UNIVERSITY-SAINT PAUL r C -v ^ Cf ^ March 2011 | csp.edo/sword THE SWORD TABLE OF CONTENTS NEWS Remember GVP p.S Bystander Training Event p.4 The "Surreal and Absurd" p.4 Jamaica Mission Trip p.S Greetings students, faculty, and staff of Concordia University, St. Paul, ARTS Concordia Art Contest Winners p.6 I want to take this opportunity to say that the Sword is always look­ The Hold Steady Music Review p.6 ing for more writers. With a larger staff, the newspaper can continue to Limitless Movie Review p.7 become more and more efficient. I know a lot of people decide they don't want to because they think it is too much of a commitment. The amount of Hall Pass Movie Review p.7 time that someone puts in is determined by the individual. Global Food, Fashion and Award Celebration p.7 I am extending an invitation to anyone interested to come to our Rango Movie Review p.S meetings and check out what we are up to. If you have any questions at all, feel free to email me. Radio Head Music Review p.S Jumping around a bit, I also want to talk about a student fundraising group here on campus. The group is raising money to build a well for a com­ SPORTS munity that lacks access to clean water and is planning several awareness Womens' Basketball Update p.9 events on campus. The group is striving to involve the Concordia conmiu- nity as a whole. For more information Mens' Basketball Review p.9 on the group and upcoming events, go Track Review p.10 online and "Like" their Facebook group Lippincott Wins Awards p.10 page titled Compassion+Action. Larson Interview p.11 Speaking on behalf of the entire Sword Golf Update p.11 staff, COLUMNS Stephen Lybeck Editor-in-Chief, The Sword Dear Internet p.12 Study Abroad Adventures p. 12 THIS PAPER IS A STUDENT PUBLICATION NOT AN OFFICIAL CONCORDIA PUBLICATION AND THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ARE NOT NECESSARILY THAT OF THE UNIVERSITY, BUT OF THE WRITERS AND STAFF INVOLVED IN THE PUBLICATION. THE SWORD STAFF EDITOR IN CHIEF LAYOUT/DESIGN DIRECTOR COLUMNISTS Stephen Lybeck Kxisti Loobeek Chloe Taipale, Chloe Weinberg, SPORTS EDITOR PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR PHOTOGRAPHERS Will Lange Briar-Rose Jacobson Briar-Rose Jacobson ARTS and VARIETY EDITOR CONTRIBUTING WRITERS PRODUCTION Savannah Nolen Sam Campbell, Levi Gribbon, Aaron Krason, William Lange, Stephen Kristi Loobeek, Ashley Radabaugh Lybeck, Savannah Nolen, T.G. Schoenberg, Arielle Stimson, Chloe NEWS EDITOR Taipale, C. Cody Wilcoxson, Chloe Weinberg, Latashia White, Charlie FACULTY ADVISER C. Cody Wilcoxson Wirth, Tia Vang Li if Dregni Morch 20111 csp.edw/sword Remember GVP: General Vang Pao December 8, 1929- Jatiuary 6,2011 By Tia Yang to overthrow the government of Laos. Despite of the controversy, Vang There have been tons of papers printed on the funeral of General remained a respectable leader in the Hmong community as thousands of Vang Pao, a former leader of the Hmong people, but it is nothing like Hmong rallied for his release across the United States such as California, being there. The funeral was broadcasted live on Hmong Satellite TV all Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. On September 18, 2009, the charge over the world. Many people watched the broadcast from their own home against General Vang Pao was dropped due to insufficient evidence. The either on television if they have Hmong Satellite or on the internet at www. charges for the other twelve people were dropped shortiy after his death. U. hmongsatillitetv.com, while others watched it with other people in halls S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner said during a press released, "....1 believed such as the Lao Family Association located on University Avenue. the case was investigated and prosecuted properly and professionally." The funeral was very emotional from the start to the finish. The General Vang Pao passed away on January 8, 2011 around 5:36 Fresno Convention Hall located in downtown Fresno, California was PM due to heart failure and a battie with phenomena at Clovis Hospital decorated with white curtains and a in Clovis, California. He is survived variety of organized white flowers to by two ex-wives, twenty-five children symbolize purity, loyalty, and peace not including those that he adopted for the funeral of General Vang Pao and raised like his own, sixty-eight from February 4th to the 9th. The grandchildren, and seventeen great­ seating capacity of the hall is 11, 300; grandchildren. however, it was reorganized to fit over Thousands of mourners of 30,000 mourners from all over the all ages flew into Fresno to pay their world. final respects to their beloved leaders. Vang was born on December Many people left their work, school, 8, 1929 in Xiangkhouang Province, and family to spend six days in Fresno Laos. Like many other Hmong to witness a very historical moment families, Vang and his family farmed for the Hmong people. On Friday, on the hillside for a living. Vang February 4,2011 at 11:00 AM (CT), the was fortunate to attend school at a body of General Vang Pao rolled into young age. At the age of thirteen, M Street on a horse-drawn carriage led he witnessed an event that led him to by a Scottish bagpipers and different a lifelong dedication in helping the groups of military soldiers. Hmong Hmong people. people dressed in traditional clothing In 1945, he took the lined up one side of the street while opportunity to work as an interpreter others lined up on the other side of the and messenger for the French troops street. Vang's former military officers during WWII. Back then, Laos was carried his casket into the conventional a French colony. In 1952, Vang hall followed by his immediate family graduated at the top of his class in members. The six days funeral service tactics and strategies. He served in the consisted of traditional practices of Royal Lao Army. Later, he pledged guiding the soul to heaven and an to help the United States achieve open casket for viewers to pay their three goals: stop the flow of the final respects. The hall was opened 24 North Vietnamese troops and supply hours for visitors. There were buffet through the Ho Chi Minh Trial into tables with dishes made from the cows Laos, rescue American pilot that were that were slaughtered for the general. shot down, and protect the US Air In Hmong custom, it is believed Force Navigation Radar in Phou Pha that the soul is on a long journey to Thi. reincarnation and needs clothing, In 1975, the Vietnamese . money, and animals to start his/her conquered LaOi^ causing the United photos by Tia Vang neW life. States along with France and Japan Many people watched the broadcast from their own home either on television if they The emotional funeral was to pull out. General Vang Pao and have Hmong Satellite or on the internet at www.hmongsatillitetv.com six days long. On the first day of the his family along with his military officers and their families fled to the funeral, the atmosphere of the hall was happy as people reunited with their United States leaving the lives of many Hmong people in the hands of the families and friends from different part of the world as they anxiously waited communists. Those Hmong people &at made it to the refugee camps in to see the body of the general. The second day was emotional as this was Thailand were given the opportunity to start their new lives in America, the first day of viewing. The line to see the body of the general was long and Canada, France, or Australia. Many people chose to come to America to tearful. On the third day, the atmosphere shifted into tears as people have to follow their leader. General Vang Pao. return to their home on Sunday evening. In the United States, General Vang Pao remained a legendary leader The original plan was to have General Vang Pao bury in Arlington to the Hmong community. Vang was highly respected by the majority. He National Cemetery along with other great military heroes. However, things founded the first Hmong-Lao non-profit organization known as the Lao did not work out as planned. His burial request was denied by the Obama Family Community in California. The Lao Family Community branched Administrations which disappointed many people. General Vang Pao is out across the United States where Hmong people resided to service them buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, California. in the new world. He continued to be active in Veterans affairs. Will someone else rise up to replace General Vang Pao? Do the Hmong On June 4, 2007, Vang and 11 others were arrested and charged people need a leader? These are the questions that ponder the minds of many. with the plot to conquered Laos. It was claimed that Vang and his men were ready to deliver $9.8 millions of dollars worth of weapons oversea March 20111 csp^edu/sword By Levi Gribbon This September, English past you would have to buy a minimum Professor Matt Ryan has a book coming of 1000 books in advance but now with out titled Read This or You're Sead to Me. print on demand you can sell a book on The book is a collection of Professor Ryan's Amazon.com and they don't print it until prose poems which £ire by his definition, they order it. It sustains itself." "surreal and absurd." Professor Ryan said Professor Ryan encourages young that when he, "puts a pen to paper," his writers to try and find out who you are as a intent is to "have a good time." writer.