department of Environmental Protection, the statewide equalization of public school funding distribution, several service agencies and child protection agencies, and employment agency reform.

The Other Amendments for Nov. 2 Ballot NO.

Article VI, Section 7

Repeal of Public Campaign Financing Requirement Public approved public financing requirement in 1998 Cost $11 million in 2006 PRO: Helps level campaign playing field. CON: Candidates can raise it themselves; waste of tax money.

NO. According to Sancho, a revolution similar that of 1972 and 1980 is a possible if the amendments pass. “I really don’t know what’s going to happen. But the fact that we don’t know, in and of itself, is a good thing,” said Sancho. Amendments 5 and 6 promote voter representation. However, voter awareness of the amendments is very low. “If you talk to NO. people, most of them don’t have a clue about amendments that are going to be on the bill,” said Marilynn Wills, President of the League of Women Voters of Tallahassee. There are a number of sources to blame for this ignorance, according to Joseph Schweitzer, President of the College Democrats at FSU. Schweitzer blames a lack of political education in schools, the extremity of political candidates, and insufficient funds and promotion. Voter apathy, however, is not one of them, and Sancho emphasizes the importance of the votes that decide these seats. “[These seats are] just tempo-

VII, Section 3; article XII, section 31 02 Article Homestead Ad Valorem Tax Credit for Deployed

Military Personnel NO KNOWN OPPOSITION: Passed unanimously by House and Senate Property tax exemption for service women and men deployed on active duty outside the United States during the previous year. Amount based on time deployed previous fiscal year; would have cost $13 million in tax revenue, ‘09-’10 fiscal year.

NO.

II, Section 7 04 Article Referenda Required for Adoption and Amendment of

Local Government Comprehensive Land Use Plans PRO: Public should have final say on uncontrolled growth. CON: will generate hundreds of referenda and costs to already burdened local governments.

IX, Section 1; Article 08 Article XII, Section 31

Revision of the Class size Requirements for Public Schools Schools comply with class size averages rather than limitations on each class size. PRO: State cannot afford cost of smaller class sizes in recession. CON: Ballot language misleading.

rary structures to allow citizens to express their will as ‘We the People,’ and in my opinion, allowing congressional members to rig their own elections before they take place runs counter to the free expression of ‘We the People,’” said Sancho. Y

Issue 1, October 2010

The Yeti

News

Focus on Yetifolk

Derek Jones Thomas Nudi

CONTRIBUTING WRITER “Hey, do you mind if we went outside?” Derek asked five minutes into his interview. “It’s just that I know a lot of people here and feel kind of weird talking about myself so noticeably.” After heading out back to the café’s nearly empty gated patio, Derek relaxed. “Much better,” he said. Only a sophomore at Florida State, Derek Jones already has more modesty and curiosity than the most students his age. His interests lie in creating art, specifically using sound. His older brothers – one a studio artist, the other the manager of a string quartet in San Francisco – share his interest. His father is a local sit-in banjo player. “[The family is] where you learn to be you. That’s where it all starts. What would I be without my family?” Derek said. There’s a knock on the gate to the patio. Derek immediately gets up to open it. Two men struggle to get a new arcade machine through the opening, “Do you need any help?” Derek is the first to ask. He then goes out of his way to prop the door open with an ashtray. Derek works at FSU radio station V89, recording, mastering and mixing for bands that play live on their Monday night show, “The Hootenan-

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ny”. Bands come into the studio and record an album while on the air, with Derek working in the booth. The group leaves with a professionally recorded copy of their airtime. “I want other people to be successful,” Derek said. “If I can do that by working on their sound or playing their music on the radio, then that’s great.” Derek also works with the radio’s music catalogue, researching albums and reviewing them for reference during airplay. He is the voice over the airwaves on Tuesdays at midnight, playing new and old music from varying genres. In addition to his two jobs at Black Dog Café and as a sound technician in FSU recital halls, he is constantly at the station creating promotional spots advertising the various shows and events. “It’s about doing things,” he says. “I used to love sitting around playing video games and watching TV when I was young. Now I can’t stand it. I have to be doing something.” Derek plays multiple instruments including guitar, piano and steel pan drum. In his free time he writes and experiments with and records music. Most recently, he arranged the seven-minute song “Come On! Feel the Illinoise!” by Sufjan Stevens for a steel pan drum band. “I like to do installations. Audio and visual pieces,” said Jones.

Derek Jones in the DJ booth queuing the next song for play.

Recently he helped with an exhibit involving the audience holding on to metal rods and connecting hands, completing a circuit causing different noises to be produced. Perhaps it is Derek’s genuine motivated nature that keeps him upbeat. “You can spend a lot of time thinking about the negative and really you’re just wasting a lot of positive energy on it.” When asked what pisses him off, he laughed. “There’s really not a lot,” he said. “Ignorance. I guess what really gets me is lack of responsibility.” Derek looks to his left and points out scattered trash on the ground where a group of people sat only a few moments before. “That kind of shit. They just get up and leave, with no consideration to the guys inside who have to clean it up, or to the planet, for that matter.” It isn’t just littering that unnerves him. It is general irresponsibility. “We’re a community, we need to act like it.” Right now, Derek is focused on making an impact in this community. “By the time I leave Tallahassee I want to do something extraordinary,” Derek said. “I would love to release a bunch of albums for free, to give back to the art community. I take so much from them myself.” Y

Vince Williams: Invincible SuHawn Chung SPORTS EDITOR Vince Williams, a man over six feet tall and 255 pounds, doubted his talents while injured and even after he recovered. Coming in as a 10th ranked linebacker on Rivals.com and 40th best player in the nation for the 2008 recruiting class, he still deals with insecurities on a daily basis, just like everyone else. He suffered a bulging herniated disc injury that sidelined him during the 2009 season. “It blew me away when I found out about the injury, because I might never be able to play again,” said Williams. Some look at the number 11 redshirt sophomore linebacker and see one of the key players in Florida State defense, but the depth of his personality easily outweighs the measurable parts of his game. An outspoken voice for the team, Vince Williams is described as raw, thoughtful and truthful. That thoughtfulness applies to his personal life as well as his game. Williams puts his family before himself, and he considers his team his family. His passion for football started with him and his brothers playing together. “I talk to my mom and brothers everyday, we are a very close knit family” said Williams. Williams said he and his broth-

ers helped each other grow and that they have always been his largest support. There is a good chance he will be reunited with his younger brother, Karlos, who might come to Florida State to play next fall. Williams says that family is what drives him to strive to be better. While the injury distanced him from the team and shackled his talent, it did not stop him from writing. Williams is the only creative writing major on the team. “I’ve always been an observer,” Williams said with a smile. “I like to record my thoughts and questions.” When the pads came off his shoulders, Williams began writing and reading more frequently, pouring his energy and frustrations into an ignited dedication. Writing helped him through the rough time. “Writing made me feel free,” said Williams. Williams writes memoir and journalism. Both led him to consider the fleeting nature of the game. He wants to leave his mark because he could be gone any day. When Vince goes home, he mentors struggling high school students. He plans to teach English and have a family. Vince Williams is a humble being. This is a hard task to handle as a star athlete in a prestigious football program – a sport that bestows immortality on its greatest players. There is

no glimmering jewelry hanging from his ears, and he wears black glasses with timeworn frames. Through those two lenses he observes like the famous authors he reads – Faulkner, Poe, Twain. He says he often wonders what would happen if he swapped lives with people. While sidelined, Williams tackled questions instead of players, only to find the truth always changing. He was told the pain could end in a day, month, year or never. “One day I just didn’t feel the pain anymore,” said Williams, shaking his head in disbelief. Williams was reunited with his long lost pads. Six months is enough time to transform anybody. Because of that time, he knows that opportunities can disappear with the blink of an eye. With a new attitude of selflessness, Williams was willing to share his position with fellow gifted linebackers. Williams firmly believes that selfishness divides family. He is also aware that winning sometimes overshadows principle. With consistence and honesty, Williams says he remains humble when he steps onto the field. Though the announcers praise the way he punishes opposing players and becomes virtually invincible, the truth is that Vince is far from it. He has insecurities that penetrate his armor. He’s had glorious moments that healed those wounds. He had his share of epiphanies that changed his path. On and off the field, humility and thoughtfulness constitute Vince’s armor. All of these qualities make him truly invincible. Y

Issue 1, October 2010

The Yeti

News

Off to

Graduate School I Go?

Emily Ostermeyer MANAGING EDITOR

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the 9.6 percent unemployment rate remained unchanged this September. For recent college graduates, the decision to pursue continued education begs the question: what is a graduate degree really worth? Nationally, the number of students applying for graduate programs has increased over the last couple of years, said Dr. Nancy Marcus, Dean of the Florida State University Graduate School. Additionally, applications to the Florida State University (FSU) graduate school this fall have increased by 5% since last fall. According to Dr. Jeff Garis, director of the FSU Career Center, there are three forces influencing this increase. First, the recession has created an assumption among students that there are very limited job openings. However, he warns against this assumption. “I think that it’s better to pursue jobs and make an informed decision,” said Garis. “A student can look for employment but they can also pursue graduate or professional school, and

“

then make a comparative decision based on reality, and not just assume there are no jobs.” Many universities are actively promoting their graduate programs to students in the interest of increasing their graduate enrollment, said Garis. Such efforts have led to the increased number of students pursuing gradu-

You can never hurt yourself by getting more schooling.

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-Joseph Calhoun ate programs. Garis also cites the overall increase in the number of students earning a bachelors degree. It has created a false perception that the undergraduate degree is worth less, so students assume additional graduate training is necessary in order to be marketable. “There’s a lot of data out there that suggests that the biggest difference maker in terms of lifelong income and professional advancement is still an undergrad degree,” said

Garis. “Students should not devalue their undergraduate degree.” Still, more students are pursuing a graduate education. According to a survey conducted by the FSU Career Center, 40% of FSU graduates are pursuing a graduate education immediately after graduation, a 5-8% increase from the past 2 to 3 years. This increase does not necessarily mean the value of a graduate degree is going down. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average unemployment rate in 2009 for all master’s degree holders was 3.9%, and 2.5% for all doctoral degree holders. That is in contrast to the average 5.2% unemployment rate for bachelor’s degree holders. This is at a time when 2009 marked the highest recorded mass layoff events in the state of Florida on record. Stephanie Hernandez, a junior Editing, Writing and Media major at FSU, is skeptical of a graduate degree’s ability to secure post-graduate employment. She worries that since the job market has taken such a hit, some employers may actually discriminate against graduate degree holders, viewing the higher salary request that the extra degree implies as an unnecessary expense. “If you have a master’s you might be cut out of jobs, but if you

don’t have a master’s you also might rather than later and how big that fibe cut out of jobs,” said Hernandez. nancial pay off is, and that varies from There is also the considerperson to person.” ation of an individual’s career goals. The increase in graduate enAccording to Garis, the decirollment is considered to be more sion to pursue graduate a reflection of the shifting school or not and the qualifications of the job value of that purmarket today, as opsuit is posed to a signal “pinned to of its decreasing what the stuvalue. dent’s career According aspirations to Marcus, this in 2009 for those with a are.” increase is “say A c ing that more and cording to the more jobs in the Winter 2010 future are actually salary survey redemanding advanced leased by the Nationtraining, beyond the al Association of Colleges bachelors degree.” and Employers, the pay-off for a mas Still, some students may tend ter’s degree differs greatly by career to take Garis’ advice choice. For Business Administration and research their and Management degree holders in options in both the January 2010, the average yearly saljob market and gradary offer for a bachelor’s degree was uate school. That is $45,200, compared to the average what Stephanie Her$128,000 salary offer for a master’s nandez plans on dodegree. For a psychology major, the ing. difference was less substantial, with “It just a master’s degree having an average seems safer that yearly salary offer $12,251 greater way than to go get than that of a bachelor’s degree. a master’s degree, In terms of the financial paypay for more schooloff, the value of a master’s may be ing, and then be shifting in the short-term versus longburdened with more term financial pay-off. student loans, and “You can never hurt yourself you can’t get a job,” by getting more schooling, getting said Hernandez. “It’s smarter and getting an advanced deterrifying.” Y gree,” said Dr. Joseph Calhoun, an economics professor at FSU. “It’s just a question of whether or not the financial pay-off is going to come sooner

5.2%

Unemployment Rate

Bachelor’s Degree

3.9%

Unemployment Rate in 2009 for those with a

Master’s Degree

2.5%

Unemployment Rate in 2009 for those with a

PHD

Issue 1, October 2010

The Yeti

News

FSU Researches Oil Spill Aftermath

repercussions from the disaster may last for many years Parker Allen to come. CONTRIBUTING WRITER In light of the oil spill, The BP well was declared D r . Miller, a biology proplugged on Sept. 19, after spilling an f e s s o r, has broadened his estimated 185 million gallons of oil research on the population fluctuainto the gulf and becoming the worst tion of plants on St. George Island to accidental oil spill in history. Such a consider the long-term effects of the devastating ecological disaster has oil spill on coastal ecosystems. In a led Florida State University researchworkshop funded by the National Sciers to apply their work towards underence Foundation and led by Dr. Miller, standing the causes and effects of the a group of researchers from several d i s a s t e r. academic institutions concluded that Dr. Markus the Gulf Coast will eventually experiHuettel ence chronic, long-term effects from and Dr. the contamination of coastlines by the Tom Miller oil, though it is not yet certain what have found exactly these effects will entail. that the The difficulty in determining Sediment samples taken ecological the ecological impact of the spill, Millfrom Pensacola Beach. er said, lies in the dynamic nature of ecosystems. Any change in the population of one species on an island could be caused by a number of factors, such as bad weather or The research of Oceanography Professor Dr. Marcus Huettel is most concerned with disease, and cannot the layer of tar that tends to form under the be directly attributed layer of the sand. to the oil spill. Dr. Miller keeps detailed records of the ecological activity on St. George Island. In the coming years, he hopes to recognize trends in the plant populations on the island that can be attributed to the oil spill. Some of the effects

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of the gulf oil spill can already be inferred by studying the present state of our coastline. Over the past four months, Oceanography Professor Dr. Markus Huettel has been collecting and analyzing samples of sand from the gulf coast. His research is most concerned with the layer of tar from the oil that tends to form under the surface of the sand. The tar does not directly come into contact with many organisms, but it may release compounds into the environment that could seriously harm the ecosystem, said Dr. Huettel. Since he began examining samples from the coast, Dr. Huettel has observed no deterioration of the tar layer. The oil from the spill contains thousands of chemicals. Most were broken down in days or weeks by naturally-occurring microbes in the ocean and on the coast, yet there do not seem to be any processes leading to tar degradation. Dr. Huettel concludes that the problem of the tar layer could very likely pose a serious threat to our coastline ecosystems in the following years. Dr. Huettel and Dr. Miller are only two of many scientists who are producing research into the causes and effects of the oil spill that may have further use in the future. In Dr. Miller’s opinion, it would be a good idea for us to limit oil drilling, but “politically, we’re not going to stop.” Peter Allen, gubernatorial candidate for the Indepedence party, advocates watching the oil companies more closely, while still allowing them to drill in the gulf. “You can’t kill an entire industry off of one incident,” he said. Y

Views

Tales from Tampa, FL

We started receiving post-

cards at our home about a year ago. The address line only read “Tales from Tampa, FL 33647” and each signed by a John Fisher with a simple drawing of a fish between his first and last name. Each postcard’s front was defaced in some manner, so our uneasiness was certainly not without warrant; especially noting how strange they were. In any event, the post cards have since ceased and there now remains a collection of about at least sixty of these “Tales from Tampa, FL”.

Issue 1, October 2010

The Yeti

“They’re really going to have to sell me on this one,” James said as we drove down Tennessee Street to rush our first fraternity of the week. James was dressed in a pink polo and dark navy jeans. I had traded cutoff jean shorts for khakis and a button down, one stereotype for another. It was the second week of school, and a few thousand male undergraduate students were searching for belonging amidst an unfamiliar social landscape. We parked in a commuter lot near the fraternity house an hour before sunset, a time of day photographers call magic hour, when everything is painted a golden hue and shadows stretch to unusual lengths. Walking with a sense of purpose, a steady trickle of young men made their way toward a tall brick building adorned with colorful banners, promising fantastic possibilities to those who stepped inside. A pair of sorority girls wearing sundresses sat behind a table, filling out white name tags bearing the fraternity’s name in Old English font. The towering white columns of the house conjured images of a southern mansion. Aged black and white photographs of the fraternity’s founding fathers hung from the wall and an aluminum tray of homemade brownies rested on a table beside coolers of iced tea. Dressed in full

suits, the older members looked like they had just stepped out of a board meeting as they greeted the rushees.. Within an hour, the crowd reached a couple hundred men, mostly strangers, with sorority girls interspersed. The rushees in the room were almost all freshman, eagerly selling themselves to older members of the fraternity in the hopes of hearing that magic word: “bid.” Jake Barish, a senior creative writing major specializing in poetry, approached me and introduced himself. Wearing a bow tie and thick rimmed glasses, his appearance clashed with my mental image of a frat boy. As a fellow writer, I could relate to Jake on a personal level, and suddenly the group he belonged to

The room fell silent as a voice boomed from the top of the staircase. “Ladies and Gentleman, may I have your attention please?“ A new pledge wearing the fraternity’s shirt carefully descended the stairs while the crowd baptized him in applause. This ritual would be repeated several times throughout the night, and is rooted in psychological significane. “[Public ritual] is often a way to publicly proclaim commitment,” explained Dr. Ashby Plant, director of graduate studies for the Florida State University psychology department. “When we do things publicly, we’re less likely to go back on them later.” I wanted a different perspective, so the next night, I went to Heritage Grove. I could hear dozens of men chanting on the other side of the complex—the entire village was alive. Inside the house, every person, even the rushees, was dressed in a full suit. The one on one conversations I had experienced the night before were replaced by small circles of white males standing with perfect posture, like they were waiting for a hernia check. The old black and white photographs on the walls had transformed into sorority girls wearing bikinis. I couldn’t socialize with these women. I could only admire their static image flattened into two dimensions against the wall. After initiating conversation, I learned that the vast majority of

I could hear dozens of men chanting on the other side of the complex—the entire village was alive.

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appeared more appealing. I spoke to a tall older member with Scandinavian features named Harrison. “When we renovated this place, it was boarded up and scorched on the inside,” he said. “We put our blood and sweat into this house.”

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Blood, Sweat,

& Rush Week Vincent Dale CONTRIBUTING WRITER

members were majoring in business. “We’re a very diverse group,” said Andrew, a senior member wearing an officer’s badge told me. I asked him to elaborate. “We have guys from South Florida, guys from North Florida, we even have guys from New York,” he said, without a hint of jest. I remembered what Dr. Plant had told me: “If you ask anyone about his or her own fraternity, they’ll claim to be very diverse. But if you ask them about another group, they’re all alike. They conform to those around them, taking on the characteristics and developing attitudes that are close to the group.” Shortly after rush week ends, the process of assimilating

hundreds of new pledges into Greek life begins. “My fraternity doesn’t mold people, but some do,” said Josh, a freshman wearing a yellow tie and blue button down, the required color coordinated outfit worn by pledges in his fraternity. “Every Greek life member will face stereotyping,” said Spencer, a senior fraternity member. “When talking to some people, they didn’t know I was a fraternity guy for the last half hour, and then suddenly their opinion of me has gone off the deep end.” Chris Stoltz, a sociology major, voiced his criticisms of Greek life, “There begins to be this artificial status of hierarchical privilege that sorority or fraternity members as-

sume in contrast to those who do not belong to Greek Life.” When I mentioned Louis’ criticisms to Spencer, he searched for words before replying, “maybe he should consider pledging.” I was back at the first fraternity house and I couldn’t find James. I again heard the booming voice. An electric feeling gripped the crowd and I looked up. Wearing a new shirt, James descended the staircase, smiling like a kid on Christmas morning. A thunderous applause of approval filled the room, spilled out to the street, and blended with the shouts and cheers from the other fraternity houses, where it was impossible to separate one from the other. Y

Some names in this article have been changed.

Issue 1, October 2010

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Views

Partisan Parenting Politicians Campaign to Children

Lurvin Miladis CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Do you question your kids about their political ideas? I ask because I’m surprised to find that Obama wrote a children’s book titled Of Thee I Sing, which is being released in November. There are even a couple of kids’ books out right now starring not only Barack Obama but Senator John McCain in their own separate stories. The release dates for these two books were set a couple months from the election in 2008 and one month from each other, so it’s safe to assume there’s at least a little kiddy propaganda sprinkled in. After all, there’s no rule that there shouldn’t be educational children’s books involving important political figures. Released in 2008, Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope is an illustrated biographical tale of our nation’s current president. Written by Nikki Grimes and illustrated by Bryan Collier, it begins with a young African-American boy around the age of the target reader, asking mom about the man on the television. His mother tells him the story of a young boy named Barry who grew up to be an important man. The story begins in Hawaii where he lives with his dark skinned father and his light skinned mother. Barry is friends with every one including kids from “Portugal,

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China, India, and Japan.” Barry also loves school because he finds it easy. Must be because he got his father’s Harvard education in his DNA. Later, Barry is upset because of his parents’ divorce; because he doesn’t feel like he has his own identity. It’s not until he sees a heart wrenching scene involving beggars in Indonesia that Hope, his conscience, pushes him to make a difference by dedicating himself to studying his English grammar and The Golden Rule (Really? Just those two things?). Barry soon becomes Barack and gets elected President. The End. My Dad, John McCain is written by Senator McCain’s daughter Meghan McCain. It starts with one simple phrase, “There are a few things you need to know about my dad, and one of them is that he would make a great president.” The book then continues to show John McCain’s life in a nutshell. As a young man he wasn’t a great student but loved football and wrestling: very American, indeed. He was the biggest, strongest, and toughest in the teams and “he just wouldn’t give up.” He learned in the naval academy that, “On a ship, following the rules kept things running smoothly and that he could see that was important for everyone.” The story continues with some combat mishaps such as the Vietnam story where he broke his arms and leg in a plane crash and his time as a POW. He did, however, make a choice “only

a great man” would have made. He stayed with his colleagues even when he was given the chance to be free and received some awards for his heroics. The book ends with John McCain becoming the Republican Party candidate even though the book was written before the candidates were chosen. This is Meghan’s greatest-hits rendition of her dad; it’s very much like me discussing why Optimus Prime is boss. Obviously, both books show their subject in a very favorable light to anyone who happens to read them, especially the kids. I mean, President Obama was a young boy dealing with divorce and feeling out of place who eventually found his purpose and John McCain was a BAMF back in his glory days. So why do five to ten year olds need to know this? Why would parents go to a bookstore and buy a book about John McCain or Barack Obama for their kids rather than Where the Wild Things Are or The Very Hungry Caterpillar? These books are insurance for political parties. It’s not just “let’s get them into politics at an early age,” it’s “let’s make them liberals or conservatives at an early age.” Sound far-fetched? It is. Y

We got our hands on some leaked illustrations from Obama’s forthcoming new children’s book Of Thee I Sing. The insider who gave us these assures us of their authenticity, but let’s just say we have our doubts. I mean seriously, these look like they were done in Microsoft Paint.

Sneaking a Cigarette Behind the White House.

The Dogs Barking in Obama’s Head.

Obama on his mighty steed.

Issue 1, October 2010

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Peering Into the Philosophy of “Breathe Easy Zones” Thomas Nudi

CONTRIBUTING WRITER There’s not much that’s new to talk about in regards to tobacco, unless I were to ramble on about the half-a-year-old tax hikes, laws and restrictions that have been forced on the cash crop and related paraphernalia in attempt to make smokers more aware of the definite health risks. This is old news, of course; tobacco prices have skyrocketed since a bill was passed late April calling for a massive raise in taxes on the luxury over the course of the next two years. Cigarettes, depending on brand and retailer, are averaging about $6 a pack presently and that’s just in Florida. The price will rise until its final increase sometime before the end of first-quarter 2012. It’s no secret that collectively, smokers have been hit hard in their wallet in the past few years. Additionally, smokers have suffered through the stigma of being smokers ever since the increase of advertisements of the health risks involved. The images and stereotypes associated with the habit after the downfall of its perception as a true sophisticated act have caused smokers to go from looking like Don Draper to Dale Gribble. In these trying times for smokers, the absolute last thing to look forward to is a spatial restriction as to where you can’t smoke a ciga-

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rette. Breathe Easy Zones have been established in FSU’s policy manual since 2006, in an act to protect “the health and welfare of all members of the university community.” These areas are optional and it’s up to each separate building on campus to decide to implement them or not. Their use is recommended strongly by the policy manual and so far every building on campus has participated. Each zone sets a restriction of no smoking within 25 to 50 feet of the building, but with that it is also recommended (not required) that the building adopt a “designated smoking area” for the comfort of smokers. Kevin Frentz, who has a doctoral degree in higher education, is FSU’s health specialist and the director of the FSU smoking cessation program. He is also head of the Breathe Easy Program. He criticizes other schools’ smoking policies. “[We] do not want to enact a Tobacco-Free Campus like the University of Florida has done because it fails to acknowledge the realities of tobacco addiction and the needs of smokers,” Frentz said. Still, a balance must be met so the needs of smokers do not interfere with the needs of non-smokers, but with that begs the question: Where do the rights of smokers and non-smokers begin and end?

“Both sides must adhere to the ‘Golden Rule’ in order to honestly and effectively answer the question,” said Frentz, calling for smokers and non-smokers to simply be aware and considerate of each other. There seem to be exceptions to the rule, though, as the Dean of the College of Medicine decided that he would do nothing to make smoking more convenient, and did not provide a table or benches at the College of Medicine’s designated smoking area. On the other hand, The College of Information Sciences sought to provide smokers with a comfortable area that protected them from the rain, but there was simply no budget for that. With no funding and stubborn deans, smokers are literally left out in the rain or the sweltering heat during summer. Recently, Florida’s Clean Air Act has christened smoking in openair stairwells like those common in dormitories on campus a violation, as “the restriction caused by the ceilings and walls of most, but not all, of the stairwells fall within the restrictions of the law.” This forces students to walk outside of their building, in most cases traveling downstairs and retreating 50 feet to smoke a cigarette. If a smoker is to follow the rules set by the Breathe Easy Zone, they have to

make an effort to seclude themselves, reinf o rc i n g the stigma of being a smoker, not to mention the matters of safety depending on time of night and weather conditions. Ashtrays around campus also shroud the zone’s purpose and confuse smokers. They tend to be positioned close to building entrances instead of the outskirts. Since ashtrays are commonly beacons for designated smoking areas, this sends a mixed message to baffled students. Faculty and student smokers are a major rea-

son for this setup, as some drag them back under shelter to escape the sky. Grounds maintenance is in charge of replacing them by the beginning of school each morning, but due to staffing shortages and perhaps mere forgetfulness on behalf of the present staff, they remain wherever they are moved. While the execution of the Breathe Easy Program may not be benefiting smokers as much as it is non-smokers, the philosophy behind it calls for equality. The program asks smokers to be considerate to nonsmokers and vice versa. But with the stigma that is attached to smoking, certainly a majority of non-smokers may feel they need not consider “the smoker.”

“The problem is that there are those on both sides of the issue who misunderstand the intent of the project and are spreading misinformation,” said Frentz. “The bottom line is, where do one’s rights begin and end? We will not come to a reasonable conclusion until these issues are explored, analyzed and discussed reasonably, intelligently, rationally and thoroughly by both [sides] and that is what the project is trying to accomplish.” 17.3% of FSU’s student-base has reported having smoked in the past 30 days (most of them surely English majors). Regardless of it being the minority, consideration for them is just as important as them not impeding the health of those who still have Y pink lungs.

Issue 1, October 2010

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Movies You Should Never See

Tetsuo: The Iron Man Phillip Garami VIEWS EDITOR A while back my roommate and I were talking about movies that made us feel uncomfortable. His pick was One Hour Photo. He went on about how Robin Williams was so awkward in that movie, especially when holding a knife and demanding people to perform sex acts in front of him, that my roommate could hardly bear to watch it all. I’ve seen One Hour Photo and let me tell you folks, I’ve got a movie that easily blows Robby Williams’ stalker antics out of the water. Tetsuo: The Iron Man is a product that only could have come out of Japan. It features an incomprehensible soundtrack, set designs that make you feel unclean by just looking at them and a girlfriend that comes back from the dead after getting internally mauled by the protagonist’s new robot penis. I’m pretty sure that this is the only film that makes me physically uncomfortable when I watch it. I really can’t remember what this movie is about. It involves some guy who spends his free time shoving

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I watch it so you don’t have to!

metal struts and screws into his body. He’s trying to become part robot and starts to slowly change into one while occasionally getting attacked by crazy people for no apparent reason. There’s also this mysterious car accident that happened and the main character has something to do with it. The plot is pure vomit that culminates with two

super robot things fighting each other while they repeatedly fuse together and separate. Sadly, that’s all I got from it. What I really remember isn’t the movie itself but the process of watching it. Clocking in at a lean 67 minutes, Tetsuo: The Iron Man easily feels twice that long. I distinctly remember at one point I looked over to my friend who I swindled into seeing it with me

and asked if he wanted to finish it. It took him a little while to turn the horrified expression on his face towards me and say, “Let’s do this.” It was a train wreck for a film; how could we possibly look away? Everything about Tetsuo seems designed to be unpleasant. The camera moves in such a hyper and erratic way that it looks like it was manned by a blind epileptic orphan during production. Most scenes take place in grimy warehouses, rocky back-alleys, and abandoned factories with dirty wires sticking out from everything. Even the main character’s apartment and “lab” look like the Home Depot shat everywhere inside of it. I don’t how they got everything to look so disgusting but good job production team! I want to reward you all with a poke in the eye. Watching Tetsuo is a test of endurance that spits in the face of reason. Don’t ask me why I did it. I made it out relatively unscathed but my buddy who watched it with me still tells me about those mutant robot phallus nightmares he gets every once in a while. Y

FSU Ghost Stories

Scarier than that Time You Walked in on Your Dad Covered in Ectoplasm*

Tallahassee is old. People have lived and died in this city for hundreds of years and that kind of history leaves a mark on a place. It makes sense that older towns are the most haunted. The decrepit cemeteries and buildings around the center of the city seem to attract the most ghost stories. FSU students make up a large part of the local rumor mill. At least one student has mysteriously died in their dormitory, the spirit of Ted Bundy might still be among us, and people see unexplainable things on campus at night. Of course, nothing can be verified.

Westcott In the 1830s, the area now home to the Westcott fountain was called Gallows Hill, and was the site for executions by hanging. Some say that if you visit the fountain at night, you can still hear the soft creak of bodies swinging from the noose.

*See South Park Season 12, Episode 6

The Red Eyes

Out of all the weird things encountered on campus, the Red Eyes seem to be the most pervasive. Anyone who stays up for multiple nights risks seeing them. Symptoms include prolonged insomnia; people who try to sleep after their all-nighters don’t usually stay asleep for long before they’re woken up with horrible nightmares. They never remember exactly what they’re about but they wake up suddenly in the night, convinced of a malevolent presence in their room. They see things like a subtle orange glow coming from behind a slightly ajar door or under a bed. The sightings vary from story to story and none of them ever include an end to the haunting but one thing remains constant: two pinpricks of red light staring at them from the darkness.

Sam the Ghost (or not)

Keen If you walk past the Keen Building when it’s dark outside, you may notice a room still lit on the top floor, even when all the other rooms are dark. This is because an FSU research professor captured homeless Tallahassee residents and performed lobotomies on them for research—while they were still alive. When he was eventually fired, the light in his room was cursed and stays on even during power outages.

Sam?

We ran into a drunk guy named Sam walking his bike down Tennessee Street. We asked him if he knew any ghost stories. His eyes widened, the street became silent and he said that he was a ghost. We still don’t know if he really is.

Issue 1, October 2010

The Yeti

Arts & Life

Videotopia Unites Generations of Gamers Under One Exhibit James Balarezo

CONTRIBUTING WRITER Not long ago, the parents of this generation’s gamers fed quarters into their favorite arcade games while listening to Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ On A Prayer” on their walkman. Yet modern gamers cannot imagine gaming without the ability to compete with their friends online and listen to iTunes at the same time. New technology allows gamers to battle in a virtual war zone, drive recklessly through busy city streets, and play as their favorite quarterback in a packed stadium all while trash talking their competition in chat. It might be hard for these two different generations of gamers to agree on anything in the gaming culture. Does Pac-Man trump Mario? Does Halo take the gambit? However, they cannot argue with the sentimental history of games like Atari and PacMan. Chuck Headings, a 24-year-old software consultant, remembers playing video games from a young age. “My very first memory of playing video games would be with my father around the late 1980s on the Atari 2600 playing Air-Sea Battle,” said Headings. “I was three years old at the time so I probably had nothing better to do than shoot down airplanes with my dad.” It is this love that the Mary Brogan Museum wants to share with Tallahassee.

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From June 2010 to January of 2011, the museum will host Videotopia, a 5,000 square foot exhibit of vintage arcade games. Videotopia takes museum visitors through the past, present, and future of video game technology. Including more than forty arcades, much of the exhibit is playable. The exhibition shows the design and creation of games like Pong with artist sketches, computer processing technology and joystick development. “I was really drawn to the visual display of gaming console history,” said Rebecca Fishback, a software support specialist for a local software development company. She described the exhibit as “historically entertaining.” Each person who pays admission is given two free tokens to play the classic video games. There are also two token change stations accepting cash and a power up station, which will quiz attendants on exhibit information and dispense tokens depending on the number of correct answers. The cost of admission is $5 for students with valid I.D. and $10 for adults. During Videotopia, the Brogan is open late on Thursdays from 5 to 9 p.m. Trish Hanson, Chief Operating Officer of The Brogan Museum, describes the initiative as an opportunity for Tallahasseans to “kick off your weekend and come down and play some video games.”

Multiple events will continue to bring visitors to the exhibit, including Videocon at 6-9 p.m. on October 21st. Videocon is geared for 18-year-olds and over and has a $5 student admission fee. Gamescape, a local gaming café, will host Halo: Reach and Mario Cart gaming competitions. Chris Burdett, an artist for Dungeons and Dragons, will be in attendance to show off his art along with a local graphic novelist. Firehouse Subs will provide food and the bands Me and the Devil and Powerplant will perform. Hanson encourages attendants to dress up as their favorite anime, graphic novel or gaming character. even before Videocon, Hanson reports nearly 1000 weekly visitors. Local gamers are even buying $30 super gaming passes, which allow them unlimited admission to the museum and four free tokens per visit. “There’s a gentleman who works downtown and comes in every day during his lunch break to play a video game,” said Hanson. Bringing together fans of games from Pong to Call of duty, Videotopia’s nostalgic exhibition is providing fun education for Tallahassee. Y

College Students Take Pride: A Look at LGBTQ at Florida Colleges Michelle Macchio CONTRIBUTING WRITER A growing population of Florida college students are fighting the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) population. In 1995, the LGBTQ Student Union was formed at Florida State University. The name later changed to the Pride Student Union (PSU). They work to provide programming and events for the LGBTQ student population and straight allies, in addition to creating a safe place on campus for students to discuss current issues facing the LGBTQ population. The organization has about 75 members. As a younger, more progressive university, Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) is also working toward reform and tolerance. Six years ago, the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) began at FGCU. Stephanie Mold is an active participant in FGCU’s gay community, co-president of the GSA. “FGCU is a very open-minded campus and we have great support from the faculty and staff,” said Mold. The growing GSA has over 700 members with weekly meeting attendance at around 100. The University of Central Florida (UCF) is also contributing to the fight for rights with EQUAL, the oldest Registered Student Organization (RSO) at UCF at 34 years old.

“The goal of EQUAL is eventually eliminating the need to fight for equal rights and instead just working to advocate them,” said Joseph Ptashinski, Head Chair of the Public Relations Committee. The organization currently has over 100 students. The organizations at these schools are involved with issues like the recent string of gay teen suicides and Proposition 8. FSU Pride Executive Director John Dougherty explained further: “The problem with these teen suicides is the overwhelming feeling of pressure growing up in a world for and by heterosexual people, where you are denied rights simply because of who you choose to love,” said Dougherty. “We work to enhance the university experience for these students and to attempt to give hope to LGBTQ children and teens that things will get better and suicide is not the answer.” Proposition 8, also known as the California Marriage Protection Act, was passed in the Nov. 2008 state elections. Supporters of this act believe heterosexual marriage is an essential institution and gays do not have the power to redefine its meaning. “Our biggest issue of concern would be for the United States government and every other sovereign nation to recognize the equality of their citizens no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity and ex-

pression,” said Dougherty. On a more local level, positive progress has become evident. FSU’s university-wide non-discrimination policy was amended to include sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. According to Dougherty, there are also several organizations and student populations that Pride intends to extend a friendly hand to by interacting with or co-sponsoring events together. In the face of opposition, these organizations put on events to raise awareness of these issues and to unite those who are affected by them. Beginning October 11th, LGBTQ will be observing National Coming Out Week. This annual event is a civil awareness day for coming out and discussing concerns within the community. FGCU will be hosting the Florida Collegiate Pride Conference, an annual conference designed to offer opportunities for students to learn more about LGBTQ issues. All three leaders expressed an interest and hope for the growth and development of their organization and cause. “My hopes for the future of this organization are to keep it as active and popular as it is, in order to always be somewhere those struggling with and questioning their sexualities and gender identities can turn to,” said Mold. Y

Issue 1, October 2010

The Yeti

Arts & Life

Dagorhir Casey Jerez CONTRIBUTING WRITER Come out to Landis green on any Saturday at noon , and amidst the sun-bathers and Frisbee-throwers, it won’t take too long to spot the players of Dagorhir, a new battle game emerging in Tallahassee. Dagorhir is a medieval fighting game based on J.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. Each participant chooses a foam weapon and participates in duels against other players or large group events. Fighters battle with a variety of weapons ranging from long swords and daggers to flails and arrows. The rules are as simple: if someone hits your arm with a weapon, you “lose” that arm and cannot use it. The same rule applies to legs, which makes an interesting fight. Losing two limbs, being pushed out of the game, or a blow to the torso signifies your “death.” Though the game may seem violent, all of the foam weapons are required to pass rigorous safety checks. “The only injuries I’ve even seen are from people running into people, people running into trees, or people twisting their ankle because they’re just not paying attention,” said

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Some of the Dagorhir members participate in a group battle.

Fred Rebhun, the originator of Dagorhir in Tallahassee. Rebhun, who originally started Dagorhir in Ohio, brought the game to Tallahassee when his wife began work on her Ph.D. at Florida State University (FSU). “When we moved down here, there wasn’t a Dagorhir group,” said Rebhun. “I came down here and couldn’t find anyone to fight with, so I said, ‘I guess I’ll start a group here.’” Now, with three semesters under its belt, the Tallahassee Dagorhir

group meets every Saturday afternoon, and anyone is welcome. While many of the participants attend regularly, some simply pass by the group while walking across Landis and decide to try it out. Courtni Riddick, a junior at FSU, discovered the group after reading a flyer on the bulletin board outside of Strozier Library. “I used to do it at home before I moved here, so they’re kind of like my people,” said Riddick. Dagorhir has also spread rapidly by word of mouth. Riddick herself

Josh Levine and Fred Rebhun duel with arrows.

weapons. He encourages them to loosen up. “Hit me as hard as you can,” he said, “I promise, it won’t hurt.” After running a few warm up duels, the entire group Rebecca Keel loses a leg to participates in another player’s sword. a large battle. Sometimes it’s recruited three participants. Brandon a free-for-all, where every player must Iglesias, an FSU freshman recruited by fend for himself. Other times the group his roommate and Riddick, proved to will be split up into teams and the last be a very proficient fighter despite his team standing wins. The battles usustatus as a brand-new player. ally run until 4 pm, so Rebhun throws “I used to do Tae-Kwon-Do, but that different rules into the game to mix it up really has nothing to do with it,” said and often tries different types of games Iglesias. “I figured I might as well try it, to keep things interesting. Regardless and I really had a lot of fun.” of the type of battle, the participants A typical Saturday of Dagorhir give it their all. starts with a rundown of the rules for The group welcomes anyone new participants like Iglesias. Rebhun interested to come and give Dagorhir then participates in a duel against new a try. Weapons for new players are promembers to give them a feel of how the vided, and the veteran members help game works and get them used to their make individualized weapons for those

participants that would like to fight with their own personal flair. Trying Dagorhir can even lead to lifelong friendships. Rebhun, who has been an avid player of Dagorhir for many years, still has a large circle of Dagorhir friends spanning many different states. He even met his wife while playing the game. “Relationships have formed, whether it’s best friends or marriages,” said Rebhun. Rebhun encourages anyone and everyone, even the skeptical, to try Dagorhir at least once. “We know it’s kind of dorky. You don’t have to tell us, we know!” said Rebbhun laughing. “ I have so much respect for the people who walk by, think it looks cool, they fight and then come back the next Saturday. Really, for those who walk by and think it looks a little dorky, give it a chance!” Rebhun hopes that eventually, Tallahassee Dagorhir will have a large enough following to be established as an RSO at FSU, but for now the group keeps at it and is still building a following. Y

Issue 1, October 2010

The Yeti

Arts & Life

FSU Libraries Promote Freedom of Expression James Balarezo & Erika Sloop CONTRIBUTING WRITER

ARTS AND LIFE EDITOR

On September 27th, 2010 Strozier library held its 5th annual Banned Books Week Read-Out in honor of national Banned Books Week, an event that supports literacy and freedom of access to books. The event was in front of the Special Collections archive, which showcased a sign warning the audience: “Caution: Banned Books Ahead.” The read-out was an opportunity for FSU administrators, faculty, students and guests to engage in their 1st amendment right to freedom of speech by reading passages from books that social, educational or religious groups have attempted to ban from public schools or libraries in the U.S. Banned Books Week was started in 1982 by the American Library Association (ALA). The weeklong event is held every last week of September. Between the years of 2001 to 2009, the ALA received 4,312 public challenges for specific books. The event is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Florida State University Libraries, the School of Library & Information Studies’ American Library Association Student Chapter (ALASC) and the FSU English Department. The theme, “Think for Yourself and Let Others Do the Same,” spins the 1st

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amendment as not only a freedom of speech but as a freedom to read as well. Mayor John Marks kicked off the event with Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms. His selection showcased what Marks described as “a universe of indifferent and human suffering.” Eight more readings followed the opening by Mayor Marks. Those readings included excerpts from the Qur’an, The Dream of the Rood (read in Old English) and Hitler’s Mein Kampf. The readers included deans, professors and ALA Student Chapter representatives. Joseph Frank Malefatto, a grad student of Library and Information Sciences, read a selection from Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five. “I picked it because it was one of my favorite books and I was surprised to see it [on the list of challenged books],” said Malefatto. Because of bad weather, this year’s reading took place on the inside of Strozier rather than on the steps, where passing students could easily stop and listen. Pamala Doffek, Director of the Goldstein Library has been attending the annual reading for the last five years, as a spectator and as a reader. She said that she enjoyed the “ener-

gy, support and adjoined outrage that books are still banned today.” Teresa Nesbitt, another grad student in Library and Information Sciences, was attending for the second year in a row, and noted the event’s increased attendance. “I thought it was really fantastic - there was a really wide range of readings - from religious texts to Hemingway - and I thought it did a great job of demonstrating how ideas of what is ‘controversial’ have changed over time.” ALASC president Beth Riggs, a graduate assistant for Strozier and Goldstein libraries, explained the importance of keeping books from being banned and how it impacts students. “We want students to be educated that books are a freedom of speech and everyone should be allowed to be read any book,” said Riggs. “Opinion or not, right or wrong, that’s what books are. Fiction or nonfiction, they’re just someone’s opinion.” Malefatto agreed. “Just because you don’t agree with the idea, doesn’t mean you should deprive others of them,” said Malefatto. Y For more information on the ALA, check out http://www.ala.org.

Editorial

Fight the

Top 10 Banned/Challenged Books from 2000-2009

Brainwash

Erika Sloop

ARTS AND LIFE EDITOR Knowledge is power. The more you know, the more you can do; the more you can do, the easier it is to take over the world. And stop me if I’m wrong, but we get a substantial amount of our knowledge from books, right? Do you see where I’m going with this? Check out the list in the sidebar. Have you read any of these? If you haven’t, you really should. These are the top ten most banned/ challenged books from 2000-2009. Most of these are young adult books, so why the hell are they on a list historically reserved for novels like 1984, Mein Kampf and Slaughterhouse Five? What’s wrong with them? Nothing was, is, or will be wrong with them. Books are opinions. They are the voice of their author. Even if it’s a non-fiction book, the author still has their own spin on things. In the US, the top reasons for a book challenge are sexual content, violence, occult and homosexuality. This is because the majority of initiators are parents. That’s right: parents. They want to “protect” their children from explicit content, swearing, violence and the occult. Brainwashing starts in the cradle, right? Then there’s the recent buy-

01 02

Harry Potter (series)

03 04

The Chocolate War

05 06

Of Mice and Men

out and destruction of the first print run of Operation Dark Heart by the U.S. government. Written by Anthony Schaffer, Operation Dark Heart is an Afghanistan war memoir that details special ops on the front lines and exposes secrets that are apparently too harsh for the delicate public to hear. I can understand the need for security in an ongoing conflict, but when the author (a Lt. Col. in the Army) says that the changes to the second edition were “ludicrous,” then something’s up. Just whose ass is being covered? It’s a chain: censorship, challenging, banning and burning. (Warning: mild conspiracy theory ahead.) It’s all about secrets- truths that we know that they know we know but don’t want us to know. So what does all of this have to do with banning books? Reading a book is just as much of an exercise of our freedoms of expression as writing a book is. We choose to read a book because we want to. That is a right that should not be taken away from anyone. So to all the parents and someday parents out there, do your kids a favor and a) don’t challenge

by J.K. Rowling

Alice (series)

by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor by Robert Cormier

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell by John Steinbeck

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Scary Stories (series)

His Dark Materials (series)

ttyl; ttfn; l8r g8r (series)

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

by Alvin Schwartz

by Philip Pullman

by Myracle, Lauren

by Stephen Chbosky

From the American Library Association

books just because you don’t agree with them and b) make sure your kids read at least one banned book. This is an afterthought to all of you who believe that “evil” books like Mein Kampf or the several treatises from Chairman Mao should be destroyed. You’re no better than they are. Just because they have different opinions does not mean that they have less of a right to give them. Y

Issue 1, October 2010

The Yeti

Arts & Life

FSU’s Newest A cappella Group Takes the Stage Erika Sloop ARTS AND LIFE EDITOR Their eyes crunched in concentration, they stand in a loose circle, their voices echoing in the music room. They blend beautifully, almost seamlessly. Even if you don’t appreciate music, you have to step back in awe of their control over sound. With your eyes closed, it’s hard to tell that only human voices fill the air. And this is just the rehearsal. FSU’s newest a cappella group is a force to be reckoned with. Founded Spring 2010, A’caphiliacs is comprised of seven boys (Jacob Niemi, Casey Leach, Eric Hosford, Michael Single, Maurice Mallard, Alex Shames and Matt Fischer) and five girls (Rachel Hillman, Allie Upton, Andrea Jeannot, Rachel Lovins and Andi Montalto). Directed by sophomore Rachel Hillman, they sing arrangements of jazz, classic, and “nerdy” music as well as original pieces. Previous appearances include Open Mic Nights at Sheesha Nights and the Black Dog Café, and a spot in the AllNight Yahtzee’s charity event, “Random Acts of A cappella.” Jacob Niemi, a sophomore in Choral Music Education and member, tried to explain the origins of A’caphiliacs, but it remains largely a mystery. “Rachel wanted a group that would really expand what people think about a cappella,” said Niemi, “[We] want to come out with things

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that people don’t expect.” Originally, it was named “Scrabbletones,” but was eventually changed at a brainstorming session. A’caphiliacs is the self-proclaimed “nerdy” a cappella group because, in addition to typical a cappella arrangements, they try to incorporate music from videogames and television shows. “There are no restrictions on what a cappella can be. You just have to love it and the rest will follow,” said Niemi. The group has members from all corners of Florida State University. Matt “Fish” Fischer is a sophomore in Computer Science and described the group in a unique way. “It’s basically a nerdgasm,” he said. “It’s a nerdgasm of music, videogames, and complete fun.” Fischer is a new member of A’caphiliacs and FSU’s all male group, Reverb. Despite being a newer presence on campus, Fischer believes the “A’caphiliacs are more difficult.” “We do a lot of chill music,” added Fischer. “A lot of it’s jumpy and difficult, but I think the end result is better, because people are wow-ed by it.”

Arrangements and songs are chosen by the group as a whole. If a member wants to suggest or arrange a song for the group to sing, they are free to. “Usually what happens is that someone will bring in an arrangement and we’ll try it,” said Niemi. He describes these rehearsals as a “morphing process,” where arrangements will be rejected, accepted or edited based on how well it goes with the group’s sound. Andrea Jeannot, a sophomore in Theatre, was originally going to audition for the AcaBelles, FSU’s all girls a cappella group, but ended up giving A’caphiliacs a shot. “First question [on the audition questionnaire] I see: Do you like Zelda?” said Jeannot, describing her audition experience. “These guys are awesome.” Niemi, Fischer, and Jeannot all highlighted the group’s chemistry. “Aside from the songs, we have a really good selection,” said Jeannot. “Everyone’s just gellin’ really nicely together, it’s a really nice atmosphere.” Look out for A’caphiliacs on campus or around town. Niemi even hinted at an album release next year. To stay up to date on A’caphiliacs shenanigans, check out their Facebook page “A’caphiliacs A cappella.” Y

Review

Girl

THE W IT H

Dragon Tattoo TH E

Lurvin Miladis CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Who is the girl with a dragon tattoo? I asked myself this when I sat down to watch Niels Arden Oplev’s adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s bestselling novel, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I haven’t read the book, but after watching this movie, I definitely want to. Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) is convicted at the start of the film for committing libel against a wealthy financer. He decides to meet with upperclass businessman Henrik Vanger (Sven-Bertil Taube), who will help him if he investigates the 40-year-old disappearance of Vanger’s niece. Meanwhile, Blomkvist is being watched by Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace), a troubled young computer hacker with a dragon tattoo. After this long introduction, Lisbeth teams up with Blomkvist to solve the case. The mystery and suspense of the movie makes it gripping, not just because it’s about a mind-blowing mystery, but because Lisbeth is an intriguing character. The story deals with the subject of rape, and Lisbeth is the only victim who savagely fights back against her assailant. We rejoice when she takes control of her situa-

tion—maybe because ultimately we all want to have her endurance and courage. Not to mention she fights back with a vengeance. Her retaliations were both a delight and unnervingly horrifying. In the midst of my viewing, I could hear my fellow moviegoers gasp out loud at her brutal feats. One thing is for sure: do not piss off Lisbeth Salander, because she will kick your ass. Though the resolutions are a tad rushed, the audience leaves satisfied that the mysteries and complications that the movie began with are resolved. The movie ends with Lisbeth, the true mystery of the story, simply walking away and disappearing into a crowd of strangers. She is the embodiment of mystery, for though we learn much about her, there is so much still unknown by the story’s conclusion. To this reviewer’s disgruntlement, we don’t even learn the origin or significance of the dragon tattoo; in fact, we only get one glimpse of it throughout the entire movie. Perhaps this is the producer’s cunning scheme to guarantee your ticket purchase for the sequel? Without a doubt, Noomi Rapace was brilliant as the elusive Lisbeth. Her grip on the depth and character’s distancing from the outside world was spellbinding. Michael Nyqvist did not have the same screen presence that Rapace had, but it was a great foil to Repace’s performance. Their chemistry onscreen is undeniable. Coupled with the story, it was a gripping mystery and suspense that should not be missed. So go read the book and watch the movie—in whatever order you please—and you won’t be disappointed. Y

Speak Loudly:

A Review of LH Anderson’s Recently Challenged Novel

Courtney Smith

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Review

In light of the recent controversy surrounding Laurie Halse Anderson’s first novel, Speak, the Yeti has decided to run a review in support and honor of this amazing piece of literature. Speak is the emotionally compelling story of a young girl struggling with a horrible secret: she was raped. Anderson brilliantly captures the voice of Melinda Sordino with seamless narration and captivating prose. Melinda enters high school a social outcast, hated by her peers and shunned by the school. She hides from everyone, even herself. Her art teacher, a relentlessly creative and authority-hating man, grabs, digs, pulls and tugs at the soul Melinda buried deep within her. Her only connection to school is art class, a light in her living hell. The book details Melinda’s spiral from solitude to depression. At one point in the story, instead of attending classes, she hides in an unused janitor’s closet to escape the ridicule from her classmates. She spends most of her time there, away from prying eyes and hateful glares. Not only is she struggling with her own secret, she is bombarded constantly by reminders of her old friends who hate her for all the wrong reasons. Laurie Halse Anderson is a wonderful and important voice in the world of young adult fiction. She reminds us that the life of a teenager isn’t always about prom, boyfriends, girlfriends, classes and clubs. We watch Melinda struggle with her dark, deep secret, alone in an assuming and unforgiving world. Her family, teachers and old friends can’t break the barrier that they have built between each other. Anderson brings reality and fiction together in this shocking, award winning book that strikes so close to home that, at the end, we are wholeheartedly invested in Melinda’s tragedy and growth. Speak is an essential, shining reminder of the need for young adult fiction to illuminate the all too cruel reality of being a teenager. Y

Issue 1, October 2010

The Yeti

Arts & Life

Noelle Mandolfo

Some

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

“Don’t get excited, soda enthusiasts”—this was the crowd pleasing introduction to Pepper’s “Like A Surgeon” performance at Floyd’s Music Store on Saturday Oct. 1. The show was completely sold out, with students and locals alike packing the venue like a sweaty DMV for an unforgettable show. Dressed in turquoise scrubs and surgical masks, the three-man band played an 18 song set list, including old favorites “Give It Up” and “Stormtrooper,” plus “Wake Up,” a teaser from their upcoming EP: Stiches, which will be released on Oct. 12. Pepper, originally from Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, consists of Bret Bollinger (vocals and bass), Yesod Williams (drums) and lead singer Kaleo Wassman (guitar). Bret and Kaleo were childhood friends who frequently jammed but were constantly searching for the perfect drummer. In high school the two sought out Yesod, collaborated in equal parts and the band was formed. The name Pepper was derived from a late ‘90s Saturday Night Live episode with Kirstie Allie. The trio wasn’t certain of a career in music, but certainly loved to play. At first, they partook in menial food industry jobs, waiting on hungry Hawaiians before eventually landing local gigs. It all came

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together unexpectedly from there. “It wasn’t necessarily part of the plan. We just went with it. We’re all fly by the seat of your pants people,” said Williams. “Then we quit our jobs and moved to the mainland.” Volcom Entertainment Records snagged them up immediately after hearing Pepper’s sweet sounds, and they were shipped off to California, a definite change of scenery for the Hawaiian natives. Williams emphasized the strangeness of California’s maddeningly complex highway system. “The highways are weird,” Williams said. “In Hawaii there’s no freeways. Coming here was like ‘Whoa, whoa, whoaaaa!’” He also highlighted the

PEP temperature change in the ocean and its impact on the boys’ regular surfing habits. Overall, he insists that the Pepper formation was nothing short of “awesome” and that “At the end of the day, you get to travel the world with some of your best friends.” Fans are quick to label Pep-

PPER

a Day Keeps the Doc Away

per as whatever genre they can, ranging from reggae, dub, ska, punk, dancehall and even metal. Whichever category fans decide Pepper fits in, Williams focused on one absolute truth that cannot be disputed: they are rock ‘n roll. Call it what you want, but any fellow rocker won’t be let down with their striking combination of uplifting guitar, alluring bass, serious drumming and soothing island vocals. “Honestly, it sounds cheesy but life in general [is our biggest inspiration],” said Williams. “Life experiences” above all else are what have made the band what it is today and they stay true to their roots, repping Kailua-Kona as their home and heart. After a while of chanting for an encore and what to the au-

dience seemed like an eternal sequence of hopeful moments, Pepper came back on for eight more songs, two of which are from their future self-titled album expected to be released in summer of 2011. Grace Norberg, a senior at FSU, was very impressed by the show. “[It was] up there in the list of greatest experiences I’ve had in my whole life. Those Hawaiian hotties know how to bring the house down and really rock a crowd,” Norberg said in beaming excitement, completely impervious to the heavy heat and her saturated ensemble. The band members each spent time interacting with the audience and generating a raw and intense intimacy with the fans.

“Pepper literally had the place shaking,” Chris Zumpano, another FSU student, said. “There was more energy in this venue than I’ve experienced in places that held ten times as many people. Pure, unapologetic, ‘DirtyHot-Sex’ energy that only a Pepper show can bring.” Pepper is now under their own independent label, Law Records, which supports other aspiring artists they couldn’t leave behind (i.e. Passafire, The Supervillains). They currently have six albums and their new EP will be available this month. In the words of Norberg and the minds of fellow fans, “The doctor prescribes more Pepper!” Y

Issue 1, October 2010

The Yeti

Through the Ages

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