Sewanee Purple, 2005-2006
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Wfje &etoanee purple THE STUDENT ORGAN OF THE UNTVERSITY OF THE SOUTH October 7, 2005 Vol. II Issue 3 A Fading Tradition By7tsnley Gallman At opening convocation this year, new that goes with it." The Order is not simply students anticipating induction into the an honorary group created for recognition Order sat of Gownsmen with bated breath of achievement, but is also an essential in the pews of All Saints Chapel, charged institution of student government charged with both the energy and excitement that with the responsibility to both uphold usually surrounds the occasion. However, academic integrity and to act as a voice for before gowns could be donned and general all students. chaos could erupt, a short description of the Furthermore, the gown stands as an ultimate Order was read to the entire congregation, symbol for Sewanee itself, particularly its explaining its deep symbolic meaning that unique characteristics and traditions that envelops every aspect of Sewanee and its mark it as a truly remarkable and distinct ideals. At the moment, this short speech university. In 1977, President of the OG seemed an eternity, another bothersome Jeffrey Runge explained this very concept: delay in receiving the much-anticipated "May I remind you that the gown is a symbol gown. However, many gownsmen later of the Sewanee spirit, traditions, and ideals face a dilemma that may be greatly aided by of the University. It is not necessarily a a referral to those words: to wear the gown sign of personal achievement, but it is a or not to wear the gown. kind of recognition of the uniqueness of The reasons for wearing the gown are Sewanee." To many, the gown contains the both multiple and significant. Each reason spirit of Sewanee itself and represents all stresses a different aspect of the symbolic that it stands for. Current President of the meaning of the gown and emphasizes OG John Hammond agrees, arguing that by the gown's importance in almost every not wearing their gowns, students "neglect aspect of Sewanee life. Junior gownsman the distinctive traditions which form our Allison Laney sums up the gown's meaning University's character." The gown is thought simply, explaining, "The gown, like the by many to be the University's tradition of traditions, Sewanee as truly dress tradition, is a symbol of respect, not all marking only for the University's traditions and distinctive from all other universities. the professors, but also of learning itself." However, despite all of these important obligations, the number Gowns are most apparently a symbol of motivations and their gowns has grown rare The sight of students wearing their gowns academic excellence, conveying both the of gownsmen who wear has last several wearer's academic achievement and acting actually greatly decreased in the have truly become few and far between. Alum Dr. as motivation for non-gownsmen and freshmen in particular. Freshman Karly years. Gowns on campus recognizes this change: "Gowns were considered a mark of Beavers comments, "It is an inspiration to underclassmen. When I see someone in Peter Stacpoole frequently current It gives distinction by students, and were worn much more than my class wearing a gown, it makes me put more effort into my own work. some reflect." English professor and alum Dr. Jennifer Michael me something to strive for." Thus, the gown becomes an academic responsibility behavior appears to think students wore their gowns more in my day." The gown tradition as well as an achievement. Vice President Pearigen explains that although he agrees, "I from Sewanee, leaving the important question: why? wishes students would wear their gowns more often, he believes that "in our is beginning to disappear that gown is often of the Order itself and the responsibility Some worryJ the b , 3 angst over the gown, we often lose sight (Continued on page 3) How, Then, Shall We Live? Sustainability and Sewanee By Alan Jackson Bx Haley Merrill The term "sustainability," once a word without compromising the ability of As twenty-first century Americans, life to bringing more attention to these and future generations to meet their own complacent only uttered in the physical sciences we are well-aware of the atrocities atrocities, lambasting environmental studies of Snowden, now needs." But again, what does that Jews and other Americans for their neutrality in the committed against the related to in political science, philosophy, mean to us? Perhaps it is lecture at appears minority groups in Germany during the face of such evil. In his chemistry, economics, history, the problems with global warming the "How, Then biology, thirties and forties. These horrors have Convocation Hall for third world and climate change broadcasted in the discussed art, anthropology, and produced a number of well-known Shall We Live" series, he bombardment headlines of recent issues of magazines both studies classes. The books. Academy Award winning the complex forces that result in when classes let from Scientific American, to The international does not end though even a federally funded genocide and the dearth of movies, and TIME, or maybe it is out; "sustainability" clutters inboxes, Economist, and dedicated to ensuring response. national museum linked to the now daily articles about oil as it accompanies announcements for picture he paints isn't pretty. that "Never Again" will such hideous The and Washington speakers and documentaries, and tips on in the New York Times Sudanese government wished to acts be permitted. The kidding? Surely "sustainable living" emblazon many of Post? But who are we clear the western Darfur province of Yet, such acts have continued almost skim over those articles, we the posters that hang in every dorm. It as our eyes rebellious black Africans and enlisted unabated. The international community that we currently face serious now seems that being environmentally all realize the aid of the ethnically Arab Muslims roundly condemns every incident of problems. While the optimists among The Arab friendly is no longer only for the tree- it. to get rid of the rebel groups. genocide, and yet does little to stop it out when it hugging, hemp-wearing barefoot. So us say "We will figure Muslims attended to their charge with Since World War II we have witnessed comes time" and the pessimists among though it is hopefully not too big of murdering, gang-raping, and the wanton nihilism of China's cultural relish, bound to reduce our an assumption to say that Sewanee us say, "We are the populace until revolution and the murderous agrarian generally terrorizing unrecognizable moonscape professors, staff, and students have planet to an but to flee. Rouge, the the victims had no choice of socialism of the Khmer mysterious thing called within the next fifteen years," those improved over heard of this America and The situation has not "These death squads of Central how many of those us in the middle are left thinking, Sudanese government "sustainability," vicious gassing of time, and the does what the Hussein regime's and aware people actually problems are so big, so how in plain educated continues its campaign of terror ?" the Kurds. Consider that the Rwandan about them matter anyway know what sustainability is? I do the international community, machetes, massacred view of staff, and students at Tutsis, armed with The fundamental definition that Professors, so far as to attack the black more efficiently than the even going are particularly lucky when their victims emerged from the 1987 World Sewanee African Muslims in refugee camps. Nazis with their death camps. Clearly, Environment and the urge to shrug their shoulders heart-rending stories Commission on between our rhetoric and Kristof related there is a gulf Development stated that sustainability of our actions. present is "meeting the needs of the (Continued on page 6) William Kristof has dedicated his (Continued on page 2) Page 2 Decadence & Fear in the Red Light District Crisis in By Ned Clinard Aix-en-Provence Darfur Amsterdam. Holland... dusk in the outskirts of the urban dumb, and blind man dropped off alone in the city would (Continuedfrom page 1) area. Couples, both young and old, stroll casually or ride have no trouble finding them. Men of all ages walk slowly beach cruiser style bikes, taking in the last moments of by congregations of whores who, dressed in seductive garb, the incalculable cruelty of the Sudanese the day. Meandering canals and quaint cobblestone roads try to lure them into their chambers with sensual movements. government and the courage of those receive the finaJ rays of sunset in what is seemingly a The name of the area stems from the fact that at night, red victimized. He then invited us to peaceful European city. But all streets and waterways lead lights illuminate the windows of prostitutes and the interiors consider the amount of news coverage into the center of the city, the Red Light District, where early of their rooms. dedicated to Darfur. With roughly evening is another story. During my first night in the city, I made my way through three-hundred thousand killed and two Bums wearing dirty, outdated Adidas jumpsuits, dreadlocked the district. On one block, I counted twenty-four of these million displaced, one would think hippies with baggy patchwork pants barely upheld by hemp sinful dens. One in particular stood out. There was a group this would be a heavily covered story. belts, and curious tourists looking to get their kicks, wander of boisterous middle-aged Irish men, and I watched them But many factors prevent adequate through the streets, cheer as one of their coverage from reaching the television stumbling in and out of comrades entered the screen.