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2011 COMMENCEMENT SPEAKERS
(PICTURED FROM TOP LEFT) BOB SCHIEFFER, SEN. RICHARD LUGAR, VERA C. RUBIN, AARON S. WILLIAMS, GENE SPERLING AND STEPHEN N. ZACK WILL BE AU’S COMMENCEMENT SPEAKERS THIS YEAR.
READ THE FULL STORY ONLINE AT THEEAGLEONLINE.COM %&!!"#$!'($)(!
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IN THIS ISSUE
FROM THE TWITTERSPHERE @DanielleSleeper, April 15
Freshman Day at @AmericanU. Can’t believe I’m two weeks away from graduating...
3 POLICE BLOTTER 4 NEWS 4 5 6
@Torceratops, April 14
AMERICAN AT WAR OFF-CAMPUS PATROLS GEN ED CHANGES
Quad from 2 to 5. I’m living the @AmericanU dream. @QuidProGuo, April 14
10 SCENE
I feel myself die a little each time someone mentions ‘registration’ @AmericanU
10 THEATER CAPSTONE 11 LOOK OF THE WEEK 14 LISTOPIA
@RachelCWhite, April 13
The library at @AmericanU is a black hole. You get sucked in and when you nally exit, hours or days have passed you by.
17 OPINION 17 STAFF EDITORIAL 17 SMARTER THAN I LOOK 18 RANTER IN RESIDENCE
@bachledova, April 13
wait a minute! a 78-year-old professor just used the term “Brangelina”. #nowiveheardeverything @AmericanU
20 SPORTS ! AMERICAN UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT VOICE
19 NBA PREDICTIONS 20 LACROSSE 20 SIDELINE SCHOLAR
26
NEXT WEEK IS OUR LAST ISSUE!
Check theeagleonline.com throughout the summer for more news.
19
THIS WEEK
APRIL 19 — CHEVY VOLT RIDE AND DRIVE AT EARTH WEEK
11 a.m. - 3 p.m. / Main Quad / In honor of Earth Week, take GM’s electric Chevy Volt for a test spin around campus. Drivers must be 21 or older, but anyone can take a ride. / Contact sustainability@american.edu
APRIL 20 — KOSOVO’S INDEPENDENCE PANEL
4:30 - 7 p.m. / SIS Founder’s Room / Three Hope fellows from Kosovo will hold a panel discussion on Kosovo’s independence and its relations with Serbia. / Contact crs@american.edu
APRIL 21 — ILLICIT CRIMINAL NETWORKS
8 - 10 p.m. / Butler Board Room / AMoisés Naím, who works at Spain’s largest newspaper, will discuss the future of transnational crime. / Contact IPFP@american. edu
APRIL 22 — POLITICAL THEORY COLLOQUIUM
5 - 7:30 p.m. / East Quad Building Lounge / Hugh Liebert of the University of Richmond will give a talk on the life and politics of Abraham Lincoln. / Contact spa@american.edu
APRIL 23 — BREAKIN’ FOR BIRNEY
4 - 10 p.m. / Tavern / Breakin’ for Birney is an annual fundraiser for youth east of the Anacostia River. It is a hip-hop event featuring all styles of dancing. / Contact auflyouth@gmail.com
APRIL 24 — SAM GILLIAM
11 a.m. - 4 p.m. / Katzen Museum Third Floor Exhibition / Sam Gilliam is an artist known to transform gallery walls into 3-D abstractions. He will transform the 8,000 square foot space of the third floor of the AU Museum at the Katzen Arts Center into an exciting and colorful work of art. / Contact aumuseum@american. edu
!CORRECTIONS In “Undergraduate Senate doles out nearly $620,000,” it was misstated that graduate students’ fees go toward the undergraduate Student Government. In fact, only undergraduate students’ fees go toward the undergraduate SG. In “2001: Arsenic in AU soil triggers health concerns, debate in local community,” the Restoration Advisory Board was misidentified as the Resident Advisory Board. In the definitions for “Government bans synthetic marijuana,” synthetic cannabinoids were misidentified as just cannabinoids.
MISSION
POLICIES
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EDITORIAL STAFF
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. EDITOR IN CHIEF Lindsey Anderson SENIOR EDITOR + MANAGING EDITOR FOR WEB Ethan Klapper MANAGING EDITOR FOR NEWS Stefanie Dazio MANAGING EDITOR FOR THE SCENE Yohana Desta DESIGN EDITOR Chris Droukas ASSISTANT DESIGN EDITOR Katherine Riddle PHOTO EDITOR Ana Santos ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Rachel Devor STUDENT LIFE EDITOR Paige Jones ADMINISTRATION + LOCAL NEWS EDITOR Rachel Karas NEWS ASSISTANTS Marie Zoglo Lauren Landau Kate Froehlich Nicole Glass Leigh Giangreco SPORTS EDITOR Tyler Tomea SPORTS ASSISTANTS Ben Lasky Kate Grubel
NEXT ISSUE: APRIL 26
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) 885-1402 or e-mail editor@ theeagleonline.com.
EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR Linda Barnhart ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Hoai-Tran Bui MUSIC EDITOR Stephan Cho SCENE ASSISTANTS Maeve McDermott Madeline Wolfson BLOG EDITOR Abby Fennewald ASSISTANT BLOG EDITOR Erin Greenawald MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Kira Kalush ASSISTANT WEB EDITOR Anna Scalamonga COPY EDITORS Rocio Gonzalez Marissa Cetin FINANCE MANAGER Bobby Jones SALES DIRECTOR Alexander Robinson PUBLIC RELATIONS COORDINATOR Kasturi Puntambekar AD REP Jonathon Gaynes
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!"#!"#$! AU is pretty great for people seeking to learn more about foreign countries.
! POLICE BLOTTER
If you’re planning on studying abroad in Bulgaria and want to learn more about the country as a whole, there’s a club for that.
April 8 An unattended painting was stolen from a classroom in the Katzen Arts Center.
If you get set up on a blind date and all you know about the person is that they’re from Taiwan and you want to learn more Taiwanese culture, there’s a club for that.
If your best friend invited you to spend winter break at their brother’s friend’s girlfriend’s cousin’s house in Lebanon and you want to know what sites you should make sure to check out while you’re there, there’s even a club for that.
Yup, there’s a club for just about anything. Only at AU.
For more information, contact the AU Club Council at aucc@american.edu
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
Washington Family Looking Live-in Nanny Washington family, near American University, looking for a responsible, English speaking candidate with driver’s license to assist with part time childcare and help around the house. Own car is preferred. Housing plus salary available. References and a track record of responsibility is a must. Candidate must be able to commit for no less than one year. Qualified candidates, please contact: mkantor@studley.com.
Lifeguards. Positions in Md,VA,DC. FT/PT. Flexible Schedule. Must be able to swim. Free Training. Competitive pay. VA: 703-996-1300 ext.128 MD/DC: 301-210-4200 ext. 107
Student #1 reported student #2 bumped into a plastic paper holder in the Kreeger Building, got upset and ripped it off a wall. The holder broke. The wall was not damaged. April 9 The Metropolitan Police Department notified Public Safety of an intoxicated student on Ellicott Street NW. MPD was present when Public Safety arrived. Upon their arrival, the student was talking in a loud voice with slightly slurred speech. The student had mid-length hair, which had been shaved to the skin on the top of his head. The student appeared to be intoxicated. He stated he drank three cups of an unknown beverage at a party but did not remember the location of the party. MPD advised the complainant that someone was on his back in her yard on the grass. The student stated he was looking at the stars. The sky was cloudy. MPD requested a wagon to transport the student to the Detox Center. Public Safety responded to Hughes Hall for a report of an intoxicated individual. Upon arrival, student #1 was vomiting and being held by student #2. Student #2 stated she and student #1 drank alcohol at two different locations. Student #2 stated student #1 arrived at fraternity house at approximately 10:30 p.m. and told student #2 she had one glass of wine. Student #2 stated she and student #1 then had one glass of “Jungle Juice.” They left the fraternity house and went to another undisclosed location and had two cups of vodka and orange juice at approximately 1:45 a.m. Reportedly, they both returned to Hughes Hall at approximately 2:00 a.m. Student #1 began vomiting shortly thereafter. DCFD transported student #1, accompanied by student #3, to the hospital. April 10 Public Safety and MPD responded to a report of a
noise complaint at an address on Yuma Street NW. Officers observed several individuals walking from the house toward the main campus. At 1:45 a.m., loud voices were heard as the front door opened. MPD and Public Safety approached the house and spoke to two students. The students identified themselves as residents of the house. They advised they did have a party but it had ended just prior to the arrival of police. While on patrol, Public Safety observed individual #1 was intoxicated, vomiting and falling on the ground near the tunnel shop area. Individual #1 was accompanied by student #1. Individual #1 stated she drank one drink containing vodka and one drink containing rum at an unspecified club between 9:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. When asked, she claimed to be 21 years old. Student #1 stated individual #1 was either 20 or 21 years old. Neither of them were able to produce identification. Student #1 stated his ID was possibly with a friend, student #2. Individual #1 and student #1 claimed not to have been with each other the entire night. DCFD transported individual #1, accompanied by student #1, to the hospital. A hole was discovered in a wall on the second floor of Federal Hall. A witness reported hearing someone running and a loud bang in the area. A 2-Fix ticket was initiated. A watch and ring were taken from a room in Anderson Hall, which had been left unsecured. An individual reported 20 students pushing other students in a shopping cart on Massachusetts Avenue. The individual told them to be quiet. The students were rude to her. Public Safety and MPD responded.
Dowell Hall. The resident director advised a resident of the room in question opened the door. The resident stated he had been smoking marijuana since 11:30 p.m. but it was gone. The resident director confiscated two apples, which had been cut at the top and on the side to represent a smoking device. The resident director gave the apples to Public Safety. The apples tested positive for marijuana. April 12 Doors to an auditorium in the Kreeger Building were discovered damaged in such a manner as to suggest entry was attempted and/or gained into the area by force. No other damage was reported. Public Safety responded to a report of an injured person in the Jacobs Fitness Center. The individual signed a medical refusal form. April 13 Damage was discovered to a suite door in Constitution Hall. The damage suggested an attempt might have been made to force entry into the area. No property was reported stolen. No other damage was reported. A Wakefield and Sanford elevator technician responded and freed an individual from a stuck elevator in Letts Hall. No injuries were reported. Public Safety discovered a clearance height indicator to the Centennial parking garage was damaged. A 2-Fix ticket was initiated. DCFD responded to a report of a sick person in the School of International Service Building. The individual signed a medical refusal form. http://eagl.us/dRZHuh
April 11 A resident director reported receiving a complaint of a smell of marijuana in Mc-
READ MORE POLICE BLOTTER ONLINE
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WHAT LIES BENEATH — VISUALIZING WWI ACTIVITY IN SPRING VALLEY
AU PRESIDENT’S RESIDENCE, 4835 GLENBROOK RD.
The property has been a frequent site of Army Corps investigations, including when smoke poured out of a hole a landscaper dug on the property in 1996.
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Chemical remnants of war scattered across AU area By SYLVIA CARIGNAN This is the final story of a seven-part series investigating World War I-era chemical weapons and equipment buried under AU’s campus and in the Spring Valley neighborhood.
AU CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
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THE PIT CALLED “HADES”
This 1918 photo shows the chemical burial pit nicknamed “Hades,” where hundreds of munitions, chemical weapons and other artifacts have been found.
SEE THE EAGLE’S INTERACTIVE MAP ONLINE. THEEAGLEONLINE.COM/AUATWAR
WAR
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Eagle Staff Writer
The center was closed in 2001 due to high arsenic levels in the soil. It was reopened in 2009 after the contaminated dirt was removed.
AT
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AMERICAN
In a photograph dated 1918, a World War I Army sergeant stands over a row of ceramic jugs and wooden barrels, lined up near a gaping hole in the ground. “The bottles are full of mustard, to be destroyed here. In Death Valley. The hole called Hades,” the back of the photo reads. The chemical burial pit known as “Hades” is approximately located at the now AU-owned 4825 Glenbrook Rd., and the Army Corps’ investigation has removed hundreds of munitions and chemical containers from this pit. Though there were several pits, the sergeant called this one “the most feared
and respected place on the grounds.” But spare munitions and smaller pits are close by, at the president’s residence next door, 4835 Glenbrook Rd., which is just behind the Watkins Building. Both the 4825 and 4835 Glenbrook Rd. properties are now owned by AU and have been sites of frequent
the dog’s eyes, and as Feeney got closer to the pit, his skin began to burn, according to a report by Washingtonian writer Harry Jaffe. Feeney told Jaffe that he felt like he had been hit with a toxic gas. The construction was completed and the ground covered up, but Feeney’s eyes would always water every time he cut his
“The bottles are full of mustard, to be destroyed here. In Death Valley. The hole called Hades.” — Back of a 1918 photograph Army Corps investigations. Spring Valley resident Rick Feeney lived at 4835 Glenbrook Rd. before it was the AU president’s house. In the summer of 1992, Feeney was cutting his grass when he noticed his dog yelping in the new pit construction workers had dug near his home. Liquid was coming from
grass. Feeney moved out, and AU later bought the property for former AU president Benjamin Ladner’s use. In 1996, a landscaper was removing dirt to plant a tree at 4835 Glenbrook Rd. when smoke started pouring out of the hole he had dug. As his face began to swell, his coworkers rushed him to a
hospital emergency room, according to an account in the Northwest Current. The landscaper survived, but he was one of several with long-lasting health problems caused by construction work in Spring Valley. The president’s residence has been the site of several of the Army Corps’ test pits and arsenic grids, requiring one- to two-foot-deep chunks of grass and dirt to be excavated. Current AU President Neil Kerwin and his wife Ann were temporarily evacuated from 4835 Glenbrook Rd. as the Army Corps searched for munitions, The Eagle reported in 2009. They relocated to their home in Bethesda, Md. in 2007, then moved back to the Glenbrook Road residence in 2009. Feeling the aftereffects for 20 years AU’s administration has had to deal with the consequences of the Army Corps cleanup for nearly 20 years. AU filed a claim against the Army in 2001, seeking $86.6 million in damages resulting from the Army Corps’ chemical warfare investigations, but the case !
see WAR on page 5
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from WAR on page 4
was ultimately dismissed. In 2009, Kerwin testified at a Congressional subcommittee hearing on the University’s view of the Spring Valley issue. “The University has endured years of dislocation, suspended operations, business interruption, un-reimbursed costs in the millions of dollars and periodic safety concerns as the Army Corps has conducted its multi-year effort,” Kerwin said, according to congressional records. In 1994, the Environmental Protection Agency collected soil samples at 4825 Glenbrook Rd., which was unoccupied and owned by the developer at the time. One of the samples revealed high levels of arsenic. The home was put on the market and subsequently bought by the Loughlin family. The developer told the family a non-toxic chemical called Silvex had been found on their property. Silvex is an herbicide that has been banned in the U.S. since the 1980s. The family had a lab test the soil, but no abnormalities were found. They didn’t find out about the EPA’s arsenic tests until the Army Corps told them five years later. Next door to the Loughlins, the Army Corps had just discovered live bombs and chemical weapons in the garden of the Korean embassy. “I am so cynical, but they say it’s OK for us to be here,” Kathi Loughlin told the Baltimore Sun in 1999. “What about kids playing in that area and making mud pies and eating dirt?” After several years in their Spring Valley home, Kathi Loughlin developed a brain tumor, and her children had skin rashes their pediatrician couldn’t explain, Jaffe wrote. The Loughlins moved out, and the home was sold back to the developer. The Loughlin family was one of hundreds in the Spring Valley area that suffered from health problems. A yearlong health study conducted by the Northwest Current in 2004 found that residents living in 161 out of Spring Valley’s 345 homes had diseases that may be
linked to the chemical weapons tested at AU. The health issues ranged from breast cancer and leukemia to bipolar disorder and dyslexia. Former president George H. W. Bush and his wife Barbara were both diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease after living in the area in the 1980s and 1990s. Mustard gas and lewisite, two chemical weapons tested at AU during World War I, can cause autoimmune disorders, according to a 1993 report by the National Institutes of Health. Autoimmune disorders occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. AU’s next steps AU Chief of Staff David Taylor said the University’s next actions all depend on the Army Corps’ progress. “The Army Corps’ work involves many unknowns,” he said. “New information evolves as the investigation unfolds and we learn as much as we can about each circumstance.” AU may allow the unoccupied 4825 Glenbrook Rd. house to be torn down for a more thorough investigation of chemical and munitions burial pits, which may extend under the house, The Eagle reported in September. Future cleanup at the site may require the Kerwins to move out of their home and relocate again. Though the Army Corps has removed and destroyed hundreds of Spring Valley munitions, it is still unclear how many may be left on the Glenbrook Road properties. “We can’t 100 percent say that we’re done,” Army Corps Historian Mark Baker said. “Based on the work we’ve completed, we’re done, but if something pops up five years from now, we’re going to go back.” The Army Corps held a routine meeting with the Spring Valley community April 12 to discuss its cleanup efforts. Along with a PowerPoint presentation, the Army Corps distributed a list of ground rules for their meetings. In it, the Army Corps made a promise to Spring Valley and the AU community: “No surprises or secrets.” news@theeagleonline.com
Public Safety patrols neighborhood, gathers social media ‘intelligence’ House in question is home to four EI brothers By STEFANIE DAZIO Eagle Staff Writer
Using area patrols and “intelligence-gathering,” AU is investigating misbehavior stemming from a house on Upton Street in an effort to curb misconduct in the neighborhood and improve community relations. Four of the five residents are brothers of the unrecognized fraternity EI. AU has received about 10 complaints from three to four different neighbors, according to Associate Dean of Students Michelle Espinosa.
plaint that a kiddie pool, left by the house’s previous tenants, had blown into an alley behind the residence. AU emailed the residents within an hour saying the University was looking into taking judicial action. There have been no big parties at the house because the residents are more cautious in light of the complaints, the first brother said. “There have been no rides from the Quad going to the house,” he said. “There have been no freshmen on the streets drunk from the house. People have come over, and they’ve drank who are of legal age.” Although there are other addresses in the area that have elicited neighbor complaints about student behavior, local patrols are not being conducted there because the residents are working
by and large conduct themselves very well.” But the first brother said AU is crossing the line with administrators placing him on probation for noncompliance. He says he is facing not walking at graduation and his transcripts may be withheld. “It seems like the school is definitely overstepping their limits, maybe not their legal limits, but what’s expected for students who enrolled in the school,” he said, calling the University the “unAmerican American.”
Watching the neighborhood Public Safety and MPD officers are patrolling the area around Upton Street on foot and in both patrol and unmarked cars, according to Public Safety Chief Michael McNair. “Due to the number of
“You are a private person until what you’re doing is adversely affecting the University, and then we’re in a different relationship.” — Gail Hanson, vice president of campus life
“That’s a lot, on the scale of neighbor complaints that we look at,” Espinosa said, adding that the majority of concerns deal with the condition of the property, intoxication, cursing during the day and people coming and going at late hours. Two EI brothers living at the Upton Street house spoke with The Eagle on the condition of anonymity, for fear of disciplinary action. One of the brothers says the complaints mostly concern “quality of life” issues, adding that he has received no official police citations. “We’re allowed to live in our house,” he said. “We’re allowed to leave and go out.” The most recent complaints were reported to AU this past weekend when some of the residents had 15 to 20 guests over for a barbecue, a second brother said. Public Safety and Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to a com-
with AU to remedy the situation, according to Vice President of Campus Life Gail Hanson. “It’s so different from the other houses in terms of the frequency of the reports and the language that the neighbors use about constant noise, late at night, frequent nights, week nights and weekends, that it’s different than other houses that have been complained about,” Espinosa said. But administrators say that what makes this house even more unique is the residents’ refusal to change their behavior. “A reasonable conversation is just not enough to bring about a change in behavior. They want to live the way they want to live,” Hanson said. “Too many people, when they think of what AU students are like in the community, think about what they’ve experienced with that group. It’s unfortunate. Because I think AU students
complaints received by the University about the address in question, we have partnered with MPD to watch the neighborhood and this address for activity that may disturb those living in close proximity,” Espinosa said. Public Safety does not generally have jurisdiction outside AU’s campus, but McNair said it has been granted on a temporary basis through MPD. “We sit somewhere where we can see them,” McNair said. “There’s lots of ways to see what’s going on in a particular neighborhood.” MPD Second District Lt. Eric Hayes said he wasn’t aware of this temporary jurisdiction. Hayes said this residence isn’t a big problem for the D.C. police. “College students do party. That’s what they do,” he said. “There’s nothing unusual about that.” Public Safety is also using social media like Facebook
and Twitter as part of its “intelligence-gathering” to monitor when parties will occur, including an EI spring rush party that occurred in January, McNair said. Public Safety looks at many student groups’ social media content, not just that of EI. “When the parties are, who’s at the parties, what’s going on at the parties that they’re nice enough to show us,” he said. “We look at everything we can look at. In the public domain, it’s fair game.” The first EI brother said administrators have told him they know about the punching bag on his property and the language involved when the residents curse. “When you think about government not being in your bedroom and things like that, the school is literally being in my backyard,” he said. “They’re talking about cursing, assembly and things like that.” A “substantial” stain on AU’s reputation This sort of stepped-up response is “unusual,” according to Hanson, but it’s warranted based on a “chronic drumbeat of bad behavior.” “On houses where we have tried to use reason to get people to stop bad behavior and it hasn’t worked, we’re going to take more aggressive action and we’re going to make sure that we do what we need to do, within the realm of the law, but we’re going to do what we need to do to stop the behavior,” McNair said. The increased response to what Hanson called a “substantial” stain on the University’s reputation comes as AU looks to garner support for its 2011 Campus Plan, a controversial 10-year facilities plan that proposes building an East Campus on the Nebraska Parking Lot, close to local residents. “The thought of living next to a residence hall gets equated in error with living next to a group of students in a privately rented house,” Hanson said. “And there’s no comparison.” Prior to the Student Conduct Code changes enacted in June 2010 — AU can now discipline students for offcampus misconduct that does not necessarily violate local, state or federal laws !
see PATROLS on page 6
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from PATROLS on page 5
— this sort of action would have been more difficult to take, McNair said. The revised code gives the University the power to take disciplinary action, “When, in the judgment of University officials, a student’s alleged misconduct has a negative effect on the University’s pursuit of its mission or on the well being of the greater community,” the code says. “You are a private person until what you’re doing is adversely affecting the University, and then we’re in a different relationship,” Hanson said. But the first brother said this is putting an “unnecessary stress” on the residents of the house, calling it a “dog-and-pony show for the neighbors.” Unofficial status EI, formerly known as Alpha Tau Omega, has been an unofficial group since 2001, when the chapter lost its AU and national recognition for hazing and alcohol violations, according to AU Director of Greek Life Curtis Burrill. Since then, brothers of the unofficial fraternity have been surrounded by a “conspiracy of silence,” Hanson said, where students won’t reveal their identities. “We’ve cautioned people about the downside of having anything to do with an unrecognized fraternity,” she said. “I feel bad for AU students because they all get tarred by this small group of bad actors, and I’m a little bit surprised that the student body is as tolerant of this as they are. People still go to these parties — they know who these people are.” Last year, several brothers lived in a house on Ellicott Street. That house was the subject of numerous neighbor complaints, including ones about late-night parties, intoxicated students, loud music, dangerous driving, public urination and sometimes nude dancers. Other EI brothers have previously rejected these claims. AU worked with the Montgomery County, Md., police to try to get the students to leave the Ellicott Street house. “They got the message. They moved from where
,-.!"#$! they were,” McNair said. But problems started again when other EI brothers moved into the Upton Street house in January, McNair said. “These guys just don’t get the hint,” he said. None of the students currently living in the Upton Street house resided in the Ellicott Street house. Targeting the behavior AU officials say the misbehavior at the Upton Street house isn’t indicative of a larger EI investigation. Rather, AU is looking into the residents’ conduct, not the fact that they are members of EI. “We’re targeting the behavior, not the group,” McNair said, adding that the ultimate goal is to curtail the bad behavior at the Upton Street house. But AU is concerned about EI, Espinosa said. “From a broader perspective, we’re certainly trying to be aware overall of what might be going on with students who affiliate with this group because we’re concerned about safety,” she said. “We’re concerned about risk management issues for those students.” Originally, the first brother did not think AU knew the residents of the house were members of the unofficial fraternity. But now he believes AU has taken the issue too far. The University has never said it’s illegal for students to join EI, he said. “They’ve never said your behavior is going to be under higher scrutiny because of your affiliation,” he said. “We’re just like everyone else.” Both brothers say there’s nothing wrong with the school trying to mediate between students and neighbors, but when none of the complaints are substantiated by police reports, it goes too far. But it’s not just he and his housemates that need to be careful, the second brother said. “I worry when the school has that kind of authority,” he said. “Any student could be in this position.” sdazio@theeagleonline.com
Gen Ed program to see changes Clusters and tiers to be gone in fall 2012 after provost approval By PAIGE JONES Eagle Staff Writer
The General Education program will no longer include clusters and tiers, the divisions that separate each General Education area,
starting in fall 2012. The Faculty Senate decided to allow students to take any two classes within the five areas of General Education, according to Phyllis Peres, vice provost of Undergraduate Studies and faculty senator. Previously, students had to choose between two clusters within one area and were then restricted to that particular track. The Faculty Senate will establish a committee to decide whether these General Education changes will
apply to current students or only incoming freshman in the fall of 2012. Under the changes, students will be allowed to take two introductory courses within the five areas, rather than taking a 100-level course and then a 200-level course to complete their General Education requirements. “Instead of having to take an introductory course and then a sequential advanced course, you’re able to take two introductory courses, so you have more flexibility in terms of what classes you can take,” said former Student Government President Andy MacCracken, a member of the General Education taskforce to revise the program.
MacCracken said Provost Scott Bass must approve of these changes before they can go into effect in fall of 2012. The Faculty Senate will establish a committee to decide how to implement the new changes, according to Peres. She said the Faculty Senate “overwhelmingly approved” eliminating clusters and tiers. During the last review of the academic regulations 10 years ago, the Faculty Senate voted to implement clusters and tiers. Peres said each department will review the General Education program to make it more integrated and less “like a cafeteria menu.” !
see GEN ED on page 7
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Rebate offered by Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. Rebate will be applied on lease contracts, first toward the amounts due at lease signing or delivery, with any remainder to the capitalized cost reduction or toward the down payment on finance contracts. One rebate per finance or lease transaction. Rebate available on lease or finance contracts executed through January 3, 2012. Rebate only available on the select new untitled Toyota models described above. College Graduate Program is subject to change or termination at any time. Some restrictions apply. Program may not be available in all states. On approved credit through your participating Toyota dealer and Toyota Financial Services. Not all applicants will qualify. On eligible finance contracts with terms up to 60 months, first payment may be deferred for first 90 days on eligible new and current year used Toyota vehicles; finance charges accrue from contract date. Deferred first payment not available in PA or in connection with the preferred option finance plan. See Toyota dealer for details. Toyota Financial Services is a service mark of Toyota Motor Credit Corporation.
from GEN ED on page 6
“We want to ensure students receive a deliberate curriculum and be careful it’s not a hodge-podge,� Peres said. One of these changes will include sophomore seminars, as well as linked courses that will fulfill different General Education area requirements. “If a student is really interested in Medieval studies, they can take a Renaissance history course and a Medieval Ages course in which the faculty would collaborate, and the courses would count for two separate General Education areas,� Peres said. SG Director of Academic Affairs Eric Goldstein said the majority of the Faculty Senate agreed on the inef-
ficiency of “clusters� in the General Education program. “Most agreed that the clusters were designed so the second level course followed nicely with the foundation courses, but many students and professors found it to be an artificial barrier instead,� Goldstein said. The Faculty Senate will vote on maintaining the current policy of allowing students to take General Education courses as pass/fail on April 27. pjones@theeagleonline.com
LOVE OR HATE THE GEN ED CHANGES? TELL @THEEAGLEONLINE WHAT YOU THINK.
Pell Grant cuts to affect even non-Pell AU students By LEIGH GIANGRECO Eagle Staff Writer
Congressional cuts to the year-round Pell Grant program could have a ripple effect for American students even if they are not eligible for Pell Grants. If AU receives less federal money to distribute as Pell Grants, the University will have to use funds from its existing financial aid to cover Pell-eligible students. This leaves those who qualify for need-based financial aid, but not the Pell program, with less aid from the school. More than nine million stu-
dents nationwide receive aid through the Pell program, according to U.S. News and World Report. Of those, 1,043 AU students received a total of $4 million in Pell Grants for the 2010-2011 academic year, according to Brian Lee Sang, director of the Office of Financial Aid. “To lose something like $4 million is not sustainable,� Sang said. “It’s a very hard thing for the University to swallow or try to make up.� Cuts would restrict certain students from attending AU, according to Sang. “To increase the amount of economic diversity, you want to bring the best and brightest students to AU and students who fit the culture of AU,� he said. “The last thing any financial aid office wants to do is to limit the quality of students or limit the opportunity of students to contribute to the AU cul-
ture based upon finances.� Students with family incomes of $60,000 or less may be eligible for Pell Grants. Unlike a federal loan, Pell Grants do not need to be repaid. The new Congressional budget will forbid students from receiving two grants per year and from using Pell Grants for summer courses, according to the U.S. News and World Report. These changes will decrease the cost of the Pell program for the next year, according to the resolution. Still, while the budget cut year-round Pell Grants, it maintained the maximum Pell Grant award at $5,500, according to Education Week. A group of about 40 local college students protested the cuts outside the Capitol April 15 at an event organized by the D.C. Federation
of College Democrats. The group of students was small but vocal, with chants such as, “College students out of luck, Boehner doesn’t give a f***.� Matt Lien, a freshman in the School of Public Affairs, attended the protest as a member of D.C. Students Speak, a D.C. university student advocacy group that co-sponsored the event. “I think Pell Grants got lost in the shuffle and they shouldn’t,� Lien said. “Even though it’s a relatively small amount of money per student that Pell Grants give, it makes a big difference. It could mean the difference between going to college and not.� lgiangreco@theeagleonline. com
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AU students in Syria evacuated after protest
TAKE BACK THE NIGHT
By RACHEL KARAS Eagle Staff Writer
WOMEN’S INITIATIVE TAKES BACK THE NIGHT
Dozens of students marched around campus to the beat of drums during AU’s eighth annual Take Back the Night on April 11 to raise awareness of violence against women. ANA SANTOS / THE EAGLE
All six AU students studying abroad in Syria have safely returned to the U.S. following their evacuation April 15. AU Abroad is working to determine how much of each student’s coursework was completed while studying at the University of Aleppo, according to AU Abroad Associate Director Mark Hayes. Some non-language courses will be finished online with professors in Syria, Hayes said. Credit for unfinished Arabic classes is being determined on an individual basis, and students will work with AU professors to complete the language material. The University will cover all costs necessary for the students to make up their credits, Hayes said. rkaras@theeagleonline.com
READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE ONLINE. THEEAGLEONLINE.COM
with AU President Neil Kerwin and Board of Trustees Chair Gary Abramson Thursday, April 21 5:00 pm in Ward 2
Open Forum with President Neil Kerwin and Board of Trustees Chairman Gary Abramson
You are invited to a question-and-answer session with AU’s president and Board of Trustees chair. Call x 2144 for info. www.american.edu/president
www.american.edu/trustees
Spring drop in property theft similar to ’09-10 Five fewer laptops stolen so far in spring 2011 than fall 2010 semester. By LEIGH GIANGRECO Eagle Staff Writer
On-campus property theft was higher this fall semester than spring, which is consistent with trends from the past two years, according to Manager of Patrol Operations Cpt. Norman Bailey. This year, the increase in property theft was due to the number of laptops stolen. The Department of Public Safety reported that in fall 2010, 22 laptops were stolen. Seventeen laptops have been stolen so far this spring semester, as of April 7. Public Safety said there was an increase in laptop computers stolen in residence halls, particularly from unlocked dorm rooms. “Obviously, we have issues of students in the dorms just walking out for a minute,” Sergeant Andy Yocum said of laptop theft in residence halls. “We had a call a week ago where somebody had left just for a minute and their laptop was gone when they returned. So we try to stress to people that, even if they’re going to be gone for a few seconds, to lock their door.” Day Shift Supervisor Sgt. Ian Greenlee said laptops are the most commonly stolen item in the residence halls. He said that about 70 percent of the time, laptops are taken from rooms with unlocked doors, rather than common areas. Greenlee said that laptop theft is a campus-wide occurrence and unattended laptops are also easy targets in the library. Two arrests involving lap-
top theft in the library occurred over two consecutive days in November 2010, one of an AU affiliate and one of someone not connected with the University, according to Bailey. Greenlee said that laptop thefts in the library or elsewhere on campus occur because they are crimes of opportunity. “You really just have to be aware of your surroundings all the time,” Greenlee said. Greenlee also said the library is difficult to patrol for laptop thefts because of the ability to steal a laptop and put it in a backpack. “If we stopped everybody that had a backpack on, we’d be stopping everyone on campus,” Greenlee said. “It’s easy when you can blend into a community like this. It makes it a lot more challenging to try to catch the perpetrators of these types of crimes.” The ability to blend into the community can be dangerous for a metropolitan campus. Police Staff Duty Officer Kevin Mason said AU’s proximity to the Metro system would allow property crimes to reach the campus. “Dupont Circle is three or four stops away on the Metro, so anything that happens at Dupont Circle can happen here,” Mason said. “If you look at the campus, we don’t have walls around the campus. It’s an open campus.” Eight bikes were also stolen in fall 2010. During the fall 2009 semester, the spike in level of bike theft contributed to the rise of property theft, with 48 bikes stolen. lgiangreco@theeagleonline. com
ARE YOU A VICTIM OF PROPERTY THEFT? TELL @THEEAGLEONLINE ABOUT IT.
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AU Debate Society places seventh in national rankings By PAIGE JONES Eagle Staff Writer
AU increases sexual health educator position’s duties By NANCY LAVIN Eagle Staff Writer
The part-time sexual health educator position in the Wellness Center will become a full-time position May 1 with additional duties for sexual assault services. Daniel Rappaport, the current sexual health educator, is applying for the new, 40hour position as sexual assault prevention coordinator after serving part-time since September, though the position has also been opened up to other applicants. “Twenty hours is not enough to achieve all the goals we want to achieve,” Rappaport said, adding that the increase in hours will allow the University to expand its services for sexual assault prevention and education. Associate Dean of Students Michelle Espinosa said the change in title reflects the new duties of the position, allowing for a more increased focus on interactions between students and the individual hired for the job. Currently, Rappaport’s duties include providing workshops upon request for classes and on-campus organizations, as well as
heading the Men Creating Change group. The new position will continue these duties, while also overseeing a variety of new programs. “Right now, with the position at 20 hours a week, it’s hard for any of that programming to really be put into action,” said Victoria Bosselman, deputy director of Women’s Initiative. Specifically, the sexual assault prevention coordinator will lead the implementation of the “Green Dot” program, a way to involve potential bystanders in stopping and preventing instances of sexual violence. The program categorizes any action or behavior that perpetuates a culture of accepting sexual violence as a “red dot” and any action or behavior that fights back against this culture as a “green dot.” The basic message, “red dots bad, green dots good,” has been effective at other universities in addressing and preventing sexual assault, according to the program’s website. The sexual assault prevention coordinator will also work with a new group of peer educators, developing content and managing the logistics of peer-led work-
shops and education on various topics in sexual violence. “In order to change culture, we need to start educating from the ground up,” Rappaport said. Rappaport said these programs will provide the education and awareness necessary to start to change students’ attitudes toward sexual assault. “It’s such an important issue, it’s a real issue, but a lot of people just don’t understand how prevalent sexual assault actually is,” he said. The biggest challenge faced by these new programs will be to engage students, according to Rappaport. He said that the activism of a few groups, such as Women’s Initiative, around this “hot button” issue may make other students feel like it is exclusively a Women’s Initiative issue, rather than a universal one that affects all students. “The best way to market these services is to have students utilize the programs and services that it offers, to really get the bang for their buck from this new position,” Espinosa said. Rappaport also said that even with the expansion of services offered through the
INCREASE IN HOURS Current Sexual Health Educator Daniel Rappaport is applying for the new, 40-hour position. The position aims to increase the focus on interactions between students and the educator. ANA SANTOS / THE EAGLE
new position, he still will not have confidentiality, which prevents him from serving as an intermediary between victims and on-campus resources and services. “We need to set up the education piece before taking on advocacy,” he said. “They are each easily 60-hour per week commitments, and I can’t do both at once.” But he said becoming a victim advocate may be part of his job description in the future, after education programs are more firmly in place. “It’s crucial that the administration work to give licensing for confidentiality to the position once it is full time, as the lack of confidentiality means that he cannot walk a student through his or her options following an assault,” Bosselman said. nlavin@theeagleonline.com
The AU Debate Society was ranked No. 7 in the country, the highest ranking in the club’s history. AU Debate Society ranked No. 14 in 2010 and No. 21 in 2009, according to Debate Society President James Schmitt. Schmitt and Debate Society Vice President Stephanie Caravias competed together, ranking fourth in the nation for best team behind pairs from Boston University, Yale University and Harvard University, according to the American Parliamentary Debate Association, which ranks U.S. college debate teams. Schmitt and Caravias won the University of Virginia tournament on April 1 and 2, defeating a Johns Hopkins University team. The pair also placed first in tournaments at the College of William and Mary and the University of MarylandCollege Park earlier this year. “It’s the best American [University Debate Society] has ever done in the history of our team,” Caravias said. AU Debate Society receives $6,000 annually, the maximum amount an AU club can receive from the AU Club Council. Schmitt said the amount is significantly less than their competitors, such as Yale University and Harvard University. This low funding restricts the number of students the club can bring to tournaments to five or six students, while competing schools bring anywhere from seven to 16 students, according to Caravias. “Student Activities and AUCC give us the maximum amount of funding, but even with that, we’re still considered one of the poorest teams on the entire circuit,” she said. The Debate Society attends tournaments in the D.C. area almost every week to present its proposals on a selected topic and debate
against other colleges. The team practices for hours, researching and preparing before practicing and critiquing one another’s performance. Schmitt said the Debate Society’s success is a result of mastering the fundamental aspects of debate. “We’re very fortunate to have a strong institutional foundation for the past five years,” Schmitt said. “The Debate Society’s members have been incredibly dedicated to making sure they’re doing well and building a strong base.” Schmitt placed second for Speaker of the Year, with Caravias taking sixth place. College of Arts and Sciences freshman Kurt Girard placed fifth in the Novice Speaker of the Year category. Caravias said the novices in the Debate Society are performing well this year, placing first in tournaments at Johns Hopkins University, Franklin and Marshall College and Princeton University. “We debated novices a couple times a week and very frequently, I’m scared that they’re getting far better than me already,” Caravias said. “And they’ve only been debating for a year.” Debate Society Vice President of Operations and novice debater Ki’tay Davidson said the club’s success is due to good chemistry. “We get along as a team and the amount of dedication and willingness to critique each other is the result of our success,” Davidson said. The Debate Society was founded at AU in 2002, but did not begin seriously competing until the 20062007 season, according to Schmitt. “I think we represent a break out here for American since we’ve entered the toptier schools of debate,” Schmitt said. pjones@theeagleonline.com
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HOLI ON THE QUAD
COLORING THE QUAD
AU students, including Kogod freshman Kelsey Tomlinson (above) painted the Quad and each other April 17 as part of Holi, the Indian Festival of Colors. ANA SANTOS / THE EAGLE
Senior theater majors produce Metro-themed play for capstone By HAELY JARDAS
Eagle Contributing Writer “What makes you happy?” “Have you ever been close to death?” “Have you ever witnessed a miracle?” Armed with voice recorders and SmarTrips, the 2011 senior class of theater majors ventured through the D.C. Metro system and collected over 100 interviews. In teams of two, one person would ask questions about life, happiness and the Metro. The other would take notes on the mannerisms and physicality of their subject. The class then transformed what they found into a live docudrama with over 60 characters played by 12 performers. “Excuse me, is that your bag?” The familiar words said from the Metro PA system came through the speakers as the show began: “If you see something, say something.” On a set that made them voyeurs into the intimate lives of D.C. residents
the audience watched as strangers revealed the sad, the shocking and the hilarious through their interviews. The best and most fascinating part of the show was that every word spoken by the characters on stage was originally said by a real person on the Metro. Most students write papers
for their capstones and thesis projects, but if you’re a theater major, you make an entire show — from start to finish. Students produced every aspect of the show, entitled “See Something, Say Something.” Assistant professor Javier Rivera supervised the production and gave guidance when needed.
Otherwise, he encouraged the students’ own creative process to guide the show. “See Something, Say Something” also included several original songs with music by Mandee Ferrier Roberts, a first-year graduate student studying Arts Management, and lyrics by cast and crewmembers John Fritz and
David W. Pritchard. The songs varied over a range of topics, much like the interviews and the people they came from. There was the soulful funeral hymn sung by Tia Dolet. Then Kelsea Edgerly performed a ditty about escaping into a comic book with Batman. And Katherine Reinert performed a whimsical and philosophical song about dropping acid and your “immediate sensory experience.” The show was similar to other docudramas such as “The Laramie Project” and
Most students write papers for their capstones and thesis projects, but if you’re a theater major, you make an entire show — from start to finish. Courtesy of HOAI-NAM BUI
works by Anna Deavere Smith in its eerily truthful representation of true people. When the play starts, it’s a little unclear as to who or what we should be focusing on or where this is all going. But very soon, it clicks. The Metro is a metaphor for life and it’s all too clear that the people we brush by every day have stories that are both heartbreaking and gut-busting. “OK, so what makes you happy?” Glynnis Purcell dons a beanie as she portrays a young gentleman. “Life. Livin’. Vagina. Money — well, money first, then vagina,” Purcell said. It was so strange to think that people had actually said these things and even stranger that they opened up to students even with their stories of death and failure. “What gives you hope?” “You guys give me hope,” one of the Metro-goers said, “just coming down to the Metro, asking people questions.” thescene@theeagleonline. com
LOOK OF THE WEEK Romper Ready! NICOLE MOUTIS — FASHION With the thermostat saying that it’s 72 degrees outside, many students at AU are overwhelmed with joy and ready to show off their new, highly anticipated spring clothing. Kogod sophomore Alana Goodman strutted around in a fresh, olive green fresh romper with an off-white shrug to cover up when that nice spring breeze comes through. She accessorizes this outfit just right with a glamorous necklace with olive green jewels to go perfectly with her romper. She adds black leather booties to take this ensemble to the next level. Oh, and let’s not forget the aviator shades she rocks to finish this outfit off. Goodman was inspired by the beautiful weather when choosing her outfit. “Sometimes dressing for 60-70 degree weather can be challenging because it’s hard to pinpoint what season or look you are going for,” Goodman said. “I decided to combine looks from the fall and spring seasons. I felt as though this look embraced the spring weather without taking it too far.” As far as name brand designers go, Goodman likes to mix it up. “I don’t really have any personally favorite designers but I find myself wearing a lot of trendier brands such as La Rok, Alice + Olivia and Parker,” Goodman said. “I am more in-thenow fashion than classic pieces, so big name designers such as Chanel, Dolce and Gabbana and Prada usually only end up on my shoulder as a handbag, but their season collections still inspire what I wear.” For her fashion predictions, there’s one timeless trend Goodman can’t wait to show off. “I am most excited about the wedges trend. I think
wedges with high-waisted shorts are so trendy,” she said. She also draws inspiration from a very special person in her life. “My mom is very big into fashion and the current trends, so she inspires much of what I wear,” Goodman said. “But fashion in a general sense to me is about wearing what you like and looking good in it.” thescene@theeagleonline. com
Get this look ROMPER
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Photo: ANA SANTOS / THE EAGLE
http://eagl.us/dRZHuh
WARM WEATHER MEANS COOL OUTFITS. LET @THEEAGLEONLINE KNOW WHAT YOU’RE ROCKING.
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CONCERT REVIEW
FILM REVIEW
After seven-year hiatus from music scene, fans finally get a slice of CAKE By LIDDY HERNANDEZ Eagle Contributing Writer
Courtesy of HOAI-NAM BUI
Killer courtroom drama puts D.C. in the spotlight
THE CONSPIRATOR B+ — 130 MINUTES By JON STAAL
Eagle Contributing Writer As Arthur Miller wrote “The Crucible” as a historical allegory of McCarthyism, “The Conspirator” is a Civil War movie that clearly aims to draw a meaningful connection to the “war on terror.” The film is set during the immediate aftermath of the Lincoln assassination, when a military tribunal has been set up by the federal government to try the alleged conspirators. “The Conspirator” tells the true story of Mary Surratt, played by Robin Wright, charged with taking part in the conspiracy to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln because she owned the boarding house where John Wilkes Booth and several others met to plan the crime. (For those who don’t know their history, we won’t give the ending away here.) Defending her is the freshoff-the-battlefield lawyer Frederick Aiken (James McAvoy), who reluctantly takes on the case at the behest of his boss. James McAvoy gives a commanding performance, deftly portraying the journey of a man
who must come to the reluctant conclusion that what he knows and believes in may be wrong. “My character starts to realize my client might be innocent, and he has to sort of choose between his country and the Constitution,” James McAvoy said in an interview with The Eagle. From there, the movie unfolds as a classic courtroom drama, and a good one at that. It helps that there is such a great supporting cast, including the likes of Tom Wilkinson and Kevin Kline; but director Robert Redford is clearly focused on Aiken’s personal journey. From the beautiful scenes of 19th century Washington, whether it be sweeping shots of the Mall or the dark, musty court room or the opening battlefield scene, what has to be “The Conspirator’s” greatest strength is communicating what it meant to be living in the aftermath of the U.S. Civil War. “The American Film Company has such an incredible dedication to historical accuracy, and we wanted to make sure it was as accurate as possible,” said screenwrit-
It has been seven years since loyal fans heard the fresh sounds of derisive alternative-rock band CAKE. After taking some time off to set up their own record label, Upbeat Records, and tend to their personal lives, CAKE is back, and their return is nothing less than grand. The band’s sixth album “Showroom of Compassion” debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, making it the highest achieved chart position in their two-decade career. Three years in the making, it’s the band’s first material since the release of “Pressure Chief ” seven years
ternationally to destinations like Japan, Australia and Istanbul, where they were greeted with much love and loyalty by fans. However, after a while the band knew it was time to leave and begin a new chapter. As he and his band members toiled away writing, arranging and performing their own music, DiFiore said their recently constructed solar-powered studio allowed them “the opportunity to listen to ourselves without the worry of deadlines because it’s our label now.” After nearly 20 years, CAKE’s authentic and antigenre approach has made their ever-inventive sound a thriving success. “The inspiration always
SCENE SAYS
“What always inspires me is how strong we are and how long we’ve been together.”
Heavy on the allegories, but still a worthwhile film er James D. Solomon, who has been working on the script for nearly 18 years. It doesn’t take too long before the message Redford is trying to send becomes obvious. As Aiken struggles against the dubious military trial of citizens and argues with Lincoln’s Secretary of War on how far a government should and can go to protect its citizens, the parallels to the “war on terror” and Guantanamo Bay become painstakingly clear. It can be pretty heavy-handed at times and mostly one-sided, so ultimately how well this works depends largely on one’s personal politics. That being said, “The Conspirator” still ranks as one of Redford’s best. People who prefer action blockbusters may want to stay away, but this film is a must-see for history buffs and fans of courtroom drama. Hoai-Tran Bui contributed to this report. thescene@theeagleonline. com
er...we adapt and roll with the punches, but always as a band,” DiFiore said. This past weekend, the band played three sold-out nights at the 9:30 club, which attracted fans across all generations. The anticipation of the crowd, from young to old, as they set their eyes on the natural backdrop decorating the stage was coupled with the fanatic comments whispered among fans. The grandiose music ringing in the background just before the band’s entrance was somewhat of a throwback befitting of a classic “Stars Wars” adventure that even George Lucas would appreciate. CAKE, who did not have an opening band, played for nearly two hours
— Vincent DiFiore, CAKE’s trumpet and keyboard player
Courtesy of CAKE OFFICIAL WEBSITE
ago. “Showroom of Compassion” is also the first release through Upbeat Records. A few weeks before their three-night series of shows at D.C.’s own 9:30 club, CAKE’s trumpet and keyboard player Vincent DiFiore discussed the band’s progress, new album and what these last seven years have brought in an interview with The Eagle. DiFiore, with an amiable yet candid tone, stated that after the band’s release of “Pressure Chief,” they toured in-
comes from [lead singer] John,” DiFiore said of the band’s musical creativity. “He expresses issues and our perspectives as a band in a very unique way — we’re a group of guys who share his views.” In addition to the thrilling guitar, stunning trumpet and crisp vocals, the band’s true instrumentation success is in their resilience and their desire to play music. “What always inspires me is how strong we are and how long we’ve been togeth-
to screaming crowds overflowing the venue. Fans sang along to old school favorites like the ever-popular “Sheep Go To Heaven,” “Opera Singer” and “Wheels,” as well as some newer songs such as “Long Time,” the second single from their newest album. They also played “Sick Of You,” the album’s lead single which DiFiore described as a “Southern rock or honkytonk” type of sound. DiFiore added that they have been “performing 10 shows a month but are trying not to get burnt out. As long as we are healthy and happy we will continue to do this.” thescene@theeagleonline. com
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AUDIOPHILE
WVAU SOUNDTRACKS YOUR WEEK
THE WEEKND
GENERATIONALS
Is it safe to say that there is an R&B revival going on? The Weeknd’s mixtape “House of Balloons” is being heralded as one of the best things to happen to R&B in a long while. Riddled with ambient drug references and drawn out synths, the songs are like a slow motion tour through one of those parties that you hear about in PSA advertisements. “House of Balloons” is haunting in the best possible way. Fueled by cravings for money and fame, the vocals flush over
If you’re like me, you understand that life can be difficult for those of us who shamefully love shameless indie-pop. But every once in a while, a band comes along that’s just cool enough to be deemed “mildly acceptable” by the hip record store crowd and just catchy enough that your mom “really likes it” and asks you to buy her the CD from Barnes & Noble. This week, that band is New Orleans-based twee-poppers Generationals. On their follow-up to their acclaimed debut, “Con Law,” the duo continue to do what works: channel their mid-tempo “Casiotone-meets-BeachBoys” pop rock through analog equipment and tape machines to great success. But while the first record often skirted dangerously close to cheesiness, Generationals loses the “twist and shout” horn imitations and cliché early Phoenix white-guytr ying-to-play-a-funky-
HOUSE OF BALLOONS / SELF
! SIMILAR ARTISTS James Blake, Theophilus London, The xx
" BEST TRACKS 1, 2, 3, 4, 9
smoked-out instrumentals. It walks the line between obsession and addiction like a tightrope or a sobriety test. It’s intimate and uncomfortable, but that’s also what makes it too good to ignore. — Kevin Kunitake
ACTOR-CASTER / PARK THE VAN
! SIMILAR ARTISTS The Love Language, Peter Bjorn & John, Minks
" BEST TRACKS 2, 3, 7
TV ON THE RADIO
NINE TYPES OF LIGHT / INTERSCOPE
! SIMILAR ARTISTS Yeasayer, Menomena, Brian Eno
" BEST TRACKS 1, 4, 6
TV On The Radio have enjoyed the fortune of mixing eclecticism with commercial success through the efforts of powerful frontmen Tunde Adebimpe and Kyp Malone as well an infusion of technical wizardry from David Sitek. The band has become one of the most talked about acts in the modern music world. Their latest effort, “Nine Types of Light,” comes highly anticipated, and for the most part meets the expectations we hope for from such luminaries. TV On The Radio is still willing to experiment with a wide variety of sounds on this new album, combining sunny
soulful vocals with Sitek’s trademarked experimental electronics. For a band that has always relished the dark, this more peppy side to the band can seem surprising and a little disappointing. Nevertheless, TV On The Radio are so comfortable in their element that they make it work, and the shadowy swagger that has made singles like “Wolf Like Me” and “DLZ” classics is evident in lead single “Will Do,” a fantastic cut that ranks as one of the band’s best.
GB CITY / FAT POSSUM
! SIMILAR ARTISTS Wavves, No Age, Young Prisms
" BEST TRACKS 2, 3, 5
The fact that Bass Drum of Death are from Alabama may seem surprising at first listen. They play stoner lo-fi that sounds like the missing link between Wavves and No Age — both members of the LA scene. The more one listens to the band, however, the more sense they make. Songs about hooking up with religious girls and talking to Elvis in your dreams work perfectly with swaggering garage rock guitars. You begin to see it less as some Southerners imitating
their West Coast contemporaries and more as a Dixie duo creating the perfect marriage between southern rock toughness and punk snotty-ness. Last summer had Wavves’ “King of the Beach,” and this summer belongs to their labelmates Bass Drum of Death’s “Gb City.”
— Maxwell Tani
I’M FROM BARCELONA
FOREVER TODAY / MUTE
— Brad Barbour
BASS DRUM OF DEATH
baseline gimmick in favor of a more straightforward ’60s pop-rock sound. Jangly guitars, irresistible melodies and staccato pianos are all drenched in sun-soaked reverb, making “Actor-Caster” the perfect record for your quickly arriving summer. And while the record gets slightly bogged down in never really leaving the general BPM range of 120-140, these faults are easily forgiven by how diverse the band’s influences are. (At one point in a song, you may be confused as to if you’re listening to MGMT, Cults or Chubby Checker.) So if you’re sick of trying to get into un-listenable lo-fi music but want your friends to think you “totally don’t care about production value,” definitely give this band a listen.
! SIMILAR ARTISTS Architecture in Helsinki, Peter Bjorn & John, “I Got A Pickle” (from The Little Rascals)
" BEST TRACKS 2, 4, 6, 7
If you already have an opinion on Swedish pop collective I’m From Barcelona, I promise you that their third full-length release will not change that opinion. “Forever Today” is yet another collection of innocent singalongs about staying true to yourself and having fun, so you can bet your darn tootin’ hootenanny that these songs are chock-full of handclaps, synth hooks and
lyrics that could have only been dreamed up by a fiveyear-old (my personal [least] favorite: “Everybody’s got bellies full of butterflies”). If you are looking for shamelessly earnest pop music with a can-do attitude, then this album is highly recommended. If not, then steer clear, buckaroo! — Peter Gill
http://eagl.us/dRZHuh
— Allison Poramba
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CHECK OUT WVAU.ORG TO LISTEN
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VOICES
Five novel ideas for considering the ins, outs of pop culture
MICHAEL W. RICHARDSON — LISTOPIA I’m pretty much convinced it’s the pop culture apocalypse. They’re making a 3D “Great Gatsby.” Mathew Weiner is fighting to keep advertising out of “Mad Men,” a show that is about advertising. Sidney Lumet died, and “The Dark Knight” sequel will be filmed in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh! These are the end times. Which is nice, because it perfectly coincides with the end of my column and the end of three years of writing about pop-culture for The Eagle. It’s nice to go out at the end. But just in case pop culture survives these dire times, I ought to offer something for the future. And my future, a period that employed journalists have maliciously called “funemployment,” will be empty aside from hopeful job applications and — for the first time in months — reading for fun. So instead of some entertainment history, this column is dedicated to some simple suggestions: the best pop culture books to entertain and inform this summer.
and many of his novels contain references to modern culture. But “High Fidelity” stands above the rest, both in its depiction of music-obsessives and how they use that music to deal with their lives. It also contains long passages dedicated to their famous “Top Five” lists and the power of a good mixtape. And if nothing else, it is our most potent reminder of what a mixtape is.
cus and professor of African American Studies Werner Sollors collected essays from notable academics and authors about over 200 topics in American history. Each essay is only around three pages long, but that allows the writers to fit in works about things that no one would think belong in a proper history class. Essays about Walt Whitman and the Winchester Rifle sit next to an essay about Linda Lovelace and
a The word “away” is personal. I can feel “away” only a few miles from home, but also be “away” living in London, yet still feel at home. However, the farthest away I have ever gone, and the farthest away I have ever felt, was during my recent trip to Turkey. Studying abroad for the year has given me the opportunity to explore some of Europe’s most amazing cities. Yet not until traveling to Istanbul did I experience a city truly unlike anywhere else I have been before.
From London fog to Turkish Delight, AU student spices up life OLIVIA STITILIS — LONDON, ENGLAND for everything in Istanbul) you have to begin by cutting the price in half. Though my friend and I were able to barter for some great finds, I much preferred the Spice Market to the Grand Bazaar. The Spice Market is equally astonishing, but much less touristy since it’s where most Turks come to do their shopping. Beyond huge barrels of spices, the market presented copious amounts of nuts, fish, Turkish Delight and dried fruit. The fact that you can sample absolutely
free apple tea. Little did we know that apple tea is virtually cheaper than water in Turkey. Throughout the rest of our meals we were brought free apple tea even if we didn’t ask for it. No matter how far “away” you travel, home or abroad, you become a better traveler in the process. Turkey opened my eyes to a whole other world. Traveling in Turkey may have presented the largest learning curve of all my travels thus far with the bartering, drastically different currency and abrupt
“The author is a love-himor-hate-him figure, probably due to the way he mixes personal anecdotes, faux philosophy and a love of Kiss into his popular essay collections.”
“Our Band Could Be Your Life” by Michael Azerad Michael Azerad’s book about ’80s punk and indie rock is one of the best pieces of music journalism in recent memory. Each chapter is dedicated to one of the most influential bands of the Reagan era, from the Minutemen to Sonic Youth, centering on their greatest releases. The trick is that Azerad manages to talk to almost everyone involved — he seems to have had almost unlimited access to band members who were previously uncommunicative to the press, and the result is a book that has no rival.
“IV” by Chuck Klosterman I realize that by putting Klosterman on this list, I will have delighted half my readers and caused the other half to dismiss this article all together. For some reason, the author is a love-him-or-hatehim figure, probably due to the way he mixes personal anecdotes, faux philosophy and a love of Kiss into his popular essay collections. So here’s a truce: Klosterman’s best book for those who might not like Klosterman. “IV” collects the best of the author’s essays for various magazines, meaning that the personal stories are kept to a minimum. Instead, we get a look into the author’s varied interests with each essay offering something new and incisive.
“Deepthroat” by Ann Marlowe. The book is a must read for anyone who thinks they know what pop-culture means and want to see what it meant in our past.
“High Fidelity” by Nick Hornby Nick Hornby may be our most pop-infused author,
“A New Literary History of America” edited by Greil Marcus and Werner Sollors Music journalist Greil Mar-
thescene@theeagleonline. com
“Making Movies” by Sidney Lumet Sidney Lumet was an icon of filmmaking, and his loss is surely one felt by Hollywood. I would recommend this book even without the unfortunate circumstances — it is simply the best book written about the film industry, bar none. Tracing its way though Lumet’s own time in Hollywood, it is told with a lighthearted tone and plenty of insight from a film icon. Want to go into filmmaking? Might as well learn from one of the best.
OLIVIA STITILIS / THE EAGLE
Prior to moving to London, I made a list of all the places I wanted to visit this year. On top of that list was Istanbul. I was always attracted to its acclaimed mixture of both Eastern and Western cultures. Referred to as the gateway to the Orient, Istanbul, with its culture, food and history, is an amalgamation of European, Asian and Middle Eastern influences. My favorite aspects of Istanbul were the markets. The more touristy market, the Grand Bazaar, was a completely overwhelming maze of beautiful scarves, jewelry and clothing. The Bazaar is most notorious for ripping off tourists so that when bargaining (as you do
anything you want may have made me love it even more. Bartering is a quintessential aspect of life in Turkey. During my three days I bartered for cab rides, free appetizers, prices for a boat tour and, of course, for goods at the markets. As someone who looks very Western, I expected to get ripped off, but I was determined to get the best prices possible. By the end of my trip, I realized the best tool in bartering is simply walking away. Throughout the trip, I also learned the difference between a “deal” and a scam. When trying to pick a place to eat dinner the first night, my friend and I were eventually swayed by an offer of
COLD TURKEY
While studying in London is a great introduction to European living, Turkey offers up the best blend of Western and Eastern civilization. Whether it’s going to the Spice Market or the Grand Bazaar, Turkey provides a great melting pot of different cultures. evidence as to how Western I truly am, but it was also my favorite trip of the year. Though I am so happy to have been able to experience the gateway to the Orient, I hope that someday I will be able to move beyond the gateway and experience even more Eastern culture. thescene@theeagleonline. com
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Abroad student offers retrospective on her tasty Roman holiday
N KELLY HOLLIDAY — ROME, ITALY I love food. I dream about it, enjoy cooking it and, of course, love eating it. I also love to write, so I count myself very lucky that I’ve been given the opportunity to merge the two passions by working for The Eagle. I’ve loved writing about my culinary adventures while in Rome, but what I love more is how those culinary adventures will always remind me of my favorite memories of my semester in Italy. I’ve already waxed poetic about Italian grocery stores, but I will always remember my first time stepping in
shopping cart.) The best meal I’ve had so far was at a small winery in Trequanda, Tuscany, when I visited in February. The meal was amazing: bruschetta and freshly sliced salami and prosciutto for antipasti, pappardelle with ragu, juicy roasted chicken and crispy potatoes and a sweet strawberry shortbread tart for dessert. But I’ll remember that it was at that small winery where I bought my first bottle of wine. Admittedly, I felt cool and grown-up because I could finally buy wine
I firmly believe you can tell a lot about a person by what they put in their shopping cart. one. Even three months after the fact, I still marvel at the cubed pancetta, hunks of aging pecorino and the slimy eels and octopi that stared at me through the glass case of the fish counter. But my first time grocery shopping in Italy was also the first outing with my roommates, when we first got to know each other. (I firmly believe you can tell a lot about a person by what they put in their
without being carded! I also am painfully aware that I am super lame. I had the best sautéed mussels in Salerno, a small town on the Amalfi coast over my spring break. They were plump, sweet and swimming in a garlicky, buttery broth. I soaked up the juices with hunks of crusty bread that the wait staff so wonderfully provided and finished with a gulp of my complimentary
glass of Prosecco. But the experience was so much bigger than me because I was there with my grandmother and my aunt: Salerno is where my grandmother’s grandparents were born and the town they left when they immigrated to America. I will always remember thinking that distant relatives of mine could have been sitting in that same restaurant, eating mussels just like I was. And this past weekend, I spent a few hours on a small boat cruising around the island of Capri. The tour guide gave our group two bottles of complimentary strawberry wine, and we spent the time drinking it cup-by-cup, noshing on snacks and lolling in the hot sun. It’s my favorite memory thus far. Just hanging out with friends, surrounded by clear, blue water and marveling at how amazing our lives have felt since being here. Three months ago we were all strangers, surrounded by snow and wondering what life would be like once we were in Italy. Life has been good, and I’m glad I was able to share how good it was with you. kholliday@theeagleonline. com
EAGLE FILE PHOTO
Students share their own personal methods of ensuring safer sex TARA CULP-RESSLER AND RYAN CARTER — THE SEX WONKS If you can remember our very first column last semester — it’s okay, we can barely think that far back either — you might remember that it focused on safer sex. We want to come full circle and address that topic again. As a refresher, we use the term “safer” sex in this column, because a hundred percent “safe” sex doesn’t exist. Risk varies depending on each sexual partner’s behavior and personal history. But there definitely are measures you can take to ensure your sex is “safer”— like using a condom, getting regularly screened for STIs and talking to your partners about their sexual history. If there’s one thing we want AU’s community to take away from a year of sex-
positive advice, it’s that we should all be committed to safer sexual practices. Practicing safer sex We asked some students about lessons they’ve taken away from their sexual activity. “Until my partner and I are monogamous, I always use a condom during intercourse,” a female senior in the College of Arts and Sciences said. “I’ll put on my partner’s condom as part of foreplay. You can incorporate it into a handjob or put it on with your mouth.” However, safer practices in one area of sexual activity don’t always translate to all types of sexual activity. “I have never practiced safe oral sex,” the CAS ’11 senior
said. “When I was younger that seemed to be the activity of choice, and no one was safe about it. I couldn’t imagine asking someone to put a condom on for that.” A female senior in the School of International Service told me she would prefer to skip the condom altogether. “I’ve been having sex since I was 16 with the same partner, and we never use condoms,” she said. “I never liked them — they’re annoying. We used the pull out method.” However, she noted the decision to forego condoms was not without its consequences. !
see SEX on page 16
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from SEX on page 15
“They may be annoying, but they’re cheaper than a baby,” she said. “The morning after pill and pregnancy tests are also expensive. I’ve had to buy both.” Both seniors demonstrated responsible, safer sex practices by getting themselves screened for STIs.
it can still happen.” Tools for safer sex We know our sex lives aren’t always perfect — sometimes, safer practices require a learning curve. And what better way to keep learning than by getting free stuff? A progressive adult retailer
We use the term ‘safer’ sex in this column, because 100 percent ‘safe’ sex doesn’t exist. “Everything was fine, and I’m so thankful that my risky behaviors turned out okay,” the CAS ’11 female said. The SIS ’11 female learned she had contacted a strain of HPV. “It’s the typical ‘you have sex with everyone your partner’s had sex with’ story,” she said. “Even though he was my only sexual partner,
named Paris Intimates is partnering with colleges across the country for a safer sex campaign. Paris Intimates points out that, while condoms are effective for preventing pregnancy and STIs, the effectiveness rate drops for people in their first year of sexual activity. Check out Paris Intimates’
Facebook and Twitter pages for more information on the campaign. As a tool to raise awareness for safer sex, Paris Intimates is giving away 50 free sex kits to AU students. Don’t miss out! Start practicing safer sex today! E-mail us to claim your free sex kit, and the first lucky 50 respondents will win all the tools for a sexy, safer time. Seriously, don’t make us use all this lube ourselves. sexwonks@theeagleonline. com
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Becoming aware of the toxic chemicals in our own backyard
Patrolling off-campus students toes the line of what’s acceptable
‘AU at War’ series highlights need for transparency, knowledge of situation
Changes in the Student Conduct Code last year gave AU more authority over students living in the neighborhood — the University can now investigate neighbor complaints and take action regarding residences where AU students live. Rather than being a completely reactive organization off campus, powers have been granted to enable a more proactive force in hunting down the offenders that live among us. Though some of us may have taken issue with this change, especially those of us residing in the neighborhood that have lived here peacefully for some time, it has helped the University promote better neighbor relations and hasn’t affected us too much … right? It has come to our attention this week that new levels have been reached in the off-campus work by AU Public Safety. Rather than merely responding to neighbor complaints or noise violations, Public Safety and MPD have been patrolling certain areas of the
Actions such as this have the possibility to set a dangerous precedent for AU’s off-campus students. ful behavior warrants some kind of watchful eye by the administration. Others of us believed that prior infractions shouldn’t count against you before sentencing if a new one is committed. Those of us in the latter camp also believe that this sort of behavior could lead to a dangerous precedent regarding Public Safety’s pres-
ture complaints. Actions such as this have the possibility to set a dangerous precedent for AU’s off-campus activities. Though the Conduct Code has provided the University with the chance to be more proactive in situations like this, it shouldn’t be allowed to cross certain boundaries — and this is one of them.
resume and cover-letter workshops, but perhaps we lost sight of our longterm career trajectory. Let’s face it, many of the jobs we’re interested in don’t pay as much as the fat cats salivating over cufflinks working at Goldman Sachs. (Here’s looking at you, Kogod.) Some face the dilemma of sellingout, where others see the ambition and ebullience they entered with (toward selfless causes) become secondary to accepting any position that’s willing to provide the Benjamins to put food on the table. It’s hard to feed the world when we’re barely getting enough ourselves. Throughout my first year, I’ve listened to numerous guest speakers attest to their professional experience. One pervasive theme sticks out: do what you love. It amazes me how many professionals noted that more lucrative
options existed and originally they fell for the temptation and accepted these jobs. It’s pretty cool to be fresh out of school earning upwards of $50,000. It’s pretty hard to turn down. But time after time, when the speakers reflected on that pinnacle of success (financially), they remembered who they really were. They encountered a point where the expensive suits fit well physically, but each time they examined themselves before a mirror, they looked ugly. They were unhappy, until they remembered what really matters. They harkened back to their roots, the passions of their early 20’s and they quit what they were doing to start anew. They accepted less money and gained immeasurably. Obviously, it’s a tad easier to accrue work experience and then transition. As neophytes to the “real” world we don’t have the years of
experience or second page of a résumé to entice the non-profits we’re applying to. Apply anyway. If an attractive position at a firm is offered but it’s choice number four, we don’t have to rearrange it to choice number one. We can be patient and persevere, continuing to seek out places that are more conducive to assisting others and not just padding our personal bank accounts. I’m not against living comfortably or making money. After all the hard work and debt incurred from college, we deserve nothing less. I only pause to remember who we really are, remember why we chose AU and remember what really matters.
As faithful readers of this publication, you’ve noticed our “AU at War” series over the past few weeks. Our investigative reporter Sylvia Carnigan has helped expose AU’s chemical-ridden history and gave us some answers to the rumors about the chemical weapons in our backyard. (Spoiler: They’re true.) However, as we come to the end of our series, we’re left wondering: What is to be done about all this? Are AU and the Army Corps of Engineers really going to let potentially dangerous chemical weapons just sit there? What do we do if, for some god-awful reason, they strike gold and find mustard gas nearby? The answers to these questions aren’t known by many of us, but as occupants of this area, we should know the answers.
We’re not advocating that all tour guides now give a long-winded explanation of AU’s chemical warfare history on Freshmen Day. However, our expose has highlighted the transparency issues surrounding these potential hazards, and we feel that AU students need to be made more aware of what’s really happening on campus and in AU’s backyard. We’ve all heard rumors of the weapons, but how many of us actually know where they are or could be? How many of us knew that the Child Development Center on South side was closed in 2002 because of arsenic found there? The answer is (not surprisingly) very few of us, a fact of which the administration shouldn’t be proud. So what should be done? Are we in danger of a chemical outbreak if construction crews were to unearth something? Chances are very low, but the University does have evacuation procedures
in case such an incident arises, procedures that we all should know. Especially as construction begins on the new campus plan in the next few years, which could unearth long-buried artifacts, AU students should be aware of these procedures, even if they’re just outlined in the student handbook. As we’ve learned, we have little reason to panic and run to the hills, but we do need to become more aware of these weapons in our own backyard. This isn’t a problem that is going to disappear overnight, and there’s not even a guarantee that all the buried weapons will ever be found, but in the remote case that something does happen, we need to be prepared.
To sell out or not to sell out: Remember what really matters CONOR SHAPIRO — SMARTER THAN I LOOK Why did you enroll at AU? We each have our individual reasons, but I’m willing to bet many students matriculated here because of the common and accurate perception that AU is a force for social justice. AU students care about the environment and minority groups. We give tragedies like genocide and natural disasters much more than lip service. We’re advocates, we’re in the know and we take action. We don’t have the pompous reputation of Georgetown students nor the cutthroat mentality
like George Washington. AU carries a humanitarian connotation that means more to us than ‘Wonk’ ever could. As seniors inch closer toward their graduation ceremony and graduate students scramble to secure paid positions, it seems a good time to reflect why we came here to begin with. I author a blog named, ConArtist. Its subtitle reads, “I haven’t sold out yet, but I’m willing to negotiate.” I created it during my senior year of undergraduate and the subtitle
is intended to be humorous. I think. Sometimes I wonder if I’m as susceptible to the allure of fast cars, fancy dinners and box seats as the next guy. Am I looking to sell out faster than Keenan Cahill (YouTube Usher’s “DJ Got Us Falling in Love”)? Am I willing to compromise my principles and values for a fat paycheck? Are you? In this bleak economy we may have little choice. Beggars can’t be choosers. We’ve all acquired marketable skills, worked internships, attended
neighborhood. As an editorial board, we were divided on reasons why/why not this could be allowed, but we all agree that this behavior is strongly toeing the line and may actually be abusing their newfound power. Some of us believe that the University is right to suspect that repetitive disrespect-
ence in the neighborhood — AU is not Big Brother, nor should it be. What is the motive for Public Safety patrolling these areas, anyway? While we understand the importance of the Campus Plan, ensuring good neighbor relations does not mean puppy-guarding our doorsteps in the event of fu-
Conor Shapiro is a graduate student in the School of International Service and a liberal columnist.
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Faulty election policies shouldn’t be issue of focus in SG
In response to the letter by Students for Liberty in last week’s issue, I am forced to agree that this system is overly regulated and essentially creates no benefit. Example: While serving on the E-board for one of the larger student groups on campus, I was a participant in that group’s endorsement process. It was a waste of everybody’s time. The effort it took to Skype in a candidate from China, coax the various other candidates away from frat activities and to listen for an hour and a half of “we care about your special interest constituency” was not a pleasurable or worthwhile experience.
control us. On the one hand, President Kerwin’s campus update will tout student academic achievements and benefits to the community, while on the other Gail Hanson will calmly remind us in an e-mail of the universal jurisdiction of the Student Code and the wisdom and finality of the administration’s decisions on behalf of students. Oh yes, it’s nice that AU has seen fit to grant us our allowance — a paltry $619,920, the equivalent of about 15 students’ yearly tuition. Using the budgets projected for 2012, this is only 0.11 percent of AU’s overall revenues. Given more money,
We should be more worried about the lack of power of Student Government in the realm of university policy. But I must ask SFL, and the student body in general, does changing electoral policy matter? That the representatives who pass resolutions to compel the president to try and advocate on our behalf are more fairly elected means what? The energy to reform election policy is misplaced — we should be more worried about the lack of power of Student Government in the realm of university policy. The disregard with which the administration of this school treats its students is appalling and desperately needs correcting. The changes to the Student Conduct code and claiming the WONK campaign is lovingly embraced by the large majority of students are evidence enough for the average student; and those students that have had an experience with the bloated bureaucracy know well the inefficiencies and incompetence that plagues the administration that desperately seeks to
and perhaps some real authority, SG will come under more scrutiny from the average student. Then it follows that SG will naturally have to adapt to a more aware and involved student body — granting changes to electoral procedures, etc. Ideally, this would then transform into organizing students to protest for policy changes and cause the administration of this school too finally pay attention to students’ wishes. Finally, I believe that given a stronger Student Government, the most politically active campus in the country to finally start paying attention to itself for a change. William Hodges CAS 2012
Colleges and universities need to address the realities of unpaid internships for students EMI RUFF-WILKINSON — RANTER IN RESIDENCE Internships are considered a rite of passage for undergrads, especially at AU. While the national rate of undergraduate internships is over 50 percent, AU’s is a staggering 81 percent. Here, it’s just part of the campus culture to complete an internship — even when it isn’t required, it’s simply expected. But this “rah-rah” attitude doesn’t reflect the reality of internships, especially unpaid ones, which make up about two-thirds of all internships. While gaining experience is a tremendous benefit, there are costs that rarely enter into the conversation. This is why the Department of Labor recently released guidelines for what constitutes a legal unpaid internship. They must be clearly educational, be for the benefit of the intern, not displace an-
other employee and the employer must not profit from the intern. Easier said than done. The bottom line is that unpaid interns are easy to exploit. They work for free, and who can really say whether or not the employer profits from their work? Furthermore, unpaid interns aren’t real “employees” and therefore aren’t protected by anti-discrimination laws, including sexual harassment laws. Interns simply exist in a gray area of the American workforce. Universities tend to side with the employers on this issue, rather than the interns. Late last year, 13 college presidents signed a letter against more regulation of internships, arguing that they can effectively monitor whether or not an internship is worthwhile. Career centers at these colleges,
however, don’t agree, finding themselves swamped by the number of interns and stuck between pleasing the employer and the intern. It should also be pretty obvious that the benefits of unpaid internships are overwhelmingly more feasible for welloff students. To take on an unpaid internship is at least a 15 hour a week commitment, which on top of school is already looking like a 40 hour week. Having a job that can pay the bills is difficult when you’re already devoting at least 15 hours to working for free. Never mind that you actually have to pay the college for your internship, which at AU is well over $1,200 per credit hour. What would it take to pay interns? Well, by one estimate, paying every single unpaid intern in the United States min-
imum wage would cost $124 million. Perhaps I’ve been looking at the national deficit too much, but that doesn’t seem like an insane amount. There’s no reason for colleges not to work with employers to make sure interns are rewarded fairly for their work. Am I saying that internships are inherently evil? Of course not. Real-world experience is what keeps college graduates from just being hyper-educated tenderfeet with meaningless degrees. But they’re complicated, and universities need to reconsider their unrelenting positive attitude and face the reality of unpaid internships.
as plastic packaging prevalent in campus food options, the claim that AU is vegan friendly but lacks vegan options throughout campus and the abundance of lit buildings late at night. Yet, our main quandary does not rest with these low-hanging fruits — it is the lack of student awareness and education on these incredibly important initiatives. In fact, the missing element in AU’s sustainability plan is education. Though it is oxymoronic for a university to display an Achilles’ heel in education, only a handful of U.S. colleges or universities offer any learning opportunities involving sustainability. Beyond the new buildings, this is AU’s real opportunity to be a leader in the field of sustainability. The “greenest” campus in the nation has the unique ability to educate its students and faculty on exactly why it earned this title, and on how the campus can further move toward sustainability. In order to accomplish this task, we advocate for a sustainability education requirement at AU. A required sustainability course would be a groundbreaking, national initiative not only for AU,
but for the 4,300 colleges and universities in America. Most students have no clue what the LEED or STAR acronyms, let alone certifications, even mean. Why can’t students learn about or become certified in such programs on campus? For all its promise, the present condition of sustainability education is more like the relegated, arcane status of driver’s education. Nevertheless, AU is taking some steps towards sustainability education. From April 18 to April 22, the university is celebrating Earth Day with a full week of events highlighting sustainability topics. In addition, Sean Miller is teaching a course this fall entitled “Foundations of a Healthy School” — the first of its kind in the nation — with a specific focus on the burgeoning movement to create healthy schools across the country. These efforts could be the initial steps in making AU the first campus in the nation to institute a formal sustainability education program. Such a program would branch across all departments, academic and administrative alike, with the stated goal of empowering AU students and the commu-
nity with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in a 21st century world. We understand that sustainability education is a new topic. For instance, the Department of Education only had its first summit on the issue last September. There, Secretary Arne Duncan asserted the imperative for its immediate development: “Preparing our students to be good environmental citizens is some of the most important work any of us can do … It will build the foundation for the long-term prosperity of our country and the sustainability for our world.” The time has come to address this urgent need on our campus and in our society. In honor of Earth Day — which was originally billed as the “first national teach-in on the environment” — we call upon leaders and members of the AU community to develop and institute a community-driven plan for comprehensive sustainability education on campus.
Emi Ruff-Wilkinson is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences and the winner of The Eagle’s Next Great Ratner contest.
OP-ED
AU’s green initiatives need to take root in education This past February, AU earned the ranking of the “greenest” university in the nation under the widely regarded Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Ranking System (STARS). If you’ve ever taken the sustainability tour or perused the Office of Sustainability, you know that American has taken significant steps towards earning this cherished title. Among the many initiatives, the university composts paper towels, converts kitchen grease to biodiesel fuel and earned the LEED Gold certification for the new SIS building. While we are excited to be associated with a university so dedicated to sustainability, we hope AU realizes these initiatives are just the beginning. One can find many areas for continued improvement, such
Katie Alexander and Autumn Rauchwerk are sophomores in CAS. Adjunct Professor Sean Miller is the education director at Earth Day Network.
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was this season, the team still finished No. 5 in the country. AU wrestling is now on the map. They can recruit some of the top high school wrestlers in the country, they’ve finished as one of the top teams before, and they can do it again. Coach Cody is great, but he isn’t God. Right now, it hurts for AU wrestling fans. The best thing they had going is now gone. But think of it this way, if it weren’t for Cody, you wouldn’t be an AU wrestling fan. Wrestling fans should thank Mark Cody for what he has done for this school and wish him the best of luck at Oklahoma. He would do the same for AU.
DAVID BECKHAM
Midfielder – Age 35
OUT WITH THE
OLD.
NEW.
D.C. United vs. LA Galaxy
First round predictions with NBA Playoffs underway Eagle Contributing Writer
The most glorious month of basketball is upon us, so get your brackets out! Oh wait, that’s March Madness. The time of year when actual basketball players are found and teams actually play defense. The time of year when players do not fight fans, make obscene comments toward referees or have therapists, like Ron Artest. But the Madness is over, and now we have to settle for prima donnas hustling only on offense. It is called the NBA Playoffs. To be honest, not all players in the NBA are divas. The likes of Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, Blake Griffin, Dwight Howard and Rajon Rondo give me hope that it’s still worth paying attention to the league. Although Griffin is not in the postseason, I am still watching. So without further ado, here are my 2011 playoff predictions.
Forward – Age 24
IN WITH THE
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Eastern Conference Bulls vs. Pacers: The No. 1 team in the East and the NBA is playing one of the hottest Eastern Conference teams in the league. The Bulls have the possible MVP right now, but the team-first Rose could care less, which makes him even more valuable. The Pacers are young and boast a talented squad, but Rose has that Jordanesque pep in his step. I’ll take the Bulls in five. Heat vs. 76ers: The Monstars of the NBA are going to take their first shot at winning it all in their first season together against the 76ers. Who is going to guard LeBron? Maybe Andre Iguodala? But who will guard Dwyane Wade? Jrue Holiday? Although Chris Bosh is sure to disappoint if
the game is tight in the closing minutes, I have the Heat taking the series in five and Philadelphia almost pushing it to six. Celtics vs. Knicks: Even though the Celtics look shriveled up with a fork in them, I do not believe the Knicks will overwhelm them. Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire are a worthy duo, although Stoudemire now has a reduced role thanks to Mr. Big Shot, Chauncey Billups. The Celtics will figure out a way to tap into their fountain of youth and escape in six games. I also guarantee Stoudemire will draw four technical fouls and Anthony will try to sucker punch Ray Allen.
Magic vs. Hawks: Last year, this playoff series was a joke. The Magic won by an average of 20 points, but I do not see that happening now. This series will be more competitive, but I expect the Magic to finish it off with a dominant game five and six. Therefore, Magic in six. Western Conference Spurs vs. Grizzlies: Spurs fans are concerned, as their veteran team looks as if it will disintegrate in a matter of minutes. However, the Grizzlies are still not good enough to win this series, and the Spurs — banged up or not — will take it in six. Lakers vs. Hornets: Andrew Bynum is playing hurt, but come on, when is he not? Kobe Bryant is still a Laker, and Chris Paul cannot do
it all by himself. Until Sunday, I expected Los Angeles to get out the brooms and sweep New Orleans. Mavericks vs. Trail Blazers: This could possibly be the most even series aside from the Nuggets and Thunder, but I will get to that one next. The Mavericks seem to disappoint their fans every year. There is no way a team that wins 50 games a season for almost a decade should not have a ring by now. With that in mind, I like the Blazers in seven.
of Kendrick Perkins, as did the Nuggets with the addition of the Knicks’ championship future. Each team plays hard, but I like Durant and Westbrook in six. sports@theeagleonline.com
http://eagl.us/dRZHuh
Thunder vs. Nuggets: This will be the gem series of the first round. The Thunder improved with the addition
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*+ Fans should appreciate Coach Cody’s tenure at AU
BEN LASKY — SIDELINE SCHOLAR
LAURA BECK / THE EAGLE
Late goal pushes Navy past AU in conference finale By TYLER TOMEA Eagle Staff Writer
In back-and-forth games like the one between AU and the Navy Midshipmen, the team with the ball last usually wins. That was the case Wednesday, when Navy midfielder Jill Coughlin scored her only goal of the game with 18 seconds remaining to break a 10-10 tie and push the Midshipmen to an 11-10 road victory. “That’s a really hard loss, especially against a team that we have so much to prove against,” said AU sophomore Emily Burton, who scored two goals on the afternoon. Despite the loss, AU clinched the No. 4 seed in the upcoming Patriot League Tournament thanks to the Lehigh Mountain Hawks defeating the Holy Cross Crusaders Saturday. If the Midshipmen win their season finale against Lehigh,
AU and Navy will square off again in the tournament’s semifinals. An unassisted goal by Emily Stankiewicz put the Eagles ahead 10-9 with 9:37 remaining, and AU tried to preserve its one-goal advantage. The teams then went scoreless for nearly seven minutes, until the Midshipmen’s Caitlin Mandarin Hill knotted the game at 10 apiece with 2:42 remaining. Navy controlled the allimportant draw following the goal, and played keep away over the following two minutes to hold for the last shot. With 18 seconds remaining, Coughlin scored the game-winner thanks to a Mandarin Hill assist. The Midshipmen again controlled the following draw and ran out the final seconds for the victory. “I think they did the same thing that we would have done in the same position,” said the Eagles’ Kimberly
Collins, who scored a teamhigh four goals on the afternoon. “You always want to hold for the last shot.” The game was highly competitive throughout, as AU responded to an early Navy attack. The Midshipmen scored three of the game’s first four goals, but AU scored the next four, and a Samantha Marshall score put the Eagles up 5-3 late in the opening half. A score by Navy’s Jasmine DePompeo score cut the AU lead to 5-4 at the half. In the second half, every time one side tried to pull away, the other tied the game right back up. There were five ties in the final 30 minutes, and no team ever had a lead of more than one goal. For Navy, Kathy Young registered a team-high five goals on the afternoon, while DePompeo added three to go along with two assists. Coughlin caused a team-high two turnovers,
MAKING HER MOVE Senior Lisa Schaaf looks to manuever around a UMBC defender from a game earlier this season. Schaaf and the Eagles will look to get back on track following Wednesday’s 11-10 loss to the Navy Midshipmen.
and Michelle Verbeeck made seven saves in goal. Aside from Collins and Burton, Bernadette Maher played a solid game for AU with one goal, one assist and two draw controls. Marshall and Brit Ferguson each picked up three ground balls, while Kaska Komosinski made 11 saves. AU will play its home finale on Tuesday, April 19, against the Liberty Flames before wrapping up its season on the road against the Davidson Wildcats. The Patriot League Tournament begins Friday, April 29. ttomea@theeagleonline. com
Well … this is awkward. If you didn’t already know, last Tuesday The Eagle ran a profile on head wrestling coach Mark Cody. The same day, Cody announced that he is leaving AU to take over as the head coach at The University of Oklahoma. While it would be easy for many at AU to be angry with Cody and feel like he is betraying the school by leaving, let’s face it: Without him, there probably is no wrestling program, much less the fifth-ranked program in the country. This is not a Lane Kiffin situation. Cody did not leave AU in the dark a year after signing because a better job came along. He was here for nine years and did unthink-
As we know, a lot of college coaches care only about winning and not about what players do in the classroom, but Cody does. Now, Oklahoma’s wrestlers will get to experience the same growth academically that AU wrestlers have been exposed to for the last nine years. While some fans may be upset at Cody for leaving, can you really blame him for taking the Oklahoma job? Oklahoma recently made major improvements to their wrestling training facilities. When compared to AU, who holds practices in a wrestling room located inside the student and faculty fitness center, you can see that there is a definite difference.
AU wrestling is now on the map. They can recruit some of the top high school wrestlers in the country. They’ve finished as one of the top teams before, and they can do it again. able things for the program. Many in the wrestling community were shocked when Cody accepted the job at AU. Leaving Oklahoma State as an assistant coach in 2002 for an unknown school in Washington had people thinking he had taken a turn for the worse mentally. I had the chance to interview Cody on multiple occasions, and each time he stressed the importance that he puts on academics. It was clear how much he cared not only about winning on the mat, but off it as well. He constantly talked about how there is no future in wrestling past the college level, and how important it was that his guys succeeded in the classroom. Last year, when Harvard won the award for having the best wrestling team academically, a title that AU held for two straight years, Cody was not happy.
It is clear that AU has chosen to spend its money on upgrading academic buildings instead of improving athletic facilities, and that’s fine. The school is known more for academics than it is for sports at this point. But if the school does not use some of its money to improve athletic facilities, then it can’t be shocked when a great coach like Cody decides to leave for a school that does. There is no guarantee that Cody would have stayed at AU if it had stateof-the-art facilities, but it couldn’t have hurt. Regardless, Cody’s departure leaves a vacancy that will not be easily filled. A National Coach of the Year Award doesn’t come around that often. But that vacancy does not necessarily mean the end for AU wrestling. No matter who the coach !
see CODY on page 19