t h e
Herald
By and for the students of Hobart and William Smith Colleges ISSUE 14
VOLUME CXXVIII
February 18, 2005
Third Annual HWS Day Celebration Hadley Mongell Editor-in-Chief
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n this coming Tuesday, February 22nd, the HWS campus will kick off its 3rd annual HWS Day celebration along with marking the 100th anniversary of Albert Einstein’s appearance as a major scientific figure. Many of us recognize Einstein as the uniquely coiffed genius that developed the E=MC2 equation, but this HWS Day will undoubtedly take on a more liberal arts focus.
Delta Chi Encourages Breast Cancer Awareness Patricia J. Foster Section Contributor
M
embers of the Hobart Delta Chi fraternity will continue selling “punch out” breast cancer bracelets to raise both awareness of the disease and funds to benefit Georgia advocacy organizations. The fraternity’s close association with Atlanta alum, Michael Mills ’96, is facilitating the fundraising drive. Mills recently completed a three-year stint on the board of directors for the Georgia Breast Cancer Coalition Fund, where he first ran across the bracelets. Undergraduate members of Delta Chi, where Mills served as president during his time on campus, noticed the pink “reminder” during a visit this fall, which spurred the idea for the awareness and fundraising drive. “The guys noticed the bracelet and became quite interested once they learned what it repre-
sented,” said Mills. “I was incredibly touched and impressed when a few of the undergraduate members shared their stories of family struggle related to breast cancer and their desire to make a difference.” Worldwide, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women, excluding skin cancer, and it is the leading cause of cancer death for women around the globe. In the U.S., breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women, and the leading cause of cancer death for women between the ages of 20 and 59. A U.S. woman has a one in eight chance of developing breast cancer during her lifetime, and in 2004, approximately 40,110 women died from this disease. “Several of our brothers have first-hand experience with this deadly disease and felt compelled to do something on campus to make a difference,” stated president of the fraternity, Seth Conger, ’06. “The amaz-
ing aspect of this campaign is that we will simultaneously be raising awareness on campus while helping to fund the efforts of organizations in the state of Georgia who are fighting to find a cure.” Bracelets are available for $5 and all proceeds will be donated to Georgia Breast Cancer Coalition Fund and other Georgia non-profits. Anyone who would like to purchase a bracelet should contact Nick Stimson ’06 at nicholas.stimson@hws.edu. Also, members of the fraternity have “been carrying a couple around every day,” Conger added. “Unfortunately, we were unable to make it to Saga to sell the bracelets because they sold out in 3 days to mostly faculty and staff.” As of February 13, the fraternity had 50 more on order, said Conger. If many show interest, “we can get this out on a larger scale and increase awareness,” Conger concluded.
This year’s symposium will shed light on how Einstein helped to mold modern science, but also how he impressively contributed to the discussion of issues like religion, morality, nationalism, philosophy, public policy, and even the arts. HWS Day will focus on both the past and the future and how the exploration of these issues in Einstein’s own lifetime compare to the role they play in today’s society. Professor Peter Galison from Harvard and Professor Sylvester James Gates Jr. from the University of Maryland have been invited to be the featured speakers
for this year’s symposium. Professor Gates has expanded upon Einstein’s theory of gravity. He has most recently served as an international consultant to the government of South Africa, where he provides scientific advice on their national physics infrastructure and economic development. He is also the first African-american to be named to an endowed chair in physics in the United States. Galison is most recently the author of “Einstein’s Clocks, Poincare’s Maps: Enpires of Time.” This is the third book (published in 2003) in a series on modern physics. This year’s celebration is an opportunity for teachers, students, and enthusiasts to come together in a convention -like setting to think and talk outside of our normal academic boxes. All sessions throughout the day will be accessible to everyone, not just scientists. HWS Day is taking place this year due to the important support of many groups on campus like the HWS Philosophy Department, Physics Department, Provost’s Office, and the Foster P. Boswell Fund. Please visit http:// www.hws.edu/academics/hwsday for a full HWS Day schedule.
Farewell Note Susan Murad, who has served as the director of communications at HWS since April 2001, has been named vice president and director of communications at the New York branch of Citizen’s Bank in the Albany area. Murad has been responsible for the Daily Update for as long as currently enrolled students have been here, and she has led the communications staff through extensive Web development and redesign and has enhanced the Colleges overall visibility across the country. Murad has also been a real presence in the Geneva community, as a member of the Geneva Town Council and other visitors’ associations. There will be a farewell reception for Murad, to be held from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on Friday, February 18 in the Common Room of Scandling Center. The entire campus community is welcome to stop by to congratulate Murad and thank her for all of her hard work.
Comedy Playhouse Open for Laughs
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he Comedy Playhouse opened on February 4 at 20 East Castle Street, across the street from the Ramada Inn. The Comedy Playhouse will be presenting stand-up comedy shows every Thursday at 8:30p.m., and every Friday and Saturday at 9p.m. Each week will feature headlining comedians with national TV credits who regularly headline at comedy clubs across the country. The shows will also feature a middle act (many also with national TV experience) and will be hosted by manager Mark Drummond.
The Comedy Playhouse will also offer a “pub menu” before, during, and after the show and will soon be opening as a restaurant featuring Chef Ronald Wentworth, formerly of Jellybeans. The Comedy Playhouse also runs the Lake Ontario Playhouse Comedy Club, located in Sackets Harbor. The Lake Ontario Playhouse has been presenting stand-up comedy since 1989. Some of the acts that have performed at the Playhouse include: Kevin James, the star of CBS’s “King of Queens”; movie star Martin Lawrence; Daryl
Hammond, Jim Bruer, and Jimmy Fallon, from “Saturday Night Live”; American Comedy Awards Winner Mary Ellen Hooper, and Michael Winslow from the “Police Academy” movies. “We are very excited about opening a comedy club in Geneva. It’s a great town with beautiful scenery, wineries, and history. Hobart & William Smith Colleges
are close by, and there are lots of people who love to laugh. We were very happy with our shows in the fall of 2003 at the Ramada and have been looking forward to finally opening,” saidto Comedy Playhouse managing member Michael R. Kinnie. The Comedy Playhouse has been providing comedians for the annual Geneva YMCA benefits the last
couple of years which included comedian Kevin Meany at the Smith Opera House in November 2003 and Greg Vacarrello at Belhurst Castle this past winter. They are also working to present an improv night and an open mic night in the spring and hope to produce summer theatre in addition to the weekly Stand-up Comedy shows. Tickets are $10 per person, and on Thursdays, the first 40 patrons get in for $7 per person. You must be 18 or older to attend the comedy shows unless accompanied by an adult.
Upcoming shows: W e e k e n d
Feb 17-19 Scott Bruce with Rod Reyes
W e a t h e r
Pulaski, WI
Geneva, NY
Feb. 24-26 Todd Paul with Nancy Ryan
Friday:
Friday:
Few Snow Showers, 21°/14°
Few Snow Showers, 23°/9°
March 3-4 Sky Sands with Paul Morrissey
Saturday:
Saturday:
March 10-12 Eddie Clarck with Tim Homayoon
Few Snow Showers, 26°/15°
Mostly Sunny, 21°/10°
Sunday:
Sunday:
Mostly Cloudy, 27°/16°
Few Snow Showers, 24°/17°
March 17-19 Special Guest with Eric Deskin
Bee flowering Costa Riccan coffee plants
Juan Carlos Ulate / Reuters
March 24-26 Ben Creed with Eric Schwelp
Are You SAD?
Students Fear Sexual Assault
A Tasty European Treat
Terri Hannan discusses Seasonal Affective Disorder and how to combat your depression..
A William Smith student complains about the lack of information about rapes on campus.
Student returns from abroad with some interesting new ideas about pop music.
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CAMPUS LIFE the HERALD Page 2
HEALTH HINTS FROM HUBBS HWS Students Get Active
THE HERALD Established 1879 By and for the students of Hobart and William Smith Colleges Hadley Mongell Caroline Hettinger Editor-in-Chief Katie Bell News Editor Owen Oertling Brandon Currie Layout Editors Melissa Sue Sorrells Copy Editor David Diehl A&E Editor Roderick P Thaler Jr. Opinion/Editorial Editor John Rosenbaum Sports Editor Veronica Mora El Heraldo Editor Kari Balakar Emily Corcione Assistant Copy Editors
CONTRIBUTORS Terri Hannan Amanda Jantzi Sandra Maroska Terri Hannan Alessandra Raimondi Alex Brustowicz Alicia Laible Patricia J. Foster
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES The Herald is currently accepting submissions for our coming issue. The Deadline for this issue is Sunday at 7pm. All submissions left in the drop box MUST includeThe name and phone number or e-mail of an individual person that The Herald can contact regarding the submission. BOTH a hard copy and disk copy must be left in the drop box. If you are submitting by email, please make your submission an attatchment. If criteria are not met the Herald may not be able to print the subission.
Stuff Happens
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he Media and Society Se nior Seminar will produce excerpts from David Hare’s play, Stuff Happens, this semester. The play uses the words of the principal politicians in tracing the decision to declare war against Iraq. The performance will be in Albright on March 3 at 7:30 p.m. We anticipate a two hour performance, including intermission. The play will be presented as a workshop: the parts will be read, not memorized; there will be no movement or stage business; the cast will sit in chairs to read their parts. Following each excerpt, members of the seminar will trace the authenticity of the script for the audience. The group is looking for readers for the parts of George Bush, Dick Cheney, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Donald Rumsfeld, and other roles. Roles are open to students, faculty, and staff. The rehearsal time commitment is minimal: One “read through” with the rest of the cast on February 28.
If you are interested e-mail Professor Linda Robertson (Robertson@HWS.EDU) by February 18.
Terri Hannan RPA-C Hubbs Health Center
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t is mid-February. Classes are more demanding, papers are pending, and the weather is just plain nasty at times. The winds are cold and blustery, the sidewalks and streets snow-covered, and where oh where is the sun? Winter in upstate New York can be dismal. The shorter days and longer nights of winter can interfere with our normal biological clocks and circadian rhythms, making us feel tired, depressed and unproductive. It has been long known that the short, dark days of winter can cause people to experience a distinctive type of depression and malaise. This condition, known as Seasonal Affective Disorder may affect as many as 5 million Americans each year. SAD, as it is commonly known, is characterized by feelings of sadness and depression that occur in the winter months when the temperature drops and the days grow short. SAD has been defined as fall and winter depressions for at least two years, alternating with non-depressed periods during spring and summer with at least one disabling depressive episode and no other major psychiatric disorder or possible explanation for mood change. People who suffer from SAD can have the common symptoms of depression such as sadness, anxiety, loss of interest in usual activities, decreased interest in sex, withdrawal from social activities, and an inability to concentrate. Symptoms most common to winter depression include: increased sleep, increased appetite, weight gain, irritability, interpersonal difficulties (especially feelings of rejection), and a heaviness in the arms and legs. Generally SAD months are November through March, January and Feb-
ruary being the worst. The cause of SAD is unknown, but researchers suspect changes in the availability of sunlight plays an important role. Women are twice to three times more likely to suffer from the winter blues than men. If you think you may have SAD, or a milder form of seasonal depression, there are some initial steps you can take: · Make your room, house or apartment bright. Keep the curtains open, and the shades up. Decorate with bright colors. If you are in an office or classroom, ask if you can sit near a window. · Try to establish a regular pattern of sleep. · Try full spectrum (broad spectrum) light bulbs in your lamps. · Exercise outdoors as much as you can. Light therapy is another treatment for SAD. There are numerous types of light therapy lamps and boxes available if all other forms of treatment are ineffective. The Counseling Center at HWS has screening tools for aiding the diagnosis of several types of emotional conditions on The Counseling Center homepage. The Counselors and medical staff at Hubbs are available daily to answer questions about depression, anxiety, or other symptoms students might experience. If you feel you might have SAD and would like to consult with a provider, please call 3600 and arrange an appointment or ask about how to utilize walk-in hours. Embarking on a winter trip to a warmer climate is also a good treatment for SAD. Try to plan in advance for Spring Break. Although I cannot recommend a cruise or Caribbean holiday as a medically covered expense, it will make you feel wonderful to lie in the sun and feel your winter sadness lifted. Just remember the sunscreen!
Amanda Jantzi and Alessandra Raimondi Section Contributors
H
ave you ever had a gripe with something on campus, but felt powerless to do something about it? This weekend you will have the opportunity to learn tactics on how to raise awareness and engage in activism, whatever your concern. The Fisher Center will be sponsoring an Activist Workshop this Saturday from 10am-4pm presented by Billionaires for Bush, a 527 activist group that works on the grassroots level. They will provide information tailored to HWS students about how to raise their voices and get others involved in their cause. Billionaires for Bush use culture-jamming tactics, like humor and street theater, to present their subversive, sarcastic message. As their name suggests, they’re working against politicians who put corporate interests over those of the people that they are actually supposed to be serving. Billionaires for Bush relies on volunteers and donations to run the organization, which features 90 chapters nationally. “Apathy is a bunch of bullshit,” says Phil Recchio, Hobart student coordinator for the Fisher Center. Recchio sites apathy as one of his
primary concerns with students on campus. However, he feels that there is a reason that students aren’t engaged: frustration with the lack of cohesion and leadership amongst groups on campus. Recchio says that the groups are too divisive, with hardcore ideology that might alienate more moderate potential activists. One of the goals for this workshop is to show everyone that they can get involved and raise their voice. You don’t need to tie yourself to a tree to be an activist, nor do you need to consider yourself politically “liberal.” Recchio’s goals for the workshop are to learn how to unite groups with a variety of different viewpoints in order to get something done. He would like to see a monthly student forum where people could voice concerns, allowing different groups on campus to develop their own strategies and hopefully move towards some sort of consensus. He cites the sexual assaults on campus last semester as one issue that could have benefited from this sort of approach. So, if you have a concern – whether you feel your conservative viewpoint isn’t respected, want the café to stop using those Styrofoam boxes, or are just sick of getting junk e-mail to your HWS account – this workshop will provide you with a unique and valuable opportunity to learn how to voice your concerns. You’ll be provided with a variety of strategies and outlets to allow you to bring your own voice to campus dialogue. Everyone is welcome, and everyone can benefit from the knowledge and experience that these speakers bring to the table.
EL HERALDO Veronica Mora El Heraldo Editor
Announcements The Latin American Organization invites all of the HWS community to join us at our weekly meetings every Wednesday at 7:00pm. At next week’s meeting, we will be discussing Latino success in the United States. There are many Latinos that have succeeded but go unrecognized. Do you admire any Latino/a? Do you want to learn more about Latinos and what they are accomplishing? Just want to hear our discussion? Come join us! The Caribbean Student Association invites everyone to join them at their 6th annual Come Celebrate Our Diversity Dinner. This event will be held on Saturday, February 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the Comstock Dining Hall. Following this dinner, there will be an afterparty at the barn where you can dance all night! Tickets are available now in the College Store: students pay $3.00; faculty and staff pay $7.00. Don’t miss this wonderful night. Noticias Del Mundo Venezuela - The country has been struck by floods that have caused great damage and loss. About 3,700 people have had their homes destroyed by these floods. Helicopters and navy ships were sent to evacuate thousands of people trapped by floodwaters. The
helicopters landed at La Guaira’s airport with victims rescued from the Caribbean coast. About 5,000 people were rescued from the mountainous coast in Vargas State, but about 2,000 people still remain to be evacuated. Images from the air show the many damages that these floods have caused including parts of the coastal highway that have disappeared under landslides. The country’s president, Hugo Chavez, visited the area and asked for calm. He also announced a $52 million fund to help in relief efforts and declared a state of emergency in Caracas and six other states. Colombia- Nearly half a century since spurts of guerrilla resistance began in Colombia, the death toll has not ceased. Agreements between the government and the armed forces, better known as FARC, are unpromising. The death toll, which now surpasses the thousands, has torn the country apart. The fourth major attack this month resulted in the death of 17 Colombian soldiers and 11 rebels. The attack began after soldiers spotted a guerrilla division in the town of Mutata, 200 miles northwest of the Capital. The guerrilla organization has established a highly organized structure of about 20,000 members with significant military capabilities, which arguably have been brought to question by the public. Today, its goals seem out of touch with the communist philosophy that it began with. It has taken a role in drug trafficking and gun smuggling which, has in its long campaign, deepened
the country’s wounds. Unfortunately, the country is known throughout the world for its violence and its drug traffic, a direct result of the internal conflict. Political division is certain, but Colombia remains a country rich in culture and natural resources that continue to surpass its cancer rates. The IC, A Place for Everyone Responses “The reason that I rarely participate in LAO Meetings, is because even though they are supposedly open to “everyone,” there is a sense that I wouldn’t belong if I went to the meeting or at least that I am not the target audience that they are attempting to reach, so I feel as if I don’t belong. After reading the article and some persuasion from a friend, I am planning to come to the meeting this week.” ~Lauren Knight “Recently, there was an article written about Intercultural Affairs and the lack of white students who go there. There are many rumors about IC being a place or second home for minorities. This is true. Speaking for myself, the IC is a place where I can hang out, do homework, or just sit down and reflect on the day. The IC, just like the library, is a space where students go when they do not want to be in their rooms, where they can study, and a place where many activities on campus occur. The IC offers itself to many clubs like the Latin American Organization, Caribbean
Student Association, and NARAL Pro-Choice NY @ HWS just to name a few. “Intercultural Affairs is NOT only for minorities. It just happens to be one of the places where many, not all, minorities go on campus. There has been recent debate about why many white people do not go or feel uncomfortable going to the IC. From word of mouth, many white students feel it is not a place for them because they are white. I recently asked one of my white friends if she felt uncomfortable being at the IC. She told me that she was completely comfortable being there—she said it was not about being white for her but rather that she enjoyed being there because she met new people and hung out with friends. This house welcomes EVERYONE, however, many people do not take advantage of it. “I guess what I am really trying to get at is to just send a message to everyone on campus. Come to one of the meetings held at IC, come study there, play in the game room, watch television, and read a book, whatever. Just don’t judge Intercultural Affairs because many of the faces you see may be darker than yours!!!” ~ Myriam Torres “I personally don’t come to the IC and the meetings held there because I just don’t have the time. I am usually busy at the times of the meetings. I have however been at the IC a couple of times to do homework and found it to be a very welcoming place.” ~Candace Villanueve
OPINION-EDITORIAL the HERALD Page 3
A Student’s Perspective on the Recent Sexual Assault Patricia J. Foster Op-Ed Contributor
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round 4 p.m. on Thursday, February 10, 2005, there was a loud knock on my door—a hard, heavy, repetitive knock. My roommate and I cheerfully said, “Come In.” An older man, walked through the threshold, pulled a badge out, and said he was an inspector who needed to ask us questions. We thought we were in trouble. Mispronouncing assault he said, “There has been an accoult last Saturday night between the hours of 2 and 4 a.m.” We were shocked. Pointing out our Sherrill Hall dorm window, he said, “It was right out back [in the parking
lot]...She was screaming afterwards. Did you hear anything?” We answered “No” and tried to get more information out of him. “There are suspects, but we are trying to get additional information,” he said, keeping names out of the conversation. He didn’t give us any detailed information about how she was assaulted and what we, as females, should look out for. I have two concerns: first, students were not informed about this incident. Why was this assault not posted on the campus website? From the night of the assault to when this “Inspector” came to my room, almost a full week passed. Why did I not here about it? There have been three assaults this past
fall. These occurred during the warm weather, and during the one warm week of the winter another occurred. Coincidence? Nonethe-
less, students should have been notified. Second, there was not a campus security officer walking with this strange man who claimed to be an “Inspector.” He could have printed out a piece of colored ink paper and laminated it. It could have been an insurance card. It could probably even pass at the Holiday. He flashed it quickly, and I don’t even recall him introducing himself by name. He could have been checking out the girl’s daily patterns on Sherrill 2 just for his own knowledge… for his own assault plan. The lack of information and the lack of professionalism the school has given towards students hinder the level of respect I, my roommate,
and our families have for the school. We have been given no information and a strange man came into our room without any school supervision. Friends of mine have been raped and they claim to have been shunned, ignored, and put on the backburner. These are first hand accounts, so I know they are not rumors. By not releasing information about accounts to students and allowing an “Inspector” to walk through an all-girls hall without someone from the Colleges, the school creates a situation in which rumors spread. So please, tell the students what happened—because it will be difficult to fall asleep thinking that there is a girl being assaulted outside my bedroom window.
SPORTS Manning Wins First Big Game of Career Alexander Brustowicz Sports Contributor
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or the past 55 years, the NFL has finished its season with the Pro Bowl, bringing together the best players of the past year to strut their stuff in sunny Honolulu. While not as explosive as last year’s 55-52 NFC win, this year’s Pro Bowl was still a fun, satisfying game for football fans. Coming down to the final minutes, the AFC pulled off a 38-27 win over its counterpart in a game dominated by the quarterbacks. With no pressure on his shoulders (like an AFC playoff game in New England), Manning was flawless, completing six passes for 130 yards and three touchdowns. Manning’s flashiest throw was a 62yard TD pass to fellow Colt Marvin Harrison to open up the game and put the AFC on the scoreboard. The
AFC would quickly roll to 28-10 half-time lead. Despite starting the second half with an 18 point lead, the AFC had plenty of work on their hands as they had to defend against Manning’s equal, the elusive Michael Vick. Vick, playing in his first Pro Bowl game, orchestrated a comeback against the finest of the AFC’s defensive class and closed the score to 31-27 with just 9:04 left in regulation. Vick took quick command of his team, throwing for 205 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He also became the first quarterback in Pro Bowl history to throw and run for a touchdown in the same game. The comeback fell just short, however, when Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson ran in a four yard TD with 5:15 remaining. As the final whistle blew, Manning was named Pro Bowl MVP, becoming the first player to win both League and Pro Bowl MVP awards since Joe Theismann in 1983. While not as popular as baseball’s All-Star game, the Pro Bowl has delivered exciting, fast-paced games the past few years, and will hopefully continue that trend.
Hobart Hockey John Rosenbaum Sports Editor
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he Utica College (12-4-5, 61-1) Pioneers men’s ice hockey team moved into a three-way tie for first place in the ECAC West conference standings after defeating the Hobart College Statesmen (13-5-4, 4-4-2 ECAC West) by a 3-1 score on Saturday afternoon at the “Cooler” in Geneva . With both teams coming off key conference victories the night before – Hobart beating Elmira, and Utica getting the better of RIT – both teams seemed weary and sluggish in the first period. Utica could only manage a meager four shots on goal in the first 20 minutes of hockey, but still came away unscathed as the period finished scoreless. The Statesmen drew first blood
as junior Edward Poirier (Methuen, Mass.) scored his ninth goal of the year 11:59 into the second period, assisted by senior Jesse Desper (West Kennebunk, Maine). Although Hobart controlled the majority of play in the game, the Pioneers managed to tie the game 18:23 into the second period after an unnecessary penalty put the Statesmen down a man which lead to a power-play goal by senior Ryan Dolan (Sodus, N.Y.). Dolan also scored what proved to be the game winner 3:28 into the final period as the Statesmen again were left shorthanded after a tripping and boarding penalty within one minute of each other left the Statesmen two men down. The Pioneer’s capitalized on Hobart’s penalties as Dolan fired a powerful slap shot from the left wing that left first-year Hobart goalie Dimitri Papaevagelou (Windham, N.H.), with little chance. Dolan was assisted by seniors Jimmy Sokol (Webberville, Mich.) and Jon Ames (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) on the goal. The final blow to the Statesmen hopes came 05:51 into the third period when sophomore Ryan Webb
Photo From Daily Update
White Lake, MI, scored off the senior assist of Ron Mexico. Statesmen freshman goalie Papaevagelou had 21 stops on the afternoon, while Pioneer freshman Adam Dekker (Muskegon, MI) held Hobart to the lone goal as he stopped 27 shots and earned his tenth victory of the ‘04-‘05 season. Hobart can now not afford to lose anymore games if they are to secure an ECAC West tournament place. The Statesmen next travel to Vorhees, N.J. to play Neumann College Feb. 19, and then Feb. 26 they travel to Elmira for the final game of the regular season. The Herald wishes the team and staff the best of luck.
Photo From Daily Update
HWS Media and Society Department Travels to NYC for Career Networking Hadley Mongell Editor-in-Chief
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n February 3rd, the Media and Society Department at Hobart and William Smith Colleges embarked on an adventure outside of the classroom. Approximately thirty-five media majors and enthusiastic students traveled down to New York City, accompanied by
Professor Iva Deutchman and Alumni Relations staff Kathy Regan and Jared Wheedan. The main purpose of the trip was to bring media students face to face with alumni and alumnae that currently work in the media industry, in hopes of facilitating communication and possibly career or internship opportunities. This was the first trip of its kind, devotedly organized by
Professor Deutchman, a select group of senior Media and Society Majors, and the helpful staff of Alumni Relations. The students enjoyed a fantastic networking weekend that began Thursday night at the Lincoln Center Gala, where the Hobart Medal of Excellence was awarded to Reynold Levy ’66, the President of Performing Arts at Lincoln Center.
Everyone who attended the event enjoyed getting dressed up and meeting alumni and trustees of the school also in attendance. On Friday, the students got up early and met for breakfast at the Williams Club, where President Gearan gave the opening speech of the day, and a panel discussion was organized of four alumni that work in print, television, advertising and film. After the panel discussion and questions, the students went off into groups for two site visits: one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Students toured many different sites, like CBS, NBC (“The Jane Pauley Show” and “The Today Show”), Fox Internet News, Univision, and Bloomberg News. After all of the site visits had been concluded, every student on the trip met at The Falls Restaurant and Bar (owned by two Hobart al-
ums) in SoHo to further network with other invited alums. The reaction of the attending students was overwhelmingly positive because they truly appreciated that there were alumni/alumnae willing to help them in their fields of interest. By bring the two worlds of current students and alumni together on the common ground of their career interests, the sense of pride for our schools and what lies ahead for everyone was nothing short of motivating for all of the students that attended. Since the trip proved to be such a success, the faculty involved seemed very positive that this might turn into an annual excursion. Overall, this trip was taken at a perfect time where many upper classmen are seeking validation for his or her liberal arts education, especially in the competitive world of media.
Corrections: Last week, there was an error in the sports section. The titles and authors of the two lead articles were switched. Sports Editor John Rosenbaum wrote The Embodiment of Dullness, which was featured under the wrong headline on the left of the page. Sports Contributor Alex Brustowicz wrote What’s So Bad About A Dynasty, which was featured on the right side of the page,
but under the wrong headline. Apologies go out to both authors and any readers who were confused by the headline switch. Due to a printing problem, the paragraph breaks in several of the articles were missing. We are working on the problem, and hope there will be no future problems with paragraphs.
A&E the HERALD Page 5
The 47th Annual Grammy Awards Ceremony Cheesy Euro-Pop is Tasty chorus, flute loop sample, and lyrtook place Sunday, February 13th. Here are ics written in a nearly unknown semester abroad can do Central European language. The some of the top winners: many things for you: best part about listening to pop muAmanda Jantzi A&E Contributor
Record Of The Year:
mance :
Alicia Keys
Here We Go Again Ray Charles & Norah Jones
Slither Velvet Revolver
Album Of The Year:
Best Metal Performance:
Best Rap Solo Performance
Genius Loves Company Ray Charles & Various Artists
Song Of The Year:
99 Problems Jay-Z
Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group:
Whiplash Motörhead
Best Rock Album
Daughters John Mayer
Best New Artist: Maroon5
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance: Sunrise Norah Jones
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance: Daughters John Mayer
Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal:
Let’s Get It Started The Black Eyed Peas
American Idiot Green Day
Best Alternative Music Album A Ghost Is Born Wilco
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance: If I Ain’t Got You Alicia Keys
Best Male R&B Vocal Performance Call My Name Prince
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration Yeah! Usher Featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris
Best Rap Song Jesus Walks Miri Ben Ari, C. Smith & Kanye West, songwriters (Kanye West)
Best Rap Album The College Dropout Kanye West
Best Female Country Vocal Performance
Best Dance Recording:
Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
Toxic Britney Spears
My Boo Usher & Alicia Keys
Best Male Country Vocal Performance:
Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal:
Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
Live Like You Were Dying Tim McGraw
Heaven Los Lonely Boys
Vertigo U2
Best Hard Rock Perfor-
Alicia Liable Jaded Journalist
Redneck Woman Gretchen Wilson
Musicology Prince
Best Country Collaboration With Vocals
Best R&B Song
Portland Oregon Loretta Lynn & Jack White
You Don’t Know My Name
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broaden your horizons, ex- sic in another language is that you pand your knowledge of yourself, get to experience the infectious acquaint you with high quality beer, hooks and blips of the music withand expose you to other cultures. If out having to deal with trite, irritatone is speaking of much of Europe, ing lyrics. I first heard it when two this includes a refined culture long friends and I stumbled into a bar in under development that knows how Northern Denmark where we were likely to be the only to appreciate, rather than people who met the drinkmock, heinously bad music. ing age of eighteen. There, you realize that you Drunk, sweaty teenagers can still be cultured, sophiswere ebulliently pumping ticated, and still embrace a their fists to the chorus. good boy band. The song is readily Specifically, a Moldovan/ available on Itunes, but Romanian boy band that FromDelafontMusic that does not give you the sings in absolutely gibberish (even in there own language, judg- full experience. Like many things in ing from the translation), wears today’s society, it is best experigaudy gold sunglasses, unbuttons enced in a variety of media. The their shirt to their navel, and has a original music video (http:// hit video full of suggestive homo- mapage.noos.fr/martialro/ozone/ eroticism and jumbo jet engines that video.html) is a masterpiece on its become large speakers as they own, but even more enjoyable is a spread their message of peace, clip of an exuberant fat child lip hope, and love across the world. synching to the song (http:// Best yet, the Moldovans who com- www.newgrounds.com/portal/ promise the group appear young view/206373). I present this as an enough to be some of those unfor- example of the joy that solid pop tunate ex-Soviet citizens you often music can bring. For an additional read about who are sold into sex laugh, watch with subtitles and enslavery for Western Europe. Except joy the fact that pop music, univerthese individuals were sold to some- sally, features lyrics that were one in Romania to make fabulous pieced together seemingly by randomly picking nouns and then depop music. O-Zone’s Dragostea Din Tei termining suitable verbs and other swept across Europe this fall, bol- parts of speech to bring them tostered by its catchy and oft repeated gether. My hope is to one day see exuberant bar goers pumping their fists in the air much as their drunken Danish compatriots had done, and well likely continue to do, for the foreseeable future. isn’t something to hide your head about, Children of the Corn V really tops it off. I could see being in part one, maybe two, but never a part 5. Her bad acting ruined the one thing I could have loved about this movie. In a sub-plot, Smith takes on the challenge of helping Albert (Kevin James) win the love the Heiress Alegra Cole (Amber Valletta). He is a tubby accountant with a good heart (though not a healthy heart), and he provides most the laughs in the movie. He makes the movie much more bearable. On the Alicia scale of 1 to 10 I rate this movie a 6.8. I am only giving it such a good grade because I know most of you will like this light comedy. It makes for a good first date and even in my pessimism I can see that.
You’ve Already Seen the Hitch
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t’s the night before Valentine’s Day and people across campus are cuddling up next to their honeys, making promises of lifetime commitment and fidelity. Most of you will be broken up by the end of next month. Sorry, but statistics are against you and so am I. So how did I spend Valentine’s Day? This jaded writer went to see Hitch. Alone. In a movie theatre filled with lovers on first (or last) dates, I sat alone eating stale popcorn, thinking that this must be what hell is like. It was my own personal Inferno. So what was my comfort? Was I able to take refuge in the comic relief of Will Smith? Did he warm my heart with his witty retorts and charm? No. I cried because this was exactly like every other romantic comedy I have ever
seen. And most of you will love it. It is just another hit of the week soon to be replaced by a screenplay I am writing called Jersey Girl Saying Something About Mary When Along Came Polly. And it’s being Maid in Manhattan. It will star Ben Stiller as a down on his luck artist
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who lacks inspiration and hasn’t met his manager’s quota of bad modern art. He will meet Kate Hudson, who will become his muse. Then in a tragic twist… actually screw it, my bitterness and distaste for romantic
comedies has become cliché even to me. Hitch (Will Smith) is a dating consultant who is black and suave, which means he has something his loveable yet dopey white clients do not: a much larger batch of confidence. He teaches the silly white boys how to be that perfect gentleman no straight woman can resist falling in love with. All the while not putting any faith into true love himself. Then, surprise! He meets a woman who is his equal match: Sara (Eva Mendes), a detestable, jaded, cynical journalist. Sara had potential. Barry Wetcher Unfortunately they went and cast Eva Mendes. Lets look at her accomplishments: Stuck On You, 2 Fast 2 Furious, All About the Benjamins, Urban Legends: Final Cut, A Night at the Roxbury, and Children of the Corn V. If that list
Dump The Wedding Date Sandra Maroska A&E Contributor
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he fact that after I saw The Wedding Date, I told people I’d seen Million Dollar Baby tells you what kind of movie this is. A guilty pleasure? Sadly, not even that. A guilty pleasure would imply something that could make up for an absurd plot, like the beautiful boys of the O.C. making you forget that their kind of story only exists in minds like McG. Truth be told, I was embarrassed that I drove to Rochester and paid eight dollars to see The Wedding Date, which pales in comparison to your garden variety romantic comedy – I’m even shocked that it made it to the big screen, because I’ve seen better movies on the Fox Family Channel.
In any case, The Wedding Date attempts to tell the story of the dilemma a thirty-something’s (played by Debra Messing) encounters as she finds herself dateless for her sister’s wedding, at which “the ex” is going to be the best man. Come on, girls, you can understand her problem here – you all know that we each have that one ex boyfriend, the one who makes us need to be seen with the perfect guy, in the perfect dress, and so on. So, what does our damsel in distress do? She opens up her friendly yellow pages and hires an escort, played by Dermot Mulroney. It may not be what all women would resort to in such a situation, but hey, it provides for one hell of a story to tell the grandkids. Here’s the problem: even though it’s clear from the beginning
that there’s going to be a happy ending, in spite of the clichéd uptight behavior of Messing’s character, Kat, which is countered by the cool charm of Mulroney’s character, Nick, the love story seems entirely forced. Not only was there absolutely no chemistry between the two, but it actually seemed like the producers just picked at random which scenes to include in the movie. One scene portrayed Messing obsessing over her ex at her sister’s bachelorette party and the very next scene showed Messing and Mulroney having a very intimate affair in her father’s yacht. There was no fluidity to the movie – their growing relationship seemed to literally change over night as the characters developed profound emotions for the each other without showing
any real connection onscreen. I managed to tear myself away from this captivating love story and look around to gauge the audience’s reaction, which was the same as my own: what the hell is going on? Do they love each other? Do they hate each other? Do I even care? Oh, but let us not forget the ever so deep psychoanalysis given by Mulroney’s character as he criticizes Kat for her fear of commitment, because we all know male escorts are therapists on the side (and isn’t it just perfect that he’s pretending to be a therapist so the whole family doesn’t know their little Kit Kat hired a male prostitute to bring to her sister’s wedding). Not even the deeply emotional scene where Nick confronts Kat about how he feels and demands that she feel the same way can save
this “romantic comedy” from the doom of the bottom Blockbuster shelf. The supporting actors also provide little comic relief in this movie, a fact that made me want to cry a times, it was so bad. For the record, I’m the biggest sucker for romantic comedies. I loved the absurdity of even 50 First Dates, which, for a tale about disjointed memories in love, did a better job of connecting two people than The Wedding Date did for showing any kind of spark or chemistry between Messing and Mulroney. Don’t be fooled like I was by Mulroney’s performace in My Best Friend’s Wedding (which I loved, by the way). You won’t find it here. In a word the movie was forgettable. I’m just mad that I can’t forget the eight dollars I spent on it.
