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Fundraiser held to aid Haitians By Sherea DelSol | Contributing Writer
Two weeks after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit the Caribbean island of Haiti, members from all across the university’s campus and the Winston-Salem community gathered at the “Candle Light Vigil for Haiti,” on Tuesday, Jan. 26, from 8-9 p.m. on Hearn Plaza, directly in front of Wait Chapel. This event was headed by the African and Caribbean Student Association (AFRICASA), but would not have been possible without the help of the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Brighid Jensen of the Volunteer Service Corps. Before the event formally began, spectators struggled to light their candles in the cold night breeze, yet danced and swayed to the inspirational music that sang through the sound system, creating camaraderie amongst the audience as they all made a conscious effort to support the Haitian relief campaign. The event then begun with a prayer by AFRICASA’s public relations officer, Terrol Graham, who encouraged the audience to give the Haitain people, “wisdom, fortitude, and stamina (by) lifting Haiti and its inhabitants.” This prayer was then followed by the choral group Intimate Praise who rendered a beautiful and moving song entitled “Intimate Praise,” written by senior Alex Blake. Subsequently, Haitians in the audience were invited to offer testimony words of gratitude. These individuals included freshman Yodeline Guerrier who stated, “I am seeing the ruin in places I used to visit and thought I could know no worse ruin, like the densely populated streets of Port-au-Prince where Haitians were always living on the edge, selling arts in the streets or running food markets.” As she spoke of the devastation, the hearts of bystanders became truly invested in her words. Junior and football athlete Gelo Orange then thanked the audience for their support and for reaching out to him and the people of Haiti. Guerrier’s mother was also present at the event and was speechless at first and overwhelmed, but then found the words to say, “Thank you to the American people, the international world. With your good heart, we will be back again. With all your love and support, we are coming back.” In speaking with onlooker and freshman Priscilla Garmendia, said, “It’s empowering and supportive for all those who died in Haiti.” Graham who characterized the event as a
VOL. 93, NO. 18
“Covers the campus like the magnolias”
Outside the Bubble... Heavy rains cause mud slides in Winston-Salem area
Competing to go
Green
By Samantha Hoback | Staff writer
Going green is the growing trend on college campuses nationwide. Since 1990, the university has been raising environmental awareness through the recycling collection program on campus. In an effort to continue to conserve resources and protect Mother Earth, the Demon Deacons are competing with other colleges and universities around the country, including other ACC schools, in RecycleMania. Jan. 24 marked the beginning of RecycleMania across the United States, Canada and even as far away as Qatar. Through the course of this competition, college and university recycling will promote waste reduction, and after 10 weeks of recycling, the schools will be ranked based on their overall recycling and trash collecting per capita. Last year, over 69 million pounds of waste were recycled during RecycleMania. California State University- San Marcos claimed their fifth consecutive victory in five years. Established in February 2001 by students from Ohio University and Miami University (Ohio), RecycleMania combines friendly competition with an Earth-conscious goal to increase recycling and conserve natural resources. Participation doubles approximately each year, with over 500 schools involved in the program in 2009. This year, almost 600 schools are registered, including over 20 schools from North Carolina.
See Haiti, Page A3
“This is the first time Wake Forest has participated,” senior Ashley Edwards said. Edwards is an intern for the Office of Sustainability. Along with DeDee DeLongpré Johnston, the director of sustainability, Edwards is coordinating RecycleMania at the university. Schools participating in RecycleMania are divided into two divisions: the Competition Division and the Benchmark Division. The university is participating in the Competition Division and is eligible to win Grand Champion, Stephen K, Gaski Per Capita Classic, Waste Minimization, Gorilla Prize and Targeted Materials prizes. Weekly results will be posted on the RecycleMania Web site starting Friday, Jan. 29 (recyclemania.org). College campuses and universities are home to millions of young adults around the world. Pods of dormitories, dining halls, public restrooms and academic buildings generate large amounts of waste just like any other small city. Students came face to face with the amount of waste the campus produced last week when The Fresh Food Company displayed 7,000 Styrofoam to-go containers to demonstrate just how much waste accumulates in a week. The need for recycling programs and sustainability at colleges and universities is apparent, and, by raising awareness, schools are likely to produce mindful young adults who will
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Three to five inches of rain fell the night of Jan. 24, leading to a mudslide in the early hours of Jan. 26 on Tobaccoville Road. A 14-foot high bank that included about 10 small trees and 200 tons of earth slid down and covered the westbound lane. There were no injuries or damage to any homes or businesses. Several other smaller mudslides occurred in the surrounding area, but did not cause as much damage.
Koreans exchange fire near the tense border North Korea exchanged what appeared to be artillery fire on Jan. 26 near a disputed sea border with South Korea off the west coast of the peninsula. The area of conflict was the site of a brief naval clash in November between the two states, which are technically still at war.
Pilot hurt, but alive after plane crash in Kernersville An ultra-light aircraft crashed in the backyard of a Kernersville home the evening of Jan. 23. The pilot, an aeronautic engineer, had problems during takeoff and nose-dived after lifting about a foot from the ground. The pilot was taken to a local hospital with undisclosed injuries.
Senate to take up Bernanke nomination On Jan. 26, the U.S. Senate moved to clear the way to confirm Ben Bernanke to a second term as Federal Reserve chairman, setting a procedural vote for Jan. 28 in a sign that the necessary votes were now secured.
Private grants to go to local projects, schools and parks Clemmons residents should be getting a new elementary school and greenway after being approved for the land purchase on Jan. 26 by the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners. County and school officials had complained about a requirement imposed by Clemmons that calls for WinstonSalem/Forsyth County Schools to build a greenway and bike lanes at the site of the proposed new elementary school off Harper Road.
Graphic by Bobby O’Connor/Old Gold & Black
ZipCars system gives flexibility to students without cars By Vidur Kukreja | Staff writer
Kelly Makepeace/Old Gold & Black
The two new ZipCars currently sit in front of Johnson Residence Hall. The ZipCar system allows students to rent cars and is aimed at student who don’t have cars.
Life | B5
INSIDE:
Spring Break: Travel Easy
Brieflies
A2
Faculty Profile
A2
Spotlight
B2
As spring break approaches this guide will help you to plan a fun last minute vacation with friends.
The Hot List
B6
In Other News
Sudoku
B6
• Relationship Advice: ‘Can I Kiss You?’| A3 • TransAmerica and transgender individuals | A4
On Jan. 20, the university launched a bold new car-sharing program called the ZipCar. The ZipCar will allow those students without a car who wish to get of off campus. It provides an easy alternative to leaving without having the hassle of trying to find a ride with a friend or without relying on public transportation. With the university welcoming in the largest freshman class to date (about 1,200), the need for a program such as this has grown in demand. With the ZipCar, the university estimates 15 to 20 student-owned vehicles will be eliminated from campus, thus, resulting in a decrease in traffic congestion and a decrease in the exuberant number of parking tickets handed out to those who choose to park closer to the dorms.
Sports | B1 Damaged by Weather The inability of the Watertower fields to withstand excess rain combined with overuse have left the fields muddy and unstable.
The ZipCar is also environmentally friendly and is part of the university’s plan to become greener in the future. According to the ZipCar Web site, 90 percent of current members drove 5,500 miles or less which, in turn, lead up to savings worth around 219 gallons per car. On top of that, it is estimated that ZipCar members save more than $500 a month. The ZipCar concept on this campus has been designed to better fit students needs. Currently, a hybrid Honda Insight and a Honda Civic are available for student use 24 hours a day. Both cars are parked in front of Johnson, which provides convenience for many students such as freshman Weston Bloomer who believes that the shear convenience of getting to the car might, in itself, be a positive factor in the community.
See Zip, Page A3
Opinion | A6 Goodness in God Local minister and alum responds to atheist’s morality argument
A2 Thursday, January 28, 2010
It is the
12th
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Day of classes
days until
PAG E 2 5 48 64 There are
There are
days until
days
Groundhog Day
until
Spring Break
April Fool’s Day
Old Gold & Black News
There are days until
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Awake All Night
Brieflies Memorial Service for Canda Kinney scheduled for Feb. 3 A memorial service for Canda Kinney will be held at 4 p.m. on Feb. 3 in Davis Chapel. Canda Kinney was a senior at the university who passed away on Oct. 13.
Delta Zeta bake sale raises over $1,500 for Haiti relief The Delta Zeta sorority held a bake sale on Tuesday, Jan. 26, in Benson University Center to benefit Haiti aid efforts. All of the profits are to be sent to the Red Cross, who currently has a large presence in Haiti to help relieve the effects of the earthquake. A tally was kept as to which Greek organization gave the most money towards the relief effort. The winner ended up being Chi Psi who donated nearly $400. As a result, they get to have their name on the donation check.
Sophomores to officially declare majors and minors The annual major declaration process is scheduled for Feb. 15-19. All sophomores should declare a major by setting up an advising appointment at the desired department during this period. Students who do not declare a major by Feb. 19 risk being unable to register for courses for their major during major registration.
University students to represent at competition in Athens, Greece A team of four university students took first place in the national round of the KPMG Global Case Competition here at the university and, as a result, were invited to participate in representing the United States at the Universal KPMG Global Case Competition in Athens, Greece in early April. Team members include Louis Brotherton, Andrea Kensy, Swayze Smartt and Zachary Zimblie. The team had three hours to read a case, analyze the problems and prepare a presentation. The presentation was then shown via video conference to the KPMG judges in New York City.
Renowned author Tom Friedman to speak for Voices of Our Time Author of “Hot, Flat and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution - and How It Can Renew America” and New York Times columnist Tom Friedman is scheduled to speak at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 10 in Wait Chapel. Friedman has written on a variety of subjects from terrorism to globalization. He is seen as an authority on many subjects of international security and relations.
Spike Lee to speak at this year’s Reynolda Film Festival Award winning film director, producer, and writer Spike Lee will present Spike Lee: Following Your Dreams at the 2010 Reynolda Film Festival. Lee has received praise for films such as Malcom X and Miracle at St. Anna. He has also directed music videos for artists such as Michael Jackson. The event will take place at 7:30 p.m. on March 26 in Wait Chapel. Tickets are $5 for the public and free to university students, faculty and staff.
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Will Walldorf: Political Science By Katie Phillips | Staff Writer C. William Walldorf, now an assistant professor of political science, taught at Auburn University and Gordon College before joining the university in 2009. Walldorf received his bachelor’s degree in Government and Legal Studies from Bowdoin College and both his masters and doctorate in Politics from the University of Virginia. He has held postdoctoral fellowships at Dartmouth College and the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture at the University of Virginia. Professor Walldorf is the author of Just Politics: Human Rights and the Foreign Policy of Great Power (Cornell University Press, 2008). This book was the winner of the International Studies Association Award for the best book on international security for 2008 and 2009. According to a review published by the Council of Foreign Relations, “In this fascinating account of how leading democratic states struggle over conflicts between hardnosed strategic calculations and lib-
eral democratic and humanitarian norms, Walldorf argues that it is in the legislative bodies of democratic states that ferment over human rights is concentrated.” Walldorf commented on the general ideas included in his book, “it argues that for democracies, human rights usually come to the forefront when legislatures become concerned about human rights violations and then feel the pressure of domestic human rights NGOs,” he said. “Under these conditions, the U.S. Congress, for instance, has traditionally led the way in pressing for the defense of human rights. “It looks at U.S. policy during the Cold War to many states, including South Africa, Turkey, Greece, Chile and Nicaragua.” He develops his foreign policy theory in relation to human rights, “… as far as policy, the book demonstrates that human rights and democracy promotion are deeply embedded aspects of U.S. foreign policy that can become especially intense at times,” he said. “When this happens via legislative pressure, my research suggests that Presidents or Prime Ministers are best off incorporating those concerns into policy toward allies,
even those that are most important to U.S. foreign policy.” Before the completion of his book, Walldorf has published in a variety of sources, including an article in a peer-reviewed journal, “When Humanitarianism Matters: Liberalism and the Termination of Security Commitments,” and a chapter in a book “Towards a Nuanced Conception of Political Islam: The Case of Tajikistan” titled The Transformations of 1989-1999: Triumph or Tragedy. Forthcoming is an article in the European Journal of International Relations titled, “Argument, Institutional Process and Human Rights Sanctions in Democratic Foreign Policy.” At this time it seems that Walldorf ’s research has focused on tools that large democratic powers can use to convince allies to liberalize. “My current research explores why the expected turn toward greater attention to human rights under the Obama administration has not materialized,” he said. “In addition to only moderate changes to our interrogation policies and slow progress on Guantanamo Bay, the Obama administration has virtually dropped all discussion
about human rights and democracy in our relations with many states around the world. “I argue that the reason for this lies not so much with Obama, but with the fact that American culture appears, in some respects, less concerned about goals of promoting traditional liberal, American values internationally. “This has serious and potentially long-term ramifications for U.S. foreign policy,” Walldorf said. According to Walldorf, more research will most likely be conducted soon in New York City and Washington, D.C., in regards to policy makers and human rights NGOs. He also stated that another research project that is advancing deals with causes of the present decline in attention to human rights in U.S. foreign policy. Walldorf has taught classes American Foreign Policy: Contemporary Issues, International Security, Research Design and Qualitative Analysis. Currently at the university he teaches International Relations and Perspectives in International Politics.
John Turner/Old Gold & Black
News Old Gold & Black
Thursday, January 28, 2010 A3
‘Can I Kiss You?’ addresses relationships and rape By Lauren Dayton | Staff Writer
Athletics and Residence Life and to the Greek community. Housing. “I definitely think this is an PREPARE, the Policy Group important issue on our campus,” Mike Domitrz, a renowned dating expert, addressed over on Rape Education, Prevention senior Kerry Bollerman said, vice a thousand university students and Response is a co-ed uni- president of membership for Stuand members of the university versity group that was founded dent Union, who was responsible community on Jan. 26 in Wait in 1987 and works promote for the marketing and promotion Chapel with a lecture entitled healthy relationships as well as of the event understanding and prevention of “Can I Kiss You?” “Domitrz makes consent seem rape and sexual cool and I hope the speech will In his interacassault. tive presentaencourage our students to respect “His point really showed Molly Cham- their own bodies,” Bollerman tion Domitrz c h a l l e n g e d how little steps of interven- pagne, a junior said. and member some of the Domitrz challenged the audition through actions or of PREPARE’s ence to both initiate and require mentalities even just comments can executive board, respect in their romantic relaabout romantic was particularly tions, summarized in his “Pledge relationships make a huge difference instr umental for Action” as: respect yourself, that are prevain occurrences of sexual in bringing respect your partner, ask before lent on college assault. ” Domitrz to the you act and then respect the campuses and Andrea May university. encouraged answer. After hearstudents to “He offered personal testimony Senior ing Domitrz’s to how sexual assault affects not respect their p r e s e n t a t i o n just the victim but the victim’s partners. in high school, friends, family members and coDomitrz began with a few skits which Champagne felt the university workers. He also encouraged the included audience members could benefit from his funny- university students to take an and focused on the importance but-insightful approach to a dif- active role in preventing sexual of asking first before making a ficult topic. assault by recognizing dangerous One of the highlights of his lec- situations and being willing to move. The lecture transitioned ture was making the “extremely intervene. quickly from how to respect a diverse audience “His point sexual partner on a first date to realize that they really showed how to intervene in potentially all shared the how little steps “He also used humor to beliefs make us trust him and then of intervendangerous situations involving same towards stefriends. tion through Domitrz began by addressing reotypes. (He) used that trust to speak on actions or even romantic relationships in a gen- allowed everymore difficult topics such just comments eral sense and then transitioned one to realize as rape. I really enjoyed his can make a to more specific scenarios, that we all subhuge differstyle ” applying that same reasoning scribe to negaence in occurKara Pederson to incidents that the audience tive stereotypes rences of sexual agreed happen regularly at the and misconcepassault,” senior Junior tions towards university. Andrea May, “It was interesting how he r e l a t i o n s h i p also a member used the audience’s unsuspect- boundaries, yet of PREPARE’s ing answers to prove his point,” we as a community want this executive board, said. to change,” Champagne said. junior Kara Pederson said. Another upcoming event is The lecture was also part of PREPARE’s Tie a Yellow Ribbon “He also used humor to make us trust him and then used that Greek Life’s Alpha Series/New week, which begins Feb.15. trust to speak on more diffi- Member Education Program, a The event involves a series cult topics such as rape. I really series of events required for new of programs and activities on David Lavis/Old Gold & Black enjoyed his style.” members of Greek organizations campus that are dedicated to raisMike Domitrz gave an interactive lecture, “Can I Kiss You?”, Jan. 26 in Wait Chapel “Can I Kiss You?” was spon- and which are designed to be ing awareness of and prevention about the ins and outs of relationships and dating. sored by PREPARE with support both intellectually stimulating of future instances of rape and from Student Union, Greek Life, and to address issues pertinent sexual assault.
Recycle: Vying to be eco-friendly Zip: Car rentals made easy Continued from Page A1
continue to work to protect the environment after graduation. “Students can expect to see the Office of Sustainability interns in Benson with games and prizes related to recycling, contests going on throughout the competition (RecycleMania) with some great prizes and other fun activities related to reducing, reusing and recycling,” Edwards said. The purpose of RecycleMania is to promote recycling at colleges and universities by students and staff. It’s other goal is to heighten awareness of waste management and recycling programs and to lower waste generated on campus. The program also hopes to promote waste reduction programs on campus that continue to be mindful of the environment in the future. Throughout the competition, students, faculty and staff are encouraged to make small changes in daily routines that will help to increase waste reduction on campus.
When printing, always use both sides of the paper. Save paper by viewing textbooks or required reading on laptops instead of printing. Shop for groceries, school supplies and other everyday purchases with reusable bags. Take advantage of the convenient recycling containers located throughout campus. Invest in a reusable water bottle and reusable dinnerware instead of buying paper or plastic cups and utensils. At Starbucks, students, faculty and staff can get a discount for using reusable coffee cups instead of taking disposable ones. “The most important thing students can do to help us win this competition is to focus on not contaminating the recycling bins with non-recyclables such as food waste and other trash,” Edwards said. “If a bin has a certain level of contamination, such as having trash in the plastics bin, then that bin has to be thrown into the garbage, which hurts the university in the competition,” he said. “This also costs money as we pay for every ton we send to the landfill.”
Edwards notes that not everything can be recycled. “There are some items that I see in recycling bins that people want to recycle but simply can’t be recycled here on campus, such as plastic grocery bags.” Last week, students had the opportunity to sign up for free reusable to-go containers in front of the Pit. Although this was not part of the RecycleMania campaign, it is one example of how students can take initiative to reduce waste on campus. For more information, visit the RecycleMania page on the university’s Office of Sustainability Web site http://www. sustainability.wfu.edu. “The best way to get involved is to start by changing the little things and go from there,” Edwards said. The RecycleMania is run by the College and University Recycling Council, which is governed by a steering committee comprised of six representatives from colleges and universities around the country, including the University of Arizona, the University of Colorado, Harvard University and Brigham Young University.
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“I believe that the concept is good and the fact that the cars are right here (at Johnson) and that one doesn’t have to walk all the way to freshman parking is a good thing,” he said. The ZipCar sytem is also relatively cheap for the average student. The annual startup fee is $35 dollars and the university is currently offering an extra $35 free driving if you sign up now for the service. After that, there are no extra commitments fees and the car can be reserved online for as long as one needs. The current rental costs for a car is $8 per hour or $66 for a day during the week and $9 per hour or $72 per day on the weekends. However, undoubtedly the best part has to be the free gas (for the first 180 miles) and the insurance that is included with each reservation. The ZipCar has been successful in universities across the country. For example, at the University of Michigan, a school with over 56,000 students with around 10,000 living in residence halls,
the ZipCar has proven very effective in reducing traffic across the campus. The ZipCar has also been used in over a hundred different campuses across the country including Ivy Leagues such as Yale, Brown and Stanford. The cars are currently parked centrally near the residence halls where there is normally no parking, making it convenient for students and faculty to access the cars. Right now, the university is highly encouraging students (18 and up) and faculty to sign up for the program by logging onto the Web site http://www. zipcar.com/wfu. After filling out the application, one will receive a zipcard through the mail and can use that to open up the car whenever one has a reservation. Afterward, they can drive off for the allotted time and must return the car to the same spot. The university hopes that the concept will catch on quickly for both students and faculty and, if successful, they hope to expand the program by adding several more cars in the future. By doing so, they hope to remain committed to ‘Pro Humanitate’ and hope to keep up the green trend in the future.
Haiti: Vigil raises funds and awareness for victims Continued from Page A1
Graham characterized the candlelight vigil as a joint effort by all the members of AFRICASA. “There is a huge need for funds and, therefore, it was important to tap into the good feelings here (at the university) and engage the student body in the school’s motto Pro Humanitate,” he said. “Also, I believe in global citizenship. I’m not just a Jamaican, I’m a citizen of the world and this issue appeals to my heart strings,” said Graham. He believed that the event aroused a reasonable turnout and though while he wished that more people were in attendance, he acknowledged the sincerity of the people that were present Jan. 26. The event raised in total $255.50, yet there are still many other charitable plans in the works for the organization to
raise relief funds, including the “2010 Project.” The 2010 project is intended to appeal to twenty friends and family members and encourage them to donate $10 per person for the relief effort. As songs such as the Jackson 5’s “I’ll Be There” played, there was a heightened need for urgency amongst the individuals present in the words, “Just call my name, and I’ll be there.” The world must not only reach out to victims of Haiti’s devastating earthquakes with their pocketbooks, but also with their hearts. As Guerrier stated, “There is an inspirational saying in Creole that says ‘Ayiti pap kraze’ which translates roughly to Haiti will not break.” With love, care, and solid effort, Haiti will rise from these trying times. With aid and international help, Haiti will one day return to and hopefully even surpass global expectations.
DeNoia Woods/ Old Gold & Black
Students held a candlelight vigil for those affected by the recent earthquake in Haiti, collecting donations for the victims involved in the tragic catastrophe.
Old Gold & Black News
A4 Thursday, January 28, 2010
Lecture discusses African-American art in the 20th century By Meenu Krishnan | Staff writer
In preparation for the celebration of the upcoming Black History Month, the second installment of the library lecture series focused on African-American Art of the 20th and 21st centuries with emphasis on the New Negro Movement. The lecture was conducted by Dianne W. Caesar, the executive director of the Delta Arts Center, an organization dedicated to the artistic contributions of AfricanAmericans. Caesar primarily focused about the New Negro Movement, a movement that was a precursor and contributor to the much better known Harlem Renaissance. The New Negro Movement was “a race-conscious and classconscious demand for political and social equality,” according to Caesar, which “called for an end to segregation and lynching.” The New Negro Movement was originally an exceedingly defiant movement that not only desired justice and ethnic pride for African-Americans. The movement also wanted to impress upon the white majority the value of black culture and art. The movement, originating in Harlem, N.Y., was primarily due to the a large community of African-American intellectuals residing there. Between 1896 and 1915, a time of widespread racial violence in the South, many of these intellectuals moved to Harlem. “Everybody who was somebody ended up in Harlem,” Caesar said. For the first time, these people, many with numerous college degrees, had enough
leisure time to contemplate their niche in American society. The movement galvanized Harlem and inspired the artistic flourishing that was later to be defined as the Harlem Renaissance. “They began to feel that they could integrate more into America if they were appreciated,” Caesar said. “They sought to combine African aesthetics and American sensibilities.” Caesar focused on three artists that moved to New York during the early 20th century, all of whom came from either Greensboro or Charlotte. The first of these artists was Malvin Gray Johnson, who was unique in that he was one of the first African-Americans to paint in the Cubist style. In 1924, Johnson showed his artwork in an exhibition at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City. However, in an incident which characterized the racism of the time, Johnson was banned from attending his own art show. Johnson pioneered a new style with his visual recording of black spirituals, like in his work Swing Low, Sweet Chariot. “He emphasized the struggles that African-Americans had, but he also showed the faith that they would be accepted,” Caesar said. “He connected the spiritual with the visual.” Caesar’s lecture was also sprinkled with humorous anecdotes, like when she was describing the artist Charles Alston, of Charlotte, who switched his majors three times at Columbia University. “First, he was interested in majoring architecture, but then
he switched to medicine. Turns out he couldn’t stand the sight of blood. Then he became an art major,” Caesar said. Caesar also acknowledged Alston’s contributions in the sphere of public policy and government. He was instrumental in New York’s passing of a law which required all government buildings to dedicate 10 percent of their budget to artistic endeavors. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Caesar’s lecture was her willingness to recognize the artists’ human qualities and not reduce them to a series of names and dates. “These were young men who liked to have fun. They were rambunctious, fascinating people. They were familiar with all parts of society and interacted with people like Billie Holiday,” Caesar said. The last artist that Caesar described was Romare Bearden, the most famous of the three. One of Bearden’s most notable accomplishments was the formation of the Spiral Group, who, in their first exhibit, only produced black-and-white paintings, as a symbol of racial tension. Caesar actually personally knew Bearden, and in a lighthearted anecdote, described his frequent calls to her to “make some of that good North Carolina fried chicken.” These anecdotes made the library lecture highly enjoyable, especially for Marty Edwards, who works at the Reynolda House and was in attendance at the lecture. “I just loved hearing these personal stories about the artists,” Edwards said.
B AKIN’ F OR H AITI
Meenu Krishnan/Old Gold & Black
Dianne Caesar, the executive director of the Delta Arts center, spoke on African-American Art in the 20th century as part of the library lecture series.
Energy conference to be held at university By Olivia Boyce | Life Editor
John Turner/Old Gold & Black
Members of the Delta Zeta sorority philanthropy chair Grace Fenstermaker, Ashton Astbury and Sam Perrotta, sit at the Haiti fundraiser table Jan 26.
In lieu of our current energy crisis, the university will host a conference entitled Energizing the Future: Technology, Policy and Entrepreneurship on Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 10 – 11. Day one of the conference will be held in the Brendle Recital Hall and will focus on the energy challenges facing the world today and discuss many of the emerging alternative energy solutions. Later that evening at 6:30 p.m., Thomas L. Freidman, a New York Times columnist and author of Hot, Flat and Crowded, will deliver the keynote address in Wait Chapel. On day two, the focus of the conference will turn towards policy. Government legislations and the economics of various energy forms will be discussed. The second day will focus on the need for energy technology entrepreneurship ventures and their application to the Triad area. Members of the community, staff and all students are encouraged to attend this free conference where they will have the opportunity to learn more about sustainable energy solutions from current leaders in the energy field. Other speakers at the conference include James Rogers, CEO of Duke Energy, Aubrey McClendon, CEO of Chesapeake Energy, and a number of academics and entrepreneurs involved in sustainable energy solutions. Questions and discussions will be encouraged after each speaker’s initial address, and as the di-
rector of the Conference, professor Jim Curran explains, “I really hope attendees will ask the hard questions because that is the only way we are going to push towards solutions.” As many in the university community are starting to acknowledge, sustainable energy solutions are vital for the future. “Nearly every step of every process requires energy in some form,” Curran said. “It takes one calorie of oil to produce one calorie of food. This is a field that is important to everyone and will require broad and diverse knowledge before any viable answers can be achieved.” According to Curran, the energy forum will strengthen local awareness and bridge important interdisciplinary connections. The event will be a visible step towards more active sustainability work on campus that can spread into the greater community. Down the road, Curran hopes to see the formation of a university center for energy, environment and sustainability that will act as a central structure for collaboration, research and information dissemination on local and global energy issues. The Energizing the Future: Technology, Policy and Entrepreneurship conference is sponsored by BB&T Center for the Study of Capitalism, Provost Jill Tiefenthaler, and President Nathan Hatch as a component of the Voices of Our Times lecture series. The conference is free and open to the public. Registration is not required but would be appreciated. For more information visit energy2010.wfu. edu
Lecture on transgendered motherhood in TransAmerica By Bobby O’Connor | News Editior
The Department of Women’s and Gender Studies hosted a lecture by Mary Dalton, an associated professor of communication with a background in gender studies. Her talk, based on a paper she published in Motherhood Misconceived, looks at how the character of Bree Osbourne, played by Felicity Huffmen, a transgendered women, advances and expands our views of transgenders in the movie TransAmerica. “As soon as I saw TransAmerica, I had a strong desire to write about this film,” Dalton said. “I thought that I did have something to say about this film, something that I thought would be worth saying to a larger audience.” Dalton said that she sees the movie as discarding conventional boundaries both narratively and visually. “Bree Osbourne’s story expands the image many people have of transsexuals by giving us a character who’s conservative,” she said. “The defining part of TransAmerica is the journey from potential father to loving mother.” “Bree reminds us that labels often complicate situations by establishing a reductive paradigm
that forces a normative way of being,” Dalton said, “and punishes people that don’t fit neatly into those established categories.” A week prior to her scheduled sex change, from a man to a women, she receives a phone call from Toby Wilkins, her 17-year-old son whom she was previously unaware of. Toby, an abused teen, at this point in his life has been arrested on drug charges following running away from an abusive step-father following his mother’s suicide. Bree, at the urging of her therapist, sets off on a cross-country trip to bail Toby out of jail. On their return drive from New York to California the two part ways as a result of Toby’s anger at Bree for not telling him she was transgendered and his biological father. In the end of the movie, Bree has her surgery and reconciles with Toby, who has also made it to Los Angeles and is working in a gay porn, finally assumes a motherly role toward him. “What I’ve done is to explicate Bree’s process from unsuspecting dad, to unprepared mom, to caring parent,” Dalton said, “by examining scenes in the film that specifically mark those identities along this journey.”
Bobby O’Connor/Old Gold & Black
Mary Dalton, a communications professor, spoke about her paper concerning the movie TransAmerica, and the role transgendered individuals play.
News Old Gold & Black
Thursday, January 28, 2010 A5
O PINION O L D
This column represents the views of the Old Gold & Black Editorial Board.
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In My Opinion | By Emma Hunsinger
ALE intervention creates more danger
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t’s a joke around campus that when you combine the weak immune systems of sleep-deprived college students with the university’s Greek-sponsored Kiss Night, you get the recipe for flu season. But as much as students like to brag about how crazy their night was, or what they can or cannot remember happening, most would honestly attest that these are mostly rumors to flaunt their social prowess and that Kiss Night more closely resembles a tailgate before a competitive ACC football game than a debaucheryfilled, Ebola-spreading flu-fest that seems to be the perception held by many in the community. Either way, if there was any reason for Student Health workers to worry about Kiss Night being the reason for a campus-wide pandemic in the past, there is no reason to worry that such will be the case this year. By now, most readers have already heard the entire story of how their suite mate was kicked out of Millennium in high heels, without a jacket, after midnight on Jan. 23 and then walked around for 30 minutes before her friend could drive downtown and pick her up. Not wishing to discuss a topic of underage drinking, the more appropriate question that needs to be asked is as follows: how does entering a private party and forcing hundreds of youth out onto dark, cold streets aid a situation where there is, at best, only a possibility that underage drinking is occurring? Is this how tax money is being spent; is this the protection demanded by
citizens that government provide them — was there any danger to be stomped out? Many students argue that an even more dangerous and chaotic situation was created by ALE officers when floods of youth (some intoxicated, others not) exited the downtown building. The issue here is a very fineedged one, requiring serious discussion and maturity by both parties in order to look again at acts that usually go unquestioned. Assuming even that there was evidence of underage drinking occurring within the privately rented building, in which case the written law provides support for investigation by police in a manner deemed appropriate in their eyes, could there not have been a safer and more controlled way of evacuating the building, one that did not endanger the wellbeing of numerous innocent students in order to prevent the illegal acts of the minority? Putting all opinions aside, could this situation not have been handled with more forethought by the ALE officers who created a mass of scared students — and a mass of angry students too who just spend thousands of dollars on a party they expected to last longer than a couple of hours? Many claim that the events of the night were overtly ill-considered in action by the officers; yet, ironically premeditated in thought (they planned on stopping the party before it started). If such is the case, ALE is not only encouraging the danger they were once in the business of preventing by driving students to go to even more trouble to ensure their party’s secrecy.
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Quick Quotes “The new Holiday Inn bed warmers service is a bit like having a giant hot water bottle in your bed.”
Goodness does not exist outside of God Local minister finds reason for trusting in a Christian basis for moral standards
without fear of future judgment, the hope of progress toward a social utopia at the hands of technological advancement and a refusal to admit wrong so that we can blame our problems on our environment or society. Derek Radney Is this an unfair characterization? It certainly doesn’t explain atheism Guest columnist away, and I don’t think Bardon’s s a former student of Adrian explanation explains Christianity away Bardon, I have much respect for either. him. I took both of his courses on His article on morality was a great Modern and Kantian philosophy. He critique of Divine Command Theory has argued in the Old Gold & Black the but not of Christianity (“Moral past two weeks that theists, particularly standards exist independent of God,” Christians, have a blind faith that Jan. 21). avoids hard facts by forgoing rational God is an absolute being, and assessment, and that moral standards goodness is defined by his own exists apart from God. character. “Good” does not exist outside Though these issues cannot be of God, so that he must conform to it, exhaustively addressed here, I hope to nor is it an arbitrary choice God has briefly give a Christian response. made. Bardon and I agree that “Rational It is who he is. He is good. belief doesn’t require certainty,” I agree that acting morally has nothing that is to say, many things that are to do with obeying God. Plenty of nonrationally believed cannot be falsified theists do what is commonly recognized through empirical evidence or analytic as good. arguments. However, knowing what is good However, he goes on to state that all requires that we have an absolute rational beliefs are held on the basis of standard that transcends our subjective some evidence which the Christian lacks reason, will or sentiment. because he bases his beliefs on the Bible I will venture to guess that, in his apart from evidence. next article, Bardon will argue along My problem with Bardon’s assertion the lines of Immanuel Kant, that what is that he assumes that people can is right is a good will that desires to do look at the evidence its duty for duty’s sake. objectively and make Kant based his morality reasonable deductions on what he called “the “Good” does not exist outside with which all categorical imperative.” rational people agree. of God, so that he must conAn imperative is On the contrary, form to it, nor is it an arbitrary categorical if we can evidence is consistently will its interpreted differently choice God has made. It is who universal application. In by rational people other words, when you he is. He is good. all the time. We all make a decision, you have hidden beliefs must consider whether that lead us to accept or not you would want some things and doubt others. everyone in your situation to do the For example, Bardon argued that it is same. completely rational to assume that two So, cruelty is prohibited because we suns won’t rise tomorrow morning even cannot will that people act cruelly if this claim is unfalsifiable. universally. Promises shouldn’t be But, his judgment that this is a broken because we cannot will that rational belief is based on the hidden people break promises without belief that the universe will continue completely destroying the concept of a to operate according to set laws, which promise. is neither empirically or rationally Kant fooled himself into believing provable. that he had found the absolute ground My point? of morality. Friedrich Nietzsche pointed Christians don’t have a blind faith; out that Kant had inadvertently rather, we receive different things adopted a Christian morality in his as valid evidence and interpret attempt to free morality from its other evidence differently than Christian roots. he does because we have different That I cannot will that people always presuppositions. act cruelly only indicates my own Furthermore, to suggest that believing wishes about how the world should in divine revelation is irrational because work. men have wrongly interpreted the Sadomasochists might will that all Bible throughout history is like saying people act cruelly all the time, and there we should throw out the scientific is nothing implicitly contradictory method because people have at times about that. drawn poor conclusions from their It is easy to fear or stigmatize those experiments. that you do not understand, so I Bad science drives scientists to better hope this has brought some greater science, and bad interpretations have understanding to Christian belief. driven Christians to closer study of While I have certainly not answered Scripture. every objection, I hope that I have at To his point on willful credulity, least caused you some pause in light of I agree that people have a powerful the objections that have been raised. tendency to believe what they want to believe, but could we not turn this Derek Radney graduated from Wake argument around? Obvious motives to Forest in 2004 with a B.A. in philosophy, atheistic belief include a desire to feel and is currently the College and Young unrestrained by any outside authority, Adults Pastor at Calvary Baptist Church a desire to live for the here and now in Winston-Salem, N.C.
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- Holiday Inn spokeswoman Jane Bednall, explaining the new plan for a human bedwarming service in London.
“” “Tourists are welcome to the ‘Miracle tour to Avatar’s floating mountains.”’ - Song Zhiguang, Director of the Yuanjiajie Scenic Spot Administration in China, referencing the official name change to the Avatar-inspired cliff, previously known as the Southern Sky Column in a Chinese theme park .
“” “It makes me sick that because I brought my dog to work with me when the store was closed to do the company a favor, I was called a thief and terminated.” - Eric Favetta from New Jersey, reacting to his termination at PetSmart for keeping his dog in the doggie day care facility while he worked overnight inside the store.
“” “In times of crisis, the Mafia’s money, even though it is dirty, makes people’s mouths water.” - Confesercenti Report, compiled by a small business and shopkeepers association, discussing how in the current times of economic downturn, the Italian Mafia is seeing a surge in membership and profit.
“” “He burned the vehicle out completely.” - Hildesheim, Germany police spokesman, reporting on how an elderly man, in attempting to thaw out his vehicle as fast as possible, accidentally caused the car to catch on fire when he placed a blow heater under the hood of his car and caused the internal workings to incinerate while he was indoors.
Opinion Old Gold & Black
Thursday, January 28 , 2010 A7
Reason and Religion | The Natural Origins of Morality
Morality comes from evolution of humanity Adrian Bardon Guest columnist
A man’s ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death. — Albert Einstein
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common canard about the theory of evolution is that it cannot account for morality. Natural selection, the story goes, is all about bloody competition between self-interested individuals, and helpfulness or altruism could only detract from one’s situation and life prospects. The theory of evolution, then, rules out the possibility of the emergence of moral motives or moral behavior. In fact, it is not at all difficult to offer a naturalistic account of morality — an account according to which moral motives and behavior emerge via natural selection. Lots of work has been done on this subject over the last century; Richard Joyce’s excellent book The Evolution of Morality is a valuable recent addition to the literature. In it, he describes no fewer than four routes to the emergence of “moral” behavior via natural selection: 1. Mutualism. Many tasks can be achieved, or achieved much more easily, via cooperation. Hunting, for example, can require a lot of cooperation. Non-cooperation in such contexts means no benefits for anyone.
Organisms with a natural openness to or sibling would be selected for: if cooperation would, therefore, often you help a child or sibling, you are have an adaptive advantage. increasing the likelihood that half your 2. Reciprocity. Cheaters in iterated genetic information survives. What reciprocal arrangements (recurring about charitable behavior towards sorts of situations where each non-kin? To reliably and instantly participant can take turns benefiting apply to relatives, the protective from the other’s help) would be instinct would have to be easily shunned, and so would lose out on triggered. Note two recent examples innumerable future opportunities of children falling into a gorilla pen at for reciprocation. You can gain short the zoo and being immediately cared term by cheating others, but a good for and protected by one of the gorillas reputation brings long-term benefits. (check this out on YouTube). 3. Group selection. Individuals within With these four factors working cooperative together, the surprising communities will thing would be to see do much better cooperative traits fail There is no real alternative to than individuals to emerge naturally in a naturalistic account of moral within groups. a social species capable But wouldn’t of benefiting from the motives and behavior ... God non-cooperative care and helpfulness of and religion have nothing individuals others! essentially to do with within a mixed This predictable, morality ... group exploit natural emergence of the cooperators? helpfulness is not the In fact, as Elliot whole story, since the Sober and David Sloan Wilson have phenomenon of morality includes shown, a group with even a few not only helpful behavior but also moderately helpful individuals will altruistic motives and a belief in significantly outperform a group with objective moral rules. These also have no cooperators, leading, over time, to a naturalistic explanation. a global expansion in the percentage of As Robert Frank has observed, carriers of helpfulness traits. genuine, hard-to-fake moral emotions 4. Kin selection. Helping relatives at provide an adaptive advantage some cost to oneself would be favored with regard to mutualism and by natural selection in many instances, reciprocity. Moral emotions, like according to how much sacrifice is kindness, love and vengefulness, entailed and how closely related the serve as commitment devices that organisms are. Think of an organism assure others you will be a reliable as a vehicle for genes to inhabit. We partner in cooperative and reciprocal would expect that caring for a child relationships (and a reliable enemy
Rethinking the State | A Critical View of Government
if cheated). Without such emotions, it would be too hard to pass up opportunities for immediate gain via non-cooperation, thus causing one to miss out on the long-term benefits of cooperation. Moral emotions allow genuine altruistic motives, rather than just calculated, self-interested and contingent helpfulness. Finally, there is the fact — not explained by the above considerations — that we often conceptualize morality as involving objective rules or imperatives. The great Scottish philosopher David Hume had an effective explanation for this phenomenon. He noted the nearly universal, instinctual sympathy we feel for others: another’s pain is immediately disturbing to us (studies of young children and even infants support the innateness of this tendency). Sympathies of this sort form the basis for the moral emotions. These emotional responses, in turn, are “projected” onto people, behaviors and states of affairs, much as colors are in visual awareness. Color is not a property of things; color is a matter of our brain’s response to light of a certain wavelength. Yet we naturally think of things around us as actually red, blue, etc. Similarly, given our characteristic sympathetic responses to situations and behavioral characteristics, we naturally speak of persons as “moral” or “immoral.” Thus the typical conviction that morality is an objective matter, rather than just a matter of sentiments that happen to be universal and beneficial.
But does morality, on this conception, carry any normative force? Immanuel Kant thought more was needed. Should we, morally, act according to our natural sympathies? Could we generate intrinsic moral value — and thus moral obligation — ourselves by simply choosing to value others as beings of intrinsic worth? Does reason, as Kant argued, dictate that we treat others as beings with an inherent dignity and importance, in part because a universal failure to do so would undermine our own goals? Is the notion of being motivated by moral duty alone compatible with the natural evolution of moral motives described above? These are tough questions, and I am not sure what the answers are. But religion will be of no help in answering them. There is no real alternative to a naturalistic account of moral motives and behavior, since (as we saw in last week’s column) God and religion have nothing essentially to do with morality, either as a matter of definition or practice. Religion can, indeed, reinforce moral commitments by codifying moral rules, but it can also undermine and disrupt cooperativeness by creating artificial divisions between individuals and groups. Our natural sympathy for others is obscured when we see religious differences rather than our common humanity. Adrian Bardon is an associate professor of philosophy. (His columns this semester are part of a book project.)
Searching for Equality | A Citizen’s Public Duty
ALE’s actions started French Muslims should unnecessary chaos accept the niqab ban the result of corrupt governments and police forces than citizen mobs, as a plethora of third world countries have shown. Thus, when there is a corrupt government that loots its own citizens, there is rarely any kind of significant economic growth in a county. The point of all this is to show just what an important principle rule of law is, and that it does not just refer to the people following the law, but also to the government and police equally enforcing the law. Elliot Engstrom Now, let’s apply this principle to the ALE. Managing editor For the ALE to be equally enforcing the ost people have by now heard of law, they would have to be able to show that what happened this weekend at “kiss they are actively doing the same kinds of night.” work at such schools as Winston-Salem State While I, like many others on campus, University, Salem College, North Carolina was not in attendance, and thus am relying State University and Davidson College as they on firsthand accounts for details, the basic do at Wake Forest. concept of what occurred seems fairly clear — Could they show that this is the case? While ALE broke up one of the biggest nights of the I suppose it is possible that they could, I find year for campus Greek organizations because this highly, highly unlikely. alcohol had been consumed by underage A final argument on the side of ALE is that students. so many students were being taken in away I’m honestly no huge fan of fraternities in ambulances that someone had to respond. or sororities. I see them as First off, this is not a job the campus embodiment for ALE; it is a job for of collectivism, a fairly regular, local police who are At the end of the day, police destructive ideology, and I obviously identifiable. honestly do think that many And secondly, if exist for the benefit of the or these organizations tend ALE wants to stop people, and in this free society to indulge in far too much overconsumption of the police would serve the substance abuse. alcohol, the answer is not to However, I do think shut down the party where people by making the actions that they have the right everyone ends up. of both other citizens and the to conduct their activities Anyone, even someone government/police without having to fear the like me who has never local secret police showing even been to a Greek party, themselves predictable. up undercover and shutting knows that the majority of down events that they paid alcohol consumption occurs thousands of dollars to put before, and not at, these together. events. Such an occurrence should cause us to One could argue that the whole concept of question the functioning of a police force in “pre-gaming” exists principally because of a a free society, and try to see where an agency fear of people like ALE, but that is a matter for like Alcohol Law Enforcement fits into this another day. picture. We are told that the police exist to “protect In a free society, police would exist to protect and serve.” Well, let’s apply that concept to person and property, and to enforce the rule of kiss night. Who was protected, and who was law. Believe it or not, the reason for this is not served? simply to have “order,” as many police officers Honestly, I can’t tell you who was protected. themselves seem to believe. If anything ALE caused a dangerous and At the end of the day, police exist for the chaotic scenario, as anyone underage who had benefit of the people, and in this free society consumed alcohol attempted to flee the scene the police would serve the people by making in order to not be caught. the actions of both other citizens and the And who was served? government/police themselves predictable. I can’t even begin to think of anyone that For example, if I start a business, I want to was served other than the officers of ALE for know that no one will probably come and the reinforced idea of their own usefulness, break in my windows and steal all of my and whatever government agency receives the money raised through ALE’s alcohol citations. merchandise the next day. While the night certainly may have been out The police, ostensibly, offer me this of control, this was not a job for a secretive predictability, as I can know that anyone who does try to do such a thing can be arrested and agency that inspires fear into the hearts of intoxicated teenagers, but rather the local put in jail. police that we respect, who could have calmed In a society where it seemed that more often everyone down and ended the night in a much than not, my business would be looted before safer manner. a month had passed, I would be much less likely to take the financial risk of investing Elliot Engstrom is a senior French major from in the capital of starting a business. Believe Matthews, N.C. it or not, this scenario is much more often
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Afghanistan. It entails separating women from men, and thus most of the world outside the home. In a household that practices Purdah strictly, a woman in the house would be fully covered, with the exception of the eyes, anytime she leaves the house. The issues with women’s rights here are obvious — a society which enforces this kind of dress code on its women is horribly mistreating half of its population, but that goes without Matt Moran saying and has been critiqued by feminists of far Staff Columnist greater writing ability than I, thus, I will leave it n this article, I am going to try to unpack a to them. controversial and complicated issue. It is not The practice of Purdah, however, has become my intention to offend anyone, but I also somewhat common in Muslim enclaves and is a will not temper my views to appear superficially problem for the aforementioned reasons. French politically correct. With this in mind, Comrades, society is fiercely secular — after centuries of please read on. Catholic-led mania, who can blame them — and Very recently a committee in the French an individual who wants to live in France should parliament recommended a ban on Muslim understand and accept this. women wearing the face veil, or niqab, in Thus, while I normally shy away from government offices, schools, hospitals or on government infringement in the everyday lives public transportation. France is home to Europe’s of the citizens, those Muslim immigrants who largest Muslim population which, unfortunately, are not integrating effectively into French society has integrated into the society rather poorly. because they are outwardly extremely religious The lack of integration has caused “parallel should choose between leaving France or societies” (not my phrase) in which native changing their outward daily behavior. French and Muslims live in the same country Blunt as this may be, the internal coherence and cities and yet might as well inhabit two of French identity and culture is threatened by a different worlds. This has at least two negative group which refuses to effectively integrate. consequences. The first is widespread poverty Once effective anti-poverty campaigns are and perceived second-class citizenship among waged in the Muslim enclaves it is the duty of the Muslim immigrant population in France, the residents of those enclaves to respond with made up mostly of North Africans. The second their own efforts. is a very real threat to French security; these Unfortunately, many will not and thus the poor Muslim neighborhoods French state, acting on behalf could be incubatory hotbeds of the French people, needs for home-grown terrorists to take a legal stand. No one French society is fiercely who are frustrated by their will attempt to regulate what secular — after centuries social position in an otherwise a Muslim woman may wear in of Catholic-led mania, who wealthy country. her own home, but the French Thus, the French experiment public sphere is secular to the can blame them — and an with multiculturalism has core and should remain so as individual who wants to live failed. The solution, then, is a critical part of contemporary in France should understand successful integration of the French identity. Muslim population into the Secularism is a major part of and accept this. wider French society. why the West has progressed A successful integration to the degree that it has. While policy will ask things both of in certain areas it has a long the French and of the Muslims. From the French way to go, the West has the greatest respect it will request a basic change in attitude, which for human rights and liberty of any coherent would see the Muslims not as a foreign or alien civilization in the world. This is for one reason presence, but as a people who can add a great and one reason only: the intellectual flourishing deal to French civil society. It will also require of the Enlightenment infused ideas of liberalism government and NGO campaigns to increase and Humanism into Western political thought. education and opportunity among the Muslim Just as the Saudis have the right (shameful as enclaves and make integration into French I think the practice is) to force Saudi women to society more feasible and attractive for the be in Purdah, France has the right to defend its Muslim populations. identity in the public sphere. I don’t request of Yet such a policy will also ask a great deal of you to be opposed to Muslim women wearing the Muslims — it is on these questions which I the niqab, although that is the position I take, will dwell, with special focus on ultra-orthodox merely that societies have the right to defend Muslim dress. integral aspects of their identity. Frankly, it has to go. The niqab is part of a For the French, this means a spirited defense larger practice called Purdah, a word borrowed of secularism; should the state be called upon to from Indian languages, but one that is used create law as a mechanism of this defense, I, and to describe the ritual separation of women. I hope you, will stand with it in solidarity. This practice exists, in one form or another, Matt Moran is a sophomore from Pittsburg, throughout the Muslim world; the most Penn. extreme example being the Taliban controlled
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Opinion Old Gold & Black
Thursday, January 28 , 2010 A8
Hip hop chooses to U.S. continues negative ignore the recession f inancial policies Cory McConnell Guest columnist
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n recent years, in regards to the failing economy of our country, newspapers and magazines have proclaimed on many occasions that certain corporations and banks were simply “too big to fail.” That is, were these institutions to fail, it would have a disastrous effect on the economy. Well, hip hop, the music industry’s current driving force, has come up with an answer to bail itself out of the decline in profit affecting just about everyone in the music biz: completely ignore the recession altogether! Anyone paying attention to the stock market and the billboard charts must question, on some level, the seemingly inexplicable correlation between the downfall of Wall Street and artists like Young Money racing up the music charts. It seems that in spite of the recession, rap artists have largely chosen to continue rhyming about the finer things in life, that is, money, women, cars, jewelry, making it rain, etc. But doesn’t it seem insensitive to, well, pretty much everyone that these people seemingly don’t care about the biggest economic downturn in the country to hit since the great depression? Let’s investigate. Now, from the perspective of the college student, especially at our pricey and often benefit-stingy alma mater, money is something that has a large amount of value (duh). Personally, I find it entertaining to listen to Young Jeezy (who ironically titled his most recent album The Recession) wheeze over beats about how he’s supposedly “so paid.” However, no part of me relates even slightly to this kind of music. To illustrate the disconnect between their lyrical content and reality, here’s a story. When I got on campus in the fall for the beginning of the term, a song I heard at most parties was Fabolous’ hit, “Throw It in the Bag.” Now, as far as I can tell, this song is basically about buying everything that you can see, and throwing them in the aforementioned bag. That is, of course, unless I completely misinterpreted the lyrics and it’s about shoplifting (which would actually make it VERY recession-relevant). But given the amount of praise given to Benzes and Louis Vuttion in this “song,” I think I’m right on track. Don’t get me wrong, this is a fun song. Everybody likes fun songs. But how seriously are we supposed to take Fabolous? Like, I have no doubt that this man makes a lot of money. Hip hop artists are profitable, and take every chance they get to tell you about it because they came from “the struggle” or whatever, and I get that. But in the economic climate that this single was released, this song seems almost comical. Just listen to the chorus and try not to laugh: “Un-huh, un-huh, un-huh … Just throw it in the bag!” Or my
personal favorite: “Everybody do the ‘throw it in the bag!’” Note to Fabolous: We can’t. The only things my friends and I throw in bags are overpriced books from our bookstore, job applications or pilfered bags of chips from Subway (just kidding Subway!). So are we supposed to look at songs like this as pure escapism? I think not. I don’t think that Fabolous ever had the intention of providing a recession-weary audience with a temporary release by saying these things. I think that rap stars have an inherent need to show off their wealth because of their humble beginnings, regardless of economic circumstance, and that the escapism is a marketing phenomenon. If you need a visual, type in “Plies Throws Money” into YouTube. Plies, southern rapper of the innuendo-heavy “Becky,”, literally throws $50,000 into a crowd at one of his concerts, captured on camera for the world to see (appropriately, during his song “I Got Plenty Money”). We get it, Plies! You have plenty money. But there are a lot of people who don’t. It’s impossible for me to watch that video and not think that that money could amount to a year’s salary for a laid-off auto worker or a year’s tuition here at the university. Ultimately though, this is an image that is being portrayed, not a reality. Like I said, I have no doubt that these artists do indeed have “plenty money,” but the amount of decadence displayed in rap videos and scrawled in their lyric books is simply unbelievable. The most shocking thing about Plies’ little incident is how few people actually know and listen to his music (my hometown of Pittsburgh has apparently no knowledge of this southerner). His throwing money into the crowd isn’t so much a demonstration of wealth as it is a publicity stunt. But whether it is intended or not, this music probably is an escape for most people, and ironically the people hit hardest by the recession are often the people buying most rap albums. The bottom line is that decadence sells, even if the amount of it displayed by rap artists is so obviously exaggerated. We want this kind of thing. We want to believe that the world exists in which one can “make it rain,” have “whatever you like,” and find “love in this club.” But as for me, the only thing I’m “throwing in the bag” is my $150 economics textbook. Cory McConnell is a sophomore from Wexford, Penn.
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If so, then send Hannah Werthan or Hunter Bratton, opinion editors, an e-mail at wertr7@wfu.edu or bratrh7@wfu.edu.
Free market is the solution to our country’s current economic woes
the U.S. increasingly reliant on other nations to buy our debt. Even with growing deficits, the U.S. government refuses to let the free market weed out faltering companies. Companies receive perverse incentives provided by the United States’ 15,000 lobbyists. Lani Domagalski Billions of dollars of misallocated funds are Guest columnist spent on projects similar to the John Murtha ver the past 10 years, governments airport in Pennsylvania, which only services a across the world, including the U.S., handful of people, but sucks millions of dollars created a new form of capitalism that in public funding. combines government programs with private Other goliath ventures on the taxpayer tab industry. include entitlement programs like Social The Forbes 2009 Global Security, Medicare and 2000 list features four statemilitary spending. run companies on the list of On the current trajectory, Billions of dollars of the top 25 companies. the Congressional Business misallocated funds are spent The most drastic example Office reports that these on projects similar to the John of nationalized ownership programs will be 25 percent is the 75 percent stake of Murtha airport in Pennslyvania, of GDP in 2050. governments in crude oil Privatizing Medicare and which only serves a handful of reserves. Social Security or providing people, but sucks millions of Statist nations such as more options to people and Russia and China use private would eliminate the excess dollars in public funding. companies as fronts for their waste. own ventures domestically Programs run by the and abroad. government add extra The U.S. has joined these totalitarian nations burdens through regulatory channels. with its shares in banks and car companies. A prime example of the lack effectiveness of Nowadays, in order for a company to stay these government programs is the monopolistic competitive, they need the support of the post office, which lost $2.8 billion last year. government. Privatization and a truly free market economy This is only a small piece of American will counter the U.S. downward trend by socialization. allowing the people, not Congress, to dictate The deficit has reached 12 percent of GDP, the market. and the possibility of the deficit rising to 23 percent of GDP in the next 40 years, making Lani Domagalski is a sophomore from Troy, Mich.
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Shorty’s needs to provide faster service
Restaurant is a great escape on campus, but could use some changes
However, on several occasions the service at Shorty’s has been painfully slow to the point of frustration. We can’t expect food to be made instantly, which is the case with many of the fast food restaurants on campus, but it is important to make sure that food is served in a timely James Hornstein manner. Guest columnist Shorty’s should realize that many students come for lunch or dinner with either studying henever a monopoly is in place, it is or other extracurricular activities to get to usually going to take advantage of soon. its unchallenged A solution to this would be power. Wal-Mart is for Shorty’s to give estimates of perhaps the most famous service and cooking time next Shorty’s should realize that occurrence of this and even to the food on the menu so the many students come for the operations of Walstudents won’t have unrealistic Mart cannot be universally lunch or dinner with either expectations for when their condemned as they provide studying or other extracurric- food will be served. millions of jobs, products and Although this would be ular activities to get to soon. services to Americans all over difficult during peak hours, the country. it would help during normal The monopoly on this hours, and business could even campus is clearly Shorty’s, increase as patrons could go to Shorty’s before and its service to its patrons needs a bit of class periods if they knew for sure they would tweaking. not be late. Shorty’s is the only legitimate restaurant on Shorty’s is a refreshing change of pace from campus where one can go if they need a brief the other options on campus and, it only has respite from the Pit and want to sit down room to become a better option and gain more and eat. The reason so many people frequent and more students. Shorty’s is because they serve delicious food James Hornstein is a freshman from Lincoln, that is similar to Applebee’s or other sit down R.I. restaurants.
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Breaking the Wake Forest Bubble | Concerns of a Student
Resolutions should be made for a better you Hamlin Wade Staff Columnist
E
ach and every year, people all around the world spend the month of December planning the changes that they are going to implement in the coming year. On New Year’s Eve, when families sit down to their traditional meals of black-eyed peas and pork chops, it’s commonplace for them to go over the “resolutions” for the upcoming year. Families and friends outline what changes they wish to implement, what they are going to change about themselves or what they are going to do to live their lives better. For many
individuals, this system of resolutions seems positive; it seems uplifting that people are willing to change. But herein lies the question: are people actually willing to change because they want to change, or are people under the illusion that they desire change simply because it’s the expected thing to do over the holidays? The idea behind resolutions is simple. People make resolutions because everyone wishes to be better than they are. Everyone always wants to improve their lifestyle; everyone wants to show the rest of their friends that they have the ability to get rid of bad habits and live a better life. However, too often resolutions are made not out of a true desire to change, but rather out the false premise that it is the right thing to do. Why is it that people only seem to want to make resolutions when the New Year rolls around? Why is it that people are insistent on waiting until
the New Year to invoke change that is, if they really only desire to change to improve their own well being? I do not want to sound cynical and I don’t want to appear as if I am against the idea of people changing their habits or lifestyles. However, I feel that too often people don’t change for the better; they simply change because it is a societal expectation. For example, over the break I went to the gym each day. Normally, I would get up around 7 a.m. and get to the gym when there were very few people there, allowing me the freedom to move about from machine to machine at my own pace. However, on Jan. 1, my 7 a.m. gym was overrun. Instead of seeing the same group of soccer moms and meatheads, the gym was infiltrated with people of every shape and size. All of these people had made the resolution to get in shape, and they had begun at the first possible chance they had in the New Year.
Instead of changing for the year, I New You resolutions can change feel as it is important to change for a a person’s life, because they actually new you. want to invoke a change in their life. I wholeheartedly support the idea New You resolutions prove that for changing the way you live and changes can occur and that people the way you carry out your daily can dictate how they live their lives. activities. Yet, I do Resolutions not support the and changes are notion of changing possible. simply for the We are able to .... too often resolutions are practice of changing. made not out of a true desire change for the You must change better. Yet, it is to change, but rather out of the important to because you have false premise that it is the right a desire to change, understand why not because it is we are changing. thing to do. the supposedly So, on Dec. 31, “right” thing to do. 2010, when your If a person simply family sits down resolves to change for the annual because the rest of their social serving of black eyed peas and the network is, it is much less likely to question is raised as to what your stick. If a person wishes to change, New Year’s resolutions are, be firm they must change because they really and claim that you have resolutions. and truly need to change. New Just be sure they are resolutions for Year’s resolutions do not work. New a new you and not the New Year. Year’s resolutions cannot be upheld. However, New You resolutions are Hamlin Wade is a sophomore from much more successful. Charlotte, N.C.
Opinion Old Gold & Black
Thursday, January 28, 2010 A9
Discovering the Right Solution | Constructive Criticism
Brown hit a home-run with Mass. voters Seth Williford
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Staff columnist
hristmas was almost a month ago, but the night of Jan. 19 felt like Christmas all over again to conservatives and political junkies throughout the nation. During this election year, Republicans picked up their first victory by winning a special election in Massachusetts of all places. If one had looked at the polls from Christmas day, they would have scoffed at the idea of a Republican winning Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat. In fact, even without looking at Democratic candidate Martha Coakley’s significant double-digit lead in many polls, most people would laugh you out of town for thinking that a Republican could ever win Kennedy’s seat. Scott Brown, a state senator and the victorious Republican, made it
very clear in a debate with Coakley that the Senate seat was not some mystic, constitutionally Democratic seat when he said, “Well, with all due respect, it’s not the Kennedys’ seat, and it’s not the Democrats’ seat, it’s the people’s seat.” Brown spun himself as an everyday guy, and drove his truck around the state to emphasize his image as an Average Joe. This was a perfect image to exude to the voters of Massachusetts as a foil for Coakley. Martha Coakley, who has won election statewide in Massachusetts as Attorney General, came across to many as out of touch and elitist. One of her most excruciating gaffes came when she was being interviewed by a Massachusetts radio station recently. In the days before the election, President Obama came to campaign on behalf of Coakley, and Rudy Giuliani came down from New York to campaign for Scott Brown. The interviewer asked whether those political heavy weights would be there if the race were not so competitive, and Coakley took the question as an opportunity to point out that Giuliani is a virulent supporter of the Yankees. In defending Brown, the interviewer pointed out that former
Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, the man behind the World Series win over the Yankees in 2004, was backing Brown. Coakley responded by calling Schilling, “… another Yankees fan,” in what may have been one of the worst gaffes in politics since the last time Joe Biden opened his mouth. In addition to that comment, she further alienated Red Sox voters when she eschewed the typical pressing of the flesh that goes along with political campaigns and basically laughed off the idea of real campaigning saying, “As opposed to standing outside Fenway Park? In the cold? Shaking hands?,” sounding downright incredulous that she should have to subject herself to meeting the people of the state instead of the people of the state’s power structure. Her comment was also meant as a jab at Brown, who had a campaign ad of him — get this — shaking hands with people outside of Fenway Park. This elitist mentality that Coakley exuded also afflicted her most famous visitor, President Obama. Obama, in a speech at a rally supporting Coakley, tried to diminish Brown by saying that, “Anybody can buy a truck.” This only helped to stoke popular opinion against Coakley, and to some degree
Facts and Figures | Full-time staff salaries
Obama, as the two insulted many voters in their attempts to denigrate Brown. Why has the nation zoomed in on this election? What about it has captivated the country’s attention? Well, this is the 60th vote that constitutes the Democratic “supermajority” in the Senate. Without that 60th vote, Republicans now have the ability to successfully filibuster legislation, including the hotly contested health care bill that is careening through the closed doors of Congress. The Democrats, who were barely able to hobble together a compromise among themselves, can scarcely hope to use the recently passed legislation in the Senate as a starting point if the Republicans can filibuster any bill they don’t like. Before now, it was a matter of reeling in the Blue Dog Democrats, but with a filibuster back on the table, Democrats will actually have to work with Republicans if they want to pass anything at all. I certainly support health care reform. What I don’t support is health care reform based in fantasy and regressive policies. Don’t forget, both the House and Senate bills contained provisions that would
institute an individual mandate, where every individual who can afford it is required to purchase health insurance. If you don’t buy care, you are fined, and if you don’t pay the fine, you can pull a Monopoly and “Go to Jail.” That’s right, if you refuse to buy insurance for any reason, and refuse to pay, you will be incarcerated. Do you think all the change floating around these days will pay your bail? It is potentially unconstitutional policies like this, among many others that totally ignore economics, which make the election of Scott Brown a huge sigh of relief for conservatives around the country. Conservatives can sleep easy knowing that Senator-elect Brown won’t be swayed like Senators Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska) and Mary Landrieu (D-Louisiana) by borderline bribes in order to win his vote, and in knowing that if any health care legislation is passed in the near future, it will be far more palatable and bipartisan than this farce the American people have had to deal with for the last year. Seth Williford is a junior political science major from Wilson, N.C.
“Going green” attempts leave much to be desired Geoff Janssen
Students could eat at different times of the day, which probably will not happen because people Guest columnist develop habits (times to eat being one of them) and ast week, I walked into the Pit with a group of because the Pit essentially shuts down mid-afternoon. friends to find stacks of the to-go trays piled Students could stop going to eat in such large up, complete with a sign encouraging everyone groups, which does not seem likely because most of to stop using so many of the trays for the sake of the the people here seem to enjoy eating in large groups, environment. My friends and I looked at one another, and those that come by themselves are socially nodded in agreement and grabbed the trays so we ostracized in the Pit. could eat somewhere else. Finally, students could eat elsewhere, which does What else could we do? The Pit was packed to the not seem likely to increase because our meal swipes point that there was nowhere left to sit. For the past only work at the Pit, and elsewhere we have to pay semester, it has been amusing to watch the university’s extra for food. attempt to “go green.” It might even be considered Many of these ideas look more like moneycomical if our environment was not the topic at hand. saving or marketing schemes that merely make our Consider some of the ideas that have been tried: a school appear environmentally friendly, instead of large section of forest by the Reynolda Road entrance environmentally helpful ideas that actually benefit has been torn down to build a “certifiably green” our planet. If the university is serious about becoming admissions building. environmentally friendly, it might consider offering At the bookstore, black bags are now offered that some incentives to students, instead of just expecting “supposedly” save students money if they are reused. I us to play along for no other reason than to feel good say supposedly because the last few times I have tried about ourselves for helping the environment. If I may to use my bag, I have still had to pay full price for offer a few ideas: everything, even for things that should be discounted Give us back meals that can be used outside of the with the bag. In the meantime, my biology textbook, Fresh Food Co. This would both ease the congestion in among other textbooks, is printed on over 1,000 the Pit during the rush hours and drop the demand pages of loose leaf paper with no binding whatsoever. for the white trays. New students do not receive printers, as if not Start offering books/homework electronically. I’m giving printers to students will magically remove sure all of the information offered in my loose leaf the need to print off papers, lab reports and other textbook could be offered on a few CD’s (or on the assignments for our classes. This does not mean that internet) without the need to print off multiple copies students will be using less paper, it simply means that of a 1,000 page to me with no spine. Furthermore, assignments have to be printed from someone else’s turning in homework online could actually justify not printer. giving new students printers. The stacks of trays at the front of the Pit that intend Yes, these ideas might cost the school a few dollars, to make students feel guilty about eating somewhere but if the environment is truly important enough other than the Pit do just that — they make students (which it is), the university could stand to make feel guilty about using the trays. They do not, some sacrifices for the benefit of both the student however, cut down the number of trays that are being body and the environment. If not, fine, but it would used, at least not in the long run. certainly be better if the university was honest about Under the current situation, students could cut its attempts to save money instead of passing off these back on the number of trays used with one of three schemes as “going green.” PCorps_K5x7_SER_Give.pdf options, of which none of the three look likely to happen. Geoff Janssen is a sophomore from Oshkosh, Wis.
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Wake Forest University Fact Book 2008-2009
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Do you have opinions? Do you know what is going on? Would you like to have cartoons published weekly and get paid for it? If so, then send Hunter Bratton, (bratrh7@wfu.edu) or Hannah Werthan (werthr7@wfu.edu) an e-mail.
The Earned Income Tax Credit. You may have earned it. Why not claim it? If you’re working hard just to make ends meet and have one or more children living with you, you may qualify for the EITC. Think of it as a reward for doing one of life’s most beautiful, most important and most loving jobs. Visit our Web site or ask your tax preparer if you qualify. Because when it comes to getting more for your family, consider it done.
Give ’til it heals.
Making the world a better place starts with individuals who give their time, talents and dedication to cultural understanding. Contact the Peace Corps today, and change your idea of what “changing the world” is all about.
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A10 Thursday, January 28, 2010
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S PORTS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Brent LaRue: Find out why the All-American ended up choosing Wake Forest, and how he manages the demands both on and off the field. Page B2.
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{ UPCOMING GAMES }
MEN’S BASKETBALL: 1/28 @ Georgia Tech 2/02 v. Miami 2/06 @ Virginia WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: 1/31 v. Virginia 2/05 @ Virginia Tech 2/07 @ Florida State WOMEN’S TENNIS: 1/30 v. VCU 1/31 Nat. Team Indoors 2/06 v. Depaul
{ NATIONAL STAGE } National Signing Day nears, some starts still undecided The first Wednesday in February is always a red-letter day in college football. This year, the date falls on Feb. 3. What is so important about this day? It’s National Signing Day, the first day Division I college football recruits can officially sign their Letter of Intent and be locked into playing at their selected school, of course. Usually, by this time, almost every major recruit has made up his mind and the day serves as little more than a day of celebration for the recruits and fans of the chosen program. However, this is not always the case. This year a several big-name prospects still have yet to decide on a school. Seantrel Henderson of St. Paul, Minn., considered the number two prospect in the nation by Rivals, is still deciding between Florida, Oklahoma, Ohio State, USC, Notre Dame and Miami. Owamagbe Odighizuwa and Marcus Lattimore, ranked eight and ten respectively on Rivals, both still have yet to make up their minds. The Deacs’ 2010 class is currently ranked 65 in the nation by Rivals, near the team’s average annual spot on the website’s rankings. The crop is headlined by DBs AJ Marshall and Merrill Noel. Marshall is the first fourstar recruit the Deacs have signed in recent memory, while Noel defected from Florida State.
{ BY THE NUMBERS }
10 0 23 8 9
games left in men’s basketball regular season
matches Charlotte won against women’s tennis earlier this week Ari Stewart’s rank out of all freshmen according to DraftExpress.com
place sophomore Thomas Morrison took in the 1,000m at the Hokie Inv. points Clemson scored in the first half against women’s basketball
{ DEAC OF THE WEEK } This week’s Deac of the Week also earned the prestigious honor of ACC player of the Week. Senior Ishmael Smith was a unanimous choice for both awards after posting two straight, very impressive games against North Carolina and Virginia. Smith picked apart Smith the Tar Heels, scoring 20 points, dishing out six assists and hauling in seven rebounds. Against the Cavaliers, he had an extremely similar stat line: 21 points, six assists, seven rebounds and two blocks. Smith will need to continue his impressive play, as the Deacs are on the road tonight at Georgia Tech.
{ SPORTS WORDS } “How do you go from where you are to where you want to be? I think you have to have an enthusiasm for life. You have to have a dream, a goal, and you have to be willing to work for it.”
~ Jim Valvano
NC State Head Basketball Coach 1980-1990
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B L A C K
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B1 O N L I N E A T : w w w. o l d g o l d a n d b l a c k . c o m E DITOR: Ashton Astbury
Stuck in the Mud
Inclement weather creates unfavorable playing conditions for intramural sports teams By Ashton Astbury | Sports editor Boasting a staggering 7,686 participants with a student enrollment of only 6,739 during the 2007-08 academic year, the Wake Forest intramural sports program rivals any university in the country insofar as participation in relation to student enrollment. Alternately, fellow ACC school Duke University had a registered 5,100 participants in intramural sports with a student enrollment of 11,200, while Clemson had 7,600 participants with an enrollment of 16,000. “In our department, we are trying to give every type of interest an opportunity,” Max
Floyd, director of campus recreation, said. “Participation is the name of the game. When there are roadblocks to participation, it’s a big deal for us.” One such roadblock to participation that became a major issue for the intramural sports program was the rescheduling, relocation and cancellation of a plethora of flag football and soccer games in the fall due to the Water Tower field’s inability to withstand inclement weather conditions. “Instead of development of employees and enhancement of participants’ experiences being the crux of the matter, weather started ruling the day because of Water Tower field not being able to take care of the pre-
cipitation we got this past fall, resulting in major cancellations, major reschedulings and major inconveniences to get people involved,” Floyd said. During the fall flag football season, 36 games on the Water Tower field were rescheduled due to poor weather affecting field conditions, with 720 undergraduate and graduate participants affected by rescheduling. In the fall soccer season, 47 games were either rescheduled or cancelled all together due to rain in the regular season. Additionally, the soccer playoffs were interrupted
See Fields, Page B4
Rachel Cameron/Old Gold & Black
The Water Tower Field, a 3 acre, lighted field located at the corner of Wake Forest Drive and University Parkway is the prominent location for outdoor intramural sports such as flag football, soccer and softball.
47
36
games on Water Tower Field rescheduled during intramural soccer season
games on Water Tower Field rescheduled during intramural flag football season
720
the approximate number of students who were affected by rescheduling flag football
Deacons take down Cavs I (don’t)
wanna be like Mike
By Matthew Poppe | Staff writer
Wake Forest UVA
69 57
The Demon Deacons, fresh off their victory in Chapel Hill on Jan. 20, treated a home crowd of just under 14,000 including more than 60 Deacon basketball alumni who were also in attendance, to a 69-57 win over the Virginia Cavaliers on Jan. 23. Coming into the game, Virginia was atop the ACC standings at 3-0 and riding an eight-game winning streak. The Deacons were well prepared, however, for the Cavaliers after playing both Duke and Carolina in a four day span in their previous two games. The Deacs also looked to capitalize on playing at the Lawrence Joel Memorial Coliseum where they have only lost once so far this season. Wake started the game off strong with a 6-0 run and never looked back. The Deacons played excellent defense forcing UVA to take several jump shots and holding them to only 21 percent from the field. Wake held the Cavaliers scoreless in the final six minutes of the first half capped off by freshman C.J. Harris’ three-pointer as the buzzer sounded to give the Deacons a 34-15 lead at the half. The Demon Deacons continued where they left off in the second half pushing the lead to as much as 24. The Cavaliers made a run at the Deacons cutting the lead to ten with a minute left, but Wake capitalized on free throws sinking eight of ten in the last three minutes. By the end of the game, Wake had out-rebounded the Cavaliers 42 to 29 and shot 52 percent compared to UVA who only shot 34 percent from the field. The Cavaliers struggled from long range as well, shooting a dismal 5-21 from beyond the arc. Wake played tough defense which forced the Cavaliers to frequently take bad shots. “I’m glad we guarded as well as we did today and our kids did a really good job on the defensive end of the floor,” head coach Dino Gaudio said.
By Patrick Vinett | Staff writer
As an avid follower of basketball, I have a huge problem with the NBA today. There is no love of the game anymore. The people we revere as the best in their sports are playing for the money. Sure, they may score 30 points per game, but where is the defense? This has made me revert to watching classic NBA games – those games from the ‘80s and ‘90s when basketball was basketball no matter if it were being played in an arena with thousands of screaming fans, or in a barnyard better fit for Charlotte’s Web. The last player who captivated fans with his high-flying acrobatics, while still staying true to the game with his tenacious D was Michael Jordan. I don’t mean to hop on the “MJ is the greatest player to ever play the game” band-wagon, but he definitely deserves to be in the argument. Granted, I am slightly biased. One of my first memories is sitting on my dad’s lap watching MJ take on the Phoenix Suns in the 1993 NBA Finals. I was definitely one of those kids who wanted to be Michael Jordan. To me, he was the greatest thing since sliced bread. I went so far as to play the Chicago Bulls entrance music, wear my MJ gear, and even introduce myself as MJ! “And now, at 6-feet-6-inches, in all his baldness, from North Carolina, AIR JORDAN!!!” I quickly got the reputation on the playground and in leagues as the kid who had to be wagging his tongue when he played, especially when the game got tight: just like Mike. My mom will contest to this love of MJ, as I cost her a significant amount of money buying Space Jam on demand. Michael Jordan was my hero. He was the
PRESS BOX
FROM THE
MEN’S TRACK: 1/29 UNC Combined 2/05 Virginia Tech Elite 2/13 NYC Duals
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T H U R S DAY , J A N UA RY 2 8 , 2 0 1 0
Michael Crouse/Old Gold & Black
Ishmael Smith drives to the basket at UNC, where the Deacs would go on to defeat the Tar Heels 82-69. The Deacs did commit 24 turnovers in and penetrations to the basket through the game, but were able to capitalize nearly the entire Virginia squad on multiple occasions. on their good shooting. His alley-oops to sophomores Al“When we’re shooting 52 percent, if we only have 12 turnovers there’s Farouq Aminu and Tony Woods were another 24 points right there,” Gaudio also crowd-pleasers. His performance on against UVA combined with his said. Senior Ish Smith led the way for the 20 point, seven rebound, and six Demon Deacons tallying 21 points, assist game at UNC earlier in the seven rebounds, and six assists while week earned Smith ACC Player of playing all but two minutes of the the Week. contest. Smith got a great response from the crowd with his quick moves See M. Basketball, Page B4
See Pressbox, Page B3
B2 Thursday, January 28, 2010
Old Gold & Black Sports Photo courtesy of Media Relations Graphic by Ken Meyer/Old Gold & Black
Brent LaRue
By Lauren Howell | Staff writer Earlier this month at the Eddie and Jo Jr. Tar Heel Invitational in Chapel Hill, senior track runner Brent LaRue jump-started his 2010 season by breaking his own school pole vaulting record with a vault of 16-0.75. The All-American also won the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 8.14, and for his outstanding performance was named the ACC Men’s Track Performer of the Week. School records are no foreign concept to LaRue — he holds a dazzling 12 at his high school, East Forsyth in Kernersville, and set a new ACC record of 5617 in the heptathlon event at the 2007 conference indoor championships. LaRue has also been named twice to the ACC Honor Roll and last year was an ACC Indoor Track and Field Scholar Athlete of the year. After his 2009 outdoor season was cut short by a knee injury, LaRue is back and ready to make the most of his final collegiate season. How did you get started running, and did you always dream of becoming a Division I Athlete?
I started running track when I was around 8years-old with Tri-City Relays AAU track club in Winston-Salem. I always dreamed of being great at something athletically, and those dreams certainly didn’t end at college, they went much further. Why did you decide to sign with Wake Forest? Do you like being so close to home? I never considered Wake Forest as an option for school when I was growing up — even up to the point when I first talked to a coach, Wake was never on the radar. I thought it was too close, but a lot of things lined up. We have very experienced and knowledgeable track coaches here that I believe in and they believe in me. Backed by Wake’s academic reputation, it was an easy choice. Over the years, I’ve grown to appreciate being close to family and home-cooked meals! You have been recognized not only for your outstanding athletic achievements, but also for your academic accomplishments. How do you balance the two so well without feeling overwhelmed?
Dave Wiedeman Named ACC Basketball Legend Team Former Demon Deacon standout Dave Wiedeman has been named to the 2010 ACC Basketball Tournament Legends class, ACC offices announced on Jan 26. Wiedeman was an All-ACC guard under Coach Horace “Bones” McKinney from 1961-63. With Wideman in the backcourt, the Deacs went 34-8 in ACC play, won back-to-back ACC championships in 1961-62 and helped the team reach the conference tournament championship game in 1963. In 1962, the Deacs reached the Final Four, defeating UCLA for third place in the tournament. Wiedeman now resides in New Jersey.
Balancing academics and athletics was a challenge at first, but you figure it out quickly. Now it is just the way I am used to doing things. How do you plan to lead the team this year as a senior? What is your best piece of advice for the younger runners on the team? This being my fifth year and all, I would tell my teammates or any athlete for that matter to not set their goals too low. Set crazy ones out there and go for them. And don’t ever go to a competition not expecting your best performance. How do you feel that you’ve improved since freshman year? I’ve matured a lot since my freshman year. The competitiveness has always been there, but I had to learn five new events for the Decathlon. Experience has helped a lot too, but I still have a lot to learn if I want to accomplish my goals for the Decathlon. All these individual events are just one ingredient. It takes 10 good events to put together a great Decathlon.
Deac Notes
What is your favorite event in which to compete, and why? My favorite event has always been hurdles. I’m always searching for that perfect race. It is a surreal feeling when you run over obstacles that high as fast as you can. What do you like most about track? The thing I like the most about track is that it is absolute. There are no disputes about who is better than who. There is no subjectivity. You run the same race every time or you compete in the same event every time. This is pure sport. Nothing to analyze, no need for questions. Do you have a favorite moment? My favorite moment running track must be running on the 4x4 my freshman year. During the outdoor season we ran a personal best as a 4x4 every time we stepped on the track. We took the team all the way to NCAAs in Sacramento, where the performance wasn’t our best. But there is nothing like running in a fast relay. You don’t have many opportunities to make track a team sport. Running on a relay, you never want to let you teammates down.
Former Deacon Bill Haas in the hunt at the Bob Hope Classic
Brandon Ghee auditions for NFL at Senior Bowl
Former Wake Forest men’s golf standout Bill Haas fired a 8-under 64 in the final round to capture the Bob Hope Classic on Monday in La Quinta, Calif. He shot a 68 in the first round of the tournament, then posted three-straight rounds of 66 to head into the final round of play. With the win, Haas’ first on the PGA tour, he took home a purse of $900,000, placing him third on the 2010 PGA money list. Haas starred on the men’s golf team from 200003. He was ranked number one in the Golfweek/ Sagarin rankings at the end of 2003. He also won the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate tournament and the Jerry Pate National in his senior year.
Cornerback Brandon Ghee is Wake Forest’s sole representative at the Senior Bowl this week. The Senior Bowl, one of the premier events leading up to the NFL Draft, pits two teams made up of college football’s top seniors against each other to showcase their abilities for NFL scouts. Ghee, who is best known as a cover corner, made 56 tackles to go with eight passes defended this season. He runs an impressive 4.5 40-yard dash and projected to be drafted anywhere from the second to fourth round. The Senior Bowl in on Jan. 30 at 4 p.m. and will be televised on NFL Network. The first round of the NFL Draft begins on April 22.
Sports Old Gold & Black
Thursday, January 28, 2010 B3
Women’s tennis sweeps third consecutive opponent By Gary Pasqualicchio | Staff writer
Wake Forest Charlotte
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Twenty-one matches up and 21 down, such has been the season thus far for the Wake Forest women’s tennis team. The Lady Deacs swept their third straight opponent Jan. 23 when the University of Charlotte came to town. Playing the 49ers for the first time since February of 2006, the Deacs won all three doubles and all six singles matches for their third consecutive 7-0 win. Wake Forest started the match by sweeping their three doubles matches 8-1 each. At first doubles, senior Sasha Kulikova and freshman Kathryn Talbert took down Andrea Rivera and Alex Zinn to improve their record together to 2-0. Junior Emilee Malvehy and senior Aileen Davis took care of their opponents at the second doubles position and sophomore Ryann Cutillo and junior Kat Reveche did the same at third doubles.
Talbert was the first singles player off the court, topping Andrea Rivera of Charlotte 6-0, 6-1 at the second position. She was followed by Reveche at five who bested Iveta Guneva 6-1, 6-2. At the top spot, Kulikova took down Alex Zinn 6-0, 6-1. Malvehy and Cutillo, playing third and fourth singles, respectively, each won their first sets 6-1 in a couple of easy victories. The last match of the day to finish was also the best, at the No. 6 singles spot. Davis and the 49ers’ Candace Cunningham battled back and forth, with Cunningham taking the opening set by a commanding 6-1 margin. Davis found her game in the second, winning the set by one break of serve, 6-4. The two teams decided on a 10-point tiebreaker to decide the match and it went the distance and then some. After falling behind early in the breaker, Davis wore down her opponent and finally prevailed in after 24 points, 13-11. Head Coach Chad Skorupka was happy with Davis’ effort, understanding that she has been focused
on field hockey for much of the year as a member of Wake’s varsity team. “I told Aileen that the most important point is the last point and she got it,” Skorupka said. “Her speed and athleticism was the key being able to wear her (opponent) down. Determination at the end of the day was the key factor.” With the win, the Deacs improved to 3-0 for the second consecutive season. They will head to Durham, NC for the National Team Indoors, looking to make it 5-0. Wake is seeded second in a region hosted by the top-seeded Duke Blue Devils. They will face No. 3 VCU in the opening match. The Ivy League’s Yale Bulldogs round out the region as the No.4 seed. Should the Lady Deacs win, they will play the winner of Duke-Yale, and if they lose, they will play the loser. “We want to win both matches,” Skorupka said. “If we can get off to a good start in doubles and get that point, it’s going to help us in singles. It’s going to be a battle.”
Mary Kate Wagner/Old Gold & Black
The Lady Deacs recently dismantled Charlotte 7-0, their third straight sweep. Next up for the team is the National Team Indoors in Durham.
Morrison, Sensing shine at Hokie Invitational Pressbox:
Getting to know the real MJ
Continued from Page B1
Luke Mason/The Collegiate Times
Both the men and women’s track and field teams took part in the Hokie Invitational, the teams’ second straight meet in Blacksburg. The UNC Combined Events meet is next up for the teams. By Chris Landers | Contributing writer
Michelle Lange John Reid
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Senior John Reid shined for Wake Forest in the first night of the Hokie Invitational in Blacksburg on Jan. 22. The senior finished third in the 600m run with a time of 1:20.45, finishing second in his heat behind only Robby Andrews of Virginia, the eventual winner of the event. Freshmen Nate Guthals and Mike McEnany also competed in the 600m for Wake, placing 13th and 14th with times of 1:22.62 and 1:22.69, respectively. Sophomore Kevin Smith won his heat of the 300m dash, finishing at 35.61, good enough to win his heat and place 10th in the event. Also for the men, freshman Garret Drogosch finished first amongst the five Deacon participants and 23rd overall in the 3,000m run with a time of 8:40.19. In the women’s events, freshman Gwen Ricco placed first in her heat in the 600m at 1:35.97, good for ninth overall. She was followed across the line by her sister Maddy — who finished
17th overall in the event, posting a time of 1:37.65 — Katelyn Wohlford (1:39.62) and Nicole Castronuova (1:43.28). Sophomore Michelle Lange tied an indoor best on her way to winning women’s pole vault, clearing 11-11.75 on her first attempt, giving her the tiebreaker over three other competitors. Finally, Caitlin Crawford finished 24th overall in the mile with a time of 5:23.98. On the following day, senior shot putter Thomas Sensing excelled for the Deacs, posting his best throw of the young season at 52-00.00. Despite the early success, Sensing knows there’s a lot of work still to be done. “I’m improving week by week which is always good, and I usually peak in May for the NCAA tournament.” Sensing said. “I know I can throw better and I know I have it in me, I just have to stay driven internally to perform like I know I can. I know I’ll be facing some good competition.” The Wake Forest men also competed in two relays, finishing tenth in the DMR at 10:36.26 and 12th in the 4x400 relay at 3:23.81. Also, three Deacons ran in the 1,000m run, led by sophomore Thomas Morrison, who finished 8th with a time of 2:30.08. He was followed by Nate Guthals, who posted
a time of 2:33.38, and graduate student Derek Pamukoff, who finished in 2:41.09. On the women’s side, junior Molly Fresher finished second in her heat of the 800m with a time of 2:23.58, good enough for 24th overall. Hannah McArdle and Ellen Huber also competed in the event, crossing the line in 2:24.08 and 2:32.01, respectively. Also, the women’s DMR took 6th place with a time of 12:20.00, while the 4x400m finished 16th at 4:00.39 Head coach Scott Hall was pleased with his team’s performance, however he is concerned with the youth of his team — 8 of the 12 entrants who competed Friday for Wake are underclassmen. “Overall it was more positive,” Hall said. “We still have to grow up, but we need to take baby steps. We need to look at the long haul. Our goal is to have our younger kids improve so that in their careers they can get to the ACC meet and be competitive at that level.” Hall realizes that this will take time and effort, however. “It’s like riding a horse in the Kentucky Derby. You can’t just run a bunch of races, you need to put in the workouts and preparation,” he said. Wake Forest’s next full meet has them back in Blacksburg on Feb. 5th for the Virginia Tech Elite Meet.
greatest basketball player to ever play the game. I wanted to be like Mike, and so did everyone else. That is, until I grew up and realized that sometimes people aren’t what they appear to be in the public eye.This year, Michael Jordan was inducted into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame. This should be expected — the greatest player to ever play the game, a career average of 30 points per game, and six NBA Finals titles. What was not expected, was the person who would rise to the podium to give his acceptance speech. This was not the Michael Jordan I grew hoarse cheering for in the ’98 playoffs against the New Jersey Nets. During his acceptance speech, the world fell audience to the “real” Michael Jordan. I can chalk my naiveté in regards to the person that MJ is to my being 10-years old when he retired, but I had no idea he was a callous, insensitive, conceited person who decided to bash every person he had ever encountered in his life. How could a hero fall so far, so fast? Well, turns out, as we learned from Tiger Woods, that even the most lovable sports stars are human: they make mistakes. Sure MJ has a gambling problem, went through a brutal divorce and even has rumors of illegitimate children swirling about, but no one knew he thought about himself the way he made evident during his Hall of Fame speech. I reviewed the speech right before I decided to write this, and was appalled. My childhood hero was not the humble man I read about in “Salt in his Shoes,” or any press conference he ever held – rather, it wasn’t enough for him to know everyone loved him, he had to tell us why everyone loves him. Despite MJ’s personal flaws, and my newfound disenchantment with Number 23, the NBA needs a player like him. He played the game harder than anyone before. He played both sides of the ball, and gave his all to win. He was a champion. Kobe Bryant will never be Michael Jordan. Lebron James will never be Michael Jordan. The world needs an MJ on the court. I just hope he doesn’t lose his roots, the way the original MJ did.
Lady Deacs split last two games, shut down Clemson by 20 By Maggie Cancelosi | Staff writer
Wake Forest Clemson
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Despite their loss in the last second of the rivalry game against N.C. State on Jan. 22, the Deacs schooled Clemson on Jan. 24 63-43 to advance the squad’s record to 12-8 and 3-3 in the ACC. In the Jan. 22 game, sophomore Secily Ray dominated the court with 20 points and nine rebounds; 16 of the points posted in the second half to keep the Deacs in the game. At the end of the first half, N.C. State had a slight lead 23-21. The power struggle continued throughout the second half when N.C. State’s Bonae Holston made two free throws to tie the game for the seventh time. In response, the Deacons stepped it up with a 3-point basket from senior
Courteney Morris. After a layup from the Wolfpack’s Amber White at 2:33, Ray blocked a layup attempt from Lucy Ellison and drove in her own layup at 1:22 for the Deacs to lead 49-46. As the game came down to the wire, N.C. State’s Nikitta Gartrell hit a 3-pointer with 15 seconds remaining to tie the game for the eighth time. After sophomore Deacon Brooke Thomas missed a layup, Gartrell threw a floater with less than one second remaining to conclude the game with a disappointing loss of 51-49. “This game was a good look at how the rest of the games in the ACC will be. Unfortunately we didn’t finish this one, but we can only learn from this and move on to the next game,” Ray said “If we stayed focused on that one loss we wouldn’t be prepared for the game on Sunday and it would probably have been two losses under our belt. We have to move on and learn from the loss.”
In the first half of the game, the Deacons held the Tigers to nine points, which tied the school record for fewest points scored in a half. Ray continued her dominance with 17 points and 10 rebounds, marking her fourth double-double of the season. Thomas had her best scoring performance of the season with 13 points and seven assists. With a season-best 87 percent performance from the free throw line, the Deacons were unstoppable. The squad out-scored Clemson 34-9 by halftime and held on for the win. At 12:42, freshman Lakevia Boykin scored to stretch Wake’s largest lead of the game of 28 points. Although the Tigers tried to regain momentum, the game concluded with a big Deacon victory. Wake Forest now find themselves at .500 and in third place in ACC play. The women take on Virginia on Jan. 31.
Michael Crouse/Old Gold & Black
Sophomore Brooke Thomas drives up court against Clemson. The Lady Deacs embarrassed the Lady Tigers 63-43.
B4 Thursday, January 28, 2010
Old Gold & Black Sports
Fields: Facilities pose challenge to program Continued from Page B1
by rain, leading to rescheduling and even relocation of two full days of playoffs. “Water Tower Field simply cannot handle the water,” T.J. Peele, intramural sports coordinator, said. “When I say cannot handle, it becomes mud if we get multiple days of rain in a week. A lot of people fail to recognize how many people on this campus look to participate in recreation programs and how Wake rivals other schools although our size is less. We want to respond to people’s needs and expectations and the way the Water Tower Field is right now, we’re missing on both of those. Something hopefully can be done about it.” According to intramural supervisor Beth Montplaisir, the influx of rain was a detriment to the fall intramural season. “The end of flag football season was played in unfavorable field conditions, with excessive mud covering much of the field,” Montplaisir said.
“The field does not drain well, so when it rains, puddles form and a lot of mud is created causing the field to become unsafe and unplayable. The rain this fall also exposed several of the sprinkler heads on the field, which presented a serious safety concern. The mud causes an increased risk of participants being injured. A better drainage system for Water Tower field would be a great improvement.” Student coordinator of officiating senior Quinn Morris echoed Montplaisir’s sentiments, stating that the greatest challenged to outdoor intramural sports is facilities. “Wake Forest’s facilities are embarrassingly far behind those found at peer institutions,” Morris said. “With the extraordinary number of students who participate in the programs offered by Intramural Sports, our facilities fall short of both quantity and quality.” Morris is a strong believer that a turf or artificial field would remedy most of the problems arising from the Water Tower Field conditions. “Field turf would mean that games
could be played in the rain with no worry about tearing up the field, and a much decreased concern for player safety,” Morris said. “Of course, that comes with a hefty price tag, probably somewhere in the couple million-dollar range. But it should also be pointed out that this wouldn’t be just an Intramural Sports field. Water Tower is currently used as practice space for several of our club sports teams, and also provides space Peele for open recreation by students, faculty and staff alike.” According to Floyd, an all-weather or artificial field for intramural sports would ensure that students have consistent access to an area that can serve as an outlet for stress at the end of the academic day. “When it’s time to let loose and go play and forget about stress of workload, forget about all
the rigors and academic pressures, you expect to play,” Floyd said. “It’s got to be ‘game on.’ There are many benefits to having a physical outlet that can refresh, reload and rejuvenate our students.” Floyd hopes to address a conglomeration of students’ needs through construction of a new recreation center with an all-weather field situated behind it. However, Floyd states that this is a futuristic endeavor, while the need for an all-weather field for intramural sports is a pending issue As the outdoor sports season nears, once again, both Floyd and Peele stress the importance of collaboration in addressing the needs of intramural athletes. “I feel it’s a mountain that we need to climb and to climb a mountain, it takes a village,” Floyd said. “Do we want to provide a surface that will weather a rainy season? It can’t be just T.J. (Peele) hiking up the mountain by himself. It needs to be everyone getting wind of the situation and jumping on board.”
Let the games begin Men’s Tennis
1/30 National Team Indoor Lexington, Kent.
Women’s Golf
2/8 Northrop Grumman Chall. Palos Verdes, Calif.
Baseball
2/19 v. Army Winston-Salem, N.C.
Men’s Golf
2/8 JU Invite Ponte Vedra Bch, Fla.
M. basketball: Deacs down two of the ACC’s best Continued from Page B1
This is the first time Smith has won the award. Smith was also praised often during ESPN’s broadcast of the Jan. 20 game for his NBA-worthy skills, particularly his speed, and will likely be on several NBA scouts’ radar after his recent play. Sophomore Al-Farouq Aminu posted his 13th double-double of the season with ten points and ten rebounds. Senior Chas McFarland had one of his best games of the season recording 16 points and making seven of his nine field goal attempts. Wake Forest is now 14-4 on the season and their 4-2 record in ACC play puts them in a tie with Duke for second in ACC standings. Aminu The Deacons still remain unranked in the national polls despite defeating two of the ACC’s best this past week. “If we had won one more game it would have been a great week, but we had a very good week and I’m very proud of them,” Gaudio said. The Demon Deacons look to take down another ACC opponent as they head to Atlanta to take on the No. 22 Georgia Tech tonight. The Yellow Jackets are coming off of three straight close games. GT narrowly won 73-71 at UNC, then scrapped a 66-64 victory at home against Clemson. Most recently, the Yellow Jackets lost 68-66 at FSU. The game will be tip off at 7 p.m.
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T h e A n t l e r s p u t o n a m o v i n g a n d h o n e s t s h o w. P a g e B 8 .
INSIDE: NOT ANOTHER VAMPIRE MOVIE: Blood-filled horror flick falls flat with bad acting and lack of action. Page B6.
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By Margaret Gelburd | Staff writer The weather is cold, wet and dreary. If you’re like me you’re escaping by dreaming about the warmth that awaits that glorious week in March we call Spring Break. But choosing a Spring Break activity from a wide variety of options can be a little daunting, especially when you have 10 different friends going to 10 different places. Here’s a vacation cheat sheet to help simplify your planning process. Whether you are looking for a little rest and relaxation or you’re in search of the ultimate adventure, you can find a Spring Break that suits you best.
Graphic by Chantel O’Neal / Old Gold & Black
If you hate being cooped up inside ... … try taking a trip with Outdoor Pursuits. Plans are currently in the making for a 10-day trip to Mallorca, Spain. Exact arrangements have not been finalized (including the price), but if you feel like getting away this is tempting offer. If a trip to Spain isn’t in your budget, there’s always the option of creating your own outdoor excursion. Depending on your wilderness skills, you can backpack and sleep under the stars or opt for a rustic log cabin. Rent a fully-furnished cabin in Boone, N.C. for less than $200 (the more the merrier –– and the cheaper). This is the perfect mountain getaway complete with rocking chairs, fireplaces and quilts. Spend the day hiking or cozy up with a good book or a favorite film. If you are a night owl, watch the stars, tell some ghost stories and eat plenty of s’mores. For the handful of you who are morning people, there’s nothing like a sunrise peaking over mountain tops –– even if you do have to wake up at 5 a.m. Whether it’s in the mountains or a forest, if you love the out-
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A T : w w w. o l d g o l d a n d b l a c k . c o m Chantel O’Neal and Olivia Boyce
Spring Break made simple with vacation plans to suit any traveler
doors day-long hikes and overnight trips are an active yet relaxing way to spend your free time. If you’re looking for a place close to home and your topography skills are a little rusty, I recommend Trails.com to find trip ideas for virtually any location. If you’re dreaming of a white spring break… …spend a couple of days skiing or snowboarding. If you can scrounge up the money, it’s worth the investment to fly (or drive) to the “known” places in the US (i.e. Aspen, Vail, Kilington) for a challenging and beautiful week on the slopes. However, lift tickets upwards of $350 a week and cabin rentals ranging from $200 a night are a bit out of my budget. Luckily there are more options if you don’t want to break the bank just for a week in the snow. I’d recommend going to local or less popular places – you’ll at least avoid the rookies that snowplow down black diamonds. Smaller ski resorts will be less pricy and less populated. Some may even offer packages or promotions for university students, like Canaan Valley Resort in West Virginia. During our week-long break, Canaan Valley will be offering a college package that includes lodging, daily breakfast, a one-day lift ticket and ski rental, club privileges and a discount on snow tubing – all for the low cost of $61 per person/per night. After a chilly day out in the winter weather, warm up with a fire, hot chocolate and a fleece blanket. No matter how much you have to spend, a day or a week on the slopes is a great way to embrace the last gasps of winter, get some exercise, and otherwise unwind and relax. If you want to soak up some sun… …relax on the beach with friends and thaw out, especially after these cold, rainy weeks. Your destination really depends on your spring break mood. You can head to the go-to beaches like Panama City and Myrtle Beach, and spend the week with rowdy college students happy to be away from school for seven days. On the other had, you can make your way to more peaceful shores, like Tybee Island or St. Simons in Georgia. Beach vacations give you plenty of options, from hotels to condos to renting a waterfront house –– as always, it’s more fun (and a lot cheaper) to share with friends. There are plenty of things to do beyond the sand and sea. Take a break from your tan and relaxation to go biking or explore the natural wildlife, from dolphins to sea turtles. My favorite thing to do whenever I’m near the coast is to take a late night walk on the beach – and eat plenty of fresh seafood. A beach week is the perfect opportunity to relax, read books at a leisurely pace and revitalize before the last stretch of classes. If you’re sticking around Winston-Salem… …and don’t often get a chance to explore our city then now’s your chance! It’s hard while there are classes are in session and work to do to leave the university bubble and immerse yourself into Winston culture. Luckily, with a week of freedom, now is a prime time to get out and about and explore. Here are some suggestions of what to do around town if you don’t know where to get started: You can spend a day outdoors. The flowers will be just coming up in Reynolda Gardens, the trails
around the university will be open and parks such as Hanes Park are open for a casual stroll. One of the state’s most popular places to hike, Pilot Mountain, is only 30 minutes from campus. Grab some friends, pack a picnic lunch and go for the day. If you’re up for a little vertical adventure, squeeze in some rock climbing. Devote some time to sitting and relaxing in one of our coffee shops. I recommend going to Krankies on Tuesday mornings when the smell of coffee roasting fills the air. While you breathe in these heartwarming scents you can people-watch for hours, listen to some new music and otherwise do as you please in this hipster atmosphere. For lunch, there are several hopeful places within walking distance downtown. A few good options are Mooney’s, a good-priced Mediterranean café complete with hookahs, and of course one can never go wrong with Mellow Mushroom. You can also check out Cat's Cradle, one of the best music venues in North Carolina, located only an hour away. Tickets average around $16 and the venue is small enough where you can fight your way to the first row if you so desire. Cat’s Cradle attracts an eclectic group of people from all of Carrsboro's neighboring areas thus contributing to the wide variety of artists who play there. A full list of their line-up can be found at their website, catscradle.com. If you want to get out and give back… …it’s not too late to sign up for alternative spring breaks, contact soup kitchens or call schools about tutoring options. Every city has a variety of options for volunteering. I’ve found that going through the YMCA is often a good place to start. Churches constantly have things going on to participate in, small businesses most always appreciate help. Every town has a nursing home or senior center that can use volunteers, and the wildlife certainly appreciates it when you spend a day cleaning up a bit. If your town doesn’t seem to have anything appealing going on, there are many relief organizations working with places like Haiti that need people to write letters, participate in bake sales and help raise money to contribute to the cause. Whatever your interests are, volunteering is a free and easy way to get involved. Why not get out and help someone else, while feeling good about yourself. If you have a list of places you've always wanted to go.... …road-tripping has been and always will be one of the great American past times. What could be better than packing five people into a car with a map and collectively choosing a random route to explore America's countryside and cities? Especially going to school where students represent 49 states it seems a shame not to visit people in their hometowns. At the very least, taking a road trip allows you to experience little pieces of the country that may otherwise seem foreign. With a little planning a trip can be orchestrated where you go from one friend's town to the next, without ever spending a night in a hotel or tent. Hopefully after a little bit of research and planning this spring break can be everything you need to get some reprieve from life’s daily stressors.
A heart to heart | A guide to college living
Three food choices to limit in the new year Kelsey Korey Staff columnist
2010 has finally arrived and with the dawn of a new year comes resolutions, most involving getting in shape or losing weight. Yes, it can be daunting but to make it a bit easier here are a few suggestions of three foods to limit this year. Sugar and white flour –– okay this is techni-
cally two things, but if you think about them as the same it helps to limit them in your diet. White flour is refined so much it is treated like sugar during digestion. Unfortunately, white flour and sugar only slow down your metabolism and leave a nice fat pocket right under the belly button area (girls you know what I am talking about –– and, yes, it sucks). Substituting white flour and sugar with whole grains, vegetables and natural fruits will leave you more energized and speed up your metabolism. It’s difficult to completely eliminate white sugar and flour (even though that would be ideal!), especially in college when meal choices are limited.
When possible, substitute white bread for whole grain in the sandwich line and grab a sweet potato instead of white pasta a few times a week. Second, limiting saturated fats will definitely help you get in shape faster. Saturated fat is found in milk, cream cheese, butter etc., and is usually solid at room temperature (even after you eat it, saturated fat returns to its solid form once inside the body which is what clogs your arteries – gross!). Choosing low fat milk and cheese and limiting your fried food intake will help you slowly kick saturated fat to the curb. Even if you feel the need to indulge in a mouth-watering burger from Cook-Out (which is totally allowed),
just “eighty-six” the cheese on your fries every other time. If you find yourself eating burgers multiple times a week, try to substitute a grilled chicken sandwich for one burger (yes, Cook-Out really does have one). The final food to limit is not one commonly associated with weight loss, even though cutting down on it can drastically reduce your weight. The culprit? Salt. Salt is ignored most of the time and hidden behind the fat and calorie content of certain foods, but it has a major impact on your weight. This little, seemingly insignificant mineral can make you bloated and cause you to retain weight –– even if
the rest of your diet is up to par and you make that twice-a-week trek to the gym. It is important to always read food labels for this reason. Don’t just glance at the number of calories or the fat, but take a good long look at the level of sodium in your favorite snack. Salt requires large amounts of water at all times. It causes your body to hold more water than necessary which inevitably increases your weight. Reading food labels and limiting the use of the salt shaker is really all it takes. Completely eliminating any of these foods is close to impossible, especially in college, but limiting them is definitely a start to a healthier new year.
B6 Thursday, January 28, 2010
Old Gold & Black Life
She Said | Illuminating Your Love Life
Brash fights can ruin relationships what do we do? How do we act in disagreement without alienating ourselves from our partners? How do we navigate the troubled waters of conflict without losing sight of mutual love and respect? I like to discuss. I like to debate. I have even been known to enjoy a full blown argument on occasion. I don’t, however, like losing friends. I have found the following practices to be helpful in my own bouts of verbal sparring. Remember your priorities. Sure, winning a debate may be a fun objective, but would you really want to do so at the expense of your relationship? Make your point, state your case, but keep in mind that the person you’re talking to is someone you love and that you value the role he or she plays in your life. Consider the subject at hand and decide whether being right would be worth losing him or her. There are serious matters that warrant refusal to compromise. If you are sure that this is one of them, then stick to your guns and don’t back down. But if you’re not so certain, if the subject is less serious – say, opposing viewpoints on the intentionality
Adrienne Alexander
Whip It, Whip It Good
Fingernails grow nearly four times faster than toenails!
Whip It, Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut, is now on DVD. Bliss Cavendar, played by Ellen Page (Juno), is a rebellious teen stuck in a small town. After discovering her passion for roller derby, she trades in her beauty pageant dresses and high-heel shoes for a pair of wheels. It’s when she’s on skates that Bliss (nicknamed “Babe Ruthless”) begins to find herself and what truly makes her happy. Immerse yourself into the rough world of female roller derby with this hilarious flick.
Top 10 Movies That Changed The World
Staff columnist
Learning to handle the conflicts that will inevitably arise is key to the success of any romantic relationship. Couples who stay together are those who know how to disagree well. Most of us believe that we should be respectful, kind and courteous in our interactions with family, friends, coworkers, classmates – indeed, with anyone we care about. But somehow in everyday life, when differences crop up, we find ourselves forgetting our good manners and reacting with words and actions that belie our tender feelings for the ones with whom we disagree. Mistakes made in the heat of an intense discussion linger and taint the cooler times that follow. Unkind words are not easily forgotten. So,
of character development in the TV series Lost – I suggest you think long and hard before alienating a friend over an issue so trivial. Never take the gloves off – some things should never be said. When we disagree with a significant other or even a longtime friend, we often know enough about our opponent to do serious damage. We’ve seen their flaws. We know their weaknesses, their fears and shortcomings. This information is sacred. It is never okay to bring up the most hurtful thing you know about someone; to call him the one thing you know he hates most about himself. To remind her of that horrible thing she did, the thing she told you in confidence, just to cause her pain. Don’t go there. You won’t ever be able to take those words back. It is not worth it. Preempt escalation by looking for clues. You and your friend have different personalities, different passions. That is how you came to disagree in the first place. It is important to realize that the same discussion may be affecting the two of you very differently. You may feel cool, calm and collected as you
dish out a zinger that really strikes a nerve. If your intention is not to harm or to offend, consider your partner’s feelings throughout the interaction. Look for changes in tone and body language. Does he or she seem stressed, angry or afraid? Be willing to back down rather than backing him or her into a corner. What may be a fun discussion for you may be unpleasant or even maddening for someone else. Maintaining the right perspective during arguments is vital to successful communication. Discussing differences can be healthy, productive and even enjoyable. It can bring us closer or tear us apart. The choice is ours. To paraphrase a classic quote: She who fights fair and disengages from the discussion rather than damaging her friend will find that she still has a friend with whom to disagree tomorrow. “She Said” is a bi-weekly column that presents one girl’s perspective on the college sex scene. You may contact her with your feedback or ideas at alexae7@ wfu.edu.
Surrender to Sudoku
Check out one of these movies that left their mark on society, be it for better or worse.
1. The Thin Blue Line 2. The Birth of a Nation 3. Triumph of the Will 4. The Battle of Algiers 5. An Inconvenient Truth 6. JFK 7. Harlan County, USA 8. 2001: A Space Odyssey 9. Rosetta 10. Super Size Me
Say Cheese A Dutch branch of McDonald’s went to court on Jan. 26 over a piece of cheese. According to the fast-food restaurant, an employee of the McDonald’s in Lemmer was fired for giving a fellow colleague an extra slice of cheese on her hamburger – which she did not pay for. The district court ruled in favor of the terminated employee after finding the dismissal too severe for “just a slice of cheese.” According to the court, a written warning would have been a more suitable punishment. Now, McDonald’s must continue to pay the employee her salary for the remaining five months of her contract, as well as the court costs. That’s one expensive piece of cheese.
Drink of the Week Shady Lady
Here’s to Punxsutawney Phil. Hopefully he won’t see his shadow come Feb. 2., which means that spring and warm weather is just around the corner. 1 oz. tequila 1 oz. melon liqueur 4 oz. grapefruit juice Pour melon liqueur, tequila, and grapefruit juice over ice. Stir the contents of the glass. Add a slice of slime to the rim and top your drink off with a cherry.
Check back next week for the solution to this week’s problem. If you hadn’t noticed, we like to keep people waiting in suspense.
Solution from 1/21 Difficulty level: easy
Movie Review | Daybreakers
Bland script makes trite vampire film By Kathryn Rohlwing | Staff writer
The premise of Daybreakers is fairly simple: in the near future, a plague has turned most of the world to vampires, leaving humans to be hunted and farmed for their blood. The plot is equally as straightforward. As demand outweighs supply, the human race faces a more and more imminent extinction and the vampire world is panicking in the face of starvation. Edward Dalton (Ethan Hawke, Training Day), a prominent hematologist working for a blood production company, is desperately searching for the key to a stable blood substitute when he meets a fugitive human, Audrey Bennet (Claudia Karvan, Broken Highway). Audrey introduces Edward to Lionel Cormac (Willem Dafoe, SpiDaybreakers derman) a vampire, Starring | Ethan Hawke and who after Claudia Karvan prolonged Directors | Michael Spierig and exposure to sunlight, Peter Spierig found himWho’s it for? | Fans of vampire self human and horror films once again. Running Time | 1 hour 38 mins. Captivated Rating | D by the idea of a cure, but unable to replicate Lionel’s results, Edward is confronted with the decision of facing almost certain death trying to find the key to this cure, or returning to his work looking for a blood substitute, at the cost of turning in the humans. As far as vampire films go, Daybreakers is not the worst one I have seen, though it is certainly not the best. In a nice twist from recent vampire films, Daybreakers keeps to the standard vampire love: they drink blood, burn in the sunlight and die by wooden stakes. The film plays well with its atmospheres. Daybreakers begins with a noir style feel to it. The scenes of the vampire world are full of dim lighting, dark clothing and somber colors. The vampire world is shown mostly in grim metro scenes, sterile labs and the windowless, modern house of Edward Dalton. The human world is shown in great contrast to this. It is full of bright light and warm colors, grassy fields and vineyards. The characters dress in earthy tones, particularly jeans and leather jackets. The houses are made of brick and wood rather than steel. The contrast between the vampire world and the human world makes the film visually interesting. Unfortunately, this is about the only interesting
Photo courtesy of Lionsgate Pictures
Despite the popularity of other recent vampire shows and movies, Michael and Peter Spierig’s film Daybreakers fails to entertain. part of the film. The acting is of poor quality, as is the writing. The film lacks a charismatic main character, in part due to Ethan Hawke’s lackluster performance and in part due to a bland script. His character could have been interesting had it been further developed, but as it was not, he fell into the common movie stereotype of the idealistic scientist fighting against an evil corporation. The other characters are also left undeveloped; no one is given a complete back story. The characters fall easily into stereotypes like the amoral businessman, the naively obedient soldier and the rebellious teenage daughter. Like most horror films, Daybreakers introduces characters just so that they can later be killed off, making the threat of death feel real, but leaving the main character intact. The plot unfolds slowly and is painfully simple, containing no particular twists or surprises. In an effort to create suspense, several scenes of gruesome, bloody violence are thrown in, but they fail to make the movie exciting and instead make it at times hard to watch.
The uncomplicated plot, bland characters, and lack of intense action would seem to suggest that the entire purpose of the film is to show off the world that has been imagined. However, the future depicted feels as undeveloped as the other aspects of the film. There are a few fleeting scenes, like commercials for an underground walkway, that offer a glimpse of the way the world has changed since the outbreak, but nothing of great detail. The human world is left just as undeveloped. It would have been interesting to see how the world has adapted to the needs of the vampires, and how the fugitive humans lived, avoided capture and communicated, but the film offers very little of this. Overall, Daybreakers is a jumble of characters thrown into a vague future in which their fight for survival drags painfully on, eliciting very little sympathy from the audience. No matter how bored, or desperate to procrastinate on homework you are, I would not recommend seeing this movie in theaters.
Thursday, January 28, 2010 B7
Life Old Gold & Black
Restaurant Review | Sweet Potatoes
Jazzy restaurant serves southern favorites with a twist By Emily Burniston | Staff writer
At first sight of Sweet Potatoes restaurant, you can’t help but smile. Located on Trade Street in the Arts District of downtown Winston-Salem, the restaurant fits right in with its artsy, decorative surroundings. The walls (which are, not surprisingly, a warm, sweet potato orange) are Sweet Potatoes covered Location | 529 N. Trade St. with jazzy paintings of Hours | 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Mon. - Sat. musicians 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. Tues. - Sat. in vibrant 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Sun. colors. Serving | Southern inspired dishes Dim lighting creates a Dress | Casual cozy, relaxed Price Range | $10 - $20 feel while soft music fills the Rating | A room. My party and I somehow picked the perfect time to begin our meal as we were welcomed and seated almost immediately by a smiling hostess. This by no means speaks to the restaurant’s popularity –– within minutes the dining room was full and there was a crowd waiting for tables by the door. We started lunch off with an appetizer, which quite possibly may have been my favorite part of the meal. At our friendly waiter’s suggestion we ordered a basket of fried green tomatoes and fried okra. The fried green tomatoes were delicious, crispy, fried to perfection and made all the more delectable by topping them with the spicy sweet potato aioli that was served on the side. While devouring the
appetizer we began to read over the menu. Lunch at Sweet Potatoes is pretty much limited to salads and sandwiches. That said, the only obstacle to tackle was the lack of vegetarian options. While the restaurant definitely caters to meateaters with a variety of sandwiches filled with sometimes three types of meat, the staff was happy to oblige to my friends request to remove the meat from her fried green tomato BLT, which she said was just as tasty, especially on a sweet potato biscuit. Soon after devouring the appetizer, our waiter arrived with our main course. When I got my plate, I was startled by the strange green vegetable-like object which I found on it. In keeping with southern style, each sandwich plate is garnished with okra rather than the traditional pickle. While okra may not be one of my favorite foods, I did find it to be a fun and clever touch. I had the Club Sweet Potato, a double-decker sandwich filled with ham, turkey, bacon, lettuce, tomato and cheddar with cranberry mayonnaise. While it was a little difficult to eat being so big, I still managed to clean my plate. All sandwiches are also served with a choice of sides like potato salad and fried okra, however, my entire table knew just what to order –– the sweet potato fries, which, after tasting, made you understand why the restaurant got its name in the first place. They were slightly seasoned and had just the right balance of soft potato inside and crisp crunch on the outside. I also had the opportunity to try “The Bubba,” which, according to the menu, is a southern Reuben, fitting right in the “uptown, down-home” theme of the restaurant. It was warm and piled high with ham, coleslaw and melted cheddar cheese on Texas
Fashion Column | Short and Chic
Emily Burniston/Old Gold & Black
Sweet Potatoes, a downtown favorite, offers southern dishes served with some flair. Sweet potato fries appropriately come with all sandwiches. toast with Thousand Island dressing. Prices were reasonable for lunchtime with sandwich prices between about $6 and $8. The dinner menu appears a little harder on a student wallet with entrees from $13 to $18. They also offer Sunday brunch (which I plan to go back for) from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., which features a variety of eggs Benedict and, of course, sweet potato biscuits. While I didn’t save room for dessert this time, Sweet Potatoes does offer a variety
of fresh sweets to top off your meal. They feature a variety of mouth watering southern favorites like sweet potato and bourbon pecan pie. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Sweet Potatoes. Fast and very friendly service along with scrumptious food all make this an off campus dining oasis offering a welcome vacation from the Pit. Perhaps opt for a lunch outing to save some money, but definitely look into this townie favorite.
CD Review | Animal
Fashion goes green First album falls short of hype By Nilam Patel | News editor
What’s the big fashion trend for 2010? Environmentally friendly clothing. Sure, it sounds really “hippy” and it renders images of clothing made from hemp, but there are plenty of manufacturers and retailers that provide environmentally friendly clothing. There is a huge craze going on right now about being sustainable, so why not help out by not only recycling, but also by wearing all natural fabrics made without harming the environment? These articles of clothing can get expensive, but there are several Web sites that provide environmentally friendly clothing at a reasonable price. The one factor to keep in mind when shopping for eco-friendly clothing is that it’s a bit more expensive than regular clothing. But just think about it this way: GPS devices and cell phones were extremely expensive when they first came out, but they’ve started to go down in price. The same will happen with these environmentally friendly trends. Here are a few eco-fashion Web Sites that I’ve found that may help you in your search for a new environmentally friendly wardrobe: These two Web Site offer sustainable clothing with more of a designer twist. You can buy clothing, jewelry and accessories here: nimli.com or thegreenloop. com. You can’t buy directly from whiteapricot.com and earthfriendlygoods. com, but these sites link you to other environmentally friendly and ethically
made clothing. Earthfriendlygoods. com is a little bit more expensive, but they offer more items than just clothing. If environmentally friendly clothing is not in your budget right now, there are still other ways to help the environment through fashion. One, take your own reusable bags when you go shopping so you don’t have to waste the store’s bags. Two, buy clothes that you can rewear time and time again. Basics are back. Well, they never really left, but the majority of people are starting to see that basics and layering are stylish once again. Buy thinner fabrics and layer them. You’ll keep warm in the winter months with the layers but you can also wear these articles of clothing in the summer months with a light cardigan. Three, buy only what you know that you will wear. And try to avoid buying clothing from countries that use sweatshops and child labor to mass-produce fabrics and clothing. Four, share clothes! If you have a sister or best friend that is the same size as you, share clothing! I’m not lucky enough to have a sister or friend who shares my sense of style, otherwise I would take full advantage of the opportunity. Not only will you save more money, but your outfit choices will have nearly doubled. Your clothes don’t necessarily have to be “sustainable” to save the planet; all you have to do is practice good sustainability habits, and you’re doing your job to help the environment.
By Laura Gonzalez | Staff writer
Do these lyrics sound familiar? “Wake up in the morning feeling like P. Diddy / Grab my glasses, I’m out the door / I’m gonna hit this city?” If they do, it’s because Ke$ha’s hit single, “Tik Tok,” has steadily made its way into nearly every radio station, party and iPod since its release in August of last year. Now, just three weeks after the Jan. 5 debut of her first album, Animal, Ke$ha has made a unique – if not slightly wild – image for herself in the world of pop music.But is her album worth all of the hype? Sadly, not quite. “Tik Tok” stands out from the rest of Ke$ha’s album. This single is popular for a reason, attracting listeners with its vibrant vocals and story-like verses. It seems to be the exception. Overall, the tracks off of Animal are a combination of lyrical senselessness and nearly identical pop-savvy beats. The creativity of Ke$ha’s one hit, “Tik Tok,” doesn’t hint to the rest of her album. Instead it merely establishes what Animal attempts to mimic throughout many of her other songs. The general feel of Animal is conflicting. Songs like “Blah Blah Blah” featuring 3OH!3, “Take It Off,” and “Kiss
‘n’ Tell” cover Ke$ha’s usual themes of a potentially good voice somewhere drinking, partying, and a combination beneath the layers of chorus verses and of feminine carelessness and indepen- techno tunes. However, listeners hear nothing but dence. As such, these tracks are the more stringent vocal notes and verses that dance-heavy pieces of the album. Although they’re catchy, they also lack sound more like spoken words than any substance. “Blah Blah actual lyrics. Ke$ha’s voice is more soothing on Blah” is not only the title of the track, but it is also songs that cover vulnerable themes like makes up a large portion heartbreak and love. Even so, these same songs fall short in comparison with of the song’s lyrics. Meanwhile, ‘Take It those of other popular female musiOff ” is a sexually induced cians to date. “Animal,” the last track on the album, club anthem. Unfortunately, we’ve heard attempts to draw a comparison between songs like this before, love and the liveliness of an animal, but and “Take It Off ” does fails miserably. Furthermore, many of her sweeter little in the way of surpassing the liveliness of tracks contrast the edgy independence depicted in tracks like “Blind” and “Kiss “Tik Tok.” Perhaps one of the more ridiculous ‘n’ Tell,” which are both songs that cover tracks off of Animal is “Dinosaur” – a a girl moving on from her ex. “Hungover” is one of the piece about an old man, better vocal pieces who hits on younger Animal on Animal, as well women. “Dinosaur” Genre | Slutpop as “Dancing with is both annoying and Tears in my Eyes.” taunting, and has no No. Of Tracks | 17 It is unclear real place on the album Audience | Teen girls and frat whether Ke$ha as whole, other than party-goers wants the listener possibly to emphato believe that she size Ke$ha’s rebellious Best Listen |”Tik Tok” is passionate about nature. Similar Artists | Lady GaGa and her musical career Unfortunately, there’s Pixie Lott when Animal covers nothing really rebellittle more than love lious about calling a Rating | B and partying. man old, nor is there And though anything entertaining about spelling out the word “dinosaur” Ke$ha may not have “a care in the world,” she may want to start – at least in the chorus. The vocals throughout the party before the release of her next album. pieces are unfulfilling. Ke$ha may have That is, if she wants anyone to listen.
Book Review | The Blind Side
Athlete’s life tells story of triumph through hardship By Samantha Hoback | Staff writer
Biographies can be monotonous. Rags to riches stories are not uncommon. Athletes, especially, have the mindset that their career must follow a pattern: set records in high school, get a scholarship to play in college, get drafted into the NFL, and then write a personal memoire after you make it. When Michael Oher was drafted into the NFL, it was only a matter of time before someone would have the idea to profit off of Oher’s talent
and popularity in the form of a non-fiction novel. However, as author Michael Lewis began researching the subject of his next non-fiction project, he probably had no idea that the offensive tackle from Memphis, Tenn., had one of the most touching and remarkable life stories of any athlete he had encountered before. The Blind Side tells the story of the prodigal football star who went from future gang-member to infamous offensive blocker overnight with love and help from a God-fearing family from
Tennessee. Born to a drug-addict mother in one of the poorest parts of Tennessee, Michael Jerome Oher (born Williams) grew up expecting to live in the projects all his life without the possibility of becoming something more. Throughout his childhood, he lived with a slew of foster families, slept on friends’ couches and meandered his way through school with as little effort as possible. Before his sophomore year, a friend’s father enrolled Michael at Briarcrest Christian School. The football and basketball coaches were shocked by the sheer size of the sophomore athlete. Not only was he as big as a house, but he was also solid and strong as a bull with quick, light feet. Before he could make his way onto the football field or basketball court, however, he needed to
prove himself in the classroom. invited him into their home — a He had skimmed through school decidedly taboo act of kindness prior to attending Briarcrest, in a traditionally Confederate but teachsouthers quickly e r n noticed that city. Born to a drug-addict mother in one Michael A of the poorest parts of Tennessee, could learn couple Michael Jerome Oher grew up –– he just o f needed expecting to live in the projects all his nights extra atten- life without the possibility of becoming turned tion. into a something more. T h e couple teachers o f and sports weeks, coaches a n d weren’t the only ones to notice soon the sixteen-year-old Oher Michael Oher. though. Leigh- had a place to call home. Anne and Sean Tuohy, one of Despite criticism from friends Memphis’ most wealthy and and family, the Tuohy family welpowerful couples, were dedicated comed Michael into their life and sports fans and parents of two home as one of their own. Briarcrest students. He appeared on the annual One lucky night, when the Christmas card, went to weekly Tuohy’s found Michael without country club luncheons and a place to stay for the night, they began referring to Leigh-Anne
and Sean as “Mamma” and “Pops,” respectively. In a matter of a year, the Tuohy family had adopted a third child. Michael Oher was the star offensive blocker for the Ole Miss Rebels and now plays for the Baltimore Ravens. Lewis’ book, which is now a major motion picture, is a perfect blend of sports trivia and the inspiring rags to riches story that has touched millions of readers and sports fans nationwide. This book may be about an athlete, but it is sure to be enjoyed by non-sports fans. Whether you are a football fanatic or you can’t tell the difference between the offense and defense, this book will touch you and inspire you like no other sports biography can do — like no other sports biography will do.
B8 Thursday, January 28, 2010
Old Gold & Black Life
Concert Review | The Antlers
Music Review | Animal Collective
Concert brings band’s Band’s music evolves with music and lyrics to life metamorphic albums By Laura Chin | Contributing writer
Last semester, I came across a record that will forever remain in my most beloved collection. Frontman Peter Silberman recruited keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist Darby Cici and drummer Michael Lerner to form The Antlers. The result was a masterpiece 51-minute record, Hospice, an album of shoegazing guitars and layering orchestral synths over a man’s despairing account of loss. Over winter break, I was fortunate enough to see them perform at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City. Hospice is by no means an uplifting record, written under two years of solitude by Silberman, and I was unsure of what to expect with a live show. Nonetheless, the event was sold out, packed wall to wall with a surprising collection of audience members. As my friend and I grabbed a table on the balcony, the scene below was littered with hipsters in flannel and shrunken jeans mixed with working men and women still in business attire. Opening acts were Sharon Van Etten — who lent her vocals in Hospice, and Uninhabitable Mansions – a side project of members from Au Revoir Simone, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Dirty on Purpose. Van Etten appeared solo with her guitar, but gave an echoing performance of haunting vocals and folk reminiscent of Cat Power. Uninhabitable Mansions gave an upbeat performance of strong lead guitar riffs matched with subtle synth patches. Overall, both sets established the intimacy between artists and audience. But at last the moment had arrived. As The Antlers took the stage, Sharon Van Etten joined them in the opening song, “Thirteen.” Her soothing voice reverberated throughout the Bowery as the song gave way to distorted guitars, thunder-
ing cymbals and heavy keyboards. As the track faded into the ambient noise of a Roland Space Echo, not a whisper was heard as all were mesmerized by the depth and climatic structure of The Antlers. Silberman’s voice carried such power as his first lines bursted out in “Kettering,” nostalgically admitting, “I wish that I had known in that first minute we met / the unpayable debt that I owed you.” Every note bore an overflow of anguish, resentment and fatigue. The band did a new rendition of their single, “Bear,” adding a storm of precision-crafted cymbal crashes and snares. Each song was so haunting, always changing into a climatic build or dissolving into scattered static. As Sharon Van Etten joined in for the closing track, “Wake,” the set dissipated into vocals repeating, “Don’t ever let anyone tell you you deserve that” this triggered such floods of emotion my skin crawled. Inside I wept for the story that seemed all too real. Cici and Lerner’s instrumentation transformed the show into a focus of not just the grieving narrative, but the music, oozed with such emotion. Each strike of the cymbals came down with explosions of disparity and exhaustion. The swirling, ambient keyboards spun into passive chaos. Every aspect of the performance was so honest, so moving – from the striking vocals, to the lush keyboards that melted each song together into one stunning piece. Silberman left words for us to part with, “Thanks to you, this has been hands down the best year of my entire life.” Thanks to The Antlers, this concert will follow me through my life as the time that music became more than what it is – more than what it will ever be.
By Alex Kallner | Contributing writer
These days it seems like everyone is listening to Animal Collective. Merriweather Post Pavilion made such a huge splash last year that coverage of the band is almost impossible to ignore (case in point: this article). Usually by the time a single band has been so over-saturated in the music industry, they face the inevitable uprising of the “I'm too cool for this popular stuff" crowd. And yet amazingly we all still love them, the album was good enough to stay endearing even to the most self-aware music snobs. The only problem is that the group the world seems to have fallen in love with wasn't the same group on their previous album, or the album before that, and it won't be on their follow-up. What many fail to realize is that the very nature of the band is displayed proudly in their name. They're a collective, a musical group consisting of interchangeable members who each contribute their own unique flavor to the track. At any given time one or more of them could be missing on a recording. On MPP the guitarist, Deakin, was entirely absent. His contributions to their excellent album, Strawberry Jam, were huge. In it we found a shrieking freak-music outfit that wasn't afraid to potentially isolate their audience with ambient chanting and forceful guitar-driven loops. What would surprise those who haven’t listened to the back catalog is that this was the album that came before Pavilion. The lack of a guitarist on their most recent effort lead to the sample-heavy, synth-driven work they’ve become known for. The inherent danger in such a widely successful effort from a band
whose roster consistently changes is that their next album is going to sound nothing like the one that preceded it. Deakin has taken time off from the band before and it’s quite likely that he’ll be back. While this is nothing new for the old school fans who stuck through jumps from say, “Here Comes the Indian” to “Sung Tongs,” or “Feels” to “Strawberry Jam,” to the new fans, this shift in sound is going to be jarring. To those who jumped onto the epic synthetic sonic exploration that is Merriweather Post Pavilion, it could very well be a deal breaker. Don’t get me wrong, I loved this album. It could potentially be the best LP the band has ever produced to this point in their careers. However, it’s important to stay cognizant of the fact that people (albeit a much smaller group) were saying the same thing about Strawberry Jam back in 2007. The sign of a talented band is evolution in their music, something Animal Collective has demonstrated remarkably throughout their tenure. While each album comes with a new sound, more importantly, the quality over their previous work was vastly improved. It shouldn’t matter what their follow-up is going to sound like or who’s going to be on it as long as they continue that tradition of developing their music. I don’t look down at those who just started listening to the band; it’s a masterpiece that certainly deserves attention. I do, however, feel sorry for them. They’re going to expect a “My Girls 2” and be harshly disappointed when they don’t receive it. The fallout that could result is a shame, because they’ll be missing out on the next intriguing mash up of ideas and sound that has kept fans coming back for almost a decade now.