Whitman Pioneer - Spring 2011 Issue 5 by Whitman College Wire

Military’s avenue for social change

Composer’s Concert takes the stage Whitman and Walla Walla University students premier their work at annual concert. PAGE

Columnist Alex Brott explores why liberals should support the military’s ability to promote progressive change in social and environment policy.

WHITMAN NEWS, DELIVERED

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Walla Walla, WA whitmanpioneer.com

VOLUME CXXVIII

February 24 2011

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Undocumented students struggle to afford college by RACHEL ALEXANDER News Editor

orge Villegas* came to the United States with his family when was seven. Without a visa or any way of entering the country legally, his mother hired a coyote to sneak him and his brother across the U.S.-Mexico border. Posing as the woman’s sons, Jorge and his brother were instructed to provide fake names to the U.S. border guards. His mother took a more risky route, crossing through the desert to join their father, who was already living illegally in California. Reunited in the U.S., the family moved to Eastern Washington, where Jorge grew up. Jorge’s story is the story of thousands of American families. His journey through the desert borderlands that separate the United States and Mexico is the 21st century’s immigrant narrative, our version of the boat ride to Ellis Island. Asked to picture an undocumented immigrant, our minds jump to farm workers, maids and fast food cashiers. Whitman College student isn’t at the top of the list, but after 12 years in the United States, that’s exactly what Jorge is. Jorge is not the only undocumented student at Whitman. According to Tony Cabasco, dean of admission and financial aid, there are a total of eight undocumented (com-

monly referred to as illegal) immigrants currently enrolled at the college. Isabella Leon* is another one of these students. Her family came to the United States nine years ago on a visa, which has long since expired. Isabella knew she wanted to go to college, but because of her immigration status, she was not eligible to receive any government money to help pay for college. Excluded from federal financial aid, state scholarships or workstudy, she had to rely on scholarships from the schools she applied to to cover the full cost of her education. “I could have the best scores, best grades, graduate top of my class,” she said. “It’s up to the college to decide if they’re going to invest in you.” Although undocumented students generally keep their identities secret on campus, their existence is no secret to the Office of Admission. Cabasco speaks openly about their presence on campus, and describes the process they go through when applying to Whitman. “They essentially compete for international student scholarships,” he said. Because many international students are unable to pay for a significant portion of a Whitman education, almost all of these students receive full or close to full scholarships. Undocumented students are in a similar position, since they are legally excluded

from government aid, so they are placed into the same scholarship pool. For students admitted to Whitman, this arrangement works well—the lucky few who get in are able to get a full ride or close to it. Unfortunately, this arrangement has a downside too. “We don’t admit many [undocumented students] because we have a limited number of scholarship opport u n i - ties,” said Cabasco.

ILLUSTRATION BY SONG

Marilyn Ponti, director of financial aid, said that the number of undocumented applicants has increased dramatically in the past few years. Several years ago, Whitman typically received five or six applications from undocumented students, but that number soared to 35 last year. Ponti attributed this in part to student awareness about aid offered by colleges. “Students become very aware of the colleges that help them,” she said. With limited scholarships available, Cabasco said that the college is forced to turn away most of these applicants, in spite of the fact that many of them are well-qualified. Of the 35 undocumented students who applied for admission last year, only one was admitted. “We are truly turning away people who could really contribute to the community at Whitman,” he said. Even with some schools willing to offer undocumented students a full ride, the college application process is far from straightforward. Students often find themselves limited in some way because of their immigration status. Saul Gonzalez*, another undocumented Whitman student, said he only applied to schools in Washington state. In 2003, the Washington Legislature passed HB 1079, which allowed undocumented students who had lived in the state for at least three years to be consid-

ered residents for tuition purposes. Saul knew he would have a hard enough time paying for college as is, so he focused on in-state schools so he would be eligible “I felt a bit more limited than everybody else,” he said. For Isabella, the process involved applying to as many schools as possible, hoping one would give her enough aid. She picked Whitman because it was the only school she was able to afford. Although she wanted to study civil engineering for her undergraduate degree, her immigration status and financial prospects made that option impossible. “I did have a choice to go to a civil engineering school, but it wasn’t able to give me as much money as Whitman,” she said. “Right now, I’m trying to compromise.” She hopes to study a combination of sciences at Whitman so she can continue on to graduate school. All three of these students stressed that they were very lucky to be able to go to college, but also emphasized that not enough resources are available to let undocumented students know that college is a possibility. “If you’re a child growing up like that, you’re told by your parents not to tell anyone,” said Isabella. On the advice of a college coun-

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IHC athletes face unique challenges

New lecture series tackles conservation

by MATT MANLEY

by JOE VOLPERT Staff Reporter

Staff Reporter

ophomore Helen Jenne lives at the Community Service Interest House (commonly known as the Co-op) and swims freestyle for the varsity swim team. As she’ll gladly tell you, she also does a lot of dishes. “With swim practice, it’s often hard to make house dinner, and so I haven’t cooked yet this semester,” she said. “I have guilt dishes.” According to Resident Director Patrick Herman, Helen is one of just two varsity athletes living in the Interest House Community this semester, a number that perhaps reflects the complex time management that goes into being part of IHC activities as well as competing at the varsity level. Depending on the week, Jenne can spend between 15 and 18 hours in the pool as part of her training and competition regimen. With such a packed schedule, grace and flexibility have been important factors in her relationships with the housemates and Resident Assistant. According to Co-op RA Richael Best, though, the two varsity athletes who live at the Co-op are valued members of the IHC and the house itself. “I try to make sure house events work in whole or in part for the athlete, or, if that doesn’t work, to be understanding of things they have to miss … I love my athletes,” said Best. Best also emphasized that varsity athletes’ busyness can in fact be matched by other house members’ participation in a variety of extracurricular activities. “Other members of the house also miss events because of various other commitments. Sometimes I see more of the athletes than my other housemates because everyone is so busy,” she said. Nonetheless, the time commitments of athletics do make themselves felt in IHC life. Jenne has been unable to attend any of the Co-op’s “Service Saturday” events due to swimming this semester. Co-op housemate Shannon McCarty, a varsity cross country runner, has also been forced to miss Service Saturday at least once. Despite these timing challenges, Jenne says that her housemates have been very accommodating. “[Members of the Co-op] are just really supportive and helpful,” she said. “Everyone is really busy, and I think that has contributed to mutual understanding.” Unfortunately, living in an IHC house isn’t fully manageable for all varsity athletes. Senior Kelsie Butts lived in the Co-op the fall of her sophomore year when she also juggled commitments to the varsity volleyball team and a job at the Center for Community Service (now the Community Service Office).

IHC ATHLETICS,

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hitman College has just released a new lecture series called “Perspectives on Conservation” in which Whitman professors will address and start a dialogue about various conservation issues. Bob Carson, professor of geology and environmental studies, gave the first lecture Wednesday, Feb. 16 entitled “Conserve What and Why?” Don Snow, senior lecturer of environmental humanities, will give the next lecture, “From National Parks to Private Land Trusts: An Evolution of Land Conservation Strategies in the U.S.,” on Thursday, Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. The lecture series was originally supposed to be monthly, but there was such great interest from Whitman professors that there are now seven lectures in all. Other professors lecturing include Assistant Professors of Biology Kate Jackson and Tim Parker, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Environmental Studies Kari Norgard and Carl E. Peterson Endowed Chair of Sciences and Professor of Biology Paul Yancey. Senior Nat Clarke, one of the Campus Sustainability Coordinators along with fellow senior Ari Frink, organized this lecture series. Clarke notes that the professors do a good job of making their conservation issues directly applicable to Whitman. “I planned the lecture series as means of starting a dialogue on conservation topics on campus,” said Clarke. “Many of the lecture topics could seem distant or peripheral, but if you hear your professor tell you about

Whitman men’s basketball prepares for the playoff match on Thursday, Feb. 24. The game will be the first time Whitman has hosted a NWC basketball playoff since the team joined the NCAA DIII in 1996. PHOTOS BY AXTELL & KLAG, DESIGN BY LAZAR

Basketball gears up for first round of Northwest Conference playoffs by LIBBY ARNOSTI Sports Editor

ans will crowd into the Sherwood Center for the second time in two weeks to watch the Whitman men’s basketball team take on another Northwest Conference rival. Their last home game, against top-ranked Whitworth Uni-

versity, ended with raging cheers of victory coming from the packed stands. With the staunch support of fans, the Whitman men, ranked second in the Conference, are ready to take on third-ranked Lewis & Clark University. Meanwhile, the Whitman women will take on top-ranked Lewis & Clark in Portland, with the support of fans who join them

on the team bus. Both games begin Thursday, February 24 at 7 p.m. “We look forward to another electric Whitman crowd and a great night of basketball,” said men’s Head Coach Eric Bridgeland. The theme of the night will be “Goldrush”, for which all Whitman fans are encouraged to dress accordingly in yellow and gold.

CONSERVATION,

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Admissions receives fewer applications, lowers target class size for Class of 2015 by JON RUFFIN Staff Reporter

hitman’s pool of applicants for the Class of 2015 edged down by approximately three percent from last year. Although this number seems slight, it may have a noticeable affect on campus come next fall. Between 1,000 and 2,000 applications are submitted in the few days before Jan. 15 as prospective students scramble to get their paperwork in before the final admissions deadline. The Office of Admissions works well into February matching the electronic components of applications, such as the Common Application, essays and personal statements, to the paper components, such as transcripts and letters of recommendation. Admis-

sions officers are allowed two full days to work from home reading applications, though most spend their evenings and weekends working as well. According to Dean of Admission Tony Cabasco between 3,200 and 3,250 completed applications were submitted by Jan. 15 for the Class of 2015. Of last year’s slightly l a r g e r 3,300 applicants, 1,550 were admitted and 440 enrolled for the fall semester. The class of 2014 is the largest class size in Whitman College history, and to compensate for that, the Office is aiming to accept a slightly lower number. “This year we want to admit around 1,500 to 1,600

Feature explores the gender binary on campus PAGE

students in order to hit about 405 enrolled students” Cabasco said. “We have to balance out the large class size from last year.” The large size of the first-year class is consistent with national trends for 2009, which according to the National Association for College Admission Counseling saw record numbers of applicants. Colleges nationwide expect the number of applicants to continue to increase until at least 2017. The 144 Early Decision (ED) applicants for the class of 2015 have already received their admit-

tance letters, down from last year’s 180 ED applicants, a trend which mirrors the national decrease in ED applicants. Whitman admitted 96 of these applicants and enrolled 85. The Office of Admissions incorporates mathematical modeling into deciding how many potential students to admit. “I do analysis of data based on where the applicants are from, what their academic ability is, what their interests are, and tons of other factors to help us estimate the number of students we need to admit to enroll our targeted number of new students,” said Cabasco. The Office looks at the yield from previous years with respect to different application aspects to determine how many applicants to admit. “We’re predicting that 1,500-1,600

ADMISSIONS,

Club Frisbee starts the season with national aspirations PAGE

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February 24 2011

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Smaller class may provide housing relief from ADMISSIONS,

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NUMBERS IN THE NEWS by RACHEL ALEXANDER News Editor

admitted students will get us right in the range we need,” said Cabasco. In the last few years, the Office exceeded their desired number of enrolled students by underestimating the yield. Expecting a poor economy to deter students from more expensive colleges, Whitman admitted more applicants than usual and ended up enrolling more as well. ASWC Vice President and Student Affairs Chair senior John Loranger is pleased with the smaller target class size, but believes further action is required to relieve the pressure first-year students felt this past fall and spring when registering for classes. Loranger is also a senior admission intern. “This is one solution to a problem with many solutions, but we’re really excited because this is a step in the right direction,” he said. “The dip in applicants is in line with national trends, so I don’t forsee any problems we can’t handle.” The drop in applicants might have a small effect on housing next year. According to Associate Dean of Students Nancy Tavelli, housing has long been tight, which is why Tamarac and North Hall triples were added as housing options for the Class of 2014. “The small decline in the first-year class will probably be offset by the large sophomore class, but hopefully we will have less triples and can return the guest room to Anderson and make a few minor changes like that,” Tavelli said. “We house a considerable larger number of students than we did 10 years ago, but we always house our first-years and sophomores.” Given recent budget cuts in the administration, the Office of Admissions believes it will still be able to offer the financial aid packages it would like to, packages that are comparable to those offered in previous years. About 50 percent of Whitman students typically receive needbased financial aid, and 76 percent receive financial aid of some sort. “Balancing the budget is a delicate task; we have to make sure that the tuition revenue we collect from enrolled students is enough to meet our goals, as that will help the college balance the overall budget.” said Cabasco. Regular decision applicants will receive their admission decisions by April 1 and will have until May 1 to notify the Office of Admissions of their final decision. admitted more applicants than usual and ended up enrolling more as well. ASWC Vice President and Student Affairs Chair senior John Loranger is pleased with the small target class size, but believes further action is required to relieve the pressure first-year students felt this past fall and spring when registering for classes. “This is one solution to a problem with many solutions, but we’re really excited because this is a step in the right direction,” he said. “The dip in applicants is in line with national trends, so I don’t forsee any problems we can’t handle.” The drop in applicants might have a small effect on housing next year. According to Associate Dean of Students Nancy Tavelli, housing has long been tight, which is why Tamarac and the North Hall triples were added as housing options for the Class of 2014. “The small decline in the first-year class will probably be offset by the large sophomore class, but hopefully we will have less triples and can return the guest room to Anderson and make a few minor changes like that,” Tavelli said. “We house a considerable larger number of students than we did 10 years ago, but we always house our first-years and sophomores.” Given recent budget cuts in the administration, the Office of Admissions believes it will still be able to offer the financial aid packages it would like to, packages that are comparable to those offered in previous years. About 50 percent of Whitman students typically receive needbased financial aid, and 76 percent receive financial aid of some sort. “Balancing the budget is a delicate task; we have to make sure that the tuition revenue we collect from enrolled students is enough to meet our goals, as that will help the college balance the overall budget.” said Cabasco. Regular decision applicants will receive their acceptance decisions on April 1 and will have until May 1 to notify the Office of Admissions of their final decision.

$2,620

Cost of a one semester meal plan (plan B) at Whitman

$11.23

Cost per meal swipe on meal plan B

$200

Maximum federal food stamp benefit for an individual per month (Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Services) Lauren McCullough ‘12, Julia Stone ‘14 and Monica Simmons ‘14 take a break from the Food Justice Conference to enjoy local salad greens for lunch. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY RACHEL ALEXANDER

by SHELLY LE

food is a basic right for everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status,” she said. A common perception about food movements is that they encompass an elitist culture, focusing on only organic foods and discouraging food practices that are detrimental to the environment. However, the conference encouraged students to consider food practices on an urban and low-income scale. “Poor families are restricted to buying cheap, unhealthy food, like McDonald’s and convenience store groceries,” said first-year Monica Simmons, who attended the conference, referring to urban food deserts that lack full-scale, affordable grocery stores. “Everyone is entitled to affordable healthy foods— not at the cost of worker exploitation or environmental degradation.” For Simmons, the conference helped her come to understanding that the solution to inequality in the food realm is far off. “I learned that food justice requires small steps. As long as we’re actively working towards a solution, then we’re better off,” she said. Sophomore Abby Salzer, who also attended the conference, said the discussion helped cement her interest in sustainable food practices that encourage a healthy lifestyle. To Salzer, food justice is a person’s right to culturally appropriate and sustainable foods in terms of sustaining the land, our bodies and our cultures. “If anything, this conference showed me that social concerns, economic concerns and food concerns are all interconnected,” she said. Salzer hopes that this conference will similarly help Whitman students re-

Staff Reporter

hen the word ‘food’ is mentioned, we often imagine an object that is quickly eaten to sustain our energy. What we usually don’t consider is how food arrives on our plates and how food affects people on a global socioeconomic scale. Over President’s Day weekend, 15 Whitman College students attended a food justice conference at the University of Oregon in Eugene, exploring the relationship between the agricultural community and food consumers, along with the effects of current food practices. Funding to attend the conference was provided by Associated Students of Whitman College (ASWC). Students heard from scholars from the fields of environmental studies, sociology and anthropology along with national policy makers and farmers. These speakers addressed the effects of modern agricultural practices on a variety of topics ranging from immigration to environmentalism. Junior Lauren McCullough organized the trip to attend the conference in hopes of spreading food justice awareness and activism across Whitman’s campus. McCullough is a social justice and social change major—a unique major which she designed—and hoped on a personal level that the conference would help her formulate ideas for her thesis. In addition, McCullough said her main goal was to organize students who are already passionate about issues related to the food system, inspiring others to see the way food affects global society. “Food justice believes that

by KARAH KEMMERLY Staff Reporter

hitman College’s psychology department has made a significant change in its senior thesis program for the 20102011 school year. Instead of working individually, psychology majors can now choose between working independently or performing research in a group of two, three or four students, depending on how many of their peers have similar research interests, making it the only department on campus to allow a group thesis option. All but six out of 37 psychology majors decided to take this opportunity with their projects. Wally Herbranson, associate professor of psychology and Ladley Endowed Chair, said that the faculty hopes the change will allow the department’s shrinking faculty to better serve the students. “We didn’t have the numbers to effectively advise individual theses, but by allowing group theses, we went from 37 projects to about 20. This allows the faculty to give more attention to each,” he said. Herbranson views the group option as good preparation for graduate school, as students typically work with a team in a lab. He also believes that several minds working together can produce a better product. “I think the quality of the projects is increasing this year be-

cause more people are contributing ideas to each project,” he said. Senior psychology major Katie Barich is studying the mental processes of infants in poverty at the ages of six, nine and 12 months old. She opted to do an individual thesis but has participated in some group research. She has been quite pleased with the outcome of this decision. “While having more people involved made scheduling participants and collecting data easier, we got to avoid the drama and conflicts that often arise when working within a group on one paper,” she said. “It’s easier to get it done because we don’t have to worry about finding time within our schedules to meet up to write it. It is largely on our own time, our own pace, and tends to be written more cohesively,” she said. Barich also believes that there is a feeling of individual accomplishment that comes with writing an individual thesis. “You get direct feedback from your advisor on your individual writing, and thus greatly improve and learn how to write a true professional psychology paper,” she said. Despite all of the ben-

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alize that food affects many different issues, including contemporary concerns such as environmental degradation and cultural misunderstandings. “I think we have a problem of treating food homogeneously,” she said. “It’s more about getting those people, for whom food is most influential, in the discussion; to give them the power to be heard, so that we’re not speaking for them.” Students who attended the conference are for the most part involved in other campus activism efforts, including Campus Climate Challenge, Action for Animals and Whitman Direct Action. McCullough believes that these efforts all relate to food justice in some way, and hopes to foster activism around food justice issues on campus. “I’m interested in taking a more holistic approach and seeing what is needed in the community,” McCullough said. Simmons also hopes to make students aware of local eating options. “We want to start having food dinners and bringing in local farmers to educate ourselves about local food practices and how important it is to eat local,” she said. Because of the number of students who went on the trip, McCullough believes that food justice is becoming a prevalent concern for students. “The vast showing of people interested just goes to show that food justice is an issue,” she said. Simmons expects to see Whitman viewing food differently in the future and contributing to the movement towards food justice. “I think treating food as a sacred entity is the attitude we all need to fix these problems,” she said.

Approximate Number of Americans receiving food stamps in February 2010

12.5

Percentage of the population this represents

Percentage of federal food stamp recipients who are children

$673

Average gross monthly income for a family receiving federal food stamp benefits in

17.7

Percentage of first-generation immigrant households that are below the federal poverty line (Source: Heritage Foundation)

Starting in 2011, amount of food stamp benefits Washington State provides to legal immigrants who are not eligible for federal benefits

Psychology department switches to group thesis research

EDITORIAL

Backpage Editor Diana Dulek

Amount per meal (assuming 90 meals per month) this benefit provide

Whitties ponder food justice at conference

efits that come with writing an individual paper, Barich acknowledges the important role group research has played in the thesis process. “I got to experience the benefits of being in a group, like

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more flexibility in running studies and scheduling participants. We also have equal knowledge of each others’ theses and can give each other input,” she said. Senior Zach Rosenburg has enjoyed the group thesis process so far. “I love working in a group for thesis. It really takes a lot of the pressure off of us individually, and allowed us to be much more flexible with our data collection times. My group and I work pretty well together, and it’s pretty nice to have three people coming up with ideas as opposed to just one,” he said. Senior Elizabeth Allen, who is researching identity development in impoverished adolescents with three of her peers, has also had a positive experience under the group option. “A group can tackle a larger project and you can distribute all of the tasks associated with research among the group. I think a group can also produce a much higher quality thesis because everyone brings a different strength to the group,” she said. Herbranson is looking forward to see how the change plays out. “The first year is kind of an ongoing experiment. I think it’s been working well so far—at least I haven’t heard any stories of mutiny. The faculty and I are interested to read thesis evaluations and narrative assessments and see what students say,” he said.

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Lectures aim DREAM Act offers hope for undocumented students to spark green UNDOCUMENTED, 1 dialogue from

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threats to biodiversity from strip mining in the Congolese rain forest, or their work fighting coral extinction, these issues are suddenly much closer.” Clarke notes that the Whitman professors who will serve as the lecturers are incredibly knowledgeable about their topics regarding conservation. “The goal of the series is to share knowledge and raise awareness of both the issues being discussed in the series as well as the phenomenal research and expertise of the lecturers. We have a tremendous faculty at Whitman, and they have far more knowledge to impart to us than what can be conveyed in the classroom,” Clarke said. Snow, the next faculty member to give a lecture for the series, sees these lectures as an excellent way to foster discussion of important issues. “[This lecture series is important because] this is really good environmental school, and it can become a much better one if we keep insisting on expanding the sphere of discussion, conceptually, intellectually and spiritually, as we consciously aim to make environmental awareness, thinking and even healthy uncertainty more inclusive,” said Snow. Snow hopes that eventually students will be able to present at this lecture series. “I love the idea that this series may start a ball that could roll for years. I would love to help find a way to bring student speakers to the ‘lecterns’ as well—perhaps operating in Perry Grant fashion of student-professor teams of two or three,” he said. In the first lecture of the series, Carson addressed ecosystems and energy--his two conservation priorities. He discussed his views on conservation of fossil fuels, as well. “I want to conserve fossil fuels not because we are slowly running out of them, but because I think we should stop using them period—number one because of global climate change, and number two because we need them for other things like lubricants, pharmaceuticals and plastics,” said Carson. In order to fix our reliance on fossil fuels, Carson said that it is necessary to focus on a mix of alternative energies. He hopes that there will be more of a focus on oceans, including offshore wind farms, wave energy and current turbines. Carson is looking forward to the rest of the lecture series because he thinks that there should be more learning outside of the classroom, which is exactly what these lectures encourage. The lecture series in funded by the Sustainability Advisory Committee and Campus Greens. CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENT

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selor, she decided to write her college essays about her immigration situation, but said her parents were not happy with her decision to be open. Saul said he worked with several college counselors, both from school and outside organizations. Some were very helpful and aware of the laws governing undocumented students, while others had never worked with students in his position before. He said the most helpful counseling he received was from the College Success Foundation, which also gave him a 10,000 dollars scholarship for four years of school. “If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have gone to college,” he said. Many undocumented student do exactly that. Isabella said she knew other undocumented students from home who didn’t make it to college, often because they lack financial resources. “There are some students with okay grades who don’t think they are able to go to college, so they don’t apply,” she said. “There are some students who apply to many colleges and don’t go anywhere.” Ponti said that she has worked with the Achievement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program at Walla Walla High School, which serves many undocumented students. “Their dream is to go to college,” said Ponti. “Without a scholarship, they can’t do it.” For Jorge, paying for college is an ongoing challenge, even with a large scholarship from Whitman. His ex-

pected contribution is 1300 dollars per year, but because he has no social security number, finding a job is difficult. “Money is really hard to get. You can get a job if you don’t have documents,” he said. “But it’s going to pay less and it’s going to be minimum [wage].” Jorge said that his parents have had a variety of jobs since coming to the United States—apple picker, construction work and fast food service—but they have all been low-paying. As a child, he said his family often didn’t have enough to eat. “Whenever I get the chance to eat, I try to eat as much as I can,” he said. “During the summer, when I go back to my house, there’s no food around.” Circumstances like this separate many undocumented Whitman students from their peers. Isabella said none of her friends are aware of her situation. “It’s kind of hard to tell people,” she said. Jorge said he also doesn’t tell people, because he doesn’t view his immigration status as the most important part of who he is. “I don’t feel that different from other people,” he said. Saul said that for him, coming out as undocumented has been a gradual process. “As I get closer to [friends], they know my full story,” he said. Although he feels that Whitman students can be unaware of the existence of undocumented students among them, this is a trend that exists everywhere in the U.S., not just at Whitman. “I definitely feel like I want to tell more people so this is

more familiar to them,” he said. Cabasco agreed that many Whitman students are probably unaware of the presence of undocumented students on campus. He added that this is not just true for undocumented students, but for many of the diverse experiences that Whitman students have had. “What you see out there in America, we have it here,” he said. “There are stories that may be invisible. There’s a broader mix of students than you think.” Once undocumented students graduate, they face a new set of challenges. When asked about their prospects after graduation, all three students fell silent or laughed nervously. They expressed uncertainty about their ability to find a job or continue their education in a country where they legally are not allowed to reside. Isabella said that her family applied for legal citizenship when they came to the U.S. nine years ago, but their application is still working its way through a bureaucratic maze, and seems unlikely to ever be resolved. Saul’s family came to the U.S. from Mexico because of security concerns. “We didn’t seek asylum because at the time, [the U.S. government] didn’t grant asylum to Mexican citizens,” he said. One possibility for legal citizenship is the Documentation, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, which was first introduced in Congress in 2001 and has yet to pass. The act would provide a path to citizenship for undocumented students living in the country for a certain amount of time who have attended college or served in

the military and have no criminal record. Senior Ariel Ruiz has worked to increase awareness of the presence of undocumented students on campus, and the opportunities that the DREAM Act would provide for them. Many colleges and universities around the country have issued public statements in support of the act, but Whitman’s constitution prohibits the college from making any political statements. Ruiz said he understands this policy, but added that, “It’s very unfortunate that we can’t have our president write a simple letter.” Part of the struggle is making students aware of the fact that undocumented immigrants are on campus. “Beyond just undocumented students, these people are our friends,” said Ruiz. “This should be something that we want to talk about.” Isabella, Jorge and Saul all said that they hope the DREAM Act passes in time for them to benefit from it. “I can’t change anything. I can’t vote,” said Jorge. “We have to wait for the DREAM Act.” While Isabella wants to see it pass, she said that she’s stopped getting excited every time it’s considered, because it’s been close to passing so many times before. “You have to deal with the truth,” she said. “I’d rather not hope as much.” *Name has been changed to protect anonymity. All undocumented students interviewed for this article asked to remain anonymous due to concerns about legal repercussions for being publicly identified.

ASWC student fee lowered by JON RUFFIN Staff Reporter

SWC voted to reduce the student government fee from 320 to 316 dollars due to a surplus of funds from the large class of 2014 during their senate meeting on Feb. 13. In previous years the student government budgeted for 1445 students, but this year they were forced to budget for 1475 due to the large size of the incoming first-year class. The increased number of students paying the ASWC fee resulted in surplus funds for allocation. For this reason, ASWC Finance Chair Matt Dittrich proposed to the committee to lower the fee to eliminate the extra funds. “We would have had more money than we could have allocated wisely” Dittrich said. “Even with the four-dollar drop in the fee, we’ll still have a little extra money left for new programs to use.” New programs are taking sprout this year as well. The “Green Fund” is a new program designed to support sustainability projects, and it will absorb some of the extra money ASWC collected.

ASWC President Carson Burns is pleased with the decision to lower the fee. “We will be able to use our money more effectively without overbudgeting,” he said. “In essence, we’re improving our model from the past.” Unallocated money generally rolls back into ASWC’s “master account” to be reallocated the following fiscal year. “We aren’t handcuffing ourselves. In fact, we’ll have more money than we did last year as well as more to do with it,” said Burns. ASWC Vice President John Loranger also supports the motion. “We owe it to our constituents to keep the fee at exactly the level we need to provide the services we want,” he said. “If that means lowering the fee, that’s great for everybody.” Whitman first-year Ben Cohen-Stead commented that he will withhold judgment until he sees how the money will be spent. “I’m glad they’re trying to spend their resources effectively, but on my end, four dollars isn’t going to affect me much. We should wait and see if they do allocate the money efficiently.” ADVERTISEMENT

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PHOTO BY KLAG

Duncan talks spirituality The walls of Maxey Auditorium echoed with the spiritual musings of David James Duncan, who gave a lecture entitled “The Wild Without, and the Wild Within: toward a spirituality that serves the living world” on Wednesday, Feb. 23. Duncan hoped that students would leave with the desire to be aware of spiritual insights that would

lead them to find fulfilling work. Duncan addressed the commonality of spiritual experience, drawing from many literary and religious figures and often illustrating points through stories. “Developing an ear for those little spiritual whispers may be as important as developing an ear for singing in key when you’re playing music,” said Duncan.

Page 4

February 24 2011

New student music premieres at Composer’s Concert

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

by TANEEKA HANSEN Staff Reporter

n Friday, Feb. 25, Chism Recital Hall will premiere musical pieces by six student composers. While most of the composers are currently enrolled at Whitman College, two of the students attend Walla Walla University and one is a recent Whitman graduate. All of the composers share the experience of individual composition lessons with Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music John David Ernest as well as Friday group meetings where they share their work with other students. “Whatever I have ready I’ll get players or singers to come in and kind of do … an impromptu presenting [of] my music in its unfinished state to the class,” said senior music major Emily Allen. “I’ll give copies of my music to each person in the class so they can read along, and at the end we’ll discuss.” The composers then have the option of taking the ideas they heard from their peers or not. Although they did not make all suggested changes, junior composition major Mark Arand said the workshop was still useful. “[It’s] super helpful in terms of getting over people’s point of view,” said Arand. “Every now and again they give you something to try that is something you just didn’t think of; it’s fantastic.” Having people rehearse and perform their pieces for the class and for the concert offers another lesson to these composers— the importance of exact writing. “It takes a while to get exactly what you have in your mind to be played. You get what you have on paper, then you hear them play it, then you realize, ‘Oh wait, I wrote it down on paper wrong’, so you go back and fix it,” said Arand. “In the end, there’s always this gap between the composer and the musician—good writing simply narrows this gap,” said senior Ross Eustis, another composer. Eustis’s piece, a suite for sax inspired by his summer spent in Hawai‘i, exposed him to new styles of music. “The whole experience was difficult, but gratifying. I’m a jazz player, so it was initially frustrating and difficult to change my style and adapt to the classical way of composition and music,” said Eustis. Arand is presenting a suite for solo piano, which will be played by senior Marla Nelson. The suite of character pieces is called “Songs of My Father” and includes a piece called “Memory” and a second called “The Fireplace Rag”. Both were inspired by songs his father used to play when Arand was a child. “The first one, [‘Memory’], was originally supposed to be based off of a melody that he used to play, that he actually wrote,” said Arand. Senior Emily Allen, who is currently enrolled in her fourth semester of the composition course, has two pieces in Friday’s concert. One is a theme and variations written for two flutes, violin, viola and cello. The second is a requiem, a choral setting of a portion of the traditional Latin mass. “In general, both works are of an extremely high quality, especially the choral work because Emily is a singer and very solidly understands the voice,” said senior music major Jackson Maberry. Maberry is conducting both of Allen’s pieces, as well a choral piece by alumni Kevin McCoy ’10. Maberry began his conducting career his sophomore year with the Whitman Composers Concert. Like the other composers, he has observed the artistic gaps between what the composer has in mind and what is produced. “[The composers] are able to grant you immediate input regarding interpretive choices … Which is different because, you know, most conductors are used to having sole interpretive authority,” said Maberry. Maberry and the composers are in agreement, however, that it has been a fantastic experience. “Since collaboration is what music making is all about, I sincerely enjoy working directly with a composer,” he said. The Whitman Composers Concert will be this Friday, Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. in Chism Recital Hall. The concert is free and open to the public.

karaoke night

The Student Activities Office will host a Karaoke Night for students looking for a chance to show off their vocal cords or those who simply want to watch their friends belt out their favorite tunes. Free food and drinks will be available. Friday, Feb. 25. 9-11 p.m. Reid Coffeehouse.

vagina monologues

Adriel Borshansky, ‘12 and Rimmy Doowa, ‘12 rehearse in preparation for their Feb. 26 concert at the Beta House. PHOTO BY KLAG

SPOTLIGHT ON ART

Campus band ‘Dabbles in Bloom’ faces obstacles, plans ahead

optimism keeps band together despite members studying abroad, taking time oFF by KATE ROBINETTE Staff Reporter

hat started out as two students playing a justfor-kicks concert together in Whitman College’s amphitheater has now grown to a four-member, blogosphere-touted indie group with an album, iTunes availability and tentative tour plans. Juniors Adriel Borshansky and Rimmy Doowa and sophomores Robby Seager and Jonas Myers recorded Dabbles in Bloom’s first album “Found It” last year. It was released in July 2010, right before Borshansky went abroad for a semester. “I remember those cold nights biking past the penitentiary down the road to the studio—super sketch—but somehow I didn’t care. We just wanted something solid ... [to] keep us going,” said Doowa on recording the album. The band, whose style music blog Stereotyped Life described as “whisper rock”, sees itself as a lighthearted creative body. “It’s fun, friendly indie rock with a little bit of jazz,” says Seager. “[We’re] jazz-influenced, even if it’s not explicit in all the songs,” said Borshansky. “And we also don’t have explicit

PHOTO COURTESY OF DABBLES IN BLOOM

songs,” added Myers, showing the characteristic humor and fun-loving side of Dabbles in Bloom. “It’s music you’ll never be sad while you’re listening to.” The band’s style is driven largely by the lilting, original songwriting of Borshansky. “Writing music has always been really meaningful for me, something that I value and ... I feel like when we’re together as a group we can create new things that us individually wouldn’t be able to do,” he said. Doowa, vocals and sundry percussion, does it because she enjoys singing. “I’m a creative person, but I’ve never been able to really show it much. What Adriel does is he plays the gui-

by WILL WITWER Staff Reporter

ometimes, all you have to do is trade an ‘e’ for a ‘u’, add a ‘c’ and you’re in business again. At least, that is what happened to the rogue, bi-weekly alt-journalism grab bag formerly known as the Secession. Senior Finn Straley and junior Simi Singh, among others, recently rebooted the magazine under a new name: the Succession. The editors plan to preserve many beloved aspects of the old magazine while taking the magazine into the future. “Where the Secession’s intention was to showcase a lot of art and outsider writing, and that’s still part of our mission, my main goal with this new publication is to bring together a lot of different voices at Whitman, voices that might not otherwise be heard or published,” said Straley. Though the editors will preserve all of the Secession’s design elements, they have seriously changed how the magazine gathers its content. The biggest change comes via regular staff writers and who will pitch stories and contribute to every issue. “That way we know what we’re getting into,” said Straley. “We also will accept submissions, and we try not to prioritize our own staff—if we have something that’s really really good, it will go in first. Quality is the only consideration.” Each issue will have its own distinct theme, many of which will encompass major disciplines at our school, such as with the first issue’s theme: “Science”. According to junior Nick Michal,

a Succession staff writer, the magazine hopes that the themes will bring out creativity in writers using a prompt not typically seen as a creative one. “I think what they’re trying to do with the reboot is to handle themes that aren’t really conducive to writers or creative-types,” said Michal. “I think that encourages us to explore those realms that we don’t typically look that deeply into, and at the same time, encourage people who would get scared or intimidated by submitting to quarterlife and blue moon [because] there is a certain reputation there.” Michal indicated plans for possible recurring content, including a repeating character in a similar locale responding to the theme each week. The staff will continue to flesh out this idea this semester. The first issue of the magazine came out on Feb. 10, and the second issue will come out on Thursday, Feb. 24. The editors were pleased with the first issue and saw it as a strong foundation to build on for the future. “I think it was more than we were expecting,” said Singh. “We got a lot of submissions from new people and they were all really polished. It was a good foot to get off on.” Straley and Singh heartily encourage anyone whose piece they reject to submit again. “quarterlife and blue moon are more art-focused,” said Straley. “Hopefully the Succession [includes] more personal and expository essays, eventually like people writing about things they know about, and teaching, essentially. I see the Succession as more of an article of expository writing, versus kind of fiction or art or poetry, so that’s a big difference to me.”

Family dysfunction chronicled in ‘City Island’ Staff Reporter

entered around a severely dysfunctional family, “City Island” is a comedic drama that is, to quote one of the main characters, “Greek in scope.” The members of the Rizzo family are deeply invested in their misguided impressions of one another. These misguided impressions are the results of constant lies and secrecy, as each family member fears judgment and disappointment from the others. The film chronicles the presence of deceit and misinterpretation, ultimately showing the slow unraveling and final rebuilding of a unique group of people. The film follows Vince Rizzo (Andy Garcia), father of three kids and husband to Joyce Rizzo (Julianna Margulies). Vince is a correctional officer and closeted aspiring actor, who, after discovering that the son he abandoned from a previous relationship is in jail, decides to bring him home to stay with

international banquet

International Students and Friends Club hosts its annual International Banquet, where students can learn about and enjoy the food, performances and cultures of their peers from around the world. Saturday, Feb. 26. Saturday, Feb. 26 at 5:30 p.m. Jewett Dining Hall. 10 dollars for students, 20 dollars for adults. Tickets on sale at Reid from 12-1 p.m. and upstairs in the Intercultural Center (Reid 216) from 9-5 p.m. ter of my freshman year,” said Myers. “We just started jamming and 12 months later we had an album.” With a website, a music video and numerous blog mentions under its belt, the band looks forward new projects, including a major music video project to its song “Limb of Novelty”, set to finish this semester. Dabbles is also working on new music and plans to perform at numerous small events around campus. They have Reid Ballroom booked on April 21 and are planning a big show for that date. They are also in the process of obtaining a manager to handle the administrative end of things. “Part of the reason that I’m so excited about being in this group is that it’s all-student,” said Borshansky. The band also has a message to Whitman students: “Keep making art.”

Alternative literary magazine returns, renamed Succession

MOVIE REVIEW

by MCCAULAY SINGER-MILNES

tar [and] says, ‘Just sing whatever you feel like singing.’ ... [and] good things come out of it,” said Doowa. Seager, the band’s drummer and a former math and economics major, decided to take this semester off to focus on music. “I wanted to have as much time as possible to work not only on this band but all kinds of other musical things ... and I’m probably going to be a music major and work on that now,” he said. Myers plays keys and bass guitar for the group, and was introduced to the band in a dining hall on campus. “Dabbles in Bloom is something I just kind of stumbled into ... at the beginning of spring semes-

VOX and FACE present their annual collection of skits, poems and soliloquies: “The Vagina Monologues.” A selection of various performances from Eve Ensler’s 1996 show of the same name, this event is part of the V-Day campaign, which helps raise awareness and funds for the fight to stop violence against women. Friday-Sunday, Feb. 25-27, 7 p.m. Olin 130. 5 dollars. Tickets on sale in Reid from 12-1 p.m.

his family. His son Tony (Steven Strait) inadvertently discovers each family members’ secret, causing an escalation in their scope and effect on each person. The presence of Tony as “the voice of reason” often lends itself to humorous moments, as the convict seems to be the most well-adjusted member of the bunch. It is ironic moments and ideas such as this, that makes “City Island” particularly witty and fun to watch. In the end, almost every secret is the product of a lack of communication among the various family members, and thus could have been prevented. The presence of Tony forces these secrets to ultimately come to light, turning a secretive dysfunctional family to one that can at least address its issues and begin to fix them. “City Island” is a smart and overlooked independent film. Reminiscent of a less popular “Little Miss Sunshine”, this film is witty and engaging with an outstanding cast led by Garcia, and writing that lends itself to the strong act-

ing. One of the greatest elements of the film is the clear attention to details that Oscar-nominated director Raymond De Felitta put into each scene, creating a strong sense of fluidity and continuity that allows for the presence of humor in an otherwise dramatic film. An example of this specific yet simple detail occurs in the beginning of the movie, when every family member is shown secretly smoking, thinking that they are the only ones who are unable to kick the bad habit and fearful of negative reactions from the rest of the family. These brief moments are incredibly thoughtful and allow the actors’ actions to engage the audience, illustrating the wide range of deceit present in the family over even the smallest of issues. I would highly recommend this relatively unknown film, as it is a highly entertaining, yet thoughtful movie. The actors bring enough human elements and reality to their performances to make this film both enjoyable and thought-provoking.

Alex Pearson (left) and Noah Lerner, both ‘12, tell Christmas, winter and familythemed stories at the first Missionary Mainstage event. PHOTO BY VON HAFFTEN

‘Missionary Mainstage’ makes mark

small group of students met at Kimball Theatre to listen to and tell stories at Whitman College’s first Missionary Mainstage on Tuesday, Feb. 23. Based loosely around the topic of “Winter Wonderland”, students’ stories varied from once-in-a-lifetime moments to small, mundane personal experiences still worth sharing. For example, junior Alex Pearson recounted a funny tale of a family Christmas where his grandmother aspired to create a Christ-

mas tree out of sausage, while junior Noah Lerner shared a story about a very rainy family vacation to Disneyland. Sophomore Ryann Savino, an audience member, stated that she would consider participating in the next Missionary Mainstage event. “I’d do it,” Savino said. “Listening to their stories makes you think of your own.” While Kimball Theatre had some some empty seats, Savino believed that this made the event “more personal.”

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Page 5

February 24 2011

Sexism, binaries and vaginas, oh my! ILLUSTRATION BY LOOS-DIALLO

We like to think of the Whitman environment as openminded. On paper and in the classroom, we cry out against discrimination. But anonymously—when scribbling on bathroom stalls or hastily evaluating professors—we can prove to be just as intolerant as the injustices we publicly denounce. This week, Feature examines gender, focusing on groups that work to combat the prejudices hidden below the surface of our community.

GENDER

BY THE NUMBERS

CURRENT STUDENT BODY Women: 58% Men: 42% CLASS OF 2011 ADMISSIONS

Feminism still alive in Whitman community by KELSEY KENNEDY Staff Reporter

he debate over a woman’s reproductive rights is once again at the forefront of public consciousness with the introduction of new legislation in the House of Representatives that would cut federal funding and subsidies for abortions. The bill, called the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act”, has received significant criticism for its redefinition of “forcible rape”, excluding cases of coerced rape or incest; Washington senator Patty Murray called it “a step back in history”, according to a National Public Radio report. Debate over the proposed bill has reverberated across the country to Whitman College, and has been a hot topic of conversation for members of the Feminists Advocating Change and Empowerment (FACE). A student-run club that has grown from three to over a dozen active members since senior and club president McKenna Milici’s freshman year, FACE discusses a broad scope of

Sexism is casual. People make jokes about it and if you don’t laugh along with it you don’t have a sense of humor. AVERY POTTER, '13

national feminist issues at their meetings, from reproductive rights to representations of female celebrities in the media to workplace discrimination. FACE is chiefly concerned with feminist issues specific to Walla Walla and the Whitman campus, advocating for greater awareness of casual sexism and acceptance of feminism as a nonradical way to promote gender equality. FACE is joined

on campus by another advocate for feminist issues, Voices for Planned Parenthood (VOX), which focuses specifically on women’s health and reproductive rights. VOX does community service work with the STEP women’s shelter in Walla Walla and is in the process of hosting a lunchtime lecture series with Whitman professors about reproduction and sexuality. The two groups often work together to promote feminism on campus, co-sponsoring the Vagina Monologues and hosting a screening of the film “12th and Delaware” about tensions between an abortion clinic and pro-life crisis pregnancy center. Kate Kight, a sophomore and FACE member, emphasizes that Whitman students are typically less aware of sexism on campus than on the national level. “I think that people are generally aware of feminism as a broader, ‘out there in the world’ kind of thing, like that the redefinition of rape is bad, and the types of issues that were tackled by 1970s feminism, but are less receptive to cultural feminism,” she said. Kight points to casually-used terms such as “chick” and “hooters” as the kind of cultural sexism feminists on campus are trying to combat. Sophomore Avery Potter defines cultural feminism as a less tangible, but equally vital facet of the movement toward gender equality. “It’s not in the forefront of anybody’s mind; it’s subtle now. Sexism is casual. People make jokes about it and if you don’t laugh along with it you don’t have a sense of humor,” she said. Professor Melissa Wilcox, associate professor of religion and director of the gender studies department, notes that cultural sexism is also present in the classroom. “Women professors on average get lower course marks than male professors,” said Wilcox, noting that female professors who appear more “masculine” often receive better evaluations. She points to comments made on evaluations by students about female professors’ physical appearance, clothing choices and personal life outside of the classroom as mani-

festations of implicit sexism, demonstrating that female professors are usually judged by a more rigid standard. “I don’t think students consider themselves sexist, but it’s how many of the ‘-isms’ are working in society. Few would admit that their behavior is outwardly sexist or racist,” she said.

I don’t think students consider themselves sexist, but it’s how many of the -isms are working in society. MELISSA WILCOX, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF RELIGION, DIRECTOR OF GENDER STUDIES DEPARTMENT

Wilcox also describes other instances of sexism on campus; such as Whitman’s maternity and family leave policies. “Whitman does not have a strong parental leave policy compared to most corporate settings and also other academic institutions,” she said. According to the Faculty Handbook, the standard maternity leave policy covered under “short-term disabilities” is six weeks leave or one course reduction. Family leave, often used for the caring of an infant, allows several options for tenure-track faculty members, from one course reduction to a full year of leave with salary cuts. Nontenure-track faculty members and staff are allowed up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Additionally, Wilcox points out that there are no on-campus day care options for children under 18 months of age. Despite these criticisms, Wilcox finds that students on campus are engaged in gender discourse, her classes inciting the interest of both male and female students. While men are usually in the minority in her classes, the department graduates at least one male gender studies major every year. However, there is still the nagging belief that the study of gender issues and the label of being a feminist are

female applicants: 1,728 - 59.8% of all applicants

reserved for women. “Men are not seen as having gender, much like white people aren’t seen as having race,” she said. Seth Dawson, a junior, admits that while he personally identifies as a feminist, there is the general feeling among male students that mainstream feminism is exclusively for women. “Freshman year I thought FACE and VOX were women’s-only clubs,” he said. Dawson also feels that embracing the label of feminism can be challenging for men who do not want to make judgments about women’s issues. “As a guy who will never have to deal with these issues, like having an abortion, I don’t want to presume to have all the answers,” he said. FACE members admit that their club’s homogeneity, being made up mostly of white women, is problematic, and something they talk about on a regular basis. “I think probably one of the main reasons we have so much difficulty having men as well as women identify as feminists is that if you take on the term there is an implied activism. But there are lighter ways of doing feminism, just like environmentalism. For example, even though I’m not involved in environmental clubs, I do recycle. We think about ways you can ‘recycle’ as a feminist,” said Milici. Milici suggests this “light feminism” can be as simple as being mindful of casual comments made in daily conversation. “Don’t make the joke, but also don’t laugh at the joke, and maybe take issue with the joke when someone says something offensive,” she said. The Vagina Monologues, FACE and VOX’s most popular annual event, will once again be shown on campus this weekend, with proceeds from ticket sales going toward the Walla Walla Planned Parenthood, YWCA and STEP Women’s Shelter. The Monologues, an episodic play written by Eve Ensler in 1996, has stood the test of time at Whitman due to its unabashed, and at times humorous, portrayal of women’s relationships to their own sexuality in the face of societal pressures. FACE members hope that the Monologues will spur discussion about female sexuality and encourage

male applicants:

1,164 - 40.2% of all applicants

admittance rate: Women: 49.6% Men: 46.5% CLASS OF 2014 ADMISSIONS: female applicants: 1,923 - 60.2% of all applicants male applicants:

1,241 - 38.8% of all applicants

admittance rate: Women: 49.6% Men: 46.5% current composition: Women: 60.2% Men: 38.8% Not Identifying: 1% FACULTY 2010-11: Women: 58 (43.3%) Men: 76 (56.7%)

men and women to talk about these issues. In the past, the Monologues have been attended by men and women in equal numbers, which is not true of FACE’s other lectures and events. “There’s a buzz around campus about it. It’s really special for our club since we aren’t BSU or Club Latino with tons of members and as recognizable on campus. It’s cool to be able to have that much of a voice on campus,” said junior Ellie Newell, a FACE member and actor in the Monologues. The Vagina Monologues will be shown this Friday through Sunday, Feb. 25 to 27. All showings start at 7 p.m. in Olin 130. Tickets can be purchased from noon to 1 p.m. in Reid Campus Center throughout the week or at the door for five dollars.

ES N/D

CHI

ER BY L OS HOT

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Gender: by HANNA KAHL Staff Reporter

oys are “supposed to” play with toy trucks, wrestle, never cry, get a high-paying job and marry a beautiful woman. Girls are “supposed to” have boyfriends, be emotional, marry a handsome man and cook meals for the family. These expectations are the product of the gender binary, the social construction by which gender is established as a rigid dichotomy: male or female. The gender binary perpetuates roles and expectations for men and women--but the truth of the matter is that many do not live up to society’s standards of what they are “supposed to” be. Some boys play with Barbies. Some girls wrestle. However, these stereotypes still define how a person is viewed, and often contribute to the way that they are treated. “That’s why discrimination occurs, because most people don’t fit into the stereotypes,” said junior Mehera Nori. Those that are GLBTQ face many challenges since they don’t fit into the gender binary. Some see them as challenging society’s gender norms and thereby threatening an institution that has become comfortable and familiar. “One of the things GLBTQ people face is heterosexism, which is the

Looking beyond socially-constructed binary conception that being heterosexual is better,” said Melissa Wilcox, associate professor of religion and director of the gender studies department. “The gender binary is especially difficult for those who identify as trans or gender queer in that there is such a strong expectation that people will not only be one gender or the other, but will be the gender that society expects.” Individuals in our society are classified by gender and certain expectations are thus imposed on them. “Our understanding socially in the United States of gender actually includes sexual attraction, so that what it is to be a woman in our society is in part to be attracted to a man, stereotypically of course, and likewise what it is to be a man stereotypically in our society is to be attracted to women. What that means is that our society still assumes that gay men are feminine and lesbians are masculine,” Wilcox said. “The stereotype of gay and lesbian people is that they don’t conform to gender stereotypes,” senior said Liam Mina. “Or that we have to make them fit into a stereotype. If they are lesbian you are like, ‘They are fat or butch.’ There’s no in-between,” Nori added. These perceptions can accumulate into a general sense of homophobia often have devastating consequences. “In terms of emotional effects, I do

know that there is a higher rate of mental illness and substance abuse in LGBTQ communities that has directly to do not with being LGBTQ, [but rather with] homophobia and transphobia. When we are talking about mental illness we are especially talking about anxiety and depression. We do have higher suicide rates in the [LGBTQ] community than we do in the average community in the U.S.,” Wilcox said. Although students at Whitman College are typically accepting and liberal-minded, there is still a certain amount of wrongful assumptions, insensitivities and lack of awareness towards gender diversity due to the gender binary. “I think I feel this way about a lot of communities, like Whitman, that are like, ‘Yeah, we’re accepting!’ You still get a lot of that [gender] binary language,” Nori said. “I think that even with Dragfest and the accepting culture here, a lot of Whitman students would never consider anything outside of the gender binary. I don’t think it’s talked about in most circles, and I feel like to many people I’ve talked to it’s a completely new idea to them,” Mina said. Historically, the treatment of GLBTQ people has fluctuated dramatically. While the general trend is one of improvement, times of economic hardship can cause a backslide.

“During economic recession we seem to see a shift towards social conservatism, so with the huge depression things kind of backpedaled [for LGBTQ mobilization],” said Wilcox. We are now in a period of economic recession, and this trend may shed some light on instances of resistance to GLBTQ people in the present day. Although in general acceptance and rights have increased, discrimination is still very much an issue that the GLBTQ community deals with. Currently, attacks tend to be more covert. “There is less overt discrimination in society, but I would say also that the challenges are different not necessarily that everything has gotten perfect. Various aspects of the community face different challenges,” Mina said. “There are also struggles within the GLBTQ community itself. One of the big debates within the community itself is the gay marriage debate, the question of: ‘Should we even be arguing for this?’ However, there are more legal protections for the gay community and they can’t be overtly discriminated against as much,” Nori said. “I think the attacks we get now are a lot more anonymous and you don’t even know who is attacking you. Last year, my section had a large number of GLBTQ students. We never experienced any problems with our sectionmates that we could see, but there was

a quote board in the bathroom and in the spring semester someone started writing some really hateful remarks, which got some people saying, ‘that’s not okay,’ but then other people adding on to the remarks. We had no idea who it was and no one would have said any of that to our face, but it was there,” sophomore Brian van Oppen said. These quiet attacks could especially be prevalent on Whitman’s campus. Because of the vibe of acceptance that Whitman expresses, people experiencing homophobia and related prejudices feel that they can only express it anonymously. “I think that it’s not cool to be homophobic at Whitman, but I think the sentiment still exists amongst some people,” Mina said. On the other hand, compared to how GLBTQ people were treated in the past, there has been obvious progress. “Last semester we had a meal with some GLBTQ alums. We were talking about how some people will yell out of the car ‘Fag!’ or something terrible. One of the alums was saying 20 years ago they wouldn’t have yelled it out of the car but they would have gotten out of the car and punched you. I think that’s a specific example of things changing, not entirely getting better but people at least not getting beat up,” said junior Emma O’Rourke-Powell.

February 24 2011

Page 6

Sweets set scene for ultimate domination by TYLER HURLBURT Staff Reporter

o for a walk out past the Whitman College softball fields any afternoon and you will see the ultimate Frisbee team working hard toward another strong season. The Whitman Sweets started the season off strong with an impressive 4-0 finish at the Tacoma Invite on Saturday, Feb. 12. At the invite, Whitman collectively outscored its opponents 60-11. Junior Stephen Stradley was proud of his team’s performance at such an early point in the season. “We accomplished all of our goals that we had set going in,” Stradley said. “It set a standard for high expectations.” Senior Jeremy Norden agrees that the way the Sweets played at the Tacoma Invite set a strong precedent for the team. “The Tacoma Invite was a great way to kick off the spring ultimate season,” Norden said. “The momentum of this tournament will set the tone for the rest of the season.” Last year, the Sweets ended their season with a second place finish at the UPA Division III College Championships to a team from Carleton College. This year, the team aims to have another very successful season. Only losing two seniors from the last year’s team to graduation means that the Sweets will be playing with a tremendous amount of experience. There is also a strong class of first-

years to bring depth to the team. One first-year, Eddie Hill, learned of the teams prior success only after arriving on campus. While Hill was new to college and lacked experience in ultimate Frisbee, the team welcomed him and fostered his interest in the sport. “Knowing how close-knit the team already was intimidated me when I first started coming to practice. But the team was very welcoming,” Hill said. “They understood that I was new to the game and were more than willing to answer my questions and better my understanding of the strategy of ultimate.” At the recent Tacoma Invite, the Sweets were told by another team that they should set their goals even higher. “PLU said that we should shoot for Division I nationals,” Stradley said. To do so, the Sweets would have to be one of the top 16 college teams in the nation. Stradley feels that this goal is within reach, but it will require a team that is more durable. “It is achievable, but we have a lot of work,” Stradley said. “We have lost a lot of players to fairly serious knee injuries.” Norden is optimistic towards the rest of the season as a whole despite these obstacles. “The Sweets are going to have another strong year,” Norden said. “We are going to play up to our potential and cherish every moment.” The Sweets travel to California next to compete in the Stanford Open on Feb. 26 and 27.

IHC athletes add variety despite trials from IHC ATHLETICS,

PAGE

“One of the reasons why I moved out of the Co-op was because I felt like I wasn’t living up to my obligations to my house,” she said. “I kind of felt like I wasn’t getting to know my housemates well and wasn’t creating that relationship.” Herman says he is aware of varsity athletes’ challenging situation, and tries specifically to prepare his RA staff to work with athletes. He also encourages the IHC community to cheer on varsity athletes. “For houses to be able to go support athletes is also a really special bonding experience,” Herman said. Best, too, sees varsity athletes as contributing something unique to the community. “I think athletes bring a nice perspective to the IHC. Sometimes the houses get so focused on the theme that it’s nice to discuss someone’s other passion. Also I don’t think the IHC in general goes to many sporting events, and having athletes as housemates definitely increases awareness and attendance,” she said. For varsity team members looking to pursue extra-athletic interests and find a supportive community, the IHC can offer a great option. According to Butts, though, the decision to live in the IHC should be made with careful consideration. “I would really recommend that they think about whether this is a commitment that they are willing to take on. It is a great experience and if they are able to they should definitely do it. The most important is to have a conversation with the house and the RA and explain what it means to be an athlete in terms of the time commitment,” she said.

Basketball MEN'S vs. Pacific University 2/18 WOMEN'S vs. Pacific University 2/18

vs. College of Idaho 2/19

MEN'S vs. Pacific University 2/20 vs. George Fox University 2/20 vs. Willamette University 2/21 WOMEN'S vs. Lewis-Clark State 2/19 vs. Willamette University 2/20

Margaret Moses-Wilson ‘12 catches a pass in practice. The Sweets opened their season with a 4-0 finish at the Tacoma Invite on Feb. 12. PHOTO BY VON HAFFTEN

Both of Whitman’s tennis teams proved triumphant over NWC opponents in their opening week of conference matches. The Whitman men, NWC defending champions, soundly defeated three northwest foes, beating Pacific 8-1 and blanking George Fox and Willamette 9-0. The women outlasted Willamette at home with a 5-4 victory thanks in part to junior newcomer Lizzy Schiller’s win at No. 5 singles.

loss; 9-2 (9) loss; 5-0 (7)

Tennis

Staff Reporter

Tennis teams claim victory

win; 67-44

vs. College of Idaho loss; 15-9 (9) 2/18 loss; 9-1 (7)

by PAMELA LONDON

PHOTO BY KLAG

loss; 59-55

Baseball

Co-ed club soccer gives players new perspective

SCOREBOARD

t Whitman College, the arrival of a new school year with the sun shining down on Ankeny Field can only mean one thing: it’s once again time for the start of club soccer. The Whitman club soccer team began with a freshman section team from Jewett Hall, which started playing pick-up and then decided to form a team. Made up of both men and women, the club soccer team has participated annually in a tournament hosted by Walla Walla University in addition to playing area teams in scrimmages. “It’s really easy to get involved in club soccer,” said senior Liz Hockett. “A lot of it is word of mouth— people asking their friends if they want to play. It’s a lot of people who played all throughout high school but aren’t playing for Whitman’s varsity team for one reason or another.” The entire club soccer program is run by students, from organizing games and scrimmages to recruiting players from around campus. In addition to word of mouth, the majority of players join up with the team by playing pick-up on Ankeny, which happens three afternoons a week during the fall semester. The team is a great compromise for students who want a balance between athletics and academics. “The team can go in any direction depending on the people involved that particular year,” said Hockett. “It is just about getting together and playing a more competitive style than can be found in pickup. After the [WWU] tournament ... the team usually disbands and reforms the next year. Those who still want to play soccer play pick-up.” Arguably the most unique as-

pect of the club soccer team is the fact that it is co-ed--making it Whitman’s only co-ed athletic program at any level (varsity, club or intramural). “I really enjoyed playing on a coed team,” said first-year Kira Murray. “[It] challenged me to be a lot quicker than I usually might be, just because of the fact that guys are a lot stronger and faster in general.” “It’s been fun playing with girls,” said first-year Paul Lemeiux. “The girls who play pick-up play well, and so the competitiveness of the game doesn’t change. The games are often competitive, but not aggressive in any way. With a pick-up game, there really isn’t much difference playing with girls—you play the same way you would normally.” The camaraderie that was built playing pick-up in the fall helped make the translation easy into a club team of guys and girls. Although playing on a co-ed team didn’t make much of a difference at all for the Whitman players, the team did have some interesting encounters with another team that wasn’t initially as thrilled with the co-ed concept. “[T]he guys on the Walla Walla University team weren’t aware that they were going to be playing girls,” said Murray. “So it was fun to challenge them hard ... We ended up playing them twice, and the second time they called us to tell us that they didn’t want to play unless we played only with guys. We vetoed that, and they ended up playing us anyways because it was their senior night and they needed a team to play.” For all the players, the primary benefit of playing on the club soccer team is to have the opportunity to do something they all love and be competitive even if that competition isn’t at a varsity level.

win; 8-1 win; 9-0 win; 9-0

loss; 9-0 win; 5-4

UPCOMING EVENTS Basketball MEN'S

PlayoFF game vs. Lewis & Clark

home; feb. 24, 7 P.M.

WOMEN'S

PlayoFF game vs. away; feb. 24 Lewis & Clark

Baseball MEN'S

vs. Pomona-Pitzer away; feb. 26 vs. ClaremontMudd-Scripps

away; feb. 26

Tennis MEN'S

vs. Linfield WOMEN'S

vs. Lewis & Clark

home; feb. 26, 2 p.m. away; feb. 26

Swimming NWC Swimming Championships

away; feb. 24 - 26

“I love playing soccer, so it’s been fun to get out and play,” said Lemeiux. “I like how casual our games are. We play soccer, but there aren’t any coaches breathing down your neck. You can test out a new move, make a bad mistake, and no one really cares.” “I don’t think I can go back to playing with just girls, although I loved playing all-girls throughout my life,” said Hockett. “[When] playing with guys I can be competitive but still have a lot of fun. It’s not about proving how good you, are but just having a good time and playing well.”

Young baseball team aims for turn around after recent slump years to come. If Whitman wants to turn the program around, they need the quality of Richards’ and Korsmo’s play and commitment to be the standard, not the exception. “To be on the level of nationally-competitive teams, we need to be at least as good as [seniors Richards and Korsmo], if not better,” said Matherly. “We need to get better every year. Aaron Cohen, first-year, is the all-time home run hitter in the state of Alaska. The caliber of the Whitman students is the best ever, starting this year,” said Holowaty. With such a young team,

by ANDREW HAWKINS Staff Reporter

hitman College baseball coach Jared Holowaty’s baseball program has the potential to turn around a recent slump with this year’s 2010 recruiting class. In order to become a competitive college within the Northwest Conference, Holowaty must keep his players dedicated to the team so that they may become as strong and consistent performers as their opponents. Last year, Holowaty was new to the program and therefore never had the chance to recruit players for Whitman’s team. The team only had 12 men—a third of the size of a typical college team. The players Holowaty had at his disposal had been recruited by former coach Casey Powell, who resigned in 2009 after seven years as coach at Whitman in order to become an assistant coach at Seattle University. However, the first-year class has the opportunity to make this program competitive within the Northwest Conference. “Last year we came into a situation that was left to us and did the best we could,” said Coach Holowaty. “[The players] worked harder than any team I’ve had in the past.” On Friday, Feb. 18, the team played—and lost—two games, 15-9 and 9-1 respectively, to the College of Idaho, a team ranked 21st in Division III. Currently, the men’s team record is 0-8 after losing all four games in the series to Idaho and losing four games in Arizona. After so many losses, the question must be asked: Can Whitman turn this program around? The Northwest Conference is comprised of teams predominately from Washington, Oregon and Idaho. The games played so

the team has the potential to turn their own program around. “The talent is there,” said Matherly. “It just needs to be developed.” The Whitman team has the youth and potential to be a contending team for the conference. However, it needs ime to develop and truly become competitive. The baseball team may need more than a preseason to turn its program around, but Hollowaty has started the sparks of what could be a successful and strong program.

A young baseball team battles with College of Idaho in their first home games. The team dropped all four games in the double double-header. PHOTOS BY BOWMAN

far do not count for the conference and are significant only in providing practice for the young team. Playing at a higher level is key to Whitman’s longevity as a contending team in the conference. Overall, Whitman baseball players have had a hard time maintaining commitment to the program, with players leaving frequently after only one season of play. In order to turn this team around, the team will need to retain its players for more than a year so that every season Whitman does not field an inexperienced team. Currently, 18 of the 24 players are first-years. “The players we are recruiting now ... want to compete. They come to Whitman to compete and to get a good education,” said Hollowaty. “These kids are working extremely hard and they’re committed. They are committed to turning the baseball program around and they’re proud of that.” “We started eight freshman,” said

first-year pitcher Dakota Matherly. “It’s a big step up from high school.” The jump from high school to college is a sizable one. Most of the starters the baseball team faces have 30 games under their belt and two or three years of college baseball practice, whereas most Whitman players have played a handful of games and had only six months of college practice. “[Generally we play teams] who start seven seniors,” said Matherly. This year the men’s baseball team returns a mere six players, two of whom are starters. They are led by senior captains Eric Korsmo and Jay Richards. Both Korsmo and Richards are consistent hitters. Korsmo made his presence known with a tworun home run in the seventh inning during the first game of the series, while Richards was walked in five of his six times at bat. The leadership that Korsmo and Richards demonstrate will be an example that the team will follow for

February 24 2011

Page 7

Bon Appétit should improve payment system, mend trust with student body TRISTAN GRAU Columnist

ost Whitman students don’t steal food from Reid Café 66, but they certainly could. The problem is that it is far too easy to do so. Of course, students shouldn’t steal from Reid, but it also shouldn’t be so easy for them. Luckily, two simple changes would make it much harder for students to steal without unduly inconveniencing the majority of students who pay for their meals. The biggest problem with the way Reid handles food payment is that there is no coherent system for when customers pay for their meals. Since meals at Reid are made-to-order, most customers will receive a receipt before they get their food. Customers have the choice of paying immediately with their receipt or waiting to pay when their food is ready. The upshot is that most of the time there is no way to

tell whether a customer leaving the food court has paid, unless one has been watching them closely. Students who leave with a plate without paying might have already paid before their meal was ready; students with receipts who walk past the cashier might pay when the pick up their order. This payment system is so easy to circumvent that I know friends who have accidentally taken food out of Reid without paying. Stealing from Reid requires so little effort that sometimes it doesn’t even require the intention to steal. The way Bon Appétit uses receipts makes this problem worse. Right now receipts only designate that a student has ordered a meal, not that they have paid for one. Other than catching someone in the act, there is no easy way to verify that a customer has not paid for their meal. On the flip side, customers who have paid cannot verify this fact. A comprehensive solution to these problems might require a remodel of Reid or a new payment system. But both of these problems can be significantly alleviated by some simple changes in policy that would make payment at Reid more consistent and accountable. To begin with, Bon Appétit should only allow customers to pay when

they bring out food. It would be visually obvious who should be paying because customers carrying food couldn’t have already paid with their receipts. An objection to this plan is that students couldn’t bring food back into the food court without risking being charged a second time when they left. A student who had paid for a pizza but forgotten to add red pepper flakes to it would be out of luck if the cashier did not remember them. Remember that students have no way of proving that they have paid under the current system.

While I believe that most students do not steal... we may be indirectly hurt by those who do. This is where the receipts come in. All Bon Appétit needs to do is provide customers with a record that they have paid—an actual receipt, for example. This could be done by printing separate receipts or it could be done more simply by stamping the receipts of students when they pay. Bon Appétit would no longer need to worry

about whether students had paid just as students would not need to worry about proving their purchase. Even with these changes there would be loopholes and customers would still steal from Reid. But these changes would make it more difficult and discourage theft by convenience. Why should students care so much about whether or not customers steal food from Reid? Because while I believe that most students do not steal, and so do not benefit from Reid’s lax policies, we may be indirectly hurt by those who do. Anyone who has been hassled for taking more than one piece of fruit out a dining hall knows the frustration of being wrongly treated like a thief. Making it harder to steal from Reid would not only help Bon Appétit save money but could also benefit students who do pay. If Bon Appétit could cut down on outright theft, then it could also ease up on the fruit restrictions I just mentioned. They might even be able to reduce their prices for students, though this may be asking for a bit too much. In any case, these changes at Reid would allow for more trust between Bon Appétit and students. I think most students do not want to cheat Bon Appétit and feel resentful when they are treated like suspects. These changes would provide proof of our good intentions. Tristan is a senior politics major from Trinidad, Calif. Global politics tend to make him angry; cooking calms him down.

ILLUSTRATION BY SONG

Pell Grants crucial in- Product cycles investments in economy fluence gadget price BRYANT FONG Columnist

he 2012 budget proposal by the House of Representatives and President Obama cut funding from the Pell Grants, a federal program awarded directly through participating institutions such as Whitman College. How we can compete against the world when we cut funding for higher education from programs like the Pell Grants? Pell Grants help low-income students attend college. The typical college student today is not a full-time student studying at one institution for four years. His or her college experience may be interrupted by study abroad, jobs (students have to work their schedule around work) and increasingly mental health issues. Summer school can make a large difference for these students. House Republicans planned to reduce Pell Grant awards by 800 dollars—or 15 percent—to 4,700 dollars in order to support all those currently enrolled. Obama plans to cut 100 billion dollars from the Pell Grants, using savings to maintain the current maximum award of 5,500 dollars for most eligible students, as well as eliminate the Pell Grant for summer classes. Cutting the summer school Pell Grants is a bad idea when the program was started in only 2010. There is no long term data to suggest that it does not work yet. Furthermore, this cut contradicts Obama’s statement that “over the next 10 years, nearly half of all new jobs will require education that goes beyond a high school education.” In other words: We should create incentives to attend postsecondary education, primarily through making it cheaper; otherwise we will end with an ill-educated workforce. This would increase the incentive for companies to outsource overseas simply to look for talent. According to Obama’s own words, to create new jobs in the future, we first need to create a well-educated workforce today. These cuts are in part to reduce the growing national debt. Obama said in his State of the Union Address that he wanted the nation to “out-innovate, out-educate and out-build the rest of the world.” If we really want to out-compete the world, then cutting the Pell Grants to reduce the national debt

is a bad idea. It means less money for students, causing some students to be left to find other more expensive means to attend college. We know that investments in education today pay off in the future and that people with advanced degrees fare much better in the job market. According to the 2009 U.S. Census report, nearly 90 percent of people over 25 graduated from high school, yet only 40 percent get an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. Of those, only one percent go on to get a doctoral degree. Forty percent is a low number. How are we to raise it if college expenses continue to rise?

Leave the Pell Grants as is for at least one more year before making an unsubstantiated decision to cut funding. Obama should take steps to make post-secondary education more affordable, not less. According to one AP source, experts do not think the subsidy has encouraged more students to attend graduate school. But experts are in no position to make an observation after only one year of the program. They should at least give it another year to observe results. Politicians claim there is no evidence that the summer grants have lifted graduation rates. Yet Eric Bettinger, a researcher for the National Bureau of Economic Research, suggests that there is a significant positive correlation between the application of Pell Grants and the drop-out rates among low-income college students. Students graduate with an average of 23,186 dollars of debt (excluding federal sponsored loans such as the PLUS loans). This represents an increase of about five percent in 2003, according to finaid. org. This is high enough already without getting rid of Pell Grants. Higher education is a priority right now, and measures must be taken today to offer solutions for tomorrow to compete with other nations. We cannot abandon programs that are only in their infancy. Obama and Congress: leave the Pell Grants as is for at least one more year before making an unsubstantiated decision to cut funding. Bryant Fong is a chemistry major from Corvallis, Ore. He enjoys writing about politics and general current events presenting a perspective that is not represented on campus.

BLAIR FRANK Columnist

ow is not the best time to buy an iPad. While it remains, in my opinion, the best tablet on the market today, you shouldn’t buy one. At least, not for another few months. On the face of things, this may seem counterintuitive. After all, if the iPad is a good product at a good price, why not buy it? Here’s why: Apple will probably announce a new version of the iPad in the coming weeks. It’s important to note that I don’t have any special sources or other inside information. (Apple has announced an event on March 2, which many journalists, myself included, believe will be the announcement of the new iPad.) I just pay attention to product cycles. A product cycle is the amount of time between when a company first releases a product and when they release a new version of that product. Usually, companies tend to maintain fairly regular product cycles, especially with new hardware. (Software is a trickier matter.) Apple is one of the best examples of a company that maintains regular product cycles, so much so that they’re like clockwork. Ever since its release, some new version of the iPod has been released every year. That’s why the majority of tech media outlets are tripping over themselves, trying to report rumors about the new iPad. The product was announced on Jan. 27 of last year, and because Apple tends to release new hardware like that every year or so, it’s now overdue for a refresh. Thus, why you shouldn’t buy an iPad right now. Okay, so that’s how a product cycle works for one product. How can you go about doing this same sort of research in the comfort of your own home? For me, my first stop is Wikipedia. For example, the page on Windows has a handy time line of releases. Taking a quick glance at it, it looks as though Microsoft has a fairly consistent two- or three-year product cycle for major releases. In other words, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to expect a new version of Windows in the next year or two. But what if you want to get the second version of a brand new product, like the iPad? How can you tell then? In that case, it’s best to look at the company’s past history, and in some cases, the release of other important technologies. When it comes to iOS devices, Apple follows a fairly regimented one year product cycle. Every year, they’ve

released a new version of the iPhone without fail. There’s no reason to believe that they wouldn’t do the same thing with the iPad. History with similar products is not a guarantee, though. After all, Apple could decide that it’s not worth it to release a new iPad; except that right now, there’s an important new technology that the current iPad is missing: FaceTime. Every other iOS device has FaceTime except for the iPad. For another example, let’s take a look at the Samsung Galaxy Tab. It’s a competitor to the iPad, and it was released in mid-November of last year. But Samsung just announced that a new version (the aptly named Galaxy Tab 2) will be released next month. What’s up with that? The simple answer is: the technology changed. Google released a new version of Android (version 3.0) designed just for tablet devices like the Galaxy Tab. Samsung would be foolish not to capitalize on that, and thus the Galaxy Tab 2. Of course, that means that anyone who bought the original Galaxy Tab thinking that it would be a good long while before another one would become available for purchase are unfortunately left holding the bag. So there you have it. When it comes to making a big purchase in the realm of technology, it’s best to get the most bang for your buck. That’s why paying attention to product cycles is so important: if you don’t, you’re liable to make purchases at a time that leave you with a bad case of buyer’s remorse. Blair Hanley Frank is an English major, and the technology columnist for The Pioneer. He also writes for PCWorld’s GeekTech blog, and can be found on Twitter as @belril.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor, I would like to know why Whitman has a baseball team. According to their web site, over the last 10 seasons, the team has a record of 65297, or a winning percentage of 17.95 percent. Over the last five years, their record is even worse: 21-168 or 11.11 percent. It seems there are better ways the college could allocate resources. I can only imagine the expense of sending the team to Arizona for four games, like they did just last week. Travel, lodging, staff salaries--all for a team that barely wins one out of 10 games? Are you kidding me? Sincerely, Bill Huntington Archives Assistant

Military key for progress Liberals should recognize the military’s role in social change ALEX BROTT Columnist

don’t think I’m going strongly against the Whitman grain when I say that I view the actions of the United States military and the enormity of our defense spending with skepticism. While I appreciate the importance of a well-maintained army for a country like the United States, I take issue with the way it is used to advance foreign policy objectives. That being said, I find the military to be an exceptionally important avenue for enacting social change in this country. It is an especially useful ground for progressive change because the values of the military establishment often encapsulate the values of conservative America. Using the military for progressive ends can capitalize on the immense moral and economic power the military has in this country, and counteract that typically conservative influence. Historically, the most pertinent example of social change in the military is the 1948 mandatory desegregation of all armed forces. Executive Order 9981, signed into effect by President Harry Truman, barred segregation outright and led to complete military desegregation by 1954. The order allowed Truman to bypass Congress and mandate progressive policy for the military. The public nature of the military made the issue unavoidable for ordinary Americans, and the nature of executive order allowed Truman to implement sweeping change on a large scale. Furthermore, desegregating the military was morally compelling in a time when the United States had just finished fighting a war against a nation rooted in intolerance. Lastly, opening up the field of battle to blacks allowed people to see that they were truly equal as they defended their country alongside whites. Several all-black regiments in the marines and air force were very effective, notably the Tuskegee Airmen and the 761st tank division. While desegregating the military was not the only factor which led to civil rights legislation, it was an important step. Broadly, progressive politicians used the military to take sweeping public action on a currently contentious issue and use the considerable power and moral influence of the military to enact change. It has also used its considerable economic influence to enact change, such as the 1963 directive from then defense secretary McNamara promoting military-wide boycott of racist businesses. This takes us to the issue of environmental efficiency, which the military has used its economic power to promote extensively. Many important advances in green technology, especially sustainable energy, have come from the defense budget as military spending. Fossil fuels are the number one item the U.S. imports to Afghanistan bases, and it can cost up to 400 dollars a gallon to get it to the most remote bases. Take into account that one civilian or soldier is killed for every 24 fuel convoys, and it is not surprising that the military should be interested in alternative energy. Many of these developing technologies, specifically sustainable biofuels and solar power can be easily converted to civilian use. Solar power has become exceptionally important to military officials, especially for powering more remote bases. Many of these bases have become almost entirely self-sufficient using solar power, and additional DARPA funding has gone to further increase the efficiency of solar power. This technology is already available, but intense interest from the military provides a demand for products and for innovation that will decrease prices for civilian consumers and promote necessary infrastructure for future production of sustainable energy sources. The military has likewise promoted the use of sustainable biofuels in its vehicles. The air force is scheduled to have all of its equipment—ground vehicles, boats and planes—compatible with 50-50 biofuel blends by the end of 2011. The navy is intensively studying the usefulness of algae-based fuels for its ships. What I find impressive about the way the military has approached the application of biofuels is the way is has steered clear of corn-based ethanol and looked instead at more sustainable sources. Researchers in Afghanistan, for example, have found ways to convert now-illegal poppy seeds to biofuels, not only promoting sustainable energy, but allowing Afghan farmers to make an honest living. While the military did not originate the push for renewable energy, it plays an important part of the push for increasingly efficient technology. While its reasons for developing these technologies are markedly different from typical environmental activists, the ends are no less important. When harnessed sufficiently, the military provides a fantastic avenue for various progressive movements. We may not support all of the military’s actions abroad, but let’s not let that hide the positive change such a vastly powerful institution is capable of promoting. Alex Brott is an environmental studies - politics major who is passionate about politics, economics and the environment. He enjoys anything outdoors and making music.

es!

Giggl

February 24 2011

Page 8

Miss Manners Solves Whitman’s Etiquette Dilemmas This week, the Backpage was lucky enough to have Miss Manners step in as a guest columnist. She was more than willing to help us answer some of the fan mail we get here at The Pioneer. Dear Miss Manners, I was wondering, what kind of relationship I should have with my dealer? I Facebookchatted him the other day to ask for an eighth, but is that too impersonal? I just want weed, but I’m told one should treat his dealer nicely, so as not to get ripped off. Is this true? How friendly should I be? If I had better people skills, I wouldn’t need weed... Gentle Reader, Facebookchat? Srsly? Has Miss Manners taught you nothing? You should always call your dealer directly. Maybe have the decency to share a bowl with him. This person is enabling your habits. To quote my favorite readers, The Black Eyed Peas, “Where is da love?” Dear Miss Manners, Is it in poor taste to purchase my weed in Olin? I thought nothing of it, until I told my roommate and he couldn’t stop laughing. Maybe I should switch transaction locations? Gentle Reader, Please don’t waste my time with such tomfoolery. Everyone knows Olin should be your last resort for anything (building in which to take classes, place to print shit, place to buy kush). Go to your dealer’s apartment or behind Apex. Dear Miss Manners, What is the polite way to ask a girl if I can smang it? Gentle Reader, You don’t want to surprise the fair maiden, so I suggest you start off by asking if you can smash it. Once she obliges, you might ask if you can bang it. Shortly after you succeed in making that request, you may ask her to smang it.

SCOREBOARD

On a scale of one to 10, how hot are Whitman’s varsity athletes? by A SWIMMER

10 W Swimming--Daaayyyuum those girls are fine. With those broad shoulders, big guns and hairy legs, who wouldn’t want that?

DESIGN BY LERCHIN

WHITMAN DEALBREAKERS

So, you’re thinging with this really cute girl, and are about to ask her out on a legit date. Then she starts talking about her favorite band, Paramore...WTF? You can’t date a girl with such horrible taste. It’s over. Deal breaker. Here are some others:

Theater major Owns a bike with a basket Wears non-prescription glasses Vegetarian/Vegan Wears overalls Talks in abreves (i.e. maybs, totes, probs) Heavy to industrial-strength lesbianism Rigor mortis Uses punctuation in everyday speech Coal for eyes Refuses to use euphemisms for ‘vagina’ Suspicious stains on door handle Owns two humidifiers “just in case” Ginger Use of outer monologue Comes when you whistle Framed photo of George Bridges Uses metaphors from Wind and the Willows during sex Designs Feature page for the Pio Smokes cigars in the bath More than one mustache More chins than fingers Fewer fingers than chins Gives you an actual head on your birthday

Screw you,Writing House Thief

9 M & W Cross Country-six-packs and 5 percent body fat, I’d tap that.

8 M Swimming--Overshadowed by the women’s team. Props for effort.

8.5 M & W Soccer--Nice ass(es).

7 W Basketball--Attempt to bring back the side ponytail is honorable.

Dear thief, We realize that you snuck into the Writing House recently while the residents were all at dinner. You took Will's Macbook and headphones. Additionally, you stole Eric's backpack. From what the Backpage has heard, this "sucks big time." Will now has to walk to the library to play CityJumper (an Internet game to which the Backpage may or may not be addicted). Eric must use an average person backpack, which looks kind of funny on his 6'4 frame. You have "ruined [their] lives." The Writing House has contacted the Backpage, and would like to publicly extend amnesty to you, you "horrible beezy." You have one week in which to return the items with no questions asked. If you do not comply, Eric and Will would like to assure you that they will be "super bummed … like seriously."

6 5 M Basketball--Beating the number one school in the nation ... that’s kinda hot.

5 4

5.5 Tennis--Lacks diversity. Where da homies at? 4.5 Volleyball--Spandex isn’t flattering for anyone, but you pull it off pretty well.

3 2 Baseball--Goon squad. (Too many freshman.)

2 1

XOXO The Backpage

Is there even a Golf team?

THE BACKPAGE IS LOOKING FOR Humor writers Physics tutors Boyfriends

Flamethrowers Pastry chefs Kittens

Casual sex Bourgeois ideals The new Theophilus London album

Email dulekde@whitman.edu if you are interested!

COMIC

ILLUSTRATION BY SONG

CROSSWORD 1

by ADAM BRAYTON 5

Puzzle Slut

ACROSS 1. “True” Oscar Nominee 5. Quasi of “Notre Dame” 9. _____ Culpa 12. Spanish wineskin 13. Pretty NASA website 14. Tiny demon 15. Amenhotep’s god 16. Belgian artist Magritte 17. Snooze 18. Franklin: Going to put all I have on the table 21. Abbr. for exclusive fan of 1992 “Opiate” EP 22. Reason to stop tapping trees 24. Waves between 300MHz and 3GHz 27. “What _____ beneath…” 30. “______, Brute?” 31. Pete: Check out my awesome hand 34. iPod function 35. Little Great Lake 36. Sub-Saharan dem. state 37. _____ N9ne 39. Bad day .com 41. Elizabeth: Draw dead 46. For each 47. Hang or toe 48. Paper or soul 50. Inclusive of 26-down among other subsets

51. Largest Canadian First Nation 52. Bears, to Lupe 53. Claypool of Primus 54. Flightless birds 55. Clan division

42. Nate’s embolism exclamation in “Six Feet Under” 43. Vowels minus A and sometimes Y, and out of order 44. “Don’t _____ me, bro” 45. What one might do in the name of the law or love 46. Buddy 49. NYC time

DOWN 1. Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire OS 2. South Asian flatbread 3. Agenda part 4. Argentine dance ANSWERS 5. Like Indian Ocean trade G N U B 6. More than ajar 7. Vietnamese currency Y I N E 8. Music building, to Cicero 9. Chaplain R E C A L 10. Exudes O C U L A 11. Prog. for an iPhone 19. Peek at S E T A 20. German national football coach M I 23. Chrysalis B A N O N 24. Wedding, to Mahmoud 25. Howdy-do A D A A 26. Purely visual aesthetics H A N O I 28. Sound detector 29. Breathes in with a runny S E C R nose 32. Seven-hundred five A T T A 33. Version or crew L R T L 38. As a consequence 40. Harry Potter’s enlightenG A E A ment?

TO LAST WEEK’S D

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