Orchesis wows crowd, see p. 3 November 23, 2004
Wilson College
Procrastination, see p. 5
Should you go watch “Little Black Book?” See p. 6
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
Operation Christmas Child, See p. 8 Vol. 36, No. 3
THE
WILSON BILLBOARD International Culture Celebrated at Wilson
Clinton dedicates presidential center with celebrities and presidents David Hammer Associated Press Writer LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (AP) _ To Bill Clinton, the new presidential library jutting over the Arkansas River represents what he tried to do in the White House _ build bridges. To the average admirers who headed there Friday, the main attraction was the humor and humanity it displayed. The building was dedicated at a gala Thursday, and on Friday morning, members of the public not on the guest list the day before were able to walk up and buy tickets. Beverly Prather of Daytona Beach, Florida, and Sue Ellen Browning of Auburn, Kentucky, were among the first to get a look at the inside. They said they particularly liked the focus on Clinton’s humanity in the museum exhibits. The women said the largest crowds of people Friday gathered around pictures of the Clintons dressed up at Halloween parties and videos of their comedy spoofs.
“He seemed so natural. At the videos, everybody was laughing. That’s where the crowds stopped,” Prather said. The 27-acre (11-hectare) William J. Clinton Presidential Center complex opened Thursday, with a crowd of roughly 28,000 huddling in a cold, driving rain. President George W. Bush was on hand, as was his father and former President Jimmy Carter. Former President Gerald Ford, who is 91, could not attend. Before Clinton spoke, rock stars Bono and The Edge of the band U2 performed three songs. The festivities started with a poetry reading by Rita Dove, whom Clinton made the first black woman U.S. poet laureate. Hollywood was represented by the likes of Robin Williams and Kevin Spacey. Clinton, with the $165 million (euro127 million) glass-and-steel museum as a backdrop, talked pointedly about the architectural allusion to his desire during his eight years in the Oval office to build a “bridge to the 21st century.”
W HAT ’ S I NSIDE News............................................Page 1 Features......................................Page 5 Editorial......................................Page 8
“What it is to me is a symbol of not only what I tried to do but what I want to do with the rest of my life, building bridges from yesterday to tomorrow, building bridges across racial and religious and ethnic and income and political divides,” said Clinton, 58, much thinner as a result of heart-bypass surgery in early September. Da Hyun Min
See Clinton, p. 3
Muhibbah members take a well-deserved break to pose for the camera. From left to right: Yun Kyung Heo, Biva Chapagain, Hye Kyung Jeon and Kyung Joo Cha, all of the class of 2008. The Muhibbah Dinner was November 6 in the Jenson Dining Hall.
Powell admits preference for diplomacy over force Barry Schweid Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) _ In a candid interview with his time in office running out, Secretary of State Colin Powell is acknowledging differences with others in the Bush administration and suggesting that the disputes centered on his preference for diplomacy over force to resolve problems. But Powell steadfastly resisted being designated a dove by a Chilean television interviewer. “I never liked these titles,” he said. But the secretary then went on to describe his long-held inclination, through several administrations, “of analyzing situations carefully to see if military force is appropriate.”
“If it is appropriate, we should force,” Powell said in the interview he gave to Chile’s TVN on Thursday in Santiago during an economic conference of Pacific nations. “But if we can avoid the use of military force with diplomacy, through a political action, that is what we should try to do, and that is what President Bush tried to do,” Powell said. “I have supported him in that effort,” Powell said. The retired four-star general noted he had been involved in many combat operations in his lifetime. Announcement of Powell’s resignation Monday and Bush’s naming of his hard-line national
security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, as the next secretary of state, revived recollections of Powell’s moderate leanings in contrast to such hawks as Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld. Powell, in the interview, did not describe any of the disputes. Nor did he say specifically with whom he disagreed. “We have differences,” he said. But Powell then ticked off areas where senior advisers were in accord, such as the expansion of the NATO alliance.
See Powell, p. 5
Page 2
23 November 2004
NEWS Japanese women staying single by droves as gender schism grows in nation’s culture Yuri Kageyama Associated Press Writer TOKYO (AP) _ No matter how independent, fashionable or popular she may be, Japan’s unwed woman has long been the eternal loser _ lonesome during the holidays, dreaming of the child she never had, dreading the inevitable question at family gatherings: “Aren’t you married yet?” But in unprecedented numbers, Japanese women are answering that question with a firm “No” _ and trying to console other women about how to deal with their plight. “Women these days aren’t going to marry just anybody,” declared Junko Sakai, whose recent book “Howl of the Loser Dogs” sold more than 300,000 copies by telling Japan’s single women how to survive the backlash of staying single. Marriage has certainly lost some of its allure for Japanese women _ and that has meant changes for Japanese society and business. Over the past decade, the portion of Japanese women
aged 25 to 29 who never married has surged from 40 percent to 54 percent. The percentage for women aged 3034 has increased from 14 percent to 27 percent, according to government statistics. In the United States, 40 percent of women from 25 to 29 are single, and 23 percent of women from 30 to 34. The trend to stay unmarried is more pronounced in England, at 65 percent in the 25-29 age group, although that sinks to 39 percent for 30-34. Japanese men are also delaying marriage these days, but often they cite economic reasons: they have trouble finding a job that gives them the stability they need for married life, or they’re more hesitant to assume the responsibilities of family. Many Japanese women, however, see a single major reason for their growing distaste of marriage: men who expect their wives to cheerfully surrender their jobs or juggle a
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career while single-handedly serving their husbands and caring for the kids. “It’s not that we’re set on being single. We’re thirsting for a good marriage, but we can’t find the right guy,” Sakai, a single 38-year-old, said in a recent interview in Tokyo. “Men haven’t changed their old mind-set. Women have grown too powerful for them.” The situation is a dramatic reversal of the strong tradition in Japan that praises early marriage and criticizes women who delay marriage as unattractive and selfish. In the 1980s, a woman who hadn’t found a husband by the time she was 25 was dismissed as “Christmas cake,” a reference to the cake Japanese eat on Dec. 25 _ or throw away as worthless on the 26th. Reflecting the trend toward later marriages these days, attention has focused on single women who hit their 31st birthday without a husband. Such women are now known as “New Year’s Eve noodles,” referring to the tradition of eating noodles that night. The fading attraction of marriage is having a profound impact on public policy in
Japan, where the government is worried that the plunging birthrate will mean labor shortages in the future and a drop in support for the growing ranks of the elderly. The number of children a woman now has is at an average of 1.29 _ a record low for Japan and far short of the 2.01 average in the United States, 1.90 in France and 1.63 in England. Chikako Ogura, professor of gender studies at Waseda University in Tokyo, doesn’t see much hope in the proposals the government has been pushing to reverse the trend, such as adding child-care facilities and prodding employers to grant maternity leave. The critical problem is that people aren’t getting married at all. Young women have jobs and reject a marriage that won’t deliver a more comfortable life, she says. The emerging rift between the sexes reflects a widening gap between the economic realities of working women and the expectations of womanhood rooted in this nation’s culture, many of which Japanese
women still feel they must answer. “Women are looking for a marital partner who’ll allow them to do whatever they want. They want a marriage that’s perfect, economically and mentally. There aren’t that many men who can offer that,” Ogura said. “And they’re all taken.” In the old days, marriages were often arranged by families, but such practices are now generally seen as outdated and undesirable. However, no widely accepted alternative has emerged for younger people to meet the opposite sex. Once in marriage, women are finding that husbands can’t be counted on to help out with cooking or laundry. Government studies show men spend on average less than 10 minutes a day on housework while working women put in two hours. Frances Rosenbluth, professor of political science at Yale University, says the system of lifetime employment at Japanese companies, in
See Marriage, p. 3
THE BILLBOARD STAFF
WC Editor-in-Chief Christy Córdova ‘05 Business Manager Leah Martin ‘07
News Amanda Stefan ‘08, Ed. Features Meg Oldman ‘08, Ed. Adviser Peter La Chapelle
Staff Writers Chris Hunt ‘07 Heather Layman ‘06 Jen Markley ‘08 Jamie McCauley ‘05
Staff Photographers Kyung Joo Cha ‘08 Maritza Guevara ‘05 Woo Jeong Seo ‘08 Dahyun Min ‘08
Mission Statement The Wilson Billboard is a biweekly student-run newspaper serving the Wilson College community. Its purpose is to relay important information to the campus and provide a forum for democratic discussion. The Billboard strives to encourge communication between student, faculty, staff and administration.
23 November 2004
Page 3
NEWS Orchesis Gives a Strong Performance
From Clinton, p. 1 “I want young people to want to see not only what I did with my life but to see what they could do with their lives,” he said President Bush called the complex “a gift to the future by a man who always believed in the future, and today we thank him for loving and serving America.” The complex contains more than 80 million items from the former president’s life, including photos, e-mails, excerpts from speeches and gifts from world leaders. The library celebrates eight years of peace and prosperity and dismisses his impeachment trial as a Republican vendetta. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said the new library “is like my husband: It’s open, it’s expansive, its welcoming, it’s filled with life, and the exhibits tell the story of someone who loves his fellow man, who cares deeply about all of our children, who recognizes our common humanity.” President Bush admired Clinton’s talent as a man of the people, telling the story of a voter who praised Clinton’s ability to look you in the eye, shake your hand, hold your baby and pet your dog, “all at the same time.” The president’s father drew laughter in praising Clinton’s political skill when he lost his re-election bid to the Arkansas governor in 1992. “Bill Clinton was one of the most gifted American political figures in modern times. Believe me _ I learned that the hard way,” the elder Bush said. “He made it look too easy, and oh, how I hated him for that.”
Jen Markley
Woo Jeong Seo
Orchesis members hold a beautiful pose during a dance choreographed by Jessica Brandt, ‘07.
Woo Jeong Seo
The Orchesis Ensemble is picture-perfect in the last dance of the evening, choreographed by dance professor, Paula Kellinger. Woo Jeong Seo
Adding a Middle Eastern flavor to the performance was a belly-dance, choreographed by Michelle Ansel, ‘07.
From Marriage, p. 2 The Billboard is published biweekly. Subscriptions are $18 per year, payable to: The Billboard c/o Subscriptions Wilson College 1015 Philadelphia Ave. Chambersburg, PA. 17201 Editorial and advertising 717-264-4141, ext. 3244
welcome to join, regardless if you have had experience in The Wilson College Orchesis dance or not. members put on an outstanding The performances held this show on November 12th and semester drew a pretty large 13th at 8 PM in Laird Hall. audience consisting of stuTheir Fall performance condents, faculty/staff members of sisted of a number of dance the Wilson community, as well routines that ranged from slow as residents of Chambersburg. easy-going movements to an Tickets were only two dollars upbeat belly dance that needfor the Wilson community and less to say, wowed the crowd. eight dollars for off-campus For those of you who are not spectators. The performance familiar with Orchesis, it is a only lasted for about an hour student organization for and half and was full of individuals who are interested brilliant costumes and wellin the skills and technique of choreographed dancing that learning interpretive dance. The was sure to amaze you. Experigroup meets every Thursday in encing the Orchesis perforthe dance studio and trains mance was a great way to vigorously in preparation for spend your Friday or Saturday one show that they perform evening and well-worth the every semester. Any one is money. Staff Writer
which loyalty and long hours are demanded in exchange for job stability, is the main reason women have such a hard time balancing motherhood and career. In a society that assumes companies hire workers for life, women, who tend to drop out of the labor market for pregnancy and child-rearing, suffer a significant stigma and add huge costs to employers.
“Women are not satisfied with the old way, but they don’t have a new way. They’re stuck. The way they cope with that is by at least having some career before getting married. They figure once they get married, it’s going to be all over,” she said. The one segment responding to the growing singles trend are businesses, such as hotels and health spas. Previously, single women were shunned by the service industry as tightwads.
Although the trend is decreasing, traditional-style Japanese hotels didn’t even allow women traveling alone to spend the night, fearing they were looking for a place to commit suicide _ so alien was the idea of an independent woman enjoying leisure. “The options for Japanese women have grown more diverse, rather than the old formula of marriage being the only way to happiness,” says Kaori Haishi, a 38-year-old food critic who has set up a
Web page with other women to recommend restaurants and hotels friendly to solitary females. Nowadays, many single women feel increasingly free to make the decision to marry on their own, rather than simply caving in to social pressure, said Etsuko Moriyama, 38, who is divorced. “Like a child, a marriage is like a blessing,” said Moriyama, an editor who worked on Sakai’s book. “Maybe I’ll get married, maybe I won’t.”
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23 November 2004
NEWS
Rumsfeld urges Latin American countries to cooperate against drug trafficking, terrorism John J. Lumpkin Associated Press Writer QUITO, Ecuador (AP) _ Latin American countries must work together to defeat drug trafficking and international terrorism as they have done in working to keep the peace in Haiti, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Tuesday. Rumsfeld, in South America for a conference of Western Hemisphere defense ministers, told reporters he hopes to strengthen regional security agreements aimed at stopping narcotics and terror organizations. He and other U.S. officials held up the peacekeeping force in Haiti, which draws heavily from Latin countries, as an example of such cooperation. But despite Rumsfeld’s calls for cooperation across Latin America, significant differences exist between the policies of the United States and many of the largest countries in Latin America. Many opposed the U.S.-led war in Iraq and push a U.N.based multilateral foreign policy. Only a few sent troops to Iraq, and just one Western Hemisphere country, El
Salvador, still has troops with the United States in the coalition fighting the insurgency. In other areas, though, U.S. officials say cooperation is strong, pointing to the sharing of intelligence and law enforcement information, joint naval exercises and efforts to track drug shipments. Still, Rumsfeld’s calls for cooperation are not universally celebrated given the unpopularity of U.S. foreign policy in some quarters. On Tuesday, he met with Ecuador’s embattled president, Lucio Gutierrez, and Defense Minister Nelson Herrera. In a press conference with Rumsfeld, Herrera repeatedly emphasized Ecuador’s sovereignty in dealing with international terror, drug trafficking and other problems that trouble the region. Asked about the civil war in neighboring Colombia, Herrera responded, “The problem of Colombia is the problem of Colombia. The problem of Ecuador is the problem of Ecuador.”
President Gutierrez has faced demands for his resignation in recent months amid allegations of corruption, but efforts to impeach him fizzled last week in Ecuador’s legislative body. He also faces domestic criticism for fostering such close ties with the United States. Rumsfeld said the American delegation “expressed our strong support for constitutional democracy” in Ecuador. On drugs, terrorism and organized crime, Rumsfeld said, “In the 21st Century, we are finding these problems are increasingly global and regional. They are not problems that affect only one country, and as such they cannot be solved by only one country.” In truth, Colombia and Ecuador cooperate to some degree, and Rumsfeld praised their efforts. A senior Colombian rebel leader, Simon Trinidad, was captured in Quito in January and turned over to the Colombian government. Ecuador, fearful that Colombia’s civil war might spill over the border, patrols its
frontier extensively with the aid of U.S.-supplied communications equipment and vehicles. On Haiti, a senior U.S. defense official said the United States, Brazil and Argentina worry that the United Nations has provided too few soldiers and police for the peacekeeping job. More than 8,300 are authorized; but only 5,700 are in-country, according to U.N. figures. Ecuador, Brazil and Argentina are considering sending more troops to assist the force, which is led by Brazil, the official said, briefing reporters on the condition of anonymity. The U.S. government may also begin providing further humanitarian aid and surveillance information to the peacekeepers. Political and criminal violence, coupled with natural disasters, left thousands of Haitians dead this year. Fighting has continued since the arrival of the U.N. force. Rumsfeld also met Tuesday with his counterparts from
Argentina, Brazil and the Central American countries. He discussed a new environmental and security surveillance network in Brazil, and how its information could be shared with other countries in the war against drugs, officials said. The Central American leaders were expected to discuss the problems of gangs in their countries, and fears that their foreign contacts, in the United States and in Colombia, could develop into a transnational threat. The problem of international terrorist organizations operating in the region are on the agenda of the conference, which begins Wednesday. Rumsfeld has previously acknowledged fears that international terrorist organizations would send operatives into the United States through holes in the U.S. border.
Texas school district gets rid of an alleged “cross-dressing” day after parent complains Bobby Ross Jr. Associated Press Writer DALLAS (AP) _ A homecoming tradition in which boys dress like girls and vice versa in a tiny Texas school district won’t be held Wednesday after a parent complained about what she regarded as the event’s homosexual overtones. As a substitute for “TWIRP Day,” the schools ranging from elementary to senior high decided to hold “Camo Day” _ with black boots and Army camouflage to be worn by
everyone who wants to participate. TWIRP, which stands for “The Woman Is Requested to Pay,” was hosted by Spurger schools for years during Homecoming Week _ to give boys and girls a chance to reverse social roles and let older girls invite boys on dates, open doors and pay for sodas. Plano-based Liberty Legal Institute issued a news release Tuesday reporting that it “came to the aid of a concerned parent” over an “official crossdressing day” in the school
district 240 kilometers (150 miles) northeast of Houston. “It is outrageous that a school in a small town in east Texas would encourage their 4year-olds to be cross-dressers,” Liberty Legal Institute attorney Hiram Sasser said in the release Tanner T. Hunt Jr., the school district’s attorney, called Sasser’s statement “inflammatory and misleading.” He said the district never planned or conducted a “cross-dressing day.”
“They are a tiny little East Texas school district,” Hunt said. “It never occurred to them that anyone could find anything morally reprehensible about TWIRP Day. I mean, they’ve been having it for years, probably for generations, and it’s the first time anybody has complained.” Delana Davies, 33, said she complained after reading a school notice about “TWIRP Day.” Davies, whose 9-yearold son and 4-year-old daughter attend Spurger
Elementary, said she viewed the day not as a silly Homecoming Week activity, but rather something related to homosexuality. “It’s like experimenting with drugs,” Davies said. “You just keep playing with it and it becomes customary. ... If it’s OK to dress like a girl today, then why is it not OK in the future?”
23 November 2004
Page 5
FEATURES
Procrastination rampant as finals roll around Heather Layman Staff Writer It’s midnight on Sunday night. At 9 a.m. Monday morning, you have an exam on the past two months of your most difficult class, a 5 page paper due at noon, not to mention about a million other exams over the course of the week. After a quick glance at the clock, your brain screams, “Why did I procrastinate again?” It’s a problem that many college students have; waiting until the absolute last possible minute before even starting a major, time consuming assignment. With finals week approaching, procrastination takes its toll on many students causing added stress and sleep deprivation, which can take a toll on your health. Many students at Wilson College admit to procrastinating on their assignments. It is almost guaranteed that during finals week, students will be found working in the library
until closing time or locked away in their dorm rooms, an AOL message posted that says, “Too busy- studying!!!” Procrastination is inevitable for a large percentage of college students. An article from Ohio State University online finds that procrastination is the number one reason for academic failure. It stems from many issues such as: lack of self confidence, perfectionism, anticipating the worst, self-judgment, depression, low tolerance for frustration, immediate gratification, passivity, hostility, and any number of other excuses a student may have because of one of these causes. “I work, have an active social life, and I’m busy. I just always find some way to push my schoolwork off until the last minute. Then I spend the next few days in a frenzy, trying to get it all done,” says senior Alison Kershner. The story is the same for many college students. Jobs and friends push schoolwork to the
back burner. Sometimes students favor tedious tasks to doing homework. Laura Colonna, a senior, says, “Procrastinating is how my room gets cleaned.” Yes, it’s true. More than one student admits to cleaning over doing homework. And for what price? The satisfaction of staying up all night, working for ten hours straight to barely finish a project or paper- doubtful. “But I work best under pressure,” insists Kershner. For some, added pressure is a good thing, but waiting until the last possible minute is a bad kind of pressure. Many college students are already sleep deprived. Between classes all day and distractions from friends, many students push back assignments and hope that the adrenaline will be enough to keep them working nonstop through the night when distractions cease. “I pull off all-nighters all the time,” says sophomore Lacey
Mackintosh. “I get the most work done, and then I try to catch up on sleep for the rest of the week, but it works for me. So far.” Procrastination isn’t a big issue for everyone though. Junior Sarah Kaye admits that she does procrastinate some, but she hardly ever pulls an allnighter. “I usually wait to do a project the week before it is due. I still feel pressed for time though, and I never really start soon enough.” It seems as though many students choose to procrastinate. Nearly every student admits to procrastinating, especially during exam week. Many deliberately put things off until the last minute, while others simply lack the time to prevent procrastination. This is why Jen Talbot, a junior, procrastinates. “I try to do all of my work as soon as I get it, but I always have so much. I just can’t keep up, and I end up trying to hurry and
finish assignments the day they are due.” She agrees, like many others, that schoolwork is important, but that friends and jobs, not to mention sleep, also cut deeply into the time allotted for schoolwork. Finals week adds to the amount of work students have to do, plus students have to worry about saying goodbye to friends until the following year, packing up their personal belongings to go home, and getting checked out of their dorm at a time when an RA is available. It’s no wonder that procrastination is so easy to fall victim to. The question is: Is procrastination something students try to prevent as much as possible, or do most students truly enjoy waiting until the night before, or the day of, working long hours by candle light, under all of the pressure, in order to finish an assignment? I’m not sure, but I’ll look into it. . . Tomorrow.
Cosby on morals and responsibility tour The Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) _ Bill Cosby said Thursday that there is an undercurrent of anger behind the problems facing black youth in America today, and that it is up the older generation to help turn things around. “Our children are angry. The profanity is out in the street. It’s on the buses and in the subway. Our children are trying to tell us something, and we are not listening,” Cosby said in a speech at Frederick Douglass High School, named for the 19th-century black man who became an abolitionist leader and an adviser to President Abraham Lincoln. The Atlanta visit was part of Cosby’s tour of the country speaking to young black men and women about morals and responsibility. During previous speeches, the 67-year-old comedian has criticized some black children for not knowing how to read or write, said some had squandered opportunities the
civil rights movement gave them and unfairly blame whites for problems such as teen pregnancy and high dropout rates. About 3,000 overflowed the high school gymnasium to hear his remarks, which largely were addressed to parents. “We’re loaded with wisdom. We’ve got to open our mouths. We’ve got to stop this thing,” Cosby said. “Our children want to cry. Our children want to be hugged, and we’re not giving it to them,” he said. “You have to know your power. You can see it in your history. Just go to an old person and say ‘How did you do it?”’ he said. Cosby said one of the most pressing problems is young men fathering children and taking no responsibility. “I’m saying to you men, please, for goodness sake, if you got children, even if you don’t have a job, go visit them and explain how sorry you are,” he
said. “There are teachers in the United States who cry in the daytime because they see a child or children who haven’t eaten properly, children who haven’t used soap in so long. “You can’t tell me that this is all the white man’s fault,” he said. “Everybody is not a victim,” Cosby said as he began to tell the story abour Brown vs. Board of Education, and the legal team that overturned school desegregation. “They beat back the white bigots with their brains,” Cosby said. “When I look at 55 percent of our black men dropping out of school, how bad off are we going to be when we need some lawyers?” Most of the audience members seemed supportive of Cosby’s comments. Claire Walker, who works at IBM and lives in Decatur, said she got off early to hear him speak. “It’s something that should have been said a long time
ago,” Walker said. “Our leaders aren’t taking responsibility for the youth of black America.” Walker said she is from the Caribbean, where people don’t understand the attitudes and actions of many black youths in the United States. “I just don’t understand parents accepting mediocrity,” she said. Henry Joyner III, who graduated from Douglass High in 1982 and is now a middle school teacher, said the turnout was good. “This is the central issue in black America _ the education of our youth,” Joyner said. Douglass ninth grader Orientrius Cook said Cosby “is very powerful, and he spread his wisdom.” Cosby hit home when he talked about unwed parents, he said. “I see a lot of girls who are pregnant. If they had a father figure, some of this wouldn’t be,” he said.
From Powell, p. 5 “Within any administration, and I have been in many administrations, there have always been disagreements from time to time,” Powell said. But he declined to link disagreements with other Bush advisers to his departure from the Cabinet. “I thought that four years serving as secretary of state was long enough time for me,” Powell said. “And the president and I have been discussing it for some time, that it would probably be appropriate and better for us to make a change at the four-year point.” “That’s all of what it is to it,” Powell said. “If the disagreements were so severe as some people claim, there wouldn’t have been four years.”
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23 November 2004
FEATURES Spend time with a different kind of book
Winter Sports Opportunities
Jamie McCauley
Meg Oldman Staff Writer
“Little Black Book,” directed by Nick Hurran, stars Britany Murphy, Ron Livingston, Kathy Bates, and Holly Hunter. This romantic comedy brings the phrase “curiosity killed the cat” up to date when an aspiring newswoman, Stacy (Murphy), opens the door to her boyfriend, Derek’s (Livingston) past relationships. When Derek leaves town without his palm electronic organizer, Stacy decides that the temptation is too strong to simply not look at the numbers kept safely tucked away inside the organizer. Instead, she breaches her boyfriend’s privacy and discovers that her boyfriend still has all of his ex-girlfriends’ phone numbers. The rest of the film unfolds through Stacy’s random requests to interview a few of Derek’s old girlfriends. “Little Black Book” is more like a daytime drama than a
romantic comedy. There are a few laughs thrown in to keep the audience’s interest, but by the end of the film, the plot almost loses itself. Nick Hurran does attempt to dazzle the audience with a climatic point in the plot, but fails to really make this scene work. By the time this point comes around in the film, the audience feels no sense of shock value. Although this film has its down side, it is not completely unappealing. There is a focus on discovering more about oneself after making impulsive mistakes. “Little Black Book” brings back the idea that relationships need to be based on trust, and without this foundation chaos can be unleashed. I recommend this film if you’re looking for a little break from a busy schedule, even if it isn’t the best of romantic comedies.
“Little Black Book” will be shown Friday November 19 at 8 p.m. and Sunday November 21 at 3 p.m. in Allen Auditorium
Happy Thanksgiving! To everyone on the Wilson campus: We hope you enjoy a happy, safe and restful holiday weekend! ~The Billboard Staff
Feature Editor Bored this winter? Try some sports! Are you the kind of person who loves the snow? Do you also enjoy being active? If so, then there are many opportunities for you to get out and about this winter, and participate in a winter sport or two. There are various types of activities that you can do in the wintertime. In addition to building snowmen or having snowball fights, you can always hit the slopes and go skiing or snowboarding. There are a few slopes nearby, such as Whitetail—which is roughly 45 minutes from Wilson in Mercersburg. Roundtop is another slope located 20 miles away from Carlisle. Both cost $31 for a night trip on the slopes. Roundtop also has an awesome offer called College Night where, if you show your college ID, the cost is only
$19—including rentals! Both slopes also offer tubing, which is a night of fun with your friends! Another option for activities happens on the ice. If you’re into skating, you have the option of either figure skating or hockey. If you like contact sports, a game of ice hockey may tickle your fancy. For three periods of 20 minutes (or longer/shorter depending on how long you want to play) you can enjoy hitting around a puck while ice skating and beating up on friends. Figure skating is also an option, or just skating around in circles. There are several hockey rinks in the Hagerstown and Frederick area that offer lessons and group rates. There are many options and opportunities to get out and play in the snow. You might as well get out and take advantage of them!
23 November 2004
Page 7
FEATURES YOUR WEEKLY (11/28 - 12/4) HOROSCOPE: BY MISS ANNA ARIES: (March 21-April 20) Relationship issues are at the top of your list this week, and it is all good news. Whatever obstacles have kept you from any commitment or marriage have now been overcome, and love is in the air. Looking at the past may bring about some bittersweet memories. TAURUS: (April 21 - May 21) Learning something new during the week will install a joy and confidence that you should share with friends and loved ones. This may be a great time to plan a vacation that is long overdue. You seem to be approaching some type of success, beware of difficulties involved. GEMINI: (May 22 - June 21) If you are in a rut, do something about it and stop whining! Any solutions to this problem will probably not be solved quickly, but you can
move onto something else until the solution becomes apparent. True words of love will make the evenings sweet. CANCER: (June 22 - July 23) Moderation is the keyword for this week. Moderation will be a helpful guideline as the temptation to engage in extremes is present. Don’t spread your plans and ideas all over the place. You are better off keeping them to yourself for the time being. Self-indulge. LEO: (July 24- August 23) You may need to make some financial sacrifices this week in order to pay off some health bills. If you work at it, these can probably be paid off with little delay. This whole situation may bring back memories of not having enough to get by - remember, they are memories. VIRGO: (August 24 September 23)
If you are not giving from your heart, it is probably best to not bother. You may have to compromise when it comes to employment. Remember that prosperity is where you find it. Always keep your eye open for that perfect position, work towards your highest potential. LIBRA: (September 24 October 23) Pay attention to your home life during the week. Certain family members need your input. Take the time to express your support and positive feelings - it will do wonders. Stay on an even keel where food and drink are concerned and exercise more. SCORPIO: (October 24 November 22) Time spent alone this week will be time well spent. There is an inner strength that you need to rediscover in order to be the best that you can possibly be. Learn to acceptance that which you will
never be able to change, it will save you lots of energy. SAGITTARIUS: (November 23 - December 21) It will be easy to find fault with yourself if you rush into a situation with more energy than information. Others around you may seem like a threat, but generosity and helpfulness will maneuver you through any rough spots. It’s time to overcome your fear of insecurity. CAPRICORN: (December 22 - January 20) Good news about money will arrive this week, and just in time. Make the most of this financial situation, trying to invest as much as possible. A mate or child is in an argumentative mood, and seems to enjoy the conflict - cooperate when there is an open line of communication. AQUARIUS: (January 21 February 19) You have a great deal to think about during the week,
and may want to take time out to do so. Don’t ignore what may seem like pesky symptoms, your body may be trying to tell you something. It’s time to start following that dream you’ve had for some time now. PISCES: (February 20 March 20) You have lots of love to give to those outside your personal relationships - try to spend time with others who have no one. There may be a treasure waiting for you in a place that you least expect. Hard work will bring much satisfaction, and will benefit by helping others. IF THIS WEEK IS YOUR BIRTHDAY: This should be a lively time for you in terms of business, career and moneymaking activities. Your income and earnings will increase slightly with potential for a much greater profit. Friction may arise within a romantic relationship. -From the Associated Press
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23 November 2004
EDITORIAL The season of giving begins:
Much Ado About Bunnies
Operation Christmas Child Amanda Stefan News Editor
Meg Oldman Features Editor A new trend is waiting to be set here at Wilson, but it is not going to happen anytime soon. The desire to have rabbits as pets in the residence halls seems to grow by the day, but it is forbidden by the Blue Book. By definition, residents here at Wilson are allowed to own “hamsters, mice, rats, gerbils, chinchillas, guinea pigs, ferrets, fish, and small, non-poisonous reptiles and amphibians.” However, rabbits, even those that are small, such as dwarf rabbits, are banned. One reason given is that they can grow to be too large to fit in the assigned size cage, which is 2x2x2. According to the Island Gems Netherland Dwarfs website, dwarf rabbits reach only 2-4 pounds in weight as a
full-grown adult. Most guinea pigs weigh about this much. Ferrets, which are approved by the Blue Book, weigh more than this and are still allowed on campus. Another reason why rabbits are banned is due to the idea that they are difficult to clean up after. Bunnies, if in a contained area and provided with bedding, are easy to clean up after. If the proper cage is purchased, then clean up is easy. One cage sold at WalMart for $39.00 that is made for rabbits fits within the 2x2x2 limitation and is easy to clean up because it has a pan underneath that allows for the simple disposal of waste. Many students wish that dwarf rabbits be allowed on the halls. Amanda Horn,’08,
thought that we should have rabbits because of the popular VMT major here on campus. “I think it’s a big deal because this school focuses on vet programs and most of the students who go here are animal lovers and come from homes that have a lot of pets. I feel that bunnies should be allowed because dwarf bunnies are about the same size as some of the animals approved by the Blue Book.” Jen Markley of the freshman class stated that: “they really don’t pose any threat to the dorm life.” I would like to urge all members of WCGA and Senate to rethink the rule banning rabbits, especially dwarf rabbits. It would make many students here on campus much more content.
Each year Wilson College participates in a program called Operation Christmas Child. It is a non-profit Christian organization, which is run by a relief organization called Samaritan’s Purse. The program called for the collection of shoeboxes, filler items that included small toys, hygienic products, and school supplies, and monetary donations to cover the cost of shipping the filled boxes overseas to less fortunate countries. Many students, faculty, staff, and Curran Scholars took part in this program. Some filled boxes with needed items, others contributed by giving shoeboxes and some donated money. The program was a start for the holiday season, which is commonly seen as the ‘Season
of Giving.’ Jamie Maas, ‘07, enjoys being part of a College community that participates in charity. “I think it’s really important because I feel that it’s our duty to give back to the community and in regards to Operation Christmas Child, I think it’s a really great way to do it. We live in a country that is really blessed, and it’s nice to be able to give to kids that can’t have what we have,” she stated. This same feeling was mirrored by other members of the Wilson community. Jen Huseman, ‘08, said, “It’s nice to help out those less fortunate.” Operation Christmas Child was the opportunity for the Wilson community to help others through charity at the start of the holiday season.
This chest brought to you by..... A comment on the current wave of logos and other media influences that saturate our everyday lives Chris Hunt Staff Writer What is it these days about people and advertising labels? People are smart for the most part, so here is something I do not get. Why is it that so many people —and most do—confine themselves so readily to such a narrowly defined title such as an advertising logo? I just love walking down the street and being sold to by Nike, Old Navy, or Bud Light or whatever company has successfully extracted a few bucks from some mindless nabob. I can’t help but wonder if the thought had even crossed the mind of the unsuspecting victim that he or she’d been had. I mean, shouldn’t it be the other way around? Shouldn’t a person be paid to be a walking billboard? You don’t ever see any roadside billboards standing in line at the local rescue mission or the teen
populated mall to purchase the garnishment that would cover their own nakedness, do you? Of course not! And it’s these same people who drive around with a cute little oval on their bumper that says OBX. What the heck is an OBX?! And why is it that practically everyone who owns a car wants me to know that they like OBX? My response to OBX? So what. And now we’ve got all these other idiotic white ovals plastered to every piece of available space imaginable. In fact, just yesterday, I saw stationary OBX hubcaps—that’s right! While the car is moving these things must be weighted somehow so that the letters are always upright! Yes, you heard me—while the car is moving. Wow! That was the clincher.
I’m grabbing my wife and kids immediately and am going to spend my two week vacation at the Outer Banks, along the Carolina coast, just to find out what all the hubbub is about. Perhaps while I’m down there I’ll find my answer while walking along the beach, a kid hanging on each hand, as the sun sets over the beautiful water. But if not, the next time I see any vehicle with that annoying white oval and those same black letters I’m going to jump from my car, rip that thing off and save someone else from the deception—and from spending a few of their precious hard-earned dollars on a trip when instead they could use their money on something worthwhile—something like a t-shirt with a big fat swoosh on it.