feb. 2008>>>www.dogstreetjournal.com>>>volume 5 issue 6 The DoG Street Journal (what’sinside)
(whoweare) Road to Richmond EDITORIALSTAFF Rebecca Hamfeldt >Lobbying the Legislature The DSJ reviews students’ recent trip to Co-Editor in Chief the State legislature to lobby for the Jeri Kent College. Co-Editor in Chief page 5 Stacey Marin Executive Editor In the Know Jonna Knappenberger News Editor >Students and the News Just how informed are students at the Jake Robert Nelson College? The DSJ takes a look at our Interim News Editor generation and the news. Gretchen Hannes page 14 Style Editor John Hill Mrs. President Sports Editor >The White House’s Future Katie Photiadis With presidential primaries in full Opinions Editor swing, one DSJ columnist predicts the Megan Luteran outcome of the 2008 election. Print Photo Editor page 16 Nazrin Roberson Online Photo Editor More than a T-Shirt Ryan Powers >Intramural Sports Online Design Editor Find out what’s behind competing for Michael Duarte the coveted championship t-shirt. Online Design Editor page 18 Keeley Edmonds Business Manager Khaleelah Jones Operations Editor OURMISSION Kellie O’Malley OURMISSION COVERIMAGE Layout Assistant The DSJ is the College’s only For the first time in seasons, Tribe (talktous) monthly newsmagazine and daily men’s basketball is tearing it up The DoG Street Journal online paper. Access us anytime on on the court. There have been The College of William & Mary the web at dogstreetjournal.com. several energy-charged games, Campus Center Basement We strive to provide a quality, including six straight wins and a Office 12B reliable and thought-provoking tough loss against ODU at the media outlet serving the College most well-attended home game (visitus) community with constantly in over a decade. Read inside for updated coverage of diverse www.dogstreetjournal.com more on this amazing season. www.dogstreetjournal.com topics. If it happens here, you’ll Your first news source for stories, know. Photo & Cover Design by when they happen. Updated daily. Megan Luteran
2 THE DSJ - FEBRUARY 2008 IN (savethedate) WORDSBRIEF february 9 who: everyone College Ranked Fifth Four Alums Honored what: charter day by Peace Corps for Commitment to when: 10 a.m. College where: pbk As of Sep. 2007, there are 51 College alums why: it’s been 315 years currently serving in the Peace Corps, mak- In celebration of Charter Day on Feb. 9, the since the founding of the ing the College the fifth highest producer of William and Mary Alumni Association will Corps volunteers among medium-sized col- award four alums with Alumni Medallions College leges and universities. In a press release, in honor of their continued dedication to february 12 College President Gene Nichol commented the College. The four honorees are Linda on the contributions made by alums, noting Beerbower Burke (’70), Randall S. who: registered voters that the efforts of volunteers demonstrate Hawthorne (’67, J.D. ’70, M.L.T. ’71), what: republican and the College’s “increasingly service-oriented, Suzann Wilson Matthews (’71) and Patrisia democratic presidential international character.” The College has Bayliss Owens (’62). The alums’ achieve- primaries more alumni in the Peace Corps than Yale ments include Burke’s success in the IRS, when: 6 a.m. - 7 p.m. University, the University of Pennsylvania Hawthorne’s stint as a track coach at the where: williamsburg and Georgetown University; however, the College, Matthews’ position on the College’s College could not catch up to top-ranked Board of Visitors and Owens’ decades as a community building on n. University of Virginia with 72 alum volun- docent at the National Gallery of Art in boundary street for teers currently serving. Washington, D.C. williamsburg voters Local Government why: exercise your role in Research Grants Allow Summarizes Its Goals our democracy Undergraduates to do february 17 Cutting-Edge Research The City of Williamsburg’s government re- leased a list of its current goals in The Daily who: sports fans Because of recent grants from the Howard Press. They include transportation, expan- what: tribe women’s basket- Hughes Medical Institute and the Andrew sion of jails and preschools, changes to pay- ball takes on northeastern W. Mellon Foundation, the College will of- day lending and a land initiative for Eastern when: 3 p.m. fer many more opportunities for under- State Hospital. The City wants to make the where: kaplan arena graduate scientific research. The College was fees and taxes imposed by the Hampton chosen by HHMI to offer a yearlong, re- Roads Transit Authority more relevant to why: to watch the tribe search-intensive course focusing on phage alleviate major transportation problems. continue their winning streak genomics, the structure of DNA from vi- Also, plans exist to expand local jails and to against northeastern ruses that infect bacteria. The grant from make preschools more accessible. The City the Mellon Foundation will allow for the con- also plans to halt the exploitative payday lend- february 21-24 struction of a Geospatial Analysis Center to ing business and create a land planning ini- who: theatergoers work in tandem with the College’s Environ- tiative for the land next to Eastern State what: molière’s “the mental Science and Policy Program to ana- Hospital on Longhill Road. lyze the earth using geographic information scams of scapin” systems (GIS) technology. Virginia Governor when: 8 p.m. (feb. 21- Commends Commit- 23); 2 p.m. (feb. 24) College Moves Forward ment to Service where: pbk in Website Redesign why: a 17th century Virginia Governor Timothy Kaine visited example of sticking it to The College’s plan to redo the current the College on Jan. 18 to speak in a forum your parents website, dubbed re.web, has progressed to a about civic engagement. He was joined by new stage. Three concept designs have been College alum Cosmo Fujiyama (’07), co- february 27 released, ranging from “traditional to cut- founder of Students Helping Honduras. Over who: ting-edge,” according to the College’s 100 students and members of the Board of who: budding ecologists website. Multiple designs put an emphasis Visitors attended the forum. Kaine and what: campus on individual stories and are based more Fujiyama spoke about the importance of sustainability lecture heavily on images than on text, as compared public service, and Kaine answered ques- when: 7 p.m. to the College’s current site. The new con- tions from the audience on a variety of po- where: small 113 cepts were designed in collaboration with litical issues. College President Gene Nichol why: the vice president the marketing company mStoner and take also spoke at the forum, commending the for operations of virginia College community for its strong commit- inspiration from several other university wesleyan will be speaking websites. ment to service–230,000 hours per year. THE DSJ - FEBRUARY 2008 3 » NEWS COLLEGE TO BID SADLER FOND FAREWELL AFTER CROSS CONTROVERSY, SADLER DELAYED DEPARTURE TO AVOID MISINTERPRETATION
» JAKE ROBERT NELSON, DSJ NEWS EDITOR dent affairs. ol accompanied Sadler in ringing the bell The news broke on Jan. 15 in an e-mail “That [research] laid a foundation for the once for each year of service to the Col- sent from College President Gene Nichol to structure and programs and set a base for lege. “It was a special moment.” all students: the College’s venerated Vice the future,” Sadler said, “and in terms of The ever-humble vice president did not President for Student Affairs will retire at our work, a lot of what you see today.” want to go out with a bang; however, his the end of the 2007-2008 academic year. Vice President Sadler also described his departure will surely merit an immense Some students greeted the news with apa- role in the formation of some cherished reaction. Even among the student affairs thy, while others were nearly reduced to College traditions, such as the post-com- staff, the announcement of his retirement tears, but the departure of such an institu- mencement candlelight walk from the was laden with emotion. tion at the College will affect the goings-on Wren Building to William and Mary Hall “I explained what was going on, and of students regardless of reaction. and the College’s renewal of Convocation then I lost it,” Sadler emotionally recalled. Sadler had originally planned his retire- for freshmen and new transfers. “They just started clapping. The hardest ment for the end of the 2006-2007 school One tradition in which Vice President part for me was keeping composed, but it year, a year that would mark both his 65th Sadler never participated was the ringing doesn’t bother me to show that this mat- birthday and his 40th year of work ters to me.” at the College. However, he deter- Vice President Sadler hopes, be- mined that it would be wiser to wait “The cross controversy came up... I fore his departure, to continue his another year to avoid a departure day-to-day interactions with stu- embroiled in controversy. really felt that if I left [then] it would dents, an experience that he thinks Just as he was preparing to an- have been misinterpreted.” exemplifi es the College experience. nounce his retirement, the College He hopes that he has had an effect became a hotbed of confl ict regard- on students parallel to that of the ing the Wren Cross dispute. “The cross of the bell at the Wren Building to com- mentors during his time at the College. controversy came up,” Sadler said. “I really memorate years of service at the College. Citing a College alum and a current felt that if I left [then] it would have been That lapse was quickly remedied in a fury teacher, Vice President Sadler summed misinterpreted.” of tintinnabulation upon the announce- up the reasons he loves the College: “Wil- Although Vice President Sadler had ment of his retirement. liam and Mary’s great gift for me was that been long prepared for his departure, he “We went over there and rang that bell it opened me to fi nd my own pathway and acknowledged the impending change with 41 times,” Vice President Sadler said. Nich- constantly encouraged me.” apprehension. He noted that he would miss most the quotidian interactions with the College’s many students, but he hopes nonetheless that his presence has had an STUDENT LOBBYISTS FIGHT effect on the College community at large. “I always hoped,” Vice President Sadler FOR COLLEGE IN RICHMOND said, “that in some small way I could help students have the same experience I was » ALEX DANVERS, DSJ STAFF REPORTER Vice President for Community Relations fortunate enough to have had here.” On Jan. 22, the College of William and and Public Affairs Stewart Gamage, As- Sadler’s experience at the College was a Mary fought back against the 6.25 per- sistant to the President and Secretary to unique one. As a fi rst-generation college cent budget cut proposed in Governor the Board of Visitors Michael J. Fox and student, he fi rst approached his studies Tim Kaine’s 2008-2010 state budget with a Levey. A page of talking points that high- from a hesitantly methodical point of view, strong showing at The Road to Richmond, lighted issues important to the College strictly following curricula set out in the an annual event in which students travel to was distributed for quick reference in the College’s course catalog without thinking the state legislature in Richmond to lobby trenches of the General Assembly. about what he truly wanted. He noted the on behalf of their school. Between 60 and The fi rst priority in lobbying the leg- roles of a few professors and administrators 70 students attended, according to student islature was funding a salary increase for who pushed him to follow his own aca- organizer and intern from the Offi ce of faculty, whose proposed 3 percent sal- demic path: a phenomenon he hopes still Student Affairs Seth Levey (’08), a fi gure in ary increase was pushed back a year. The exists at the College. line with last year’s record total. Students problem with having excellent faculty, Although Sadler denied any strict causal attended a breakfast with state legislators President Nichol described, is other uni- relationship between his reign as Vice and College Board of Visitors members versities poaching talent from among their President and the College’s ascendance in before breaking into small groups to visit ranks. “The state must do its part for fac- rankings, he admitted that the change was the offi ces of state senators and delegates ulty salaries,” he said, adding that the Col- undeniable. He remembered a call for him involved in appropriations and fi nance. lege was already having trouble compet- to research and visit other colleges in an Students were briefed about the event on ing with other universities without delays effort to improve the College’s state of stu- Jan. 20 by College President Gene Nichol, in the salary increase. 4 THE DSJ - FEBRUARY 2008 » NEWS
The second request students made, bagels and orange juice were quickly gath- according to their talking points, was ered as a crisis in blood sugar was narrowly restoring “the base operating funds… ap- averted. “But I had to call Jimmy Ukrop to proved last year, but that we lost to the let him know he was going to have a bill Government’s budget reductions.” The for a whole lot of food,” said Gamage. Governor’s budget proposal would make Another time, described Nichol, a stu- the 6.25 percent budget cuts to the Col- dent was shot. As it turns out, one delegate lege permanent. They would otherwise was cleaning his gun in his offi ce when a only be enacted for one year. This would student stopped by. There was a misfi re equal a loss of over $3 million. and the student was grazed, but not se- Requests were made for two physical Anne Andrews, a College lobbyist, met with riously injured. “He was a big advocate facilities for the College: the new School Del. Bill Barlow (D). Photo courtesy Univer- of gun rights and he showed it off every of Education building and the Integrated sity Relations. chance he got,” said Nichol. Sciences Center. Last February the Virgin- advocating for buildings and faculty you Not always full of zany anecdotes, this ia General Assembly approved $5.4 mil- won’t see.” Having also organized last year’s year’s trip was effi ciently organized to lion in funding for planning and design of Road to Richmond trip, Levey agreed with have maximum effectiveness. Buses left the new education building, but passage the positive assessment. “They’re grateful the U.C. at 6 a.m. for the 7:30 breakfast in is still sought for the “Commonwealth of to hear from us,” he said. Richmond. The State Library opened its Virginia Educational Facilities Bond Act Another factor working in the College’s doors early for the catered breakfast before of 2008,” which would appropriate $11.7 favor is that many former College gradu- committee meetings began so the legisla- million in state funding towards the over- ates have jobs in Richmond. Among them tors could also attend. President Nichol all $48 million cost of the education facil- is Senate Minority Leader Thomas Nor- gave a few brief remarks, beaming from ity. The Bond Act would also appropriate ment, Jr. (R, 3rd District), who spoke with behind a green and gold necktie, and then $35 million towards the Integrated Sci- students on the trip. A William and Mary students who needed to get back to campus ences Center, which is scheduled to open Law School alum and former self-described for classes by 9:30 left on one bus. this spring. This funding would come as “Williamsburg townie,” Norment encour- About 30 students stayed and split into part of an overall package committing aged student lobbyists to use the analogy smaller groups of three or four and were $1.5 billion to institutes of higher educa- of a consumer giving feedback to a ser- given a list of delegates and senators to tion, including over $100 million to the vice provider when thinking about what talk to for the remaining time. Looking University of Virginia. they are doing. “You are the consumers of for a few minutes of time in halls heav- Funding for the 109,000 square foot higher education,” he said, a theme that ily crowded with interest groups lobbying education facility is a priority, because Levey also picked up on. “There is nothing the General Assembly, most students were though the “Chronicle of Higher Educa- greeted by legislative aides for a brief fi ve tion” ranked the School of Education fac- The goal of the lobbying trip was to ten minute conversation. A few groups ulty seventh overall in the U.S. in 2007, were granted audiences with the legisla- poor facilities have put the program in to “put a face behind the num- tors, as when Allen Kennedy-Schafer of jeopardy of losing its accreditation. Sim- bers,” Levey (‘08) said. the William and Mary Law School pulled ply put by President Nichol, “William his group into his former employer, Del. and Mary has one of the best Schools of scarier to a politician than a constituent,” David Marsden’s (D, 41st District) offi ce. Education in the country, but one of the Norment joked. “We serve at your plea- Despite the unavailability of many worst facilities.” sure.” “Little Tommy,” as he called him- lawmakers, many students felt optimistic The goal of the trip was not necessarily self, thought William and Mary students about the trip. Jonathan Welle (’08) said to enact immediate change, according to would be well received. he had “only positive encounters,” with Levey, but to “put a face behind the num- The Road to Richmond trip has been a “lots of William and Mary connections.” bers.” Success was “getting the message tradition for ten years, starting under Pres- Lea Bruhmfi eld (’08) was pleased to have across” that changing the state budget “is ident Timothy J. Sullivan. Gamage has led handed out College chocolates this year, not just playing with numbers.” Fox was every expedition. For the fi rst trip, she re- disparaging the plastic apples given to more modest in his goals. At a time when calls getting permission from James Ukrop legislators last year. Levey, sentimental of the Virginia legislature is facing a $641 (’60) to have breakfast at his eponymous having organized his last trip, said the ex- million shortfall, cuts are inevitable. “We grocery store. However, when a bus full perience made him “proud to be a member just need to stop the bleeding,” he said. of hungry, bleary-eyed students arrived at of the Tribe.” Judging the success of the trip is diffi - Ukrops’ grocery store just after 6 a.m., the Whether the student lobbying had an cult, but organizers have gotten positive doors were locked and a lone employee was effect on this year’s budget will be deter- feedback. Both Nichol and Gamage told unhurriedly sweeping the store. Banging mined down the road. It is not until Feb. of General Assembly members praising on the door and arguing for her breakfast, 17 that the committee responsible for the the articulate, intelligent encounters they Gamage was able to convince the employ- budget bill must complete its work, and had with College undergraduates. They ee, who was not expecting them, to let in not until March 6 that a conference re- believed efforts were helpful but that the students. An arrangement was struck port on the budget bill is due. The College the effects this trip will have are down so that all the students could have fi ve can only hope that the General Assembly the road. General Assembly members are minutes to go through the store and grab remembers the faces behind the numbers “very impressed,” Nichol said. “You are whatever they wanted. Cartfuls of donuts, when it comes time to vote. THE DSJ - FEBRUARY 2008 5 » NEWS SomethingSomething forfor EveryoneEveryone
Student Clubs and Organizations Appeal to a Variety of Interests and Ideals The DSJ highlights their missions and goals for the new semester
» JAKE ROBERT NELSON, DSJ INTERIM NEWS EDITOR International Relations Club (IR Club) ISABELLE COHEN, DSJ STAFF REPORTER
MissionMission: This club is for students Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC) interested in international relations and is responsible for running the College’s Model MissionMission: SEAC is an activist organization devoted to environmental issues on UN team. campus, ranging from stopping mountaintop removal mining for coal to recycling. LeaderLeader: President Samantha Besora (’08) Leaders: Facilitators Jake Reeder (’09) and Josh Wayland (’08) Plans for the upcoming semester: Plans for the upcoming semester: “This semester, as always, we are “We’re hoping to work with a service organization on campus to institute campus- attending Model UN conferences,” said Liz wide recycling,” said Reeder, “as well as lobbying in Richmond on the Clean Energy Owerbach (’09), the club’s Vice President Future’s act, among others. We’re also going to be growing food on campus to be for Campus Affairs. “We are also hosting a served in William & Mary dining halls.” conference for middle schoolers, which is “We will get the President’s Climate Commitment signed this semester,” said really fun. We have a new service initiative Wayland. “Also, we’re doing a week-long Earth Day celebration starting Sunday, too, a committee for service involvement. April 22.” For more information, go to http://www.wm.edu/so/seac/ or attend SEAC meetings on Tuesday nights at 6 p.m. in McGlothlin Street 20.
University Center Activities Board (UCAB) MissionMission: Eleven committees under the supervision of three directors and two advisers plan everything from speakers on contemporary issues to comedy and music acts to film screenings in the University Center. LeaderLeader: Executive Director Margaret Collerd (’08) We’re trying to raise money for CARE, a Plans for the upcoming semester: leading humanitarian organization which In celebration of the anniversary of the College’s charter, the Norfolk, Virginia- does things like microfinance to fight global based rock band Mae will perform a concert in the UC Chesapeake on Feb. 9. Other, poverty. This semester we are also planning less well-known activities an international cuisine cook-off contest and include a Feb. 7 tournament looking to host speakers on counter- of the classic Super terrorism and reshaping US foreign policy.” Nintendo game Mario Kart, For more information, check out a Feb. 8 performance by International Relations Club’s Facebook or comedienne Jen Kober, who uses a combination of stand-up and improvised rock- attend their meetings every Tuesday night and-roll comedy, and a Feb. 15 anti-Valentine’s celebration and party. at 7:30 p.m. in Tyler 102. Applications for general board members are due March 14. For more information, check out http://www.wm.edu/ucab/. Students Helping Honduras (SHH) Mission: According to their Facebook group, Students Helping Honduras is a non-profit organization with a mission to provide fundamental human needs to orphaned and impoverished children in Honduras. LeaderLeader: Wendy Chan (’08) Plans for the upcoming semester: According to Chan, “Our biggest event this upcoming semester will be raising $1 million for an endowment fund and transition home for the oldest girls in the orphanage. A lot of times when they leave the orphanage, the girls wind up on the streets, so we’re hoping to raise some money to buy them a home and pay for them to attend college. We also have a big walk-a-thon, our third annual, at Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.” For more information, check out http://www.StudentsHelpingHonduras.org/ or their Facebook group. 6 THE DSJ - FEBRUARY 2008 22 » NEWS Young Democrats (YD)
MissionMission: This club is a gathering place for students who identify as Democrats to discuss politics and become involved at a local and statewide level. LeaderLeader: President Liz Pedraja (’09) Plans for the upcoming semester: According to Pedraja, “We’re attending the annual Virginia Young Democrats Convention, where Virginia YDs gather to vote on state officers and listen to speakers. We’re also planning a banquet on campus, sometime in April. It’s our yearly fundraiser, where local democrats come to hear guest speakers. We also show a slideshow of what we’ve done in the last year as sort of a commemoration of the year’s achievements. We are also bringing in guest speakers from the army and Virginia State Congress.” For more information, check out the William and Mary Young Democrats Facebook group or attend the Wednesday meetings at 8 p.m. on the second floor of Blair. College Republicans
Students for Life (SFL) Mission: This club is a gathering place for students who identify as Republicans to discuss politics and become involved at a local and statewide level. Mission: The club, a non-profit and non- Leader: Chairman Stephen Salvato (’10) partisan student organization, is propelled Plans for the upcoming semester: to teach students through speakers and “With all that is happening right now in our country with the 2008 elections, this literature about issues relevant to a pro- semester looks to be very exciting for our club,” said Salvato. “While life point of view. The group recognizes the first semester is dedicated to campaigning for the November elections, this life as a fundamental right and, thus, aims semester is focused on activism. By that, I don’t mean running around to exclude no one. protesting everything. Instead, we will focus on activism by bringing local, Leader: President Rebecca Hamfeldt state and hopefully national figures to club meetings. We will also start a series (’08) of discussions at club meetings on issues where Republicans sometimes Plans for the upcoming semester: disagree, everything from illegal immigration to the environment. This helps On Feb. 11, Dr. Alveda King, the niece of club members to develop a fuller understanding of important issues from a Martin Luther King, Jr., will be speaking Republican standpoint. Finally, we will continue to hold a variety of social at the University Center on civil rights issues events, some focused on politics, like watching debates and others focused on just having a good time, like bowling, putt-putt, etc.” For more information, go to http://www.wm.edu/so/college-repub/ or attend the College Republicans meetings at 7 p.m. on Thursdays in Tucker 215.
A Cappella Council (ACC)
Mission: The council, which is made up of members from each of its 11 member including the right to life. The club will groups, organizes group performances, including a cappella showcases and subsequent also continue to promote awareness of auditions each semester. community resources as a substitute for Leader: Council President Greg Genovese (’09) abortion, including pregnancy tests and Plans for the upcoming semester: Although auditions were held at the end of counseling through the Student Health January, interested students will have a bevy of opportunities to hear the College’s Center and prenatal care through local many a cappella groups. Weekly concerts held on the portico of the Wren building charities with religious affiliations. An highlight each group and are often an opportunity to show emphasis is placed on resources for new off both newly arranged repertoire and to mothers and a general willingness to promote upcoming concerts and album promote alternatives to abortion. releases. Individual groups have separate performances For more information, check out http:// that focus on their complete repertoires. www.wm.edu/so/studentsforlife/ or attend For more information, check out http://www.wm.edu/so/acappellacouncil/. their meetings every Wednesday night at 8 p.m. in Blair 205. Voices for Planned Parenthood (VOX)
MissionMission: Voices for Planned Parenthood is the pro-choice student group at the College, which works to educate and mobilize students in support of reproductive rights and sexual health. Leader: President Devan Barber (’08) Plans for the upcoming semester: According to Barber, on Feb. 11, Vox and UCAB are bringing a sex- ed program called “I Love Female Orgasm,” which is geared towards college students. From March 14 to 16, Vox will be performing “The Vagina Monologues,” which will raise money for Katrina victims as well as Avalon, the local women and children’s shelter. Vox is also planning an Emergency Contraception drive, which will allow students to purchase Plan B from Planned Parenthood nurses at a discounted rate. For more information, email [email protected] or attend their meetings every Wednesday at 6 p.m. in Washington 302.
THE DSJ - FEBRUARY 2008 7 » NEWS
Free, Legal RUCKUS:RUCKUS: and Lame? Is Music Downloading Popular at the College?
» JONNA KNAPPENBERGER, DSJ NEW EDITOR Additionally, Ruckus is able to offer free ing to branch out into mainstream TV shows downloads because the “safe downloading” It’s no secret that illegally downloading and movies,” McClean said. “If we’re just that they proclaim is actually quite safe. It music and movies is risky. But as new, legal stuck with the online version, students requires a Ruckus player, and Ruckus down- services emerge to cater to college students wouldn’t be able to get the TV shows and loads can be played with Windows Media and law-abiding administrators, the ques- movies.” Player. With this player, students cannot tion emerges: is the free, legal downloading The company is also trying to capitalize burn the songs or other media to CDs, can- alternative viable? Will it last? on the Facebook generation. They bill their not send them via email or download them If you’ve been down and out on music website as a social scene, including friend- to an iPod. The Ruckus songs are not per- recently, maybe someone at the Student ing options, personal comment walls and manent either. Assembly has pointed you to Ruckus, the sharing of playlists and favorites. Nonetheless, the advantages of having a music sharing site that has recently signed Besides the College, the company has part- server on campus include faster download- an agreement with the College for service nerships with 181 other schools. Ruckus es- ing speed. “If you move the downloads onto on campus. timates that students at over 1,000 college an internal server, that increases the net- According to Chris Ward, Director of campuses use their services, which they say work speed for everyone. By moving traf- Systems and Support in the Information is a 1,237 percent increase from a year ago. fic, you’re increasing network capability for Technology department, the College’s only Some students, however, are necessarily everyone,” McClean said. responsibility is to provide space on campus left out of the picture. The Ruckus software According to the Ruckus website, a local for a Ruckus server. is, in fact, incompatible with all Macintosh server can offer exclusive content that isn’t “They sent the server to me and I made computers. This means that, according to IT available to the public. The company claims sure it got installed correctly and then it’s estimates, about 10 percent of College stu- to have a database of more than three mil- all up to them. They manage it remotely,” dents who own Macs are left out of the legal lion songs and videos, supposedly double the Ward said. downloading alternative. number of available songs from last year. Student Assembly Senator Walter “This is what you would call ‘the “They download new stuff to the server McClean (’09), a proponent of the agree- catch,’” once a week and they’re start- ment, said, “The only obligation the College has is if there’s a power outage we have to get power back to the server. So, ba- sically, we don’t have to do anything. There’s no bill that went to the Senate. We didn’t even need to do that.”
How can free downloading be le- gal? Each time a member listens to a song on the server, Ruckus pays the record com- pany that provides it, thus avoiding piracy and sharing issues that have arisen on other sites such as LimeWire and Kazaa. Last September, Ruckus was able to open up their services free of charge to anyone with a university email address. They are able to do this because they are supported by revenue from advertising. Funding also comes from investors, who are interested in ‘ the market potential. Just recently, two in- vestment companies decided to pour $10 million into the project.
8 THE DSJ - FEBRUARY 2008 » NEWS
McClean said. However, Ruckus did supposedly address the problem, al- lowing online streaming through a web Other Free and Legal Download Services browser under any operating system. Ruckus is not the only service out there. Napster and, of course, the old standby iTunes Whatever happened with the are available universally but require purchases. A social networking site called Imeem has RIAA? also emerged as an ad-supported media service. The Ruckus-College idea suppos- According to a recent article in the New York Times, Imeem has 20 million different edly originated with McClean, stem- users and a site that grows by one million visitors every month. They split their ad revenue ming from the concerns of spring 2007, evenly with record companies and do not have to worry about piracy via sharing because when the Recording Industry Asso- they only stream and do not allow for downloads. Imeem also aims at exploring streaming ciation of America mailed letters to video. 12 computer users at the College Another site, SpiralFrog, has struggled with finances and put off launching their free about their downloading. The let- site. Even after losing $3.4 million last fall, as reported in the Times, SpiralFrog says the ters were sent to the College, ad- service continues to grow and has 950,000 visitors. dressed to specific IP addresses, threatened lawsuits and asked for settlement money. The RIAA, according to Beckerman, has “I know the average Ruckus user down- The RIAA is a trade associa- not attempted to prove actual damages to loads a lot. Fifteen songs takes about 30 sec- tion in the recording industry. their industry, but has sought $750 per onds,” McClean said. “We want to push a According to their website, the song in statutory damages in multiple cases. free service that is going to protect students RIAA members “create, manufac- Several cases are pending which challenge from lawsuits. It’s definitely worth it.” ture and/or distribute approximately the damages on constitutional grounds. 90 percent of all legitimate sound re- The Ruckus ruckus cordings produced and sold in the U.S.” Do we illegally download? Ruckus desperately wants to be Since then, five students settled with the “We know that there’s a lot of music popular and has a track record to RIAA and the identities of the other seven downloads going on,” said IT’s Chris prove it. Back in 2006, the New York were in the hands of the College, which took Ward when asked about illegal Times reported that a Facebook mem- a rather protective stance at the time of the downloading at the College. “But, we ber named Brody Ruckus, who said he incident. Sam Sadler (characteristically) re- don’t have any specific ways that we can was a student at Virginia Tech, created a minded students of the risk of such illegal determine how much is going on.” group that stated if 100,000 people joined, behaviors but also said, “The College would A project called the Campus Computing his girlfriend would agree to some type of not release such personal information about Project, based at Claremont Graduate Uni- threesome sexual encounter. The group students without their consent.” versity in California, surveys universities and grew to over 430,000 members. The RIAA then pushed for the names of compiles information technology data each It soon came to light, however, that the users to be subpoenaed by the court year. The project reported last October that, Ruckus was not a student at Tech. Instead, so that they could then sue the de- of 555 two- and four-year public and pri- the account was traced to the company. fendant in their own name and in vate schools, 70.5 percent said their students Facebook shut the group down, citing policy the district where he or she lives. could lose network privileges for illegal against commercial activity by members. Judge Walter D. Kelley, Jr., peer-to-peer downloading. About 46 per- According to the Times, Michael Bebel, from the Eastern District in Nor- cent impose other sanctions, and almost half chief executive of Ruckus, said, “The sub- folk, denied the subpoena re- have installed software to ject matter is a little polarizing, but the quest on grounds that there was monitor illegal content isn’t more extreme than no legal basis to require the College to re- downloading. About what Charlie Sheen does in ‘Two lease the names. 13 percent have and a Half Men.’” The same situation arose for 16 students mandatory down- at the University of New Mexico. The re- loading education quest for subpoena was also denied there on classes. the same grounds. McClean said that According to Attorney Ray Beckerman, approximately 400 who specializes in commercial and copyright people were using law at a New York firm, the RIAA has a Ruckus before the “discovery procedure” that they have been SA started cam- trying to adapt to colleges. Basically, they paigning for it. bring a mass lawsuit against numerous “John Now, that number is Does,” then ask the court for a subpoena of probably close to 3,000. the identity (via an “ex parte order of dis- There aren’t official numbers yet to covery”), and finally seek to sue the user show exactly how popular the service is on directly. campus.
THE DSJ - FEBRUARY 2008 9 » STYLE
How Students of the College Survive Rising Tuition and a Lagging Dollar Saving for School...
» KATIE MOSCONY, DSJ STAFF REPORTER 30 percent of the College’s undergraduates shifts a week to earn money to pay interest When I was 15, my mom informed me have demonstrated fi nancial need. Another on her student loans. that it was time for me to get a job. Lucky 20 percent receive student or parent loans. “Sometimes it’s intimidating to know for me, my psychologist uncle needed a It is not surprising, then, that a consider- that I have so much debt awaiting me fi le clerk for his offi ce, and I was immedi- able number of students not only handle when I graduate, but I also think that I ap- ately hired on the basis of my intelligence the formidable workload that is typical of preciate my education more knowing that and skill (well, perhaps nepotism had the College but also juggle it with the re- I’m the one paying for it,” she said. something to do with it). Family connec- sponsibilities of a part time job. English ma- Neal Miller (’09) is another working stu- tions aside, Springfi eld Psychological and jor Mike Curtin (’08) works at the Baskin dent, one who is currently employed by I are going on seven years in our employ- Robbins in Merchant’s Square, where he Swem Library as a member of e-SWAT. e- ment relationship, and in between SWAT is a team of student assistants summer-long stints behind its front “...but I also think I’ll appreciate my who offer technological help to li- desk, I have dabbled in school-year brary patrons, and Miller clocks in engagements with various local busi- education more knowing that I’m the an average of 10-15 hours per week nesses, all the while carefully saving one paying for it.” serving tech duty. my earnings in the bank. “Sometimes it is diffi cult to pack The reason for all of this hard everything (especially studying) work and frugality? Since an early age, I’ve has scooped ice cream for the past two and into one day, but my boss is really accom- known that I would be personally respon- a half years. modating about needing to miss scheduled sible for my room and board costs in col- “It can be diffi cult at times to balance shifts,” Miller said. “I like the relaxed envi- lege. Living on-campus at the College can work and school, especially when adding ronment. I dislike having to work in order add up to a whopping $4793 per semester. extra-curricular activities into the mix,” to make money.” For those of my peers whose parents are Curtin said. “However, it isn’t impossible Kelsey Williamson (’08) is another stu- unable to pick up the rest of the check, to work it all out, or even terribly diffi cult. dent employee at Swem, although unlike tuition plus fees for the Spring 2008 term The best part of working is obviously hav- Miller, she does so through the College’s will run them another $4582 in-state and ing money at my disposal, and the worst work-study program. According to Irish, $13,467 out-of-state (current rates cour- part is that it is one more thing to do on an estimated 25 percent of undergraduates tesy of William and Mary Financial Op- top of school.” work on-campus. erations). Curtin’s friend and classmate Sarah “I am out of state, so I pay $34,000 per According to Edward Irish, Director of Newman (’08) is a waitress at the Center year,” Williamson said. “I get $21,000 the College’s Offi ce of Financial Aid, 25- Street Grill in New Town. She works two in grants from the school. After outside 10 THE DSJ - FEBRUARY 2008 » STYLE scholarships, I take out about $2,000 per them. dents and March 15 for those returning. year in Stafford Loans, so I think by the Child-care? I spent two afternoons a Once you have fi lled out your FAFSA, time I graduate I will have about $10,000 week my freshman year babysitting for the you will learn the type of aid for which in loans for four years.” four-year-old daughter of a professor, only you qualify. Federal grants are need-based Part-time jobs, loans, grants, payment- ending the engagement when she entered funds provided by the federal government. plans, paperwork, contracts. It all seems a pre-school the next year. Retail? Two af- State grants are the same thing but are fi - bit daunting to those of us who, only a few ternoons during the week and half of my nanced by the state. Institutional grants years ago, were enjoying carefree, cost-free weekends sophomore year were spent be- are awarded from the College itself out of living at home. Yet in a country where ed- hind the counter of the Scotland House over 300 different funds that are part of its ucation costs are accelerating to exorbitant selling tartans to tourists. Food service? endowment, unrestricted fund and gift ac- rates, we don’t really have a choice. I followed up my stint as a sales clerk by counts. It’s no secret that a college education is becoming a waitress and serving up fi sh Another fi nance option is the Gateway expensive, but the expense looks to be get- at the Backfi n Seafood Restaurant off of William and Mary program, which pro- ting higher and higher every year. Accord- Route 199, after which I switched to a paid vides a combination package of the afore- ing to a recent editorial “Degree in Debt” consulting internship this past fall. mentioned grant types for students from from the Philadelphia Inquirer, the cost of Clearly, there are many and varied op- low to middle income families who have
“Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are calling for tax credits for American families facing college expenses, and John Edwards has a plan to fund the fi rst year of college for any student who does volunteer service.” higher education increased by over six per- portunities for the job-seeking college high academic potential. Through this pro- cent last year. The author also noted that student. The other option for the fi nan- gram, students can proceed directly from since the late 1950s, tuition increases have cially challenged among us is to visit the graduation to the next stage of their educa- ranged from equal to double the nation’s College’s fi nancial aid offi ce and take out a tion or professional career debt-free. infl ation rate. loan or apply for a grant. I suggest visiting “We have had great success with the The issue of hefty tuition rates has not the offi ce’s website (http://www.wm.edu/ program thus far and expect further in- escaped the notice of current presidential fi nancialaid/) to get a more detailed sense creases in high need students in the com- candidates either. Both Hillary Clinton and of what you can expect. ing years,” said Irish. Barack Obama are calling for tax credits for In the meantime, however, here’s a gen- The Federal Work-Study Program, or American families facing college expenses, eral overview of what you can expect to FWS, helps need-based fi nancial aid can- and John Edwards has a plan to fund the see (all information is courtesy of the Wil- didates to work part-time for the school to fi rst year of college for any student who liam and Mary Financial Aid Offi ce). offset the cost of their tuition. Students en- does volunteer service. The College offers three forms of aid: rolled in this program work up to 20 hours Of course all of these future plans for Federal and State Grants, Federal Work- per week in a position related to their funding sound great. But what can respon- Study (FWS) and Federal Family Educa- course of study. sible college students do now to tional Loans. Almost all The College also offers four federal help shoulder the fi nancial bur- of this aid is tied loans—Perkins Loans, Stafford Loans, Par- den of their schooling? to the FAFSA ent PLUS loans and Grad PLUS loans—as First of all, and perhaps (Free Ap- well as private loans. Loans are funds that most obviously, they can get plication must be repaid by the student or his or her a job. Williamsburg offers for Federal parents at an interest rate. any number of part-time Student Ultimately, whatever option you choose, employment opportu- Aid) be it part-time job or fi nancial aid package, nities for the reason- form, it will have to accommodate your personal ably intelligent from situation and lifestyle. Scheduling an ap- young student— pointment to speak with a fi nancial aid believe me, counselor is a good idea as is discussing I’ve tried your choices with your parents. Though most of the process can be trying, particularly for families without much fi nancial back- which ground, Irish promised that the counsel- the counsel- ors at the Financial Aid Offi ce are always ors can create a ready to meet one-on-one with families personally tailored that need extra help with the forms. fi nancial aid pack- College gets more expensive every year, age for you. But but you shouldn’t have to suffer for it. act fast—the Look into your fi nancial options and fi nd a FAFSA must be way to get what you want out of your edu- fi led by Feb. 15 cation without sacrifi cing too much out of for new stu- your pocket.
THE DSJ - FEBRUARY 2008 11 » STYLE BEST OF’S A Random Assortment of Five Best Things FIVE BEST INTERNATIONAL FIVE BEST PIECES OF VALENTINE’S VALENTINE’S DAY TRADITIONS DAY TRIVIA » TEGAN NEUSTATTER, DSJ STAFF REPORTER » TEGAN NEUSTATTER, DSJ STAFF REPORTER Great Britain 270 A.D. Women used to write the names of The year Valentine’s Day originated. According to legend, Valentine’s their lovers on paper and put the Day was started in ancient Rome during the reign of Claudius II. papers on clay balls. They would The emperor had outlawed marrying for young men since they then throw the clay balls into water, made better soldiers than men who had believing that whichever clay ball families. Saint Valentine, a clergyman, secretly rose to the surface fi rst held the name of their married two people and was executed for it future husband. on Feb. 14. Denmark 180 Million On Valentine’s Day, Danes send farcical love notes called The number of cards exchanged on gaekkebrev (joking letters). They write a rhyme but do not sign Valentine’s Day. According to Hallmark, their name. Instead, they “sign” in dots, and if the recipient of this holiday is second only to Christmas the letter can guess the name of the sender, the recipient will get as the largest card-giving holiday of the a candy egg on Easter. year. Procrastinators will be glad to know that half of people who purchase Valentine’s Day Japan cards do so less than six days ahead of time. Japan has two Valentine’s Days. On Feb. 14, girls give dark 24.7 chocolate to the boys on The number of pounds of chocolate Americans consumed in 2004. whom they have crushes. There are 1,271 factories which produce chocolate and cocoa A month later, it is the boys’ products in the U.S., with California leading (146 locations) turn. On March 14, boys give and Pennsylvania a close second (120 locations).The their crushes cookies or white chocolate confection industry was a $13 billion chocolate. industry in 2003. Italy 904 In Italy, some unmarried women get up The number of dating services established in the U.S. in 2002. These around sunrise and stand by a window. They believe that they services, like Match.com and eHarmony, have recently gained will marry the fi rst man to pass by the window within the year. popularity, and they are utilized by nearly 4,300 people. These It is also very popular to get engaged on Saint Valentini’s Day, as services may contribute to the approximately 6,000 marriages that it is called in Italian. take place daily nationwide. 73 percent Nepal and India The percentage of men who buy Here Valentine’s Day takes on a flowers on Valentine’s Day, as bit of forbidden romance, as not opposed to the 23% of women everyone is allowed to celebrate. who buy them. Over half College students are free to do of America’s roses come from as they like, but high school California; however, a vast number students have to give their of roses sold on Valentine’s Days are Valentines secretly. If they are imported, mostly from South America. caught, they get a warning and Approximately 110 million roses, most of their parents are informed of the romance. which are red, will be sold or delivered within a three-day period.
12 THE DSJ - FEBRUARY 2008 » STYLE FIVE BEST WAYS TO SURVIVE THE FIVE BEST VALENTINE’S DAY WRITERS’ STRIKE ACTIVITIES FOR SINGLE GIRLS » MEGAN GRADY, DSJ STAFF REPORTER » MEGAN GRADY, DSJ STAFF REPORTER Watch TV on DVD Even though you’ve probably watched your favorite shows when Dine Out with your Girlfriends you fi rst bought them, it never hurts to return to the original seasons Make plans to go off-campus and enjoy a night with the girls at to remind yourself why you fell in love a place like Aroma’s or Retro’s or head to New Town. This can with them in the fi rst place. And if you prove to be a fun way to get your mind off the fact that you don’t don’t have your favorite shows on DVD, have someone special with whom to share what can be a miserable now would be the time to go ahead holiday. If you’re feeling catty you can make fun of the happy and buy them (or rent them) to make couples you see while you’re out. sure you’re on top of things when the shows (hopefully) return. You’d be surprised at how many little details you’ve probably forgotten or future developments that have been foreshadowed that are (or rather, were) currently being sorted out. Create a Night to Watch Since you can’t watch new shows in real time every week, fi ll in their time slot by having friends over to watch old episodes. This works out even better than trying to watch them in real time because you can adjust the time to fi t your schedule. It also allows you to watch some of your favorite Don’t Watch a Chick Flick shows that may not be on TV This is the best way to make yourself painfully aware of anymore on a weekly basis, your singleness. Instead of curling up and watching “When like the much-missed “Sex and Harry Met Sally” or “Pride and Prejudice,” enjoy something the City.” less romantic like “Pirates of the Caribbean” or “Live Free or Die Hard” or another movie that doesn’t rub the fact that Read you are single in your face. Since there are no new episodes of shows except for reality TV, there’s less of a need to interrupt your study time to Make Valentine’s Cards watch. Use your time to study for class or fi nd a book to read for for Friends pleasure. Instead of making mushy love cards Pick Up a New Hobby for boys who don’t understand Fill your newly found free time in the day their importance, make fun ones by picking up a hobby you’ve always been for your single friends. This way interested in but hadn’t had the time to everyone feels a little bit of love pursue. Crocheting or knitting is a good on Valentine’s Day. option. You could also learn to cook, Buy (and Eat) Lots of play a sport or dust off an old musical instrument. Chocolate Treat yourself to some Wythe’s or go for quantity over Sleep/Eat/Party quality at CVS and stock up. Get some for yourself or your friends Enjoy some of your favorite things a little and enjoy spoiling yourself. more then usual. Spend more time at dinner, go to bed an hour earlier, or get work done earlier so you can go Pick One Special Valentine out more often. Make the most of the writers’ strike because you If you don’t want to go all out and get all your friends cards or know that once it’s over and new shows are back on, you’ll fi nd chocolates, get one of your best friends to be your super-special yourself back in front of the tube where you belong. valentine. Spoil each other with girly things like getting manicures, dressing up to go out to dinner (or make your own and stay in), going shopping and getting each other fl owers.
THE DSJ - FEBRUARY 200813 » STYLE
COLLEGE KIDS AND THE NEWS Election Season Highlights the Need to Stay Informed
» GRETCHEN HANNES, DSJ STYLE EDITOR haven’t caught it. shallowll iinstitutions.” i i ” With the primaries in full swing and the What young America has caught is a This does not bode well for college stu- 2008 presidential election looming, fol- thirst for entertainment and lighter news. dents, who have watched an increasing lowing the news becomes even more im- Mindich contends that we “consume the amount of TV per week since 2001, accord- portant this time of year. But even though media equivalent of sugary cereals,” which ing to Student Monitor, a market research the media tends to saturate our lives, our has caused us to lose our desire for and our fi rm that focuses on college students. Dur- generation of Americans has little trouble ability to digest hard news. Unfortunately, ing the 2004-2005 school year, Nielson Me- tuning out news about upcoming elec- this creates a vicious cycle that only en- dia Research reported that college students tions as well as national and world events. courages our apathy: Americans care less living away from home watched an aver- Some media scholars, who view our de- about serious news so newspapers print age of 24.3 hours of television per week. mographic as a generation of lazy minds less of it, which only perpetuates our lack And if students choose to tune into shows with a shallow political awareness and no of interest in serious news. It may also like “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Family Guy” and appetite for serious news, feel this general- be that commercial pressures are forcing “SportsCenter” rather than the news, the ization is particularly applicable to young newspapers to print more fl uff to please “dumbing down” effect of TV could be a
Americans. So what are the forces behind advertisers, which reinforces Americans’ real concern. this apathy? And is this perception repre- weak appetite for serious news. Whatever Even if young people aren’t watching a sentative of students at the College? the cause, the reality is that many Ameri- lot of CNN, they may still turn to television According to David T.Z. Mindich, au- cans care more about entertainment than as a news source through shows like Jon thor of “Tuned Out: Why Americans Un- politics and more about their personal in- Stewart’s “The Daily Show,” Stephen Col- der 40 Don’t Follow the News,” 80 percent terests than the interests of the nation. bert’s “Colbert Report” or “Saturday Night of young people don’t follow the news, and Television has not helped this trend. Live.” A 2004 poll released by the Pew Re- there is little hope that those people will According to Robert McChesney, author search Center for the People and the Press follow news later in life. The desire to keep of “The Problem of the Media: U.S. Com- found that 21 percent of people aged 18 to up with current events seems to be a bug munication Politics in the 21st Century,” 29 listed “The Daily Show” and “Saturday you have to catch early on, and, unfortu- TV has led to a “general dumbing down Night Live” as a regular source for presi- nately, the majority of young people today of society” by producing “lazy minds and 14 THE DSJ - FEBRUARY 2008 » STYLE school, paying for graduate school…things of things,” but admits that he “could be a that are more of an immediate concern to us lot more informed.” right now.” Coiner added that she usually Amanda Guthrie (’08) said that she re- doesn’t discuss the news with her friends ceives a daily e-mail from the New York unless “it’s a big topic, like the Virginia Times website but often only reads the Tech shooting.” headlines. She often reads full articles For other students, following the news is about her areas of interest, such as religion a bigger priority. Merken said that she reads in politics, but said, “I really haven’t been the news online “at least every other day” good about [following] the primaries.” for up to an hour, and when she’s home But even though Guthrie and Rini don’t from school she reads the newspaper every read the news daily, they still recognize day. Picking up this habit has been a posi- the importance of staying informed. tive change. “It’s an important quality for a citizen.... “Last year and the year before, I didn’t to know what his or her government is look at the news as much and I felt unin- doing,” said Guthrie. formed, like I was living in a bubble,” she Rini said, “Everything in the news af- said. Now, when her friends talk about cur- fects me…anything can affect our econ- rent events, “it’s nice to have more to con- omy, our lifestyle.” His comment proves tribute [to the conversation].” that contrary to Mindich’s beliefs, some The other factor contributing to the tun- young Americans do view their lives from dential campaign news. ing out of young people is the general de- a global perspective and recognize the im- InterviewsInter with students at the College, cline of civic life in the United States. All portance of tuning in to events happening however,howeve all of whom cited the Internet Americans, not just those under 40, are outside the bubble. Rini, for example, said asas theitheirr preferred method of consuming dropping out of society and leading increas- that “even what’s going on in Pakistan is a news,news, ccontradict the idea that students ingly private lives in suburban bubbles. Col- big deal for everybody.” relyrely onon comedy shows as a primary news lege students often live in a similar bubble From speaking with students, it seems source. on campus that makes it easy to become that we at the College are more informed GabrielleGabr Merken (’08) watches “The alienated from public life and not care than the average young American and are Dailyil SShow” and the “Colbert Report” but about events happening outside the bubble. more aware of the importance of keeping said they provide a “condensed version of This creates what Mindich calls our genera- up with the news. We can still do bet- the news.” The shows are entertaining and tion’s “thin citizenship, only following the ter, though, especially when it comes to useful in that she hears interesting news outlines of democracy.” digesting in-depth serious news coverage items that she can later “look up [on an- Some students’ news habits seem to con- instead of skimming headlines and choos- other news source] to get more informa- fi rm the notion of a thin citizenship. Chris ing to read those stories that may fall into tion.” Rini (’09) said that he checks sites like the “sugary cereal” category. If we don’t Sara Ragone (’08) said, “[Comedy shows] CNN.com and nytimes.com but “not super improve our news habits, we risk becom- enhance my news…but I don’t rely on often…maybe once a week. I check head- ing a generation of uninformed and inef- them.” She disagreed with the idea of lines and if I see something that grabs my fective citizens unable to voice opinions the shows as a primary news source be- attention I read it.” As an international rela- and inspire change in the world. cause “you can’t fi nd them funny unless tions major, he said he has to “keep on top you already know what’s going on in the world.” Apparently most young people don’t know what’s going on in the world, how- The DoG Street Journal ever. And according to Mindich, they The Future of Student Media don’t need to. He attributes this apathetic attitude towards the news to a lack of con- versation among young adults about seri- The DoG Street Journal is currently looking for ous news. “People learn what they need experienced web designers and developers. Knowledge to know,” Mindich said, and young people do not need to know much about serious of HTML/CSS, PHP and MySQL are preferred, but not news if they don’t talk about it with their required. Please contact us at: peers. When conversations revolve around themselves and their interests and prob- lems, young people don’t feel compelled to [email protected] pick up The Washington Post. Jordan Coiner (’08) echoed this at- titude. She said that conversations with her friends mainly focus on “planning Are you a web designer? our future, graduation, what we’re doing next year, where we might move, graduate ‘ THE DSJ - FEBRUARY 200815 » OPINION
change, but I’ve already made change.” Despite financial and political support from lobbyists, Hillary remains the tested and most viable candidate for revamping not only the spirit of 1992, but also the force of change, Electing the Clintons too. In much the same light—the spirit of change—Obama shares Hillary’s position. It’s an understatement to say Obama has the superior aura. change; the supposed nuances are far too Obama exudes change; his speeches hearken » DEAN EDWARDS, DSJ STAFF COLUMNIST large. This nation overcame plenty in 1968, back to a now rare statesmanship. He commands an ethos of change, but, if you’ll The current political stage makes a but 40 years on, the United States looks a tad permit a weak analogy, the sizzle outweighs Generation-Y kid yearn for the bygone 90s. more familiar. the sausage. Nostalgia for the halcyon days of a Clinton in This is 1992. Regardless of promises, Obama cannot office, peace at home and abroad and real, As in 1992, a Clinton has arrived on the muster the qualifications and intimate political non-reality-TV television. (Baywatch, not scene, and, again, we face defeating another experience as Hillary. Yes, there are obvious Ryan Seacrest, pulled in the primetime Bush, another recession, and another epoch detractions to her time in Washington, the crowds.) of debt and lies. This time, let’s allow Clinton Perhaps that’s why Hillary appeals so to bring us out of a Washington practically strongly to many Democratic voters; well, controlled by that and the fact that Hillary Clinton Republicans for 14 represents a kind of second chance for the years, give or take ...Obama’s brand of “Hope” sounds more United States. two. like an ad campaign for a new Tazo tea. Think back to 1992, the enthusiasm and Likewise, Hillary energy that propelled a Democratic Clinton represents manhandling of truth for compromises and president into office after 14 years of a a continuation of the spirit that wrested the slow, if not painful progress. Republican White House. Fourteen years of country from the first Bush and the era of Yet in the face of what Hillary stands for “trickle-down” economics (an economic Reaganomics. Although that wind of change and can deliver, Obama’s brand of “Hope” theory formally known as “The Golden abruptly died in 1994 with the Republican sounds more like an ad campaign for a new Shower”). The champion of morality has victories in Congress, the yearning for a new Tazo tea. never overcome the sins that it so freely America had never left. It’s a sweet brew, for sure, but has it steeped blames others of committing. However, like 1968, 2008 may prove long enough in the headwaters of national Fourteen years of deceitful politics, cutting equally decisive. Just as 1968 ushered in a government to know what’s right? More taxes for the rich, funding reactionary thugs series of civil rights acts and radical change; a importantly, our president must know how in foreign countries to overthrow legitimate Democrat in office, with the popular mandate to get it right. governments: 14 years of Republican and a supportive Congress, seems likely to Of course, Hillary is no Bill Clinton. She hypocrisy. (Hypocrisy is the cruelest religion give us a national healthcare policy that might lacks the grace and craft of her husband, who in humanity’s reservoir of belief. Republicans just work. could captivate voters like Obama, and tend to practice their faith more so than Healthcare, though, is one of many perhaps, even more so. Watching Bill’s preach it.) initiatives that the Clinton legacy could finally speeches on YouTube, one’s spellbound by After looking behind us, 2008 looks deliver us. Education, foreign policy and his warmth and approach. A load of hogwash awfully unlike 1968. This is not a year, or domestic policies will all benefit alike. at times, yes, but what appealing hogwash it even an age, of radical turmoil and great Sometimes it feels as if the choice between any of the Democratic candidates lies in the was. gray of Choice A, Choice A1, or To be serious, Bill Clinton served more than Choice A2. The oratorical move of mere rhetoric in 1992, and now Hillary Clinton Obama has been to rally the party is offering us a second chance. behind the moniker of “change,” and We ought to disregard the smear campaign the effect is demonstrable. People against Bill and Hillary Clinton; all politicians want change. have their stained pasts. But everyone in the contest wants To quote the words of Governor Mario change, too. And Obama certainly has Cuomo of New York from 1984: no first dibs on the way to make “But the hard truth is that not everyone is change a reality, either. sharing in this ... splendor and glory. A shining Edwards wants change; he’s rallied city is perhaps all the President sees from the Americans to the defense of the portico of the White House and the veranda venerated Middle Class. For all her of his ranch, where everyone seems to be shortcomings, Hillary wants change, doing well. But there’s another city where too. She rightly said, “I want to make some people can’t pay their mortgages, and most young people can’t afford one, where 16 THE DSJ - FEBRUARY 2008 » OPINION depictions of elephants. students can’t afford the education they need, I will say that I am not a skeptical person. I and middle-class parents watch the dreams can believe that elephants are capable of they hold for their children evaporate.” painting abstractly and I can even believe that Sound familiar? 1992 and an uncannily they might be able to create crude landscapes. identical decade of Republican rule look a lot Elephant (I don’t discriminate against elephants, I closer to us again. swear!) But roses? Really? And elephant self- The specter of Reaganism continues to Art? portraits that look like cartoon depictions? Is haunt us; the mention of his name by that how elephants view themselves: as Republicans and, yes, even Obama, casts a miniature Dumbos? dark shadow on this election, as Reagan had Can elephants even see colors? How do managed in 1992. they select the color of the paint? David Ferris Once before, the Comeback Kid from » KATIE PHOTIADIS, DSJ OPINION EDITOR said, “They definitely have a sense of Hope, Arkansas, defeated the Reagan right These new artists work for peanuts - composition, in the sense that color-blind wing in 1992. His female counterpart would literally. people can. They can understand lights and like to deliver the deathblow to that failed The Palomar Hotel in Arlington, Virginia darks.” If elephants can barely differentiate political machine. recently hosted an exhibition of paintings between the various shades of lights and Another Clinton in the White House is, created by...elephants. In Southeast Asia, the darks, how then do they know to paint an however, not a Clinton II, as George W. Bush nonprofit Asian Elephant Art and elephant in a shade of light blue or to shade a is to the legacy of Reagan and his father. Conservation organization is training rose in pale red? As much as her strength through the elephants to paint pictures. And, believe it Ferris explained that for most of the debacle of her husband’s impeachment in 1998 or not, the paintings are selling fast. At the elephants the art teacher dips the brush into shows us, Hillary Clinton is an independent exhibition in Arlington the elephants made a the different colors when he or she thinks intellectual and a strong character in her own killing, selling paintings for over $300 a pop. the elephant should switch colors. As I right. In our consumer economy, even investigated the mystery of elephant art The Republican attack on her health care animals have to earn a living. further, I grew increasingly more initiative in the early 90s cannot withstand David Ferris, the Director disappointed. At best, the the groundswell of popular support for the of Asian Elephant Art and elephant art could be labeled 90s Clinton policies. Owing to their hubris Conservation explained that a collaborative effort and lack of moral worth, the Republican Party the elephants in Southeast between the teacher and the as a whole has succumbed to the consequences Asia face a dire problem: elephant. of hypocrisy. unemployment. For But is that really the point? Never making good progress, the centuries, elephants in Does it really matter if elephants Republicans promised in 1976, as they did in Thailand, India, Indonesia are capable of creating art? Or is 2001, to steer America back on course. After and Cambodia have been it more important for the a botched war, an unfair tax strategy, and the domesticated. For instance, in Thailand, elephants to make money? All the unnervingly careless (and frequently elephants work in the logging business. profits from the painting sales go directly purposeful) mismanagement of domestic However, since most of Thailand has been toward elephant conservation. Without the government, the Republicans should lose. deforested, the domesticated elephants are revenues, there would be a lot more homeless For that to occur, the United States essentially out of work. They cannot go back elephants roaming around South East Asia. requires the substance of change, as well as into the wild since the wild has disappeared. Does the elephants’ success in the arts the verve. The United States needs Hillary At the same time, they cannot survive in suggest career paths for other animals? When Clinton. society without a paycheck. That is where I asked Ferris, he laughed, but on a more Then Americans may enjoy the happiness the Asian Elephant Art and Conservation serious note mentioned the possibility of of a 90s outlook once more. What’s more, organization steps in. primates entering the field. Chimpanzee we hope this time the tide of change The organization supplies the elephants finger painting? Any takers? Just kidding...or unequivocally bests the warmongering tactics with paint supplies and art teachers. The am I? Indeed, the popularity of the paintings of fear and greed. elephants are trained to paint both abstractly may be the key to all animal conservation Therefore, march on, Mrs. President! and realistically by sticking a paintbrush up endeavors. Why ask people to donate to a While that title may be premature, Hillary their trunks and making brush strokes on a fund to save the pandas when they could be was, after all, the wife of a Mr. President. canvas. According to Ferris, the elephants convinced to spend three times as much on a Now she may have the honor in her own have their own individual artistic styles. painting of a panda made by a panda? right. I am unclear on what this actually means. The architects of market capitalism could On Jan. 16, 2009, the United States will Perhaps some elephants are inspired by not have foreseen this. Even Adam Smith, swear in President Hillary Clinton, and in Picasso and others by da Vinci? As I glanced with all his insights into consumer economics, doing so, bring all that was an honest and true through the paintings at the exhibit, I noticed would never guess that animals would one hope in a better future back to the American the diversity of these paintings: some day need to pick up the paintbrush in order people. elephants simply smeared colors onto the to make a living. No one gets a free lunch Let’s party like it’s 1992. canvas; some painted crude landscapes; some anymore, not even the elephants. Dean Edwards is a staff columnist for the actually painted realistic-looking flowers; Katie Photiadis is The DSJ’s Opinion Editor. DSJ. His views do not necessarily reflect those some astoundingly painted cartoon-like Her views do not necessarily reflect those of of the entire staff. the entire staff. THE DSJ - FEBRUARY 2008 17 » SPORTS MORE THAN A T-SHIRT WHAT INTRAMURAL SPORTS BRING TO THE COLLEGE GAME
» HEATHER IRELAND, DSJ STAFF REPORTER ownership of any shirt. Some of you read- spent with their friends and even strength- You may have seen them walking around ing may not believe that I, of all people, am en their relationships, said Brad Bell (’09). campus already. They walk a little taller, saying this, but winning is not everything. “I have been participating in IM sports perhaps even with a little strut in their There are many other reasons to partici- with Kappa Sigma for almost three years step. They have something you don’t have, pate in IM sports without being consumed now and we’ve always had a lot of fun,” and they know it. They were members of by the epic struggle to obtain one of these Bell said. “For us, it’s a great way to bring a championship intramural sports team and coveted championship shirts. the brothers closer together and we often they are wearing the shirts to prove it! This past fall students enjoyed the op- use it for our rush to get to know potential Winning a championship t-shirt is the portunity of competing in softball, indoor pledges better.” crowning achievement in IM competition, soccer, fl oor hockey, fl ag football, 3x3 bas- Not only has it helped them develop a one that evades the grasp of some even for ketball, table tennis, mini-golf, bowling stronger brotherhood, but Bell was also their entire College career. As an Intramu- and even in the Turkey Trot. For just a able to enjoy a Kappa Sigma victory at the ral Supervisor, I have the pleasure of pass- small fee, freshman halls, fraternities and volleyball championships last year result- ing out these “trophies” at the end of each sororities, campus organizations, grad stu- ing in a cherished memory … and t-shirt. season even though none of my IM teams dents and many other groups of friends, The Graduate Assistant for Intramurals, have won a championship yet. While that both single-sex and co-rec, band together Seth Finck, echoes the same sentiment has been a disappointment, it has not been to try their luck at the offered intramural when looking back on his attempts at in- a failure. The time spent with my friends sports. Playing on team sports without the tramural glory. on the fi elds and courts this semester and pressure of a varsity or club atmosphere “I love IM sports because it’s a great out- the memories made mean more to me than really allows students to enjoy the time let for competition and allows you to feel
The “Flying Squirrels” celebrate their 2007-2008 intramural championship title. Photo by Heather Ireland.
18 THE DSJ - FEBRUARY 2008 » SPORTS like you’re on a team again,” Finck said. Reeves continues to play in- “Some of my best memories come from tramural sports even as a grad the IM fi elds, and perhaps my best new student, an extracurricular memory is the Flying Squirrels football he carried over from his un- championship, which happened this past dergraduate days at the Col- fall.” lege. Beyond the chance to Cailin Falato (’09) works at the Rec Cen- take a break from the stresses ter and also plays on the Flying Squirrels, of classes at the Rec Center the intramural team composed exclusively working out on the machines, of students who work at the Rec. In doing Adam takes advantage of the so, she has a lot of experience with intra- opportunity to get a workout mural competition. Due to her experienc- through his involvement on es, Falato has come to appreciate the hard IM teams. And he’s not the work and dedication demonstrated by one only one. of the integral parts of IM sports: the stu- “Running on the treadmill dents who have the often-unenviable job or doing the bike by your- of having to referee their peers. self gets pretty boring after “You have to respect the IM refs,” Fala- awhile,” Ashley Pinney (’08) to said. “They usually know people on the said. “But with IM sports, I fi eld, but still stay fair to both sides and can still get a great workout have to stand by any controversial calls. while having fun and spend- It’s a lot of pressure, and they really de- ing quality time with my serve props for putting up with us.” friends.” “I joined Rec Sports because I thought it There are no try-outs or would be a fun way to make a little mon- cuts when it comes to intra- ey,” Megan Cooke (’11) said. “You meet so murals either. While some many new people before, during and after bring a more competitive edge to the courts a symbol of pride and accomplishment the games, which can help with network- and fi elds than others, this is taken into eagerly sought after. I had a friend who ing among many other things.” consideration by offering different leagues confessed to me during his championship Matt Ragghianti (’08) does not mind ad- for the various teams that suits their level softball game this past fall that he had mitting that working for IM sports is great of play. You don’t have to be great, or even made it into six different championship for anyone who loves sports and needs a that good, to participate on an IM team, as games over the past few years but had yet fl exible job to accommodate classes. An I proved by making my fl ag football debut to win a shirt. That night I gladly handed IM supervisor and referee who is well re- this semester. Andy Speidell (’08) a championship shirt spected for his clean calls and knowledge “My favorite IM sport is outdoor soccer,” that he proudly sported in class the next of the games, Ragghianti is able to fi nd Pinney said. “Even though I’m a pretty aw- day. That was the fi rst of two Lambda Chi time to work shifts for IM sports, partici- ful soccer player, I just love the thrill of the Alpha championship shirts he earned last pate in his fraternity’s activities, perform game and the fun competition that comes semester, with the second coming in fl oor well in classes and still compete on intra- with it.” hockey. mural teams himself. If you are also look- In the end, however, it does come back “I think a big thing with participation is ing for a campus job that will allow you to to the shirt. The championship t-shirt is that you want to be able to wear that shirt balance all those activities around,” Finck said. “It doesn’t and more, the IM sports matter if you win an A cham- department is always eager pionship or a C championship, to welcome new referees you’re a champion when you into the program, accept- rock that shirt.” ing all levels of previous If you care to try your hand experience. at winning a championship “I like sports, and since shirt, gather your friends to- I don’t play for any teams gether this semester and sign on campus, this is an easy up for one of the many avail- way for me to still be in- able competitions: 5x5 basket- volved,” Cooke said. ball, weightlifting, dodgeball, Most of the IM supervi- 3-point shooting, outdoor sors and referees play on soccer, racquetball, volleyball, intramural teams as well, tennis or Ultimate Frisbee. since the reason many be- If you are interested in more gin working for the Rec information regarding either Center is a love of sports playing intramural sports or and physical activity. First If you are interested in working as a referee, call Joe Tighe at (757) 221-3314. working as a referee, please call year law student Adam Photo by Heather Ireland. Joe Tighe at (757) 221-3314.
THE DSJ - FEBRUARY 200819 » SPORTS
THE PATRIOTS IN PERSPECTIVE AT SEASON’S END, DID THE PATRIOTS DESERVE IT? » OMAR SHAIRZAY, DSJ STAFF REPORTER Patriots stamped their ticket to Glendale, inevitably be raised: are the 2007 Patriots Despite losing to the Colts in a close Arizona to face off against the New York the greatest team ever to play the game? AFC title game last year, people around the Giants in the Super Bowl. At press time, For someone my age, it is very hard to an- league knew that the Patriots’ dynasty was the Patriots were on the cusp of complet- swer this question with much certainty. I not coming to an end just yet. The Patriots ing the fi rst 19-0 season in NFL history. In did not have the chance to watch some of had the NFL’s best coach in Bill Belichick, addition to not losing a game this season, the other greatest teams ever play—teams arguably the best quarterback in the league the Patriots’ offense racked up numerous like the 1985 Bears, the 1972 Dolphins, the in Tom Brady, a very talented running back awards. Quarterback Tom Brady broke 1978 Steelers, the 1984 49ers or the 1962 in Laurence Maroney, a stingy and veter- Peyton Manning’s regular season touch- Packers. Sure I can look up statistics and an-rich defense and a solid special teams down passes record with 50. Number 1 compare those to this year’s Patriots, but
“After all of these amazing, record-setting accomplishments, the question will inevitably be raised: are the 2007 Patriots the greatest team ever to play the game?” squad. The Achilles heal of the Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss caught 23 of something is lost in translation. While had always been their mediocre—and at these 50 touchdowns, breaking Jerry Rice’s point differentials, points scored, points al- times below average—receiving core. So record. However, it should be mentioned lowed and stats of this nature are interest- when the Patriots went on a wide receiver that Rice snagged 22 touchdown grabs ing, there are so many extraneous variables shopping spree last off-season, they created in only twelve games (due to the strike- to consider when comparing them over a lot of buzz in the process. Suddenly the shortened 1987 season), while Moss played decades that raw numbers lose a lot of their Patriots were the team to beat. With the four more games and only eclipsed Rice’s meaning. There is only one way to judge a acquisition of such big name players like record by one catch. The Patriots also team’s greatness, and that is by wins and Donte Stallworth, Wes Welker and, the broke the record for most points scored loses. Who cares how many points you biggest of all, Randy Moss, sports analysts in a season with 582 points this year. The score if the other team scores more? Sports around the country started tagging New 1998 Vikings previously held this distinc- are about winning and losing, case closed. England as a Super Bowl-champion bound tion for scoring 556 points in a season. If the Patriots win the Super Bowl team. After all of these amazing, record-set- (which they should have no trouble do- Eighteen wins and zero losses later, the ting accomplishments, the question will ing), they will have a perfect record of 20 THE DSJ -22 FEBRUARY 2008 » SPORTS
19-0. This is something no other team in They went 10-1, which is impressive but game. Third, all teams try to get the signals the history of the NFL has ever done. Hav- not unique. Every season, it seems that of their opponents. This is just a part of ing a 19-0 undefeated record in and of it- some team is 10-1 at some point. In oth- football and a part of sports in general. self is enough to lift this team to the lofty er words, the 1941 Bears John Madden admitted on a Monday status of greatest of all time. weren’t that special. Night Football telecast that cheating in- One might say that the Further, the 2007 Patri- volving stealing signals occurred while he 1972 Miami Dolphins never ots have pretty much re- was coaching the Raiders in the late 1960s lost a game either, although written the record books and early 1970s. The Patriots were just they only played a total of 17 with the numbers they careless and got caught. That does not make games. Who is to say if they have put up. cheating okay, but how much of an advan- played two more times that There is only one tage could they really get from two quar- they wouldn’t lose one or even potential weakness to ters of the Jets’ defensive signals? Knowing both? the Patriots’ claim for an opponent’s signals is a very small part of If you don’t agree with that, greatest team ever— football. Spygate should not even be an is- let me do something I said I Spygate. Spygate was sue when considering the greatness of the wouldn’t do: compare raw sta- where the Patriots 2007 Patriots. tistics. The Patriots outscored were caught fi lming In the age of the salary cap, which is teams in the regular season by 315 the New York Jets’ supposed to prevent teams from stacking points, while the Dolphins out- defensive signals their rosters with expensive pro-bowlers scored teams by only 214 points. Brady in pre-bowl walking during their fi rst and keep games more competitive, a team That’s over 100 points fewer. Still cast. TMZ.com. game of the season should not be able to go undefeated. But not convinced? Don Shula, the Hall in September. Patriots Head Coach the Patriots have, and they have done so of Fame coach of the 1972 Dolphins, has Bill Belichick was fi ned the league maxi- very easily. I watched every Patriots game said that if the Patriots win the Super Bowl mum, $500,000, the Patriots organization this season and not once, even if they were and go 19-0, that the 2007 Patriots will be was fi ned $250,000 and the team lost its trailing, did I have the feeling that they the greatest team of all time, case closed. fi rst round draft choice next year, three were going to lose. They have so many Now that is an unbiased opinion. very harsh punishments that refl ect the weapons, are so poised, are so well coached Since the argument that a 19-0 record severity of the offense. and are so dominant on the fi eld. Not only automatically equals the “greatest of all People who dislike the Patriots or think do they have the best offensive unit ever time” may not convince some people, let they are not worthy of the high praise created, their defense is also very strong. me continue to throw some stats around. they are now receiving say Spygate nul- This balance of offensive and defensive The point differential, widely regarded as lifi es all of the Patriots’ accomplishments prowess alone makes the 2007 Patriots a a good indicator of a team’s dominance, this season. This argument is completely rarity. Combine that will all the records, of the Patriots per game was just over 20 ridiculous. First of all, this taping of signals all the huge numbers, all the future Hall of points—second all time among champion- occurred during merely the fi rst half of the Famers and the 19-0 season, and you have ship teams. Only the 1941 Chicago Bears— fi rst game of the season. For the other 17.5 the greatest team with a differential of 22.6—are higher than games the Patriots have played this year, ever to play the the Patriots. However, the 1941 Bears were no such videotaping was apparently going game, period. not undefeated. on. Second of all, they were playing against the horrible Jets. A high school team could beat the Jets; cheating had nothing to do with the Jets losing that
THE DSJ - FEBRUARY 200821 » SPORTS TRIBE BASKETBALL
» JOHN BRENT HILL, DSJ SPORTS EDITOR of double digits to rally late in the second only two with less than 10 minutes to play. In March of 2006, George Mason Univer- half and win. They capped off this streak Despite losing by an eventual 15, the Tribe sity redefi ned the role of the “mid-major” with a win in a packed Kaplan Arena versus played closely and effectively neutralized basketball program with their improbable, Northeastern on Jan. 16 in a contest where Georgetown’s Roy Hibbert, a projected top nay, impossible run from 11 seed status the Tribe’s fi rst and only lead came with fi ve NBA draft choice. to a Final Four team. In this Cinderella 1:30 left to play in the second half. Following that defeat, the Tribe strug- season, the Patriots lost only once in the But even in telling this story I am ahead gled, improving only to 4-8 before going NCAA tournament, falling only to eventu- of myself, because to fully understand the on a fi ve-game winning streak. During the al champion Florida. Mason, upon receiv- dynamic of this year’s Tribe basketball we 4-8 period, the Tribe lost inside presence ing this bid to the tournament and small should begin with discussing the Tribe’s Alex Smith (’09) to injury, and his lack of school immortality, was highly criticized fi rst loss of the year to number nine George- presence has certainly been felt. However, for even being asked to enter the tourna- town, currently 15-2 and leading the Big with his return seemingly imminent, it is ment, after losing in the fi rst round of the East. That game found the Tribe down by an important upside to note that the recent CAA tournament to passed-over Hofstra. You may wonder why, almost two years later and over a month away from March Madness, I choose to digress to these excit- ing times. The reason is that Tribe men’s basketball is currently rising from the ash- es of their seemingly ruined season like a phoenix of yore, and the Tribe may, and I emphasize may, fi nd themselves in the po- sition to, like George Mason, leave major NCAA teams asking the question, “Who did we just lose to?” While this speculation may be early, with the Tribe only hovering around a .500 winning percentage for the year, the men’s recent showing of late game heroics has inspired nothing short of confi dence, that special trait that I can only defi ne as the “it” factor. I will admit that despite strong play from Laimis Kisielius (’08) and David Schneider (’10), just to name two, the Tribe will almost defi nitely fi nd itself overmatched against any major opponent. However, in some of the Tribe’s most re- cent wins, the team has exemplifi ed to me a lot of traits that stir memories of last year’s VCU team (who went on to beat Duke in the NCAA tournament) and the aforemen- tioned George Mason Patriots of 2006. The major trait that seems constant in contending CAA teams is a feverish style of play that, perhaps combined with the fact that analysts consistently snub CAA teams with allegations of not deserving post-sea- ‘ son play, makes CAA teams hard to beat come March Madness. For example, over a four-game span this season the Tribe man- Drawing the largest crowd in a decade (5,284), the Tribe lost 72-59 to ODU January 26. aged to overcome four consecutive defi cits Photo by Meg Luteran. 22 THE DSJ - FEBRUARY 2008 » SPORTS reemergence of the Tribe has been with- » EDITORAL out one of its leading players. When he re- turns, he will add to an already constantly But it was the same old Sam. He wel- improving lineup. Farewell comed us into his offi ce and reiterated After such a strong showing so far this several times how much he valued cam- season, the Tribe fi nds themselves in a and Thank You pus publications’ coverage of his retire- position to, if not win, certainly make a A new year, a new semester, and the ment announcement. Our questions were run at the CAA regular season title. They Tribe seems to be in pretty good shape for answered candidly and completely, even also have the potential for a high ranking 2008. We have a new NCAA-approved touching upon hot-button issues such as in the CAA tournament, from which the logo, an exciting basketball team, and gu- the Wren Cross controversy. As a journal- winner will receive an automatic NCAA bernatorial recognition for our commit- ist, I can’t think of a person I’ve ever en- tournament bid. Regardless of how the ment to service. joyed interviewing more than Sam Sadler. Tribe plays in the CAA tournament, if There’s one thing we’re still missing Towards the end, the interview felt they continue winning during the regular though: a mascot. more like a grandfather giving his grand- season they may play themselves into at But I think we would all agree that daughters treasured advice. Rebecca and least marginal NCAA “bubble” status and there is a far sadder loss for the students, I were close to tears, and Sam had gotten should certainly garner consideration from faculty and staff here at the College: Vice emotional as well. However, one theme the NIT if not the NCAA. President for Student Affairs Sam Sa- of the interview was particularly striking. While after this year the team will lose dler. Sam’s retirement has occupied the Throughout our conversation, Sam kept Kisielius and Nathan Mann (’08), the play thoughts of many during these fi rst few referring to what he considered the mag- by John Sexton (’11) has been very stellar weeks of classes. And who can blame us? ic of the College. That this place and the off the bench. Also, the Tribe will get the There will be big shoes to fi ll for the next people in it can mold and shape a student addition of Arkansas transfer Sean Mc- Vice President for Student Affairs. in such a way that they can fi nd their own Curdy to help stifl e the loss of Mann at the As Co-Editor of a campus publication, path, and are given the tools to be success- guard position. McCurdy was a three star I was particularly consumed by this news ful in following it. At one point, Sam cited prospect at Arkansas but rode the bench during the fi rst week of school. The mix teachers and mentors “who really pushed during his fi rst two years. With two years of an Editor’s excitement over breaking me and encouraged me, helped me learn to of eligibility remaining, he will be a wel- news and a student’s sadness for the re- stretch…gave me confi dence.” come addition to next year’s team. tirement of such a prominent College fi g- When I think about myself and my As the Tribe enters the heart of their urehead was intense to say the least. classmates, this statement is all too appli- CAA schedule there are games scheduled The day his retirement was announced, cable to all of us. What other place can not against George Mason at the Patriot Center Rebecca and I generated questions for only give you the academic rigor to stand and VCU at home. There is also a looming Sam that would adequately capture the with the best of them in the real world, but “ESPN Bracketbusters” game. (Who will importance of and emotional reaction to also help you carve out a unique (often ex- we draw? Only time will tell.) Given their his fi nale as Vice President for Student tremely challenging) path specifi cally tai- season thus far, the Tribe has played into Affairs. lored to your individual dreams? a position where, if they continue to win, The atmosphere in the Student Affairs Sam Sadler, especially, personifi es this and they should only get better, we may be Offi ce was defi nitely different that day. magic. In addition to a successful under- looking at our fi rst postseason tournament Brian Whitson from University Relations graduate career, he has dedicated 41 years since 1983. had scheduled many interviews for Sam, to helping others achieve this same sense so timing was tight. As we waited pa- of accomplishment. tiently, Rebecca and I didn’t really know After the interview, I realized that we what to expect. Having both worked do in fact have a mascot that perfectly em- with Sam before, we were very affected bodies the values of the College. His name by the announcement. is Sam Sadler. 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THE DSJ - FEBRUARY 200823