F R I D A Y MAR. 18, 2005 Vol. 126, No. 60
Ptly. Cldy. 60° / 38° w w w. s t u d l i f e . c o m
INSIDE
STUDENT LIFE T H E I N D E P E N D E N T N E W S PA P E R O F WA S H I N G T O N U N I V E R S I T Y I N S T. L O U I S S I N C E 1 8 7 8
Slam dunk contest coming to AC By Justin Davidson Sports Editor March Madness is here in full force, and as many NCAA and sports fans know, this year’s Final Four will be held right here in St. Louis. What many might not know, however, is that this year’s 17th Annual Mountain Dew College Slam Dunk and 3-Point Shooting Contest is being hosted by Washington University in the University Field House on March 31. This premier event brings together college basketball’s top three-point shooters and slam dunk artists from the nation’s best men’s and women’s programs to the Final Four host city to show off their skills in what has come to be regarded as the tip-off of Final Four weekend and a foundation of ESPN’s Final Four programming.
Graduating soon? Worried that your major will be useless come the end of May? Check out today’s Cadenza, which reminds you that even an English major can become an astronaut.
PAGE 8 Cadenza reviews Interpol’s recent concert at the Pageant.
PAGE 7 “Who is that guy?” she asks. Her friend: “Oh, it’s that asshole Brian Schroeder. This is what happens when you use your powers as a Forum editor at Student Life for evil, Brian writes in today’s Forum section.
PAGE 4 WEATHER FORECAST
Sunday High: 54º | Low: 33º Partly Cloudy
Monday High: 56º | Low: 35º Partly Cloudy
INDEX News Sports Forum Cadenza
n Sister Hazel tapped as
opening act for April 29 concert By Liz Neukirch Senior News Editor EMILY TOBIAS | STUDENT LIFE
Students need not guess at this year’s Spring WILD headliner any longer. At Happy Hour yesterday Team 31 Productions announced the twice Grammy-nominated Robert Randolph and the Family Band as the main act for WILD on April 29 in Brookings Quadrangle. Sister Hazel will be one of two opening acts; the second opener will be announced next week. “We researched every single band we’ve ever heard of,” said sophomore Scott Abrahams, Team 31 co-president and WILD co-chair, of selecting this spring’s WILD headliner. “Out of 147 reviews we read, every single person who’s ever seen them said it was their favorite performance ever. It’s the most unreal thing.” Composed of Robert Randolph and cousins Danyel Morgan and Marcus Randolph along with Jason Crosby, Robert Randolph and the Family Band (RRFB) have released two CDs, “Live at the Wetlands” and “Unclassified.” On tour, they have opened for such artists as Eric Clapton and the Dave Matthews Band, as well as playing with O.A.R., whose lead singer Marc Roberge once commended RRFB for its “love, energy and soul.” RRFB performed for the 2004 Grammy Awards and have also been showcased on such late-night favorites as the Conan O’Brien Show, Late Night with David Letterman and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Their single “I Need More Love” was used in the National Basketball Association’s “I Love This Game” commercials. However, despite this acclaim, many University students are not familiar with the band. “I have no idea, really, who they are,” said senior Louis Baer. “It’s fine. It sounded good. I liked the song [that Team 31 played at Happy Hour].” Sister Hazel received a more favorable response. “I was excited to hear that Sister Hazel was coming… it reminds me of late grade school, early high school music that I used to listen to,” said senior Dan Mullenix.
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Grad student Caleb Wibbenmeyer and senior James McAnally chat at Happy Hour yesterday, where Team 31 members made the official announcement of WILD’s bands. Wibbenmeyer and McAnally also enjoyed green beer and festivities in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. Composed of vocalist/guitarist Ken Block, guitarist/vocalist Andrew Copeland, lead guitarist Ryan Newell, bassist Jeff Beres and drummer Mark Trojanowski, Sister Hazel released its selftitled debut in 1994 before finding more success with their sophomore album, “Somewhere More Familiar,” in 1997. The single “All for You” topped the alternative and pop charts that summer, helping the album reach Gold status in sales. The group released its fifth album, a double- CD set entitled “Live Live,” in August 2004. “We think they are a fun band that puts on a good show, and people know their music,” Abrahams said. The day’s activities before the musical performances will include games, eating contests and Second Stage, which features performances by Washington University student musical groups. Abrahams said that while no activities have been finalized, Team 31 is looking into “Sumo suits,” a barbecue outside and an “Orbitron” carnival ride. A Twinkie-eating contest, he noted, is “almost guaranteed.” Students who attend this year’s festivities may also be able to buy such merchandise as WILD rain ponchos and inflatable chairs, which Abrahams said Team 31 is considering selling because “couches aren’t going over very well.” The alcohol policy at WILD will be the same as last year, with of-age students allowed one sixpack of beer each. Admission to WILD is free for everyone with a valid Washington University ID, and students are allowed to buy one guest ticket each for twenty dollars at the Edison Theatre Box Office. EMILY TOBIAS | STUDENT LIFE
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Robert Randolph and his eponymously-titled band will headline April’s WILD.
First South Asian Awareness Week wraps up Contributing Reporter
High: 51º | Low: 31º Partly Cloudy
See SLAM DUNK, page 3
‘Family Band’ to headline WILD
By Shweta Murthi
Saturday
The start of Final Four action is Saturday, April 2 at the Edward Jones Dome in downtown St. Louis—but before it’s time to knuckle down and see who will be crowned the 2005 NCAA National Champion, all-star collegiate athletes will get to demonstrate their artistic and athletic prowess
at Washington University. The University was chosen as the host of the event for a number of reasons, according to T.J. Shelton, the Assistant Director of Athletics. “Wash U. was chosen due to the great facility we have here at the A.C., and especially the great environment that the Field House fosters,” said Shelton. “For the extent of the size of the event we needed, and for the great family-friendly environment, it was a great choice. Also, the past Presidential Debates hosted here have proved that we are able to host such an event.” In the past, participants in the event have included a slew of current NBA All-Stars and professionals. Freddie Jones of Oregon University, who won the 2004 NBA Slam Dunk Competition, was an alumnus of the NCAA version of the
The first South Asian Awareness Week combined culture and diverse programming to bring attention to and promote South Asian solidarity while raising money for victims of the recent tsunami. Over the past week, Ashoka, Atma, the Muslim Students Association and the Social Justice Center have joined forces in providing a wide variety of events. Junior Satyam Khanna, head of social awareness for Ashoka, felt that it was important to show different facets of the South Asian community. “We want to promote solidarity between the South Asian community, so it’s not just the Muslims and Hindus and Indians and Pakistan-
STUDENT LIFE
is,” said Khanna. “We want them to have a common identity.” This year’s theme, “Unity through Diversity,” has been showcased through various speakers, movie screenings and cultural events. Tuesday’s kickoff event was a success according to sophomore Amish Desai, head of philanthropy for the Indian student association Ashoka. The event provided samples of South Asian food, free henna art, and a lecture by Religious Studies professor Jerome Bauer on “What is South Asia.” Desai as impressed with attendence at the week’s first event. “The turnout was great, it was a lot more than we expected. There were about 50 people for our first event,” said Desai. “We also want to get across the
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idea that Ashoka is able to talk about more serious issues. This is the first time we’re doing something like this. We want something more substantive such as talking about Partition and other events,” said Khanna. Desai added that in the past, Ashoka has been known primarily for the Diwali performances, and now wants to show it can “put on something more substantial.” “We’re just really trying to promote discussion at Wash U,” Desai said. SAAW will conclude today with a lecture by Dr. Vijay Prashad, an assistant professor of international studies at Trinity College in Connecticut. Prashad returns to the University after last year’s successful talk during Campus Week
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of Dialogue. Following the talk, a Raas/Garba dance marathon will fundraise for the tsunami victims. Prashad will speak tonight at 7 p.m. in May Auditorium. Khanna was upbeat about the week’s outcome, pleased not only with attendence but also with the diverse population this week’s events have attracted. “We were surprised that there were actually a lot of non-South Asian people at our first event, which is good, because we don’t want discussion to be just among [South Asian] people,” said Khanna. “We want it to include several different groups.”
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