---------- Page 1 ----------
THE PHOENIX THE CAMPUS NEWSPAPER OF SWARTHMORE COLLEGE SINCE 1881 ;September 5, 2002 phoenix.swarthmore.edu Vol. 125 Issue 1 wo r th - a m a \ 1 e hj i w P e r s o n F* Y No matter what you say or do to me ... fO6 STOLEN CHAIR ARRIVES Swattie-swamped theater company gets gig at the Fringe Festival. Check out 'Portrait of Dora as a Young Man.' Pg. 11 PLEA: NOT GUILTY Student arrested in the spring on child pornography charges pleads not guilty; Trial set for next week. Pg. 3. RISING SENIOR DIES Eric Johnson 'O3 was killed last month after stepping in front of a train Aug. 20. Pg. 3.
---------- Page 2 ----------
Man, I feel like a woman Katherine Walley 'O2 and Sam Dingman 'O4 perform the "Silent Movie" scene from the Stolen Chair's Fringe Festival production. See article, pg. 11 Courtesy of Adrienne Mackey fPHOENIXJ EDITORIAL BOARD Elizabeth Wright Editor in Chief Benjamin Kabak Managing Editor Ted Alexander Asst Managing Editor for Copy Matthew Fitting Senior News Editor Maya Schenwar Opinions Editor Mark Janoff Sports Editor Derrick Wu Assistant Sports Editor Emily Mollenkopf Photo Editor Andrew Steel Photo Editor Branen Salmon Graphics Designer Chris Trucksess Webmaster STAFF Mary Mintet Senior Reporter Krisna Duong-Ly Reporter Julia Pompettl Reporter Preety Sidhu Reporter Jonathan Fombonne Opinions Columnist Randy Goldstein Opinions Coiumnist David Haendler Opinions Columnist Jennifer Holzer Opinions Columnist Morghan Holt Opinions Columnist Caria Humud Opinions Columnist Emiliano Rodriguez Opinions Columnist Rashelle Islp Living & Arts Columnist Kate Duffy Living & Arts Staff Writer Jennifer Ku Living & Arts Staff Writer Aaron Wasserman Living & Arts Staff Writer Josh Loeffler Sports Columnist Katherlne Bridges Staff Artist BUSINESS STAFF Nicola Weils Local Advertising Manager Gregory Lok Treasurer CONTRIBUTORS Aviva Aron-Dine, Ester Bloom, Rachel Burstein, Audrey Chan, Beth Collins, Jim Dalton, Debbie Farrely, Greg Nelson, Kate Nelson-Lee, Blake Setlow, Becky Strauss, Taru Taylor, Cynthia Wu, Suzanne Wu COPY EDITORS Sue Chen, Sarah Donovan, Lesley Goodman, Karen Zaino SPECIAL THANKS Former editors Dee Conner and Nathan Ashby- Kuhlman provided greatly-appreciated assistance during the production of this first issue. LETTERS POLICY Letters and opinions pieces represent the views of their writers and not those of The Phoenix or its staff. The Phoenix is a community forum and welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must be signed and have the writer's contact information. Please limit letters to 400 words. The Phoenix reserves the right to edit all letters for content, length and clarity. Letters may be submitted to phoenixjetters@swarthmore.edu or to The Phoenix, Swarthmore College, 500 College Ave., Swarthmore, PA 19081 CORRECTIONS POLICY The Phoenix makes corrections as quickly as possible after receiving and confirming the correct information. To report a correction, email phoenix@swarthmore.edu, write to the editor in chief at The Phoenix, 500 College Ave., Swarthmore, PA 33081 or call 630-328- 7363. INFORMATION Offices: Parrish Hail 470-472 E-mail: phoenix@swarthmore.edu Newsroom phone: 630-3288173 Advertising phone: 610-328-7362 Advertising e-mail: phoenix_.ads@swarthmore.edu Address: The Phoenix, Swarthmore College, 500 College Ave., Swarthmore, PA 19081 The Phoenix is published every Thursday by students of Swarthmore College, except during examination and vacation periods. Circulation of 2,200 distributed across the campus and to the borough of Swarthmore. The Phoenix is available free of charge limited to one copy per reader. Mail subscriptions are available for $5O a year or $25 a semester. Direct subscription requests to the Circulation Dept. Direct advertising requests to Nicola Wells. The Phoenix reserves the right to refuse any advertising. The Phoenix is printed at the Delaware County Daily Times in Primos, PA. All contents copyright © 2002 The Phoenix. All rights reserved. No parts of this publication may be reproduced without permission. Interview with cult filmmakei Lloyd Kaufmai pg. 13. News 3 Orientation activities introduce first-years to Swat A dry orientation featuring a week of Olympic games helped new students learn the campus. 3 Senior commits suicide Eric Johnson 'O3 died Aug. 20 in Andover, Mass., after being struck by a train. 3 Child pornography trail set to begin Monday Charges include sexual abuse of children and criminal misuse of a communications facility. 4 Campus marked by construction projects ML renovations beautify basement; science center on schedule for 2004 opening. 4 Zapata welcomed as new IC director Former NYU OASIS director aims to bring students of different backgrounds together. 5 McCabe loses friendly, welcoming face Ben Criscuolo, McCabe nighttime book checker, passed away during the summer. 5 "Meaning" campaign a success amid economic turmoil Living & Arts ii Rashelle Isip 12 Get out of Swat, and into musuems for free. Swatties on the Fringe 12 Students, alums featured in Philadelphia theater festival. Rock vibraphone CD review and interview with band Aloha. Who needs a job? Seniors bemoan questions of employment after Swat. Cover Story 10 Class of 06 Did you miss orientation? Check out the photo spread. Cover graphic by Elizabeth Wright Quote of the Week 'I wouldn't do a movie glorifying Hillary Clinton. That's obscene. Or Hitler." Lloyd Kaufman, Troma filmmaker Story, pg. 13 Opinions 14 Editorial 14 Op-Art: Kat Bridges Phrases overheard at orientation. 15 Letter to the editor Alum recounts bell tower history. 15 Humor isn't funny Response to comedy act an overreaction. 16 David Haendler Scrutinize the ICC. IB Morghan Holt Silence the fire horn. Sports 17 Men's soccer Team finishes second in weekend tourney. 17 Field hockey New coach aims for conference title. IS Coaching changes Four teams feature new coaches. 19 Delays in new field New drainage ordinance push construction behind schedule. 20 Women's soccer Team places second in Swat Kick Classic.
---------- Page 3 ----------
News Senior commits suicide BY MARY MINTEL mmintell@swarthmore.edu Eric Johnson 'O3 was killed Aug. 20 when he was struck by a train in Andover, Mass. Johnson suddenly stepped out onto the tracks as the 3:04 p.m. train was nearing the Andover station. The engineer saw him standing on the tracks, but could not stop the train in time. Paul Wulfsberg 'O3, one of Johnson's close friends, said Johnson had gone to work that morning as usual. He drove an ice cream truck as his summer job and had requested the afternoon off for himself that Tuesday. A few minutes before 3 p.m., Johnson parked the truck on the side of the tracks and locked up all the money as though he was closing up for the day. Then he stepped out in front of the speeding train. Johnson's memorial service was held on Aug. 25, just twelve days after his 21st birthday He was cremated, and his service was held outdoors at Glen Magna Farms in Danvers, Mass., not far from his hometown of Boxford. According to Wulfsberg, the service was well attended, with family and high school friends making up the majority of the crowd. About 12 Swarthmore students were able to attend, and appreciated having the chance to grieve together. "It was really helpful that we made it to the memorial service," Wulfsberg said. "It forced us to take a big step and acknowledge what had happened." Ben Hamilton 'O3, another of Johnson's close friends, said that Johnson's parents, Russell and Dawn Johnson, also seemed comforted by the funeral. "They seemed to really enjoy having [Eric's] friends around," he said. "They were glad to know how loved he was at Swarthmore," Wulfsberg agreed. A SUMMER'S SURPRISING END Johnson's death came as a great surprise to both his family and friends. "It was a total shock," Hamilton said. Despite their surprise, his friends recalled some evidences of depression. Wulfsberg noted he seemed depressed at times, and would become very antisocial, but it did not appear a major problem. "It never seemed really serious," he said. Wulfsberg also remembered Johnson as very self-conscious of the fact that he wasn't overly graceful or athletic, and that dating was also a challenge. "He always had really low self-esteem, especially with women," he said. "He never thought he'd have a chance with girls so he'd never try." But despite any difficulties dating, friends remembered him as generally Photo courtesy of Dan Schwartz Eric Johnson, 1981-2002. Student's child pornography trial gets underway next week BY MATTHEW FITTING mfittinl@swarthmore.edu Ivan Boothe 'O4 will face trial Sept. 9 for allegedly possessing and disseminating 500 child pornography images, after pleading not guilty at his preliminary hearing last May. Charges at that hearing included one count of criminal attempt to corrupt minors, one count of criminal attempt to unlawfully contact or communicate with a minor, six counts of sexual abuse of children through the dissemination of child pornography, 500 counts of sexual abuse of children through the possession of child pornography and 506 counts of criminal use of a communication facility, according to the arrest warrant. Maximum jail time based on those charges is 45 years in prison. After that hearing, charges were reduced to one count each of criminal attempt, sexual abuse of children and criminal misuse of a communications facility. Delaware County Court Justice Charles Keeler will hear the trial; Assistant District Attorney John Reilly will prosecute the case. The trial's outcome will have significant impact on what action, if any, the college takes against Boothe. Dean of the College Bob Gross said the administration, at present, did not plan to deny him the right to return to Swarthmore, but added that the outcome of his trial would impact any move the college might make. "At this moment we don't have any college judicial action planned," he said. "The process would have to work itself out." Gross added that if Boothe's sentence did not include jail time, the college would probably not block his return. Both Gross and Dean of Student Life Tedd Goundie described Boothe's actions as "reprehensible" last May, but said they were "confident" he had stopped his illegal activities after his arrest. Gross insisted he was not a threat to anyone. According to Reilly and sources close to Boothe, Boothe's lawyer, Joseph Fiorvanti, plans to challenge the constitutionality of the statute under which Boothe is charged and the district attorney's office hopes to prosecute. But those same sources added that the challenge's aim was to induce the prosecution to offer some sort of settlement deal, and that the challenge would not go forward if such a deal were offered. But if the challenge does go forward, Reilly added, a pretrial hearing would take place before Keeler; Reilly did not indicate whether such a challenge would delay the trial. Lieutenant David Peifer of the national Internet Crimes Against Children task force, the officer who arrested Boothe last May, compared harboring child pornography images to possessing cocaine. "It's illegal having even one picture," he said at the time. "Each time a picture is viewed or sent out that child is reoffended again." The images allegedly included depictions of both prepubescent and pubescent minors "engaged in sexual acts or poses," according to the arrest warrant. Boothe, a former Phoenix reporter and editor, is taking the fall semester off, and tentatively plans to return for the spring semester. He has continued psychological therapy he began last May, sources close to him said. The prosecution has signaled to Fiorvanti that continuing this therapy could mean Boothe will not face any jail time, sources close to Boothe said. Instead, he would be put on probation or be asked to fulfill a certain amount of community service as part of his sentence. "I am currently in counseling and have been for more than a month for this problem that I have," Boothe stated to The Phoenix last May. "I hope that in time, I am able to correct this part of me that I am not, nor have I ever been, happy about." Authorities obtained a search warrant for Boothe's personal computer after he allegedly had a sexual conversation with Detective James McLaughlin of the Keene, N.H. police department, who was posing as a 15- year-old male. Boothe, when questioned by authorities later, admitted to having the conversation, as well as to possessing the illegal images. A new orientation greets Class of '06 BY KRISNA DUONG-LY kdoungll@swarthmore.edu In the week before the majority of returning students arrived on campus, this year's freshman class participated in an orientation significantly different from those of past years. This year's Orientation Committee organized the week around an "Olympic games" theme, a move aimed at increasing participation in CA-group events. Other changes include new tours for parents and improved enforcement of the alcohol policy. The 375-member Class of 'O6 was, as always, divided into groups, each led by a Campus Advisor (CA). But to earn points for their CA groups in the "Olympics," freshmen for the first time competed against each other in various events, such as anagram-solving, 4-square, pie-eating and three-legged races while their fellow CA group members cheered for them. Freshmen also earned points for their CA groups by going to orientation activities such as the library and computer orientations, swim test, and trust walk. "The 'fake' competitive atmosphere helped CA groups bond," CA Brian Nolan 'O5 said. OC member Nick Malakhow 'O5 said that the Andrew Steel Phoenix Staff English professors Chuck James and Peter Schmidt advise first-year students on this semester's courses. The Class of 2006 by the numbers • 375 students: 192 women, 183 men • 31 percent are valedictorians or salutatorians (of high schools reporting rank) • 48 percent in the top 2 percent of their class, and 90 percent in the top decile • 1450 median SAT score • 3,933 original applicants • 24 percent offered admission • 5 percent identify themselves as African American; 7 percent Latina/o; and 16 percent Asian American; 2 percent identify themselves as "Native American/Hawaiian native/other," and two freshmen, or 0.5 percent, identify themselves as "multiracial American" • 7 percent are international students • 40 states represented, as well as Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. • 24 foreign countries represented by foreign citizens and Americans abroad phoenix.swarthmore.edu See JOHNSON, pg. 8 See ORIENTATION, pg. 7 THE PHOENIX September 5, 2002 3
---------- Page 4 ----------
Construction continues from science center to track field BY JULIA POMPETTI jpompetl@swarthmore.edu With hills of red dirt and yellow construction equipment seemingly a permanent addition to the campus, Swarthmore is beginning to resemble a construction site more than a liberal arts college. Students looking to run on the track or walk from DuPont to Trotter have hit detours due to extensive construction projects, but along with these slight inconveniences and disrupted views come a lot of renovations, all of which are aimed to improve and expand the campus. According to Vice President for Administration Larry Schall, the construction is going as planned. "The science center project is on schedule and on budget," he said. "Parts of it will actually start to open this year." The new building will house math, biology, physics, chemistry and computer science classrooms and laboratories. Also adding to the new building's appeal are gardens, steps down to the Crum Creek and a new coffee bar lounge designed by Margaret Helfand '69, who also designed the Kohlberg Commons space. One natural science major who did not wish to be identified complained that the new building will "look like a dungeon [with] dark hallways and grey stones" and wonders if anyone will use the new coffee bar with Kohlberg's so close. Nonetheless, having tested the new chairs picked for the building, he is sure the classrooms will be an improvement. Because the building will house the natural sciences departments, workers have kept the surrounding environment in mind while planning its construction. Material from parts of the demolished structure have been recycled into the interior and exterior of the new building, and the roof has been designed to keep rain-water flow-off from disrupting the Crum Woods' fragile ecosystem. The next big building project will be the new residence hall between Mertz and the SEPTA station. The architectural plans are close to completion, but the start date for construction is up in the air, dependent on new gifts to the college's fundraising campaign, Schall explained. Groundbreaking could be as soon as next March. This is unlikely, however, considering the current economic decline and its effect on people's ability to donate money (See "Meaning campaign raises more than $lOO million"). Many smaller renovations have been completed this summer. The first floor and parts of the second floor of Beardsley were renovated. These plans included a new space for the ITS help desk and Beardsley public computer area. A new storage space for the engineering and psychology departments was added to Papazian. Underground utility lines have been put in place across campus, and sprinklers were installed in the Dana, Hallowell and Mary Lyon dorms. Although rumors of the sprinklers' hypersensitivity have caused students to worry about their possessions being soaked by a false alarm, the new fire deterrents will make the dorms safer places in which to live. Additional renovations to Mary Lyon have changed the dynamic of student housing. Students who were once upset to find themselves in the Mary Lyon basement are now pleased with their newly remodeled hall. Basement resident Lillian Ray 'O5 "adores" her single, which she describes as a "nice size," and which has been carpeted and painted a "cheerier yellow." The dark cage of wires has been walled off (to the disappointment of those who liked the former prison aesthetic of basement life), and a lounge with a couch and foosball table all create a feeling of community. Although there are still a few exposed pipes in rooms, Ray happily uses them to hang her calendars.And for those missing their runs on the outdoor track, which is currently dug up, the new track and artificial surface should be finished by the end of the first semester. Emily Mollenkopf Phoenix Staff Portions of the new science center will open this year; aside from academic facilities, the building will feature gardens, steps leading down to Crum Creek and a new coffee bar lounge to appeal to natural science majors. New IC director gets settled in BY GREG NELSON gnelsonl@swarttimore.edu After NYU, Zapata plans to learn and listen first year Just hired this past summer as Swarthmore's new Intercultural Center (IC) Director, Rafael Zapata is still moving into his office, and he's already advising several students. But he hasn't let the stress get to him. Miles Davis's "Kind of Blue" plays softly on the stereo and Zapata seems thoughtful and relaxed, trying to absorb his new surroundings. "I'm mellow," he says. "I'm laid back." Before he was hired to the IC director position, Zapata was living in Manhattan, where he was born and raised. There he served as the Assistant Director of the Office for African-American, Latino and Asian- American Student Services at New York University. At NYU, Zapata was involved in leadership development and formal and informal counseling, mostly for students of color. He helped organize forums concerning social justice, environmental justice, the prison-industrial complex and patriarchy. "It was great to bring students of different backgrounds into one room," Zapata said. "That's where the real dialogue can start." "OASIS," the name of Zapata's office at NYU, was also "a metaphor for what we did there," which included representing and counseling students, as well as trying to create coalitions between various student organizations. "People get to know you, they gain trust, and you form a relationship," he said. So why would someone leave a job where he was getting paid to do work he enjoyed in the hometown he loves? Zapata hadn't planned on it. "I wasn't on the market," he explains, "until I got a call from a friend at Penn who told me about the opening. It was a great opportunity." Zapata was drawn to the educational values for which Swarthmore is known. "I like the philosophy that education is not solely a means to an end, but an end to itself," he said. "Students here are taught to become proactive agents of social change." He also liked the vibe. "I felt a lot of positive energy from the students. It's non-corporate, no suits and ties. It works with my personality." Zapata's plans for Swarthmore are not yet specific. "Being new is a challenge," he said. "This first year I'm going to do a lot of learning and a lot of listening, and I'm going to start giving students a sense of what I want to accomplish. My plan is to engage students. I want the students to feel comfortable here; acting as an assistant dean is also part of my job." Despite Swarthmore's reputation for tolerance, Zapata feels there is still important work to be done here. "Our identities are rooted in our communities," he said. "I don't necessarily think a center like this is only necessary when there is conflict. Understanding can come but you can't assume it. The risk in being who you are is still widespread and you can't assume otherwise. There's still a need for a place like the Intercultural Center where students can feels safe." Zapata is looking forward to his first year at Swarthmore. "I want everyone to know that I'm really glad to be here," he said. "There are very few jobs I would have left New York for." "I don't necessarily think a center like this is only necessary when there is conflict. Understanding can come but you can't assume it." New IC Director Rafael Zapata News phoenix.swarthmore.edu September 5, 2002 THE PHOENIX 4
---------- Page 5 ----------
McCabe loses its friendly nighttime face BY PREETY SIDHU ssidhul@swarthmore.edu For nearly a decade, Swarthmore students trudging through the doors of McCabe in the evenings were treated to a friendly smile and a daily Far Side cartoon courtesy of receptionist Ben Criscuolo. Now his former desk by the library entrance features a simple yet touching memorial to the man who loved and was well loved by so many students. Benedict A. Criscuolo, 58, died on May 28, at his house in Glenolden, Penn. He suffered from diabetes and high blood pressure for nearly a year and a half and had been on unofficial leave from the college since February. He had previously taken medical leaves for mobility problems as well. In spite of this, his death came as a surprise to his family, friends and colleagues. "He was wonderful," College Librarian Peggy Seiden said. "He was very sweet and eager to learn, and he loved talking to students."As a young man, Ben attended St. Joseph's University for a year before leaving to care for ill parents. He was a naval yeoman during the 1960s and spent several months in Cuba during the time of the Missile Crisis. After returning to the United States, he was invited to the White House, where he met his idol, President John F. Kennedy. An avid sports enthusiast, Ben was also a semi-professional baseball pitcher until an injury he suffered in a football game prevented him from pursuing professional athletic opportunities.At McCabe, Ben worked as a receptionist. He was stationed at the front entrance, meeting and greeting students seven hours a night, five nights a week. Before the current security systems were installed, he was required to search student bags to make sure that books were not stolen from the library. While many students did not appreciate this invasion of privacy, especially from other receptionists, most of them got along very well with Ben. In addition to putting in full time hours at McCabe, Ben worked as a security guard at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia during the day. The income from the two jobs covered college tuition for his sons, of whom he often spoke fondly. Michael, his youngest son, held a part time job sorting mail in McCabe several years ago while attending nearby Neumann College. "He was so proud of his boys," said Mary Ann Wood, evening circulation supervisor at McCabe. "That's why he could relate so well to the students." Ben was dedicated to making the library entrance a warm and welcoming place. Every year he would obtain a copy of the Cygnet and memorize the faces of the freshmen so that he could greet them by name. He was a willing listener and shared advice and life experiences with students. He even supplied them with occasional trivia quizzes. McCabe regulars responded warmly to Ben. Students often stopped to have conversations with him on their way in or out of the library. Some even chose to study at the table next to him so they could enjoy his company for extended periods of time. Many graduates have returned to the library solely to visit him. The Class of 1999 even voted Ben one of their top three graduation speaker choices. Ben Criscuolo is survived by his wife Clare, his three sons David, Stephen, and Andrew, two grandsons, and a third unborn grandchild. Ben Criscuolo served as a Navy yeoman before his job greeting students at McCabe Library. 'Meaning' campaign raises more than $100 million BY AVIVA ARON-DINE aarondil@swarthmore.edu With less certain economic times ahead, response to last year's annual appeal biggest ever Even as a slowing economy pushes national budget projections into the red, projections for Swarthmore's all-time largest fundraising campaign remain generally rosy. According to Ruth Krakower, Director of Alumni and Gift Records, contributors gave or pledged $112,497,000 (approximately half the drive's goal of $230 million) by the end of August. With the campaign entering its third of seven planned years, the Office of Development regards it as ahead of schedule. Maurice Eldridge '6l, Vice-President for College and Community Relations and executive assistant to President Al Bloom, describes the campaign as in "quite good shape with the understanding that the year ahead will be more difficult." The current economic slowdown has led some donors to delay pledge payments and others, especially those donors considering donating stock, to postpone their contributions altogether. The fundraisers' job is also complicated by the fact that many of the alumni with closest ties to the school gave their donations during the silent phase of the campaign, the year before the drive's public launch last fall. Now, fundraisers face the task of identifying and cultivating individuals with less of a history of giving. At this point, the campaign is targeting donors capable of giving large gifts, people whose ability to give is usually only slightly effected by the economy, Eldridge said, adding that the drive's small gift phase will come towards the end. Meanwhile, the focus is on building relationships. "Being Swarthmore alums, these are analytic people who think critically and ask questions," he said. Swarthmore alumni and development officers have to answer these questions and explain how the campaign addresses each individual's priorities. Most alumni, Eldridge added, want to give to students directly, and almost all want to contribute to financial aid funds. The challenge for him and other fund-raisers is to convince alumni that building a new science center and a new dorm is also important to students' well-being (Parrish Hall renovations typically strike more of a chord with alumni, who have their own memories of time spent in Parrish). Director of Development John Malcolm said his office was well up to the task ahead, describing it as "well-positioned for staff' after expanding last year. Still, he admitted, "philanthropy does follow the market." Contributions are needed more urgently than ever because the economic slow-down has shrunk the endowment. His office is trying to address contributors' financial concerns by helping them restructure their pledge payments. To persuade more alumni to donate, the college will hold a series of events around the country. The first and largest was held in New York last February and was followed by events in Washington, DC, San Francisco and Chicago. This year, gatherings are planned for Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Boston. The Philadelphia event, which will be held on Saturday, Sept. 2L is timed to coincide with the fall Board of Managers meeting. Members of the board will participate in the program, which will take place at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Center City and include student musical performances as well as a presentation by President Bloom. The "Meaning of Swarthmore" Campaign is highly ambitious in that, unlike the campaign which raised the money to build Kohlberg Hall, it is a comprehensive, rather than a targeted, campaign. Thus, while fundraising for high profile building projects, the college is also seeking to increase donations to the annual and parents' funds by $5 million and to increase the endowment by $203 million.Interest from the new endowment funds will pay for financial aid, expansion of the honors program, new academic initiatives, programs to increase the diversity of the faculty, new technology, athletics and an expansion of career services. Though he acknowledged that contributions to the endowment and building funds might be expected to translate into lower contributions to the annual appeal, Eldridge said Swarthmore had no choice but to embark on a comprehensive campaign, since the need for a new science center and dorm did not resolve the need for the curriculum and other services to grow. Alumni seem to agree: last year's annual appeal received the largest response ever. Because of the economic downturn, there is a danger that philanthropy is becoming a zero sum game in which Swarthmore's fund-raising success means failure for other important efforts. Malcolm admitted that Swarthmore is "increasingly competing with other charities" for charitable dollars of socially conscious Swarthmore alumni. But he argued that Swarthmore deserves to remain a recipient of these individuals' contributions. "Many organizations are dealing with issues reactively," he said. "[By educating new leaders] Swarthmore has a long term impact on ... social justice writ large." "Many organizations are dealing with issues reactively. Swarthmore has a long term impact on ... social justice writ large." Director of Development John Malcolm News phoenix.swarthmore.edu THE PHOENIX September 5, 2002 5
---------- Page 6 ----------
Bad news for needle-weary: meningitis shots mandatory BY CYNTHIA WU xwu2@swarthmore.edu In a move that affects all college students, the Pennsylvania legislature passed a law June 28 requiring college students who live in dorms to receive the meningococcal vaccination. Approximately 40 percent of the classes of 2005 and 2004 and 20 percent of the class of 2003 have already been vaccinated, according to data released by Worth Health Center. Auhough there is no conclusive data on how many would choose to waive the vaccine, Worth Director Linda Echols said that fewer than five percent of students would choose that option. Since students have arrived back on campus, Worth has seen a greater demand for the vaccine than usual, Echols said. Thus far, it has been able to meet these demands, offering vaccinations to students for a discounted fee of $6O. Vaccines can usually cost as much as $l2O. But the new law has greatly strained the availability of the vaccine at health centers in* larger universities throughout Pennsylvania. In the past, the vaccine has only been recommended for students who are at greater risk of contracting meningococcal meningitis than the general population. In passing this law, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania joined a handful of other states, including Massachusetts, Florida, and Virginia, that require students to receive this vaccine in order to register for classes. Students can receive an exemption from this law by signing a waiver claiming a religious belief or, as the law reads, "a moral or ethical conviction" against such vaccinations. But the commonwealth strongly urges all students to get the vaccine. College students who live on campus have a "six-fold increased risk for meningitis" over the general United States population, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), since they live in a closed setting which promotes the transmission of meningitis. In the past 15 years, only three students have been infected with meningitis at Swarthmore. All three are healthy right now, but have been "critically ill" at one point, Echols said. Students' responses to the new requirement have been generally positive. Many feel it is a good idea to be vaccinated. "I think those that don't allow their children to be vaccinated are playing a dangerous game of roulette," Rachel Kaufman 'O4 said. "They are betting that all the people around their child won't get sick." Some, however, have complained that the expensive vaccination is not covered by most insurance policies, and others have objected to the fact that they were not told of the requirement before coming to school. But Echols defended the health center's failure to notify students during the summer. "I did not receive a letter until the second week of August verifying that [the vaccination requirement] was indeed law and that we had to comply by August 30," she said. "The original information we received in July said that it would not be law until September. Some schools did not allow students to move in to the dorms without the immunization or waiver. We chose a different tactic, realizing that many students were not at home or would not receive the letter because they were on the way back to school." She urged all students to either follow the law and get the vaccine or to sign the exemption waiver. "Swarthmore must comply with the law or face a stiff penalty," she said. The required vaccine protects against the four most common strains of meningococcal bacteria and remains effective for 3-5 years after injection. The side effects of this vaccine, if any, are mild. But people with high fevers, immune deficiencies, pregnancies or allergies to thimerosal should not receive this vaccine. Meningococcal meningitis is caused by a bacterium called Neisseria meningitides, which can trigger an inflammation in the membranes around the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms for this disease are similar to those of the flu, but meningitis progresses very rapidly and can be deadly. It spreads through the air or through contact with the respiratory secretions of an infected person, according to information released by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Andrew Steel Phoenix Staff The vaccine protects against four common strains of meningitis. News phoenix.swarthmore.edu September 5, 2002 THE PHOENIX 6 WE KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO RENT THE PLACE BUT OWN THE BIG SCREEN TV. WE LIVE WHERE YOU LIVE. Your landlord's insurance covers the building, not your stuff inside. As State Farm agents, we can help protect your things for about the price of a DVD a month. Call us for details on State Farm® Renters Insurance. Call your local State Farm agent, or visit statefarm.com® for an agent near you. LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOR / \ STATE FARM INSURANCI STATE FARM IS THERE. statefarm.corrf State Farm Fire and Casualty Company • Home Office: Bloomington, Illinois
---------- Page 7 ----------
Olympics helped CA groups to "establish more group cohesion," a major aim of this year's OC, which consisted of only sophomores. "A problem with past orientations was that CA groups fell apart almost immediately because other than the initial meeting / ice-breaker, and the computing, library and swimming orientations, CA groups spent no time together," said OC member Eric Golynsky 'O5. "For this orientation, the OC made it one of our primary goals to make the CA groups work, and hopefully improve the transition to college life for first-years." Low attendance during activities has also been a problem during past orientations, which many believe the Olympics helped remedy. "In addition to increased bonding, the thinking was [that] it would increase participation in CA events as well," Associate Dean for Student Life Tedd Goundie said. "From what I have been hearing, the Olympics were successful in accomplishing these goals." In addition to the Olympics, another change featured the Delta Upsilon fraternity hosting an 'Bos party during the dry orientation week. Members of DU approached the OC wanting to host an event for freshmen during which they could "improve their image and give the freshmen a good impression of their fraternity and counter some of the stereotypes," Golynsky said. Yet another change was that upon the students' arrival on campus, the deans led parents on tours of Worth Health Center and the first floor of Parrish. According to Goundie, these tours served to make the parents aware of all of the resources available to students and allow their children to settle into their dorms without parental interference. Commenting on the latter purpose, Goundie said "I mentioned this to the parents in my tour groups and they seemed to appreciate this sentiment and were glad to be out of the way." Also, all of this year's orientation activities were alcohol-free. During last year's orientation, a small controversy arose concerning drinking among the orientation staff, and a student was taken to the hospital for alcohol poisoning. "The OC was very committed to keeping the campus dry during orientation, as were the RAs, and that sentiment seems to have trickled down through the CAs to everyone," Goundie said. Though the rain interfered with several planned activities, such as the traditional outdoor collection, an outdoor movie showing of "The Princess Bride" and an outdoor sleepover, many freshmen found orientation enjoyable and helpful in the adjusting to college life. "I really enjoyed my CA group." Thomas Showalter 'O6 said. "We formed kind of a cohesive whole." Even though orientation was full of events, Showalter added, he "didn't feel pressured" to go to every activity. "I don't think that anything can prepare you [for campus life], but orientation helped me adjust better," Tiffany Pao 'O6 said, adding she particularly enjoyed the Olympics theme. Despite the rain plaugued orientation, Goundie believes the Class of 'O6 might have initiated a new Swarthmore tradition. Since their first collection had to be held indoors, students were prohibited from lighting candles during the ceremony. Faculty speaker Rachel Merz suggested that quartz rocks could replace the candles in generating light and even gathered 400 quartz rocks from the Crum. "The rocks worked out great," Goundie said, "and students were saying that they would be holding on to them as keepsakes through their Swat careers." Emily Mollenkopf Phoenix Staff Part of this year's orientation Olympics, freshmen competed in three-legged races in the field house. Seven alums awarded Fulbright fellowships BY BLAKE SETLOW csetlowl@swarthmore.edu Six members of the class of 2002 and one member of the class of 2000 earned Fulbright scholarships for the 2002- 2003 year. These seven alums will pursue their interests and absorb new ideas around the globe next year. The college submits approximately 9-12 applications for Fulbright grants annually, according to Monique Bourque, the fellowships and prizes advisor. Other colleges of Swarthmore's size average between six and nine applicants per year. Although there are approximately five applications for each grant awarded in the Fulbright program as a whole, Bourque said that usually half of the college's applicants receive grants, an "extraordinary rate." She attributed this success to Swarthmore students' broad interests and strong writing skills. Kimberley Foote 'OO majored in sociology/anthropology, and will travel to Ghana. Aurelio Perez 'O2 was an English literature honors major with an education minor. He plans to travel to Woergl, Austria, where he will study at the University of Innsbruck. While there he will teach conversational English and pursue further coursework. Maya Peterson 'O2 plans to travel to Berlin. She was an honors history major with a minor in German and a concentration in German studies. She will help Russian immigrants adjust to Germany and learn about their experiences. She also plans to observe how the immigrants' new homes affect their individual and communal identities. Amanda Schneider 'O2 was an honors major in biology, with a political science minor. She will travel to Russia, where she will study plant physiology and ecology in Ekaterinburg. Rebecca Schultz 'O2 was a special major in Chinese studies. She will travel to China, where she will study the Hui ethnic group and its role in a multiethnic China. Kevin Setter 'O2 was a double major in math and physics. He will travel to Waterloo, Canada, where he will study quantum gravity physics at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics at the University of Waterloo. Tanya Wansom 'O2 will travel to Thailand, where she will be volunteering to help combat HIV and AIDS. She hopes to create reproductive health workshops in Bangkok for college-age women. Wansom was an honors Chinese studies major, with a course major in biology and an honors minor in sociology/ anthropology. The U.S. Student Fulbright Program gives out about 1,000 grants annually. The program, founded following World War 11, aims to promote international understanding through educational exchange. The Fulbright Program was established in 1946, and since then more than 250,000 grants have been awarded, most providing for one year's study or work in another country. The J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board selects participants on the basis of their leadership abilities. Recipients of Fulbright grants include Nobel Prize winners, composers such as Aaron Copeland and Philip Glass, dignitaries and heads of state, and acclaimed artists. Publications Office planning photo blitz BY BENJAMIN KABAK bkabakl@swarthmore.edu Imagine someone taking your picture wherever you go. Sitting in class, relaxing in your dorm or partying in Paces, you keep hearing the familiar click of a camera's shutter. For one week, that is exactly how Swarthmore life will seem, after the Publications Office one-week photo blitz begins. Starting on Monday, the Publications Office will distribute about 200 rolls of film and 100 disposable cameras to students interested in the project. Their only instruction is to "find fresh views of campus that represent their experiences at Swarthmore," according to Director of Publications Jeff Lott. Lott is coordinating this project along with studio arts professor Brian Meunier and Steven Goldblatt '67. The photo blitz is the Publications Office's latest attempt to find unique views of the campus for the 2003 Swarthmore calendar and a feature article in the Swarthmore College Bulletin, according to Lott. He is in charge of constructing the college's annual calendar, which is sent out to over 20,000 parents and alums. In previous years, Lott has used archived photos and student artwork, but this year, he wanted to incorporate students in the creative process. "I wanted to do something different this year, and I wanted to show alumni how students saw the campus," Lott said. Originally, Lott's idea was to distribute cameras only to members of Meunier's photography classes. However, both Lott and Meunier realized that handing out the cameras to everyone would provide a fuller view of student life. "Our thinking there was that by being more egalitarian, we would get a cross section of student life," Meunier said. Under the current plan, students will have the cameras and film for one week. During that time, students participating in the project are supposed to take pictures of anything on campus. Lott's hopes are that this will include a wide range of subjects: "labs, classrooms, professors, the Crum at night and parties on the weekend." On Monday, September 16, the Publications Office will collect the cameras and send them off to Ritz Camera stores for free developing. When the pictures come back to the college, each student will receive a copy of his or her prints. Then, according to Meunier, students will be asked to submit their favorite pictures to the three coordinators, who will judge the photographs. "I'm going to be looking for photographs with pictorial strength combined with effective content," Meunier said. Goldblatt, a professional photographer, will also judge photos with a critical eye. "I need to see a strong picture, but in this case it needs to be something that speaks to the image of Swarthmore," he said. At the end of the judging period, the three project coordinators will choose 15 photos for the calendar and another dozen for a special article about the project appearing in the Swarthmore College Bulletin. Both Meunier and Goldblatt consider this a light-hearted project, and they both recognize that handing out cameras to college students with instructions for free-form photography can be a dangerous idea. "I have a lot of faith in the creativity of the Swarthmore students," said Goldblatt. "It's going to be a major job just wading through everything but I think it's going to be a lot of fun. Meunier, in particular, is looking forward to seeing some of the wackier pictures. "This is a very light exercise," he said, "and we expect to get some party pictures. I hope I get to see some for my own personal enjoyment." News phoenix.swarthmore.edu Olympics enliven orientation From ORIENTATION, pg. 3 THE PHOENIX September 5, 2002 7
---------- Page 8 ----------
sociable. Johnson managed to usually appear silly and harmless, however, and this facade fooled many of his friends. Ted Chan 'O2 knew that Johnson regretted not being more athletic but didn't think it was a major problem. "It seemed like he never let it bother him," Chan said. While Johnson did exhibit signs of depression, news of his suicide was startling to all who knew him. "A week before his death [at his 21st birthday party] he was saying that this was his greatest summer ever," said Dan Schwartz 'O2, another friend. The shock of losing their son has caused Russell and Dawn Johnson to search for some kind of reason for his death. They have just begun to investigate the possibility that antidepressant drugs may have played a major role in the death. Johnson was an insomniac and took prescription medication to help him sleep. According to Wulfsberg, Johnson recently became interested in taking another medication to ease his bouts of depression and help him concentrate better in class. On Aug. 16, he began to take the drug Wellbutrin. The next day he suffered from major mood swings, causing his younger sister, Lisa, to become concerned. He remained on this new medication until taking his life three days later. According to the drug's official Web site, Wellbutrin is an antidepressant that has also been successful in treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It targets chemicals in the brain different from those targeted by other recently developed antidepressants. Because of its different makeup Wellbutrin has many unique side effects. One of the most serious of these is suicidal ideation. Hamilton speculated that Wellbutrin may have interacted poorly with Johnson's insomnia medication. "It might have backfired and caused him to concentrate on his suicidal thoughts," he said. CLOSE FRIENDS RECALL BETTER TIMES Regardless of the cause of Johnson's death, his friends and family said they were suffering as a result. Remembering his many good qualities has helped them cope with the pain of losing him. "Once he felt comfortable with someone he would really try hard to get together with them," Schwartz said. "I don't think he had a single enemy. Ever." Johnson was very active in Serving the Homeless in Philadelphia (SHIP). Most weekends he would drive into Philadelphia in the morning's early hours to help feed the homeless. When he wasn't able to make the trip himself, he would lend his car to others who could. Wulfsberg noted Johnson was always willing to help the organization in any way he could. Another one of Johnson's passions was intramural basketball. Hamilton explained that although he wasn't a great athlete, he loved spending time with his friends. "He never was very good, but it didn't really matter," he said. Johnson was also a member of the Ultimate Frisbee team his sophomore year, and enjoyed playing tennis and pingpong. According to Wulfsberg, Johnson did well academically. He was double majoring in economics and psychology, and would often finish his work ahead of time, then urge his friends to go out partying with him. "He helped us all loosen up a bit," Wulfsberg said. "He'd just pop into your room when you were least expecting it," Schwartz added. Chan agreed that Johnson could be awkward and suffered from a lack of social skills, but said, "Those that got to know him were very rewarded." The dean's office plans to hold a memorial service for Johnson soon. All students will be notified of the time and location. Student was active SHIP member News phoenix.swarthmore.edu Friends recall Johnson as generous, helpful From JOHNSON, pg. 3 September 5, 2002 THE PHOENIX 8 JM3b~^sSsil§^ pK Breakfast, Lunch And Dinner All In One Box. When you eat pizza 5 days out of 7, make sure it's the pizza made with high quality ingredients. Papa John's. Springfield 433 Baltimore Pike 610-544-3100 Better Ingredients. Better Pizza. FREE DELIVERY AND CARRYOUT •CREDIT CARDS NOW ACCEPTED i ; r-" 1 i Late Nite Bite Large Pizza with one-topping spm to close) Large 1-topping and 2-Liter Coca Cola Add new Papa's Chicken Strips to any order $7.99\ $9.99\ $4.99 expires expires Dec. 31,2002 expires Dec. 31,2002 Jl, ZUU4 I expires ueu. o i, twe ■ expires Dec. 31,2002 IS HIRING Do journalism. Get paid. Apply by midnight tonight to join our editorial or business staff. Read hiring information and download applications at http://phoenix.swarthmore.edu or on our board in Parrish. Campus mail completed applications to The Phoenix.'
---------- Page 9 ----------
Living & Arts Friday Fever Spice up a regular oT Friday in September. This week and next, check out some artistic activities that are sure to make your evening a pleasant one. They range from the elegant to the eclectic. Art Smart Art doesn't have to be boring. Get classy and interact with the medium of your choice at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Evening programs (included in museum admission price) take place every Friday at the museum from 5 to 8:45 p.m. Instead of wandering around the museum by yourself (though this can be a fun option), take a guided tour of the collections. This week's tours cover Impressionism and European Art from 1500-1850. Liven up your spirits in the Great Stair Hall with Judith Kay's Chamber Jazz Ensemble, world renowned for its take on the beats of Brazilian bossa nova and swing jazz. If you are hungry, partake of the refreshments available near the festivities or enjoy a meal with full service at the museum's restaurant. End your evening with a stroll down the lamp-lit parkway. Philadelphia Museum of Art ■ Benjamin Franklin Parkway and 26th Street Telephone: (215) 763-8100 Admission: Adults $lO, Students (with valid ID) $7 www.philamuseum.org If you are just dying to go to the museum on a Saturday, take advantage of the 16th annual College Day on the parkway on Saturday, September 21, 2002 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. With your college ID you can enjoy many of Philadelphia's great museums and centers ... all for free! The following institutions are participating: The Academy of Natural Sciences, The Eastern State Penitentiary, The Franklin Institute Science Museum, The Free Library of Philadelphia, The Galleries at Moore College of Art and Design, The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, The Rodin Museum and The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Modern Art A Philly favorite, First Friday invites you to experience and enjoy the nightlife of the city's galleries. For those who are not in the know, First Friday is a free, open gallery event held by members of the Old City Arts community. First Friday takes place on the first Friday of every month (hence the name). Admission to a variety of galleries and art shows is free, and each location features a small reception. The festivities start at 5 p.m. and run until 9 p.m. Old City also offers some wonderful restaurants. Take your pick of the many located in the area, but after dinner try the Painted Parrot Cafe. Scrumptious and heavenly desserts wait for you. Bring a friend and an appetite. Various galleries participate in First Friday throughout the neighborhood of Old City. For starters, try the Painted Parrot Cafe on 2nd Street just north of Market St. For more information, visit www.oldcityarts.org. Painted Parrot Cafe 211 Chestnut St. (between 2nd and 3rd Sts.) Telephone: (215) 922-5971 Moving Art If you're not up for entertainment in the city, why not try a good old-fashioned rodeo? Lu Lu Shriners present their 14th annual Liberty Pro Rodeo Friday, September 13, Saturday, September 14 and Sunday, September 15. You might be wondering, "Who are the Shriners?" They are an international fraternity committed to philanthropic work. You might also be wondering, "Professional Rodeo?" That's right, the Professional Rodeo Cowboy's Association (PRCA) is sponsoring the rodeo and you will be sure to see a number of cowgirls and cowboys. Events include bareback riding, bull riding, calf roping, women's barrel racing, saddle bronco riding and steer wrestling. Lu Lu Shriners Liberty Pro Rodeo Friday and Saturday shows, gates open at 5:30 p.m., showtime is at 7:30 Sunday show, gates open at 12:00 p.m. showtime is at 2:00 Admission: Adults $14.00, advance tickets aresl2.oo (Proceeds from the Rodeo will go to the Lu Lu Shriners ) Lu Lu Shriners Rodeo Arena 5140 Butler Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462 Telephone: (610) 828-9050 or 1-800-989-LULU RASHELLE ISIP One Stop Out of Swat My big, thin German 'MARTHA' BY ESTER BLOOM eblooml@swarthmore.edu One of this summer's best independent films is an ethnic romantic comedy written, by, directed by, and starring a woman, and it ends in a wedding but not the big, fat Greek one you're thinking of. Sure, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" is as appealing as everyone says, but "Mostly Martha" is better. Not that "Mostly Martha" is an example of flawless filmmaking, however. For starters, the "Mostly" is a mistranslation of the Italian "Bella," and a film that requires any kind of translation will find its potential audience automatically reduced by 35 percent. Counter-intuitively, and to make things even more difficult, "Martha" is a German-language film. The writer-director, Sandra Nettlebeck, probably chose the Italian word in the title because Italian is sexier than German. I feel comfortable making that generalization because the film itself makes it. Plus, it seems to be true. It's easier to get people to see an Italian film. Think "Life is Beautiful" or "Bread and Tulips," which charmed audiences last year. Ms. Nettlebeck straightforwardly acknowledges the preconceptions about her country: Germany, as it seems to be embodied in the title character, is rigid, structured, and repressed. By contrast, Italy, as it seems to be embodied in Martha's love interest, Mario, is vibrant, romantic, and carefree. Martha (Martina Gedeck) is the tightlywound, type-A head chef of an elegant Italian restaurant. The only people in her life outside the kitchen are a woeful therapist, whom Martha would rather cook for than talk to, and her sister, single with an 8-year-old daughter, Lina (Maxime Foerste). When, Martha's sister dies suddenly in a car accident, Martha takes Lina in. Martha certainly means well, but she wouldn't know a maternal instinct if it knocked on her door and offered to babysit. Lina, uprooted and orphaned, reacts to her aunt with equal awkwardness, and she quietly rebels against her new life by refusing food while she waits for her absentee Italian father to show up and rescue her. Meanwhile, Mario (Sergio Castellitto), gets a job in Martha's kitchen and drives Martha crazy with his tardiness and charm. But underneath his bravado, Mario just wants Martha's approval, and when Martha brings Lina to the kitchen with her, he earns it by getting Lina to eat. If the way to man's heart is through the stomach, apparently the way to a woman's is through a child. The three form a cute, tentative family. Martha begins to relax and even allows Mario to make her food. Mario drops the bravado act. Lina begins to look and act like a normal kid. But such happiness is even more fleeting in movies than in real life: theirs is interrupted by Lina's father, who arrives to take his daughter with him back to Italy. "Mostly Martha" may be predictable at points, and its score is a soft jazz atrocity, but the food looks terrific and the script never makes you cringe unlike some other ethnic romantic comedies I could mention. Really, see this one. Courtesy paramountclassics.com phoenix.swarthmore.edu THE PHOENIX September 5, 2002 9
---------- Page 10 ----------
'06 ORIENTATION Rain and long lines couldn't stop the fun, but what happens when you take away the forks!? Clockwise from left: Eager first-years settle down outside of Sharpies before registration. After upper-classmen recounted the tales of not getting into their first choice classes, some first-years were lined up as early as 10:30 a.m. Emily Mollenkopf Phoenix Staff Orientation Olympic games included intense rounds of fOUr-Square in the field hOUSe. Emily Mollenkopf Phoenix Staff The winning CA group poses in the field house after the end of the Orientation Olympics. Emily Mollenkopf Phoenix staff The bad weather kept students inside throughout most of orientation, but neither rain nor cold could keep Swarthmore's student organizations from courting new members. Here, some unsuspecting first-years sign up for a group that's sure to bring them more emails than they ever thought possible. Andrew Steel Phoenix Staff Really, who needs a fork? One orientation activity had students enjoying the Sharpies cuisine without the luxury of silverware. Some CAs said the food tasted better. Andrew Steel Phoenix Staff Living & Arts phoenix.swarthmore.edu 10 September 5, 2002 THE PHOENIX
---------- Page 11 ----------
'FEELS SO GOOD TO FEEL SO BAD UPSTAIRS' BY ELIZABETH COLLINS ecollinsl@swarthmore.eclu I Okay, so this was my first time in Philly by myself. This was also my first time lost in Philly by myself. Six blocks, two trains, one synagogue and a banana cake later, I found myself in an alley behind the National Museum of Jewish History trying to find the theater. Just when I was about to conclude that I was in the wrong place, Swarthmore juniors Sam Dingman, Felicia Leicht, Audrey Pernell, and Adrienne Mackey along with recent graduates Keetje Kuipers, Elisa Matula, Jon Stancato, Kafhy Walley, Kiran Rikhye, and Sarah Yardney, all 'O2, pulled up in two minivans with the theater in their back seats. The students were preparing for what was to be a glowing performance of the Swat-produced "Portrait of Dora as a Young Man." The play was a collective effort: written, produced, directed and managed by, and featuring the Stolen Chair r _. Theater Company, a group cmposed entirely of Swarthmore students and alums. Loosely inspired by Sigmund Freud's "Fragments of an Analysis of a Case of Hysteria," "Portrait" focuses on Ida "Dora" Bauer, the daughter of a wealthy Austrian merchant at the turn of the 20th century, and her relationship with a lecherous, cigar-smoking Sigmund Freud. Freud analyzes the relationship between Dora and her father's business partner and friend, known simply as Herr K., who pursues Dora with generous gifts of jewelry and flowers. Freud believes Dora to be quite infatuated with Herr K., as well as with Herr K.'s wife, with whom her father was having an affair; her father; and, indeed, even the good doctor himself. Silent movie interludes, minimal sets and costumes, Freud's pretzel cigar, songs including "The Love Rectangle Blues," "All the Girls I Know Are Neurotic" and "Feels So Good to Feel So Bad Upstairs," and an injection of intellectualism make for what Kuipers calls "decidedly Swat theater." Kuipers and Pernell credit their Swarthmore theater department experience, particularly their work with professors Alan Kuharski and Ula Denzer; with their subtext-, movemen—, and analysis-driven production. "Swarthmore approaches theater from a particularly intellectual angle," Kuipers said. "Analysis was important to this show, so the Swat training helped." In "Portrait of Dora as a Young Man,' practically every actor played every part, with the exception of Pernell, who exclusively played the singing Dora. Male characters were distinguished with green shirts, females with purple shirts. Each character had a distinctive feature, such as Freud's wire-rimmed glasses and cigar, Herr Bauer's black tie, and Frau K.'s pearls. Sarah Yardney said the independence of a show without an appointed adult mentor or stage crew made for a refreshing theater experience. She added, however, that stage managing, set building, directing and acting several parts in the same production made it unusually difficult for an actor to find her own interpretation of the character. "This show is about the company, not the individual. There is no lead actor," Pernell said. "Portrait of Dora as a Young Man" and the Stolen Chair Theater Company joined dozens of other performing arts groups from across the country in an avant-garde arts extravaganza known as the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. The Fringe Festival is celebrating its sixth year in Philadelphia with 16 days of non-stop events; 237 shows featuring dance, music, spoken word, theater, visual theater, film and physical theater have come together to bring art The Fringe Festival is not native to Philadelphia. The tradition started in Edinburgh, Scotland, where the town threw a huge theater festival for mainstream artists. Avant-garde or "fringe" theater artists were excluded from the festivities and wanted an outlet for their performance. The Fringe Festival was born. Fringe Festivals now occur all over the world. Festival organizers Eric Schoeser and Nick Stuccil were instrumental in bringing the festival to Philadelphia in 1996. In its most active season ever, the Fringe Festival seeks performers from the world's best "fringe" theater. Swat pervades the Fringe this year. Not only is the all-Swarthmore "Portrait" featured, but Simon Harding '99 is featured in the Sabooge Theater Company's "Mum Puppettheatre." Also, the Swarthmore-founded Pig Iron Company presents "Machines, Machines, Machines, Machines, Machines, Machines, Machines," an avant-garde play alluding to "Junkyard Wars" or "Battlebots." "Portrait of Dora as a Young Man" will be playing again on Thursday, September 12 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, September 14 at 10 p.m. Performances are held at the entrance vestibule of the National Museum of American Jewish History, located at Independence Mall East, 55 N sth St. Tickets for "Portrait" are $5. More information about "Portrait of Dora as a Young Man" and the Stolen Chair Theater Company is available at www.stonlenchair.org. Tickets for other events at the Fringe Festival range from approximately $5 to $25. Several of the best events are free. Parking is available at one public lot and twelve pay lots throughout Old City. For more information call 215- 413-1318 or visit www.pafringe.org. EDITOR'S PICKS BY SUZANNE WU Everyone has a point of view, but yours is the best. The College Publications Office agrees, and that's why, starting on Monday, Sept. 9, they'll be handing out free film and singleuse cameras for you to capture your very own "vision of Swarthmore." Artsy, candid, cheesy, whatever. Take the pics and drop off the exposed film by Monday, Sept. 16. Approximately 15 of the images will be published in the 2003 college calender, and others will be printed in the Alumni Bulletin. Either way, your mama will be proud. THIS WEEK'S BEST DIVERSIONS Look, I love the supernatural and daydream about flying or being psychic just as much as the next person. But ultimately, I gotta say that going to a hypnotist's show is kinda like watching XXX. It's entertaining and I desperately want to believe that all the fancy brouhaha is actually possible, despite all the little things in both productions that are just more fodder for the skeptic in me. Perhaps, though, Dr. Steve Atwood, who will be performing in LPAC Cinema tomorrow from 9:00-10:30 p.m., is different and not a big faker. Don't let me spoil your fun; Atwood will be performing as part of the Office of Student Activities' Welcome Weekend. "Britney's Inferno," a pop culture satire targeting none other than Ms. Spears. Friday, Sept. 6 until Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 8 p.m. "Carmen Funebre," the Polish Teatr Biuro Podrozy's response to ethnic conflicts. Wednesday, Sept. 11 until Saturday, Sept. 14 at 8 p.m; "Publife," Protein Dance's high energy physical theatre. Friday, Sept.6 at 8 p.m., Saturday, Sept.7 at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 8 at 3 p.m. (ALSO AT THE FRINGE) Living & Arts phoenix.swarthmore.edu THE PHOENIX 2002 11
---------- Page 12 ----------
Do I have to answer that? BY SYDNEY BEVERIDGE sbeveril@swarthmore.edu As a senior, I get the classes I want, the massive Wharton room and the automatic respect of underclassmen (or at least I'd like to think so). I've earned these perks, but I pay dearly every time I hear the words "What are you planning to do after college?" Dozens of times this summer, an unwitting friend/coworker/acquaintance/neighbor/parent would ask the question, probably expecting a neat little answer blending values and ideals with a concrete career path. If only they had asked about the weather .... Rather than replying, "Look over there! An ice cream truck," and running, I used to say I was going straight to law school. Or I'd say that I'd definitely do/never ever do what my parents do. For years, I planned to settle in downtown New York City, but now my East Coast snobbery is waning, and the other coast and even other countries seem tempting^ Each time I heard the question, I tended to give a different answer. If my interrogator caught me in the right mood, I'd joke that I was going to make my way from town to town in Australia picking berries at least until that traveling European chocolate taster gig came through (that job does exist with Godiva Chocolatier; my med-school-tracked summer housemate tipped me off to it). My parents don't bother asking the question anymore. They seem to prefer to answer it themselves. Dad lectured me about too much "navel gazing" in college and warned me of my passive path towards a civil service job. If I happened to dig out a specific career, he'd remind me that some fields are very competitive, and then flip the TV channel. Last week, Mom interrupted my fall semester jitters by asking if she should apply for that tuition insurance in case I duck out of Swarthmore. A little insulted by her question, and a little distracted by its implications, I wondered what I'd be doing instead of college. After a mutual pause, she replied that she'd better send it tomorrow, and then finished sponging the kitchen counter. Her usual advice to "marry rich" may not be such a bad idea. I could exploit somebody else's stability, and then pursue my own goals at my own pace. Alternatively, I could follow up on one of those monthly mailings from the Westchester Business Institute. After all, they successfully place 90% of their graduates in careers of their choice, and everybody in the brochures looks so satisfied. During a previous kitchen conversation about my future, Mom asked the question again. Before I could answer, she added that she didn't see me doing the regular 9-to-5 thing, and neither do I. So much for the Westchester Business Institute. It's not that I don't like college quite the opposite. Sure, I'm a bit hesitant to come back this fall, but not because I'm avoiding Swarthmore. Once I start my last year of school, my time as a student will have to end. At least I'll have a degree, but what do I do with that? Will it really be all that different? Will a career change my life goals? Do I have life goals ... that I can articulate? Lots of my peers seem to have neatly packaged plans for the future, and I'm happy for them, unless of course they're conspiring to look good (and make me look bad). I may not have a clear future, but at least I'm not a malicious liar. I feel privileged to be so indecisive. When my dad graduated from college in the late sixties, he knew that he was going to graduate school or Vietnam. I don't want somebody to tell me what to do, and I like having a little flexibility, and even mystery in my future. If I come up with concrete plans, I'll have to cut out options. Once I pick a career, I'm defining myself, but by narrowing my scope. Growth in one direction seems to limit others. An acquaintance and less-than-content researcher at the Kennedy School of Government said of the institution, "Law schools make lawyers and public policy school makes bureaucrats." So what does Swarthmore make? Ask me again in June. My avoidance scheme may conflict with what I learned in my Thinking, Judgment, and Decision Making class, but indecision gives me control over my future; there's freedom in the unknown. It'll work out eventually, but I'll coast along on uncertainty for now. So, feel free to ask me and my fellow seniors the obligatory questions about the future, but don't expect a coherent response from everyone. Confusion is okay, and even honest. I'll either be proud to answer that I don't know, or I'll lie and say that I'm planning to divide my time between professional navel-gazing, career counseling, and ... "Hey! Look over there ..." That band with a vibraphone Olde Club begins its concert schedule this Saturday night, Sept. 7, with a performance by Aloha, a quartet from Cleveland that is not afraid to admit that the vibes are just as cool an instrument as the guitar. Below is an interview with the band's lead singer, Tony Cavallario. BY AARON WASSERMAN Phoenix: When and how did your band form? Tony Cavalliero: We started in 1997. Eric (vibes) and I used to be in a hardcore band and that was done for. Matthew (bass) recruited us, and Eric wanted to play his vibraphone. So we got together and wrote a million songs right off the bat that we don't remember how to play. We got real serious in 1999 when Cale (drums) joined the band and we recorded what became our EP for Polyvinyl. Why did you choose to incorporate the vibraphone? How does it add to your sound? Eric wanted to play it. He was playing that a ■■■■■■■■■■■■■l long time before you started hearing it in a lot of indie rock bands. It was a natural thing. He wanted to play it; we were up for something different. The vibes are essential to most of our songs. They add another color to the sound that vocal melody, rhythm, and my boring-ass guitar parts can't express. Do you feel that Aloha is now 'that band with the vibraphone" and I has that produced an ESEsr^ expectation/stigma ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■•^^ that the band has to live up to? Sure we are. The vibraphone is a great instrument and people enjoy watching Eric (and Cale) play it live. It's quite a spectacle. So maybe that's like a hook or a rep for us, but then we want to win people over to our songs. I could give a damn if we went up there with a bunch of spoons and we were the spoon band. The music that comes out of the speakers and the passion with which it's played is what's important. So do you disagree with the "formal approach" other bands with a similar jazz/rock hybrid sound bring to their music? Tortoise's pretentiousness comes to mind. Well, a lot of those bands I love them. We're a lot less calculated, because we don't truly know what we're doing. There's a lot of talent, some nice gear, and a flurry of ideas among us, but what comes out is a lot more rock n' roll. Not that we don't think and obsess about it, but what comes out is just an odd mix of four people doing what they want to do. We came from a scene that was very supportive of trying new things like a basement punk kind of scene, and we started playing and years later this is what we came up with. When you enter the studio do you have a definite plan for what you want to accomplish with the new record or is a lot based on improvisation? We come in the studio with many ideas but not too much structure. There's a lot that varies with each take we do of a song, but most of our improv stuff is live. What are you most proud about on the new record? I'm proud of how much of it came together instantly. We are starting to read each others' minds a little. How long have you guys known each other? Is chemistry solidifying now or has it been there for a very long time? It must have been there from the beginning because we certainly haven't had an easy go of it, but yet here we are now still. I've been playing with Eric since I was 18 or 19, and I'm 25 now. Is the band a large supporter of constant touring to increase the fan base? Well, we did a lot of touring and it didn't seem to do much, but now it's paying off. I don't think we're one of those bands who is perpetually on tour. Our lives are a little more complicated than that. Has [record label] Polyvinyl been supportive of letting your fan base gradually grow? Of course. I don't think we're a cash cow for them but they're proud of us. Their money is well spent on us. We spread their gospel: a working-class label giving bands a chance to be heard. Your sound on record is incredibly complex. How do you reproduce it live? Well, one thing people notice with the live show is that nothing is missing. That's us on the record, playing as a 4 piece. There are a few songs that have overdubs we can't replicate, but most of the songs are just 5 elements working at once. That's amazing. The keyboard, drums, vibraphones and guitars are just so layered. I thought live shows would be a real workout for you guys. It's hard work, but it's all there. Do you prefer playing live to the recording process? I like them both. They're both essential. Recording is great because it's captured forever. Sometimes live we might do something nice and never be able to remember it again. Courtesy Polyvinyl CD REVIEW Two minutes into Aloha's second album, vibraphonist Eric Koltnow's mallets have shattered any ideas about guitar-rock complacency. From there, the band hops on the vibraphone's back and goes charging into a dense forest of jazz instrumentation, intricate songwriting and complex time signatures. The vibraphone is not used just as a novelty instrument. Rather, it is the guitars and vocals that have the feeling of an afterthought. In a rock band, unique niches are important, but so are catchy songs. Aloha's vibraphones answer the first qualification, but sometimes sabotage the second. When Aloha does both, the band creates one of the most exciting and refreshing sounds being made today. AW Aloha: "Sugar" (Polyvinyl) Rating: 7.0 (of 10.0) RiYL: Phish, Tortoise and vibraphones OLDE CLUB Opening the show is The Boggs, an NYC-based band set to blow up, then Aloha, and closing the show is the slanted, enchanted rock of Enon. It all starts at 10 p.m. and is free with your Tri-Co ID. Living & Arts phoenix.swarthmore.edu September 5, 2002 THE PHOENIX 12
---------- Page 13 ----------
TROMA WARD Phoenix staff writer KATE DUFFY sits down for an exclusive talk with cult filmmaker Lloyd Kaufman on censorship, the sad state of satire, money-grubbing Howard Stern and how laughing at something may be the best way to shove it in people's faces. Phoenix: In your book "All I Need to Know About Filmmaking I learned from 'The Toxic Avenger,'" you say that many independent movies, like the ones shown at the Sundance Film Festival, "seem to be auditions for mainstream films as opposed to being independent film." At the same time, you list prolific B-movie director Roger Corman as an influence, but his films frequently imitated popular mainstream films outright. What's the difference between Roger Corman's movies and the ones shown at Sundance? Kaufman: The movies Roger Corman directed on his own in the 'sos and '6os were the influences. "The Man With X Ray Eyes," "Fall of the House of Usher" they proved that low-budget movies could be provocative and have good acting. Now he's producing inexpensive versions of mainstream films like "Jurassic Park," but that's not what influenced me. It's a pity he doesn't direct anymore.Sundance should be called HBOdance or Miramaxdance. It has nothing to do with sun. A festival is supposed to be festive. You're supposed to have fun and bring new art to the people. What they show at Sundance has already been digested or created by the mainstream. It's not an independent film festival. We've got a new film coming out called "In Search of Independence." It's the true story of Sundance, and it goes between Sundance and Tromadance [Troma's own film festival]. At Sundance you're not allowed to hand out leaflets. There are rules about speaking and leaflets; it's not covered by the first amendment. Thomas Paine was out of line, according to these people. You're not allowed to say, "Hey! I made a movie!" to a film executive. James Lynch [a Troma volunteer] handed out leaflets, and he spent the night in jail. Movies like "Killer Klowns From Outer Space" and "Eight-Legged Freaks" illustrate exactly the opposite the major studios releasing purposefully campy films. Has Troma influenced the mainstream? Has the outcome been positive? Critics review "Me, Myself and Irene" and "Eight- Legged Freaks," saying they're like Troma movies from the 'Bos, only they cost $5O million to make. There were jokes in our movie "The First Turn-On" that we were excoriated for in 1983. "The First Turn-On" had a gang bang scene that was not appreciated. Now that's reproduced in movies today. Look at "South Park." The guys who make it are Troma fans their show has the same satiric mood and dismemberments. It's mainstream, but it's ripped straight from Troma movies. They built on Troma in a brilliant way. It's, wonderful. But Hollywood isn't doing anything interesting with Troma stuff. Those movies suck. No one's going to look at "Eight-Legged Freaks" ten years from now, except on TV with the rest of that crap. Troma movies are far from safe general-market fare, but some might say the excessive sex and violence in a typical Troma production is itself catering to the lowest common denominator. Why are the Howard Sterns of the world popular while Troma remains on the fringe? Howard Stern is about money. Howard Stern has no interest in art or changing the world. He's funny. He's a good interviewer. But he's all about money. We'd be happy to make money, but our movies are more than entertainment. The dean of the American Film Institute wrote that I was one of the few genuine auteurs one of the only directors with total artistic control. There's Woody Allen, Oliver Stone, [Martin] Scorsese. Just a handful. And there's me. The Troma tradition is rooted in Grand Guignol. It's been around since the 17th century. It's nothing new. The movies are not aimed at the lowest common denominator. You have to be smart to understand and appreciate them. We're interested in creating emotions. Major studios have to appeal to the lowest common denominator, and they do. Julia Roberts in "Pretty Woman," a movie glorifying prostitution: PG rating. Kevin Bacon in "Footloose," a movie glorifying smoking: PG rating. "Forrest Gump" teaches you to follow orders like a retard, even if you get your ass shot off in Vietnam, and you will be rewarded. You will be a millionaire. But if you're a Gyno-American, you will be punished and get AIDS. We're amateurs at appealing to the lowest common denominator Troma fans are very intelligent. Roger Corman credits you for the creation of "a universe embraced by psychotic aberrants and the Cinematheque Francais at the same time." At the time of Troma's inception, would your films have had such a range of appeal? How has the audience changed? As a filmmaker I've gotten better. With the earlier films, there were times when I listened to the wrong people and compromised. The last four films I've made, I haven't compromised. We've persevered. Our body of work is consistent. The movies revolve around the theme of a conspiracy of bureaucratic, labor and corporate elites. The little people of Tromaville liberate themselves from that system. So we have a consistent worldview. You can enjoy Troma movies as festivals of sex and violence or as sophisticated satires. "Citizen Toxie" opens with a satire of the Columbine massacre that's not exactly "Men in Black II." "Troma's War" dealt with AIDS. Do movies like "XXX" have one kernel of thought-provoking substance? What will endure? Nothing. It's baby food. Meanwhile, there are Troma retrospectives all over the world. We care about our films, and they have substance. They're ahead of their time. Is there anything too taboo or offensive for Troma? I wouldn't do a movie glorifying Hillary Clinton. That's obscene. Or Hitler. Columbine was the result of racism, sexism and violence it should be made fun of and shoved in people's faces through satire. Until "Troma's War," AIDS was not discussed. We laughed at it. We satirized it when it was being swept under the carpet and ignored. Satire is dying. It's nice to see "South Park" and "The Simpsons" kindling what's left of American satire. But now there are politically correct police. You're not allowed to make fun of anything. I'm sure a lot of people accuse your movies of objectifying women. Actually, no. Women are the smart ones in Troma movies. We call them gynos because 'women' has the word 'men' in it. Gynos save the men in "Troma's War." "Tromeo and Juliet" is all about Juliet. She's the focus. Sure, the gynos are in small clothing, but so are the men. "Squeeze Play" is about gynos playing softball and being oppressed by men. It's not to be confused with "A League of Their Own" which came out years later, when it was safe. Sure, there are some fucking scenes. It's R-rated. Why not? I like it. A lot of people do. They aren't porno films. If you want to see women hung up on a meathook, watch TV. Watch "Friends." Those women are pansies. Femmies. That's exploitation. Gynos are heroes, at least in the movies Michael [Herz, Kaufman's partner] and I did. We've gotten very little hate mail. It seems as though the censoring standards for what can be shown on TV and theaters are gradually lowering. Do you foresee a day when uncut, Tromesque movies enter the mainstream? Never. The world of art is controlled by a handful of conglomerates. There's no way we can reach our fans. We get 200 million hits to troma.com each month but Blockbuster acts as though Troma doesn't exist. We just heard from HBO saying they'd ■ never show our movies again. They're only getting their movies through the cartel now. We've got millions of fans. Our movies are entertaining, and they've got something to say. But it's difficult for fans to see our movies due to economic blacklisting. The only reason we're still in business is because fans are aggressive about getting our movies. They go to independent video stores and ask for Troma sections. They book our movies in theaters. It's been said that we're the They Might Be Giants of movies because of our interactive fan relations. The only difference is that they're successful.What do you anticipate for Troma in the future? In the fullness of time, Troma will be understood as phenomenal. We're the only independent studio that's existed for 30 years in the history of cinema. We were cut off by the mainstream. Shunned. We're still in the underground. Usually important underground artists become appreciated by the mainstream, like Andy Warhol, or they blow their brains out like Van Gogh. They don't stay in the underground. But whether we like it or not, it looks like we'll always be here, if we survive. After Herz and I go into the sunset, and the vassals of the giant devil-worshipping conglomerate get their hands on what we have, Troma will be worshipped. The director's cut of "The Toxic Avenger" with the head-crushing scene will be shown on prime time. Everyone is being dumbed down. You've got to be cool. We don't believe that. We want you to be hot, alive. They want you to eat at McDonald's and stay at the Holiday Inn. We're amateurs at appealing to the lowest common denominator Troma fans are very intelligent. I wouldn't do a movie glorifying Hillary Clinton. That's obscene. Or Hitler. Courtesy Lloyd Kaufman Lloyd Kaufman poses with the Toxic Avenger, his most famous character. ~W * * O Mk ■£ phoenix.swarthmore.edu THE PHOENIX September 5, 2002 13
---------- Page 14 ----------
Opinions From the editor: A guide to The Phoenix Even though rain deprived first-years of a candlelit first collection in the amphitheater, here's hoping that the year will be prove a good one for all. In addition to the usual influx of new students, the summer has brought a number of changes. Sadly, the class of 2003 has lost one of its members, and the library one of its most beloved employees. The campus looks different as well, as heavy construction continues —on schedule —at the new science center. The new field is also in progress, but is now months behind schedule. The basement of Mary Lyon is vastly improved in appearance, and Beardsley looks better too. The average age of residents in the Strath Haven apartments has plummeted markedly, as the overflow apartments become home to a number of students. It's coming up on two years now since this college had a football team. Japanese is being offered this year. One student is preparing for trial this month. Several deans and administrators have swapped positions, and the Intercultural Center has a new director. Behind the scenes, but certainly worth noting: the development office is almost at the halfway mark in the $230 million Meaning of Swarthmore campaign. We're happy to present you with our first issue, and we hope that reading The Phoenix will become an anticipated Thursday morning event. It is our intent to provide fair and accurate news coverage, to engage you with serious and entertaining features, and to serve as a public forum for the views of all in this community. How do I write a letter to the editor? One of our main goals is to provide the Swarthmore community with a place to publicly air opinions and respond to events. What most people don't know is that we print almost every letter we receive. So don't be shy if something that happens on campus irks you or pleases you, let your community know. You can send your letter via e-mail to phoenix_letters@swarthmore.edu or put it in campus mail addressed to 'The Phoenix.' The deadline for letters and op-ed submissions is Monday at 8 p.m. How can I contact The Phoenix about complaints, publicity items or other questions? For news tips, corrections and general questions or feedback: phoenix@swarthmore.edu. For Living & Arts events: phoenix_calendar@swarthmore.edu.For Sports items or feedback: phoenix_sports@swarthmore.edu.For letters to the editor or to write an op-ed piece: phoenix_letters@s warthmore. edu. To get a subscription for your parents: phoenix_subscriptions@swarthmore.edu.What are the unsigned opinion pieces in this column? This area is where we print unsigned editorials. These editorials represent the opinion of the editorial board, unless otherwise noted. To find a list of staff and editors, look on page 2. How can I get involved with The Phoenix? We are still hiring for this fall. If you want to apply for a paid staff position, grab an application from our board next to the mailroom. Act fast; the deadline is tonight at midnight. The Phoenix also accepts freelance submissions from any interested student. If you're interested in writing, photography, drawing or copyediting on a semi-regular basis, or even if you just have one thing you'd love to see in the paper, let us know. What's going on with the Web site? The Phoenix is a Thursday morning paper. But most of our content goes up on the Web late Wednesday night. Get a jump on the news by signing up for our headlines service. You'll have a reliable source for late-breaking news, plus a preview of arts, sports and opinion content. phoenix.swarthmore.edu Seotember 5. 2002 THE PHOENIX 14
---------- Page 15 ----------
When humor isn't funny BY TARU TAYLOR ttaylorl@swarthmore.edu Education has thrust me beyond gangsta rap stereotypes Do black people have a sense of humor? Can black people laugh at themselves? Even when the humorist is white? An open question, given the overreaction to a freshman who took it upon himself to parody gangsta rap and pop culture by taking the lyrics of an Eazy-E song and performing them to top-40ish pop guitar. I did not actually see the performance, but I heard about it. When a black classmate did a rendition of the performance, I thought it hilarious, quite clever. I gave the kid props. Predictably, this same classmate chastised the kid for "making fun of black people" and chastised me for condoning his performance. She questioned my blackness. How could 1 laugh at a white kid mak- ing fun of black people? How could I? Because I immediately appreciated the irony of the performance (Eazy-E juxtaposed with top-40 pop music), which could easily be interpreted not so much as a parody of black culture but as a commentary on our modern Elvis I mean Eminem, who takes hip hop and makes it palatable to white s. . America just as "The King" did for the blues. He's basically a white Eazy-E. Or maybe the freshman's performance was directed at the mixed signals Britney Spears sends millions of teenaged (mostly white) girls, the wholesome virginal southern belle on the one hand, "not a girl, not yet a woman"; the scantily clad sexpot on the other hand. (Anyone who saw her performance at last year's MTV Video Music Awards, not to mention the Pepsi commercial that got a rise out of Bob Dole, knows what I'm talking about). Both Eminem and Britney Spears are patently absurd, and that kid's performance could easily be seen as a parody of them, merely using Eazy-E as fodder. Of course, its openness to interpretation is part of the performance's brilliance. But for the purposes of this article, we'll stick to the narrow interpretation of the black classmate who took me to task because I did not take it seriously as an offended black person. We'll assume, with apologies to the freshman performer, that he was in fact "making fun of black people." In the late 'Bos I was a teenager when Eazy-E was executive producer and Dr. Dre was producer of pioneering group NWA, the template for gangsta rap as we know it. I had his lyrics memorized, lyrics such as "My name is Eazy-E and I got bitches galore/ You might have a lotta bitches but I got much m0re...." I was a black kid from Anacostia, Southeast DC the ghetto, the inner city, whatever you want to call it. Yet as a scholarship student at Georgetown Prep I wasn't one of the "boyz in the hood." Indeed, my mother finessed me into that boarding school to get me away from the crack and gunplay, the very subculture that Eazy-E and his gangsta rap cronies glamorize into "ghetto-fabulous" for the consumption of middle-class white kids, including those who end up at state schools and at private schools like Swarthmore. Eazy-E, Tupac Shakur and Notorious 8.1. G. epitomize a black subculture. According to the offended black person interpretation, that white freshman was poking fun at a black subculture, which many of my childhood friends are still part and parcel of, unfortunately. But black culture, as I understand it, is epitomized by "The Autobiography of Malcolm X," "The Philosophy & Opinions of Marcus Garvey," "Up From Slavery," "The Autobiography of Kwame Nkrumah," and that's just for starters. If I identified with people like Eazy-E and Dr. Dre, I'd be defeating my mother's purpose in sending me to Prep and ultimately Swarthmore: a first-rate edummmmmmmm^^^^^m cation that would thrust me beyond the stereotypes of such as Eazy-E and Snoop Dogg to the archetypes of such as Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey and Booker T Washington. I can laugh at that kid's parody because what he parodied is not my culture. My mother raised me beyond Anacostia, beyond Tupac and Biggie, to Garvey and Malcolm, to a black culture not to be confused with the black subculture parodied by some white freshman, again, according to the 'offended black person' interpretation.If I were to parody Eminem who already parodies himself, calling himself an "Elvis" getting rich off black music, as a preemptive strike because he's selfaware enough to know that he's probably the easiest target in America are white Swatties going to be offended? Eminem epitomizes "poor white trash," specifically "wiggers" who act black, not any of the white kids I see around Swat. Eazy-E epitomizes ghetto thug life, not the black kids here. Not even me, and I grew up "ghetto." But the Jesuit classical education I got at Prep taught me how to think for myself, outside that box. Why should I take a parody of Eazy-E personally?Indeed, why should I take it seriously? What do I have to do with this modern minstrel show called gangsta rap? As a Swattie, I wouldn't be keepin' it real if I told you anything other than "Nothing." Public Service Announcement: If you're at Swarthmore, you're not ghetto. There is no keepin' it real here. Get over it. You're not in Compton. You're not in Anacostia. If Dorothy were here, she might say "We're not in Kansas anymore." We're in Swarthmore, PA. Maybe, like me, you're from the hood and visit during breaks and summers. But right now, as you read this article, you're as removed from Eazy-E as that freshman is from Eminem. As Rakim would say, "It ain't where you from, it's where you at." Public Service Announcement: If you're at Swarthmore, you're not ghetto. There is no keepin' it real here. Bell tower history revealed letter to the editor Dear Editor: In the Phoenix's online coverage of the bell tower of Clothier ("The bell tower," April 5, 2001), the maintenance director is quoted as denying suicide attempts. No less a personage than the former national president of NOW, Molly Yard, has been quoted on the end of sororities at Swarthmore College as precipitated by the suicide of a woman student not pledged to one of the sororities at a time when Molly Yard was a student. If "those who do not study history are condemned to repeat it", then a danger exists. In any case, the photography was wonderful. In the 19505, when we had football, wrestling, swimming, diving and all manner of sports, before Title IX, the main problem was that we were considered "girls" and "boys." As an adult, yes, a "senior" adult, I see that past as something to look back on, but not to stare at. Fortunately for me, I have moved to a community (Mount Pleasant, SC) where the only other identifiable Swarthmore graduate is also a member of "Mind the Light" and a nice guy who happened to play football. My child, who knows members of the Board of Managers personally and is a NYC lawyer of some repute, tells me that socially they are not that much different from us, only richer, so I will trust in the democratic process and long for the days when Quaker principles were intricately involved with the running of Quaker institutions. I work, research and write for an on-line newspaper, The Charleston Daily News (publisher is tgear@comcast.net), even though I had just three radio programs on WSRN in my day. Keep up the good work. Jean Affleck '57 Send world leaders back to middle school There was only one thing I ever learned on the first day of school growing up, besides the rules and regulations and how much everyone had changed over the summer. That was the importance of goal-setting. Especially in grade school, my teachers emphasized it, some taking the time to have us write separate daily, weekly, monthly and year-long goals. I bought into it, and I still sit down with my notebook the week before school starts to ponder knowledge, time management and where my new understanding might guide me. Seemingly, very few leaders attending the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development this past week in Johannesburg, South Africa had a similar experience growing up. The purpose of the summit is to chart progress and set goals according to those set 10 years ago at the Rio Earth Summit in Agenda 21, which states that protection of the environment, social development and economic development are the three pillars of sustainable development. The United States is under international criticism for opposing timetables for reducing dependence on fossil fuels, eliminating subsidies for its farmers (which adversely affects farmers in developing nations) and relieving hunger. American student representatives at the summit reported last week that the United States and the European Union had agreed secretly to strike all parts of the text of the Kyoto Protocol which encourage countries to enforce the standards of the document, and that the European Union, Australia, and South Africa were working on a nebulous replacement paragraph to state something like, "Countries should work to stop climate change," without mention of binding goals. This is just one example of chronic avoidance behavior. I was always shocked the most on the first day of school when someone was absent, usually because they were on vacation or jet-lagged surely they had their priorities mixed up. That would be our fearless leader, George W. Bush, who is not attending the largest international summit on issues of the environment, public health, and trade for ten years. Colin Powell attended for two days, mostly in an attempt to convince other nations of the need to go into Iraq. But the show must go on without the support of the United States, and the issues being addressed at the summit go beyond political boundaries and American expectations of quality of life. Although without binding goals, agreements have been reached to reduce the current rate of biodiversity loss by 2010 and halve the number of people without sanitation by 2015; progress has also been made on issues of water, improved governance and restoring depleted fisheries. As usual, those issues which point fingers at the Global North as an exploiter are avoided namely, subsidies to farmers, debt cancellation and multinational corporate accountability. People from all over the world have been shouting from the streets of Johannesberg all week, mostly calling for localization and protesting corporate greed and the United States and Eruopean Union's unwillingness to compromise; essentially asking the world's leaders to question the ogre of capitalism. It's difficult to know how much lunch money to bring on the first day of school, or whether it would have been a better idea to pack your own lunch. At my school we used to lend each other money, and no one would be hungry, or owe anyone else at the end of the week. A lot of things would be different if children ran governments. Jennifer Holzer is a sophomore. You can reach her at jholzerl@swarthmore.edu. The show must go on without the support of the United States. JENNIFER HOLZER Out From Gaia Opinions phoenix.swarthmore.edu THE PHOENIX September 5, 2002 15
---------- Page 16 ----------
Vague practices of ICC merit scrutiny Ordinarily, I think the American media is pretty decent about civil liberties issues. There's no doubt that the government would be stifling more dissent, jailing more innocent people and violating more laws if it didn't have a free and vigilant press watching over its shoulders. But while I'm generally pleased with the media, there is one area where they've really fallen down over the past few months. With very little media comment on the subject, Americans came close to being under the jurisdiction of a powerful tribunal, unaccountable to our elected officials and nearly impossible to overrule. This isn't some scheme from the desk of John Ashcroft, by the way. I'm speaking about the International Criminal Court (ICC). So far, media coverage of the ICC has focused almost exclusively on its diplomatic implications. In a nutshell, Bush's refusal to join has gotten the entire planet even angrier at America than it used to be. That sort of news is important, but it's not the whole story by any means. So the French foreign minister has been muttering Gallic obscenities all day. Big deal. What I want to know is, if we ratified this treaty, what could the ICC do to me? And whafcan it do to the people who are already under its jurisdiction? There's been relatively little discussion of what safeguards the Court offers against official abuse or of what procedural rules it will abide by or whether or not it passes basic Constitutional muster. We don't even know whether or not the judges will wear black robes and those funny British wigs. Even the watchdog groups who do civil liberty advocacy as their 9-to-5 job seem to be taking a nap on this one. I plugged 'lnternational Criminal Court' into the ACLU website's search engine and came up with four documents, none of which articulated any clear positions or were tremendously relevant.I don't consider myself a member of the 'black helicopters' school of political theory. Conspiracy theories are good fun, but most of them break down under the weight of their own complexity. You don't have to be a paranoid, bunker-dwelling, fluoridated-water-distrusting militia member, however, to be concerned about encroachments on U.S. sovereignty. Under this treaty, a foreign entity insulated from pressure by our elected officials and not bound by the Constitution would have the power to try and punish American citizens. That's potentially a very scary thing. Most of you are probably thinking "Hey, I'm not a war criminal. All of my crimes have been committed during peacetime, and none of them even made bench warrant. Why should I worry about the ICC?" That's an understandable attitude, and I think it's one of the reasons why there hasn't been much debate about the civil liberties aspect of the court. But it would be a dangerous mistake to assume that the ICC won't have any effect on our lives just because we personally haven't razed any hamlets. No matter how admirable its stated purpose, any law enforcement body has the potential to spin out of control. For example, when John Ashcroft says that only terrorist evildoers will be affected by military tribunals and the TIPS program, no sane person takes his word for it, and they're right not to do so. Whether a government entity is supposed to fight Al-Qaeda, punish war criminals, preserve our beloved covered bridges or fulfill any other noble cause, a bit of suspicion is always good and proper. It might even be justified to be more skeptical of the ICC than we are of our own government. In order to work properly, courts have to be immunized from political pressure. If Bush and Ashcroft decide to throw everyone wearing an ethnic-looking hat in prison, at least the American people have the power to vote Democratic in 2004. Should the ICC exceed its rightful authority, we're in a deeper bind. Revising the Court's structure to deal with that sort of problem is likely to be a real pain, especially if our dear European allies continue their tradition of snootiness. I'm not saying that the Court is a bad thing or that it is controlled by wicked men. Frankly, I haven't researched the matter enough to know whether or not I trust the ICC. It could very well be that the Court would be an unmitigated boon to all of mankind. But before we agree to be a part of it, we should know exactly what we're getting into. It's a moot point now that Bush has axed the treaty, but if it ever returns from its grave, there ought to be a public debate in which proponents make it clear exactly under what structures and limitations the ICC will operate. Dave Haendler is a senior. You can contact him at dhaendll@swarthmore.edu. DAVID HAENDLER Two-Fisted Punditry Sweet sounds of Swarthmore Attention first-years: Welcome to your first full-fledged academic year at Swarthmore, a year that will undoubtedly be filled with eternal hours of relentlessly rigorous studying, interspersed with the occasional interruption of your hallmates' drunken tirades, the blaring of the dorm fire alarm set off YET AGAIN by the rasta wannabe living directly below you, and, of course, at all indiscrim- anately obscene hours of the day and night, that infernally deafening squawking. At this point, you've likely all heard it, exchanged inquisitive looks with the other unknowing first-years around you and observed the inevitable eye-rolling of the upperclassmen, who are accustomed to the point of oblivion to this utterly unnecessary racket. You've probably already wondered, as you shoved your pillow over your head after peering through puffy eyes at the glowing red a a.m. of your alarm clock, but been afraid to ask, for fear of suddenly revealing to the roommates you're convinced are so many times smarter to you, that you really ARE an admissions mistake what the fuck is that awful noise and who the hell decides when to blast the damn thing off? That, my friends, is tradition. Perhaps you've learned that the town of Swarthmore boasts a wonderfully strong volunteer firefighting program. Maybe you've even met some devoted Swattie who's personally involved in this admirable program. I wholeheartedly support the firefighters and all their heroic endeavors (and remain forever in shameful debt to these more worthy men and women who are willing to sacrifice their early-morning rest to scramble into clothing and sprint to the Ville's fire station, no matter the weather or overwhelming amount of impending work). But, folks, I've gotta break it to you: it's this same fire department that's responsible for that lousy squawking noise. Throughout the year, keep your eye on your classmates as they leap from their seats and run frantically across Parrish beach and down Magill walk to answer the blare of the fire/fog-horn. Most importantly, note the presence of the sleek, streamlined beepers attached to their hips or back pockets. Such a thing would seem to indicate that our honorable firefighters are available to be paged in the event of emergency. Hmm. And yet they continue to blast that horrible blow-horn and destroy our hearing in the process. It's tradition, I'm told. That's why they still do it. That's why they insist upon blaring this wretched noise across Swarthmore, Wallingford and all other towns within a twenty-mile radius. And I can respect that, I guess, except that I'm ever more convinced that, now entering my fourth year of bio whom exposure, my auditory acuity is trickling down the toilet. I can respect tradition. I really can. Just answer me this: how's your cell phone reception in these parts? Pretty shabby, eh? Can't walk a block without the vile crickle-crackle of cellular-reception reduction, which is, as all we cellularly-connected folk well know, about the most aggravating thing in the world. There's nothing worse than trying to carry on an in-depth conversation while hightailing it to your 1:15 lab only to be cut off at the apical moment of discourse merely because your phone's down to a single bar. Want to know why the cellular reception at Swarthmore sucks so much when you had no problem gabbing fluidly away at home? They won't put in a freaking reception tower anywhere within the confines of the borough. The reason? It's an eyesore, apparently. Personally, I'd rather suffer the eyesore of a cellular reception tower perched atop a hundred-foot building, the top of which I'd never notice, than deal with the quite literal earsore of the completely worthless, invasive traditional firefighter-notifying bio whom behind the field house. My cell phone is a fairly fundamental element in my life, as is my ability to perceive spoken word. I take great issue with the fact that the town of Swarthmore won't allow me to have a decent cellular conversation, for the sake of aesthetics, yet has no qualms about blasting my ears off at every firefighter-needy occasion, for the sake of tradition. If anyone can explain the logic behind this seemingly asinine differentiation, I'd more than welcome your input. Until then, I remain at a baffled loss. This is Morghan Holt's fourth year with The Phoenix. E-mail her at mholtl@swarthmore.edu. MORGHAN HOLT Ruminations Oi)inions phoenix.swarthmore.edu September 5, 2002 THE PHOENIX 16 IS HIRING News • Sports • Living & Arts • Advertising • Web Do journalism. Get paid. It's not too late to join The Phoenix's fall 2002 staff. APPLICATIONS DUE TONIGHT AT MIDNIGHT! Read hiring information and download applications at http://phoenix.swarthmore.edu or on our board in Parrish. Campus mail completed applications to The Phoenix.'
---------- Page 17 ----------
Mixed results for men's soccer at Swat Kick Classic BY JIM DALTON jdaltonl@swarthmore.edu The Swarthmore men's soccer team kicked off its season this past weekend with a third-place finish in the fifth annual Swat Kick Classic. After being narrowly edged out by Wesley 3-2 in the first game, Swarthmore rebounded in the consolation round, easily knocking off Medgar Evers 4- L More importantly, the tournament served as an indicator for the team to gauge where it stands heading into the strength of their schedule. Although the 3-2 loss to Wesley was a missed opportunity for the Garnet, who clearly controlled the tempo of the game, it was nonetheless a good learning experience. As co-captain Brendan R. Moriarty 'O4 summed up the loss, "We headed into the tournament to see where we were, to evaluate talent. We dominated the first game, but it came down to defensive lapses and missed scoring opportunities, things that can be fixed." With Swarthmore down 0-1 early on, forward Marty Griffith 'O5 connected on a header, assisted by midfielder Alex Elkins 'O6 in the 16th minute of play to tie the contest at one apiece. Griffith credited the play to Elkins. "Alex did all the work on that play," Griffith said. "He drew the defense and I just finished what he made into an easy set up for me." In the 64th minute, Charles Taylor 'O6 gave the Tide a 2-1 edge off of an assist from Griffith. Wesley responded late, however, with two goals by Chris Wright ultimately making the difference. The deciding goal came in the 88th minute on a Wright shot that barely squeezed through the fingertips of outstretched Garnet goalkeeper Nate Shupe 'O5. In the 4-1 victory over Medgar Evers, amidst sloppy playing conditions, the Tide's balanced 4-4-2 attack proved to be too much for their overmatched opponent. Griffith led the Tide with a pair of goals and an assist in the consolation match. He opened up the scoring barrage in the 16th minute as he directed a pass from Taylor into the net for the goal. Griffith later returned the favor in the 62nd minute, assisting Taylor and giving the Tide an early 2-0 advantage. The Cougars answered with a Michael Yearwood score three minutes later that proved to be Medgar Evers' only goal of the tournament. Griffith found the net again in the 73rd minute to put the Tide up 3-L Defenseman Spencer Paine 'O4 tallied the last goal of the game in the 79th minute of play, connecting off of an assist by Tevye Kelman 'O6. In the championship match, Widener defeated Wesley 4-3 to take home the Swat Kick Classic title. Moriarty summed up the team's general optimism after the third place finish in the classic, "We're thinking pretty positive because we feel this is the best team we've had in recent memory," he said. "There are just some wrinkles to iron out." Griffith was able to use the tournament as a showcase for his offensive prowess, tallying three goals and two assists. Taylor also displayed a breakthrough performance in the tourney, tallying two goals and two assists. Griffith attributed his early success to the. depth of the team, which boasts a strong recruiting class and an experienced core of returning players. He is equally optimistic as co-captain Moriarty about this year's outlook for the team. "We're easily a .500 team," Griffith said. "We have a lot of freshman talent this year and a lot of returning players on the squad. It's just a better team overall." Much of the team's early success has been credited to new head coach Eric Wagner, who has brought NCAA Division 111 playing experience and Division I coaching experience to the Garnet Tide. He has stepped in and immediately taken charge of the team, making the role of the captains smaller and the role of the coach larger than in past years. Coach Wagner has displayed an interactive style of coaching, in which he practices with players out on the pitch. "The biggest difference has been in practices," noted Griffith, who has seen a transformation take place in the team's workouts, which emphasize, among other things, good diagonal runs that were effective in the tournament. Moriarty described the difference Coach Eric Wagner has made leading the team. "The difference is night and day from last year to this year," he said. Coach Wagner has a lot more presence and is more demanding. Everything is mapped out. He's technically very aware and is a very good leader." With an experienced and demanding coach leading the way, the young and improved Garnet Tide look to build off of their third place finish in the Swat Kick Classic and be a contender in the Centennial Conference this season. Andrew Steel Phoenix Staff Brendan J. Moriarty fights for a loose ball with a Wesley player in the first round of the Swat Kick Classic. The Tide rallied from an early 0-1 deficit, but ultimately fell 3-2. In the consolation match versus Medgar Evers, Swarthmore posted a dominating 4-1 win. Wilcox: conference championships within reach of field hockey team BY DERRICK WU dwul@swarthmore.edu Can first-year head coach Kelly Wilcox '97 be serious with her expectation that the field hockey team will play in the Centennial Conference Championships this season? Despite an excellent Swarthmore field hockey tradition that has amassed a phenomenal 56-16 record in conference play, recent events seemingly give Wilcox little reason to be optimistic. Last year's squad barely finished over .500 with an 8-7 overall record, including an unspectacular 4-5 record in conference play. Since then, the team lost two of its star players, prolific goal scorer Kim Cariello 'O2 and tenacious defender Katie Tarr 'O2, as well as former head coach Karen Borbee. When the preseason polls came out last week, the Garnet Tide was placed sixth in the conference, well behind defending champion and conference powerhouse Johns Hopkins. So why does Wilcox boldly state that her team will play in the conference finals? One reason is that Wilcox is preparing her players well for the mental aspect of competing in a varsity sport as Swarthmore student-athletes. Forward Helen Leitner 'O4 summed it up, "As Swatties, we think too much." To combat this problem, Wilcox, a Swarthmore alum, teaches her players to remain calm and focused. "We go through mental exercises that focus on one thought, so players can concentrate on the game when they're on the field," Wilcox said. Players have already noticed the change in attitude. "Last season, we were intimidated by our opponents. This season, our goal is to be intimidating," Leitner said. Even freshmen have sensed the energy Wilcox has brought to the team. "There's a huge feeling of optimism," Heidi Fieselmann'o6 said. Besides the attitude adjustment, Wilcox has introduced new tactical and strategic changes. "Coach Wilcox introduced several new concepts. For example, she taught us a new drive a quick hard hit that completely changes the style of play," Leitner said. Strategically, the team hopes to wear down and intimidate teams by using its greatest strength, a deep bench. "This is the most talented team I've ever played on at any level," Fieselmann said. "This is the deepest bench I've ever seen at Swarthmore," veteran goalkeeper Kate Nelson-Lee 'O3 said. "We don't have to rely on a standout player as we did in years past." According to, players and coaches, Nelson-Lee leads a seasoned group of veterans. "Kate is one of the best goalies in the conference," Leitner said. "But so is our backup goalie, Jenn Hart '03." Combined with the scoring and defensive talents of co-captains Meg Woodworth 'O3, Ingrid Kaszas 'O3, and Katie Cloonan 'O3, the team maintains its traditional, talented core of upperclassmen. Unlike in years past, however, Wilcox plans on mixing up the lineup with talented underclassmen. "The freshmen are very skilled and confidant, and the sophomores have played great," Leitner said. Finally, Wilcox and her players also believe that last year's disappointing season will serve as an advantage when it comes to playing other teams. "No one's expecting anything, so we don't feel any pressure," Nelson-Lee said. "We have the opportunity to surprise teams," Wilcox said. Thus far, the Garnet Tide appear to be right on course. At Franklin and Marshall's preseason play-day last weekend, the team beat Elizabethtown and Rowan and tied Lebanon Valley to finish 2-0-L "We played with some of the best teams in the country, teams that were nationally ranked last year," Nelson-Lee said, "and we went undefeated." "The preseason gave us confidence," Wilcox said. And the right to believe Wilcox's prediction might just come true. Snorts phoenix.swarthmore.edu THE PHOENIX September 5, 2002 17
---------- Page 18 ----------
A new season, a new staff: athletic staff gets four new coaches BY RACHEL BURSTEIN rburstel@swarthmore.edu At a time when Eric Wagner, the newly appointed head coach of the men's soccer team, is sorting through his predecessor's old papers, acquainting himself with new colleagues and generally settling into his self-described position of "teacher and rebuilder," he recalls a day 18 years ago when he was in a similar position as the new guy on campus. Wagner remembers that the proprietor of the bed-and-breakfast his family stayed at prior to moving-in day at Connecticut College asked his mother about her son's intended major.*"My mom answered, 'Oh, for all I know, probably soccer, or something,'" he said. It was that mother's instinct that would prove fateful for Wagner, one of four new head coaches appointed to Swarthmore's athletic staff. Certainly Wagner's near lifelong attachment to his sport of choice is not unique among college athletic coaches, but the way in which he chooses to regard the place of these sports and the role of the coach in the athletic program may be. Wagner identifies participation in sports as an essential part of education. "What teachers ask students to do in the classroom, I'm just asking them to do it physically," he said. "I'm asking my players to gather information, implement it, and execute it." Similarly, Harleigh Leach, who enters her first season as Swarthmore's volleyball coach, contends that coaching at* Swarthmore gives her an opportunity to teach skills that student athletes can apply both in and out of the classroom. She admits that initially, her childhood decision to participate in organized volleyball was trivial at best, explaining that "the volleyball team didn't have to run as much as the soccer team, so I chose volleyball." Leach now believes, however, that playing and coaching volleyball allow her a unique way to inspire and teach. Stressing the difference between coaching at large NCAA Division I schools and smaller, less sports-oriented schools like Div. 11l Swarthmore, Leach said, "The bottom line is that I want this team to succeed, and together we're working to determine how we will define success this season. In my book it never means just wins and losses." This view of sports as complementing academic learning is one that Kelly Wilcox '97 also espouses as she enters her inaugural year as head coach of the field hockey team. Wilcox, who has the distinction of currently being the only alum to be the head coach of any athletic team at the school, is quick to credit her college on-field activities, along with the good coaching she received, as the basis of her own coaching style. Wilcox says her approach to coaching is as much about encouraging personal growth as it is about mechanics. "One specific goal this year is to develop poise and confidence," she said. "If you create a space for students athletes to learn, the skills you teach are more likely to take root." Wilcox, who was hired in a national search after former field hockey coach Karen Borbee resigned to concentrate on heading the women's lacrosse program, hopes to establish athletics as a key component of any higher-level education. Having recently completed a master's degree in psychology, Wilcox is quick to emphasize the importance of good group relations in a team setting. She believes these skills, developed on the field, are transferable to other arenas of life. "As a student athlete, the confidence I gained on the field translated directly to the classroom," she said. Jeremy Loomis, the new head coach of the women's tennis team, emphasizes the value of sports as a way of learning how to operate with others as a team, identifying how to handle pressure and developing the confidence to overcome adversity. Reflecting on his own college career at the University of Maryland, where he was named men's tennis most valuable player in his senior year, Loomis identifies his chief model for coaching as one from academia and not from athletics. It was a college Shakespeare professor's "passion and the way he taught, the way he committed his attention, the way he challenged me" that inspired Loomis to coach tennis first at Miami University, then at University of Maryland, and most recently as an assistant coach at Duke University. Commenting on the differences between coaching Div. I and Div. 11l teams, Loomis said, "The only difference is the time involved. Regardless of division, everyone's still competing. At a smaller school it's more familial, especially with my colleagues. Here I feel more involved in the community." The other coaches agree. "You have the community of the staff in a way you don't at larger schools. I look around at staff meetings and think, 'These people are exceptional in terms of the depths of their experiences,'" she said. Wagner, who has coached soccer at several Div. I schools, is quick to explain the difference in the mechanics of coaching at small schools. "Here I feel you can be much more of an educator," he said. "At Division I they've already got great players. There it's entertainment." Associate Athletic Director Adam Hertz cites this understanding of coaching athletics at a Div. 11l school generally recognized for its academic excellence as the primary reason the new head coaches were hired. Hertz says the coaches "bring a new enthusiasm to the department and a desire to see their students succeed athletically and academically. They each have a real understanding of Swarthmore's environment." Andrew Steel Phoenix Staff Women's tennis head coach Jeremy Loomis, left, and men's soccer head coach Eric Wagner, right, are among the new additions to the athletic department this year. Sports phoenix.swarthmore.edu September 5, 2002 THE PHOENIX 18 You surf the net, Now surf the -world A Semester ALMOST Abroad at the UNjyERSITY of Hawaii Study abroad without leaving the country. Stay for one semester or a year. Choose from an unparalleled array of Asian, Hawaiian, or Pacific courses in the arts, sciences, or business while living in a vibrant, island-based, multi-cultural community and campus. For complete information, connect to: www.hawaii.edu/almost or e-mail aimost@hawaii.edu. On campus housing and meals available. Ihe University oj Howai'i is an equal opportunity/affirmative action inslilntion. Breaking sports news Field Hockey Swarthmore 1 Widener 0 After posting a 2-0-1 record at F&M's preseason play-day, the Tide opened their regular season with a victory. Men's Soccer Swarthmore 1 Gwynedd Mercy 0 Steven Pater scored the game's only goal in a goalkeepers' contest as the Garnet improved to 2-1 Volleyball Swarthmore 3 Rosemont 0 A young Tide team opened the season with a win. They are back in action next Thursday against Arcadia.
---------- Page 19 ----------
Borough ordinances, minor setbacks delay completion of synthetic grass field BY KATE NELSON-LEE knelson2@swarthmore.edu The "showcase facility" of the Athletic Department is not looking very good these days. A six-month-long project to install a synthetic grass field and new track at the site of Swarthmore's former gridiron has experienced a few unexpected setbacks. Initially, the $2 million facility had a completion date of Aug. 15, just in time for the return of the field hockey team for preseason practice. These days, a laminated sign on the orange webbed fence reads, "Track will be closed until approximately Dec. L" The main reason behind the four-month delay was a change in Borough drainage ordinances. "Three weeks before we submitted our proposal to the Borough for approval, they changed the drainage ordinances," Associate Athletic Director Adam Hertz said. The original proposal stipulated that all of the run-off from the field be piped into Crum Creek. Because of the possible significant negative environmental impact of such a plan, the borough asked that the runoff instead be recharged into the groundwater table in what is essentially a large septic system. "It's something that hasn't been done before," Hertz said. "We're on the cutting edge of field technology." After several rounds of different drainage plans, the Borough finally approved the college's proposal, and with a quick groundbreaking ceremony and a large digger, construction commenced on Jul. 15. Aside from a few minor problems, construction has been moving at a good pace. "We've hit a 30- yard stretch of solid rock on the south end of the field," Hertz said. "It took two and a half weeks to jackhammer through it." The track surface itself has been scraped off in the past week, and just yesterday construction crews were milling down the asphalt base in preparation for the next phase of construction. According to Hertz, the next month entails a number of smaller projects before the bases of the field and track are poured. On the list is the installation of a retaining wall on the east side of the facility, the laying of the stone for the field's new base, and continued electrical work for the lights. While the synthetic grass field was intended to be the home field for the field hockey team this fall, the delay has not adversely affected the team's training. New head coach Kelly Wilcox '97 noted that her team "reacted very well to the news. It's a sign of maturity that they adapted so well to the situation." If the field were to be ready for use while the team was still in season, Wilcox does not expect to make the switch. "It's not even a consideration," she said. Both Hertz and Wilcox commended the field crew for their work during severe drought conditions to provide a good grass game field for the program. "Steve Donnelly and his crew did a tremendous job," Hertz said. "Water is a limited and valuable resource. You can't maintain fields in any way without water." Andrew Steel Phoenix Staff The mud and construction vehicles at the site of the old track will eventually be replaced by a cuttingedge synthetic grass field. The construction is expected to be finished in approximately three months. An ode to the real American pastime, and it's not baseball I might have an addictive streak to my personality. I'm damn near impossible to lure away from a new, favorite endeavor, be it Beirut or basketball. My freshman year dormmates can testify # that moving me out of my La-Z-Boy and away from my Play Station was akin to dragging Jimmy Chitwood away from the basketball court. But there is nothing that can bring my life to a screeching halt like the great American pastime. My love for the great sport causes me to dash madly for the television every Saturday at noon, yearning for the sweet melody of Keith Jackson's voice. No, not baseball, ■ which is running itself into the ground m^^^^^^ as tradition falls by the wayside in favor of the almighty dollar. That's right, folks. I'm the all-time sucker for college football. It consumes me, controls me, and leaves me begging for more. Its smallest details have seeped into my blood stream. It has led me to the ultimate I * addictive behavior. I know that most of you don't understand. Let me try to explain. In the classic college football manner, let me crack open a cold, delicious six-pack of reasons that I just cannot get enough of the greatest sport in America. L My first reason is a simple one, which some might even call silly. But there are few things in this world I enjoy more than a good college fight song. Feel free to sing along: "Cheer, cheer for old Notre Dame,/ Wake up the echoes cheering her name." It sends chills down my spine. I am willing to bet that after playing roughly one million games of NCAA College Football for Play Station, I know most schools' fight songs better than the alumni. So what, you might say all fight songs come from eight basic tunes. But nothing gets 100,000 drunkards going like one of these classics. 2. You can hear just about all of them every New Year's Day. Or at least you could before the BCS spread the bowls out. One of my favorite memories is going to my Aunt Rosie's house each New Year's Day, gorging myself with Amish-made pies and watching the bowl games with my family. The games are now played out over a series of days, but the c feeling is still there. You can't put into words the excitement of the moments leading up to kickoff in the biggest college football game of the year. 3. Unlike NFL games, college football is announced by the best. I mean, really, has anyone ever done it better than Keith Jackson? Just thinking about him saying "First and ten," makes me all warm and fuzzy. College football programmers figured out long ago that it is more enjoyable to watch a game being described by a distinct voice, instead of, say, Pat Summerall. 4. The architects discovered that it is more fun to watch a football game surrounded by 100,000 fans standing on old aluminum bleachers. If you have never been to a college football stadium, you owe it to yourself to go. And try and make the trip when the stadium is filled, because there is no greater sight in sports than a college football cathedral packed to the brim. The Big House, the Horseshoe, the Rose Bowl. These are America's works of architectural genius. 5. A good stadium needs people to fill it. The individuals who populate college football stadiums are the most rabidly loyal fans in America. In short, they are my kind of people. Every Saturday, they drive their RVs five hours to the game, tailgate for another four, watch the game, then head home to catch the highlights. Just ask the people at the census bureau. Memorial Stadium has been the third largest city in Nebraska for 250 consecutive Saturdays. 6. Which brings me to my favorite reason. Can you imagine the tailgates at the University of Nebraska? Because I can. On game days, college stadiums become home to the best party you have ever attended. For instance, there is a reason they say that Penn State resides in Happy Valley. If you will, Jell-0 shots for breakfast, brats and beer for brunch, hot dogs and beer for lunch and unbelievable football for dessert. Imagine the greatest party you have attended at Swarthmore (I know, it might be hard), multiply that by, like, a gajillion, and what you get is a University of Nebraska tailgate party. In summary, my boy Spoon at Penn State called the other day and said he could possibly score four tickets to the Nebraska game. I got so excited I had to be revived. State College, where the beer flows like wine and the women instinctively flock like the swallows of Capistrano. A night game. Read into that last statement: eight hour party. College football. Life just doesn't get much better than this. JOSH LOEFFLER Riding the Pine Sports phoenix.swarthmore.edu THE PHOENIX September 5, 2002 19
---------- Page 20 ----------
Garnet conquer Knights in Swat Kick Classic BY DEBBIE FARRELY dfarrell@swarthmore.edu Sports Sarah Hobbs 'O6 handles her success without a trace of egotism. Hobbs, a center midfielder from Fort Collins, Colo., contributed one of the four Garnet goals in the women's soccer victory over the Knights of Neumann College this Saturday in the annual Swat Kick Classic. "I was ecstatic to have the chance to start the first game of the season and to score my first career goal," Hobbs said. "Making the transition from high school soccer to the college level is obviously challenging and nerve-racking, but the team has helped the other first years and me feel immediately accepted." The 2002 women's soccer team is composed of 26 players, including- returning starters Shavaugn Lewis 'O5, Claire Hoverman 'O3, Corey Pilver 'O4, Catherine * Salussolia 'O4, Katey McCaffrey 'O4, Tanya Hahnel 'O5, and Ele Forbes 'O5. Lewis, who tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) five games into last season, is looking to repeat her pre-injury success during this season while continuing to rehabilitate her knee. Salussolia made 54 saves in the 2001 season and backs the team from the goal. Forbes, who mans the sweeper position, is a constant source of intensity for the team, and she hopes to play a huge role in the success of the Garnet women this season. Joining the returning starters are six first-years, ten sophomores, and two juniors. Injuries have held the Garnet back in the preseason, with more than six players unable to play. Several others, like Lewis, are still rehabilitating for past injuries. Despite the rash of injuries, head coach Amy Brunner is excited about the potential of having a healthy team. "It seems like every center back coming in was injured, from ACL tears to stress fractures to weak backs. Our injured players will definitely add more depth to the lineup when we get them back, which could be as soon as early October," Brunner said. She is especially enthusiastic about this season, her fifth at the helm of the Swarthmore women's soccer team, "The team is already looking better than we were last year at this time. Our experience has really helped in integrating the younger players." The Fifth Annual Swat Kick Classic Tournament included the women's soccer teams from Swarthmore, Widener University, Neumann College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. On Saturday, the Garnet easily conquered the Knights of Neumann College in a 4-1 victory. "We were excited to see how the team would perform in a real situation and were extremely pleased with the results," co-captain McCaffrey said. "We came out with a lot of confidence which resulted in that first quick goal. [Sarah's] goal was also exciting; she's going to be a huge asset for us, along with the other five freshmen. They will all play enormous roles." On Sunday, the women were not as successful, losing a well-fought 2-1 game to Widener. "We weren't ready for Widener coming off of yesterday's game. We came out flat in the first half and suffered as a result," Hobbs said. Widener got off to an early lead with a goal from Nicole Jones only five minutes into the game. Swarthmore scored its only goal of the game at the 50- minute mark when Lewis assisted Forbes in a wide-open shot at the net. Forbes almost scored a second shot at the goal that would have given Swarthmore the lead, but the ball flew just outside the goalpost. With 28 minutes to go, Widener's Laura Hughes scored what would be the winning goal for the Pioneers. Despite the loss, Brunner was optimistic. "In the second half, you could see a change in momentum toward and around the ball, and we controlled the play better than Widener," she said. "Our motto for this season is 'Over the Top', which refers to our goal of achieving a winning record this year," Hobbs said. "It's something that hasn't been done in ten years and that we are committed to making a reality in 2002." With their performance this weekend in the Swat Kick Classic, the Garnet certainly possess the potential to achieve their goal. Catch them in action at their next home game on Saturday, September 14, when they take on Delaware Valley at 12 p.m. : J Emily Mollenkopf Phoenix Staff Sophomore forward Stephanie Chapell jogs back to midfield after scoring in last Saturday's 4-1 victory over Neumann. The win gave the Garnet the chance to play Widener for the Swat Kick Classic championship on Sunday, but the women fell short in the 2-1 game. On Tuesday, the Tide edged Philadelphia Biblical University 3-0 to improve their record to 2-1 phoenix.swarthmore.edu 20 September 5. 2002 THE PHOENIX FIELD CONSTRUCTION UPDATE The new synthetic turf field won’t be completed until December because of drainage issues. Pg. 19- COACHING CHANGES Women’s tennis and men’s soccer are among the teams with new faces at the helm. Pg. IS. MEN’S SOCCER The Garnet defeated Medgar Evers 4-1 to finish third at the Swat Kick Classic. Pg. 17.
