The Occidental Weekly, Volume 132, Issue 5

THE OCCIDENTAL WEEKLY THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE SINCE 1893 Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Volume 132, Issue 5

www.oxyweekly.com

Complaints Spur Crackdown Two Occidental Students Arrested at on Neighborhood Parties “Make Banks Pay” Demonstration Ryan Strong

President Jonathan Veitch recently received a strongly worded letter from local resident Rick Taylor complaining about off-campus partying and threatening to take his complaints to the Los Angeles City Council if the college does not deal with the problem. Because major construction projects require city council approval, the college worries that the neighbor’s complaints could potentially complicate those processes, Vice President for Student Affairs Barbara Avery confirmed.

On the weekend of Friday, Sept.

16, Campus Safety visited 13 offcampus parties and broke up many gatherings early in the night, according to Campus Safety Records.

That was more than double the contacts Campus Safety had with student tenants the week prior.

Taylor said that the situation has improved since then but asserted he would continue to work to better the community.

“I met with Dean Avery three weeks ago. Since then there has been improvement within the community. However we will continue our pursuit of a harmonious neighborhood; even if that means going to the City Council,” he said, via email.

Taylor lives next door to Jungle House and specifically directed his complaint at those residents.

He also mentioned other student

houses nearby. In an email to students living at Jungle House, Taylor pledged to use his meeting with Dean Avery to get rid of Jungle House.

“Our meeting is less to do about the current residents and more to do about the systematic problem of the infamous Jungle House. I am here to cut down the jungle,” read an email from Taylor to Jungle House residents.

Avery said she is worried about the college’s reputation in the neighborhood as complaints about loud off-campus parties pile up.

“You don’t want to be known as a party school,” Avery said, noting that such a label erodes the college’s standing and prestige.

The college also realizes that students are going to socialize on the weekends, neighbors are going to have complaints and reconciling all of the interests is a challenging and ongoing process.

“It’s a crazy sort of dance you have to do,” Avery said. Students have to do a better job communicating with neighbors and controlling the amount of people entering their houses, according to Avery.

Meanwhile, the college is looking at possibly bringing in an expert to talk about responsible partying, holding a campus meeting to discuss issues with students and facilitating other meetings between stakeholders, including landlords, students and neighbors.

PARTYING continues on Page 3

Courtesy of Anne Ewbank Noah Donnell-Kilmer (junior) is escorted from a Bank of America after attempting to cash a symbolic check in protest.

Anne Ewbank Two Occidental students, juniors Alex Acuna and Noah Donnell-Kilmer, were arrested on Thursday Oct. 7 at the “Make Banks Pay” rally for protesting in a Bank of America in Los Angeles’ financial district and refusing to leave. Unions Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE) and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the Refund California campaign or-

ganized the protests in conjunction with “Occupy L.A.” “Some of us are going to get arrested,” Acuna said before arriving at the protest. “It’s going to be nonviolent, but we’re going to go into a bank and refuse to leave. We’ve been planning this protest for a long time. It’s going to be beautiful, a massive group of people coming together.”

Acuna, Donnell-Kilmer and others entered the Bank of America and tried to cash a symbolic $673 billion dollar check made out to

the people of California. Police blocked off the bank and a team in riot gear responded. Donnel-Kilmer and Acuna were the first people led out in handcuffs. The two were shouting as they were loaded into a windowless police van. The two students were released later that evening.

Bank of America declined to comment on the protest and subsequent arrests.

Acuna and Donnel-Kilmer atPROTEST continues on Page 3

Toga Rumors Prove False, Cancellation Still a Possibility Faryn Borella

Maya Harris Campus Safety called 911 for four students, who were transported to Glendale Adventist Hospital for medical attention.

NEWS ................................... 3 OPINIONS ............................ 4 LETTERS .............................. 5

FEATURES ............................ 6 A&E ...................................... 8 SPORTS ................................. 10

The number of hospital transports due to Toga decreased from 13 last year to four this year, according to Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Student Life Tamara Rice. This is contrary to rumors that claim over 20 students required transports.

“It was definitely better than last year,” Rice said. “I know a lot of people are describing it as a shit-show, but from my perspective, because I’ve seen now four of them, I think it was one of the better ones because I do think for the most part that students were keeping it in and were able just to have some fun.”

However, a decision has not yet been made as to whether Toga will be continued in the coming years.

“I don’t want to make a decision about Toga 2012 just yet mainly because I don’t feel like I have all the information. Sometimes reports get in a little bit later,” Rice said.

Many students expressed concern for the future of Toga following an e-

mail sent by Rice the Friday prior to the event.

“If the ‘ugly side’ of Toga continues and overshadows the institutionalized community builder that it is, I will have no other choice than to give Toga a break for a few years,” the e-mail read.

“It would be unfortunate (to say the least), if poor choices made tomorrow resulted in depriving future generations of Oxy students the opportunity to enjoy an event like Toga.”

Although there was a decrease in the amount of hospital transports, that does not guarantee the continuance of Toga. “It’s four more than I want,” Rice said. However, she stipulated that no decision will be made in the immediate future.

The first incident of the evening occurred at 11:47 p.m., when a student was found unresponsive on the lawn outside of the Cooler. The student was transported to Glendale Adventist Hospital.

Two more students were reported with “alcohol poisoning” later in the TOGA continues on Page 3

The Occidental Weekly is recyclable.

2

THE OCCIDENTAL WEEKLY

- October 12, 2011

THIS WEEK Two Thumbs Way Down Thursday, 10/13 - 8:00 p.m.

Nerdmelt at Meltdown Comics

Coraline Friday, 10/14 - 7:30 p.m.

Johnson 200

Women’s Soccer Saturday, 10/15 - 7:00 p.m.

Patterson Field

St. Vincent Tuesday, 10/18 - 8:00 p.m.

The Music Box

Trip to L.A.’s Great Wall Tuesday, 10/18 - 9:00 a.m.

Meet at the Fountain

Audiences will watch a series of trailers of horror movies and vote for which looks the worst and watch the winning movie.

The Oxy Scary Movie Month will present the animated movie Coraline.

Support women’s soccer as they play against the University of La Verne.

Check out Annie Clark’s St. Vincent perform their third album, “Strange Mercy.”

The Office of Community Engagement will sponsor a SPARC tour for students to learn about public art & social justice in L.A.

INFORMATION: www.meltcomics.com

INFORMATION: Student Events Calendar

INFORMATION: Student Events Calendar

INFORMATION: www.themusicbox.la

INFORMATION: Student Events Calendar

IN THE NEWS AT OXY

IN L.A.

NATIONALLY

GLOBALLY

A new on-campus initiative, Occupy College, is currently trying to increase student participation in the city-wide movement Occupy Los Angeles. Occupy College is the product of Junior Jack Moreau’s experience after a weekend at Occupy L.A. Moreau was outraged by the low-student turnout at Occupy L.A. and became determined to organize a stronger student movement.

Approximately 30 Occidental students attended the demonstration, while local large institutions like UCLA and USC only had a handful of supporters, according to Moreau.

Moreau says his primary objective is not to have students camp-out and protest in front of the quad; he wants them to take their anger to the front steps of city hall. By joining as a collective student group, the student population will form a voice of leadership at the Occupy L.A. movement, Moreau said.

Moreau is hosting an open forum of discussion outside the Academic Commons (library) Sunday through Thursday this week at 9:30 p.m. Moreau will remain by his tent on the quad all week long, continuously advertising the message of Occupy L.A.

Los Angeles County is expanding health care operations to cover up to 550,00 patients through publicly funded medical clinics, according to the Los Angeles Times. This overhaul will come at no charge to patients. L.A. County aims to transform the health care system into a mainly primary care medical service, rather than having a focus on specialized services.

L.A County revamped their coverage because in 2014, the current L.A. County health care patients will be able to seek coverage elsewhere. Director of L.A. County Department of Medical Services said that if patients leave the county, then the entire health care system may collapse. Under President Obama’s federal health care overhaul, millions of Californians will be eligible for Medi-Cal, currently only available to low income patients.

Patients may seek coverage with L.A. County only if they earn no more than $14,500 for individuals and $29,700 for a family of four. L.A. County healthcare provides free primary and specialized care, mental health treatment, management for chronic diseases, and medication and emergency services.

Alabama’s illegal immigration legislation has begun to negatively impact the state’s Latino communities and cheap labor pool, according to the Washington Post. Out of the estimated 130,000 illegal immigrants in Alabama, it has been reported that many have fled due to fears and uncertainties about their illegal status.

Under this new legislation, it is a crime for an illegal immigrant to seek employment and for a citizen to transport or harbor an illegal immigrants. The bill also makes it legal to bar an undocumented student from attending a public college institution and allows schools to demand birth certificates from students during the enrollment process.

The large population of undocumented Latino field workers in Alabama has significantly decreased as farm owners face challenges to hire sufficient laborers. In Northeastern Alabama, Smith & Smith Farmers have attempted to ease the depletion in labor resources by hiring local unemployed white workers, but to no avail, co-owner Kathy Smith told the Los Angeles Times.

A stranded New Zealand container ship is currently spilling 130-350 tons of oil into the port of Tauranga, Australia, according to BBC News. It is speculated that the ship became stuck in the Astrolabe Reef due to heavy storms and rough waters. This new oil leakage estimate is a sharp rise from the previously estimated 30 tons of oil.

The 775 ft. Rena’s oil spill is spreading nearby Mt. Maunganui, and also affecting nearby colonies of penguins and shags, as well as dolphins, porpoises and whales that traverse the Astrolabe Reef’s waters.

The area is a key New Zealand tourist site and also a popular hotel destination for the rugby union World Cup spectators. The oil spill clean up will be in full view of the tourists currently in New Zealand.

BBC News environmental correspondent Richard Black said the oil spill is relatively small compared to other oil spills like the 76,000 tons of spilled oil from the Prestige in 2002. Government officials expect to finish the cleanup soon.

REPORTS 12:09 AM Clapp Library Student reports that a suspicious male left the Library through the south emergency exit door. Responding Officers checked the area but were unable to locate the subject.

11:05 PM Alumni Circle RHOPO Officers stopped one under aged student who was in possession of alcohol. Officers warned student and had him pour out alcohol without incident.

11:25 PM 1432 Armadale Ave. Observed a social gathering of approximately 50 persons inside the residence and the backyard. Officers made contact with student tenant and issued “Sanction flyer.” No complaints received.

5:50 PM 2144 Las Colinas Ave Observed a social gathering of approximately 25 persons inside the residence. Officers made contact with student tenant and issued “Sanction flyer.” No complaints received.

11:48 PM Alumni Circle RHOPO Officers stopped two under aged students who were in possession of alcohol. Officers warned students and had them pour out alcohol.

12:57 AM Chilcot Hall RA requested Campus Safety assistance in confiscating drug paraphernalia that was observed in plain view. Incident report submitted.

8:17 PM Weller Road Student reports that an unknown vehicle struck his vehicle while it was parked behind the Library. Incident report submitted.

Occidental College 1600 Campus Road M-40 Los Angeles, California 90041 (323) 259-2886

EDITORIAL BOARD Editor in Chief Dean DeChiaro

Managing Editor Aralyn Beaumont Senior Editors Ashly Burch Mitchell J. Cde Baca

EDITORIAL STAFF News Faryn Borella Ryan Strong

Features Sam Ovenshine Kirsten Wright Sports Ryan Graff Juliet Suess Opinions Alexander LaRose Rachel Liesching Arts & Entertainment Cordelia Kenney Ian Mariani

BUSINESS

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8

5:40 PM Rangeview Structure Student reports his tire and rim were stolen. Incident report submitted.

The Occidental Weekly

Photo Editor Evan Carter

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5

Newspaper

Senior Layout Editor Christine Lew

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4

10:00 PM Thorne Hall “NFL Alumni Event” continues with approximately 225 people in attendance.

This

7:24 PM Newcomb Hall RHOPO Officers stopped one underage student who was in possession of alcohol. Officers warned student and had him pour out alcohol without incident.

7:40 PM 4563 Paulhan Hall Student reports the driver’s door was stolen off her Jeep Wrangler, while it was parked in front of the above address. Incident report submitted.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9

12:25 AM Quad Two kegs of beer consumed at this time.

1:02 AM Clapp Library Observed an intoxicated male sleeping on the lawn in front of the Library. Officers were unable to identify the male due to his level of intoxication. Subject was taken into custody and subsequently released to his Oxy host. Incident report filed.

1:14 AM Thorne Service Road Cleaning Services staff reports an intoxicated male passed out and was laying on street. Responding Officers took subject (local) into custody. He was identified, photographed, issued a “Trespass Notice” and relased to his father.

9:00 PM Quad Officer observed a tent set up under a giant oak tree across from Fowler Hall. Three students who were near the tent told Officer that they were conducting an “Occupy Oxy” protest in support of the “Occupy L.A.” protest at City Hall.

Advertising Manager Tucker Eason Business Manager Andreas Bloomquist Communications Director Arielle Darr

Founded in 1893, the Occidental Weekly is the official newspaper of Occidental College. Published by the Associated Students of Occidental College, the Weekly is distributed to 2,000 faculty, staff, students, parents and community members every Wednesday during the academic year.

RESOURCES If you would like The Occidental Weekly to cover a story, please write to weekly@oxy.edu, contact a section editor, or call The Occidental Weekly office.

If you would like to write a letter to The Occidental Weekly to express an opinion or address a current event, please e-mail weekly@ oxy.edu. Letters are capped at 700 words.

THE OCCIDENTAL WEEKLY

October 12, 2011 -

3

Student Protestors Work to Hold Banks Accountable

PROTEST From Front Page

-tended the protest for the UEP department’s Community Organizing and Leadership course. Students from this class ended up being one of the most visible groups at the event. Many of those in the Community Organizing Class have internships with Los Angeles activist groups. Acuna is an intern with SEIU and Donnell-Kilmer is an intern with ACCE. The day began when the Community Organizing and Leadership class gathered with Professors Martha Matsuoka and Professor Peter Dreier in Johnson to watch Youtube videos of the Occupy L.A. and Occupy Wall Street protesters.

Professor Dreier, the chair of the UEP department, spoke about one of the leaders of the Make Banks Pay movement, Rose Guidel.

Guidel was two weeks late on a home loan payment when Fannie Mae allegedly slated her house for foreclosure. Guidel challenged the eviction notice by refusing to leave her property. On Oct. 4, Guidel made headlines for protesting in front of the CEO of OneWest’s house in BelAir. “She’s become the figurehead, the Rosa Parks of this movement,” Dreier said to his students.

The intent of Thursday’s march was to demand accountability from banks that accepted government bailouts while continuing to foreclose and evict homeowners. The protest coincided but was unrelated to the worldwide Occupy Movement, whose goals can be roughly defined as “anti-greed.”

Courtesy of Anne Ewbank Occidental juniors Jack Moreau and Shylana Roman protest on top of a flatbed truck as part of the “Make Banks Pay!” rally held in Los Angeles’ financial district.

“It is time to make banks pay,” Guidel said in her speech. “The people are speaking up. I hope the Feds are starting to hear us. I received a call from the Bank of the West and Fannie Mae. They’re willing to come to the table. It is confirmed that the eviction of my family is stopped. But this is not just about me, there is a long fight ahead. Stop foreclosing on poor homeowners, stop ripping off our communities!”

Students were eager to apply what they learned in class to the protests.

“Honestly, this class could be

a whole semester by itself. It’s really intense and takes a lot of time.

Everyone here has so much to do for their other courses, but it’s great that we’re doing this as a class,” UEP major Alyssa Scheyer (junior) said. Acuna agreed.

“Because of UEP and the internship that I’m required to do, I’m involved and interested,” he said.

“It’s given me the drive. I can’t stop protesting. Occidental students are too interested in their grades and their futures. It’s important, but there’s more to an education than getting a career right out of school, Acuna said.

College Looks to Work with Students on Party Issues

Four Students Hospitalized at Toga Dance

PARTYING From Front Page “Students should really think about themselves as part of the community,” Avery said, noting that many already do.

Taylor thinks the students who live around him are not respectful community members. “I apologize it had to come to this, but put your feet in our shoes. You (Oxy kids) are visitors in the neighborhood.

You plant your flag and tap your keg. You yell and scream most every weekend (including the middle house and the nearby student residents). Like I said, it is like living with an abusive alcoholic,” one of Taylor emails said.

While Jungle House residents agree that it is important to communicate with neighbors and control parties, they argue that most of the noise complaints are about hoards of people walking around the neighborhood with nowhere to go, which they cannot control.

“These people are wandering around campus because Campo keeps shutting down parties, and our house has this notorious reputation for parties, so they try to come and we get in trouble,” Jemielita said.

Jemielita thinks that some of his neighbor’s complaints lack context.“He honestly makes it look like Occidental students are a bunch of alcoholics who on the weekdays are quiet, of course be-

“Occupy Wall Street didn’t start today’s protest. The Occupy movement is sort of tangential to what we’re doing, although we hoped that Occupy L.A. would come out to support us,” said UEP major Roxanne Butler (junior).

Thursday’s protest marched in front of the L.A. branches of major banks. The protest route began at California Plaza and went by Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Citigroup, Chase and City National banks, through the center of Los Angeles’ Financial District. A flatbed truck, swarming with members of Refund California, played Jackson

cause we’re working, but then on the weekends are, he says, criminals. I don’t know where he went to college, but I would be surprised if this is the wildest campus. It’s definitely not. This neighborhood is mild compared to USC,” Jemielita said.

Jemielita thinks that the college’s response to the threat to go to city council is understandable.

“It makes political sense what they’re doing right now. They have to bring this attitude that they don’t want the partying,” Jemielita said.

Avery is focused on solving the problem and said that making sure students have choices is important and scheduling events and gatherings every weekend on campus is critical to giving them those options.

Avery also said that there is a real possibility students will travel farther from campus to party.

This could lead to more instances of drunken driving and also takes Campus Safety out of the equation, which could spell serious issues for students if and when the L.A.P.D. steps in.

“If you’re further afield, you’re out of our control,” Avery said.

Though the college has to deal with complaints it is also mindful that college students are inevitably going to socialize and that administrators need to work with students to solve resulting problems.

“We were students ourselves, we understand,” Avery said. “Our goal is not to destroy their lives.”

Five and Black Eyed Peas songs while directing the march down the streets of downtown.

The protest ended at the intersection of 7th Street and Figueroa, when 11 of the protesters, including Acuna and Donnell-Kilmer, entered the Bank of America. The rest of the protesters remained outside and sat in the middle of the intersection, chanting. UEP majors Shylana Roman (junior) and Jack Moreau (junior) climbed onto the Refund California truck and waved signs at the cheering protesters.

Guidel joined them and gave a speech to the crowd.

Rick Taylor Rick@rtpkg.com to me

Sun, Sep 18, 2011 at 4:11 PM

TOGA From Front Page

Thomas, I am attaching this letter from the Oxy administration office.

Unfortunately your household has proven to be unruly and untrustworthy. Living next to you children is like living next to criminals.

We are now at our wits end dealing with the alcohol abuse exhibited by your address and the children who visit your home.

I tend to believe the children at Oxy become insane when you drink. Your behavior is hooligan like. Why do you children yell and scream at each other when you drink? It’s just terrible having to put up with your belligerence. You are horrible role models for the college, and horrible neighbors.

I will be meeting with LAPD this week. I am going to force discussions with the Oxy administration office. I am going to the city in an attempt to have city inspector inspect the house for its legality. I am also going to stress that your home is haven for underage drinking with the President’s office. This will be a very determined effort.

Rick Taylor 1536 N AVE 47

Courtesy of Thomas Jamielita Email from Eagle Rock resident Rick Taylor to members of the Jungle House.

Sensitive personal details removed to respect the privacy of Rick Taylor.

evening, and also required transfer to Glendale Adventist. The fourth student who required transfer had consumed alcohol, but required transfer due to a fall and subsequent injury.

It is possible that more students had to go to the hospital, but these are the only four incidents reported, according to Campus Safety.

Rice credited this lower number of hospital transports to the efforts made by student groups to ensure the safety of the event. Members of Alpha Lambda Phi Alpha, who organize the event every year, spoke with the administration, went to hallspreads and quad-sat to encourage students to act responsibly.

“We had people make pledges to say that they were going to keep track of their drinking or just to promote responsible drinking because we can’t really be like ‘don’t drink,’” Alpha President Erika Nacim (senior) said. “So I think, taking that into consideration, acknowledging that students are going to partake in those kinds of things, really helped.”

Alpha also partnered with Project SAFE to raise awareness and promote social responsibility.

“I do think it was a better event than in previous years because of the community effort,” Rice said.

4

- October 12, 2011

OPINIONS

THE OCCIDENTAL WEEKLY

Practical Classes Would Better Serve Students

Necessary to promote self-sufficiency through new elective offerings

Brittany Wightman

O

ccidental students have the opportunity to learn about everything the postmodern Renaissance man might want to know. Unfortunately, the college does not offer practical one and two-unit courses that teach students life skills.

As a result, students are leaving college less prepared for the challenges of daily adult life. Instead of moving through their daily lives with ease and independence, they are limited in ways that they simply should not be.

With a more diverse range of classes, students would develop self-sufficiency in terms of managing their home lives, protecting

their investments and developing have learned the art of domesticity these items. The potential knowlunique methods of problem solv- or mechanics before entering Oc- edge to be gained from more appliing. cidental, the likelihood that they cable elective courses would allow It may seem that these skills are have had to maintain these skills students to independently maintain unnecessary and even archaic their belongings, rather than now that society has become having to depend on someeven more dependent on techone else to do so.

The basic act of using one’s hands nology. If people do not know Beyond simply applyhow to fix their cars or run develops the mind in ways that academic ing the instruction of these their households, they can classes and theoretical discussions cannot. classes to future situations, usually find a way around dostudents would learn to ing it themselves, but basic think in different ways while knowledge of common housefacing new challenges. hold items is extraordinarily help- at school is low. Between the MarThe problem-solving skills ful. ketplace, Emmons and the facilities learned in a mechanics class are Whether this means cooking work order system, students do not different from those learned in any a well-balanced meal, hemming have to take care of themselves in math class. In addition, the basic act a pair of pants or changing the oil many ways. When students leave of using one’s hands develops the in one’s own car, these skills allow Occidental, it is likely that they will mind in ways that academic classes individuals to navigate through life not have the knowledge of how to and theoretical discussions cannot. with more freedom and indepen- take care of a car, kitchen or ward- Practically applicable classes would dence. While some students may robe, but that they will still own be an invaluable asset in addition to

students’ classroom educations.

While Occidental does prepare students “for leadership in an increasingly complex, interdependent and pluralistic world,” as its mission statement promises, it may not prepare students to function in their lives outside of school.

If Occidental offered courses in mechanics, cooking, wood shop and sewing, students would be more independent individuals who are prepared to manage the simpler aspects of life. Their education would also be more comprehensive, and they would have unique perspectives on how to solve problems on a daily basis.

Brittany Wightman is an undeclared first-year. She can be reached at wightman@oxy.edu

College’s Rationale of the New Marijuana Policy is Hazy

Recent ResEd regulation does not address the real problem with drug use Sam Byrne Many students are concerned with Occidental’s new regulations regarding marijuana use due to their significantly increased severity.

Some believe that the punishment of probation and suspension as first and second offenses, respectively, is too harsh. The administration instated the new disciplinary policy this semester after students voiced concerns about the smell of marijuana in dormitories. While unpleasant smells are undoubtedly an annoyance, complaints about odor are unjustifiable grounds for creating a rule that could strip a student of his or her college education. Despite insubstantial reasoning behind implementing this new policy, enforcing a stricter marijuana policy is still necessary for the success and productivity of Occidental students.

In California, anyone can obtain a medicinal marijuana license to remedy even the slightest of illnesses, such as occasional headaches, making marijuana easily accessible to most citizens. Given this backdrop, it is likely that someone walking through campus will smell marijuana at times. While it is disrespectful to smoke in communal dorms, it is overly idealistic to assume that everyone will abide by the guidelines of common courtesy; even President Obama admits to having smoked marijuana on Occidental’s campus. If the administration wants to implement this new rule because of complaints regarding odor, then the foundation of the college’s marijuana policy is completely ridiculous. If foul smells are cause for probation or even suspension, then half of Occidental’s students should be dismissed due to the dirty clothes still lying under the bed from a sports game or party.

Clearly, there is a larger issue of excessive marijuana use, which the college is masking under com-

“Is nothing sacred?”

Courtesy of David Fetzer

plaints of marijuana odor. Methamphetamine, for example, is not outlawed because of its smell; Occidental students are not allowed to smoke it because it is wholly detrimental to a student’s success as a scholar and as a productive member of society. The main detriment of smoking weed is not the unpleasant smell that follows but rather the effect it has on the individual smoking pot. The college is not wrong to enforce healthy lifestyle standards, or the laws of the United States, but it should establish a more comprehensive foundation for its marijuana policy.

The bottom line is that marijuana makes students unproductive. Compared to alcohol, which is used pri-

marily on weekends or during times that do not interfere with class, students seem to use marijuana on a more frequent schedule. It is the “wake and bake” mentality that the college appears to want to move away from, as well as the attitude that getting high can solve a stressful day. Marijuana directly affects an individual’s capacity to learn, creating problems with memory and problem-solving skills. Smoking marijuana is an antisocial habit that poses absolutely no lasting benefit for the individual as a progressive and engaged member of the school community.

Students who are recreational marijuana users need to be discreet and respect their peers. Smoking

in the middle of campus, or right before class is unwise—as long as students are smart about where and when they smoke, they should not have to worry about the consequences of violating new policies.

Although it has not been stated explicitly, the administration likely does not expect smokers to quit using marijuana altogether; they merely hope that imposing stricter rules will force students to realize the effects of smoking on themselves and on the larger Occidental community.

Suspending a student because of an odor coming from his room is certainly unfair, which is why the college needs to reconsider the grounds on which the new mari-

juana policies were implemented.

The administration latched onto the complaints of foul odors because they are tangible evidence of marijuana use, while the state of being high is something that is difficult to label as a direct interference with the community.

The purpose of an undergraduate education is to gain a vital body of knowledge that will place students on a path towards success in the professional and social world.

Marijuana is an obstacle on the path to personal accomplishment and is counter to Occidental’s mission.

Sam Byrne is an undeclared sophomore. She can be reached at sbyrne@oxy.edu

THE OCCIDENTAL WEEKLY

October 12, 2011 -

5

Occupy Wall Street Needs Leadership to Succeed

Democratic protests without direction are not sustainable

Jake Steele Since the financial crisis and the giant corporate bail-outs in 2008, many have been left confused and angry.

Large banks and investment firms acted irresponsibly, but the U.S. government gave them another opportunity to succeed while many people were losing their jobs and homes. To the thousands of protesters now encamped in Manhattan’s Zucotti Park, the government was working for those with money, not the middle and working classes who were bearing the brunt of the financial crisis.

The Occupy Wall Street protests are the culmination of the long-simmering frustration towards corporations receiving massive bail-outs and a government incapable of helping its own people.

While the powder keg is finally lit, the final path of its fuse still remains uncer-

tain. Those protesting in New York and other major cities have neither organized themselves in a cohesive fashion nor presented constructive suggestions for change. Without strong leadership and sensible goals, the Occupy Wall Street movement will achieve little.

There is no single leader or organization spearheading the Occupy Wall Street movement, which reflects the movement’s populist and crowdsourced nature. This does not bode well for effective action anytime soon. A single leader is not necessarily required for a coalition of the masses to succeed, but movements with iconic leaders are the most successful because an idea embodied and personified is not often forgotten. A strong organizational base, on the other hand, is essential to confronting and countering the forces of the establishment. The protests do have some well-known groups attached to them,

including Adbusters and Anonymous, yet neither group wants to assert control over the movement. Anonymous is a masked coalition with no real support or communication structure that acts unilaterally and asymmetrically.

Adbusters is a Canadian organization which started the protest organization but leaves the specifics of demands up to the people.

The issues driving public discontent are complicated and the amount of people providing input are many, so the masses cannot find a single way to address how to implement the changes that they desire, much less agree on focus. The protesters have not articulated a specific set of demands, but have instead voiced their discontent with myriad aspects of America’s current political and economic condition. The agenda is anything but cohesive: demands for imposing new taxes, creating new com-

mittees to end money corruption in politics, finding ways to keep too-big-to fail banks from existing and revoking “corporate personhood” share the stage along with anti-war signs, gay pride flags and other signs that are not related to the financial situation. The inclusion of unrelated issues makes the protest look like a generic tirade composed of disjointed, liberal groups instead of a cohesive group with specific grievances and solutions.

Yet in its current form, the protest itself does little to affect the root of the problem. Implementing policy changes is a far more time-consuming and challenging process than the already difficult task of producing a policy agenda.

The Occupy Wall Street protesters have stated their resolve to remain in Zucotti Park, even forming volunteer cleaning crews and a medical clinic, but demands for swift action are unrealistic.

As vital as they might be, deep structural changes to the American political and economic system will not be achieved in a matter of weeks. The sooner that protesters acknowledge this, the sooner they can begin the back-breaking process of effective political organizing and mobilization.

Whatever the message their placard bears, the 99-percenters have one thing in common: they are angry because they know that something is undeniably wrong. But they need more than this sentiment. The protest needs more organization than they currently have.

The protesters have passion, reason and ideas but lack a way to communicate clear goals and methods with which to obtain them.

Jake Steele is a junior biochemistry major. He can be reached at jsteel@ oxy.edu.

1st Amendment Not Reserved for Majority Opinion

Tolerance for dissent is an essential part of dialogue

Alex LaRose “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Written more than two centuries ago, the First Amendment remains a beacon of freedom for activists, journalists and ordinary citizens.

The right to exercise free speech and voice one’s opinion is an inalienable right that must be respected in every instance, however

distasteful or off-putting the speech enlightened society. Recent history opinion to the extent that they ultimay be. Individuals and society provides many examples of societ- mately caused their downfall. Socibenefit far more from the airing of ies that have prohibited free speech eties like the U.S., which have emdisparate opinions than braced freedom of from the adoption of a speech and thought, dogmatic party line and have prospered and the exclusion of all else.

Individuals and society benefit far more made great strides Responding to speech with respect to sothat one deems offensive, from the airing of disparate opinions than cial equality and inappropriate or antitheti- from the adoption of a dogmatic party line political diversity. cal to one’s beliefs is also Although the U.S. and the exclusion of all else. an inalienable right. Howis far from perfect, ever, one’s response must without its respect not discount the fact that for free speech, the every individual is entitled to his or and savagely done away with those social landscape would look far difher own opinion. who have the courage to express dis- ferent.

The exchange of ideas, and the senting opinions. Libya and the SoWhether on a college campus, discourse that results, is integral to viet Union are two prime examples or at a multi-national corporation, the formation of a more diverse and of countries that feared diversity in people must have tolerance for

LETTERS Dear Editor, This is in response to the Oxy Weekly’s articles and Letter to the Editor on Sexual Assault (Vol.132, Issue 1 & 2): Sexual Assault doesn’t just “happen.” Sexual assault is a choice. The way in which our society talks about rape and sexual assault is based on a foundation that consistently blames everyone and anyone except the very people who choose to commit sexual violence. Occidental College is no exception. Who is to blame for the sexual assault that happened back in September? At Oxy, the majority of the blame was placed on Administration and Campus Safety for not having a large enough driving radius. This implies that responsibility for prevention should lie only with the potential “victims,” thus when women (always assumed)

fail to implement such important measures, the blame is automatically tied to the Survivor, who in this case was traveling alone at night.

However, no one placed the blame on the person who choose to commit the crime. Disappointingly, we keep hearing talk that someone other than the perpetrator could have prevented the sexual assault. In reality, no one other than the perpetrator, who chose to sexually assault someone, could have prevented it, and yet no one blames that person. Unfortunately, this reaction from Oxy students is in agreement with the rest of society, who rarely (if at all) takes the side of the Survivor. It is disappointing to see such blatant survivor blame at a college that prides itself and its students in one of Oxy’s four cornerstones: Equity, “respect for and the practice of justice, fairness and integrity.” If anything, we expect more from you Oxy. Therefore, we demand from our peers and community to stop the Survivor blaming because the only people to blame are

those who choose to commit the act of rape and/or sexually assault.

Estrella Lucero (Sophomore UEP), Fátima Avellán (Junior, UEP) and Stefanie Davis (Senior, Politics)

Dear Editor, I’m a senior living off-campus this year, but I still find myself taking the long walk back to Rangeview on weeknights. Of course, there is only one reason why: I’m venturing to the Coffee Cart to grab a late night snack. However, recently I’ve noticed there have been some changes to the menu. Specifically, where is the deliciously

wrapped chocolate cake I’ve been enjoying for the last two years?

When I asked about this situation, I was told that the chocolate cake had been discontinued. To my dismay all I saw was a sad looking piece of packaged apple pie in its place. My heart sank. While I’m a huge fan of Auntie Em’s salads and organic Mac and Cheese, nothing can replace a late night chocolate delight. I wonder, who decided to discontinue the chocolate cake? Is there any way we can bring it back? I appreciate that, according to the Oxy website, the Coffee Cart provides “an eclectic assortment of light meal, snack and organic options not available at our other facilities,” but perhaps students should be surveyed to determine exactly what we want those items to be. I sure know I would like to see cake back on the Coffee Cart menu!

Charlotte Strauss-Swanson (Senior, Sociology)

ideas that they do not agree with.

The ability to listen to different opinions, analyze them and then respond in a coherent, logical fashion is essential for success in every aspect of life.

Freedom of speech must be respected regardless of the viewpoint expressed, otherwise ignorance and intolerance will reign. Rejecting an opinion simply because one does not agree with it precludes the opportunity for personal intellectual growth, as well as the expansion of the discourse on the matter.

Alexander LaRose is a senior economics major. He can be reached at larose@oxy.edu.

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6

THE OCCIDENTAL WEEKLY

- October 12, 2011

FEATURES

In the Big Easy, a Hard Job to Accomplish

Prof. Caroline Heldman leads fifth annual postKatrina aid trip Hillary Alexander

I

n the six years since Hurricane Katrina, only one in five houses in the Lower Ninth Ward, a neighborhood in eastern New Orleans, have been restored. Katrina hit the Lower Ninth Ward the hardest and the parish has been the slowest in the city to recover from the storm. This overlooked part of town is the focus of politics professor Caroline Heldman’s “Disaster Politics” class.

Professor Heldman is passionate about New Orleans. She travels to the Big Easy several times a year and recently bought a house in the city. Just days after Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005, Heldman drove down to help with rescue and relief efforts. Soon after, in October, she co-founded the New Orleans Women’s Shelter.

Shortly after the storm, Heldman started a disaster politics course at Whittier College. The next year, when she began teaching at Occidental, she brought the class with her.

Disaster Politics spends the semester learning about the history and culture of New Orleans. Students explore the political aspects of Hurricane Katrina and how the disaster displaced thousands of residents from their homes for anywhere from a few weeks to a few years. The class reads books on the history of New Orleans and articles on critical race theory to understand the history of slavery in the city and to analyze contemporary race relations. On Monday nights, the class gathers to watch New Orleansbased films and television shows such as Spike Lee’s “When The Levees Broke,” “The Big Uneasy” and the HBO series “Treme,” which details life in New Orleans immediately after the storm.

At the end of the semester, the class applies what they have learned in the classroom to rebuilding the Lower Ninth Ward during a threeweek trip to New Orleans. In five years, Heldman’s classes have gutted over 100 buildings and worked on a total of more than 200 houses.

In addition to rebuilding homes, each trip is themed and the class works with a specific philanthropic organization in New Orleans in accordance with that theme. Last year’s theme was community gardening and food justice, so the class worked with Our School at Blair Grocery to create community gardens.

For this year’s theme, a “Living History Museum,” class members will design a house-by-house exhibit of the storm’s devastating destruction.

Over the years, Disaster Politics has partnered with organizations like Heldman’s Women’s Shelter, Common Ground Relief, Bayou Rebirth, Lower Ninth Community

Courtesy of Professor Heldman In accordance with the community gardening and food justice theme of last January’s relief trip, students teamed up with Our School at Blair Grocery, a sustainability education center in the Lower Ninth Ward. Pictured here: Kyle Boers (junior).

Village, the Youth Coalition for Community Action and Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation where students got to meet the actor.

Class members have worked in dozens of occupations as part of the trip.

They have counseled for Road Home, restored wetlands and tutored children. They have participated in a hot meals program, aided the New Orleans Police Department’s Anti-Corruption campaign and protested the closing of public housing projects such as the St. Bernard and Iberville Projects. They have helped develop low-income housing in the Algiers neighborhood, assisted in a legal clinic and even marched with the homeless before Mardi Gras and the Sugar Bowl.

When not working, students have the opportunity to experience other aspects of the city. Mainstays of the trip include a tour of Angola Prison in West Feliciana Parish, vis-

its to area plantations to learn about the legacy of slavery in the South and trips to the major tourist havens of the city, such as popular live music venues and the French Quarter.

Days after Hurricane Katrina struck the South, Professor Heldman drove to New Orleans to help with rescue and relief efforts.

Each year she takes a group of Occidental students to contribute to the rebuilding.

The main destination for this year’s trip is the city’s Living History Museum, which details the history, life and culture of the Lower Ninth Ward. Students will take part

in the creation of an exhibit by interviewing locals and shooting footage centered around the district.

One aspect of the display will be an interactive aerial map of the Lower Ninth Ward from before the hurricane. Visitors will be able to touch a house on the map and hear the story of the person who lived there and learn whether or not the resident survived the storm.

According to the Census Bureau, New Orleans is currently the fastest-growing big city in the United States. Many of the newcomers are recent college graduates, including Occidental alumni.

In her soon-to-be-released article about the phenomenon, “The Double Edged Sword of Disaster Volunteerism: A Study of New Orleans Rebirth Movement Participants,” Heldman discusses young college-educated people relocating to New Orleans. Heldman dubs this group “Young Urban Rebuilding

Professionals,” or YURPs. Heldman calls the city’s influx of YURPs the “New Orleans Rebirth Movement,” or NORM. The notion of generating “rebirth” through post-Katrina rebuilding applies not only to residents of the city but also to Occidental students who take the trip as well. The impact of the trip on students can be profound; it enables them to reflect deeply on their own lives, which, when paired with their activism, instills a love for the city of New Orleans and a strong will to continue to perform acts of social justice.

“Seventy percent of students have changed their life paths as a result of this trip,” Heldman said.

Heldman founded Rebirth Club in spring 2007 with Charmisha Baker ‘07, the same year she debuted the Disaster Politics course.

The club and class are two separate entities but work together for New Orleans.

The majority of students in the club became involved as a result of their experience on the trip, such as current president Clarissa Boyajian (junior) and treasurer Kelsey Work (senior).

In a joint interview, Boyajian and Work said they both joined Rebirth to fundraise for students to travel to New Orleans and to learn what happened after the hurricane from those who lived through it. Throughout the trip, students converse with locals and hear their stories. Boyajian and Work emphasized that hearing about the hurricane from survivors and seeing the lingering destruction in person are from experiences than simply learning about the storm in a classroom.

This year, according to Boyajian and Work, Rebirth Club will focus on raising awareness on campus about the myriad problems still plaguing residents of New Orleans. Rebirth Club will also continue annual traditions like Rebirth Week. Held every spring, the week involves fundraisers for the New Orleans trip and events like guest speakers, films and an open mic night.

In another change for this year, Disaster Politics is now a fourunit class instead of two, and the January trip to New Orleans will be more intimate, with only about 20 new people on the trip rather than the 40 to 60 that have gone in the past.

Speaking about her first trip to New Orleans, Sarah Mofford (senior) said, “To see so little being done where the levee first broke was disheartening.” Witnessing the wreckage and having the opportunity to provide some relief for the locals fueled her to return to the city as a crew leader for two years in a row.

Aliza Goldsmith is returning to the city as a crew leader for the third year in a row. Ten to 15 students return as crew leaders each year.

Goldsmith said that each trip is its own unique experience. Her first year, she said, was about “learning about the city of New Orleans.” Her second and third years were more about self-reflecting and raising questions.

“We get a lot more from New Orleans than New Orleans gets from us,” Goldsmith said.

October 12, 2011 -

THE OCCIDENTAL WEEKLY

7

Eagle Rock Yacht Club Throws Dodgeballs, Not Galas

Off-the-wall organization runs local dodgeball leagues to benefit community Griffin Mead Before protective parents nationwide successfully petitioned to ban the game in elementary schools, dodgeball was king - a fast-paced, fun and brutally competitive game more exciting than four-square, more difficult than kickball and more unpredictable than tetherball.

As students grow older, these youthful games fade away, and concerns for grades, relationships and the basic prevention of black eyes take precedence over the exhilaration of throwing and dodging foam balls and the triumph of a firm hit.

We grow up, go to college and volunteer in the community, dodgeballfree.

Typically, responsible adult social activism of this sort occurs through classic outlets like charities, food banks and shelters. But now, for one local organization, it happens through dodgeball too. The Eagle Rock Yacht Club, an organization that cultivates both a childlike exuberance and a mature civic awareness, aims to bring the fun of socializing and playing dodgeball to the

world of community activism.

Los Angeles natives Chris Alves and Craig Fowler founded the Eagle Rock Yacht Club in 2008 after having disappointing experiences in dodgeball leagues around Los Angeles. Determined that participating in dodgeball leagues could be a positive and charitable experience, the pair decided to create their own dodgeball club with friendlier participants and an altruistic spin.

The club hosts dodgeball games and league tournaments and the proceeds from their registration fees are donated to organizations like the Los Angeles Food Bank. Games take place in a variety of locations and are divided into three chapters, the North Side League in North Hollywood, the West Side League in Venice Beach and the East Side League on Verdugo Road in nearby Glassell Park. The club is headquartered and run at a central office in downtown L.A. According to Alves, the club draws in all types of people. “City planners, artists, recent transplants to Los Angeles. We want to attract civic-minded do-gooder types that are willing and able to use their knowledge and skills to better the community,” he said.

Marketing for the club is almost entirely by word of mouth, without any help from advertisements.

“If we advertised,” Alves said, “I feel like we would attract a completely different player.” As one participant who reviewed the club on Yelp put it, “No douchebag meatheads in this league. If that describes you, you should probably go play somewhere else (and not be such a douchebag).”

The club’s name - the Eagle Rock Yacht Club - can be misleading at first glance. Only an oblivious and very misinformed person could mistake colorful Eagle Rock for an upscale maritime location. While being named after a type of club rife with connotations of corporate greed, luxury and excess, the Eagle Rock Yacht Club is conversely a small, selfless organization with community service at its core.

Outreach at the Yacht Club does not end at dodgeball. Alves and Fowler were determined to use the social groups they had built through dodgeball to address other needs throughout the community, so the club’s 12 to 15 board members have set about creating and hosting projects year-round.

An example: over the past few years, funding for public parks has decreased dramatically. Because of this, parks often close on Sundays to balance the costs of running lights and providing and maintaining facilities. There are, however, permits available for purchase which allow a group to use the park on off-days and pay for the expenses involved in running the park. The Yacht Club buys up permits and uses them to keep the parks open at nights and on weekends when kids need safe placEmma Schulte es to congregate.

Art programs within schools have also suffered severe public funding cuts. Noting the lack of accessibility to the arts and creative means of expression, the Club recently purchased a silk screen printing press, which has allowed them to host Tshirt printing parties. Kids and adults from the community come together to print shirts; both age groups have a good, wholesome time creating art in a positive environment.

Spontaneous assistance to the community is another aspect of the club’s philanthropic mission. In one instance, a newly formed youth rock band lacked a bass guitar necessary to round out its sound. The need was brought up in one of the club’s meetings and within days a bass was donated to the band.

Collaboration with other organizations is also widely present.

“Whether it’s fighting breast cancer, walking to beat AIDS or improving the lives of at-risk youth, we strive to create platforms that allow people to volunteer in fun and creative ways,” Alves said. This sums up the club’s and its efforts towards volunteering.

Volunteering is not effective in one event; rather, its effects accrue over time, as interested groups of people come together, over and over again,

Emma Schulte In just three years, Eagle Rock Yacht Club co-founders Chris Alves and Craig Fowler have transformed a two-member club into a thriving 501(c)3 non-profit organization with over 300 participants and three neighborhood chapters.

to work together for the greater good.

Though the club is based entirely in Los Angeles at the moment, Alves and Fowler see no reason why their concept could not be transposed to other locations throughout the U.S., especially to metro areas like San

Francisco and Detroit. The recreation centers are the test beds for how easily the atmosphere of the club can be maintained, while still allowing a level of autonomy at the individual chapter level.

All of these activities and out-

Emma Schulte

reach initiatives require money and volunteers to operate. As mentioned before, dues from the dodgeball leagues go towards donations for charities and payment for the events. The club has also branched out to creating its own wit-filled merchandise. It is hard to miss the large “Don’t be a Dick” prints, and even the humorously written product descriptions (“Everyone will know what a philanthropic baller you are,” reads one) highlight the fun, positive approach the club takes to its mission and events.

In the three years the club has been in existence, its ranks have grown dramatically. With over 300 members to date, the initial proactive duo has grown into a large group with actual clout. The club itself is now officially recognized as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, a feat which Alves described as the result of “willpower, magic wands and a whole lot of luck.”

In 10 years, the Yacht Club hopes to become an alternative to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. The goal is to make volunteering compelling and even ‘cool,’ and to avoid what Alves calls that ‘tear in your eye’ mentality that so often pervades volunteerism. A feel-good atmosphere with fun, clever ways to get involved in the community distinguishes the Eagle Rock Yacht Club from traditional methods of giving back.

8

THE OCCIDENTAL WEEKLY

- October 12, 2011

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

“Now Dig This!” Captures Radical Spirit of Civil Rights Era

Exhibit features art made from rubble of Watts Riots, re-imagines Aunt Jemima

Natania Reed

T

he Getty Center-sponsored Pacific Standard Time initiative, a collaboration between more than 60 art institutions across Southern California, celebrates the growth of Los Angeles’ art scene and its establishment as a center of artistic innovation between 1945 and 1980.

“Now Dig This!: Art & Black Los Angeles 1960-1980,” chronicles the expansion of African American art in the United States during the tumultuous era of the civil rights movement. The exhibit, which includes a variety of artistic mediums from sculpture to short films, is on display at the Hammer Museum in Westwood, Los Angeles. “Now Dig This!” opened its doors on Oct. 2

and will run until Jan. 8, 2012.

The restructuring of African American identity in the United States through the Civil Rights and Black Power movements propelled a previously unknown group of artists into an important and widely respected art phenomenon. In Los Angeles, African American artists like Charles White, Noah Purifoy and Betye Saar formed a tight-knit artistic community. In a push for national recognition, they initially found themselves limited to art exhibits in somewhat unorthodox spaces, like an artist’s house or a local bar, but eventually prominent art galleries and museums began displaying their work. “[The artists’] influence goes beyond their immediate creative circles and their legacy is something we are only now beginning to fully understand,” writes the curator Kel-

lie Jones in a formal introduction to the exhibit. An appropriate sentiment, as collections from these artists have come out of the woodwork and are now being housed at the nationally renowned Hammer Museum.

The exhibit is rife with political commentary and reflections upon social injustices and racial tension.

Charles White’s “Love Letter #1” (1971) consists of a lithograph image of Angela Davis, political activist and Black Panther member, accompanied by a letter addressed to the government in response to her arrest. Other works in the collection employ ubiquitous and seemingly benign brand names and pop culture references to examine racial tensions. Joe Overstreet’s “The New Jemima, 1964” (1970), for example, addresses racial stereotypes by turning the lovable icon of Aunt Jemima

into an empowered figure, wielding a machine gun that produces pancakes instead of bullets.

Many art pieces in the exhibition allude to specific events of that era. Charles White’s “Birmingham Totem” (1964), an ink and charcoal piece, shows a young African American boy shrouded in a large blanket, searching through what appears to be debris. This image captures the emotion just after the 1963 Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama, an attack which killed four young girls and helped further catalyze support for the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The “Now Dig This!” exhibit repeatedly pays homage to the 1965 Watts Riots. That year in the Watts neighborhood of South Central Los Angeles, mounting racial tensions eventually erupted in a large-scale civil disturbance, which resulted

in more than 30 deaths and almost 3,500 arrests. John T. Riddle created his sculpture “Ghetto Merchant” (1966) with the remnants of a cash register that the artist discovered in a burned-out storefront after the Watts rebellion was subdued. Sculptor Noah Purifoy also took rubble from the neighborhoods damaged during the Watts Riots and used the remains to create a series of art projects called the “66 Signs Neon.”

One piece is aptly titled “Watts Uprising Remains” (1965-1966) and consists of objects found specifically in Charcoal Alley, a street razed during the riots.

For those interested in art and race issues during the mid to late20th century, “Now Dig This!” serves as both a lesson of black history in the United States and as an illustration of the relationship between art and social justice.

New Talent Riffs on Love, Squirrels at First Open Mic Night Jake Steele Participants in Occidental’s Spoken Word Club’s first open mic night brought palpable emotion to the stage this past Tuesday, Oct. 4. Nine individuals took the stage, with performances ranging from poetry to rap to song. Their pieces focused on spectrums of love and the transformative effect time has on the evolution of feelings.

Co-President Maya Morales (sophomore) recited a poem on an ex-lover she cannot forget. “My memory of you clouds my memory of how to spell love/ L-I-A-R, my love,” she read. Co-President Sarah Winters (junior) also expressed unresolved feelings towards a past love affair. She reminisced about an economically poor but romanti-

cally rich lover she met in the cold Chicago winter whom she will always love.

Thuy Hua (junior) riffed on maternal love with a rendition of Tupac’s “Dear Momma” called “Dear my Asian Momma.” Like the original song, she showed that she truly appreciates her mother for overcoming hardships to provide a good life for her.

David Pino (sophomore), who refers to himself as “Young Peezy,” expressed feelings of antagonism in his poem “I still don’t like T.H.E.M. (Terrible and Horrible Energetic Monsters).”

The poem showed animosity toward the Occidental squirrels, highlighting their occasionally aggressive nature. When asked what provoked his hatred for the rodents, Pino said, “I saw one tear apart a

Giovanna Bettoli At Spoken Word’s first Open Mic Night, the club aimed to build on team chemistry and strengthen last year’s Nationals team.

Giovanna Bettoli David Pino (sophomore) muses on the aggressiveness of Occidental’s squirrels.

lizard one time. It was ruthless.”

Greg Earnest (sophomore) addressed larger societal ills. He read a poem about the self-portrayal of African-Americans in the rap culture. “Money over bitches, you shouldn’t say that,” he recited. In the poem, he passed judgment on those who disrespect their own race simply to succeed in the music industry.

Everest Law (first-year) articulated his emotional experiences of college on a more direct and personal level. He read two poems that reflected his feelings on moving to

Occidental and showed the transition of his attitudes, ending on an optimistic note. “I am making the time of my life,” he said.

Since poetry was the most popular form of expression at last Tuesday’s open mic, Winters hopes spoken word can continue to inspire and provoke students to share their thoughts. “There are not many poets on campus, and we need to encourage people to step out of their comfort zone,” Winters said.

Spoken Word Club’s goal is to have monthly open mic nights in the future, according to Winters and

Morales. Although they have yet to announce specific dates for future open mic nights, they intend to organize more events like last Tuesday’s and commit to future nights of oratory artistic expression.

There will be a beginner’s slam on Oct. 21. Those who have never slammed before can get used to performing their material live in front of an audience. The subsequent November slam will determine who will be a part of the Occidental Spoken Word team. This team will go on to compete nationally in L.A. in April.

THE OCCIDENTAL WEEKLY

October 12, 2011 -

9

ECLS Series Brings in Poetry with a Bang

Experimental poet Mary Jo Bang draws inspiration from Cher, politics

Kate Bustamante Occidental hosted critically acclaimed author Mary Jo Bang for a reading of poems from her most recent book, “The Bride of E” this past Tuesday, Oct. 4. Creative Writing Professor Martha Ronk moderated a discussion with Bang afterward, during which students had the opportunity to speak with the distinguished American poet.

Professor Ronk prefaced Bang’s reading with a statement of admiration. “I’m a fan, so you get to hear her because I want to,” she said.

“What I love about her poetry is that every one of her books are different than the one before. They’re experimental.” Bang has had three pieces featured in the Best American Poetry series, a yearly publication of the year’s 75 best poems, and has won several awards for her work.

This experimentation comes not only from her meditative style, but her playful nature as well. “I use art as a way to play a game. It keeps me busy doing that,” Bang said.

She created several of her poems through erasure poetry, which consists of extracting words from other texts, ranging from other fictional works to textbooks, to create a new work of art. For instance, she took

Virginia Woolf’s classic novel “Mrs. Dalloway” and condensed the 300 pages into a series of six poems.

Bang said she finds this form interesting because it stimulates creativity and forms something new without the author having to write their own work. “It’s the way you put words together that sound like you,” Bang said.

In her poem “Circus Watcher,” she uses a line that defines her varying styles. “Chaos fascinates me,” she reads. Her poems range in complexity and tone, and remain ever fascinating and ever changing. “Elegy,” her last book of poetry published in 2007, contains writing that expresses her struggle with the aftermath of her son’s sudden death.

“Elegy” indirectly inspired her next book, the main focus of Tuesday’s reading, as well. After writing so much morose poetry, she needed to write something lighter. Cher’s fun and effervescent musical persona inspired Bang’s poem “C is for Cher,” which describes Cher in the middle of a performance.

She then started writing poems about other prominent figures. The popularity of Alice in Wonderland in much of today’s poetry inspired her poem “A is for Alice.” The focus of her poems transformed into another game. She decided to write poems

Chris Ellis Poet Mary Jo Bang turns classic books like Virginia Woolf’s “Mrs. Dalloway” into a condensed collection of poems.

for each letter of the alphabet, and thus “Book of E” was born.

Bang changes her approach to the construction of her poems constantly, which is why each of her collections is so distinctive. For example, she decided to start writing political pieces after being told that poetry with a focus on social issues had become irrelevant. “My poetry always has this thought,” she told the students sitting around her.

“How do I get away with that? How can I get away with what I really want to do? Art is the one place you can be bad.”

The poetic form is losing popularity, according to Bang, who is trying to draw attention to the importance of the medium. “There is such a great economy [in poems],” she said. “[They are] small but there are five ways to read it…The failure of education is that we’re not able to

get into the play of poetry.”

Bang has written five books of poetry and is currently working on a translation of Dante’s epic poem “Inferno” as well as on a series of new poems about the principals of different ideologies in the current, tenuous U.S. climate. Formerly a poetry co-editor for the Boston Review, she is currently a permanent faculty member at Washington University in St. Louis.

Hands-On Gaming Brings Together Diverse Demographic Ashly Burch Last weekend, I re-enacted “West Side Story” in an abandoned parking lot. The soundtrack was not quite as dramatic and emotive, nor was the choreography quite as impressive, but it did involve finger snapping while intimidatingly circling an opponent. Also, I was holding a Playstation Move controller. And I was jousting. In addition, I fired rockets with my voice and experienced Tetris in 3 dimensions. Not bad for one afternoon in downtown Culver City.

These only mildly hyperbolic anecdotes were born out of a visit to Indiecade, the International Festival of Independent Games, which was open to the public the weekend of Oct. 7. My “West Side Story” moment occurred organically through the game “Johann Sebastian Joust,” an elegant multiplayer experience with malleable structure that encourages very diverse play experiences.

In “Joust,” roughly 10 players hold a Playstation Move controller,

which reacts to degrees of movement. If a player hits the controller of an opponent, the controller will sense that sharp movement and disable itself, in which case the assaulted player is out of the game.

Controllers are disabled until there is only one person left standing.

However, there is a brilliant, additional element of difficulty. Music is played, which varies in tempo from slow to fast. The controller’s sensitivity to movement is dependent on the speed of the music. If the music is slow, the controller is incredibly sensitive, which means that any speedy or sharp movements will disable it. If the music is fast, the player can move as freely and quickly as desired.

What results is an incredibly interesting visual waltz and interaction of different playing strategies.

Many players acted aggressively but lacked tact and got themselves out by moving too quickly during periods of slow music. Others, like myself, were more defensive in their approach, allowing the offense-oriented players to pick each other off

or luring them into self-sabotage.

The simplistic, open-ended rules of “Joust” left a lot of room for player experimentation. The experience of the game was dependent entirely upon the intuition of the other players and thus ensured that every round was unique.

Of course, an opportunity to re-enact a classic musical was not the only thing Indiecade had to offer. “PewPewPewPewPew PewPewPewPew,” a side-scrolling shooter with the aesthetic of an oldschool arcade game, came as another surprising, incredibly inventive multiplayer experience. “Pew,” in which an astronaut traverses a landscape of hostile geometric shapes, requires the use of two ordinary microphones. Whenever the player speaks into one microphone, the astronaut raises into the air. The other microphone—also, of course, voice activated—is used to fire the astronaut’s gun.

The effect of these gameplay mechanics is the facilitation of a unique, social experience. As both players attempt to navigate the un-

Y Y X L O EK M E O W .C

conventional controls of “Pew,” their success is entirely reliant on their partner. This cooperation is more involved than in most other games, as two individuals are controlling the actions of only one character, makingthe playing dynamic starkly different from other co-op games. What’s really wonderful about “Pew,” however, is its accessibility. As the game only requires the ability to speak, both the very young, very old and those in-between can pick up the game and immediately start playing without any difficulty.

Indiecade also featured two titles that utilized 3D technology in their gameplay, my favorite of which was “superHYPERCUBE.” Through the use of both Kinect motion-capture technology and 3D technology, “superHYPERCUBE” creates a spacial, highly intuitive rendering of Tetris in 3D. The player, presented with a slab from which a particular shape is cut, must switch the perspective of a complicated geometric figure until it fits through the hole. The Kinect

tracks the movement of the player’s head so that they can view the opening and the Tetris figure they must fit it through, from different angles.

This creates the illusion of an actual dimensional space that the player navigates, both through the use of 3D and by virtue of the fact that the player explores the aforementioned space through physical movement.

Perhaps equally as enjoyable as actually playing the games was simply maneuvering the convention and watching other people play. As Indiecade was open to the public, it attracted an incredibly diverse group of people.

I watched a 60-year-old man “Joust” with the best of them and could scarcely contain my glee when I saw a four-year-old boy shouting “pew!” into a microphone, eager to make the astronaut fire at his command. As an avid lover of games myself, it was wonderfully heartening to see so many different kinds of people enjoying such creative, expertly crafted games.

Totally dominating at “Joust” was pretty great, too.

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ON THE WEB THROUGHOUT THE WEEK

THE OCCIDENTAL WEEKLY

10 - October 12, 2011

SPORTS

OSBLN Garners Successful Turnout for NFL Alumni Event

Oliver Field

T

he Occidental Sports Business and Law Network (OSBLN) hosted the first National Football League (NFL) alumni event on Oct. 4. Occidental students, faculty and alumni converged in Thorne Hall for a conversation between prominent Occidental graduates who have succeeded in the NFL and related careers. The event began with a dialogue among Vance Mueller ‘86, Sam Farmer ‘88, Trevor Moawad ‘95 and Mike Libby ‘06, all of whom have become successful in the world of professional football. A one-onone conversation with former NFL head coach Jim Mora Sr ‘57 followed the opening panel.

The event provided Occidental students the opportunity to see Occidental alumni talk about their success in a highly competitive industry and look back fondly at their time at the college. OSBLN President Travis Brody (senior) spearheaded the effort to bring the alumni back to campus to showcase Occidental’s rich, 120-year-old athletic tradition.

Brody, who took over as President last April, served as the event’s moderator. He has been pivotal in the development of the OSBLN and their mission to connect current members to future internship and job opportunities. The network now has more than 100 members, a website and an online discussion

forum which the Occidental community can use to network.

“The group’s purpose is to build a base of knowledge amongst all members and to develop an awareness of all the potential types of careers out there,” Brody said.

The organization also connects members with an online alumni directory so they can contact those in their field of interest. Prompted by Brody, the panel touched on several contemporary NFL issues, such as how best to deal with concussions and the possibility of an NFL team returning to the Los Angeles area.

The panel members also contributed their own thoughts on the the importance of how quality character traits play into success.

Moawad works as the director of International Management Group’s (IMG) Performance Institute in Florida and oversees a large portion of the psychological development of young athletes. Moawad has worked closely with University of Alabama head coach Nick Saban and said that it was from him that he learned the most important piece of sports industry advice.

“Who you are and what you do will speak so loudly that no one will hear what you say,” Moawad said. He elaborated on his days with Saban, discussing the amount time and effort that Saban and other elite coaches put into recruiting and preparing for upcoming games.

Mueller spoke mainly of his competitive nature and his time as a professional running back for

the Los Angeles Rams. After his retirement from the NFL, Mueller founded a sports training company called Mueller’s Elite in El Dorado Hills, California. Mueller specializes in preparing athletes for game play at the next level.

“The transition from college football to the NFL can be difficult for players,” said Mueller. “It’s my job to work with guys on their strength and conditioning to ensure that they’re ready to compete in a faster, harder hitting environment.”

Farmer, a popular NFL beat writer for the L.A. Times, took a different approach to the athletic world. He focused mainly on his writing efforts outside of professional sports organizations. Farmer joked that his academic approach at Occidental helped him prepare for a fast-paced journalism career.

“When I started at Oxy, I wanted to be a doctor. It took one chemistry course for me to figure out this wasn’t for me,” Farmer said. “I realized I loved deadline work because I always waited until the last minute here at Oxy.” Libby is the most recent graduate of the panelists and works on scouting and research for the San Francisco 49ers. He talked about his early days with the club as he strove to keep up in a hectic industry.

“Whenever I got a spare moment at work, I would go into my boss’ office to discuss the ins and outs of the sports world. I felt this was the best way for me to get

ahead and earn respect as a younger individual at the professional level,” Libby said.

Following the panel, Brody (senior) brought Mora to speak directly to the audience. Mora is best known for his energetic, comical way of dealing with the media and his long tenure as an NFL coach.

During the conversation, he described his relationship with the late Jack Kemp ‘57, the dynamics of life as a student-athlete and the various difficult decisions that helped form his career.

“Every coaching move I made was essential to my progress to fulfill my dream of one day becoming an NFL head coach,” Mora said.

Mora started his coaching career in 1961 at Occidental and eventually became the head coach of the New Orleans Saints in 1986 and the Indianapolis Colts in 1998.

He talked about his trials and tribulations as a coach at various levels including Division I colleges and the United States Football League (USFL). Mora claimed that it is good fortune and character and not just ability that often are the differences between winning and losing.

“You’ve got to have talent, but maybe more important, you have to have character,” Mora said. “You better have people you can count on to come to work every day on time. They’re self-motivated and team-oriented. They want the team to be successful, and that’s number one.”

At times, he spoke directly to

student-athletes, encouraging them to focus as much in the classroom as they do on the playing field.

“The student part of your title is the most important,” Mora said.

“Make sure you get your education because it will open a lot of doors for you.”

While Mora has won championships with USFL teams and made it to the NFL playoffs, his most telling accomplishment was his decision to select Peyton Manning as the first pick in the 1998 NFL Draft. Mora analyzed his call to choose Manning and painted a picture of the attention to detail that goes in to every sports decision at the professional level. Again, he focused on the importance of outstanding character and education, citing them as top reasons Manning was chosen over his competition.

His choice paid off as Manning’s early years in the league eventually led to an array of accomplishments, including the most MVP awards in the history of the league. Brody felt that the NFL Alumni Event accomplished its goal of providing career perspective to Occidental students.

“I wanted this event to increase Oxy’s exposure and give our members and the entire campus an opportunity to hear about Oxy grads who have had successful careers in sports,” Brody said. “I wanted students to learn about their time at Oxy, how they felt Oxy prepared them for the business world and just recognize some of our most successful alumni.”

Giovanna Bettoli Left to Right: Panelists Trevor Moawad ‘95, Mike Libby ‘06, Vance Mueller ‘86 and Sam Farmer ‘88 join OSBLN President Travis Brody (senior) on stage in Thorne Hall to discuss their NFL-related careers.

NFL Rule Changes Draw Mixed Emotions From Football Faithful Jack McHenry The summer of 2011 left many football fans uncertain as a 132-day-long labor dispute dredged into August and threatened to shorten or cancel the season. But nationwide, fans’ hopes were restored when the labor negotiations were settled and the 2011 NFL season was assured. The long process of negotiations led to significant rule changes to on-field play. Given the rise in violent, injury causing collisions on the field and scientific discoveries linking head trauma from football to premature brain degeneration, the NFL has made rule changes to reduce the number of violent collisions.

The most significant rule change was the outlaw of “launching.”

Launching is when a defensive player, in order to deliver a devastating blow to

an opposing player, leaves the ground and leads with their helmet, often striking the opposing player high in the head or neck. The act of launching is prohibited when it is carried out upon what the NFL calls a “helpless player.”

Generally, a helpless player is an individual who is in a position where their ability to protect themselves from a big hit is compromised.

An example of this is when a receiver is in the process of catching a ball. When the receiver is focused on making a catch, often times in an offbalance or airborne position, they have a lesser ability to brace for contact, so they are considered a defenseless receiver. This is an opportune moment for defensive players to deliver a bonecrushing tackle, which can set the tone physically during the course of a game or swing momentum in favor of the big hitter’s team.

Another rule change specifically aimed at eliminating contact was the change in kickoff rules. Beginning this season, teams kick off from their own 35-yard line instead of the 30-yard line.

Kicking from five yards closer to the end zone results in more touchbacks.

This makes for no live return and an automatic spot of the ball for the offense on their own 20-yard line. Kickoffs were specifically cited as plays when injuries are most likely to occur, so by kicking from the 35-yard line the chances of a live return and the subsequent injuries are significantly reduced.

While the rule changes are aimed to protect players, there is significant debate concerning whether the new rules are effective and whether they compromise the nature of the game. Players now are bigger, faster and stronger than they used to be. Thus, many argue that trying to limit contact by banning

certain tackling techniques and fining for big hits is futile. Another consideration is shortening the preseason, adding a second bye week during the season and perhaps even shortening the regular season. Any of these options would give players more rest and limit opportunities to get injured by eliminating games. However, upper level NFL management has not taken to this approach and has favored rule changes.

Players oppose the rule changes because it alters techniques many have practiced since they began playing football. Others take an almost philosophical approach, discussing the need for football players to overcome their fears on the field of play. Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, one of the best defensive players in the NFL, explained his opposition to rule changes. In an interview with Sports Illustrated Polamalu said, “When you start con-

forming to these rules, you take away the aspect of fear and overcoming fear is what makes us men, you know? It’s what challenges us. You take that away, you kind of make the game for everybody.”

While Polamalu’s thoughts appear chauvinistic to some league officials, his sentiments are shared by many players in the NFL who are used to fast and violent game play. These comments are characteristic of the debate over rule changes because they illustrate the lack of uniformity between how the game is played by its current athletes and how NFL personnel would like to see the game played in the future.

Only time will tell if these rule changes are effective in preventing injuries or if they will instead diminish the explosive athleticism and violence that fans find to be the most compelling aspect of professional football.

THE OCCIDENTAL WEEKLY

October 12, 2011 - 11

First Two Weeks of NBA Season Canceled, Lockout Looms Sant Kumar Many National Basketball Association (NBA) fans look forward to the beginning of the regular season every November, as every fan’s favorite team renews their dream of winning an NBA championship.

However, the chaos of labor negotiations has put the prospect of the upcoming season in limbo. On Oct. 10, the NBA announced that the first two weeks of the 2011 season were canceled and that the remaining games may be threatened as well.

The labor dispute between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) has

been slow, with both sides seemingly far apart in negotiations. Revenue sharing between the owners and players and contract length and value are the critical issues needing resolution. Players are demanding longer contracts with more guaranteed money, while owners are looking to retain more team revenue than the NBPA. Both sides met earlier this week in hopes of progressing labor talks, so that they could start the regular season as planned.

According to Yahoo! Sports, both sides met for two hours on Sept. 27.

The two parties, however, left without having made any progress. They met again on Sept. 28 with similar results. After the meeting, NBA

Commissioner David Stern reportedly claimed that multiple games could be canceled, and not only the regular season opener. Yahoo!

Sports also reported that the president of the NBPA, Derek Fisher of the Los Angeles Lakers, shared Stern’s prognosis, though he was not as pessimistic.

The NBA and the NBPA then planned to meet on Sept. 30, Oct. 1 and 2 to discuss the fate of the NBA season. Both sides hoped to save the regular season opener, when the Chicago Bulls play the Dallas Mavericks on Nov. 1.

“We have to see whether they can either have a season or not have a season, and that’s what’s at risk

this weekend,” said Stern before the negotiations, according to Yahoo!

Sports.

The week of Oct. 1-7 marked the beginning of some progress in the NBA lockout negotiations. According to Forbes magazine, the owners left the meeting on Sunday, Oct. 1 with an effective revenue sharing system. Though the specifics have not been set out, the owners may turn to the NBPA’s concern of a new collective bargaining agreement.

Additionally, the owners and players both showed compromise as the owners proposed a stricter luxury tax. With the tax in place, bankrupt franchises could not continue to spend as exorbitantly as they have in

previous years.

The players’ association is showing a more united front, as well, as stars of the NBA, like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Chris Paul, have joined the labor talks. Though there is still a long way to go before a settlement, the growing number of meetings and the willingness to compromise shows the talks are making progress.

NBA fans are eager to see the results of this weekend. Everyone involved in these negotiations and fans are waiting hopefully for the talks to end. If the two sides come to an agreement, then not only will there be no regular season opener, there will be no regular season altogether.

Tigers on the Prowl Sant Kumar and Jeremy Shapiro meet with the rising stars of women’s and men’s cross country, women’s volleyball and men’s soccer to learn how these players have assisted in their respective team’s success.

W. CROSS COUNTRY: Maira Solis

M. SOCCER: Tyler Eng

Emma Schulte Emma Schulte

Giovanna Bettoli

Maira Solis (first-year), a native of Los Angeles and graduate of Roosevelt High School, is enjoying her first year on the women’s cross-country team. Solis has already left an impression on Coach Robert Bartlett and he believes she is the best first-year on the squad. She looks to improve as she gains more experience.

“Maira needs to be ready to step up and do whatever the team needs her to do in our

championship races later this season,” said Coach Bartlett. Her main challenge will be to adjust to collegiate running and get used to running races over 6K (approximately four miles), as opposed to the 3K and 5K competitions Solis faced in high school. Coach Bartlett says that Solis will contribute by giving her all in every meet and practice, and by encouraging her teammates.

Giovanna Bettoli

Tyler Eng (first-year) has been a crucial asset for the men’s soccer team. The Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nevada) graduate has appeared in 12 games for Occidental, the most among active first-years. Of those 12 games, he has started nine and has proven capable at the midfield position. Eng’s coach praises his activity on the field and his technical ability as a young player. So far he has one goal, one assist and three points on the

VOLLEYBALL: Katie Wiese

M. CROSS COUNTRY: Colin Smith

Evan Carter

Emma Schulte

Colin Smith (first-year) from Las Vegas is one of the future faces of the men’s cross country team. “Colin has been Oxy’s second finisher in every cross country meet this year behind All-American Eric Kleinsasser and last week ran a 8000m PR of 25:15 at the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational. This time is the second best in the SCIAC this year (behind Eric’s 24:21). In a

2011 campaign. He complements this with a shot percentage of .125 in conference play, which is second best among Tiger first-years. The team relies on Eng for conference games, as he has started seven of the Tigers’ eight so far this season. Eng will play an important role for Occidental for the rest of the season as the Tigers currently sit at .500 in the SCIAC, and each of their remaining six games is within the Conference.

lot of ways Colin is already making a name for himself on our team and in the SCIAC. In a year or two I can see him following in Eric’s footsteps and competing for an All-American finish at DIII Nationals. If he continues to work hard, stays healthy and gets a little luck there’s no telling how good Colin could get,” said Coach Robert Bartlett.

It doesn’t take long to notice volleyball standout Katie Wiese (first-year). At 6’2’’, Wiese uses her height to her advantage, particularly in hitting and blocking, which are her specialties. Wiese’s contributions are a large reason why the team currently has a 13-5 record, good for second in the SCIAC. She is consistently in the starting line up and has provided a solid front line blocking presence and an impressive hit-

ting percentage for the volleyball team.

Head volleyball coach Heather Collins believes that Wiese will dominate as she gains more experience. “Katie is extremely coachable and tries to make the changes I am asking her to do,” Collins said. Wiese is adjusting to the speed of the game at the collegiate level. “In time,” Collins said, “I believe she will become more confident, aggressive and dominate at the net.”

THE OCCIDENTAL WEEKLY

12 - October 12, 2011

SPORTS IN BRIEF Oliver Field

Volleyball (13-5 overall, 6-2 SCIAC) The Tigers dominated with a 3-0 shutout over Pomona-Pitzer on Oct. 7, securing a second place spot in the SCIAC. Alyssa Mort (sophomore) had a competitive night, matching her career high with 12 kills. Captain Logan Boyer-Hayse (junior) added 14 kills of her own to lead an attack that left little chance for Pomona-Pizter to pose any threat. Jessie Altman (sophomore) entered the game second in the conference for assists per set and recorded a game high 41 assists. The Tigers look to continue their winning ways against La Sierra at home on Oct. 18 at 4 p.m.

Football (2-2 overall, 1-1 SCIAC)

Chris Ellis Outside hitter Stephanie Gann (sophomore) serves for the Tigers in Rush Gym.

The football team took to Patterson Field on Oct. 8, hosting fellow SCIAC member University of La Verne. Coming off a 31-17 win over Whittier the previous week, the Tigers looked to return home and continue their winning ways. Despite gaining well over 400 yards of total offense against the Leopards, Occidental fell by a slim margin with a final score of 30-21. The Tigers dominated the passing game with quarterback Luke Collis (senior) throwing for 407 yards. However, the La Verne running game was simply too much for the Tigers to handle, with three Leopard players rushing for over 100 yards each and combining for three touchdowns.

Wide receiver Ryan Rodriguez (junior) led the Tigers with 140 receiving yards and running back Wes McDaniels (junior) ran for a team high 33 yards. The loss brings the Tigers to .500 on the year, both overall and in SCIAC play. Through four games, Collis has completed nearly 65 percent of his passes for 1,179 yards, 11 touchdowns and just four interceptions. McDaniel complements the aerial attack with a sound ground game, amassing 317 rushing yards on 76 carries this season. The defense is led by cornerback Ayrton Bates (senior) and linebacker Matt Matulatis (sophomore), who have 28 and 23 total tackles for the Tigers, respectively. Occidental will look to redeem their loss when they travel to Pomona-Pitzer for the 116th annual “Battle for the Drum” rivalry on Oct. 15 at 7 p.m.

Women’s Soccer (3-6 overall, 3-3 SCIAC)

Men’s Water Polo (3-12 overall, 0-0 SCIAC)

A three-hour rain delay at Cal Lutheran University only added insult to injury for the Tigers, who suffered a 3-0 loss to the best team in the SCIAC. The Regals’ offensive onslaught was simply too much for the Tigers to handle. Out shot 24-8, the girls could not manage enough possession in the opposing half to make a significant impact. Alex Nicholson (junior) led the team with three shots, and Elissa Minamishin (sophomore) and Kellee Murayama (senior) each had two.

Now sitting at 3-3 in SCIAC play, the Tigers travel to Claremont-MuddScripps tonight at 7 p.m.

Occidental continued to redeem their disappointing start to the season, winning two more games at the annual Claremont Convergence Tournament. The Tigers took victories in two of their four games at the event, including an upset of Fordham University’s Division I program by a score of 11-6 on Oct. 7. Despite going down early in the match against Fordham on Oct. 7, Occidental rallied and took a commanding 7-3 lead into the final quarter. The team did not let up, extending their lead and claiming the victory. Tai McDermott (senior) led the Tigers by scoring four goals. The win boosted the team’s confidence going into the rest of the tournament. Defeating a Division I team of Fordham’s caliber made Coach Zubrin and the Tigers very proud. The team easily swept aside Penn State Behrend, a Division III opponent from Pennsylvania, by a score of 14-4. McDermott again led the Tigers offensively, registering three goals. Occidental would follow up these two performances with two games to forget, falling 15-5 against Concordia University and 19-1 against University of California Irvine to complete the weekend. The Tigers will look to make a splash again when they play at Vanguard University tonight at 7:30 p.m.

Men’s Soccer (4-8 overall, 4-4 SCIAC) The heavy rain that struck the Los Angeles area threatened the Occidental men’s midweek game on Oct. 5. Play continued, however, on the turf of Patterson Field. Occidental took on a Cal Lutheran University team that is traditionally a soccer powerhouse, but has struggled as of late, getting off to a 1-11 start. While goaltenders often go unrecognized, Tiger keeper Andrew Larkin (senior) found himself in a predicament in a wild turn of events. He came out to grab a loose ball and knocked over an opponent in the process, giving Cal Lutheran an opportunity for a penalty kick. Larkin then redeemed himself by stopping the ensuing shot bound for the bottom corner of the net. Larkin’s big save invigorated the Tigers, who then stormed into the lead with a goal from Douglas Pentland (sophomore), who has now scored in back-to-back games for the Tigers. The goal was enough to keep the Tigers in front of the Kingsmen for the rest of the game, ending with a 1-0 victory. Occidental looked to go on a winning streak against familiar foe Cal Tech on Oct. 8. They triumphed over the Beavers 4-0 earlier this season but had a tougher time getting goals this round, recording a narrow 1-0 victory. The Tigers out shot their opponent and Pentland again sent home the lone goal, which came on a corner kick in the second half. The victory moved the Tigers’ record to 4-4 in SCIAC play. They will take to the field again today at 4 p.m. when they host ClaremontMudd-Scripps and look to pick up yet another crucial SCIAC victory.

Chris Ellis Middle hitter Gwynne Davis (senior) jumps up to block for a Tiger point.

SCOREBOARD Football

Volleyball

W. Soccer

M. Soccer

M. Water Polo Cross Country

(2-2 overall, 1-1 SCIAC)

(13-5 overall, 6-2 SCIAC)

(3-6 overall, 3-3 SCIAC)

(4-8 overall, 4-4 SCIAC)

(3-12 overall, 0-0 SCIAC)

Oct. 8: 30-21 loss to La Verne

Oct. 7: 3-0 win over Pomona-Pitzer

Oct. 5: 3-0 loss to Cal Lutheran

UPCOMING

UPCOMING

Oct. 7: 14-4 win over Behrend 11-6 win over Fordham Oct. 8: 15-5 loss to Concordia 19-1 loss to Irvine

Oct. 1: Pomona-Pitzer Invitational Men: 3rd Place Finish Women: 5th Place Finish

UPCOMING

Oct. 5: 1-0 win over Cal Lutheran Oct. 8: 1-0 win over Cal Tech Oct 9: 1-0 loss to UC Santa Cruz Oct. 12: Versus CMS, 4 pm Oct. 15: At La Verne, 7 pm Oct. 19: At Redlands, 7 pm

Oct. 12: At Vanguard, 7:30 pm Oct. 13: Versus Iona, 5 pm Oct. 15: Versus Pomona-Pitzer, 11 am

Oct. 15: SCIAC Multi-Dual Meet

Oct. 15: Versus Pomona-Pitzer, 7 pm

Oct. 18: Versus La Sierra, 4 pm At Cal Tech, 7:30 pm Oct. 21: Versus Cal Lutheran, 7:30 pm

Oct. 15: Versus La Verne, 7 pm Oct. 19: Versus Redlands, 4 pm

UPCOMING

UPCOMING

UPCOMING