TheWake
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The U’s Weekly Student Magazine • March 8, 2006
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12 The Walker Showcases Kiki Smith’s Body of Work The artist Kiki Smith is showcasing a lifetime of work ranging from painting to sculpture at the Walker Art Center starting this month. The work is less political and more about the body of subjects, reflecting the beauty of the female form. Before you leap off to the Walker to see the exhibit on free student Thursdays, read The Wake’s interpretation of events.
14 Everyone Here Could Kick My Ass Left. Right. Hook. Down. Boxing has been popularized in recent years by big-budget movies like Million Dollar Baby and Cinderella Man, but what does it take to enter into the amateur world of boxing? One of our writers tries out boxing in a Minneapolis gym where everyone in the room could kick his ass.
©2006
Contributing Writers Jeff Barthel, Sarah E. Bauer, Erin Belling, Rachel Drewelow, JP Frederick, Sarah Howard, Tom McNamara, Michael Mitchell, Kristen Mueller, Jenny Odegard, Ian Power, Vincent Staupe, Brian Tolentino, Nick Upton, Chris Wilson
Established in 2002, The Wake is an independent weekly magazine, produced by and for students at the University of Minnesota. The Wake is a registered student organization. The Wake was founded by Chris Ruen and James DeLong.
The Wake 1313 5th St. SE Minneapolis, MN 55414 Send letters to letters@wakemag.org Please include your name, year, and college. The Wake does not publish anonymous letters.
Volume 4; Issue 14
Letter from the Editor
Women’s basketball, yo Athletics ......................................................................................... 4 The eggs are loose! Campus .......................................................................................... 7 An essay on petty theft Literary ........................................................................................ 10 If you can read this, you are literate Voices ........................................................................................... 16 Improvised Explosive Device more fun than it sounds Sound & Vision .............................................................................. 19 Eat it Bastard ........................................................................................ 22
Dear Campus, I enjoy riding my bike. I really do, so much so that I often find myself riding in less-than-ideal conditions, such as rainstorms and blizzards. However, exposing my bike to such elements can be troublesome. Let’s just say, I’m not very good at keeping my bike in pristine condition. Now don’t get me wrong, I keep my chain lubed ‌ most of the time. The only thing is, apparently there are other parts of (or related to) the bike that need attention. One such item is the bike lock. Did you know those things could get rusty and stop working? I didn’t. Now my bike is locked to a no parking sign and the key to let loose my preferred mode of transportation is broken. So my question to you, oh fair campus: Does anyone have one of those big lock-breaky thingies so I can get my bike back? If you do, that’d be sweet. Let me know. LANE TRISKO
Managing Editor ltrisko@wakemag.org
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4
Athletics
March 8, 2006
February to Forget; Lady Gophers look to bounce back
Photos by stacy bengs
BY jeff barthel February was a cold month. The weather, sure, but that’s expected in Minnesota. What’s not expected? The Gophers women’s basketball team losing four straight games as they near post-season. “We’ve hit a bump right now,” says junior guard Kelly Roysland during a Feb. 21 interview. “But we’ve felt we’ve played some pretty good basketball overall and we’ve got a pretty good record right now.” Fortunately, for Roysland and her team, two weeks without a win ended when they defeated Indiana on Feb. 23 and rolled over Northwestern on Feb. 26. “I think the win over Indiana was a good start, I think it was the best defense we’ve played as a team all year,” says head coach Pam Borton of her team’s elusive 65-58 defeat of the Hoosiers. “It feels good to get back heading in the right direction … our players deserve all the credit, they’ve been working hard handling all the pressure the last couple of weeks. I felt it was a good start, but we’ve got to be consistent.” Minnesota’s first four-game losing streak since the 2000-01 season was not pretty. It included blowout losses to Michigan State and Purdue (by 23 and 32 points, respectively) and a disappointing 67-61 loss at rival Wisconsin.
Despite the perils of such a losing skid, Borton remains optimistic her team can be in position to make another NCAA tournament run this March. “I think no matter who we play in these games (in the Big Ten tournament) get us ready for the NCAAs” says Borton. “Because these games, these teams, the attitude, Purdue, Michigan State, these are teams that will get us ready for the NCAA tournament.” Getting there is a given. Minnesota’s win over the Hoosiers put them at 18-8 (10-5 in Big Ten play). There will be no Big Ten Championship, but the lady Gophers have been able to punch another pass to the NCAA Division-I tournament – Minnesota’s fifth-straight NCAA championship quest begins when the tournament starts March 18. Borton, who has coached NCAA basketball for 17 years, will bring Minnesota to March Madness for her fourth time. As head coach here, Borton has orchestrated the tournament runs with the benefits of having All-American and eventual WNBA number one pick, Janel McCarville, as well as All-everything Minnesota women’s basketball, Lindsey Whalen. This season Minnesota lacks these two superstars, but they do have a rising star in the preseason All-Big Ten pick, forward Jamie Broback. The team also has some other highly talented seniors (including defensive specialist—senior
Shannon Bolden) and a team (as a whole) Borton claims is “the deepest” and “most talented” team she’s ever coached. Roysland, a third year Kinesiology student,
“It feels good to get back heading in the right direction...our players deserve all the credit, they’ve been working hard handling all the pressure the last couple weeks. I felt it was a good start, but we’ve got to be consistent.” [Coach Pam Borton] is not yet Broback’s caliber on the basketball court, but she’s shown signs of being yet another rising star for Minnesota. A native of Fosston, Minn., Roysland ar-
rived at the U in 2003. In her freshman season, Roysland was teammates with Whalen. Having similar styles in terms of lane penetration and passing, Roysland says Whalen often helped Kelly with her game when the two played together. “Yeah, I definitely try to emulate her sometimes, I think any player would,” says Roysland, “just the way she can get into the lane and create great space for herself and to get a shot off, stuff like that … She was great for me, always helpful and always encouraging to me.” “Kelly, yea, we were roomies on the road trips that year,” says Whalen, in a phone interview from Connecticut—where she plays for the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun. Whalen says the two roomed together on the road during the 2003-04 season, the year of Minnesota’s Final Four. “She definitely does a bit, she’s got a good ability to take it in the lane, drive and penetrate, dish it out,” says Whalen. “I think she’s a great creator, as well as a great penetrator.” Borton says she can see some similarities between her ex and current pupils as well; but also says she finds Roysland to be a better fit at the two-guard, noting that her ball handling abilities (right now) are not fit to run the point. Roysland admits she can be a bit overaggressive and has committed 43 turnovers on the season.
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March to Remember?
However, she has recently been one of the few Gophers who have provided consistent play throughout the losing streak. Over the two winless weeks, Roysland’s play earned her increased playing time and has done well. Over the team’s four losses, she averaged 15 minutes per game, scoring 5.5 points, also contributing six assists and five rebounds. Roysland was able to start in two games as well. In the team’s win over Indiana, she started her second straight game, scoring 11 points and picking up 3 assists. The other start came against Wisconsin, where she played a crucial role. In that game, despite Minnesota losing 6761, Roysland scored 13 points, hitting eight of
nine free throws—including 2-2 with less than two minutes remaining that cut Minnesota’s margin to 61-59. Although her play might merit her more minutes of court time, having senior captains like Shannon Schonrock and April Calhoun have made it tough. “You know, we have nine guards on the team,” says Roysland, who proceeded to mention the names of practically all of them. “It’s a tough job for the coach when she’s drawing up plays … it’s all about personnel and how the team’s jelling, and I’m happy with whatever role she gives me.” As for the team as a whole this season, Minnesota’s accomplished a lot; turnovers, however, have been plentiful. Throughout Minnesota’s
regular season, they averaged 16.5 turnovers per game – ranking just sixth among its Big Ten competitors. Minnesota has done well, however, to overcome its many mistakes. Strong inside play from sophomore Natasha Williams (8.3 points per game and a 3.8 rebound average) and junior forward Liz Podominick (8.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg) has led Minnesota’s McCarvilleless inside game. Schonrock and Calhoun have had solid seasons as well. In her fourth season at guard with the Gophers, Schonrock has led Minnesota’s Big Ten leading three-point shooting attack (52 made attempts and 42.6 percent success rate). While Calhoun, a fourth-year transfer from Iowa, has not been a huge scoring factor, she has shown
a calm sense of court control. The native of New Hope, Minn. leads the team with 92 assists, and committing few turnovers (55) in comparison. Whalen and Borton both say the most important thing for this team, heading into the tournament, is feeling comfortable with each other. The selection committee will have a tough choice when seeding Minnesota this year. The Gophers had key victories over Michigan State, ranked 14th at the time, and a win over Stanford, ranked 11th at the time, for the Subway Classic championship. However, the February skid will be fresh in the minds of the NCAA committee, which will likely deal out a fifth or sixth seed to the Gophers.
6
Athletics
March 8, 2006
Poker Night Non-fallible, 100 percent truth (except all of it)
illustration By alex judkins
BY jp frederick Pam Borton, Dan Monson and I were playing five-card stud in the Barn locker room. Like all poker games involving collegiate head coaches, there were ample amounts of alcohol. Don’t be naive; everybody knows college head coaches take five shots of bourbon before breakfast. In between body shots, beer bongs and awkward moments, the two would discuss basketball while I gazed in pure amazement at two transcendent coaching minds. I was watching a Bobby Knight and Joe Pa interview on a TV in the corner. I had two jacks and was hoping for a third to match my pair when I asked a simple question: who would win, the women Gophers or the men Gophers?
I had two jacks and was hoping for a third to match my pair when I asked a simple question: who would win, the women Gophers or the men Gophers? Monson, with only hazy memories of Iowa and Michigan State deep in his drunken mind, said the women would win. He rambled on and on about Jamie Broback this and Jamie Broback
that, and begged Borton to borrow Schonrock for the “Big Eleven” tourney. Dan praised the women’s role players for not making many mistakes, while saying the men’s role players make mistakes whenever the ball is within a five-foot radius of their bodies. Then—while double fisting shots of Cuervo—he claimed that Borton would out-think, out-coach and out-dress him. Pam, laughing and rebuking every word Dan said, fell out of her chair like a blast of buckshot had just hit her in the face and neck region. Where have I heard that before? Now usually Pam’s a princess; fair-skinned and precious as a child. Tonight though, she was the antithesis of sobriety and began screaming, ranting and generally freaking the shit out of me. She heaped praises upon praises at the feet of Vincent Grier and Rico Tucker; claiming that, if there ever was a game, they would simply take whatever they wanted and lay the game to waste. She then added, “... while Adam Boone may be, what, 73 years old? Well, he’s a young 73.” Pam also explained how—and Dan and I hadn’t looked at it from this light—the men’s team has three players measuring six-foot-nine, while the women’s team has three players topping out at just six-foot-three and that would probably be a factor, because this is basketball and height is a factor in basketball. Dan tossed his half-full glass of gin across the room. He began to stomp his feet and the Barn’s lights grew dim. He was disgusted with Pam. Basketball’s not just about size, strength and speed ... it’s about heart, Dan said with tears
in his voice and hopes in his eyes. Pam was selling herself short, he argued; the women’s team doesn’t quit and doesn’t take a night off, except in Purdue and Wisconsin. That’s when Pam punched Dan right square in the nose. Just a love punch, but Dan had to be taken to the hospital immediately. “Your luck ran out,” Pam laughed at him. Monson kept mumbling “Podominick ... Tollack-
Dan praised the women’s role players for not making many mistakes, while saying that the men’s role players make mistakes whenever the ball is within a five-foot radius of their bodies. son’s worst nightmare ... Podominick,” as he was wheeled into the ambulance. Borton joined him on the ride to the hospital, held his hand, talked to him like he was a newborn pup. “Who’s gonna win the 2006 NIT Championship? Who’s gonna win the 2006 NIT Championship? You are. Yes, you are.” I just sat there, flipped over my last card, and drew up the jack of hearts. Where have I heard that before?
Athletic Events March 8, 6:30 p.m., Men’s Baseball vs. NDSU Metrodome March 10, 6:30 p.m. Men’s Baseball vs. Vermont Metrodome March 10, 7 p.m. Men’s Gymnastics vs. Iowa Sports Pavilion March 11, 6 p.m. Women’s Gymnastics vs. Ohio State Sports Pavilion March 11, 6:30 p.m. Men’s Baseball vs. Ball State Metrodome March 11, TBA WCHA Championship Ridder Arena March 12, TBA WCHA Championship Ridder Arena March 12, 3 p.m. Men’s Baseball vs. Illinois State Metrodome
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great egg debate student group wants UDS to show caged chickens some compassion
illustration by aaron ridgeway
by rachel drewelow It’s happened to the best of us. Just hanging in Coffman, waiting in line for a bagel, we’ve cast a curious sideways glance and spied a television airing images of overcrowded, bloody, dirty and downright unhappy hens. Some of us might have canceled the egg on our bagel and maybe others just grinned and reminisced about that scene in Napoleon Dynamite where he works in a hen barn ... haha, oh Napoleon. But these images are no laughing matter to Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA), the student organization that has been showing the documentary “Meet your Meat” in Coffman. The group of about 200 active volunteers has been campaigning for several months in hopes that University Dining Services (UDS) will begin serving Certified Humane cage-free eggs.
“Certified Humane” implies strict standards and inspections and is backed by the Humane Society of the United States and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Currently, UDS orders 90 percent of its eggs from Michael Foods—which does not meet requirements to carry the lower United Egg Producer’s certification, the CAA says. Karen DeVet, assistant director of dining services, says that UDS is open to considering the idea. The switch has been forecasted to raise meal plan prices 0.4 percent (two to four cents per meal), so UDS will need student feedback, she explains. All students living in the dorms must purchase a meal plan. The Graduate Student Association, the UDS Advisory Board, and over 2,000 residents have come out in support of the campaign, but
UDS is waiting to hear from the Residential Housing Association (RHA). After hearing from RHA, UDS will make a decision. Implementation will depend on an administrative request for an increased budget, DeVet explains. “I would anticipate a decision [from UDS] by the first of March,” DeVet says. Donny Mansfield, CAA officer and coordinator of the campaign says, “It can seem like a fringe issue, but that’s not the case.” CAA says over 75 universities have switched or are in the process of switching to cage-free eggs. Nearby Macalester College, fellow Big Ten school the University of Iowa, and several schools who contract with Aramark (UDS’s food service provider) serve cage-free eggs. SEE eggs, PAGE 8
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Campus
March 8, 2006
Upcoming Events Wednesday, March 8 Off-Campus Housing Fair 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (Great Hall , Coffman Memorial Union, Minneapolis Campus) Where are you living next year? Thinking of renting an off-campus apartment? The Off-Campus Housing Fair provides students with an opportunity to meet property owners, representatives from community groups and staff from university departments. This event provides information needed to make an informed decision about living off campus. Read The Minnesota Daily Housing Guide, published on Feb. 28, for additional information. This annual event is co-sponsored by Housing & Residential Life, The Minnesota Daily, and Student & Community Relations. Building Ties: Culturally Sensitive Housing Designs for Hmong and Somali Refugees 1:00 p.m. -5:00 p.m. (Hennepin History Museum—Off Campus) BUILDING TIES: Culturally Sensitive Housing Designs for Hmong and Somali Refugees is an exhibition by UM interior design students under the direction of Dr. Tasoulla Hadjiyanni. The exhibition features interior spaces to support cultural practices like cooking traditional foods, religious customs, and gathering with friends and family. Culturally sensitive design can improve mental, emotional and physical well-being and can ease new immigrant groups’ adjustment to American life. Seventeen residential design solutions are included. Exhibition is displayed at the Hennepin History Museum, 2303 Third Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55404; 612870-1329; www.hhmuseum.org Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for kids and seniors and free for museum members.
Thursday, March 9 The Origin of the Words “man” and “wife” and the Germanic View of Humanity 4:00 p.m. (Room 229 Nolte Center for Continuing Education, Minneapolis Campus) Anatoly Liberman is a professor in the Department of German, Scandinavian and Dutch. In linguistics, he is mainly interested in historical phonology and the origin of words and is working on a new etymological dictionary of English. In literature, his publications deal with Germanic poetry and Scandinavian myths. Public parking is available in the Fourth Street Ramp or the Church Street Garage. The Social Life of Hmong: A Lecture by Louisa Schein 4:00 p.m. -6:00 p.m. ( Room 120, 125 Nolte Center for Continuing Education, Minneapolis Campus) Lecture by Louisa Schein, Department of Anthropology, Rutgers University.
Friday, March 10 Seminar: Cities of Color: The New Racial Frontier in Minority-Majority Cities 12:00 p.m. -2:00 p.m. (Ford Room, Social Science Tower, Minneapolis Campus) Albert Camarillo, professor of history at Stanford University, and Carol McKibben, director of the Monterey Regional Oral History and Immigration Project, will speak at a free seminar (lunch provided) about how new immigrants are changing minority community dynamics in West Coast cities. Complete details are at www.ihrc.umn.edu/news/06-1-11-8.htm.
Tuesday, March 14 Organizing Life: A New Evolution 6:00 p.m. -8:00 p.m. (Varsity Theater, Dinkytown) What evolutionary patterns link Earth’s species, from microbes to birds to human beings? In conjunction with the Walker Art Center’s exhibition “Kiki Smith: A Gathering, 1980-2005,” the Bell Museum presents a special Café Scientifique on taxonomy, phylogeny, and evolution. Join biologist and Bell Museum Director Scott Lanyon for an introduction to a worldwide research effort that is equivalent in scope to the Human Genome Project, and find out how and why researchers like Lanyon are assembling an evolutionary “tree of life” that will organize the 1.7 million described species on Earth. To learn more about Smith’s artwork, which references taxonomy, visit walkerart.org. Café Scientifique is sponsored in part by Sigma Xi, University of Minnesota Chapter.
EGGS, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7
CAA wants the university to add itself to that list because “the suffering in factory farms is so bad,” Mansfield says. “It’s the worst form of animal cruelty.” At Michael Foods’s farms, hens aren’t given proper space to move, groom themselves or perform other natural functions, the CAA says. They also don’t have perches or nesting materials. Contrarily, in certified humane facilities, hens have perches, nesting spaces, and litter to bathe in. In these facilities, all hens are inspected twice daily, sick hens are segregated and severely injured hens are “humanely euthanized,” the CAA explains. However, Dr. Jacquie Jacob, professor in the Department of Animal Science, argues in her article, “The welfare of the laying hen: The science behind the caged versus cage-free debate,” that it is “difficult to speculate about how birds ‘feel.’” “Neither system [caged nor cage-free] is perfect. If you do not manage them properly, there will be problems with both systems,” she explains. “Cage-free” does not mean the hens will be reared outside, Jacob says, even if they are Certi-
fied Humane eggs. Cages were first developed for use in these indoor farms to prevent “parasitic problems,” she says. Cages serve to “separate hens from their manure” and prevent diseases, she explains. Jacobs also pointed out in her article that a study in the European Union, which will ban cage-rearing in 2010, found cannibalism, bacterial infections and eggshell contamination to be at a higher risk in cage-free barns. Jacobs contends that, as of right now, caged facilities are “better for the welfare of the birds and the consumers.” There is ongoing research, some of it at the university, to further develop cage-facilities, she says. “It is kind of a wait-andsee approach.” But for now, she writes, “Eggs coming from modern egg-laying production facilities in the United States are the cleanest and safest in comparison to any in the world.” The CAA disagrees, and hopes to “show UDS there is a lot of student support for cagefree eggs,” Mansfield says. “The focus is just to reduce suffering,” he says, “and I think the outlook is looking really good right now.”
Melanoma Beds The costs of the spring break “base tan” BY sarah howard As spring break approaches, many students will head to local tanning parlors for that perfect “base tan” to get the best bronze glow possible while on vacation. Many students continue to tan and take advantage of tanning specials this time of year, even though the dangers of tanning are widely known. “Our business increases about 50 percent [around spring break],” says Grant Vaith, owner of the Planet Beach tanning salon on Como Avenue in Dinkytown. “People start tanning for spring break in February and tan for the months afterward to maintain their tan,” he says.
Vaith says that most customers are not worried about the risks tanning can pose to your health because “people that worry about that would not come into our salon.” Vaith says that spring break is so busy because it brings new customers to the salon as well as increases the tanning frequency of regular customers. “If you provide good customer service they will come back,” he says. “We hope that they come back, and they do.” Vaith also says that many people come to his salon as referrals from previous customers. Planet Beach offers new customers three free tans and Vaith says that this offer is used year round, but especially around spring break time. “We’ll let customers get a base tan on us,” he says. “Most of the time people end up buying a package [after coming in for free].” Neon Sun tanning salon in Stadium Village has special packages geared toward younger people. According to their Web site they offer
10 percent discounts on products and packages to students, specials for sorority and fraternity members that will pick your group up in a limousine, as well as specials for bar and nightclub employees. Vaith says that most customers are not worried about the risks tanning can pose to your health because “people that worry about that would not come into our salon.” Planet Beach does a skin-type analysis for new customers to determine their exposure time, he says. According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. Melanoma (the skin cancer associated with tanning beds) affects more than 59,000 people in the United States each year and kills more than 7,000. Melanoma is becoming more common in the U.S. and other countries around the world, according to World Health Organization statistics, and the popularity of tanning and tanning beds is part of the reason. “The tanning industry has changed and made a lot of progress,” Vaith says. “Things are a lot better than 20 years ago.” Tanning salons are now paying attention to skin health with monitoring how long someone is in a bed as well as having better maintenance of the UV bulbs, he says. But according to the American Cancer Society, “there is no evidence that tanning in a bed is any safer than tanning in the sun—in fact, some tanning beds release much stronger UV light than the sun does. And at least one study has shown that women who tan in beds are more likely to develop melanoma than those who don’t.” Currently, the American Academy of Dermatology is pushing the World Health Organization’s recommendation for tanning bed requirements. These include not allowing minors to use tanning devices, placing a surgeon general’s warning on all tanning beds and not allowing tanning salons to advertise certain beds as “safe.” For those worried about the risks associated with tanning, most salons offer a Mystic or similar spray-on tan that is free of UV rays, but these types of tanning packages do not provide any type of “base tan.” Of course, the safest way to tan is not to tan at all and to wear sunscreen at all times. Most college students do not do this because “damage does not show right away so young people aren’t aware of the damage,” the AAD says. Despite the health risks, tan skin holds onto its appeal. “Definitely people want to look good and feel good,” Vaith says. “Winter is a long time.”
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ILLUSTRATION BY AARON GROH
Spring Break for Humanity A more meaningful alternative to wet t-shirt contests
BY VINCENT STAUPE Spring break in today’s culture can mostly be summed up by MTV, where (on its “Essential Spring Break Guide”) the mega-channel geared towards college students touts Cancun, a popular spring break destination, as “rightfully known as a netherworld of debauched frat dudes and raunchy girls where you may drunkenly sign a release and then everyone and your parents can see you on the latest ‘Girls Gone Wild’ commercial.” For some students, though, spring break can be anything but your typical vacation. For students involved with the University of Minnesota chapter of Habitat for Humanity, this third week in March is all about giving others a break and having fun with hammers and saws. “You’ll never forget the week you’ll spend building a house for someone else,” says Sally Holzapfel, one of the chapter’s collegiate challenge coordinators. The chapter, according to Holzapfel, is one of the largest and most active student groups on campus. In addition to taking winter and spring break house-building trips with other volunteers from Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) chapters across the nation, the U’s chapter also is building a house in the Heritage Park neighborhood of Minneapolis. This spring break, Holzapfel, a second-
year architecture student, is coordinating three separate trips to build homes for those in need in Oakland, Calif., Surprise, Ariz., and Albany, Ga. The cost of the trip is $350, which includes meals, housing, and transportation, but Holzapfel stresses that there are opportunities to raise the money for the trip through fundraising. HFHI supplies the tools required as well as any other
“I still write letters to a 12year old girl there,” Holzapfel says of Tutwiler, adding that the paper and erasers she sends are a “luxury” for the children there. resources the group might need at the housing site. Area churches and community centers provide food and housing for the students. According to its Web site, HFHI is a nonprofit, nondenominational Christian housing
organization that is dedicated to “eliminating poverty housing and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.” HFHI invites “people of all backgrounds, races, and religions to build houses in partnership with families in need,” regardless of the family’s background, race or religion. “Habitat Houses are sold to partner families at no profit, financed with affordable, no-interest loans” and it is expected that the homeowners also invest hundreds of hours of their own labor into building their Habitat house and the houses of others, according to the HFHI website. Holzapfel has been involved with HFHI for over a year. Since she has joined HFHI, she has helped build homes in Valdosta, Ga., and Tutwiler, Miss. She says that a typical day begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m., with jobs that include supporting walls for others and putting in windows. “The coolest thing was that Claire [another campus coordinator] and I sided a whole side of a house,” Holzapfel enthusiastically says of her trip to Valdosta. In Tutwiler, “one of the poorest areas of the nation,” according to Holzapfel, the rampant poverty and living conditions were “pretty intense and unbelievable.” It was because of her expe-
rience with HFHI and her trip to Tutwiler that she realized how poverty is not simply a problem plaguing third-world countries. “It really opened my eyes that people need help right here, in the U.S.,” Holzapfel says. After they finished their work for the day, Holzapfel and the other student volunteers played football with the children of Tutwiler. “I still write letters to a 12-year-old girl there,” Holzapfel says, adding that she sends paper and erasers to her pen-pal, a “luxury” that the children of Tutwiler do not have. “I realized that I could use my time, money and effort helping somebody else,” Holzapfel says. Krista Spinti, a second-year graphic design student, will be one of the volunteers heading to Surprise, Ariz., for spring break. Spinti says that while helping others is a great experience, the social aspect of the program can be just as engaging. “Everyone I’ve talked to has had a great experience,” Spinti says, adding that, on her previous trip to California, “I got to know everyone so well; we had so much fun.” Sure, they may not be featured on MTV’s next spring break special, but these students find that their Spring Break For Humanity is fulfilling nonetheless.
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Literary
BY ian power illustration by aaron ridgeway
March 8, 2006
An Essay on Petty Theft
I did it again today. I stole from the union. It was amazing, that flawless theft that can only be for food. That dance with abnormal morals which effects one from lack of nourishment. Some hollow, bitter, cold outside that’s enough to make a man’s guts hungry for anything to take away the feeling; but not hungry enough to drain the check card on essentially cafeteria food. Not seven-dollars hungry. I should really feel terrible. Committing this unthinkable deed, this sin of universally bad karma. Stealing from the institution that is so graciously handing me a future. But when you really think about it, about “robbery,” about taking that which does not belong to you … Let’s contrast and compare. Number 1
The food in the union is not good by any standard, it’s actually quite awful. No one is excited to eat there. If you say you are, you’re a liar. There are no fire roasted vegetables, no slow-cured meat, no freshbaked bread, no loving nourishment; this food has no soul. It is processed filth, a plethora of machine regurgitation and false titles. The sodium and desperation hide the taste, and the taste hides the empty.
My route nowadays is direct, swift and immediate. I burst through the front doors like the four horseman. Rip through those pale faces all sleeping in Ikea, food surrounding plush velvet couch-stools. Food they paid for. No wonder they don’t have any energy; their lives are in limbo, marketing and public relations, and the whole world just talking about itself. I feel like Jesse James. Slipping away from what looks to be a normal procrastinatic study session into a nourishing theft. Smiling as I just bounce to the escalator—some thick Arabian rhythm blasting melodic minor through my headphones, the illusion of life as a movie. This is how you steal anything small from a public place. You make it smooth and cinematic, one constant act, and close curtain when you’re crossing the Washington Street Bridge, pizza in hand. Until then you’re professional, you’re Rupert fucking Murdoch. Treat every morsel of food as if it’s a presidential election, rob it of its meaning and make it into something worthless. Sometimes you have an accomplice in crime. Some fiery little blonde atom bomb just
Number 2
When I was seven I got hot lunch at school. It cost me a dollar and twenty-five cents, and I got mini-corndogs, chocolate milk, a fruit cup, choice of vegetables and even a brownie. On Tuesdays we had taquitos. I was infinitely more satisfied than I am today. And it cost six dollars less. There is absolutely no way that the food in the union costs even one fourth of what they charge, it is unfathomable. And Flexdine? What the hell is Flexdine? They are asking you to transfer your real money into money that is worthless everywhere else except the union. Wow, great idea, what Carlson alumni came up with that one?
begging for the ten seconds of euphoria she can ride from rubbing against the grain. Like the first time she ran away from the cops or the first time she broke a boy’s heart— This is what females live for. These sorts of girls can prove handy for petty crime, seductive minx. They busy themselves counting change for Diet Coke while you just walk on through and wait for the afterglow. That red faced stuttering cashier continually glancing down the open blouse you insisted she wear, the one that pushes the boundaries of flesh and cotton, the one you’ve ripped off of her a thousand times before. She’s going home with you, and you aren’t going home on an empty stomach. You just glide on through like KY Jelly. Crime is only a small step away from making love: the heartbeat’s there, the tension, the tranquility, the danger. I am a good-for-nothing slut in this business, but I am no Winona. I steal because I have no money and I steal because I am hungry. The feeling of life rushing up to meet you for a few seconds is merely a bonus, just the icing on this half-baked cake. After poverty stares you in the face for a
Number 3
In stealing from the union, I am not robbing some kindly old shop-keep with graying hair and a gracious smile. I am not stealing from some Cuban fishmonger, or a shadowy fruit market maiden. I am not stealing from any person in particular. I am stealing from an institution, an institution that is stealing from me and thousands of others on a much larger scale. No I don’t feel bad, not for one second.
few semesters, stealing groceries seems almost a right of passage, a phantom credit to add to my transcript, skills to take into the real world. My last three accomplices have been gunned down in the act (the dearest of them quite recently in fact.) I would’ve stayed to mourn and answer questions, mouth full of chicken nugget, but they wouldn’t have paid me the same respect. So I now work alone. There is no use in trying to recruit another partner, another operative, it’s hopeless. I haven’t found a genuine human of the opposite sex in what seems like years. Real girls are a dying breed. False smiles and ATM cards are winning out over coy sexuality and the ability to laugh from the heart. No shallow girl can steal well. They don’t have the character. They flinch up. These girls that stumble home from the bar to find themselves in the arms of the anonymous, these girls are incapable of true love. They are the real crooks, the stealers of souls, these arsonists of human emotion. I know them all too well. And so I have walked away to a life of quiet burglary. Smug in my own wonderful gloom. Yet … at the end of the night, when the city
is all alight with provocative questions—beautiful with no answers, I can’t help but sometimes find myself looking down side streets looming in twilight. Watching for some curious ballerina who sways to her headphones as she sings to herself and walks in the beat. Waiting for that one amazing plunge to sweep her away. The riptide of life. This could be … something. There is hope for all of us. I think. You have just got to take it, and if it’s stealing then you are a thief. Accept it, embrace it. I almost want to get caught. I almost want for this to get printed, for the jig to be up. Cuff me. Wait for me on Tuesdays. I find myself most ready to fight then, with no taquitos in my stomach. I am the last goddamn cowboy, riding into most certain defeat. If I’m caught I’ll be a martyr. If I keep on going I retire a legend. What’s it gonna be? Pick your poison. No matter what happens at least that second, that moment will be actual and real. At least I will have this; the feeling to look back on when everything else is stripped away. Naked and opaque, the hunger remains.
Literary
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If one cannot revolt then what does one have? A perfect state? A perfect life? Equality? Perhaps, in revolutionless societies life is more pure and consequently more perfect because there is less death, and the lack of death causes people to know what life is really about. In such societies life would be seen as the ultimate goal, the ultimate reality and thus would not openly invite death to their door. However, with that written a question lay unanswered; namely, can such a society actually exist? Many have written books, articles and screenplays about these societies, but as of late as I stare blankly at my TV screen, I am not convinced of their existence. Therefore, as many of us stand on the pinnacle of our young lives we wonder what can be done, or yet more importantly, what can we do to make this, our collective world, a better place to live in. The answer, in the most revolutionary terminology I can think of, is to stay home and write letters. Now, writing letters in this age of e-mail and mobile phones may sound like an antiquated idea at best, yet through the written language there is a power which lay untapped in the modern world, and thus with it castles of villainy and mountains of woe can be conquered. No longer will we, the innocent persons of this world, be forced to labor under the yoke and chain of our oppressors. For, with paper and pen as our allies, nothing shall be able to deter us from creating a Universe of free ideas. It has been said that in order to free the person, the mind must first be liberated; writing letters then presents the quintessential outlet for such a task. However, letters of such social magnitude cannot be written in any old fashion, and there enters the question of exactly how should one go about writing a revolutionary letter. Letters of the revolutionary variety should always be addressed to our oppressors, so when taking the time to write, always make certain to address the letter to the following: Oppressors (Wherever we may find them) 7 Continents of Earth Milky Way Galaxy, Universe Much the same way Santa Claus and or any other “celebrity” of that sort receives mail is the same fashion our oppressors shall get their letters as well. As to the content of the letters, it is always best if they follow a revolutionary format. One in which the problem is stated in such a way as to relieve all doubt from the oppressor’s mind as to
what is to follow, but also in which the problem is set apart from the rest of the letter by writing it in ink. The reason being, problems are always taken much more seriously if they are written in ink then if they were, perhaps, written in crayon. Therefore, it is to the benefit of the letter and humankind at large to “ink” the problem. The body of the letter can be rather tricky because one must back up the problem with facts about why in fact there is a problem, but perhaps more importantly, what should be done. For this, it is imperative to remember that you are just a writer, and because of this you cannot be expected to be responsible for all the facts of the case. Thus, a good way to go about writing the body of a letter is to remove or just not include all of the facts. Every writer knows that the purpose of writing is to be creative, and factual information is seldom, if ever, creative. Thus, it is strongly recommended that allusions, rhetorical phrases, metaphors and heightened language be utilized instead. In this way, your letter can get results and not be hard to read at the same time. Though the body of such letters can be hard sometimes, the real trouble always occurs at the end or conclusion of the letter. This is not surprising, as the author of the letter almost always has used all the wit they can muster for the body and now are without wordplay for the end. Yet, all that needs to be done is for the author to find a poem of any length and insert it at the end. Oppressors hate poetry so much that they will oftentimes re-read the letter so as to escape from having to tax their minds on other literary form. In consequence, a well-written revolutionary letter can have twice the effect an ordinary atypical letter has. Finally, when ending a letter it is always important to sign your name as anonymous because then you can live to write another day. Too often young people feel the need to sign their names in an attempt to gain immortality and stardom, when in reality all they receive in return is a firing squad. Thus, heroes become martyrs, but revolutionary writers become heads of state, which is what makes writing so enjoyable. No risk, with all the rewards. Thus, if you feel the world needs to be changed for the better right away, there can be no better outlet than that of the writer. A champion of truth and righteousness, who looks for nothing but the betterment of humankind. Writers everywhere then should take up their pens and paper against their oppressors everywhere and take glory for today and save death for tomorrow.
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Free Live Lit Calendar Peter Henry U of M Bookstore, Coffman Wednesday, March 8, 7 p.m. Peter Henry’s autobiography, Becoming Mr. Henry, tells the story of the inner workings of a man destined to become a teacher. The book explores how teachers must work in environments that focus on social issues, such as birth control and drug usage. Henry will be discussing his book when he visits the U of M Bookstore in Coffman. Louisa Schein Nolte Center Lounge 315 Pillsbury Dr. SE, Mpls. Thursday, March 9, 4 p.m. Professor Louisa Schein is the author of several works regarding roles of gender, media and tourism in Asia (particularly in China). She will be giving a lecture entitled “The Social Life of Hmong Video.” Bart Schneider Magers and Quinn Booksellers 3038 Hennepin Ave. S, Mpls. (612) 822-4611 Monday, March 13, 7 p.m.
Beautiful Inez, by Bart Schneider, is most guys’ wet dream on paper. The novel follows the love affair between Inez and Sylvia that develops after Inez gives birth to her second child and falls into a depression fueled by her philandering husband. Both women are musicians, and that passion brings them together in this passionate story of love. Café Scientifique: Organizing Life: A New Evolution The Varsity Theater 1308 4th St. SE, Mpls. (612) 604-0222 Tuesday, March 14, 6 p.m. Scott Lanyon, the director of the University’s Bell Museum, will share his interest in ecology and discuss behavior evolution, a current media darling topic. The Varsity Theater’s laidback atmosphere is sure to be a good atmosphere for learning about phylogenetics.
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March 8, 2006
Kiki Smith’s A Gathering exhibit at The Walker Kiki Smith’s A Gathering exhibit at The Walker Center a morbid fairytale—part horror, ArtArt Center is aismorbid fairytale—part horror, part beauty. part beauty.
Smith works in an impressive number of mediSmith works in an impressive number of mediums. From terra cotta wax sculptures ums. From thethe terra cotta andand wax sculptures in in first rooms of the gallery to the installation thethe first rooms of the gallery to the installation drawings at the end, forms of expresandand drawings at the end, fewfew forms of expression unrepresented in this show. The subject sion gogo unrepresented in this show. The subject matter of her work is predominately human matter of her work is predominately thethe human body, represented either a whole in fragbody, represented either as as a whole or or in fragments. A lithograph of ears, eyes, other ments. A lithograph of ears, eyes, andand other body parts stares from wall a sculpture body parts stares from oneone wall at aatsculpture a woman curled in the fetal position of aofwoman curled in the fetal position onon thethe floor. This juxtaposition leaves viewers torn floor. This juxtaposition leaves viewers torn as as to how they should perceive human form. to how they should perceive thethe human form. A Gathering showcases Smith’s from A Gathering showcases Smith’s artart from thethe several decades, works in no lastlast several decades, butbut thethe works areare in no sense dated. Her representations of people sense dated. Her representations of people andand animals universal enough to be understood animals areare universal enough to be understood a number of contexts. Smith’s words, “It’s in ainnumber of contexts. In In Smith’s words, “It’s something that everyone their own authensomething that everyone hashas their own authenexperience with.” Some of pieces come with tic tic experience with.” Some of pieces come with written insights about intent of the artist, written insights about thethe intent of the artist, while others retain their ambiguity openwhile others retain their ambiguity andand openness to interpretation. ness to interpretation.
» The Walker Showcases Kiki Smith’s Body of Work By Michael Mitchell & Jenny Odegard
Smith’s work with body transcends idea Smith’s work with thethe body transcends thethe idea of conventional beauty, portraying what hides of conventional beauty, portraying what hides under skin. A series of sketches resembling under thethe skin. A series of sketches resembling vital organs, a bronze sculpture titled “Womb” vital organs, a bronze sculpture titled “Womb” a rubber mat floor with large, andand a rubber mat onon thethe floor with 200200 large, crystal sperm a few of the works in this crystal sperm areare a few of the works in this vein. vein.
The sperm piece (“Untitled”), completed The sperm piece (“Untitled”), completed in in 1990, provides a unique spin AIDS com1990, provides a unique spin onon AIDS commentary. intent is highlight to highlight dangers mentary. ItsIts intent is to thethe dangers involved with transmission of bodily fluids, involved with thethe transmission of bodily fluids, this sort of portrayal a revolutionary andand this sort of portrayal is aisrevolutionary as-aspect of Smith’s pect of Smith’s art.art. This idea of looking under skin is also seen This idea of looking under thethe skin is also seen a number of the wax sculptures. of in ainnumber of the wax sculptures. “A “A pilepile of fat and flesh,” says, referring to Virgin “The andfatflesh,” SmithSmith says, referring to “The Virgin Mary,” a sculpture which isand colored Mary,” a sculpture which is colored con- and contoured look like muscle toured to looktolike muscle tissue.tissue. While While this is this what comes to mind when think of “the notnot what comes to mind when wewe think of “the nude” in the sense, this horrifying aspect nude” in the artart sense, this horrifying aspect of the exhibit does force a reevaluation of the of the exhibit does force a reevaluation of the body. body. Though there some men portrayed, a majorThough there areare some men portrayed, a majorof the sculptures drawings of female ityity of the sculptures andand drawings areare of female subjects. “Men more reluctant to take their subjects. “Men areare more reluctant to take their clothes off,” says artist, providing a simple clothes off,” says thethe artist, providing a simple answer a question that was aiming a socioanswer to atoquestion that was aiming at aatsociopolitical undertone in the work. Throughout political undertone in the work. Throughout thethe guided tour, Smith provided commentary guided tour, Smith provided commentary onon that was truthful which spoke of her herher artart that was truthful andand which spoke of her personality, politics. personality, notnot herher politics. The exhibit begins to morph about halfway The exhibit begins to morph about halfway through, when Smith says was “switching through, when Smith says sheshe was “switching between abject horror to something conbetween abject horror artart to something constructed care” a reaction a time when structed onon care” as as a reaction to atotime when people needed to focus more care. sheshe feltfelt people needed to focus more onon care. She referred to Martha Stewart someone She referred to Martha Stewart as as someone who enabled to look at life “from who hashas enabled us us to look at life “from thethe kitchen out,” a place where Smith says that kitchen out,” a place where Smith says that at- attitudes behaviors built. Behaviors that titudes andand behaviors areare built. Behaviors that supposed to be feminine, motherly qualities areare supposed to be feminine, motherly qualities
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(ex: kindness, caring), according to Smith, (ex: kindness, caring), according to Smith, should be ideals that everyone strives for. should be ideals that everyone strives for. The universality of Smith’s work is demonThe universality ofin Smith’s work is demonstrated poignantly Smith’s example of the strated poignantly Smith’s She example of the Iraqi prison tortureindisaster. says that vioIraqi prison torture disaster. She in says violent, abusive behavior is learned thethat home, lent, behavior is learned home, in theabusive kitchen. Her work is meantintothe point the in the kitchen. Her work is meant to point the onlooker’s mind towards a higher consciousonlooker’s mind towards a higher consciousness of caring. ness of caring. Although Smith’s work does have a quality of Although Smith’s workshe does have quality social consciousness, says thata she hadof social consciousness, that she had been against all of theshe “90’ssays activism” and esbeen against all of that the “90’s activism” and essentialist thinking defined the time during sentialist thinking that defined the time during which most of the work was completed. Instead, which of the work was completed. Instead, Smith’smost inspiration and approach is drawn from Smith’s inspiration and approach is drawn from her personal experiences and surroundings. her and in surroundings. She personal began to experiences focus on nature her later works She began towas focus on natureininnews her about later works because she immersed the because she was immersed in news about the disappearing species and their habitats. disappearing species and their habitats. Her work with wax was derived from seeing Her workchocolates with wax was derived intricate made in Italyfrom and seeing Germany, intricate chocolates made in Italywith andpaper Germany, and her initial experimentations and initial paper wereher rooted inexperimentations helping her fatherwith construct were helping paperrooted modelsinfor work.her Herfather focus construct on the hupaper models for when work.she Herwas focus on the hu- of man form began given a copy man form began when shewhen was given a copy of Gray’s Anatomy, and later she worked Gray’s Anatomy, and of later she fairytale” worked as an EMT. Her idea thewhen “morbid as an EMT. Herfantasy idea ofofthe “morbid fairytale” came from the death derived from came frominthe her work thatfantasy job. of death derived from her work in that job. The fairytale comes to life in the piece “DaughThe comes to life in the piece “Daughter,” fairytale a reinterpretation of the classic story Little ter,” a reinterpretation of the classic story Little Red Riding Hood. The amalgamation of a girl Red Riding Hood. amalgamation a girl and wolf speaks ofThe Smith’s realization of that a and speaks realization that a packwolf of girls can of beSmith’s much like a pack of wolves, pack of girls can beThe much likeisapart packofofa wolves, just less expected. piece larger just lessofexpected. The piece is part of a larger portion the exhibit that examines nature and portion of the construction exhibit that examines nature and the historical of fairy tales, using the historical construction fairy tales, art to retell and redefine theofclassic viewusing of art to Red’s retell and the character. classic view of Little “girlredefine in distress” Little Red’s “girl in distress” character. Smith says that less is expected from girls and Smith sayslower that less is expected from girlsthing, and that those standards can be a good that those can be atogood as they canlower allowstandards girls and women fulfillthing, a as they canofallow and women to fulfill a multitude rolesgirls and to excel by just doing. multitude roles and to by just “Rapture,”of a sculpture of aexcel woman withdoing. one foot “Rapture,” of a of woman with onewolf, foot embedded ainsculpture the stomach a conquered embedded in the stomach of a conquered wolf, explores how Little Red Riding Hood can be explores how Little Red Riding wall, Hooda can be of reinterpreted. On the opposite series reinterpreted. On the a series of life-sized drawings thatopposite feature wall, women carrying life-sized drawings that feature women carrying wolves over their shoulders lends the onlooker wolves over idea theirofshoulders lends theor onlooker yet another how the fairytale, history yet another ideamight of how fairytale, or history for that matter, bethe reconstructed. for that matter, might be reconstructed. This is at the center of Smith’s art — the idea This is at the center of Smith’s — the at idea that there is no definitive way ofart looking anythat there is nobedefinitive looking anything. Art can beautifulway andofhorrific atat the thing. Art can be beautiful and horrific at the same time. same time. Kiki Smith, “My Blue Lake”, 1995 photogravure and lithograph on mold-made En Tout Cas paper; edition of 41 42-1/2 x 54-3/4 in. Walker Art Center, Minneapolis; T. B. Walker Acquisition Fund, 1996 Photo: Glenn Halvorson Kiki Smith, “Blue Girl”, 1998 silicon bronze figure: 36 x 19-1/2 x 22-1/2 in. smallest starfish: 1/2 x 1/2 x 2-1/2 in. largest starfish: 7 x 7 x 2-1/2 in. installation dimensions variable Courtesy Pace Wildenstein, New York Photo: Ellen Page Wilson Kiki Smith, “Honeywax”, 1995 beeswax, microcrystalline wax, and pigment 15-1/2 x 36 x 20 in. Collection Milwaukee Art Museum; Gift of Contemporary Art Society
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Feature
Everyone here could kick my ass.
March 8, 2006
Feature
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PHOTOS BY BRENNAN VANCE
Stepping into the shoes of an amateur boxer. BY BRIAN TOLENTINO
gymnastics and in-line skating.
Boxing is for bone-headed lunatics. It is a barbaric sport for numb-minded imbeciles who release their aggression by fighting instead of doing something normal like playing Halo, football or beer pong. Even Rocky says, “You would be a moron to want to box.” So why do people subject themselves to torture in an imprisoned square where each person wallops the other for three minute intervals? “It is a way of conquering fear,” says Josh Murphy, sophomore sociology and criminal deviance major at the U. He has boxed for four months. “Once you get in that ring, it is pretty much two guys beating the shit out of each other. What in life can scare you after that?” Murphy is so fearless in a recent job interview he had a puffy eye and cut lip from sparring the night before. “They probably thought I was in a street brawl,” Murphy says. He never explained why his face was beaten. One reason is the stigma people generally have about boxers and the misconceptions many people have about a sport they know little about.
Misconception #2: Boxing is unhealthy. Boxing provides a magnificent workout and is an effective way of losing weight. Murphy played football and basketball in high school and says “training for boxing has put me in the best shape of my life.” Since Murphy started boxing he has lost 28 pounds and is down to 165 pounds, the ideal weight for him to box. Boxing also promotes a person to shy away from cigarettes and alcohol. “You can either smoke and get your ass-handed to you in the third round, or not smoke. It’s up to you,” Murphy says.
Misconception #1: Boxing is Dangerous OK, boxing is slightly more dangerous than wearing a $100 Polo Shirt and hitting a 9-iron. But compared to other contact sports is it really that dangerous? “You do get cut and bruised boxing, but it is like any other sport,” Murphy says. “You are going to get banged up in hockey, football or just about anything you do.” In boxing you must wear headgear until you become a professional. You must also wear a mouthpiece and a shirt to absorb sweat and dirt. Women must wear breast protectors. According to the National Safety Council’s 1996 report, amateur boxing had fewer injuries than hockey, soccer,
Misconception #3: Boxing takes no strategy Boxing is more than swinging as hard as you can at your opponent. Murphy’s coach compares boxing to a chess match. Every punch and every block a boxer makes is orchestrated strategically to exploit his or her opponent, to put a boxer in the best position to win. Places to Box I had always been interested in boxing, but too lazy and afraid to actually try it. Here is what my experience was like at two boxing gyms in the Twin Cities. Uppercut Boxing, Minneapolis Introductory Class: free I went to Uppercut Boxing Gym to find out more about myself. I was a fighting virgin, and it was time I saw the light. When I first walked into Uppercut there was an overwhelming sound of smacking boxing gloves, random yelling and foul body odor. After I was shown where to wait for my introductory class I underwent a terrify-
ing epiphany: Every single man and woman in this building could kick my ass. While receiving my revelation, a robust young lady covered in boxing attire walked up to me. Was she going to welcome me to her boxing gym? “Hey you,” she said sternly, her mean tough boxing eyes staring at me. “Next time don’t drag dirt in front of my locker.” I said sorry like a little wuss. I wanted to tell her to chill out, get off the roids and leave me alone. But once again I remembered—she could kick my ass. Once the class started I felt comfortable. My group had nine people ranging from college students to middle-aged women. The first thing we learned was the basic boxing stance and how to hold your hands. Then we were taught the four typical punches in boxing: the jab, cross, hook and uppercut. The instructor of the class, Lisa Bauch, was also the founder and owner of the gym. She was blonde, about 5’7” and I was confident she could kick my ass in less than five seconds. After learning the basic moves, we were given boxing gloves and punch mitts. I was paired up with a 6-foot man who, for some reason, felt like his manhood was being challenged on every punch. He grunted loudly after every swing and a waterfall of sweat poured down his face after about 20 seconds. Of course, I couldn’t tell him to stop hitting me so hard. That would reveal the truth: that I am a weakling and a wuss. When it was my turn to punch, Bauch came over and readjusted my punching position. In a nice, subtle way she told me I was doing everything wrong and that I sucked at boxing. Overall, I had a good time and would recommend anyone interested to try. Most people in the introduction class suck so you don’t have to feel self-conscious about being bad. Analysis: Serious atmosphere. Ideal for someone who wants to competitively box. Can also be
used as a workout place, but it is expensive. Gym Rates: Single class after introduction class: $20 Six Classes $75 auto withdrawal $70 One Month Unlimited $128 auto withdrawal $117 Three Months Unlimited $320 Six Months Unlimited $585 One Year Unlimited $1070 West Side Boxing, Eden Prairie Introductory Class: free West Side boxing is nestled in the middle of suburbia, meaning the clientele is different than at Uppercut. Most boxers are high school age boys and girls, some college students, and some older persons. When I first arrived at West Side, I immediately received one-on-one assistance in the proper boxing stance and the four basic punches. After, I participated in drills with the regular boxers. I was matched up with a short, blonde girl about 17 years old and we continuously boxed at three-minute intervals for an entire hour. After doing drills everyone united in a circle and did pushups and sit-ups for ten minutes and then practice was over. Analysis: West Side Boxing has a relaxed atmosphere and is a great place for someone who may be intimidated by more serious gyms. Many of its members are looking for a good workout, not necessarily to box competitively. Gym Rates: Single Class: $15 Monthly one class per week $49 Autopay $44 Monthly Unlimited $90 Autopay $75 Registration fee of $39 includes: Hand wraps, mouth guard and a white West Side boxing shirt.
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Voices
March 8, 2006
illustration by jeremy sengly
America on a Barbed Wire Fence
Voices
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17
Photo Poll with the members of Tapes ‘n Tapes
Is censorship ever justified?
Josh • vocals, guitar
Jeremy • drums
Shawn • keys, horns
Matt • bass, vocals
No, I don’t believe in censorship. I think people should be their own censors, but should be more proactive in doing so. I mean, come one…we’re all adults here.
Agreed.
I think censorship is appropriate in some cases, like with stuff geared for children. There have to be some boundaries or else the Saturday morning cartoons will just turn into animated pornos.
As a society, I think we should replace censorship with friendship, and justification with fornication. So to answer your question with question, is friendship ever fornication?
The unwillingness of the U.S. Government to end illiteracy
TOM MCNAMARA It has been fifteen years since the United States’ government has seriously discussed illiteracy in America. President George W. Bush’s recent “No Child Left Behind” campaign hinted at the issue, but turned out to be merely a slogan to gain votes instead of a solution to help Americans. It was in fact during George H.W. Bush’s administration in the early 1990s that modern America was introduced to its startling illiteracy problem. In 1991, Congress passed the National Literacy Act to put an end to illiteracy in America. The bill states that “[in 1991] nearly 30,000,000 adults in the United States have serious problems with literacy.” Over ten years later in 2003, The National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL) did an extensive survey of American literacy rates. The findings, which were finally released in December of 2005, found little change between 1991 and 2003. On Dec. 15, 2005, Mark Schneider, the commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, said in response to the 2003 literacy survey that roughly “30 million Americans cannot do much more than sign a form or search a simple document to find out what they are allowed to drink before a medical test.” In other words, the National Literacy Act of 1991 failed—nothing substantial changed in over ten years. Nothing changed because the institution of America needs illiterate people in order to exist. Though America calls itself a democracy, its capitalist ideologies cre-
ate inequality in not only class, but in literacy as well. For that reason, literacy campaigns will never succeed in the United States if they are sponsored by the American government—look no further than the failure of the 1991 National Literacy Act for evidence. Moreover, the U.S. government—Republican and Democrat—does not want total literacy. According to Paulo Freire’s article “The Adult Literacy Process as Cultural Action for Freedom and Education,” the flaw of institutionalized literacy campaigns in un-egalitarian societies or, in the case of the United States, government run literacy campaigns is that “[m]erely teaching men to read and write does not work miracles; if there are not enough jobs for men able to work, teaching more men to read and write will not create them.” If applied to the United States, Freire’s contention provides two reasons as to why the Literacy Act of 1991 failed and why future literacy acts will fail too. Firstly, in terms of illiterates or poorly functioning literates improving their ability to read, write and comprehend, there is no incentive. In a capitalist society, if you are one of these below basic functioning literates or non-literates, then even if you do improve your literacy level it does not mean that your quality of life will improve (e.g. class status, job, etc.). In the same article, Freire gives an example of what a Latin American adult literacy primer would be like: Peter did not know how to read. Peter was ashamed. One day, Peter went to school and registered for a night course. Peter’s teacher was very good. Peter knows how to read now. Look at Peter’s face. [These lessons are generally illustrated.] Peter is smiling.
He is a happy man. He already has a good job. Everyone ought to follow his example. This example is not that different from how an American adult literacy primer would look. However, the problem with this model is that it is idealistic and far from the truth. In reality, Peter may be able to read, but how will that translate into a job in capitalist America? Peter has no work experience other than being a low-level worker his entire life. He does not have references. He does not have a college degree. He may not even have a high school degree. With this in mind, how is Peter going to make the big bucks that his learning-to-read primer promised him? Peter cannot even take out a loan to start his own business because he does not have any credit history on the account that he just recently learned how to create a savings account and apply for a credit card. As a result, the now literate Peter is in the same place as he was when he was illiterate. Only now, Peter has the tools—reading, writing and comprehension—to realize the full extent of his situation. Peter’s ability to identify his oppressor, though he probably had a good idea as to who he was before, has armed Peter. This is the second reason the Literacy Act of 1991 failed. As of 2003, according to the NAAL America has approximately eleven million adults that are illiterate in English, thirty million adults that are bellow basic prose literacy and sixty-three million adults that are at the basic literacy level (which, as defined by the NAAL, means “…they are able to perform simple literacy activities such as understanding information in a pamphlet for prospective jurors.”). Now, imagine if the National Literacy Act
of 1991 worked and these roughly 104 million low functioning literates could now perform at the same level as those with intermediate or proficient literacy skills in America (which, according to the NAAL, is roughly 123 million adults)—America would be in chaos. In the United States’ capitalist society, there would not be enough middle class or upper class space. Those who would end up in the lower class of the country would have the training, education, ability and, most importantly, the right to be in a higher class level according to the general American ideology of privilege—those who work hard and are deserving will live well. In an America where a literacy campaign is successful, this will not be the case. Instead, the lower class will justifiably claim their right to the American good life with their newly obtained education and act when the American government is unable to produce due to the constraints of capitalism. A successful literacy campaign in the United States would domino a social revolution—American capitalism would be attacked by the masses. The institution of America—the white upper class and its government—must protect itself at all cost. Therefore, the National Literacy Act of 1991 was intended to fail from the beginning. If Cuba, an underdeveloped country, was able to eradicate illiteracy in one year in 1961, then why could the American government—the most powerful nation in world history—not end illiteracy in ten years? The answer: either America is inferior to Cuba or America is intentionally oppressing a considerable amount of its people in order to protect capitalism. What would the American government rather admit to? Unfortunately, the question will never be asked until the majority of 123 million highest functioning literates are willing to risk their class status. Tom McNamara is a Voices staff writer and welcomes comments at letters@wakemag.org
Voices
March 8, 2006
illustration by miranda peterson
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Freedom of Illustration One journalism student defends freedom of the press
Sarah E. Bauer In the past few weeks we all have heard of and possibly seen a series of cartoons published by the Danish paper, Jyllands-Posten. The set of 12 cartoons, depicting the Islamic prophet Muhammad in various scenes was published by the paper on Sept. 30, 2005, after a Danish author complained he could not find an illustrator for his children’s book about the Prophet. The Copenhagen Post wrote: “Jyllands-Posten called for and printed the cartoons by various Danish illustrators, after reports that artists were refusing to illustrate works about Islam, out of fear of fundamentalist retribution. The newspaper said it
printed the cartoons as a test of whether Muslim fundamentalists had begun affecting the freedom of expression in Denmark.” Upon viewing them, I found at least four of the cartoons to be overtly offensive toward Muslims (or anyone). The cartoon that has received the most criticism features Muhammad with a lit bomb in his turban. All of the cartoons however, regardless of their intent, are viewed as offensive by Muslims, since all depictions of Muhammad are explicitly prohibited by Islamic tradition. This situation seems simple: Denmark’s secular government respects press freedom and therefore the paper has the right to publish whatever editorial content they want to, right? I don’t think so. The press in democratic, secular countries that value freedom of expression should publish everything that it sees fit to fulfill its mission and responsibility to the public; to act as a watchdog over government, to inform the citizenry and to inspire and provoke discussion. Freedom of the press grants an important institution a great amount of power; but this power requires great responsibility. The Muhammad cartoon situation is complex. It is a massive train wreck of government, religion, freedom and culture. And I do not see a clear-cut answer to the problem that these cartoons
present. On one hand, it appears that, at least the original publication of the cartoons was an exercise in press freedom. Jyllands-Posten wanted to test the waters; to see if in an environment of change they could print potentially offensive material without being hauled into court and prosecuted (and they weren’t). On the other hand, it seems that the paper acted with intent to offend an entire portion of the country’s population. Simply creating the image of Muhammad is offensive to Muslims. However, non-Muslims have a hard time understanding this concept. The publication of such images must have a context; readers must develop a better understanding of the religion and culture of Islam before they can pass judgment on them. Could Jyllands-Posten possibly predict that their cartoons would spark violence in many Muslim countries resulting in the deaths of nearly 150 people or the destruction of Danish embassies in several cities? I doubt it, but they had to understand that the cartoons would be very offensive to some. It is any paper’s responsibility to know their audience, to anticipate possible reactions to their content and to minimize the possible harm that will be caused by publication. The paper eventually apologized, stating that
the cartoons had been taken out of context. I do not think that anyone will emerge from this debacle a winner. Papers that have reprinted the cartoons have been severely criticized, some fundamentalist Islamic leaders have called for a “Holocaust” cartoon contest as a rebuttal to the Muhammad cartoons, and thousands of Muslims have rose up in violence. Censoring the press or imposing sanctions for publishing the cartoons is not the answer. But, neither is violence. Acting out violently simply perpetuates the stereotypes that some of the most offensive cartoons depict. While the international press wielded great power during the past months, demonstrating that they will not be restrained by either government or religion when publishing editorial content, a small and not necessarily representative portion of a growing population of Muslims rose up in violence, demonstrating that they have power as well. However, I don’t agree that either group, waving paper or guns, has acted with responsibility in this situation. Good journalism is supposed to spark discussion, but all I’ve heard is yelling. Sarah E. Bauer is a Voices guest columnist and welcomes comments at letters@wakemag.org
Sound&Vision
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Detonating on the Fly Improvised Explosive Device create audiovisual in real time at the Southern Theater BY erin belling Amidst an intricate network of cables, switches, laptops and blinking lights, VJ Neverwas leans over and picks up a very low-tech, half-empty Culligan water jug. The microphone captures the faintest taps and rattles as Neverwas delicately explores the clear plastic with his fingers, testing its percussive potential. What begins as curiously crisp and hesitant consideration of the container’s surface quality, seamlessly melds into an enchanting swell of deep tribal beats. Every slap and every slosh is then fed into a soundboard where electronic musician James Patrick recombines and loops them into a larger, shadowy sculpture of sound. It’s suddenly clear that every tap, every slosh, every accident, and every intention encountered during this performance was meant to be absorbed, experienced and appreciated. This opening piece embodied everything unexpected and vulnerable that an improvised performance entails. The audience was adequately primed for Improvised Explosive Device’s very unique brand of real-time audio-visual experimentation. This Minneapolis collaboration of artists has been described as a “spontaneous visual and aural remix of microhouse grooves, surrealistic dream cinema, and virtuosic skronk funk that has not been seen or heard anywhere before.” Their groundbreaking approach redefines music by combining electronics with acoustics, found sounds and imagery in a strange brew of conventional rhythms and conceptual sound and video structures. The collaboration showcases film artist and musician VJ Neverwas on laptop imagery and guitar, Electropolis’s Michael Ferrier on tenor sax and various electronic devices, James Patrick on laptop manipulations and live mix, improvisational video
photos by brennan vance
artist Mark Henrickson on Jitter (a very techy realtime editing software), Chris Bates on bass, and Greg Schutte on drums. Together they create an ebb and flow of beats and dreamscapes that teeter between tempo and ambience. Henrickson describes IED as an “opportunity to explore sound and image spaces that we otherwise wouldn’t have a chance to explore.” Explorations at the Southern Theater performance included a recut of Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story, in which the film was remixed into a melodic frame-by-frame analysis of its hypnotically precise and electrifying choreography. Other, slightly more horrifying incarnations included a piece juxtaposing footage of American soldiers escorting a family from their home at gunpoint with an equally terrifying clip from TV’s “Trading Spouses,” in which “Mom” screams with murderous buck-toothed rage in the name of Jesus. According to Neverwas, the fusion of live video and musical performance is not only progressive but necessary. “It is important not to separate them,” he says. A pattern of sound vibrations and a pattern of light photons both have the same power to evoke emotional reactions if executed in the right combinations. IED’s imagery and sound mixtures are engrossing and provocative, a loaded amalgamation in the vein of what Neverwas describes. The name of the group has been subject to some controversy among individuals with a deep seated anger about the events of the last two to three years. To name your band Improvised Explosive Device, after a homemade bomb designed to cause death or injury, most certainly has many contemporary connotations that are genuinely upsetting. But the group’s performances are very much a plea for peace and understanding. Neverwas sees the public’s response to these three words as a sort of lingual acid test, and looks forward to a world in which the band’s title sounds outdated and irrelevant. “I’ll do anything I can to bring down the current situation in a peaceful way,” Neverwas says. IED also performed at this year’s Spark festival. If you were not fortunate enough to catch them this month, keep an eye out for them at local gallery shows in April.
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Sound & Vision
March 8, 2006
The Pines Warm Up the Cedar Cultural Center BY NICK UPTON Despite the weather, a full house braved the frigid temperatures on Feb. 17 to see The Pines at the Cedar Cultural Center. The venue, as always, had an intimate feel and the weather outside only made it warmer. The bartenders told jokes about bartenders and the crowed milled around with steaming cups of tea and cider. Conversations about the weather filled the chilly concert hall until the first note was heard from the opening act, The Spaghetti Western String Company. The avant-garde ensemble wowed new and old fans alike with their unique style. The band, which defies an easy definition, played a mix of folk, jazz and bluegrass which erred towards the baroque. The musical dynamics of the awardwinning group were phenomenal. Each of the musicians had a simple, rhythmic part while the lead drifted among banjo, mandolin, violin and the occasional guitar. The band, which has a history of writing film scores, was very skilled at creating a mood. “The Theme of Red Balloon” featured a driving banjo part and time changes that mimicked the bouncy, floating feeling of the red balloon. The nearly all-acoustic performance was punctuated with one startling beautiful vocal song, titled “Luna Marinara.” Like the band’s name, the song was a nod to founding member Mike Rossetto’s Italian heritage. The mandolin player, Nick Lemme, sang the operatic tune with such resonance it sent chills up my spine. The quartet ended the set with an eerie song that made use of strange distorted vocals via an old baby monitor. After an intermission of praise for The Spaghetti Western and more hot tea, The Pines
took over the stage and thanked their friends “The Spaghetti O’s.” The bands have played together and collaborated for several years on albums and in concert. “The Pine Nuts,” as Rossetto affectionately named them, were the perfect foil for The Spaghetti Western and warmed up the crowd with a foot tapping, bluesy sound. David Huckfelt and Benson Ramsey expanded beyond their normal duo with an onstage accordion and piano player and Ramsey’s little brother on keyboard. The Pines, who are signed to the Iowa-based Trailer Records, are a mix of bluesy grooves and folk influences. Ramsey’s raspy vocals lend an ethereal feel to the band’s mostly bittersweet love songs. The band strayed from their normal low-fi, high-energy shows with the extra two members. The change would have been a disappointment, but the additional musicians helped create the wall of sound that The Pines normally achieve with a faster rhythm and more distortion. The set sounded more like the band’s studio albums and less like their boozy bar shows. The slower pace made it easier to meditate on the poignant lyrics and song writing. The foot-tapping rhythm made songs reminiscent of Nick Cave romance and somber folk music easier to swallow. And somehow the band made their rendition of “You Are My Sunshine” sound somber with a slow, waltz rhythm. Midway through the set The Spaghetti Western came back on stage and performed a collection of songs with The Pines. The two wildly different styles combined flawlessly showing the members history of collaboration and fantastic stage dynamics.
PHOTos by nick upton
Above: Spaghetti Western String Co. Below: The Pines
Sound & Vision
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Attention: Local Filmmakers Your red carpet is waiting Film fans and filmmakers—opportunity has officially knocked. I recently attended the third offering of “Fearless Filmmakers” and was not only blown back by the quality of the local films shown but also by the potential connections available to those who attend. Hobnobbing at the after-party were directors, producers, actors and investors of all levels. I’d call this a once-ina-lifetime opportunity, except it’ll be happening once a month.
Project Spotlight’s aim is to give the Hollywood VIP feel right here in Minnesota. And I can testify that they’re doing a good job. “Fearless Filmmakers” is an event put on at the end of each month by Project Spotlight, a local non-profit group “dedicated to enhancing the lifestyle of creative artists within fashion, film, music and arts.” These guys are passionate about creating opportunities for people working hard in their respective arts and “Fearless Filmmakers” is just one of the ways they’re showing that passion. According to founders Sasha Patel and Bobby Marsden, it’s about creating “an event, a party to celebrate and honor local” filmmakers. Their aim is to give the Hollywood VIP feel right here in Minnesota. And I can testify
South by Southwest Sound and Vision would like to congratulate the following Minnesota acts for their upcoming appearances at this year’s South By Southwest Music Festival: Atmosphere Brother Ali Coach Said Not To The Deaths DeeJayBird Dropping Daylight Hockey Night Dan Israel Kill the Vultures Los Nativos
The Magnolias Mark Mallman Metallagher Tim O’Reagan The Owls Plastic Constellations P.O.S. Solid Gold Sukpatch Tapes ‘n Tapes Luke Zimmerman
that they’re doing a good job. The evening starts with showings of locally produced short films and/or music videos. The short films (and one music video) that I saw offered up WWII action, vampires, stop-motion animation and a comedy involving a cynical cupid. Each was amazingly well-done from a technical standpoint and equally entertaining; something for everyone. There were also some memorable performances, especially considering the microbudgeted nature of these films. But that’s just the start. The night ends with a posh after-party where local film fans and aspiring filmmakers can meet the cast and crew of each film and network with other like-minded individuals. At the event I attended, champagne and free appetizers flowed like wine (if in fact that’s possible) and a wide range of tunes were spun. For $10, plus whatever you drink, this was a fun and not-too-expensive way to spend a night out.
The short films and one music video offered up WWII action, vampires, stopmotion animation and a comedy involving a cynical cupid. Project Spotlight is looking for short films from university students, especially at the University of Minnesota. Patel and Marsden know the U has plenty of aspiring filmmakers and they’d love to see some quality work submitted. They admit they can’t show everything that’s submitted, but the members of Project Spotlight want to help young filmmakers make their movies the best they can be and will try to find a venue for them and maximize the audience. That kind of opportunity is, at the very least, worth looking into. Young Scorsese, find some quality equipment and get shooting. Minnesota may not be Hollywood but there are still ways of getting a low-budget epic to the masses. Check out project-spotlight.com for the next event. Films can be submitted to films@projectspotlight.com.
BY ALEX AMEND
BY chris wilson
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Bastard
March 8, 2006
This Week in UofM History • March 10, 1899 • On the eve of the coldest tenth day of March in the university’s relatively short existence, second year agriculture student Mort Bellows found himself locked inside the U’s chicken coup with 450 other chickens. Despite hours of bellows, Bellows was faced with the grave possibility of freezing to death. In a panicked fit of stupidity, Bellows stripped himself naked and tried to warm himself with the 450 chickens. However, once Mort let the chickens out of their cages, a local resident opened the barn door, setting loose all the chickens. Authorities tried to round up the escaped chickens, but gave up after a few hours because they didn’t really give a shit.
Website of the Issue youtube.com/watch?v=NwcLdCT3IsI
Dear W ake, You su ck. Qu it prin so mu ting. I ch. hate y ou Signed , Jason Shnee bly Sopho more, Undec ide
Dear Wake, d
Dear Wake, ma and you You killed my grand , you bascar ur yo th hit me wi such terall tards. Why are you rible people? Yours Truly, Isabella Smith ed Freshman, Undecid
Ummm… I saw you at the Dinkytowner la st weekend, and I thought you were pretty cute. Do you have a girlfriend or a boyfriend? I have both, but I’m willing to pa rt ways wit h either if you’re intere sted. Give m e a call if you’re inte rested. Waiting for your reply, Pat Moshman so Junior, Chem n istry
ake, Dear W
eral hed sev u publis were in o y k e e ought Last w looking that I th pictures …. Oh wait, I’m . e k te a s The W poor ta se, not u o th n e at P , My bad rkunden r U e c n La so t Profes logy n Assista io B f o t n e Departm
Bastard
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BY HILARY FALK
Want Ads WANTED: My car not to be covered with flyers for nightclubs when I park in Dinkytown. WANTED: To put flyers all over the cars of nightclub owners to see how they like it … I hate those fucking flyers. WANTED: A yellow submarine. Contact: The Beatles (the remaining Beatles, that is)
WANTED: To get the song “What a Girl Wants” out of my head … NOW!!! WANTED: A cell phone that doesn’t need a battery charger, because it won’t rely on batteries, but rather a complex system of pulleys … The pulleys, however, will need a charger.
WANTED: A cure for the common cold, preferably a cure that doesn’t give you malaria. WANTED: A shotgun that shoots the little flag, like on cartoons. Except this flag will be filled with biological weapons.
WANTED: A monkey that knows how to waltz well. Quite well. In fact, it doesn’t even need to be a monkey ... Wait, yes, the monkey part is essential. WANTED: I guess it doesn’t have to be a monkey. A dog would suffice. But I severely doubt a dog knows how to waltz well. I mean, come on, it stands on all four legs.
The Hidden Eye
wakemag.org/content/blogs/hiddeneye
Saturday, March 4, 2006 • 5:14 PM • Posted by Kristen Mueller
Globalization: Raping Women and the Earth After two hours of recharging on the couch, the ring of my phone drags me upstairs. Allie invites me to International Women’s Day at Coffman Union. Let’s see -- should I go back to researching online while a girl backflips off a balance beam on TV, or listen to a bunch of kick-ass activists illuminate the myriad of crimes happening today and what we can do to start righting the wrongs? The choice was easy. While getting dressed I jumped, flailed and generally rocked around my room to No Doubt. (I’m just a girl, lucky me ... Hell yea!) It seemed like the appropriate, feminist, thing to do. Lining Coffman’s Great Hall were rows of tables holding buttons and brochures for pro-choice, pro emergency contraceptive, pro-empowerment and pro-female action groups. At 2:45, Allie and I hiked up three flights of stairs for a session titled “Latina Women Respond to Globalization.” Seated around a board table, Rosita Balch, Susana de Leon, and Teresa Oritz gave candid accounts of the devestation globalization—fueled by giant American corporations, like Coca Cola—has wreaked on Colombia and Mexico, their respective homelands. It was a literal tearjerker, exposing the world outside the cocoon many of us live in. Here are a few things they each had to say:
Rosita: In Colombia, women must constantly fight for their lives. Their biggest enemy? Greed and control of resources. Not to mention the men who rape, abuse, and then stigmatize them for having being raped and abused. Schools and hospitals don’t offer vital resources or are shut down. Girls are targeted and commercialized by the fashion and food industries, which tell them to be pretty and cute and sweet. (Sound familiar?) Women are fighting back. They’ve started co-ops to plant potatos and corn and fruit instead of strictly coffee and flowers (to export). They’re teaching girls arts and theater and humanity, programs chopped from schools. Yes, it’s a start. But without worldwide acknowledgement of the social costs of living in a global, consumer, corporate-run society, the future is grim. Help fight for basic human rights. Visit the Resource Center of the Americas for organizations that need help. Susana: The control of human labor is the basis of slavery. It’s a radical idea, but people have the right to their humanity. Women have the power to question others’ politics. Everything we do here has a resonance in the world. On Minnesota’s Immigrants: We’re being hounded by Governor Pawlenty. We can’t call the police when our husbands hit us, because we don’t want them to be deported. Condemning and
shunning immigrants is nothing short of blaming the rape victim for being raped. On Resource Exploitation: Water power is being harnessed and exported from rivers. “I grew up bathing in the river. There is no river now.” Teresa: The northern and southern Mexican borders are buffer zones for privitization and globalization, where women are trapped, assasinated and used for prostitution. Human beings are treated as commodities; commodities that can be thrown away when every last use has been wrung from them. Corporations supersede Mexican law. That is what globalization does. Words on a screen don’t begin to convey the amount of suffering these women expressed today. Nor do they illuminate every dire impact of globalization, fueld by corporate—and American—greed. But hopefully these words will make you think. Maybe you’ll choose not to buy a Coke the next time your thirsty. Maybe you’ll shop at a thrift store or buy locally grown food. Maybe you’ll talk to the hmong woman on the bus, without just asking her what country she’s from and if she speaks English. Maybe you’ll even click on the link above and read about some of the organizations that desperately need your help. Or maybe you’ll just e-mail this message to a friend, and raise awareness for others’ plight.