Feb. 11, 2011

the

Herald By and for the students of Hobart and William Smith Colleges

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011

VOLUME CXXXII ISSUE 7

GENEVA, NY

Accounting Audit Strikes Over $27,000 from Excess Fund

By Tim Hollinger ‘11 Campus Happenings Editor

Photo Courtesy Of: Student Trustees Julia Hoyle ‘11 and Chris Jenco ‘11

With some students living in forced triples, unsure of their housing prospects for next year, a proposal has been made to create housing in the basement of Comstock.

Student Trustees Give Sanguine Report after Productive Weekend

By Tim Hollinger ‘11 Campus Happenings Editor

Photo Courtesy Of: learnthat.com

Accounting discrepancies relating to the excess fund leave student governments in the lurch.

Poor Concert Proposals Raise Questions about the Excess Fund An ongoing Herald investigation has found that accounting errors, related to a system overhaul, incorrectly inflated the value of the student excess fund.

When the Colleges transferred to the PeopleSoft operating system in 2008, a glut of data entry prevented sums from being properly entered

into the system.

In place of accurate numbers, approximations were made, which led to an overestimation of unspent club money as the excess fund rolled over from one semester AUDIT continued on Page 2

The current and coming housing crunch, five-year plan, and stellar admissions performance topped the agenda of the most recent trustee weekend. The planned performing arts center remains one of the Colleges’ top priorities. The artificial turf on McCooey field will soon be replaced, as its lifespan is almost over. Furthermore, six professors received promotions during the snowy weekend.

Trustees were frustrated about the Jan. 6 NCAA ruling that stripped the football and men’s lacrosse teams of their recent records and placed the teams on three years of probation. They were reportedly disappointed that current and former student athletes were getting punished for the Colleges’

self-reported administrative errors.

Addressing the NCAA violations, senior Hobart Student Trustee Chris Jenco ‘11 told a joint meeting of the student governments, “there was frustration that players are here now have to suffer from the administrative shortfalls of the past.”

Nonetheless, Jenco reported that many trustees were pleased by how HWS had handled the embarrassing situation once it was brought to light.

Housing is, and will be, a major focus of the Colleges’ next five-year plan. Senior William Smith Student Trustee Julia Hoyle ‘11 explained that because of TRUSTEE continued on Page 2

Theta Delta Chi Returns to Campus

By Nicholas Batson ‘11 Greek Beat Columnist Photo Courtesy Of: assets.hulu.com

February Celebrates Black History Month

By Laura Alexander ‘14 Staff Writer

Photo Courtesy Of: www.crwflags.com

After over a decade of being absent from campus, the Theta Delta Chi fraternity officially re-chartered to become the sixth full-fledged fraternity at Hobart College. The event took place on Jan. 22, 2011, inducting the brotherhood into the national organization.

Theta Delta Chi is the eleventh oldest fraternity in the United States, founded in 1847 at Union College.

The Xi Charge, as the fraternity prefers over the term chapter, was

established at Hobart in 1857. The local charge resided on campus until around 1996, after losing its national charter and its remaining brothers graduating from campus.

The current members reformed the fraternity back in 2009.

Plans to restart the Hobart charge actually began four years ago, when Ryan Adler ‘09, Jason THETA continued on Page 2

Campus Happenings

A&E

William Smith Congress Update

“The King’s Speech” Review

HWS Celebrates Lunar New Year

Book Review

Study Abroad

Hazelnut Ki t c h e n R e v i e w

News On A Local Level

Mo v i e T i me s

The month of February is Black History Month. It has been celebrated since 1976, and yet many Americans remain unaware of just how important an event it is. Black History Month tends to be an event that is forgotten and glossed over.

Here at HWS, however, the student run club Sankofa works hard to keep Black History Month in our minds.

The tradition of Black History Month was started by Carter G. Woodson.

Woodson originally created Negro History Week in 1926 as an event to be celebrated in the second week of February. This was done in an effort to bring attention to the achievements of black Americans.

Woodson chose February because it is the birth month of such notable

Opinions

figures as Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Fifty years after its inception, however, the celebration of black history has been expanded to an entire month.

Today, Black History Month is celebrated in elementary schools, high schools and colleges across the country. It provides an opportunity for all of us to learn about the vitally important contribution of various African Americans.

At Hobart and William Smith, there are several events being held that celebrate and raise awareness of Black History Month. Sankofa is hosting a charity ball on Saturday April 2 at 7 p.m., and during the week of February 21st-25th, there will be a forum held to discuss relevant issues.

Sports This Weekend’s Games

Ba r ri e rs R e f or mi ng

C u r r e n t Te am R e co r d s

Changing the Status Quo

L as t We e k i n S p o r t s Val e n t i n e s D ay

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011

The Herald

Established 1879 By and for the Students of Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Belinda Littlefield, Editor-in-Chief Jacqueline Day, Layout Editor Tim Hollinger, Campus Happenings Editor Whitman Littlefield, Opinions Editor Karissa Seeburger, A&E Editor Amy Nimon, Photography Editor

Contributors Tim Hollinger Whitman Littlefield Morgan Williamson Ava Pavao Gennady Julien Kristyna Bronner Kelsey Lee Melissa Warner

Caitlin Lugar Rachael Raymond David Luna Hannah Semaya Nicholas Batson Laura Alexander Syed Zaidi Amy Nimon

Distribution Belinda Littlefield Morgan Williamson

Layout Belinda Littlefield Jacqueline Day Annie Mandart Amy Nimon

Submission Guidelines The Herald is currently accepting submissions for our upcoming issue. The deadline for this issue is Monday at 5 pm.

Must include the: 1. Name and Class Year 2. Individual phone number or e-mail E-mail submissions must be made via file attachment to herald@hws.edu.

AUDIT continued from Page 1 to the next. As a result, the student governments have been granting allocations out of the excess fund with incorrect information about the amount of money available.

According to the Business Office, the student governments were told the fund held $98,901 in 2008 and $85,314 at the end of 2009. In the beginning of 2010, they were informed the fund held $112,557 when, in reality, it still held $85,314, which means the fund was improperly inflated by $27,243. The initial accounting issues occurred in 2008, and were exacerbated in the semesters that followed. Currently, there appears to be around $74,000 in the fund.

Angela Freeman, who oversees the account for the Business Office, says that a perfect storm, involving the massive amount of data, tightened Budget Allocation Committee rules, limited staffing, and mistakes, can all be attributed to the problem. Freeman has been working long hours to fix any remaining issues; “I know this is important and feel sick about it,” says Freeman.

Robert Pool, Director of Student Activities, and another steward to the account, has been working closely with Freeman to resolve the issues. “We should have been able to look at this number and realize this is too high,” says Pool, who notes the problem happened when he was first getting acquainted with his office, and stresses along with Freeman that they are being as transparent as possible.

The excess fund is money that was allocated to student clubs, but never spent. When a club fails to spend its balance by the end of the semester, the money is moved into the excess fund.

The fund is under the discretion of the

student government executive boards, and withdrawal requires the consent of the student government treasurers and presidents. For many years the fund was used to bring concerts to campus; however, this stopped in the early 2000’s when the Colleges received a grant from the New York Music Fund to bring concerts to Geneva. In the past few years, the student governments have drawn heavily on the fund to support community service, clubs events, and concerts.

Some students involved with student funding suspected there were major discrepancies with the fund. “We’ve never been able to see a spread sheet for that fund,” explains William Smith Student President Kaylyn O’Brien ’12. “We’ve asked but we’ve never gotten it,” adds O’Brien. At one point, members of the BAC suspected there was a problem, but none of them actively followed up on it.

FormerHSGPresidentRossHicks ‘11, who has been intimately involved with student budgeting for the last three years, explains that the fund has been dramatically reduced in recent years.

“We kept it transparent and allowed students to use it for funding because it was growing at a very fast rate, ” says Hicks, who elaborated in an email, “once that growth stopped we were again transparent in telling students that it is not off limits; however, any proposal would have to be looked at very carefully and couldn’t be unreasonable because it is a very special and unique fund we have available to us and we don’t want to blow it.”

It’s now clear that the growth of the fund was an illusion, and prudence was more important than the government could have imagined.

How an extravagant concert proposal brought the situation to light

If criteria are not met , The Herald may not be able to print the submission.

THETA continued from Page 1 Merritt ‘09 and Andy Brennan ‘09 met a few alumni in New York City who were eager to bring the fraternity back to campus.

With such “passionate” alumni throwing much support behind them, Theta Delta Chi officially achieved colony status in 2009.

A number of alumni returned to participate in the Hobart brotherhood’s rechartering. John Kunkel ‘63, Jeff Bird ‘71, P’10 and Howard Sabin ‘54 were among the several who returned to campus to celebrate the fraternity’s return.

The brothers also welcomed members of the Theta Delta Chi Grand Lodge, the national organization of the fraternity, as well as members of the Lambda Triton Charge from Rutgers University. The brotherhood initiated 22 of its 27 membership on Jan. 22 in St. John’s Chapel; three brothers are currently abroad and two more are yet to be initiated.

“It was a day to remember,” says Xi President Charlie Hale ‘12. “It was one of the best experiences of my life.”

Former Xi President Blair Gordon ‘11 also commented on the day’s activities. “It was easily one of the most memorable moments of my life. We have worked tirelessly for years and there have been countless hours of work put into our

cause. To have this day work out so well is a testament to all the support we have received.”

The original members lived in 738 South Main Street prior to their removal from campus.

It now serves as the Community Service theme house. As a part of their recognition from the school, the fraternity will later live in Cloverleaf, where other fraternities, such as Chi Phi, began on campus.

Members of Theta Delta Chi participate in a number of activities on campus. Five of their brothers are captains on various athletic teams, in addition to several others who also play on the teams. The fraternity also boasted the highest G.P.A. among the fraternities last year.

Theta Delta Chi aims to maintain its G.P.A. as the highest in the Greek community in the future. It also hopes to continue having campus leaders among its ranks and recruit more men like them.

“We are so thrilled to have all of our hard work over the years finally pay off,” says Hale.

“We owe it to our alumni for all their support, which has been through the roof, as well as the current faculty at HWS for giving us a chance to get Theta Delta Chi back on campus and blossom.”

Photo Courtesy Of: torontette.files.wordpress.com

The largest expense out of the excess fund in the last three years has been for concerts promoted by Will Gore ‘12.

Junior Will Gore said he just wants students to have a good time. He has been bringing concerts to HWS for three years; he was responsible for forming coalitions that brought “Girl Talk” and “State Radio” to campus.

However, his recent proposal to bring Wiz Khalifa unleashed a long-brewing controversy that continues to swirl around the student governments’ excess fund, roiling quorum

some members of student government had an axe to grind. Former HSG President “Hunter Lacroix, sat me down and said, ‘I won’t give you more than $5,000,’” says Gore.

Despite the setbacks, Gore has renewed his efforts and is now working with fellow junior Shelby Peirce to have the groups White Panda and Chiddy Bang play in the field house during the semester. Although

“There’s been money magically disappearing from that fund for years!” ~Former HSG President Ross Hicks ‘11 members concerned about reliance on the amorphous fund and Gore’s inconsistent budget numbers.

At the close of the fall semester Gore, having lost former funding partners CAB and Student Activities, asked the student governments to almost entirely fund a Wiz Khalifa concert on the quad. He requested $30,000 from the excess fund, and alleged that the senior class presidents were willing to add $10,000 from the senior week event budget to cover other costs.

A miscommunication about the availability of senior event funding was explained by Senior Hobart President John Peck, who clarified via email that, “there’s no way we are giving $10,000. We have a budget of roughly $55,000 and we have no intention of giving away such a large portion of our allotted funds.” Without the contribution of the senior class, the proposal fell apart. “It was more of a dream,” says Gore, who also thinks

they have yet to submit a formal proposal, they plan on requesting $30,000 from the excess fund. This plan has incensed many members of the student governments, who had long suspected problems with the fund.

“There’s been money magically disappearing from that fund for years!” exclaimed an exacerbated Hicks ‘11, at a recent joint student government meeting before the $27,243 devaluation was revealed.

Gore’s concerts have been the largest draw on the excess fund, using $40,350, all of which was signed off by two executive boards. Additionally, misinformation about the profitability of the concerts gave some the impression that Gore’s productions had not only entertained students, but had also contributed money to the excess fund. None of the concerts turned a profit; however, Gore’s most recent proposal led to this ongoing investigation.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011

Campus Happenings William Smith Congress Update

By Ava Pavao ‘14 Herald Contributor On Tuesday, Feb. 1, William Smith Congress welcomed the new board: President Kaylyn O’Brien, Vice President Ava Pavao, and Secretary Danielle Shaw along with incumbent Treasurer Kara Ruskin.

The idea of a new Publicity board was proposed; if students would be interested in serving on a committee to help publicize exciting campus events, please email the Congress at wscongress@hws.edu.

That being said, the WilliamSmithCongress is excited to get out the word to students about their up and coming website! The website will include basic information such as description of events, new positions, and explanations to help make the process of proposing for a club easier. Also there is now a WSCongress facebook page! Like it today!

And now for another great way to make proposing a club and answering your questions even easier! WS Congress will now be able to hold tentative “office hours” in their office in student activities. If anyone wants to request a meeting to talk about a club proposal, etc., email WSC and we will work hard to set up a meeting with at least one of the executives.

Also new to the Congress this year is the “WSC Suggestion Box”. The box will be making its debut in Scandling Center sometime in the upcoming weeks; make sure you stop by and ask a Congress member what the box is all about and get all your questions answered. WS Congress has also added an “Info Share” to their meetings.

Special guests from various campus clubs, groups, and organizations will come and give the quorum an update on events and information. This is a great way to come and see what Congress is all about as well as meeting lots of interesting and influential people.

One additional announcement this past weeks meeting has brought up is how Res Ed is looking for a theme house representative to review theme proposals. For more information, come to the next meeting or contact WSC via email. This article is going to be a regular part of the weekly Herald as a place for students to be able to learn about important information and decisions made at the Congress meetings. If you are interested in what the William Smith Congress is all about then come to our meetings Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. in Gulick 100!

New Club: Men Against Rape and Sexual Assault

By Gennady Julien ‘13 Herald Contributor Men Against Rape and Sexual Assault have meetings every Wednesday at 4:30 in the Creedon Room, located on the second floor of Scandling Center. I personally invite every Hobart Man reading this article to attend, and here’s why: As college students, most of us have heard the statistics: 1 in 6 women and one in 33 men are raped (rainn.org). What does that information mean here on campus?

If in 2008 there were 2078 students at HWS (forbes.com), approximately 188 women and 29 men from that student body have been or will be raped in their lifetime. Many of the survivors have or will endure these crimes right here at the colleges.

Sadly, there are many other studies, and personal testimonies to argue that these numbers are too low, and do not reflect the full magnitude of the

problem. However, that does not mean we, as students, are helpless to do anything. If you don’t believe it, here are some more numbers for you: Since 1993 reporting of rape and sexual assault has increased by 33%, and the rate of the crime has decreased by 60% (rainn.org).

It is possible to change the culture and make a difference. Women’s Collective works diligently on issues of sexual assault across campus. Now, Hobart Men can do something too. Let’s get to it. Let us not engage in a finger-pointing debate, but rather work constructively on a complex human and gender issue that will come to affect us all in some way. Let’s work to make a difference.

Let’s work to stop this epidemic in its tracks. Let’s work to end Rape as we know it.

TRUSTEE continued from Page 1 higher student retention, and the size of the last two first year classes, there are currently several forced triples: rooms that are meant to be doubles that have three students living in them.

To address the continuing housing stretch, Residential Education and the Trustees are exploring converting the “pond-level” or basement of Comstock Hall into several dorm rooms with twenty-eight beds worth of housing.

Hoyle stressed that those involved wanted to maintain the traditional spaces in the hall. Another student trustee added that the rooms would have windows. Last year all applications for senior off-campus housing were approved, and the Colleges are exploring long-term housing options.

Part of the housing crunch is the

result of the improved performance of the admissions department. This past year saw seven hundred additional campus visits. According to Junior Hobart student Trustee, Jerimiah Booream-Phelps ‘12, the department is “trying to get higher quality students here, which is a great thing;” he added that better students would result in “making our degrees worth more, which would be great for all of us.”

The Student Trustees plan to have a more in-depth report about the Trustee Weekend on Thursday Feb. 17, at 7:00 p.m.; they will also advise sophomores aspiring to be Student Trustees about how the process works.

The room has yet to be determined.

“The big thing for me,” said BooreamPhelps, “is that the Colleges’ overall quality is on the rise.”

HWS Celebrates Chinese Lunar New Year

By Morgan Williamson ‘12 Staff Writer

Morgan Williamson ‘12/Photographer

Ryouta Kataoka, a professional Taiko Drummer in Japan, acted as part of the entertainment for the Chinese Lunar New Year celebration.

On Feb. 5 in the Vandervort room on the second floor of Scandling, the Asian Student Union or ASU held their annual Chinese New Year’s Dinner. It was a big hit, professors and their families were there along with a good number of the student body.

ASU has hosted this event in the past as a way to share Chinese culture with everyone on campus. Chinese New Year is the start of the New Year in the lunar calendar. Each coming year is represented with a zodiac figure, and this year’s is the Rabbit. This year, ASU sold out of ticket with 165 seats fairly quickly with people still lining up outside to see if there were tickets returned that they could buy.

Emma PeirceSchell ’12 started the event by announcing that the new club LINK (Liberty in North Korea) is being headed up

by Andrew Upton H’12 and Shelby Pierce WS’12. LINK is a Grass Roots organization that has charters all over the United States, and it mission is to redefine the Crisis in North Korea as well as raise money to help provide emergency relief to refugee North Koreans.

LINK was originally started by two people shocked by the flow of information about the crisis and the organization has, since, grown immensely. ASU and LINK have been working together to raise money to help; all proceeds from the Chinese Lunar New Year celebration were donated to the cause. According to Emma Peirce-Schell ‘12, LINK is “only

three hundred dollars away from their goal” and it looks like there will be no problem raising the rest.

After this sobering talk, dinner was served: a buffet of traditional Chinese, Japanese and Indian Cuisine. During the dinner, entertainment was provided in the form of traditional and popular Chinese song as well as some western pieces.

ASU surprised everyone with a performance of professional Taiko performers, Ryouta Kataoka, Masa Seto and Aki Seto; the group had performed at The Smith last fall. Ryouta Kataoka is a professional Taiko Drummer in Japan and is well known nationally for his talent. Masa who is good friends with Ryouta is working on his PHD at CornellUniversity, and Ryouta is currently a visiting Scholar at Columbia University.

Seto explained the use of Japanese Taiko drums during Chinese New Year by saying that it was not long ago that Japan followed the lunar calendar, also celebrating New Years in February.

The event began to wind down after members of ASU announced the two winners of their raffle for the two Sake cup sets. Overall, ASU provided an event that not only enabled students to come together in celebration of the Chinese Lunar new year, but they also created a means for students to learn more about other cultures and even donate in the efforts to help others.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011

Campus Happenings

Study

Ireland

By Kelsey Lee ‘12 Herald Contributor

This is a bit of a trite statement, but if you feel the need to break out of your shell, to jostle the boat a bit and personally grow in a breadth of ways, studying abroad for a semester is an excellent way to do it. And if learning to be a little bolder and braver and adding some laughter to your life is your aim, Galway is a prime location. Though I’m still not a particularly seasoned traveler, I think it would be safe to count the Irish as some of the warmest, friendliest, and possibly most musical people in the world. It’s not surprising that these humorous folk are so eccentric, since their culture evolved on a little island just west of the main European continent.

And for a country perpetually shrouded in clouds and rain- it’s not as gloomy as it sounds; how else is the vegetation supposed to stay so green?its citizens are contagiously cheerful, for better or worse. From the raucous, hilarious, and often deafeningly loud pub life to the quiet countryside dotted with sheep, Ireland is grand for anyone in for a good, raw adventure.

The unpredictable Irish spirit can, admittedly, be frustrating for we straight-laced (and I use this word only comparatively) Americans, particularly when we expect rigidity and efficiency in terms of things like registration… Ireland is not perfect or idyllic. God knows, I could have done without the hostels.

The country is haunted by a recent troubled past, and even the younger lads and ladies feel a strong affinity and personal connection towards their past. But they channel all the brooding into poetry and song, and spend the rest of their energy working, dancing, and downing pints of Guinness. While in Ireland, I met incontestably lovely people from all over the world, but I also became very close with a multitude of people from our own campus, as well as Union College, whom I would likely have never met before.

For me, Galway was a place for bonding, laughing, and challenging stereotypes, at home and abroad. I’ll admit I am more than happy to be home, but I definitely miss the masses of street performers that draw huge crowds on the cobblestone streets of Galway’s main square, and suffering through nine-hour bus rides with a slightly stircrazy group, later to emerge on fascinating sites that made the ride worthwhile.

There’s nowhere like Ireland – where else could you get lost and wander for three hours on foot around a different county in search of Riverdance’s last live show, only to have the worst thing that happens be a donkey taking a bite out of your hand-drawn map?

Where Will Your

Photo courtesy of: irelandwesttours.com

Czech Republic

By Rachael Raymond ‘11 Herald Contributor

Photo Courtesy Of: uniglobalexotic.wordpress.com

The Church of Our Lady Before Tyn is located in the Old Town of Prague.

Studying abroad in Prague, Czech Republic was one of the best experiences of my life to date. What is great about the Czech Republic is that since it is located in Central Europe they have been influenced by both the West and East. Prague itself was not really bombed during World War II, unlike nearby Dresden, Germany. This means that within a short walk you can see literally over 1000 years of history.

The majority of professors that teach through the UPCES program are Czech, so they can give you a great inside view as to life in Prague. I was able to take a history class on the Jewish population of the Czech Republic from a man who worked as a historian at the National Jewish History Museum in Prague. My favorite course was one on multiculturalism in Central Europe.

My professor was from Barcelona. There were a couple students from different places in Europe and a couple of us from America.

We were a true multicultural class! This was fairly representative of all the classes where

Photos Courtesy of Rachael Raymond

Left: Rachael Raymond ‘11 during the fall at Kutna Hora, a small town about an hour from Prague. Right: Jazz musicians on Charles Bridge in Prague. students from all over Europe, the Czech Republic, and America study together.

The transportation system throughout the whole country was really efficient and convenient. It was easy to just take day trips to some smaller towns such as Terezin (Theresienstadt), the “model” Jewish ghetto during the Nazi occupation, or Plzeň, where Pilsner was founded. Prague is becoming a very international city but as soon as you get out of the city it is not hard to find the traditional Bohemian culture. Czech culture is really unique because multiple different empires throughout their history have influenced them. One of the longest was the Austrian Hapsburg Empire, which lasted until 1918, when Czechoslovakia was born. The notion of a distinct Czech people

only became popular in the mid-nineteenth century but was suppressed under the Nazis and the Soviets. Due to this I felt that I was learning about Czech culture along with other Czechs because they are still trying to define what it means to be Czech.

I would go back to Prague in a heartbeat. It’s one thing to study a subject through a textbook but it’s completely different when you can live it for three months. It is difficult to fully express exactly what this experience meant to me. It was everything I had dreamed it would be and much more. Through getting to know our local bartender, becoming regulars at the local A.C. Sparta Praha games, to just being asked for directions by lost tourists I got the feeling that I belonged in Prague.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011

Campus Happenings

Abroad

Russia

By Meliss Warner ‘12 Herald Contributor

Since coming back from abroad, friends and family have all been asking the same question: “How was Russia?”

Every time I have to answer this question, I wish for the ability to fully express everything that my semester in Yaroslavl meant to me.

However, it’s just not possible to compress the whole experience into a sentence or two, so I usually just say, “Cold.”

That response is always guaranteed a chuckle or two, at least.

When I started college, I knew nothing about Russia besides the basics: there had been tsars there, Anastasia might be dead or she might be singing Disney songs, and there had also been communism. I also knew about the Russian nesting dolls (called matrioshka in Russian—there’s a fun factoid for you!). That was about it, though.

I like to think I’ve come pretty far since then. My Russian language and literature classes at HWS filled in many of the gaps but actually studying abroad in Russia really made the most lasting impact on me. Before I left, I was very nervous about living in Russia, mainly because everyone who heard that I was going always made some sort of stunned (slightly horrified) face and said “Wow, Russia! That’ll be an… experience…”

Personally, I prefer to define studying abroad in Russia as an adventure. There’s no better word for it. Every day was a learning experience, both linguistic and cultural. In Yaroslavl (located about 4 hours east of Moscow), I lived with a host family, an older Russian couple, who were really the highlight of the whole program. They did crossword puzzles with me (even though I was the most unhelpful partner you could ever ask for), helped me with my homework, put on TV shows they knew I would understand (such as a Russian dating show called “Let’s get married!”), and constantly cooked me traditional dishes, while showing me the correct, Russian way to eat them.

Classes in Russia were challenging, mainly because they were Photo courtesy of Melissa Warner ‘12 entirely in Russian, but there was also a lot of time for exploration. We A picture of a bread truck taken during the Russian traveled to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan (the capital of the Republic winter. of Tartarstan within the Russian Federation), and various other small towns near Yaroslavl. I’ve been in more Russian Orthodox churches and monasteries than I could count. The beautiful onion domes of these ancient buildings became a regular feature of my life.

Coming home, I’ve realized that I’ve brought Russia back with me. I crave borsht with sour cream, I have to curb the urge to cover my head with a scarf whenever I enter a church, I call plastic bags “paketeks”, I am astonished and irritated when there’s nowhere to hang up my coat at restaurants, I drink tea constantly, and I talk to myself in Russian while walking to class (this last one usually gets me some confused glances from strangers).

Russia took me by surprise—I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. I’m glad that, despite how intimidating studying abroad there seemed, I still went because it was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life thus far. If you’re considering studying abroad in Russia, go for it. Yes, it’s cold there but trust me, Russia is worth it, even with the three layers of socks you’ll have to wear.

Future Take You?

By Caitlin Lugar ‘10 William Smith Alumnae

Now, you hear at Orientation, the tours, and the HWS website say that at least 52% of HWS students study abroad at least once.

Well, there is no reason not to! It is a great and empowering experience that everyone should do! As a person that went halfway around the world to Vietnam and did the things that I did, I feel one Vietnam stronger.

The first question to answer, and probably hardest to put into words, is: Why did you go? Well, I have a bit of an adventurous-wanderlust streak in myself. I ventured as far as sunny southern California to come to frigid western New York. So why not go to a place as foreign to me as Vietnam!

But my main response is primarily, “Why not Vietnam?”

Though a big selling point about the Vietnam trip is the ability to really experience Vietnam in entirety. It is a really unique and fantastic opportunity to have a 3-month experience of an entire country. I started, with my group, in Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City for the first month. We ventured around the city, crawled through the Cu Chi tunnels, traveled, swam, and slept at the Mekong Delta, and visited several war memorials and villages surrounding Saigon. Then we traveled for 10 days by coach through central Vietnam. We stopped in places like Nha Trang, Da Lat, Hue, Da Nang: beaches,

Photo Courtesy of Caitlin Lugar ‘10

Vietnam

Photo Courtesy of Melissa Warner ‘12

Photo Courtesy of Caitlin Lugar ‘10

Left: Caitlin Lugar ‘10 holding hands with Ho Chi Minh in Hoa Binh, Vietnam while studying abroad there. Right: Caitlin Lugar ‘10 doing what she calls “water buffalo surfing” while studying abroad in Vietnam. jungles, war memorials, old capitols, small farming villages in mist covered mountains, concessions stands in the middle of nowhere with stale Oreos...

Lastly, in the North, we spent 2 months in Ha Noi studying language and history; we held internships and had many excursions and field trips. Fields trips were mostly to historical sites and museums. Our excursions, on the other hand, took us to the high mountains of Vietnam, where we saw the Mung people and villages, climbed Mount Fansipan, the tallest mountain in Vietnam, went swimming in the jade green waters of

Ha Long Bay, took a long boat ride, and climb up many steps to see a Buddhist temple in a cave. I did so much!

Course there were many shenanigans along the way: water buffalo surfing, trying to cross the congested streets or non-stopping motor bike drivers, playing at the beach, going out at night [which is quite safe], becoming a ninja/super hero...

If you ask me if I would do something different, I would like to have spent less money. But if I had the opportunity to go and do it again... “Oh heck YES!”

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011

Campus Happenings News On A Local Level

What Is Going On In the World, And Why You Should Care

By David Luna ‘14 Herald Columnist Inspired by the Tunisian uprising that overthrew longtime president Ben Ali, Egyptian citizens and activist’s organized mass protests on Jan. 25 calling for economic reform, a democratic form of government and an end to President Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year rule. Expectations ran high, and so did public tension as thousands demonstrated in Cairo and other cities. Similar sentiments were expressed by the HWS community at a panel on Middle Eastern Protests that was held on Feb. 3 at the Sanford room and hosted by Vikash Yadav, Stacey Philbrick Yadav, and David Farris of Roosevelt University- all experts in their fields and specialists in Middle East relations.

A classic revolutionary situation unfolded in Egypt in the last days of January, with masses of people taking to the streets and confronting military units deployed throughout the capital city of Cairo. Now those revolutionary dynamics are playing out in the biggest country in the Arab world. With a population of 80 million, Egypt is the most economically and militarily important Arab country. As a crucial pillar of U.S. foreign policy--the Egyptian regime is a ally of Israel in containing the Palestinian movement and preventing democracy in the Middle East--the revolutionary crisis threatens to upset American imperialist strategy in the region.

The panel, which offered eager attendees humus, pita and falafel, was ripe with scholarly commentary as Al Jazeera played the latest Egyptian occurrences on the projector. Vikash Yadav started the conversation with a brief but informative exposé of the role of surveillance and punishment in Egyptian society. Attendees were informed “that Egyptian people view the police as a predatorial organization.” He further argued, “The Government of Egypt has not made a serious effort to transform the police from an instrument of regime power into a public service institution.”

Stacey Yadav was next on the night’s agenda and provided a regional context to the occurrences in Egypt. The climax of her presentation occurred when a comment was made regarding the validity of the occurrences in Egypt as a domino effect. She replied, “Indeed, it was accelerated by Tunisia, but

Skate for Hope

On Feb. 27 from 4:00-6:00 p.m., the HWS Figure Skating Club is teaming up with the Hope House to fundraise for Camp Good Days of Mendon, NY. Camp Good Days provides summer camp and year-round opportunities to children, adults, and families who have been touched by cancer. The

By Kristyna Bronner ‘14 Staff Writer program is a nonprofit organization and relies completely on donations and fundraising, as it offers all of its programs and services free of

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Bartlett Theater Presents:

“Paradise Hotel” February 11-12 7:00 p.m.

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it is not a result of a domino effect. Instead, Egyptian people have been awake and riled up for months. If it is one who is awakening it us who are starting to recognize these dissenting trends”.

With so much media attention it must be important right? Why do I, as an American citizen, Amy Nimon/Photographer care about occurrences 6,799 miles away? Vikash Yadav, Assistant Professor of Political Science Here are just some here at HWS, speaks about Egyptian Society as part of a of the reasons why talk held on Feb. 3 about the political situation in Egypt. any American should maintain a steady -Regional Implications: With the knowledge of what is going on in Egypt: strong financial and political support of the U.S., as well as its own powerful -Business Concerns: Since the influence, Egypt is a major power protests began, Egypt’s stock market broker in the Middle East. As the has plummeted, and nearby Saudi Economist puts it, “With its strategic Arabia’s stock index dropped 6 percent situation, its cultural influence and a on Saturday. Additionally, oil prices population double that of any other have already jumped due to fears over Arab country...”, if Egypt were to fall access to the Suez Canal into chaos, not only the nation, but also the region, would be deeply affected.

-The Domino Effect: The protestors have said that they were inspired by All in all, relations with Egypt are important the successful revolution in Tunisia, to us because it has a direct impact on our which ousted authoritarian President country. Peace talks, oil, domino effects in other Ben Ali. Since the protests began, countries, etc. there have been similar protests These aspects are just a taste of what the in Yemen; Jordan has also been U.S is concerned about and what a growing mentioned as another possible target number of Americans are starting to pay for popular protests. If Egypt were heed to. As college students, what makes this to fall, it could give momentum to revolution even more significant is who is popular uprisings throughout the leading the charge and through what means. region. Other crowds have shaken The young vivacious citizens of Egyptian society the streets of Sanaa, Algiers, and are spearheading the charge with technology.

Amman. Even more alarming is who is Technology, particularly facebook has been the spurring the protests forward: young medium through which protests were planned, people, angry at the lack of economic messages were spread and the cries of Egyptian opportunity available to them, who society have been heard worldwide. are risking their lives going up against police forces.

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charge.

Admission to Skate for Hope is $5.00 and includes the cost of ice skate rentals. T-shirts, hot chocolate

and other sweets will also be for sale. In addition to a fun afternoon of skating, there will also be a performance by the HWS Figure Skating Club!

Check out the event on Facebook and also Camp Good Days website, www.campgooddays. org.

Upcoming Events Friday, Feb. 11 t Theater • 7:00 pm- “Paradise Hotel” @ Bartlet Albright Auditorium • 8:00 pm- Valentunes feat. Sonos @ Pianist EunMi • 8:00 pm- Violinist Karine Stone and Ko Recital @ Geneva Room

Saturday, Feb. 12 t Theater • 7:00 pm- “Paradise Hotel” @ Bartlet ort Room • 8:00 pm- Shot in the Dark @ Vanderv Monday, Feb. 14 Drive @ TBA • 1:00 pm-7:00 pm- Red Cross Blood Tuesday, Feb. 15 Room • 7:00 pm- Project Indie @ Sanford Wednesday, Feb. 16 lwain • 6:30 pm- Speaker- Jason “J-Mac” McE itorium Aud @ Geneva High School

Saturday, Feb. 19 dervort Room • Noon-4:00 pm- Heritage Day @ Van • 10 pm- 1 am- Chillin’ -n- Scandling Sunday, Feb. 20 Albright Auditorium • 2:00 pm- “Waiting for Superman” @ Monday, Feb. 21 Blood Drive @ the Barn • 1-7 pm- HWS Annual Presidents’ Day

Join the

HERALD Review a Concert Interview Big Names Learn New Things About Campus Get To Know Your Classmates Learn InDesign Take A Position of Leadership Bring Issues on Campus to Light Make the Paper Your Own

Meetings: Tuesdays 6:30 pm @ Creedon Room

7

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011

Opinions Barriers Reforming?

By David Luna ‘14 Herald Columnist On Nov. 4, 2008 the New York Times wrote an article titled, “Obama Elected President as Racial Barrier Falls.” The article highlighted the following historic achievement: Barack Obama being elected as 44th President of the United States in which his election swept “away the last racial barrier in American politics with ease as the country chose him as its first black chief executive”. Indeed, racial barriers fell, however fast forward three years into Obama’s administration and you end up in a 2011 rife with new unexpected challenges, contentious policy issues and a new political landscape.

These dilemmas can be attributed to new barriers that have been formed and still continue to form.

These barriers, which have less to do with race and more to do with experience, strategies and policy have implications not only for the remainder of Obama’s term and his re-election bid but also with future Presidents and what they bring to the table, or purport to bring.

One barrier Obama will have to deal with along with future Presidents regards campaigning and its promises of fruitfulness. It would be foolish not to acknowledge how Obama had the innate ability to captivate his audience and rally them towards his causes during his 2008 Presidential Campaign. However, the problem is how Obama let the media and his supporters define him. They expected him to be a savior, one who would be capable of rule without flaw aided by his inspirational leadership abilities.

The media’s enamored nature towards Obama, his supporter’s grandiose expectations coupled with his flamboyant claims on how he will impart change which will lead the country to a better place, have created a soaring ceiling of expectations for Obama.

A ceiling which he seems to have barely scratched and if he had, it would have required the help of a few ladders. Obama’s campaign promises, which were delivered in

a manner that inspired people, have been carried out; however, there is a continuing worry that Obama has lost his mojo, per se. This “mojo” consisted of his ability to get his point across to the common people and consequently inspire them.

In Obama’s defense, it is a difficult task to say the least of navigating through political currents of dissent, unpopular but “necessary” policies, and an economy that at least in the past, would not give. I give him credit, yes he could have handled his campaign skills and tactics a little better, it just got out of control when the public became overly demanding and started expecting a perfect economy yesteryear.

Lesson learned: Overtime the electorate will hopefully learn not to be so gullible and understand that fancy proposals and inspiring jargon are all part of politics.

With this, the electorate will have a barrier against this sort of campaign poetry and will therefore be harder to sway. As Mario Cuomo, who served as the 52nd Governor of the state of New York from 1983 to 1994, once said, “You campaign in poetry.

You govern in prose”.

Other barriers formed or strengthened from here on in will now scrutinize public policy and a Presidential candidate’s experience more than ever. The public has come to realize the far reaching power of legislation and the possible threat or disadvantage it may cause to them or their loved ones. No two pieces of legislation raise this concern more now than Obama’s Health Care Reform Bill and bailout plan. The Health Care bill, in which 41% of voters nationwide favored the

legislation while 54% were opposed when it first was proposed, passed with the slightest of margins in Congress. Now that President Obama has signed the legislation into law, most voters spurred on by the Tea Party want to see it repealed, a sentiment Republicans are using to their advantage. Future Presidents will have to meticulously package their proposals in an

attempt to sway the public. Not only will the packaging be of concern, but so too will the transparencies of its implications to the public. The problem was that Obama did not clearly articulate his proposals to the public and pushed them along despite public dissent.

The backfire of Obama’s policy achievements and the way they were brandished to the people contributed to the past drop in his popularity. The public sentient towards him at the time led to Republican scorn and even

Photo courtesy of medindia.net

Democrats carefully stepping away from his aurora. Lesson learned: the public will now be more engaged in the public policy process and demand more transparency and details on implementation. In other words, the public should fully understand what the bill does, who it affects, its drawbacks and its effect on their tax dollars.

There are many more barriers that should be discussed and will continue to arise, one being experience.

Obama’s experience was repeatedly labeled as insufficient; will America elect another President with scant past and/ or relevant experience?

It is important to acknowledge that there is a possibility that these barriers fall and/or strengthen over time. Their viability strongly depends on the current conditions of the economy and other focal arenas of American productivity needed to be successful and complete. Through these challenges Obama seems to have learned from criticism and negative popularity rate. He has moved more to the center as a political moderate and has enjoyed rising popularity due to the way he handled the Arizona shooting and his inspiring Reaganesque State of the Union address. Lesson learned: every President, depending on the way he carries the country and the current conditions has the ability to break barriers, form them or even mold them to his administration’s favor.

Changing the Status Quo

By Syed Zaidi ‘12 Middle East Correspondent With all that has ‘started’ in Tunisia and migrated into Egypt, as some of us like to say, there is a vital point of clarification that is needed. For decades, this suppression has occurred in many Arab countries, and one wonders why these atrocities take so long to reach the front page of the New York Times. Why aren’t the thousands of Shiite Muslims who are suppressed by a Bahraini government given the liberty they deserve? Why does the Saudi government cut off the hands of Muslims who practice a brand of Islam outside of their official faith?

And why are Zaydis in Yemen constantly brutalized by their own government and army?

While all of the above are acknowledged by the Department of State, little is actually being done to change the status quo. As we see Egyptians fight for their fundamental rights and the Obama administration start to play a tit-for-tat game, which would find some balance in Mubarak’s regime and calls from the Egyptian people for reform, we also forget that much of the Arab league’s population is suffering from similar situations.

An Arab country, like any nation the world over, has a new wave of youth who demand change. This generation is not content with asking for merely a refreshed cabinet in King Abdullah’s government or liberation to Ali Abdulemem in Bahrain. They are insisting on such unprecedented change in the governments as

Photo courtesy of anorak.co.uk

will allow the representation of all demographics in their nation.

The United States needs to continue its stance on supporting democracy. However, the style and direction in which it goes about doing this must change. There is a growing need to support the people in such countries, rather than the people’s governments, which are quickly toppling. For if we support the latter, we will lose the support of those respective countries in the Middle East. Furthermore, what happens in Egypt is contingent upon who we support. The brotherhood has some support in Egypt, but not all. On the other hand however, El Baradei does

have views and a support base that can be made compatible with those of our own. Supporting Suleiman temporarily is an option that must be short-lived. If it is not, another popular uprising will come from the people.

Whether or not what we see unfolding in Egypt will continue to motivate both the people and the governments to demand lasting change is yet to be seen, but one thing is for sure: this generation of Arabs in the Middle East is not looking forward to keeping the same autocratic regimes because they are supported by the United States. Will we change, or just watch the fireworks?

8

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011

Arts and Entertainment “The King’s Speech” Lives Up to Critics’ Great Expectations

By Hannah Semaya ‘13 Movie Critic

Photo Courtesy Of: (clockwise from top left) www.geektyrant.com, www.blogspot.com, www.blogspot.com, www.meandrichard.wordpress.com

“The Kings speech,” directed by known director Tom Hooper, is the heart-stopping dramatic film of a king with a speech problem. This historic drama is nominated for twelve academy awards and is favored to win the Oscar for the Best Picture.

“The Kings Speech” is a historical drama set in Pre-World War II Britain.

It is the sort of movie that everyone hears a lot about, but is not really sure whether or not it is actually going good. This movie is more then good.

Nominated for twelve academy awards and already the recipient of

numerous Accolades, it is a favorite to take home the Oscar for Best Picture. The plot is original, the acting fantastic, and the film is genuinely touching and funny. “The Kings Speech makes it nearly impossible to walk away unsatisfied.

Prince Albert, son of King Richard V, is played

by Colin Firth (Love

Actually).

Prince Albert, the Duke of York, has a very troublesome speech impediment, a stutter made all the more bothersome by the fact that as a member of the royal family in a time of crisis he is expected to make many a speech.

The growing popularity of the radio does not help.

The prince’s wife Elizabeth, blayed by Helena Bonahm Carter (Harry Potter, Sweeney Todd) convinces him to see a rather unusual speech therapist.

Geofferey Rush (Pirates of the Carrabian) is the therapist, Lionel Logue. Logue speaks to Prince Albert in a way that no one else would dream of

doing.

Their relationship becomes less of “doctor and patient” relationship and more of “good friends” reationship in a way that would almost be unbelievable if it were not based on a true story.

See this movie.

I give this movie five out of five stars.

Valentines, Candy Hearts, and Presents Oh My! Candy hearts, chocolate, flowers, and romance all come to mind when one thinks of Valentine’s Day. Originally a Pagan celebration reworked into Christianity, today Valentine’s Day is a commercial holiday that has left its impact on our culture. Whether you are single or in a relationship, there are many different ways to approach this day.

If your significant other is a student at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, consider yourself lucky. There are many things in and around campus that you can do to make this day special. When planning your gift or date, be sure to keep in mind how long you have been together and things that you know he or she will like.Remembering little details such as his or her favorite candy or flower will mean a lot in the long run.

Downtown Geneva has many restaurants for a potential dinner date, just be sure to make a

By Kristyna Bonner ‘14 Staff Writer reservation in advance.If you do not have a car on campus don’t panic, many restaurants are a short walking distance off of campus along with the movie theater. If you are worried about what gift to get, trust your judgment and go with something sweet.

Most girls will appreciate a cute stuffed animal or if you are in more serious relationships, jewelry. Girls, a new set of colorful headphones, a mixed CD, or even a Valentines Day kiss will satisfy any guy. It helps to talk to your significant other in advance to find out how seriously you will be approaching the holiday. Many couples are comfortable with a casual exchange of chocolates while others may be expecting bigger things. If you are in a long distance relationship however, an actual physical date may be impossible.

Thanks to new age technology, a Skype date or a phone call will suffice, because it is the thought and your presence that counts.

A great idea for a gift, for those in long distance relationships, is to send a care package.

This care pacage would I n c l u d e a n y gift you would normally give your boyfriend or girlfriend along with other fun Valentine’s Day appropriate things. Feel free to include baked goods, favorite candies, and other fun things that are personal to you two. It will be even better if you don’t tell him or her about the package in advance because the element of surprise should never be underestimated.

To all those single college students out there, interpret the day as you may. Hang out with friends and appreciate all the candy sales that will happen in the upcoming week as stores try and get rid of all their heart-shaped candy.

The Hazelnut Kitchen Offers Delicious, Reasonably-Priced Food

By Whitman Littlefield ‘14 Opinions Editor Last Saturday, I dined at the Hazelnut Kitchen in Trumansburg.

I know what your thinking and your right—“that is quite the drive,” (almost an hour). The thing is, it is totally worth it.

The Hazelnut Kitchen is the gold standard I hold for almost any restaurant.

On Saturday I arrived right on time for my reservation—I suggest making one but don’t worry, they are flexible about that kind of thing.

The interior is a vaulted room, tiled high with a barrage of art work and mirrors. The tables are crafted from beautiful antique wood with a wonderful dose of personality and charm (much like every member of the staff).

I began with a light appetizer: “Finger Lakes fresh wild arugula with orange vinaigrette, shaved fennel, red onions and blood orange segments” for eight dollars. If that

Photo Courtesy Of: www.thehazelnutkitchen.com

The Hazelnut Kitchen, a trendy restaraunt in Trumansburg, Upstate New York, serves an assortment of savory dishes. description/price does not make you salivate I do not know what will.

My companion definitely made a better choice with peppercorn crusted venison carpaccio for a modest eleven dollars. Served

beautifully, the medium-rare slices of meat were wonderfully prepared and the accompanying mustard added just the right flavor.

For dinner I had a burger, which normally I would shy away from at the Hazelnut. I would usually go

for the duck breast, or perhaps the teriyaki lamb ribs, but since the menu changes every month and I have never seen a repeat special, it is hard to know where to begin.

The burger was without a doubt gourmet, grilled local beef with Cayuga blue cheese, local bacon and pickled shallots served with house made potato chips. One bite of that bad boy blew me out of the water and quite frankly was more taste than I could handle (in the best way possible).

The Hazelnut Kitchen represents the gold standard of food, service and atmosphere against which to compare other restaurants in the Finger Lakes Region.

It is definitely some of the best, most reasonably priced food I’ve ever had in my life.

But best of all, it is a great place to take your parents in order to give them a real taste of the Finger Lakes.

9

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011

Arts and Entertainment Ask Doctor Blackwell Have a question that you need answered?

Can’t ask anyone else?

Write me at Herald@hws.edu

The Elizabeth Blackwell section welcomes any and all questions concerning your life, your roommate’s smelly feet, your sex conundrums, the attractiveness of that guy in your Bio lab or the way that girl in your English class looks at you when you take your seat. Lizzy is here for you, at your service. If ever there was someone to whom you could ask your most burning questions, it would be the ever helpful Elizabeth Blackwell! I am waiting with my always honest opinion, so start sending in those questions!

Dear Lizzy Blackwell, I think there should be a rule book on dating, that way my guy and I can be on the same wavelength. I really like him and he really likes me, but titles scare the shit out of me. What should I do? I know the ball is honestly in my court at this point, but what if I’m just not ready to make the basket? Lizzy, is it wrong for me to want to be with my guy and a few others at the same time? I’m not talking about polygamy here. It’s just, we aren’t dating, and we decided it’s okay for each of us to be talking to other people. Where does that end though? Is there an unspoken rule that says I can make-out with whomever I want to while he does the same, but at the end of the day we’ll still be together? That’s the impression I am under at this point...do you think he understands?

Write back soon please, Waiting to Take My Shot Dear Waiting to Take My Shot, The semester has just begun, yet it already sounds as though you have your hands full emotionally. I do feel the need to clarify something you suggested in your writing though, my love. You really like this boy, right? If you really like someone or even love someone, you need to believe in the power of those feelings. Now, on the contrary, being emotionally involved with another individual does not mean you have the right to put him through emotional hardship. I am sure you are a very special person.

However, are you so special that this boy is going to wait around forever?

As I said, there is power behind feelings, yet it is not uncommon for power to falter. If you wish to be making-out with other boys, just be sure the boy you are truly interested in is aware of it. He may not accept it, and that is why you should make sure you two share an understanding of the basis of this relationship; be careful not to assume. Let the power of your emotions fuel your feelings, and don’t back down if they encourage you to be bold. If your feelings for the boy are true, you should be fair to him, no?

I am certain you will do what is right.

Sincerely yours, Dr. Blackwell

The Smith Upcoming Events “LIVE: Voices of Africa”

Fri., Feb. 11 @ 7:30 pm “FILM: Another Year”

Sat., Feb. 12 @ 7 pm

Tue, Feb. 15 @ 7 pm

Rated PG 13; 129 minutes “FILM: Best of the Worst Film Festival”:

Thur., Feb. 17 @ 8 pm

“Plan 9 from outer space“, 79 Min. “FILM: Best of the Worst Film Festival”:

Fri., Feb. 18

“Birdemic: shock and terror“@ 8 pm, 79 Min. “FILM: Giselle-Royal Opera House, London”:

Sat., Feb. 19

Ballet Film @ 2 pm, 130 Min. “FILM: Best of the Worst Film Festival”

Sat., Feb. 19

“The Room“@ 8 pm, Rated R 99 Minutes *All events are held at the Smith Opera House (82 Seneca St., Geneva, NY) unless otherwise noted.

Find The Herald on The Herald Newspaper

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

By Melissa Warner ‘12 Herald Contributor The 1994 bestseller by John Berendt, “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” is a book that would make anyone want to visit Savannah, Georgia.

For those of you (like me) who have never been to the city of Savannah and really do not know much about it, this book will really open your eyes to a city full of rich history and interesting people.

“Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” is generally classified as a nonfiction book although Berendt does make a note in the book that he “[had] taken certain storytelling liberties, particularly having to do with the timing of events.”

The book tells the story of the author’s decision to start living in Savannah, Georgia for part of the year. Berendt becomes more and more attached to the beautiful, isolated city of Savannah during the eight years he spends traveling back and forth between it and New York City.

The book’s plot is mainly focused on the trial of a very rich antiques dealer, Jim Williams, who is accused of killing a male prostitute (and Williams’s assistant) named Danny Hansford.

Although Williams claims that the motive was entirely self defense, many are not convinced. Williams lived in Mercer house, one of Savannah’s oldest and most beautiful privately owned homes. Since Savannah is a relatively small city, the community is rather close, especially the rather elite upper class that Williams belongs to.

Therefore, Williams’s trial throws the wealthy residents of Savannah into shock.

The plot also has a tendency to go off into smaller anecdotes in which Berendt meets an assortment of odd people.

Some of the more memorable characters include an elderly man who walks a non-existent dog, a drag queen called The Lady Chablis, a depressed inventor named Luther Driggers who is rumored to be in possession of a bottle of poison so strong that he could kill everyone Savannah by putting it into the water system if he so desired, a man named Joe Odom whose home is the scene of a constant party (and constant financial problems), and a witch doctor by the name of Minerva.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil brings Savannah, Georgia alive for the reader. The Berendt’s side tales and small adventures are very interesting to read, as is the murder trial. However, the most striking feature of this book is its characters. They’re bizarre, hilarious, completely eccentric and great fun to read about.

The best part of the story is that the charachters are based on real people, even though occasionally it feelsAD as if it should be impossible to GENEVA MOVIEPLEX find this many fascinating people in one city.

The reader can not help feeling as though if they were ever to spend COL. X 3.0” some time in 1 the city of Savannah they would agree with the character, Miss Harty, who says, “We just happen to like things [in Savannah] exactly the way they are!”

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10

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011

Sports This Weekend’s Games Friday, Februar y 11, 2011 William Smith Basketball at Clarkson 6:00 p.m.

Friday, Februar y 11, 2011 Hobart Ice Hockey at Geneva 7 p.m.

Friday, Februar y 11, 2011 Hobart Basketball at St. Lawrence 2 p.m.

Saturday, Februar y 12, 2011 William Smith Basketball at St. Lawrence 2:00 p.m.

Saturday, Februar y 12, 2011 William Smith Squash at Cornell 2:00 p.m.

Saturday, Februar y 12, 2011 Hobart Squash at Cornell 2:00 p.m.

Saturday, Februar y 12, 2011 Hobart Ice Hockey at Elmira 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, Februar y 13, 2011 William Smith Squash at Geneva 11:00 a.m.

CurrentTeamRecords William Smith Basketball

Overall: 11 - 10 Streak: 1 Win William Smith Squash

Overall: 10-5 Streak: 1 Win

Hobart Basketball

Overall: 17-4 Streak: 4 Wins Hobart Ice Hockey

Overall: 13-6-2 Streak: 1 Win

Last Week in Sports William Smith Basketball 2/4/2011 Union 2/5/2011 Skidmore 2/8/2011 Hamilton

Schenectady, NY Saratoga Springs, NY Clinton, NY

W 71-55 L 49-56 W 67-53

Hobart Basketball 2/4/2011 2/5/2011 2/8/2011

Union Skimore Hamilton

Schenectady, NY Saratoga Springs, NY Clinton, NY

W 72-64 W 75-66 W 70-67

Hobart Ice Hockey 2/4/2011 2/5/2011

Neumann Neumann

Geneva, NY Geneva, NY

W 4-0 T 4-4

William Smith Swimming and Diving 2/5/2011 Skidmore Invit. Saratoga Springs, NY

1st of 3

William Smith Squash 2/5/2011

W 9-0

By Amy Nimon ‘11 Photo Editor

Rochester

Geneva, NY