8

[email protected]

STAFF EDITORIAL staff Welcome to UMBC and other lies EDITORS The first couple staff editorials of the year are usually where I'm supposed ander along Academic Row trying to figure out why their philosophy class Editor-in-Chief Gaby Arevalo to welcome all the freshman and transfers. I'm supposed to say things like is held in the math/psych building and their computer science class is in 410.455.1262 welcome to the wonderful land of opportunity where kittens and puppies the chemistry building. The puzzled faces and swears spurred by immense Managing Editor flourish as freely as the wind and if you stare hard enough into the distance confusion literally make me smile and my soul glow. Remember that I'm not Ariane Szu-Tu 410.455.1263 you just might see a unicorn. Don't forget that the leprechauns are located going to help you and probably neither will anyone else. So if you see people NEWS between the dining hall and Chesapeake and ResLife is here to help all the pointing and laughing at you on your way to class, just remember that your Editor students here at UMBC. But I'm not going to do that. Right now, I'm also not pain is far less than their pleasure. You can revel in the fact that by putting Andrea Thomson Assistant Editor going to help you out or address any of the concerns that you might have. I forth little to no effort you have made somebody's day. How often can you Alethea Paul had to figure that stuff out on my own and so do you. say that? Probably next to never. OPINION I do kind of like it here. I especially enjoy the first couple of days of Editor classes of the fall semester. It fills my heart with joy watching people me- Originally published on September 4, 2007 Anne Verghese Assistant Editor Bobby Lubaszewski ARTS Editor saves the day in Paul-William de Silva Assistant Editor Anissa Elmerraji an international producer and corre- ardson said he was “ready to do any- SPORTS spondent. She serves as Current TV’s thing [the administration asked].” Editor vice-president of the Vanguard Jour- Secretary of State Hilary Clinton Donald Daniels Assistant Editor nalism Unit. might have made the trip if she had Corey Johns The rescue mission was headed not already been committed to a po- PHOTOGRAPHY by former President Bill Clinton, litical tour of Africa. She had previ- 410.455.1018 in what was called by a statement ously tried to seek a pardon for Lee Editor Patricia Davila from White House Press Secretary and Ling by writing a letter of apol- Assistant Editor Robert Gibbs, ”A solely private mis- ogy to the Pyongyang government Achsah Joseph sion.” The Obama administration had and requesting amnesty for Lee and COPY EDITORS been keeping mum on details of the Ling. John Breen Amy King trip as to ensure privacy and to not Many were doubtful that President Gavin Way raise hopes since North Korea and Kim Jong-Il would be so coopera- Danielle Kennedy the have had a strained tive, considering his defi ant nature, COURTESY MI9.COM relationship. as evident in his decision to proceed > What can’t you talk your way out of, Bill Clinton? PRODUCTION Bill Clinton was only one of the with the country’s nuclear and mis- 410.455.1266 Jamyla Williams against Korea and illegal entry." Prior suggested representatives to travel to sile tests, in opposition to the disar- Manager CONTRIBUTING WRITER Tazuko Sugajima to their pardon, the were North Korea. He ultimately received mament pact that involves the United facing a 12-year sentence in North approval from the Obama adminis- States, North Korea, , Assistant Neeta Balram American journalists , 36, Korea’s infamous labor camps. tration and was welcomed by North Japan, and Russia. Assistant and , 32, returned to the A Boeing 737 pulled into the Bur- Korea. Reports claim that the meet- Current TV co-founders Rahul Gautam Assistant United States on August 5 after being bank airport Wednesday morning ing between Clinton and North Ko- and Joel Hyatt released this message Ka Lai Lou held in North Korea for 140 days. The and Lee and Ling soon emerged after rean President Kim Jong-Il lasted 20 on the channel‘s website after Lee and Assistant two journalists who work for former landing; Ling waved her arms in tri- hours. A friend of Clinton’s, Steven Ling‘s return to the States, “We want Sohee Oh vice president Al Gore’s Current TV, umph and Lee was already in tears. Bing, fronted the $200,000 price tag to thank the Obama Administration were arrested for crossing over into They both ran into the arms of their for the mission, which included loan- for its continuous and determined TECHNOLOGY North Korea, an act deemed illegal by loved ones. Ling was welcomed by ing his own private jet for the trip and efforts to achieve this outcome, and 410.455.3901 Manager the North Korean government. her sister, husband and mother and paying for the associated travel fees. President Clinton for his willingness Greg Fiumara The two journalists were on assign- Lee was greeted by her husband and Another candidate for the mission to undertake this mission. All of us Online Editor ment for Current TV, interviewing four-year-old daughter. was Al Gore, Clinton’s former vice at Current are overjoyed at Laura and Vania Dienzo North Korean refugees in China for a Euna Lee is an editor for Current president. Euna’s safe return. Our hearts go out Assistant Darwin Mach piece on human traffi cking. It is cur- TV whose trip to North Korea was her Speculations have arisen that the to them –and to their families—for System Administrator rently unknown if Lee and Ling in- fi rst overseas assignment. She moved North Korean government rejected persevering through this horrible ex- Paul Swenson tentionally entered into North Korea with her family to the U.S from South Gore as a mediator. perience.” Webmaster Now Hiring or whether the women weren‘t aware Korea in 1995. New Mexico Governor Bill Rich- that they had left Chinese territory. In Laura Ling is better known as the ardson was also a nominee, given his BUSINESS either case, they were captured under sister of fellow , two trips to North Korea in the 1990’s Comments can be sent to 410.455.1261 suspicions of "committing hostilities but is making a name for herself as to rescue detained Americans. Rich- [email protected] Business Manager Nimit Bhatt

DISTRIBUTION Manager Kisou Kusuzaki The Retriever Weekly welcomes your comments. Letters to the editor must be submitted before 5 p.m. Friday via e-mail to eic@ retrieverweekly.com or delivered to The Retriever Weekly offi ce, UC 214. Please limit letters to 300 words and include your full name, year and major. The Retriever Weeky retains the right to edit submissions for content and length.

ADVISOR EDITORIAL POLICY Faculty Adviser Christopher Corbett The Retriever Weekly staff editorials refl ect the views of the editorial board; signed columns and advertisements represent the opinions of the individual writers and advertisers, respectively, and do not necessarily refl ect those of The Retriever Weekly or the University of Maryland Baltimore County. The Retriever Weekly publishes DESIGN weekly on Tuesdays during the regular school year. Editors can be reached at (410) 455-1260 during normal business hours or at University Center 214; 1000 Carly Wilkins Hilltop Circle; UMBC; Baltimore, MD 21250. The Retriever Weekly is an equal opportunity employer.