inside this issue Northwestern College meet the dems PAGE 2 stressed? not at NW! PAGE 4 mens soccer to nat’ls BEACON PAGE 7 Volume 80 Number 8 November 9, 2007 “The Grapes of Wrath” opens this weekend BY JANICE SWIER Broadway’s Tony Award for Best struggled to find a way to put his us to live in community. Christians responsibility.” CONTRIBUTING WRITER Play in 1990. faith into action in a way that are supposed to serve the “least Tickets for the production can be The Northwestern Theatre Hubbard says that this actually helps people. Hopefully of these.” reserved by calling or e-mailing the Department will present Frank production has been a huge the audience will really think about “At its best,” said Hubbard, DeWitt Theatre box office, or you Galati’s adaptation of John undertaking. With 22 cast members this dilemma and come up with “‘The Grapes of Wrath’ reveals to can arrive early on the night of a Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath.” playing 44 different characters it has answers for themselves.” us our corporal body and our social performance. Opening night is Friday, Nov. been challenging to pull the whole This performance deals 9 at 7:30 p.m., and there will be thing together. Also, there were with a lot of serious issues and performances on the nights of the some technical difficulties that the has some adult content. 10th and Nov. 14 to 17. crew and cast had to find creative “The Grapes of Wrath” This portrayal follows the solutions for. is a provocative show,” said Joad family during the Great “The Grapes of Wrath” is one of Hannah McBride, who plays Depression. They are evicted from the first Broadway performances Ma Joad, “it is gritty, a little their Oklahoma farm and head to that Hubbard ever saw, and ever uncomfortable at times, and California with the promise of jobs since he saw it he knew that he full of difficult life moments. and a better life that can save them wanted to do something with it. Confronting life is healthy, from starvation. The Joad family, “It is challenging, but it is also that reason alone is enough accompanied by disillusioned a redemptive story that is affirming to make me endorse this preacher Jim Casey, faces series of the gospel,” said Hubbard. show.” of trials that test the family’s One of the most important This play demonstrates strength. characters in this performance is Jim the importance of the social Director Bob Hubbard assures Casey, a preacher who exemplifies responsibility of our faith. that Galati’s adaptation follows the Christian struggle in living Hubbard said that our Steinbeck’s book closely, with no out faith. individualistic society often lines in the play not coming straight “I hope the audience understands focuses on the gospel as from the book. While some parts the character of Jim Casey and what only meaning a personal of the book were not included in he’s all about,” said Tony Wilder, relationship with Jesus PHOTO BY EMILY SWEET LANDEGENT the play, the adaptation still stayed who plays Tom Joad, “I hope they Christ, and while that is very The Joad family takes a ride in the family jalopy during the performance of “The Grapes of faithful enough to the story to win think about how he constantly important, the Bible also calls Wrath.” Three band groups take the concert stage this weekend BY SARA JANZEN various places around the the piece as considerable work but Along with the Jazz Band, piece “Orientale” and Kenneth C. STAFF WRITER world and are from a variety of also a creative process. the Percussion Ensemble will Crause’s “Little Suite.” Duffield This weekend the music perspectives,” said McGarvey. The band will perform several perform Saturday evening. The defined this piece as a staple in department will present two One of those places is Valencia, folk songs by composer and Percussion Ensemble is directed by percussion ensemble music. The concerts for the student body and Spain. The band will perform arranger Perry Grainger and the Dan Duffield and comprised of 10 ensemble will end with “Dragoon” community. “Valencia,” the third movement end theme from the 1985 film selected percussion players. by Lynn Glassock, which will Tonight the Symphonic Band from French composer Jaques “Silverado,” composed by Bruce Among the songs the Ensemble feature South American jungle and will perform at 7:30 p.m. in Ibert’s piece “Escales.” The piece Boughton and arranged by Randol will perform are Thomas tribal sounds. Christ Chapel. The Symphonic was originally written for orchestra, Bass. This piece will feature the O’Connor’s Far East-inspired Band, directed by Tim McGarvey, but rewritten by McGarvey for direction of student conductor professor of music, will play seven band through NW’s Summer Larissa (Harwood) Poppen. pieces. Scholarship Grant program. The next evening the Jazz Band “Each of the pieces represent McGarvey described rewriting and Percussion Ensemble will NC/DC Extreme Remix hold a performance at 7:30 in Christ Chapel. semi-finals! The 19-person Jazz Band, also directed by McGarvey, Come watch NW’s four finalist teams compete will perform six numbers. against Dordt in a battle of singing and dancing! “The Jazz Band follows the goal of trying to play a Saturday, Nov. 10 at 10 p.m. number of different styles of jazz,” said McGarvey. B.J. Haan Auditorium—Dordt College A m o n g t h e s o n g s being played are modern adaptations of the classic made famous by Duke Ellington, “Take the ‘A’ Train,” “I Get a Kick Out of You” by Cole Porter and “Caravan” by Duke Ellington and Juan Tizol. “I Get a Kick Out of PHOTO BY PAULA PUDEWELL You” will feature Senior Titus Tim McGarvey directs the Symphonic Band, which will perform tonight at 7:30 p.m. in Christ Landegent on drums. Chapel. KIM EASON BY PHOTO 2 OPINION November 9, 2007 Election 2008: Meet the Democrats A leader for reconciliation: Embracing a Global Community: Hillary for President BY JEN SHAFER have turned bitter and angry toward Pell Grant and has proposed tax Obama for President In the past four years, I have us. Hillary Clinton can help repair credit for college tuition. Our BY CARL VANDERMEULEN The policies left the United States twice. The that. In our ever-globalizing world, college tuition increases five to seven I could happily support any of the of the current first time, I went to the United we need to work cooperatively with percent every year. If this trend six leading Democratic candidates administration Kingdom and France, and my every nation, not manipulate and continues without more federal for the presidency, but after seven have widened group and I were advised to say steal from them. Hillary has a long- support, we will eliminate the hope years of being mis-led in both senses t h e g a p we were Canadian if anyone asked standing rapport with the countries of those who need it the most. of the word, I want to be sure we between rich where we were from. Riots against we have These issues are very important elect a Democratic president and a n d p o o r, the United States and George Bush’s b e e n to me because they directly affect Congress, so we can overcome t h r e a t e n i n g foreign policy happened all around neglecting me. Obviously, everyone will have divisions and move ahead on serious d e m o c r a c y us the entire time we were there. The and can different reasons for voting for problems, especially political unrest itself. Barack second time, just this past summer, h e l p their own candidate, but these and global climate change. The has been a I was in Ghana, West Africa. Many repair our are mine. For those of you who current poll leader, Hillary Clinton, community Ghanaians are supremely interested broken ties, are concerned that a woman has so many opposed to her that she worker, part of in the upcoming election because it which will cannot run our country, take would have a hard time winning, an effort to rebuild means a change in foreign policy, strengthen the global note. Many of you will have and even if she won, she would have poor communities which directly affects them. We community, not just daughters someday, daughters a difficult time bringing the nation in Chicago. Such talked about Ghanaian politics and our own. who will sit on your knee and and the parties together. communities and American politics. When I asked, But maybe you listen closely when you tell their people will many Ghanaian nationals told me care very little them they can be whatever they [His] ethos, intelligence not be invisible to they supported Hillary Clinton. about the global want to be. Don’t lie to them. and rhetorical ability a President When I asked why, they told me it community and want I remember being young and create the possibility of a Obama. was because she had been there; she to see what Hillary telling my mom I was going to A n d h i s had spoken to them. And they liked is doing domestically. be the first woman President president who can inspire African heritage will what she had to say. As a senator, Hillary of the United States. I’m and lead at a time when help him identify with Our foreign relations have been has been endeavoring willing to give that dream up we need a leader.