The Herald
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By and for the students of Hobart and William Smith Colleges FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2008
VOLUME CXXX ISSUE 11
World News Rundown of International Events
President’s Forum Speaker Billy Collins Draws Large Crowd Despite Weather By Rebecca A. Dennee Editor-in-Chief
By Meg Stirling ‘10 Herald Contributor US Seeks Death Penalty for Six 9/11 Suspects
Lawsuit Accuses Customs Agents
According to an Air Force general, the government hopes to try six Guantanamo Bay detainees who have been accused of helping plan the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The general claims that “there will be no secret trials” unless information presented could compromise national security. Some of the charges include conspiracy, murder, and terrorism.
A lawsuit accuses customs agents of “lengthy questioning and intrusive searches.” The purpose of this suit is to seek clarification on the law that allows searches in airports – particularly ‘cyber searches.’
Pakistan’s Ambassador Missing Near Afghan Border On Monday, Pakistan’s ambassador to Afghanistan went missing. According to security sources, it is feared that he has been abducted in Pakistan’s tribal region. Power-Sharing Deal in Kenya? Violence in Kenya (due to the December 27th elections) has killed more than 1,000. Recently, a government negotiator said that the Kibaki government is considering sharing power with their opposition. Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Anan is mediating the talks between the two parties. Annan claims that the two sides have made significant progress.
Haikus From Billy Collins: When he found out he was like oh my god and I was like oh my god Mid-winter evening, alone at a sushi bar— just me and this eel.
Argentina and Chile to Host the 2009 Dakar Rally Due to fears of terrorism in Africa, the Dakar Rally was canceled this year for the first time ever. Organizers promise that this is not the end of the races - Argentina and Chile plan to host the 2009 rally. Société Générale Attempts to Fill a Capital Gap On Monday, Société Générale launched an $8 billion rights issue in an attempt to help with recovery since the bank scandal involving trader Jerome Kerviel. According to a repost, Kerviel will be charged with abuse of confidence and illegal use of computers for his role in the scandal. Source: CNN.com/world
The 4 paintings shown (Clockwise above Degas, Cezanne, Monet, and van Gogh)were stolen from a museum in Zurich, Switzerland by masked robbers. The paintings had an estimated value of $163 million. “The F.B.I. estimates that the overall losses from art and cultural property crime run as high as $6 billion each year.” -NY Times Agence France Presse—Getty Images
Awake in the dark— so that is how rain sounds on a magnolia. Photo Courtsey of Lauren Long
At the President’s house, Billy Collins shared his view on life: hopeless optimism. Quoting a Turkish proverb “when an axe enters the woods the trees think that at least the handle is one of them.” This quote sums up the witty humor of Collins poetry and personality. Billy Collins, former US Poet Laureate (2001-2003) and former NY State Poet Laureate (2004-2006), entertained a full auditorium this past Tuesday night despite the cold wind and snow. Collins the first speaker of the President’s Forum of 2008 was one of many that will appear this semester others include the First Lady of New York and a Nobel Peace Prize Winner. From a young child, Collins was interested in reading or “literary pretentions” as he describes. Often he looked through books before he even knew how to read, while also watching others around him read. “When my parents would have friends over, I would grab a book and pretend to read, looking very studious.” Collins affinity for reading and writing has clearly carried through his life today. When asked when he first considered himself a poet he noted “when the Librarian of Congress told me I was Poet Laureate of the United States which removed any lingering doubts.” The esteemed position of Poet Laureate
Dreaming Big, A Collaboration—William Smith Centennial Fund By Kate Cottrell Herald Contributor In an effort to increase an already rich tradition of leadership here on campus, the Centennial Leadership Program is a new program being launched in conjunction with William Smith’s centennial. This program will give students the ability to create and foster their leadership skills by working closely with a Leader in Residence both inside and outside the classroom. This leader will be a prominent woman of influence whom students will be able to access directly through seminars, workshops and fireside chats. This sort of close contact with a Leader will allow students to hold in-depth conversations with a prominent figure about things that interest the student body.
Geneva, NY
The Leader in Residence the Centennial Leadership Program will also help students connect their studies to world issues through the establishment of Centennial Undergraduate Fellows, Centennial Graduate Fellows and Centennial Scholarships. All of these programs will help students explore projects outside the traditional curriculum that integrate research, critical thinking, faculty and the community. Without the help of the student body the goals of this program will not be recognized causing a great opportunity to flounder in its beginning stages. In addition to the endowment being collected for by the William Smith Centennial Fund Committee, made up of
alumnae, the William Smith Congress has established a fundraising committee here on campus. As students that are going to benefit greatly from this new, exciting program it is important that we take ownership in it. The money raised will be matched by the Trustees and will go directly to the program to help anchor this program. The Centennial Fundraising Committee is looking to become more visible here on campus by sponsoring events, tabling to collect donations and hopefully raising enough money to significantly contribute to a program which will have immeasurable returns for the students.
Hark, Be Part of the Change!
is chosen by the Librarian of Congress. There is no application, committee or recommendation. It is in the hands of the Librarian to decide who is to become the next Laureate making the position all the more dignified. “Just this one guy chooses, I don’t know how he chooses, I think he probably has advisors, really you just get a phone call and he says ‘You’re it’.” Collins is known for the incorporation of animation in his poetry. He is not involved in the actual animation process though he views it. The poetry was initially animated for a series on the Sundance Channel and they then made their way to YouTube. He has also recorded for Delta Airlines so when you put in your head phones you can listen to poetry. He believes in the serendipity of poetry, seeing it in random places subways and buses. “I like poetry output, it gets you before you expect or resist it,” he observed unknowing that the HWS website had just that. Many of you have turned on the HWS website this past week only to be inundated by his words, before you realized it. Collins was eager to see the presentation for himself. His inspirations? Other writers and his mother were the two he primarily noted. “Literature is created out of literature; poems are created out of the
past poems. Writers are just people who read so much they become jealous.” He claimed this was not a very inspiring answer but that the past is important to the understanding of the creation of new poetry. At his final arrival to Albright, he received a large applause from a very full audience who eagerly awaited his words. Some popular poems of the night were ones centered on his dog and his clever witticisms. He remarked that upon seeing the President’s dogs he immediately took out his wallet to show the crowd a picture of his at the President’s house, and they all laughed asking why he had a picture of his dog. He responded why not? One student in the audience proclaimed that the show “was quite enjoyable.” He certainly had many in the audience intrigued and laughing as he worked his way through over 20 poems all of which were different from the previous. The opening of the 2008 President’s forum was a success. Many found his works humorous and enjoyable. If you want to learn more about Billy Collins his animated poems can be found on YouTube and his biography can be found on the official Library of Congress website.
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