Cover: Meryl 5treep by Ted Qu inlan _,,,.., -- ............ ~ ........... BPM Must Stand for ·FEA T'URES Big Pathetic Mess: Monotonous, Tedious, Disgustulous Jesse Myserson and Noah Weston .... SMOG Re-Opens Page 23 Grace Owyer ... Pa ge 4 -- The Observer - Cooper and Dhavemas Save "Breach" Conference Honors 50th from Melodrama February 2007 Joey Lee ... Page 24 Volume 1. Issue. 1 Anniversary of Hungarian Revolu­ tion Rachel Meade .. Page 6 Media Concerns Tackled at Conference ......_..ART. MUSIC,Erc. Tamer Vea ... Page 8 Music Reviews Untitled Landscapes #1-4 Andrew Worthington and Ted Quinlan A Photo Essay .. Page 26 Mekko Harjo ... Page 10 Sexy Singles Your Club Shouldn't Get Money Fiona Cook .. Page 28 No, Really, It Shouldn't Noah Weston .. Page 12 Sex Column Genevieve Lynch ... Page 29 Report on New Orleans Stephen Tremaine ... Page 14 COMIC.. .Page 30 Letters to the Editor... Page 1 6 Art of Glass BACK PAGE / Jason Mastbaum ... Page 17 Fox News Ticker Scrolf'Ouring Life Imitates Geeky Science Fiction And Video Of Anna Nicole Smith in Clown­ What This Means for the Future Makeup Michael Newton ... Page 31 Or. Mischa Nachtigal ... Page 20 .- ~ er nearly six months of delays peering through the windows of the new side and growing skepticism as to door. Confusion as to what to make of the new the likelihood of renovation ever pavilion ensued as several times throughout the eaching completion. SMOG re­ night the door was raised to create a larger space pened this past Saturday to but then lowered again as the crowd inside mixedA student reactions. complained of the cold. Though the pavilion SMOG New SMOG boasts many changes. The will be heated and the SMOG committee plans west wall has been knocked out and replaced to purchase removable canvas walls to create a with a garage door that can be raised to connect larger space in winter, these improvements were Re­ the original Smog space with a new 30 by 40 not yet in place and some students expressed concrete pavilion. The loft. deemed unsafe reservations about the usefulness of the concrete for concertgoers. has been blocked off and addition. opens turned into storage space. The walls are freshly "I'm sure it'll be great for the couple painted. the ceiling has been replaced. and work weeks when it's warm before we go home, but continues to extend current heating out to the right now it's kind of a waste." said one of the pavilion to install a new toilet and sink. students relegated to watching the band play By Grace Dwyer The $50.000 'expansion has been a from the un-lit pavilion outside. A number of .long time coming. The realization of a proposal students also grumbled about the removal dating from last spring was originally slated for of student graffiti and art from the walls and completion by the beginning of the academic the closure of the loft space. saying that these year but was delayed both by more pressing features were part of what made SMOG an campus construction projects and difficulties appealing and adaptable student space. "They obtaining a Red Hook building permit. Inclement painted it an interesting red and put music notes weather postponed construction once more over on the wall .. they tried to force false character winter break. and though the space was usable on the building rather than let the natural Saturday night, scaffolding and construction character of the building exist. They destroyed tools still littered the concrete addition. the spontaneous outburst of people's creativity "A lot of people have slammed John and enjoyment of the space." complained Ross Gall [head of B&G] and the administration. Saxon, a first-year student. He added. "But I do saying, why aren't they getting it done .. .but like the side door.· I mean it was a huge project, and I think Plans are underway to create a student they've done a great job," articulated first-year mural on the wall behind where the bands Alex Carlin, one of five committee members play, and though the crowd seemed hesitant responsible for the management and upkeep to immediately embrace the possibilities of of new SMOG. In addition to the renovation. this new Smog, several expressed the opinion that committee hopes to dispel SMOG's reputation when renovations are fully complete the more as a grimy, cramped space. As Carlin phrased than doubled usable space will be a valuable it. "I think that everyone involved has a vision addition to Bard's live music scene. especially in that it'll be better organized. cleaner. and just as warmer weather. "I think that first show was a loveable and charming and student, but more bad first shot. in a way, only because kids were professional." kind of insane." said one student. referencing Part of that newfound professionalism the bickering over the positioning of the new is new sound equipment bought with $7500 door and restlessness at a protracted set change. budgeted from the Reserve Fund. A professional­ "But yeah I think it makes sense. as long as kids grade PA system and brand new mies. cables enjoy being outside as much as they do inside. and a guitar amp were scheduled to arrive in Which they seem to. I think it's gonna be fucking time for the opening show but were delayed in awesome." shipping, forcing Saturday's bands to play with If you missed the grand opening on the pre-existing equipment. Saturday, check out new SMOG on Thursday Featured bands Aa [BIG A little a). March 1st. The alt-country outfit Kamikaze Hearts These Are Powers. and Birthday Boyz played in play at 8 PM sharp. ~ old SMOG. leaving students unable to fit inside has anti-revolutionary thoughts," it stated. This Albany to meet the mayor. was enough to shut him out from any future Participants remembered this Conference Honors educational opportunity in Hungary. "If I fail particular outing with great fondness. After in a communist system. there [are] no further meeting the then current mayor. the Hungarian opportunities," said Szilagyi. "This is the land students sang the national anthem, in what was 50th Anniversary of of opportunity. If you fail once, there are always apparently a very moving display. "It was a others." prayer." said Katalin Juius, recalling her father's Szilagyi. and the 324 other participants words. Later. several students crowded around Hungarian Revolution in Bard's refugee program, were given the the bewildered official and hoisted him onto opportunity to obtain success in America. The their shoulders in celebration. program's main objective was to familiarize Many of the students were able to go By Rachel :Meade the Hungarians with the English language. straight from Bard to universities and colleges Interpreter and language expert Nyikos Julius throughout the country, thanks to a National was remembered by many attendees of the University program offering aid to refugees. reunion as their most important guide to the In addition. several students received full English language, as well as a close friend and scholarships to Bard, graduating with the class efore he'd reached his twenty-first successes. judging from the immense array of role model. "He was so close to them in the of 1960. birthday. Zsolt Szilagyi was out of accomplishments boasted of by the alumni who way that he thought," said his daughter Katalin Because education was forbidden to options. Denied continuing education reunited in a conference February 8-10. Among Julius. explaining the bond that seemed to exist Szilagyi in his home country, he was always due to the Soviets' classification his the group were countless novelists, inventors. between student and teacher. She attributed vitally aware of its importance. "During the war family as members of the intellectual musicians. journalists. directors. scientists. this to his young age, as well as his role in the we lost money, we lost property, but the education class. Zsolt Szilagyi threw himself into activists. as well as many who. in one way or founding of Hungary's First Democratic student remains as an asset," said Szilagyi. Due in part to Hungary's revolution against the Soviet Union another. have committed their lives to helping Union in the 1940s, which set the stage for the language instruction he'd received at Bard, in 1956. When it failed, he had only two options: others. just as they were once helped. For student protest during the revolution. Szilagyi excelled at his studies in college. He leave his home country, or accept the almost Kerenyi, helping others is his way of paying back "They said that my father gave them obtained a master's degree in physics in only six certain death promised to anyone involved in those who had helped him adjust to life in the the key to American culture and how one can semesters. working through breaks. and often the revolution. Within months. he found himself US. "Add another link in the chain of goodwill.'' learn a foreign language best," said Katalin. who taking as many as 46 credits in a semester. at Bard College, along with 325 other Hungarians said Kerenyi. "If you do that we'll live in a better spoke with most of the alumni over the course The weekend's reunion was by turns seeking refuge. world." of the weekend. According to his daughter. joyful and sorrowful. Seeing old friends and After an eventful journey on the New He added his own link to the Julius employed a unique brand of language learning of their great accomplishments also York Rail system. the refugees, ranging from chain by starting a foundation awarding methodology which stressed communicative dredged up old memories from the revolution.