Whitman College Pioneer - Issue 4 Fall 2009

Fall Harvest celebrates heritage

Financial aid keeps Whitman accessible

Club tennis looks forward to tournament, funding

NEWS, page 2

SPORTS, page 14

s glish major Senior En ith w get creative ort sh poetry and s fiction these ge 5 A&E , pa

NEWS, page 2

WHITMAN COLLEGE Walla Walla, WA Volume CXXV / Issue 4 whitmanpioneer.com October 1, 2009

Walt Whitman lecture cut

Special feature:

alumni weekend

Visiting Writers Series lacks funds, reworks programming

Approximately 600 alumni from the classes 1984, 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1999 and their friends and family will visit campus for Fall Reunion Weekend starting tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 1.

by C. J. WISLER

Pages 12 & 13

Staff Reporter

Interfaith forum seeks peace, forgiveness between religions Panelists share perspectives on faith

Anyone who has not been hiding under a rock for the past year and a half knows that the financial crisis has hit hard. Even inside the “Whitman bubble,” major changes have had to be made to offset the damage.

For members of the English department and fellow literary enthusiasts, one of the worst casualties is the absence of the Walt Whitman Lecture from this year’s Visiting Writers Series.

In years past, the Walt Whitman Lecture has brought renowned writers such as Billy Collins, Galway Kinnell, Adrienne Rich and Richard Wilbur to campus. Last year’s lecturer, Charles Simic, was known for his magical realism style of prose poetry.

“The Visiting Writers budget was cut some this year, as were all budgets on campus,” said Associate Professor of Creative Writing and English Department Chair Katrina Roberts. “The lecture was not lost due to lack of support but, instead, as a result of the [economic downfall].”

Roberts, who helped organize the Visiting Writers Series when she arrived at Whitman, also helped promote the Walt Whitman Lecture. The lecture was designed a few years after the series began in order to celebrate National Poetry Month, which takes place in April.

LECTURE , page 5

by GALEN BERNARD News Editor

Leaders from five religious traditions met at Congregation Beth Israel Tuesday, Sept. 29 for Walla Walla Interfaith Forgiveness Forum, in the spirit of forming an interfaith community that can foster understanding and peace between religions.

The informal setting, with the panelists sitting before the audience in plastic chairs behind two wooden tables, facilitated a casual but determined conversation among the local religious leaders.

Participants were Richard Mattheson-Kaplan, worship leader at Congregation Beth Israel; Paul Crowther, bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Darold Bigger, professor at Walla Walla University; Tim Hays, pastor of Assumption Catholic Church; Joel Ley, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church; Brother Hassan Ziada, imam of the Tri-Cities Islamic Center and Brother Yehia Ibrahim, also from the Tri-Cities Islamic Center.

“What a marvelous privilege it is to gather together as members of a larger community than

What: Walla Walla Sausage Festival

Where: Desales High School

When: Friday, Oct. 2, 5 p.m.-midnight and Saturday,

Oct. 3, 11 a.m.midnight

Recession restricts fellowships

by LIZ FORSYTH Staff Reporter

Van Neste Former Whitman professor Patrick Henry gives introductory remarks at the Interfaith Forgiveness Forum on Tuesday evening. Henry emphasized the need for dialogue towards religious unity.

our own denomination,” said Hays as he began his remarks.

A large community did turn out, between 75 and 100 men and women, most of whom ap-

peared to be above 40 years old. The audience was seated with their backs to the Torah ark at the front of the room, in an effort to support the INTERFAITH, page 3

Grills galore at Sausage Festival

by ERIC NICKESONMENDHEIM Staff Reporter

Hungry for sausages, strawberry shortcakes and live entertainment? You’re in luck because the annual Walla Walla Sausage Festival takes place on Friday, Oct. 2 and Saturday, Oct. 3.

Each year since 2002, the sausage fest has drawn locals and out-of-towners to DeSales High School to enjoy food, games

and live music.

The Sausage Fest originated when a local couple, Rich and Lisa Jacobs, who now reside in South Bend, Indiana, desired to create an event like the Sausage Fest in the Tri-Cities. The couple saw the festival as a means to raise money for DeSales, a private Catholic school, and have fun at the same time.

Ever since then, Whitman students, alumni, locals and others have stopped in to eat, buy T-shirts and interact with the

I N

“Same-sex domestic partnerships have a remarkable ability to instill fear in critics.”

JAMES SLEDD ‘10, Columnist, page 11

T H I S

community.

Sophomore Brett Konen is very excited to return to the festival, which she attended last year with several friends she made on a Scramble.

“It was a really fun way to get out of Whitman and mingle with townies, eat some good food, and watch live entertainment,” Konen said.

One new event at the festival this year is Bingo, which will occur on Saturday SAUSAGE , page 3

RECESSION, page 2

I S S U E :

“I would have definitely thought twice about coming to a school that made it difficult for me to observe my religion and my culture.”

“I want to think about all the ways people’s lives are shortened due to subjection and oppression.”

ALIE KUSSIN-SHOPTAW ‘11,

DEAN SPADE, Matthew Shepard lecturer, page 4

page 9

This year’s applicants for fellowships and grants will face fierce competition.

Not only are budget cuts a threat, but “more students are applying to graduate schools and for fellowships to help them through because the job market is paralyzed,” said Director of Fellowships and Grants Keith Raether, who works directly with students to help them succeed in attaining such awards. “Competition is even keener. It makes applicants even more commendable.”

Programs that have been suspended include the Jack Kent Cook Scholarships, the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships and the American Graduate Fellowship.

Humanity in Action, a summer fellowship program that has chosen Whitman students in the past, has tentatively cut their Paris program and will reduce the number of applicants accepted. Many more are cutting back or will reduce the number of applicants accepted.

Seniors Dan Will and Seth Bergeson are both braving this year’s difficult application climate. Will hopes to get a Fulbright fellowship for a teaching assistantship in Germany, where he studied abroad for his full junior year. Bergeson is applying for the Fulbright and Watson fellowships and the LUCE scholars program, which just this year was made available to Whitman students.

“It’s my twelfth year here, and this is probably the most excited I’ve been about a team.”

JEFF NORTHAM, Men’s varsity tennis coach,

page 16

“I firmly believe that giving your time to serve others can and should be regarded as a ‘manly’ pursuit.”

MATT MANLEY ‘11, Columnist, page 9

2

News

October 1, 2009O

Student spirituality increases, organized religion wanes

Pioneer spirit drives Harvest Festival

by TAYLOR MESOJEDNIK Contributing Reporter

by LIZ FORSYTH Staff Reporter

The Fort Walla Walla Museum hosted the 17th annual Fall Harvest Festival on Saturday, Sept. 26 and Sunday, Sept.

27, in celebration of Walla Walla’s pioneer heritage. Bonnets, prairie dresses and overalls abounded as a corps of volunteers worked to entertain the trickle of guests with a simulation of life in the nineteenth century American West.

Events included demonstrations of pioneer crafts, musical performances and hot air balloon rides. An antique truck show was open to festival-goers on a lawn adjacent to the pioneer village and the sputter of old engines mingled with harmonica and banjo during the otherwise silent event. The size of the crowd hovered around one hundred people for most of the afternoon, with the biggest audiences at the blacksmithing workshop and the hot air balloon rides.

The blacksmithing station was manned by several volunteers who had studied pioneer methods of working with metal. Guests were invited to try their hand at making a horseshoe or fire poker, while the performers demonstrated how pioneers would have repaired a wagon wheel on the trail.

“I started learning how to repair

hubanks Attendees of the Fall Harvest Festival pound metal to make a wagon wheel. The festival featured blacksmith lessons and other demonstrations of pioneer crafts and trades. wheels about five years ago,” said blacksmith Ron Krause. “I had done blacksmith work at previous shows and I got into contact with some of the guys from this area that used to do this for a living. I learned what I could from them, but a lot of it I had to learn by doing.”

Throughout the festival emphasis was placed on honoring frontier traditions. Most of the volunteer staff dressed in period costumes and operated out of the pioneer village. While the illusion was somewhat broken by the roar of the hot air balloon ignition and a taco stand near the center of the festival, many of the guests came with an interest in the antique crafts, such

as the wood carvings or hand-knit quilts.

“I saw an ad for the festival and I noticed that there was a pioneer quilting demonstration,” said attendee Meredith Mitchell. “I do a lot of quilting myself, and since it was nearby I decided that I’d come check it out.”

On the other side of the event, an auto show hosted by the American Truck Historical Society’s Walla Walla chapter brought in a modest collection of old trucks, cars and tractors.

The display included a 1924 Ford TT which was the oldest vehicle at the show and whose owner frequents shows throughout the Columbia basin. The auto show drew festival visi-

tors who may not have otherwise attended.

“It’s my first time at the Festival,” said Chris Tash. “But this year my grandson has a tractor in the antique auto show so I thought that I’d come out to see him and check out some other events, too.”

Attendance was low at the weekend event, but most of the guests and exhibitors were just happy to be out in the sunny weather while it lasted.

“The [Farmer’s] Almanac says it’s going to be a long, cold winter this year,” said volunteer Nancy McCoembs, “so I’m going to make the most of our sunshine right now.”

Aid increases despite recession

by ERIC NICKESONMENDHEIM Staff Reporter For first-year Jessica Simmons, finances made coming to Whitman a hard decision.

“It’s really difficult for my family to pay the tuition,” she said. “I wish they could have given me more money.”

While Simmons is not alone, Whitman has continued to try to give as much financial aid as it can during the economic recession. The Office of Financial Aid increased its budget this year to help an increasing number of students.

“Last year we gave about $18 million in financial aid, this year we’re closer to $20 million,” said Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Tony Cabasco.

First-year Shane Young appreciated this increase.

“Honestly, Whitman gave me the most financial aid,” he said. “I have nothing bad to say about it. I am very grateful.”

The amount of need-based financial aid a person receives is based upon three factors: their College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and their parents’ income tax returns. The CSS Profile and FAFSA forms look into a family’s financial standing as well as their assets.

Some students found FAFSA to be a hindrance rather than a help.

“My biggest problem was that the FAFSA form really underrepresented how much money we were actually going to have to pay,” said first-year Hannah McNamara. “It said we were going to have pay a lot less than Whitman actually made us end up paying.”

“FAFSA is an outdated system,” said first-year Patrick Wiley of the 17-yearold application.

While students may feel the pressure of paying Whitman’s estimated $47,600 tuition, the Office of Financial Aid says it does its best to make Whitman affordable. The average financial aid package is $29,000. Of this number, $21,000 is entirely scholarship.

“Seventy-six percent of all Whitman students receive some kind of financial aid,” said Cabasco. “This includes

merit-based, need-based, work study and student loans. About half of the students at Whitman qualify for some degree of need based financial aid.”

While need-based financial aid is determined by a family’s income and assets, merit-based financial aid is based solely upon an individual’s achievements in high school. Meritbased scholarships are awarded for achievements in academics, music, art, theater, debate and leadership.

“We recognize for some families that are upper-middle class, paying $48,000 a year is a lot,” said Cabasco.

“So even though some of these students have parents that can afford most of the education, we still want to help them out and recognize some students’ talents.”

Other than in music, a student cannot receive a merit based scholarship if they did not receive one upon entry.

“Merit is a snapshot in time of the student’s academics in high school,” said Director of Financial Aid Services Marilyn Ponti. “Then a student can reapply at any time for need-based aid.”

For both need- and merit-based scholarships, about five to seven million dollars come from the school’s endowment.

“Our endowment is wonderful,” said Ponti. “It really allows us to give out even more scholarships than we would be able to otherwise. Someone has given their money so that another student can attend here and have that opportunity for a Whitman education.”

Other students, while satisfied with their financial aid packages, found the work-study program designed to offer students campus jobs to help tuition more difficult than expected.

“My financial needs were met,” said first-year Alex Norman. “My only problem was that the work-study aspect of my financial aid package was a bit confusing to me. I knew that there were work study things available, but I feel that there was just that student jobs page on the Whitman website as our only resource.”

“I went online and looked at the website, but jobs were difficult to find,” said first-year Allison Ramp. “I think maybe a little more direction in that aspect would be nice.”

Students receiving financial aid

Average Budget for Students on Financial Aid Lerchin Source: Whitman Office of Financial Aid

Voices

Last year we gave about $18 million in financial aid, this year we’re closer to $20 million.

My only problem was that the work-study aspect of my financial aid package was a bit confusing to me.

Tony Cabasco, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid

Alex Norman ‘13

With the economic recession, Whitman had to tighten some of their expenditures.

“We made some cuts to balance the budget across the board,” said Cabasco. “We made cuts to ensure that we had enough scholarships. It looks like

we’ll need every dollar to ensure that Whitman will remain accessible.”

Ponti feels that Whitman has done well working towards that goal.

“I think we’ve done a good job trying to help the families as best we can,” she said.

Fellowships would take students across globe from FELLOWSHIPS, page 1 For Will, the Fulbright application made perfect sense. He would get the chance to return to Germany, where he helped teach English in a combined middle and high school during his year abroad.

“I feel like I’ll be giving back to Germany, since I’ve benefited a lot from being there and getting to know German culture,” said Will.

Bergeson has several plans in the works that have made his senior year

“quite, quite busy.” As a veteran of the Humanity in Action program, he has seen first-hand the effect these grants can have on people.

“It catalyzed my interest in human rights,” Bergeson said.

His Fulbright application centers on a plan to research the effect of prison time on family members and how reintegration occurs in Senegal, where he studied abroad. For his Watson proposal, he is proposing a study analyzing how children play in different parts of the world.

Applicants looking for help will find it

readily available in the Fellowships and Grants office.

“The process is so important and it stretches beyond winning an award or losing in a competition. It is all about the self-awareness gained in the process,” said Raether.

Whitman’s traditional strength in this field is a testament to the hard work of students like Bergeson and Will. Combined, students have received 47 Fulbrights, 12 Watsons, 11 Trumans and 13 National Science Foundation Research Fellowship awards, among other grants,

in the last 10 years.

Alumna Aisha Fukushima ’09 received a Watson fellowship and is currently studying “raptivism” around the world.

Fukushima said in an e-mail from Cape Town, South Africa, “I sense that in a less tangible way, this year has also expanded and tested my personal character, my ability to know myself and to work in many different, new surroundings in a way that will have a major influence on my work and lifestyle for the rest of my adult life.”

“Religious” is rarely the first word that comes to mind when most students describe Whitman.

“We offer information for students who express interest, but I wouldn’t say that religion on campus is one of our selling points,” said Admission Officer Alana Kaholokula.

Although students may be active in their faith, some find it hard to keep up religious practices once they are at Whitman.

“I don’t hide that I’m a Christian,” said senior Maryn Juergens. “It’s just not as obvious here at Whitman because I’m not plugged into a network. It just takes a lot more work to be involved in religion here.”

Efforts to foster a religious community on campus, such as an Interfaith section in Douglas, have fallen through in the past, largely due to a lack of interest. Students that were interested were predominately Christian, thus defeating the concept of Interfaith.

For some students coming into Whitman, religion and spirituality are an integral part of who they are. Groups such as Hillel-Shalom meet weekly to observe religious traditions and celebrations while others are more casual. Whitman Christian Fellowship is a chapter of Intervarsity, a program developed in the United Kingdom that has spread to the Unites States.

Two campus ministers work with students to help plan weekly services, small Bible study groups and other events.

Being in college poses its own challenge to the religious lifestyle. Without the support systems with which some students grow up, getting to church on Sunday morning or fasting for Ramadan is difficult.

“If my church back home were here, I’d go. But it isn’t, and I don’t feel connected to the Walla Walla Catholic community,” said senior Matthew Beckett.

According to a 2008 UCLA study, students’ attendance at regular religious services tends to dramatically decrease while in college, but students’ spirituality, defined in the study as the search for meaning and development of personal values, increases during this time.

In a 2004-2005 study of Whitman’s religious community, about half of the entering class indicated that they were religious or had a religious heritage.

“That’s remarkably low from a national perspective, but not surprising of the Pacific Northwest,” said Adam Kirtley, Stuart Coordinator of Religious and Spiritual Life, who works to help religious students celebrate their traditions by planning one organized event around each group’s religious holidays.

However, in the same study, 70 percent of students listed spirituality as “important” or “very important.”

“Students often become less involved in organized religious heritage but increasingly involved in spiritual questions,” Kirtley said.

For religious life intern sophomore Dujie Tahat, facilitating that process is one of his major goals.

“I want to take strides to making Whitman more aware of spirituality,” he said. Taha, the second-ever religious life intern, is working on a variety of projects with Kirtley and the student body.

Groups like the Namasté Meditation Club work with students who are less focused on organized religion and more on spirituality. Meeting weekly in the spirituality room, Sonya Aikens describes it as serving a range of purposes from “spirituality to stress relief to just some peace and quiet.” Last year they even held a one-day retreat with a Zen monk to learn new techniques.

That sort of exchange of religions and spirituality is exactly what Tahat is looking to do. He hopes to create an Interfaith Council that will increase the dialogue between different faiths. This will no doubt be easier with the addition of the Muslim Students Association, which was recently made an official ASWC club.

For many, the quest for religion or spirituality on campus is a difficult one. Groups help foster awareness, but it is up to each individual student to find what works for her or him.

“I hope in time that there’s a presence on campus, and that people know it’s there,” said Tahat.

News

9October 1, 2009

Students impress new professor Leise

by C.J. WISLER Staff Reporter New English professor Christopher Leise insists that he is candid, albeit cliché in explaining what drew him to Whitman.

“It was the students, first and foremost,” said Leise. “When I did my sample lecture it was with a group of students. They didn’t know each other, but as soon as they sat down they acted like they’d been studying together for weeks . . . They all had clear, specific expectations of what they wanted from their education, which is the most exciting thing you can work with as a professor.”

Leise, who has “liked studying literature from the beginning . . . for as long as possible,” attended Hofstra University in Long Island, N.Y. for his B.A. in English and got his Ph.D at the University of Buffalo. Leise was hired as a replacement for retired faculty Richard Masteller and Jean Carwile Masteller, who both taught American Literature period courses.

Leise is teaching Introduction to Fiction, Approaches to the Study of Literature [English 290] and American Literature after the American Century. Leise felt torn when asked which classes he was most excited about because “all the classes are exciting but for a variety of reasons.”

“In Intro to Fiction I get to work with a lot of really raw talent, so it’s arguably my favorite class,” said Leise, “But English 290 helps foreground literary knowledge by putting the agency in student’s hands.

Also, American Literature is in my re-

search area, and I feel very fortunate to teach literature as it’s coming out.”

The American Literature after the American Century course is unusual because it looks almost exclusively at contemporary works. The class includes writers such as Don DeLillo, Percival Everett, Shelly Jackson, Thomas Pynchon and a variety of contemporary poets.

“It really points students towards a world of literature that sometimes gets

Students exceed every hyperbolic gesture that you can make in the classroom.

Christopher Leise, Professor

overlooked,” said Leise. “At one point, ‘Moby-Dick’ was first on the shelves and Shakespeare was new on the stage.

It’s not clear that we’ll identify the new ‘Moby-Dick’ or find that Shakespeare, but we get to think about the fiction of our time as having that value and cultural purchase for us.”

Next semester, Leise will teach a seminar entitled “The Witches of Salem: Contexts, Reactions, and Representations” as well as American Literature, 1914 to the Present. “[The Salem Witch trials] is one of my favorite cultural phenomena to mull over,” said Leise. “In the realm of histori-

cal catastrophes, Salem is relatively small . . . but this event has extreme intrigue for people today.”

Leise, like much of his research, is “grounded in the present,” so his future plans for his life at Whitman still seem far away. However, he is excited for the next semester. He is also excited to work on his research project about the representations of and return to Puritanism in contemporary fiction.

“I’m really trying to get at what individual writers say about this frequently explored yet relatively demonized group of people,” said Leise. “In the process, I’d like to see what comes out of this continued interest.”

Leise is also happy to be in Walla Walla, which was not a huge change from Plattsburgh, N.Y., where Leise formerly taught.

“The food here is better, and the wine, too,” said Leise. “So far, I find it delightfully appealing. I have two small children, so we’re happy to be in such a family-friendly place with good weather.

I love it so far.”

Leise is thrilled about students’ intelligence, aptitude and interest in education.

“Students exceed every hyperbolic gesture that you can make in the classroom,” said Leise. “It’s the best environment I’ve ever been in. If there’s one thing that’s true to the Whitman sales pitch, it’s that the students really do seem hand-selected to be here.”

Forum organizers seek student involvement from INTERFAITH, page 1 interfaith event.

“This room does tend to get warm with so many people in it,” said Kate Bobrow-Strain.

Organizers Patrick Henry and Mattheson-Kaplan timed the event to occur the day after Yom Kippur, a Jewish holiday that addresses forgiveness.

Panelist comments focused on the relationship between God and people in forgiveness, and the difficulties of putting religious principles of forgiveness into practice.

“Forgiveness comes to us as a gift that should be shared,” Ley said. “The first thing I need to do tonight is to ask your forgiveness for the times we Lutherans have not practiced what we preach.”

“I don’t know anyone who sins on a schedule,” said Hays. “Forgiveness is an ongoing process.”

The audience saw how personal a process the forgiveness question can be when Bigger shared the story of his daughter’s murder. In the interfaith spirit, he noted that it was a Lutheran text that eased his conflict. “While we were still sinners, Jesus died for us,” he recited.

The night continued to be personal

Whitman is not a guide to religion in the world.

Religion is growing. We need to have face-toface dialogue.

Patrick Henry, Former Whitman professor and Interfaith Forum organizer

when the audience got to ask questions, which included whether Catholics excuse their sins too easily by trusting in God’s forgiveness; how one can forgive institutional wrongdoing by governments or companies; and whether justice matters more than forgiveness.

“I suppose at an interfaith conference I should be listening for commonalities, but tonight I was impressed by difference,” said one audience member, Whitman Senior Adjunct Associate Professor of Religion and General Studies Rogers Miles, during his postforum question to the panel.

The participants did allow their dif-

3

Grills, homemade goods support Sausage Festival from SAUSAGE, page 1 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and guests can even win money.

“We are bringing back a live band on Saturday night,” said Kristi Richard, the co-Sausage Fest chair. “Other than that, everything is staying the same—live entertainment throughout the day on Saturday, and on Friday night there is a home DeSales football game which will be bringing in a lot of extra people.”

In order to prepare for this weekend-long event, about 4,000 sausages and hot dogs are brought in. The crew also slices about 500 pounds of onions by hand. Organizers use four huge barbeques and a large propane tank for the sausages “We start at 10:30 or 11,” Richard said.

“And it usually takes until the evening.”

The festival emphasizes local contributions.

The strawberries and the onions are local and there is a booth for homemade goods for which people in the community have donated knitted scarves and hats, homemade soaps and milk cartons that the Sunday school kids have made.

All the proceeds from the expected crowd of 5,000 will go towards updating the foyer and the hallway at As-

sumption Grade School.

Richard, who has been working on this festival since its beginnings, is very excited for everyone to come out.

“It’s a fun family event,” she said, “The weekend itself is tiring, but it’s well worth it. It’s great for the school and the community.”

“I would highly recommend it; it’s a unique festival in Walla Walla,”

alden

Konen said. “I’m super excited for those sausages.”

E-mail the PIO BREAKING NEWS breakingnews@whitmanpioneer.com EDITORS editors@whitmanpioneer.com PHOTO OF THE WEEK photo@whitmanpioneer.com

van neste Whitman Professor of Religion Rogers Miles poses a theological question to the Interfaith panel. ferent religious rhetoric to enter their dialogue. Ibrahim opened his remarks with “As-salamu `Alaykum,” Arabic for “Peace be upon you all,” while Crowther closed his speech with the LDS statement, “I testify that…” But the men also tailored their language to express commonalities. Ibrahim referenced God instead of Allah, a distinction Ziada addressed later by noting that Allah is Arabic for God, just as Elohim is God in Hebrew or Gott means God in German.

Though the panelists worked to find common ground, a man in the audience asked whether more worldviews could be brought into the discussion.

“I’m interested in your perspective on forgiveness outside of the faith traditions,” he said to the panelists.

Mattheson-Kaplan responded by expressing his desire to invite more participants to dialogue.

“This was the starting point of what we hope will be many such events. Tonight we brought the three Abrahamic traditions under one tent, but it’s not a tent with a lock on the flap,” he said.

Whitman Intercultural Center Program Advisor Ben Wu, one of only a few young adults at the forums, appreciated the audience questions and the evening overall.

“I really liked the question at the end about forgiveness outside of religion,” he said. “I think [the forum] is a great idea. Anytime you get people together for an event like this, you’re

going to have interesting things come up.”

Henry, a Whitman Professor of French from 1976 to 2002, said that while students did not attend the event, he saw their interest in matters of religion and morality when he taught a Literature of Peace class that had a 30 person waitlist. Henry considers it vital to get more students involved in future interfaith events.

“Tell the students they missed something tonight,” he said. “I hope it’s the first of many, and that students

Tonight we brought the three Abrahamic traditions under one tent, but it’s not a tent with a lock on the flap.

Richard Middleton-Kaplan, Forum organizer

will come. There’s no future without you.”

Henry added that he believes students can learn from these events that occur beyond Whitman grounds in a way that they perhaps cannot in school.

“Whitman is not a guide to religion in the world. Religion is growing. We need to have face-to-face dialogue,” he said.

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4

News

October 1, 2009

Shepard lecturer Dean Spade talks transgender rights

by ERIC NICKESONMENDHEIM Staff Reporter Being told to find Jesus is not the kind of response someone calling for a lawyer wants. But in his lecture “Beyond Equality,” the fifth annual Matthew Shepard Lecture, Seattle University professor Dean Spade, JD, discussed the discrimination that still exists towards people of sexual minorities.

“Lots of services either close their doors or only let people in if they stop being themselves,” he said. “What this leads to is criminalization. I had lots of trans people that wouldn’t get lawyers calling them back, just telling them to find other kinds of help or Jesus.”

The Matthew Shepard Lecture se-

I want to think about all the ways people’s lives are shortened due to subject and oppression.

Dean Spade, lecturer

ries began in 2005 and is funded by an anonymous donor. It is put on by Whitman GLBTQ in conjunction with the Department of Politics.

Spade works for the rights of not only gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender peoples, but for all minorities underserved by the socioeconomic system. He wants not only to prevent violence against minorities, but also to consider the actions against minorities that lead to premature death.

“I want to think about all the way people’s lives are shortened due to subjection and oppression,” said Spade. “Poverty, homelessness, and all the factors that lead to marginalization.”

Even on Whitman’s liberal campus, Spade offered a unique voice in the fight for equal rights.

“Dean Spade was chosen because he is a central voice in the discussion around transgender rights,” said Assistant Professor of Politics Su-

sanne Beechey. “I thought he would be a nice addition to the history of the Matthew Shepard Lectures. We wanted someone who would inspire students to care about the topic.”

Spade’s lecture provoked students’ thoughts on rights and systemic change.

“It reminded [people that] the question is not how to work within the system which is inherently sexist but it’s how to disrupt the system,” said firstyear Dena Wessel. “The argument of trans and LGB people in the pursuit of equal rights even though the pursuit of equal rights will strengthen the system which oppresses them. I think we have to examine the system in which we want change.”

“I thought it was really interesting,” said sophomore Drake Skaggs. “I liked how he talked about how capitalism is intentionally linked into oppression.

The Sylvia Rivera Law Project is also pretty sweet.”

Spade founded The Sylvia Rivera Law Project to help people who selfdetermine their gender identity and expression regardless of race or class.

It provides legal services, trainings and community organizing support, allowing people to avoid harassment they would face in other social programs.

“The majority of social programs are closed to us,” said Spade. “Because they are sex classified, you might be punished or not allowed in at all. We want social movements that would change this.”

The lecture was aimed at making everyone rethink their views.

“I really appreciated the fact that Spade’s viewpoint about the effectiveness and desirability of equal rights legislation was so different from the general consensus here at Whitman and in the broader LGBT community,” said junior Liam Mina, co-president of the Coalition Against Homophobia. “Spade’s lecture presented a challenge to traditional models of thinking about problems of injustice and hopefully got people to think a little more about the ways in which the mainstream LGBT movement does or does not address the needs of the most disenfranchised people in our society.”

douglas

Student health care draws attention as swine flu looms

by RACHEL ALEXANDER Staff Reporter For most prospective college students, health care is low on the list of things to consider when choosing a school. Students expect that regardless of where they are, medical services will be available if and when they need them. In reality, services differ greatly between schools, and many students find themselves unable to get care when they most need it. As the H1N1 virus nears campus, the quality of Whitman student health care is at issue.

Senior Daichi Hirata appreciates the convenient, accessible services at the Health Center. As an RA, it’s part of his responsibility to take care of residents who drink too much, which sometimes involves a trip to the health center.

“When we find [residents] passed out in the bathrooms, when they can’t walk to their rooms, we put them in a car and take them to the health center,” he said.

“They’re excellent. They don’t ask any questions. They’re always there and they always have enough beds.”

For some Whitman students, experiences have been more mixed.

First-year Jessica Asmus says she went to the health center because she had a mosquito bite that was inflamed.

The health center staff drove her to Urgent Care, where it was diagnosed as

infected, and she was given antibiotics.

However, the nurse gave her nothing for the pain or swelling.

“I had to go back in the dark to get [medicine],” she said. Although she was frustrated that she had to go back a second time, Asmus added that in general, she thought the health center was doing a good job.

Some student athletes have also had injuries misdiagnosed. One ultimate Frisbee player said he had a friend with a torn ACL that the doctor said was only a pulled muscle.

“Do people make mistakes? They do.

I’m a family medicine doctor, not an orthopedist,” said Dr. Debbie Shinkle, who serves the health center. “If you don’t like what the doctor says today, come see the doctor tomorrow. It’s not like you paid $150 or waited two weeks for an appointment.”

Shinkle says that overall, she feels Whitman students are happy with the quality of care.

“There is a segment of the school that we see repeatedly. They love us. You’re going to have malcontents wherever you go,” she said.

“The bottom line is that we do the best we can with what we have,” said Director Claudia Ness, RN. Not all students think the health center’s best is good enough.

“I don’t think the doctors’ hours in the morning are sufficient,” said junior

Caitlin Moore.

Doctors are only at the health center from 8 to 10 a.m., when many students have class. This, according to Ness, is because the college contracts with doctors, most of whom have private practices during the day.

“The contract is according to what they can provide,” she said. “It’s not as convenient as some would like.”

Larger schools like the University of Washington generally have doctors on staff and always available at the health center. So do some smaller colleges, such as Amherst College, which has two doctors on staff, or Lewis & Clark College, which has one.

But do more doctors mean better medical care? Unlike most schools, the Welty Center is open twenty-four hours a day, a fact often overlooked by students until they need medical attention.

“Our health center’s hours aren’t very good. It’s basically 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday,” said Kate Berry, a sophomore at Amherst. “If college students are going to get sick, it’s not during usual business hours.”

Among Whitman students, the health center’s hours are one of its most appreciated features.

“Someone’s there during the night to take care of me when I wake up. Someone’s there to get me food and medicine,” said senior Natalie Doughty. “A lot of people don’t think about that.”

Whitman Mentor Program struggles to meet high demand

by LEA NEGRIN Staff Reporter

Sophomore Mary Allain is excited to return to her mentee this week.

“I can’t wait to see how she’s doing,” said Allain, who will mentor an elementary school student for a second year.

About 165 student mentors spend one lunchtime each week at one of Walla Walla’s elementary or middle schools.

According to statistics collected by MENTOR, a national philanthropy project, children with mentors are less likely to have attendance problems and abuse substances and are more likely to attend college.

“We have a lot of great mentors but it just never is enough for how many mentees there are,” said senior Molly Carroll.

Carroll is one of two student mentor interns, along with senior Enrica Maffucci.

For the past week Carroll and Maffucci have worked diligently to match mentor applicants to mentees from the six local public elementary schools and the two middle schools.

The children are suggested to the mentor program by either an intervention specialist or a teacher for various reasons, including learning disorders and issues at home.

“We all make a really big difference,” Allain said.

The ultimate decision to have a men-

tor rests with the child. Most are eager to have someone to look up to.

“The intervention specialist at Sharpstein [Elementary School] would get notes from students saying that they want a mentor,” said Carroll.

Allain’s relationship with her mentee has become very close. Once a week she goes to the local school to spend time with her mentee during lunch break.

“She eats her lunch so fast so that we can go out on the playground,” Allain said.

To form a strong relationship took time. When Allain first met her mentee at the beginning of last year, she felt that her visits took away from time her mentee could be spending with other children. A few months later, Allain found

Courtesy of Krystin norman Mentees arm wrestle at last February’s Mentees to Campus Day. The annual event, which lets the mentees come to their mentor’s school, also features mini golf, fishing for prizes, and popcorn.

that her persistence paid off.

“She started to really confide in me about things that were happening in her life,” said Allain. “She always has this big smile on her face when I come, even if she is having a bad day.”

Allain has been able to watch her mentee grow more self-confident.

One week out of the school year it is the mentees that travel to Whitman. The

mentor-mentee pairs spend time at the Mentees to Campus Day carnival celebration held in Reid Campus Center.

Carroll describes the mentors as the “celebrities on campus” at the local schools.

The Mentor Program is no longer accepting applications for this semester but may re-open applications in the spring semester.

Courtesy of Krystin norman A mentee selects a prize from the prize booth at last year’s Mentees to Campus Day.

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the Pioneer Issue 4 OCT. 1, 2009 Page 5

Pett workshop reactions mixed

by MERRETT KRAHN

Staff Reporter “If you have a passion for something, anything, that’s what you should do,” said Joel Pett, the Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist and Whitman’s O’Donnell visiting professor of global studies. The workshops he hosted, one for faculty at noon on Thursday, Sept. 24, and one for students at 8:00 that night, were highly anticipated.

Reactions to them were mixed.

Director of global studies and politics department chair Shampa Biswas was instrumental in bringing Pett to campus.

“Joel Pett brings a creative approach to covering global issues, and in that, added an often under-represented element to other global studies speakers at Whitman,” said Biswas in an e-mail. “His passion for his craft and his grave concern for some of the most pressing global issues of our times made him an excellent and provocative speaker at Whitman.”

Both workshops were entitled “Draw Your Own Conclusions” and there was a strong emphasis on speaking one’s mind through art and taking full advantage of our free speech rights as citizens.

“In the U.S., you can say damn near anything,” said Pett, showing slides of his cartoons that pushed the envelope through their artwork, message, or both.

“You squander your free speech rights every day by not standing up and saying whatever you want.”

He punctuated his presentation by drawing spontaneous caricatures of presidents and other world leaders. His repertoire was impressive, depicting Barack Obama, George Bush, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Saddam Hussein, although Pett jokingly admitted later that “I can actually only draw eight things; if I move them around enough, nobody notices.”

While the message was inspiring and his presentation amusing, the delivery, some felt, left something to be desired.

Many who were enthusiastic about his lecture on Tuesday, Sept. 22, were disappointed to find that the workshops offered little that Pett had not already covered.

Visiting Assistant Professor of art Mare Blocker required her students to attend the Tuesday night lecture because the lectures and workshops corresponded to activities they were doing in class, and she herself

attended the faculty workshop.

“He gave workshops for both the faculty and students, which were, apparently, from talking to the students, exactly the same workshops. I was a little disappointed because all the lectures were exactly the same from one to the next,” Blocker said. “Even though they had titles and descriptions that alluded to talking about something else, they didn’t, and I just felt like he has more to say than that,.”

Biswas, among others, had anticipated that Pett would take a more handson approach to the workshops.

“The workshops were intended to be more interactive, providing attendees with the opportunity to witness and experience the process of cartooning and captioning,” said Biswas.

The interactive portion of the student workshop included an option of filling in captions on pre-drawn cartoons.

Many of Blocker’s students reacted negatively both to the repetition of content and Pett’s overall outlook.

“A lot of my students were really turned off by his negative attitude. He’s just critiquing and not offering solutions,” she said.

First-year Ethan Maier concurred.

“I learned that some people, although good in their fields, aren’t good at doing much else, and I think Joel Pett is one of those people. He’s super good at drawing cartoons, but you ask him to come and do three or four structured workshops, and then he kind of sucks,” said Maier.

Despite Pett’s apparent controversial nature, many appreciated his cynicism and were just as enthusiastic after the workshops as after the Tuesday lecture. “[Pett’s negativity] also is encouraging for them because there is a void that somebody needs to provide some dialogue about positive issues and things that could be done,” Blocker said.

Maier agrees that the experience wasn’t wholly negative.

“I thought Joel Pett was very avantgarde and kind of crazy, but he has a lot of interesting ideas,” Maier said.

In a way, the broad range of conclusions that Whitman students and faculty drew from Pett’s workshops indicate that he fulfilled an important aspect of his jobprovoking discussion and dialogue on campus.

gold Joel Pett gave a campus-wide lecture on the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 22, followed by a series of workshops on Thursday, Sept. 24.

gold Christine Texeira ‘10 pours over a text next to Lakum Duckum in preparation for her application to honors candicacy. Senior English majors pursuing the honors creative thesis option had to submit detailed proposals outlining their projects on Monday, Sept. 21.

Senior writers pursue creative honors theses

by CAITLIN HARDEE Staff Reporter You’re a senior. You’re getting ready to finish up your English degree. If you’re writing a thesis, you’re facing an important question: would you rather write seventy pages on a critical analysis of James Joyce, or seventy pages of your own short stories? It may come as a surprise that only four seniors out of this year’s English majors have decided to write their own stories.

Senior English majors Mimi Cook and Christine Texeira have submitted honors creative thesis proposals, while senior Anastasia Zamkinos is considering honors candidacy, and Jamie Soukup, also a senior, is pursuing a non-honors version of the creative thesis. This approach to the English major is rarely undertaken but is both arduous and rewarding.

“Number one, writing a seventy page critical analysis of literature sounded horrible to me, but also as a writer, being able to leave college with a body of work that I’ve really gone through and refined—it’s a really exciting idea, something I can submit to journals and use to apply to graduate programs,” said Cook.

Cook’s advisor, professor and writer Scott Elliott, briefly laid out the background and history of the creative thesis at Whitman.

“The department decided to include the creative thesis option to give especially talented writers who have already taken introductory, intermediate and advanced writing courses the opportunity to take on the challenge of producing a substantial literary text as a capstone to their final year at Whitman,” Elliott said in an e-mail. “This is the third year the creative thesis has

been an option for English majors. So far, four students have completed a creative thesis—two in poetry, two in fiction. This year, there are a number of new applicants, many of whom are proposing very interesting projects.”

Writing a seventy page critical analysis of literature sounded horrible to me.

Mimi Cook ‘12

He went on to emphasize the high level of program commitment and involvement expected of interested students in addition to the daunting time requirements of the writing. Because the English major does not require any courses in creative writing and there is not currently a creative writing major, students who choose to pursue it must find the time for many extra courses without any recognized distinction.

“The creative thesis is a reward for those students who have done extraordinary work in upper level writing classes and have also done very good work in their other English classes,” said Elliott. “Typically, those students who get to write creative theses have also been active in the literary community at Whitman—attending [Visiting Writers] events and editing for blue moon and Quarterlife.”

Perhaps because it selects only students who have had the drive to succeed both in creative writing and their required classes, the program has produced impressive results in its brief

Poetry fest replaces lecture from LECTURE, page 1

“The Walt Whitman Lecture brings to Whitman the very best living poets for readings and talks that sometimes fill Cordiner Hall, which is a very exciting thing for poetry,” said Elliott. “The poets often have also conducted intimate question-and-answer sessions at which students could ask questions of craft.”

While the lecture's cancellation comes as a shock to many students, Roberts hopes to mend its absence as soon as possible, despite the tough conditions.

“One of the real problems with the lecture is that it has never been funded by its own endowment, but instead by the generosity of the former president’s

office,” said Roberts. “Dean-Provost Tim Kaufman-Osborn has been a tremendous supporter of the series and lecture, and I look forward to working with him in the future to see if we can bring it back.”

Roberts also applied for a grant from the Humanities Washington organization and is working “even more closely with other local organizations [and] the Walla Walla Public Library” in order to explore other funding possibilities.

Although the lecture itself is missing, Roberts has helped fill the vacancy with a new celebration of National Poetry Month.

“This year, instead of a single prominent Walt Whitman lecturer, I’ve scheduled a 'poetry-fest,' with three

jacobson A new series of lectures during Poetry Month will replace the event. prominent poets coming to campus: David Biespiel, Sherman Alexie and Sarah Vap,” said Roberts.

Elliott and Roberts are also excited for many of this year’s visiting writers, who range from poets to fiction writers to nonfiction, science and experi-

mental prose writers.

“All of these visitors will enhance the literary arts scene on campus… but I’m especially looking forward to Lydia Davis, a prose writer, because I’ve taught her short fiction and admire the way she blurs and reconfig-

history. Elliott praised the projects of recent generations of creative thesis students, and explained that the thesis strives to unify the freedom of personal creativity with established literary styles.

“The students who write theses do so in conversation with a literary tradition,” he said. “They draw on their course work in English and writing in addition to their own more specialized research, intuition and skill.”

Current candidates appreciate the program’s design as well as their professors’ support.

“It’s a really great opportunity to get to work with a professor on longform fiction, which you never get to do in classes, because you’re working so quickly, and with so many people, that you basically just have to do short stories,” said Cook.

On why so few students choose the creative thesis, Cook emphasized again the time commitment, as well as the competitive factor in securing the support of professors, on whom the cumulative time demand is especially high.

Cook spent the summer working on her thesis under Scott’s supervision. Her collection of short stories is centered around a small town, and required extensive research and interviews. Scott was also working with Texeira, whose short stories take inspiration and direction from the canon of magical realism.Texeira is studying a broad range of authors as she formulates her own interpretation of the genre. While the material is extensive, she values the freedom afforded by the scope of the topic and sees one challenge of the creative thesis as that balance between creative freedom and direction.

ures the boundaries of the short story,” said Elliott.

Although the draw of the Walt Whitman lecture will be missed, the Visiting Writers Series promises to continue recognizing nationally renowned as well as emerging writers to enrich the minds of students.

“The goal of the series is to celebrate the written word and the literary arts on campus and to give students and the Whitman and Walla Walla communities a chance to hear and interact with a wide range of writers in various stages of their careers,” said Elliott.

“It took a bit of time to figure out the jigsaw puzzle of scheduling and funding this year, but despite the cuts I feel as though, with [the celebration] in April, and all the other events, we’ve got a tremendous lineup once again,” said Roberts. “I look forward to seeing what we can do not only to sustain but develop the Series and the Walt Whitman Lecture in upcoming years.”

A&E

Eggs: good for more than just chocoate chip cookies

by KALEY EATON Contributing Reporter You all know the question. Chicken or egg?

Egg. Eggs have seven grams of protein each, all bundled up in neat little ovals and packaged in adorable little rows of six, like schoolchildren waiting to be taught. Yet the egg—in its round, smooth perfection—has unfortunately been delegated to the gruesome culinary category of “staple." Metaphorically, literally, however you look at it, the egg has lost its individual luster.

Staple: This is where food goes to die.

When something is labeled a staple, it is deprived of its uniqueness, ig-

nored unless used as a base to slather with toppings, an accompaniment or one of a minimum of five ingredients.

Other items in this category include bread (when was the last time you really enjoyed a piece of bread, sans peanut butter?), pasta, celery, lettuce and vanilla ice cream. More on those later: our time is now best spent nurturing the egg.

Admit it, the only time you’ve ever purchased eggs was to make chocolate chip cookies. And if you could find a way out of using eggs—perhaps you found a chalky, unimpressive vegan recipe—you would. Because you knew that if you bought 12 eggs, you would only use the two in the recipe. The rest would spoil and fester in the dorm fridge, unless used by someone else (without asking) to make more chocolate chip cookies.

E g g s have saved me on many occasions.

I think the first time I grew to apprecibullion ate their

delicate, sweet flavor and texture was a sweltering July 14, 2003. Bastille Day. I was in Cellettes, France, a miniscule town amidst the chateaux of the Loire Valley. In such places, tradition is observed seriously, which means that on Bastille Day, all places of eating and groceries are fermé—closed. Which means that, if one slips into ignorant Americanism and forgets this, one is left to the resources of her refrigerator for the entire day.

This is when stapledom becomes stardom; we, of course, had a few eggs on hand.

All we did was scramble them; but with a little French butter and leftover bread, plus herbs from the garden of our cottage, and (several) glasses of flowery white wine, the egg stood up to the challenge of main course. The egg became so much more than a yellow pillow that shows up with bacon. As Americans, this seemed unusual; but as my time in France went on, I realized that the French treasure every staple as a star—an essential culinary idea Americans have yet to adopt.

And as a poor college student, you’ll discover how refreshing it is to skip the preparation and extra money necessary to have chicken. Which is why you should always put the egg first—be it morning, noon or night.

PIO PICKS Each Thursday, The Pioneer highlights three events happening on campus or in Walla Walla over the weekend. Here are this week’s picks:

Walla Walla Sausage Festival

Friday, Oct. 2, 5 p.m.–midnight and Saturday, Oct. 3, 11 a.m.–midnight.

See “Sausage festival goes to grill for community,” p. 1 of this issue. DeSales High School. More information can be found at wallawallasausagefest.com.

"The Oresteia"

Friday, Oct. 2, at 10 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 3, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 4, at 4 p.m. at Harper Joy Theater.

compiled by CONNOR GUY

A&E Editor

Dave Glenn Quartet plays “Fridays at Four”

With this production, juniors Erin Terrall, Zach Simonson and Devin Peterson decided to tackle a serious and high-stakes production: the Greek drama “The Oresteia."

Aeschylus’s trilogy is comprised of “Agamemnon,” which tells of the title character’s return to Argos and his subsequent murder at the hands of his wife Clytaemnestra, “Libation Bearers,” which follows the return of Agamemnon’s exiled son Orestes and his avengement of his father’s death and finally, “The Eumenides.” This last play, which is the focal point of the student production, follows Orestes’s trial in Athens for matricide.

When students move off of the meal plan, and subsequently start cooking on their own, they often have serious doubts about the Walla Walla’s gro-

cery scene. Sure, there’s the farmer’s market, but it usually stops running around mid-October, and it only really helps with seasonal produce, anyway. As a smaller town, Walla Walla lacks many specialized stores like Trader Joe’s that students may be used

Eggs with rustic pesto and green beans Serves 1 Pesto 4 oz. fresh basil 2 garlic cloves ¼-½ cup extra virgin olive oil Splash of lemon Salt and pepper Eggs Olive oil or butter 2 eggs 2 cups haricots verts (French green beans), stems removed 1. Preheat the oven to 400ºF. 2. Chop the basil and garlic very fine, and place in a bowl. Stir in the

olive oil, lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.

3. Line a rimmed baking pan with foil, and place the green beans on the foil. Sprinkle with a little salt and add a splash of water; fold the foil up to form a little parcel in which the beans can steam. Place in the oven and roast for 20-30 minutes, until tender.

4. Heat the olive oil or butter in a pan. Crack the eggs in, being careful not to break the yolks. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and cook to desired doneness.

5. Place the eggs on a place, alongside the green beans. Spoon the pesto over the top and serve.

Eggs with feta and arugula Serves 1 1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil 2 eggs 2 oz. good quality feta 1 large handful of arugula Salt and pepper Crusty bread 1. Heat the olive oil in a skillet.

Break the eggs in, being careful not

to break the yolks. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until the whites are barely set, then crumble on the feta. Continue to cook until feta is warmed and melted but yolks are still runny.

2. Transfer to a plate and immediately throw on the arugula. Serve with crusty bread to soak up the egg yolks.

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A&E Editor

Friday, Oct. 2, 4-5 p.m. in Kimball Theater.

Trombonist Dave Glenn leads Whitman’s jazz ensembles, plays in the Walla Walla Symphony, and teaches jazz theory among other musical activities. He leads his quartet, composed of students Jonas Myers (piano), Marshall Baker (bass), and Robby Seager (drums), in “A Few of Our Favorites,” the first concert of this year’s “Fridays at Four” concert series, which is exactly what it sounds like.

Walla Walla’s top groceries

by CONNOR GUY

October 1, 2009O

    





   NEW HOURS 8am to 8pm SALAD BAR 5pm to 8pm

to at home. With this is mind, we set out to dispel Walla Walla’s negative grocery rep once and for all. Here are our picks for the city’s top three grocery stores, in no particular order:

Soup of the Week Chicken Enchilada

Super 1 Foods 710 S 9th Ave Open 24 hours, daily

GUY

For your basic, all-around grocery needs, Super 1 is the place to go in Walla Walla.

Despite being a car ride or a moderate bike ride away from campus, it bears distinction as one of Walla Walla’s few 24-hour grocery stores, and sports prices and selection that constantly outdo closer options like Safeway. Large frozen, organic, and bulk selections make the store an essential stop for picky eaters and penny pinchers alike. One of the store’s most distinct features is its array of alternative and specialty products like gluten-free rice-pecan bread. Another standout attraction is its selection of hard to find, speciality produce items like tomatillos and certain types of chilies, which are scarce or lacking in quality outside of the farmer’s market. One area where Super 1 excels and where places like Daily Market falter, is its inclusion of brand name and more commercialized products. While Whitman students may be more eager to brew some fair trade coffee than crack open a six pack of coke, such products are often necessary—Super 1 offers them usually at better prices than Safeway. Some of their best deals right now include Franz San Juan Islands nine-grain bread at 2 for $4 (usually $4.18 each), and 2 lb. loaves of Tillamook medium cheddar cheese for $5.79 (usually $7.98).

Andy’s Market

1117 S College Ave, College Place Open 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. daily, except Fridays 7 a.m. – 1 ½ hours before sundown

GUY

The disadvantages of Andy’s market are its location and to some extent, its hours. As its located in College Place, you can forget walking, and biking there is a bit of a long haul, especially if you’re on an old clunker that can barely make it your classes. They close Friday evenings an hour and a half before sundown, which will become earlier and earlier as winter approaches. However, what they lack in logistical accommodations, they more than make up for in a number of other categories. The bulk section is perhaps the best in the Walla Walla area, with everything from dried hummus mix to blueberry muffin mix and granola with freeze-dried strawberries. Considering that nearly a third of College Place’s heavily Seventh-day Adventist population is vegetarian, it’s no surprise that Andy’s also has a wide range of meat substitute and vegetarian options. Also impressive is the store’s huge selection of herbs and spices, as well as its great deals on produce (like two green bell peppers for 79 cents) and local products—like pure, unfiltered Walla Walla honey, $2.79 per lb.

Daily Market Cooperative

508 E Main St Open Tue 1-7 p.m.; Wed & Thu 1-6 p.m.; Fri 1-5 p.m.

GUY

Currently in its third year, and operating out of a house on Main Street, next door to the College House apartments, the co-op hopes to soon move into a more permanent and functional location. In the meantime, their hours are not great, but manageable, and their selection of natural, local and fair trade foods will satisfy even the strictest of so-called “food hippies” at Whitman. And with bread, meat, seasonal produce and a sizeable collection of everyday grocery items like pasta, coffee and cereal, Daily Co-op can almost act as a one-stop grocery place. You need not be a member to shop at the co-op, but they are always on the lookout for new memberowners as they work toward their goal of opening a store.

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All You Can Eat Salad Bar with Soup & Roll ~ $9.95 All You Can Eat Salad Bar Only ~ $7.95 One time through Salad Bar ~ $5.95

Stone Soup Cafe 105 E Alder • 525-5008 • 525-3170 fax www.stonesoupcafe.net

88090 CL

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9October 1, 2009

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On the cinematic horizon to a limited number of theaters Friday, Sept. 25. “Brief Interviews with Hideous Men” takes its title and premise from a cerebral and celebrated David Foster Wallace novel. Screened to the approval of many critics at Sundance, “Brief Interviews” looks precise and dark – the perfect kind of film for Krasinski’s directoral debut. It will likely show up in Seattle, probably around the U-District, sometime in October, but will definitely not make its way to Walla Walla (though it may stop just short and wind up in the Tri-Cities; keep your eyes peeled).

The next potentially great movie to land in Walla Walla, save, of course, Whitman’s Fall Cinema Arts Series (to include a menu of wonderful contemporary foreign films), is Spike Jonze’s

by BECQUER MEDAK-SEGUIN Movie Reviewer There exists an awkward correlation between climatological change and quality of released cinema. As leaves become more and more chartreuse and sweaters more and more necessary after sundown, films become better and better. I don’t know why; it just happens.

In any case, a cadre of hyped films (this doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re good, but we’ll hope for the best) are on the immediate horizon.

Indeed, several supposedly good films came out this week that I was not able to review for my column. (The poor quality of films screened at the Walla Walla Grand Cinemas is, actually, mostly to blame for my frequent omission of wonderful films.)

Among those supposedly good, soon-to-be-released flicks is Michael Moore’s “Capitalism: A Love Story,” released this past Wednesday, Sept. 23. Of course, anyone walking into their local arthouse to watch a Moore film knows exactly what they’re getting into, so I don’t pretend to appeal to those who staunchly disapprove of his goals or to those who, for reasons beyond me, believe him to be some sort of tutelary leftist. But, I must admit, Michael Moore has forever altered the conventions of documentary cinema in the United States and for that reason alone (well, I guess it helps that he’s pretty entertaining), his films are worth watching regardless of whether you agree with their premise. Unfortunately, “Capitalism” won’t be released in Walla Walla, but I bet most of you anticipated that anyway.

Another little known movie, directed by John Krasinski (Jim Halpert from “The Office”), was released

Netflix It:

“Where the Wild Things Are” (to be released Oct. 16). I, almost religiously, refrain from watching any cinematic remake of books that greatly impacted my childhood as to not taint my perfect, unadulterated memory of them; these include: “The Polar Express” and “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” (out now), among others. But there’s something about the trailer, and about the degree to which I wholeheartedly trust Spike Jonze’s filmmaking (he previously directed two cinematic wonders: “Adaptation” and “Being John Malkovich”), that leads me to believe that this film may indeed capture the unwavering honesty and puerile beauty of Maurice Sendak’s 1963 book. I’m going to give it a shot; I hope you do too.

BECQUER’S MOVIE PICKS “35 Shots of Rum" – released two weeks ago "Still Walking" – released about a month ago "The Headless Woman" – released about a month ago "Amreeka" – released about a month ago "Disgrace" – released a week ago "The Burning Plain" – released two weeks ago "Bright Star" – to be released Thursday, Oct. 15 "An Education" – to be released on Friday, Oct. 9 "The Providence Effect" – released a week ago "The Horse Boy" – released this week "A Serious Man" – to be released on Friday, Oct. 2 "The Invention of Lying" – to be released on Friday, Oct. 2

‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’

by CONNOR GUY A&E Editor "Kiss of the Spider Woman" is the art house equivalent to many of those big, action/adventure blockbuster series like "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" that now practically define the 1980s. Director Hector Babenco skillfully adapts Manuel Puig’s brilliant novel of the same name, notable because it presents its story entirely through dialogue, leaving narration behind altogether.

Our main characters are Molina and Valentin, cellmates in a Brazilian prison and opposites in every way. Molina, flamboyantly gay and living in the 1970s, is doing time for “corrupting a youth,” while the macho yet austere Valentin is in for political reasons.

Decadent, bourgeois and emotional, Molina is in every way a counterpoint to his serious, Marxist and stoic cellmate— and the two form perfect halves of the universe that their cell becomes. This universe begins to break down when the prospect of release becomes serious for Molina, who makes a deal with the prison warden.

In the meantime, they pass time by telling each other the stories of movies they’ve seen, most notably a fictional Nazi propaganda film (to which Quentin Tarentino alludes significantly in his most recent,

"Inglourious Basterds"). Particularly the Nazi film, along with their interpretations of it, makes an interesting commentary on narrative and how film itself functions as a medium, while Valentin and Molina wrestle with its morality and aesthetics, drawing comparisons between themselves and its characters.

FF

OL W

This movie is one of those rare few that’s incredibly engaging, both plot-wise and intellectually. For example, a movie like Antonioni’s "Blow Up" is interesting to think about afterward, but to be honest, I literally fell asleep while watching it. On the other hand, a movie like Peter Jackson’s recent "District 9" is undoubtedly really fun to watch, but loses track of any political or intellectual message to which it may have aspired. "Spider Woman" weaves together an absorbing story of friendship, betrayal and politics in prison with thought-provoking narrative innovations, as well as an interesting set of dichotomies between our captive protagonists.

The Dodos lose momentum with ‘Time To Die’ Band of Horses, Fleet Foxes, the Shins, and pretty much every other well-known Pacific Northwest band with guitars and/ or beards amongst its members, Ek takes a drastically different approach to the band on Time to Die than John Askew did on their breakthrough second album, Visiter, and the music suffers hugely because of it.

As far as the songs go, it's hard to figure out what differentiates Long's songs between the two albums. The basic formula is largely unchanged, as Long writes winning, soaring pieces for fast-moving fingerpicked guitar and voice, often with half-baked, occasionally awful lyrics and Kroeber plays dense drums behind him.

The only real stylistic change is Snyder's vibraphone work, which adds little other than atmospherics and minor textures to the album's sound.

What made Visiter stand out amongst the sea of records like it was its chaotic sprawl. It was certainly overlong at an

by ANDREW HALL Music Reviewer

It's hard not to blame this one on the producer. For their third album, the Dodos, the San Francisco-based duo of Meric Long and Logan Kroeber—now expanded to a three-piece with the addition of vibraphonist Keaton Snyder—recorded in Seattle with producer Phil Ek. Best known for his work with Built to Spill,

hour, but no two songs sounded quite alike, a testament to the band's ability to wring unbelievably distinct arrangements out of a limited instrumental palette. Additionally, Long's voice was at the forefront of all of its songs. Even when his lyrics were awful, and at times, they certainly were, his melodies could save what would otherwise be moments of total embarrassment. Time To Die suffers because, more than anything else, every song sounds similar, with the band's idiosyncrasies getting lost beneath Ek's relentlessly smooth, completely generic Northwest indie rock production.

This becomes apparent within minutes.

Opener "Small Deaths" gets lost entirely in atmospherics, as Snyder's vibraphone and an electric guitar-driven crescendo swallows the song totally in its final seconds, leaving no impression whatsoever of Long's melodies. "Fables" again gets buried beneath its textures, and a moment

like the final verse of "The Strums," in which we're likely supposed to be affected

by Long's shouts about killing everyone who doubts us, contrived prettiness masks everything. While such juxtapositions are certainly common tricks in pop song writing, it falls flat because its darkness is so slight and hard to pick out.

The second half of the album fares better, but doesn't quite meet the band's past highs. "Two Medicines" opens with a vocal hook that's at least polarizing, and it keeps the spotlight on Long's vocals throughout.

"Trollnacht" and "Acorn Factory" both work fairly well, with the latter marking the only true point of convergence between band and producer on the entire record.

Long writes a pleasant-enough acoustic Fleet Foxes-esque thing, Ek complements them perfectly, and it sort of works out.

There really isn't a whole lot wrong with Time To Die by itself. It's a well-made, good-sounding pop record with good

performances. But that's about all it is; Visiter combined the chaos of Northwest slop-folk with compelling tunes and made Long's compositions somehow feel effortless, transcending the trappings of folkderived pop music and music heavy on acoustic instruments. Here, the band simply sounds about a hundred times more conventional, their product so much more homogeneous and less engaging that it's hard, coming off the highs of their past work, to truly be excited about something so conventional.

As a whole, the album is a wash of textures heard a hundred times before on Seattle indie rock records without their predecessors' strengths—Fleet Foxes have harmonies, Built To Spill has guitar interplay, Band of Horses have nicely-designed album covers—the Dodos are turned into a Seattle indie rock pastiche, and that's really quite difficult to get excited about.

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17. Had a bite 18. BMOC #1 21. 23rd letter of the Greek alphabet 22. Two after I 23. Parabolic shape 26. Chicken ___ King 28. Alternative to rigatoni 30. BMOC #2 33. See eye-to-eye 34. It may be hot 35. Mineral rock 36. It codes for proteins 37. Pod member 39. BMOC #3 46. Much ___ about Nothing 47. Impel 48. Board game objects 49. Hot off the shelf 50. Try to lose?

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24. Evaluated again 25. Ludacris used to sport them 27. 8-minute ___ 28. Point of light on a monitor 29. Dir. from Tri-Cities to Walla Walla 31. Unimagined 32. Filled to the brim 38. IRS action 39. He wrote the Critique of Pure Reason 40. John Lennon’s son 41. Formal order 42. One getting older 43. Old Italian currency 44. Michael Jackson, for one 45. E-mail command For answers to last week’s crossword, see whitmanpioneer.com.

Humor

the Pioneer Issue 4 OCT. 1, 2009 Page 8

Rejected F.A.C.E. posters IM committee’s

new Flag Football rules for 2009 • Every sideline must have an assorted collection of uninterested boyfriends and at least one shirtless dude who is there for no apparent reason other than to be seen shirtless.

• An off-sides violation receives a penalty of five yards, unless the encroaching player calls into the question the validity of “onsideness” as a positive social norm.

• Non-vegan footballs out. Animal-friendly soy balls in. Special hemp gloves required.

• On-field arguments must begin with the any of the following phrases: “Hey, take it easy there bro,“ “Hey, cool your jets there broseph,” or “Hey pump the brakes there supercalifragilisticexpialiBROcious.” Furthermore, all such arguments must

end with the phrase, “Hey, look, we’re all just out here to have fun.”

• When playing sorority girls, each indie team must designate one player to make passive-aggressive comments like, “Yeah it’s okay you ripped my shorts, I guess they weren’t that expensive,” and “Go ahead and pull it out, It’ll just grow back!”

• Each boy team must have at least one guy wearing $40 gloves who spends the entire game trying to psyche opponents out.

• All students MUST assume that the male players that wear sleeve-less shirts to the dining hall, thus revealing their glistening triceps, have huge genitalia.

If you assume otherwise, you lose. You lose everything.

“I was just trying to get to class”: Bicycle/scooter/ unicycle pileup results in numerous injuries, death ............................................................................p 34 After five-year study, Betty Crocker releases compendium of “Least Popular Cakes of All Time.” Seafood salad upside down cake ranked number one ............................................................................p 12

Need a foam guy?

Janice Kirkpatrick:

I needed foam for my wedding reception and I just couldn’t find anybody who was up to my standards. All of the other foam experts were either too watery or too solid. Thank god I found the Foam Guy on Craig’s list at the last second! At first I was a little skeptical of his request that I pay him only in cash under the light of the full moon, but it worked out great! My husband’s family was extremely im-

pressed with the quality of the foam.

Ryan Shemp:

We were throwing a surprise party for Grandma’s 75th and I didn’t know what to do! Grandma’s done about everything under the sun, and I couldn’t think of anything that would surprise her in just the right way. Then, I saw an advertisement for the Foam Guy in the back pages of an erotic Brazilian graphic novel! I’ll admit that initially I

Everyone loves the Beta foam party! But who is the man behind the foam? Little is known about him.

Here for the first time ever we attempt to pierce the shroud of mystery surrounding “the Foam Guy” by presenting a series of customer satisfaction reviews from his promotional pamphlet. was sort of creeped out by his hook for a hand, but he certainly got the job done. Grandma had a great time slipping and sliding around in the foam while people ground to loud techno all around her. Thanks Foam Guy!

Nancy Pelosi:

We considered hiring the Foam Guy for the inaugural ball. Really, he was the first choice. I’ve used him before at a few of my private functions. Unfortunately, the President was concerned that we know so little about him. After extensive research and background checks, all we could figure out was

that no one has ever seen him outside during the daytime and that apparently his face is incapable of producing tears.

Michelle and I were rooting for him, but the President said no. It’s too bad. I was really looking forward to getting my foam on.

Clark Freeman:

Yeah, uh… I run a local car wash, right down on east Isaacs, and I guess I didn’t really understand what his ad meant

by “the foam guy”. I sort of assumed that it would be a soap and water service or something to do with washing cars, but that wasn’t it at all. He just showed up with his pet tiger and fancy Foam machine, talking about where we could set it up so it would be away from the speakers but still close enough for all the half-naked people to dance.

I won’t lie, I had a great time, but It wasn’t exactly what I was looking for.

Roshan Adhikari, Sunithi Hindagolla, Serenita Kumar, Simi Singh, Emily E Basham, Galen Cobb, Nadim Damluji, Helen Jenne, Alex Kerr, Simi Singh, Finn Straley

Uncovered SASA application vindicates white students who never bothered to apply

ng

uri Feat

South Asian Students Association If there is one thing Whitman’s food service, Bon Appétit, is known for, it’s the cultural authenticity of their “Taste of India” and “Taste of Mexico” dishes. This week Bon Appétit is introducing:

Bon Appétit’s

“Taste of America” First we ask your choice of: • Corn dog • Spam • A half-eaten Taco Bell chalupa picked off the warm dashboard of a ’96 Ford Explorer Then we ask your choice of seasonings!

• Crumbled cheezits • Powdered sugar • Craisins • Skittles Then we put it on top of an unplugged microwave!

Then we take it off!

South Asian Students , who Association all d n take any a meets , applicants .

0 Wed. at 7:3 Contact kumarss@ u whitman.ed

Then we cover it in salt and Velveeta!

Then we lay it on a bed of • Ketchup OR •Time Magazine Then we ask you your choice of sauces!

• Pepsi •Diet Pepsi

All meals come with the option of deep frying or double deep frying.

Opinion Obama’s foreign policy surprisingly conservative Andrew Sullivan said it best: “Obama is more the conservative than they will ever be.” He was speaking of Obama’s foreign ALEX POTTER policy towards Iran, Columnist but our “bleedingheart liberal” President is also staking out such a hard-nosed conservative position on the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan that it has “them,” the liberals-with-fangs neoconservatives, screaming for blood (as usual).

General McChrystal, the commanding general in Afghanistan, has submitted a report requesting up to 45,000 additional troops.

This dramatic request comes at a time when casualties in Afghanistan are at an all time high, with 50 U.S. soldiers falling in battle during August alone. It also comes at a time when U.S. confidence in the possibility of a non-corrupt Afghani government is low after an embarrassingly fraudulent election. Even worse, it comes at a time when our allies doubt their troop commitments to Afghanistan. Worst of all, it comes at a time when American approval for the war is polling at a measly 39 percent.

Domestically, the sticker shock of deploying a total of 100,000 troops, and a decadeslong commitment to nation-building in one of the poorest and most violent areas of the world, is beyond daunting as we struggle to pay for even the most basic functions of government here at home. America first never sounded so sweet on Main Street.

And so the conservatives have begun to duel. On one side are the neoconservatives, who would use American might to make the world over again according to their liberal democratic vision like a benevolent empire. On the other side are traditional conservatives who are cautious about the limits of American military and economic power and about spreading democracy by the sword. The Atlantic Monthly has called the decision whether to escalate or draw down involvement in Afghanistan “Obama’s FDR Moment,” while conservative bastion George F. Will titled his Sept. 1 column “Time to get out of Afghanistan.”

One side sees us as an empire of crusading liberators. The other sees us as a prudent republic with limited resources.

Yet it seems clear that George Will and the conservative mainstream’s realism is winning out. Even the President of the Council on Foreign Relations has called Afghanistan a “war of choice,” though no doubt a tough choice.

The turn-around on Afghanistan has been prompted by an honest question that

strikes at the heart of American foreign policy: what are our true interests? It is the most significant question regarding the utilization of American power abroad since the Bush Doctrine, and in many ways its antithesis.

In his famous speech to the Muslim world from Cairo, Obama said, “Make no mistake: We do not want to keep our troops in Afghanistan . . . we seek no military bases there.” What a refreshingly realist foreign policy approach!

Despite neoconservative delusions of a Central Asian oil empire, we went into Afghanistan for one reason: to fight al-Qaeda.

Obama is proposing that this singular goal may be carried out more effectively through a limited war focusing on Special Forces, missile strikes and intelligence.

This strategy will mean large swaths of Afghanistan will continue to be controlled

by Taliban and likely a political deal including them in the central government in exchange for not harboring al-Qaeda. It will be a disaster for the women of Afghanistan. But it will free us to pursue the real enemy hiding along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border with relentless focus.

In effect, a purely counter-terrorist Afghan strategy will mean separating people we despise from people who threaten us in our homeland. It will mean jettisoning Bush’s “you are either with us or you are against us” criterion of international relations. It will save a significant number of American lives and billions of dollars we need at home, while continuing the mission that started on 9/11 to kill our enemies before they strike us again.

A truly conservative strategy in Afghanistan will begin to address the illness in American foreign policy that Senator Fulbright identified in his Vietnam-era book “The Arrogance of American Power,” namely the crusading impulse to reshape the world in our image without regard to the limits of our power and understanding of local experiences, tradition and circumstance.

Senator Calhoun wrote in 1848 that “we think we may now indulge in everything with impunity, as if we held our charter of liberty by ‘right divine’—from Heaven itself.

Under these impressions, we plunge into war, we contract heavy debts, we increase the patronage of the executive, and we even talk of a crusade to force our institutions, our liberty, upon all people. There is no species of extravagance which our people imagine will endanger their liberty in any degree. But it is a great and fatal mistake. The day of retribution will come.”

The Republican Party has often forgotten these words, but it seems that finally there is a true conservative in the White House remembering them and putting America first.

Let t er to t he Edi tor Editor, Being a Jew is a big deal. I don’t mean to appear arrogant, but when your religion lives by the catch phrase, “They tried to kill us, we survived, let’s eat,” you know your ancestors had it rough. When the Jews were allotted Israel from the U.N. in 1948, a war broke out. Hundreds of relatives I have never met—my great-aunts and -uncles and cousins—were all murdered during the Holocaust, if not prior from pogroms or hate crimes. My grandfather, Dr. Larry Kussin, was one of the first Jews accepted into a Canadian medical school. He grew up with parents who spoke Russian and Yiddish; neighborhood kids would throw rocks at him claiming that he murdered Jesus. He would run back to his parents crying and asking: “Who is this Jesus and how did I kill him?!”

Yom Kippur, hands down, is the holiest day of the year for Jewish people. The premise of the holiday is self-reflection: how you treated yourself and others this past year, and most importantly, what you are going to do differently for this coming year. During the 10 days of repentance before Yom Kippur, Jews are commanded to find all the people they may have hurt and ask forgiveness. On Yom Kippur, Jews fast, pray and reflect.

This is where I confront my current problem. The last time I checked, Whitman was still proud of its “diverse” student population and being a campus of accommodations for all cultures. I, however, feel that Jews have the short end of the stick.

Yes, Jewish students will be excused for any class missed for whatever silly holiday they claim it is, but they will be fully responsible for the lectures and class work they missed. If there is an exam, Jewish students are generally told to find time in

their week and take the test early. Monday, Yom Kippur, is my first exam. The Thursday prior to the exam would have been my only free day to take the test in order to observe Yom Kippur on Monday. Thursday, coincidentally, was a class devoted entirely for the exam review. So because I am a Jew, I would miss the class review session to take the exam early. Being penalized for celebrating my one important holidays does not seem fair. Does Whitman ask students to show up to school, let alone take exams, on Christmas or Easter?

I am not saying that Whitman is antiSemitic. Absolutely not. I am just questioning the validity of its claims of being a diversity-friendly campus. I would have definitely thought twice about coming to a school that made it difficult for me to observe my religion and my culture. If Whitman College is a place where everyone can practice their cultural traditions, then students other than the majority—secular Christians—should be able to observe their practices in peace. I should be able to ask my professor for an alternative exam date. Instead of professors questioning if there really is a Jewish holiday for which I have to miss class, I should be able to just mention that there is a holiday and be excused question-free. My culture, my religion and my traditions should not be put on trial. This year, my Yom Kippur will be celebrated in the Olin Hall building. My self-reflection will be my first exam. My repentance will be my solutions to the problem sets. I will be inscribed within the book of life just like every year since I was born, the only difference being that this year I will be denied the opportunity to do it as a practicing Jew. -Alie Kussin-Shoptaw ‘11

the Pioneer Issue 4 OCT. 1, 2009 Page 9

Breaking the Bubble De ar men of whi tman college , This column is addressed to you.

Last spring, I was tasked with recruiting eight to MATT MANLEY ten Whitman volColumnist unteers for one of Blue Mountain Habitat for Humanity’s weekly build sessions. This assignment was part of my duties as an intern at the Center for Community Service (now the community service office within the student engagement center).

Being the go-getting CCS intern that I was, I sought to assemble an all-male group of eight to ten Habitat volunteers.

With this goal in mind, I sent an email entitled “A call to Robust Whitman Males - Habitat for Humanity needs you” to numerous listservs.

The failure of Whitman men to respond to this e-mail is now legendary.

After its dispatch to e-mail lists that I am confident included at least 500 men, I received one affirmative response.

It was from then-first-year Charlie Weems (yes, I am naming names) and

he wanted to give three hours of his Saturday to help build a home for a family in our community. After several days of trying, I had still assembled fewer than five male volunteers. I was forced to compromise my original goal and filled the remaining spots with the ubiquitous service-minded girls of this college.

Can this anecdote help us understand the culture of male volunteerism (or lack thereof) at Whitman? Certainly it may be indicative of a problem, but establishes nothing in itself. When viewed alongside the following brief compendium of volunteer data, though, the disappointing male showing at Habitat appears to be part of larger trend. Consider the following: • 55% of the Whitman student body is female, 45% is male • Of approximately 170 applicants to the Whitman Mentor Program, Whitman’s largest service program, for fall 2009, 45 (approximately 26.5%) were male • Of 99 applicants to the Adopt-AGrandparent Program for fall 2009, 10 (approximately 10%) were male • Of 48 applicants for the Youth Adventure Program, 17 (approximately 35%) were male • Of 74 applicants for the Story Time Program, eight ( ap p r ox i m at e l y 11%) were male

Wolff

Men, these are striking statistics.

They demand not only your attention, but also your action.

I spoke with senior Molly Carroll, lead intern for the Whitman Mentor Program, to discover the specific effects that lack of male involvement will have on her program this year.

The Mentor Program pairs at-risk children, the mentee, in Walla Walla elementary schools with a “big friend,” the mentor, from Whitman who visits them at school once weekly to provide a positive role model and consistent friend.

Mentees are nominated by each school’s Intervention Specialist as students who would most benefit from having a mentor relationship.

According to Carroll, students nominated to receive a mentor are primarily boys in need of a male role model. Often, these mentees have been selected because their father is in prison or absent.

With only 45 male mentors available, Carroll will have to turn away male mentees.

“Often the form will specify or request specifically a positive male role model, and so we try our best to match them with a male. Often, though, we have to match them with females or not at all,” Carroll said.

The Mentor Program’s case is just one manifestation of a distinct need for male volunteers to step up on this campus.

Like mentees need role models, so do Whitties on occasion.

Male RAs, help your first-years find a way to involve themselves in the community. Fraternity philanthropy chairs, ask yourselves if you and your brothers can do more for the community. Readers of this paper, write a letter to the editor and comment online with your thoughts on male volunteerism.

I firmly believe that giving your time to serve others can and should be regarded as a ‘manly’ pursuit. Service is an outward demonstration that you are capable of and willing to think beyond yourself. To demonstrate your compassion and your passion in a tangible way, and to see the impact of your work.

Surely these are things any man should undertake.

Save Valley Transit The Valley Transit bus system is sort of like Walla Walla: it’s kind of quirky, a little on the slow side but definitely worth spending the time to get to know.

LISA CURTIS As a Whittie who Columnist loves to bike, I’ve rarely found myself utilizing the little red, trolley-like buses that pass behind the science building every 45 minutes.

After participating in the campaign to help ensure that bus route 9 stays until at least November, I figured I’d better go for a celebratory spin.

The campaign for Valley Transit, a group of dedicated community members, collected more than 2,000 signatures in support of a ballot measure for a .03 percent sales tax increase. Sounds reasonable, right?

Think again; this is Walla Walla, not Seattle.

Despite the diminutive nature of the tax increase, a few members of the Valley Transit Board protested over raising taxes amid a recession and potentially hurting the Walla Walla economy even further.

The protests were quickly quieted by the remark of fellow board member Gregg Loney that “no one is going to drive to Pasco to save three dollars on a thousand dollar purchase.” As another board member, City Councilwoman Barbara Clark pointed out, Walla Walla can’t afford not to have the Valley Transit taking kids to school, adults to their jobs and customers to stores.

Perhaps the best part of the meeting was when board member Greg Tompkins admitted that he hadn’t taken the bus until a couple of days before the meeting.

He told the group of shocked commu-

nity members that he and his wife both had cars, so why would they ever need to ride the bus? Evidently, being a board member wasn’t reason enough.

The hypocrisy of a Valley Transit board member having never taken the bus made me determined to ride that little red bus as far as it could go, which, I

Feeling more like my mom had dropped me off at soccer practice than like I’d been dropped off by a bus driver, I headed off to do some shopping. discovered, is actually pretty far.

Convincing a friend to come on a Valley Transit adventure, I eagerly combed the Valley Transit Web site for fun places to visit. The astoundingly bright green and red ValleyTransit.com appeared just as excited to see me as I was to see it.

Promises of cheap groceries, abundant liquor and Walla Walla’s only shopping mall made the 75 cent fare seem like the world’s best bargain. But first—I had to read Bus Basics.

After learning how to “flagstop” the bus, essentially making the bus stop for me (something I’d always dreamed of), I decided to get down to business and look at the routes. I soon found that “flagstopping” isn’t the only quirky part of Valley Transit: the whole bus system is based on circular routes.

Whereas on most bus systems you cross the street to catch the bus going the other way, on Valley Transit you catch it in the same place you started and go the whole route until you get where you want to go. Accustomed to public transit in Washington D.C. where riders would

get on their Blackberries and call their senators if the bus was a couple of minutes late, the slow-pace of Valley Transit seemed refreshing.

After waiting a few minutes at the corner of Penrose and Isaacs, we saw the cheerful red bus approach. Forking over a few quarters, we found ourselves in the company of elderly gentlemen, two punk teenagers and a pair of chubby red-headed grade-schoolers.

It soon became apparent that the redheaded kids were simply on the bus for the pure joy of riding. They pestered the driver, asking him how many times the bus was going to go around the loop.

Before we had truly been able to take in the Valley Transit experience, we found ourselves on Ninth Street. I pulled the handle, requesting a stop. Instead of pulling over at the next bus stop, the driver yelled back “where are you trying to go?” Giddy with my newfound power to stop the bus wherever I wanted, I told him we were trying to go to Super 1 and Grocery Outlet, the two cheapest grocery stores in Walla Walla. I didn’t tell him we also wanted to hit up the liquor store—he looked a bit too much like my grandfather.

He pulled straight up to the curb, dropping us off directly in front and told us he’d be back to pick us up in 45 minutes. Feeling more like my mom had dropped me off at soccer practice than like I’d been dropped off by a bus driver, I headed off to do some shopping. Sure enough, he came back just as soon as we had finished, remembering our faces and asking us if our trip had been successful.

We smiled and sat back as he took us through the rest of the loop, driving past the Blue Mountain Mall, Home Depot and Wal-Mart—all the major Walla Walla landmarks.

Arriving back at Whitman, we waived goodbye to our new friends and set off to enjoy our produce.

10

Opinion

October 1, 2009O

Freedom positively defined Do you love freedom? If you do, you might be an American. If you don’t, you must have missed the memo. History ended in 1989, and now we’re just tying up loose ends.

GARY WANG Rebuild Russia.

Columnist Defeat terrorism.

Ensure China’s rise into a “responsible stakeholder.” Solve climate change. Free ourselves from Middle East oil. Make peace between Palestine and Israel. And don’t forget immigration reform because everyone else does.

Well, what does the future (after we’ve tied up loose ends) look like? The inevitable triumph of liberal-democratic capitalism?

Not in order of significance though; right now, America’s a cocktail of capitalistdemocratic-liberalism, with Ayn Rand’s fingerprints everywhere. Sweet but with a weird aftertaste. At least we’re free, though.

Better than the billion people living under authoritarian communism or the other billion living on less than a dollar a day, and especially the other billion living in some sweaty sandy area in the Middle East under corrupt theocratic-monarchies.

Then why do we have such a huge antidepression pharmaceutical industry? Selfhelp books are all the rage and romance novels are the top selling books at most bookstores. It seems like we’re outsourcing our self-esteem to drugs, hacks and fantasy.

Yes, we’re rich and beautiful (Botox started in San Francisco) but are we really free?

Since Locke—not Kant—influenced our founding fathers the most, we’ve inherited a particular conception of freedom. Freedom

is freedom from. It’s “get the government off my back.” It’s “I do what I want.” Well, what do we want? HBO and pay-per-view UFC? Ultimately, this negative conception of freedom, as an absence of limitation from our parents, government and even our friends, leaves a really impoverished self.

Look, there are a lot of things we all want but how do we know if we really want them? I mean, sure the Internet has a great menu of all-you-can-buy, but are you picking the selections on the menu?

No. Some marketer with an MBA is picking the menu for your life. At Whitman, we think we’re really independent (insert dig at the greek system) but defining plaid instead of polos as stylish is still defining. We’re just exchanging one myth for another and calling it free. After all, it’s easy to do the same thing weekend after weekend and day after day. The media’s given us a guide already.

My point is that we don’t know what we’re missing precisely because we think

Ultimately, this negative conception of freedom, as an absence of limitation from our parents, government and even our friends, leaves a really impoverished self. we’ve got life figured out. It’s hard to know the unknowns. And so it’s easy to replace self-knowledge with self-help. Hence, a freedom from interference leads to a perpetuation of the status quo in our lives because our ability to choose what we want is

outsourced to marketing departments.

What does a positive conception of freedom look like? Not freedom from but freedom to. Do what though? I don’t know.

Freedom to climb buildings. Freedom to travel the world. Freedom to be what you want. Emphasis on the you and not the from.

Sure this sounds like a great cliché. People have been telling us forever to be free, to do whatever—but have we? In order to be free, to be ourselves, we have to know ourselves. Well, what do we know about ourselves? Just a set of facts. Our height, race, academic transcript and whatever our Facebook profile says.

Don’t most Facebook profiles contain a collection of musicians, movies and books?

It tells us what we want other people to think of us. Some likes are fit for publishing and some aren’t. Some part of us is open for consumption and some part is hidden.

If we can never recover that hidden part, can we be free? Only in one sense, the sense of us open to categorization. Statistics say Whitman’s getting more and more diverse.

More international students, first generation college students, students not from just Seattle and Portland, right?

But statistics only capture facts that can be measured and compared. Statistics scratch the surface, and isn’t that the essence of marketing? Pattern recognition of what people click online, or whatever we put in our Facebook profiles. So, if it’s cool to be different, be different in a way that can’t be measured.

And to not be measured we have to transition from living by a negative freedom to a positive freedom. Yes, we are free from totalitarian government but we aren’t free from being pigeonholed into marketing data. Yet.

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Editorial Policy

Be safe on the Internet: You are your own worst nightmare

BLAIR FRANK Columnist

Internet.

Here’s the rub: in this era of heavy encryption and computer security, the easiest thing to crack in the chain of computer security isn’t the computer itself, but the human sitting in front of it. Yes, that’s right; you can have all of the anti-virus and antispyware and firewall software you want, but when it all comes down to it, you’re the weakest link in the chain of security for your computer.

So, that raises the question: what can you do about it? How can you, as the least secure element in your entire computing environment, improve your security IQ? For starters, here’s a quick Internet security quiz: 1. If you got an e-mail from someone promising nude pictures of Anna Kournikova, would you open it?

2. If your bank e-mails you and tells you to change your password, would you?

3. If you were asked to assist a prince in transferring large amounts of money

from his bank account, would you?

4. If a Web site told you that your computer had a virus, and you just needed to install a free virus scanner, would you?

5. Do you automatically trust everything you receive in e-mail from your friends?

If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, you aren’t safe.

Even if you answered “no” to all of them, I’ll be honest, I threw you a bunch of softballs. Seedier denizens of the Internet than I are constantly trying to find another way to pull one over on you.

Let’s start from the top: I ripped the first one from the headlines. Back in 2001, a cracker created the “Anna Kournikova” worm, promising nude pictures of the sexy Russian tennis player, but instead using your computer to perpetuate its own existence.

The second example is that of a classic “phishing” scam. Phishing is a form of social engineering in which the perpetrator tries to get you to reveal personal information so that he/she can steal your identity. So, the moral of the story? Even if a Web site looks like one you use, acts like one you use, and asks for your username, password, dog’s name, birthdate, and the sort of chia pet you look most like, it may not be the one you use. In fact, it probably isn’t.

Most companies, especially banks, have policies against asking

Galen Bernard Josh Goodman Connor Guy Hanna Ory Melissa Navarro Gabriela Salvidea Alex Kerr Simon Van Neste Tricia Vanderbilt

RE P ORTER s

TECH TIME

In this age of the Internet (the “Information Sup e rh i g hw ay ” for you oldtimers) securing your computer is very important. However, even more important is securing you from the

Kim Sommers Gillian Frew Margaux Cameron Andy Jobanek Rebecca Fish Matt Solomon Jordan Estes

you for your personal information.

If you get an e-mail telling you to change your password, or confirm your identity, go to your nearest local branch and talk to a human.

It may seem annoying, and totally “duh”-worthy, but it will save your hide someday.

For question number three, that’s an advance-fee fraud, better known as a Nigerian bank scam. In essence, a prince sends you an e-mail telling you that you can get a cut of his family’s massive fortune, if you just pay a small (in reality, not so small) fee for the transfer. Needless to say, you don’t actually get any money.

Question number four reveals one of the more insidious tricks on the Internet. A Web site tells you that your computer has problems, and that a piece of software can fix it. Unfortunately, more often than not, that piece of software is malware. Then, you have one more problem with your computer. Isn’t that swell?

Finally, there’s number five. This one’s a bit tricky. You see, it’s really easy to spoof someone’s e-mail address, and it’s also easy to trick people into giving out their e-mail login credentials. So just bear that in mind. If you get a suspicious e-mail, no matter who it’s from, be extra careful.

Hopefully, this has helped you out a bit in your quest to be a safer computer user. If you already know all of this, then stay sharp, because there are always people out there gunning for you.

The Whitman College Pioneer is published under the auspices of the Associated Students of Whitman College. The purpose of The Pioneer is to provide pertinent, timely information and entertainment for Whitman students, alumni, faculty, staff and parents, as well as the Walla Walla community. In addition, The Pioneer strives to act as a catalyst and forum for communication within the Whitman community. To do so, The Pioneer publishes weekly Board Editorials. These opinion pieces reflect the views of The Pioneer, and not necessarily the views of each individual associated with the newspaper. The Pioneer welcomes letters to the Editor or any contradicting opinion pieces.

SUBMISSION Policy Letters may be submitted to The Pioneer editors via e-mail at editors@whitmanpioneer. com; or sent to The Pioneer, Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA, 99362. All submissions must be received by 4 p.m. on Saturday prior to the week that they are intended to appear.

All submissions must be signed and may be cut for space and edited for journalistic style.

For information on advertising in or subscribing to The Pioneer, contact The Pioneer at Business@whitmanpioneer.com.

From Abroad

Similarities open eyes too

Sloane

I believe that traveling and living abroad, even if it is just for a few months, is one of the most important experiences a person can have in DEREK terms of broadTHURBER ening one’s perColumnist sonal view of the world.

However, the only thing people ever talk about when you travel or study in another culture is how different this or that is.

I find it perhaps more remarkable how similar people are no matter where they are from, who their parents are, what language they speak or any other differences they have.

People by and large are the same, and as a result a study abroad experience is about noticing the little difference but is also about seeing for the first time what makes us act the way we do.

Right now it is “Freshers’ Week” at my school in London. This basically means exactly what it sounds like it means. It is a time for all the new first-years to get to know the school and their peers and to get totally and undeniably wasted every night of the week.

Most people think the “freshmen binge-drinking phenomena” is a very American thing because of our low drinking age and strict parenting.

That is a lie.

It may be legal at age 18, but the British if anything are crazier with their drinking as first-years. The big difference is just that they go to pubs and clubs as opposed to behind-closed-doors and frat parties.

It is not just first-year drinking that is the same, either. There are thieves that use the same tricks, restaurants that serve the same food, grocery stores that provide the same shampoo and many more.

After a while, it can sometimes be hard to see the real differences . . . at least until someone opens their mouth and they start blurting out British slang that not even the Brits can understand.

This is not to say that there are no differences, because there are major differences. There definitely more differences on the surface than there are similarities, but when you start to think about those differences it is easy to see how they are completely unimportant.

In London it is almost impossible to find a store that carries everything. One store covers the meat and cheeses, another for the bread, and yet another for the pots and pans, but who cares?

Just because we have giant grocery stores and they have small, specialty convenience stores near each other makes no difference in what you eat.

It is all these sort of things that makes other countries seem so different when you just see them as a tourist, but makes them seem so similar when you actually live there.

And once you see past the surface level differences to the similarities beneath, it is possible to see where the real differences lie.

This is the true value of living in another country. There is nothing that can replicate the experience of learning how to live—not just travel or see, but truly live—in a country that is completely different from the United States—in a foreign country.

Opinion

9October 1, 2009

wa shington poli t ics

Support domestic partnership: R-71 This November, voters could deny basic rights to thousands of Washington State residents.

If Referendum 71 does not pass, of JAMES SLEDD thousands same-sex couples Columnist in Washington will be denied the right to domestic partnerships.

In May of this year, Washington Governor Christine Gregoire signed Senate Bill 5688, which guaranteed same-sex domestic partners the same rights that married couples enjoy. Washington’s constitution includes a referendum process for residents to review measures passed by the legislature.

Almost immediately, opponents of same-sex marriage launched a referendum petition to place the bill on the November ballot. Unfortunately, they succeeded. To salvage the domestic partnership law, voters must approve Referendum 71 (R-71).

The domestic partnership law— known as the Everything But Marriage bill—would have ensured that samesex couples would be able to visit loved ones in the hospital, take family and medical leave, purchase health insurance and pass down inheritances.

The Everything But Marriage act would have helped ensure that all Washington residents—including 12,000 in domestic partnerships—would receive equal protection under the law. The bill would not define same-sex partnerships as marriage.

Sadly, one thing that same-sex couples can count on receiving is hate.

Soon after Governor Gregoire signed the bill, the homophobic propaganda machine shifted into high gear.

Opponents of same-sex marriage have used a multitude of baseless claims to undermine the Everything But Marriage bill.

Protect Marriage Washington, an anti-domestic partnership group, claims that the bill will “demolish the state’s historical understanding of the definition of marriage” and inevitably lead to state-sanctioned homosexual marriage.

This is simply false—the bill intention-

ally defines domestic partnerships as separate from marriage.

Opponents also make the laughable argument that a domestic partnership law would inhibit religious free speech.

A domestic partnership law, they argue, would soon lead to prohibitions on speech against homosexuality. Supposedly, pastors would not be able to preach that homosexuality contradicts religious teachings. Of course, this claim ignores the fact that even bigoted speech is guaranteed by the First Amendment.

Same-sex domestic partnerships have a remarkable ability to instill fear into critics. Some concerned parents are considering pulling their children out of public schools. Protect Marriage Washington laments that teachers will be required to tell students that “homosexuality [is] perfectly normal.” Ken Hutcherson, the remarkably bigoted pastor of Antioch Bible Church in Kirkland, worries that even home schooled children will be unable to escape “the dangerous homosexual lifestyle.”

These arguments ignore an overwhelming body of evidence showing that homosexuality is normal. Studies have shown that between five and 10 percent of people are homosexual. That means that an average-sized class of 15 to 20 people at Whitman is likely to have at least one gay student.

Furthermore, evidence suggests that sexuality is hereditary. Whether gay or straight, people do not choose their sexual orientation.

Finally, same-sex partnerships do not harm children. Numerous studies have shown that children of same-sex couples do not develop differently from children of heterosexual marriages. In fact, banning domestic partnerships harms children of same-sex couples by denying them state benefits available to other children.

The backlash against domestic partnerships has exposed Washington’s bigoted underbelly. Same-sex partners deserve the same rights accorded to heterosexual couples. Voters often dismiss off-year elections as unimportant, but Referendum 71 demands our attention. This November, protect the basic rights of same-sex couples by supporting Referendum 71.

He alt h C are

Single-payer is best The health care system as we know it is out of control.

I wrote about the problem this past spring. I called for action on Obama’s part during his crucial first 100 days in BRYANT office. I suggested FONG that the federal government would Columnist have to raise taxes if it were to start a public option to compete with private insurance corporations.

However, during a recession, no one wants higher taxes.

I now support single payer health care.

Mad As Hell Doctors rallied for this option in D.C. on Sept. 30.

In short, the single payer option is where health care is paid by a large public body. Doctors and hospitals still remain private, but a governmental body would collect all funds and disperse them to the respective care providers.

There is no need for private health insurance programs, the root of the problem.

Consumers will be empowered to decide on their health care and in essence it creates competition to promote better health care—improving the quality and reducing prices.

A Reuters poll shows that about 60 percent of American doctors support the single payer plan. Since doctors approve it, it must be in the public’s best interest.

Doctors have personal interactions with patients and care, while insurance companies just want money.

This option would alleviate the bu-

reaucracy of the health care system by eliminating the middleman in doctor-topatient health care.

Insurance companies are the problem, and have made small procedures cost way more than necessary.

Does it really cost 100 dollars to visit the doctor to find out you have a cold and obtain a prescription for codeine? It did for me last winter break. Under the single payer option, it won’t.

According to Allison Landes of the California Nurses Association, the universal health care option provides subsidies to reduce costs and premiums, and provides incentives for employers to decrease costs.

This is the reform under much debate in Congress.

David Morris-Diaz of “The Vanguard” states, on the simplest terms single-payer health care takes the system out of the hands of the insurance companies and puts it into the hands of the public.

Consumers will be empowered to decide on their health care, and in essence it creates competition to promote better health care—improving the quality and reducing prices.

According to HR 676, the conversion to a not-for-profit health care system would take place over 15 years, and would consult physicians to determine prices for different procedures.

Those against government control might say that the single payer option would create inefficient systems where there are long waiting lists in order to get surgery. However, will it be better than the system we have now?

Yes. The costs are out of control and people are avoiding care because they cannot pay for it. Insurance companies are rejecting people with preexisting conditions because they cannot profit from them. Everyone should have access to health care.

Any change in health care is a step away from the system we have now.

Many doctors, some congressmen and some of the public support a single payer system. I am behind them.

The single payer option is the way to give everyone access to health care.

11

How to save the Internet If you’re like me, you love the Internet like you’re a nurturing parent.

You’ve watched it grow—from the baby years of dialup and AOL RUSS CADITZ- Instant Messenger to high-speed PECK wireless and Columnist high-def video today. But in its adolescence, the open Internet now faces an influential bully—the greedy telecom industry.

The telecom industry has challenged Network Neutrality—the guiding principle of the Internet. Net Neutrality protects our ability to use the Web as we do now: visiting any site, using any application and creating any content we can dream up, from YouTube videos to personal blogs.

The nation’s largest telecoms—AT&T, Verizon and Comcast—want to become the Internet’s gatekeepers. By violating Net Neutrality, online content can be sped up, slowed down or made unloadable depending on which companies or sites can pay to play – and not on which we like the best. We’ll wind up with etoll roads: a Web where companies like Google can afford the fast lane, but people like you and me, and the less wealthy sites we care about, will be stuck in the slow lane.

Sound like the paranoid ramblings of your crazy uncle last Thanksgiving? It’s

not. CEOs from these very companies have openly stated their intentions and tested them out. They’ve been trying to undermine Net Neutrality for years, and have only increased their efforts as activists and a handful of lawmakers have pushed to make Net Neutrality an enforceable law, rather than just a guiding principle.

The Web is the economic, democratic and cultural core of our generation. As young people, we stand to gain or lose the most in this fight. Without Net Neutrality, it is unimaginable that entrepreneurs such as Google, eBay, YouTube etc. would ever have emerged. And where do you fit in? Maybe you have the next great idea for the Web. Nothing should stop you from contributing to our economy, democracy and culture— especially not the greed of a few telecom companies.

The good news? On September 21, both President Obama and Federal Communications Commission Julius Genachowksi committed to pursuing Net Neutrality. This is a huge victory for fans of an open Internet.

Furthermore, Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass) has a bill in the House – the Internet Freedom Preservation Act – that would make Net Neutrality a law.

The bad news? Now that the telecoms sense that our momentum is building, they are spending millions of dollars on lobbyists and lawyers to destroy Net Neutrality. They are flooding the FCC with comments about why a “closed” Internet, in which they have the power to

discriminate against content for massive profits, is just fine for our country. For more debunking of industry nonsense, visit here and here.

A diverse coalition has emerged in support of Net Neutrality and the transformative power of the Internet – including the Christian Coalition, National Rifle Association, ACLU and MoveOn.org. But this isn’t just a movement of organizations; it requires our individual voices. As young people, we cannot afford to sit back and trust others to fight for us.

As young people, we have witnessed the Internet emerge as the heart of our economy, democracy and culture. The Web offers new and vast opportunities for entrepreneurship, free speech, democratic participation and artistic expression. From the grassroots e-support for Barack Obama, to the vibrant politics and art of the blogosphere, to the smaller victories like “Lolcats,” the Internet has added tremendous value to our society.

With Obama and the FCC Chair on board, and a bill in the House, now is the time to urge your representative to co-sponsor the Net Neutrality bill to protect our open Internet.

Last summer, Russ Caditz-Peck served as an intern at Free Press, a public interest non-profit dedicated to media reform issues—including protecting and spreading the open Internet.

Dear China: Take it easy, motherland It was already 10 p.m. when I came back from the Instant Play Festival on Saturday night.

It took me another 46 minutes to grab a cup of toffee nut mocha in Reid, to have a short chat RENSI KE with my Chinese Columnist friends, to upload a few photos and videos of tonight’s plays to Facebook and finally, to Google the latest news about my column topic for this week: Oct. 1, Chinese National Day. I know it’s bad to procrastinate, especially when I have such a politically and culturally significant national holiday to write about—what I am supposed to write is a tribute essay for the 60th anniversary of the foundation of my country, People’s Republic of China.

With a trace of guilt I opened a new WordPress window to write my column, but two minutes later I stood up and headed to the kitchen. Sorry, motherland—I’m hungry.

Compared with my friends from a neighboring country who even forgot the exact date of their National Day, my feelings of guilt might seem ridiculous.

But it wouldn’t be that surprising if you know how much more concerned we Chinese are with this holiday.

In the third grade at elementary school, I got an essay assignment for my Chinese class to write about the newlybuilt bridge in my hometown which was built as a tribute to the national day.

Later, when I became a member of the class committee in charge of publicity, I made blackboard newspapers every year for National Day, which enabled me to write my patriotic essays on the blackboard decorated with the painting of Tiananmen Square, the five-star national flag and clusters of fireworks.

My personal tribute was of the humblest sort when compared with the seven days of national celebration, which is literally translated as “Golden Week.”

Firework displays, TV galas or concerts and the grand military parade in front of Tiananmen Square when the anniversary year is a multiple of five.

This year will unsurprisingly witness the most gorgeous national day celebration ever in the history, not only because 60 years marks the full cycle of life in the Chinese zodiac. The number six carries the auspicious connotation of “success in every way” and “we will try our best to create a festive environment at an economic cost,” as was promised by a government spokesperson.

Even though I am abroad, it’s not hard for me to sense the economic cost my government put in preparation for the carnival-like national day holiday: the biggest military parade, the biggest evening gala, the patriotic movie “The Great Cause of China’s Foundation” with a cast of 172 domestically and/ or internationally renowned stars, and numerous provincial “tribute projects,” varying from the country’s biggest building “Long Xin Ge” which covers 10,378,426 square acres and countless roads, railways and bridges opened to traffic on Oct. 1, among which many are completed at least six months in advance.

My government always generously invests in occasions that might be a boost to the international image of China, such as last summer’s Beijing Olympic Games, but the government’s struggle for a “good face” by hiding negative news from the world is apparently condemned by the Western media.

Regardless of our upcoming National Day, Western journalists have been covering how China limits access to numerous websites including even Facebook, how officials took away babies for the violation of birth control (one child) policy, and how lead poisoning hampered children’s health in a town of the province where I am from!

At Whitman, most students are not familiar with or interested in China.

When we discussed Marxism last Tuesday at the Anthropology History and Theory seminar, I found that none of

my classmates could tell the difference between socialism and communism.

After class, I had a classmate tell me how she disliked a book about China because there was “too much propaganda.”

During house dinners, most of my American housemates were understandably quiet when asked about their impressions of China. Many stopped after commenting that China is an overpopulated country.

When I talked to my Japanese friends, I learned more about the Tiananmen Square Protest in 1989 and their opposition against excessive government control in China, which I think is a common impression of China in the international community.

Although I insist that the Western media has for a long time been somehow demonizing China by focusing on sensational issues to get readership, which not only caused misinterpretations in the West but also stirred up dissatisfaction in China, I do feel that China is partly responsible for the faulty Western coverage.

If I were the minister of the Department of Publicity (not the negative “Propaganda”), I would not block blogs that address social problems; I would not associate “Cao Ni Ma” (literally “grass mud horse” in Chinese, a rare species of alpaca dominant within the Mahler Gobi Desert in Mongolia, but phonetically identical to “f*** you mom”) with the ideas of “sabotaging social stability.”

Chinese social stability is even more fragile than a newly-born baby, judging from the government’s long list of “sensitive vocabulary.”

One more thing: take it easy, motherland. Enjoy your birthday without thinking about impressing anyone else.

We aren’t badly in need of 100 “tribute projects” generated by one single province; we are actually deeply in doubt of the quality of those projects completed more than six months ahead of schedule. Oh, but I made a mistake—I should send those words to my government, not my motherland. My government is not my motherland.

A Fifth frat?

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This month in Pioneer history

by William Witwer Staff Reporter How much has life at Whitman really changed in the last 10 years? In the last 30? To find out, The Pioneer traveled back in time—or maybe just to the Penrose Library archives—and dug up some front page news from Octobers past.

sent Ch in ese sp ea ke r sti ll ab

e Pioneer’s front On Oc t. 5, 19 89 , Th the then-native page story profile d interest house, se spe aker in the Chine account deng eti riv a Jian Xu-Fai, in ort to campus tai ling his fai lure to rep was schedu led on Sept. 28, the day he “brought on ns tio tric to arr ive. Vis a res in the People’s by violent civ il unrest bably rel ating to Republic of China,” pro n Squ are, preme the incident at Tianan so. vented him from doing

A

ges

German Defense Minister Visits Campus

Writer Jack Anderson captivates crowd with humorous political rhetoric

On Oct. 6, 1988, the front page story details a campus visit by a member of the German Defense Ministry the previous Tuesday. Deputy Chief of Policy Planning Dieter Mahncke argued that U.S. troops not be withdrawn from Germany: “Without this deterrent, he believes, West Germany could risk ‘Finlandization’; the Germans would be forced to acquiesce to Moscow’s political demands.” The troops were also there to prevent what he called “outright attack” in which the Warsaw pact apparently had the advantage.

On Oct. 4, 1984, the front page story outlines a humorous lecture on politics

by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Jack Anderson, discussing “the upcoming presidential election, American politics, the Soviet Union, communism and government spending last Saturday.” Today, there is no Soviet Union or communism to worry about, but the other issues are exactly the same.

Armed suspect apprehended by campus security

“Shangri-La” fire injures four

front On Oct. 14, 1999, there is a large who ect susp ed page story about an arm rity. secu pus cam by ded was apprehen h whic ng duri s, larie burg of s serie a r Afte and e purs a et, a backpack, a leather jack from two unnamed items were stolen of ds roun 20 pus, cam on le peop various age. garb the ammunition were found in .380 Mike Austen, then a senior, found a next the s gras the in l pisto tic semi-automa morning.

On Oct. 4, 1990 , the front page report examines how a campus-owned house burned down in a fire. There was an estimated $40,000 worth of damage to the house, which was affectionately known as “Shangri-La,” and was leased to two Whitman students (Jason Jercinovic and Mike Berger). There were several injuries, and the building was too severely damaged to be rebuilt.

In Loco Parentis Greek alumni offer glimpse into yesteryear Missionary football: a ghost of Whitman’s past Conceptions of acceptable student behavior has evolved considerably in recent decades, as college policy reflects

The class of1969 football team makes a last effort in their final successful season.

by Hadley Jolley

Compiled by Kristen Coverdale

fews or restrictions on visitors to dorms and some dorm rooms are coed.

“Recently, we have allowed coed In the 1950s, Whitman women had a roommates with the acknowledgement curfew and a dress code. Men were not of a guardian, although not for firstallowed past the Great Hall in Prent- year students,” said Associate Dean of iss. Men either lived off-campus or in Students and Director of Residence Life a fraternity after their first year. Women Nancy Tavell. did not live off campus at all, and their But current residence life policies rooms were inspected weekly. show the influence of the 1960s and “This was the point when colleges ’70s: Whitman still requires students to made all the decisions,” said Associate live two years on-campus.

Dean of Students “Most of our and Student Serpeers, small vices Barbara Maxliberal arts colwell. “In the 1960s leges, have at things started to least a twobreak down.” year residency In his book requirement,” on the history of said Tavelli. “It’s Whitman, “Tradia way to get the tion in a Turbulent residence expeAge,” alumnus G. rience.”

Thomas Edwards’ Of course, outlines a philosonot all students phy called “In Loco spend those Parentis,” where the two years in college takes the residence halls. place of a parent in G. Thomas Edwards, author of Interest houses keeping watch over “Traditions in a Turbulent Age” are also popular students. among sopho“From 1964 to more students.

1971 at smaller col“Interest leges and universities across the nation, houses have become more important the practice of in loco parentis—espe- over the past ten years,” said Tavelli. “It’s cially with regard to women students— a great opportunity and the greek sysdrew more attention and involvement tem has gotten less popular.” than any other single campus issue,” According to Tavelli, the first interest Edwards wrote. house was the French house, which was Many of the protests challenged rules founded in 1968. Other language housand policies about who had to live on es were also early starters, while more campus and what rules they had to fol- houses were founded in the 1980s and low. One of the first sources of discontent 90s. They provide a smaller community was the double standard that allowed than the residence halls, as well as the men but not women to live off-campus. opportunity to dedicate time to an inOther issues included visiting hours, terest. Any student of sophomore status curfews, confidential reports on stu- or higher can apply to live in an interest dents living in residence halls and house. alcohol policy.

Today, there are no curStaff Reporter

Staff Reporter

For almost a century, the greek system has played a prominent role in Whitman culture. Providing opportunities for social connections, leadership, philanthropy and fun, every greek has stories to tell. Here are a few glimpses of greek life from the past.

When I was a junior at Whitman, my mom passed away and it was right in the midst of finals and my sorority sent around an emergency note in everyone’s mailbox to let them know that she had passed and asked everyone to come if they could and right in the middle of finals about 30 girls came to rest her in the Tri-Cities. For me, that was an amazing show of support that I hadn’t expected at all.

When I was a freshman, we had a pledge project. Dwight Eisenhower was campaigning for president of the United States and he came to Walla Walla. Our pledge project was to go down to the parade that was being held for the candidate Eisenhower and sell these cigarette lighters with his image engraved on it. Can you imagine asking freshmen girls to do that in this day and age? We sold them—we went up to total strangers, “Would you like to buy this lighter for $5”, and that’s how we raised some money for, I don’t know, a dance or something.

Deanna Laidler, Delta Gamma

Karen Elder Pribilsky, Kappa Kappa Gamma

I remember when the TKEs, before they bought the house on the corner, there was a driveway that went around behind the TKE house. Some guys got the idea [that] it’d be fun to divert traffic around in that very narrow [driveway]. So they got a bunch of straw, piled it across Isaacs Avenue, and then had detour signs. This was done at about midnight when the traffic was pretty low, and as the traffic would come down around Isaacs, there were detour signs around the TKE house, and that lasted for about an hour or so until a guy in a big trick [drove up]. There was no way he could get through that, so he stopped and investigated the barricade and opened it up to traffic, but while it lasted it was interesting. I remember one year, they got a team of Shetland ponies and the candidates for the Betas in through the chapel, which was the only auditorium on campus, and they came running in in a chariot drawn by ponies and that created quite a sensation.

Pete Reid, Phi Delta Theta

From 1964-1971 at smaller colleges and universities across the nation, the practice of in loco parentis–especially with regard to women students–drew more attention and involvement than any other single campus issue.

alden

by Helen Jenne Staff Reporter When football was cut in March 1977, after a sudden decision by the board of trustees without any student input, Whitman lost more than just a sport.

Football was an important part of Whitman for nearly 80 years, although it was never consistently a winning team. According to Thomas Edward’s “A Sketchy History of Whitman Football: Excitement and Controversy,” in 77 years, Whitman’s winning record was only 37 percent.

But “it brought the campus together,” said Associate Director of Alumni Relations Nancy Mitchell.

Any Whitman yearbook from the

TOP

’50s or ’60s shows the culture that came with football. For the homecoming game in 1958, there was a barbecue, a pep rally, and a parade that consisted of 13 floats contributed from different social groups. There was a homecoming dance, complete with a queen and two princesses. The homecoming queen even got featured in the “Royalty” section of the yearbook, a full page devoted to a close-up picture of her.

The football team also benefited the athletes. “[Football] drew out the best in them,” Mitchell said, “They learned to do things they never thought they were capable of doing.”

Mitchell said that football brought a different kind of personality to Whit-

man. Students came to Whitman who would not have come if they couldn’t play football. In “Football players tackle memories,” an article in the “Walla Walla Union Bulletin” by Alfred Diaz, former Whitman football player Dave Hartsfield says that he wouldn’t have traded his years at Whitman for anything, but he wouldn’t have chosen Whitman if there wasn’t a football team.

Because of the small size of Whitman, football just didn’t have the numbers to continue. It was also a financial strain. “Budgets were very, very tight then,” Mitchell said. Football was an expensive sport; by 1977, 42 other colleges had already cut their football teams, according to Edward’s history of Whitman

10 notable

Whitman alums

by Hanna Ory Feature Editor

1.

William O. Douglas ’20

Douglas was sworn in as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice in 1939. With a term lasting 36 years, he is the longest-serving justice in the history of the Supreme Court.

2.

Ralph Cordiner ’22

3.

Walter Brattain ’24

4.

Al Ullman ’35

From 1950-1958, Cordiner served as President of General Electric Corporation. He later went on to become Chairman and CEO of the company.

Brattain was a physicist and co-inventor of the transistor, for which he won the 1956 Nobel Prize in Physics.

Representing Oregon’s 2nd congressional district, Ullman served as a member of the United States House of Representatives for 24 years.

5.

Lucile Lomen ’41

Lomen was the first woman to ever serve as a law clerk for a Supreme Court justice. She served under William Douglas, a Whitman alum himself.

6.

Adam West ’51

West, an actor, is best known for his lead role in the 1960s TV series and film “Batman.” Since 2000, West has made regular appearances on the animated series “Family Guy,” on which he plays Mayor Adam West, a parody of himself.

7.

Webb Miller ’65

Miller is a professor and computational biology pioneer. He was recently featured in Time Magazine 100, 2009: Scientists and Thinkers, amongst the most influential scientists in the world.

8.

Morten Laurisden ’65

9.

Ryan Crocker’‘71

football.

The money saved from cutting football was used to provide “opportunities for more student athletes,” said Dean Snider, athletic director. This meant developing other sports programs, especially women’s sports, after Title IX was passed in 1972.

Today, there are fourteen varsity sports at Whitman. “All . . . have been part of the program now for numerous years,” Snider said. He estimates that today, Whitman is in the top three or top half of the conference in most sports.

“I see Whitman athletics as building to be very strong,” Snider said. He said that he feels that there has been a change just in the last fifteen years, in

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As a vocal composer, Lauridsen was previously the composer-in-residence of the Lost Angeles Master Chorale. Lauridsen’s vocal compositions are featured regularly in concerts worldwide.

Crocker is a former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, most recently, and previously to Lebanon, Kuwait, Syria and Pakistan. He is also a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

10.

Ingrid Backstrom ’00

An internationally ranked professional skier, Backstrom has been featured in Warren Miller’s film “Impact” (2004) and was the only female to be featured as one of Powder Magazine’s Future Big Mountain Heroes in 2002.

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contributed by Kristen Coverdale Kappa Kappa Gamma’s pledge class of 1961 poses outside of their section in Prentiss Hall during recruitment.

Greek

By the Numbers

that Whitman is “pursuing the same type of excellence that is also evident in our academic programs.”

Snider pointed out that this is made possible by greater resources, such as improved facilities, and more support from trustees. “A lot of these things that we have going for us now did not exist in the past,” he said. “[Football] had just a tremendously positive effect on campus,” Snider said.

But the positive effect of varsity sports can still be seen today—Snider cites the example of the women’s volleyball game several weeks ago against Willamette University, at which hundreds of spectators sat in the bleachers, cheering for Whitman.

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Sports

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Issue 4 OCT. 1, 2009 Page 14

Club tennis serves up competition

by STATEN HUDSON Staff Reporter Whittie tennis players who couldn’t throw together an IM team before the deadline but who still want to play competitive tennis now have a second option: Whitman USTA club tennis.

Started by sophomore Lizzy Schiller, club tennis offers members the opportunity to play competitive tennis against other schools without the substantial time commitment that varsity athletes have to sign up for.

Practices are held Tuesdays from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Fridays from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Bratton Indoor Tennis Arena. On Sundays, practices are held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the outdoor courts.

Practices are planned and run by the three co-captains of the team: sophomores Kelsey Fritts and Seth Dawson and junior Julie Irvine.

“Co-captains have been running drills, having us play doubles and singles sets against each other and other fun tennis games,” said Schiller. “It’s really great because they get to plan out what we’re going to do at practices, and since it’s three different people planning out the three different practices, it never gets boring!”

According to Schiller, the club has received a positive response from Whitman students.

“At the student activities fair a lot of people were interested and I had over 40 sign up,” said Schiller. “Out of those 40, about 25 or so have come to practice, and we have been averaging about 15 players or so coming to the practices consistently.”

The team will send 10 players (the top five men and top five women) from the club team to Portland, Ore., in late Octo-

COURTESY OF Lizzy Schiller The Whitman USTA Club tennis team will face other schools for Campus Sectionals in Portland later this month. ber to square off against other USTA Club Tennis teams in the USTA Tennis on Campus Sectionals.

This year, 14 schools will be competing in the Pacific Northwest Sectionals for the coveted sectional title. The University of Oregon took the title last year, narrowly beating out the University of Victoria in a super-tiebreaker.

The USTA Tennis on Campus program uses a unique scoring system, called the World TeamTennis format, to decide a winner. Instead of having to win two out of three sets, TeamTennis requires that

a team only win five games. If teams are tied at four games apiece, then a super-tiebreaker of nine points is played to decide a winner.

Schiller was inspired to start a club tennis team after talking with men’s varsity tennis head coach Jeff Northam.

“Jeff Northam was the person who gave me the idea last year—he was definitely my main motivator,” said Schiller. “After participating in both seasons of IM tennis and getting to know a bunch of people who play tennis, I decided that Jeff was right— club tennis would be a really awesome

thing for the Whitman community.”

According to Schiller, getting a club tennis program up and running at Whitman was a bit intimidating at first, but well worth it.

“It’s definitely a very big task to get everything started, and I was extremely nervous at first, but everything’s going really, really well,” said Schiller. “It’s a great tennis network and I’ve already met so many awesome tennis players that I most likely wouldn’t have met otherwise.”

Despite its success, club tennis is still in the process of gaining actual Whitman

club recognition. Because it is not designated as an official club, the team receives no funding from the ASWC budgeting committee.

“Since we don’t have funding, and most likely won’t be able to get funding this year, we’ve been thinking of different fundraising strategies and have been contributing our own money to a whole bunch of new tennis balls,” said Schiller.

This upcoming Saturday, the team will square off against D-1 Eastern Washington University in a pre-sectionals practice match.

Michael Vick not yet out of doghouse Commentary

by Bidnam Lee & Jay Gold Staff Reporters Michael Vick, who abruptly fell from the height of stardom to the depth of perceived villainy, not to mention temporary legal and financial ruin, is searching for redemption. Just over two years removed from pleading guilty to felony charges for his involvement in the massive dog fighting ring known as Bad Newz Kennels, Vick is back in the NFL. He has served his allotted prison sentence of 23 months, he has apologized profusely before the public eye and, now that his suspension from the league has been lifted, he has made his debut as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. Many of the storylines revolving around Vick have to do with how he will fit in on a team with Donovan McNabb as quarterback, what role or roles he will play and how much he will contribute.

Purely from a football perspective, these are fundamentally important concerns, but Vick’s situation has implications that transcend the boundaries of sport.

For all of the punishment he has endured and the penance he has offered, Vick’s past still looms behind him at all times. This is still a man who knowingly funded an organization that trained dogs to gruesomely exterminate other dogs and abused, tortured and executed dogs that did not perform this task satisfactorily. Knowing this, can we ever simply view him as another player? Is his otherworldly athletic ability blinding enough to make us forget his somewhat disturbing criminal past? Bidnam Lee and Jay Gold discuss these and other questions pertaining to Vick’s return to the NFL, his prison sentence and his situation as a whole.

Bidnam: Michael Vick’s official return to the NFL on Sept. 27 against the Kansas City Chiefs was a minor blip, if even that, on the final box score of the game: 0/2 for zero yards passing and one run for seven yards rushing. Yet in many ways, I feel like his debut augmented an already present tension in the larger sports world regarding the

entire Michael Vick saga: How should we really feel about it? Should we feel bad for feeling good for him, to witness a redemption story, but have it undermined because of just how far the story falls before its redemption?

Do we focus on his past? Or how far he’s come from his past? There are certainly no unequivocal “right” answers here, but for me personally, I was happy to see Michael Vick make his NFL debut. Should I feel guilty about that?

Jay: We all want to witness redemption. It’s one of the most recurrent scripts in our sports culture and, when its promise is fulfilled, one of the most endearing. As a part of this culture and a former Vick fan, there’s a part of me that was and is excited about his return. However, I have to wonder: how far has he come from his past? We all want to believe that he is a changed man and I’m sure he is to an extent.

Still, I am not convinced that his public apology represents anything more than pragmatism on his part. Of course he apologized. The alternative was losing his chance at returning to the NFL along with whatever respectability he had left. It is possible that he actually feels guilty about his involvement in dog fighting, but it is also possible that he is merely trying to repair the image and livelihood he destroyed by being involved in dog fighting. Obviously, we have no way of knowing what is going on his mind. But I have a hard time simply accepting that he’s completely reformed, even if he’s not going to be getting back into the dog fighting business anytime soon.

Bidnam: It’s true. Whether or not he is truly repentant for his heinous actions is a question I’m sure lingers in everyone’s mind. What drives a man to support something as brutal and reprehensible as not only dog fighting, but also dog torture and execution, without moral qualms? And then, can that same man be made to finally have moral qualms with those things, to genuinely feel remorseful? As Jay pointed out, Vick loses everything if he doesn’t exhibit remorse, whether genuine or not, and gains everything if he does.

But at the same time, does anyone ever know if a person is actually sorry

COURTESY OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick, right, switch out in the first quarter of a preseason NFL football game. Vick’s criminal history and hiatus from the game has overshadowed news of his on-field performance.

for his actions? It takes a certain kind of faith in a person to believe that he is remorseful, to be able to forgive him, to be able to offer him redemption, even partially. We do it everyday with the people around us and we hope other people do the same for us when we are repentant about something. I am in no way even remotely providing excuses for Vick’s actions or justifying them, but rather asking if his place in society as a celebrity, a celebrated athlete, make the standards against which his actions are held different. Do we resort to a utilitarian type of retribu-

tive justice with people who are more visible in our society? Do we punish them disproportionately, legally and socially, with their actions to use them as visible examples in an attempt to maximize the benefit their punishment has on the rest of society?

Jay: It’s unclear whether we do, but, interestingly enough, the judge added significant time to the prosecutors’ initial request that the sentence last 12 to 18 months. However, the fact that Vick failed a drug test while he was free on a bail complicates the notion that his visibility was the primary fac-

tor in the extension of the sentence. In any case, he is free now and we have to decide whether we want to continue to scrutinize his inscrutable morality or simply watch him play football.

Bidnam: On the football field, Vick is renowned for his unbelievable speed, a Hermes in a league of mere men. Hermes, however, wasn’t just the Greek god of speed, but also the guide of lost souls to the Underworld, and as Michael Vick begins a new chapter in his turbulent life, we can only hope he can lead his own lost soul to a better place than it was before.

Sports

October 1, 2009

15

for the week FRIDAY, Sept. 25 Volleyball

George Fox University vs. Whitman College in Newburg, Ore. Game Scores 1 2 3 Team Records Whitman College 19 20 18 3-5, 1-2 NWC George Fox University 25 25 25 8-3, 1-2 NWC

SATURDAY, Sept. 26 Women’s Cross Country

Erik Anderson Cross Country Invitational at P lantes F erry P ark in S pokane , W ash .—W omen ’ s 5K Run Top 5 Whitman Finishers (out of 288 finishers)

Time 6.Ballinger, Kristen

49. Callow, John 8. Colis, Yasmeen

28:31.35

Whitman College placed sixth 13. Corcorran, Michela

20:03.05

15. O’Moore, Heather

20:10.03

18. McCune, Sara

1 0 1

2-3-2, 1-1-1 NWC

19:50.20

20:12.80

Women’s Soccer

Pacific Lutheran University vs.

Whitman College at PLU in Tacoma, Wash.

Whitman College placed second.

Goals by period 1 2 Total Team Records

Men’s Cross Country

Erik Anderson Cross Country Invitational at P lantes F erry P ark in S po kane , W ash .—M en ’ s 8K R un Top 5 Whitman Finishers (out of 288 finishers)

Time 20. Rand, Corey

27:20.58

33. Villasenor, Alfredo

27:53.47

34. Reid, Curtis

27:55.48

43. Mesojednik, Taylor

28:15.13

19:41.82

Pacific Lutheran University 1 2 3 2-5, 1-2 NWC Whitman College 1 0 1 2-4-1, 1-3 NWC

Clark vs. Whitman ColPortland, Ore.

and

lege in

Game Scores 1 2 3 4 Team Records Whitman College 19 25 17 19 3-6, 1-3 NWC Lewis and Clark 25 23 25 25 7-5, 3-1 NWC

man

Pacific Lutheran University vs.

Whitman College at PLU in Tacoma, Wash.

Goals by period 1 2 Total Team Records Pacific Lutheran University 0 2 2 6-2, 3-0 NWC Whitman College

Goals by period 1 2 Total Team Records Pacific Lutheran University 0 2 2 5-5, 2-2 NWC Whitman College 1 0 1 2-4-2, 1-2-1 NWC

SUNDAY, Sept. 27 WEDNESDAY, Women’s Soccer Sept. 30 U P S .W C UPS T , Volleyball: niversity of

Men’s Soccer

University of Puget Sound vs. Whitman C ollege at UPS in T acoma , Wash.

Volleyball Lewis

Men’s Soccer

ollege

uget

ound vs

at

in

hit

acoma

Wash.

Walla Walla University vs. Whitman College in College Place, Wash.

Goals by period 1 2 Total Team Records University of Puget Sound 1 5 6 7-0, 4-0 NWC Whitman College 1 0 1 2-5-1, 1-4 NWC

Game Scores 1 2 3 4 Team Records Whitman College 25 23 25 25 4-6, 1-3 NWC Walla Walla University 21 25 23 20 7-10

for the FRIDAY, Oct. 2 Volleyball

University of Puget Sound (Tacoma, Wash.) vs. Whitman College at home , 7 pm .

Game Notes: Last season, after being destroyed away at the University of Puget Sound, the Whitman women rebounded impressively, taking UPS in a nail-biter at home. This season, the Loggers are looking a bit more impressive than the Missionaries, racking up eight wins with only three losses.

Sparks will definitely fly.

SATURDAY, Oct. 3 Women’s Soccer:

Willamette University (Salem, Ore.) vs . W hitman C ollege at home , noon Game Notes: The Whitman women begin the first of a two-game home stint this weekend as they face off against the Willamette Bearcats. Last season, the Missionaries traded wins with the Bearcats, winning a tough away game and then losing a nail-biter at home. This season, the Bearcats are 2-3-1 overall and 1-1 in the NWC conference.

Men’s Soccer:

Willamette University (Salem, Ore.) vs . W hitman C ollege at home , 2:30 p.m.

Game Notes: The Whitman men begin the first of a massive fivegame home stint this weekend when they play the Willamette Bearcats at 2:30 p.m. The Missionaries won both games against the Bearcats last season and are looking to continue the trend. So far, the Bearcats are having a lessthan stellar season, sporting a record of 1-6.

Pacific Lutheran University (Tacoma , W ash .) vs . W hitman C ollege at home , 4 p . m .

Game Notes: The Whitman women are looking for redemption as they face a strong PLU squad. Last year, the Lutes dispatched Whitman easily in the two matches the teams played. This year, the Lutes are looking equally as impressive, boasting a 3-0 conference record coming into the match against the Missionaries.

Women’s Tennis

Cross-Country:

Charles Bowles Cross Country Invitational (W5K, M8K), B ush P ark , Salem, Ore. 9:30 a.m.

Game Notes: The cross-country team is feeling good. With a string of solid performances in previous meets, the team is feeling confident going into Salem, Ore., on Saturday. Consistently solid performances from first-years Corey Rand and Taylor Mesojednik could lift the Whitman men to a victory.

For the women, the exceptional senior class is looking to prove the worth of experience and buoy the already stellar set of women runners.

Pioneer Radio Show

Volleyball

ITA Pacific Northwest Women’s Tennis Tournament at Linfield College in M c M innville , O re . ( matches Saturday and Sunday with finals Monday) Game Notes: The Whitman women’s tennis team is looking to make another strong showing in this year’s ITA sectional tournament.

Last year, Elise Otto captured the singles crown and, along with doubles partner Katie Oost, the doubles crown as well. This year, the team will have to do without Otto, who is studying abroad, and Oost, who graduated last year.

Sectionals winners advance to the ITA Small College Championships later this year.

Whitman Women’s Golf Invitational at W ildhorse GC in M ission , O re ., 12 p.m. (completed Sunday, 10 a.m.)

SUNDAY, Oct. 4 Women’s Soccer

Linfield College (McMinnville, Oregon ) vs . W hitman C ollege at home , noon

Game Notes: The Whitman women play the Linfield Wildcats at home on Saturday. If last season is any indication, the game should be a high scoring affair in Whitman’s favor. Last season, Whitman scored 3 in the two games they played against the Wildcats.

The Wildcats’ record this season is pretty solid, however. After 6 games, the Wildcats are 4-2, a far cry from their record at this point last season—when they were 2-4.

Men’s Soccer:

Linfield College (McMinnville, Oregon ) vs . W hitman C ollege at home , 2:30 p.m.

Game Notes: The Whitman men continue their home stint against the Linfield Wildcats on Sunday.

Whitman won both games against

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the Wildcats last season and look to continue their winning ways.

The Wildcats have struggled in recent years in the Northwest Conference and, thus far, they seem to be continuing the trend. Sporting a record of 2-4-1 so far, the Wildcats have been unimpressive.

Men’s Golf

Whitworth Men’s Golf Invitational, Spokane, Wash. CC, 12 p.m. (completed M onday , 8 a . m .)

TUESDAY, Oct. 6 Women’s Soccer

Whitworth University (Spokane, Wash.) vs. Whitman College at home , 6 p . m .

Game Notes: The Whitman women look to improve on their conference record on Tuesday when they face the Whitworth Pirates.

The Pirates are slumping this season, with a record of 4-9, and are looking demoralized. Last season, the battle of the Whits ended in a 1-1 tie, with both teams stealing a home win away from their opponents in convincing fashion.

Wednesday, Oct. 7 Volleyball

Whitworth University vs. Whitman College at home, 6 p.m.

Game Notes: The Whitman women look to improve their conference record on Tuesday when they face the Whitworth Pirates.

The Pirates are slumping this season with a record of 4-9 and are looking demoralized. Last season, the battle of the Whits ended in a 1-1 tie, with both teams stealing a home win away from their opponents in convincing fashion.

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Sports

October 1, 2009

Men’s tennis previews firstyear talent at tournament

16

by JAY GOLD Staff Reporter With the regular season still months away, the brief off-season interruption known as the Wilson/ITA Pacific Northwest Fall Men’s Tennis Tournament offered a glimpse into the undeniably bright, but still somewhat distant future of Whitman’s team. In a field that included almost 60 players from seven of the nine teams of which the Northwest Conference (NWC) is composed, Whitman, which went 16-0 in conference play last season, employed a mix of depth, talent, veteran savvy and youthful zeal to reestablish itself as the conference’s preeminent power in front of its home crowd.

“We’re looking to exert our force on the conference early,” said senior Matt Solomon, who defeated first-year teammate Jeff Tolman in three sets (3-6, 6-2, 6-0) to clinch his third consecutive regional singles title and defend his status as the tournament’s top overall seed.

While Solomon and Tolman united to advance to the doubles finals, they were unable to defeat Pacific Lutheran University’s Joel Trudel and Justin Peterson, who departed with a 6-3, 7-5 victory.

However, Tolman, who Whitman coach Jeff Northam claims is “as good of a freshman as I’ve ever had,” upset Trudel, the 2009 NWC Player of the Year and the tournament’s second seed, in the quarterfinals. Tolman then proceeded to defeat junior Chris Bailey, the tournament’s number three seed and his teammate, to earn a chance to compete for the title against Solomon, who vanquished fourth overall seed Mark Magdaong from Linfield in the semifinals (6-4, 6-1).

Between Solomon, Tolman, Bailey and sophomore Conor Holton-Burke, Whitman seized four of the eight spots in the singles quarterfinals. While this number, which no other team even approached, is impressive, it appears slightly less so when one considers that Whitman produced seven of the eight quarterfinalists in last season’s tournament. However, this relative disparity is hardly a cause for concern. In fact, it is fairly encouraging that the team managed to occupy three of the four semifinalist slots in both singles and doubles without seniors Jake Cappel, Christoph Fuchs and Nadeem Kassam and junior Etienne Moshevich, four crucial players who were unable to participate for various reasons.

Northam said, “That’s maybe half of our top eight on any given day. That makes it hard.”

Northam’s excitement preceding the tournament stemmed from more than a craving for utter dominance. He wanted to see how his team as a whole, especially its lower seeded players and the new additions, stacked up against the conference, and that chance presented itself to him. While it is clear that Tolman stacks

up extremely well against just about anybody, Sam Sadeghi and Matt Tesmond, his first-year contemporaries, also performed encouragingly.

Sadeghi and Tesmond each came within one victory of reaching the quarterfinals before losing to Holton-Burke and Willamette’s Matt Houser, respectively.

Collectively, the two reached the quarterfinals in the doubles bracket only to nar-

Missy gets athletic My high school gym teacher once told me that if he could grade me on effort he would, but he said he couldn’t be that nice. Now, I knew I wasn’t that fast of a runner or that strong of a lifter, but I didn’t know I was that bad for CK High standards. I guess being the last kid in the class to be picked for dodgeball kind of said it all. Thank goodness we don’t live in ancient MELISSA Sparta because I think I would be fed NAVARRO to the wolves for not being Olympic Sports Editor material.

As a result of my failed attempts to be part of a varsity team in high school, I joined cheerleading to root for the other athletes.

Little did I know I wasn’t very good at that either. Warning: cheerleading is like the military with mini-skirts. It’s hardcore and not as easy as it looks.

At this point, I’ve kind of accepted that I should stick with writing rather than running.

One thing’s for sure though: I do try. In fact, I am always willing to try everything at least once if not twice, depending on how much damage is going to be done of course. That is why I’m proposing a new series for the sports section of The Pioneer, where I try all the different sports and athletic activities students participate on campus ranging from football to Bikram yoga. From frolf to boffing. From cycling to rugby.

I hope to try it all and come out in one piece without asking myself too many times, “What in the world have I gotten myself into?”

Any ideas on what kind of sporty messes I can get myself into? Send your ideas to navarrmc@whitman.edu. I could try it and highlight your team or activity in the Pio. I have solid health insurance and two fake hips. Let’s rock.

rowly fall to teammates Holton-Burke and junior Quin Miller. With Tolman, Sadeghi and Tesmond augmenting an already deep and talented team, Northam has ample cause for buoyancy going forward.

“It’s my twelfth year here, and this is probably the most excited I’ve been about a team,” said Northam. “We’ve got three really solid freshmen—­they work very

hard and they’re better than I thought they were.”

In the aftermath of the tournament, Whitman now faces an extended interval before meaningful play resumes. In that time, speculation and anticipation will run rampant. When the season does arrive, excitement and expectation will be high.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Jasper Follows ‘10, Thomas Roston ‘10, Quin Miller ‘11 and Jeff Tolman ‘13 compete against regional contenders in the Wilson/ITA Pacific Northwest Fall Men’s Tennis Tournament.

PHOTOS BY JACOBSON

Athlete of the week

Yasmeen Colis Each week, the sports staff will pick one Whitman athlete who performed exceptionally during the previous weekend.

The distinction will be judged both on the individual’s performance and his or her impact on the team.

Senior Yasmeen Colis helped the Whitman women’s cross-country team finish in first and second in their two most recent races, propelling a team that is ranked in the top 20 in the Division III Cross Country National Rankings by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Colis, one of five seniors on the team, led the way for the Missionaries at the Lewis & Clark Invitational on Saturday, September 12, placing third overall in the six kilometer race with a time of 22:51.90. She was one of five Whitman runners who placed in the top 12 as the Whitman women sprinted past the competition with 35 place points. The runner-up was Lewis & Clark College with a non-threatening 60 points.

At the 5K Erik Anderson Cross Country Invitational in Spokane, Washington, Colis finished eighth overall with a time of 19:50.20, joining junior teammate Kristen Ballinger, who finished sixth, among the top ten finishers. Whitman placed second with a team score of 60 place points, finishing just below NCAA Division I Gonzaga University, who finished with 54 points.

Colis and the Whitman women’s cross-country team race next on Saturday, October 3, in the Charles Bowles Cross Country Invitational in Salem, Oregon.

LEFT: Colis runs a circuit at Pioneer Park with the cross country team

photo by VON HAFFTEN

by BIDNAM LEE Staff Reporter