The Eagle -- March 22, 2011

AMERICAN AT WAR PAGE 5

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WHO WE’RE VOTING FOR PAGE 6

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NEWS

IN THIS ISSUE

Eagle rants (3), Japan update (4), Summons (12)

OPINION

Endorsements (6), Shapiro column (7) Eagle’s Next Great Ranter (8)

SCENE

Listopia (13), Abroad columns (15), Fashion (16)

SPORTS

Wrestling (20), Fantasy baseball (19)

& ( '& )*

+<=%!"#$%&! since MARCH 14

1.Letter to the editor: Women’s Initiative stymies debate on campus 2.Sky Lounge no longer open to all student groups 3.Eagle rants: March 15 4.Reath’s campaign sanctioned, other SG candidates receive warnings 5.Staff Editorial: Most politically active campus?

CORRECTIONS

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12,#3$".&4.35,#63+786 &9+:/,.+&;<3$,&& MISSION

The Eagle, a student-run newspaper at the American University, serves the community by reporting news involving the campus community and surrounding areas. The Eagle strives to be impartial in its reporting and believes firmly in its First Amendment rights.

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All submissions become the property of The Eagle. Unsigned letters will not be published. The Eagle reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for length and clarity. Letters and columns may be published in print or online. Letters and columns are the opinion of the writer and not the newspaper. !"

The Eagle has a commitment to accuracy and clarity and will print any corrections or clarifications. To report a mistake, call the editor in chief at (202) 8851402 or e-mail editor@theeagleonline.com.

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TOP TWEETS “scheduling @AmericanU classes always puts me on the brink of tears... don’t i pay enough in tuition to avoid this?” @misscaitierose, March 19

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“@AmericanU Northside desk receptionists: CHILL. I have 8 bags of decorations, cupcakes, & presents..I’m not a securty threat #gbigwork” @graciesoriano, March 16

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In “AU releases Campus Plan for community review” in the Jan. 25 issue, it was implied that the Campus Plan released at the time was the final version. In fact, it was the draft version.

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TUESDAY 22

WEDNESDAY 23

THURSDAY 24

FRIDAY 25

SATURDAY 26

SUNDAY 27

Female Talent Night 9 p.m. – 12 a.m.

WHERE: The Perch WHAT: A student talent competition to celebrate Women’s History Month will feature singers, dancers and other talented women.

CONTACT: Erica Best ateb4133a@student.american. edu

China’s Interest in the South China Sea 7:30 - 9 p.m.

WHERE: MGC 203 WHAT: Professor Carlyle Thayer will discuss the tensions in the South China Sea and its effect on security cooperation in the region.

CONTACT: Erica Seng at aseanstudiescenter@american.edu

Corporate Social Responsibility Talk 4 - 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Kogod Student Lounge WHAT: Merck Chairman Richard Clark, an AU alumnus, will discuss corporate social responsibility.

CONTACT: willcher@american.edu

Stay-Awake-A-Thon 8 p.m. - 4 a.m.

WHERE: Tavern WHAT: This all-night fundraiser to benefit D.C.’s Family Health and Birth Center will include dancing, food, a pingpong tournament, an ice cream eating contest, a costume contest and other games, performances and competitions.

CONTACT: Alphi Phi Omega fraternity at president@auapo.net

‘Measure for Measure’ 2 - 4:30 p.m.

WHERE: Greenberg Theater WHAT: This Shakespeare play will be performed by AU students. Cost of admission is $10 for students.

CONTACT: auarts@american.edu

Greek Week Opening Ceremony 8 p.m.

WHERE: Amphitheater WHAT: A ceremony will kick off Greek Week with several performances, followed by the announcement of the week’s teams.

CONTACT: AUGreekWeek@gmail.com

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EAGLE RANTS Want an answer to your rant? E-mail your queries to our advice bloggers at compass@theeagleonline. com. !

Yuuuuss. Three rants referencing dubstep. And @the editor ... Bassnectar is a half decent place to start. womp womp wubwubwub woooomp.

Dear whoever decided to change our shower heads, WHY WHY WHY I don’t know if it is just Anderson, but when I left for spring break I had a lovely, high powered, very nice shower head. I come back and now it takes me 2x as long to shower because you have taken away my wonderful shower !

head and replaced it with a pitiful excuse for a shower head. WHY oh WHY !

My parents don’t believe in what I’m studying, but that’s not going to stop me from achieving my dreams. In fact, it makes me want to prove them wrong. ! Why does the AU website suck so much? so user un-friendly !

The new low-flow showers make we want to light myself on fire. !

I will faithfully keep ranting until you publish mine, I rant rant rant can you rant rant rant?

!

To whomever runs the

Roosevelt Institute-lay off on the Facebook events and messages. I am not part of your organization and do not need five messages per day saying the same thing What do you even do? !

Why does student activity fee have to continue to fund SUB. They obviously don’t know how to manage money. Was there any punishment for their fiasco? !

I have the constant urge to scream and cuss in class ... just to make it interesting and to get attention !

The next time you come into my room to ask me where my roommate

CLASSIFIEDS is, it would be nice if you could at least bother to ask me how I’m doing first. I get that you and her are super tight (at least you think you are) but you could at least acknowledge my existence as a human being. I’m not asking to be your best friend – I’m just asking you to show some courtesy. Just say hi and ask me how I am. That’s it. We don’t have to have a conversation. Just be polite, or did your mother not teach you that?

Cashiers Wanted FT/PT apply at Uptown Deli 7905 Norfolk Ave Bethesda MD 20814 301-961-5787

Sitters Wanted. $12 or more per hour.

Register free for jobs near campus or home. www.student-sitters.com

Mystery Shopper (part time)

READ THE POLICE BLOTTER ONLINE.

Looking for upbeat & articulate female, 21 to 24 years old. $50/hr. Retail or restaurant exper. pref ’d. Approx.

5-7 hrs/wk - flexible days. Car & driver license req’d. email resume: SBMJunk@GMail.com Film and Media Arts Journalism Public Communication

Want to get involved on campus without all the drama of election procedures and violations?

Apply to be the next AU Club Council Chair!

The AUCC Chair oversees the fiscal and structural organization and management of the Club Council and all clubs under the umbrella of Student Activities.

For more information about the benefits of the position or to obtain an application, check out our website: www.auclubcouncil.org Applications are due by 5 PM on Friday, March 25th to the Student Activities Front Desk.

For more information, please visit our website at www.auclubcouncil.org or email us at aucc@american.edu.

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Our goal is to send out graduates who can see a problem, understand what to do, attack that problem and be able to solve it creatively.”

—Leonard Steinhorn Professor, Public Communication

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Residence Hall Association elections see more candidates this year

By ELIJAH MERCER

Eagle Contributing Writer Students running for a position on the Residence Hall Association executive board will see a contested race this year.

Last spring, all candidates ran unopposed. This year, only the vice president of programming position is uncontested.

The typical number of positions that go unopposed varies based on the semester, according to RHA Vice President of Programming Amanda Silva.

“Many students tend not to run because they fear losing their own exec board spot in their hall council,” Silva said. “Also, many hall council and RHA general members already have a lot on their

plate and see exec board as a big job.”

The position of president was unopposed for two years, according to current RHA president Anthony Dunham, who is now a candidate for Student Government president.

But this spring is different.

Three students are running for the vice president of Advocacy position this year, up from one candidate last spring, according to Dunham. The president and vice president of Finance and Marketing positions each have two candidates running.

Kogod freshman Peter Wynn Reifsnyder will be Tenley Campus’ first RHA presidential candidate in three years, Dunham said.

Reifsnyder said many students on Main Campus

don’t know him or other Tenley students well.

Tenley’s distance makes it difficult to bridge this gap, he said.

“I’m an underdog it seems, but it doesn’t mean I’m at a disadvantage,” Reifsnyder said. “I believe I can bring a fresh perspective to the RHA living on Tenley.”

Executive Director of Housing and Dining Programs Chris Moody said he encourages the new RHA executive board to take their responsibility seriously.

“These new members are elected to represent the students in the residence hall,” Moody said. “They must be accountable for following through on their goals and stepping outside their own personal opinions to represent overall

student voices.”

Moody will work with the executive board during the summer to help them accomplish their goals for the upcoming academic year.

Dunham said he believes the new RHA executive board will meet the students’ expectations next year.

“Knowing these individuals who are running, any one of them is qualified to serve in these positions,” Dunham said. “I think [RHA] is going to be in a good place.”

Students can vote in the RHA elections on March 22 and March 23 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through their AU student portal.

CANDIDATES

President: Bikram Kohli Peter Wynn Reifsnyder VP of Advocacy: Kate Modic Kevin Ralph Hussien Salama VP of Programming: Paige Leong VP of Finance and Administration: Margaret Moore Cindy Zhang

news@theeagleonline. com

Students studying Study in the most exciting, vibrant city abroad in Japan evacuate Tokyo on Earth.

Tel Aviv University Study Abroad Program

Hope to return for delayed spring semester

Undergraduate Courses: wMiddle East Studies wFine Arts Studies wManagement & Economics wLife Sciences

Graduate Programs: wMasters in Middle Eastern History wMasters in Conict Resolution and Mediation wTESOL –Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

www.telavivuniv.org

By RACHEL KARAS Eagle Staff Writer

All four students studying at Waseda University in Tokyo have voluntarily evacuated the city, according to AU Abroad Senior Adviser Ethan Merritt.

Merritt said one student has returned home to California; one is currently in western Japan and is leaving for the U.S. today and one is staying with friends in western Japan with plans to return to the U.S. shortly. The fourth student has chosen to remain in Japan and is living with friends in the western part

of the country.

All four students said they plan to return to Waseda at the beginning of the delayed spring semester in early May. “We’re pleased they’re all fine,” Merritt said. “They won’t lose the semester ... assuming things continue to stabilize over there, which it looks like they will.” rkaras@theeagleonline. com

New AU portal to fully launch April 16 Will have fewer ‘irrelevant links’

By KATE FROEHLICH Eagle Staff Writer

Students looking to log into their my.american.edu portal will now be prompted to choose between that and the new myau.american.edu portal in a “parallel phase” where students can choose to use either the old or new portals.

The myau.american.edu portal will switch over completely on April 16. The new portal soft launched in December and about 50 to 60 students have offered feedback since, according to Project Manager Sheri Zimmerman.

The portal saw 2,800 unique hits in January alone, Zimmerman said.

Most comments were about “little things,” she said, adding that most students asked for easier accessibility for links like class registration.

The key difference between the two portal sites is that myau.american.edu has fewer “irrelevant links,” Zimmerman said.

“Once everything is fine tuned, people will be presented with information and announcements relevant to them in whatever role they play at the University,” Zimmerman said. “We’re not fully there, but that’s the goal over time.”

The new portal includes an option called “team sites” similar to Google Docs, although it offers more security because it is offered through the portal.

“It’s been a big hit,” Zimmerman said. “The staff and faculty see a lot of value in it. We haven’t marketed it heavily to the students.”

This “parallel phase” was supposed to occur in February, but was held up by delays and a desire to work around the academic calendar. kfroehlich@theeagleonline. com

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1919: Army unleashes deadly chemical gases on AU’s campus

By SYLVIA CARIGNAN Eagle Staff Writer

This story is the third in a series investigating World War I-era chemical weapons and equipment buried under AU’s campus and in the Spring Valley neighborhood.

While U.S. Army scientists tested chemical weapons at AU during World War I, one engineer saw it all — even the experiments gone horribly wrong.

George Temple, head engineer of AU’s Motor Maintenance Department in 1918, said chemical research operations were so secretive, lab personnel were only allowed to enter their own labs.

But Temple’s job required him to work in every building.

“I saw everything,” Temple told The Eagle in 1965. “Of course, I couldn’t say anything.”

On one occasion, in the

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pitch-black interior of a smoky lab, three men were killed by a deadly dose of gas.

The men were hauled away on a cart, their skin “jiggling off their bones,” Temple said in an Eagle story.

Army officers asked for volunteers to help test experimental gases every morning during roll call, Temple said.

Temple volunteered seven times.

He developed huge silvercolored blisters on his arm after one experiment, blisters that took two months to heal.

Temple was one of the few volunteers who managed not to break the half-inchhigh blisters.

“I was the guinea pig from then on,” he said.

One of Temple’s closest friends was a soldier stationed at Camp AU. Though the soldier wasn’t a regular volunteer like Temple, he had seen his share of experiments.

“I got a bad dose of gas, and I know I’m not going to get well,” the soldier told Temple, The Eagle wrote.

Later, Temple learned his friend died from exposure to chemical weapons on campus.

“More men were killed by gas on the experimental side, than in actual use” on the battlefield, Temple said.

A senator and his family were also victims of AU’s experiments. Nathan Bay Scott, a retired senator from West Virginia, lived with his family on Ridge Road, about 400 feet from the testing grounds at AU. Historian Joel Vilensky recorded the incident in his 2005 book about Camp AU, “Dew of Death.”

“On the morning of Aug. 3, 1918, the senator and his wife and sister were seated on the back porch enjoying the cool breeze that was blowing across the experimental field toward their home,” Vilensky wrote. “The senator noticed a dense

cloud of yellowish gas slowly advancing toward their home ... All three smelled a faint odor and felt intense pain in their eyes.”

As a result, the senator’s eyes and throat were burned. The gas blistered his face.

Army officers later found that one of the pipes in a campus laboratory had ruptured, releasing almost 10 pounds of lewisite, the toxic gas that caused the senator’s injuries.

Many of the Army’s gas experiments were deadly then, but some experiments conducted on the South side of AU’s campus led to consequences the local community is still dealing with today.

See the fourth part of this series in The Eagle’s March 29 issue. news@theeagleonline. com

Courtesy of UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, AMERICAN UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

PRODUCING POISON — These stills were constructed on campus and used to make lethal gases. Camp AU was used to develop and test poisonous gases during World War I.

AU scholar uses time as stripper for research and books Kate Frank presents findings in ‘Porn 101’ presentation

By NANCY LAVIN Eagle Staff Writer

AU Scholar in Residence Kate Frank has an insider’s perspective on the strip club industry.

She went “undercover” — working in five clubs in an undisclosed city for six years — as part of her anthropological research.

Frank said that as a cultural anthropologist, her first-person experience provided her with an understanding of the industry that she could not have gotten from the outside.

“My experience was privileged, but my research has made me realize how stratified the porn industry actually is,” Frank said.

Frank spoke to more than 80 students in “Porn 101” on Tuesday, presenting the “ins and outs” of the porn industry in an event co-sponsored by Women’s Initiative and Queers and Allies.

Frank works in the Department of Sociology researching a variety of topics related to pornography, relationships and feminism. She does not teach any classes.

“Kate’s work as a cultural anthropologist captured so many different lenses of the subject, which really allowed her to connect with all the students in the audience and their different interests,” said Mollie Garber, the director of the Sex Education Department of Women’s Initiative.

Frank’s presentation emphasized that people’s definition of obscenity often vary.

“Who is deciding if the porn industry has the same value as art?” she said.

In the U.S., the limits of what is sexually obscene are unclear, according to Frank, who focused on the role First Amendment free speech issues play in pornography.

“Whenever something is brought up as obscene, we need to ask why and where the line ends,” Frank said.

“Often, it begins with looking at inequalities and fear.”

She said this fear is not always justified, and that many negative aspects of pornography stem from other sources as well.

“People are always asking if porn is a positive or negative thing, but I’m not sure that’s the right question to ask,” Frank said.

“Instead, maybe we should be asking why people are so afraid of it, and what exactly it’s doing for people.”

Porn can be misogynistic, she said, but misogyny is unlikely to disappear even if the porn industry does not exist.

“I want to know what myths and stereotypes exist in the porn industry,” Waterman said.

Frank has worked on several books based on her research and experience in the field, including “G-Strings and Sympathy: Strip Club Regulars and Male Desire” and “Flesh For Fantasy: Producing and Consuming Exotic Dance.” nlavin@theeagleonline. com

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WHO WE’RE VOTING FOR

(and why you should too)

SECRETARY

KEVIN SUTHERLAND Both candidates for secretary displayed different strengths and weaknesses — sociability vs. social media knowledge, Student Government experience vs. technical experience. Ultimately, we believe that Kevin Sutherland is best suited for this position, as he has the most experience dealing with the job’s day-to-day tasks.

While Eric Reath has the SG experience and the charisma of a political candidate, we value the technical skills Sutherland brings to the table more. As the communications director for College Democrats, Sutherland has the communications and social media experience necessary to successfully utilize these tools for SG. If Sutherland can duplicate the type of Web presence he helped create for the College Democrats with SG, then he is the best candidate for the job.

COMPTROLLER

TAYLOR YEATES As with last year, the race for Comptroller is a oneman show, but we have no reason to believe that candidate Taylor Yeates will not be successful in this position. Not only does he have the financial background, he also has experience in the very departments he will be overseeing. He also has handson experience with the SG budget as chair of the SG Senate Budget Committee this year.

He has also promised to further increase budget transparency by releasing more frequent reports with detailed notes for the financial dunces among us. With the knowledge of how this show seems to run and the wherewithal to recognize infeasible projects, we support Yeates’s unchallenged candidacy.

VICE PRESIDENT

LIZ RICHARDS Liz Richards is not only the standout candidate for SG vice president, she happens to be the only candidate. However, much like Yeates, we believe that she presents a knowledgeable and organized platform that makes her highly qualified. Richards has the connections and the vision necessary to make her propositions a reality.

While we have slight trepidations about her plans to personally take responsibility for the Founders’ Day Ball, we trust that she is as good a person as any for the responsibility to rest with.

We look forward to a year with Richards at the helm.

PRESIDENT

TIM McBRIDE

Among the six individuals campaigning for the top position, one candidate stood out as best able to handle the position’s challenges while maintaining the gains current SG President Nate Bronstein made in regard to school spirit: Tim McBride.

McBride portrays not only an image of confidence in what he can do with SG, but he has the knowledge and dedication to back it up. He has promised to be proactive rather than reactive and has knocked on almost every on-campus resident’s door.

McBride has concrete platforms with a diverse focus and a focus on diversity, in comparison to some of the other candidates who seemed mostly focused on one issue. He has also pledged to keep school spirit alive while incorporating the “big issues.” He will build off Bronstein while taking the necessary next steps.

Our endorsement of McBride is not to say that the other candidates are without potential. Jessica Darmawan shows an earnest dedication to students and the presidency.

Joe Schulte, with a year of SG seasoning,

could become a stronger candidate for the 2012-2013 presidency. Anthony Dunham has extensive SG and leadership experience — perhaps too much. We endorsed Dunham for the presidency last year and still believe he will be an effective leader if elected.

McBride has the best combination of experience, dedication, support and enthusiasm to lead the SG into the next academic year.

INTERACTIVE COVERAGE ONLINE WWW.THEEAGLEONLINE.COM/SGELECTION

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR Win or lose, McBride abandoned diversity goals by campaigning Diversity is only important in the SG as long as it doesn’t interfere with McBride’s election In a piece for American Way of Life (AWOL), writer Ashley Dejean wrote about the lack of diversity in the Student Government on campus. She very accurately noted that SG has become a “Boy’s Club” and that, “At the executive level, the gap is far from closed. For the past three years, the Student Government president has been a straight white male from the School of Public Affairs Leadership Program.” This seemed to be the largest area of concern in the article, and with the upcoming SG presidential

election, this school now has the opportunity to respond to the concerns raised in Dejean’s article.

In response to the piece, the Undergraduate Senate pushed to make SG more inclusive. This initiative is headed by Senator Tim McBride, the co-chair for the Undergraduate Senate’s task force to increase diversity within the Student Government.

In his own words, McBride told The Eagle that he believes, “The biggest thing is SG initiative for people to be more cognizant that they should be

reaching out to people of varying backgrounds and perspectives … senators need to start recruiting from marginalized groups.”

McBride considered the lack of diversity in SG to be “something that was obvious,” and that “It was clear that this was something we should address.”

In The Eagle, McBride notes that, “There is a perception out there that this is a predominately white, male group,’ said McBride.

“It’s something that needs to be changed. We need to make it clear, we need

Unrealistic rigidity in relationships does more harm than good SMARTER THAN I LOOK

CONOR SHAPIRO Chris Rock once said, “A man is basically as faithful as his options.” Like many of his jokes, he’s kind of kidding. But he’s kind of serious too. The evidence of men with fidelity issues could overflow magazine racks across the world. In fact, it does.

Few men are immune to the seduction of an entic-

ing rendezvous. However, men aren’t alone. I know women whose insatiable lust precludes them entering a committed relationship. Yet, regardless of both sexes inclination to explore multiple options, a successful relationship is generally defined by strict dedication to monogamy.

Any indiscretion demonstrates a flaw in the couple or the individual, with both sides pointing fingers at the other.

Take your typical college couple. Been dating four months, both are in Greek life or friends with those who are. Both have practically unlimited options

and temptations (fishing with dynamite, as I like to say). The rigors of school combined with their obligations to Student Government or what have you creates a cleavage in the relationship. The boy has a midterm approaching and can’t party the night before. His girlfriend finished hers and is looking to celebrate. The girl goes out, meets an attractive guy and they hook up.

What’s the verdict in the eyes of the people? She cheated.

Cheated. Such a scathing indictment. And how does her boyfriend react — by decrying her action and

to make it extra clear, that that’s not the case.”

So, what is the solution the co-chair of the Diversity Task Force has proposed to bridge the diversity gap, for making it “extra clear” that it is “not the case” that white males dominate Student Government? It is for him, a white male, to run for president of Student Government.

But fear not, students, for this diversity gap is only a “matter of perception” to quote McBride from Dejean’s article.

The very clear problem that McBride describes seems not to be important enough for him to take his own sage advice and encourage, say, females, African Americans or gays to run for office.

Even though McBride said he would encourage such people to run, people like his opponents in the SG presidential race, we see

that he really isn’t living up to his own proclaimed standards and goals.

One would hate to think that McBride, or any candidate, would place personal accomplishment over communal progress here at AU; such thoughts are things only professional politicians have.

Unfortunately though, it is clear that McBride’s opinion of inclusion is certainly not the one Senator McBride advocated for. Logically we can conclude that it seems, once again, that some people will abandon principle in pursuit of power just to add another check to their resume.

For McBride, it seems that the diversity gap in SG is only “something that was obvious” and “something that needs to be changed,” so long as it doesn’t interfere with him being elected SG president. Is his candidacy re-

ally about promoting progress for our school or his own reputation?

Dejean’s issued a warning clear as day in her piece: “Another student fitting this description [white male] intends to run in the upcoming presidential election.”

It is up to us to individually figure out who she was referring to. But it is our responsibility as a community to take to heart this explicit warning and reflect this advice in how we vote on March 22 and 23. Dejean brought a very clear problem to light and what better stance for such an inclusive, accepting, and political active school to make than to elect an “outsider” as our president.

asking, “How could you do this to me?”

What did her hookup have to do with him?

Nothing. Isn’t it selfish to even ask that question?

Her body doesn’t belong to him. Instead of stifling her sexuality, she expressed it, however now she’ll wear a scarlet letter throughout the Greek community.

For starters, communication in relationships is essential. If in fact, the couple explicitly discussed and agreed upon monogamy, the girl is in the wrong. But too often the default assumption is as soon as a relationship is established, both parties relinquish their autonomy to act on ordinary desires.

I’m not just talking about sex. Many couples view flirting as cheating. Overprotective folks react when

their lover merely shares a hug. It’s pathetic.

As dynamic and everchanging individuals, shouldn’t we alter the fundamental structure of relationships? It shouldn’t be wrong to make intimate connections with people, it’s normal. A relationship is too often used to stymie our opportunities and happiness. People decline events as innocent as happy hours so as not to complicate their lives.

Notice the trend of guilt associated with many key relationship words.

It seems we face a dichotomy between being single or in a relationship. Can’t we be in an open relationship and explore the best of both? Isn’t that a natural tendency anyhow?

I think we can do better.

Our lives are too short to

spend abiding by unreasonable guidelines that inhibit who we are. The fall-out after an affair is terrible for everyone involved. I look ahead to a time where relationships can be what we want them to be, encouraging our individualism sans scarlet letters or words of ridicule.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ONLINE AT THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

Michael Morgante is a sophomore in the School of Public Affairs.

Conor Shapiro is a graduate student in the School of International Service and a liberal columnist. edpage@theeagleonline. com

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FINAL ROUND: EAGLE’S NEXT GREAT RANTER Community, AU students have Neighbors have legitimate concerns over Campus Plan obligations to one another

When I saw the 2011 Campus Plan, it didn’t seem dramatic. As anyone who’s lived in a triple or been forced into the Berks can tell you, we have a legitimate housing problem.

In addition to the other things AU is planning, the building of additional residence halls seems like a step in the right direction.

So I was more than a little surprised at the sheer outrage from the community. From the guy claiming he was going to run though campus with signs denouncing us to scare off prospective students, to the women threatening to

call the cops every night after 10 p.m., I was a little amazed at how vehemently opposed to AU some of our neighbors are.

Yes, I get it: We’re college kids. We’re loud. We’re frequently drunk. It comes with the territory of getting a few thousand 18-to22 year olds in a concentrated area. But you chose to live here. Construction for AU started in 1896, so unless you bought your house 116 years ago, you knew what you were getting into.

Now, as members of a community, students do have a responsibility to be neighborly. We shouldn’t be tossing empties of Natty Light along Mass Ave., and vomiting on your lawns is definitely crossing the line. But you can’t expect us to stop having fun altogether.

It’s also hard to work with people who are so rude to us. If you have concerns about the Campus Plan, let’s have a dialogue. East Campus will change traffic patterns on Nebraska,

so how should we find a solution? What won’t help is if you use the Campus Plan as an excuse to rage against AU. It won’t solve anything (AU isn’t going anywhere), and your disrespect doesn’t give us a reason to treat you any differently. The vague, angry, all-or-nothing attitude many in the community seem to hold will just foster more animosity.

Although, why should I even care? Barring any disasters, I’ll be out of here in May 2013. But by then, I’ll have invested four years and over $200,000 dollars in AU. I really love it here, and I care because I want future students to love it too. I would hate to see this neighborhood situation spiral out of control to the point that it hinders AU’s progress. Yes, as students, we have an obligation to be neighborly. But so do you.

Emi Ruff-Wilkinson is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences.

AU’s 2011 Campus Plan has generated a hefty amount of buzz so far this semester, not only among AU students and administration but among the neighboring community as well. Students have generally been told to support the plan as the key to providing more housing on campus, while local neighbors have generally been told to oppose the plan as the symbol of AU’s encroachment on their private lives.

That’s a lot of fuss to be had over a complex 53page document that merely outlines the construction projects AU thinks it will

build in the next decade.

But I actually believe that the neighbors have some valid arguments that should be considered. Their primary concern is that adding 765 beds on what would become East Campus would impact Nebraska Avenue with traffic congestion. AU claims that this will have no impact on traffic, but even I have a hard time believing that. Just watch how many students — including myself — jaywalk in front of Katzen in between classes on a typical day. Their concerns are further aggravated by the Department of Homeland Security’s plans to double its workforce across the street, and a forthcoming expansion at Sibley Hospital.

I also have some other concerns. For one, East Campus would add only 765 beds, which is slightly more than enough to detriple and end AU housing at the Berks. But then AU is also planning to demolish the 497 beds that it has currently at Tenley Campus. I question just how much this

would actually relieve AU’s housing crisis. The Campus Plan even tacitly admits this by proposing that AU’s requirements be reduced to only have to house 55 percent of undergraduates, instead of two-thirds.

Of course, the Campus Plan is not entirely bad, nor is it perfect. But the fact remains that the consequences of the Campus Plan will be felt by very few of us current AU students, while they will definitely be felt by all of AU’s neighbors. Although last fall’s Advisory Neighborhood Commission elections riled up tensions between neighbors and students, looking ahead, we need to be willing to collaborate and compromise to reach an equitable agreement that meets everyone’s needs.

It is important for AU students to have a voice in the Campus Plan process. Let’s just make sure that we have an open mind as well.

Douglas Bell is a sophomore in the School of Communication.

VOTE ONLINE AT EAGL.US/fQNXKo TRENDING TOPICS ! to SG elections this week! (Mostly so that our campaign violation headaches will finally go away.) to the consistent tattle-telling going on in this SG election season. We appreciate people playing by the rules, but really people? It’s a college election, not an elementary school "# # battle. playground !to Nerf guns. Enough said. "to the new myAU portal. If DARS wasn’t confusing enough before, it’s near impossible to navigate now. Thanks, AU. to Asian Flavors finally opening. Asian food fixes now available in the Tunnel, not just TDR or CampusFood.com. !#

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AU Campus Plan puts new dorms, WCL move on wish list

By STEFANIE DAZIO Eagle Staff Writer

AU submitted its finalized 2011 Campus Plan to the D.C. Zoning Commission for Main Campus additions March 18.

The University did not submit finalized plans for the Washington College of Law’s proposed move to Tenley Campus to the commission because it wants to work with members of the community — a result of “good faith” discussions between the two parties, according to David Taylor, AU’s chief of staff.

The plan is largely similar to the draft plan submitted in late January except for the addition of a new residence hall behind the President’s Office Building.

AU added that residence hall after community members said it was a desirable place for development.

The Zoning Commission must approve the Campus Plan before the University can start building. Hearings are expected to start in June. Universities in D.C. must submit plans for future development to the Zoning Commission every 10 years.

Monday’s plan increases the proposed number of total beds on campus to 4,326 and raises the square footage to 892,000 after adding a 200-bed apartment-style residence hall behind the President’s Office Building.

The Campus Plan also proposes: ! A new East Campus located on the Nebraska Parking Lot !" A new South Hall dorm near the current South side buildings ! Moving the Washington College of Law to the Tenley Campus ! Additions to the Beeghly Building, the Kay Spiritual Life Center, Nebraska Hall and the Mary Graydon Center.

MGC, Nebraska, East Campus and Tenley Campus construction would cost about $280 million, according to Jorge Abud, assistant

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vice president for Facilities Development and Real Estate.

About $120 million will be spent on renovations to the McKinley Building and other sites that do not require separate Zoning Commission approval, according to AU spokeswoman Camille Lepre.

East Campus The East Campus, a major sticking point between the local residents and AU, did not see any major changes in the finalized plan.

Neighbors say they aren’t opposed to AU building more residence halls — they have encouraged AU to keep more students on campus — but they don’t want housing on the present site of the Nebraska Parking Lot, which borders the Westover Place townhouses.

“We’ve disagreed from meeting one, day one,” Taylor said of the plan to put housing on the parking lot.

“A total 100 percent disagreement.”

The Neighbors for a Livable Community, a group of community members concerned about AU’s proposed development, hired an urban planner to look at alternative housing sites besides the Nebraska Parking Lot, according to group member Dave Fehrmann.

The alternative sites for dorms identified by the Neighbors for a Livable Community plan were behind the President’s Office Building; near Clark, Roper and McCabe halls; at the top and bottom of the amphitheater; connected to Hughes Hall; on the “beach” near McKinley; between Centennial and Asbury; and near the Public Safety Building.

The Neighbors for a Livable Community plan proposes AU use the Nebraska Parking Lot for alumni, administrative, classroom and admissions buildings, rather than residence halls.

The proposed development on the President’s Office Building site comes directly from the Neighbors for a Livable Community plan,

Taylor said.

The President’s Office Building site was included on the 2001 Campus Plan, Abud said, but strict Zoning Commission conditions caused AU to abandon the idea.

But now that it’s a spot both AU and the community agree on, the University will try again, Taylor said.

“If housing’s a priority, we want to go for it as much as we can,” he said.

Neighbor feedback Over the last 20 months, AU and the community have argued over the WCL’s proposed move to Tenley,

residence halls in the Nebraska Parking Lot and the Dunblane House.

In both AU- and community-sponsored meetings, tempers have run high as neighbors fought to keep dorms from butting up against their property.

At recent Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3D meetings, which oversees Main Campus and the surrounding neighborhood where the East Campus would be, residents and commissioners wore “OPPOSE AU Plan” buttons.

The lack of changes to the East Campus reflects these problems.

“It’s been difficult and challenging to design the East Campus for housing if a chunk of folks we’re dealing with do not want to talk to us about housing,” Taylor said. “So whereas input that could have been constructive, helpful and maybe get us a little bit closer to shades of gray, we haven’t been able to get there on that. That’s just reality.”

But conversations with ANC 3E, which oversees the Tenley Campus and the nearby area, have gone much better, Taylor said.

“The level of detailed discussion we’ve been able to have with 3E, to an extent

we’ve not been able to have with 3D,” Taylor said.

Because of it, AU decided against razing the Dunblane House on Tenley Campus as a “concession” to those neighbors.

Originally, only Capital Hall would be saved because of its age, according to Taylor.

AU doubts the current Dunblane House has historical value, as it was “basically gutted” by a fire 15 years ago, Taylor said.

“We could make use of it,” Abud said. sdazio@theeagleonline.com

Dear Cancer Fighters and Survivors, You are cordially invited to The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of American University. Please join us for a celebration of everything you have been through! We will be having a Survivor Dinner that is exclusively for you and your caregivers.

Our event is April 2nd 2011. The Survivor Dinner will begin at 7pm.

The event will take place in Bender Arena! Follow the purple Relay For Life signs. We look forward to meeting you and your caregivers!

Sincerely, AU’s Survivorship Committee To RSVP please contact Daniela Castaneda and Lauren Snell at americanrelay.survivorship@gmail.com or go to www.americanrelay.org and register as a Survivor.

If you have questions about access, the event or need to request disability accommodations please contact americanrelay@gmail.com

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK

SG debate reveals prez candidates’ varied platforms #SGDebate trends on Twitter in D.C. area

By ZACHARY COHEN Eagle Staff Writer

ANA SANTOS PRETTY IN PINK Cherry trees outside of Mary Graydon Center started to bloom last week. The cherry blossoms were some of the first flowers to appear on campus.

Send submissions to photos@theeagleonline.com

Student Government presidential candidate Zachary Lancet’s campaign promise to improve the Student Health Center might become a necessity if he gets his way.

Lancet is also calling for AU to sell cigarettes in the Eagle’s Nest.

SG presidential hopefuls outlined why they would be the best choice for AU’s next student leader on the live Presidential Debate hosted by ATV. Two main camps emerged from the debate: one that was heavily involved in SG and had related experience, and another that emphasized their lack of involvement in the past as an advantage.

Lancet made it very clear that he “will be an antiestablishment president,” claiming he did not want the backing of current SG President Nate Bronstein.

“I’m not interested in an endorsement from a president who prances around in a cape,” he said.

Ibraheem Samirah advocated for AU Bookswap, a website that would allow AU students to trade books after each semester.

Anthony Dunham stressed his dedication to SG, saying he has spent his entire AU career advocating for students, serving as chair of the Board of Elections, chair of the Judicial Board and president of the Residence Hall Association.

“I have the experience

and the know-how,” Dunham said.

Tim McBride also emphasized his long commitment to SG, citing his involvement in the return of ROTC to campus, advocating for students on the academic regulations, the Diversity Task Force and other SG initiatives.

Joe Schulte called for more communication between SG officials and the student body, citing a disconnect between the two groups.

“It needs to be a massive conversation,” Schulte said. Jessica Darmawan proposed a campus-wide survey to gauge what students want from the SG. “I want to increase that awareness for students,” Darmawan said.

The moderators asked questions in attempts to differentiate candidates at this year’s debate, since there was disappointment after last year’s when all of the candidate’s answers were too similar, according to moderator Ryan Hunter.

Twitter activity during the debate, utilizing the hashtag #SGDebate, became a trending topic in the D.C. area, according to a tweet from Secretary of SG Kent Hiebel.

There were some technical glitches that caused the first 20 minutes of the debate not be streamed online, according to Information Technology Director of ATV Douglas Bell. zcohen@theeagleonline. com

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Across a broad spectrum of industries, we’ve seen the collapse of major companies in recent years due to a lack of accountability and responsibility.

Companies such as Merck—a global healthcare leader helping people through its medicines, vaccines and consumer care, and animal health offerings—are working hard to protect and enhance the reputation of “The Corporation.”

Hear Merck chairman Richard T. Clark (KSB ’70) discuss how the company—named among the 100 Best Corporate Citizens for 2010—makes corporate social responsibility a vital part of its mission, values, and culture.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 4 P.M., KOGOD STUDENT LOUNGE RSVP TODAY AT KOGOD.AMERICAN.EDU/HEALTH. The Alan Meltzer CEO Leadership Speaker Series Student sponsors: Alpha Kappa Psi, Kogod Graduate Business Association, and Kogod Undergraduate Business Association EO/AA

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SG prez hopeful served summons

By ZACHARY COHEN Eagle Staff Writer

Ibraheem Samirah, a current Student Government presidential candidate, is being sued by his former roommates after allegedly failing to pay his share of the rent since November.

Samirah was served a court summons Sunday night after appearing in ATV’s SG Presidential Debate.

An unidentified man tried to serve Samirah at the ATV studio while the candidate was participating in the debate. ATV personnel didn’t allow the man to enter and they called the Department of Public Safety.

Public Safety told the man to wait for Samirah on the first floor of the Mary Graydon Center. After the debate, Samirah went to a presidential candidate meet-andgreet event in the Tavern.

When Samirah arrived, the process server handed him the court summons and left without saying a word.

Samirah’s roommates and AU students, Elizabeth Beaulac and Nicole Sutterley, sued him for a breach of contract after he allegedly stopped paying most of his rent in November.

Beaulac and Sutterley decided to use a process server to give Samirah his court summons when they had difficulties contacting him.

“He has put us in a very, very terrible position financially,” Beaulac said.

Samirah said he had been paying $600 a month for a room, while Beaulac and Sutterley had been paying $675 each for rooms twice as large.

When he realized the discrepancy between room size and price, Samirah told Beaulac and Sutterley that he was only going to pay $500.

They did not accept the proposal and Samirah attempted to sublet his share of the apartment for $700, he said.

Samirah said he did not see the apartment before he signed the contract.

Samirah said Beaulac and Sutterley refused to sublet the room, claiming Samirah would overcharge the subletters.

But Sutterley said subletting is prohibited under the lease.

After not coming to an agreement on subletting, Samirah stopped paying rent and urged them to seek court interference.

Samirah, who said he had been anticipating a summons, intends to accept the facts, argue for a settlement and ask the judge “to have mercy on me.”

Samirah said he does not see this affecting his presidential campaign.

“People go through this all the time,” he said.

Samirah also said he does not intend to hire a lawyer.

The three roommates leased an apartment on Kenilworth Street in Bethesda, Md., for $1,925 a month for a ninemonth period.

The court date is set for May 5 at 8 a.m., according to Montgomery County records.

Staff writers Stefanie Dazio, Marie Zoglo, Lauren Landau and Chris Droukas contributed to this report. news@theeagleonline.com

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ANA SANTOS / THE EAGLE

CALLED TO COURT — SG presidential candidate Ibraheem Samirah looks over his newlyacquired court summons Sunday night. Samirah was handed the papers during a meetand-greet event after ATV’s SG Presidential Debate. His former roommates are suing him for allegedly failing to pay rent since November.

This summer,

start building your future.

Boston University Summer Study Internship Program May 23–August 12, 2011

Learn More.

617-353-0556 bu.edu/summer/internship

VISIT THE INCUBATOR BLOGS.THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

Earn 10 credits in coursework and gain on-the-job experience in an internship, choosing from nine academic tracks.

• Arts & Culture • Business & Management • Communication • Graphic & Web Design •Health Sciences & Policy • International Studies • Politics, Public Policy & Law • Psychology & Social Policy •Self-Designed

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Courtesy of MGM PICTURES

BATTLE ROYALE — Hollywood constantly pumps out remakes of both classics and little-known films. This year is no exception, with a revamped version of the Schwayze and Sheen action classic, “Red Dawn.” Directed by Dan Bradley, the film stars up-and-coming actors Chris Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson and Adrianne Palicki. It will be released later this year.

Six classic movies Hollywood should have left alone LISTOPIA

MICHAEL W. RICHARDSON MGM recently made the decision to scrub their “Red Dawn” remake of any references to the Chinese, presumably because they didn’t want to offend the rising superpower so that they can outsource Hollywood to Hong Kong permanently and reap the profits.

The word is that they are instead going to make North Koreans the bad guys. That’s right, that movie buff in the funny glasses is apparently powerful enough to subdue America in this alternate history.

This is just wrong. At least when the original “Red Dawn” was made, the Soviets were actually scary. But we needed to update the

movie, so now any mildly villainous country will do.

Except the Chinese.

So now that we’ve guaranteed that the first one-third of the new “Red Dawn” will be shown as a documentary in North Korean movie theaters, I thought I’d look back at a few other famous remakes, and to see how well they were updated for our modern palates.

this: in the ‘60s, the Soviets were a legitimate source of fear, and the kind of subversive actions in the film were within a stone’s throw of the popular imagination’s understanding of international espionage. The only people who think that a company would be interested in assassinating the president have Ralph Nader bumper stickers on their hybrids.

“The Manchurian Candidate” The 2004 remake of “The Manchurian Candidate” faced the same problem that the new “Red Dawn” remake now has to deal with. The 1962 version featured a Soviet plot to brain wash a soldier to become the ultimate assassin. The new version replaces the Soviets with a bland company performing corporate malfeasance to a treasonous degree.

The problem, of course, is

“Scarface” Ah, the ‘80s — a time where cocaine subplots were common in children’s movie and there was a thin layer of white powder on every surface in America.

The original “Scarface,” starring a character that no one could mistake for Al Capone, was as tame and trim as “The King’s Speech” in comparison to the loud, boisterous remake by Brian De Palma. Tony Montana is a ludicrous character, yet his wild gesticulations and

borderline-offensive accent are what remain in viewers’ heads of the two movies.

“Godzilla” Japanese culture has always responded well to tragedy, which they unfortunately have seen much of. Last week’s tsunami was only the most recent in a number that have hit them in the last few centuries, but perhaps nothing could compare to the two atomic bombs dropped on the island in the closing days of World War II. The public trauma that that event produced was the iconic monster Godzilla, a destructive force that tears down cities with disturbing ease. But when recreating this film for American audiences, there’s no shared collective experience to draw from. The result is a CGI monster tearing down New York, for no particular reason. Had it been released

three years later, in the wake of 9/11, it might have had more context. In 1998, it was just a mess.

“Dawn of the Dead” George Romero’s classic, along with “Night of the Living Dead,” invented the modern zombie. The slow, shambling flesh eater that everyone knows sprung from Romero’s brain, so it took a director as heavyhanded as Zach Snyder to muck it up. Snyder’s take ejects much of the political commentary in favor of mindless violence, sucking out much of the charm of the classic film.

“I am Legend” “I am Legend” featured one of the most notorious rewrites of modern film. A complicated ending where the protagonist faces the fact that, from the monsters’ perspective, he is the titular legend in their culture.

It was an ending where the audience had to consider how each side of a conflict can see each other as the villain. Of course, test audiences hated having their view complicated. So, instead of recreating the ending of the novel and previous takes, Will Smith blew up some monsters. So, look forward to that.

“The Wicker Man” The original “Wicker Man” is a moody horror film that keeps you guessing. The new “Wicker Man” features Nicolas Cage shouting things like “Killing me won’t bring back your GODDAMN HONEY!” and punching several women in the face. Best watched on a dare, or accompanied by an elaborate drinking game. thescene@theeagleonline. com

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MOVIE REVIEW

MOVIE REVIEW

Paul

Jane Eyre

Courtesy of LAURIE SPARHAM / FOCUS FEATURES

Grade: B Scene Says: Good acting, disappointing adaptation

By HOAI-TRAN BUI Eagle Staff Writer

Courtesy of UNIVERSAL PICTURES

Grade: B+ Scene Says: Picture “E.T.” but funny and British

By MEGHAN BOUSQUET Eagle Contributing Writer

British comedic super duo Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have crossed the pond to join with American actor Seth Rogen, creating a combination that just can’t lose.

Simon and Nick play two geeky guys that come across an alien oddly named Paul — voiced by Rogen — completely by chance.

Despite the writers and lead actors being British, the movie takes place in America — the only country where aliens seem to land. Despite the setting, they stay true to their British wit throughout the movie.

Rogen’s character works into the writers’ humor naturally, bringing in lewd jokes that America relies on in its comedies. The British and American humor in “Paul” work seamlessly together to create a film that will keep you laughing. They create

jokes that build throughout the movie, and you will be cracking up before they even utter the punchline.

The movie takes some obvious shots at Americans of the hyper-religious variety, and we have British writers to thank for that.

The R-rated comedy may hit some tender spots, including a couple scenes that can make an animal lover cringe, but they pale in comparison to the hilarious but raunchy jokes. Unlike other comedies, though, “Paul” is not reliant on the crude jokes, but instead weaves them into slapstick humor and jokes with nerd appeal.

Luckily, the British duo also managed to save “Paul” from joining the myriad of parody movies that are still somehow coming out.

This could have easily become “Alien Movie” and joined the parody graveyard right next to “Epic Movie” and “Meet the Spartans.”

Instead, “Paul” makes use of

all the popular alien stereotypes in a new way by paying homage to the sci-fi movies that came before in such a way that any true geek will appreciate.

The main plotlines are altogether typical, but the writers blatantly call that out in the film and turn it into another joke that any frequent movie watcher can appreciate. Anyone can watch “Paul” and find it funny, but the true audience for this movie are the geeks who will appreciate the countless references to the sci-fi classics like “E.T.” And perhaps what’s most important of all is a surprising sci-fi staple who appears at the end of the film that had the entire theatre clapping at the cameo — but you’ll have to find out just who that person is for yourself. thescene@theeagleonline. com

“Jane Eyre” presents itself as a prestige picture, although at its core the story is a Gothic — even at times pulpy — tale of woe.

The film “Jane Eyre,” starring Mia Wasikowska as the titular character, is based on the classic novel by Charlotte Brontë. “Jane Eyre” is about a young woman who overcomes an abusive and neglected childhood to work as a governess at the home of the enigmatic Mr. Rochester (Michael Fassbender).

Simultaneously a social commentary, a coming-ofage story and a romance, the story — set in the 1800s — was very modern for its age, and Jane Eyre became one of the first modern heroines in literature.

The new “Jane Eyre” spares no expense advertising itself as a bold take on an already modern story. The film starts in an unconventional place in the storyline and juggles two timelines as Jane’s childhood is told in flashbacks. The abuse and neglect Jane experienced as a child are even more shocking in movie form and brilliantly filmed.

The entire movie seems to be an abbreviated version of the novel. Perhaps it is a too

complex story to condense into two hours, but the film glosses over many vital scenes in the book, losing much of Brontë’s original intent. At times the movie seems to move at a snail’s pace, despite its inclination to speed through the events in the novel. Perhaps this is due to the numerous scenes of Jane pacing back and forth in front of an ominously-lit window set to music that seems to have been ripped right out of the “Pride and Prejudice” soundtrack.

The movie avoids any pretense of flashy or gimmicky filming styles, instead sticking to bleak cinematography and wide shots of barren landscapes. When the seasons shift to spring, even the shots of flowers and greenery appear haunting. This understated filming style allows the cast to shine, and they definitely make the most of it.

Wasikowska is pitch-perfect as Jane Eyre, exemplifying Jane’s quiet, reserved nature that masks the passionate individualist within. Her pale skin, long neck and wide eyes evoke a certain otherworldly-ness that she previously brought to “Alice in Wonderland.”

Fassbender is smoldering as the harsh and enigmatic Mr. Rochester. He brings

a weighty ambience to the moody character and looks good doing it. It’s hard to ignore his magnetic performance. Wasikowska and Fassbender share excellent on-screen chemistry, bringing the timeless romance to life, and making Jane’s motivations seem much more relatable to a contemporary audience.

Judi Dench is also excellent, balancing the cheerful naiveté of Mrs. Fairfax in a somewhat thankless role.

She grounds the well-meaning but often silly character in an underrated performance that brings humor to the otherwise serious characters.

The talented cast and skillful filmmaking would be enough to make the film excel, but these glimpses of potential only make the film more disappointing when it fails to deliver. Scene upon scene of “Jane Eyre” build up suspense only to result in an anticlimactic ending. For a story with so many twists and Gothic horror elements, anticlimactic just won’t cut it. hbui@theeagleonline.com

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AU abroad columnist ’chokes down delicious Jewish cuisine in Rome CROSS-CULTURAL DISPATCH

ROME, ITALY

Piperno remains the undisputed ‘home of the artichoke.’

By KELLY HOLLIDAY Eagle Staff Writer

I’m going to admit it, once and for all: I’m a food snob.

I have no problem confessing that all I thought about before I came to Rome and all I think about while living in Rome is food. Well, I do think about other stuff, like studying for my five midterms and brushing my teeth, but I digress. So, because I am such a food snob, I am determined to have the best of the best during my stay. It would be safe to say that at this point in my life, food is my religion and Fred Plotkin’s “Italy for the Gourmet Traveler” is my bible.

Before coming to Rome, my dad (whom I wholeheartedly blame for my food snobbish-ness), in his infinite wisdom of everything that is cuisine, told me to try “Jewish” artichokes. When the vegetable is in season, which happens to be now in spring, carciofi alla Giudia are very popular in Italian restaurants and in Rome in particular.

Since I love artichokes, the dish was added to the list of foods I had to try once in Italy. And, due to my borderline obsessive fixation on having the best food Rome can offer me, I dragged a friend to the Jewish section

so we could sample the famous Carciofi alla Giudia at Piperno restaurant.

In a quiet, secluded square in Rome’s Jewish Ghetto neighborhood lies Piperno restaurant. The Piperno family opened the doors in 1860, making Piperno one of the oldest restaurants in the Jewish section. When it first opened, Piperno was a simple Roman tavern where locals could enjoy a bottle of house wine with a bowl of spaghetti and a side of Jewish artichokes. The quaint trattoria evolved into a sophisticated eatery once the management passed on to the founder’s son, Angleo, and then later to Mario Piperno. To this day, Piperno remains the undisputed “home of the artichoke cooked the Jewish way,” and rightly so: the carciofi alla Giudia are amazing.

Before frying, the artichokes are soaked in water and lemon juice, then seasoned with salt and pepper.

The carciofi are then deepfried in olive oil, where the outer leaves get browned and crispy. The end result is simply delicious: the pulpy center of the artichoke doesn’t get browned from the hot oil but is instead buttery and tender. The crispy outer leaves of the vegetable are so crunchy and nutty that they could easily pass as potato chips. The combination of the soft artichoke heart and the crisp leaves is wonderful.

Since the prickly vegetable is in season here in Rome, the artichoke is even popping up in small pizza al taglio shops. Some are deepfried in batter and others prepared alla Romana, with lemon, white wine, mint and garlic, but the most popular is the classic carciofi alla Giudia. For anyone traveling or studying in Rome in the spring, I highly recommend the delicious Jewish artichokes at Piperno restaurant. kholliday@theeagleonline. com

OLIVIA STITILIS / THE EAGLE

OXFORD CHILLIN’ — Going to a university in London connects students to the fast-paced life of living in a city, while going to school at Oxford provides students with a peaceful atmosphere, large campus and one-on-one meetings with advisers.

Scenic Oxford offers serene campus; contrasts with hustle and bustle of LSE CROSS-CULTURAL DISPATCH

LONDON, ENGLAND

By OLIVIA STITILIS Eagle Staff Writer

I often feel I spend an inordinate amount of time strategizing how I can see as much of Europe as possible while abroad. However, as I was recently reminded, with this mindset it is sometimes easy to forget how many great places are only a short train or bus ride away from London.

So, after many failed attempts to visit since coming abroad in September, I left the hustle and bustle of London and spent a Saturday in the quaint, scholarly and beautiful town of Oxford.

A friend and I took a train from Paddington Station in London and an hour later arrived in Oxford. The train ride proved to be a lovely way to get a glimpse of the

surrounding countryside as well as get an idea of what some of the London suburbs look like.

Despite the steady rain (I mean, I was still in the UK after all) I was immediately taken by how picturesque Oxford was. Oxford is the oldest city in England, established in the 12th century, and most known for its world-famous academic institution, University of Oxford.

University of Oxford is unique in that it is made up of 40 colleges and associated buildings instead of just one main university. Each college has its own character, reputation and academic concentrations. One of the most famous is Christ Church, which even has a small scale cathedral, an art gallery and, perhaps most importantly, was the setting for many scenes in the Harry Potter movies.

Beyond the grandeur of the physical landscape of Oxford, what is especially notable is their tutorial system. The idea of the tutorial system is unique in the sense that undergraduate students

meet frequently with their assigned tutor throughout the week, in either a oneto-one setting, or with a few other students.

This teaching style is strikingly different than the one in the London School of Economics, which takes the exact opposite approach. For each of my classes at the LSE I have one lecture, with a class size ranging anywhere from 40 to 400 students.

Though I do have a weekly small group discussion class, these classes average around 12 students so certainly not the one-on-one setting like at Oxford.

Also, while Oxford focuses assessment around weekly essays, the LSE has few regular assessment and instead one final exam for each of four classes at the end of the year.

Visiting Oxford prompted me to reflect about aspects of the LSE I really appreciated and those I wished could be more similar to Oxford. Immediately Oxford’s greenery was appealing coming from the LSE “campus” which consists of many buildings, offices and pubs jammed

into four blocks in central London. While I do love the city atmosphere of LSE, Oxford’s abundant parks, ponds and blooming gardens were appealing.

As compared to the sole LSE library where a strategized approach is necessary to secure a “good” study spot and students deliberately hide books so they won’t be checked out by others, Oxford has smaller, quiet libraries at each of its colleges.

Everyone has plenty of room and even leaves their belongings overnight. In the LSE library I usually spend 10 minutes contemplating how trustworthy the person next to me looks or how badly I actually need to leave before going to the bathroom.

Though I had a few moments where I thought I might have picked the wrong school, despite how impressive Oxford was, my visit made me even more confident that I had made the right decision in attending the LSE for the year. thescene@theeagleonline. com

Fashion

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By NICOLE MOUTIS Eagle Staff Writer

For some, spring break meant going home, relaxing and putting all those countless assignments to the side for a while. But for others, it meant going south and getting away to a tropical paradise filled with endless palm trees, the sound of the waves crashing on the beach and the feel of the sunshine hitting our skin all day long — such was the case when I traveled to Florida. And with warm weather here in the District, it’s time to prepare for new spring fashion trends.

On the hunt for the next big style statement, I had to look no further than my very own sister, Victoria Moutis. This fashionista had the fortunate opportunity to spend her spring break in a place where she was able to adopt a summer-friendly style because of the hot climate. With this warm atmosphere comes new fashion trends!

The first things that caught my eye were her stunning red wedges. The color was what made the entire outfit pop, turning it into a fabulous accent that complemented the entire ensemble. Wedges always come out as the temperature starts to climb, to accentuate long, tanned legs.

These particular ones are endlessly flattering. Different varieties of reds and oranges, and any bright colors are a huge trend this spring.

You can add a bunch of bright colors together or take Moutis’ advice and just flaunt one bright hue for a headturning statement.

To simplify the rest of the outfit, she added a white, high-waisted short paired with a chunky, woven camel brown belt that she pulled off

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exceptionally well. On top she wore a comfy black tank.

The combination of black and white is also a trend to look out for this spring season.

Moutis’ eye-popping ensemble gives us a sneak peek to what lies ahead in the spring, so it’s time to get excited for the new trends and the new weather on its way!

Moutis’ focus of the outfit was definitely putting all eyes on the shoes.

“Since I haven’t been exposed to warm weather in what seems like forever, it made me really want to pull out these wedges and show off their bright colors,” Moutis said. “I’m pretty simple when it comes to fashion, so the shoes did enough for me, whereas I thought pairing it off with a black and white combo outfit would fit perfectly.”

Moutis is also excited to use spring weather to bring out her vintage style.

“The warm weather makes me want to incorporate bright colors within my wardrobe. But one trend I am very anxious for would be wide leg flare jeans, which are a throwback from the ’70s.”

As far as a favorite designer collection in New York, London or Paris’s fashion weeks, she found one fashion house that impressed her most.

“Valentino’s Fall 2011 collection was amazing. I thought the color palettes used were gorgeous which included plum and tan. I also thought the fabrics of lace, sequins and fur were displayed beautifully on all the elegant models,” Moutis said. thescene@theeagleonline. com

TARA CULP-RESSLER RYAN CARTER When it comes to your sexual partner, do numbers matter?

No, we’re not talking about inches — we mean the number of people your partner has been sexually intimate with in the past. Do you ask? And if so, does the answer affect your decision to sleep with that person?

By the numbers “I think numbers matter,” a male junior in Kogod School of Business told me.

“It can be too high after a point. Maybe 10? I mean, I’m only 20 years old, so that high of a number would probably point to a lot of sexual partners in a short amount of time.”

A male senior in the College of Arts and Sciences agreed. “We’re at the age where multiple partners isn’t uncommon. But when you get into the double digits, I think that’s when most people get kind of freaked out. If I meet you and you tell me you’ve slept with 15 dudes, I’m probably not taking you home tonight.”

A female senior in the School of International Service had an experience with a sexual partner whose number was high, and she told me it did create somewhat of an obstacle in their relationship.

“His number was around 17. When someone has been with so many partners, it’s hard to distinguish yourself as ‘special’ to them if they’re willing to do that with so many !

see SEX on page 17

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TUESDAY 22

WEDNESDAY 23

THURSDAY 24

The Cave of the Yellow Dog 8 p.m.

WHERE: Artisphere, 1101 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Va. METRO: Rosslyn (blue/orange lines) WHAT: “Yellow Dog” is a drama documentary about the life of a young girl who belongs to a nomadic tribe in Mongolia.

COST: $6 CONTACT: www.artisphere.com

Fujiya & Miyagi 8 p.m.

WHERE: Rock and Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE METRO: Union Station (red line) WHAT: Fujiya & Miyagi are a three-piece Krautrock band from the UK, and they’re joined by BRAHMS and Warm Ghost at the Rock and Roll Hotel.

COST: $14 CONTACT: www.rockandrollhoteldc. com

PETE’S NEW HAVEN STYLE PIZZA

Mascara 8 p.m.

WHERE: The Passenger, 1021 7th St. NW METRO: Metro Center (red/blue/orange lines) WHAT: The Washington Psychotronic Film Society is a group of film lovers who offer weekly screenings to obscure, off-beat films both new and old. In this 1987 thriller, a police officer’s life becomes hectic when he falls in love with a cross-dressing cabaret singer.

COST: Free ($2.00 suggested donation) CONTACT: www.wpfs.org

Columbia Heights 202-332-PETE (7383) Tenleytown-Friendship Heights 202-237-PETE (7383) Hours of Operation: 11AM-10PM Sunday-Thursday 11AM-11PM Friday & Saturday

FRIDAY 25

SATURDAY 26

SUNDAY 27

The Joy Formidable 8:30 p.m.

WHERE: Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW METRO: U Street/African-American War Memorial/Cardozo (green/yellow lines) WHAT: Indie band The Joy Formidable received much acclaim for their album, “The Big Roar,” and they’re joined by Mona and The Lonely Forest at the Black Cat. COST: $15 CONTACT: www.blackcatdc.com

River City Extension 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Red Palace, 1210 H St. NE METRO: Union Station (red line) WHAT: River City Extension are an indie folk band from New Jersey, joined by Kevin Devine at the Red Palace.

COST: $12 CONTACT: www.redpalacedc.com

Berlin 36 4 p.m.

WHERE: Artisphere, 1101 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Va. METRO: Rosslyn (blue/orange lines) WHAT: “Berlin 36” is a film about a Jewish woman who entered the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin only to be replaced by a man.

COST: $11 CONTACT: www.artisphere.com

We Deliver Monday — Thursday 25% off for AU students (with valid ID) after 8:30 every night

people,” she said. “You start to feel like just a number.”

A male senior in the School of Public Affairs took a slightly different stance. “In general, numbers don’t really matter to me since I am not a hugely jealous person,” he said. “I know I’m not Neil Armstrong, first to walk on the moon and plant the flag.

The moon landing was no less monumental for Buzz Aldrin because he was second. No need to fret about the past.”

about a number.”

The SOC ‘11 female explained, “I wouldn’t care what the person’s number was, but I would be more tempted to ask him to get tested if it was a higher number. Numbers don’t matter to me as long as I know my partner is clean.”

“I don’t think numbers are a huge thing to worry about, but what is more worrisome is how you go about getting those numbers,” the SPA ‘11 male agreed. “Sex is a dangerous activity for a number of reasons.”

Putting the number in context Some students pointed out that when it comes to numbers, it’s important to consider the broader situation.

“It’s entirely contextual,” a female senior in the School of Communication said.

A female senior in CAS echoed this sentiment. “I think it depends on a lot of factors — how old the person was when they had sex for the first time, how many sexual partners were from committed relationships, and whether the person has been tested for STIs. All of those things determine your judgment

Getting tested and coming clean Ultimately, asking about your partner’s number shouldn’t be an opportunity to pass judgment on someone else’s sexual history. Numbers are personal, and no one should be criticized for theirs. However, having a talk about numbers with your sexual partner is a good way to practice responsible habits in your sex life.

The conventional wisdom is that when you choose to have sex, you’re also having sex with every person your partner has been involved with in the

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SCENE CALENDAR

from SEX on page 16

past — and when it comes to STIs, that’s a good way to think about it. Like it or not, every additional partner represents an increase in risk for STIs. “It’s about a willingness to share the number honestly so people can assess the risk they’re taking,” a female senior in SPA pointed out. “I talk less about the number and more about the last time my partner has been tested or the protection she used.

It’s not about the number itself, it’s about knowing that we’re both healthy.”

If you’re looking for more resources on sexual health, take advantage of our campus community.

Stop by the Student Health Center (McCabe Hall, first floor), the Wellness Center (the back of McCabe hall, entrance facing Nebraska Avenue and Rockwood Parkway) or the Women’s Resource Center (MGC 202a). sexwonks@ theeagleonline.com

MONDAY 28 Lost in the Trees 9 p.m.

WHERE: Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW METRO: U Street/African-American War Memorial/Cardozo (green/yellow lines) WHAT: Lost in the Trees are an orchestral pop group that draws its influence in everything from Radiohead to Star Trek.

COST: $12 CONTACT: www.blackcatdc.com

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The Purple Plum Cats, hot wax and other things The Incubator

This time the poem feels a little more classic than the last one, even though it does not adhere to any special poetic form.

There are some elements of iambic and trochaic meter and also some traces of a sonnet. But, although it plays with a lot of internal rhymes, anaphora and alliterations, the metaphors are the most important

aspect of “The Purple Plum.”

Why a knight and princess? What does the purple plum stand for? Or the fight, the bite and death?

The interpretation, however, shall not be given here. It is up to the reader to make up his or her own mind… blogs@theeagleonline. com

The Purple Plum The knight had fought, and brought

Grey and cold like the ocean,

A pretty witty creature –

Yet, heated by desire.

As price a rare and special purple plum.

.

Grown from a seed of sad salvation,

Smelling its sweet scent, Kissing it gently… .

Cut from a tree of haughty hallows

She sank her spotless, perfect teeth,

With the sword of dire desperation.

Sharp and unforgiving,

.

The plum was a perfect round sphere And never had its soft, Dark skin of silk Touched the ground. .

Taking it into her delicate, Slim white hand – Measuring inch by inch The smooth surface with her eyes.

By SARAH PARNASS The Incubator

RABAT, Morocco — My roommate and I spent almost the entire week knocked out of commission by our respective illnesses. In between watching the first season of “Mad Men” and catching up on our Oscar winners, our biggest adventure was a trip to a nearby salon.

I should have known the place was less than legit the moment we stepped into the back room and saw a large, longhaired cat seated in one of the salon chairs, beside a woman getting her eyebrows

plucked. Alas, as both my roommate and I are catladiesin-the-making, we simply saw this as a sign of her benevolence and good taste.

“These are cat people,” we thought. “They must be good people.”

Well, good or bad, one thing is for sure, the white-coated salon girl knew very little about épilation, as the French call it. That word literally means “peeling,” which is exactly what that treatment felt like: as if she was peeling the skin off my legs in long strips. Unfortunately, all the pain was for naught. Robin and I left too

quickly to examine the work she’d performed, but when we rolled up our pant legs later on, we saw a bounty of hairs still there and long as ever.

We retreated to our host family’s apartment defeated and depleted. I find being sick is exhausting enough when I’m at home, in my own space, but there’s something about being both a guest and an invalid that is practically impossible. From politely suffering through homemade remedies (a straight spoonful of olive oil or honey mixed with something crunchy, anyone?) to stifling late-night coughs with a pillow

to refusing another helping of chicken for the millionth time, it’s enough trouble to scare me well again. And don’t get me started on communicating with the health professionals in Morocco. While the doctor may have claimed to speak English, there was definitely some sort of miscommunication going on.

Regardless, I’m well enough now and excited to be embarking on my spring break travels this weekend. More on that to come! sparnass@theeagleonline. com

.

The princess –

.

that don’t mix well in Morocco

Into its juicy purple flesh. .

In stunned silence The knight watched on his knees As his precious purple plum

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By FELIX FUCHS

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With newfound defensive prowess, Caps’ offense needs to look like old self in upcoming playoffs SIDELINE SCHOLAR

BEN LASKY The Capitals, D.C.’s best professional sports team, are back where they should be, atop the NHL’s Southeast Division.

However, the team’s strong play of late does not guarantee success in the upcoming playoffs, should they make it, as the team still has a noticeable flaw.

While the team has won 10 of its last 11 games, the Caps have scored more than three goals in a game just three times in those 11 contests.

This is a good sign since it means they are playing great defense, something the Caps

have lacked in recent years and why a lot of people believe they have repeatedly been sent home early in the playoffs. But when you have players like Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin, goals should not be this hard to come by.

Head Coach Bruce Boudreau has put more emphasis on playing defense in order to succeed in the playoffs. And while the penalty kill has improved dramatically, the team’s power-play unit, which was far and away the best in the NHL last season, has become pedestrian.

It’s hard to point to a reason why the Capitals’ offense has fallen off so much this season.

Ovechkin, Semin and Backstrom are all having a down year. Coming into the season Ovechkin had never scored fewer than 46 goals. This year he will need to score about a

goal per game the rest of the way just to reach 40. After scoring a career-high 40 goals last year, Semin has only 25 this year. Last season, Backstrom had a career-high 101 points. This year, he has a little more than half that total with 55.

Every player has a down year or two in his career. More than likely this is the case with the Caps’ big offensive guns. Unfortunately for the team, they are all going through it at the same time.

Defenseman Mike Green, who has been the best offensive player at his position in the NHL for a few seasons, was having a bad year before going down with a concussion on Feb. 25. He has not played since.

It’s true that it is very important to have a strong defense in order to win the Stanley Cup, and the Caps will be better

off with a defensive mindset instead of the risky offensive game that has let them down in recent playoff history. However, with three young goalies under 24-years-old and relatively limited playoff experience, the Capitals might need offense for these playoffs more than any other in recent memory. The only goalie on the roster with any playoff experience is Semyon Varlamov, who was very shaky in the first round against the Montréal Canadiens last year.

Because of the team’s improved defense, the Capitals should play deep into the playoffs this year. However, they must find a bit of the magic that won them the President’s Trophy a year ago in order to drink from the Cup at playoff ’s end. blasky@theeagleonline.com

Make sure fantasy baseball managers pay up at season’s start to ensure dedicated league

By TYLER TOMEA Eagle Staff Writer

As someone who knows way too much about people like Michael Pineda and Mike Minor, I feel I am the perfect person to talk about the upcoming fantasy baseball season.

Aside from March Madness, one of the highlights of my year is the annual fantasy baseball draft, which is kind of sad. There’s a longstanding theory that a manager can’t win his league on draft day, but he can lose it. And by “longstanding theory,” I mean something I thought up last week.

I’ve been compiling my overall player rankings and positional rankings for the draft since early March. Again, this is what I do during my class time. And if you’re going to be in a fantasy league, it’s important to know what’s going on in the league.

For example, in my 2005 draft, my buddy selected Barry Bonds with the first pick of the second round. Coming off a great season, Bonds had

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two knee surgeries that winter and only appeared in 14 games during ‘05.

As soon as the pick was made, everyone in the league questioned whether my friend had been alive and conscious during the 2005 offseason.

When my buddy realized that Bonds wouldn’t be seeing the field until September, he fired off a string of expletives that can’t be put in print. His draft snowballed from there, with a fifth-round pick of Mark Loretta. Yikes! The lesson here: Do your homework before the draft.

Also, Yahoo! Sports gives each owner one minute and 30 seconds to make each pick.

If you want to know the fastest way to turn a league against you and be sent countless angry e-mails and messages, wait one minute and 29 seconds before making each selection. Don’t be that guy that causes the draft to take an extra hour.

Once the draft is over, a big problem is keeping the managers interested in the league.

With the baseball season, which often feels like it takes

six years to get through, it’s hard for each manager to check his team on a daily basis.

The “summer swoon” takes hold, when people would rather be doing a million other things than checking fantasy baseball stats in July. I was once in a league with someone who had three players on the disabled list and two players who had been sent to the minors in his starting lineup because he hadn’t adjusted his lineup since May. The only solution to this problem is implementing an entry fee to be paid out at the end of the year. A pet peeve of mine is leagues that don’t follow this rule. By having people pay an entry fee, it will automatically increase interest, a sense of stakes and league activity. More people will be making trade proposals, setting their lineups, adding/dropping players and the league will be better as a result.

At the end of the year, it could be either winner-takeall or the pot could be split up among the top three finishers.

If Tim Lincecum is reading this article, I’m not talking about that “pot,” but money.

With the draft and owner activity addressed, the next issue is the waiver wire. Instead of how it is now with waiver priority, the best option is to give each owner a set amount of “free-agent money” at the start of each season. For example, managers start out with a hundred dollars at the start of each season.

Say you’re desperate for saves and someone drops Trevor Hoffman? What’s more exciting than placing a bid on Hoffman for 10 dollars and waiting frantically until 4 a.m. to see if you got him or were outbid by another player. (Not that I would know anything about that). Rather than relying on the order in the waiver priority, managers should be able to impact their teams.

So remember, draft smart and don’t be that owner that drafts a player stuck on crutches until September. ttomea@theeagleonline.com

Without Strasburg, Nats turn to other potential stars

By ERIC SALTZMAN Eagle Staff Writer

After looking at the Nationals’ position players last week, we’ll take a look at the ever-evolving pitching rotation this week.

The bad news for Nats fans is that first round pick Stephen Strasburg is still recovering from Tommy John surgery and will not make his first start until September, if at all. His recovery is on track and many pitchers who have the surgery end up recovering and having successful careers.

The one starter who is poised to shine in 2011 is Jordan Zimmermann (no relation to Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman). Zimmermann has a good slider and developing curve. He knows how to throw strikes and get strikeouts. There are red flags about Zimmermann’s health and his ability to keep the ball down, but he’ll be the young starter that will have to captivate Washington baseball fans until Strasburg’s return.

For better or worse, the leader of this rotation is Livan Hernandez. The 36year-old is almost purely an innings eater. Hernandez’s game is best described as slow, slower and slowest.

He won’t be hitting 90 mph on the radar gun, but he will get the team deep into games without having to tap into the bullpen.

The Nats’ second starter, Jason Marquis, doesn’t bring much to the table.

Last season he was brought in to be a pitcher that can go deep into games. Unfortunately, he was injured for most of 2010. Best-case scenario is Marquis returns to form and can be a veteran presence among a staff of youngsters.

One starter who could develop into a quality No. 3 starter is lefty John Lannan. He relies on his great command and his pitching smarts to keep himself in games. Lannan doesn’t

have much arm strength as his fastball rarely hits 90 mph and he doesn’t have a great breaking ball, so if he doesn’t have his command, he can get rocked.

The likely fifth starter is recent Cuban defector Yunesky Maya. The 29year-old saw limited action last year, but he can throw several pitches and can challenge hitters with varying pitch speeds.

The safest bet about the Nationals pitching this year is that Drew Storen will be their closer. Storen has a fastball in the upper 90s that is often forgotten about because he was the other guy taken in the first round after Strasburg. Storen excelled as a setup man last year and, barring any terrible stretch, he looks to be the Nats closer for the season.

The Nationals have a pair of quality lefties in the bullpen. Doug Slaten and Sean Burnett have similar resumes as far as command and pitching smarts. Slaten is more of a power pitcher, while Burnett relies more on people making contact.

The key thing to remember about the Nationals pitching is that no one is really locked in as a permanent fixture. The younger guys might spend some time in the minors, while some of the veterans may end up in the bullpen. There isn’t any pitcher outside of Strasburg who isn’t on the team who could make a significant contribution this year.

In the big picture, the Nationals are a young team with some upside.

Their offense should prove competent, and the pitching should also be good enough. The Nationals are going in the right direction but still can’t compete in the National League East.

If the Nats are able to finish slightly below .500, it would be a major victory for the organization. esaltzman@theeagleonline. com

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Women’s lacrosse falls to Colgate Raiders in close contest Eagles drop conference match after falling behind early

By SAM RAPHELSON

Eagle Contributing Writer

Courtesy of AUEAGLES.COM

OVER THE TOP — AU’s Ryan Flores (blue) takes on Lehigh University’s Zach Rey in the heavyweight final. Rey would take the match, putting Flores in second for his weight class at the NCAA championships.

AU wrestling team places fth at NCAA Championships; Coach wins top award

By MARK NATALE Eagle Staff Writer

The AU wrestling team placed fifth overall in the NCAA Championships in Philadelphia this year, after former No. 1-seed Steve Fittery fell in the semifinals and No. 3 Ryan Flores lost in the finals to Lehigh University’s Zach Rey. The trip started off rough for the Eagles as 197 pound Daniel Mitchell lost one of the “wrestle-in” matches in the pigtails (a match that is appended to the first round) to take himself out of championship contention. Mitchell would later lose his second consolation-round match as well.

No. 11 Matt Mariacher at 141 pounds gave the Eagles a little momentum in the early rounds, winning his first match, but losing his secondround matchup to fall in the consolation rounds as well.

In an exciting run through the consolation bracket, Mari-

acher, the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association champion, had huge wins over Hofstra University’s Vicente Varela and Lockhaven’s Matthew Bonson before finally dropping a 7-2 decision.

Junior 149 pound Ganbayar Sanjaa, after placing fourth in the EIWA Championships opened up his tournament with strong wins, including a fall at 1:53 in the second round.

After a 10-3 win over the University of Michigan’s Eric Grajales, the No. 11- ranked wrestler lost to Cornell University’s No. 4-ranked wrestler, Kyle Dake, in the semifinals.

With the appearance in the semifinals, Sanjaa solidified his All-American status for the first time in his career and set a high standard for himself for next year, as he will likely continue to be a major player on the national scene.

Fittery, touted as AU’s best chance at making it to the finals for much of the tournament, fell to Penn State Uni-

versity’s No. 3 David Taylor in the semifinals, but managed to beat No. 1 Adam Hall of Boise State University in the consolation semifinals and won 13-1 to win third place overall.

The tournament had started off hot for Fittery, who scored two technical falls in the first two rounds, winning 19-4 in his first and 23-7 in the second.

Fittery added another notch to his resume after pinning No. 7 Bryce Saddoris of the United States Naval Academy to earn a spot in the semifinals.

Flores, the second-ever Eagle to make an appearance in the NCAA finals, (Josh Glenn, a National Champion in 2007, was the other at 197 pounds) faced Rey after a dominating effort in the early rounds of the tournament.

Flores scored a pin in his first match at the 1:58 mark of the first period and beat Columbia University’s Kevin Lester 18-5 to make his way into the quarterfinals round.

After squeezing by Universi-

ty of Nebraska’s No. 11 Tucker Lane 5-2, Flores shut out Jarod Trice of Central Michigan University in his semifinal matchup, 4-0.

Flores started off the final match of the event evenly paired with Rey. Flores’ agility gave him a bit of an advantage when going for the takedown, but Rey’s size and strength kept Flores at bay.

Rey managed an escape in the second period to take a 1-0 lead and managed to keep Flores down in the third period. Flores nearly scored a takedown, but after facing a stalemate with 17 seconds left, Rey allowed Flores the free escape and outran him for the remainder of the match, winning 1-1 on a technicality.

The Eagles’ Head Coach Mark Cody earned accolades of his own as he was named the National Wrestling Coaches Association 2011 Coach of the Year. sports@theeagleonline.com

The AU women’s lacrosse team suffered a 15-12 defeat against the Colgate University Raiders on Saturday afternoon in Hamilton, N.Y. Kimberly Collins, Lauren Schoenberger and Chiara Speziale each scored two goals in the Eagles’ first away game against a Patriot League opponent this season.

It was a rough start for the Eagles who fell behind 8-2 in the first 12 minutes of the game.

The Eagles refused to be put away that early and quickly stepped up with back-to-back goals by sophomore Samantha Marshall and junior Emily Stankiewicz.

Just as the Eagles started to gain momentum, Colgate’s Courtney Miller knocked in the third of her game-high four goals to put the Raiders ahead by five. The first half ended on a goal from AU senior Lisa Schaaf to put the score at 9-5.

AU continued to play catchup for the entirety of the second half.

Freshman Emily Maher jumped right out with a goal, but the Raiders answered immediately with one of their own. Down by four, the Eagles went on a 3-0 run that lasted until the 22-minute mark,

with goals from Collins, Speziale and Schoenberger.

The run made the score 10-9 and marked one of two times AU would come up one short of a tie score in the second half.

But with less than 12 minutes to play, Emily Burton and Schoenberger came up big with a pair of goals that tied the game at 11.

However, the excitement on the AU side was short lived, as the Eagles quickly gave up two more goals, falling behind once again. Collins scored the final goal of the day for AU, marking the third time the women railed by one. The contest ended with two Colgate goals, putting the game out of reach 15-12.

Despite the loss, AU did put up an honorable offensive effort. In addition to their pair of goals, Collins and Schoenberger added three and two assists respectively. Junior goalkeeper Kaska Komosinski made five saves against the Raiders.

The Eagles will travel to Fairfax, Va. on Wednesday to take on the George Mason University Patriots. The team returns to Jacobs Field the following Saturday to battle the Bucknell University Bison. sports@theeagleonline.com

WHO WE’RE VOTING FOR (and why you should too)

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