American University’s student voice since 1925
November 8, 2012 Volume 87 – Issue 11
THEEAGLEONLINE.COM
ONCE IN A LIFETIME: PAGE 5
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AU SM T O OB PG K I AN 3 N G
STUDENTS RALLY AT THE WHITE HOUSE
2 | NOVEMBER 8, 2012 theEAGLE
Corrections A story headlined “University repairs leaks after storm passes� in the Nov. 1 edition of The Eagle misidentified Peter Conte as a resident assistant. He is a resident in Anderson Hall.
Events NOV. 9
HISTORY TRIVIA NIGHT
7:00 p.m. / Students can form teams of up to five people to participate in a seven round competition similar to quiz bowl. There is a $10 registration fee per team. Food and drinks will be provided, as well as prizes for the top two teams. / Battelle Atrium / historysociety@american.edu to register
NOV. 12
CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS BOOK TALK/SIGNING
2 to 3:30 p.m. / Lewis will be talking about his latest book, “Across That Bridge.� Books will be available for sale and signing. / School of International Service / Abramson Family Founders Room / Rebecca Davis to rebeccad@ american.edu
NOV. 12
ISRAEL/IRAN PANEL DISCUSSION
4:30 to 6:30 p.m. / A panel of experts, moderated by SIS Dean James Goldgeier, will discuss some of the topics surrounding the relations between Israel, Iran and the U.S. / School of International Service / Abramson Family Founders Room / Catherine Favier-Kelly ip-ier@american.edu
NOV. 12
FREE MARKET ENVIRONMENTALISM
8 to 10 p.m. / Dr. Andrew Morriss will be giving a lecture on free-market environmentalism and how well-defined property rights and market solutions can be the answer to environmental problems. / AU Students for Liberty / Ward 107 / austudentsforliberty@ gmail.com
PHOTOS BY: EVAN GRAY / THE EAGLE
Hundreds of people and Muppets marched on the National Mall to demonstrate their support for funding of public television and radio. NIMH RESEARCH STUDIES: Researchers are interested in learning about
brain and body responses associated with generalized anxiety disorder.
Do You Worry A Lot? Do you generally experience more tension, Participants must be between 18-50 years of nervousness, or anxiety than your friends age, and medically healthy. There is no cost or family? If so, you may be interested in for participation or any tests associated participating in research studies involving: with the research. Financial compensation is • Brain imaging available for participation. • Emotional response tests & For more information call: 888-644-2694 Computer-based tasks or 1-888-NIH-ANXI (TTY: 1-866-411-1010) • Outpatient visits at the NIH Clinical E-mail: anxiety@mail.nih.gov Center, Bethesda, MD • Evaluation for study eligibility includes http://patientinfo.nimh.nih.gov physical and mental health assessment. www.clinicaltrials.gov
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NEWS
AU educates students on financial aid By ANDY LIN EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER
As the University has tried to help students understand private and federal loans, a post from AU on Facebook provoked criticism that the University did not understand students’ needs. The post, which garnered almost 100 comments after it was published Oct. 22, displayed a graph that compared the indebtedness of students who took
out private loans versus federal ones. The University’s suggestion that students elected to take out the private loans irked some students, who were quick to express their displeasure. “If federal loans don’t cover the rising cost of tuition, then there is no ‘elective’ nature in taking out private loans,” Paul Grobman, a sophomore in the School of Public Affairs, wrote on Facebook. The heated online discussion
JARED ANGLE / THE EAGLE
Sarah Wisniewski, a first-year graduate student in the School of Public Affairs, takes a smoke break on campus.
AU to ban smoking and tobacco by August 2013 By HEATHR MONGILIO AND ALEX GRECO EAGLE STAFF WRITERS
AU will ban all smoking and tobacco on campus by Aug. 1, 2013, President Neil Kerwin announced in a University-wide memo sent to
the campus community Nov. 5. This timeline gives smokers a “transition period” and provides AU with time to figure out the details of this policy, the memo said. Kayla Haran, a junior in the
Workers battle with Bon Appétit 4 | $MVC TQPSUT DPVODJMT mHIU GPS GVOEJOH 6 came in the midst of AU’s push to increase students’ financial literacy. The University has launched a college affordability section to its website, which combines all of the financial aid information available at AU into one location, according to Maralee Csellar, associate director of media relations. The University is also holding workshops and information sessions on smart college spending and on how families and prospective students should apply for financial aid, said Shirleyne McDonald, associate director of financial aid at AU. She said the graph in question did not refer to students who had already exhausted their federal
loan options. “We’re talking about students that did not apply for financial aid or did not qualify for any needbased aid,” she said. Financial aid is the University’s third-highest expense, following the faculty and staff salaries and maintenance costs. “The importance that the institution places on helping our student finance their education is second only to our commitment to having the best possible teachers and faculty,” McDonald said. The amount of financial aid that AU can give to each individual student is limited by a variety of factors, according to McDonald.
“As families are making their choices, they are being bombarded with information about the entire process,” McDonald said, “What we try to do is we try to be a trusted source, one that students and families can come to for objective information about the entire process.” AU has always prioritized transparency and full disclosure, McDonald said. “Everyone is committed to ensuring that all our students and families are supported,” she said. “It’s not just the efforts of one office. It is an institution-wide effort.”
School of International Service, said the ban may be “a blessing in disguise” by helping her quit smoking. Katy Edwards, an adjunct professor who teaches “Drugs and Behavior” in the College of Arts and Sciences, said she believes withdrawal symptoms will detract from students’ ability to study. “Yes, I would say that difficultly concentrating, irritability, restlessness and anxiety could all negatively impact students academic performance,” she said in an email. Phoebe Bradford, a junior in the School of Communication, said reducing the amount she smokes will be easier because not as many people will be smoking on campus, which will lessen the attractiveness of smoking for her. “There’s just so many times where I try to sneak a cigarette throughout the day, and not having that will probably cut down on me just smoking in general, maybe eventually leading me to quitting,” she said. In his letter, Kerwin cited health and environmental concerns as his motivation for implementing the ban.
Kerwin said he felt the current smoking policy, which bans smoking within 25 feet of campus buildings, is not effective. “This has not proved to be satisfactory, however, as the effects of secondhand smoke are a proven health risk for nonsmokers,” he wrote. Kerwin will create an implementation committee within the next few weeks to define the policy, according to the email. “We don’t have a list yet,” said David Taylor, Kerwin’s chief of staff. “But indeed, [we] would welcome suggestions as to who would be representative of various groups.” Taylor also said AU has no intent of ostracizing those who chose to smoke. The University will join 825 U.S. colleges with a smoke-free policy, according to no-smoke.org. George Washington University implemented a partial smoking ban last week similar to the one at AU, according to the GW Hatchet. AU and GW join Georgetown Medical Center as the only smoke-free campuses in D.C. AU would be the only tobacco-free campus in D.C.
STUDENT REPS SPEAK OUT
NEWS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM
Student leaders support designated filtered smoking areas around campus instead of a University-wide smoking ban, according to an open letter to Kerwin. The leaders, Student Government President Emily Yu, Residence Hall Association President Fiona Erickson and Graduate Leadership Council Executive Chair Lauren Lane, expressed concerns about diversity and inclusion on campus and questioned the feasibility of enforcement of the ban. Given the recent sex offenses on Massachusetts Avenue, they are concerned that students going off campus to smoke will be unsafe. They also expressed concern that the neighbors would be upset by the new foot traffic and smoke from student smokers, according to the letter. “Not only will the ban increase the risks to students’ personal safety at off-campus locations, but their forced migration will result in larger implications regarding the university’s reputation in the community,” the letter said. NEWS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM
4 | NOVEMBER 8, 2012 NEWS theEAGLE
Former munitions site to be demolished
RACHEL DEVOR / THE EAGLE
By LEIGH GIANGRECO EAGLE STAFF WRITER
The demolition of 4825 Glenbrook Road is scheduled to begin by mid-November after seven months of delay, according to the Army Corps of Engineers. The AU-owned house rests on a formerly used WWI defense site. No exact date is set for the demolition, according to Baltimore Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson Andrea Takash. The Corps previously announced construction was set to begin last May, The Eagle previously reported. However, conflicts between the Corps and AU delayed the implementation. Located next to President Neil Kerwin’s home, the site sits behind Southside near the
Kreeger and Watkins buildings. Construction workers discovered chemical munitions in the area in 1993. More recently, the Army Corps detected high levels of arsenic and other chemicals. The Glenbrook house has been the site of two Corps investigations, including one from 2000 until 2002. The second investigation, in 2007, was stopped in April 2010 after the Corps discovered three jars of arsenic trichloride, a dangerous chemical which irritates the eyes and lungs. One of the jars was leaking hydrochloride gas. The Corps will work to find more arsenic trichloride and chemical munitions. However, Corps spokesperson Carrie Johnston said the organization does not expect to find any more
munitions despite previous discoveries. These munitions are filled with arsine gas, which can damage red blood cells when inhaled. “We do not feel that any [arsine] munitions will be discovered,” Johnson said. “If they were to be discovered as part of this work, we would stop work, we would convene our project delivery team and assess how we would move forward in regards to that.” One guard will keep watch around the house during nonconstruction hours from 5 p.m. until 6 a.m., Johnston said. More information will be provided at the next Restoration Advisory Board meeting at 7 p.m. at the St. David’s Episcopal Church located at 5150 Macomb St. NW. LGIANGRECO@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM
Bon Appétit workers push for higher wages, more hours By TORI DALCOUR T EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Bon Appétit employees who work in TDR and other oncampus eateries are trying to renegotiate contracts with Bon Appétit for more hours and better wages. Bon Appétit recently cut hours for full-time employees, making it difficult for workers to provide for their families, according to Student-Worker Alliance member Ethan Miller. The Student-Worker Alliance is an on-campus group that advocates for labor groups working at AU, including adjunct professors and food service workers. “The cost of living is increasing, but our wages are not,” said Damon Johnson, a Bon Appétit employee. Johnson said he has been working at the pizza station in TDR for seven years. Bon Appétit employees work in on-campus eateries, including TDR, Einstein Bros Bagels,
the Tavern and the Eagle’s Nest. Many employees have asked Bon Appétit for higher wages, but their employers keep prolonging negotiations, Johnson said. The company does offer its employees adequate benefits, Bon Appétit Management Company Foundation President Maisie Greenawalt said. “We take tremendous pride in offering Bon Appétit Management Company associates a rewarding and promising career with competitive benefits,” she said in an email. Bon Appétit employees received tremendous support from the student body, Johnson said. “I love it,” he said. “Students can speak out and say many of the things that we employees can’t. By working together, we can make progress.” Real Food Real Jobs, an orga-
nization that promotes sustainable food and livable wages for workers, met with Bon Appétit employees and students on Oct. 24 in support of the Bon Appétit employees’ pursuit of fair working conditions. “Students want to eat real food, and food service workers want to cook real food,” Jon Berger, a D.C. community ally at Real Food Real Jobs, said in an email. However, Miller said workers need a greater say in both food production and job security in order to cook quality food. Berger said employees should receive the hours and benefits they need to support themselves and their families. “We want to provide better meals and more food variety to students,” Johnson said. “We are giving our best, but we aren’t getting anything in return.” NEWS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM
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*Transferability of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm whether or not credits earned at University of Phoenix will be accepted by another institution of the student’s choice. **To receive this offer, you must enroll by 12/31/12, but you may begin classes anytime between enrollment and 3/31/13. University of Phoenix is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association (ncahlc.org). College credit granted by University of Phoenix. For information about University of Phoenix accreditations and licensures, please visit our website. While widely available, all courses and programs may not be available in all locations and in both online and on-campus formats. Please check with a University Enrollment Advisor.
theEAGLE NEWS NOVEMBER 8, 2012 | 5
Obama re-election spurs impromptu White House rally By SAMANTHA HOGAN, HEATHER MONGILIO, ALEX GRECO AND ZACH C. COHEN
EAGLE STAFF WRITERS
“You should go to the White House to experience this. Otherwise, you’re not taking advantage of the experience that you have,” - Monica Charles, SOC sophomore
“I think we are going to party. It’s just a good night to be here.” - Tyler Sadonis, SPA junior
Students and D.C.-area residents swarmed the White House as media declared President Barack Obama the winner of the 2012 presidential election Nov. 7. As temperatures dipped in the early morning, the crowd swelled with Obama supporters. Of the 19 percent of the voters who were under the age of 30, 60 percent of them voted for Obama, according to exit polls by Edison Research. Hundreds of people celebrated an early victory outside the White House on Election Night, bundled in winter garb. College students from AU and other D.C. schools chanted “Four more years!” from trees while others waved flags and posters celebrating Obama’s win over former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Cigarette and marijuana smoke wafted above the heads of those who had gathered in front of the White House at Lafayette Park. Champagne was popped as the street became increasingly filled with broken glass and crumpled beer cans. At least three life-size cardboard cutouts of Obama bobbed through the crowd. AU students gathered at the White House, many after attending various oncampus viewing parties, to experience the one presidential election to take place dur-
“It’s my last year at AU. I couldn’t imagine being anywhere for this. And this is the place to be.” - Danny Baldwin, CAS senior
“I’m a little overwhelmed. I can’t believe I’m taking part in history right now and that I’m standing right in front of it, but this is awesome and I’m really happy that I got to vote. We’re moving forward!” - Emilie Litsas, SIS freshman
PHOTOS (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT): EVAN GRAY / THE EAGLE, DIANA ALVARENGA / THE EAGLE, COURTESY OF AARON BERKOVICH, EMMA KNIGHT / THE EAGLE, ERIC HIAN-CHEONG / THE TALON, COURTESY OF AARON BERKOVICH
6 | NOVEMBER 8, 2012 NEWS theEAGLE
DIANA ALVARENGA / THE EAGLE
McDowell, Leonard residents get first pick of North Hall By STEVEN MURPHY EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER
AU students living in McDowell and Leonard halls will receive priority registration to live in the new North Hall next year. Current McDowell and Leonard Hall residents will be able to register for North Hall one day prior to spring housing registration. After this day, upperclassmen will be able to sign up for residence hall space based on a lottery system, said Sasha Gamburg, assistant director of operations in Housing and Dining Programs. These students will be able to pick housing first due to the inconvenience of construction outside their windows this year. North Hall is expected to open in the fall
Club sports members create council to counter funding cuts By KENNETH MEYER EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER
AU students involved in club sports created the Club Sports Presidential Council in October to improve each club’s financial resources. “I expect them to take action to help the clubs financially and advance club sports to the best of their ability,” said Shomari Kee,
the assistant director for the Department of Recreational Sports and Fitness. This department expanded to include club sports, intramurals and other wellness programs several years ago, according to Kee. Club sports were previously under the jurisdiction of Student Activities. The department had less money to allocate among its
different clubs after the switch because the number of clubs increased while the amount of money remained the same. Various club sport teams have individually voiced their concerns in the past, but never in such an organized way, Kee said. Clubs are expected to fundraise at least 75 percent of their allocated funds by the end of the year, according to the depart-
of 2013. North Hall will be mostly suites with two or three rooms connected by a semi-private bath. North Hall will house 351 students, Gamburg said. Priority registration for students living in these two residence halls was decided last year before housing registration, Director of Housing and Dining Programs Chris Moody said. This specific process was discussed with the Residence Hall Association before approval, according to Moody. “We recognize inconveniences due to the construction noise … we wanted to give them what that noise will produce,” Gamburg said. Bret Matera, a sophomore in
the School of International Studies and resident of McDowell Hall, said the construction does not bother him. However, Leonard Hall resident Nicole Tanoue, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences said she’s more bothered by the need to walk around the construction. Tanoue plans on going abroad in the fall, but she said she appreciates AU’s decision to give Leonard and McDowell residents first pick. “I definitely appreciate getting priority access to the building because of the inconvenience it causes for North side residents,” Tanoue said. Staff Writer Alex Greco contributed to this report.
ment’s policy and procedures website. They are also required to hold two fundraisers each semester as of this year. However, some members feel the department should try to enlarge the general sum that is allocated for funding, said Julia Bellotti, co-president of the rowing team and a junior in the School of International Service. “We know that the department gives us as much support as possible, but it gets frustrating knowing that we can only receive so much since the crew team is only one of our club
sports groups,” she said. “Crew team gets $5,000 a year and it sounds like a lot, but we spend over three times that in a year.” The lack of funds can be especially noticed in comparison to other clubs in the Patriot League. “Though I personally don’t feel like we were ever short on money for the tennis team,” said Jason Gaines, a School of Communication junior and former member of the tennis team, “I did notice that some of the schools we competed with had a lot more money than we did.”
NEWS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM
NEWS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM
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Must be 18 years or older and have a valid U.S. driver’s license to register. Free minutes of driving time are valid for 60 days after credited to an account, unless otherwise noted.
SCENE WHAT: “GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS” WHEN: NOV. 8 - 10 AT 8 P.M, NOV. 10 AT 2 P.M. WHERE: THE STUDIO THEATRE IN KATZEN ARTS CENTER ALL FOUR PERFORMANCES ARE SOLD OUT, BUT THOSE WHO ARRIVE EARLY CAN GET PLACED ON A WAIT LIST IF SEATS OPEN UP.
By DAVID KAHEN-KASHI EAGLE STAFF WRITER
The vainglorious agents took their places under the sanguine lights and tucked their ties into their suits. But they’re all women. AU’s Department of Performing Arts will put stage David Mamet’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “Glengarry Glen Ross.” The
AU Dept. of Performing Arts stages all-female ‘Glengarry’
1984 stage play, which was later adapted into a film, is a scrupulous look into the mordant miscreants and embattled veterans of the real estate world. The austere set design of both acts allowed for rivalries between cast members to roil to an impasse. Javier Rivera, assistant professor in the Department of Performing Arts at AU, directed the stage adaptation with a meticulous eye for detail while imbuing the play with a new identity. “Mamet is pretty daunting,” Rivera said in an interview with The Eagle. “The language is difficult to take on with interlacing dialogue and ellipses. He writes
Healthy adult volunteers needed The National Institute of Mental Health is conducting outpatient research studies on fear and anxiety at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in B ethes d a, M ar y l and. Over a period of one to three visits of one to three hours each, participants will be interviewed and complete computer tasks during which heart rate will be recorded. Volunteers must be between 18-50 years of age, medically healthy, and not be taking medica tion. There is no cost for study-related tests. Compensation will be provided. Fo r mo r e i nf or ma ti on, p l ea s e ca ll :
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NIH...Turning Discovery Into Health
Check out upcoming shows from the Scene’s concert beat 9
like people talk.” Rivera chose an unorthodox approach to the play: casting women in what was traditionally a male-dominated cast, taking Mamet’s machismo-laced dialogue to new heights. Rivera also takes full advantage of “Mamet Speak” to add to the characters’ sense of impending dread by allowing the interruptions and exasperations in the rhythm of the speech to propel the play forward. In order to get the all-female cast to portray their undercutting and sinister doppelgangers, Rivera invited two real estate agents, one male and one fe-
male, to speak to the cast about how they play their trade. “Glengarry Glen Ross” is set in two acts and alternates between a restaurant, which becomes a battleground for oneon-one rhetorical jousting, and a ramshackle real estate office where Rivera allows for primal exchanges of razor sharp dialogue to crescendo into naked desperation. The tension soon becomes tighter than a Windsor knot with nuanced performances. College of Arts and Sciences senior Erika Grob plays the supercilious Richard Roma with excellent bravado, while zealous comeback kid Levene is played by CAS junior Madeline Steiner. Their portrayals heighten the anxiety of the moments that begin to weigh heavily upon each character. Making the play female-centric stoked Rivera to ponder the
bigger questions that have been asked for years and years. “Where do women fall in society?” Rivera posited. “How do you see women in this world?” CAS senior Ramya Anbalagan plays the counterpoint to the sordid world of real estate agents by playing the occasionally befuddled and dulcet James Lingk, a character who gets hoodwinked into buying property by Roma. The character echoes some of the themes of the 2008 financial crisis, which plays a crucial role within the subtext of the play. Initially Rivera was not a fan of the play. But he was soon persuaded by the themes and Mamet’s artistic craftsmanship. “The play is meant to be seen, not read,” Rivera said. “Mamet is a genius in the way that he writes.” DKAHEN-KASHI@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM
AU dance student performs at Kennedy Center By CLARENCE CABANERO EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The lights dim, the curtains open and Ellie van Bever takes center stage, but it’s not at AU — it’s at the Kennedy Center. AU’s dance program is teaming up with the Christopher K. Morgan & Artists professional dance company to train AU students as apprentices. This year, van Bever, a School of Public Affairs senior, gets to perform with the company at venues like the Kennedy Center, Sydney Harmon Hall and The Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda. “The Kennedy Center was really nerve-racking,” van Bever said. “[But] I’m happy I can have this apprenticeship so at least I can dip my foot into professional dance.”
Indeed, with the tough economy for students who want to pursue their passions in dance such opportunities seem like once-ina-lifetime moments. But for AU Artist-in-Residence Morgan, it is all about helping students strive for what they want to do. “[The apprenticeship] is really for AU students to find opportunities to find outlets for dancing while also giving them some professional experience to put on their résumés,” Morgan said. For van Bever, the experience to work with professional dancers is a real blessing. “Working with professional dancers is different than working with students,” she said. “You don’t realize you dance like a student until you are around professionals who are self-assured and confident.”
But such valuable opportunities for van Bever come with the side-effect of putting the pressure on her to balance her academics with her apprenticeship, especially with her looming graduation. For his part too, Morgan helps van Bever deal with her busy schedule by working around her classes. Ellie was selected after months of vetting by Morgan and Melanie George, the director of the College of Arts and Sciences dance program, last May. Ellie is very much optimistic about her future. She plans to pursue dance professionally and plans to audition in New York or dance abroad after school. “I’m very grateful,” she said. “It’s been fantastic and I can’t wait to see where it’ll lead to.” THESCENE@THEEEAGLONLINE.COM
theEAGLE SCENE NOVEMBER 8, 2012 | 9
AUDIOPHILE
D.C. concerts from the coffeehouse to the Kennedy Center By AURORA DE PERALTA EAGLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Need to unwind after a long election season? The Scene found some ways to calm your soul this weekend with some of the best music D.C. has to offer.
PAUL BANKS FRIDAY @ THE HOWARD THEATER 8 P.M., TICKETS $15 IN ADVANCE, $17 AT DOOR
Former Interpol frontman Paul Banks will perform solo this Friday at the Howard Theater. After ditching his Julian Plenti alterego, the solo artist will feature songs from his album released last month, “Banks.” Diverging from the simple punk-rock sound of Interpol, Banks’ newest album is more lush and instrumental. His work features violins and hypnotic looped key work, resulting in otherworldly music with twinges of melancholy. Audience members can expect a moody yet moving performance from a more mature artist.
NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRELUDE SATURDAY @ THE KENNEDY CENTER 6 P.M., FREE
One of the many benefits of living in the District, the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage hosts free concerts that range from classical to jazz to everything in between, every night of the week. This Saturday’s pick is a recital by the National Symphony Orchestra Prelude. Prelude Chamber Recitals seek to showcase the varied preferences for composers, eras of music and styles of NSO musicians. Ensembles form and reform for various projects and repertoire, giving audience insight into the vast and varied world of chamber music. But don’t fret if you can’t make
Looking for new music? DJs at WVAU share their thoughts on a range of recent releases. WVAU@GMAIL.COM
it to Saturday night’s performance. Every free concert on the Millennium Stage is available for viewing at www.kennedy-center. org.
GRASS WILLOW SUNDAY @ COMET PING PONG 9:30 P.M.. $10
This week’s freshest concert spotlights indie girl trio Grass Willow, who will be playing at the equally hip venue Comet Ping Pong. The San Francisco-based group is known for their egalitarian, do-it-yourself embrace of creative collectivity. Their music is simple and sweet, timed by a skittering, sense of rhythm. But don’t be fooled by the ethereal innocence of their three-part harmonies: the ladies of Grass Willow call out texting audience members and pushy photographers. With a low ticket price of $10 and the promise of pizza, Grass Willow’s chill Sunday performance can’t be missed.
LUCKY DUB TUESDAYS @ TRYST COFFEEHOUSE & BAR 8 P.M.-11 P.M., FREE
Looking for a fresh study venue after the midterm slump? Search no further than Tryst Coffeehouse & Bar in Adams Morgan (which is owned by AU alum Constantine Stavropoulos), where reggae group Lucky Dub plays for customers every Tuesday night. With the scent of coffee and free Wi-Fi in the air, Lucky Dub adds positivity to Tryst’s trendy atmosphere. With songs with uplifting titles like “No Money, No Worries” and “Give a Little Love,” Lucky Dub aims to transform your study experience from tedious and painful to smooth and pleasurable. THESCENE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM
SKY FERREIRA GHOST The future girl-pop superstar?
On her sophomore EP, this 20-year-old Hollywood chanteuse has made a name for herself as a dreamy synthpop star. This collection of five songs features Ferreira’s bluesy and airy voice, creating a mellow feel
similar to Lana Del Rey. While two of the tracks (“Sad Dream” and “Ghost”) are more acoustic, with soulful guitar harmonies and reflective lyrics, the other three go for a stronger synthpop approach, a pleasant contrast with her faded vocals
b
BAT FOR LASHES THE HAUNTED MAN Bat For Lashes combine triphoppy synth beats with soaring ethereal vocals.
On her third album, Natasha Khan draws as much from current trends in dream pop as she does from the female alt-rock of the ‘90s. The merge of sound
creates an album that has the soft core of synthy dream pop and the rough edge of Dido and the Cranberries. Most of the songs on this album revolve around understated 808 beats and orchestral synths over which Khan croons in her
PAUL BANKS BANKS Guy from Interpol makes some mopey music.
Interpol’s 2002 debut album “Turn on the Bright Lights” became a hallmark indie rock album by building its tense atmosphere while maintaining a subtle, yet infectious energy. On “Banks,” Interpol frontman Paul Banks seems to excel in the former, while completely ignoring the other. The songs all stick to a
similar formula: mid-to-slow tempos, simple and painfully clear guitar lines, detached and monotone vocal deliver y. Occasionally (like on “Arise, Awake” and “Another Chance”), Banks adds in some spoken word samples. But rather than diversifying the songwriting, the samples sound overly dramatic and out of place. It would be wrong to say that Banks doesn’t show his skill for songwriting here.
and percussive rock elements. “Everything is Embarrassing” may be the most attainable track among them all, as a dance number that emphasizes her lush vocals paired with ‘80sreferencing backbeats and bass. There’s something attractive about Ghost, something that brings up that early ‘00s pop we used to love (don’t deny it). Recommended If You Like: Lana Del Rey, Robyn By MOLLY PFEFFER
angelic voice. Breaks from this form provide some of the brightest moments of the album, such as “Oh Yeah,” which incorporates gospel, trip-hop and R&B into one of the busiest songs on the album, and “Laura,” which goes in the opposite direction with a powerful stripped-down organ and vocal delivery. RIYL: Dido, Sade, Gotye By SEAN MEEHAN SHOW: “WE’RE HILARIOUS” SATURDAYS, 6 TO 8 P.M.
Songs like “Young Again” and “No Mistakes” showcase an almost post-rock-like quality of building tension and dynamics throughout the song as they climax to the end. But for the most part, the songs fail to provide any real direction, and regrettably, the listener often finds themselves sucked into Banks’ world of apparent brooding rather than anything remotely more interesting or exciting. RIYL: Death Cab For Cutie, The Postal Service, a really sad and down-on-their-luck Interpol By BILL OLDHAM SHOW: “KERWIN’S KORNER” TUESDAYS, 10 P.M. TO MIDNIGHT
10 | NOVEMBER 8, 2012 SCENE theEAGLE
Eagle Rants
Go ahead, speak your mind. We’ll probably print it.
I’m scared to let go. What do you mean Rants is male-dominated? Every other rant is about how every guy on this campus is gay, straight, or taken The girls of McDowell 4th floor are all beautiful. Wedding Crashers is prequel to Midnight in Paris.
the
Happy Halloween! - I hope you eagle ranters are having a more awesome night than me.—Sitting in the Library writing a paper. - Also Lily and James Potter died 31 years ago tonight. :( Teach me how to move on as quickly as you did.
Why can’t something good happen for me, just once? Soooo, maybe I’m a little desperate, but I legit hoped you would actually ask me out. I’m not sure what to think. Either make a real move or maybe I will! You were happy before you met him/her, and you’ll be able to be happy after he/she’s gone. I promise you that. Relationships shouldn’t cause you pain. My WONK Quotient is equal to the inverse of the Stupidity Quotient of this WONK Campaign. I was on the fence about voting for Obama until I saw Dave Matthews play for him. AU needs an ice skating rink
If you hate this school so much, leave. We’re all tired of your negativity.
If you ever want to tell me “I’m sorry”, don’t hesitate. I’ll listen. I’ve missed you. Please don’t worry, I forgave you long ago. But a part of me will always love you. Should I be concerned that AU is planning to dig an underground parking garage while John Hopkins is conducting a health survey for students and alumni which is related to the former use of Spring Valley to test/dispose of arsenic gas weapons? Look, I love a spontaneous 2:30 party just as much as the next AU student, but I hate when I am forced to wake up and participate in one outside of MGC in the freezing cold because of a pulled fire alarm. Seriously guys, get a hobby or something. Come along, Pond!
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Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis ACROSS 1 Chinese temple instrument 5 Nestling noises 10 Leave at the altar 14 Diva·s showpiece 15 Group of experts 16 Pierre·s possessive 17 Return on one·s investment, in slang 20 Replay technique, briefly 21 Relaxing time in the chalet 22 “There oughta be __” 25 Hi-fi spinners 26 Plain dessert 30 Playing decks 35 Diplomatic bldg. 36 Juanita·s aunt 37 Yukon·s country 38 Prada imitation, perhaps 42 More greasy 43 Extended family 44 “Bon voyage!” 45 Fruity-smelling compound 46 Jay-Z, for one 49 L.A. bus-and-rail org. 51 Speak indistinctly 52 Begin 57 Gate-hanging hardware 61 Announce one·s arrival gently ... as opposed to words that start 17-, 26-, 38- and 46-Across 64 Voting no 65 In an unusual way 66 Student·s stressor 67 Very familiar note recipient? 68 “Fetch my smelling salts!” 69 Avg. levels DOWN 1 Goes on and on 2 Unwritten 3 Barcelona boy 4 Joke writer 5 HMO alternative 6 Musical sensitivity 7 One-named Irish folk singer
By Patti Varol
8 Magazine with a Stylewatch spinoff 9 Eat noisily, as soup 10 Elbows rudely 11 “In the morning” radio host 12 Security device 13 __ torch: patio light 18 Finish the laundry 19 Perform another MRI on 23 Oldman or Newman 24 Ragamuffin 26 Orange __ tea 27 Old Dodge autos 28 Horseshoeshaped fastener 29 “The Trial” writer Franz 31 Furthermore 32 Synagogue scholar 33 Times to send in the troops 34 “Full House” costar Bob 37 Panama crosser 39 Co. in Paris 40 “Sesame Street News Flash” reporter
SOLUTION TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE Saturday·s Puzzle Solved
(c)2012 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
41 Hula swivelers 46 Family-friendly, filmwise 47 German coal valley 48 Native American groups 50 Sierra Nevada resort 52 Tax-sheltered accts. 53 Store opening time
54 The “I” in IHOP: Abbr. 55 End-of-the-week letters 56 Scandinavian literary collection 58 Bakery call 59 Happy 60 Spreading trees 62 Ancient Level: 63 Yiddish cries of 1 2 dismay
3
4
Complete the grid so
SOLUTION TO LASTeach row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold WEEK’S PUZZLE borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudoku.org.uk
SOLUTION TO WEDNESDA<·S PUZZLE
© 2012 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved. UADS_1213_4_Eagle
THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/ AFFIRMATIVE ACTION INSTITUTION CERTIFIED TO OPERATE IN VA BY SCHEV.
OPINION
STAFF EDITORIAL
Priority housing selection for Northside is flawed Residents of McDowell and Leonard Hall next semester will receive priority housing options when registering for on-campus housing for the fall semester. The University was rash to preemptively promise early housing registration to these residents. While the noise from construction of North Hall is indeed an inconvenience to residents, McKinley construction also causes noise hindrances to residents of Letts, Anderson and Centennial. Seeing as Northside residents have not been complaining about noise, the decision to create a policy to guarantee early housing registration seems unnecessary. The preference for housing
should not favor one side of campus over another, especially when based on faulty logic. If AU is going to create a system of preference for anyone, it
of a larger problem: the pure lottery system in place should be reconsidered with additional new housing options being added in upcoming years.
The entir e AU com e long term. munity w th in n o ti c u tr s n ill benefit m the current co fro would need to aid all students facing inconveniences. If preference is given to Northside students dealing with noise, students forced to live in the Letts Sky Lounge at the beginning of this year deserve to re-
Check your privilege DEREK SIEGEL | ETHICS WITH A SIDE OF TOAST We usually don’t think of ourselves as powerful, just as regular people. Systems of inequality, including racism, transphobia and sexism, distribute privilege to some people and take power away from others. But having power doesn’t make you bad. In fact, checking your privileges can be an opportunity to become an ally to marginalized communities on campus. Being gay, sometimes I feel powerless. No matter how poised and articulate I am, it
ceive preference as well. After a while, it’s just not feasible to offer that privilege to anyone. The entire AU community will benefit from the current
would take only one homophobic remark to wrest this power away from me. If somebody rejects my sexual orientation or confronts me for acting “too gay,” then the person I am and the things I have accomplished will cease to matter. Any situation I am in, no matter how confident I may feel, could be instantly reversed. I could go from feeling powerful to feeling invalidated, ashamed or even physically threatened. Because I am privileged in other aspects — I am white, male and able-bodied — my
construction in the long term. This being said, privileges shouldn’t be given to specific groups on campus for dealing with pieces of the construction in the first place. These issues are symptoms
Various criteria such as separate housing lotteries based on credits completed at AU, grade point average, semesters lived on campus and anticipated graduation date should all be considered. The Eagle does not
power is rarely threatened. But knowing that this power is temporary, that at any moment the situation can be swept out from beneath my feet without my consent, is terrifying. Marginalization is knowing that something could happen to you — slurs, threats, sexual assault — and fearing that nobody would lift a finger in your defense. Will they say that the threat didn’t really happen, and that you’re making it up? Or that you are to blame, that you were acting too gay or you were dressed too provocatively? We live in a society that blames people for their own marginalization. Feeling powerless, therefore, has nothing to do with being weak. If you are privileged, then you don’t need to worry about defending yourself because you
aren’t likely to be attacked. Feeling powerless has nothing to do with being emotionally vulnerable. If you are privileged, then you won’t need to worry about others trying to delegitimize your identity. People will see you as authentic. Marginalization includes the stress of never knowing if I’m completely safe, respected or welcome. On our campus, I’m set at ease by the explicit affirmation of rainbow flags. If you are privileged, however, you don’t need a special sticker to show that you are welcome somewhere because you are welcome anywhere you go. Even if you don’t feel personally powerful — and that includes those of us who are marginalized in certain aspects of our lives — you most likely have power that you don’t even know
feel that total credits completed would be an effective method to housing selection. Students coming to AU with sizable amounts of AP/IB credit are already given proper advantage with class selection. With more on-campus housing becoming available, upperclassmen should not be forced off campus simply due to a bad lottery number. As we expand housing on campus, demand will also increase, and AU will need to be prepared for that influx of students looking for a home. While there is no single solution to the housing selection process, AU should take into consideration alternative approaches moving forward. ≠ E EDPAGE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM
about. It’s essential that you become aware of this privilege and that you use it to become an ally to those who are threatened on a daily basis. A great example of checking your own privilege is the organization “Men Can Stop Rape,” which uses male privilege to combat the normalization of sexual assault. Privilege is a zero-sum-game. If you are not directly marginalized, then you have the power to advocate, to threaten, or to do nothing at all with this privilege. But by not actively combatting oppression, you may be perpetuating social forces that systematically delegitimize, intimidate and discriminate against marginalized people. Derek Siegel is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences. EDPAGE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM
12 | NOVEMBER 8, 2012 OPINION theEAGLE
OP-ED
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Time to work together, bring down the debt Despite two years of partisan gridlock and political posturing, President Barack Obama is still president and Congress remains divided, just as it was before Election Day. But we cannot afford for the next two years to be as unproductive as the last two. As students here in our nation’s capital, we have an obligation to get involved in the debate and make our voices heard. With the election behind us, it’s time to demand our leaders get to work and defuse the bomb they’ve been building since they took office: the fiscal cliff. The fiscal cliff is a euphemism for $480 billion in tax increases and spending cuts automatically set to take effect at midnight on Dec. 31 if Congress does nothing to stop them. The cliff is a result of Congress continuously kicking the can down the road for the past two years by legislating the expiration of tax cuts they never intended to end and by
approving spending cuts they never expected to enforce. But while going over the fiscal cliff would cut our deficit in half next year and save us $7.1 trillion over the next 10, it would also slash three percentage
lion dollars by the end of this decade. If we refuse to take the necessary steps to get our deficits under control, the money we spend on servicing the debt and paying for past promises will crowd out all other federal spending entirely. The worst part about it is that our generation will be more adversely affected by this than any other. We are the ones who will have to pay higher taxes. We are the ones who won’t be able to afford to educate our children. We are the ones who won’t be able to pay for a first-world infrastructure. We are the ones who are disproportionately affected by this debt, and so we are the ones who need to be disproportionately involved in getting it under control. It’s up to us to demand action. That is why over the next several months, the AU College Democrats and Republicans will be putting our differences aside
As students here in our nation’s capital, we have an obligation to get involved in the debate and make our voice heard. points off our economic growth in 2013, plunging us back into a recession and killing two million jobs in the process. Allowing this bomb to detonate next month is not a rational solution to our long-term fiscal challenges, but neither is simply disarming it and doing nothing else. Doing so would mean allowing our debt to grow to double the size of our economy by 2040. Annual interest payments would exceed a tril-
Between You & Me
CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 ≥
D.C. is not banning sugary drinks
The headline on The Eagle’s Nov. 1 cover, “D.C. May Ban Sugary Drinks,” grossly misrepresents the position of D.C. Councilwoman Mary Cheh and other elected officials in the District who have voiced support for a soda tax or portion regulation. Neither the New York City portion rule, nor the proposals discussed by the elected officials quoted in the WTOP report on which Ms. Sandoval’s article relies, “bans sugary drinks.” The New York City portion rule, which Cheh and other elected officials have said might be a model for a future proposal in the District, prohibits food service establishments from serving sugary drinks in containers larger than 16 ounces (a size that was considered “large” by most establishments, and which Coca-Cola once advertised as serving three people). The proposal introduced by Cheh last year would have imposed a modest sales tax on sugary drinks. These interventions, combined with increased disclosure of calorie information on menu boards and campaigns to raise
awareness about the health risks associated with high consumption of sugary drinks, are aimed at prompting people to think more carefully about the amount of soda they want to consume. Neither intervention prohibits consumption of soda in any amount that the customer desires. The fact that these interventions do not significantly restrict consumer choice does not, however, mean that they are ineffective. Default portion size has an impact on consumption because we tend to drink what’s in front of us, often without realizing just how much we’re consuming. The measure is aimed at reducing this kind of unintentional overconsumption while still allowing those who truly want to consume four servings of a sugary drink with no nutritional value in one setting to do as they please. Lindsay F. Wiley Assistant Professor of Law, Faculty Director, Health Law and Justice Program American University Washington College of Law
The Eagle’s new political cartoon series.
BY RYAN MIGEED / THE EAGLE
theEAGLE OPINION NOVEMBER 8, 2012 | 13
Smoking or non-smoking? LETTER TO THE EDITOR
AU takes tremendous step for all
As an alumna of AU and the former president of Colleges Against Cancer at AU, I want to commend AU’s decision to join the list of more than 600 tobaccofree colleges and universities nationwide. Contrary to what you will undoubtedly hear from opponents of this policy, becoming a tobaccofree environment doesn’t mean “anti-smoker.” It simply means establishing a safe and healthy environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors. The scientific evidence is clear: secondhand smoke causes disease and premature death in those who do not smoke. As a place where students not only learn, but also work and live, AU should constantly be striving to provide safe and healthy environment. AU’s decision to go tobacco-free places the health and safety of its students, faculty, staff and visitors as a top priority. In addition to establishing a safe and healthy environment,
As a college that prides itself on being socially responsible, a tobacco-free campus policy is the socially responsible choice.
a tobacco-free policy will save money on maintenance, reduce the risk of fires on campus, advance sustainability, avoid potential legal liability from student, employee and visitor exposure to secondhand smoke and increase worker productivity. As a college that prides itself on being socially responsible, a tobacco-free campus policy is the socially responsible choice. Tobacco has a profound impact on our environment. Additionally,
2 S H Q )R U X P
the production of tobacco is a human rights issue. The use of child labor in tobacco production is widespread in the major tobaccoproducing countries, and exposure to the chemicals involved in tobacco cultivation poses a considerable risk to both adults and children alike. Congratulations, AU, on this tremendous and critical step! Megan Yarbrough is a 2010 alumna of the School of Public Affairs.
With AU President Neil Kerwin and Board of Trustees Chairman Jeff Sine
Thursday, November 15 5:30-6:30 p.m. Ward Circle Building, Room 1
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR There is a troubling trend in this country to demonize and otherwise discriminate against those individuals who smoke or use tobacco products..
Smoking ban victimizes students As a graduate student at AU, I am concerned about the impact of pursuing a smoke- and tobacco- free policy on campus. There is a troubling trend in this country to demonize and otherwise discriminate against those individuals who smoke or use tobacco products. Although not a smoker personally, as the child of a smoker I have witnessed first hand the bigotry that is so often aimed at smokers. Being a smoker seems to no longer be seen as a personal preference, but increasingly as a reflection of an individual’s level of education, social status or even character. I fear that implementation of this policy achieves little for the health of the campus community beyond the existing on-campus smoking policy and will only serve to further isolate members of our community who smoke. The most worrying aspect of this new policy is the ban on smokeless tobacco. While the concern surrounding oncampus smoking is real and legitimate given the documented risks of secondhand smoke, there is no associated risk to individuals that are in the presence of smokeless tobacco users. If the campus community has decided to forbid the use
of smokeless tobacco, it should also have the courage to remove all soda and junk food vending machines from campus, as well as eliminate menu items from on-campus dining establishments that are high in fat and calories and low in nutritional value, including, but not limited to, cheeseburgers, french fries and pizza. It is clear that the public health argument does not hold water when it comes to smokeless tobacco, and therefore, the motivation for banning this practice must lie elsewhere. While I understand that this decision has been formalized, I wanted to take this opportunity to register my opposition to its implementation and disappointment that the input of the broader campus community was not sought by the administration. By carrying out such a draconian policy, we, as a campus community, are creating an unwelcoming environment for tobacco users. I would hope that a community that demonstrates such a commitment to the principles of diversity and inclusion of other groups would afford the same level of courtesy and respect to our staff, faculty and classmates that smoke. Luke L. Heselden is an M.A. candidate in the School of International Service.
14 | NOVEMBER 8, 2012 OPINION theEAGLE
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Avoid the fiscal cliff ≤ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12
to tackle these tough issues together. In the spring, we will be launching a bipartisan campaign on campus to raise awareness about the dangers of our growing national debt and what you can do to help get our fiscal house in order. You’ll be able to join us in this initiative at UpToUsAU.org. Our first step is to support a national millennial-driven campaign to pressure Congress and the president for a responsible, long-term deficit reduction plan that puts everything on the table. The Can Kicks
Back will be launching on Monday at 6 p.m. at the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University, and you should be a part of it. Before Congress comes back into session, we need to send them a clear message: if they insist on kicking the can, the can insists on kicking back.
Jonathan Humma Policy Director AU College Republicans CAS 2014
Quit it with the microwave dinners erectus first controlled
SAM MENDELSON | SPORK The theft of fire is one of the most common threads in the mythologies of a wide range of cultures. Prometheus, the Greek Titan, famously stole fire from Mount Olympus and was punished by Zeus to an eternity of suffering, bound to a rock to have his liver eaten each day by an eagle. Prometheus’ sacrifice, in the myth, brought light and separated man from beast. The origins of man’s control of fire are unclear, but the fossil record indicates that Homo
fire to cook food around 1.8 million years ago. It is not impossible to imagine the astonishment of early man after striking two stones together to create a spark, nor is it impossible to see that spark as the beginning of mankind. A recent study by two Brazilian researchers establishes the link between a surge in human brain size and the control of fire for cooking. Cooking allowed early humans to consume more nutrients, spend less time
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searching for food and led to the development of larger brains. Cooking unlocked 100 percent of the nutrients in foods, versus 30 to 40 percent in raw foods, and bypassed the potential problem of having to eat for over nine hours a day to sustain larger brains. But what does this mean? The human brain has more than double the number of neurons of our closest primate cousins: cooking determined that separation. The ability to control and cook with fire defined the transition from Homo erectus to Homo sapiens. We are not defined by our communication or our social structures, nor by our emotions or technology. Cooking, the control and use of fire to change what we eat, is what separates
human beings from chimpanzees, gorillas and the rest of the animal kingdom. Yet, beginning in the 20th century, we have moved away from the one thing that makes us uniquely human. The percentage of meals eaten outside of the home has steadily increased since the 1920s, with some estimates well exceeding 50 percent. This trend has coincided with bulging waistlines; increased sodium, fat, cholesterol, and scales tipping an average of almost 200 pounds for adult men (the average is 194.7 pounds). This also means that less time is being spent around a table with other people, little time spent cooking and, ultimately, we are becoming less human. The USDA reported that in 2011 about 42 percent of a house-
hold’s food expenditures were spent on food outside the home. This is only a snapshot of a trend that has defined the “American way” of eating for much of the last century. The mythological history of fire emphasizes not only its importance to mankind, but also the sacrifice in obtaining it. Cooking is a definitive part of our humanity, but it has been replaced by one-minute rice, microwave dinners and a dependence on fast food. A reversal of the trend of eating out by returning to cooking not only honors Prometheus’ martyrdom, but also reconnects us to what makes us human. Sam Mendelson is a sophomore in the School of International Service. EDPAGE@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM
SPORTS
Volleyball clinches postseason berth
Belanger bounces back from injury in big way By SAMANTHA RAPHELSON EAGLE STAFF WRITER
We could all take a lesson from Charlene Belanger on how to focus. After an injury kept her off the field her freshman year, the sophomore goalkeeper beat out senior Klare Lazor for the starting spot in goal and recorded 84 saves on the season. “One of the things that’s great about Charlene is that she has a great ability to focus, and she kind of zones in when it’s game time,” AU head coach Dave Bucciero said. “You can see it in her play that she has a really good concentration to make plays when she’s called on, and I think she thrives on it. She’s got a strong confidence about her.” Belanger’s comeback season came to end Nov. 2, when Colgate defeated the women’s soccer team in the Patriot League Semifinals. The loss came just a few days after the Eagles came back from a 2-0 deficit against Colgate to force a 2-2 draw Oct. 27. The Eagles entered the Patriot League Tournament for the first time since 2009 after finishing with a 4-2-1 conference record that included four consecutive shutouts. Belanger said those four shutouts were important for her team “to make a name for themselves” going into the tournament. The Eagles weren’t as successful early in the season. But despite the lack of offense in a number of non-conference losses, Belanger stayed consistent in goal. “It was frustrating for every-
one,” she said. “I just have to keep in mind that I’m doing everything that I possibly can to help the team. It’s not my job to do everything, so I just need to remember what my job is and how my personal contributions help the team.” Perhaps Belanger’s basic instinct to want to do everything stems from the fact that she was unable to do anything for most of her freshman year. After suffering an injury to her knee two years ago while playing high school soccer, Belanger hurt her knee again just before she came to AU. This time, Belanger had to face an agonizing surgery and a year of rehab. Once she learned most of her teammates had gone through rehab, some more than once, she was able to identify with them and feel like they were “there to lean on.” “I think that if you can trust your teammates off the field, you can definitely trust them on the field,” she said. Belanger focused on making improvements to her game this year in order to prevent future injuries and to earn the starting spot after splitting time in goal with Lazor early in the season. “She asked me point blank, ‘What do I have to do to earn a starting position?’” Bucciero said. He told her she needed to do better making saves in one-on-one situations and become physically stronger, which she did. Belanger said while those things were important, it was more about maintaining a positive outlook in the face of uncertainty
By JOSH PAUNIL EAGLE STAFF WRITER
COURTESY OF ANNE ERIKSEN
Charlene Belanger is a key reason the Eagles returned to the Patriot League Tournament. about her knee injury. “That’s the number one priority, is to have a good attitude and to try to maintain that attitude regardless of the score or the situation of the game,” she said. The Eagles will enjoy a short, two-week break until they enter the weight room for offseason lifting, Belanger said. “Work in the weight room is going to be important because she is a little bit smaller,” Bucciero said. “I think continuing to add strength to her body will enable her to make even more saves.” Other than making small improvements, Bucciero said Belanger’s unnerving determination was key in her recovery. “Charlene is a great kid to coach and very eager to learn and very passionate about the program,” he said. “I’ve seen her on a number of occasions before practice working on her kicking and working on other things, and I think that shows her passion and drive to be the best.” SRAPHELSON@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM
For the 12th straight year, the AU volleyball team clinched a Patriot League Tournament berth after sweeping Lehigh and Lafayette Nov. 2 and Nov. 3 on the road. With the victories, the Eagles extended their conference winning streak to five straight matches. “It’s great,” AU head coach Barry Goldberg said. “It’s nice to have a spot for sure in the tournament, and we’ll see how it all plays out.” The Eagles (18-9, 9-3 PL) clinched a postseason appearance
suffered two weeks ago. Crum is expected to return to full-time status for this weekend’s matches. The day before the Lafayette win, AU defeated Lehigh (11-12, 7-5 PL) soundly to create separation between them and the potential No. 4 seed in the conference tournament. Rishell and Lindovska again had dominant performances, leading the team in kills and hitting percentage, respectively. “Kristyna Lindovska has played a lot better these last few weeks,” Goldberg said. “That has been really good for us. She has
“This will be a big weekend at home for us to finish off the regular season.” - AU volleyball head coach Barry Goldberg off strong performances from Sara Rishell, Kristyna Lindovska and Kylann Scheidt in their convincing win over Lafayette (9-15, 2-10 PL). Rishell, who ranks third in the Patriot League in kills and tenth in blocks, hit a team-best .524 to lead AU to victory. Lindovska hit .400 and Scheidt, who is third in the Patriot League in assists, recorded 32. “Our hitting percentage has been better, and our results have been better,” Goldberg said. “We’re definitely hitting the ball better. We’re finding a fairly set lineup now that we’re going with that was hard in the beginning since we were dealing with injuries.” AU earned the victory despite being without Juliana Crum, who was limited to just two sets of action due to an ankle injury she
been a good right side player.” Kelly McCaddin, who helped take over serving duties after Scheidt was out with a concussion for two weeks in October, was also a key contributor on the weekend for the Eagles. The Eagles will wrap up the regular season with two home matches. They will take on firstplace Colgate Nov. 9 and then face Bucknell Nov. 10 in the season finale. “This will be a big weekend at home for us to finish off the regular season,” Goldberg said. “We’re excited for it.” Along with AU and Colgate, Army has also clinched a bid to the Patriot League Tournament. The fourth and final spot will be decided between Lehigh and Navy when regular season play finishes up this weekend. SPORTS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM
16 | NOVEMBER 8, 2012 SPORTS theEAGLE
Top-seeded Eagles look to capture PL Tournament By ERIC SALTZMAN EAGLE STAFF WRITER
EMMA KNIGHT / THE EAGLE
Charlie Hunter and the AU men’s soccer team earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Holy Cross Nov. 3.
This year’s seniors on the AU men’s soccer team have done a lot throughout their career at AU, but one accomplishment has eluded them: a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The Eagles have played for the Patriot League Championship in each of the last three seasons, falling all three times. Last year, AU hosted the tournament after clinching the Patriot League regular-season title, but dropped a 2-0 decision to Colgate. 2012 looks to be different. “We’ve challenged our team to finish the job next week,” AU head coach Todd West said. Once again, the Eagles have clinched the PL reg-
ular-season title and will host the tournament with semifinal action starting Nov. 9 at 11 a.m. when the Eagles take on Bucknell. AU has finished with its first overall winning record since 2009. But more importantly, the Eagles finished the season undefeated (5-0-2) against conference foes for the first time in program history. The Eagles have also shown resiliency by winning two conference games in overtime, including a come-from-behind win against Navy Oct. 20. One key to AU’s success will be goalkeeper Billy Knutsen. He earned Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Week honors for three weeks in a row while leading the conference with six shutouts, including one in the season finale against Holy Cross. Knutsen, along with the AU defense, has been responsible for allowing the fewest goals, 16, in
the Patriot League. “These are going to be some tough games, and we are going to have to grind through them,” AU’s Seth Goldman said of the upcoming tournament. Offensively, the Eagles will need a strong effort out of their “Big Three” of Colin Seigfreid, Alassane Kane and Dale McDonald. “The big key in those tight games is to get the first goal,” West said. “It takes the pressure off of you and puts it on the other team.” Seigfreid leads the Patriot League in points with 17 and is tied for sixth in the conference with five goals. Kane leads the Eagles in scoring and is tied for second in the PL with six goals. McDonald has chipped in five goals in his first year at AU. Momentum should be on AU’s side as it enters the tournament with four straight wins. West announced that the team took Sunday and Monday off to rest up and recover for the weekend’s tournament. The Eagles are looking for their first Patriot League Tournament title since 2004, and fourth NCAA Tournament appearance under West. ESALTZMAN@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM
SCHEDULE NOV. 9
No. 1 men’s soccer vs. No. 4 Bucknell at 11 a.m. (Patriot League Semifinals) Cross-country NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional @ Penn State at noon Volleyball vs. Colgate at 7 p.m. Men’s basketball @ Minnesota at 8 p.m.
NOV. 10
Wrestling Brockport/Oklahoma Invitational @ Brockport, N.Y., at 10 a.m. Women’s basketball @ Western Michigan at 2 p.m. Volleyball vs. Bucknell at 4 p.m.
NOV. 11
Men’s soccer Patriot League Championship @ Reeves Field at 1 p.m. Teams TBD.
NOV. 12
Women’s basketball @ Oakland at 6:30 p.m. Men’s basketball @ Quinnipiac at 7 p.m.
PATRIOT LEAGUE STANDINGS FIELD HOCKEY
SEMIFINALS (EASTON, PA.) No. 1 Lafayette defeats No. 4 Colgate, 4-3 (OT) ≥ No. 2 American defeats No. 3 Bucknell, 4-0
CHAMPIONSHIP: No. 1 Lafayette defeats No. 2 American, 2-1 (OT)
MEN’S SOCCER
≥ American 10-5-2, 5-0-2 PL
Field hockey suffers crushing loss in PL final By GENNARO FARONE EAGLE STAFF WRITER
The AU field hockey team stretched the Patriot League Championship into overtime against nationally-ranked Lafayette before falling, 2-1, Nov. 3 in Easton, Pa. “To beat [Lafayette], you have to have somebody do something with a fair amount of individual brilliance to create a breakdown scenario,” AU head coach Steve Jennings said. “They were really tough to kind of navigate
through.” AU’s Shelly Montgomery has shown such individual brilliance all season, and it was on display in the conference semifinals Nov. 2 against Bucknell. The junior scored two goals while leading the way in a 4-1 victory over the Bison, and she has proved to be key for the Eagles (10-10) all season. But Montgomery didn’t score against the Leopards, who entered the contest ranked 12th in the nation. In fact, she didn’t even get a shot off.
The Leopards (17-1) clamped down on Montgomery, and AU could not return the favor to Lafayette’s star player, Deanna DiCroce. DiCroce ranks seventh in the country in goals per game and was the difference in the match, scoring both Lafayette goals. The defeat marked the end of the AU’s season, a year in which the Eagles battled back from a 3-7 start to finish at .500. “In the first half of the season, we just relied on a lot of individual brilliance,” Jennings said. “When we got people to play in groups, that ended up changing things.” The Eagles had five players named to the All-Patriot League Team. Montgomery and Gina Hofmann were named to the AllPatriot League First Team, while
Hofmann also won PL Defensive Player of the Year. Julie Fosseprez won PL Rookie of the Year and was named to the All-Patriot League Second Team, along with teammates Jaclyn Anspach and Rebecca Treharne. Nearly the entire team will be back next season, including four of the five All-League players as the Eagles look to make another run at the conference crown. “The knowledge of what happened at the beginning of the year and then what happened at the end of the year is critical for the group to understand,” Jennings said. “If we use that in the right way, then I think that we’ll understand how to be at a totally different level just starting out of spring.” SPORTS@THEEAGLEONLINE.COM
Colgate 5-7-6, 3-1-3 PL Lafayette 7-7-4, 3-1-3 PL Bucknell 7-7-5, 2-3-2 PL Holy Cross 5-9-2, 2-3-2 PL Lehigh 4-12-1, 2-4-1 PL Army 4-10-3, 1-3-3 PL Navy 7-7-3, 1-4-2 PL
WOMEN’S SOCCER SEMIFINALS (ANNAPOLIS, MD.) No. 1 Navy defeats No. 4 Lehigh, 4-1
≥ No. 2 Colgate defeats No. 3 American, 3-0
CHAMPIONSHIP: No. 2 Colgate defeats No. 1 Navy, 1-0
VOLLEYBALL Colgate 14-12, 11-1 PL ≥ American 18-9, 9-3 PL Army 18-8, 9-3 PL Lehigh 11-12, 7-5 PL Navy 10-14, 6-6 PL Bucknell 9-18, 3-9 PL Lafayette 9-15, 2-10 PL Holy Cross 2-26, 1-11 PL