Fall 2013 Issue 13

The

PIONEER

Issue 13 | December 13, 2013 | Whitman news since 1896 | Vol. CXXXI

XC team runs for cancer research

CANCELED MID-SEASON

by MITCHELL SMITH Staff Reporter

Film and media studies professor’s depature raises questions about hiring process

O

n the night of Thursday, Dec. 6, temperatures in Walla Walla reached 11 degrees Fahrenheit, and with the six-mileper-hour wind blowing, it felt like one degree. Instead of curling up in their rooms like most people would, the Whitman College cross-country team was outside, running lap after lap after lap around Ankeny Field.

These laps were all part of the “Who Do You Run For?” event put on by the team, designed to raise awareness as well as funds for cancer research. The team, led by a small group of senior girls who have been particularly affected by a rare form of cancer called multiple myeloma, organized and set up the course, a 600-meter loop around the outside of Ankeny. The event started at noon on Thursday and ended at noon on Friday. During those 24 hours, at least two runners from either the men’s or women’s cross country teams were running at a time. So even when the wind chill approached zero degrees, the team was outside running for their friends and family.

Photo by Bowersox

by Hannah Bartman Staff Reporter

W

But it wasn’t just the cross country team. The event ballooned and received support from around the Whitman community.

While donations poured in, organizations around the school agreed to come out and either run or support the runners. The men’s tennis and soccer teams and the entire ultimate team made appearances, as did Schwa, which performed at noon on Friday as the final lap was run.

“It’s amazing when you put on an event like this how people come out of the woodwork and say that they’ve been affected by cancer,” said senior Colleen Bell, one of the main organizers of the event.

Anyone running was able to write the name of someone they knew see CHARITY RUN, page 6

hitman College has hired Tarik Elseewi as the new tenure-track assistant professor of film and media studies beginning in the fall semester of 2014. The administration’s choice, however, has been met with mixed reactions from students.

Current Visiting Assistant Professor of Film and Media Studies Annie Petersen was not hired for the position and will leave after this academic year. The lack of student regard in the hiring process has produced issues between the administration and students. A Facebook group entitled “Advocates for Annie Petersen” has garnered a 133 member following, representing the frustration that the students feel towards the loss of Petersen and also the current format of the hiring process. “[The Advocates for Annie Petersen group] wants to emphasize that although Tarik is going to be a great professor here and do a lot of really good things for the department, it’s also really hard not to acknowledge the fact that we are losing something really valuable in letting go of Annie,” said sophomore film and media studies major Meg Logue.

Over 100 candidates applied for the position, and three were brought to campus to give presentations. During the application process, the

candidates gave two presentations, one as a sample class and one presenting their research, to a public panel consisting of mostly student film and media studies majors.

The hiring committee, which is composed of Professor of Film and Media Studies Robert Sickels (program chair), Associate Professor of Philosophy Rebecca Hanrahan (Division II chair), Associate Professor of Politics Aaron Bobrow-Strain, Assistant Professor of Art Justin Lincoln and Assistant Professor of Art History Matthew Reynolds, reviewed the public’s remarks, but the final decision was ultimately left up to this committee. The Committee of Division Chairs and the president also must approve the hire.

“Many of us were on the panels, and we had overwhelmingly voted for her,” said junior film and media studies major Jess Good.

“On the hiring committee we have a minimum of student input, but there are certain things that students could contribute [to the hiring process] which no hiring committee could ever see.”

The leaders of the Advocates for Annie Petersen group, juniors Jess Good, Dana Thompson and Lindsey Holdren, encourage members to write letters which will be sent to the Board of Trustees, the hiring committee and the overseers. The letters include laments over the administration’s decision, a call to

form a third tenure position in the film and media studies department and a call to include more student involvement in the hiring process.

“Most of our goal is to advocate for more transparency within the hiring committee and more student involvement even if it’s just a student majority vote or a student on the committee,” said Logue.

The students who participated in the public panel had access to the job description and kept those stipulations in mind when writing their assessments of each presentation. As a formal policy, however, the administration does not announce the hire to the public or give any reasons for their choice.

“They did not make an announcement, which I understand they don’t do, but I think that’s extremely cowardly,” said Good.

“It was a blow out of nowhere that no one expected.”

Students know that there were a variety of factors that led to Elseewi’s hire, but they speculate that the administration wanted a candidate who specialized in global studies, and Elseewi’s specialization in electronic media and national identity in the Arab Middle East fits this description.

“I believe that Professor Elseewi will make a wonderful addition to the Whitman faculty,” said Provost and Dean of Faculty Tim Kaufman-Osborn in an email. “In addition to considerable ex-

pertise in various forms of mass media, including but not limited to television, he will bring to Whitman a perspective that will significantly enhance our commitment to introduce global perspectives into our curriculum.”

With this stipulation for the position in mind, Logue points out that Elseewi is a good fit for the job. However, Logue wishes the college could have been more transparent with the students in regard to the administration’s desired qualifications for the position.

“One of the things they were looking for was globalization, and that was one of the things Tarik marketed himself really well for, and he would be really qualified in that area. Having that in mind, it makes a lot of sense that they hired him,” said Logue.

“But it was definitely very difficult for students going in because [the students giving feedback] weren’t aware that the college was looking for that criteria in specific.”

In regard to tangible change, Good recognizes that advocating for a third tenure position in the small film and media studies department is unlikely for financial reasons.

The group’s main focus, then, lies in their wish to include student opinion in the hiring process. According to Good, this would take form in altering the college’s formal hiring process by having more transparency along the lines of what the see PETERSEN, page 2

Debate team members collaborate with inmates at penitentiary, organize debate by sam grainger-shuba Staff Reporter

A

fter removing all pieces of metal, storing keys, cell phones and wallets in lockers, Whitman College staff, faculty and students filed into the Washington State Penitentiary. At an automatic metal door, driver’s licenses were traded for prison ID badges that allowed access to a sparsely furnished recreation room, the walls painted with brightly colored murals. Inmate debaters sat on either side of a podium, accompanied by four or five Whitman students, ready to begin the debate.

Two years ago, a member of the Washington State Penitentiary education staff, Dr. Joe Cooke, Jr., approached the Whitman debate program about hosting a debate where Whitman students and prisoners debate together over current issues. Dec. 3, 2013 marked the date of the first ever debate.

“The debate team is commit-

ted to public outreach when possible and working on educational opportunities for those incarcerated individuals working on their degrees is a perfect example of that,” said Director of Debate Kevin Kuswa. “In my opinion, the Whitman students learned a great deal from the experience, including a greater sense of perspective, a connection to debate that goes beyond just winning and losing, and a way to bring research and speaking skills to a group that will need those skills to adjust once they get out of the Penitentiary.”

The prisoners who participated in Tuesday’s debate are currently taking debate classes through a program from Walla Walla Community College. The class focuses on respectful, nonviolent disagreement, reflection and research. Twelve Whitman students had 11 hours with the prisoners to prepare for the debate.

“Debate is a valuable tool for anyone, especially people who often need to advocate for them-

selves in the judicial system,” said first-year debater Emma Newmark. “Getting Whitman debaters involved in the prison debates is a way for debaters to share our expertise with those who can benefit from the skills that are associated with debate and public speaking.”

The debate was set up with an introduction, two main arguments, two chances for acknowledgment and rebuttal, a segment of answering questions from the audience and closing remarks. Prisoners debated the following question: Should the prison system in the United States be fully privatized?

Those who debated in favor of the resolution argued that private prisons are a better option than public prisons and that they’re better for prisoners and not overcrowded.

“The public system has botched everything, especially recidivism [overcrowdedness],” said inmate Kevin Kafiyev in his opening statement. “Inmates in private prisons have better food, more

access to educational programming and they tend to like it better.”

They also argued that there could be federal government oversight to the private prisons in the form of a social impact bond, which is a contract that requires the company to meet a standard set by an employer.

“Yes, there might be some problems with private prisons,” said Whitman debate senior Marten King. “But a social impact bond that requires a company to meet government standards, such as lowering recidivism levels, would fix that.”

Those who debated against the revolution argued that privatizing the prison system would put a monetary value on human life, and thus would morph the prison system from an institution of punishment and rehabilitation to a corporation system that needs to fill beds to turn a profit.

“The future of safety and health of inmates would be based on profits and values of the shareholders,” said inmate Muntasir Dykes. “The nature of the profit model means more pris-

ons and more people incarcerated.”

After a drumroll, the con side was announced to have won the debate, arguing that prisons should not be privatized. During a small question and answer, it came to light how it was decided who would debate what.

“Part of how we divided up the teams was an informal poll seeing which side of the resolution people initially supported,” said first-year debater Emma Thompson. “The goal was to require people to debate for the side opposite their initial inclination, which is, in my experience, the best way to really understand an issue, because it requires a thorough understanding of both sides and is great practice for developing critical nuanced perspectives.”

After the debate, debaters dispersed into the audience to talk about the decision, as well as the program that allowed them to debate.

“It was a very professional debate,” said sophomore and current see DEBATE, page 2

NEWS

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Staff Reporter

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fforts by students, staff and faculty to confront racism on campus have continued in the three-week period between Thanksgiving and Winter Break. Student organizers have come together to form the Coalition Against Racism Everywhere, faculty have passed a motion to cancel classes for a day next spring for the Power & Privilege Symposium and the Intercultural Center has expanded plans for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The Coalition Against Racism Everywhere (CARE) hopes to bring together leaders of the anti-racism movement on campus in order to build off the momentum created by recent events in past weeks, including the rally against racism. While planning was previously done primarily by Feminists Advocating Change & Empowerment (FACE) in coordination with other groups such as the Black Student Union (BSU) and Club Latino, CARE will allow for information, resources and planning to be central-

NUMBERS

IN THE NEWS

2009

The year the Indian Supreme Court repealed a law banning gay sex. The law was reinstated on Wednesday, Dec. 11.

SOURCE: THE NEW YORK TIMES

1.24 billion

The number of citizens in India.

SOURCE: THE Washington post

2.5 million The number of homosexuals in India, estimated in a government notification sent to India’s Supreme Court.

SOURCE: THE LA TIMES

10

The number of punishable years in jail for being convicted of homosexuality in India.

ized and better coordinated.

“If you look at the official statement on diversity, what it focuses on is enriching people’s experience, which isn’t what diversity should be about. Diversity should be about allowing everyone to be learning in a safe environment and a respectful environment,” said first-year Ritti Singh, who founded CARE after recognizing the need for greater organization among anti-racism activists. “When a campus culture is making people feel unsafe, when a campus culture is making people feel daily disrespected, then you’re not allowing groups to have [an] equal shot at an education.”

CARE’s first priority is to create a manifesto stating its goals and for what the club stands. Much of its inaugural meeting on Friday, Dec. 6 was spent discussing how various terms should be used.

The group plans to carry out its first action on Feb. 5 to 7 when the Board of Trustees will be meeting on campus.

Meanwhile, faculty and staff have begun the process of organizing a mentoring program for students of color to provide advice and advocate for change on campus. A reception moderated by Assistant Professor of Politics Melisa Casumbal-Salazar was held on Thursday, Dec. 5 to explore the possibility of a mentoring program. Faculty are still forming the project, which would begin next semester.

“I’ve been hearing about students’ experience with racism since day one of my classes [at Whitman]. It is no surprise to me that racism is alive and well at Whitman College,” said Casumbal-Salazar, who is working to organize the advising program and has worked with anti-racist activism on other campuses.

In addition to planning the mentoring program, the faculty passed a motion on Wednesday, Dec. 11 to cancel classes for a day this spring during the Power & Privilege Symposium. Canceling classes was a major goal for ASWC, which called for the faculty to take action in its resolution against racism.

To support student activists, the Intercultural Center is

“Diversity should be about allowing everyone to be learning in a safe environment and a respectful environment ... When a campus culture is making people feel unsafe, when a campus culture is making people feel daily disrespected, then you’re not allowing groups to have [an] equal shot at an education.”

SoURCE: THE GUARDIAN

16

said Intercultural Center Interim Director Matt Ozuna. “She really wants to meet with students in a workshop setting.”

While many events and programs are being planned for the spring, some concern remains about how to keep the anti-racism movement’s momentum from dissipating over the winter break. However, by organizing and planning actions before the fall semester ends, activists hope to keep their momentum and continue to build on their recent victories.

“Looking at the example of divestment, and looking at how little a presence it has this year, I worry [whether] this is something that can maintain a certain level of impetus,” said Singh. “On the other hand, I’m a freshman, so I can at least keep working as long as I’m here.”

SOURCE: freetomarry.org

76

The number of countries where homosexuality is legal.

ty of Petersen’s teaching ability but also recognizes that there are other factors contributing to the hire.

“I am very much aware of the significant contributions made by Professor Petersen to the Whitman academic program during the time that she has been a member of our faculty, and I am truly grateful for those contributions. That said, I understand why the search committee advanced the recommendation it did on the basis of multiple considerations, including teaching excellence, but also an appreciation of what each of the final candidates might contribute to the overall academic program of Whitman,” he said.

Petersen taught at Whitman for the spring semester in 2010 and then came back in the fall of 2012.

Her classes cover topics such as film theory and pop culture with content including post-Katrina media and the TV show “Mad Men.” “I love Whitman and I love the students, and it’s always been my dream to teach here. It saddens me that that’s no longer possible,” said Petersen.

Debaters, inmates discuss prison privatization

from DEBATE, page 1

Whitman debater Meritt Salathe.

“Everyone did a lot of research, and that came through in a big way. I learned a lot about the issue.”

Among the spectators, men in khakis, white T-shirts and gleaming white sneakers, which is all garb designated for inmates, watched the debate quietly and thoughtfully, occasionally gracing their fellow inmates with a smile or a small nod.

“It was interesting to see these guys put their skills to use,” said inmate spectator Stephen Gagnon. “Some of them are in my economics class, and they’ve done

some small debate there, but it was good to see them outside of class.”

Kuswa added that the event provided an opportunity to gain valuable interpersonal skills.

“Debate is a way to make learning accessible to students in different positions and with diverse goals,” he said. “[It] allowed both groups to treat each other with respect by looking at the specific research and arguments above and beyond a certain social location. Academic exercises like debate are also incredibly valuable in giving the debaters the confidence to address problems through dialogue and deliberation.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Ratified Archery Club by a vote of 16-0-3.

Approved finance request

by Challah for Hunger for $1,048.20 by a vote of 16-0-3.

What are you doing after graduation?

Corrections to Issue 12

The number of countries where same-sex marriage is legal.

administration is looking for in a candidate, and also allowing for a student majority opinion to be verbally addressed to the hiring committee.

“We feel like this process was not done the right way, and we want to change the process that gives more weight to student voice,” said Good. “This is the reason why we want to call attention to Annie. If we can’t save this department, then we want to save other departments.”

The hiring and tenure process was under a similarly heated dispute in the spring of 2012 when former Assistant Professor of Foreign Languages and Literature Alberto Galindo was denied tenure. The specifics of the denial were also not made public, and this decision brought about a similarly negative outcry from students that called for a reevaluation of the tenure process at Whitman.

The administration holds the belief that their decision to hire Elseewi fills certain academic goals of the college as a whole. Kaufman-Osborn commented on the high quali-

Ritti Singh ‘17

ASWC Minutes 12/08

The number of years the law to criminalize “carnal intercourse” has existed in India. It was instated under British rule.

from PETERSEN, page 1

bringing civil rights leader Diane Nash, one of the lead organizers of the Freedom Riders campaign to desegregate the South in the 1960s, to campus on Jan. 29 and 30 for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. With additional resources provided by the dean of students, Nash will be hosted on campus for twice as long as a normal guest speaker, during which time she will give a lecture and teach a workshop on non-violent tactics to leaders of the anti-racism movement.

“She’s a living legend in the civil rights movement,”

SOURCE: THE LA TIMES

153

12 2013 Students organize support for Annie Petersen decision

Anti-racism coalition prepares for spring

by LACHLAN JOHNSON

DEC

On page 5, the scoreboard contained two errors. It should have been reported that the Whitman men’s basketball team played its most recent game on Dec. 5, and it should have been reported that the Husky Invitational lasted from Dec. 6–8.

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NEWS

Managing Editor Pam London

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Business & Circulation Manager Skye Vander Laan

PIONEER

editorial

News Editors Sarah Cornett Dylan Tull A&E Editor Aleida Fernandez Sports Editor Quin Nelson Feature Editor Karah Kemmerly Opinion Editor Kyle Seasly Humor Editor Molly Johanson Photography Editor Catie Bergman Videography Editor Skye Vander Laan Illustration Editor Luke Hampton

Hannah Bartman, Samantha Grainger-Shuba, Lachlan Johnson, Lorah Steichen, River Sterne

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EDITORIAL POLICY

The Whitman College Pioneer is a weekly student-run newspaper published under the auspices of the Associated Students of Whitman College. The purpose of The Pioneer is to provide pertinent, timely news and commentary for Whitman students, alumni, faculty, staff and parents, as well as the Walla Walla community. The Pioneer is dedicated to expanding open discussion on campus about the issues with which students are most concerned. We provide coverage of Whitman-related news as well as featured local and regional events, and strive to maintain a standard of utmost fairness, quality and journalistic integrity while promoting freedom of the press. In addition, The Pioneer strives to be a learning tool for students who are interested in journalism. The Pioneer welcomes all feedback and publishes letters to the editor in print and online.

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The

NEWS

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‘BLUE MOON’ BLURS TECHNOLOGY, ART WITH NEW DIGITAL MEDIA GALLERY

“Blue moon’s” digital media staff put together the exhibit that opened in the Stevens Gallery in Reid Campus Center on Dec. 6. It includes short film loops and music by student musician Toby Alden ‘14. Photo by Felt

by RIVER STERNE Staff Reporter

“B

lue moon’s” digital media section wants to use digital media to redefine our understanding of where media and art collide. The digital media staff hosted a Digital Media Opening in Reid Campus Center on Friday, Dec. 6 to present their work to the public. The digital media staff is one of “blue moon’s” four genre staff groups: digital media, prose, poetry and art.

The opening featured two videos played on the walls of the art gallery, as well as other pieces done by “blue moon” staff members and submitted by students. “Blue moon” Digital Media Editor sophomore Linnaea Weld wants to offer more students a look at digital media through this gallery.

“We’re doing this because every ‘blue moon’ genre does a genre event, and so we wanted to make ourselves more of a presence on campus,” said Weld.

“Every year we put out a DVD for digital media, but there could be more submissions, and we like to see more variance. So it’s a way for people to see we exist, and it’s also a way for us as a staff to question what digital is.”

For Weld and many of the

other staff members, the opening is a way to expose more people to their art form and display the meaning they take from the genre.

“One of our goals is just to make ourselves more known as a genre,” said Weld. “I think ‘blue moon’ is pretty well-known on campus, but I think that not a lot of people know that there’s a DVD at the end of this [issue].”

According to Weld, digital media does not get the recognition or the attention that it deserves. Through hosting the gallery opening, however, the digital media staff wants to expose the student body to digital art.

“Digital media in particular is an underrepresented art form in the magazine, so we wanted to get a discussion going,” said “blue moon” Editorin-Chief Hanne Jensen. “Putting up a gallery exhibit is a great way to invite people to explore what digital media means.”

Through displaying their art form in a gallery on campus, the “blue moon” staff and editors hope to make students, faculty and any others who pass by to rethink what digital art is and how they perceive it.

“We want to encourage experimentation in art and push the boundaries of what people think about when they think ‘digital media,’” said Jensen. “It’s mu-

sic, it’s film, it’s video games, it’s television and it’s going to be so much more. What the digital media staff did to prepare the exhibit really played with the boundaries between analog and digital media in a way that recontextualizes digital forms. I hope it gets people thinking about process.”

The staff’s goal of creating discussion and fostering thought regarding genre appeared to be successful based on the reactions of those in attendance.

“It was interesting to see digital media on display in such a public locale as the entrance to Reid,” said first-year Andreas Molbak. “Whatever they were trying to say with this exhibit, they set themselves up in a good place to say it, and it was nice to see digital media get some exposure by being in such a public space.”

Ultimately digital media means something different to everyone, “blue moon” staff members like Weld included. For Weld, digital media serves to build on the way she perceives art, and what she considers art to be.

“My interest in ‘blue moon’ when I applied last year was primarily, like, I do a lot of visual art, so I’ve learned a lot about how important the visual aspect of digital is,” she said. “And just expanding my idea of what art is.”

Whitman provides housing, community ties over breaks

by LORAH STEICHEN Staff Reporter

W

hile most students are able to take advantage of school breaks as an opportunity to head home and unwind, a select number of Whitman College students remain on campus even while residence halls close. During winter and spring vacations, students who are not able to make other accommodations are housed in residence halls. In addition to international students, athletes and domestic students who live too far away to travel home are grouped in dorms with many empty rooms.

Whereas many colleges charge students for housing accommodations over breaks, Whitman offers the service free of charge during the academic year. Sophomore international student Vicky Su has stayed on campus during all the breaks throughout her time at Whitman and believes the amenity to be a great convenience.

“I was quite lucky because [last year during Winter Break] I didn’t have to move because while I was living in Prentiss. There were more international students living in Prentiss than in other dorms, so all the other girls who lived in other dorms had to move into Prentiss and then all the guys who lived in other dorms had to move into Douglas. And then that’s what happened last year

for Christmas Break. For Spring Break I think almost everyone had to move to North,” said Su. The dorms where students stay during breaks change from year to year, based on unoccupied room availability and where the most students remaining on campus are already located. No student will be left alone in a dorm for safety reasons. Although some dorms are left open for those students who need a place to stay, most other campus resources like food services, the Welty Health Center and Penrose Library are closed during breaks.

“It’s very quiet, unless you’re playing a sport and have a group to be with. It’s very quiet for the international students.

And not all of them stay. A number of them make plans or go visit somebody, but some stay here and work,” said Associate Dean of Students Nancy Tavelli.

Every international student is given the option of having a friendship family, a family from the community with whom they are able to build a relationship in order to support their transition to school in the United States. During breaks in particular, this service helps international students maintain a sense of community even while much of the Whitman population is away, and campus is quiet.

“I think it is a good idea that you keep the residence halls open during the breaks. I stayed on campus [during Thanksgiving Break] and mostly I hung out

with my friendship family that’s part of the international student program. So they emailed me and invited me to their Thanksgiving dinner, and they invited me to

go hiking,” said senior exchange student Joy He who lives in the Asian Studies Interest House.

Although the college allows students who need to re-

main on campus to stay in dorms over breaks free of charge, international students who do so over the summer must pay additional money for that service.

A&E

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DEC

12 2013 ly one of the great masterpieces of classical music, “Messiah” is an unparalleled channel of the joyous spirit of the season (except for The Nutcracker, maybe).

The San Francisco Symphony guarantees a good performance as well; they’ve won multiple awards in the classical performance world, including several Grammys.

STRFKR – Seattle, Dec. 30, 31 Ring in 2014 with Portland natives STRFKR, who are playing the Neumos Crystal Ball Reading Room in Seattle on Dec. 30 and 31. Known for a unique electronic style, poppy beats and catchy toe-tapping jams, STRFKR is a great high-energy transition from the calm and comfortable Christmas season into the new year.

by Aleida Fernandez Emma Dahl Nathan Fisher Adam Heymann and James Kennedy A&E Editor and Staff Reporters

T

emperatures have dropped, snow has fallen and Christmas lights dot Main Street; it’s obviously the holiday season.

Here in the A&E section, we love the loads of new entertainment that comes this time of the year, and we’ve compiled a guide to everything we’re looking forward to this year. So take out your calendar and a mug of peppermint cocoa — we’ll keep track of what’s naughty or nice — and read the A&E Staff Ultimate Holiday Entertainment Guide:

Movies: With finals looming, the thought of grabbing a bucket of popcorn and catching some new movie releases over the holidays is a pleasant distraction. Thankfully many studios held their release date until December, so here’s a quick look at the movies rounding out 2013.

Coming off the success of “Lord of the Rings,” “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” gets the first nod at its opening today. Admittedly, the first Hobbit installation was not the finest. Going in with considerably lowered hopes and expectations, this round should be fun with Legolas/Orlando Bloom’s return to the franchise and the chance to see a fight with the dragon.

One film not to miss this break is “American Hustle.” Boasting an all-star cast featuring Christian Bale, Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Adams and Bradley Cooper, the movie is already primed to pick up a couple Oscar nominations. David O. Russell (director of “Silver Linings Playbook” and “The Fighter”) reteams Lawrence and Cooper (all three of these artists received Oscar nominations for their work together last year). Just from the trailer, the viewer can see the trio has another movie where the audience will be unable to look away.

Claiming to need more time to put on finishing touches, Martin Scorsese pushed back the original November release date of “The Wolf of Wall Street” until Christmas day. The movie looks bold, star-studded (helmed by king of the world, Leonardo DiCaprio) and fast-

paced.

Hopefully the extra tweaking time pays off.

Opening on the same day as “Wolf,” Sylvester Stallone and Robert DeNiro star in “Grudge Match,” a film about two old retired boxing rivals. The movie is basically a combination of “Rocky” and “Raging Bull” but with a plot similar to “Rocky V,” where the old guys come out of retirement for one last match. Now the big question is, can Stallone, who is 67, and De Niro, who is 70, actually raise their arthritic bones to put up a good fight?

Rounding out the December movie punch card is the long-awaited sequel, “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” premiering Dec. 20.

Yup, Will Ferrell dons the mustache and burgundy suit to be a newscaster for another day. Not a movie to impress a first date, but a great guilty pleasure flick to see with buddies.

Albums: It might seem like an outlandish idea to gift someone an album for the holidays. Who buys full albums these days when you can give a gift card for your friend to pick and choose their favorite songs on iTunes, Spotify or SoundCloud? But you should reconsider these preconceived notions this season. Why? Because artists are putting out incredibly awesome fulllength albums. And besides, gift cards look lame in wrapping paper.

On Dec. 10 Childish Gambino, a.k.a. Donald Glover from NBC’s “Community,” will release his second album, Because the Internet.

Gambino’s first album garnered mixed reviews with some critics loving his witty lyrics and innovative beats that accompanied subject matter not common to the rap game.

Others disparaged what they saw as melodramatic lyrics and tryingtoo-hard production. A pre-released track from the album Telegraph Ave. reveals that Gambino has lyrically matured while maintaining his quality rhymes and engaging beats.

For a friend more interested in indie music, grab Broken Bells’ upcoming album, After the Disco. Although the album comes out on Jan. 14, after the main holidays, it will still make a great soundtrack to the beginning of spring semester. Consisting of infamous producer Danger Mouse and Shins frontman James Mercer, Broken Bells’ first album was a fusion of Mouse’s computer-generated beats and Mercer’s cool, tantalizing pipes and guitar playing. Disco is bound to continue this trajectory of idiosyncratic, new-age pop music.

For those who prefer to listen to good old American rock ‘n’ roll, pick up Bruce Springsteen’s upcoming High Hopes, scheduled for release on Jan. 14. Sporting several quality songs that were left off past Springsteen albums,

High Hopes also resurrects recently deceased saxophone legend Clarence Clemons’ golden tone on several songs. The album also features former Rage Against the Machine member and one of the last vestiges of the 20th-century guitar hero, Tom Morello’s innovative guitar sounds on eight of its tracks.

Combined with Springsteen’s infallible voice and song-writing ability, Morello’s playing should add a welcome sonic dimension to the album.

Concerts: Want to listen to live music instead? There are plenty of concerts at the end of the year. For all ticket information, see ticketmaster.com.

Andrew Bird’s Gezelligheid concerts — Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dec. 9–20 With a name derived from the Dutch word for “extra extra cozy,” this series of concerts are an annual tradition recently established by the violin-plucking Andrew Bird.

Held in churches with dramatic architecture, Bird plays mostly instrumental pieces amplified only by the church’s acoustics and his unique Specimen horns. You should go and listen to a band in their hometown. The artist is in their element, and you can hear it in their music.

So if you can, catch Bird during his shows in his hometown Chicago.

“December to Remember” — Portland, Dec. 1–12 Why limit ourselves to a single performer? Why not attend a whole series of concerts? 94.7 KNRK, a Portland-based alternative rock radio station, hosts an annual music bonanza entitled “December to Remember,” featuring a number of indie/rock/alternative groups at various venues around town.

While some of the bands are already sold out, tickets are still available for Foals, as well as Young the Giant, and Fitz and the Tantrums, among others — all great indie bands. Tickets are not that expensive and, for some people, the concerts might be a welcome reprise from the constant onslaught of traditional Christmas music.

Handel’s “Messiah” – San Francisco, Dec. 19–21 If you can make it home to the Bay Area by Dec. 21, go see the San Francisco Symphony perform Handel’s “Messiah.” Tru-

Television: This TV holiday season, however, there’s a healthy mix of your classic holiday narratives, original programming and music specials. So settle in with your eggnog and let your hours — and brain cells — waste away.

For those looking for your classically cheesy holiday fare, try Hallmark and Lifetime Channel’s respective countdowns to Christmas every Saturday, 7 p.m. CT. Their list of movies is expansive but each story is essentially the same: big city guy or girl with a jerky significant other owns a small family business and/or goes back to their roots where they fall in love with the quirky person who currently annoys them, because (but not exclusively because) they are also against the big business or corporation that is trying to destroy said business/Christmas. It’s a romantic comedy, Christmas style.

For those who can’t afford to travel to a real concert, musical variety shows are also a staple this year.

Kelly Clarkson starts it off with the curiously titled “Kelly Clarkson’s Cautionary Christmas Music Tale,” (NBC, Dec. 11). Feel-good musicians Michael Bublé (NBC) and Celine Dion (CBS) battle for musical supremacy on Dec. 18, and ‘80s hair band Heart (AXS) plays on Christmas. Ringing in the New Year, Ryan Seacrest, Jenny McCarthy and Fergie host “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Presents The 30 Greatest Women In Music” (ABC, Dec. 31). The only question is, who will be the biggest diva: the musicians or the hosts?

Those obsessed with the BBC will be happy to note that “Doctor Who” will be airing a Christmas episode on Christmas. Perennial favorites “Downton Abbey” and “Sherlock” will air back-to-back on Jan. 5. For those who can’t wait for their Dowager Countess fix, PBS is teasing us with “Return to Downton Abbey,” a special about the first three seasons (check your local listings).

Craving original programming? A few new miniseries premiered this December including “Mob City” (TNT) which fol-

lows the true story of a decadeslong conflict between the LA Police Department under the determined leadership of Police Chief William Parker, and ruthless criminal Mickey Cohen. Need more mobsters? “Bonnie and Clyde” is a two-night miniseries starring “Into the Wild”s Emile Hirsch and “The Borgias’” Holliday Grainger (A&E, Lifetime and History).

And for those more traditional? “It’s a Wonderful Life” airs Dec. 14 and 24 on NBC.

Tech: In an era so thoroughly dictated by technology, the holidays provide an excellent opportunity to upgrade our (or our loved ones’) gadgets and gizmos. While expensive tech gifts are typically a strain on tight college student wallets, those with a bit of extra cash can’t go wrong with gifting some of the latest electronics gear to themselves or others, or grab the old stuff while it’s cheap.

With all three next-generation video game consoles out this holiday, it’s a great time to pick up an older model for a fraction of the price. The original Wii is dirt cheap at this point, with some used models running close to $40; if you have a younger sibling or playful parent that never got to play one, you can pick up a console, some controllers and games for under $200. Both the Xbox 360 and PS3 are worthy pick-ups as well, being a bit pricier for a lot better tech.

When it comes to new consoles, the Wii U has the advantage over the other next-gen consoles of having a wider game library, although you’ll have to get used to an unorthodox controller and outclassed graphics. Only die-hard gamers should pick up the just-released Xbox ONE and PS4; as with many launches, the game selection is seriously lacking and allegations of tech failure are rampant, particularly with the PS4.

The graphics, while pretty, are not an overwhelming upgrade from what you can find on outdated consoles, and they’re also somewhat expensive at $400 or $500 respectively for their most basic models.

The laptop market allows a wide range of entry points. Laptops range from as low as a few hundred dollars to a few thousand, but you can find a perfectly usable one for $500–$700. Many new Windows machines now have touchscreens or double as tablets, making Windows 8 OS a bit more tolerable as it slowly supplants Windows 7. Macs remain at a similar price point and are still reliable, and a few laptops even run Google’s Chrome OS, if you want to try something new.

Finally, smart phones are cheaper and more accessible than ever. Apple remains the dominant choice, with older models of the iPhone drastically dropping in price despite being nearly identical in functionality to their more recent counterparts. Still, there’s more competition than ever with a variety of Android devices, which offer more flexibility. Finally, “smart watches” are indeed a thing. If someone other than me still wears a watch and wants to look like a secret agent, you can snap one of these up before they catch on (but they probably won’t).

Tree of Life offers opportunity to reflect, heal by aleida fernandez A&E Reporter

D

espite the joyousness of the holiday season, it can sometimes have a way of making the hurt of losing a loved one extra strong. In order to combat the loneliness the aggrieved often feel during this time, the Walla Walla Community Hospice (WWCH) offers the Tree of Life Ceremony, which lit up the Die Brucke Building on Dec. 8, as a way to reflect and start the healing process.

Located in the Die Brucke Building at the corner of First and Main Street, the WWCH Tree of Life is in its 27th year and is dedicated to honoring the life of special people.

The Hospice began collecting names of those remembered in the community in October. For the ceremony, the name of that person was printed on a paper ornament and placed on a tree. The name was then inscribed in the Tree of Life Book and read at the Tree and Candle Lighting ceremony.

The Tree of Life ceremony is WWCH’s longest standing event.

“A lot of hospices hold similar events,” said Laurie Klicker, the marketing coordinator for the hospice for the past 13 years. “[I suspect] we wanted to do something here [in Walla Walla].”

Typically, only the family mem-

bers of the ones lost show up to the Tree of Life ceremony. There is some crossover between people from the hospice support groups and those who show up to the ceremony, including some students from around the community. The ceremony is pretty short and sweet according to Klicker, lasting typically 45 minutes.

“Honestly, I was really surprised at how emotional the ceremony is for the length [of it],” said Klicker about her first ceremony.

As part of their mission, the WWCH offers grief and loss counseling. According to National Students of Ailing Mothers and Fathers Support Network, between 35 and 48 percent of college students have lost a family member or close friend within the last two years, and between 22 and 30 percent of college students have lost a family member or close friend within the last year. However, only 10 percent of college students seek grief counseling services. The WWHC sees around 200 members of the community between support groups and personal counseling sessions which includes some college students.

“We are here for any student,” said Klicker. “Counseling is always available at no charge.”

Klicker encourages those who want to seek counseling to not shy away from it, es-

The names of loved ones shine at the 27th annual Tree of Life Ceremony for Walla Walla Community Hospice. Photos by Clay

pecially during the holidays.

“When you’re not feeling what the rest of the world says you should feel [during the holidays],

this is a good opportunity to start the healing process,” said Klicker.

The Tree of Life will stand in the Die Bruke Building until Dec.

29 and the names of those in the Tree of Life book will be printed online.

Those seeking counseling should contact WWCH at 509-525-5561.

DEC

12 2013

FEATURE

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5

‘Ukulele!’ celebrates variety

A sword dancer, a juggler and a ballerina take the stage together at a “Ukulele!” rehearsal. Talent-based auditions made it easy for students outside the department to participate in the show. Photos by Marlena Sloss

Students display unique talents

by Isabel Mills Staff Reporter

H

ave you ever wanted to see a sword dancer, a group of clowns, ukulele players and a ballerina on stage at the same time?

If so, the Harper Joy Theatre variety show “Ukulele!,” which will run from Thursday, Dec. 12 until Sunday, Dec. 15, is the perfect performance for you.

The show is a little different than your average play — it gives students the opportunity to showcase their talents instead of memorizing lines for specific characters.

First-year Haley Forrester will be performing a dance called “Raksal Sayf,” which is translated from Arabic as “dance of the scimitar.” A scimitar is a curved sword. Forrester began learning this sword dance from her mom when she was about eight years old, and she got to hold her first sword when she was in sixth grade.

“I feel so blessed that my mom started doing this because it’s a cool way to connect, and I don’t think [it’s] very typical,” said Forrester.

Forrester and her mom connect through a variety of other kinds of dances as well. She compared telling people that she dances to telling people that she speaks a foreign language — you have to be more specific.

“I’ve never done what people think of as traditional dance.

I’ve done Middle Eastern dance, sword dance, basket dance, Charleston, lindy hop, Bollywood bhangra and hoop dance,” said Forrester.

Although this will be the first time Forrester has showcased her sword dance in a performance setting, she has performed basket dance with her mom’s troop and bhangra style dance with a troop from her hometown in Eugene, Ore. Forrester will be sharing the stage with a few other performers.

“In [our] performance of ‘Ukulele!,’ it’s not just me on stage — it’s also a juggler and a ballerina. We have to coordinate a little bit, especially because I have a weapon on stage,” said Forrester.

One of the jugglers in the show will be sophomore Travis Wheeler. Wheeler, who is currently president of Whitman Col-

lege’s juggling club, dabbles in juggling balls, clubs and rings. “[The club] started last year in North Hall with the realization that my neighbor also juggled, that juggling is awesome and that we could make a club and extend said love of juggling to others,” said Wheeler.

Unlike Forrester, who is involved in theatre, Wheeler’s style is most aptly named “casual improvisation.”

Despite his lack of experience, he is looking forward to “Ukulele!”

“I definitely enjoy juggling.

Performing can be fun, but also stressful. It really depends. But I’m really excited for this show because of all the work that’s gone into it and because all of the acts are really cool. Definitely worth your while,” said Wheeler.

Another performer will be senior theatre major Nasko Atanasov, who will be showcasing a unique dance as well.

“I’ve always wanted to have my very own dance performance at Whitman doing the kind of dance I love, which is heavily influenced and inspired by the revolutionary movement Michael Jackson developed way ahead of his time. It has a lot of robotic themes as well as a certain fluidity to contrast the staccato of the machine,” said Atanasov.

Nasko is excited about the fact that “Ukulele!” allowed him to give such a unique performance.

“While I am dancing, there are people who play [‘The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy’] from ‘The Nutcracker’ on an amplified, electric ukulele, creating an entirely different world from the rest of the play.

But this is what is so great about this show. You never know what to expect because we haven’t done anything like it before,” said Atanasov.

The individual contribution required for this show allows people not involved in theatre to showcase their talents in a unique environment.

“I hope the way that ‘Ukulele!’ is helping bring other people into the theatre department will encourage more students to participate. It’s a really fun thing even if you don’t consider yourself an actor.

I think it’s great that Whitman offers these opportunities to try your hand at something new and be involved in a creative way,” said Forrester.

Untraditional form creates opportunities, challenges

by Serena runyan Staff Reporter

P

utting together a variety show has proven challenging for the “Ukulele!” team, but the myriad of personal talents onstage make for a joyful performance.

Assistant Professor of Theatre Jessica Cerullo created the themes and story line for “Ukulele!” Using inspiration from Vaudeville and other variety show formats, the theatre department created the roles and direction of the show.

“There is an overarching dreamscape which is the story,” said Cerullo. “I had certain roles in mind. If people fit those roles, they’re in the show, [and] if they didn’t, they’re not in the show.”

Students were selected to participate in the show based on their auditions. Once they were cast, Cerullo and others worked collaboratively with the cast to create different acts.

The nature of the casting process means the show does not have the same sort of linear plot that a regular play would.

“There’s a lot of nonverbal scenes and a lot of music,” said Cerullo.

This has given a new challenge to the tech crew backstage.

“Since there is no script, many of the cues are physical or from gestures from the actors,” said senior Melanie Medina, master of sound for the production. “That’s not uncommon for regular plays, but there are usually more cues that go off of lines that the actors say, and there’s none of that in this show.

Our stage manager, Wendy, has become super adept at following the actions onstage, reading the written cues and telling the crew exactly when to go all at

once, which is very impressive.”

To tie the acts together, different elements of the show weave throughout the performance.

“There’s seven clowns who sew all the acts together,” said Cerullo. “Ms. Variety is sort of the centerpiece of the play. It’s a story about a woman who’s really tired and doesn’t want to do anything anymore ... and then she gets a ukulele,” said Cerullo.

Ms. Variety, played by junior Emily Krause, is a character who reappears throughout the play.

“I think [Cerullo] wanted something of a through line, or something that the audience could follow,” said Krause. “Rehearsals have been a matter of refining the acts that we have. It’s about refining and letting go of some ideas that don’t come together, to make something that doesn’t have to be linear but comes together under one overarching theme.”

Putting together a variety show has been a different experience for Cerullo from other plays.

“I know the least about the act that’s being presented,” said Cerullo. “When we do a play, I’ve researched that play; I have a real wealth of knowledge around the play. When two jugglers come in, I don’t know how to juggle ... I have to learn basically from the performer this whole language about their art form.”

They also have a much bigger and more varied cast than usual.

“It’s a big cast,” said Krause.

“We have 30 performers on stage ... It’s a lot of people to coordinate, so it’s been a big struggle sometimes, but it’s also been fun to work out how to take all these people who have done a lot of theater and people who haven’t done any at all and bring everyone into the same place and get everyone on the same page.”

For people working behind the scenes, the large number of actors makes it more difficult than usual to coordinate the set.

“Because there are so many acts that are all quite different from one another, tech is much more complicated than usual. Coordinating curtain pulls, lights, sound, actors and set pieces has been quite the challenge,” said Medina.

The large cast also means performers don’t have to make as big of a time commitment to the show as they would for a regular production. Cerullo had student’s busy schedules in mind when she proposed doing a variety show.

She hoped that by decreasing the time commitment, she could encourage students who don’t typically perform to audition.

“I wanted to do a piece that would reach out to performers who would not otherwise be involved in a production,” said Cerullo. “I was also keenly aware that the show would go up right to the end of the semester, and I wanted people to be able to do the show without making what is often a really big commitment.”

The variety show format has allowed the large cast of “Ukulele!” to showcase talents they already have, which makes the show easier to create and the performance engaging.

“I wanted to make a show also that was people doing things that they wanted to do,” said Cerullo. “I think there are some serious moments in the piece, but it comes from a place of joy.”

This was a desire to produce a more uplifting show during a stressful time of the semester.

“I think the show in general came out of a desire to give the students something different at this time of year,” said Krause.

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SPORTS

dec

12 2013

Pick-up sports attract range of skills, passions by cole Anderson Staff Reporter

W

hitman College prides itself on its extremely active student body, and for good reason. With 30 percent of the student body involved in varsity athletics, and a large majority of the remaining population involved in everything from popular intramural sports to kayaking in the Harvey Pool, the Whitman campus is indeed quite active.

One resource that active students often get involved in is the pick-up sports community on campus. Though pickup is not a formally organized outlet on campus, various pick-up groups regularly schedule games that anyone interested is welcome to join.

“Pick-up soccer exists because people love soccer. It’s as simple as that. When you love soccer, you want to play it often, and you need people to play it,” said John Fleming ‘12, a former varsity soccer player.

While varsity, club and even intramural sports have organized leadership like the athletic department or the intramural committee, pick-up sports groups are run entirely by students volunteering their time to organize outings. In general, though, getting a group together is fairly easy.

“Someone sends out an email to the listserv, and if there’s enough interest, then we all show up and play. During the week it’s more difficult, but most weekends there’s a pretty consistent group of guys,” said sophomore Jesse Hazzard, one of the coordinators of his pick-up basketball group.

One thing that sets pickup apart from other organized athletics is the range of passion and love for the game that players bring. Though club, varsity and intermural athletes all love the game, pick-up is generally much less competitive, and that typically attracts a wide range of skill level and passion.

“There’s definitely a mix of skill and experience; some guys have played since they were young, and others are just getting started,” said Hazzard.

Out on Ankeny Field, the range of soccer experience is arguably even vaster.

“There are people who played in high school, college, on rec teams, club teams. People who are soccer nuts, who watch every Premier League game, who follow their clubs closely, or people who were first introduced to soccer when they watched the World Cup,” said Fleming.

Unlike Fleming, fellow pickup enthusiast Thabo Liphoto hadn’t played soccer until com-

ing to Whitman, but he, along with other players of comparable caliber, has benefited from playing with varsity players.

“It’s amazing how much most [less experienced players], who have continued to show [up] at least, including myself, have improved since they first started coming out,” said Liphoto.

There is quite a bit that more experienced players can offer in a setting where there is less emphasis on competition. Conversely, there are also things the less experienced players can teach.

“The different levels of experience at pick-up has been really good because I think it is part of the fabric of what makes pickup great ­­­­— less experienced players learning from the more experienced or skilled, and the more experienced and skilled players learning from the less skilled as well as imparting some soccer ‘wisdom’ on them,” said Liphoto.

This variation in talent is what really sets pick-up sports apart from the rest. Each game of pick-up is unique. There is rarely the exact same group of players, and thus a different team dynamic each time a pick-up game is organized.

“Every game of pick-up depends on the make up of the players and what each of them desires and then expresses in the game. In a sense, it only is as

Joey Schaffer ‘16 goes in for a lay-up against Jesse Hazzard ‘16. Schaffer and Hazzard are regulars on the pick-up basketball scene. Photo by Von Clemm

competitive as there are players who make it such [and only] as fun as there are players who treat it that way,” said Fleming.

With no try-outs and no cuts, there is a spot for anyone. Regardless of talent, an-

yone interested can jump in at any time and play for as long as they wish. There may not be Tshirts awarded or banners to be won for display in the gym, but what can be gained from pickup is valuable in its own right.

XC unites community for run against cancer from CHARITY RUN, page 4

Katrina Allick ‘16, Morgan Lawless ‘15 and Courtney Lawless ‘15 jog around Ankeny Field during the “Who Do You Run For?” event. Photo by Bowersox

who had been affected by cancer that they wanted to run for on a nametag. When Bell looked around on the day of the run, she saw many nametags saying “Colleen’s Mom”. Bell, whose mother was diagnosed with multiple myeloma last summer, was particularly touched by the outpouring of support she has received.

“I just started crying because people do care,” said Bell. “It’s so great to see the amount of people from our community and from the Walla Walla community. Whether or not they know that I have a personal connection to it, just to show up, it means the world.”

Senior Allie Willson, whose father has lived with multiple myeloma for over five years, also expressed how thankful she has been to have found a strong support network through the Whitman Cross Country Team. Because Willson’s father is 71 years old, Willson pledged to run 71 laps. She did

just that, completing her laps by noon Friday for a total of 24 miles.

“It means so much to me because the cross country team has always been my biggest support ... There are so many people on the team that have been through a lot and have found running to be what they use to get over it,” said Willson.

Men’s and women’s cross country coach and cancer survivor Scott Shields agreed.

“The one thing that’s helped us get through hard times has just been running,” he said.

The cross country team and running in general has been something the entire team has turned to whenever they need support. “[The team] has taught us what it means to support one another through good and bad times, so we wanted to extend and share that support to those in the community and offer an opportunity of solidarity,” said senior Annie Watters.

Ultimately, 180 people ran

more than 2,900 laps around Ankeny, far exceeding the team’s expectations. All in all, that equates to over 1,000 miles ran in the 24 hours. The money raised totaled more than $2,400 with a large part of it coming from junior Chelan Pauly’s unique contribution: her own dreadlocks. Pauly sold each of her 60 dreads to family and friends for different amounts of money, making up close to $1,000.

There were many self-sacrifices on display Thursday and Friday: shaving one’s head bald, spending hours in below-freezing temperatures and running more than 20 miles for a loved one. It’s this type of support and devotion that the cross-country team believes makes their sport and this event so special.

“Running teaches you perseverance, hard work, and forces you [to] reflect on what is important, and we hoped that we could take those and share them with the community,” said Watters.

Athletes receive crucial benefits from sleep

by Marah alindogan Staff Reporter

B

etween classes, extracurricular activities and muchneeded study breaks, sleep can be a luxury rarely offered to college students. However, sleep can take on a whole new meaning as a collegiate athlete. The individual sleeping habits of college varsity athletes can be fruitful or detrimental to their performance on and off the court.

But how many hours of sleep should athletes be getting in a night? While the average person gets between five and ten hours of sleep a night, athletes log in hours that are above the average, due to the strenuous activities their bodies undergo, according to the Better Sleep Council, a non-profit organization that advocates the importance of sleep (bettersleep.org) John Eckel, Whitman’s head athletic trainer, believes that sleep can vary from athlete to athlete.

“Everyone is different, but an average of eight hours a night is sufficient,” said Eckel.

Senior Eliza Vistica, a member of the women’s cross-coun-

try team, believes that she has pretty consistent sleeping habits.

“I get between seven and eight hours of sleep a night. I go to bed before midnight every day, so I go to bed early and wake up early compared to most people. I never take naps, though,” said Vistica.

On the other hand, senior basketball player LuQuam Thompson takes an opposite approach to sleeping.

“I can get by without getting a lot of sleep. I usually go to bed pretty late, but I wake up super early compared to most students. However, I do take naps when I can,” said Thompson.

Studies have shown that sleep is linked to numerous health and performance benefits. Specifically, a study done in 2007 by Thomas Reilly and Ben Edwards that analyzes sleep cycles and physical performances of athletes supports the idea that sleep is necessary for its recuperative qualities.

“Persistent inadequate sleep, or successive nights of shortened or disrupted sleep, causes vulnerability to common colds and upper respiratory tract infections,” the study says. Furthermore, it also suggests

that prolonged sleep taken by athletes is beneficial due to the immuno-suppression that occurs four to six hours after strenuous exercise.

According to the Better Sleep Council, “Without sufficient sleep, reaction times suffer, sustained performance drops off and there is a decline in overall physical functioning.” Furthermore, “Vigilance and alertness are compromised, which will result in poor performance and possibly lead to injury.”

Eckel certainly agrees and emphasizes the benefits of sleep for brain function.

“Sleep helps brain function not only for athletic performance, but academic as well. Studies have shown that performance is enhanced by sleep,” said Eckel.

Athletes like Vistica are also aware of the many benefits of sleep.

“I think that sleep is especially important so that athletes recover faster, especially after hard, strenuous workouts such as cross country races. I also think that it is necessary to avoid sickness. I always try to get more sleep whenever I feel like I am about to get sick,” said Vistica.

Though the health and performance benefits of sleep are pretty clear, Whitman varsity athletes feel that their sleep habits are trivial to how well they play.

Senior Elaine Whaley, a women’s golfer, likes logging in as many hours of sleep as she can but does not believe that it leads to an increase in her performance on the golf course.

“It really depends. It is debatable how much it helps me. There are some rounds that I do really well in while having barely slept any the night before and vice-versa,” said Whaley.

Whaley also adds that her quality of sleep is poor before a competition.

“I sleep, but I don’t sleep well because I am pre-occupied with my match,” she said.

Others like Thompson have pretty consistent sleeping habits no matter the circumstance.

“I sleep like a baby,” he said.

However, like Whaley, he does not know how much it factors into his performance.

“I can play a basketball game with a lot or little sleep,” said Thompson.

A good night’s sleep is ideal, but student athletes often take naps to catch up on rest. While the study by Reilly and Edwards suggests that naps are beneficial, “The effects of napping depend on their timing and duration, prior wake time, setting and individual differences.” Interestingly enough, “Those who habitually nap have been reported to derive greater subjective benefit from this practice than did subjects unaccustomed to napping,” the study says.

Eckel believes that naps refresh one’s body.

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“Naps are most beneficial for students who do not get enough sleep,” said Eckel.

The sleeping habits of athletes are unique to each person. However, with all the health and performance benefits related to sleep as stated by studies and sources, athletes should make it a priority.

“Your brain and body need sleep. That is when your body recovers,” said Eckel.

SCOREBOARD basketball

Men’s v. UC Santa Cruz Dec. 5: W 95-53

upcoming Basketball

Men’s v. Southwestern Univ. Dec.14, 8:00p.m.: HOME v. Wisconsin-Superior Dec. 28: AWAY v. Wisconsin-Stevens Point Dec. 29: AWAY Women’s v. Corban College Dec.13, 8:00p.m.: HOME v. Eastern Oregon Dec.14, 6:00p.m.: HOME v. Warner Pacific Dec. 30 4:30p.m.: HOME

OPINION

DEC

12 2013

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U.S. reliance on foreign oil comes at sizeable price DANI HUPPER First-year

O

nly thrilling news could follow such an uplifting title. But alas, our nation’s foreign oil dependency is far from optimistic.

The real price of oil isn’t shown at the gas pump or the stock exchange. An accurate analysis of oil and petroleum products’ cost would have to account for oil’s colossal (yet overlooked!) externalities — these include the amount our government spends securing major oil reserves (i.e. the Persian Gulf), mitigating the impact of future oil shocks as well as the economic cost of controlling the size and likelihood of these shocks.

Our nation’s addiction to oil is no newsflash. Today oil accounts for about 40 percent of U.S. energy consumption. More than half of this oil is imported from abroad. Just how much oil is that, did you ask? Over six million barrels every day.

But why does this reliance matter? Isn’t it more expensive to domestically produce a barrel of oil than to import it from abroad? Yes, that’s the theory.

But I’d argue that an all-encompassing analysis would demonstrate that our reliance on OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) has only increased the overall cost.

Some aspects of this analysis would be easily quantifiable. Some economists have put a $7 trillion price tag on U.S. foreign oil dependency from 1970 to 1999. This is calculated considering two factors: how much the U.S. coughs up to steadily import mass volumes of oil and how much our economy suffers due to oil supply disruptions and shocks.

Some aspects of our dependency, however, are not so easily computed. Firstly, the U.S. has taken political measures to reduce the economic impact of these shocks. Most notable is the establishment of the SPR (Strategic Petroleum Reserve) — 727 million barrels of emergency fuel storage available in the event of a foreign embargo or conflict.

PRICE TAG: $64.5 billion.

Possibly more efficient than investing in this expensive insurance policy would be to protect the oil reserves directly (i.e. military force).

The U.S. spends billions of dollars every year maintaining reserves in the Middle East and Southwest Asia.

But a price check of solely the Persian Gulf (containing approximately 65 percent of the world’s known oil) is a hefty enough cost. PRICE TAG: $30–$75 billion a year.

With billions of dollars at stake, why hasn’t the U.S. government made efforts to reduce dependence on foreign oil? They have, but the attempts have been moderate. There have been taxes, fuel economy standards, and subsidies for domestic oil production. But no-

body’s fooled — reducing our foreign oil dependency has never been a high priority. The U.S. has not put a genuine effort into developing alternative energy sources. The government does not invest in mass transit as much as other countries.

We have never had a substantial

Mease not Mooses by Asa Mease

oil import fee or gasoline tax.

U.S. dependence on foreign oil entangles our nation into political, economic and military issues. These projects come with their own price tags, and must be accounted for when calculating the real cost of foreign oil.

Jill of the Jungle’s creative aesthetic won’t disappoint TOBY ALDEN Senior

B EDM, Disco share cultural niche KYLE SEASLY Junior

I

know I can recall the silly outfit that John Travolta wore on the cover of “Saturday Night Fever.” His outfit, which represented the peak of disco’s popularity, made it seem like he emerged from a different, sillier reality. Discothèques, or discos, emerged in the 1970s and peaked in the latter part of the decade. They represented a place where urban bourgeoisie people could dance, snort cocaine and socialize.

It offered an alternative music to the domination of rock music. Discos were also notorious for sexual promiscuity — on and off the dance floor. These various elements drew criticisms from right-wingers, intellectuals and rock musicians. Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo noted that disco was “like a beautiful woman with a great body and no brains.”

Indeed, from a historical standpoint, disco seemed to offer nothing but hedonism, and fostered apathy and a lack of creativity among its fans. Disco is indeed catchy at some times, and it’s certainly danceable, but disco does seem to lack punch, as well as soul. Currently, EDM (electronic dance music) shares in many of these same qualities. Does this mean EDM will “die” just like disco did? Who knows? But culturally they occupy a similar niche.

I can’t think of a person I’ve ever met who, when I’ve asked what type of music they like, immediately listed disco. That being said, I’ve heard just about everything else. According to pop culture commentator Chuck Klosterman, we all went to high school with the kid who always wore Led Zeppelin shirts and had long hair (and I know I certainly did). We all have seen metalheads, Deadheads, Phishheads, punks, hip-hop fans, emos, goths, rastas and the like. I don’t mean to stereotype anyone here, but these styles of music and dress are apparent. So why no more disco, if it was such a cultural sensation? We see no one dressed like John Travolta unless it’s ‘70s dress-up night some-

where, and even there the person wearing the outfit doesn’t take it seriously. Is it because of the backlash of people who wore “disco sucks” t-shirts? Or one of the most famous baseball games in history where over 50,000 Chicagoans burned disco records and had to be put down by riot police?

No one listens to disco because it was a mostly hedonistic pursuit that only the privileged could pursue. Disco wasn’t exactly an intellectual or artistic pursuit, which is perhaps why musical history has frowned upon it. Only those with upper-class standing could afford to go to the expensive discos such as Studio 54 in New York. I would argue that EDM is also in this vein. They don’t have the silliest outfits, but the rave gloves are equally as silly. MDMA is as equally popular as cocaine was (or more so) at EDM events.

No EDM fan will argue that their music is purely an artistic statement and not any fun. Indeed, it seems EDM is following the same trend as discos. Instead of discos, however, there are clubs that host raves or music festivals. Will EDM crash and burn like disco and be dismissed? Only time will tell.

Voices from the Community

efore Epic Games made it big off of Gears of War and its sequels, they were called Epic MegaGames, and they made shareware games. Shareware was a distribution model for games in which companies gave away a portion of their game for free and encouraged people to share it with each other via online bulletin boards that served as precursors to today’s Internet forums.

If they liked it, they could mail a check to the developer, who would send back a 5.25-inch floppy disk containing the full game. Epic MegaGame’s Jill of Jungle followed such a shareware model; the first episode was distributed for free, but the second and third episodes, Jill Goes Underground and Jill Saves The Prince, respectively, were $15 a piece.

Today, of course, the entirety of the Jill series can be downloaded online, and since the Gears of War franchise has grossed over a billion dollars since 2011, one can do so guiltlessly, safe in the knowledge that any monetary injustice done to Epic Games is outweighed by the prerogative of the connoisseur to save works of real character from the ever-encroaching schlock of the cultural zeitgeist.

And make no mistake — Jill of the Jungle has character. The year was 1992, and Super Mario World had left an indelible mark on the minds of those disposed to digital entertainment. Recreating the runand-jump gameplay of the console blockbuster on the personal computer was on the minds of many, and Epic MegaGames’ attempt with Jill was by no means the first. But instead of simply copying Nintendo’s flagship franchise, Jill attempted to make a new type of game —

one that borrowed from the basic formula of Mario and his console brethren, but made it the PC’s own.

What the result of this creative impulse lacks in Nintendo’s professionalism and polish, it makes up for in its enthusiasm: the design of Jill of the Jungle is a product of an exuberant creativity that’s impossible to resist. You guide Jill, the eponymous hero of the game, through vividly colored forests, caves and castles, collecting keys and gems with aplomb as she fends off crocodiles, frogs and rainbow-hued phoenixes. Your primary weapon is a dagger that returns to you in a boomerang-like fashion after being thrown, creating tricky scenarios in which Jill must throw the dagger past an enemy, then quickly align herself so as to hit them on its return. Levels are huge, sprawling affairs that take plenty of exploration and backtracking to complete; some even feature massive labyrinths that can only be traversed by transforming Jill into an enemy creature. It’s evident that the designers had a lot of fun making this game, and because of that, it’s hard not to have fun when you play it. This may seem like an obvious point, but consider that nowadays most creative decisions for bigname titles (such as Gears of War) are made on the basis of marketability, not for the designer’s pleasure.

This increased reliance on commercial interests is what’s resulted in the superabundance of games that follow “tried-and-true” formulas for gameplay: the greyishbrown, “gritty” first-person shooter; the pay-to-win Farmville clone; Angry Birds Star Wars 2. Jill of the Jungle has an effervescence that is all its own, and it’s an important, much-needed reminder of value of novelty to the creative process. If you’re tired of the video game industry treating you like a predictable dope, check out Jill of the Jungle. You won’t be disappointed.

Jill of the Jungle is available for download at dosgamesarchive.com /download /jill-ofthe-jungle. It requires DOSBox to run, which can be downloaded for Windows and Mac at dosbox.com.

What are you most looking forward to about break? Poll by JADE BLAKE-WHITNEY

BRENNA BAILEY

CAM HANCOCK

ELOISE WILLEMSEN

IAN ANDREEN

Sophomore

Sophomore

Sophomore

Sophomore

“I’m looking forward to snow. Real snow.”

“What I’m looking forward to most is drinking coffee with my parents and listening to NPR.”

“I’m looking forward to the end of break.

I’m going to see my sister at school.”

“I’m going to watch ‘Homeland,’ the Showtime show, probably ‘The Titanic,’ ‘The Notebook’ and ‘The Wolf of Wall Street.’

That’s probably number one on my list.”

For video responses visit: whitmanpioneer.com/category/opinion

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PAGE

8

TRUE Holiday FACTS

A

ll right, y’all, it’s time to drop some 100 percent accurate knowledge jinglebombs, so get ready. It’s the holiday season, and there are a lot of rumors out there about what’s going on. Some people call them “holiday tales” or “carols,” but I call them lies. Don’t worry, though. I have some legit facts for you.

1. “Santa” isn’t bringing you presents, okay? He is not the spirit of Christmas. This guy is an elusive B & E master who sneaks into your house like some sort of freak contortionist and eats your holiday cookies because he’s a jerk. “Santa” isn’t even this guy’s real name, OK? It’s his criminal identity. Also, no way he’s got a “bowl full o’ jelly.” Have you seen the size of chimneys lately? He is definitely a real skinny dude.

2. I am all for respecting and celebrating the holiday of your cul-

ture or religion. But I have to say, for all the non-religious folk out there who want to celebrate a winter holiday, you are picking the wrong one. Y’all are clearly bad at math because eight is definitely more than one, all right?

Learn to count. Moving on.

3. Eggnog, WTF. Studies show that 78 percent of people are actually afraid of eggnog. Legitimately afraid of a “delicious” holiday beverage. I have to say that I am one of these people, and for all of you out there who are like, “no eggnog is delicious,” just no.

I mean, have you looked at some eggnog lately?

That stuff is suspicious as hell. I would not go drinking raw eggs. No wonder they need to put alcohol in eggnog to get people to even consider drinking it.

4. Let’s be honest here.

The number one reason we all love the holiday season is holiday-themed cof-

fee. A latte? Yeah, I’ll take one because coffee is good.

A fa-la-la-latte with nutmeg and sugar and winter spice and peppermint and whipped cream and a candy cane and sprinkles and Christmas cookies and an elf in it? They only have enough calories to get a bear through it’s winter hibernation, so I should probably get three. That’s why this article is so brilliant — all the caffeine and sugar from my coffee. I am totally not going to crash later.

5. No matter what winter holiday you choose to celebrate, the correct outfit for you to wear to your office party/holiday-eve/holiday/whatever winter festivities that you are attending is clear: sweaters. No, I do not mean your favorite holiday sweater. Yes, I do mean sweaters. I mean all of your sweaters. All of them. At once. On your body. Sweaters to the max, y’all. That is holiday style.

DEC

12 2013

Bon App’s new holiday menu polarizes students

“D

o you want ham, turkey or peppermint bark?”

This week’s greeting at Bon Appétit’s Fire and Spice is a little different than usual. For the rest of the semester, Bon Appétit has decided to bring some holiday cheer to the menu.

“This is really what Bon App is all about. Giving the students what they want ... and what they want now is to forget about finals and focus on the upcoming break,” said Bon Appétit employee Steve Sugarplum.

Sugarplum is a regular panflipper at Reid’s Café 66, where the theme this week is Fire & Spice: Taste of North Pole. While Bon Appétit had some trouble with finding gluten-free gingerbread cookies, they spared no expense to bring holiday cheer to the hearts and bellies of the Whitman community.

“We’re always proud to bring the most exciting and authentic eating experiences to our customers.

We even have a local, vegan latke option,” said Susie Reindeerhunter, Prentiss Dining Hall manager.

Junior Peppy Minterson, an international student from the northern region of the globe, has some issues with the menu.

“Real North Pole cooking is more than just throwing some candy in a frying pan with a side of mashed potatoes. There’s a lot

more subtlety than that,” she said.

Some students have found that the current menu relies too heavily on carbohydrates, providing them with a less than balanced diet.

“All of these sugar crashes are really doing a number on my attempts to study for finals,” said first-year Franky Winterbean.

Another student voiced her concern about the menu change at the café in the library.

“I just wanted a regular coffee to keep me up for my allnighter, five-page Encounters final, but they had to go and put eggnog in it,” said firstyear Noelle Jones. “I couldn’t drink it and ended up sleeping through the paper deadline.”

For dining-hall dependent students, this cookie-based diet may prove disastrous to final-semester GPAs. However, students living off-campus are enjoying the novelty of the new Fire and Spice menu.

“This is the third time this week I’ve been here [to Fire and Spice]. A big pile of sugar and spice is exactly what I need to forget about my thesis and impending pressure to go out into the real world,” said senior Nick Knickerbockers.

Bon Appétit will continue its holiday-themed menus through final exam week, or until it runs out of eggnog.

This is a headline (get it?)

W

hat’s up, y’all? Time for my favorite time of the week — writing my article for the Backpage!

So what’s up with the Science Building, am I right?

Oh, shit! I have a Genetics final tomorrow. Damn, better get crackin’.

Anyway, it’s so cold in there. What’s up with that?

Cold, frosty beer. Mountains. Ahh, can’t wait to be home next week!!! Wintertime and blizzardly wonderland. Where dreams run free...

Oh yeah, where was I? Warm and cozy by the fire? Oh nope, I’m here sitting at home staring at a screen. What was I doing? Oh yeah, being funny.

Man, I’m already checked out.

Here’s some joke about the proxim-

ity of Whitman’s campus, the small community, nature, blah blah blah.

First-years, so silly, seniors so grumpy. Ooh, I’m gonna walk through the lights in the botanic garden with some coffee and Bailey’s as soon as I’m home. Soon as I’m done with this to-do list.

Gotta make sure my next semester schedule is solidified. Oh yeah, who’s coming back from abroad next semester??!! Ooohhh probably a bunch of people I forgot about.

Insert funny pun about Whitman phenomena here. They changed the potatoes in Jewett breakfast?! What an outrage!

How come everyone here wears Birkenstocks and Patagonia? It’s not actual Patagonia here in Walla Walla ya know!

Is this article over yet?

Accurate carols for holidays / finals Silent Night Druuuuuunken nights Blaaaaackout nights Ball and Chain Top Gun, too Freshmen dancing in ways that disgrace No one cares ‘cus we’re all so shitfaced Passed out on the TKE lawn Passed out on the TKE lawn

O Come All Ye Faithful Come on all you streakers What the hell’s this bullshit It’s now below zero and there’s SNOW ON THE GROUND Please put your clothes on You’re paler than a snowstorm Your junk is really tiny Your junk is really tiny Your junk is really tiny Put your pants back on!

I Saw Three Ships (Come O Christmas Tree: Sailing In) I saw my grades go sailing out On finals week, on finals week I saw my grades go sailing out On finals week in my math class Who in this class can pull a B? On finals week on finals week Who in this class can pull a B? On finals week in my math class I promise you it is not me On finals week on finals week I promise you it is not me On finals week in my math class

O finals week O finals week Why study when there’s Xbox?

O finals week O finals week Why study when there’s Xbox?

Halo’s great, though violent be And have you played Assassin’s Creed?

O finals week O finals week Why study when there’s Xbox?

Away in a Manger I’m stuck here in Penrose And I am distraught My paper’s due Monday And I had forgot I hope an extension Won’t fall on deaf ears I’ve been here so long That I’m almost in tears

We Three Kings We three friends on Google Docs are Reading out our projects so far We’ve been waiting, Now we’re hating: Where is our fourth member?

Oh, John’s an asshole John’s a dick Never ever does his bit Why’d Prof. Beechim Pair us with him?

I’m so done with this shit