Sept. 5, 2008

Friday, September 5, 2008 Volume 135, Issue 1

The fall season at a glance see page 17 The University of Delaware’s Independent Newspaper Since 1882

Be sure to check out the Web site for online exclusives.

2 September 5, 2008

inside 2

News

8

Editorial

9

Opinion

10

Classifieds

11

Mosaic

14

Summer movies and music

17

Sports THE REVIEW/Melanie Hardy

Creative spirit returned to Newark streets along with university students.

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The university’s football team took on the Maryland Terrapins on Aug. 30.

Editor in Chief Laura Dattaro Executive Editor Brian Anderson

Graphics Editor Katie Smith Web site Editor Quentin Coleman

Editorial Editors Sammi Cassin, Caitlin Wolters Cartoonist Jan Dickey

Managing News Editors Jennifer Heine, Josh Shannon Administrative News Editor Kaitlyn Kilmetis City News Editor Lydia Woolever National/State News Editor Maddie Thomas News Features Editor Samantha Grayson Student Affairs News Editor Ashlee Bradbury Senior News Reporter Brittany Talarico Blogger Caitlin Wolters

Copy Desk Chiefs Sarah Esralew, Jennifer Hayes Photography Editor Ricky Berl Assistant Photography Editor Justin Bleiler Staff Photographers Steven Gold, Melanie Hardy, Justin Maurer Layout Editor Andrea Ramsay

Managing Mosaic Editors Caitlin Birch, Larissa Cruz Features Editors Sabina Ellahi, Amy Prazniak Entertainment Editors Ted Simmons, James Adam Smith delaware UNdressed Columnist Alicia Gentile Fashion Forward Columnist Sabina Ellahi Managing Sports Editors Seif Hussain, Ryan Langshasw Sports Editors Patrick Maguire, Alex Porro Copy Editors Jordan Allen, Greg Arent, Nicolette Lotrionte, Andrew Lynch, Emily Riley Advertising Director Alexa Hassink Business Manager Lisa McGough

September 5, 2008

3

An Irish twist on the Main Street pub Kildare’s makes its debut at the former site of Shaggy’s

BY SAMANTHA BRIX Staff Reporter

Kildare’s Irish Pub opened its doors to Newark locals this summer, claiming the former location of Shaggy’s on Main Street.

Brian Houck, general manager of Kildare’s Irish Pub, said the July 26 grand opening brought in approximately 1,000 people throughout the night.

“The line shot out the door, extending down the stairs of the Galleria on Main Street and finishing at Dunkin’ Donuts’ doors,"”Houck said.

He said the restaurant has been thriving since its grand opening.

“The pub’s success during the slow vacation trend in Newark that comes with the end of summer foreshadows the good fortune that should come with the Fall Semester,” Houck said.

The first three of the five Kildare’s Irish Pub branches opened in Pennsylvania in 2003, he said.

THE REVIEW/Ricky Berl

The new restaurant will bring fresh variety to Main Street.

Owner Dave Magrogan had wanted to expand his business into Delaware for some time and decided on Newark as the great location, Houck said.

“Main Street has the perfect demographic with a fun, college atmosphere and a community of loyal people,” he said.

Kildare’s Irish Pub, named after a county in Ireland, offers a lengthy selection of European dishes and drinks, including 22 beers on tap.

“We’re promoting authentic Irish hospitality, food and drink,” he said.

Houck said Kildare’s newest branch on Main Street called for menu alterations.

“The Newark menu strays a bit from the other locations, catering to college students with its gastropub menu,” he said.

The menu features the best dishes from around Europe at reasonable prices for the budgeting university student, Houck said.

“We took higher-end dishes off, made them more affordable and added different items,” he said. “You’ve got to stay fresh.”

The Irish pub is comprised of four THE REVIEW/Ricky Berl themed rooms, signifying different eras of Irish history, Houck said.

Kildare’s Irish Pub opened on Main Street on July 26.

He said the restaurant’s Vicorian Pub room showcases Ireland’s elitism during the more of a focal point for business rather than turn people Victorian area and the front Brew Pub area is indicative of beer away,” he said. brewing. The Gaelicroom has tree-carved furniture imported With a more attractive menu, Wiedenmann said he feels from Dublin and the Shop Bar imitates old Irish pubs where Kildare’s has the opportunity to avoid Shaggy’s ill fortune. customers could buy groceries. “[Kildare’s] will have to see how the market responds to Facilitating that out-of-Newark feeling is the authenticiy what they’re selling,” he said. of the restaurant’s decor, Houck said, because the furniture and Fakis said with an inexpensive menu and an upscale preswood fixtures are imported directly from Ireland. ence, Kildare’s fits in well on Main Street.

Andrea Fakis, general manager of neighboring business “Kildare’s is different than everything else out there — Brew Ha Ha!, said Kildare’s is not seen as a competitor there’s nothing like what Kildare’s offers,” she said. because the reciprocation of shared customers has proven benSenior Tim Cribbin said the unique drink specials and huge eficial for the coffee shop. She said she has noticed a height- selection of beers are enough to draw him to the Irish restauened number of after-dinner coffee-and-pastry customers. rant.

Russell Wiedenmann, general manager of Grotto Pizza, “What sets Kildare’s apart from Shaggy’s is an atmosphere located downstairs, said his restaurant is not in competition that teleports its diners away from Newark and somewhere with the new pub, as the two establishments target different closer to Dublin,” he said. “What’s great about it is if you don’t markets. Grotto Pizza is geared toward families, college stu- look out the window it doesn’t feel like you’re on Main Street dents and sports fans, he said. at all.”

Although Grotto Pizza customers will undoubtedly venture Houck said he anticipates busy nights at Kildare’s and upstairs to test out the new pub, Wiedenmann said he does not positive feedback from returning students. fear a long-term loss of customers.

“We’re the new kid in town,” he said. “Everyone’s going “Overall, having another restaurant will make the building to want to check us out.”

Skate park, gardens to replace old paper mill

BY JOSH SHANNON Managing News Editor

The city of Newark is moving ahead with plans to develop the former site of the Curtis Paper Mill into a multi-use park that will include a skate park, gardens and a pavilion.

Developed through a series of public meetings, the plan was unanimously approved

by Newark City Council in July.

Paul Bauernschmidt, managing director of Farmer+Smith, LLC, the public relations firm hired by the city to direct the planning stage of the project, said he hopes the park will open by 2010.

“The site has been abandoned since 1997,” Bauernschmidt said. “The citizens and council want something to get cracking.”

Earlier this year, Bauernschmidt held several public meetings to determine a use for the seven-acre site on Paper Mill Road.

Rebecca Johnson Melvin, a librarian at Morris Library who helped with the project, said the approximately 50 people who attended the meetings came up with several feasible

ideas for the site and ultimately decided to incorporate them all.

“It was interesting to see the changing dis-

cussion and how people came together to support the multi-use approach to this,” Melvin said.

THE REVIEW/Ricky Berl

The smokestack is the only remaining piece of the Curtis Paper Mill.

Bauernschmidt said the city’s Parks and Recreation Department is currently developing the specifics of the plan.

He said the community members wanted to make the site into a “destination place,” one that people will visit because of its uniqueness.

Although some residents were initially opposed to the idea of a skate park, after a few skateboarders spoke up at the meeting, the idea became one of the most popular parts of the plan.

“Everyone was really impressed by the skateboarders who showed up, were really articulate and had a plan,” Melvin said.

Tyler Jacobsen, a Newark resident and avid skateboarder, told the council there are no quality places nearby for skateboarders to go.

Jacobsen said he and his friends regularly travel to Washington, D.C., to find a suitable skate park.

“I speak on behalf of the skateboarding community when I say we are really excited See PARK page 7

4 September 5, 2008

University ranked among top 15 percent

by Princeton Review

BY ASHLEE BRADBURY Student Affairs Editor

The Princeton Review has named he university of Delaware one of the nation’s best institutions for undergraduate studies.

In its 2009 edition of “Best 368 Colleges”, the university is ranked one of the leading schools for undergraduate education. Of the 2,500 four-year colleges in the United States, approximately 15 percent are recognized in this handbook.

Laura Braswell, senior editor of the book, said it profiles the 368 colleges that are academically outstanding.

The book ranks schools in 62 categories ranging from drinking on campus to academics to student’s satisfaction with financial aid. It profiles the top 20 schools in each catagory.

Braswell said the authors surveyed 120,000 students at these schools who gave them information and quotes that are used in each profile of all 368 schools,” Braswell said.

The university was also named a Best Northeastern College because of its high standing in this region of the country.

Provost Dan Rich said he appreciated The Princeton Review acknowledging the university’s success.

“It is always gratifying to have UD recognized as one of the nation’s top universities,” Rich said.

The book illustrates the administration’s efforts to make the university a prominent setting for undergraduate studies. It also depicts the student body’s anticipation for a new year with influential changes that are part of university President Patrick Harker’s “Path to Prominence,” which outlines a series of strategic goals that range from budgeting systems to alternativeenergy institutions.

“Students feel that the administration has its ups and its downs, but overall, it’s a great school,” Braswell said.

The university received an academic rating of 79 on a scale from 60-99. The rating examines how hard students work and how much they get back for their efforts.

Junior Kim Obusek said the university has become harder to get into since she was accepted in 2006.

“I know the application process was more

vigorous for me than it was for my brother who graduated in 2004,” Obusek said.

Survey results gave the school a quality-of life rating of 75 with university students praising the ongoing activities and campus events.

“Students are very impressed with the school’s campus because it is absolutely beautiful,” Braswell said. “Also, the study abroad program at the university is phenomenal.”

Junior Brian Giblin said one of the great parts about the university is its proximity to Main Street’s bars and restaurants.

“There’s always something to do when you’re at UD,” Giblin said.

Braswell said the students surveyed expressed the most concern about financial aid.

The university ranked 20th for students dissatisfied with financial aid.

Rich said the university remains one of the nation’s best colleges for higher education.

“We will keep a UD education affordable,” he said. “For Delawareans, beginning with the entering class in the fall 2009, we’re committed to meeting the demonstrated financial need up to the cost of tuition, fees, room, board and books.

“Further, we will keep the portion of financial aid from loans to a modest amount,” he said.

“We’re also committed to maintaining affordability for non-resident students.”

Braswell said The Princeton Review has also added a green rating this year for colleges., which looks at various aspects of campus environmental efforts.

“We examined different things like how many buildings on campus pass green codes, if the school sells organic food and other ways universities are cleaning up,” she said.

The Princeton Review has named 11 schools across the country that are on the green rating honor roll with a score of 99 on the rating. The university is not one of them.

Rich said even though The Princeton Review’s profile of colleges is a useful tool for high school students applying for college, the standings of these schools do not necessarily indicate a true campus experience.

“All positive assessments are helpful,” he said. “However, we do not regard such rankings as fully reflecting the true quality and value of a UD education.”

THE REVIEW/Ricky Berl

This year, The Princeton Review added a green rating to its evaluation of college campuses.

THE REVIEW/Justin Maurer

The university’s home page now inclues a search function powered by Google.

New Web site highlights the ‘Path to Prominence’

BY BRITTANY TALARICO Senior News Reporter

“Welcome to our world” is the statement that headlines the homepage of the university’s revamped Web site, which debuted on Aug. 1. A team of 50 staff members worked to redesign the site in order to facilitate navigation for users and highlight different aspects of life at the university.

Tracey Bryant, assistant director of the office of communications and marketing, said the project to revamp the Web site began in late January when initial Web page designs were presented to university President Patrick Harker and some members of his staff.

“Our goal was to help show and tell the rest of the world how UD is a leader in academics, research and public service,” Bryant said. “We tried to put a bright new face on our Web site, reflective of us and all the neat things that are happening.”

The group of staff members from the Office of Communications and Marketing and Information Technologies composed the “Web refresh team,” she said.

“We kept referring to it as a refresh of the university’s Web site,” Bryant said. “The bulk of the work started happening in late April.”

David Brond, associate vice president of communications and marketing, said the team hopes the new Web site better reflects organization, solidifies the brand of the university and enhances usability and function.

“If we can do something to keep people engaged in this university, then we have done something positive,” he said. “Web communication is a critical way to market and see what is going on and how we are doing.”

Bryant said some features of the refreshed site include a new Google search engine, a calendar icon, a photo gallery and a drop-down navigation system to help visitors find pages and information as quickly as possible.

“I think that was one of the primary needs voiced by our audiences across campus,” she said. “They were having difficulty finding what they wanted to see and where they wanted to go.”

The new site features a Web survey that garners feedback about the site, Bryant said.

“We have gotten a lot of positive comments from the UD community about the usefulness of the new Google search tool,” she said. “We have already been able to enhance the Web site based on our readers’ feedback.”

The photo gallery gives users another perspective on the historical background of the campus and the heritage of the university, Bryant said.

She said the new Web site has upgraded content in many of the major sections. The “About Us” icon features a new section, “UD School Spirit,” which has information about the history of the Blue Hens, the marching band, cheerleading and the university fight song.

University staff members are making a significant effort to continue to enhance the maps for visitors, she said.

“We wanted to streamline the content of the Web site so people did not have to drill down as many clicks to get where they want to go,” Bryant said.

“The navigation and consolidation of some of the links provides more of a one-stop-shopping experience to students, faculty and staff.”

Brond said there was a 10-percent increase in page views of the Web site from July to August. Since the site’s debut, 210 people have bookmarked the page.

Senior Shaun Hager said the site is more visually appealing and up-to-date with the appearance of modern Web sites.

“It’s definitely going to take me a few weeks to get used to, but I do really like it,” Hager said.

He said the most convenient tool is the drop-down navigation system.

“You can scroll over the ‘My UD,’ which brings you to a drop-down menu and puts everything in one spot for you,” Hager said. “Everything is organized better.”

Senior Dawn Crowley said the updated Web site is going to give prospective students a positive impression of the university.

“I think the site will make a huge difference in the way people view the school,” Crowley said. “The revamped Web site makes the school look 10 times more professional than the old site.”

She said a drawback to the site is the featured stories on the homepage of the Web site have not been updated since the site’s release.

“I know my homepage is UDel, and if there were different stories featured I would click to find out more,” Crowley said.

Brond said the redesigned site is reflective of the “Path to Prominence” the university has taken.

“We want to welcome people to the world of us and be welcoming the world to us,” he said. “We have great faculty and great students we need to have a great Web site.”

September 5, 2008

5

Biden’s nomination adds to university’s role in election

BY JENNIFER HEINE Managing News Editor

University alumnus Sen. Joseph R. Biden, Jr., D-Del. is one step closer to the West Wing. At the Democratic National Convention last week in Dever, Colo., Biden accepted his vice presidential nomination to be the running mate of presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. University President Patrick Harker stated in an e-mail message the university community is excited an alumnus is running for vice president.

“It’s a proud day for all Delawareans that one of our distinguished Senators, Joe Biden, has been selected as a candidate for the office of vice president,” Harker said. “Here at the University of Delaware, we are particularly delighted that one of our most well-known alumni has achieved this distinction. Of course, we have long been proud of Joe’s accomplishments as a public servant and internationally recognized foreign policy leader.”

Jason Mycoff, a professor of political science, said the most important qualification for a vice presidential nominee is the ability to be prepared to be president. He said Biden fits that criteria because he has over 30 years experience in the Senate and is a known foreign affairs leader. Mycoff said the senator has credibility as a politician and is a good campaigner.

“He knows Washington inside and out, he knows a lot of contacts and he has a lot of experience,” he said.

Mycoff said Biden fits the traditional role of a vice presidential candidate because he will be an “attack dog.” Vice presidential candidates are typically critical of the other political party, while presidential candidates present positives about the campaign, he said. Biden’s long-time service in Congress has allowed him to see what Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. has done over his career and be able to attack him for his flaws.

Joseph Pika, a professor of political science and international relations, said he thinks Biden offers a Northeastern connection and expansive foreign policy experience, which both strengthen the Democratic ticket’s chances of winning the November presidential election.

“He provides kind of a Northeastern, middle-Atlantic liberal Democrat and there’s a great deal of strength among Democrats on the East Coast,” Pika said.

Biden will appeal to voting populations that include Catholics, older voters and groups Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY identified with when she ran for president, he said.

“He should run well with the middle class and whites, particularly from some of those swing states such as Pennsylvania,

Ohio and Michigan,” Pika said.

Joe Sheeran, spokesperson for the Delaware Democratic Party, said Biden supports middle-class values and he is a leader for firefighters, police officers, minorities and women. He said he thinks Biden always puts priority on his family and his state.

“He worked for decades in Washington, but has never lived there,” Sheeran said. “He worked for change in Washington, but Washington never changed him.”

He said Obama and Biden will be able to work together as a team. He said Obama can look to Biden for good, and sometimes critical, advice.

Mycoff said he thinks Obama may have chosen Biden as his running mate because he predicts the Delaware senator will serve the White House administration, rather than be conscientious of his image in case he runs for president in the future. He said if Obama wins two terms as president, Biden will be 74 years old, which is considered old for a presidential candidate.

Biden does not bring many weaknesses to the Democratic ticket, but he is known to be verbose, Courtesy of Andy Metter — http://flickr.com/photos/worldeconomicforum/289288232 Mycoff said.

Sen. Joe Biden foreign policy experience to the Democratic ticket.

“Sometimes he gets off message, commits verbal gaffes, and sometimes he insults people,” he maintain the spirit of Washington,” he said. said.

Lara Rausch, president of College Republicans, said she Mycoff said if there were any major problems that would thinks it is nice the Democratic vice presidential nominee attendmake Biden a bad politician or leader, the media would have ed the university and is from her home state, but she still disalready brought them up, since Biden has run for president agrees with his policies. twice, in 1988 and 2008.

Rausch said many Delaware Republicans are excited their “I’m pretty sure there are not a lot of skeletons in the clos- home senator is running for vice president, but she thinks most et,” Mycoff said. “If there are any flaws, we know about them.” conservatives will still vote with their party.

Seth Wimer, executive director of the Delaware Republican “For the most part, I assume being Republicans, they’ll vote Party, stated in an e-mail message he thinks Obama’s choice of for McCain,” Rausch said.

Biden is an honor for Delaware, but sees inconsistency between Mike D’Armi, director of communications for College Biden’s experience and Obama’s campaign message.

Democrats, said Americans will start to recognize Delaware’s “I think that the choice of someone who has spent over 30 strengths because Biden is running for vice president and each years in Washington is a contradiction with Obama’s message of political party’s campaign manager attended the university. change,” Wimer said.

“Delaware is on the map for the first time,” D’Armi said.

Mycoff said the argument can go both ways and vice pres- “We’re going to have a University of Delaware grad in the White idential nominees do align their focus with the presidential nom- House.” inee’s campaign. Obama and Biden will be pushing the same He said many Delawareans are thrilled Biden is running for ideas. vice president.

“If you look at Biden’s career, he isn’t someone you would “The state is electricity right now,” D’Armi said. “The state identify as someone who would stop change or is looking to hasn’t been this happy in years.”

Parties use conventions to kick off election season

BY MADDIE THOMAS National/State Editor

The Democratic National Convention and the Republican National Convention have been underway as the first step toward November’s election.

Joseph Pika, political science professor, said conventions are used by both parties to get voters excited to head to the polls in November.

“They are much more of a launching pad for the fall election and really the first step in the fall election,” Pika said. “It’s a huge business meeting and party for the leaders of the party in different states around the country and is used for getting people wound up and ready to go.”

The conventions announce the official presidential nominations of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill, and Sen. John McCain RAriz and highlight both of their campaigns. They are also an important opportunity for each presidential candidate to introduce his running mate for the vice presidency.

Obama picked Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del, while McCain picked Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, marking the first time in history the Republican Party has chosen a woman to run for vice president.

The Democratic convention, which took place in Denver, Col. at the Pepsi Center, was held from Aug. 25 to Aug. 28.

According to the DNC Web site, there were at least 50,000 people present, including 5,000 delegates from throughout the nation and 15,000 members of the media.

Speakers at the DNC included Sen. Edward M. Kennedy DMass, Michelle Obama, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, former President Bill Clinton and vice-presidential nominee Biden.

Pika said Senator Clinton’s speech was “basically an

acknowledgment on her part that she lost and that she will throw her support towards Obama.”

Clinton’s speech was important due in part because her endorsement of Obama could encourage her loyal followers and independents to vote for Obama in the fall, he said.

Obama ended the convention when he officially accepted the Democratic nomination for president at INVESCO Field at Mile High, speaking in front of a crowd of nearly 80,000 people Throughout his 40-minute speech, Obama highlighted McCain’s similarities to the Bush administration and urged the two parties to find common ground on controversial issues such

Courtesy of Chad Davis — http://flickr.com/photos/chadwho1nders/280803404

The Republicans suspended early events of the convention out of respect to the victims of Hurricane Gustav.

as abortion, gay and lesbian rights, gun control and immigration.

He also pledged to cut taxes for 95 percent of working families, fight for equal pay for women and wean the United States off of Middle Eastern oil in in years.

Mike D’Armi, director of communications for College Democrats, said he was excited about Obama’s speech and the amount of supporters who came to INVESCO Field.

“I thought it was absolutely amazing,” D’Armi said.

“Barack Obama’s speech focused on the uniters and not the dividers. We saw the development of a great candidate over the last 16 months, and I think a lot of people realized that and it touched home with a lot of people.”

However, Bill Rivers, vice president of College Republicans, said he was unimpressed by the Democratic Convention.

“My overall feeling about it was that it was a show,” Rivers said. “To be honest, I thought it was a lot of luster. Don’t get me wrong, the Republican convention will have a lot of luster, too, but the Democratic convention wasn’t anything different than what we have been really hearing for the last 14 months.”

The Delaware Young Democrats, a group that includes Democrats ages 16-35 from all over the state, held a viewing party at Kildare’s on Main Street to watch Biden’s acceptance speech. Approximately 30 people turned out for the event.

Katherine Caudle, president of DYD, said Biden’s role on the Democratic ticket is tremendous for Delaware politics and he has the ability to work across a broad range of issues.

“The fact that Joe Biden mentioned Amtrak, which is a huge Delaware issue, kind of tells me right then and there that See PARK page 7

6 September 5, 2008

A new role for a familiar faculty face Maxine Colm brings experience to associate provost position

BY ASHLEE BRADBURY Student Affairs Editor

Maxine Colm, former vice president for administration, became associate provost for faculty administration at the university Sept. 1.

The new position, devoted to faculty administration and within the office of the provost, was appointed to Colm because of her unique qualifications due to her knowledge and experience, Provost Dan Rich said.

“Dr. Colm had determined that, after nearly 20 years as vice president for administration at UD, it was time for a change and I am delighted that she has accepted this new position,” Rich, who will work together with Colm on all academic personnel matters, said.

Since she started working at the university in 1989, Colm has built a record of achievement and leadership in faculty administration, including her service as vice president for administration, he said.

As associate provost, Colm will be responsible for the administration of personnel policies for all faculty and academic personnel, Rich said. She will continue to perform many of the responsibilities related to academic personnel administration she has been responsible for in the past.

Rich said in addition to her former duties, Colm will initiate and support the development of university-wide academic personnel policies and assist the provost, vice provosts, deans and other academic administrators in the

implementation of those policies.

She will also continue to serve as administrative liaison to the executive committee of the American Association of University Professors and manage the implementation of the AAUP contract, including grievance

“It’s important to know

that the administration at your college works in a cohesive environment.”

— Emily Valentino, junior, on Maxine Colm’s appointment to associate provost for faculty administration

processing and negotiation of faculty retirements, he said.

“My job is to make sure everything goes smoothly and without difficulty between the administration,” Colm said.

“It’s important to keep good, sound relations between the

faculty, the chairs and the deans in order to move freely to implement President Harker’s ‘Path to Prominence.’ ” Junior Emily Valentino said students at the university feel relationships among faculty members are a vital part of a school’s success.

“It’s important to know that the administration at your college works in a cohesive environment,” Valentino said.

Junior Dan Rexon said he is glad there is someone in charge of faculty personnel issues.

“Individuals in the administration have different opinions just like students do,” Rexon said. “I think it’s necessary to have a figure who manages these issues in a sound manner.”

As in the past, Colm will work on personnel issues arising from the Faculty Senate Welfare and Privileges Committee and those related to sexual harassment or other forms of misconduct, including research misconduct.

Because of Colm’s history and knowledge of the university, she will be an invaluable resource for the faculty of the university and for deans, department chairs and other academic administrators, Rich said.

“Her knowledge and experience in academic personnel matters is crucial to the University’s continuing success,” he said.

“I feel very comfortable doing my work,” Colm said.

“I am looking forward to the challenges of the job and continuing my work at UD.”

UD delegation visits China to strengthen ties

BY DANIELLE PRO Staff Reporter

coastal issues.

“There is worldwide pressure on coastal research because 50 percent of people in the whole world live within close proximity of a coastline,” Targett said.

“With our strong collaborations with Xiamen China, we think there is an opportunity for multi-disciplinary work on a global scale.”

She said the collaboration will also

In an attempt to create academic partnerships with Chinese universities, a delegation of university faculty, including university President Patrick Harker, visited four universities in China during a 10-day visit in June. The purpose of the trip was to sign agreements, strengthen existing relationships and create new collaborations between the universities.

Havidan Rodriguez, vice provost for academic affairs and international programs and a member of the delegation, said the university is interested in collaborating with a variety of regions around the world, but establishing relationships with China is particularly important.

“China will continue to grow politically, economically and culturally, and its influence worldwide will be enormous,” Rodriguez said. “As we build these partnerships everybody will benefit.”

He said the goal of the trip was to create a transcontinental relationship designed to be beneficial for both universities.

“Our primary goal is to expand our partnerships and collaborations with institutions of higher education across the world,” Rodriguez said. “The goal was to further develop mutually beneficial, institutional and long-standing relationships on a global scale.”

Among the universities visited by the delegation was Xiamen University, where a supplemental agreement was signed to establish the Joint Institute for THE REVIEW/Katie Smith Coastal Research and Management.

Delegation member Nancy Targett, benefit the United States and China because dean of marine and earth studies, said both create a sizeable impact on the enviXiamen University’s already strong ties ronment. with the University of Delaware led to the “We need to take a global perspective development of the research institution, as on environmental issues,” Targett said.

Xiamen is capable of researching important “Both the United States and China have

large environmental footprints and it seemed like a logical step to work together for improvement.”

Rodriguez said students from the college of marine and earth studies are not the only students who can benefit from the partnership, as any area of interest can seek to create ties with the Chinese universities.

“Agreements generally start with specific faculty who express interest in a par-

ticular area of study,” he said. “The only way the agreements are sustainable in the long-term is if more faculty and disciplines get involved.”

Lesa Griffiths, director of the center for international studies and a delegation

member, said collaboration with universities in China should allow for more study abroad opportunities, faculty and staff exchanges, research opportunities and possibly joint-degree programs.

“These agreements will impact all kinds of academic disciplines,” Griffiths said. “Now there will be more opportunities to study Chinese language and culture and there will also be more in-depth study abroad programs. The University of Delaware will benefit from internationalizing curriculum.”

Sophomore Emily Weber, an international relations major, said she would be interested in the study abroad opportunities created by the agreements made with China.

“China is a growing country and there are so many things we can learn,” Weber said. “This is one of the best steps we could take as a university and I would love to go to China to study.”

The delegation also visited Nanjing University and East China Normal University, where members agreed on collaboration among the universities. At Shanghai Jiao Tong University, another stop on the trip, delegation members are in the early stages of discussions and are deciding if there are any common interests existing between the universities.

Griffiths said the agreements with the universities in China will allow students to fulfill a goal the university has established for graduating students — to be global citizens.

“If there is anything that I have learned from my job it is that the world is a very small place where everything is interconnected,” she said. “For University of Delaware students everything will be in a global society and it will be vital to live and function in a society that crosses national borders.”

September 5, 2008

7

City looks forward to new park Delaware reacts to conventions about the idea of a skate park,” he said.

Jacobsen said contrary to common belief, skate parks do not usually have problems with graffiti or other crimes.

“There’s a strong sense of community among skateboarders,” he said. “People tend to look after each other.”

Bauernschmidt said the site will be segmented, and the skate park portion will be camouflaged with a garden of native plants, another feature many suggested for the site.

He said the garden fits in with the idea of creating a unique park because many plants native to Delaware are no longer common in the state.

“We’ll do it with plants you’ve never seen before and it will look like something brand new,” he said.

Bauernschmidt said the park will also include a pavilion wired for sound, picnic tables and signs explaining both the history of the site and the significance of the adjacent White Clay Creek. In addition, the site will serve as an entry point to the several walking and biking trails that run through the area.

The focal point of the site will be the brick smokestack that is emblazoned with the name Curtis and is the only remaining part of the Curtis Paper Mill. The smokestack will be restored and lit by spotlight.

“The stack will be a silent sentinel welcoming people to Newark and it should be an extra visual treat at night,” Bauernschmidt said.

He said keeping the smokestack was a priority of almost everyone who attended the

meetings.

“If you want to interpret the history there, the best way to do that is to have the stack remain,” he said. “It puts everything into context.”

Melvin said the Curtis Paper Mill has been a part of Newark history since 1870.

Built during a time when Newark’s economy was transitioning from mainly agrarian to industrial, and focused on the mills lining White Clay Creek, the Curtis Paper Mill became a symbol of Newark.

Curtis paper was well-known around the world for its quality, she said.

The mill closed in 1997. The city of Newark later bought the property and demolished the mill last year.

Bauernschmidt said there are environmental issues at the site, but once it is capped it will be safe to use as a park. The mill’s foundation cannot safely be dug up, but it will have holes bored in it for drainage and be covered with dirt to allow grass to grow.

The next step of the project is to launch a fundraising campaign to raise the $200,000 needed to restore the smokestack, he said.

More public meetings will be held this fall to plan an event to raise money.

Bauernschmidt said he will not have a cost estimate for building the park until the Parks and Recreation Department completes its plan. He will conduct a separate fundraising campaign for the park, although he said he is confident the community will pitch in to help build it.

“We can probably do it with a lot of sweat equity and volunteers,” he said.

Continued from page 3 the things important to Delaware will get national press,” Caudle said.

Rivers said although some have criticized Palin’s level of experience, McCain’s pick was an “inspired choice” and he noted Palin has more executive experience than both Obama and McCain combined.

“Here is someone most definitely not a Washington insider,” Rivers said. “Palin has a proven history as a reformer. She is also a no-nonsense kind of girl. She fights but she’s not nasty about it.”

Lara Rausch, president of College Republicans, agreed Palin’s executive experience combined with McCain’s tenure as a senator holds an advantage over Obama and his campaign.

“I think Palin will hand it to Biden more than people think,” Rausch said. “It is overwhelmingly obvious that Obama has less experience than McCain. Palin is the only one that has executive experience which is really great.”

Rausch attended the convention because she was

invited by the Delaware would be uncomfortable havRepublican Party. Prior to ing a party in St. Paul while a leaving, she said she expected natural disaster was going on,” to “see a lot of red, white and Mycoff said. “Now they can blue” and was ready to experi- get back on track since a disasence the excitement of the ter was averted. ” convention first hand.

During her speech “The conventions show Wednesday, Palin talked about that there are more younger her accomplishments in people getting involved,” she Alaska and promised to pursaid. “We are going to be a sue alternative energy. She crazy community of John also criticized Obama, as well McCainians. It’s going to be as political pundits who have wonderful.” spoken out against her.

With the theme of Other speakers at the “Country First,” the RNC included Laura Bush, Republican Convention was Cindy McCain, and former held this week in St. Paul, Sen. Joe Lieberman.

Minn.

Additional reporting by Jason Mycoff, political Brian Anderson science professor, said most activities scheduled for Monday were canceled or postponed out of respect for Gulf Coast residents weathering Hurricane Gustav.

“They thought it The Democratic convention was in Denver.

Courtesy of BarackObamadotcom — http://flickr.com/photos/barackobamadotcom/299329211/in/set-21560695819542

Continued from page 3

September 5, 2008

editorial

ONLINE POLL Q: Do you like the set-up of the new university Web site?

Vote online at www.udreview.com

8

Shrub Toons

Biden’s VP ticket good for Del.

THE REVIEW/ Jan Dickey

Election shines different spotlight on forgotten state This month’s announcement of vice presidential candidate Sen. Joseph Biden, Jr., D.-Del., is a history-making event for both the state of Delaware and the university.

The ground-breaking moment finally put Delaware on the map.

After Biden’s nomination, several late-night comedy hosts joked about how this election will help others acknowledge that this small state does, indeed, exist.

But these jokes do provoke serious thought. Delaware has the chance to make major news in the next few months.

Never before has a political figure from Delaware been chosen for the ticket. Others including Biden and Pete DuPont have previously tried and failed.

Previous elections showcased candidates from bigger states like California or New York. This nomination gives Delaware the limelight and the opportunity to showcase some of its more positive attributes.

The university also has the chance to shine under a national spotlight. Because Biden is a university alumnus, it shows that this school can compete with graduates of other highly-regarded institutions, such as Harvard and Yale.

Biden’s vice presidential bid will give recent and future graduates an example to follow on how to gain success after completing their education here. In addition, employers will have another reason to take university graduates more seriously than they ever have before.

Biden is not the only high-profile alumnus in this year’s prsidential election. Both Sens. John McCain, R.-Ariz., and Barack Obama, D.-Ill., have campaign managers that graduated from the university. David Plouffz works for the Obama campaign while Rick Davis works McCain’s.

By gaining high-profile jobs in one of the most important elections in recent history, it brings to light the superior education the university offers and opens doors to others who hope to have high-profile jobs in the future.

Biden’s nomination can only help the state of Delaware and the university during the next few months.

Being one of the smallest states in the country has caused it to have been overlooked in the past but now the nation has a substantial reason to see what Delaware can offer.

Little change on new Web site Futuristic new look doesn’t cater to current students As students return to school for another semester, there are always new changes to take in — a new building here, a new store there, maybe even a new bathroom or two. But one of the university’s newest renovations happened over the summer and it’s not anything that can be seen around campus.

The university Web site received a major facelift as part of university President Harker’s “Path to Prominence” program in an effort to modernize the university and keep up with other colleges’ advancements. An easier-touse layout and a new, futuristic look are just some of the new features of the Web site.

There was a lot of hype on the old homepage surrounding the “big changes” that would be coming to the university this year and now that the Web site has debuted, it turns out the changes aren’t so big after all.

Although the new site is visually appealing and there are some new characteristics, like the dropdown style menus, which are easier to navigate than the old site, the

big changes promised by university officials haven’t quite delivered the punch students were anticipating.

The Web site seems like more of a way to attract and impress prospective students than a helpful and convenient tool for current ones. Understandably, the goal of the university is to put its best foot forward in order to compete with other schools and the revamped site does look impressive.

But first and foremost, the university should be concerned with accommodating the students that already attend the school rather than those who don’t necessarily have anything to do with the university or need to access the site on a regular basis.

Some new aspects of the site, like the lack of emphasis on the news and UDaily, are inconvenient and the other new features are mostly cosmetic. Although the site is more visually appealing than the old one, the internal changes aren’t really substantial enough to make any sort of difference.

“Back in the shrub” Welcome back to Delaware

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Candidates deserve equal press What are the chances The Review will actually offer unbiased coverage of the upcoming presidential election?

Will you continue to champion Sen. Barack Obama, D.-Ill., unrelentlessly without equal coverage of Sen. John McCain, R.Ari., and third party candidates?

The political affiliations of many of your editors are pronounced openly, negating what should be fair coverage.

Anonymous Del. lawmakers soft on gay rights Many representatives in Delaware are not as competent as it may seem when it comes to gay

rights. Whether one’s cause is the environment, open government, civil rights or something else, many Delawareans feel our state legislators, particularly our senators, are failing us miserably.

As it happens, Delaware has no educational requirements whatsoever for its lawmakers and it shows.

A representative told me his religion aids him in voting against sexual orientation equality in the workplace. Another told me she supports amending the Delaware constitution to prohibit gay marriage because the Amish want it. A senator opposes workplace equality for gay people because he is revolted by our private lives. Another opposed labor fairness for gay people because he was sure we recruit children to

WRITE TO THE REVIEW 250 Perkins Student Center Newark, DE 19716 Fax: 302-831-1396 E-mail: theudreview@gmail.com or visit us online at www.udreview.com The Editorial section is an open forum for public debate and discussion. The Review welcomes responses from its readers. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit all letters to the editor. Letters and columns represent the ideas and beliefs of the authors and should not be taken as representative of The Review. Staff editorials represent the ideas and beliefs of The Review Editorial Board on behalf of the editors. All letters become property of The Review and may be published in print or electronic form.

our “lifestyle.”

Such ignorance would be laughable, except this is how many elected leaders govern in Delaware. Frankly, we are disgraced as a state by those lawmakers who remain so cheerfully uninformed as well as those lawmakers who are too timid to oppose them.

Whereas May 17 found Cuba hosting the International Day Against Homophobia presided over by President Raul Castro’s daughter, our legislators cannot even agree that employment fairness for all Delawareans befits a democracy.

Douglas Marshall-Steele doug@towardequality.org

The Review welcomes guest columns from those interested in writing.

Please e-mail theudreview@gmail.com for more information. www.udreview.com

September 5, 2008

Be sure to check out The Review Web site for poll results and breaking news.

opinion 9

Before kicking the collegiate bucket Cass-in Point Sammi Cassin

Organization should come second to fun during senior year If there is one thing in life I’m not, it’s organized. In almost every aspect of my life, I am a total mess. My room is completely cluttered with useless knicknacks and clothes, my car is littered with papers, old water bottles and CDs and no matter how much I tell myself that “this is the year I’ll stay organized,” it always falls apart around day three of the school year.

But messiness and lack of organizational skills aside, there is one thing in my life that keeps me from spiraling completely out of control and losing what little structure I do have in my life — the to-do list.

There are so many reasons why I love to-do lists besides the obvious fact that they keep me together in my otherwise hectic and busy life. I love going shopping for that perfect to-do list book with the perfect cover that matches my personality in the perfect size and shape. And there aren’t many things I love more than starting new on the first page of a brand new notebook.

Because I tend to get a little over-

whelmed, writing down everything I have to do so I can actually see it helps me get my life together. Before I came to school this year I made at least five different lists of everything I needed. One list for Target, one list for Trader Joe’s, a third for the mall, another for Office Depot and so on — not to mention the countless life-long lists of experiences to try, movies to see, foods to eat, words I love and want to start using in everyday life — the list of lists goes on and on.

And every time I accomplish another task, I have that oh-so-satisfying feeling of checking off another task on the list — reason enough to make a list in the first place if you ask me.

But as I get more obsessive about having to check each thing off my list, I sometimes get more stressed out about all the things I haven’t gotten done yet. I’ve even stooped so low as to write a task on the list that I’ve already done just so I can check it off. It’s this never-ending fixation that will probably lead to my eventual mental breakdown.

As a result, my lists became longer and more numerous. Instead of finishing one list before moving on to the next, I would look down at everything I had to do, get overwhelmed and just start a new list, leaving tasks undone. Relieving stress was supposed to be the whole point of the list, but now it was having the opposite effect.

The thing I started to realize was that I

was losing sight of the whole purpose of the to-do list. It isn’t really about writing it down and checking it off, it’s about saying you want to do something and following through on a goal.

As I was walking home the other night from Main Street, a guy yelled down to my friends and I from a window above us.

“Freshmen?” he asked. We rolled our eyes and yelled back, “Nope, seniors.” “That’s a lie,” he said, and we continued walking.

But regardless of how obnoxious I thought this comment was I found that I sort of agreed with him. It is unbelievable that I am a senior. I look like I’m 15 years old, I still feel like I’m in high school and the past three years have gone by so fast I can’t even

So as I enter my senior year of college — gag — I am going to try and use my love for lists to help me live it up to the fullest. distinguish which memory happened during which year.

I will try to remember that it’s not writing things on a list and crossing them off, but having the experiences that really matters. This is one of the last times that I will be able to enjoy college with all my friends and if there was ever a time to enjoy myself, it’s now. And I will do my best to do all the things on my to-do list — the fun stuff, the academic stuff and everything in between

— before I graduate, because there won’t be many more opportunities to live it up.

So now I will leave you with some of my main to-do’s for my senior year of college with the hope that I will not get too overwhelmed or tunnel-visioned to forget to do them or move on to another list.

1. Don’t stress out too much about grades. Because even though we’ve been brought up in a world where A- isn’t good enough, I know that come summer when I apply for jobs, no one is going to care that there was a plus beside that B instead of a minus.

2. Don’t get caught up in drama. Because no matter how many times I whine about how this was “the worst day of my life,” I know that these problems are petty in the grand scheme of things and I shouldn’t sweat the small stuff.

3. Don’t have more than five mental breakdowns about my future. Because six is just silly.

4. Take way too many pictures. Because you can never have enough.

5. Jump into the fountain. Because everyone should do it once before they graduate.

Sammi Cassin is the editorial editor for the for The Review. Her viewpoints do not necessarily represent those of the Review staff.

Please send comments to scass@udel.edu.

Freshman faux pas shared: four years later Wolt This Way Caitlin Wolters

What one senior wishes she’d known four years ago It’s the start of another Fall Semester at the university. The grass is mowed. Main Street is buzzing. And looks on the faces of thousands of freshmen — panic stricken, lost and scared out of their minds — fill the Green as they try to find their way from Memorial Hall to Smith Hall. I love it.

Seeing as this is my senior year of college, I have seen — and most certainly had — some embarrassingly “freshman behaviors.” So as a way to start the new semester and welcome some of the new kids to campus, I’ve put together a list of some pointers I wish someone had told me before I started my first year.

That group of 30 you’re traveling with to parties isn’t going to get you very far. We all know it’s hard meeting people when you’re new and away from home, but walking in the “freshmen herd” is like wearing a sign around your neck reading, “I don’t know what I’m

doing.”

When you get turned away from various houses and apartments all over campus and wonder how anyone would ever know this is your first time experiencing college nightlife — this is how we know. And it’s because we all did it too.

Showing up with your entire floor and begging for beer is the lowest of the low. At least try splitting up into smaller groups before leaving the residence hall. Just make sure you’re with someone you know, and someone who knows where they’re going — to be safe.

On a related note, wearing a backpack to parties is completely unreasonable. You’re not going to class. It just makes you an easy target.

Walking with a map in front of your face just looks silly. One of my biggest pet peeves is when a freshman is walking toward me full speed ahead and doesn’t even notice they’re about to cause a collision because that map of campus is more enthralling than actually watching where you’re going.

Before leaving the residence hall, Google a map of campus so you don’t need to carry one.

It’s quick, easy and saves lots of embarrassment.

My first day of classes consisted of constantly asking anyone I saw where Willard Hall was — when I was standing directly in front of it. Save yourself the awkward confrontation.

Look it up.

Wearing an outfit you’d wear to a club is not class appropriate. Going to class is not the same as going out on the weekends.

Just because Lindsay Lohan wore it to the Grammy afterparty doesn’t mean it’ll turn heads in the lecture hall.

Heels, super-short skirts and sequined dresses should be avoided at all costs, and may be donned on the weekends.

There’s really no reason to dress up for class unless you are trying to make a favorable impression on another student or possibly a cute teaching assistant. Even so, the extra hour it takes to blow out your hair is much better spent passed out in bed, occasionally hitting the snooze button.

Classes aren’t much more complicated than they were in high school. In fact, in many aspects they are much easier. Generally, you can come and go as you please, eat your breakfast and even nap through the entire lecture.

Granted, I’m not sure how highly I’d recommend any of these things.

The same exact “freshmen questions” are asked in classes year in, year out. No, you will not have to bring your textbook to class. As a rule of thumb, if your book is over 400 pages

and hardcover, save yourself the workout and leave it on your desk.

Another thought — if your class has more than 150 students, please don’t ask what format the exams are in. I have yet to enroll in a class with a professor that would even consider reading that many essay questions. Stick to the theory that it’s pretty much guaranteed to be multiple choice.

You may want to find out if the final exam for a class is cumulative. You wouldn’t want to study an entire semester’s worth of sociology notes while recovering from a bout of mono only to find out that your professor was just requiring you to know the last three weeks of material. Not like this happened to me during my first fall semester, or anything.

Freshman year is a mix of fear, anxiety and new experiences. But more importantly, it’s the beginning of what will probably be the best four years of your life.

After watching swarms of 18-year-olds take over the Green this week, I came to the conclusion why upperclassmen love to make fun of first-year students so much. We’re all jealous that we don’t have four more years here.

Caitlin Wolters is the editorial editor for The Review. Her viewpoints do not necessarily represent those of the Review staff. Please send comments to cwolt@udel.edu.

September 5, 2008

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mosaic

September 5, 2008

Alumna teams up with Coldplay see page 12

Batty for ‘The Dark Knight’ see page 16

11

12 September 5, 2008

Film professor hits the small screen Peter X. Feng co-hosts Turner Classic Movies series syllabus,” Feng says.

He started by sitting down and For university professor Peter X. thinking about everything he would like Feng, the experience of watching him- to include, he says, then eliminated any self on television was a mix of fright and overlap in material, or films that were boredom. As the first night of the series, unobtainable.

“Race and Hollywood: Asian Images in “You start with a list of all the Film” aired on Turner Classic Movies things you want to do,” Feng says, “and this June, Feng watched himself host, then you start to think of logical connecbut only through a mask of fingers. tions so it doesn’t just become your ran“On the first night, I watched with dom favorites, but there’s a pattern my hands over my face,” Feng says. that’s kind of the story that you’re “But as the series went on, I became telling.” increasingly bored with myself.”

Feng selected themes such as the Feng, an associate professor of legacy of World War II and interracial film, ethnic and cultural studies, has and intercultural romance for each written several works on Asian- night. The series aired every Tuesday Americans in film. and Thursday in June, showing approxiIn previous years, TCM has done mately five movies per night. film series on minority groups in film, Feng selected all the movies, and Feng says once the network decided appeared on screen to discuss and introon this year’s theme, he was contacted. duce them and helped TCM promote After organizing series dedicated to and publicize the series. both African-American and gay repreWhile this wasn’t Feng’s first time sentations in Hollywood, Charles being filmed, he says it was the most Tabesh, TCM’s head of programming, attention he’s ever gotten from the camdecided to arrange a series highlighting era.

Asian-American images in film, Feng “I’ve been on television before as a says. part of a panel of about eight people “In the course of him doing his talking about film,” Feng says, “but this research” he says, “he came across my time the burden was really on me. So it work, and he reached out to me and was a first in that sense.” asked me if I would participate.”

There was no burden in filling the Once Feng committed to co-host series, however, as he says there were the series, he says his approach in more films he would have liked to preparing films to show was similar to include, but couldn't because of the that of designing a class. allotted airtime.

“It was very similar to designing a “There were many, many, many more films and many more themes that we could have talked about,” he says. “So the challenge wasn’t in filling it — the challenge was in focusing.”

The process of filming the series was relaxed, Feng says.

“It was very comfortable because the people at TCM were pros,” he says. “They did everything they could to make the experience seem natural to me. We had prepared for it extensively.

We really just ran it as a conversation — I just had a conversation with [cohost] Robert Osborne.

There were no second takes, and they just edited things out.”

And from there, Feng was left to critique his own performance, though he says that task became less difficult over time.

“But yes, I did have the strange experience of watching myself on television,” he says. “It got easier to watch myself as Courtesy of Peter X. Feng the series went on.”

Peter X. Feng spoke about Asian-American films.

BY TED SIMMONS Entertainment Editor

Courtesy of Amanda Kaletsky

Amanda Kaletsky, a 2006 alumna, was selected to open for Coldplay in Hartford, Conn.

Alumna heats up the summer stage for Coldplay

BY JAMES ADAMS SMITH Entertainment Editor

Amanda Kaletsky was preparing to perform at a venue in her home state of Connecticut when her mother called to tell her the news. The popular band Coldplay chose Kaletsky from 15 contestants and five finalists in an online contest to open for the band on Aug. 2 in Hartford.

“I was freaking out,” Kaletsky says. “The whole time I’ve been in disbelief. I wasn’t sure what would happen when I entered the contest.

It took a long time to really sink in.”

Kaletsky, a Delaware alumna and former music major, says she first heard about the contest through Coldplay’s mailing list.

Participants were asked to upload live performance videos of their music to YouTube, and a Connecticut radio station would pick 15 finalists from the entries. The public could then access the contest Web site to view the videos and vote for the finalists.

“It was a risk,” she says. “Everyone else was these full bands and some were playing at festivals. I didn’t think I’d make it to the top 15.

I didn’t tell anybody because I didn’t think I’d get chosen.

“Everybody totally jumped on the bandwagon. They passed the word on to their friends and family, and that’s what really did it in terms of votes.”

Kaletsky’s video came in fourth place with more than 4,900 votes and Coldplay had to choose from the top three.

“The night I thought I was out of the running was the best night’s sleep I had, because I figured I didn’t have to worry anymore,” she says. “It was an emotional rollercoaster.”

Kaletsky says Coldplay later decided to choose from the top five, since the total votes were so close. At that point, they chose her video.

“My mom was going to come to my show and decided to check the Web site before she left the house,” she says. “And there it was, that I was the winner.”

Kaletsky arrived at the XL Center in Hartford with her boyfriend and band members almost five hours before performance time.

When the house lights in the arena finally shut off and the crowd started screaming, Kaletsky knew it was time.

She began with the song “Little Things” to a well-responding crowd. Near the end of the set, she thanked Coldplay and the radio station that sponsored the contest.

In her dressing room following the performance, she found four bottles of champagne and an autographed note from Coldplay wishing her good luck.

Kaletsky recalls her connection to the university, where she was among the first to declare music management as a major. She also held a concentration in voice with minors in Jewish studies and philosophy.

She says she was considering several schools, but decided upon the university after meeting music faculty and completing her audition.

“My music audition made such an impression on me, and I felt so comfortable,” Kaletsky says. “Delaware really wasn’t my first choice, but it ended up being the best place.”

She says she didn’t want an education from a music conservatory, but rather wanted the “whole liberal arts education, and that’s exactly what Delaware was.”

In addition to performing at venues around campus and singing in the Golden Blues with The Crash Motive’s front man Derek Fuhrmann, she also joined the Student Centers Programming Advisory Board and worked on bringing artists such as the Black Eyed Peas to campus.

“I like the other side of music too,” she says. “I wanted the whole music experience from every angle. I got really lucky meeting some people at Delaware just starting out their music careers. It was a great place to get things started.”

She recorded her first two EPs in Delaware, which she says was easy because it was a short drive from campus. She is working on a fulllength album at a recording studio in New York.

Although she is not yet signed to a record label, she still works independently with a support network in the region.

Her musical inspirations are drawn from “the soul of Sam Cooke, all the way through bands like Coldplay.” Kaletsky says her mother’s taste in music, such as Carole King, James Taylor and Joni Mitchell, and her father’s taste in doo-wop and soul have all played a role in shaping her sound.

“My songs are from personal things,” she says. “It’s just a matter of putting into words situations that I’ve been in. Sometimes it could just be a tidbit of a conversation I heard on the street that had a ring to it, so I could put it in my own stuff.”

Kaletsky says the mistake she made earlier in her career was not trusting herself or believing in her abilities. Entering the contest and later opening for Coldplay has given her more insight into the reality of her success as a songwriter, she says.

“The whole Coldplay thing was a risk because I was a solo artist,” Kaletsky says. “I was a female and I didn’t have a massive following [in Conn.]. You have to take risks.”

September 5, 2008

13

Food Network’s Main Street pit stop turns Sweet-n-Sassy

BY SABINA ELLAHI Features Editor

It’s not often Newark is in the national television spotlight, so when Tara Voigt got a call from the Food Network saying her shop would be featured on one of its shows, she was speechless.

The new show “Road Tasted with the Neelys,” which debuted on the Food Network earlier this summer, featured a segment on Sweet-n-Sassy Cupcakes, a local store owned

by Voigt and her husband Mike. The shop appeared on an episode where Gina and Pat Neely visit various food shops in Baltimore and its surrounding areas.

Voigt says she was surprised when anonymous producers contacted her in the spring.

“These television producers called and didn’t say who they were with and asked us several questions,” she says.

“We answered all of them without a problem and they finally asked us to ship a sample.”

After conducting research on the Internet, Voigt says she realized the producer was from the Food Network. Upon receiving the samples, the network called immediately with exciting news.

“They called us within minutes of receiving our delivery and told us that they would have a camera crew in our store in the next five days,” Voigt says. “Everything happened so fast that I didn’t even get a chance to register the process.”

Lauren Petrick, a recent graduate of the university serving as the manager of the store, says the whole filming process was an amazing experience.

“It’s incredible, because the Food Network was seeking for them,” Petrick says. “Tara and Mike deserve it because they are savvy, hard working people.”

She says she believes a big reason they were chosen

was because of their unique shipping protocol. Voigt says they are one of the only bakery companies that ship their cupcakes.

She says her husband designed a shipping component for the cupcakes that keeps them intact during shipping.

They recently completed a prototype and patented it over the summer. Voigt says shipping nationwide has been a priority for the company.

Junior Taryn Pellicone worked the day of filming and says the whole experience was surreal.

“It was a weird feeling to see a national food show come to little Newark, and especially since the store is relatively new,” Pellicone says.

Pellicone, the head baker, says the Neelys’ easygoing presence relaxed the whole staff during filming.

“They were so personable and funny, which made the whole process less intimidating,” she says. “They were fun to be around and eased our nerves when they talked to us.”

Voigt says she felt insecure at times because they had to make the whole segment look spontaneous. In reality, they filmed the same scene up to three times.

“There were multiple cameras that were filming at different angles,” she says. “We had to go through so many takes and run through the same thing many times, which made the overall filming process last about seven hours.”

Voigt says the company is growing rapidly, with a second store slated for a February 2009 opening in Charlotte, N.C. The segment airs on the Food Network repeatedly.

“The best part about this is that Food Network tends to replay episodes constantly from as long as seven years ago,” Voigt says. “We will be getting airplay on the channel for a while.”

What really keeps the company going, she says, is the close-knit team of workers. Petrick agrees and says the staff

Courtesy of Sweet-n-Sassy Cupcakes

“Road Tasted with the Neelys” featured Sweet-n-Sassy. adds to the already bright, friendly atmosphere the shop offers.

Voigt says she was delighted with the overall outcome of the segment, as it brought attention to Main Street and the city of Newark.

“It’s a big deal for us since we are the first company to be featured on the Food Network from Delaware, and it let us know that we are moving in the right direction,” she says.

“I’m pretty proud of that, especially since we are still considered newbies.”

Graduate pens the book of a ‘Lifetime’ in English, wrote the novel under the pen name Lola Douglas. The film, which aired Publications like US Weekly and Aug. 9, stars R&B singer JoJo and is based PerezHilton.com cater to those who monitor on the novel’s tale of a young Hollywood young Hollywood. The novel, “True princess who is sent to rehab and moves to a Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet,” writ- small town to begin life as a regular teenagten by university alumna Lara Zeises, fol- er. lows these interests and was recently made Though many readers assume the main into a film for the Lifetime network. character is a reflection of partier, Lindsay Zeises, a Delaware native who graduat- Lohan, Zeises says it is, in fact, based on ed from the university in 1997 with a degree another starlet.

“I wrote the novel with a young Drew Barrymore in my mind, who no one really remembers that she had gone to rehab as a teenager,” Zeises says. “I actually sold the idea for the book in 2003, when Lindsay was still considered a good girl.”

As a teenager, Zeises says she read Barrymore’s autobiography and could relate to her at the time.

“I remember reading her book when I was 13 and thinking, ‘Wow, she is only six months older than me’,” she says.

Zeises, who received a Masters in creative writing from Emerson College, began to write young adult novels after she realized journalism was not something she wanted to pursue. Her first novel, “Bringing Up the Bones,” was published in 2002.

“I wanted to be a journalist because I wanted to be responsible and get steady paychecks,” she says.

“But I realized it was not for me and I ended up going back to school.”

Zeises says she originally wanted to have a career in television writing Courtesy of Lara Zeises as she was working toward her creLara Zeises’ novel is now a Lifetime movie. ative writing degree. She got the

BY SABINA ELLAHI Features Editor

chance to try it while filming the movie.

“The filming fell during the Writer’s Strike last year and they needed to rewrite parts of the script for voiceovers,” she says.

“They asked me since the screenwriters were on strike.”

Kristen Pettit, the editor of Zeises’ novel and senior editor at the publishing company, Razorbill, says working with Zeises on the story was rewarding for her.

“We worked together to take this wonderful character she created and give her a real story arc,” Pettit says. “We had the best time bouncing ideas off each other.”

Pettit says she was delighted to hear that a producer called to say she had reserved the rights to make the book into a movie.

“When Lifetime picked up the story and made it into a movie, I knew we’d succeeded,” she says, “and that all of our hard work had been worth it.”

Zeises says she remembers when she heard her book was going to be made into a movie. She was surprised and thrilled.

“I was just blown away,” she says. “The idea of having my novel created into a film was the coolest thought.”

The producer of the film, Barbara Lieberman, says she discovered Zeises’ novel while browsing Amazon.com.

Lieberman, who owns Barbara Lieberman Productions, says she found the book in the fall of 2006 and immediately optioned it to Lifetime to be made into a movie.

“I came across Lara’s book and thought it was delightful,” Lieberman says. “It was funny and poignant with a contemporary concept and a great title.”

Lieberman says she was inspired to bring this move to television by the tabloid frenzy that surrounds young Hollywood it-

girls and their notorious partying ways.

“A big reason why I was attracted to this story was because I see these Hollywood stars being admired by young girls despite their behavior, who aren’t necessarily worthy of admiration,” she says.

Pettit says she feels the novel provides insight beyond the surface of the main character Morgan and allows readers to realize the character is human.

“I’ve often thought to myself, ‘The Lindsays, the Britneys, they’re real people with issues and difficulties we likely know nothing about’,” she says. “Morgan lays those kinds of issues bare right on Page 1, and she struggles with them in an utterly convincingly way, so, even though she is a spoiled brat, you see her goodness and her humanity from the very beginning.”

Lieberman says although the film is entertaining and can come off as a lighthearted coming-of-age story, it also sends the message of how a Hollywood life is not necessarily fabulous.

“It’s a cautionary tale that depicts the glamorous lifestyle that is fueled by alcohol and drugs,” she says. “These values do not represent what young girls should aspire to be.”

Zeises, whose TV writing skills Lieberman praised, says she has no plans to venture into scripting in the next couple of years, but would love to do it in the future.

Zeises already published a sequel to her novel, titled “More Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet,” and is working on a new book slated for release next July.

“Right now, I’m focused on writing my books since many girls are e-mailing me saying they are big fans,” she says. “The teens really love the series and that’s what I’m going to focus on.”

September 5, 2008

Katy Perry

“Disturbia”

Rihanna

“Shake It”

Metro Station

“Corona and Lime”

Shwayze

“Burnin’ Up”

If there was one movie women everywhere saw this summer, this was it. The highly anticipated “Sex and the City” movie showed that a girl can never go wrong with Manolo Blahniks and her best friends.

New York City’s four favorite females loved, lost and laughed in the movie revival of the former HBO television series. With the introduction of new characters and a wedding, the movie gave fans a reason to come back for another dose of Carrie and the girls.

Whether you’re a longtime follower or newcomer to the show, there’s no doubt that the “Sex and the City” movie made everyone a Big fan.

— Larissa Cruz Director Guillermo del Toro must have grown tired of the grimness of the Spanish Civil War after “Pan’s Labyrinth” — “Hellboy II: The Golden Army” is a perky, playful, enticing visual treat. The film extends beyond an old woman who eats cats to more accessible characters — horns and scales aside — satisfying through tenderness. Seth MacFarlane voices a new character, a talking bag of gas with a German accent. This is only a sample of the canniness. Now who would have guessed the gate to the underworld is through a warehouse in suburban New Jersey?

— James Adams Smith

Courtesy of Amazon.com

The days of fairy-tale animation have passed, and this summer, nobody understood that better than a compact waste-collecting robot. “WALL-E” hoards the remnants of bygone cinema in Disney/Pixar’s latest flick.

The movie, set in the year 2700, was billed primarily as children’s entertainment, but the animation powerhouses introduced a new level of maturity with issues like sustainability, pollution and consumerism.

The unexpected combination of a kid’s story and an adult’s debate was a box office hit, proving it takes more than a fairy-tale formula in the animation of the future.

— Caitlin Birch Tugg Speedman might not be as commemorated as Derek Zoolander or White Goodman, but Ben Stiller’s return to the absurdly dim-witted character bank has yielded a similarly hilarious film. Robert Downey, Jr. pulls off black face with ambiguity and precision, and Jack Black’s addition of a low-brow actor going through withdrawal keeps this mock-war comedy full of laughs.

As the first movie to dethrone “The Dark Knight” from its first place box office reign, “Tropic Thunder” is approaching the $100 million mark, and the quotable Hall of Fame.

— Ted Simmons Full of ridiculous gun-slinging action and illegal drugs, “Pineapple Express” was the must-see for bud aficionados this summer.

Seth Rogen plays yet another role as a slacker pothead — however, this time he’s a process server who gets himself in a mess of trouble when he witnesses a murder by a powerful drug dealer.

With his spacey drug dealer, played by James Franco, the duo run for their lives and stay high for over an hour and a half of laughs and ridiculous situations, including an over-the-top fight scene.

— Amy Prazniak

Courtesy of Amazon.com

Courtesy of Paramount

Courtesy of Amazon.com

Raising temperatures, climbing charts Coldplay Capitol Records Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends After years of being dubbed a U2 copycat band, Coldplay finally goes beyond emulating them on its fourth album, Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends. Even while working with renowned U2 producer Brian Eno, the band was able to create a record that is stimulating and pleasing to both old and new fans.

It’s no doubt Coldplay sticks to its Brit-pop roots. “Violet Hill” still features reverberating chords and amphitheater-rocking rhythms. “Viva La Vida” includes upbeat bass and a string-dominated chorus that gave it immense success and easily made it one of summer’s anthems. But Coldplay also takes a different direction when it comes to creating innovative melodies and variation in sound, which songs like “Lost!” and “Cemeteries of London” demonstrate.

Chris Martin and company are successfully inventive with the album while achieving the perfect balance of critical acclaim and wide appeal. Viva La Coldplay.

— Sabina Ellahi

Lil Wayne Universal Records Tha Carter III He’s the mix-tape king, the punch-line dropper and the must-have featured guest, but whether or not Lil Wayne could match the anticipation he had built for three years remained to be seen. Weezy F left no doubt, as Tha Carter III went platinum in its first week and has doubled that achievement since.

The songs were solid too. While Wayne doesn’t deliver as many ferocious verses as some might have expected, C3 blends together pop singles, candid ballads and quintessential “Wayne-on-a-tear” tracks. Plus, he’s got “Lollipop,” and “A Milli” playing on radio stations every five minutes.

— Ted Simmons Courtesy of Amazon.com

Jonas Brothers

What could be more fun than watching Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan burst out in ABBA tunes? It’s a matter of personal taste. “Mamma Mia!” is sweet and satisfying like peach sangria. The colorful sets and the Greek island of Skopelos as a backdrop take the musical beyond a stage performance. Although the plot is a bit formulaic, the music and dancing are outrageous — enough to make most of the Greek women in the village drop their chores to sing. It may not be a masterpiece, but it’s a high dose of flavorful summer entertainment. Come on — it’s hard to go wrong with ABBA. — James Adams Smith

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

“I Kissed a Girl”

Summer smashes at box office

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

Sizzlin’ Singles

Courtesy of Amazon.com

14

September 5, 2008

delawareUNdressed

Alicia Gentile Columnist I can picture it now — I’m sitting on a couch, all cozied up, reading a trashy novel about romance and love and next thing I know, the main characters are having sex on the beach.

Romance movies are just as bad — I'm sure everyone has seen the movies where things get hot and heavy on sandy shores — but have you ever really stopped to think about sex on the beach?

In so many love stories, the passionate moment occurs on the coast. One partner seduces the other with a romantic dinner under the stars, with their spaghetti dinner leading to their first kiss.

Afterwards, they decide to go for a long walk on the beach and things get a little playful. They slowly lower themselves to the ground where they begin to kiss fervently. One thing leads to another and just like that, sex on the beach.

After doing the deed, the couple feels rejuvenated and liberated.

The scene seems magical and ideal, but underneath the lust, there’s something completely

Under the boardwalk fashionforward

opposite. Maybe it’s just me, but I see sandy private parts and potentially painful sex with an aftermath of pounds of sand.

I can see how making love in such a romantic setting is exciting, but with sex on the beach, you have the messiness of sand and the stickiness of the wind and sea salt. Nothing about that seems movie worthy or attractive.

Once you lay down there’s sand everywhere — in your clothes, hair, bags and even lower regions. I can’t help but

Tell me what

you think

...for next week: 1. How common do you think threesomes are in college?

2. Is it better to engage in threesomes with strangers or friends?

Respond to aliciarg@udel.edu notice the unnecessary friction and chaffing that probably occur while having intercourse, not to mention the serious health problems, like the chance of getting a urinary tract infection.

After interrogating some friends about their experiences, I got a mixed array of answers.

One of my friends says the thrill in the act is the public aspect. He says the possibility of being watched is so exhilarating that the problem with sand never really bothered him.

Another friend says she did it once and there was sand everywhere, so much

that when they woke up the next morning her sheets were covered in it. I heard from several people the key is to make sure you lay down on a large blanket — this way you keep sand from going in unwanted areas. Still, most people say it was something fun and necessary to try at least once, despite the risk of some discomfort.

All my knowledge about the topic still leads me to question how in movies, couples finish refreshed and pain-free, when in reality, it’s incredibly unromantic — there’s nothing sexy about sandy crotches.

What’s interesting to me is most people don’t oppose it.

They just think it needs to be done right.

Sex on the beach seems to be about seizing the moment and trying something new. Just remember it’s not going to be as good as depicted in movies.

I’m not saying stay clear of doing the deed on the beach — I think it’s something that needs to be experienced.

I’m sure it’s stimulating and hot, but it needs to be done with caution, so you don’t turn something that’s potentially wonderful into a horrible experience.

mediadarling Something to dance about

Courtesty of Getty Images

I sure do love weddings.

I also love tuning i n t o N B C during t h e weekd a y s just in time to catch some o f

15

Ellen DeGeneres’s antics on her talk show.

The interviews, the games and especially the dancing always give me a hearty laugh, and no one can rock a suit and sneakers quite like she can.

I’ve always been a fan of Ellen, much like I am a fan of a good matrimonial ceremony. When she announced on her show that she and long-time partner Portia de Rossi were finally getting hitched, I was super stoked for my favorite daytime entertainer.

I was also moved by Ellen’s timing, as she made her wedding plans public in May once the California Supreme Court declared the ban on gay marriage unconstitutional. As someone who is pro-gay marriage in the United States, I just have to say — you go Ellen, let the world know what’s up.

California has allowed itself to become one of a whopping two states where same-sex marriage is recognized and deemed acceptable. I give props to those states with laws supplying “legal unions” between same-sex couples, but why not just take it to that next level like California?

California couple Portia and Ellen got married at their own home in Los Angeles on Aug. 17, and after dating since December 2004, I think it’s about time.

Four years is long enough to wait when you’re digging someone.

I happened to stumble across some of the couple’s wedding pictures online the other day,

and I must say I was extremely pleased to see Ellen staying true to herself and sticking to her signature style, once again rocking the trouser suit. Meanwhile, I thought Portia looked precious in her dress — I always admired her class.

Looking at the photos was inspirational to me. Here are two women constantly in the public eye making a powerful statement — a soul mate is a soul mate, and every person deserves to be with the one they love, no matter what.

Could this be one small step forward for gay celebrity couples everywhere?

Could same-sex marriage become more acceptable, the more frequent and public it becomes among role models like Ellen?

Possibly. And I hope so.

You have to admire a female celebrity who has enough gumption to come out in public, let alone marry the woman she loves. In my opinion, Ellen is ending the taboo surrounding being gay, which could in turn lead to more celebrities coming out. I mean, Lance Bass came out recently, to no one’s surprise.

Who knows, maybe the Portia and Ellen union will open more doors in the celebrity world, and before we know it Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson will tie the knot too — PerezHilton.com readers might appreciate that joke more than others.

Well, we shall see. And in the meantime, I’d like to offer my congratulations to Ellen and Portia. I’ll bet Ellen’s dancing at the reception was her best performance yet.

— Amy Prazniak, amypraz@udel.edu

Medal-worthy style I was obsessed with the Olympics.

Absolutely obsessed.

During the two weeks it aired, I hid in my cubicle at work watching live streams, only to sprint to the subway so I could catch the primetime Sabina Ellahi events at home.

Columnist But while I wasn’t fawning over Michael Phelps or wishing I could do back flips on a balance beam, my eyes were fixated on the attire the athletes wore.

Who would have thought the 2008 Olympics would be so fashion conscious? As the thousands of athletes marched into the stadium, the $300 million-plus ceremonies seemed like a gigantic catwalk to me — and let me tell you, I was ecstatic.

Clothes are a major defining factor in creating an image. At these ceremonies, the clothing the athletes wore was the country’s chance to provide a representation of its traditions, culture and to some extent, its class. This year, the Olympic teams stepped up their game not only in competing, but in their fashion sense as well.

For one night — at the Opening Ceremonies — athletes ditched their tracksuits and Speedos and dressed in a classier manner.

First, let’s talk about Team USA. Sometimes the people of the United States are viewed as tasteless and old-world when it comes to fashion, but this time, they brought their A-game. Some might say they looked like yacht workers, but I thought otherwise. With the recruitment of all-American designer Ralph Lauren as the official outfitter of Team USA, athletes donned navy blazers with the signature pony logo, red and navy ties and white pants, which shed new light on the image of Americans to the world. No longer were they the fashion un-conscious, but instead were seen as classic and tailored. Watching the team march down that track in the stadium, I’d have to say I was pretty proud to be cheering for the Unites States.

Great Britain also went with the preppy look, which was strikingly similar to the American attire, but the inversion of their colors made them step away from the yacht worker image the United States seemed to portray.

Their outfits combined a dark button-down shirt and pants with a white jacket, striped belt and Vans-style slip-on sneakers, which reflected the English love for simple and comfortable, with a slight Londoner punk edge.

The Swiss team made a bold move by dressing its athletes in red capris for the men and red skirts for the women, paired with cream tops and beige jackets for all. This made them look patriotic without being too flashy. They easily appealed to the audience by looking well put-together and showing the heavy fashion influence they’ve received from their neighbor, France. They also easily appealed to me because, well, Roger Federer never fails to look good in anything he wears.

Never a disappointment in fashion taste, the French wore impeccably tailored gray blazers, wrap shirts and wide red belts clutched around their jackets. The attire of the French easily reflected the past spring’s runway looks out of Paris. While I thought it was trés chic, the one predictable item I could’ve done without was the beret. Maybe I’m just a fan of breaking stereotypes.

Many people said the Beijing Olympics set the bar high in its execution of the games and ceremonies. I say it was the most fashionable and I give Beijing a gold medal for a visual feast befitting Fashion Week. Let’s hope London can try to top this in 2012.

16

September 5, 2008

Batman takes flight, shattering box office records and soaring onto IMAX screens A groundbreaking feature of the film is its release in 94 IMAX theaters nationwide — the closest of which is the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. Nolan filmed more than 30 minWhile summer to-do lists included activities like visits to the beach, long tanning ses- utes of the film with a special IMAX camera, creating a state-of-the-art visual experience. sions and lengthy novels, film aficionados had a more specific list in mind — their must-see Senior Scott Lynch says he enjoyed the film on IMAX at the Colorado Center in Denver. movies. Near the top of this list for a handful of university students was the long-awaited “It was tremendously entertaining,” Lynch says. “It’s this completely immersing experelease of “The Dark Knight,” the second Batman installation from director Christopher rience from a visual and audio standpoint. It gets you on the edge of your seat.”

Nolan and screenwriter Jonathan Nolan.

Lynch compares the experience to some of the live concerts he has seen.

The film broke numerous box office records, including an opening weekend of $156 “I think what we’re seeing is a conglomeration of all different forms of entertainment,” million. “The Dark Knight” grossed a total $492 million — second only to “Titanic” for the Lynch says. “It draws you in to a greater degree, because it hits all the senses.” all-time U.S. box-office record.

Feldman says the IMAX is still a “novelty” and is a “tough sell.” He agrees “The Dark When the masked hero first appeared in Detective Comics in 1939, there was Knight” has helped advance IMAX, although he remains skeptical about its future. no expectation that the character — originally known as the “Bat-Man” or Of the total $158.4 million of the film’s opening, IMAX brought in $6.2 the “caped crusader” — would launch into the 21st century as an million.

American icon. After the mid-’90’s Joel Schumacher films, Lynch says the IMAX experience played an important role in his Christopher Nolan picked up the Batman franchise and reinventreaction to the film and describes IMAX as “the next step in evoed it. lution.”

Junior Aimee Church, a film major, took summer classes Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker and the conin cinematography at the University of Southern California, troversy surrounding his death added to the box-office success. where she was able to attend an early screening.

“He wasn’t just acting,” Church says. “He put himself “I thought it was fantastic on so many different levels,” into that character so much.”

Church says about the film. “The world they created was such Church says the film goes beyond “just entertainment,” a good replica of Gotham and what the comic books were going and has “a lot of messages about society and urban life.” for.”

“You see a lot of corruption in our government today,” she says.

Matthew Feldman is popularly known as “The Filmguy” on “In the film, they didn’t really inform the public that well, and that WVUD. kind of replicates America.”

THE REVIEW/Katie Smith “I think every generation has to find some kind of film character that they Lynch says he has his own take on the film. can identify with,” Feldman says. “I think this is a character who is a regu lar man, and every “It sheds light on things like organized crime and their connection to politics,” he says. generation can indentify with a man trying to overcome struggles. This is very important.”

“It also shows the way that politics carry the possibility of being a force that masks evil Feldman says there is no comparison between the Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher doing in society.”

Batman films and the new Nolan franchise.

Church identifies a parallel between Gotham and the United States.

“Christopher Nolan is a totally different scenario,” he says. “He’s a truly brilliant film“Gotham needs someone to point fingers at,” Church says. “They need a specific maker. He took a genre that was almost dead — there was nothing left for the Batman char- enemy. They need a hero and they need a villain. In America, we kind of point fingers at one acter anymore — and made it intense and real and exciting. This is the way it should have person, even though it’s not one person’s fault.” been from the beginning.”

BY JAMES ADAMS SMITH Entertainment Editor

Did you know?

The football team played in front of a school record crowd of 49,119 during their 14-7 loss at Maryland

sports

September 5, 2008

17 weekly calendar

New Hens added to the flock

Friday September 5

BY ALEX PORRO AND RYAN LANGSHAW Sports Editors

Women’s Volleyball: Delaware Invitiational (Delaware vs. New Hampshire) 7 p.m.

Volleyball Elena DelleDonne One of the top high school womens basketball players in the country, Elena DelleDonne is coming to Delaware…to play volleyball. The former AllAmerican starred at Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, leading the Raiders to three straight championships and earning numerous accolades for her play on her way to being named Naismith national player of the year in girl’s basketball and the USA Today High School Player of the Year in 2008. She was set to accept a scholarship to play basketball for the University of Connecticut.

Surprisingly, on Aug. 16, DelleDonne announced she would not accept the scholarship and would instead be a Hen beginning in the fall. Then, the hoops wunderkind shocked the sporting world by announcing she would no longer be playing basketball, saying the sport no longer excited her. Instead, she will walk on with the CAA champion volleyball team.

She said she has not completely ruled out a return to basketball in the future.

DelleDonne played volleyball at Ursuline during her senior year but will not be on scholarship for Delaware.

Men’s Soccer@Fordham 7 p.m.

Women’s Soccer vs. Central Conneticut 4 p.m.

Saturday, September 6 Women’s Volleyball: Delaware Invitational (Delaware vs. Syracuse 1 p.m. vs. Michigan State 7 p.m.)

Field Hockey (Blue Hen Classic) 11:30 a.m.

Sunday, September 7 Field Hockey (Blue Hen Classic) 11.30 a.m.

Women’s Soccer vs. Winthrop 12 noon Women’s Tennis vs. Swarthmore 9 .a.m.

Monday, September 8

Tuesday, September 9 Women’s Volleyball vs. Temple 7 p.m.

Wednesday, September 10

Football - Quarterbacks DelleDonne will switch courts. Robby Schoenhoft, Lou Ritacco, Sean Hakes Let the quarterback carousel begin, as these three competed during the spring for the teams starting quarterback job, with head coach K.C. Keeler finally selecting Schoenhoft as the starter entering the season.

Schoenhoft,a Mason, Ohio native spent three years as the back-up quarterback at Ohio State University before transferring to Delaware, where he will have junior eligibility. Though he saw limited action in the passing game while at OSU, he was called upon to run the ball on occasion.

A redshirt freshman, Ritacco spent last season as the No. 4 quarterback on Head coach K.C. Keeler’s roster and saw no game action. He is now vying to become the first non-transfer Delaware recruit to start a game at quarterback since the 2002 season when Mike Connor led the Hens.

Sophomore Hakes enjoyed an outstanding high school career in Texas, playing for Nolan Catholic High. Hakes, who has good size and speed, played last season for Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa California and has drawn comparisons to former Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco, who is now a member of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens.

Courtesy of Sports Information

THE REVIEW/File Photo

Tadjalli left a hole in the roster.

Football - Runningbacks Jerry Butler, Jared Bradley, Johnathan Smith Last year, senior running back Omar Cuff set numerous school records en route to the record books. Cuff is now a member of the Cleveland Browns and there is a big hole to fill in the Hens’ backfield. Butler, a second-year transfer from the University of Wisconsin is the favorite to get a majority of carries in Courtesy of Orange Coast Junior College what may be a backfield by committee. At UW, Butler was the No. 2 back on a Hakes while at junior college. nationally ranked squad that finished the season 12-1 defeating Arkansas in the Capital One Bowl.

Though he is considered to be one of the fastest players on the team and can return kicks, Butler may have to share carries with more powerful runners.

Bradley will provide the power. The 6-foot, 215-pound junior is a two-year letter winner with the football team, and the team’s most experienced running back, having played in 21 career games and taken 90 carries for 348 yards and six touchdowns backing up Omar Cuff.

Though his workload was lighter earlier in the season, Bradley’s touches gradually rose later in the season, and during the Blue-White spring game he carried the ball 10 times for 30 yards and a touchdown.

Bradley’s power running style should prove a nice compliment to the speed and cutback abilities of Butler and possibly first year Notre Dame transfer Junior Jabbie.

Smith, a second year transfer from UConn and converted outside linebacker, will also figure heavily into Delaware's ground game. Last season, the 6foot-3 inch, 230-pounder proved to be a versatile addition to Keeler’s squad, earning praise for his special teams play while backing up Cuff and contributing to the Hens defense.

Smith got the start for the 2008 season opener against the University of Maryland and rushed for 57 yards and a touchdown against the Terrapins physical defensive front, but fumbled on a fourth-and-one on the Maryland 20-yard line.

Golf THE REVIEW/Brian Anderson

Smith is versatile on the field.

THE REVIEW/Brian Anderson

See MANY page 18

Schoenhoft opened as starter.

18

September 5, 2008

Many new faces have key roles Continued from page 17

THE REVIEW/File Photo

Justin Martinson Martinson arrives at UD fresh off a solid season at Charleston Southern University, during which he posted a 75.2 stroke average and a 13th place finish in the Big South Conference Championship.

Martinson, who is only a sophomore, has three years of eligibilty remaining and will try to build on his previous success in Delaware as the 2007 Delaware Junior Amateur Champion.

THE REVIEW/File Photo

Walsh departed Delaware a CAA champion. Herb Courtney will compete in Argentina.

Ex-Hens move on...

BY PAT MAGUIRE AND ALEX PORRO Sports Editors Although roster turnover is a way of life in college sports, many teams are being faced with the challenge of filling huge roster spots this season due to the graduation of key recordsetting seniors.

Here are a few recent departures whose absence this season we think will greatly affect their respective teams.

Football Joe Flacco, Omar Cuff: Flacco’s record-breaking career at Delaware came to an end when he was selected No.18 overall in the first round of the National Football Leagues draft by the Baltimore Ravens. Flacco is slated to open the season as the Ravens starting quarterback, due to injuries to the other potential starters on the team.

There is currently a three-way race to succeed Flacco as the Hens' starting quarterback, between Robbie Schoenhoft, Lou Ritacco, and Sean Hakes, with Schoenhoft recently named the starter and taking all of the snaps in their week-one matchup against Maryland.

After originally coming to Delaware as a camp-fodder defensive back, runningback Omar Cuff fought his way up the depth chart to become arguably the Hens most productive runner ever.

After his senior season, Cuff was signed as an undrafted rookie by the National Football League’s Tennessee Titans, who released him at their final roster cutdown, and he promptly signed on as a practice squad member with the Cleveland Browns.

Inexperienced running backs Jonathan Smith, Jared Bradley, Jerry Butler and Philip Thaxton will have a tough time replacing the dynamic Cuff, but will have to in order to reduce pressure on their equally green quarter-

commentary

RYAN LANGSHAW “Time to get defensive”

backs.

Soccer Sobhan Tadjalli Tadjalli who was a four year starter for the Hens, was selected in the third round of the Major Indoor Soccer League draft by the Philadelphia Kixx. As a freshman, Tadjallii scored a school record eleven goals, and was also named CAA rookie of the year.

The team currently has three sophomore forwards attempting to take Tadjalli's place.

Volleyball Colleen Walsh Walsh capped off an impressive four year career last season by helping lead the women's volleyball team to the CAA title. Walsh ranks in the top 10 in school history in kills and attack attempts. This year's team will try to compensate for her loss by giving playing time to three freshmen, Kim Stewart, Janeen McCormick, and Meghan Bonk.

Baseball David Slovak, Dan Richardson, and Mike McGuire All three senior pitchers signed contracts with major league baseball teams upon their graduation.

Slovak, who was the Hens closer last season, is currently pitching in the Washington Nationals’ organization.

Richardson, a converted rightfielder who focused solely on pitching for the first time last season, is currently with the Saint Louis Cardinals organization after being selected in the 38th round.

McGuire, who was drafted in the 43rd round by the Cleveland Indians, was also picked the year before in the 46th round. He was the first player since Kris Dufner to get selected in two different seasons.

When senior linebacker Erik Johnson intercepted University of Maryland senior quarterback Jordan Steffy early in the third quarter of the Hens' 14-7 loss to the Terps, the moment seemed to be an unofficial passing of the torch from the team’s now inexperienced offense to its up-and-coming defense. During the K.C. Keeler era, defense has not been a phrase associated with the teams strengths. But as the club enters the season with an unstable and inexperienced offensive roster, the defense suddenly has become an area of utmost importance.

Although Keeler said he does not believe in moral victories, the coach had to be impressed by what he saw from the defensive line and secondary on Saturday. First time starter Robby Schoenhoft and the Delaware offense did a great job keeping the team in the game via a ball control style of play, but big plays are what win football games and the big plays last Saturday were coming from the other side of the ball.

A lot of action came from the secondary, specifically the A-team of cornerback Anthony Walters and strong saftey Anthony Bratton. The duo had a tough task going into the game of

Courtesy of the Tennesee Titans

Omar Cuff is now an NFL running-back.

Men's Basketball Herb Courtney The 6-foot-7-inch, 215 pound swingman was one of only eight Delaware basketball players to ever score 1,200 points during their career.

After being voted the team MVP for the second year in a row after his second season, the four-year standout decided his future was in basketball.

Despite an unsuccessful tryout with the National Basketball Association's New Jersey Nets, Courtney pushed forward and ultimately signed with Quimsa of the Argentine National Basketball League.

Although Courtney did not make an NBA roster, he hopes to make the best of his new opportunity and perhaps get a chance to play at the NBA level within a few seasons.

Women's Basketball Kyle DeHaven DeHaven was the consummate all around player for the Hens. An incredible passer, she averaged over 10 points per game in her senior season, and was twice voted the CAA Defensive Player of the Year during her career.

DeHaven ended her career with a recordsetting 133 steals.

trying to control Maryland star receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey and aside from one big 36-yard reception in the first half, Bey was held to a respectable four catches for seventy yards. The other Maryland receivers were shut down by the Hens, forcing the Terps to make their offense one-dimensional with running back Da'Rel Scott.

The fact is Delaware did a great job of shutting down a Division 1-A passing game. However, the stats do not tell the true story of the strides the defense, and most notably the secondary took, Saturday.

With the team riding the arm of a newbie at the quarterback position, along with the uncertainty surrounding other key areas on offense, this group is going to have to win many games this year by coming up with key plays on the other side of the ball. If the Maryland game is any indication, the Hens should be able to pressure many teams into committing turnovers.

Before I jump all over the team’s defensive bandwagon, there still were some concerns that will have to be fixed if the defense is to shoulder the majority of the burden in leading the team back to a playoff berth this season.

Mens Basketball Jawan Carter After spending a season at the Palestra, Jawan Carter is coming home.

The 2006 Delaware Player of the Year and the state’s high school leading scorer while at the Tatnall School, Carter spent the 2006 season playing for St. Josephs University in Philadelphia under coach Phil Martelli. Carter played in 32 games for the Hawks and started 26 while averaging 7.6 points per game and racking up 74 assists at guard.

After sitting out last season due to transfer regulations, Carter is likely to see plenty of playing time for coach Monte Ross.

Men's Soccer E.J. Alvarado, Courtney Hewitt, Andrew Englehart Replacing great players seems to be a theme on campus and the men's soccer team is catching no breaks. After Delaware forward Sobhan Tadjalli was drafted by the Philadelphia Kixx of the Major Indoor Soccer League draft in January, the Hens lost a standout player and one of the their top goal scorers.

Vying to replace Tadjalli is a trio of sophomores with a combined six career shots on goal. Alvarado appeared in 13 games last season, starting 10 of those, but was held without a goal. Hewitt appeared in 10 games, but started only one.

Of the three potential forwards, Hewitt has taken the most shots on goal during his career. Englehart, who was not a member of the team last season, appeared in seven games in 2006 and will also challenge for playing time on a crowded front line.

The most obvious concern was the 271 rushing yards surrendered by the team, including 197 yards to Maryland running back Scott, who was making his first career start. The Terps continually attacked the right side of the Hens defensive line, and racked up four runs of over 20 yards in the game.

The team was able to save itself by employing a "bend, not break" philosophy, and Walters said he was impressed by the defenses ability to bounce back.

“If that’s something that our defense does this season, then I think that will be great,” he said. “We have a really hard working group of guys who never give up.”

Bouncing back will be hard to do by the seventh and eighth weeks of the season, when fatigue and injuries set in, so the Hens will have to do a better job of containing teams in the backfield this season.

In the end, however, only time will tell, as after the team’s next game with Division-II West Chester, Delaware will go back to playing in its own conference. It is in these games they will be put to the test on both sides of the ball.

September 5, 2008

19

The season primer

BY SEIF HUSSAIN AND RYAN LANGSHAW Managing Sports Editors

After a tumultuous offseason of graduations, transfers, recruiting and arduous training, the Delaware sports teams find it time once again to pick themselves up and dust themselves off for what is sure to be an eventful and exciting season of Blue Hen sports. Based on press releases, our own reporting and knowledge of Delaware’s teams, here is a little season primer to get you ready for the upcoming season.

Graphics courtesy of Katie Smith linebacker Erik Johnson. Luckily for the As the leading scorer and team captain, mores- E.J. Alvarado, Courtney Hewitt and Volleyball offense, the dynamic receiving corps return senior Casey Howard will lead the groups Andrew Englehart-who together have a Season overview: essentially intact and Delaware retains potent offense. The team defense will be grand total of six shots and no goals Last year’s CAA champs will rely arguably the best FCS center in senior highlighted by junior Rae Everson as well between them. If one of these players can heavily on youth this season, returning only Kheon Hendricks. as sophomores Florence Sijbrandij and emerge from the pack and provide some one senior to the squad while adding severMissy Woodie. offense, the loss of Tadjalli may not be felt al freshmen. The team will be led by presea- The Burning Question: Who will emerge as hard. son player of the year Stephanie Barry, out of the backfield to lead the team on The Burning Question: Can the Hens along with junior Michelle Lalonde. the ground? avoid a fourth consecutive season without Womens Soccer At this point, taking a full-out commit- a playoff berth?

The Burning Question: Can Elena tee approach seems to be the best option, but After losing two consecutive games to Season Overview: DelleDonne make the switch?

The womens soccer team was picked over the next few weeks will the team be ranked opponents No. 10 Michigan State Head coach Bonnie Kenny believes so. able to identify a clear cut starter? and No. 12 Duke, the Hens return to Rullo seventh in the CAA in a preseason coaches At a recent press conference to introduce Runningback is one of the biggest question Stadium and attempt to refocus at home poll, which would leave them just short of DelleDonne, Kenny referred to her multiple marks as the team enters the season having against Ohio State as Delaware hosts three an opportunity to compete in the six-team times as an “elite athlete who will start and lost Cuff.

CAA tournament for the third straight year, teams for the annual Blue Hen Classic. become very good here.”

Speedy junior Jerry Butler is the The break before the Blue Hen Classic after finishing in eighth place last season.

Considering Kenny has singlehandedly favorite to carry the heaviest load; however will be a good chance for the the team to Senior forward Caitlyn Germain and turned the Hens volleyball program around sophomore Phillip Thaxton, powerful junior buckle down and get ready. If the defense sophomore forward Amy Pickard combined and led the school to the CAA title last sea- Jared Bradley and converted senior line- can carry over its solid play from last season for 15 scores and were both second team son, she would certainly seem to have the backer Johnathon Smith will chomping at and the offense, led by Howard, can provide All-CAA selections last season.They will experience to make such a judgment. the bit for some playing time. Do not make a much-needed spark, the team may be on return to keep the pressure on opposing Delledone’s previous high school expe- the mistake either of forgetting about Notre the way to finding its long awaited playoff defenses. rience at Ursuline Academy will be a huge Dame transfer Junior Jabbie,who, in his bid.

The 10 returning starters will continue help in her transition, but Ursuline is no final year of eligibility as a graduate student their progress and improve on a weak 8-10 Delaware and the adjustment from basket- at Delaware, will battle for significant car(4-7 CAA)2007 season. ball superstar to volleyball understudy will ries.

Men's Soccer Having compiled a 1-1 record in the certainly be an interesting test for Season Overview: Blue Hen Classic season opener against DelleDonne, coach Kenny and the team.

The Hens (3-13, 3-7-1 CAA last sea- Lafayette and St. Johns, the Hens will comField Hockey son) will try to turn their fortunes around plete five more non-conference games Season Overview: from last seasons struggles. The team will before beginning their grueling stretch Football Delawares Field Hockey team (0-2, 0-0 rely heavily on its two co-captains, junior against a very tough group of CAA oppoSeason Overview: CAA) looks to build upon last seasons 10-9 midfielder Paul Danaher and junior defend- nents.

The Hens’ success and run to the record after being picked as high as third in er David Hutchinson.

Division 1-AA Football Championship the CAA in preseason polls this year. The The team also features 17 freshmen and The Burning Question: Who will take Subdivision game last season was a surprise team retains 16 players overall, as well as sophomores, so overcoming youth will be over as starting goalkeeper? to many of the team’s fans. A similar run two of its top three scorers from last year’s key for a successful season.

Senior Annie Bevan and freshman this season will be even more of a surprise squad, who will all work to make sure they Breanna Stemler are competing for the startas the squad must overcome the loss of do not miss the playoffs for a fourth consec- The Burning Question: Can the team ing spot. While Bevan got the start and many key players involved in last season’s utive season. overcome the loss of Sobhan Tadjalli on played both games so far, the situation could success. Gone are quarterback Joe Flacco, Of the five seniors on the team, Amy offense? change depending on performance down the runningback Omar Cuff and part of the out- Brewer, Jessica Cortellino and Erin Tadjalli, the Hens’ best player last sea- road. So far Bevan has only allowed one standing offensive line, including Rich Marihugh will help to bolster what is son, has since moved on after being drafted goal and posted seven saves. She has the Beverly and Mike Byrne. expected to be a strong forward line. Also by the Philadelphia Kixx of the Major most experience of the three goalkeepers on This year’s team will look for support returning is senior goalie Nikki Rhoades, Indoor Soccer League. the roster and will have her chance to prove from a strong defense, anchored by junior who will attempt to surpass her three The task of replacing the aggressive herself as the starter this season. defensive end Matt Marcorelle and senior shutout performances from last season. forward falls into the hands of three sopho-

THE REVIEW/Brian Anderson

The ground game will be by committee.

Courtesy of Sports Information

THE REVIEW/Brian Anderson

In 2007 Howard led the Hens with 13 goals. Hens’ defenders tackle a Maryland player.

Courtesy of Sports Information

Alli D’Amico returns after being injured.