The Wake Issue 3 Fall 2006

Balls! /04 PLUS The Weekly Student Magazine of the University of Minnesota

Wesley Willis / Philosophy=Bullshit / and more!

8-14 November 2006

Editorial/ Editor-in-Chief Jenny Odegard

Managing Editor Eric Price

Literary Editor Jacob Duellman

Campus Editor Sarah Howard

Voices Editor Nathaniel Olsen

Sound & Vision Editor Kristen Mueller

Senior Staff Writers Elizabeth Autwes, Rachel Drewelow

Editorial Assistants Alyssa Cogan, Dan Olmschenk, Lyndsey Danberry

PRODUCTION/ Production Manager Jeremy Sengly

Art Director Sam Soule

Photography Editor Ethan Stark

Web Editor Luke Preiner

Copy Editors Kelly Frush, Erin Lavigne, Rachel Levitt, Tammy Quan

Graphic Designers Dave Hagen, Eric Price, Becki Schwartz, Jeremy Sengly, Krista Spinti

BUSINESS/ Business Manager Angela Damiani

Office Manager Elizabeth Keely Shaller

Advertising Intern Tyler Jones

Public Relations Interns Marlys Huismann, Alison Traxler, Julie Veternick

THIS ISSUE/ Cover Artist Ah Hyun Park Illustrators Dave Hagen, Alex Judkins, Jeremy Sengly Photographers Abbey Kleinert, Christine Lenzen, Ethan Stark

Contributing Writers Scott Artley, Ashley Benson, Ellie Bjorklund, Lyndsey Danberry, Samone Derks, Rachel Drewelow, Jason Hertz, Sarah Howard, Zara John, Mary Kettl, Ian Power, Eric Price, Valerie Tukey, Alice Vislova

/5:10 Š2006 The Wake Student Magazine. All rights reserved.

Established in 2002, The Wake is a weekly independent magazine produced by and for the students of the University of Minnesota. The Wake is a registered student organization.

The Wake Student Magazine 1313 5th St. SE Minneapolis, MN 55414 (612) 379-5952 • www.wakemag.org The Wake was founded by Chris Ruen and James DeLong.

Dear Readers, I met a few of you this weekend. At 9 am on University Avenue. It was nice, despite the disadvantages of trying to talk mid-parade.

The Bird and the Bee/12 The captivating sounds of up-and-coming psychedelic pop duo The Bird and the Bee evoke images of lacy curtains and sun-streaked afternoons.

Our interview starts on page 12.

SOUND & VISION/04

LITERARY/18

VOICES/08

ATHLETICS/20

PHOTOGRAPHY/11

BASTARD/23

CAMPUS/14

It was my first time taking part in the homecoming festivities, and I have to say that I was not disappointed. Students were out in throngs, in the morning chill, drinking either beer or coffee, decked out in their best gopher-gear.

Thank you, to the guy who likes the art. That means a lot. Thank you also to the members of the Greek community, who graciously accepted our stickers and T-shirts.

JENNY ODEGARD

Editor-in-Chief

Sound & Vision/

BALLS CABARET

By Scott Artley It takes some serious courage to get onstage and make a fool of yourself. But that’s what performance is essentially about: having the valor to let it rip in front of perfect strangers. Balls Cabaret, a weekly show inviting performers from “any and all” disciplines and experience levels to spend five to seven minutes onstage is as much a reference to the last name of its creator (Leslie Ball) as it is to the guts it takes to participate. Since 1991, Balls has been a staple of the Minneapolis performing arts scene that is as much about baring it all as it is about enjoying a night out.

It’s midnight on Saturday (well, officially Sunday). Although most theaters have closed their curtains for the night, a group of people are gathered in the lobby of the Southern Theatre, eager for a chance to try out a new monologue, showcase a new piece of choreography, or spout stream-of-consciousness babble about their week— anything goes.

The small room is full of people talking and laughing, sipping hot coffee as they thaw from the cold. Yet the feeling is more like backstage than front lobby, the air tingling with preparation and anxiety, tempered by boundless excitement. The audience chats alongside the actors and technicians, allowing us to see them outside of the distance of the stage, and them to see us outside the darkness of our seats. Initially, I can’t help feeling that our intermingling seems like heresy, if not incest. But we’re closing the gap between performer and audience so flagrantly, so consciously and so energetically, that it’s eventually intoxicating. The artist wants feedback, and we feel loud enough to give it.

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jeremy sengley

Later a troupe called Maximum Verbosity performs a scene from their energetic and humorous musical adaptation of a story from Norse mythology. A highlight included two transgender women who, after taking off their heels to protect the theater’s new, very expensive flooring, performed biting monologues geared toward political progress and cultural understanding—how rebellious and strangely fitting that the voices of America is the warbling tenors of two baby-boom-era women who were formerly men, shoeless and mad at the world.

The stage at the Southern embraces its past infrastructure. The walls of the warehouse-like space are limestone brick, and the stage itself is open and framed by a magnificent arch that gives it an almost mystic quality, as if you’ve just stumbled upon an ancient Greek temple.

As the night continues, the courage of first-time spoken word performer Nicole, the storytelling prowess of the quadra-lingual professional actor Paulino and the lyrical wit of musician Larry made the night enjoyable in a more traditional sense.

The emcee for the first half of the night, local comedian Ari Hoptman, explains that Leslie Ball is running late and introduces the first performer, Russ C.

Leslie Ball eventually arrived and spoke to the audience, her signature calm, welcoming attitude serving to make the experience more like a gathering of friends than strangers. Early into the morning, she encouraged artists and viewers alike to meet in the lobby and discuss what we’ve seen.

Initially, I can’t help feeling that our intermingling seems like heresy, if not incest.

Russ nervously stands in front of a microphone and a music stand holding a partially crumpled stack of computer printouts. His voice cracks in a diatribe of pop culture and political satire. It’s full of “fucks,” and its cousins “fucking” and “fucked up,” over the seven-minute limit and absolutely terrible.

Balls Cabaret is a weekly experiment with performance, and Leslie’s gift to the Twin Cities. The acts don’t need to be “good,” but the opportunity needs to be there. “We need live theatre. We need live music,” Leslie tells us, her whole body smiling, “We need to be gathered in rooms together.” southerntheater.org

\ Sound & Vision

Take a harmony joyride… with Casio beats

By Rachel Drewelow “I’m Wesley Willis. I’m 36 years old. I play music and do art. I have schizophrenia,” says Chicago’s selfdescribed “Daddy of Rock ’N Roll”, in the introduction to his 2003 biographical documentary.

Wesley Willis: The Daddy of Rock ’N Roll, will air this Friday at the Arise!

Collective in Uptown. It’s the second in a three-film series at the radical book courtesy: Amazon.com store, and is sponsored by a local branch of the Icarus Project, a national mental health support network and media project. “We wanted to show films that have honest perspectives on mental illness, films that don’t glamorize it,” explains local Icarus Project facilitator Christin Light.

Canadian filmmaker Daniel Bitton’s documentary on cult rock star Willis does everything but. In the highly entertaining 60-minute profile, Bitton takes us inside the world of the 6 feet 5 inch tall, 350 pound African-American man. The film integrates humor, depth, enlightenment and sorrow to create an always beautiful but never glamorous portrait of Willis. Cameras follow Willis, who always dons a massive pair of headphones and hangs a Discman carrier from his neck, across Chicago. There’s a distinctive dark callous on his forehead, the result of the greeting he shares with fans, friends and strangers – a head-butt.

Willis explains that writing music and drawing helps settle the three demons that live in his head— “Nervewrecker, Heartbreaker and Meansucker.” The demons take him on “Hell rides,” he says, and music takes him away on a “rock joy ride.” Before becoming a musician, Willis specialized in ballpoint pen and Sharpie renderings of the Chicago skyline and other sites seen from buses.

Willis died in August the year the film was released due to internal bleeding, likely from leukemia, but by then

he had produced at least 50 albums. He never spent more than five hours on one, according to Alternative Tentacles, a record label Willis worked with.

Another friend says that Willis is lucky to have so many people who care about him. “A lot of people in Wesley’s situation don’t have people who can advocate for them,” she says.

Willis’s music consists of stream-of-consciousness rantings over keyboard-generated rock tracks. His blunt lyrics are funny, disturbing and genuine all at once. His lyrics discuss city bus rides, McDonald’s, mullets, beating up superheroes, drunk driving and Saddam Hussein. He also writes vulgar bestiality songs, full of sexual obscenities about animals. They’re especially helpful in warding off the demons, Willis says.

Here in Minneapolis, the Icarus Project is concerned with similar issues. The New York-based foundation works to help people with mental illnesses (or “dangerous gifts”) feel less alienated and to “tap into the true potential that lies between brilliance and madness,” according to the national website.

Willis tags a unique signature onto each of his songs with the same closing verse, “Rock over London, Rock on Chicago,” followed by a popular advertising slogan like “Wheaties: The Breakfast of Champions.”

His lyrics discuss city bus rides, McDonald’s, mullets, beating up superheroes, drunk driving and Saddam Hussein.

In a hilarious scene, Willis pounds out the lyrics to a new bestiality song in a Kinko’s. The least vulgar line is “suck a polar bear’s smelly ass.” When the store’s printer isn’t working right, Willis does what most frustrated Kinko’s customers probably want to do—he tells the closest bright-eyed employee that he’s “about to have a Hell ride.”

The worker helps Willis print his song, and in tribute Willis uses a glue stick to add one more phrase to the sheet of lyrics: “Kinko’s—Express Yourself ” Mixed in with gentle and humorous scenes are conversations that introduce Willis’s troubled past. Willis speaks about how his father molested and abused him and his brothers growing up. And Willis blames the man who shot and paralyzed his mother, then threatened to shoot him, for his onset of schizophrenia in 1989. “He told me that if I don’t give him $600, he was going to blow my brains out.

That’s when I started hearing demons,” Willis explains.

In happier scenes, Willis chats with caring friends. One such person, Carla, explains that when she met Willis he was living with someone who was taking advantage of him and stealing from him. She tried to help Willis find a new place, but no one would rent to him, she explains.

Eventually, she had Willis move in with her.

Light founded the Project’s local branch in May, and says it has been very successful. “It’s about creating a space for people who aren’t getting all the help they need in a clinical setting.” And it’s about creatively spreading awareness of mental illness, by creating “a discussion and understanding” through films aimed at a wider audience than just Icarus’s members.

The documentary’s honest glance into the life of Wesley Willis gives insight into not only mental illness, but also the local characters we see on our own buses and streets.

Remembering Willis, we can recognize that these “crazy people” are just people – people with demons, and people with friends and people with stories. Rock over London, Rock on Chicago.

Wesley Willis: The Daddy of Rock’N’Roll shows free of charge at 7 p.m. at the Arise! Collective, 2441 Lyndale Ave S.; arisebookstore.org. The Icarus Project support group meets Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at Arise!; icarusproject.net, icarusmpls@gmail.com.

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Sound & Vision/

Just for Kicks

courtesy: justforkicksmovie.com

The underground world of sneakers, hip-hop and the consequences of stepping on someone’s shoes

By Lyndsey Danberry My Adidas walk through concert doors and roam all over coliseum floors I stepped on stage, at Live Aid All the people gave an applause that paid —“My Adidas,” Run D.M.C From Run’s Adidas to Nelly’s Air Force Ones, hip-hop artists and their sneakers have gone hand-in-foot. Just for Kicks, a Caid Production and Program 33 documentary aired at Varsity Theater last month, traced the sneaker’s music-laced origins, from b-boys to b-ball.

It all began with break dancing. “We added the element of style, we wore sneakers for the way they looked and they way they matched our clothes,” says Grandmaster Caz, member of the Cold Crush Brothers, a hip-hop group from the early ’80s. “When we started break dancing and b-boyin, sneakers came into play crazy because the ones that were comfortable to dance in became standard for bboys.” For sneakers to be comfortable, however, you had to keep the laces loose, which meant shoes flying into the crowd weren’t uncommon during break dance sessions.

And fancy footwork wasn’t the only way dancers earned street credit—the right shoes were almost as important as

06/8-14 November 2006

the ability to spin on your head for crafting an image.

Sneakers quickly became more than just a status symbol—for some, they were an obsession. “I will punch a cop in the face if he steps on my kicks,” one man says. Others meticulously cleaned their footwear—with a toothbrush.

“If you only had one pair of shoes, you had to keep them clean,” says Jamel Shabazz, photographer.

Trends run rampant in the world of soles. Lace thickness became as important as the color, which had to match the wearer’s outfit, leaving men to change laces like women changed earrings. For a period in time, sneakers without laces were like guns without bullets. “That’s how you laid honeys, that’s how got respect from the hard rocks and that’s how you laid your game down,” says Koe Rodriquez, hip-hop scholar. Later, the lack of laces symbolized an ex-con status, since prison inmates weren’t allowed laces.

Before long no one wanted to be seen wearing laces.

“It’s not a fashion statement so much as a signifier of social hierarchy” “Remember, these [sneakers] aren’t just practical anymore, they are art. They are a statement of not only who you are, but where you came from and what you have,” says Lexi Guillaume, a U of M senior whose siblings came of age in the ’80s. “It’s not a fashion statement so much as a signifier of social hierarchy, answering ‘Who is doing well enough to buy the brand new kicks at Foot Locker that week?’”

Every self-respecting citizen of hip-hop stood with their favorite sneaker brand. Run DMC’s members broke the mold, wearing what they wore on the streets instead of conforming to the pop culture: black pants, leather jackets, and Adidas kicks. Their audience blindly followed.

At one show, the entire crowd even took their Adidas off to wave in the air while Run DMC sang “My Adidas,” a song that signified their love for sneakers. It also came as a symbolism to the anti-sneaker campaign. The gimmick paid off. Run DMC eventually won a one million dollar contract from Adidas successfully promoting their sneakers through their music.

Nike, suffering from its white jogging image, struggled to catch up. But the mega-brand quickly “flipped their chips” by betting everything on a young rookie—Michael Jordan. Jordan defied the rules of basketball and sneakers, wearing black and red shoes without a hint of white.

The “Air Jordan” was born, a visionary design utilizing luxury materials never before seen on tennis shoes. And that was it. Sneaker brands were kicked out everywhere, and special editions became collectors items: many didn’t even dare to wear their new shoes for fear of being forced to take them off at gun point.

So it’s no surprise that the global sneaker industry is a $26 billion market, with only 20 percent of sales made from its original business model, marketing to athletes.

The remaining 80 percent boomed from what the brands call “lifestyle” shoes, aka hip-hop or “urban culture” kicks.

“From Run DMC to Michael Jordan, Adidas for men are the Jimmy Choos for women. Carrie in Sex in the City begs to get her priceless Manolo Blahniks back when someone takes them from a baby shower,” Guillame says.

“Similar to a young boy in Harlem shooting a guy for his new kicks.” justforkicksmovie.com

Voices/

I Was Audited by the IRS Why sucking at math sucks for you BY mary kettl I’m being audited by the state of Minnesota, which I find both appalling — my tax refund is only $46 — and embarrassing. What’s more, I know they picked me because I can’t do math.

I have avoided math for decades, careful not to board trains leaving Peoria at 5 p.m. traveling 62 m.p.h., quietly changing banks whenever I screw up my checkbook and confident that, unless I am buying carpet in Egypt, I probably don’t need to know how to figure the square footage of a pyramid. Having lived a full and rewarding life without math, I was slightly hurt by the tone of the letter from the Minnesota Department of Revenue, which, while it didn’t come right out and say that I had failed to subtract line 35 from line 19 because I had drawn a kitty-cat on line 19, hinted that I should not have had pre-schoolers prepare my taxes.

Like many things in life, such as holding your breath or playing “Chopsticks,” math was a lot more fun when I was a kid. I dominated Quizmo, a game where, if the teacher read, “Nine plus 3,” and you had a twelve, you could put a bean on your card. I also enjoyed long division, especially remainders — I loved the idea that you could do a math problem and, if you had numbers left over, hey, that was OK! Remainder three!

...while it didn’t come right out and say that I had failed to subtract line 35 from line 19 because I had drawn a kitty-cat on line 19, hinted that I should not have had pre-schoolers prepare my taxes.

It all fell apart in junior high with the arrival of X, Y and Z. These letters were called variables, and the people in the math books were always undertaking home improvement projects or performing feats of strength that involved multiple variables, such as figuring out how many bricks Juan would need to build a patio around his swimming pool or helping Maryann decide how many green marbles she must add to a jar of red marbles to insure that the final percentage of green marbles would be — I didn’t care about Maryann’s marbles.

As a result of my inattention, I had to take Algebra Survey in high school, where they taught Algebra slowly over two years instead of one. At the time, we Algebra Surveyors considered ourselves a step above the general math students, who, as it turns out, got to take Accounting and were all bound for wealth. I was lost most of the time, though I perked up when we started talking about

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jeremy Sengly

imaginary numbers. I started giving my imaginary numbers names and interesting back stories and was working out a historical fiction plot in which the imaginary numbers took up arms against some rebel fractions who were trying to secede from the set. At this point I was interrupted by the teacher who, while enjoying my narrative arc, wanted us to learn to graph those imaginary numbers, which is a skill only slightly more useful than carding wool. My teacher was not amused I turned in a blank sheet of graph paper with my imaginary homework on it.

By the end of the second year, we had moved on to some basic geometry, learning about acute triangles and triangles that weren’t acute but had really great personalities. After I told the teacher that “radii” was Latin for “two radios,” she told me if I wanted to major in liberal arts and work for non-profit organizations for the rest of my life then I was welcome to take my abacus and leave.

Little did she know that I would become a language arts teacher, where the only arithmetic you have to know is how many identical orange plastic chairs will you need for a class of 22 students.

So you can imagine my alarm when I discovered I would have to pass the math section of the Graduate Record Exam, to go back to school, which meant learning six

years of math in six weeks. I could almost hear Juan and Maryann snickering in the background. I turned to the fractions chapter in the GRE study book and opened a box of crackers. Modern math teachers call these “manipulatives,” and they use them in first grade classrooms. I dutifully broke my crackers into fourths and eighths, adding and subtracting them and thinking about peanut butter.

When the problems started to deal with thirds and sixths, I started taking apart Oreos, which did not work as well.

Soon I was frantically peeling oranges, separating the sections into sixteenths and searching the cupboard for two-thirds of a cup of gin, which I thought would improve the lesson. It didn’t. I was starting to feel an acute pain in my forehead, as I tried to memorize Key Facts J1 through J15. I made it as far as Key Fact J2, “The measure of an exterior angle of a triangle is equal to the sum of the measures of the two opposite interior angles,” before I went back to eating my fractions homework.

It’s a matter of public record that my GRE math score was a dismal 25, but I’m still awaiting the results of my Minnesota audit. If I have to go to jail, I hope that Juan and Maryann will visit me.

\ Voices Photo Poll

by Christine Lenzen

How do you feel about athletes using steroids?

It’s not fair. I don’t have a supplier.

Which New York river is one of the few in the world to flow south to north?

EAMONN MCLAIN

Undecided Freshman

I find the whole althletic thing ridiculous anyways.

They get paid a stupid amount of money for what they do.

HANNAH WALLS

Biology Senior

Anything you got to do to win.

MIKE FLYNN

Art Sophomore

I’m not on steroids.

Did you get your tickets to the gun show?

TIM ROBY

Drawing/Painting Graduate student

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Voices/

Philosophy: Millenia-Old Wisdom or Crock of Shit?

BY ellie bjorklund Take my thoughts, experiences and epiphanies and put them in a blender. Turn it on frappe without the lid on and watch it all splatter in my face like a bad date. Philosophy can have a comparable effect on a student. I walk into discussions hoping that what I’m saying will penetrate the minds of those around me. Perhaps, today my ideas will cause them to sit back and think, “Jesus, how did I think any differently before these wise words?” This rarely happens. In any number of typical classroom settings, if you put enough thought into what you are presenting and have the confidence and credibility to relay it, people may follow. For those who consider themselves extremely persuasive by nature, prepare to die of pure aggravation.

Let me preface this by stating that I find philosophy to be a fascinating study. From the question of God to the reliability of our senses, philosophy is an intriguing subject.

However, you must enter with a sense of control. I feel that my opinions have a fair amount of logic to them and don’t carry an immense quantity of irrational beliefs. But why, when I enter this classroom, do I sometimes feel like I’m run over by a huge philosophical steamroller? There are bound to be students who agree with the things I say. Even when I’m not stating my opinion, I feel kind of hypocritical. I begin to feel like the class period basically consists of my thoughts jumping from, “How could you possibly disagree with me, you mongoloid bitch?” to “How could you expect me to possibly agree with you?” Crazy mongoloid bitches.

Let’s take the issue of the existence of God. Esteemed philosophers of the past have argued in favor of God’s existence with the support of fairly sound arguments. But there will always be some loophole in any argument that you present to me. A textbook tells me that God typically fits the description of being omnipotent, omniscient and omnibenevolent. In turn, these characteristics are used tirelessly to discuss God’s existence. You can’t try to convince me of something with supporting points that don’t have any support themselves. Here begins the endless cycle that is philosophy. No matter what you tell me, and no matter what hyper intellectual, well thought out arguments I throw at you, you never seem to agree with me, and we will dance around in a deadly circle of hypotheses.

I honestly see no hope on the horizon. It used to be entertaining to muse about a degree in philosophy. What an abstract and not to mention uncommon pursuit. I just laugh about that proposition now. It’s become painfully clear now. There seems to be little you can do with the degree besides going on to teach the course or actually becoming a philosopher (and how hilarious would that be?).

Perhaps the unappealing ways about this study stem from the mere fact that there is an inability to come across any sort of breakthrough. If the entire basis of the study is the theme of endless questions and a lack of answers, where is it going?

When learning about the conflicting views of philosophers A.J. Ayer and J.L. Austin, people too high-minded and intellectual for the mundane thrill of first names, the class was informed that their differing opinions of the ques-

However, there are exceptions I must address. I accept that philosophy is beneficial for the growth of thought.

It assists in the ability to see things in a new light and conceptualize in abstract ways. No matter if one believes the things one’s classmates say, there is room to grow. I can already see these benefits in myself. This still does not change the fact that regardless of my attempts. I don’t feel satisfied after our discussions. I rely on the possibility to one day show someone that without a doubt what I’m sharing is absolutely true. Without that, I end up feeling defeated, not to mention perturbed by this whole unstable view of things. I suppose I’ll just continue to wallow at my desk, puzzling over “if/then” statements until I’m metaphorically beat-up enough to satisfy the philosophical bully.

I feel that my opinions have a fair amount of logic to them and don’t carry an immense quantity of irrational beliefs. But why, when I enter this classroom, do I sometimes feel like I’m run over by a huge philosophical steamroller? tionable nature of our senses went beyond just the issue itself. I see little purpose in the whole argument because no one has any proof of anything. This is a fairly common trend in philosophical arguments. The entire basis of faith is centered around an internal feeling that doesn’t necessarily rely on scientific equations.

But for a realist like myself, you’re going to have to do better than that. I’m well aware that if I follow this thought process, I technically should have no reason to believe what I believe.

We all fit into this same frustrating category and that is the reason it is so futile to ever even think about opening my mouth or mind. dave hagen

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Abbey Kleinert

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THE BIRD AND THE BEE

By Alice Vislova The sounds of self-described psychedelic-pop duo The Bird and The Bee evoke images of sun-streaked afternoons and lacy curtains. So it may be more than a coincidence that vocalist Inara George and instrumentalist Greg Kurstin formed The Bird and The Bee on a similarly pleasant evening, while in Kurstin’s home studio in Echo Park, California.

“It is a very easy process that we have together,” George reminisces over the phone, in her slightly husky, signature rock-star voice. “Playing together was really fun and relaxed. I’d go over [to Greg’s apartment] around 12 p.m., and stay until maybe 4 p.m. There was no real intention for it, we were just writing music that we liked.”

The entire music industry could benefit from George and Kurstin’s recipe: a little less clutter, a dash of love for music and voila—remarkable results. “People dance sometimes to this music,” George says. “I have never experienced that before. There’s a playfulness to it.” Indeed, the effects of their unique recording style are evident on the final product.

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The Bird and the Bee’s tracks are soaked in lightness and happiness, sure to make the listener smile. And maybe even do a little wiggle. The “lightness” may be attributed to the fact that some songs were recorded the same day they were written, providing a freshness usually absent in modern recording.

It may be tempting to assume that because their new fourtrack EP is a ton of fun, it’s also shallow. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. The music is whimsical, but with song titles such as “I’m a Broken Heart” and “F*cking Boyfriend,” the lyrics are not necessarily optimistic, and definitely not brainless. “When you write lyrics, even when you’re not trying to be sincere, you end up being kind of honest. You can’t help it,” George says. And she should know—George is responsible for the group’s vocals.

On the flip side, Kurstin is responsible for kicking the shit out of instrumentals. “He is a super-skilled musician with a great ear,” George says.

As one might derive from the quality of their EP, George and Kurstin are not newcomers to the music world. In fact, both have had widespread musical experience prior to The Bird and The Bee. George’s father was the frontman of ’70s

“There i s somethi something wro n by the h g right, when y ng and there is a nd a nd ou I will clo can take me se my e yes...”

rock band “Little Heat,” and Kurstin has been a jazz piano prodigy since anybody can remember. Both artists have been members of countless bands, and George recently released a solo album titled “All Rise.” It was during the recording process for “All Rise” that George and Kurstin met, through a mutual friend, and the rest, as they say, is history.

all the while holding fast to core ideals of joy and awe in the world. There is a definite possibility that this scrutiny is overly analytical; perhaps all that needs to be said is that The Bird and the Bee’s music will make you feel nice on the inside.

At this point, I could attempt to impress you by rattling off the names of the countless musicians, such as Nelly Furtado, The Flaming Lips, and Beck, that George and Kurstin have worked with. However, the most impressive and important measure of The Bird and the Bee’s greatness is their music. The melodies are captivating, the harmonies are jazzy, and the lyrics are accessible.

Emotionally, listening to the joyful ditties on The Bird and the Bee’s new EP, “Again and Again and Again and Again,” is like tucking a little rainbow in your pocket.

And who can say no to that? The adventure begins with the airy vocal line of “Again and Again,” which, several measures into the song, is spiced up with a synthesizer and a tambourine. The next track is “I’m a Broken Heart,” which is dominated by a steady beat and syncopated bells that are strangely reminiscent of a sad Christmas carol.

The last track on the EP, “F*cking Boyfriend,” takes full advantage of hand clamps [do they mean claps?], chimes, and yet more synthesizer to capture transcendent truths about love and life: “There is something wrong and there is something right, when you can take me by the hand and I will close my eyes...”

Oh, and did I mention that George can sing like nobody’s business? So instead of pummeling you with more facts, I’ll simply encourage you to invest in their EP, “Again and Again and Again and Again,” to play on repeat until the full-length, self-titled record is released in early 2007.

Throughout their EP, the magic of The Bird and the Bee lies in the stark contrast between the mechanical, synthetic nature of the music and the truthful vulnerability of the vocals. The syncopated chimes breaking the convention of beat in many tracks seem suggestive of real human emotion escaping the constrictions of the age of technology. George and Kurstin’s music seems to communicate their striving for real connections in a mechanical society,

If you need a quicker fix of the duo, you’re in luck. This month, Courtesy: Autumn De Wilde George and Kurstin are taking their show out of Kurstin’s apartment and onto the road.

Although mostly sticking to the coasts, the twosome will make one Midwestern appearance, at Minneapolis’ Fine Line Music Café. Be there for a peek into the sunny, beautiful world of the Bird, and the Bee. Catch The Bird and the Bee at 9 p.m. on November 14th at the Fine Line; myspace.com/thebirdandthebee, finelinemusic.com.

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Campus/

Environmentalism with a Twist of Optimism: The Wake investigates the Northland Bioneers conference BY ian power It was all smiles and positive thinking at the first annual Northland Bioneers Conference, held at Minneapolis Community and Technical College over the weekend of Oct. 20-22. A newly annual three-day interactive presentation, the conference is dedicated to spreading knowledge about the environment, health, social justice and holistic spirituality.

I arrived on the second day of the Northland Bioneers Conference open-minded but three-and-a-half hours late. The majority of patrons were already in small workshops learning about the various aspects of environmentalism, sustainable living and social change. Glancing at the schedule, I quickly glided through the main room, past booths representing different biofuel, organic food and environmentalist groups and up three floors to the classrooms.

I was immediately struck by the friendliness of the events staff and audience.

The usually people attending events that support any sort of activism or environmentalism consistently prove to be the most positive, driven and seemingly happy people I have ever met. This is not happiness through delusion either, nor empty and unrealistic idealism. These are people dedicated to a positive approach toward affecting change in the world. These people are high on their own drive, their own need to try to do something. It is easy to become swept up in it. The entire weekend was shaped around new approaches to sustainable living that are simple and logical.

The “why not?” mentality of the event as a whole was so convincing coming out that one has the impression that changing the world isn’t out of the question.

The event’s plates, cups and paper were made out of compostable materials like

14/8-14 November 2006

\ Campus

From the group’s founder I learned that running biofuel in a diesel engine can get you up to 60 miles per gallon, a decision that makes amazing sense in lieu of the staggering gas prices.

corn synthesized by Eureka Recycling of Minneapolis. The organization had a pledge to make the conference a zero percent trash event. Bioneers would leave MCTC in the same symbiotic relationship it came to it in. Speaking with two representatives from Eureka, I brought up the ghastly rumor that recycling isn’t profitable and therefore should be abandoned.

They scoffed at the idea and told me that they have been profitable for over 20 years and that since they are a non-profit organization, all profits are put back into the community. Eureka’s mission statement is, “To demonstrate that waste is preventable, not inevitable.”

Aveda, a cosmetics company which uses completely organic materials, was at the conference as well. Aveda, along with a number of other equally important and innovative organizations, is committed to helping the world in a progressive and straightforward manner.

To learn more about any of the groups present at the Northland Bioneers Conference or to become a bioneer yourself (as I soon am going to become), visit their website at www.nbconference.org. When it really comes down to it, why not?

These are people dedicated to a positive approach toward affecting change in the world. These people are high on their own drive, their own need to try to do something.

This is a refreshing stance considering America ranks number one as the biggest waste producer annually. Recycled paper has become a global economy to the extent that it is foolish on a business level not to invest in it Ignoring recycling, I learned, is foolish. I asked Eureka what consumers can do to help the efforts of recycling.

They told me that people should try to buy things in bulk and compost anything organic. By doing this you will not only help the earth, but also give yourself a base for a productive garden.

Sunday’s Energy, a business specializing in biodiesel fuel, also discussed their participation in the sustainability effort.

ethan stark

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Campus/

The MacLaurin Institute Presents Mustafa Akyol The Pope and Islam

BY Lyndsey danberry The MacLaurin Institute is a Christian study center serving the University of Minnesota – “bringing God into the marketplace of ideas.” Dr. William Monsma, a physicist-theologian from the University of Colorado, founded it in 1982. Each year the institute brings 10 to 15 Christian scholars to the U of M campus, along with holding a conference each year presenting a distinctly Christian alternative.

The U of M’s latest speaker, Mustafa Akyol, is a Muslim writer based out of Istanbul, Turkey. Akyol, 34, graduated from Bosphorus University. He travels around the United States and the United Kingdom giving seminars relating to Islam and modernity. In Turkish “Akyol” means “the white path,” a theme present throughout his career.

On Friday, Oct. 20 Akyol spoke about the Pope and Islam. His lecture dealt with the Pope Benedict’s Sept. 12 comments about

Islam, which said that the religion generally limits the use of reason and too often uses violence. “Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached,” the Pope said, referring to the almost 80 wars led by the Prophet Mohammad.

In Turkish “Akyol” means “the white path,” a theme present throughout his career.

Jesus never picked up a sword, a member of the audience pointed out a passage from Matthew 26:50-52, which states: Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.”

Akyol responded to the question of whether Muslims embrace violence and forget reason by demonstrating the number of different attitudes there are toward Islam.

One includes those who reject reason and imitate the Prophet Mohammad, another use reason to interpret the Koran.

In the beginning, the Mutazili school of thought believed that one should use reason to understand the Koran. The Hanbali school believed that one should imitate everything in the Koran, never using reason to evaluate what’s written. Eventually middle ground was found – Ashari believed more in imitating Mohammad but still used reason.

The issue of reason, which aroused many Muslims, was the central issue of Pope Benedict’s September lecture. Akyol argued that the Pope, who is not an expert on Islam, focused on the works of Ibn Hazm. Hazm was a representative of the Hanbali (modern day Wahhabis) who strongly distrust reason and rely on the imitation of Mohammad. Akyol criticized the Pope for ignoring other Islamic interpretations.

Akyol acknowledges that Islam has been criticized for using violence or “spreading by sword.” He states that the violent expansion in the first century must be understood as a political act meant for the purpose of the survival of Islam. In later years it was used to advance Islamic rule, but was not meant to forcefully convert those who followed. Violence cannot be justified for those reasons, Akyol says.

He used Quranic verses noting that virtually all Islamic scholars today oppose violent conversions.

In a response given by Dr. Terry Nichols, Chair of Theology at the University of St. Thomas, it was noted that scholars who might have identified the problems never reviewed the text of the Pope’s address.

To attend future lectures through the The MacLaurin Institute visit their Web site at http://www.maclaurin. org/.

Two Seasons: Winter and Road Construction Minnesota winters delight and depress.

BY ashley benson You know you’re from Minnesota when the seasons change during the course of one lecture. Watching the faces of students coming out of a lecture on Oct. 11 was entertaining. Some were shocked, others angry, and a few were filled with excitement. When these students went into class, it was fall. When they came out, it looked more like February.

Twin Cities were buried in 28.4 inches of snow.

While most would agree that October is too early for snow, true Minnesotans know that anything is possible. A scene like this quickly brings to mind the infamous Halloween blizzard of 1991, which serves to easily identify the out-of-state students.

But if you are in fact one of those outof-towners who does not remember this Midwestern milestone, here it is. It started during the afternoon of Oct. 31, 1991 and over the course of the next three days, the

Obviously, this year’s off-season flurries were nothing to that extent and melted away instantly, but the cold temperatures hung around. Some students took advantage of this and used the shivering student body to advertise, handing out free cocoa along with an informative flyer about their group or cause.

16/8-14 November 2006

When these students went into class, it was fall. When they came out, it looked more like February.

photo courtesy of Martin Briére

See “Two Seasons,” p.22

\ Campus

The Restoration of a Historic Property Architecture contest on display BY sarah howard The original Darwin D. Martin complex includes the homes of Darwin D. Martin and George F. Barton, two New York business tycoons, as well as a conservatory, carriage house and a pergola. All designed

by Frank Lloyd Wright, an exhibition of the new interpretations of these buildings is on display at Rapson Hall on the University campus.

The eight-bedroom Martin house is the jewel of the property. The home was built in 1903 and cost roughly $175,000, when an average home at this time cost about $10,000.

The Buffalo, N.Y. complex became a depressed area when Martin died in 1935.

The house was abandoned in 1937 and remained empty until 1955 when another architect, Sebastian Tauriello, purchased the home. Tauriello had to sell the property behind the home to be able to afford the preservation of the main house. In 1960 the pergola (arbor), conservatory and carriage house were demolished to make room for

The home was built in 1903 and cost roughly $175,000, when an average home at this time cost about $10,000. apartment buildings. The Barton House was bought by Eric and Eleanor Larrabbee in 1967, but was eventually purchased in 1994 for the Martin House Restoration Corporation by M & T Bank, Rich Products Corp. and the Buffalo News.

The complex has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1975 and the Martin House was put on the National Historic Landmark list in 1986.

local group. The apartment buildings were torn down and the effort began to rebuild the original three structures. Construction on this project is currently underway.

In 2002, five architecture firms were invited to design a visitor’s center for the site, which is hoping to attract tourists with their restoration efforts. The Martin House Restoration Corporation is hoping people will come to the Martin site like they flock to Wright’s masterpiece home “Fallingwater” in rural Pennsylvania, which was built 30 years after the Martin Complex.

Of the five firms, the design by Toshiko Mori Architect was chosen. According to this firm, the visitor support spaces will include an exhibition space, permanent gallery, a theater and a museum shop allowing guests to learn more about the complex and Wright.

The new architecture added to the property by Toshiko Mori will “reinterpret” the Martin House and the innovative techniques used by Wright. The firm wanted to reflect the legacy of Wright and incorporate this with modern architecture themes.

They used Wright’s designs and aspirations as a springboard for the concept of this design.

The contest model submissions from the other four firms are also on display at Rapson, but Toshiko Mori’s design takes center stage in the exhibition. The winning design incorporates Wright’s use of light with raised windows on the ceiling, allowing sunlight to enter the home with ease and let nature be a part of the building and its ambience, something Wright would be truly inspired by.

The exhibit is currently on display in the HGA Gallery in Rapson Hall along with other architectural models.

Visit cdes.umn.edu for more information.

abbey kleinert

In the 1990s plans for the restoration of the complex began when it was purchased by a

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Literary/

This Accomplished Brain

By Jason Hertz I

I return to her side and let my wet hair dry in the sweat stained pillows’ caress.

She sits across from me all night engaged

And the car alarm tendrils and quick feet slapping the paths sound through the windows.

the sounds of her voice, and the crinkles my eyes make toward her breast.

She arcs her back to the pressure of my hand, groaning, leaning her stomach and curly black feathers against my fingers.

The best state of affairs would have our smiles be white

I kiss her neck dreaming.

glazed china masks, thin, the lips painted red.

Dreaming that behind this blood flushed fabric of orange and alabaster Beneath our masks would be draperies of flesh, plastic moments of writhing heat and black tufts of hair. Beneath

Dreaming that if I ply these curtains apart I’ll find distinct spirits gold, invisible, perfect in every way.

our masks would be a locus for this steaming rhythm Then dawn. Light takes over this world, steam unfurls from the gutters

of words, bandied through our porcelain mouths.

by concrete where on frost laden grass blades the withered leaves of an oak tree breathe like embers and smolder.

At the end of the night when she unclasps her bra, I think she’s lying, but for an inexpressible moment, breathing

And under this nascent sun that singes the shedding of life,

into each other’s ears, with our hands immersed in shoulders I glance to the side and See two

cold

I find my shoulder screwed into the nape of her neck, her slack jaw, sleepy exhales.

masks

Whatever symphonic achievements our early hot skin can pull off,

forlorn on the floor.

they have the exploded status that last night’s dreams deflate to in the disruption of my zinc blue serv-o-tron alarm, 6:30.

II The bed frame has ceased creaking.

The fluttering aches of her sex run down my thigh.

I kiss her cheek to rise back into my self, in the shower where I am alone, and the hot water pours over me, deafening.

The Voices in my Head Demand Satisfaction! jduellman@wakemag.org

18/8-14 November 2006

HOW TO: Submitting is easy! Send your poems, short stories or suggestions to jduellman@wakemag.org Attach your work using Microsoft Word and also include your piece in the body of the e-mail. Any accompanying illustrations must be sent at 300 DPI. Still have concerns? We are also available to meet in person to workshop your creative work. Just send an e-mail to set an appointment. We don’t bite... hard

Smell That?

An Open-Mic is cooking.

Starlight Cafe Nov. 17th. 7:00 pm.

\ Literary

A Bowl

One of us

By Samone Derks

By Zara John

My eyes are a bit glassy today Whether from the wind whipping tears

Cause we always pray to our God, Gods, Goddesses, or ourselves Before battle with ourselves and his or her God,

Or This physical sickness, born from that misbehaving cigarette.

Which undoubtedly kills everything we knew before.

beat like a small strobe light.

Downstairs her mother kissed her slippery cheek, a red brand of initiation.

Logic would tell us

Flickers on the security monitor

That someday we’ll see this island

Make me think of barrels + counters

As a bowl and the ocean smiling, glad to fill it.

And their coming of age love story.

A purely mental headache develops.

Through skin translucent her heart

She wondered why someone with scales and webbed toes lived in open prairie, the grass rubbing like chalk and nails against bare legs, with trains

So you can’t blame me for this throbbing On the right side of my brain.

It’s this state of buildings

Because Time never stops making history.

Changing the weather.

You could try to stop her…

Twisters can’t even touch the ground

but I hear she’s a wicked fighter.

And the sky must hush itself.

casting lines into the depths of the wide continent, and long whistles into the night — She spent the day drinking the rain, something sliding into her rounded and present, a question mark.

At the greyhound station her skin

To not feel the elements

No. I’d rather put these headphones on

Of that “Evil” they speak of seems unnatural.

And imagine that it’s the volume

Every “people” has been brought

Giving me this massive headache.

Down on its knees in centuries.

stretched and rang — the late dampness, the slight steam as she entered the bus into the heat of eyes and breath everyone lurching outward, outward altogether hooked

It’s not a matter of justice.

on the dark magnet of freeway.

It’s not a matter of pure fact.

It’s not a matter of lacking compassion.

These were ocean people; sleeping

It’s Sanity vs. Insanity.

ocean people, in the black engine hum of night.

Literary Events Who: Memoir; poetry with Carolyn Holbrook; Charon SuzukiMartinez. Host Sherry Quan Lee.

Who: Patricia Hampl

Who: Eric and Jonathan Dregni

What: SASE Women of Color Reading: Short Hot Mamas

What: A Wrtier’s View; The local author discusses writers who have visited Minnesota. With pianist Dan Choulnard

What: Happy Hour Book Club: The brothers discuss ‘Follies of Science

When: Thurs, Nov. 9th, 7:00 pm.

When: Friday, Nov. 10th, 7:00 pm.

When: Tue. Nov. 14th, 5:30 pm.

Where: Patrick’s Cabaret FREE

Where: Fitzgerald Theater, $15

Where: Kieran’s Irish Pub, FREE

Who: Steve Hendricks

Who: Charles Fishman

Who: International Journalists Forum: What is News?

What: The author discusses ‘Unquiet Grave: The FBI and the Struggle for the Soul of Indian Country.’

What: The author discusses ‘Chopin’s Piano’

What: Journalists from around the world discuss

When: Fri, Nov. 10th, 7:00 pm.

When: Tue. Nov. 14th, 7:00 pm.

Where: The Loft Literary Center, FREE

Where: Macalester Campus Center, FREE

When: Thursday, Nov. 9th, 7:00 pm.

Where: Birchbark Books, FREE

Who: Charles Fishman discusses ‘Copin’s Piano.’

Who: Melody Gilbert

What: Twin Cities Jewish Book Fair

What: Urban Explorers: Into the Darkness; Filmmaker screens and discusses her work. With photography; tours.

When: Thurs, Nov. 9th, 7:30 pm.

When: Fri. Nov. 10th, 6:30 pm.

Where: Jewish Community Center of the Greater St. Paul Area, $8

Where: Mill City Museum, $15

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Athletics/

All Doped-Up U of M develops plan to test more athletes for drugs

By Valerie Tukey For nearly every college in the United States, football and basketball are the highest revenue-producing sports. So it isn’t surprising that football and basketball athletes are drug tested more often than others. After all, they are the college superstars of the athletic world. With recent efforts to stop all student athletes from using drugs, the University of Minnesota has come up with a new plan to combat the never-ending battle.

Not only will U of M athletes be randomly selected from every sport for drug testing, the U’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is honing in on another deterrent for drug use—education.

Under the new plan, athletes will be required to attend a drug and alcohol education program twice each year. The programs will review NCAA policies on drug use and talk about dietary supplements that may place athletes at risk for a positive drug test. The athletic department hopes that if athletes are educated about drug use they will be less likely to use drugs.

Surely the intent of the program is to stop athletes from doing drugs, but some students have mixed views on the new plan.

“I think it’s good in some ways,” junior wrestler Matthew Everson said. “But I think that we are spending too much money on drug-testing students who don’t need to be tested.”

Athletes and coaches alike are a little skeptical of the new plan.

“I think some coaches were a little worried at first because they didn’t know if the testing would take up practice time,” Crystal Dudley, swimming and diving athletic trainer, said.

But people are always hesitant of change.

After all, this is the first time in years that the U’s drug testing program has been revised.

“We haven’t officially reviewed or made any revisions on the program for many years,” Moira Novak, the Director of Athletic Medicine, said. “It was due to be reviewed and revised.”

Maybe the U is choosing to test too many people, but some agree with the decision to test all sports equally.

20/8-14 November 2006

“I think it is fair to test everyone,” Caitlin Roemhildt, high jumper on the women’s track and field team, said. “It isn’t fair to single out big name sports like football or basketball.”

With the new plan, both low and high revenue-producing sports will be monitored closely. And whether you are a Big Ten champion, or warming the benches at games, the chances of getting a drug test are all the same.

Matt Engel, a junior on the men’s swimming and diving team, was already randomly selected for a drug test this year. He said that for once, football players weren’t the only ones being tested. In his three years of being on the team, Engel has never heard of a swimmer being drug tested.

Now, times have changed. “There was someone being tested from almost every sport,” says Engel. “I think this program is a positive improvement.”

Whether you are a Big Ten champion, or warming the benches at games, the chances of getting a drug test are all the same.

Not only will the program focus on drug testing and drug education, but with recent and growing trends of alcohol use on campus, the program plans to target underage drinking and disorderly conduct as well. Dudley says the increase in testing will help find new trends in drug use and aid in finding athletes who might have chemical dependency problems.

Hopefully with a little more education on the subject, athletes will steer clear of underage drinking scandals and get help if they need it.

mitting one or more of these acts, the athlete will have to report to a review board.

The review board is comprised of the Director of Athletic Medicine, the Associate Director of Athletics, the Director of Life Skills, the Assistant Director of Compliance and the Drug Testing Site Coordinator. These head honchos will decide if the athlete’s offense constitutes as a “strike.”

If an athlete reaches three strikes, they are in for a variety of consequences including counseling, loss of eligibility, reduction of financial aid or even a call to the parents.

“We are hoping to help people with addictions,” Dudley said. “The only way we can find out if someone is addicted is if we do a drug test.”

The three strikes rule may seem juvenile, kind of like sending someone to the principles office, but some athletes think it is a step in the right direction.

On top of increased testing and plans to help athletes with drug or alcohol problems, the U has schemed up a plan to encourage athletes to make the right decisions.

Elizabeth Yetzer, a freshman on the women’s cross-country team, sees the plan as a positive thing. “I think it will help hold student-athletes more accountable,” Yetzer said. “Since the ‘three strikes rule’ isn’t an NCAA rule, it will catch people before they get into more serious trouble when it counts.”

“We are worried because some people don’t consider alcohol to be a banned substance,” Dudley said. “But even if you’re over 21, the NCAA considers it to be one. It inhibits your performance level.”

Under a new “three strikes rule” the University will keep close watch on offenses like DWI, DUI, assault or battery, public intoxication, underage drinking and minor in possession. If an athlete is caught com-

Yetzer thinks that it gives athletes a chance to mess up. After all, athletes

aren’t super-human, they can make mistakes too.

The U may be cracking down on athletes, but the underlying reason for the new plan is to help, not hurt, athletes. With the NCAA increasing their drug testing levels and including pre-season summer testing, it is time for the universities to do the same.

“The NCAA is very serious about drug and alcohol abuse,” Dudley said. “The penalties at that level are more severe than at the institutional level.” So athletes should have no fear, the athletics department isn’t out to punish people.

“We aren’t trying to get people in trouble,” explains Dudley. “We are just trying to catch the problems before they get any worse.”

\ Athletics

Laps Away from Making Nationals The Wake talks with the water polo team

By Lyndsey Danberry Have you ever heard of a game that is played like soccer, basketball and rugby?

That is exactly how Water Polo President Chris Redman explained the game as we sat in the lobby at the Rec Center, overlooking the pool. “I still think this campus is my favorite place to compete,” Redman says.

The U of M’s water polo team, that started their season toward the end of Sept., are undefeated with a 8-0 record after beating schools like Iowa State, Kansas University, Mankato State and Marquette.

The game is played with seven players in the pool at one time, one goalie and six field players. The goalie is not allowed on the other half of the pool. The position of the six field players is dependent on the play — similar to basketball.

What goes on under the water, which neither the referee nor the spectators can see, is fair game.

The ball is similar to the size of a volleyball but has rubber grips so it is easier for team members to hold on to. A major rule is that the ball can only be handled by one hand at a time. If a player is caught using both hands, the referee will call a turnover, giving the ball to the other team.

The game is full contact and can become very competitive, which presents the rugby aspect. What goes on under the water, which neither the referee nor the spectators can see, is fair game. The game is played like soccer in that you try to score as many goals as possible, each goal being worth one point.

“We have the strongest start by far this season,” Redman says, “ but Marquette is our big rival.”

It’s a good thing we have a nice swimming stadium because the U of M recently hosted the Division-I championships, and the team justified their 8-0 record. During their tournament over the weekend of Oct. 28 and 29, the team took first and received their bid for nationals.

During the tournament, the U played Mankato in their first game and won because Mankato had to forfeit for not being able to provide a full team. Their second game was against Iowa State. In their last game, the U beat Marquette with a score of 16-9 to win the tournament! The Uni-

Ethan Stark

versity of Minnesota’s team is looking forward to a trip to Miami University of Ohio for nationals at the end of Nov. “One of our main goals, since we’ve had such a great start, is to make it to nationals and place well,” Redman says.

The U of M water polo team has never qualified for nationals before. The team will compete against 16 other Division-I schools. Macalester College, who plays in Division-III, has also qualified for nationals. This year will mark the first time in history that Minnesota will send two water polo teams to nationals.

In recent years, the sport of water polo has become more popular, particularly at the U of M. According to Redman, participation on the water polo team has doubled since last year.

Although the sport is growing in popularity throughout the Midwest, it is still not as popular as it is in on the West Coast, particularly California. Most Californian colleges, not only have extraordinary club teams but also have varsity teams who hold national ranking across the board.

They also have womens teams, which is something that the U of M lacks.

“Eventually we would love to be able to start a women’s team, but we just don’t have enough female players right now,” Redman says.

What goes on under the water, which neither the referee nor the spectators can see, is fair game.

The unique team thing about the U of M’s water polo team is that they are co-ed and although the U competes in the men’s division — girls are allowed to play.

Ethan Stark

The U of M water polo team has nationals on their mind, and they are already preparing for the competition. “Especially when we’ve been playing so well, you get pumped up to defeat another team,” Redman says. Whether the team wins or loses, they are ultimately concerned about playing well together as a team — which is always a good feeling, according to Redman.

Athletic Events November 8th – 15th Nov. 8 Men’s Basketball vs. Winona State - Williams Arena 7 p.m.

Nov. 10 Women’s Basketball vs.

Northern Iowa - Williams Arena 6 p.m.

Nov. 10 Men’s Hockey vs. St. Cloud State - Mariucci Arena 7:07 p.m.

Nov. 10 Women’s Volleyball vs. Illinois - Sports Pavilion 7 p.m.

Nov. 11 Women’s Hockey vs. Niagara Ridder Arena 1:07 p.m.

Nov. 11 Women’s Volleyball vs.

Northwestern - Sports Pavilion 8 p.m.

Nov. 12 Women’s Hockey vs. Niagara Ridder Arena 1:07 p.m.

Nov. 13 Men’s Basketball vs. North Dakota State - Williams Arena 7 p.m.

Nov. 14 Women’s Basketball vs.

Charlotte - Williams Arena 7 p.m.

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Miscellaneous/ “Two Seasons,” continued from 16

Winter is definitely right around the corner and the jury is still out on questions such as ‘how cold?’ and ‘how long?’ However, if you believe everything you read, you may want to look for a warmer coat.

According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, which is available online at www.almanac.com, winter in the Midwest this year will be colder and bring more snow than is normal. The coldest temperatures will occur from late December until mid-January and then freeze us again in mid-February.

The most snow will fall in early December, all of February and early March.

Regardless of whether winter is long or short, cold or mild, it will be here soon and will hang around for months. During that time, the Twin Cities area, as well as the state, is filled with opportunities to take advantage of the season we love to loathe.

Ice Skating – The Depot on Washington Ave in downtown Minneapolis is a classic Twin Cities location. Admission is $8 and on select weekends, they are open as late as 1 a.m.

Skiing/Snowboarding – Minnesota is home to plenty of powder, but a few of the main draws are Buck Hill in Burnsville ($24 for a day, not including equipment rental) or Afton Alps in Hastings, which offers college students a discount of $3 off on Wednesday nights (prices range from $25-$35). Also, if you’re looking to take a quick trip, Spirit Mountain in Duluth would be a good place to start

($20-$45, depending on length of stay). All of these locations have websites for more information.

Winter Carnival – From Jan. 26 to Feb. 4, St. Paul shows off its cold weather version of the Aquatennial and brings us the Winter Carnival. From sculpture to snow slides to hot dish tents, this is truly a winter tradition that should probably be visited as least once by anyone wanting to call themselves a Minnesotan. For more information on the festivities, visit www. winter-carnival.com.

Christmastime – The Holidazzle is a beloved holiday tradition. Running from Nov. 24to Dec. 23, Nicollet Mall brings fairy tales to life in the form of a parade. Bundle up, grab some coffee, line the streets and wait for your inner child to come to life! Also, Macy’s eighth floor auditorium chooses one famous children’s story and brings that world to life for the public to walk through. Past stories have included “The Wizard of Oz,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” and even “Harry Potter.” This year “Mary Poppins” rings in the holiday season.

Want to stay warm? – If frostbite isn’t your cup of tea, the Twin Cities is filled with indoor activities as well. Theaters, art galleries, museums and shopping are abundant. www.twincities.com is a good place to start if you are looking for some ideas.

Have fun and stay warm!

dave hagen

Attention Bastards: Think you can write a comic strip?

Then do it and send it to us.

We’ll print it fosho’ Unless it sucks. to submit: send a 300dpi grayscale file to jsengly@wakemag.org

22/8-14 November 2006

ARBITRARY AWARDS Best Ashtray: Baby’s Tender face Worst Ashtray: Baby’s tender gasoline-soaked face Worst topic to consult “Dr.Date” About: Incest Honorable mention: Anything Really

Most Unlikely Hero: professor Parkinsons honorable Mention: Captain Colon Cancer honorable Mention: The Scabies Surfer

alexjudkins

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