Prefrosh Weekend: “Their (Almost) Here!” the California Tech Offer

[email protected] VOLUME CVIII, NUMBER 23 PASADENA, CALIFORNIA APRIL 9, 2007 Photo by Matthew Glassman SFC brings new ideas to table Biannual conference addressed classes, honor system, student life

BY RAM KANDASAMY

Addition of a third Honor Sys- For more SFC coverage, please tem top student officer, design of an undergraduate bioengineering see editorials on Page 2: major, and creation of student- run classes were some of the Cancelling classes too unrealistic for SFC many ideas proposed at the biannual Student-Faculty Conference last Thursday. Co-chair of the SFC repeats history Undergraduate Education Com- mittee Christine Tung said, “SFC was well-organized as a whole. It was great to see the faculty in- Caltech, surveys from the SFC at MIT. Although concerns were volved.” confirmed. Committee for Under- expressed that there was no time A major part of SFC presenta- graduate Research member Anna for such a break in Caltech’s al- tions in general was survey results Hiszpanski said, “About 81% of ready tight academic schedule, collected over the year on under- students have sought research op- the proposed addition of more graduate education, the honor portunities and 95% of the faculty non-academic or even student-run code, and various options. The respondents had mentored sum- courses met with more favourable results often prompted lengthy mer research.” However, she felt responses. discussion between students and there was certainly room for im- Chair of the UG Research com- faculty, with the focus on what provement, considering Caltech’s mittee and member of the EE/CS changes can be made to better 3 to 1 student ratio. committee and HSS committee the Caltech experience. Tung However, not everyone is guar- Radhika Marathe felt that the said that it was important for sur- anteed a summer at Caltech doing committee meetings were useful. vey results to be communicated, research. The survey indicated “It seems important that fac- simply because it encourages stu- that “24% of students who looked ulty and students continue to dents to give their thoughts and for research opportunities were work together on these issues,” shows their opinion matters. unsuccessful in finding them.” Marathe said, “as the conference One of the best-attended ses- But despite the grim statistic, day requires a follow-up schedule sions of the SFC was the Honor Hiszpanski and others are opti- to check if the proposed changes System conference, at which plans mistic that action will be taken. “I will actually happen.” were unveiled for major changes was very excited and encouraged However, although the SFC in in Honor Code implementation. by their [faculty’s] comments,” past years has been successful in Junior Youssef Moussaoui presents the findings of the Honor Code surveys revealed Photo by Jonathan Tsai Humanities and Social Sciences committee at the Stu- that 63% of students feel that col- dent Faculty Conference last Thursday laboration policies are unclear. To remedy this problem, collabora- NEWS BRIEFS tion policies are planned to be put on websites, and divisions are planning on having separate col- laboration policies. Actor coming to Caltech There was much discussion on how to get the faculty BoC rep- films. He is also known for writ- BY JEFF KRANSKI resentative to become more in- ing and starring in the one-man volved. According to ARC Chair play The Huey Newton Story, Actor/Director Roger Guenveur Caleb Ng, “the representatives which was based on the life of were approved by the Faculty Smith will be on campus Tuesday, Black Panther’s co-founder and April 10 for a screening of Spike Board in 2005, but since have leader Dr. Huey Newton. The gone nowhere.” Other discus- Lee’s Do The Right Thing at 7pm play won a Peabody Award and in Baxter Lecture Hall as part of sion centered around a proposed a Banff Rockie Award in 2002, plan to institute a new elected Professor Rosenstone’s course, and was nominated for an Image HUM136: Ethnic Visions. ASCIT position, the Honor Chair, Award in the same year. who would take up the burden of Students and faculty watch a presentation at the SFC An award-winning actor, Smith Smith will be available fol- on Thursday, which attracted more than 100 students. has been active in the film indus- representing and explaining the lowing the screening for ques- Honor System, relieving the BoC try since 1988 and has been in- tions from the audience. volved in several of Spike Lee’s chair to focus on hearing cases. said Hiszpanski. making some changes, such as Another major proposal cov- The presentation on Quality the revamping of the Bi 1 curricu- ered was the establishment of a of Life generated quite a stir, at- lum, said Marathe, “in essence, I bioengineering option for under- tracting around 120 people. One believe this process needs to con- graduates, discussed at the Under- especially popular statistic was tinue somehow beyond the scope Quantum Hoops to show Tues graduate Education session. Al- in an exit survey for the class of of the SFC, which is a biannual Rick Greenwald’s film received though a graduate bioengineering 2006, 66% of seniors would go event.” She cited a halted HSS BY MARISSA CEVALLOS the Top 10 Audience Choice program has already been com- to Caltech again if they had the proposal for courses in linguistics Award when at Santa Barbara, pleted, it appears bioengineering chance to go back and choose from a few years ago as an ex- The first public screening of the where it was so popular it ran will not be an undergraduate op- what college they want to attend. ample of a topic that would have men’s basketball documentary more than once. tion until a few years from now. Although this was a majority, benefited from student-faculty Quantum Hoops will be this Tues- The film documents last year’s Bioengineering would be in the there were many remarks made discussions outside of the SFC. day, April 10 at 4 PM in Beckman men’s basketball team as it strug- Engineering and Applied Science that the statistic also meant 34% Although no conclusive chang- Auditorium. The screening will gled through its no-victory sea- Division, and students currently would choose to go elsewhere. es have yet resulted from last be followed by a barbeque. son, especially the seniors who interested in bioengineering can Suggestions to improve this fig- Thursday’s meetings, the topics The film was first debuted at were playing their last season. still customize their own plan of ure ranged from having an extra discussed in SFC can lead to fur- the Santa Barbara Film Festival The film delves into the history study. week for spring break to having ther discussions between faculty in January, when both the men’s of the basketball team, including Research continues to be one a few weeks to take non-aca- and students, which help to bring and women’s team traveled to see interviews with the last basketball of the biggest interests here at demic courses, much like IAP about significant changes. it. team to win a SCIAC game. In This Issue Movie Reviews: SFC evokes mixed feelings Page 2 How Rene Davis became Namesake a delight Women’s basketball: forecast bright Page 4 Caltech’s inspirational Grindhouse delightfully ridiculous Hobos are scary Page 8 athlete Page 4 2 THE CALIFORNIA TECH OPINION APRIL 9, 2007 From the Editor SFC repeats history Canceling classes too Caltech ignores its greatest strengths: small classes, potential for interaction have grown more distant from tee, BUSAC. Lastly, of course, BY DANIEL POON one-on-one interaction with the in large universities, almost all unrealistic for SFC faculty that provide them with courses are offered all of the time, Last Thursday we had a day off their best opportunities, and stu- and student body and interest are To be honest, I’m not sure what minute Techer, you might have for the SFC. Initially I went for dents’ input in Institute-wide aca- both large enough and diverse all this hype about SFC is about. skipped the conference to finish the food, but I remember walking demic decisions is losing more enough that the only issues re- I went to class and worked on a problem set due Thursday af- out of the meetings thinking the and more of its already meager side with faculty availability and problem sets. ternoon. If the ARC wants to be situation was symptomatic of a efficacy. teaching interest. Though the students were prom- thorough about preventing aca- worrisome lack of follow-up. We are collapsing toward a In contrast to both extremes, ised class-free days, the message demic time conflicts, they should When I asked one of the com- culture that makes it increasingly HSS is stuck at the precariously apparently didn’t get across to the consider that problem sets, as well mittee members what was going difficult for Caltech to utilize its inefficient boundary between faculty. Most of my professors as classes, take up the better part to be done about the ideas that greatest logistical advantage, its these two economies of scale. were surprised that class would of a non-nocturnal Techer’s day. had been raised at the public SFC small size. HSS is the smallest division at be cancelled on Thursday. So they But I can appreciate the prob- hearings, I learned much to my Smaller divisions have resisted Caltech in terms of personnel, yet did what any professor would do: lem the ARC must have faced own chagrin that many of the SFC it must simultaneously cater to the they either ignored the mandate, in scheduling this, because it all committees would probably not interests and academic require- or rescheduled the class. comes down to juggling finite be meeting again until the next There is just no ments of the entire undergraduate I don’t know if the ARC can time. Can you make a professor convention 2 years later. Instead, population. conjure 25-hour days, but the reschedule his problem sets? No, a report “would be written,” and good way for our The undergraduate population promise to cancel classes with- and it’s probably not worth it. Any the matter of exactly who would feedback to reach itself also sports extreme diver- out considering the affect is a bit committment involves some sac- be reading it, if anyone, was bliss- the decision-mak- sity even in its small volume in short-sided. Many classes voted rifice, and with the SFC, the sac- fully unclear. both interest and proficiency in whether to keep the class at its rifice was hidden beneath a bribe I gathered a few fellow dis- ers without a better the humanities. There are to my normally-scheduled time. The to avoid class. There’s no way to tressed students to contact alum- defined and stream- knowledge no permanent student lab classes didn’t even ask. This create free time, only ways to pri- ni, one of whom had notes and lined structure. committees responsible for com- majority-rules scheduling hurt the oritize your own schedule. reports from SFCs dating as far municating with HSS faculty. minority of students who left for back as 1986. Many recurring It is therefore unsurprising to the conference, or discouraged issues were raised even then and Marissa Cevallos this deterioration better than large me that HSS’s capability to react those who might have attended. have still not been resolved as of divisions have; for example, the to diverse student interests and If you’re anything like a last- Editor-in-Chief now. Caltech’s HSS division is GPS division, in which there still needs fails to make par. There the most glaring repeat culprit in runs a strong culture of every stu- is just no good way for our feed- this particular aspect. dent getting to know practically back to reach the decision-mak- All of this points to something every professor and vice versa, ers without a better defined and fundamentally wrong with rela- Write for the Tech! can manage to react to student streamlined structure. tions here at Tech. The cohesive- demand for courses and research As a result, we are stuck with a (or take pictures, ness of the Caltech community, that indulge individual interests byzantine system of requirements between faculty and students, un- via person-to-person coordina- and an unsatisfactory selection of or play with the website) dergraduates and graduates, and tion alone. courses to fulfill them that con- administration and student body Even a slightly larger depart- tributes so much to the rampant alike has been steadily declining ment like biology has to manage bitterness that we all find our- over the past decade, if not the its culturally weaker student-fac- selves exhibiting at times regard- [email protected] past few. ulty rapport through mediation ing our proud, little institution. Students in many departments of an student advisory commit-

Prefrosh Weekend: “Their (almost) Here!” The California Tech offer. Looking at the Cain Report piece, it is a reference to the 2003 tell the prefrosh? All the reasons Caltech 40-58, Pasadena, CA 91125 BY CRAIG MONTUORI advertising e-mail: [email protected] from 1985, a report on under- Prefrosh Weekend Tech, which I came here are disappearing.’ editorial e-mail: [email protected] graduate admissions procedures headlined with “Their Here!” Prefrosh Weekend is in a ‘Next spring I’ll espouse the truth and policies, it says, “In addition, I’m using it as an indication of to prospective students and get VOLUME CVIII, NUMBER 23 week and a half. We’re expect- whereas Caltech used to get 60% the lack of effort that many key ing somewhere between 250 and them to go elsewhere.’” Marissa Cevallos of those students who got into groups around the school put into The situation was that a series Editor-in-Chief 270 prospectives to arrive be- both Caltech and either MIT or prefrosh weekend. tween Wednesday afternoon and of small changes were made, Chris Yu Stanford, it now only gets 40%.” For example, we students look many directly involving the for- Business Manager Thursday morning and stay un- From 1985 to today, that number at it as a chance to screw around til Sunday morning. Unlike last mer president, which culminated has continued to decline. for a few days, while trying to in major proposed changes to the Chandra Barnett year, we’re returning back to the While we continue to win the convince as many prefrosh as Circulation regular length Prefrosh Weekend, student health plan, resulting in a majority of students from second possible that they shouldn’t come Dr. Gary Libman which carries over into the Week- big negative downturn to student and lower-tier schools, like Mudd here. I’m sure the Admissions morale and numerous instances Advisor end. It should be a lot of fun. or Georgia Tech, we need to do office tears its collective hair out While last term, I briefly looked of student anger. This was analo- Matt Glassman more to compete with our major year after year of our behavior. gous to the more recent Seven Photography Editor at the Honor Code and some of its competitors, generally considered How can we get the best pos- history, which I’ll probably return Day Board Town Hall meeting Valerie Syverson to include Princeton, Harvard, sible class if current students are period of time. to in the weeks leading up to the and Yale, as well as MIT and actively working against the in- Sonia Tikoo Honor Chair amendments, with Now think about our situation Yang Yang Stanford. terests of the now. We’ve got a new president, Layout Editors Prefrosh Weekend imminent, A recent BEM school? I wanted to go into some of the “When Prefrosh Week- who appears to be interested and 106 (Competi- W e l l , active in improving student mo- Evans Boney traditions and expectations that tive Strategies) end rolls around, I’d say we’re trying Marissa Cevallos I’ve seen from Techers over the rale. We’ve got high turnover of Andrea Dubin student report something administrators in the plus/minus years. I’ll start with a quote from on admissions think very carefully about different this Mark Eichenlaub Ted Jou in a memo that he sent to six months from now, including Hamilton Falk practices sum- what your feelings are year. From the Provost, the VP of Students Leighland Feinman former President Baltimore prior marizes in say- the Prefrosh Matt Glassman to Prefrosh Weekend 2002: about this school and tell Affairs, and Dr. Feldblum’s posi- Anna Hiszpanski ing that we win Reps to the tion, all of whom who have spent “I have an urgent concern people against that to the prefrosh.” IHC, and Robert Karl about Prefrosh Weekend that I many years working with the stu- Cindy Ko schools where h o p e f u l l y dent body. We’ve still got Tom Natalya Kostandova felt should be brought to your we clearly have i n c l u d i n g Radhika Marathe attention. Recently, I have been Mannion. Not only is there no Harold Martin an academic edge, while we lose more random people like you and longer any active opposition to hearing more and more rumors against schools where we have me, we’re not going to try to con- Sara McBride among the undergraduate student student life from the former presi- Craig Montuori no edge and their students have a vince prefrosh that this place is dent, but also now seems to be the Vibha Laljani body that there will be a move- more active social life. something it’s not, but we are go- Harrison Stein ment to negatively influence the once-in-a-decade time to make Valerie Syverson To me, this says that year after ing to try to be more persuasive in change happen. I’d say things are newly admitted students who will year, we’re failing to convince convincing people to come here. Sonia Tikoo be on campus Prefrosh Weekend, looking more hopeful to us than Jonathan Tsai people to enroll here that are as I hope that we wouldn’t admit they have in any time before at Staff which is scheduled for April 18- academically qualified as any- people here if we didn’t think they 20. I personally feel such action least 2000. one here but have different social would be successful here and gain So when Prefrosh Weekend The Tech is published weekly except during would be counterproductive, and standards and expectations. The some level of enjoyment. Try to vacation and examination periods by the As- the Associated Students will not rolls around, I’d say think very sociated Students of the California Institute result is a school that most of us keep that in mind when telling carefully about what your feel- of Technology, Inc. The opinions expressed organize or condone any of these consider to be lacking socially some prefrosh, “Oh, you’re too herein are strictly those of the authors and activities.” ings are about this school and tell advertisers. diversity, and most high school social, don’t come here.” that to the prefrosh. For the more Letters and submissions are welcome; e-mail Over the past few years, it and college students that have Need reasons to be upbeat? submissions to [email protected] as plain-text seems to me that it is common for House minded people, don’t you attachments, including the author’s name, heard of us agree. The Cain Re- Feel so crushed by Tech that you want the best possible pool to se- by Friday of the week before publication. us to try to scare away as many port says, “We also found that in feel you’d be misleading people The Tech does accept anonymous contribu- prefrosh as possible while the vis- lect members from? For every- tions. The editors reserve the right to edit and many areas of the country Caltech by telling them to come here? one else, I’d say that we have a abridge all submissions for any reason. All it. As a result, other schools win […] where it is known, we have Think about this line in Ted’s written work remains property of its author. many students that might have responsibility to help make this The advertising deadline is 5 PM Friday; all acquired a reputation for being a report: “I found the following school the best it can be. From advertising should be submitted electronically otherwise chosen to attend here, grim, narrow school.” I would three [common] statements: ‘For or as camera-ready art, but The Tech can also such as MIT or Stanford, which a long-term perspective, that do simple typesetting and arrangement. All argue that this reputation still ex- three years, I have recommended says we should do what we can advertising inquiries should be directed to the put a big emphasis on recruiting ists today. this school to prefrosh. This year business manager at [email protected]. admitted students to accept their to encourage the best students to For subscription information, please send mail Looking at the title of this I won’t.’ ‘What am I going to choose to come here. to “Subscriptions.” THE CALIFORNIA TECH NEWS APRIL 9, 2007 3 ASCIT Minutes: April 4, 2007 Social team discusses upcoming events Another idea proposed was the Offi cers Present: Chris Gonza- tank and sticky fl y wall). The ASCIT, GSC, Alumni foundation, time soon. possibility of getting sponsorship les, Mike Grinolds, Andrea Du- admissions offi ce is subsidizing and the Y for money. -Interviews for BoD appointed by having company names on bin, Angela Zah, Ekta Bhojwani, some of it, but they are paying for committees will be on Tuesday shirts. Ekta, Gonzo, Mike, and Mike White, Caleb Ng, Patrick a bus to send prefrosh off campus *Walking at commencement the 10th at 10:15pm. Herring, Daryl Coleman, Zack for dinner so they don’t have the Tom will have a meeting to dis- -John Hall will give a presenta- Higbee budget to pay for it. cuss this. tion at the faculty board meeting *Directory emails -The ASCIT amplifi er disap- -ASCIT Formal: A place hasn’t on Monday. -There have been complaints Guests: Russell McClellan peared during the move from the yet been found to have formal at. -Currently the feeling is that stu- that the BoD is sending out to Ekta suggested that we should mods to the houses. A high qual- dents who wish to walk will need many emails to ug-list. start booking places for future *Budget stuff ity amp will cost around $2500. to graduate within one term (36-45 -The BoD should make sure years because most places require -The receipts Angela put in on There’s a MHF funding deadline units) what they are sending out is rel- to be booked years in advance. Friday weren’t processed on the coming up, so we will try to apply -Survey results were overwhelm- evant to their position, and limit Formal will be May 26 old budget, so all submitted re- for funding. Someone on social th. We ingly supportive of the change the emails to one per week. ceipts were charged to the new team will write it. want to keep cost to students to --Andrea Dubin budget. Everything needs to be -The date for interhouse next around $35, which means that we *Club funding meeting ASCIT Secretary resubmitted, so it might take a lit- year will be on December 1st. have about a $20k budget. -The Club Funding meeting will tle while. Jon Senn is looking into Each of the 4 parties will get be this Sunday at 11am what happened to money charged $7500 each, but we want to in- *Funding Request to students for ASCIT Formal crease the amount of money. The -Russell requested funding for *signups party will cost around $35k. Tom a Yuri’s night party on April 12. -Signups for committees will be *Social team Mannion will give us $10k, an- They want to turn Ricketts TND coming down on Sunday evening The Tech prints the ASCIT -There will be a midnight do- other alum will give us $10k, but into a Yuri’s night party. They most likely minutes every week as a service nuts during prefrosh weekend, we still need to raise quite a bit of will make up a budget, then ask -IHC signups will go up some- to ASCIT. and we want to have fi reworks money. We have $4000 set aside during this. It will probably be for it. We need to start thinking ADVERTISEMENT on Thursday night. Ekta wants of avenues to raise more money. $1500 for the prefrosh weekend We will still have a barbecue in carnival. The cost will cover the late afternoon. The idea was equipment rental (such as a dunk brought up to raise ASCIT dues. Tired of CDS lunches

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�� 4 THE CALIFORNIA TECH SPORTS APRIL 9, 2007 Rene Davis an inspiration to basketball team Photo by Matthew Glassman discus and high jump to running for the team’s cohesiveness. BY ANNA HISZSPANSKI the 200 meter and the 4x4. Da- “I think a lot of the reason our vis is currently rehabilitating her team is so close is because of our After a season in which the shoulder, which is keeping her coach. She’s amazing,” said Da- women’s basketball team turned from many field events like shot vis of Marbut. “She’s there for us so many heads by winning their put this year and will keep her whether we’re upset about school first SCIAC games ever, one from playing volleyball next year, or boys or anything. If I was ever player achieved another honor as well. arrested—I don’t know why I that had never before been be- But, according to Davis, bas- ever would be—I would probably stowed: junior Rene Davis was ketball is where her true passion call my coach. That’s the kind of named to the SCIAC All-Confer- lies. She’s already looking for- person she is… She will never ence Team. ward to next year to show the ask us to work harder than she’s In the history of the Caltech other teams in the conference that working.” athletics program, the honor has Caltech’s two SCIAC game wins The respect Davis has for Mar- been given to only two women in this season were not a fluke. but appears to be mirrored in other sports. “It’s really frustrating for our Marbut and her respect for Rene: In addition to making the All- team… We work really hard— “Ninety-nine percent of the rest Conference 2nd Team, Davis probably harder than everyone in of the college athletic scenes out finished the season with a double- conference—and then even when there are not experiencing a Rene. double, averaging double digits we show them Athletes in in two categories: rebounds and that we’re general tend points scored per game. good enough “The greatest thing to get to be- However, in speaking with the to play with lieve their 5 foot 9 inch junior point guard them, they still about Rene is that she own propa- with hair shaped into a Mohawk, don’t believe ganda, and I one perhaps would not realize the it,” said Da- doesn’t even know how don’t think magnitude of her accomplish- vis, referring that’s the case ments. Humble about her achieve- to the fact that great she is.” with anyone ments, she says she’s “not that other teams on our team, great of a basketball player” and are still sched- -Coach Sandra Marbut e s p e c i a l l y credits her team with her success. uling a third Rene,” said When told that The Tech wanted game during Marbut. “I to write an article about her ac- the weeks they play Caltech for am incredibly honored and feel complishments, she asked that it next year’s season. Typically, two like it is a gift to get to work with be about the team instead. conference games in a week is her, as well as with all the ladies “It’s a team sport. I know that considered a full week. on the team.” during the game I got a lot of re- However, Davis uses the disbe- Both Davis and Marbut are bounds, but rebounds don’t hap- lief of other teams as a motivator looking forward to Rene’s next pen unless people box-out oth- to succeed even more next sea- season as a senior. Marbut says ers,” said Davis. “So even though son: losing Davis when she graduates I get the stat, it’s really a whole “Being an underdog and know- will be difficult. Her class cur- team thing.” Rene Davis dribbles around her defender. ing you can shock people is moti- rently includes three of the five Davis’ coach, Sandra Marbut, we won,” said Davis. “For me, it “She epitomizes hard work,” vating. Our team is working hard starting players. But for now, both says Rene’s team player attitude didn’t change how well my sea- said Coach Marbut. “If you watch right now—everybody is going to are simply enjoying the success of is apparent whenever she is on or son went, what I did, or what the her play, she doesn’t do anything the gym. We’re all so excited… this season and looking to prepare off the court: team did… It’s so obvious that the fancy. She’s not the most athletic Being able to prove everyone for the next. “Rene should be a role model award wasn’t about me. The big- person in our program, but she wrong is just amazing,” said Da- “What makes Rene Rene is her for a lot of the professional ath- gest thing is that they finally put just works hard.” vis. “It’s easy [to be so passion- grit. Rene knows that the odds letes out there,” said Marbut. someone from our team on [the “Rene has such a drive on the ate] because we’re all so invested were not stacked in her favor… “She’s very aware she can’t do All-Conference Team]. That’s re- court during practice and games... in it now. Last year we lost every There are just a lot of things that it by herself. I think she’s very ally what the award was.” its incredible,” agreed teammate game. You’d think we would get Rene’s come through that other appropriately humble, and that While Davis’ season was the junior Meghan Kelleher. “She al- frustrated, but we didn’t just be- people without Rene’s strength defines great leadership on her best of her career, it was not with- ways gives 110% and in turn in- cause we were all aware that we and character would not be able part… Rene is such a great ex- out struggles either. Davis played spires everyone else on the team would eventually win.” to,” said Marbut. “She volun- ample that will benefit players for with a shoulder injury—a torn la- to work just as hard as she does. According to Davis, the team’s teers her time every summer to years to come.” brum—nearly the entire season. It’s so nice playing with someone collective dedication is a key to go work with foster children at While winning the award is an “She really played through who is such a great leader and their success. a camp. She’s so humble; she achievement for Davis, she inter- some adversity,” said Marbut. who you trust to guide the team.” “Our team is very different than doesn’t do it for herself. She grew preted the recognition in a differ- “Everything she did was incred- Keeping herself active in and almost every other sport team out her hair to donate it to Locks ent way: ible and when you realize she had out of the basketball season, Da- here,” said Davis. “The girls on of Love even though she hates “[Receiving the award] was a shoulder injury on top of that, vis has been involved with the the team are my best friends… having long hair...There are a lot kind of bittersweet. A lot of it’s even more incredible.” volleyball and the track and field We are very close-knit. Every of really cool things about Rene. people have deserved it in the How was Davis able to accom- teams since her freshman year. class that has come in has fit in The greatest thing about Rene is past, but [the conference] never plish such feats as she did while She competes in over ten track very well.” that she doesn’t even know how acknowledged us until the year being injured? and field events, ranging from Davis largely credits her coach great she is.” Women’s Basketball ‘07 Photo by Matthew Glassman The start of a winning tradition?

and Rene Davis, Caltech’s career team were rewarded again only BY HANWEN YAN leader in double-doubles paving a month later on February 10th the way, the Tech girls made his- when the Women’s team won In some ways, the Caltech Bas- tory on January 13, 2007, only a their second SCIAC game by de- ketball reminds us of basketball week after the Men’s Basketball feating Whittier’s Lady Poets in programs at bigger, elite schools, team shattered their 207 losing another tight game, 54-52. where players are so transient that streak. The different between the 0-25 the teams often change dramati- The girls won their first NCAA seasons and this the past season’s cally from year to year. (Well, Division III game, as well as the 3-22 ending is simply phenom- maybe not the Florida Gators, first SCIAC game in history over enal. Although not exactly a 22-3 with their hacked championship Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens in a record that large schools come to starting lineup returning.) nail-biting 55-53 victory. When expect with their enormous bas- But at the beginning of the we take a moment to recall that ketball programs, we should keep 2006-2007 season, the Caltech the women’s team lost by an aver- in mind that any one girl on the Women’s Basketball team had age of 70 points only about four Women’s team is probably smart- four returning juniors and a re- years ago, we can really see how er than the entire Ohio State team turning sophomore, bringing far the program has come along. combined, including Greg Oden, much needed experience to a pro- As the fans erupted and hys- whose 40+ years of knowledge gram at a school where most stu- terical mayhem and awesomeness and experience probably still dents would rather do math than ensued, Caltech had something to pales in comparison to the hard- play or even watch basketball. cheer about. At a college where working girls. This year, the Tech women’s school spirit is sorely lacking, the And the best part about the team had a real goal that they Women’s Basketball team gave women’s team? There were no could finally achieve through the everybody who doesn’t stay in seniors so basketball fans have hard work put in over the last cou- their rooms all day something to much more to look forward to in ple years: it was time to win. With cheer for. next year’s 2007-2008 campaign. team captains Lindsay King, now Those who continued or just Caltech’s all-time leading scorer, began to support the women’s Lindsay King, co-captain, drives the ball up the line against Cal-Lutheran THE CALIFORNIA TECH APRIL 9, 2007 5 6 THE CALIFORNIA TECH ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT APRIL 9, 2007 MOVIE REVIEWS Namesake: better not judge the book by its movie BY RADHIKA MARATHE (Ashoke) in the film, as the Indi- ents’ apparent backwardness and The scene shows the beautiful easy to identify with. Apart from an immigrants to New York in the orthodoxy and resents them for bond of father and son forming the acting, the soundtrack is com- 1970’s contributes to making the naming him so awkwardly. between Ashoke and Gogol for mendable as an integral part of A common saying goes ‘Never film realistic rather than proving As he is describing an ‘inter- perhaps the first time beyond the the movie and the blend of East- judge a book by its movie’. But a disadvantage. They fit perfectly esting encounter’ to his friends, latter’s childhood. ern and Western styles makes it in the case of The Namesake, the into the role of two strangers who he says “Just as I am about It’s the death of a close family suitable for the general theme of opposite may be hold true. are introduced at their parents’ to kiss her, she looks at me, member that brings Gogol even the movie. I must say I wasn’t too im- discretion for an arranged mar- “What’s your name?” “Gogol closer to his ancestral heritage Although this theme of cultur- pressed by Jhumpa Lahiri’s Pu- riage. Ganguli”.(laughter follows) End and takes him farther from Max- al and generational conflicts is litzer prize-winning novel when I Soon after their wedding, they of Seduction 101!”. ine. His next and final romantic common to most films based on read it last year and I was initially move from the busy and noisy At a point in the film, he even interest in the film is a girl from immigrant families, The Name- somewhat reluctant to watch the streets of Calcutta to the silent brings up the issue of chang- the same Bengali background, sake is definitely not cliché in movie for the same reason. How- snow-covered landscapes of New ing his name and his parents, al- Moushami (Robinson) who has this sense. Nair allows the char- ever, I must say that the movie ex- York. Their feeling of isolation in though unhappy, do not try to stop grown up with Gogol from an acters to go beyond the American ceeds all expectations and takes a place quite unlike home helps him from doing it. They do not aloof young girl to a sensual and Born Confused Indian stereotype the characters and the story to an in bringing them closer to each question his decision to major in smart woman. and develop their own distinct entirely different level. other. architecture (although Ashoke’s The performances have been personalities. This film by Mira Nair is a Years later, when the charac- first reaction is “Architecture? excellent all through the movie. The film depicts the struggle heart-warming story based on two ter Ashoke asks Ashima why she Why not engineering?”) or his Tabu is wonderful in the role of of the central character Gogol generations of an Indian-Ameri- married him, she replies mis- white girlfriend Maxine (Jacinda Ashima, whose life takes a num- to accept his cultural heritage as can family. It portrays the cultural chieviously, “Because I liked Barrett). In many ways, Ashoke ber of unexpected and mostly un- well as the awkwardness of his conflicts faced by immigrants to your shoes (made in the US) and and Ashima give their children a wanted twists and turns. Irfan and name. It shows his growth from a the US as well as the generation you were the best of the lot!” lot more independence than most Sahira, who plays Gogol’s sister, rebellious, pot-smoking, shaggy- gap between the first generation Theirs is not a love-at-first-sight Indian parents in the US would. are extremely convincing in their haired senior to a confident young and the next. The movie starts but rather a relationship that has It is perhaps for this reason that roles as well. However, Kal Penn architect who has a strong sense of in Calcutta, India and moves been nurtured over years. Gogol decides not to change his as Gogol undoubtedly steals the of values by the end of the film. to the US with the central char- However, the central character name when his father explains show. It is his heartfelt perfor- Ultimately, the Namesake is a acters. of the film is Gogol (Kal Penn). what a profound influence the au- mance that endears the character film about finding one’s identity The unlikely pairing of Growing up as a teenager in the thor has had on his life and what of Gogol and makes it extremely and coming to terms with it. Tabu (Ashima) and Irfan Khan US, he is perplexed by his par- made him name his son the same. Tarantino and Rodriguez team up for indulgent experience that crams all the intrigue of the here, they may never speak to title at the very end. his stylistic trademarks of any BY KYLE LITTLER back story into a few seconds. I you again. By contrast, the sex- After that wonderful string of thematic intent. A group of girl- couldn’t hear half of it over the ual content (of both Planet Terror trailers, we have a killer stunt car friends spend an ungodly long A lot of the talk I’d heard lead- audience’s laughter at whatever and Death Proof) is pretty tame driver story called Death Proof, time chatting in a verbose building up to the release of Grind- amusingly violent event hap- compared to the typical trashy and things start getting serious… up to nothing. Links to his other house was about how Quentin pened a moment before, and I’m films of today. or do they? A few minutes into films and parallels to Planet Ter- Tarantino didn’t hold up his end pretty sure Rodriguez planned The fake trailers by Rodriguez it, I began wondering, “Is Taran- ror abound for their own sake. A of the bargain. The idea was to on that. In any other movie I’d and three guest filmmakers are a tino making a Tarantino film or history lesson on an old British make a trashy, overindulgent wonder what I missed and wish real treat. “Machete” is as much an exploitation film?” As I tried rock band that even I have never double feature as a tribute to the I could rewind it, but part of the of a continuously escalating to answer it, I became amused, heard of is the immediate precur- exploitation films of the ‘70s, but fun of the experience Grindhouse spectacle of action and insan- bored, angry, blown away, an- sor to a brutal death scene that apparently Quentin failed to stick recreates is that you can’t make ity as Planet Terror. “Werewolf grier, bored again, on the edge of renders the film’s painstaking to the premise because

Photo courtesy of esplatter.com exposition completely he decided to make a moot. If Planet Terror’s good movie instead. link to the exploitation Robert Rodriguez’s era is its sensational Planet Terror would over-the-topness, Death be a fun little snack Proof’s link is its fail- before the meal that ing to use any sort of was Tarantino’s Death reasonable storytelling Proof. But upon leav- framework and forcing ing the theater, I found you to wait for the thrills out that the opposite you were promised. But was true: Rodriguez since it begins with a created the real movie huge chunk of trademark that could stand on its Tarantino dialogue, it own, while Tarantino makes you think it has a made the gimmicky story, then crashes your flick that fills out the expectations as hard as it whole experience. crashes Stuntman Mike’s Planet Terror is more death proof car. inherently likeable Ultimately, the genius because we all know of the Death Proof is that what to expect from a the final, ridiculously zombie movie. During long action scene does both the exploitation something more fun- era and Hollywood’s damentally bestial than recent resurgence in the anything an exploita- genre, filmmakers have tion film could ever do: rarely strayed from the it turns your frustration standard zombie plot with the film into anger and concept. The only Cherry (Rose McGowan) , a go-go dancer without a leg, poses menacingly with her new prosthetic in “Planet Terror,” toward Stuntman Mike variable is whether the the first feature film in the double feature “Grindhouse” and makes you hunger characters matter or are for the same venge- just there to blast undead ful satisfaction that the bodies apart, and this is where sense of everything. Women of the S.S.” is the weak- my seat, and finally filled with a characters seek. And let me tell Planet Terror makes its mark. It’s Anyway, the real meat of any est of the bunch, but its inexpli- deep, sick sense of satisfaction. you, satisfaction is delivered got every cliché you could want: zombie movie is, of course, cable Nicolas Cage cameo is a Having no idea what to expect together with the best flash of the damaged relationship reinvig- graphic violence and death. If priceless moment. The remain- was central to the experience. In the words “The End” in movie orated by crisis, the sheriff with you think that regular theatrical ing two look more like authentic fact, even if I mention nothing history. After realizing that the a chip on his shoulder, the group release films have reached their B movies than either feature film. about the plot, I’d feel like I was whole movie was justified, my of military commandos saving limit of disgustingness in this “Don’t” is an outright parody of a spoiling it, so if you’re planning only complaint is that Mary themselves at mankind’s expense, day and age, you’re wrong. Plan- horror trailer that had me laugh- on reading the rest of this re- Elizabeth Winstead has far too the fiercely independent redneck et Terror almost peaks in nasti- ing so hard as the title was end- view… DON’T. It turned out to small a role for being the hottest providing the heroes with some ness fairly early in the movie, lessly repeated I had to gasp for be half a Tarantino film and half actress in the whole three-hour badass hardware – everything. but for a while, as the sensational air. I half expected the voiceover an exploitation film – without event. That may sound superfi- But the film also nudges your moments get less gruesome and to say, “If you’re thinking of the slightest attempt to make the cial, but given Grindhouse’s ba- elbow and hints that it realizes less directly visible on camera, seeing this movie… DON’T.” two fit together. It’s true that his sic premise, which makes it im- nobody cares about the quality they actually become more dis- “Thanksgiving” is the best of all, movies have always been full of mune to real criticism anyway, of the story. We find out that we turbing. Then when Tarantino especially if you’re familiar with exploitation references and long, how can an opinion on it amount missed learning some secret of makes a cameo appearance, the its classic trailer conventions, carefully crafted dialogues about to more than an expression of in- the male lead’s past that was ex- film outdoes itself as his body which are way different from the banal subjects, but they usu- dulgence? The Grindhouse ex- posed during a supposed missing suffers the worst thing you could now-universal practice of cut- ally serve some purpose in the perience is the kind of opportu- reel of film. The revelation of the never imagine. If you bring even ting a scene off after a tenth of end. In Death Proof, Tarantino nity for blissful indulgence that cause of the zombies’ existence a slightly sensitive person to this a second of a shocking moment has thrown that method out the hasn’t been offered to the cinema is revealed in a rushed dialogue film and do not cover their eyes and dramatically revealing the window, completely stripping for a damn long time, so dig in. THE CALIFORNIA TECH SCIENCE APRIL 9, 2007 7

Caltech Dance Show 2007

Friday, April 13 and Saturday, April 14, 2007 at 8:00pm in the Ramo Auditorium Tickets are $5 For tickets, contact Caltech Public Events at (626) 395-4652 For more information, visit us at http://www.its.caltech.edu/~dance

ADVERTISEMENT 8 THE CALIFORNIA TECH HUMOR APRIL 9, 2007 Lessons in hobo etiquette First of all, Hobos are not ers, usually stolen from their vic- a Hobo who doesn’t believe that tion, Hobos cannot cross running BY HAMILTONY FALK homeless people, and rarely are tims. you are a trained Hobo hunter, water, hate homeless people who they actually magical, but rather If you do find yourself face your best plan is to be a trained do not wander from town to town So, you think you’re pretty are vagrants that move from town to face with a Hobo, don’t fear. Hobo hunter. If you don’t have and will die if kept out of contact cool, know what to do at a fancy to town stealing and glaring and There is a good chance that the time to accomplish this, it may with a train for more than a week. dinner, how to perform vital first boxing without a proper license. Hobo is more scared of you than be sufficient to know karate or Thus any place with lousy train aid, and maybe you’ve learned Homeless people and magicians you are of it. This is because be a professional boxer, as Ho- service and large numbers of how to hotwire a car, just in case. are for the most part harmless, the government pays a bounty bos are very protective of their homeless people, such as LA, are However, despite all your super- while Hobos can ruin your life, for each Hobo head delivered to faces, which they believe to be pretty safe, and surrounding your ficial knowledge of the world, eat your children, bring about a the door of the capitol building, the key to all their powers. Ad- home with a moat is an excellent I’ll be there’s one thing you don’t darkening of the sun and urinate which has caused the rise of a ditionally, Hobos fear any height way to keep your liver safe, your know enough about, and that on your car door without you guild of Hobo-hunters. These greater than the distance from children un-urinated-upon and thing is Hobos. Often referred to even realizing it. While a home- hunters dress in the clothing of the bottom of a cargo container your whisky un-stolen and un-re- as “the homeless” or “them magi- less person or magician will of- the regular people although the in a train to the ground4 and are distilled. cal people what live in shanties” ten have a shopping cart, bulky great majority are at least six thus unlikely to follow you to this mysterious group is usually sleeping bag, wand and bag of feet tall and either kill the Hobos the second story of a building or just considered to be unhygienic cans or bottles, Hobos rarely car- right away, or throw poison darts up a ladder. Finally, if all hope non-contributing members of ry more than a bindle2, the skel- at them that cause them to die seems lost, if you can convince 1Without the law degree what society1. Therefore, to keep you eton of a cat and a jug full of 250 when they drink their precious the Hobo that you have no spare would make them unhygienic, safe and out of danger of hobo at- proof liquor. Additionally, Hobos whisky. change, turnips or liver, they will non-contributing and mean mem- tack, I’ll tell you how to recog- will have a look of world-weary Hobos fear these hunters to likely lose interest in you and bers of society. nize and deal with the Hobo. I rage upon their faces and are the extant that some of the once merely mark you with urine be- 2A bindle being the bag and should note that I am referring to never more than six feet tall, as crowded Hobo trains ride empty fore seeking out other prey. stick in which a hobo keeps his the modern Hobo, not the ancient their religion forbids great height except for a few of the less clev- The final and perhaps most belongings such as boots, false hobo referred to in John Hodge- and those exceeding six feet are er Hobo hunters. So if you can important way to stay safe from mustache and jet-pack. man’s book “The Areas of My throw from moving trains and simply make yourself look larger Hobo attacks is to stay out of the 3The Hobo-hunter call is a ris- Expertise” as those have been ex- forced to live as accountants. A by standing up tall and spread- areas they are likely to inhabit. ing “Here Hobo, heeeere Hobo, tinct since the 1940’s. This new final way to discover if a strange ing your arms, and make the call As mentioned earlier, Hobos comere, come here Hobo” repeat- breed of Hobo is believed to have is a Hobo is to search for a scar of the Hobo hunter3 you should fear heights and Hobo-hunters, ed several times. arrived aboard balsa wood rafts around their stomach and extra be able to scare a Hobo off with so tall buildings and Hobo-hunt- 4This height, six feet, comes up from Canada during the Ford ad- lumps in that area, as all Hobos little effort. ing clubs are generally safe from repeatedly in Hobo lore, and is ministration. have one or more additional liv- If you are forced to deal with their wandering menace. In addi- greatly feared.

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