DerrickDerrick ByarsByars scoresscores a career-highcareer-high 3232 pointspoints inin Want to see the place Vandy’s win over where Elvis Read what other students are saying on South Carolina... learned to shake? For more, see Sports, page 6 For more, see Life, page 9 InsideVandy blogs… For more, see Most Recent Blogs at InsideVandy.com BYARS he Vanderbilt Hustler Vanderbilt he T / / TUFO THETHE VOICEVOICE OFOF VANDERBILTVANDERBILT SINCESINCE 18881888 TH PETER FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2007 • 119 YEAR, NO. 17 THE WALL compiled by KRISTEN CHMIELEWSKI Study TODAY Democrats rally as part Alternative Summer Break applications due Applications are records due for ASuB’s two sites, Kissimmee, Fla., of national protest and New Orleans, La., today at 5 p.m. increase at the Community Partnership House. TODAY in autism ‘Playboy of the Western World’ premieres today VUTheatre presents diagnoses John M. Synge’s “Playboy of the Students react to report’s Western World” at implications. Neely Auditorium. Tickets are free for by NICOLE FLOYD undergraduates Staff Reporter with a Vandy ID. Performances will be Sophomore Ashley Hanson expects to Feb. 16-17 and Feb. fi eld questions when she tells people she 22-24 at 8 p.m. and tutors a 5-year-old autistic child. Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. “People are usually impressed or surprised that I do something like that,” TODAY Hanson said. “Basically, they ask what Workshop: Getting I do with him and what kind of programs the Most from Your we use.” Sources Hanson does not mind answering the The Writing Studio will questions, but she said she hopes that present a workshop a recent study regarding the increased designed to help prevalence of autism released by students conduct the Centers for Disease Control and research effi ciently LAUREN FONDRIEST / The Vanderbilt Hustler Prevention will create an even greater and integrate their College Democrats marched from Rand Terrace to Benton Chapel, where they listened to a speaker, Thursday afternoon. awareness of the disorder. sources eff ectively into Autism is one of a group of disorders their own writing. The College Republicans stage separate event in response. known as autism spectrum disorders. session will take place According to the CDC, ASDs are in Alumni Hall, Room by NIKKI BOGOPOLSKAYA standing with the gathering by the Benton Chapel, he “developmental disabilities that cause 117 from 1 to 2 p.m. Contributing Reporter continued, “It’s fi ne to say, ‘Let’s get out,’ but what does substantial impairments in social that do? Leaves Iraq in chaos and promotes terrorism.” interaction and communication and SATURDAY, FEB. 17 “No More War,” read a sign held by a chanting student College Deomcrats President Kelson Bohnet said the the presence of unusual behaviors and ScholarBowl initial standing amidst a small crowd on Rand Terrace. “Out rally as an attempt to make their opinions heard and interests.” rounds begin of Iraq Now,” said another, as students chattered and revive student activism. Earlier studies placed the rate of autism Initial rounds for the prepared for the peace rally about to take place. “I’ve often been dillusioned by how few Vanderbilt at one in 166 children; however, the CDC annual quiz bowl Across campus at Benton Chapel, at a similar event, students really take a stand and speak out,” he said. study found the rate to be signifi cantly begin Saturday in the signs read diff erently. “Support Our Troops,” and “I think that this (rally) is a defi nite opportunity for higher, citing that as many as one in every Sarratt 189 at 10 a.m. “Victory Not Defeat,”were written across cardboard students to do just that.” 150 children may have the disorder. The event allows banners held by equally enthusiastic students. Th e College Democrats had advertised the event all Hanson, who also works at a camp for Vanderbilt students College Democrats across the country designated week with posters and fl yers present around campus. children with disabilities, said she has and organizations Th ursday as a national day of student protest against the Th e College Republicans eff orts were more impromptu seen the increase fi rsthand. to compete for their war in Iraq. Vanderbilt College Republicans decided to and generated chiefl y to combat those of the College “I think it is somewhat of a trend,” favorite charities. also hold a rally because they wanted to ensure that the Democrats. Hanson said. “I work at a camp for Democratic voice was not the only one heard. “I think it’s good to make the student body aware that children with disabilities, and in the last SATURDAY, FEB. 17 “Th e majority of us on campus support victory, not people (at Vanderbilt) do have thoughts like this,” said couple of years I feel that the diagnosis of Michael Cedric Smith retreat, and that means supporting the war in Iraq,” said sophomore Downs Reese. “We’re generally a conservative autism has increased.” presents classical College Republicans President Evan Schlank. Eagerly campus, but it’s defi nitely not unanimous.” ■ Please see AUTISM, page 2 guitar recital Guest artist Michael Cedric Smith will play in a classical guitar Search underway for Snow prevents Chancellor Gee performance featuring works by Giuliani and Carcassi at 8 p.m. in faculty heads of house Blair’s Steve and Judy from attending own luncheon Turner Recital Hall. by ANNE MALINEE “We’ve got professors who The recital is free and Staff Reporter are interested in everything open to the public. from computer science to Th e search process is the outdoors to music,” said SUNDAY, FEB. 18 underway for 10 faculty search committee member Chinese Spring members who will live in the Graham Th ompson, a junior Festival celebrates Th e Commons starting in in the College of Arts and Chinese New Year fall 2008 as faculty heads of Science. “Th ey’re as varied The Vanderbilt house. as the student body is.” University Chinese Twenty-nine faculty Heads of House will live Students and members from four in Th e Commons and help Scholars Association undergraduate and two shape students’ fi rst-year will celebrate with professional schools turned experience as members traditional Chinese in applications to the Head of Th e Commons’ Dean’s performances, activities of House search committee, Council. Th ey will receive an and prizes at 7 p.m. in which is interviewing incentive package including the Student Life Center candidates from now until salary supplements, reduced Ballroom. The event is spring break. Please see COMMONS, page 2 free to all friends and “Th ey represent a associates of VUCSSA. broad range of age, family —View a video tour of Professor Tom background, academic Schwartz’s faculty apartment in The Compiled by staff from various specialty and university Commons under multimedia on: sources. Check out http://calendar.vanderbilt.edu rank,” said Dean of Th e TYLER HAGEN / The Vanderbilt Hustler for more events. Commons Frank Wcislo. Dean of The Commons Frank Wcislo eats with students at the Valentine’s Day Luncheon with the Chancellor Wednesday afternoon in the Student Life Center. Chancellor Gordon Gee was unable to attend the meal due to inclement weather in Washington, D.C. 2 Friday, February 16, 2007 The Vanderbilt Hustler www.insidevandy.com WEATHER compiled by KRISTEN CHMIELEWSKI IN THE KNOW TODAYTODAY The news you need — in brief compiled by KRISTEN CHMIELEWSKI AUTISM: Expert calls WORLD U.S. and Britain rank last in child welfare in industrialized world for more research Th e United States ranked 20th and Great Britain ranked 21st in a U.N. survey of child From AUTISM, page 1 Currently the CDC’s Centers for Sunny, 34/28 welfare in 21 wealthy countries. However, she said she is skeptical as to Autism and Developmental Disabilities Th e survey assessed everything from whether the increase is due to a true rise in Surveillance and Epidemiology are working infant mortality to whether children ate cases or if it is a result of overdiagnosis. on a study that will help to answer many of dinner with their parents or were bullied at Wendy Stone, director of the Treatment the questions needed to fi nd the causes of school. and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum autism and to discover strategies that may SATURDAYSATURDAY Th e Netherlands, followed by Sweden, Disorders, a Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for help to prevent the disorder. Denmark and Finland, fi nished at the top Research on Human Development program, In the meantime, however, Hanson of the list, while the U.S. and Britain were at the very bottom. and co-director of partner organization Th e said she feels there are more questions Jonathan Bradshaw, one of the study’s researchers, said Marino Autism Research Institute, said the surrounding the disorder than answers. children fared worse in the U.S. and Britain, despite high increase is likely due to a rise in awareness Even after doing a vast amount of research overall levels of national wealth, as a result of greater economic of the disorder, a change in the diagnostic and writing a multitude of papers on the inequality and poor levels of public support for families. criteria and the fact that children are being topic, she said she feels there is much more Th e report cited the lack of day care services in both countries diagnosed at a younger age. for researchers to learn. and poor health coverage and preventative care for children in SnowSnow ShowersShowers, 42/28 Stone said she believes that in light of the Despite the lack of information the U.S as factors contributing to the low standings.