Eagle's Eye 092211

Students survive Burning Man and bring back more than Playa dust.

Eagle’s Eye Sierra Nevada College

Thursday September 22, 2011

Vol. 32 – Issue 3 |

Check out their experiences on pages 10 and 11.

999 Tahoe Boulevard, Incline Village, NV | www.sierranevada.edu

Students take pie to the face for club’s sake BY jenn sheridan Staff Reporter People did the unthinkable for their club.

On Friday, Sept. 16, eight clubs participated in Club Field Day to compete for prize money on Patterson Lawn. This was the first of many fundraising events which will be hosted by the Student Government Association (SGA) for clubs throughout the school year, said Student Government Director of Public Relations Sabrina Belleci.

After a Club Rush Week at the beginning of the year, the deadline to create a club was extended to Sept. 9, so clubs could begin fundraising and participate in SGAsponsored club events going on around campus, explained Belleci.

However, SGA will accept applications for clubs all year.

Each club that participated in Club Field Day received funding. Last place earned $100 in prize money and each place went up $100 from there. Since eight groups participated, first place scored $800.

Pride Club dominated the competition and went home with the top prize. Climbing team got second place and Tribes of Many Nations took third.

Competitions included games such as sack racing, apple bobbing, slip and slide, tug ‘o war and pie throwing.

“It was good fun, good participation and a good way for clubs to get funding,” said Director of Student Activities Will Hoida.

Last Friday was the beginning of SGAsponsored events to give clubs a chance to raise money.

“We wanted to start with something really big right out of the gate,” said SGA Vice President Olivia Church.

Clubs can also raise money by doing their own fundraising. For example, the First Generation Club hosts an annual tamale dinner to raise funds for its members, Church said.

To start a club, students must submit a completed club application along with a copy of the club bylaws to the SGA for approval.

Each club must have a faculty advisor, president and treasurer as well as five active members. Clubs must hold weekly meetings, and the president and treasurer

ANDREW DUNNING

SNC Professor Katie Zanto wins prestigious LL Bean Outdoor Hero award JENN SHERIDAN

SENIOR BENJAMIN GRIFFITH takes a pie to the face for the Mutual Admiration Society during Club Field Day on Friday, Sept. 16. Other activities included sack races, apple bobbing, slip and slides and tug ‘o war.

of each club must attend monthly Inter Club Council Meetings, according to the SGA club packet.

Clubs are a good opportunity for students to meet like-minded individuals and get involved in the community. Belleci explained that clubs are required to participate in at least one event that benefits both the club as well as the community.

“A good example, if climbing club has weekly climb sessions at the local business High Altitude Fitness, High Altitude Fitness is benefiting from that club’s business and campus exposure,” said Belleci.

As of Sept. 14, there was one club that was officially approved, the Golf team.

Church said 10 other clubs are pending approval upon receipt of their paperwork.

New Degree of Creativity Sierra Nevada College now offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing.

Turn to page 8 to discover the details of the new opportunity.

Index News.............................1,3,4 Campus...............................2 Forum.................................5 Outdoor...............................6

Sports.................................7 A&E....................................8 Features...............9,10,11,12

club field day results • • • • • • • •

1st place $800: Pride Club 2nd place $700: Climbing Team 3rd place $600: Tribe of Many Nations 4th place $500: Gallery Club 5th place $400: First Generation Club 6th place (Tie) $300: Golf Team 6th place (Tie) $300: Mutual Admiration Society 7th place $200: Clay Club

Skate Club, Veterans Club and Radio Club were not in attendance.

BY Andrew dunning Sports Editor As a lifelong outdoor enthusiast and a passionate educator, Sierra Nevada College Professor Katie Zanto saw a unique opportunity to combine wilderness experiences with formal academics.

What she created in 2004 — the Adventure Risk Challenge Program (ARC) — has since impacted hundreds of teenagers’ lives and earned herself an L.L. Bean 2011 Outdoor Hero Award.

Announced this month, the national award supports individuals who are dedicated to outdoor conservation and education. As part of the award, LL Bean is donating a $5,000 grant toward ARC. The Adventure Risk Challenge Program (ARC) is a non-profit literacy and leadership program designed See ZANTO, 4

I.T. dept. thrives in Prim dungeon BY chelsea de la Rosa Features Editor From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, the Information Technology department, located in the basement of Prim Schultz Library, is open and operating to keep both students and faculty plugged in to the internet and operating at high-speed.

The team who makes up this department operates as Sierra Nevada College’s hub for communication.

According to the staff, the I.T. department also has its hands in several different operations around campus to keep SNC on the front lines with different types of technology beyond com-

puters.

“Honestly, we help out with setting up events, so we’re out and about,” said I.T. assistant, freshman Guillermo Reyes. “If there is technology involved, we’re involved and somewhere close by.”

The director of the I.T. department is Nicole Ferguson, who has helped put together the team who refers to its office as “the dungeon” or “bat cave.”

In many respects, they are like heroes when it comes to fixing and saving students and faculty’s computers when trouble arises.

See I.T. DEPT., 4

2

Campus

Eagle’s Eye

Calendar of events Sept. 22: thursday Fireside Chat 7-9 p.m.

TCES 139/141

Sept. 25: sunday

S’mores Night 8-9 p.m.

Patterson Patio Fireplace For students

Sept. 27: tuesday

Native American Film Series “American Outrage” 7:00 p.m.

TCES 139

Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011

A letter from the Big Cheese Dear Fellow Students, My name is Ross Garcia and it is my honor and pleasure to be able to serve you as your Student Government Association President for the 2011-2012 year.

This year is going to be full of fun and exciting events and I want to encourage you to get involved. We started the year off with the infamous sunset boat cruise and the upcoming months are full of events that are sure to leave each of you with great memories. We also have a great array of successful clubs on campus that are constantly accepting members.

Being Student Government President, I encourage you to stay in touch with us, as we are here to give a helping hand. As a former president of SNC once said, “Most of the learning happens outside the college.” Remember the college experience is what YOU make it. With that in mind, I invite you to join a club and/ or participate in all SNC events to get the most you can from this wonderful college!

Sept. 30 - Oct. 2: Weekend

All the best,

Oct. 4: tuesday

Ross Garcia President, Student Government Association

Tolumne Backpacking Trip For students

Native American Storyteller: Andy Allen 7-9 p.m.

TCES 139/141

Oct. 5: wednesday Career Fair 2011 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

For Students

Oct. 8: saturday

UNR vs. UNLV Football Game Sign-ups at noon, 10/3, Patterson Lobby For students

oct. 9: sunday

Six Flags Trip Departs Patterson Lobby 8 a.m.

Sign-ups at noon, 10/3 For students

oct. 12: wednesday Midterms Study Break: Ice Cream Social 9-10 p.m. Patterson Hall For students

oct. 14 & 15: weekend Parent’s Weekend

Eagle’s Eye mission statement The Eagle’s Eye is a student-run publication which covers news of interest and importance to the greater Sierra Nevada College community. We will remain open to your feedback as the Eagle’s Eye progressively improves.

The Eagle’s Eye is a member of:

LIZ HILL

ROSS GARCIA cooks up burgers during the SGA welcome BBQ at Ski Beach during orientation week on Aug 17.

New senators join student government

BY JENN SHERIDAN Staff Reporter Following this year’s election that took place on Wed., Aug. 31, this year’s Student Government Association senators were elected. They are Samantha Marquardt representing the sophomore class, Rebecca Lincoln representing the junior class and Kenneth Stoneman representing the PrimSchultz dorm. Senior Class Senator Elizabeth Mattson and Freshman Class Senator Jacob Bricklin were later appointed.

SGA reworked the school constitution in 2005 to include a student body senate.

According to Faculty Adviser Will Hoida, the goal was to get more students involved in student government. The constitution called for senators to represent each class, the two dorms, and each of the departments within the school.

While the inclusion of senators has encouraged more people to get involved in SGA, it has been difficult to fill the positions. Many positions remain vacant, and their duties are absorbed by the rest of

SGA, said Hoida.

Hoida says this year’s three senators ran uncontested. He cites SNC’s small student body as the biggest hurdle in getting more people involved.

According to Stoneman, senators work with the SGA to help make students’ experience at SNC as enjoyable as possible.

They work as a mediator between students and faculty to solve any issues the student body may have. They also help organize events such as games, Dorm Wars and BBQs at the beach for students to unwind from school.

“In the long-run, it’s all about being proactive, not reactive. Solving problems before they truly become problems, arranging cool events to help the students destress and be happy and motivated,” said Stoneman .

Lincoln says the more people who get involved in SGA will help to contribute to a better college experience for everyone.

“Being involved with the school is a great way to meet people outside of your social

The Eagle’s Eye is produced by the Editing and Journalism Workshop classes of Sierra Nevada College.

Reporters Nikka Campora Russell Castillo Liz Hill Tim Lowe Jason Paladino Jake Pollock Jennifer Sheridan

Managing Editor Savannah Hoover News Editor Rich Cooch Photo Editor Patricia Sainz De Rozas Sports Editor Andrew Dunning Features Editor Chelsea De La Rosa Copy Editor / Advertising Director Caitlin Khoury

Adviser Tanya Canino tcanino@sierranevada.edu Letters to the Editor: eagleseye@sierranevada.edu

2011 SGA Senators • Senior Class Senator - Elizabeth Mattson • Junior Class - Rebecca Lincoln • Sophomore Class - Samantha Marquardt • Prim Schultz Dorm - Kenneth Stoneman • Freshman Class Senator- Jacob Bricklin * Senate positions are still open for those interested.

circles, and make lasting connections and memories,” said Lincoln.

Afraid you missed out on getting into SGA? Attend one of the SGA meetings and let them know you are interested.

SGA meets at 5:30 pm on Tuesdays in the Prim-Schultz building. Meetings are open to everyone.

Corrections Policy: The Eagle’s Eye strives to be accurate, fair and complete in its coverage and corrects significant errors of fact. If you see an error, please e-mail the editor at eagleseye@sierranevada.edu or call the adviser at 530.386.5042.

Advertising: Businesses who would like to support the student newspaper at Sierra Nevada College while gaining exposure to the Incline Village community are encouraged to advertise in the Eagle’s Eye. For more information, please call Eagle’s Eye advertising representative Caitlin Khoury at 603.913.5325 or email caitlinkhoury@yahoo.com

thursday, Sept. 22, 2011

news

www.sierranevada.edu 3

Ski and snowboard teams sweat for their season passes Junior Arielle Shipe, a third BY tim lowe and jake pollock Staff Reporters year freestyle snowboarder, had a slightly different outlook The Eagles look to soar on the situation. high again as new additions “It’s good to get out there as a and veterans begin working team and build a sense of SNC toward the 2011 – 2012 ski community,” said Shipe. “The season. pass is the reason we are all However, much is still in there, but that’s not what we’re the works with the team’s thinking about when we’re structure. For example, the working. The only way to get free-ride skiers are still lookthrough it is by making the ing for a new coach, and best of the situation and having John Cherry might be a solid fun,” Shipe added. replacement while Branko The team’s goal is to meet Zagar continues to lead the at Diamond Peak for one day Eagle’s race team. Zagar was every other weekend to knock full of energy this past Satout a few hours of work. Also urday, as members of both in the team’s schedule is manteams did their work for DiaTIM LOWE datory dry land training that mond Peak passes.

SKI TEAM MEMBERS take five from working hard for a photo-op. Members include: Matea Ferk, Stine Lunde, Hedvig Spangs, Emma Abra“We come here to dig under hamson, Angie Elliot, Louisa Russel-Henry, Samantha Hall, Tea Palic, Emilie Lamoureux, Caroline Klaeson, Melissa Daniels, Marcus Plyhr, Ricko started two weeks ago at High Altitude Fitness. the lift towers, spread pine Eriksson, Luca Ricou, Philip Brattstroem, Troy Mott, Filip Pindral, Clement Tomamichel, Jaka Jazbec, Chad Hedlund.

All members have access to needles and other necessary work that is hard for the regular resort workers to accomplish on their own before the the facility and partake in rigorous workouts. They must keep their outstanding academic records to be excused for training and stay on the team. There is a strong emphasis of season begins,” said Zagar.

Team members showed enthusiasm about getting the work done as quickly as possible, “academics before athletics” for the Eagles. The camaraderie is high as everyone remains close outside of team time. and it was obvious that they were itching for snow to fall.

“Everyone is expecting a great season and it will be really competitive to make the Na“If this is all it takes to get a season pass, I’m down, it’s definitely worth it to me,” said tional team on both the girls and guys side,” said sophomore Samantha Hall. sophomore Cameron Colenda, a second-year freestyle snowboard team veteran.

Fake Rocks and Botox II kicks off a fresh season of student art

BY JENN SHERIDAN Staff Reporter The name was enough to rouse interest.

“Fake Rock and Botox II” refers to the second alumni art exhibition on display at Sierra Nevada College’s Tahoe Gallery. The exhibit showcases art from SNC graduates from last year up to almost a decade ago.

The pieces vary from acrylic and oil paintings, ceramics, digital art and knitted fabric. One piece “Plastajelly,” by environmentalist and artist Ya’el Pedroza included recycled plastic bags.

Four of the artists featured in the exhibit were on campus to give a talk during the exhibit’s opening reception on Sept. 15 on the second floor of Prim Library.

The art of Rebecca Kerlin, who graduated from SNC in the mid 90s, featured a combination of digital photos and oil and acrylic painting. Kerlin currently lives in the Bay Area and has a “real job” in the software industry. She works in a studio in Oakland, Calif. and as a curator on the side.

Ya’el Pedroza graduated from SNC in 2005 and attended graduate school at Cal State Long Beach where she became a mother during her last semester of school.

Pedroza now works as a gardener and landscaper and continues to create art in her free time. She is currently working with recycled materials and salvaged garbage to create pieces that raise awareness for the environment.

Bryan Stieger graduated from SNC in fall 2007 with a degree in ceramics. He now lives in Reno where he works in a frame shop. Stieger became inspired to knit while watching a football game and now uses yarn as his preferred method of expression.

Babs Laukat graduated from SNC last year. She is currently working a regular nine-to-five job while she explores where she wants to take her art next. While Lau-

JENN SHERIDAN

SENIOR GLEN CHERITON gazes at “Untitled,” an acrylic painging by alumnus artist Jonah Harjer at Fake Rocks and Botox II’s opening reception on Sept. 15.

kat’s first medium was clay, she is currently working on digital art.

During the reception, the artists discussed topics such as what it’s like to create art outside of an academic setting, from where

they draw their inspiration and things they wish they had learned in school.

Other artists featured in the exhibit included; Jeffery James Mohr, Nikki Ballare, Jonah Harjer, and Sierra Slentz.

A new exhibit will be in the SNC gallery starting Sept. 28. It will feature LandArt by University of New Mexico professor of art and ecology, Bill Gilbert.

4

NEWS

Eagle’s Eye

Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011

Norwegian student remembers Oslo under attack BY caitlin khoury Copy Editor

On July 22, 2011, Norway, known for its nonviolent reputation as the host country for the Nobel Peace Prize, was a victim of the worst attack it had seen since World War II. The world was stunned at the news of 76 dead in Oslo, the country’s capital and largest city of 600,000. Sixty-nine were young aspiring politicians (mostly teenagers) attending a summer camp organized by the AUF, the youth division of the ruling labor party in Norway. The other seven were the victims of a car bomb detonated at a downtown Oslo government building.

According to admission records, there are currently 68 international students enrolled at Sierra Nevada College representing 22 countries. Among the eight Norwegian students attending SNC is freshman Marianne Madsen. She is passionate about the politics involving the attacks on her country, she said, and chose to major in international studies because of her integration with politics and love for travel.

Madsen’s mother, Sissel Breie, recently visited Lake Tahoe from her home base in Manhattan, New York where she holds the position of Norwegian ambassador to the United States.

According to Madsen, Ambassador Breie has repeatedly shared her advice to Norway to continue its tradition of openness and tolerance in response to the motive of the terrorist.

The Norwegian Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg, (leader of the ruling labor

SNC Fact

According to SNC Admission records, there are 68 international students enrolled at Sierra Nevada College representing 22 countries.

There are eight Norwegian students.

First-hand

Turn to Page 5 to read student Caitlin Khoury’s account of flying into Oslo, Norway on the day of the attacks.

party) is a close friend of Ambassador Breie, who shares the same outlook on the attacks, urging Norway to continue its tradition of strength and unity.

The one responsible for the mass shooting and bomb was Anders Behring Breivik, a native Norwegian right wing extremist and terrorist fighting the lenient immigration policies of the ruling labor party. His motive involved preventing further expansion of the labor party.

But the initial attack did not become the focus of the situation, it was instead the way in which the country and its citizens responded, said Madsen.

“It was a national tragedy that no Norwegian could have anticipated,” she said. “And as a nation we responded to the terror not with violence but with more democracy and openness, though not naively.”

A young female survivor stated immediately after the massacre: “ If one man can

ZANTO, from front page for high school students. It strives to assist underprivileged students in developing reading and writing skills while introducing them to the outdoors. Many of the students come from immigrant families in Tahoe and have never had the opportunity to experience the wilderness in their own backyard.

The program also emphasizes pursuing higher education and helps students with the process of getting into college.

When students return from ARC’s 40-day summer immersion course, many proclaim it as one of the best experiences of their lives, she said. The kind of physical, emotional and academic challenges that ARC students face can change their lives forever.

“Students come back with new life and academic skills, more confidence and a feeling of independence and accomplishment,” said Zanto.

As Zanto describes her experiences before founding ARC, one theme is overwhelmingly prominent: the outdoors. She spent 13 months traveling the world continuously with only a few simple guidelines: to spend $10 a day or less while seeking out ancient ruins and outdoor experiences. She spent a decade teaching outdoor education for Outward Bound, instructing courses including wilderness canoe trips, backpacking and backcountry snowboarding, in places from Colorado to Texas.

After her career at Outward Bound, Zanto had several different jobs, from journalist to snowboard instructor before finally realizing she wanted to reach out to public

courtesy photo

OUTDOOR EDUCATOR Katie Zanto helps one of her students with the Adventure Risk Challenge.

school students and improve their education. To accomplish this, she needed more education, so she pursued a master’s degree in English Education and Curriculum development from Stanford University. It was during her time at Stanford that she was able to articulate her ideas for ARC. “I felt like I had a unique set of interdisciplinary skills that could be used to start a foundation that had something new to offer,” she said.

Zanto started teaching as an adjunct professor at SNC the same year she started ARC. As founder, working on the program was more than just a job. Everything from developing the curriculum and acting as lead instructor to fundraising and public relations were responsibilities that sat on Zanto’s shoulders.

“I was using every skill I had ever accumulated. I felt like I had to apply everything I knew to the program. It was really exciting,” Zanto said.

The program’s statistics confirm Zanto’s vision of improving students’ lives. ARC sum-

COURTESY OF MARIANNE MADSEN

The Royal General Consular of Norway, Ambassador Sissel Breie stands with her daughter Marianne Madsen, a freshman at SNC.

show so much hate, think how much love we could show standing together,” according to a CNN interview.

According to Madsen, the tragedy has in turn created more political involvement from Norway’s citizens since the attacks, increasing the democracy and tolerance to which Breivik was so violently opposed.

mer program participants have achieved a 92 percent passing level on the High School Exit Exam (compared to 81 percent in the rest of the school district) and college enrollment is at 77 percent (compared to 66 percent of Latinos nationwide).

The influential reach of ARC can now be seen on campus at SNC. Several ARC alumni have gone to college and are current students at SNC. Tania Cabrera, a senior from Truckee, went through the 40-day summer program as a high school freshman in 2005. It was the first time she ever backpacked, climbed or kayaked. Everything was new to her, including the language. Cabrera had moved from Mexico with her family to Truckee only two years prior; her English skills were still limited. During the program, Zanto only allowed students to communicate in English and by doing this Cabrera’s language skills improved.

“When I returned from ARC, I felt like I was more outspoken, participated more in school and made more friends,” said Cabrera, adding that without Zanto’s influence, she probably wouldn’t have pursued college.

“If it weren’t for her help, I don’t think I would be here right now. Katie is really inspirational; she pushes everybody to be their best,” she said.

In 2009, Zanto stepped down as director of ARC to focus more on her teaching at SNC. Currently, she sits on the board of directors at ARC. Students interested in internships and work-study opportunities should contact Zanto at kzanto@sierranevada.edu to inquire about the availability of positions.

IT DEPT, from front page “We would rather be told 10 times there is a problem than not know at all,” said Network Administrator Rodney Bonnell. “Give us the details of the problem so we can get it fixed.”

The best way to reach the I.T. department is to e-mail the help desk at helpdesk@sierranevada.edu with your location and the problem so that someone can come and help you out.

“Whenever there is a request for help, we are out all around campus to get it fixed,” said I.T. assistant, senior Gabor Visnovits. “We’re pretty much the backbone of the school. We welcome anyone who comes down or needs help. Point them in the right direction.”

Steve Hamilton, the desktop specialist, said his door is always open and he is passionate about going above and beyond what’s expected each day.

“I’m happy to help anyone who needs it,” said Hamilton. “I enjoy what I do so I am happy staying busy and helping others.”

The Banner Database Administrator Karen Savage works closely with staff who use the banner to put in student information and run the Sierra Nevada College Student Information System or SNCSIS. Bonnell’s main job is to keep the networks running so the Internet and printers are working on SNC’s campus and that the Las Vegas and Reno offices have support as well.

“We’re a team here; we look out for each other,” said Bonnell.

According to staff, the biggest problems the department faces is power outages and student population growth.

“As the student population increases, it does impact us more as a department, but it doesn’t worry us,” said Bonnell. “It is a good problem to be facing.”

The I.T. department functions as a unit and building block for SNC technology to remain reliable and trustworthy for advancement. Bonnell explained how much has changed in his 10 years in the department and his 20 years experience with computers. That is what keeps his job challenging and interesting.

“It’s part of the job,” said Bonnell.

The help desk is open to all who need it. To reach the I.T. department call (775) 881-7750 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“A good rule of thumb is if it doesn’t work at first, re-start it,” said Reyes.

“Then if it still doesn’t work, come on in and see us.”

chelsea de la rosa

Down in the “bat cave” are, from left to right, Guillermo Reyes, Karen Savage, Rodney Bonnell, Steve Hamilton, Forest Goodman and front Gabor Visnovits.

Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011

Staff

Editorial:

F

or some, change can be a scary thing. When something functions well within a community and gains reverence for its principles, the thought of it straying from its roots can be unnerving.

Sierra Nevada College is growing at a rate that may soon strain its tenure in Incline Village. We’ve experienced growth in the past and faced it head on during the move from the previous mountain campus to the college’s current location.

We yet again face the question of growth and an opportunity for change.

It is a cautionary tale for a school to expand when it is sought out for its small class sizes and sustainable values. Many facets of our college lives are built around and adapted to our location at Lake Tahoe, which means several factors will be the deciding forces in allowing for growth and what responsible implementations will follow.

forum

Don’t rush into changes for growing population The obvious constraint on an increasing student population is physical space. Our campus already struggles with enough parking spaces and on-campus housing.

Our classes are slowly getting larger. This means we have a few choices to make.

We could handle this growth by deciding to build on campus, which comes with its own issues such as cost and environmental impact. Or it has been suggested that we could utilize empty buildings in town for our administrative offices to allow more classes on campus.

Another matter to consider is the cost of allowing growth. Will tuition rise or will trustees be faced with the task of finding additional funding? It is a delicate situation to consider before raising an already steep cost of attendance to accommodate potentially unnecessary growth.

Fiscal costs are not the only ones to contemplate. What will it cost our community

and environment it we choose to build or expand further into Incline Village? How will the public deal with more students enjoying their much-loved college years to the fullest extent?

SNC is unlike other institutions. Its small-town feel and culture is unique to our experience just as the one-on-one relationship between students and faculty is vital to our education.

Yes, change will inevitably happen, but it is important to consider what we are and what we can become. We should not face this opportunity with fear, but instead with creativity. That may mean more focused classes offered for students or administrative buildings located off campus, but giving more students the opportunity to experience SNC will be a good thing.

The road we take to a bigger population will be a fragile endeavor and should not be rushed or taken lightly.

www.sierranevada.edu 5

What do you think about SNC’s recent growth?

BY PATI SAINZ DE ROZAS Photo Editor

“I like the growth. It sucks that we don’t have parking, but I’m glad to see the school is growing.”

Israel Carrillo Senior

“I don’t like the vast majority of students because they are disrespectful and careless about the school.”

Jordan Ellis Junior

Creativity sometimes leads to risky rigging

I

got a very ugly lamp for free when I moved into my apartment. Its ceramic body was short, fat and pink, topped with such an atrocious lampshade that even a drunk would not call it his crown.

It was, however, the only source of light I could find for my desk.

So I smashed it.

This might come off as an irrational hate crime toward hideous items formerly belonging to a Motel 6, but I had an idea.

Instead of wasting desk space on a lamp that didn't work too well anyway, why not turn it into a chandelier?

With the butt of a machete, I cracked the base just enough to remove the wiring and light socket. I replaced the bulb, tied a knot in the cord and hung it from a hook in my ceiling. The resulting illumination on my desk meant victory.

If this sounds like a ridiculous rigging, you should see the dining room table.

There are knobs protruding from it. This is because our table began as our door.

If you look below, one side is supported by the back of a chair. The other is propped up with a poorly balanced stack of books, cooking pots and my laundry hamper.

This collapsed when my roommate needed his business management books for class. I would argue that I put them to

better use, but no matter. I filled the gap with a Webster's Dictionary and called it good.

Though creativity will get you far, there are some things in life that cannot be contrived. This category includes internal combustion engines, technologically advanced computing machines and, recently added to my list, stepladders.

As with the hideous lamp, I resorted to desperate measures because of my hatred for bad lighting. I was confronted with the simple task of replacing some burnt out bulbs. The challenge was being able to reach them in the light fixture that dangled 12 feet above our living room floor.

My first thought was to turn the couch vertically and stand on the arm, but I quickly shook the image from my head.

Such a big couch. Such a little person.

Can't end well.

So the little person began to pile lots of little things on top of one another. Coffee table. End table. Dish-drying rack. More books.

Even with my teetering tower, I still had to tiptoe and stretch every inch of myself to unscrew the light bulbs. My first reach instantly proved my foolishness.

I was on my back in seconds beside my fallen failure of a stepping stool. While

“Our endless days are numbered.”

SAVANNAH HOOVER on my way down, I had tried to snag the pull string of the ceiling fan to save myself. Now it just swayed above me condescendingly.

At this point of defeat, I should've just been glad that it didn't come crashing down on me. This did happen later in the evening, however, when my friend tried to tug the light on.

Fortunately the entire fixture landed directly in his hands and not on his face, but the close call forced me to ask my landlord for help the next day. He promptly sent someone over and our situation was fixed that afternoon.

Sometimes, I can't do everything myself and it takes some trouble to make me realize it. No one needed to get hurt for me to learn my lesson this time. I just have to watch out for questionable heights, read my books instead of stack them, smash a lamp or two and ask for help when I need it.

“It’s cool that the school is growing. It’s fun meeting all the new students.”

Stine Lunde Junior

“I think it’ll still be a small school. It’s not going to grow as much as we think. There’s not enough physical space.”

Melissa Arciniega Junior

Sympathy emerges from witnessing Oslo attack aftermath

M

y flight was an hour late. My bags were lost. I had been traveling all day from Germany to Finland to Norway, and wanted nothing more than to get into my PJ’s and sleep.

But as I marched sternly over to the lost baggage desk upon arriving in Oslo, thinking only about what profane language I

“Take what you have gathered from coincidence.”

CAITLIN KHOURY

would use toward the desk clerk, I noticed something strange. There wasn’t the usual hustle and bustle of travelers. The airport was hushed and the eerie silence seemed deafening. It was then that the desk clerk told me the horrors that had just played out only moments ago.

It was Friday, July 22, and Oslo was in the midst of a terrorist attack.

As I left the airport, I noticed that the streets were blindingly empty, the subways were shut down: the city was like a ghost town.

The gloom of dense fog interrupted by torrential downpours mirrored the somber mood of Oslo’s citizens that weekend.

But that Monday marked the beginning of a new week, and the deep mourning of Oslo’s citizens blossomed with a change of heart, literally. Memorial after memorial took place with people streaming down the narrow streets with all kinds of flowers, mostly roses.

My visit to a city known for its happy citizens and peaceful demeanor was bittersweet, as its notorious smiling faces were replaced with tears of the remembrance of innocence. But I witnessed firsthand the reaction of the people. They responded not with hatred and violence, but stood together as neighbors, families and friends as an even stronger nation.

Letters to the

editor

reader opinions Would you like your opinion published in the Eagle’s Eye? Please send comments to eagleseye@sierranevada.edu.

6

outdoor

Eagle’s Eye

Incline Village builds new disc golf course

Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011

TOUGH MUDDER

Jake pollock Staff Reporter Over the past decade, disc golf has become a popular sport for many outdoor enthusiasts. With the installation of courses on nearly every side of the lake, Incline Village will be the home of the newest course in Lake Tahoe.

With disc golf, there’s no need to lug around a bag of 13 clubs. All you need is yourself and a disc. While the game is played and scored using the same rules as traditional golf, it’s played with a flat Frisbee-like disc instead. You throw your disc from a designated area at a target that looks like a big lamp-shaped basket with chains that catch the disc.

“I’ve been playing for 20 years and what I love about disc golf is the simplicity of the game. It’s low impact, very inexpensive and anyone can play,” said Incline Village local Art Cross.

When Cross proposed the idea of a local course to Incline Village’s Parks and Recreation Department, it was almost immediately accepted by the board, according to Superintendent Indra Winquest.

“The course was approved unanimously by the Board of Trustees this past August when Art Cross brought me the idea,” said Winquest. “The fundraising for this course came from three major sources. The North Tahoe Lions Club donated $10,000 for course naming rights and 18 local businesses donated $500 for each of the 18 holes on the course. The Incline Disc Golf Association donated the remainder of the funds needed to complete this project.”

Clearly, this was a project whose time had come and local participation and support ranging from funding to volunteer labor was a significant factor for success, according to Winquest.

Gary Boxeth of the North Lake Tahoe Lions Club believes that the disc golf project was a terrific opportunity for his members.

“The Club was looking for a major service project to fund and we found the disc golf course to be ideal,” said Boxeth. “The course will be free, fun for the community and it will give the Lions some visibility.”

The disposition of private funds for this public project utilized the services of the Incline Tahoe Foundation as the best way to collect and disburse money.

Winquest explained that funds were handled by the Incline Tahoe Foundation, a local 501c(3) non-profit organization, to enhance existing and create new recreational opportunities in Incline Village.

The new disc golf course will be located by the Recreation Center as part of the Village Complex. The course adds to the expanding number of courses in the Tahoe Basin, including Bijou (South Lake Tahoe), Tahoe City, Truckee, Squaw Valley, Kirkwood, and Zephyr Cove.

Winquest estimated that it will take up to 400 hours of volunteer work to complete.

Construction started the weekend of Sept.

11 with the goal to have the course finished by mid-October, according to Cross.

Volunteers are welcome to come help with construction, said Cross. “The more the better; come help dig!”

SNC alumni test their toughness BY liz hill Staff Reporter Over 10,000 people participated in the “Tough Mudder” on Sept. 17 and 18 at Squaw Valley, including several students and alumni of Sierra Nevada College.

Tough Mudder is an event created by Will Dean and Guy Livingstone to dispute every previous definition of a challenge.

“He was inspired to start the business after growing frustrated by the unimaginative and repetitive events that already existed, and a desire to create something that would occupy the space that marathons, triathlons, mud runs, and other adventure runs weren’t filling,” according to ToughMudder.com.

After hearing about the event from a friend, SNC alumnus Jon Tekulve decided to put a team together and to start training for the 11-mile challenge in Olympic Valley, Calif.

As part of the Rookie’s softball team, Tekulve, Taylor Simmers, Maggie Thatch, Jenna Salemme, Chris Hardy, Cassie Butcher and Marn Heggen came together and began training for the event.

“I’m really happy to be here with my team and everyone participating. This is definitely one of the hardest things I’ve ever done but it was well worth the experience. I have a great team and met a bunch of very cool people that helped me complete the course,” said Tekulve.

Tough Mudder is sponsored by over 20 companies, including Degree, CLIF Bar, Dos Equis, FRS Healthy Performance and TRX Force.

According to its website, the event was voted Best Adventure Race 2010 by Travlete as well as a Forbes “50 Names You Need to Know in 2011.”

The course consists of an elevation gain of over 2,000 feet as well as 23 obstacles through an 11-mile long path throughout the valley.

Some of these obstacles include a greased half pipe, running through fire, being shocked with over 10,000 volts of electricity in water and swimming through a pond filled with ice. It is stressed that the event is not a race, but a challenge to participants.

“It is supposed to be a personal challenge – the goal is to complete the course. To get over some of our obstacles you will need the help of others. They are simply too much for one man to tackle alone. Being a Tough Mudder is about making sure no man is left behind,” according to ToughMudder.com.

In addition to creating an event based on camaraderie and a test of every physical human limit, Tough Mudder also raises money for the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). The WWP is a non-profit organization aimed at raising money for severely injured soldiers.

According to its website, TM raised over $600,000 in 2010.

The Tough Mudder event at Squaw Valley raised more money for the project than any other event to date.

LIZ HILL

ABOVE, TOUGH MUDDER PARTICIPANTS at Squaw Valley challenge their toughness and metal grit by running through electric wires. This obstacle is one of 23 on the British Special Forces inspired course.

BELOW, Tough Mudders use teamwork to make it up a greased halfpipe wall.

“Today was amazing. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life and I got through it because of the help of my teammates and strangers who wanted to see me finish just as much as I wanted to see them finish. We raised money and had a blast,” said Reno local Jennifer McConnell.

For more information about future Tough Mudder events, visit ToughMudder.com. To learn how to donate to the Wounded Warrior Project, register a team and train for the next event.

sports

thursday, Sept. 22, 2011

www.sierranevada.edu 7

8th annual Hot Dawgz & Hand Rails premieres Gremlinz movie

BY CAITLIN KHOURY Copy Editor

But it is where they are from that gave them the character for which they are known.

Their notorious rugged swagger comes from growing up riding the most treacherous, icy cold conditions of the northeast, according to Peter Furman, so it’s no surprise that their natural tough demeanors flourish in Tahoe’s fluffy bluebird days.

“

It’s really exciting because if three years ago someone had told me that there would be a Gremlinz premier at Hot Dogs and Handrails, that would have been crazy.

Matt Douglass Gremlin

“

While most Sierra Nevada College students are still sporting bikinis, board shorts and going to the beach between classes, some are gearing up for the first snowboard contest of the season.

Whether it be a railjam or the premier of a much anticipated snowboard flick, winter never ceases to be the most iconic season of the Tahoe area, according to SNC students.

This is also confirmed by the early-opening of most local resorts. These early season events are attractions for many SNC students to quench the itch to strap into their bindings.

This year’s fall season kicks off on Sept.

24 at Bear Mountain with Southern California’s 8th Annual Hot Dawgz and Hand Rails railjam. It is said to be the biggest summertime snowboard event in the world, according to the host, Bear Mountain. Supporting the jam will be 32, JSLV, and the Green Bandit Production’s Gremlinz movie premier.

Matt Douglass, Peter Furman, Ryan Allaire and Andrew Parsons are some of the SNC-affiliated Gremlinz crew members from the 802 (the representative area code of Vermont). Douglass and Furman are studying Global Management while Parsons is pursuing a major in Ski Resort Business Management, and Allaire is majoring in Global Management and minoring in Outdoor Adventure Leadership (ODAL).

“It’s really exciting because if three years ago someone had told me that there would be a Gremlinz premier at Hot Dogs and Handrails, that would have been crazy,” said Douglass.

Although the Gremlinz and GBP originate from Rutland, Vermont, they have transplanted to and made their presence known in Tahoe to chase the finest shredding conditions.

You might think that traveling 3,000 miles across the country to follow your passion might separate you from your friends, but being away from home, you can see that the Gremlinz are tighter than ever.

“As far as GBP goes, we have been tight for honestly close to a decade,” said Douglass.

“We’re all out here for the same reason; whether its going to school or being able to snowboard, even though some of us have classes once in a while… or actually 5 days a week”, said Parsons.

Most of the Gremlinz will be traveling to Big Bear in southern California for the railjam and their movie premier on Sept.

24. For more information, check out the Gremlinz website at www.gbp-gbp.com or the official Facebook video premier page “Gremlinz premier. JSLV.”

ILLUSTRATION BY TYLER LYNCH

THE GBP GREMLINZ PREMIER will be shown after the Hot Dogz and Hand Rails rail jam event on Saturday at Bear Mountain.

Tahoe resorts unveil 2011-2012 college season pass deals

BY Tim lowe Staff Reporter In such a powder-packed place, where to go with all this snow is the question any avid rider or skier must ask themselves. To really understand the resorts and each ones’ specific niche, one must understand how they really ride.

Whether freestyle or freeriding, night skiing, or airbag jumps, there is so much variety at Lake Tahoe.

There are numerous ski resorts around the Tahoe Basin to which college kids have access.

The closest is Diamond Peak, which is less than five minutes away and there is a bus from the college for students without cars.

It has great views, and students can get great early fresh tracks for only $167 a season pass.

Sierra Nevada College graduate Sara Desouza spoke highly of Diamond Peak.

“I still ride there because it’s right in town. They have awesome powder days all the time. Plus the crowds are small unlike other resorts,” she said.

Mt. Rose is a resort that sometimes gets overlooked, but it is also extremely close to campus. It offers a new pass that costs $199 for ages 13 to 22. Mt. Rose is most known for its famous chutes that can be challenging to even the best rider.

Boreal is a freestyle palace for park riders. It is smaller in stature for a resort with not many groomed trails and less tree runs. Boreal has night skiing, multiple well-maintained parks and an airbag jump. Within a 45-minute drive, you can

have all that for $99.

Jin Wook, a junior at SNC, came all the way from South Korea to ride Tahoe. His favorite resort is Boreal.

“Boreal is the best for shredding, I really like riding there; the pipe is perfect,” he said.

A new triple threat this year, however, is a real snag.

Alpine, Kirkwood and Homewood have a college student pass for $199. That’s three massive mountains under one pass. Homewood is known for great tree runs and fantastic views, Alpinen for its rough amazing terrain and Kirk-

wood for its dinosaur dumpings of snow.

Extra benefits at the three include complimentary and discounted buddy passes, 10 to 25 percent discounts on retail, and two for one private lessons.

If big mountain riding and tree runs aren’t your thing, Northstar, a very popular choice among Sierra Nevada College students, can offer some of the best terrain parks in the entire world. A college value pass is offered for $299. Rated sixth by Transworld Snowboarding for 2010 best parks, a Northstar pass also allows you to ride Heavenly Ski Resort in South Lake Tahoe.

Remember for all these college passes, you must present a SNC student ID card as well as a current transcript to receive college rates.

One of the best overall resorts that offers some of the gnarliest terrain containing six peaks as well as 16 bowls and known for its Olympian status is Squaw Valley USA. College passes are $349. It is one of the few resorts to offer a night park, superpipe and new mid-mountain bars and restaurants to enjoy this season.

If the college funds are low, there is the option to work at a resort for a free season pass. Each mountains website is available to help you.

8

A&E

Eagle’s Eye

Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011

Baron Wormser launches the Writers in the Woods Series

BY NIKKA CAMPORA Staff Reporter As the first night of the Writer in the Woods Series began with appetizers and drinks, students, faculty, alumni and community members waited patiently for Baron Wormser to immerse them into his world of poetry.

Wormser, Maine’s Poet Laureate, was the first of four literary speakers scheduled to speak to Sierra Nevada College this fall.

Wormser’s appearance launched the series on Friday, Sept. 16, with readings from his books, followed by a poetry workshop Saturday, Sept. 17.

Friday night started off with an introduction by English Program Chair June Saraceno. Before going on to speak about his own work, Wormser began with a sentence

by Henry David Thoreau, which he said was one of the most crucial sentences in his life.

“Poetry comes up through the souls of our feet. No earth, no poetry,” said Worm-

ser, quoting Thoreau.

Wormser, who has been teaching and writing for decades, is not the typical poet.

Accompanied by his wife, he moved to Mercer, Maine, to an off-the-grid house on 48 acres of land.

He explained that when he and his wife moved out there, they didn’t really have an idea what they were doing. They were blessed to find help from a neighbor named Caleb.

“The Maine we wanted to experience was personified through Caleb,” said Wormser.

As Saturday morning came around, a group of 12 students and teachers embraced Wormser’s presence as he taught the poetry workshop.

The workshop was available and free to all SNC students, which could be taken for credit or non-credit.

“The poetry workshop was very helpful,” said senior Bryan Fisher. “I was able to expand on the way I write poetry.”

Wormser was able to relay his expertise in the art of poetry to help students and teachers alike expand and improve their writing.

“These workshops are great for all types of writers,” said Writer in Residence, Suzanne Roberts. “I hope more students will take advantage of the expertise of these writers.”

The next speaker in the Writers in the Woods Series will be Kim Wyatt, the founder of Bona Fide Books on Friday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m. She will follow with a workshop the next morning on how to submit work for publication.

NIKKA CAMPORA

BARON WORMSER reads poetry Friday at Sierra Nevada College’s first event of the Writers in the Woods Series.

Creative Writing Major allows students to focus on their individual writing

BY NIKKA CAMPORA Staff Reporter Whether it is participating in poetry slams or creating manuscripts for publication, Sierra Nevada College’s new Creative Writing major will allow students to develop their writing abilities to the fullest extent.

SNC is now offering a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. This program will allow students to focus on their creative writing at the undergraduate level.

English Program chair, June Sylvester Saraceno explained, “The B.F.A. is geared

to those students who want to focus primarily on their own creative writing and who have intentions of publishing their work and/or working in writing fields such as editing, publishing, freelance writing and similar directions.”

The B.F.A. in Creative Writing is part of the Humanities and Social Sciences Department at SNC. In this program, the focus is on workshops, as well as work within the field. As a B.F.A. Creative Writing major, students choose whether to perfect their craft in the genre of poetry, fiction or creative nonfiction.

“I am happy to be doing something new, and it’s nice to explore a new path,” said Sophomore Bryce Bullins. “I am focusing on poetry because I like the idea that I can get something across without being novelized.”

Saraceno explained that the Creative Writing major is focused on writing, with the hopes of having a publishable manuscript by graduation, where a B.A. in English has more focus on literature.

According to the SNC website, “The B.F.A. in Creative Writing allows students to focus on their own individual writing and to specialize in a specific genre, while

developing competencies in all dimensions of writing.”

There will also be a higher expectation from students to publish and present their works resulting from the program.

“You can expect more open mic nights, more literary events and overall a more vibrant literary community emerging,” Saraceno said. “I hope this program… will make us a focal point for the literary arts.”

For more information and a list of requirements for the B.F.A. in Creative Writing, visit SNC’s website.

What’s going down around town BY chelsea de la rosa Features Editor

MUSIC

Santana w/Michael Franti and Spearhead Friday, Sept. 23, Reno Events Center, Reno, Nev.

and stop in Reno will be enriched by their special guests and headlining tour will be a crowd pleaser.

musical air on its eponymous Milan debut. Laced with elements of ragtime, country, folk and rockabilly, the critically praised, drummer-less

DSO is sure to be a crowd pleaser for Grateful Dead fans looking to relive and create new memories of the music that inspired them.

SPORTS

The Devil Makes Three Thurs. Sept.29, Fri. Sept.30 Crystal Bay Casino, Crystal Bay, Nev. Show: 9 p.m.

Tickets: $25-$30 The bands website thedevilmakesthree.com, explains.

“With a slightly punky perspective on vintage American blues, The Devil Makes Three is a breath of fresh

Show: 7:30 p.m.

Price: $99.50, $69.50 & $49.50 Carlos Santana is coming to town for his 2011 Sound of Collective Consciousness Tour. With the smooth sounds of Carlos Santana’s guitar stylings along with his band at his side Santana is as cool as ever. With their classic rock feel paired with revitalized energy, this tour

trio brings forth a genuine approach to acoustic music that is deeply steeped in rhythm.”

Great Lake Tahoe Bike Race

Dark Star Orchestra “Continuing the Grateful Dead Concert Experience” Tuesday, Oct. 4 MontBleu Theater, Stateline, Nev. Doors: 8 p.m., Show: 9 p.m.

Tickets: $25 (Plus Tax & Fees) While staying integral to the nearly 2,500 shows the Grateful Dead performed in their 30 years of rock history DSO will be staying true to each set list and performance chosen to recreate

Saturday, Sept. 24 Start: 7 a.m. 72-mile, Zephyr Cove, Nev. 8:30 a.m. 35-mile Tahoe City, Calif.

The 9th annual Great Lake Tahoe Bike Event will be held

at Horizon Casino, Stateline, Nev.

FESTIVALS ETC.

Friday Oct. 1, Saturday, 2 Oct.

Street Vibrations Fall Rally Sept. 21 - 25 Reno, NV, Carson City, Nev., Virginia City, Nev. The 17th Annual Street Vibrations will include music, metal, motorcycles and much more. All day events will be held in Reno, the Carson City Harley Davidson and Virginia City for a mini Mardi Gras style celebration of motorcycles and their owners.

10th Annual Village Oktoberfest in two locations offering riders a chance to choose which race to ride.

Registration: laketahoemarathon.com. Late registration: Friday, Sept. 23 from 5-8 p.m.

Oktoberfest

Saturday, Oct. 1 Squaw Valley, Calif.

“Traditional Bavarian Music and Folk Dancers, Benefit Beer Garten, Brats & Kraut & games from 2 to 6 p.m.

Camp Richardson, South Lake Tahoe, Calif.

Present at the festival will be plenty of German food , desserts, craft booths, live music by the ‘Gruber Family Band’, a pumpkin patch, bouncy castle, face painting, costume contest for you and your dog and a lot more.

FEATURES

Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011

www.sierranevada.edu 9

CHAD HEDLUND

BY JENN SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

The man that hangs on the walls of your stalls

What is one thing you like, and one thing you don’t like about living in Tahoe?

Name: Chad Hedlund Year: Senior Age: 24 Hometown: Millis, Mass.

Major: Entrepreneurship

I love being able to ski in the morning and play golf in the afternoon; that’s a rare commodity few places can offer. I don’t like having to sit in class with so much fun to be had right outside the window!

What are some of your hobbies?

What brought you to Sierra Nevada College?

Boating, saltwater fishing, golf, eating, always up for a good book.

I came to SNC to continue my competitive career as an alpine ski racer while completing my college education.

What is your favorite food?

I’m a sucker for shepherd’s pie.

How do you like being a Resident Assistant at SNC?

Drink?

I enjoy it. Being a resource and a leader among my peers has been a very rewarding

Arnold Palmer.

experience.

What kind of music do you listen to?

A little bit of everything.

Has anything crazy, funny or interesting happened yet on your watch as RA?

What is one lesson you learned the hard way?

Oh sure. I think some of the material would be better suited for the Sunday morning funnies. ‘Nough said.

Call mom.

Favorite quote?

You have a fan page on Facebook, “The Chad.” What’s the story behind that?

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

I had nothing to do with its inception, but

I honestly have no idea what to make of it.

Margaret Mead

Do you find it funny?

I laugh of course, yeah JENN SHERIDAN

You’re also the man behind the Potty Press.

How did you get involved with that?

When

the

founder,

Dan

Barden,

CHAD HEDLUND enjoys the sunny day outside of the Prim-Schultz Library in between his classes.

announced he was looking for a candidate to take the Press over after he gradu-

ated last year, I told him I was the guy. He bought right into it.

Any words of wisdom for your fellow students?

Approach with an open mind, and depart

with open options.

Competition unites students

SNC’s happenin’ iPhone apps

BY RUSSELL CASTILLO Staff Reporter With the new semester under way and the students at Sierra Nevada College settling into their schedules, the time has once again come for Dorm Wars. A friendly competition between the two dormitory buildings, SNC students are able to participate in games and compete against their rival dormitory.

Residents of the Prim-Schultz and Campbell Friedman dorms face off to prove which dorm dominates in wins as well as who has bragging rights. A tally will be kept, and the dorm with the most wins will be the winner overall.

As of Sept. 15, both dorms are tied with one win, and there will be plenty more chances to pull ahead. In the works is a soccer game, and much more. There will be a pool tournament, a ping-pong tourna-

BY RUSSELL CASTILLO Staff Reporter The Patterson Hall cafeteria is a common hangout for Sierra Nevada College students, a lot of whom own a smart phone called the iPhone. More than an ordinary cell phone, iPhone owners rely on this portable device for communication, news, social networking and different forms of entertainment.

Applications for the iPhone or “Apps,” a popular aspect of these smart phones, add different types of software and something more to the package, whether it be sports updates, news, music and even games.

Many students can be seen preoccupied by these applications, phone in hand.

Popular among them are social networking sites, like Facebook and Twitter, as well as applications for the news like CNN and The New York Times.

Fox Sports Mobile is also useful for sports fans. Games like basic Solitaire, the popular Fruit Ninja and Angry Birds are common as well, providing these students with entertainment.

Music lovers have the option to always have music handy with Pandora, a personalized radio streamed from the Internet.

Current SNC student and Prim-Schultz resident, Patrick O’Neil discussed his use of Pandora.

ment, and even a game called soda pong.

“I’m really excited about it,” said Ezra Stemple, resident assistant at Sierra Nevada College.

Although it is called Dorm Wars, it is possible for off-campus students to join in on the games. Although competitive, events like these were meant for fun and for SNC to feel a sense of unity.

“We want to create a sense of community,” said Director of Student Affairs Lizzie Hernandez. “People coming and participating will just strengthen our bond as a community.”

With pride and bragging rights at stake, both teams have something to lose. The question of who will win depends on the outcome of the games, and the competitive spirit of the teams. Only the students can decide who comes out on top.

“It’s pretty handy. I always got my favorite taste in music around me all the time,” said O’Neil. iPhones seem to be raising the bar when it comes to overall mobile capabilities.

Students enjoy having multiple applications that fit their daily routines. With new iPhone applications and technology advancing each day, students can choose which to download for work or play.

10 Eagle’s Eye

FEATURES

Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011

Imagine a city of almost 60,000 people with minimum rules and laws, no judgments and no commerce or cash. Welcome to Black Rock City, Nev. Things are about to get weird.

Growing up in Truckee, Calif, I can distinctly remember every fall watching a parade of bizarre vehicles and RV’s going east on I-80, and then a week later seeing the same vehicles (and the people driving them) covered in a blanket of thin white “playa” dust. This year I finally had the means to attend this event, and see what all the fuss was about.

After making the relatively short drive from Truckee, around three hours, I waited in line another four hours to enter the event. The first thing that struck me was just how massive the event really was. A tent city stretched as far as the eye can see, and a massive 100-foot plus tall wooden man towered above it all.

The city really showed its colors at night. Every bicycle, art car, structure, sculpture and person was lit with LED’s or “E.L. wire,” a neon-like thin illuminated wire of many colors. Anything that could have possibly had a flamethrower attached to it spat massive plumes of fire, bathing everybody nearby with temporary warmth, a harsh but welcoming contrast from the 40 degree desert nights. A 20-foot tall octopus built from old trash cans slowly rolled by, each tentacle shooting fire 15 feet into the air, projecting bass-driven music into the crowds that flocked around it like moths. After a few days on the playa, a term used for the dry lakebed, these things seemed somewhat commonplace.

Apart from the sometimes overwhelming sensory overload, I was struck by the social aspect. Burning Man encourages a culture and economy of “gifting.” I was under the assumption that this meant bartering and was quickly corrected. Practically everyone you meet has something to give you and expects nothing in return. Whether it was homemade jewelry, a misting with a spray bottle, glow sticks, alcohol or other substances, the generosity was incredible.

Several SNC students and faculty attended the event, including senior Andrew Gauthier. As a fellow first-time burner, he had much to say of the event.

“My experience would only be diluted through words. I made lifetime friendships with people I had never met before. I gained an appreciation for the arts which I never had before, and last but not least partied in the desert which I had never done before,” said Gauthier. “Burning Man is more than a party in the desert because it’s not just a big camping event”said Gauthier said. “It’s the creation of a whole new culture and community that everyone wants to be a part of. It’s a culture of giving and generosity which is hard not to fall in love with when you experience it on the first day out in the playa.”

Burning Man is often criticized for being solely an excuse to get inebriated in the desert.

Many view it as a non-stop rave thrown by a bunch of half-naked hippies on acid. While not entirely false, there is much more to this social experiment than partying.

Not only students attended Burning Man this year.

“I have been to Burning Man five years, and for me, the combination of the desert environment, the art and the community makes it a magical experience year after year.

Burning Man is a liminal space, a place where people can discover who they really are, or maybe be a better version of themselves, without the usual constructs of our everyday world,” said Suzanne Roberts, visiting English professor at SNC. Roberts has an article in National Geographic’s online magazine, Intelligent Traveler, titled “The Greening of Burning Man.” “I have done a fair amount of writing on Burning Man, and this past year I delivered a scholarly essay at the Association of Studies of Literature and the Environment on the human-nature and human-human connection at Burning Man, since historically, Black Rock City has largely been a community without cell phones and Internet,” explained Roberts. “That, of course, is changing.

For the first time this year, I saw people checking their phones and on laptops at Center Camp. One of the most wonderful aspects of Burning Man is being in the moment, which is impossible to do in our wired world,” said Roberts.

Burning Man has been the subject of many of her poems and photos, including those in her upcoming collection, “Plotting Temporality.”

Attempting to describe Burning Man in words is a feat I fear near impossible. I encourage even the most skeptical to move outside their comfort zones and attend the event next year.

Story by Jason Paladino Photographs by Pati Sainz de Rozas

thursday, Sept. 22, 2011

FEATURES

www.sierranevada.edu 11

Clockwise from top: A view of the playa; A creation inscribe with “To Define Art is to describe Beauty to a Blind Man;� The photographer is captured in the mirror of an art work; The temple burning on the last day of the week; The temple at sunrise.

Page 10: Excitement flairs when a Troya horse is being burnt; A man sits in front of a piece of art.

FEATURES

12 Eagle’s Eye

Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011

L e t ’s t a l k a b o u t

W E AT H E R COURTESY OF JEHREN BOEHM

LIGHTNING STRIKES over Boca Reservoir in Truckee, Calif.

Once a hobby, now the first word on weather led to my obsession of tracking storms,” said Allegretto.

Junior Nick Cahill has learned not to rely on mainstream weather sources such as Weather.com and The Weather Channel and has hile many people have hobbies such as mountain turned to other sources for his forecasts. climbing or fly fishing, weather enthusiast Bryan Alle“I like to open my computer every morning to check the weather,” gretto, also known as BA, is a “hobby” meteorologist. said Cahill.

“What I really like about BA is that he says how much Allegretto created tahoeweatherdiscussion.com, a snow, what times it’s supposed to be dumping weather blog focusing exclusively on the Tahoe and he is the only one I have yet to find who is area. The website exhibits weather maps, scientific able to say how much precipitation is going to models, charts and several forecasting tools. happen at different altitudes.” He currently has “This site was designed to try and bring an easyTahoe Weather Discussion as his homepage.

I like to open my to-understand discussion of the weather in the Lake Cahill went on to explain why he distrusts the Tahoe Region. The main objective is to talk about computer every more mainstream weather services. “The main snow since that is what we are all looking for,” Almorning to check the reason I dislike other Internet based weather legretto said on his Web site. “I wanted to create a reports, say Wunderground or Weather.com, weather. positive discussion of the upcoming weather, but is because they do so many different locations take out some of business-driven hype that can that they don’t get too specific. They are pretty skew forecasts. I also wanted to create a site with Nick Cahill unreliable regarding snowfall predictions. BA the tools, links and graphs that I use in my forecasts Junior does lots of comparing past years to now. BA for others that enjoy studying the weather.” seems like the kind of guy you can bump into Not just a weather forecast, Tahoe Weather Disat a bar and discuss weather, rather than a mascussion provides a forum for Tahoe weather enthusive computer algorithm that displays barely siasts. Readers can report snowfall totals at several localized weather forecasts.” locations which could improve the accuracy of AlAllegretto’s predictions are often heard on the chairlift, in ski relegretto’s report. sort locker rooms and at local bars. BA’s website is highly respected Allegretto explained the genesis of his interest in weather forecastamong meteorology students at University of Nevada, Reno, including. ing Junior Jehren Boehm.

“I majored in Meteorology for two years, but ended up graduating “We often read his predictions and forecasts, and compare them with with a degree in Economics and consider myself a ‘hobby’ meteoour own,” said Boehm. “Although he is solely a ‘hobby’ meteorolorologist. I have been passionate about studying weather since I was in gist and doesn’t pursue it as his career, his devotion to the science is grade school when I would watch big storms pound the coast at my undeniable.” home in Ocean City, N.J. My love for surfing and snowboarding has BY jason paladino Staff Reporter

W

“

“

tahoeweatherdiscussion.com