October 9, 2009 • Volume 99, Issue 3 CIVIL RIGHTS AT STAKE Students, alumni come together for Homecoming 2009 By HANNAH KITZROW For the first time in over 35 years, Homecoming Weekend and Family Weekend will be combined into one. Events for both family and alumni will take place the weekend of Oct. 9. “ASUPS is going all-out for stu- dents during Homecoming Week and Homecoming and Family Weekend to bring new change. One complaint students have had about Homecoming is that it wasn’t fo- cused enough on the students. This year we’re trying to put that fo- cus back on students,” James Luu, ASUPS President, said. “This year is the first time we’ve combined two fall weekend events into one ” said Rebecca Harrison, the Assistant Director for Alumni and Parent Relations. “Homecom- ing, which was mostly for students, alumni and the campus community, and Fall Family Weekend, which fo- cused on students and parents.” The weekend kicks off with the President’s Welcome Reception Fri- day at 5:30 p.m. All family members and students are welcome to this event at Presi- dent Ron Thomas’ house. The same night there is also a BBQ sponsored by ASUPS and SAA starting at 6 p.m. At 9 p.m., the group Blues Schol- ars will be performing for students in the S.U.B. Legislating Love “Blues Scholars performed at my high school a few years ago, and were amazing. I can’t wait for them Referendum 71 reevaluates the nature of domestic to come to campus; it’s going to be an awesome show,” freshman Anna partnerships in the state of Washington. Hawley said. On Saturday there are a wide va- riety of events for everyone. The day begins with the President’s Dialogue and Faculty Presentations. The Logger Family Tailgate starts By ROB PEREZ at 10 a.m. This event is located at the Fieldhouse Parking Lot and costs $5 Since Referendum 71 Nov. 4, because if Refer- eferendum 71 concerns domestic partnerships per person. The price includes food made its way to the No- endum 71 is approved, it for same-sex couples and couples with a partner and live music. vember ballot, Puget will ensure that all Wash- Following the tailgate, the Home- over the age of 62. The referendum is getting Sound students have ex- ington families, same- coming football game will begin pressed interest in the is- sex and single-sex will be significant attention on the Puget Sound campus against Menlo Oaks. sue. treated equally.” The Fall Choral Concert will be- as voting season approaches for Pierce County Supporters of Referen- This question of equal gin at 4 p.m. dum 71 have taken resi- rights includes whether elections. The Adelphian Concert Choir, dence at a table in Whee- or not domestic partners Voci d’Amici, University Chorale A state law passed in intention of overturning lock Student Center in should have the ability to and Dorian Singers will all be per- May 2009 extended the the May law. order to inform students, use available sick leave forming. legal rights and benefits In addition, Referen- staff and faculty about to care for an ill partner, “We anticipate up to 1,200-1,500 of same-sex couples and dum 71 changes gender- their cause. emergency room visita- Rsenior domestic part- specific terms such as extra people on campus for Home- Student support for tion rights and shared coming and Family Weekend,” said ners to be equal to those “husband” and “wife” to this group includes the pension use. Further ben- Harrison. “I think that if you count of married couples. Ref- terms that can be legally campus organization Bi- efits in question include the total number of events, we have erendum 71 prompts read as gender-neutral. sexuals, Gays, Lesbians inheritance rights and put together a lineup of over 35 Washington voters to re- 120,577 voter signa- and Allies for Diversity public employee benefits. events in three days,” approve that law. tures were necessary to (B-GLAD). Although the referen- “The goal is to accommodate ev- The president of the put the referendum on The president of B- dum was put into effect eryone: students, parents, faculty, Washington Values Alli- the ballot for the Novem- GLAD, junior Jay Nuske, by opponents of the new staff, alumni and back to students. ance, Larry Stickney, filed ber election. 137,689 sig- said, “All eyes will be on domestic partnership We want to make this weekend spir- Referendum 71 with the natures were obtained. us come the election on SEE REF. 71 PAGE 2 it-oriented,” Luu said. Learn the Story of the Read an Obama Critique Meet Linebacker Phillip Attend a Week of Free Hatchet Thomas Theatre See FEATURES page 6 See OPINIONS page 3 See SPORTS page 12 See A&E page 9 2 NEWS The Puget Sound Trail October 9, 2009 [email protected] Banned Books Tea celebrates, informs By GRACE HEERMAN that gave guests a chance to vote for Launched in 1982, Banned Books their favorite banned book with a Week began as a response to a sud- Collins Memorial Library cel- chance to win book-related prizes. den increase in the number of chal- ebrated the freedom to read on Although the Collins Memorial lenges to books in schools, book- Thursday, Oct. 1 by inviting mem- Library has held formerly banned stores and libraries. bers of the community to a Banned books on its shelves for many years, According to bannedbooksweek. Books Tea in honor of Banned Library Director Jane Carlin first com, more than a thousand books Books Week (Sept. 26 – Oct. 3). directed students’ attention to them have been challenged since 1982. Attendees browsed displays of in 2008 when she invited local au- The American Library Associa- more than 50 banned books from thor Brent Hartinger as well as li- tion said, “The top three reasons around the world that the library is brarians and community activists to books are challenged are: 1) the ma- proud to hold on its shelves. a panel discussion about freedom of terial is considered to be ‘sexual- Sponsored by the American Li- speech. ly explicit,’ 2) the material contains brary Association and others, “I was part of a local citizen sup- ‘offensive language’ and 3) the ma- Banned Books Week is an annual, port group that responded to the terial is considered ‘unsuited to any nationwide celebration of the right banning of the book ‘I Know Why age group.’” to read and the significance of the the Caged Bird Sings’ by Maya An- In 2008, the most challenged First Amendment. gelou at my children’s high school,” book was Justin Richardson and According to the American Li- Carlin said. This personal connec- Peter Parnell’s “And Tango Makes brary Association, “Banned Books tion is what inspired her to bring Three,” a children’s story about a Week highlights the benefits of awareness of book banning to Puget penguin family with two fathers. free and open access to informa- Sound. The book was banned for its dis- tion while drawing attention to the “I am hoping students recog- cussion of “anti-ethnic, anti-fami- harms of censorship by spotlight- nize the importance of freedom of ly, homosexual, and religious view- ing actual or attempted bannings of speech and the importance of stand- points.” books across the United States.” ing up for this right,” said Carlin. Other frequently banned books Each book on display at the li- “We are fortunate to live in a society include “Of Mice and Men” by brary contained a notecard with that allows open discourse and we John Steinbeck, “James and the Gi- a brief explanation of the circum- want to make sure that we preserve ant Peach” by Roald Dahl, the Har- ASUPS PHOTO SERVICES/ISSABELLE CHIOSSO stances and location of its ban. the freedom to access information ry Potter series by J.K. Rowling and The library also funded a raffle and make our own choices.” “The Lorax” by Dr. Seuss. Chained: A Collins Library display showcased banned books. REF. 71 Technology Services help line under evaluation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 By MIKE KNAPE Cain sent Theresa Duhart, the “It has definitely been a bumpy road so far. Technology Director of Technical Support laws, those citizens wishing to n a move designed to im- Services, to Phoenix to help train establish extended rights for prove service to the cam- support is all about the user experience and that has been the technicians that work the same-sex couples need to vote pus community, the Office lacking so far. We are trying to fix this thing, because if we Puget Sound account. “approve” on the ballot. Those of Technology Services Although the technicians that voters opposed to the law should has employed the Phoe- can, then it will result in better service.” deal with Puget Sound issues all vote “reject” on the referendum. nix-based Tech Support compa- —Mark Cain have the standard A+ certifica- “We really need people to Iny PerceptIS. tion, there are differences be- vote,” freshman Ben Anderstone The new “Tech Help” toll-free offer more and better service,” sult in better service,” Cain said. tween different institutions that said. “Right now, polls show a hotline connects faculty, stu- Mark Cain, Interim Chief Tech- One of the main issues so far Cain believes might be contrib- statistical dead heat and we en- dents and staff to PerceptIS sup- nology Officer, said. has been Tech Help’s inability uting to the shaky start.