Apocalypse Now? Or Later? Guest Speaker Discusses
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Vofume loi Issue # 5 The Student Newspaper of Alfred University Apocalypse now? Or later? Liß-h t BY ABIGAIL GRIFFITH STAFF WRITER You can safely cross the apoca- Hundreds gather to witness lypse off your "things to fret over" list. Well, for the next couple mil- lions of years anyway. AU history in the making That was the message of renowned University of Arizona professor of astronomy Chris BY JESSICA BARNTHOUSE Impey's lecture "The End of the fell from the sky," said Impey. FEATURES EDITOR World as We Know It: Astronomy However, a more real threat is Meets Eschatology," that was presented by the possibility of a Susan Howell Hall saw more action on Oct. 27 presented to the public in Nevins nearby star dying and creating a than the real Susan Howell probably ever saw Theater on Oct. 26. supernova. Supernovas happen in her entire life. Impey's visit to the Alfred cam- about once every 100 years. A No, it wasn't a brothel (although many of pus was sponsored by the Alfred near star death could cause ozone those participating were scantily clad). This University chapter of Phi Beta damage, neutrino damage, and was Alfred Runway: both a competition and a Kappa. DNA mutations celebration of the fabulousness of fashion. On a While Impey believes that the "Earth is just about due for [a rainy October night, over 200 students, faculty end of the world is most likely a supernova]," said Impey. "But and community members—enough to break the long way off, he stressed that it still it's really a little hypothetical fire code for maximum occupancy—packed makes for a particularly interesting danger that can't be quantified." themselves body-to-body in a surprisingly field of study. His lecture focused Outside of the realm of astron- small space, eager to see Alfred's interpreta- on a series of possible apocalyp- omy, humans may have real tion of "style." That's freaking awesome for a tic scenarios and the likelihood of cause for worry. According to Friday night in Alfred! any of the aforementioned events Impey, we are in the midst of a Topping the night's "it" list was Jay ever happening, all with the aid of massive extinction of species or McCarroll, Bravo TV reality show Project video clips and an eighties rock "Great Dying," that is occurring Runway's season one winnerrT-he crowd roared soundtrack. at our own hands. There's also with laughter as McCarroll critiqued the contestants' outfits with junior Spanish major Craig Arno, who was one of the hundreds "I've decided to group together recent evidence that humans are his bitchy comments and flamboyant attitude. If you missed out in attendance that night. "Altogether I thought there was a lot the science of endings..." said losing the battle on germs. on that night, I sure feel sorry for you. of effort that went into them." Impey, smirking. "I'll try not to "If you're a betting type of per- Alfred Runway was put together by the collaborative effort of Despite the fact that all of the outfits reflected the hard work be too depressing," he said. son, and you're putting money several AU faculty and staff members. Just like the real Project that was put into each of them, a victor had to emerge from the In the early days of civilization, on humans or microbes, you'd Runway, the 12 teams who competed each had to design an out- fashion rubble. With their neon pink and green gown, which, people, familiar with the "rhythms probably put your money on the fit, which was then judged by career advisor and liaison to the . according to McCarroll, resembled a watermelon, senior art and of the cosmos," took a more cyclic microbes," said Impey. School of Art and Design Kevin Jacobs, Director of Residence design majors Asia Wells and Kristen Koch and senior fine arts view of life. However, the advent Nuclear weapons also pose an Life Brenda Porter, Assistant Professor of Dance Chase Angier, major Kalie Stiffler were ecstatic when their team was announced of religion led to a more linear ever-increasing threat to human Professor of Ceramics John Gill and McCarroll himself. as the winner. time view with a distinct begin- civilization, explained Impey. Only these couldn't just be any outfits. The teams had to follow Wells said that before the show she was terrified, "but once ning, middle and end. Christianity, Of course, all of the above four guidelines while designing: they had to be appropriate attire I hit the [runway] stairs, I was good to go—I had such a good especially, legitimized the science information may be irrelevant for Spectrum's bi-annual dance party, Glam Slam (i.e. they had time." surrounding a possible apoca- if you happen to believe the to be absolutely ridiculous), resemble clothing from a fairy tale, When asked what she thought of McCarroll, Wells said, "Jay's lypse. "Matrix" philosophy. Some be unique (just like everyone in Alfred) and be durable enough a character. I thought he was funny. I like his fashion, too. He's "Religion frees up scientists to argue that we could conceivably to rock out in all night. This included any my favorite Project Runway designer of any season." study things from a linear view- be living in a virtual world con- events occurring after Glam Slam. So how did AU, with its remote location and small student point, to study endings," declared trolled by a more advanced spe- Adhering to these criteria, body, attract a famous guy like McCarroll? By pure coinci- Impey. cies. Thus, our entire lives may the teams had to not only design dence, actually. As fate would have it, Porter knew McCarroll From a strictly astronomi- not be "real." their own outfits, but also prove from when he was an undergraduate student at the Philadelphia cal point of view, our planet is "The question we have to ask is that they could model and "boogey College of Textiles and Science, and Jacobs knew his publicist perpetually in doom's pathway. what would a suitably advanced down" in them successfully. Thank from when he owned a home-design shop in Los Angeles. According to Impey, Earth faces society do with its increasing God no one tripped on the runway. "We got really excited about the possibility of bringing Jay to possible death by major impact, technological power?" Impey The teams also had to "build" an Alfred, and the rest is history!" said Porter. the violent end of a nearby star, or said. outfit on the spot using only card- Throwing the idea of Spectrum's Glam Slam into the mix, even the eventual exhaustion of Of course, from an astrono- board, aluminum foil and duct Porter and Jacobs knew that they had just found an instant mega- our own sun. mer's viewpoint, the universe tape. hit among the entire Alfred community. "[There is] a lot of stuff out there will one day end, most likely No shame was shown that But the show's not over, folks. Those of you who missed out we might have to worry about," in a phenomenon known as the evening as models attempted to on getting your "fash-on" two weeks ago still have a chance to said Impey. "Big Rip." Our universe will "shake what their mamas gave show off your couture for next year. Major meteoric impacts occur gradually unglue until planets them" in order to win When asked if more celebrities would be brought to AU in the on Earth about once every 100 separate from stars, and neutrons the grand prize: a trip to future, Jacobs replied, "It's been requested. I definitely see the million years. Luckily, it doesn't pull away from atoms. It's pre- New York City to hang venue of getting a famous person to come here and interact with look like Earth is currently due for dicted such an event will happen out with McCarroll in the students. We'll take the requests seriously." one. However, while we may not in 10A35 years. his studio for a day. That said, keep the runway lit and get ready for Season two: have to worry over major impacts, "Only if you really loved exis- Needless to say, the bigger, better and WAY gayer. Might as well kick it up a notch, Impey says that an intense meteor tential angst would you worry competition was stiff. right? O shower may present a problem. over an event 10 to 35 years in "The outfits were "The historical record is filled the future," said impishly grin- amazing," exclaimed with incidents where things clearly ning Impey. O Guest speaker discusses Caribbean life in America BY MATTHEW BUTTS of the material in the classroom. NEWS EDITOR The purpose, according to Fraser, was to show the inconsistencies written about historical events and how certain groups are written out of the textbooks. He summed up the account by stating that Alfred is more of a 'melting pot' than most would give it credit for. Columbus "left Europe not knowing where he was going, reached the Americas not knowing where Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, Grenada, Haiti, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico - These he was and returned to Europe not knowing where he had been." are just some of the Caribbean countries that much of the black population at Alfred University identi- "In the US, students only learn history that is focused on America. But in the Caribbean, a more truth- fies with.