Fall semester issue 2

the EAGLE SPECIAL EDITION

NO TO DIVESTMENT P. 3 THEEAGLEONLINE.COM

2

theEAGLE DECEMBER 5, 2014

INDEX

3

news

7

the scene

4 AU Counseling Center strained 5 A look at the AU Alert System

7 Exploring BDSM culture at AU 8 Beyond Northwest DC

12 opinion

12 Staff Ed: Mental health awareness 13 Quick Take: Yes means Yes Law

14 sports

15 Meet AU’s Wrestling coach 16 Jen Dumiak’s basketball journey

theEAGLE

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theEAGLE

NEWS

DECEMEBER 5, 2014

3 BRYAN PARK/THE EAGLE

THEY SAID NO AU Board of Trustees rejects fossil fuel divestment

By Suzanne Gaber Eagle Staff Writer

Some students agreed with the University’s decision to continue investment in fossil fuels.

“If students think that divesting would send a strong message to the community then they are wrong,” Payne Griffin, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, said.

“The University has such a small stake in the overall market that no one will notice, and the investments would simply be sold to someone else.”

Julia Morriss, a senior in the School of Public Affairs, said she believes the University is simply not ready to divest.

“We are not quite at the point where we can divest,” Morriss said. “You have to have the alternatives there before we can divest.”

With the decision to refrain from divestment from fossil fuel investments, the Board presented three new actions the University will take to invest in positive and sustainable initiatives.

Those actions include the creation of a “Green Investment Fund,” active management and ongoing review, and shareholder engagement and proxy votes, according to a memorandum sent to the AU community.

The Green Investment Fund, which will be created by the end of the academic year, may serve as a litmus test for possible future divestment for the University, according to Kerwin.

Student Government President Sophia Wirth agreed with Kerwin despite her disappointment over the outcome of the vote.

“I hope that the [Green Investment Fund] will show [the board] that divestment can work without diminishing the endowment,” she said.

Wirth said she was confident that the Board made the best legal decision based on the assessment it received from Cambridge Associates. However, she was not as sure about the way the Board requested the

information on divestment.

“There is no way [Cambridge Associates] could have said yes. That doesn’t mean that divestment is not viable, but that AU did not ask the right questions,” she said. “If you ask a black and white question, you get a black and white answer.”

Despite the board’s decision to refrain from divestment, the University still maintains a strong green movement, Kerwin said.

“I would hope that our record on climate change is taken holistically,” he said. “I would hope that everyone will, when it’s all said and done, see [the University’s efforts on climate change] as a net positive, because I believe it is.”

However, many students were not satisfied with the Board’s decision.

“Today I am seeing some of the worst of our administration and our leadership,” Chelsea Smart, a member of the Fossil Free AU campaign and a sophomore in the School of Communication, said to Sine and Kerwin.

FOSSIL FREE AU RESPONDS Student effort to move AU away from fossil fuel investments began in 2013 with an SG referendum that passed with 79 percent support.

One of the largest movements of student support was Fossil Free AU. In the week leading up to the vote, Fossil Free AU gathered almost every day to show their support for the cause.

On Nov. 17, an estimated 100 students gathered in the rain on the quad to show the Board their dedication to the issue they consider to be one of the most important of their generation.

“For a lot of us divestment is working towards the larger vision for climate justice,” Steph Pettit, a senior in the School of International Service, said following the Nov. 17 rally. “It’s a step towards how the world should be.”

Students who attended a town hall after the Board’s vote held similar views.

An uproar of disappointment erupted following the end of Sine and Kerwin’s announcement with at least 50 students immediately jumping to their feet to speak and protest the decision.

“It seems to me and a lot of other students in this room that the administration is siding with the fossil fuel industry and not with your students,” Deirdre Shelly, a member of Fossil Free AU and a senior in the School of International Service said.

Shelly’s comments were followed by around thirty minutes of personal stories from students impacted by the fossil fuel industry.

One such story was that of Emily Dalgo, a sophomore in the School of International Service, who grew up in a town affected by the 2010 BP oil spill.

“I will never forget the images of my home on the gulf coast covered in oil, closed signs decorated on shops that had been open for generations,” she said. “To think, no to know that AU is funding these kind of industries makes me sick.”

Dalgo feels that the University’s failure to divest from fossil fuel investments is directly contributing to the destruction she and others face at the hands of the fossil fuel industry.

“AU is profiting from climate change and the destruction of homes,” she said. “[The Board’s] decision makes me embarrassed to call AU home.” sgaber@theeagleonline.com

Cover photo illustration by ALEJANDRO ALVAREZ/THE EAGLE

After two years of student activism against fossil fuels, the Board of Trustees announced Nov. 21 that AU will not divest from fossil fuel investments.

While student trustee Joe Ste.Marie said he believes the board went into the investigation on divestment from fossil fuel investments with an open mind, the Board was restricted

by D.C. law, according to Chairman of the Board Jeffrey Sine.

“We have to make these decisions based on the government standards that we adhere to,” Sine said. “These are not personal portfolios we are managing. I have no fossil fuel stocks in my own portfolio, but that is a very different question than what we have in AU’s portfolio given a different set of fiduciary standards.”

According to Ste.Marie, these standards made divestment from fossil fuels impossible for the University under D.C.’s Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Assets Act. This act outlined only a few possible ways that the University could legally justify divestment, Ste.Marie said.

According to the law, divesting from fossil fuels would have to fit within AU’s mission, but as an educational institution, it does not, according to Ste.Marie.

Another reason outlined by both Ste. Marie and a memorandum sent out to the AU community is the ability to prove that divestment would not greatly impact investment returns.

Currently, a large portion of AU’s endowment is housed in index and commingled funds, according to the memo.

Index and commingled funds require more passive oversight from Cambridge Associates. However, in order to divest current and future investments from fossil fuels, funds would instead be moved to separately managed funds, which would require Cambridge to more actively manage AU’s investments and increase the management fee. The shift would double AU’s annual management fees from $1.1 million to $2.2 million.

Emily Dalgo and other members of Fossil Free AU march during the finance and investment committee.

4

theEAGLE DECEMBER 5, 2014

AU Counseling Center stretched thin

By Kate Magill Eagle Staff Writer

A

s national surveys show that more college students are dealing with depression and other mental health issues than ever before, universities across the country are attempting to cope with the growing problem.

In a 2013 nationwide survey, 46.5 percent of students reported feelings of hopelessness, and 31.8 percent reported feeling so depressed that it was difficult to function at some point during the past 12 months, according to the American College Health Association.

The numbers are similar at AU. A 2013 ACHA survey of 745 AU students found that 32.3 percent of students reported feeling so depressed it was difficult to function at some point during the last 12 months. Over half of respondents reported having feelings of overwhelming anxiety in the last year.

At AU, campus resources are “strained” in attempts to deal with the rising student demand for mental health services, according to the Director of AU’s Counseling Center Traci Callandrillo, Ph.D. Since 2010, the center has seen a 40 percent increase in the number of individuals served, according to Callandrillo. During the 2013-2014 academic year, between 1,100 and 1,200 individuals visited the center, and it is on track to see even more students than that this year, Callandrillo said.

“We have a lot more demand than we ever have [had] before,” Callandrillo said.

“This is a national trend, and it’s definitely true for us, we see increased demand every year.”

As the demand outgrows the supply of time slots, some students must be sent into the community if they wish to seek ongoing, long-term therapy or be placed on a waitlist to see a professional in the center, Callandrillo said.

“We’re always going to do our best to accommodate students as much as we can,” Callandrillo said. “We really try to avoid [waiting lists], but some of the things that we are required to respond to we have to respond to, which means for other situations either the person’s going to have to wait a little bit longer or they’re going to have to seek services in the community.”

The average wait this semester for an initial consultation in the center was approximately three weeks, according to Callandrillo.

Kelly Davis, the president of AU’s chapter of Active Minds, said she believes the

extended wait time to receive Counseling Center services is the biggest problem facing students regarding mental health.

Active Minds is a student group dedicated to raising awareness about mental health issues on campus.

“If you look at it from the point that a lot of these mental health concerns start in college, and you’re suddenly in a new environment and you’re brave enough to reach out to the Counseling Center, and they say ‘okay we’ll help you in a month,’ it can be totally frustrating and be a really big let down,” Davis said.

To combat its strained resources, Davis said she believes the center needs to be expanded to accommodate more students. While the center did hire an

already strained with long wait lists.

Wirth responded that members of SG are working to advocate for more mental health resources but did not outline a specific plan.

“We have three individuals who are working in the Undergraduate Senate and in my cabinet to work with the Counseling Center to figure out what students’ needs are first, and then figure out a way to address them,” Wirth said in the meeting. “That’s something we hope to have a concrete plan on by the beginning of next semester.”

SG’s Undergraduate Senate is creating new advocacy legislation to promote mental health awareness, according to Senator for the Campus at Large Jasmine

Mental Health Resources AU offers several outlets and options for students seeking mental health assistance or services.

Counseling Center:

Mary Graydon Center, room 214 To make an appointment: Call (202) 885-3500 or by visiting the center in person.

For urgent needs, the center offers walk-in hours during the week from 3 - 5 p.m.

Offers:

32.3%

Group therapy: Six different group therapy sessions offered during the fall semester. Groups are generally kept small with a maximum of nine participants, according to the center’s website.

Self-help: Includes an online library on psychological topics and selfquizzes to help students assess their feelings and behaviors.

32.3 percent of 745 AU students surveyed reported feeling so depressed it was difficult to fuction at some point during the last 12 months. additional staff member last year, Davis also suggested adding other options for students, such as peer to peer counseling in a similar format as a suicide prevention hotline.

“I think it’s really reassuring to know that you’re not alone, and that there’s other people out there who want to show you not only that they’ve been through it, but also that they can point you in the right direction and open up that discussion,” she said.

Davis is not the only student who believes a larger campus focus needs to be brought to mental health issues. Students also brought up the topic at the recent AU It’s on Us Report and Recommendations Release on Nov. 11.

As Student Government President Sophia Wirth discussed increasing support services for survivors of sexual assault, students asked how the Counseling Center would be able to accommodate these individuals if it is

Nadim. Earlier this semester, the senate passed a resolution to make mental health advocacy a priority in SG this year, Nadim said.

“The real issue people have is that they don’t understand the resources available to them,” Nadim said. “They also don’t understand how they can’t get an appointment with the Counseling Center.”

Looking at mental health as part of the larger campus culture, Davis said that although it may be uncomfortable, AU needs to bring the topic closer to the forefront of students‘ minds. In its current state, Davis believes the University’s resources fall behind.

“I was sold on AU as this progressive, lean forward institution, and they’re there with a lot of things, but as far as mental health, I think that they fall short,” Davis said. kmagill@theeagleonline.com

Individual counseling: Offered on a more limited basis and usually with a graduate trainee. Clinicians in the center can help students find the appropriate off campus professionals to best meet their needs

Health Center:

McCabe Hall, first floor

Offers:

Assistance with managing students’ psychiatric medications. Through 45 minute initial evaluations, prescribing clinicians help students determine if and what form of medication is appropriate.

Wellness Center:

McCabe Hall, room 123

Offers:

Peer education programs including PEERS, The Body Project and Peer Health Educators.

It also offers advice for helping a friend with drug, alcohol or eating disorder issues.

5

theEAGLE DECEMBER 5, 2014

AU A lerts questioned Emergency system falls under scrunity

By Kate Magill Eagle Staff Writer

Students are questioning the efficiency and comprehensiveness of AU’s emergency procedures and AU’s Alert System following a series of alerts this semester.

One such incident was a tornado warning on Oct. 15, originally announced in response to reports from the National Weather Service, according to AU Director of Public Relations Kelly Alexander.

Those in Mary Graydon Center during the tornado warning were asked to move to the Terrace Dining Room, while students in dormitories were told to go to the lower levels of the buildings. Students and professors in classes were first asked to move away from windows and then asked to move to the basement levels.

Heather DeLucia, a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences, was in MGC during the tornado warning and said she felt the instructions given to those in the building lacked clarity.

“There wasn’t much order to what was going on, there was just a couple people who were telling everyone in the building to get to the basement because there was a tornado warning,” DeLucia said. “It would have been nice if they had given us a bit more direction.”

Alexander said she believes that AU gracefully handled the situation presented. AU’s Emergency Preparedness department declined to comment directly on the situation.

“With regard to the tornado warning issued on Oct. 15, the community reacted well to a potentially threatening situation,” Alexander said in an email.

Emergency preparedness The specific direction sought by AU community members like DeLucia can be found on AU’s Emergency Prepared-

ness homepage. It provides files with detailed information on what to do in situations ranging from anthrax outbreaks to hurricanes and personal preparedness checklists for students as well as for faculty and staff.

These procedures were carefully planned to best suit the community at AU, according to Alexander.

But it is mainly the responsibility of the AU community to research the correct procedures for an emergency situation. Students and their parents are informed about the AU Alert system and given emergency contact information during Eagle Summit. Following orientation, which not all students and parents attend, the AU community is simply encouraged to seek their own information about emergency preparedness, according to Alexander.

“Emergency Preparedness procedures are good to review and know, and we encourage the AU community to take a look at [the] reference guides[on the website],” Alexander said in an email.

AU’s emergency procedures are constantly being reviewed by the Department of Public Safety following each emergency that occurs on campus, according to Alexander.

In 2013, The Eagle reported that the emergency procedures available on AU’s website had not been updated since 2009.

The procedures have been updated since then, but the full Emergency Management and Continuity of Operations Plan is no longer easily accessible online. It was replaced by a more user-friendly document designed for students and faculty, Alexander said.

Some of the procedures currently found on the website are more up to date.

For example, the Web page recently added information about Ebola to mitigate distress about the virus. The Web

page assures students, staff and faculty that the likelihood of the virus reaching campus is small. Nonetheless, it states that AU is taking measures to prepare for any potential dangers.

“We actively participate in a regional healthcare consortium to provide the most updated services and recommendations for our campus. We also collaborate with local hospitals to coordinate information, training and access plans,” wrote Pat Kelshian, assistant vice president of Risk Management and Safety Services in an email sent to the AU community.

Emergency procedures were implemented in another instance when AU alerted the community to the sighting of a dangerous person on Wisconsin Avenue on Nov. 3. The Web page details the procedure for reporting criminal behavior on campus including what to do if taken hostage. Although the person was recaptured, AU did not inform the community.

In a kidnapping incident, the emergency procedures recommend staying alert, speaking only when spoken to, maintaining eye contact without staring and informing the captor of any medical requirements.

AU Alerts According to the Emergency Preparedness webpage, AU Alert messages are meant to deliver information about an emergency, inform readers on what actions to take and provide resources for further information.

Details and instructions regarding emergencies can be communicated to the AU community via text and email alerts, the University’s home page, AU’s social media pages and AlertUs emergency beacon boxes located across campus, according to Alexander.

The alert system was used to inform the

public rather than warn them during an incident in which a potentially dangerous gunman was on campus that occurred on March 23, 2013, according to Daniel Nichols, executive director of Risk, Safety and Transportation Programs, the Eagle previously reported.

The AU Alert message was sent to the community after the gunman had left campus, according to the article. University officials said the response was delayed because they did not believe the safety of the campus was continually at risk.

However, in a gun scare in December of 2013, five AU alerts were sent out to the AU community throughout the incident.

Students were later given an “all clear” by the University.

“The decision to send out an emergency alert message is determined by how compelling a situation is and if there is an immediate threat to the AU campus,” Alexander said in an email.

One situation that did not generate an AU alert was the arrest of two men on campus on April 10, 2014. One of the men arrested was in violation of parole and had previously been convicted of homicide, according to Camille Lepre, assistant vice president for Communications and Media, the Eagle previously reported.

Natalie Rine, a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences, appreciates the efficiency of the AU alert system, but wishes they were more thorough and conclusive.

“I think they make me feel safer, but they’re not always comprehensive, or they sometimes make me feel more panicked,” Rine said. “I like that its texted to me, because I think thats a good way of reaching me and other people our age, but then I immediately want to be updated more.” kmagill@theeagleonline.com Staff writers Suzanne Gaber and Mark Lieberman contributed to this piece.

Mark Lieberman / THE EAGLE

Mark Natale / THE EAGLE

Students gather in MGC basement during tornado warning.

Police officer stands in front of Gray Hall during 2013 gun scare.

6

theEAGLE DECEMBER 5, 2014

AU Debate Team stretches mind, promotes diversity

By Samantha Hogan Eagle Staff Writer Pairs of students huddle over pieces of paper and laptops in the basement of Ward. Their arms shield quickly scribbled down writing. Occasionally, a head lifts from the whispered conversation to look at another pair just out of hearing range.

Each pair on the AU Debate Team hopes they have the case that will stump the other, but tonight is just practice.

“It’s fun to stretch your mind muscle a little bit,” said Isaac Klipstein, a freshman in the School of Public Affairs who debated in high school and is a novice member of the AU Debate Team.

The team of 25 to 30 active members competes each weekend at competitions through the American Parliamentary Debate Association. The association is student-run and includes Ivy League schools such as Harvard University, Yale University and other notable colleges like William and Mary and Johns Hopkins University.

Debate topics range from constitutional law to international relations, according to President Tula Biederman, who is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences.

But the subject of debate presented at practice on Oct. 21 by Klipstein and varsity member Andrew Episcopo, a sophomore in SPA, was far less daunting.

“Should Luke Skywalker ally with his father?” Klipstein said. “There are holes in both arguments, which is the problem with all debates.”

The timed rounds are a sudden explosion of words. With practice, they transform into well-presented arguments and careful demolition of the other side’s positions. At competition, one pair is determined to be the winner and moves forward to face another team.

The educational benefits of being on the team quickly become clear, even during a practice debate. Improved public speaking, a demand for critical thinking and the necessity to organize one’s thoughts under pressure is a natural consequence of being on the team.

These tools translate well into college and professional life, Biederman said.

Debating teaches individuals how to deal and work efficiently with people as well as form thoughts quickly when called upon, she said.

Beyond the educational side of the

“

In the last couple of years, and last decade or so, the [league] has made a lot of strides, and we’ve made a lot of strides to make it more welcoming for women, for people who are gender nonconforming, people of all sexual orientations, of all races, of all backgrounds and upbringings,

”

team, there are also strong competitive and social elements.

“It’s very much a community,” Biederman said.

The team travels together locally to George Washington University, as well as outside of the District to attend tournaments. Due to travel costs and entrance fees ranging from $90 to $120, the team often travels by car and stays on the dorm room floors of the hosting

school.

While sleeping on a floor may not be everyone’s first choice, the exposure to different people, schools and topics is a major plus for Biederman.

“You get exposed to people from a lot more places,” she said.

The team receives a small portion of the school’s club budget, but to help cover the cost of entering tournaments the AU Debate Team hosts tournament

called ProAms each fall and spring. The tournament is unique, because it pairs an experienced member, who has been debating for one or more years, with novice team member.

The tournament brings schools to AU’s campus, which had over 300 students in attendance last year, Biederman said. The team hosted their most recent tournament on Nov. 14 and 15.

The AU Debate Team is not ranked in the top 10 colleges, speakers or teams in their league, but novice Zoe Morgan from the AU team was in 10th place for Novice of the Year on Nov. 17, according to the league’s website.

For Biederman, debate team is more than winning tournaments.

“I really want to create a safe environment,” Biederman said. “Our debate league hasn’t always been a great place for everyone. For a long time it was great place if you were white and male, and upper class and straight.”

However, there has been a lot of educational and outreach action within the American Parliamentary Debate Association to change the tone of the organization.

“In the last couple of years, and last decade or so, the [league] has made a lot of strides, and we’ve made a lot of strides to make it more welcoming for women, for people who are gender nonconforming, people of all sexual orientations, of all races, of all backgrounds and upbringings,” Biederman said.

Members of the AU Debate Team have served on women’s initiative, equity board and expansion boards in order to help accomplish this.

The AU Debate Team also strives to make education a notable part of their ProAms tournament. The team gives presentation on what equity means, which can range from homophobic slurs to other personal attacks that diminish the educational value of the experience for any of the school’s debate team members, Biederman said.

“We really try to bring these issues out early on to show novices early on, because I think that’s the best way to change the culture,” Biederman said. shogan@theeagleonline.com Disclaimer: Zoe Morgan is a staff writer for The Eagle.

theEAGLE

DECEMBER 5, 2014

theSCENE

7

Young, talented and kinky

By Jordan-Marie Smith Eagle Staff Writer BDSM (bondage, discipline, sadism and masochism) is an acronym that might conjure up ideas of leather-clad dominatrixes in velvety lounges but they might not be the four letters that people associate with a sophomore college student.

Think of a typical college student’s night out. There might be basement fraternity parties, drinks at Sign of the Whale in Dupont or a quiet night watching Netflix. College of Arts and Sciences student Gwen, who asked that an alias be used to protect her privacy, does some of those things. Although on any given night she might also be suspended from metal hooks attached to a pendulum of thick ropes, arms behind her back, not very clothed and taking orders from a top, or dominant partner, in a dungeon.

The Crucible in NoMa, Maryland served as D.C.'s primary dungeon for local kinksters, including Gwen.

Gwen is an up-and-coming bottom, or submissive partner, in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia's BDSM community.

Her involvement in the scene started after she joined a social networking site for kinksters. Later, her friend invited her to The Crucible.

It's taken Gwen only two months to get invited to a DMV fetish ball and Philly kink convention.

There is a range of people who participate in the scene and make it their own.

BDSM is a normal part of life for all kinds of people that you wouldn’t expect: Wall Street types, professors, bosses and students.

It's a scene that's often misunderstood.

Despite what a majority of people might

“

I just remember after the ropes were being taken off I was spun around towards the crowd and I looked down and I was like shit. - Gwen

think, BDSM is not entirely sexual. Fifty percent is sexual and 50 percent is therapeutic release, according to Gwen.

For Gwen, playing is usually therapeutic. Before getting involved in the community, she worried her age would be a distracting factor. Most of Gwen's partners are much older than her, she said.

“I thought my age would freak people out. I really thought that, me being in college, they would either obsess over my age and be like ‘I have to play with her’ or ‘She’s way too young she reminds me of my own kids or my niece or my nephew,’” Gwen said. “But people really don’t care about the age.”

People who want to “play” with Gwen want to do so not because of her age, but because of her attitude when it comes to putting her trust in a partner holding the whip.

“One of the most common things I’ve gotten is people really want to play with me because, apparently, I have this energy that is super positive and open and whether you are believer of energy or play or not, it’s a factor,” Gwen said. “It’s an amazing thing to feel and to be the recipient and the cause of.”

One of her partners mentioned that her smile alone changed the energy of whichever scene they were doing at the time, according to Gwen. That excitement and happiness isn’t frivolous, she said.

“I’m not going to go willy-nilly, pellmell jumping off the deep end and burning out,” Gwen said. “They say I’m pretty level-headed and I know what I want.”

Gwen’s attitude has led to her rise in the local scene. Well-known people in the BDSM community have wanted to play with the AU sophomore since her introduction, and her first partner turned out to be well-connected.

“I’ve been very blessed to have been brought into it at such a level,” Gwen said.

“I’ve just been very lucky and very thankful for that and [it has] opened a lot of doors for me.”

One of those doors opened at the Annual D.C. Fetish Ball held by Metro Underground, which is an adult alternative community. With floor-length gown and heels, Gwen went to the ball for the first time. Demonstrations, fashion shows and performances were all a part of the semiformal event.

Gwen did two rope scenes, one fire scene and one cupping (suctioning skin until it swells and reddens) scene that night. A fire scene can include anything from flaming whips to flammable flash paper that burns in seconds after being lit against the skin.

“I wasn’t even paying attention but I could hear them, like, ‘Oh my God,

how is she doing that?’” Gwen said.

“I got so many compliments afterwards and it was so worth it.”

She also says she learned a couple of lessons that night.

“The guy who convinced me to go is known for being a very extreme, hard top,” Gwen said.

Because this particular guy was known for being so extreme, he was someone that Gwen’s protector, or guide in the scene, did not want her playing with.

“I just remember after the ropes were being taken off I was spun around towards the crowd and I looked down and I was like shit,” Gwen said.

A protector in the BDSM scene screens people that would like to play with a new member and helps guide them through knowing her/his limits. Breaking her protector’s trust is something that Gwen deeply regretted.

Gwen also learned the importance of pacing herself during performances and preventing “drops.” High dopamine levels and euphoria are often a result of playing in the scene, according to Gwen.

“That was the weekend where I dropped really hard afterwards because I played for three days in a row,” Gwen said. “As much fun as it was, and it was worth it that one time, there are some lessons you have to learn the hard way. ” As far as what Gwen’s "vanilla,” a term for non-kink, friends think, they are completely welcoming of BDSM as a feature in her life and wouldn’t expect anything less.

“They’re just like, ‘You would not be the same any other way,’” Gwen said. “I have friends who are like, ‘You know, it’d be kind of weird if you didn’t do all of this,’ and I’m like ‘You know, you’re probably right.’” jsmith@theeeagleonline.com

GET OUT OF THE NORTHWES You’ve visited the National Mall, strolled around the monuments, eaten at Ben’s Chili Bowl and enjoyed concerts at 9:30 Club and the Black Cat. But the District has so much more to offer. This guide offers six opportunities to explore areas of the city outside of the Northwest bubble.

Photo courtesy of Geoff Living

National Harbor Ferris Wheel

Photo courtesy of Rachael Voorhees/ Flickr

Revive your inner child with this attraction straight out of a local carnival.

The Capital Wheel, a new addition to the D.C. landscape as of this year’s Memorial Day weekend, offers an expansive view of the entire city as well as a smooth and relaxed ride. Once you’ve gotten your fill of heights, take an evening to explore the eccentricities that the rest of the Harbor has to offer. Make a point to check out Art Whino, which showcases graffiti and street art, and don’t leave without checking out Peeps & Company. Yes, that’s exactly what it sounds like - a store that specializes in Peeps.

- MARK LIEBERMAN, Managing Editor of The Scene

Old Town Alexandria For most people, Georgetown is the ultimate waterfront destination in D.C. - which also means that it can get incredibly crowded and insanely busy. Just a short trip down the river, however, is Old Town Alexandria, a quaint and enchanting destination right on the bank of the Potomac.

Although it is a little farther away, it has plenty to offer. From the free trolley that runs down King Street to the late-night ghost tours, the city is filled with charm.

If you’re a history buff, visit the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. If you’re a shopaholic, try one of the many vintage and consignment boutiques like Mint Condition. And if you’re just plain hungry stop in at some of the best farm-to-table restaurants (like Vermilion) and cozy bars and pubs (like the Bilbo Baggins Restaurant).

While it has just as much going on as the big city, it also offers the chance to find some peace and quiet by the river on the Mount Vernon Trail. Make a day trip out of it and you’ll find a refreshing getaway for any time of the year.

-ANAGHA SRIKANTH, Lifestyle Editor

Photo courtesy of B

ST DC BUBBLE Pursuit Wine Bar, H Street The Pursuit Wine Bar in Northeast offers a safe compromise for people who aren’t allowed to drink, but love going to bars for yummy food like custom-made grilled cheese sandwiches. But, if you are of legal drinking age, Pursuit has incredible beers and delicious cocktails like the Apollo, an apple-infused bourbon with spiced rum and cinnamon. The atmosphere is also worth the trip across town. As it gets chillier, Pursuit emits warm vibes with its relaxing light and comfy bar setting.

- JORDAN-MARIE SMITH, Assistant Lifestyle Editor

Theodore Roosevelt Island

gston/ Flickr

Photo courtesy of Joe Shalabotnik/ Flickr

Once the weather warms up again (you’ll have to wait a little while, sorry), take the metro or drive to Rosslyn, Virginia, and follow the signs to Theodore Roosevelt Island. This island in the middle of the Potomac is covered in forest with hiking trails and boardwalks that you can easily spend a good couple of hours exploring. Check out the outer banks for sweet views of the Kennedy Center and make sure you find the statue clearing, featuring a larger-than-life version of the island’s namesake.

- TAM SACKMAN, Arts and Entertainment Editor

Photo courtesy of Cliff1066, Flickr

Bill_Comstock, Flickr

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden The Smithsonian Institution is a cultural mecca headquartered here in the District. You can see Dorothy’s ruby red slippers at the National Museum of American History and the Hope Diamond at the National Museum of Natural History, but don’t neglect to visit the unique circular museum on the corner of Independence Avenue.

The Hirshhorn Museum is a modern art museum, and after much renovation and a new director, the museum’s second and third floors are once again open to visitors. The third floor’s “At the Hub of Things” puts old delights back on view, like Andy Warhol paintings and sculpted busts made from chocolate and soap.

The second floor is now home to “Days of Endless Time,” a fascinating audio/visual-based exhibition with a piece featuring none other than Lady Gaga. “Days of Endless Time” runs through April 2015.

- JANE MORICE, Music Editor

10

theEAGLE DECEMBER 5, 2014

By Arielle Weg Eagle Contributing Writer

New in Tenleytown

Discover these new dining options in the neighborhood

ARIELLE WEG/ THE EAGLE

ARIELLE WEG/ THE EAGLE

ARIELLE WEG/ THE EAGLE Top: Nando’s peri Peri on Wisconsin Ave in Tenleytown.

Middle: The front of the new site of Jimmy John’s.

Bottom: Bread and Salt’s storefront on 42st Street.

Nando’s

Jimmy John’s

Bread and Salt

Nando’s Peri Peri brings the fiery taste of Portugal to the streets of Tenleytown.

The restaurant, which opened in May, is widely known among AU students and is a great sit-down restaurant that won't break the bank.

The restaurant, located at 4231 Wisconsin Ave., offers an incredibly authentic and diverse menu for diners.

Specializing in flame grilled marinated chicken, Nando’s creates Afro-Portuguese flavors with its signature peri peri pepper in many of its sauces. In addition to their signature chicken, the chain offers a variety of sandwiches, wraps, sides, salads and vegetarian items everyone can enjoy.

“Business has been tremendous,” said Matt Lobman, assistant manager of the the Tenleytown Nando’s location. “We are doing what we expected and more.”

Lobman also mentioned that customers include a great mix of both Tenleytown residents and AU students. Nando’s Peri Peri has already begun to participate in AU club fundraisers, which allows the restaurant to build awareness and help raise money for University clubs and teams.

Jimmy John’s, a chain, gourmet sandwich shop, is working on opening its doors in Tenleytown. Though the opening date is unknown, the store is being constructed at 4433 Wisconsin Ave., just past Mayflower Chinese food. Many of the locations deliver, so it is likely that once opened, AU students will be able to get JJ’s subs at their door.

Jimmy John’s has popped up all around D.C. in recent years, and it will add some nice variety to the dining experience of Tenleytown. The chain offers 8’’ sub sandwiches on homemade french bread and giant club sandwiches served on thick sliced bread. All the sandwiches are made with fresh vegetables, meats and cheeses sliced on-site that morning. The menu also offers meat-only sandwiches called Slims and three vegetarian options.

The highlight of the Jimmy John’s menu may be the JJ Gargantuan.

The sandwich is served on their homemade french bun and stuffed with five types of meat, provolone cheese and a variety of veggies and sauces.

“It’s huge enough to feed the hungriest of all humans,” according to the web site.

Bread and Salt provides a new kind of sit down restaurant in Tenleytown, serving up house-made products in an intimate atmosphere. The brand new restaurant, which opened in early October, offers American-Italian fusion cuisine. The restaurant, located just past Supercuts at 4619 41st St. NW, also offers a large outdoor seating area.

Though you can only find the menu in the restaurant for now, it serve a variety of pasta, salad, pizza, steak and seafood for a reasonable price. Bread and Salt also serves items from a small breakfast menu every day, which includes pancakes, eggs and other delicious breakfast treats.

In addition, the restaurant specializes in bread products, making everything in house and fresh for their customers.

“We’d like to be very local oriented,” said Danny Faber, assistant general manager of the Tenleytown Bread and Salt location.

“We are a community restaurant. We are trying to push the Tenleytown and AU community and faculty to come together.”

Faber said that Tenleytown is full of sports bars, and that Bread and Salt aims to be a new, family oriented place for the community.

Choreolab prepares dancers for a career in choreography

By Tam Sackman Eagle Staff Writer

Seventeen dancers. Six choreographers.

One performance in front of D.C.’s top dance professionals.

The Department of Performing Arts’ dance minor has garnered a small but strong group of student performers and choreographers whose majors span all schools. The size of the program allows for hands-on, direct learning from faculty whose repertoires include major dance companies like Alvin Ailey and Jane Franklin.

Choreolab takes place each fall semester in the form of a six to eight week workshop, culminating in a final performance in front of dance professionals in the D.C. area as well as a small audience. These professionals then deliver personalized feedback to each choreographer based on what they have seen.

Students submit an application to be a part of this selective program as far back as August. If they are chosen, they are then paired with a faculty creative advisor in the dance department, who assists

them with everything from auditioning dancers to overseeing rehearsals.

Choreolab rehearsals usually take place in the Katzen Dance Studio.

Sandra Atkinson is the artistic director of this year’s performance. She is also one of several creative advisors to the choreographers as well as an adjunct professor in the dance department.

“

of process the student choreographers go through from beginning with a singular concept, to creating the movement in rehearsal, to solidifying the work for the stage,” she said.

“Ph(r)ases” took to the stage as student choreographers had a chance to present the results of their annual Choreolab workshop on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at the

It mentally, physically and emotionally challenges the choreographer, and I truly admire those who are creative enough to continue pushing their artistic boundaries.

”

- Sydney Baldwin, SOC senior

The theme of this year’s Choreolab presentation was “Ph(r)ases.”

“It examined the multiple ways one can explore, investigate and create work through the creative process,” Atkinson said.

Although the theme was picked out before Atkinson became the artistic director, but she said it relates to the students in Choreolab.

However, I found it fitting to the kind

Greenberg Theatre.

Student choreographer and School of Communication senior Gracie Corapi’s piece was titled “In Therapy With My Imaginary Friends.”

“It was about taking an aspect of yourself - maybe an inner struggle, an invisible illness, a childhood memory - and presenting it externally,” she said.

“The piece took props and explored the dancers' relationships with them. It was

silly and abstract and a humorous take on a more serious idea, and the dancers and myself had a fun time creating it.”

For many dance students, this was a first taste of what it would be like to choreograph professionally.

“Creating a work for dancers, that will be eventually be performed in front of an audience or panel is incredibly draining,” student choreographer and SOC senior Sydney Baldwin said. “It mentally, physically and emotionally challenges the choreographer, and I truly admire those who are creative enough to continue pushing their artistic boundaries.”

Baldwin also said the turnout for the event was much better than she anticipated-- demonstrating further that Choreolab is another faction of the Department of Performing Arts that is rapidly increasing in reputation and popularity.

For now, dance students have plenty of time to take the feedback given to them in this year’s performance and improve their skills for next year’s Choreolab. tsackman@theeagleonline.com

11

theEAGLE DECEMBER 5, 2014 Photo courtesy of Chris Palmer

Spotlight on Chris Palmer AU’s resident environmental activist and filmmaker discusses his work

C

By Zack Ewell Eagle Staff Writer

hris Palmer is one of AU’s most engaged and active professors. However there's more to his life than teaching.

Throughout his life Palmer has invested his time in pursuing a diverse spectrum of professions and interests.

Along with producing well over 50 films and being a current professor in the School of Communication, Palmer has also been a high school boxing champion, officer in the Royal Navy, engineer, author, political appointee for the Environmental Protection Agency, founder of National Audubon Society Productions and a D.C. stand up comedian.

For the past 30 years, Palmer has produced and logged well over 300 hours of IMAX films and television programs. For his works, Palmer and his colleagues have received two Emmys for environmental features and one Oscar nomination for his film “Dolphins.”

Although being an environmental filmmaker may not come with all the riches and stardom that some in Hollywood receive, the profession does come with some significant perks.

Throughout his career in environmental

“

filmmaking Palmer has worked with celebrated actors and big names such as Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, Ted Turner and Ted Danson.

In addition to working with actors and celebrities, Palmer has also added his experience vocally to interviews and guest appearances on ABC Nightline, Today Show, NPR and Fox News Channel.

Being a conservationist at heart and founder of AU’s Center for Environmental Filmmaking, Palmer often stresses the importance of protection for animals of all kind.

“Compared to 20 years ago, we have now reached a crisis stage,” Palmer said in an email.. “For example, wild animals are going extinct at unprecedented rates.

On Oct. 1, 2014, the World Wildlife Fund revealed that half of the animals on this earth have been destroyed since 1970.”

But environmental filmmakers also use what some would describe as exploitative and unethical techniques to get an unnatural reaction from animals, Palmer said in an email. Palmer has admitted to using some of these practices.

Having a history of producing numerous wildlife documentaries, Palmer has admitted to staging tamed animals as wild for the means of achieving a scene in a film. Palmer alludes to his past along

What I enjoy most about being an AU professor is helping students identify what they care most deeply - Chris Palmer, SOC professor about.

with the sensationalism that surrounds the works of many environmental filmmakers in his written book and film Shooting in the Wild. “ Filmmakers, egged on by the broadcasters that hire them, seek to capture “money shots” so they will be hired again and build their careers, Palmer said in an email.

“Some of the techniques filmmakers use include getting too close to wild animals and harassing them,” Palmer said.

In addition to Palmer’s previous work he is also scheduled to come out with another book Confessions of a Wildlife Filmmaker this March.

“It’s also about how networks like Discovery, Animal Planet and National Geographic are failing in their responsibility to produce and broadcast programs that are not only entertaining but also consistent with their founding visions,” Palmer said in an email. “The networks are full of honorable and ethical people who care about wild places and animals, but it is the business side of television that seems to coerce them into behavior that sometimes harms wildlife, spreads misinformation, and coarsens society’s appreciation of nature.”

Of all the environmental programs that Palmer has seen in his profession, the worst was a show on MTV called “Wildboyz.”

“In my opinion, Wildboyz was unethical and irresponsible, It focused on exerting power over wild animals

rather than respecting and learning about them,” Palmer said in an email.. “MTV’s ratings were achieved on the backs of harassed animals—though paradoxically, ‘Wildboyz’ co-host Steve-O went on to do excellent work fighting the fur industry and SeaWorld.”

In his spare time, Palmer also performs stand-up in various D.C. comedy clubs.

When it comes to creating comedic material, he likes to take inspiration from his life in environmental filmmaking.

The humor of Palmer’s material touches upon the misunderstood interactions of humans facing nature. His favorite jokes to tell are about bears.

“I make wildlife films, for example, on bears,” Palmer said in an email, showcasing some of his material. “Bears can kill you, so you always go into bear country with someone…that you can outrun. Also, wear tiny bells to warn bears away. And look out for bear poop, easily recognizable because it contains tiny bells.”

While being an animal rights activist for the film industry and an AU professor, Palmer also has three daughters with his wife Gail Shearer. His academic career has fulfilled him in a variety of ways.

“What I enjoy most about being an AU professor is helping students identify what they care most deeply about” Palmer said in an email. “And then helping them find jobs and careers where they can pursue their passions and build meaningful lives filled with joy and learning.” zewell@theeagleonline.com

theEAGLE

OPINION

12

DECEMBER 5, 2014

Staff Editorial:

AU needs expanded Counseling Center, open conversation on mental illness

Since last year, AU has seen a 40 percent increase in students seeking services at the Counseling Center. More than 30 percent of students reported feeling so depressed that it is difficult for them to function, according to an American College Health Association survey. Yet despite these startling numbers, the Counseling Center remains understaffed and underfunded.

The initial wait time for a mere consultation is often upwards of three weeks, and treatment is limited to eight weeks before students must be sent to seek counseling elsewhere (which they often cannot afford). If a student can’t even get in the door, there is no way they can receive any kind of treatment.

Although the Counseling Center does the best they can to meet the rising need for mental health care, they simply do

not have the resources necessary to help every students who turns to them. As AU accepts more and more students each year, budgets can not keep up. To stop this from happening, the administration needs to take account of what programs students need the most and allocate funds that way.

When the Counseling Center is able to

“

on campus before the Counseling Center even has to intervene is to decrease the stigma associated with it. Many students will make jokes about being ‘schizo,’ or criticize someone for being unable to overcome their depression without understanding the weight of their words.

The culture of AU is also based around being busy all of the time. Students strive to have the most demanding internships, top grades and large friends groups, often to their own detriment.

This pressure from every direction can be a major factor in the development of mental illnesses.

Additionally, mental illnesses often first begin to show symptoms in the early 20s, so we are clearly a high risk population.

If a student can’t even get in the door, there is no way they can receive any kind of treatment. hire more staff to meet the rising need they will also be able to offer a wider variety of solutions to multiple problems students face.

One way students can fight mental illness

”

AU students are great at protesting and passing resolutions. But when it comes to small things like how we treat people on day to day basis, we often don’t consider how our actions could have an effect on someone struggling with mental illness.

The rise in mentally ill students and ridiculous wait times at the Counseling Center makes it clear that things need to change. We need a bigger Counseling Center with a larger staff, and maybe even separate centers for both crisis patients and those just seeking weekly help.

Perhaps most importantly, we need to have a more open conversation on mental health. All students must know what it means to have a mental illness, how to help friends who are suffering and how to find help for themselves. -E edpage@theeagleonline.com

AU should keep inflating grades

by Shelby Ostergaard Eagle Columnist

AU inflates grades. It’s not just us— numbers show a nationwide trend. The average grade at private universities ranges from A+’s to B-’s now, with an average GPA of 3.3 at private schools in 2006-2007. The median grade at Harvard College is an A-, the average grade is an A, according to The Crimson. Higher grades hold for both the sciences and the humanities. The bell curve, with it’s majority of C’s and minority of A’s and F’s is a thing of the past. Or, like a lot of things since the end of the 1960s, it’s shifted a little to the right.

Interestingly enough, the 1960’s was actually when grade inflation started.

Professors on college campuses would give students artificially high grades in order to help them avoid the Vietnam Draft. According to Stuart Rojstaczer, who has gathered extensive data on the

subject and compiled it at grade inflation. com, average grades at universities dipped in the 1970s and then spiked in the 1980s.

They’ve been climbing ever since.

Academics seem to think that this climb is a serious problem because students are given false hope when they get grades they don’t deserve. Harvard's Dr. Harvey Mansfield spoke out publicly against grade inflation in the April 2001 issue of the Chronicle of Higher Education, “There is something inappropriate-almost sick--in the spectacle of mature adults showering young people with unbelievable praise,” Mansfield said in the article. “We are flattering our students in our eagerness to get their good opinion.

American colleges used to set their own expectations. Now, increasingly, they react to student expectations."

Dr. Perry Zirkel of Lehigh University, calls grade inflation an example of “a societal trend to de-emphasize competition and make people feel better about themselves.”

Some private universities have made serious attempts to counteract the rise in grades. Wellesley College enacted a policy in 2003 that mandated that average final grades in classes at the introductory or intermediate level should be no higher than a B+. If professors wanted to award grades that came to a higher average, they had to justify themselves in writing to the administration.

Research in the Journal of Economic Perspectives shows that the policy worked—Wellesley reversed the trend of grade inflation at their school.

Did the change do Wellesley any good?

Would enacting a similar change do AU any good?

Academics like those I mentioned who write about grade inflation seem to be worried that all of the A’s are babying students. But, as David Gooblar at PedgogyUnbound put it, “grade inflation is probably a victimless crime. There have been no convincing studies that demonstrate that higher grades lead to poorer learning outcomes to students”.

It sounds counterintuitive. If the majority of students got A’s in a class, surely they can’t all be A-worthy students. But grades and learning are simply not that easily interchanged. I’ve learned a lot in courses that I’ve coasted through and gotten an A in. I’ve also learned a lot in courses that I’ve gotten a C in. What students are learning depends really on the student and isn’t reflected by the grade on their transcript. Students should be motivated to learn something in a class because they want to learn it, not because a professor is dangling an A above their heads.

As Alfie Kohn pointed out in his 2002 demolition of “The Dangerous Myth of Grade Inflation,” “a focus on grades creates, or at least perpetuates, an extrinsic orientation that is likely to

undermine the love of learning we are presumably seeking to promote.”

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying grades are pointless. They do matter.

They matter for the outcomes on the shuttle advertisements. AU students do a lot of things after school—apply for Fulbright scholarships, graduate school, jobs at prestigious companies and firms.

All of these depend partially on the GPA that students can put down on the application. These web-based application processes don’t know or care how much the student learned or what their school’s grade policy was.

Wellesey’s response to student complaints was to suggest that other schools should simply join Wellesey in reducing grade inflation. They say that lower GPA’s is a good thing, because Wellesey students are being presented honestly to employers.

According to academics, reducing grade inflation is important. We all need to band together in….what, exactly?

Ensuring that students tie their learning to their transcripts? Ensuring that they are motivated by where they fall on the class bell curve? Making sure that employers will continue to use college GPAs as part of their electronic resume sorting mechanism? No thanks. I’ll take my inflated grades and my intact internal motivation instead. edpage@theeagleonline.com

13

theEAGLE DECEMBER 5, 2014

The tides of change are swiftly approaching for the music industry

by Rathna Muralidharan Eagle Columnist

R

ecently, Taylor Swift caused quite the stir with her decision to remove all of her work-- present and past-- from Spotify. The decision was shocking, since the multimillionaire had not previously suggested at any discontent with the musicstreaming company, and left without any explanation, until the beginning of this week.

In an interview detailing her decision to sever ties with Spotify, Swift claims she feels that the music streaming company's policy is unfair and disrespectful to all employees/individuals in the music production section of the industry.

Spotify’s chief executive released a response to Swift’s decision, stating that “[Spotify’s] whole reason for existence is to help fans find music and help artists connect with fans through a platform that protects them from piracy and pays

them for their amazing work.”

Swift and other artists’ feel that they are not being fairly compensated by new mediums like streaming sites, and it is reflective of the shift imminently approaching in the music industry: new forms of access to music that are fair to everyone.

Swift’s argument of unfair compensation has a valid base, but her actions don’t match up. She chose to remove all her work from Spotify, but has not cut ties from other sites such as Pandora, YouTube, etc. Her album sold over one million copies just in its first week of release, generating plenty of revenue— which could be shared with all those employees involved in producing and editing her music, perhaps.

Much of an artist’s profit doesn’t just come from sales; Swift is No. 18 on Forbes’ Top 100 Celebrities, worth $64 million dollars. The money does not come just from her album sales, but also her world tours and numerous sponsorships. Not only that, but she is also No. 2 on Forbes’ list of Top 10 Highest Paid Women, right behind Beyoncé, so please forgive me for

not being sympathetic over the fact that she thinks earning over $6 million a year just through Spotify streaming is not enough.

The music industry is changing, and the traditionally accepted methods are rapidly falling out of fashion. Musicians no longer need record labels to be “found” and become famous. They are able to gain exposure and grow a fan base through sites and social media such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, where their music can be posted and listened to for free. Streaming sites such as Spotify, Rhapsody and Pandora allow fans to explore different genres and artists without having to make a monetary commitment, while still compensating artists for their work.

If anything, these sites are making artists more money by growing their fan base through exposure to their work.

Site mechanisms linking similar artists, genres and styles allow listeners to expand and explore music they are not already accustomed to. The alternative, pirating music, is not so generous to musicians.

Streaming services are not a “grand

experiment” —as Swift put it— they are the future of the music industry. Instead of fighting for the conventional way of doing things, it’s time to recognize new forms of music consumption that are still fair to artists. edpage@theeagleonline.com

“

The music industry is changing, and the traditionally accepted methods are rapidly falling out of fashion.

”

QUICK TAKE: AFFIRMATIVE CONSENT LAWS Three writers discuss the merits of California’s SB 967, “yes means yes” law d.c. should adopt yes

critics miss the

the law helps combat

means yes

point

rape culture

California’s Affirmative Consent law, also known as Yes Means Yes, could have serious implications for the future of campus sexual assault cases. The law clearly defines consent as the presence of a yes rather than the absence of a no, the latter of which is the standard that all states have being using.

Consent has for far too long been a point of ambiguity, at least on college campuses where assault is a frequent issue that is often dealt with poorly. So, this law is kind of a game changer.

I am quite frankly ashamed that the District hasn’t already jumped on the opportunity to adopt this law.

AU has a great sexual assault prevention program that has a huge focus on accountability. Take a glance on the website and you see a myriad of links, partners and training opportunities, and that’s not even taking into account Haven and Eagle Summit.

When I heard that California had passed the “Yes Means Yes” Law this year my heart filled with pride for my home state. For the first time in this nation’s history rapists won’t be able to hide behind the excuse that their victim didn’t say no. Maybe police and university officials will finally begin to believe rape victims instead of blaming them.

But that dream seems a little utopian now, especially since rape apologists are coming out of the woodwork to decry the law. That’s no surprise, of course, but it is a little disappointing.

For instance, Jonathan Chait writes in New York Magazine: “Instead, it will technically deem a large proportion of sexual encounters to be rape.” As usual, people are shaking in their boots because somehow rape is being too broadly defined or something.

Consent in its simplest form is a verbal affirmation before contact with another person or their possessions, it is not the lack of a negative response. Consent is far from being confined to sexual encounters, but is about collective empowerment, self-determination and providing a framework for mutual respect among peers.

If someone had asked me to define “consent" a few months ago, I probably would not have been able give an in-depth definition. That is because as a child I was never taught about consent, especially in health class.

Sure we learned about contraceptives and putting a condom on a banana, but we did not talk about what needs to be established before the banana. This lack of education about consent then leads to cases where it is not clear if consent was given, which is a contributing problem to schools' inabilities to handle accusations of sexual assault. Students should know that asking for consent is a constant thing, and it starts way before the

By Magdalene Bedi

By Chase Cabot

By Ashira Naftali Greer

Continued Online

Continued Online

Continued Online

theEAGLE

SPORTS Teague Moore coaches wrestlers in sport and life

14

DECEMBER 5, 2014

took an assistant coaching position at University of Pittsburgh. He then moved to Harvard University in 2004, and his coaching philosophy took a turn.

Sixteen years ago, Teague Moore stood “My experience at Harvard was really on the wrestling mat at Cleveland State eye-opening to me because that was University with his Oklahoma State the first time that I had ever been in an University singlet drenched in sweat environment where guys wanted to be BRYAN PARK/THE EAGLE and his arms raised above his head in national champions, and at the same Wrestling coach Teague Moore observes his wrestlers practicing. celebration. After seven minutes of time they wanted to develop themselves twisting his 118 pound body into the academically and professionally for when not consume alcohol while they are correct positions and pinning down they got done with wrestling,” Moore the attitude with the guys that we have in our room, we’ve got a huge potential in attending the University.

David Morgan from Michigan State, said. front of us right now. ” AU’s unique atmosphere appealed to Moore was an NCAA Champion.

He heavily stresses the necessity of Moore has been able to draw student- junior wrestler John Boyle when he was Today, he bears another distinction academics to his athletes at AU and holds as head wrestling coach at American them to high standards. Any athlete who athletes to the school by promoting the considering which school to attend.

“On my recruiting trip, I went over University, where he is trying to lead his fails to maintain a 3.25 GPA must attend academic advantages offered at AU, but athletes to the top of the podium at the mandatory study hall sessions eight he also emphasizes that his program to... Mitchell’s house, and he was helping requires a special kind of commitment. people with their homework,” Boyle said.

NCAA Championships. hours a week.

“I think it takes a unique individual “It was a different environment, and just In 2012, Moore coached graduates During Moore’s tenure, AU has placed to want to be part of a program like this, ” seeing that opened my eyes, and this is Ryan Flores and Ganbayar Sanjaa six wrestlers on the NWCA Division I Moore said. exactly where I want to be.” to NCAA All-American status, and All-Academic Team, a distinction that In addition to balancing excruciating Moore believes that every individual in last year, the wrestling team sent recognizes student-athletes who win workouts and intense academics, the his program has the potential to become three student-athletes to the national AU wrestling an NCAA champion and a successful tournament.

We saw individuals that just needed to be in the right team also student if they follow the expectations set With 11 follows a forth by the coaching staff. freshmen on environment, and I really felt like at AU wrestling, we built a very zero-tolerance “Every guy that walks in here, [into the] this year’s drinking practice room, has to feel like they’re part roster, Moore good environment for our individual athletes to develop within policy, and of something, otherwise they’re not going looks to have Teague Moore, AU Wrestling Coach even athletes to give you their best effort in practice,” even more of age may Moore said. success in the over half of their matches during the sscovel@theeagleonline.com 2014-2015 season. year while holding a 3.2 GPA or earn A self-described “selfish” but focused All-American status with at least a 3.0 wrestler, Moore approached every GPA. Danny Mitchell, a 2014 graduate, practice as an athlete with a determined finished his wrestling career at AU as a mindset. He has spent the last four years three-time All-Academic team honoree coaching at AU, building a culture that with 3.90 cumulative GPA, and Moore matches his philosophy of commitment said he expects all of his athletes to strive to excellence. to follow Mitchell’s example of success in “I absolutely love coaching at a place the classroom. The team ended the 2014 like AU,” Moore said. season ranked ninth in the country for Moore trains his athletes year-long, academic performance with a 3.21 team and they spend their preseason enduring GPA. grueling practices on the track. During “The AU wrestling culture is about the school year, the wrestlers wake up doing the best you can at everything you before dawn to prepare for their morning do," Gomez-Rivera said. “We have high lifts, and they return to the gym each academic and athletic goals.". afternoon for strenuous workouts that Not all recruits match Moore’s simulate a meet environment. standards, but he is focused on bringing “It’s definitely a mindset of competing,” in individuals who he can “nurture in the junior Esteban Gomez-Rivera said. right environment." This is the first year Close Reply “Everything we do is a challenge for where he has personally recruited all of us, whether it’s in academics or on the the athletes on his team. mat, in practice, weightlifting, living in “We saw individuals that just needed to general. You’re always trying to compete be in the right environment, and I really find that niche to be the best you can be.” felt like at AU wrestling, we built a very Moore’s coaching career began just good environment for our individual months after his graduation from athletes to develop within,” Moore said. “I Oklahoma State University when he feel that the effort and the work ethic and

By Shannon Scovel Eagle Staff Writer

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BREAKING NEWS: theEAGLE app COMING SOON

15

theEAGLE DECEMBER 5, 2014

AU’s own:

Students, Athletes, Voyagers

By Jack Stringer Eagle Contributing Writer

Division I student-athletes at AU face the same time management challenges as the rest of the student body. But involvement in sports also requires athletes to travel around the country to compete, and they often have to balance academics and athletics on the road.

Over the past year, AU athletes have traveled by van, bus and plane to perform against top athletic teams around the country, but the travel comes with a cost.

Coaches work with athletic coordinators to develop a schedule for their studentathletes that allows them to be successful on the field and in the classroom.

While away games allow an athlete to represent the school in different cities around the country, the travel has an effect on an athlete's competitive ability.

Sophomore basketball player Lauren Crisler said that the travel associated with away games can make it difficult for her to feel as comfortable on the court.

“It’s tough…traveling for a while then having to get on the court and play,” Crisler said.

Crisler and her fellow teammates will have to travel for seven non-conference away games this year, and their itinerary includes visits to Maine, North Carolina and Nevada.

When it comes to visiting opposing universities, AU travel coordinator Rob Novak works with coaches to ensure that travel accommodations fit the athletes’

decision. Novak will usually schedule a hotel for the night before a game to ensure top athletic performances with minimal academic strife, he said.

Despite the efforts of Novak and the coaching staff, traveling can still put an athlete behind in their academics if he or she isn’t completing assignments ahead of time or meeting with professors to prepare for work that will be missed.

Adjusting to an extensive travel schedule is a learning process, according to senior basketball captain Jen Dumiak.

“It just takes a lot of discipline and learning over the years what needs to get done, when it needs to get done and time management because you can’t waste key hours of the day doing nothing,” she said.

In the weeks before spring semester finals, the women’s basketball team will embark on a round trip of over 4,000 mile to Las Vegas to participate in a tournament against Gonzaga University and the University of Oregon, which are two of the strongest teams on their schedule.

Similarly, the AU swimming and diving team is scheduled to compete in two meets during the first weekend of December including Senior Winter Nationals in Greensboro, North Carolina, and the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championships in East Meadow, New York.

While the meets will allow athletes the chance to race against competitive non-conference teams, the competitions runs from Dec. 4 to 7, the weekend

Photo courtesy of AU Athletics Communication

knows that, for some swimmers, this means missing out on meets because of finals.

Students have a wide range of passions outside of sports including internships, volunteering and academic opportunities, Davin said, and the swimming schedule provides alternative meets for athletes who have final exams during the winter championship events.

“It’s not just something we say: academics really do come first,” Davin said, concerning his team’s travelling obligations.

In addition to their December travel meets, the swim and div team will also compete in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, and West Point, New York.

They will take the team bus to New York but drive several vans for the drip to Bucknell University in Pennsylvania.

- Lauren Crisler, sophomore basketball player The wrestling team also faces an extensive travel schedule, including need. He considers a student’s academic immediately before final exams. visits to North Carolina, Swimming head coach Mark Davin and athletic needs before making a travel

“

It’s tough…traveling for a while then having to get on the court and play

”

.

Nevada, Ohio, Hawaii, Missouri, New York and Maryland.

"I think it’s a good schedule because we will see high-level competition, as well as opponents we will be extremely competitive with,” head wrestling coach Teague Moore said, according to a press release in late September.

While traveling presents challenges, athletics provide students the opportunity to explore beyond D.C., while representing AU. Crisler said she likes touring other towns on her trips with the basketball team.

“When we went to Boston University, we ended up going to a clam bar after the game,” she said, regarding her team’s first trip to play Patriot League newcomers, BU. Traveling can also help the coaches and players bond, Davin said.

“As a coach, I am much better the more I know about people, as a person,” he said.

“It becomes much more personal, you end up talking about different stuff, you get to know people in different ways.” sports@theeagleonline.com

STEPPING UP TO THE POINT

Women’s Basketball quest for first NCAA Tournament appearance continues as Jen Dumiak takes on a new role

A

By Jennifer Reyes Eagle Staff Writer

s senior guard Jen Dumiak enters her final year, she has only one objective on her mind: win a Patriot League Championship.

“I really just want to win the Patriot League championship,” Dumiak said. “It will be a first for me and our program. That’s really my only goal.”

The Eagles have captured the attention of preseason Patriot League voters, as they were selected to finish second in the Patriot League behind Army.

Dumiak was also tapped as one of the five players on the preseason All-Patriot League team.

“As a team, our expectations are high,” Dumiak said. “We lost some key seniors but I think our chemistry is really coming together this year... my expectations are to win.”

In their quest to earn a Patriot League Championship, the Eagles will need to fill the void left by 2014 graduate and NCAA Women of the Year nominee Alexis Dobbs.

Second year head coach Megan Gebbia will be moving Dumiak from shooting guard, her position the last three seasons, to point guard, which was previously held by Dobbs. For the entirety of Dumiak’s college career, she was able to run the wing while Dobbs played the point, until now.

“She’s [Dumiak] just the logical choice because she’s the leader," Gebbia said. “She can play that position, and she’s proven to me that through her passing and through her IQ she can do it."

The position change will be an adjustment for Dumiak, as she will have the ball in her hands a lot more than last season when she was receiving the ball to shoot.

Gebbia expects Dumiak to have more assists this year than last year but as well as more turnovers because the ball is in her hands more often.

Dumiak currently ranks 10th

all-time at AU women’s basketball with 272 career assists, after she notched 133 assists last season. If she just matches last season’s production, Dumiak can finish second all-time in assists at AU with 405 assists, only trailing Jody Thorton’s (198387) who made 693 assists.

“My favorite thing about basketball is a good pass,” Dumiak said. “There’s nothing better than a sick pass. Someone cutting in the lane, threading the needle, that’s my favorite part of the game.”

Dumiak is a leader off of the court as well. She will serve as one of the team captains for the 2014-15 season, an honor completely voted on by her teammates.

“They see her [Dumiak] that way,” Gebbia said. “I think what’s helped her this year [is] she’s more patient than she’s been because she knows she has a lot of young kids to teach, and it’s put pressure on her to be more patient.”

Dumiak herself admits that she has matured since her freshman year on the court. She has grown from a self described “hot-head” as a younger player to a more composed leader on the court. She thanked Dobbs and four-year standout Lisa Strack ('08-'12) for taking her under their wing and teaching her leadership skills. She even attributes her leading style to Dobbs’ supportive approach and Strack’s “tough-love” attitude.

“It’s going to be tough work, it’s going to be us grinding out,” Dumiak admitted.

Dumiak still has some improvements to make, however. She cannot be too headstrong and make stubborn decision now as a point because it will hurt the team significantlly.

Gebbia has addressed Dumiak’s tendency to make harder passes instead of easy ones, and she also zoned in on her need to improve her ability to create one-on-one off the dribble.

“Just being able to break down anyone who guards her, whether they’re slow or quick is an area she needs to work on,” Gebbia said.

The Eagles season begins with formidable competition. The first five opponents, George Washington University, James Madison University, Princeton, Gonzaga and University of Oregon, advanced to the postseason last season, either in the WNIT or the NCAA Tournament.

“Out of conference [games] are going to be tough, we are playing some really

good opponents from higher leagues than ours, but I think its just going to prepare us more for our league play,” Dumiak said, “...playing as a team is going to be the key.

We need to play team defense and team offense.”

In each of Dumiak’s three seasons with AU so far, the Eagles have owned a winning record and participated in postseason play. During Dumiak’s freshman year, the Eagles became the first team in Patriot League history to go undefeated in Patriot League play finishing 14-0, but were unceremoniously eliminated in the semifinals. Dumiak hopes to avenge these losses and finally take the Eagles into NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.

The Eagles kicked off the season Nov. 17 and will start Patriot League play Dec. 31.

“It all comes down to who wants it the most,” Dumiak said, “and who’s going to play the hardest and I think if we can get that in our heads and work hard we’ll have a very good chance at winning this year and go to the NCAA tournament.” jreyes@theeagleonline.com

Photos courtesy of Mitchell Layton/ AU Athletic Communications