Whitman College Pioneer - Spring 2010 - issue 3 - full issue

YEAR OF THE TIGER

DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL

BATTER UP

Whitties usher in the Lunar New Year

Columnist James Sledd supports Obama’s call for repeal

New coaches, players on deck for Whitman baseball

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WHITMAN COLLEGE Walla Walla, WA Volume CXXVI Issue 3 whitmanpioneer.com F , 

Students think big with tiny greens

Holly Brooks Plagiarism policy ’04 to compete under scrutiny in Vancouver

by MOLLY SMITH Editor-in-Chief

Brooks will participate in the Ladies’ 4x5 km Relay Classic, Individual Sprint Classic, 30 km Mass Start Classic and 15 km Pursuit in the 2010 Olympics

by RACHEL ALEXANDER Staff Reporter Next time you eat a salad in the dining hall, some of the greens might come from less than a block away. That’s the hope of first-years Natalie Jamerson and Zoe Pehrson, who are starting a project to grow microgreens in the greenhouse on the roof of the science building.

“The goal of this project is to offer local produce to Bon Appétit,” said Jamerson.

Microgreens are greens harvested after a plant has sprouted, but before it is large enough to become a baby green.

Whitman’s greens will grow for two weeks before they are harvested and delivered to Bon Appétit, where they will be served as part of the salad bar.

“It’s very flavorful and very healthy,” said Pehrson.

The project is part of a larger initiative

by Campus Greens to have Whitman produce more of its own food. The club’s president [year needed] Nat Clarke said that he began growing some small edible plants around the amphitheater to show that it was possible to grow food on campus.

“The microgreens project is the next step in the progression towards a larger farm, and it’s incredibly important to campus,” he said.

Several Campus Green members were involved in getting the project started and in meeting with Bon Appétit to work out the details of the sale. Jamerson and Pehrson will be overseeing the project this semester as official interns, for which they will receive environmental studies internship credit.

Initial capital for the microgreens will come from the Sustainability Revolving Loan Fund. The Fund was created last spring to finance ideas which make Whitman more environmentally friendly and pay back over a five-year period.

Previously, loan applications have been for larger ventures, such as purchasing a solvent recycler for the chemistry department.

“I’m really impressed with [the MICROGREENS, page 2

COURTESY OF FASTERSKIER.COM Holly Brooks ‘04 will ski cross country for Team USA in the 2010 Olympics. The Opening Ceremony takes place tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 12.

by MELISSA NAVARRO Staff Reporter With the winter Olympics around the corner, national pride will be beaming across the world as countries go for gold. The Whitman community will be paying particularly close attention to Holly Brooks, a 2004 graduate who will be competing on the U.S. cross country ski team.

Her modest beginnings as a Junior Olympics competitor and college-level

skier led to remarkable racing results as a professional and a place on the fourwoman Olympic national team.

Brooks’ name was initially cut from the list of skiers that were to represent the United States in Vacouver, Canada. But due to a fifth, additional spot allowed by a newly installed Olympic quota system, the former Whittie managed to make it on the team. The good news followed days of uneasy anticipation.

“I’m not going to lie; it’s been pretty OLYMPICS, page 10

Ghetto Sunrise mashes it up

by LIZ SIENG Staff Reporter

VON HAFFTEN The mash-ups of Zach Morrissey ‘11 are featured at parties throughout campus.

On a silent Wednesday night in Penrose library junior Zach Morrissey popped open his laptop, picked out four pop songs from his music library and began arranging them as they all played simultaneously.

“You don’t sample to find a melody,” he said. “That’s easy. Anyone can come up with a good melody. You sample to get the original song.”

This type of combinative music, often called mash-up, has been significantly developed in recent years by artists such as Girl Talk. It involves blending two or more songs together to produce a seamless track.

On one track, Morrissey overlaps the rapping vocals of Missy Elliot and Ludacris in

The Dogs’ album review Since 2004, junior Matt Bachmann has played with Chicago-based band The Dogs. In December, they released their first album, Free Write, and they’re now finding a number of fans here on campus.

A&E , page 4

“Ghetto Folks” to pumping beats from Daft Punk’s “Crescendolls.”

Morrissey explained that he often uses a technique of combining the vocals of one track with the melodies or beat of another.

“It’s so satisfying to find things that go well together,” he said. “Tempos, keys, music . . .”

Since coming to Whitman, Morrissey, under the name Ghetto Sunrise, has hosted a KWCW radio station, disc jockeyed at numerous parties and composed a fulllength album of his mash-ups.

Morrissey began creating mash-ups at Whitman with junior Will Falltrick, who shares a mutual affection for electronic dance music.

“We were kind of bored with the DJs GHET TO SUNRISE , page 4

In response to student and faculty concerns regarding the Academic Dishonesty Policy, the Student Life Committee voted in favor of an ASWC-sponsored resolution calling for a faculty code revision of the policy. Passed on Friday, Feb. 5, the resolution included a revised draft of the policy written by senior ASWC Vice President and Student Affairs Chair Jordan Clark and sophomore Senator and Student Affairs representative Noah Lerner.

The Student Life Committee and Dean of Students Chuck Cleveland are concerned that the current policy’s definition of plagiarism is too broad and its punishments too strict. Instances of plagiarism under the current policy range from negligent or improper citation to intentional plagiarism of another author’s work.

The penalty for a first time offense, regardless of the nature of the infringement, ranges from a minimum grade of an “F” on the assignment to a maximum grade of an “F” in the course. The penalty for forgetting to cite a source can be the same as for purchasing a paper off the Internet.

According to Student Life Committee Chair Brooke Vick, assistant professor of psychology, the committee typically does not discuss matters of curricular or disciplinary policy. It may, however, identify student concerns relevant to these areas and make recommendations for addressing them, as was the case with the Academic Dishonesty Policy.

VOTERS APPROVE TAX FOR TRANSIT

by RACHEL ALEXANDER Staff Reporter

FE ATURE , page 6

dahn. “I’m very happy for the citizens in Walla Walla. I’m thankful that people planned for their future. They see the wisdom in public transit.”

Campaign organizers and volunteers celebrated at a party at the campaign headquarters on Main Street. After the victory was announced, several speeches were made.

“We’ve never seen a campaign team this strong,” said Dan Clark, a member of the campaign’s steering committee.

Clark and other organizers thanked volunteers who worked for the campaign, businesses who endorsed the ballot measure and individuals who shared personal stories about the importance of transit in their lives.

“This is a great win for the people of the Walla Walla Valley,” said Fondahn.

Preliminary election results released at 8:05 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 9, show the Valley Transit sales tax ballot measure winning by an overwhelming 76.31 percent. Although results will not be certified until later this month, 92 percent of the 12,924 mail-in ballots received to date have been counted.

“We’re thrilled by the results,” said Barbara Clark, campaign co-chair.

“This is a community that really cares about all of the people who live here. I think this vote shows that people recognize how important Valley Transit is to people and the economy.”

With the passage of the ballot measure, Valley Transit will avoid a 50 percent cut in services over the next year that would have eliminated at least two bus lines and reduced frequencies on others. Funding to keep the system running will come from a .03 percent sales tax increase in the Walla Walla County Public Transportation Benefit Area, which includes Walla Walla Votes on the Valley Transit and College Place. sales tax increase “This is tremendous news,” said Valley Transit General Manager Dick Fon-

Cribs, Whitman style Looking for an off-campus rental? This week Feature looks into the pitfalls and triumphs of off-campus life to help you make a decision, protect yourself as a renter and enjoy the experience to the fullest.

“Several members of ASWC approached the committee with ideas about how the policy could be revised.

Members of the committee provided feedback on those ideas and several drafts were discussed as a group,” Vick said via e-mail.

Cleveland first approached Clark and senior ASWC President Nadim Damluji early last semester to discuss his concerns, as well as those of students and faculty members, regarding the current Academic Dishonesty Policy.

According to Cleveland, approximately 20 cases of academic dishonesty are brought to his attention each year.

The cases vary in severity of offense.

“I felt like there are some situations where the current policy ended up with an overly serious sanction—that the penalty exceeded the transgression,” said Cleveland. “My concern was that in cases that were maybe less intentional—cases in which there were cultural or language differences—it would be nice if the faculty had greater discretion and a wider range of sanction in first time cases.”

Clark and Damluji shared Cleveland’s concerns, delegating the job of researching and revising the policy to Clark and Lerner.

They concluded that the current Academic Dishonesty Policy disproportionately affects first-year and international students who may not be accustomed to the citation style used by the American university system.

Furthermore, they found that the PL AGARISM, page 2

A&E book review kicks off with ‘Plague of Doves’ Louise Erdrich’s 2009 Pulitzer finalist reads as a ‘modernday Faulkner,’ tracing one family’s saga across generations.

A&E , page 5

NEWS

2

February 11, 2010F

PLAGIARISM: Faculty next to decide on policy  page 1 policy does not accurately represent current faculty practices in regards to punishing plagiarism.

“A lot of professors simply don’t follow the current policy. Most professors aren’t going to report a small citation error to the Dean of Students and they are not going to fail a student,” said Clark.

Jordan and Clark presented their findings to students at the Oct. 22 Town Hall Meeting, an open forum between students and ASWC. “We received near unanimous support for amending the policy at our Town Hall,” said Clark, prompting a revision of the policy.

ASWC’s revisions primarily focused on the penalties for first-time infringements of academic dishonesty. Their revision reads: “For a first offense . . . the faculty member shall have the discretion to decide what punitive measures to take with a maximum penalty of a grade of ‘F’ in the course.”

ASWC’s rationale behind the revision, as stated per the Faculty Code Revision they submitted to the Student Life Committee, is that “it gives each faculty member the discretion to measure the seriousness of the infraction and decide upon the appropriate punitive measures . . . allow[ing] faculty

LOOS-DIALLO members to differentiate between serious acts of plagiarism and minor errors in citation.”

The revision reflects Cleveland’s desire for the policy to help students learn from their mistakes, whether that comes from rewriting a paper, forgoing a grade or having a grade deducted.

“I don’t want to minimize the importance of academic honesty. I think it’s critical to what we do here; but I also think learning and education can be

part of this policy,” said Cleveland. “[The revised policy is] not supposed to make it easier for students in any way, it just allows a professor to decide ultimately when they want to prosecute things versus turning them into a teaching opportunity,” said Lerner.

The Student Life Committee, after approving ASWC’s revisions, has recommended that the Faculty Committee consider both students’ concerns regarding the Academic Dishonesty

and the new, revised policy.

It remains to be seen how the revised policy will fare on the floor of the Faculty Committee.

“There definitely has been some resistance from professors. We’ll see to what extent the faculty like what we’ve come up with then we bring the [revised] policy before them,” said Lerner.

Clark hopes that the revision process will increase student involvement

and open the doors to better communication between students, ASWC and faculty.

“Cleveland is really interested in getting more students involved in college policy,” said Clark. “Students aren’t always involved in the decision making process, and we’re trying to break down the barrier between the faculty deciding on things that affect us and us being able to reciprocate, backing policies that we support.”

Student groups prepare Massages, physical therapy now offered for Lunar New Year at health center

Students and faculty are invited to join campus groups in celebrating the Lunar New Year with food, performances, presentations and karaoke.

by JOCELYN RICHARD News Editor

by ROSE WOODBURY

Staff Reporter

Feb. 14 will celebrate more than chocolate and flowers this year as billions of people around the world, including many Whitman students, usher in the Chinese New Year.

Chinese New Year falls on different dates on the Gregorian Calendar every year because it is based on the beginning of the lunar year, explained Vietnamese Cultural Club President junior Trang Pham. People in China, Vietnam, Korea and Mongolia, as well as millions of people in the United States, observe the holiday for different numbers of days each year.

At Whitman, the Asian Studies House plans to host a Lunar New Year celebration this Sunday, Feb. 14, at 6:30 p.m. in collaboration with the Vietnamese Cultural Club and the Global Awareness House.

We want . . . to celebrate together with the campus and be a part of the celebration - Maherin Ahmed ‘11, Global Awareness House RA

“We want to raise awareness and celebrate together with the campus and be a part of the celebration of the people who grew up celebrating [the Lunar New Year],” said junior Maherin Ahmed, RA of the Global Awareness House.

“It’s just like Christmas,” said sophomore Bryant Fong, who celebrated the holiday while growing up at home in Corvallis, Ore. “You get to spend a lot of time with your family.”

Like Fong, Pham also has fond memo-

E. JOHNSON ries of celebrating the holiday with her family in Northern Vietnam.

“In Vietnam, Lunar New Year is celebrated throughout a three day period.

People don’t work and would stay home to make a traditional cake called banh chung.

To make this cake it takes a day and a half.

People stay up all night talking around the pot [where the cake is cooking] and the kids play.”

The Asian Studies House and the Vietnamese Cultural Club will cook foods such as Vietnamese soup, stir-fry and traditional desserts. The hosts also plan to teach the guests how to make their own spring rolls.

The Asian Studies House plans to have activities such as karaoke and a PowerPoint presentation designed to inform guests about the history and practice of the Chinese New Year. “[When I celebrated as a child] the elderly would hang red packets of money in the trees,” said junior David Mai, who is from Los Angeles and RA of the Asian

Studies House. “The kids would all get to reach up and pick a packet and keep whatever sum of money they chose. At the ASH instead of money we’re going to have candy.”

The Asian Cultural Association has also planned a celebration for this Tuesday, Feb. 9, which will take place in the Kimball Auditorium and will include a performance.

They plan to help host another celebration featuring traditional foods in Prentiss Dining Hall on Saturday, Feb. 20.

“Different parts of China celebrate it differently,” said Fong, who explained that the holiday, also known as Spring Festival originated from farmers’ celebrations of spring.

Whitman students plan to celebrate the holiday in a number of different ways, but all aim to pay a tribute to the holiday and celebrate the dawning of a new lunar year.

All Whitman students and faculty are invited and encouraged to attend the festivities.

MICROGREENS: Organizers seek involvement to sustain project  page 1 microgreens] project,” said senior Lisa Curtis, the Whitman sustainability coordinator. “Not only will the money pay back, but they should actually make money.”

Jameson and Pehrson expect to

CORRECTIONS FOR ISSUE 2: The credit for the photo accompanying “Missionaries continue rollercoaster season” on page 10 should read Fennell, not Fennel.

IN THIS ISSUE: News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 A&E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5 Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11 Back Page. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

deliver 12 trays of greens per week to Bon Appétit. According to Roger Edens, the Bon Appétit manager, the greens will be purchased for $18 per tray, which is the same price currently paid to the off-campus supplier.

Edens says he is excited about the project, because it shows that it is possible for a college campus to produce some of its own food.

“It raises awareness, and it’s a stronger message when it’s coming from the students,” he said.

Bon Appétit has produced a handbook called “Student Gardens and Food Service,” which has directions for starting similar projects on campus. Edens said that the company encourages student efforts to make campus food more sustainable. “[The micorgreens project is] something easy to start up that will have some immediate returns,” said Edens.

The quick payback is one of the reasons microgreens were chosen for this project.

“We’re starting with microgreens because it’s the most financially feasible project for us,” said Jamerson.

Clarke notes that this is a unique feature of growing microgreens, compared to many other student sustainability initiatives on campus.

“Very few student efforts are selffunded in any capacity,” he said. “The project uses a business-oriented, scientific approach.”

Jamerson and Pehrson hope more students will get involved, both by helping with the microgreens project and by continuing similar efforts at Whitman.

“We really want as much student involvement and awareness as possible,” she said. “That’s the way it’s going to be sustained.”

The Welty Student Health Center has expanded its services this semester to provide massage therapy, phototherapy and physical therapy in order to fully utilize the facility’s space and resources.

The new services and equipment are the result of a semester-long planning process on the part of Claudia Ness, interim director of the Health Center, in collaboration with a number of Whitman students. When Ness began working at the center in fall 2009, she noticed that its physical therapy room, which has housed various therapy equipment and machinery since the facility opened in 2006, was not being used to its full potential.

“When this building—which is a relatively new building—was built, it did have a physical therapy room,” said Ness.

“It was made to have physical therapy; it’s just that the services we were providing weren’t utilizing the room to the fullest. When I came on in the fall I took one look at that room and thought we could certainly utilize it much more effectively.”

The room housed a message table that was not being used, so after a number of students inquired about massage therapy, Ness started searching for a licensed therapist. After a long search, she located Jan Atwater, who had just moved to the area after a 30-year tenure as a head therapist at Washington State University.

Atwater is currently taking appointments for students on Wednesday evenings from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. She charges $45 for a 45-minute massage, less than her usual rate of $70 per hour.

Since Atwater began offering her services in early February, nearly all appointments have been filled, and she hopes to expand her hours as midterms and finals approach.

In addition to massage therapy, the Health Center provides physical therapy services on Wednesdays and Fridays to students with prescriptions.

The cycling team frequently uses the physical therapy room’s training equipment for conditioning.

“The thing that makes this so helpful—it’s kind of a win-win from the students’ side and our side—is that we would normally be providing transportation and pickups for students who need physical therapy,” Ness said.

“This way we are able to do it here in the Health Center.”

First-year David McGaughey was one of the first students to receive physical therapy at the center for a shoulder injury.

“My most recent experience with the Health Center has been going to physical therapy twice a week for the same shoulder I had surgery on,” McGaughey said. “That process was very, very easy. They not only lined up the physical therapy, doing all of the work once I had given them the prescription, but they also arranged for the physical therapists to come to the health center instead of me having to go to them.”

McGaughey also praises the center’s recent acquisition of a free-to-use phototherapy light, also housed in the physical therapy room, which helps treat Seasonal Affective Disorder.

“Sometimes, since Whitman is such a happy place, people can feel like there is pressure to be happy, and if they’re not, they feel like something is wrong,” said McGaughey. “Whitman offers and is increasingly offering more and more ways for students to cope with this stress, between the Counseling Center, the exceptional fitness center, and now the massage therapists and sun lamp. Whitman is such a happy place in part because of these efforts.”

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NEWS

0February 11, 2010

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Virtual Career and Internship Fair launches to high hopes

by ROBERT CRENSHAW Staff Reporter As February approaches every year, Whitman students can usually be found printing out copies of resumes, practicing interview skills in the mirror and even selecting a not-too-wrinkled outfit to impress representatives at the college’s annual Career and Internship Fair. This year, though, students have one less reason to obsess about these job hunting rituals—the fair has gone virtual.

The Career and Internship Fair, organized by the Student Engagement Center, is an annual event designed to introduce students to off-campus employers. The fair offers Whitman students and recent graduates alike the opportunity to find summer employment, a summer internship or a potential career. This year, the fair will feature employment opportunities with Campus Point—Seattle/ Puget Sound, Environmental America and others as well as internships from groups such as American University and The Philadelphia Center.

FENNELL Ali Barlow, assistant director of the Student Engagement Center, leads seniors Hillary Fairbanks and Karl Wallulis in logging on to the new Virtual Career and Internship Fair.

Though the purpose of the Career and Internship Fair has not changed, its venue has drastically.

This year, the Student Engagement Center pilots the Virtual Career and Internship Fair for the entire month of February.

The virtual fair is a collaborate effort by Susan Buchanan, direc-

tor of the Student Engagement Center, and Ali Barlow, assistant director, to address declining numbers of participating organizations and businesses in Whitman’s career fair. Though other college solutions to the on-campus recruiting problem were not investigated, both Barlow and Bu-

chanan knew something needed to be done.

“The number of attendees were down, so we were willing to try something new,” said Barlow, explaining that the state of the economy has significantly impacted the success of traditional career fairs. “Budgets are down.

Fewer companies and organizations could come; it wouldn’t be economical—this has led to a decrease in on-campus recruiting.”

Barlow further explains why a virtual career fair is an effective and desirable alternative for Whitman students.

“Technology is improving.

Students are increasingly online.

That’s where things are going,” Barlow said. “Students weren’t coming to in-person fairs; students are extremely busy and going virtual is more accessible.”

The Virtual Career and Internship Fair will also benefit employers interested in recruiting Whitman students.

“Students like it to get jobs; organizations would like to target Whitman students,” said Barlow.

“It also it costs businesses much less and is less of a time investment for them.”

But has the virtual fair increased the number of internship and business participants for Whitman students?

“Not many more, but an improvement,” said Barlow, adding that the fair has already attracted

an employer due to its new format. “[The] state of Alaska can participate now it’s virtual; they were unable to before.”

The future of the Virtual Career and Internship fair is not set in stone. Barlow explains that after this month’s virtual fair comes to a close, the Student Engagement Center will consider if the new format works for Whitman students, if students enjoy it and if the virtual fair will provide students with jobs and internships.

“We may go back [to a traditional format] if the economy bounces back,” she said.

The Virtual Career Fair also provides information on creating effective resumes and successful interview techniques for students.

The Virtual Career and Internship Fair launch party was held Monday, Feb. 8, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. in Reid 110 and is hosted via the CLEo online workspace system. Instructions for signup are located at the following Web site: whitman.edu/content/ career_center/employers/careerand-internship-fair.

Applications to Whitman hold steady for Class of 2014

by NATE LESSLER Staff Reporter The Office of Admission predicts the number of applications for the class of 2014 to be in the region of 3,300, roughly even to the number of applications received last year. Although the deadline for applications was Jan. 15, the exact number of applicants is unknown because not all applications have been organized and counted.

This predicted tally is notable because the number of high school graduates in the United States is expected to decline this year, after having peaked in 2009.

“National demographics show that 2009 is the peak of high school graduates in terms of sheer population,” Director of Admissions Kevin Dyerly told The Pioneer in February 2009, noting the possibility of a decline in applications for the class of 2014.

However, it is possible that this national decline in high school graduates will have little affect on Whitman applications.

“The decline [in high school graduates] is not across the board,” said Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Tony Cabasco. “They are primarily in the northeast and upper Midwest . . . the decline in Washington is very modest.

Relative to [Whitman’s location], the impact might be not that big overall.”

So far the impact has hardly been noticeable. The Office of Admission received about 180 early decision applications this year. Although it is less than last year’s record-breaking 200, this year still amounts to Whitman’s third best year for early decision applications.

Our approach has always been to ensure that Whitman is on the mind of the [prospective] student.

- Tony Cabasco, Dean of Admission Credentials Coordinator Barbara Cox and Tom Austin ‘11 work on the third floor of the admissions office. Admissions officers have been busy reviewing over 3,300 applications submitted by hopeful members of the class of 2014.

PHOTOS BY CORNELIUS Administrative Assistant for Admission Maureen Vollendorff reviews electronically submitted applications on her computer as paper applications line the shelves of her office. Whitman accepts both types of submissions.

If there is a slight decline in the total amount of applications received this year, it would be the first time since 1995. The number of applications Whitman receives has more than doubled in the past 15 years from 1,535 in 1995 to 3,309 in 2009.

Tory Sheffield, a high school senior from Seattle, suspected an increase in Whitman applications from her high school.

“I think that 35 applied last year and I feel like it’s more this year but I don’t know for sure,” she said.

Sheffield also mentioned the many letters and e-mails she received from Whitman.

“They sent out a lot of news-

letters and really tried to reach out and I got the feeling of a strong community,” she said.

According to Cabasco, the large amount of contact made with prospective students is very intentional.

“We want to build connections,” he explained. “Our approach has always been to ensure that Whitman is on the mind of the [prospective] student.” Cabasco pointed to the Office of Admission’s Facebook page, and noted that they’re in the process of creating a blog.

2010 also marks the first year that all applications are being processed and read electronically≠≠.

“It’s been a two- to three-year process,” explained Cabasco.

“We’ve had to adjust a lot of things. Two years ago we would receive applications electronically, but we would still have to print them and read them.

Now we just transfer the PDF directly to electronic storage.”

Even letters of recommendation and high school transcripts are received electronically.

Paper applications are still accepted. However, they are now scanned and stored digitally. This allows out-of-state and off-campus admissions officers to access the applications.

“The Internet is becoming ubiquitous,” said Cabasco.

“Five years from now, I might be doing this on my digital phone.”

The Pioneer ISSUE 3 FEB. 11, 2010 Page 4

B AND SPOTLIGHT

PIO PICKS Each week, The Pioneer highlights three events happening on campus or in Walla Walla during the weekend. Here are this week’s picks: Sarah Judkins’ Senior Violin Recital Senior Sarah Judkins, who has played in both the Whitman and Walla Walla Symphony Orchestras will give her senior recital, featuring works by Schubert, de Falla, Vaughn Williams and Bach. Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Chism Recital Hall. Free.

Olympic Opening Ceremonies with WEB Whitman Events Board will show the opening ceremonies live from Maxey Hall. Come watch skier and ‘04 Whitman alumna Holly Brooks march with the rest of the American team. Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Maxey Auditorium. Free.

A&E

F

One-Act Play Contest Founded by professor of Environmental studies Craig Gunsul, who was inspired by the theatrical contests of Ancient Greece, the One-Act Contest features original, student-directed plays by three student playwrights.

The audience will be the judge and will have a chance to vote for their favorites. The student playwrights will then win cash prizes based on the audience’s choice.

For a more extensive preview of the One-Act contest, see reporter Mehera Nori’s coverage in last week’s Pioneer, available online at whitmanpioneer.com. Thursday & Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; Sunday at 2 p.m. Harper Joy Theater. Free for students.

CONTRIBUTED BY VANESSA HADDAD Matt Bachmann ‘11 plays a concert with his Chicago-based band, The Dogs. In December, they released their first album, ‘Free Write.’

First-years unearth Chicago-based Dogs, separated old school traditions, by college, release ‘Free Write’ win ASWC support for new pep band

by AMI TIAN Staff Reporter The newly formed Whitman pep band has unearthed the school fight song.

“Most people don’t know about it though,” said first-year Adam Gilbert, co-founder of the pep band with firstyear Owen Lowry.

The song is so buried in obscurity that the words are unknown even to senior faculty members.

“I don’t think anyone’s heard it in so long and everyone just forgot about it, even Pete Crawford, who’s been around forever,” Lowry said.

“Actually,” said Gilbert, “Our high school government history teacher went to Whitman, and when I went to visit my high school and was like, ‘Hey, we found a fight song,’ she started singing it—so maybe we can get the words from her. She must’ve gone here 40 years ago or something.”

Gilbert and Lowry found the fight song while searching for pep band sheet music in the basement of Chism.

The rediscovery of the fight song is just the beginning of their efforts; Gilbert and Lowry hope that the pep band will help spur a revival of school spirit. “[A pep band] really helps the crowd get into a game,” said Lowry. “I think the pep band would really help boost school spirit because I think there’s a reputation around here of Whitman not being as spirited. We could also play at intramural games, which would also bring more people out to watch those, and just make it more fun, which I think is our main goal.”

The pep band is also a good opportunity for those not necessarily into sports to get involved in school spirit, Gilbert and Lowry believe.

“It’s something for musical people with instruments to do,” said Gilbert.

The Whitman pep band has been long in the making. Gilbert and Lowry’s efforts are the latest in a line of attempts over the years to start a pep band.

“They’ve been created with varying degrees of success—although never really as an ASWC club, so maybe that’ll help us stay,” said Gilbert.

Peter Crawford, director of the wind ensemble and faculty adviser for the pep band, noted that past pep

by CAITLIN HARDEE Staff Reporter

bands “typically were driven by a motivated student or couple of students, and then when those students leave the drive is gone and [the pep band] kind of goes away.

The onus is on the students to organize and run the pep band.

“We don’t have the facilities or the staff available here to have a pep band director,” said Crawford. “So we leave it up to the students.”

Gilbert and Lowry decided to start the pep band in order to carry over a good experience they’d had in high school.

“We were both in pep band in high school and we got here and there wasn’t a pep band, and we thought it would be really fun to start one. We really enjoyed playing really informal fun music at sports games [in high school],” said Gilbert.

Gilbert and Lowry then went through the necessary steps to start the pep band as an ASWC club. After writing a constitution and finding a faculty adviser, Gilbert and Lowry went to a student senate meeting in December where they presented their proposal for the pep band. Soon afterwards it was an official ASWC club.

However, attendance at the first few meetings was sparse.

“The problem was at our first couple meetings we really didn’t do enough to get the word out about the pep band or bother people about coming to the meeting,” said Lowry. “So we made these advertisements and we also started talking to people a lot more and getting the word out through word of mouth about the pep band.”

For a newly emerging club, it’s a struggle to find a time slot that fits most students’ schedules that is not already filled by other clubs.

“People at Whitman are really busy, so it’s going to be hard to find a good time, but we’re going to have to compromise somewhere. So that’s our next step right now, to find out a good meeting time for everyone,” said Lowry. “We want as many people to join the pep band as possible.”

“More people is more fun,” added Gilbert.

Those interested in joining the pep band should e-mail either Gilbert or Lowry at gilberaz@whitman.edu or lowryos@whitman.edu.

GOLD Adam Gilbert ‘13 and Owen Lowry ‘13 hold the first rehearsal of their newly formed pep band. The two have struggled to find a time that allows all interested students to attend.

As the joke runs, Whitman wildlife is mostly ducks and squirrels. Fortunately, we also have a Dog. Junior Matt Bachmann is the bassist and supporting vocalist for Chicagobased band The Dogs—a group that knows what beastly good music is all about.

The band, comprising Peter Walters on guitar and lead vocals, James Krivchenia on guitar, vocals, percussion and production, Rivkah Gevinson on vocals, and Bachmann on bass and vocals, grew up playing music together in Chicago and formed The Dogs in 2004. Their latest album, Free Write, was released this December.

Bachmann and Walters took us into the lives of The Dogs—everything from naked studio sessions to Neil Young, and the deep love that holds the band together.

“I think what’s great about us compared to most bands is, I can’t imagine a group with a tighter friendship than us,” said Bachmann. “We spend all our time together.”

Fan and friend of the band senior Grace Harnois confirmed this.

"I think that, for The Dogs, friendship and music are deeply intertwined, and I wish more groups today shared that bond," she said.

Walters explained in an e-mail the process of creating songs through “free writing,” the method that inspired the album’s name.

“It is essentially stream of consciousness writing—letting your thoughts flow onto the page without reservation,” Walters said.

“We would look at the clock and write nonstop for 10 minutes. What came out were the spontaneous thoughts that were lingering deep in the backs of our minds. Then we would extract lines that worked well together, or had a specific sound or rhythm we found appealing.”

The results of this unusual method could not be more different from the disorienting, structureless experimental music one might expect. Free Write is a collection of shockingly well-crafted and immediately appealing songs. The opening track “In My Room, Not Alone” begins with quiet acoustic guitar, then rises into a throbbing intro that had me nodding along instantly. The track showcases the beautiful harmonizing abilities of a band with so many capable vocalists and the true poignancy of their lyrics.

Meanwhile, the bridge of “Youngstown, OH” strongly recalls the “Juno” soundtrack: Sweet, whimsical male and female vocals build in an acoustic round, before a burst of plugged sound recalls the rock. The ease with which they incorporate elements of ethereal acoustics, hard rock and electronic effects into a cohesive sound speaks to a musical maturity beyond their years.

Senior Alex Miller offered his take on The Dogs' musical chops.

"They are a really dynamic band; they use dramatic changes in tempo and sound to great effect - there's nothing like going from a soft solo guitar and a lone voice to a big group scream-a-thon to make things exciting," Millear said in an e-mail.

Walters further illuminated their inten-

sive recording process, which involved allnight sessions and long retreats to Palatine, Ill. “Much of the vocal takes were done naked behind a makeshift booth we set up in the basement that we dubbed 'The Cove,'” said Walters. “The scream takes in 'Bread Letters' were absolutely insane. We all huddled around the microphone with our shirts off hopping around and screaming our lungs out. After the first scream take, we came to the conclusion it wasn’t intense enough and proceeded to absolutely lose our minds on the next take.”

Bachmann explained The Dogs’ musical influences and heroes, ranging from Fleet Foxes to The Microphones and Neil Young. "'Be The Rain’ is a Neil Young song that we’ve worshiped since we were freshmen in high school,” said Bachmann. “We close every set with it.”

While the members of The Dogs are all studying at separate universities, they are currently in the midst of a strong promotional push towards online exposure. Are these young students truly trying to make it in the music industry or just having fun?

“Getting signed isn’t what it was once.

That’s not the end-all-be-all,” said Bachmann. “We’re trying to get published on big blogs. I guess in a weird way we are trying to make it, except none of us say that, because none of us want to get our hopes up.”

To take The Dogs one step closer to their dreams, check out their songs on iTunes or download the album for free at their Web site, www.thedogsmusic.net.

GHETTO SUNRISE: Whitman’s very own mash-up, party DJ  page 1 dance music.

“We were kind of bored with the DJs here,” said Morrissey, explaining that during his first year, he and Falltrick would listen to DJ duos like Justice and MSTRKRFT, bands that are popular in the world of electronic music but less familiar to mainstream music listeners.

On a whim, the two decided to form their own group.

“We thought, hey, these guys make great music. Why can’t we?” he explained.

Falltrick credited Morrissey’s motivation in starting the project. “[Morrissey] wanted to do something a little more creative with the music. We were getting tired of hearing the same old rap songs at Whitman, which were fun,” said Falltrick. “But we [both] wanted something different.”

After Morrissey purchased an electronic MIDI mixer and acquired computer DJ software, the two began composing mashup mixes in Morrissey’s room in Douglas Hall. Soon the bedroom DJs began airing their music through KWCW, at house parties and on an Internet blog.

Falltrick said that he and Morrissey would practice mixing songs before shows and then would perform live on the radio and at parties. “[Radio shows] allowed us to sort of use a creative outlet for us to practice songs and try new things,” said Falltrick.

The electronic duo’s first gig was appropriately at Sigma Chi’s annual all-campus rave during the fall rush of 2008. Shortly thereafter, Ghetto Sunrise began DJing regularly at Whitman fraternity and house

parties. Both Morrissey and Falltrick talked about the excitement and pleasure of DJing for Whitman crowds.

“People just went nuts,” Morrissey said grinningly, mentioning one night at the Ultimate Frisbee house, his favorite past event so far. “The whole room had their shirts off,” he said.

Eventually Ghetto Sunrise transitioned into a solo-act. With his partner Falltrick set to study abroad, Morrissey began recording his own mash-up tracks and continued playing live shows at Whitman.

Senior Graham Toben, another DJ on campus, often performs at Whitman in a line-up with Morrissey. Since the start of this school year, Toben and junior Chris Barton have DJed five events.

“The Whitman party scene usually revolves around two types of music: Hip hop and top 40, or dance,” said Toben in an email. “So [Morrissey]’s music, by comparison, is a little unconventional. But people still enjoy it immensely. With the right crowd, there’s no DJ on campus that can match the energy that he brings to the stage and to his music.”

“What sets [Morrissey] apart from other DJs on campus is his relentless preparation before each show and execution during; he has to individually cue and loop each song and beat beforehand, then execute each transition perfectly while simultaneously pacing the show,” explained Toben.

“He will usually be playing four songs at the same time, timing each one so as to develop a perfect buildup to the mash-up.”

In addition to hosting a weekly radio show and posting recordings of his performance on his blog (ghettosunrise.blogspot.

com), Morrissey released his first mashup album, Rise and Shine: The Mixtape, during the spring of 2009. After posting it on his blog for free, he relied on word of mouth through fellow classmates and friends at other colleges.

“It was totally sweet!” exclaimed Morrissey, mentioning that the album received 3,000 downloads.

Morrissey explained how, to his surprise, several months after the release, he received Facebook messages, e-mails and requests from friends to make another album.

As might be expected, Morrissey continued to DJ at Whitman parties and decided to work on new mash-ups. His first album contained 176 samples from a vast number of genres, including old school hip-hop, rap, pop, rock and electronic songs from popular artists. He said that his next album, Mixtape 2, will incorporate more than 300 samples and should release this spring.

Registered under a U.S. Creative Commons License, Morrissey enjoys rights to legally share, reuse, and remix these tracks.

When asked about future plans for Ghetto Sunrise, Morrissey preferred to talk about the present.

“It’s really satisfying. I would still call it a hobby. But I wouldn’t put it past Whitman,” he said, explaining how he does not plan to work at clubs or DJ professionally after college.

“I’m just here to ride the wave,” said Morrissey. “I’m not in it for the lifestyle. I just do it to have fun.”

For more information on Ghetto Sunrise or to access free downloads to the music, go to Morrissey’s blog, ghettosunrise. blogspot.com.

A&E

February 11, 2010

MOVIE REVIEW

Oscar-nominated ‘Nine’ fails to meet basic requirements of film

by BECQUER MEDAK-SEGUIN Movie Reviewer Rob Marshall's "Nine" is the reason why Hollywood should never again wander into the territory of attempting to remake brilliant 60s Italian films. Veiled as an homage to Federico Fellini's "8 ½," Marshall's woeful musical appropriation of the original's theme feels like an unwarranted blow to the heart of an established masterpiece. Why in the world did he even try to make this film?

Don't be fooled: The ensemble cast, which includes Daniel Day Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz, Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman (I'm running out of breath), Fergie, Kate Hudson and, last but not least, the bellissima Sophia Loren, is perhaps the only ingredient in this film that saves it from becoming one of those idiotic Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer cheap-thrills purported as funny parodies ([please don't] see "Epic Movie," "Meet the Spartans," "Disaster Movie," you get the idea).

I know, it's terrible; How could such wonderful actors make such a terrible movie?

My conspiracy theory is that Marshall somehow duped them like his protagonist Guido Contini (Lewis) duped the Italian media into thinking that he would have written a script for, found actors for and directed a movie called "Italia." Marshall didn't have a script, actors or a movie. He had rubbish.

I hate to put it bluntly, but "Nine" is not a film. This isn't some stupid argument about the degree to which I detest musicals (a very high one, I might add), but this is an argument about how what I saw on the big screen was by no means a film. For an audiovisual clip to become a film, it must meet several basic requirements that "Nine" presents itself as having, but in fact sorely lacks.

A film should have actors. It does, but the script does not allow them to 'act.'

Thus, the name-branded actors completely overpower their own acting. The story of Contini, a big-name director who is having writer's block and must produce a script in 10 days, is laced with a series of incongruous musical performances whose lyrics are as straightforward and self-evident as they are pointless and deplorable. The musical interludes are not musical interludes; rather, they are a slew of these big-

It does, but not really. Instead of translating Fellini's brilliant autobiographical script for an audience not readily engulfed in the world of cinema, Marshall torches it with his needlessly hypersexualized dance moves and the transparently horny motives he imbues in each character from the start.

Moreover, Marshall's film has no rhyme or reason. Why on earth should we believe that Mr. Contini is a masterful auteur? Just because Rob Marshall tells us? Apparently so. Apparently we're supposed to just go along with the story, which picks up in the final stages of preproduction of "Italia," and assume that Contini is brilliant, and assume that Contini can't develop any brilliant ideas, and assume that his licentious personal life is to blame for his current writer's block. As "Grey's Anatomy" aficionados would say: "Seriously?!"

The film, save the open-air picturesque shots of Rome and a random Italian beach-front Xanadu, neither looks nor feels Italian. It feels purely and pathetically American, sprinkled with terrible attempts at Italian accents (Lewis fortunately has the one that's easiest on the ears).

Whereas true cinematic masterminds like, say, Quentin Tarantino, allow their stories to decide the language for them, others like Marshall decide to impose whatever O. JOHNSON name language they prefer onto a story that actors babbling clichéd doesn't, by any stretch of the imaginaphrases to borderline unrehearsed (not tion, allow for it. If this so-called movie to mention boring) dance numbers. The really wanted me to "Be Italian"—as one worst, I must admit, comes during the of the faux songs goes—then maybe it last third of the so-called film. It is a should've taken its own advice first. faux song called "Cinema Italiano" perYeah, this movie will win Oscars, formed by Stephanie (Hudson), a zero- probably out of pity, but that doesn't dimensional American fashion journal- necessarily certify its quality. All I can ist who simply comes on to Contini. The do is hope that someday someone will so-called song blasphemed—dare I say, make a musical film that infuses its all of Italian cinema—taking a precise characters and plot with unrelenting jab at my favorite style, neorealism (a dramatic force. And doesn't feel the style Fellini embraced before his psy- need to attempt to destroy a classic piece choanalytic turn). of cinema in the process. Let's just hope A film should also have some sort of for now that Fellini isn't turning over in story, even if it's seemingly a non-story. his grave.

BOOK REVIEW

Book Reviewer

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Louise Erdrich’s 2008 novel, "The Plague of Doves," was what Publisher’s Weekly called a “multigenerational tour de force of sin, redemption, murder and vengeance.” Set in the small town of Pluto, N.D., where the “dead . . . now outnumber the living,” the novel traces the repercussions of a horrifying act of violence that occurred some 50 years before the lives of the narrating characters. Michiko Kakutani of the New York Times compared Erdrich to Faulkner for the “earthy, American rhythms” of her prose. Erdrich’s similarity to Faulkner extends to her creation of a fictional universe as the setting of nearly all her novels and to her use of multiple narrative voices in her work.

"Doves" begins in 1911, with the murder of the Lochran family by an unknown man. After the murder, four Métis men from the nearby Ojibwe reservation were caught, beaten and hung by vigilantes in the “rough justice” common in those days. One man, Evelina Harp’s grandfather Mooshum, survived and Evelina narrates his story as he tells it to her and her brother at the beginning of the novel.

Mooshum’s life becomes interwoven with Evelina’s own childhood as her narration continues and she develops crushes on a classmate and then a teacher, both of whom are descendents of the vigilantes. The next narrator, Judge Antone Basil Coutts, is romantically involved with Evelina’s aunt and privy to

MUSIC REVIEW

Started out hustlin’, ended up with a mediocre, exhausting rock album

by ANDREW HALL

instrumentation that seems designed Music Reviewer as much to induce fatigue as to convey I can't tell if there's any real reason to ideas, and is defined by poorly played review, or even talk about, Rebirth. It's and badly-recorded guitars. There are not so much an album as it is a long no payoffs to contrast with or make joke with no punch line, an exercise for up for these indulgences, as there were music writers to go on at length about on Tha Carter III or on any of Wayne's what a good rapper Lil Wayne is and countless mixtapes; just a whole lot of how mediocre and unnecessary and music that merits questions like, "Is kind of inexplicable his alt-rock record there any way this could have been is. released had Tha Carter III not been By now, anyone who follows these the only record in years to go platinum things already knows this. They know within a week?" and "Did Kid Rock rethat the album was delayed at least ally spend a summer teaching him to five times over the last year, either play guitar like he may have claimed by himself or by that he did? If so, people at Univerwho between the sal that found it two of them unbearable, that comes out of this its singles—the looking worse?" nü-metal homage Instead of "Prom Queen," talking at length the Green Dayabout the things quoting "Hot he's good at talkRevolver" (not ing about (money, included on the sex, excrement, album, likely a what a good rapconsequence of per he is), he Rebirth, Lil Wayne, Feb. 2010 its chart underplays with genre performance), conventions by the baffling "On Fire"—are heavy on writing almost exclusively about girls slurred auto-tune and shoddy gui- that hypothetically spurned him. This tar work. It was this basic sound with is most infuriating on "Prom Queen," which the rapper began to experiment a song largely explained by its title, but on megahit "Lollipop" and one that's presented in far stranger ways in "Get become less and less endearing over A Life," where he degenerates into spothe last two years, Swedish group jj's ken rants, R. Kelly-style, over a vaguehomage/cover/whatever "Ecstasy" ex- ly ska-like beat, or on "The Price Is cepted.

Wrong," a combination of auto-tuned Lil Wayne's rock music sounds like screaming and boneheaded hair metal the product of an intense study of Limp riffs.

Bizkit, Linkin Park and anonymous There's plenty more to talk about, stadium rock singles released between sort of, but the key points have been 2000 and 2003 by someone who has, addressed elsewhere, and in far more unlike him, never played an instru- detail; this will be the rapper's last rement, sang, or even listened to music lease before he begins a one-year jail before; it's big, flat, angst-ridden and sentence, and this is not the actual folsounds nothing at all like any record low-up to Tha Carter III, which will be any major label has released in years. called Tha Carter IV and likely won't The real problem with Rebirth is resemble this record in any way. In the that it's exhausting. Every song is over- meantime, there's this, this endlessly long, is built on heavily-compressed fascinating but kind of unlistenable

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 1

‘Plague of Doves’ leaves some loose ends, ultimately proves compelling

by ELLIE GOLD

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the secrets of the husband of the next narrator, Marn Wolde. Marn’s cutting, clever voice is one of the high points of the novel, as are her wicked observations on her husband’s infidelities. Her marriage to a local cult leader serves as

“Plague of Doves” by Louise Erdrich, HarperCollins Publishers 2008, Hardcover, 311 pages

yet another complication of the themes of sexuality, religion and genetic inheritance already brought up by Evelina’s story, but Marn’s narrative takes us confusingly far from the Milk/Harp family.

Eventually, most, but not all of the narrative threads are woven back together.

The titular plague of doves, for instance, is brought up once and then never addressed again.

Some sequences are told as oral histories—Mooshum’s story, for example, and his brother Shamengwa’s early

life—while others are more straightforward memories or narratives. The overall effect is somewhat disjointed and often reads more like a selection of short stories—not surprising, considering that parts of the novel were originally published as short fiction in literary magazines.

"Doves" is more family saga than murder mystery, mainly due to the tenderness with which Erdrich treats the daily lives, dreams and desires of the narrating characters. Evelina, Judge Coutts and Marn Wolde suffer first love, heartbreak and loss while the tragedy of 1911 is interspersed within the narrative of their own lives. Evelina’s childish pain, Marn’s fierce rage, Corwin Peace’s desperate need for self-validation: These are all treated with the same sympathy with which Erdrich addresses Mooshum’s tragic story and the Lochran murders, simply because of their immediacy.

Even the hints and suspicions of the true identity of the Lochran murderer are overwhelmed by the narrators’ voices.

Reading "The Plague of Doves" was not like reading a murder mystery—it was like entwining myself in the lives of the narrators. They became people I cared about deeply to such an extent that the final narrator (whose identity is a surprise) was someone whose story I no longer cared about. I wanted to find out more about Evelina’s future, about Judge Coutt’s marriage, about Corwin’s music career. That was the ultimate disappointment of the novel, but also the reason I so enjoyed reading it.

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by KARL WALLULIS Puzzle Master ACROSS 1. California roll, e.g.

6. Lie detector measure (abbr.)

9. Arafat’s org.

12. Ford and Saturn 13. Ambient musician Brian 14. __ Tremendae (Requiem section) 15. “I’m Not ___” (Bob Dylan biopic) 16. Hair Club for Men competitor 18. Best Picture nominee #1 20. Overnight flight 22. Kind of band 23. Author Ayan Hirsi 24. Dunce 26. Trinidad or Tobago 30. Best Picture nominee #2 34. Flank or shank 35. Little doggy 36. WWII arena, for short 37. Before now 40. Puts up with 42. Best Picture nominee #3 46. Woozy on deck 47. Unlawful deed 50. Mac rivals 51. Certain 47-Across 52. Starting lineup 53. It turns red at night 54. South end?

55. “Key __” (Bogart & Bacall noir classic)

DOWN 1. Watched the kids 2. Reply when you have no reply 3. Regained control of 4. Kind of sense or race 5. “Peekaboo” follower 6. Spice girl Halliwell 7. Do some detective work 8. Scoundrel 9. Neat and tidy 10. Actress Olin 11. Yoked team 17. Jelly made of meat or fish stock 19. Butt 20. Bubonic plague vectors 21. Grades K-12 25. Standard network protocol 27. Like Jared post-Subway diet 28. Lascivious 29. Personification of 32-Down 31. “Call it” response 32. Horniness 33. Like some illusions 38. Virgil vis-à-vis Dante 39. Take place 41. It’s close to the heart 42. Poisonous snakes 43. Make out 44. Piece of cake 45. Related (to) 48. GQ or SI 49. My Chemical Romance genre

For answers to last week’s puzzle, see whitmanpioneer.com.

6

FEATURE

February 11, 2010F

Making the move: A guide to life off campus

Thought about housing for next fall? It’s the time of the semester when upperclassmen begin to cruise the housing market and sign leases for homes or apartments off campus. The articles in this week’s section include tips and information on security, an investigation of local grocers, the ups and downs of North Hall—on-campus living off campus—and an excursion to three classy homes rented by students. Life off campus may present challenges for students used to dorm living, but it doesn’t have to be stressful; for many students, the move offers a new sense of freedom.

Safety checks empower student renters

by REBECCA BRIGHT Feature Editor Break-ins may be on the rise in Walla Walla this year, but students living off campus don’t have to feel powerless or isolated. Seniors Julie Grimm and Cadence Ellington took action after their house was burglarized twice this year, inviting Walla Walla Crime Prevention Coordinator Vicki Ruley and Crime Prevention Officer Robert Reed into their home for a safety inspection. This free service is available to anyone in the community and provides practical information about home security to homeowners, landlords and renters alike.

Ruley and Reed arrived at the students’ house and immediately began to notice safety hazards, from a hole in the front porch to a back window that could easily be opened from the outside. Many of these problems, Reed said, should be discussed with the landlord.

“Landlords and tenants both have rights and responsibilities,” Reed said.

He explained that renters, as well as landlords, can be held accountable for injuries on the property caused by a hazard. No matter what is included in the lease, Ruley added, renters are guaranteed rights under the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act. “You shouldn’t be taken advantage of just because you’re students,” said Ruley.

After the burglaries, Grimm, Ellington and their housemates have learned all about these rights. When an intruder broke their glass front door in October, their landlord initially refused to fix the damage or invest in safer doors and locks.

“We’ve had a lot of issues where we’ve literally had to print up our tenant rights and have them on the table and be like, these are our rights, you’re not doing this . . . and we can leave,” said Ellington.

History of Whitman housing

by HADLEY JOLLEY Staff Reporter

Pre-1964:

Men other than firstyears lived off campus or in fraternities.

All women lived on campus.

Nancy Tavelli, associate dean of students and director of residence life, said that most Whitman students are more hesitant to talk to their landlords about potential hazards. Students need to be more involved in their own safety, even before signing a lease and moving in.

“When you’re looking for a house, ask a lot of questions. One problem is that some Whitman students don’t ask for what they need. Look carefully at houses before moving in and think about the neighborhood as well,” Tavelli said.

During the home inspection, Ruley and Reed also described physical improvements that students can make themselves, without involving a landlord. They examined windows in the home, pointing out vulnerable places that should be braced with a wooden dowel to prevent an intruder from opening them. Even an easy improvement, Ruley said, can make a big difference.

“The criminal’s going to look for the easy target. He or she’s going to walk around until they see the vulnerable window and if you have a stick or something there, they may think twice,” said Ruley.

Reed and Ruley described other simple but effective changes, including new deadbolts, outdoor lighting and timers for light bulbs or stereos that give the illusion that someone is home. Students keep predictable schedules, making them more vulnerable to burglary, Reed explained.

During vacations, it is often obvious that a student house is empty.

“I know when you guys are there and when you’re not because of the cars. And if I can tell, everybody else can too, especially people who are looking,” said Reed.

Although physical changes to windows, lighting and locks are important, changes in student behavior are even more vital to increasing safety. Students, Reed explains,

often forget to be aware of their surroundings.

“Always, I don’t care if you’re on campus, pay attention to what’s going on around you . . . we get focused on the goal of whatever we’re doing and lose track of what’s going on around us,” Reed said.

Ruley also stressed that students should keep track of activity in their neighborhood, calling the police if something doesn’t feel right. Many students see suspicious activity but hesitate to call the police because they don’t want to bother them.

“They’re not bothering anybody,” Ruley said. “It’s not like the cops aren’t out on the street doing it anyway. They’re not at the firehouse, waiting for the call to come in. They’re patrolling. And they’re looking for something to do.”

Communication within the neighborhood is another key to improving the safety of a home. Ruley advises students to get to know their neighbors and tell them when the home will be empty during breaks. Students should also help educate each other about all aspects of home safety, from physical improvements to behavioral changes and renters’ rights.

“Anything that someone does, improving lighting, doors, windows . . . it goes a long way in making a difference, but our most important thing is getting the word out,” said Ruley.

Through their break-in experiences, Grimm and Ellington have learned that educating themselves and others is important because students are not the only ones affected by crime.

“These are things that are applicable to Walla Walla, as a city,” said Grimm. “It makes you feel like it’s not just a campus thing.”

Meeting with community members and participating in the home security in-

For information about tenants’ rights and responsibilities, visit Access Washington at access.wa.gov or washingtonlawhelp.org. To report a suspicious but non-emergency situation in Walla Walla, call 509-5271960.

FENNELL Crime Prevention Officer Robert Reed points out the first security risk: A window that could easily be opened by an intruder.

North Hall: Community away from campus

by HADLEY JOLLEY Staff Reporter North Hall, located on Estrella Ave., past the fraternity houses and several residential houses, is one of Whitman’s lesser-known residence halls. The blue light security system and long lines of bike parking proclaim its status as a

Whitman building. However, above the painted North Hall sign lies an engraved reminder of the building’s past as the Walla Walla Valley General Hospital.

Whitman purchased the hospital in 1978, after it had been replaced by another hospital, when the enrollment of a large class required more housing, according Nancy Tavelli, associate dean of

1964: Jewett was built, and all students

were required to live in campus houses.

Men could rent “study apartments” off campus, which allowed privacy and quiet for studying and socializing, but couldn’t live in them. No women could rent these apartments, though some wanted to.

1964: Senior men were allowed to live off campus.

1967: Senior women were allowed to rent study apartments.

1970: The “New Dorm” (now Douglas

Hall) was built as the first co-educational dorm on campus.

Spring 1970: Women were also al-

lowed to live off campus, under two conditions: If they were seniors or above 21 years old, and if the revenue from housing could be maintained.

Fall 1970:

The number of women allowed to live off campus was limited to 29 students because of a possible loss in income. The change was decried by most others, including The Pioneer.

1975: Juniors were also allowed to live off campus.

Facts from “Tradition in a Turbulent Age: Whitman College 1925-1975” by G. Thomas Edwards

spection have helped Grimm and Ellington feel less isolated since their break-ins.

“It feels good to have people in the community say that college students shouldn’t be taken advantage of. I think that’s a really important message,” said Ellington. “It definitely makes you feel less helpless.”

BOWMAN North Hall, formerly the Walla Walla Valley General Hospital, is the only Whitman residence hall that is not located on campus.

students and director of Residence Life. A similar event occurred in fall 2008, when a large incoming class motivated the creation of a first-year section in North.

Today, North Hall is a cross between on- and off-campus living. It lies in a residential neighborhood, not directly on campus, giving it the potential to be isolating.

“I was a little bit afraid [to live in North] because I felt like it would be harder to integrate myself with the Whitman community because, (a), we’re off campus, and (b), there’s not a lot of us,” said Shane Young, a first-year North Hall resident.

However, Young believes that there is a strong community among the second floor of North Hall residents, who are all either first-year or transfer students.

Currently, there are many empty rooms in North Hall, and many of the rooms consist of singles with attached bathrooms or sinks due to the hall’s history as a hospital. The result is that North Hall is much less dense, population-wise, than the other halls. Young claims that this makes North Hall a good choice for students who like a lot of space and privacy.

“I feel like if Whitman puts you in North, they put you there for a reason.

I feel we definitely have something in common in that we’re much lower key than other halls,” said Young.

North Hall straddles the line between on- and off-campus living because it has fewer people—and more space—than most residence halls, but more people than a rented house.

The neighborhood around North Hall also has a residential feel, segregating it less from Walla Walla than other residence halls.

“When you are on campus all the time, you gain a perspective that’s only in that little area,” said sophomore Mazie Ashe, the RA for the second floor of North.

However, North isn’t that far off campus—although neither are many houses rented by Whitman students. In fact, one of the houses closest to North Hall is a home rented by Whitman students, according to Anjuli Martin, the resident director of North.

“There’s a walk to class, but it will take you five minutes to get to Olin, the same as it would from Anderson,” said Ashe.

Unlike a rental home, however, North Hall has the organization of a residential hall, with its own listserv and residence life staff, which keep North Hall residents more connected to events on campus than their off-campus neighbors.

“We still have the bulletin boards that tell them what’s going on on campus.We still have the listservs that we send out emails about all the different events going on campus. They still have that resource there that people living off campus don’t necessarily have. They have to search it out more than people who are living in a residence hall,” said Martin, who lived off campus for part of her time at Whitman.

One thing North Hall residents are two blocks away from is food—North has no dining hall of its own. The closest is in Jewett, while Prentiss and Reid dining are farther still. No other residence hall is as far away from a dining facility. That’s likely why many North Hall residents cook for themselves, according to Martin, like in an off-campus house. However, North Hall residents are still required to be on a meal plan, like most others who live in residential halls. Although it may combine many of the perks of both on- and off-campus life, when it comes to food options, North Hall does not offer the same freedom.

Overall, North Hall is a good choice for those who want the quiet of living off campus, the privacy of a single or just more space than is usual. However, it is a residence hall, with all the structure and restrictions that entails.

FEATURE

0February 11, 2010

7

Walla Walla grocers offer deals, variety

these layout issues are all forgiven when you see the prices—the Grocery Outlet buys surplus products from manufactures, and the result is a selection that is always cheap and always changing. The store’s Web site claims that, since its arrival in Walla Walla, it has saved customers almost $30,000—and it’s not hard to believe. When you check out at the Grocery Outlet, your receipt includes the amount of money you’ve saved, so you leave feeling victorious. Because they mainly stock surplus items, shop at the Grocery Outlet first, before moving on to another store to find products unavailable at the Outlet.

What to buy: Whatever you can find!

Deals are particularly good in wine, frozen foods and even some organics.

Safeway 215 E. Rose St. Open 5 a.m.- 1 a.m. daily

CORNELIUS Whitman senior Cadence Ellington and junior Matt Oakes make their food selections in the Safeway on East Rose Street, one of the grocery stores most frequented by students.

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

by REBECCA BRIGHT Feature Editor For most students, moving off campus means ending a two-year dependency on Bon Appétit, and this can be a difficult process. Whether you’re still on a meal plan or you’re fending for yourself, it’s a good idea to know the best and worst of the grocery stores in Walla Walla. To make shopping a little easier, we’ve reviewed three of Walla Walla’s best groceries, including Super 1, Grocery Outlet and Safeway, and included tips on what to look for at each store.

Although you need transportation to reach Super 1, the selection and prices are worth the drive away from campus.

When you walk in the door, Super 1 greets you with cheap, day-old baked goods near the door, a wall of holiday items on one side and special sale items on the other. Once you move past these temptations, the store offers a consistently low-priced selection of produce and meat, and the bakery section has al-

most everything you could want. Super 1 has an extensive wine selection and great specialty foods, including vegan, vegetarian, organic and gluten-free foods. Keep your ears open for one-day “blowout” sales that focus on a theme, from wine and cheese to breakfast items. These sales usually fall on a Thursday, and are worth the trip if you can brave the crowds. Super 1 is also one of the few groceries in Walla Walla open 24 hours a day.

What to buy: Produce, blowout sale items, regular sale food like Yogi tea and addictive La Calandria corn chips made

in Milton Freewater, Ore.—sometimes they’re still warm in the bag.

Grocery Outlet 910 S. 9th Ave. Open 8 a.m.- 9 p.m. M-F; 8 a.m.- 8 p.m. Sat.; 9 a.m.- 7 p.m. Sun. Just down the street from Super 1, the Grocery Outlet can be a frustrating, yet ultimately addicting place to shop. The store is relatively small, with produce, dairy and wine crammed next to each other, giving it the atmosphere of the grocery equivalent of a yard sale. However,

As the closest grocery store to campus and the most common chain in the Pacific Northwest, Safeway is likely a familiar place for Whitman students, especially those without transportation. Because of its proximity to campus, Safeway is supreme for late-night sugar cravings or last-minute dinner fixes. The Safeway close to Whitman is on the small side, however, and it lacks a bakery and an organic section, so the overall variety of food is much lower than other markets.

When not on sale, items at Safeway are generally more expensive than at larger stores, especially produce. Safeway does, however, offer some great “buy 10 for $10” deals if you have a Safeway card.

Just remember that you don’t always have to buy the number on the label to get the sale price—check carefully before buying twenty candy bars or ten tubs of ice cream.

What to buy: Whatever’s on sale, especially items that aren’t often discounted at other stores, like brand-name cereal and Ben and Jerry’s ice cream.

Touring Whitman’s off-campus cribs

by BECKY NEVIN Staff Reporter

Welcome to the universe of off-campus housing. Every semester, Whitman upperclassmen scramble to rent the diverse array of houses in the neighborhoods surrounding campus. Prepare for a journey through three of Whitman’s off-campus cribs, highlighting the best, worst and most fascinating aspects of the Palace, the Shipwreck and the 905.

THE PALACE

THE SHIPWRECK

The specs:

The specs:

The dungeon Luxurious ivory bathtub Closet beds The porch

At first sight, the Palace does not appear particularly royal.

However, when the six residents welcomed me in for a tour, I discovered that although it lacks a drawbridge, the Palace possesses a unique palatial charm in the lavish chandelier, ivory bathtub and a party basement known as “the dungeon.”

The first part of the tour was the second story, where there is a large bathroom, complete with a gorgeous bathtub. The bathtub is pink and ivory with little clawed legs. Everyone, myself included, heaped praise upon it.

One of the large upstairs bedrooms features two adjoining closets, which have been converted into small, Harry Potterstyle bedrooms, each with one bed. The main bedroom is used as a shared space.

Continuing on a quest for the best feature of the house, we ventured outside and down to the dungeon. The party basement features two ping pong tables, a table for a DJ, speakers, Christmas lights and a stand for a keg.

In the front, the girls described the porch as both a positive and negative aspect of the house.

“Our porch is crooked. It’s so great. We sit out there a lot,” said junior Emily Lorente.

Sadly, some negative aspects of a palace come along with the house.

“My room is really cold because it doesn’t have a heating vent,” said junior Julia Light.

Lorente summed up the opinion of the residents of the Palace: “Mostly just an awesome location and a pretty cool house and a good rent,” she said.

THE 905 The specs:

Awkward but cool tight spaces The back patio The throne bathroom Quesodilla maker

A fancy chandelier gives the Palace much of its unique charm.

One of the neat, more spacious bedrooms of the Palace.

The pink, claw-foot bathtub in the Palace’s bathroom is a classic touch.

Junior Teresa Hughes welcomed me to the Shipwreck and explained that the house earned its name because it is messy and dark, with narrow hallways, much like its namesake.

From their experiences in the Shipwreck, Hughes and her housemates have learned the ups and downs of off-campus life. Before taking me on a tour, Hughes and her housemates offered some background information on off-campus living.

“To some extent we’re distant from campus,” said Hughes.

However, there is definitely a positive side to living in an offcampus house.

“It’s really affordable,” said junior Yvan Trinh.

On the tour, we uncovered several of the Shipwreck’s amazing features, starting with the cramped but funky living spaces. A sofa sits directly at the top of the narrow staircase to the second floor. The house is characterized by these fun, random spaces, said Hughes.

Hughes decided that, in good weather, the back patio is the house’s best feature.

“It’s the best venue for barbeques,” she said.

Down in the basement is the throne bathroom, which is a bathroom with a raised surface that the toilet and bathtub sit on.

“It is almost like you’re on a throne when you sit on it,” said Hughes.

And of course, the house has some negative aspects as well.

Most noticeably, it has small awkward spaces, a tiny kitchen and a dark living room.

The true gem of the house is found in the kitchen. For the residents, one of the proudest features is the house quesodilla maker.

Disco ceiling Two kitchens The champagne room The creepy staircase

An exterior view of the Shipwreck hides many of its most quirky and ship-like features.

One of the Shipwreck’s bathrooms, decorated with a Whitman poster above the tub.

The residents of the Shipwreck have invested in a high-tech quesadilla maker.

Upon entering the 905, it is immediately evident that it is a theater-themed house.

“A number of drama club events happen here,” said junior Erin Terrall. The decorations are old theater sets from past productions. Five residents, all involved in theater, live in this two-story, six-bedroom house right on the edge of campus.

The 905 has fantastic decorations including a sparkling pink disco ceiling in the living room.

The house also has two kitchens, one on each level. Both are fully equipped with a full-sized refrigerator, table and cook top.

The champagne room, loved by all residents, is a five-foot by five-foot square room lit by a black light and covered in posters and pillows.

“The champagne room is a very quirky room that we hang out in,” said Terrall.

An incredibly creepy and narrow staircase leads off of the champagne room, which also serves as a secret entrance to the upstairs portion of the house, adding to the house’s unique nature.

The 905 also has some negative aspects.

“One of the bedrooms is falling off the house. We use it for storage,” said Terrall. The bedroom is at a significant slant.

In addition, the house has been through some bad times.

Recently, a toilet backed up on the second floor and blasted a hole through the kitchen ceiling with the built up water pressure.

“This house is rather amazingly flimsy,” said Terrall, as he jumped and caused the entire second floor to shake. “But we love it just the same.”

Unlike most off-campus houses, the 905 boasts two kitchens, one on each floor.

The familiar face of the 905, an offcampus home rented by Whitman students every year.

Red-carpeted steps lead down into a dark basement—pure terror.

PHOTOS BY VON HAFFTEN

Opinion

The Pioneer ISSUE 3 FEB. 11, 2010 Page 8

F

It’s time to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” In his State of the Union speech, President Obama announced that the military would work to eliminate the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which prohibits JAMES openly gay AmerSLEDD icans from servColumnist ing in the military.

President Obama’s decision to overturn “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” will not only remedy a long-standing wrong against gay Americans who want to serve their country, but will also improve the military’s strength.

President Clinton signed the bill into law in 1993. Clinton intended the policy as a compromise between gay rights advocates and conservatives. The policy prohibited commanders from asking about sexual orientation, but mandated that openly gay service members be expelled from the military.

Colin Powell, then-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, played a pivotal role in crafting “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

Powell claimed at the time that allowing openly gay Americans to serve in the military would undermine military morale and discipline.

Seventeen years later, American society has become dramatically more accepting of homosexuality. Three different states have openly gay representatives in Congress. Openly gay characters make regular appearances on primetime TV shows. Simply put, most Americans no longer believe that

homosexuality should be tucked into the closet and ignored.

Top-ranking military brass have felt the winds of cultural change. General Mike Mullen, the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs, declared last week that he supported revoking “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said that the law is too rigid, forcing commanders to dismiss even the most qualified soldiers if they are found out. And nearly 20 years after he argued that openly gay service members would irreparably harm the military, Colin Powell has changed his tune, arguing that overturning the ban is “the right thing to do.”

Revoking the ban is not just the right thing to do. It will also strengthen our armed forces. Last year, the military dismissed 428 service members under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” after dismissing more than 600 service members in each of 2007 and 2008. According to the Center for American Progress, the military has kicked out more than 13,000 gay service members under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” while up to 4,000 more leave voluntarily each year because of the policy. Commanders have been forced to dismiss linguists with critical skills in languages such as Farsi and Arabic.

Meanwhile, the military struggles to meet annual recruiting goals while it battles insurgents in Iraq and sends more soldiers to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan. Dismissing capable

soldiers, sailors and marines because of their sexual orientation while our country fights two wars is monumentally foolish.

A broad coalition of Americans support ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

According to a 2008 Washington PostABC poll, 75 percent of Americans support repealing the policy, including majorities of independents and Republicans.

Despite such widespread support, the fight to end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” will not be easy. Bigoted obstructionists have dug in their heels, dedicated to upholding a discriminatory and outdated policy.

Unfortunately, John McCain is among them. Senator McCain declared in 2006 that he would support revoking “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” if “the leadership of the military comes to me and says, ‘Senator, we ought to change this policy.’” Four years later, military leaders have done exactly that and apparently he has not listened to them.

McCain and other supporters of “Don’t Ask, Don’t

Tell” should mull the words of conservative idol and ex-Senator Barry Goldwater, a former major general in the Air Force Reserve.

“You don’t have to be straight to be in the military,” Goldwater said. “You just have to shoot straight.”

SLOANE

SUPREME COURT DECIDES: What you need Money is protected speech to know about Google Voice The recent Supreme Court decision to lift the ban on corporate campaign spending is yet another step towards the direction of a corporate-ruled, unHEATHER democratic AmerNICHOLS- ica. This decision HAINING was made in the Columnist interest of protecting our freedom of speech, but it is questionable whether allowing rampant corporate spending in our election decisions really constitutes free speech.

The Supreme Court seems to equate free speech with corporate spending. They ruled in the 1976 case of Buckley v. Valeo and repeated in the recent ruling that “not only is it undesirable to constrain the expenditure of money in political elections, but that such expenditure is speech.”

The equalizing of speech or communication with money implies that speech can be bought or sold as a commodity.

Money then becomes a form of communication, without which one cannot be heard.

If money is the means of communica-

tion propelling the American public, our decisions are a not a result of a free-flow exchange of ideas concerning morality and humanity, but of an exchange of money, where the state must have some capital gain at stake in its decisions.

Freedom of speech is supposed to be an integral part of our democracy; the free flow of ideas helps us form just laws and decisions. Losing that freedom would have tremendous implications for the future of American policies. Capital gain as a motive challenges the notion of deliberative democracy, where all voices are considered and decisions are reached collectively.

Instead, the capital gain model suggests that those without money have less of a voice; thus there will be little incentive to provide them with rights or protection.

The implications for people living in poverty or for children without money are staggering. There may be little motivation for the state to protect their rights.

We have already seen situations in cities across the country where people are encouraged not to give money to panhandlers because it may hurt tourism. In this situation, even the money of the tourists is worth more than the panhandlers, who live under the state and thus should be accorded its protection.

The recent ruling means that the important actors, the people making the big decisions, are going to be the corporations and whoever can contribute the most money. There is increasingly little room for the voices of the poor. With the recent increasing wealth gap between the rich and the poor, the size of the working class is growing. At the same time, the size of the wealth pool for the rich has been growing since the ’70s. If money equals speech, this means that the rich are rapidly gaining stronger voices and a stronger say in our government.

As money becomes a stronger means of communication, what political leaders and ultimately the general public perceive as important shifts from the protection of rights to an embrace of what is most lucrative.

As Harvard Professor of Law Patricia Williams puts it, “The harm I see in all of this is that it puts reality up for sale and makes meaning fungible: dishonest, empty, irresponsible.”

The moral implications are staggering: The voices of the poor are not as important as the major corporations that can afford to spend more towards elections.

Our rights and laws are not free; they are commodities that can be bought, sold and exchanged for monetary gain.

Google seems to be sticking its fingers into every corner of the technology sector. Not that it’s necessarily a bad thing—but there are a lot of difGoogle BLAIR ferent FRANK products, and it’s Columnist getting harder to keep track of them all. Thanks to their acquisition of GrandCentral several years ago, Google has now released Google Voice (in beta) to the public.

In your first time using the service, it asks you to choose either a new Google number, or to integrate Voice with your existing phone number. At this point in time, having an independent Google Voice number provides more features than just linking Voice with your existing phone, so I recommend getting a separate number.

Free calls from your dorm room to anywhere in the country, care of Google? Absolutely possible.

E. JOHNSON

The web-based interface allows you to make calls to other numbers, set up an address book (if you’re using GMail, all you have to do is assign phone numbers to your contacts) and even send text messages. It’s a polished, simple and elegant application that is both easy to use and not lacking any important features.

So, what sets Google Voice apart from other Internet-based phone services?

First of all, you’ll be using the same phones you always do. The first thing to do is to set up forwarding from Google Voice to one or more of your phones. I chose both my cell phone and my dorm phone. Getting call forwarding started

is pretty simple. You’ll get a call from your Google Voice number, asking you to enter an authentication code that is displayed on your computer. After that, having calls made to your Voice number forwarded to that phone is as simple as clicking a check box. It is important to note, however, that any calls or text messages routed through your cell phone will still cost minutes.

What if you don’t want to receive calls from your voice number at a given time? Google has provided a “Do Not Disturb” function that allows you to send all calls straight to voice mail, which you can pick up later.

Voice mail is another of Voice’s strong suits. While you can definitely access the sound file of the message someone left, Voice also generates a transcript of the conversation. Transcription works well enough, though it’s by no means foolproof. While it’s usually easy to recognize a transcription error by whether or not a word fits in a particular sentence, I’m worried about the possibility of plausible errors changing the meanings of sentences radically. Someone going out looking at chickens would be significantly different than going out to look at kitchens, for example. That said, I still enjoy the convenience of having the ability to read my voice mail.

The applications for having a separate number are endless. If you don’t want to risk actually giving your phone number to someone or if you want to have a separate number for work, Voice has you covered. Free calls from your dorm room to anywhere in the country, care of Google? Absolutely possible.

Google has opened up a world of possibility, and they’re constantly adding new features. It’ll be interesting to see where Google Voice goes, because it certainly has a lot of potential.

Are you interested in trying Voice?

Leave a comment on this article at whitmanpioneer.com, along with your e-mail, and I’ll send one lucky person an invite!

Got something to say?

The Pioneer wants to hear your thoughts. Comment on this and other articles on our Web site, whitmanpioneer.com

OPINION

February 11, 2010

9

Hindsight: Its limits (and my painful awkwardness) They say hindsight is 20/20, which, if it was true, would be a comforting thought. We think that looking back on the past gives us absolute certainty.

WILLIAM But it doesn’t.

WITWER Of course, there Columnist is some reliability in our interpretation of the past. I, however, intend to explore the limits of hindsight in this and several subsequent columns. I want to know how and where our impression of the past doesn’t match with reality.

Let me tell you a story in which my perception of what happened was missing a crucial detail.

So I had a crush on this girl—Emilie.

Who she was is unimportant. In hindsight, I realized that trying to ask this girl to homecoming on the phone was my first mistake. Unfortunately I was too nervous to do it any other way. I even wrote out what I was going to say to make it easier. Homecoming came up, and suddenly there was a tiny pause in the conversation. “This is your moment,” I thought, and tried to coax the words from the notebook page into my mouth. What I ended up saying, though, was directed to myself.

“Should I do it?” I said into the phone.

“What?” she shot back. It wasn’t really my finest moment. After asking myself the same question later in the conversation two more times (two!), I eventually spilled my awkward proposal. She rejected me with such grace and aplomb that it wasn’t even all that disappointing.

After it happened, I told my friends the story and they almost died laughing at my foolishness. And who could blame them, really? I thought that she had heard me ask myself a question, and so I distanced myself from her in small, subtle ways.

As high school continued, I eventually grew able to laugh at the folly of this situation. Two or so years passed and when a friend of mine teased Emlie about this incident, I learned some fascinating information. As it turned out, she had no recollection of the question I posed to myself. Small victories, I guess.

In my fevered and regretful head, I had been so sure she had heard me and been weirded out. I had been so certain of that “fact” that I felt awkward around her and let a friendship fade away that would have been rewarding. But my certainty was clearly misplaced. That shit is something you would remember (unless she blocked it from her memory).

If this taught me anything—other than not to talk to yourself on the phone—not a lesson I ever thought I would have to learn, believe me—it is how muddled the power of hindsight really is. A lot has been written about the deficiencies of memory, but I think that even if you remember the facts fairly well your interpretation of them might be questionable.

The fact is, the world we live in is confusing. Trying to comprehend it is the job of philosophers. And the future is, almost by definition, unsure. Obviously.

But we want the past to be different, to be able to be perfectly understood by dedicated study of the evidence. And it would be this clear, if only we only had all the information—but that’s never going to be possible because the information we have of the past is gathered in the mystifying and inadequate present.

Conventional wisdom talks about the illuminating power of hindsight with tired aphorisms, but I believe that in many ways the past is just as muddled and confusing as the present and just as uncertain as the future.

Yes, the past allows us to reflect on all of the gathered evidence, but the puzzle will always be incomplete. Often, a huge piece is missing and you don’t even know it. Like the fact that she honestly didn’t hear you make a fool of yourself.

One of the most interesting things about college is the vocabulary you pick up. I’m not talking about words like “salient” or “dichotomy”— I’m talking about AMI TIAN words like “hella” Columnist and “dank.” When I first heard the word “dank,” I wasn’t sure what to make of it.

“Wait, so is that a good thing?” I asked my roommate from Portland.

It seemed counter-intuitive, but I learned that yes, “dank” is in fact a good thing.

Likewise, most of the people living in my residence hall section had never heard the word “obvi” (short for “obviously”) or “totes” (short for “totally”) before.

In this increasingly interconnected day and age, it’s sometimes hard to attribute slang words to specific places since information, including language, covers a lot of distance very quickly. Still, there are certain words that are simply not popular in other areas of the country—for example, you rarely hear anyone outside of Massachusetts or New England describe something as “wicked,” by which they mean “great” instead of “evil”—and there are certain words that are simply unheard of outside of their area of origin. Regional slang words are not a new phenomenon, but are brought out (or made salient) in a college setting, where words familiar back home are now met with expressions of puzzlement.

At Carnegie Mellon, some people say, “These clothes need washed,” instead of “These clothes need to be washed.” Apparently it’s a central Pennsylvanian thing.

Midwesterners, I learned from my RA, say “uff da” when lifting heavy objects. I tried to tell this to my friend Tom, who was skeptical.

“Why would that word exist? People don’t say words when they’re lifting heavy

objects. They make grunting noises,” Tom said.

He didn’t quite believe me until I asked Vincent, a friend from Wisconsin, to explain “uff da” to him.

“It’s like an exclamation you make,” Vincent said.

“Like when?” asked Tom. “When you’re moving something heavy.”

I was under the impression that maybe “uff da” wasn’t a common phrase when my RA told me about it (she’d described it as something her grandparents said, usually jokingly), until my Minnesotan friend Rachel asked, “I don’t understand how you guys don’t say ‘uff da’—do you say something else?”

Whether there is any intrinsic correlation between slang words and the geographical regions they’re used in is questionable. One friend theorized that New Yorkers abbreviate things to allow them to talk faster—you know, because they’re pushy and always in a hurry. So does it mean anything that Midwestern slang seems to be onomatopoetic (such as “pop” for “soda,” “uff da” for

grunting noises)? What does it say about West Coasters, then, that the word they use to mean “cool” or “awesome” sounds like it should be describing a moldy basement?

Probably nothing.

It turns out that “uff da” is Norwegian for “I am fatigued.” (I learned this from Wikipedia.) “Need washed,” like “obvi,” is an abbreviation, but I wouldn’t say that the residents of central Pennsylvania are in any more of a rush than the rest of the country.

Nevertheless, certain words carry a certain stigma. For example, the word “word,” has been “banned” from one of the rooms in my section by its residents.

“It doesn’t mean anything; that’s why it’s annoying,” said one of them. “It’s just weird. Say a real word instead of just saying ‘word.’”

The thing is that, depending on where you’re from, “word” can, in fact, be a real word. We create the meanings of words when we use them, so “word” starts to mean something the moment someone says it. Regional words are regional simply because of where they’re used and learned.

I mean, obvi.

POLI T IC AL C ARTOON

DOUGLAS

Complaining can “Dank” regional slang bring us together

the Pioneer

SONG

Demands. Schedules. They come in all varieties and they impose themselves on you when you are least inclined for them to do so.

I have to get to Cordiner since JOEY KERN Columnist apparently convocation is in 15 minutes.

I have to get to the Beta house as initiation “may” be starting.

I have to go do team-building exercises on a weekend.

Whatever the case, I would turn to the nearest person, and, in as vulgar a manner as possible, provide several reasons why I shouldn’t have to go to wherever I’m going. I would go on to elaborate that there would be no way for anyone to even know I’m not there.

Then, in dramatic fashion, I would go anyway.

Orientations. Initiations. How many of these kinds of things have we all endured in our lifetimes? They’re those vacuous spaces of time that could so easily be spent partying wasted in many cases on the same activities that you’ve endured time and time again.

But what is the purpose of all this nonsense? Why is there such a need for a scripted opening to anything institutionalized? Why the hell did I walk around Ankeny blindfolded one of my first nights here?

These questions came to me my first week here as I, being the type of person I am, wanted more time to interact organically with my peers, i.e. party time.

I recently returned to these questions and found an interesting thread running through all of the events that comprised my opening week here, my orientation in high school and any other

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orientation I had ever had to endure: I bitch about everything.

This at first seems like an idiotic conclusion but when I gave it thought some meaning seemed to surface. I remember before convocation, a group of students were playing a roughly 30-second tune outside Cordiner over and over again. This bothered me and made my ears want to bleed. Needless to say those around me also shared my sentiment and, despite the administration’s best efforts, we bonded over our mutual frustration.

This is not to say that everything we do during orientation, opening week and the like is boring or useless. In fact, I had a great time during opening week and initiation as well. But, just having to do anything by a strict schedule can lend an air of unpleasantness to the most enjoyable activities and this is what I complained about with my peers.

So how could it be that a program meant to bond people with fun activities could sometimes bore you to tears yet still achieve its goal? Simple, by having people commiserate with each other in their suffering and in their joy.

The sheer reality of herding a bunch of people into a situation they can’t get out of demands camaraderie.

Mutual boredom is still something mutual. Bitching about things may accomplish nothing, but at the very least it gives people something to talk about.

Do people need to have a negative attitude towards these kinds of things for them to be successful? I don’t think so, but I feel as though the only way to enjoy everything somebody schedules out for you is to have boundless energy and enthusiasm, traits I have never possessed. Instead, we can take the good from the bad and engage in the time-honored tradition of bitching for the very sake of having something to talk about.

Russ Caditz-Peck, Lisa Curtis, Blair Frank, Gillian Frew, Joey Kern, Heather Nichols-Haining, James Sledd, Gary Wang, Will Witwer

FE ATURE Kristen Coverdale, Hadley Jolley, Becky Nevin

SPORTS Bailey Arango, Gabe Cahn, Allan Crum, Lindsay Fairchild, Jay Gold, Bidnam Lee, Doyle McCarthy, Melissa Navarro

HUMOR Emily Basham, Galen Cobb, Nadim Damluji, Helen Jenne

Circulation Associate Margaret Yang Webmaster Rebecca Fish

ADVERTISING Advertising Manager Matt Solomon Advertising Associates David Deming, Matt Tesmond, Shellin Tran

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Sports

The Pioneer ISSUE 3 FEB. 11, 2010 Page 10

F

OLYMPICS: Alumna to ski on world stage  OLYMPICS, page 1 horrible,” she said in a recent interview with KTUU News in Anchorage. “You go through phases—I would kind of get excited in my mind then pessimistic in my mind. I’ve gone through a little bit of an emotional roller coaster the past couple of days. I’m just glad that part’s over.”

Brooks was a sociology-environmental studies major who spent all four years of college on Whitman’s cross country ski team. She also participated in the first Semester in the West program at Whitman.

“It was a wonderful way to experience the West but I wasn’t in shape that winter,” Brooks said in an interview with FasterSkier.com last December.

Her athletic performance also suffered during her last year at Whitman due to a sinus infection that prevented her from advancing to nationals.

Not allowing that to stop her from doing what she loved, she graduated from college and moved on to coach at the Maine Winter Sports Center. Brooks relocated to what is now her current home in Anchorage, Alaska and started coaching the Alaska Winter Stars; she was later named head coach of the ski team at West High School, where she remained for three years. She now coaches the juniors, masters and women’s-only programs at Alaska Pacific University.

Balancing her coaching career with her competing career, Brooks still continued to succeed as a cross country skier. In 2008 she won the Tour of Anchorage marathon and dominated again the following season. This summer, a rare health condition briefly interrupted her success. She managed to recover over the course of several months, and bounced back stronger than ever.

“I’ve always loved skiing and wanted to be better but I was pretty far away from

COURTESY OF ADN.COM Holly Brooks ‘04 is taking a break from coaching cross-country skiing at Alaska Pacific University to compete in the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games. big success . . . I suppose you could say that I’m a ‘late bloomer,’” Brooks said.

After her brief hiatus, Brooks beat out over 87 athletes in November as she won four of six races at SuperTour, a series of events that take place in West Yellowstone, Mont. Her back-to-back wins put her on the radar for the Olympic roster.

At the U.S. National Championships this past January, Brooks placed a close second in the 20-kilometer classic with a

time of 1:14.29.2, a mere 10 seconds behind top skier Kikkan Randall. Brooks also finished fourth in the classic sprint race.

Brooks got a call late January—a mere few weeks before the games are set to begin—and was invited to join the U.S. Olympic Team.

“It was an awesome, awesome feeling,” she said in her interview with KTUU. “It’s taking a while for it to set in. I guess

just hearing people’s reactions and excitement and getting to call my mom and dad, talking to everyone, it’s finally sinking in, but I don’t think you can really appreciate it until you’re in the actual atmosphere.

According to an interview featured on the U.S. Ski Team Web site, Brooks is “thankful for all the support [she’s] received from [her] family, [her] loving husband Rob, Alaska Pacific University

and all of the Nordic Ski Center members, the ski community of Anchorage, and [her] wonderful friends.”

The 2010 Vancouver Olympic games are set to open on Feb. 12. Up until then, Brooks will be training with the rest of the U.S. skiers at the Canmore Nordic Centre in Alberta, Canada. Brooks is recording an account of her Olympic experience on her blog, hollyskis.blogspot.com.

M’ B

Whitman basketball outFoxed, outscored

by ALLAN CRUM Staff Reporter The Whitman men’s basketball team dropped both of its games during this weekend’s trip to Oregon, falling to George Fox University in a highscoring battle on Friday, Feb. 5, 10390 before turning in an icy shooting performance in a 81-64 loss to Pacific University on Saturday, Feb. 6.

These latest losses—combined with the team’s recent five-game losing streak—leave the Missionaries in a tie for sixth in the Northwest Conference with a record of 4-8.

Prior to the beginning of conference play, the Whitman men appeared poised for a ground-breaking season.

They won six of their first eight games playing an intense brand of basketball reminiscent of former Arkansas Razorbacks Nolan Richardson’s “40 Minutes of Hell,” a style characterized by full press defense and a fast-paced offense. Due to their frantic pace on both ends of the court the Missionaries lead the conference in steals, turnover margin and field goal attempts.

Pacific University turned the ball over 26 times against the Missionaries, normally a staggering number for any team-let alone the winning team-but a number that has been approached and passed several times

by Whitman’s opponents. Coach Eric Bridgeland’s sticky full court press has insured that his team has plenty of opportunities to score. However, the team has struggled to hit shots in Bridgeland’s dribble drive, which is largely dependent on the three.

“Recently we have tried going inside more,” said first-year guard Peter Clark. “When we go to the post and let those guys work down there we get a lot of high percentage shots which helps open up the perimeter.”

Whitman leads the Northwest Conference in field goal attempts, but they are last in field goal percentage. Whitman also ranks last in the league in assists per game for the second year in a row, largely a result of their poor shooting. The Missionaries may be second in the conference in points scored per game, but after

studying the box score it becomes apparent that although Whitman has more chances to score than their opponent in any given game, the team is not consistently executing offensively.

This trend continued against George Fox last Friday.

The Bruins of George Fox countered Whitman Coach Eric Bridgeland’s fast paced attack with a nineman deep bench with sweet shooting throughout the game, hitting 57 percent of their shots. Whitman was able to keep pace for most of the game thanks in large part due to a balanced offensive attack featuring five players scoring in double figures led by Clark with 17 points, 15 of which came from beyond the arc.

However, a four-point nail biter at half time quickly became a 13-point George Fox lead thanks to an 18-7 run by the Bruins. The lead would shrink to eight at one point, but that’s the closest the Missionaries would get Friday night against a George Fox team they had beat 90-85 last month.

“We were already running on fumes [after the first half ], and our nineman roster just couldn’t keep up with [George Fox’s] fifteen man-roster,” said Bridgeland.

Last week the Whitman men responded to their loss against Lewis and Clark by rallying for a surge of points and a win against Willamette. Sadly, this week Whitman ran into a wall in their Saturday game against Pacific, a wall built by their own missed shots or bricks in the basketball world.

First-year LaQuam Thompson and sophomore Brandon Shaw were the only Missionaries in double figures with in their 81-64 loss to the Boxers with 16 and 12 points respectively.

Bridgeland feels that the Missionaries’ struggles on offensive are due to a lack of confidence.

“We are making each player hit 100 three-pointers and one hundred freethrows [this week in practice] to build up their confidence,” said Bridgeland.

“But at the end of the day, we have to hit our open shots.”

Colin Wester’s 19 points led Pacific, who also received an excellent contribution from 6’6” senior post player

Ross Bartlett, who finished the game with a double double consisting of 13 points and 15 rebounds; he also added five blocks.

Pacific University was able to take advantage of the Missionaries’ offensive woes, cruising to a relatively easy 81-64 victory. Whitman struggled mightily from the field the entire game shooting 28 percent overall and only 14 percent from three-point range. During one particularly cold 10-minute stretch in the first half Pacific outscored Whitman 16-2.

Clark spoke about how the team tries to maintain a positive attitude when the shots aren’t falling.

“We talk about shooting each shot as you mean it,” said Clark. “That’s got to be our focus; if we do that they’ll start dropping eventually”

Poor offensive execution has been Whitman’s bane throughout the 20092010 season. The Missionaries have only scored less than 80 points in a win once this season, during a late November win over the hapless—and winless, 0-20—Cal Tech Beavers, 7863. The Missionaries will need to turn this trend around in their last four games in order to complete their first winning season since 1998.

Whitman will need to win out in order to have any chance at making the playoffs, starting with this weekend’s home games against Pacific Lutheran University, Friday, Feb. 12, and The University of Puget Sound, Saturday, Feb. 13. They will have to defy the odds the following Tuesday, Feb. 16, against eighth-ranked NCAA Division III Whitworth University.

COURTESY OF GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY Jordan Brandon ‘10 battles George Fox’s Rich Smith ‘11 for the tip-off during Whitman’s 103-90 loss in Newberg, Ore. Despite five players scoring in double figures, the Missionaries fell to the Foxes’ hot shooting.

SPORTS

February 11, 2010

W’ B

Missionary women keep their playoff hopes alive

by BAILEY ARANGO Staff Reporter The Whitman College women’s basketball team went 1-1 on its weekend road trip to improve their conference record to 5-7 and put themselves in position to contend for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Northwest conference as the season nears its close. Despite coming up just short of what would have been a miraculous upset against George Fox on the night of Friday, Feb. 5 in Newberg, Ore., the Missionaries bounced back to rout Pacific in Forest Grove, Ore. the next day. Whitman is just two games back of fourth-place Whitworth coming into a crucial three-game homestand.

Despite losing by 11 to defending Division-III National Champion George Fox in Walla Walla on Jan. 8, the Missionaries built an early lead against the Bruins Friday. George Fox rallied in the game’s final minutes to win 50-46, improving their conference record to a perfect 11-0.

Whitman, a team riddled with injuries fighting to keep its playoff hopes alive, played with a tenacity and grit uncharacteristic of their win-loss record. Senior Hilary White, one week removed from her first double-double of the season, led Whitman with 12 points, eight rebounds and three crucial steals.

Junior Rebecca Sexton chipped in nine points and six rebounds, but in the end the game came down to free throws.

The Bruins made the best of their 20 free-throw opportunities while only letting Whitman get to the line for five attempts.

In desperate need of a conference win, Whitman bounced back to build a huge halftime lead and coast to defeat Pacific, 71-55. One day removed from a solid six-point showing, first-year Kelly Peterson tore into Pacific for 21 points,

COURTESY OF GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY George Fox’s Elise Kuenzi ‘10 drives past Mary Madden ‘11 during the Bruins 50-46 win on Feb. 5. Madden scored four points in nine minutes of action.

19 of which she scored before halftime.

White put up a second-consecutive 12 point night, while Sexton, senior Michelle Krall and first-year Mary Madden each scored nine. Whitman’s victory over Pacific, along with their near-upset of George Fox, put in perspective the radical resurgence the Missionaries have experienced after losing six of their first seven NWC games; no one in attendance Saturday would recognize Whitman as the same team that lost a 71-70 heart breaker to Pacific at home just over a month ago, a sentiment Peterson echoes.

“The team has been playing so much better as a whole lately,” Peterson said.

“People are finally playing more comfortably with one another. Everyone has been stepping their game up and playing really well. We have some challenging games ahead, but if we stay together and play as a team then we can do very well in the coming few weeks.”

The Missionaries find themselves two games back of Whitworth for the final

NWC playoff spot with just four games to go. Of Whitman’s seven conference losses, four have been by four points or less, and teams like Whitworth, who beat Whitman by three points in Spokane in January, have fared substantially worse than Whitman against the conference’s best teams. Just a day after being pushed to the brink by Whitman, George Fox shellacked Whitworth 70-43.

Head Coach Michelle Ferenz stresses the fact that Whitman’s rocky start to conference play can be rendered irrelevant by a strong showing in the week ahead.

“We lost a lot of really close games early on, but it’s all still up in the air.

These next three games are huge for us,” she said.

Whitman enters a crucial three-game homestand this weekend, culminating Feb. 16 with a rematch against Whitworth. The Missionaries will face Pacific Lutheran at home on Friday, Feb. 12, followed by a Saturday night game against the University of Puget Sound.

Williams, Federer hold serve in Aussie Open The first major tennis tournament of the 2010 season, the Australian Open in Melbourne, had typical finishes, but with LINDSAY a more interFAIRCHILD esting course. title Staff Reporter With wins by Roger Federer and Serena Williams, the tournament looked like most of those in recent history with the exception that the results of earlier matches mixed things up a bit.

In men’s singles top seeds, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Andy Roddick and 2009 U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro all made it through the first three rounds.

However, in the fourth round, fourthseed Juan Martin del Potro was upset by a 21-year-old Croatian, Marin Cilic, the 14th seed. Cilic went on to defeat seventh-seed Roddick in the quarterfinals, while defending champion Nadal, seeded second, was forced to retire because of knee problems in the third set of a match in which he was two games to love down to fifth-seed Murray.

The third seed, Novak Djokovic, was also upset by 1oth-seed Jo-Wilfied Tsonga in the quarterfinals. However, Tsonga’s and Cilic’s Cinderella stories came to an end in the semifinals. Federer proved to be too much for Tsonga to handle as he bested the Frenchman in straight sets and Murray ousted Cilic in four. The 2010 final was boring compared to last year’s classic battle between tennis titans Federer and Nadal, in which Nadal won his first hard court title, outlasting the number-one player in the world

Whitman baseball team looks to break out of decade-long slump

by BIDNAM LEE and JAY GOLD Staff Reporters

kicks off its season this Thursday, Feb. 11, at the Arizona Desert Classic in Anthem, Ariz. Their first game will be against the Whittier College Poets, looking for their first win after a disappointing 0-3 start. The Arizona Desert Classic continues Friday, Saturday and Sunday, as Whitman will face La Verne University, Occidental College and California Lutheran University, respectively.

Women's Tennis: The Missionar-

ies will begin the spring team season at home this Friday, Feb. 12, at 5 p.m. against a University of Puget Sound team that is still searching for its first team win this season. The Whitman women will follow this match on Saturday, Feb. 13 with a double-header against Pacific Lutheran University at 11 a.m. and Lewis-Clark State College at 3:30 p.m.

Men's Tennis: The Whit men will

be looking to right the ship—after last weekend’s less-than-stellar outing against NCAA Division III No. 1 ranked University of California—Santa Cruz this Saturday, Feb. 13, as they take on their first road double-header of the season. The Missionaries will take the trip to Tacoma to face Pacific Lutheran University at 10:30 a.m., then the University of Puget Sound Loggers at 12:30 a.m. Then the number one-ranked doubles team of senior Matt Solomon and first-year Jeffrey Tolman will have an opportunity to avenge fall’s ITA tournament finals loss to PLU’s Trudel and Peterson.

JACOBSON Eric Tolleson ‘12, utility-man and pitcher, throws to first base during practice in preparation for the season opener, the Arizona Desert Classic in Anthem, Ariz.

very least, it is a more reasonable shortterm goal.

In spite of the team’s relatively small roster, Kitamura expects considerable improvement in the win-loss department.

“I expect for us to vastly improve upon our win totals from previous seasons and for our team to play to the best of our ability all the time,” said Kitamura.

Whitman’s roster, which Kitamura believes is extremely unified, includes key returning players—Kitamura, junior Jason Sease, senior Blaine Mercado, junior Eric Korsmo, junior Patrick Stauffer and sophomore Peter Olson— and a promising group of incoming first-years.

“We're versatile, have the right mindset and are going to play the game the

right way. The freshmen who have come in have already made a huge impact and everyone who's returning has experience to draw from playing at the college level,” Kitamura said.

Though Kitamura’s words are encouraging and perhaps even convincing, actually improving is far more difficult than talking about doing so during the preseason. No matter how viable the idea that the new coaches and new players offer a fresh start may seem, it is yet to be seen whether three win seasons are truly a thing of the past.

Beginning with three games in Anthem, Ariz. between Feb. 11 and 13—against Whittier College, La Verne University and Occidental College—the team will have a chance to decisively prove whether or not its present and future are less futile than its past.

in five sets. This year Federer got his vengence—albeit not against Nadal— sweeping Murray in straight sets.

On the women’s side, the Australian Open marked the first major tournament back for Belgian Justine Henin,who returned after 20 months of retirement. Henin’s countrywoman Kim Clijsters who also recently pulled a Brett Farve and returned from retirement, also qualified for the tournament.

Nonetheless Clijsters exited unceremoniously early, losing in straight sets to Nadia Petrova in the third round. Former world number one, Henin proved she still belongs in the upper echelons of the sport, playing her way into the finals. However, her run at a second career Australian open title fell just short as she lost to Serena Williams in three sets.

Russian Maria Sharapova continued to struggle with her game in the wake of 2009 shoulder surgery as she was upset in the first round by her former doubles partner, Maria Kirilenko. The 2010 Australian Open marked an historic achievement for Chinese tennis as Li Na and Zheng Jie became the first two Chinese women to advance to the semifinals of a Grand Slam event.

The 2010 Australian Open was characterized by comebacks and injuries.

Nadal had to retire from his game against Murray because of a right knee injury—no, not the same injury he had last season, but the same knee—and Del Potro suffered foot and back injuries during the course of the tournament.

Injuries were not limited to the men’s side: Serena Williams walked into the final against Henin heavily taped. The emergence of Na and Jie and impressive play by the top men and women suggest that this year could be an interesting and exciting one for tennis fans.

S Baseball: The Whitman baseball team

B

If Whitman’s baseball team is searching for hope as a new season rapidly approaches, the recent past is probably the wrong place to look. Since 2003-2004— the team’s last 10-win season—success on the diamond has eluded Whitman’s grasp with striking regularity. In each of the past two seasons, the team has won just three of its 37 games. However, with an infusion of new blood in both its coaching staff and its roster, Whitman may have reason to believe that this season will be more fruitful than the ones that have preceded it.

Much of Whitman’s newfound hope hinges on the renovation that has taken place within its coaching staff. Jared Holowaty, formerly a star outfielder for 2002 NCAA Division III national champion Eastern Connecticut State College and an assistant coach for Division I’s University of Maine, will replace Casey Powell as the team’s head coach.

To this point, senior outfielder and pitcher Brian Kitamura seems pleased with the addition of Holowaty.

“Coach Holowaty has been great for us. He brings a lot of energy, an outstanding baseball background and a new mentality to our team, which has helped us improve each time we step on to the field,” said Kitamura.

The improvements within the coaching staff do not end with Holowaty; Pitching Coach Mark Michaud joins incumbent Assistant Coach Sean Kinney to assist Holowaty in his coaching endeavors. Michaud previously served as an assistant coach at Eastern Connecticut, after stints at NCAA Division I schools Siena College and the University of Maine and Division III's Rockford College and the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

For Kitamura, the new coaches bring not only valuable past experience, but a bright future.

“The past is in the past for good and we're excited to start building a championship program,” he said, referring to Holowaty, Michaud and the attitude that they have brought with them.

While it is highly unlikely that Whitman will transform itself into a championship program overnight, winning more games than it has in recent seasons may be an attainable feat. At the

11

Swimming: The Whitman swimmers travel to Federal Way, Wash. this Friday, Feb. 12, to compete in the Northwest Conference Championships at the King County Aquatic Center. The

men go into the meet as the secondseed, the highest in school history. And the women repeat, as the third seed in championship. Both men and women are looking to seriously challenge defending champions, the Whitworth University men and the University of Puget Sound women, to snag the title of NWC champions.

Women's Basketball: With two

victories and two Whitworth losses this weekend, the Missionaries could move into fourth place in NWC standings and take the last playoff spot with two games left in the season. The Whitman women will begin their last stint at home, facing Pacific Lutheran University on Friday, Feb. 12 at 8 p.m. and the University of Puget Sound on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 8 p.m. In the event the Missionaries find themselves in fourth place in NWC standings, they will have the opportunity to lock up a playoff spot the following Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. in their very last home game against the current fourth-place Whitworth University Pirates.

Men's Basketball: Coming off of an

extremely disappointing 0-2, weekend, the Missionaries have all but written off their hopes of making the post-season.

Now, the Whit men are simply trying to climb above .500 and the season with a winning record, something not done in over a decade. Sherwood is sure to be busy this weekend, as they face Pacific Lutheran University on Friday, Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. and the University of Puget Sound on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. The Missionaries’ last home stand will be Tuesday, Feb. 16 against No. 8 ranked Whitworth University (NCAA Division III).

S FRIDAY, Feb. 5

SATURDAY, Feb. 6

Women's Basketball: Whitman College 46, George Fox University 50 PTS: White-12, Sexton-9, Mello-7, Peterson-6, Krall-4, Madden-4, Keyes-4, Girlbert, Brice; REB: White-8, Sexton-6, Krall-6, Mello-4, Peterson-3; ASST: Peterson-5, White-2, Sexton-2, Gilbert-1, Brice-1

Women's Basketball: Whitman College 71, Pacific University 55 PTS: Peterson-21, White-12, Krall-9, Madden-9, Sexton-9, Mello-6, Brice-3, Gilbert-2, Keyes, Vaculik; REB: Krall-11, Peterson-5, White-5, Brice-4, Madden-3 ASST: Mello-7, Gilbert-3, Peterson-2, White-2, Krall-2

Men's Basketball: Whitman College 90, George Fox University 103 PTS: Clark-17, Davidson-14, Michaels-14, Thompson-11, Shaw-10, Wheeler-8, Artis-7, Adcox-4, Brandon-3, Stone-2; REB: Michaels-4, Artis-4, Adcox-4, Shaw-3, Wheeler-3; ASST: Shaw-7, Wheeler-3, Clark-2 Michaels-2, Thompson-2

Men's Basketball: Whitman College 64, Pacific University 81 PTS: Thompson-16, Shaw-12, Clark-9, Artis-8, Adcox-4, Wheeler-4, Michaels-2, Brandon-2, Davidson-2, Raher, Alvarez; REB: Adcox-6, Artis-5, Thompson-4, Michaels-4, Brandon-4

The Pioneer ISSUE 3 FEB. 11, 2010 Page 12

Backpage

attempting humor since 1922...ish

Scout’s honor Corporate Liveblogging political ads the 9 p.m.—Hey! My name is Jeff Lunderman and I am

John Edwards has admitted to having an affair with Rielle Hunter. However, it was only recently uncovered that Edwards promised his mistress the Dave Matthews Band would play at their rooftop marriage after his wife, Elizabeth, died from cancer.

This was only one of many promises John Edwards has made and broken, all of which he blamed on his assistant, Mr. Young. Here’s a look at some of his handiwork.

premiere of “LOST” 9:01 p.m.—Wait, was that really the title sequence? Hey “LOST” writers, let me introduce you to a show called “Gilligan’s Island.” Quality title sequence.

Wait, is this a reboot?

9:10 p.m.—Wow. There is a whole lot of yelling going on in this show. Also, a plane?

9:07 p.m.—Huh? BTW, I don’t think it’s a reboot because I haven’t seen a Skipper figure yet.

9:12 p.m.—Okay, this is more my speed! There is a well-conceived advertisement for Werther’s in which an old man on a park bench is offering a younger kid a Werther’s Original Hard Chew.

The kid accepts! A touching moment of cross-generational enjoyment for a delicious caramel flavor. Bravo Werthers!

9:28 p.m.—Fuck, it’s back on again.

9:30 p.m.—This is some kind of joke, right? You are telling me that this show has sustained a devoted fan-base for FIVE SEASONS?! This show is like having a friend who ends every sentence half way through. I can’t believe— 9:27 p.m.—Umm. Whoa?

When?

9:25 p.m.—Awesome. There is this commercial on right now for the Snuggie. I love this ad!

9:40 p.m.—WHAT’S IN THE BOX?! JK, but doesn’t Brad Pitt’s character in “Se7en” remind you of this Jack guy?

9:43 p.m.—Using the mute button makes this show kind of funny.

9:54 p.m.—Even better! Try putting the show on mute and then playing that song “Hallelujah”

by Justin Timberlake on some speakers. It makes everything really intense.

10:02 p.m.—Okay, so I just finished watching “LOST.” To me, the show seems to blend elements of sci-fi and biblical text to create a classic debate on the human condition. In other words, it is an—albeit sophomoric at times— attempt to reason out whether humans are governed by free will or destiny. The multiverse dimension explored within the show creates an interesting dual narrative structure: It serves as a lens for viewers to question their own participation vis-à-vis the show and forces them to reexamine what we really want for the characters. Frankly, I don’t really get the hype.

Dear

Dear Rielle, promIn retrospect, I shouldn’t have top roof a on ried mar get ised we would Mat e Dav the by ed nad sere g while bein apand it into thews Band. Young looked can’t indeparently Charlie Schmidt’s cat Bride” on the es Com re “He play pendently ick blueU-P the keyboard nor can a lush en. Also, msm groo my berry patch serve as place take ding wed the ing apparently hav the ng duri on the Apple building in London I’m .” ible poss “im 1969 Beatles concert is dinner sending over Young to make you boymy ut abo ings noth et swe sper and whi ish good looks.

Love, John Edwards te ’12 Democratic Presidential Candida

Eliza Rem beth, embe sickn r e do yo ss and in when I sa u par h t . . . ealth, un id, “in Love til de ”? , ath John E Dem dwards o Cand cratic Pre siden idate tial ’12

Dear Frances Quinn Hunter, Sometimes even grown-ups make mistakes. Then, occasionally, they lie about it for two years.

I know I promised I wouldn’t deny your existence, but who can stay angry at a guy who has the winning smile of a young schoolboy? I’m sending over Mr. Young to take you to the circus and then autograph some headshots.

Love, Dear American Public, John Edwards I shouldn’t ha ve promised yo Democratic Presidential u I wasn’t a complete dick . Apparently Candidate ’12 using campaign funds to support your af in fair behind Blankfe the back of yo , Lloyd n’s Ads ur cancer-strick ru y C en wife is “immoral.” Can ly Ray Morga Dear Bil ead of Captain you forgive m e and my H entrancing blue e t th d an eyes? I’m send er nigh for pok -remiing over vertising, Young to give n o ll sti you sexual favo pie rs and claim Are we Me and my O guys to your illegitimat ou e children. y day? g rs u in h k T ta usy Love, on s he is b ircut are cent ha can’t make it a , but foris n John Edwards nces oung town! Y bicycle for Fra s then!

Democratic Pr g a a g -b in d d esidential buil e you tool. Se Candidate ’12 get that Love, wards John Ed c Presidential ti ra c o m De ate ’12 Candid

Facebook’s newsfeed revealed

Apparently, your Facebook newsfeed is not a “random, computer generated” display of status updates, recently added photos and joined groups. The newsfeed is run by the one of the most dedicated, honest and old-fashioned publishers, Egbert Roscoe Hearst.

How do things work around the newsfeed office?

I run a tight ship. There are many people working under me, ya see. The newsfeed these days, it’s CUTTHROAT. It’s like a well-oiled machine; we’ve got reporters working round the clock breaking stories like Jenny “Snookie” Maranell’s pleas to “FB or e-mail” her because of her “hellabroke” phone. Or, reports on that “crazy SICK tattoo” Katie Keller just got 32 seconds ago, or the five friends that became fans of “Morgan Freeman’s Voice.”

Our news is like a cup of fine Italian espresso that hasn’t been filtered. It’s gritty, earthy, real coffee straight from the source the way men oughtta drink it. Leaves a burnt feeling in your mouth, don’t it? It’s a tough business to dig up these stories but when we break ‘em, WE BREAK ‘em. We’re not scared to say it like it is, ya see. We’re reporting the news, kid, not tying a bib on you and spoon-feeding you mashed bananas with a baby-blue plastic spoon. NONE OF THAT. You want the news? You’ll get the NEWS. Well said, Mr. Hearst. What, in your opinion, is the “golden age” of your publishing career?

Kid, you may be too young to understand but back in the mid 2000s, Facebook changed. All of a sudden, we weren’t just breaking news about notifications, we were breaking bigger things.

Pictures of Nicole Katalina’s “2NiTeS Gonna B A gOOd NiTe/Tech N9ne concert/New Puppy!”, more reports on which “Sex and the City” character your friends would be, who’s staying up way too late to finish a paper. You know, the REAL stuff that I’ve been talking about.

This, kid, is where real journalists are made, writing free like cowboys on their mustangs lassoing in bison on the great plains.

Quite like it. Is there any “insider information” you can tell us?

Maybe a secret that only journalists for the newsfeed know?

Ya, I can tell you something, straight up, face to face, the way the public needs to hear it. Laura’s not going to name her baby “Megatron” even if 100,000 people join her group. It’s just the way the world works, kid.

Thanks so much Mr. Hearst.

Your integrity, honesty and time are greatly appreciated.

The Supreme Court recently ruled that corporations are free to spend unlimited amounts of their own cash on political advertising for the first time. Within only weeks of this announcement, the following ads have hit newsstands.

Unleash the power of the sun!

(After we tap Alaska)

for offshore drilling

Kellogg’s cereal is pro-

Gotta have my pops!

for gay marriage, but against lesbian marriage

Once you pop, the fun don’t stop!

Valentine cut-outs! against gun control supports Timmy Rothschild for Neil Cummins Elementary School President

...and not that slut Rebecca PHOTOS BY BOWMAN; ILLUSTRATIONS BY ALDEN