PAGE 18 THE RETRIEVER FEATURES March 5, 1996 Listen Up: What You My Life As the Campus Informer Karen Keys Didn't Hear Last Year Retriever Editorial Staff Mike Duffy Erasure - Erasure: Dreamy Hello, Campus Information. How Retriever Staff Writer soundscapes permeate this supe- can I help you? rior outing from the duo of Andy I say these words in my best, sugary Bell and Vince Clark. The classic hundreds of albums are released sweet, yet sexy, phone voice. I say "Erasure" sound is all here, but co- eveiy year, but only a handful are them over and over and over again. production from a member of The chosen by record companies and At work, in my dorm room, even at Orb has layered Vince's signature fans to rise above the rest. Many other people's homes. I'm like one keyboard work under layers of of Pavlov's dogs when I hear that albums don't get the attention they generating pulses and ambient phone ring. Bleep-bleep for off-cam- need or deserve. You've heard synths, and produced one of their pus, bleep for on-campus. Alanis, Bush, and the Foo Fight- best albums to date. There's no I never realized just how stupid ers. I've compiled a list of 10 al- shortage of disco tracks to keep the bums which didn't get the fans happy, but the absolute people were before I started work- marketing or attention they de- standouts here are the slow tracks ing at the CIRC Desk. Of course, it served. Coincidentally, most of like "Stay With Me" and the 10- was called the Info Desk then. Ah, these albums are "fun," something minute "Rock Me Gently," which the good ol' days. that was missing from a lot of mu- bring Bell's beautiful lyrics and I do everything: parking appeals, sic last year. I urge you to check harmonies to a whole new level. banner and showcase reservations, them out; you could be surprised interior design, light cleaning, give by what you didn't hear. Heather Nova - Oyster: An directions, provide enlightenment, American female whose following inform, transfer callers, rent third Moby - Everything Is Wrong: began in England, this debut stu- floor UC rooms, take refund slips, The realms of techno, dance, dio album (she's released two live sort mail, run target vision, provide hardcore punk, blues, and new age ones) from Heather Nova is packed info on off-campus housing, and help combine in this extraordinary piece with great songs about love, lust, the losers find their possessions. I'm of genius that is (now former) and lost dreams. At times with a in the know, ask me any number, any techno artist Moby's major-label voice similar to Tori Amos, Nova's question. If I don't know the answer, i Benjamin Shayne / Retriever Staff I know who knows. debut. Everything is right on this album rocks with a sense of opti- Tricia Codline and Greg Hanks provide endless information to students at the CIRC desk. disc, where there is truly something mism and new-found adventure, CIRC staff are superhuman, all for everyone. A classic. such as on the stomper single, knowing, all powerful. We know how always have some great excuse all day, every day while the phones There's also the uncertain typeype vrhovrr "Walk This World." This album to get you where you want to go. You which they think I want to hear. I ring off the hook and people breathe questions everything, "I don't know Tears For Fears - Rtwul And deserves the attention Joan should love us, call us your friends. normally do — I like to see how cre- down my neck. You'd better let me if I'm calling the right place, and I The Kings Of Spain: Yes, they're Osborne received. But, no, sometimes you're really ative people can get. off, or I'll go psycho." At that point, don't even know their name or what still around, and yes, Roland bitchy and mean and it hurts. Here's the lowdown: once a year I'll whip the knife out and let'em I want or what to do in life. Can you Orzabal (now sole frontman after Echobelly - On: The second al- My number one pet peeve is when we can void a ticket which was is- know I mean business. Uh... I'm just help me? Can you just please help the departure of Curt Smith in bum from England's relatively new people call from the second floor UC sued for not displaying a parking per- kidding. me?" It's at that point that I transfer 1991) has made what is possibly rockers is 12 great tracks of "punch phone for numbers. We are right mit. Nothing else. Everything else On the other hand, the most fun them to the Counseling Center the best record of his career. Roland yourself music along the lines of around the corner, so the request goes through the Parking Appeals thing is the phones. 1 like to talk in (x2472). returns to his Spanish roots and Lush and The Popinjays. Sonya comes in stereo. We have caller I.D. Board which is comprised of three strange voices sometimes, like a Another type is the "I've got the more guitar-focused rock. Along Aurora Madan's vocals and lyrics We know where you are calling from. students and meets thrice a week. You Southern belle with a slight twist of wrong school type" who's been led with wonderful Spanish recall some of Morrissey's best Not to mention there's a big book can either write in an excuse or ap- Baltimorese, "Howdy. Campus In- to believe UM means one school. No- soundscapes and another duet with work, and the band fills the music with all the numbers on the side. pear before the board. Both are fer-mat-shun. How can I help ya, no: it's a system, a family. We're all Oleta Adams,' this one's hard to with enough energy to make you Along with stapler, a hole puncher weighted equally. You must appeal hon?" or like a dazed and confused children, each which different quali- beat.. wanna rock out! The sensible al- (the three-ring kind), tape, scissors, within 10 business days; you can ei- girl, spacing out all my words, "Hel- ties and personalities. We do not have ternative to Elastica. i I < and a pencil sharpener. All needs are ther mail in an excuse or stop by the lo .... Cam-pus ... Information .... a hospital, a business school, or the Black Grape - It's Great When fulfilled. CIRC on the second floor of the UC. How ... can ... I ... help ... you ....?" Terps. But, it's O.K. because we do You're Straight ... Yeah: Former Morrissey - Southpaw Gram- Often, I am out enjoying myself I say that little spiel about 10 to 20 But normally five lines are lit up and have the numbers to UMAB and Happy Mondays frontman Shaun mar. Speaking of the man, this al- with friends and people go, "Oh, times a week. for practical reasons it becomes, "Hi. UMCP, so I get them where they need Ryder returns with a new crew to bum was received poorly when it yeah, you're that Info Girl." I just It's O.K. I've only ever gotten one Info: Howcanlhelpyou?" to go like a dutiful CIRC girl. first arrived last September, but I v kick out the jams, and in the pro- smile and say, "Campus Informa- ticket, which was over the summer But, enough about me, the people Then there's the "Didn't dial 9' believe it ranks (no pun intended) cess slams through Arab-influ- tion." when I came for my CIRC training. on the other end are always more in- type." The CIRC also doubles as the among some of his best work. enced rock, reggae dub, reggae, O.K., the job is great, located in (My life is full of such ironies.) The teresting. There are several "types" campus operator and will switch over Mozz is at his best when he turns funk, and back again. With outland- the hotbed of a dull campus. I see ticket's still in my car. I'm just wait- that call. There's the condescending if you don't dial right. If you are ever up the amps, as. 1992's Your Arse- ish lyrics ("Jesus was a black man! friends and other people all day long, ing for the MVA to come after me. business type. "Hello, this is [insert this type, please don't just hang up. nal showed, and this album returns No! Jesus was Batman!"), and even interacting and aiding. But, Parking And they will. But, if I ever get an- name] from [insert company, then Mutter a quick, "Oops, wrong num- to that hard, driving, rock sound more outlandish music, it's better Appeals sucks the monkey. No one other ticket I'm going to be like, long winded b.s. title], I'd like to ber." Hang-ups are deeply upsetting; with a vengeance. The 10 minute than any of the Happy Mondays ever thinks they deserve a ticket, they "Look, buddy, I fill these things out speak to [insert faculty name]." you feel like nobody loves you. opening and closing epics only records and way more fun. A great Furthermore, lots of people need show more of his band's expansion party disc. directions, which sketched me out at as musicians, too. first because I have a left-right prob- lem. I confuse them all the time, but Pet Shop Boys - Alternative: Groove Theory - Groove in power). This means that it is nec- posedly overheard Conway confess that's another story. But now there are Britain's masterful pop duo, Neil Theory: The debut album from this Johnny Macon essary to settle the question, "Are while in holding with him, and the directions on the 3100 line (press 5). Tennant and Chris Lowe, released R&B trio is quite simply the best Retriever Contributor testimony of the police officer that there political prisoners in the United The 3100 line is a beaut. Graduation, a two-disc compilation of 30 B- R&B record I've heard in years. was involved with the assailant who States?" If one attended the recent events, snow, and other info can all sides that offers up some of their Definitely. With lush female vocals The United States of America is escaped. The problems with these program held at UMBC on "Justice be found here. best work. Spanning 10 years, it and a backing section that rivals supposed to be the worldwide stan- testimonies were profound. The sus- for Eddie Conway," then you would Things not to call me or another functions as a "history," in a sense, classic Stevie Wonder, this group dard bearer of democracy and free- pect that testified, who was found on know that the answer is a resound- CIRC person for: pizza numbers, to of modern club music's develop- is going places. dom. It is supposed to be, in this the scene, was given immunity if he ing yes. be transferred to an outside line when ment. From the Italian influenced country, that all people are created would implicate Eddie Conway. The Marshall Eddie Conway has been you're calling from a campus phone, "Paninaro" to the Euro-thump of Hope I offered you something to and judged equally. This equality is witness who Conway supposedly incarcerated in the Maryland Correc- a cab, the time, or anything stupid. "Music For Boys," to the smooth do in your spare time. Check these supposed to extend to the criminal confessed to was a known govern- tional System for the past 26 years. Do not call to ask if there's three feet dance of "Some Speculation," this records out, and you shouldn't be justice system, where everyone is to ment informant who was put in the He has been there because he was in a yard, what happened in the Ka- is a dazzling collection. A must. disappointed. be tried justly, and found guilty only cell against Mr. Conway's will accused of killing one police officer rate Kid III, or if bi-weekly means when there is enough compelling (which makes it implausible that he and shooting two others and then rail- twice a week or every other week. evidence towards the crime that they would "confess" to him). roaded to jail on shabby evidence. Unless it's at night; we're slow then have supposedly committed. The officer identified Mr. Conway The basic case against him, and the and usually need sophomoric amuse- Why is it then that there still ex- out of a photo line-up that contained flaws within it are as follows: Two ment. I work 5 to 7 P.M. on Wednes- ists, in this country and within the two pictures of him, but no duplicates officers were shot, one of whom died, days and 7 to 10 P.M. Mondays and framework of the criminal injustice of anyone else; a technique used by by three men. Two men were arrested weekends, so you can ask me all the system, a state of complete illegality law enforcement to influence a line- *o heup SAve toe in the vicinity with a gun in their pos- stupid questions you want. up's result. Also, the officer only saw with respect to the basic rules and session. At the same time that the of- Remember the CIRC is your the suspect as he ran away on a dark principals that this country was ficer had been shot, another officer friend, we're here for you, we love night, making it difficult to form a founded on? This is a question that was involved in a shoot-out nearby you, and we want you to love us. Or positive identification. So in all there must come to mind when one thinks with an assailant who escaped into at least me. about the state of political prisoners the dark night. A gun, other than the was no direct physical evidence link- in this country. one found on the two men, was found ing him to the scene, and, as de- First of all, to even have political near where the officer was shot and scribed, none of the eyewitness prisoners in a country that is sup- identified as the murder weapon. testimonies hold weight. posed to have complete political free- Eddie Conway was convicted If this is true, and there is not ad- Do equate evidence to support the case 7i»5| A Public S«fvic« ol dom is either impossible or it serves based on the testimony of one of the "-• I Thi» Publication 0 as a signal that no such freedom truly men who had been apprehended, the against him, then why is Eddie Earth Shares- Conway still in jail after all these something exists (unless it is of service to those testimony of an informant who sup- years, let alone why was he there in the first place? good. If the case is put into its proper his- The Freedom Alliance and Gay Life at UMBC torical framework and the political activities of Mr. Conway are re- cuss gay-related issues and experi- Anthony Fitzwater to 8 P.M. in room 466 in the Fine Arts Also, the Lesbian Avengers are vealed, then it is clear that a man was ences. The second is that the organi- Retriever Editorial Staff Building. The organization has two sponsoring HERO buddy training convicted, not on the shabby evi- zation forms a support group for all co-presidents: Heather Riley, at and a mixer to stop homophobic Feel dence that the state presented, but on alternative lifestyles on campus. And There are many groups and xl848, and Kenji Szczepanski at violence, and a dance for those in- the fact that his political agenda was third, the club plans and encourages clubs on campus for those seek- x8619. The Treasurer is Lily terested in the cause. Another topic opposed to that of the powers that be. its members to become involved in something of interest includes the formation ing support and/or socialization. Kotyarov, x6840. The advisor is Dou- The political history of Eddie activist conduct in gay matters. of a new group for victims of HIV/ For the gay, lesbian, and bisexual glas Hamby at x9250. Conway, which still is being written The fourth function is to encour- AIDS awareness called, "2nd Step." community on campus, there is The Freedom Alliance appears to to this day, began with his viewing real. age members to become involved in but one club, the Freedom Alli- be a well-organized group, but it All in all, the group offers a of a documentary on Malcolm X the dissemination of factual material ance of the University of Mary- should be noted that it is just now in place of warmth and protection to while in the military and went on to to other organizations. Finally, the land Baltimore County. The club the process of getting its act together. anyone lost or scared due to their include involvement with the organization also has a support group from now on in Americo, any is a safe refuge for gay, lesbian, They have a number of activities different lifestyle. It offers a free NAACP and the Congress on Racial called End the Silence, which meets service by way of informational and bisexual students; a place to planned for the near future, such as Equality. It was when he joined the of o successful life must include serving just after the general membership meet and discuss ideas and goals Awareness Week, or Coming Out topics and statistics, for those in- Black Panther Party that Conway meetings. terested in alternative lifestyles. in an atmosphere full of support Week, which will be the week of became part of "the most dangerous others, fo find out how you can help in Membership in the Freedom Alli- The warmth of the group reaches which cannot be found anywhere April 22. During this week, "The In- internal threat to national security" ance is open to any UMBC student your community, col I (800) 677-5515. else on campus. credible True Story of Two Women out to all the gay, lesbian, and bi- and was thus put on the list of targets or faculty member, and membership The purposes of the organiza- in Love" is to be shown. The film is sexual people, on campus and off, for COINTELPRO (counterintelli- cannot be denied because of race, tion are many. The first of them is a story of multiracial women falling who have a need for a place to go gence program), a list that included O POINTS OF LIGHT color, age, gender, national origin, re- and others to speak to about their FOUNDATION to provide a place where the gay, in love, with all the problems and Angela Davis, George Jackson, Huey ligion, sexual orientation, or handi- lesbian, and bisexual students can humor attendants this situation. An lifestyles, in an atmosphere of Newton, Geronimo Pratt, Fred cap. General membership meetings friendship, understanding, and socialize, plan social events, and ethics committee meeting will be Hampton, and countless others who get to kno^one another and dis- are held on Thursdays from 6 P.M. held on Wednesday of that week. _ guidance. SEE B$U, PAGE 18 *